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Global Persuasion

Global Persuasion is one way the US can improve its standing in the world. Please add your Global Persuasion Solution and/or Vote for any/all of these offered below:

Global Persuasion Portion of President Bush's January 10 Proposal

President Bush did not announce during his January 10 speech any specific programs to help persuade Iraqis or others of US or Iraqi government positions. Note, however, that the Pentagon is spending significant sums to do so. Recently, for example, a contract was let to a number of universities to develop a system to monitor news coverage in Iraq and and the region. Throughout the Iraq conflict, an ambitious public relations program has been ongoing...at times generating controversy such as when the US was accused of paying Iraqi journalists for story placement.
1/15/2007 11:01:15 AM

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US MEA CULPA

The US President, preferably at the UN, acknowledges that the American intervention in Iraq has had disastrous consequences and appeal to the International Community for the good of humanity to launch a united front (to be headed perhaps by the EU) in brokering peace in Iraq. In so doing the US should announce a war reparations plan to rebuild Iraq to be funded by the United States. Key contracts would be given to European, Asian, Russian and South American companies as evidence of this American good will.
1/15/2007 10:33:21 AM	R Sentier Geneve, Switzerland

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I believe it is time that America took care of itself. We have enough ills of our own that we should not be bullying our way around the world while there is internal strife and suffering in our country.

I believe that the United States could become the most reveered nation in the world. What would it take? Honesty, integrity, common sense, hard work from everyone, and the attitude of providing the greatest good for the greatest number. We need to extricate ourselves from parts of this globe where we are not welcome. Bring those troops home and quit wasting our hard earned tax dollars on senseless wars and policeing actions; our tax dollars would better serve us in other matters. Start to think futuristically and start building America into an Icon for the world to oogle. Build up our transportation systems so that dependence on our gas guzzling automobiles can be replaced. Get the auto manufacturers to develop affordable vehicles that give 'mega' MPG's. Change our medical system by deflating the FDA, AMA, and the food conglomerates. We need to educate the american people as to what our bodies need to stay healthy; yes, it is possible! Put a cap on what corporations can generate as profit and cap the salaries of the bloats that run these mega-corps. Start to redistrubute the wealth by FAIR taxation. No more corporate or rich people welfare. Close the loopholes. Restructure our polical system so that there can be no lobbying pay-offs for votes. If a politician gets caught breaking the law, persecute him under fair application of those law(s), and send him to regular prison. Not some country club lockup. Promote higher education and make it free for all citizens that want it. Show the world that in America, Americans come first. If we set a shining example, would the rest of the world not want to follow suit?
3/7/2007 5:50:24 PM	Pauline Moreno, Foresthill, CA

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Pass law requiring all candidates for Federal office to pass (1) world and US history test, (2) ethics test (3) basic math and science test.

We need qualified representatives and leaders. Our country and its reputation are too valuable to be left to the bungling of winners of popularity contests.
1/25/2007 1:45:27 PM	Ellen Wedum/ New Mexico

VOTE

Reign in the corporations!

At one time it took an act of Congress to create a corporation. Simply put, we need to set higher standards on multi-nationals. We should expect every American corporation, or multi-national that does business in the United States, to sign on to a binding agreement to provide similar treatment to all of the world's peoples. The United States simply cannot sustain itself by using corporations to take resources from other parts of the world and allow its citizens to thrive off of this differential valuation. It hurts others more than it benefits us and we can now feel the hatred it is causing grow all around us. For a long time, slavery was a great asset to the U.S. economy and the same economic model is being played out today on a global basis. The time for the United States to promote Fair Trade as a major part of its foreign policy and diplomatic outreach has arrived.
1/25/2007 5:27:19 PM	Mike, San Luis Obispo

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Global persuasion depends on being perceived as fair.

The actions of our national government and the reporting of our national media have not been fair as between Israel and the Palestinians. The New York Times ran a rather lame editorial that their Palestinian reporting was biased because they couldn't find reporters. Networks like Fox make no excuses but continue to ignore the plight of the Palestinians. Until we act like honest brokers in that region, we will be ignored.
1/25/2007 12:37:32 PM	TCC - New England

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I propose a policy of global persuasion based on consultation and humility.

