Middle East watchers might want to examine the Democratic presidential campaigns in Iowa more carefully. From Des Moines to Sioux City the candidates are criss-crossing the state making prepared and extemporaneous statements about Pakistan, Israel, Palestine, Iraq and all other things Middle Eastern. Indeed, many of the Democrats' closing arguments before Thursday's Hawkeye state showdown are showcasing their supposed Middle East experience, particularly in the wake of Benazir Bhutto's assassination. Their statements serve as important clues to a future Democratic foreign policy in the Middle East -- far more than a consensus-driven Democratic Convention platform that won't be written until late Spring.
Putting aside the prefacing crescendo of criticism over Bush administration foreign policy fiascos too numerous to mention, most Democrats have waxed frequently on Iraq and Iran, and most recently, on Pakistan.
But they have yet to formulate any strategic vision of a post Iraq Middle East policy for the United States.
- Talks with Iran and Syria;
- Early, free and fair elections in Pakistan and conditional financial assistance to the Musharraf regime;
- Support for the democratic government in Lebanon in its showdown with Hezbollah and Syria;
- An ironclad commitment to hunt down Bin Laden and Al Qaeda;
- The transfer of significant numbers of US troops from the Middle East to Afghanistan;
- Pressure on Saudi Arabia for its intolerance and continued support of extremism;
- An accelerated energy independence policy;
- Pressure on autocratic Arab leadership to reform their societies;
- US steadfastness with Israel should it undertake a military action against Iran's nuclear installations; and
- NATO expansion into the Middle East.
Given his vast experience with the topic, the most self-assured and expansive candidate on Middle East issues is U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Joe Biden (who also would be one of the leading candidates for Secretary of State in a Democratic administration).
What is not surprising is that other candidates have borrowed many of their Middle East proposals from Senator Joe (particularly his proposal for the creation of an Iraqi government that devolves authority to local governments, rather than to a central Baghdad authority). He has been almost universally lauded by his competitors for the strength of his proposals at every turn. For a struggling Biden who deserves to be recognized for his substantive contribution to Democrats, closing polls indicate that Hawkeye Democrats do not appear willing to give Biden their vote of confidence where it counts, i.e., on Caucus night. Whether or not Sen. Biden survives the early primary contests, his Middle East proposals will surely stand out as pillars for the remaining candidates in the race. In fact, Biden's website is a treasure trove of thoughtful Middle East policy recommendations.
For Middle East aficionados, Biden's various speeches in Iowa may be the yellow brick road to Democrats in dire need of a post-Bush strategic Middle East policy.