[ComputerFix]

More and more this term is being used to describe politicians and people alike.

Obviously, Neocon is short for Neoconservative.

OK, so what does it mean? Is it a matter of perception, or is there a "solid" definition. I decided to try to find out, but I will leave most of my own findings out in favor of hearing what others have to say.

To start, here is what the Merriam-Webster on-line dictionary has to say.....

Neoconservative: a former liberal espousing political conservatism

Conservatism: 1 capitalized a : the principles and policies of a Conservative party b : the Conservative party
2 a : disposition in politics to preserve what is established b : a political philosophy based on tradition and social stability, stressing established institutions, and preferring gradual development to abrupt change
3 : the tendency to prefer an existing or traditional situation to change



Well gee, that answers the question

Which is why I pose it to those who use it, hear it, and are labeled with it (by self and others)......

[angelize56]

CF: Does this article help ya? Take care! angel

Neocon 101

Some basic questions answered.

What do neoconservatives believe?

"Neocons" believe that the United States should not be ashamed to use its unrivaled power – forcefully if necessary – to promote its values around the world. Some even speak of the need to cultivate a US empire. Neoconservatives believe modern threats facing the US can no longer be reliably contained and therefore must be prevented, sometimes through preemptive military action.

Most neocons believe that the US has allowed dangers to gather by not spending enough on defense and not confronting threats aggressively enough. One such threat, they contend, was Saddam Hussein and his pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. Since the 1991 Gulf War, neocons relentlessly advocated Mr. Hussein's ouster.

Most neocons share unwavering support for Israel, which they see as crucial to US military sufficiency in a volatile region. They also see Israel as a key outpost of democracy in a region ruled by despots. Believing that authoritarianism and theocracy have allowed anti-Americanism to flourish in the Middle East, neocons advocate the democratic transformation of the region, starting with Iraq. They also believe the US is unnecessarily hampered by multilateral institutions, which they do not trust to effectively neutralize threats to global security.

What are the roots of neoconservative beliefs?

The original neocons were a small group of mostly Jewish liberal intellectuals who, in the 1960s and 70s, grew disenchanted with what they saw as the American left's social excesses and reluctance to spend adequately on defense. Many of these neocons worked in the 1970s for Democratic Senator Henry "Scoop" Jackson, a staunch anti-communist. By the 1980s, most neocons had become Republicans, finding in President Ronald Reagan an avenue for their aggressive approach of confronting the Soviet Union with bold rhetoric and steep hikes in military spending. After the Soviet Union's fall, the neocons decried what they saw as American complacency. In the 1990s, they warned of the dangers of reducing both America's defense spending and its role in the world.

Unlike their predecessors, most younger neocons never experienced being left of center. They've always been "Reagan" Republicans.

What is the difference between a neoconservative and a conservative?

Liberals first applied the "neo" prefix to their comrades who broke ranks to become more conservative in the 1960s and 70s. The defectors remained more liberal on some domestic policy issues. But foreign policy stands have always defined neoconservatism. Where other conservatives favored détente and containment of the Soviet Union, neocons pushed direct confrontation, which became their raison d'etre during the 1970s and 80s.

Today, both conservatives and neocons favor a robust US military. But most conservatives express greater reservations about military intervention and so-called nation building. Neocons share no such reluctance. The post 9/11-campaigns against regimes in Afghanistan and Iraq demonstrate that the neocons are not afraid to force regime change and reshape hostile states in the American image. Neocons believe the US must do to whatever it takes to end state-supported terrorism. For most, this means an aggressive push for democracy in the Middle East. Even after 9/11, many other conservatives, particularly in the isolationist wing, view this as an overzealous dream with nightmarish consequences.

How have neoconservatives influenced US foreign policy?

Finding a kindred spirit in President Reagan, neocons greatly influenced US foreign policy in the 1980s.

But in the 1990s, neocon cries failed to spur much action. Outside of Reaganite think tanks and Israel's right-wing Likud Party, their calls for regime change in Iraq were deemed provocative and extremist by the political mainstream. With a few notable exceptions, such as President Bill Clinton's decision to launch isolated strikes at suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan in 1998, their talk of preemptive military action was largely dismissed as overkill.

Despite being muted by a president who called for restraint and humility in foreign affairs, neocons used the 1990s to hone their message and craft their blueprint for American power. Their forward thinking and long-time ties to Republican circles helped many neocons win key posts in the Bush administration.

