| U.S.-Iran Negotiations |
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| The 21st century is presenting the world with a surprisingly dangerous and complex set of interlocking challenges: global warming ; environmental degradation; declining energy resources declining in relation to demand ; the rising insistence of the world’s disadvantaged for respect and a realignment of the distribution of both political power and economic resources. The challenge of the 21st century may require the enunciation of a similar set of principles to govern how we execute foreign policy. A few suggestions follow: Principle #1. Violence is a poor strategy for solving complex problems. Principle #2. It’s not "truth" but perceptions that matter. Principle #3. Nothing is ever black and white. Principle #4. Taboos exist to protect the guilty. |
| Is War Rational? |
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| The strategy being employed by the U.S. of setting the stage for talks with threats and pressure seem unlikely to lead to real success (initial upbeat reports notwithstanding), which raises the question of why such an approach has been adopted. Do American leaders fail to understand that the world has evolved past the old gunboat diplomacy stage, or is success in the talks simply not Washington’s goal? Whatever the truth, Washington’s approach to these talks makes it likely that they will accomplish much less than might otherwise have been the case. |