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By the People is
funded,
in part, by:
 
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 Part
of the By the People mission is to better inform the public discussion
of foreign affairs. In this section you will find resources from the
Online NewsHour, the National Issues Forums and other news and information
providers.
A
Discussion Guide for Forums
The
By the People background print materials, prepared by the Kettering
Foundation, present four different perspectives as a way of framing
public discussion. Each approach shows a distinctive perspective on
what our global priorities should be and what costs and tradeoffs
we should be prepared to accept if we move in that direction. Each
approach amounts to a scenario that describes what it might mean to
be an American in this 21st century world.
- Approach
#1: Peace through strength.
The premise of this first approach is that the most promising
path to security lies in our own strength and our willingness
to use force, when necessary, to deal with serious threats. The
basic point of the Bush Doctrine, which illustrates this approach,
is to ensure that the United States has an overwhelming military
superiority, and the will to use it to maintain peace and stability.
- Approach
#2: The democracy project.
A second approach underlines the importance of the fundamental
ideals on which the United States was founded-democracy and human
rights-and reiterates their continued importance as a guide to
international action. Democracy is this nation's founding value.
Our commitment to it must be backed up by our willingness to take
various actions to promote its worldwide expansion.
- Approach
#3: The world-wide market prescription.
A third approach makes the case for leading from our economic
strength, following the same path that led to America's prosperity
and our international prominence. In today's world, global stability
and well-being depend less on promoting democratic regimes than
on raising the standard of living. Following the free-market approach
is the most promising way-indeed the only proven way-to achieve
global prosperity for ourselves and for people around the world,
including developing nations.
- Approach
#4: Global partnerships, common concerns.
The fourth approach is a very different perspective about which
problems demand urgent attention, and how we -- through government
actions, and the actions of millions of individuals and thousands
of organizations and alliances -- should use the nation's global
influence and resources. This fourth approach puts forward a vision
of America's global leadership that focuses not mainly on dealing
with threats to security, nor in being leader of the free and
democratic world, nor in leading a global free market economy.
American leadership, in this view, should take a different direction:
We should lead a global partnership that takes seriously urgent
and growing global problems.
No
one of these perspectives, of course, should be pursued to the exclusion
of the others. None in itself offers a perfect response to all of
the situations the U.S. faces. The purpose of this framework is to
serve as an invitation to public discussion.
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Foreign Policies in the News
 Intervention
in Iraq? -- An ongoing examination the U.S. debate over whether
to oust Saddam Hussein.
Rebuilding
Afghanistan -- More on the politics and discord within Afghanistan
after the U.S. ousted the Islamic fundamentalist Taliban leaders.
Colombia's
Civil War -- The second largest recipient of U.S. foreign and military
aid, Colombia continues to battle both left- and right-wing militants
and a still-thriving narcotics industry.
U.S.
Response to 9/11 -- In an effort to combat international terrorism,
the U.S. has taken to the courts, the battlefield and diplomatic arena.
 Israeli/
Palestinian Conflict -- Background on the history, America's involvement
and the key players in perhaps the most intractable of international
conflicts.
AIDS
in Africa -- A closer look at the ravaging effects AIDS and HIV
have had throughout the continent.
India-Pakistan
Dispute -- More on the root causes and possible conflicts between
these two historic, now nuclear-capable neighbors in Asia.
Saudi
Arabia: Inside the Kingdom -- A series of reports on the religious,
economic and political issues playing out within this nation.
Cuba
and the United States -- Background on the continued troubles relations
between this country and Fidel Castro's Cuba.
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