Looking at recent news events and analyses of them, certain patterns, common denominators and overlapping factors sometimes seem to emerge.

There may be things we can learn about the current human condition from a handful of these news reports.

Insights about the state of American society and human society might give us ideas about how to move forward in the future, something that is urgently needed.

- In Washington, D.C., male teenagers, 16 or 17 years old, were targeted for sexual relationships by a congressman.

- In the occupation of Iraq, more U.S. Army soldiers, Marines and other service members continue to die and be terribly injured. Many are 18 or 19 years old – also teenagers. They and their fellow service members were sent to Iraq by people who seem to get gratification from it, making politicians and their supporters appear to themselves and others as macho, strong and virile – despite that fact that many are “chicken hawks” who actively avoided combat service in past conflicts or who avoid combat service now.

- Innocent Iraqi children, teens and adults continue to die in the violence unleashed by the invasion of Iraq. A recent news account reported that two pre-teen Iraqi girls hugged each other as they were incinerated by an explosive blast and fireball.

- A handful of U.S. soldiers remain in custody, accused of raping a 14-year-old Iraqi girl, then shooting her and setting her body on fire after breaking into her home and killing her parents and younger sister, a small child.

- In Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, a man shoots young girls in the head in a schoolhouse. The girls were 7 to 13 years old. He obtains some sick sense of power and control, including a sexual component, by murdering these innocent children, almost as a form of human sacrifice.

- In Lebanon, a 12-year-old boy is the one of latest victims killed by leftover U.S.-made cluster bombs, dropped by Israel during the recent conflict there, when one falls from a tree, explodes and shrapnel pierces the boy’s head.

- A new joint U.S. Army-Marine Corps field manual on counterinsurgency operations advocates a different way of approaching situations such as the occupation of Iraq and efforts in Afghanistan. This manual indicates a changed psychology, a changed consciousness about Army and Marine methods, tactics and goals. It reportedly emphasizes "soft power" and avoiding the “collateral damage” of killing innocent men, women and children.

CHANGE OF STRATEGY AND HEART

What do these developments, events and situations have to teach us about human nature and ways to make progress in the future?

The new Army-Marine viewpoint seems to be on the right track: Killing, bombing, destroying, imprisoning, torturing and sacrificing human life may not be the most effective ways to accomplish goals that are good for America and Americans – or good for the international community and the human race.

Understanding human psychology and behavior seems to be a key factor. Many of the difficult and even terrible situations we face are based on human perception, emotions and understanding, or lack of understanding.

For example, in matters such as finding reasonably successful solutions to problems in Afghanistan and Iraq, there are other tactics that can accomplish the goals of neutralizing adversaries, encouraging peace, discouraging rampant killing and destruction, making friends for America, achieving prosperity, assisting in human development and generally helping people move forward.

One area of promise is an emphasis on positive, honest and straightforward psychological operations, influence operations and information operations. Using these methods in a psychologically and socially “therapeutic” way might enhance the chances of successful outcomes.

These efforts can also be effective here at home where American society sometimes seems seriously damaged by violence, crime, mental and emotional illness, poverty, homelessness, foolish entertainment, child abuse and with a greater percentage of our citizens in prison than any other country on the planet.

Many of the goals and methods to improve the human condition in Afghanistan, Iraq the United States or anywhere are basically the same. Examples include:

- Providing opportunities for people to earn a decent living, care for their families and live in a decent home and community with dignity and reasonable safety.

- Helping people become educated with an opportunity to thrive as human beings and contribute to human society.

- Assisting people obtain health care for themselves and sick and injured loved ones.

- Encouraging positive human relationships, human decency, fairness, compassion, fellowship and, yes, love.

These are some of the kinds of psychological operations and influence operations that make sense.

There are other basic strategies along these lines, including ones familiar to most Americans: “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” and “liberty and justice for all.”

These phrases should not just be idle words that we repeat without heartfelt meaning. We would do well to take them seriously and try to implement them at home and abroad.

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