The Roots and the War on Terror - Is the US on the right path?

Well thanks to Souljah, a link was provided that I found eye-opening. Its a quiz and it might answer some of your questions. I know it did mine.


Here are 4 'labels', which are you?



Isolationist
The term isolationist is most often used negatively; few people who share its beliefs use it to describe their own foreign policy perspective. They believe in "America first." For them, national sovereignty trumps international relations. Many unions, libertarians, and anti-globalization protesters share isolationist tenets.
Isolationists…

* Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations
* Oppose international law, alliances, and agreements
* Believe the US should not act as a global cop
* Support trade practices that protect American workers
* Oppose liberal immigration
* Oppose American imperialism
* Desire to preserve what they see as America's national identity and character

Historical isolationist: President Calvin Coolidge
Modern isolationist: Author/Commentator Pat Buchanan






Liberal
Liberals…

* Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
* Trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
* Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
* Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
* Oppose American imperialism
* Support international law, alliances, and agreements
* Encourage US participation in the UN
* Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor

Historical liberal: President Woodrow Wilson
Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter




Realist
Realists…

* Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
* Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
* Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
* Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
* Weigh the political costs of foreign action
* Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest

Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell




Neoconservative
Neoconservatives…

* Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower
* Share unwavering support for Israel
* Support American unilateral action
* Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security
* Promote the development of an American empire
* Equate American power with the potential for world peace
* Seek to democratize the Arab world
* Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies

Historical neoconservative: President Teddy Roosevelt
Modern neoconservative: President Ronald Reagan

Neocon Quiz





As for my results from the quiz,

Neocon quiz results
Based on your answers, you are most likely a neoconservative.

So I stand corrected I guess, because by this definition and the results, I guess I am a Neocon.


But of course this poll wasnt balanced now was it....Why not a question of attack your enemy with full force after you are attacked? I guess ol Jimmy Carter even tried that one.

[edit on 13-8-2005 by edsinger]

I'm a Realist and have been one for years, with an educational concentration in Conflict and Security it kind of goes hand in hand though.


Also do you think Powell was a realist as that quiz says I certainly don't?

[edit on 13-8-2005 by Baphomet79]

I would have to a say I am a Realist based on this particular thread. Problem is no current party in America really follows this position.

Ah but go take the quiz, the results might surprise you, they did me.

Suprise Suprise Didnt need a test to tell me this

Based on your answers, you are most likely an isolationist. Read below to learn more about each foreign policy perspective.

No insult intended ed but you were the ONLY person suprised by your score.



[edit on 13-8-2005 by Amuk]

Based on your answers, you are most likely a neoconservative.

Big surprise there..

Welcome to the club ed.

Originally posted by Amuk
Suprise Suprise

Didnt need a test to tell me this

Based on your answers, you are most likely an isolationist. Read below to learn more about each foreign policy perspective.

No insult intended ed but you were the ONLY person suprised by your score.

Well I would more likely fall in the isolationist camp, I like ol Pat.

But then again with the questions loaded as such, neo I be.

Originally posted by edsinger

Well I would more likely fall in the isolationist camp, I like ol Pat.

Just judging from your posts and the debates we have had I think they nailed you pretty close loaded or not

I would like to see a lot of the other Americans try this test

Originally posted by Amuk

Originally posted by edsinger

Well I would more likely fall in the isolationist camp, I like ol Pat.

Just judging from your posts and the debates we have had I think they nailed you pretty close loaded or not

I would like to see a lot of the other Americans try this test

I guess so AMUK, I too would like to see more take the test.

i was not surprised to learn that I am an isolationist. After all, i grew up during Vietnam.

Liberal!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How Did I get Liberal? Agh, I feel so insulted....I think I'll suit for millions
FIND ME JOHNNY COCHRAN!!!!! nevermind.....

Anyways...I didnt agree most of the choices provided, I just picked which BEST suites me. Tthe test has nothing about Abortion(anti), Religion(pro), Gun Control(I luv guns), etc..etc...

you know, the "real traits" (for lack of a better term) that determine what you are. The test is bogus....it's rigged I tell ya

Liberal:shk:


]

[edit on 13/8/2005 by SportyMB]

Let me state this for the record, like it matters, but half of the choices given were not along my liking or take, in regards to what was asked.

Anyhow, the result of the quiz was that I was a realist.
Perchance, would that be anywhere close to a warhawk?





seekerof

liberal.....pfft

I would say No. The United States dug a whole through insistance of Democracy and through I feel, good intentions, pissed off a lot of Countries.

It didn't start with Bush II, he just fueled the fire after 9/11. The played tuff and is being played tuff at the cost of innocent American People. And other world Countries that entered into the Iraq stuff without doing so with a UN mandate.

Dallas

I could take some items from all three catagories in to my world view. I don't feel the need to be catagorized, or to catagorize others. Thus maybe I'm a real "realists"

Hey Ed - I am glad you took the Quiz.

Guess what I am - do I really need to tell you all?



[edit on 14/8/05 by Souljah]

Originally posted by SportyMB
Liberal!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How Did I get Liberal? Agh, I feel so insulted....I think I'll suit for millions
FIND ME JOHNNY COCHRAN!!!!! nevermind.....

Anyways...I didnt agree most of the choices provided, I just picked which BEST suites me. Tthe test has nothing about Abortion(anti), Religion(pro), Gun Control(I luv guns), etc..etc...

you know, the "real traits" (for lack of a better term) that determine what you are.

Marketing is deceptive by design.

It's hard to be conservative on foreign policy beyond the sound bytes. This test gives you (for all intensive puposes) a 3 to 1 shot to come out more conservative than liberal, and without the buzz words most people (not as far gone as Ed) simply can't do it.

I'm sure if the test was fluffed up (more like our elections) with a little candy corn and false dichotomies like Religion: (pro) or (con) [ sorry that just cracks me up] people would know what to pick to come out closer to the ideals they have of themselves planted in their head by sound bytes... and get a foreign policy contrary to their actual ideals as a result. But hey, at least the world knows you're pro-puppy and prefer your picnics ant free. Unlike those other guys. The anti-puppy, pro-ant bastids.

Originally posted by edsinger

Neoconservative
Neoconservatives…

* Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower
* Share unwavering support for Israel
* Support American unilateral action
* Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security
* Promote the development of an American empire
* Equate American power with the potential for world peace
* Seek to democratize the Arab world
* Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies

Historical neoconservative: President Teddy Roosevelt
Modern neoconservative: President Ronald Reagan

I think based on the descriptions of choices, Isolationist versus Liberal would be the ideological equivalents to "conservative" versus "liberal" and Realist is the non-ideological compromise, while NeoCons are from the ultra liberal dark side of Mars.

That thinking simply is not conservative on this planet.

[edit on 14-8-2005 by RANT]

Why was there no "conservative" result on that questionaire? It's pretty incorrect to call reagan a neoconservative. The two are incredibly different ideologies.

-koji K.

Originally posted by koji_K
Why was there no "conservative" result on that questionaire? It's pretty incorrect to call reagan a neoconservative. The two are incredibly different ideologies.

-koji K.

This reads like a check list for the Reagan/Bush administration though as pertains to foreign policy which this test exclusively covers.

Neoconservatives…

* Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower
* Share unwavering support for Israel
* Support American unilateral action
* Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security
* Promote the development of an American empire
* Equate American power with the potential for world peace
* Seek to democratize the Arab world
* Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies

As I was saying earlier there was alot of sugary candy coating to Reagan to make all that palatable (to most people), and the modern lexicon of "conservative" is just that IMO. Values are icing, not applicable ideology or policy.


[edit on 14-8-2005 by RANT]