 |
Fri May 16 2008 | |||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
Departments Election Issues Foreign Policy Forecast: If Bush Wins | If Kerry Wins by Muqtedar Khan October 18, 2004 The American Presidential election is always important for the rest of the world. The US is the primary sponsor and maintainer of the present global order and changes in the US can have direct impact in the economic and political structure of the world. This time the elections are doubly important because of the enormous ideational and ideological differences between the two candidates on how the global order must be structured and serviced. If Bush Wins If George W. Bush wins he and his neoconservative ideologues will assume that their departure from traditional American foreign policy positions has been vindicated and they may be tempted to pursue the same course with greater arrogance, recklessness and abandon. 1. Expect more attempts at regime changes, particularly in Iran, Sudan, Syria and perhaps Saudi Arabia. It is possible that the Neocons may turn on Pakistan and its nuclear capabilities to ensure that no Muslim country has the capacity to ever balance/threaten Israel in the near or distant future. 2. There will be no progress on the Palestinian State. Israel will consolidate further in the West Bank. 3. The US will further undermine the international law and the multilateral order, and the world will not only distance itself from the US but will also seek to contain its belligerence. 4. US relations with the Muslim World as well as with Europe and Africa will deteriorate. 5. Islamists will have more influence on the Muslim mind and politics and may very well come to power in Sudan, Iraq, and Pakistan as anti-Americanism will rise in the Muslim World. 6. US moral authority internationally will decline as the Patriot Act will be renewed and the civil rights situation at home will suffer. The US will rig the Iraqi elections [a fair elections will bring anti-American politicians to power and undermine the very purpose of Us invasion of Iraq]. 7. US deficit will continue to rise at astronomical rates, so will oil prices. They will at least remain high. 8. There will be more terrorist attacks, especially on softer and softer targets in more and more places, as Bush and his neocons make the world safer. 9. The trial of Saddam Hussein will make a mockery of America's moral claims and the world in its misery will have something to laugh about especially since it means laughing at America. 10. Iraq's security situation and puppet regime and Karzai's remote controlled governance of Afghanistan will continue to undermine the cause of democracy in the Muslim mind. If Kerry Wins We must be prepared that John Kerry will deliver less than he promises on Iraq, on the war on terror, on the Middle East peace process and on the Patriot Act. But there will significant difference in John Kerry's approach which itself will diffuse to some extent the global fever of anti-Americanism and enhance cooperation on all matters. 1. The Neocons will be sent to pasture. There will be some degree of restoration of the multilateral order. UN and EU will be more cooperative and willing to work with the US in Iraq and elsewhere. 2. There will be no improvement in relations with Iran or Syria. John Kerry may use tough tactics with them to placate the Israeli lobby while trying to subdue Sharon's penchant for violence and kick start the peace process. 3. US obsession with Iraq will be reduced and the hunt for Bin Laden will become the primary goal of the war on terror. Al Qaeda will suffer and hopefully its capacity to organize attacks [such as in Indonesia, Turkey, Africa, Spain and Egypt since 9/11] will be genuinely diminished. 4. There will be no immediate improvement in Iraq but there will be more international involvement in Iraq. Iraqi elections may be delayed but will be fair. Some of the money promised by Bush for Iraqi development may finally reach Iraq. Halliburton's' stock will suffer. 5. Saudi Arabia, which is raking in billions as oil prices hover over $50 per barrel, and Pakistan will both face a tougher White House and we may see some movement towards serious reform in the two states. President Musharraf may be able to parley himself an extention, but it will not be under the same rosy circumstances as before. 6. Enhanced international cooperation will facilitate better US-Muslim relations and there will be some genuine effort at improving relations with the Muslim World. Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, and even Pakistan will benefit from positive US overtures. Having said that, I beseech every member of the Global community to step up their efforts to make the world a safer, more tolerant, less violent and more cooperative place. Let us not pass on the buck to the American President. Sometimes they too can be a part of the problem. Muqtedar Khan is Chair of Political Science at Adrian College and a Non-resident Fellow of the Brookings Institution. His website is www.ijtihad.org. Email this article to a friend |
Don't forget to check out articles from 2007 and 2008
"Ohio's official non-recount ends amidst new evidence of fraud, theft and judicial contempt mirrored in New Mexico"
December 31, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"Impossible Phantom Votes in New Mexico
"
December 30, 2004
Warren Stewart
"The 2004 Presidential Election: Who Won The Popular Vote? An Examination of the Comparative Validity of Exit Poll and Vote Count Data"
December 29, 2004
Jonathan D. Simon, J.D. and Ron P. Baiman, Ph.D.
"Ohio GOP election officials ducking notices of deposition as Kerry enters stolen vote fray"
December 28, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"Another third rate burglary"
December 25, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Hacking the vote in Miami County"
December 25, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Update from the Ohio Frontlines"
December 24, 2004
Cynthia L. Butler, Esq.
