Brooking's Institute hack Michael O'Hanlon (see previous post) returns yet again to NPR this morning. O'Hanlon has just published a new book, Hard Power (written with Defense Department insider Kurt Cambell) and is on NPR to chastise Democrats for not being being tough enough on "security" issues. O'Hanlon says, "our message is really more towards Democrats to say, 'Listen, Democrats got to get in this game because the country needs them to and for their own political good..."He then goes on to laud Ronald Reagan, just stopping short of posthumously awarding him the Iron Cross: "Reagan is a very popular figure among the military -- and frankly when you look at the basic facts, it's hard to disagree even if you’re a Democrat as I am....he built up the armed forces, he gave people a lot more pride in their military, both within and outside the armed forces....you put all that together and it paints a pretty nice picture in people’s memories of what Reagan did for the armed forces...."
O'Hanlon concludes by advising politicians, "you're only going to be able to be given the trust of the American people...if you first convince the American voter you can protect them the old fashioned way. If you have strong, clear and convincing views on how to employ the armed forces...."
If you can bear listening to this piece, notice how there is not a peep of dissent from Liane Hansen. No challenge to the idea that what our country needs is a massive, agressive security state. No suggestion that our global military establishment may in fact be part of why we are so hated and targeted. Not one mention of the Reagan-led torture, drug-running, and slaughter in Central America. Not one little hint that perhaps the security state and military industrial complex are destroying our republic. And no mention that the "old fashioned" concept of security in the US included an extreme distrust of a standing army and the obvious dangers it poses to a free nation.
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