Neoconservative Existentialism

Larison:

Rhetoric that speaks of an “existential threat” is simply not credible, and anyone who deploys such an over-the-top argument will rapidly lose credibility with everyone outside an intense core of true believers.  There is a security threat from jihadists, but even that is not “existential.”  “America’s existence” is not at stake in Iraq, and it is rather amazing that people continue to repeat such things at this late date.