Blind Leading the Blind?

Jonah Goldberg makes an interesting point concerning isolationism and America's view of our enemies. In this example, he highlights Time's rather bland description of Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as an "unlikely firebrand," as opposed to, say, a murderous fanatic. Beyond that, he brings up the Isolationist tradition in America (and Britain) in the 1930's, when , according to JFK, the events in Germany and Japan were ignored since we didn't want to face reality, especially after the horrors of WW I and the Depression.

But this brings up a larger point. And that is the (in)ability of democracies to remain vigilant for emerging threats. This is a thesis that was espoused by Dr. Harold Rood, professor emeritus at Claremont McKenna College. In his book, Kingdoms of the Blind, he described how democracies too often fail to maintain a strategic outlook. His sub-title says it all: How the Great Democracies Have Resumed the Follies That So Nearly Cost Them Their Life. He compares the inter-war period between the world wars and argues that the same mistakes were being made during the Cold War. Originally published in 1980, Dr. Rood was quite right in his assessment of our Cold War posture at the time. Thankfully, Ronald Reagan came along and saw the Soviet Union for what it was, an "evil empire," and dared call for it to "tear down this wall" in Berlin. While those who were guilty of the follies Dr. Rood wrote about, such as those who argued for peaceful coexistence, feared he would lead us into nuclear armageddon, as depicted in the propaganda film The Day After, Reagan instead led us to victory in the Cold war, freeing millions from the slavery of communism. Unfortunately, as the Time article shows, we have not learned our lesson, even during a war.