the Sugar Conspiracy

Tuesday, July 01, 2003

Death from above

The Pentagon is planning a new generation of weapons, including huge hypersonic drones and bombs dropped from space, that will allow the US to strike its enemies at lightning speed from its own territory.

Over the next 25 years, the new technology would free the US from dependence on forward bases and the cooperation of regional allies, part of the drive towards self-suffi ciency spurred by the difficulties of gaining international cooperation for the invasion of Iraq.

Story here. So what this does is: 1) further isolate the US in it's imperialistic goals of conquest by establishing a weaponry force so imposing that it maintains complete dominance over the globe (more so than now). No need for messy "coalitions" or going back and forth to the UN and dealing with all these "difficult" countries who have contrary views. With these weapons, the US can go it alone, smug and satisfied. (Does this also create another arms race? I can't help but think of that Itchy and Scratchy episode where Itchy and Scratchy keep pulling out bigger and bigger handguns til they shoot each other and blow up the world).

2)It also seems that this takes the humanity even further out of war than it is already. With advanced weaponry of this sort, humans are needed less and less on the battlefield. Some could argue that this is a good thing as it decreases American casulties. I agree with the goal of reducing American casulties, but what about civilians on the other side? By pushing a few buttons and keying in some codewords in a bunker in the middle of the US, it makes war that much easier to wage. You don't have to think about killing actual humans, just pushing the right buttons.

To that effect, I'd like to share a little story I read in Adbusters. I'm unsure of the author, but it's an instructive piece:
It so happens that a young man, usually a navy officer, accompanies the President wherever he goes. This young man has a black attache case which contains the codes that are needed to fire nuclear weapons.

I can see the President at a staff meeting considering nuclear war as an abstract question. He might conclude, "On SIOP Plan One, the decision is affirmative. Communicate the Alpha line XYZ." Such jargon is what keeps what is involved at a distance.

My suggestion, then, is quite simple. Put that needed code number in a little capsule and implant that capsule right next to the heart of a volunteer. The volunteer will carry with him a big, heavy butcher knife as he accompanies the President. If ever the President wants to fire nuclear weapons, the only way he can do so is by first, with his own hands, killing one human being.

"Bob," the President would say, "I'm sorry, but tens of millions must die." The President then would have to look at someone and realize what death is - what an innocent death is. Blood on the White House carpet: it's reality brought home.

When I suggested this to friends at the Pentagon, they said, "My God, that's terrible. Having to kill someone would distort the President's judgement. He might never push the button."

posted by chris at 10:18 PM
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