Aw, Nero. No one'll figure out you set the damn fire. Keep playing!*

If you don't have access to a TV this morning, MSNBC promises to run a live feed of Rumsfeld (lying to) apologizing to Congress at 11:45am today. Or, if that link is broken, you can find follow the dots in the corresponding article.

I feel like I should be delighted by the ever so slight chance Rumsfeld could go down. Or, at least, how the exposure of these war crimes have proven so many of us right. We who not only questioned Bush's motives for war in the first place, but also his war machine's ability to effectively carry out what we've been told is a humanitarian effort. But today we can all go "SEE? We've destroyed the nation of the 'liberated', killed tens of thousands in the process, and created a worldwide climate of anti-Americanism and hatred that will outlive us all." But for whatever reason 'I told you so' ain't working for me. 'Na na na na na', likewise.

Rumsfeld will, undoubtedly, say something about how he felt it necessary to keep the torture of the prisoners quiet. How it would have recharged an already unstable situation between Americans and insurgents, and put our soldiers in grave danger. Which it has. Proving, you fuckwad, it's generally a BAD IDEA when one is attempting to LIBERATE a people from being TORTURED by an OPPRESSOR, to round up said LIBERATED and TORTURE them! Because yeah, it looks real bad when you do that. Bush and Rummy forgot one important part of the equation; before you begin a crusade to make the world safe for (their) God and Democracy, you better make fucking sure God and Democracy are safe for the world.

* Nero, in addition to being one hell-ova fiddler, was (according to some) a brilliant city planner. Right before Rome burned, Nero had put forth a huge urban renewal plan that would entail the demolishing and rebuilding 3/4 of the city. The plan met with great opposition by the residents and businesses owners who resented his condemnation proceedings. Before the people could have their say, the city burned to the ground. It was never proven that Nero set the fire, but it has been discovered he ordered his soldiers to let the fire rage on, and redirect it where necessary to the areas of the city that would be most beneficial if leveled.

He ultimately blamed the Christians for the fire, who in turn blamed it on the wrath of God; retribution for all of Rome's many sins.

Point being, he was playing the the fiddle (or the lute, more likely) while Rome burned out of sheer joy that the fire was doing his dirty work for him. He could rebuild the city to his specifications, and blame the need for such on a horrible, terrorist attack.

Sound familiar?

Posted by Antigeist at May 7, 2004 10:44 AM