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<p>“I’ve been locked up in Illinois prisons since I was 16. I was tortured into confessing to a crime I didn’t commit. I’ve been here for over 25 years. To look out and think this is where I will stay for the rest of my life–now that is a living, unbearable hell.”</p>
<p>— Mark Clements, Chicago police torture victim, serving a juvenile life without parole sentence in Illinois</p>
<p>Mark Clements was arrested when he was 16 years old and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Like most juveniles sentenced to life without parole, he was tried as an adult and sent to an adult prison to serve his sentence.</p>
<p>Today, Mark is 43 years old. He has spent almost twice as much of his life locked up in prison as he lived free.</p>
<p>America outstrips every other nation in the world in the number of people it puts in its prisons. The U.S. has 5 percent of the world’s population, but accounts for 25 percent of prisoners.</p>
<p>According to a study by the Pew Center on the States, one out of every 100 adults in the U.S. is in prison or jail. And because of the racism of the American “justice” system, the numbers are much higher for people of color–if you are an African American man between the ages of 20 and 34, your likelihood of being behind bars today is one in nine.</p>
<p>But the U.S. stands even further apart from the rest of the world in one nightmarish aspect of its prison system–the men and women sentenced to spend the rest of their lives behind bars.</p>
<p>There are over 132,000 people serving life sentences in the U.S. One in 10 are forbidden from ever receiving parolee, but overall, only one in four of the larger group will ever come before a parole board. Despite FBI crime statistics showing a drop in violent crime over the past decade, the number of people sentenced to life in prison has nearly doubled.</p>
<p>Paul Wright, the editor of Prison Legal News and author of two books on the prison system–who himself served 17 years of a life sentence–said life without parole sentences are “a death sentence by incarceration. You’re trading a slow form of death for a faster one.”</p>
<p>This kind of sentencing is virtually unheard of elsewhere in the world. “Western Europeans regard 10 to 12 years as extremely long term, even for offenders sentenced to life,” says James Whitman, author of the book Harsh Justice.</p>
<p>And among the prisoners with life sentences in the U.S. are 2,380 people who were sentenced to life without parole as “juvenile offenders”–in other words, they were under the age of 18 when the crimes they were accused of were committed–according to Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>Of these juvenile offenders, 73 were sentenced to life in prison without parole at the age of 13 or 14 years old, according to research done by the Equal Justice Initiative.</p>
<p>To put this in perspective, no other country in the world sentences 13 year olds to life without parole. In fact, outside of the U.S., only 12 juvenile offenders anywhere in the world are serving this sentence, according to Human Rights Watch. Seven are in Israel, four are in South Africa, and one is in Tanzania.</p>
<p>There are over 2,000 in the United States.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>“I’m the first to say that I made my share of mistakes in life–I’m not perfect. But life without the possibility of parole is a life-draining sentence. No matter how hard I try to better myself, I’m treated as if I am the worst of the worst. I can’t sleep nights. I can’t rest in my body because this one bad choice to hang with friends could cost me my freedom forever.”</p>
<p>— Daniel Henney, serving a juvenile life without parole sentence in Illinois</p>
<p>ONE THING that stands out about prisoners sentenced to life without the possibility of parole is that they don’t stand out as the inhuman monsters they are often depicted to be.</p>
<p>Among all prisoners with life sentences, from 1988 to 2001, 40 percent were convicted of a crime other than murder. Of juvenile offenders given life without parole sentences, 59 percent–well over half–had never been convicted of a previous crime, according to Human Rights Watch.</p>
<p>Antonio Nunez was raised in Los Angles, his life shaped by gang violence. As the Equal Justice Initiative described in its report “Cruel and Unusual,” at the age of 14, he got into a car with two older men, one of whom had been kidnapped. A police chase ensued, and gunfire was exchanged. No one was killed; no one was even hurt. But Antonio was sentenced to life in California’s San Quentin prison, where he remains today.</p>
<p>“He has lost all hope,” his sister Cindy Nunez told Reuters. “We try to keep his spirits up by saying something will change in the law.”</p>
<p>Rather than their alleged crimes, other factors stand out about those serving life without parole sentences. Invariably, they are poor. Many came from violent homes or suffered abuse. And an overwhelming proportion are minorities. According to Human Rights Watch, among juvenile offenders serving life without parole for crimes other than murder, every single one is a person of color.</p>
<p>In Illinois, Mark Clements is one of 103 juvenile offenders serving a life without parole sentence. Of these 103, 74 are, like Mark, African American; 10 are Latino and 19 are white.</p>
<p>Ian Manuel is one. Raised in a climate of violence and poverty, he was drawn to gang activity at a young age. At 13, he committed a robbery and shot a woman, who survived. Feeling remorseful, Ian turned himself into the police and pled guilty. He was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.</p>
<p>Ian has spent years in solitary confinement and attempted suicide several times. He remains in prison in Florida despite the fact that the victim has forgiven him and petitioned the court for his release.</p>
<p>One reason these injustices can take place is that judges are barred, under mandatory sentencing laws, to take any account of age or background information.</p>
<p>In Illinois, for example, where judges are required to impose life without parole sentences on defendants convicted of certain crimes, without consideration of any mitigating circumstances, several have gone on record with their misgivings.</p>
<p>In passing sentence in one case, Judge James Linn stated that he believed the defendant “should suffer harsh criminal consequences for acting as a lookout in this case, but to suggest that he ought to receive a sentence of life without the possibility of parole, I find to be very, very hard to swallow, to the point where I can describe it as unconscionable.”</p>
<p>Probably the most notorious mandatory sentencing policy in the country is California’s “three strikes and you’re out” law, passed in a referendum of California voters in 1994. A third felony conviction automatically lands defendants in prison for 25 years to life. Since it was implemented, over 1,000 people have gone to prison under three strikes in California for non-serious crimes.</p>
<p>Take Santos Reyes. His “crime” was to help his cousin, a Mexican immigrant who was unable to take a drivers’ test because he couldn’t write English, but needed a license so he could begin working as a roofer with Reyes. For this, Santos was convicted of felony perjury.</p>
<p>Reyes had been convicted of two previous felonies more than a decade before–stealing a radio when he was 17 and a robbery when he was 22. In neither case was anyone harmed. In the years between, he had gotten married, had two children and worked steadily as a roofer. But because the perjury charge was a third felony, he was sentenced to prison under three strikes–where he has spent the last nine years, all for taking a drivers’ test for his cousin.</p>
<p>“He was convicted for the crimes of being poor and Mexican,” said Rachael Odes, who helps coordinate the Free Santos Reyes committee. “He’s just one of many. There are so many people serving long sentences for nonviolent crimes. He’s a regular guy who was trying to make a living.”</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>“I have little hope at all. This sentence is like a death sentence. It is torture on my sanity. There’s no second chances for any of us. No matter how good or bad I am, these cruel prison conditions are all I have to look forward to.”</p>
<p>— Paul Lee, serving a juvenile life without parole sentence in Illinois</p>
<p>THE STANDARD argument in favor of harsh sentencing is that it keeps the public safe. But does it?</p>
<p>“Studies have shown that offenders who have served over 20 years in prison rarely ever reoffend and never for a violent crime,” says Linda Goodman from Citizens for Earned Release. “The recidivism rate for older inmates is less than 2 percent.”</p>
<p>And the rest of the industrialized world, where such harsh sentences are unheard of, has a far lower violent crime rate.</p>
<p>The U.S. hasn’t always had lock-them-up-and-throw-away-the-key sentencing policies. Before the 1970s, life without the possibility of parole sentences were unknown. During the 1960s, in fact, the emphasis in prison policy was on rehabilitation and helping prisoners get training and education so they could successfully rejoin society upon their release. Congress amended federal parole statues to make it possible for prisoners serving life sentence to be eligible for parole after 15 years.</p>
<p>But in the 1970s, this began to change. Politicians saw that “tough on crime” rhetoric could both win them votes and drive back the gains made by the civil rights and other social movements of the 1960s and early ’70s.</p>
<p>The emphasis of new laws turned to punishing prisoners, rather than rehabilitation. In 1984, the Sentencing Reform Act eliminated parole for all federal crimes. By 2000, 33 states had abolished parole, up from 17 over previous decades–and 24 states had introduced three-strikes sentencing laws.</p>
<p>And more and more states established life without the possibility of parole sentences. Currently, only New Mexico and Alaska don’t have a life without parole sentence on the books.</p>
<p>U.S. policymakers seem determined to march out of step with the rest of the world on the use of harsh prison sentences. In 2006, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling on all nations to abolish life without the possibility of parole sentences for youth offenders. The margin was 185 to 1–with the U.S. casting the one and only vote against.</p>
<p>Efforts to win change in sentencing laws have had mixed results. In 2004, California activists organized a campaign for a referendum to amend the three-strikes law to trigger the sentence only if the third felony was a “serious” one. Leading up to the vote, opinion polls showed two-thirds support for the referendum. But a last-minute advertising blitz and campaign by conservatives like Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger turned the tide, and the referendum lost by a narrow margin.</p>
<p>This year, supporters were unable to gather enough signatures to put the measure on the ballot again in California. But a bill to abolish life without parole sentences for youth offenders passed the Senate Public Safety Committee in April and is being considered by the full state Senate. If this legislation passes, California would join nine other states that prohibit life without parole sentences for juveniles.</p>
<p>In Illinois, efforts by some grassroots groups to allow juveniles with life without parole sentences to come before a parole board after serving 10 years is underway, but the attempt is being stymied by opposition from victims’ rights groups.</p>
<p>It’s long past time that life without paroles sentences were eliminated–for juveniles or adults.</p>
<p>“Everyday that I wake up, it’s a pain knowing that I have this sentence, and if these devils get their way, I will have to be here the rest of my days. Knowing this, and being in this situation, just the thought alone will kill you from the inside out. A natural life sentence tells the public that you are a vile and insidious person, and that you possess no rehabilitative potential to reenter society and be a productive citizen. This is a bald-faced lie, and this lie can be brought to an end today.”</p>
<p>— Jamie Jackson, serving a life without parole sentence in Illinois</p>
<p>MARLENE MARTIN is national director of the <a href="http://www.nodeathpenalty.org/" type="external">Campaign to End the Death Penalty</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | ive locked illinois prisons since 16 tortured confessing crime didnt commit ive 25 years look think stay rest lifenow living unbearable hell mark clements chicago police torture victim serving juvenile life without parole sentence illinois mark clements arrested 16 years old sentenced life prison without possibility parole like juveniles sentenced life without parole tried adult sent adult prison serve sentence today mark 43 years old spent almost twice much life locked prison lived free america outstrips every nation world number people puts prisons us 5 percent worlds population accounts 25 percent prisoners according study pew center states one every 100 adults us prison jail racism american justice system numbers much higher people colorif african american man ages 20 34 likelihood behind bars today one nine us stands even apart rest world one nightmarish aspect prison systemthe men women sentenced spend rest lives behind bars 132000 people serving life sentences us one 10 forbidden ever receiving parolee overall one four larger group ever come parole board despite fbi crime statistics showing drop violent crime past decade number people sentenced life prison nearly doubled paul wright editor prison legal news author two books prison systemwho served 17 years life sentencesaid life without parole sentences death sentence incarceration youre trading slow form death faster one kind sentencing virtually unheard elsewhere world western europeans regard 10 12 years extremely long term even offenders sentenced life says james whitman author book harsh justice among prisoners life sentences us 2380 people sentenced life without parole juvenile offendersin words age 18 crimes accused committedaccording human rights watch juvenile offenders 73 sentenced life prison without parole age 13 14 years old according research done equal justice initiative put perspective country world sentences 13 year olds life without parole fact outside us 12 juvenile offenders anywhere world serving sentence according human rights watch seven israel four south africa one tanzania 2000 united states im first say made share mistakes lifeim perfect life without possibility parole lifedraining sentence matter hard try better im treated worst worst cant sleep nights cant rest body one bad choice hang friends could cost freedom forever daniel henney serving juvenile life without parole sentence illinois one thing stands prisoners sentenced life without possibility parole dont stand inhuman monsters often depicted among prisoners life sentences 1988 2001 40 percent convicted crime murder juvenile offenders given life without parole sentences 59 percentwell halfhad never convicted previous crime according human rights watch antonio nunez raised los angles life shaped gang violence equal justice initiative described report cruel unusual age 14 got car two older men one kidnapped police chase ensued gunfire exchanged one killed one even hurt antonio sentenced life californias san quentin prison remains today lost hope sister cindy nunez told reuters try keep spirits saying something change law rather alleged crimes factors stand serving life without parole sentences invariably poor many came violent homes suffered abuse overwhelming proportion minorities according human rights watch among juvenile offenders serving life without parole crimes murder every single one person color illinois mark clements one 103 juvenile offenders serving life without parole sentence 103 74 like mark african american 10 latino 19 white ian manuel one raised climate violence poverty drawn gang activity young age 13 committed robbery shot woman survived feeling remorseful ian turned police pled guilty sentenced life without possibility parole ian spent years solitary confinement attempted suicide several times remains prison florida despite fact victim forgiven petitioned court release one reason injustices take place judges barred mandatory sentencing laws take account age background information illinois example judges required impose life without parole sentences defendants convicted certain crimes without consideration mitigating circumstances several gone record misgivings passing sentence one case judge james linn stated believed defendant suffer harsh criminal consequences acting lookout case suggest ought receive sentence life without possibility parole find hard swallow point describe unconscionable probably notorious mandatory sentencing policy country californias three strikes youre law passed referendum california voters 1994 third felony conviction automatically lands defendants prison 25 years life since implemented 1000 people gone prison three strikes california nonserious crimes take santos reyes crime help cousin mexican immigrant unable take drivers test couldnt write english needed license could begin working roofer reyes santos convicted felony perjury reyes convicted two previous felonies decade beforestealing radio 17 robbery 22 neither case anyone harmed years gotten married two children worked steadily roofer perjury charge third felony sentenced prison three strikeswhere spent last nine years taking drivers test cousin convicted crimes poor mexican said rachael odes helps coordinate free santos reyes committee hes one many many people serving long sentences nonviolent crimes hes regular guy trying make living little hope sentence like death sentence torture sanity theres second chances us matter good bad cruel prison conditions look forward paul lee serving juvenile life without parole sentence illinois standard argument favor harsh sentencing keeps public safe studies shown offenders served 20 years prison rarely ever reoffend never violent crime says linda goodman citizens earned release recidivism rate older inmates less 2 percent rest industrialized world harsh sentences unheard far lower violent crime rate us hasnt always lockthemupandthrowawaythekey sentencing policies 1970s life without possibility parole sentences unknown 1960s fact emphasis prison policy rehabilitation helping prisoners get training education could successfully rejoin society upon release congress amended federal parole statues make possible prisoners serving life sentence eligible parole 15 years 1970s began change politicians saw tough crime rhetoric could win votes drive back gains made civil rights social movements 1960s early 70s emphasis new laws turned punishing prisoners rather rehabilitation 1984 sentencing reform act eliminated parole federal crimes 2000 33 states abolished parole 17 previous decadesand 24 states introduced threestrikes sentencing laws states established life without possibility parole sentences currently new mexico alaska dont life without parole sentence books us policymakers seem determined march step rest world use harsh prison sentences 2006 united nations general assembly passed resolution calling nations abolish life without possibility parole sentences youth offenders margin 185 1with us casting one vote efforts win change sentencing laws mixed results 2004 california activists organized campaign referendum amend threestrikes law trigger sentence third felony serious one leading vote opinion polls showed twothirds support referendum lastminute advertising blitz campaign conservatives like gov arnold schwarzenegger turned tide referendum lost narrow margin year supporters unable gather enough signatures put measure ballot california bill abolish life without parole sentences youth offenders passed senate public safety committee april considered full state senate legislation passes california would join nine states prohibit life without parole sentences juveniles illinois efforts grassroots groups allow juveniles life without parole sentences come parole board serving 10 years underway attempt stymied opposition victims rights groups long past time life without paroles sentences eliminatedfor juveniles adults everyday wake pain knowing sentence devils get way rest days knowing situation thought alone kill inside natural life sentence tells public vile insidious person possess rehabilitative potential reenter society productive citizen baldfaced lie lie brought end today jamie jackson serving life without parole sentence illinois marlene martin national director campaign end death penalty 160 160 160 160 | 1,170 |
<p>First, a story—a true one. On February 28, 1994, in a funeral eulogy for an American-born Israeli who had been beaten to death by a Palestinian mob a few days before, a certain Rabbi Perin declared, “A million Arabs are not worth one Jewish fingernail.” The world was shocked by the statement when it was reported in the New York Times, and the Israeli prime minister himself denounced it. The murdered Israeli was Baruch Goldstein, who, on February 25, 1994, had stepped into a mosque carrying an assault rifle and killed 29 Palestinian men and boys bowed in prayer before his gun jammed. He was then killed with iron bars by surviving worshipers.</p>
<p>Now in Gaza, a more modest version of the stunning ratio suggested by Rabbi Perin, the worth of the million and the worth of the one, is being enacted. The tally to this date in the mutual killing taking place in Gaza and the adjoining Israeli territory since the end of December is 979 Palestinian dead and 13 Israeli dead, a proportion of 75 to 1. Of the Palestinian dead, 292 were children and approximately 75 were women. In one Palestinian family, five sisters, ages 4 to 17, were killed; in another, two sisters, ages 5 and 12 were killed. A 2,000 pound bomb dropped on the home of a Hamas leader killed not only him but his four wives and 13 of his 17 children.</p>
<p>Of the total of 13 Israeli dead in the current phase of the decades-long conflict, three were civilians, killed by rockets fired from Gaza into Israeli territory beginning December 19, when a six-month cease-fire agreed to by Israel and the Hamas government of Gaza expired. To “teach Israel a lesson,” Hamas had summoned up the heaviest weaponry in its arsenal: an assortment of crude rockets with notoriously wild aim. To “teach Hamas a lesson” in turn, Israel launched day and night bombing attacks on all of Gaza, of less than pinpoint accuracy, starting two weeks ago, on December 27. In the first four days of the new lesson, those aerial attacks killed more than 400 Palestinians, of all sizes and all places in Gaza society, and made rubble a familiar sight throughout the city. Those 400 and more Palestinian deaths stood as first payment for the three Israelis who had been killed by Palestinian rockets.</p>
<p>Gaza, be it noted, with three times the population of Vermont and 1.5 percent of Vermont’s land area, is one of the most densely populated regions of the world. The people of Gaza are most of them refugees of the 1967 war, and their descendants. They don’t merely live and survive as best they can in Gaza. As life-long refuges, they are locked in place by the Israeli military, who since decades past have exercised total control over what persons and what goods will enter and leave the territory.</p>
<p>Especially since the imposition of the stricter blockade of the last 18 months, Gaza has come to resemble an open-air prison where a million-and-a-half virtual inmates, cut off from the rest of the world, struggle to piece together an existence.</p>
<p>The effect of the blockade on the health of the population of Gaza has been severe in the extreme. In the period before the new outbreak of violence a couple of weeks ago, investigators found that 75 percent of Gazans were undernourished. The children of Gaza, who number 58 percent of the population and whose bodies persist in wanting to grow, have been the greatest sufferers: 46 percent suffer from acute anemia, 45 percent have an iron deficiency, and 18 percent have been stunted in their growth. Because of lack of fuel, provision of electricity and water has been sketchy and scarce. And now, since the assault by Israel, beginning on December 27, the condition of Gaza has gone from calamitous to catastrophic: a humanitarian disaster, in the view of both the International Red Cross and the United Nations Relief Agency, who have a certain expertise in these matters.</p>
<p>With such punishing effects on the civilian population, the continuing Israeli blockade of Gaza, now of 18 months duration, constitutes “collective punishment,” a belligerent action that besides being abhorrent to most people is expressly forbidden under Article 33 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, the controlling international law on the conduct of war.</p>
<p>So who started it? Who first violated the six-month cease-fire between Israel and the Hamas government of Gaza, that began on June 19, 2008?</p>
<p>Was it Gaza and Hamas? During the period of the cease-fire, from June 19 to December 19, 2008, rockets continued to be fired from Gaza into neighboring Israeli communities, with their usual vague aim and murderous intent. But their numbers had dropped dramatically, even according to the Israeli military. Hamas claims that those rockets were fired by rogue parties over whom it had no control.</p>
<p>Whoever fired them, there were no deaths resulting from them in the period of the cease-fire. But whether deaths resulted or not, all Israelis within range of Gaza’s rockets have lived for months in states of daily anxiety.</p>
<p>Hamas, for its part, accuses Israel of violating the cease-fire in two different ways. It claims that the tight blockade of Gaza maintained by Israel for the past year and a half, and including the period of the cease-fire, had become unendurable. It has claimed that the protracted blockade, with its punishing effects on the health of the population at-large, was in itself an illegal action both under the rules of the Fourth Geneva Convention and under the terms of the Egyptian-brokered cease-fire of June 2008, and that of itself it constituted a casus belli that gave Hamas the right to pick up arms in its own defense. Hamas makes also the more punctuated claim that Israel had openly violated the mutual cease-fire on November 4, 2008, 50 days before Hamas formally declared an end to its own observance of it, when Israeli troops broke into Gaza, killing six Palestinians and carting off six others.</p>
<p>With its back to the wall because of the blockade, and lacking planes, helicopters, and tanks of its own, Hamas resumed the only form of warfare it was capable of, the frank terror of rockets aimed in the direction of nearby Israeli communities.</p>
<p>It is these current rocket attacks from Gaza which, taken together with similar attacks carried out over the last eight years have inflicted a total of 28 Israeli civilian deaths, that Israel has cited as grounds for attacking Gaza now, from the air and sea and ultimately by land, with overwhelming force. The death counts are eloquent of a great moral equation that I leave it to the reader to judge: those 28 Israeli deaths in eight years of on-and-off Palestinian rocket attack on the one hand; and 979 Palestinian deaths, suddenly, in the little more than two weeks of the blitzkrieg that Israel is currently waging on Gaza.</p>
<p>Enter also into the moral equation also the enormous damage done to the housing and civic structures of Gaza—schools, hospitals, university buildings—and the psychological effects on the children of Gaza who, while enduring cold and hunger, have been witnessing death all around them, and are emotionally petrified by the mayhem raining down on them, from which there is no escape within the confines of crammed, crowded, and locked down Gaza.</p>
<p>Will the people of Gaza and the Hamas government they saw fit to elect two years ago, now under day and night attack of breathtaking severity, “learn the lesson” that Israel seeks to teach them? While at the same time and in the same spirit of rough pedagogy, Hamas tries to teach Israel a parallel lesson with its scatter-shot of rockets.? So far, not. Neither side, in its outrage, chooses to understand the rough “lesson” the other side is teaching. It is as though the human brute had lost its tongue and its power of reason.</p>
<p>Gaza under punishment, I submit, locked down, sealed in, half starved, terrified, and overpowered as it is now, with elements still resisting, is acquiring an eerie resemblance to the Warsaw ghetto of the 1940s: a resemblance still small, but increasing.</p>
<p>In a comment on the current bombing of Gaza, Titus North, an American professor of political science, called attention to the anomaly of Israel. “A state founded by Holocaust survivors,” he wrote, “should be a beacon of morality, not a black hole for it.”</p>
<p>That terrible loop the course of history has taken, with descendants of the historic victims of the Holocaust now wearing the jackboots of the dominant warrior, is a bitter thing for a Jew like myself to contemplate.</p>
<p>Postscript: A few days ago, Congress &#160;pledged its “unwavering support for Israel” in this hottest of little wars. While at the same time, in capital cities throughout the world, people have been demonstrating in the tens and hundreds of thousands, to express their outrage at the violent disproportion of Israel’s response to the provocation of the rocket attacks that keep coming from Gaza.</p>
<p>My word to our representatives in Washington: By making the United States Israel’s Siamese twin in this affair, joined to it at hip, and ankle, you not only fail to reflect the views of a great part of your constituency, but also expose us to the kinds of international anger and hatred that Israel is incurring throughout the world, with the lord knows what consequences for our own safety and standing in the world.</p>
<p>JULES RABIN is a writer, political critic, and longtime resident of Marshfield, Vermont.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | first storya true one february 28 1994 funeral eulogy americanborn israeli beaten death palestinian mob days certain rabbi perin declared million arabs worth one jewish fingernail world shocked statement reported new york times israeli prime minister denounced murdered israeli baruch goldstein february 25 1994 stepped mosque carrying assault rifle killed 29 palestinian men boys bowed prayer gun jammed killed iron bars surviving worshipers gaza modest version stunning ratio suggested rabbi perin worth million worth one enacted tally date mutual killing taking place gaza adjoining israeli territory since end december 979 palestinian dead 13 israeli dead proportion 75 1 palestinian dead 292 children approximately 75 women one palestinian family five sisters ages 4 17 killed another two sisters ages 5 12 killed 2000 pound bomb dropped home hamas leader killed four wives 13 17 children total 13 israeli dead current phase decadeslong conflict three civilians killed rockets fired gaza israeli territory beginning december 19 sixmonth ceasefire agreed israel hamas government gaza expired teach israel lesson hamas summoned heaviest weaponry arsenal assortment crude rockets notoriously wild aim teach hamas lesson turn israel launched day night bombing attacks gaza less pinpoint accuracy starting two weeks ago december 27 first four days new lesson aerial attacks killed 400 palestinians sizes places gaza society made rubble familiar sight throughout city 400 palestinian deaths stood first payment three israelis killed palestinian rockets gaza noted three times population vermont 15 percent vermonts land area one densely populated regions world people gaza refugees 1967 war descendants dont merely live survive best gaza lifelong refuges locked place israeli military since decades past exercised total control persons goods enter leave territory especially since imposition stricter blockade last 18 months gaza come resemble openair prison millionandahalf virtual inmates cut rest world struggle piece together existence effect blockade health population gaza severe extreme period new outbreak violence couple weeks ago investigators found 75 percent gazans undernourished children gaza number 58 percent population whose bodies persist wanting grow greatest sufferers 46 percent suffer acute anemia 45 percent iron deficiency 18 percent stunted growth lack fuel provision electricity water sketchy scarce since assault israel beginning december 27 condition gaza gone calamitous catastrophic humanitarian disaster view international red cross united nations relief agency certain expertise matters punishing effects civilian population continuing israeli blockade gaza 18 months duration constitutes collective punishment belligerent action besides abhorrent people expressly forbidden article 33 fourth geneva convention controlling international law conduct war started first violated sixmonth ceasefire israel hamas government gaza began june 19 2008 gaza hamas period ceasefire june 19 december 19 2008 rockets continued fired gaza neighboring israeli communities usual vague aim murderous intent numbers dropped dramatically even according israeli military hamas claims rockets fired rogue parties control whoever fired deaths resulting period ceasefire whether deaths resulted israelis within range gazas rockets lived months states daily anxiety hamas part accuses israel violating ceasefire two different ways claims tight blockade gaza maintained israel past year half including period ceasefire become unendurable claimed protracted blockade punishing effects health population atlarge illegal action rules fourth geneva convention terms egyptianbrokered ceasefire june 2008 constituted casus belli gave hamas right pick arms defense hamas makes also punctuated claim israel openly violated mutual ceasefire november 4 2008 50 days hamas formally declared end observance israeli troops broke gaza killing six palestinians carting six others back wall blockade lacking planes helicopters tanks hamas resumed form warfare capable frank terror rockets aimed direction nearby israeli communities current rocket attacks gaza taken together similar attacks carried last eight years inflicted total 28 israeli civilian deaths israel cited grounds attacking gaza air sea ultimately land overwhelming force death counts eloquent great moral equation leave reader judge 28 israeli deaths eight years onandoff palestinian rocket attack one hand 979 palestinian deaths suddenly little two weeks blitzkrieg israel currently waging gaza enter also moral equation also enormous damage done housing civic structures gazaschools hospitals university buildingsand psychological effects children gaza enduring cold hunger witnessing death around emotionally petrified mayhem raining escape within confines crammed crowded locked gaza people gaza hamas government saw fit elect two years ago day night attack breathtaking severity learn lesson israel seeks teach time spirit rough pedagogy hamas tries teach israel parallel lesson scattershot rockets far neither side outrage chooses understand rough lesson side teaching though human brute lost tongue power reason gaza punishment submit locked sealed half starved terrified overpowered elements still resisting acquiring eerie resemblance warsaw ghetto 1940s resemblance still small increasing comment current bombing gaza titus north american professor political science called attention anomaly israel state founded holocaust survivors wrote beacon morality black hole terrible loop course history taken descendants historic victims holocaust wearing jackboots dominant warrior bitter thing jew like contemplate postscript days ago congress 160pledged unwavering support israel hottest little wars time capital cities throughout world people demonstrating tens hundreds thousands express outrage violent disproportion israels response provocation rocket attacks keep coming gaza word representatives washington making united states israels siamese twin affair joined hip ankle fail reflect views great part constituency also expose us kinds international anger hatred israel incurring throughout world lord knows consequences safety standing world jules rabin writer political critic longtime resident marshfield vermont 160 160 160 | 860 |
<p>Imagine you came across a child drowning in a small pond and you were the only one around to help. You could easily save the child by wading in, although doing so would ruin your clothing and shoes. But if you don’t, the child will die.</p>
<p>It’s a no-brainer — you should save the child. Would the answer be any different if there were others around who could also help? No. Should it make any difference if the desperate child wasn’t directly in front of you? No.</p>
<p>The question, then, is are you any less obligated to intervene if the child isn’t drowning but is instead in mortal danger due to lack of food, water, or medical treatment and the only means you have to help is donating money to charity?</p>
<p>Peter Singer doesn’t think so.</p>
<p>In “ <a href="http://utilitarianism.net/singer/by/1972----.htm" type="external">Famine, Affluence, and Morality</a>” and his 2009 book The Life You Can Save, the noted philosopher argues that you are equally compelled to help those living in extreme poverty through philanthropy as you are to help the drowning child.</p>
<p>The moral principle in both cases is the same: we ought to reduce the suffering of others so long as doing so does not require “sacrificing anything nearly as important.” In the drowning child case, your clothing and shoes aren’t nearly as important as a child’s life, and in the case of philanthropy, the monetary equivalent of that clothing and shoes isn’t nearly as important as saving a child’s life if you have the financial means.</p>
<p>It is this basic argument that has inspired a growing social movement, which <a href="http://www.effective-altruism.com/ea/5w/the_history_of_the_term_effective_altruism/" type="external">brands</a> itself <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_altruism" type="external">Effective Altruism</a>. Effective Altruists calculate where expendable income is best spent and encourage the relatively affluent to channel their capital accordingly. Among their most highly favored causes are the Against Malaria Foundation (which distributes insecticide-treated bed nets), the Schistosomiasis Control Initiative (which works to establish school-based deworming programs), and GiveDirectly (which gives unconditional cash transfers to people in extreme poverty).</p>
<p>Over <a href="http://www.thelifeyoucansave.org/Take-the-Pledge" type="external">17,000</a> people have pledged to give at least 1 percent of their income annually to such endorsed causes, and over <a href="https://www.givingwhatwecan.org" type="external">1,000</a> have pledged to give at least 10 percent. It is particularly popular among millennials, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/melody-y-guan/the-new-social-movement-o_b_7097082.html" type="external">leading some</a> to laud it as “the new social movement of our generation.”</p>
<p>Although the argument is over forty years old, most of the movement’s growth has taken place in the past half decade, and this year saw the publication of numerous books on the subject — <a href="http://www.amazon.com/How-Be-Great-Doing-Good/dp/1119041716/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1434991930&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=how+to+be+great+at+doing+good" type="external">How to Be Great at Doing Good,</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Doing-Good-Better-Effective-Difference/dp/1592409105/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1434991971&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=doing+good+better" type="external">Doing Good Better</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Strangers-Drowning-Grappling-Impossible-Overpowering/dp/1594204330/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1434992056&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=strangers+drowning" type="external">Strangers Drowning</a>, and Singer’s latest, <a href="http://yalepress.yale.edu/book.asp?isbn=9780300180275" type="external">The Most Good You Can Do</a> — along with <a href="http://bostonreview.net/forum/peter-singer-logic-effective-altruism" type="external">extensive</a>, <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/06/what-is-the-greatest-good/395768/" type="external">positive</a> <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/peter-singer-on-the-ethics-of-philanthropy-1428083293" type="external">coverage</a> in <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-the-trader-who-donates-half-his-pay.html" type="external">popular</a> <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/4/24/8457895/givewell-open-philanthropy-charity" type="external">media</a>.</p>
<p>Not everyone is convinced. Critics of the movement typically point out things like the undemocratic nature of philanthropy, the danger of undermining essential public sector services, and the longer-term need for economic development after picking low-hanging fruit through philanthropy.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leah-hunthendrix/so-you-want-to-be-a-radical-philanthropist_b_7181248.html" type="external">Leftist critiques</a> of the movement go further. <a href="https://www.academia.edu/1817777/The_fallacy_of_philanthropy" type="external">Paul Gomberg</a>, for example, charges that the analytical framework promoted by Singer’s argument “promotes political quietism” by “[shifting] our focus from political, social, and economic issues to abstract philosophical arguments.”</p>
<p>Moreover, Gomberg argues that the resources required to successfully relieve poverty through philanthropy or achieve radical systemic change are so huge that “in doing more of one we do less of the other.” So, they must be construed as “competing ways of using our time, energy, and other resources.”</p>
<p>Singer and Effective Altruists claim to “ <a href="https://80000hours.org/2015/07/effective-altruists-love-systemic-change/" type="external">love systemic change</a>,” pointing to their support for research and advocacy for (moderate) policy reform concerning things like criminal justice, immigration, and international trade. More thorough critiques of capitalism like the one Gomberg has in mind, of course, are strikingly absent.</p>
<p>Singer’s rejoinder? “If there is little chance of achieving the kind of revolution you are seeking, then you need to look around for a strategy with better prospects of actually helping some poor people.”</p>
<p>But while we can speculate about the prospects for a socialist revolution, the problem with Effective Altruism goes even deeper than disagreement about the best way to improve the lives of the global poor.</p>
<p>The core problem is the bourgeois moral philosophy that the movement rests upon. Effective Altruists abstract from — and thereby exonerate — the social dynamics constitutive of capitalism. The result is a simultaneously flawed moral and structural analysis that aspires to fix the world’s most pressing problems on capital’s terms.</p>
<p>Effective Altruists treat charities as black boxes — money goes in, good consequences come out. The desire to achieve salutary results becomes an imperative to give money to charities.</p>
<p>The only aspect of charity worthy of analysis is how much bang donators can expect to get for their buck — cost per life saved or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-adjusted_life_year" type="external">quality-adjusted life-years</a>. In the process Effective Altruists gloss over important social relations, obscuring the morality (and efficacy) of giving to charity, or commanding others to do so, in the first place.</p>
<p>The black-box presentation of charity displays only the relation between the potential philanthropist and the potential victim of a preventable evil. Indeed, even this part of the analogy is deceptive, posing the exchange as between one person with the capacity to save and one person in need of saving.</p>
<p>In reality, the potential philanthropist only has the power to pay others to save the potential victim. Donating money becomes the primary means by which the philanthropist can rescue a person in need — without the monetary transfer no one gets saved.</p>
<p>The irony of Effective Altruism is that it implores individuals to use their money to procure necessities for those who desperately need them, but says nothing about the system that determines how those necessities are produced and distributed in the first place.</p>
<p>If we look at the institutions that make and allocate the resources others so desperately need, we must ask whether it is wrong to withhold those resources from others for the sake of payment and profit. Doing so not only seems morally reprehensible, it is morally reprehensible for precisely the same reason Effective Altruists argue it is wrong not to donate money to charities: it’s immoral to value some small sum of money (or what it might buy) over a human life or minimum standard of living.</p>
<p>In this way, Effective Altruism’s argument trades off an obvious moral truth without any mention of its direct tension with capitalist accumulation: as men and women with money and moral consciences, we can’t put a price on life, but as men and women participating in a system governed by the logic of capital, we must.</p>
<p>The absurd result is that Effective Altruism implores individuals to pay whatever price the market demands for basic necessities on moral grounds that cut against subjecting those necessities to capitalist market logic at all.</p>
<p>This is the primary disanalogy between saving Singer’s hypothetical drowning stranger and giving to charity. In the former, the cost to us is merely private opportunity cost, knowingly soiling our clothing and shoes by jumping into the water. In the latter, the cost to us is what capitalist institutions demand as a condition of granting what is needed for the rescue.</p>
<p>The flawed analytical framework informing this oversight goes beyond the black box conception of charity; it belies the bourgeois moral philosophy animating Effective Altruism. It doesn’t just abstract from capital, it transforms its terms for doing business into constraints imposed by nature.</p>
<p>The drowning stranger analogy thus takes on a very different cast: the desperate child needs some life-preserving necessity (food, clean water, medical treatment, etc.) that capital undemocratically produces or possesses, and dictates the terms on which it’s distributed. Through those who personify it, capital fails any drowning stranger in at least three ways.</p>
<p>First, capital actually has what the imperiled stranger needs. Whereas most individuals generally only possess necessities for themselves and their families, institutions bound by the logic of capital accumulation collectively own virtually all the necessities that individuals must purchase in order to survive.</p>
<p>That such an arrangement results in objectionable consequences should hardly be surprising. Here we see just one of them: capital will let the drowning stranger die unless it receives adequate payment. Regardless of what we do, capital’s position remains the same: the drowning stranger’s life isn’t worth the cost of the life-preserving necessity. Moreover, capital’s participation in the rescue is contingent on the ability to profit from it.</p>
<p>For capital, this is just another transaction — and why shouldn’t it be? This principle is implicit in every exchange for life-sustaining necessities, even if it only becomes explicit when someone <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/cost-of-cancer-drugs-60-minutes-lesley-stahl-health-care/" type="external">can’t afford them</a>.</p>
<p>Second, capital creates “drowning strangers.” The inability of companies to profit from those with little or no purchasing power is the reason why so many poor people need altruists to save them.</p>
<p>Yet their purchasing power is itself mostly determined by capital’s need for their labor. Despite the fact that people living in poverty have the capacity to contribute to society in important ways, it’s often just not profitable for businesses or neoliberal states to pay them enough to do so.</p>
<p>Moreover, capital’s commodification of necessities directly undermines the self-sufficiency of entire populations by determining how resources are allocated.</p>
<p>As charities and Effective Altruists publicize how badly the global poor need food, for example, capital <a href="https://www.grain.org/article/entries/93-seized-the-2008-landgrab-for-food-and-financial-security" type="external">acquires and controls</a> their fertile land, using it to grow crops that can be sold for higher returns to populations with deeper pockets. The farming practices it brings <a href="https://www.grain.org/article/entries/4516-squeezing-africa-dry-behind-every-land-grab-is-a-water-grab" type="external">require</a> already-scarce water supplies and are slated to overdraw the sources of those supplies — to say nothing of ecological havoc like <a href="http://advances.sciencemag.org/content/1/5/e1400253" type="external">mass extinction</a> and global climate change.</p>
<p>In the meantime, capital extracts around $2 trillion annually from “developing countries” through things like <a href="http://www.gfintegrity.org/report/2014-global-report-illicit-financial-flows-from-developing-countries-2003-2012/" type="external">illicit financial flows</a>, tax evasion, debt service, and trade policies advantageous to the global capitalist class.</p>
<p>The loss of these revenues and resources for developing countries and their people is capital’s gain. Individuals’ ability to do rudimentary things like feed themselves becomes contingent on their ability to outbid others in a global marketplace where the winner determines how their local resources are used.</p>
<p>Governments’ lost revenues, and the <a href="http://www.globalissues.org/article/3/structural-adjustment-a-major-cause-of-poverty" type="external">structural adjustment programs</a> these conditions precipitate, are then used to justify cuts to essential services like malaria eradication programs — one of Effective Altruists’ favorite philanthropic causes — predictably resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.</p>
<p>These dynamics, which spring from capital’s insistence on the commodification of necessities, are what turn <a href="http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats" type="external">billions</a> of people into drowning strangers and generate a need for ever-multiplying charitable organizations in the first place.</p>
<p>Finally, everything mentioned above constrains a concerned non-capitalist’s ability to intervene. Aside from challenging the rule of capital, a non-capitalist’s only readily available option is donating to charity — thus subsidizing its profiting from basic necessities — or else ignoring those in need.</p>
<p>That subsidizing capital accumulation has become the only readily available way for most to act on compassion for others is perverse. Even if charity were extremely efficacious, which it is not, choosing between a modest sum of money and another human life is no choice at all. But it is one we are faced with because capitalists have already made their choice and shaped the world to suit it.</p>
<p>Effective Altruists like Singer begin and end their analysis at how to deal with moral dilemmas downstream from these dynamics. This is what makes Effective Altruism particularly pernicious.</p>
<p>Through its stunted social vocabulary and myopic focus on after-the-fact moral dilemmas, it advances a deeply flawed conception of our most pressing problems, shifting what ought to be an indictment of capital onto anyone with a modicum of expendable income.</p>
<p>The problem, apparently, isn’t that capitalism’s institutionalization of immoral maxims ends up leaving billions in poverty and hundreds of millions in existential need of food, water, shelter, and basic medical care.</p>
<p>Instead, the problem becomes that relatively affluent individuals haven’t bought those necessities from the capitalist class for the hundreds of millions that need them; the comparatively wealthy have been “ <a href="http://www.oxfordscholarship.com/view/10.1093/0195108590.001.0001/acprof-9780195108590" type="external">living high and letting die</a>” either out of ignorance of what their money could buy or out of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC4FnfNKwUo" type="external">weakness of will</a> in the face of a consumerist society.</p>
<p>The solution, then, is to raise awareness of what money can buy and create a “culture of giving.” But this misdirects the impetus to address these issues into little more than a critique of personal spending habits.</p>
<p>That this critique of consumer purchases is theoretically compatible with a corollary critique of capital makes no practical difference. The target market of Effective Altruism, i.e. the relatively affluent, generally won’t move from the former to the latter without an argument. This ought to inform what prescriptions we issue and how we issue them.</p>
<p>Giving business a free pass yields absurd and regrettable results. For example, Singer’s latest book encourages well-intentioned, bright young adults to choose a career based on what they can accomplish through philanthropy and lobbying.</p>
<p>Their choices are, effectively, (a) “ <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/05/31/join-wall-street-save-the-world/" type="external">Join Wall Street [to] Save the World</a>” or pursue a lucrative career with the intention of “ <a href="https://80000hours.org/earning-to-give/" type="external">earning to give</a>,” (b) create or work for high-impact philanthropic organizations – including Effective Altruist groups, or (c) work in a narrow range of research, policy, or advocacy jobs congenial to capital.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the capitalist class is transformed into our most <a href="http://givingpledge.org" type="external">potent possible savior</a>, and the moral philosophers behind it all turn into accountants and marketers for charities with pretensions of “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Life-You-Can-Save-Poverty/dp/1400067103/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&amp;sr=8-1&amp;qid=1435075960" type="external">acting now to end world poverty</a>” and figuring out “ <a href="http://www.mostgoodyoucando.com" type="external">the most good you can do</a>.”</p>
<p>This insidious state of affairs could be avoided if we just consistently applied the uncontroversial moral principle underlying Effective Altruism: we ought to help others when we can do so without sacrificing anything nearly as important.</p>
<p>In arguing for their prescriptions, Effective Altruists often cite influential philosophers and religious figures expounding this principle. One of these is Mencius, the foremost interpreter of the Confucian tradition, who is said to have confronted King Hui of Liang and <a href="http://nothingistic.org/library/mencius/mencius01.html" type="external">said</a>: “there are people dying from famine on the roads, and you do not issue the stores of your granaries for them. When people die, you say, ‘It is not owing to me; it is owing to the year.’ In what does this differ from stabbing a man and killing him, and then saying ‘It was not I; it was the weapon?’”</p>
<p>The principle implicit in this passage doesn’t just apply to those with a little expendable income — if it does at all. It applies more immediately to members of the capitalist class who, just like the king, make it their business to control what others need for life and a minimum standard of living. When people die from lack of food, clean water, and medical care, members of the capitalist class say, “it is not owing to me; it is owing to the market.”</p>
<p>Rather than asking how individual consumers can guarantee the basic sustenance of millions of people, we should be questioning an economic system that only halts misery and starvation if it is profitable. Rather than solely creating an individualized “culture of giving,” we should be challenging capitalism’s institutionalized taking.</p>
