Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish: Now, the Neocons

Link: Andrew Sullivan | The Daily Dish: Now, the Neocons.

"Fearing that worse is still to come, Adelman believes that neoconservatism itself — what he defines as "the idea of a tough foreign policy on behalf of morality, the idea of using our power for moral good in the world"—is dead, at least for a generation. After Iraq, he says, 'it's not going to sell.'"

 

The commentary of Sullivan as well as the NeoCons in Vanity Fair's article "Neo Culpa" is  both frightening and fascinating on many levels.  First, the view that "using our power for moral good in the world" is a neo conservative idea, I find fascinating in that for years that was the purview of left wing democrats.  Is Amnesty International just the wrong morality?  Does morality have to be tinged with a dose of realism?  We should use our power to topple Saddam's brutality because we "can?'  As opposed, to Mr. Kim, or the Saudis or the Iranians or the Chinese or Putin or the Sudanese or what?  The arrogance and the view that these are "neo" anythings, let alone conservatives, boggles my mind.

 

Then of course there is the frightening part.  They clearly had no clue.  Really, really smart powerful leaders of our defense establishment had absolutely no clue.  Again the arrogance of power leaps to mind.  This is basic human psychology people.  Let me make it very simplistic.  If you invade somebody's country without an invitation, they aren't going to like it even if you topple their oppressive dictator.  Never.  Your still an invader, still an occupier, still a cause of death and devastation. How could these neo-cons be so blind?  How could these so, so smart men be so stupid?

Comments

[JR]

Jon Wrote "Amnesty International doesn't have a military wing. Neoconservatism believes that military force can be used to impliment moral good."

Good point. Historically it seems that democrats didn't make such a distinction. The question was always "Why don't we go after the evil dictator, if we go after th communists?" Use of the military was not the question.

[Jon]

"First, the view that "using our power for moral good in the world" is a neo conservative idea, I find fascinating in that for years that was the purview of left wing democrats. Is Amnesty International just the wrong morality?"

Amnesty International doesn't have a military wing. Neoconservatism believes that military force can be used to impliment moral good.