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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial><STRONG><FONT size=4><FONT color=#003399><FONT
face=Times>Obama: Neoconservative<BR><!-- put file name of author's bio in href below, before .asp --><!-- MOST COMMON HREFs ARE: jgh.asp; rme.asp; sxr.asp; jxb.asp; dxb.asp --></FONT></FONT></FONT></STRONG><FONT
size=2 face=Arial,Geneva,sans-serif>by </FONT><A
href="http://www.fff.org/aboutUs/bios/sxr.asp"><!-- put author name below, before </font></a> tag --><FONT
color=#003399 size=2 face=Arial,Geneva,sans-serif>Sheldon
Richman</FONT></A><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">, <!-- put date below, before </font> tag --></FONT></FONT><FONT size=2
face=Arial,Geneva,sans-serif>September 13, 2010</FONT>
<P></P><FONT
face="Times,Times New Roman"><!-- article body text starts here --></FONT>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">President Barack Obama was far from candid
when he announced the end of combat operations in Iraq last month, but he did
nothing to hide the fact that he is a neoconservative when it comes to the
American empire. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">That was not lost on leading
neoconservatives, who tend to prefer Republicans. William Kristol, editor of
<CITE>The Weekly Standard,</CITE> told a colleague that while he would have
phrased the speech differently, “his basic response was ‘All hail Obama!’”
</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">John Podhoretz, editor of
<CITE>Commentary</CITE> magazine, wrote in his <CITE>New York Post</CITE>
column, “President Obama did something amazing. He delivered — dare I say it? —
a rather <EM>neoconservative</EM> speech, in the sense that neoconservatism has
argued for aggressive American involvement in the world both for the world’s
sake and for the sake of extending American freedoms in order to enhance and
preserve American security.”</FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">Just to be clear, it is the neocons who
were among the key architects of the war against Iraq in 1991, followed by the
embargo that killed half a million children and set the stage for the 9/11
attacks, which were then used to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq (an
ambition long predating 9/11) and the invasion and occupation of Afghanistan,
American’s longest military engagement — all of which have killed more than a
million people, wreaked political havoc, and made life in those countries (and
elsewhere) miserable. Let’s not forget the drone assassination program being run
in a dozen Muslim countries. The neocon achievement also has helped drive the
American people deep into debt. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">Nice crowd Obama is hanging with these
days. And that’s no exaggeration. Frederick Kagan, one of the top neocon brains
and a signatory of the Project of the New American Century imperial manifesto,
now works for Gen. David Petraeus. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">The U.S. government has left Iraq a
physical wreck and squarely in Iran’s sphere of influence, but Obama propagates
the neocon myth that Iraq was a great success. For him it’s just the beginning:
“But this milestone should serve as a reminder to all Americans that the future
is ours to shape if we move forward with confidence and commitment. It should
also serve as a message to the world that the United States of America intends
to sustain and strengthen our leadership in this young century.... Our combat
mission is ending, but our commitment to Iraq’s future is not.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">People throughout the Muslim world must be
cringing. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">It’s not enough that the George W. Bush
and Obama administrations made messes of Iraq and Afghanistan. Obama promises
more. “And because of our drawdown in Iraq,” he said, “we are now able to apply
the resources necessary to go on offense.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">That means more Predator drones shooting
Hellfire missiles at so-called insurgents, who always seem to include innocent
civilians. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">As though his speech was written by the
neocon brain trust, Obama intoned, “We must use all elements of our power —
including our diplomacy, our economic strength, and the power of America’s
example — to secure our interests and stand by our allies. And we must project a
vision of the future that’s based not just on our fears, but also on our hopes —
a vision that recognizes the real dangers that exist around the world, but also
the limitless possibilities of our time.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">If people in the rest of the world would
rather shape their own future, too bad. Obama has a date with destiny: “New
markets for our goods stretch from Asia to the Americas.” Oops. Were foreigners
supposed to hear that mercantilist line? </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">“As the leader of the free world, America
will do more than just defeat on the battlefield those who offer hatred and
destruction — we will also lead among those who are willing to work together to
expand freedom and opportunity for all people,” he wrapped up. “Throughout our
history, America has been willing to bear the burden of promoting liberty and
human dignity overseas, understanding its links to our own liberty and
security.” </FONT></P>
<P><FONT face="Times,Times New Roman">Let’s understand that this is blueprint
for unlimited government — to be precise, executive — power. The Obama
administration again demonstrates that while presidents come and go, the
permanent regime rumbles on. Woe to anyone who gets in its way.
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