Comments on: Realism http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/ Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes - Marcus Valerius Martialis Tue, 02 Aug 2011 22:27:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Former Republican http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/comment-page-1/#comment-49434 Former Republican Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:38:35 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/#comment-49434 Wnat is realism? A realist knows that the future is unpredictable. A realist also knows that a judgment as to another nation's intentions is highly unreliable. That's why it makes sense to explore the possibility that some of our interests align with those of Iran and Syria, sufficiently so that a useful agreement may be possible. Remember how certain Krauthammer was about WMDs in Iraq? Remember how he said if they weren't found, he would have a "credibility problem"? Well, he's awfully certain about Iran's and Syria's intentions. Does he never learn? I'm not saying he's wrong. Maybe this time he's right. The point is, we don't know and it's foolish (or worse) to pretend we do. I'll give just one example. Think back to the aftermath of the Yom Kippur war. If asked, lots of people would have said it was pointless for Israel to negotiate with Egypt: Egypt had just tried to destroy Israel. Yet Jimmy Carter was able to broker a peace that has lasted 27 years now and counting. You can't know in advance whether negotiation will be fruitful. Wnat is realism? A realist knows that the future is unpredictable. A realist also knows that a judgment as to another nation’s intentions is highly unreliable. That’s why it makes sense to explore the possibility that some of our interests align with those of Iran and Syria, sufficiently so that a useful agreement may be possible.

Remember how certain Krauthammer was about WMDs in Iraq? Remember how he said if they weren’t found, he would have a “credibility problem”? Well, he’s awfully certain about Iran’s and Syria’s intentions. Does he never learn? I’m not saying he’s wrong. Maybe this time he’s right. The point is, we don’t know and it’s foolish (or worse) to pretend we do.

I’ll give just one example. Think back to the aftermath of the Yom Kippur war. If asked, lots of people would have said it was pointless for Israel to negotiate with Egypt: Egypt had just tried to destroy Israel. Yet Jimmy Carter was able to broker a peace that has lasted 27 years now and counting. You can’t know in advance whether negotiation will be fruitful.

]]> By: Wake up America http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/comment-page-1/#comment-49318 Wake up America Fri, 01 Dec 2006 16:36:52 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/#comment-49318 <strong>Rapid Withdrawal Out of the Question...</strong> For the Middle East, the gas prices we will feel will be nothing compared to the chaos that any of the Saudi's options, if implemented, would cause the Middle East. We will be talking a fullout regional war that will once again bring the US and our m.... Rapid Withdrawal Out of the Question…

For the Middle East, the gas prices we will feel will be nothing compared to the chaos that any of the Saudi’s options, if implemented, would cause the Middle East. We will be talking a fullout regional war that will once again bring the US and our m….

]]> By: Hyscience http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/comment-page-1/#comment-49289 Hyscience Fri, 01 Dec 2006 15:36:03 +0000 http://bluecrabboulevard.com/2006/12/01/realism/#comment-49289 <strong>Let's Get Real - Iran and Syria Won't Be Riding To Our Rescue!...</strong> ... a real realist would realize that Syria and Iran are only likely to accommodate the U.S. when they're afraid of us.... Let’s Get Real – Iran and Syria Won’t Be Riding To Our Rescue!…

… a real realist would realize that Syria and Iran are only likely to accommodate the U.S. when they’re afraid of us….

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