Rich Lowry Flashback

Was hunting through the archives for something unrelated and came across this little nugget from Rich Lowry. From August 16, 2002, almost 3 years ago:

CHUCK HAGEL, SOPHISTICATED FOREIGN-POLICY MIND: [Rich Lowry]
Chuck Hagel is now deemed a foreign-policy sophisticate for mindlessly repeating over and over that there are “risks” to invading Iraq. Golly, Chuck, really? Hagel MUST have a Ph.D. in international relations or something to have developed such a nuanced view of American foreign policy. Who knows how many thousands of hours of study and thought it took Hagel to come to the conclusion that invading Iraq is “complicated” and “risky”? I bet Nebraska has never been blessed with such Metternich-ian savvy, possibly ever. So, it’s really too bad that Hagel debased his foreign-policy genius in the New York Times today by resorting to the most shamelessly stupid of peacenik arguments: “Maybe Mr. Perle would like to be in the first wave of those who go into Baghdad.” Ohhh, Chuck—your rhetorical powers are over-awing us here in The Corner. How long did it take you to think that one up?

Now, is it Hagel’s position that no one should have a view on American foreign policy who isn’t a member of America’s military? That we should ditch constitutional democracy for a system more like Sparta? Hagel obviously thinks it’s hypocrisy for anyone to advocate a position that they aren’t willing to implement themselves. So, maybe Hagel should stop saying growing corn is a good thing and go grow it himself. Or stop saying arresting criminals is a good thing and go arrest some himself. Seriously, if Hagel thinks arresting crack dealers is such a good thing—presumably—why isn’t he willing to go help make the busts?

At least John McCain, another Republican maverick, is interesting and has a kind of charm. Hagel is just a bore.