G
gilliam
Guest
To the extent that one hears the term neocon in the Bay Area, the connotation is usually sinister. But few critics actually know of whom they speak. Beyond the stereotypes, neoconservatism is simply another strain in American political history.
The original neocons were liberal intellectuals who gravitated toward the Republican Party in the late 1960s and early ‘70s out of frustration with the Democrats’ approach to defense. Distinguishing themselves from traditional conservative isolationists, they later formed the core of the Reagan Republicans. They supported the Reagan administration’s strategies toward the Soviet Union, which are now credited in large part with its demise.
In the wake of 9/11 and the war on terrorism, the muscular yet idealistic foreign policy of the neocons has once again come to the fore. Neocons believe it’s in the interest of both the United States and the international community to live in a world relatively free of tyranny and simmering discontent. In short, spreading freedom is a win-win situation. All of this makes the hostility toward them and President Bush for adopting such policies all the more puzzling – especially when it comes from those who profess an interest in promoting human rights. But as democracy takes hold in the Muslim world before our very eyes, it seems the neocons are having their revenge at last.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com …
The original neocons were liberal intellectuals who gravitated toward the Republican Party in the late 1960s and early ‘70s out of frustration with the Democrats’ approach to defense. Distinguishing themselves from traditional conservative isolationists, they later formed the core of the Reagan Republicans. They supported the Reagan administration’s strategies toward the Soviet Union, which are now credited in large part with its demise.
In the wake of 9/11 and the war on terrorism, the muscular yet idealistic foreign policy of the neocons has once again come to the fore. Neocons believe it’s in the interest of both the United States and the international community to live in a world relatively free of tyranny and simmering discontent. In short, spreading freedom is a win-win situation. All of this makes the hostility toward them and President Bush for adopting such policies all the more puzzling – especially when it comes from those who profess an interest in promoting human rights. But as democracy takes hold in the Muslim world before our very eyes, it seems the neocons are having their revenge at last.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com …