Current policy is based on threats and bullying. It has left us both feared and despised. Our international relations and security will not improve until we recognize that others' needs and expectations are as legitimate as our own and we develop the patience and humility to commit ourselves to working as an equal among equals in the community of nations to find solutions that promote security, peace and justice for all. Such a policy it goes without saying would be endorsed by all who know and love God.
1/25/2007 12:19:48 PM	James G. McCulloh, Carolina Beach, NC

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Be The World's Carpenter, Not Its Policeman

Our role in the world should be to help fix the world's problems, not just to make it behave. We must decide: are we to be the world's policeman, or the world's carpenter?
1/25/2007 1:30:17 PM	Dr. Todd Huffman, Eugene, Oregon

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Practice what we preach.

The solution is simple. The action is difficult. As a country, we have been given numerous opportunities to set an example of strength through cooperative leadership and dropped the ball by reverting to an arrogant stance of a moral imperative based on the divisive rhetoric of floating truth. If peace, freedom and cooperation in the world are truly our goals then we should be exhibiting those characteristics. If we really want to heal the sick, feed the hungry and free the enslaved then we should be focusing on fixing dinner, cleaning up the environment and putting out the welcome mat. All the spin in the world can't hide an attitude of actions steeped in self-serving intolerance.
1/25/2007 8:48:55 PM	Ira Riney Oden,Arkansas

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Lead by example. Treat others the way you wish to be treated. Humility is key to fulfilling these two objectives. Arrogance will quickly lead to failure. The image of the United States will take a long time, if ever, to restore. This is the only way to do so. These objectives are universal but difficult to practice primarily due to arrogance. These objectives do not lead to weakness and in fact require uncommon strength to practice. These objectives are not the enemy of self interest as some might argue. Win-win is allegedly the hallmark of a good negotiator. The United States needs to move in a bold new direction. No one can successfully oppose the most powerful nation in the world that actually practices what it preaches.


1/25/2007 1:02:07 PM	George Seals

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Impeach George "Howdy Duddy" Bush & Dick "Damn the torpedoes" Chaney.

Give them a choice on wearing a hood or not.
1/25/2007 2:03:06 PM	Garrison Hale - Arlington VA

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Pull out of Iraq so that a pan-Arab war, between Iran & Saudi Arabia, breaks out.

If we pull out of Iraq our enemies in the Sunni and Shiite sects will try to dominate each other. The Iranians will support the Shiites. Moqtada al-Sadr is a Shiite but will pursue his own goals. The Sunni minority will be supported by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and others. Al Qaeda, a Sunni group, will pursue their own agenda, too. Saudi Arabia is our biggest false friend. The money they make from oil revenues fund Wahhabi Islam in extremist mosques around the world, especially in USA, UK and Europe. A pan-Arab war will force the Iranians and Saudis into an oil price war. They will compete to lower prices in order to fund their war. Jihadists will be fighting each other instead of killing Westerners. Sunni and Shiite have battled for Arab supremacy for the last 1400 years since the death of Muhammad. Invading Iraq was a well-intentioned mistake that turned into a catastrophe. The war planners should have anticipated the Sunni-Shiite madness. A War between Saudi Arabia and Iran is in USA's best interest. Pull of Iraq, NOW, and let them sort it out.
1/25/2007 12:52:43 PM	Asma bint Marwan, Washington DC

VOTE

Tell the truth, and be honest about your objectives, and do what is in the longterm best interests of the American people.

It is the lies that gets us in trouble. All the lies about weapons of mass destruction etc. If our goal was to overthrow Saddam, just say that, and people whould have been supportive. He might have fled the country and made the process easier. If our interest was controlling the oil, just say so. People can understand the trust, but masquerading the truth was bold face lies is what turns the world against us. Nobody likes a liar, particulary when it is our president.
1/25/2007 3:35:10 PM	J Roberts

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The offensive image of the United States created by our media should be voluntarily monitored and appropriately limited by its creators.

