Neoconservatism has evolved into something I no longer support-(by NeoCon)

[kpete]

After Neoconservatism

By FRANCIS FUKUYAMA
Published: February 19, 2006

As we approach the third anniversary of the onset of the Iraq war, it seems very unlikely that history will judge either the intervention itself or the ideas animating it kindly. By invading Iraq, the Bush administration created a self-fulfilling prophecy: Iraq has now replaced Afghanistan as a magnet, a training ground and an operational base for jihadist terrorists, with plenty of American targets to shoot at. The United States still has a chance of creating a Shiite-dominated democratic Iraq, but the new government will be very weak for years to come; the resulting power vacuum will invite outside influence from all of Iraq's neighbors, including Iran. There are clear benefits to the Iraqi people from the removal of Saddam Hussein's dictatorship, and perhaps some positive spillover effects in Lebanon and Syria. But it is very hard to see how these developments in themselves justify the blood and treasure that the United States has spent on the project to this point.

The so-called Bush Doctrine that set the framework for the administration's first term is now in shambles. The doctrine (elaborated, among other places, in the 2002 National Security Strategy of the United States) argued that, in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, America would have to launch periodic preventive wars to defend itself against rogue states and terrorists with weapons of mass destruction; that it would do this alone, if necessary; and that it would work to democratize the greater Middle East as a long-term solution to the terrorist problem. But successful pre-emption depends on the ability to predict the future accurately and on good intelligence, which was not forthcoming, while America's perceived unilateralism has isolated it as never before. It is not surprising that in its second term, the administration has been distancing itself from these policies and is in the process of rewriting the National Security Strategy document.

............

Neoconservatism, as both a political symbol and a body of thought, has evolved into something I can no longer support.

tons more at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magazine/neo.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[liberal N proud]

1. Funny thing about turning monsters loose, they don't care who they consume

And if you let them loose, you may just regret what you have done, when they turn on you.

[wtmusic]

2. Ha! A fair-weather neocon who believes in SUCCESSFUL PREEMPTION

No, no, no, Francis. Neoconservatism is in the smug little place it has always been, and should be called "neo-imperialism". We're not going to let you off the hook that easy. The doctrine of "pre-emptive self-defense" would welcome a "pre-emptive" strike by North Korea, and we don't want that, now do we?

Repeat after me, and write it 500x on your Neocon Chalkboard:

Pre-emptive Self-Defense is a Myth, and is Prohibited by the UN Charter
Pre-emptive Self-Defense is a Myth, and is Prohibited by the UN Charter
Pre-emptive Self-Defense is a Myth, and is Prohibited by the UN Charter
Pre-emptive Self-Defense is a Myth, and is Prohibited by the UN Charter
...

(how these dense idiots get cushy jobs at Johns Hopkins, I'll never know)

[blackhorse]

5. Isn't this the idiot ...

who also proclaimed that history had reached its end?

Sorry, Francis, but history (of people, at least) won't end until Gaia smites the very last band of selfish hairless chimps. Until then, the show goes on, whether NeoCons like it or not.

******************************************************************

Yea, I sang as now I sing, when the Prehistoric spring
Made the piled Biscayan ice-pack split and shove;
And the troll and gnome and dwerg, and the Gods of Cliff and Berg
Were about me and beneath me and above.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. Ya, history is over! WE WON!!! Yahooo!

[Lexingtonian]

3. Yeah, I read that last night

It's an expose and admission that 'neoconservatism' is simply unbelievable stupidity.

[Crunchy Frog]

4. So, the guy who wrote "The End of History"

has been bitten in the ass by the very thing he thought was over.:rofl:

[teknomanzer]

7. I always thought the "End of History" was an absurdity...

The as long as the gap between the haves and the have nots continues to grow struggle and conflict will continue.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. Well, he didn't say that there would be no more conflict, merely that the

idea of democracy, free market capitalism etc. had received so much universal acceptance by the world that the major currents like Communism vs. Capitalism etc. were done. Something to that effect.

[Marr]

6. Thank you, Francis. Now kindly shut the fuck up and let's hear from

the people who could tell that fire was hot *before* they stuck their head in the flames.

There are going to be alot of "former neocons" as things continue to degrade. There are going to be even more "old school Republicans". Fuck them- they need to be marginalized and mocked.

[stepnw1f]

8. They Need to be Banned

As nothing more than a cult, just like nazis.

[DoYouEverWonder]

9. They need to be put on trial

and convicted for their crimes against humanity. Sorry it didn't work out Mr. FuckYouMaMa.

