The key to all of these problems is being able to do the
difficult — apply human common sense to the facts on the ground.
Closing one’s eyes to what can evolve is never ever a good idea —
particularly in a day and age of missiles and high tech. This is
where Reid Smith and I disagree.
Jeff,
in fairness, I’m not closing my eyes to the potential evolution of
evil. Likewise, I’ve already expressed my “serious misgivings” with
the extremity of Ron Paul’s positions. However, I have consistently
emphasized constructive caution — perhaps in censure of the
hyperbolic ramblings of several GOP candidates (and pundits) who
have proven unfit to discuss foreign policy beyond their seemingly
bottomless support for Israel, Obama’s “toleration” of Arab Spring,
and some vigorous fist-shaking in the general direction of Tehran.
I’d like my candidate to bring more to the table than empty bluster
when it comes to foreign policy.
With that said, I’m not entirely sure why you point to the
Continent’s intellectual dismissal of National Socialism in the
'30s, unless to suggest we should be culling the colorful mosques
of Qom to track down the next Khomeini, today?
Uh…okay?
But speaking of Iran, the application of “human common
sense to the facts on the ground” and your apparent desire to nip
Iranian nukes in the proverbial bud… as I’ve written right here, on
this very blog, an aerial assault conducted by the United State or
Israel would produce drastic consequences.
Let’s consider the blowback. *collective gasp*
Such action would ensure violence against American and Israeli
targets — both at home and abroad. Iran would shed the yoke of
international isolation and bask in the hero-worship of a
suddenly-sympathetic Arab street. Historic rivalries and ancient
antagonisms in the Muslim world would crumble, as Iran ascends the
stage opposite the United States, playing the role of “Bête
Noir du Jour” — a dashing protagonist cast in the global
tragedy of American Empire’s promiscuous use of preventive
war.
Oh yeah, and I almost forgot. An attack on Iranian soil
would immediately harden Persian consensus in opposition to
intervention, and cement support for what has become an
increasingly unpopular ruling cabal. Concurrently, support for a
nuclear arms program — which is far from monolithic, at present —
would skyrocket.
All this “blowback” to temporarily degrade — not demolish
— Iran’s nuclear ambition.
Jeff, what I’m trying to impart is that there’s a teeny,
tiny hint of “grey area” between handshakes with Hitler over
Sudetenland at the ‘38 Munich Conference and our decision to take
the fight against communism to the jungles of Laos. Decisions have
consequences, and our “war of choice” routine and exhortation of
“conditional sovereignty” do us little favor in the international
arena.
In conclusion, Jeff, I’d say your rousing extrapolation of
imprisoned Austrian painters and communist intrigue during the
twilight of the Romanovs has paradoxically channeled your
inner ostrich.
Growing consensus in the national security community —
and I’m talking about professional practitioners and academics, not
talk-show blowhards on your radio dial — suggests the preservation
of American security and hegemony hinges on our ability to rebuild
economic stability at home by cutting the federal deficit that has
exploded under the current administration.
If we’re going to have a serious conversation then you
need to consider the facts: our $15 trillion federal debt
approaches the size of the entire economy, without accounting for
the liabilities hemmed to Social Security, Medicare and Fannie Mae
and Freddie Mac. The United States has never been so vulnerable to
an international run on the dollar that could begin overseas.
Foreign governments can absolutely use their Treasury holdings to
coerce American decision-making.
Sadly, the restoration of fiscal solvency doesn’t jibe
with a policy preference that prioritizes dropping JDAMs on Muslim
countries. So I’m not sure what to tell you, Jeff. All I did here
was “apply human common sense to the facts on the
ground.”
Thanks for the advice.
