Dr. Dave Explains Lefty Psychology

My pal Dave Young is a college Prof but a hawk (go figure), a Scot and a fiscal conservative (OK, redundant), a libertarian (sort of) and one of the smartest guys I know. This morning at the Starbucks psych couch (er.. table) Dave was explaining the “reasoning” of those 60s radicals whose minds have been in time stall for over forty years.

As former Vietnam War protestors, Dave and I both understand the motivation of many of us back in the day; it was fear. But we got over it, and I have trouble understanding how many old liberals still have such feelings after 9/11.

Dave wandered into psych talk to help me understand until my eyes glazed over and he came quickly to the point in one word: guilt. Deep down, said Dave, those old lefties still feel guilty about their old fears and can only justify themselves by maintaining a perpetual anti-war posture. Basically, cowardice bred guilt that bred the defense mechanism of pacifism.

Of course, the graying 60s radicals cannot see themselves that way and find ingenious ways to justify their world views. When I arrived home thanks to a ride from Dave, I turned to the LA Times opinion page (It’s my penance) to check out what the lefties were saying. Sure enough there was Rosa Brooks taking exception to the US National Security Strategy, “which has evolved not a jot during the last 2 1/2 years.”

Rosa thinks that President Bush is exhibiting Neanderthal tendencies when he insists that "Terrorist attacks are not caused by the use of strength; they are invited by the perception of weakness." Brooks thinks Bush’s explanation “ought to join the dodo and the woolly mammoth.” See what I mean by clever?

But what is Rosa’s more enlightened view of the foundation for a better National Security Strategy? Here it is:

An effective national security policy in the age of asymmetric warfare would bear little resemblance to the neolithic strategies we have seen from the administration over the last five years. To protect ourselves, we need a new generation of Americans who are capable of looking outward, as well as inward; we need leaders (and citizens) with the linguistic and cultural skills necessary to understand the perspectives of allies and adversaries alike.

So far it seems our protection relies on a new generation of Americans with linguistic and cultural skills. Are we with her so far? But what would those enlightened new Americans actually do, Rosa?

Such sensible policies include consistent and nonpoliticized support for meaningful democratic reform and human rights, a revitalized global development and anti-poverty strategy, an energetic effort to rebuild damaged global institutions and alliances, and a commitment to restoring U.S. credibility on issues of rights and the rule of law.

OK, there you have it, the lefty National Security Strategy. Uh, did I miss the military, special forces, smart bombs, aircraft carriers? I’m sure not feeling more secure. How about you all?

Dr. Dave, can you help us?