by Travis Moore, reporting from the Democratic National Convention in Denver (cross-posted at On Day One)
The last year in which the public trusted the Democratic party more than the Repulican Party on the issue of national security was 1967.
Although we're mired in both the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, and even though only 21% of the American public believes that we're winning the War on Terrorism, national security remains the Democrats', and Obama's, Achilles heel.
Witness the following from a Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosener Research poll from earlier this year:
* 45% of independent voters rated Senator Obama as "not tough enough" on national security, compared to Senator McCain.
* Who would do a better job of "ensuring a strong military" (Republicans--57%; Democrats--28%)
* Who "respects the military" (Republicans--54%; Democrats--26%)
So how can progressives make inroads on the national security debate?
Yes, Hillary's was well done too, but I'm talking about Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. That guy knows how to work a crowd.
It's worth the watch if for only that reason, but he also delivered what has, to this point, been the Convention's most robust prime-time argument for a new direction in energy policy.
"America consumes 25 percent of the oil, but has less than 3 percent of the reserves. You don't need a $2 calculator to figure that one out. There just isn't enough oil in America -- on land or offshore -- to meet America's full energy needs. Barack Obama understands that the most important barrel of oil is the one you don't use."
Kudos to Schweitzer for clearly recognizing the importance of efficiency and energy independence.
His support for "clean coal" is misguided, but, all in all, Schweitzer delivered a message that must be heard in prime time.
From the UN Foundation and Better World Campaign:
The United Nations Foundation and its sister organization, the Better World Campaign, released today the results of a six-month public opinion research project indicating shifts in the issues Americans are concerned about internationally and the approach they want the United States to take. The research shows a sharp swing in public concern about international economic issues (dependence on foreign oil and trade) a dramatic decline in the landscape of foreign policy and national security concerns and a new national security agenda and outlook that is significantly different from the one in the period after 9/11. (emphasis mine).
"An underlying shift is occurring in American attitudes regarding the international role and priorities of the United States. Voters across the party spectrum understand that America's reputation has faltered, and believe this is a problem for the nation that needs attention and repair," said Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation. "Both dependence on foreign oil and strengthening the global economy have skyrocketed, displacing terrorism at the top of voters' international concerns."
The Los Angeles Times today offers a great story on some of the more unorthodox ways that peacekeepers can help instill a culture of peace. In addition to kung fu, it seems that tae kwon do, tai chi, yoga, and even pizza-making lessons are also effective peacebuilding tactics. UN peacekeepers in Lebanon, LAT's Borzou Daragahi reports, are using these activities to bring a level of normality -- and even a little fun -- to people scarred by years of war. These kind of tasks are not all that the 13,000 blue helmets are doing in Lebanon, though.
The U.N. peacekeepers also offer medical and dental clinics and computer classes, and they have plans to supply more artificial limbs for the people wounded by old land mines and ordnance.
The efforts are all meant to endear the troops to a local population that has violently resisted incursions by Israeli, French, American and Syrian forces over the decades.
"When we do such things, it brings us closer to the people," said Maj. Rishi Raj Singh of the 800-plus Indian contingent. "The return is immeasurable. We don't spend a lot of money, and it's immensely popular."
These kind of initiatives seem like wise investments, with little risk and huge upside as a "soft power" strategy. Read the whole article here.
by Travis Moore, reporting from the Democratic National Convention in Denver (cross-posted at On Day One)
Some of the highlights (and lowlights) of Day One at the DNC:
Breakfast with Global Leadership for Climate Action--a UN Foundation/Club of Madrid Partnership. Participants, including former heads of state, foreign ministers, business leaders and U.S. Ambassadors, express optimism about a post-Kyoto agreement with an Obama Administration.
Tim Wirth and John Podesta declare that Democrats' Energy Plan doesn't go far enough.
"Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise"--Ted Turner's "words to live by" at the Philanthropy Forum.
