What is it with the Nukes?

As the UN General Assembly starts up another session the big issue on everyone's mind is what to do with Iran and North Korea. From the NY Times:

As dozens of world leaders began gathering here on Monday for the General Assembly, the puzzle of how to confront Iran and another defiant, nuclear-minded state, North Korea, continued to stymie diplomats. Old strategies have proved fruitless, but it is difficult to build support for bold new ones.

Maybe I’m just a starry eyed idealist but there is only one solution to stop nuclear proliferation; old-style diplomacy. In the early 90s the United States was in the same position as it is today with the North Koreans (and now the Iranians). President Clinton decided to remove the trade embargoes and restart diplomatic talks. This was just the push that was needed to halt the North Koreas in their weapons development. We traded goods and humanitarian aid in order to stop the proliferation of WMDs. In the first few years of the Bush Administration this policy was reversed and we took a very hard-line isolationist approach. We cut off aid, placed trade embargoes on goods, and cut of diplomatic relations. In the years that have followed Pyongyang has a reemerging nuclear program and Kim Jong Il is as crazy as ever. In recent weeks the North Korean government has talked about how they will participate in bilateral talks with the United States. I believe that the only way to disarm these rouge nations is to create soft power coalitions. This is article from 1999 talking about North and South Korea diplomacy.

I think the United States should take note and resurrect the successful policy of the 90s.

Women's Rights: A Giant Leap?

The United Nations General Assembly voted Monday to create a new, more powerful agency for women, in a move supporters hailed as a breakthrough for women’s equality and rights. An Assembly resolution called for the amalgamation of four existing United Nations offices dealing with women’s affairs into a single body to be headed by an under secretary general. The unanimous vote followed three years of negotiations

via World Briefing – United Nations – New U.N. Agency for Women’s Rights – NYTimes.com

This has the potential to change the face of negotiations in the realm of women’s rights. This consolidation could (theoretically) cut back on the bureaucracy that has many UN initiatives at a standstill. With one agency more the debate and negotiations concerning specifics in resolutions could be done prior to open floor debate allowing for more real diplomacy to happen. In addition this could mean actually progress in the fight for women’s rights all around the world. Gareth Thomas, the British Development Minister claimed that, “a single agency for woman in the UN would be a far more powerful voice fighting for the rights of women – many of whom suffer appalling levels of violence and ill-treatment on a daily basis," Here is that article.

Remembering 9/11

I still remember where I was when I first heard the news. It was a normal day. I had just started 7th grade and was still getting used to my new homeroom. Then the principle started morning announcements. There was something different in his voice. He then explained of the tragedy that was currently unfolding in NYC. My teacher quickly ran to the television. All day we just watched the news and stared in horror. No one could believe what was happening. I remember sitting in gym talking with a friend. Even then we both knew this was huge. It would change the face of not only the United States but also the world. This would be in history books. This was going to be our generations Vietnam. It was this day that ultimately lead to my decision to be involved with politics. One final thought, today we need to remember what brings us together. There is enough fighting and contention in the world. Hate only breeds hate. Injustice only breeds injustice. In those few days and weeks after 9/11 this country came together in a way that has ever been seen. There is no reason why we cannot have that spirit with us all the time. To not remember is a mockery to those who died that day.

Here is an article that summarizes President Obama’s thoughts that I think is defiantly worth a read.

Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

From The Washington Post:

International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, published by a group of prominent scientists, that there’s still cause for concern – just not panic. “We have not seen concrete evidence that Tehran has an ongoing nuclear weapons program,” the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize laureate told the Bulletin for its September/October issue. “But somehow, many people are talking about how Iran’s nuclear program is the greatest threat to the world,” added ElBaradei, whose Vienna-based agency long has played a key role itself in raising international concern about Iran’s intentions. “Yes, there’s concern about Iran’s future intentions and Iran needs to be more transparent with the IAEA and the international community … But the idea that we’ll wake up tomorrow and Iran will have a nuclear weapon is an idea that isn’t supported by the facts as we have seen them so far.”

