Iraq War psychology: Exploring hearts and minds of American officials, journalists, average people

Much has been written and discussed about the desires for the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq on the part of some government officials, Washington think tank intellectuals, journalists and average Americans.

Most of this discussion has centered on the thinking, theories and intelligence information put forth by these individuals and groups.

But what about the deeper psychological and moral aspects of people who have enthusiastically sent thousands of American troops to violent deaths and severe, permanent injuries?

What about the inner nature of people who so desired this war which has also resulted in the deaths of and injuries to tens of thousands of innocent Iraqi civilians, including women and children?

We probably don't need to be rocket scientists or licensed psychiatrists and psychologists to try to look at some of the reasons why these officials, journalists and everyday people wanted war and were so eager to sacrifice our fellow Americans and loved ones as well as innocent Iraqis.

Maybe we just need to do some good, old-fashioned soul-searching. The parents, spouses, children and friends of our troops who have been killed and injured have certainly done this already. And more are required to do it with each passing day.

DESIRE FOR POWER

We've all heard the saying that "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely." When human beings are in positions of power over others, they are tempted to exert that power in ways that can be very destructive and psychologically unhealthy.

There is hardly a more serious use of power than having the responsibility of life or death. Yet, in the case of Iraq and the so-called Global War on Terror, some U.S. officials and their associates apparently have found this power intoxicating. The blood of thousands of American troops and innocent Iraqis does not seem to quench their thirst.

They also seem to want more power to torture people suspected of opposing the invasion and occupation of Iraq and other policies and operations of the those in power in the U.S. and some other nations.

In building the case for the U.S. invasion of Iraq, there was clearly a great deal of desire to exert power over the American people and Congress through information operations (IO) and psychological operations (PSYOP) using journalists and the news media.

Many journalists, editors and media companies apparently received some significant benefits by making friends with those in power and by consciously or unconsciously assisting those who wanted to make a case for the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Some average people from all walks of life also apparently enjoy supporting those in power and those exerting power in Washington. This seems to provide a feeling of power to those who have little of it, but enjoy what little they have.

Even if the moral direction is questionable, even if the death and destruction are severe, they cling to the psychological and emotional narcotic of being associated with those in power.

Maybe they personally benefit in some other ways. Or maybe they just bow to those in power, complying and following like sheep.

CHICKEN HAWKS AND WANNABES

The term "chicken hawk" has been used to describe someone who strongly advocates war, but has never served in serious military combat or in other dangerous situations that have tested them psychologically and spiritually.

In some cases these people may even have even actively avoided military service and/or combat situations.

The chicken hawk term has been considered a reasonable description for some politicians, people in certain Washington think tanks, journalists and some average Americans who pushed for and supported the invasion of Iraq.

For many of these people, we might wonder if they are psychologically and emotionally compensating for never having proven themselves in dangerous situations.

Some of them are certainly compensating for not being tested under fire. That testing does not need to be previous military combat fire. It could be that they have not been in dangerous situations of any kind, nor faced psychological, emotional and spiritual experiences that have shaped them in a positive way.

As an alternative, they talk tough and advocate sending others into danger to be injured and to die.

These people are a type of "armchair warriors" and wannabe heroes. They talk tough to possibly compensate for their own self-doubts, and the doubts others may have about them.

They may be angry or frustrated in their personal lives and find that being a cheerleader for war makes them feel worthwhile.

They may feel that being a patriotic American means always supporting officials and others who want war.

In addition, some people seem to be chicken hawks not for themselves, but for their teen or adult children. In other words, what if a parent was a hawk for the invasion and continued occupation of Iraq, but didn't want their own children to join the Army or Marines and go? What if they wanted only other parents' kids to go? These people might seem to be a type of chicken hawk too.

The Army has recently raised its first-time enlistment age to just under 42 years of age. When we hear someone advocating for continued death and injury to our troops in Iraq, we might ask them if they or their children have signed up to go.

Chicken hawks, armchair warriors and wannabes do exist and are dangerous to others. They often support sending brave and honorable Americans to be terribly wounded and killed. They justify deaths of and injuries to innocent people, including women and children.

Honorable and brave people in our military, veterans and some civilians often seem to assume that our political leaders and others in positions of power in American society also have the same courage, honor and fellowship as they. This may be a very mistaken assumption.

We may watch tough-talking politicians and talking-head pundits, or read the articles, analyses and editorials of certain journalists and assume that they have been tested and have some serious understanding the sacrifice, danger and pain of war.

We might mistakenly believe that they share the deep fellowship and love of our troops and their families.

However, chicken hawks most likely do not deeply understand these traits and emotions. This is one of they key reasons that they are so dangerous and destructive.

WAR PROFITS AND FOREIGN MANIPULATION

War profiteering from the invasion and occupation of Iraq has been fairly well documented. In the last few years, hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent and squandered, making some people rich in the process.

In some cases, services and equipment provided for our troops and our military operations were shoddy or worse.

Even legitimate defense contractors and suppliers have found that the Iraq invasion and occupation has been good business. Profits are way up.

A different troubling issue concerns people who seem to have had dual loyalties and have been suspected of being foreign agents of sorts.

They had their own motivations to protect or attack other nations in the Middle East and they may have used the U.S. military and the American people as their tool.

In this too, the flow of money is suspected to have played a significant role.

The loyalty of some of these types of people has been questioned and some are under investigation. Others are being prosecuted. Their primary loyalty might not be to the U.S., but to other nations.

Some individuals of this kind may have infiltrated our government and influenced decision-making about the invasion and occupation of Iraq in a significant way.

They may be been associated with foreign intelligence services. Some activities of this kind may border on or include espionage and treason.

REAPING WHAT THOU SOWETH

If we believe in justice, we can only hope that through some mechanisms of the spiritual and/or our earthly efforts, the people who have created and supported this kind of death and destruction will reap what they sow.

The fraudulent intelligence, misleading information and lack of moral direction from officials, media and others may result in severe consequences for them that may be legal as well as psychological, emotional and spiritual.

In fact, we all might suffer from these manipulations and actions.

We can only hope that further investigations by honest officials and journalists will uncover the full extent of any criminal and moral offenses that resulted in, and during, the invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Average Americans must search our own souls to decide what is right and wrong and what we can or must do as part of our own moral direction and responsibilities.

The American people, our system of government and our society at large may yet show the world that we are a nation which, even with our many flaws, strives toward justice, compassion, honor and progress for the human race.

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