Monday, March 31, 2008
Listen To Conservatives on Foreign Policy
For those who argue that a League of Democracies is indeed a viable plan, I urge you to read some past articles in TNI. "The India Imperative" by Robert Blackwill (summer 2005). Blackwill feels that a strong, interest- and yes even values-based relationship is possible between New Delhi and Washington--but also points to what the limitations would be when it comes to Iran and China.
Or go back to David Rivkin and Lee Casey writing in A House Divided back in 2002. They look at problems in the U.S.-Europe relationship (this is pre-Iraq war, by the way) and note:
"The flair-up of these tensions is not a manifestation of random or issue-specific trans-Atlantic disputes. Rather, it is emblematic of the long-term fundamental disagreements between the United States and our European allies over a broad range of major policy issues. The fact that these disagreements have not been muted by an emergence of a new common strategic threat--terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Western civilization--demonstrates the width and depth of the intra-alliance rift."
No one can accuse Blackwill, Rivkin or Casey of being part of some anti-American leftist cabal. So perhaps their assessments about what we can expect from other states that happen to be democracies might be useful in helping to craft viable policies?
Or go back to David Rivkin and Lee Casey writing in A House Divided back in 2002. They look at problems in the U.S.-Europe relationship (this is pre-Iraq war, by the way) and note:
"The flair-up of these tensions is not a manifestation of random or issue-specific trans-Atlantic disputes. Rather, it is emblematic of the long-term fundamental disagreements between the United States and our European allies over a broad range of major policy issues. The fact that these disagreements have not been muted by an emergence of a new common strategic threat--terrorist groups seeking the destruction of Western civilization--demonstrates the width and depth of the intra-alliance rift."
No one can accuse Blackwill, Rivkin or Casey of being part of some anti-American leftist cabal. So perhaps their assessments about what we can expect from other states that happen to be democracies might be useful in helping to craft viable policies?
