Not Ideas About the Thing
But The Thing Itself

Later, in the same Robin Toner article that I linked to before:

The broader question is whether the war forges an enduring change in the Democratic Party, its stance and its credibility on national security. Many strategists are already warning that over the long haul, it is not enough to be antiwar: the Democrats need a strong, affirmative vision of foreign policy.
“If getting out of Iraq defines entirely who the Democrats are on national security, then over the long run, it will be a disaster,” said Matt Bennett, a co-founder of Third Way, a moderate Democratic group. Rather, Iraq needs to be part “of a larger strategy aimed at showing how to protect America’s national security interests,” he said.

Bennett's right. But here's the thing. If Toner had called me up and asked for my view on this question, I might have said something about the Democrats' larger national security mission instead of talking about how someone should talk about this. Who's going to talk about it if not those Democrats who the newspapers deign to quote? I can talk about it. I can even link to Matt Bennett's press release about his group's "constriction" strategy against al-Qaeda. But the only way for Democrats not to be defined entirely by opposition to the war is for the Bennett's of the world to say the things they think need to be said instead of saying that someone should say those things. If not Bennett, who? If not now, when? Quotations in major newspapers are a precious commodity; there's no point in wasting that space on not-very-original meta talk.

UPDATE: Audio recording of Wallace Stevens reading the poem available here.

3/29/07 10:01AM del.icio.us this incoming links

Comments

I suspect he did, but he also said the meta and Toner only reported the meta. The lesson is only tell them what you want said. Uber message discipline.

Posted by: crack on March 29, 2007 10:23 AM

Why is it that wanting to go to war is considered an example of an affirmative vision of foreign policy, but wanting to get out of a war is not?

There seems to be an annoying bias in favor of taking action. It doesn't matter how stupid your proposed policy is, but as long as it sounds active, it embodies an "affirmative vision".

As for a "constriction strategy" against al-Qaeda. Great, woo-hoo! Does anyone really think al-Qaeda is much of a threat to us? The only real threat they pose is goading us into over-reacting.

Posted by: Jim W on March 29, 2007 10:32 AM

Isn't Bennett just being kind of a concern troll?

Posted by: Bill on March 29, 2007 10:35 AM

What crack said. But note there's a perverse incentive. Suppose Toner called Democratic policy wonks A, B, and C, and all of them talk policy. She'll quote them on policy, making whatever choices she makes, possibly leaving some of them out. But if any of them should venture a meta-comment, that will definitely be quoted, because it will seem from her point of view to strengthen the story. The temptation for wonks to lapse into meta when the media call will be strong. (A form of the Prisoner's Dilemma, I think.)

Posted by: Vance Maverick on March 29, 2007 10:39 AM

Wallace Stevens! You surprise me, sir!

Posted by: Anderson on March 29, 2007 10:58 AM

I agree with Vance. Additionally as MY said "Quotations in major newspapers are a precious commodity" there is also an incentive for a wonk to go meta if he wants to get a quote in. I still suspect Bennett mentioned his plan, and may even have thought his chances of getting his plan in were greater if he added the meta.

I'd email him and ask, but crack.pipe@mail.ru doesn't get taken too seriously.

Posted by: crack on March 29, 2007 11:01 AM

Tell X that speech is not dirty silence
Clarified....

Posted by: Freddie on March 29, 2007 11:43 AM

Bennett's right.

No he's not. He's right only if you buy his BS any sane dem would ever believe or advocate or allow that “getting out of Iraq defines entirely who the Democrats are on national security."

Who the hell would do that? Only a concern troll or a republican or a media star.

Posted by: db on March 29, 2007 12:29 PM

Were you standing on one foot when you asked, if not Bennett who, if not now when? I didn't know your middle name was Hillel.

Posted by: jim on March 29, 2007 02:05 PM

Leaving aside the enduring mystery of why it's necessary to "finish the job" in Afghanistan but not Iraq, my other question is why Dems aren't being more ambitious here on Defense policy. A recent NY Times editorial opined that once the Iraq war is over, Congress should increase the size of the Army by two divisions. Why aren't Democrats asking why?

Why not shrink the Army? If it's clear that Americans won't tolerate a protracted ground war where our multi-million dollar tanks and APCs are vulnerable to $100 bombs and RPGs, why spend more on this? Why add two more Army divisions? That's two more divisions of women being put at risk of sexual assault, gays forced to hide their identities, etc. Cut the Army by two divisions, like Rumsfeld originally planned instead. Start talking about what positive things Dems could do with this money: smaller class sizes in public schools, free mental health care for undocumented aliens, etc. If you want to tie this to foreign policy, you could propose using the savings to increase foreign aid? How about smaller class sizes for madrassas?

