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The First and Last Front
by cleaves Wednesday, Jan 19 2005, 7:04am
international / peace/war / opinion/analysis

The American fiction industry has taught its citizens that an enemy will surrender when ‘superior’ force is confronted. It hasn’t taught its citizens how to cope with an enemy that will never capitulate, an enemy that continues to fight in the face of overwhelming odds. What to do? It is impossible in today’s world to "kill them all." The hard reality of US intervention is combat, men against men, and today we learn that the US military has lost what little nerve it had.

How easy it is to fall prey and play the great fantasy game of names and numbers – ‘facts and figures’ all loaded with ample emotive power to distract from the real issue. By the end of this article, we may (if we are able) realise the actual ‘field’ upon which all the battles of humankind have been won and lost.

Different events and circumstances evoke different responses – today the 16th day of October 2004, marked a ‘watershed’ event – a huge turning point in world history. An announcement from a news radio station declared that US troops have "refused" to go on missions to certain regions in the Iraq zone of conflict. This refusal of command in an active war zone reveals the end-game scenario and indicates the accelerated decline of a so-called Superpower. US troops are unable to cope with the hard reality of combat despite the technological advantage they possess (not to mention the tatters that was once the chain of command.) The real fighters of the world have taken note.

Ask any real military man and he will inform you that men win and lose wars not machines (technology.) What is the point of blitzing an area with ‘super’ weapons if invading troops cannot occupy and maintain conquered ground? Doses of Dexamphetamine for all active US combatants only exacerbate the problem. There is no such thing as a courage pill. Any person who has witnessed ‘speed’ abuse will tell you that the adverse effects of Amphetamines are morbid fear, paranoia and lack of judgement – ‘brilliant’ choice for a fighting drug! One can only wonder who introduced this ‘strategy’ into the field of battle. But we know, it was the disease of American Capital, specifically the Pharmaceutical Companies that now have approximately thirty million US citizens dosed on anti-depressants and mood stabilisers. Avarice has no allegiances, least of all the welfare of the nation and its citizens. Can you hear a long lost echo in the American canyons of the mind? "Time is money," cries Benjamin Franklin. This perverse ideology is now bearing fruit.

During the Vietnam conflict a ‘primitive’ Meo tribesman made a cogent remark, "Americans are too soft, they cannot win." Soft! What could that mean? How could a nation with a roughly equal capability in soldiering during the Second World War become "soft" to the point where they now refuse to go into battle in a dangerous situation? [Any commander worth his ‘salt’ would have already put these cowards against a wall and had them shot. But to no avail – the whole US military is sick with this ‘infection.’]

The kids fighting this war were all born in modern America – the land of fantasy, dreams and myth. These kids were all raised watching cultural images of themselves as invincible and superior. Celluloid heroes win celluloid wars; real wars have very little resemblance to Hollywood money making fantasies. However, these fantasies have a very real effect on the (young) psyches of those who assimilate them – the infection takes hold! The assault on reality is relentless. These kids grow up playing video games and watching TV – more fiction and fantasy. Why do toy manufacturers bother with these mind-destroying products? Money of course! America has sown the seeds of its own demise. What drives all the media industries in the US? Money, money and more money. Fantasy sells, reality is dull and goodbye social competence as a result.

The comparative affluence of the US further weakens the population – these kids have no idea what their contemporaries in the poorer exploited nations have to contend with just in order to eat! When the survivors reach adulthood they are extremely hard realists, they possess a repertoire of tricks and talents to get them through difficult situations – skill, ingenuity, resourcefulness etc, are the results. Science has recently discovered neural learning pathways that are established during early youth (only.) It seems that a hard life engenders a biological advantage.

The American fiction industry has taught its citizens that an enemy will surrender when ‘superior’ force is confronted. It hasn’t taught its citizens how to cope with an enemy that will never capitulate, an enemy that continues to fight in the face of overwhelming odds. What to do? It is impossible in today’s world to "kill them all." The hard reality of US intervention is combat, men against men, and today we learn that the US military has lost what little nerve it had.

The unfortunate consequence of this loss of face will provoke a brutal attack from the US. America will learn that brutality does not compensate for lack of courage and skill. But the drug companies are (no doubt) busily researching another ‘super pill’ that will endow US troops with skill and courage. They will learn that there are no substitutes for tenacity, purpose and fearlessness. But do not forget that it’s the Corporations who rule the US – the bastions of Capital. There is nothing to learn but defeat – money weakens and corrupts to the core.

Other nations of the world watch – they forge alliances and sign agreements – the biggest ‘gun’ in town is no match for all the other guns pointing directly at it. America has now become the pariah of the world – its double standards and hypocrisy have led the way. The American people failed to act in time. But they will – internally. Mob rule is the future for that culture; the information explosion has rent the veils of deception and manipulation.

The population will turn on those who have used them as pawns and slaves – each selfish little piggy will want a share of the trough – after all, money, greed and deceit – it’s the American Way, isn’t it?