Pynchon's optimism about WWII

[Paul Mackin]

An interesting reference to paranoia in war occurs in
Pat Barker's currently acclaimed _The Ghost Road_. This time it's 
World War I. Billy Prior and his mates are sitting around (or near) the 
trenches arguing. One insists the war is being fought to feather the 
nests of profiteers and to safeguard access to the oil-wells of Mesopotamia.
Billy, however, says:

 "I think what you're saying is basically a conspiracy theory, and
like all conspiracy theories it's optimistic. What you're saying is, OK
the war isn't being fought for the reasons we're told, but it is being
fought for a reason. It's not benefitting the people it's supposed to
be benefiting, but it is benefiting someone. And I don't believe that,
you see. I think things are actually much worse than you think because
there're isn't any kind of rational justification left. It's become
a self-perpetuating system. Nobody benefits. Nobody's in control.
Nobody knows how to stop."

				P.