59th Forum Pariser Platz - Discussion about “The USA after Bush”

Watching the last phase of the countdown of the U.S. presidential election campaign 2008 was often quite some pleasure. Who does not remember the Governor of Alaska saying simplified, that looking over Bering Strait to Russia is already foreign-policy competence. Suchlike bloopers had been quickly taken up and modified to something humorous. For example the Hustler picked up the Russia-Palin-Story to produce a similar but salacious Good & Evil movie named Nailin Paylin. More subtle and sophisticated were the people behind The Onion, who headlined Barack Obama’s victory as Black Man given Nation’s Worst Job. Before Obama had to compete with one two other candidates when running for the presidency.

On November 10th German TV Phoenix invited to discuss the possible change that happened in the U.S. The talk show had been held at Dresdner Bank in Berlin again. The following guests had been interviewed by anchorman Annette Riedel, der editor-in-chief of Deutschlandradio Kultur:

The usual airtime of one hour quickly passed by, which emphasizes the discussion’s spiritedness. In particular Asselborn and Klose dominated the debate byswaggering about the spirit of foreign affairs. Star guest Kurt Volker scored with objectivity and, believe it or not, sympathy. In the face of grotty sleaze bags like John R. Bolton that is something unusual for an U.S. politician working in that field.

That evening’s most interesting question had been asked by the public though. It aimed on Volkers opinion, if a change in the U.S. foreign policy is imaginable; a change concerning the eagerly awaited stop of the U.S. to team up with the enemies of their enemies and empowering/encouraging them. That was exemplified by the role of the U.S. exerting influence on Saddam Hussein to act as their deputy against Ayatollah Chomeini and his Islamic Republic. Same applies to the U.S. support that got the Taliban when they fighting against the Soviet troups in Afghanistan.

Speculating about Ahmadinedschad’s possible negative role, Mr. Kornelius was the only one pottering around the credible threat of Muslim force. For the others the bootom line of that discussion was, that now there’s a historic chance to discuss global issues with one’s own political opponents.

Personally I hope that with Obama the U.S. will stop going it alone. Hopefully values like communication, diplomacy and sustainability will dominate Uncle Sam’s ways of thinking and acting.

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Date: November 13th, 2008 · Comment Feed (RSS) · Tags: Political · Studio & Co. · News