<p>We don’t have to accept capital’s terms for addressing its own problems or purported moral imperatives that presuppose them. We can overturn those terms completely.</p> | true | 4 | imagine came across child drowning small pond one around help could easily save child wading although would ruin clothing shoes dont child die nobrainer save child would answer different others around could also help make difference desperate child wasnt directly front question less obligated intervene child isnt drowning instead mortal danger due lack food water medical treatment means help donating money charity peter singer doesnt think famine affluence morality 2009 book life save noted philosopher argues equally compelled help living extreme poverty philanthropy help drowning child moral principle cases ought reduce suffering others long require sacrificing anything nearly important drowning child case clothing shoes arent nearly important childs life case philanthropy monetary equivalent clothing shoes isnt nearly important saving childs life financial means basic argument inspired growing social movement brands effective altruism effective altruists calculate expendable income best spent encourage relatively affluent channel capital accordingly among highly favored causes malaria foundation distributes insecticidetreated bed nets schistosomiasis control initiative works establish schoolbased deworming programs givedirectly gives unconditional cash transfers people extreme poverty 17000 people pledged give least 1 percent income annually endorsed causes 1000 pledged give least 10 percent particularly popular among millennials leading laud new social movement generation although argument forty years old movements growth taken place past half decade year saw publication numerous books subject great good good better strangers drowning singers latest good along extensive positive coverage popular media everyone convinced critics movement typically point things like undemocratic nature philanthropy danger undermining essential public sector services longerterm need economic development picking lowhanging fruit philanthropy leftist critiques movement go paul gomberg example charges analytical framework promoted singers argument promotes political quietism shifting focus political social economic issues abstract philosophical arguments moreover gomberg argues resources required successfully relieve poverty philanthropy achieve radical systemic change huge one less must construed competing ways using time energy resources singer effective altruists claim love systemic change pointing support research advocacy moderate policy reform concerning things like criminal justice immigration international trade thorough critiques capitalism like one gomberg mind course strikingly absent singers rejoinder little chance achieving kind revolution seeking need look around strategy better prospects actually helping poor people speculate prospects socialist revolution problem effective altruism goes even deeper disagreement best way improve lives global poor core problem bourgeois moral philosophy movement rests upon effective altruists abstract thereby exonerate social dynamics constitutive capitalism result simultaneously flawed moral structural analysis aspires fix worlds pressing problems capitals terms effective altruists treat charities black boxes money goes good consequences come desire achieve salutary results becomes imperative give money charities aspect charity worthy analysis much bang donators expect get buck cost per life saved qualityadjusted lifeyears process effective altruists gloss important social relations obscuring morality efficacy giving charity commanding others first place blackbox presentation charity displays relation potential philanthropist potential victim preventable evil indeed even part analogy deceptive posing exchange one person capacity save one person need saving reality potential philanthropist power pay others save potential victim donating money becomes primary means philanthropist rescue person need without monetary transfer one gets saved irony effective altruism implores individuals use money procure necessities desperately need says nothing system determines necessities produced distributed first place look institutions make allocate resources others desperately need must ask whether wrong withhold resources others sake payment profit seems morally reprehensible morally reprehensible precisely reason effective altruists argue wrong donate money charities immoral value small sum money might buy human life minimum standard living way effective altruisms argument trades obvious moral truth without mention direct tension capitalist accumulation men women money moral consciences cant put price life men women participating system governed logic capital must absurd result effective altruism implores individuals pay whatever price market demands basic necessities moral grounds cut subjecting necessities capitalist market logic primary disanalogy saving singers hypothetical drowning stranger giving charity former cost us merely private opportunity cost knowingly soiling clothing shoes jumping water latter cost us capitalist institutions demand condition granting needed rescue flawed analytical framework informing oversight goes beyond black box conception charity belies bourgeois moral philosophy animating effective altruism doesnt abstract capital transforms terms business constraints imposed nature drowning stranger analogy thus takes different cast desperate child needs lifepreserving necessity food clean water medical treatment etc capital undemocratically produces possesses dictates terms distributed personify capital fails drowning stranger least three ways first capital actually imperiled stranger needs whereas individuals generally possess necessities families institutions bound logic capital accumulation collectively virtually necessities individuals must purchase order survive arrangement results objectionable consequences hardly surprising see one capital let drowning stranger die unless receives adequate payment regardless capitals position remains drowning strangers life isnt worth cost lifepreserving necessity moreover capitals participation rescue contingent ability profit capital another transaction shouldnt principle implicit every exchange lifesustaining necessities even becomes explicit someone cant afford second capital creates drowning strangers inability companies profit little purchasing power reason many poor people need altruists save yet purchasing power mostly determined capitals need labor despite fact people living poverty capacity contribute society important ways often profitable businesses neoliberal states pay enough moreover capitals commodification necessities directly undermines selfsufficiency entire populations determining resources allocated charities effective altruists publicize badly global poor need food example capital acquires controls fertile land using grow crops sold higher returns populations deeper pockets farming practices brings require alreadyscarce water supplies slated overdraw sources supplies say nothing ecological havoc like mass extinction global climate change meantime capital extracts around 2 trillion annually developing countries things like illicit financial flows tax evasion debt service trade policies advantageous global capitalist class loss revenues resources developing countries people capitals gain individuals ability rudimentary things like feed becomes contingent ability outbid others global marketplace winner determines local resources used governments lost revenues structural adjustment programs conditions precipitate used justify cuts essential services like malaria eradication programs one effective altruists favorite philanthropic causes predictably resulting tens thousands deaths dynamics spring capitals insistence commodification necessities turn billions people drowning strangers generate need evermultiplying charitable organizations first place finally everything mentioned constrains concerned noncapitalists ability intervene aside challenging rule capital noncapitalists readily available option donating charity thus subsidizing profiting basic necessities else ignoring need subsidizing capital accumulation become readily available way act compassion others perverse even charity extremely efficacious choosing modest sum money another human life choice one faced capitalists already made choice shaped world suit effective altruists like singer begin end analysis deal moral dilemmas downstream dynamics makes effective altruism particularly pernicious stunted social vocabulary myopic focus afterthefact moral dilemmas advances deeply flawed conception pressing problems shifting ought indictment capital onto anyone modicum expendable income problem apparently isnt capitalisms institutionalization immoral maxims ends leaving billions poverty hundreds millions existential need food water shelter basic medical care instead problem becomes relatively affluent individuals havent bought necessities capitalist class hundreds millions need comparatively wealthy living high letting die either ignorance money could buy weakness face consumerist society solution raise awareness money buy create culture giving misdirects impetus address issues little critique personal spending habits critique consumer purchases theoretically compatible corollary critique capital makes practical difference target market effective altruism ie relatively affluent generally wont move former latter without argument ought inform prescriptions issue issue giving business free pass yields absurd regrettable results example singers latest book encourages wellintentioned bright young adults choose career based accomplish philanthropy lobbying choices effectively join wall street save world pursue lucrative career intention earning give b create work highimpact philanthropic organizations including effective altruist groups c work narrow range research policy advocacy jobs congenial capital meanwhile capitalist class transformed potent possible savior moral philosophers behind turn accountants marketers charities pretensions acting end world poverty figuring good insidious state affairs could avoided consistently applied uncontroversial moral principle underlying effective altruism ought help others without sacrificing anything nearly important arguing prescriptions effective altruists often cite influential philosophers religious figures expounding principle one mencius foremost interpreter confucian tradition said confronted king hui liang said people dying famine roads issue stores granaries people die say owing owing year differ stabbing man killing saying weapon principle implicit passage doesnt apply little expendable income applies immediately members capitalist class like king make business control others need life minimum standard living people die lack food clean water medical care members capitalist class say owing owing market rather asking individual consumers guarantee basic sustenance millions people questioning economic system halts misery starvation profitable rather solely creating individualized culture giving challenging capitalisms institutionalized taking dont accept capitals terms addressing problems purported moral imperatives presuppose overturn terms completely | 1,399 |
<p>Q: José, what is your role in the case of Luis Posada Carriles?</p>
<p>A: I am the attorney for the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela with respect to its petition for the extradition of Luis Posada Carriles from the United States to Caracas.</p>
<p>Q: There is a hearing in El Paso tomorrow about Posada. Can you tell us what it is regarding?</p>
<p>A: Posada Carriles is charged by the federal government for lying, not for terrorism. The U.S. government is accusing Posada of immigration fraud.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, there is a bond hearing to determine if Posada Carriles will await his trial-to take place in May-in the streets of Miami or in a New Mexico jail where he is currently. There is a woman who has put up a commercial property which she has in Miami, with a value of two million dollars. The judge will determine whether Posada, 1.) is a person who would try to flee, and 2.) whether Posada is a danger to the community.</p>
<p>That is the only thing that will be decided Tuesday, Apr. 3. The trial on whether he lied or not in his naturalization petition, will take place in May.</p>
<p>But it is obvious throughout all of Posada Carriles’ history, that he is a person who has a propensity to escape or flee. He is already a fugitive from justice. He escaped from a prison in Venezuela while facing 73 homicide charges against him. There is now an order for his arrest in Venezuela, for those 73 murder charges and he is a fugitive from justice.</p>
<p>In spite of the extradition petition that the Venezuelan government presented in June 2005, almost two years ago, in spite of the fact that he is a fugitive in Venezuela after escaping from a Venezuelan prison in 1985-with the help of his accomplices in Miami, in spite of the 73 counts of first-degree murder for the 73 people who were on board the Cubana Airlines passenger plane, despite all this, the United States:</p>
<p>First, refused to charge Luis Posada Carriles with being a terrorist.</p>
<p>Second, it has not attended to the extradition petition that Venezuela has presented.</p>
<p>Third, the government issued a simple immigration violation charge against him, accusing him of having entered the country illegally through the border with Mexico.</p>
<p>And upon the conclusion of that immigration violation procedure, they have charged him with lying. It is a felony to lie to a U.S. official, and Posada Carriles did it when he alleged that he was a U.S. citizen and lied about how he entered. He said that he had entered without documentation through the border when in reality he entered Miami in 2005 on a boat named Santrina.</p>
<p>This is an individual who has a history of violence against defenseless civilians. He is accused of bombing a plane with 73 passengers. He is accused of murdering dozens of political prisoners in cold blood in Venezuela in the 1970s, when he was head of special operations in the intelligence services of Venezuela, called the DISIP. He is a person who collaborated with the bloodiest forces in Central America, specifically the paramilitaries in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras.</p>
<p>This man was key in the operation, the scandal later called Iran-Contra, which gave arms and technical assistance to the Nicaraguan contras, who committed so many human rights violations.</p>
<p>Posada was convicted in a trial in Panama for conspiring to bomb an auditorium with C-4 explosives in the University of Panama, which would have been full of Panamanian students listening to a speech that the Cuban President Fidel Castro was going to give.</p>
<p>This is an individual with a long history of terrorism. He is known as the Osama Bin Laden of Latin America. I cannot imagine that a U.S. judge would determine that he is not a danger to the community and release him.</p>
<p>But everything is possible in the United States. There is that danger.</p>
<p>Q: Why do you think the government is not extraditing or trying Posada Carriles for the plane bombing? The Homeland Security prosecutors did not even mention that crime of Posada when the immigration hearings for Posada were held in June and August 2005 in El Paso, Texas.</p>
<p>A: During the whole immigration proceedings against Posada, it was obvious that the United States had an interest in appearing to do something with respect to Posada while in reality doing the minimum possible.</p>
<p>I believe there is an understanding, not written, but an understanding between the government and Posada, that he will be treated well by the United States while he is in U.S. territory, in exchange for Posada not saying all that he could about the U.S. intelligence services. Keep in mind that Posada, by his own admission, is an individual who worked with the CIA since at least 1962.</p>
<p>He was sent by the CIA to Venezuela in the 1970s to lead an anti-subversive operation there, and to capture and torture individuals who were seeking social change in Venezuela in the 1970s. He is a man who has worked closely with the U.S. intelligence services since he began his career.</p>
<p>Therefore, it does not surprise me that the United States is doing the minimum to maintain Posada in prison, because it is not politically wise for them to free him, but they will not extradite nor try him for murder.</p>
<p>That is why, you see, they first initiate immigration charges, and later they begin a criminal process, but they limit the accusation as to whether Posada lied, not whether he is a terrorist.</p>
<p>He has a great deal of information that would be a very delicate matter for the United States if he were to talk.</p>
<p>Q: Can you tell us something about Posada’s attacks against Cuba, carried out by mercenaries in the 1990s, and the current investigation being carried out in New Jersey over those crimes?</p>
<p>A: In the 1990s, Cuba experienced a very difficult economic situation, that was the special period when the socialist camp collapsed and the countries that traded with Cuba underwent drastic political changes. They stopped trade relations, and the Cuban people endured hardship because they had no resources. There was no oil, no fuel, and many times no food.</p>
<p>Cuba opened up to tourism as never before since the triumph of the Cuban revolution on Jan. 1, 1959. They opened up hotels and tourists began to come to Havana and other cities in Cuba.</p>
<p>At the same time this was happening, various groups of Cuban origin in the United States decided to unleash a wave of violence against the tourist sector in Cuba. Terrorism is always against defenseless civilians but it has a political goal. The political goal in this case was to terrorize the tourists who wanted to travel to Cuba.</p>
<p>At that time, in 1997, Posada was in Central America, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. He moved from one country to another with false passports. Posada was the mastermind behind that wave of terror.</p>
<p>Interestingly, it has been discovered that the organizations of Cuban origin in the United States, specifically in New Jersey and Miami, sent money to Posada by cable while he was in Guatemala.</p>
<p>With that money, Posada hired Guatemalan and Salvadoran mercenaries to take explosives to Cuba, where they were detonated in the best and most luxurious hotels and Cuban cabarets.</p>
<p>If you follow the money, you see that those New Jersey and Miami organizations send money to Posada, Posada hires those people from Central America, they go to Cuba and explode bombs.</p>
<p>After all those bombings, it seems that Posada wanted them to send him more money for the successful campaign he was carrying out. He was very upset about this and gave an interview in 1998 to two New York Times journalists, Larry Rohter and Ann Louise Bardach. He told him he was the mastermind of that wave of terror. He also told them he was receiving money from certain organizations in the United States.</p>
<p>The New York Times published the story. Now the FBI along with a New Jersey prosecutor, have opened a grand jury investigation to examine the evidence that exists, which could possibly result in prosecutions of Posada and others, for that wave of terrorist attacks that killed an Italian in Cuba, named Fabio Di Celmo. The grand jury still has not concluded. We don’t know if they will indict or not.</p>
<p>The United States is full of contradictions. Although I believe the White House is trying to help its favorite terrorist, Luis Posada Carriles, at the same time I am convinced that there are honest prosecutors who work in the Department of Justice and who take seriously the fact that that department is named Justice. I believe there are those who want to carry out an investigation of this type.</p>
<p>However, the final decision as to what will happen will be made in the White House, as well as in the immigration case. The Homeland Security prosecutors were not able to act on their own, they had to follow specific instructions from the White House.</p>
<p>The murder of Fabio Di Celmo was a horrifying crime. He was a man who was having a drink in a hotel bar. He was on vacation when the bomb exploded that killed him. That crime cannot go unpunished. Posada Carriles must be tried not only for the plane bombing but also for the murder of Fabio Di Celmo. I would be very pleased if he were tried for that crime as well.</p>
<p>Q: The terrorist Santiago Alvarez brought Posada into Miami secretly on his boat Santrina in March 2005. Afterwards, Alvarez was arrested for an arms cache that he had in Miami. What is your opinion of the government’s treatment of Santiago Alvarez? In spite of being an accomplice of Posada, now the government is reducing his already light sentence for illegal possession of weapons.</p>
<p>It is strange. Santiago Alvarez was the financial backer of Posada Carriles, the man who paid for his trips and sent him money. This is an individual who has been indicted and convicted for having an illegal weapons cache in a house in southern Florida.</p>
<p>He is in prison now but he has not been charged for bringing Posada illegally into the United States. What you say is true. They are charging Posada for immigration fraud, alleging that he came on the Santrina, with Santiago Alvarez and Mitat.</p>
<p>So then, why are they not charging Santiago Alvarez and Osvaldo Mitat for bringing Posada to the United States? The law prohibits anyone from helping another person enter the country illegally. It is a serious crime, a felony. But if the person you are helping is not simply an undocumented person who comes to the United States to be with his family or to harvest artichokes in California, but instead is a terrorist, the sanctions are more severe and Alvarez could be imprisoned for decades.</p>
<p>But for that kind of a trial to happen Posada would have to be declared a terrorist. I am sure that if Luis Posada Carriles’ name were Mohammed, Alvarez would be facing much more serious charges than he is now.</p>
<p>Another thing that occurs to me is the huge armament that Santiago Alvarez had in southern Florida, machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades. Why is no one asking what they were going to do with all those weapons? Was there a terrorist operation being planned in the United States? Against the United States, Cuba or Venezuela? It seems to me that it is something that should be investigated and the press should ask the U.S. authorities if they have investigated this.</p>
<p>It is too much of a coincidence that Posada arrived in the United States at a time when the person who brought him has an enormous arsenal hidden in a Miami warehouse. Miami is a city where they just accused a group of individuals of being terrorists, because they supposedly planned to blow up a building in Chicago. These individuals didn’t even have a fake pistol. They had not one weapon or bullet and they are accused of terrorism.</p>
<p>But here we have a man with a long history of terrorism, who is aided by other individuals, friends and accomplices who are also involved in terrorism, and nobody asks what actions these terrorists were going to carry out.</p>
<p>Q: It is evident, with all that is happening in Miami, how the Miami terrorists operate with total impunity, while the Cuban Five anti-terrorists have been unjustly imprisoned for over eight years in United States prisons. They are effectively kidnapped by Washington for having struggled against Miami terrorism.</p>
<p>A: The case of the Five is one of the most unjust cases in the history of United States jurisprudence. The Five did not come to the United States, as the prosecutor on three different occasions stated in the trial, “to destroy the United States.” There is not any evidence showing that.</p>
<p>Quite the contrary. The evidence shows that those individuals came to this country to penetrate organizations of Cuban origin that carry out terrorist actions against the island of Cuba, from U.S. territory.</p>
<p>The Five had to come to the United States, because the U.S. government, instead of investigating, arresting and prosecuting the terrorists who were carrying out hostile actions against Cuban civilians for decades, instead of doing that, the U.S. organized the terrorists, trained them, encouraged and supported them during all these decades.</p>
<p>Therefore, facing this situation, in order to defend their civilian population-a civilian population that has suffered more than 3,000 murders since the Cuban revolution began in 1959-Cuba sent these individuals to obtain information, not information of the United States, not classified U.S. government information, but information on the Miami terrorist organizations who were carrying out this wave of terrorist acts.</p>
<p>After obtaining much of this necessary information, Cuba sent a messenger to President Clinton about the information obtained by these five anti-terrorists and delivered to him a hand-written letter by President Fidel Castro. The letter was given to President Clinton by a unusual messenger, Gabriel García Márquez, Nobel Laureate in Literature.</p>
<p>García Márquez has related how he felt carrying this letter, because he didn’t want to leave the Hotel Washington for fear that someone might rob the letter. García Márquez gave the letter to Clinton’s assistant, Max McCarty, who commented to the Colombian writer the following: “The United States and Cuba have a common enemy and that enemy is terrorism. We can fight together against terrorism.”</p>
<p>Cuba handed over documentation and waited and waited and waited for the FBI to act and capture those terrorists. But instead of capturing the terrorists, the FBI, through its Miami director, Héctor Pesquera, arrested the men who had infiltrated those organizations. In other words, the FBI instead of using the information that Cuba gave it to arrest the terrorists, it used that information to investigate and find out who those individuals were that Cuba had penetrated into the organizations.</p>
<p>After the FBI found out, it arrested the Five individuals, who were convicted and received prison sentences of four life terms and many years.</p>
<p>They were convicted without one single classified document in their possession, with no evidence whatsoever that they had participated in violence, much less homicide. And they were tried in Miami, in an atmosphere highly contaminated by the hatred in Miami against Cuba. Miami is a city where the very U.S. government has not wanted to see its Cuba-related cases to be tried in Miami, knowing that such a trial could not be fair in Miami.</p>
<p>But that is precisely where these courageous five men were tried. They were tried in Miami and, of course, convicted, as would be expected. This injustice cannot be tolerated. The Cuban Five must be freed and it is Posada and the other terrorists living freely in the United States who should be prosecuted.</p>
<p>Q: You were in Venezuela recently. Can you tell us if the government is doing anything to back up its extradition petition?</p>
<p>A: Venezuela presented to the United States in June 2005, two volumes totaling almost 2,000 pages of documents in support of its extradition petition. There are more than enough documents for the United States to extradite Posada or to try him in the United States. The United States government has plenty of documentation, including the documents declassified by the U.S. government itself and cited by the CIA. These are not only in U.S. possession, they are easily available on the Internet. The National Security Archives, a non-governmental organization run by the George Washington University, has published dozens of documents declassified by the U.S. government, very telling about the terrorist activities of Luis Posada Carriles and his participation in the plane bombing.</p>
<p>There are other documents in Venezuela about Posada’s terrorist history. Posada did not become a terrorist with the plane bombing of Oct. 6, 1976. He has been a terrorist since he left Cuba. He has a long history in the Venezuelan archives. There is documentation about Posada Carriles when he was head of special operations in DISIP. He was in charge of anti-subversive operations in Venezuela. Just in Caracas alone, he captured several prominent individuals who were part of the Venezuelan social movement, whom he interrogated, tortured and murdered. They were very meticulous about documenting their crimes. Whoever reads “The Path of the Warrior,” Posada’s autobiography, will be able to verify some of those crimes.</p>
<p>Q: In June 2006 during the first hearing for Posada in El Paso, Posada’s attorney Eduardo Soto told the press that Posada had been a CIA agent until the mid-1990s. Does this statement hold any significance?</p>
<p>A: I have never seen any proof that Posada has renounced his work with the CIA.</p>
<p>The people who collaborate with the CIA are not necessarily employees of the CIA. Working with the CIA is not like working in a factory, where you punch your timecard in at 8:00 am and when you leave at 5:00 pm you punch out to prove you worked the whole day.</p>
<p>There are undoubtedly workers who work in Langley on a daily basis, who receive their salary in checks that carry the CIA label. But the majority of individuals who work with the CIA on a clandestine basis are not conventional salaried employees. What they do is provide information or they carry out operations that are directed or inspired by the CIA. I do not think there is any evidence that Posada has renounced these activities.</p>
<p>What’s more, if we talk about 1976 and the plane bombing, for example, Posada sent his right-hand man-a Venezuelan named Hernán Ricardo who was his subordinate in the DISIP-to plant the bomb. Ricardo recruited his associate, Freddy Lugo, also Venezuelan. These two men were the direct perpetrators of the bombing. When they were captured in Trinidad, they confessed to the police chief, Dennis Ramdwar, a police commissioner, that: 1.) They were from DISIP, and 2.) they were CIA, that their explosives-training was done by the CIA and that they received CIA training on how to plant the bombs.</p>
<p>Ricardo said, “my boss is Luis Posada Carriles.” There is an expression in Spanish, to describe something very obvious: “It didn’t fall far from the tree.” I think that type of confession shows that Posada Carriles and Hernán Ricardo are individuals who in 1976 were trained in the use of explosives and were inspired by the CIA to carry out terrorist acts . There is absolutely no doubt of that.</p>
<p>Another curious thing. In Venezuela where I was recently, I saw the little phone and address directory that Ricardo had when he was captured in Trinidad after having placed the bomb.</p>
<p>In the first page of that book is the first and last name of the U.S. diplomat at the U.S. embassy in Caracas, Joseph Leo. Now, I am not saying that Joseph Leo is a CIA, but nobody can deny that that man was a functionary of the U.S. embassy.</p>
<p>I ask myself, what is a terrorist-who just finished placing a bomb, killing 73 passengers-doing with a phone directory that has the name and telephone number of a U.S. diplomat based in the embassy in Venezuela?</p>
<p>Q: By international law, the U.S. authorities still have an obligation to try Posada. What can be done to win justice?</p>
<p>A: Venezuela’s extradition request is based on three different legal instruments. The first, of course, is the extradition treaty between Venezuela and the United States, signed in 1922. We also rely on another legal instrument, the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civilian Aviation, ratified in Montreal in 1971. And the third, the International Convention for the Repression of Terrorist Attacks Committed with Bombs, ratified in 2001, which is retroactive.</p>
<p>Article 7 of the Montreal Convention says, “The Contracting State in the territory of which the alleged offender is found” -in other words, the United States- “shall, if it does not extradite him, be obliged, without exception whatsoever and whether or not the offence was committed in its territory, to submit the case to its competent authorities for the purpose of prosecution.”</p>
<p>Now, what does that mean? It means if Posada is in the United States and if he committed a crime in Venezuela or elsewhere, and if the United States does not want to extradite him to Venezuela, he has to be tried in the United States, no exceptions.</p>
<p>Article 8 of the International Convention for the Repression of Terrorist Acts Committed with Bombs says the same.</p>
<p>If he is not extradited to Venezuela, the United States has a legal obligation to try Luis Posada Carriles in the United States, for the plane bombing, for the 73 cases of homicide. This includes the little girl Harry Paul, one of the few bodies that were recuperated in the sea. Anyone who would see the photos of that child and what the bombing did to her, would not hesitate to demand justice from the White House. That poor child, seated in a seat next to her grandmother and mother, was very close to where the first bomb exploded. Her corpse had no brain, only pieces of her abdomen remained, with no intestines, no heart, nothing.</p>
<p>Q: Many activists were in front of the court during the immigration hearings for Posada last year. We mounted a wall in front of the court to show Posada’s victims, which received a lot of press coverage. We reached the public through television to tell the truth about Posada’s crimes, something that the prosecutor did not do inside the Court. What would you suggest we do to continue this struggle?</p>
<p>A: Continue with those types of actions. The people have to protest, their voices should be heard. It is important to write letters to the editors, to pressure the media. The news bewilders people with such unimportant stories-whether Britney Spears really shaved her head or if an astronaut put on diapers in order to kill a woman who allegedly took her boyfriend. They treat the people of the U.S. like idiots, in order to avoid covering the true scandals, the real scandal of the U.S. government keeping five anti-terrorist fighters in prison while sheltering the Osama Bin Laden of Latin America for decades.</p>
<p>GLORIA LA RIVA is the coordinator of the National Committee to Free the Cuban Five.</p>
<p>For more information: <a href="http://www.www.freethefive.org/" type="external">www.freethefive.org</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | q josé role case luis posada carriles attorney bolivarian republic venezuela respect petition extradition luis posada carriles united states caracas q hearing el paso tomorrow posada tell us regarding posada carriles charged federal government lying terrorism us government accusing posada immigration fraud tuesday bond hearing determine posada carriles await trialto take place mayin streets miami new mexico jail currently woman put commercial property miami value two million dollars judge determine whether posada 1 person would try flee 2 whether posada danger community thing decided tuesday apr 3 trial whether lied naturalization petition take place may obvious throughout posada carriles history person propensity escape flee already fugitive justice escaped prison venezuela facing 73 homicide charges order arrest venezuela 73 murder charges fugitive justice spite extradition petition venezuelan government presented june 2005 almost two years ago spite fact fugitive venezuela escaping venezuelan prison 1985with help accomplices miami spite 73 counts firstdegree murder 73 people board cubana airlines passenger plane despite united states first refused charge luis posada carriles terrorist second attended extradition petition venezuela presented third government issued simple immigration violation charge accusing entered country illegally border mexico upon conclusion immigration violation procedure charged lying felony lie us official posada carriles alleged us citizen lied entered said entered without documentation border reality entered miami 2005 boat named santrina individual history violence defenseless civilians accused bombing plane 73 passengers accused murdering dozens political prisoners cold blood venezuela 1970s head special operations intelligence services venezuela called disip person collaborated bloodiest forces central america specifically paramilitaries el salvador guatemala honduras man key operation scandal later called irancontra gave arms technical assistance nicaraguan contras committed many human rights violations posada convicted trial panama conspiring bomb auditorium c4 explosives university panama would full panamanian students listening speech cuban president fidel castro going give individual long history terrorism known osama bin laden latin america imagine us judge would determine danger community release everything possible united states danger q think government extraditing trying posada carriles plane bombing homeland security prosecutors even mention crime posada immigration hearings posada held june august 2005 el paso texas whole immigration proceedings posada obvious united states interest appearing something respect posada reality minimum possible believe understanding written understanding government posada treated well united states us territory exchange posada saying could us intelligence services keep mind posada admission individual worked cia since least 1962 sent cia venezuela 1970s lead antisubversive operation capture torture individuals seeking social change venezuela 1970s man worked closely us intelligence services since began career therefore surprise united states minimum maintain posada prison politically wise free extradite try murder see first initiate immigration charges later begin criminal process limit accusation whether posada lied whether terrorist great deal information would delicate matter united states talk q tell us something posadas attacks cuba carried mercenaries 1990s current investigation carried new jersey crimes 1990s cuba experienced difficult economic situation special period socialist camp collapsed countries traded cuba underwent drastic political changes stopped trade relations cuban people endured hardship resources oil fuel many times food cuba opened tourism never since triumph cuban revolution jan 1 1959 opened hotels tourists began come havana cities cuba time happening various groups cuban origin united states decided unleash wave violence tourist sector cuba terrorism always defenseless civilians political goal political goal case terrorize tourists wanted travel cuba time 1997 posada central america guatemala honduras el salvador moved one country another false passports posada mastermind behind wave terror interestingly discovered organizations cuban origin united states specifically new jersey miami sent money posada cable guatemala money posada hired guatemalan salvadoran mercenaries take explosives cuba detonated best luxurious hotels cuban cabarets follow money see new jersey miami organizations send money posada posada hires people central america go cuba explode bombs bombings seems posada wanted send money successful campaign carrying upset gave interview 1998 two new york times journalists larry rohter ann louise bardach told mastermind wave terror also told receiving money certain organizations united states new york times published story fbi along new jersey prosecutor opened grand jury investigation examine evidence exists could possibly result prosecutions posada others wave terrorist attacks killed italian cuba named fabio di celmo grand jury still concluded dont know indict united states full contradictions although believe white house trying help favorite terrorist luis posada carriles time convinced honest prosecutors work department justice take seriously fact department named justice believe want carry investigation type however final decision happen made white house well immigration case homeland security prosecutors able act follow specific instructions white house murder fabio di celmo horrifying crime man drink hotel bar vacation bomb exploded killed crime go unpunished posada carriles must tried plane bombing also murder fabio di celmo would pleased tried crime well q terrorist santiago alvarez brought posada miami secretly boat santrina march 2005 afterwards alvarez arrested arms cache miami opinion governments treatment santiago alvarez spite accomplice posada government reducing already light sentence illegal possession weapons strange santiago alvarez financial backer posada carriles man paid trips sent money individual indicted convicted illegal weapons cache house southern florida prison charged bringing posada illegally united states say true charging posada immigration fraud alleging came santrina santiago alvarez mitat charging santiago alvarez osvaldo mitat bringing posada united states law prohibits anyone helping another person enter country illegally serious crime felony person helping simply undocumented person comes united states family harvest artichokes california instead terrorist sanctions severe alvarez could imprisoned decades kind trial happen posada would declared terrorist sure luis posada carriles name mohammed alvarez would facing much serious charges another thing occurs huge armament santiago alvarez southern florida machine guns rocket launchers grenades one asking going weapons terrorist operation planned united states united states cuba venezuela seems something investigated press ask us authorities investigated much coincidence posada arrived united states time person brought enormous arsenal hidden miami warehouse miami city accused group individuals terrorists supposedly planned blow building chicago individuals didnt even fake pistol one weapon bullet accused terrorism man long history terrorism aided individuals friends accomplices also involved terrorism nobody asks actions terrorists going carry q evident happening miami miami terrorists operate total impunity cuban five antiterrorists unjustly imprisoned eight years united states prisons effectively kidnapped washington struggled miami terrorism case five one unjust cases history united states jurisprudence five come united states prosecutor three different occasions stated trial destroy united states evidence showing quite contrary evidence shows individuals came country penetrate organizations cuban origin carry terrorist actions island cuba us territory five come united states us government instead investigating arresting prosecuting terrorists carrying hostile actions cuban civilians decades instead us organized terrorists trained encouraged supported decades therefore facing situation order defend civilian populationa civilian population suffered 3000 murders since cuban revolution began 1959cuba sent individuals obtain information information united states classified us government information information miami terrorist organizations carrying wave terrorist acts obtaining much necessary information cuba sent messenger president clinton information obtained five antiterrorists delivered handwritten letter president fidel castro letter given president clinton unusual messenger gabriel garcía márquez nobel laureate literature garcía márquez related felt carrying letter didnt want leave hotel washington fear someone might rob letter garcía márquez gave letter clintons assistant max mccarty commented colombian writer following united states cuba common enemy enemy terrorism fight together terrorism cuba handed documentation waited waited waited fbi act capture terrorists instead capturing terrorists fbi miami director héctor pesquera arrested men infiltrated organizations words fbi instead using information cuba gave arrest terrorists used information investigate find individuals cuba penetrated organizations fbi found arrested five individuals convicted received prison sentences four life terms many years convicted without one single classified document possession evidence whatsoever participated violence much less homicide tried miami atmosphere highly contaminated hatred miami cuba miami city us government wanted see cubarelated cases tried miami knowing trial could fair miami precisely courageous five men tried tried miami course convicted would expected injustice tolerated cuban five must freed posada terrorists living freely united states prosecuted q venezuela recently tell us government anything back extradition petition venezuela presented united states june 2005 two volumes totaling almost 2000 pages documents support extradition petition enough documents united states extradite posada try united states united states government plenty documentation including documents declassified us government cited cia us possession easily available internet national security archives nongovernmental organization run george washington university published dozens documents declassified us government telling terrorist activities luis posada carriles participation plane bombing documents venezuela posadas terrorist history posada become terrorist plane bombing oct 6 1976 terrorist since left cuba long history venezuelan archives documentation posada carriles head special operations disip charge antisubversive operations venezuela caracas alone captured several prominent individuals part venezuelan social movement interrogated tortured murdered meticulous documenting crimes whoever reads path warrior posadas autobiography able verify crimes q june 2006 first hearing posada el paso posadas attorney eduardo soto told press posada cia agent mid1990s statement hold significance never seen proof posada renounced work cia people collaborate cia necessarily employees cia working cia like working factory punch timecard 800 leave 500 pm punch prove worked whole day undoubtedly workers work langley daily basis receive salary checks carry cia label majority individuals work cia clandestine basis conventional salaried employees provide information carry operations directed inspired cia think evidence posada renounced activities whats talk 1976 plane bombing example posada sent righthand mana venezuelan named hernán ricardo subordinate disipto plant bomb ricardo recruited associate freddy lugo also venezuelan two men direct perpetrators bombing captured trinidad confessed police chief dennis ramdwar police commissioner 1 disip 2 cia explosivestraining done cia received cia training plant bombs ricardo said boss luis posada carriles expression spanish describe something obvious didnt fall far tree think type confession shows posada carriles hernán ricardo individuals 1976 trained use explosives inspired cia carry terrorist acts absolutely doubt another curious thing venezuela recently saw little phone address directory ricardo captured trinidad placed bomb first page book first last name us diplomat us embassy caracas joseph leo saying joseph leo cia nobody deny man functionary us embassy ask terroristwho finished placing bomb killing 73 passengersdoing phone directory name telephone number us diplomat based embassy venezuela q international law us authorities still obligation try posada done win justice venezuelas extradition request based three different legal instruments first course extradition treaty venezuela united states signed 1922 also rely another legal instrument convention suppression unlawful acts safety civilian aviation ratified montreal 1971 third international convention repression terrorist attacks committed bombs ratified 2001 retroactive article 7 montreal convention says contracting state territory alleged offender found words united states shall extradite obliged without exception whatsoever whether offence committed territory submit case competent authorities purpose prosecution mean means posada united states committed crime venezuela elsewhere united states want extradite venezuela tried united states exceptions article 8 international convention repression terrorist acts committed bombs says extradited venezuela united states legal obligation try luis posada carriles united states plane bombing 73 cases homicide includes little girl harry paul one bodies recuperated sea anyone would see photos child bombing would hesitate demand justice white house poor child seated seat next grandmother mother close first bomb exploded corpse brain pieces abdomen remained intestines heart nothing q many activists front court immigration hearings posada last year mounted wall front court show posadas victims received lot press coverage reached public television tell truth posadas crimes something prosecutor inside court would suggest continue struggle continue types actions people protest voices heard important write letters editors pressure media news bewilders people unimportant storieswhether britney spears really shaved head astronaut put diapers order kill woman allegedly took boyfriend treat people us like idiots order avoid covering true scandals real scandal us government keeping five antiterrorist fighters prison sheltering osama bin laden latin america decades gloria la riva coordinator national committee free cuban five information wwwfreethefiveorg 160 | 1,944 |
<p>In July 2004, only about a month after millions of the American People began flocking to movie theaters to see Michael Moore’s incendiary exposé of the Bush administration, “Fahrenheit 9/11,” officials appointed by this administration floated a bizarre and unprecedented proposal. Because of the possibility of anticipated, unspecified “terrorist attacks” somewhere in America, they said it could become “necessary” to postpone (or even cancel?) the scheduled November 2004 presidential election.</p>
<p>This has to be the final and irrefutable proof of this administration’s absolute lack of legitimacy. No such election has ever been postponed in American history, even during the darkest days of national emergencies during the civil war and the world wars of the last century! This latest outrage of the lawless Bush/Cheney regime has already met the widespread denunciation it richly deserves in many quarters. But that will not be enough. Even worldwide condemnation failed to prevent the Bush pirates’ insane attack on Iraq in 2003. Only the full moral weight of “the other superpower” ­ public opinion ­ has any chance of affecting their last gasp attempts over the next few months to hold on to their power.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no guarantee that opposition to their schemes will stop the likes of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, John Ashcroft &amp; Co. from continuing to act ruthlessly and without any principles whatsoever to preserve their grip on power. This crisis calls for a dramatic public response from the American People, demonstrating conclusively that we will not allow this illegitimate gang to destroy our democracy and our freedom. The Americans who made “Fahrenheit 9/11” a surprise hit movie, the same People who packed the streets of our cities on February 15, 2003, “the day the world said no to war” with Iraq, will have to come out again. On no account will we allow this government to perpetuate its illegitimate existence by using the excuse of terrorism to delay or prevent a lawful, democratic presidential election.</p>
<p>Four years ago George W. Bush and Dick Cheney failed to receive a majority of the popular vote in the 2000 election. Racially discriminatory vote suppression in Jeb Bush’s Florida combined with at least two other key factors to deliver the White House to its current occupants. The balance of power in the electoral college unfairly favors the Republicans’ fundamentalist, rural, western and southern base. And intervention by five of the Republican appointees to the US Supreme Court stopped an accurate count of the extraordinarily tight Florida race. In this important sense, they in fact did not win, but “stole” the 2000 election through a combination of legal and extra-legal maneuvers. 2004 is above all the first real opportunity the American People have to take back our country from the gang that stole America.</p>
<p>Having “won” power in such a controversial, narrow, and borderline illegal manner, one might think they would seek to govern inclusively and responsibly, seeking to build and shore up their support and legitimacy. But that assumption contradicts the immoral and crass political nature of this criminal enterprise in the form of a presidential administration. Their cynical opportunism in responding to the historic crimes against humanity of September 11, 2001 apparently knows no bounds. Rather than seeking to unite all Americans for common goals, this government has shamelessly taken every opportunity to enrich their corporate supporters and project power by military attacks, racial profiling and threats of violence that have severely threatened the liberty and security of the USA and the entire world.</p>
<p>A Program for Global Dominance</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the 9/11 atrocities, George W. Bush cluelessly wondered why People in other countries hate US government policies that systematically destroy their freedoms, steal their resources, kill their brethren, and spread war and poverty throughout an unjust US corporate empire. It was because “they hate our freedoms,” he concluded, apparently based on his speechwriters’ and handlers’ instructions on the teleprompters. Meanwhile, his administration’s military, energy, tax, trade, environmental and economic policies fuel the hatred of unjust imperial domination, and threaten the peace, prosperity and security of the world in dramatic and unprecedented ways. For example:</p>
<p>Afghanistan: Within less than a month of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, the US military struck the prostrate nation of Afghanistan, former US allies in the Taliban government, and Osama bin Laden’s jihadist terror network. Systematic human rights violations, widespread violence inflicted on innocent civilians caught in the chaos of war, intense human suffering throughout the winter of 2001-02, and the beginning of construction on long-sought lucrative natural gas and oil pipelines, accompanied the first round of their declared “Global War on Terrorism.” But even as the long term consequences of the September 11 terrorist attacks began to sink in, gradually displacing the shock and horror of Fall 2001, the illegitimate US government was only beginning its drive for total power through killing, domination and corporate oil politics.</p>
<p>Iraq: The “National Security Strategy” of September 2002 spelled out this government’s imperial, militarist goals and its intention of waging perpetual aggressive wars to enrich its base, by capitalizing on the “vast, new opportunities” opened up for them by the September 11 crimes against humanity. Iraq would be the test case of their new “doctrine,” which failed spectacularly. The whole world now knows that the illegal invasion of Iraq in March 2003 was based on lies about alleged weapons and nonexistent connections to al-Quaida and other fake security threats. Bush and his chickenhawk advisors sent over 100,000 working class Americans to kill and die in the heart of the Middle East’s coveted oil reserves. They projected US military power into the world’s most strategic region for the benefit of their corporate funders. In the face of vocal warnings and opposition from around the planet and across the country, they created an obvious, bloody and ongoing disaster. By April 2004, seven months before the election, their project began to collapse in chaos, blood and fire. Suicide bombings, armed resistance, kidnappings, blackmail, beheadings, and the installation of a puppet government headed by a known CIA stooge ­ “Saddam Hussein Lite” ­ define the absurd, unstable, and completely insane second round of Bush’s fanatical and fraudulent “war on terror.”</p>
