The Doug Noll Show
Fixing conflicts one caller at a time.
Lawyer-turned-peacemaker Doug Noll created the Dougnoll Show. This was his website for a number of years. Doug Noll is a prime example of someone who is in fact stepping up to the plate to effect immediate and positive change in the world.
Even though there is a new owner of this domain, Doug Noll's message will remain alive on the web.
Content is mostly from the site's 2008 -2016 archived pages.
For more on Douglas E. Noll, JD, MA go to his current website, Start the Ripple: https://dougnoll.com/
The Doug Noll Radio Show
Fixing conflicts one caller at a time.
The Doug Noll Show entertains, inspires, teaches, and gives peacemakers from around the world a voice the main stream media ignores. Doug brings in guests with tips, techniques, and ideas and always invites you to join the conversation at 866-977-2346.
The Number 1 Internet Talk Radio Show (2008)
Well, not yet. But that’s my goal. I started this radio show for the purpose of teaching everything I have learned about peacemaking to the widest possible audience. I think that Internet talk radio is the perfect medium for reaching out to millions of listeners. This isn’t going to happen overnight or even in a few months. However, I expect that as people learn about the show, they will tune in, podcast it, or take in on their RSS feed. Each week, I interview fascinating, inspiring unsung heroes of peace, take your calls and give you my best advice on how to transform your conflict, and give you a book review from my Peacemaker’s Bookshelf.
If you like the show, I hope you will spread the word. If you don’t like it or parts of it, I hope you will email me at info@lawyertopeacemaker.com and let me know your thoughts. I can only improve and serve with your help and support. With you behind me, I can make The Doug Noll Show the Number 1 Talk Show on the Internet and spread the peace at the same time.
ABOUT Doug Noll
The Doug Noll Show entertains, inspires, teaches, and promotes practical ideas for bring peace into your every day life. Doug brings in guests with tips, techniques, and ideas and always invites you to join the conversation at 877-474-3302 .
Doug Noll, Lawyer turned Peacemaker, is a full time peacemaker and mediator specializing in difficult, complex, and intractable conflicts. Doug also focuses on entrepreneurial leadership, problem-solving and crisis management. Doug is the author of two books, Sex, Politics & Religion at the Office: The New Competitive Advantage (Auberry Press 2006), with John Boogaert, and Peacemaking: Practicing at the Intersection of Law and Human Conflict (Cascadia 2002). He is a sought-after corporate keynote speaker, with his talks on Entrepreneurial Leadership, Peace and Conflict in the Brain, and Values in the Entrepreneurial World.
Doug graduated from Dartmouth College, earned his law degree at University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law where he was a member of the law review, and earned his M.A. in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies from Fresno Pacific University.
Doug is a founding member of Mediators Beyond Borders and serves on its Board of Directors. He is also a member of the Executive Committee for the California Chapter of the National Academy of Distinguished Neutrals.
More about Doug’s professional practice can be found at Noll Associates and more about his thinking can be found at Lawyer to Peacemaker. His leadership, problem-solving and crisis management work can be found at Boogaert & Noll
Changing the World – Doug Noll
Changing the World – Doug Noll / http://wsradio.com
They say that those that can…do, while those that cannot…teach. So what then do we say about a person that can do both.
The best thing to do is listen because men and women like this are rare. Fortunately for us, we have Doug Noll. After a 22 year career as a trial lawyer, Doug recognized the need for change. The type of change that causes one to see that on some level the best way to begin to effect change on the outside world is to change what is happening within. He found success as a trial lawyer and a martial artist and after what he describes as, “…a soul changing moment” he recognized that even in that success, there had to be more. Doug opted to leave the life he had known and found so much success in to pursue an endeavor that could lead to success on a much larger scale.
We live in a global village. We are all a part of a world that when looked down from above, has no borders. Yet we argue and fight over territory, ideas and beliefs that essentially belong to no one individual or group. So how then do we resolve that? If history is any indication, we go to extreme measures to be heard. Through lies, deceit, espionage, war and, well, general politics, we fight to be loudest voice because it is in fact the loudest voice that gets heard and followed. Inevitably, it leads to chaos and ill will and ultimately…it leads to a world with borders.
