At the beginning of the week, I was invited to attend a World Affairs Council event, featuring Robert Kagan. A neo-con insider and founding member of the Project for a New American Century, Kagan spent the evening pandering to the ideals of freedom while promoting the ideals of empire.
The evening's talk was titled "The Future of Foreign Policy Challenges for the Obama Administration". Kagan led off the talk with glowing reviews of Hilary Clinton, who he deems "strong and principled" as our next top diplomat. In his glowing endorsement of the Obama nominations for cabinet, Kagan observed that two-thirds could have been chosen by Senator McCain. You're not going to see "a dramatic shift in choices" with Obama's administration, he informed us. This is going to be a "centrist" administration.
Talk quickly moved into "National Security" and the War on "Terror". Mr Kagan was quite excited that "some of the top leaders" of the Mumbai attacks had been arrested in Pakistan (so far, only "suspected terrorists" have been arrested and no charges issued-as usual). "Perhaps Mumbai will be enough to set Pakistan on the right course" he went on. This led, quite naturally, into talk of Afghanistan. Mr Kagan is proudly supporting a troop surge (over 20,000) into the region with the incoming Obama administration. He believes "Obama should go to Europe" and pursue alliances for the further occupation of Afghanistan. Apparently, if we have allies in the occupation, it will be less contentious.
When asked by Jane Wales (conducting the forum, and President of the World Affairs Council of Northern California) "how dangerous is Iran", Mr Kagan jumped immediately into "Iran will have a nuclear bomb within a year". He had no trouble leaping to such claims, and even conflated Iran and Iraq with "a kid coming out of an alley and pointing a toy gun at the Police", thereby excusing the Police gunning down the kid. He uses this analogy to condone leaving a residual force of 50-70 thousand troops in Iraq and taking the fight to Iran next.
As talk of "safety" continued, Kagan promoted "Humanitarian Interventions". He referenced our "humanitarian" efforts in Panama, Haiti, Iraq, Somalia, Kosovo and Bosnia. Never was American training of death squads, bombing of urban areas, recruitment, arming and training of "al-Qaeda" forces or use of depleted uranium in the bombs dropped mentioned. "America has a special roll to play, as many predecessors have believed" he explained. It is quite amazing how "little intervention exhaustion we have considering these two grinding wars". Mr Kagan was quite confident that America will get behind any future "humanitarian interventions" that may arise-say in Iran.
Through the rest of the interview, Mr Kagan expounded on Russia, which seeks to "regain its empire" and China, with whom we utilize "engagement and containment" policy. He truly presented himself as a competent mouthpiece for fascism. He used all the right phrases ("humanitarian intervention" instead of invasion and attack, "centrist economics" instead of "corporatocracy"), he stood behind the choices of the Democrat President-Elect and even took a few chides at the current regime. Through it all he was warm, friendly, charming. He was all glows and smiles at the mention of the Project for a New American Century and the need to expand the global War on "Terror".
The coup de gras was the horrid observation that Obama need not go on a listening tour, and that the American People do not care if Obama listens to us, because we only need him to lead-not listen. Ms Jane Wales, who had been handed stacks of cards with questions from the audience, found her way to asking three of them (all three being quite innocuous). I am not surprised that my question (why is American aid to dictatorships that sponsor terror never cited as a cause for global terrorism?) asked. I am surprised that the audience seemed duped by the rhetoric, and quite at ease with his predictions for the future of our foreign poicy.
If what Mr Kagan (and Mr Obama and Mrs Rodham-Clinton, et al) espouse is anything to go by, then we are indeed fucked.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/
Friday, December 12, 2008
Monday, December 8, 2008
God Bless the Chicago Strikers
I am overjoyed to see the news that 200 laid off employees are sitting in. The continued war against the working People of America is slowly coming to a head. As the strikers said to CNN, Bank of America made the decision not to extend financing to this facility-which means no pay for the employees, no sick time, no owed vacation time and no severance. It is amazing that Bank of America can now play such a heavy hand in determining the direction of American businesses.
At the same time, the People of Iceland have led some intense actions against the Central Bank and the Police Department. After a protester was arrested in Reykjavik, thousand of Icelanders stormed the Police Station, demanding the release of the protester (who's bail was posted anonymously). A few days after surrounding the Police Station, the People of Iceland stormed the Central Bank, demanding greater accountability in the financial sector and an end to American privatization practices.
