Misdirection is the key to the illusionist's art. It's a nifty addition to the politician's toolbox, too.
And, for politicos, so is the outright, bald-faced, 'flip-flop'.
When is a coup not a coup? When it suits our purposes, that's when.
Our government has decided that the military overthrow of a democratically-elected leader in Egypt is not a coup. If it was a 'coup' then we'd need to stop throwing money at Egypt as a bribe to maintain the peace with Israel. Then what would happen? Nobody wants that answer, so there is no coup, just a coup-like 'course correction' to reset the Egyptian road to democracy. No matter that it looks and smells just like a military dictatorship, same as it always was.
When is the actual use of a weapon of mass destruction not as bad as the suspicion of having one? When it suits our purposes, of course.
President Obama and UK PM David Cameron are having trouble convincing their respective legislatures that military action is needed in the wake of (both men say) incontrovertible evidence the Syrian government used Sarin gas on their citizens. This could be a case of 'fool me once ...', with the 'where did they go' WMDs in Iraq featuring in people's minds. It could also be understandable reluctance to get involved - again - with groups of people who's mindsets we can't seem to fathom completely, and who's ideas of democracy and freedom seem stuck in a parallel universe outside of reality, and with a very short half-life. It could also be Russia's (Mr. Putin's really) reluctance to give up on his sidekick Assad that's holding things up. Whatever the reason, failing to do something here, not unlike our failing to do something when Iraq used chemical weapons against its people after the first Gulf War, can only lead to worse situations ahead. Chemical Bashir, anyone?
It would be a refreshing change of pace if we the people were told exactly the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And that timely and humane actions took place exactly when needed. But in the absence of that openness and altruism, we should all be taking notes and studying them carefully before the next elections.
And, for politicos, so is the outright, bald-faced, 'flip-flop'.
When is a coup not a coup? When it suits our purposes, that's when.
Our government has decided that the military overthrow of a democratically-elected leader in Egypt is not a coup. If it was a 'coup' then we'd need to stop throwing money at Egypt as a bribe to maintain the peace with Israel. Then what would happen? Nobody wants that answer, so there is no coup, just a coup-like 'course correction' to reset the Egyptian road to democracy. No matter that it looks and smells just like a military dictatorship, same as it always was.
When is the actual use of a weapon of mass destruction not as bad as the suspicion of having one? When it suits our purposes, of course.
President Obama and UK PM David Cameron are having trouble convincing their respective legislatures that military action is needed in the wake of (both men say) incontrovertible evidence the Syrian government used Sarin gas on their citizens. This could be a case of 'fool me once ...', with the 'where did they go' WMDs in Iraq featuring in people's minds. It could also be understandable reluctance to get involved - again - with groups of people who's mindsets we can't seem to fathom completely, and who's ideas of democracy and freedom seem stuck in a parallel universe outside of reality, and with a very short half-life. It could also be Russia's (Mr. Putin's really) reluctance to give up on his sidekick Assad that's holding things up. Whatever the reason, failing to do something here, not unlike our failing to do something when Iraq used chemical weapons against its people after the first Gulf War, can only lead to worse situations ahead. Chemical Bashir, anyone?
It would be a refreshing change of pace if we the people were told exactly the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. And that timely and humane actions took place exactly when needed. But in the absence of that openness and altruism, we should all be taking notes and studying them carefully before the next elections.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment