Fukuyama speaks out: "Why shouldn't I change my mind?"

[kpete]

Why shouldn't I change my mind?

A famed neoconservative switches sides on the Iraq war -- and all hell breaks loose.
By Francis Fukuyama, Francis Fukuyama is a professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the author of "America at the Crossroads: Democracy, Power and the Neoconservative Legacy."
April 9, 2006


SEVEN WEEKS AGO, I published my case against the Iraq war. I wrote that although I had originally advocated military intervention in Iraq, and had even signed a letter to that effect shortly after the 9/11 attacks, I had since changed my mind.

But apparently this kind of honest acknowledgment is verboten. In the weeks since my book came out, I've been challenged, attacked and vilified from both ends of the ideological spectrum. From the right, columnist Charles Krauthammer has accused me of being an opportunistic traitor to the neoconservative cause — and a coward to boot. From the left, I've been told that I have "blood on my hands" for having initially favored toppling Saddam Hussein and that my "apology" won't be accepted.

In our ever-more-polarized political debate, it appears that it is now wrong to ever change your mind, even if empirical evidence from the real world suggests you ought to. I find this a strange and disturbing conclusion.

more at:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/sunday/commentary/la-op-fukuyama9apr09,0,5138726.story?coll=la-sunday-commentary

[qazplm]

1. he's right

on the left we often come across as, "too late" whenever someone like him comes around to our way of thinking. I think we can certainly be more gracious in our approach to guys like this.

[swag]

2. Francis has a point. Only idiots never change their minds and never

acknowledge that they were wrong.

[lolly]

3. Ah, the anonymous "from the left"

Anyone wonder why he mentioned a specific columnist from the right, but the left is "I've been told."

Who told you Francis? Who?

[boobooday]

4. I embrace his change of heart

But I wonder if he has changed his mind about the neo-conservative goals, or is just disappointed with their methods . . .

[Mythsaje]

5. He's wrong about one thing...

Those of us who foretold a complete disaster in Iraq from the very beginning were right. If we said it before the debacle even began, we weren't using hindsight, we were using foresight--something all of those who made the decision should have implemented.

[Pithy Cherub]

6. Francis has a pity party, two opinions show up

and suddenly the two that share their opinions represent everyone. He may want to actually do some more scholarly work before blanket condemnations issue forth.

He is right to rethink his flawed sophomoric belief in corrupt neo-cons, but he is also deserving for condemantion because his support of such failed thinking resulted in unecessary Death. FF has the rest of his life to atone and he started along that path with an admission. What's terribly sad is he is further along than Hillary, Lieberman and others.

[Me.]

7. He'd Be Better Served

if he dropped his lecturing tone. Perhaps those of us who have always been against this war are also correct in our refutation of privatizing SS and other projects which this administration favors. Also his poor me tone is misplaced given as he is one of the "godfathers" of the neo movement. I'm glad he is intellectually honest to admit his mistake and truly hope he does realize, in the future, that his intellectual pursuits such as the neo movement should be grounded in reality. A reality that philosophical dilettantism endangers both countries and lives, perhaps the world.

[SmokingJacket]

8. Better late than never....

but honestly, he had all the information he needed for this change of heart years ago; it was just ego and stubborness that kept him from doing so.

I remember reading some of his writing many years ago, before PNAC became a household word (well.. MY household) and thinking he had a good brain on his shoulders. I was actually shocked to discover he was a neocon.

About time, Franky!!!

[msgadget]

9. Being unwilling to debate himself has been (just) one of this president's

major faults.

Edit to add: I agree, this does read like a 'poor me' entry