The Center for U.S. Global Engagement, a Washington-based group that seeks to strengthen America's commitment to global engagement, has launched a new web-based talk show about global issues called “The Global Wire.”
So far the show has hosted Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Aside from discussing current US foreign policy both statesmen were on the show to promote their new books; Hagel's Tough Questions, Straight Answers, and Albright's Memo to the President Elect: How We Can Restore America's Reputation and Leadership.
In Albright's interview she emphasized that in order to get the US out of the “mess” it finds itself in it “has to be engaged internationally, that we don't have the luxury of kind of pulling up the moat, and bridge, and really being behind our borders, and that we have to be fully engaged, but not unilaterally.”
To her engagement means: “…talking to everybody. Understanding what their national interest is, listening, and so it does not mean military invasion or just the use of the military power… Engaging means that you in fact listen and really understand what's going on in other countries to see how their national interest works for ours.”
So that means Albright advocates talking to Iran: “Iran, I would say talk to them. Dialogue with Iran, and understand that dialogue is not always just being sweet and nice, but understanding again what is, understanding a very complex society of Iran.
Albright also discussed the politics of foreign aid, fighting poverty, the empowerment of women and other key issues in US foreign policy.
Looks like the Global Wire is a webpage worth keeping an eye on.