<p>Israel/Palestine: In addition to the direct US military assaults of the last three years, the longstanding illegal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza by US ally Israel has intensified. It supports Islamic and Arab nationalist opposition and an escalating series of deadly attacks against foreign outposts of US empire. Like the Bush/Cheney gang, Ariel Sharon’s criminal government has blatantly used the aftermath of September 11 as an excuse to rewrite all the rules of international conduct, to kill its opponents and their fellows, and to grab power and land. US leaders have marched in lockstep with every one of these abuses, as Palestinians’ homelands, livelihoods and their very lives are forfeit to Israeli aggression using US-supplied arms. Still, our official leaders ask plaintively “why they hate us.” Because we and our surrogates are stealing their lands, starving their children, and killing them with impunity!</p>
<p>We the People, both as individuals and as a nation, must look into our own hearts and minds and determine who we are. Global dominance can sound tempting, especially when our nightmares are filled with the threat of terrorism. It’s easy for America to be the bully and it is easy for Americans to accept this role. In the eloquent words of singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke:</p>
<p>In the American day, you must give and I shall take, And I will tell you what is moral and what’s just Because I want, because I will, because I can, so will I kill.</p>
<p>Former US Army Sergeant Stan Goff says, “The Army sent me to a kind of two-decade school, and in school I learned something. The world is not fundamentally safe.” This is undeniably true. The world is not safe, and that is a frightening thought to those Americans (such as Cheney, Bush, Rumsfeld, etc.) who have lived their lives in privilege and comfort. But the inherent risk of living in the world does not compel us to become invaders and murderers. It does not compel us to abandon democracy or the rule of law. It does not compel us to give up civil liberties, or to abdicate our right to “dissolve the political bonds” which connect us to such a criminal administration. The very suggestion that the 2004 election could be postponed is itself a call to arms to defend the ideal of American democratic self-government.</p>
<p>The Assault on Civil Liberty</p>
<p>The Bush/Cheney administration has become identified with disdain for human rights and the rule of law itself. Consider only the most prominent examples: Withdrawing the US from the International Criminal Court (for fear of prosecutions of Americans for war crimes, including human rights violations and crimes against humanity), enacting the so-called “USA PATRIOT” Act (which violates basic human rights), illegally and indefinitely detaining alleged “enemy combatants” at Guantanamo Bay and in the U.S. (struck down in landmark decisions of the US Supreme Court this summer), the Abu Ghraib prison abuses and arbitrary mass arrests and prosecutions of protesters, activists, and even a defense attorney (Lynne Stewart). The so-called “war on terrorism” has caused more human rights abuses and less safety. Amnesty International reported recently that the US has set an example of disregard for human rights worldwide.</p>
<p>The administration continues to label suspects as “enemies,” and uses that label as a political tool, even where such identification was not relevant to hunting down terrorists. For example, designating Iraq, Iran and North Korea as the “Axis of Evil,” and Bush’s assertion that “If you’re not with us; you’re against us!” Another example: while the “USA PATRIOT” Act specifically disclaims any bias against Muslims and Arabs, thousands of Arabic-speaking persons or followers of Islam were rounded up and detained after 9/11 without probable cause of criminal activity, solely on the basis of their ethnic origins and religious practices. It is virtually impossible to imagine a program that would be better calculated to drive People away from the kinds of cooperation with legitimate authorities that might help prevent future terrorist crimes!</p>
<p>The current, unelected US government is cynically exploiting fear and extreme nationalist/ fundamentalist fervor, in an attempt to retain their illegitimate hold on power. In the name of “fighting terrorism,” and in reaction to vocal, worldwide demands for global justice, peace and democracy, they and their corporate and ideological supporters are pursuing a strategy of US empire-building through military force. They are counting on the fear of terrorism, war, and economic privation to whip people into line behind their leadership.</p>
<p>There simply has to be a better alternative than this new American nightmare. We have to choose between the government of laws enshrined in our national charter and history, and that of unaccountable power, currently arising out of the “war against terrorism.” The recent suggestion that some unspecified terrorist attack could “force” the government to postpone the November 2004 presidential election, just as it appears to be slipping away from candidate Bush because of his unsurpassed record of lying and abuse, should be seen by all for exactly what it is: an admission of their failure and absolute moral bankruptcy.</p>
<p>It’s the Torture, Stupid</p>
<p>In late April and May 2004, with the military occupation of Iraq trying unsuccessfully to suppress a coordinated, violent uprising throughout the country, graphic images of the reality of US “liberation” and “freedom” for that nation burst into public view. The revelations of torture and abuse at Baghdad’s Abu Ghraib prison, Afghanistan’s Bagram air base, Guantanamo Bay and other secret US military torture centers, both exposed the reality of the “war on terror,” and laid the basis for the recent suggestion that it might cause the government to postpone the election.</p>
<p>There has been a flood of shocking revelations: knowledge and approval of torture coming from the highest levels of the US government. The New York Times reported on a legal memorandum addressed to White House counsel Alberto Gonzalez, assessing the “issue” of how much pain constitutes “torture” under the law, and referring to the requirements of the Geneva Conventions as being “obsolete” and “quaint.” Even more stunning, the Wall Street Journal revealed a memo prepared by a team of administration lawyers, developing at length the arguments that “torture” is not “torture,” without “specific intent” to cause severe and long-lasting harm (i.e., if the torturer’s intent is to get information, and pain and suffering is an unfortunate collateral consequence, it’s not ­ and can’t be – torture). Perhaps even more appalling from a purely legal point of view, this leaked internal Justice Department document that has become widely known as “the torture memo” argues for a quasi-royal prerogative, that the president as commander-in-chief of the military, is not bound by legal prohibitions on torture. Still, the leaks haven’t stopped. The Center for Constitutional Rights posted on their web site lengthy excerpts from an extensive Pentagon torture manual. Its official name is “Working Group Report on Detainee Interrogations in the Global War on Terrorism: Assessment of Legal, Historical, Policy, and Operational Considerations.” But Orwellian and Kafkaesque word games aside, it’s a torture manual. In light of what we now know from the offensive pictures taken inside Abu Ghraib, and also from the Bush/Cheney administration’s many coded admissions (for example, Bush’s own statement in his 2003 State of the Union Address: “[M]any others have met a different fate. Let’s put it his way. They are no longer a problem”) the leaked torture documents opened coast-to-coast floodgates of righteous democratic anger and opposition. San Diego University law professor Marjorie Cohn has written that these revelations mean it is now time to call for the impeachment of Bush. Former New York City Congresswoman and prosecutor Elizabeth Holtzman (who served on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment of Nixon) has called for appointment of a Special Prosecutor. Approximately 500 law professors signed a detailed, reasoned letter calling for impeachment. On June18 the National Lawyers Guild issued a press release demanding prosecution of Bush for war crimes and torture. NLG President Michael Avery aptly described the Justice Department’s torture memorandum as reading “like a pre-trial brief on behalf of the Nazi defendants in the Nuremberg trial.” Is it any wonder they want to cancel the election, under these extreme circumstances?</p>
<p>The combined precedents set by the USA PATRIOT Act, Guantanamo, Iraq, and the withdrawal from ICC, amount to an attempted rolling coup-in-progress. Although the Bush/Cheney administration has pursued this coup in the name of freedom, compassionate conservatism, national security and the war on terror, the main features of it are exactly the opposite: dissolution of the rule of law, arbitrary arrests and detentions, violations and abuses of human rights and dignity, disregard for the sovereignty of other nations and even for the most basic principles of widely accepted international norms, and increasing forms of international terror and violence in many forms. Abu Ghraib should not shock those who have witnessed the repeated violations of domestic and international law committed by and for the Bush/Cheney Administration. It should not surprise those who noted how the Supreme Court put Bush into the presidency, or those who are aware of Bush’s family connections or business dealings before 2000. Nor should it shock those who followed events from 9/11 to the unlawful invasion of Iraq. A lawless administration cannot be expected to engender anything but lawless subordinates. As Human Rights Watch says:</p>
<p>This pattern of abuse [at Abu Ghraib] did not result from the acts of individual soldiers who broke the rules. It resulted from decisions made by the Bush administration to bend, ignore, or cast rules aside.</p>
<p>Abu Ghraib was not the beginning. Members of the Bush Administration showed a penchant for torture long before Abu Ghraib. The Administration recruited and elevated several previously indicted war criminals. Bush’s frequent use of the death penalty and his indifference to human suffering while he was governor of Texas are well-established. John Negroponte, who was implicated in systematic human rights abuses in Central America in the 1980’s, was appointed ambassador to Iraq. Bush even attempted to appoint Henry Kissinger, who is under indictment for war crimes in numerous countries, to head the 9/11 commission.</p>
<p>Government of Laws, not of Corporate War Criminals</p>
<p>Since September 11, 2001, our government has placed us in further danger with policies that inflame the conditions giving rise to terrorism. We must replace this regime, and continue to work for peace and social justice in order to create a brighter future for our children. The U.S. response to the September 11 crimes against humanity has led us into even greater peril. Under these crisis conditions, George W. Bush’s incompetence and Dick Cheney’s arrogance threaten our survival. We must start acting like self-governing adults who reject rule by the oil industry, military contractors, and other corporate profiteers. One of our best-loved artists sings in tribute to the unforgettable heroes of September 11, who bravely raced into the fire in service of others and died:</p>
<p>May your strength give us strength May your faith give us faith May your hope give us hope May your love give us love</p>
<p>George W. Bush and his government lack the moral strength to serve social justice and peace rather than big business. They lack faith in democracy. They lack hope for a better world for the masses of the world’s People, which is the only real answer to terrorism. And they lack the love of humanity. Their strength is killing, making money, and lying about it. Their faith is non-existent. They hope for apathy of the American People. They love only money and power. George W. Bush and his government lack legitimacy.</p>
<p>Jennifer Van Bergen, J.D., is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567512925/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The Twilight of Democracy: The Bush Plan for America</a>, coming out September 1, 2004, Common Courage Press. She is one of the foremost experts on the USA PATRIOT Act and has taught anti-terrorism law at the New School University.</p>
<p>Tom Stephens is a lawyer and a member of the National Lawyers Guild in Detroit.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | july 2004 month millions american people began flocking movie theaters see michael moores incendiary exposé bush administration fahrenheit 911 officials appointed administration floated bizarre unprecedented proposal possibility anticipated unspecified terrorist attacks somewhere america said could become necessary postpone even cancel scheduled november 2004 presidential election final irrefutable proof administrations absolute lack legitimacy election ever postponed american history even darkest days national emergencies civil war world wars last century latest outrage lawless bushcheney regime already met widespread denunciation richly deserves many quarters enough even worldwide condemnation failed prevent bush pirates insane attack iraq 2003 full moral weight superpower public opinion chance affecting last gasp attempts next months hold power absolutely guarantee opposition schemes stop likes dick cheney donald rumsfeld john ashcroft amp co continuing act ruthlessly without principles whatsoever preserve grip power crisis calls dramatic public response american people demonstrating conclusively allow illegitimate gang destroy democracy freedom americans made fahrenheit 911 surprise hit movie people packed streets cities february 15 2003 day world said war iraq come account allow government perpetuate illegitimate existence using excuse terrorism delay prevent lawful democratic presidential election four years ago george w bush dick cheney failed receive majority popular vote 2000 election racially discriminatory vote suppression jeb bushs florida combined least two key factors deliver white house current occupants balance power electoral college unfairly favors republicans fundamentalist rural western southern base intervention five republican appointees us supreme court stopped accurate count extraordinarily tight florida race important sense fact win stole 2000 election combination legal extralegal maneuvers 2004 first real opportunity american people take back country gang stole america power controversial narrow borderline illegal manner one might think would seek govern inclusively responsibly seeking build shore support legitimacy assumption contradicts immoral crass political nature criminal enterprise form presidential administration cynical opportunism responding historic crimes humanity september 11 2001 apparently knows bounds rather seeking unite americans common goals government shamelessly taken every opportunity enrich corporate supporters project power military attacks racial profiling threats violence severely threatened liberty security usa entire world program global dominance aftermath 911 atrocities george w bush cluelessly wondered people countries hate us government policies systematically destroy freedoms steal resources kill brethren spread war poverty throughout unjust us corporate empire hate freedoms concluded apparently based speechwriters handlers instructions teleprompters meanwhile administrations military energy tax trade environmental economic policies fuel hatred unjust imperial domination threaten peace prosperity security world dramatic unprecedented ways example afghanistan within less month terrorist attacks new york washington us military struck prostrate nation afghanistan former us allies taliban government osama bin ladens jihadist terror network systematic human rights violations widespread violence inflicted innocent civilians caught chaos war intense human suffering throughout winter 200102 beginning construction longsought lucrative natural gas oil pipelines accompanied first round declared global war terrorism even long term consequences september 11 terrorist attacks began sink gradually displacing shock horror fall 2001 illegitimate us government beginning drive total power killing domination corporate oil politics iraq national security strategy september 2002 spelled governments imperial militarist goals intention waging perpetual aggressive wars enrich base capitalizing vast new opportunities opened september 11 crimes humanity iraq would test case new doctrine failed spectacularly whole world knows illegal invasion iraq march 2003 based lies alleged weapons nonexistent connections alquaida fake security threats bush chickenhawk advisors sent 100000 working class americans kill die heart middle easts coveted oil reserves projected us military power worlds strategic region benefit corporate funders face vocal warnings opposition around planet across country created obvious bloody ongoing disaster april 2004 seven months election project began collapse chaos blood fire suicide bombings armed resistance kidnappings blackmail beheadings installation puppet government headed known cia stooge saddam hussein lite define absurd unstable completely insane second round bushs fanatical fraudulent war terror israelpalestine addition direct us military assaults last three years longstanding illegal occupation west bank gaza us ally israel intensified supports islamic arab nationalist opposition escalating series deadly attacks foreign outposts us empire like bushcheney gang ariel sharons criminal government blatantly used aftermath september 11 excuse rewrite rules international conduct kill opponents fellows grab power land us leaders marched lockstep every one abuses palestinians homelands livelihoods lives forfeit israeli aggression using ussupplied arms still official leaders ask plaintively hate us surrogates stealing lands starving children killing impunity people individuals nation must look hearts minds determine global dominance sound tempting especially nightmares filled threat terrorism easy america bully easy americans accept role eloquent words singersongwriter jonatha brooke american day must give shall take tell moral whats want kill former us army sergeant stan goff says army sent kind twodecade school school learned something world fundamentally safe undeniably true world safe frightening thought americans cheney bush rumsfeld etc lived lives privilege comfort inherent risk living world compel us become invaders murderers compel us abandon democracy rule law compel us give civil liberties abdicate right dissolve political bonds connect us criminal administration suggestion 2004 election could postponed call arms defend ideal american democratic selfgovernment assault civil liberty bushcheney administration become identified disdain human rights rule law consider prominent examples withdrawing us international criminal court fear prosecutions americans war crimes including human rights violations crimes humanity enacting socalled usa patriot act violates basic human rights illegally indefinitely detaining alleged enemy combatants guantanamo bay us struck landmark decisions us supreme court summer abu ghraib prison abuses arbitrary mass arrests prosecutions protesters activists even defense attorney lynne stewart socalled war terrorism caused human rights abuses less safety amnesty international reported recently us set example disregard human rights worldwide administration continues label suspects enemies uses label political tool even identification relevant hunting terrorists example designating iraq iran north korea axis evil bushs assertion youre us youre us another example usa patriot act specifically disclaims bias muslims arabs thousands arabicspeaking persons followers islam rounded detained 911 without probable cause criminal activity solely basis ethnic origins religious practices virtually impossible imagine program would better calculated drive people away kinds cooperation legitimate authorities might help prevent future terrorist crimes current unelected us government cynically exploiting fear extreme nationalist fundamentalist fervor attempt retain illegitimate hold power name fighting terrorism reaction vocal worldwide demands global justice peace democracy corporate ideological supporters pursuing strategy us empirebuilding military force counting fear terrorism war economic privation whip people line behind leadership simply better alternative new american nightmare choose government laws enshrined national charter history unaccountable power currently arising war terrorism recent suggestion unspecified terrorist attack could force government postpone november 2004 presidential election appears slipping away candidate bush unsurpassed record lying abuse seen exactly admission failure absolute moral bankruptcy torture stupid late april may 2004 military occupation iraq trying unsuccessfully suppress coordinated violent uprising throughout country graphic images reality us liberation freedom nation burst public view revelations torture abuse baghdads abu ghraib prison afghanistans bagram air base guantanamo bay secret us military torture centers exposed reality war terror laid basis recent suggestion might cause government postpone election flood shocking revelations knowledge approval torture coming highest levels us government new york times reported legal memorandum addressed white house counsel alberto gonzalez assessing issue much pain constitutes torture law referring requirements geneva conventions obsolete quaint even stunning wall street journal revealed memo prepared team administration lawyers developing length arguments torture torture without specific intent cause severe longlasting harm ie torturers intent get information pain suffering unfortunate collateral consequence cant torture perhaps even appalling purely legal point view leaked internal justice department document become widely known torture memo argues quasiroyal prerogative president commanderinchief military bound legal prohibitions torture still leaks havent stopped center constitutional rights posted web site lengthy excerpts extensive pentagon torture manual official name working group report detainee interrogations global war terrorism assessment legal historical policy operational considerations orwellian kafkaesque word games aside torture manual light know offensive pictures taken inside abu ghraib also bushcheney administrations many coded admissions example bushs statement 2003 state union address many others met different fate lets put way longer problem leaked torture documents opened coasttocoast floodgates righteous democratic anger opposition san diego university law professor marjorie cohn written revelations mean time call impeachment bush former new york city congresswoman prosecutor elizabeth holtzman served house judiciary committee impeachment nixon called appointment special prosecutor approximately 500 law professors signed detailed reasoned letter calling impeachment june18 national lawyers guild issued press release demanding prosecution bush war crimes torture nlg president michael avery aptly described justice departments torture memorandum reading like pretrial brief behalf nazi defendants nuremberg trial wonder want cancel election extreme circumstances combined precedents set usa patriot act guantanamo iraq withdrawal icc amount attempted rolling coupinprogress although bushcheney administration pursued coup name freedom compassionate conservatism national security war terror main features exactly opposite dissolution rule law arbitrary arrests detentions violations abuses human rights dignity disregard sovereignty nations even basic principles widely accepted international norms increasing forms international terror violence many forms abu ghraib shock witnessed repeated violations domestic international law committed bushcheney administration surprise noted supreme court put bush presidency aware bushs family connections business dealings 2000 shock followed events 911 unlawful invasion iraq lawless administration expected engender anything lawless subordinates human rights watch says pattern abuse abu ghraib result acts individual soldiers broke rules resulted decisions made bush administration bend ignore cast rules aside abu ghraib beginning members bush administration showed penchant torture long abu ghraib administration recruited elevated several previously indicted war criminals bushs frequent use death penalty indifference human suffering governor texas wellestablished john negroponte implicated systematic human rights abuses central america 1980s appointed ambassador iraq bush even attempted appoint henry kissinger indictment war crimes numerous countries head 911 commission government laws corporate war criminals since september 11 2001 government placed us danger policies inflame conditions giving rise terrorism must replace regime continue work peace social justice order create brighter future children us response september 11 crimes humanity led us even greater peril crisis conditions george w bushs incompetence dick cheneys arrogance threaten survival must start acting like selfgoverning adults reject rule oil industry military contractors corporate profiteers one bestloved artists sings tribute unforgettable heroes september 11 bravely raced fire service others died may strength give us strength may faith give us faith may hope give us hope may love give us love george w bush government lack moral strength serve social justice peace rather big business lack faith democracy lack hope better world masses worlds people real answer terrorism lack love humanity strength killing making money lying faith nonexistent hope apathy american people love money power george w bush government lack legitimacy jennifer van bergen jd author twilight democracy bush plan america coming september 1 2004 common courage press one foremost experts usa patriot act taught antiterrorism law new school university tom stephens lawyer member national lawyers guild detroit 160 160 160 160 | 1,770 |
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<p>Earlier this year, when the Senate debated his bill to ban human cloning, Sen. Kit Bond (R-Mo.) was given 20 seconds to summarize the issue. “Science has given us partial-birth abortions and Dr. Kevorkian’s assisted suicide,” he declared. “We should say no to these scientific advances and no to the cloning of human embryos.”</p>
<p>The next day, a bioethicist testified at a House committee meeting that cloned zygotes—egg cells activated by a DNA transplant from body cells—were human beings. “Do you believe that a woman should have a right to an abortion?” asked pro-choice Rep. Greg Ganske (R-Iowa). “I am very proudly pro-life,” the witness snapped back.</p>
<p>It’s not surprising that politicians and activists are treating the cloning debate as the next round of the abortion war. Few of them have a clue about the mechanics of cloning, much less the ethics. But they know their positions on abortion—pro-life or pro-choice—and their first instinct is to apply the same arguments to cloning. They don’t yet understand how treacherous the new terrain is.</p>
<p>Pro-lifers are obsessed with legislation sponsored by Sens. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) that would permit the production of human zygotes through cloning but would ban their implantation in a womb. The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC), which takes no position on cloning per se, lobbied senators to reject the bill, saying that it would require researchers to “kill the embryos.” The principle at stake, according to the Christian Coalition, is “the sanctity of each human life from conception until natural death.”</p>
<p>But in cloning, there is no conception. The criteria by which pro-lifers define a new person—fusion of egg and sperm, a unique combination of genes—are never met. Applying these criteria, pro-life Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) calls cloned zygotes “asexually produced totipotent cells” and questions whether they are really embryos. That implies that fully born clones aren’t people, a position the NRLC rejects. But to escape that nightmare, pro-lifers will have to rethink their definition of when life begins.</p>
<p>Pro-lifers also reject the assertion of human freedom over nature. In the abortion context, this is an argument for life. But in cloning, it becomes an argument against it. Cloning a human “for the purpose of bringing new life into the world is intrinsically evil and should be absolutely prohibited,” declared Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) in support of the Bond bill. Sen. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) agreed: “We should not be in the business of taking away life or creating life unnaturally.” One of the “unnatural” practices forbidden by the Bond bill is the transfer of a nucleus from a fertilized but fragile egg to an enucleated healthy egg. This technique enables a woman to give birth to a child conceived by the fusion of egg and sperm, rather than suffer a spontaneous abortion. Yet pro-life senators supported legislation to ban it.</p>
<p>In the abortion debate, pro-lifers treat procreation and sexual responsibility as twin values: You had sex and got pregnant, so you should carry the child to term. But in cloning, the twin values come apart. The cloned zygote originates in a test tube, not a womb. So when NRLC legislative director Douglas Johnson says that embryos must not be “allowed to die without being implanted in a womb,” it’s not clear whose womb he has in mind. Foreseeing this dilemma, pro-lifers condemn asexual reproduction as a moral offense. In other words, if you want a baby, they insist that you have sex.</p>
<p>Pro-lifers further protest that cloned babies might be deformed. Bond told his colleagues that creating babies with “abnormalities” was “entirely unacceptable.” Even if the child were physically normal, other pro-lifers objected, its family structure would be ruined by the nature of its creation. “Every child has a right not to be so born,” a pro-life theologian told the House committee. Pro-lifers used to stand for equality, rejecting the view that children with physical disabilities or unfortunate origins (i.e., rape or incest) should never be born. Now they are embracing that view.</p>
<p>Pro-choicers, too, are in danger of wandering astray. Two months before the Senate cloning debate, pro-choice legal scholar Laurence Tribe, writing in the New York Times, renounced the anti-cloning movement as an assault on “unconventional ways of linking erotic attachment, romantic commitment, genetic replication, gestational mothering, and the joys and responsibilities of child rearing.”</p>
<p>In the Senate, Feinstein submitted a letter from the libertarian Cato Institute suggesting that cloning could eventually be accepted as a solution to infertility. She urged her colleagues to heed a plea from the nation’s leading advocacy group for infertile couples, which demanded: “Avenues for further research to help couples must not be halted.” She also submitted a letter from the biotech company Genentech, which cautioned would-be cloning regulators not to tamper with “the legal rights of persons to free expression and inquiry in the private market.”</p>
<p>In the abortion debate, the “choice” argument is anchored by the obligation to defend a woman’s bodily integrity. But in cloning, she needs no such defense, because she isn’t pregnant yet. Absent that anchor, the ideology of an unbounded right to replicate oneself in an “unconventional” arrangement of procreation, eroticism, and commitment—or lack of commitment—leads to chaos. Some pro-choicers pretend that cloning is just a small step from gay parenthood and in vitro fertilization, but it’s not. Cloning abolishes the genetic difference between parent and child. If gay parenthood means that Heather has two mommies, cloning doesn’t just mean that Heather has one mommy; it means that, genetically, Heather is her mommy. So if Heather’s mommy has a husband and daughter, then genetically, Heather is her sister’s mommy and her daddy’s wife.</p>
<p>The argument becomes even more pernicious when coupled with the view, advanced by some abortion rights advocates, that bodily integrity is a property right. “Every person’s DNA is his or her personal property,” Randolfe Wicker of the Clone Rights United Front told the House committee. “To have that DNA cloned into another extended life is part and parcel of his or her right to control his or her own reproduction.” If that’s true, then you own your clone. And if you and your spouse conceive a child normally, don’t you collectively own that child?</p>
<p>Furthermore, if DNA is property, it can be sold. In abortion, this is moot, because the embryo dies. But in cloning, it lives. Who will end up owning the clone and its DNA? With that in mind, you’d expect progressives to be wary of entrusting cloning to private interests. You’d think that Ted Kennedy, the scourge of greedy health insurance companies, would be last to deflect questions about the commercial cloning schemes of “our great research pharmaceutical companies” by equating their interests with those of the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Yet there stood Kennedy at the climax of the Senate debate, boasting: “If they are special interest groups, we are proud to stand with them.”</p>
<p>As cloning grows from an embryonic curiosity to a mature political issue, advocates of choice and of life are increasingly finding themselves in such awkward positions. They ought to ask how they got there, and where they’re going.</p>
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<p>William Saletan is a Mother Jones contributing writer and author of a forthcoming book on the politics of abortion.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | earlier year senate debated bill ban human cloning sen kit bond rmo given 20 seconds summarize issue science given us partialbirth abortions dr kevorkians assisted suicide declared say scientific advances cloning human embryos next day bioethicist testified house committee meeting cloned zygotesegg cells activated dna transplant body cellswere human beings believe woman right abortion asked prochoice rep greg ganske riowa proudly prolife witness snapped back surprising politicians activists treating cloning debate next round abortion war clue mechanics cloning much less ethics know positions abortionprolife prochoiceand first instinct apply arguments cloning dont yet understand treacherous new terrain prolifers obsessed legislation sponsored sens ted kennedy dmass dianne feinstein dcalif would permit production human zygotes cloning would ban implantation womb national right life committee nrlc takes position cloning per se lobbied senators reject bill saying would require researchers kill embryos principle stake according christian coalition sanctity human life conception natural death cloning conception criteria prolifers define new personfusion egg sperm unique combination genesare never met applying criteria prolife sen orrin hatch rutah calls cloned zygotes asexually produced totipotent cells questions whether really embryos implies fully born clones arent people position nrlc rejects escape nightmare prolifers rethink definition life begins prolifers also reject assertion human freedom nature abortion context argument life cloning becomes argument cloning human purpose bringing new life world intrinsically evil absolutely prohibited declared sen sam brownback rkan support bond bill sen jesse helms rnc agreed business taking away life creating life unnaturally one unnatural practices forbidden bond bill transfer nucleus fertilized fragile egg enucleated healthy egg technique enables woman give birth child conceived fusion egg sperm rather suffer spontaneous abortion yet prolife senators supported legislation ban abortion debate prolifers treat procreation sexual responsibility twin values sex got pregnant carry child term cloning twin values come apart cloned zygote originates test tube womb nrlc legislative director douglas johnson says embryos must allowed die without implanted womb clear whose womb mind foreseeing dilemma prolifers condemn asexual reproduction moral offense words want baby insist sex prolifers protest cloned babies might deformed bond told colleagues creating babies abnormalities entirely unacceptable even child physically normal prolifers objected family structure would ruined nature creation every child right born prolife theologian told house committee prolifers used stand equality rejecting view children physical disabilities unfortunate origins ie rape incest never born embracing view prochoicers danger wandering astray two months senate cloning debate prochoice legal scholar laurence tribe writing new york times renounced anticloning movement assault unconventional ways linking erotic attachment romantic commitment genetic replication gestational mothering joys responsibilities child rearing senate feinstein submitted letter libertarian cato institute suggesting cloning could eventually accepted solution infertility urged colleagues heed plea nations leading advocacy group infertile couples demanded avenues research help couples must halted also submitted letter biotech company genentech cautioned wouldbe cloning regulators tamper legal rights persons free expression inquiry private market abortion debate choice argument anchored obligation defend womans bodily integrity cloning needs defense isnt pregnant yet absent anchor ideology unbounded right replicate oneself unconventional arrangement procreation eroticism commitmentor lack commitmentleads chaos prochoicers pretend cloning small step gay parenthood vitro fertilization cloning abolishes genetic difference parent child gay parenthood means heather two mommies cloning doesnt mean heather one mommy means genetically heather mommy heathers mommy husband daughter genetically heather sisters mommy daddys wife argument becomes even pernicious coupled view advanced abortion rights advocates bodily integrity property right every persons dna personal property randolfe wicker clone rights united front told house committee dna cloned another extended life part parcel right control reproduction thats true clone spouse conceive child normally dont collectively child furthermore dna property sold abortion moot embryo dies cloning lives end owning clone dna mind youd expect progressives wary entrusting cloning private interests youd think ted kennedy scourge greedy health insurance companies would last deflect questions commercial cloning schemes great research pharmaceutical companies equating interests american cancer society american heart association yet stood kennedy climax senate debate boasting special interest groups proud stand cloning grows embryonic curiosity mature political issue advocates choice life increasingly finding awkward positions ought ask got theyre going william saletan mother jones contributing writer author forthcoming book politics abortion | 684 |
<p>Shir Hever is an economist working at The Real News Network. His economic research focuses on Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territory; international aid to the Palestinians and to Israel; the effects of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories on the Israeli economy; and the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaigns against Israel. His first book: Political Economy of Israel's Occupation: Repression Beyond Exploitation, was published by Pluto Press.</p>
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore.
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<p />Israel apparently has bombed inside Syria, as most people that follow the news know by now. Originally, the propaganda or PR around this event was that they were bombing chemical weapons on their way to Hezbollah. Now the story seems to be they were taking out some kind of advanced rocketry (we're told by The Washington Post, at least) that was being sent from Iran to Hezbollah. One way or the other, Israel does not seem to be hiding the fact that they made such a strike.
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<p />Now joining us to discuss Israeli strategic thinking in all of this is Shir Hever. Shir is a political economist. He works regularly with The Real News. He joins us now where he's working in Germany.
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<p />Thanks for joining us again, Shir.
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<p />SHIR HEVER, ECONOMIST, ALTERNATIVE INFORMATION CENTER: Hi, Paul. Thanks for having me.
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<p />JAY: So what do you make of what Israel's tactical strategic positioning is towards the current situation in Syria?
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<p />HEVER: I think it's very important to keep in mind that the Israeli strategy is very short-term. While a lot of regional forces like Turkey and global forces, the United States and Russia, are playing a complicated game and manipulating what's happening in Syria, Israel is mostly concerned about its domestic politics.
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<p />The Israeli government is in a tight position at the moment, because John Kerry, secretary of state for the U.S., had some visits to the region, tried to restart the peace negotiations. And in so doing, he mentioned and tried to revive the Arab peace initiative. And that puts Israel in a very difficult position, because the Arab peace initiative is a very reasonable offer. Israel has no intentions of accepting it. And if this sort of pressure continues, Israel will be exposed as unwilling to work with the United States and unwilling to negotiate with the Palestinians.
<p />
<p />A few weeks ago, the Israeli prime minister, Netanyahu, came to a comedy show as a guest star. And in that comedy show, they asked him, well, are you going to restart the peace negotiations, are you going to resume the peace process, and he said, you know, there is a lot of clashes around the Middle East, the Middle East is very heated up right now, so maybe it's not a good time.
<p />
<p />This gives us a very good idea of what exactly he stands to gain from the civil war in Syria. As long as there is fighting, as long as there is war, he can just keep distracting from the fact that he's actually not doing it.
<p />
<p />JAY: And we did a story a few days ago. We quoted Daniel Pipes, who's a pretty well-known neocon pundit, academic, who was very closely connected to Likud and the sort of right-wing opinion in Israel. And he overtly said, essentially, whichever side--meaning Assad or the opposition--whichever side seems to be getting weak, that side should be strengthened by the West--in other words, even support Assad if Assad seems to be losing--in order to keep the civil war going--essentially, let your enemies kill each other--and didn't seem very concerned about what happens to the Syrian population caught between them.
<p />
<p />And then is there not another part to this in terms of Israel's interest, that as long as there's such chaos and Assad's so weak, they can do exactly this, they can bomb something on its way to Hezbollah, and, it seems, without--I should say, with impunity?
<p />
<p />HEVER: Yeah. But we should also from a historical point of view remember that Assad's regime, and also his father's regime, were both--Hafez al-Assad, his father--have both been relatively convenient neighbors for Israel. Although there is no peace between the countries, both Hafez al-Assad and Bashar al-Assad have generally kept the ceasefire in place and haven't tried to provoke any kind of action against Israel.
<p />
<p />This could change, of course, if the regime in Syria will change. And one of the things that is discussed inside Israel is whether actually Israel should do something in order to protect Assad. And part of that is also the sort of propaganda that you hear a lot in Israel, as if the rebels are actually working for al-Qaeda, all of them are al-Qaeda. And that sort of talk is very common in the Israeli media.
<p />
<p />So, suddenly Assad, who was the terrible enemy of Israel--and, in fact, Israeli politicians and activists have been interrogated, imprisoned for visiting Syria, for meeting Assad and talking to him. Now, suddenly, there is a shift and he's becoming a sort of possible almost ally of Israel.
<p />
<p />And one somewhat cynical view is that this attack against Syria over the weekend has in some extent strengthened Assad, because it was an attack against the Syrian army loyal to the regime, a military base. Forty-two soldiers have been killed, according to some sources, in these attacks. And Assad therefore immediately could claim this is something that proves that the rebels are supported by outside groups, that Israel is helping the rebels, Israel is part of the groups trying to overthrow the regime. And that to some extent actually gives him more legitimacy.
<p />
<p />I seriously doubt that the Israeli government has formulated their attack in such a way to try to give Assad more popularity and more legitimacy.
<p />
<p />I think that if we try to analyze why Israel decided to attack Syria all of a sudden, the reasons are more--have a lot more to do with two things. One of them is the real fear inside Israel that the technological superiority that Israel wields over the region will weaken. Israel's army is in a state of crisis, a long-term crisis, mainly because conscription rates are dropping because the soldiers are not willing to--are not as motivated as before and not willing to risk their lives as before. And that makes Israel more and more dependent on the military companies, on the military technology, on their ability to use unmanned drones and sophisticated missile systems and so on.
<p />
<p />This particular attack, initially they said it was against--to stop chemical weapons from being shipped to Hezbollah. Later they changed the story and talked about Fateh-110 missiles. These missiles are, as they are reported in the media, lightweight, very accurate, and can be launched without too much preparation and too much facilities. That means that Israel will find it very difficult to intercept those missiles, and that those missiles could actually target Israeli airfields or Israeli sensitive antennas and so on. That's exactly what Israel is afraid of. That would mean that Israel will lose its technological edge to some extent. And that would open the question why is Israel not negotiating, why Israel is not activating any kind of diplomatic channels. And they wanted to prevent those missiles from reaching Hezbollah at any cost, because that would make it very difficult for Israel to launch raids on Lebanon at will, as Israel has often tried to do.
<p />
<p />JAY: And Israel certainly assumes, rightly or wrongly, that if there ever is an attack on Iran, Israel thinks that Hezbollah might, as an ally of Iran, attack from Lebanon. And they want to, I assume, take out whatever advanced capability there that they can.
<p />
<p />HEVER: Well, that might be one reason for it. But Israel has so far never attacked Iran directly, only very indirectly, through some complicated cyber means. But Israel has attacked Lebanon so many times. And Hezbollah's main reason and call for popularity inside Lebanon is that they protect Lebanon from Israel, or at least try to protect Lebanon from Israel. Israel bombed Lebanon over the years many times. In 2006, for the first time, Hezbollah was able to launch rockets back at Israel to such an extent that actually caused significant damage.
<p />
<p />One of the things that the Israeli army was very much concerned about and the Israeli public was concerned about, the Israeli government was concerned about: what if one of those rockets would hit a sensitive facility, for example, a fuel reservoir? And because of that concern, Israel has not launched a massive invasion against Lebanon since 2006, and instead focused most of its violence against Gaza, the Gaza Strip. But that means that if Hezbollah will have the ability to intentionally target sensitive areas inside Israel, then maybe Israel will just not have the option of attacking Lebanon anymore. That's something I don't think the Israeli government is willing to forego.
<p />
<p />JAY: And [crosstalk] just let me--this is an important point here, because there's--you know, in the Western media there's sort of this presumption that Hezbollah is just waiting to get enough arms so they can attack Israel. And, you know, Hezbollah's always painted as sort of the more likely aggressor in this scenario. But even when I've been in Israel and other times when I've read, you know, top Israeli intelligence people, especially after they retire, they all talk more or less that Hezbollah's in a defensive position, that, you know, if Israel left Hezbollah alone, it's not--there's no reason to think Hezbollah would attack Israel.
<p />
<p />HEVER: Yeah, that's absolutely true. And the main argument that Hezbollah still has against Israel is that Israel continues to occupy a piece of Lebanon called the Shebaa farms. And actually if Israel would withdraw from that territory, it's very doubtful that Hezbollah would try any kind of further attacks against Israel.
<p />
<p />But what you said before about Iran does deserve some mention, because we do see some interesting development here of Israel's and the U.S. relations. Netanyahu has pushed Obama very strongly over the past years to what is known as the red lines policy regarding Iran, so that Obama would declare openly what are the red lines that will cause the U.S. to intervene against Iran. And, of course, that is also something that's mainly concerned with domestic policies within Israel, because Netanyahu is too afraid to launch a direct attack against Iran, or has been so far too afraid to launch a direct attack. But if he can show that he made the U.S. make such a move, that he forced Obama's hand, that would make him seem like a hero of Israel's security.
<p />
<p />Now, Obama, so far, refused to comply with that demand. He didn't say exactly what is the red line that will make the U.S. bomb Iran or invade Iran. But Obama did make a speech, a very--using very similar words, very similar terminology, speaking about Syria, and speaking specifically about the use of chemical weapons. And shortly after that speech, Israel claimed that there was a use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime in Syria, which was originally taken with some skepticism in the U.S. But Chuck Hagel decided to accept this intelligence report coming from Israel, possibly also because otherwise he would, within the U.S., be perceived as not faithful enough to the Israeli intelligence, doubting the Israeli intelligence for no reason.
<p />
<p />And, of course, as soon as--we know that there are red lines. The red line is chemical weapons. Israel claims chemical weapons were used. Then Israel attacked Syria. Then that puts Israel in a position where they can act freely and the U.S. cannot actually do anything to withhold Israel, even if the consequences of that attack might further destabilize the region.
<p />
<p />JAY: Do you get any sense that Israel wants the United States to militarily intervene in Syria? You seem to see a difference of--serious difference of opinion here. As I said, Daniel Pipes, who I think shares a lot of the opinions or speaks for some of Likud and right-wing Israel, seems to argue against any kind of intervention and says, you know, let the two sides kill each other and support whichever one is getting weaker. But then you have The Washington Post in an editorial say, it's time for U.S. intervention to end the war quickly. They don't exactly spell out what that intervention is, but they talk about the spreading of this Sunni-Shia split and how this might affect Lebanon and become a wider regional war. They don't mention the role of Saudi Arabia and Qatar in all of this, who are fueling all of this. Then you have somebody like Bill Keller writes in The New York Times, Syria is not Iraq, and suggesting an intervention in Syria would not be fraught with the same danger Iraq was. What--in the context of that, what's going on in terms of Israeli thinking, as far as one can ascertain?
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<p />HEVER: Israel--the Israeli elite, especially the military elite, the ministers of defense over the past few years have developed a very delicate strategy of brinkmanship, because on the one hand, the Israeli economy and the Israeli military system depend on constant chaos, constant fighting, constant threat of terrorism. And that is something that fuels into Israel's military industry. And I want to say something about that too.
<p />
<p />But on the other hand, a lot of more, let's say, sane, reasonable people in Israel know that you can go too far, you can go past a certain point in which this threatens Israel's stability, that it could harm Israel's economy, like what happened in 2006 when Hezbollah was actually able to fight back, something that the Israeli military is not really ready for. So they're always trying to choose their targets which would be the easy targets, mainly attacking the Gaza Strip, which is defenseless, or almost defenseless, and not attacking countries like Syria, who still have an army.
<p />
<p />So in that--and Netanyahu in that context represents a sort of moderate voice, because despite of his very right-wing rhetoric and very sort of xenophobic politics, he's after all a pragmatic politician and so far has chosen very carefully the sort of targets he's--is tangling with so as to avoid a situation where Israel loses control over the situation.
<p />
<p />But on the other hand, you have all these military companies. That's, I think, a point that we cannot forget. If we compare this attack against Syria this year to the attack that Israel had against Syria in 2007--there was also a raid at the time, and that raid was--the Israeli army didn't take responsibility for it, the Israeli government didn't take responsibility for it. It was kind of understood in the international media that probably this is an Israeli attack. Probably no other force in the region has the ability to launch such an attack. But Israel never actually took responsibility and never claimed that it was an Israeli attack.
<p />
<p />If we look at this attack this weekend, the situation is very different. Officially, the Israeli army didn't claim responsibility for the attack, the Israeli government didn't claim responsibility. You have this absurd situation in which the Israeli newspapers, when they want to talk about this attack, they refer to foreign sources. They say, according to foreign sources it was an Israeli attack, but--so, assuming if it was indeed an Israeli attack, let's say, this and that, but we cannot know for sure.
<p />
<p />But at the same time, the Israeli army has leaked the specifics of the attack, what kind of mechanisms were used to attack. And they even gave the brand names of two missiles developed by the Israeli military company Rafael, which is the same military company that developed the Iron Dome system that was used against Hamas-fired rockets from Gaza. And the Rafael company produced these two missiles. They're called Popeye and Spice. And one of the things that these missiles can do is, apparently, attack a fortified target, because those military bases were protected by concrete walls, and they could punch through those concrete walls. And they could also be fired from far away so that the Israeli Air Force could claim that they've actually never entered Syrian air space. They've--hover just out of reach and fire these missiles into Syria. So we have this absurd situation where the Israeli Air Force is actually telling how they did this attack, but not admitting that they actually did this attack.
<p />
<p />JAY: And why do you think they leaked this?
<p />
<p />HEVER: Because these missiles are going to be sold now. If we look at the Iron Dome system that was used against Hamas-fired rockets in the attack of November&#160;2012, three months after the Iron Dome system was deployed, there was a weapon trade show, trade fair in India in which the Iron Dome system was already offered for sale. And I think it's very likely that the Popeye missiles and Spice missiles have just gotten their publicity, and now they are going to be sold to armies around the world and bring many profits to the company Rafael.
<p />
<p />JAY: Alright. Thanks for joining us, Shir.
<p />
<p />HEVER: Thank you, Paul.
