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After the collapse of Cartago = Moscow,
are we now confronted with a
"Pax Americana"?
This Article appeared in the Geneva Newspaper " La Suisse"
a couple of years ago. Here is my translation:

The similarities between yesterday's Romans and today's Americans are
absolutely striking. The same pragmatism, the same tolerance..
and the
same appetite for world wide conquest.

Rome Capital

Washington Capital

Roman Senate

Washington Senate
The same names, the same realities, even the same history.
Between the descendants of Troy, who after many years of errand
supposedly
founded Rome, and the Pilgrim Fathers who fled from England…
the founder
myth is identical for both Nations.
Also the way in which
Americans tenaciously pursue their enemies, up to
the
bitter end, shows a Roman tendency.
From McCarthy to Reagan, during 40 years of the "cold
war", the American
slogan was, Moscow needs to be destroyed. The same
said Cicero, a Roman Consul, after each and every speech,
he held in the Senate. "Delenda quoque
Cartago" – "and besides, Cartago needs to
be destroyed".
Like in ancient Rome, so has America, in
our time held on to this objective,
until the Communist Union finally collapsed. The cold war that
ended,
resembled remarkably the second Punic
War
between Rome and Cartago. Many times,
it looked as if the Russian
"Hamilcar" and "Hannibal" had
achieved decisive
victories, over the American Republic.
With surprise and tactical genius, they made
China and Cuba their allies, and
with their Atomic deployment, scared the American
people, as when Hannibal entered Italy,
crossing the Alps with his elephants.
An important question arises here: Will
it need a third Punic War, for
the US to conquer the rest of
the world. To subdue China and
some other independent countries by force, or
will American Charm and Influence achieve
this, like it did for Queen Cleopatra
in ancient Egypt.

To Europeans, who are now
taking the role of the ancient Greeks,
Americans
appear to be uninformed and unconcerned, raw
and even vulgar, bullish, and without discerning
intelligence, although they seem to be
all-powerful..
Europeans, with their inherent taste for
"hair splitting" and philosophizing, generally
consider Americans without "savoir faire" –
ignorant. Silently they
wait, apparently, for the time when Americans
will receive pay-back for this ignorance and
lack of consideration for other cultures and
other people’s
freedom and rights.
For this, however, they can wait until
Hell freezes over. It will not happen.
The US has not reached yet their
limit of extension and influence, but is
only about half way.
The US has not reached yet the point, in
their empire building process,
when the urge to conquer is satisfied, and
where they would begin to
effectively organize and manage their conquests.
The US today, can be compared with the Roman
Republic, of 200 BC.
Momentarily content and conscious of their
power, fully realizing the
possibilities for further expansion, and be it,
to the colonization of Mars.
But there's more.
After the final collapse of the "Evil
Empire", Cartago -
Soviet Union, America simply and
unconcerned, invited Gorbachov to a
BBQ, like Rome invited Hannibal, to
come and visit the city.
Both cultures show here the same quality to easily
assimilate, like the
famous and well known "melting pot" bringing
and transforming people
from
all over the world into one Nation and one
Culture. From simple,
indigenous
people, born in the Jungles of the
world, to highly qualified
and educated
scientists, everyone and without hesitation, is
accepted in this melting pot.
English is the chosen language for all Americans, exactly like the
Romans
took Latin, as their only language all over the regions of their empire.
And, naturally like the Romans, America floods the world with their products "made in America". All this shows an exceptional tolerance.
No, America does not try to convince or force anyone. Everyone can
believe
in what he / she wants to. Everyone can do what he / she wants, under
the condition to respect formal realities, like free commerce and industry, a
pluralistic democracy and the American flag and all it stands for.

