If Bush's inaugural address is to be more than rhetoric, we hope he'll follow it up with some concrete moves to nurture freedom, the rule of law and the protection of minorities overseas. Let's talk about expanding the Peace Corps, improving public diplomacy, and retooling or military so it is as effective at peace-keeping and nation-building as it is at war-making.



If Bush's inaugural address is to be more than rhetoric, we hope he'll follow it up with some concrete moves to nurture freedom, the rule of law and the protection of minorities overseas. Let's talk about expanding the Peace Corps, improving public diplomacy, and retooling or military so it is as effective at peace-keeping and nation-building as it is at war-making.

Editorial: Bush's call to action

Thursday, January 27, 2005

The audience for President George W. Bush's second inaugural address was not only the nation he serves, but the entire globe. It was broadcast live on every continent, translated simultaneously into dozens of languages. And it seemed to have been written with the international audience in mind, sending a message that was both interesting and important.

It was interesting, in part, for the things that weren't mentioned. The words "terror" and "terrorism" appear nowhere in the transcript. In marked contrast to some of his earlier speeches, Bush was not enlisting the world in a with-us-or-against-us crusade to wipe out shadowy networks of suicidal ideologues wielding scary weapons. He was challenging the rulers of the world's nations to accede to their people's hunger for freedom and democracy.

"It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture," Bush said, "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

This commitment is important because, in some places, it contradicts Bush's previous emphasis. While Bush often talks of freedom on the march, freedom has been in retreat in Russia, where President Vladimir Putin has used the rhetoric of the war on terror to suppress those calling for greater liberty.

There are other places where staunch allies in the war on terror deny freedom and human rights to their people. Egypt is run by dictator Hosni Mubarek, Saudi Arabia is not only run by a royal family, most of it is owned by the royal family. Uzbekistan's Islam Karimov is a Stalinist dictator accused of putting dissidents to death in large vats of boiling water. He's also an ally in the war on terror because he allows US troops to be based in his country for operations in neighboring Afghanistan.

Al Qaeda and its terrorist associates are by no definition freedom fighters. But it is worth remembering that Nelson Mandela was listed as a terrorist by the U.S. State Department just a few years before his lifelong fight to bring freedom to South Africa bore fruit.

While the sweep of Bush's rhetoric was stunning, its implication that the U.S. has the right and duty to liberate countries wherever tyrants reign is troubling. Was he promising to unseat Burma's brutal junta and aggressively challenge China on human rights, or was he laying the rhetorical groundwork for military action in Iran and North Korea?

We don't know, but we're glad he added the caveat that "Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities... America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way."

If Bush's inaugural address is to be more than rhetoric, we hope he'll follow it up with some concrete moves to nurture freedom, the rule of law and the protection of minorities overseas. Let's talk about expanding the Peace Corps, improving public diplomacy, and retooling or military so it is as effective at peace-keeping and nation-building as it is at war-making.

Among the oppressed people of the world, Bush's call for freedom will resonate far more strongly than his denunciations of terrorism. We hope he'll keep it up - and back it up with action.

When this story was posted in January 2005, this was on the front page of PCOL:

January 22, 2005: This Week's Top Stories Spread Freedom — but not at gunpoint 22 Jan Dodd has ring side seat at Inauguration 21 Jan Peace Corps works in Georgia 21 Jan Trey Aven monitored Ukraine elections 21 Jan RPCV group makes quiet indie-pop 21 Jan Anthony Shriver considers race for Florida Governor 20 Jan Thomas Tighe says internet brought funds to DRI 20 Jan Stacy Jupiter researches Australia ecosystems 20 Jan Libby Garvey is education activist 20 Jan David McIntyre captures medals on land and in water 19 Jan Carol Bellamy new president of World Learning 18 Jan Reed Hastings crossed "Latino Caucus'' 18 Jan RPCVs sponsor Freeze for Food to aid Colombia farmers 18 Jan RPCVs urge Bush to aid Democracy in Ukraine 17 Jan Tom Petri proposes changes in student loan program 17 Jan Golden Globe Win for Jamie Foxx in RPCV's "Ray" 17 Jan Stephen Smith is new consul-general in Australia 17 Jan

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Ask Not As our country prepares for the inauguration of a President, we remember one of the greatest speeches of the 20th century and how his words inspired us. "And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man."

Coleman: Peace Corps mission and expansion Senator Norm Coleman, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the Peace Corps, says in an op-ed, A chance to show the world America at its best: "Even as that worthy agency mobilizes a "Crisis Corps" of former Peace Corps volunteers to assist with tsunami relief, I believe an opportunity exists to rededicate ourselves to the mission of the Peace Corps and its expansion to touch more and more lives."

RPCVs active in new session of Congress In the new session of Congress that begins this week, RPCV Congressman Tom Petri has a proposal to bolster Social Security, Sam Farr supported the objection to the Electoral College count, James Walsh has asked for a waiver to continue heading a powerful Appropriations subcommittee, Chris Shays will no longer be vice chairman of the Budget Committee, and Mike Honda spoke on the floor honoring late Congressman Robert Matsui.

Latest: RPCVs and Peace Corps provide aid Peace Corps made an appeal last week to all Thailand RPCV's to consider serving again through the Crisis Corps and more than 30 RPCVs have responded so far. RPCVs: Read what an RPCV-led NGO is doing about the crisis an how one RPCV is headed for Sri Lanka to help a nation he grew to love. Question: Is Crisis Corps going to send RPCVs to India, Indonesia and nine other countries that need help?

The World's Broken Promise to our Children Former Director Carol Bellamy, now head of Unicef, says that the appalling conditions endured today by half the world's children speak to a broken promise. Too many governments are doing worse than neglecting children -- they are making deliberate, informed choices that hurt children. Read her op-ed and Unicef's report on the State of the World's Children 2005.

Changing of the Guard With Lloyd Pierson's departure, Marie Wheat has been named acting Chief of Staff and Chief of Operations responsible for the day-to-day management of the Peace Corps. Although Wheat is not an RPCV and has limited overseas experience, in her two years at the agency she has come to be respected as someone with good political skills who listens and delegates authority and we wish her the best in her new position.

Our debt to Bill Moyers Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Bill Moyers leaves PBS next week to begin writing his memoir of Lyndon Baines Johnson. Read what Moyers says about journalism under fire, the value of a free press, and the yearning for democracy. "We have got to nurture the spirit of independent journalism in this country," he warns, "or we'll not save capitalism from its own excesses, and we'll not save democracy from its own inertia."

RPCV safe after Terrorist Attack RPCV Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, the U.S. consul general in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia survived Monday's attack on the consulate without injury. Five consular employees and four others were killed. Abercrombie-Winstanley, the first woman to hold the position, has been an outspoken advocate of rights for Arab women and has met with Saudi reformers despite efforts by Saudi leaders to block the discussions.

Is Gaddi Leaving? Rumors are swirling that Peace Corps Director Vasquez may be leaving the administration. We think Director Vasquez has been doing a good job and if he decides to stay to the end of the administration, he could possibly have the same sort of impact as a Loret Ruppe Miller. If Vasquez has decided to leave, then Bob Taft, Peter McPherson, Chris Shays, or Jody Olsen would be good candidates to run the agency. Latest: For the record, Peace Corps has no comment on the rumors.

The Birth of the Peace Corps UMBC's Shriver Center and the Maryland Returned Volunteers hosted Scott Stossel, biographer of Sargent Shriver, who spoke on the Birth of the Peace Corps. This is the second annual Peace Corps History series - last year's speaker was Peace Corps Director Jack Vaughn.

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