July 22, 2008
power on power
Since the Vietnam War the Republican Party has developed a reputation for having a superior approach to national security. Americans have long trusted the views of Democrats on the environment, the economy, education, and health care, but national security is the one matter about which Republicans have maintained what political scientists call "issue ownership."Partly, this is for particular historical reasons. President Eisenhower initiated US involvement in Vietnam, and President Nixon escalated the war in 1969 and kept US troops on the ground in a manifestly unwinnable mission until 1975. But John Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson were tagged as the primary culprits. President Carter was widely seen as having bungled the Iran hostage rescue mission and having responded ineffectually to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Although he substantially increased US military spending, he was never forgiven for his claim that Americans had "an inordinate fear of communism."
more from the NYRB here.
Posted by Morgan Meis at 09:58 AM | Permalink
Comments
An excellent writeup of the opportunities in front of the Democrats, particularly Obama. Much of what Power says in the article has been clearly reflected this past week as Obama tours the Middle East, in his statements on diplomacy, his attempts to explain middle-ways, and proposals on Iraqi assistance.
Yet the Democrats clearly have not yet heard Power clearly. They insist on working toward mid-90s Iraq style sanctions regime against Iran, passing what amounts to an expansion of international wiretapping, and continue to support the rubric of the War on Terror when judging foreign policy (at least in public). Clearly, much work remains to be done if we are to truly move past the Bush years and toward a saner policy, as partially imagined by Power.
Posted by: Cyrus Hall | Jul 23, 2008 4:08:59 PM
Post a comment