The American Way is moving too far, too fast. The push to hand all services to private corporations is wreaking havoc across Canada, the EU and well...the rest of the world. The needs of the restless many are being buried further and further by the needs of already overly wealthy aristocrats. It is not our "freedom" that we are exporting-it is our dedication to tyranny, greed and the profit of the few at the expense of the many.
It was such recklessness and greed to inspired the People of 18th century France to design and build the guillotine (and put it to use). The aims of men like Bush, and the CEO's of Wall Street and Detroit may not be evil by intent-but they are evil by design. When the needs of one's bank account and stock portfolio take precedence over the needs of one's labor force, one has indeed become part of the problem. Bush shows the same air-headed, "let them eat cake" attitude that brought down the foolhardy monarchs of Europe. His consistent lack of understanding the needs of the American People can only be considered ill informed for so long before he is seen as cold, callous and, well...evil.
The current economic crisis will be used mercilessly to union bust. Right now the Big Three are blaming Union labor for the ruin of Detroit. Somehow, agreeing to raises, health care and vacation and sick time (about 10% of the cost of a new car) is killing the automakers. Nowhere do these crooks mention their own multi-million dollar yearly bonuses, nor their own compensation costs in terms of benefits, private jets, etc. They simply point to the labor, those that produce their wealth for them, as the problem. The "great cost" of Union labor will used to justify shutting down more auto manufacturing sites, and sending them to Canada (national health care) or Mexico and points further afield (no healthcare...no regulations).
I support and admire my brothers and sisters in Chicago, Detroit, and Reykjavik. The strength of these men and women in the face of oncoming economic ruin is a soul tonic. As we descend further into the hole, I believe more and more of us will be galvanized into such actions. As the famous Industrial Workers of the World slogan goes: "An injury to one is an injury to all".
In solidarity-
At the same time, the People of Iceland have led some intense actions against the Central Bank and the Police Department. After a protester was arrested in Reykjavik, thousand of Icelanders stormed the Police Station, demanding the release of the protester (who's bail was posted anonymously). A few days after surrounding the Police Station, the People of Iceland stormed the Central Bank, demanding greater accountability in the financial sector and an end to American privatization practices.
The American Way is moving too far, too fast. The push to hand all services to private corporations is wreaking havoc across Canada, the EU and well...the rest of the world. The needs of the restless many are being buried further and further by the needs of already overly wealthy aristocrats. It is not our "freedom" that we are exporting-it is our dedication to tyranny, greed and the profit of the few at the expense of the many.
It was such recklessness and greed to inspired the People of 18th century France to design and build the guillotine (and put it to use). The aims of men like Bush, and the CEO's of Wall Street and Detroit may not be evil by intent-but they are evil by design. When the needs of one's bank account and stock portfolio take precedence over the needs of one's labor force, one has indeed become part of the problem. Bush shows the same air-headed, "let them eat cake" attitude that brought down the foolhardy monarchs of Europe. His consistent lack of understanding the needs of the American People can only be considered ill informed for so long before he is seen as cold, callous and, well...evil.
The current economic crisis will be used mercilessly to union bust. Right now the Big Three are blaming Union labor for the ruin of Detroit. Somehow, agreeing to raises, health care and vacation and sick time (about 10% of the cost of a new car) is killing the automakers. Nowhere do these crooks mention their own multi-million dollar yearly bonuses, nor their own compensation costs in terms of benefits, private jets, etc. They simply point to the labor, those that produce their wealth for them, as the problem. The "great cost" of Union labor will used to justify shutting down more auto manufacturing sites, and sending them to Canada (national health care) or Mexico and points further afield (no healthcare...no regulations).
I support and admire my brothers and sisters in Chicago, Detroit, and Reykjavik. The strength of these men and women in the face of oncoming economic ruin is a soul tonic. As we descend further into the hole, I believe more and more of us will be galvanized into such actions. As the famous Industrial Workers of the World slogan goes: "An injury to one is an injury to all".
In solidarity-
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Nancy Pelosi...is a Whore
Last night, myself and some other die-hards trundled on down to the San Francisco Historical Society. We had heard through the grapevine that La Pelosi was going to be there, hawking her new book "Know Your Power: A Message to America's Daughters". True enough, there she was, in all her millionaire glory.
