Symbols to the World

Written by: Eric Weis on Nov 7, 2008 12:27 AM EST

Millions of words, media images and ideas are in the ether.  Americans have been asked to rate what President-elect Obama should do first.  On the theory that lives count more than words, here are two big ideas.

1.  Send Joe Biden to Egypt and the Sudan, along with a team of selected Grassroots activists.  Deliver a clear message to the family of Ahmed Al-Mirghani, Sudan's former President who died yesterday in Egypt.  Express the condolences of the American people.  Then meet with Sudan President al-Bashir and promise aid if the Darfurian aggression is stopped in 100 days, or promise military intervention (with a beefed up African Union) if hostilities continue.  The Janjaweed are troublemakers and can be snuffed out - and stabilize an oil supply at the same time.  In other words, America can deliver a message immediately that the USA will no longer countenance genocide.

2.  Send Colin Powell to Cuba, along with a team of selected Grassroots activists.  Open negotiations on the normalization of relations between America and Cuba.  Go to Guantanamo and deliver a closing plan to the base commander.  Transfer the inmates to US prisons in Florida, and convene trials with legal representation.  Apply "triage" - execute or incarcerate the criminals, release and repatriate those judged innocent.

These two actions will not bankrupt the US treasury, will not empower our enemies, and will remove some of the talking points used by terrorists.  They are symbols much like the Boston Tea Party, the Emancipation Proclamation, or the launch of the first Mercury missile with Alan Shepherd riding in a small capsule on top.

An Obama administration would get much "bang for the buck" by starting out in this manner.

- Eric

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