The age of empires never seems to end. Imperialism has made way for a new and potent strategy of subjugation: Incrementalism.Societies are constantly evolving. Learning from the past. Unfortunately, the Power structure learns from its mistakes, while the people, they have 'short memories'. The Fascist powers of the Second World War had hit upon an old forgotten dictum of ruthless dictatorship. Nationalism based on fear. The fear of enemies, both external and internal. Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin - all emerged simultaneously, complementing and learning from each other. Established systems of governance were systematically dismantled and replaced by authoritarian laws that were slipped into the system while the people were distracted by the threat of an imaginary foe. Civil liberties eroded in a matter of a few years. Free speech, rights to property, rights to a free and fair trial - all overridden by the State in an overwhelming sweep crushing all forms of individual liberty. Goebbles, that master of propaganda, tightly controlled the mainstream press. The German populace was soon awash in State sponsored nationalistic fervor, tinged with fear. The depressed economies made the public easily pliable towards quick-fix populist solutions. All dissent was brutally squashed by the local militia, which later became the dreaded SA and SS. All was going well for the fascists. Till they made their first, possibly their biggest mistake. They went international.
A war on ideologies is a dangerous ploy for governments, since there can be only one clear winner. Fascism or Freedom. Capitalism or Communism. The first destroyed the German Reich. The second dissolved the USSR, though through more of its own inadequacies than any military defeat. Every time a country takes its ideology global using force, it runs the risk of debilitating defeat. Which is why the 'War on Terror' was always going to be a mistake. As war on ideologies go, this was probably the least well defined war in history. There were no clear boundaries to invade, no definite armies to defeat. Even the motive behind the ideology is hotly debated.
Which brings me to the 'why'. So 'Why' did the US go to war..on terror? The answer is it didnt. It went to war on its people. Much before 9/11 was plotted in the caves of Afghanistan.
It is as i said earlier, the power structure is always learning, always evolving, while the people busy themselves in their daily lives. During Vietnam, Americans had had enough of watching their children come home in body bags, from half way across the world, in a war that made as much sense as the one in Iraq. In an unbridled show of freedom from the State's oppression, anti-war protestors had risen all across the nation and soon enough the dogs of war had returned home empty handed and humiliated. The 'military-industrial-complex', the term given to a conglomerate of rich and powerful corporations whose business and raison d'être is War, had learnt a grievous lesson. The only way to wage war is to blindside the people first. For decades, starting from the 70s, the US government, backed by immense financial resources from the Complex, has involved itself in covert military and economic attacks on countries across the world. Be it supporting military dictators in South American and South East Asian countries, the mujaheddin in Afghanistan, bankrolling Pakistani dictators, overthrowing the democratically elected Iranian govt to help UKs oil interests, installing military bases in the Saudi Islamic region....the list is long. Very long. Meanwhile the population at home has been kept increasingly in the dark about these clearly unconstitutional activities. Even before 9/11, most of these acts, when uncovered, were justified as done in 'national interest' and 'national security'.
The truth of the matter is that American imperialism has taken an incremental tone. Instead of going to war all at once, the Complex goes to war in piecemeal fashion. Either covertly or openly, all action is justified because all action is trivialized. It is no big deal to overthrow governments. An apology later suffices for the thousands of people who die because of such action. The american people, a populace raised fiercely on the ideals of freedom, has been brainwashed in such a manner as to make the majorilty hapless and confused. Economic warfare is used on them with such regularity as to numb their sense of the Constitution and the incredible rights it endows them with. Recessions have become an inevitable result of the State constantly using private tools like the Federal Reserve to fund its endless appetite for war and expansion. Today, citizens are responsible for unbelievable individual debt owned by the State, mostly unaware of the enormity of the problem. When economic conditions are'nt enough to divert attention from the State's profligate looting, wars are escalated in order to create the illusion of an immediate threat. Threat levels are raised daily, yellow today, red tomorrow, to keep you on your toes. Laws are passed that make privacy non-existent via increased surveillance (Protect America Act, FISA changes). Basic civil rights like Habeaus Corpus are set aside in the name of national security (Patriot Act). Stasi-like paramilitary forces, not under the direct purview of the Congress and the federal courts, are employed for missions that the military would not want to be held accountable for (Blackwater, now Xe). Since the farce of democratic elections has become apparent, corporations now bid directly with the Complex to get their own President elected (Wall St, Big Oil). The mainstream media is controlled with a leash tight enough to embarrass even Goebbles (Fox, MSNBC, NYTimes, WallSt Journal). The great game of liberal vs conservative is played out every four years to keep the mirage of democracy active, while back channel deals are what decide policy much before the President stands in front of the teleprompter.
Incrementalism has become the new mantra for State imperialism. Every President, and the equally culpable Congress, have over the decades passed laws and undertook policies as to slowly take away power from the hands of the people. Rendition, Blackwater, secret prison camps, torture, 'enemy combatants'.....these terms should send shivers down the spine of every American citizen. Because these will eventually come home. Yet a lot of their anxiety is drowned in the drowsy spirit of commercial consumerism. All their worries are put off by coercing them into malls and asking them to spend their misgivings away. Debt is good. Credit is good. Buy houses and cars you cannot afford. You are an American. You deserve it. Your government will take care of you. They promise. Social security will fund your golden years. Medicare will cradle your health. All is taken care of. All is well.
A perfect storm is brewing. People are beginning to understand. But i fear that the decades long incremental grafting from the American citizen may have taken its toll. If the people have to rise, it must be now. It must be with full understanding of what is happening to them. The Vietnam anti-war protests taught the Complex some important lessons. Maybe it can teach us too. Maybe we can incrementally correct this system. Maybe 'eternal vigilance' is a price that must be paid through principled activism. Its never too late.
