You have heard me say it many times, the progressive left may be well-meaning, even sincere, it’s message sounds compassionate, it’s goals worthy … it is also naive in that such goals and more important the preferred method of achievement ignore world realities, unintended consequences, history and human nature.
Who doesn’t want world peace? Who wouldn’t prefer talking to shooting? Who doesn’t wish we didn’t have to spend a penny on armed forces. After all, the logic of countries taking valuable resources that could advance humankind and instead using those resources to sustain armies is non existent. It is not logical. If no country had an military, we could have peace; that’s logical.
The problem is that when you add human beings to the equation all logic goes out the window (except the internal logic of individuals). And there is the rub, you can’t pursue a fantasy strategy no matter how desirable in a world society that continually breeds individuals and causes bent on advancing their own agendas at any cost. And you cannot isolate yourself from them no matter how attractive that may appear or how appealing glowing rhetoric supporting that notion may sound. This world of ours is connected in all ways like no other time in history. There is no place to hide. You cannot even escape to your bedroom while reading this and not be subject to the actions of some nut in a cave in North Korea or a hut in Somalia. Like it or not, right or wrong, it’s true‼️
Perhaps the greatest danger is having leaders who do not or do not want to understand or believe all this and who do not understand human nature, history or the power of select individuals to motivate people and nations to anti-social action and in the twenty-first century anti-human actions.
Every New Year we pray for peace, but it never comes and once again prospects are not good. However, looking the other way, burying our heads in the sand (or a sand trap as the case may be) or spewing populist rhetoric are not going to change that.
In an interview this week with National Public Radio, Mr. Obama offered an apt description of the progressive foreign-policy vision. “When it comes to ISIL, us devoting another trillion dollars after having been involved in big occupations of countries that didn’t turn out all that well” is something he is hesitant to do.
Instead, he said, “We need to spend a trillion dollars rebuilding our schools, our roads, our basic science and research here in the United States; that is going to be a recipe for our long-term security and success.”
Progressives and DisorderWSJ 12-31-14
The U.S. Senate should continue to give diplomacy with Iran a chance
Petition by U.S. Senator Chris MurphyTo be delivered to The United States Senate
We must allow diplomacy with Iran time to work. We cannot take the chance that new sanctions will derail a chance at a negotiated solution.
There are currently 632 signatures. NEW goal – We need 750 signatures!
PETITION BACKGROUND The United States and our allies have agreed to extend talks with Iran over the future of their nuclear program.
While I am disappointed that we did not reach a comprehensive agreement, progress was made, and the decision to extend the negotiations is a far better outcome than a bad deal or no deal at all.
This additional time will allow us to bridge the gaps that remain while still ensuring that Iran’s current capabilities are strictly limited. Tuesday’s agreement means that as long as the talks continue, Iran’s nuclear program will be frozen and tough sanctions will remain in place.
I know that many of my colleagues will be tempted to pass new sanctions to try to scare the Iranians into a deal. But I continue to believe that new sanctions passed by Congress, just as the Iranians are starting to show some movement in the negotiations, would be deeply counterproductive.
Therefore, I plan to continue to lead the effort in the Senate to support the negotiations and urge my colleagues to resist efforts to pass new sanctions legislation.
I would welcome your help in this fight.
So, can we trust Iran? Let’s hope.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 