Jon Rauch makes the case for a revival. I'm with him.-AS
IF IT GETS THE GOP PAST THE 'REAGAN DEVOLUTION', COUNT ME IN TOO
In this piece, Jon Rauch explains (by extension) why Daniel Perle would never have been anything but a foil in an Eisenhower administration.
Accordingly, I can only hope that Ike's revival among Conservatives kills the penchant for "pure strategies" favored by so many intoxicated by Reagan to think the U.S. was "back" to #1 and, "invincible" enough to credibly deliver the Woolsey two-word message, "You're Next!".
Rauch infers that, in today's circumstances, "[Ike] would have toned down wartime rhetoric". Yet, is this what Reagan would have done? Afterall, it is Reagan's cue-cards that the GOP wannabees have been reading ever since. "Talk Tough" is what we need (from Newt, 'We must continue tell "the truth" about our enemies'.) How much has "talking" spilled over into "doing", in unwanted ways?
USING REALISM TO FIGHT AN IDEOLOGICAL CONFLICT
If an Eisenhower revival helps forstall a GOP-style "values campaign" against Islam or Islamists, then I'm all for it too. To be sure, there is a values struggle, but trying to pull everyone into the Conservative base's realm of name-blame-shame is highly counterproductive!
CLEAN UP
I always read Jon's stuff (he's a lot smarter than I am). There are just a few items to round out.
I disagree strongly Rauch's take on Giuliani.
While the analogy of Cold War containment to Iran is instructive, history itself is a little more complex. The strategy of containment emerged during the Truman Administration, not with Eisenhower. Also, Ike is problematic in the context of Iran, because it was his Administration, in conjunction with the Brits, that kicked out Mossedeq. Was that "realism"?
I like "realism", but I think it is best taken as a temper to idealism. In other words, one ought to have an idea of where they are headed, before you do the "rational calculus", so to speak.
Otherwise, you end up like the French, hugging and kissing just about whomever.
Also, such an orientation keeps you from failing on important actions, like genocide interventions.
Part One of I Like Ike
