My mother, an American, was always amused, after coming to live in Britain, by
the euphemism of “helping police with inquiries” for those who had just been
arrested. “What helpful suggestions could you make?” she would say. “Have
you thought of looking in the river?”
It seems just as presumptuous to advise a superpower on how to repair its
world image and restore its influence abroad when it doesn't recognise the
conversation. Bush Administration officials, and many of its citizens, have
often made clear that they don't give a damn what others think.
All the same, I have offered suggestions for change, which would improve the
predicament in which America finds itself after Iraq and President George W.
Bush. There are practical steps it could take to improve relations with
countries which should be its allies and people who should be its natural
supporters.
The changes would help retrieve the United States' authority in advocating its
values of liberal democracy and its belief in a world governed by the rule
of law and international treaties, which many people and governments are now
challenging, or rejecting altogether. The list may also be a balm for the
self-laceration with which some Americans have tormented themselves during
Iraq and the Bush years. There is a line beyond which the US should not go
in accommodating a planet-full of critics.
There are some actions for which it should apologise, but there is a limit
beyond which it should concede nothing. It should not apologise for its
central values, or for its essential difference from those who dislike its
choices.
Give a nod to co-operation
The Bush Administration, in its closing months, has tried to make some
correction itself and become a partial convert to the notion of civility. It
called together the Annapolis summit on the Middle East in November 2007,
and tried hard not to wreck the international talks on climate change in
Bali shortly afterwards. It began working energetically within the UN system
it had derided ahead of the Iraq invasion to secure tighter sanctions on
Iran and a joint approach on Darfur. But fully repairing the Bush
Administration's relations with the world was a lost cause by mid-2007.
A mere change of tone from the abrasion of the Bush Administration will not
solve America's problems abroad, but it would be a start. It is not going to
dissolve entrenched opposition within a UN whose instincts are often
profoundly anti-American, nor is it going to erase the differences that run
deep between America and Europe over the Middle East and the War on Terror.
But it would be a first defence against the charge that America is
indifferent to the principle of a world governed by laws, unless they suit
its own interests.
Stop demonising China
Trade is America's best chance to pull China further within the laws and
institutions of the developed world. It would help to tone down the
fear-mongering about China, an area where Congress presents a more extreme
face to the world than do America's presidents (although European
governments are now outstripping it). But the sabre-rattling and antagonism
helps America in nothing: not in enforcing trade rules, nor in racing to buy
up energy supplies, nor in heading off the threat of proliferation in Iran,
North Korea or the Middle East.
That is not to say that China is entirely benign. But America would get
further by pointing out to China that engagement in these problems is in its
own interest, and that its traditional distaste for involving itself in
diplomacy is unsustainable.
Stay engaged in Iraq and the region
America will be judged across the world by its handling of the Iraq debacle
after Bush. It can pull out troops, but it cannot cut and run from the
problem overall, out of responsibility to Iraqis, and out of its own
self-interest.
Part of that solution will be continuing to work to unblock the
Israeli-Palestinian deadlock, to which the Bush Administration gave only
sporadic attention. “Engagement” is an overused word, but it means, at the
least, recognition that the United States is the only party that can put
pressure on Israel to make the concessions which will be a central part of
any deal. It also means persistence, even when a deal seems impossible, as
now.
Consider talking to Iran
Iran's apparent determination to put itself within reach of its own nuclear
weapons is one of America's most difficult foreign problems. Bombing Iran's
suspected nuclear sites - and there might be hundreds - was never
attractive, and is not now. But the unfortunately phrased conclusions of the
National Intelligence Estimate, published at the end of 2007, allowed Iran
to claim the high ground.
No option is attractive, but it is at least easier for Bush's successor, not
having branded it part of an “axis of evil”, to consider talking to Iran
about mutual interests for security in the region.
The policy of withholding mere contact with the United States as punishment,
which was a core tactic of the Bush Administration, has manifestly not
worked.
Drop the phrase “War on Terror” and shut Guantanamo
Giving up the language of war may be hard for any American president to do;
anything that sounds like faltering in the face of the United States'
enemies will carry a political price. But keeping it carries a cost, too. It
alienates those in Europe who tend to find the term an unhelpful conflation
of different local threats and who believe it invests terrorists with heroic
grandeur, when they should be regarded as criminals.
