Blogs and Stories
The Diplomatic Mess That the Press Is Missing
Pablo Martinez Monsivais, file / AP
In the frenzy to report on who will be shaping foreign policy in the Obama administration, the mainstream press and blogs have completely ignored what our diplomats actually think.
The New York Times ran a mostly misleading article last week about prospective appointments to the Obama-Clinton State Department—nothing really catastrophic, good mainly for more feverish gossip. But there are some good stories behind the Times story that reveal the state of the journalistic arts.
The first is that, as many suspect, the mainstream media seems unable to resist blog scoops, right or wrong, once they reach a certain crescendo.
Our diplomatic service no longer possesses the talent of the last fifty years. So Hillary has to look outside to the former great diplomats.
The second is that in the frenzy over appointment scoops in the new administration, both the blogs and the mainstreamers are neglecting the best stories.
- Consider this one, still unreported, about secret meetings last week of the new top-level Obama national security team (some with Obama present) to discuss counter-terrorism, Gaza, Russia, and Iran.
- Consider the absence of articles on the diplomatic mess that could attend the shortage of talent in our foreign service and the Obama-Clinton naming of very high-powered special envoys.
- Consider also that we haven’t begun to read about what these new appointees actually believe about foreign policy, American power, and priorities.
The latest gossip fuse was lit innocently enough with a January 5 blog by the Nelson Report. “The following seem nearly certain [appointments], with the usual caveats: Middle East (Israel/Palestine), Richard Haass; Iran, Dennis Ross; South Asia (Pakistan/India), Dick Holbrooke; N. Korea, Wendy Sherman likely.” Later in the piece, the “usual caveats” were eliminated, and Nelson simply states that the pick “is.”
To begin with, Haass was not offered the job as negotiator between the Israelis and Palestinians. Ross’s portfolio was not limited to Iran, but includes expansive turf such as Arab-Israeli issues. Yes, Holbrooke is doing diplomatic things regarding India and Afghanistan, but his brief most notably includes Afghanistan and Iran as it relates to Afghanistan. And while Sherman had been offered her old negotiating position with the North Koreans, she had already declined it by story time. Other than these fixes, the story had a lot of good information.
A day later, Nelson sort of retracted on Haass. “The only major ‘correction,’ required,” he wrote, “seems to be our assertion” about Haass. “In meetings today with colleagues, and in other venues, Haas (sic) has firmly claimed ‘no conversation’ by phone or other methods, with the Obama folks on this job.”
Then came a slew of other blogs, all offering variations of the Nelson themes, most notably those by Stephen Walt on January 6 and Marc Ambinder the following day. Walt called the Haass appointment “about the best us realists could expect.” Coming from the co-author with John Mearshimer of a recent book that argued that the pro-Israeli Jewish lobby dominates U.S. policy on the Mideast to the detriment of American interests, this was a kiss of death—if Haass ever was being considered.
Then, Katie Couric chimed in on the evening news on January 7 with Holbrooke, Ross, and Haass, and said that all three would “report directly to the President.” Most decidedly not true.
Stars Celebrate the Super Bowl
The Daily Beast is dedicated to news and commentary, culture, and entertainment. We carefully curate the web’s most essential stories and bring you original must-reads from our talented contributors.
How Rich People Smoke Pot
Paul Schrodt is a writer living in New York City. He has contributed to New York magazine, Radar, and Esquire.com.
Obama's Dangerous China Game
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
The Speech Had Potential
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
New Doubts About Afghanistan
Leslie H. Gelb, a former New York Times columnist and senior government official, is author of Power Rules: How Common Sense Can Rescue American Foreign Policy (HarperCollins 2009), a book that shows how to think about and use power in the 21st century. He is president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Martyz42
Many times I have told my children & now my grandchildren about an old saying. People that do the same thing over & over again & keep looking for a different result are people that spend their lives with heads in the clouds. The policy when it comes to dealing with other nations is the same policy that all the so called people in the know learned form the old UK better called "how I can create a mess, start a war, begin the destroy a country & be called a diplomat" Sadly both parties have been drinking the same from the same water & the people that pretend to know, let's just say look at our past. The best advise I could give to when it comes to finding good people is simple, find people that don't know it can't be done right & then they go out & do it. These same old retreads can tell you up front it can't be done & guess what, they can't do it....
Thank you.
As a first time user, your comment has been submitted for review. It can take anywhere from a few hours to a day or two for your comment to be reviewed, depending on the time of week and the volume of comments we receive.