Thursday, May 20, 2010

Our East-Left Center

I never heard of the East-West Center until I noticed a link (somewhere) to a brief on the latest quadrennial defense review in relation to China.

The author's point is so basic (that China is pursuing an anti-access strategy to delay American intervention and that we are working to counter it) that I was going to ignore the paper.

But then I read this bit of analytical junk food eagerly gobbled up by the Left but irrelevant to the topic:

In summary, the 2010 QDR presented the latest strategic thinking of the United States. It opens a window to understanding U.S. defense logic and implementation, but leaves an impression of an overarching global military that is both powerful and under stress. However, this QDR lacks an evaluation of past U.S. strategic mistakes in entering Iraq irresponsibly and in leaving arrogantly without apologizing to Iraq and the world. China-U.S. security relations have a similar nature: China has not come close to America to threaten the United States, but the United States has persistently interfered with China's domestic affairs. America thus invites insecurity and erodes its strength and leadership that the QDR has tried to sustain.

Really? Apologize to Iraq and the world for liberating Iraq? We left "arrogantly" (that is, we won). It was a strategic mistake to overthrow Saddam? And we threaten China while China does not threaten us?

Sure, this is all standard Left wing thinking. Who cares if one more "think tank" spouts this crud?

Well, you should care. You and I paid for it:

The East-West Center promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific through cooperative study, research, and dialogue. Established by the U.S. Congress in 1960, the Center serves as a resource for information and analysis on critical issues of common concern, bringing people together to exchange views, build expertise, and develop policy options. The Center is an independent, public, nonprofit organization with funding from the U.S. government, and additional support provided by private agencies, individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments in the region.

While I wouldn't propose action based on reading one article, the combination of banal analysis on the topic and the inability to refuse to whack the US in a very short brief makes me wonder if Congress should at least seriously consider renaming the organization the East-Left Center. Because that's the only bringing people together going on there.