So, We're at War?

[neoblues]

in a "War on Terror""ism"? Okay, if we are really at war with terrorism... ('War on Terror', 'War on Terrorism', 'War Against Terrorism', whatever...)

This must mean that... Our "occupation" of IRAQ is the primary front in the "WOT", and Afghanistan is the other (don't see much else "war-like" stuff going on). IRAQI "insurgents" (bent on kicking us out of IRAQ) are the infamous "Terrorists" we're apparently afraid of and making war on as a nation? Likewise, the Afghan members of the Taliban which we've apparently still failed to defeat... are also considered some of those "Terrorists" with whom we're all at war. Somehow these collections, while decidedly anti-American, don't exactly seem threatening enough to merit a national state of war...

Somewhere out there is also the "Al-Qaeda", and one of it's leaders, Osama Bin-Laden. Yet we're not joining in massive terrorist-hunts with large numbers (presumptively nearly all) of other nations working jointly with their intelligence/anti-terrorism forces to purge every possible hiding place... Indeed, our own Terrorist in Chief has said he isn't worried about old OBL. Why then, have we 'won' the "War"? Win or lose, do these groups deserve such attention as a national state of war in the world's only "Superpower" (even though we've shown how puny such "super" powers are)?

In fact, though, we aren't even in a formal "State of War". How then does a power-hungry pretend President get away with claiming he has special "War Powers"? Where the -blank- is Congress? Oh, yeah, they're joining in the "Anti-American, Anti-Democractic" Republican Partisan Totalitarian Government of the Untied States of America! Spelling Intentional All Hail King George, and Co-King Dick!

It appears, we just wish we were living in a Democracy. Of course, we have the next best thing--we have a "pretend" Democracy! If you want to "believe" everything is as it should be, it's not too difficult... Just ignore reality (it's easy to do--millions of Republicans do it every day!)! Considering how many are avoiding the truth, one would think the whole nation has been drugged! Perhaps now we have an explanation of all those aerial con-trails the more paranoid (not necessarily unwise these days) community has been documenting!(wink)(wink)(nod)(nod)

Our Democracy:

:bluebox: One, in our "Democracy", the "will" of the people doesn't count for anything, our "leaders" do whatever they want.
:bluebox: Two, in our "Democracy", we have no verifiably honest means by which to change our "elected" leadership, and most of them aren't in danger of losing their offices**! And...
:bluebox: Three, in our "Democracy", the "internal balance of power" intended to prevent any single entity from assuming "Dictatorial Powers" has been systematically dismantled.
(based on the concepts about Democracy posed by the political philosopher Hannah Arendt)

**possible exception: term limits on the Presidency--which merely means the President/Vice-President may not be the ones who are "really" in charge (other than day-to-day); consider how our very "choices" for President inevitably lead to the lesser of two evils--and/or how one doesn't stand a chance (owing to press assassinations) AND consider that already now, and in the future, our Electronic votes may not even count (for anything more than keeping up "appearances").

Totalitarian Oligarchy/Oligopolistic Corporatocracy; If we're not there yet, it (or some such) seems not far.

Question of the Hour: In a Democracy, would "The People" be able to demand their government bring their troops home from an unpopular, costly, terrible war/occupation of choice? Answer? Perhaps not... but if not, they'd damn well vote the unresponsive son's of whatever out of office at their earliest convenience!

[damntexdem]

1. No, WE'RE not at war.

I'm not at war. Now, Dubya, he's at war -- a war on Terra.

And much of the American public who thought they were at war -- they've come to their senses and are not at war at all. The problem is that the criminals who stole the American government are still sending Americans to die, and kill, in Iraq, and elsewhere in the world. Maybe Iran soon -- actually, Iran already.

[Nightjock]

2. Beautiful!!!

You nailed it!