Do you think it is an imperative that the next president focus on mending foreign relationships?

Question

Bush has alientated the US from so many countries. He backed out of the Tokyo accord, started the Iraq war, and hosted secret CIA prisons in other countries. To us, Iran and North Korea pose significant nuclear threats, but we are unable to rally former allies to our cause because Bush has scared so many of them with his hard line, shoot first, policies.
Will building bridges and mending fences be key to re-stabilizing these regions and re-gaining foreign trust, or do you believe there are other more important priorities for the next president?

Shallow Al - yes, I am sure Canada is crawling with terrorists.

Laura - not at all advocating we should pull out of Iraq (agree it would make things worse).

All - not talking about butt-kissing or cow-towing, and not about doing things differently in Iraq. Merely asking that if we don't focus on our friends, will we still have any? We don't have the might to stay in Iraq for a decade, take on Iran and North Korea, and still have an economy.

Answer 1

In this fight to hold on to our freedom we need all the help we can get and all the friends we can get to stand with us. The world is already statistically against Bush, not us. If we stand as people and say." NO MORE abuse of power, Mr. Bush" The world will recognize us as once more possessing the integrity we lost when we allowed him to get us into this mess to begin with. Let's not forget, Bush started this war ( see Woodward) "Because a war President wins elections". It's always been about Bush, not us, and it certainly wasn't about "keeping us safe". We are less safe then when Bush "took" ( literally) office. To regain world approval we have to take back our country from those who commit abuses of power. Congress changing the laws so Bush doesn't get convicted of "war crimes " later, is not the message we want to be sending the world right now! Ignoring the rules we all agreed to abide by and approving of torture is not something the American people should accept silently from our elected officials. Some need to admit they made a mistake in allowing things to get this far. Only when we say we have had enough and stop the abuses of power by this administration, will the world stand beside us once more. When we are no longer a world threat, but behave as a country that wants to live in peace, ("with") the rest of the world, only then will we be trully safe. Even the terrorist have children to think of, and most of the people just want to be left alone to run their own country without interference. Isn't this why BinLaden came after us to begin with! Bush has made it worse. The next President we elect had better be more of a peace maker then a law breaker. It's our only hope to ever be safe or respected again in the eyes of the world community. Isn't that what we all want? The next President has to possess a true moral compus, not play up to one religion and ignore the rest of the world with an" Us against them mentality" that divides a country and the world when we need them most to stand with us against terror. When the world sees we want peace just as they do.,when there are more important issues at hand like the environment, the water we drink, the air, these are issues that will unite us all on this planet as one people together not divided. "Together we stand" must be a global desire, and the desire of the next President to lead us out of this true moral decay in our Congress and our White House, and yes it is our White House! Bridges are build with integrity and a common goal, not division and abuse of power.

Answer 2

I think the next president will have to work on mending foreign policy, but there are so many people who think that he should back out of Iraq. That scares me a little to think the next president might do that suddenly. Yes, I do not think we need to be as involved as we are, but Bush has already put them in there, so it has to be continued until a solution arises. If they are just pulled out, utter caos will reign over there, and it will be worse than it was before because it will give a perfect setting for Ben Laden to set up shop. Bush has made a lot of mistakes in this situation, but at least he is trying. Most of the former presidents have been so scared to ruffle peoples feathers that nothing got done, and that is why we no longer have the trade centers. There are probably better ways to deal, but until someone comes up with the perfect solution, he has to just do what he can. It scares me to no end that a democrat will take office, cause they will sure enough pull out, and then we are doomed. That will be like handing the middle east to the terrorists and giving them the keys to our doors. Yes, I want them out, but since Bush has already tore down their government, some stability has to arise before we can leave completely or it will spell disaster. Of course, the next president will have to work on foreign policy to keep from further alienating our "allies", but it's going to be a long and difficult path.

Answer 3

I don't think Shallow Al read the whole question! Mending fences and bridges with our allies would NOT appease the terrorists. If anything it should scare the H£§§ out of them! They are laughing at us and at what we call a president. I could lead this country better than he has. At least I would have some common sense to work with even if I didn't have any political experience!

We need to be working with the rest of the free world and not telling "it" what we are going to do with or without them. We need to LISTEN to other leaders and SHARE ideas and work together on how to deal with problem/rogue countries. We can't afford to alienate anyone.

It looks to me like Bushy boy won't be happy until the whole world bows to his every wish.

Answer 4

Yes, it is.

It is imperative that the next President, be they a Democrat or Republican, be able to mend fences, especially with our NATO allies. America needs to be influential and not just powerful.

With all the threats facing the US from North Korea to Iran to Al-Qaeda still out there, we will need friends in as many places as possible.

Answer 5

If he is a democrat, he will probably be begging for friendship from some of our so called, allies. Come to think of it, he'll probably be trying to buy it. When he cowtails to the terrorists in Iraq, all these other countries that you are wanting us to be friends with will sure put their trust in him then, won't they? Iraq is the most important priority.

Answer 6

No way. I think the rest of the world needs to get back in our good graces.
The only time they are nicey nice with us is if they want some money.
Screw them and screw the UN. I wish the UN would go to Venezuela where fat Chavez can pay for their expensive dinners with his own cash rather than the US taxpayers.

Answer 7

No. What's the point. The world will hate us anyway.

Answer 8

appeasing the terrorists HELL NO

Answer 9

No