This monograph examines the rhetorical nature and function of representations of the future in political discourse, focusing on political actors' use of hegemonic images of future -reality- to achieve their political goals. It argues that a key ideological dimension of political rhetoric lies in politicians' use of projections of the future to legitimate policies and actions. This argument is grounded in systemic-functional and critical discourse analyses of the -Bush Doctrine, - the U.S. policy response to the September 11 terrorist attacks which sanctioned a -preemptive- military posture....