The Coming Pax Americana 
Adrienne Larkin

In 1997, when the presidency of George W. Bush was
nothing more than a twinkle in Karl Roveıs eye, a
group called the Project for  a New American
Century, or PNAC, was founded with the goal of
establishing a Pax  Americana across the world.  The
Pax Americana  was to be established, like the Pax
Romana, by dint of vast  and cold military
superiority, engendering shock and awe in the hearts
of all those who dare oppose them.  
 
 The centerpiece of the Pax Americana was the
conquest and occupation of Iraq.  An American
beachhead in the Middle East, complete with American
military bases, would obviate the need for
negotiating with annoying countries like Saudi
Arabia for an American military presence.  Not to
mention that other regimes not to our liking in the
region would be next on the list of invasion and
subjugation.  And the whole kit and kaboodle would
be paid for by Iraqıs oil.  
 
 A nonsensical conspiracy theory?  Madness upon
madness?    I thought so too, so I cruised on over
to PNACıs website, www.newamericancentury.org, and
checked out the pre-W writings.  Sure enough,  PNAC
wanted Saddam Hussein removed from power by use of
American military might, including American ground
forces.  In their world view, this would open the
way for a new Iraq whose intentions were suitably
benign to American interests.
 
 And the founding members of PNAC?  If I told you,
you would think I was lying, but Iıll tell you
anyway.  Vice President Dick Cheney.  Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld.  Paul Wolfowitz.  Richard
Perle.  William Kristol, writer for one of Ruppert
Merdochıs conservative rags. Elliott Abrams.  And,
of course, Jeb Bush. The membership roster of PNAC
is a whoıs who of George Bushıs right-wing political
operatives.
 
 If you arenıt persuaded that the PNACers are
running the current ³shock and awe² annihilation of
Baghdad, you might be interested to know that Bushıs
proposed defense budget for 2003 matches to the
nickel the amount proposed for military spending by
PNAC in September of 2000.
 
 Just in case you want a peek at what comes next,
PNAC has a handy little statement on Post War Iraq
on their website.  The bottom line is:  America is
going to run the show over there for a long time.
American forces will be there fore years.  And the
democracy thing? Donıt expect democratic ³elections²
over there within the next two or three years; 
wouldnıt be prudent. And money?  We will spend
whatever it takes.  America will run the rebuilding
show, but you knew that already.  Brown and Root, a
subsidiary of Dick Cheneyıs Halliburton, has already
inked the deal for beaucoup of your taxpaying bucks
to build some bridges and roads.  
Got Social Security?  Donıt count on it.  Your tax
money is going to be tied up for about 40 years
trying to impose a Pax Americana on a hostile world.
 Got good schools?  Nope, got to rebuild the schools
in countries we just bombed into the Stone Age.  Got
1984, where war is peace and tyrants masquerade as
freedom-lovers?  Now thatıs something we definitely
got, in spades. 
 
 İ2003  Adrienne Larkin