Posted on 03/05/2007 7:09:48 PM PST by FLOutdoorsman
I think the essence of his thinking can be summarized in this point of the essay:
"What concern is that of ours?"
That is in a nutshell Pat's thinking about foreign affairs. In a post 911 world, this stubborn question of paleocons has been reduced to a hollow shell. It plainly makes no sense and only willful ignorance can prevent a flood of answers from filling the void supposed by this question.
Rome at its height of power only had 35 Legions (about 350 000 men) to defend the entire empire. Like the US it was a strain on her manpower especially when other civilized nations to her eastern edge (Persia, Parthia, Sassanids, etc) started wars. Rome learned to defend her interests by proxy and local auxillary troops (Romans living in area and local natives) and the Legion was brought in as a coup de grace or as a last resort. Given the political division within this nation, a negative MSM, and a large anti war in our elites (celebs, college professors and etc), it is near impossible to fight a long and drawn out war with our troops. I think we need to look at the Afghan model (Northern Alliance troops, backed by US airpower, SOF/CIA teams) and the recent Somalia war (Ethiopia backed by US airpower, intel and SOF/CIA teams) as our new way of confronting our enemies without evoking the ire of the political opposition in this nation who in the end with the MSM will undermind the war even if we are winning the insurgency. NOTE - no one cried foul when the Ethiopian troops allowed the Somalian warlord troops shoot the jihadist prisoners when the towns were retakened. I guarantee those who supported the jihadist rule were rooted out and shot when the warlord troops retook the towns lost.
Yeah, I know he was in Vietnam.
You are correct, we have no Scipio Africanus or Marius today. The MSM simply will not allow it.
I agree with you.
What is so strange to my mind is that the Islamic radicalism we face is probably more opposed to our own worldview than any of the enemies pat is familiar with.
It is impossible for him and too many other paleo cons to rally to this present threat.
Yeah because nation building 3rd world pits is a sure fire success. (sarcasm off) Please. Pat's right on this issue. Unless Islamo terrorists are involved, its not our damn problem.
Not nation building third world pits is a sure fire success (sarcasm off).
I think my joke is funnier.
Your caveat pretty much gives it away-- unless islamo terrorists are involved.
Where would those folks be exactly? Are they neatly contained in a sovereign state that we can conquer or isolate?
The old school is over. We are at war with a radical ideology prepared to hide out beyond whatever lines of peace we draw. The oceans will not protect us. Trade barriers will not insulate us. We must embark fully upon the war of ideas.
These enemy offer death as a text. Its pretty compelling. We must meet them everywhere they rise up.
Pat's view is no longer helpful and that is about as nice as it can be put. Other less nice things can certainly be fairly said of his view.
Pat and I still agree about abortion.
Not going to happen for three reasons.
Medicare
Medicaid
Social Security
Those three will do more to destroy our military than the Soviets ever dreamed.
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