"Lawsuit Before the Ohio Supreme Court"
December 24, 2004
Summarized by Mary Anne Saucier, Columbus, Ohio
"Kerry votes switched to Bush and ballots pre-punched for Bush"
December 24, 2004
Dr. Werner Lange
"Uncounted votes in Cuyahoga County"
December 24, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Provisional ballots in Cuyahoga County"
December 24, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Uncounted votes in Summit County"
December 24, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Uncounted votes in Hamilton County"
December 24, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Default settings in Mahoning County"
December 23, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Ohio electoral fight becomes 'biggest deal since Selma' as GOP stonewalls"
December 22, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"Observations from an election observer"
December 22, 2004
M.J. Willow
"TV Networks Officially Refuse to Release Exit Poll Raw Data; Mainstream media finally displays true colors"
December 22, 2004
Gary Beckwith
"Election results in Southwestern Ohio"
December 21, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Voting Rights Groups 'Block' Talk of Machine-Free Elections"
December 20, 2004
Lynn Landes
"Statistics from Warren County"
December 20, 2004
Clint Cooper
"The greatest story never told"
December 20, 2004
Robert Lockwood Mills
"The United States of Ukraine?: Exit Polls Leave Little Doubt that in a Free and Fair Election John Kerry Would Have Won both the Electoral College and the Popular Vote"
December 19, 2004
Ron Baiman
"Certifiable election results"
December 19, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Sinclair Broadcasting's Long History of Journalistic and Corporate Deception"
December 19, 2004
Jason Leopold
"Ohio vote count battles escalate amidst new evidence of potential criminal activity"
December 18, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"American democracy hangs by a thread in Ohio"
December 15, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"Startling new revelations highlight rare Congressional hearings on Ohio vote"
December 13, 2004
Bob Fitrakis, Steve Rosenfeld and Harvey Wasserman
"New Ohio voter transcripts"
December 12, 2004
Free Press staff
"The One-Two Punch of Racism: Whitewashing the Voter Fraud Issue"
December 10, 2004
Greg Moses
"Rigging the vote in Lucas County
"
December 10, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Uncounted votes in Montgomery County"
December 10, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Why history demands an Ohio revote"
December 10, 2004
Harvey Wasserman & Bob Fitrakis
"Ohio election fraud uproar blasting to new level"
December 7, 2004
Steve Rosenfeld, Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
"Dirty work at the Philly polls"
December 3, 2004
Margie Burns
"Voter Suppression: STEALING VOTES IN OHIO URBAN AREAS (full documentation)"
December 3, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"In Ohio 2004, it's the People versus the Party of Hate & Terror and the Party of Duck and Run...but will the Democrats now stand and fight?"
December 1, 2004
Harvey Wasserman & Bob Fitrakis
"Warren County, Ohio: most successful voter registration drive in American political history, or stuffing the ballot box"
December 1, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Jesse Jackson demands Ohio presidential recount, blasts GOP election officials, and says Kerry supports the process"
November 29, 2004
Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman
"Kerry Supports Ohio Vote Investigation, Jackson says"
November 28, 2004
Steven Rosenfeld
"Hope for the Homestretch"
November 28, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"Favoritism in the suburbs"
November 27, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"New Ohio voter transcripts feed floodtide of doubt about Republican election manipulation"
November 25, 2004
Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman
"Election officials gave wrong information about provisional ballots - revealed in affidavit."
November 25, 2004
Neil F. Schoenwetter, Jr.
"US tells Ukraine to recount votes on fradulent election!"
November 25, 2004
Dr. J. Alva Scruggs
"Not counting the votes"
November 24, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Stealing votes in Columbus"
November 23, 2004
Richard Hayes Phillips, Ph.D.
"Making every vote count"
November 23, 2004
Christopher T. Hicks
"How a Republican election supervisor manipulated the 2004 central Ohio vote, in black and white"
November 23, 2004
Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
"More Ohio voter suppression testimony prompts upcoming legal filing for statewide recount"
November 20, 2004
Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
"Ohio Presidential Results to be Challenged"
November 20, 2004
Steven Rosenfeld
"Franklin County, Ohio voting machine assignments, and other information"
November 20, 2004
Free Press staff
"Coalition's Support of Voting Machines Causes Confusion
"
November 20, 2004
Lynn Landes
"Hearings on Ohio voting put 2004 election in doubt"
November 18, 2004
Bob Fitrakis & Harvey Wasserman
"Closing the Circle: The Corporatization of Elections"
November 17, 2004
Greg Coleridge
"Subordinating nation's secular values to zealots' will"
November 12, 2004
Pierre Tristam
"The Public Hearings and Rally About Election Fraud in Columbus, OH this weekend, Sat. 11/13-Please pass widely!"
