Can You Hear the Drumbeats?

We’re keeping a close eye on US relations with Iran, and even had some conversation today about the ghastly prospect of planning for a post-conflict phase there, should the US or Israel strike in some way. The power of language is always interesting, and more so as we see Iran descibed in increasingly stark terms - witness the Daily News’s “The Evil Has Landed.” Please take a look at what’s happening here and how the characterization of Iran has changed over the past couple of years. Certainly it’s much easier to organize your world if everything is ”us vs. them” and “good vs. evil.” In studying what has happened in Iraq and what happened in the run-up to war, what were the responsibilities of the citizens if they disagreed, etc, it seems we have another campaign presenting itself to us. We’re not saying we know what’s going to happen, but there’s obviously an organized effort (that people who probably aren’t part of the effort are buying into) to paint Iran as a direct and immediate threat to the United States, with military action - as the narrative goes - rapidly becoming a legitimate option (and, we suspect, in the coming months will be presented as the only option).