So what, exactly, is a "neoconservative?" The answer to that depends on who you ask. There doesn't seem to be one clear, universally-accepted definition of the neoconservative political philosophy, and of course, they change some of their stripes over time. George Bush entered office as a Paleoconservative, but now is generally considered a Neo. No surprise, when you see how many of his handlers and advisors are Neocons! This site attempts to shine some light on neoconservative ideology and its influence over our national and international affairs.
Many observers (some even smarter than us!) think that the neoconservative approach to international policy, which has come to full flower under the Bush Administration, fully and uniquely accounts for the unprecedented low to which the world's opinion of the United States has sunk. We have few allies left, and the people (not just the governments) of most of the world regard us as intolerant bullies and tyrants to be mistrusted and despised, despite the fact that more of our GNP is going to overseas aid than ever in our history. Clearly, the world's estimation of the United States is such that we can no longer even buy a friend!
WHO ARE THESE PPL
The Neocons are a small group of very intelligent and very scary people who tend to associate themselves closely with conservative "think tanks" and universities, and populate the highest ranks of government, more often in appointed or behind-the-scenes positions than in elected posts. Included amonf them are names like Dick Cheney (U.S. Vice-president), Donald Rumsfeld (form Secretary of Defense), Karl Rove (recently departed White House Deputy Chief of Staff), John Ashcroft (former U.S. Attorney General), I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby (former Chief of Staff to V. P. Cheney), and many more both recognizable and not so recognizable. See our weekly Neocon spotlight (to the right), and our scrolling Rogues Gallery below.
>Where did they Come From
Actually, the Noeconservative movement has its roots in Liberalism, not extreme conservatism as many believe. The first group of Neocons, including Irving Kristol, Sen. Henry "Scoop" Jackson, and Norman Podoretz, were former liberals who, during the Cold War era, became dissatisfied with Democratic party positions on anti-communism (too weak), the rise of counter-culture in the U.S., anti-war sentiment, and what they decried as the "appeasement" politics of the 1970s. What began as a repudiation of some core liberal values, emerged as a coherent political ideology in the 1970s, with hawkish foreign policy as its core tenet.
>What They Bleave
Well, as with any political group there are individual variations, but we can identify a set of "core" beliefs that help us to distinguish Neoconservative thinkers from the mainstream conservative ideology.
The central focus of neoconservatism is their view of foreign policy and America's role in world affairs. The rule is that as the dominant world power, the U.S. is necessarily not just the world's overseer, but its moral arbiter as well. They claim that "whatever furthers the interests of the U.S. should be good for the whole planet." This consummately arrogant concept provides the rationale behind most of our military interventions overseas, and our new “strong-arm diplomacy” that is increasingly viewed as an alternative to “checkbook diplomacy.” It's also the reason that all around the globe, respect for the U.S. is being replaced with mistrust and hatred. Even the nations receiving billions of dollars in U.S. aid can no longer be regarded as better than fair-weather allies.
Another important difference between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives is in their views about the size of government and its role in domestic society. The Neos who originally defected from the Democratic party sling-shotted right past the conservative “minimalist” view of government, and landed on a perverse new position where government is big and powerful (like the liberals), but uses its power to preserve and protect itself rather than provide protections and services to its citizens (like Monarchs or Dictators), and to protect its subjects’ by taking away their privacy and those pesky "civil liberties." That’s why we have wiretapping programs with no oversight or accountability, refusal to disclose whether the government is violating international standards of human rights, Attorneys General who enforce our laws differently depending upon political affiliation, and a Vice-president who claims that his office is not part of the Executive Branch and therefore not subject to Congressional subpoena.
>How do Necons Manipulate the Media
Two words: Rupert Murdoch. The owner of News Corp., the world’s largest media conglomerate, is himself a Neocon. In the run-up to the Iraq invasion, he unashamedly used the power of his presses and cameras (175 media outlets) to further his hawkish agenda. The British newspaper “The Guardian” wrote sarcastically:
“You have got to admit that Rupert Murdoch is one canny press tycoon because he has an unerring ability to choose editors across the world who think just like him. How else can we explain the extraordinary unity of thought in his newspaper empire about the need to make war on Iraq? After an exhaustive survey of the highest-selling and most influential papers across the world owned by Murdoch's News Corporation, it is clear that all are singing from the same hymn sheet. Some are bellicose baritone soloists who relish the fight. Some prefer a less strident, if more subtle, role in the chorus. But none, whether fortissimo or pianissimo, has dared to croon the anti-war tune. Their master's voice has never been questioned" (Guardian, February 17, 2003).
In the United States, Fox News (cable t.v.) and the Weekly Standard (print and Internet) are the most visible of News Corp's mouthpieces for the Neoconservative camp, but hardly the only ones.
