Warmongering Five Years Later

[Roy Eidelson]

From a psychological perspective, it's important to consider how and why White House warmongering has proven so effective despite the tragic disaster that is Iraq today. I examine these questions in a 10-minute online video entitled “Resisting the Drums of War.” It describes how the Bush administration has promoted the misguided and destructive war in Iraq by targeting five core concerns that often govern our lives--concerns about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness. Looking ahead, the continuing occupation of Iraq--or an attack on Iran--will likely be sold to us in much the same way. The video examines these warmongering appeals and offers suggestions for how to counter them. It’s available for viewing HERE.

P.S. For a brief but deeply troubling chronicle of the president’s public warmongering and demonization of Iran, please take a look at my 3-minute YouTube video entitled “Forewarned Is Forearmed: Bush On Iran.” It is available HERE.

[Droopy]

1. Nice work, Roy. Welcome to DU.

Appeal to those core concerns by the Bush administration were often overwhelming in the lead up to the war with Iraq. Their psychological warfare was very successful in the wake of the 9/11 atrocities. If it hadn't been for 9/11 I think that if the Bush administration would have tried to march us off to war they would have been seen as the monsters that they really are. Instead they played on our fear that there would be many more terrorist attacks unless we took some kind of military action. About 90% of the people fell for it. When people are afraid you can probably get them to agree to just about anything if you claim it will make them safer.