Because foreign policy, even for the world’s sole super-power, requires more than its specific activities around the world. Foreign policy also includes the justifications and frameworks asserted by political elites to give shape and normative coherence - of whatever sort - to their power trajectory. After September 11th, it was precisely these policy frameworks, the explanations designed to justify policy actions, which changed quite dramatically. The actions themselves remained remarkably consistent before and after, though earlier tendencies towards military aggression and unilateralism increased drastically after September. Read more…

On May 14, the United Nations Security Council passed a ninth revision of its 1990 resolution on economic sanctions against Iraq. In the face of mounting international concern and a "this or nothing" U.S. veto threat, the so-called "smart sanctions" passed unanimously, with its U.S. and British proponents suggesting that the resolution would expedite the import of civilian goods into Iraq. Read more…

Phyllis Bennis was not called to testify at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Iraq (July 31-August 1 2002). However, Senator Paul Wellstone did introduce her written statement as part of the official record of the hearing. Read more…