Doug saw this and decided it was time to become more involved. After leaving his law practice he elected to pursue a Master’s Degree in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies. After achieving a 2nd degree black belt in Kung Fu, Doug studied the art of Tai Chi. Now, as a mediator, he specializes in mediating difficult and complex conflicts here and abroad. Doug Noll is a prime example of someone who is in fact stepping up to the plate to effect immediate and positive change in the world. We often find ourselves in positions in which we wish we could act immediately to effect change. But more often than not, we stand by, watch the event pass us and find ourselves playing a game of hindsight trivia.
But there are many of us who want more. Many of us who want to do more and become full participants in the quest for peace and understanding. The Doug Noll Show provides a platform for those that wish to be heard. It is a forum where listeners can learn about effective ways to resolve disputes and find peaceful resolutions on large, small and even personal scales.
If the saying is true, that those that can…do, and those that cannot…teach, then I submit to you that there is yet a third category…those that care. You see, those that care, can do both, and Doug Noll is a man that cares. Join him in his quest and listen to him every Thursday at 7pm on the Radio.
Some observations: Having grown up in a family with parents who both taught for more than 30 years and inspired me to become a teacher myself, I say just try teaching well for 1 year at an inner city school or a suburban school before you utter such nonsense as " those that can…do, while those that cannot…teach." There are many dedicated, exceptional people who choose teaching a a career. Yes, as a careers, not just a job. If they are good, their impact on their students is immeasurable. My parents are now retired. Just the other day I was at their place helping my mother who was dealing with the consequences of chemo, to choose a wig style from an online site, ElegantWigs, where I use to purchase the wigs I wear to work. I can honestly say, I never have a bad hair day. Anyway, there were so many popular wigs by Raquel Welch to choose from that she was having a hard time deciding. With my mother's sensitive scalp it is important to choose a wig stle that has a cap construction which will not irritate. I suggested that my mother not consider any styles with either a standard or open cap. Ideally a double monofilament cap or a monofilament top or part line with partially or 100% hand tied sides and back would be the next best choices. The human hair wigs were really out of her price range, plus human hair wigs require just as much upkeep as regular hair, plus they tend to be a bit heavier than a synthetic wig. Ultimately she chose Center Stage, a short very popular style with a monofilament top with lace front & 100% hand tied base. It was similar style to her original hair style. I felt that the first time she purchased a wig, the transition would be easier if the style wasn't too radically different from what she was used to. Initially she was tempted to chose a hair color different from her own grey hair. The Kanekalon Vibralite Synthetic hair fiber of Center Stage mimics the look and feel of protein rich soft and silky, natural hair. It's really gorgeous. She decided to play safe and went with R511G, Gradient Charcoal with a base color of R44( a dark charcoal) with subtle light grey highlights at front. The color probably was a little darker than her natural hair, but she didn't want to go really light grey. Once we made the purchase, we sat down with some tea and home made cookies to listen to Doug Noll's show which started out with: They say that those that can…do, while those that cannot…teach. So what then do we say about a person that can do both. I decided to call in and "educate" his audience from a teacher's point of view. Let me just say it became quite a lively discussion!
Elusive Peace
Doug Noll's new book will change the way you think about peace.
Peacemaking
Practicing at the Intersection of Law and Human Conflict.
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Giving World Peacemakers a Media Voice
Understanding Pakistan’s National Psyche
Posted in:International Peace, peacemaking |4-9-2014 at 11:08 pm
Segment 1: Rafia Zakaria.
On this edition of The Doug Noll Show we’re speaking with attorney, author and human rights advocate Rafia Zakaria. Rafia is a regular columnist for a number of publications and also serves on the Board of Amnesty International USA as the first Pakistani American woman ever to do so.
Rafia is originally from Karachi, Pakistan, which is one of the world’s largest cities. She came to the U.S. in the late 1990’s to attend college, then law school, and ultimately did graduate work in political philosophy. Her journey was unusual in the sense that half of her life was spent in Pakistan and the other half has been in the United States. Rafia has a sense of dual consciousness having lived in two societies. She never thought her country of origin would be at war with the country in which she now lives.
