Publicity and Indifference

Publicity and Indifference by Thomas Keenan

page 106 2nd paragraph


"I propose that we understand
the “humanitarian action” that triumphed
in Bosnia as somewhat different from either of
the options that seem available—it is neither inaction
(a passive acquiescence or a cover-up, a
fig leaf that disguises the actual doing of nothing)
nor a heroic new nonstate politics of the
sort anticipated by many of the founders of the
humanitarian movement. It is an action that—
precisely because it refers, by way of public
opinion and the image, not to national interest
or the defense of the state but to “human beings,”
“victims,” “misfortune,” or “suffering,”
which is to say that it refers to the order of the
ethical—opens the possibility for a political discourse
that, for better or more often for worse,
does not have to justify itself in political terms."

For group discussion, can we please talk about the following questions in class?

1) Did the US liberate Iraq because of the oil interests in the country, humanitarianism, or both?

2) Would the US have gone into Iraq with no media at all?


In my opinion, (to answers my own questions) I believe that the US went into Iraq with both ideas in mind. The US had to go in and save the oil fields because obviously we (and basically the whole world) are so dependent on oil that we couldnt risk having a huge decrease in supply to the market. I believe the government was really concernced for the safety of the countrymen, people of neighboring countries, and America becuase of the threat of weapons of mass destruction. The government could go into Iraq and kill two birds with one stone; save the oil fields and liberate the people. The media, has turned this war into a mega political debate on the ethics of why we're still in Iraq. The media portrays this war as the US bullying Iraq and saving the oil, when the US is also in there and trying to help the country get back on their feet. People forget that we have actually done some good in Iraq.

To me, if there was no media at all, the US would not be at war in Iraq. Without media, there is no way the US could get passionate enough to back a cause like liberating Iraq like it has motivated us now. Eventually however, the government would learn of the risks to the oil fields and go in and save them. This action would come decisively late and we would lose the ethical integrity of humanitarianism in our cause.