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Hillary: Smart power means empathizing with your enemies
Hot Air ^ | December 4, 2014 | Ed Morrissey

Posted on 12/04/2014 12:27:53 PM PST by C19fan

It’s difficult to know where to start with this nonsense from a recent speech given by Hillary Clinton, in which the presumed Democratic front-runner finally defines what she sees as “smart power,” and what she claims is a 21st-century approach to diplomacy. In large part, the former Secretary of State says it means psychoanalyzing enemies to understand them better, which … is exactly what nations have been doing for centuries, if not millenia. That’s why, for instance, our nations turned out experts in Sovietology like Condoleezza Rice, so that they could rise to positions of policymaking importance and apply their insights into the internal culture of our enemies for our best strategic advantage.

Hillary goes one step farther by claiming that we must empathize with our enemies in order to “define the problems”:

(Excerpt) Read more at hotair.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2016; clinton; foreignpolicy; hillary2016; potus; soshillary
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To: C19fan
Hillary: Smart power means empathizing with your enemies

That only applies with relations with normal human beings.
Koranimals are... well, not. Beheadings?
In 2014?
Is there even an absurd discussion possible about such a primitive barbaric enemy?

At least the latest crop of criminal, clueless politicians is consistent.
There is a similar movement domestically, guaranteed to get worse.

21 posted on 12/04/2014 1:51:36 PM PST by publius911 (Formerly Publius6961)
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To: C19fan

You might have nailed it... That probably IS what she means.


22 posted on 12/04/2014 1:54:31 PM PST by GOPJ (Stephanopoulos's a snake in the grass and a dem operative. Wilson should never have trusted him.)
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To: C19fan

Psychoanalysts are also human, and limited by their own world view and biases. This is the academic/modernist view of all human interactions - that they can be distilled down (by them) into understandable (to them) constructs. The reality is that not everyone thinks the same, and some people have a world view that is so different than ours, that it is literally dangerous to think you can ‘figure them out’. It is also arrogant to think so, but that is the trademark of the ubiquitous kind narcissists that populate government and academics these days.


23 posted on 12/04/2014 2:14:22 PM PST by pieceofthepuzzle
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To: C19fan

To sympathize means you understand how another feels.

To empathize means you feel the same way.


24 posted on 12/04/2014 2:20:51 PM PST by Chuckster (The longer I live the less I care about what you think.)
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To: Chuckster

“Empathy is the ability to mutually experience the thoughts, emotions, and direct experience of others. It goes beyond sympathy, which is a feeling of care and understanding for the suffering of others. Both words have similar usage but differ in their emotional meaning.”


25 posted on 12/04/2014 2:22:39 PM PST by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter admits whom he's working for)
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To: C19fan


btw, maybe it wasn't Webb...
26 posted on 12/04/2014 2:45:49 PM PST by Paine in the Neck (Socialism consumes EVERYTHING)
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To: Paine in the Neck

Great pic, LOL


27 posted on 12/04/2014 2:51:15 PM PST by nascarnation (Impeach, Convict, Deport)
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To: C19fan

It also means knowing that you actually answer the phone at 3AM and take action and not make apologies for imaginary videos


28 posted on 12/04/2014 3:33:02 PM PST by ballplayer
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To: C19fan

Smart power means empathizing with your enemies

After they’re dead.


29 posted on 12/04/2014 3:59:38 PM PST by VTenigma (The Democratic party is the party of the mathematically challenged)
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To: C19fan

Neville Chamberlain tried that- it didn’t work.


30 posted on 12/04/2014 4:53:18 PM PST by GenXteacher (You have chosen dishonor to avoid war; you shall have war also.)
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To: C19fan
Smart power means defeating your enemies and preventing them from causing any more problems.

We can start with defeating as many Democrats and other liberals as possible.

"Ceterum censeo 0bama esse delendam."

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)

LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

31 posted on 12/04/2014 5:11:54 PM PST by LonePalm (Commander and Chef)
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To: Ray76

A key identifier for clinical sociopathy is lack of empathy... but what difference, at this point, does it make?


32 posted on 12/04/2014 6:10:27 PM PST by Rodamala
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To: C19fan
"Smart power" is to know your enemy and to understand his viewpoint.

That does not mean that you should sympathize with that view point but you should understand it.

That way when Iran says they want to wipe Israel off the map you don't think that they are just talking to hear their head roar, they want to wipe Israel off the map.

You can then respond accordingly.

33 posted on 12/04/2014 6:22:14 PM PST by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
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To: C19fan
Hillary: Smart power means empathizing with your enemies

Verily grant one of your sharpest blades that she may show empathy by baring her soul and beheading herself
34 posted on 12/04/2014 10:30:01 PM PST by clearcarbon
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