The world response to Al Qaeda seems to be fueled by the US ability to be offensive. While one could hardly claim that the ability of the US to be offensive was the sole source of the attacks on us I have often wondered how much it contributes to the growing contempt for the United States. Specifically I am thinking of the offensiveness of much of our media, movies, TV, now computer blogs, games, programs and still printed media. As proponents of freedom the idea of any but the most fundamental restrictions seems to be anathema to the US public and perhaps many in the world who enjoy the profits and what they might see as benefits of our refusal to impose any kind of restrictions. For that reason perhaps the best we can do is to call on the creators of offensive materials to restrain themselves; to give up some of their profits and instead limit their most public materials to words and pictures that are more acceptable to the civilized world. (By civilized I include all people who have managed to live together in some peaceful way that promotes group welfare while allowing individuals to live safe and independent lives). One other possibility would be to revisit those Supreme Court decisions of activist judges that included modern media broadcast electronically under the first amendment. They are not PRESS and the careless way in which radio, TV, computers and other electronic media and been casually included as media deserving the same freedom as the press is something I consider totally inappropriate. Printed pictures were available on presses in the colonial past when the constitution was written so they must be left to the discretion of their creators and their editors. Some would be well restricted to limited sales to adults but a return to those customs would probably not be possible. You might guess that I myself have found such material unacceptable. Fortunately I can usually avoid it though recently I was amazed at some pornography available at 11 pm on a Cuban station in Miami. When I called to complain I was told that since I pay for Cable I am buying it and have, in effect, no right to complain. If I were a Muslim concerned for the well being of my children that answer as well as the program may well have contributed to my negative attitude of the US.
4/10/2007 10:17:30 AM	Toni in Miami

VOTE

Encourage Americans to learn about and experience the rest of this wonderful but complex world.

Here in Australia most of the adult population has at one time either lived in another country or spent months as a tourist "being a local". Conversely in the USA, it is sometimes considered disloyal to enjoy being in a another country. This gives that result that Australia's leaders rarely make mistakes about overseas perceptions or realities (and Australian voters understand those decisions) while American leaders seem to delight in making decisions in ignorance of the realities overseas (and American voters reward this ignorance). From the personal experience of seeing my Colorado-born mother meeting another farmer from Pakistan and promptly enter into a typical farmer-to-farmer discussion about altitude's effect on livestock shows that we all have more in common than we have differences. Who knows, maybe a true love will be found (I know, it happened to me 30 years ago!), life-long friendships formed and an in-depth understanding of the "other side of the pond" (Aussie for "across the Pacific") gained.
1/25/2007 9:13:31 PM	Jim D, Perth, Western Australia

VOTE

Impeach President Bush and Cheney and then turn them both over to the ICC in the Hague for war crimes and engage in diplomacy with the EU and Russia to bring peace to the world.

By impeaching the President and Vice President the US will be able to restore the faith of the people of the world and nation. The US government then must turn them over to the ICC in the Hague for war crimes and allow the UN and the world to decide their fate. This will show the people of the Middle East that the US and the world truly wish to be honest brokers of peace and wish to bring stabilty to the world and not act as a bully or colonial master. It will also show the strenght and justifce of the people of the USA. This could do more to restore the leadership and credibility of the USA than any other measure and allow true diplomacy that is constructive to commence.
1/25/2007 5:13:43 PM	Peter Boston

VOTE

Throw out the UN.


1/25/2007 1:34:48 PM	Buster, MD

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Respect the UN and work for a �world safe for diversity�

The US can retain its �leadership� position in today�s primarily �unipolarized� world by taking the entire world along with through �Global Persuasion� and not by acting as a �bully�. To start with, the US needs to respect the relevance of the UN in today�s increasingly radicalized world. The US may treat the UN as a �Utopian Notion� (this term was coined by me!) but actually it is �the best Hope in the times of Hostilities� (I again coined this expression!) as where else would one find the platform for effective global governance where 192 member states can be made to converge and work on diverse humanitarian issues, the issues which transcend boundaries and affect every individual irrespective of his/her colour of passport � global terrorism, drug trafficking, human trafficking, endemics, AIDS, refugees� movement, illegal arms trade, to name a few, which are aptly termed as �Problems without Passports� by the UN�s Under-Secretary-General, Shashi Tharoor.
1/29/2007 12:04:13 AM	Anju Chandel, New Delhi, India.

VOTE

World opinion would cheer an America that shows it is serious in wanting a new direction in foreign policy by impeaching and removing George Bush and Richard Cheney from office for having started an unprovoked war of aggression in Iraq.

Our goal is to show world opinion we are serious about a new direction in U.S. foreign policy, which removal of Bush and Cheney and their team would be the first step. This is a new, yet tried and true method for change. Never before have we done this, although never before have we had such an administration. We need not worry about the world's sensitivity to these measures, since virtually every segment of every country would welcome it, with the exception of the leadership of al-Qaeda, Russia, Iran and Israel, because each has derived so much benefit from the actions of Bush and Cheney. Success could be measured by reading newspapers all over the world. All would welcome it.
1/25/2007 6:03:17 PM	George Washington, Mount Vernon, Virginia, USA

VOTE

Peace is the Answer.