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 moved much of the Bush administration closer than ever to neoconservative foreign policy. Only days after 9/11, one of the top neoconservative think tanks in Washington, the Project for a New American Century, wrote an open letter to President Bush calling for regime change in Iraq. Before long, Bush, who campaigned in 2000 against nation building and excessive military intervention overseas, also began calling for regime change in Iraq. In a highly significant nod to neocon influence, Bush chose the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) as the venue for a key February 2003 speech in which he declared that a US victory in Iraq "could begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace." AEI – the de facto headquarters for neconservative policy – had been calling for democratization of the Arab world for more than a decade.

What does a neoconservative dream world look like?

Neocons envision a world in which the United States is the unchallenged superpower, immune to threats. They believe that the US has a responsibility to act as a "benevolent global hegemon." In this capacity, the US would maintain an empire of sorts by helping to create democratic, economically liberal governments in place of "failed states" or oppressive regimes they deem threatening to the US or its interests. In the neocon dream world the entire Middle East would be democratized in the belief that this would eliminate a prime breeding ground for terrorists. This approach, they claim, is not only best for the US; it is best for the world. In their view, the world can only achieve peace through strong US leadership backed with credible force, not weak treaties to be disrespected by tyrants.

Any regime that is outwardly hostile to the US and could pose a threat would be confronted aggressively, not "appeased" or merely contained. The US military would be reconfigured around the world to allow for greater flexibility and quicker deployment to hot spots in the Middle East, as well as Central and Southeast Asia. The US would spend more on defense, particularly for high-tech, precision weaponry that could be used in preemptive strikes. It would work through multilateral institutions such as the United Nations when possible, but must never be constrained from acting in its best interests whenever necessary.

[angelize56]

Are you a neocon....take this quiz and find out!

http://www.csmonitor.com/specials/ne...eoconQuiz.html

[CyBerAliEn]

Neocon quiz results

Based on your answers, you are most likely a realist. Read below to learn more about each foreign policy perspective.


Isolationist

The term isolationist is most often used negatively; few people who share its beliefs use it to describe their own foreign policy perspective. They believe in "America first." For them, national sovereignty trumps international relations. Many unions, libertarians, and anti-globalization protesters share isolationist tenets.

Isolationists…

Are wary of US involvement in the United Nations
Oppose international law, alliances, and agreements
Believe the US should not act as a global cop
Support trade practices that protect American workers
Oppose liberal immigration
Oppose American imperialism
Desire to preserve what they see as America's national identity and character

Historical isolationist: President Calvin Coolidge
Modern isolationist: Author/Commentator Pat Buchanan


Liberal

Liberals…

Are wary of American arrogance and hypocrisy
Trace much of today's anti-American hatred to previous US foreign policies.
Believe political solutions are inherently superior to military solutions
Believe the US is morally bound to intervene in humanitarian crises
Oppose American imperialism
Support international law, alliances, and agreements
Encourage US participation in the UN
Believe US economic policies must help lift up the world's poor

Historical liberal: President Woodrow Wilson
Modern liberal: President Jimmy Carter


Realist

Realists…

Are guided more by practical considerations than ideological vision
Believe US power is crucial to successful diplomacy - and vice versa
Don't want US policy options unduly limited by world opinion or ethical considerations
Believe strong alliances are important to US interests
Weigh the political costs of foreign action
Believe foreign intervention must be dictated by compelling national interest

Historical realist: President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Modern realist: Secretary of State Colin Powell


Neoconservative

Neoconservatives…

Want the US to be the world's unchallenged superpower
Share unwavering support for Israel
Support American unilateral action
Support preemptive strikes to remove perceived threats to US security
Promote the development of an American empire
Equate American power with the potential for world peace
Seek to democratize the Arab world
Push regime change in states deemed threats to the US or its allies

Historical neoconservative: President Teddy Roosevelt
Modern neoconservative: President Ronald Reagan

*Editting the above to make it more "readable".

[bassetman]

Simple answer, do you agree with Mulder?

[Wino]

My on-line dictionary only has the following picture - no definition and two URL links - one to TSG Random and the other to some Skinhead Nazi site

[ComputerFix]

Angel,

I have read several, but thank you for posting it.

All,

The idea was to see what those who use the word and quote it think it means.

Wino and Bass hit a good point. I have seen Mulder called a neocon several times. Do you really think that he is a "liberal turned conservative" per the definition from the dictionary? If your like me, not likely . So then what is one...and why reference Mulder?

