The Ticking Time Bomb And The Unrestricted Actor

American pop culture matters in the war of ideas. Not only does it tend to lend credence to the perceptions of others around the world, but it plays an undervalued role in subtly reflecting and further shaping the world view of Americans. Movies, TV shows and music all retain a noticeable imprint on American culture, in spite of declining album sales, drastically reduced number of moviegoers and steadily shrinking TV ratings as the mass media defuses into more of a “Long Tail” market filling many niches. This has been most noticeable in the recent political debate over torture, where a generation or two of Hollywood “thriller” and “disaster” movies have helped lend credence to a patently absurd and dangerous proposition; the ticking bomb scenario (popularized in countless movies and now epitomized by the television show “24″).

A FAILED MODEL

While ALL measures in the face of extreme danger must be considered, such moments of extreme danger are exceptionally few and far between, though it is certainly worth discussing in public what the US response would be to the use of WMD against American cities (I.E. who do we bomb, how far we do go, where do we stop, etc, etc.). (Certainly, imagination in the face of the unthinkable or the unholiest of terrors is necessary if we are to survive and thrive as a country in the new, more vulnerable era we have entered.) Yet this is precisely what is lost in the debate over “ticking time bombs”, “imminent threats” and “clear and present dangers”. Not only do politicians and government officials routinely sabotage critical discussion and analysis of tactics, strategy and policy by engaging in such overextended hyperbole, they miss the critical point of all, that time and time again, steady, consistent investigative and intelligence work have carried the day rather than “preemptive” strikes and “buzzer beaters” highlighted by aggressive, over the top tactics.

What image does America currently (and desire to) offer the world and its own citizens? For the purpose of this post, is it that of an unrestrained, snarling animal of a figure, Jack Bauer (of “24″ fame), who routinely breaks the law in the name of defending the country while racing against time pursuing sophisticated conspirators with grand plans or the methodical, even-keeled Lester Freamon (of the Wire)? Both offer commendable traits of sorts, but only one is worthy of national emulation and respect. It is a telling nod to the fallen national prestige and collective delusion that Jack Bauer is cheered on by tens of millions of Americans, not to mention the crowd at the May 15 GOP presidental debate. Or that Army officials have begged the producers of “24″to tone down the regular depiction of torture in the series.

Most Americans are still living in a fantasy world where they believe their actions and those of the government that purports to speak for them have little to no consequence here at home or abroad. That a majority of Americans now tell pollsters they think the country is heading in a wrong direction is more in line with the hit their checking accounts are taking with paychecks that aren’t keeping up with the Joneses and the incompetence of the Bush Administration in addressing disasters that affect Americans (Katrina, the Enron scandal, Iraq, higher petrol prices, etc.) than with a sudden realization that this country has deep, gaping troubles and is failing to address them, let alone the plethora of problems abroad.

Jack Bauer is thus very popular, offering a dark, sadistic fantasy where America is assaulted by it enemies but like an avenging angel rises from the depths of destruction to wreak vengeance on the “bad guys’. Many Jack Bauer/24 fans enthusiastically believe torture and other forms of extraordinary action are worthy of American emulation in policy and execution, much as most Americans believe America should focus entirely on defending itself against the terrorists and their allies in the wake of foreign adventuring, little realizing that the two go hand in hand; one cannot have an all or nothing defense without an aggressive offense, hence venturing abroad to smite the bad guys no matter the costs.

AMERICA THE WISE, THE METHODICAL

On the other hand, Lester Freamon exemplifies the very traits Americans should be applauding and hoping their guardians and leaders emulate. Wise and methodical, not to mention resilient and honorable (he spent years in exile from the Homicide Division after crossing his superiors who wanted to overlook a politically connected criminal), Freamon possesses the requisite qualities should adopt in the post-Iraq, post-Bush era. A chastened country weakened by its mistakes and its rivals’ gains at its expense, with a ravaged reputation and prestige that will render bold and visionary initiatives and actions unlikely and unwieldy, must focus on exploiting any opportunities (pursuing all tangible leads), methodically tracking and understanding its enemies with an expansive view (not a single-minded ideological focus) and proving to the world that it still is worthy of global leadership through its successful action, not loud talk.

An America that lives in the complex, gray world of “The Wire” is far more likely to succeed than one that lives in the fantasy of “24″. Lester Freamon understands the kind of networks and threats America and its allies are most endangered by:

the global AND local architecture of Moises Naim’s “Black Globalization” (first the Barksdale Crew, then the “Greek” and human trafficking and drugs on the docks, now the Marlo Stansfeld crew and the “Co-Op” as well as corrupt political collectives)

the decay of institutions (schools, unions, government) and loss of traditional ways of life (the shipping industry, the African-American neighborhood and covenant) and the subsequent social and political consequences

the failure of government and leadership on all levels to adapt to new circumstances and trends (the lost “war on drugs”, the failed “war on poverty”, the disastrous retreat of citizens away from the responsibilities of civics)

Freamon even knows a thing or two about “Network Wars”; his “Major Crimes Unit” goes head to head against a variety of gangs and organizations, often successfully. He wins within (and in spite of at times) the framework of existing laws and institutions by exploiting opportunities and developing talent. For these reasons and perhaps even more worth visiting in the future (after all, one more season of “The Wire” remains), he is the model for an America that can survive and thrive from now on, not Jack Bauer. Above all else, Freamon lives in a realistic world of unrestricted actors (of a criminal, political, social and economic variety), not tightly wound top-heavy conspiracies with “ticking time bombs”.