[memo to a listserv for faculty and Peace Corps vets, a couple typos fixed, I think I'll add this to Medium]

I was pleased to see the militaries colluding to put on a fun show for the vicious masses, eager for fireworks. TV voyeurs love a great spectacle. Many are whining they want more. They want to "rubbleize" Damascus. "Please please please give us more violence".

Choosing to attack supposed "chemical weapons facilities" was on paper reckless (if any toxic gases were really present), but clips show people milling about taking pictures, so it was more a case of destroying evidence of research programs, if there was any, not actual stockpiles. We'll never know at this point. How convenient.

Like Donald said, the missiles would be "smart" (with heavy quotes). And yes, Assad is "an animal", and so are we all, literally (no offense to non-humans, our moral betters to be sure).

No major media bring up the fine points of any War Powers act, as this exercise, like last year's (same time, same script) is all about getting the home folks used to Congress having no say, no responsibility, ala the military dictatorship model (president says go, military goes, no Congress required, just count on media to whip up some cheerleaders, any questioners are disloyal Russian trolls). 

Reality TV screenwriters know how to take it from script to reality directly, no need to involve cumbersome legislation. Lawmakers are boring. War is exciting. TV opinion shapers are eager for more war. They don't want any brakes to catharsis. Give the people their circus!

I'm used to living under martial law in the Philippines. This feels about the same. Very Banana Republic. Not a democracy, that's obvious, but in my experience Americans don't really care for democracy. They hunger to be militarized and show obedience.