In recent weeks, there tends to be a ceiling on the right’s criticism of President Obama’s handling of the crisis in Ukraine. Republicans tend to stick to a couple of key talking points — they urge the White House to take many of the steps Obama already supports, and they swoon over Vladimir Putin’s “leadership” — without actually making the case for a heightened military confrontation.
But Bill Kristol, undeterred by his track record and elusive credibility, is nevertheless willing to go where many in his party are not. His latest Weekly Standard piece isn’t necessarily surprising, but it is a timely reminder of an unnerving world view.
Are Americans today war-weary? Sure. The Iraq and Afghanistan wars have been frustrating and tiring. Are Americans today unusually war-weary? No…. So American war-weariness isn’t new. Using it as an excuse to avoid maintaining our defenses or shouldering our responsibilities isn’t new, either. But that doesn’t make it admirable. […][T]he idol of war-weariness can be challenged. A war-weary public can be awakened and rallied. Indeed, events are right now doing the awakening. All that’s needed is the rallying.
While even the most hawkish Republicans on Capitol Hill steer clear of bellicose saber-rattling, Kristol has no similar hesitations. His piece goes on to implore Republicans running for president in 2016 to “awaken Americans” and prepare them for war. War against whom? Kristol doesn’t say; given his worldview, it may not matter. The pundit simply wants someone to step up and move the nation from war-weariness to war-eagerness.
“Will no brave leader step forward to honorably awaken us from our unworthy sleep?” he asks.
Remember when we had a White House that took this man’s pleas seriously?
Incidentally, I’ve been meaning to mention that Kristol doesn’t just want more wars; he’s also apparently on board with the CIA’s recent antics.
Bill Kristol, the neoconservative product of nepotism who has distinguished himself over the years by being wrong about nearly everything, found himself in a familiar situation on Sunday morning: As the only person willing to defend the lawlessness of the CIA and the national security state in general.Appearing on “This Week,” ABC’s Sunday morning political gabfest, Kristol was the only member of a panel of five willing to back the CIA in its ongoing contretemps with California Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein, who has accused the spy agency of acting unlawfully and unethically by spying on her staff.Disagreeing with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren, who called for a thorough investigation of the CIA in light of the charges from Feinstein (who is usually a staunch defender of the agency), Kristol said he was willing to “defend the intelligence community against a bunch of senators and their staff.”
Note, of course, that Kristol’s unique ability to be consistently wrong does not interfere with his Sunday-show invitations.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."