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Bring It On, and On, and On
August 29, 2005
Doug Bandow challenges President Bush's claim that our military is fighting enemies in Iraq so that we won't have to fight them in the United States.
Bandow's article, originally published at Reason.com on August 22, 2005, is available in its entirety here.
Posted by coalition at 10:15 AM | Comments (0)
Who Will Say 'No More'?
August 23, 2005
Gary Hart finds courage within the growing anti-war protest movements, but far too little within the political class. He wonders, who within the Democratic Party will be willing to say "No more"?
The essay can be read in its entirety at The Washington Post online.
Gary Hart represented the State of Colorado in the United States Senate from 1975 to 1987. In 1984 and 1988, he was a candidate for his party's nomination for President. He is the author of several books, including, most recently The Fourth Power: A New Grand Strategy for the United States in the 21st Century (Oxford University Press, July, 2004).
Posted by coalition at 09:55 PM | Comments (0)
Call It a Day
Boston University's Andrew Bacevich scores again with this commentary in the Washington Post's Sunday Outlook section.
Leaving Iraq before the country achieves a stable democratic government might be painful for the president, and for the country, Bacevich explains, but staying for as long as it would take to achieve those ends will certainly be worse.
The article can be read in its entirety here.
Andrew Bacevich is a member of the Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy. A Vietnam veteran and professor of international relations at Boston University, he is the author of The New American Militarism: How Americans Are Seduced by War (Oxford).
Posted by coalition at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
CANCELLED: A Book Discussion with Leon Hadar 08.31.05
August 18, 2005
** THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED. FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE COALITION AT INFO@REALISTICFOREIGNPOLICY.ORG**
The Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy
Cordially invites you to a discussion with
Leon Hadar
Author of
Sandstorm: Policy Failure in the Middle East
With additional commentary by Michael Scheuer,
author of Imperial Hubris and Through Our Enemies’ Eyes
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
2:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Rayburn House Office Building
Room 2168 (“The Gold Room”)
Seating is limited. If you wish to attend, or for more information, please send an e-mail to: info@realisticforeignpolicy.org.
About Sandstorm: Policy Failure in the Middle East
As Leon Hadar argues in this new book, the time has come for a serious debate on the future involvement of the United States in the Middle East and this original and provocative analysis challenges the prevailing wisdom of the Washington foreign policy establishment. Hadar provides a sweeping reexamination of the conceptual bases of American policy and proposes a strategy of "constructive disengagement" from the region, a policy of benign neglect as a way of promoting the interests of the United States as well as those of the people of the Middle East. This bold and innovative critique will inject new energy into the policy debate.
What others have to say:
"Leon Hadar's Sandstorm provides a tour-de-force of America's past and current engagement in the Middle East and correctly argues that neither neoconservative idealism nor left-ish sentimentalism will fix America's hemorrhaging Middle East problem."
--Steven Clemons, Executive Vice President, New America Foundation
"Hadar makes the lucid and much needed argument that Americans have better choices in the Middle East than the commonplace Beltway establishment options of 'Empire' and 'Empire Lite.'" --Scott McConnell, Executive Editor, The American Conservative
"Leon Hadar bravely predicted many of the consequences that would flow from U.S. involvement in the first Gulf War and was almost alone is doing so. Now he has written another bold book on Middle East issues. He should be read, in part because so few others are willing to explore the issues he tackles." --Charles William Maynes, President, Eurasia Foundation
Posted by coalition at 01:56 PM | Comments (0)
A Surprisingly Sober Look at China
August 17, 2005
The Cato Institute's Ted Galen Carpenter and Justin Logan consider the ramifications of a confrontational approach toward China at the online weekly, In The National Interest. They are surprised to discover that the Pentagon is of a like mind.
The article can be read in its entirety at In the National Interest, the online weekly produced as a partnership between The National Interest and The Nixon Center.
Read: "The Pentagon's Surprisingly Sober Look at China"
http://www.inthenationalinterest.com/Articles/August%202005/August2005Carpenter.html
Posted by coalition at 02:21 PM | Comments (0)
Supporting the Troops
August 16, 2005
While every American unequivocally supports our servicemen and women, by far the most meaningful form of support is to insure that their lives are never put at risk except - and only - when the nation faces a realistic, serious and imminent threat.
This basic principle is sometimes overlooked by those who urge us to blindly "support the troops" without thniking what is involved. There was no threat from Iraq, as the Administration has long since openly admitted, but a major one is clearly developing there now, because of the invasion, contining occupation and military action.
President Bush, in his speech at Fort Bragg last month, justifiably praised the troops who have placed their lives at risk. In so doing, he appears to have forgotten that they are in Iraq precisely and only because he, as Commander in Chief, is the one who decided to place them in harm's way.
One of the great strengths of our military is that they will go where they are told, and do what they are told, to the best of their ability. Those who have already paid the ultimate price, or who have been maimed or wounded, and those for whom the horrors are yet to come, deserve the profound thanks we unreservedly offer for their sacrifice. We are all proud of them, and honor their sacrifice.
For exactly the same reasons, Mrs. Sheehan, others left to grieve for or with their loved ones, and the rest of the nation deserves a full, open accounting of the rationale behind a deeply flawed, poorly executed, and totally unnecessary conflict. They have paid a terrible price, and to suggest that they, along with the rest of us, have not earned the right to an explanation from those who decided on a path to death and suffering, is to pretend that Support the Troops has value and meaning only for the living.
Ed Peck, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq, Deputy Director of the Cabinet Task Force on Terrorism in the Reagan White House, and Fellow, Institute for Higher Defense Studies, National War College, is a member of the Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy. He served two tours on active duty with the paratroops.
An earlier draft of this essay originally appeared at The Huffington Post, and is reprinted here by permission of the author.
Posted by coalition at 02:06 PM | Comments (0)
The Strategic Class
August 12, 2005
Ari Berman of The Nation explores timidity within the Democratic Party in criticizing the Bush administration, particularly with respect to the war in Iraq.
The article, which can read in its entirety here quotes a number of individuals associated with the Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy, including Gary Hart, Stephen Walt, Steve Clemons, and Anatol Lieven.
Posted by coalition at 11:06 AM | Comments (0)