Project for the New American Century
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THE BELIEVER
Paul Wolfowitz defends his war.
by PETER J. BOYER
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?041101fa_fact
Paul Wolfowitz defends his war.
by PETER J. BOYER
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?041101fa_fact
Analysis: Power Americana
To understand the background, it is worth going back to a project called the New American Century set up in 1997.
Founded by two commentators - William Kristol and Robert Kagan - it laid the philosophical groundwork for what was to come.
A number of its sympathisers later joined the Bush administration, including two of the leading hawks, Paul Wolfowitz and John Bolton.
This doesn't mean that the administration is run by a lobby group. No administration ever can be. But it helps to explain some of the administration's actions. All strong governments are based on a philosophy.
The thinking behind the New American Century also helps to explain why the current gulf exists between the United States and some of its allies.
That gulf is consonsiderable. Look at the language. European accusations that George W Bush is a "cowboy" or worse are countered by American descriptions of Europeans as "EU-nuchs" in general and of the French in particular as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys", though the origin of that vivid phrase was a cartoon character.
In September 2000, as Mr Bush was running for the presidency, the New American Century team produced a report called "Rebuilding America's Defences".
The goal was to "promote American global leadership", the report stated.
"As the 20th Century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's pre-eminent power," it said.
"Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge.
"Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievement of past decades?
"Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favourable to American principles and interests?
"[What we require] is a military that is strong... a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American interests... and a national leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibility."
At first, it did not look as if Mr Bush was that enthusiastic. While keen to build up American power, he was not keen on intervention. Isolationism is not dead in America.
He said in a presidential campaign debate in October 2000 that American foreign policy had to be "humble".
"We must be proud and confident of our values but humble in how we treat nations that are figuring out how to chart their own course," was how he put it.
Read more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2801349.stm
To understand the background, it is worth going back to a project called the New American Century set up in 1997.
Founded by two commentators - William Kristol and Robert Kagan - it laid the philosophical groundwork for what was to come.
A number of its sympathisers later joined the Bush administration, including two of the leading hawks, Paul Wolfowitz and John Bolton.
This doesn't mean that the administration is run by a lobby group. No administration ever can be. But it helps to explain some of the administration's actions. All strong governments are based on a philosophy.
The thinking behind the New American Century also helps to explain why the current gulf exists between the United States and some of its allies.
That gulf is consonsiderable. Look at the language. European accusations that George W Bush is a "cowboy" or worse are countered by American descriptions of Europeans as "EU-nuchs" in general and of the French in particular as "cheese-eating surrender monkeys", though the origin of that vivid phrase was a cartoon character.
In September 2000, as Mr Bush was running for the presidency, the New American Century team produced a report called "Rebuilding America's Defences".
The goal was to "promote American global leadership", the report stated.
"As the 20th Century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's pre-eminent power," it said.
"Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge.
"Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievement of past decades?
"Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favourable to American principles and interests?
"[What we require] is a military that is strong... a foreign policy that boldly and purposefully promotes American interests... and a national leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibility."
At first, it did not look as if Mr Bush was that enthusiastic. While keen to build up American power, he was not keen on intervention. Isolationism is not dead in America.
He said in a presidential campaign debate in October 2000 that American foreign policy had to be "humble".
"We must be proud and confident of our values but humble in how we treat nations that are figuring out how to chart their own course," was how he put it.
Read more
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2801349.stm
Why is the British Prime Minister the only person who seems to be unaware of the US hawks' agenda.
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,905990,00.html
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/iraq/story/0,12239,905990,00.html
