Do You Really Want An Empire?

I’m talking to you, those who want the U.S. to be an empire, the sole superpower of the world, the ying and the yang.  Is this really what you want?  I’m not criticizing you one way or the other.  It’s just, if this IS what you want, I think there’s a better way.   You see, war and torture and stuff like that kind of pisses most people off.  They don’t like it.  You might be able to contribute to your plan of concentrating more wealth to the wealthy, but in the long run, if you don’t have the people’s support, you’re going to lose.  

So I have an idea to help you with your empire building.  You can actually take this torture issue and turn it to your advantage.  The majority of citizens in this country and the world do not agree with torture.  It is an abominable, inhumane, disgusting practice  and should have been left to rot in the medieval ages.  The chastity belts and torture racks and thumbscrews and stretch racks and water boarding is something we normal humans feel should be left for viewing in museums as an example of human depravity.

But hey, shit happens.  We aren’t the only ones to do it since the middle ages.  There are many examples of it from the Japanese, the Vietnamese, countless countries and agencies including the CIA.  Oops, did I say the CIA?  Maybe a Freudian Slip but I’ve read some stuff that indicates the CIA has actually tortured for decades!  I’m digressing here, we’re talking about the Bush Administration practice of torture, not what we’ve been doing for decades.  My bad.

Anyway, back to my idea.  I think if you conduct an investigation and ultimately prosecute those involved in torture, including Bush, Cheney, Rice, et al, it will actually help your empire building.  Imagine the goodwill you would receive internationally from admitting, investigating, prosecuting, and completely repudiating torture.  It would far exceed the flowers and chocolates we received from liberating Iraq from Saddam. Way far.  

Especially with President Obama as our figurehead.  We all know how inspiring he can be.  Imagine if he had the courage to follow through with these investigations and prosecutions.  It would be like manna from heaven.  The empire would have all the love it could have imagined.  The entire world would be singing, “Praise be to Justice”!

And Empire people, I know you’re smart  You don’t get an empire by being stupid.  You know this would help greatly with your empire building.  You don’t have to get out of Iraq.  You don’t have to get out of Afghanistan.  You don’t have to stop operations worldwide in your quest for empire.  The goodwill you receive from being moral and humane will actually give you greater support for your global endeavors.

So think seriously about this.  Throwing Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Wolfiwicz, and whoever else to the wolves is nothing compared to your overall goal and you know it.  So get on with it now.  You’ve got Iran and North Korea and the Caspian Sea to work on.  Finish up this business, put some people in jail, and go forth with the Empire.