<p />
<p />JAY: Thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
<p />
<p />End
<p />
<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | shir hever economist working real news network economic research focuses israeli occupation palestinian territory international aid palestinians israel effects israeli occupation palestinian territories israeli economy boycott divestment sanctions campaigns israel first book political economy israels occupation repression beyond exploitation published pluto press paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay baltimore israel apparently bombed inside syria people follow news know originally propaganda pr around event bombing chemical weapons way hezbollah story seems taking kind advanced rocketry told washington post least sent iran hezbollah one way israel seem hiding fact made strike joining us discuss israeli strategic thinking shir hever shir political economist works regularly real news joins us hes working germany thanks joining us shir shir hever economist alternative information center hi paul thanks jay make israels tactical strategic positioning towards current situation syria hever think important keep mind israeli strategy shortterm lot regional forces like turkey global forces united states russia playing complicated game manipulating whats happening syria israel mostly concerned domestic politics israeli government tight position moment john kerry secretary state us visits region tried restart peace negotiations mentioned tried revive arab peace initiative puts israel difficult position arab peace initiative reasonable offer israel intentions accepting sort pressure continues israel exposed unwilling work united states unwilling negotiate palestinians weeks ago israeli prime minister netanyahu came comedy show guest star comedy show asked well going restart peace negotiations going resume peace process said know lot clashes around middle east middle east heated right maybe good time gives us good idea exactly stands gain civil war syria long fighting long war keep distracting fact hes actually jay story days ago quoted daniel pipes whos pretty wellknown neocon pundit academic closely connected likud sort rightwing opinion israel overtly said essentially whichever sidemeaning assad oppositionwhichever side seems getting weak side strengthened westin words even support assad assad seems losingin order keep civil war goingessentially let enemies kill otherand didnt seem concerned happens syrian population caught another part terms israels interest long theres chaos assads weak exactly bomb something way hezbollah seems withouti say impunity hever yeah also historical point view remember assads regime also fathers regime bothhafez alassad fatherhave relatively convenient neighbors israel although peace countries hafez alassad bashar alassad generally kept ceasefire place havent tried provoke kind action israel could change course regime syria change one things discussed inside israel whether actually israel something order protect assad part also sort propaganda hear lot israel rebels actually working alqaeda alqaeda sort talk common israeli media suddenly assad terrible enemy israeland fact israeli politicians activists interrogated imprisoned visiting syria meeting assad talking suddenly shift hes becoming sort possible almost ally israel one somewhat cynical view attack syria weekend extent strengthened assad attack syrian army loyal regime military base fortytwo soldiers killed according sources attacks assad therefore immediately could claim something proves rebels supported outside groups israel helping rebels israel part groups trying overthrow regime extent actually gives legitimacy seriously doubt israeli government formulated attack way try give assad popularity legitimacy think try analyze israel decided attack syria sudden reasons morehave lot two things one real fear inside israel technological superiority israel wields region weaken israels army state crisis longterm crisis mainly conscription rates dropping soldiers willing toare motivated willing risk lives makes israel dependent military companies military technology ability use unmanned drones sophisticated missile systems particular attack initially said againstto stop chemical weapons shipped hezbollah later changed story talked fateh110 missiles missiles reported media lightweight accurate launched without much preparation much facilities means israel find difficult intercept missiles missiles could actually target israeli airfields israeli sensitive antennas thats exactly israel afraid would mean israel lose technological edge extent would open question israel negotiating israel activating kind diplomatic channels wanted prevent missiles reaching hezbollah cost would make difficult israel launch raids lebanon israel often tried jay israel certainly assumes rightly wrongly ever attack iran israel thinks hezbollah might ally iran attack lebanon want assume take whatever advanced capability hever well might one reason israel far never attacked iran directly indirectly complicated cyber means israel attacked lebanon many times hezbollahs main reason call popularity inside lebanon protect lebanon israel least try protect lebanon israel israel bombed lebanon years many times 2006 first time hezbollah able launch rockets back israel extent actually caused significant damage one things israeli army much concerned israeli public concerned israeli government concerned one rockets would hit sensitive facility example fuel reservoir concern israel launched massive invasion lebanon since 2006 instead focused violence gaza gaza strip means hezbollah ability intentionally target sensitive areas inside israel maybe israel option attacking lebanon anymore thats something dont think israeli government willing forego jay crosstalk let methis important point theresyou know western media theres sort presumption hezbollah waiting get enough arms attack israel know hezbollahs always painted sort likely aggressor scenario even ive israel times ive read know top israeli intelligence people especially retire talk less hezbollahs defensive position know israel left hezbollah alone nottheres reason think hezbollah would attack israel hever yeah thats absolutely true main argument hezbollah still israel israel continues occupy piece lebanon called shebaa farms actually israel would withdraw territory doubtful hezbollah would try kind attacks israel said iran deserve mention see interesting development israels us relations netanyahu pushed obama strongly past years known red lines policy regarding iran obama would declare openly red lines cause us intervene iran course also something thats mainly concerned domestic policies within israel netanyahu afraid launch direct attack iran far afraid launch direct attack show made us make move forced obamas hand would make seem like hero israels security obama far refused comply demand didnt say exactly red line make us bomb iran invade iran obama make speech veryusing similar words similar terminology speaking syria speaking specifically use chemical weapons shortly speech israel claimed use chemical weapons assad regime syria originally taken skepticism us chuck hagel decided accept intelligence report coming israel possibly also otherwise would within us perceived faithful enough israeli intelligence doubting israeli intelligence reason course soon aswe know red lines red line chemical weapons israel claims chemical weapons used israel attacked syria puts israel position act freely us actually anything withhold israel even consequences attack might destabilize region jay get sense israel wants united states militarily intervene syria seem see difference ofserious difference opinion said daniel pipes think shares lot opinions speaks likud rightwing israel seems argue kind intervention says know let two sides kill support whichever one getting weaker washington post editorial say time us intervention end war quickly dont exactly spell intervention talk spreading sunnishia split might affect lebanon become wider regional war dont mention role saudi arabia qatar fueling somebody like bill keller writes new york times syria iraq suggesting intervention syria would fraught danger iraq whatin context whats going terms israeli thinking far one ascertain hever israelthe israeli elite especially military elite ministers defense past years developed delicate strategy brinkmanship one hand israeli economy israeli military system depend constant chaos constant fighting constant threat terrorism something fuels israels military industry want say something hand lot lets say sane reasonable people israel know go far go past certain point threatens israels stability could harm israels economy like happened 2006 hezbollah actually able fight back something israeli military really ready theyre always trying choose targets would easy targets mainly attacking gaza strip defenseless almost defenseless attacking countries like syria still army thatand netanyahu context represents sort moderate voice despite rightwing rhetoric sort xenophobic politics hes pragmatic politician far chosen carefully sort targets hesis tangling avoid situation israel loses control situation hand military companies thats think point forget compare attack syria year attack israel syria 2007there also raid time raid wasthe israeli army didnt take responsibility israeli government didnt take responsibility kind understood international media probably israeli attack probably force region ability launch attack israel never actually took responsibility never claimed israeli attack look attack weekend situation different officially israeli army didnt claim responsibility attack israeli government didnt claim responsibility absurd situation israeli newspapers want talk attack refer foreign sources say according foreign sources israeli attack butso assuming indeed israeli attack lets say know sure time israeli army leaked specifics attack kind mechanisms used attack even gave brand names two missiles developed israeli military company rafael military company developed iron dome system used hamasfired rockets gaza rafael company produced two missiles theyre called popeye spice one things missiles apparently attack fortified target military bases protected concrete walls could punch concrete walls could also fired far away israeli air force could claim theyve actually never entered syrian air space theyvehover reach fire missiles syria absurd situation israeli air force actually telling attack admitting actually attack jay think leaked hever missiles going sold look iron dome system used hamasfired rockets attack november1602012 three months iron dome system deployed weapon trade show trade fair india iron dome system already offered sale think likely popeye missiles spice missiles gotten publicity going sold armies around world bring many profits company rafael jay alright thanks joining us shir hever thank paul jay thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,519 |
<p>&lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/hagedornforcongress/photos/pb.189742239707.-2207520000.1408647086./10152666715854708/?type=3&amp;src=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-xpa1%2Ft31.0-8%2F10603925_10152666715854708_4313881064970658543_o.jpg&amp;smallsrc=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhphotos-ak-xpa1%2Ft31.0-8%2Fs960x960%2F10603925_10152666715854708_4313881064970658543_o.jpg&amp;size=2034%2C2048&amp;fbid=10152666715854708"&gt;Hagedorn for Congress&lt;/a&gt;/Facebook</p>
<p />
<p>Republican congressional candidate Jim Hagedorn could face a major obstacle in his race to unseat Minnesota Democrat Tim Walz: conservative blogger Jim Hagedorn.</p>
<p>Hagedorn, the son of retired congressman Tom Hagedorn, was a surprise victor in last Tuesday’s GOP primary. But he brings some serious baggage to his race against Walz, a four-term incumbent. In posts from his old blog, Mr. Conservative, unearthed by the Minnesota politics blog <a href="http://www.bluestemprairie.com/bluestemprairie/2009/10/mrquistandmrclassy.html" type="external">Bluestem Prairie</a>*, Hagedorn made light of American Indians, President Obama’s Kenyan ancestry, and female Supreme Court justices, among others, in ways many voters won’t appreciate.</p>
<p>Hagedorn deleted many of his old posts prior to his 2010 run for Walz’s seat—he lost in the GOP primary. But some of his writings can still be found via the <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170623/http://mrconservative.us/" type="external">Internet Archive</a> or in screenshots taken by the Minnesota Independent. These were not mere juvenile ramblings, either: Hagedorn was a Treasury Department official at the time.</p>
<p>“Turns out half-aunt Zeituni is an illegal alien from Kenya who has illegally contributed money to her half-nephew’s campaign, which should make Americans half-pi$$ed,” he <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170623/http://mrconservative.us/" type="external">wrote</a> in a typical missive during the 2008 election cycle. “The migration from Barack Obama’s second country to the United States during the next four years is going to look like a low-budget remake of Eddie Murphy’s hit comedy ‘Coming to America.'”</p>
<p>Hagedorn also reveled in the type of gay innuendo you may have heard in high school courtyards in decades past. (Kids these days know better.) He <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">referred</a> to former Wisconsin Sen. Herb Kohl as an “alleged switch-hitter” and a “packer.” Former GOP candidate Mike Taylor, the target of a homophobic attack ad during his campaign against then-Sen. Max Baucus, <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">came out even worse</a>: “[T]he ad really bent Taylor over with rage and caused him to go straight to the bar and get lubricated,” Hagedorn wrote. “It must have taken all Taylor’s power to refrain from fisting…err…using his fists on Max Baucus, or at the very least ream him inside and out.”</p>
<p>In an <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231152147/http://minnesotaindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/Mr.-Conservative2004.png" type="external">entry</a> on the Supreme Court’s&#160;2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision, which ruled that state bans on sodomy were unconstitutional, he wrote: “Butt (sic) never have winners lost so dearly. The Court’s voyage into uncharted, untreated cultural bathhouse waters was designed to offer a gentle push from behind…to generate a small skip forward for the pink triangle class…to throw them a bone, so to speak.”</p>
<p>Lest anyone challenge his bona fides, Hagedorn wanted to make abundantly clear he was a straight white male. “Senator McCain’s campaign was all but flat lined before he brought the feisty Caribou Barbie into our living rooms,” he <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170623/http://mrconservative.us/" type="external">wrote</a> in 2008. “Which reminds me, on behalf of all red-blooded American men: THANK YOU SENATOR McCAIN, SARAH’S HOT!”</p>
<p>Not all female politicians were viewed as favorably. In a 2002 post, Hagedorn <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">referred</a> to Washington Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray as “undeserving bimbos in tennis shoes.” Former Bush White House counsel Harriet Miers, he wrote in 2005, had been nominated “to fill the bra of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor.”</p>
<p>Writing about now-Sen. John Thune’s race against Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson, Hagedorn <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">turned</a> his razor-sharp wit on America’s most coddled demographic—Native Americans. “The race has been highlighted by a Democrat drive to register voters in several of several of South Dakota’s expansive redistribution of wealth centers…err…casino parlors…err…Indian reservations. Remarkably, many of the voters registered for absentee ballots were found to be chiefs and squaws who had returned to the spirit world many moons ago.” Alleging that fake votes from Indians would provide the margin of victory, he <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">echoed</a> “John Wayne’s wisdom of the only good Indian being a dead Indian.”</p>
<p>Hagedorn may have been joking. (The quip’s real author, General Philip Sheridan, wasn’t.) But American Indians were a favorite punching bag over at Mr. Conservative. In that same post, he <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20091231170628/http://upload.minnesotaindependent.com/MrConservative2002.pdf" type="external">referred</a> to Nevada as a land of “nuclear waste and thankless Indians.” What made the state’s Native American population thankless? Hagedorn didn’t say.</p>
<p>Democrats seized on some of the Mr. Conservative postings during Hagedorn’s brief 2009 foray, prompting him to slip into damage control mode. “I understand that some of the folks on the left aren’t going to like what I write,” he told the Rochester Post-Bulletin. “I poke fun at everybody, including Republicans.”</p>
<p>Although Walz’s district went to Barack Obama by less than 2 points in 2012, the incumbent has faced a string of less-than-stellar opponents. <a href="" type="internal">Allen Quist</a>, the GOP’s 2012 nominee, crafted a school science curriculum contending that humans coexisted with dinosaurs. Aaron Miller, the Iraq War vet who was picked to run against Walz at the district nominating convention but lost in the primary, stated that he was motivated to run for office because his daughter had been forced to learn evolution in public schools. And now Hagedorn.</p>
<p>It looks like Tim Walz might be staying in Washington a little bit longer.</p>
<p>Correction: This story originally credited the Minnesota Independent with first reporting on the Mr. Conservative postings. The Independent was the first outlet to report that the blog posts had been deleted.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | lta hrefhttpswwwfacebookcomhagedornforcongressphotospb1897422397072207520000140864708610152666715854708type3ampsrchttps3a2f2ffbcdnsphotoshaakamaihdnet2fhphotosakxpa12ft31082f10603925_10152666715854708_4313881064970658543_ojpgampsmallsrchttps3a2f2ffbcdnsphotoshaakamaihdnet2fhphotosakxpa12ft31082fs960x9602f10603925_10152666715854708_4313881064970658543_ojpgampsize20342c2048ampfbid10152666715854708gthagedorn congressltagtfacebook republican congressional candidate jim hagedorn could face major obstacle race unseat minnesota democrat tim walz conservative blogger jim hagedorn hagedorn son retired congressman tom hagedorn surprise victor last tuesdays gop primary brings serious baggage race walz fourterm incumbent posts old blog mr conservative unearthed minnesota politics blog bluestem prairie hagedorn made light american indians president obamas kenyan ancestry female supreme court justices among others ways many voters wont appreciate hagedorn deleted many old posts prior 2010 run walzs seathe lost gop primary writings still found via internet archive screenshots taken minnesota independent mere juvenile ramblings either hagedorn treasury department official time turns halfaunt zeituni illegal alien kenya illegally contributed money halfnephews campaign make americans halfpied wrote typical missive 2008 election cycle migration barack obamas second country united states next four years going look like lowbudget remake eddie murphys hit comedy coming america hagedorn also reveled type gay innuendo may heard high school courtyards decades past kids days know better referred former wisconsin sen herb kohl alleged switchhitter packer former gop candidate mike taylor target homophobic attack ad campaign thensen max baucus came even worse ad really bent taylor rage caused go straight bar get lubricated hagedorn wrote must taken taylors power refrain fistingerrusing fists max baucus least ream inside entry supreme courts1602003 lawrence v texas decision ruled state bans sodomy unconstitutional wrote butt sic never winners lost dearly courts voyage uncharted untreated cultural bathhouse waters designed offer gentle push behindto generate small skip forward pink triangle classto throw bone speak lest anyone challenge bona fides hagedorn wanted make abundantly clear straight white male senator mccains campaign flat lined brought feisty caribou barbie living rooms wrote 2008 reminds behalf redblooded american men thank senator mccain sarahs hot female politicians viewed favorably 2002 post hagedorn referred washington democratic sens maria cantwell patty murray undeserving bimbos tennis shoes former bush white house counsel harriet miers wrote 2005 nominated fill bra supreme court justice sandra day oconnor writing nowsen john thunes race democratic sen tim johnson hagedorn turned razorsharp wit americas coddled demographicnative americans race highlighted democrat drive register voters several several south dakotas expansive redistribution wealth centerserrcasino parlorserrindian reservations remarkably many voters registered absentee ballots found chiefs squaws returned spirit world many moons ago alleging fake votes indians would provide margin victory echoed john waynes wisdom good indian dead indian hagedorn may joking quips real author general philip sheridan wasnt american indians favorite punching bag mr conservative post referred nevada land nuclear waste thankless indians made states native american population thankless hagedorn didnt say democrats seized mr conservative postings hagedorns brief 2009 foray prompting slip damage control mode understand folks left arent going like write told rochester postbulletin poke fun everybody including republicans although walzs district went barack obama less 2 points 2012 incumbent faced string lessthanstellar opponents allen quist gops 2012 nominee crafted school science curriculum contending humans coexisted dinosaurs aaron miller iraq war vet picked run walz district nominating convention lost primary stated motivated run office daughter forced learn evolution public schools hagedorn looks like tim walz might staying washington little bit longer correction story originally credited minnesota independent first reporting mr conservative postings independent first outlet report blog posts deleted | 533 |
<p>“I am here to admit that I am, in fact, HIV-positive.”On Tuesday morning, acclaimed Hollywood actor <a href="" type="internal">Charlie Sheen sat down for a candid interview</a> with the Today show’s Matt Lauer and said he’d been living with HIV for four years. He said he felt compelled to come forward after enduring a “barrage of attacks and sub-truths” in the tabloids, and paying up to $10 million in “shakedowns” and “extortion” over his condition. In one instance, he claimed a prostitute took a photograph of his antiretroviral medications and blackmailed him.Lauer also asked Sheen, “Have you, since the time of your diagnosis, told every one of your sexual partners before you had a sexual encounter you were HIV-positive?”</p>
<p>“Yes, I have,” Sheen replied, adding, “No exceptions.”</p>
<p>Well, Sheen’s ex-girlfriend, the former porn star <a href="" type="internal">Bree Olson</a>, begs to differ. If you recall, Olson was one of Sheen’s two live-in girlfriends—along with Natalie Kenly, whom Sheen had met in a treatment program. Sheen labeled the women the “goddesses,” and they were by the Two and a Half Men star’s side during his highly publicized meltdown and anti-Semitic rant against that show’s creator, Chuck Lorre.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">an interview with The Daily Beast</a> after their split, Olson claimed she was “miserable and waiting for it to end,” and that she was the one who one day packed up her things and left Sheen’s chaotic mansion.</p>
<p>During his interview with Lauer, Sheen said he was diagnosed HIV-positive back in 2011, “on the heels” of his public downward spiral—and while he was dating Olson. She says the two remained together for around seven months.</p>
<p>Well, Olson appeared on The Howard Stern Show Tuesday morning following Sheen’s Today Show reveal. According to Stern, she appeared “shaking and upset” as she entered the studio.</p>
<p>Asked when she learned Sheen had HIV, Olson replied, “Right along with everyone else. Three days ago, I started getting calls—it was right when everything happened in Paris. Fox and everyone else started getting at me in emails, and even I wanted to blow it off [thinking], ‘Oh, this is just another Charlie thing,’” she said.“He never said anything to me,” Olson added. “I was his girlfriend. I lived with him. We were together. We had sex almost every day for a year—with lambskin condoms.”Lambskin condoms, by the way, do not prevent the transmission of HIV—they only prevent pregnancy. Olson told Stern that while she preferred standard condoms, lambskin was Sheen’s condom of choice.</p>
<p>Olson, who had driven from her hometown in Indiana to New York for the sit-down interview with Stern, brought in her HIV test, which she then presented to the radio host.</p>
<p>Stern observed her HIV test and read, “no HIV antibodies were detected.”</p>
<p>“I am negative for HIV,” said a relieved Olson.</p>
<p>Before shacking up with Sheen, Olson was a prolific porn star, but says she “left the industry” for Sheen and never returned. Recently, she appeared in the horror film Human Centipede 3.When asked whether or not she feels betrayed, Olson paused. “I have not spoken to him in quite some time,” she said. “I had spoke nothing but positive things about Charlie. I have never said a negative thing, I’ve never torn him apart in any way, but I am so upset. I couldn’t be more angry. I’m shaking, I’ve been crying… to think that someone could do that to me. I loved him. He was my boyfriend.”“He just admitted right in that [Today] interview that [the diagnosis] is during the ‘tiger blood’ time. That’s when I was with him!” she continued. “I was living with him. We were sleeping together every night. [He] never said a thing, ever. ‘I’m clean,’ he told me. ‘I’m clean, I’m clean,’ because I didn’t want to use lambskin, I wanted to use regular condoms… I trusted him.”</p>
<p>In his interview with Lauer, Sheen described the side effects he faced living with HIV, including a series of debilitating “cluster headaches and migraines,” as well as night sweats.</p>
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<p>“I remember that [sweating],” Olson said. “He would wake up all the time in the middle of the night complaining of these symptoms, and he would blame it on steroids—these steroids he took.”</p>
<p>Indeed, during his Today chat, Sheen chalked up his “tiger blood” time to “’roid rage.”</p>
<p>“A doctor came to the house all the time and they’d go into a room by themselves,” added Olson. “He always told me, ‘This is for my steroids.’”</p>
<p>While Sheen claimed that many women had shaken him down in the past, Olson was adamant that she’s been an incredibly loyal ex. “I never went and sold any of my stories,” she said, even claiming to have turned down a $200,000 offer for a sit-down interview following their split.</p>
<p>“It’s illegal,” she said of Sheen’s non-disclosure.</p>
<p>Indeed, Sheen’s home state of California makes it a felony punishable by up to eight years in prison for a person with HIV to have unprotected sex with the intent to infect someone to whom they haven’t disclosed their status. Also, California has a misdemeanor charge carrying up to six months in prison for willfully exposing others to HIV.</p>
<p>When asked what sort of action she’ll take, Olson said wasn’t sure. “I haven’t even thought about anything, but all I know right now is now, because of him, every time someone hears my name they think of HIV right next to it,” she said, later adding, “He doesn’t even value my life.”</p> | true | 4 | admit fact hivpositiveon tuesday morning acclaimed hollywood actor charlie sheen sat candid interview today shows matt lauer said hed living hiv four years said felt compelled come forward enduring barrage attacks subtruths tabloids paying 10 million shakedowns extortion condition one instance claimed prostitute took photograph antiretroviral medications blackmailed himlauer also asked sheen since time diagnosis told every one sexual partners sexual encounter hivpositive yes sheen replied adding exceptions well sheens exgirlfriend former porn star bree olson begs differ recall olson one sheens two livein girlfriendsalong natalie kenly sheen met treatment program sheen labeled women goddesses two half men stars side highly publicized meltdown antisemitic rant shows creator chuck lorre interview daily beast split olson claimed miserable waiting end one one day packed things left sheens chaotic mansion interview lauer sheen said diagnosed hivpositive back 2011 heels public downward spiraland dating olson says two remained together around seven months well olson appeared howard stern show tuesday morning following sheens today show reveal according stern appeared shaking upset entered studio asked learned sheen hiv olson replied right along everyone else three days ago started getting callsit right everything happened paris fox everyone else started getting emails even wanted blow thinking oh another charlie thing saidhe never said anything olson added girlfriend lived together sex almost every day yearwith lambskin condomslambskin condoms way prevent transmission hivthey prevent pregnancy olson told stern preferred standard condoms lambskin sheens condom choice olson driven hometown indiana new york sitdown interview stern brought hiv test presented radio host stern observed hiv test read hiv antibodies detected negative hiv said relieved olson shacking sheen olson prolific porn star says left industry sheen never returned recently appeared horror film human centipede 3when asked whether feels betrayed olson paused spoken quite time said spoke nothing positive things charlie never said negative thing ive never torn apart way upset couldnt angry im shaking ive crying think someone could loved boyfriendhe admitted right today interview diagnosis tiger blood time thats continued living sleeping together every night never said thing ever im clean told im clean im clean didnt want use lambskin wanted use regular condoms trusted interview lauer sheen described side effects faced living hiv including series debilitating cluster headaches migraines well night sweats start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont remember sweating olson said would wake time middle night complaining symptoms would blame steroidsthese steroids took indeed today chat sheen chalked tiger blood time roid rage doctor came house time theyd go room added olson always told steroids sheen claimed many women shaken past olson adamant shes incredibly loyal ex never went sold stories said even claiming turned 200000 offer sitdown interview following split illegal said sheens nondisclosure indeed sheens home state california makes felony punishable eight years prison person hiv unprotected sex intent infect someone havent disclosed status also california misdemeanor charge carrying six months prison willfully exposing others hiv asked sort action shell take olson said wasnt sure havent even thought anything know right every time someone hears name think hiv right next said later adding doesnt even value life | 518 |
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<p>Before I got married I was living by myself in an A-frame cabin in northwestern Montana. The cabin’s interior was a single high-ceilinged room, and at the center of the room, mounted on the rough-hewn log that held up the ceiling beam, was a telephone. I knew no one in the area or indeed the whole state, so my entire social life came to me through that phone. The woman I would marry was living in Sarasota, Florida, and the distance between us suggests how well we were getting along at the time. We had not been in touch for several months; she had no phone. One day she decided to call me from a pay phone. We talked for a while, and after her coins ran out I jotted the number on the wood beside my phone and called her back. A day or two later, thinking about the call, I wanted to talk to her again. The only number I had for her was the pay phone number I’d written down.</p>
<p>The pay phone was on the street some blocks from the apartment where she stayed. As it happened, though, she had just stepped out to do some errands a few minutes before I called, and she was passing by on the sidewalk when the phone rang. She had no reason to think that a public phone ringing on a busy street would be for her. She stopped, listened to it ring again, and picked up the receiver. Love is pure luck; somehow I had known she would answer, and she had known it would be me.</p>
<p>Long afterwards, on a trip to Disney World in Orlando with our two kids, then aged six and two, we made a special detour to Sarasota to show them the pay phone. It didn’t impress them much. It’s just a nondescript Bell Atlantic pay phone on the cement wall of a building, by the vestibule. But its ordinariness and even boringness only make me like it more; ordinary places where extraordinary events have occurred are my favorite kind. On my mental map of Florida that pay phone is a landmark looming above the city it occupies, and a notable, if private, historic site.</p>
<p>I’m interested in pay phones in general these days, especially when I get the feeling that they are about to go away. Technology, in the form of sleek little phones in our pockets, has swept on by them and made them begin to seem antique. My lifelong entanglement with pay phones dates me; when I was young they were just there, a given, often as stubborn and uncongenial as the curbstone underfoot. They were instruments of torture sometimes. You had to feed them fistfuls of change in those pre-phone-card days, and the operator was a real person who stood maddeningly between you and whomever you were trying to call. And when the call went wrong, as communication often does, the pay phone gave you a focus for your rage. Pay phones were always getting smashed up, the receivers shattered to bits against the booth, the coin slots jammed with chewing gum, the cords yanked out and unraveled to the floor.</p>
<p>You used to hear people standing at pay phones and cursing them. I remember the sound of my own frustrated shouting confined by the glass walls of a phone booth — the kind you don’t see much anymore, with a little ventilating fan in the ceiling that turned on when you shut the double-hinged glass door. The noise that fan made in the silence of a phone booth was for a while the essence of romantic, lonely-guy melancholy for me. Certain specific pay phones I still resent for the unhappiness they caused me, and others I will never forgive, though not for any fault of their own. In the C concourse of the Salt Lake City airport there’s a row of pay phones set on the wall by the men’s room just past the concourse entry. While on a business trip a few years ago, I called home from a phone in that row and learned that a friend had collapsed in her apartment and was in the hospital with brain cancer. I had liked those pay phones before, and had used them often; now I can’t even look at them when I go by.</p>
<p>There was always a touch of seediness and sadness to pay phones, and a sense of transience. Drug dealers made calls from them, and shady types who did not want their whereabouts known, and otherwise respectable people planning assignations, and people too poor to have phones of their own. In the movies, any character who used a pay phone was either in trouble or contemplating a crime. Pay phones came with their own special atmospherics and even accessories sometimes — the predictable bad smells and graffiti, of course, as well as cigarette butts, soda cans, scattered pamphlets from the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and single bottles of beer (empty) still in their individual, street-legal paper bags. Mostly, pay phones evoked the mundane: “Honey, I’m just leaving. I’ll be there soon.” But you could tell that a lot of undifferentiated humanity had flowed through these places, and that in the muteness of each pay phone’s little space, wild emotion had howled.</p>
<p>Once, when I was living in Brooklyn, I read in the newspaper that a South American man suspected of dozens of drug-related contract murders had been arrested at a pay phone in Queens. Police said that the man had been on the phone setting up a murder at the time of his arrest. The newspaper story gave the address of the pay phone, and out of curiosity one afternoon I took a long walk to Queens to take a look at it. It was on an undistinguished street in a middle-class neighborhood, by a florist’s shop. By the time I saw it, however, the pay phone had been blown up and/or firebombed. I had never before seen a pay phone so damaged; explosives had blasted pieces of the phone itself wide open in metal shreds like frozen banana peels, and flames had blackened everything and melted the plastic parts and burned the insulation off the wires. Soon after, I read that police could not find enough evidence against the suspected murderer and so had let him go.</p>
<p>The cold phone outside a shopping center in Bigfork, Montana, from which I called a friend in the West Indies one winter when her brother was sick; the phone on the wall of the concession stand at Redwood Pool, where I used to stand dripping and call my mom to come and pick me up; the sweaty phones used almost only by men in the hallway outside the maternity ward at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York; the phone by the driveway of the Red Cloud Indian School in South Dakota where I used to talk with my wife while priests in black slacks and white socks chatted on a bench nearby; the phone in the old wood-paneled phone booth with leaded glass windows in the drugstore in my Ohio hometown — each one is as specific as a birthmark, a point on earth unlike any other. Recently I went back to New York City after a long absence and tried to find a working pay phone. I picked up one receiver after the next without success. Meanwhile, as I scanned down the long block, I counted half a dozen or more pedestrians talking on their cell phones.</p>
<p>It’s the cell phone, of course, that’s putting the pay phone out of business. The pay phone is to the cell phone as the troubled and difficult older sibling is to the cherished newborn. People even treat their cell phones like babies, cradling them in their palms and beaming down upon them lovingly as they dial. You sometimes hear people yelling on their cell phones, but almost never yelling at them. Cell phones are toylike, nearly magic, and we get a huge kick out of them, as often happens with technological advances until the new wears off. Somehow I don’t believe people had a similar honeymoon period with pay phones back in their early days, and they certainly have no such enthusiasm for them now. When I see a cell-phone user gently push the little antenna and fit the phone back into its brushed-vinyl carrying case and tuck the case inside his jacket beside his heart, I feel sorry for the beat-up pay phone standing in the rain.</p>
<p>People almost always talk on cell phones while in motion — driving, walking down the street, riding on a commuter train. The cell phone took the transience the pay phone implied and turned it into VIP-style mobility and speed. Even sitting in a restaurant, the person on a cell phone seems importantly busy and on the move. Cell-phone conversations seem to be unlimited by ordinary constraints of place and time, as if they represent an almost-perfect form of communication whose perfect state would be telepathy.</p>
<p>And yet no matter how we factor the world away, it remains. I think this is what drives me so nuts when a person sitting next to me on a bus makes a call from her cell phone. Yes, this busy and important caller is at no fixed point in space, but nevertheless I happen to be beside her. The job of providing physical context falls on me; I become her call’s surroundings, as if I’m the phone booth wall. For me to lean over and comment on her cell-phone conversation would be as unseemly and unexpected as if I were in fact a wall; and yet I have no choice, as a sentient person, but to hear what my chatty fellow traveler has to say.</p>
<p>Some middle-aged guys like me go around complaining about this kind of thing. The more sensible approach is just to accept it and forget about it, because there’s not much we can do. I don’t think that pay phones will completely disappear. Probably they will survive for a long while as clumsy old technology still of some use to those lagging behind, and as a backup if ever the superior systems should temporarily fail. Before pay phones became endangered I never thought of them as public spaces, which of course they are. They suggested a human average; they belonged to anybody who had a couple of coins. Now I see that, like public schools and public transportation, pay phones belong to a former commonality our culture is no longer quite so sure it needs.</p>
<p>I have a weakness for places — for old battlefields, car-crash sites, houses where famous authors lived. Bygone passions should always have an address, it seems to me. Ideally, the world would be covered with plaques and markers listing the notable events that occurred at each particular spot. A sign on every pay phone would describe how a woman broke up with her fiance here, how a young ballplayer learned that he had made the team. Unfortunately, the world itself is fluid, and changes out from under us; the rocky islands that the pilot Mark Twain was careful to avoid in the Mississippi are now stone outcroppings in a soybean field. Meanwhile, our passions proliferate into illegibility, and the places they occur can’t hold them. Eventually pay phones will become relics of an almost-vanished landscape, and of a time when there were fewer of us and our stories were on an earlier page. Romantics like me will have to reimagine our passions as they are — unmoored to earth, like an infinitude of cell-phone messages flying through the atmosphere.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | got married living aframe cabin northwestern montana cabins interior single highceilinged room center room mounted roughhewn log held ceiling beam telephone knew one area indeed whole state entire social life came phone woman would marry living sarasota florida distance us suggests well getting along time touch several months phone one day decided call pay phone talked coins ran jotted number wood beside phone called back day two later thinking call wanted talk number pay phone number id written pay phone street blocks apartment stayed happened though stepped errands minutes called passing sidewalk phone rang reason think public phone ringing busy street would stopped listened ring picked receiver love pure luck somehow known would answer known would long afterwards trip disney world orlando two kids aged six two made special detour sarasota show pay phone didnt impress much nondescript bell atlantic pay phone cement wall building vestibule ordinariness even boringness make like ordinary places extraordinary events occurred favorite kind mental map florida pay phone landmark looming city occupies notable private historic site im interested pay phones general days especially get feeling go away technology form sleek little phones pockets swept made begin seem antique lifelong entanglement pay phones dates young given often stubborn uncongenial curbstone underfoot instruments torture sometimes feed fistfuls change prephonecard days operator real person stood maddeningly whomever trying call call went wrong communication often pay phone gave focus rage pay phones always getting smashed receivers shattered bits booth coin slots jammed chewing gum cords yanked unraveled floor used hear people standing pay phones cursing remember sound frustrated shouting confined glass walls phone booth kind dont see much anymore little ventilating fan ceiling turned shut doublehinged glass door noise fan made silence phone booth essence romantic lonelyguy melancholy certain specific pay phones still resent unhappiness caused others never forgive though fault c concourse salt lake city airport theres row pay phones set wall mens room past concourse entry business trip years ago called home phone row learned friend collapsed apartment hospital brain cancer liked pay phones used often cant even look go always touch seediness sadness pay phones sense transience drug dealers made calls shady types want whereabouts known otherwise respectable people planning assignations people poor phones movies character used pay phone either trouble contemplating crime pay phones came special atmospherics even accessories sometimes predictable bad smells graffiti course well cigarette butts soda cans scattered pamphlets jehovahs witnesses single bottles beer empty still individual streetlegal paper bags mostly pay phones evoked mundane honey im leaving ill soon could tell lot undifferentiated humanity flowed places muteness pay phones little space wild emotion howled living brooklyn read newspaper south american man suspected dozens drugrelated contract murders arrested pay phone queens police said man phone setting murder time arrest newspaper story gave address pay phone curiosity one afternoon took long walk queens take look undistinguished street middleclass neighborhood florists shop time saw however pay phone blown andor firebombed never seen pay phone damaged explosives blasted pieces phone wide open metal shreds like frozen banana peels flames blackened everything melted plastic parts burned insulation wires soon read police could find enough evidence suspected murderer let go cold phone outside shopping center bigfork montana called friend west indies one winter brother sick phone wall concession stand redwood pool used stand dripping call mom come pick sweaty phones used almost men hallway outside maternity ward lenox hill hospital new york phone driveway red cloud indian school south dakota used talk wife priests black slacks white socks chatted bench nearby phone old woodpaneled phone booth leaded glass windows drugstore ohio hometown one specific birthmark point earth unlike recently went back new york city long absence tried find working pay phone picked one receiver next without success meanwhile scanned long block counted half dozen pedestrians talking cell phones cell phone course thats putting pay phone business pay phone cell phone troubled difficult older sibling cherished newborn people even treat cell phones like babies cradling palms beaming upon lovingly dial sometimes hear people yelling cell phones almost never yelling cell phones toylike nearly magic get huge kick often happens technological advances new wears somehow dont believe people similar honeymoon period pay phones back early days certainly enthusiasm see cellphone user gently push little antenna fit phone back brushedvinyl carrying case tuck case inside jacket beside heart feel sorry beatup pay phone standing rain people almost always talk cell phones motion driving walking street riding commuter train cell phone took transience pay phone implied turned vipstyle mobility speed even sitting restaurant person cell phone seems importantly busy move cellphone conversations seem unlimited ordinary constraints place time represent almostperfect form communication whose perfect state would telepathy yet matter factor world away remains think drives nuts person sitting next bus makes call cell phone yes busy important caller fixed point space nevertheless happen beside job providing physical context falls become calls surroundings im phone booth wall lean comment cellphone conversation would unseemly unexpected fact wall yet choice sentient person hear chatty fellow traveler say middleaged guys like go around complaining kind thing sensible approach accept forget theres much dont think pay phones completely disappear probably survive long clumsy old technology still use lagging behind backup ever superior systems temporarily fail pay phones became endangered never thought public spaces course suggested human average belonged anybody couple coins see like public schools public transportation pay phones belong former commonality culture longer quite sure needs weakness places old battlefields carcrash sites houses famous authors lived bygone passions always address seems ideally world would covered plaques markers listing notable events occurred particular spot sign every pay phone would describe woman broke fiance young ballplayer learned made team unfortunately world fluid changes us rocky islands pilot mark twain careful avoid mississippi stone outcroppings soybean field meanwhile passions proliferate illegibility places occur cant hold eventually pay phones become relics almostvanished landscape time fewer us stories earlier page romantics like reimagine passions unmoored earth like infinitude cellphone messages flying atmosphere | 992 |
<p>“If the American nation will speak softly, and yet build and keep at a pitch&#160;of the highest training a thoroughly efficient navy, the Monroe Doctrine &#160;will go far.”</p>
<p>–President Theodore Roosevelt, 1903</p>
<p>“I am going to teach the South American republics to elect good &#160;men.”</p>
<p>–Woodrow Wilson, July 4, 1914</p>
<p>What provoked a dozen families last June to conspire to overthrow Honduran &#160;President Manuel (Mel) Zelaya? He did not apparently harbor a secret &#160;revolutionary agenda, nor try to impose non-legal changes to bridge the &#160;immense gap between the handful of super rich and millions of poor. The &#160;oligarchy bogusly accused Zelaya of seeking constitutional changes so he &#160;could run again.</p>
<p>Zelaya had authorized oil explorations and planned to convert the &#160;U.S.-controlled Palmerola military base for civilian planes – contrary to &#160;the oligarchy’s wishes. Zelaya also brought Honduras into ALBA – Venezuela’s &#160;and Cuba’s project to integrate Latin American economies without the U.S. He &#160;helped mobilize the region against Washington’s “isolate Cuba” policy. His &#160;biggest sin, however, was proposing, through a non-binding referendum, a &#160;Constitutional convention to consider structural change.</p>
<p>In June, Honduran military officials, allegedly following Supreme Court &#160;orders, arrested (kidnapped) Zelaya, and flew him to Costa Rica. Since then &#160;analysts have forgotten this “incident” and “moved forward.” Few have asked &#160;questions.</p>
<p>Why would the oligarchy “need” to oust a President who did not intend to &#160;remain in power? Zelaya had no substantial military support, or plan to &#160;obtain it. Economic power belonged to the oligarchy or foreign capital, &#160;along with all government institutions.</p>
<p>Two of three factions in Zelaya’s own Liberal Party conspired to remove him. &#160;The constitution limited what any President could accomplish on social and &#160;economic change. Zelaya had six months remaining in office.</p>
<p>But “the guilty flee when no one pursues.” Zelaya’s referendum asking the &#160;public to vote on whether they wanted basic change could signal serious &#160;problems for the filthy rich who no longer counted on White House support. &#160;U.S. voters had replaced right wing Republicans with a seemingly &#160;law-respecting Obama. Yet, the coup moved forward — even after U.S. &#160;officials, apparently, had advised against it.</p>
<p>U.S. right wing radio crusaders and Members of the House and Senate &#160;encouraged the connivers. The NY Times and Wall Street Journal also leaped &#160;on the anti-Zelaya campaign.</p>
<p>Those who expected Obama to respect sovereignty (majority interests in Latin &#160;America) should have recalled similar hopes by Latin Americans in Woodrow &#160;Wilson. As Wilson announced non-interventionist doctrines, he ordered U.S. &#160;forces to invade and occupy Haiti, Nicaragua and Cuba.</p>
<p>In 1933, Wilson’s Assistant Navy Secretary, Franklin D. Roosevelt, became &#160;President. His “Good Neighbor” policy included friendly gestures to Leonidas &#160;Trujillo, brutalizer of the Dominican Republic; Anastasio Somoza, who &#160;specialized in murder and theft in Nicaragua; and dictator Fulgencio Batista &#160;in Havana. All three treated U.S. corporations with great respect.</p>
<p>John F. Kennedy followed his Bay of Pigs fiasco in Cuba with a “New &#160;Frontier,” a Peace Corps and an Alliance for Progress. Simultaneously, &#160;however, he launched counterinsurgency, which aided democracy’s prime &#160;enemies – the military forces of Latin America.</p>
<p>Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society at home contrasted to his ordering U.S. &#160;troops to the Dominican Republic. Reagan attacked Grenada. George Bush had &#160;U.S. troops arrest disobedient General Manuel Noriega, killing hundreds of &#160;Panamanians in the process.</p>
<p>These post Gun Boat Diplomacy incursions occurred when U.S. trained Latin &#160;military forces — less costly than Marines — failed. The CIA and 82nd &#160;Airborne became insurance policies – for overseas banks and corporations. &#160;Post Bolshevik Revolution policy fought communism to justify neighborly &#160;interference; after 1991, it became “democracy promotion.”</p>
<p>Honduras’ “preventive coup” showed the coupsters had calculated correctly: &#160;Washington was stuck with the result of their action, no matter how State &#160;Department wordsmiths squirmed.</p>
<p>Obama said it was a coup, but maybe not exactly a coup. So, we won’t freeze &#160;the evildoers’ assets. Reality dictates acknowledging the ‘de facto’ &#160;government. Mediation will solve the conflict followed by new elections, &#160;Washington’s antibiotic combating disobedience and sovereignty infections: &#160;elections cure Couping Cough.</p>
<p>The Honduran right wing crowed. Chiquita Banana executives smiled at not &#160;having to pay banana pickers higher wages. The naïve who believed law would &#160;prevail received a cold reality bath.”Radical populism” — efforts to &#160;redefine power relations — remained an anathema in Washington. If the poor &#160;control their own national resources, U.S. banks and corporations have less &#160;power at home and abroad.</p>
<p>Last June’s events also provoked grassroots activism. The resistance leaders &#160;who backed Zelaya’s return, sought to unite the poor under a constitutional &#160;banner. Ironically, the un-elected “de facto” President also unfurled the &#160;sovereignty flag claiming an OAS team looking into the coup would violate &#160;the very Honduran rights he had just subverted.</p>
<p>We have watched “Good Neighbor” and “Gun Boat” morph into “Smart Power”: &#160;combining force and diplomacy, and mobilizing U.S. “civil society” assets &#160;abroad. In Honduras, Obama borrowed from Teddy Roosevelt but added a word: &#160;“speak softly, ‘prevaricate,’ and carry a big stick.”</p>
<p>Saul Landau is an Institute for Policy Studies Fellow and author of A Bush &#160;and Botox World (AK/CounterPunch). Nelson Valdes is Professor Emeritus at &#160;the University of New Mexico.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | american nation speak softly yet build keep pitch160of highest training thoroughly efficient navy monroe doctrine 160will go far president theodore roosevelt 1903 going teach south american republics elect good 160men woodrow wilson july 4 1914 provoked dozen families last june conspire overthrow honduran 160president manuel mel zelaya apparently harbor secret 160revolutionary agenda try impose nonlegal changes bridge 160immense gap handful super rich millions poor 160oligarchy bogusly accused zelaya seeking constitutional changes 160could run zelaya authorized oil explorations planned convert 160uscontrolled palmerola military base civilian planes contrary 160the oligarchys wishes zelaya also brought honduras alba venezuelas 160and cubas project integrate latin american economies without us 160helped mobilize region washingtons isolate cuba policy 160biggest sin however proposing nonbinding referendum 160constitutional convention consider structural change june honduran military officials allegedly following supreme court 160orders arrested kidnapped zelaya flew costa rica since 160analysts forgotten incident moved forward asked 160questions would oligarchy need oust president intend 160remain power zelaya substantial military support plan 160obtain economic power belonged oligarchy foreign capital 160along government institutions two three factions zelayas liberal party conspired remove 160the constitution limited president could accomplish social 160economic change zelaya six months remaining office guilty flee one pursues zelayas referendum asking 160public vote whether wanted basic change could signal serious 160problems filthy rich longer counted white house support 160us voters replaced right wing republicans seemingly 160lawrespecting obama yet coup moved forward even us 160officials apparently advised us right wing radio crusaders members house senate 160encouraged connivers ny times wall street journal also leaped 160on antizelaya campaign expected obama respect sovereignty majority interests latin 160america recalled similar hopes latin americans woodrow 160wilson wilson announced noninterventionist doctrines ordered us 160forces invade occupy haiti nicaragua cuba 1933 wilsons assistant navy secretary franklin roosevelt became 160president good neighbor policy included friendly gestures leonidas 160trujillo brutalizer dominican republic anastasio somoza 160specialized murder theft nicaragua dictator fulgencio batista 160in havana three treated us corporations great respect john f kennedy followed bay pigs fiasco cuba new 160frontier peace corps alliance progress simultaneously 160however launched counterinsurgency aided democracys prime 160enemies military forces latin america lyndon b johnsons great society home contrasted ordering us 160troops dominican republic reagan attacked grenada george bush 160us troops arrest disobedient general manuel noriega killing hundreds 160panamanians process post gun boat diplomacy incursions occurred us trained latin 160military forces less costly marines failed cia 82nd 160airborne became insurance policies overseas banks corporations 160post bolshevik revolution policy fought communism justify neighborly 160interference 1991 became democracy promotion honduras preventive coup showed coupsters calculated correctly 160washington stuck result action matter state 160department wordsmiths squirmed obama said coup maybe exactly coup wont freeze 160the evildoers assets reality dictates acknowledging de facto 160government mediation solve conflict followed new elections 160washingtons antibiotic combating disobedience sovereignty infections 160elections cure couping cough honduran right wing crowed chiquita banana executives smiled 160having pay banana pickers higher wages naïve believed law would 160prevail received cold reality bathradical populism efforts 160redefine power relations remained anathema washington poor 160control national resources us banks corporations less 160power home abroad last junes events also provoked grassroots activism resistance leaders 160who backed zelayas return sought unite poor constitutional 160banner ironically unelected de facto president also unfurled 160sovereignty flag claiming oas team looking coup would violate 160the honduran rights subverted watched good neighbor gun boat morph smart power 160combining force diplomacy mobilizing us civil society assets 160abroad honduras obama borrowed teddy roosevelt added word 160speak softly prevaricate carry big stick saul landau institute policy studies fellow author bush 160and botox world akcounterpunch nelson valdes professor emeritus 160the university new mexico 160 | 587 |