Pelosi regaled the audience with her "folksy" stories of growing up in a mayor's mansion, her deep Roman Catholic faith, her great power ("President, Vice-President, Speaker of the House" as she is fond of reiterating). And when all was said and done, she had no time for questions-just autographs and picture taking.
Through out her speaking engagement, we outside kept a loud speaking engagement of our own. "What about the Geneva Conventions?" "War Criminal" "Corporate Whore". Every time the door to the historical society opened, the assembled audience was treated to the sounds of the First Amendment in action. Apparently she did address our presence, under the impression that all we want is for "George Bush to be impeached". We want more than that.
We want investigations. We want Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority to live up to their word and end the war. For two years the Dems have been playing the "We don't approve of this war or this administration" card. Well, for two years, with Pelosi at the helm of the House, we have gotten nowhere. La Pelosi was briefed on illegal domestic-surveillance, rendition, torture and black-site prisons. And did she uphold her oath to defend our Constitution, which prohibits such actions?? No. She endorsed them and kept quiet.
Now, Nancy Pelosi, Queen of the Whores (no offense to sex workers!!) is selling out the People in the most literal fashion. She has refused to hold the government (George Bush's Government) accountable-and she is handing Wall Street and the Big Auto and Oil Industries the same get out of jail free card. She is endorsing multi-trillion dollar bailouts for her social cirlce-the Wall Street Elite. She has supported ending the Endangered Species Act, turned course and endorsed more off-shore oil drilling; she continues to bring every war funding and military appropriations bill to table while keeping Constitutional Accountability in a dank closet somewhere.
Nancy Pelosi is a Whore. A moral whore; a corporate whore; war whore. She will sell anything sacred to the People for another million in stock options. She will gladly drop bombs on school children to cash a dividend check. The only time this "Representative" shows up in the district is to hawk her book or fund raise. She refuses to hold or come to Town Halls and makes a policy of throwing People out of her office.
Nancy Pelosi, you are a Whore, lacking in all integrity. It is a great shame that we must pay for your poor management and your crimes against the People.
Pelosi regaled the audience with her "folksy" stories of growing up in a mayor's mansion, her deep Roman Catholic faith, her great power ("President, Vice-President, Speaker of the House" as she is fond of reiterating). And when all was said and done, she had no time for questions-just autographs and picture taking.
Through out her speaking engagement, we outside kept a loud speaking engagement of our own. "What about the Geneva Conventions?" "War Criminal" "Corporate Whore". Every time the door to the historical society opened, the assembled audience was treated to the sounds of the First Amendment in action. Apparently she did address our presence, under the impression that all we want is for "George Bush to be impeached". We want more than that.
We want investigations. We want Nancy Pelosi and the Democratic majority to live up to their word and end the war. For two years the Dems have been playing the "We don't approve of this war or this administration" card. Well, for two years, with Pelosi at the helm of the House, we have gotten nowhere. La Pelosi was briefed on illegal domestic-surveillance, rendition, torture and black-site prisons. And did she uphold her oath to defend our Constitution, which prohibits such actions?? No. She endorsed them and kept quiet.
Now, Nancy Pelosi, Queen of the Whores (no offense to sex workers!!) is selling out the People in the most literal fashion. She has refused to hold the government (George Bush's Government) accountable-and she is handing Wall Street and the Big Auto and Oil Industries the same get out of jail free card. She is endorsing multi-trillion dollar bailouts for her social cirlce-the Wall Street Elite. She has supported ending the Endangered Species Act, turned course and endorsed more off-shore oil drilling; she continues to bring every war funding and military appropriations bill to table while keeping Constitutional Accountability in a dank closet somewhere.
Nancy Pelosi is a Whore. A moral whore; a corporate whore; war whore. She will sell anything sacred to the People for another million in stock options. She will gladly drop bombs on school children to cash a dividend check. The only time this "Representative" shows up in the district is to hawk her book or fund raise. She refuses to hold or come to Town Halls and makes a policy of throwing People out of her office.
