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February 06, 2005

Scoop Jackson and NeoCons

I just stumbled across this gem: Scoop Jackson's protégés shaping Bush's foreign policy.

I had no idea that the legendary Democrat is considered by some to be the, or at least an, intellectual father of NeoConservatism. Yes, he was one of the most strident Cold Warriors. But, I never made the connection to NeoCons at all. Yet, a veritable who's who list of prominent NeoCons have strong connections to Scoop Jackson.

• Richard Perle is an adviser to the Defense Department and considered a major influence on Bush administration foreign policy.
• Doug Feith is undersecretary of defense for policy at the Pentagon.
• Elliott Abrams, special assistant to the president focusing on Middle East affairs, worked as special counsel to Jackson.
• Paul Wolfowitz, deputy secretary of defense and one of Bush's Iraq policy experts, never served directly under Jackson. But they had a long relationship that began when Wolfowitz, then a 29-year-old graduate student, helped Jackson prepare charts when the senator wanted to persuade fellow lawmakers to fund an antiballistic-missile program in 1969.

There are more:

"I wanted to work for Scoop Jackson. He was the last Democrat who embodied the high tradition of internationalism," said Charles Horner, a former aide who is now a scholar at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington, D.C.

"Bush is the embodiment of that tradition," Horner added.

Even President Reagan. When Reagan presented Scoop Jackson's widow with a posthumous Medal of Freedom in 1984, he said: "I am deeply proud — as he would have been — to have Jackson Democrats serve in my administration. I am proud some of them have found a home here."

Jackson's son Peter, a former speech writer for former Washington Governor, Gary Locke (D), indicates that his father might not agree with where some of his followers have taken his philosophy. "My father would never grandstand or question someone's patriotism. Since he died, the debate has become shriller."

Perhaps most telling was his final thoughts emailed to the author of the Seattle Times piece: "Intellectually, neocons are children of a common father, but what can the father do after a lowly few race off and elope with Republicans? Most Dads would sigh, lament their kids' poor taste, but love them anyway."

Posted by Kevin at February 6, 2005 01:20 PM