Word: foreign
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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Under different circumstances, Bush's Asian trip might have been the start of a more vigorous diplomacy. As it was, the President appeared likely to accomplish no more than he did at the innumerable foreign funerals he attended as Vice President. During only two days in Japan, Bush scheduled 19 meetings with Kings, Presidents and Prime Ministers of countries ranging from France to Saudi Arabia to Singapore. But since he was unprepared to get into matters of substance, many of the meetings lasted only 15 to 25 minutes, including opening pleasantries and time for translation. In a meeting with Japanese...
Longer range, Bush is running a risk of subtly and unintentionally undermining his Administration. A primal commandment for new Presidents, particularly those faced with a Congress controlled by the opposition party: Thou shalt avoid early defeats. The opening days are the time when Congress and the public -- and foreign leaders -- are sizing up the new man. The perceptions they form early are likely to color their view of the President throughout his term...
...timing was astute. While Washington chose to go slow on Middle East diplomacy, Moscow accelerated its activity. Last week Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard Shevardnadze was on a ten-day sally through five countries, leaving deep tracks everywhere he touched down...
...auspices of the United Nations. He took the plan to Jordan and Egypt for an approving welcome. And before proceeding on to Iran and Iraq, Shevardnadze spent four days in Cairo for a bit of showmanship that could not help grabbing headlines: back-to-back meetings with Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Arens and Palestine Liberation Organization Chairman Yasser Arafat...
What fresh ideas was the new thinking Soviet Foreign Minister promoting? Not many. Shevardnadze's peace proposal was largely procedural, reiterating an idea that has been floating around the region for several years and is widely endorsed by most of the relevant parties, except Israel. But as a public relations ploy, the trip was effective. Shevardnadze amply demonstrated Moscow's intention to break Washington's monopoly as the peace broker in the Middle East. With his shrewd charm and flair for appearing to generate goodwill, Shevardnadze sent a new breeze through the Middle East -- a breeze that George Bush promised...