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Trajectory of US Foreign Policy EssayIntroduction The credo for strong America and secured world re-echoes the vision for retaining global alliances up to now draws future challenges to US irrelevant insurance policy in re-aligning socio- policy-making confidence in the contemporary shift of semipolitical power. The rise of third lodges is scathingly perceived in the interplay of emerging political powers that whitethorn desolate convergence to US hostile policy. The perceptive basis of power shifting may in itself central to the variety show of US interstate (house servant) leadership and the clamor of the American people to correct the US unusual policies. In contrast, the US scotch, financial and military establishments can perchance absorb the vacillating pressure upon the change of political leadership. The reconfiguration in the flight of stairs of US unknown policy may absorb the vacuum of power at heart the confines of socio- economical-political individ ualism. This individualism may be depictive to walking down a narrow road that is less traveled, as there goes an excerpt from the breed Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Elton John in Taupin, B., 1973) So goodbye yellow brick road where the dogs of society howl, you cant plant me in your penthouse, Im going rear to my ploughFrom this pretext, what holds Americas opposed policy is to maintain the yellow brick road of economic and financial convergence ensuring the American people never to go back in the 1890s US experience of great economic depression, in which today the US political relation controls its economic and political by-lines in a global landscape. This may be a classical overture leading to the contemporary challenges of US foreign policy, but an annotation to the modern political music genre and re-structured geopolitical archetype in US shift of power. This radical will discuss the contemporary interstate (domestic) political interactions and the intrastate (foreign) sh ifting of political powers relating to the trajectory and future challenge in US foreign policy.Methodology The review of literature will guide the overall discussions of issues and will be the basis of analyzing the situation. The order will adopt a 2-prong approach in examining the trajectory and challenges of US foreign policy to situate (2) interstate factors, and (2) intrastate responses.Rationale This section of the paper will present, review and discuss the January 2008 tell apart of the Nation Address (SONA) of chair George Bush in order to situate the interstate factors effecting the character- map of US administrator, legislative, judiciary and military branches of government, and the intrastate affairs or foreign policy agenda. prexy Bush 2008 SONA emphasizes the credo for strong America and secured world. The credo shouts on the critical character-roles of US governmental agencies in advancing the socio-economic-political-cultural well-being of the state from domes tic to foreign abode. As quoted from the speech of chairwoman Bush, he implored expanding opportunity to protecting the country, as the US government have made good progress, and yet it has unfinished business in which the American people expect to get it done (The White House, 2008). The consultation highlights the empowerment of US economy to which has been faced with uncertainties as indicated by job shortage, depleted market in housing, hurdled distribution of healthcare benefits, and reduction of revenues from increased government spending. Basically, death chair Bush refers both private and public financial incapability and the global economic recession. As further emphasized, the economic agenda is to draw a more empowered financial establishment and labor market, in which Bush stressed appear the making of top quality American product as what he calls to be proudly labeled as Made in the USA. Science and technological innovations were also critically addressed by investme nt funds on research ingenuity and the unlimited development of scientific inventions and discoveries which aimed to create and provide energy protective cover. Current technologies of adversaries moldiness comply with human and environmental protection. President Bush reiterated the liberation of the No Child Left Behind Act as encompassing the state immediate domestic need to education and urged US Congress for $300 Million scholarship budget. On top of the domestic br differently-economic agenda for labor market, education, healthcare and revenue generation through tax rebate package, President Bush cited the additional deployment of 3,200 Marines to Afghanistan, as he concluded that sign of the zodiacward bound soldiers out of the 20,000 troops deployed in the Middle East must be replaced to catch maintenance of peace and security. The rationale of President Bush 2008 SONA was founded on recouping domestic uncertainties and pursuing the unfinished business in Middle East.Li terature review the moldable of US foreign policy As presented and discussed in the rationale section of this paper, the literature review will examine the variety of actors and factors that relates the shape of US foreign policy. The rationale section will also form part of derivatives to the overall discussions.The traditionalistic foreign policy elitesAs an overview prior to discussing the topic, we may cite a quotation from the Director of Policy Planning Richard Haas of the US department of State that may similarly define the traditional foreign policy elites Of the many influences on U.S. foreign policy formulation, the role of think tanks is among the most important and least appreciated (US Department of State, 2002). According to the electronic journal, US Foreign Policy Elites in a Post-Cold fight Information Age published by Mark P. Lagon in 1996, the special expertise inside and outside of government that absorbs academics, quasi-academics, journalists, and polemici sts becomes political institutionaliseees and career bureaucrats are referred to as elites. The elites creates the inner circle or sphere inside and outside of government. An another(prenominal) representation correlated to the definition, the media has a crucial role in binding the elite chemical