I am continually amazed at the beliefs on Korea, Viet Nam, the Cold War,
containment and the like expressed by Historians and Political Scientists based on their readings.
As one who was an adult predominately engaged with and strongly interested in 'national security' but who also worked in various civilian enterprises and lived in several areas of the nation throughout the entire period, the consistent take of American attitudes expressed in such histories is well off the mark IMO.
Much of the historical 'data' is of necessity derived from period writings and media or from interviews or 'oral history' from the anointed of the era. It has been my observation over the years that the majority of academics, writers and media persons, the "anointed," do not well understand the great unwashed in so called middle America and about whom they write. That shows in much current history of the period. They may get the big events about right, sort of have to do that, however, their perceptions of public beliefs and attitudes is general significantly skewed compared to my recollections. The "idealist" approach to foreign policy has always been present amongst the power structure in this nation, all ideologies -- it has almost never been present among the hoi polloi -- tolerated, yes but endorsed or even believed for a second -- no.
Spanier, for example, back in the day was basically a proponent of "exceptionalism" and decried the ignorance and isolationism of the masses who were willing to essentailly ignore Communism as a minor annoyance, which it was. The masses weren't nearly as stupid as he perceived...
All that to say: Some Americans buy into the BS both parties and all politicians and would be demagogues spew. Most do not. Never have, really.
Rather they are in fact amazingly tolerant of the many errors of the anointed...:cool:
(and yes, I've read the book. Not the latest iteration but some years ago. ;) )
Heh. Just more proof that US Foreign Policy
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Pete
True, but the guy who coined the phrase "Acheson's cowardly college of containment" was elected president twice, although he didn't finish his second term.
is almost totally driven by domestic political party politics. As you pointed out elsewhere, rhetoric is rhetoric, WW III would be a different problem.:eek:
That guy knew that at the time, he said what he said simply to make his political opponents look wimpy. That sort of worked -- mostly because his predecessor had set the stage for that belief. Note that caused 42 and 44 to take actions they did not wish to take to in failed attempts to assuage that concern. :wry:
The fascinating thing is that guy got elected to that second term with pretty full knowledge by the American voters of what he had 'done' and then was forced to leave early -- also due almost entirely to domestic political party politics and not to what he had 'done' -- the Voters went along pretty much because he was guilty of an excess of arrogance, an American No-No.
I think the uniformed White House Secret Service / EPS detail uniforms (below) had more to do with it than any illegal acts. :D
Seeing a half dozen big beefy guys in that get up brought on massive guffaws nationwide. This was the only pic I could find -- I guess the SS didn't want to be embarrassed and gathered and destroyed all the photos they could...:cool:
I do believe yesterday was a gentle nudge by those American voters to remind both parties that communism isn't a big problem, minor crookedness isn't a big problem -- but arrogance is not acceptable. We'll see if DC is smart enough to take the hint. My bet is no...
Asking The Boyd Question...Is It Moral
A native American Elder explains the first level that Boyd talks about....the Moral level. There is some chit chat at the start but it gets really good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9piIz...eature=related
When Ken was a Corporal, he didn't have a pair of dimes.
Now that the Fed prints what it wants when it wants, thus encouraging the Mint to mint what it wants when it wants, he has a pair of quarters, hind and fore. Ah, progress... ;)