Blowback!

The original definition of blowback is those unintended consequences arising as fallout from clandestine operations undertaken by the CIA.  Contemporary writers often refer to blowback as the unintended consequences of all foreign militarism, from covert wars run by the CIA to open warfare such as the war in Afghanistan.

So why am I bringing up blowback tonight?  Well, it appears that after 10 years, the Pakistanis have finally had it with the US bombing villages inside their borders.  Yes, it was suspicious when Osama bin Laden was discovered hiding next door to a Pakistani military compound, but now the US is officially accusing Pakistan - specifically Pakistan's intelligence agency the ISI - of complicity in the bombing of the US embassy in Kabul.  If that isn't enough for you, now the intellectually and morally bankrupt Senator Lindsay Graham is calling for the US to "put all options on the table" in dealing with Pakistan.  Apparently he wants us to engage in yet another war with yet another Muslim country, as if four simultaneous wars isn't enough. 

Is anyone else reminded of 1984?

Since about that time, war had been literally continuous, though strictly speaking it had not always been the same war ... At this moment, for example, in 1984 (if it was 1984), Oceania was at war with Eurasia and in alliance with Eastasia. In no public or private utterance was it ever admitted that the three powers had at any time been grouped along different lines. Actually, as Winston well knew, it was only four years since Oceania had been at war with Eastasia and in alliance with Eurasia ... Officially the change of partners had never happened. Oceania was at war with Eurasia: therefore Oceania had always been at war with Eurasia. The enemy of the moment always represented absolute evil, and it followed that any past or future agreement with him was impossible.

So, now all of the mainstream media is brimming with news of the evidence of Pakistan's betrayal, support of terrorism, and general evilness.  We won't be reminded that Pakistan has been our ally for decades - no, like Winston we will be fed articles that are designed to inflame us against them.  The politicians and their black PR artists, the newspapermen will continue to treat us all as mindless gullible sheep, and why not?  They have carefully cultivated, in the minds of the American people, that Muslims are evil, Muslims hate Americans, Muslims hate freedom, Muslims hate women, etc, etc.  It's the "morning hate," to quote Orwell again, only for us it's been pretty much non-stop for at least 10 years.  Don't believe me?  Turn on the boob-tube and watch our very own born-again McCarthy execute his inquisition on American Muslims as he attempts to track down "home-grown terrorism."