Reality Lite

Georgie has just released the laughingly titled 2006 National Security Strategy of the United States of America. I won't review the whole document because William Pfaff has helpfully summed it up thus:
"The only actualy 'strategy' that can be deduced from it is that the Bush administration wishes to rule the world."

I would, however, like to draw your attention to several points of interest in the introduction.
It begins:

“My Fellow Americans,
America is at war.”

How insightful.

“America also has an unprecedented opportunity to lay
the foundations for future peace.”

Where? In Iraq?

"We have focused the attention of the world on the proliferation of dangerous weapons – although great challenges in this area
remain."

Such as reassuring the public that the new nuclear deal signed with India is not meant to undermine years of non-proliferation policies. (Sshh, we're trying to balance China, it's a good thing. Really!)

"We have stood for the spread of democracy in the broader Middle East – meeting challenges yet seeing progress few would have
predicted or expected."

Like the election of Hamas to the Palestinian Parliament. Jeez, that was inconvenient.

"And we are fighting alongside Iraqis to secure a united, stable, and democratic Iraq – a new ally in the war on terror in the
heart of the Middle East."

And a helpful breeding ground for the recruitment and training of terrorists.

"We seek to shape the world, not merely be shaped by it; to influence events for the better instead of being at their mercy...America must continue to lead."

I don't know quite how to respons to this. Considering the bang up job they've done so far it would be cruel to make them stop now. On the other hand, reading this I get the same feeling I did when I heard Steven Spielberg was going to remake Mary Poppins.

It was not a good feeling.