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Volume 13, Number 7, July 2007 Yaron Brook Addresses Current and Future Initiative Political Leaders Nears Funding Goal r. Yaron Brook, tlas Shrugged ARI executive changes lives and $515,000 D A 100% director, recently gave Goal has the potential to 90% a talk on foreign policy transform the culture. 80% to participants in the To celebrate the fif- 70% Leadership Program 60% tieth anniversary of 50% of the Rockies (LPR), its publication and to 40% 30% $319,919 www.leadershipprogram Current Total help ensure its con- 20% .org, a prestigious tinued influence, ARI Colorado institute that 10% Dr. Yaron Brook has launched the Atlas trains and supports Shrugged Initiative. current and emerging leaders in public policy To date ARI has raised more than $300,000 in and in related fields. LPR has among its support of this program. With the continued graduates many elected/appointed officials support of our donors, we expect to raise the full on local, state and national levels, including a ARI has raised more than 60 percent of the Atlas Shrugged Initiative $515,000 required to fund all parts of the initia- fundrasing goal for this year. former cabinet secretary. For the second year in a tive for this year. row, Dr. Brook spoke and answered questions on As described in previous issues of Impact, the Atlas Shrugged. the Objectivist approach to foreign policy, ARI’s Atlas Shrugged Initiative is a series of programs To date we have sent more than 25,000 position on the Iraq war and the broader fight and events commemorating the fiftieth anniversary copies of the novel to select high school teachers against Islamic totalitarianism. of the publication of ’s masterpiece. Our and members of the media, and have requests The response to Dr. Brook was phenomenal. goal is to bring wider public attention to the novel for 17,000 more. Given these spectacular results, “I heard a lot of favorable comments from my and its ideas, as well as to further stimulate interest ARI would like to expand this program by classmates,” said Ms. Lin Zinser, LPR participant in Atlas Shrugged among intellectuals, students making Atlas Shrugged available to all high and ARI donor, “and I know many of them have and educators. school teachers teaching classes for which gone to the ARI Web site as a result of his talk. As one crucial component of this initiative, the novel is appropriate. In order to meet this Several were still talking about his remarks a ARI is distributing free copies of Atlas Shrugged demand, we are asking for additional funding in month later, and I know many would like to bring to teachers, professors, businessmen, media pro- the amount of $245,000, which will enable us to him back for additional talks.” fessionals and others. For example, ARI recently distribute 100,000 copies of Atlas Shrugged. The LPR curriculum is ideological and ran an ad in the online edition of the Chronicle To learn more about the Atlas Shrugged practical in that it is designed to give participants of Higher Education, which reaches more than Initiative, or to donate, please visit us on the a grounding in the principles of American 50,000 educators, offering them a free copy of Web at www.aynrand.org/initiative. civilization, a crash course in economic literacy and the tools of civic activism. The program consists of one full-day session each month for nine months, and the speakers include many of Teacher Web Site Launched the most recognized and respected experts in the country—including experts on current events, arlier this month ARI launched a new mately, we hope the courses will help teachers economics, history, leadership, the political EWeb site for high school teachers, fulfill their continuing education requirements, process and public relations. www.aynrandeducation.com. thereby increasing their appeal. A major component of LPR, called “Defenders “The goal of this Web site is to increase the The teacher Web site complements our newly of ,” taught by longtime ARI donor quality of teaching of Ayn Rand’s novels, in order created Web site for high school students, www Michael Williams, includes lessons on the historical to increase the effectiveness of the thousands of .aynrandnovels.com. Currently the student site and moral defense of capitalism and requires the teachers who are features a video course reading of Atlas Shrugged, with written and oral using Ayn Rand’s on exams at the end. LPR students are of extremely books in the class- by professor of high caliber and each year’s class is limited to room,” said Ms. Anu , Dr. Andrew sixty-five students. “While LPR attracts mainly Seppala, ARI’s vice Bernstein. A course conservatives, I’ve found they react very favorably president of cultural by ARI senior fellow, to Objectivist speakers like Yaron Brook and John programs. “The Dr. , on Ridpath,” said Williams, who has helped shape the teachers’ site will pro- Atlas Shrugged will be program for the last six years. vide a wide range of available later this year. “Speaking engagements like this