The Agony Of Occupation: "The Flies Have Conquered the Fly
Paper" Published on Friday, April 2, 2004 by by Paul Rockwell
These are the opening lines of 'The Moon is Down', John
Steinbeck's brilliant novel about the German occupation of
Norway, a story about conquerors-decent, home-loving soldiers
under the sway of nationalism-who occupy a foreign land. What
happens when an invading army proclaims "mission accomplished"
prematurely?  It is impossible to read Steinbeck's masterpiece
without thinking about our own soldiers in Iraq and Fallujah,
about their daily fear, the growing tendency for revenge, the
agony of conquest.   Steinbeck conveys the breakdown of morale,
the shock of recognition, in a series of dialogues-outbursts and
remarks of tense and frazzled soldiers.  "They hate us," says
one. "They hate us so much. I don't like it here, sir."  A
lieutenant exclaims: "The enemy's everywhere. Every man, woman,
even children. The faces look out of doorways. The white faces
behind the curtains, listening. We