Kristol's Credibility Gap Posted by Patrick Barry

If someone told you that the best way for the U.S. to deal with North Korea was to preemptively attack them with Star Wars-style lasers, or suggested that the entire world was in a "giant conspiracy" of Dan Brown proportions to attempt diplomacy with Iran, 'credible' is probably the last thing you would call them.  Yet by pointing to Newt Gingrich and Dick Cheney as paragons of conservatives' command over national security issues, Bill Kristol did exactly that:

But the most successful conservative intervention in the first four months of the Obama presidency has been -- counter to predictions by consultants and pundits -- that of Dick Cheney on national security policy. He may be the only Republican so far who’s really forced Obama onto the defensive. And most conservatives and Republicans would, I think, agree that the other Republican who’s effectively -- if episodically -- challenged Obama on foreign and national security policy has been Newt Gingrich.

Both Cheney and Gingrich have the background and stature to address credibly national security issues.

Of course, back in reality things are different.  In reality, lasers don't exist, and U.S. policy is dictated by interests, not by a mysterious cabal of anti-Cheneyite world leaders.  In reality, positions like Cheney's and Gingrich's have led Americans to widely reject conservatives' approach to foreign policy, supporting President Obama's agenda so vociferously that progressives have finally closed the trust gap on national security.  As long as conservatives continue to define credibility as existing in an unreality of fantasy weapons and wild-eyed conspiracy theories, then they will continue their nosedive into irrelevance.  

Comments

[Peace]

Today's Republicans think that if you support brutal polices such as torture than that makes you a security expert. The Kristols and Cheneys do not have a grand plan or strategic goal, but rather they just promote sadistic actions and believe that makes them experts on international affairs.

[Dan Kervick]

You know, I don't get it. Now that the Democrats are in power, and Republicans are reeling, it seems to me that you DA guys would spend a little bit more time engaging in some independent thinking and problem solving, and some spirited debate on the questions where the real intellectual action is to be found, and a little less time descending into small potatoes spin wars and idle political brouhahas with the vanquished irrelevant.

Bill Kristol? Really? Why are you bending over backwards to empower these losers with the attention they seek? Move on, please.

With the exception of Michael Cohen's recent critical forays into the emerging COIN orthodoxy, nothing really provocative or interesting or challenging has come out of this site in months. Perhaps some of you have noticed the lack of commentary? Do you wonder why? DA has become a bland and tired broadsheet filled with predictable, boring water carrying in a communications environment filled with an overabundance of water carriers. There is nothing really vital going on here.

I think you all must already sense this. Surely at least some of you can find something to be really concerned about, and are willing to take on a few sacred cows, generate a few controversies and provoke some edgier discussion.

Is the existence of this venue entirely devoted to writing up talking points and PR copy for Democratic politicians, reflecting conventionally approved and established opinions? If I want that sort of thing, can't I just go to the White House web site?

[Kris]

Dan, while I share your feelings to a certain extent, it's only been 4 months since the Obama administration started, and prior to that, people like Krauthammer and Kristol actually had pull in the previous administration. Cheney was the most powerful VP in recent history (if not ever), FFS! It's not unreasonable to expect it to take some time for people to switch gears after dealing with 8 years of this insanity.

Although personally, I do get a kick out of the laser attack idea every time I hear it again. Maybe we could send in the Navy's super-secret warrior dolphins with fricken' lasers on their fricken' heads to destroy the NK Navy! That'll show 'em.

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