For a better second term of US President Bush: Strengthen international cooperation and diplomacy

Commenting on tomorrow's second inauguration of U.S. President Bush, Cem Özdemir, MEP, Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said:

Emancipated from the need to be re-elected, American Presidents are freer to form the agenda of their second term. I hope that George W. Bush uses this room to manoeuver to reinvigorate the transatlantic relationship. The placement of known transatlanticists in key State Department posts gives hope of better times to come.

I take statements from the Secretary of State-designate Condolezza Rice about the importance of relationships with traditional allies as a policy impetus for the second Bush administration. Their policy in Iraq has proved disastrous and discredited the U.S. in the world -- the Administration must learn from this experience. Similarly, their stated goal to democratize the Middle East would be torpedoed by a militarily aggressive policy toward Iran. A constructive strategy, which could tame Iran's regime with the goal of democratic change in the Middle East must involve international organizations and the cooperation of democratic allies.

Source: www.greens-efa.org/cms/pressreleases/dok/101/101317.for_a_better_second_term_of_us_president@en.htm