According to Alan Murray in his "Political Capital" column in today's Wall St. Journal, a group of conservatives and liberals, such as C. Boyden Gray and the Brooking Institute's Stephen Cohen, have formed an ad hoc group calling itself the "Committee for the Republic." A manifesto they've written is circulating throughout Washington's email system that is intended, in Murray's words, to say, "Whoa, hold on a minute. Shouldn't we talk about this" whole empire thing we're getting into? The committee hopes to "educate Americans about the dangers of empire" and to douse the burning ardor neocons and Fox News have for all things imperial.
"A decade ago," writes Murray, "being against empire would have been like being against rape...'Empire' was a dirty word. Today it has re-emerged, newly laundered."
"Bush administration officials avoid the 'e' word, not so much because they disagree with those who use it, but because they recognize it as bad public relations. What they say, however, is less important than what they do."
Quoting the manifesto, Murray continues, "'The American Revolution was a nationalist revolt against the British Empire.'" Citing the classics, the Committee argues the first casualty of empire building abroad is liberty at home.
"While the draft was written before the latest flap over bad intelligence used in the State of the Union address, it also argues: 'To justify the high cost of maintaining rule over foreign territories and peoples, leaders are left with no choice but to deceive people.'"
Concludes Murray, "The Committee for the Republic thinks it is time to have a great national debate about America's role in the post-Cold War world. I say: Bring it on."
Trouble is, Bush hates the limp-wristedness of "nation-building." "Empire building," on the other hand, has a manly man's ring to it. But the rising casualty rate in Iraq, our seeming ADD in Afghanistan, and continued belligerent Rummy talk regarding Syria, may actually move Americans to care about this debate.
Speaking of mission creep, Hit & Run directs us to a story on Tom Ridge's determination that the "war on terrorism" isn't enough work for the Dept. of Homeland Security. Ridge wants to make sure only 100% American smut is getting through to our computers.
Apparently the House doesn't feel so strongly about the nation's meat supply, as they reject a food labeling bill that would have forced suppliers to say where the meat came from. According to the story in the Journal, the bill was supported by Great Plains senators, but opposed by the usual suspects of meat packers, supermarkets, and Texas cattle ranchers. Texas cattle ranchers? Does that mean when they say "Texas beef," they really mean "Mexican beef?"
Ari left just in time. The Niger question has the admin in a rare state of flummoxity. And Bush just adds to the confusion. Revisionist history?: "Defending the broader decision to go to war with Iraq, the president said the decision was made after he gave Saddam Hussein 'a chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in.'" Hmmm, wasn't it the Bush admin. that said time was up for the inspectors and told them to leave Iraq?
It just gets uglier as the budget deficit can now be expected to reach a half a trillion dollars. "Nonetheless, in nominal terms the deficit for the 2003 fiscal year will be a record, easily eclipsing the $290 billion deficit recorded in 1992, when President Bush's father was president."
Our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.
*****
"Baseball is such a great game, Marvin Miller, the former executive director of the players association, once said, that try as they might, the officials who run the game can't ruin it.
"And yet those officials test that theory time and again."
"Allez, Tyler Hamilton the Warrior." In fifth place overall, no less. What plays through his head as he grips the handlebars through the mountains? Is he grinding down the caps on his teeth that were put there after he ground them down while finishing second in the Giro d'Italia, with a broken shoulder?
"A decade ago," writes Murray, "being against empire would have been like being against rape...'Empire' was a dirty word. Today it has re-emerged, newly laundered."
"Bush administration officials avoid the 'e' word, not so much because they disagree with those who use it, but because they recognize it as bad public relations. What they say, however, is less important than what they do."
Quoting the manifesto, Murray continues, "'The American Revolution was a nationalist revolt against the British Empire.'" Citing the classics, the Committee argues the first casualty of empire building abroad is liberty at home.
"While the draft was written before the latest flap over bad intelligence used in the State of the Union address, it also argues: 'To justify the high cost of maintaining rule over foreign territories and peoples, leaders are left with no choice but to deceive people.'"
Concludes Murray, "The Committee for the Republic thinks it is time to have a great national debate about America's role in the post-Cold War world. I say: Bring it on."
Trouble is, Bush hates the limp-wristedness of "nation-building." "Empire building," on the other hand, has a manly man's ring to it. But the rising casualty rate in Iraq, our seeming ADD in Afghanistan, and continued belligerent Rummy talk regarding Syria, may actually move Americans to care about this debate.
Speaking of mission creep, Hit & Run directs us to a story on Tom Ridge's determination that the "war on terrorism" isn't enough work for the Dept. of Homeland Security. Ridge wants to make sure only 100% American smut is getting through to our computers.
Apparently the House doesn't feel so strongly about the nation's meat supply, as they reject a food labeling bill that would have forced suppliers to say where the meat came from. According to the story in the Journal, the bill was supported by Great Plains senators, but opposed by the usual suspects of meat packers, supermarkets, and Texas cattle ranchers. Texas cattle ranchers? Does that mean when they say "Texas beef," they really mean "Mexican beef?"
Ari left just in time. The Niger question has the admin in a rare state of flummoxity. And Bush just adds to the confusion. Revisionist history?: "Defending the broader decision to go to war with Iraq, the president said the decision was made after he gave Saddam Hussein 'a chance to allow the inspectors in, and he wouldn't let them in.'" Hmmm, wasn't it the Bush admin. that said time was up for the inspectors and told them to leave Iraq?
It just gets uglier as the budget deficit can now be expected to reach a half a trillion dollars. "Nonetheless, in nominal terms the deficit for the 2003 fiscal year will be a record, easily eclipsing the $290 billion deficit recorded in 1992, when President Bush's father was president."
Our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.
*****
"Baseball is such a great game, Marvin Miller, the former executive director of the players association, once said, that try as they might, the officials who run the game can't ruin it.
"And yet those officials test that theory time and again."
"Allez, Tyler Hamilton the Warrior." In fifth place overall, no less. What plays through his head as he grips the handlebars through the mountains? Is he grinding down the caps on his teeth that were put there after he ground them down while finishing second in the Giro d'Italia, with a broken shoulder?
posted by John at 4:31 PM
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