Foreign Policy Priorities for the Next Administration
By Joe Maddens & Martha Heinemann Bixby
On Monday, we attended an event hosted by Bob Schieffer called “Foreign Policy Priorities for the Next Administration”. A respected panel of journalists and commentators outlined what they believe Obama’s foreign policy focuses should be, and answered questions from the audience. The panelists were: Arnaud de Borchgrave of The Washington Times and UPI, Ed Henry, CNN’s Senior White House correspondent, William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard and columnist for the New York Times, Clarence Page, editor of the Chicago Tribune and Susan Page, USA Today’s Washington Bureau Chief. A surge in Afghanistan, Iran and a potential nuclear race in the Middle East, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, withdrawal from Iraq, and Pakistan were all immediately mentioned by the panelists. During the question and answer period Joe asked the panel: “How much of a priority should be given to solving conflicts like DR Congo or Darfur? If those conflicts are not a top tier priority, what resources should be given to solving them?” Ed Henry responded by noting that both Susan Rice and Joe Biden have talked a lot about Darfur and possible solutions, but he questioned whether their voices might be drowned out by other priorities or other vocal members of the administration. William Kristol added that both Rice and Biden have proposed a no fly zone as a potential solution to Darfur. Kristol voiced his approval for this option, and said that neo-conservatives and ‘liberal interventionists’ would also support it. Kristol emphasized that Obama’s response to other crises in Africa – such as the turmoil in Zimbabwe, and the problems caused by Somali pirates – would be a “test of where he is personally on humanitarian intervention”. Finally, Susan Page noted that “he can’t do everything” and that Obama is disciplined and is good at making tough choices. This last comment - and the entire event - drove home the importance of Save Darfur’s “Add Your Voice” campaign that asks Obama to make Darfur a priority from Day One of his presidency. There are a number of important international issues (as well as domestic ones!) that the new administration needs to address – but Darfur should not be forgotten. Click here to add your voice.
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