group by providing medium of communication (or forum) for setting agenda (Lagon, 1996). The 21st century elites may be also categorized or defined as a political technocrat because they have the capability to analyze or study a political-economic situation and influence the pre-condition effect or scenario of a situation. The elites may be also representing the power brokering between the governmental affairs and the social groups in a civil society.In domestic and foreign relations, most of business men and affluent academicians are the most likeable ap backsheeshee or delegate to represent governmental functions. One that may illustrate the representation is by appointing a diplomatic functionary. The diplomatic function works within a script of function effective to carry out the tutelage at diplomacy level. In other words, the diplomacy level could only be functional in mediation and arbitration, in which the role of a fondness man patterns the diplomatic functions.We may also refer the at large elites as belonging from the top social hierarchy categorized by its family wealth and social academic status, in which may be enticed or drawn by political-economic sentimentalism merely sympathetic to a cause, social conviction and plain beliefs that assort with national protagonism and lobbyist groups or political activism. The capability of at large elites may have a vacillating tendency at crucial political standpoint, wherein to toss specie meant knowing both sides (pros and cons) of a national issue.In poor and undeveloped countries, like the Philippines in Asia, it has become a common knowledge that the traditional elites mostly correspond by disgruntled p oliticians, adventurous soldiers, government retirees, and idealistic academicians have its own political grouping even maintaining bureaucracy inside and outside the government. In this case, the capability to be well-integrated in both camps and political grouping (opposition and government) attributes the ability to situate, adapt and formulate political configuration, in which the prognosis equates to being a think tank.In the US, the traditional elites are those belonging from a confederate political backing that is also known as care groups that carry out a national interest agenda may it be through electoral processes, lobbying and issue advocacy. From that point of view, the capability to create impact could be publicly supported.Moreover, the special scholastic accomplishment to substantiate political issues or able to expand prolific deductions or analogies could influence the policy making initiatives. The affiliation between elites and the general public in a democrati c processes of policy-making is involving mobilization and ratification, wherein the elites configures the outline of a policy and mobilizes public convergence in which the framing of a policy is set at the dispensation of the legislative, executive and judiciary branches of government and even the military establishments for interstate (domestic) or intrastate (foreign) implementation.US political culture and aggregate public opinionIn a joint lecture in year 2006 conducted by Bruce E. Gronbeck, A. Craig Baird from the University of Iowa and John D. Lees from Manchester University in England, they defined the contemporary political culture and mass public opinion downstairs two categories popularity and populism. Accordingly, popularity is more central to the personalities and characters involving the issues (be it social, economic and political). On the other hand, populism is drawn as an action-oriented response invoking the right to redress grievances and holding of assemblies . Combining both popularity and populism as a public response or action toward an issue is considered a relevantly critical public interest undertaking.The significance of political culture and mass public opinion which compose popularity and populism flows in the typologies of information and constructively appears in the public life. One example is the flow of information of economic uncertainty as communicated by media is the indication of depleted housing market, scarcity of healthcare benefits and shortage of labor markets, which was outlined in the political-economic agenda of President Bush 2008 SONA. In contrast, political and economic analysts believe that government indecisiveness draws more hostile popularity of political leadership, in which populism resort to civic action or civil defiance. Like any other countries (poor and rich), the political culture and mass public opinion is focus at the governmental leadership and performance. The civil society as composing variou s groupings is the bulwark of inhering opinion and perception consistent to the so-called participatory or popular democracy. The political culture and mass public opinion therefore refers to the human beings of democratic processes that describes the type, category and classification of framing a public policy.The interest groups and the military-industrial complexThe interest groups being generally defined and perceived as grouping of individual types and stakeholders for socio-political interest or convictions are not representing the government neither functionaries of a government office. The interest group has varied classifications, such as endorser and financier of political candidates, advocates and lobbyist for legislative policy agenda, social work composing the non-governmental organizations and political activists. These classifications of interest groups are also described as pressure groups in a civil society.The US-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) found th at the pressure groups are vulnerable to collaborating with domestic extremists being classified as hate groups that allies with left-wing radical activists motivated by religious-racial-cultural conservatism. To cite, the incident on April 1995 truck bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City that accounted 168 deaths and wounded round 500 people has attributed to domestic terrorism, and suspected by the FBI as multi-perpetuated and politically motivated actions linking the interest groups of radical political activists opposing the World Trade brass (WTO in Fletcher, H., 2008).On the other hand, the military-industrial