Do my ears deceive me or did I just hear ex-Director of the CIA and ex-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta sidestep the ideological angles that sustain American politics in the eyes of its public (liberty, patriotism, civic duty, hard work) to mention a few cold facts that underlie the function of democracy, such as its dependence on both leadership and crisis, the latter of which is not only driving the system now, as Panetta pointed out, but will be driving it for a time to come? Did Panetta let slip who makes the key decisions (we have decided...) by quickly correcting himself (the president has decided...)? Or did he simply reveal the level of naivety that permeates the public by quickly trying to set their minds at ease about a process that is forever carried out by committees, some of which can never be truly transparent, not even in Jeffersonian democracies? Did he concur with Jon Stewart on how America has failed to project its power in realistic and effective ways, admitting how it has failed to appeal to its main driving force, the American individual? Did he concede that the system is asking too much of its citizens, and that the implication is not that the mission is bad per se (wars, foreign adventurism, crisis politics) but that the fault lies in how this mission is being pitched, operated and realized on the ground? Did he talk about carving up Iraq into three territories, and did he do so as if he were talking about cake? Did he do it with such disarming ease that his words sounded natural? Did he state that the greatest threat to American national security is the dysfunction in Washington? Did he claim that the last time he saw Congress working closely together was in the 60s, when LBJ was in power? Did he insinuate that since then the only thing were experiencing is a mish-mash of demagoguery and executive initiative driven by rotating executives and partisan legislators? Did he do the unthinkable and speak the truth, from his point of view, as a strict strategist whose main concern is not how to promote lofty ideals on a theoretical basis, but how the advantage afforded to the nation by such ideals is applied on the field; how a strategy can be made effective and long lasting; how this nation (like all other nations) fights over resources, forging and breaking alliances depending on the circumstances, pursuing vested interests opportunistically and scrambling in a global power race that inevitably embroils every man, woman and child in a complex game of resource and human management? In effect, did this retired Security Doge, who looks and sounds like Gino the Chef at your local Mama Ginos, give everyone a hint as to the real nature of politics and economics, about which the American populace (and not only) are generally clueless? It sure sounds like it. I certainly heard it. The question is, did everyone else hear it? Did anyone pay attention to the little cues and slips, to the faint contour lines that traced out the interview, drawing up a sketch map of the deep nature of politics? Or did they drink the Kool-Aid, thinking to themselves what a great arrangement this is, shucks, what a great set of issues were raised, how we must be doing something right if the ex-Director of the CIA and ex-Secretary of Defense comes on a comedy show and has a laugh, talking about issues of national security in a way befitting a Jeffersonian democracy, because Jeffersonian democracies are benevolent and never get their hands dirty, and if they do, its because the rest of the world is bad, forcing them to. I hope they did -- drink the Kool-Aid, feel content with themselves and praise the system, raising issues only within the established systemic parameters and bypassing the points Im raising -- because the world is getting ready for a humongous confrontation, hot or cold, probably both, and the last thing the West needs right now is everyone waking up from their slumber and going through an existential crisis. Weve got enough crises to deal with already. We dont need another one, not just yet. First we have to deal with the unfolding situation. First we win the conflict, then we wake up and sort out the mess, from a victors perspective. Or the people wholl seize the day will do it for us, which is way worse than fixing things ourselves -- not to mention how unsavory everything will turn, how the problems we have to deal with right now will seem like childs play when compared to whats in store in the shadow of defeat. Ask the Soviets. They know everything there is to know about tumbling all the way to the bottom and sniffing dust and ass and bitter lemons for the past one hundred years, some would say a thousand years, if you count the average Russian citizen, who, unlike the average Westerner, never had a chance at a better life, not even during the post-War era of innovation and progress. It might make you stop seeking out utopias and appreciate what you have, warts and all, and work with it, not against it. The system isnt perfect, far from it, but its better than the alternatives. This is what it boils down to. Stand by what has enabled your world, or risk handing over your future to Russian and Chinese policy makers. Because, at the end of the day, thats what its all about: whose policies will drive the world over the next century. Democracy, liberty, equality, human rights -- theyre all derivatives, enablers, talking points and negotiation tools, catalysts of the Wests ability to exercise power over others, especially over those whose traditions arent friendly to these ideals to begin with, not even when theyre at their best. In other words, our lofty principles are not the end goal. Theyre the means to an end, a vision appealing enough to be carried out by the average individual: the individual America and the West in general have done a poor job of inspiring lately; the individual whos being asked to do too much too fast, for little in return. If Panetta and his colleagues want to prevail in this coming confrontation, they better find out a way to reinvigorate their human resources, or they wont make much headway, handing the initiative over to the likes of the Islamic State, Putin and China. I just heard a thousand illusions shatter like glass. Thats good. Its the sound of a mini wake up call (not a full-blown one) that will enable those who live in sociopolitical Disneyland to shed their Soviet-style grand delusions of creating a global utopia on earth and focus instead on whats important, what every persons best bet is: keep ones immediate surroundings functional, ones circles clean, ones principles relatively intact and the systems up and running, no matter the maintenance necessary at any given time -- keep things moving and dont be afraid to fight others over what theyre willing to fight you, and let history decide who was Edens architect, if ever there was one. From your pragmatic Spin Doctor, Eyes open, mind sharp. #politics #economics #humor #spindoctor #tornadocountry
Posted on: Fri, 10 Oct 2014 12:55:29 +0000
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