KK

Who Cares About Foreign Policy?

Nov 12, 2013

MB
Stage· 161 messages
Nov 12, 2013

If it doesn't happen here, why should we bother? Most Americans are overloaded with media and information, so where does news from beyond our borders fit? Broadcaster/Analyst Michael Brooks will tell us and discuss his latest piece for AlJazeera America: http://alj.am/1bIN3yF

KK

Katie Klabusich · 4:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Tawkers Admin

“Welcome to the Forum! To get involved, click "Who's Here" and then FOLLOW people.”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 4:32 AM

★ Spotlighted from Tawkers Admin

“Once 25 people gather in the audience, a comment needs at least one LIKE to become visible to the two Hosts and anyone not following them. So LIKE the comments you want everyone to see!”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:30 PM

Hi, everyone!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:30 PM

Thanks for coming to find out why we should bother caring about foreign policy. ;)
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:31 PM

A quick note: if you dig what another audience member is saying, hit the thumbs up so we can see it and we'll toss some comments and questions into the chat.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:32 PM

So, I thought I would have Michael Brooks join me because this is a passion area for him; he's host of Intersection, a podcast about foreign affairs and a contributor/producer at the Majority Report. Thanks for joining me, Michael!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:33 PM

Hang on…I think we lost Michael for a second.
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:34 PM

Hi Katie
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:34 PM

great to be here
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:34 PM

our Facebook chats deserve a global audience
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:35 PM

Ha! Truth….So tell us a little bit about why *you* care about foreign policy and if there's a particular part of the world that you are most intrigued by.
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:36 PM

Well I care for a couple of reasons-first I the world is a very interesting place and we are connected to it in very real and concrete ways
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:37 PM

One example being every aspect of US foreign policy-the good, bad and ugly is acted out in our name and we really should have a sense of what those policies are
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:37 PM

I also think Foreign Policy is broader than we mostly think, it connects so many parts of our lives everything from living oversees to business, sports and entertainment has this world aspect to it
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:38 PM

That's an interesting take. So it interconnects with us even if we don't realize it.
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:40 PM

No question-one area that I think is clear for a lot of people is the supply chain. We get that the products we buy are almost always produced oversees. Understanding some of that process of where cloths come from a certain place an why
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:40 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“At this point in time, in the digital age, it's really impossible to be isolationist, even if you want to”

MB

Michael Brooks · 11:40 PM

can open a whole new way of look at all of the relationships that we partake outside of our borders everyday
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:41 PM

Good call, Eleanor. There shouldn't be a way to avoid it. Why do you think there's the perception that we are able to ignore issues beyond our borders?
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:42 PM

Good point, Eleanor! why do you think there's the perception that we're able to ignore what's happening outside the US if we want to?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:42 PM

well to be fair most people's lives are incredibly busy and fp has been built up as some stuffy thing that is either very academic or trendy manegment talk like Thomas Freidman
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:42 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“I think for Americans, there's a dangerous blend of arrogance and ignorance.”

MB

Michael Brooks · 11:43 PM

so that I think puts people off on the other end I'm sure people are really concerned about what's happening in the Philippines right now and that type of even charitable concern is global thinking on some level
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:44 PM

So we care on a humanitarian level when we see horrific pictures…how do we keep people engaged? After the last televised tsunami, people tuned out pretty quickly.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:44 PM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Well said Michael! People's busy lives are a huge factor”

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Katie Klabusich · 11:44 PM

★ Spotlighted from Blake Ian

“Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but I think making people's lives busier is often an intention by those hoping to slip things past”

MB

Michael Brooks · 11:45 PM

for sure i do think its very difficult to sustain its difficult to sustain anything in today's world- as well all know. I think part of sustaining is this type of forum that hopefully makes this stuff more real and tangible for people
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:46 PM

There is no need for this topic to be dull or regimented
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:47 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“I don't notice it in Sweden, for example. My Swedish friends are so interested in US politics, often times more so than Americans”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:47 PM

Why do you think that is, @E?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:47 PM

Katie's internet connection is a great example of how America is falling behind
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:47 PM

Ha! <sigh>
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:48 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“I think it's a socio-political paradigm”

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Katie Klabusich · 11:48 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“We're the best vs. we're a part of a global community”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:48 PM

Agreed. Our friend Lee Camp has a great bit about that.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:48 PM

"Can we stop saying America is the best? Maybe it's your favorite…"
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:49 PM

I think there are distinct models of how we go about conduciting ourselves in the world and we can gravitate and advocate for distinct models and values-I think we need to but that has nothing to do with being a dick about
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:49 PM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“In America, we have become very good at dumbing down our populace”

MB

Michael Brooks · 11:50 PM

or even thinking that there is a one size fits all model-that is not at all the case in a way we need to be more global and local at the same time
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:50 PM

Is it a historical attitude that we're THE BEST that lead to that dickish-ness, or is that a recent phenomena?
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:50 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“ha - exactly.”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:51 PM

True, Mitchell -- much easier to maintain a system that benefits the already wealthy/privileged when the masses aren't smart...
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:51 PM

