Middle East: Know The Limits Of U.S. Power

Newsweek ^ | November 29, 2008 | By John J. Mearsheimer

[Strategy]

The United States is in deep trouble in the Middle East. Despite Barack Obama's promises to withdraw from Iraq, the debacle there shows no sign of ending soon. Hamas rules in Gaza; Iran is quickly moving to acquire a nuclear deterrent. We need a radically different strategy for the region.

Fortunately, there is a strategy that has proved effective in the past and could serve again today: "offshore balancing." It's less ambitious than President Bush's grand plan to spread democracy throughout the Middle East, but is would be much better at protecting actual U.S. interests. The United States would station its military forces outside the region.

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

This arm-chair idiot has been playing too way much Stratego.

[EternalVigilance]

Iran is quickly moving to acquire a nuclear deterrent

This, of course, implies that Iran's nuclear ambitions are exclusively defensive.

To believe that, you have to ignore the public statements of Iran's leaders.

Of course, the most prominent historical poster boy for that sort of thinking is a gentleman named Neville Chamberlain.

Millions died because of this foolish mindset.

[Past Your Eyes]

Saps like this Mearsheimer lose any credibility they might have had by using the word “debacle” in the second sentence.

[Bahbah]

Iran is quickly moving to acquire a nuclear deterrent.

This is just one of the glaring idiotic remarks in this piece. Deterrent my foot.

[Son House]

Know The Limits Of U.S. Power

Know The Limits Of U.S. Energy Independence

[SkyDancer]

As soon as “The O” is president the world will know exactly where we are ....

[johnny7]

The muzzies don’t care what we do... they’re at war with the west and recruit from every Islamic breeding hole on the planet. Unless Islam is exposed as the core problem... and addressed as such... we will continue to fight blindfolded.

[freebilly]

we'd rely on regional powers like Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia to check each other

Hmmmm..., Muslims checking Muslims. Sounds like a great idea....

[saganite]

The United States would station its military forces outside the region.

Maybe the writer could get in touch with Murtha. He’s an expert on over the horizon basing. Like putting the troops in Japan!

[Dawnsblood]

I am surprised he didn't argue that it was all Israel's fault. That has been his claim up until now. More drivel from an "Palestinian" apologist.

[dervish]

Realism, once despised by the left (remember how they hated Kissinger?), is now the left’s favorite strategy.

[Past Your Eyes]

He wouldn’t be one of those “self loathing Jews” I keep hearing about, would he?

[LA Conservative]

I wouldn't click on the link because I would not give Newsweak the hit, however, this guy sounds like the typically arrogant and elitist isolationist that worked so well in the 1930’s when a secular type of fascism was allowed to grow without restraint.

It seems the longer you are at Harvard, the more ignorant you become.

[stockpirate]

Should have had a “barf alert” with the title.

[Dallas59]

Newsweek needs to “station” itself outside the United States...

[goldstategop]

Right. Rely on hostile regimes in the Middle East to protect our interests. The strategy John Mearsheimer advocates brought us Saddam Hussein. Those who ignore the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. Its significant to note in passing, that the Left has renounced the Wilsonian aim of spreading democracy and fostering a liberal international order. That's quite a turnaround.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[kjo]

Haven’t read NEWSWEAK in many years...the only place I see it anymore is in my Dentist’s waiting room. No one reads it.

[goldstategop]

Brent Scowcroft, the Bush pere realist national security adviser, is now an adviser to the Obama foreign policy team. Ca plus change, ca plus meme.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[KJC1]

Sounds like moving the goalposts. Like, “Never mind the successes and progress in Iraq, look at all the other problems in the Middle East.”