SENATE BILL: October 2012 Foreign Policy Review (Passed)

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=160996.msg3454956#msg3454956



Sponsor: Ben

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Senator, you have 24 hours to advocate for this, at least partially.


Also, please post any final recommendations by the Nat. Sec. Committee on this matter, in addition to that.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

My advocacy for this is simple: we need to update our foreign policy, which hasn't happened in 4 months and 3 Secretaries.  The NSC will begin voting shortly, and I'll post that once we have it.

[Redalgo]

Although I am quite pleased with how the policies linked to are laid out, my initial reaction would be to propose the following:

1. Revisit all of our trade restrictions intended to punish unsavory regimes, and determine whether they are actually working or merely contributing to the hardships of the people. If the former happens to be the case in a given country it's time for us to find new strategies.

2. Recognize the existence of Palestine. Our foreign policies still support Israeli interests more than they really ought to until a two-state settlement is reached. Lending the West Bank part of Palestine "Most Priority" status might help us place considerably greater pressure on Israel to stop dragging its feet on this matter.

3. We should give Canada the economic status of "Most Priority" in pursuance of economic and political integration betwixt our two countries.

4. Let's offer Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Russia, and South Africa relationships with Atlasia which would require the respective partners to freely exchange intelligence without the additional requirement of getting entangled in otherwise strong military alliances with those countries.

5. On account of their less than satisfactory efforts to uphold and preserve human rights, I reckon we ought to impose partial military restrictions on: Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Armenia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Cote d’Ivoire, East Timor, Ecuador, Georgia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Moldova, Morocco, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Palestine, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Somaliland, South Korea, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tanzania, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Venezuela, Vietnam, Western Sahara, and Zambia.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

I also believe the relationship with Canada should be given most priority. And while free exchange of intelligence with Mexico may be questionable, I think we should find a way to distinguish our relationship with that country as well. These are our border countries—we ought to give them special attention.

As for recognizing Palestine... I agree that a Palestinian nation exists. But realties on the ground prevent me from exactly knowing where to delineate its borders. I'm in favour of a two state solution, but I don't think we should recognize Palestine until the two parties actually reach a political solution. Otherwise, we should also recognize "nations" like Quebec.

I agree with most of what Redalgo has said though. I'd also add that we should reassess some of our foreign aid disbursements. I'm not sure if we actually have anything on the books about foreign aid, so I wouldn't really know where to start. Or if this is even the appropriate place to do it.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

So are we expecting there to be any amendments here?

[HagridOfTheDeep]

An Amendment:

[...]

DoEA Policy: The Americas

Antigua and Barbuda: Normal
Argentina: Normal
Bahamas: Normal
Barbados: Normal
Belize: Normal
Bolivia: Normal
Brazil: Normal
Canada: Normal Most priority.
Chile: Normal.
Colombia: Normal.
Costa Rica: Normal

[...]

[Marokai Backbeat]

I absolutely support increasing our economic and diplomatic ties with Canada.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

BEN, WTF ARE YOU?!!!!

[Niemeyerite]

Improving our economic relationship with Canada an Brazil should be our main goal right now in this subject.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Sorry sorry sorry.  Friendly.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Y U ALWAYS LATE, Ben?

Is it a Virginia thing? That would explain Picket's arrival at Gettysburg now that I think about it.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Y U ALWAYS LATE, Ben?

Is it a Virginia thing? That would explain Picket's arrival at Gettysburg now that I think about it.

Actually, it's because I've had Mock Trial during the weekend.  I almost declared a two day LoA.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Sponsor Feedback: Friendly
Status: Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

The amendment has passed.


What now?

[Kaine for Senate '18]

China: Full partial military restrictions and no economic restrictions, though we are very concerned over human rights, and political liberties.

[Simfan34]

I'm glad to see someone has noted Canada, I was going to bring it up. For pragmatism's sake, i.e. not pissing them off, I support Ben's amendment.

[Simfan34]

I object to Ben's amendment. The Chinese government has no respect for human rights, and anything less than full military sanctions on that government is morally objectionable.

They are our largest creditor and trade partner, as well.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

No amendment has been offered at this time.



Come on Ben, quit being lazy damn it!

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Sorry Yank

An amendment:

China: Full partial military restrictions and no economic restrictions, though we are very concerned over human rights, and political liberties.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

^^^

Our Senate Dean everybody!

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Sponsor Feedback: Origination
Status: Senators have 24 hours to object.


Oh and Ben, you are going to compile this when it is all done before we start a final vote, I trust? (this is one of those questions, where one answer is accepted and the other leads to you losing your fingers).

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Oh and Ben, you are going to compile this when it is all done before we start a final vote, I trust? (this is one of those questions, where one answer is accepted and the other leads to you losing your fingers).

I guess so

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

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Sponsor Feedback: Origination
Status: Objection entered by Senator Nix, Amendment is now at vote, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[Kaine for Senate '18]

Aye.  Anyone who thinks this is a good idea simply doesn't understand what we're dealing with.