Nancy Pelosi, you are a Whore, lacking in all integrity. It is a great shame that we must pay for your poor management and your crimes against the People.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
Next week we celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Read it. Know it. Teach it. Live it.
http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/declaration.shtml
Read it. Know it. Teach it. Live it.
http://www.un.org/events/humanrights/udhr60/declaration.shtml
An American Troop Pact
The big question: What will the US do when the UN mandate expires on 31 December, 2008? The Iraqi President's Council has signed a Troop Pact, calling for US forces to withdraw from all Iraqi cities by 30 June, and for all forces to have withdrawn by 1 January, 2012. This new decision, signed by the Kurdish President and two Councilors (one Shiite, one Sunni) will go before the voters in referendum this coming year.
Long time anti-occupation leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, refutes the agreement. After years of degradation in this savage war, al-Sadr is calling for peaceful protests and the immediate withdrawal of US military forces.
This agreement commits the next three years to big military spending, contractors receiving billions to strap on ammo and kill; this is three more years of soldiers coming home broken-and pitifully inadequate care or concern for them when they return. The human cost of this stupid endeavor is never mentioned, and to allow pictures of the carnage-or simply a flag draped coffin-is too divisive for the American People to witness. Do the American People share Barbara Bush's sentiments: "Why would waste my beautiful mind thinking about that?"
The number of suicides, attempted and successful, by our returning vets has barely been hinted at. The death toll we hear, when we hear it, is a safe "over 4,000". There is no addition of the soldiers we solicit from Latin America. When they are killed in the field, their tags are removed-and they left there. The promise of becoming US citizens dies unrealized. Let's also add the number of soldiers who die not in Iraq of their injuries, but in hospitals in Germany or the US. Because they have died (by wounds received in Iraq) in Germany or the US, they are not counted as casualties of this occupation. And the number of veteran suicides is certainly not counted.
These young Americans are coming home plagued by nightmares. They see the dead, in the most gruesome reality, every night. The crimes that they have committed or witnessed, the accidents and moments of panic do not stay in Iraq. The ghosts and demons of this holocaust travel with these soldiers; and all access to laying these demons to rest is kept out of reach. Plagued by nightmares, by panic and fits of rage and grief, these young vets do not receive care-they are ridiculed, they are asked about their love lives and money worries. They are steered away from veterans benefits and counseling-they turned away, by our government, military and Veteran's Associations, to put a gun to their head, a pill to their lips or a rope around their necks.
I agree with those calling for immediate withdrawal. We can ill afford these ventures. The fiscal cost of the War on "Terror", the human cost, the cost to our dignity as a nation and a species is already too great to continue. No security has been wrought out of the War on "Terror". No great freedom has come-only the loss of millions of lives to violence-and millions of souls to its bitter grasp.
Long time anti-occupation leader, Muqtada al-Sadr, refutes the agreement. After years of degradation in this savage war, al-Sadr is calling for peaceful protests and the immediate withdrawal of US military forces.
This agreement commits the next three years to big military spending, contractors receiving billions to strap on ammo and kill; this is three more years of soldiers coming home broken-and pitifully inadequate care or concern for them when they return. The human cost of this stupid endeavor is never mentioned, and to allow pictures of the carnage-or simply a flag draped coffin-is too divisive for the American People to witness. Do the American People share Barbara Bush's sentiments: "Why would waste my beautiful mind thinking about that?"
The number of suicides, attempted and successful, by our returning vets has barely been hinted at. The death toll we hear, when we hear it, is a safe "over 4,000". There is no addition of the soldiers we solicit from Latin America. When they are killed in the field, their tags are removed-and they left there. The promise of becoming US citizens dies unrealized. Let's also add the number of soldiers who die not in Iraq of their injuries, but in hospitals in Germany or the US. Because they have died (by wounds received in Iraq) in Germany or the US, they are not counted as casualties of this occupation. And the number of veteran suicides is certainly not counted.
These young Americans are coming home plagued by nightmares. They see the dead, in the most gruesome reality, every night. The crimes that they have committed or witnessed, the accidents and moments of panic do not stay in Iraq. The ghosts and demons of this holocaust travel with these soldiers; and all access to laying these demons to rest is kept out of reach. Plagued by nightmares, by panic and fits of rage and grief, these young vets do not receive care-they are ridiculed, they are asked about their love lives and money worries. They are steered away from veterans benefits and counseling-they turned away, by our government, military and Veteran's Associations, to put a gun to their head, a pill to their lips or a rope around their necks.