Pakistan has many different ethic groups. When Rafia speaks about Pakistan to an American audience she always emphasizes its geographical location. It’s a small country encroached by big countries. To understand Pakistan’s national psyche, you have to remember that they have a hostile India on one border, Iran on another side, a third border with China, and then another border with US NATO forces. As a country, Pakistan feels threatened, which is very much felt as a child growing up there. There’s a constant shadow of war.
Segment 2: The Partition of India.
Pakistan has clearly suffered at the hands of European Imperialism. The demarcation of the border between Pakistan and India has played a huge role in their history. The Partition of India was the largest movement of humans in modern history. Millions of people moved, there were many deaths and lost families. The people who came to Pakistan had lived in their own communities for centuries. They had no reference point for what migration would feel like and how to set up new communities. On the other hand, the Pakistani people found themselves surrounded by strangers from another country. In many ways Partition defines Pakistan’s current issues and discord.
Segment 3: Culture and Religion are Intermingled.
Pakistan’s culture and religion are intermingled as well as heavily patriarchal, which has been a constant cause of strife. The challenge that Pakistani women face is to discern what is “cultural” and what is “religious.” Women’s perspectives were often left out of religious texts, but change in this respect is often met with tremendous opposition.
Segment 4: Two Power Contenders.
The schism between Shia and Sunni doctrine is becoming a focal point in terms of politics and violence. There are two power contenders in the Middle East: Saudi Arabia and Iran. Rafia grew up with Sunni and Shia living peacefully with each other, celebrating holidays together, worshiping in the same mosques. When the U.S. pulled out of the region, there was an aid vacuum created, and the Saudies funded thousands of religious groups in Pakistan. This is turn declared Shia as Pakistan’s heritage. This is a division that has been poked and prodded and revitalized continually in the modern era by one of the biggest U.S. allies, Saudi Arabia.
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Cinergy Coaching: Peacemaking, One Person at a Time
Posted in: emotions, Intense Conflicts, mediation, Negotiation, Office Politics | 14-8-2014 at 10:59 am
Segment 1: Conflict Management Coaching.
On this edition of The Doug Noll Show we are speaking with lawyer, mediator, certified coach and former social worker Cinnie Noble. Cinnie is the founder of CinergyCoaching.com, a business focused on Conflict Management Coaching. Cinnie’s journey started as a social worker, working with people with disabilities. She started the first travel agency in Canada for people with disabilities, which taught her how to be a business owner and an advocate, and eventually led her to law school. In law school she began looking at conflict in a different way. Cinnie studied Family Law and ultimately found herself in mediation in the late 1980’s when it was a relatively new field. She became interested in studying how people learned conflict management and dealt with conflicts within the workplace, and eventually started her Conflict Management Coaching business.
Segment 2: Conflict Intelligence.
What is Conflict Management Coaching? It is a one-on-one process for helping people strengthen their ability to engage in conflict. It might be used before, during or after the conflict. The goal is to develop conflict intelligence and more proficiency in dealing with conflict. Her clients know what their habits are and what they’re trying to shift. The coaching is used to help people get underneath the emotions and ask, What’s triggering it? What’s behind it? How can we regulate he emotion and deal with the conflict in a healthy way?
Segment 3: The Importance of Self-Reflection.
In mediation training there is very little that teaches us how to manage strong emotions. Cinnie often helps mediators who are suffering from fatigue and burn-out. In general, many of the lawyers and mediators who come to Cinnie for help have not been trained in being self-reflective and doing enough work exploring their own personal views and triggers. She would love to see ongoing coaching in mediation training centered around emotional intelligence.
Segment 4: Practice, Theory, and Science.
So how does one go about becoming a conflict coach? Cinnie does a few online tele-seminars and webinars every year for folks all over the world. The candidates get coached through the training process and get certified. Cinnie’s book includes coaching principles, conflict management principles, and neuroscience principles. (Practice, theory, and the science behind it.) To learn more about Cinnie’s work, please visit her website: http://www.cinergycoaching.com/.
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About the show: Call 877-474-3302
Everyone faces conflict . . . at home, at work, in the community, in the world. Call Doug, the LawyerTurned Peacemaker, to transform your fights, disputes, and conflicts into peace. Call Doug on Thursdays from 7-8 pm Pacific Time.
Listen on wsRadio.com
Show Info:
- Fighting with your spouse, your kids, your boss, your family, your business partners?
