Nationa; Journal Blog - 24 September 2010

http://security.nationaljournal.com/2010/09/a-tea-party-foreign-policy.php#1649383

Comments

[Andy]

Good analysis.

[Adam L Silverman]

Sir,

While i agree that there is a great deal of political mythology in the Tea Partiers' understanding of America and the Constitution and politics, let alone governance, I'm not so sure it's even the result of the memorization of a 9th grade civics book. There is almost a joyful obliviousness to actual historical fact, data, and knowledge. When confronted with verifiable facts they cry foul and when challenged become belligerently passive-aggressive. I understand that they're angry, but it's willfully ignorant anger - take the "keep your government away from my Medicare" that was displayed during the healthcare legislation process as an example. Another is in regards to who is trying to mobilize them, what those elite and notable interest entrepreneurs want, and why if it is ever obtained, as always, it won't be to the betterment of the average Tea Partier, let alone the rest of America.

[William R. Cumming]

While the Tea Party appears ignorant of foreign affairs does not mean they could not impact foreign relations and policy. The DEMS don't get yet that the Tea Party is lodged in the Republican party but if they succeed in motivating turnout could be the DEMS that pay. DEMS foreign policy is no great shakes either with failures on the fronts of proliferation, immigration, economics, and soft power. Haiti and Pakistan are wideopen sores in US foreign policy even without military deployments. And guessing that by 2012 the good feelings from the NOBEL and speeches will have worn out from failures of substance.

[Norbert N, Salamon]

As the Colonel has remarked, there is no sophistication in the Tea Party.

The question arises: is there now, or was there in the last 10 years any sophistication in USA foreign policy? As an outside observer I can not see any major difference in ACTIONS between Presidents Bush's and Obama's Administration except for the tone of the speeches. Change in speechifying is not a a change in substance! Considering the price the USA paid for foreign policy [or rather the errors of foreign policy] one can aver that there was no sophistication in foreign policy of the USA for at least 10 years.

It is possible that there be more unilateralism proposed in Cngress if the Tea Party and the Republicans do get majority, it is also possible that the ECONOMIC CIRCUMSTANCES of the present and near future foreclose any more international foolishness, for all such idiocity is VERY EXPENSIVE in budgetary terms and in USA BLOOD.

[walrus]

There is, in my opinion, a common underlying meme that is being pushed very hard by the rich elite since it of course suits their interests. The Tea party has swallowed it hook line and sinker.

That meme is about America defining itself as self reliant, independent, self made folk who are beholden to nobody. By implication, this segues into contempt for the poor, big Government, and of course, taxation.

A good example of this twaddle, by none other than Victor Davis Hanson, can be read at the link below:

"...Western civilization began with a very different ancient Greek idea of an autonomous citizen, not an indentured serf or subsistence peasant. The small, independent landowner -- if left to his own talents and if his success was protected by, and from, government -- would create new sources of wealth for everyone. The resulting greater bounty for the poor soon trumped their old jealousy of the better off.....

..........What optimistic Americans used to call a rising tide that lifts all boats is now once again derided as trickle-down economics. In other words, a newly peasant-minded America is willing to become collectively poorer so that some will not become wealthier.

"

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/09/23/a_nation_of_peasants_107275.html

[Jake]

” Defense spending is not what has troubled the U.S. economy. They know that in reality, defense spending is near historic lows".

Historic lows?

I just have to ask what planet Carafano thinks he is on? Does anyone know where I can buy a Carafano bobble top?

I just need to have one....just one....

[Patrick Lang]

Jake

Carafano is also a West Point graduate. He was a cadet when I was a professor there. He sometimes mocks the old man about that. pl

[Jake]

Colonel Lang...

So Carafano is a recipient of a public education eh? Patton must be rolling over in his Luxembourg grave...

So he mocks someone senior to him and far more experienced? Well just goes to prove that being a pointer does not make a man of everyone...

I still want that Carafano bobble top!

[Jackie]

Col.,
Did Carafano learn anything from you while he was at West Point? He apparently didn't get any manners, if he "sometimes mocks the old man about that". Is he a punk?

And if you tell Jake where he can get a Carafano bobbly top would you please tell me too. I'd like one.

