Creep is such a useful word. On one hand, it reminds me of a former boss, my ex-spouse, and one stalking ex-girlfiend who did not understand "NO!" On the other hand, it describes what is happening in the Muddle East. Again. On the third hand, for the tri-dextrous among us, it caused the corroded penny to drop, waking me up to a growing horror.
creep (kriːp)
vb (intr) , creeps, creeping or crept
1. to crawl with the body near to or touching the ground
2. to move slowly, quietly, or cautiously
3. to act in a servile way; fawn; cringe
4. to move or slip out of place, as from pressure or wear
5. (Botany) (of plants) to grow along the ground or over rocks, producing roots, suckers, or tendrils at intervals
6. (of a body or substance) to become permanently deformed as a result of an applied stress, often when combined with heating
7. to develop gradually: creeping unrest.
8. (Physiology) to have the sensation of something crawling over the skin
9. (Metallurgy) (of metals) to undergo slow plastic deformation
10. the act of creeping or a creeping movement
11. a person considered to be obnoxious or servile
12. the continuous permanent deformation of a body or substance as a result of stress or heat
13. (Geological Science) geology the gradual downwards movement of loose rock material, soil, etc, on a slope
14. (Mechanical Engineering) a slow relative movement of two adjacent parts, structural components, etc
15. (Metallurgy) slow plastic deformation of metals
From the Church of Ineffable stupidity:
Let us prey.
Once again we find our military heavily involved in an overseas dispute that offers little advantage to our country's social or economic position or future. Once again, we fight an asymmetric war, using highly sophisticated, incredibly expensive, and unbelievably complex tools (B-1 Bomber, B-2 Bomber, F-22, F-15, Cruise missiles, Laser directed gravity bombs, and a whole bunch of high tech surveillance, spying, and intel gathering techniques, not to mention major propaganda wars, both domestically and abroad) and once again, our efforts often seem misplaced and doomed to failure.
ONE KEY MISSING FACTOR
Looking at websites, old newspapers (Chi-Trib, Suntimes, NYT, WaPo), news journals (Economist, Foreign Policy, New Republic, Nation, Mother Jones, and a few others) there appears to be one key missing factor. A MAJOR missing factor. When did we ever have a public debate on whether attacking ISIS, Syria, or re-invading IraqNam was a good idea?
Never.
Sure, the president has been out stating how important it was to stop ISIS. The GOP drones have monopolized Sunday Talk Show time, demanding war on ISIS. And Israel is cheer-leading any military option we take anyplace in the Muddle East. For some very bad reasons, though.
But, have we had a public discussion, any election, or any effort to analyze the hows, whys, wheres, whens, and whos? Never. To the contrary, we are told that ISIS is a danger, a clear and present danger to the US, that they are invading us, while leaving Qurans and prayer rugs at the border. (the level of moronic thinking that went into that "threat" is astounding)
Again, when and where was a sober, reflective, informed, and honest review and analysis of what to do about ISIS (if anything?)
Simply put, it never happened.
WHERE HAVE WE SEEN THIS BEFORE?
A war hungry congress
No legislative oversight
No public discussion
Fawning and mindless approval by opinion makers, news outlets, and former military leaders
Oh, yes. Of course! The run-up to the invasion and occupation of IraqNam, Version 2.0. Except for a very few brave souls, most of the Bloatway, most of the House, the Senate, and most of the media pushed a war that we didn't need, did not want, could not afford, and which would lead to decades of trouble ahead.
Actually, some very smart and well-informed historians and political scientists predicted something just like ISIS because of our ham-fisted occupation, and counter-productive invasion.
The similarities between our Little IraqNami Invasion and the growing attacks on ISIS are striking, and therefore, disturbing.
What is our goal?
What is our end game?
What is our exist strategy?
What is to replace ISIS if (not when. See generally, Afghanistan) we succeed?
What are we doing there?
What about all the civilian casualties?
What happened to this country?
THE DISGUSTING MCCAIN - GRAHAM FACTOR
It is bad enough to see Gramps and his rusty sidekick on every Sunday station, as though their views were the only views worth heeding. It is stomach turning to see the likes of UpChuck and others fawn over their pro-war views, without even a shadow of a possibility of a hint of a hard question ever raising its ugly head.
What is worse is the White House's reaction to those two war-mongrels. It may take a day, a week, even a month, but eventually, each and every time that Gramps and his mini-he, Lindsay, demand some military action, the White House does just that. It may not be to the extent that they demanded, but in the end, this White House does precisely what they sought. Was without end. Without goals. Without reason.
Without reason? They are beheading folks! Innocents! They make us angry. Therefore, they are a threat!
Yeah, right. And what of Saudi Arabia? They behead far more people on a routine basis. The reasons for the beheadings are as bad as ISIS'.
COMPARE THE RESPONSE TO EBOLA.
In some ways, the Cheney Bush regime were incredibly perceptive and successful. They realized that fear was a fantastically efficient and effective motivating farce. If used properly, with a well - constructed strawman, they could do anything they wanted. Like invade IraqNam. By keeping the people scared, by a judicious and deft use of publicly named threats (always involving unknowns, but trust us. They are out there!)
In some ways, the national over-reaction to EBOLA is a lot like our fear-driven willingness to invade the Muddle East, and much like our current war on ISIS.
But there is a difference. Experts are standing up to the most extreme forms of idiocy and calling the most fear-inciting assholes out. People are slowly realizing that a rational plan can actually work and keep this disease at bay. Even a few TeaBuggerers in congress realize that they have to cooperate and come up with a national policy and solution.
There is another difference. One best described as:
CONSERVATIVE SENATE ASSHOLES HOLD UP EBOLA AID
Ok, it could be that Jim Inhofe confuses aid with AIDS, and therefore he is against it. But, frankly, being such a prime example of the intellectual bell curve at work, his ineffable stupidity and willful ignorance actually serve a real purpose on this issue.
By saying stupid things, by alleging truly inane threats, and by maintaining positions that would serve as fodder on late night comedy TV, Inhofe and his cronies bring up many issues that experts forget to raise. By being so freaking dumb, questions are raised, and eventually, answered.
The result is that serious discussions are being held in public. There is a give and take, a question and an informed answer, a bad idea, followed by a good explanation why we should not do something. In effect, we are actually better off with idiots like Inhofe raising cane than without him.
Now, if only our ISIS policy got the same attention and give and take. But sadly, when it comes to war, our nation refuses to engage on the issue, or rather, we are led away from from any serious discussion. Instead, our minds are filled with images of beheadings, we are told of the growing threat to our way of life because of ISIS, and we are asked to trust the military-industrial-congression complex in yet another befuddled, ineffective, counter-productive, and extremely expensive war. One that we had no input in.