The rogue shepherd

Rating: 9/10 (27 April 2007)

I had been thinking about the apparent tragedy of our misguided invasion of Iraq and had at least tentatively concluded that much of the problem was the hubris of our President and certain members of his cabinet: the conviction that American might and force of will can solve the most intractable international crises. I wondered if this prideful arrogance had its origin in elite boarding schools, Yale University, and, yes, a certain secret society that cradled W and other recent political eminences. Then I saw The Good Shepherd, which, of course, with the CIA standing in for the executive branch, reinforces that view. General Sullivan (Robert De Niro) warns us about the arrogance and ignorance of unchecked power, those who come to believe that they have god-like qualities, "there's no "the" preceding god." Edward Wilson is the stand in for all of us: we're sheep, too often following a rogue shepherd.