[The Twisted Genius]

PL, as usual you presented a clear, consise and reasoned argument. IMHO it's the most accurate description of the Tea Party I've seen to date. These people remind me of a scene in a TV movie I saw when I was eleven years old entitled "Carol for Another Christmas." In a scene based on what the ghost of Christmas future showed Scrooge, Peter Sellers plays the Imperial Me leading an angry rabble in a world devastated by global war. The mob's attitude was summed up in the phrase "I want mine." If the show was ever remade today, I think the Imperial Me would be shouting "I want my country back!"

http://www.vtap.com/wikitap/Carol_for_Another_Christmas/WIKI1466190

[Patrick Lang]

Jackie

He was not my student. pl

[optimax]

"Their thinking reflects the Platonic ideals of American nationalism, the images on the wall of the cave." Perceptive point, Col. There's a FOX logo on the cave wall.

[Fred]

"... devoid of sympathy for those whom I will insist are God's Poor."

What they and thier political backers intend is not right, nor is it Christian; though they will call themselves that.

I am reminded of the documentary Edward R Murrow made in the 1960 titled "Harvest of Shame". These folks are doing something similar. Harvesting wealth while impoverishing a generation; and a nation.

Even before then Murrow pointed out the failure of the MSM:
"During the daily peak viewing periods, television in the main insulates us from the realities of the world in which we live. If this state of affairs continues, we may alter an advertising slogan to read: Look now, pay later." From his speech in 1958.
http://www.rtnda.org/pages/media_items/edward-r.-murrow-speech998.php

[Norbert N, Salamon]

I do believe that the greatest danger in Tea Party and Republican takeover of Congress [and possibly the Presidency in 2012] is the ignorance [wilful, at times] of basic scince, with respect to global warming and with respect to peak oil [which refers to the point where oil and related hydrocarbon production peaks, and thereafter there is a substantial decrease e.g 4% or more per annum].

Both these two issues have great significance on foreign affairs [and possible resource wars started by the USA - the final step before complete economic collapse].

[Cieran]

Carafano's comments indicate either a profound mathematical illiteracy, or a series of assertions designed to be taken out of context (at which point many of them become untrue, but still useful for their propaganda value).

First he says that defense spending is near historic lows. But it's not. Then later on he hides his tracks with some weasely qualifiers ("as a percentage of GDP"), but when anyone starts throwing percentages around, it's time to hide your wallet, as now there's two numbers in play, a numerator and a denominator. It can often be difficult to make one number lie, but it's trivially simple with two.

Then he says that defense spending is less than one-fifth of the federal budget, but only because he lumps entitlements (which we increasingly fund via payroll taxes on the working class) and discretionary spending (which we increasingly don't).

The simple truth is that defense spending is near all-time highs, as measured in dollars. Carafano may think that "dollars divided by GDP back a few decades ago, before we used the GDP as an economic indicator" is a more useful metric for economic value, but try selling that measure of worth the next time you buy gas or groceries and see what happens. The cashier won't be stupid enough to buy that idea, and neither should we.

And defense spending is more than half of federal discretionary spending, i.e., what Congress votes on in the budget, and hence can actually cut if it summoned up sufficient spine to do so. Unless somebody thinks it's time to stop paying interest on the national debt, or that we should just pull the plug on Grandma's social security benefits, it's the discretionary spending that is available for cutting, not the full measure of federal spending. Carafano is spouting numerology here, not math.

Now maybe he just didn't learn any math at West Point, or maybe he did. But since every single mathematical miscue he makes serves to make defense spending look smaller that it is, the laws of statistics tell us that it's more likely he's choosing mendacity over honest arithmetic, and we should treat his assertions appropriately.

[Norbert N, Salamon]

In relation to my last post it is interesting to read:

http://www.dni.gov/nic/PDF_2025/2025_Global_Scenarios_to_2025.pdf

Global Scenarios to 2025 by the Global Scenarios to 2025 [64 pages]

by the National Intelligence Council [USA]

The note is quite realistic in its 3 sections, but for neglecting to inpt the near bankrupt status of most OECD countries.

[graywolf]

Throughout American history there has been pendulum swinging.
When the political center tips too far to one side, a counter-force appears.
The Tea Party is today's reaction to the over left, big government (and seemingly out of control) tilt.
Will America turn into Tea Party nation?
No.
But the Tea Party is a necessary counter balance.
As for foreign policy, there is not much to admire in it's recent practice by the inside-the-beltway crowd.

[walrus]

With respect to peak oil, they calculate there will be enough left for the business jets, yachts, police cars and the Military.