America's Foreign Policy Choices

This is a brilliant article, full of insight and humor, about the debate between liberal institutionalists, neocons and realists in foreign policy. And it's all about "The Godfather", one of the greatest political movies of all time:

Tom Hagen, the liberal institutionalist: “We oughta hear what they have to say.”

Sonny, the neocon: “No, no more. Not this time, consigliere; no more meetings, no more discussions, no more Sollozzo tricks. . . . And do me a favor: no more advice on how to patch things upjust help me win alright?”

Enter Michael, the young son, the realist. McCain is still Sonny, of course. I don't know whether Obama fits more the "liberal institutionalist" role or the realist, more Tom or Michael. I'm hoping for a Niebuhrian fusion, with the emphasis on Michael's cunning. As I said: hoping.