PunkAssBlog.com

I’ve noticed some frustration/shock/disappointment over Sy Hersh’s revelation that the White House disregarded a CIA doc showing no proof for an Iranian weapons program. As Hersh says, the report won’t stop the administration from “pursuing a military option with Iran.”

By invading Iraq, the White House proved that not only can it start a war on completely false pretenses, but it can take years for that war to become unpopular. Even then, the war in Iraq only fell out of favor because it took so long and went so badly. If we’d been in and out in 18 months, the WMD lies and overtly imperialist motives for overthrowing Hussein would be a tiny cultural footnote dismissed by 70% of Americans, most of whom would feel fine about the war — because it’s easier to feel fine about it than split hairs over details like “just cause.”

When it comes to Iran, the Bushitarians are looking for more effective plans, not more truth to support their incursions. That’s how you engineer a popular war in this country.

Lazy Americans are conditioned to accept disappointment. Men and women rich and poor can be heard making statements like, “yeah, I know it’s a crappy show, but I watch it anyway. Sometimes it even makes me laugh.” Or “the food there kinda sucks, but it’s fast and pretty cheap.” We are a people who, on the whole, take the easy way out almost every time.

It’s easier to believe what you hear on CNN. It’s easier to not give a fuck about governance. It’s easier to throw up your hands and curse the president on your couch. It’s easier not to vote. It’s easier to feel bad and helpless. It’s easier to let yourself remain or become disempowered.

That’s why CheneyBush can get away with whatever it wants. It knows Americans might carp about another war over beers with their friends, but only a tiny few will ever do anything about it. Bombing Iran for the fuck of it won’t muster any more ire than presently exists, and that level of ire hasn’t actually prevented the executive branch from doing anything so far.

Some people got pissed and voted like they were pissed on November 7th. But millions of unhappy people stayed home, too. And while the Democrats made big gains, I’m not sure the average person feels any more empowered than they did on 11/6. Until they do, I don’t know why anyone would expect the administration to pander to them with quaint notions like truth and justice.

For us to prevent this kind of executive abuse, more Americans are going to have to become active, vocal citizens. I’m sure we’ll all get to it right after we watch “How I Met Your Mother.”