Prepare for the Neoconservative Comeback

How unpopular has the term “neoconservative” become? So much that yours truly (who among BD contributors is likely closest to those who still use the term in points of view) prefers the term “right-wing liberal.” Building democracy abroad, challenging foreign tyrants, and an assertive American foreign policy in general have been in retreat – even within the Republican right – since 2008. Conventional wisdom holds that the incomplete liberation of Iraq forever discredited neoconservatism. Ironically, events spawned just next door in Syria will likely revive the movement. To understand why, we have to remember what neoconservatism actually is (and was).

Contrary to apparent popular belief, neoconservative was a label first used in the 1970s, as a self-descriptor for “liberals mugged by reality.” Their chief characteristic was a combination of relentless anti-Communism and a belief that the peoples of the world can better govern themselves than insert-tyrant-here. There were firm believers in human right and human freedoms, and as such chose authoritarians over totalitarians, and democrats over either. The first Administration to follow their lead was not Bush the Younger but Reagan, who not only led a reinvigorated free world in the Cold War, but also eased out several dictators in allied lands (Philippines, South Korea, Chile, etc.)

In time, the first generation of neoconservatives (who were anywhere from Keynesian to social democrats on economic issues) were replaced by a young and more market-friendly cadre. It was this generation that in part advised President Bush the Younger, and was so identified with the Administration and the “War on Terror” (I prefer the term Wahhabist-Ba’athist-Khomeinist War). Even here, however, the nature of the allies was more important than most people realize. It was the Bush II Administration, after all, that severed ties with Uzbekistan over its regime’s human rights abuses.

Still, it was Iraq that became the chief symbol of neoconservatism, and any mistake was magnified at home by the movement’s critics (left and right). As the Status of Forces Agreement expired in 2011, President Obama chose to simply withdraw rather than make a serious effort to negotiate with the Iraqi government to extend it – in no small part because of the unpopularity in America to remaining. As Syria fell into civil war, many Americans and Europeans assumed that the best thing to do was the exact opposite of what was done in Iraq. The closest anyone came to military intervention was the president’s aborted plans for a missile strike, and the British governments attempt to win parliamentary approval for military action (it failed).

Thus, Syria became a unique experiment of the effect of neoconservatism’s absence from foreign policy. The results have endorsed the school of thought as nothing else could. The never-ending battle between Syrian Ba’athists (who run the Assad regime) and Iraq Ba’athists (who have infiltrated and largely control Daesh/ISIS/ISIL if defectors from the group are to be believed) has carved Syria to pieces, and led to millions of escapees desperate to reach the nearest place of safety (namely, Europe). Europe’s refusal to intervene in Syria has led Syria – through its refugees – to intervene in nearly every European country. It has even reached Canada, where relatives of young Aylan Kurdi were preparing to apply for asylum on his behalf – except that the government there can at least say it is one of the few that has taken the fight to Deash.

Indeed, for those examining the plight of the escapees, such as Jan Semmelroggen of Nottingham Trent University (Telegraph)…

He said there was no easy solution because what would solve the crisis would be to end the wars in the Middle East and to get rid of economic inequality – things that of course would not be easy.

But in the long term, democracy and equal rights were issues that needed to be addressed in countries where people fled from, he added.

Democracy and equal rights. Imagine that.

For neoconservatives themselves (or, ourselves, if you prefer calling me one), reflection is in order. While I am among the dwindling few who still thinks the deposing of Iraqi Ba’athism was the right thing to do, I cannot and will not say it was flawless. We have to remember and learn from the mistakes in Iraq, in no small part because Iraq’s reboot is obviously incomplete.

However, Syria (along with Libya, where after knocking Gaddafi out of the box, Western policy was best described as disinterested neglect) is the most recent evidence that America really does have an interest in helping the peoples of the rest of the world govern themselves (rather than a “stable” tyrant), and that even tyrants and terrorists that aren’t directly out to get us can cause mayhem and madness.

Many Americans would like to think they can ignore the rest of the world. Once again, the rest of the world is proving them wrong.

@deejaymcguire | facebook.com/people/Dj-McGuire | DJ’s posts

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