In a speech delivered yesterday at the University of Louisville, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice outlined Bush's "vision" on foreign policy:
This vision stands on three pillars. First, America will defend the peace by opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes. Second, we will preserve the peace by fostering an era of good relations among the world's great powers. And third, we will extend the peace by seeking to extend the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe.
So how is Bush doing?
Well, on the first pillar, we give him a C-minus. Yes, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein were removed from power as a result of U.S. military actions. Both were responsible for gross human rights violations. But American actions have actually increased terrorist activity, particularly in Iraq. The average Iraqi is not safer than before the U.S. invasion, nor is the average American, whether at home or abroad.
Bush flat out flunks the second pillar, preserving the peace by fostering good relations throughout the world. In fact, Bush has fostered nothing but bad relations from the first weeks of his administration when he abandoned the Kyoto treaty. Instead of capitalizing on the goodwill shown by other countries after the 9-11 attacks, Bush responded with his 'you're either with us or against us' doctrine, alienating our allies and thumbing his nose at the U.N.
The final pillar, extending the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe, garners Bush a D if nothing else for the sheer audacity of the claim. What we're seeing in Iraq and Afghanistan is not freedom, and it will be decades before either country sees any prosperity, if ever. The Bush administration uses the ideals of freedom to justify its actions and achieve moral superiority over its enemies (thus terrorists are haters of freedom, the press does not support freedom, the Democrats are impediments to freedom...). The Bush administration is more interested in installing American-controlled regimes in these countries than fostering true democracy or freedom. Otherwise it would be complaining about the military government in Pakistan and the lack of democracy on a large chunk of the African continent.
With these grades, maybe someone should send Bush the "three pillars" memo. He's got a lot of work to do before November, and the Cliffs Notes don't seem to be working.
