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Tahrir Square meme: Event
openAwakening in conjunction with the University of East London is organizing a three-part event series on ‘The Tahrir Square Meme’ to be held at UEL's Dockland Campus.
Our first event is Rap and the Arab Spring.
The Long Revolution
The Long and the Quick of revolution Anthony Barnett
We live in revolutionary times... but what does this mean? Anthony Barnett
The precariat: why it needs deliberative democracy Guy Standing
The Long Revolution Raymond Williams
Occupy movement
Our Authors
Jim Gabour Sunday Comics
James Warner Standing Perpendicular, as books do
Markha Valenta Inter Alia: religion, politics, culture
Paul Rogers on Global security
Li Datong on China from the inside
Mary Kaldor on Human security
Daniele Archibugi on Cosmopolitan democracy
















So much disinformation is regurgitated about McCain's foreign policy positions, it makes me wonder if critics actually spend ANY time to read his positions before launching the "Neocon hysteria canard."
Based on the substantial foreign policy speech he gave in March 2007 to the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, the following is a brief summary of positions that are pretty moderate--hardly the Neocon monster suggested by Leftist bloggers and pundits.
http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/News/Speeches/872473dd-9ccb-4ab4-9d0d-ec54f0e7a497.htm
The American Role
McCain acknowledges that the days of American dominance over world affairs are past; other countries are gaining significant power. He says the United States must remain politically, economically, and militarily strong. "But we must also lead by attracting others to our cause, by demonstrating once again the virtues of freedom and democracy, by defending the rules of international civilized society and by creating the new international institutions necessary to advance the peace and freedoms we cherish," he said.
The War Experience
McCain discusses his personal experience with war from the day his father was swept away into World War II to his own days in Vietnam. "I detest war. It might not be the worst thing to befall human beings, but it is wretched beyond all description," he said. And this blunts one the main charges used against McCain, namely that he is the candidate of "war without end" including another hundred years in Iraq.
Belief in Internationalism
McCain expresses belief in "international good citizenship." He calls for a new Kyoto Treaty, a new partnership among the countries of North and South America, a strong NATO, reorganization of the G-8, and a new Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. He calls for creating, "...a global coalition for peace and freedom - if we lead by shouldering our international responsibilities and pointing the way to a better and safer future for humanity, I believe we will gain tangible benefits as a nation."
Tough on Allies
McCain says the United States has supported "autocrats" for too long, and we need to start supporting democracies. He wants America to rely less on "...the autocratic rulers of Egypt, the generals of Pakistan, the Saudi royal family." He would like to exclude Russia from G-8 and add in Brazil and India.
Difference From Bush Administration
The difference in both tone and substance from the Bush Administration is striking. No president, Republican or Democratic, has ever reframed America's role in the world quite this way. Unlike President Bush, John McCain seems not to think "treaty" is a dirty word. And conservatives have long been loathe to imply that U.S. action in the world is in any way limited by the wishes or advice of other countries.
Conservative Split Highlighted
The GOPUSA blog offered a stinging critique of the speech, "What McCain is saying is that American interests are now up for veto by the collective 'world body' and we must always get permission before action is taken." The blog goes on to say that McCain's views are neither conservative nor Republican. Conservative columnist David Brooks, on the other hand, wrote highly of the speech in his New York Times column, saying McCain "...signaled that the foreign policy debate of the coming months will be very different from the one of the past six years." http://usforeignpolicy.about.com/b/2008/03/28/the-mccain-speech.htm
These are so "scary" that even Democrats like Lieberman can get behind them.