Posted on 09/21/2002 1:48:36 AM PDT by thisiskubrick
The Bush Administration has spelt out its determination to enforce America's global domination, insisting it will allow no other power to challenge its military and economic supremacy.
In a 33-page document, published overnight Sydney time, President George Bush says the US will never allow its military might to be challenged the way it was during the Cold War.
It says "the President has no intention of allowing any foreign power to catch up with the huge lead the United States has opened since the fall of the Soviet Union more than a decade ago".
The document, titled The National Security Strategy of the United States, declares the policies of containment and deterrence - staples since the 1940s - all but dead. There was no way in this changed world to deter those who "hate the United States and everything for which it stands".
"America is now threatened less by conquering states than we are by failing ones."
The document delivers Mr Bush's first comprehensive rationale for shifting military strategy towards pre-emptive action against hostile states and terrorist groups developing weapons of mass destruction.
He also seeks to answer the critics of growing US muscle-flexing by insisting that it will exploit its military and economic power to encourage "free and open societies" rather than seek "unilateral advantage". The document calls this "a distinctly American internationalism".
Mr Bush put the final touches on the strategy last weekend at Camp David, after working on it for months with his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and with other members of the national security team.
It is the first wide-ranging explanation of the Administration's foreign policy - from defence strategy to global warming.
Much of the document focuses on how public diplomacy, the use of foreign aid, and changes in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank can be used to win what it calls a battle of competing values and ideas - including "a battle for the future of the Muslim world".
It describes a commitment to bolster US foreign aid by 50 per cent in the next few years in "countries whose governments rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom".
A senior White House official said Mr Bush had edited the document heavily "because he thought there were sections where we sounded overbearing or arrogant".
But its hawkishness is clear. "Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equalling, the power of the United States."
With Russia no longer able to come close to matching US military spending, the doctrine seems aimed at rising powers like China. It cites the non-proliferation agreements that have failed to prevent Iran, North Korea, Iraq and other countries from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
It says the US will never subject its citizens to the new International Criminal Court, "whose jurisdiction does not extend to Americans".
The document makes no reference to the Kyoto accord but sets an overall objective of cutting US greenhouse gas emissions "per unit of economic activity by 18 per cent over the next 10 years".
Be thankful as you sleep soundly tonight that George Bush is the leader of the Free World.
Bush: how the US will make sure we're not ruled by anyone else
The Bush Administration has spelt out its determination to enforce America's sovereignity, insisting it will allow no other power to challenge its military and economic supremacy.
In a 33-page document, published overnight Sydney time, President George Bush says the US will never allow its military might to be challenged the way it was during the Cold War.
It says "the President has no intention of allowing any foreign power to catch up with the huge lead the United States has opened since the fall of the Soviet Union more than a decade ago".
The document, titled The National Security Strategy of the United States, declares the policies of containment and deterrence - staples since the 1940s - all but dead. There was no way in this changed world to deter those who "hate the United States and everything for which it stands".
"America is now threatened less by conquering states than we are by failing ones."
The document delivers Mr Bush's first comprehensive rationale for shifting military strategy towards pre-emptive action against hostile states and terrorist groups developing weapons of mass destruction.
He also seeks to answer the critics of growing US muscle-flexing by insisting that it will exploit its military and economic power to encourage "free and open societies" rather than seek "unilateral advantage". The document calls this "a distinctly American internationalism".
Mr Bush put the final touches on the strategy last weekend at Camp David, after working on it for months with his national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice, and with other members of the national security team.
It is the first wide-ranging explanation of the Administration's foreign policy - from defence strategy to global warming.
Much of the document focuses on how public diplomacy, the use of foreign aid, and changes in the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank can be used to win what it calls a battle of competing values and ideas - including "a battle for the future of the Muslim world".
It describes a commitment to bolster US foreign aid by 50 per cent in the next few years in "countries whose governments rule justly, invest in their people, and encourage economic freedom".
A senior White House official said Mr Bush had edited the document heavily "because he thought there were sections where we sounded overbearing or arrogant".
But its hawkishness is clear. "Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equalling, the power of the United States."
