"Getting Past the Way of the Gun" Topic

"This past week, the U.S.-backed Iraqi Army retook the center of the northern industrial town of Beiji, home to Iraq's largest oil refinery -- a hard-fought, tactical victory in a long campaign against the Islamic State. Before that, President Barack Obama announced he is doubling the U.S. commitment of forces in Iraq. Certainly, the Islamic State poses an enormous threat to regional stability. But is the focus on military efforts the right one?

The fact is that wielding the big stick rather than walking softly remains the default for American engagement abroad -- but it hasn't been working very well.

For one, when Americans think of "power," the image that most immediately comes to mind is martial. "As early as World War II, the U.S. began squandering its diplomatic tools -- and the net effect has been a collective amnesia: the only effective option we seem to remember is the military option," New York University professor Patricia DeGennaro wrote as the United States considered expanding the fight against violent extremist networks into Syria in September. What has been forgotten, she argues, is "how to shape policy through negotiation, alignment of interests, and knowledge of history, cultures and peoples. Instead of helping to craft long-term solutions for our national security, the U.S. continues to rely on short-term military fixes." …"
Full article here
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Amicalement
Armand

Ah yes, negotiation with psychopaths.

Good idea there, since it has worked out so well in the last 50 years, or so.

No wonder "peace" is breaking out all over the region, and that the tribal members in Afghanistan appreciate our help in defeating the Russian military there. Bin Laden was especially "appreciative" of our assistance.

[very heavy sarcasm intended, in case you couldn't tell]

Perhaps Mrs. DeGennaro needs to bone up a bit more on her history, since the being nice to psychopaths tactic doesn't work.

Never assume the enemy wants what you want.

Tried to read it. Got about half way through before I couldn't take it. A bunch of feel good nonsense by a cloistered academic.

All good comments Gents ! Another college professor who drank the … With no military experience, only what she read in books and saw on the news … Maybe she should arrange meetings with the leadership of ISIS, AQ, Al-Nusra, the Taliban, BH, AS, etc., etc. I'm sure they'd all be very open to what an educated infidel female has to say … I hope she isn't being paid any tax dollars to come to such "enlighten" conclusions. Didn't some get into power in the US making similar statements ? All we have to do is talk to these guys. After all they are just misunderstood and really are just like us … "Give peace a chance … but I'll cover ya anyway … "

Agree.

Amicalement
Armand

Barbara Streisand put her decades of foreign-policy experience to work and concluded that we just needed to "love them more".

You go first, Babs!

I completely agree that Americans tend to think in terms of combat power projection as the primary means to deal with "disagreeable" parties. There are many tools of statecraft and economic influence that can be used to shape those interactions.

We 'Muricans are in the habit of advocating for the "bomb first, ask questions later" approach. That's not always (and might rarely be) the right call. Second- and third-order effects are a bitch, ya know?

Unfortunately, there are plenty of dirtbags out there that just need killing. No amount of talk, reasoning, or even appeasement will make them stop being dirtbags. They just gotta go.

But while we play cockroach smashers and try to kill them all, we have to make sure (a) we're smashing the right roaches and (b) trying to mitigate the circumstances that breed them. Otherwise we're actually perpetuating our own problems.

there are plenty of dirtbags out there that just need killing. No amount of talk, reasoning, or even appeasement will make them stop being dirtbags. They just gotta go.

Yup …

But while we play cockroach smashers and try to kill them all, we have to make sure (a) we're smashing the right roaches and (b) trying to mitigate the circumstances that breed them. Otherwise we're actually perpetuating our own problems.

And there's the rub … but … in this case it seems we already tried to work with the moderates … and most of them broke and ran, or ineffective in combat, etc. … In both Iraq and A'stan …

I think she should be our chief emissary to ISIS, and to give here a bit more street cred, Jane Fonda should be her high profile assistant, and aid.

They should both be sent immediately to Syria, to "negotiate" our peace plan.

Should we start a collection to buy their tickets ?

Should we start a collection to buy their tickets ?

Sadly, the current economy does not permit me to contribute. :(

in this case it seems we already tried to work with the moderates … and most of them broke and ran, or ineffective in combat, etc. … In both Iraq and A'stan

Yeah, there are some really interesting (that's polite for "ridiculous" and/or "screwed up") cultural dynamics at play there. The only people with nerve are (at best) bandits and (at worst) psychotic bandits.

But all targets …

I think she should be our chief emissary to ISIS, and to give here a bit more street cred, Jane Fonda should be her high profile assistant, and aid.

They should both be sent immediately to Syria, to "negotiate" our peace plan.

Sir, you are the wind beneath my wings.

I believe in speaking softly, but I always keep a big stick handy too.