Posted by: Fred on March 29, 2007 02:48 PM

Leaving aside the enduring mystery of why it's necessary to "finish the job" in Afghanistan but not Iraq

Umm, because the Iraqis are killing themselves and Americans in enormous numbers in response to the invasion? Just a guess.

Posted by: Freddie on March 29, 2007 04:01 PM

"Umm, because the Iraqis are killing themselves and Americans in enormous numbers in response to the invasion? Just a guess."

So since Afghan/Paki Pashtuns are killing themselves and Americans in smaller numbers it's important to stay in Afghanistan? Still a mystery.

Posted by: Fred on March 29, 2007 04:46 PM

... he says, talking only about talking about foreign policy ideas.

Posted by: sherifffruitfly on March 29, 2007 05:21 PM

One is mildly chagrined not have on the tip of the tongue exactly how many 100s of billions have so far been flushed into the Iraq debacle, but then again, the way the Bushies cook the books, who the hell really knows anyway?

I do recall that the UN estimated in excess of 600,000 people dead, exceeding the administration's most reluctantly extracted "worst case scenario" by a factor of at least six.

The question then becomes "Do the Democrats really need anymore justification than these nightmarish numbers to oppose a military quagmire where, last I counted, no less than 5 well-entrenched ethnic/sectarian factions were all doing their damnedest to eliminate not only the American presence but any Iraqis, as well, who were foolish enough to consort with the yanks?"

Myself, I call those reasons enough to get the flock out of there.
However, for those who insist on something resembling a "positive policy" for coping with the chaos of the region, the answer is transparently clear:

1.) A tenth of the present financial resources being burned in Iraq, spread amongst all the interested countries and parties in the region, would not only be more than adequate not only to fund each entity's individual security but also to build all the schools, hospitals, water treatment facilities and power plants they might possibly need for the next ten years. As they say, "Money walks and bullshit talks." If you don't believe me, simply ask North Korea.

2.) Apropos b.s., it is beyond ludicrous to ever imagine a respected US presence in the Middle East -- or even a moderately less reviled one -- until the American congress pulls the plug on militaristic Zionism. As long as we are blatantly underwriting a corrupt, bellicose, and religiously fanatical state ("It's all rightfully ours because God said so 3000 years ago."), only the most morally bankrupt war profiteers will remain our partners in the region.

There. Now that's not so complicated, is it?

Posted by: teknozen on March 29, 2007 06:13 PM

Many strategists are already warning that over the long haul, it is not enough to be antiwar: the Democrats need a strong, affirmative vision of foreign policy.

I don't know what they're talking about. It sounds like GOP propaganda to me. Our Democratic schlemiels have always had an affirmative vision of foreign policy. For almost a century, Democrats have led the way to securing the future for an emerging world civilization through increasingly sophisticated and effective global alliances. Naturally the Republicans have tried to ruin all this every step of the way, to pursue their strong and affirmative vision of raping and pillaging the world. It is amazing how much rich conservatives have succeeded in polluting the brains of America's chattering class, so now I have to listen to this garbage that the Democrats don't have a strong, affirmative vision of foreign policy.

Posted by: Gary Sugar on March 29, 2007 06:39 PM

Yeah, this is hogwash, all of it. "Warning" that the Democrats need a strong, affirmative vision of foreign policy is spreading Republican propaganda, pure and simple. Getting out of Iraq so we can focus directly on policing Al Qaeda and get our military and finances back in order is strong and affirmative. Iraq has made us weak and is, like, a real negative thing.

Posted by: MQ on March 29, 2007 09:06 PM

I thought Democratic national security bona fides was established by the half of the party that did not want to get into Iraq in the first place. Not fighting wars you do not need to apparently is no longer in our strategic interest.

Posted by: strategerist on March 30, 2007 02:48 AM

Charles Krauthammer also wonders why it's important to continue to fight in Afghanistan and not Iraq. I think he overstates the education and infrastructure of the Iraqis, but it is true that Iraq is the more important country strategically.

Posted by: Fred on March 30, 2007 03:30 AM

Checked with Matt, and he said that he talked to Robin Toner for about 30 minutes, and this was the half-quote she chose to use. No matter how careful you are about what you say, reporters are going to generally get the quote they want if they already have the story written and the dots connected. As you should know, Matthew!! And there's not necessarily anything wrong with that -- R Toner just thought that was the story worth telling.

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