Why We Invaded Iraq

[SteveMetz]

Well Record is off the AEI XMas mailing list for sure...

Jeff, as you probably know, was a Sam Nunn staffer. I'm a fan of his (and so noted in the acknowledgements of my book) but think it does get a bit too worked up when "neocon" bashing.

[J Wolfsberger]

From Wikipedia: 'The term neoconservative was originally used as a criticism against liberals who had "moved to the right".'

How much of the vitriol directed at "neocons" is anger over their apostasy?

[SteveMetz]

From Wikipedia: 'The term neoconservative was originally used as a criticism against liberals who had "moved to the right".'

How much of the vitriol directed at "neocons" is anger over their apostasy?

I would say almost none because it happened in the early 1970s. The classic ones like Irving Kristol and Normal Pohoretz were actually leftists at one time. Many of the others were mainline Democrats influenced by Scoop Jackson (people like Perle).

I don't use the word myself because the current generation--Bill Kristol, the Kagans, etc--were never anything other than conservative best I can figure. I use "conservative idealists."

[Ron Humphrey]

In some cases, administration war aims amounted to little more than expectations based on wishful thinking reinforced
by a self-serving embrace of faulty historical analogies.

The sidelines into banter make it invariably more difficult

[Tom Odom]

Jeff, as you probably know, was a Sam Nunn staffer. I'm a fan of his (and so noted in the acknowledgements of my book) but think it does get a bit too worked up when "neocon" bashing.

I have read his stuff since grad school. I would say that he tends to get too caught up in the absoluteness of whatever case he is making. In the late 70s and early 80s he was arguing that the USMC was the only quick reaction force on the US military roster. He completely ignored XVIII Abn Corps with the 82d, the 101st, and 24th Mech.

He has written some good stuff with a good friend of mine, Andy Terrill. I would say he likes to take that slightly contrary or openly contrary positions and then defend them. That is a technique and it is useful if you don't get caught up in your own arguments. In this case, he fell into that trap and that is a shame because I believe he offers some clear points that he hides in rhetoric.

Tom

[SteveMetz]

He has written some good stuff with a good friend of mine, Andy Terrill.

BTW, Andy and Doug Lovelace, our director, are heading to Baghdad over the weekend because LTG Dubik wants to help the Iraqis set up a strategic studies institute. I would have gone myself but I was committed to providing BBQ for a retirement party on the 14th. As a South Carolinian, BBQ takes priority over national security.

[Ken White]

...In this case, he fell into that trap and that is a shame because I believe he offers some clear points that he hides in rhetoric.

True. IMO He's done a better job of laying down most of the synergies than any other well known commentator / writer I've seen. Think he got his priorities wrong...

...As a South Carolinian, BBQ takes priority over national security.

Steve has his right, tho'...

[selil]

... In the late 70s and early 80s he was arguing that the USMC was the only quick reaction force on the US military roster.....

Well of course that is true. My goodness everybody knows that the only high performance capable force is the by god United States Marine Corps. Everybody else is ... well... they just aren't Marines. Not everybody can be the best...


Semper Fi drive by....