In the post I compare the similarities of George W Bush's coordinated media event around Desert Storm to that of Donald J Trump's theoretical new war of choice in the Middle East. Unfortunately, I was right for drawing those parallels. War is no longer theory.
Aside from this note, I will leave the article below in tact. If only as an accurate example of the public pre-war conversation. Wherever you land on the political spectrum, I urge you to help where you can. At the end of this article I will list relevant aid organizations as they become apparent.
In 1993 I wrote and recorded “American Today”, a folky tune with a reggae groove. The song is about life in America in the early nineties, as told from the perspective of a 23 year-old slacker guitar-player.
For those keeping score at home, in my personal history this was in the months prior to the formation of my band Shu, and just after I moved back home to New York, from Florida. You can read more about that history in the article 31 Years in 31 Songs.
American Then
I’m sharing “American Today” now because there is a line in the lyric with new relevance in 2026. The original verse is a reference to the first war in Iraq, aka Desert Storm.
At the 02:20 mark in the tune, I sing…
It’s the last bit I’ve been thinking about. The absurdity of a scheduled, televised war.
American Today
The line came back to my mind recently as I turned on the news and watched powerful men schedule a brand new war in Iran. It is 33 years later. The only part of the story which has improved in that time is the technology identified to record the primetime destruction. Change “VCR” to “DVR” and the song is still spot-on in 2026.
I hope I am wrong. I hope the people of Tehran have a safe and peaceful weekend. And I hope that men in power come to their senses and listen to their better angels.
However the news plays out, enjoy this nugget “American Today” from the vault. As is true of all my music from last century, the song was recorded on my Yamaha MT-100 4-track cassette deck. It features a much-younger yours-truly on acoustic guitar and vocal.
“American Today“
written and recorded in 1993 by Bob Smith
I feel American today
Gonna get a burger, drink a beer
And watch TV all day
Today
I’m a do-no-wrong patriot today
Raise a flag and shoot my gun
Cast a vote for anyone
Today
Well I feel American
Do you feel American?
Are you proud to be an American today?
Of thee I view, America today
Channels 2 through 43
Oprah is my fave
Today
Well I feel American
Do you feel American?
Are you proud to be an American today?
And I trust the government today
Pay my tax and join the corp
set my DVR to tape the war
Today
Well I feel American
Do you feel American?
Are you proud to be an American today?
Well I feel American
Did you buy American?
Well we sold America today