The Project for the New American Century, a neoconservative Washington think tank was founded in 1997 by prominent political figures such as Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, with contributors like Paul Wolfowitz, “Scooter” Libby, Jeb Bush, and others. Through its writings, it has pressured the current Bush administration toward neoconservative geopolitics but does so in a more militaristic manner than most other think tanks. In addition to its prominent former or current members having key roles inside the administration, its remaining key writers have distinct professional relationships with people of the administration. The suggestions and concepts that have been formulated in PNAC’s writings have later appeared in the policies of the Bush administration regarding national security, NATO and Europe, the Middle East and China. We will make no assertions to whether these policies are preferable or not, but rather that a clear connection exists between the two groups.

Examining past and current members of PNAC, it becomes clear that a link between the think tank and current and past government officials exist, specifically conservatives. Leo Strauss, a philosopher, taught at the University of Chicago from 1949-1968 during which time several PNAC members studied under him. This link forms the foundation for the influence in policy matters. Examples of conservative government officials are founding members Cheney and Rumsfeld, former Vice President Dan Quayle, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick, and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton. The current chairman is William Kristol, former chief of staff under Quayle and former chief of staff to Reagan’s education secretary, William Bennett, another PNAC contributor. Another project director is Robert Kagan, chief speechwriter for former Secretary of State George P. Schultz. Current project writers include Ellen Bork, who worked in the Departments of State and Education under the Reagan administration. She is also the wife of failed Reagan Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork. Another writer is Gary Schmitt, who was appointed by Reagan to be executive director of the President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, the White House. These connections are deeply rooted and form the foundation for the policy similarities.

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