Maybe the philosophy behind neoconservatism is best understood as both an ideology
and a suggested methodology, which grew out of an unlikely marriage between traditional conservative intellectualism, and Neo-Christian American Nationalism. The progeny of that union is a modern version of the Puritan belief in Divine American moral superiority and manifest economic destiny on an international scale, bereft of the ethical underpinnings nominally associated with most forms of classical theism. As events unfolded in East Germany, China, and India, over the last twenty-years, the first modern neoconservative intellectuals were coming of age. And unsurprisingly they came to speculate when observing those events, wouldn't it be great if American economic principles could be buttressed with military might? What if by modest but precise, judicious use of US military power and subsequent privatization, the whole process could be dramatically sped up?
In this way it was hypothesized that a sort of capitalist, democratic, world could be created more quickly, America would naturally be the spiritual and economic center, and everyone would benefit. A win-win-win, for all. Instead of waiting decades for small groups of free market movers and shakers to slowly change the culture from the inside, the neocons concluded it could be done quickly, all at once, and all
correctly from the get-go. American firepower and economic largess could be used to remake the world into an economic paradise, in our image. And this, is afterall, America's manifest destiny. Such a vision is so idyllically seductive and understandably desirable, that the neocons felt any tactics used to achieve it could be condoned, no matter how unethical or dishonest. For in their facile vision, their Utopian dream world was so self-evidently superior in every way, that it was all too easy to justify cutting moral corners.
And thus was born the neocons 'system'. Use of lightning fast, small elite military units backed by airpower to dislodge uncooperative regimes, free market policies installed rapidly in the vacuum thus created, and an atmosphere which would encourage business, free trade, and middle-class consumerism would emerge as a matter of course. This would produce democratic, US-friendly, nations. And so, any conduct which might be a bit duplicitous, could be excused in the pursuit their lofty, noble, goal.
The only real question facing the neocons by the mid 1990s was how best to implement their philosophy and forge ahead with their methods. Unfortunately, for the true-beilevers who wanted to validate their strategy and get on with saving the world, the 90's were dominated by the rival political party. The times were peaceful and prosperous, virtually guaranteeing Clinton would be reelected to another term. Even after the Monicagate scandal, the economy was so strong that Clinton remained popular through his second stint as Chief Executive. And Al Gore, riding on those coattails, look like a solid contender. There was just no nation wide desire for any radical departure from the status quo. Politically the support simply wasn't available. What the neocon theorists needed was a lucky break, and that's exactly what they got in the bitterly contested 2000 Presidential Election.
George Bush had not even announced his candidacy for President when neocon strategist began discussing which nation would be the best showcase for their ideology of military intervention and economic remodeling. Iraq quickly moved to the short list of obvious choices. Under the despotic rule of Saddam Hussein, the nation had been ostracized from the international community. After the disastrous invasion of Kuwait, the one sided ass-kicking that followed, and the resulting UN Sanctions, the Iraqi regime had been weakened to the point of internal collapse. And no one in the international community was going to go to bat for Saddam if more misfortune came calling on him. By now, Iraqi exiles like Ahmed Chalabi had worked their way into the neocon hearts and minds, with an ingenious combination of lobbying and psychology. Chalabi was a particularly skillful manipulator of the neocon ego. He found willing listeners by telling them what they wanted to hear. Chalabi's hypnotic skills fed the dream by portraying Iraq as a country that would joyously accept any occupying force which freed them from Saddam's brutal policies. In a move that would return to haunt them, the neocons sublimely embraced Chalabi as one of their own, and granted him access to the highest Halls of Power.
Iraq was shaping up as an ideal case study for neocon ideology. The region was of strategic vital interest to the US. Unlike Afghanistan or nations in Africa, oil-rich Iraq was not an economic basket case. The Iraqi people boasted a highly educated middle class of potential consumers and workers. The American people had already been sold on the evil nature of the Iraqi Dictator, we still felt national pangs of regret for not finishing the job started during the 1991 Gulf War, and by the luck of the draw the new President was George Bush, who held a personal grudge against Saddam Hussein. Iraq was, by far, the most attractive candidate to demonstrate the neocon vision, and it was Iraq they secretly settled on and begin planning for.
But even after George Bush took the Oval Office, America and the world were still enjoying peace and prosperity, the economy remained strong, oil prices were low, budget surpluses were at record levels, and even Israelis and Palestinians appeared on the verge of a historic breakthrough in peaceful coexistence. The Soviet Empire had fallen in the early nineties and a stable democratically inclined series of nation-states had emerged in it's stead, removing the useful, albeit very real, menace of communism as a lever with which to manipulate American public opinion. Even the brief resurgence of East European fascist nationalism had been squelched in the Balkans. The new President appeared outwardly apathetic to change. He pledged a policy vaguely reminiscent of laissez faire, and spent his time drifting casually around DC and the nation playing golf, learning the ropes of his new found power, and socializing. The neocons would have to wait for the right time, for something to happen they could take advantage of ... they wouldn't have to wait for long, and they surely had no idea the magnitude of change that was about shake the United States to it's very core. Part Three tomorrow.