(from Jordon Cooper)

New doctrine of Pax Americana & war
From Tom and Christine Sine

War has begun in Iraq. I am deeply concerned that there has been no national debate in the news or by our national leaders regarding the new doctrine of Pax Americana that underlies America's new more aggressive foreign policy.

Please understand we share with people in many parts of the world a growing concern about terrorism. But we don't believe the U.S. administration has made any clear link at this time between the secular nation of Iraq and the terrorist networks that threaten many nations. In fact, a number of strategists feel it would be much more useful to concentrate our attention on dealing with the immediate terrorist networks instead of widening the war in a way that could unwittingly recruit many disaffected young Arabs to join the terrorists in their Jihad against the West.

Let me share a viewpoint seldom heard in the U.S. for discussion and response. The goal for invading Iraq "...is not about weapons of mass destruction, or terrorism, or Saddam, or U.N. resolutions" according to Jay Bookman writing for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution on September 29, 2002. [Remember when it was first reported that Saddam was using weapons of mass destruction in violation of international law he was our ally and we were even supplying him with weapons. While others protested, the Reagan White House was virtually silent because he was our brutal tyrant.]

Bookman argues that a new doctrine of Pax Americana has been formulated by this administration based on the recent reality that the United States has emerged from the cold war as the only super power. He argues the real agenda isn't about Iraq but the pursuit of American military and economic supremacy throughout the world through a new policy of the use of preemptive military power.

On September 20, the administration published a new more aggressive foreign policy in the "National Security Document." This new National Security Document declares that this is "... a time of opportunity for America. We will work to translate this moment of opportunity into decades of peace, prosperity, and liberty. The U.S. national security strategy will be based on a distinctly American internationalism that reflects the union of our values and national interests." www.whitehouse.gov/nsc/nss.pdf [give it a careful read & share it with others and ask their opinion of this new decisive shift in U.S. foreign policy]

This document presents as a goal using America's overwhelming military and economic power to pursue America's vision of what is best for America and the world. Bookman feels that this statement reflects our leaders quietly pursuing the aspirations of empire... for all the best possible reasons from promoting global economic growth to securing world peace. He states, "In essence, it lays out a plan for permanent military and economic domination of every region of the globe, unfettered by international treaty or concern. And to make that plan a reality it envisions a stark expansion of global military presence." Bookman believes the real goals in the pending invasion of Iraq is to send a message to other countries to either cooperate with U.S. policies or face the consequences and to establish a permanent military base in Iraq to significantly increase American influence in the entire region.

Make sure you read the entire document and take some time to interact with some of the questions they pose.

I am glad that some people have been questioning it. I know when Condoleeza Rice was named NSA there were some writings of hers that laid out a very similar approach. At the time there seemed to be some hope that Colin Powell would counteract that but I guess not.