Neoneo takes on Barry Obama's pablum about "sitting down to talk with anybody." A quote:
I think some of the current faith in talk comes from the popularity of “the talking cure”—therapy. Much of the rest of this post will consist of me quoting myself from an earlier piece; no need to reinvent the wheel. As I wrote some time ago:
But even therapists must acknowledge that there are times when talking does no good, when therapy is inappropriate, and when the tools of the trade not only don’t work but can be harmful. But Pelosi and Lantos and so many others [such as Obama] seem to think of dialogue as something magical and universally appropriate [the following is a Lantos quote]:
“…however objectionable, unfair, and inaccurate many of [Ahmadinejad’s] statements are, it is important that we have a dialogue with him.”
Why? Why is it important? In order to feel that we are peaceful and good people? In order to empower him to think that we are fools? In order to allow him to buy time while he develops his nuclear weaponry? In order to give him greater prestige in the eyes of the world? In order to afford him propaganda opportunities and photo ops?
As I understand it, the goal of the management of international relations is to advance the interests of one's nation and of one's allies. If it is anything else, then we Americans should not be paying your salary. That's one reason I am more than dubious about the UN.
The Chinese and the Russians do not give a damn about Western virtuousness. It's nothing but weakness, in the big leagues. Tony Soprano would understand it.
Neoneo's whole piece is here.
