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Neocons, Israel & Iraq, Continued from page 6 "The geographical focus of [American strategy] shifted repeatedly during the twentieth century...Gradually, however, the Middle East came to be the hub around which American strategy turned; because of Israel (and its victorious wars of 1956, 1967, 1973, and later) with the Arab states funded by Saudi Arabia, because of oil, because of terrorism. With the end of the cold war opportunities presented themselves to use America's reviving military power against one or more of those dangerous states that simultaneously threatened Israel, possessed oil, and sponsored terrorism. The question was not whether the United states would act against these sworn enemies, it could not afford not to. The question was whether it would do so alone or in partnership with its traditional allies." Consequently, it was imperative that after 9/11 that the United States drive the Taliban and al Qaeda from Afghanistan and that it send a signal that would be understood to the leader elites in the Arab world that 'regime change' would immediately follow any state which we suspected of either sponsoring terrorism of global reach and/or attempting to develop a nuclear weapons capability either by indigenous programs or other means. That signal could only be sent with minimum cost via an invasion of Iraq and a concomitant 'regime change.' Why? Because we knew it could be done quickly and with a minimum of expenditure in men and resources. We had accomplished it before and knew the Iraqis' weaknesses. We were thus assured of military success. We have accomplished this mission. It matters not whether Iraq can be 'reconstructed' into a model democracy. The mission is not, in spite of rhetoric from high places, to build a democracy in Iraq. After giving the Iraqis a decent interval to find a 'democracy' of their own, America should declare 'mission accomplished' and leave Iraq to its own destiny. The question of whether or not the neoconservatives have led America to an endless quest of converting the Islamic states in the Middle East to a democratic form of government by force of arms will answer the question posed. Such a feat is simply not only impossible but inimical to what America stands for. We are not an empire in the sense of conquest. Our strength is in showing the world how a constitutional republic based on our founding documents bestows benefits of freedom, good will, and peace. We must resist all efforts that divide us along ethnic lines (multiculturalism) in order to make any particular group
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