Are Neocons cooking their own goose?

By Roger Patching -- Special to The Sacramento Bee - (Published July 27, 2003)

While many debate the wisdom of current efforts by neoconservatives in the Republican Party to create their vision of Pax Americana, I wonder if the historical outcome hasn't already been determined.

That is, while Republicans on all sides worry about "containing" what was once considered a war behind closed doors between unilateralist hawks (the neocons) and multilateralist moderates in the party over a policy based upon U.S. hegemony -- world dominance -- I wonder if it isn't an already irreversibly failed policy simply because the American people were never seriously included by anyone, even the media, in the discussion.

For the rest of what may be a particularly prescient analysis of the demise of the Bush Doctrine, see Sacramento Bee

EXCELLENT WEEKLY SUMMARY OF FOREIGN POLICY STORIES

You can sign up for a superb weekly summary (free) of stories involving American foreign policy by going to The Global Beat. Each summary provides links to top stories and articles on a timely basis. For example, see an interview with "realist" Robert D. Kaplan on rules for managing the world in The Atlantic

Produced by the Center for War, Peace and the News Media at NYU, the summary and a web site (Global Beat--Resources for the Global Journalist) are aimed at journalists covering world affairs, but are of equal value to the serious student of American foreign policy.

A Former Special Forces Soldier Responds to Bush's Invitation for Iraqis to Attack US Troops
"Bring 'Em On?"

By STAN GOFF

In 1970, when I arrived at my unit, Company A, 4th Battalion/503rd Infantry, 173rd Airborne Brigade, in what was then the Republic of Vietnam, I was charged up for a fight. I believed that if we didn't stop the communists in Vietnam, we'd eventually be fighting this global conspiracy in the streets of Hot Springs, Arkansas. I'd been toughened by Basic Training, Infantry Training and Parachute Training, taught how to use my weapons and equipment, and I was confident in my ability to vanquish the skinny unter-menschen. So I was dismayed when one of my new colleagues--a veteran who'd been there ten months--told me, "We are losing this war." For the rest of the reflections of a veteran Special Forces soldier on President Bush's pronouncements on Iraq, see Counterpunch

U.S. Suspends Military Aid to Nearly 50 Countries

Tue July 01, 2003 11:22 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Tuesday suspended military assistance to nearly 50 countries, including Colombia and six nations seeking NATO membership, because they have supported the International Criminal Court and failed to exempt Americans from possible prosecution.

As the deadline passed for governments to sign exemption agreements or face the suspension of military aid, President Bush issued waivers for 22 countries. For the rest of this news account on the Bush Administration's selective actions regarding countries that have not signed agreements to exempt American citizens from jurisdiction of the ICC, see Reuters

Letter to Colin Powell on U.S. Bully Tactics Against International Criminal Court
June 30, 2003

The Honorable Colin J. Powell
Secretary of State
U.S. Department of State


Dear Secretary Powell:

I am writing to convey our strong dismay over recent U.S. government actions towards the International Criminal Court (ICC).

We are familiar with the Bush administration's deep reservations towards the court. Administration officials have frequently expressed their concern about the ICC's potential to become a politically motivated vehicle advancing an anti-American agenda. While we strongly believe the treaty contains ample safeguards-- many of which were crafted by U.S. negotiators-- I am not writing to defend the efficacy of those checks and balances. For the rest of this stinging rebuke by the director of Human Rights Watch, see Human Rights Watch