Drezner On McCain

Doc Drezner offers a must-read on McCain's foreign policy vision.

Comments

[Buford Gooch]

Seems pretty spooky. Intervene in enough places for moral reasons, and not self-interest, and we become nannies to the world. Armed intervention should always be an option for a country in the US's position, but trying to fix all of the world's problems with our military doesn't seem the smartest way to conduct foreign policy.

[Cecil Turner]

I think your implied take on the Bai article was better (i.e., "skip it"). DD's second-hand analysis of others' descriptions of McCain's foreign policy leanings (mostly as viewed through the eyes of his detractors . . . with a hearty dose of anti-"neocon" bias) wasn't terribly helpful.

If one can stand slugging through a few pages, I'd recommend reading McCain's actual words, and tossing Bai's work (and analysis thereof).

[syn]

"The Bush administration's fundamental mistake was to believe that a generation-long project could somehow be pursued without the need for consensus by anyone outside the executive branch."

If I recall correctly we had consensus in Congress, heck Congress approved military action in Iraq before Bush was president ie Iraq Liberation Act of 1998.

I think the tragic mistake was made right after 9/11 when the Bush administration told American citizens to go to the mall and be happy.

Further, I think this recommendation had more to do with the politically correct Washington beltway, in general, and their concensus which beleives to never rile anyone since they might get angry.

At this point for example, the State Department is so terrified of being accused of insensitivity that we are fighting a wr in which we cannot even say the name of the enemy.

No Iraq isn't lost, America is; America is right bavk where we were right after the Gulf War 1 withdrawal.

McCain doesn't get this Long War, like so many he thinks this war is just in Iraq and he is going to do exactly what GHB did at the end of Gulf War 1, return to those willfully blind days where America pretends that there is no Global (insert sensitive words here) terrorism.

[syn]

Sometimes I think that even if the enemy were to wipe Israel off the face of the planet, the anti-semitism in America is so bad that most Americans would whine about gas prices at the pump and how evil is American imperialism.

And when Isreal IS wiped off the planet Sen Chuck Schmumer would go before the public to say how corrupt Republicans are for not being sensitive and how evil is American imperialism and that Americans need to send campaing money to the Demorat Party so they can bring Change and Hope.

It is the strangest thing, perhaps its just NYC, however there are so many American in the Jewish community here who believe Bush is worse than Ahmadinejad; it is strange that so many AMericans in the Jewish community will be once again financing and supporting the Democrat Party which has done everything possible to be sensitive to Global (insert sensitive words here) terrorists than in effect they're actions will bring about the destruction of Israel.

When the Democrat rhetoric is 'America is an evil imperialist empire led by McBushtheHilter for Oil BUT America must defend Israel' one cannot help but see that America is lost.

Demorats are raising big money on this rhetoric and it is insane.

[narciso]

You saw the Frank Luntz idiot focus group, right

[syn]

You saw the Frank Luntz idiot focus group, right

The only people left watching TV are the idiots; or rather, you have to be an idiot to be able to watch tv.

[ajacksonian]

Part of what is showing up is Sen. McCain's view of a Teddy Roosevelt activist foreign policy, that would get the US into the Spanish-American/Philippine-American war. That latter conflict turned into one of the most horrific COIN campaigns the US has ever been involved in and took nearly a decade to set into some sort of peaceful situation where the local government could fully stand up. That latter conflict has far more parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan than does anything later in the 20th century.

Luckily the US would see the outcome of an activist foreign policy in poor areas of the world when President Wilson started the Haitian experience lasting from 1915-34. That was an unsuccessful COIN campaign that was also activist and actually did everything right by the book... and failed. That experience would slowly move the US back to its more traditional 'if they want help they can support liberty and ask for it' concept, which goes back to Washington for OCONUS.

Limited federal government of the 19th century kept the amount of that sort of external adventurism down, and it was only in the Progressive era that government would start to get enough power to make adventurism possible. I admire TR for a lot of things, but his views towards an activist federal government to show american greatness via military power for its *own sake* isn't one of them. The US is busy now and getting Iraq and Afghanistan right (and Somalia, Philippines, Colombia) is far more important than doing anything about Burma or Darfur. Americans always give via charity to the poor and those suffering under natural disasters: not via government but via charity.

If you want something done in Darfur or Burma, then do it the old fashioned American way. Do it yourself.

[Jane]

I find it amazing how unified the democrat message is, always. They lie in unison like it's the truth. At some point, with so many people saying the same thing, it's hard not to believe it. That's how Bush became evil, and McCain will become his evil twin.

The republicans don't say a word. There is no unity, no common message, nothing. I'm pretty disgusted at this point.

