The madness of the Bush/Cheney cult can be understood more clearly if we recognize that they are practicing ritualized warfare. Before the ancient Greeks introduced the (then radical) concept of fighting for a battlefield decision, warfare usually consisted of a symbolic display of ferocity, with relatively limited casualties. Opposing tribal armies would brandish their weapons and exchange insults. After some minor skirmishing, both sides would retreat to boast of their exploits.
Consider Guantanamo. The parading and humiliation of the orange-clad inmates is a symbolic display of triumph over an enemy. Bush's clumsy invasion of Iraq was largely staged for photo ops of an army dashing to victory. Even crazy boondoggles like missile defense can be viewed as conspicuous DISPLAYS of bellicose intent.
What makes our ritual warfare crazy in the modern era is the point made in Suskind's recent book. Spending half a trillion dollars to address one percent of the possible threats facing America ("terrorists" in Iraq) leads to ignoring the other 99% or implicitly acknowledging that we can't afford to defend ourselves.
The Cheney/Bush response that a ferocious display of "resolve" in one narrow endeavor will frighten our enemies sufficiently that they will not challenge us elsewhere simply makes no sense. Any terrorist adversary equipped with reasoning faculties would target vulnerabilities that we have ignored (shipping containers and chemical plants) while avoiding areas where we have made an irrational over-reaction (the war in Iraq).
It is probably broadcast television that has created the climate for the revival of ritualized warfare. The TV mob consumes symbolic events, and Karl Rove has decided to represent the foreign policy of the US as a WWF wrestling bout. This profound confusion of symbolic appearances with the reality of world events will prove ruinous for our country.