bombing to resume

[Colin Danby <danbyc@xxxxxxx>]

Gen. Powell's statement today on being nominated Secretary of State
deserves close attention.  It promises support for "missile defense,"
and all but announces renewed bombing of Iraq.  I am reminded of the way
that Reagan came into office.

Foreign policy (or more aptly, killing foreigners) plays an important
domestic political role because it's the one area where the President
has complete discretion.  A President Bush who finds it difficult to get
any domestic agenda passed will be tempted to use this to toss the right
some red meat and distinguish himself from the Clinton administration.
Since Clinton was hardly averse to bombing folks on the flimsiest of
pretexts, as in the shameful attack on Somalia, we can expect an
escalation.

One may not agree with all their alternatives, but I commend to people's
attention the "Foreign Policy in Focus" site,
http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/ which represents a serious effort
to think through a large number of issues.

Best, Colin