It has also led the US into the entirely unnecessary mess of Guantanamo Bay,
compromising its own claim to be defending principles of freedom and
justice, and being condemned around the world for the sake of a few hundred
captives, most of whom it does not have evidence to charge. It should try
the captives in its own conventional courts, or let them go, and shut the
camp - surely an irresistibly easy gesture for Bush's successor to make.
A warning to Europe
Any successor of George W. Bush will want to seem different. But Europe is
going to be disappointed if it expects all the things it has disliked about
Bush to fall away at the same time. That won't happen - and shouldn't.
Europe will no doubt get something of what it wants in a president who
sounds keener on working with other countries - but that could bring Europe
itself new discomfort. It would produce demands - for military spending, for
trade concessions which Europe, in turn, might not want to meet.
It would be an insidious trap for Europe to set: to pretend that Bush was in
every respect uniquely offensive; to set hopes for his successor so high, to
ignore the real differences of interest, and then, to condemn America once
again for failing to fall in line with unrealistic expectations which deny
that its own interests are different from those of Europe.
© Bronwen Maddox 2008. Extracted from In Defence of America, to be published
by Duckworth Overlook on September 11 at £12.99. Buy it for £11.69, p&p
free, from Booksfirst:
0870 160 8080 or www.timesonline.co.uk/booksfirst
Cassie--Agree. Everyone solve their own problems. Build a massive miltary, but stay home unless threatened
Nick, Goldaming--Free trade = open seas; US does it now--any other volunteers?
Chris Coles--Georgians should sweep away fear of war?
Joe, Sussex--We don't care whether you like us.
Terry L. Walker, Ladson, SC / USA
OK, the US can close all the military bases in Europe. You will have new masters as soon as they can gas up their tanks, and they all speak Russian. It's fine, since even with all the Russian forces as well as the European forces added together, they will still be the second ranked military power.
Bob, Kansas City, USA
If America is the only party that can pressure Israel to make concessions, which nation(s) is(are) both able and willing to pressure the Palestinians into making corresponding concessions? It is grossly unrealistic to demand or expect all the concessions to come from one side!
Don Dempsey, Des Moines, Iowa, USA
I for one believe we should pull out from all areas around the world and become like Switzerland. It's true how the say it's loneley at the top. I can't wait till China takes over.
Cassie, Tucson, AZ, USA
Fantastic write-up. But, last, but not the least, is to temporarily occupy the lawless tribal areas of Pakistan to flush out the Taliban remnants, Osama included. Release all poor innocent priosners like Osama's driver and Sawahiri's barber etc from Gitmo, which Amnesty called 'Gulag of our times'.
mathew, Mumbai, India
I am finding it difficult to accept from americans that everyone should 'mind their own business', when the US manifestly does not. Stop moralising at and intimidating other countries and worry abot your own problems America, and you may find that others stop worrying about you.
WB, Oxford, UK
Let the Americans be. It is not for us to comment on how they should conduct their affairs. We've got a whole load of pressing problems: recession; rising crime; the most incompetent government ever. I think we're more badly in need of a makeover and we should be discussing that instead.
Jules, London, UK
I fear the upcoming elections will be make or break for the USA. A win for Obama will show a collective willingness for change on the part of the US people. If McCain wins it will signal the opposite - that the project of America has failed beyond repair.
Kate, Southampton, UK
No, It's not presumptuous. If America wish to sell themselves as a self proclaimed police force for the world, they have to understand the only way to achieve anything is through co-operation, and not unilateral action. If they're not big enough to take advice, there's no hope.
Nick, Godalming, UK
The President doesn't control America, the transnational corporations do-- just like Britain. The money powers control the puppets they fund to get into office, to say otherwise is misleading your readers. War is about money and power for the very few, not freedom that's promoted by the media.
james, venice, fl, USA
Most British people dislike George Bush for starting the Iraq war.
...And dislike Americans for giving him a second chance.
Joe, Sussex, UK
This articles seems to tell America what we need to change in order to make the World a better place and the same time admonishing us for doing what we think is best to make the better place. I'm sorry you can't have it both ways.
