The Price of Empire

Have US policymakers gone crazy?

by Justin Raimondo, November 28, 2011

"Is there a single region of the world where the United States government isn’t scheming to grab more control, more influence, and have more of a military presence?

In Pakistan, a memo has been unearthed from “President” Zardari to Admiral Mike Mullen, head of the joint chiefs of staff, proposing a coup d’etat in which the military and intelligence chiefs would be replaced – with US “political and military support” – in favor of individuals more compliant with the American agenda. Also in Pakistan: an outright attack by US and Afghan forces on a Pakistani military base, a “mistake” in which 28 Pakistani soldiers were killed.

Is the United States government actively trying to destabilize Pakistan – in order to be able to pull off a “coup” and move in with US troops in support of “democracy”? Are we, in effect, at war with Pakistan? Sure seems like it......

This is why the increased pace and violence of US intervention abroad is doubly troubling. The utter recklessness of our leaders is astonishing: it smacks of desperation, of some mad plan to “rule or ruin.” Unless our leaders change course, we are rapidly hurtling toward a tremendous collision – with our adversaries abroad, with our own economic limits, and with reality itself. The sheer force of the impact will destroy all that we value in our civilization, i.e. what is left of our prosperity and our liberty. This is the price of empire, and the question of the century is: are Americans prepared to pay it?"