May I explain to you why, one minute?

America is at war, as it is repeatedly said. But she is not just at war only against a bunch of bearded crackpots and true believers whose open violent behavior constitutes, in fact, no more than a visible feature of a greater war involving other people and other tactics and methods pertaining mainly to a field best known as “active measures.” A war of intelligence, wit and nerves, which is almost entirely based upon deception, and which aims at overcoming the mind of the American people and this of its allies since its military and other conventional forces are too strong to be attacked. A foggy war during which battlefields happen to transform into wildernesses of mirrors where even professionals of the field such as experienced diplomats and skilled spooks can lose touch with realities.

America neither did want this war, nor was she the first to start it; and at this point of my comment I feel obliged to say that I’m not an American citizen and that I have been given the privilege, if I may say so, to see things under an angle inaccessible to you and even to most of the AEI’s members as well.
This privileged position allows me to say that those persons you blame and the Bush administration you seem to associate to them not only didn’t go too far at all, but that their reaction you find excessive and their influence you question happened a bit too lately, actually. Whence the reason of those excesses.

The two main difficulties for most Americans as yet are to cope with an enemy who persistently repeats it is not, and to live with a government unwilling to reveal this truth in a laudable hope that things may calm down through other means than “overt” cold war—or worse. Both adversaries consistently lie to their respective people, to put it bluntly.

Whence your incomprehension and your understandable discontent.

“Bush lied and people died,” said some. Oh yes, indeed! How I agree with that. But not the way it has been suggested by some and the way you and many Americans understood it, so far.

My concern is different of yours. For, I don’t see how things are going to calm down, and I’m unable to find any clue suggesting they are going to calm down; quite on the contrary. As a result, I wonder how long and how far George W. Bush and his successors will still lie? It makes me feel uncomfortable too; even though I feel obliged to acknowledge the good will and the reasons underlining the big lie.

Given your temper, I believe that you would heartily pardon him and even express your apologies if ever he chose to tell the truth.

Regards,

In a very convoluted, self-praising, roundabout sort of way.

Are you anti-war? You helped Al Queda. Did you vote for John Kerry? Helped Al Queda. Oppose the President’s veto of the S-CHIP program? Al Queda. Wondered if Scooter Libby’s prison sentence should be commuted? You ARE Osama! Criticize a sandwich order by Bill Kristol? You thug terrorist. Wonder why everyone names Kagan is a war-mongering coward and has to work for the AEI? Beyond the pale you traitorous Al Queda slimeball.

I hope this primer helped.