Yglesias has a good post about how conservatives (and certain senators named Joe) see foreign policy. It's truly twisted for a variety of reasons over and above its prima facie stupdity. It's the animating force behind the 101st Fighting Keyboarders. It's what gets Andrew Sullivan through the day, imagining that he's someone fighting a noble war. It's the belief that what differentiates them from those who aren't so thrilled about sending other peoples' kids off to die is their personal courage, when in fact it's nothing more than rank cowardice. It animates the "wishes are ponies" views of Friedman and the gang. It's what has caused the prominence of the Tinkerbell Approach.
It allows weak people to imagine they are strong in the comfort of their homes. I'll leave the pop psychology to others, but these people creep me out.
