Garet Garrett

Justin Raimundo a propósito dos 50 anos passados da publicação do livro The People's Pottage, Ex America do "Old Right"ist, Garet Garrett :

"...as neoconservative intellectuals openly proclaim the glories of the American Empire and celebrate the coming of a "benevolent world hegemony." Garrett foresaw the emergence of Imperial America in all its aspects – and he named and numbered them, the six signs of empire:

1) The dominance of the executive branch,
2) the subordination of domestic policy to foreign policy,
3) the ascendancy of the military mind,
4) "a system of satellite nations," "
5) an emotional complex of vaunting and fear,"
6) and the tyranny of imagined necessity:

"That is to say, a time comes when Empire finds itself – A prisoner of history."

To envision what that means, listen to all the reasons "responsible" people and pundits in both parties give for not withdrawing from Iraq. Garrett, as usual, says it best:

"A Republic may change its course, or reverse it, and that will be its own business. But the history of Empire is a world history and belongs to many people. A Republic is not obliged to act upon the world, either to change it or instruct it. Empire, on the other hand, must put forth its power."

As we put forth our hand in the Middle East, and cover our heads here at home, this fiftieth anniversary edition of Garrett's book could not have been more auspicious. I do believe Garrett's power of foresight takes on near supernatural proportions as he explains the fifth sign of empire:

"Fear may be understood. But a curious and characteristic emotional weakness of Empire is: A complex of vaunting and fear.

"The vaunting is from what may be called that Titanic feeling. Many on the doomed Titanic would not believe that a ship so big and grand could sink. So long as it was above water her listing deck seemed safer than a lifeboat on the open sea. So with the people of Empire. They are mighty. They have performed prodigious works, even many that seemed beyond their powers. Reverses they have known but never defeat.

That which has hitherto been immeasurable, how shall it be measured? So those must have felt who lived out the grandeur that was Rome. So the British felt while they ruled the world. So the Americans feel."