The polls showing little public support for our current nation building exercise is a reality that you should not ignore.
As far as this war and political reality go, William F. Buckley once remarked that the defining element of conservatism is realism--realism about the limits of state power, the nature of human beings and societies, the complexity of international life. Yet many conservatives who believe that the state can do nothing right at home think that it can do nothing wrong abroad. (If things go badly, why, more money, bigger bombs and ground troops will straighten it out.) Many who are scornful of social engineering at home seem sure it will work beyond our borders. They seem convinced that good intentions and a burst of state power can transform the world. How conservative is that?
In a close study of the underpinnings of Sam Huntington’s “Clash” — and associated readings of Bernard Lewis, Paul Johnson and others, I have come to the following conclusions:
1. The United States is in its waning phase of power. I suspect we peaked just about the time I was trying to teach my girls to use a hula hoop — and was chalking up my first few hundred carrier landings...about 1960.
2. Mankind is tribal. No global institution nor organization will be able to sustain its governance over man’s cultural and religions beliefs over the long term.
3. At this juncture, The West is entering a sustained global conflict with Islam. Western Democracy is threatened as it never was by National Socialism nor Communism, due to the magnitude of the player populations; the communications/transportation revolutions; and the multi-faceted aspect of the threat.
It is my position that we address this threat head-on — or by acceleration of our civilizational sine curve — facilitate our own ultimate demise.
Our choice, is it not?