Could Fareed Zakaria be our next Sec of State?

[David]

Zakaria is the editor of Newsweek since 2000. I just finished reading his latest article (actually, it's an excerpt from a book he has coming out) from the May 12th Newsweek and it really has me thinking about where the US should be headed.

I've read a few of his other articles and they got me thinking too.


While he's been mentioned as a candidate for Secretary of State if Obama wins, he's regarded as a centrist.


Just thought I'd pass it on

[Tobra]

He did an interview in Playboy a few months ago, best one they have had in a long time. Smart, insightful guy, could do worse for Sec State, much worse. If he is the editor, is he responsible for Newsweek sucking so much ass?

[Rick Lee]

Sec. of State in whose administration? He's waaayyy too smart and realistic to take on a political job like that and his past writings, though I agree him on everything, would be fodder for his confirmation hearings. If someone as smart as Rice can't straighten out the State Dept., I don't know why anyone thinks a guy as young as Zakaria could do better. BTW, since the Sec. of State is in the line of presidential succession, Zakaria might have an issue there. He has not been a U.S. citizen his whole life. I love the guy though, but I doubt any president would heed his advice.

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

Fareed Zakaria is the editor of Newsweek since 2000.

While he's been mentioned as a candidate for Secretary of State ...

As a point of clarification, he's not the editor of Newsweek, (that would be Jon Meacham), but instead edits the international version.

That said, he's been the most consistently thoughtful writer on foreign affairs in the past decade, hands down.

Exactly who has mentioned the SoS trial baloon? Not heard that one before, and it makes no sense to me either.







Tim

[tabs]

U boyz must be joking about Fareed. If you Boyz think Fareed is da bomb I suppose you boyz would vote for Captain Kangaroo as President. Ohhh wait Americans allready have...Sorry, carry on....

Upon further reflection of the interview I saw of Fareed, it has left a bad taste in my mouth. He also knows his current events however it is shallow interpetation and does not reflect on the historical context of what he is reporting on. He like his generation lives in the moment, and as such disregards knowing about the past as being irrelvelant to the present.


Comment by TABS on Friday, May 2 at 08:21 AM

Both Dr Zakaria and Tom Freidman are 34 years late to this party. Way back in 1974 Dr Jorge Nef was talking at the University of California about the rise of the Multi-national corporation and the relative decline of the nation state as the global economy developed. As the investment of capital in those foreign lands came to fruition the rest of the world has risen to make the world flat. Politically the United States is the old man of the world who is stuck in his thinking and his ways of doing business in that world. It is difficult for the United States to realize that it is not the only game in town, that it has competition to be king of the hill. Dr Zakaria should also recognize that it was the United States that set all this into motion by design with the Marshall Plan in the late 1940's. The design was that by fostering capitalism and free trade in the world one could beat the forces of communism by creating an economic juggernaut that would improve the well being of people in the world. At the time the US saw it as a security issue, but from there corporations invested capital in foreign lands and the ending of the Cold War has allowed that capital to bloom as never before. Dr Zakaria also should realize that if you don't know where you have been how do you know where your at or where your going, because you have no point of reference. In other words the world didn't begin the day you were hatched, and your not the first person to invent the wheel. Other than that Dr Zakaria is one sharp cookie and deserves to be listened to. Maybe he can teach an old dog some new tricks.

[Mule]

BHO & the infidel free cabinet!

[David]

I agree he's a longshot for SoS, but his stuff is very thought provoking.

[kach22i]

I saw Fareed Zakaria on the Charlie Rose program last week, he is not the neocon warhawk he used to be.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by 125shifter

I agree he's a longshot for SoS, but his stuff is very thought provoking.

Unless you think McCain would pick him he is a real long shot!

[legion]

I consider Madeline Albright to be the worst Secretary of State in my lifetime. Ruby Ridge and Waco were largely her fault. The image of her chasing Yasir Arafat through a courtyard, begging him to return when he stormed out of a meeting is insulting to the dignity of America. Her form of diplomacy was simply promising stuff, and when the other party demanded more to do what they already promised to do, to give in--repeatedly. She never drew a line in the sand and said enough is enough. She trained our enemies to always hold out for more freebies--that they could demand anything, get it, and never have to live up to their promises.

Powell was so-so. From what I gather, he just sort of "occupied" the position for four years. He didn't cause a lot of damage, but didn't make a lot of progress either. That's not to say he isn't a smart guy, he is. He just didn't do a whole lot with his time as Secretary of State.

Rice is a sharp cookie. I get the impression that she has done a lot behind the scenes that has never hit the press. She is tough as nails and doesn't back down, which is a welcome change. She faces an uphill battle on the international scene thanks to all the damage Albright did.

Now, I don't know a lot about this Zakaria guy, but I doubt it would mean a return to the Albright school of diplomacy (always giving in). Tell me more.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by legion

I consider Madeline Albright to be the worst Secretary of State in my lifetime. Ruby Ridge and Waco were largely her fault.

I thought she sucked too, but what did she have to do with either of them, especially since Ruby Ridge happened under Bush I?

[legion]

Maybe I'm getting confused with something else she messed up.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by kach22i

I saw Fareed Zakaria on the Charlie Rose program last week, he is not the neocon warhawk he used to be.

I don't think neocon warhawk means what you think it does.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by Tobra

I don't think neocon warhawk means what you think it does.

He wanted us to go into Iraq, and he wants us to say.

Just a little bit on both counts.

He would like to have it both ways and seems to play the middle ground while dressed in a cloak of Internationalism.

Try this if you trust it, I have a long memory.

Iraq War views
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fareed_Zakaria

[BeyGon]

Originally Posted by legion

Maybe I'm getting confused with something else she messed up.

Nukes for North Korea.

[Mule]

There ought to be a post there for Farakahn too!

[teenerted1]

Originally Posted by legion

Maybe I'm getting confused with something else she messed up.

yea that the SOS deals with international issues. those were both domestic issues.

i think you are thinking of Janet Reno, Attorney General.

[David]

Originally Posted by Mule

There ought to be a post there for Farakahn too!

If you're comparing Farakahn to Zakaria, I'll assume you didn't read the article.

[MRM]

Originally Posted by legion

I consider Madeline Albright to be the worst Secretary of State in my lifetime. Ruby Ridge and Waco were largely her fault.

You do know that the Secretary of State is responsible for America's foreign affairs, don't you? Managing the diplomatic corp, negotiating treaties, trade deals, things like that. The Secretary of State has relatively few domestic law enforcement responsibilities.

[Mule]

Originally Posted by MRM

You do know that the Secretary of State is responsible for America's foreign affairs, don't you? Managing the diplomatic corp, negotiating treaties, trade deals, things like that. The Secretary of State has relatively few domestic law enforcement responsibilities.

And she's still the worst. She got ZERO respect in the middle east.

Janet "big burly" Reno was responsible for the killing of those citizens by the military!