No, really!

What is the saying that’s bandied about? That there are only seven or eleven or something story lines in the world? I suppose you could say the same about political outcomes. There are only a handful of them and they play out, century after century, regardless of technology level.

I’ve been reading about what’s been happening in the United States. Israel, Palestine, the military. What is indisputable is that the United States is Israel’s strongest ally. In fact, some might say that the USA often puts its own aims to one side in order to support Israel. Certainly, that support has come at the cost of strong relationships with the Arab nations in the Middle East, excepting Saudi Arabia and Egypt perhaps.

I’m actually not wanting to say whether I think that’s right or not, I’m just stating facts. In any question of Israel versus any other state or group, you only have to look at the Congressional voting record to see that the US elected representative body always, but always, sides with Israel.

That’s the politics. Let’s go to the military. If there’s one thing you can say about the military, it’s that they have an over-developed sense of nationalism. Soldiers are nationalists, and why not? They fight for a country, they die for it. There’s nothing that makes the ideal of a nation stronger than being prepared to lay down your life for it.

The interesting current tension lies between the two groups. You see, the military disagrees with the level of support that the US government gives to Israel. While Joe Biden is saying stuff like this:

Throughout my career, Israel has not only remained close to my heart but it has been the center of my work as a United States Senator and now as Vice President of the United States….

General Petraeus, future Presidential contender, is saying something like this:

The conflict foments anti-American sentiment, due to a perception of U.S. favoritism for Israel. Arab anger over the Palestinian question limits the strength and depth of U.S. partnerships with governments and peoples in the AOR [Area Of Responsibility, the Middle East in this case --ksa] and weakens the legitimacy of moderate regimes in the Arab world.

And while Barack Obama says:

Jerusalem will remain the capital of Israel, and it must remain undivided

thus cutting the Palestinians out of all recognition of their claims to the city, Admiral Michael Mullen, head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff tells Israel that attacking Iran would be a:

big, big, big problem for all of us

The views of the military, interestingly enough, are also echoed by various analysts within the various Departments of the United States.

So, what would it take to stage a military coup in the US or, at the very least, bring in a military-styled structure to its civil society? You can easily see the justification, can’t you? The nationalists see the current support of Israel as working against the national interests of their country. Up against the nationalists is a group of people that is supposed to represent the people but, everyone agrees, is corrupt and available to the highest bidder. And, in between, one small country as a catalyst.

You might say that, sure, a coup may be attempted, but that the American people themselves would defeat the sustainability of such an unnatural act. If you say that, I’d counter with the economy itself and the disillusionment of thousands, if not millions, of US citizens. Dean Baker puts it most succinctly in a recent Counterpunch article:

… tens of millions of people are out of work or underemployed today, not because they are too lazy to work or lack the necessary skills and experience. They are out of work because the people who manage the economy could not do their job right. None of the people in policy positions lost their jobs because of this failure.

Hmmmm. If you had some strong personality who promised a full shutdown (or, at least, review) of military aid to all countries, full employment of Americans through massive infrastructure projects, and the deployment of armed forces throughout US cities in order to reduce crime levels (*), in the current climate, how many Americans would realistically protest?

There was one known coup attempt in the United States last century. Who’s to say there won’t be another, but this time with the military front and centre? I keep thinking of Emperor Palpatine and the “sweeping away of the old Republic” and wonder how things will play out. No prophecies, I’m just watching.

IN OTHER NEWS: I was at Novel Spaces yesterday, talking about persistence. Why not comment?

(*) Sorry, did you say Posse Comitatus? It was suspended once; it can happen again.