What Diplomacy Is All About

NY Times: Op-Ed Columnist
African Genocide Averted
By ROGER COHEN
Published: March 3, 2008
Kenya’s remarkable power-sharing outcome can serve as a model: Call it the Nairobi paradigm or Kofi Annan’s R2P marker.


Okay, so I read this article and got really excited. First and foremost, I was grateful that more bloodshed and suffering has been averted, at least for now, in Kenya. Second, I was impressed by Kofi Annan's efforts to bring the opposing factions to the table to work out a deal. I thought it was masterful that he brought in leaders from Germany to help explain how dual-executive systems work. It was a nice touch that the author included President Bush's remarks about how there ought to be some sort of power sharing agreement between the two parties. I felt that the last paragraphs were particularly good:

''When we talk of intervention, people think of the military,'' Annan said. ''But under R2P [Responsibility to Protect], force is a last resort. Political and diplomatic intervention is the first mechanism. And I think we've seen a successful example of its application.''
Some will quibble over technicalities, but Kenya kindled the somnolent spirit of R2P. We've also seen American might in subtler guise: listening better, applying soft power. That's another reason what happened in Nairobi matters so much. (Bold added - KSC)

I think that is exactly the kind of influence the US should be trying to exert - making statements that show we support efforts of credible actors in the international community. This "new" take on diplomacy, at least for the Bush administration, can also be seen in the debacle over the recent National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear weapons program (I should probably have some sort of caveat here like "alleged," but I just don't buy all the hogwash Iran is trying to sell about its "peaceful" pursuit of nuclear power). The US intel community narrowly defined nuclear weapons program as designing warheads, ignoring the traditional definition which included enriching uranium, which Iran has been doing. The publication of the National Intelligence Estimate killed momentum for tougher sanctions on Iran. China and Russia are none too keen to press Iran any more than they have to. This gave them an excuse to soften their approach. However, the US has recently somewhat redeemed itself by sharing some of its intel with members of the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency - UN nuclear power watchdog). As a result, the Europeans are picking up the ball and pressing for tougher sanctions against Iran (See Meeting on Arms Data Reignites Iran Debate). Again, the US does not have to do everything by itself. It can provide support to other states who have their best interests in seeing the situation resolved and are willing and able to see that such a resolution develops.