The 1980s and 90s were without war. Public sentiment had turned against the war machine after the Vietnam fiasco. That was at the heart of the PNAC document written at the end of that era, and put into effect at the turn of the new century, "years of cuts in defense spending have eroded the American military's combat readiness, and put in jeopardy the Pentagon's plans for maintaining military superiority in the years ahead."

and "Further, the process of transformation, even if it brings revolutionary change, is likely to be a long one, absent some catastrophic and catalyzing event *like a new Pearl Harbor.*"

Then 9/11 happened. Quelle coïncidence.