Can someone tell me what The Council on Foreign Relations actually does?...There's so

[clarice]

much confusion and conspiracy nut stuff on the Internet

[tonyt53]

1. They decide whether Pluto is a planet or not

[clarice]

2. What about Uranus?nt

[Alex4Martinez]

3. Hey, you take care of Uranus and I'll take care of mine.

[clarice]

6. I rectum you're right.nt

[ChisolmTrailDem]

35. I Saturn my hemorrhoids :( nt

[jberryhill]

4. What does the American Dental Association do?

The notion of people with recognized expertise in a subject having an organization which promotes communication, conferences and publications on ideas about that subject, normally bothers people lacking that expertise.

Personally, I think the dentists are up to no good.

[clarice]

5. Yes.lol But at least they don't "dabble" in foreign policy.nt

[Iggo]

7. Maybe that's what that fifth dentist is dong when the other 4 out of 5 are dentisting.

[jberryhill]

8. You gotta keep an eye on that 1 out of 5 dentists

[proverbialwisdom]

36. Just like the ADA, NOT.

[muriel_volestrangler]

9. They pontificate, on foreign relations

They are a self-perpetuating group who generally support the status quo on foreign policy for the United States. People who work (diplomats, elected politicians, academics, some military) in that area and are moderate in their views will be encouraged to associate with it. It's a think tank, not controlled by anyone in particular, but supported by people who want international stability.

If you want stability in world affairs, it's a useful institution. If you think radical change is needed, it would be something that blocks that.

[clarice]

14. What bothers me..is that

this is a non-elected group, with no over site, hobnobbing around influencing
our foreign policy.... and I can't seem to figure out WHO asked them to do so.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. People talk to each other, especially people they agree with; that's the nature of society

Stability often depends on people with experience being listened to. It may be notable that it was founded shortly after the First World War; diplomats may have felt they should have analysed the situation better, and that they might have been able to defuse the arguments that led to the war.

[clarice]

19. Granted...but at least Diplomats are appointed by a Governing body. Who appointed these people...?

It seems to me, as I learn more about them, that this is the antithesis of Democracy.
Am I way off base?

[muriel_volestrangler]

24. I don't think 'antithesis' is the right word

They're not a democratic institution, no; but they've never claimed to be. Universities aren't democracies either, but they also contain people with expertise, who express views on complicated subjects, and are often listened to by people who value conventional thinking. They're a 'think tank'. They don't have power.

[clarice]

28. BINGO....that's what I'm trying to ascertain... how much power DOES this group have?nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

29. I don't think it has power. It has influence.

The New York Times has influence. Chambers of Commerce have influence. NGOs have influence. Those with power will often listen to some of these.

[clarice]

30. Thanks Muriel...you have been very helpful.nt

[Bucky]

10. publish a magazine, support foreign policy studies, host seminars, dissiminate knowledge

From Wikipedia:

The CFR started a program in 2008 to last for 5 years and funded by a grant from the Robina Foundation called "International Institutions and Global Governance" which aims to identify the institutional requirements for effective multilateral cooperation in the 21st century.

The CFR's Maurice C. Greenberg Center for Geoeconomic Studies, directed by scholar and author Sebastian Mallaby, works to promote a better understanding among policymakers, academic specialists, and the interested public of how economic and political forces interact to influence world affairs.

The CFR's Center for Preventive Action (CPA) seeks to help prevent, defuse, or resolve deadly conflicts around the world and to expand the body of knowledge on conflict prevention. It does so by creating a forum in which representatives of governments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, corporations, and civil society can gather to develop operational and timely strategies for promoting peace in specific conflict situations.

The council publishes Foreign Affairs, "the preeminent journal of international affairs and U.S. foreign policy". It also establishes independent task forces, which bring together experts with diverse backgrounds and expertise to work together to produce reports offering both findings and policy prescriptions on important foreign policy topics. The CFR has sponsored more than fifty reports, including the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America that published report No, 53, titled Building a North American Community, in May 2005.

[NewsCenter28]

11. They really are

Just normal people like you or I who happen to have a distinguished background or interest in foreign affairs. These are good guys unlike AIPAC, PNAC, or the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, which are full of neocon hacks.

[Bucky]

12. They also find the orphans sacrificed to Beelzebub at the secret Bildeburg conferences

[clarice]

20. Crispy fried I hope.nt

[clarice]

18. ummmmmmm no offense but....."an interest in Foreign affairs"....

is a far cry from "advising" on our Foreign relationships. Dont'cha think?

[clarice]

15. But who asked/elected them to do so ?....and why aren't their....

"evaluations" printed on the front page of every journal in America?

[Bucky]

21. they don't publish "every journal in America" but news-google them, & you see their press releases

Who elected the Sierra Club? Who elected the Jaycees? Who elected the AMA?

A democracy is going to be riddled with interest groups and professional associations promoting their view of the public interest.

[clarice]

26. Yes... I agree....

but the members of the groups that you mentioned do not have as much influence
on something as serious as Foreign relations. When this group "entertains" members of foreign
regimes...you and I will never be sure of exactly what the hell they are promoting.

[Shandris]

13. Why, they're just a harmless bunch of old men who, for some inexplicable reason,...

...seem to share memberships in many different odd, 'secret' societies that are also likewise completely harmless (even when they sacrifice children in effigy, because that's what well-adjusted old rich adults do in their spare time) where they meet and talk about important things like absolutely nothing whatsoever that can in any way be construed in any manner as being political in any form for long hours.

Why, what else did you think they did?

[clarice]

16. I thought that they might be members of the Chtulu cult...

preparing the way for the Old Ones.

[maxrandb]

22. IMHO - They are just another in a long line of Right-Wing Think Tanks

either that, or they are the ones that can hook you up with a Russian bride.

When I was on active duty, we gave briefs on occasion to these folks, and for the most part, they were former military, political or foreign service folks, but they definitely had a "rightwing" aura about them.

They also seem to have a great deal of influence for a council that exists nowhere in the Constitution of the United States or has any type of Congressional or Administrative oversight.

Frankly, they should scare the Teabaggers way more than the UN does.

[clarice]

23. Thanks max..but based on what you just said...

I think that people on BOTH sides should be alarmed.

[maxrandb]

25. You're right

They are definitely influential and powerful. I saw Flag Officers damn near piss their pants getting ready to brief CFR members.

Their ties to large corporations should scare the hell out of folks too.

Something tells me that Ford and Rockefeller didn't establish this think tank because the voice of Middle America needed representation at the table.

I think it goes back to the era where the rich and powerful played real games of Risk and Stratego...and I don't think much has changed

[clarice]

27. whewwwww. I'm glad that I'm not COMPLETELY crazy .lol. Thanks max

[clarice]

32. And the disturbing thing Turb, is that I don't hear anybody asking.nt

[clarice]

34. LOL. Good one.nt

[GulfCoast66]

37. Am I on DU?

Just a hint... Go to any RW conspiracy site and the CFR is one of their biggest boogie men. You have wondered into the CT zone, please exit quickly.

[clarice]

38. LOL....what is the CT zone? nt

[GulfCoast66]

39. Conspiracy theory

CT is used here from time to time.

[clarice]

40. Cool....thanks.