Chas Freeman: The Collapse of American Diplomacy
Amb. Chas Freeman and Glenn Diesen
Chas Freeman argues that domestic rivalry within the US political establishment has reduced its ability to engage in constructive diplomacy, and the result in a bias toward confrontation and war.
Ambassador Freeman was Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs from 1993-94, earning the highest public service awards of the Department of Defense for his roles in designing a NATO-centered post-Cold War European security system and in reestablishing defense and military relations with China. He served as U. S. Ambassador to Saudi Arabia (during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm). He was Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs during the historic U.S. mediation of Namibian independence from South Africa and Cuban troop withdrawal from Angola. Ambassador Freeman worked as Deputy Chief of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires in the American embassies at both Bangkok (1984-1986) and Beijing (1981-1984). He was Director for Chinese Affairs at the U.S. Department of State from 1979-1981. He was the principal American interpreter during the late President Nixon’s path-breaking visit to China in 1972. In addition to his Middle Eastern, African, East Asian and European diplomatic experience, he had a tour of duty in India.
I’m not sure how well known this is, but John Le Carré wrote of meeting with legendary Russian Foreign Minister Yevgeny Primakov who recounted his conversations with Saddam Hussein, the latter begging him to approach GWBush to organize some face saving solution to avert war. Neither Bush nor Thatcher would listen to him. Primakov’s explicit conclusion: “They want war..”
I would love to hear Ambassador Freeman’s take on that.
It is always a supreme pleasure to listen to the Ambassador. I decided after two weeks of US-Russian talks that the US is not interested in leading them to some reasonable outcome. One does not negotiate like that. They want to keep the war bubbling on. I also say, there was never the goal to take the "negotiations" re Palestine or with Iran to some form of success. Iran, with now thrown in the Iranian missiles into the pot, actually reminds me of what happened with Iraq when they, days before the US invasion, voluntarily destroyed large amounts of their missiles which supposedly exceeded their allowed reach, however marginally. Iraq was committed to avert the invasion, practically at any cost. The appropriate conclusions apply for Iran. And yes, I believe Israel will use nukes.
A war with Iran will not only aid Israel's interests but also US efforts vs. China.
PS: Assuming that there are "two million" Gazans left is quite optimistic. Maybe 1.5m. Remember, that Trump only sought places to relocate 1.8m or 1.7m Gazans.