<p>South Korean peace activists recently held a protest during U.S.-South Korean military exercises in their country. The U.S. is now expanding military bases, taking over farm lands in South Korea, and dramatically increasing its military presence throughout the Asian-Pacific region. The island of Guam is now undergoing major military expansion of U.S. operations there. All of this is intended to surround, and ultimately provoke, the Chinese government to enter into an escalating arms race. U.S. military industrial complex is counting on major profits from the process. The Democrats are silent about this military strategy.</p>
<p>Italian activists are also outraged and organizing opposition to U.S. plans to expand its military base in Vicenza. In February 200,000 Italians protested in Vicenza against the base expansion. The Democrats in Congress, with the exception of a few like Rep. Dennis Kucinich, are silent about this.</p>
<p>In our local Portland, Maine newspaper on May 6 the editorial page editor explained why the paper had last week announced they had decided to come out against the war in Iraq after long supporting Bush’s shameful and illegal occupation. The editor said, “We’ve not renounced our belief in American exceptionalism. Speaking for myself, I’ve withdrawn my support for the war for pragmatic reasons, not because my underlying world view has changed. I believe we should use our strength as the world’s only military superpower with great caution, but I do believe we should use it…..Our nation has a unique role in the world, and with it come unique responsibilities and unique privilege.”</p>
<p>In other words he supports U.S. empire and all that comes with it. The bases, the killing, the domination of cultures is all acceptable. In this case he is “withdrawing” his support for Bush’s Iraq operation primarily because “this war has been mismanaged by the president to the point where turning things around is impossible.”</p>
<p>This is largely the Democratic Party position as well. The war is not necessarily bad, the U.S. has the right and responsibility to take out anyone that we decide should be eliminated, but it must be handled well so that world opinion and the American people do not turn against the policy. (You might call it Winning Without an unpopular War.) In this case Bush and his crew “mismanaged” the operation. It reminds me of the 2004 debates between Bush and John Kerry when Kerry said he’d do a better job of “killing terrorists” than Bush would and that he’d spend “$100 billion more on the military” than Bush would. Kerry would do the war/occupation better than the Republicans.</p>
<p>The New York Times ran a story May 6 called With New Clout, Antiwar Groups Push Democrats. In the first sentence of the story the Times reports that, “Every morning, representatives from a cluster of antiwar groups gather for a conference call with Democratic leadership staff members in the House and the Senate.”</p>
<p>The “anti-war” groups the article refers to are not your standard, every-day peace group, that have long been working to end the war. They are talking about more recently formed groups, funded with more than $7.1 million since January, to go out and take control of the anti-war message and to capture the bulk of mainstream media coverage about the anti-war movement. Thus groups like Win Without War, Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, National Security Network, MoveOn, and others are being heavily funded by foundations close to the Democratic Party and are being largely directed by Democratic Party strategists.</p>
<p>The Times reports, Rodell Mollineau, a spokesman for Senate Democratic Majority Leader Harry Reid’s office, “said the coalition amplifies what Democrats are trying to do in Washington to end the war.” “It helps us reverberate a unified message outside the Beltway.” “These groups give voice to a message we’re trying to get outside.”</p>
<p>The unified message that the Democrat leaders are talking about is that the mess in Iraq is all the fault of George W. Bush and the Republicans in Congress. This theme is now dominating the work coming out of these Democratic Party front groups and their job is to make sure that no one points any fingers of responsibility at the Democrats in Congress who continue to fund the occupation. We are not supposed to talk about that unsettling fact.</p>
<p>To their credit the Times did mention that there is currently some controversy surrounding this Democratic led effort. They write, “There’s a dividing line between those groups who feel the most important thing is to be clear on bringing the troops home as soon as possible, and the groups that feel that unity within the Democratic Party is most important and the most important thing is for the Democrats to win the White House,” said Medea Benjamin, a co-founder of Code Pink, an antiwar group that is not part of the alliance. “So the groups who feel the most important thing is to win the White House would naturally be more inclined to listening to Speaker Nancy Pelosi when she says the only way we can get a vote through is if we water it down.”</p>
<p>When Tom Andrews, a former Democratic congressman from Maine and the national director of Win Without War, recently came to our state to organize protests in Bangor and Portland he made no attempt to contact one existing peace group in Maine. Now isn’t that a bit strange? You go into a state to organize protests against the war and you contact not one group – Peace Action Maine, Maine Veterans for Peace, Peace and Justice Center of Eastern Maine. None were invited to be involved, to offer a speaker, to help with planning, nothing.</p>
<p>Instead Andrews contacted the Maine People’s Alliance (MPA) which does do not anti-war work and had them serve as his base to organize the events. MPA works on social justice issues at the state level. They are strongly linked to the Democratic Party. Andrews also had the Maine Democratic Party send out emails on his behalf and then did expensive robo-calls to people in the Portland area – likely with lists provided by the Democrats and their allied organizations.</p>
<p>Why this particular strategy by Andrews and Win Without War? Could it be because the two rallies he organized were done in order to attack Sen. Susan Collins, our Republican senator? Andrews blistered Collins for supporting Bush’s war and for voting against the Democratic Party bill calling for an “optimal” withdrawal from Iraq.</p>
<p>Andrews did not contact existing peace groups in Maine because he knew that our work in the state has been bi-partisan in recent years. We have been critical of our two Republican senators for their positions on the occupation. We’ve occupied their offices. We’ve been arrested in their offices. But we’ve also been critical of our Democratic Congressman Tom Allen who has voted eight times to fund Bush’s occupation of Iraq. But Andrews does not want to talk about that fact because Rep. Tom Allen is now planning to run against Sen. Susan Collins in the next election. Thus the only politician that can be criticized publicly, according to the strategy coming out of the Democrats in Washington, is the Republican.</p>
<p>This is a contemptuous rewriting of reality for purely political purposes. It is arrogant and must be publicly challenged – something I have been doing in recent weeks. Sadly some loyal Democrats have accused me, as you can imagine they would, for “attacking” other peace activists. But the truth is that I have not attacked any person or any organization. In fact, all I have done is to talk publicly about the blatant manipulation that is now going on of the peace movement and the public for purely political purposes. When you come into a state and sweep aside existing groups and the work of dedicated activists you can’t be shocked when they take offense and speak up.</p>
<p>But frankly, I see little difference between U.S. imperialism around the world and the arrogant political imperialism of Democratic Party operatives who are well-funded and well-connected and who believe that the world is their oyster. They believe that because they have been anointed by the powerful elites within the Democratic Party they can push people aside with impunity. Like the citizens of Iraq, Guam, South Korea, or Italy one is not supposed to speak out when they are being taken over by the privileged American elites.</p>
<p>But the days of American exceptionalism are over. People are reacting around the world to arrogant imperialism. They are reacting in Maine and across America as the Democrats try to take over the peace movement for their 2008 electoral purposes.</p>
<p>In the end the Democrats will fail in their conquering mission. The peace movement belongs to no political party. It belongs to the hard-working local activists who stand on street corners day in and day out and who have built the political outrage against the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Trying to steal that prize reveals the arrogance of the Democrats.</p>
<p>BRUCE K. GAGNON is Coordinator of the <a href="http://www.space4peace.org/" type="external">Global Network Against Weapons &amp; Nuclear Power in Space</a>. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:globalnet@mindspring.com" type="external">globalnet@mindspring.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | south korean peace activists recently held protest ussouth korean military exercises country us expanding military bases taking farm lands south korea dramatically increasing military presence throughout asianpacific region island guam undergoing major military expansion us operations intended surround ultimately provoke chinese government enter escalating arms race us military industrial complex counting major profits process democrats silent military strategy italian activists also outraged organizing opposition us plans expand military base vicenza february 200000 italians protested vicenza base expansion democrats congress exception like rep dennis kucinich silent local portland maine newspaper may 6 editorial page editor explained paper last week announced decided come war iraq long supporting bushs shameful illegal occupation editor said weve renounced belief american exceptionalism speaking ive withdrawn support war pragmatic reasons underlying world view changed believe use strength worlds military superpower great caution believe use itour nation unique role world come unique responsibilities unique privilege words supports us empire comes bases killing domination cultures acceptable case withdrawing support bushs iraq operation primarily war mismanaged president point turning things around impossible largely democratic party position well war necessarily bad us right responsibility take anyone decide eliminated must handled well world opinion american people turn policy might call winning without unpopular war case bush crew mismanaged operation reminds 2004 debates bush john kerry kerry said hed better job killing terrorists bush would hed spend 100 billion military bush would kerry would waroccupation better republicans new york times ran story may 6 called new clout antiwar groups push democrats first sentence story times reports every morning representatives cluster antiwar groups gather conference call democratic leadership staff members house senate antiwar groups article refers standard everyday peace group long working end war talking recently formed groups funded 71 million since january go take control antiwar message capture bulk mainstream media coverage antiwar movement thus groups like win without war americans escalation iraq national security network moveon others heavily funded foundations close democratic party largely directed democratic party strategists times reports rodell mollineau spokesman senate democratic majority leader harry reids office said coalition amplifies democrats trying washington end war helps us reverberate unified message outside beltway groups give voice message trying get outside unified message democrat leaders talking mess iraq fault george w bush republicans congress theme dominating work coming democratic party front groups job make sure one points fingers responsibility democrats congress continue fund occupation supposed talk unsettling fact credit times mention currently controversy surrounding democratic led effort write theres dividing line groups feel important thing clear bringing troops home soon possible groups feel unity within democratic party important important thing democrats win white house said medea benjamin cofounder code pink antiwar group part alliance groups feel important thing win white house would naturally inclined listening speaker nancy pelosi says way get vote water tom andrews former democratic congressman maine national director win without war recently came state organize protests bangor portland made attempt contact one existing peace group maine isnt bit strange go state organize protests war contact one group peace action maine maine veterans peace peace justice center eastern maine none invited involved offer speaker help planning nothing instead andrews contacted maine peoples alliance mpa antiwar work serve base organize events mpa works social justice issues state level strongly linked democratic party andrews also maine democratic party send emails behalf expensive robocalls people portland area likely lists provided democrats allied organizations particular strategy andrews win without war could two rallies organized done order attack sen susan collins republican senator andrews blistered collins supporting bushs war voting democratic party bill calling optimal withdrawal iraq andrews contact existing peace groups maine knew work state bipartisan recent years critical two republican senators positions occupation weve occupied offices weve arrested offices weve also critical democratic congressman tom allen voted eight times fund bushs occupation iraq andrews want talk fact rep tom allen planning run sen susan collins next election thus politician criticized publicly according strategy coming democrats washington republican contemptuous rewriting reality purely political purposes arrogant must publicly challenged something recent weeks sadly loyal democrats accused imagine would attacking peace activists truth attacked person organization fact done talk publicly blatant manipulation going peace movement public purely political purposes come state sweep aside existing groups work dedicated activists cant shocked take offense speak frankly see little difference us imperialism around world arrogant political imperialism democratic party operatives wellfunded wellconnected believe world oyster believe anointed powerful elites within democratic party push people aside impunity like citizens iraq guam south korea italy one supposed speak taken privileged american elites days american exceptionalism people reacting around world arrogant imperialism reacting maine across america democrats try take peace movement 2008 electoral purposes end democrats fail conquering mission peace movement belongs political party belongs hardworking local activists stand street corners day day built political outrage us occupation iraq trying steal prize reveals arrogance democrats bruce k gagnon coordinator global network weapons amp nuclear power space reached globalnetmindspringcom 160 160 160 | 820 |
<p />
<p>Award-winning filmmaker Eugene Jarecki’s political documentaries—on topics like Henry Kissinger’s alleged <a href="/news/dailymojo/2004/05/05_517.html" type="external">war crimes</a> in Asia, or the American <a href="/news/outfront/2007/09/black-ops-jungle.html" type="external">military industrial complex</a>—are often depressing affairs.</p>
<p>His first book, <a href="http://www.simonsays.com/specials/American-Way-Of-War/" type="external">The American Way of War: Guided Missiles, Misguided Men, and a Republic in Peril</a>, isn’t much cheerier, but it does offer activists a blueprint for civic engagement in 2009. He spoke about America’s political system recently with Mother Jones.</p>
<p>Mother Jones: You suggest that the American political system makes it difficult for one politician to change our political climate, especially overnight. Could you comment on this in terms of Barack Obama, since so many have high hopes for the president-elect?</p>
<p>Eugene Jarecki: America tends to fall victim to an overzealous belief in the cult of personality. For Americans, history seems to begin way back with Jesus, Mohammad, and Genghis Khan, and then sometime later there is Hitler and Martin Luther King, until we reach George W. Bush, <a href="/commentary/fiore/2007/07/commandments.html" type="external">Dick Cheney</a>, and now Barack Obama. That is a wrong-headed view of history. Surely the big individuals in our collective history matter, but they are always a reflection of mass movements underneath them.</p>
<p>I think a lot of people see in Barack Obama a chance to feel young again, and that’s great, but it’s not great if you have an overzealous view of what he alone can do. But I don’t want to discourage anyone in any way about Barack Obama. My book is more a blueprint for civic action.</p>
<p>MJ: You have put forth that today’s economic crisis, where the government is bailing out several industries, is a direct result of the military industrial complex. Can you explain that in more detail?</p>
<p>EJ: This all goes back to Dwight Eisenhower. He gave us the term “military industrial complex” out of his shared concern about military expansionism and economic profligacy.</p>
<p>Eisenhower believed that no nation could ever achieve perfect security, any more than we [as individuals] can. We all know that we could walk out of the house tomorrow morning and get hit by a car; that’s just part of being alive. Yet nations, particularly the United States, tell their people that it’s possible to destroy evil in the world. Eisenhower viewed this as illusory and dangerous. A nation trying to achieve perfect security will never get there, but along the way it can bankrupt itself on several levels: militarily, economically, politically, and of course spiritually.</p>
<p>The picture I have in my mind is of a house: That’s America. As America got richer and more powerful, it had all sorts of riches in the house that it increasingly worried about the world envying. As we become more and more of an empire, of course, the barbarians are always at the gate. We become that much more paranoid, like a paranoid tycoon who thinks everyone wants a piece of him. So the richer the house got, the more fearful we got of it being under threat, as ironic as that might seem. So what do you do? You get a gun.</p>
<p>Increasingly, you start pawning the articles in the house to get a bigger and bigger gun. After a while, if you take that to its logical extreme, you will pawn the entire house to get the biggest gun, and you forsake all of the things that made the house valuable. At the end of the day, you’re standing in front of an empty house with a great big gun.</p>
<p>MJ: It’s fascinating that Eisenhower was a critic of the military system. He’s seen as such a Republican “man’s man,” for lack of a better phrase.</p>
<p>EJ: It’s no wonder members of the Eisenhower family, namely John Eisenhower, his son, and <a href="/kevin-drum/2008/10/more_conservatives_for_obama.html" type="external">Susan Eisenhower</a>, his granddaughter, have felt compelled to leave the Republican Party in recent years. That’s not so much a statement on the GOP as it is on the American political system per se. Eisenhower would be significantly to the left of today’s Democrats.</p>
<p>MJ: In reading your book it appears as if Congress hasn’t done that much better than the executive branch in trying to control the military industrial complex.</p>
<p>EJ: Congress’ effect on the soundness of the American system has plummeted as the corporate system has risen.</p>
<p>In any given district, a congressperson’s No. 1 job is to bring two things in: jobs to his district and money to his campaign coffers. In order to do that he has to please his corporate benefactors in his district, and in order to do that he has to do their dirty work by lobbying the federal government.</p>
<p>For example, imagine you are a congressperson in a district that makes the F-22. The F-22 fighter is a plane that we have spent 70 billion dollars on. It is an air-to-air combat aircraft, but we don’t have an enemy with an air force. It would stand to reason that that plane might come under review, particularly in a time of economic difficulty. If you are the maker of the F-22 you are not stupid: You have already succeeded in making sure the plane is not made in just one congressional district or another, but rather in many districts and, as it turns out for the F-22, in 45 US states.</p>
<p>That’s a process called political engineering. It is the first step by which you make the members of congress your functionaries in the process of securing your own private interests.</p>
<p>Members of congress will fall in line when the time comes to vote on weapons systems because they are relying on the jobs they provide and the friendship with the company that brings them campaign money.</p>
<p>MJ: While we’re on the subject of members of Congress, what’s your reaction to President-elect Obama appointing <a href="/mojoblog/archives/2008/11/10710_rahm_emanuel_obama_white_house_chief_change.html" type="external">Rahm Emanuel</a>, a pro-Iraq War Democrat, as his chief of staff?</p>
<p>EJ: Party doesn’t matter at all; the history of the military industrial complex and the history of how corporate power has come to take over Washington has no party stripe. Republicans and Democrats share equally in that history. Anyone who thinks that Republicans own the copyright on war or on corporate cronyism in America hasn’t read a history book.</p>
<p>Who Obama chooses to put in his Cabinet is less interesting to me than whether the public weighs in on it. What is happening right now is that the public voted for change, so it has a great deal of idealism invested. It is imperative that the public look at these appointments and ask itself, “So far, does this look like what I was expecting?” Instead, what is happening is that the public has gone lame duck. We cannot afford that. Left to its own devices, Washington will absolutely devour Barack Obama.</p>
<p>MJ: You talk a lot about the role of the public in government, and I think the readers of Mother Jones would agree with you that it is vital. What should the average citizen do during the Obama administration?</p>
<p>EJ: Well, first of all, I am the public. It just happens that I have the convenience factor of what I do for a living, which is implicitly political.</p>
<p>When I talk to fellow citizens, I am very aware that for other people it is harder to conceive what they can do to change the system. We are all overworked; we operate in a totally dysfunctional economy in which long hours and multiple jobs do not pay for the costs to live. We find ourselves in a kind of a dysfunctional game where it doesn’t add up. It is incredibly taxing.</p>
<p>For someone like me who does political work for a living, to stand on a soapbox and say “You need to be doing more” is offensive. To say to the public, “You have to be a Jefferson! You have to be a Madison! This country is a work in progress, you are a vital part of it, and it will go to hell in a handbasket without your vigilance,” is hard…And yet it’s true.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | awardwinning filmmaker eugene jareckis political documentarieson topics like henry kissingers alleged war crimes asia american military industrial complexare often depressing affairs first book american way war guided missiles misguided men republic peril isnt much cheerier offer activists blueprint civic engagement 2009 spoke americas political system recently mother jones mother jones suggest american political system makes difficult one politician change political climate especially overnight could comment terms barack obama since many high hopes presidentelect eugene jarecki america tends fall victim overzealous belief cult personality americans history seems begin way back jesus mohammad genghis khan sometime later hitler martin luther king reach george w bush dick cheney barack obama wrongheaded view history surely big individuals collective history matter always reflection mass movements underneath think lot people see barack obama chance feel young thats great great overzealous view alone dont want discourage anyone way barack obama book blueprint civic action mj put forth todays economic crisis government bailing several industries direct result military industrial complex explain detail ej goes back dwight eisenhower gave us term military industrial complex shared concern military expansionism economic profligacy eisenhower believed nation could ever achieve perfect security individuals know could walk house tomorrow morning get hit car thats part alive yet nations particularly united states tell people possible destroy evil world eisenhower viewed illusory dangerous nation trying achieve perfect security never get along way bankrupt several levels militarily economically politically course spiritually picture mind house thats america america got richer powerful sorts riches house increasingly worried world envying become empire course barbarians always gate become much paranoid like paranoid tycoon thinks everyone wants piece richer house got fearful got threat ironic might seem get gun increasingly start pawning articles house get bigger bigger gun take logical extreme pawn entire house get biggest gun forsake things made house valuable end day youre standing front empty house great big gun mj fascinating eisenhower critic military system hes seen republican mans man lack better phrase ej wonder members eisenhower family namely john eisenhower son susan eisenhower granddaughter felt compelled leave republican party recent years thats much statement gop american political system per se eisenhower would significantly left todays democrats mj reading book appears congress hasnt done much better executive branch trying control military industrial complex ej congress effect soundness american system plummeted corporate system risen given district congresspersons 1 job bring two things jobs district money campaign coffers order please corporate benefactors district order dirty work lobbying federal government example imagine congressperson district makes f22 f22 fighter plane spent 70 billion dollars airtoair combat aircraft dont enemy air force would stand reason plane might come review particularly time economic difficulty maker f22 stupid already succeeded making sure plane made one congressional district another rather many districts turns f22 45 us states thats process called political engineering first step make members congress functionaries process securing private interests members congress fall line time comes vote weapons systems relying jobs provide friendship company brings campaign money mj subject members congress whats reaction presidentelect obama appointing rahm emanuel proiraq war democrat chief staff ej party doesnt matter history military industrial complex history corporate power come take washington party stripe republicans democrats share equally history anyone thinks republicans copyright war corporate cronyism america hasnt read history book obama chooses put cabinet less interesting whether public weighs happening right public voted change great deal idealism invested imperative public look appointments ask far look like expecting instead happening public gone lame duck afford left devices washington absolutely devour barack obama mj talk lot role public government think readers mother jones would agree vital average citizen obama administration ej well first public happens convenience factor living implicitly political talk fellow citizens aware people harder conceive change system overworked operate totally dysfunctional economy long hours multiple jobs pay costs live find kind dysfunctional game doesnt add incredibly taxing someone like political work living stand soapbox say need offensive say public jefferson madison country work progress vital part go hell handbasket without vigilance hardand yet true | 665 |
<p>The gap between ideology and reality could not be any more jarring: according to a European Center for Economic Research study made public in November, immigrants contribute a net plus to Germany’s welfare and social security systems.</p>
<p>The report’s author, economist <a href="http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/personnel/photos/index_html?key=273" type="external">Holger Bonin</a>, demonstrates that in 2012, every resident of Germany without a German passport paid on average 3,300&#160;euros more in taxes and contributions to social insurance programs than they received in state transfer payments. Yet surveys show that two-thirds of Germans are convinced that immigrants are burdens on their country’s welfare system.</p>
<p>Quite aside from the distastefulness of evaluating the worthiness of human life according to economic criteria, the juxtaposition of Bonin’s calculations with the polling offers a startling picture of the mentality of Germans today&#160;regarding&#160;immigration, and the convergence of the neoliberal reconfiguration of German society with racist modes of understanding these shifts.</p>
<p>When the neoliberal former finance minister of Berlin, Thilo Sarrazin, published his book <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/2011/feb/24/germans-more-or-less/" type="external">Germany is Abolishing Itself</a> in 2010, few observers recognized that it heralded the emergence of a new, modernized far right in Germany, one that departed significantly from the old school Nazi and national-conservative Völkisch far right of previous decades. Abandoned were&#160;collectivist socio-political models and biological racism in favor of a marriage of modern neoliberal doctrine and culturalist racism.</p>
<p>This new far right is now coalescing into a coherent entity with well-defined contours and a division of labor between different components: an electoral party in the form of the Alternative for Germany (AfD); a militant extra-parliamentary wing in the form of Pegida (Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamization of the West); and an ideological center in the form of the glossy monthly magazine Compact, edited by Jürgen Elsässer, a former radical leftist journalist who has become a far-right national populist.</p>
<p>Some effort must be made to disentangle the genealogy of the new movement, given that its components all have different origins: the AfD originated primarily as an electoral protest by anti-European Union conservatives against the euro rescue packages of Angela&#160;Merkel’s government, while the Pegida marches represent a grassroots mobilization with roots in the anti-Muslim racism that has permeated German public discourse for some time.</p>
<p>The magazine Compact represents Elsässer’s longstanding attempt to coalesce an “anti-imperialist” bloc around a phantasmal Paris-Berlin-Moscow axis to counter American hegemony. Nonetheless, since anti-Muslim racism serves at the moment as the point of convergence for these different forces, it makes sense to sketch the function of racist discourse directed at Muslims in Germany over the last few years.</p>
<p>Writing in 2007, the sociologist Georg Klauda <a href="http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2007/klauda121107.html" type="external">noted</a> that a specifically anti-Muslim racism in Germany remained confined primarily to the intelligentsia:</p>
<p>Islamophobia has, at least in this country, its relevance not as a mass phenomenon, but as an elite discourse, which, shared by considerable numbers of leftist, liberal, and conservative intelligentsia, makes possible the articulation of resentments against immigrants and anti-racists in a form which allows one to appear as a shining champion of the European enlightenment.</p>
<p>While this statement was undoubtedly true in the context it was written seven years ago, what Pegida represents is the transformation of anti-Muslim racism from an elite discourse into a mass phenomenon, something capable of mobilizing large demonstrations of more than 20,000 people.</p>
<p>The now-defunct Gruppe Soziale Kämpfe (GSK) attempted to <a href="http://www.leninology.co.uk/2015/01/anti-muslim-racism-from-above-and-from.html" type="external">theorize</a> this shift in racist discourse as part of a specifically neoliberal “culturalization of the social question.”&#160;The GSK noted that racism in Germany in the immediate postwar period took the form of constructing the diverse guest worker population — predominantly Italian, Turkish, and Yugoslav — as primarily “non-German.” Racism directed against the guest worker population was rooted in their position as the lowest stratum of an industrial working class constituted by the Fordist social pact of the Wirtschaftswunder-era Federal Republic.</p>
<p>With the arrival of Helmut Kohl as chancellor in 1982 — part of the same conservative wave that brought Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher to power — the proclamation of a “spiritual-moral turn” brought with it a renewed turn to “values-oriented” conservatism. Similar to the conservative rollback in the Anglo-American sphere around issues such as abortion and gay and lesbian rights, there was a shift toward questions of “culture” and “identity” on the part of the right wing, and concomitantly a shift in racist discourse.</p>
<p>Over the course of the reunification, the first Gulf War, the 9/11&#160;terrorist attacks and the subsequent wars against Afghanistan and Iraq, Southern European guest workers were racially and culturally constituted as “Muslims.”</p>
<p>While the old Völkisch and fascist forms of racism never disappeared entirely — one only has to refer to the pogroms in Rostock-Lichtenhagen in 1992 or the murderous attack on a Turkish family in the West German city of Solingen in 1993, or the electoral success of the openly fascist National Democratic Party (NPD) in Saxony in 2004 — a slow process of metamorphosis occurred wherein it turned into the new “culturalist” racism. This iteration blends a utilitarian neoliberal ideology that evaluates foreigners in terms of their “usefulness” for “our society” with the construction of a narrative that explains the misfortunes or lack of success of those at the very bottom of the social ladder in terms of their cultural “otherness” and their “lack of willingness” to “integrate” into “German” or “Occidental” society because of an&#160;inveterate commitment to “Islamic” religious or cultural ideals.</p>
<p>It goes without saying that this culturalist narrative often has little understanding of the reality of those German citizens or residents of Turkish and Kurdish heritage — who are just as often as not secular and politically leftist — nor for the diversity and contentiousness of actual Muslim communities in Germany. Rather, the narrative serves to rationalize the zero-sum game of neoliberal capitalism in terms of the willingness or failure of the “entrepreneurial self” to take one’s&#160;destiny into one’s&#160;own hands.</p>
<p>Perversely, this neoliberal culturalist racism represents a “victory” of sorts over the old Völkisch racism. In 2000, when the relatively new SPD-Green Party coalition government was attempting&#160;to institute a “green card” program in order to attract highly qualified foreign workers in IT and other high-skill fields, the chairman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU)&#160;in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia,&#160;Jürgen Rüttgers, coined&#160;the racist mobilizing slogan “Kinder statt Inder!” (“Children instead of Indians!”) to summarize the CDU’s position in favor of training native Germans for high-technology careers rather than importing skilled workers.</p>
<p>During the years of Red-Green, the CDU-led states were also able to successfully block plans to implement a dual citizenship law for those wishing to acquire or maintain German citizenship while still retaining the citizenship of their country of origin. Now, in 2014, the CDU has committed itself to the implementation of a dual citizenship law with its coalition partner, the SPD, and the old-school racism of a Rüttgers is completely out of place in the modernized, neoliberal CDU of Chancellor Angela Merkel.</p>
<p>What traditional-national conservatives frequently bemoan as the “social democratization of the CDU” represents in fact a convergence between the SPD and CDU on the basis of a common commitment to neoliberal ideology and the “culturalization of the social question.”</p>
<p>Against this backdrop, one can grasp the new far-right of AfD, Pegida, and company as a radicalization from below of what is essentially a mainstream discourse. A vanguard role in this respect was played by Sarrazin. Serving under SPD mayor Klaus Wowereit between 2002 and 2009, during the period of the “Red-Red” coalition between SPD and PDS (one of the predecessor parties of Die Linke), Sarrazin made a name for himself both for his two-fisted implementation of fiscal austerity in bankrupt Berlin and his inflammatory statements about the poor and other marginalized people.</p>
<p>In an interview with the newsweekly <a href="http://www.stern.de/panorama/thilo-sarrazin-kinder-kann-kriegen-wer-damit-fertig-wird-700617.html" type="external">Stern</a>, Sarrazin claimed that recipients of long-term unemployment insurance benefits (“Hartz IV”) were spendthrift in terms of dealing with energy because they are “at home more often, they like having it warm, and they regulate the temperature with the window,” and argued for changing the&#160;welfare system so that “one cannot improve one’s standard of living by having children, which is the case today.”</p>
<p>After leaving behind Berlin for the greener pastures of a stint on the board of the Bundesbank in Frankfurt, during an interview with the magazine Lettre International about his time as finance senator, Sarrazin made this statement about Berlin’s Muslim population: “I don’t have to respect anyone who lives off the state, while rejecting this state, does not provide reasonably for the education of his or her children, and constantly produces new little headscarf girls.”</p>
<p>All of this was a prelude to his 2010 publication of Germany is Abolishing Itself, a hyperbolic downfall scenario of a Germany plagued by a declining birth rate of its domestic population and an alleged decline in the national collective IQ due to “Muslim” immigration contributing to the growth of a permanent underclass.</p>
<p>A runaway bestseller, Sarrazin’s book hit the nerve of the zeitgeist while providing a sort of manifesto of a radicalized version of the new neoliberal-culturalist racist synthesis. This new racism still incorporated echoes of the old racism, such as Sarrazin’s antisemitic lamentation that “the Turks are conquering Europe exactly like the Kosovars conquered Kosovo: through higher birthrates. I would prefer if it were Eastern European Jews, with a 15&#160;percent higher IQ than the German population.”</p>
<p>While Sarrazin’s book was an immediate hit with the German population, it would be a while between its bestseller success in 2010 and the electoral success of the AfD and the emergence of Pegida in 2014. An ideological “bridge” of sorts was fulfilled by the founding of&#160;Compact in 2010, under the editorship of Jürgen Elsässer. The inaugural issue featured as its cover a photo of Sarrazin with the headline “The Next Federal Chancellor?”</p>
<p>Elsässer’s political biography is a fascinating illustration of how the new far-right manages to incorporate elements of the “Left” as part of a broader attempt at coalescing a new “conformist rebellion.” Previously a vocational school teacher in Stuttgart, Elsässer first achieved prominence on the political stage as a member of the Maoist Kommunistischer Bund in 1990 during the demonstrations that led to the dissolution of Germany Democratic Republic.</p>
<p>In an article for the KB’s newspaper Arbeiterkampf titled “Why the Left has to be Anti-German,” Elsässer simultaneously articulated the fears of the West German radical left concerning the possible reemergence of a unified Germany as a great power, while christening what would, over the course of the next decade, emerge as a distinct tendency within the German radical left itself.</p>
<p>As a reporter for the left daily junge Welt, a cofounder of the weekly Jungle World, and eventually as an editor of the venerable far-left monthly konkret, Elsässer spent most of the following decade as a resolutely anti-nationalist reporter writing against the emergence of a perceived German “Fourth Reich” — a scenario that seemed to be confirmed by&#160;Germany’s role in the breakup of the former Yugoslavia by then-foreign minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher’s recognition of the republics of Slovenia and Croatia in 1991 and Germany’s&#160;participation in the 2000 Kosovo War.</p>
<p>When the Second Intifada broke out in September 2000, Elsässer began to regard Israeli prime minister candidate&#160;Ariel Sharon as a sort of Levantine Slobodan Milošević, a beleaguered “anti-fascist” head of state falling victim to a hegemonic human rights imperialism under German leadership. However, after the reassertion of American global hegemony during the 2001 Afghan War, and then the Iraq War, which prompted opposition from France and Germany under the respective leadership of Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schröder, Elsässer was compelled to fundamentally recalibrate his theories. Germany, after all, despite its stature within the European Union, was revealed to be a second-tier regional power, wavering between trans-Atlanticism and&#160;renewed bids to constitute a rival “great power.”</p>
<p>Elsässer began publishing books and articles arguing for the constitution of a “Berlin-Paris-Moscow axis” in opposition to Washington. After a series of explicitly nationalist interventions got him booted, successively, from pretty much every major left-wing publication of note, Elsässer started Compact, thus creating a coherent ideological center for a new type of far-right politics: resolutely German nationalist, explicitly adopting traditional far-right tropes against “finance capital,” positing the formation of a “Eurasian” power axis as a counterpole to the United States, and resolutely anti-immigrant in terms of domestic policy while supporting “anti-imperialist” countries such as Iran or Syria abroad.</p>
<p>This unique mixture has found an enthusiastic audience in the new far right, and elements of the ideology are deeply rooted in the middle of German society itself, to which the prominent displays of Compact in train station newspaper shops are testament.</p>
<p>It was thus inevitable that Elsässer would enthusiastically greet the emergence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) electoral formation. Initially founded in 2013 as a single-issue party against the eurozone, the AfD articulated the interests of a conservative right-wing that no longer saw its interests represented by Merkel’s allegedly “social democratized” CDU.</p>
<p>With a leadership comprising former University of Hamburg economist Bernd Lucke and former Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung editor Konrad Adam, the AfD initially attempted to maintain a resolutely “bourgeois” profile, distancing itself from traditional neo-Nazi parties like the NPD and German People’s Union (DVU).</p>
<p>But this unique combination of national-conservatives who see Germany’s sovereignty as being compromised by multilateral institutions such as the European Union, as well as hard money austerians without a political home in the wake the right-liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) collapse, became an irresistible political magnet for all manner of right-wingers who saw the AfD as the venue from which a powerful electoral formation to the right of the CDU/CSU could be created.</p>
<p>With Lucke and Adam’s impeccable bourgeois credentials, the AfD seemed well-positioned to finally break the postwar taboo, famously expressed by longstanding chair of the Bavarian CSU Franz Josef Strauß, that “there can be no party to the right of the CSU.” While the AfD failed to reach the necessary 5% mark for obtaining seats in the Bundestag during the 2013 federal elections, it achieved 7.1% during the 2014 European Parliament elections, sending seven parliamentarians to Brussels. During the state elections in the Eastern German states of Saxony, Brandenburg, and Thuringia, the AfD received an impressive 9.7%, 12.2%, and 10.6% of the vote, respectively.</p>
<p>The political substance of the AfD wavers between the “respectable” liberalism of Lucke, which sees itself as situated in the tradition of postwar economics minister Ludwig Erhard and the pre-Merkel CDU, and a more hardline right-wing represented by Saxony state chair Frauke Petry.</p>
<p>While both wings endeavor to distance themselves from traditional Völkisch or biological racism in favor of a neoliberal-populism that argues for an immigration policy “in Germany’s interest,” i.e. for “economically useful” immigrants and a harder line&#160;against asylum seekers and “criminal foreigners,” the contours of the tension between the two wings can be seen in the controversy that emerged when four AfD members of the EU parliament — including Lucke and Henkel — voted for sanctions against Russia in the wake of the annexation of Crimea.</p>
<p>This prompted opposition from Petry and Alexander Gauland, former CDU member and director of the state chancellery in Wiesbaden. It wasn’t without&#160;reason that&#160;Elsässer described the emerging political conflict within the party as that between a “Pegida-wing” and a “US-wing” (as in, a wing maintaining the traditional trans-Atlanticist profile of the postwar CDU). Tensions came to a head&#160;earlier this year&#160;when Lucke made noises about changing the party structure so it would only have a single party chair (though eventually a compromise was reached between the two sides on this score).</p>
<p>And yet, the Pegida rallies are still a potent symbol of the mass base for this new far-right politics. The demonstrations — which during their height were able to mobilize over 20,000 every Monday for marches through Dresden’s city center — have been a major&#160;topic of discussion for most of the winter.</p>
<p>The movement’s name — Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamification of the Occident — initially suggests a single-issue orientation, restricted to a paranoid and ridiculous vision of an imminent Islamic takeover of Germany. But to take this at face value would be to underestimate the sly, tactical opportunism of the movement in coalescing a modern, anti-immigrant movement, for which “Islam” merely functions as a convenient codeword.</p>
<p>This is evidenced by how the network was formed: founder Lutz Bachmann, a curious figure with a petty criminal past, created&#160;the Facebook group Pegida in an attempt to mobilize protests against a march through the center of Dresden by sympathizers of the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).</p>
<p>In other words, despite the pretense of constituting a movement against “Islamification,” Pegida was actually founded in order to mobilize against the supporters of a secular Kurdish organization currently engaged in a fight against ISIS.</p>
<p>It is a movement against immigrants, further evidence for which is given by the network’s nineteen-point “Position Paper”: demands for a “zero tolerance policy” against “criminal” asylum seekers and immigrants; for an immigration policy based&#160;on the “utility” models of Switzerland, Canada, and Australia; and for the “maintenance and defense of the “Judeo-Christian culture of the Occident” are found alongside bizarre denunciations of “Gender Mainstreaming” and paranoid calls for the prohibition of “Sharia law” and “parallel societies.”</p>
<p>Support&#160;for improved caretaking and more humane conditions in the housing of asylum seekers are included in order to burnish Pegida’s attempted image as a modern, “tolerant” anti-immigrant formation, but the openly racist orientation of the movement’s base is clearly demonstrated by a series of unedited video interviews conducted by Panorama, a public television news program.</p>
<p>There, participants in the Pegida marches articulate&#160;standard far-right talking points about how Germany “is not a sovereign country,” that “the orders come from Tel Aviv and Washington,” and that immigrants are not “war refugees” but rather “parasites.”</p>
<p>The racist character of Pegida moved Merkel to publicly&#160;criticize the movement in her New Year’s address and urge citizens not&#160;to&#160;participate in its marches. But it has won political affection from a predictable source: in January, Petry invited the leadership of Pegida to a meeting with the parliamentary faction&#160;of the AfD in the state parliament of Saxony in order to discuss commonalities between the movement and the party. Petry also defended Pegida against charges of racism in the media.</p>
<p>But the same tensions inherent in&#160;the AfD project have also created an acute crisis for Pegida: the contradiction between the bid for bourgeois respectability and the need to maintain a base within and to&#160;appeal to traditional far-right constituencies. The discourse of anti-Muslim racism inherited from the liberal intelligentsia has&#160;helped the new far right get its foot in the door of discursive respectability, but to the extent that this approach results in talk-show invitations and professions of “concern” by politicians for the “legitimate” fears of citizens, it ends up in conflict with the unapologetically racist core of the movement.</p>
<p>A case in point was the controversy that arose around founder Lutz Bachmann over a photo of him on his Facebook page dressed as Hitler, as well as statements describing foreigners as “vermin” and “dirty scum.”</p>
<p>While Bachmann initially made an ostentatious gesture of falling on his sword for the sake of the movement by resigning as chair of Pegida (which since December had acquired the legal status of a “registered association”), he nonetheless insisted on maintaining a presence in the organization, which led to the resignation of those grouped around <a href="http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathrin_Oertel" type="external">Kathrin Oertel</a>, the self-described “economic advisor” and “real estate expert” who functioned as treasurer of the movement and attempted to present the respectable bourgeois face of Pegida on a roundtable discussion on the eponymous talk show Günther Jauch.</p>
<p>Wary of the irrevocably tainted Bachmann, as well as resisting associations with the Leipzig-based Legida movement, whose leadership personnel are more explicitly rooted in the organized far-right, the circle around Oertel founded the organization Direct Democracy for Europe (DDfE).</p>
<p>DDfE’s initial “position paper” constitutes an attempt to broaden the initial focus of Pegida on Islam and immigration into a general movement in support of demands for plebiscites, popular petitions, “freedom of speech,” “domestic security,” opposition to the envisioned USA-EU TTIP free trade agreement, and calls for the abolition of EU sanctions against Russia as a result of the Ukraine crisis — while still maintaining the image of petty-bourgeois respectability that took a major hit in light of the revelations about Bachmann being a run-of-the-mill racist goon.</p>
<p>The DDfE was only able to gather around 500 people for its first demonstration on the Dresden Neumarkt on February 8, while the rump Pegida around Bachmann turned out 2,000, much lower than the numbers&#160;just months prior.</p>
<p>What is interesting about DDfE’s split from PEGIDA is that its attempts to distance itself from association in no way imply an actual distancing from the content of far-right politics; indeed, its political “expansion” into a broader movement for popular democracy, against free trade, for a more conciliatory politics vis-à-vis Russia, etc. are perfectly in line with the course advocated by Elsässer and the “Monday demonstrations” of the new right “Peace Movement 2014.” Instead, DDfE’s bid for respectability is premised not on any repudiation of far-right politics, but rather on presenting an image of itself as simply being comprised of “normal” people from the “center of society.”</p>
<p>A January study by a research team based at the Technical University of Dresden lent credibility to this picture, pointing out that 70% of participants surveyed were working and not unemployed, the majority had incomes slightly above average, and had university educations or skilled vocational training. While&#160;other scholars from the Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin and the public opinion institute Forsa criticized the study for not being representative (around sixty-five of those asked to participate refused to), the study nonetheless throws interesting light on Pegida in terms of its continuity with traditional far-right movements.</p>
<p>Although Comintern theorists in 1930s such as Georgi Dimitroff had erroneously theorized fascism as “the open terrorist dictatorship of the most reactionary, most chauvinistic, and most imperialist elements of finance capital,” Leon Trotsky and others correctly surmised that there was an autonomous class dimension to fascism rooted in a petty bourgeoisie plagued by fears of social decline.</p>
<p>Thus PEGIDA and DDfE’s far-right politics and attempts to present a “respectable” bourgeois image represent a tension inherent to far-right movements as a whole. The majority of respondents in&#160;the TU Dresden survey who claimed that their main motivation for participation was a general “dissatisfaction with politics” is further evidence of the apolitical spirit of the contemporary far-right.</p>
<p>Of course, any analysis dealing with any contemporary manifestation of far-right politics is inevitably confronted with the question of “what is to be done?” There have been admirable counter-demonstrations in West German cities against attempts by local Nazis to form local Pegida or similarly named “GIDA” groups, but the potential mass base for far-right politics in the historical West Germany is quite limited for the foreseeable future.</p>
<p>Far more impressive were the massive counter-demonstrations against the attempted Legida march in Leipzig, though&#160;conditions there were also more favorable due to the more openly fascist character of that movement and the continuity of strong anti-fascist politics within the Leipzig left.</p>
<p>One problematic element that hasn’t been sufficiently addressed in much radical discussion around the new far right is the reluctance of many leftists to address the specificity of anti-Muslim racism. While it is true that the openly expressed hostility to Muslims masks a wider agenda of racism toward foreigners, too often German leftists have been reluctant to deal with the topic of how mainstream anti-Muslim racism within the liberal intelligentsia and even parts of the radical left has provided an opening for the far right.</p>
<p>An admirable opposition to&#160;the antisemitism that still plagues European society often led, over the course of the Second Intifada and Afghanistan and Iraq wars, to an ugly anti-Muslim racism within parts of the German radical left. Even those sectors that avoided this were nonetheless sloppy in confusing a general materialist critique of religion as such with a racist discourse that attempted to paint Muslims as particularly pathological or as threats to “the Enlightenment” or “civilization.”</p>
