Comments on: Hope: Lost and Found http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/ Refunds Cheerfully Given To All Who Disagree Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:53:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Aaron http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/comment-page-1/#comment-14485 Aaron Tue, 21 Mar 2006 01:39:26 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/#comment-14485 Well, if I recall correctly, NATO either already has or soon will officially take over operations in Afghanistan, and the other NATO powers seem to be on the same page as the US on the Syria and Iran. And don't get me wrong. It was this time last year that I was advocating a US withdrawal from NATO. I used to favor Kagan's <i>Paradise and Power</i>, but more and more I'm seeing the virtues of Moravcsik's argument in "Striking a New Transatlantic Bargain," which is essentially that the US and Europe have complementary skills: we're good regime-topplers and they're good nation-builders. Well, if I recall correctly, NATO either already has or soon will officially take over operations in Afghanistan, and the other NATO powers seem to be on the same page as the US on the Syria and Iran.

And don’t get me wrong. It was this time last year that I was advocating a US withdrawal from NATO. I used to favor Kagan’s Paradise and Power, but more and more I’m seeing the virtues of Moravcsik’s argument in “Striking a New Transatlantic Bargain,” which is essentially that the US and Europe have complementary skills: we’re good regime-topplers and they’re good nation-builders.

]]> By: dmac http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/comment-page-1/#comment-14473 dmac Mon, 20 Mar 2006 23:20:21 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/#comment-14473 It would seem that NATO is almost a spent force at this point. As long as countries like France have veto power, it won't matter who's in charge at the moment - the US has been demonized to such an extent at this point that it would be political suicide for any formal endorsement of actions in the Middle East. It would seem that NATO is almost a spent force at this point. As long as countries like France have veto power, it won’t matter who’s in charge at the moment – the US has been demonized to such an extent at this point that it would be political suicide for any formal endorsement of actions in the Middle East.

]]> By: Aaron http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/comment-page-1/#comment-14467 Aaron Mon, 20 Mar 2006 20:46:52 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/#comment-14467 I've always admired Zakaria and this time is no exception. His discussion of Afghanistan (and what I know about Kosovo) makes a stong case for working more through IGOs -- more NATO than the UN, of course. Hopefully Angela Merkel will be able to get a stronger majority in the next election, Sarkozy will be the next French president and Harper will stay in as PM in Canada, we may be able to get more NATO support for Iraq yet. Probably just wishful thinking, though. I’ve always admired Zakaria and this time is no exception. His discussion of Afghanistan (and what I know about Kosovo) makes a stong case for working more through IGOs — more NATO than the UN, of course. Hopefully Angela Merkel will be able to get a stronger majority in the next election, Sarkozy will be the next French president and Harper will stay in as PM in Canada, we may be able to get more NATO support for Iraq yet. Probably just wishful thinking, though.

]]> By: too many steves http://informedspeculation.com/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/comment-page-1/#comment-14462 too many steves Mon, 20 Mar 2006 19:57:42 +0000 http://decision08.net/2006/03/20/hope-lost-and-found/#comment-14462 I'm still in the mode of "when the going gets tough...". There are always dark days, on balance I think progress is being made, and I'm unwilling to cut loose from Iraq - at this time - simply because the reality on the ground doesn't exactly match my (or conventional wisdom's) earlier expectations. I do believe that we need to adjust our expectations and goals as we learn what the Iraqis are capable of implementing and accepting. I’m still in the mode of “when the going gets tough…”. There are always dark days, on balance I think progress is being made, and I’m unwilling to cut loose from Iraq – at this time – simply because the reality on the ground doesn’t exactly match my (or conventional wisdom’s) earlier expectations.

I do believe that we need to adjust our expectations and goals as we learn what the Iraqis are capable of implementing and accepting.

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