The US military may be staggering around the planet like a drunken, bloated colossus. Yet [Matthew] Continetti [editor of The Washington Free Beacon] still dutifully trots out all the [Irving] Kristolian tropes about the need for military assertiveness (more drunken belligerence), massive defense spending (more bloating), and “a new American century.” Reaganism is needed now just as much as in 1996, he avers: in fact, doubly so, for Russia has reemerged as:Last I heard the people actually pulling triggers on rifles and IEDs on American troops these days are sunni jihadis, not Russian Christians, though that could change soon enough if we continue to throw our weight around in service to the jihadi cause in the Middle East.“…the greatest military and ideological threat to the United States and to the world order it has built over decades as guarantor of international security.”[1]
And such Russian troops as are outside Russia pale in significance beside the numbers of U.S. troops outside U.S. borders, but I suppose we get a pass because the world knows that we are a benevolent power. The late Mr. Gaddafi is probably saying to himself, "Who knew?"
It's odd that the neocon Mr. Continetti doesn't see the U.S. infatuation with Saudi salafism and support for ISIS and al Qaida in Syria as possibly threatening to the world order, made in U.S.A. or otherwise. Or that the neocon agenda of laying waste to various nation states here and there is reckless and destablilizing by itself. In a world where the Western powers have embraced suicide by immigrant invader it's like swatting at mosquitoes with a baseball bat to try to find any kind of a common sense in the clouds of this kind of intellectual flapdoodle.
Notes
[1] "Embracing The Dark Side: A Short History Of The Pathological Neocon Quest For Empire." By Dan Sanchez, David Stockman's Contra Corner, 10/27/15 (emphasis added).
2 comments:
I really wish people would stop viewing the world from within their established framework, and actually take a look at how it IS working.
It's rather simple - we need to use Triage - ignore the problems that are unlikely to touch us, ignore the problems that are self-limiting, or not, at this time, critical to our interests (much of Africa), and pick ONE crisis that has the immediate potential to disrupt our lives/economy.
By those standards, NOT Europe. The Continent is being overrun, but without recognition on their part of what the problem is and a willingness to confront it, they cannot be helped. It's the same with a woman who will not leave an abusive partner - until she is willing to name the problem, and take action, she cannot be helped.
How about Israel? I do believe that they have earned the right to some assistance (primarily in the form of intelligence and other behind-the-scenes support). It would cut down on the finances of their enemies (and, to be honest, some of America's, as well) if the US government would take away the tax status of "charities", NGOs, and other tax-exempt organizations that engage in politics, such as the BDS movement. Just enforce the law as written.
China? This is the one that I would focus on right now - they're broke, on the verge of economic collapse, and making aggressive moves in the Pacific. A wounded enemy is dangerous.
NO Visas for Chinese nationals, for any purpose. Harden our computer networks against intrusion. Kick out the academics, tech workers, and others who pose a potential threat - and, let China know that this IS retaliation for their actions. Pull together the paperwork for the Clinton team that let the military secrets out, and let them know they have a choice - immediate removal to China - NEVER to return - or prosecution, with prison time recommended.
Start having conversations with government employees - anticipate that MOST of them had dirty secrets, and that China now knows them. Show them the proof, and tell them to quietly retire, for "health reasons". Vet their replacements OFFLINE, in the presence of their families - if they won't come clean to them, they are a threat - don't put them to work for us.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment, Ms. F. Sanity has basically departed from most Western nations, so anything resembling a methodical approach to problem identification and resolution stands out in a big way. In my nefarious career in the federal bureaucracy, I always liked to ask What problem am I trying to solve? It's a useful exercise, which your comment exemplifies. With the West, unfortunately, there's no DECISION to analyze but rather a failure to engage in the problem identification/solution process in the first place. It's wall-to-wall passivity. Merkel doesn't ask if "refugees" are a problem that can be isolated beyond the borders of Europe? No. Refugees are a problem to be deal with now that refugees have decided to BE a problem for Europe. "We can manage this." Yay. Only that involves surrendering to the will of foreigners. The new gold standard, is it not?
Our Syrian, Iraqi, and Afghan adventures are failures in the analytical process, if ever there was one. The "Assad must go" strategy has never been explained and, more fundamentally, it's absurd that U.S. troops are operating outside our borders when our own borders are open to whoever wants to invade from the south. Making a case for war in Syria would bring a lot to light but that is not currently Our Way.
The problems of Africa are non-development and population increase. Both can be dealt with (assuming any responsibility at this very, very late date to "deal" with anything in Africa) by providing only minimal aid conditioned on population control and African's getting serious about their own development. No more of the excuse of the legacy of colonialism. It was a crock to begin with! Similarly, Africa's population problems are not Europe's or ours and Africans have not been required to face up to grim reality. (Europeans haven't in other areas either, but that's another story.) As one of my newer posts makes clear, American blacks haven't been required to face up to reality either.
Were there not problem with Muslims in this world, Israel would just be another country in the world with not particular claim on official support. As it is, they are on the front line of the war against Islam and so do merit it. Solving the Muslim problem in the world is probably my number two priority, as illegal immigration/ethnic inundation is at the top of my list. But solving the Muslim problem would solve Israel's problem, which would solve the problem of Israels drain on our official resources.
Amen to what you said about China. Bill Clinton's candidacy was saved by money from a guy with connections to Chinese intelligence. There's a lot of money in the hands of the Chinese even now and -- like Saudi money -- that buys a lot of subversion and treason. And did.
I prefer the reasonable approach taken by the security services of late, which is to require people with blackmailable secrets to disclose them to the government (and family and associates?). Vetting the bureaucracy is a process more akin to carpentry than brain surgery and few humans present themselves as applicants with spotless histories. It is what it is on that score, so I wouldn't cashier anyone for prior boo boos, but I would prosecute for criminal offenses.
Bottom line, you call for a return to rationality and a serious return to an America that had some backbone and an appreciation of its great value. Now, as someone clever said, we know the price of everything but not the value of anything. I don't see rationality coming back in style any time soon. Globalism and multiculturalism with a generous helping of cultural Marxism seem to be the order of the day and they combine to create the perfect storm of civilizational suicide.
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