What will killing people do for us todayEveryone knows you can get a good laugh out of your meal at the local Chinese Buffet by opening your fortune cookie, reading the message aloud and adding two words on the end of the message: in bed. If you haven't tried it before here are some examples:

You are talented with your hands.

Now is a lucky time for you to take a chance

Watch your relations with other people carefully, be more reserved.

No obstacles will stand in the way of your success this month.

Now I've discovered, with the help of booze and Jim Antle of 4pundits.com that there is a phrase that you can tack on to most neoconservative op-eds and essays - which helps to clarify the point they are trying to make. Whenever a neoconservative says something should be done, whether it is democracy promotion, or instilling purpose in an enervated American populace, or diplomacy you can finish the thought for him by adding three little words: by killing people. Here, try it out:   

David Brooks It almost doesn't matter what great task government sets for itself, as long as it does some tangible thing with energy and effectiveness.

Michael Ledeen: These actions will signal the next stage of the war against the terror masters, which is the vigorous support of the pro-democracy forces in Syria and Iran... It is a wondrous window of opportunity. As so often in our history, it was opened by our enemies. Let’s go for it.

William Kristol and Robert Kagan (circa 1996): Having defeated the "evil empire," the United States enjoys strategic and ideological predominance. The first objective of U.S. foreign policy should be to preserve and enhance that predominance by strengthening America's security, supporting its friends, advancing its interests, and standing up for its principles around the world.

Victor Davis Hanson: Even in this era of crisis, we cling to the notion that in the eleventh hour you, Europe, will yet reawake, rediscover your heritage, and join with us in defending the idea of the West from this latest illiberal scourge of Islamic fascism.

David Brooks (again): So America was to strive upward. But toward what? Toward more wealth? Greater scientific achievement? Bigger buildings? No, these were just steps along the way. America's mission was to advance civilization itself.

Of course this trick doesn't always work. But you will  again never look at the Weekly Standard as just another Beltway publication. With just these three words it becomes a black comedy and a prism through which we can understand the past and future of the Republic, and the Republicans.

Fred Barnes: Democrats have convinced themselves that times are different today, different even from 2002 and 2004, when Bush and Republicans used terrorism and national security to win unexpected victories.