Now that I have your attention, could we please talk for a minute or two about the race for the Republican presidential candidacy. Let me recap the results so far, and please pay attention because there's going to be a big test in August!
"Catcher's Mitt" Romney has won two of the three primaries held so far.
What?! OK, make that one. "Hold `er Newt" Gingrich and "Tricky Rick" Santorum have won one, too. Three primaries, three different "winners".
And what of Walt's choice, "L. Ron" Paul? He has finished third, second and fourth. A respectable enough showing. But the pundits of the lamestream press keep saying Ron hasn't got a chance, and Republicans will have to make up their minds and unite behind middle-of-the-road Mitt or a real conservative. What's Ron Paul, if not conservative? But noooo, he's not electable, so forget about him.
What, I ask you, is wrong with Ron Paul?! He's not Mormon. He's not Catholic. He's only had (and still has) one wife. And he's not filthy rich.
Ron Paul advocates smaller government, lower taxes and a sound dollar. Is there anyone out there, Republican or otherwise, who doesn't want those things?!
So what's the problem then? Oh. The foreign policy thing. Because he has called for the US to stop being the world's policeman, Congressman Paul is accused of being an isolationist, a pacifist/defeatist/comsymp, a latter-day "know-nothing". Like nobody else wants to stop pouring American money and American lives down some third world rathole?!
Let's face it, folks. The US of A has not exactly brought democracy, peace and prosperity to the troubled lands of Africa and Asia. Regardless of who's been in power, America's post-war foreign policy has been pretty much a great big FAIL.
Yes, but Hellery Clinton and her predecessors are winning friends and influencing Arabs, Russians, even the Chinese, to reform themselves and make the world a better place. Right? WRONG! Here's how one Chinese university student sees America's policy and actions vis-à-vis her part of the world.
"America dropped an atomic bomb on Japan," Yvette told [Michael Levy], "sent its army to Korea, invaded Vietnam, sent the CIA to Tibet, bombed Cambodia, built bases in Okinawa, and stationed its navy around Taiwan. At a time when we were weak and you were very strong, you surrounded us with violence. This is what we remember."
Yvette uttered those words in 2006. At the time, the US was also making friends in Iraq and Afghanistan. Libya came later. And now the Obama administration is mulling intervening in Syria, Iran, or just about any little country whose citizens have somehow missed out on the benefits of Western civilization.
Honestly... honestly... does it make sense to continue that kind of foreign policy? It's what used to be called "gunboat diplomacy". Today it's not just gunboats, but gunships, gunmissiles, gundrones, guneverything.
Should we change horses in mid-stream? Hell no! Steady as she goes! In fact, let's send US troops back into Iraq! OK, it was Rick Perry who said that, and it's now generally accepted that he's a moron. But did Gingrich, Santorum or Romney call him out? No. Only Ron Paul has had the courage to offer a clear alternative to "foreign affairs as usual".
Come on Republicans! A candidate of principle is out there. Can you handle principles?!
* Michael Levy is a former Peace Corps volunteer who was sent to China's Guiyang University to teach ESL. His book Kosher Chinese (Henry Holt & Co., 2011) is the source of the quote.
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