Foreign Affairs
For far two long our foreign policy has been tied to the United States. Throughout its history the U.S has a record of being clumsy and unsuccessful in diplomacy, with the military always close behind. Against us in 1776, again in 1812, Mexico 1846, the Confederacy 1861, the Spanish in 1898, the Germans as late entrants in 1916 and 1941 and Vietnam in the 1960s. The sole attack on the US was from Japan in 1941. Their most successful period in foreign policy was in the post war reconstruction of Europe and Japan. The military association with diplomacy is born out by military officers taking posts in very many Administrations. Twelve Generals have gone on to be President. Well matched and effective confronting an aggressive Soviet Union in the Cold War, their style lacks finesse to solve complex local issues of which historic failures in Cuba, Lybia , Vietnam the the Middle East offer evidence.
There can be no doubt that our own British foregn policy is due for major overhaul. We need to de-couple from the U.S directly, even if in many areas we remain on a similar track. We need a new strategic balance with Russia and closer ties with China which will become the economic and militiary mega power of the mid twenty first century. For the local flash points of Iran, Israel and the Palastinians, India/Pakistan/Afghanistan, Korea and Taiwan we must develop an independent, enlightened, realistic and constructive approach which will deliver not more decades of rhetoric and confrontation but practical resolution. It is clear that President Obama has changed the climate of American foreign policy and the award of the Nobel Peace Prize recognises that. We will help him best if we have, and be seen to have, an indepedent approach opening new perspectives to old problems.
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