On Sun, 19 Sep 2004 17:24:25 -0000, "Non-republicrat Voter"
wrote:

William Kristol
is Editor of the Weekly Standard, owned by Rupert Murdoch.

//-------------
THE PROJECT FOR THE NEW AMERICAN CENTURY

Established in the spring of 1997, the Project for the New American
Century is a non-profit, educational organization whose goal is to
promote American global leadership. The Project is an initiative of
the New Citizenship Project (501c3); the New Citizenship Project's
chairman is William Kristol and its president is Gary Schmitt.

//
============
Members include:

Elliott Abrams
Gary Bauer
William J. Bennett
Jeb Bush
Dick Cheney
Eliot A. Cohen
Midge Decter
Paula Dobriansky
Steve Forbes
Aaron Friedberg
Francis Fukuyama
Frank Gaffney
Fred C. Ikle
Donald Kagan
Zalmay Khalilzad
I. Lewis Libby
Norman Podhoretz
Dan Quayle
Peter W. Rodman
Stephen P. Rosen
Henry S. Rowen
Donald Rumsfeld
Vin Weber
George Weigel
Paul Wolfowitz

Any names seem familiar? Just who or what the hell is 'governing' the
United States of America?

//
===========

June 3, 1997

American foreign and defense policy is adrift. Conservatives have
criticized the incoherent policies of the Clinton Administration. They
have also resisted isolationist impulses from within their own ranks.
But conservatives have not confidently advanced a strategic vision of
America's role in the world. They have not set forth guiding
principles for American foreign policy. They have allowed differences
over tactics to obscure potential agreement on strategic objectives.
And they have not fought for a defense budget that would maintain
American security and advance American interests in the new century.

We aim to change this. We aim to make the case and rally support for
American global leadership.

As the 20th century draws to a close, the United States stands as the
world's preeminent power. Having led the West to victory in the Cold
War, America faces an opportunity and a challenge: Does the United
States have the vision to build upon the achievements of past decades?
Does the United States have the resolve to shape a new century
favorable to American principles and interests?

We are in danger of squandering the opportunity and failing the
challenge. We are living off the capital -- both the military
investments and the foreign policy achievements -- built up by past
administrations. Cuts in foreign affairs and defense spending,
inattention to the tools of statecraft, and inconstant leadership are
making it increasingly difficult to sustain American influence around
the world. And the promise of short-term commercial benefits threatens
to override strategic considerations. As a consequence, we are
jeopardizing the nation's ability to meet present threats and to deal
with potentially greater challenges that lie ahead.

We seem to have forgotten the essential elements of the Reagan
Administration's success: a military that is strong and ready to meet
both present and future challenges; a foreign policy that boldly and
purposefully promotes American principles abroad; and national
leadership that accepts the United States' global responsibilities.

Of course, the United States must be prudent in how it exercises its
power. But we cannot safely avoid the responsibilities of global
leadership or the costs that are associated with its exercise. America
has a vital role in maintaining peace and security in Europe, Asia,
and the Middle East. If we shirk our responsibilities, we invite
challenges to our fundamental interests. The history of the 20th
century should have taught us that it is important to shape
circumstances before crises emerge, and to meet threats before they
become dire. The history of this century should have taught us to
embrace the cause of American leadership.

Our aim is to remind Americans of these lessons and to draw their
consequences for today. Here are four consequences:

• we need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to
carry out our global responsibilities today and modernize our armed
forces for the future;

• we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to
challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values;

• we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom
abroad;

• we need to accept responsibility for America's unique role in
preserving and extending an international order friendly to our
security, our prosperity, and our principles.

Such a Reaganite policy of military strength and moral clarity may not
be fashionable today. But it is necessary if the United States is to
build on the successes of this past century and to ensure our security
and our greatness in the next.

http://www.newamericancentury.org/st...principles.htm