An honest, non-rhetorical response to annaliese's honest, non-rhetorical post

[Michael J. McCarthy]

I must compliment Andrew Allen on his response to Sultan's post
concerning our "obligations" as the world's police officer. Mr. Sultan
orginially based much of his position on what he termed "realism," but he has
yet to repond to my post explaining that the "realist" school of diplomatic
historians has been one of the most critical of our postwar foreign policy of
containment.

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Mike McCarthy "It is a principle that shines impartially on
Marshall Univ. History Dept. the just and on the unjust that once you have
Huntington, WV 25755, USA a point of view all history will back you up."
YEA...@MUVMS3.WVNET.EDU -Van Wyck Brooks
YEA003@MUVMS3 AMERICA'S COMING OF AGE (1915)

[jay steven sultan]

Sorry about the delay Mike. Realism as used in History is far different than
Realism used in Int. Relations.

My post was not mostly based on realism. It was based upon arguments made
directly about the world and the nature of power.

Andy did not refute my central claim, that an isolationist US would be very
bad indeed and that the US must be a world cop (the world cop). We even
joked about the fact that we were disagreeing about some specifics of what
the US did, and even solar power.

I suggest that you either re-read my post or think about the issue.

Briefly, Realism in international relations can be phrased as the 3000 pound
elephant that sleeps where it wants. Nations are rational actors and act in
thier selfish self-interest. POwerfull nations usually attack weak nations,
etc.

For those who are new to political science, the primer on the subject (and
indeed, on Int. Relations) is "Theory of International Relations) by Kenneth
waltz. My definition is sloppy and casual, but it should be enough to show
some contrast to Realism as used by historians.

Finally, Mike, if I raise the historical realism issue, it will be in the
contect of historical revionism (read: evil historical revisionins) and the
WBTS.

Jay Steven Sultan Internet: su...@quads.uchicago.edu
University of Chicago

"Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment
of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is
accepted as truth in the society dominating them." - MLK, 1967

[ANDREW ALLEN]

>Andy did not refute my central claim, that an isolationist US would be very
>bad indeed and that the US must be a world cop (the world cop).

Whoa- To be accurate what I was refuting is that the US *must* be the
"world cop;" I did separate that from isolationism. I do not personally
think tha isolationism is a good idea; however I do not think that
world domination is our (the US's) obligation.

>Briefly, Realism in international relations can be phrased as the 3000 pound
>elephant that sleeps where it wants. Nations are rational actors and act in
>thier selfish self-interest. POwerfull nations usually attack weak nations,
>etc.

Boy,if I had only known, all this time when folks were accusing me of
cynicism, I could have just told them it was "realism." B)

>Jay Steven Sultan Internet: su...@quads.uchicago.edu
>University of Chicago

-other Andy