Donna, USA
Donna Utley, Fort Worth, USA
You went a lot easier on us, than I do. We still have far too many 'empire builders'. Their motto is 'might makes right'. They have little regard for their countrymen and even less for the other peoples of the World. They take issue with any external criticism. They are a small powerful minority.
Steve McPherson, Issaquah, WA, USA
Why the misconception that the U.S. wants to fix the world's problems? The only 'fixing' done is in their own strategic interests, and always results in dead innocents, destruction, and breeding more Bin Ladens. Was Al Q in Iraq before the U.S.? Come on, it's OIL OIL OIL and world domination.
Ronald, Nicosia, Cyprus
Ms. Maddox -
I read your book.
It makes an assumption - Europe is right - and then proceeds to tell America how to get back to being 'good' again.
Perhaps it's not America that has gone off course. Maybe Europe as a skewered view of the world (as we saw with EU/Russia today).
Kuchlenz, Fort Lewis, Washington, USA
What Europe should realize is that America is not going to go to hell in a hand basket arm in arm with leftist pacifists of Europe. America will not commit cultural suicide with you. Appeasing and capitulating has brought Europe nothing in return.
Dave, Boston, USA
Repair our nation's image? Did you ever think that perhaps we were ahead of the curve? It isn't easy doing unpopular things.We are 'cooperating' with France now that their leader and ours are in synch. Leadership is necessary,but not always popular.
Michael, Ridgewood NJ, USA
Europe-get real. Certainly we need to grow closer, and learn from mistakes - but it's not us who needs to change the most. Mistakes aside, we got the Iraq war right, not you. We got the right economic model, not you. For decades our economy outperforms yours 6 out of every 7 years. Please grow up.
Daniel, New Jersey, USA
It will be interesting to see if your book "In Defense of America" will be available in Russia, China, or Iran. (With a title like that, you're probably going to have trouble getting speaking engagements at a lot of American universities!)
Jim Connors, Durham,
An irrational fear about impending war and to Chamberlain and appeasement, show us the citizens of the United States have to come to terms with the FACT that the rest of the world is not about to go to war against them. They must sweep away fear of war to win the war against fear to make new friends
Chris Coles, Medstead, Alton, United Kingdom
Most of the suggestions made in this article were adopted four years ago at the outset of the second Bush term. I just returned from Iraq. Things are a lot better there now than they were the last time I was there.
Darden Cavalcade, Washington DC, USA
Emily,
If the US did remove its (largely for the better) influence on the rest of the world do you really think others (Russia, China, etc) would do the same? Wishful thinking I am afraid. And as a member of the worlds richest 10% don't you think you do have a christian responsibility for others?
Noah, Knutsford, UK
Monica Stone, Portland, Oregon, USA,
Erm, I think think you'll find that Neville Chamberlain was Prime Minister of the UK, not Europe!
Alex, London,
Americans aren't better than people from the rest of world, we know that. America is better than the rest of the world however because of the freedoms bestowed upon us by our founding fathers. Bush got that and he was never apologetic about exporting freedom for the good of all of us, EU included.
Richard, Atlanta, GA, "The States"
America is at its best when it ignores world opinion and refers to its own constitution, bill of rights and emphasis on rugged individualism - that is the shining light that America offers the world. listening to all and sundry pulling them in a million different directions is counter-productive..
tim, NSW, AUS
So the answer is for America to become more like Europe, eh? Do less, talk more, everything will be okay. "Make love, not war" is a great slogan, but hardly an effective foreign policy. The US worked through the UN for 12 YEARS before going into Iraq...Euros seem to forget that. UN is impotent.
Bob, Baltimore, USA
America is at its best when it ignores world opinion and refers to its own constitution, bill of rights and emphasis on rugged individualism - that is the shining light that America offers the world. listening to all and sundry pulling them in a million different directions is counter-productive.
tim, NSW, AUS
Try to stop looking in the mirror for a few moments and you Yanks might start to remember you are merely part of the human race. At the end of the day when like me you take your final breath, remember what you could have built, instead of what you destroyed.
You might get a real last fright.
Mike, Edinburgh, Scottish Republic
Don't we know it, Dave from Calgary. But what Canada - who likes to perpetuate the myth of having made the right choice at a moral crosscroads - hasn't figured out is that most of America's burdens have been assigned by geopolitical circumstances. So, shine your blue helmets and back off.
