NEWS BREAK: GLOBALIZATION OF AMERICAN EMPIRE BAD FOR...GLOBALIZATION OF AMERICAN EMPIRE!?!

The Financial Times reports on a business consultant's study released today that finds "the consequences of Bush's foreign policy have created new risks - and exacerbated existing risks - for US companies around the world...US foreign policy is the most important single factor driving the development of global risk."

The authors of the report mean that Bush's policy of war-mongering is focusing the ire of the world with greater acuity on symbols of US imperialism (i.e. Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and other MNCs). Sure, people big shot corporate CEOs like Michael Eisenr, et. al., are used to being burned in effigy. But they may be realizing for the first time that their business operations--their profit centers--may be at risk for the way the US pursues (jointly and mutually-reinforcing) economic and political domination. (More on this topic later, for now check out Peter Gowan's Global Gamble here). In other words, because Bush is blowing up Iraq, and because Disney airs a movie in Saudi Arabia that flaunts debauchery, their factory sewing stuffed Whinnie the Poohs in Pakistan is put at risk (hypothetically speaking).

The consultants were also sure to point out that "we are certainly not saying [the Bush administration's policy] is bad for business." Sure, making other nations cower from our glare sure makes a man feel big. I'm not talking about driving a Camaro with some really sweet mag wheels kind of machismo. I'm talking about when Bechtel Corporation plunders the public water supply in Bolivia, when Haliburton pirates US taxpayers and Iraq's oil wealth, or when General Electric wants to sell a LNG power plant, they all have the Seventh Fleet in their back pocket. That's way more powerful than a fast car with a T-top.

Let this be a warning to Darth Vader, play it cool or some kook is gonna want to blow up your Death Star.