April 2002

"Dead or alive" militarism has the advantage of being simple, but it has the notable downside of making the world a more dangerous place. President Bush rarely lacks zeal in expanding his "Axis of Evil" headhunting. Were it not for the opposition of the entire Arab world as well as many European allies, the U.S. would have launched a new attack on Iraq weeks ago. And even this reason for restraint may not have kept the Administration at bay, had not the conflict between Israel and Palestine inconveniently flared up.

Regardless of whether Bush's staff could articulate a convincing anti-terrorist rationale for a new campaign in Iraq, their refusal to submit evidence for international review, their flimsy coalition-building, and their macho swagger alienate citizens throughout the international community. Already the arrogant rhetoric of "infinite justice" has left millions abroad who criticize U.S. military interventions to stew in their resentment.

In protests outside the headquarters of the World Bank signs reading "More World, Less Bank!" accompany calls of "No Blood for Oil." Progressives are not the only ones to see the connection. At Fall 2001 meetings of the World Trade Organization in Doha, Qatar, American Trade Representatives argued that "free trade" stands with national security at the fore of national concerns in foreign relations. The need to satisfy the United States' insatiable thirst for oil indeed remains a key unspoken motivation behind Bush's drive to launch a new crusade in the Middle East. And domestically, many conservative observers draw links as they describe both anti-corporate and anti-war demonstrations as unpatriotic and even treasonous.

Nevertheless, protests will grow throughout 2002, as the invasion of Iraq is postponed.

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