The Council on Foreign Relations

This is a college research paper I wrote on CFR, it's worth the read.

Maxximilian Seijo

Ms. Tartaglia

ENC 1101

14 Apr. 2010

Research of The Council on Foreign Relations

Is there a secret organization that controls the world? I don’t know. However I do know there are too many outsiders in the government that people don’t even know about, for instance most people think that a fair process is taking place when government officials analyze data. Unfortunately that is not the case. For example The Council on Foreign Relations says in bold letters that they have, “No affiliation with the U.S. Government.” (North American Community Page iv). However some of their most important members severely affect U.S. Government decisions.

The Council on Foreign Relation is an “independent, national organization” that develops opinions regarding foreign policy (North American Community IV). They are a national organization, but politically they are hardly independent, because a number of their members are affiliated with, former members of or in the U.S. Government. For example there is Nelson W. Cunningham, who advised John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign and previously served in the Clinton White House as Special advisor to the president for Western Hemisphere affairs (North American Community 41). This man is powerful, and he is connected to the U.S. Government. The conflict is self-evident, for he has been a senior advisor to 2 high ranking successful Democrats. Thus if he says something people will listen because he is saying it, and not because of what he is saying. Another powerful man inside the Council is Timothy E. Wirth. He is the president of the United Nations Foundation, and he also served as a representative for 12 years and was a senator for 6 years. After his career in Congress he was co-chair of the Clinton-Gore campaign and served in the U.S. Department of State as the first undersecretary of global affairs from 1993 to 1997 (Confronting Climate Change 105).

Those are examples of 2 men who are very powerful and are members of the Council on Foreign Relations. However the connection goes all the way to the Council’s Board of directors. Richard N. Haass is the President of the Council on Foreign Relations, and he is also connected to the government. He was the State Department director of policy planning, and lead U.S. official on Afghanistan and Northern Ireland from 2001 through 2003. As well, he was principal Middle East advisor to President George H.W. Bush (Richard Haass bio web page). I find it suspicious that he was a senior advisor to the first Bush president and then got appointed to the State Department under the second Bush president after 8 years out of politics. Was it a favor? I think only Bush Jr. knows that, but it’s hard not to connect the dots. However he was definitely a member of the Government, so that refutes their statement about having, “No affiliation with the U.S. Government.” (North American Community page iv).

Now some might say, “These men currently aren’t members of the U.S. government so why do you think that they have any pull inside the government?” I do believe this is a fair question, however Washington is all about connections, and if someone owes a favor to someone else then it doesn’t matter who they are, they will get that favor. For example hypothetically let’s say Richard Haass, President of CFR published a report that said we needed to invade Poland. Then he went to President Bush, who don’t forget is the son of the man who Richard Haass advised, and because of that President Bush might be inclined to listen to his report more than another persons report. Now let’s say the President is on the fence about the issue; thus there is an unfair analysis of the options presented to achieve a solution. Therefore the American people’s elected leader isn’t fully making a decision based on what’s best for the people.

On page 25 the CFR Task Force report “In Wake of War: Improving U.S. Post-Conflict Capabilities”. The Council says that the President should, “Fully fund the planned ‘Active Response Corps’ to provide needed civilian manpower and opportunity for Americans to serve their country abroad.” Soon after the publishing of this Task Force report President Bush upped the funding for “Active Response Corps” to 7.2 million dollars, then again in 2009 to 248 million dollars (Washington Post). Now an important member of that Task Force was Senator Chuck Hagel, who is Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion Subcommittee and Senate Banking Securities and Investment Subcommittee. Senator Hagel also serves on the Intelligence Committee, Rules Committee and banking, housing, and Urban Affairs Committee (In Wake of War 50). He has worked with the President on many bills in the Senate, so someone like him publishing a report that advocates the expansion of the “Active Response Corps” will get a lot of attention. Maybe it’s irony that soon after he advocated this project the president expanded the budget fund for it. But I think not. Chuck Hagel is an extremely powerful man, and anything he says with be listened to by a lot of people. Thus the statement about having no affiliation with the government is ludicrous, because they clearly do have a connection with the government and effect government decisions.

We’ve been told that our leaders are elected officials, and we could hold them accountable. However, there are powerful people developing foreign policy for our leaders to employ, and we can’t hold accountable. So our leaders are just puppets doing the work of The Council. So when we vote out a politician because of the decisions he’s made, it doesn’t change anything because, the leaders of the Council are still there---as our true leaders. That is something that needs to be changed, for the government should be run by the people and for the people.

Works Cited
Council on Foreign Relations. Experts: Richard N. Haass. Web. http://www.cfr.org/bios/3350/richard_n_haass.html

Council on Foreign Relations Independent Task Force Report. Building a North American Community. New York: 2005. Print.

---. Confronting Climate Change: A Strategy For U.S. Foreign Policy. New York: 2008. Print

. ---. In the Wake of War: Improving U.S. Post-Conflict Capabilities New York: 2005. Print.

Wright, Robin. “Civilian Response Corps Gains Ground.” Washington Post. Washington D.C. 15 Feb 2008. Print.