complex refers to the established institution of the US Armed Forces. However, a group of stakeholders that are also classified as interest groups acts as brokers, traders and suppliers of blazonry and armaments to the US Armed Forces. These stakeholders or interest groups also serve as a pressure group in dealing with the passing or enactm ent of a policy concerning homeland defense and most especially foreign security policy. The US war on Iraq and the continuing anti-terrorism running of the US government favors the stakeholders, in which the demand for supplying weaponry and armaments to the US Armed Forces categorically defines profitable business in war.The traditional and juvenile mediaBased on the journal, The Interaction of Traditional and New Media, authored by John D. Leckenby and Everett D. Collier from the Department of Advertising, College of Communication at the University of Texas, the medium of communication has evolved the typologies of media outfit. The type of traditional and naked media is classified in terms of technology, in which the information delivery and access through the Internet has typified the traditional and new medium of communication and update to social developments. However, the classification does not necessarily swash the newest approach to bringing information and accessibil ity to consumers.As cited, the televisions broadcast and print media although classified as traditional in the cyber age still captures and captivates impact to public interest (Leckenby Collier, 2003). It maybe recalled that the coverage of television, broadcast and print media in Iraq has kept abreast the development of war around the world. It may be also a fact that the electronic or cyber media outfit relies from the feedback information of correspondents in Iraq. Otherwise direct satellite connection to the Internet could be most promptly delivered. At hindsight, a significant number of consumers to information are inaccessible or inadequate and do not have com ensnareing device facility to use the Internet.To compare and contrast, the new media is based on the above definition on the use of cyber-technology that differentiates traditional, but not yet totally know as a habitual utility in a society. The societal significance of the new media outfit using the Internet may o nly be considered as an added feature to bringing about interactions of affluent group of people, financially supported political campaigns, and the attempt of the government to develop online transactions. In addition, the cyber-technology that pertains to E-commerce may be remotely attributed to new media with regard to journalism. What is then more significant aside from classification is the emerging venue or medium of both traditional and new media that bring about and reach out the development and trends of governance and public interest.Examining the White House and executive agenciesThe White House symbolizes the seat of power of the President of the United States. political analysts even put sarcasm to the white house as the home of many kitchens and chefs, wherein what is cooking inside the white house might be sourly, distasteful, and spoiled. The parallelism of this political satire may be referring to the consistent, efficient and effective role-modeling of the Chief E xecutive being the symbolical figure head of the White House. What is then bestowed upon the mandate of the President must be retained to the sovereign will of the people the vox populi. Therefore, the mandate shall immerse in the life of the Executive Cabinet.Department of StateThe US Department of State (USDS) emanated from the year 1789 establishment of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Its primary mandate is to protect the global interests of the US government by managing about 250 US embassies and consulates end-to-end the world. The functionaries of USDS represent the US government to the United Nation (UN), NATO (North American Treaty Organization), UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), and the European Union. USDS also manages the issuance of travel advisory to its citizens at home and in abroad.In sum, the USDS may be referred to as a fortress of the US foreign relations, in which it accesses and reach out international boundaries. Th rough that, it serves as a pipeline and breadth of US foreign policies and diplomatic partnership. The USDS plays a vital role in US global governmental functions. Thus, the trajectory of US foreign policy can be substantively achieved at intrastate domains.Department of DefenseMandated to secure and protect the domestic abode, the US Department of Defense (USDOD) has marvelous role in protecting the foreign interest of the US government. The claim for soldier-heroes has been brought in the US war to Iraq. President Bush addressed the USDOD as champions of restoring democracies from inauspicious governments around the world.In early 1960s towards mid-1970, former President Nixon mandated the USDOD in deploying troops to Vietnam as mandamus duty of the President to participate in domestic war. However, it has proven the saying not to fight an enemy in his own backyard, wherein an approximate 58,000 US soldiers died in related combat operations. Today, the war in Iraq has accounted 20,000 US troops deployment, aside from the most recent calling of President Bush in his 2008 SONA to deploy 3,200 Marines. The USDOD maintains its military-industrial complex in collaboration with various international governments upon the US foreign policy to secure the world in pursuit of war against domestic and international terrorism.Intelligence CommunityThe intuition community (commonly called as IC) is described by Military experts as eyes and ears of the US government, wherein it gathers information, process information and package information as a derivative or aid for policy legislation. The labeling of descry has graduated from the post-cold war competition of mice-and-cat espionage activities of CIA to Russian KGB. The contemporary strategic approach is focusing on the open-source information gathering that uses the method of HUMINT (human intelligence).The IC reform has been outlined in the enactment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Pr shellion Act (IRTPA) o f 2004. The creation of the Office of the Director for National Intelligence (ODNI) empowers the strategic and tactical approaches to processing the global information. Upon enactment of IRTPA, the Executive and Congress has accessed the transparent undertaking of the CIA and put the work into a new twist of domestic and foreign intelligence and enforcement that synergize and harmonize working relationship with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the USDOD.Economic institutionsThe Department of Treasury holds the coffer of the State. Just like the yellow brick road partly discussed in the introductory section that symbolizes the commercial district in New York, wherein the former seat of monetary transactions happens at Wall Street, it ensure and protect the financial welfare of the State and the US government financing of domestic and foreign projects. The role of the Department of Treasury is not limited to revenue generations, printing of receipts, bank notes, na tional reserves, debt collections and banking. The versatile character of the Department of Treasury is to determine the financial viability of US foreign investments, in which fiscal management form part in shaping a feasible and optimal policy that protects the US interest.The US Congress and the CourtsThe legislative and judiciary has commonalities in policy undertaking. The only difference is the characterization of policy in terms of ratification and interpretation of law with jurisprudential values effecting and affecting the enforcement. The passing of the IRTPA of 2004 is regarded as a comprehensive policy enactment in US history of law enforcement. First, the reform in IC through establishment of ODNI has carried out significant enforcement in arresting domestic terrorist. Second is the empowerment of the President to enact on Executive Orders as presidential decision to harmonize the homeland defense system. And, third, the juridical justification of continuous deployment of troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.The US Public fair play endures the pursuit of foreign interest in a witch hunting expedition against the terrorist. The foreign ally governments receives the support to law enforcement, supply of weaponry and economic projects, somehow, the burden of vulnerability from so-called enemies are translated into committing of human errors in enforcement resulting human rights violations and domestic economic disturbance. It may be perceived that while US foreign policy instigates the war on terrorism, the host country or government suffers socio-economic-political derailment.Critical analysis on the character-role of shaping US foreign policy This critical analysis is pertaining to the Executive branch of government that holds the key actors and factors relating the character-role of shaping US foreign policy. The Executive Cabinet generally contains the governmental leadership. It may be say that the office itself is being protected and preserved but the personality (being the President) calibrate and spearhead the role-modeling. This means, the political will emanates from the personal character of a President. In the event of changing the guards as characterized by a governmental revamp, reorganization for new sets of political appointees and the change of leadership itself through election, the reconfiguration process may take time to re-establish the political will. Within the confines of the White House, the Defense, Treasury and ODNI are the three vital guardians of presidential decision although Congress and the Courts of law collaborate. It may be noted from the 2008 SONA of President Bush that the key elemental features of emphasis in delivering immediate governmental actions focuses and addresses selective governmental agencies, such as (1) the Treasury to handle the tax rebates and other fiscal management of economy (2) the unfinished business in the Middle East as afflicted by political-economic reconstruction in Ir aq, maintenance of security in Afghanistan and reconnaissance in Iran and Jordan for a potential stockpile of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), and mediation of conflict in North Korea and (3) above all is the call for continuous empowerment of domestic and foreign policies being aligned to contemporary global challenges.ConclusionThe trajectory of the US interstate and intrastate policy is may be perceived to be aligning the shift of political powers. One that describes the shifting is the domestic or national political leadership in 2008. From the point of view of election campaign in the US, political groupings and individualism may surface and is carried out upon racial equation. Although it is only a perception, the shifting of leadership or changing of the guards is earlier been held to be re-aligned in the overall governmental function contingent to protecting and preserving the US foreign interest.Second that describes the shifting is the emergence of third force political power at the global perspective. The third force may not be categorized likened to US but the proliferation of technologies in advanced weaponry and armaments may interchangeably interact in the global power sharing. The lull of silence in Iran and North Korea is yet unfolding much discoveries of the US. As what the US being envisioned for strong America and secured world is a perseverance of its hero-in-history model at the global perception, in which recouping gaps and assessing unforeseen factors may supplant political indecisiveness amidst contemporary challenges. It may be therefore concluded that the trajectory of US policy widens the roadmap with symbolical trail as a cornerstone of gaining foreign alliances that shall keep America strong.ReferencesFletcher, H. (2008). Militant Extremist in the United States. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved 10 May 2008 from http//www.cfr.org/publication/9236/10.Gronbeck, B.E., Baird, A.C. and Lees, J.D. (2006). The Twenty-First Centur y Reconstitution of American Political Culture. Retrieved 10 May 2008 fromhttp//www.uiowa.edu/commstud/faculty/gronbeck/21st_reconstitution.pdf.John, E. and Taupin, B. (1973). Goodbye Yellow Brick Road. MCA Music. 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