DEPT. OF PEACE - a fitting legacy for President Obama...

[polichick]

...a man awarded the Nobel Peace Prize from the get-go.

Establishing such a department, staffed with anthropologists and other experts who understand what is really going on in other countries and what it all means to the people, would honor the American people, citizens across the world - and his own anthropologist mother.

It would also begin the dismantling of the military industrial complex that Eisenhower warned us about so long ago.

THAT'S the action that makes sense now.

[gopiscrap]

1. Kucinich should have been president.

[polichick]

2. At least he got that the mic is completely out of control...

and that peace is something that has to be worked at - and first INTENDED.

[polichick]

3. I guess nobody thinks such a thing is possible...

I'd like to believe it's possible - better than thinking the WH, Defense and State depts. will continue to do the bidding of the mic, or that war will always be seen as an acceptable solution.

Alas, a Dept. of Peace is possible but not probable.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

4. sounds Orwellian?

[polichick]

5. I was thinking that it sounded civilized.

[ellenrr]

12. ya think? LOL...I thot the Original post was satire

[polichick]

14. But SHOULD it be Orwellian for a Democratic president?

[whistler162]

6. Yup giver him a legacy as great as......

Neville Chamberlain!

[NuclearDem]

7. You forgot a sarcasm tag.

[polichick]

8. Looks like we're at a place in history when even Dems...

think it's a joke to want a Dem president to establish a Dept. of Peace.

The conclusion I came to a couple of years ago is that we have one corporate/mic party with two faces. Yes, that's what we have - but I can't help myself from wanting something else.

[mnhtnbb]

9. The United States Institute of Peace

already exists in DC--built across from the Lincoln Memorial and just down the street from the State Department.




For info about it: http://www.usip.org/

[polichick]

10. I like the building! I guess it would have to be Cabinet level to...

make a big difference.

Sadly, this president seems determined to prove that his Peace Prize was a mistake.

[mnhtnbb]

11. I agree. I'd like to see a Cabinet level post, too.

Last time in DC I was hoping to tour this Institute. But it's only open for appointments--and seminars.

[polichick]

13. I was hoping to visit it too - maybe I'll attend a seminar sometime...

Thanks for posting it!

[zipplewrath]

17. Isn't that the Sec of State?

Really, shouldn't a Secretary of Peace be a rough equivalent of the Secretary of State? Isn't that really what diplomacy should be about in the modern age? I'll admit that's not the way it is working right now but if Obama really wanted to make a legacy, it would be to drive the State Department away from justifying wars and towards avoiding them. It is strange to see the Kerry up testifying in support of military action in Syria. Shouldn't that be the Sec Def? Shouldn't a Secretary of State be the guy providing options NOT to go to war?

[polichick]

18. I agree, that's what State SHOULD be, but it's filled with...

people who have lived and breathed the mic for decades. Not sure you can even fire most of them, since they're not political appointees.

[fujiyama]

15. I don't see the point

I think we can accomplish many of the same goals by cutting DoD spending by a significant amount.

We could actually then increase funding for State Department diplomatic efforts (hire translators, etc), programs like the Peace Corps (provide better assistance in building infrastructure), as well as make a more concerted effort in providing immunization and vaccinations in developing nations. Our universities (public and private) do excellent work in anthropology and many other areas. Students interested in pursuing those subjects should have their education more affordable.

[polichick]

16. Unfortunately, the DoD and State are big enablers of the MIC...

If Obama wanted to leave a lasting legacy of peace - which is not likely at this point - a Cabinet level Dept. of Peace would be a good move.

My point in mentioning anthropologists, etc. is that far too often gov't "experts" are military experts or those invested in war. Chris Hayes talked about this last night - what kind of people are NOT in the room when discussing things like Syria. Same thing happened with healthcare - many true experts were not invited, while Billy Tauzin (pharmaceutical lobbyist) and other such "experts" were at the WH many times.

A Cabinet level Dept. of Peace would signal that the U.S. wants to approach the world in a different way.

Do I think this president or either party is really interested in taking Eisenhower's advice about the mic? NO.