Remember Iraq?

Iraq is still there, and thousands of troops are still there, too. Millions of dollars go there every week, too. You would, of course, never know this following the presidential campaign. Afghanistan is also still there.

The groups that started out being anti-war groups, like Moveon.org and others, are also doing their best to keep the Occupations out of view, in order to get Obama elected. That’s because they’ve ceased being anti-war organisations and joined the Democratic Party. Meanwhile, suffering continues in Iraq, under American and British occupation. As well, troops languish there, many with their time there extended. Troops that come back without limbs, with serious psychological problems, with other injuries. Troops who will stay there, no matter who wins the election. Yes, Obama says he’ll start bringing some troops out of Iraq, but he’ll leave many there. It will likely be that he’ll take out troops until the occupation is in danger, whereupon he’ll put them back. Remember, he does notwant to end the occupation. Besides, how many of those leaving Iraq will go to Afghanistan to fight in the “War on Terror”? A British commander has said that the Afghan war cannot be won, but that kind of information has rarely stopped American military adventures.

The fact that Obama is a Democrat and will continue this nonsense should be no surprise. FDR was the architect of the Endless War. After he got his declarations of war against Germany and Japan, not another was ever asked of Congress, who has never minded that its constitutional responsibility has been usurped. Truman and every president after didn’t bother with declarations. Roosevelt saw the war as a way out of economic troubles, especially if the wars were a long way away. All one needed was a “menace” and you were away. You always had a focus for fear. (All this not withstanding any “good” there might have been in fighting WWII.) Thousands of Americans have died in wars since World War II, billions have gone into wars, and people in many countries have known suffering and death as a result of these conflicts, which, taken together, are an Endless War.

The point is that the various occupations that the US is engaged in are not going to end with an Obama presidency. And remember, Obama’s not ruled out conflict with Iran. My guess is that when times get really tough, rather than tackling them, he’ll resort to declaring a new enemy on which to focus our fears and anxieties. Whatever “change” Obama is talking about, it isn’t a change in the conventional wisdom (a “wisdom” which is more conventional than wise). We are still to be engaged in endless wars, or an Endless War with endless bad guys. As well, wars and corporate bail outs will continue to be financed with large appropriations, without reference to how they’ll be paid for. When questions about health care, infrastructural renovation, relief for hurricane victims in New Orleans, etc. come up, rest assured the question, “How will we pay for this?” will come up. We could pay for it all if the Iraq and Afghanistan adventures were ended and the money redirected. It won’t be. That’s not in the nature of Obama’s “Change”.

As well, how “progressive” are all those self-styled “progressives” who’ve been busting their butts for a Democratic candidate. Is it the respectability that comes with being supporters one of the two “legitimate” parties? Maybe it’s in the word, “progressive”. Maybe that word sounds better in the professional world many of these people inhabit than “radical”. Maybe it’s more “grown up” to be a Democrat than a Green or a Socialist, or Social Democrat. More likely, it’s self-delusion. I’m reminded once again of the Obama tee shirt with the “O” in the form of a peace symbol.

If it is self-delusion, it will come home to people when Obama is seen, by this time next year, to be more of the same. Same wars, same system of non-health care, more corporate bail-outs.