Call in and get practical advice from Doug on how to transform your conflicts effectively. - Do you lose it when you fight? Ask Doug how to keep your cool under fire.
- Tired of being a victim? Get Doug's advice on how to empower yourself with effective and powerful tools to use at work, at school, and at home.
- Dealing with Difficult People? Doug has mediated over 1,500 disputes and is an expert on dealing with difficult people. If you have a difficult person in your life, call in and have Doug talk it over with you.
Doug is the go-to guy when you need help. He is dedicated to serving you with his advice and counsel on your challenging relationships. Call him between 8 and 9 pm Pacific Time on Thursdays
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Making a Difference, Peace By Peace
Posted in: mediation| 28-8-2014 at 10:18 pm
Segment 1: BalancedCoaching.com.
On this edition of The Doug Noll Show we are speaking with Merle Rockwell and Ed Modell, founders of Balanced Coaching (www.balancedcoaching.com). Merle and Ed became mediators before mediation and coaching became mainstream. They are located in Maryland, which has long been a leader within the United States, and even the world, in regards to mediation.
Merle was always been drawn to trying to help people work together more effectively. She began her mediation career by taking classes and then organizing a grass-roots conflict resolution center. As founding director of the Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County, Merle built a non-profit in Maryland specializing in conflict management training.
Ed was a lawyer by trade but wanted to find his true calling, so to speak. He spoke with a career counselor who suggested mediation, and ultimately made the jump from law to mediation in 2002.
Segment 2: Conflict is Always Around Us.
In 2003 Ed was invited to sit in on a coaching class at a University and fell in love with the idea of coaching. He had spent 30 years asking questions as a lawyer, and it dawned on him that asking probing questions and participating in active listening is a skill that could be translated easily to a career as a coach and mediator.
Conflict is always going to be around us. How we deal with it is the key. Merle and Ed teach people the skills necessary to manage anger effectively and turn conflict into a productive effort instead of a destructive one. Neither or Ed or Merle have a fear of conflict, which has helped them in their careers. Blending coaching and mediation was a natural fit.
Segment 3: Keep It Simple, Make It Useful.
Merle and Ed work together to train mediators to be conflict management coaches. They recently did a 2-day training seminar with follow-up, refresher courses, and mentoring. Their philosophy is to keep it simple, make it useful.
Segment 4: Call It Courageous.
Their business is growing, mostly through word of mouth. One of the things they recognized long ago is that the word “mediation” is a turn-off for some people, so instead of calling it “difficult”, they call it “courageous.” Success has everything to do with the language that is used when they introduce the process and how they articulate the possibilities and the energy surrounding the process. There are great opportunities for people getting into mediation and coaching these days. There are now programs in prestigious universities and colleges, and a possibility of making a good living while doing something you love. To find out more about Merle and Ed’s work, please visit www.balancedcoaching.com.
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Keeping Your Humanity as a Peacekeeper in an International War Zone
August 26th, 2011
What is it like living as a member of a peacekeeping force? How do you survive international war zones as a member of the UN security force?
My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has spent many years as a security and police officer on duty with the United Nations. Bob Rail is a former Chicago police officer who became involved in international security operations back in the 1990s in Sarajevo and the breakup of Yugoslavia. He has served as a peacekeeper for the UN around the world, including tours of duty in Iraq, Indonesia, Bosnia, Kosovo, and just about every other war zone you can imagine. His latest book, Surviving the International War Zone, tells the stories of what it’s like living in a foreign land where most everyone is armed and no one much likes anyone else.
Bob tells us that he was part of the team that travelled to countries recruiting international peacekeepers from national police forces. The UN sets age requirements, physical fitness requirements, and basic policing skills. Bob observed a wide variation in policing skills, largely dependent on the ability of a country to invest in proper police training. In some countries, the failure rate was high; in others, it was modest.
When officers arrive in country on assignment, there is always mass confusion in training and standards. What amazed Bob was how quickly teams formed and overcame the confusion with tolerance and solidarity.
We talk about the nature of hatred. Bob tells some stories that illustrate how deep the hatred is in some countries. From birth, children are indoctrinated in hate and vengeance, which perpetuates the cycle for generations on end.
