< Back to Front Page Text size +

Neocon group rises again

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor November 10, 2008 05:09 PM

By Bryan Bender, Globe Staff

WASHINGTON -- The Project for a New American Century, the nonprofit foundation that conspiracy theorists -- not to mention many Democrats -- believe hatched the US invasion of Iraq has re-emerged on the Internet, sparking Beltway chatter that neoconservatives may soon have their old perch back to criticize President-elect Barack Obama's foreign policy.

The group's website was relaunched last month after a year in hibernation, though there is no evidence so far that its founders have big plans for the self-described "educational organization" that gained an almost mythic reputation --and a highly exaggerated one, defenders insist -- for being the intellectual incubator for architects of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

But Gary Schmitt, one of the founders and now a senior fellow at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, does not rule out a resurrection of sorts to provide a vehicle for airing new commentary on US global leadership.

"We're not bringing the bandwagon out of the barn yet," Schmitt told the Globe. His co-founder, neoconservative commentator William Kristol, could not be immediately reached for comment.

PNAC, when it first emerged in 1997, included among its members Vice President Dick Cheney, former Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, ex-Pentagon deputy Paul Wolfowitz, former Cheney chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, and current UN Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad -- along with a collection of other denizens that advocated a muscular US foreign policy, including pre-emptive war.

PNAC published, among other documents, a letter to President Clinton in 1998 that called for "implementing a strategy for removing Saddam's regime from power." That would not happen until many of the signatories were enlisted to serve in high government positions under President George W. Bush.

The group has not published anything since 2006.

"I think the timing is interesting," Steve Clemons, a senior fellow at the left-leaning New America Foundation and author of the Washington Note blog, said of the website's return. "The only reason it makes sense to bring it back is to criticize Obama's foreign policy decisions."

  • CommentComment
  • EmailEmail
.

I'm a Republican and these people make me sick.

Posted by JJ November 10, 08 06:58 PM
.

Given that they were %1000 wrong about Iraq, I think they should close up shop and stop calling themselves a "think" tank.

Just think, these morons wanted us to go to war with China when they had our spy plane. How much money and blood would that have cost us? We would probably still be fighting.

For a bunch of guys who actively avoided the Vietnam war, they are curiously eager to send other people to war.

Posted by artie45 November 11, 08 01:53 PM
.

Obomba has his OWN set of neoconservatives from the DLC who preach a "kinder, gentler" neoconservatism they call "robust internationalism".

It's about as "international" as the Axis (Hitler browbeating the Czech president while chasing him around the table at Munich is about the sum of the foreign policy of the "Robust Internationalists" who will be taking the reigns of U.S. Imperialism for the next few years.

Posted by International Worker November 17, 08 06:00 PM
add your comment *(If you put a URL in your comment, it must be relevant )
Required
Required (will not be published)

This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.

About Political Intelligence

Reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors about the Obama administration, the Massachusetts congressional delegation, and other national political happenings.

News from the Washington Bureau

Afghanistan wary of US plan to send more advisers

Afghan officials have begun to push back from the Obama administration's plans to send hundreds of advisers to the country, complaining the Americans are often overpaid, underqualified, and unfamiliar with the culture of the country. (Globe Staff, 2:15 a.m.)

Mass. keeps an eye on US bill’s funding ban

Massachusetts officials are closely monitoring an abortion funding ban in the sweeping health care legislation before Congress to make sure that it does not restrict women’s access to abortion coverage in the state. (Globe Staff, 11/11/09)

Survey raises new doubts on military’s ‘don’t ask’ policy

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration received more research yesterday to help make its case for allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the armed forces. (Globe Staff, 11/10/09)

Lieberman’s threat of filibuster looms large

When a recent conversation among Senate centrists turned to insurance company antitrust concerns, Joe Lieberman boasted of his bona fides: As Connecticut attorney general in the 1980s, he sued the industry. (Globe Correspondent, 11/9/09)

Health care headache for House Democrats

WASHINGTON - Democratic House leaders scrambled to round up enough support yesterday for their sweeping health care overhaul, getting last-minute help from White House advisers on the eve of a historic vote scheduled for today. (Globe Staff, 11/7/09)

Patrick wraps up two-day visit to Washington

WASHINGTON - Governor Deval Patrick swept through Washington yesterday, wrapping up a two-day tour to advance the state’s interests in health care, economic development, and transportation - a trip that also let him showcase his access to the city’s most powerful Democrats, including President Obama. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Health care opponents intensify late attack

WASHINGTON - The sweeping health care overhaul package before Congress is under an 11th-hour attack over a pair of emotional issues, abortion and immigration, that are complicating Democrats’ efforts to piece together the coalition they need to pass the bill. (Globe Staff, 11/6/09)

Public’s opinions of health care overhaul efforts have familiar ring

Americans’ opinion of the health care proposals now before Congress is eerily similar to public sentiment about the Clinton health reform initiatives in 1994, according to an analysis published online yesterday in The New England Journal of Medicine - and that may not bode well for Democrats. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Frank reconsiders legislation after worry raised on loopholes

House Financial Services Committee chairman Barney Frank, under fire from some fellow Democrats and consumer groups for carving out what they call loopholes in legislation designed to prevent another economic meltdown, said in a letter released last night that “there may be a problem here’’ and that he wants to reconsider. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)

Moderate Democrats fear shift to GOP

Democratic moderates who will determine the fate of much of President Obama’s domestic agenda heard an early warning from this week’s off-year elections: Congress had better do something about the economy, or sitting lawmakers will lose their jobs in 2010. (Globe Staff, 11/5/09)
archives