[lbo-talk] missing hegemon at the CFR

[Steven L. Robinson]

The problem described in your report was not "widespread antagonism" but one of  perceived comparative weakness of US imperial power.  From your report, it sounds as if the audience and the speakes were very uncomfortable with it. (which suggests that the reaction in more conservative circles would be downright despair, if not panic).  A withdrawal from Iraq would be an admission of that weakness and thus involve a big loss of face- which adminsitration would like to be responsible for that (especially one led by Dems worried about being accused of "losing Iraq").  

The Vietnam withdrawal also resulted in a significant loss of prestige, but that was limited by  Henry Kissinger that resulted in negotiations that enabled the US to "save face" when the whole thing collapsed -the US troops were by and large gone by that time any way. SR.  

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: Doug Henwood <dhenwood at panix.com> 


> Eh? How do you figure that? The subtext was that the invasion of Iraq 
> was in no small part responsible for the U.S.'s weakened political 
> position and the widespread antagonism towards us. Fixing that 
> situation, insofar as it can be fixed at all, requires making nice 
> with the rest of the world. 
> 
> Doug 
> 
> On May 23, 2007, at 1:10 PM, Steven L. Robinson wrote: 
> 
> > All of which suggests no speedy withdrawal from Iran or Afghanistan 
> > and no reduction of the US military budget in the event the Dems 
> > win the Presidencey in 2008. SR 
> > 
>