OxBlog

# Posted 7:44 PM by Ariel David Adesnik

FROM THE ARSENAL: Democracy Arsenal is one of the best foreign policy blogs on the web. If you're liberal, this is where you'll find your best arguments. If you're conservative, this is where you go to find your best opposition, most often unencumbered by partisan blather.

Of course, any liberal site so willing to buck the conventional wisdom is occasionally going to say things that antagonize its friends and vindicate its critics. For example, Suzanne Nossel recently pointed out one of the most implausible but least noticed things that Jack Murtha has been saying: Leave Iraq now, but "go back in, in case there's more terrorist activity." Hmmm...

Of course, the price conservatives have to pay for such pleasant heresies is the obligation to take Suzanne and her colleagues more seriously when they say things conservatives don't want to hear. For example, Suzanne has been watching carefully for any signs that the Bush administration wants to follow the Nixon/Kissinger precedent in South Vietnam by building up our proteges in Iraq just enough to ensure that they don't crumble too soon after we withdraw.

Am I persuaded? No, I am not. But it is an important argument to have with a talented counterpart. Nixon and Kissinger were self-avowed realists who rejected the importance of moral considerations to the making of foreign policy. Bush is a relentless idealist, regardless of what you think of his ideals. Naturally, liberals suspect that all of his idealistic rhetoric is nothing more than a front for a self-interested agenda. And before accepting that Bush is sincere, one must hear that argument out.

Of course, DA is still a blog and not a chemistry textbook, so sometimes it can be quite snarky and that snark is quite partisan. (Who knows, maybe chemistry textbooks are snarky too. I haven't read one since high school.)

The bottom line here is that I don't think you'll find a liberal foreign policy blog with a lower ratio of rhetoric to substance. If you do, tell me about it.

(4) opinions -- Add your opinion

Comments:

David,
I think Nixon did have his idealistic moments. It has been revealed recently that he was instrumental in keeping Israel from losing to the Arabs in 1973. On the other hand, there is no evidence Kissinger ever had an idealistic bone in his body.
I'll have to check that blog out, though.. it sounds interesting.

# posted by

Anonymous : 10:17 PM

Anon,
I always thought that Nixon saved Israel in 1973 because Meir let it known that she would be using the "Samson Option" of mass nuclear attacks.

# posted by

Jacob : 5:06 PM

It is nice to see real debate about our foreign policy objectives. The ad hominem attacks today are deafening. I'm blogging myself and working overtime not to insult people, even those with indefensible positions.

You will find on my blog a defense of the war effort so far, despite many problems.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:24 PM

The "Mission Accomplished" moment, according to Gen. Franks' book, was done at his (Franks) request. He said certain commercial interests were waiting for something of the kind before investing in Iraq--so he arranged it for them with the president and then they reneged!

The people who want a force ready to "come back in" are not thinking of a door-to-door cleanup in my estimation, so much as a base from which to turn the whole place into an oil slick, if necessary, and to threaten that result, if necessary.

# posted by

Anonymous : 12:15 AM