EXIT STRATEGY: How to Fix a Post-Bush Nation - Interview with Zbigniew Brzezinski

[OneBlueSky]

Interview: Zbigniew Brzezinski, former national security advisor, on the Bush legacy and why he supports Obama over McCain.

Interview by: Michael Mechanic
Mother Jones, September/October 2008 Issue

http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2008/09/fix-it-interviews-zbigniew-brzezinski.html

Mother Jones: What would you consider the Bush administration's most notable failures?

Zbigniew Brzezinski: There are two that stand out. One is the totally self-destructive war in Iraq, which has greatly undermined American global standing, and, even worse, America's global influence. It will take a long time to undo that. Second, the economy, which has now not only damaged the livelihood of thousands of Americans, but is also damaging national self-confidence. The combination of the two is a pitiful record.

MJ: What part of his legacy will be the easiest to fix?

ZB: The symbolic perception of America, because if a new president personalizes a rather different concept of America and a different sense of America's mission in the world than has been the case with president George W. Bush, then that almost automatically will help to improve America's global image. But the tangibles involving the war and the economy are not going to be easy to fix.

MJ: Is any of it irreparable?

ZB: That's really hard to say. It certainly would be possible for America to redefine its role in the world, especially if, in the short run, America is able to cope effectively with the ongoing dilemma in the Middle East.

MJ: So what about the war on terror at home? How do we back away?

ZB: By becoming more rational. We are waging a war on terror, but we've been very fortunate in not having any act of terrorism committed against the United States since 9/11. It's partially luck, partially the consequence of America's semi-isolation, and partially the consequence, perhaps, of some reasonably good intelligence and counterintelligence work. But very little of that is due to the consequences of the self-generated atmosphere of fear in this country, which has produced some ludicrous reactions, many of which have no bearing at all on either deterring or preventing terrorism. In Washington, DC, you can't even go into a regular business building without some pretentiously uniformed people with labels on their shoulders indicating they're security guards checking your ID occasionally, and asking the purpose of the visit in a manner—and sometimes tone—which indicates a rather phlegmatic attitude toward their responsibilities. And if you were to indicate that you were in the building for the purpose of blowing it up, chances are they would say, "The suite 908 is on the ninth floor, elevators are to the right." We have a situation that some obscure law firm in a building is protected, but the main department stores, music halls, Kennedy Center, department stores, cafeterias, and restaurants are unprotected. What is the logic of this?

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http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2008/09/fix-it-interviews-zbigniew-brzezinski.html