These values, which still come with a
certain freedom of interpretation,
constitute the "Lex Americana". Transgressions,
however, can be very
expensive for friends
and foes alike.
Sadam Hussein began to overlook the
rules and, surprise, heliported
American Legions, come
flying in with the forced agreement of
friendly
nations to make him remember.
Canadians and Europeans look friendly towards
Cuba and, voila, two
American Senators, Helms and
Burton, introduce a law to punish those
disrespectful fools. And never try to make
the same mistake twice. From
a full
fledged blockade
to total annihilation, everything and anything
might happen to you (like Sadam Hussein,
being ousted in Iraq).
Corinth in Greece was
a flowering, roman city. Nevertheless, it
was leveled
to the ground by two Roman Generals
for misbehavior. Not unlike Khadaffi,
who seemed to develop too great an interest
and liking for some opponents
and enemies of Rome / America.
Another major quality Rome and America
share, is their enormous social flexibility.
In ancient Rome any foreigner could become
a Roman citizen.
Even a slave could obtain his freedom, could
become a Roman citizen and
then even be elected to the Senate or
other important offices. America offers
still the same possibilities, as is
has not , as yet , an inflexible elite or
social
cast, enforcing their stranglehold.
One important side effect,
is that America is an absolute
unhealthy environment
for revolutionaries. And it always will
be so, because there always will
appear
at the right time, a Lincoln to
free the slaves, a Nixon to end an
unwanted
war and to direct the interest
towards Asia, or a Clinton to open the
doors to Latino immigrants.
This process, always rejuvenates the
American blood, before it looses its
force. Another similitude between Romans and
Americans, is their Genius
for conquest. At
times, one gets the impression, that they
really didn’t want
to conquer the world
at all, that this just happened, even
against their will.
That somehow, they were forced into
it, like landing in Normandy or going
to Bosnia. And once they are there, they
always give the impression to be in
a
hurry to return home. This they often
do, but never without first establishing
a
solid support base for US interests.
Like the Romans, Americans do treat their
conquered vassals gently.
With friendly persuasion, most often, giving
their new friends, the impression
of being special and in opening wide,
the doors to the American paradise
and privileged economy. Contrary to what
many may think, the Roman world
was not a closed monolithic block.
Each nation kept the privilege of its
culture,
civil rights and even its military
force, within certain limits and,
naturally, with
an appropriate Roman military presence close
by.
Last , not least , of the similarities and
the backbone of Roman might, was
its economy, based upon two solid pillars:
- A world wide control of raw materials.
- A solid capitalistic system with unparalleled productivity.
The Romans conquered the world, with their salt from Ostia, at the time,
a
very important and strategic product.
The Americans dominate the world, in controlling the sources and the flow
of oil, without which the worldwide economy would collapse.
The tankers and pipelines, that supply our
world today with oil, obey
orders
coming from America, in the same way,
as the salt commerce
was directed,
by invisible hands from ancient Rome.
Also the same
discretion prevailed.
Salt was shipped on Rhodesian and
Phoenician
ships, like oil is transported
today in Liberian, Panamanian or Greek
tankers.
A last reason, for the build up of the
Roman empire, was the creation of
an immense
slave force, that supported and controlled,
the whole social
structure
and economy, of the Roman times. One
must not imagine the
Roman slave beaten, in
chains and starved, but more as a modern
employee, working in an office on a
computer, or running a business for his
owner.
The only difference being, that slaves
were fed and housed, by their owners,
and couldn’t change their employer, while
employees in modern times, get
paid, in order to provide for
themselves and can be fired.
In 2000 years, historians in analyzing our times may feel the same horror
we feel about slaves in ancient Rome.
To conclude, one can say, that Romans were not romantic conquerors like
Napoleon, who wanted to bring French culture to all of Europe, or Hitler who
wanted to bring all of Europe, under German law.
Romans were down to
earth businessmen, with a good dose of practical
intelligence.
Without tiring, they all worked for the expansion, of their
multinational
company "Senatus Populusque Romanus, Inc" (In the name of the Senate
and the People of Rome.)
Julius Caesar and Augustus, were rich land owners and important
businessmen,
long before they began their political career. As Billionaires,
in Sesterces, they were acting in the same manner, as modern time
$
Billionaires, in supporting the arts, funding universities and science and
owning sport clubs or organizing sport events.
Never would the idea have come to a Roman mind, to become a great
philosopher, like in ancient Greek, to repent publicly, like it was done in
medieval Europe, much less to die on a cross like Jesus did.
The same can be said of Americans.
So much so, that as Rome is remembered after 2000 years, as having
burned the Library of Alexandria, America will be remembered, for all the
future,
as having destroyed, the 6000 years old Sumerian records, of ancient
knowledge and the origin of man.

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