We have seen the long arm of US military might exercised by this administration, and while not particulary competent, it certainly has demonstrated itself to be powerful. That's the point. Everyone's got the point. The bridge between what has happened internationally, specifically in Iraq and to a lesser degree in Afghanistan, and what is happening domestically is the no-bid contracting process that immediately engorges the coffers of some of Bush's (and GOP's) largest contributors, but privileges them pretty much in perpetuity. The reach back to domestic policy is now going to be most visible on June 2 when the FCC announces its new regulations, or more precisely stated, lack of regulation on media ownership.

Once put in place, good luck getting a radio station that is not controlled by Clear Channel. The notions of competition and diversity and creativity and all that crap have been severely under attack by those in control of the major players in the media. The chances of anything making it to your screen or speakers that is not approved by a small number of media executives (a group as small as 9) are about nil. There is now little or no competition and there will be even less once Michael Powell and Co. finish their work. The situation is dire when one of the group, Barry Diller, CEO of USA Interactive is gloomy about the real conditions. Read this: http://www.pbs.org/now/printable/transcript_diller_print.html

What we are seeing is the counterpart of the Operation Iraqi Occupation (sic). That is the power of the conservative, capitalist elite is and will be exercised in a new way that will have immediate effects on all of our lives. The preemptive strike on Iraqi is an exercise of American military might. The conglomeration of media organizations is an even more onerous exercise of pure power. The problem is that its exercise will not be detected by most of the public; in fact, most will quietly enjoy the pablum the media shoves down their throat because there will be nothing with which to compare it. Between Pax Americana and the plundering of domestic resources (the airwaves owned by the people of the US but exploited by the Club of Nine (today--probably 7 tomorrow!), you are staring "hegemony" in the face.