Right Here, Right Now | Our Probable War with Iraq

by A. E. O'Neill

[Originally published October 31, 2002 at ignorance.tv]

For the last year, I feel like I've been watching world events take place in another dimension, far removed from my version of reality. I know, it's equal parts desensitization, defense mechanism and denial — and when I think about it I've felt that way, to some degree, my entire life.

When I was little, the politics of the world were simple. There were the Soviets, and there was US... and we all know what that was about, so no need to rehash... the only involvement I ever really felt with that reality was when I was ten and "Red Dawn" gave me paranoid vigilante dreams about the old school version of "homeland defense."

But the times, they were a'changin'. And for a while, we, The People, only really paid attention when there was a wall coming down or a celebrity benefit concert going on — because life was good - and so, for most North Americans under forty, the devastating human dramas of our time have been experienced largely through the media.

A true understanding of the experiences and motivations of our enemies - or our neighbors, depending on your politics - were never necessary in the political world of our youth. It was cartoon-simple and it worked, for a surprisingly long time... long enough for at least one generation to grow up without knowing real fear.

Think of the Jews in Nazi Germany, the women in Afghanistan or the refugees clinging to boats off the coast of Cuba; the last time we had fear like that, as a nation, was over forty years ago, and it only lasted a few days. The effects of that fear, however, lasted for decades. It is fear — some might call it terror - that rules the current political climate, and fear is a powerful motivator — more powerful, even, than greed. The political difference is that greed must rally support and justify itself continually to survive and gain power, while fear need only be backed into a corner to strike with just as deadly force.

We can no longer presume to understand our opponents' motives — or even those of our allies — and it is impossible to predict the outcome. As much as I would love, in a perfect world, to believe that a powerful nation can fortify its borders and dwell in peace behind a wall of artillery and propaganda — we know that the time for that strategy has passed.

I haven't a clue what the best course of action is — how can anyone, without knowing what is at stake or even what, exactly, is being threatened — and by whom? I'm certain that grievous errors in judgment are being made but I'm not even sure what, in a perfect world, would be the right course of action. Not the one guaranteeing victory and petroleum for all but the truly fair and righteous way to behave in this situation... what would guarantee the greatest good for the greatest number?

With all the denial in my heart, I can only wonder; what would President Bartlett do?