Received: with LISTAR (v1.0.0; list 9-11peace); Wed, 30 Jan 2002 08:01:37 -0500 (EST) Return-Path: <bulletin@9-11peace.org> Delivered-To: 9-11peace@complete.org Received: from c009.snv.cp.net (c009-h026.c009.snv.cp.net [209.228.34.139]) by pi.glockenspiel.complete.org (Postfix) with SMTP id 0C21F3B80B for <9-11peace@complete.org>; Wed, 30 Jan 2002 07:58:58 -0500 (EST) Received: (cpmta 17271 invoked from network); 30 Jan 2002 04:58:56 -0800 Received: from 151.203.225.112 (HELO sylvester) by smtp.surfree.com (209.228.34.139) with SMTP; 30 Jan 2002 04:58:56 -0800 X-Sent: 30 Jan 2002 12:58:56 GMT 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 Message-ID: <NFBBILDICDMBFNGCLHNEOEIJDDAA.bulletin@9-11peace.org> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2910.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V4.72.3110.3 Importance: Normal X-archive-position: 19 X-Approved-By: eli@morethanmoney.org X-listar-version: Listar v1.0.0 Sender: 9-11peace-bounce@complete.org Errors-to: 9-11peace-bounce@complete.org X-original-sender: bulletin@9-11peace.org Precedence: bulk Reply-to: bulletin@9-11peace.org X-list: 9-11peace

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 ------------- If you would like us to include an action, giving idea, news article, or source in the bulletin, please write to bulletin@9-11peace.org and describe your item in the subject line.

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ABOUT THE BULLETIN ------------------- The 9-11Peace.org bulletin is a weekly newsletter providing resources, news, and action ideas to over 25,000 people around the world. The full text of the bulletin is online at http://www.9-11peace.org/bulletin.php3; users can subscribe to and unsubscribe from the bulletin at that address also. The bulletin is a project of 9-11Peace.org. Contact bulletin@9-11peace.org for more information.