Elite Iraqi Guard Heads Toward Marines

[Nathan Newman]

Actually, Kelley's analysis is not cynical.  I noticed before the war
started that the American people were more opposed to war when it was
associated with Iraqi civilian casualties than when it was associated with
American military casualties.  I think there is a strong discomfort by
Americans with a "video game" war where we essentially shoot Iraqi fish in a
barrel.  But US soldiers dying shows that Americans are willing to sacrific
for their ideals (in the minds of war supporters), so those deaths actually
make the war more justified for many people I suspect.  It also justifies
the war to avenge their deaths, that every pleasant cycle of violence that
drives most conflicts.

What is most likely to dim American support is if the Iraqi internal
opposition continues and it becomes clear that most of the population
rejects our presence.  This war was sold as a war of liberation and while
the rightwing is comfortable with a war of conquest, the vast middle is
not-- that is what will turn people most against the war, not American
casualties.

-- Nathan

----- Original Message -----
From: "Chuck0" <chuck at mutualaid.org>
To: <lbo-talk at lists.panix.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 26, 2003 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: Elite Iraqi Guard Heads Toward Marines

Kelley wrote:


>
> This si for all the reasons above. And, of course, they have all kinds
> of propaganda tactics that will clinch it for them. E.g., Not only
> will they lie about lost lives, they have in every single action we've
> engaged in in my lifetime, even if the lies indicate that thousands
> die, people are prepared for this. Not only are they prepared for it,
> the hardcore war mongers support the use of ground troops (higher
> troop death rates) than air war (low troop death rates)

I really beg to differ with Kelley's cynical assessment of US support
for heavy casualties. The polls may say one thing, but we're talking
here about Americans used to thinking of violence in video game and
movie terms. The bodybags will start coming home and more and more
Americans will now somebody who lost a loved one "fighting for nothing,"
as the father of a dead soldier in Baltimore put it. Many Americans are
pissed off at the government. Lots of people will become opposed to the
war. On the other hand, some Americans will just become more angry at
the Iraqis. More bodybags will stiffen their resolve. Throw in some
racism on the airwaves and you might be able to whip up support for the war.

I think the situation is too complex to support the idea that Americans
will automatically put up with massive American casualities.

Chuck0