one give resources and tools to Said Ms. Sep- the Institute an unmatched opportunity to address enhance the teaching pala: “We expect these people who are influential in politics, and to of the novels.” Web sites to acceler- present to them our views,” said Dr. Brook. “This ARI is develo- ate the impact of our is the crucial next step in reaching the day when ping several courses Free Books to Teach- Ayn Rand’s views will be part of the political for high school instructors on the teaching of ers program, by giving teachers and students a debate and we look forward to getting more ARI Ayn Rand’s novel. These courses, once avail- rich palette of tools and resources with which to speakers in front of such audiences.” able, will assist them in presenting Ayn Rand’s deepen their understanding of Ayn Rand’s novels novels more effectively to their students. Ulti- and their importance.” instructions regarding the disposition of the radio stations. The residual estate will benefit both the and the University of Arizona (Mr. Silverstein’s alma mater, where the bequest is earmarked for the university’s swimming program). The Silversteins have entrusted to ARI the eventual settlement of their estate. Speaking with pride of their legacy arrangements, Mr. Silverstein said, “When I’m gone, my work and life will have had more meaning.” Atlantis Legacy gifts to ARI are crucial to political freedom by stealth. It can’t be done.” the future success of Ayn Rand’s world-changing vs. (“Choose Your Issues”) philosophy. We invite you to join the Silversteins Ayn Rand was particularly alarmed by the and the hundreds of other donors who have Conservatism rise of religious conservatives. She blasted arranged bequests and other planned gifts to the their attempt to claim that capitalism is based Institute. ARI may be included in your estate plan Each month Impact suggests readings and other on faith in God, writing that “to rest one’s as a primary or contingent beneficiary through a resources for fans of Ayn Rand’s fiction who wish case on faith means to concede that reason is will, insurance policy, retirement plan, etc., and/or to learn more about her philosophy, Objectivism. on the side of one’s enemies—that one has no a specialized charitable plan. Participation in the rational arguments to offer. The ‘conservatives’ Atlantis Legacy is not limited by the value of the yn Rand was sometimes referred to as claim that their case rests on faith, means that legacy gift or by contingencies placed on such Aa conservative, a label she categorically there are no rational arguments to support the designations. If you have arranged a planned gift rejected: “Objectivists are not ‘conservatives,’” American system, no rational justification for but have not informed ARI in this regard, we she wrote. “We are radicals for capitalism; we freedom, justice, property, individual rights, encourage you to do so and be recognized as an are fighting for that philosophical base which that these rest on a mystic revelation and can Atlantis Legacy donor. capitalism did not have and without which it be accepted only on faith—that in reason and To learn more about how you can support was doomed to perish.” (“Choose Your Issues” logic the enemy is right, but men must hold the Institute through planned giving, return the in The Objectivist Newsletter) faith as superior to reason.” (“Conservatism: An enclosed reply card to ARI, visit www Capitalism, Miss Rand held, rests on the Obituary” in Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal) .atlantislegacy.org and/or contact Kathy principles of reason, egoism and . She knew their approach could lead only to Cross, Gift & Estate Planning Manager, To achieve laissez-faire capitalism, therefore, statism, and she fought their attempts to breach at 310-876-1633 or [email protected]. one must defend these philosophic ideas. the separation of church and state and impose “When, however, men attempt to rush into religiously inspired tyranny, such as laws ARI is committed to providing donors with accurate and politics without such a base,” Miss Rand banning obscenity and abortion. authoritative information about charitable contributions. wrote in 1962, “the result is that embarrassing For further reading on this topic (in addition However, we cannot render legal or tax advisory services. conglomeration of impotence, futility, to the essays already cited), see “Censorship: We urge donors to consult their own advisers regarding inconsistency and superficiality which is Local and Express” in Philosophy: Who Needs the tax and legal consequences of potential gifts. We are pleased to work with donors’ advisers as well as our own loosely designated today as ‘conservatism.’” It; chapter 10 of Dr. ’s book to help ensure the best result for all concerned. She continued: “Today’s culture is Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand; dominated by the philosophy of mysticism and Ayn Rand’s interview “Conservatism vs. (irrationalism)——collectivism, the Objectivism,” available for free on the Ayn base from which only statism can be derived; Rand Multimedia Library section of our Web Media Update the statists (of any brand: communist, fascist site, www.aynrand.org. All of the items cited or welfare) are merely cashing in on it—while in this column can be purchased from the Ayn In recent months ARI’s op-eds and letters to the the ‘conservatives’ are scurrying to ride on the Rand Bookstore. To order, please visit www editor have been published in many top print publi- enemy’s premises and, somehow, to achieve .aynrandbookstore.com or call 1-800-729-6149. cations. Here are a few highlights:

Op-eds

• Businessweek.com (6/12/07): Onkar Ghate, Atlantis Legacy Donor Profile: Lou Silverstein “No Right to ‘Free’ Health Care” • Providence Journal (5/30/07): Yaron Brook, When asked by An avid swimmer, Mr. Silverstein still swims “Say ‘No Way!’ to ‘Say on Pay’” ARI several years competitively. At this year’s National Master • Lexington Herald-Leader (5/28/07): ago to express what championship meet in Seattle, he took first place Alex Epstein, “What We Owe Our Soldiers” motivates his support in two of the races in his age group. • Pittsburg Tribune-Review (5/27/07): of the Ayn Rand Institute, longtime Objectivist Ayn Rand’s powerful ideas helped Keith Lockitch, “Rachel Carson’s Genocide” Lou Silverstein responded: Mr. Silverstein to identify and pursue his personal • Orange County Register (5/6/07): “In the late 1940s I was an indifferent college values. In turn, his and Mrs. Silverstein’s support Onkar Ghate, “Atlas: Still Radical” student with no goals, academic or otherwise. of ARI helps further their philosophic values in • Las Vegas Review-Journal (4/13/07): And my life was going the culture. The Silversteins , “What a Real War Looks Like” nowhere. As with many became ARI donors • Tampa Tribune (3/30/07): , Objectivists, Ayn Rand’s shortly after the Institute’s “In Defense of Income Inequality” novels changed my life. I inception in 1985. They was an average radio-time increased their financial In addition, letters to the editor by David Holcberg, salesman in Tucson when commitment over the years, and Tom Bowden have appeared in I read Atlas Shrugged. as they witnessed ARI’s papers such as the New York Times, USA Today, Thirteen years later I owned gradual but unmistakable Los Angeles Times and the Chicago Tribune. my own radio station. What progress toward the “more Ayn Rand’s philosophy did rational world” in which for me, it has done for many Mr. Silverstein wants to others. I want to live in a live. By 2002 they were New Ayn Rand Translations more rational world. This is Lou Silverstein and his wife Nancy Benefactors (donors who Impact is pleased to announce several new why I support the contribute $10,000 or more foreign translations of Ayn Rand’s works. Her Ayn Rand Institute.” annually). Back in the 1970s, they had named the books Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology Mr. Silverstein and his wife Nancy had each Foundation (a nonprofit and Why Businessmen Need Philosophy discovered Ayn Rand’s writings independently organization founded by Ayn Rand, no longer in were translated into Chinese; Anthem was before they met in 1964. They were both thrilled existence) in their estate plan to receive a bequest; translated into Spanish; and Atlas Shrugged was to have found someone to talk to about their later they changed the designation to the Ayn Rand released in Marathi, a language of the Indian enthusiasm for Ayn Rand’s ideas. Mr. Silverstein Institute. In 2003 when ARI formalized its planned subcontinent. (Please note that ARI does not now owns two successful radio stations in giving program as the Atlantis Legacy, they were participate in the translation process or review Prescott, Arizona, where he still works full among the first to respond and become official the accuracy of translations.) time. For many years his daily schedule has participants. included hosting a twelve-minute morning The Silversteins’s primary estate planning interview program, on which he occasionally document is a revocable living trust, which they has Objectivist intellectuals as guests. One of his named the “Mulligan Trust” after the character stations carried The Leonard Peikoff Show, live, Midas Mulligan in Atlas Shrugged. Among its in the mid- to late nineties. He was inducted into many provisions, the trust arranges for the care the Arizona Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2002. of a family member, and it includes specific