…OR when they're too busy trying to make ends meet and get by to be engaged.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:51 PM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“I think the phenomenon has grown but we were always supposed to be "a city upon a hill"”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:52 PM

@E I appreciate you using the correct quote, rather than the bastardized Reagan version. ;)
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:52 PM

I think there are different brands of what were talking about in terms of arrogance and I think some of the recent manifestations are more intense because we are experiencing a lot of failures
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:52 PM

So a "circle the wagons" mentality because of recent not-so-great-ness?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:52 PM

also all nation states have their issues, neurousis and blind spots
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:52 PM

★ Spotlighted from Barry Knight

“The corporate media is not here to inform. They are nothing more than the propaganda arm of the military industrial complex”

MB

Michael Brooks · 11:52 PM

I do think that's true for some people
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Katie Klabusich · 11:53 PM

I feel like we saw a lot of that in the Bush (W) admin. Doubling down to prove they were initially right and righteous.
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:53 PM

They are facing really hard time as some of the commenters have been saying and things are really complex so they resort to simple stories
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:53 PM

Totally
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:54 PM

Sound byte culture = simple solutions?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:54 PM

In the Obama era its a lot more subtle and I think it just shows the machinery not working-like we are not thinking about how to be in a world that is really changing
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:54 PM

simple and wrong
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:55 PM

sometimes simple is right but usually there is some coporate lobby group that won't let that happen
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:55 PM

lol
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:55 PM

Truth
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:55 PM

Do we just lack people in the pundit and writing class that can boil things down, or is it the constant need to boil things down that's leading to so much misinformation?
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:56 PM

And do you think that's part of why people check out on foreign policy issues?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:57 PM

Its both in some ways yes we need more texture and detail in how we talk about foreign policy (and to be fair a lot of people do that) and I actually think by going into more detail and relevance we can make it something more people are engaged in
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:57 PM

Is that what you are going for in your podcast at Aslan Media?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:57 PM

and again regardless of where you stand on drones or a trade negotiation its being done by your employees and in your name
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:58 PM

…nuanced, but engaging?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:58 PM

for sure and also with a broad range of people
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:58 PM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“Will there be any future tawks on a night other than tues or friday?”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:58 PM

@M -- my last one was on a Thursday.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:59 PM

How do you make a subject that because of our culture causes people to zone out, something that they tune in for?
MB

Michael Brooks · 11:59 PM

Policy pros and journalists but also artists, business people, people involved in athletics-religion anything
KK

Katie Klabusich · 11:59 PM

Do we just need people who are more interesting to talk, write, etc. about it?
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:00 AM

Finding great people is a must and I also think starting from a vantage point that is neither a dry specialist or total general
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:01 AM

I also think having a conversation where the stakes and the connections between these issues and your life is made a lot more explicit
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:01 AM

(If you guys have requests for future tawks -- this is just my 2nd and I'll be here approx once/week, feel free to leave them at my FB page, website or tweet at me!)
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:01 AM

That's a good point.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:02 AM

Perhaps people don't get the connection or the humanitarian angles to stories.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:02 AM

Your recent piece for Al Jazeera America on US reparations for Iraq was a good example of that. You outlined the moral imperative and gave perspective.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:02 AM

How did that piece come about?
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“Energy and ecology (hello fukushima) are something we won't be able to handle unless we tackle foreign policy”

MB

Michael Brooks · 12:04 AM

My co-author Jay Cassano and I wanted to provoke some people on that issue. We all sort of generally understand that fucked up in this massive way-total strategic delusion-but we wanted to remind people of the human costs
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:05 AM

Yeah, I think Iraq has become more of a meme for Americans, an eye roll, than it is a country that we tore apart.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:05 AM

And the movement we highlighted is talking about the US taking responsobility on infrastructure and public health in ways we can and are vital
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:06 AM

A sort of, "We knocked it down, we ought to build it back up?"
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:06 AM

Exactly. Look Saadam Hussain was this really genuinely awful dictator-but we went in out of this complete delusion and arrogence killed many people and caused a refuge crisis
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:07 AM

(btw I see your frequent co-author lurking in the audience -- hi, suchitra! jump in!)
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:07 AM

I don't know we can rebuild it but our approach can shift to a much stronger focus on the humantarian
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:07 AM

Hey Suchitra!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:08 AM

We should at least be supporting efforts to rebuild with logistics and funding, etc.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:08 AM

yes
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:08 AM

Do you think people are just exhausted when it comes to Iraq? Are they uncomfortable thinking about it? Or do they not really know the reality there?
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:08 AM

probably all of the above
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:08 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“When an airliner looses cabin pressure, the parents are supposed to put their mask on first. In an economic emergency where so many other countries are depending on us shouldn't we put our mask on first and fix our economy?”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:09 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“How do you feel that is a blueprint for future foreign endeavors? Should we really be going in to other countries like this - even if the reasons are to topple a dictator that we helped put in place?”

