The Herald:

IN the rubble of the west’s failed strategy in Afghanistan there is talk of the need for a global policeman.

It travels on the assumption that America, as the world’s most powerful democracy, is the natural choice for such a role. And that if America is now retreating from that role then the community of civilised nations needs to move quickly to appoint a replacement.

The role of global policeman can only be undertaken by rich, white nations. Once that short-list has been drawn up further requirements are added. You can’t have it fall to parties and leaders who are not fully committed to neo-con theory: that maintaining a military presence in the world’s edgiest regions at ruinous cost, is a price worth paying. It’s all about preventing these places from becoming breeding grounds for terrorists, stupid.


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