The Phantom War

I’m finding that I don’t genuinely believe Bush means to get into a war with Iraq. Not a ‘real’ war, with invasions, anyway. It doesn’t make sense to go in and rip the place up. It’s not the most efficient means to getting what America’s businesses might want, anyway.

Though extraordinarily wrong about most things, Bush is the successful orchestrator (or at least recipient) of the first major coup in US history (or memory). He didn’t do it with violence (except for a few moments in Miami where his supporters used the threat of violence to stop the vote-counting) but with a form of diplomacy.

I can’t bring myself to believe what he and his people are doing in the media with regards to Iraq is anything but a big show. Sure, if he doesn’t get what he wants, he may just back up his words with deeds. But I think he’s trying to get Iraq to change leaders, or at least to humiliate Saddam to the point where he can’t rule in the same fashion.

Yes, there’s a family grudge, and all that oil business. I’m not saying Bush is right or that his strategies make sense for the long-term viability of a global peace scheme. Nothing of the sort.

I simply can’t believe that the number of leaks about America’s possible invasion plans, or even leaks about the in-fighting in the cabinet, are anything but intentional. Sure, we anti-war and anti-bush types are doing our proper job by voicing our anger at the prospect of a war. We’re going to shout and march and protest, just like we always do when America goes to war for the wrong reasons (or the wrong side).

I may be misreading the landscape – and that’s fine since I’m not in charge of anything – but something inside me, some part of media theorist’s critical brain, just doesn’t buy it. The picture isn’t making sense.

More, soon. I’ve got to think this over.