Admit it. You thought twice about the timing of the operation to free the hostages in Colombia. McCain. Trailing in the polls. Goes to speak about Free Trade in Colombia. The week a CNN poll found that 51% of Americans now 'feel threatened by free trade.' As President Bush continues to try to push through a new Free Trade agreement with Colombia before leaving office. The Republican Presidential nominee. And one-time prisoner of war. Is briefed about the rescue operation prior to its execution. The raid is a success. Cable news headlines like "McCain Knew" and "McCain met with Colombians prior to Hostage Rescue" and "Colombian Hostages Free" are read by millions of Americans watching muted TVs in bars, gyms, and noisy households across America. Heading into the Fourth of July weekend. When those Americans will stand around the grill and say, perhaps jokingly, but with the same predictable effect:
"Did you hear that John McCain freed four hostages in Colombia . . . Rambo-style?" "I thought he talked them into freeing them using the logic and magic of Free Trade ideology?" "You may be right, but it doesn't matter. He's totally like Jack Bower! And he's running for President!"
No doubt. It's wonderful that the nightmare is over for the hostages and their families. No question about that.
So what's that funny odor then? Coincidence? And of the variety that makes any healthy suspicion seem like an ungrateful, bitter, unappreciative conspiracy-theorist (Liberal Democrat) concoction?
Maybe. But maybe not.
If we've learned anything about today's Republicans, esp. the Bush Administration, it is that use of the military for political purposes, and conversely, politics for military purposes, are most certainly on the table. We don't even need to bring up the unanswered questions surrounding 9/11 (though we should: http://www.911weknow.com/... to make that point.
How different is the calculated effect of repeating "Saddam" "911" "WMD" "Al-Qaeda" when seeking go-ahead for preemptive war in Iraq, from repeating "McCain" "Freed Hostages" "Colombia" when seeking to put your party's man in the White House on a wave of perceived Foreign Policy experience, aptitude, and glory? The public is too busy looking for work and cheap gas to give it more thought than that – especially when the story feels better if one doesn't.
This kind of dramatic, calculated (even maniacal) thinking is what guys in the upper echelons of politics, the pentagon, and the CIA do for a living. It is their job.
Our job, our patriotic duty if you will, as post-911, still-at-war-in-Iraq Americans should be to question, critique, and apply healthy doses of skepticism to all actions taken by our leaders. Particularly when something doesn't smell quite right – certainly when they stand to gain and our country stands to be lead down another distracting bunny trail while our economy, environment, and all manner of priorities slide out of view – along with our pride and say so.
If it's true that the White House and the Republican Party, again, used the foreign stage as an extension of domestic politicking, McCain truly is 'more of the same' – and in the most dangerous way imaginable.
Let's hope not. Because their next act might yet be opening 'in (a military) theater' in Iran this summer blockbuster season.
http://www.alternet.org/...