The problem of pre-emptive strikes against evil empires: how to deal with Iran?

The New Neo Posted on by

Michael Ledeen writes in the WSJ about the problem the Allies had in recognizing, taking seriously, and then mobilizing against the danger represented by the Nazis prior to WWII.

He likens this inaction to the current muddled response of the West to Iran, and locates the problem in our presumption that people and regimes are generally the same (like us, that is), are basically good rather than evil, that anti-Semitism still thrives, and that there is a tendency towards inertia and inaction in democracies.

Although I certainly think Ledeen’s points are well taken, I think he’s leaving out some important factors that also militate against the West doing anything against Iran until some unequivocal and terrible step is taken by that country. The problem is that we don’t see many good options against Iran. Continue reading →

McCain vs. Obama: opposites don’t attract

The New Neo Posted on by

The two nominees-to-be are in some ways diametric opposites.

There’s policy: a conservative (despite the fact that many conservatives don’t think so) vs. a liberal. Stay the course vs. pull out. A Republican vs. a Democrat.

The electorate is probably split about 50/50 on the sum of the policy differences, as it has been for the last two election cycles. But now the term “Republican” has become a general liability and “Democrat” a general plus, in reaction to exhaustion with the Bush years.

Slight advantage: Obama. Continue reading →

Wanting a cool and sexy Prez

The New Neo Posted on by

Maybe it’s come down to this: choosing a President is now mostly about style rather than substance.

Obama is cool. That’s the real link with Kennedy, who was exceptionally cool but in a very sophisticated way.

Bill Clinton was sort of cool, with the shades and the sax and the Elvis and all that. Sort of like a white black man.

But now we have a bona fide black black man, and a very cool one at that. Case in point: Obama’s fist bump with wife Michelle Tuesday night.

It’s gotten a lot of positive attention, especially from the young. Here’s the video, which makes it clear that Michelle initiates the gesture: Continue reading →

Obama, Andrew Sullivan, and the surge: foresight vs. hindsight

The New Neo Posted on by

Peter Wehner does a wonderful job of fisking Obama’s recent speech on Iraq in which the candidate combined masterful oratory, abysmal ignorance, denial, and lawyerly circumlocutions in his signature manner to show exactly why he should never be elected President (not that his supporters know or care).

Perhaps Obama’s speech reflects the fact that he faces a real conundrum on Iraq. Not only has he been consistently wrong about the surge, but he was bold enough to go on record in an unequivocal manner about how it would not work. His predictions have since been contradicted by facts on the ground.

In that, of course, he was no different than 99% (roughly speaking) of his Democrat colleagues, and most of the MSM. But they’re not running for President. He is. Continue reading →

Obama’s “historic” win

The New Neo Posted on by

Obama won enough delegates yesterday to almost certainly become the 2008 Democratic Presidential nominee. A number of articles about that fact make use of the word “historic.” Indeed, it is.

Of course, if Hillary Clinton had won the nomination instead, it would have been equally historic. Obama would/will be the first African-American to secure the Presidential nomination of either major party, but Hillary would have been the first woman. And, if the two manage to unite the ticket as running mates, it will be doubly historic—or perhaps even historic squared. Continue reading →

Hillary, the VP spot, and that bucket of warm whatever (is she better off with Obama or without him?)

The New Neo Posted on by

Even a decisive win for Hillary today in both South Dakota and Montana—which is unlikely, but which could cause the superdelegates to think twice about Obama—might not save her Presidential aspirations.

Hillary’s goose appears to be cooked. The fat lady is starting to practice her scales. The writing’s on the wall.

But what about the Veep spot? Can Hillary stomach being number two to Obama’s number one? And can he stomach having the Clintons under him? Continue reading →

Those fashionable stars: whatever were they thinking?

The New Neo Posted on by

I don’t know about you, but it always puzzles me when women who could look good in just about anything choose clothes designed to make them look as bad as possible.

Maybe it’s just too boring to look fabulous all the time. Maybe it’s the need to have that certain trendy edge.

But, whatever were these particular “stars” (not that I’ve ever heard of most of them) thinking when they chose their ensembles for the MTV movie awards (a ceremony I haven’t heard of before, either)?

First up we have a look I recall from the early-to-mid 60s—that’s the part of the 60s that wasn’t really the 60s, but rather the 50s morphing into the 60s. The design was called the balloon back then, and it was one of the most unflattering ever, featuring a puffy tucked-under skirt.

Now it’s been updated and made even uglier by a puffy balloon top as well: Continue reading →

The WaPo has a surge of its own—of reason, regarding Iraq

The New Neo Posted on by

Yesterday’s WaPo editorial, “The Iraqi Upturn,” is an indication that improvements in Iraq have gotten so noticeable that even the MSM is having trouble maintaining its denial of that fact.

The subtitle of the piece acknowledges as much when it says [emphasis mine]: “Don’t look now, but the U.S.-backed government and army may be winning the war.”

Now, why do you suppose the Wapo would jokingly caution its readers not to look, as though viewing news of success in Iraq requires a person to glance away or to peek through the fingers as though repelled by a sight in a horror film? Shouldn’t the news be welcome? Continue reading →