Posted on 07/15/2005 6:07:27 AM PDT by Tumbleweed_Connection
AMERICAN foreign policy should be guided by two general principles: the first is advancing our security and political interests; the second is encouraging prosperity and responsive government for all people. It may be that with our encouragement and example, many countries will choose to adopt democracy and a market economy, presumably adapted to their own culture. Of course, others will follow a very different road for some time, perhaps indefinitely, as ethnic differences, poverty and historical and religious traditions affect and constrain choices.
America embarks on an especially perilous course, however, when it actively attempts to establish a government based on our values in another part of the world. It is one matter to adopt a foreign policy that encourages democratic values; it is quite another to believe it just or practical to achieve such results on the ground with military forces. This is true whether we are acting alone, as is largely the case in Iraq, or as part of an international coalition.
It seems that many in the Bush administration believed that an invasion to topple Saddam Hussein would result in a near spontaneous conversion of Iraq, and with luck much of the Middle East, to democracy. But the notion of intervening in foreign countries to build a society of our preference is not just a Republican or conservative failing. The corresponding Democratic or liberal failing is the view that America has a duty to intervene in foreign countries that egregiously violate human rights and a responsibility to oppose and, where possible, remove totalitarian heads of state. This Democratic rhetoric quickly moves from "peacekeeping" in a country torn by strife to "peacemaking" and to "nation-building."...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Good thing this guy wasn't around in 1942 when the Marines were trying to kick the Japanese out of the Solomon Islands!
I can't tell the difference between the front page of the NYT and the front page of DU anymore.
One thing about it, the Slimes does not have to worry about terrorist blowing up their fricking place where all the liars hand out and publish their bs.
You know guys, the author has a point:
Military action didn't end slavery in America, it sure didn't work in Germany, Japan, Panama, Grenada, or South Korea, and it certainly played no role in stopping the Soviet Union.
Gee, when Clinton was in office, Nation Building seemed like such a cool thing ...
Official report for John "That's some good porn," Deutch, One time head of the CIA, when Al Queada was planning it's attacks.
http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/ig_deutch.html
So obvious it hurts.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.