It was natural for neocons to strive for power after the cold war because of Lord Acton's old axiom, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."
After the Cold War, many people naively thought the U.S. would enter a period of peace and partial demilitarization, including lower defense spending. In a world without temptation and greed this would have indeed been natural.
But this ignored the position of post-cold-war America: ostensible undisputed military supremacy. The crumbling of the USSR -- America's main military, foreign policy and ideological opponent -- thrust the U.S. before the extremely dire temptation that Lord Acton noted has historically absolutely corrupted the tempted.
Neocons were the inevitable outcome.
The only way to diminish this threat is to remove the temptation: the U.S. needs to fall economically and militarily to a point where the lust of the neocons dissipates in the cold shower of lowered expectations and humility, if not humiliation.
We must slip and rest of the world rise to sufficiently subdue our greediest sociopaths.*
Otherwise, whoever assumes the helm of supreme military power will undoubtedly be corrupted.
*We’re well on our way.
Favorite bumper sticker:
"Where are we going? And why are we in this handbasket?"