[Pofarmer]

There is no unity, no common message, nothing. I'm pretty disgusted at this point.

That's why principles matter. At least you could be unified on SOMETHING.

[Jane]

Do you think the republicans in Congress have unifying principles? At this point I think everybody is there for personal gain. IMO the fastest way to get rich these days is to work for the government.

[clarice]

"You saw the Frank Luntz idiot focus group, right"I did see it out of the corner of my eye as I worked on something else and it occurred to me that I was seeing a bunch of dummies and a few first rate ringers passing as "undecideds". I think Frank has quite a gig going for him..

[sbw]

Okay, crew. What unifying principles would stand up to scrutiny for either the Republican or Democratic Parties.

1. Liberty matters.
- 1a. Society is the creation of individuals.
- 1b. Why liberty matters is a proper subject for education.
- 1c. Liberty elsewhere matters, too.
2. Economic competition works.
- 2a. Free market economies have lifted the quality of life of more people than other alternatives.
- 2b. Government control, including attempts to guarantee equality of results, lead to unintended consequences.
- 2c. Competition belongs in healthcare, too.
3. Everyone should work to the best of their ability.
- 3a. There is no such thing as a free lunch. When job needs change, government can help retraining.
- 3b. People can compete for the jobs available, where they are available. [You can't always do what you want where you want.]

[Pofarmer]

Do you think the republicans in Congress have unifying principles?

It would seem to be "Grab as much as I can."

[Pofarmer]

government can help retraining.

You think people are too stupid to figure out they need new skills?

[jimmyk]

Everyone should work to the best of their ability.

This sounds uncomfortably Marxist. How about "Individuals should decide for themselves how best to spend their time, and accept the consequences of those decisions."

[sbw]

Po: You think people are too stupid to figure out they need new skills?

Heh! Not at issue. What is at issue is that education in a fluid economy is often needed after high school if we are to recycle those who lose their jobs to take the new jobs that become available. Tying retraining into whatever temporary unemployment insurance is given repeats the message that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[Walter]

You think people are too stupid to figure out they need new skills?

Yes.

I've got three siblings in education. Learning for its own sake is valued by today's youth nearly as much as it was valued by our generation.

Which is to say, not all that much.

Getting me to continuing ed classes is like pulling teeth, and I (theoretically) enjoy that stuff.

Getting a college dropout back to school is nearly impossible (seen Bill Gates in a classroom lately?). Getting a high-school graduate (or dropout) into a classroom as an adult is nigh unto impossible.

Which is why I think that "government can help with retraining" is a bit of a pipe dream. Most of those programs are better at helping the trainers than the trainees.

[Jane]

I'd like to see as a unifying principle that the republicans are going to stop lining their pockets with my money. E.g. No earmarks. I can't even begin to explain how important that is to me.

[Soylent Red]

Jacksonian:

Maybe you've seen information I haven't but, the Phillipine Insurrection was one of the most successful COIN campaigns we've ever waged. I won't say easy, but certainly not "horrific". If that were the model, I think most people could live with it. Unfortunately it is a model that the press wouldn't allow in this day and age.

But I digress...

The Foreign Affairs piece is a good read Cecil. Thanks.

FWIW, the one place where McCain doesn't cause me heartburn is on foreign policy. In many ways, if you consider GWB to be one end of the spectrum, McCain offers a bit of improvement, to my way of thinking.

Certainly, at minimum, no one is going to tell McCain what he can and can't call his enemy.

[Neo]

This is sweet

[Danube of Thought]

"That latter [Philippine] conflict has far more parallels with Iraq and Afghanistan than does anything later in the 20th century."

A proposition whose accuracy, while doubtful, is devoutly to be prayed for. The Philippines fought valiantly with the US and against the Japanese in WWII, and are today a thriving democracy and a staunch friend of the US.

[sbw]

This is sweet

Officials report that two tanker trucks of milk are speeding to the scene...

[Patrick R. Sullivan]

Whatever McCain's FP is, after seeing this astonishing performance, you've got to pray Obama doesn't win in November.

[Vad]

'At this point for example, the State Department is so terrified of being accused of insensitivity that we are fighting a wr in which we cannot even say the name of the enemy.'
Maybe it's marxism, socialism, Chicago community activism, unions, the church, his wives.

The dems called up the UN to monitor and investigate the dem voting. Florida was the same, they lose they call up the UN. The deals are for cash and some programs. Dems can't make foreign policy without the UN or cash. Like Clinton all these dems are the same. They don't know what foreign policy is' it can't really be bought.

I think Oregon missed the UN call up by dems. They don't understand it's over. Dems lost. It's thousands of morons.