Constine/Xahar/Intermoderate Foreign Policy Debate

[King]

Question for Ben:  Did the UK exist before 1945?

[King]

I nominate Admiral Stockdale.

[King]

I would volunteer, but I'm afraid DWTL would consider my foreign policy views horrible as well.

[King]

I would volunteer, but I'm afraid DWTL would consider my foreign policy views horrible as well.

Are a socialist lunatic or an ultra-zionist racist?  Because seriously if your not one of those it would be a step up.  I'll volunteer though if necessary

No, but I'm on the left side of the spectrum.

[King]

If Xahar's OK with it, Intermoderate will be our third participant.

Ok.

I'll probably start out strong, lose interest and act like my hero Admiral Stockdale for the rest of the debate.

[King]

Thank you Mikado, Xahar, Constine, and anybody bored enough to read this debate.  Sorry I'm behind everyone else here.  I wasn't sure if I was going to be in this thing or not so I'll have to improvise my opener.  I wrote this mainly in contrast of Xahar and Constine's openers


I believe a more intellectual, diplomatic approach in all foreign matters to be the key to progress.  I am not an advocate for a full-fledged "world government" as I believe that effective governing is built on meeting small, culture-specific needs.  Even in our own country, it is very difficult to pass a federal law that positively effects both the residents of Louisiana and the residents of Vermont.  As such, it would be nearly impossible for the United States and East Timor to follow a completely uniform policy doctrine. This is because in a hierarchy, regardless of size, the top of the pyramid always has the least understanding of the needs of the bottom.  This is why I believe worldwide government and worldwide laws and values and blind United States interventionism, while noble in theory, would only lead to more wars and struggle.  

[King]

The opening statement can come later. Let's get to things.

EDIT: Never mind, Entrant #3 is posting in this thread.

It appears our moderate is on a coffee break.

[King]

It's kind of late on the East Coast...

Then, we will continue tomorrow.

Preferably at night as I work 9 to 5.

[King]

Ideally, NATO will evolve into the security force of the European Union, which will ideally expand its membership to include the entire continent, Western and Eastern.  As a result, I would like to see the United States have less of a controlling interest in the organization and become more focused on strengthening the United Nations and Organization of American States as NATO becomes mainly a European group although I support the US and Canada retaining its membership.

I also believe it's an absolute joke when we hear about NATO assisting the UN, the African Union, etc., etc., with missions in Darfur and other non-European conflicts.  Rather than having this Western military organization be a foundation of the world's fighting power, we should be giving the diplomatic intergovernmental unions more tools of their own.

[King]

Afghanistan is must-win and potentially a better project for establishing an American-flagship pawn in Asia.  It is also potential a new frontier for cheap, uneducated, exploitable labor--in case China and India start asking too many questions.

In all seriousness, I think the best thing for this country would be to give it a strong socialist government.  I don't like the idea of socialism in America as much as the next guy, but in all honesty, the only way people will be on our side is if we give them things that make them like us and only a big government could provide such services.  Tribal leaders, who are really the only ones capable of defeating the Taliban because of their knowledge on the ground, would gladly defend a government that would build hospitals, schools, project housing, etc. in their towns.  It certainly wouldn't cost more to build these institutions than it does to fund major military endeavors there.

[King]

This very well may be the most boring debate in the history of the Atlas.  I need to get involved with one of these

You can take my spot if you want.

[King]

This very well may be the most boring debate in the history of the Atlas.  I need to get involved with one of these

You can take my spot if you want.

No, it's not your fault, Xahar and Constine are just two of the most boring people and they aren't even jabbing at each other

You can still take my spot.

I'm done with this one.  I agree it needs flavor.

Flavor only DWTL can bring.

[King]

I believe I won this debate.