"Cabal": an etymology

Former Asst Secretary of State Lawrence Wilkerson complained of "the Cheney-Rumsfeld cabal." I don't know that he chose the word "cabal" deliberately, but it is amazingly fitting.

"Cabal" derives from "Kabbalah", a form of Jewish mysticism... (in its wider sense it refers only to interpretation of Torah & Talmud; I'll assume a narrower sense in what follows).

One aspect of Kabbalah is to divine the secrets of the universe from the Divine Name. In this respect, the practice of Kabbalah is a form of 'magical thinking' - the belief that uttering the correct incantation will define reality. This particular form of magical thinking has been conspicuous in W's administration.

Rumsfeld decided that 'insurgent' was too high-falootin' a term to describe the ... insurgents. '"Insurgents" just seems like too positive a word to describe terrorists in Iraq and implies a level of legitimacy they don't have and don't deserve, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told Pentagon reporters Nov. 29. '... as if simply renaming the enemy would change the reality on the ground.

In his May 2004 War College speech, W referenced three deliverables: "establish the stability and security that democracy requires", "continue rebuilding that nation's infrastructure", and "enlist additional international support for Iraq's transition". (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/05/20040524-10.html) No action was taken to achieve any of these - simply saying the words was deemed sufficient.

W's every utterance continues to epitomize this form of magical thinking.