Blatant, creepy complacency is gaining ground in official Washington. A Pollyannaish cockiness is hardly becoming for the one remaining superpower and may negate the good done. A long road stretches before us and only steadfast adherence to the Presidential promise to be actively engaged in reconstruction and democratization will suffice.

 

Sectarian and ethnic violence is a mere demagogue away with sapling soldiers caught in the middle. A feral tyrant has been forced to cut and run only to be replaced by an ongoing political vacuum ripe for escalating lawlessness.

 

The rise of no-go areas and armed vigilantes, continuing looting and arson, limited electricity and trash collection, inadequate water supply, hospitals in dire need and fundamentalism lurking in the wadis, paints a tenebrous picture.

 

The vulpine Hussein may be counting on a swift descent into the abyss to facilitate his own escape.

 

Menacing language directed at the Syrian regime is probably more related to the urgent need to forestall any willingness to provide sanctuary than to presage war. Early hopes that a young Western educated leader in Damascus would herald a new dawn for Syrians and her neighbors have long been dashed.

 

The emerging geopolitical reality on the block should help give Assad the upper hand in dealing with the more bovine of his acolytes.

 

He should seize the moment.

 

 

In wartime individualism is not in vogue. The maverick is sidelined, ambivalence is suspect and intuition is suppressed. We’re all expected to be team players. Soldiers, journalists, politicians, entertainers, sportsmen, churchmen, gadflies and barflies. No exceptions. Patriotism isn’t implied.

The overriding concern is for the welfare and safety of the troops who act honorably in the miasma of war. Strongly held views must be put in a lockbox and all our energies must be directed towards the speedy and successful conclusion of the war. We connive in the morphing of disinformation into information, spontaneously broadcast worldwide.

Pallid newscasters tread gingerly lest their patriotism be impugned while jingoistic news anchors have become faux patriotism incarnate.

We’re big enough to pay for war but not big enough for the gore.

8:41:29 PM