From: "Eli Pariser" <bulletin@9-11peace.org>
To: <9-11peace@complete.org>
Subject: First Afghanistan, Then The World?
Date: Wed, 30 Jan 2002 08:02:35 -0500
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FIRST AFGHANISTAN, THEN THE WORLD?
Read online, subscribe, or unsubscribe at:
http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin.php3


CONTENTS
---------
1. Introduction: The Game of Global Domination
2. Special Feature: Tell Us How We're Doing
3. One Link
4. America Extends Its Reach
5. Defending Freedom, or Building an Empire?
6. The Price of a Global Presence
7. Get Involved
8. About the Bulletin


INTRODUCTION: THE GAME OF GLOBAL DOMINATION
--------------------------------------------
Prior to 9-11, there were American troops in somewhere
around 100 countries in the world. Now that the war on
Afghanistan has allegedly been won, the Bush administration
is building and expanding this international military
presence, most notably by setting up a ring of US bases in
the countries around Afghanistan, and shipping over 600
troops to the Philippines. The justification for the buildup
is that it is the groundwork for new actions meant to root
out terrorism and defend freedom and democracy around the
globe.

But while the argument is often made that American troops
have a stabilizing effect on troubled regions, some say that
America had too great a military presence to begin with. The
current President himself once campaigned to end
"peacekeeping" missions worldwide and bring as many soldiers
home as possible. Now that the Bush administration is doing
the exact opposite, it remains to be seen what the
consequences of this buildup will be.

By sending more troops to Islamic countries, the US may
inflame anti-American sentiment there, and might well face
reprisals by radical groups and terrorist organizations as a
result. It also appears that the US risks losing the support
of the countries in the new international coalition, as
world leaders begin to voice concern over the growing reach
of a burgeoning empire.

This week, we take a look at how America's international
military presence has grown since the beginning of the
so-called "war on terror," and the implications that this
growth has for our global future.

Next Week: Towards an international criminal court.


SPECIAL FEATURE: TELL US HOW WE'RE DOING
-----------------------------------------
Here's your chance to tell us what you think of the bulletin
so far, and help us decide what it will look like in the
future. Please take a moment to fill out our bulletin
survey.
http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletinsurvey.php3


ONE LINK
---------
If you read only one link in this week's bulletin, read this
one, which is about the ring of new and expanded military
bases that the US is setting up in a number of Muslim
countries around Afghanistan. This buildup actually began
prior to 9-11 but has accelerated since the "war on terror"
began. The article highlights the likely connection between
terrorist attacks (including the events of 9-11) and Islamic
sensitivity to this American military presence.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=86


AMERICA EXTENDS ITS REACH
--------------------------
President Bush campaigned against expanding military
deployments last year. Now, due to his administration's
commitment to fight terrorism wherever it may hide, the US
is building new military bases and shifting its soldiers and
resources into position for operations centered around
Central and South-East Asia. The support of other countries
in these operations is vital, and may involve troop
deployments by countries such as Japan, Germany, and Korea.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/0201/19/world/world14.html

The first major American military deployment since US troops
were sent to Afghanistan is the deployment of around 660
soldiers to the Philippines. Filipino President Gloria
Arroyo defends this deployment, but in the country it has
been extremely controversial.
http://www.msnbc.com/news/683221.asp?cp1=1#BODY

The current and unprecedented call for reserves is putting a
strain on American national services such as police
departments, at a time when national security is supposed to
be a high priority.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0128/p01s04-usmi.html

US admits Saudis want troops withdrawn
http://asia.cnn.com/2002/US/01/27/saudi.us.presence/


DEFENDING FREEDOM, OR BUILDING AN EMPIRE?
------------------------------------------
It is difficult to determine what exactly America's
international role should be, especially in terms of
Afghanistan. Some argue that American troops are a
stabilizing force that help maintain peace. For example,
according to some Afghan officials, America's presence is
needed in the area in order to keep the region from sliding
into civil war (which is what happened the last time the US
pulled out of Afghanistan after fighting its proxy war there
against Russia).

This article details the current conflicts in Afghanistan,
and concludes with the Afghan minister in charge of
peacekeeping acknowledging the need for 100,000 foreign
troops.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=87

As this article notes, Washington policymakers have also
come to see the US as an "indispensable" force in many
troubled regions. But John Pike of GlobalSecurity.org
worries that "...we've acquired an empire in a fit of
absentmindedness". He and other experts warn that policing
the world is a complex and expensive undertaking.
http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0117/p01s01-usmi.html

It can be argued that military deployments are more likely
to be used to protect American interests (such as control of
oil supplies) than they are to be used to wipe out terrorism
or stabilize governments.

The author of this article, which is titled "Reaching the
parts other empires could not reach", argues that America is
currently engaged in a "strategic power-grab" for the
resources of the region, an act which in different times
would have been labeled colonialism, imperialism, or perhaps
even manifest destiny.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=88

Countries around the world are becoming uneasy with the
growing international American military presence. Some see
America's actions in and around Afghanistan as a replay of
the former "Great Game" between Britain and Russia for
control of the region and its resources, only with the US
and Russia as the dominant players.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=89

American troops have also been sent to the Philippines
before, ostensibly to help Filipinos fight Spanish
colonizers. But, according to this article, "instead of
helping liberate the Filipino people from colonial bondage,
the Americans simply took over from the Spaniards - using
duplicity and brutality - and declared themselves the new
colonial masters."
http://www.bulatlat.com./news/49/049weng.html

Creating an empire through economics? A case for the idea
that by engineering its global dominance, America has
exacerbated the inequalities of the world that create
fertile ground for terrorism, and that military actions
against specific groups cannot eliminate the conditions that
contribute to this threat.
http://www.counterpunch.org/wade1.html


THE PRICE OF A GLOBAL PRESENCE
-------------------------------
Another aspect of this issue which should not be forgotten
is the question of how the United States will afford an
expanded and permanent global presence, especially in the
face of the current recession.

Bush wants to pour millions of dollars into the military,
the biggest increase in defense spending since former
President Reagan's first term.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=90

Spending on Pakistan alone totals $100 million per month.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=91

Yet the government is predicted to run a $106 billion
deficit this year.
http://www.9-11peace.org/r.php3?redir=92


GET INVOLVED
-------------
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