NP? worth reading

[barbara100 at jps.net]

I have a boyfriend who thinks that Bush is mostly just trying to maintain
power with all his warmongering.  World power, but mostly political power
for 2004.  He thinks 911 was a golden opportunity for any administration,
and by luck of the draw it befell a Republican.  He's thinks Bush will play
out the Iraqi situation to the tune of the election and the economy. He'll
make due for now with inspections, string us along, make it look as if he's
doing something meaningful to fight terrorism AND showing restraint. But
then if the economy worsens in the months ahead,  he could always start
things back up again. Trump up some violation (it shouldn't be hard) and
start an all out attack.  Who would vote against a sitting President during
the War on Terrorism? That would be like voting for the Terrorists!
It made me sick to listen. And he was so dry about it.  "Aren't you even
pissed off?" I asked.. "For being lied to and manipulated?!"
"No, I'm not pissed off.  Do we really want Saddam around anyway? A war
might be better in the end."
I called him a hawk in a dove's disguise, but he said he was just being
realistic and the Left's knee-jerk reaction against war in this case should
be questioned.
"If the US plays it smart, sticks around and does another Marshall Plan,
maybe set up the Palestinians in palatial digs in Iraq, it could be a chance
for America to make a good impression for once, to really improve life in
the Region.
"Oh, after we bomb the hell out of them they're supposed to love us!  And
when have we ever played it smart?"
"Well, alright, we don't usually play it smart, but maybe we will this time.
Maybe we'll take him out in a coup. But even if it's war, we rebuilt Europe,
we rebuilt Japan. They don't hate us much for it today. The Middle East is a
mess! We need to do something different! Pre-emption is at least different."
"Different! How's that different?! It's just the same old tired shit
rehashed Arabian style. And MOVE the Palestinians? Are you crazy!  Moving
people around, that's what got it into the mess it is now.  And what about
all the innocent people who'll die in a war!  How can you stand any more?!"
He said, "What about the sanctions and all the innocent people who die
anyway?  A little on this end might save a lot on the other."
It was hard to swallow, but it was also hard to argue.  Especially since it
was likely Bush would have his way whatever either of us thought about it.
We still had one commonality, though--we both know when we're getting fucked
over.  We parted on that note with a kiss.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Fiero" <rfiero at pophost.com>
To: "Pynchon-L" <pynchon-l at waste.org>
Clearly the job of "regime change" in Iraq
> is a job for DIA and not for the conventional military and
> according to sources, this is underway. Mr. Bush has a terrible
> record: flaky business deals before and during his
> Governorship, lies about Social Security and tax cuts, hid in
> Nebraska all day 9/11/01 . . . and now this.
> He must be either an incredibly obtuse ideologue or a boundless liar.
Both?
> This is truly off topic unless we're seeing an impotent Brock
> Vond. I'm really curious and there is no point in asking the
> irrelevant Left or the other side, whatever it's calling itself these
days.
>
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