War Games

by Paul Wilson

These days, recruitment for the U.S. military is suffering. Even the so-called "reserves," like the National Guard, are being shunned in droves. After all, the "nation" that they are "guarding" isn't even our own! It is difficult to enlist new blood when people know that they are merely replacements for the old blood.

So, what's a country to do?

There is always a reinstatement of the draft. This would be the great equalizer, allowing children of the rich and powerful to fight alongside the poor and uneducated...

So that's out.

Heavy is the brow that wears the crown; and "King George the W" is no exception. But, far from giving up, our illustrious leader is planning...Not for today, but for the future.

The distant future...

To the war president, this is all strictly business. And, like any business, success can be measured by comparing profits and losses. While losses have been staggering, the profits have been immeasurable. Let's face it, war is profitable, for those who invest in it. From Lockheed, etc., who build the weapons, to Halliburton, et al., who re-build the devestated infrastructures, to oil companies, who benefit from both, the war pie has many pieces to go around. And the government (our tax dollars, in other words) picks up the tab, eliminating overhead.

Bush has finally found a business he can make a success. And the choice to declare war on terrorism, rather than a specific country, was brilliant (I wonder who gave him the idea, Mr. Cheney!). Like the war on drugs, the target is vague enough to continue the fight for decades.

As long as the resources last.

(That would be us.)

Because they are planning for the long run, the Bushies must aim their recruitment tactics at future generations, as well as the present one.

Start 'em young.

Sometime, just for kicks, pay a visit to the Army's recruitment website, www.goarmy.com . We have all seen the TV ads; the attempt to build a sense of adventure and nobility into an occupation where it is kill-or-be-killed.

Some memorable quotes and (what they really mean):

"I'll be part of something that's important..." (You'll be a snack for the corporate foodchain.)

"They'll train me around here, until they need me..." (Guess when we'll need you? The second that your abbreviated training is complete!)

"I found someone to pay for college..." (Sure, we'll pay your tuition...But the odds are in our favor that you won't survive; or, if you do, you won't feel much like going to school anymore...The house always wins..)

The army's website, however, puts all the ads to shame. The ultimate reality show, you can follow the day-to-day exploits of a single soldier, as he or she does everything from playing with the latest gadgets and weaponry to helping a lost dog find his way home.

Awww...

Being a recruitment website, you don't see the hours of boredom, laced with minutes of terror. You don't see civilians being shot at, tortured, interrogated or killed. You don't see the young cadet who can't take the adventure anymore, and starts shooting at anything that moves. And you don't see the pointlessness in everyone's eyes.

There are even video games on the site, so that you can hone your skills at killing and pretending that it's always just a game. But be careful...High scores may be monitored...

Parents, if this website doesn't make you want to retch on your keyboard, you are probably one of the 32% who still believe in this war. I only hope that you feel the same way when your ten-year-old says, "Hey, Dad, the Army is cool! I wanna go!"

Chances are, he will...