21789 Days Late And a Trillion Dollars Short
by pessimist
One of the stated goals of the BFEE/PNAC Petroleum Pirate Posse is to remake the world in an 'American' image, with America at the helm and all others trailing obediently in our wake. The only problem with this desire is that it's already been done.
May 8, 1945 - A devastated Europe breathes freely once again as the Nazi threat to world peace ends, not with sturm und drang, but with a meek surrender. The costs of Hitler's version of Manifest Destiny have left Europe destroyed in every sense of the word, especially economically, politically, and socially. With the national resources of almost every nation in Europe exhausted through fighting the war or through plunder, there are no reserves left to use to rebuild.
Only one nation has the necessary resources to assist the world with rebuilding, and that nation set to the task as quickly as feasible. But unlike the wannabe world-shapers of sixty years later, the leaders of this nation didn't seek to establish a new colonialism to replace that which had come to a bloody end. Unlike the late-comers, that nation at that time didn't seek to impose a total lock on every function of a crippled nation so that no opposition to selfish goals would be tolerated. That would come later - after the world had been set back on its feet through the Marshall Plan.
A mobilized America saw to it that the world regained stability and a measure of peace as they rebuilt the economies of the world in the American image. The United Nations was intended to be the world version of the American Congress, and the internal politics of many nations were 'adjusted' to conform more with American ideals than their previous (and much more jingo nationalistic) systems did. Washington became New Rome, and the world came to pay homage.
It was hardly a process without flaws, as our former Soviet ally was bullied into becoming the new boogie man, China was abandoned to internal divisiveness, and the former European colonies were intended to revert to that status, only with new masters once the old ones failed to reestablish their former dominance. But generally, the United States was the undisputed leader of the world, and while our word wasn't law, it often came close.
Since 1945, the world has certainly recovered from the widespread devastation. While the benefits of this recovery haven't been distributed equally, few nations on Earth are in the same condition they suffered in 1945, and are far better off than they would have been otherwise. The mistakes of Versailles were largely avoided, and nationalism weakened enough, to allow a modern Europe to investigate Union as a larger, more united entity moulded in an American-inspired manner. In this, American efforts to rebuild the world have been successful, and which are proven every time one of the world's nations stands up to us and tells us "Hell no! We won't go!"
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
They have this idea that we do something for some nation one time, and that nation is supposed to grovel in gratification at our feet forever. Britain is supposed to be our colony, France is to be our servant, Germany is to be our attack dog, Japan is supposed to be our industrial labor force, etc. But wiser minds back in 1945 saw to it that this didn't happen. They saw to it that the broken nations of 1945 had the opportunity to remake themselves along traditional lines (obviously adjusted by American sensibilities to prevent the worst abuses of the past) in order to regain a sense of national identity.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
People like Newt Gingrich and Pat Buchanan have written that America should have used its military might to impose the American will upon these defeated nations, exposing their opportunistic and greedy ambitions still unrealized 60 years later.
The American people were asked in 1941 to take on a monumental task - defeat fascism and restore world order, and in 1945 they had accomplished this mission. They wanted to go home. They were tired of death and destruction, and wanted to get on with creating a life as good as they understood it could be. They wouldn't have stood for putting off regaining a sense of normality in favor of imposing some very non-American ideals upon the world for 'our benefit', something they would have rightfully seen as being unfair and going against our historic principles. They weren't going to remain on duty just so a bunch of greedy rich bastards could get even more so.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
It's taken 60 years, but in much of the world, the American government (sic) of Bu$hCo, Inc. has worn out its welcome. All over the world, little examples of this are showing up, and more are going to follow.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
India, Pakistan, and Iran are negotiating a natural gas pipeline deal, one which has raised ire in Washington because it goes against the plans of Unocal. They are even attracting the interests of China in this project. The response of these three nations to a warning issued by Dominatrix of State Condi Rice? The simplest version is a bold raspberry. The US appears to be backing off.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
China is in the process of building an aircraft carrier, one which has to be intended to offset American dominance in this area of military power. While the Chinese government officially denies this, it makes sense, as Chinese influence is no longer restricted to the Asian continent. The same motivation which drives the maintenance of our Navy - protection of commercial sea lanes - is at work, only not for the benefit of American commercial interests. Instead, it is Chinese commercial (and, obviously, diplomatic and military) interests that are to benefit from this protection.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
Even little nations are beginning to spit in Uncle Sam's eye! How DARE Ijaw Nigerians prevent oil workers from being productive issue a communique insisting that Nigerian oil should benefit Nigerians! How DARE Uzbekistan limit our military flights from OUR base in their country and force us to move to Kyrgyzstan! How DARE South America spurn our invitation to create CAFTA!
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
But nothing has to infuriate them more than the knowledge that Iraqi legislators want US troops out of Iraq ASAP, or that Arab oil producers feel that the world can afford to pay even more for oil - and will!
These are all signs that the American Era - forged in the most destructive war the world has yet waged - is over. Our leadership is no longer desired or needed.
Thanks to these neo-conmen incompetents, no longer is America the model that everyone aspires to be. While the world still desires to be able to claim material wealth equal to that enjoyed by Americans, and while the people of the world still generally like the American people, our government (sic) is considered anathema.
It's going to come to one of two things: either the American people reclaim control of their country from these infantile adults that pretend [in more than one sense of the word] to rule the world, or America will become the outcast nation that King George seems hell-bent on creating. The world isn't lining up behind us anymore, and is in fact aware that "Washington could be opposed effectively without incurring unacceptable costs." As Fleetwood Mac put it, "You Can Go Your Own Way" - and the world is.
Lost 'opportunity' infuriates the BFEE/PNAC PPP tyros.
It's now 2005, and the world has long since put 1945 into the history books. It's time we grew up and did this also.