DC Pundits Get Almost Everything Wrong About Trump’s Saudi Posture

But of course everyone in this fight is making arguments for political reasons, including those such as Rand Paul
who oppose the U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia while it’s fighting in
Yemen, and others who prefer Iran and the Muslim Brotherhood as hegemons
in the Middle East. There’s nothing wrong with political argumentation.
The problem is when people pretend they’re talking about a shared
hatred of a brutal murder instead of talking about underlying foreign
policy goals.

Benjamin Weingarten wrote about the political use of the Khashoggi killing weeks ago in this piece, “Why Is Khashoggi Being Made The Defining Issue Of U.S. Foreign Policy?”

thank u

But moving from the failed attempt of using a heavy hand to spread
democracy and American values to advocating a foreign policy in favor of
the country’s strategic interests is something to be excited about.

no replace
“democracy and American values”

with “ideas of Liberty”

use a heavier hand when needed

exited about holding the status quo 4 uncounted generations?

not excited, disgusted

a prison of 2 ideas

DC Pundits Get Almost Everything Wrong About Trump’s Saudi Posture

Obama Says Trump ‘Obviously’ Doesn’t Share His Vision of America

no freak’n kidding. 

“What’s unique about America is our aspirations to be a large,
successful, multiracial, multicultural, multiethnic, multireligious
pluralistic democracy,” Obama said. When Axelrod asked whether Obama
felt that Trump shared that opinion, the former president said,
“Obviously not.”

“Since Barack left office, I’ve read news stories that turn my
stomach. I’ve lain awake at night, fuming over what’s come to pass,” she
writes in the book’s epilogue. “It’s been distressing to see how the
behavior and the political agenda of the current president have caused
many Americans to doubt themselves and to doubt and fear one another.
It’s been hard to watch as carefully built, compassionate policies have
been rolled back, as we’ve alienated some of our closest allies and left
vulnerable members of our society exposed and dehumanized.

“I
sometimes wonder where the bottom might be,” she says,  adding that she
remains optimistic—and that optimism is “an antidote to fear.”

just do not see a way to close the rift until one side surrenders

Obama Says Trump ‘Obviously’ Doesn’t Share His Vision of America

Nationalism Is Loyalty Irritated | National Review

nationalism in a nation that has freedom of the individual as a core tenent

Therefore, I contend, like a fever, nationalism can be curative or
fatal. And, like fevers, it can come and go depending on the nation’s
internal health or the external circumstances a nation finds itself in.

The reemergence of nationalist politics in America and abroad requires
us to ask those simple questions. What is bothering them? Do they have a
point? What do they want to do about it? Would it be just? In broad
strokes I intend to take those questions up.

the tone is dismissive but it seems to be progress from NRO

Nationalism Is Loyalty Irritated | National Review