What now?

[cuito61@xxxxxxxxxx]

Perhaps I've just been watching and listening to just a little too much of the 
corporate media today, but damn, has the left and the anti-war movement just 
been knocked on its ass (even if only temporarily)?

I mean, we of course have been bombarded over and over by the image of the 
saddam statue coming down (which is something that anyone should feel good 
about, yet it feels so hard to do so given the circumstances), arab-americans 
in michigan waving american flags, cheerful iraqis, proclamation of the 
"liberation" of baghdad, etc.

How should our analysis change now, if at all?  what's the new set of "talking 
points?"  Am I simply being too pessimistic?  Is the real problem the media 
which is hyping up only the positive aspects (in terms of american interests 
and the bush administration) and ignoring whatever negative aspects are still 
going on or will soon be happening?  What happened to our predictions about 
heavy casualties and fierce fighting in baghdad?  are these just not getting 
reported?

I guess one of the few things i can find comfort in all of this is the 
realization that the problems of the world, of the american people and even the 
iraqi people are not embodied in one statue or one man; that this is in essence 
a huge PR stunt to distract people from the real issues... but damn, they sure 
made it look good.

thoughts?