on 18 april 1946, during easter recess for his trial on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity, captured nazi reichsmarshall hermann goering was interviewed by gustave gilbert, a german-speaking intelligence officer and psychologist. goering's comments on patriotism, noted below, were published in gilbert's book nuremburg diary.

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.

"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

[p 278-279] Nuremberg Diary by G.M. Gilbert, Farrar, Straus & Co, New York, 1947.

these cold, calculating observations on patriotism from a nazi war criminal expose the arrogance, manipulation and deceit at the heart of the bush foreign policy. bullies don't have to get along, they just have to beat the crap out of their opponents.
posted by Will Ross at 06:30