DEMOCRATIC GLOBALISM(Note: This article was written as a response to Charles Krauthammer's presentation on "Democratic Globalism" in 2004 . . . its immediate reflections are all
more significant, given on-going geopolitic realities we face nearly a 1.6 years later.)
DEMOCRATIC GLOBALISM by Doug Krieger
The United States of America is no longer hiding her claws—no rival or United Nations or allied opinion can resist this colossus that struts her stuff across planet. The economic disintegration, and political demise of former Soviet Union, established sole super power upon globe in 1991. This hegemonic expression “found herself” inheritor of all that exemplifies Western Civilization, be it dregs of Sodom, culture of Egypt, international trading empire of Tyre, mystical religions of Babylon, and especially organizational and military genius of Pax Romana.
She is unchallenged. Termed “New Roman Empire” by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in midst of pending unilateral and pre-emptive action against Iraq, without UN or French, German and Russian support, she waged her war of national interest, cloaked in guise of geo-political realism, and justified by what syndicated columnist Dr. Charles Krauthammer calls “democratic globalism” (DG), a term he coined during a speech given before American Enterprise Institute, Annual Public Policy Research Council in February 2004 when he received Irving Krystal Award for public policy.
DG (according to Krauthammer) is realpolitik of Twenty-First Century and only resolution to “anti-realism” and self-hate of “liberal internationalism” embraced by Democrats, which see no redeeming elements within “national interest” policies of geo-political realism; instead, liberal internationalism (i.e., Democrats) seek to undermine American national interests by taking moral high ground only through “humanitarian intervention” on behalf of hurting peoples like in Haiti, Bosnia, Somalia, etc. – “while deriding “selfishness” they see in unilateralism of Bush’s foreign policy.
The selective self-interest policies of today’s DGs, in their inadvertent, newly-discovered unipolar world, where realism and economic self-interest can result in aggressive, pre-emptive wars that can be justified through “morality” (e.g., spreading “democratic freedoms” whereby civilization tames barbaric, medieval religious cultures of Middle East), is interventionist policy of world’s never-before seen Commercial Republic. But, according to Krauthammer, we are NOT an empire in classical sense of term—we are “custodian of international system.” We will not be bound by what Krauthammer calls “the Gulliver Effect” wherein colossus is tied down by international midget organizations like UN, nor likes of those unwilling to become members of “Coalition of Willing” (e.g., France, Germany, Canada, Russia, etc.).
THE COMMERCIAL EMPIRE
No, today’s export-driven economies, massive population flows and 9-11 realities have made isolationism obsolete, liberal internationalism (i.e., multi-lateralism) unrealistic, as well as anti-American; and, realism too harsh—leaving selective Democratic Globalism our only recourse. We, again according to Krauthammer, are a benign, reluctant but powerful COMMERCIAL REPUBLIC, not an exploitive and land-hungry empire of antiquity or recent colonialism. And, as custodian of international system, we will decide preemptively, and if need be, unilaterally, and in our own self-interest, when, where and how to defeat our immediate problem, Islamic totalitarianism (secular or religious).
Hence, obsession with earth’s oil reserves—in name of Democratic Globalism—perfectly suits our Commercial Republic’s goals of Middle East democratization (while picking up spoils of territorial conquest, and, simultaneously initiating such conquests with immediate “exit strategies”—later to be discarded “now that we’re in there.”). Pax Americana’s military, in name of fighting global terrorism will crush all others who are not for her. Her monopolistic and obdurate economic policies (euphemistically entitled “Free or Fair Trade”) are not designed to enslave bodies and souls of men, nor will they heap up riches for Merchants of Earth who are made rich through trading with her—no, trust us, we mean well in freeing peoples of earth in this manner; and, yes, I’m being facetious!
Krauthammer’s claim that this Commercial Republic bears no resemblance to any empire of past is not altogether accurate. She is not Rome, nor Medo-Persia, not Charlemagne, Holy Roman Empire, British, French, Spaniards nor Tsars, Nazis or Communists. Yet, new unipolar world of America’s hegemony (i.e., “foreign benefactors” of her Commercial Republic) does share an uncanny reflection to another international trading empire: Phoenicians; and, ipso facto, biblical King of Tyre’s imprint endures yet another resurrection to collide in prophetic fulfillment as commercial Babylon of Last Days!
Going forth “conquering and to conquer” upon a white horse is done in name of democratization, on behalf of extending freedom to all peoples tyrannized by despots and implacable religious tyrants who demean name of liberty and violate conscience of thinking and free peoples everywhere. The planet awaits its greatest hour, so we are told, and preemptive aggression (rather, “liberation”) by world’s only unipolar power has made his purposes known—you are either for us or against us; and, since we epitomize best blue planet can offer, we alone will or, for that matter, are capable to decide who should be free or neglected.
Yes, Democratic Globalism is a moral crusade between good and evil, between freedom and tyranny. Hence, this purely political resolve demands an interior motivation that can only be supplied by that which espouses, defines and provides moral covering for Gulliver in his travels. Arise, new and implacable Right—comprised of a distorted, prophetically motivated bastion of evangelical, southern Protestants (as well as leaders of America’s mega-churches and compatriots amongst so-called pro-family elements within religious America—e.g., Mormons, Moonies, Anti-abortionist Catholics, etc.) in league with American neo-cons. Together, they salute aggressive policies of a Presidency determined to rid world of terrorism—and in so doing, rule earth. These, religious and profane, are greeted with enthusiasm by their benefactors who gloat over oil bounty secured through this new aggressive policy of international economic hegemony through military conquest and subjugation, all in name of global democratization, freedom, liberty and elimination of “evil doers” from planet.
Ostensibly, over past twenty-five-plus years, they have galvanized, through media complicity, corporate malfeasance, and blatant subterfuge “family vote” in America—when there never was one to begin with! In so doing—they have inadvertently ascribed unto themselves “moral high ground” and have, in process, hijacked “Jesus” Who they have wrapped in their flag within their Patriotic Church.
