Posted on 05/24/2004 7:24:20 AM PDT by Cinnamon Girl
As the attack on the "neo-cons" gains momentum with On-the-Fritz Hollings paranoid rantings and now General Zinnis interview on 60 Minutes, I had the opportunity to talk with oft mentioned "neo-con" Dr. Daniel Pipes during his visit to LA this past week.
Even though his speaking engagement in Westwood the night before was covered by both the LAPD and private security guards, Dr. Pipes agreed to disappear into the hidden gardens of Beverly Hills with just me and some dumb questions.
It started off like a Chris Farley interview:
CG: What did your dad teach at Harvard?
Daniel Pipes: Russian History.
CG: Wow So your parents must have been crazy communists, huh?
Daniel Pipes: No.
***(Found later, from the Boston Globe: Harvard historian Richard Pipes shaped the Reagan administration's aggressive approach to the Soviet Union. His support for confrontation over containment prefigured the Bush foreign policy of today. 11/2/2003) (oops.)
It kind of continued along those lines for a little while as we drove up to Greystone Mansion and took a walk around the extraordinary estate.
CG: What was that whole Fritz Hollings thing about?
I handed him an article about the Hollings webpage rant, the thrust of which was that all the Jews that Hollings could think of, including members of the Mossad, were responsible for getting the U.S. into Iraq.
Truly, I was hoping for some strong words from Dr. Pipes like, that insane Democrat clown! but none were forthcoming. In fact, Dr. Pipes seemed consistently moderate in his tone and measured with his words. He scanned the article quickly and handed it back to me. He wasnt surprised. He said it was the trend now, this kind of talk, and it further defined the two parties.
The tendencies are cleara sorting out. The Democrat party is the skeptical-of-Israel party. Republicans are more and more the pro-Israel party, Dr. Pipes said calmly. His prediction: within the next 10 years, the two parties will be clearly defined as pro-Israel, and anti-Israel, and it will be clear to voters which is which.
It sounded as if the Democrats would become even more European in their approach.
CG: What about Pat Buchanan? Do you think hes a crazy anti-semite, like I do?
Daniel Pipes: Hes not crazy. Hes a populist. And along with many populists, hes adopted anti-semitism.
CG: When I see the word neo-cons now I think its just a euphemism for the Jews.
I was looking for validation, but Dr. Pipes didnt have the same visceral reaction to the term that I did. He explained, as we stood on the balcony of the mansion, overlooking the grassy rolling yard and the entire city of Los Angeles beyond, that the term neo-con had been around for a while and simply referred to people whod been known as liberals and changed over to conservative. He kind of acknowledged that it had taken on a different meaning lately, but I guess, as an historian, he was considering a much broader picture.
Daniel Pipes is 64 but he is not intimidating. He is quiet, but not shy. He does not use fiery language but he has a strong point of view.
As we spoke about Israel, a hummingbird came near, attending to a cluster of purple flowers. I pointed her out excitedly, especially when she sat for a moment and her wings were still. Dr. Pipes turned his attention to the miniature creation, in awe, as I was. We watched her until she disappeared.
Dr. Pipes had said something very shocking to me at his lecture in Westwood. He said that he has come to find President Bush unpredictable with regard to his position on Israel. Dr. Pipes said he just holds his breath when President Bush speaks; that he doesnt know which way he will go. One day President Bush is supporting his friend Sharon, the next day hes saying the west bank settlements are on the table.
I had thought President Bush was totally in support of Israel and just trying to be diplomatic with the Muslim countries. Dr. Pipes said he really didnt know what President Bush thought.
Why doesnt President Bush talk to Dr. Pipes, who was appointed by the President to U.S. Institute of Peace? I asked Dr. Pipes, be he just answered, he doesnt.
The question remains.
Do you read Dr. Pipes' stuff?
As long as Hillary remains a Jew, the left still have their spokesperson on the matter.
Why should he?
Pipes has suggested that the end-game for Iraq is for the US to find a strong-man, groom him and put him in charge, and then get out. I don't know quite what to think of that, but in general I find him very solid and clear-thinking, and a major asset to this country in defining the moral clarity of our fight against Islamofascism.
Big time bump!
Just to hear from an expert how he has developed his point of view on Israel. Take it or leave it, but isn't it good to be fully informed?
You must know one one thing. His father was a giant in Russian studies. An awesome guy. I've spoken to those who worked for him. Richard Pipes headed Harvard's "Russian Studies" department when the cold war was going on. Dan follows in his footsteps.
More about Richard Pipes
http://www.benadorassociates.com/pipesrichard.php
*I'm also infinitely impressed by hummingbirds. They love red, red flowers.
If you'd like to be on or off this middle east/political ping list, please FR mail me.
"As long as Hillary remains a Jew"
Hillary Rodham was raised as a Methodist, and married a Baptist. How this makes her a Jew I'm a bit unclear.
May 3, 2004 , ADL DC dinner/Reuters photo
Dr. Pipes had said something very shocking to me at his lecture in Westwood. He said that he has come to find President Bush unpredictable with regard to his position on Israel. Dr. Pipes said he just holds his breath when President Bush speaks; that he doesnt know which way he will go. One day President Bush is supporting his friend Sharon, the next day hes saying the west bank settlements are on the table. I had thought President Bush was totally in support of Israel and just trying to be diplomatic with the Muslim countries. Dr. Pipes said he really didnt know what President Bush thought.
|
BUMP!
An Arab Lee Kwan Yu? Those don't grow on trees.
Ha! You got more face time with him once you demonstrated your naivete and innocence about his father and parents. Assuming they were commies. Quite the opposite. They fled communism.
Dr. Pipes had said something very shocking to me at his lecture in Westwood. He said that he has come to find President Bush unpredictable with regard to his position on Israel.
I think he's referring to some of the public statements coming from the Bush administration (The security fence issue comes to mind)
Did you ever see his (Bush) tour in Israel prior to his announcing his bid for Presidency years ago?
I fully believe he has a heart for Israel and their best interest. Just because Pipes doesn't know what to expect from him, or that Bush doesn't do what Pipes would want or expect, doesn't make Bush wrong. Does it?
I only see one minor problem with that - a "strong-man" usually winds up becoming an iron-fisted dictator, and eventually it comes back and bites us in the booty...
Don't you remember, when Hillary was running for Senate, it was conveniently reported that she had amazingly and recently discovered that she had distant Jewish relatives.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.