James Baker: Talking to an enemy is not appeasement

The new neocon buzzword is now appeasement. They contend that talking to rogue nations amounts to appeasement. Never mind the fact that many GOP lawmakers have called for engaging our enemies through mitigated and thoughtful dialogue; and we have in fact held talks with Korea and Iran, though disguised either in six party talks or back channel diplomacy. Yet in an effort to paint the Democrats as weak on foreign policy, the GOP is now obsessed with “appeasement”. In other words, if you speak to your enemies you appear weak and placatory.

They point out that talking to the enemy provides them with the legitimacy they seek and the power and prestige of the U.S. presidency should not be used in such a manner. Interestingly, Robert Gates and Sen. McCain have repeatedly admitted that we need to engage our adversaries. McCain however, has since flip-flopped and he is now embracing the same cowboy diplomacy of the Bush administration that has isolated our country and diminished our influence throughout the world.

With regard to Iran, the key is using Ahmadinejad as the bogeyman to galvanize Christian conservatives and scare Jewish voters. What the GOP fails to mention however, is that the Iranian nuclear program and foreign policy is controlled by the Supreme leader Khamenei, a more moderate figure than the anti-Semite Ahmadinejad.

This is a reckless politicization of a necessary step in smart diplomacy. The Democrats to their credit have responded forcefully and are challenging the ridiculous notion that engaging an adversary is akin to appeasement. Thanks to YouTube, the Dems can use the GOP to make their case.


Here is James Baker on the subject of appeasement:

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