Searle, <simply on the basis of a perceived cost-benefit analysis>
You give americans too much credit for rational analysis. (g) But i agree with you in a way. I think this is the process: the rationale reason (ie, cheap, plentiful oil) is always left unspoken, so we can maintain the illusion we are more than colonialists and thieves. The emotional explanations are presented as justification: maintain world security, bring humanitarian relief to the oppressed iraqi people, bring civilization to a backward country (ie, the american consumer lifestyle), etc.
The potential of the hoped-for result of cheap oil ended many months ago but since that was always the unspoken reason, we had no reason to do anything but dig in our heels, stay the course, not back away from a fight, etc, etc. But now with the torture scandal, americans come face-to-face with the difficult evidence that we are no better and no worse than any of our enemies, just plain flawed human beings, and the illusion of our spoken rationale is shattered...so its time to pack our bags and restore sovereignty...our work is done here...good luck, we've done all we can to help you folks...have a great day.
john |
