This Natan Sharansky guy gets on my nerves

[bluestateguy]

He's the author of this new book that has the ear of the Bush White House and all the PNAC crowd. "The case for Democracy". I saw him interviewed on TV and it left me with that feeling of hearing fingernails on a chalkboard.

He came across to me as a typical neo-con: a self-righteous faux intellectual with bizarre ideas that are inapplicable in the real world outside of think tanks. Of course, he's never served in the military, but has no compunction about cheerleading for wars that somebody else's kid has to fight. A member of the Israeli Likud Party, which raises questions about why this foreigner has such influence over American foreign policy (I guess that's OK as long as it's the Likud Party, and not France or Germany). The Sharansky book is a blueprint for neverending wars and trumped up threats around the world.

20$ for the first person who can find where in the US Constitution it says that this country has the responsibility to "spread freedom" (whatever that means) around the world.

[Zuni]

1. He was one of the most famous Soviet dissidents at one time

He played a major role in the dissident movement and spent years in one of the most notorious Gulags, Perm-35 in the Ural Mountains for speaking his mind.
It is sad to see what he has done with his life since he got the freedom he fought for. Now it seems like he is just another Middle-Eastern wingnut

[elfin]

5. All that torture seems to have

addled his brain a bit. His ideals are praiseworthy - but now it appears he would condone torture in the name of "democracy", if he supports Dumbya's latest rationalization for wreaking mayhem on the world. Admittely haven't (nor plan to) read the book, but I wonder how he feels about societies disregarding the rule of law to spread "democracy."

[qwghlmian]

2. He is not a member of Likud -

you are aware of the fact that not every Israeli politician is a Likud member, right?

He also spent years in Soviet prison camps for his "bizarre ideas" of democracy and freedom.

[no_hypocrisy]

3. No $20 for me, but here's my 2 cents. The Monroe Doctrine only addresses

intervention in the affairs of the U.S. and the neighboring countries by EUROPEAN nations. As a matter of fact, Monroe promised that the U.S. would not interfere with European colonies already established or with governments in Europe. By extension, wouldn't that encompass the Middle East and beyond?

The Doctrine doesn't say that this country is pro-active in "spreading the good word" of democracy like an evangelical Christian, Europe or beyond. I guess the Founders figured that we would influence by example, not by force.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. The Monroe Doctrine Has No Standing In International Law

It is just a statement that the United States will not allow another nation to interfere in the affairs of the American continent...

[Soopercali]

6. For what it's worth...

Some of his compatriots insist he was a KGB informant who did not actually spend any time in prison. They say they can't come up with anyone who ever saw him there, and that his stories are lacking in credibility.

Which does seem more in keeping with a Bush buddy, eh?