|
Here is something I haven't seen discussed. While we are probably all agreed that Bush has made a mess of America's international standing, I wonder what the worldwide effect of Bush has been. Just how many bad things in the world have been caused or worsened by Bush's foreign policy? How many good things have lessened or disappeared? I'm not talking strictly about American interests, but general human interests worldwide.
For example, there was a heartbreaking story on NPR about a North Korean family who had moved illegally across the border into China. The father said he would kill himself and his children if they are caught, because he simply would not go back to forced labor camps and persecution in NK. He said that he and the rest of his family actually carry poison to take in the event they are caught by the Chinese.
How is this related to Bush and Bushism?
Bush shot off his mouth and started nuclear trouble with North Korea. Because of that, China, according to the NPR report, is needed to help stabilize the situation due to its political influence on NK. As a result, the pressure on China to observe the international treaty on refugees it signed has dropped. China can now hunt down NK refugee families and deport them to hell without America (or anyone else) saying boo.
What other secondary ill effects have been caused by Bush? To me, it looks like Bush has undermined the integrity of the entire international fabric, not necessarily just America's section of it.
|