November 12, 2004
Dr. Lora Chamberlain
"Slip-sliding away in Columbus"
November 11, 2004
Carolyn M. Sherman
"Green and Libertarian Presidential Candidates to Demand Ohio Recount"
November 11, 2004
Blair Bobier and Stephen Gordon
"An End To Mourning"
November 9, 2004
Todd Huffman, M.D.
"November 3rd action"
November 6, 2004
Mark Huntress
"The Bible, The Constitution, and the James Carville Experiment"
November 5, 2004
Tom Luffman
"Basic report from Columbus"
November 5, 2004
Ray Beckerman
"Waiting to vote"
November 5, 2004
James K. Galbraith
"Confessions of a political Know-Nothing in the wake of the 2004 elections"
November 4, 2004
Mark Anderson
"Let the spin begin"
November 4, 2004
Free Press staff
"Back Stabbers Cost Kerry in Ohio!"
November 4, 2004
Tom Luffman
"The Last Battle"
November 4, 2004
Sheila Samples
"Republican America! Republican Forever!"
November 3, 2004
Am Johal
"Is there inner-city election suppression in Franklin County, Ohio?"
November 2, 2004
Bob Fitrakis
"Michael Moore in Columbus"
November 1, 2004
Tom Luffman
"No love in the Heartland: Kerry gets mocked in Pa. school election"
November 1, 2004
Jamie Pietras
"Ten reasons for Greens to vote for Kerry"
November 1, 2004
Don St.Clair
"Twelve ways Bush is now stealing the Ohio vote"
October 27, 2004
Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman
"GW Bush Before the Iraq War
"
October 24, 2004
Larry S. Rolirad
"MISOGYNY"
October 24, 2004
David Podvin
"Foreign Policy Forecast: If Bush Wins | If Kerry Wins"
October 18, 2004
Muqtedar Khan
"Hope for the homestretch"
October 15, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"FactCheck.org says Cheney got it wrong"
October 8, 2004
Jason Leopold
"Do the Hokey Pokey"
October 6, 2004
Philip J. Rappa
"Hope for the homestretch"
October 2, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"Addressing Republican issues with John Kerry"
October 1, 2004
Free Press staff
"Gallup Polls- Conditioning for Vote Rigging?"
September 28, 2004
Stephen Crockett and Al Lawrence
"Too Many Cameras and Not Enough Truth: John Kerry Dodges the Press"
September 14, 2004
Joshua Frank
"Nader 2000 Leaders United To Defeat Bush"
September 14, 2004
Nader 2000 Leaders United To Defeat Bush
"Shut up and color: the politics of bullying"
September 7, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"Kerry, Nader and the Greens need to kill the circular firing squad"
August 15, 2004
Harvey Wasserman & Bob Fitrakis
"Don’t Believe the Hype; Terrorist Warnings Just Another Way Bush Will Steal Election"
August 9, 2004
Jason Leopold
"President of Greater Stark County AFL-CIO speaks out on Bush’s visit in Canton, Ohio"
August 1, 2004
Dan Sciury
"I'll Follow Kucinich to Kerry, Sorry Ralph"
July 28, 2004
David Swanson
"Badnarik Doubles in Recent National Poll "
July 28, 2004
Libertarian Party
" ‘A green world is possible’ planned in New York City during the Republican National Convention"
July 28, 2004
Green Party
"An open letter to progressives: vote Kerry and Cobb"
July 24, 2004
Eleven prominent progressives
"A street fighting man? How Kucinich can win"
April 21, 2004
Josh Frank
"Scary, Scary John Kerry "
March 25, 2004
Josh Frank
"With all deliberate stupidity: US self-isolation makes Iraq a virtual non-issue in the elections so far"
March 22, 2004
Daniel Patrick Welch
"To support or not to support; the Nader question"
March 16, 2004
Josh Frank
"Halliburton, VP Cheney's Former Company Faces Second Criminal Probe In Four Years "
February 24, 2004
Jason Leopold
"The Lone Ranger of Righteousness"
February 23, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"The Wrong Side of History "
February 22, 2004
Daniel Patrick Welch
"High Noon in America "
January 26, 2004
Philip J. Rappa
"The Truth is Out: Kucinich is the choice of progressives "
January 15, 2004
via Daniel P. Welch
"Dean and Kucinich"
January 13, 2004
Paul Rogat Loeb
"Bush Should Be Facing 'A Long, Hard Slog' On The Campaign Trail, But Dems Too Busy Fighting With Each Other "
January 12, 2004
Jason Leopold
"Buckeyes go south in 2004 election"
December 1, 2004
"Columbus says, “George, go away!”"
December 1, 2004
"The Freep gives you Moore"
December 1, 2004
"Kerry won"
December 1, 2004
Read Articles by Year:
2007 2006 2005 2004
2003 2002 2001 2000
All content © 1970-2008
The Columbus Free Press
Disclaimer