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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
Coincidentally I just had this conversation last night with two people who served in Iraq- one of whom was part of the original invasion force. Although neither had paid much attention to this story, neither was surprised, and neither was particularly outraged or interested.
With respect, the issue is not whether journalists or people who have served in Iraq were surprised at this story. Even if the story is hardly a surprise to anyone at all - which it shouldn't have been anyway, since we have been openly deluged with War on Terror propaganda for years - it is an outrage and a highly important example of the way that we got into this mess to begin with.
Part of ensuring that history does not repeat itself in the worst possible ways is to have a full, historical accounting of the things we hope not to repeat. Unless anyone wants to continue to argue that our invading and occupying Iraq was a good thing, based on true and salutary premises, I think we can all agree that we should try desperately to avoid the same pitfalls, machinations, and psychologies that put us in this situation.
So, regardless of who is surprised or not surprised by this outrageous story of blatant military propaganda operations, there is absolutely no excuse for the ensuing media blackout, based on some self-serving pretense that this sort of thing is common knowledge, so "let's move on."
The media have the worst of egg on their faces and blood on their hands, and they want desperately for nobody to notice.
Yes. Prior to this I was sure that he lived to hear his own words in the echo chamber. As he'll no doubt tell us, it isn't the first time I've been wrong. ;-}
To live in this process is absolutely not to be able to notice it...unless one has a much greater degree of political awareness, acuity, than most of us had ever had occasion to develop. Each step was so small, so inconsequential, so well explained or, on occasion, ‘regretted,’ that, unless one were detached from the whole process from the beginning, unless one understood what the whole thing was in principle, what all these ‘little measures’ that no ‘patriotic German’ could resent must some day lead to, one no more saw it developing from day to day than a farmer in his field sees the corn growing. One day it is over his head.
As much as I agree that we need to get congress to investigate and shame the MSM into at least talking about this issue, in the end it is up to us to develop a "greater degree of political awareness".
Scott Ritter once noted that birds in the spring will run out, grab some worms, fly back to the nest where the nestlings were waiting with thier mouths open. Mom would then puke the worms into their mouths.
He said that is basically America right now. We sit on the couch, click on the MSM so they can vomit this crap and we eat it up. I think blogs are having some effect, but we need a much more political awareness to be able to provide a check on our political and media institutions.
I take note of cabdriver's points; and understand that the DOD wants to control the message. That is a polite word for propaganda. What baffles me is that the so-called journalists and pundits leave their scepticism at the door as they walk in to tune in to interview "the generals". What is about a uniform that the makes the man or woman dressed in it a truthful and honorable person? The DOD has its collection professional soldiers, sailors and airmen, and the usual assortment of liars and obfuscators, careerists and poseurs. Forget the uniform and the gongs and listen to the answers given. That is what has to be analysed.
The MSM goes into automatic "I am a patriot first" mode whenever the US goes to war. That may be understandable. But it sure as hell calls into question their ability to report the events accurately.
Winning the War at Home - sure is easier than fighting people in other countries who shoot back, isn't it? With the rising cost of gas and falling tax revenues, doesn't it make more sense to take all that hardware back home and put it to good use on our own population? We need to keep the defense dollars flowing, but we need to use our resources more effectively.
A case in point is the recent use of 50 bullets by New York City Police to kill an unarmed bridgroom. One Hellfire missile could have done the job without any of the mess and racial outrage that has insued because that would have been a "clean" kill and more importantly, using one of those Hellfire missiles is much better for the defense economy rather than those cheap and low tech bullets. Plus you wouldn't have the surviviors who say bad things about the police officers who shot them and were kind enough not to finish them off.
Americans not only like war, they LOVE it, and that is precisely why we should give them more of what they want, but watching it on television really isn't enough. It doesn't get any better or more exciting than when you have missiles, bombs and gunfire going off in your own neighborhoods and who can resist the temptation to walk right through bloodstained sidewalks and streets because as long as you are still alive and unwounded, you are certainly a winner and a survivor!
Does it get any better than that?
Vote for War! Elect Obama, Clinton or McCain and get your war on at home! When half the population cannot afford gas, food or utilities, you will be looking forward to armoured personnel carriers on every street corner protecting you from your fellow Americans who have even less than you do.
Think of the money we will save not having to send people half way around the world to kill people we don't value. America is filled with them types. Military advisors on the network news can leasd us in our fight against those who are contrary to the new order or are profitable targets for ideological and economic reasons.
It will be fun. Just like Grand Theft Auto with General Petrayus as the enforcer with Global Hawks armed with Hellfire missles.
Serpentine THAT!
Booyah!
"We never forget who we are working for - our shareholders"
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Salon headlines in your mailbox
