Diplomacy's Back Posted by Derek Chollet

We spend a lot of space here at DA beating up the current Administration on this or that – because, well, they deserve it, and because that’s what being in the loyal opposition is all about.

But I think what distinguishes constructive criticism from mere carping is giving the Bush team credit when they do something right (especially when it’s along the lines of what we recommended!)

For example, Secretary of State Rice’s trip to Europe last week was rightfully consumed by the controversy over CIA “black sites” and questions about what to do next in Iraq.

But these bitter debates obscure a surprising -- and for some, hard to swallow -- fact: the U.S. approach toward many of the world’s toughest challenges has undergone a dramatic, if quiet, transformation.  After five years in office, the Bush team has belatedly discovered what it once derided -- the art of diplomacy (a version of what follows appeared in yesterday’s Baltimore Sun).

For instance, the Administration vowed it would never get sucked into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  Yet last month, Secretary Rice earned plaudits for something few believed she would ever do – undertake an exhaustive effort (including an all-night bargaining session) to broker a deal to open a key border crossing in Gaza.  Now, for the first time in their history, the Palestinians have control over who comes and goes from their territory – and the Americans have new respect from all sides for their indispensable role in forging an agreement.

American diplomacy is also back in the Balkans, a part of the world that the Bush team largely neglected during its first term.  Yet it has invigorated efforts to resolve Kosovo’s final status.  In Bosnia, the Administration used the 10th anniversary of the Dayton agreement to negotiate essential changes to that country’s constitution – and, even more surprisingly, Secretary Rice went out of her way to honor personally the Clinton Administration officials who forged Dayton, holding their effort up as a model of successful American statecraft.            

This trend is elsewhere – such as the about-face over how to handle the challenge of North Korea’s fledgling nuclear program.  For nearly two years, the Administration’s policy was to do next to nothing, refusing even to talk to the North Koreans face to face.  Now Bush’s diplomats are empowered to deal directly with them, and have constructed an offer to challenge Pyongyang to end its nuclear ambitions.  It’s still unknown whether the North Koreans will ever accept this offer – the last round of talks ended inconclusively – but the Bush team’s engagement has garnered support from key allies and puts the U.S. in a stronger position to get tougher.   

A similar and perhaps more remarkable shift can be seen in the approach toward Iran.  The Bush team rightly still considers a nuclear Iran as unacceptable, but it has moved away from belittling the European-led efforts to try to find a diplomatic solution.  While it once kept a careful distance, it is now playing an active behind-the-scenes role to work with Great Britain, France and Germany to find a solution – the result being creative proposals and greater international consensus to pressure Tehran, including through institutions like the International Atomic Energy Agency.  Many European leaders are pleasantly shocked at the Administration’s newfound enthusiasm for engagement and multilateralism, and are hoping it lasts. 

What explains such dramatic turns on so many different fronts?  How can it be that an Administration once so pumped up with pride and power is now working with others and even – although it would never admit it – embracing diplomacy in ways that look a lot like those proposed last year by Democrats John Kerry and John Edwards?

Perhaps it reflects the diminishing role of Vice President Cheney, who drove the Administration’s disdain for diplomacy during the first term. Maybe it shows Rice’s influence – she went to the State Department pledging that “the time for diplomacy is now,” and she has the bureaucratic clout to deliver in ways that her predecessor never could.  Or it might simply be that President Bush has finally recognized that in many areas his approach wasn’t working and only left America isolated.

Yet there is one glaring exception to the Administration’s new diplomatic energy, which also happens to be its biggest test: Iraq.  When compared with its actions elsewhere, the Bush team’s diplomatic approach toward Iraq has shown a disappointing lack of creativity and engagement.

Greater international consensus will be critical as the U.S. reduces its military presence in Iraq – as now appears inevitable.  Success there means more than better training of the Iraqi security forces and the gradual redeployment of American troops.  It requires active political support from regional players and America’s key allies, especially after a new Iraqi government takes office next year.  The rest of the world has as great an interest in Iraq’s stability and success as America does (in fact, given the fact of geography, one could argue that others have a greater stake), but the Administration seems to be doing little to leverage these interests.

At a moment when the Bush team has finally discovered the importance of skilled statecraft to try to solve so many other problems, they cannot overlook the place where diplomacy is needed most.

Comments

[2moons dil]

The game gives me a lot happy,so I often go to earn the 2moons gold.Sometimes my friends will give some 2moon dil. I began to no longer satisfy with the present equipment, so I have to find a friend, a friend gave me a thing.I would not go to buy 2moons dil,i like the game very much.If you want to play it,join us and then cheap 2moons gold.Please do not hesitate to play the game.

[eve isk]

I hope i can get eve online isk in low price.

[hero gold]

If you have hero gold, you can get more. If you gave hero online gold to me, I still have my idea to achieve.

[runescape money]

I hope i can get runescape gold in low price,
Yesterday i bought cheap rs gold for my friend.

[requiem gold]

I appriciate him. I prefer the
requiem moneyin the game. In fact, the
cheap requiem lant is expensive.

[cheap coach handbags]

Thank you for your sharing! I like i very much!

[sacs coach]

Some women in order to save time, use the same on different occasions are only the package

[Sac a main chanel]

sometimes because it does not match with the dress, it looks inconsistent. Is best prepared several packages

[水着]

お客さんもバンドメンバーも、そしてスタッフも下着全員女子というひなまつりバージョンで開催されたこのイベントは、まずはトークコーナーからスタート。普段は見ることのできない近藤夏子の一人暮らしの部屋を動画で公開し、実際にお部屋にある水着お気に入りグッズを会場で披露するというサービスっぷり。
その後、会場に集まったファンから近藤夏子へのぶっちゃ女性 水着け質問を募集し、その質問に直接答えたり、恋愛に関する悩み相談をするなど、会場中は、完全に女子会状態。女子だけということでぶっちゃけトークにも花が咲き下着 激安1時間以上にわたる大盛り上がりなトークコーナー下着 通販を経て、後半はライブへ。
2月9日にリリースとなった「うつむきスマイル」を中心に9曲を披水着　通販露した近藤夏子だったが、この日バンドメンバーには元プリンセス・プリンセスのベーシスト渡辺敦子の姿も。プリンセス・プリンセスの大ヒット曲「ダイアモンド」を、渡辺敦子のハモリとともにカバーを披露、ライブも大変な盛り上がりを見せた。
アンコールで披露された「別に。」では、いつものライブではタオルが振り回され水着　激安るところだが、今回は女子限定ということで、なんと女性用下着がぶんぶん振り回されるというビックリな光景も。事前にTwitterやブログで告知されていただけに、集まったファンも思い思いにいろいろなものを振り回し、最高のひな祭りイベントは幕を下ろした。