War in Iran and the Draft:
Desensitization of the American public.

By Christopher Wilder




The War on Terror has made many of us paranoid, and yet in many respects it would seem that the ‘paranoia’ was in fact the healthy level of suspicion we should have had all along. Many in the peace movement have made a miscalculation that the Bush administration fears the draft, and they do not want the people talking about it. It is my belief that this couldn’t be farther from the truth, and that the recent discussion of the draft plays into the hands of post election plans for the Middle East. It is not so much an issue of the American public supporting a draft, it is an issue of making the American people silent about a draft. We have seen this work with the war in Iraq, people may not agree with it, but they really aren’t saying much about it.

You could make the people support conscription if there was a major attack on the country, while this may be the most effective means to starting a draft; it is also the most impractical. The type of attack needed would throw the country into chaos, causing much of the troops to be used keeping the peace here; not fighting what amounts to a resource war overseas. So the other option is simple; allow rumors to fly, and let the people fear a phantom draft. It allows you to deny an impending draft and label all the people that oppose the draft as fear-mongers and kooks; while the whole time desensitizing the public to the reality of conscription.

Now wait a minute isn’t the current legislation in congress there because of a Democrat, Rangel? Yes, but even in the late 90’s congressmen would propose legislation to return American to ‘Universal Service’, why the focus now from the media? If it is really because of our focus, then why are most the stories reported in the IMC’s never in the corporate media? Which brings us to most important question, Who stands to benefit from a ‘Universal Service’ law? To understand this, one must only look to what Iraq, and Iran sit on…one of the largest oil reserves in the entire would. Who owns the media, who do all politicians really work for, who is the status quo? The Corporations and the most lucrative business is energy.

Wait, the Donald Rumsfeld said that a draft would cost more than it contributes. Yes, if you only used the conscripts for the two years, but once you are part of the military the law changes in regards to your rights. The same ‘Stop-Loss’ used to prevent enlisted from retiring or leaving the service can be used to prevent a draftee from leaving if it were a ‘National Emergency”. This also assumes one important thing, that you are paying the conscripts the same as enlisted before the “National Emergency” that allowed the draft in the first place. The military has the power to cut the pay and benefits of its own people, and would not hesitate to not extend benefits to draftees if our Commander-in-Chief ordered it. Which brings us the real reason for conscripts, free labor to secure and protect the interests of the power elite.

The media has shifted its focus in many ways to desensitization instead of out right propaganda. Many people still believe Iraq was directly involved in the WTC attack, because the administration and the media implied it; people will believe anything when they no longer read the news but instead have it spoon fed to them. We are the society of the news ticker; we can’t read the news not short enough to fit into those words on the bottom of our screen. In this age all one has to do is mention ‘9/11’ & ‘Iraq’ in the same statement and people support your war. This is what is happening with Iran, people aren’t going to read the “Probably had nothing to do with 9/11”; but they will remember the “Iran involved with 9/11”. If said enough times they will boldly proclaim it while waving the flag, and sending their children to die for the profits of Haliburton and Bush.

It is a dangerous time in America, those with power are moving rapidly to secure their control over every aspect of our lives; and the ability to oppose them is dwindling. Though, I may just be paranoid, and DO hope I am just paranoid.

.The type of attack needed would throw the country into chaos, causing much of the troops to be used keeping the peace here; not fighting what amounts to a resource war overseas.'

Of course this is true in general but I want to provide input.
Our troops are indeed over there but we have a considerable military and private police force right here at home.
Provisions have also certainly been made to counter a spot insurrection with the hammer, distract and gag principle.
'It is a dangerous time in America, those with power are moving rapidly to secure their control over every aspect of our lives; and the ability to oppose them is dwindling. Though, I may just be paranoid, and DO hope I am just paranoid.'
1 Paranoia will keep you alive on your Triumph 500.
Even when you are following all the rules, stupid, unaware people are trying to get you killed. Ask any motor cyclist.
That's life.
2 Don't despair, we have the vast numbers; we the people who have been excluded from the process of democracy and resource/labor distribution long enough and it's VERY easy to communicate basic concepts as mutual support and networking.
Above the din of media sloganism and repetition is the simple but power truths that cannot be denied.
We need each other at our backs not on them. The real enemy is privilege and power. From that you can relate to any group of supposedly divergent ideological groups of stressed out friends and neighbors. This is not the time to let your very justified concern silence you as for instance a quiet comment or fact is a good method to defuse a media or other slur campaign triggered rant. I guess I'm trying to say stand up and offer support to the people who otherwise feel the same as you do but lack the encouragement from like minded individuals to also realize we are in this together and they are not alone. We must hang together or else we will surely hang separately. I think Ben said that. Evil bastard.
The only successful revolution will be in the culture, not the command.