Pax Americana

In the last part of "XXI CENTURY" we examine the problem from a broader perspective. Is the US really motivated by concerns for human rights, and spreading democracy? If so, how do we explain our double standard in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Roger Normand of the Center for Economic and Social Rights points out the disturbing similarity between the Sharon and Bush administrations in their linking of religious fundamentalism to state power. In fact many of the strongest advocates for the invasion of Iraq have a long history of close ties with Israel. From the early 90s on, they argued that Saddam should be removed from power. These neoconservatives are the authors of the doctrine of "full spectrum dominance" and are behind the Project for the New American Century. In our pursuit of greater and greater control, who is next in line to feel our military might? History tells us that we don't care about dictatorships or democracies. As Noam Chomsky says we're the kind of empire that wants to "determine the course of world affairs, punish those who don't go along, and tolerate those who do go along." Helping us to give us a worldwide perspective on human rights are Curt Goering of Amnesty International, and Reed Brody and Hanny Megally of Human Rights Watch. Explaining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and broader US policy goals are NYU's Timothy Mitchell, Israeli filmmaker Udi Aloni, historians Victoria de Grazia and Arno Mayer, along with Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky.