One of the most disturbing men of our times is a guy named Norman Podhoretz.
You can see him here being interviewed by an info-babe:
youtube.com
When it comes to Iran, this guy Podhoretz says that there is only one alternative --- drop bombs on the place.
Notice how modest he is, how thoughtful he is, as he recommends these enormities.
He conveys with body language that yes, to be sure, his conclusions are not easy stuff, but if you are like him, a sensitive, thoughtful man, you will also see that there are just no alternatives except to bomb.
“Have you spoken with President Bush,” asks the info-babe.
“Yes .... and he listened to me .... but... was non-committal,” says Podhoretz, at which point he gives a modest, self-deprecating little laugh.
I think in that modest laugh you see the face of evil. This guy has a tribal agenda. But the tribal agenda is not on the table, nor is it talked about, nor alluded to. The tribal agenda is sub-text. The text is something different. A sensitive, thoughtful man is drawn by events and by the force of logic to the unfortunate conclusion that yes, we are going to have kill some people because these people are about to get the Bomb, and we cannot let such a terrible thing happen. The people who are about to get the bomb are Islamofascists.
“Should Israel attack Iran,” asks the info-babe.
Deep thought. Very considered thought. Vast experience canvassed. Deep reserves of morality and history called upon and brought into the forum of the mind......
Well --- says the modest, thoughtful man --- it really doesn’t matter who does the job just as long as the job gets done..... but ..... actually when you think about it, given all those aircraft carriers out there in the Persian Gulf .... “we” actually could do the job better than the Israelis.
Why is this conclusion not a surprise? This man is a superb variation on the theme, “banality of evil.”
What I find disturbing about him is not just that he is a person
1) who makes a sincere effort to get us to take a course of action that will do us harm;
2) who is not honest, and does not put on the table his true agenda;
3) who cares nothing about my people, and is perfectly willing to see my people sacrificed for the interest of his people; and
4) who cares nothing for the truth, and tells lies -- with poise, dignity and sincerity -- to achieve political ends (e.g., Islamofascism, a classic in the category of Big Lie).
No, what I find disturbing is my own heart. If this guy Podhoretz could look into it, and see what lies there, he might find that there actually are alternatives to murdering people in Iran.
Aggression, violence and brutality have a way of stirring up the dogs. If my heart is any indication, the dogs I see lurking about in that crooked place are ones you do not want to get all stirred up. |
