5 years

"No American who lived through that [day] will ever forget it. It seared deeply into the national consciousness, shearing away illusions that had been fostered for generations. And with the first shock came a sort of panic. This struck at our deepest pride. It tore at the myth of our invulnerability. Striking at the precious legend of our might, it seemed to leave us naked and defenseless"*

No, this quote wasnt about 9-11. It was about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Like 9-11, it was a sneak attack which drove the country into war. 2,335 dead, very close to the 9-11 toll. The outcome, however, was a bit different. Perhaps this was because of leadership. Perhaps this was because theirs was a more clear-cut enemy. Or perhaps it's because the Nation faced a genuine and obvious threat from an aggressive military power, rather than an incredibly painful sucker-punch from a bunch of religious thugs.

More likely, though, it's because, deep down, we know that this isnt really a war. We know that, at best, this qualifies as something at the level of a turf war, a clash between two rival gangs. Because it's roughly true. Despite the amount of destruction that bin Laden has been behind for many years, he's not much more than a criminal mastermind. He's certainly not a world leader, or at least, wasnt at the time.
Perhaps, rather than making such a big, state (as in State Department) deal out of 9-11, we should have couched it more in terms of being criminal activity. If we had declared it a murder, albeit a murder of incredible scale, and proceded with the investigation and eventual punishment phase as a police matter, we could have framed it more like the battle between Capone and Ness, rather than that of the Allies and the Axis. Bin Laden, however much money he may have, is nothing more than a Gang Boss, a state-less capo with a pack of fanatical henchmen. Unpleasant as this assessment may be, it's made worse by this simple fact: by describing our nation's relationship with bin Laden to be one of two armies at war, we have granted him a legitimacy far above that of a mere petty, outback warlord.
This could have been a simple mistake, made in a spirit of panic by our leaders, the same as so many decisions made by more common citizens in non-leadership roles. But isnt the reason we choose leaders is because we feel that they should be better at making decisions than we are?

There's another possibility, though, one more disturbing. Isnt it possible that our leaders know that this is not a real war. After all, aside from constitutionally dubious "security" policies and ethically and legally dubious P.O.W. policies (and they are prisoners of war, if this realy is a war, right?), just exactly what has the Bush Administration done to indicate that the country is on a war footing?

There's certainly a lot of rhetoric flying around which deals in imagery from WWII, accusations and comparisons involving Nazis and fascists, about epic battles between good and evil. But all this is nothing but propaganda, words designed to sell something, whether it's pacifism or participation. But, aside from provisions to bolster sagging enlistment in our all-volunteer Army, what "war efforts" have been made? (One might think, by the way, that in a "market-driven" society, flagging enrollment in a Military-by-choice would indicate a general disinclination to "buy" into the war effort.) The answer is...

Nothing.

Look, in World War II, everything was thrown into the war effort. Have you ever read anything about rationing or talked to someone who experienced it? Or, I suppose, even lived it yourself? Do you know what we, as a nation, have sacrificed, in the "War On Terror", besides over 2600 of our soldiers lives?
As far as I can tell, we've sacrificed some of our constitutionally guaranteed rights, many having to do with privacy and unreasonable search and seizure (seriously, is it reasonable to take our toothpaste?), something for which some argue, without irony, we do in order to "protect our freedoms".
We've sacrificed the financial security of our children (and probably the retirements of most working people over the age of 40), because we're too selfish to pay for this war as it happens, this being more true the richer one is. Were you aware that during WWII the tax rate on all income over $200,000 was 94%. For the "War on Terror", our leadership has responded with a tax cut, most of which went to the wealthiest of our citizens. But imagine this, if you will: In April of 1942, FDR wanted to raise the marginal tax to 100%, suggesting that "no American citizen ought to have a net income, after he has paid his taxes, of more than $25,000 a year" (the modern day equivalent of about $300,000). Contrast that with today's wealthy few.
Have we sacrificed anything else? I wish I could say that we've sacrificed our inordinate thirst for petroleum products, but we havent (we have sacrificed at the pumps, but unfortunately only for the profits of the oil companies). Of all our non-sacrifices, this seems like the most unforgivable. Where does our current trouble come from? Mostly from the Middle-East. And what would the Middle-East be without the massive flow of cash that comes from oil? Empty, poor? Maybe not, but how about quiet? Without oil, the Middle-East would return to its former occupations, farming, trading, and religious squabbling - you know, like normal people. (This may happen sooner than one might think.) Were you aware that the U.S. imports over half the oil that it uses? And that we use 25% of the worlds petroleum? Tell me, what do you drive? Something small? Or maybe an SUV?

So, since we dont seem to be sacrificing much, is this really a War? I mean, it's a bloody mess alright, with lots of people dying in war-like ways. But this was also true in Korea, and in Viet Nam, and those were called "Police Actions". Is it possible that George Bush was simply more honest when he refered to the current conflict as a War?

Okay, I can see you're laughing. Go ahead, get it out of your system.

So, here's what worries me. We are a nation "at war", yet show no signs of being so aside from body bags, internal spying and a damn nuisance at the airport. Our civil rights are being eroded, often by administrative fiat when Lord Bush cannot get Congress to cooperate. If it's not a war, why call it a War? Could it be a distraction? A magician's slight-of-hand to lead the eye and mind while the real action goes elsewhere?
Let's say that the People finally get tired of this. Let's say there are massive demonstrations, rallies calling for impeachment, etc. Kind of like the 60's, maybe. Remember the 60's? You can bet the Boys in the White House do. Remember who was called out to keep the peace back then? That's right, the National Guard, the same guys currently in Iraq, getting shot at and blown up by what appear to be civilians, and generally learning how to do urban battle. Does this sound like potential trouble to you?

5 years since the destruction of the World Trade Center. 5 years of bloody-minded madness, of killing, torture and invasion (Enough Iraqis have died since the 2003 for at least fifteen 9-11 attacks). 5 years of secrecy and "security" largely aimed at the American People. 5 years of rising oil consumption, rising oil prices, and rising oil profits, overseen by a failed oilman, who is aided by a very successful oilman.

Is this the American dream you were raised to dream?
Do you feel any freer?

Do you feel any safer?


5 years today. Has anything been done to make the deaths of those 2752 people anything other than a tragic crime? Or have we simply compounded the work of one thug with thuggery of our own?


* Melosi, Martin V. - The Shadow of Pearl Harbor: Political Controversy of the Surprise Attack, 1941-1946