How The Democrats Have Been Paralysed By Bush

May 06, 2005

Anatol Lieven explains the obstacles Democrats face in making foreign policy a key issue for the 2008 presidential race.

But for the Democrats, making foreign policy a foundation for the struggle to win the presidency in 2008 comes up against two immense obstacles. The first is that, by its messianic rhetoric of spreading "freedom" in the world and confronting "evil", the administration has seized control of a national myth that is common to the great majority of Americans, and has most often been expressed in the past by Democrat leaders.

The second obstacle is that, despite this messianic rhetoric, in practice the Bush administration in most parts of the world is pursuing a rather cautious and realist strategy. It is not carrying out the kind of extreme actions that would alarm many ordinary Americans and lead to repeated splits in the Republican party.

The article in its entirety can be found here.

Anatol Lieven is a senior associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and author of America Right or Wrong: An Anatomy of American Nationalism (Oxford University Press, 2004)

Posted by coalition at May 6, 2005 03:25 PM

<< Preserving a Nation: America's Security in the Age of Terrorism 4.23.05 | Main | True Patriots Should Worry More about Freedom at Home >>

Comments

Email to a friend

Email this entry to:


Your email address:


Coalition Events

Coalition Newsletter

Sign-up for the Free Coalition Newsletter and be notified when we publish new statements and important information.

>> Sign-up Online

Coalition Statements

The Coalition for a Realistic Foreign Policy is a group of scholars, policy makers and concerned citizens united by our opposition to an American empire. The Coalition is dedicated to promoting an alternative vision for American national security strategy that is consistent with American traditions and values.

>> The Perils of Empire
>> The Perils of Occupation
>> Ending the Israeli-Palestinian Stalemate

Featured Articles

Bush Is Still 'The Decider'
A Republican Fratricide?
Fighting over Who Lost Iraq
A War, or Un-War?
Reconnecting With the Reality-Based Community
On the Offense
Christians in the Crossfire
America's World Role Has to be Realistic and Moral
Why America Keeps Losing 'Small Wars'
Pakistan's Russian Roulette of Terrorism