[Wino]

Originally posted by ComputerFix:
Angel,

I have read several, but thank you for posting it.

All,

The idea was to see what those who use the word and quote it think it means.

Wino and Bass hit a good point. I have seen Mulder called a neocon several times. Do you really think that he is a "liberal turned conservative" per the definition from the dictionary? If your like me, not likely . So then what is one...and why reference Mulder?

ComputerFix,

Neocon is like pornography - I can't explain it, but know it when I see it. A "liberal turned conservative" ranks right up there with "born again christians", "reformed drunk", "reformed smoker" and "clean drug addict", none of them know when to get off the soap box about their "great new life" and the profound revelation of their awakening with the infernal need to convert everyone to their new found belief and lifestyle. Is Mr. M one? He would have to be the "mother of all poster child" right up there with Ann Coulter.

[ComputerFix]

"born again christians"
"reformed drunk"
"reformed smoker"
"clean drug addict"

Interesting how you chose all people who go from "perceived bad" to "perceived good".





Just a poke of fun.

[Stoner]

CF,

I don't think it can be simply stated that a neocon is a "liberal turned conservative".

I can only offer these links to help you see what I see in a 'neocon'. Obscuring their idenity,political heritage, and their goals is a common projection in their political 'mantra'.

In the last link, read the second to last paragraph and reflect upon what many are worried is happening to our constitutional rights and why it is happening:




http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@lis...msg106270.html

http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/49...s/noflash.html

http://www.ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=19618

http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=15935

http://www.opednews.com/lower_leo_st..._jefferson.htm

[ComputerFix]

The term ''neoconservative'' has become awfully popular lately, but when it comes to an actual definition, confusion often sets in. Jonah Goldberg, writing for National Review, attempts to tackle the subject in the first installment of a series.

Conservatives are accustomed to liberals not understanding the zoology of our movement. But the use and abuse of the term ''neoconservative'' has exceeded even the high allowance for cliché and ignorance generally afforded to those who write or talk about conservatism from outside the conservative ant farm. In fact, neoconservative has become a Trojan Horse for vast arsenal of ideological attacks and insinuations. For some it means Jewish conservative. For others it means hawk. A few still think it means squishy conservative or ex-liberal. And a few don't even know what the word means; they just think it makes them sound knowledgeable when they use it.

Michael Lind — widely hailed as a conservative who moved to the Left — channels some of the more feverish paleocons when he writes in the British magazine, The New Statesman, that ''Most neoconservative defence intellectuals … are products of the largely Jewish-American Trotskyist movement of the 1930s and 1940s, which morphed into anti-communist liberalism between the 1950s and 1970s and finally into a kind of militaristic and imperial right with no precedents in American culture or political history.'' But a recent article in the New York Times says the neocons aren't Trotskyists, they're Straussians: ''They are the neoconservatives, or neocons a catchall name for a disparate group of authors, academics, media moguls, and public servants who trace their intellectual lineage (accurately or not) to the teachings of a German émigré named Leo Strauss.''

Confused? It gets a lot worse. In fact, it's increasingly difficult to find plain-old ''conservatives'' anywhere these days. National Review, according to a ludicrous article in The New York Observer is a ''paleo-conservative magazine'' which is ''seen as a kind of a relic by the new neocons'' but according to The American Conservative, National Review is not only ''safely in neocon hands,'' we actually symbolize the neocon takeover of the conservative movement. Often, the absurdity has become syllogistic: Neoconservatives are conservatives who favor war and if you are a conservative and favor war you are a neoconservative. My own beloved mother perfectly captured the nebulousness of the term. When asked whether she was a neocon by The New York Observer, she jokingly replied, ''You mean the people who like to kill people and break things. That's me!''

And then, of course, there's the Jew thing. Neoconservative and Jewish are synonymous for all sorts of people who don't like neocons or Jews or both. But we can get to that later.

First, it's important to point out that this confusion isn't new. In fact, it's baked into the cake. Let me give you an example from personal experience.

I used to work at the American Enterprise Institute, by all accounts the center of the neoconservative universe. In fact, I used to work for Ben Wattenberg, a man I believe The New Republic once called the ''Titular Deity of the Neoconservatives.'' Anyway, when I was a policy peon there AEI was a Reaganite government in exile. One Friday, Joshua Muravchik, Muravchik probably the premiere neocon foreign-policy intellectual of his generation, was giving what used to be called a ''brown-bag lecture'' (I believe they now call them ''Friday Forums'') on the current state of neoconservatism. A who's who of Reaganite intellectuals were in attendance. During the Q&A I asked him to explain what exactly a neoconservative is. His answer was a surprisingly unsatisfying bit of sophistry — something like ''neoconservatism is the body of beliefs held by people who call themselves neoconservative.''

