American power: A culture of mindlessness

As Iraq burns, all is perfectly normal with the arsonist in chief. He's on vacation, of course, pausing only long enough to dispatch a spokesman to assure spectators that everything there is "headed in the right direction."

And just how was that sunny assessment made possible? Why, because yesterday virtually every U.S. intelligence agency collectively reported that the White House has managed the creation of "a paralyzed Iraqi government unable to take advantage of the security gains achieved by the thousands of extra American troops dispatched to the country this year."

This latest and perhaps gloomiest National Intelligence Estimate "casts strong doubts on ... the Bush administration strategy in Iraq." It also "gives a dim prognosis on the likelihood that Iraqi politicians can heal deep sectarian rifts before next spring." That seasonal mention is important, for spring is "when American military commanders have said that a crunch on available troops will require reducing the United States’ presence in Iraq."

So, one reasonably asks, what is the right direction? Or at least a better direction? Rapid troop withdrawal, maybe?

Not exactly, for their "report also implicitly criticizes proposals offered by Democrats ... who have called for a withdrawal of American combat troops from Iraq by next year and for a major shift in the American approach."

That strategic move, say the agencies, would likely "erode security gains achieved thus far" and "return Iraq to a downward spiral of sectarian violence."

As for Iraq's political leadership, it "remain[s] unable to govern effectively" -- a nice, tidy and euphemistic way of saying "not at all." Furthermore, if we think things are bad now, just wait, for Iraq's Potemkin government will go the way of the rest of the country "over the next 6 to 12 months" and become even "more precarious."

Yes -- "headed in the right direction" indeed.

So, short of packing tonight and leaving in the morning -- which of course can't be done anyway -- what is to be done? The answer is contained above; but it's not a choice, it's not an option, it's not even a decision to be made.

To repeat, the NIE's "assessment concludes that there is little reason to expect that Iraqi politicians will achieve significant gains before spring, when American commanders say they will have to begin to cut troop levels in Iraq [my emphases] ... to ease the burden on military personnel."

The assessment might as well have "concluded," therefore, that the writing is on the wall: Our routine indecisiveness is over in the spring. What 160,000 American troops can't accomplish will be even less accomplishable with 159,999 troops -- and so it will go, more steeply downhill, piece by piece, troop by troop, with the fewer and fewer remaining troops more of a vulnerable target every bloody day.

With a confidence level somewhere in the high 90s, that's how it will play out. The U.S. denouement in Iraq will be as mindless as its entry.

American antiwar politicians can posture and maneuver and jostle and jockey all they want, but if they can't or won't remove a flagrant criminal from the highest seat of American power, they'll prove just as incapable of putting a quicker end to his mindless war. This thing will simply stagger well into 2009 -- American death by American death -- in all its ignoble stupidity.

It will then end, but only because we won't have the manpower to continue.

We won't even have to think about what to do. Choices and decisions are superfluous, as democracy itself has been for six years. It'll just happen -- unavoidably, passively, mindlessly, a product of necessity and nothing more.

What a way to run a country -- a "superpower," no less.

Comments

[Nina]

Let's not forget these criminals want to attack Iran in the next 6 months or so. This is total madness! 17 more months is way too long to let these people continue to destroy us and our planet. Impeach and impeach soon.

[roger greer]

With fewer and fewer battle ready troops, the bleeding will just slowly wind down the war. Cool. It is fun watching an evil empire stumble and collapse. It would be more entertaining if it fell instantly, but watching a plane crash in slow motion prolongs the thrill when you know the cargo hold is full of bad guys. 30 or 40 more dead corporate mercenaries each week is just about right to string it out until the corporatocracy are ready to invade a little Spanish speaking country to restore goobernational pride.

[Volga]

My book "THE REVELATIONS OF GEORGE W. BUSH" will be out @Sept. 20.
It's the weapon the American people need to force this spineless Congress to impeach.Provide mailing address & I will send you a copy.
Thank you for the good brave work that you do. You're my favorite commentator on buzzflash.

[beamer]

narrow minded greedheads,arrogance,ignorance and spineless dithering dolts-ahh what a web we weave with the best that money can buy

[Sean Hannity]

FUCK BUSH!

[Au Revoir]

A million dead.
Four million refugees.
More every day.
When all the doctors, nurses, teachers, lawyers and other professionals have been killed or have left Iraq who will stop the US
from draining all that OIL out of
the sand?

[smchris]

Like the lead singer for Spinal Tap said, "There is such a thin line between genius and stupidity!"

Rational, educated people saw the quagmire coming in 2003, were horrified, and protested against the war's initiation.

Did the White House see the quagmire? Which is to say, were they stupid or evil war-profiteering geniuses?

[Volga]

Have you had a chance to read the book I sent you: "THE REVELATIONS OF GEORGE W. BUSH"? It just cam out.
You can visit my website www.revelationsofgeorgewbush and enter your comments there.
Thank you.
V.