Fear

I didn't mean for this blog to turn so political but I suppose I should have seen it coming. I don't particularly want to write about politics because I've done more than enough of that, and I get too wrapped up in it. It's such a willing topic, there is so much to think about and discover, to be shocked and stupefied as well as to hope for. I need to move on but, in line with my first intentions with this journal, I want to write out my arguments and check them for leaks. Also, my academic and personal interests in international relations render it impossible for me to ignore the topic. I am aware that I'm leaning towards what may be described as conspiracy theories, but this can't be helped. What is in plain sight simply isn't the truth. Further - nothing is so simple as to be explained in a blurb. The changes that are taking place are the result of numerous factors, and cannot, in my opinion, be understood without a thorough consideration.

This quote was presented in Hijacking Catastrophe. I've mentioned this film already but can't stress enough how useful it is in assessing the American invasion of Iraq. Anyway, the statement is as follows:

"Naturally the common people don’t want war… But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along....the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked, and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

-- Nazi Reich Marshall Herman Goering at his Nuremberg War Crimes Trial

This approach to leadership is identified in postmodernist theory. At risk of sounding like a total geek, this theoretical approach describes that power is developed through social constructs, by building a collective ‘consciousness’ to define ‘us’ vs ‘them’. This is achieved by limiting perspective to develop a national identity. Relevant to my point here, Goering is describing how a nation is brought to wage war – by creating an overwhelming threat that cannot be avoided. Sound familiar? Does it bother you that the approach that was taken in Nazi Germany is evident in the States? Granted he did speak the truth when he said it works the same in any country, but it is a little worrisome when one can draw any similarity with Hitler’s Germany.

And – it’s not just the Bush Administration that has worked hard to create the impending sense of doom. (Just why do you think he used the term ‘Axis of Evil’?) Osama has caught on as well! OBL continues to talk about the non-believers as a threat, and in his emotive language he has persuaded a great deal of people that this is a war that must be waged on many fronts. Bush and his administration, have gained widespread support for a “War on Terror” through similar, if not the same tactics. They’ve just substituted American nationalism for Islam.

On a slightly different note, I'm not sure how war can be waged on an ism. You can wage war on countries and people. This 'War on Terror' is simply a carte blanche to pursue broader political objectives.

I don’t know how to make it more obvious that this sense of impending fear is a political tactic. It was our Vice, Cheney, who put it plainly: “If we make the wrong choice, then the danger is that we'll get hit again -- that we'll be hit in a way that will be devastating from the standpoint of the United States." He was talking about voting for Kerry, but the point is that the current administration is literally getting away with murder by scaring Americans. I don’t know how to make this any more obvious.