ADDICTED TO WAR -- WHY THE U.S. CAN'T KICK MILITARISM

George W. Bush seems to be out to test his father's proposition. He has promised us a long and bloody War on Terrorism with lots of casualties. The war in Afghanistan, he has declared, is "just the beginning of the war against terror." [140]

"There's a variety of theaters. So long as anybody's terrorizing established governments, there needs to be a war." (George W. Bush, October 17, 2001) [141]

If Bush is serious, we may be facing an endless war. Terrorist tactics have been around as long as war and are unlikely to disappear in our lifetimes. Maybe Bush's language is simply rhetorical excess. But it's also possible he and his advisors envision an era of uninterrupted warfare, in which one country after another will be targeted for bombing.

Which will make us the targets of more retaliation!

It seems that dick Cheney, for one, is ready for this. Emerging from his secret bunker, he warned that the "War on Terrorism" would go on for a long time.

"It may never end.  At least not in our lifetime." (Cheney, Oct. 2001) [142]

As part of this endless war, he declared, we have to be prepared for ongoing terrorist attacks.

"For the first time in our history we will probably suffer more casualties here at home than will our troops overseas." (Cheney, Oct. 2001) [143]

This means, he said, that we have to get used to invasive security measures and sacrifice civil liberties.

"We're going to have to take steps ... that's become a permanent part of our way of life."  (Cheney, Oct. 2001) [144]

After September 11, Americans were stunned by the horror of the terrorist attacks.  Bush's bellicose words resonated among many.  But as the "War on Terrorism" goes on, will this initial support last longer than it did during the Korean and Vietnam Wars?  Even Bush worries that it won't.

"People are going to get tired of the War on Terrorism." (George W. Bush, October 17, 2001) [145]

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