Posted on 11/09/2002 7:21:43 AM PST by Enemy Of The State
Direction of the Nation
Who dare oppose us?
With the fall of the Soviet Union, and the rise of our mighty technology economy, there seems little to hinder America in the pursuit of whatever national and global goals we desire to implement.
Our fleets rule the seas, flying the Star Spangled Banner from the tense straits of Taiwan to the explosive cauldron of the Persian Gulf. Marines patrol the streets of Kosovo, and our Air Force distributes American justice across the skies of a prostrate Iraq.
Pax Americana marches in the bootprints of our brave men and women in uniform. As this is written, Pax Americana brings bloody and bruised enemies to the table at Camp David, seeking our blessing and help in ending generations of violent hatred in the Middle East.
Would George Washington approve? He warned of this day.
"...when belligerent nations, under the impossibility of making acquisitions upon us, will not lightly hazard the giving us provocation; when we may choose peace or war, as our interest, guided by justice, shall counsel."
We have reached that perilous state in which the entire world lies prostrate before the feet of our emboldened and empowered citizenry. A new empire has arisen, and its name is America.
What is our intent? What is our responsibility, our calling?
Do we seize distant lands, and drain them of resources? Do we absorb hostile populations, forcing them under the tyranny of our hegemonic law? Are the peoples of far-off lands reduced to begging subsistence from the magistrates of their American conquerors?
I think not. Such an approach, while common in human history and equally within our capability, flies in the face of both our American ideals - and the heritage of national neutrality that Washington has left us.
We do have the opportunity, however, to spread our national principles across the world. To provide not merely our profligate dollars; not merely the security of our military forces; but to enlighten the huddled masses on their own shores, and provide them with the tools necessary for the birth of freedom in their own lands.
All men are created equal.
The gasping, tortured world beyond our shores deserves no less.
Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Our nation was created by men who tired of the yoke of tyranny, who fought a bloody war and sacrificed their lives and honor in pursuit of a shining vision of free men, governed by citizens from amongst themselves.
Government by consent of the governed.
I believe that the most fundamental constructs of a just government lie blessed and powerful in our Bill of Rights. In that document is enumerated that which all Americans claim as their just birthright, not as citizens of the nation - and not as residents of our land - but as Men who walk the earth, among others of our kind.
Let us move those principles out into the world! Let the trampled people of Iraq read those words, solemn prohibitions against the tyranny of the State. Let the Chinese know what enables our unlimited power, what possesses Americans to stand so proudly and with such contempt for control over the spirits of individuals.
Let our foundation of liberty spring forth across the oceans and the continents, until all Men know what rights they inherit by their birth into the world.
We owe humanity no less.
And exactly what continent on the planet have we not ALREADY done this? No! Pax Americana will be our undoing in as much as Pax Britannica (under the guise of benevolent empire) rose and fell. Even Manifest Destiny was limited to our continent. This internationalist putrified patriotic claptrap is not conservatism!
Do you believe that all men are created equal or only men born in the United States?
There is nothing unconstitutional about doing business with foreign countries. There is nothing unconstitutional about driving boats around international waters and having military bases in allied countries. We do not have an empire in the sense that Britain did. We do not have American governors presiding over foreign governments. In fact, we are the only thing that stands between the rest of the world and the UN. If it weren't for America, the world would be a united socialist dictatorship, hell, it almost is.
As free men, we have a duty to liberate bonded men when it is within our capability. This doesn't mean we should fight their revolutions for them, but we certainly must educate and support the concept of constitutional and representative republican government. America has been and must continue to be the light of liberty for the world. If you want to sit in your basement with a bunch of Buchananites while the rest of the world eats itself alive, just remember, once the world does fall to global socialism, do you really think you will be able to fight them all off?
But that's exactly what we do, do! I'm not sugggesting we withdraw from world affairs, but we cannot continue to sread our troops around the world as the sole super power and not expect to be a target. Let our allies take care of their own backyards. No we're not an empire in the traditional sense, but an empire nonetheless. 500 years from now history books will refer to the American Empire of the 20th-21st? centuries.
And is the term "Buchananite" supposed to refer to me? I've never voted for him or supported his political career. If I happen to agree with him on this issue it is only because we are both right! haha! Don't fall prey to the politically correct tyranny of using name association to end debate. Afterall, I could just as easily call you a "Clintonite" since he supports your aims of placing our military all over the planet.
We are a target because we are number one. We could withdraw all of our troops from every country in the world tomorrow and we would still be a target.
It is your neighbor's responsibilty to protect his own home. You shouldn't be expected to sit watch his house to protect him and his family. However, when a string of robberies or violent crimes goes on in your neighborhood, it is your civic duty to help your neighbors patrol your community. The American community is now global.
Modern technology has no historical precedent, and so I think that analogies of prior empires (if we are to agree that America is an "empire") are without merit. Think about how tiny Europe actually is, geographically, in modern terms. It is impossible to conceive that a land mass from Germany over to Portugal and down to Italy could have a half dozen full major languages with dozens of minor languages and dialects. What in the past amounted to several months of travel can now be traversed in hours. Tele-communication occurs at the speed of light. English may very well become a global language (it almost is) within our lifetimes (depending on how old you are ;). Isolationism at this point is literally impossible. In fact, if America attempted to pull out much of the world would collapse and we would suffer in the end. The only question is not whether to be an empire, but how to be a benevolent empire.
And is the term "Buchananite" supposed to refer to me?
I wrote:
If you want to sit in your basement with a bunch of Buchananites while the rest of the world eats itself alive, just remember, once the world does fall to global socialism, do you really think you will be able to fight them all off?Clearly I wasn't calling you a Buchananite. I was implying that you are alone in your isolationist view with the Buchananites. And I was also stating that, American isolationism creates a void into which evil flows and which, once filled, presents an insurmountable challenge.
We are a target because we are number one. We could withdraw all of our troops from every country in the world tomorrow and we would still be a target.
We are a target because of what we do, i.e. play the world's policeman. Pure isolationism is of course unrealistic and utopian--not possible in the 21th C. However, our so-called allies must ante up when it comes to defense. We can still maintain a strong military and influence democratic movements around the globe without our troops stationed in, and committed to the defense of, nations around the globe. This costs us billions and makes us THE target of the enemies of democracy. Why not let our allies share in this burden?
Modern technology has no historical precedent, and so I think that analogies of prior empires (if we are to agree that America is an "empire") are without merit.
Perhaps different, but not without merit. Call it what you want, but we are a global The Roman Empire's collapse can largely be attributed to its military being spread too thin. There remains a lesson there for us to heed.
In fact, if America attempted to pull out much of the world would collapse and we would suffer in the end
The world would not collapse. In fact it might even learn how to take care of itself with the U.S. "aiding" democratic proxies in troubled spots. This was the policy of Ronald Reagan. He never used our military as Hessians of a new world order.
Perhaps different, but not without merit. Call it what you want, but we are at least a benevolent global hegemony. The Roman Empire's collapse can largely be attributed to its military being spread too thin. There remains a lesson there for us to heed. Call it what you want, but we are at least a benevolent global hegemony.
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