Date: August 3, 2005 4:35:20 AM PDT
Subject: Winning & Losing
"Similarly, 53% predict the U.S. will not win the war, while 43% say we will."
Gallup: Americans Deeply Conflicted on Iraq
001002023
Well, the 43% are right. The war was won. (Except "we" didn't do it; those in the
military on the ground, in the air, and on the sea "won" it. The barcalounger warriors
didn't do nothing!)
What is interesting about these polls is all the assuming that they are asking the
correct questions. Or asking the questions correctly. The assumption is, again, that
the "war" (none declared) will be "won." Or "lost." What is at issue and at stake here
is the "peace." Will the American military succeed in putting out the little flash fires
here and there or will one or more erupt again into a larger conflict? This is not so
much about "war" as it is about a "forest fire" or an "outbreak (as in 'disease'). And
the overall control of potential reignition or relapses. While the majority of the
fighting has been over for quite some time, as least as long as it's been since the
rPresident outdid Michael Dukakis in military tomfoolery and "drag," there are still
hotspots or festering infections and infestations here and there. The polls assume
the larger and perhaps more heroic proportionate exaggeration, the "feel good"
factor.
While the opinions of the American public do count, we also have to recognise that a
majority of those polled are not quite expert enough to make a valid assessment of
the situations as they exist. If based solely on the assumptions going into Iraq are
assessed, the entire boondoggle was an abject failure. If based on the constantly
shifting positions of the "leadership," there are as many answers as their are
objectives to be constantly redefined. This comes down to a system of metrics by
which the misadventures are evaluated and rated. Deaths of American military: Very
good. Deaths of Iraqi civilians: Poor. Capturing WMDs: Failure. Protecting Iraqi
national resources (museums, e.g.): Failure. Establishing trust: Failure. Stabilising
the region: Poor. Spending lots of money: Excellent. Tossing pork to supporters of
the actions: Most excellent. But. As "failure" is this administration's stock to trade,
they rate a AAA+ on their ability to achieve "success."
Aside from the individual ratings, we must realise that in each case, there is a
reported "success." When considering anything that this administration has touted
as being in the "plus" column, one has to take into account the meaning of the
results. While the deaths of Americans have been relatively light, the deaths of
Iraqis means there will be less of them to combat. Capturing no WMDs means that
Iraq was not -- and more importantly IS not -- a danger. Now Hussein is no position
to call out Bush or any other American Florsheim-shod Armanian who would
automatically refuse and look like a fool; American prestige has been restored (no
scuffed wingtips or soiled and sweaty three piecers; mousse intact). Them
moozeyuhms was filled with a bunch of old odd artifacts anyway ... Spring cleaning,
literally. Them Aye-rabs ain't trustworthy in the first place ... look at the price of oil for
all we done for them. If the region was stablised, it would be more dangerous.
Spending money means jobs and, more importantly, profits for all them hard-working
investor stiffs. Pork? Who don't like ribs? Aye-rabs? Who else?
Needless to say, it depends on who's asking the questions, how they're asked, and
who's answering, the levels of understanding and bias, all of which contribute to a
valid poll. The administration may just look at the numbers and sigh, realising that in
spite of the public's views, they still just don't get it. Oil is still on the petroDollar and
not on the petroEuro and that means "we" won. Iran, with its new "oil bourse," will
lose in the next bout. Using the politically inspired (ir)rationales for taking "violent
extremist" actions against supposed foes can use the same list as above when
evaluating the results. Change "Aye-rabs" to "Purrzheeuhns" and wait for the virtual
reality shows to start! The news just ain't the same unless there's a well-scripted war
on!~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Alamaine
Grand Forks, ND, US of A