2 Excerpt: “Neoconservative Foreign Policy: An Autopsy” by Yaron Brook and Alex Epstein The following is an excerpt from an article “international community,” and, to the extent their about our role in the world. It is a danger, in the summer 2007 issue of The Objective aggression was acknowledged, it was dealt with to be sure, of our own devising. Yet, if Standard, a journal of culture and politics via “diplomacy,” a euphemism for inaction and neglected, it is likely to yield very real written from an Objectivist perspective. appeasement. Diplomacy had been the dominant external dangers, as threatening in their Subscriptions to The Objective Standard are response in 1979, when a new Islamist Iranian way as the Soviet Union was a quarter available through the Ayn Rand Bookstore at regime supported a 444-day hostage-taking of century ago.4 www.aynrandbookstore.com. (The Objective fifty Americans—as part of an Islamic totalitarian Standard is not affiliated with ARI.) movement openly committed to achieving Islamic In place of “realism,” neoconservatives * * * world domination, including the destruction of advocated a policy often called “interventionism,” When asked during the 2000 presidential Israel and America. Diplomacy had been the one component of which calls for America to work campaign about his foreign policy convictions, response when the terrorist agents of Arab-Islamic assertively to overthrow threatening regimes and George W. Bush said that a president’s “guiding regimes killed marines in Lebanon in 1983—and to replace them with peaceful “democracies.” Bad question” should be: “What’s in the best interests bombed a TWA flight in 1986—and bombed the regimes, they asserted vaguely, were responsible of the United States? What’s in the best interests of World Trade Center in 1993—and bombed the for threats like ; such threats could never our people?”1 Khobar towers in 1996—and bombed the U.S. emerge from “democracies.” “Interventionism,” A president focused on American interests, he embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998—and they said, took a “broad” and ultimately more made clear, would not risk troops’ lives in “nation- bombed the USS Cole in 2000. Diplomacy had realistic view of America’s “national interest,” by building” missions overseas: also been the response when issued a death dealing with threats before they metastasized into decree on a British author for “un-Islamic” catastrophes and by actively replacing threatening I don’t think our troops ought to be used writings, threatening American bookstores and governments with “democracies” that would for what’s called “nation-building.” I publishers associated with him, and thus denying become our allies. In place of a series of “realist” think our troops ought to be used to Americans their sacred right to free speech. responses to the crisis of the moment, they fight and win war. I think our troops Throughout all of this, Americans had accepted claimed, they were offering a long-range foreign ought to be used to help overthrow the that our leaders knew what they were doing with policy to protect America now and in the future. dictator when it’s in our best interests. regard to protecting America from terrorism and After 9/11, the neoconservatives felt But in [Somalia] it was a nation-building other threats. On 9/11, Americans saw with brutal intellectually vindicated, and they argued for exercise, and same with Haiti. I wouldn’t clarity that our actions had been somewhere “interventionism” with regard to state sponsors have supported either.2 between shortsighted and blind. The country and of terrorism. An editorial in the leading its president were ripe for a dramatic departure neoconservative publication, The Weekly Standard, In denouncing “nation-building” Bush was from the policies that had guided and failed called for a “war to replace the government of in line with a long-standing animus of Americans America pre-9/11. each nation on earth that allows terrorists to live against using our military to try to fix the endless The only prominent group of intellectuals and operate within its borders.”5 The replacement problems of other nations. But at the same time, that offered a seemingly compelling alternative governments would be “democracies” that would he was going against a major contingent of claiming to protect America in the modern, allegedly ensure that new threatening regimes conservatives, the neoconservatives, who had long dangerous world were neoconservatives. would not take the place of old ones. been arguing for more, not less, nation-building. Neoconservatives had long been critics of These ideas exerted a major influence By 2003, though, George W. Bush had America’s pre-9/11 foreign policy, the technical on President Bush immediately after 9/11, adopted the neoconservatives’ position. He sent name for which is “realism.” “Realism” holds that an influence that grew in the coming years. the American military to war in Iraq, not simply all nations are, in one form or another, “rational” On September 20, 2001, influenced by to “overthrow the dictator,” but to build the actors that pursue common interests such as neoconservative colleagues and speechwriters, he primitive, tribal nation of Iraq into a “democratic,” money, power, and prestige. Given such common proclaimed a desire to end state sponsorship of peaceful, and prosperous one. This “Operation goals among nations, “realists” hold that, no terrorism: “Every nation, in every region, now has Iraqi Freedom,” he explained, was only the first matter what another nation’s statements or actions a decision to make: either you are with us, or you step of a larger “forward strategy of freedom” toward the United States, there is always a chance are with the terrorists. . . . From this day forward, whose ultimate goal was “the end of tyranny in for a diplomatic deal in which both sides make any nation that continues to harbor or support our world”3—a prescription for worldwide nation- concessions; any other nation will be “rational” terrorism will be regarded by the United States building. All of this, he stressed, was necessary for and realize that an all-out military conflict with as a hostile regime.”6 His neoconservative deputy America’s “national interest.” superpower America is not in its interest. Thus, secretary of defense, Paul Wolfowitz, publicly President Bush’s profound shift in foreign America pursuing its “national interest” means a called for “ending states who sponsor terrorism”7 policy views reflected the profound impact that constant diplomatic game of toothless resolutions, (though the “realists” in the State Department September 11 had on him and on the American amorphous “pressure,” and dressed-up bribery caused the administration to partially recant). public at large. to keep the world’s assorted threatening nations Soon thereafter, President Bush made clear Before 9/11, Americans were basically in line. The only time “realists” are willing to that he wanted to replace the state sponsors satisfied with the existing foreign policy. They abandon this game in favor of using genuine of terrorism with “democracies,” beginning had little desire to make any significant changes, military force against threatening regimes is in the with Afghanistan. When he dropped bombs on and certainly not in the direction of more nation- face of some catastrophic attack. Otherwise, they that country, he supplemented them with food building. The status quo seemed to be working; regard it as not in our “national interest” to deal packages and a tripling of foreign aid; he declared Americans seemed basically safe. The Soviet with other nations by military means. Why take the Afghan people America’s “friend” and said that Union had fallen, and America was the world’s such a drastic step when a successful deal may be we would “liberate” them and help them establish lone superpower. To be sure, we faced occasional just around the corner? a “democracy” to replace the terrorist-sponsoring aggression, including Islamic terrorist attacks In the 1980s and 1990s, as “realism” Taliban. against Americans overseas—but these were not dominated foreign policy, neoconservatives The full influence of neoconservatism was large enough or close enough for most to lose criticized it for having a false view of regimes, evident by the time of the Iraq War. Prior to 9/11, sleep over, let alone demand fundamental changes and a “narrow,” shortsighted view of the “national the idea of democratic “regime change” in Iraq in foreign policy. interest” in which only tangible, immediate threats with the ultimate aim of “spreading democracy” Everything changed on that Tuesday morning to American security warranted military action. throughout the Arab-Islamic world was unpopular when nineteen members of a terrorist network They rightly pointed out that “realism” was a outside neoconservative circles—dismissed as a centered in Afghanistan slaughtered thousands of shortsighted prescription for long-range disaster— “nation-building” boondoggle waiting to happen. Americans in the name of an Islamic totalitarian a policy of inaction and appeasement in the face After 9/11, George W. Bush became convinced— movement supported by states throughout the of very real threats, and thus a guarantor that and convinced Americans—that such a quest was Arab-Islamic world. What once seemed like those threats would grow bolder and stronger. A utterly necessary in today’s dangerous world, and a safe world was now obviously fraught with neoconservative essay published in 2000 expresses that it could and would succeed. “Iraqi democracy danger. And what once seemed like an appropriate this viewpoint: will succeed,” he said in 2003, “and that success foreign policy toward terrorism and its state will send forth the news, from Damascus to supporters was now obviously incapable of The United States, both at the level of Teheran—that freedom can be the future of every protecting America. Prior to 9/11, terrorism was elite opinion and popular sentiment, nation. The establishment of a free Iraq at the heart treated primarily as a problem of isolated gangs appears to have become the Alfred E. of the Middle East will be a watershed event in the roaming the earth, to be combated by police Newman of superpowers—its national global democratic revolution.”8 investigations of the particular participants in motto: “What, me worry?” . . . [T]here Thus, the neoconservative foreign policy of any given attack; our leaders turned a blind is today a “present danger.” It has no “regime change” and “spreading democracy” had eye to the ideology driving the terrorists and name. It is not to be found in any