Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff Asks, "Who are the True Foreign Policy Realists?"

Neoconservatives in general, and President George W. Bush in particular, are frequently criticized for putting idealism over realism in the conduct of American foreign policy. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, speaking at the 2007 B'nai Brith International Policy Conference yesterday, contrasted the records and accomplishments of the two schools of foreign policy, so-called idealists and so-called realists, since the 1930's. He suggests that we need to rethink who are the true realists.