April 21, 2009: Issues of Democracy, the United Nations, and Regime Change: Iraq and GW Bush (2001-2006).

The News:

 

Two Years Ago:

Readings this week

From last time : Nukes

US-Iranian concerns (from last class: cf Roger Cohen #120)
  • US concerns:
    • Iran ceases military support for Hamas and Hezbollah;
    • Iran needs to adopt a “Malaysian” approach to Israel (nonrecognition and noninterference);
    • agrees to work for stability in Iraq and Afghanistan;
    • accepts intrusive International Atomic Energy Agency verification of a limited nuclear program for peaceful ends only;
    • promises to fight Qaeda terrorism;
    • commits to improving its human rights record.
  • Iranian concerns:
    • The United States commits itself to the Islamic Republic’s security and endorses its pivotal regional role;
    • accepts Iran’s right to operate a limited enrichment facility with several hundred centrifuges for research purposes;
    • agrees to Iran’s acquiring a new nuclear power reactor from the French;
    • promises to back Iran’s entry into the World Trade Organization;
    • returns seized Iranian assets;
    • lifts all sanctions;
    • and notes past Iranian statements that it will endorse a two-state solution acceptable to the Palestinians.

Decision-Making theories revisited (from March 3 class)

Background on Iran

Video: Secret Government (Bill Moyers): parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

You may want to visit the CIA and see what information they can provide for your research projects, such as the CIA Fact Book. But mainly you will want to ponder those "democratic dilemmas" discussed in earlier in this course. Here is surely a major dilemma between the secrecy that may sometimes be necessary for the successful conduct of foreign policy and the open public debate characteristic of democracy. The Global War On Terror since 911 has seriously compounded the problem. It seems, "With Patriotism Renewed," that the New York Times was letting the story about President Bush's possible inside trading be tucked back away - even though it made waves on the BBC and in the British press.

P.S. Since these lines were written, the James Risen of the NYT has revealed the unchecked eavesdropping of the National Security Agency on many US citizens and others in the USA talking with suspected Al Qaeda contacts abroad. See his State of War : The Secret History of the C.I.A. and the Bush Administration

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April 20, 2009
Department of Government, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin.
Questions, Comments, and Suggestions to chenry@mail.utexas.edu