Did Bush erase the future of Reaganism?

Neoconservatives are a group of right winged activists in the Republican Party who found in president Ronald Reagan's policy an inspiration and road map towards extending the US domination of the world in the 21st century.

Their objectives were set in 1997 on the lines of this declaration: "We seem to have forgotten the basic elements that made President Reagan's administration a success: A military force able to confront present and future challenges, a foreign policy which firmly spreads American ideas abroad and a national leadership which takes unto itself the international responsibilities of the US."

This important announcement was signed by a number of politicians that became a part of US President George Bush's administration, such as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and others.

Other leading thinkers also gave their blessings, such as Francis Fukuyama who wrote the "End of History" essay.

In the statement, the neocons expressed their desire to restore conservative values to both the Republican Party and the US. They also considered these ideals to have been well represented by former US president Ronald Reagan, and neglected by president Bill Clinton and brushed aside by former president George Bush Senior.

Both these presidents were less assertive in foreign issues in comparison to Reagan.

This agenda can be any superpower's programme, and if the US is able to implement it, then it will most certainly be the unique international power of the 21st century.

Most US presidents followed this plan, but it was more obvious during President George Bush's eight- year administration.

Capitalist policy

The war in Iraq was the launching point for applying the neocons plan in enhancing the power elements of the US and adding new points by controlling oil areas around the world and spreading American values abroad and removing all dangers threatening US interests.

This plan will also make use of the success of implementation of democracy in Japan and Germany in the post Second World War era.

On the other hand, the war in Afghanistan was the result of the 9/11 events. Many observers believe that the neoconservative era ended after the total failure of President Bush's strategy in Iraq, its failure in dealing with the Hurricane Katrina crises which was one of the five deadliest, in the history of the United States and the failure of the Republican party in the US Presidential elections.

That era's failed liberal capitalist policy also led to an international financial disaster, where most nations are suffering its fallout today.

This conclusion may well be correct, but it is not the essence of the situation. The Republicans did not lose the elections because of the grave mistakes done by the Bush administration, but rather because of the American voter's outlook towards change.

The era of former president Bill Clinton was very successful, but that did not motivate voters to choose Al Gore at that time to be the next US president.

Let us consider the future of Reaganism. Has it ended because the Republican presidential candidate, who represented his principles, failed in the latest US presidential elections?

It would be wrong to assume this, as Ronald Reagan was present in both the presidential candidate camps.

In the National Republican Conference, Senator John McCain was presented as one of Reagan's soldiers.

President-elect Barack Obama also struck the same note as he described president Reagan as the head of an era that changed the course of the US, in a way no one else was able to do.

The current US financial situation brought about by the economic crises it is going through will not allow it to expand the circle of its interference outside the United States, which puts at ease several countries that were a US target today.

But this new US attitude does not mean it will retreat into a shell, for it will not declare defeat as a superpower. It is also not feasible in international relations and balance of power. The US cannot but be a superpower.

This retreat will not continue indefinitely and will not last long, as it could affect all the globe in a very negative way, not the US alone.

Dr Mohammad Akef Jamal is an Iraqi writer based in Dubai.