John Kerry is at it again. His grizzled visage notwithstanding (hey, it scares me)- the man just wasn’t quite able to stir up the critical mass for fear with traditional mongering. So he played the Nazi card. Godwin’s Law did not apply in this case, as he brought up Nazis really fast. Generally it takes a bit longer for Nazis and Hitler to pop up as explained by this law. The longer the discussion (especially online), the more likely it is that Hitler will show up, or so says Godwin. And there is nothing worse than Nazi zombies, despite what Skinny Pete thinks.
Kerry said that we are facing a “Munich Moment” referencing Neville Chamberlain’s disastrous appeasement of Hitler. I think a Nazi reference probably is in order, but I’m thinking more Reichstag Fire in this particular case. Of course it is still being argued about, and will never be settled until telescopes are set up (for our purposes) 80 light years away to look at the light beaming from that moment in history (probably not going to happen). But it sounds an awful lot like the Nazis set the building on fire themselves, and then blamed others, particularly Communists, who were then arrested and defanged as far as being potential impediments to Nazi rule. Emergency decrees were passed due to the grave situation and you probably know where all of this went.
I’m not saying that Assad is not a monster; I think most leaders probably are, that’s why they go into that field. I just don’t think he’s the horror that perpetrated this particular disgusting act. I am really doubting that the British trained Ophthalmologist would be so clueless about cause and effect as to lob gas when so many well armed groups (well- really a well armed superpower is what we are talking about here) are watching and salivating over the spoils of his “regime”. It’s been said over and over (but sadly only in the kind of places that Counterpunch readers frequent) that there is no benefit to him- as far as gassing those people. But it does benefit certain others- it benefits them a hell of a lot. The rebel mishmush hash could do well making this happen, certainly.
The US is never shy of getting in bed with very shady types, and the mutual defense pact that Syria has with Iran might deliver up some consequences that give neo-cons the most astounding dreams at night.
The payout for putting in such a palatable fellow to the “left” in terms of Obama may be about to come in. The very desired Iran could be on the way with a Democrat at the helm, no less. Much of the furor is preemptively extinguished. And it had to happen, after all ’cause humanitarian and all, you know?
And of course we are still in the initial clumsy propaganda phase. Where is incubator lady when you need her- perhaps she can show up with some more tales about the Syrian army feeding preemies to Assad’s snake collection. Oh yeah, she probably doesn’t need the work since she was a Kuwaiti ambassador’s daughter and all. She was just a freelance thespian who didn’t do it for the money. We can’t understand this rarefied types. She was kind of like Nero, but more talented. There might even be forthcoming tales of Syrian government sponsored rapists (like there were in Libya-using condoms and all). These always show up (sadly there really are lots of rapists in all the military- even in the hallowed US armed forces.). But they must be referenced and amplified if necessary to show the ick of the other.
I am feeling bad about myself for referencing the Reichstag fire because everyone knows that the Nazi references only come out when one is desperate. But wait a minute, wouldn’t that make Kerry who started this Nazipalooza the same? Desperation. That is one glimmer of hope in all of this-perhaps things aren’t going according to script in this, the run-up to war.
Kathleen Wallace writes out of the US Midwest and can be reached at klwallace@riseup.net