David Rieff seems disturbingly correct when he worries that our foray into Iraq mirrors the disasterous entry by Athens into Sicily during The Peloponnesian Wars. The Athenian troops were slaughtered in Siracusa and a substantial component of their Navy was also decimated. These events prompted the decline and eventual elimination of the Athenian Empire and its Delian League.
To many historians, this adventurous blunder by Athens is a prime example of the kind of overreaching that comes with the hubris of empire. Now, the hand-wringing about the decline of the American empire seems cliched at this point, but it may well be nonetheless true. Could it be that this Administration has hastened that decline by a half century or more? And imagine, we're told that Karl Rove is such a genius.
To many historians, this adventurous blunder by Athens is a prime example of the kind of overreaching that comes with the hubris of empire. Now, the hand-wringing about the decline of the American empire seems cliched at this point, but it may well be nonetheless true. Could it be that this Administration has hastened that decline by a half century or more? And imagine, we're told that Karl Rove is such a genius.