With Russia no longer able to come close to matching US military spending, the doctrine seems aimed at rising powers like China. It cites the non-proliferation agreements that have failed to prevent Iran, North Korea, Iraq and other countries from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
It says the US will never subject its citizens to the new International Criminal Court, "whose jurisdiction does not extend to Americans".
The document makes no reference to the Kyoto accord but sets an overall objective of cutting US greenhouse gas emissions "per unit of economic activity by 18 per cent over the next 10 years".
The protagonist asks why it should be necessary for them to do this thing, which runs counter to his own preferences and smacks of despotism, however benign. (This, after an adventure in which he's helped to suppress the knowledge of a technique that would turn the planet into an artificial nova.) His mentor-to-be responds:
"Ask yourself that question, Joe," Baldwin said. "A few moments ago you and I saved our world and all of our race. It's the hour of the knife."
Americans aren't supergeniuses, but we are the forces of good. We make mistakes, but we're usually humble enough to admit to them and correct them. If some country has to bestride this world and act as a heavily armed hall monitor, so that the "lesser breeds without the law" won't immolate any more office towers full of innocent people, then I want it to be the United States. I don't want it to be a bunch of mealy-mouth, morally confused has-been powers that won't even pay for their own defenses, and for sure I don't want it to be any of the "Allahu Akhbar!" crowd who think killing for Islam is a nifty way to ensure first-class accommodations in the next life!
I'll go further than that. If we have to do this job -- and at this time, no one else is qualified -- then I want every other creature on this sorry ball of mud to know all the way down to his bones that, while all human life is precious, an American life is transcendentally sacred. I want them to know that anyone who harms an innocent American, and anyone who helps him before, during, or afterward, had better commit suicide before we catch them. You don't tug on Superman's cape. If we're going to put our blood and treasure at the service of the world, then by God, the world had better have the same respect for us as a well reared nine-year-old has for the policeman on the beat.
When the rest of the human race catches up with us morally and assumes responsibility for keeping its own house in order, then we can talk about adjustments. Until then, it's Pax Americana, as far as we can enforce it. The internationalist types want someone to blame for their second-class status and their general impotence? They should try a mirror.
Take that, Sydney Morning Herald!
Freedom, Wealth, and Peace,
Francis W. Porretto
Visit the Palace Of Reason: http://palaceofreason.com
For comparison, to guage how much things have changed in 12 years. I would have liked to post the current document as well, but I couldn't find it.
"Our forces will be strong enough to dissuade potential adversaries from pursuing a military build-up in hopes of surpassing, or equalling, the power of the United States."
I guess China would be on our list of preemptive strikes?
I think of it as if the capo di tutti cappo (President Bush) wants to wack a Don (Saddam). Before he can do this he has to take his case to the commission (the UN) for permission.
If permission is given he can put out the hit.
If he puts out the hit without permission others might well turn on him out of fear – and consolidate to form a much more powerful borgata for self defense, which could put out some contracts of their own.
This system worked well for many years, until some capos started acting contrary to the best interests of the Family and turned public opinion against the Family.
Because of the lack of public support another borgata (Justice Department) stepped in, and La Cosa Nostra is now but a shadow of it’s former self.
Some will object to using the Mafia as a comparison – but the same basic rules apply.
I guess China would be on our list of preemptive strikes?
Nope. read the first statement again. It says absolutely nothing about preemptive strikes, it implies only a policy of maintaining unquestioned military superiority. It's just common sense.
If people know you're packing heat, they won't try to rob you or your store.
But if they know you're some muddlebrained pacifist, or some tourist from overseas getting off a flight after a thorough frisking and search, they will follow you, catch up to you, and mug you.
Why? Because muggers know that people who are unarmed are the easiest and choicest targets. The same thing goes for nations.
One of the best things about weapons - whether you are an individual bearing arms or a nation that is well-armed and ready... is that the mere fact you have them and are known to be willing to use them if provoked, makes it unlikely anyone will provoke you or push you to see how far they can go. And that's good because NOBODY gets hurt, nobody gets blackmailed.
“Nope. read the first statement again. It says absolutely nothing about preemptive strikes, it implies only a policy of maintaining unquestioned military superiority. It's just common sense.
If people know you're packing heat, they won't try to rob you or your store.”
So there is no change, we still depend only on deterrence, and would never strike first – except for some small countries?
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