Posted by
ApolloSpeaks on Friday, August 14, 2009 3:36:41 PM
In response to a comment that I posted on the Anti-Liberal Zone about the indispensability of American power for keeping order, stability and peace in the world leftist blogger Caday5 wrote:
"Indispensable, says who?
I would point out the work of historian Chalmers Johnson* who was asked to be CIA consultant because of his expertise on history. His observation, based on past empires, is that a nation cannot remain both a republic and an empire forever. At some point, we will have to choose.
*Author of the three books: Sorrows of Empire, Blowback and Nemesis.
In addition, he points out the paybacks we should expect as a result of our empire.
1. Perpetual War
2. Increase in systematic disinformation
3. Weakening of Constitutional rights
4. Bankruptcy. "
My reply to Caday is this:
Commenting on a piece that Chalmers Johnson wrote for the Huffington Post titled: Three Good Reasons to Liquidate our Empire, where he uses the dismantling of the British Empire after WW II as a model to liquidate the American "Empire" of military bases," I wrote the following:
"Dear Mr. Johnson:
The British were able to liquidate their empire in safety and security because there was a Superpower of Liberty to replace it: The United States of America. But who and what is there to replace American power as the cornerstone of international order?
For keeping a good measure of order, stability and peace in the world, to prevent it from slipping into anarchy and strife, a global policeman is a world necessity. Without an alternative to American hegemony-however immoral at times we could be (and you cite some valid examples in your piece)-a US global retreat would leave a horrifying vacuum that our enemies would quickly fill. The disastrous global impact of our financial crash last fall foreshadows the fate of international order if America were to follow your ill conceived advice of ending our global military presence. Unless a mechanism is devised to replace American hegemony the deconstruction of our power would be a dangerous gambol and throw of the dice resulting in global turmoil and strife.
What is your alternative to American power, Mr. Johnson? What is your substitute for the Pax Americana (American Peace)?"
Johnson never answered my letter which didn't surprise me as he says nothing in his books about a viable alternative to US hegemony. His books are an angry, hate filled obsessive tirade against US global power and its abuses and crimes. To be sure America, since becoming a superpower, is guilty of many grievous sins of commission and omission-which Johnson uses to show that America is unworthy of its great power. But Johnson and his ilk (which include Barack Obama) are men with broken brains when it comes to US power. Indeed, conceiving nothing worse and more frightful than the unipolar world of Pax Americana they believe that its destruction will magically give birth to a better and more peaceful world. This is no more true of the real, predatory world of today with its pirates, rogue regimes and nuclear armed madmen than it was of South East Asia when our evil "baby killing" troops quit Vietnam; instead of the peace many expected in a new united Vietnam we saw the peace of the grave swallowing millions. As Obama weakens US resolve and retreats from the world, as he projects a dangerous image of gutlessness, indecision and mistrust Johnson and the Left will quickly learn what most Americans know instinctively: that there is no substitute for US power; that the terrible alternative to the US dominated system they love to hate and ridicule is the breakdown of global order.
I say without reservation that I love my country right or wrong, as I do my own father faults and all, and in her defense I say this: America is the worst superower in history except for all the others that have existed. With all our faults no world power has been morally better and done more good in the world; not Britain, not France, not Spain, Russia or Rome; none have sacrificed more blood and treasure for the cause of liberty, progress and peace. None have done more to advance civilization, human rights and the rule of law. We're the only world power in history with no ambition for territory and imperial gain. Whenever we invade a counrty be it Germany, Japan, Iraq or Afghanistan it's ultimately to liberate its people from tyranny as we are the torchbearers of freedom. In truth, the current global order with America at its helm is the best that's possible at this time in history. If it's not good enough for some then let's see their great plans for a better arrangement, or let them be silent. In a word, every right thinking American and true lover of peace will support our great "empire" of military bases and back its duration for as far as the eye can see.