Brian, Barnstable, MA, US
These comments, coming from a country where the majority of the islamic terrorist plots come from (and still do!), is a bit rich as you would say. America was attacked. America has rightly gone after the global terror networks and did it efficiently. America will need to remain alert to this threat
Bob Macdonald, London, UK
You would think England would have learned from Chamberlins embarrasment but we see not. Liberals in Europe are obsessed with what the rest of the world thinks of them . I would rather do the right thing then do what my friends want me to do. Fighting terrorism across the world is a good thing.
Dan, Bedford, USA
China is a threat, Iran wants to rule the world?!? Collective insanity, absolutely no understanding of history and it is most probable that America will continue from blunder to blunder as it seeks to achieve intangible goals and ideals
tom, london, UK
The people who hate the US will continue to hate the US whoever is in the White House. GWB just gave them a more fashionable excuse. London dinner party debates start at GWB and then launch out to abuse all 300m Americans. And Europe has been doing this for 200 yrs - BO won't change that.
Mark, Berkhamsted,
Oh dear, what would Milo Minderbinder do? All these countries like Iran who want nuclear weapons and we have about 8,000 of them. Why not skip all the drama and just sell them some of our extras before they go bad like so much milk. We could make a handsome profit and prove that free markets work.
Robert, Lake Wales, FL, US
If America pulled away, what then for Afghanistan, Israel, Iraq, even Europe and Australia? Wake up, Western World! We're in the midst of a life or death struggle with fundamentalist and merciless Islamic radicalism worldwide. The implications of this will be profound into future generations.
Peter, Auckland, New Zealand
You are right. It IS presumptuous. And not new, either. All of these points have been amply and publicly discussed here, in the USofA. Some of them make sense to the majority of Americans, others not so much. We are the ones who will have to choose, and I doubt we wil be turning to you for advice.
Sarka Bohemina, San Francisco,
Maybe we should talk to Iran and then we can show live coverage of our returning diplomat waving a paper bearing the signature of their leader promising never to go to war with one another again.
geoff bob, miami, Amerika
Direct talks stopped 1980. We talk to them thru a 3rd party. Iran wants to rule the world. Under Clinton we treated the sheik and his followers as criminals. At the trial so much classified info got out it helped Bin Laden for 9/11. Do you have a solution without reveling our security?
Sandra , Santa Barbara, CA, USA
Yea yea, whatever Bronwen. I agree with Emily from Ireland. You worry about you, we'll worry about us. Everybody will love the US then right, right?
Ed, Greenville, North Carolina, usa
It's hard to act in concert with Europe when you hardly cooperate with each other.Iran's theocratic dictatorship cannot be reasoned with regardless.I agree Guantanamo trials based on EVIDENCE.How about "Campaign against radicalism"? Secure Iraq for the Iraqis then leave.China is a threat,face it.
Ian, Austin TX, USA
I enjoyed this article. America has badly bungled the opportunity that it had to help the Iraqi people. Europe has made it's own mistakes, however, and has obviously not learned from them. Example, prime minister Chamberlain and Hitler. They should remember that too.
Monica Stone, Portland, Oregon, USA
Spread America's liberal democratic values by hugging China while it cracks Tibetan skulls. Make nice-nice to Iran while it attempts to build nuclear bombs. Close Gitmo and send everyone back to their countries of origin - their to be tortured or alternatively kill again. Great plan!
James E. Geoffrey II, Falls Church, Virginia, USA
Emily, Dublin, Ireland
As an American, I agree with you 100%. In fact I have wanted the US to lose it "only world power" status so that the money that is now wasted on many anti-american countries can be put to better use here in the US.
Ruth , Cary NC , US
In other words, practice fairness of thought, speech and actions.
There is more to being a superpower than being a bully. Try to stay out of other peoples' business. Look after your own troubles before everybody else gets them. Keep your dogs on leash and rabies-free.
Dave, Calgary,
The US needs to fix their own country and encourage others to do the same.
Let people take care of themselves. Why try to fix all the problems of the world? It only fuels resentment.
European countries need to do the same.
We need to solve our own problems.
Others are not my responsibility.
Emily, Dublin, Ireland