Somalia/UAE - Many observers in the Middle East and the Muslim world believe that America under the Republican dominated houses and Republican administration has lost its sense of direction. The world looks up to the democrats to restore American glory and its global reputation by injecting some sense into the country's foreign policy. The top priority for a democratic majority house should be to send a signal to the world that they have big ears for everybody, particularly for friendly countries in the E.U. and the moderate Arab world. They should initiate a policy of engagement and do a lot of listening and show less arrogance and rattle their saber less.
Running away from the logjams in Iraq and Afghanistan is not an option. But pursuing a policy of rapprochement and formulating a clear exit strategy in coordination with allied countries is an option.
Many people in the Arab world would view a democratic victory as an impeachment of the Bush administration's might-driven foreign policy. The first duty of the democrats therefore should be to demonstrate to the world that America is a country that stands to defend and promote the great values instituted by the country's founding fathers, not only by using might but by abiding by those great values -- to the letter.
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