This is the most level headed responses to the “Iranian problem” we have heard in years. All of the fear-mongering that has been happening is only leads to a dangerous situation. That is exactly what happened during the build up to the Iraq war. The Bush Administration used phrases like “no other option” and “better safe than sorry” and that has lead us into one of the most costly and pointless wars in our history. The world community must be careful just as Mr. ElBaradei claimed "We still have outstanding questions that are relevant to the nature of Tehran's program, and we still need to verify that there aren't undeclared activities taking place inside of the country," But there is no need for this world-wide panic. Panic and fear are very effective motivators. They get you to react almost every time but you react sporadically, without thinking, and that leads to more problems. So I applaud the IAEA chief. He has shown restrain and thoughtfulness amid terror and rash action.

Apparently the IAEA has been saying this since late 2007. Here is a video of Mr. ElBaradei on CNN talking about the importance of diplomacy and the lack of evidence Iran has a bomb.

Obama Youth

There has been a lot of stuff going around about this speech the President Obama gave school children this morning. A lot of people have claimed that he is trying to indoctrinate the children of the United States in to being his spies and that he wants to resurrect the Hitler Youth. *coughGlenBeckcough* Many school have given parents the opportunity to opt out their child from hearing the speech. Well, since I'm no longer in the public education system I decided to look up the transcript to see for myself how much "indoctrination" was happening. Turns out Obama is planning on creating a hellish army of good students that believe in themselves and understand the importance of hard work. What is our country coming to! Seriously, that was an amazing speech! Anyone that was not allowed to see it missed an opportunity. I'm not going to outline every thing that was said but I suggest you read it yourself.

You can read it here!

I will share one of my favorite quotes:

"Where you are right now doesn’t have to determine where you’ll end up. No one’s written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. You make your own future."

Plus there was a plug for debate team so I was pretty happy. :)

Japan: Cars, Robots, and Deocratic Elections

Just a little back ground. Japan has just recently had an extremely historic election. The LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) that has ruled in Japan for the last 55 years has been defeated by the LPJ (Liberal Party of Japan).

This article gives some pretty good background and history and discusses some of the implications of this election.

Japan's election: Banzai! -The Economist

What does this election mean for the United States? I think the short answer is absolutely nothing. The new Prime Minister, Yukio Hatoyama, has claimed the he wants to distance himself fro the US and become more independent but ultimately this won't mean anything. Japan will continue to be a huge ally for the US. Japan cannot afford to let this election change its relationship with it's biggest ally and trading partner. It's economy is already falling apart. With years of mounting debt and months of rising unemployment, Japan is in no position to be cutting off realtions with anyone. The Economist articel claims that "[Japan] remains dangerously dependent on its large exporters." The BCC reported that top US officals "are confident that the strong US-Japn alliance and the close partnership with continue to florish."

However, this election means absolutely everyhting to the people of Japan. The DPJ is in a crtical position. They have to prove that they are going to be able to handle the delecate Japanese economy. One wrong move could ruin everything for them. That is what happened to in 1994 with the Japan New Party. They were voted in by wanting to solve the deep corruption within the LDP and they couldn't do it. Within 11 months their coalition fell apart and the rule of Japna was effectively returned to the LDP.

This is a time of revolution for Japan; a time to forge new partnerships and gain as much support from international sources as possible.

What do you think? Leave a comment if you have an opinion on the subject!

A New Direction

I know it has been forever and I apologize. At least now I know I will have something to write about. Let me explain. This semester I am participating in BYU Model UN team. I am crazy excited! (Mainly because of the 10 day school excused trip to NYC in March but you know it'll be good experience too...blah, blah,blah... ;) ) But I am required to post comments on my professor's blog. So I thought I might as well start posting my comments as blog posts right here. It's the perfect way to always stay updated and I'll be saying something useful (hopefully). I know not everyone is interested in IR but think of it as a way to stay up to date on what is happening in the world. I think it's extremley important to always be aware of what's going on around you; even if you can't do anything about it. Being more informed can only help you. No matter what you want to do with your life. I could go on and on with examples but that would take all day and would be really, really boring so I will refrain.

Enjoy!