| Project For The New American Century |
Article Index for Project For |
Website Links For Project |
Information AboutProject For The New American Century |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PROJECT FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY | |
| neoconservative think tanks | |
| imperialism | |
| foreign policy political advocacy groups in the united states | |
| new right united states | |
| political and economic think tanks | |
|
Some critics allege the organization proposes military and economic, Space , Cyberspace , and Global Domination by the United States, so as to establish — or maintain — American dominance in world affairs ('' Pax Americana ''). Some have argued the American-led 2003 Invasion Of Iraq , commenced in March of that year under the code name Operation Iraqi Freedom, is the first major step toward implementing these objectives. Supporters of the PNAC counter such criticisms as little more than Conspiracy Theories and that the organization's stated mission is mainstream conservative foreign policy proposals. CORE VIEWS AND BELIEFS The PNAC Web site states the group's "fundamental propositions", which are
The PNAC also made a statement of principles at their 1997 inception. As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the world's pre-eminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades? Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century favorable to American principles and interests? The PNAC advocates "a policy of military strength and moral clarity" which includes
The PNAC and its members had long called for the United States to abandon the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty between the US and the Soviet Union , from which the US withdrew in 2002. The PNAC also proposes to control the new "international commons" of Space and " Cyberspace " and pave the way for the creation of a new military service — U.S. Space Forces — with the mission of space control. In 1998 , Donald Rumsfeld chaired a Bipartisan commission on the US Ballistic Missile Threat toward advancement of these goals. It is unclear how "space control" will affect US adherence to the Outer Space Treaty . ''Rebuilding America's Defenses'' In September 2000 , the PNAC issued a 90-page report entitled '' Rebuilding America's Defenses: Strategies, Forces, And Resources For A New Century '', proceeding "from the belief that America should seek to preserve and extend its position of global leadership by maintaining the preeminence of U.S. military forces." The report has been the subject of much analysis and criticism. The group states that when diplomacy or sanctions fail, the United States must be prepared to take military action. PNAC argues that the current Cold War deployment of forces is obsolete. Defense spending and force deployment must reflect the post-Cold War duties that US forces have been called upon to perform. Constabulary duties such as peacekeeping in the Balkans and the enforcement of the No Fly Zones in Iraq have put a strain upon, and reduced the readiness of, US forces. The PNAC recommends the forward redeployment of US forces at new strategically placed permanent military bases in Southeast Europe and Southeast Asia. Permanent bases ease the strain on US forces, allowing readiness to be maintained and the carrier fleet to be reduced. Furthermore the military should be enlarged, equipped and restructured for the "constabulary" roles associated with shaping the security in critical regions of the world. Chairman William Kristol taught politics at the University Of Pennsylvania and Harvard University ’s Kennedy School Of Government . In 1985 he went to Washington and later served as chief of staff to Vice President Dan Quayle during the Bush Administration , and to Secretary of Education William Bennett under President Ronald Reagan . Kristol led the Project For The Republican Future , where he helped create the strategy which produced the 1994 Republican congressional victory. He started '' The Weekly Standard ''in 1995, and now serves as its editor and publisher. He is also a political contributor for the Fox News Channel and serves as a regular contributor to Special Report With Brit Hume . Position on Iraq In 1998 , following perceived Iraq i unwillingness to co-operate with UN weapons inspections, members of the PNAC, including Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz , wrote to President Bill Clinton urging him to remove Saddam Hussein from power using US diplomatic, political and military power. The letter argued that Saddam would pose a threat to the United States, its Middle East allies and oil resources in the region if he succeeded in maintaining his stockpile of Weapons Of Mass Destruction . The letter also stated "we can no longer depend on our partners in the Gulf War to continue to uphold the sanctions or to punish Saddam when he blocks or evades UN inspections" and "American policy cannot continue to be crippled by a misguided insistence on unanimity in the UN Security Council ." The letter argues that an Iraq war would be justified by Hussein's defiance of UN "containment" policy and his persistent threat to US interests. The 2000 ''Rebuilding America's Defenses'' report recommends improved planning and deployment in order to reduce the strain caused by enforcing the No Fly Zone and to free up an Aircraft Carrier . It uses the United States' Gulf War success as an example of why the world requires American military might. Looking ahead, the report states "while the unresolved conflict in Iraq provides the immediate justification US military presence , the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein" and "Over the long term, Iran may well prove as large a threat to U.S. interests in the Gulf as Iraq has. And even should U.S.-Iranian relations improve, retaining forward-based forces in the region would still be an essential element in U.S. security strategy given the longstanding American interests in the region". CONTROVERSY The PNAC has been the subject of considerable criticism and controversy, both among members of the Left and Right . Critics dispute the premise that American "world leadership" is desirable for the world or even for the United States itself. The PNAC's harshest critics claim it represents a disturbing step towards total world subjugation by America, motivated by an Imperial and Globalist agenda of global US military expansionism and dominance. Critics of the United States' international relations take umbrage at the PNAC's unabashed position of maintaining the nation's privileged position as sole world Superpower . Some critics even assert that the fall of the Soviet Union indicates an end to the era of 'superpowers' and therefore any concept of military hegemony or ascendancy are overrated. Military might is not power in itself, say the critics; it requires huge financial commitments, strong domestic and international support, plus skillful management to be considered worthwhile. PNAC position papers and other documents contain few references on building or maintaining any of these requirements. Supporters of the project reply that the PNAC's goals are not fundamentally different from past Conservative Foreign Policy assessments. American conservatives have traditionally favored a militarily strong United States, and advocated the country take aggressive positions when its interests are threatened. Supporters thus see the PNAC as the target of unfair Conspiracy Theories , mainly motivated by the left. A line frequently quoted by critics from ''Rebuilding America's Defenses'' famously refers to the possibility of a "catastrophic and catalyzing event — like a new Pearl Harbor" (page 51). This quote appears in Chapter V, entitled "Creating Tomorrow's Dominant Force", which discusses the perceived need for the Department of Defense to "move more aggressively to experiment with new technologies and operational concepts” (page 50). The full quote is as follows: "Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event — like a new Pearl Harbor." Some opponents of the Bush administration have used this quote as evidence for their belief the US government was complicit in the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks . See the article '' 9/11 Conspiracy Theories '' for further information on this topic. Many critics also claim the PNAC believed this "new Pearl Harbor" would justify war on Iraq . CRITICISMS OF POSITION ON IRAQ Many critics of the American-led invasion of Iraq claim the US' "bullying" of the , citing the letter, said "to pretend that this battle begins and ends in Iraq requires a willful denial of the context in which it occurs. That context is a blunt attempt by the superpower to reshape the world to suit itself." {Link without Title} BUSH ADMINISTRATION After the 2000 election of George W. Bush , many of the PNAC's members were appointed to key positions within the new President's administration: OTHER MEMBERS
SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS
Analysis of PNAC
|
|
|