Zbigniew Brzezinski, Carter's national Security Advisor and frequent talk show guest, contends that the main task facing the managers of American empire is "to prevent collusion and maintain dependence among the vassals, keep tributaries pliant and protected, and to keep the barbarians from coming together." Pax Americana, America uber alles is the order of the day. The Bush doctrine of first strike combined with genuine terrorist threats may be the formula for a clash of barbarisms. Far from canceling each other out, they reinforce each other in a spiral of continual escalation.

Gilbert Achcar
Gilbert Achcar is from Lebanon. He is currently based in France where he teaches politics and international relations at the University of Paris. He is a contributor to le Monde Diplomatique and the author of several books on contemporary politics. His most recent book is "The Clash of Barbarisms: September 11 & the Making of the New World Disorder."