Summer: Big news about our war in Syria, delivered to us by Pravda. Big pravda about our war in Syria delivered to us by the Washington Post. It is rich with lessons for us, and deserves careful attention.
It’s the next act in our mad Forever War.
Read this carefully.
“Trump agrees to an indefinite military effort and new diplomatic push in Syria, U.S. officials say“
By Karen DeYoung in the Washington Post.
“President Trump, who just five months ago said he wanted ‘to get out’ of Syria and bring U.S. troops home soon, has agreed to a new strategy that indefinitely extends the military effort there and launches a major diplomatic push to achieve American objectives, according to senior State Department officials.
“Although the military campaign against the Islamic State has been nearly completed, the administration has redefined its goals to include the exit of all Iranian military and proxy forces from Syria, and establishment of a stable, nonthreatening government acceptable to all Syrians and the international community. …
“‘The new policy is we’re no longer pulling out by the end of the year,’ said James Jeffrey, a retired senior Foreign Service officer who last month was named Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s ‘representative for Syria engagement.’ About 2,200 U.S. troops are serving in Syria, virtually all of them devoted to the war against the Islamic State in the eastern third of the country. Jeffrey said U.S. forces are to remain in the country to ensure an Iranian departure and the “enduring defeat” of the Islamic State. ‘That means we are not in a hurry,’ he said. …
“{Jeffrey said} that he found it hard to think of Assad as a leader who could “meet the requirements of not just us but the international community” as someone who ‘doesn’t threaten his neighbors’ or abuse his own citizens, ‘doesn’t allow chemical weapons or provide a platform for Iran.’ …
“The first test of the administration’s expanded role in Syria may come sooner rather than later in Idlib, in the northwest part of the country. The province is the last bastion of rebel control after seven years of civil war …Idlib has now become a crowded holding pen for up to 70,000 opposition fighters, along with about 2 million Syrian civilians displaced from other battle zones, and activists and aid workers trying to assist them. …Assad has said he is preparing a final offensive in Idlib, and Russian warplanes this week began bombing the region. …
“‘We’ve started using new language,’ Jeffrey said, referring to previous warnings against the use of chemical weapons. Now, he said, the United States will not tolerate ‘an attack. Period.'”
Trump’s followers love how he breaks with the Deep State and GOP orthodoxy. No more foreign entanglements of no benefit to America! While they cheer, in the real world Trump implements standard GOP policies and supports all the wars began during the Bush-Obama Administration. The WaPo courteously does not point out this particular difference between what Trump promised and what he does.
Got to love how America makes such key decisions. Debates about foreign policy in Congress (e.g., advise and consent, declarations of war) were done in the America-that-once-was. In the New America, Trump wakes up and decides what the vast American government does today. Much like one of the Roman Emperors.
Got to love how our leaders announce policies to us. Press conferences, statements at meetings, speeches — these are for citizens. Proles get leaks (after all, it’s just entertainment for us) to the stenographers of the government-friendly news media. No harsh questioning, or the leaks dry up!
Even better, our officials no longer explain why this latest war – joining a civil war between a tyrant and jihadists – advances any of America’s national interests. That’s for citizens. Proles are just told what their betters have decided. They no longer even bother to lie to us.
This displays their confidence in our apathy and gullibility. America’s class war has moved into the third phase of battle – pursuit of a broken foe, exploiting their advantageous position to gain more power and wealth over us.
Who knows what wonders await us on our evolution from citizens to subjects, as the Republic dies and a new political regime emerges? Since we have decided to just passively slide down the slippery slope, we might as well enjoy the trip.
Above all, let’s not whine about the cost and consequences of our leaders’ folly. That’s a privilege of citizens. If we are unhappy, let’s again take up the burdens of self-government. The machinery bequeathed us by the Founders lies idle but potentially powerful. It needs only our energy to work.
Memories of propaganda past
“That Time CNN Staged A Fake Interview With A Syrian Child For War Propaganda” by Caitlin Johnstone. A “rogue journalist” points out that almost everything we know about the Syrian war is propaganda. We have no way of knowing what is true.
For More Information
Ideas! For some shopping ideas, see my recommended books and films at Amazon.
If you liked this post, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. See all posts about propaganda, and especially these…
- Another rush to war! This time in Syria.
- Secrets about our attack on Syria & Russia to help jihadists.
- Ignore the propaganda. See the world through clear eyes.
Two new books about our new Cold War.
Return to Cold War
Who Lost Russia?: How the World Entered a New Cold War
See Tony Wood’s review of these new books in the London Review of Books.
