Libertarian National Socialist Green Party

Here's how the war in Iraq, and most events in your future, will pan out in the long-term. It goes back, as most things do, to the events of childhood schoolyards and the types of behaviors you saw there. Some people were strong, and others were weak, but the most dangerous kid was the one in between: the snitch.

A snitch isn't big nor is he small, but he has the aggression of a larger person coupled with the knowledge of not yet being of that stature. Since he knows that, like the small people, he isn't going to win any fights, he directs his aggression outward through sniping and tattling, but stays on the good side of "the law" (back then, Mrs. Schulz and her yardstick).

When we look furthest into the psychology of the snitch, we see someone without bad intent per se, but a neediness which quickly erodes any intent he or she may have. But we only need look as far as our own experience with such people to see how the most important evidence of their intent, their actions, play out.

Five kids on the playground want to play with one ball. Two are strong, and two are weaker, and one is the snitch, right in the middle. Of course, the largest kid quickly grabs the ball and figures, foxes eat rabbits, I can take this and they'll be fine. The second big kid challenges him. One of the smaller kids says, "Let's be on a team," knowing that it is his only way to play with the ball, and he goads the other small kid into taking his side.

Enter the snitch. Going up to the biggest kid, he says: "Wow, you've got big muscles. Surely you'll get the ball," and then walks away as if nothing happened. Innocently the snitch pounces on the second kid: "That guy's mostly fat! You can kick his ass, and then we can all play. You'd be a hero!" The littler kids are wary of the snitch, who's confiding in them, "Those kids are bullies, and bullies are all wimps. Tell 'em to take a hike, they won't fight!"

No one thinks to ask what the snitch wants out of the system, because he's given each of them a mental image, or symbol, on which to chew. The large kid is thinking me=victor; the next kid is thinking me=hero; the smaller kids are thinking, we=deserve this ball. The snitch is waiting to see what happens.

Predictably, one of the smaller kids grabs the ball and goes running off with it. The bigger kid goes after him, but the other large child stops him. "Hey, aren't you going to let us play too?" The guilt doesn't work, and the biggest kid grabs the ball and heads off. The snitch catches a rebound and tosses it to the smaller kid.

"He took it," he then says helpfully. As the smaller kid protests, the biggest kid advances and the second-biggest steps up to stop him - POW - conflict results. All parties are angry at one another, and none knows why, but they are each sure they've been wronged. They have, but not by each other.

And the snitch?

He's drinking apple juice and the benevolent, liberal-minded teacher's praise for having first suggested, like an angel, that everyone be able to share the ball, and second, for telling the "good people" about the fight that broke out. While biggest kid, big kid, and two smaller kids are explaining it to the principal, the snitch is promoting his own image to his teachers.

As in this playground scenario, no one will get ahead in the middle east by a third party supporting one of two sides at the cost of the other. We all know Arabs and Jews have been at war for thousands of years, and that deep down beneath all things they say on television when looking for friends, they each know there will be no peace for them until the other is destroyed.

The United States, as a staunch supporter and "best friend" of Israel, has supported next to zero things which would benefit Arabs. Further, over 80% of our citizens identify with a faith that emerged from Judaism, the state religion of Israel. Watching the big kid play with a ball, they are drugged on the notion of being "heroes" who support democracy versus fascism, mini-malls versus terrorism, or whatever the oversimplified moral pablum of the day happens to be.

Who will end up standing? The snitch can't see the future; he does what he does because it is the only way he knows of getting ahead. Israel will be the snitch and will draw other powers into war, with the United States pummeling Iraq and then Saudi Arabia and Iran into dust for the Chosen People of Israel. This will either prompt a chain reaction (like WWI) holy war, or will cause another, third party (China, equipped with Israeli weapons) to step in and take what she wants.

Remember this the next time someone tries to put feelings in your head with symbols. Whether they call you "heroes" or "villains," there's manipulation occurring and the only one to benefit will make sure he has people far away from the scene of the conflict. So don't follow the snitch's plan. Because, despite his promises, he's the only one who wins.