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AIC Articles: October 2008 Archives

October 2008 Archives

Third Presidential Debate: Public Feedback

October 15

The 3nd Presidential Debate between Senator John McCain and Senator Barak Obama was televised from Hofstra University in New York. The debate focused upon domestic policy issues. Only infrequently did foreign policy issues enter into this domestic focus. The questions asked by the moderator, Mr. Bob Schieffer, concerned the U.S. economy and financial system, energy , education and the vice presidential running mates. With respect to the question on energy, the two candidates discussed the importance of not relying too heavily upon foreign oil resources. Neither candidate brought Iran into their answers. Venezuela, on the other hand, was the target of both Senator McCain and Senator Obama. The fact that Iran never entered into the discussion, even when it could have been injected into the debate, is indicative of the basic loss of political utility of "fearing Iran" in a climate of economic fear and insecurity.
Continue reading Third Presidential Debate: Public Feedback.
Posted on October 15, 2008 9:39 PM | | Comments (0)

Second Presidental Debate: Comment and Public Feedback

October 7

The key question concerning Iran came with reference to an Iranian attack upon Israel. While it is true that Iran has almost always been attacked rather than been the aggressor (e.g., the 1980 Iran-Iraq War), the question demonstrates the level of U.S. concern that Iran might, in the instance of Iran possessing nuclear weapons, become the aggressor vis-a-vis Israel. It is clear that stridently anti-Israeli statements issued by Iranian leaders do, in fact, deeply affect the public foreign policy discourse. It is a basic fact that such harsh statements only serve to complicate any political dialogue held in the U.S., with this debate question being but one example. The question is important: What are the purposes served by such harsh rhetoric and are these purposes truly of sufficient political utility when one considers the difficulties, damage and dilemmas they may cause U.S. policy makers engaged in public debates?

Both candidates stressed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Senator McCain focused upon statements made by Iranian leaders against Israel, and the nature of the Iranian threat to Israel. Senator McCain argued that an international system of sanctions focused upon Iran would be the most effective approach in preventing Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons. Senator Obama, on the other hand, focused upon the importance of engaging Iran directly. He argued that while sanctions would be useful in getting Iran to modify its behavior, direct discussions would allow the U.S. message to be delivered in a more effective way. In contrast to McCain, Senator Obama also noted the importance of placing a positive incentive in these discussions, that is, in convincing Iran that it could rejoin the "community of nations" if it modified its behavior.


Continue reading Second Presidental Debate: Comment and Public Feedback.
Posted on October 8, 2008 4:05 AM | | Comments (0)

Second Presidental Debate: Public Feedback

October 7

The key question concerning Iran came with reference to an Iranian attack upon Israel. While it is true that Iran has almost always been attacked rather than been the aggressor (e.g., the 1980 Iran-Iraq War), the question demonstrates the level of U.S. concern that Iran might, under the condition of Iran possessing nuclear weapons, become the aggressor against Israel. It is clear that stridently anti-Israeli statements issued by Iranian leaders do, in fact, deeply affect the U.S. foreign policy discourse. It is a basic fact that extreme statements often serve to complicate any political debate held in the U.S., with this debate question being but one example. The question is important: What are the purposes served by such harsh rhetoric and are these purposes truly of sufficient political utility, domestic and foreign, when one considers the difficulties, damage and dilemmas they may cause U.S. policy makers engaged in public debates?

Both candidates stressed the importance of the U.S.-Israeli relationship. Senator McCain focused upon statements made by Iranian leaders against Israel, and the nature of the Iranian threat to Israel. Senator McCain argued that an international system of sanctions focused upon Iran would be the most effective approach in preventing Iran from pursuing nuclear weapons. Senator Obama, on the other hand, focused upon the importance of engaging Iran directly. He argued that while sanctions would be useful in getting Iran to modify its behavior, direct discussions would allow the U.S. message to be delivered in a more effective way. In contrast to McCain, Senator Obama also noted the importance of placing a positive incentive in these discussions, that is, in convincing Iran that it could rejoin the "community of nations" if it modified its behavior.


Continue reading Second Presidental Debate: Public Feedback.
Posted on October 7, 2008 10:59 PM | | Comments (0)

Vice Presidential Debate: Public Feedback

October 2:

Senator Biden and Governor Palin debated one another on Thursday evening. According to polling taken immediately after the debate, both candidates did "better than expected." These two vice presidential candidates answered a variety of questions on different issues, including, the U.S. economy, energy, immigration, health care, and foreign policy. With respect to foreign policy, both Biden and Palin addressed a question specific to Iran. Senator Biden's answer focused upon the dangers posed by Pakistan's actual possession of nuclear weapons as well as the importance of helping the people of the region with economic and political development. Governor Palin's answer focused upon the importance of Israel to the U.S. and a portrayal of President Ahmadinejad as Iran's dictator who "is not sane or stable" when he issues various sorts of statements. The AIC holds that peace is best served by a focus upon the facts, the logical arrangment of those facts, and the rational conclusions drawn from them

The importance of good questions and answers is an important aspect of the AIC's emphasis upon dialogue. In this debate, both candidates addressed the American people in hopes of demonstrating their respective approaches to Iran, Iraq, Israel and other foreign policy issues that will be problematic for the next administration.

We are interested in hearing from you. Please send us your comments so that we might better understand how their answers were understood by you.

Continue reading Vice Presidential Debate: Public Feedback.
Posted on October 2, 2008 11:17 PM | | Comments (3)
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