MB

Michael Brooks · 12:09 AM

I think its best to take something like Iraq and try to address it but also use it as a template to think more broadly about fp
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:09 AM

Interesting; we should at least be learning our history so as not to repeat it.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:10 AM

really engaging with it
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:10 AM

What about the question Mitchell posed? I hear that a lot.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:10 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“so where do you draw the line in engaging in foreign wars or occupations?”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:10 AM

@E I don't think he means engaging in the war; more engaging in the issue, the history, the humanitarian crisis conflict causes.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:11 AM

We need to address our economic crisis and austerity is the real problem but we have some money to help Iraqi hospitals and restore investment we need here
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:11 AM

remember its all connected
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:11 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“right, but i mean in general, where do you we draw the line in terms of foreign involvement?”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:11 AM

Gotcha. What do you think, M? How do we decide who to help overseas, especially with so many Americans in crisis?
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:12 AM

★ Spotlighted from Eleanor Goldfield

“if it's our mess, clean it up, if not, leave it? or can it ever be that cut and dry? as michael said, we have so many of our own domestic issues and many foreign ones have US corporate hand prints on them.”

MB

Michael Brooks · 12:13 AM

well I do think there is a positive aspect to global institution building and part of that is taking collective responsobility (terrible speller I am) to address human suffering
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:13 AM

Sorry I think what I wrote was just lost
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:13 AM

No worries; hit as with what you lost.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:14 AM

sorry
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:14 AM

Ha! Now it's Michael's internet. Seriously, other countries have available, high speed wifi that makes what we pay a fortune for look like a horse and buggy.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:14 AM

Welcome back. ;)
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:15 AM

In general I'm more interested in how we cut money from bullshit like top end tax giveaways and oil subsidies as a means of saving money
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:15 AM

But in terms of military action we need to just be so much more cautious
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:15 AM

So it shouldn't be an either "us or them?" It's more about us not having a progressive mindset or at least one directed toward humanitarianism?
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:16 AM

I would say a I have a progressive view globally
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:16 AM

So I'm always gonna look at how people who really need things can get them
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:16 AM

and integrated strategies that deliver broad benefits
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:17 AM

How do we work toward that?
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:17 AM

A lot can be done through civil society and forms of activism and delivery
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:17 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“I think that it is time to tell the other countries that we will no longer be the first to send troops or be the one that sends the most as long as we have a trade deficit”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:18 AM

Mitchell makes a good distinction -- not a national deficit that we hear about ALL THE TIME, but the trade deficit.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:19 AM

Well places like China are not eager to have us send troops anywhere
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:19 AM

I do think also thinking more deeply like we've been talking about matters
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:20 AM

Is that doable -- the thinking and engaging deeply? I mean, Housewives and Honey Boo Boo.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:20 AM

My friend Suchitra and I just co-wrote a piece for Huffington Post-saying among other things when you think about Burma stop just thinking about Suu Kyi!
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:20 AM

I think some degree of engagement is possible
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:21 AM

Where do we start? Do those of us who care just start demanding it?
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:21 AM

if something engages you and motivates go with that-this isn't about eating your pees just having a bigger frame of reference which is fun
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:22 AM

I think
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:22 AM

but i could be nerding out
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:22 AM

:)
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:22 AM

We dig nerds around here.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:23 AM

ha
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:23 AM

We've got about ten minutes left; before I forget, tell folks where they can follow/read/listen to you.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:23 AM

They can follow me on Twitter @_michaelbrooks
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:24 AM

(he's a great twitter follow **and** responsive to non-troll questions!)
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:24 AM

This is a conspiracy
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:25 AM

lol my connection
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:25 AM

check out the Majority Report and my show for Aslan Media INTERSECTION is here aslanmedia.com/media-features/intersection
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:25 AM

Ha! I was just saying that you're a great twitter follow
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:26 AM

you too!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:26 AM

Thank you sir!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:26 AM

I think we may have to do another Tawk -- one that's more specific now that we've introduced the topic.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:26 AM

Everything from Iran to a Wu Tang song I feel nostalgic about
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:26 AM

anytime Katie
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:26 AM

So if people have more narrow requests, you can tweet at either of us or leave them at my website!
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:26 AM

Always great talking with you
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:27 AM

Hahaha…Yeah, and I'm information and coffee memes.
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:27 AM

And dog pictures.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:27 AM

tons of info
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:27 AM

Everyone needs a little joy in their day alongside the serious.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:27 AM

i also do some sports and snark
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:27 AM

joy is key
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:27 AM

You have excellent, subtle snark.
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:27 AM

Thank you!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:28 AM

Definitely check out The Majority Report -- especially for when Michael sits in the host chair. You get to hear more of that in-depth discussion on these issues we were saying is so important!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:29 AM

And if everyone doesn't already follow Eleanor here and on twitter -- it only takes a second to fix that. ;)
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:29 AM

Thank you so much Katie and on Twitter of course I post everything I do and you can follow it all and I'm always open for feedback
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:29 AM

Thanks so much! And thanks everyone for participating!
MB

Michael Brooks · 12:29 AM

thanks everyone!
KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:30 AM

★ Spotlighted from Chris Owens

“Thanks!”

KK

Katie Klabusich · 12:30 AM

★ Spotlighted from Mitchell Heldt

“bye”