<p>The seamless transition of a figure like Elsässer from “Anti-German” poster boy to figurehead of the new nationalist far-right, should give pause to those within the German radical left who hastily attempt to avoid confronting specifically anti-Muslim discourses, and the permeable borders between defenses of “Enlightenment rationality” and movements for the protection of “the Occident.”</p> | true | 4 | gap ideology reality could jarring according european center economic research study made public november immigrants contribute net plus germanys welfare social security systems reports author economist holger bonin demonstrates 2012 every resident germany without german passport paid average 3300160euros taxes contributions social insurance programs received state transfer payments yet surveys show twothirds germans convinced immigrants burdens countrys welfare system quite aside distastefulness evaluating worthiness human life according economic criteria juxtaposition bonins calculations polling offers startling picture mentality germans today160regarding160immigration convergence neoliberal reconfiguration german society racist modes understanding shifts neoliberal former finance minister berlin thilo sarrazin published book germany abolishing 2010 observers recognized heralded emergence new modernized far right germany one departed significantly old school nazi nationalconservative völkisch far right previous decades abandoned were160collectivist sociopolitical models biological racism favor marriage modern neoliberal doctrine culturalist racism new far right coalescing coherent entity welldefined contours division labor different components electoral party form alternative germany afd militant extraparliamentary wing form pegida patriotic europeans islamization west ideological center form glossy monthly magazine compact edited jürgen elsässer former radical leftist journalist become farright national populist effort must made disentangle genealogy new movement given components different origins afd originated primarily electoral protest antieuropean union conservatives euro rescue packages angela160merkels government pegida marches represent grassroots mobilization roots antimuslim racism permeated german public discourse time magazine compact represents elsässers longstanding attempt coalesce antiimperialist bloc around phantasmal parisberlinmoscow axis counter american hegemony nonetheless since antimuslim racism serves moment point convergence different forces makes sense sketch function racist discourse directed muslims germany last years writing 2007 sociologist georg klauda noted specifically antimuslim racism germany remained confined primarily intelligentsia islamophobia least country relevance mass phenomenon elite discourse shared considerable numbers leftist liberal conservative intelligentsia makes possible articulation resentments immigrants antiracists form allows one appear shining champion european enlightenment statement undoubtedly true context written seven years ago pegida represents transformation antimuslim racism elite discourse mass phenomenon something capable mobilizing large demonstrations 20000 people nowdefunct gruppe soziale kämpfe gsk attempted theorize shift racist discourse part specifically neoliberal culturalization social question160the gsk noted racism germany immediate postwar period took form constructing diverse guest worker population predominantly italian turkish yugoslav primarily nongerman racism directed guest worker population rooted position lowest stratum industrial working class constituted fordist social pact wirtschaftswunderera federal republic arrival helmut kohl chancellor 1982 part conservative wave brought ronald reagan margaret thatcher power proclamation spiritualmoral turn brought renewed turn valuesoriented conservatism similar conservative rollback angloamerican sphere around issues abortion gay lesbian rights shift toward questions culture identity part right wing concomitantly shift racist discourse course reunification first gulf war 911160terrorist attacks subsequent wars afghanistan iraq southern european guest workers racially culturally constituted muslims old völkisch fascist forms racism never disappeared entirely one refer pogroms rostocklichtenhagen 1992 murderous attack turkish family west german city solingen 1993 electoral success openly fascist national democratic party npd saxony 2004 slow process metamorphosis occurred wherein turned new culturalist racism iteration blends utilitarian neoliberal ideology evaluates foreigners terms usefulness society construction narrative explains misfortunes lack success bottom social ladder terms cultural otherness lack willingness integrate german occidental society an160inveterate commitment islamic religious cultural ideals goes without saying culturalist narrative often little understanding reality german citizens residents turkish kurdish heritage often secular politically leftist diversity contentiousness actual muslim communities germany rather narrative serves rationalize zerosum game neoliberal capitalism terms willingness failure entrepreneurial self take ones160destiny ones160own hands perversely neoliberal culturalist racism represents victory sorts old völkisch racism 2000 relatively new spdgreen party coalition government attempting160to institute green card program order attract highly qualified foreign workers highskill fields chairman christian democratic union cdu160in state north rhinewestphalia160jürgen rüttgers coined160the racist mobilizing slogan kinder statt inder children instead indians summarize cdus position favor training native germans hightechnology careers rather importing skilled workers years redgreen cduled states also able successfully block plans implement dual citizenship law wishing acquire maintain german citizenship still retaining citizenship country origin 2014 cdu committed implementation dual citizenship law coalition partner spd oldschool racism rüttgers completely place modernized neoliberal cdu chancellor angela merkel traditionalnational conservatives frequently bemoan social democratization cdu represents fact convergence spd cdu basis common commitment neoliberal ideology culturalization social question backdrop one grasp new farright afd pegida company radicalization essentially mainstream discourse vanguard role respect played sarrazin serving spd mayor klaus wowereit 2002 2009 period redred coalition spd pds one predecessor parties die linke sarrazin made name twofisted implementation fiscal austerity bankrupt berlin inflammatory statements poor marginalized people interview newsweekly stern sarrazin claimed recipients longterm unemployment insurance benefits hartz iv spendthrift terms dealing energy home often like warm regulate temperature window argued changing the160welfare system one improve ones standard living children case today leaving behind berlin greener pastures stint board bundesbank frankfurt interview magazine lettre international time finance senator sarrazin made statement berlins muslim population dont respect anyone lives state rejecting state provide reasonably education children constantly produces new little headscarf girls prelude 2010 publication germany abolishing hyperbolic downfall scenario germany plagued declining birth rate domestic population alleged decline national collective iq due muslim immigration contributing growth permanent underclass runaway bestseller sarrazins book hit nerve zeitgeist providing sort manifesto radicalized version new neoliberalculturalist racist synthesis new racism still incorporated echoes old racism sarrazins antisemitic lamentation turks conquering europe exactly like kosovars conquered kosovo higher birthrates would prefer eastern european jews 15160percent higher iq german population sarrazins book immediate hit german population would bestseller success 2010 electoral success afd emergence pegida 2014 ideological bridge sorts fulfilled founding of160compact 2010 editorship jürgen elsässer inaugural issue featured cover photo sarrazin headline next federal chancellor elsässers political biography fascinating illustration new farright manages incorporate elements left part broader attempt coalescing new conformist rebellion previously vocational school teacher stuttgart elsässer first achieved prominence political stage member maoist kommunistischer bund 1990 demonstrations led dissolution germany democratic republic article kbs newspaper arbeiterkampf titled left antigerman elsässer simultaneously articulated fears west german radical left concerning possible reemergence unified germany great power christening would course next decade emerge distinct tendency within german radical left reporter left daily junge welt cofounder weekly jungle world eventually editor venerable farleft monthly konkret elsässer spent following decade resolutely antinationalist reporter writing emergence perceived german fourth reich scenario seemed confirmed by160germanys role breakup former yugoslavia thenforeign minister hansdietrich genschers recognition republics slovenia croatia 1991 germanys160participation 2000 kosovo war second intifada broke september 2000 elsässer began regard israeli prime minister candidate160ariel sharon sort levantine slobodan milošević beleaguered antifascist head state falling victim hegemonic human rights imperialism german leadership however reassertion american global hegemony 2001 afghan war iraq war prompted opposition france germany respective leadership jacques chirac gerhard schröder elsässer compelled fundamentally recalibrate theories germany despite stature within european union revealed secondtier regional power wavering transatlanticism and160renewed bids constitute rival great power elsässer began publishing books articles arguing constitution berlinparismoscow axis opposition washington series explicitly nationalist interventions got booted successively pretty much every major leftwing publication note elsässer started compact thus creating coherent ideological center new type farright politics resolutely german nationalist explicitly adopting traditional farright tropes finance capital positing formation eurasian power axis counterpole united states resolutely antiimmigrant terms domestic policy supporting antiimperialist countries iran syria abroad unique mixture found enthusiastic audience new far right elements ideology deeply rooted middle german society prominent displays compact train station newspaper shops testament thus inevitable elsässer would enthusiastically greet emergence alternative germany afd electoral formation initially founded 2013 singleissue party eurozone afd articulated interests conservative rightwing longer saw interests represented merkels allegedly social democratized cdu leadership comprising former university hamburg economist bernd lucke former frankfurter allgemeine zeitung editor konrad adam afd initially attempted maintain resolutely bourgeois profile distancing traditional neonazi parties like npd german peoples union dvu unique combination nationalconservatives see germanys sovereignty compromised multilateral institutions european union well hard money austerians without political home wake rightliberal free democratic party fdp collapse became irresistible political magnet manner rightwingers saw afd venue powerful electoral formation right cducsu could created lucke adams impeccable bourgeois credentials afd seemed wellpositioned finally break postwar taboo famously expressed longstanding chair bavarian csu franz josef strauß party right csu afd failed reach necessary 5 mark obtaining seats bundestag 2013 federal elections achieved 71 2014 european parliament elections sending seven parliamentarians brussels state elections eastern german states saxony brandenburg thuringia afd received impressive 97 122 106 vote respectively political substance afd wavers respectable liberalism lucke sees situated tradition postwar economics minister ludwig erhard premerkel cdu hardline rightwing represented saxony state chair frauke petry wings endeavor distance traditional völkisch biological racism favor neoliberalpopulism argues immigration policy germanys interest ie economically useful immigrants harder line160against asylum seekers criminal foreigners contours tension two wings seen controversy emerged four afd members eu parliament including lucke henkel voted sanctions russia wake annexation crimea prompted opposition petry alexander gauland former cdu member director state chancellery wiesbaden wasnt without160reason that160elsässer described emerging political conflict within party pegidawing uswing wing maintaining traditional transatlanticist profile postwar cdu tensions came head160earlier year160when lucke made noises changing party structure would single party chair though eventually compromise reached two sides score yet pegida rallies still potent symbol mass base new farright politics demonstrations height able mobilize 20000 every monday marches dresdens city center major160topic discussion winter movements name patriotic europeans islamification occident initially suggests singleissue orientation restricted paranoid ridiculous vision imminent islamic takeover germany take face value would underestimate sly tactical opportunism movement coalescing modern antiimmigrant movement islam merely functions convenient codeword evidenced network formed founder lutz bachmann curious figure petty criminal past created160the facebook group pegida attempt mobilize protests march center dresden sympathizers banned kurdistan workers party pkk words despite pretense constituting movement islamification pegida actually founded order mobilize supporters secular kurdish organization currently engaged fight isis movement immigrants evidence given networks nineteenpoint position paper demands zero tolerance policy criminal asylum seekers immigrants immigration policy based160on utility models switzerland canada australia maintenance defense judeochristian culture occident found alongside bizarre denunciations gender mainstreaming paranoid calls prohibition sharia law parallel societies support160for improved caretaking humane conditions housing asylum seekers included order burnish pegidas attempted image modern tolerant antiimmigrant formation openly racist orientation movements base clearly demonstrated series unedited video interviews conducted panorama public television news program participants pegida marches articulate160standard farright talking points germany sovereign country orders come tel aviv washington immigrants war refugees rather parasites racist character pegida moved merkel publicly160criticize movement new years address urge citizens not160to160participate marches political affection predictable source january petry invited leadership pegida meeting parliamentary faction160of afd state parliament saxony order discuss commonalities movement party petry also defended pegida charges racism media tensions inherent in160the afd project also created acute crisis pegida contradiction bid bourgeois respectability need maintain base within to160appeal traditional farright constituencies discourse antimuslim racism inherited liberal intelligentsia has160helped new far right get foot door discursive respectability extent approach results talkshow invitations professions concern politicians legitimate fears citizens ends conflict unapologetically racist core movement case point controversy arose around founder lutz bachmann photo facebook page dressed hitler well statements describing foreigners vermin dirty scum bachmann initially made ostentatious gesture falling sword sake movement resigning chair pegida since december acquired legal status registered association nonetheless insisted maintaining presence organization led resignation grouped around kathrin oertel selfdescribed economic advisor real estate expert functioned treasurer movement attempted present respectable bourgeois face pegida roundtable discussion eponymous talk show günther jauch wary irrevocably tainted bachmann well resisting associations leipzigbased legida movement whose leadership personnel explicitly rooted organized farright circle around oertel founded organization direct democracy europe ddfe ddfes initial position paper constitutes attempt broaden initial focus pegida islam immigration general movement support demands plebiscites popular petitions freedom speech domestic security opposition envisioned usaeu ttip free trade agreement calls abolition eu sanctions russia result ukraine crisis still maintaining image pettybourgeois respectability took major hit light revelations bachmann runofthemill racist goon ddfe able gather around 500 people first demonstration dresden neumarkt february 8 rump pegida around bachmann turned 2000 much lower numbers160just months prior interesting ddfes split pegida attempts distance association way imply actual distancing content farright politics indeed political expansion broader movement popular democracy free trade conciliatory politics visàvis russia etc perfectly line course advocated elsässer monday demonstrations new right peace movement 2014 instead ddfes bid respectability premised repudiation farright politics rather presenting image simply comprised normal people center society january study research team based technical university dresden lent credibility picture pointing 70 participants surveyed working unemployed majority incomes slightly average university educations skilled vocational training while160other scholars wissenschaftszentrum berlin public opinion institute forsa criticized study representative around sixtyfive asked participate refused study nonetheless throws interesting light pegida terms continuity traditional farright movements although comintern theorists 1930s georgi dimitroff erroneously theorized fascism open terrorist dictatorship reactionary chauvinistic imperialist elements finance capital leon trotsky others correctly surmised autonomous class dimension fascism rooted petty bourgeoisie plagued fears social decline thus pegida ddfes farright politics attempts present respectable bourgeois image represent tension inherent farright movements whole majority respondents in160the tu dresden survey claimed main motivation participation general dissatisfaction politics evidence apolitical spirit contemporary farright course analysis dealing contemporary manifestation farright politics inevitably confronted question done admirable counterdemonstrations west german cities attempts local nazis form local pegida similarly named gida groups potential mass base farright politics historical west germany quite limited foreseeable future far impressive massive counterdemonstrations attempted legida march leipzig though160conditions also favorable due openly fascist character movement continuity strong antifascist politics within leipzig left one problematic element hasnt sufficiently addressed much radical discussion around new far right reluctance many leftists address specificity antimuslim racism true openly expressed hostility muslims masks wider agenda racism toward foreigners often german leftists reluctant deal topic mainstream antimuslim racism within liberal intelligentsia even parts radical left provided opening far right admirable opposition to160the antisemitism still plagues european society often led course second intifada afghanistan iraq wars ugly antimuslim racism within parts german radical left even sectors avoided nonetheless sloppy confusing general materialist critique religion racist discourse attempted paint muslims particularly pathological threats enlightenment civilization seamless transition figure like elsässer antigerman poster boy figurehead new nationalist farright give pause within german radical left hastily attempt avoid confronting specifically antimuslim discourses permeable borders defenses enlightenment rationality movements protection occident | 2,325 |
<p>Fed chairman Ben Bernanke at a Senate banking committee hearing in March. © James Berglie/ZUMAPRESS.com</p>
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<p>On Wednesday, Ben Bernanke will do what no other Fed chairman before him has ever done: <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704132204576285021856385538.html?mod=e2tw" type="external">Hold a press conference</a>.</p>
<p>That’s big news for the quasi-governmental body known as the “Temple of Secrets,” which controls the flow of money in the economy and often acts as <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-31/federal-reserve-releases-discount-window-loan-records-under-court-order.html" type="external">a lender of last resort</a> for crumbling banks. On Wednesday afternoon, the Fed will host reporters after a two-day meeting of its Federal Open Markets Committee, the Fed’s main body shaping monetary policy in the US. With public distrust of the Fed soaring, the much-anticipated event gives Bernanke a chance to openly discuss the Fed’s deliberations and try to build trust in the <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/university/thefed/fed1.asp" type="external">98-year-old institution</a>. Bernanke will speak directly to the media at the Fed’s headquarters in Washington, DC, then take 45 minutes of questions. The interrogation will undoubtedly range from the Fed’s monetary policy, to its role in spurring the US economic recovery, to the country’s long-term fiscal health.</p>
<p>Here are six questions we’d like to see Bernanke answer. (Any questions you’d like see posed to the Fed chief? Share them in the comments section. Or tweet them @motherjones using the hashtag #FedSpeaks.)</p>
<p>1) What more can the Fed do to put Americans back to work? And what, in your opinion, is a tolerable level of unemployment in the US?</p>
<p>Faced with a sluggish recovery and meager job growth, Bernanke and the Fed have in recent years spent trillions of dollars buying up huge numbers of Treasury and mortgage bonds in an attempt to inject some life into the economy. (In wonk-speak, this bond-buying program is called “quantitative easing.”) By some measures, Bernanke’s program succeeded: The stock market rallied, American exports got cheaper, and borrowing costs for big companies decreased.</p>
<p>But unemployment—which the Fed’s program was supposed to address—remains stubbornly high, at 8.8 percent, with 13.5 million Americans out of work. Sure, the American economy has added jobs for the past three months and the headline jobless rate has decreased. But a dropping unemployment rate is as much due to jobless workers giving up the search and dropping out of the workforce as a brightening jobs picture. One of the Fed’s mandates is to “foster maximum employment”; so far, however, the Fed’s efforts to fulfill that mission have been sorely lacking.</p>
<p>2) What steps would you take to address the country’s long-term fiscal health?</p>
<p>In 2009, Bernanke testified in his re-appointment hearings before the Senate banking committee that Congress should go after entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security as a way to fix the nation’s long-term deficit problem. “Willie Sutton robbed banks because that’s where the money is, as he put it,” Bernanke said. “The money in this case is in entitlements.”</p>
<p>That’s as close as Bernanke has come to endorsing solutions for the country’s debt problem. He’s also mentioned higher taxes and “less spending on everything else from education to defense.” In the meantime, a handful of commissions made up of current and former lawmakers and other experts have laid out comprehensive roadmaps for avoiding financial calamity in the relatively near future, calling for an array of solutions—far less defense spending, tax increases, a higher retirement age, eliminating tax breaks, and, yes, slashing entitlement spending.</p>
<p>But given the chance to lay out his own plan, what would Bernanke, the nation’s foremost economist, do?</p>
<p>3) Would you consider a higher inflation target? Why or why not?</p>
<p>Top economists on the left (such as Princeton’s Paul Krugman) and the right (like Harvard’s Greg Mankiw) have called at various times for the Federal Reserve to increase its target inflation rate. The Fed currently aims for an informal inflation target of around 2 percent per year, but some economists believe that a higher rate of inflation could push companies and individuals that are hording cash to invest that money by hiring people and increasing spending. (If your money is worth less every year, you have more of an incentive to spend and invest it. If you can sit on it without it losing a lot of value, you have more of an incentive to save.)</p>
<p>4) Why has the Fed fought transparency efforts?</p>
<p>Last year, the Huffington Post‘s Ryan Grim <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/05/04/fed-privately-lobbying-ag_n_562330.html" type="external">reported</a> that the Fed itself was lobbying against bipartisan efforts to empower the Government Accountability Office to audit the central bank. Bernanke will probably get this question, and he’s likely to argue that a full audit would have infringed on the Fed’s independence on monetary policy (interest rates and the like). In reality, many audit supporters were far more interested in finding out more information about the Fed’s loan guarantees to banks (foreign and domestic) during the height of the financial crisis, and the scope and nature of the bond-buying programs that have followed. A follow-up question should point this out, and note that the Fed also warned of disaster if it lost a lawsuit brought by Bloomberg news to force disclosure of the banks it lent to and the collateral those banks posted. The Fed <a href="http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/bloomberg_wins_its_lawsuit_aga.php" type="external">did lose the suit</a>, and the world didn’t end.</p>
<p>5) Republicans are holding up the confirmation of Obama’s Fed Board of Governors nominee Peter Diamond, a Nobel Prize winner, over concerns that he’s underqualified. Do you agree?</p>
<p>This one’s pretty straightforward, and could be one of the reasons Bernanke is holding this press conference. Diamond is, like Bernanke, an inflation “dove”—he’s not as worried about it as some of the other members of the Fed’s Board of Governors. With Diamond on the board, Bernanke will have another ally on his side.</p>
<p>6) The Fed is supposed to be independent, yet banks appoint many of its directors. Is the Fed too close to Wall Street?</p>
<p>Each Federal Reserve bank (there are 12) has nine directors. Six of those are appointed by the banks in the local district—enough to elect whomever they want to the Fed’s Open Market Committee, which sets monetary policy. That means banks can exercise huge leverage over interest rates—and unlike the American people in general, banks’ interests are often served by keeping inflation low, even at the expense of widespread unemployment. The directors of the 12 Federal Reserve banks only get five votes on the Open Market Committee, but that’s a big enough bloc to seriously affect policy. It would be interesting to see if Bernanke supports reform of this system.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | fed chairman ben bernanke senate banking committee hearing march james bergliezumapresscom wednesday ben bernanke fed chairman ever done hold press conference thats big news quasigovernmental body known temple secrets controls flow money economy often acts lender last resort crumbling banks wednesday afternoon fed host reporters twoday meeting federal open markets committee feds main body shaping monetary policy us public distrust fed soaring muchanticipated event gives bernanke chance openly discuss feds deliberations try build trust 98yearold institution bernanke speak directly media feds headquarters washington dc take 45 minutes questions interrogation undoubtedly range feds monetary policy role spurring us economic recovery countrys longterm fiscal health six questions wed like see bernanke answer questions youd like see posed fed chief share comments section tweet motherjones using hashtag fedspeaks 1 fed put americans back work opinion tolerable level unemployment us faced sluggish recovery meager job growth bernanke fed recent years spent trillions dollars buying huge numbers treasury mortgage bonds attempt inject life economy wonkspeak bondbuying program called quantitative easing measures bernankes program succeeded stock market rallied american exports got cheaper borrowing costs big companies decreased unemploymentwhich feds program supposed addressremains stubbornly high 88 percent 135 million americans work sure american economy added jobs past three months headline jobless rate decreased dropping unemployment rate much due jobless workers giving search dropping workforce brightening jobs picture one feds mandates foster maximum employment far however feds efforts fulfill mission sorely lacking 2 steps would take address countrys longterm fiscal health 2009 bernanke testified reappointment hearings senate banking committee congress go entitlement programs medicare social security way fix nations longterm deficit problem willie sutton robbed banks thats money put bernanke said money case entitlements thats close bernanke come endorsing solutions countrys debt problem hes also mentioned higher taxes less spending everything else education defense meantime handful commissions made current former lawmakers experts laid comprehensive roadmaps avoiding financial calamity relatively near future calling array solutionsfar less defense spending tax increases higher retirement age eliminating tax breaks yes slashing entitlement spending given chance lay plan would bernanke nations foremost economist 3 would consider higher inflation target top economists left princetons paul krugman right like harvards greg mankiw called various times federal reserve increase target inflation rate fed currently aims informal inflation target around 2 percent per year economists believe higher rate inflation could push companies individuals hording cash invest money hiring people increasing spending money worth less every year incentive spend invest sit without losing lot value incentive save 4 fed fought transparency efforts last year huffington posts ryan grim reported fed lobbying bipartisan efforts empower government accountability office audit central bank bernanke probably get question hes likely argue full audit would infringed feds independence monetary policy interest rates like reality many audit supporters far interested finding information feds loan guarantees banks foreign domestic height financial crisis scope nature bondbuying programs followed followup question point note fed also warned disaster lost lawsuit brought bloomberg news force disclosure banks lent collateral banks posted fed lose suit world didnt end 5 republicans holding confirmation obamas fed board governors nominee peter diamond nobel prize winner concerns hes underqualified agree ones pretty straightforward could one reasons bernanke holding press conference diamond like bernanke inflation dovehes worried members feds board governors diamond board bernanke another ally side 6 fed supposed independent yet banks appoint many directors fed close wall street federal reserve bank 12 nine directors six appointed banks local districtenough elect whomever want feds open market committee sets monetary policy means banks exercise huge leverage interest ratesand unlike american people general banks interests often served keeping inflation low even expense widespread unemployment directors 12 federal reserve banks get five votes open market committee thats big enough bloc seriously affect policy would interesting see bernanke supports reform system | 623 |
<p>Adrienne Pine's research begins in Honduras, and employs a vertical slice approach to analyze the mechanisms supporting empire and the daily usurpations of democracy there and in the United States. She examines the non-profit industrial complex, the militarized and corporatized academy, diverse actors and institutions in the U.S. and Honduran governments, and the Honduran resistance movement in order to better understand how structures of violence prevent democratic processes from taking hold. Pine has been described as "a one-woman wrecking crew against the golpistas in Honduras and their handlers, paymasters, apologists and lackeys in DC" and sees militant anthropology as a key factor in overthrowing the corporatocracy. She is based in Washington, DC, where she learns from and teaches anthropology to the fabulous students at American University.</p>
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore.
<p />
<p />On June 7, 40 Honduran scholars, supported by 300 academics from 29 countries, sent a letter to President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton demanding the following: cease all U.S. support for Honduran military and police training—and sent the message that the war on drugs is not a rationale for supporting a regime that is violently suppressing its own people.
<p />
<p />Now joining us to talk about this is one of the organizers of this petition, Adrienne Pine. Adrienne is an assistant anthropology professor at American University. She's the author of the book Working Hard, Drinking Hard: On Violence and Survival in Honduras. Thanks for joining us, Adrienne.
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<p />ADRIENNE PINE, ASST. PROF. ANTHROPOLOGY, AMERICAN UNIV.: Thank you for having me, Paul.
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<p />JAY: So we understand, if we listen to what President Obama and the administration and State Department say, that Honduran has had a democratic election, that democratization is taking place. So why do you find the need for this letter?
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<p />PINE: Well, what we've seen over the past years since the coup, the past two and a half years since the coup, almost three years, is that the police and military, which carried out the coup, has continued to brutalize the population in very specific ways, in particular focusing on people who oppose the regime and who stand up against police abuse. Certain regions have seen a greater amount of militarized violence. That includes the Bajo Agúan region. And, of course, most recently we've been hearing in the news about the DEA, the joint DEA-Honduran police massacre of four indigenous Miskito people a month ago.
<p />
<p />So these police and military forces in Honduras are trained by the U.S., both [incompr.] like the School of the Americas and directly in trainings from U.S. forces. The U.S. also maintains a military presence in Honduras, a number of bases which is ever increasing, and we never get a full count of that. But there have been several bases that have been installed since the coup. And the U.S., of course, finances the military and police in Honduras.
<p />
<p />JAY: Now, we know a lot of the Mexican drug operations have moved to Central America, and a lot of them apparently are moving to Honduras. So if that's true, doesn't the administration have to cooperate and support this regime in order to deal with the drug invasion of Honduras?
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<p />PINE: Well, the problem with that logic is that this regime is deeply complicit in the drug trade, and so cooperating and supporting this regime is in effect cooperating with and supporting the drug traffickers themselves. Some of the known drug traffickers—and this has come out in WikiLeaks reports. For example, Miguel Facussé, who is a land holder in the Bajo Agúan region, who himself is responsible (and he's admitted this on national TV) for the killings of numerous peasants in the region with whom he has land conflicts, in a WikiLeaks cable it's admitted by the State Department that they know he is a drug trafficker as far back as—I think that was in 2004 or 2005. So, you know, people who finance the coup, people who are currently U.S. allies are the people in power, and they're also the drug traffickers. The brother of the president is also a known drug trafficker. And the military is—many figures within the military are suspected to be involved in drug trafficking as well.
<p />
<p />The problem is that there's a culture of total impunity. And this itself is also a product of the coup. There's never been any reckoning, there's never really been any democratic process to move on from the coup, so that all of the people who carried out the human rights abuses, all of the police and the military who were responsible for the over 4,000 human rights abuses in the first months following the coup, as well as the other more than 4,000 human rights abuses since the Lobo regime was installed, nothing has happened for there to be justice. And so cooperating with the regime is in effect saying it's okay for a coup regime to continue, and it's also okay for drug traffickers to hold power [crosstalk]
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<p />JAY: Right. Well, the U.S. authorities have to be aware of this. If you're aware of it, then the people that signed this letter are aware of it. And in the letter it states pretty clearly that everybody knows in Honduras who the big drug traffickers are. Then the U.S. authorities must know. Then what's their interest here in working with these people?
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<p />PINE: Well, I think, you know, that's the real question. And the U.S. in fact does now know. I mean, the DEA has openly admitted to reporters in the past that, you know, they know who the gangs, the drug trafficking gangs are, they know who the main figures are involved—not so openly admitted in the case of the WikiLeaks cable.
<p />
<p />But we see much larger interests at stake here, where we see the greatest militarization also happen to be areas of the biggest land conflict and potential resource extraction, whether we're talking about petroleum in the Bajo Agúan or carbon credit industries like hydroelectric projects, for example, or in the Bajo Agúan the African palm trade, which is one of the bigger sort of—carbon credit trading. And that has caused the greatest amount of murders, because the large landholders are killing off peasants that have claims to this land. So it's curious that where there's the greatest amount of conflict that is not due to drugs, that's also where we see the greatest amount of militarization, justified by a drug war, which by and large is controlled by the same people who supported a military coup by a military that is trained and financed by the United States and that continues to be supported and trained and financed by the United States.
<p />
<p />JAY: Now, in your letter that I think you signed as well, but many Honduran academics signed, one of the calls is for a referendum in Honduras on whether or not there should be U.S. bases there. I mean, what is the size or level of U.S. presence in terms of bases? And is there any sense where public opinion is on this?
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<p />PINE: Well, the call for a referendum is, I think—and the letter, I should clarify, is written by the Honduran academics. And so the rest of us are signing in solidarity with it.
<p />
<p />There's a large U.S. presence in Honduras. And part of why the U.S. supported the coup was because the U.S. presence in Honduras has strategically been so important through the years. In the 1980s, Honduras was referred to in military circles as the U.S. [incompr.] Honduras, because it had such a heavy U.S. military presence. The base Soto Cano, which is the main U.S. Air Force base in Honduras, also happened to be where Zelaya's—the plane carrying Zelaya stopped on its way out during the coup, on its way out of the country, supposedly for refueling, although that doesn't make any sense.
<p />
<p />So if there were to be a referendum, there's no doubt that Hondurans would not want to have a continuing presence of U.S. troops on their soil, because what have they brought? The same things that U.S. troops bring wherever they have foreign bases around the world: death, destruction, disease, a huge AIDS epidemic, you know, directly emanating out from where the bases are located, and not a lot of what they claim to be there for, which is, of course, humanitarian assistance. We see very little of any good coming out of these bases and instead just a lot of violence, the kind that's killing people, like last month in the Meskitia.
<p />
<p />JAY: Now, have you had any answer from the administration? This letter was addressed to President Obama and Secretary Clinton. Any response whatsoever?
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<p />PINE: No, we haven't had a response. And there's been very little media attention here in the United States, although quite a bit of attention in Spanish-language press.
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<p />JAY: About the letter.
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<p />PINE: Yeah.
<p />
<p />JAY: Right. But the official position in the United States continues to be this is a democratic government.
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<p />PINE: Yeah, that it's a Democratic government, because it was elected in, quote-unquote, democratic elections. And it was actually a Real News report by Jesse Freeston in November 2009 that exposed the fact that the elections were rife with fraud and violence. It was under militarized control. And there was great violence carried out by the military against protesters on the streets of San Pedro and other cities. And the polling stations were virtually empty throughout the country. And this was recorded by journalists throughout the country, but in particular by The Real News. So there was no democratic transition in Honduras.
<p />
<p />And the State Department has consistently evaded calls by a variety of different parties, including academics, but perhaps even more surprisingly the 94 congressmembers that signed the letter by Representative Schakowsky earlier this year also calling for an end to military and police aid, including training to Honduras, for the same reasons that the Honduran scholars are calling for that.
<p />
<p />JAY: But it was ignored by the administration.
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<p />PINE: Well, the administration tried to claim that instead of specifically calling for an end to police and military aid, that the congresspeople were calling for an end to all aid to Honduras, and, as such, said that it was not a legitimate request, when that is in fact false. What they were—they were very specifically asking for an end to military and police aid on the basis of the very well documented human rights abuses that have been carried out consistently by those institutions against people who are expressing their dissent against the administration.
<p />
<p />JAY: Thanks very much for joining us, Adrienne.
<p />
<p />JAY: Thank you.
<p />
<p />PINE: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | adrienne pines research begins honduras employs vertical slice approach analyze mechanisms supporting empire daily usurpations democracy united states examines nonprofit industrial complex militarized corporatized academy diverse actors institutions us honduran governments honduran resistance movement order better understand structures violence prevent democratic processes taking hold pine described onewoman wrecking crew golpistas honduras handlers paymasters apologists lackeys dc sees militant anthropology key factor overthrowing corporatocracy based washington dc learns teaches anthropology fabulous students american university paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay baltimore june 7 40 honduran scholars supported 300 academics 29 countries sent letter president obama secretary state hillary clinton demanding following cease us support honduran military police trainingâand sent message war drugs rationale supporting regime violently suppressing people joining us talk one organizers petition adrienne pine adrienne assistant anthropology professor american university shes author book working hard drinking hard violence survival honduras thanks joining us adrienne adrienne pine asst prof anthropology american univ thank paul jay understand listen president obama administration state department say honduran democratic election democratization taking place find need letter pine well weve seen past years since coup past two half years since coup almost three years police military carried coup continued brutalize population specific ways particular focusing people oppose regime stand police abuse certain regions seen greater amount militarized violence includes bajo agúan region course recently weve hearing news dea joint deahonduran police massacre four indigenous miskito people month ago police military forces honduras trained us incompr like school americas directly trainings us forces us also maintains military presence honduras number bases ever increasing never get full count several bases installed since coup us course finances military police honduras jay know lot mexican drug operations moved central america lot apparently moving honduras thats true doesnt administration cooperate support regime order deal drug invasion honduras pine well problem logic regime deeply complicit drug trade cooperating supporting regime effect cooperating supporting drug traffickers known drug traffickersâand come wikileaks reports example miguel facussà land holder bajo agúan region responsible hes admitted national tv killings numerous peasants region land conflicts wikileaks cable admitted state department know drug trafficker far back asâi think 2004 2005 know people finance coup people currently us allies people power theyre also drug traffickers brother president also known drug trafficker military isâmany figures within military suspected involved drug trafficking well problem theres culture total impunity also product coup theres never reckoning theres never really democratic process move coup people carried human rights abuses police military responsible 4000 human rights abuses first months following coup well 4000 human rights abuses since lobo regime installed nothing happened justice cooperating regime effect saying okay coup regime continue also okay drug traffickers hold power crosstalk jay right well us authorities aware youre aware people signed letter aware letter states pretty clearly everybody knows honduras big drug traffickers us authorities must know whats interest working people pine well think know thats real question us fact know mean dea openly admitted reporters past know know gangs drug trafficking gangs know main figures involvedânot openly admitted case wikileaks cable see much larger interests stake see greatest militarization also happen areas biggest land conflict potential resource extraction whether talking petroleum bajo agúan carbon credit industries like hydroelectric projects example bajo agúan african palm trade one bigger sort ofâcarbon credit trading caused greatest amount murders large landholders killing peasants claims land curious theres greatest amount conflict due drugs thats also see greatest amount militarization justified drug war large controlled people supported military coup military trained financed united states continues supported trained financed united states jay letter think signed well many honduran academics signed one calls referendum honduras whether us bases mean size level us presence terms bases sense public opinion pine well call referendum thinkâand letter clarify written honduran academics rest us signing solidarity theres large us presence honduras part us supported coup us presence honduras strategically important years 1980s honduras referred military circles us incompr honduras heavy us military presence base soto cano main us air force base honduras also happened zelayasâthe plane carrying zelaya stopped way coup way country supposedly refueling although doesnt make sense referendum theres doubt hondurans would want continuing presence us troops soil brought things us troops bring wherever foreign bases around world death destruction disease huge aids epidemic know directly emanating bases located lot claim course humanitarian assistance see little good coming bases instead lot violence kind thats killing people like last month meskitia jay answer administration letter addressed president obama secretary clinton response whatsoever pine havent response theres little media attention united states although quite bit attention spanishlanguage press jay letter pine yeah jay right official position united states continues democratic government pine yeah democratic government elected quoteunquote democratic elections actually real news report jesse freeston november 2009 exposed fact elections rife fraud violence militarized control great violence carried military protesters streets san pedro cities polling stations virtually empty throughout country recorded journalists throughout country particular real news democratic transition honduras state department consistently evaded calls variety different parties including academics perhaps even surprisingly 94 congressmembers signed letter representative schakowsky earlier year also calling end military police aid including training honduras reasons honduran scholars calling jay ignored administration pine well administration tried claim instead specifically calling end police military aid congresspeople calling end aid honduras said legitimate request fact false wereâthey specifically asking end military police aid basis well documented human rights abuses carried consistently institutions people expressing dissent administration jay thanks much joining us adrienne jay thank pine thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 937 |
<p>When black progressives today think about the Civil War, they are often more struck by what didn’t happen than what did.</p>
<p>Michelle Alexander’s much-lauded <a href="http://newjimcrow.com/" type="external">The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness</a> is a case in point. Citing W.&#160;E.&#160;B. Du Bois’s lament that “former slaves had ‘a brief moment in the sun’ before they were returned to a status akin to slavery,” Alexander intimates that abolitionists failed to see that slavery was just one instance in a series of forms of “racialized social control” that not only have reappeared, but have also “evolved” and “become perfected, arguably more resilient to challenge, and thus capable of enduring for generations to come.”</p>
<p>What this narrative of unremitting bleakness overlooks is that the South chose armed rebellion in order to maintain political control over its system of labor&#160;— a system that enslaved blacks while impoverishing white agricultural and industrial laborers. From the standpoint of Southern planters and industrialists, the most terrifying prospect of emancipation was the possibility that laborers, black and white, would eschew elite guidance and wield political power in the form of the ballot and office-holding to further their own interests.</p>
<p>It came as no surprise, then, that when former slaves did begin to make this prospect a reality, Southern elites responded not only with violence and political fraud, but also with an intellectual campaign carried out in newspapers, journals, fiction, poetry, and historical writing to demonstrate the incapacity of blacks for self-government and the corruption that would ensue when the unlettered and inexperienced held the reins of power.</p>
<p>What is more surprising, if lesser known, is the role that many black elites (along with their sympathetic white counterparts) played in ratifying aspects of white reactionary thought toward the end of the nineteenth century. Some twenty-five years after Appomattox the fact that black men and unpropertied whites could vote made possible the rise of the <a href="http://www.britannica.com/event/Populist-Movement" type="external">Populist Movement</a>, which directly challenged the economic order of the South by “proposing to substitute popular rule for the rule of capital.”</p>
<p>Black elites, whose political viability depended on their perceived legitimacy as “race leaders,” were disturbed by the reality of poor blacks acting politically without their guidance or sanction. And when the planter and industrial elite struck back against Populism with violence and disfranchisement&#160;— a backlash that tended to make all blacks, and not merely workers, its target&#160;— black elites sought to meliorate these effects by proposing a transformation&#160;— not of the economic basis of society, but rather of the black image in the white mind&#160;— to improve “race relations.”</p>
<p>Indeed for nearly 130 years, black elites in the United States have been offering up improved “race relations” rather then <a href="" type="internal">interracial workers alliances</a> against capital as the primary solution to American inequality.</p>
<p>From the moment the Civil War ended, the question of what an American society without slavery would look like dominated political discussion. If the inaugural issue of the Nation magazine <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Jut3tYgBMTMC&amp;pg=PA52&amp;lpg=PA52&amp;dq=%E2%80%9CNobody+whose+opinion+is+of+any+consequence,+maintains+any+longer&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=TWxA9UJ3cE&amp;sig=73Y3yXfuCGWREea-JEYwXifIIqM&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ved=0CB4Q6AEwAGoVChMIy8_Lz4KvxwIVwpANCh2WjQ5d#v=onepage&amp;q=%E2%80%9CNobody%20whose%20opinion%20is%20of%20any%20consequence%2C%20maintains%20any%20longer&amp;f=false" type="external">opined that</a> “Nobody whose opinion is of any consequence, maintains any longer that [blacks’] claim to political equality is not a sound one,” the actual picture was more complicated.</p>
<p>While many black commentators and freedmen expected emancipation to usher black Americans fully and without restriction into the nation’s civic, social, and economic life, relatively few white Americans&#160;— even among those who abhorred slavery and championed the freedman’s political rights&#160;— felt similarly.</p>
<p>And while many Americans, black and white, celebrated the idea that the freedmen would now be able to join the ranks of wage laborers, few of either race saw this change as a significant step towards enhancing the political and economic power of workers generally against employers and landowners in the immediate aftermath of the war.</p>
<p>Recent commentary on the limits of emancipation has typically made much of the lack of racial egalitarianism within the Republican Party and even among abolitionists, seeing within this the seeds of subsequent political defeats.</p>
<p>On this account what made the Civil War and the Civil Rights victories of the 1960s something like “non-events” (and what could likewise undermine any success at ending mass incarceration) was the failure to, as Michelle Alexander puts it, “address&#160;.&#160;.&#160;.&#160;racial divisions and resentments,” which thereby allowed the next “system of racialized social control [to] emerge.”</p>
<p>In bringing slavery to an end the Civil War opened up contestation not only over the place that former slaves would have in American society, but also over the role that <a href="" type="internal">wage earners</a> and <a href="" type="internal">women</a> would play in a post-slavery political order.</p>
<p>Egalitarian visions, however, were met by concerted forces that did not want the end of slavery to lead to the complete emancipation of wage laborers. That is, any newly won freedoms should not address the way that market coercion severely limited the capacity of working Americans to control their lives and destinies. And while this limitation would ultimately prove equally consequential for the subsequent history of social justice, it has often been hidden by the significant shadow cast by the narrative of American racism and white supremacy.</p>
<p>When&#160; <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/authors/search/?query=De+Forest,+John+William" type="external">John William De Forest</a>, a former Union officer and Freedman’s Bureau administrator, published his 1867 novel Miss Ravenal’s Conversion from Secession to Loyalty — which is perhaps the only significant novel about the Civil War written by an actual combatant&#160;— he sought, among other things, to champion a view that the “victory of the North is at bottom the triumph of laboring men living by their own industry, over non-laboring men who wanted to live by the industry of others.”</p>
<p>Steeped in the free labor ideology of the North, De Forest’s novel spliced a love story onto a realist account of the war in a way that reflected even as it sought to suppress tensions within the idea of free labor that had come to mark the difference between North and South.</p>
<p>In finally uniting the book’s hero Captain Edward Colburne of the Union army with erstwhile Southern sympathizer, Miss Lillie Ravenal, whom he has loved from the beginning of the novel, De Forest reveals that his view of the ideal free laborer was less the “propertyless proletarian” whose “freedom derived not from the ownership of productive property but from the unfettered sale of&#160;.&#160;.&#160;. labor power&#160;— itself a commodity&#160;— in a competitive market” than the “independent proprietor,” who had long been identified as being independent enough to secure the freedom of thought and action necessary for responsible citizenship.</p>
<p>We can see the inadequacy of wage labor in Colburne’s assessment of his economic situation after the war. Here we learn that “his salary as captain” had enabled him “to lay up next to nothing,” and that rising gold prices had diminished “the cash value” of what salary he did earn.</p>
<p>These dire prospects, however, do not turn out to be ultimately damning. Trained as a lawyer and in possession of a small inheritance from his dead father, Colburne, by partnering with a colleague, is able in short order to find himself “in possession of a promising if not an opulent business” and is ready to assume his role as head of household with the widowed Lillie Ravenal as his wife and her son as his stepson.</p>
<p>As the novel moves toward a full elaboration of its vision of free labor, it also leaves by the wayside the attempt by Lillie’s father, Dr&#160;Ravenal, to reconstruct black labor. Despite being born in South Carolina and having resided in New Orleans for twenty years, Dr&#160;Ravenal is a staunch Union man. At a moment when it appears that the Union forces have secured the area around New Orleans, Dr&#160;Ravenal determines to demonstrate the superiority of free labor to slave labor by eagerly taking charge of a plantation leased to him by the federal government. His responsibility, as he sees it, is not only economic, but also ideological and pedagogical. To be successful he must “produce not only a crop of corn and potatoes, but a race of intelligent, industrious and virtuous laborers.”</p>
<p>So, with lectures to the ex-slaves about the virtue of labor, sobriety, and the like, Dr&#160;Ravenal sets out to put black labor to work for wages. A Confederate counterattack cuts short his “grand experiment of freedman’s labor,” but not before the novel has had time enough to make clear its view that while reconstructing black labor may ultimately succeed, the effort will take time because the habits and attitudes ingrained by a history of enslavement will not disappear overnight.</p>
<p>Contrasting the realities of the South as he sees it to the “pure fiction” of Harriet Beecher Stowe’s <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uncle_Tom" type="external">Uncle Tom</a>, Dr&#160;Ravenal asserts, “There never was such a slave, and there never will be. A man educated under the degrading influences of bondage must always have some taint of uncommon grossness and lowness.” De&#160;Forest reiterated this vision in his reflections on his experience with Reconstruction in South Carolina, observing that “the Negro’s acquisition of property, and of those qualities which command the industry of others, will be slow. What better could be expected of a serf so lately manumitted?”</p>
<p>Undergirding De&#160;Forest’s vision of black freedmen gradually acquiring the skills and habits necessary to become prosperous cooperative laborers is what <a href="" type="internal">Eric Foner</a> terms free labor’s belief that “ <a href="http://oll.libertyfund.org/pages/radical-individualism-in-america-a-bibliographical-essay-by-eric-foner" type="external">a harmony of interests</a>” defined the relation of capital to labor. The conditions necessary for capital to profit from its outlays were deemed to be those that were most conducive to the flourishing of labor. Class conflict could be imagined only in terms of deficiencies of character among the uncooperative.</p>
