YEAH, THEY WANTED AN EMPIRE...

but all they got was George Bush and 2 botched wars.

Grand Designs
How 9/11 Unified Conservatives in Pursuit of Empire

By Corey Robin
Sunday, May 2, 2004; Page B01
Washington Post

In 2000 I spent the tail end of the summer interviewing conservative patriarchs William F. Buckley and Irving Kristol.

Kristol confessed to a yearning for an American empire: "What's the point of being the greatest, most powerful nation in the world and not having an imperial role?"

But because of its devotion to prosperity, he added, the United States lacked the fortitude and vision to wield imperial power. "It's too bad," Kristol lamented. "I think it would be natural for the United States . . . to play a far more dominant role in world affairs. . . to command and to give orders as to what is to be done. People need that. There are many parts of the world -- Africa in particular -- where an authority willing to use troops can make . . . a healthy difference." But not with public discussion dominated by accountants. "There's the Republican Party tying itself into knots. Over what?" he said. "I think it's disgusting that . . . presidential politics of the most important country in the world should revolve around prescriptions for elderly people."