I think the wars started by Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld have their origin in the

[CoffeeAnnan]

the bankruptcy of the capitalist model that had worked so well in the past for them. That model flourished because the U.S. reigned unchallenged for nearly forty years in the global markets, supported by a strong military and access to oil provided by its stooges in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the Emirates.As the global picture shifted, with increasing competition coming from Japan,Germany and other European countries at the high end and from China, India, Brazil and other Asian countries at the lower end, American corporations are scrambling to find newer ways to turn a profit.That scramble is increasinly making them turn to wars as a way to beat profits out of
a world that does not accept the previously accepted wisdom of American supremacy in the market place.Wars make it necessary for the rest of the world to waste their meager resources on armaments, a source of great profits for American corporations which excel in warmaking.That, plus recycling the excess dollars that go to countries like China is now the biggest source of revenues for our corporations.As Frank Zappa said that charade will continue until it is no longer profitable and an alternative will be found.I wouldn't be surprised to see some corporate shill or a think tank maven wakes up one day saying the biggest obstacles to profits are the stupid American people and their belief in their Constitution.Voila, he will land a sinecure at one of those think tanks and another star in the Laffer Curve galaxy will be born.

This will be the way the American Way of Life will end.Not with a bang, but a whimper.

On Edit: I am even tempted to say that American corporations are basically giving up the idea of making money the old fashioned way,i.e.earning it honestly.

[IthinkThereforeIAM]

1. Good summary...

... you have to realize that gaming the markets with war and war production really began to flourish in WWI. Look up General Smedley Butler and see what he had to say about the racket of war.

[CoffeeAnnan]

2. One of the stated goals of the PNAC is to prevent the rise of a

challenger to American Hegemony by denying such potential rivals like China acces to Oil.That means war and who is well established in the art of war making?

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. They've declared war on everyone.

Just follow their financially destructive path through the pension plans of public servants whereever there are Republican governors. I don't know what these right-wingers were thinking.

[sweetheart]

4. I think you're right

The surplus reinvestment must shape the world in "our" military
interest, and the wars are a direct result of the armaments economic
surplus. That is provided by the generosity of american taxpayers and
foreign lenders and armaments industry customers. The arms industry is
the basis of the new american republic, and its only purpose is to
support and promote the arms industry. All that other constitution
crap is a load of lost poetry burned at alexandria.

And this security industry maintains its stranglehold on appearing to
be respectable by demanding "have you served" moral greatness for
themselves. So not only are the thuggish police state persons the
corrupt leadership of a murderous gang, but they have the balls to
veil themselves in the robes of nobility so that no person dare dissent
with the superiority of their approach. It is intimidating, crass,
patriarchal bullying that has become teh basis of this neo-imperial grab,
based on the assertion that we must make the greatest profits for
our armaments makers. That be by fostering demand for armaments by
starting impossible wars that will kill for decades.

The slave state must go down.

[Straight Shooter]

5. That, and the need to control their markets.

Yes, they use a "bleed them dry" tactic, as the U.S. flexes its muscle and other countries divert precious resources to protecting themselves. We shouldn't be surprised; many SUV drivers bought a SUV simply to protect themselves against SUV's on the road. Ironic, isn't it?

But the U.S. still wants to steer the consumer market. What better way than to control what goes in and what comes out of a country in terms of goods? The U.S. government is clearly focused on the Westernization of as many countries as possible. It really isn't about democracy and freedom; it's about Westernization and blue jeans and cheeseburgers.

bush and his cabal have overreached. The rest of the world no longer admires us and does not desire to be Westernized and imitate our lifestyle. They are weaning themselves from us, little by little.

[CoffeeAnnan]

6. I wouldn't be too sure of that.Because most countries have bought

into the idea of jeans, sex, Rock 'N Roll. Even a country like India is going for Hamburgers.