On world doctrines...

George W. Bush has been listening both to the nationalists in his immediate circle and to the neocons within and outside the government. His doctrine was developed from both currents, and can be reduced to three central points:

i) There is no way 9/11 can repeat itself, and therefore terrorists must be hunted down wherever they are – even if preventive impacts not sanctioned by international legal rules should be necessary.

ii) The nightmare comes from those states, which protect terrorists like the Qaeda network, and can possibly put nuclear weapons in their hands – they are to be attacked with all means.

iii) The USA must secure the endangered energy supply from the oil-richest region in the world; for that purpose the country needs a strategic bridgehead in the Middle East.
How fragile for instance pro-American Saudi Arabia could become as a supplier is shown by the counterflows against the corrupt Royal Family – 15 among the 19 9/11 assassins were Saudi Arabian citizens.

Comments on

i) The methods used to hunt terrorists down have not only discredited the USA government abroad, but also mean a harsh blow to democracy itself. (CIA flights in Europe and Guantanamo).

ii) The rhetoric involving "evil axes" works no longer. The common citizen is now aware of this administration's intentions: attacking some states and not others is decided by the economic/energetic agenda, not by moral or ethic principles and values.

iii) That strategic bridgehead in the Middle East is now – and will be in the long term – Iraq. USA armed forces won't leave the country for as long as it is submerged in civil war. A foreseeable carnage is already occurring between Sunnites and Shiites. And it won't be over so soon. Meanwhile, many American corporations will be taking advantage of the situation.

RIC