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The Spectacle Blog
With due deference to Mr. Babbin, his advanced experience within the highest levels of national security and his tempered, thoughtful criticism of the potentially harmful naiveté of “libertarian” policy preference, I’d very much like to respond to one point. Mr. Babbin points to Lord Palmerston’s “Principle” regarding foreign affairs, and our “eternal and perpetual” interests. My own historical study of Palmerston — the progenitor of liberal internationalism, refined in the second decade of the 20th century by President Woodrow Wilson — suggests the man prioritized an international system that encouraged the emergence and growth of global free trade, liberal economic structures and democracy.
As such, I’d agree that before we enter 2012’s “political circus,” it will serve us well to return to the lessons imparted by Lord Palmerston. But let us not commit ourselves to the approach of that nineteenth century British Foreign Secretary and Prime Minister who initiated not one, but two Opium Wars and clandestinely supported the destabilizing wave of self-determination that rocked Europe in 1848. Considered from contemporary context, the officious Englishman’s emphasis on stability in 19th century Europe would be construed as nothing short of domineering. Rather, I’d suggest the next president steer this ship of state on course with Palmerston’s softer side. In particular, the liberal internationalism, responsible for the following:
It is the peculiar character of the days in which we live that the merits and advantages of commerce are duly appreciated by all. In the earlier stages of civilization, men look [sic] with admiration the exercise of power — power employed in conquering and subjugating their unoffending neighbours[…] Men are now well satisfied that the glory of a country consists not in overthrowing the liberties of their neighbours but in diffusing those principles of commercial intercourse which are the great foundation of international peace. [Julie Salis Schwabe, Reminiscences of Richard Cobden, (London: TF Unwin, 1895), p. 66.]
A far better strategy for American security interests would develop the rational postulation that international economic interconnection is far too complex to be policed, aggressively and haphazardly, by a single international hegemon. This would connote a new sort of grand strategy, framed by an authentic presumption about the world in which we live — perhaps even the world as we would like it to be. This sort of approach would oblige American policymakers to prioritize our most pressing concerns and isolate them from less urgent or extraneous worries that ought not to have been ours in the first place. Rousing invocations of America’s leadership role, notwithstanding, from my estimation it appears the next administration must recognize the genuine temperament of our “enduring” American interests, lest U.S. involvement in (seemingly) every possible international security threat remain our uniquely “eternal” burden.
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More Blog Posts by Reid Smith
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/28/palmerston-and-the-dissolution
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Occam's Tool| 12.28.11 @ 5:41PM
Do let me know when there arises another fairly benevolent hegemon with the ability to project military power far away, Reid.
I agree that, for example, Libya and Uganda were/are stupid things to be involved in. But there is no one other than ourselves with the combination of decency and power we can project. China is imploding, and, to quote Mark Steyn, "the Russian male would be an endangered species if he had 4 legs and a tail"---averahge life expectancy is 59 and change in Russia for their men---the population is, as in all of Western Europe, China, and Japan, IMPLODING.
Despite Dr Heatstroke from Galveston's proclamations, world trade needs a power capable of enforcing sea law, to name but one example. Who's going to do it?
Clint| 12.28.11 @ 6:21PM
Watch This Short Video To Fact Check The History Of The Middle East.
http://digitaljournal.com/article/316304
The Tea Party Rebellion Is Here And In Iowa.
C Bowen | 12.28.11 @ 7:56PM
LOL--Occam has called for a nuclear holocaust on the people of the Middle East region, and yet tries to drape the term, benevolent on his sickness.
C Bowen | 12.28.11 @ 6:10PM
Babbin took money from the Pentagon and pretended to be a reporter--I guess he is now in the legal clear, but it was a close call for a while since we have laws against such 'psy-ops' done domestically, though it is something that could be revisited in the future.
He also thought Iraq was a threat and didn't do anything honorable upon the obvious conclusion that he had been duped.
He cannot be taken seriously, and is not worth of a response.
Rich Rostrom| 12.29.11 @ 1:15AM
The deep interconnection of the world economy requires policing by somebody. Otherwise, the gangsters will take it over.
I find it hard to imagine how the U.S. could remain a nation of law in a world of kleptocracies.
George| 12.29.11 @ 7:26AM
Smith calls for a strategy that develops a rational postulation, which he says would connote a grand strategy framed by an authentic presumption, which in turn would oblige policymakers to prioritize and isolate concerns. Writing doesn't get much more turgid than that.
Ken (Old Texican)| 12.29.11 @ 8:20AM
Reid,
nice balance there.
Dubyah was merely mistaken in his belief that Muslims, any Muslims, could aspire to freedom and security.
Their entire history is one of slavery and the sword.
Hey, we tried to help a people while at the same time crushing a dangerous dictator.
PS: does anyone remember just how many tons of yellow-cake was shipped from Iraq to Canada last year?
JP| 12.29.11 @ 8:38AM
Many of our security problems can be cured with a liberal dose of well aimed JDAMS. If we learnt anything from the last decade it is the Muslims cannot be trusted, and there is no "reforming" them. That doesn't mean that we cannot form short-term alliances with some of them when our interests are aligned.
Two can play the game of destabilization. It is high time our foreign policy experts grow up and make decisions based on ultimately on our own interests and security. The Mullah's in Iran can be brought down with a little ingenuity and patience. When was the last time they worried about being brought down by an assasin's bullet or a bunker buster? It is high time they and other nations begin to learn what fear is all about.
In 1985 our Beruit CIA station chier, James Buckley was kidnapped and murdered by Hezbollah radicals. Somethiing similar happened to a Soviet diplomat. Our response was just hand wringing and bluster. The Soviets said nothing; but they did dispatch a crack team of special ops soldiers into Beruit, hunted down and killed every last one of the assasins. The Soviet diplomats in Beruit never again had to worry about radical Hezbollah terrorists again.
C Bowen | 12.29.11 @ 4:18PM
LOL-- are you still selling that Iraq was a threat?
LOL--too funny.
We know who forged the Nigerian Uranium documents, and we have a good idea which individuals in the Administration actively conspired to support the fraud...you have any idea Ken?