Mickey Zezima and the Myths of War

"There is No Good War: The Myths of World War II," is the name of a new book by New York writer and social iconcoclast Mickey Zeizima. Well, it does not take a phd in history to assert that the history of humanity is the blood brother of war.  Just for a starter one can think back over the past 60 years, and mention World War II, the Korean War, the War against Vietnam, a handful of U.S. invasions of impoverished Latin American countries and the present so-called "war against terrorism."

Mickey Z's latest book refers to 

the debate concerning the causes and consequences of the Second World War. We asked him about his new book and his notion that "there is no good war."

"The book is called, ’There is No Good War: The Myths of World War II’ (Voz Pop, 2006) and it’s a slightly revised paperback edition of ’Saving Private Power: The Hidden History of ’The Good War’ (Soft Skull Press, 2000). My interest in WW II grew out of my general interest in history and propaganda. The ’Good War’ myth is among the most powerful in American history and I figured it was ripe for a challenge...and still is."

"Is that myth still alive?

"Yes. Today, in the midst of a perpetual ’good war,’ it’s back-complete with a new title and cover-to reinforce the fundamental message that wars are not waged for humanitarian reasons and, as a result, require intense programs of disinformation to appear that they are."

"Do you see any link up in the rationale used by Washington to develop atomic weapons and their use against Japan and the invasion of Iraq on the argument that Saddam had weapons of mass destruction?"

"It’s interesting that in America’s endless quest to prevent other nations from possessing WMD (weapons of mass destruction)-unless those nations are Israel and India, for example-we’re not supposed to focus on atomic bombs dropped on Japan and depleted uranium weapons used in Iraq, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia. To more specifically answer your question: It’s the oldest trick in the book to hype up one’s opponent in order to rationalize the use of excessive force. Japan would never have surrendered, we’re told. Iraq was trying to create weapons to attack America, the story goes. Once these deceptions become widely accepted as truisms, it seems to follow that the American public will support the use of practically any military tactic."

"Newspaper reports indicate that the Pentagon continues investigating the use of strategic weapons in the context of the ’war against terrorism.’"

"To follow up on my last answer, the standard company line we Americans are raised to swallow is that our (sic) country is unique in its benevolence and thus can be trusted with WMD. If we (sic) utilize such weaponry, it must surely be justified because God’s country does not commit war crimes."

"How would you explain the prolonged silence in the U.S. following the 2001 terrorist attack, but recently broken with charges of abuses of all sorts?"

"If you were running the American military machine and you saw how effective it was to declare a global war on communism after WW II, you’d want your own bogeyman, right?

"You mean another bogeyman?"

"That’s right.Terrorism raises military budgets, silences criticism, increases corporate welfare, breeds conformity, transcends international law, justifies atrocities, and provides the catch-all scapegoat. This is not ’neo-conservative’ or Republican or Democrat. It crosses all party lines."

Meanwhile, the war against Iraq rages on, as does that in Afghanistan and dense clouds of confrontation loom over Iran....for more detailed information please take note of Mickey Z’s e-mails and blog:

Blog: http://www.mickeyz.net

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