PNAC Packs Their Bags

by emptywheel

Ever since Francis Fukuyama disavowed the Neocon movement while at the same time defending the noble principle of supporting the Dick Cheney Scooter Libby Defense Fund, I've been waiting for this moment: the time when the NeoCons would make an obvious show of packing their bags and heading home for the century.

Despite the happy chatter before the Iraq invasion about cheering crowds and bouquets and cakewalks and how the war was going to pay for itself, the signatories wrote that "we are fully aware of the dangers of implementing this policy."

There had been debate about PNAC's future, but the feeling, a source said, was of "goal accomplished" and it looks to be heading toward closing. Former executive director Gary J. Schmitt , who had been executive director of President Ronald Reagan 's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, left recently for a post at the American Enterprise Institute. (Not a big move. Actually, only five floors up from PNAC.) Still, seems like a short century.

Goal accomplished?? Are they kidding??? (And note their shrewd avoidance of the word "Mission" ...these ex-Trotskyite intellectuals are clever.)

This is not "goooooool!!!," some kind of World Cup triumphalism. This is an admission that they have fallen so far short of their Mission goals that the organization--and presumably the label Neocon--now only inhibits their aspirations.

I mean, think about it. Their Mission goals included the following tripe:

We aim to make the case and rally support for American global leadership.

As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests?

We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past administrations. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending, inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are making it increasingly difficult to sustain American influence around the world. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are jeopardizing the nation's ability to meet present threats and to deal with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.
We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan Administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibilities.

Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th century should have taught us that it is important to shape circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they become dire. [my emphasis]

Let's see here:

Rallying support for American leadership? Check.

Inattention to the rules of statecraft and inconstant leadership? Check.

Short-term commercial benefits overriding strategic considerations? Check.

Inviting challenges to our fundamental interests? Check.

I'd say they've done a tremendous job ... of bringing about everything they aspired to avoid, including a world in which our chief rival owns our piggy bank and all the change in it.

Which suggests this faux-triumphalism should only invite one response. Constant, specific branding of these problems as Neocon problems. The Iraq debacle? A Neocon debacle. Lost opportunities in Latin America? A Neocon debacle. Alienated old-Europe allies? A Neocon debacle. The embrace of torture and many other atrocities against the rule of law? More Neocon debacles.

Want to slink upstairs to AEI to hide from this branding? Fine, we'll brand that too!

Because if we don't hold them accountable for their absolute failure, they'll stick around and keep trying, in Iran, with China, who knows where they have their sights set? The false renunciations of Fukuyama and the promised disbanding of the office are simply an attempt to retain influence by abdicating all responsibility for the colossal failures of the Neocon project. We have got to make them accept their responsibility.

Comments

[mk]

Fight on, EW.
Nothing but admiration for you as you keep on putting out these well-written, tightly-constructed arguments.
In a world that often seems like Wonderland (in the mirrors and funny food kind of way), you keep on setting the record straight.
Thanks.

[landreau]

I second the motion.

[LindyH]

I wasn't able to be at ykos, but I did stream the CIA leak investigation panel via Air America. I wanted to tell you I thought you did a fabulous job, and to thank you for what you do.

[clueless]

So, is this a case of the burglar slipping away in the middle of the night hoping no one notices?

Or might this be the PNAC agreeing with the rest of us that Bushco has really fucked things up?

Or, simply, Mission Accomplished???

[margaret]

Question:

Will the MSM give this sorry group the same level of scrutiny now, that they did when the neocons were revving up their "machine" and "impressing" everybody with how brilliant they were?

Thanks, to you for concise analysis of this, as well as the Iran vs. Pakistan question to Warner.

[Somethingsrotten]

Scooter Libby Defense Fund = Truth Bender Squad.

[citizenspook]

RANDALL SAMBORN INDICATES FITZGERALD’S PLAME INVESTIGATION MAY HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN

http://citizenspook.blogspot.com/2006/06/randall-samborn-indicates-fitzgeralds.html#links