I believe the Republicans have 3 main reasons for transforming the "war on terror" to the "long war":
- Botched "War on Terror"
- Spreading Fear
- Killing the Democratic Party
Botched "War on Terror"
Remember when Bush went to sea to congratulate the armed forces for "Mission Accomplished"? He did not see any reason then to change the name of the "war on terror." Of course, not. We were winning, he thought.
When General Eisenhower was fighting World War II, did he stop to figure out what to name the war? Even to suggest such a thing is ridiculous. Eisenhower was thoroughly absorbed in doing whatever he could to win the war.
Why is the Bush administration changing names in midstream? Why?
Because we are not winning, that's why. We are bogged down in Iraq, a side-show from the real war. Our name is mud all over the world because we run prisons across the world, condone torture, spy on Americans without legal warrants, disregard civil rights of Americans. Today I read about a report of the UN condemning our use of Guantanamo Bay to torture detainees. I feel ashamed when I read such news items.
We are not winning because terrorist acts are increasing around the world. This is one reason the government is not releasing statistics on the subject.
Osama bin Laden unleashes an attack against us and we go fight in Iraq. Where is Osama bin Laden?
You don't fight wars by giving them new names. You concentrate on winning. But Bush has already said we can't win the "war on terror." Maybe Republicans do not know how to run a real war. But they surely know how to run a propaganda war. They excel in manipulating people and the media. They are first rate in smearing opponents. Nobody is better at attacking those who disagree with them.
The "long war" is not the name of a real war, but a propaganda war.
Spreading Fear
Remember during 2004, every time there was a primary, a political convention or an election, suddenly the threat color code increased? Do you believe that Osama bin Laden ties his activities to our election calendar? The purpose for changing color codes was to scare the public. The purpose for scaring the people was to elect Republicans - the party that will keep you safe, they said. Their propaganda was very effective. It worked.
This year we hear nothing about threat color codes. How long can you play the same game? The Republicans need a new means for instilling fear, a new propaganda vehicle. So they decide on the "long war." As Hillary Clinton said:
"Contrary to Franklin Roosevelt, (who said) we have nothing to fear but fear itself, this crowd is: `All we've got is fear, and we're going to keep playing the fear card.'"
Republicans want to submerge us under a blanket of fear so that we follow them like sheep. They want to shut up all dissidents so they do not speak up. They intend to label as traitors - they already have - those, like Rep. Murtha, who want to end the Iraq war.
The Republican motto is
"Fear brings power."
Killing the Democratic Party
Against whom is planned this propaganda war? What difference does it make to Osama bin Laden what we call the war? Do the insurgents in Iraq care about the name of the war? Does it make any difference to anyone in the Middle East? The UN? Our allies? Anybody?
The propaganda war is planned against the Democratic Party. Democrats have insisted that Iraq had nothing to do with Al Qaeda. OK, this is not a war against terror, but a "long war." Democrats want to plan an exit from Iraq. How can we do such a thing if this is a "long war"? There's no way to get out of fighting. This is a "long war" and Bush is a "war president."
"War presidents" must be obeyed. Those, like the Democrats, who do not, are traitors. They must be treated with revulsion. You definitely should not vote for them.
Bush or another Republican "war president" will keep you safe by making this a militaristic society. You don't mind this, do you? Would you rather be ruled by Democrats, who talk endlessly of freedom, but who don't want to fight?
So says the Republican propaganda. Its purpose has nothing to do with national security. It is to get rid of the Democratic Party. Karl Rove, himself, has said that this is his goal. The "long war" will help him do this.
All the macho words and deeds of this macho president have produced miserable results in the "war on terror." So Bush is getting ready to fight a "long war," a full blown propaganda war against Democrats.
Bush has no idea how to win the war on terrorists. Let's elect a few Democrats who will show him how.
Comment here.
