Recently, I answered a few questions from The Economist on foreign policy. You can read my responses here.
Recently, I answered a few questions from The Economist on foreign policy. You can read my responses here.
kent says: What do you call a paleocon who is pro-gay marriage and pro-choice? I seem to agree with at least the broad outlines of everything you write that isn’t about those two issues.
a few comments in response to your answers.
Q1) i wonder how much popular enthusiasm there really is for foreign intervention, if the goals and costs are honestly presented. also, the choice ‘going our own way’ is certainly open to many interpretations, including being isolationist, but i don’t know the exact phrasing used.
Q2) i would guess that part of the problem with scaling back our presence around the globe is, what do we do with those people? no one needs to be reminded that the job situation sucks domestically.
Q3) if i try to put myself in iran’s position, it is impossible for me not to agree that the one best means of defense is possession of a nuclear device. in my less sanguine moments i see little difference in the radical stances of the leaders of israel and most of the other mid east states, and nobody in the west seems very alarmed that they have a plethora of these devices.
regarding climate change, well we’re not exactly leading the fight there, eh? having wreaked our havoc for generations, other countries might feel they have some markers to cash in. we should concentrate on doing everything we can at home and try to set an example. (hard to say that with a straight face.)
Q4) ‘in practice rep, adm. had tended to be reluctant warriors’ excuse me? on what planet might that have been? the list of ‘interventions’ initiated by the right over the last 3 rep presidencies is impressive in it’s lack of reluctance. the last reluctant one presided over the european theatre of operations, as i remember.
and it seems to me that national security conservatives could still accept responsibility for their party’s collapse without admitting to being wrong. they are just incapable of taking any responsibility.
Q5) agreed. conciliatory postures often do much to soften resentment, without giving up any territory.
Q6) completely agree. shout this from the rooftops. every dog will have its day. if i had the room, i would quote dylan’s ‘the times they are a-changin’ in its entirety, but will leave you with a few lines.
as the present now will later be past
the order is rapidly fading
and the first one now will later be last
for the times they are a-changin’