A Brief Commentary on American Affairs

A Brief Commentary on American Affairs

After 9/11, The Iraq War wrapped up the U.S.’s Middle Eastern strategy of the Cold War Era by preventing the U.S. imported weapons of mass destruction from flowing from Iraq into Iran and Russia. In the days when the Iraq War reached the point of no return, Bush didn’t have time for a comprehensive global war strategy and could only send in troops. He was unable to make this public but agreed to an off the record interview with the media, the content of which remained unpublicised. It was only then did further suspicions from the public stop.

U.S. citizens are disappointed and angry with Bush’s eight-year term almost up and still no blueprint for his strategy.

This is mainly because Bush not only lacks extraordinary ability, but also ordinary ability. His ‘brain trust’* was ineffective. During his two terms, people had expected from him a general war strategy and a resolution to the problem of Iraq. The people’s trust had a louder voice, and the media all sang different tunes based on different circles of influence. Bush was re-elected.

During his second term when Bush looked to Condoleezza Rice to be Secretary of State, she was too busy dating. Besides, her specialty was the Soviet Union, and, since the USSR was no more, she no longer counted as a professional. So she goes wherever Bush tells her to go and says whatever Bush tells her to say. Ms. Rice is happy to make no contribution just as long as she does not commit an error, happy to drift along until the end of her term and to then retire.

Bush failing to come up with a foreign policy in his second term is his biggest dereliction of duty. Not only can the ill-lucked Bush not make anything out of his own political platform, but he also repeatedly gets sabotaged by the Democrats, for istance when he was voted down for offshore drilling. Many suggestions by the two houses of Congress repeatedly went in one ear and out the other. Bush is content to muddle through his last two years in office.

The sad thing is that neither of the two current candidates is suited for the position of President. Out of the two, McCain’s foreign policies and domestic policies are clearer and more straightforward. McCain’s foreign policies do not include making Russia an enemy, and the possibilities that Russia will become the U.S.’s enemy are also very small. His take on the problems with Iraq and Iran are still undecided, because those problems originate from those between the U.S. and Russia. So before the problems between the U.S. and Russia are clarified, other issues cannot be confirmed. The first thing he should do in office is to handle the issues between the U.S. and Russia. Once these are resolved, all other problems would clear up. Palin would be in charge of domestic affairs.

Domestic priorities are the problems with resources and energy. So long as America can resolve the issues of resources and self-sufficiency, it is guaranteed a bright future. The U.S. can save an enormous amount of military expenses by no longer having to protect energy sources from overseas. This is why all of Palin’s televised debates revolve around the problem of energy. At the same time, the energy issue in the U.S. also influences America’s foreign policies. If McCain wins, it would be America’s good fortune. If within four years he can outline a realistic blueprint, then it would be mission accomplished. The only downside to a McCain administration is his age. He would not have the vigor needed for the job, and his vice president is too young and lacks experience.

Obama and Biden are a pair of opportunists. They lack experience in both international and domestic affairs, as well as logic and faith. When Obama was answering the question whether the U.S. and Russia will become enemies, he did not know whether the U.S. and Russia will become involved in another cold war. He therefore talked in circles. McCain used the word “maybe” and answered the unknown with what he did know about the relationship between the U.S. and Russia.

Regarding domestic affairs, Obama is even more uncertain. Like a parrot he just sings what he hears about ‘green energy’, but is often off key. He insists in solving the domestic crisis of energy dependency, but opposes the excavation of domestic resources.

Palin says she supports excavation of domestic resources because oil in the underground is mobile. Oil flows to wherever it is being drilled for. If America can get oil from its backyard, why give money to the Muslims? Even though this argument doesn’t cover everything, it does have a solid basis.

The environmental concern of drilling in America’s backyard is a non-issue. Not drilling for oil does not stop oil consumption or dependency. Even though dependency of fossil fuels cannot be eliminated, the environmental problems brought about by fossil fuels also cannot be eliminated, but there is no difference between excavating in America’s backyard and excavating in the Middle East.

However, this view is completely opposite to that of McCain, because he voted against it. Even though McCain already shifted his stance by choosing Palin as his running mate, he cannot convince the voters otherwise within the next few days.

If Obama wins this election, the U.S. will continue to fly aimlessly for the next four years, followed by a race between Hillary and Palin, with Hillary having a greater advantage. If McCain were to win, there would still be a race between Hilary and Palin, with Palin having a greater chance. We will see in four years.

*editors note: close group of advisors