[lbo-talk] Re: the neo-neocons

[Doug Henwood]

I just got back from another of those chatfests at the Council on 
Foreign Relations, this about the new book by Ivo Daalder and James 
Lindsay, America Unbound. The authors draw a distinction between 
neocons - Wolfowitz, Kristol, etc. - and "assertive nationalists" - 
Cheney, Rummy, and W. The former want to remake the world; the 
latter, just to assert American interests. The acid test of the 
difference is "nation building," with the neocons (or "democratic 
imperialists") willing to spend plenty of "blood and treasure" 
remaking the Middle East, while the latter want to get out as quickly 
as they can.

Curiously Daalder & Lindsay, who both served in the Clinton admin, 
were much kinder to W and his agenda than was the CFR audience, 
which, at least by its questions, was worried about financial 
constraints and alienating most of the world.

They were interviewed by Martin Walker, no longer of The Guardian, 
but now of UPI. Has he come down in the world? Or do the Moonies pay 
really really well?

Doug