Posted on 5-6-2003

Test 2003
by Alan Marston

The accepted political wisdom that `the public' has a short collective memory is being put to the test by both the US and UK political leadership in respect of reasons for the invasion of Iraq. The test has perhaps never been tougher as the time between bald-faced lying and revelations as to the  truth has never been shorter.

But what's being tested? If you think its Bush and Blair, you're right, they are or should be in the dock. But I contend the BB's are a sideshow, a time-honored diversion, get the politician - leave the system. The real test is always on the nature and survival of `the system', which happens to be at the moment so-called democratic capitalism. The global corporate inspired propaganda says democracy's heartland is in the West where people's freedoms are real and paramount while the feudal Easterners need to be taught how to gain and enjoy the benefits of individualism and freedom, even if it kills them.

On one hand, the right, the test may be stopped just in time by dumping a politician or three, democracy-as-usual. On the other left hand, the test may not be stopped before it throws a beam of consciousness, narrow at first, into the shady corners of capital's control room where with a bit of luck it will pierce the paper-thin freedom and democracy fly-paper and illuminate in its stead a solid superstructure of murderous neo-feudalism controlled by the usual suspects - lying politicians in callous cahoots with unscrupulous businessmen.

Weapons of mass destruction in Iraq my ass. The real weapon of mass destruction is unrestrained global commerce. That latter WMD is hidden, but the lies that support it are still strong. Democracy the world's saviour... QED.