That was the question—with respect to the global problems we currently face—that Tom Brokaw posed to the spectacular panel at "Enhancing the U.S.'s Role in the World," sponsored by t
On Day One, the next president needs to take stock of how eroded and degraded our foreign policy position is with much of the world. One of the lowest-hanging-fruit opportunities to improve our foreign policy portfolio is to use people-to-people exchange, cultural exchange, and relaxed travel allowances to open up our relationship with Cuba.
We spend $23.5bn on foreign assistance, much of which is mismanaged and corrupted, and not ending up in the hands of those to whom it's intended (i.e. the poor!). The next president needs to make a concerted effort to reform our broken foreign assistance programs. We should use PROVEN models of assistance that will provide for wealth accumulation for the poor from the bottom up -- things like development of microfinance, conditional cash transfer programs, and child development accounts.
On Day One, the next president should call for a summit meeting in Washington for all great powers - including allies, Security Council permanent members like China and Russia, and emerging powers like India. Rather than enlarge the out-of-date UN Security Council, the next administration should convene this "global great power concert" with informal meetings of heads of state on a regular basis.
My recommendation for our next president, on Day One of his or her administration, is - after hopefully already having boycotted the Olympics - to urge the Chinese to have a dialog with the Dalai Lama, to give Tibetans autonomy, and to stop the oppression and genocide. We should also work with the Chinese on other issues, like Darfur and other human rights issues, as well as on economics. It is time to talk with the Chinese and work with the world community to apply pressure on them.
If America is such a great democracy-spreader, it should be calling for the independence of a people who actually want it. Tibet has been under oppressive Chinese rule since the '50s, and wants to be free. The Dalai Lama has declared that if Tibet were freed, it would become a democracy, rather than returning to the old theocracy. Call on China to free Tibet!
Don't go to war unless you have a Declaration of War from Congress authorizing it (otherwise the war goes on forever).
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Don't go to war unless the threat is IMMINENT. If it is, then ONLY go after the selected individuals involved.
I would like to see the next President hold a forum between various countries and the leaders of China. It would not be a bashing session, but rather, hopefully, a productive and non-biased attempt to make progress. China is economically growing stronger; there is no doubt about that, but we can help China become a better world partner in other ways. All countries can use some work in this area, but we can help the World become a better place by starting with the World's biggest population.
