As a supplement to Robert Wenzel's earlier post, there are plenty of reasons why Neocons like Max Boot advocate "Hard Wilsonianism," and why neocon Michael Gerson admires how Woodrow Wilson "skillfully made the transition to wartime leadership."
Robert is correct when he wrote that Wilson in many ways: "was the first neoconservative."
Take a gander below at what Wilson said on July 4th, 1918 to a gathering at George Washington's tomb on Mount Vernon:
“It has been left for us to see to it that it shall be understood that they [the Founders] spoke and acted, not for a single people only, but for all mankind. We are in this war to fulfill the promise of their vision; having achieved our own liberty we are to strive for the liberties of every other people as well.”Wow! Two significant observations from the above quote. First, is what Wilson said, and second is where he said it.
What Wilson said will give any war-hungry neocon that warm & fuzzy feeling.
Where Wilson made this statement is the real interesting part. For it was George Washington who said in his farewell address:
Observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all...In the execution of such a plan, nothing is more essential than that permanent, inveterate antipathies against particular nations, and passionate attachments for others, should be excluded; and that, in place of them, just and amicable feelings towards all should be cultivated. [...]Wilson was proclaiming the polar opposite at Washington's tomb!
The nation which indulges towards another a habitual hatred or a habitual fondness is in some degree a slave. [...]
So likewise, a passionate attachment of one nation for another produces a variety of evils. [...]
Against the insidious wiles of foreign influence (I conjure you to believe me, fellow-citizens) the jealousy of a free people ought to be constantly awake, since history and experience prove that foreign influence is one of the most baneful foes of republican government.The great rule of conduct for us in regard to foreign nations is in extending our commercial relations, to have with them as little political connection as possible. [...]
Our detached and distant situation invites and enables us to pursue a different course.
That's like a Federal Reserve Chairman announcing another round of QE and then thanking Ron Paul for the idea!
Considering the outrageous things that Neocons will say and do to go to war, it should be no surprise that some of them have a special place in their heart for Woodrow Wilson, who would lead "the war to end all war".
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I didn't think it was possible, but neocons are worse than leftists.
ReplyDeleteThat's because they are leftists--Trotskyites.
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