<p>Thus, despite their sympathies for the freedmen, black and white elites in the North generally embraced a view of the recently emancipated as a population in need of tutelage and leadership rather than as peers who had the capacity to present their own visions of social and economic life.</p>
<p>Black novelist, former abolitionist, and temperance advocate <a href="http://msa.maryland.gov/megafile/msa/speccol/sc3500/sc3520/012400/012499/html/12499bio.html" type="external">Frances E.&#160;W.&#160;Harper</a> begins her 1892 novel, Iola Leroy, or Shadows Uplifted, with depictions of illiterate and semi-literate black slaves debating among themselves the best course of action to take in response to the approaching Union army.</p>
<p>However, by the later chapters of that novel, as she seeks to validate genteel black leadership, a less flattering view of freed people emerges. In one instance Harper has one of her exemplary black characters respond to a claim in the newspaper that “colored women were becoming unfit to be servants for white people,” by concluding “that if they are not fit to be servants for white people, they are unfit to be mothers to their own children.”</p>
<p>This character’s readiness to interpret the uncooperativeness of black domestics as indication of debility is of a piece with the novel’s larger attempt to present black labor as educable and not rebellious. As we learn from another of the novel’s admirable characters, “the Negro is not plotting in beer-salons against the peace and order of society. His fingers are not dripping with dynamite, neither is he spitting upon your flag, nor flaunting the red banner of anarchy in your face.”</p>
<p>These sentiments were echoed by black social reformer, Anna Julia Cooper, in her landmark 1892 work of cultural commentary, <a href="http://docsouth.unc.edu/church/cooper/menu.html" type="external">A Voice From the South</a>, which famously asserted that it would only be when the black woman was able to enter into American society on terms of equality that true social justice would be achieved. While on Cooper’s account genteel black women should expect acceptance as full equals, laboring blacks were to be prized for racial qualities that guaranteed their capacity as tractable workers.</p>
<p>Cooper writes that the Negro’s “Instinct for law and order, his inborn respect for authority, his inaptitude for rioting and anarchy, his gentleness and cheerfulness as a laborer, and his deep-rooted faith in God will prove indispensable and invaluable elements in a nation menaced as America is by anarchy, socialism, communism, and skepticism poured in with all the jail birds from the continents of Europe and Asia.”</p>
<p>To be sure black workers were not often met with open arms by their white counterparts. And it was not always the case that black novelists assumed innate antagonism between black and white laborers. J. McHenry Jones’s 1896 novel, <a href="http://wvupressonline.com/jones_hearts_of_gold_9781933202525" type="external">Hearts of Gold</a>, depicts Welsh miners in a Southern town who, moved by their sense that convict labor “degraded” labor generally and by “a deep-seated hatred&#160;.&#160;.&#160;. against systematic cruelty,” harbor a black runaway from a convict labor camp and then march en masse to destroy the camp and liberate its inmates.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, the representational tendency to align black Southern labor with the interests of their employers also reflected the continued commitment of black elites to the idea “that a community of equal men could be created by allying labor (blacks) and capital to produce material progress and enlightenment,” rather than by allying black laborers with their white counterparts. Instead of building the political power of labor, they called for building the integrity and esteem of the black race.</p>
<p>But whether these representations of black and white labor were disparaging or laudatory, what connected them was that they were, in some way or another, a response to the rise of the Southern Alliance in the 1880s, which was followed by the emergence of the Populist Party in the 1890s.</p>
<p>More to the point, according to Judith Stein, the Southern Alliance was paralleled by and helped fuel the <a href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/aac01" type="external">Colored Farmers Alliance</a>, which grew to encompass more than a million black farmers by the early 1890s. While in many cases the political organization of black farm laborers strengthened the hand of black political elites in seeking concessions from white industrialists and landowners, the efficacy of these alliances also challenged the ability of these elites to set the terms and goals of black political activity.</p>
<p>Black elites had sought to assure whites in both the South and the North that black political participation was consistent with the idea of rule by the “best” men of society. In principle then, if not always in fact, the stance of black political elites placed them at odds with the idea that relatively uneducated laborers could wield political power effectively. Thus, in novel after novel produced by the black political class, writers inserted scenes where unschooled black laborers pleaded for the leadership and guidance of their black genteel betters.</p>
<p>Of course, the most egregious disparager of interracial labor alliances against capital was Booker T. Washington, the founder of the Tuskegee Institute. Indeed, historian Michael Rudolph West has credited Washington with inventing “race relations.” Washington’s 1901 autobiography, <a href="http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/washington/washing.html" type="external">Up From Slavery</a>, attributed Southern labor unrest to the interference of “professional labour agitators” who had their eyes on the savings of thrifty workers and goaded them into going out on strikes that would leave them “worse off at the end.”</p>
<p>Washington’s rise as a political force in the South coincided with the rise of Populism. The ability of Populists to mount successful political challenges to Southern Democrats depended on the votes of black Alliance members.</p>
<p>It was their awareness of this fact that drove white industrialists and planters in the 1890s to secure the dominance of the Democratic Party by pursuing across-the-board disfranchisement of blacks as well as many poor whites. Jim Crow America was the result of a successful counterrevolution against an interracial labor threat&#160;— a counterrevolution aided and abetted by the rise of Bookerism and the Tuskegee Machine.</p>
<p>What Tuskegee represented as an institution, and what Up From Slavery testified to as a program, was the idea that the problem of the South was not primarily a problem of who held political power, but rather one of determining how best to incorporate a despised caste into the social and economic fabric of the nation. In the place of political transformation Washington offered up race relations, with Tuskegee positioned to provide an army of “trained men and women to confront the militancy of an industrial proletariat.”</p>
<p>Viewed against the rise of Populism one can see that the Civil War, by granting blacks political rights, set the stage for what would become one of the most profound challenges to capital in the history of the United States. That the Populist challenge was defeated does not diminish its significance. And given that it was only after the defeat of Populism that disfranchisement and Jim Crow were able to succeed suggests the potential instructiveness of that history for the present moment, a history that does not attest simply to the periodic reemergence of white supremacy across time as Alexander and so many others have alleged.</p>
<p>Rather, if <a href="" type="internal">racialized forms of exclusion</a> tend to rise in the wake of successful efforts by industrial and financial interests to undermine the political power of labor, to make our primary task that of addressing “racial divisions and resentments,” as Alexander calls for, risks giving pride of place to a new era of race relations, and not the broader vision of social justice that she describes at the end of The New Jim Crow.</p>
<p>Then, as now, the most reliable path to a progressive politics that produces true justice and human rights is that which begins with building the political power of workers. It is this proposition that has often made elite opponents of white supremacy&#160;— both black and white&#160;— deeply uncomfortable.</p> | true | 4 | black progressives today think civil war often struck didnt happen michelle alexanders muchlauded new jim crow mass incarceration age colorblindness case point citing w160e160b du boiss lament former slaves brief moment sun returned status akin slavery alexander intimates abolitionists failed see slavery one instance series forms racialized social control reappeared also evolved become perfected arguably resilient challenge thus capable enduring generations come narrative unremitting bleakness overlooks south chose armed rebellion order maintain political control system labor160 system enslaved blacks impoverishing white agricultural industrial laborers standpoint southern planters industrialists terrifying prospect emancipation possibility laborers black white would eschew elite guidance wield political power form ballot officeholding interests came surprise former slaves begin make prospect reality southern elites responded violence political fraud also intellectual campaign carried newspapers journals fiction poetry historical writing demonstrate incapacity blacks selfgovernment corruption would ensue unlettered inexperienced held reins power surprising lesser known role many black elites along sympathetic white counterparts played ratifying aspects white reactionary thought toward end nineteenth century twentyfive years appomattox fact black men unpropertied whites could vote made possible rise populist movement directly challenged economic order south proposing substitute popular rule rule capital black elites whose political viability depended perceived legitimacy race leaders disturbed reality poor blacks acting politically without guidance sanction planter industrial elite struck back populism violence disfranchisement160 backlash tended make blacks merely workers target160 black elites sought meliorate effects proposing transformation160 economic basis society rather black image white mind160 improve race relations indeed nearly 130 years black elites united states offering improved race relations rather interracial workers alliances capital primary solution american inequality moment civil war ended question american society without slavery would look like dominated political discussion inaugural issue nation magazine opined nobody whose opinion consequence maintains longer blacks claim political equality sound one actual picture complicated many black commentators freedmen expected emancipation usher black americans fully without restriction nations civic social economic life relatively white americans160 even among abhorred slavery championed freedmans political rights160 felt similarly many americans black white celebrated idea freedmen would able join ranks wage laborers either race saw change significant step towards enhancing political economic power workers generally employers landowners immediate aftermath war recent commentary limits emancipation typically made much lack racial egalitarianism within republican party even among abolitionists seeing within seeds subsequent political defeats account made civil war civil rights victories 1960s something like nonevents could likewise undermine success ending mass incarceration failure michelle alexander puts address160160160160racial divisions resentments thereby allowed next system racialized social control emerge bringing slavery end civil war opened contestation place former slaves would american society also role wage earners women would play postslavery political order egalitarian visions however met concerted forces want end slavery lead complete emancipation wage laborers newly freedoms address way market coercion severely limited capacity working americans control lives destinies limitation would ultimately prove equally consequential subsequent history social justice often hidden significant shadow cast narrative american racism white supremacy when160 john william de forest former union officer freedmans bureau administrator published 1867 novel miss ravenals conversion secession loyalty perhaps significant novel civil war written actual combatant160 sought among things champion view victory north bottom triumph laboring men living industry nonlaboring men wanted live industry others steeped free labor ideology north de forests novel spliced love story onto realist account war way reflected even sought suppress tensions within idea free labor come mark difference north south finally uniting books hero captain edward colburne union army erstwhile southern sympathizer miss lillie ravenal loved beginning novel de forest reveals view ideal free laborer less propertyless proletarian whose freedom derived ownership productive property unfettered sale of160160160 labor power160 commodity160 competitive market independent proprietor long identified independent enough secure freedom thought action necessary responsible citizenship see inadequacy wage labor colburnes assessment economic situation war learn salary captain enabled lay next nothing rising gold prices diminished cash value salary earn dire prospects however turn ultimately damning trained lawyer possession small inheritance dead father colburne partnering colleague able short order find possession promising opulent business ready assume role head household widowed lillie ravenal wife son stepson novel moves toward full elaboration vision free labor also leaves wayside attempt lillies father dr160ravenal reconstruct black labor despite born south carolina resided new orleans twenty years dr160ravenal staunch union man moment appears union forces secured area around new orleans dr160ravenal determines demonstrate superiority free labor slave labor eagerly taking charge plantation leased federal government responsibility sees economic also ideological pedagogical successful must produce crop corn potatoes race intelligent industrious virtuous laborers lectures exslaves virtue labor sobriety like dr160ravenal sets put black labor work wages confederate counterattack cuts short grand experiment freedmans labor novel time enough make clear view reconstructing black labor may ultimately succeed effort take time habits attitudes ingrained history enslavement disappear overnight contrasting realities south sees pure fiction harriet beecher stowes uncle tom dr160ravenal asserts never slave never man educated degrading influences bondage must always taint uncommon grossness lowness de160forest reiterated vision reflections experience reconstruction south carolina observing negros acquisition property qualities command industry others slow better could expected serf lately manumitted undergirding de160forests vision black freedmen gradually acquiring skills habits necessary become prosperous cooperative laborers eric foner terms free labors belief harmony interests defined relation capital labor conditions necessary capital profit outlays deemed conducive flourishing labor class conflict could imagined terms deficiencies character among uncooperative thus despite sympathies freedmen black white elites north generally embraced view recently emancipated population need tutelage leadership rather peers capacity present visions social economic life black novelist former abolitionist temperance advocate frances e160w160harper begins 1892 novel iola leroy shadows uplifted depictions illiterate semiliterate black slaves debating among best course action take response approaching union army however later chapters novel seeks validate genteel black leadership less flattering view freed people emerges one instance harper one exemplary black characters respond claim newspaper colored women becoming unfit servants white people concluding fit servants white people unfit mothers children characters readiness interpret uncooperativeness black domestics indication debility piece novels larger attempt present black labor educable rebellious learn another novels admirable characters negro plotting beersalons peace order society fingers dripping dynamite neither spitting upon flag flaunting red banner anarchy face sentiments echoed black social reformer anna julia cooper landmark 1892 work cultural commentary voice south famously asserted would black woman able enter american society terms equality true social justice would achieved coopers account genteel black women expect acceptance full equals laboring blacks prized racial qualities guaranteed capacity tractable workers cooper writes negros instinct law order inborn respect authority inaptitude rioting anarchy gentleness cheerfulness laborer deeprooted faith god prove indispensable invaluable elements nation menaced america anarchy socialism communism skepticism poured jail birds continents europe asia sure black workers often met open arms white counterparts always case black novelists assumed innate antagonism black white laborers j mchenry joness 1896 novel hearts gold depicts welsh miners southern town moved sense convict labor degraded labor generally deepseated hatred160160160 systematic cruelty harbor black runaway convict labor camp march en masse destroy camp liberate inmates nonetheless representational tendency align black southern labor interests employers also reflected continued commitment black elites idea community equal men could created allying labor blacks capital produce material progress enlightenment rather allying black laborers white counterparts instead building political power labor called building integrity esteem black race whether representations black white labor disparaging laudatory connected way another response rise southern alliance 1880s followed emergence populist party 1890s point according judith stein southern alliance paralleled helped fuel colored farmers alliance grew encompass million black farmers early 1890s many cases political organization black farm laborers strengthened hand black political elites seeking concessions white industrialists landowners efficacy alliances also challenged ability elites set terms goals black political activity black elites sought assure whites south north black political participation consistent idea rule best men society principle always fact stance black political elites placed odds idea relatively uneducated laborers could wield political power effectively thus novel novel produced black political class writers inserted scenes unschooled black laborers pleaded leadership guidance black genteel betters course egregious disparager interracial labor alliances capital booker washington founder tuskegee institute indeed historian michael rudolph west credited washington inventing race relations washingtons 1901 autobiography slavery attributed southern labor unrest interference professional labour agitators eyes savings thrifty workers goaded going strikes would leave worse end washingtons rise political force south coincided rise populism ability populists mount successful political challenges southern democrats depended votes black alliance members awareness fact drove white industrialists planters 1890s secure dominance democratic party pursuing acrosstheboard disfranchisement blacks well many poor whites jim crow america result successful counterrevolution interracial labor threat160 counterrevolution aided abetted rise bookerism tuskegee machine tuskegee represented institution slavery testified program idea problem south primarily problem held political power rather one determining best incorporate despised caste social economic fabric nation place political transformation washington offered race relations tuskegee positioned provide army trained men women confront militancy industrial proletariat viewed rise populism one see civil war granting blacks political rights set stage would become one profound challenges capital history united states populist challenge defeated diminish significance given defeat populism disfranchisement jim crow able succeed suggests potential instructiveness history present moment history attest simply periodic reemergence white supremacy across time alexander many others alleged rather racialized forms exclusion tend rise wake successful efforts industrial financial interests undermine political power labor make primary task addressing racial divisions resentments alexander calls risks giving pride place new era race relations broader vision social justice describes end new jim crow reliable path progressive politics produces true justice human rights begins building political power workers proposition often made elite opponents white supremacy160 black white160 deeply uncomfortable | 1,589 |
<p>Photo by International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>Trivializing nuclear weapons the way he makes light of sexual assault, white supremacy, beating up critics, deporting millions, shooting someone in the street, bombing civilians and torturing suspects, Donald Trump blithely “tweeted” about the US arsenal in December 2016: “The US must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.”</p>
<p>Mr. Trump’s handlers were trying to steal thunder that day, Dec. 23rd, from the UN General Assembly where most of the world actually was coming to its senses regarding nuclear weapons, voting overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution to begin negotiating a treaty banning them. The remarkable Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons or Ban Treaty was finally adopted by the UNGA on July 7, 2017, and will take effect when it’s ratified by 50 states. Then, on Oct. 6, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons was declared the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winner for its successful effort to see the UN adopt the Ban Treaty. Of course, the US government was having none of it.</p>
<p>Both the Obama and Trump administrations publicly opposed and obstructed efforts to enact the ban, and last October the Congressional Budget Office reported on the colossal price of their all-out pro-nuclear stampede in the opposite direction. The CBO’s report (Approaches for Managing the Costs of US Nuclear Forces, 2017 to 2046) projects that the military-industrial complex’s plan to rebuild the entire US nuclear arsenal from top to bottom, including new warhead production facilities, would cost <a href="" type="internal">$1.2&#160;trillion</a> between 2017 and 2046.</p>
<p>This staggering sum involves contested plans to produce: new nuclear-armed long-range bombers, land-based missiles, missile-firing submarines, and their propulsion reactors ($772 billion); new nuclear cruise missiles; the first guided or “smart” gravity H-bomb, and jet fighters to carry them ($25 billion); a rebuilt complex of laboratories and production facilities, in Tennessee, New Mexico and Missouri ($261 billion); and replacement command and control systems that enable the ongoing threat to use the weapons ($184 billion). Allocating the $1.2&#160;trillion by department, the GAO estimates that $890&#160;billion will go to the Pentagon and $352&#160;billion to the Department of Energy (DOE) and its bomb-building wing known as the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).</p>
<p>While the CBO’s cost estimate is flabbergasting enough, the agency “lowballed” its estimate by at least $541 billion according to Robert Alvarez, a former DOE senior policy advisor. Writing in the Washington Spectator, Alvarez notes that by excluding the costs of environmental restoration and waste management in the 70-year-old nuclear weapons complex, the CBO “hides” and downplays more than half-a-trillion dollars. The $541 billion “comes from the same congressional spending account” as the $1.2 trillion weapons complex upgrade, <a href="" type="internal">Alvarez notes</a>, raising the actual inflation-adjusted total estimate to $1.74 trillion. Clean-up costs were perhaps left out to reduce the hair-raising sticker shock usually prompted by trillions in new federal spending.</p>
<p>Ignoring or belittling the toxic and radioactive legacy of decades of US nuclear weapons production is a longtime practice among weapons proponents. One Livermore National Lab design engineer told me 30 years ago over the phone, “We like to cook; we don’t like to do the dishes.” Three typical examples of this condescension toward contaminated production sites — Oak Ridge Tenn., and Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Kansas City, Missouri — are looked at below.</p>
<p>The $1.7 trillion weapons complex rebuild was originally proposed in 2016 by President Obama, who reportedly agreed to it as a quid pro quo for the Senate’s Ratification of the New Start Treaty with Russia. The weapons industry bonanza appears to be a zero-sum tribute to inflation since it won’t increase the size of the nuclear arsenal. Another couple of trillion will have to be diverted, however, if, as reported by NBC News last Oct. 11, President Trump’s summertime demand for a “tenfold increase” the nuclear arsenal’s size is enacted. It’s only a partial relief that no one takes Trump’s asinine misnomer seriously in this instance, and that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson left the July meeting calling the game show president “a fucking moron.”</p>
<p>“We don’t have money anymore” but for war</p>
<p>While debating the Republican’s $1.5 trillion tax cut bill, Utah Senator Orrin Hatch, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, spoke about the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which needed its $15 billion appropriations renewed after expiring last Oct. 1. CHIP subsidizes health exams, doctor visits, prescriptions and other medical care for children in 9 million low-income families. Mr. Hatch actually said on the record: “[T]he reason CHIP is having trouble is because we don’t have money anymore.” Mr. Hatch had just given away CHIP’s budget 100 over in a single tax cut gifting industrialists and the super-rich. With austerity budget cuts like the Republicans’ Oct. 2017 budget proposal to gouge $1 trillion from Medicaid and nearly $500 billion from Medicare, and over half of the federal discretionary funds lavished on the Pentagon, Mr. Hatch must have meant the country doesn’t have money anymore except for weapons and war. The CHIP was eventually funded after a temporary government shutdown, but the White House’s Feb. 12 proposed budget would cut $17 billion from the anti-poverty Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP, slash the Department of Education budget by 10 percent, and phase out federal funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.</p>
<p>The Trump Administration’s official Nuclear Posture Review, issued Feb. 2nd, regurgitates the $1.7 trillion weapons complex rebuild plan without evidence of a need for cost-cutting. A closer consideration of the 30-year-long, trillion-dollar giveaway for military contractors mocks Republican calls for belt-tightening in discretionary spending, and shows Obama-era arms control talk as nothing but permanent bomb building.</p>
<p>The B61-12 guided nuclear gravity bomb (~$13 billion)</p>
<p>The Air Force is pursuing the first ever “smart” gravity H-bomb known as the B61-12. With a variable explosive force of up to 350 kilotons, model 12 of the B61 will reportedly have 60% better accuracy than present-day models known as B61-3, -4, -7, -10, and -11. Critics point out that accurate H-bombs are not needed for deterrence. The “improvement” means the Air Force intends to use the B61s before the US is attacked — in a Pearl Harbor-like sneak attack known as a nuclear first-strike.</p>
<p>The offensive and destabilizing capability of the planned B61-12 may have led retired US Airforce Gen. Eugene Habiger, a former commander of Strategic Command overseeing all US nuclear weapons, to tell the San Antonio Express News last July 22 that, “the [B61] bombs no longer have any military usefulness.”</p>
<p>Still, the Air Force wants to build a few hundred new B61s to replace about 180 currently deployed in the face of broad public and official opposition at six NATO bases — in Germany, Italy, Turkey, Belgium and The Netherlands — and to pad the US stockpile. German public opinion on the B61s, shared across Europe generally, according to a 2016 survey by the Forsa Institute, found that 85% of those polled support permanent withdrawing the US bombs, and 88% oppose US plans to replace Germany’s 20 remaining B61s.</p>
<p>William Arkin, a national security consultant for NBC News Investigates, reports that “Soviet nuclear weapons have been removed from Eastern Europe,” and since “nuclear weapons [were] be removed from [South Korea], certainly they don’t need to be physically present in Europe.” Arkin also points to NATO trend-setters who already rejected “nuclear sharing” and ousted their US B61s: Greece in 2001, and Britain in 2008.</p>
<p>The Los Angeles Times has reported that “since the end of the Cold War, most military leaders believe that our short-range ‘tactical’ nuclear weapons [B61s] based in Europe have virtually no utility.” In April 2010, when he was Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. James Cartwright was asked by the Council on Foreign Relations, “Is there a military mission performed by [B61] that cannot be performed by either US strategic forces or US conventional forces?” The general answered simply, “No.”</p>
<p>But popular opinion and military expertise aside, the NNSA forged ahead in 2015 and estimated the B61 replacement cost at $8.1 billion over 12 years. By January 2018 the projection had increased to between $12 and $13 billion, 35% over-run. Already five years behind schedule, but with plans to produce 480 of the new bombs, the B61-12s could each cost as much twice their weight in gold.</p>
<p>Boeing has won a choice $1.8 billion contract to develop just the new “tail kit” for the B61, making it “smart” and, according to Jay Coghlan, the executive director of Nuclear Watch New Mexico in Santa Fe, Lockheed Martin Corp. (the general contractor) is making a brand new H-bomb. Hans Kristensen with the Federation of American Scientists agrees, saying that the B61-12 “is a new weapon because a guided nuclear bomb does not exist in the United States.” As a novel weapon, producing the B61-12 will violate both the US-ratified Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and President Obama’s pledge not to develop new nuclear weapons. Even the current deployment of US H-bombs to five NATO countries who are all NPT signatories is an open violation of the treaty’s Articles I and II which explicitly prohibit any such transfer.</p>
<p>But legal technicalities aside, and considering just the big business end of the B61, William Hartung, a Fellow at the Center for International Policy, notes that Lockheed Martin “gets two bites at the apple,” because the company also designs and builds the F-35A fighter-bomber “which will be fitted to carry the B61-12.” Other general contractors getting in on the action by building their jets to carry the new bomb will be McDonnell Douglas (the F-15E), General Dynamics (the F-16), Northrop Grumman (the B-2A, and the B-21), Boeing (the B-52H), and — although the German government hasn’t yet decided to allow it — Panavia Aircraft, builder of Germany’s new Tornado jet. Sandia National Laboratory in New Mexico is the lead designer of the new B61. Both Sandia and the Kansas City bomb plant in Missouri are operated by Honeywell which stands to take a big chunk of the B61-12’s $13 billion to the bank. Los Alamos National Lab was in on early designs, so its private operators — Bechtel, BWXT Government Group, URS Corp., and the U. of California — have also been in on the take.</p>
<p>“Interoperable warhead” ($50 billion)</p>
<p>This boondoggle of laboratory inventiveness is a warhead that in theory would be used interchangeably on submarine missiles, land-based rockets, and even air-launched weapons. Its enormous budget was slashed and then postponed temporarily by Congress, but the program is not dead. Coghlan, with Nuclear Watch New Mexico, notes that the three planned versions of the so-called interoperable warhead, “are arguably huge make-work projects for the nuclear weapons labs … which ironically the Navy doesn’t even want,” citing a declassified Sept. 27, 2012 Navy <a href="https://www.nukewatch.org/importantdocs/resources/Navy-Memo-W87W88.pdf" type="external">memo that says</a> “we do not support commencing with the effort at this time.”</p>
<p>The B-21 Raider or “China bomber” ($127 billion)</p>
<p>A new long-range, nuclear-armed “stealth” bomber known as the “B-21” or “Raider” has also been dubbed the “China bomber” because some in the military claim it’s being designed to attack China. In October 2015, the Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman Corp. a “secret” contract to begin its engineering and construction development, now underway at Palmdale, California. Last March, the Air Force identified some of the other major suppliers getting in on the gravy train: Pratt &amp; Whitney (engines), Rockwell Collins, Spirit Aerosystems, Janicki Industries, BAE Systems, GKN Aerospace, and Orbital ATK.</p>
<p>Air Force vice chief of staff Gen. Stephen Wilson, speaking to the House Armed Services Committee last March, said the B-21 had finished “preliminary design review” and that the first bomber may be operational by the mid-2020s. Arthur Villasanta, reporting on Gen. Wilson’s testimony for chinatopix.com, noted that the Air Force wants 100 of the “very long-range” B-21s at an estimated total cost of $80 billion or up to $564 million per plane. The remaining $136-to-$150 million in Gen. Wilson’s estimate may be a matter of padding, but given the weapon industry’s routinized cost over-runs and delays, the general’s $80 billion price-tag and timeline projections are as reliable as TV commercials.</p>
<p>Unlike the other Air Force heavy bombers — the B-1B “Lancer” built by Rockwell Corp., and the B-2 “Spirit” made by Northrup-Grumman Corp. — the B-21 is reportedly being built to carry all the nuclear weapons now used on the B-52s. These include: “12 Advanced Cruise Missiles, 20 Air-Launched Cruise Missiles, and eight bombs,” according to airforce-technology.com. The website didn’t specify that the “bombs” are the B61 nuclear gravity bombs which are also scheduled for upgrade and replacement in the trillion-dollar tax give-away.</p>
<p>Without even attempting to present to Congress some “need” to replace today’s bombers, the Air Force says it wants to operate the new B-21s along with its B-1s (until 2038), and its B-2s (until 2058), according to Kris Osborn writing for thenationalinterest.com, belying the idea that new bombers are a needed. The GBO report combined the nuclear weapons “mission” costs of operating all three heavy bombers, and sees $127 billion overall, not the $80B lofted by the Air Force.</p>
<p>The B-21 is reportedly being built to attack extremely far-off targets, beyond even what today’s B-52s can reach — further, that is, than the 16,000 miles round-trip bombing run that one B-52H flew (a world-record for a combat mission), flying from Guam to bomb Iraq in 1996, according to Ron Dick and Dan Patterson in Aviation Century. The B-52“H” is the eighth of Boeing’s endlessly profitable series of B-52s. However, the need for bomber “modernization” has been refuted by the Air Force itself, which coldly boasts of its current fleet’s killing power. Maj. Kent Mickelson, operations director for the USAF 394th combat training squadron, refuted the pretext in an April 2016 interview, saying that today’s B-2 “is still able to do its job just as well as it did in the ‘80s. … [N]obody should come away with the thought that the B-2 isn’t ready to deal with the threats that are out there today. It is really an awesome bombing platform.” Mickelson should know, Osborn reported, since he helped plan and execute the US bombardment of Libya in 2011.</p>
<p>The Columbia Class ballistic missile submarine ($313 billion)</p>
<p>The Navy submarines that fire long-range nuclear weapons are called Tridents or Ohio Class subs. Shipbuilders and admirals want to retire and replace their 14 Tridents (designed and built by General Dynamics Electric Boat Div.) with 12 new so-called Columbia Class ballistic missile subs. Beyond General Dynamics, the industrial base that takes tax money for building such subs, two football fields long and costing 7 to 8 billion apiece, includes hundreds of supplier firms, labs and research facilities across the country.</p>
<p>The CBO report says that over the 2017-2046&#160;period, the total Navy and Energy Department costs to maintain and modernize today’s Trident subs, their ballistic missiles and their warheads — while building their replacements — are projected to be $313&#160;billion. Of the total, $79&#160;billion would be for operating and sustaining the current systems. The remaining $234&#160;billion would be for the next generation of systems, including operation and sustainment of those systems once they are fielded. The Navy also wants all new missiles for the Columbia Class, for a few tens of billions of dollars more.</p>
<p>The Congressional Research Service has been mildly critical of the Navy’s history of gross cost over-runs. In a December 2017 report, the CRS said, “Some of the Navy’s ship designs in recent years … have proven to be substantially more expensive to build than the Navy originally estimated,” citing a Congressional Budget Office study that found “the Navy in recent years has underestimated the cost of [prototype ships] by a weighted average of 27%.” Just the average cost over-run for the $313 billion Columbia submarine program would cover CHIPs $15 billion annual budget — if only Mr. Hatch had any money anymore.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, General Dynamic Corp.’s price hikes for the new submarine are already underway. The CBOs $90 billion (2017) cost estimate for the program’s first 10 years, covering the first two new subs and initial plans for a third — lead ships are always pricey — is $8 billion over the Navy’s 2015 estimate.  The Long Range-Stand-Off (LRSO) missile ($30 billion)</p>
<p>The Long Range Stand Off missile is supposed to replace the nuclear-armed Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM). The Air Force already has about 528 operational ALCMs at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, so the “new cruise missile” has been called unnecessary by everyone from peace activists to retired Pentagon chiefs. Cancelling the project would reportedly save $30 billion, or two CHIP allotments for which we “don’t have money anymore.”</p>
<p>The military and its contractors can be counted on to exaggerate the need, value, and capability of the new weapons, and the interchangeable players in the industry and the Pentagon always say the same thing about “national security.” So the LRSO is being touted by the Pentagon, Lockheed, and Congress as crucial for “countering Russian aggression,” pointing to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea. These pretexts must be verbalized with a wink, since H-bombs can’t counter Russian or Chinese actions on their own borders without incinerating the contested areas.</p>
<p>The LRSO missile has been condemned by former Sec. of Defense William Perry as the most “uniquely destabilizing” new weapon in the government’s rebuilding extravaganza. Its most well-known unnerving aspect is that it can carry either a nuclear or a non-nuclear warhead. Mr. Perry and former Assistant Sec. of Defense Andy Weber argued in the Washington Post, “We should no longer run the risk that a conventionally armed cruise missile might be mistaken for one with a nuclear warhead, thus starting a nuclear war by mistake.”</p>
<p>Marylia Kelly, coordinator of Tri-valley CARES, a watchdog group that hounds the Livermore National Lab in California, reports that the pro-war Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein has said, “The LRSO … by the Pentagon’s own admission would have a role ‘beyond deterrence.’ Congress shouldn’t fund dangerous new nuclear weapons designed to fight unwinnable nuclear wars.”</p>
<p>In spite of the pointed criticism, the Air Force wants to start fielding the LRSO by 2030, and last August, the Pentagon awarded separate $900-million contracts, one each to Lockheed Martin Corp. and to Raytheon Corp., for a 5-year development competition for the LRSO.</p>
<p>The Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center will reportedly select a single winning contractor to build the new missile in 2022. This industrial competition among profiteers is managed so cynically that even the loser banks hundreds of millions. The bard must have been thinking of the masters of war when he sang, “there’s no success like failure.”</p>
<p>While these billion-dollar deals sound like huge jackpots for the big corporations, the Ritz-Carlton context is important, if hard to fathom. Imagine this: the Pentagon paid $46 billion to Lockheed Martin alone in just the past fiscal year. As CEO Marillyn Hewson likes to say, “The hell with conflict resolution.”</p>
<p>It’s not that the cushy, high-paying, high-status jobs must be protected for decades without producing usable products, but, rather, as Gen. Robin Rand, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command [its real name], told the House Armed Services Committee’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee last May, “The LRSO [is] an absolutely essential element of the nuclear triad.”</p>
<p>Gen. Rand may have been pushing back against powerful skeptics like former Sec. Perry, who, in two scathing Washington Post op-eds, reported that, “The US does not need to arm its bombers with a new generation of nuclear-armed cruise missiles” [the LRSO], an demanded, “Mr. President, kill the new cruise missile.”</p>
<p>A “Ground Based Strategic Deterrent” long-range missile ($149 billion)</p>
<p>Although the Air Force’s long-range, land-based ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are the most dangerous, accident-prone, and scandal-ridden of the Pentagon’s three nuclear weapons systems (sea-based, bomber-based, and land-based) it is still moving ahead with a proposed replacement. If Congress approves what’s been dubbed the Ground Based Strategic Deterrent (GBSD), the Pentagon would buy 640 missiles (up from today’s 450), and would refurbish existing launch silos, missile support equipment, and command-and-control systems — for a cost of about $149 billion over 30 years.</p>
<p>Last August, Northrop Grumman Corp. and Boeing Corp. were awarded contracts ($349.2 million and $328.6 million, respectively) to competitively churn out GBSD missile technology and program studies. Again, the Air Force will pick a winning contractor while the missile biz “competition” sees no success like failure.</p>
<p>Currently spread across parts of Wyoming, Colorado, Nebraska, Montana and North Dakota, today’s Minuteman III missiles have been authoritatively ridiculed as “the greatest source” of the danger of an accidental nuclear war. Retired Secretary of Defense and respected nuclear weapons expert William Perry, in op-eds in the New York Times in 2016 and the Washington Post (in 2017, with Gen. James Cartwright, a former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), has said, “the United States can safely phase out its land-based ICBM force,” saving money and eliminating “the most dangerous weapons in the world” which “could even trigger an accidental nuclear war.” Reporting on Mr. Perry’s Dec. 3, 2015 speech, Defense News reported “[Perry] said ICBMs are simply too easy to launch on bad information and would be the most likely source of an accidental nuclear war. He referred to the ICBM as ‘destabilizing’ in that it invites an attack from another power.”</p>
<p>Even nuclear weapons advocates like current Pentagon chief Gen. James “Mad Dog” Mattis have questioned the retention of ICBMs, telling the Senate Armed Services Committee in January 2015 that, “You should ask: ‘Is it time to reduce the triad … removing the land-based missiles?’” More recently, Brent Talbot of the Air Force Academy faculty, writing fondly about other H-bombs in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, slammed plans to replace land-based giants, declaring that “Intercontinental ballistic missiles … should be phased out of the nuclear arsenal.”</p>
<p>Both Sec. Perry and the GAO report that early cancellation of the GBSD and elimination of today’s ICBMs would save $149 billion. This is because the planned “interoperable warhead” would then be far less complex (built only for submarines), and because retiring today’s land-based missiles between 2018 and 2021 would nix current plans to replace expensive rocket fuses on the Minuteman IIIs.</p>
<p>Heavy corporate pressure will be used in Congress to retain the Cold War dinosaurs, because, as the Federation of American Scientists reports, the Minuteman III has been profitably updated for decades (and because they produce jobs, votes and campaign contributions in the states they occupy). “Modernization programs have resulted in new versions of the [Minuteman] missile, expanded targeting options, significantly improved accuracy and survivability. Today’s Minuteman is the product of almost 35 years of continuous enhancement.” Just between 2001 and 2008, the Air Force lavished $1.8 billion on Boeing, Morton-Thiokol, Aerojet-General, and United Technologies for their installation of new solid rocket fuel in all three stages of all 450 missiles.</p>
<p>Of course, the missile makers see the retirement of the big rockets as a threat to their stockholders and consequently promote dangers and “needs” where none exist. The GAO notes with apparent concern that abandoning the land-based weapons — with their incomprehensible 335-to-475-kiloton warheads — shrinks the government’s ability to wage a “large-scale nuclear exchange.”</p>
<p>Nuclear warhead production: 1) Los Alamos, New Mexico; 2) Oak Ridge, Tennessee; 3) Kansas City, Missouri ($261 billion)</p>
<p>The government’s national nuclear weapons laboratories, Sandia, Los Alamos, and Livermore are now allowed to be run by private companies in a perpetual self-fulfilling conflict of interest. These companies both advocate and feed from the federal nuclear weapons tax trough. Sandia National Laboratories is managed and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International, and Honeywell runs the new Kansas City Plant. The Los Alamos National Lab, in New Mexico, the Lawrence Livermore Lab in California, and the Y-12 bomb plant in Tennessee are now all managed and operated by Bechtel. These will be the big winners in what the GAO report estimates will be a $261 billion rebuild of these weapons labs.</p>
<p>1) Los Alamos National Lab ($7.5 billion)</p>
<p>Plutonium “pits” and uranium “secondaries” are the guts of hydrogen bombs. The pits have long been turned out at the Los Alamos National Lab in New Mexico. Upgrading pit production there could cost between $1.9 and $7.5 billion, according to the NNSA, and lab is pushing hard to get the assignment. I asked Don Hancock of Southwest Research and Information Center, why the DOE and Trump’s new Nuclear Posture Review latched onto a goal of producing “at least” 80 new plutonium pits every year. Hancock answered in an email, “You’re asking the wrong question. The real question is ‘Why any new pits at all?’”</p>
<p>Hancock has revealed that the Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas now stores roughly 2,740 so-called “reserve” nuclear warheads, also referred to as “hedge” or “spare” units that can be put to use at any time. A total of 15,000 plutonium warheads are maintained at Pantex, and are good for 50 years, according to a report in the Guardian. The United States, with almost 1,900 deployed nuclear weapons ready to launch, and at least 10 times more usable “spares” than most nuclear-armed states have in their entire arsenals, has no reason to produce new weapons whatsoever. (See Hans Kristensen and Robert Norris at <a href="" type="internal">Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists</a>).</p>
<p>Hutchison, of the watchdog group OREPA in Tennessee, spoke to the subject in an Dec. 26 email: “We have argued that Congress should commission a ‘lifetime study’ of the Y-12 ‘secondaries,’ preferably by the think tank JASON that discovered, when it completed a plutonium pit ‘lifetime study,’ that pits were useful for twice as long as NNSA said, a finding that shut down [pit replacement plans] at Los Alamos for the time being.”</p>
<p>Likewise, Dr. James Doyle, a veteran of 17 years as a political analyst at the Los Alamos Lab, told The Guardian, “I’ve never seen the justification articulated for the 50-to-80 pits per year by 2030.”</p>
<p>Even more absurdly, a Nov. 2017 report from the NNSA sets the Los Alamos Lab in New Mexico against the Savannah River Site in South Carolina in competition to be the site of the unneeded new plutonium “pit” production. Savannah River is currently building a factory to make commercial reactor fuel using excess military plutonium. The project is 28% complete, delayed, and so over-budget that the NNSA is strangely toying with the idea of transforming its purpose midstream and building a plutonium pit factory instead. The NNSA claims the switch would cost no more than $5.4 billion. According to the Aiken Standard, a move from fuel fabrication to “pit” production” would be scheduled for 2024-2031. The move would transfer 800 jobs from Los Alamos, where the pits were last produced.</p>
<p>2) Y-12 Bomb Plant, Oak Ridge, Tenn. ($19 billion)</p>
<p>Part of the bomb-building infrastructure upgrade involves the production of highly-enriched uranium “secondaries,” the thermonuclear cores of nuclear weapons, which are fashioned at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A massive new complex, the Uranium Processing Facility (UPF), is under construction there to produce the uranium cores for a new generation of “at least” 80 bombs a year. However, a major revamping of the plans was forced on the project when the $600 million cost projection soared to more than $19 billion, 31 times the original guess.</p>
<p>The latest UPF mock-up has been cut to an estimated $6.5 billion. Ralph Hutchison reported last April that even this slimmed-down version, which he notes cuts corners on environmental and worker safety, is still set to cost over 10 times the original estimate.</p>
<p>Bechtel Corp., which manages and operates the Y-12 complex, is the majority partner of Consolidated Nuclear Security, the group building the UPF. The $60 billion firm’s reach and profiteering is nearly unmatched in the nuclear weapons racket. Its $32 billion in revenue for 2016 came in part from managing and operating the Los Alamos National (H-bomb) Lab in New Mexico, the Lawrence Livermore H-bomb Lab in Calif., and the Pantex Plant, in Amarillo, Texas — the nation’s final assembly point for nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>If successful, OREPA’s federal lawsuit filed against the prospect of a dangerous new UPF may yet foil the industry’s hopes for a needless new warhead assembly-line. OREPA’s Hutchison argues, “With no legitimate need for the UPF, the project should be cancelled and funding redirected to a facility to dismantle retired nuclear weapons and to cleaning up high-risk facilities like Y12 that pose, in the words of the DOE’s Inspector General, an ‘ever increasing risk to workers and the public.’”</p>
<p>While the owners, management and workers at Y-12 drool and tool-up for the potential financial diamond mine of new weapons programs, environmentalists watching the 70-year-old facility had to bring a federal law suit to challenge the government’s shabby assessment of plans to produce new highly enriched uranium, the thermonuclear cores, for nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>According to Hutchison, the July 2017 lawsuit — brought by OREPA, Nuclear Watch New Mexico and the Natural Resources Defense Council — challenges the NNSA over, among other things, its un-analyzed plan “to use two deteriorating buildings that violate current environmental and earthquake standards” without bringing the old wrecks up to code.</p>
<p>3) Kansas City Plant ($750 million)</p>
<p>A poster child for the flippant minimization of clean-up hazards at nuclear weapons production sites is Kansas City, Missouri, where the DOE has already finished part of the enormous H-bomb infrastructure upgrade, having replaced the giant Honeywell-operated Kansas City Plant that made non-nuclear parts for every warhead in the arsenal from 1949 to 2014. A newly minted $750 million bomb factory, collegiately named “National Security Campus,” took over for the heavily contaminated KCP in 2014.</p>
<p>Local community activists have had to organize to confront the government’s scandalous mistreatment of injured former KCP workers and to challenge the DOE’s flimsy plans for environmental remediation at the abandoned site known as Bannister Federal Complex. PeaceWorks Kansas City reports that, “The mission of the Coalition Against Contamination is to support workers and their families whose health was impaired” by beryllium and other toxins that were heavily used at the factory. Coalition member Ann Suellentrop, KC says the group also warns locals about the US Labor Department’s unlawful denials (exposed by a DOL whistleblower) of worker compensation claims and also about the “potential threat from toxins released during the demolition and cleanup” of Bannister.</p>
<p>Last October, CenterPoint Properties, which coincidently took home hundreds of millions building the new bomb building “campus,” won the contract to clean-up the old Bannister site. CenterPoint says it can be done for $200 million, one-quarter of the $800 million estimate made previously by the DOE. The Coalition Against Contamination has condemned the shabby proposal and is demanding that the site be restored to a residential rather than industrial clean-up standard in order to protect surrounding communities.</p>
<p>Current plans call for reclamation only to industrial standards, and, consequently, are recklessly dangerous, says Suellentrop. “The coalition advocates for use of tenting to cover the 300-acre toxic brownfield during clean-up to prevent dispersal of the dusts,” she says. Tenting would also work to prevent beryllium and other heavy metals from further contaminating groundwater and local streams during demolition. CenterPoint’s cost cutting may save millions, but the potential dispersal of beryllium puts next door neighbors at great risk. Beryllium is so toxic that its manipulation always requires industrial-strength dust control equipment and procedures; inhaled or ingested contaminated dusts can cause the chronic, life-threatening disease berylliosis.</p>
<p>How the weapons complex keeps humming</p>
<p>Some nuclear war experts like Sec. Perry have pointed out that H-bombs are superfluous in view of what he called “the reality of today’s US conventional military dominance.” Non-nuclear “conventional” weapons dominance is now a fact established by the non-nuclear US military bombardment, occupation and take-over of Afghanistan and Iraq.</p>
<p>Former Reagan presidential advisor and founder of the anti-Soviet ‘Committee on the Present Danger’ Paul Nitze made the point perfectly in 1999, soon after retiring. “In view of the fact that we can achieve our objectives with conventional weapons, there is no purpose to be gained through the use of our nuclear arsenal.” Nitze’s <a href="" type="internal">New York Times</a> op-ed “A Threat Mostly to Ourselves,” included what should have been the epitaph for the nuclear arsenal: “I see no compelling reason why we should not unilaterally get rid of our nuclear weapons. To maintain them … adds nothing to our security. I can think of no circumstances under which it would be wise for the United States to use nuclear weapons, even in retaliation for their prior use against us.”</p>
<p>With most of the world in agreement with the experts and moving to boldly stigmatize and shun nuclear weapons, how do Congress, the Pentagon and the White House get taxpayers to pony up the trillions?</p>
<p>Part of the answer is decades of dreadful, seemingly plausible, and well-publicized, if fake, threats used to scare the public into nuclear madness. The “missile gap,” the “bomber gap,” the “threat of a Soviet invasion of Europe” and the bizarre “window of vulnerability,” were all useful fictions that kept contracts flowing to the arms industry. Today’s manufactured threats — from Iraq’s “WMD,” to Iran’s “destabilizing” medical isotope and reactor fuel production facilities, to North Korea’s “suicidal” wish to attack the United States, to Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and China’s island-building — are just as ludicrous, but generally succeed in winning limited support for the pollution-intensive weapons complex.</p>
<p>Another part of the answer is explained by researcher William Hartung in his writing about the corrupt influence on Congress exerted by the gargantuan arms industry which profits from building the bombs. In Sleepwalking to Armageddon (edited by Helen Caldicott, The New Press, 2017), Hartung notes that the giant weapons contractors contributed $50 million in campaign contributions to Congressional candidates in just the three election cycles since 2009. Simultaneously, and dwarfing that enormous sum, the weapons sector keeps almost two lobbyists on Capitol Hill for every member of Congress and it spent $680 million on lobbying just in the last five years.</p>
<p>Likewise, Greg Mello, of the watchdog Los Alamos Study Group in Albuquerque, told the Guardian that the reason new H-bomb production is ever being considered is “private greed” plain and simple. “Ever since they [the national laboratories] were privatized in 2006, for-profit corporations now run all the government’s nuclear weapons labs,” Mello notes. So the military-industrial-weapons complex taints whole Congressional districts with self-serving campaign contributions and a few thousand bomb-building jobs; and it enshrines a vast persistent structural base of managerial, academic, scientific, labor, and political support for useless and unlawful nuclear weapons development. In his farewell address, President Eisenhower warned us to guard against this situation to no avail.</p>