I ask Bob how he and his colleagues maintained their humanity and balance in the face of the atrocity of war zones. Bob says it was very difficult. The “new Normal” was pretty weird. The one thing Bob could not handle was the abuse of children. He tells us a shocking story of how parents must guard a child’s grave until they are certain the body is decomposing to prevent it from being dug up and paraded by enemies.
In war zones, everything is compressed. There is no ambiguity; everything is black and white. Emotions are intense, primal, and compressed.
I ask Bob about torture. Bob says that torture will always be with us. When people are under sufficient provocation, they will do anything to protect themselves and their families. He tells us that all Special Forces troops are subjected to waterboarding as part of their training so that they can understand what it is. He says that may be torture, but real torture is when one partisan captures an enemy, ties him to a tree with barbed wire, and pulls out teeth with pliers one at time. Bob briefly describes some of the effects of torture he saw in Iraq.
Finally, we turn to Bob’s book, Surviving the International War Zone. He tells us how the book came about. The contributors were all colleagues with him in various countries. Each was asked to provide stories of his emotional experiences, good and bad.
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Reconciling Sunnis and Shia in Iraq
August 19th, 2011
Iraq has been squeezed from the headlines by the on-going problems in the economy and the fascination with the Republicans vying to challenge President Obama. The fact that the media has lost interest in Iraq does not mean that the country is peaceful and unnewsworthy. Iraq continues to struggle with ethnic, tribal, and religious divisions. Reconciling these groups continues to be a daunting task.
My guest on this edition of The Doug Noll Show has just returned from a journey of reconciliation in Iraq. Luke Wilcox is the Development and Communications Director of the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project (IARP). He spent 5 weeks in Iraq in June – July of 2011 working as an unarmed American with his host, Sami Rasouli, and the Muslim Peacemaker Teams. Luke was a Katherine Davis Fellow for Peace in 2010 and graduated from Boston University with an M.A. in International Relations. His colleague, Kathy McKay, is Executive Director and a co-founder of the Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project.
Luke says that he went to Iraq as a different kind of American. He was an unarmed guest seeking to build respectful relationships between people. He was not interested in contracts or military efforts to suppress violence; he was interested in learning about the people of Iraq.
During June and July 2011, Luke lived in Najaf, with his host Sami Rasouli. Luke was introduced to many Iraqis who don’t fit the category, “Iraqi” (as it has been defined in America). They were invariably generous, welcoming, and kind—perhaps better descriptors for the category of “Iraqi”–but they were also diverse. Luke learned that Iraqis like Americans, but don’t care for American politics or the American occupation of Iraq. They are waiting for the occupation to end in December 2011.
Among the most frustrating effects of the war and U.S. occupation are the lack of electricity, which comes and goes every couple of hours, and the lack of clean water. The American contractors and military, and the Iraqi government have not yet been able to restore basic services. The problem is partly due to insurgent efforts to blow infrastructure like power plants and power lines up and partly due to the incredibly deep and broad corruption that prevents projects from being completed. Vast amounts of the $81 billion US reconstruction dollars have been siphoned off to American and Iraqi individuals. Luke tells us that the graft in the Iraqi government is beyond comprehension.
While Luke did not encounter any violence or danger, he learned that the Iraqi security forces, while getting stronger, still suffer from corruption and graft. The sectarian violence is not natural to Iraq, however. The people in southern Iraq believe and hope that after the American military leaves Iraq, Iraqis will be able to rebuild their country their way.
In southern Iraq, which is mostly populated by the more conservative Shia people, women veil themselves in the traditional abayah. Luke initially thought that modern women might find this oppressive. To his surprise, wearing the abayah was not experienced as oppressive, and Iraqi women bristled at the idea that they did not have rights or a voice in the affairs of the country. Luke tells us that he was surprised that feminists existed under the veil.
Generally, Luke found that women were respected, well-educated, and participating members of civil society. While southern Iraq had grown more conservative, the widespread oppression of women, as experienced in Afghanistan, was simply nonexistent.
To learn more about Luke Wilcox and the Iraqi American Reconciliation Project, visit the website at reconciliatonproject.org.
