This diary is intended for discussion of Obama's foreign policy philosophy particularly with Iran and Pakistan. I strongly disagree with those suggesting that an Obama foreign policy will be centrist or with characterizing his views as such. Iraq aside, the Bush-Clinton foreign policy era has been dominated by centrist do-nothing, don't ask-don't tell, support the two of the lesser evils governments that arises from extreme insecurity of middle class diplomats serving Presidents who have no innate understanding of the world.
Examples include, Clinton's refusal to talk to Khatami, to prevent Rwanda, to bomb Serbia, to prevent 9/11, to fail to significantly reign in North Korea and to do nothing against the rise of the Taliban. Examples of the painful Bush centre-right philosophy include the treatment of Musharraf and the do nothing in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Bush Administration's center-right "don't ask-don't tell" Pakistan policy of Musharaff appeasement lasted 6 years. Of course there some strong neo-con tendencies have been evident but they are besides the point of this diary.
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