Trying to nail down a nagging doubt

I’m trying to put my finger on why I feel a nagging concern about the war on Iraq and the role of America in international affairs generally, despite coming from a basically conservative, pro–American stance.

In the Matthew Parris piece in the Times linked below, Parris makes the point that many objections to war on Iraq made by “doves” are ill–conceived and that one of the few real objections is that a successful war on Iraq will be the beginning of a new American imperialism. Having thought about it, I am starting to see this as the problem. I don’t support evil regimes or terrorists and recognise the need for nations to do whatever is necessary to secure themselves against either of these, whether within the framework of the UN or outside it. International law has never required all war to be mandated by the UN — we didn’t need a second UN Resolution authorising the use of force in the Falklands after Argentina ignored Resolution 502 which called for immediate withdrawal of Argentine forces and for a diplomatic solution to be sought.

So basically, so far, I support the American approach on this. However, perhaps the reason I also have a slight instinctive problem with America is reflected in this passage from President Bush’s State of the Union Address — “Yet the course of this nation does not depend on the decisions of others. Whatever action is required, whenever action is necessary, I will defend the freedom and security of the American people”. Is it that I resent the fact that President Bush can make statements of that nature, while the course of every other nation on the planet depends upon the decisions of America?

It’s a good thing that big, powerful America is around to sort out the evil regimes and evil–doers of the world. My concern is that I am not American. Ultimately, America does not care about me or my country. The primary concern of any nation is with its own citizens and interests. Which is quite right. But the worry is that the wider this kind of American quasi–imperial influence spreads, the more the world is in danger of being run (even more) for the benefit of the one super–power. And depending upon the policies of the government of that super–power, for the benefit of particular groups and entities within that super–power. So I’m starting to think that my concern stems from a fear of the concentration of so much power in one place. There’s a natural instinct to Fight the Power. Who do I trust? Me, that’s who. And if the shape of the world is being determined by and for someone else, I, and Britain, and Europe are going to feel a little nervous.

Having said all that, the site where I picked up the Parris link sums the importance of fears of empire in the face of the larger threat — “Well, that’s something to worry about. But it’s not as bad as, say, smallpox”. If the show is not going to be run by me, I am confident that I am more likely to keep the way of life to which I have become accustomed as a resident of an outlying province in the American Empire than as a resident of an embattled enclave in some kind of Mad Max version of international politics where WMD–toting despots and terrorists are allowed to go unchecked. But, as a proud citizen of a once–great nation, it’ll just take me a while to be grateful.