What Kind of Peace

Thanks to a dream that I had about a month ago I got a desire to watch Oliver Stone's JFK. Now, I feel that the dream was a message by whatever force it is that conjures dreams. I have a lot to say about it but it's late. I'll just quote from a speech that Kennedy gave and a University commencement that's in the beginning of the movie and was given about 6 months before Kennedy was shot.

...what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time...

...It is discouraging to read a recent, authoritative Soviet text on military strategy and find, on page after page, wholly baseless and incredible claims, such as the allegation that American imperialist circles are preparing to unleash different types of war, that there is a very real threat of a preventive war being unleashed by American imperialists against the Soviet Union, and that the political aims -- and I quote -- "of the American imperialists are to enslave economically and politically the European and other capitalist countries and to achieve world domination by means of aggressive war."

I just want to note two things about these quotes from the speech. First, a Pax Americana could be thought of as the foundational principle of the neoconservative movement. Second, many high ranking officials in the military and government did indeed plan on using aggressive war and first strike attacks to subdue the Soviets and achieve domination. The most overt and outspoken of these people was Curtis Le May. Kennedy certainly knew of these people and their views at the time of the speech.