The nation and the world should fear less from terrorism and more from those who occupy the oval office, as well as other governments who have their fingers on the triggers of the planet’s weapons. If George Bush taught us nothing, it was how a nation plays into the hands of those with more strategic military intelligence than ever to demonstrate foreign policy leadership before it is too late.
Let me refer the nation to the Cuban Missile Crisis a few short decades ago. After being burned by military advisors, similar to the ones in the Bush Whitehouse, JFK understood the motivations of hawks. Not just our hawks, but all of those intent on the exercise of power in the form of weapons used to conquer territories and resources at the expense of civilian lives. The Bay of Pigs taught JFK how military powers operate, what their motivations are, and how they do end-runs around our best interests.
Ever since Vietnam, we have had career politicians performing leapfrogs over sound and wise policy making to their own place on the world stage. The Rumfelds of the world started in Vietnam and (re)appeared in history in Iraq-2. The Iran-Contra policies of Regan are also now front and center as Israel has become nothing but an international weapons broker, supplier, and now full on user.
The state of Israel has been a foreign policy issue for the United States for decades. Joe Biden has stated (during his time in the Senate) that “if Israel did not exist after WW-2, we would have created it.” His devotion to the state belies a serious lack of policy acumen. His private talks with Natanhayhu have done nothing to educate the world on the issues, the most constructive reactions, or to dictate a policy of peace making for the planet at large. His warnings to Iran have only added fuel to the fire and his lack of understanding regarding how situations must be deescalated are wanting.
Joe Biden must act more like a statesman and less like an Oval Office Politician. He must go on national television, outline all of the issues, decry the destruction of property and loss of life on the part of an “ally” using our weapons, and offer direct and transparent policy the way JFK has demonstrated. He must disavow the way our weapons are being used. He must demand that Neranyahu stand down and begin humanitarian aid immediately. Lastly, he must tell Israel that they must take responsibility for the consequences of their policies and they will not be getting any more weapons in the future.
This is Joe Biden’s last chance to redeem any semblance of foreign policy leadership. He must begin to move away from the decades of weapons centric policies and begin equitable strides towards peace.
Mark Ahearn
Carson City, NV. 89706