>>>It is worth mentioning that public approval or disapproval does not necessarily indicate wisdom, one way or the other. Referendum is interesting, but not entirely the best way to form policy. i am not saying that approval or disapproval of the public - either foreign or domestic - is unimportant, only that it can't be the only factor in deciding extremely complex questions - especially when they are life and death issues.
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>>I largely agree. Pure direct democracies don't work because of the reasons you describe above. However, approval and disapproval, esspecially from forreign countries is something not to be ignored.
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>Absolutely. No country ever suffered from having too many allies. But no country ever survived by not defending itself when under attack by its enemies while its many friends spoke well of it. <s> A difficult balance, especially when friends do not have exactly the same interests or problems.
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>I hope our next President will be faced with fewer surpise challenges, be more personally aware of the word's complexities and more skilled in conducting policy in a way that elicits support of our culturally similar allies without seeking international stardom for its own sake.

wow... I could not have said that better.