It may be a bit early to write the obituary for a nation that has not yet fallen. But a few moments of silent contemplation of its decline are certainly in order.
For over three years now, the United States has revealed the soft underbelly of its foreign policy and military might to the entire world. Almost two and one half years after declaring, "Mission Accomplished!" in the Iraq "cakewalk", the president's nation is hopelessly bogged down, losing another war to a people far less equipped, financed, or technologically advanced as we, the world's only super power. They're kicking our ass. Why is that? Maybe it's because they have something we don't. The passion and determination to rid their land of invaders. To prevail. To be free of their "liberators".
And just why is it we're occupying a country like Iraq--besides oil, of course? Well, part of it's the megalomaniacal leadership of the nation we permit to wield its will globally, unchecked. Part of it's the megalomaniac's ignorance of history. The history of Britain in Iraq, of Russian in Afghanistan, of France and the United States in Vietnam.
Now, just six days after hurricane Katrina demolished the coasts of three states and laid waste to New Orleans, visuals of the incompetence of America's domestic policy have gone out over the airwaves to all nations around the world. The graphic images of stranded, starving and dying people have obviously made strong impressions on others as evidenced by offers from countries like Bangaladesh, one of the world's poorer nations, to provide financial aid. Or the generous offer of Cuba to send us 1,100 doctors and 26 tons of medicine. Shouldn't we be just a little embarrassed by this?
Why in the world would the United States accept aid from Cuba? Maybe a good answer would be because our own freakin' government can't seem to do anything but squabble between themselves and hold photo ops to tell us how bad it is, how help is on the way, how folks should just hold on.
"It's worse then we expected."
"This took us by surprise."
I'm pretty sure we won't accept Cuba's offer of aid. After all they're communists. Yet, they seem more prepared to help us than our own governnment.
I heard someone say earlier today that the unfolding tragedy in New Orleans is the result of putting special interests ahead of the people's. This struck a chord with me. It's obvious even the "richest nation on Earth" has a credit line it's exceeded long ago under this administration. You cannot conduct unending war, empire building and global domination while cutting taxes for the rich without also cutting services to the poor and endangering communities throughout this country.
So one quarter of a billion dollars allocated for those levees to protect New Orleans in 2003 just evaporated--*Poof!*--money that was used instead to blow Iraq back to the Stone Age. That's just one example of many domestic programs slashed/eliminated to finance the Bush tax cuts and our hegemonic ambitions in the Middle East.
And who are the special interests riding on the backs of those thirsting, starving and being raped in New Orleans and across the nation? Well, just check the resumés of our government representatives. Check who they worked for in the private sector. Check who contributes most to have them elected and reelected. Those would be the ones who reap the biggest rewards while the victims of New Orleans are waiting for a bus ride outta town.
I apologize. I'd intended to start this as an calm reflection on the decline, if not total fall, of the late, great state of America. But with the television on CNN in the next room, with continued reports of the incompetence of relief and control efforts flowing in, with Bush photo ops of the president hugging an Afro-American girl in Alabama, speaking in front of Coast Guard helicopters in Mississippi, after he and Laura made a 'contribution' to the relief effort yesterday, I'm hopelessly ranting. It's obvious I'm still too adsorbed in this tragedy to assess it objectively. Unlike our president who tries to remain more aloof.
I wondering if the one photo op of Bush I didn't see today was of him thirsting, starving, and wading in waist high shit out to meet with the stranded victims of New Orleans.
Well, one good thing to come from the Iraq war: some of the Louisiana National Guard recently returned from there. They're now serving in New Orleans. And they know how to "shoot to kill". Now that's real karma for an empire in decline.
3 comments:
The effects of hurricane Katrina are sure to hurt the economy, so get ready for another round of tax cuts for the rich.
We're going to cut taxes and attack other countries under Bush's leadership, until we can identify ourselves as another third-world country.
In fact, we'll well on our way with our dead stacked in the stairwells and on the streets being eaten by rats.
I've forgotten, please remind me what happened to Rome. It wasn't power-mongering through war and the hubris of leaders that lead to the decline of their civilization, was it?
That couldn't happen here, could it?
Oh wait.....
rk: No, no, not yet. Wouldn't impeachment stand a better chance of succeeding if we wait til he lies, commits a crime, or something?
rk: I hear you brother. The situation's gone from worse to totally unacceptable.
How about, in your research, we throw in secession votes in all 50 states? That way, those states that choose to remain with Bush and company can continue their wars for global domination while still getting their huge tax cuts to enrich their asses as they bankrupt the nation.
Then, during the next Red State emergency like Katrina, Bush can play guitar, Secretary of Red State, Condoleezza-oil-tanker-Rice can play tennis and shop for $1000 shoes as Pat Robertson calls for the assassination of foreign heads of states while poor folks are starving and drowning.
ut instead of those dying folks being angry at the lack of aid and slow response, will understand their leaders just don't give a shit. But in Red State America that'll be okay!
Those of us unfortunate enough to live in a state that votes to stay in the union and go red, will have to relocate to blue states. But at least there will be some and despite the cost, what a small price to pay to live among sane people!
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