single become the American foreign policy—and the to the indispensable role of state support for strategic adversary. . . . Our present hope of Americans for protecting the nation. international terrorist groups. State sponsors of danger is one of declining military As neoconservative columnist Charles terrorism were treated as respected members of the strength, flagging will and confusion  Excerpt: “Neoconservative Foreign it has brought about is so bad, so much worse than anticipated, that it cannot be explained IRA Gift Opportunity Policy: An Autopsy,” continued from page 3 by particular personalities (such as Bush or Rumsfeld) or particular strategic decisions (such Were you born during the first half of 1937, or earlier? Do you have an IRA (Individual Retirement Krauthammer wrote in 2005: as insufficient troop levels). Such a failure can be explained only by fundamental flaws in the policy. Account)? If your answer to both questions is Yes, On this count, most of the President’s crit- due to legislation passed last year, you may have an What neoconservatives have long been unprecedented opportunity to save taxes in 2007 by advocating is now being articulated ics and critics of neoconservatism heartily agree; supporting ARI. For details, visit www.aynrand.org/ and practiced at the highest levels however, their identification of neoconservatism’s IRA or contact Kathy Cross, Gift & Estate Planning of government by a war cabinet fundamental problems has been abysmal. The Manager, at 310-876-1633 or [email protected]. composed of individuals who, coming criticism is dominated by the formerly discredited from a very different place, have joined “realists,” who argue that the Iraq War demon- College Credit for Studying . . . the neoconservative camp and strates that “war is not the answer” to our prob- are carrying the neoconservative idea lems—that the United States was too “unilateral- Ayn Rand throughout the world.9 ist,” “arrogant,” “militaristic”—and that we must revert to more “diplomacy” to deal with today’s ARI has been asked to announce that Dr. Brian P. Simpson, an economics professor at National University in San Diego, will begin At first, Operation Iraqi Freedom—and thus threats. Thus, in response to Iran’s ongoing sup- port of terrorism and pursuit of nuclear weapons, teaching an online course, ECO 430: Economics and Philosophy, in our new neoconservative foreign policy—seemed September. Among the required readings are Ayn Rand’s The to most observers to be a success. The basic to ’s nuclear tests, to Saudi Arabia’s of Selfishness and Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal. The course, which expectation of the war’s architects had been ongoing financing of Islamic totalitarianism—they has no prerequisites, can be taken from anywhere in the world via the that by ousting a tyrant, “liberating” Iraqis, and counsel more “diplomacy,” “negotiations,” and Internet. It is offered through National University’s School of Business and Management. Please contact Dr. Simpson at [email protected] allowing them to set up a “democracy” in Iraq, “multilateralism.” In other words, we should attempt to appease the aggressors who threaten us or 858-642-8431, for more information. (Please note that this course we would at once be deterring future threats is not affiliated with the Ayn Rand Institute, The Objectivist Academic with bribes that reward their aggression, and we from Iran and Syria, setting up a friendly, allied Center or Objectivist Conferences.) regime in Iraq, and empowering pro-American should allow our foreign policy to be dictated by influences throughout the Middle East. And the anti-Americans at the United Nations. These are the exact same policies that did absolutely Impact is published monthly by the Ayn Rand® Institute (ARI) and is when the American military easily took Baghdad, complimentary to current donors who contribute $35 or more per year. when we witnessed Kodak moments of grateful nothing to prevent 9/11 or to thwart the many For information on how you can support ARI and to learn about threats we face today. our projects, please visit our Web site: www.aynrand.org. Atlantis Iraqis hugging American soldiers or razing a ® If these are the lessons we draw from Legacy , the Institute’s planned giving program, and related indicia statue of Saddam Hussein, when President Bush are registered trademarks. The Ayn Rand Archives is a special the failure of neoconservatism, we will be collection of the Ayn Rand Institute. Objectivist Conferences (OCON) declared “major combat operations in Iraq have and the Ayn Rand Bookstore are owned by Second Renaissance, 10 no better off without that policy than with it. ended,” neoconservatives, in particular, thought Inc., which is operated by the Ayn Rand Institute. Second that everything was working. Their feeling of It is imperative, then, that we gain a genuine Renaissance, Inc., and the Ayn Rand Institute do not necessarily understanding of neoconservatism’s failure endorse the content of the lectures and courses offered. All photos