I would guess that your premise is that in order for freedom to spread to all these countries, they would have to be militarily conquered and then administered, in some Neo-Empire "white man's burden" type of scenario? Is there any room in your world for the idea that when a corrupt and terrorist regime falls, that it changes the equation in ways that are not possibly straight line? That repressive regimes face internal pressures that can be tweaked and enhanced by our support but not neccessarily by military intervention has not occured to you? In addition, you seem to see US support of regimes that are non democratic but non-the-less manipulable renders all discussion of this subject academic and hypocritical. I am profoundly amazed and in awe of the demonstrations in Iran. That is courage. But it reminds me of the "Persians" I knew in University. Never underestimate the human desire for freedom.
regards
I would guess that your premise is that in order for freedom to spread to all these countries, they would have to be militarily conquered and then administered, in some Neo-Empire "white man's burden" type of scenario? Is there any room in your world for the idea that when a corrupt and terrorist regime falls, that it changes the equation in ways that are not possibly straight line? That repressive regimes face internal pressures that can be tweaked and enhanced by our support but not neccessarily by military intervention has not occured to you? Yes. there is quite a bit of room in "my world" for that type of action. However- what is being discussed and proffered in this article is so much more than that. We are debating whether or not to wage war and invade a country- not "tweak" it through other more discreet means.
Ledeen: But the prudent strategy is actually more dangerous and thoroughly unrealistic. Moving step by step gives the surviving terror masters time to mount a counterattack--time they would use to develop the weapons of mass destruction that rightly concern us, and give urgency to our cause.
Sound like a lot more than "tweaking" to me.