To Be Liked, Or Respected?
In today's New York Post, Adam Brodsky asks whether the U.S. has a greater chance of remaining secure if it is liked, or if it's respected.
He then modestly goes on to say that he's unable to answer the question.
Well, OK, but I can. We're better off being respected, as the history of the 1990's proves. President Clinton was, we're repeatedly told, extremely popular throughout the world, but that didn't prevent Islamofascist terrorists from coming after us across the world (or at home, as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the thwarted 2000 New Years attack prove) . . . and it certainly didn't prevent the execution of 9/11.
It's worth pointing out that the US hasn't been attacked on its mainland since 9/11. No doubt this is due in part to improved security measures, but note that Spain and Britain haven't been as lucky -- and that threats are extant against Germany and France, despite both countries' pandering efforts to curry favor with the enemies of civilization.
Could it be that the terrorists are looking elsewhere, in light of demonstrated experience that, if America is attacked, it will come looking for the evildoers, and has proved itself willing to kill people and break things in self-defense?
He then modestly goes on to say that he's unable to answer the question.
Well, OK, but I can. We're better off being respected, as the history of the 1990's proves. President Clinton was, we're repeatedly told, extremely popular throughout the world, but that didn't prevent Islamofascist terrorists from coming after us across the world (or at home, as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing and the thwarted 2000 New Years attack prove) . . . and it certainly didn't prevent the execution of 9/11.
It's worth pointing out that the US hasn't been attacked on its mainland since 9/11. No doubt this is due in part to improved security measures, but note that Spain and Britain haven't been as lucky -- and that threats are extant against Germany and France, despite both countries' pandering efforts to curry favor with the enemies of civilization.
Could it be that the terrorists are looking elsewhere, in light of demonstrated experience that, if America is attacked, it will come looking for the evildoers, and has proved itself willing to kill people and break things in self-defense?
posted by LadybugUSA at 9:11 AM
4 Comments:
Did FDR want to be liked by Hitler and Tojo? I doubt it. So why bother now?
Well, Josh, as long as there are Tony Blairs in the world, we've little to worry about. But his time is short and that might not be a good thing for us. But if being liked and respected means putting our people at risk, you can have it. I'd rather we just do what we need to do. If what we do is just, we needn't fear world opinion. It is not uncommon for the righteous to be crapped upon.
We need to be able to cooperate with the intel services of other nations
It's interesting that you mention this point, Josh.
For as long as our State Department, Congressional committees, CIA and even the brass at the Five-Sided Wailing Wall leak like a sieve, other intelligence agencies around the world will be less and less likely to share with us.
Out of curiosity, who is it that we desperately need to like us?
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