| Epicurus |
So I recently read an absolutely brilliant article by US House of Representatives Congressman Ron Paul, who dissects and analyses neo-con foreign policy as promulgated by Bush and company. He's a libertarian (advocates minimal government intervention both on a social as well as on an economic level), so keep that in mind when you read it. It's a VERY long read, but it's probably the best article I've ever read on the subject, and completely and totally worth your time. People with some political science and political philosophy backgrounds will appreciate this most, but do yourself a favour and read it regardless, even it it takes you an hour or so. Print it, memorize it, and keep it handy. You will not regret it.
Click here for the link. The following is a quote from the article:
| quote: | More important than the names of people affiliated with neo-conservatism are the views they adhere to. Here is a brief summary of the general understanding of what neocons believe:
1. They agree with Trotsky on permanent revolution, violent as well as intellectual.
2. They are for redrawing the map of the Middle East and are willing to use force to do so.
3. They believe in preemptive war to achieve desired ends.
4. They accept the notion that the ends justify the means—that hard-ball politics is a moral necessity.
5. They express no opposition to the welfare state.
6. They are not bashful about an American empire; instead they strongly endorse it.
7. They believe lying is necessary for the state to survive.
8. They believe a powerful federal government is a benefit.
9. They believe pertinent facts about how a society should be run should be held by the elite and
withheld from those who do not have the courage to deal with it.
10. They believe neutrality in foreign affairs is ill-advised.
11. They hold Leo Strauss in high esteem.
12. They believe imperialism, if progressive in nature, is appropriate.
13. Using American might to force American ideals on others is acceptable. Force should
not be limited to the defense of our country.
14. 9-11 resulted from the lack of foreign entanglements, not from too many.
15. They dislike and despise libertarians (therefore, the same applies to all strict constitutionalists.)
16. They endorse attacks on civil liberties, such as those found in the Patriot Act, as being necessary.
17. They unconditionally support Israel and have a close alliance with the Likud Party.
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Here's a much smaller article from the BBC that's in line with what Paul discusses in the above article, regarding Bush's views on what he views as "good reading material". Click here. Here's a quote:
| quote: | | The commander-in-chief has been actively promoting the latest work by former Soviet Jewish dissident - and Israeli politician - Natan Sharansky, recommending it as a must-read for those who want to grasp his own world view. |
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