A Golden Opportunity, Which Will Not Be Taken

Hey, it could happen -- George Bush could do it, without even leaving the comfort of the Oval Office. He could declare a national emergency in response to the economic collapse (or let's say the first phase of it) and, basically, say that charity begins at home, and this is a real emergency, and the very survival of America is at stake, and therefore we are withdrawing -- immediately -- all our armed forces from all overseas bases and deployments, and, yes, that includes Iraq and Afghanistan, and also Germany, Japan, and so on, right on down to the most abject, flea-bitten pesthole where we have seen fit to deploy troops. We're bringing the troops home, and we're turning that _other_ army, that of defense "contractors", loose so that they can go out and get honest work for once, and we're going to put our resources where they belong, i.e. in the rescue and recovery efforts that are so badly needed here at home.

This would, of course, not be inconsistent with our alleged determination to liberate captive peoples, spread democracy, protect Israel, etc. -- it would just be a simple statement of priorities. We have a national emergency, so we simply can no longer do any of those things, which are otherwise totally good and honorable, but sorry guys, the house is on fire and we've got to go. So it would not be a matter of "cutting and running" in the face of overwhelming hostility, or failing to "stay the course" in whatever we choose to call our current missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, etc. And it wouldn't even be an admission that we've lost the "Global War on Terrorism" -- only that said war will now be confined to defending our borders. And speaking of which, it would also be a great excuse to tighten things up a bit between McAllen, TX and San Diego, CA. Take some of those returning troops and station them along the border, with night-vision goggles, sniper scopes, and large-caliber ammunition, and see how much longer the "illegal immigration crisis" lasts.

What I'm saying is, the current situation offers a golden opportunity to completely re-form our foreign policy without "losing face" in the least. Any other country in as much economic trouble as we're in would have called everyone into the castle months ago, lifted the drawbridge, bolted the doors, and stationed guys on the battlements with pots of boiling pitch, just in case. Why, heck, it could even be an excuse to de-fund some of the more prominent parasitical entities that continue to suck on the public teat, like NPR, PBS, and NEA. And who knows, a bit of digging might reveal other "programs" that could be eliminated, or severely reduced, by the same reasoning.

But instead, what do we have? Business as usual, and a bunch of generals in Iraq saying, let's not be in such a hurry to get out of here. So while the economy at home melts down, we're going to keep fighting a war halfway around the world? Now, this would be a good point for... well, not McCain... for Obama to make, wouldn't it now? But do you think he'll make it? Heck no, he's already sold out. Too bad, 'cause the events of this week on Wall Street have virtually insured his victory in November. The Republicans are as doomed as a guy on the way to the gallows. In fact, they're _more_ doomed than a guy on the way to the gallows. They're as doomed as the same guy, with the noose tied around his neck, just after the trapdoor opens and he's starting to fall. He's still very much alive, but no power on earth can save him at that point. And believe me, the Democrats are going to take full advantage of this situation, but the answers they come up won't cure anything. Obama will paint Bush as another Herbert Hoover and himself as another FDR. But the cure will be worse than the ailment, as usual. No, what it will take is not just a recession, or a depression, or a scare, or a panic, but the absolute and total crippling of the American economy -- its annihilation, for all intents and purposes -- to get us out of the empire-building business. And when that happens, "poor little Israel" will last about as long as a hamburger in a kennel full of starving dogs, and all of our fine talk about "spreading democracy" will be tossed on the ash heap of charmingly quaint but totally impractical ideas. But who knows, our "allies" might just breathe a sigh of relief, and the rest of the world -- especially the Islamic part -- will throw the party to end all parties. "This is the way the world ends" -- for us, at least -- "not with a bang, but a whimper", i.e. of the last guy to walk out the door on Wall Street... not even bothering to lock it behind him, 'cause there's nothing left to steal.