triumph was captured on the back cover of The of Ayn Rand are used by permission of the Estate of Ayn Rand. Weekly Standard on April 21, 2003, in which the to protect American interests. Providing this Purchases from the Ayn Rand Bookstore do not qualify as tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. magazine parodied prominent Iraq war critics understanding is the purpose of this essay. In by printing a fake apology admitting that their our view, the basic reason for neoconservatism’s Editor: failure to protect America is that neoconservatism, Editorial Advisers: Dr. Yaron Brook, Mark Chapman, opposition to Operation Iraqi Freedom reflected Debi Ghate, Anu Seppala Designer: Simon Federman stupidity and ignorance. “We’re Idiots. We Admit despite its claims, is fundamentally opposed to Printing: David Antonacci Copy Editor: Donna Montrezza It,” the parody read. “We, the Undersigned, Agree America’s true national interest. Headquarters: 2121 Alton Parkway, Suite 250 Irvine, CA 92606-4926 Phone: 949-222-6550 Fax: 949-222-6558 that We Got this Whole War in Iraq Business Endnotes © The Ayn Rand Institute 2007. All rights reserved. Not to be Spectacularly Wrong. We didn’t see that it was a reproduced without permission. war of liberation, not a war of colonization. . . . We Acknowledgment: The authors would like to thought the Iraqi people would resent American thank Onkar Ghate, senior fellow of the Ayn Rand troops. We thought the war would drag on and Institute, for his invaluable editorial assistance on. . . . We wanted to preserve the status quo.”11 with this project. Future cover stories of The Weekly Standard 1. George W. Bush, Second Presidential featured inspiring titles such as “Victory: The Debate, October 11, 2000, http://www Restoration of American Awe and the Opening .debates.org/pages/trans2000b.html. of the Arab Mind” and “The Commander: How 2. Ibid. Tommy Franks Won the Iraq War.” 3. Office of the Press Secretary, “State of ® But the luster of the Iraq War quickly wore the Union: A Strong America Leading the off as American troops faced an insurgency that World,” January 31, 2006, http://www the Bush team had not anticipated; it turned out .whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/01/2006/ that many of the lovable, freedom-loving Iraqis we 01/2006131-8.html/pages/trans2000b.html. had heard about prewar were in fact recalcitrant, 4. William Kristol and Robert Kagan, dictatorship-seeking Iraqis. Still, even through “Introduction: National Interest and Global 2005, many viewed the Iraq War as a partial Responsibility,” Present Dangers: Crisis and success due to the capture of Saddam Hussein and Opportunity in American Foreign Policy (San such alleged milestones as a “transfer of power” in Francisco: Encounter Books, 2000), p. 4. 2004, an election and the passage of a constitution 5. J. Bottum, “A Nation Mobilized,” in January 2005, and a ratified constitution in Weekly Standard, September 24, 2001. December 2005—events that were heralded even (Weekly Standard PDF, p. 8; J. Bottum, for by many of the President’s most dependable the Editors.) critics, such as the New York Times. 6. George W. Bush, Address to a joint Now, however, in mid-2007, the Iraq War session of Congress, September 20, 2001, is rightly regarded by most as a disaster that http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/ utterly failed to live up to its promise. The Bush- 2001/09/20010920-8.html. neoconservative vision of deterred enemies, a 7. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/ friendly Iraq, and the inspiration of potential allies terrorism/july-dec01/wide_war.html. around the world has not materialized. Instead, for 8. George W. Bush, Forward Strategy of the price of more than 3,200 American soldiers, Freedom speech—President Bush Discusses and counting, we have gotten an Iraq in a state Freedom in Iraq and Middle East at the 20th of civil war, whose government (to the extent it Anniversary of the National Endowment for has one) follows a constitution avowedly ruled Democracy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, by Islamic law and is allied with Iran; more- Washington, D.C., November 6, 2003, http:// confident, less-deterred regimes in Iran and Syria; www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/11/ and the increasing power and prestige of Islamic 20031106-2.html. totalitarians around the world: in Egypt, in the 9. Charles Krauthammer, “The Palestinian territories, in Saudi Arabia, in Lebanon. Neoconservative Convergence,” Commentary, And all of this from a policy that was supposed to July/August 2005. provide us with a clear-eyed, farsighted view of 10. “Bush calls end to ‘major combat,’” our “national interest”—as against the blindness CNN.com, May 2, 2003. http://www.cnn and short-range mentality of our former “realist” .com/2003/WORLD/meast/05/01/sprj policies. .irq.main/. How have we managed to fail so 11. Weekly Standard, April 21, 2003, p. 40. spectacularly to secure our interests in the perfect neoconservative war? The state of affairs