The Curse of the State

The curse of the State is that the State must exist. Now set aside the brickbats, this post is no anarchist’s diatribe. Nor do I intend to say much about patriotism or nationalism—for now.

In this case, the State in question is the national state. However, much of what I offer here could be applied to many institutions, both public and private. To begin simply, the curse is the tension created between an idea, that of the State, and those who must reach out to the seated that sit in the chairs of power.

Consider this childlike—and you may think childish—question: Can you speak to the State? For example, imagine this phone conversation. Call the president’s office, or Congress, or even the Supreme Court, and ask to speak to the United States. “Office of the President, how may I direct your call?” “I’d like to speak to the United States.” Riff on what follows as you please.

An obvious “Duh” perhaps, but herein the rubbing begins. Of course, you may end up speaking with an individual vested with some authority per whatever power is granted by nature of a title, or statute, or election, etc. Grant for the moment my thought that to believe whomever this person may be speaks for the United States is, to be generous, disingenuous.

Let me free-range a bit. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (cluster bombs) was initiated in 2008, considered in force when 30 States ratified the agreement by 2010, and by last year more than 100 States were signed on. The cluster bomb is designed to release smaller bomblets so that the strike zone may extend much further than a single bomb.

As civil war wears on in Yemen, among the invested States geopolitically are CCM non-signers Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Russia, and the United States. Numerous reports allege American-made cluster bombs to have been dropped by Saudi warplanes on Yemeni population centers. Cluster bombs manufactured in the UK, an early adopter of the CCM treaty, have also been used by the Saudis in Yemen.

While debate over State security issues and military vs civilian targets continues in the US and the UK, certainly it would be fair for Yemenis to believe that these 2 States sanction Saudi Arabia using cluster bombs.

I would hazard that State policy on cluster bombs here in the US is a byproduct of no more than the consensus of a handful in the government. As for victims in Yemen who wish no ill-will but rather only to get on with their lives in peace—well, who are they going to call?