Super Patriotism, The Media, and Ideological Obedience
Where does this superpatriotism come from, this arrogance (as many non-Americans see it), this idea that the US is almost God-like, that it can do no wrong, that whatever it says or does -no matter how unfair objectively- is ok simply because it’s the US that does it? When did it originate? Was it always a feature of the American psyche? I suspect the elites and their propaganda system promote this actively and consciously, but did they create it?
It is pretty astonishing. Within two years the Bush administration has succeeded in making the US the most feared nation in the world, and the most disliked, even hated. That’s quite an achievement. Conspiracy theorists might conclude they’re really working for Bin Laden. …
Also, a reminder that we are invading here:
A suicide attack by military forces resisting an invasion can’t possibly be called an act of terrorism. Suppose the Iraqi army were surrounding New York and the Iraqi air force were bombing it unopposed. If an American carried out a suicide attack against the invading forces, would anyone call it “terrorism”? Or a violation of the laws of war? Or would we rather regard it as remarkable heroism, and grant the person an honored place in history?
The US isn’t committing state terrorism. This is aggression, pure and simple, a textbook case. Even CNN provides more than enough information to make that conclusion crystal clear. One can perhaps argue that the aggression is justified on some grounds, but there can hardly be any argument about what it is. Again, simply reverse the picture. Suppose that huge Iraqi armies had invaded the US, were attacking cities, etc. Would we call it “state terrorism”?