Postmodern President

In postmodern theory, meaning is to be sought not in the straightforward interpretation of a text, but in the little hints and clues that lie between the lines or on the margins - sort of like looking for the signature of dark matter in patterns of deviations of light curves from the normal, or so I imagine. Both types of interpretation of Bush's speech are now out there, and I think I agree that the more postmodern interpretation is more sinister.

Eason Jordan, writing on The Huffington Post has an admirable paragraph by paragraph analysis and commentary on The Speech. He makes clear the central weakness in Bush's Plan.

I have made it clear to the prime minister and Iraq's other leaders that America's commitment is not open-ended. If the Iraqi government does not follow through on its promises, it will lose the support of the American people - and it will lose the support of the Iraqi people. Now is the time to act. The prime minister understands this. Here is what he told his people just last week: "The Baghdad security plan will not provide a safe haven for any outlaws, regardless of [their] sectarian or political affiliation."
................[Bush]


Promises, promises. Maliki is not his own master. He is beholden to Sadr and others who made him prime minister.
................[Jordan]

Although the President gave some lip service to the Iraq Study Group, his plan seems aimed at the opposite poles of their key recommendations. Escalation instead of phased withdrawal and threats for Iran and Syria rather than negotiations. The threats to Iran and Syria were not featured prominently in the speech, but if any clues needed highlighting, the US raid on the Iranian consulate in Irbil (which greatly annoyed our supposed Kurdish allies), splashed them in bright red paint.

Steve Clemons does the postmodern analysis, and sees a secret declaration of war against Syria and Iran.


But what is disconcerting is that some are speculating that Bush has decided to heat up military engagement with Iran and Syria -- taking possible action within their borders, not just within Iraq.

Some are suggesting that the Consulate raid may have been designed to try and prompt a military response from Iran -- to generate a casus belli for further American action.

If true, a good reason to impeach.

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