REMINDER: There is a signed document that explains Bush policy

[CrackpotAmerica]

Back in 1997, a gaggle of anti Clinton folks got together and decided to have themselves a little "project."

Of course you, my friends, need not be enlightened of the existence of the PNAC. But how many of your NASCAR friends or family members are aware of it?

I had a little Tiff with my mom a few weeks back. She was repeating Mr. Mehlman's talking points and I had to make her stop. I love my mother and abhor being angry with her. And so, I hopped on her computer and logged on to the PNAC website to show her who they are and what they are all about.

As she read, I reminded her that American foreign policy from after WWII until the Berlin Wall fell was first and foremost a mission to contain Communism, also stating that Communism is expansionist government. Next, I pointed out certain phrases in the PNAC charter that thinly vail their desire for the United States to adopt a policy of expansionism, citing contemporary phrases like "advancement of freedom" and "(freedom) on the march," so brazenly uttered by our current administration. And lastly, I reminded her of the great failures of imperialism (yes, the sun now sets on the British Empire) and how imperialism was directly linked to many catastrophes in our time. I.E. Slavery, the constant wars in Africa, the Balkans, the continuing problems in the Middle East; etc. . .

When she was done reading, I made sure she read the list of signatures at the bottom of the page. I expected shock. What I got was kind of an "Oh, well, whatchyagonnado."

This experience has led me to believe that my fear that the exploitable ignorance of Americans is reaching a critical point. My own mother, who was the voice of tolerance when I was a dumb city kid who almost assimilated to the racism of urban life, but turned around and broke bread with his brothers and sisters of color as a direct result of her tolerance, has sunk to subscribe to the opinions of a deliberate constituency. One with every intention of exploiting the weaknesses of the American poor. One with every intention and now an overt will to ravage the bodies of so many young men and women without pause. I just could not believe it.

My point in this rambling rant is this: Make sure that you provide sound examples to those whom you love but are "asleep." I am not done working on my mom yet. And I have seen some progress, albeit slow progress. I feel that we must not condemn the average citizen. Rather, we must expose them to certain truths in order to grant them some objectivity.

Give it a try. We all have some form of wing nut in our family or in our collection of friends. Take them here and see what happens:

http://newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm


Thanks and God Bless!

[BlueEyedSon]

1. This is a great story, good luck with mom.

The results of the PNAC policy go beyond "ravage(ing) the bodies of so many young men and women." There is hardly a way of accomplishing their goal without draining our treasury (which they have done) and bankrupting the country (soon?). Traditional foreign allegiances are irreparable destroyed. The PNAC "Imperial US" will be hated even more fiercely around the globe. Extreme government secrecy, martial law and curtailed civil rights are always in play when the country is on a war footing. Arguably, even the PNAC guys have been bamboozled and their agenda hijacked by the Bush admin for political capital and personal material gain (war profiteering).

So what is up with people who do not see the harm, even moral "evil" of the PNAC plan (or just accept it)?

1. They agree, on some level, that the US should fill the "power vacuum" left by the end of the cold war (I would consider this an informed, realpolitik position)

2. They see the need to make the first move in the coming resource wars (Hmmmm... killing for oil, etc is OK).

3. Some may feel that others are more qualified to make up foreign policy (no matter how nutty their work product). Plus, if our ELECTED leaders (GWB, moron-in-chief.... etc.) have signed on, that must make the policy OK. Even if they oppose the PNAC agenda somewhat, it's a "you can't fight city hall" situation now.

4. Clearly, there are several groups of peeps who have bought various competing cover stories for the invasion (Saddam did 9/11, WMD's, Iraqis must be freed, yadda yadda....), and cant quite get their heads around the idea it's all a SMOKESCREEN for the PNAC agenda.

Anyway, what can we do? We can't FIRE the PNACers, they are not gov't employees (in their capacity as PNACers). We can't VOTE THEM OUT. We can't prosecute them for writing white papers.

[CrackpotAmerica]

2. Thanks! n\t

[TomPainesBones]

3. You got a better response than I did

I've been disgusted by PNAC from day one. I thought I really had something to present to my rightwing relatives with this. After researching and collecting as much info as I could, I showed it to them. Their response?

They loved it.

I cut ties soon after.

[BlueEyedSon]

4. They need to understand that the PNAC plan has

CONSEQUENCES. Big ones.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. World reshaping ones...

[TomPainesBones]

8. As Imperialists

they understand all they need to.

They actually said this to me:

"We tried it your way for 200 hundred years and that clearly doesn't work. Now it's time to do it our way"

We need to understand that there are MILLIONS of people in our country that if they were born in Germany in the early 20th century, they'd be goosestepping past us in Berlin saying "Come on, go along, go along"

(That last part was a Seinfeld reference)

[BlueEyedSon]

11. Little do they know, but the US has been actually trying THEIR WAY

(stealthily) for 100 years

[mattclearing]

5. Thanks for this. It bears remembering.

In the right hands, this document is a weapon. The PNAC thought they could hide in plain sight.

Everyone should be aware of what is happening.

I will send it around.

[CrackpotAmerica]

7. Thanks! Spread the Word! n\t

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. I have hell I gave teh 98 white paper to a friend

who is very much, self ascribed as a Republican Conservative (in the Ike Mold)... he cannot believe what he is readying

[Just Me]

10. PNAC is precisely how I got through to some family members,...

,...and most all of my friends. Never give up on people is my motto.