RE:RE:RE:RE:Hard vs Imaginary Wealth Warthog, para 5, page 5, same article: "Neocon policy is directly contrary to the founding principles of the United States. Their new international order can never consent to peace, only submission: having meddled in wars of intrigue, extraction is nigh impossible. A corollary to the neocon unipolar view is that Russia no longer has claim to nuclear arms, as Krauthammer implied: “The Soviet Union ceased to exist, contracting into a smaller, radically weakened Russia.” Russia is merely a rogue state, like North Korea, to be confronted, deterred and, if necessary, disarmed, a monster to destroy."
Sounds good, but logically incoherant, if not simply dishonest.
First sentence already handled; it's simply not true.
Second sentence is not fact, just pure opinion.... "Their (Neocons) new international order can never consent to peace, only submission: having meddled in wars of intrigue, extraction is nigh impossible" .U.S. did not make Iraq submit. It went in, destroyed the ruling regime and, instead of leaving asap, hung around and set up a democracy, one that is functioning well despite all pressures. Cost was huge, but a worthy achievement. 'Extraction' can be messy, or easy, but it's always doable.
The third and final sentences are even more absurd...".A corollary to the neocon unipolar view is that Russia no longer has claim to nuclear arms, as Krauthammer implied: “The Soviet Union ceased to exist, contracting into a smaller, radically weakened Russia.” Russia is merely a rogue state, like North Korea, to be confronted, deterred and, if necessary, disarmed, a monster to destroy.".
First, Krauthammer was totally right. Russia was much diminished from the USSR. He did not say there, or imply in any way that Russia had no claim to nuclear weapons...it is absurd to claim he, and thus Neocons, thought Russia shouldn't have nucs....but that's what the essayist does. Then, galloping further into absurdity, the essayist then states ( based on what ? Certainly not on Krauthammers words ) that Neocons thus labelled Russia as "merely a rogue state, like North. Korea," " a monster to be destroyed ".!! WOW, all that from Krauthammers truthful observation that Russia was 'smaller, radically weakened" after USSR breakup.
Every paragraph of the essay needs that sort of analysis to sort fact from opinion from absurdity. This is not a factual essay, it's a highly partisan, polemic screed for isolationism. And I've more to read. Will not bother anyone with more analysis....ya gotta do your own dd, as always.