Debate on Foreign Policy at Federalist Society

But Where Are They Going?

At the annual meeting of the Federalist Society last November I spoke/debated about the issue of “Limited Government and Spreading Democracy: Uneasy Cousins?” (See the list of speakers below.*) The issue was about the role of the state in “spreading democracy,” whether to do so at the point of a bayonet, with tax dollars, or by setting the best example. In my presentation, I pointed out that there has been a loss of liberty at home due to our president’s reckless policies and that the policies abroad have generally caused chaos and death (Iraq does come to mind) without delivering much in the way of democratic liberalism.

The audio of the debate is now available online.

The discussion was on the long side (and one of them, Briard’s, refers to a Powerpoint, but can be understood without it), so if you want to listen, set aside a little time. I think that it will be interesting, nonetheless. (Considering the audience, I sought to uphold some version of the foreign policy vision on which president Bush had campaigned in 2000: a humble foreign policy.)

*Fran�§ois-Henri Briard, Delaporte, Briard & Trichet and President, The Federalist Society, Paris Chapter; William Kristol, Editor, The Weekly Standard; Mr. Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs; Moderated by Hon. A. Raymond Randolph, United States Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit.

Posted by Tom Palmer at January 4, 2007 10:48 PM | TrackBack