Iraq, another reason to hire me after graduation

So I'm really not paying that much attention to the '08 election. At least not as much as other people think I am. Its more out of cynicism than actual ambivalence. My area of expertise (ha ha, expertise. that's funny) is in foreign policy, and I don't think the next American president is going to change it very much. American foreign policy since the Cold War has remained fairly static, even as the sphere in which it operates has changed dramatically. Military aid is given strategic countries no matter what regime is in power, democratic appearances are more important than practice for our allies, etc. Some things will definitely change because there is intense pressure to do so. Namely, the war in Iraq.

I will be voting for Obama in the coming election. I didn't vote for him in the primaries because my registration is for Florida and therefore not counted, so I just didn't vote. However, I don't like what he's saying about the US role in Iraq. This excerpt was taken from a BBC article, where I get most of my news. Because I usually like my news to not be ridiculous.

'In his speech at the International Trade Center in Washington, Mr Obama said: "This war diminishes our security, our standing in the world, our military, our economy, and the resources that we need to confront the challenges of the 21st Century."

Al-Qaeda has an expanding base in Pakistan that is probably no farther from their old Afghan sanctuary than a train ride from Washington to Philadelphia Excerpt from Barack Obama speech Read the speech in full [48KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here

He said the conflict in Iraq must be brought to an end as "the central front in the war on terror is not Iraq, and it never was".

Mr Obama said that as president he would take the US in a new direction, and a priority would be to finish the fight against the Taleban and al-Qaeda, which has an expanding base in Pakistan.

He said the troop surge policy had actually hurt America's overall strategic interests, by diverting resources away from Afghanistan, just as the situation there was deteriorating.

Mr Obama said a withdrawal from Iraq would allow a much-needed redeployment of troops.

He said sustained co-operation was needed between Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nato to root out al-Qaeda and the Taleban.

"It is unacceptable that almost seven years after nearly 3,000 Americans were killed on our soil, the terrorists who attacked us on 9/11 are still at large," he said.'

Yes, I do think the War on Terror had nearly no gains in invading Iraq, but guess what...it does now. al Qaeda's presence to date is minimal and not really welcomed but an unstable Iraq has obvious consequences for American security. If Iraq fails, again, the blow back would be even worse. There are many many different attitudes towards the invasion going around in Iraq and there is no reason to suppose that the "Americans did us a favor and we're better off" view will be the one to survive. Leaving Iraq entirely will leave many grievances unheard and untended to and the area will be ripe for conflict again and again. We cannot afford to leave Iraq nor Afghanistan without better efforts at reconstruction.

So yeah, another reason why I should be gainfully employed once I get my master's. I'mma rebuild me some nations. Yay Peacebuilding!

Afghanistan Should Motivate You to Hire Me

Amid reports of the bombing on the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan, I started thinking more about just how completely devastated that country is. It is quite possibly worse off than Iraq. At least Iraq gets more American attention. Afghanistan is just screwed, there is little hope for reconstruction as long as the US has to concentrate all its efforts in Iraq.

Corruption is rampant, and no one in the international community really seems at all motivated to do anything about it. The people most effected and the most motivated are powerless.

Peacebuilding is a lot more than negotiating cease fires and I hope the next administration starts sending more experts into those areas that need it the most and ease up a bit (or a lot, hopefully) on the military aid.

Come on, Obama. I've got one more semester. Give me a job. Preferably in December.*



*Of course, I'm not proposing entry level Peace Studies undergrads get sent off to random F@cked-up-istans. But at least start moving them in that direction.

Let's See How Far We've Come

I seriously almost cried when I listen to Obama's speech after winning the Iowa Caucus last night. So many students, people my age, came and voted for him. That's amazing. It just goes to prove that my hopes for this generation are not unfounded. We will be the get up and do something generation, no the "me" or "slacker", but the kids who want to make a change and then make it happen.

I would be happy to have Mr. Obama as my president, and lets hope I still like him when he is. Presidents do have a way of becoming complete dickheads while they're in office, but then when they're out, they do the most amazing things, a la Bill Clinton.

So much has been written about it already, I don't think I could ever add to all the great things that have been said. Instead, here is a compilation of what I have read and admired:

The Amazing Speech

Obama Wins Iowa's Democratic Caucus

Obama's Youth Vote Triumph

The Conventional Wisdom Defied

A Matchbox 20 song and video that totally sum up my feelings about the coming elections. Except without the pessimism.