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The Peacemaker’s Bookshelf
For this edition of The Peacemaker’s Bookshelf I have selected a new book written by Bob Rail entitled Surviving the International War Zone. Bob was a police officer for many years before he became involved in international peacekeeping. As an international police officer assigned to some of the most violent conflict zones in the 20th and 21st century, Bob has seen every kind of violence one human can do to another. And, he has developed a deep appreciation of the power of peace, rather than war, to help people move through violence to a better life for themselves and their families.
Surviving the International War Zone is a series of stories, essays, and observations from Bob, his wife Janet, and many of his colleagues. The stories are sometimes humorous, seen from the perspective of the now rather than the then. Mostly, they show how men and women assigned to keep people who really, really hate each from killing everything in sight, managed to keep peace and their personal sanity.
The book is designed to impart wisdom to those who will be working in a war zone and those who must plan for those who go. There are pearls of wisdom on every page as Bob and his colleagues share the learning curve they went through to survive desert heat that was measured with a meat thermometer, snipers, street gangs, and terrorists. What is so interesting is that the contributors Bob selected come from all over the world. Germany, Zimbabwe, Norway, Russia, Spain and other countries are all represented in the book. Each of these men and women share their personal perspective on living and working in a war zone from their cultural as well as professional backgrounds.
What is truly amazing is how, through the violence, brutality, and atrocity of war, these story tellers, police officers, trainers, and advisers all, kept their humor, perspective, and humanity.
This book is an eye-opener that brings the reality of what peacekeepers do front and center. It is a fascinating read and another essential book for any serious peacemaker. The book is Surviving the International War Zone, by Robert Rail. It is published by CRC Press, a division of Taylor and Francis.
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Assessing the High Risks in South Asia
August 13th, 2011
This week’s news has been dominated by the wild gyrations of the sock market and to a lesser extent the crash of a Chinook helicopter in Afghanistan that killed over 30 Seal Team members, including some involved in the Osama bin Laden raid. The media is not paying attention to the more pressing issues of war and stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Pakistan is suffering from a low grade civil war, has nuclear weapons, and is implacably opposed to India. South Asia is a dangerous place and is therefore of great interest to me as a mediator and peacemaker.
My guest is Daniel Wagner, Managing Director of Country Risk Solutions, a political risk consulting firm based in Connecticut. Daniel is an authority on political risk insurance and analysis. He has written hundreds of articles on risk management and current affairs, His forthcoming book, Managing County Risk, will be published in early 2012.
Daniel explains that the business of political risk insurance is about assessing the risks of making investments and doing business in foreign countries. Essentially, he analyzes the political, economic, physical, and cultural environment in a country to determine what risks an investment might face.
Daniel tells us that India and Pakistan are like two patients that are allergic to each other. The animosity not held just by extremists, but by a broad spectrum of the populations of both countries. Ironically, they all want the same thing for their children-peace and prosperity. They just don’t know how to get there.
The US has supported Pakistan because of Pakistan’s geo-political importance. However, the corruption is hugely problematic. Very little of the billions of dollars given to Pakistan are used for intended purposes. The Pakistani military is adept at negotiating with the US and playing both sides against the middle. For all intents, however, Pakistan is a failed state. It is unable to provide basic services to its population, instead choosing to spend the bulk of its budget and aid on military spending.
Pakistan could be labeled the most dangerous nation in the world. The average Pakistani spends 50% of its disposable income on food, which in other countries, would lead to protests and civil resistance. In Pakistan, the people have been conditioned to accept their economic situation as normal. However, there are deep ethnic divides within the country, no rule of law, a limited civil society, and an economy dominated by the military. The Pakistani military sees itself in a world of existential threat and therefore is willing to use any means necessary to preserve and protect its power and privilege. The US is therefore in the unenviable position of working with an untrustworthy country that does not share aligned interests.
While past relations between the US and India has in the past been cool, relations are warming as US-Pakistani relations deteriorate. The upshot in these relations is that the likelihood of a stable Afghanistan is very low.
The US must apply more common sense and humility in its foreign relations. Instead of protecting the power, position, and privilege of various heads of state, US foreign relations should be focusing on how to help the average person live a better life.
We turn to China. China has become adept at meeting its own political and economic interests through direct foreign investment. The Chinese are actively pursuing stable energy resources and are developing a navy to protect its own petroleum shipping interests.