I agree with those calling for immediate withdrawal. We can ill afford these ventures. The fiscal cost of the War on "Terror", the human cost, the cost to our dignity as a nation and a species is already too great to continue. No security has been wrought out of the War on "Terror". No great freedom has come-only the loss of millions of lives to violence-and millions of souls to its bitter grasp.
Monday, December 1, 2008
More Heartless Apologies
Ain't it grand that a war mongering bastard can go on national television and "apologize"? A few weeks ago President Bush went on the waves to say that Laura had admonished him on his choice of words. The President said that "bring 'em on" and "mission accomplished" may have sent the wrong message to the People and to our "enemies".
Well, I have news for you, asshole. That sad sack apology, and the one you are now puking out on Charlie Gibson's show, are not accepted. You cannot leave office the most hated man in the history of the world and make it OK with "I was unprepared for war". Any President who enters office with plans drawn up to invade and partition another nation is clearly preparing for war. Any President who receives intelligence memos saying "Bin Laden Determined to Strike US" is clearly going to have to prepare for the possibility of war. Deliberately antagonizing "enemies" that you yourself will never have to face down is not only adding fuel to their fire-it is endangering the welfare of the soldiers you are sending in to do your dirty work. Calling the Iraq invasion and war a victory, a "Mission Accomplished" was not only sending the wrong message, it was a slap in the face to the servicemen and their families who have not finished accomplishing your mission.
What this War Criminal failed to do with his apologies was to apologize. It was the apology of a serial abuser: "I know I beat the hell out of you, and put you in the hospital...but I'm sorry, baby. I love you. I won't do that again". The profound lack of feeling any responsibility for all of the damage [he] caused is excruciating to bare. He has asked us to forgive him for putting his foot in his mouth. He has asked us to forgive him for encouraging practices that led directly to our economic collapse. He has asked forgiveness for destroying the fabric of freedom. He asked us to forgive him for failing as a man, as an American and as a President...because he loves us?? Because he's leaving the White House and won't be around to abuse us any longer? Does he think these "apologies" will quiet our demands for prosecution and imprisonment??
Well, unlike a forgiving partner, this traitor has abused the American People. We are not one lost, loving, frightened victim. We are hundreds of millions of strong, tenacious, just People. The precedent set by these monsters will be set right. The pattern of abuse will be ended-and these fuckers will end up where all monsters belong-in dank holes, far away from civilization.
Well, I have news for you, asshole. That sad sack apology, and the one you are now puking out on Charlie Gibson's show, are not accepted. You cannot leave office the most hated man in the history of the world and make it OK with "I was unprepared for war". Any President who enters office with plans drawn up to invade and partition another nation is clearly preparing for war. Any President who receives intelligence memos saying "Bin Laden Determined to Strike US" is clearly going to have to prepare for the possibility of war. Deliberately antagonizing "enemies" that you yourself will never have to face down is not only adding fuel to their fire-it is endangering the welfare of the soldiers you are sending in to do your dirty work. Calling the Iraq invasion and war a victory, a "Mission Accomplished" was not only sending the wrong message, it was a slap in the face to the servicemen and their families who have not finished accomplishing your mission.
What this War Criminal failed to do with his apologies was to apologize. It was the apology of a serial abuser: "I know I beat the hell out of you, and put you in the hospital...but I'm sorry, baby. I love you. I won't do that again". The profound lack of feeling any responsibility for all of the damage [he] caused is excruciating to bare. He has asked us to forgive him for putting his foot in his mouth. He has asked us to forgive him for encouraging practices that led directly to our economic collapse. He has asked forgiveness for destroying the fabric of freedom. He asked us to forgive him for failing as a man, as an American and as a President...because he loves us?? Because he's leaving the White House and won't be around to abuse us any longer? Does he think these "apologies" will quiet our demands for prosecution and imprisonment??
Well, unlike a forgiving partner, this traitor has abused the American People. We are not one lost, loving, frightened victim. We are hundreds of millions of strong, tenacious, just People. The precedent set by these monsters will be set right. The pattern of abuse will be ended-and these fuckers will end up where all monsters belong-in dank holes, far away from civilization.
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