However, in the course of his answer, Muravchik said that the Reagan movement was primarily a foreign-policy cause united around defeating Communism. He suggested (and this is largely from my memory) that the foreign-policy neocons permitted the religious and economic neocons to sign on to their cause.

At this assertion, an ''au contraire'' was offered from Irwin Stelzer, a highly regarded economist, famous neocon, and adviser to Rupert Murdoch. He said that Reaganism — of the neocon variety — was essentially an economic philosophy and while anti-Communism was surely a vital part, foreign-policy activists were simply another wing emanating from the core of the true Reagan coalition. Seconds after Stelzer had made his comments, my friend Michael Novak — one of America's premiere theologians and social thinkers and an NRO contributor — begged to differ. While, of course, fighting for free markets and against the Red menace was vital to Reaganism, these policies were largely outgrowths of a moral and religious vision, which is why the Reagan movement was essentially a religious cause. An intellectual brouhaha ensued — and, I'm proud to say, I started it. Now, one of the things I need to stress is that all of these people spoke of Reaganism as an explicitly neoconservative movement and phenomena. This points to the Reagan's FDR-like political genius for convincing various factions to each see him as their undisputed standard-bearer. But it also points to the fact that even the leaders of the ''neoconservative movement'' — whatever that meant or means — could not agree on what neoconservatism is.

Blocking done in accordance to original poster (quoting article)

Obviously, this article comes from the "other side" as compared to the ones offered by Stoner in his post. That is precisely why I posted it now, as opposed to later. (not to argue with Stoner, but to put out articles from both "perceived sides")

[ComputerFix]

This exerpt is from part 2 of the article posted above...( I decided not to post whole articles, but rather excerpts and links, one can get to article 1 above via this link as well)

The word "neoconservative" was coined by Michael Harrington and the editors of Dissent to describe their old friends who'd moved to the right. It was an insult, along the lines of "running dog" or "fellow traveler." Or perhaps the "neo" was intended to conjure "neo-Nazi," the only other political label to sport the prefix. As Seymour Martin Lipset, one of the most-respected social scientists of the 20th century and an original neocon wrote, the term "was invented as an invidious label to undermine political opponents, most of whom have been unhappy with being so described."

[ComputerFix]

...and here is the intro to, and link for, part 3

All of the fulminating about the Jews, about war lust, about neocons running everything would be forgivable, even tolerable, if it were intellectually defensible. But the neoconservative label distorts more than it reveals. As Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride might say to all of these people, "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

The neocon label gets folded, spindled, and mutilated in any number of ways, every day. But there are four enduring misapplications of the word. These myths are: (1) the idea that neoconservative means "pro-war"; (2) the idea that neoconservative means "foreign-policy hawk"; (3) the idea that neoconservative means Jewish; and, (4) the idea that neoconservative refers to ex-liberals. Some of these used to be true, none of them are reliably so anymore.

[plschwartz]

There is another sense that the word "con" is used, actually several. One is convict (ex-con) those convicted of a crime. . Certain of the neo-con crowd fit into this catagory.
Then there is to con coming from eventally"confidence man" someone who first gains your confidence and then uses that confidence to cheat you. Are there any in that crowd who first tried to gain our trust and then proceeded to cheat us

[ComputerFix]

Originally posted by plschwartz:
There is another sense that the word "con" is used, actually several. One is convict (ex-con) those convicted of a crime. . Certain of the neo-con crowd fit into this catagory.
Then there is to con coming from eventally"confidence man" someone who first gains your confidence and then uses that confidence to cheat you. Are there any in that crowd who first tried to gain our trust and then proceeded to cheat us

ex-con, short for ex-convict, ex-convicted felon. Broken down, former convict.

con from confidence man (con artist, confidence artist).

Using either of these, neocon would then be...

new (neo means new) convict (new convicted felon, new inmate)

new confidence man (new con artist, new confidence artist)

New implying not one previous to a point in time.

So what crowd do you refer to when you say "that" crowd? People? Yes I suppose there are new convicts and new con artists. Some even politicians.

Oh wait..you were being funny.....