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Originally Posted by ratbastid
I can't fathom of having a world-view as simplistic as the one espoused by neocon war on terror-ists.
We were just sitting here minding our own business twiddling our thumbs going "doo-de-doo-de-doo" when suddenly and for no reason evil madmen rained death down upon our heads. Why? Because they're evil, that's why, and that's what evil people do. King George told us, he said, "These people hate freedom, and we love freedom, and that's where the clash occurs." They're bad. And we're good. So now since we're good and they're bad, we need to occupy a country that had nothing to do with it because it used to be run by another bad guy.
I don't believe our military engages in indiscriminate murder. I think our administration's decision to flex its muscle in Iraq was indiscriminate and unconsidered and led to vast civilian casualties, and vast casualties of "enemy combatants" who were perfectly peaceful individuals prior to our occupation. So it amounts to much the same thing. But I think the soldier with his boots in the sand is doing the best he can do, given the job he's been asked to accomplish.
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You miss the point that some of us neocons make.
We (our government, US corporations and US consumers) are actively involved in world affairs. I don't disagree with that. We exert great influence on the world. However, our influence is not being forced, with a few exceptions. And, other nations, foreign corporations and world consumers exert great influence on the US. In our current time the globe has gotten smaller, so to speak. If this is what is considered "globalization", I can accept that, but can not accept it being labeled immoral.
We use our military or the threatened use of our military to protect our friends, to try to maintain order, freedom to travel, freedom to trade, freedom to self-govern. I know many will argue if this is an inappropriate role for our government, but our government has assumed that role. If for example Iraq doesn't invade Kuwait we don't use our military to come to Kuwait's aid in the early 90's. We have a treaty with the nation of Israel, when Israel is under threat, we provide aid in various forms. It is clear to many of us "neocons" that our interests are not always going to be in line with others and our actions may lead to conflict, but to suggest that conflict is our desire is wrong.
As a "neocon" I would be perfectly happy if we could resolve all difference through negotiation. I think one major difference in our views are that I do not think we are in a war of choice, I get the feel that you think we are.