TruthDig: Bernie Sanders Gets a Foreign Policy

[portlander23]

Bernie Sanders Gets a Foreign Policy

Sanders claims, however, absurdly, that he has only supported wars that were a “last resort.” He includes among those, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia, despite neither having been remotely a last resort. Sanders admits as much, saying, “I supported the use of force to stop the ethnic cleansing in the Balkans.” Set aside the fact that it increased the ethnic cleansing and that diplomacy was not really attempted, what he is claiming is a philanthropic mission, not a “last resort.” Sanders also says, “And, in the wake of the attacks on September 11, 2001, I supported the use of force in Afghanistan to hunt down the terrorists who attacked us.” Set aside the Taliban’s offer to transfer Osama bin Laden to a third country to be tried, what Sanders is describing is hunting and murdering people in a distant land, not a “last resort”—and also not what he voted for, and Rep. Barbara Lee voted against, which was a blank check for endless war at presidential discretion.

All of this obviously leaves open the possibility of endless global war but suggests a desire not to eagerly seek it out. Also obviously it is far better than Hillary Clinton would say, less than Jill Stein would say (“Establish a foreign policy based on diplomacy, international law, and human rights. End the wars and drone attacks, cut military spending by at least 50% and close the 700+ foreign military bases that are turning our republic into a bankrupt empire. Stop U.S. support and arms sales to human rights abusers, and lead on global nuclear disarmament.”), and a bit different from what Lincoln Chafee would say (the latter actually admits the U.S. wars created ISIS and are making us less safe, says he’d end drone strikes, etc.).

I'm a Sanders supporter, though I do wish he would come out more strongly against the use of drones. I'm not sure of the timeline on Afghanistan. I know that Bush rejected the offer to turn over Bin Laden, so I'm not sure what input Mr. Sanders would have had into that. War was probably the wrong answer, though there was little support for anything else.

On the Balkans, I confess I don't recall much about the details, though I'd be curious in hearing other people's thoughts.

A lot of Sanders supporters get accused of thinking Bernie is perfect. He's not. But I think he's the best option.

[Motown_Johnny]

1. He doesn't need to run as a dove.

Compared to Hillary, he is a dove.

There is no reason to cede the middle ground on this issue. It may be a general election strategy that he is not running as a dove in the primary.

[djean111]

2. That's just another meme, desgned to somehow denigrate bernie's supporters, so they can then

be said to think Bernie is some sort of savior.

A lot of Sanders supporters get accused of thinking Bernie is perfect.

That is wishful thinking. And deliberate hyperbole. Bernie is not perfect, but he is the best candidate. IMO and all that.

[Recursion]

3. The only D running specifically as a dove is Chaffee, oddly enough

And it's not doing him much good, any more than metricization is.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. I like Jill Stein's approach.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

7. Yup.

That's certainly an area in which I wish Bernie was more in accord with her.

[liberal_at_heart]

5. We had the entire world's support in Afghanistan. It wasn't until we invaded Iraq that we lost the

world's support. There is a reason for that.

[Recursion]

6. I still remember the candlelight vigils from Tehran

W took the world's goodwill and wiped his ass with it