Foreign policy advice for Obama

I was thinking today about what the foreign policy priorities for the Obama Administration ought to be. Here is the off-the-top-of-my-head list:

• Engage Iran. We need to have direct talks that are aimed at showing Iran that we don’t have hostile intentions, but are prepared to react if they act militarily outside their borders. We should show Iran the benefits of playing ball with us, while being willing to totally isolate them if they don’t.
• Engage Russia and China on arms control and security. Those two countries have a lot to gain from avoiding an arms race with us. And we have a lot to gain from avoiding an arms race with them. And, to the extent that we can work together against terrorism and rogue states, we should pursue that.
• Improve cultural and scientific ties with China and Russia. Exposing their young people and intellectuals to the Western way of doing things can only help us.
• Withdraw troops from Europe, except for a token presence to facilitate coordination with NATO. Western Europe has a huge economy now; it can defend itself.
• Ditto for Japan. But, in that case, we’d want to move more slowly so that Japan could build up to counter China. We’d also probably want to improve and expand our facilities in Guam and Hawaii, in order to send a message to China that we aren’t ceding control of Asia to them.
• Get out of Iraq. Doing it right could take 18-24 months. But we should get started. We cannot baby-sit that country forever – and the cost is too great, in comparison to any potential benefit.
• Look seriously at a troop surge in Afghanistan. Obama should sit down with the generals and ask: “What could you realistically accomplish if the effort in Afghanistan were not starved for resources?”
• Improve border security. I doubt that a big fence will be that effective. But, the cost would not be that great, so we might as well do it. Meanwhile, we should get engaged with Mexico and lean on them to reform. There are loads of penalties and rewards we could use. We should make Mexico a priority.

and have some excellent suggestions.

Want to add anything?

I'm pleased you bring up Mexico -- it's not getting any "press" recently. Both our borders are so porous it makes our claim of Homeland Security a joke. There is nothing preventing some person from using Mexico as an entry point to the US in a car full of explosives -- like the guy they nabbed at the Canadian border coming into Seattle from Vancouver a few years back. (That, in my estimation, was pure luck that the particular Customs agent was on her toes, and the driver was a nervous wreck.)

Regarding the immigration issue -- Biden said that Mexico is in actuality a very wealthy country. Problem is, it's the very very rich, and the destitute. The government isn't concerned about their welfare. (I think we're heading in that direction, by the way.) They need to take responsibility for providing for their citizens so they're not forced to go what they have to to get here merely to survive and provide for their families.

Especially the part about Western Europe, who currently spends about 2% of their GDP on defense.

The other stuff looks good also.

Good job...well researched.

...collectively, than we do.

for the people of this country if we decided to reduce our military bases to around 400 around the world and reduced the amount we pay to the military industrial complex to around 30% of the whole world's spending in that category (which would still mean we would be spending more than eveyone else in the world). We could redirect that amount of money to benefit our citizens for a better life and still be a super power. But those that are raping our treasury would never give up their influence nor those that profit, the corruption that benefits them.

It is a statement on how the best things on GD-P are being overlooked, while many of the posts with angry, hostile messages are hotly debated, when I see that I am the first to nominate this high quality OP.

This is exactly the type of thinking and organized presentation of ideas that has made DU the most interesting political discussion site on the internet. Thank you for putting this together for us.

I think border security is important, but do not think that a fence on the southern border is in and of itself a good answer. As you noted, the relationship with Mexico is an essential place for focusing on the issues involved.

Getting out of Iraq will be more difficult than getting in was. Likewise, the Bush administration may have blown the opportunity to accomplish positive, long-term goals in Afghanistan.

But, mainly, I support the idea so that we can get past it and start working on the relationship with Mexico in a holistic manner. In the grand scheme of things, it would not be that expensive to do. And, if it quiets down the right/left bickering and gets us into the meat of the issue (that Mexico is a basket case, despite its resources, its family- and community-oriented culture and the solid work ethic of its people) then it is a concession I'd be willing to make.

But I think you might agree when I say that helping Mexico improve its situation is the ultimate solution to the problem of illegal immigration from that country.

He's from Chicago. Much of the world lives there now.