[stepnw1f]

16. wha?

"Sorry it didn't work out Mr. FuckYouMaMa."

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. The guys name is Francis Fukuyama

but when ever I see it in print, it looks like Fuck-u-mama to me.

(I hope you don't think I was yelling at you?)

[stepnw1f]

18. I Didn't Know What to Make of It

Jesus... It went right over my head... now I'm laughing.

[DoYouEverWonder]

22. I mean

how would you pronounce that guys name? No matter how you say it, it sounds like fuck u something. It's definitely one of my favorite neocon names. It's just so appropriate.

[malaise]

23. The first one to jump ship

was Jeffrey Sachs. He jumped after he saw how his structural adjustment policies destroyed Eastern Europe. He now argues against the policies of the IMF et al.

[Spinoza]

20. But

Nazis, even Nazi marches in Jewish neighborhoods (Skokie) are NOT banned in the U.S. Banning any group because of its IDEAS, however repugnant, is McCarthyite.

[applegrove]

10. The Neocons came up with a theory - would not talk about it in

academic circles - then unloaded it on the world.

GUESS WHAT? It doesn't work. It was a Utopian way of looking at the world (utopian because they saw themselves as capable gods and others as followers - and it would make for a pretty place after a few guns sounded).

[Buns_of_Fire]

11. Turn in your White House pass, Francis

...the overarching lesson that emerges ... is that the United States does not get to decide when and where democracy comes about. By definition, outsiders can't "impose" democracy on a country that doesn't want it; demand for democracy and reform must be domestic. ...

Emperor Chucklenuts the Unitary (peace be unto him) is not pleased with your blasphemy, Francis. Not pleased at all.

[hatrack]

12. Well, Professor Dumbass at least admitted he was wrong

Beyond that, I can't think of much of anything to say which would reflect well on this assclown.

[Emit]

15. Thanks for the article kpete. Not giving Fukuyama a free ride here, but

Fukuyama has been a vocal opponent of the Bush & Co. neocon's for some time. He didn't support the Iraq invasion, he didn't support Bush in the 2004 elections and had even called for Rumsfeld's resignation:

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:E_2PONKA2fkJ:www.zaman.com/%3Fbl%3Dinternational%26alt%3D%26trh%3D20040714%26hn%3D10372+Francis+Fukuyama+Iraq+invasion&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=3

And, he's been critical of neocons such as Krauthammer for some time. Steve Clemons at The Washington Note had an interesting blog entry about some of this last year, where he talks about the "beginnings of a civil war among neoconservatives":

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:MKxhqr4poS4J:www.thewashingtonnote.com/archives/000020.html+FRANCIS+FUKUYAMA+Industrial+military+complex&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=7


I might be way off here, not having done as much reading as others regarding all of the neocons and their connections, but one should take into consideration to what extent some of these neocons (the ones whose philosophies Fukuyama takes exception to) are enmeshed with the Military Industrial Complex. (For example, Cheney is not a neocon, he's MIC; the neocon ideology has been very useful to the MIC. And Wolfowitz, from what I've read, started examining US military strategy in the ME long ago, solely from the standpoint of protecting oil interests initially, not from the neocon ideology of 'spreading democracy'. )

So, in essence, are the neocons that are steadfast in support of Bush married to the MIC or is their philosophy one they can say really is a 'noble cause'? (I think not the latter)

Haven't read enough about or of Fukuyama to get where he's coming from. Doesn't appear though that he's only making excuses here. Seems he really does have a differing opinion, and has may be trying to break away from these Neocon/MIC folks for pure philosophical reasons. Maybe, maybe not? I did find it interesting that Fukuyama is on the board of directors of National Endowment for Democracy, one of the groups that he suggests in the NYT oped/article you posted be supported (Wes Clark is also on the board -- actually, it's an interesting mix of names):


From your link:

If we are serious about the good governance agenda, we have to shift our focus to the reform, reorganization and proper financing of those institutions of the United States government that actually promote democracy, development and the rule of law around the world, organizations like the State Department, U.S.A.I.D., the National Endowment for Democracy and the like.

[Montagnard]

19. If FUKUYAMA be against them

Then who can stand with them! LMAO

[malaise]

21. So he no longer chatting rubbish about

The End of History. Ah well, I laughed his book to scorn so I'm still decades ahead of him. I thought out the implications of this neo-liberal crap since 1980 when it was imposed on us by that Reagan financed government. History is on my side.