Posthuman Blues

I tumbled across an idea for an alien invasion story today, probably facilitated by thinking about "rods" (see below). Speaking of which, these things need a new name. The sheer uncreativity of the term "rods" typifies how neglected the subject is. How about "Anomalous Video Phenomena"?

It appears as if the war has ended. Predictably, Saddam is missing in action, leaving a possible sequel of some kind a possibility. CNN's already purchased the rights. And more worringly, no sign of any weapons of mass destruction. Not that Dubbya has to worry; I think the public has dutifully forgotten that they were the reason we invaded to begin with. Ostensibly, of course. Nothing about this war has been presented in a coherent manner by the administration. The White House has trotted out one of the most ridiculous parade of lies, distortions and omissions in modern American history.

Still, some of our estranged international neighbors might not take the Missing Weapons of Mass Destruction issue lightly. Even now questions are being asked, like: "If they had them, why the hell didn't they use them"? Allow a moment's paranoia: I think that if the pressure to come clean with evidence to "justify" this conflict is focused enough, the US will gladly "arrange" for some WMD to be found. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

While Iraqi looters throw shoes and overturn Saddam Hussein's statue (with the help of a photogenic US tank), the country's intellectuals -- even the most ardent Saddam haters -- are paralyzed with despair over the encroaching political melee. Meanwhile the rest of the Middle East is wondering who will be the next country lucky enough to get "liberated" (Iran? Syria? Maybe eventually Egypt?) and gelling into something of a pro-jihad consortium.

This whole turn of affairs is curiously predictable. Has Dubbya read too many "Left Behind" books? Could the raison d'etre behind the last few months' geopolitical derring-do be to set the stage for an "Armageddon" conflict? Dubbya's minions loudly remind the public that the war has nothing to do with oil. But they're relatively quiet on the religion front, perhaps sensing a level of historical absurdity. After all, the crusades were a long time ago, and surely irrelevant. But not to Muslims.

We have disturbed the hive. We have shaken it, beaten it with sticks, poked it until its sides are dripping and buzzing with pure insect menace.

When the next wave of terrorist strikes hits, there won't be enough paper for the "God Bless America" bumper stickers we'll be needing.