[TexaninVA]

When threads are started and get into topics of national security, I’ve observed that posters usually fall into two camps. Camp membership is probably a combination of life experiences, political preferences, common sense (as defined by the person) and so forth.

The first camp, probably about 2/3s if not more of TOTVers, instinctively understand the totalitarian leadership currently calling the shots in Iran, China, and elsewhere are best viewed as our enemy. That means they are inimical to our interests and national security if not dealt with and, ideally, should be removed from power. I will call this camp “Peace Through Superior Firepower” for lack of a better term, and identify them as right of center. Most in this camp view America as a force for good in the world, on balance and overall. Note that I did not say perfect or flawless, but still we essentially view America as the good guys.

The second camp could be described several ways. I’ll be nice, and just call them “Peace Through Superior Flower Power” and observe they are typically left of center. They tend to look at actions and say “Hey, it’s not any worse than anything the US has done.” The tendency is to view America as the source of problems, vs solutions, and seek to understand the “other” points of view, whether it’s Iran, China, Cuba et al. IMO this group takes a kind of multicultural approach to foreign policy where all other cultures are to be admired while one, ours, is kind of well … we do have our faults. Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa would be another way of saying it.

The first camp views the second as having their heads firmly lodged in a very dark place, while usually rolling over in the face of America’s enemies.

The second camp views the first as warmongers who want to nuke the world because, after all, we don’t really have enemies just adversaries. Besides, wolves and sheep are not necessarily incompatible. Can’t we all just get along?

I don’t expect to change anyone’s minds, but I think it could make for an interesting discussion.

• Which camp do you think has proven more successful in our history and why?
• Which camp do you see yourself as being in, or maybe which do you find more compelling even if not persuasive?


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