What an interview!!! Must see. Kerry: Pay attention!

On Charlie Rose tonight (KCET) Zbigniew Brezezinski gave a clear-eyed, non-partisan analysis of: where America stands in relation to the world, Iraq, Middle East, Bush, and Kerry.

Although he served with Carter, he is not a politician; he is a foreign policy expert. He has a book out that I now must get, something like: "The Choice: Global Domination vs Global Leadership" which has been out a while

I will also look for the transcript because the interview was sprinkled with gems.

Interview snippets, badly paraphrased:

ON WHERE WE ARE GOING: Basic world relations strategy 101 generally revolves around uniting your friends and dividing your enemies. Basically we are now uniting our enemies and dividing our friends under Bush. American has historically led the world by cultivating influence and legitimacy. However we are now the most unpopular we have even been in history and we are now disliked throughout the world. This is very, very serious, in his opinion. Cannot lead the world with merely "military power"

ON IRAQ: Quite possibly will have to consider a disastrous disengagement. Two other options: get more international help (most desirable option, but tough), or....scorched earth military action. ATTENTION KERRY: BREZINSKI LAID OUT LOGICALLY AND CLEARLY WHAT HE FELT IS ONE OF THE ONLY WAYS TO GET INTERNATIONAL HELP IN IRAQ, including decision sharing, workable plan for Israel / Palestine (6 steps which made sense, to me anyway), and a strategy for Iran. Felt that European countries and even some moderate islamic countries could participate, given the right recipe. The right recipe might include the above, plus a new president who clearly might disengage and leave an Iraqi mess on their doorsteps.

ON 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH: While he would like to think that Bush would have learned lessons the hard way, he is fearful that the more likely scenario is that Bush will feel there is a mandate and we will have much more of the same....more wars, more isolation, more disaster, more terrorism throughout the world and at home.

ON KERRY: Doesn't know if Kerry has the fortitude to solve Iraq (just doesn't personally know), but believes Kerry to be clearly intelligent, thoughtful, responsible, and "not a simpleton" and thinks that there is a chance that the best strategy possible (from among bad choices) will be pursued under Kerry. Doesn't believe Bush will do anything.

ON IRAN: A serious country with a lot going for it. Iran sees neighbors and near-neighbors Pakistan, India, Russia, and Israel with nuclear weapons and asks itself why not us? A major effort needs to be made to help Iran limit its nuclear potential. Really worried Bush will continue military aggression there.

COALITION OF THE WILLING. Some were willing, some induced, some bribed.

UN RESOLUTION: Result of misinformation fed by US.

...and more. This guy was impressive, IMHO. Left the impression things have the potential to go quite badly for us in the world, but offered ways out. Unfortunately, I doubt that a figure as dignified and weighty as he would end up on the types of fluffy, partisan TV shows that really reach a lot of people.

Kerry would do well to call on Zbigniew Brezezinski to join his camp.

He's respected by many people on both sides of the aisle and in Europe, has the clout to get things moving back to "normal".

Time's a wastin' when your surfin' John.

...I have disagreed at times with some things from him, (especially when you know his connection to certain politicians and policymakers of the past) but for the most part he is someone I would listen to and consider his opinion worthwhile. How fascinating of a conversation that sounds...I just checked my local station showing Charlie Rose, unfortunately its a different episode....Meanwhile my favorite point you summarized is:

"Basically we are now uniting our enemies and dividing our friends under Bush."

ON 4 MORE YEARS OF BUSH: While he would like to think that Bush would have learned lessons the hard way, he is fearful that the more likely scenario is that Bush will feel there is a mandate and we will have much more of the same....more wars, more isolation, more disaster, more terrorism throughout the world and at home.

ON IRAN: A serious country with a lot going for it. Iran sees neighbors and near-neighbors Pakistan, India, Russia, and Israel with nuclear weapons and asks itself why not us? A major effort needs to be made to help Iran limit its nuclear potential. Really worried Bush will continue military aggression there.

COALITION OF THE WILLING. Some were willing, some induced, some bribed.

:kick:

about how Putin seized upon the terror attack and used it the same way that Hitler used the Reichstag fire, to consolidate his own power, you'd have to be a moran not to see the parallel with *.

Very well done.

I guess I will hunt around on that site. It may have been on Dem Now.

It is not up yet, but audio files will be found within a few days at

www.charlierose.com