Neocons deliberately campaign to shape public opinion for imperial wars

Evidence

In a speech to the American Enterprise Institute in February 2003, Bush argued that “the world has a clear interest in the spread of democratic values” and that Iraq in particular “is fully capable of moving toward democracy and living in freedom.” He suggested that “success in Iraq could also begin a new stage for Middle Eastern peace, and set in motion progress toward a truly democratic Palestinian state.” This speech revealed Bush’s increasing dependence on neoconservative doctrines, including the use of US military force to impose democracy abroad, in order to make the broader case for war with Iraq. Democracy in Iraq would have a domino effect and inspire the people of other countries in the region to follow suit. — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 289 (#exemplifies, via linked claim)

In September 2000, the neoconservative think tank Project for a New American Century released a document outlining its foreign policy vision. It called for the United States to use overwhelming military force to take control of the Persian Gulf region and for “maintaining global US preeminence … and shaping the international security order in line with American principles and interests.” This goal, the report went on to add, was going to take some time to be realized “absent some catastrophic event—like a new Pearl Harbor.” On September 11, 2001, such an event did occur—at a time when the neoconservative wing of the foreign policy establishment held powerful positions in the George W. Bush presidency. — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 375 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Neocons deliberately leveraged academic Orientalist authority to sanction their wars; Neoconservatives had deliberately awaited a catastrophic event to realize their imperial vision — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 375; Imperialist discourses succeed through resonance rather than truth or intelligibility — Khaled A. Beydoun, The New Crusades_ Islamophobia and the…, 275 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Neocons deliberately leveraged academic Orientalist authority to sanction their wars #expands (0.90)
• Bush sold the Iraq War through neoconservative democracy-promotion rhetoric #exemplifies (0.88) — Green, Todd H, The Fear of Islam_ An Introduction to…, 289
• Neoconservatives had deliberately awaited a catastrophic event to realize their imperial vision #corroborates (0.82) — Deepa Kumar, Islamophobia and the Politics of Empire, 375
• Imperialist discourses succeed through resonance rather than truth or intelligibility #expands (0.82) — Khaled A. Beydoun, The New Crusades_ Islamophobia and the…, 275
• Imperialist groups’ above-parties rhetoric concealed their narrow elite base #corroborates (0.78) — Hannah Arendt, The Origins of Totalitarianism, 633