Touche, Joe Lieberman? Jim Leach, former Republican representative from Iowa, begins the Convention with an Obama endorsement that doesn't quite bring the house down.
by Travis Moore, reporting from the Democratic National Convention in Denver (cross-posted at On Day One)
Democratic Party leaders--including Howard Dean, Madeleine Albright and Nancy Pelosi--opened up the DNC last night at a reception hosted by the National Democratic Institute by calling, virtually in unison, for Obama to restore American leadership in the world. They pledged to the audience, which included a delegation of Georgian government officials, that an Obama Administration would return the United States to its position as a "strong partner with the rest of the world."
Although Dean told me he couldn't "talk foreign policy" (or give me an On Day One idea), he did then proceed to run down a litany of actions that an Obama Administration--and the Democratic Party--would take to work more constructively with the world. He touched on all the usual, albeit critical, steps that an Obama Administration could begin with, including bringing the Iraq war to a close, working with and treating our allies with respect, and (perhaps directed towards the Georgian delegation) opposing authoritarianism while defending democracy and human rights. Pelosi followed suit, committing that an Obama Adminstration and a Democratic Congress would "work together for the freedom of mankind."
While the rhetoric certainly wasn't anything new, it underscored both major parties' continued commitment to greater international cooperation should Obama win in November. Indeed, as noted here earlier, the selection of Joe Biden brings a committed internationalist on to the ticket. Given the public's concern about America's standing in the world, this is certainly smart politics.
Russ Carnahan, one of the Party's up-and-comers, finished off the night by offering his ideas for Day One, which reaffirm many of Dean's and Pelosi's statements.
In June, al Qaeda released a video seeking to undermine a UN-brokered peace deal that had recently been reached between the Somali transitional government and some opposition factions. Moderates rejected the call to violence, but more radical and militant groups, such as the notorious Shabab, stepped up their attacks, including toward UN personnel. They had not affirmed the connection with al Qaeda, however -- until now at least. On the heels of another peace deal -- the timing likely is not coincidental -- Shabab is proclaiming its allegiance to bin Laden.
"We are negotiating how we can unite into one," said Muktar Robow, a top military commander of Shabab, which the U.S. State Department designated a terrorist organization this year. "We will take our orders from Sheik Osama bin Laden because we are his students."
A senior U.S. official tempered Shabab's enthusiastic affirmation, which could be as much a tactic of provocative rhetoric as it is an indication of a stronger relationship between the two terrorist organizations.
U.S. Ambassador Michael E. Ranneberger acknowledged growing links between Shabab and Al Qaeda, but said ties remained in the early stages.
"There are indications of a fairly close Shabab-Al Qaeda connection, though it's not clear to what extent they've been operationalized," he said. "Is Shabab taking orders from Al Qaeda? I would say no. They are still running their own show."
Even Shabab "running their own show," of course, still poses a threat to Somalia's fragile hopes for stability.
The United Nations Foundation and the Better World Campaign (the sponsors of this blog) are hosting a panel discussion tomorrow afternoon at the "Big Tent" in Denver. The pollster Geoff Garin will present findings on foreign policy and national security "messaging" from his new report: Language for a New American Consensus on International Cooperation.The Washington Note's Steve Clemons will respond. Be there or be square.
This post was originally published on UN Dispatch on July 9, 2007. Joe Biden was selected as Barack Obama's running mate on August 23.
Ten years ago, I stood on the floor of the U.S. Senate to introduce a bill, which eventually became known as the "Helms-Biden law", to authorize the payment of nearly $1 billion in back dues to the United Nations. Securing its passage was a hard-fought, but worthwhile, initiative.
Unfortunately, we are again in arrears to the UN. For over a year, we have not been paying our full contribution for its peacekeeping operations -- missions in places like Lebanon, Sudan, Haiti, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kosovo -- that advance our national interests while sharing the human, political and financial costs of peacekeeping with other nations.