We're doing four forums on the Iraq War next semester here at SLAC, and I met with one of the professors here last Friday to plan them. The professor was in the military, worked for the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Reagan administration in Middle East Affairs, was a diplomat in Europe until 1988, and came to us from St. Thomas University in Houston.

He knows what he's talking about.

(Backstory - I was watching a Dateline NBC exclusive a couple of weeks ago and they were talking about these mega-churches bringing in Neo-Conservatives to speak at church to help "educate" the congregation about political issues. All of a sudden, the fact that we have this very real movement running amuck in society began clicking with me.

I know, I'm a bit slow on the uptake these days.)

So, we began talking about the things that Professor is prepared to talk about, and he then goes into this diatribe about the difference between Neo-Conservatives and Paleo-Conservative.

Basically, the difference is whether or not one thinks that the United States should be an example for the world with our economy, values, and human rights (a city on a hill shining our light so that others can see) - a country for others to emulate (Paleo-Conservatives) OR if our role in the world is to make other countries like us. Even force other countries to be like us. That is the only way we can truly be secure...oh, and for us to be the one's in charge. (Neo-Conservatives) (And this is a chaplainmom paraphrase, but I think I'm on the right track...)

Yeah, guess what our administration thinks.

But that's not even the scariest part for me. The scarey part was that the man who came up with this philosophical and political mindset says that the common person on the street can never fully understand foreign policy, so the decisions for our country should be in the hands of the elite. And that it is *the right* of the elite to do whatever they need to do accomplish their goals. The only moral question for the elite is if they are making other countries over in our image, everything else is fair game.

Oh, and yeah, the fact that, since the common man on the street could never understand all this, it is perfectly acceptable to LIE to the common person in order to accomplish one's goal.

Holy shit!

It is moral to LIE to one's people in order to get what you want!?!?

I'm bothered by this on so many levels, but what I'm realizing is that I could probably be a Paleo-Conservative, at least on some levels. (and definately not on others!)

What worries me the most is that anyone, Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, Washington "insider" or person on the street, ANYONE who disagrees with the Neo-Conservatives in charge (I'm not naming any names, but the VP was a student, literally, of one of the greatest professors in this movement) is painted as a lunatic.

After having this discussion with the professor, I wondered out loud if God wished He'd never made that promise not to send another flood. Another friend of mine (non-denominational) said she just wants the rapture to happen. I didn't touch that one (ever read Revelation???) But I'm thinking Jesus has every right to come back and kick some butt.