tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132520298120231193.post650787689775713399..comments2023-12-23T02:10:09.875-05:00Comments on howl at pluto: "Pushback" against U.S. in Latin AmericaLFChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13551197682770555147noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132520298120231193.post-64652374735316660342008-09-21T21:33:00.000-04:002008-09-21T21:33:00.000-04:00Yes, I think there's something to that. (Though on...Yes, I think there's something to that. (Though one could get into a lengthy, fairly pointless debate about whether the int'l system is currently unipolar, multipolar, or "nonpolar".)LFChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551197682770555147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132520298120231193.post-73417603218659071282008-09-21T13:44:00.000-04:002008-09-21T13:44:00.000-04:00Leaving aside for the moment what the US should do...Leaving aside for the moment what the US should do, I think the Latin American reaction is a product of the unipolar moment we are in. With no competitor around to make it look good, the power of the US is coming under greater scrutiny (Gaddis) It is true that Bush et. al have hastened this with their disregard to multilateralism, but is also a structural issue. <BR/>NAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132520298120231193.post-84932790949894484302008-09-19T13:48:00.000-04:002008-09-19T13:48:00.000-04:00Certain bases increase power projection capabiliti...Certain bases increase power projection capabilities, but not all bases do -- the one in Ecuador that's the subject of this post really had nothing to do with power projection. Nor do all existing bases discourage potential regional hegemons and peer competitors, of which there really aren't any (Chavez's dreams notwithstanding) in Latin America anyway. So even in 'imperial' terms, many of the bases may not be doing very much.<BR/>It's true that some advocates of offshore balancing are defensive realists of one sort or other (e.g. Layne, Walt, etc.), and I agree that U.S. foreign policy, even under an Obama administration (if it occurs) probably will not go sharply in that direction.LFChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13551197682770555147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-132520298120231193.post-35092034060727433712008-09-19T13:05:00.000-04:002008-09-19T13:05:00.000-04:00Both Van Evera and Desh discuss basing in developi...Both Van Evera and Desh discuss basing in developing countries and argue that ultimately it is a waste of resources for the US and morally objectionable additionally. But they come at the issue from a defensive realist position. Defensive realists were also against the Iraq war and it still occurred. American foreign policy is more imperial than realist in character, and overseas basing increases US power projection and its ability to dissuade potential peer competitors and regional hegemons.Ebethronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12991148981765412768noreply@blogger.com