Archives for November 2009

American Simplicity – The Japanese View

2009/11/13 By Dr Leo Strauss 19 Comments

A long time ago a Japanese document fell into U.S. hands inadvertently after the war. The document was entitled ‘Negotiating With The Americans’. We recall it now as Obama is in Japan. For the first time a U.S. President meets a psychologically independent Tokyo government well aware of American strategic and systemic failures.

The original Japanese assessments while blunt would only be ten times more on point today. Examples? U.S. negotiators are difficult to understand because Americans are ethnically and regionally diverse. Negotiations with Americans are especially difficult because Americans are unpredictable and erratic. The Japanese back then speculated, however, it was possible that American ignorance of basic facts might be a clever ploy – ‘their lack of humility in such cases may mean that they really know what they’re doing.’ Now they know.

We're Co-Equals - Eigo De That Means Anata No Dollaru No Okane Wa 'Screwed' Desu Yo

The memo (which is not classified) continues:

Americans have had a world leadership role since the end of [World War II]. They understand and are proud of their status, but seem not to know how they got there . . . Americans also take as given the tremendous wealth of their country, including rich deposits of minerals and petroleum as well as agricultural land. They waste these resources as if there were no end to them, spreading out over the land inefficiently and not seeming to notice. [ The memo goes on to offer fairly perceptive takes on American personalities, bureaucratic practices and preference for confrontational conversations. The author speculates that the U.S. domestic court system with its adversarial system designed to reveal the higher truth motivates negotiator mind sets].

When talks are concluded the U.S. side always feels some kind of euphoria. They like to think they have won, which is part of the adversary style common to them. They may engage in some public gloating to justify themselves to their countrymen. This is annoying when they do, but I suppose we should try to understand such behavior and recognize that they really cannot help themselves and do not mean any harm.

What would today’s version read like? Our friend over at Global Paradigms offers one clue with a terrific tour d’horizon of where the center of gravity in Asia is heading.

Determined To Be Deaf, Dumb And Blind: Afghanistan 1958, 2009

2009/11/11 By Dr Leo Strauss 16 Comments

Obama’s U.S. ambassador to ~~The Mayor of Kabul~~ Afghanistan doesn’t think much of the White House caving in to CENTCOM’s surge. It’s a little inconvenient that General Eikenberry commanded the NATO troops in Afghanistan 2006-07. But Team Petraeus knows a Defeatist Wanker when they see one. It ain’t nothing but a thang. President Petreaus will not forget. Besides, Gorbachev agrees with the crank. Exactly.

It unfortunately gets worse. We found another gem in the Bunker Library to share on point. It’s an original (and beautiful) copy of the “United States Operations Mission to Afghanistan” plan for 1958.

It’s charming for a number of reasons. First, it’s a beautiful piece of AgitProp. We mean it. One almost should scan the whole thing. The document radiates the tail end un-ironic stylings of American political sloganeering “New Deal”, “Fair Deal”, etc. All possible only pre-Dallas 1963. These were times when a World’s Fair meant a big deal – New York’s in 1964 would be the last. Obama would give his eye teeth to have this kind of simple optimism.

Second, on the analytical and substantive levels, State/AID could just fax it in with minor editing — like adding the small detail we’ve conducted semi-random violence in the country since Nov. 2001 to increasingly bad effect. Add that, a few rhetorical flourishes about narco-economics, and cut. It’s a take.

All the proposed solutions in 1958 are a smooth transition with the general bureaucratic cave to CENTCOM’s escalation. Whether Obama has an AID Director or not. Everything’s already here in 1958: ending corruption/good government, getting out of the way to encourage Afghans to take the lead, and even our current surge’s familiar Helmand Province is front and center. NRO could blog for weeks with this stuff.

What’s old is new. Odd to hold a bromide in one’s hands.

1,000 Monkeys, Typewriters And 1 NYT Column

2009/11/08 By Dr Leo Strauss 34 Comments

We ask our loyal friends to bear with us. This is not an easy post to write. In fact, it’s down right near preposterous. But here goes.

We agree with Tom Friedman. It’s time to walk away from Israel, the Palestinians and the Arabs. Or at least plan for it. The Israeli Right would welcome American disengagement as the fruits of their diplomatic obstruction and geographic expansionism. We’re under no illusions that Bibi et al. want Obama to leave them alone to continue their failed MachtPolitik. If only Obama and Clinton could show the political spine to stand down Israel, withstand domestic pressure before 2010 and then devote the resources necessary to give Palestinian statehood a viable shot. Without it, when push comes to shove it’s better to walk away from the pretense of engagement.

The Stiftung finds no joy noting Friedman essentially argues Obama go hands off ala the Warlord. Haven’t Kagan et al. always fantasized about this outcome? But Friedman is correct (even if inadvertantly) that a feckless engagement is worse than a reassessment. Friedman essentially asks ‘What would Baker do?’ We know Baker knew how to bring the hammer down. Can this Administration?

OK. There, it’s out. Whew. We’ve been walking into the Bunker walls today feeling disoriented posting that we agreed with Friedman although perhaps for different reasons. If the whole 1,000 monkeys and typewriters thing is true, those poor chimps. Chained and typing beginning in 1997 to get this one column.

Simian serfs just know that your ghostwriting even one Friedman column is a gift to mankind. We salute you.