Brazil and Turkey's Message

Brazil and Turkey's recent alliance with Iran on uranium enrichment is not quite a stake in the heart of post-war American foreign policy, but epitomizes the post-globalization realities that are in the process of transforming U.S. foreign policy assumptions, planning, and actions. Two of the pillar concepts of post-war U.S. foreign policy -- George Kennan's Containment theory and Mutual Assured Destruction -- seem ancient and irrelevant in a world where rogue nations deftly manipulate global powers, information zips across the world in a nanosecond, and suicide bombers travel with impunity across borders. Taken together, Brazil and Turkey's action, North Korea and Iran's failure to fall into line, and the West's inability to declare victory in the War on Terror all represent the failure of American foreign policy, and the inability of policy makers to grasp the harsh new realities.

The bold, assertive foreign policy that emerged from 9/11 became synonymous with pre-emptive action that knew no boundaries and smug self-righteousness that turned many allies against the U.S. The combination of unilateral action and interventionism that have prevailed since 2001 have prompted countries such as Brazil, China, Turkey and Russia to believe that it is America that needs to be contained. To them, America's foreign policy has lost a sense of balance and has become desiccated into so many conflicting strands that it is more reactive, wanton, and reckless than proactive, purposeful or prudent.

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