Our people ought to make a serious investment in peace for it is the only way to ensure the survival of our liberty while at the same time safeguarding the integrity of life on the Earth. The situation is serious and the hour is late, but there is much left to save in the world. A good first step would be to invest in an Academy of young people similar to our military academies, but devoted to peace. We should also massively in sustainable living, both as a people and as a government. We've been drawing down the principal of our wealth as a people far too long.
1/25/2007 3:56:45 PM	Heath Missouri

VOTE

First and foremost development what our strategic issuses and goals are in the various theaters: Iraq, Afganistan,North Korea. Iran, Africa, the rest of the Middle East. Second, Articluate the stratigies to Americans for non-political non-party advantage. List the possible consequences honestly and broadly. Third, develope and consider the multitude of potential tactics available to bear on the individual strategic issues determined to be crucial from the begining. Unsuprisingly a blend of diplomacy, global persuasion, military, economics and aid will, at various stages, be suitable but only as it directly support the stated objective defined in the strategic plan. Fourth, Review the plan and progress-to-plan on a predetermined basis. The progress review to be public information and non-partisan in scope and critique. Example: if the review is of a military nature then the contrasting points of review will be issued and hopefully evaluated be military leadership. And as in our judical system dissenting position should be nnoted, permitted and given due respect. The same evaluation process to be used for all strategic plans.

It is most likely within the perview of the tactical planning process to identify and integrate actions that critically bear on culture, beliefs and social issues of the affected parties. Lastly, the elements defining success must be established. This can be a multiply list of outcomes and the review process and times should be assigned in advance or on a regularly scheduled basis. This would not preclude reviews to be conducted on an ad hoc basis.
1/25/2007 3:14:40 PM	fmcmenamy

VOTE

How about: collect the most accurate, unbiased facts on foreign policy situation, make reasonable best guess conclusions, and approach the problem without Karl Rove's spin on it. Who do we think we are kidding any how - ourselves maybe?!


1/25/2007 12:23:55 PM	William Virgina

VOTE

The offensive image of the US created by our media should be voluntarily monitored and appropriately limited by its creators.

The world response to Al Qaeda seems to be fueled by the US ability to be offensive. While one could hardly claim that the ability of the US to be offensive was the sole source of the attacks on us I have often wondered how much it contributes to the growing contempt for the United States. Specifically I am thinking of the offensiveness of much of our media, movies, TV, now computer blogs, games, programs and still printed media. As proponents of freedom the idea of any but the most fundamental restrictions seems to be anathema to the US public and perhaps many in the world who enjoy the profits and what they might see as benefits of our refusal to impose any kind of restrictions. For that reason perhaps the best we can do is to call on the creators of offensive materials to restrain themselves; to give up some of their profits and instead limit their most public materials to words and pictures that are more acceptable to the civilized world. (By civilized I include all people who have managed to live together in some peaceful way that promotes group welfare while allowing individuals to live safe and independent lives). One other possibility would be to revisit those Supreme Court decisions of activist judges that included modern media broadcast electronically under the first amendment. They are not PRESS and the careless way in which radio, TV, computers and other electronic media have been casually included as media deserving the same freedom as the press is something I consider totally inappropriate. Printed pictures were available on presses in the colonial past when the constitution was written so they must be left to the discretion of their creators and their editors. Some would be well restricted to limited sales to adults but a return to those customs would probably not be possible. You might guess that I myself have found such material unacceptable. Fortunately I can usually avoid it though recently I was amazed at some pornography available at 11 pm on a Cuban station in Miami. When I called to complain I was told that since I pay for Cable I am buying it and have, in effect, no right to complain. If I were a Muslim concerned for the well being of my children that answer as well as the program may well have contributed to my negative attitude of the US.
4/10/2007 11:58:59 AM	Toni of Miami

VOTE

HAVING 20,000 NUCLEAR WEAPONS POINTED AT EVERYONE IS CALLED "GLOBAL PURSUASION."


2/18/2007 2:56:42 AM	LGS Encinitas, CA

VOTE

Withdraw our participation in the UN.

Leave the UN immediately and cut off all further American funding to that organization. Tell the UN that they have till June 1st 2007 to vacate the building and to please take their dog and pony show to some other country. Sell the UN property to some developer for demolition of present building and construction of affordable high rise apartments.
1/25/2007 9:22:48 PM	Joe. Fountain Hills, AZ

VOTE

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