Iraq War Rhetoric Would Have Troubled Thucydides (2003)
The U.S. general commanding coalition forces in Iraq warned recently that even though Saddam Hussein has been deposed and major combat operations were concluded, continued attacks by Baath Party loyalists meant “The war has not ended.” This sound bite cautioning against complacence likely would have pleased the ancient Greek historian Thucydides for its basic candor. But he would have been appalled at the U.S government’s arguments used to justify the war.
My students and I have been amazed at Thucydides’s relevance to present day events. He started out as an Athenian general in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, but lost a battle and his generalship, and spent the rest of his life recording events. He often is called the first real historian, and is respected across the spectrum: from Marxists to hawks in the Bush administration who planned the war against Iraq.
Thucydides described Athens’ defeat by Sparta in 404 B.C., and warned against powerful countries whose politicians give simple “sound bites” to justify war. Such brevity may “feel good” to key constituencies but doesn’t guarantee worldwide stability, the historian warned.
Similar controversy erupted recently between the U.S. Defense Department and Vanity Fair Magazine over quotes in an interview with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. Were weapons of mass destruction the “core reason” agreed upon by the U.S. government for going to war with Iraq, or were there several reasons? Thucydides would have been disgusted with leaders hiding their real reasons – but not surprised.
Thomas L. Friedman said recently: “Bush's credibility rides on finding weapons of mass destruction, but America's future, and the future of the Mideast, rides on our building a different Iraq. We must not forget that.”
Thucydides is most horrified at the impact of duplicity on politicians’ credibility. Hoping to discourage war, one sensible Athenian general warned before an expedition that the enemy’s preparation exceeded Athenian expectations. But instead, Athens sent an even larger army and was soundly defeated. Athenians’ confidence in their leaders was devastated and other Greeks hated them even more.
Pointing to the dangers of rhetoric used to justify war, Thucydides said, “The ancient simplicity into which honor so largely entered was laughed down and disappeared; and society became divided into camps in which no man trusted his fellow.”
Phrases like “state of war” or “axis of evil” and “if you’re not with us you’re against us” somehow are taken as more convincing than a nuanced discussion. Yet “state of war” is a technical position declared by two sovereign nations. Congress declared war against neither terrorism nor Iraq. No national dialogue has been held to define “evil.” Anyone who questions the executive branch’s unilaterally determined point of view is labeled “unpatriotic” or worse. But since when did it become unpatriotic to disagree with the government? Such ultimatums don’t foster the exchange of ideas, it closes them off.
In foreign affairs, it is easier to argue for short-term benefits. Athens was about to punish all the citizens of Mytilene, a city that changes its alliance to the Spartans, for the crimes of their leaders. But Athenian citizens opted to leave Mytilene a functional state that could pay reparations and function as an ally. The threat of destruction can cause greater resistance even when the people oppose their leaders, he says. Thucydides might support getting rid Saddam Hussein as the most practical alternative, but he also would believe in the true security and international stability that comes only from mutual respect and cooperation among people and nations.
In Athens, the entire citizenry voted on every piece of legislation, even going to war – there were no secrets between government and people because the people were the government. The worst thing we can do as citizens, said Thucydides, is vote for what sounds good without investigating all the issues. Just think how shocked he would be today at how many of our citizens don’t vote at all!
Sally MacEwen
My students and I have been amazed at Thucydides’s relevance to present day events. He started out as an Athenian general in the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta, but lost a battle and his generalship, and spent the rest of his life recording events. He often is called the first real historian, and is respected across the spectrum: from Marxists to hawks in the Bush administration who planned the war against Iraq.
Thucydides described Athens’ defeat by Sparta in 404 B.C., and warned against powerful countries whose politicians give simple “sound bites” to justify war. Such brevity may “feel good” to key constituencies but doesn’t guarantee worldwide stability, the historian warned.
Similar controversy erupted recently between the U.S. Defense Department and Vanity Fair Magazine over quotes in an interview with Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz. Were weapons of mass destruction the “core reason” agreed upon by the U.S. government for going to war with Iraq, or were there several reasons? Thucydides would have been disgusted with leaders hiding their real reasons – but not surprised.
Thomas L. Friedman said recently: “Bush's credibility rides on finding weapons of mass destruction, but America's future, and the future of the Mideast, rides on our building a different Iraq. We must not forget that.”
Thucydides is most horrified at the impact of duplicity on politicians’ credibility. Hoping to discourage war, one sensible Athenian general warned before an expedition that the enemy’s preparation exceeded Athenian expectations. But instead, Athens sent an even larger army and was soundly defeated. Athenians’ confidence in their leaders was devastated and other Greeks hated them even more.
Pointing to the dangers of rhetoric used to justify war, Thucydides said, “The ancient simplicity into which honor so largely entered was laughed down and disappeared; and society became divided into camps in which no man trusted his fellow.”
Phrases like “state of war” or “axis of evil” and “if you’re not with us you’re against us” somehow are taken as more convincing than a nuanced discussion. Yet “state of war” is a technical position declared by two sovereign nations. Congress declared war against neither terrorism nor Iraq. No national dialogue has been held to define “evil.” Anyone who questions the executive branch’s unilaterally determined point of view is labeled “unpatriotic” or worse. But since when did it become unpatriotic to disagree with the government? Such ultimatums don’t foster the exchange of ideas, it closes them off.
In foreign affairs, it is easier to argue for short-term benefits. Athens was about to punish all the citizens of Mytilene, a city that changes its alliance to the Spartans, for the crimes of their leaders. But Athenian citizens opted to leave Mytilene a functional state that could pay reparations and function as an ally. The threat of destruction can cause greater resistance even when the people oppose their leaders, he says. Thucydides might support getting rid Saddam Hussein as the most practical alternative, but he also would believe in the true security and international stability that comes only from mutual respect and cooperation among people and nations.
In Athens, the entire citizenry voted on every piece of legislation, even going to war – there were no secrets between government and people because the people were the government. The worst thing we can do as citizens, said Thucydides, is vote for what sounds good without investigating all the issues. Just think how shocked he would be today at how many of our citizens don’t vote at all!
Sally MacEwen