The Current Discussion: Does it worry you that Sarah Palin, the Republican vice presidential nominee talks about issues like gun rights and abortion and teaching "creationism" in school, but has no experience in foreign policy? What does her selection say to people in other countries about how U.S. politics works?

Sarah Palin's nomination for the U.S. vice presidency reflects the best and worst in American politics and culture.

She represents the bottom of the barrel in her provincialism in global affairs, and her willingness to be used as an attack dog whose main job is to savage the Democrats with sarcasm, selectivity and exaggeration. She bases her candidacy on a series of emotional appeals more suited to television soap opera and wrestling arenas than to serious politics -- busy mom, moose hunter, rebel, hockey fan, etc. Appealing to emotions rather than to rationality is a common political feat around the world, not only in the U.S. But Americans take this to a higher level of idiocy, treating the citizens as nincompoops rather than serious thinking men and women, offering good vibes rather than sensible, viable policies.

Continue »

The Current Discussion: What's the first thing you hope Barack Obama does as President-Elect?

I hope the new president takes a moment to look at the world rationally and accurately, analyzing political-social trends that really define the world rather than trends that are ideologically driven. He should join forces with like-minded, decent folks around the world to come up with win-win solutions to tensions and conflicts.

The critical first step for the new president is to identify accurately the real sources of conflict, and then address them. An example: what's the real problem between Iran and the U.S.? What are each side's legitimate concerns, and what are exaggerated fears and ideological frenzies and surrogate battles for Saudi Arabia, Israel, Hizbullah and other parties?

The Current Discussion:What's the biggest mistake Barack Obama could make in his first six months in foreign policy?

The biggest mistake Obama could make as president is to assume that American values or conduct are somehow superior to those of other countries, or that U.S. allies have greater rights than other countries. In other words, persisting in a foreign policy agenda that combines arrogance, ignorance and ordnance in a deadly combination would be his worst mistake.

The Current Discussion: Are Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama on a collision course over Iran and the Palestinian problem? What would be the consequences of a breach between the United States and Israel?

Netanyahu's policies are clear - and widely rejected by virtually the entire world because they smack of Zionist colonialism that perpetuates the European colonialism of the 19th century. Obama's policies vis-a-vis Israel-Palestine, on the other hand, are less clear, because he has not articulated them in any depth beyond saying he favors a two-state solution. This conforms to the prevalent international norm and UN resolutions, but does not indicate much else about whether the U.S. will lean on Arabs and Israelis alike to move towards this goal, or how the U.S. views options to address the central issue in the conflict from the Arab perspective, which is the fate and rights of the Palestinian refugees.

Continue »

The Current Discussion: What did you think of Obama's speech in Cairo? What kind of change will, or won't, it bring?

President Barack Obama in Cairo Thursday provided a combination Bible and Quran class mixed in with some American civics lessons -- a touching, sincere performance that gets high marks for boldness and empathy, but nevertheless leaves a lingering hollowness in some areas.

We should judge him by his intentions, measured by what can emanate from a single speech. In this respect, there is good news and bad news. The good news reflects a new approach and a change in tone, rhetoric and style, offering some hope where haplessness and hypocrisy once ruled Washington's work in the Middle East.

Continue »