If only we had a President who was open-minded and willing to consider what many of "The Realists" had to say...
ksg.harvard.edu
<<...war with Iraq is not in the American national interest.
Although the United States would almost certainly win such a war, armed conflict with Iraq would divert resources and attention from the more important task of eliminating the terrorist threat. There is no serious evidence of cooperation between Iraq and Al Qaeda today, but war with Iraq would fuel anti-American sentiments in the Arab and Muslim world, making it easier for bin Laden and his ilk to recruit new martyrs to their cause. War with Iraq could also destabilize the region, and ousting Saddam would force the United States to occupy and police Iraq for many years. Moreover, Iraq does have military options that could impose serious costs. If one is really worried about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, why place Saddam in a situation where he has nothing to lose?
In short, an invasion of Iraq is the wrong war in the wrong place at the wrong time. It doesn't take a realist to figure this out, however -- it only takes someone who is sensible, reasonably objective, and focused on the American national interest...>>
The Perils of Empire: A Statement of Principles by the Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy
realisticforeignpolicy.org
<<...The defenders of empire assert that the horrific acts of terrorism on September 11, 2001, demand that we assume new financial burdens to fund an expansive national security strategy, relax our commitment to individual liberty at home, and discard our respect for state sovereignty abroad. Nothing could be further from the truth. Following 9/11, we should have refocused our attention on the very real threats facing us in the 21st century. As a nation, we must not allow the events of 9/11 to be used as a pretext for reshaping American foreign policy in a manner inconsistent with our traditions and values and contrary to our true interests.
We the undersigned announce the launching of a campaign to promote a realistic foreign policy for America. In the weeks and months ahead, our coalition will be hosting policy forums and conferences, publishing papers and articles, and appearing on television and radio to articulate the case against empire.
John Quincy Adams once declared that America "goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own." Those wise words still ring true. A restrained and focused foreign policy will best protect the liberty and safety of the American people in the 21st century. Conversely, an imperial policy will jeopardize all that we hold dear...>>
Signatories:
realisticforeignpolicy.org
The following individuals have signed the Statement of Principles.*
Robert J. Art, Brandeis University
Andrew Bacevich, Boston University
Doug Bandow, Former Special Assistant to President Ronald Reagan
Nicholas Berry, Foreign Policy Forum
Richard K. Betts, Columbia University
Seyom Brown, Brandeis University
Ted Galen Carpenter, Cato Institute
Steven Clemons, New America Foundation
Michael Desch, University of Kentucky
Ivan Eland, Independent Institute
Paul Gessing, The Free Liberal
Eugene Gholz, University of Kentucky
Philip Gold, Aretèa
Mike Gravel, Former U.S. Senator from Alaska
Leon Hadar, Cato Institute
Gary Hart, Former U.S. Senator from Colorado
David Hendrickson, Colorado College
Robert Higgs, Independent Institute
Theresa Hitchens, Center for Defense Information
John Hulsman, Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Robert Jervis, Columbia University
Chalmers Johnson, Japan Policy Research Institute
Peter F. Krogh, The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University
James Kurth, Swarthmore College
Christopher Layne, Member, Council on Foreign Relations
Anatol Lieven, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Scott McConnell, The American Conservative
John J. Mearsheimer, University of Chicago
E. Wayne Merry, Former State Department and Pentagon official
Daniel Nelson, University of New Haven
Robert Paarlberg, Wellesley College
Charles Peña, Cato Institute
John L. Peterson, The Arlington Insititute
Barry R. Posen, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christopher Preble, Cato Institute
Daryl Press, Dartmouth College
Sherle Schwenninger, World Policy Journal
Kenneth Sharpe, Swarthmore College
Jack L. Snyder, Columbia University
Erin Solaro, Aretèa
Alan Tonelson, U.S. Business & Industrial Council Educational Foundation
Robert W. Tucker, Johns Hopkins University
Marian Tupy, Cato Institute
Jon Utley, Americans Against World Empire
Stephen Van Evera, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Jason Vest, The American Prospect
Stephen Walt, Harvard University
Kenneth N. Waltz, Columbia University
Cindy Williams, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
John Willson, Hillsdale College |
