Saturday, December 13, 2003

Paul Krugman, New York Times: Hardliners' sabotage of reconciliation is no accident: "The last year, from the failure to get UN approval for the war to the retreat over steel tariffs, has been one long lesson in the limits of US economic leverage... These are tough times for the architects of the "Bush doctrine" of unilateralism and preventive war. Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld viewed Iraq as a pilot project, one that would validate their views and clear the way for further regime changes. Instead, the venture has turned sour - and many insiders see Baker's mission as part of an effort by veterans of the first Bush administration to extricate George W. Bush from the hardliners' clutches... In the end the Bush doctrine - based on delusions about the US's ability to dominate the world by force - will collapse. What we've just learned is how hard and dirty its proponents will fight against the inevitable."

This New York Times article reflects the level of concern held by sections of the American elite towards the Bush doctrine. It is seen as somewhat out of hand, and dangerous - rather like how Nixon in his latter years was seen as out of control and dangerous, even by members of the American elite itself.

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