Thanks for the link, Isaac. I have long thought that the "realist" Henry Kissinger has been hugely overrated. He has been wrong so often. As late as the late 80's, he was still calling for a US- Soviet condominium, even as the empire was imploding from overtstretch without and rot within. Some realist. At that time, I of course didn't forsee the demise of the Soviet Union on Christmas Day, 1991 but I could see - and told everyone who would listen - that something radical was going on under Gorbachev.

The Godfather flicks are among the ultimate guy flicks, seeing as the gals (Keaton, Shire et al.) are mostly objects upon which to advance the plot or pace the narrative.

It's the same way with the response to 9/11, except instead of Kay nervously nauseated by nearby nabobs of Neanderthal nihilism, it's the *truth* that stands stiffly to the side in its chic period dress, occasionally scolding the boys or nursing the fallen or tossing out an ineffectual, melodramatic soliloquy for the boys to ignore, remaining as they do enraptured by their solipsistic dreams of righteousness or revenge.

Interesting article.  I'm sending it to my students for the first lecture next week, "The Reach of International Law".

One quibble with your post: Realist do not sell their souls; they operate from the premise that States have interests, not souls.  In this, Cheney may be proven the über-realist.

Younger conservative intellectuals, as a class, have a thing for the first two "Godfather" movies. And other related violent crime dramas. (For example, the only people who have ever called "Heat" a great movie in my presence have been thirty-something Weekly Standard staffers.) It's odd. I mean, the first two "Godfather" movies are easily among the best American movies of all time. But you know, so is "North By Northwest," and you don't see pundits writing peons to Roger Thornhill or Eve Kendall as metaphorical models for American foreign policy. There's just something odd about the conservative enthusiasm for "The Godfather."

Incisive comments, williamyard, icarusr and rhubarbs.

I understand. You found paradise in America, you had a good trade, you made a good living. The police protected you and there were courts of law. And you didn't need a friend like me. But uh, now you come to me and you say - 'CRS9TNR, give me justice.' But you don't ask with respect. You don't offer friendship. You don't even think to call me Godfather. Instead, you come into my house on the day my daughter is to be married, and you ask me to do murder for money.

Isaac, Isaac. What have I ever done to make you treat me so disrespectfully?  If you'd come to me in friendship, then this scum that ruined your daughter would be suffering this very day. And if by chance an honest man like yourself should make enemies, then they would become my enemies. And then they would fear you