A foreign policy based on authentically conservative principles begins by accepting the fact that the world is not infinitely malleable. It recognizes that our own resources, although great, are limited. And it never loses sight of the fact that the freedom that U.S. officials are sworn to protect is our own. Defending that freedom in these difficult times demands courage and resolve. But it also demands modesty and self-restraint � qualities seldom in evidence in Washington since the end of the Cold War. Now is the time, and Iraq is the place, for this administration to begin exhibiting those virtues.
my hero, John Derbyshire, writing in National Review. I disagree with him that we need this war (on the basis of the WMD threat). But the war is on. Now I want to win, and i want us to NOT screw it up (ahem). I find Derbyshire to be a sane voice to disagree with, unlike cheerleading apologists.
The rest of his piece is likewise thoughtful and rational (and, of course, plenty to disagree with). It is a listing of ten points on the war. Here are the ten points, you'll have to actually read the piece to see what he has to say about them:
- Operation Iraqi Freedom (the name).
- Is the force big enough?
- The Crusader factor.
- Were we misled?
- Are we being too nice?
- The big mo.
- Baghdad.
- Perfidious Turkey.
- The "false dawn" factor.
- The X factor.
This is a rich vein to mine indeed, for debate and discussion.
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