THE REST IS GAS

By Mathew Maavak

My gut would feel better if I could execute some of my generals – Adolph Hitler

The above is a medical truism and I think I know which general Hitler had in mind. There was a Prussian genius who was a constant thorn in Der Fuhrer’s rump. He had disobeyed orders on more than one occasion and had a penchant for arguing with Europe’s new Overlord, often in the presence of other generals. In private, among more trusted subordinates, Field Marshall Erich von Manstein’s behavior was scandalous, if not suicidal.

He would mock Hitler, admit to his Jewish lineage, and would give a Nazi salute that parodied a “dachshund’s trick of raising its paw.”[1]

The worst von Manstein got was a firing from his post. An ultimate survivor, he would emerge from a Nuremberg prison sentence to help form West Germany’s Bundeswehr.

How did he get away with all this, when a general could get court-martialled for a lesser slight? Von Manstein was the greatest military tactician of the Second World War, and seems to have understood the caprice of power, and loyalty, all too well. Hitler appreciated power. Von Manstein neither supported nor betrayed the Stauffenberg plotters, a clique that, in fact, distrusted him.

He was an enigma who can display an “uneasy conscience” after Stalingrad while one of his written directives against “Jewish Bolshevism” had a self-exonerating clause. Safety was probably assured with a ready trick up the sleeve. Scoundrel or not, his maneuvers make sense.

When you maze through mass cowardice, courage, though real, can be calculated to open up escape hatches, years down the line. Many would take the fall, after standing up to authority when it’s way, way too late. Watch the former Ace of Spaces defending himself in Iraq. He is still standing. There will be lessons to study for a long time to come.

Why am I bringing this up? Too few are standing up to authority. Too few stood up to Saddam Hussein’s bloody coup, his murderous rule, and his even murderous war with Iran. Too few are ready to challenge the one who just “saved” us from Saddam. Dissent needs practice and courage and how many can boast of that? Foreign journalists? The majority writers on this site are Americans. This doesn’t stop White House’s paranoia.

Next week onwards, US-based foreign journalists will have visa restrictions. They will have to renew their visas abroad, a process that can take four weeks to six months.

There are an estimated 20,000 of them stationed in the US (Guardian, July 8). This figure is staggering when you consider the number of gaffes Dubya is going to make, depriving damn foreigners of some entertainment, a close-up look at the draconian rules the White House is going to pass, and the number terror alerts that will be issued by various “credible sources” in the run-up to the November polls. What makes me worried is that something might happen, exactly a la 9/11.

Bush will get away with it. Such is the nature of mass cowardice, patronage, mutually hollow camaraderie and petty selfishness. Remember the New World Information and Communications Order clamor some time back? Third World dictators backed down when the subject of inflammatory radio broadcasts to neighboring tyrannies was brought up. Pretentious patriotism is the masses daily bread, otherwise governments can't run.

There is another reason why half of that 20,000 would want this issue resolved soon. They just love the prestige of writing dreadful stories for their rags back home and will not want their US stays jeopardized. The (US) Society for Professional Journalists is concerned that besides creating “logistical problems for thousands of foreign journalists, it could lead to a backlash against American reporters working overseas.” (Guardian, July 8) They need not worry. At least, not over a figure of 20,000. Bush is only concerned about “clever reporters” like Sir Trevor McDonald. Too many foreign reporters are actively relaying White House propaganda.

If they get a little nosy, just whisper Mukhabarat or something similar into their ears and they will quietly slip back into their holes.

Unless a little spunk is shown, perhaps just a little, there is no point in pointing fingers elsewhere. If the immediate environs are suffocating, nuts can be done abroad. There is a global production line of timid hacks, who would gladly accept mediocrity, coached reportage and an illusory celebrity status.

Ask yourself this: If there were more courage abroad, would the White House get away with its lies, all the time? Is it a question of spine or connivance? It takes more than two to tango.

As Prof Philip M. Taylor says, “It is a fast world with fast values and a fast media.”[2]

Chuck those stuffy morals out and if possible, defenestrate a pesky journo as well. Why bother when you can gatecrash into any party, whip up “respect” and strike while things are hot? Why even think, and let your guts go amuck? Why hop from 9/11 to some damn war to Druze culture and divine ergonomics (would real-time communications be possible on Jupiter given the speed of light?) all in one conversation?

Resorting to anchoretic fantasies might help, only to be dashed by the same Prof over some beer. I took heart that the advice came from a psy-war expert, and not a transcendental guru. There is no escaping the mockeries of power, our illusions of truth.

Balancing complexities and peace seems like a suspicious flight of fancy, achieved only by gourmands who ingest exotic mushrooms. Everything must indeed be in the head; no floating rishi has yet to beat Alfred Krupp (d 1887)’s tunnel vision of the next world:

“I am presently nearly only a skin with some bones, the rest is gas. It may happen that one fine day, the gas will overwhelm by its lightness and quantity the weight of the poor bones and suddenly if they hold me, I shall go up directly into heaven with my earthly dress, probably the first guest of such an appearance in yonder quarter since creation. What a saving of a dirty roundabout way through the damp tomb and the hot purgatory – and what a comfort to one who believes in the latter.”[3]

If only it was as easy as that. There is a hot purgatory allright for a certain cowardice that allows evil to flourish. For every self-seeking compromise the media makes, there will be a tyranny propped by those who condone the rape of life and liberty. The road from the Fourth Estate to the Fourth Reich is getting shorter and straighter. If no one blocks it now, it will be ablaze, ready to consume. In the hour of need – and we are close to that - plenty of courage is needed.

To the besieged of Stalingrad in the winter of 1942/43, rumours of Der Manstein Kommt must have warmed the hearts of many in their frozen hell. Such was his reputation. He came to within 35 miles of his goal despite overwhelming odds. How many journalists would have his formidable intelligence, astute cunning and serious flaws, and yet stand up to authority? How many would just stand? The battle has gone beyond the airwaves into our heads.

Decide now to avoid that Hobson’s choice later. While others perished, von Manstein was both a winner and survivor. Raise your mock, dachshund salutes now!

Reference:

1) Stalingrad – Anthony Beevor (1998, Penguin, p347)

2) Global Communications, International Affairs and the Media Since 1945 – Philip M. Taylor (Routledge, 1997)

3) The Arms of Krupp – William Manchester (1968, Back Bay edition p179)

Most of Mathew Maavak's commentaries can be read at the here or visit the Panoptic World homepage.