Title: a_neocon@HydePark
Tags: American Reform, Neoconservatism
Blog Entry: [b]Speakers' Corner[/b][br][i]Excerpts, citizenFine Online[/i][br][br][link="http://hub.webring.org/hub/tzalisthumanitie" title=""][b]The American Reform Tradition[/link][/b][align="justify"][br]"These old Democrats make up much of the present day neoconservative movement. Anticommunist socialists, like the Social Democrats, USA, also with roots in the New Deal coalition, came to embrace later neoconservatism. The SD-USA supported Ronald Reagan's military buildup against the opportunistic Soviet Union (like the old Democrats, they rejected the dovish post-Vietnam war policies of the Democratic Party). The "new conservatives" placed a great premium on social traditionalism, and even eventually embraced a degree of fiscal conservatism. In their view, a strong work ethic and other traditional values afforded Americans the best means to prosper in an imperfect free market system."[br][br][link="http://webspace.webring.com/people/hf/fineyoungsocialist/GenevaTurn.htm" title=""][b]The Geneva Summit of 1985[/link][/b][/align][br][align="justify"]"From the American view, perceived Soviet aggressions could only be matched through military strength. Once American military deficiencies were corrected, the United States could then initiate discourse with the Soviet Union from a position of strength. Reagan writes:[br][br]During the first year [of my Administration], we embarked on a broad program of military renewal to upgrade our land, sea, and air forces. We would never accept second place in the arms race. Recognizing the hair-trigger risk of annihilation nuclear weapons posed to the world, I send negotiators to Moscow indicating that we were prepared for a winding down of the arms race if the Soviets were sincere about it. These policies were linked. Because we knew we would not get anywhere with the Soviets if we were in a position of military inferiority. If we were to get them to sue for peace, we had to do it from a position of strength."[br][br] [link="http://webspace.webring.com/people/sn/neocon/NotesOnPaxAmericana.htm#NextAmericanPeace" title=""][b]Notes on Pax Americana![/b][/link][br][br]"The American role of promoting democratic values in the contemporary world, through national example (and when necessary, through direct military intervention on behalf of these values), is neither culturally chauvinistic nor arrogant. The United States reacted reasonably to the threat of communism. Similarly, the United States has reacted reasonably to the threat of Jihadism. The United States countered totalitarianism, and continues to do so, on the assumption that the aspiration of democracy is superior to the ambition of totalitarianism."[/align][link="http://searchsight.com/search.htm?search=Pax+Americana" title=""][br][align="right"]MORE at Search Sight.com[/link][/align][br][hr]
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