Realism is just idealism stretched over time
Thomas Barnett is an international strategist with a growing fan base.
He recently commented on an article by Henry Kissinger about negotiating with Iran. He agrees that to a great extent, "all the talks need to do is buy us time and a forum for starting what will inevitably be a long-term forum for regional security discussion, much like the OSCE forum was in Europe. ...No, this forum won't magically make our rapid departure from Iraq possible, and no, it won't stop Iran from getting the bomb. The regional forum concept is not designed for magical outcomes, but slowly building the collective will for permanent security regimes to arise in the region that settle the endemic conflicts and allow enough political stability for economic connectivity to ensue, which in turn will fuel social change already underway and political change that seethes just below the surface (the great fears of the despots)."
"Realism is just idealism stretched over time. It is a belief in inevitabilities that prefers inaction to action and cynicism to morality. But such delays do not constitute diversions much less defeats.
...To me, the outcome will never be in doubt, just the timing."
He recently commented on an article by Henry Kissinger about negotiating with Iran. He agrees that to a great extent, "all the talks need to do is buy us time and a forum for starting what will inevitably be a long-term forum for regional security discussion, much like the OSCE forum was in Europe. ...No, this forum won't magically make our rapid departure from Iraq possible, and no, it won't stop Iran from getting the bomb. The regional forum concept is not designed for magical outcomes, but slowly building the collective will for permanent security regimes to arise in the region that settle the endemic conflicts and allow enough political stability for economic connectivity to ensue, which in turn will fuel social change already underway and political change that seethes just below the surface (the great fears of the despots)."
"Realism is just idealism stretched over time. It is a belief in inevitabilities that prefers inaction to action and cynicism to morality. But such delays do not constitute diversions much less defeats.
...To me, the outcome will never be in doubt, just the timing."
posted by Paul Silver at 5:38 PM
"... the outcome will never be in doubt, just the timing."
Wow. Quite a comment. And well worth all of us remembering.
The same could be said for the steady rise of centrism.
Posted by
Pete Abel |
Friday, November 24, 2006 6:43:00 PM
Germany has suggested an OSCE for the Greater Middle East since the early 90s, but various US governments never liked the idea. They saw it as a threat to US dominance in the region and/or considered it as wishful thinking that such an organization would effectively deal with conflicts.
Sorry, but perhaps it is time to bring up the Churchill quote: "America always does the right thing -- once all other options have been tried."
Posted by
Josh |
Monday, November 27, 2006 8:49:00 AM