Back to the Future: Zbig Attacked Reagan’s Foreign Policy in 1981

Tom Joscelyn sends in the following: Upon reading Brzezinski’s recent piece, I was reminded of a similar article he wrote for the New York Times on December 6, 1981 entitled: “What’s Wrong With Reagan’s Foreign Policy? In his first major statement since leaving office, President Carter’s national-security advisor says the United States is approaching a critical point of paralysis in its international relations.” The article is a good example of what’s wrong with Brzezinski’s way of thinking and ability to prognosticate. The parallels between his misguided critique of Reagan and his current critique of Bush are striking. Brzezinski began his 1981 piece with a dire prediction,

If present trends continue, American foreign policy is likely to be in a state of general crisis by the spring of 1982. What makes matters potentially even worse is that this could coincide with a serious economic downturn, causing the global position of the United States to be placed in jeopardy. There is urgent need for President Reagan to take serious stock of the unfolding situation, so that the needed responses, both substantive and procedural, can be generated.

Brzezinski begins his critique in the Los Angeles Times with an equally dire prediction, likening the Bush administration’s foreign policies to “suicidal statecraft.” Fortunately, his bleak view of the future was wrong in December 1981 and he is most likely wrong again in October 2005.

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