_http://www.antiwar.com/bock/?articleid=12199_ (http://www.antiwar.com/bock/?articleid=12199) January 12, 2008 Eye on the Empire by Alan Bock Some Substance, Please … Are any of the others reliably anti-war or even remotely skeptical of imperialism as a policy as compared to skepticism about this particular war? If so, could readers kindly offer evidence? On the Republican side, 10-term Texas Republican _Rep. Ron Paul_ (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/Decision2008/page?id=3393725) opposed the war from the beginning on libertarian-constitutionalist grounds and has furthermore argued for moving toward a more non-interventionist foreign policy under which the United States would, as a matter of policy, focus less on bombing and nation-building overseas. Thanks to his supporters' enthusiasm, of which I caught a good glimpse in New Hampshire, and their ability to raise money, he will stay in until the issue is decided, which means that to some extent his voice will be heard, especially if he rises to double digits consistently. However the other Republican candidates, while feeling the need to distinguish themselves from him and sound as bellicose as possible – the _first part of the debate Saturday night at St. Anselm College almost revolved around him_ (http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/01/05/gop-new-hampshire-debate-ron-paul-ba ttles-fellow-gop-candidates-on-iraq-terrorism/) – have not bothered to take on his ideas in any form more substantive than purportedly clever sound bites – "_reading Mr. Ahmadinejad's press releases_ (http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/TheNote/story?id=3105288&page=1) " indeed! So nobody feels much of an obligation to explain why we still need troops in Japan and Germany 60-plus years after the end of a war and in Korea 50-plus years after the end of another – let alone explain what they mean by victory in Iraq or speculate on how long U.S. troops will be there. They probably won't until Ron Paul starts scoring in the 30s [voting percentage] and actually wins a primary or two – although it's more likely they'll stick with smears and sarcastic sound bites. For many years now I have doubted the efficacy of the political process as a way to move forward toward a freer society. This campaign started with a hint of a promise that it might be a little different, that slightly heterodox views might get enough of a hearing to begin the process of modest changes in the direction of a less bellicose foreign policy. Having been on the ground for a week and a fairly attentive observer the rest of the time, I'm afraid my more long-term doubts are still firmly in place [End essay, end quote. ] For two more pages see: _http://www.antiwar.com/bock/?articleid=12199_ (http://www.antiwar.com/bock/?articleid=12199) Alan Bock, I on the Empire: Some Substance, Please
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