Much of what passes for political analysis in the media is a discussion of tactics. Deeply embedded ideas are never mentioned let alone questioned or challenged. Taking their cues from so-called Washington conventional wisdom, such notions as international law or the UN Charter are only applied to official enemies. If you have your eyes open you can see this constantly. The pattern is almost routine to the point of boredom. But who's looking? Take commentators David Brooks and Mark Shields on PBS' NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. All perfectly reasonable and civil people who don't yell and complete their sentences. When it comes to U.S. aggression, a term you will not hear, they discuss modalities such as, Do we have enough troops? Are the Allies lined up? The underlying assumption of the right to attack is not open to debate.

Michael Parenti is one of this country's foremost independent political analysts. He has taught at major colleges and universities in the US and abroad. He is the author of numerous books including the classic Democracy for the Few and the highly acclaimed The Assassination of Julius Caesar. His latest book is Contrary Notions.