What the World is Reading

In the June 11 issue of Newsweek 8216;After Bush: How to restore America8217;s place in the world8217; Fareed Zakaria worries that the United States has 8220;become a nation consumed by fear, worried about terrorists and rogue nations, Muslims and Mexicans, foreign companies and free trade, immigrants and international organizations8221;. To find a way out of this sense of siege, he argues, the country has to 8220;stop bashing George W. Bush. We must begin to think about life after Bush8221;. And, as he begins taking count, the fray of presidential hopefuls does not provide much hope. Among the Republicans, for instance, Rudy Giuliani fears that America is on the defensive against an 8220;enemy that is planning all over this world . . . to come here and kill us8221;. And Mitt Romney wants to double the size of the Guantaacute;namo prison, turning a legal/humanitarian issue into one of capacity. The Democrats appear no less strident in recommending strong retaliation in case of a terrorist attack, and even Barack Obama retreated from a more sober response to the hypothetical question upon seeing others8217; aggressive responses during a Democratic presidential debate. Making a case that it is the country8217;s openness that has made is so unique and successful, Zakaria concludes: 8220;It is easy to look at America8217;s place in the world right now and believe that we are in a downward spiral of decline. But this is a snapshot of a tough moment. If the country can keep its cool, admit to its mistakes, cherish and strengthen its successes, it will not only recover but return with renewed strength.8221;

In the July/August issue of Foreign Affairs, Obama and Romney preview their foreign policies in the first two of a series by American presidential candidates. Obama8217;s first: 8220;After Iraq, we may be tempted to turn inward. That would be a mistake. The American moment is not over, but it must be seized anew. We must bring the war to a responsible end and then renew our leadership 8212; military, diplomatic, moral 8212; to confront new threats and capitalise on new opportunities. America cannot meet this century8217;s challenges alone; the world cannot meet them without America.8221; On South Asia, he writes: 8220;I will join with our allies in insisting 8212; not simply requesting 8212; that Pakistan crack down on the Taliban, pursue Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants, and end its relationship with all terrorist groups. At the same time, I will encourage dialogue between Pakistan and India to work toward resolving their dispute over Kashmir and between Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their historic differences and develop the Pashtun border region. If Pakistan can look toward the east with greater confidence, it will be less likely to believe that its interests are best advanced through cooperation with the Taliban.8221; A summary of Romney8217;s essay: 8220;As the 8216;greatest generation8217; did before us, we must move beyond political camps to unite around bold actions in order to build a strong America and a safer world. We must strengthen our military and economy, achieve energy independence, reenergise civilian and interagency capabilities, and revitalise our alliances.8221; He warns of the consequences of America 8220;walking away8221; from Iraq.

And that eternally possible candidate? The June 2-8 of The Economist cautions Al Gore against running. In this fascinating afterlife after the 2000 count, 8220;he is America8217;s conscience on its gas-guzzling ways8221;. But, on past experience, 8220;he looks horribly out of place in the political bear-pit8221;. Why risk a return to that old self? Also in the magazine: a survey of business is tackling climate change many more incentives are needed, is the finding.

Meanwhile: Time June 11 considers West Africa8217;s increasing oil wealth. The New Yorker June 4 has an essay by Gunter Grass on being 8220;a recruit in the Waffen S.S.8221;

8212; Mini Kapoor