Putting 10 malfunctioning telephone poles [sic] in the ground to appease Warsaw and a radar in Czecho despite local public opposition never made strategic military sense. The hair brained scheme was an important lynch pin for the Neocon’s imperial fantasy. First BMD in Eastern Europe. Then roll back along the former Soviet Near Abroad. Followed by ‘lilypads’ across Central Asia. For a few years as a political construct it worked. The Imperial idea fell apart. Then economic collapse buried it in a heap of hopeless debt. Today’s decision to dynamite this anachronistic AgitProp artifact is a political double plus good regardless of motivations.
One should be muted in satisfaction, however. The Pentagon’s — and Gate’s — belated recognition that sea-based boost-phase architectures offer superior options and timetables is military common sense. As a rejection of Neocon grandiosity it comes many years too late. And at great cost. (The Stiftung made this point way back at STSOZ 1.0 when the plan was first unveiled). The geopolitical and strategic damage is already done. One should also recall the JCS as an institution were also props for Russian Expert Par Excellence and Polish telephone pole [sic] proponent Cher Condi et al. Who now recalls her toothy, vapid assurances that she could ‘handle’ the Russians and get them to ‘go along’ with the whole boondoogle?
Obama’s decision will entail domestic political costs. BMD will be another quiver in the Revanchist arsenal. Safeguard already was after the ABM Treaty. Recall back in 1977 the Peanut Farmer was also correct for military logic behind canceling the B-1. Soviet air defense and PVO Strany interceptors were more than capable of defeating a high speed American penetration bomber. Configuring B-52s as stand off launch platforms for cruise missiles (ALCMs) which were stealthier and terrain following? Technically far more effective and negated significant Soviet capital investment. The Peanut Farmer’s technocratic explanations failed to resonate on the essential political plane. His decision became a potent rallying cry for the nascent merger of Neocons and Movement base in the late 1970s: ‘build the Rockwell B-1’.
Reagan of course did precisely that, and the B1-B emerged, now in 1981 a hobbled low altitude subsonic platform whose Eaton electronics warfare suite was so ‘effective’ that when offensive measures were turned on they turned off the aircraft’s defensive countermeasures. (The electronics fiasco never was 100% satisfactorily worked out). And the Air Force became the proud owner of a ill-fated platform it didn’t even bother to deploy for Desert Storm, etc. It makes the Pinto look like a Honda Accord.
We recall this history now because many Movement ‘thinkers’ 2009 are trapped in the Fall of Saigon playbook. It’s what they lived. We say this not based on speculation but actual conversations. They do what they know worked before. Literally we’ve heard Obama is McGovern – a direct quote. (Ignore that McGovern was a bomber hero from WW II). We can expect the Movement to resurrect BMD in a replay politically. This time the meme has the added kicker of ‘homeland’ versus ‘ferriners’ (Iranians and North Koreans). Add to it some form of ‘surrender’ to be conjured up for events to come in Iraq. And mix some synthetic pressure to escalate in Afghanistan for ‘victory’. And presto! Obama is an incompetent traitor – a meme Cheney already floated. As sure as tea bag parties and town hall rage-ins, expect a Committee for the Present Danger Mark IV with BMD as a center piece. Too bad he doesn’t have a Panama Canal to give back — that would be icing on the cake. And a new Reagan emerges. According to the daydreams.
That’s all fine for domestic mud slinging. Does anyone in Seoul or Riyadh follow Joe Wilson or this stuff? What they do notice is that the new BMD architecture is essentially amphibian. Contrary to Krauthammer’s triumphalist ‘Going Ashore’ nostrums in 2003 the U.S. is distinctly pulling back – as an amphibian should. Imperial clients notice these things. Along with an Empire that economically has imploded. For those like ‘the New Europe’ that believed in the Warlord they went all in – to the last chip. And bust out. This is just the first sign of the American tide receding. As American bankruptcy forces constraints expect more ‘strateigc re-assessments’ in years to come.
Poland loses its American hostages. On the anniversary of Stalin’s invasion in 1939. No one ever accused the Americans of being historically literate. Or sensitive. Obama’s promise Thursday via telephone that America stands behind its Article V commitment under NATO must gall. To sensitive Poles (and Zbig) when the rubber hits the road Waraw will need more than a speech. Or an off the record denunciation that Putin is a ‘jackass’.
What worries the Stiftung the most is that the health care fiasco and the preceding six months suggest the Democrats are functionally incompetent as a governing political force. For different reasons than the Movement’s eight years. And with less pernicious impact to be sure. We still doubt they have the acumen to plan, execute and then explain why the periphery is to be let go. It’s a perfect storm for Movement Dolchstoßlegende — and conveniently also the label ‘November Criminals’. Fortunately, at the moment this means largely just even more agitated South Carolinians and assorted others. This shrunken rump base may not always remain so.
At least the U.S. is beginning to make strategic priorities even if by default. This is all to the good. Provoking Russia with a useless BMD construct was an empty gesture. Russia can never accept a carrot and stick immediately for reasons of face. But it’s an overdue accommodation to political realities and U.S. long term interests.
Still, a price at home must be paid. Does Obama understand he must actually govern and not preside? He can’t count on the Democratic establishment to take a stand. Technocratic rationales won’t cut it. The question is when will he stop playing defense and actually lead?
DrLeoStrauss says
@Comment
That particular radar initially promised to Prague was technically deficient anyway. That radar could not see over the horizon and thus was incapable of seeing boost phase, a vital intercept period for BMD engagements.
As you note, the whole concept is one falsehood wrapped in another. The U.S. has no business issuing strategic guarantees to Poland, let alone Georgia ! or Ukraine ! Another Not-So-Bright legacy expanded upon by the Neocons. Cheques we can’t cash.
Comment says
@Dr Leo Strauss
It’s ridiculous to be building stuff in Czecho land anyway – No one believes whatever reason stated is real reason. There’s no trust – no real rationale. Sorrows of empire.
Dr Leo Strauss says
Looks like the Czechs don’t like consolation prizes much and turned down The Boy King’s already greatly scaled back proposal to give them a couple of dark rooms with some screens. So no radar installation at all in CR.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/jun/15/eu-czech-missile-defense/
Dr Leo Strauss says
Russia’s economy to shrink by 7.5% this year. ‘Could be worse.’ That’s the spin? And to think they used to be masters of AgitProp. Whatever would Boris Ponomarev have said?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8301333.stm
Dr Leo Strauss says
Our friend Leon Hadar graces the cacophony of Arianna’s infotainment site with his usual elegance and insight:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leon-t-hadar/with-missile-shield-chang_b_294438.html
Dr Leo Strauss says
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-schwarz29-2009sep29,0,4375015.story
And they even get paid for this ‘insight.’ So they at least got that part of game figured out. The Editors, however, should have timed it for Sarah’s Chicom star turn . . .
Dr Leo Strauss says
Yes we agree with the tactical decision yet don’t see it as part of any coherent overarching re-evaluation of the chronic ends means gap and consequent over-extension of American footprint or commitment. Shoving the BMD architecture forwards for short range and medium range intercept was always the rational choice when the whole notion came up years ago. So for that reason alone, we do clap.
The talk about czars, grand plans, reform, etc.? More than a whiff of ad hoc remains pervasive around the Administration’s strategic thinking. Perhaps if he gave another speech . . .
Dr Leo Strauss says
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0909/27327.html
This seems about right for the medium term. Boeing, alas we hardly knew ye . . .
A Random Quote says
Yes, but you agree, but ….