Diplomacy? What else you got?

War is not the only alternative to diplomacy. Just because the soft diplomacy of Europe, and liberals in general, has been a complete failure does not mean that the only bullets left in our gun are literal. Once violence is a real option, the threat of violence becomes a powerful weapon. That is the reason why modern liberals are impotent on the world stage. They have made war a last option, behind even suicide. There is no chance of violence with a European solution so why would any dictator be motivated to broker a fair deal? There is nothing in it for Iran if they abandon nukes, as there was nothing in it for Arafat to end the intifada. But the peace barkers assumed everybody wanted what they were selling. This is why soft diplomacy is the dodo, it assumes so many untruths.

I agree that Iran and North Korea feel more comfortable with us extended in Iraq. This is why in dangerous times the military needs to be ramped up. Conservatives have been saying for over 10 years that we have cut too deep. That warning is now a truth. I hope we don't invade Iran, but if you want concessions, it has to be an option...a real option. I also think that serious sanctions with teeth would be a useful tool. However, the Europeans inevitably run the sanction policies and immediately defang them. Which is why I contend that Europe should have no serious role in the major international issues of the day. I understand this is not pragmatic. But that doesn't make it any less valid.

I also think MCLeiberman's solution is a nice compromise between diplomacy and regime change. Let's defang the tyrants for a change instead of the sanctions against them.

As for abandoning the Middle East I think that would be a grave mistake. The Middle East is the source of world terror and will continue to be as long as the main ingredient, oppression, exists in such vast quantities. A free Middle East will do more to improve world quality of life and American safety than any other palliative that has been discussed. Besides, spreading liberty is the most noble endeavor a country can embark on and Americans should be proud to be part of a generation that is attempting to do just that. Isolationism is stagnation and the first stage of rigor mortis.