<p>Former Defense Secretary Perry’s outspoken criticism of the bank-busting cost of a nuclear complex rebuild managed to move a group of just 10 US senators to write to President Obama urging him to “scale back plans to construct unneeded new nuclear weapons.” It seems the other 90 were busy raising campaign funds from the bomb builders.</p>
<p>######</p>
<p>Further reading: Alliance for Nuclear Accountability, “Accountability Audit,” April 2017.</p>
<p>Congressional Budget Office, Nuclear Forces Cost Alternatives, Oct. 2017: https://www.cbo.gov/system/files/115th-congress-2017-2018/reports/53211-nuclearforces.pdf</p> | true | 4 | photo international campaign abolish nuclear weapons cc 20 trivializing nuclear weapons way makes light sexual assault white supremacy beating critics deporting millions shooting someone street bombing civilians torturing suspects donald trump blithely tweeted us arsenal december 2016 us must greatly strengthen expand nuclear capability time world comes senses regarding nukes mr trumps handlers trying steal thunder day dec 23rd un general assembly world actually coming senses regarding nuclear weapons voting overwhelmingly favor resolution begin negotiating treaty banning remarkable treaty prohibition nuclear weapons ban treaty finally adopted unga july 7 2017 take effect ratified 50 states oct 6 international campaign abolish nuclear weapons declared 2017 nobel peace prize winner successful effort see un adopt ban treaty course us government none obama trump administrations publicly opposed obstructed efforts enact ban last october congressional budget office reported colossal price allout pronuclear stampede opposite direction cbos report approaches managing costs us nuclear forces 2017 2046 projects militaryindustrial complexs plan rebuild entire us nuclear arsenal top bottom including new warhead production facilities would cost 12160trillion 2017 2046 staggering sum involves contested plans produce new nucleararmed longrange bombers landbased missiles missilefiring submarines propulsion reactors 772 billion new nuclear cruise missiles first guided smart gravity hbomb jet fighters carry 25 billion rebuilt complex laboratories production facilities tennessee new mexico missouri 261 billion replacement command control systems enable ongoing threat use weapons 184 billion allocating 12160trillion department gao estimates 890160billion go pentagon 352160billion department energy doe bombbuilding wing known national nuclear security administration nnsa cbos cost estimate flabbergasting enough agency lowballed estimate least 541 billion according robert alvarez former doe senior policy advisor writing washington spectator alvarez notes excluding costs environmental restoration waste management 70yearold nuclear weapons complex cbo hides downplays halfatrillion dollars 541 billion comes congressional spending account 12 trillion weapons complex upgrade alvarez notes raising actual inflationadjusted total estimate 174 trillion cleanup costs perhaps left reduce hairraising sticker shock usually prompted trillions new federal spending ignoring belittling toxic radioactive legacy decades us nuclear weapons production longtime practice among weapons proponents one livermore national lab design engineer told 30 years ago phone like cook dont like dishes three typical examples condescension toward contaminated production sites oak ridge tenn los alamos new mexico kansas city missouri looked 17 trillion weapons complex rebuild originally proposed 2016 president obama reportedly agreed quid pro quo senates ratification new start treaty russia weapons industry bonanza appears zerosum tribute inflation since wont increase size nuclear arsenal another couple trillion diverted however reported nbc news last oct 11 president trumps summertime demand tenfold increase nuclear arsenals size enacted partial relief one takes trumps asinine misnomer seriously instance secretary state rex tillerson left july meeting calling game show president fucking moron dont money anymore war debating republicans 15 trillion tax cut bill utah senator orrin hatch chair senate finance committee spoke childrens health insurance program chip needed 15 billion appropriations renewed expiring last oct 1 chip subsidizes health exams doctor visits prescriptions medical care children 9 million lowincome families mr hatch actually said record reason chip trouble dont money anymore mr hatch given away chips budget 100 single tax cut gifting industrialists superrich austerity budget cuts like republicans oct 2017 budget proposal gouge 1 trillion medicaid nearly 500 billion medicare half federal discretionary funds lavished pentagon mr hatch must meant country doesnt money anymore except weapons war chip eventually funded temporary government shutdown white houses feb 12 proposed budget would cut 17 billion antipoverty supplemental nutrition assistance program known snap slash department education budget 10 percent phase federal funding corporation public broadcasting trump administrations official nuclear posture review issued feb 2nd regurgitates 17 trillion weapons complex rebuild plan without evidence need costcutting closer consideration 30yearlong trilliondollar giveaway military contractors mocks republican calls belttightening discretionary spending shows obamaera arms control talk nothing permanent bomb building b6112 guided nuclear gravity bomb 13 billion air force pursuing first ever smart gravity hbomb known b6112 variable explosive force 350 kilotons model 12 b61 reportedly 60 better accuracy presentday models known b613 4 7 10 11 critics point accurate hbombs needed deterrence improvement means air force intends use b61s us attacked pearl harborlike sneak attack known nuclear firststrike offensive destabilizing capability planned b6112 may led retired us airforce gen eugene habiger former commander strategic command overseeing us nuclear weapons tell san antonio express news last july 22 b61 bombs longer military usefulness still air force wants build hundred new b61s replace 180 currently deployed face broad public official opposition six nato bases germany italy turkey belgium netherlands pad us stockpile german public opinion b61s shared across europe generally according 2016 survey forsa institute found 85 polled support permanent withdrawing us bombs 88 oppose us plans replace germanys 20 remaining b61s william arkin national security consultant nbc news investigates reports soviet nuclear weapons removed eastern europe since nuclear weapons removed south korea certainly dont need physically present europe arkin also points nato trendsetters already rejected nuclear sharing ousted us b61s greece 2001 britain 2008 los angeles times reported since end cold war military leaders believe shortrange tactical nuclear weapons b61s based europe virtually utility april 2010 vice chair joint chiefs staff gen james cartwright asked council foreign relations military mission performed b61 performed either us strategic forces us conventional forces general answered simply popular opinion military expertise aside nnsa forged ahead 2015 estimated b61 replacement cost 81 billion 12 years january 2018 projection increased 12 13 billion 35 overrun already five years behind schedule plans produce 480 new bombs b6112s could cost much twice weight gold boeing choice 18 billion contract develop new tail kit b61 making smart according jay coghlan executive director nuclear watch new mexico santa fe lockheed martin corp general contractor making brand new hbomb hans kristensen federation american scientists agrees saying b6112 new weapon guided nuclear bomb exist united states novel weapon producing b6112 violate usratified nuclear nonproliferation treaty npt president obamas pledge develop new nuclear weapons even current deployment us hbombs five nato countries npt signatories open violation treatys articles ii explicitly prohibit transfer legal technicalities aside considering big business end b61 william hartung fellow center international policy notes lockheed martin gets two bites apple company also designs builds f35a fighterbomber fitted carry b6112 general contractors getting action building jets carry new bomb mcdonnell douglas f15e general dynamics f16 northrop grumman b2a b21 boeing b52h although german government hasnt yet decided allow panavia aircraft builder germanys new tornado jet sandia national laboratory new mexico lead designer new b61 sandia kansas city bomb plant missouri operated honeywell stands take big chunk b6112s 13 billion bank los alamos national lab early designs private operators bechtel bwxt government group urs corp u california also take interoperable warhead 50 billion boondoggle laboratory inventiveness warhead theory would used interchangeably submarine missiles landbased rockets even airlaunched weapons enormous budget slashed postponed temporarily congress program dead coghlan nuclear watch new mexico notes three planned versions socalled interoperable warhead arguably huge makework projects nuclear weapons labs ironically navy doesnt even want citing declassified sept 27 2012 navy memo says support commencing effort time b21 raider china bomber 127 billion new longrange nucleararmed stealth bomber known b21 raider also dubbed china bomber military claim designed attack china october 2015 air force awarded northrop grumman corp secret contract begin engineering construction development underway palmdale california last march air force identified major suppliers getting gravy train pratt amp whitney engines rockwell collins spirit aerosystems janicki industries bae systems gkn aerospace orbital atk air force vice chief staff gen stephen wilson speaking house armed services committee last march said b21 finished preliminary design review first bomber may operational mid2020s arthur villasanta reporting gen wilsons testimony chinatopixcom noted air force wants 100 longrange b21s estimated total cost 80 billion 564 million per plane remaining 136to150 million gen wilsons estimate may matter padding given weapon industrys routinized cost overruns delays generals 80 billion pricetag timeline projections reliable tv commercials unlike air force heavy bombers b1b lancer built rockwell corp b2 spirit made northrupgrumman corp b21 reportedly built carry nuclear weapons used b52s include 12 advanced cruise missiles 20 airlaunched cruise missiles eight bombs according airforcetechnologycom website didnt specify bombs b61 nuclear gravity bombs also scheduled upgrade replacement trilliondollar tax giveaway without even attempting present congress need replace todays bombers air force says wants operate new b21s along b1s 2038 b2s 2058 according kris osborn writing thenationalinterestcom belying idea new bombers needed gbo report combined nuclear weapons mission costs operating three heavy bombers sees 127 billion overall 80b lofted air force b21 reportedly built attack extremely faroff targets beyond even todays b52s reach 16000 miles roundtrip bombing run one b52h flew worldrecord combat mission flying guam bomb iraq 1996 according ron dick dan patterson aviation century b52h eighth boeings endlessly profitable series b52s however need bomber modernization refuted air force coldly boasts current fleets killing power maj kent mickelson operations director usaf 394th combat training squadron refuted pretext april 2016 interview saying todays b2 still able job well 80s nobody come away thought b2 isnt ready deal threats today really awesome bombing platform mickelson know osborn reported since helped plan execute us bombardment libya 2011 columbia class ballistic missile submarine 313 billion navy submarines fire longrange nuclear weapons called tridents ohio class subs shipbuilders admirals want retire replace 14 tridents designed built general dynamics electric boat div 12 new socalled columbia class ballistic missile subs beyond general dynamics industrial base takes tax money building subs two football fields long costing 7 8 billion apiece includes hundreds supplier firms labs research facilities across country cbo report says 20172046160period total navy energy department costs maintain modernize todays trident subs ballistic missiles warheads building replacements projected 313160billion total 79160billion would operating sustaining current systems remaining 234160billion would next generation systems including operation sustainment systems fielded navy also wants new missiles columbia class tens billions dollars congressional research service mildly critical navys history gross cost overruns december 2017 report crs said navys ship designs recent years proven substantially expensive build navy originally estimated citing congressional budget office study found navy recent years underestimated cost prototype ships weighted average 27 average cost overrun 313 billion columbia submarine program would cover chips 15 billion annual budget mr hatch money anymore surprisingly general dynamic corps price hikes new submarine already underway cbos 90 billion 2017 cost estimate programs first 10 years covering first two new subs initial plans third lead ships always pricey 8 billion navys 2015 estimate long rangestandoff lrso missile 30 billion long range stand missile supposed replace nucleararmed air launched cruise missile alcm air force already 528 operational alcms minot air force base north dakota new cruise missile called unnecessary everyone peace activists retired pentagon chiefs cancelling project would reportedly save 30 billion two chip allotments dont money anymore military contractors counted exaggerate need value capability new weapons interchangeable players industry pentagon always say thing national security lrso touted pentagon lockheed congress crucial countering russian aggression pointing moscows annexation crimea pretexts must verbalized wink since hbombs cant counter russian chinese actions borders without incinerating contested areas lrso missile condemned former sec defense william perry uniquely destabilizing new weapon governments rebuilding extravaganza wellknown unnerving aspect carry either nuclear nonnuclear warhead mr perry former assistant sec defense andy weber argued washington post longer run risk conventionally armed cruise missile might mistaken one nuclear warhead thus starting nuclear war mistake marylia kelly coordinator trivalley cares watchdog group hounds livermore national lab california reports prowar democratic senator dianne feinstein said lrso pentagons admission would role beyond deterrence congress shouldnt fund dangerous new nuclear weapons designed fight unwinnable nuclear wars spite pointed criticism air force wants start fielding lrso 2030 last august pentagon awarded separate 900million contracts one lockheed martin corp raytheon corp 5year development competition lrso air force nuclear weapons center reportedly select single winning contractor build new missile 2022 industrial competition among profiteers managed cynically even loser banks hundreds millions bard must thinking masters war sang theres success like failure billiondollar deals sound like huge jackpots big corporations ritzcarlton context important hard fathom imagine pentagon paid 46 billion lockheed martin alone past fiscal year ceo marillyn hewson likes say hell conflict resolution cushy highpaying highstatus jobs must protected decades without producing usable products rather gen robin rand commander air force global strike command real name told house armed services committees strategic forces subcommittee last may lrso absolutely essential element nuclear triad gen rand may pushing back powerful skeptics like former sec perry two scathing washington post opeds reported us need arm bombers new generation nucleararmed cruise missiles lrso demanded mr president kill new cruise missile ground based strategic deterrent longrange missile 149 billion although air forces longrange landbased ballistic missiles icbms dangerous accidentprone scandalridden pentagons three nuclear weapons systems seabased bomberbased landbased still moving ahead proposed replacement congress approves whats dubbed ground based strategic deterrent gbsd pentagon would buy 640 missiles todays 450 would refurbish existing launch silos missile support equipment commandandcontrol systems cost 149 billion 30 years last august northrop grumman corp boeing corp awarded contracts 3492 million 3286 million respectively competitively churn gbsd missile technology program studies air force pick winning contractor missile biz competition sees success like failure currently spread across parts wyoming colorado nebraska montana north dakota todays minuteman iii missiles authoritatively ridiculed greatest source danger accidental nuclear war retired secretary defense respected nuclear weapons expert william perry opeds new york times 2016 washington post 2017 gen james cartwright former vice chairman joint chiefs staff said united states safely phase landbased icbm force saving money eliminating dangerous weapons world could even trigger accidental nuclear war reporting mr perrys dec 3 2015 speech defense news reported perry said icbms simply easy launch bad information would likely source accidental nuclear war referred icbm destabilizing invites attack another power even nuclear weapons advocates like current pentagon chief gen james mad dog mattis questioned retention icbms telling senate armed services committee january 2015 ask time reduce triad removing landbased missiles recently brent talbot air force academy faculty writing fondly hbombs bulletin atomic scientists slammed plans replace landbased giants declaring intercontinental ballistic missiles phased nuclear arsenal sec perry gao report early cancellation gbsd elimination todays icbms would save 149 billion planned interoperable warhead would far less complex built submarines retiring todays landbased missiles 2018 2021 would nix current plans replace expensive rocket fuses minuteman iiis heavy corporate pressure used congress retain cold war dinosaurs federation american scientists reports minuteman iii profitably updated decades produce jobs votes campaign contributions states occupy modernization programs resulted new versions minuteman missile expanded targeting options significantly improved accuracy survivability todays minuteman product almost 35 years continuous enhancement 2001 2008 air force lavished 18 billion boeing mortonthiokol aerojetgeneral united technologies installation new solid rocket fuel three stages 450 missiles course missile makers see retirement big rockets threat stockholders consequently promote dangers needs none exist gao notes apparent concern abandoning landbased weapons incomprehensible 335to475kiloton warheads shrinks governments ability wage largescale nuclear exchange nuclear warhead production 1 los alamos new mexico 2 oak ridge tennessee 3 kansas city missouri 261 billion governments national nuclear weapons laboratories sandia los alamos livermore allowed run private companies perpetual selffulfilling conflict interest companies advocate feed federal nuclear weapons tax trough sandia national laboratories managed operated wholly owned subsidiary honeywell international honeywell runs new kansas city plant los alamos national lab new mexico lawrence livermore lab california y12 bomb plant tennessee managed operated bechtel big winners gao report estimates 261 billion rebuild weapons labs 1 los alamos national lab 75 billion plutonium pits uranium secondaries guts hydrogen bombs pits long turned los alamos national lab new mexico upgrading pit production could cost 19 75 billion according nnsa lab pushing hard get assignment asked hancock southwest research information center doe trumps new nuclear posture review latched onto goal producing least 80 new plutonium pits every year hancock answered email youre asking wrong question real question new pits hancock revealed pantex plant near amarillo texas stores roughly 2740 socalled reserve nuclear warheads also referred hedge spare units put use time total 15000 plutonium warheads maintained pantex good 50 years according report guardian united states almost 1900 deployed nuclear weapons ready launch least 10 times usable spares nucleararmed states entire arsenals reason produce new weapons whatsoever see hans kristensen robert norris bulletin atomic scientists hutchison watchdog group orepa tennessee spoke subject dec 26 email argued congress commission lifetime study y12 secondaries preferably think tank jason discovered completed plutonium pit lifetime study pits useful twice long nnsa said finding shut pit replacement plans los alamos time likewise dr james doyle veteran 17 years political analyst los alamos lab told guardian ive never seen justification articulated 50to80 pits per year 2030 even absurdly nov 2017 report nnsa sets los alamos lab new mexico savannah river site south carolina competition site unneeded new plutonium pit production savannah river currently building factory make commercial reactor fuel using excess military plutonium project 28 complete delayed overbudget nnsa strangely toying idea transforming purpose midstream building plutonium pit factory instead nnsa claims switch would cost 54 billion according aiken standard move fuel fabrication pit production would scheduled 20242031 move would transfer 800 jobs los alamos pits last produced 2 y12 bomb plant oak ridge tenn 19 billion part bombbuilding infrastructure upgrade involves production highlyenriched uranium secondaries thermonuclear cores nuclear weapons fashioned y12 national security complex oak ridge tennessee massive new complex uranium processing facility upf construction produce uranium cores new generation least 80 bombs year however major revamping plans forced project 600 million cost projection soared 19 billion 31 times original guess latest upf mockup cut estimated 65 billion ralph hutchison reported last april even slimmeddown version notes cuts corners environmental worker safety still set cost 10 times original estimate bechtel corp manages operates y12 complex majority partner consolidated nuclear security group building upf 60 billion firms reach profiteering nearly unmatched nuclear weapons racket 32 billion revenue 2016 came part managing operating los alamos national hbomb lab new mexico lawrence livermore hbomb lab calif pantex plant amarillo texas nations final assembly point nuclear weapons successful orepas federal lawsuit filed prospect dangerous new upf may yet foil industrys hopes needless new warhead assemblyline orepas hutchison argues legitimate need upf project cancelled funding redirected facility dismantle retired nuclear weapons cleaning highrisk facilities like y12 pose words inspector general ever increasing risk workers public owners management workers y12 drool toolup potential financial diamond mine new weapons programs environmentalists watching 70yearold facility bring federal law suit challenge governments shabby assessment plans produce new highly enriched uranium thermonuclear cores nuclear weapons according hutchison july 2017 lawsuit brought orepa nuclear watch new mexico natural resources defense council challenges nnsa among things unanalyzed plan use two deteriorating buildings violate current environmental earthquake standards without bringing old wrecks code 3 kansas city plant 750 million poster child flippant minimization cleanup hazards nuclear weapons production sites kansas city missouri doe already finished part enormous hbomb infrastructure upgrade replaced giant honeywelloperated kansas city plant made nonnuclear parts every warhead arsenal 1949 2014 newly minted 750 million bomb factory collegiately named national security campus took heavily contaminated kcp 2014 local community activists organize confront governments scandalous mistreatment injured former kcp workers challenge flimsy plans environmental remediation abandoned site known bannister federal complex peaceworks kansas city reports mission coalition contamination support workers families whose health impaired beryllium toxins heavily used factory coalition member ann suellentrop kc says group also warns locals us labor departments unlawful denials exposed dol whistleblower worker compensation claims also potential threat toxins released demolition cleanup bannister last october centerpoint properties coincidently took home hundreds millions building new bomb building campus contract cleanup old bannister site centerpoint says done 200 million onequarter 800 million estimate made previously doe coalition contamination condemned shabby proposal demanding site restored residential rather industrial cleanup standard order protect surrounding communities current plans call reclamation industrial standards consequently recklessly dangerous says suellentrop coalition advocates use tenting cover 300acre toxic brownfield cleanup prevent dispersal dusts says tenting would also work prevent beryllium heavy metals contaminating groundwater local streams demolition centerpoints cost cutting may save millions potential dispersal beryllium puts next door neighbors great risk beryllium toxic manipulation always requires industrialstrength dust control equipment procedures inhaled ingested contaminated dusts cause chronic lifethreatening disease berylliosis weapons complex keeps humming nuclear war experts like sec perry pointed hbombs superfluous view called reality todays us conventional military dominance nonnuclear conventional weapons dominance fact established nonnuclear us military bombardment occupation takeover afghanistan iraq former reagan presidential advisor founder antisoviet committee present danger paul nitze made point perfectly 1999 soon retiring view fact achieve objectives conventional weapons purpose gained use nuclear arsenal nitzes new york times oped threat mostly included epitaph nuclear arsenal see compelling reason unilaterally get rid nuclear weapons maintain adds nothing security think circumstances would wise united states use nuclear weapons even retaliation prior use us world agreement experts moving boldly stigmatize shun nuclear weapons congress pentagon white house get taxpayers pony trillions part answer decades dreadful seemingly plausible wellpublicized fake threats used scare public nuclear madness missile gap bomber gap threat soviet invasion europe bizarre window vulnerability useful fictions kept contracts flowing arms industry todays manufactured threats iraqs wmd irans destabilizing medical isotope reactor fuel production facilities north koreas suicidal wish attack united states russias annexation crimea chinas islandbuilding ludicrous generally succeed winning limited support pollutionintensive weapons complex another part answer explained researcher william hartung writing corrupt influence congress exerted gargantuan arms industry profits building bombs sleepwalking armageddon edited helen caldicott new press 2017 hartung notes giant weapons contractors contributed 50 million campaign contributions congressional candidates three election cycles since 2009 simultaneously dwarfing enormous sum weapons sector keeps almost two lobbyists capitol hill every member congress spent 680 million lobbying last five years likewise greg mello watchdog los alamos study group albuquerque told guardian reason new hbomb production ever considered private greed plain simple ever since national laboratories privatized 2006 forprofit corporations run governments nuclear weapons labs mello notes militaryindustrialweapons complex taints whole congressional districts selfserving campaign contributions thousand bombbuilding jobs enshrines vast persistent structural base managerial academic scientific labor political support useless unlawful nuclear weapons development farewell address president eisenhower warned us guard situation avail former defense secretary perrys outspoken criticism bankbusting cost nuclear complex rebuild managed move group 10 us senators write president obama urging scale back plans construct unneeded new nuclear weapons seems 90 busy raising campaign funds bomb builders reading alliance nuclear accountability accountability audit april 2017 congressional budget office nuclear forces cost alternatives oct 2017 httpswwwcbogovsystemfiles115thcongress20172018reports53211nuclearforcespdf | 3,731 |
<p>Mark Jacobson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Stanford University, and the Director of Stanford's Atmosphere/Energy Program. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment, and also a senior fellow at Precourt Institute for Energy.</p>
<p>Chris Lee a US Congressman representing the 51st District of Hawaii. He is currently the Chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection (EEP). He also serves on the Consumer Protection and Commerce (CPC), Judiciary (JUD), Ocean, Marine Resources and Hawaiian Affairs (OMH), and Water and Land (WAL) committees. Born on January 28, 1981 in Honolulu, Representative Lee grew up in Kailua his entire life. He attended 'Iolani School, and later Oregon State University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Political Science.</p>
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<p /> SHARMINI PERIES, EXEC. PRODUCER, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore.
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<p />When it comes to the environment and climate change, we in general must report on many gloom and doom stories. It is the nature of the topic, I suppose. But last week we reported on Pope Francis' encyclical, and today we have another good news story: the state of Hawaii. It is the first state in the union to sign a bill with 100 percent commitment to renewable energy and to address and prepare for climate change head-on. Hawaii's particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, but also have access to many renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power.
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<p />To discuss all of this we have two guests. The state Congressman Chris Lee. He represents the 51 District of Hawaii. He is currently chair of the Committee on Energy and Environmental Protection. Also joining us is Mark Jacobson. He is a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, and the director of Stanford's Atmosphere Energy program.
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<p />Gentlemen, both of you, thank you for joining us today.
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<p />REP. CHRIS LEE (D-HI): Thanks for having [inaud.]
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<p />PERIES: So Congressman, give us a sense of the risks faced by Hawaii and why the governor and you, and of course the entire legislature, decided to address climate change head-on. And also, of course, switching to renewable energy the way you have described it in the bill.
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<p />LEE: Well you know, this is something that is absolutely critical to the future of our way of life here, our economy, and how we're going to proceed in generations to come. Because we are already--this isn't, climate change isn't something that's coming. It's here, and we're feeling it right now. We've seen decreased rainfall, we're seeing increases in sea level rise that are eroding our beaches faster and faster. And that's the lifeblood of our economy. If we can't continue the way we're going we're going to be stuck. And so we have to take action and we have to do it now.
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<p />PERIES: And how are you planning to make this transition? I mean, this is something that a lot of people cannot get their head around, switching from fossil fuels into renewable energy sources.
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<p />LEE: Well you know, it's something that we're already on track with. We've had on the books efforts to move toward more renewable energy, and right now we're at about 22 percent renewable out of our entire electricity sector. And so moving to 100 percent I think it something that is, it's common sense. And we have a lot of wind, we have a lot of solar. We have more solar penetration per capita here. Roughly one in eight homes have solar on their rooftops generating power. And it's just the next step, the next necessary step, in order to get us not only to face and adapt to climate change as it's coming but also to save our economy money. Because fossil fuels fundamentally are only going to be more and more expensive for us down the road.
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<p />PERIES: And Mark, get in on this. Obviously Hawaii is very distinct here in terms of the rest of the country. You've done a report on this. Tell us about what you're finding.
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<p />MARK JACOBSON, PROF. OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING, STANFORD UNIV.: Yeah. First, we've been developing energy plans for each of the 50 United States. And in fact, we just finalized those plans about a week ago, including Hawaii. And each state has its own unique set of resources. In the case of Hawaii it has a lot of solar and it has a lot of wind, and it has actually a lot of geothermal. Not a lot of hydroelectric. But maybe even tiny amounts of tidal and wave power.
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<p />So we think for Hawaii that--first I want to mention that we're looking at transforming not only electric power but all energy sectors to clean, renewable energy. So transportation, heating and cooling and industry, as well. So our plans are really also looking forward between now and 2050, doing a transition between then.
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<p />And we found that transforming Hawaii's energy infrastructure, first we would electrify everything. So we would electrify transportation. Maybe even some hydrogen, but that's produced from electricity, too. Heating and cooling would be electrified. Well, cooling's already electrified but heating. Instead of using gas heaters you'd use heat pumps or solar hot water pre-heating. For industry there are a lot of electric appliances, too. Even stoves you can use, like, induction stoves that are run on electricity.
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<p />So we'd electrify everything. And it turns out when you do that you reduce power demands significantly. In the case of Hawaii you could reduce power demand just by electrifying all the sectors an aggregate of about 44 percent without changing [inaud.]
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<p />PERIES: How do you reduce power demand?
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<p />JACOBSON: Well, take--it's mostly in transportation. So take for example an electric car, that plug--what's called the plug-to-wheel efficiency of an electric car is about 80-86 percent. In other words, about 80-86 percent of the electricity going into a car goes to move the car. The rest is waste heat. In the case of a gasoline car, only 17-20 percent of the energy in gasoline that you pay for actually goes to move the car. The rest is waste heat. So you actually reduce your power demand by about a factor of four to five in transportation. In other words, 80 percent reduction of power demand in transportation. That's where you get the best benefit.
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<p />That's why electric cars, for example, to drive them they only cost 80 cents a gallon equivalent, compared to like, three or four dollars a gallon for gasoline. So a consumer would save about $20,000 in fuel costs driving an electric car for 15 years, 15,000 miles per year.
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<p />PERIES: What are the challenges in making this shift to using electricity?
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<p />JACOBSON: Well, these are all with existing technologies. So I think the first challenge is getting information to people. Because once people realize that electricity is so efficient, that electric cars are so cheap to drive--I mean, right now the actual buying the car is more expensive, but the fuel cost saving outweighs that by far over time.
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<p />And in the case of Hawaii you don't have to deal with long-distance transmission. You have--well, except for when you're going across islands you might need some transmission. So I'd say transmission is a challenge, but that's more of a regulatory issue, not even a cost issue.
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<p />But I should say in terms of our plan for Hawaii--this is in 2050. If we electrify everything we're thinking about around 40 percent solar, 28 percent wind, almost half off-shore and half on-shore, and about 30 percent geothermal power, and then tiny amounts of hydroelectric tidal and wave power. That's to power Hawaii for all purposes, for everything. In 2050 with growing population, and accounting for the energy efficiency improvements.
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<p />PERIES: So Chris, I want to continue this discussion and have a greater, a longer discussion about the plans you're proposing. And so I was hoping that Chris and you could join us for a second segment. It's sort of like John Stewart's green room, sort of in order for us to flesh out some of the things that are in the bill, as well as what is in your plans. Hope you can join us.
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<p />LEE: Sure.
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<p />PERIES: Thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | mark jacobson professor civil environmental engineering stanford university director stanfords atmosphereenergy program also senior fellow woods institute environment also senior fellow precourt institute energy chris lee us congressman representing 51st district hawaii currently chair committee energy environmental protection eep also serves consumer protection commerce cpc judiciary jud ocean marine resources hawaiian affairs omh water land wal committees born january 28 1981 honolulu representative lee grew kailua entire life attended iolani school later oregon state university graduated bachelors degree political science sharmini peries exec producer trnn welcome real news network im sharmini peries coming baltimore comes environment climate change general must report many gloom doom stories nature topic suppose last week reported pope francis encyclical today another good news story state hawaii first state union sign bill 100 percent commitment renewable energy address prepare climate change headon hawaiis particularly vulnerable rising sea levels also access many renewable energy sources solar wind power discuss two guests state congressman chris lee represents 51 district hawaii currently chair committee energy environmental protection also joining us mark jacobson professor civil environmental engineering stanford university director stanfords atmosphere energy program gentlemen thank joining us today rep chris lee dhi thanks inaud peries congressman give us sense risks faced hawaii governor course entire legislature decided address climate change headon also course switching renewable energy way described bill lee well know something absolutely critical future way life economy going proceed generations come alreadythis isnt climate change isnt something thats coming feeling right weve seen decreased rainfall seeing increases sea level rise eroding beaches faster faster thats lifeblood economy cant continue way going going stuck take action peries planning make transition mean something lot people get head around switching fossil fuels renewable energy sources lee well know something already track weve books efforts move toward renewable energy right 22 percent renewable entire electricity sector moving 100 percent think something common sense lot wind lot solar solar penetration per capita roughly one eight homes solar rooftops generating power next step next necessary step order get us face adapt climate change coming also save economy money fossil fuels fundamentally going expensive us road peries mark get obviously hawaii distinct terms rest country youve done report tell us youre finding mark jacobson prof civil environmental engineering stanford univ yeah first weve developing energy plans 50 united states fact finalized plans week ago including hawaii state unique set resources case hawaii lot solar lot wind actually lot geothermal lot hydroelectric maybe even tiny amounts tidal wave power think hawaii thatfirst want mention looking transforming electric power energy sectors clean renewable energy transportation heating cooling industry well plans really also looking forward 2050 transition found transforming hawaiis energy infrastructure first would electrify everything would electrify transportation maybe even hydrogen thats produced electricity heating cooling would electrified well coolings already electrified heating instead using gas heaters youd use heat pumps solar hot water preheating industry lot electric appliances even stoves use like induction stoves run electricity wed electrify everything turns reduce power demands significantly case hawaii could reduce power demand electrifying sectors aggregate 44 percent without changing inaud peries reduce power demand jacobson well takeits mostly transportation take example electric car plugwhats called plugtowheel efficiency electric car 8086 percent words 8086 percent electricity going car goes move car rest waste heat case gasoline car 1720 percent energy gasoline pay actually goes move car rest waste heat actually reduce power demand factor four five transportation words 80 percent reduction power demand transportation thats get best benefit thats electric cars example drive cost 80 cents gallon equivalent compared like three four dollars gallon gasoline consumer would save 20000 fuel costs driving electric car 15 years 15000 miles per year peries challenges making shift using electricity jacobson well existing technologies think first challenge getting information people people realize electricity efficient electric cars cheap drivei mean right actual buying car expensive fuel cost saving outweighs far time case hawaii dont deal longdistance transmission havewell except youre going across islands might need transmission id say transmission challenge thats regulatory issue even cost issue say terms plan hawaiithis 2050 electrify everything thinking around 40 percent solar 28 percent wind almost half offshore half onshore 30 percent geothermal power tiny amounts hydroelectric tidal wave power thats power hawaii purposes everything 2050 growing population accounting energy efficiency improvements peries chris want continue discussion greater longer discussion plans youre proposing hoping chris could join us second segment sort like john stewarts green room sort order us flesh things bill well plans hope join us lee sure peries thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 774 |
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<p>Photo by David Drexler | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>In trying to unravel the debates over U.S. foreign policy currently being fought out in the editorial pages of the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and the magazine Foreign Policy, one might consider starting in late December on a bitter cold ridge in northern Wyoming, where 81 men of the U.S. Army’s 18th Infantry Regiment were pursuing some Indians over a rocky ridge.</p>
<p>The year was 1866 and the U.S. was at war with the local tribes—Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho—in an attempt to open a trail into the Montana gold fields. The fighting was going badly for an army fresh from the battlefields of the Civil War. Oglala Sioux leader Red Cloud and his savvy lieutenant Crazy Horse did not fight like Robert E. Lee, but rather like General Vo Nguyen Giap a hundred years in the future: an ambush by attackers who quickly vanished, isolated posts overrun, supply wagons looted and burned.</p>
<p>The time and place was vastly different, but the men who designed the war against Native Americans would be comfortable with the rationale that currently impel U.S. foreign policy. In their view, the Army was not fighting for gold in 1866, but was embarked on a moral crusade to civilize the savages, to build a shining “city on a hill,” to be that “exceptional” nation that stands above all others. The fact that this holy war would kill hundreds of thousands of the continent’s original owners and sentence the survivors to grinding poverty was irrelevant.</p>
<p>Is that very much different than the way the butcher bills for the U.S. invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, the overthrow of Libya’s government and the Syrian civil war is excused as unfortunate collateral damage in America’s campaign to spread freedom and democracy to the rest of the world?</p>
<p>“We came, we saw, he died,” bragged then U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton about the murder of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya is now a failed state, wracked by civil war and a major jumping off place for refugees fleeing U.S. wars in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>In his book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1627792163/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The True Flag: Theodore Roosevelt, Mark Twain, and the Birth of American Empire</a>, author and former New York Times reporter <a href="" type="internal">Stephen Kinzer</a> traces the roots of this millennium view that America’s mission was to “regenerate the world.” That this crusade was many times accompanied by stupendous violence is a detail that left unexamined by the people who designed those campaigns.</p>
<p>Kinzer argues that this sense of exceptionalism was developed during the Spanish-American War (1898) that gave the U.S. colonies in Cuba, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines. But, as John Dower demonstrates in his brilliant book on WW II in the Pacific, “ <a href="" type="internal">War Without Mercy</a>,” that sentiment originated in the campaigns against Native Americans. Indeed, some of the same soldiers who tracked down Apaches in the Southwest and massacred Sioux Ghost Dancers at Wounded Knee would go on to fight insurgents in the Philippines.</p>
<p>The language has shifted from the unvarnished imperial rhetoric of men like Roosevelt, Henry Cabot Lodge and Senator Albert Beveridge, who firmly believed in “the white man’s burden”—a line from a poem by Rudyard Kipling about the American conquest of the Philippines.</p>
<p>Today’s humanitarian interventionists have substituted the words “international” and “global” for “imperial,” <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1627792163/counterpunchmaga" type="external" />though the recipients of “globalism” sometimes have difficulty discerning the difference. At the ideological core of exceptionalism is the idea that American, in the words of former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright—and repeated by presidential candidate Hillary Clinton—is the “one essential nation” whose duty it is to spread the gospel of free markets and democracy.</p>
<p>On the surface there appear to be sharp differences between what could call “establishment” foreign policy mavens like <a href="" type="internal">Zbigniew Brzezinski</a>, Paul Wasserman, <a href="" type="internal">Jonathan Stevenson</a>, and Robert Kagan, from the brick tossers like Stephen Bannon, <a href="" type="internal">Sebastian Gorka</a>, and Stephen Miller. To a certain extent there are. <a href="http://www.alternet.org/right-wing/6-things-warmonger-steve-bannon-has-declared-war" type="external">Bannon</a>, for instance, predicts a major land war in the Middle East and a war over the South China Sea. Next to those fulminations, liberal interventionists like Kagan, and even neoconservatives like Max Boot, seem reasoned. But the “old hands” and sober thinkers are, in many ways, just as deluded as the Trump bomb throwers.</p>
<p>A case in point is a recent article by the Brookings Institute’s Kagan entitled <a href="" type="internal">“Backing Into World War III,”</a> in which he argues the U.S. must challenge Russia and China “before it is too late,” and that “accepting spheres of influence is a recipe for disaster.”&#160; Kagan has generally been lumped in with neo-cons like Boot, Paul Wolfowitz, Elliot Abrams, and Richard Perle—the latter three helped design the invasion of Iraq—but he calls himself a liberal interventionist and supported Hillary Clinton in the last election. Clinton is a leading interventionist, along with former UN representative Samantha Power and President Obama’s natural Security Advisor, Susan Rice.</p>
<p>Kagan posits, “China and Russia are classic revisionist powers. Although both have never enjoyed greater security from foreign powers than they do today—Russia from its traditional enemies to the west, China from its traditional enemy in the east—they are dissatisfied with the current global configuration of power. Both seek to restore hegemonic dominance they once enjoyed in their respective regions.”</p>
<p>Those “regions” include Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia for Russia, and essentially everything west of the Hawaiian Islands for China.</p>
<p>For Kagan this is less about real estate than “The mere existence of democracies on their borders, the global free flow of information they cannot control, the dangerous connection between free market capitalism and political freedom—all pose a threat to rulers who depend on keeping restive forces in their own countries in check.”</p>
<p>There are times when one wonders what world people like Kagan live in.</p>
<p>As <a href="" type="internal">Anatol Lieven</a>, foreign policy researcher, journalist and currently a professor at Georgetown University in Qatar, points out concerning Russia, “A child with a map can look at where the strategic border was in 1988 and where it is today, and work out which side has advanced in which direction.”</p>
<p>The 1999 Yugoslav War served as an excuse for President Bill Clinton to break a decade-old agreement with the then Soviet Union not to recruit former members of the Warsaw Pact into NATO. In the war’s aftermath, the western coalition signed up Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Romania. For the first time in modern history, Russia has a hostile military alliance on its borders, including American soldiers. Exactly how this gives Russia “greater security” from her enemies in the West is not clear.</p>
<p>Of course, in a way, Kagan has a dog in this fight. His wife, former Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasian Affairs, Victoria Nuland, helped organize the 2014 coup that overthrew Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych. Prior to the coup, Nuland was caught on tape using a vulgar term to dismiss peace efforts by the European Union and discussing who would replace Yanukovych. Nuland also admitted that the U.S. had spent $5 billion trying to influence Ukraine’s political development.</p>
<p>As Lieven argues, “Russia’s intervention in Ukraine is about Ukraine, a country of supreme historical, ethnic, cultural, strategic, and economic importance to Russia. It implies nothing for the rest of Eastern Europe.”</p>
<p>Kagan gives no evidence of Russia’s designs on Central Asia, although one assumes he is talking about the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. Since that trade and security grouping includes China, India and Pakistan, as well as Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan—Iran has applied for membership—exactly how Russia would “dominate” those countries is not clear.</p>
<p>Kagan’s argument that “accommodation” with Russia only encourages further aggression is, according to Lieven, a “view based upon self-deception on the part of western elites who are interested in maintaining confrontation with Russia as a distraction from more important, painful problems at home, like migration, industrial decline and anger over globalization.”</p>
<p>As for “free market capitalism,” the fallout from the ravages that American style capital has wrought on its own people is one of the major reasons Donald Trump sits in the Oval Office.</p>
<p>According to Kagan, U.S. allies in Asia—he presents no evidence of this—are “wondering how reliable” the U.S. is given its “mostly rhetoric” pivot to Asia, its “inadequate” defense spending,” its “premature” and “unnecessary” withdrawal from Iraq, and its “accommodating agreement with Iran on its nuclear program.”</p>
<p>One wonders through what looking glass the Brookings Institute views the world. The U.S. has more than 400 military bases in Asia, has turned Guam into a fortress, deployed Marines and nuclear capable aircraft in Australia and sent six of its 10 aircraft carriers to the region. It spends more on defense than the rest of the world combined. The illegal invasion of Iraq was an unmitigated disaster, and Iran has given up its nuclear enrichment program and its stockpile of enhanced uranium.</p>
<p>But in a world of “alternative facts,” the only thing that counts is that the U.S. no longer dominates the world as it did in the decades after World War II. “Only the United States has the capacity and unique geographical advantages to provide global security and relative stability,” writes Kagan, “there is no stable balance of power in Europe or Asia without the United States.”</p>
<p>The fact that the “security” and “stability” that Kagan yearns for has generated dozens of war, a frightening nuclear arms race, growing economic inequality and decades of support for dictators and monarchs on five continents never seems to figure into the equation.</p>
<p>Where the politics of Trump fits into all this is by no means clear. If the President goes with Bannon’s paranoid hate of &#160;Islam—and given conspiracy theorist and Islamophobe Frank Gaffney has just been appointed special advisor to the President that is not a bad bet—then things will go sharply south in the Middle East. If he pushes China and follows Bannon’s prediction that there will be a war between the two powers, maybe its time to look at real estate in New Zealand, like a number of billionaires—40 percent of whom are Americans—are already doing.</p>
<p>But no matter which foreign policy current one talks about, the “indispensible nation” concept—born out of the Indian and Spanish-American wars “weighs like a nightmare on the brain of the living,” as Karl Marx wrote in the “18th Brumaire.</p>
<p>A century and a half ago on a snowy Wyoming ridge, a company of the 18th Infantry Regiment discovered that not everyone wanted that “shining city on a hill.” From out of a shallow creek bed and the surrounding cottonwoods and box elders, the people whose land the U.S. was in the process of stealing struck back. The battle of Lodge Pine Ridge did not last long, and none of the Regiment survived. It was a stunning blow in the only war against the U.S. that Native Americans won. Within less than two years the Army would admit defeat and retreat.</p>
<p>In the end the Indians were no match for the numbers, technology, and firepower of the U.S. Within a little more than three decades they were “civilized” into sterile, poverty-ridden reservations where the only “exceptionalism” they experience is the lowest life expectancy of any ethnic group in the United States.</p>
<p>The view that American institutions and its organization of capital is superior is a dangerous delusion and increasingly unacceptable—and unenforceable—in a multi-polar world. The tragedy is how widespread and deep these sentiments are. The world is not envious of that shining “city on a hill,” indeed, with Trump in the White House “aghast” would probably be a better sentiment than envy.</p> | true | 4 | photo david drexler cc 20 160 trying unravel debates us foreign policy currently fought editorial pages new york times wall street journal magazine foreign policy one might consider starting late december bitter cold ridge northern wyoming 81 men us armys 18th infantry regiment pursuing indians rocky ridge year 1866 us war local tribessioux cheyenne arapahoin attempt open trail montana gold fields fighting going badly army fresh battlefields civil war oglala sioux leader red cloud savvy lieutenant crazy horse fight like robert e lee rather like general vo nguyen giap hundred years future ambush attackers quickly vanished isolated posts overrun supply wagons looted burned time place vastly different men designed war native americans would comfortable rationale currently impel us foreign policy view army fighting gold 1866 embarked moral crusade civilize savages build shining city hill exceptional nation stands others fact holy war would kill hundreds thousands continents original owners sentence survivors grinding poverty irrelevant much different way butcher bills us invasions afghanistan iraq overthrow libyas government syrian civil war excused unfortunate collateral damage americas campaign spread freedom democracy rest world came saw died bragged us secretary state hillary clinton murder libyan leader muammar gaddafi libya failed state wracked civil war major jumping place refugees fleeing us wars yemen somalia iraq afghanistan book true flag theodore roosevelt mark twain birth american empire author former new york times reporter stephen kinzer traces roots millennium view americas mission regenerate world crusade many times accompanied stupendous violence detail left unexamined people designed campaigns kinzer argues sense exceptionalism developed spanishamerican war 1898 gave us colonies cuba puerto rico hawaii guam philippines john dower demonstrates brilliant book ww ii pacific war without mercy sentiment originated campaigns native americans indeed soldiers tracked apaches southwest massacred sioux ghost dancers wounded knee would go fight insurgents philippines language shifted unvarnished imperial rhetoric men like roosevelt henry cabot lodge senator albert beveridge firmly believed white mans burdena line poem rudyard kipling american conquest philippines todays humanitarian interventionists substituted words international global imperial though recipients globalism sometimes difficulty discerning difference ideological core exceptionalism idea american words former us secretary state madeleine albrightand repeated presidential candidate hillary clintonis one essential nation whose duty spread gospel free markets democracy surface appear sharp differences could call establishment foreign policy mavens like zbigniew brzezinski paul wasserman jonathan stevenson robert kagan brick tossers like stephen bannon sebastian gorka stephen miller certain extent bannon instance predicts major land war middle east war south china sea next fulminations liberal interventionists like kagan even neoconservatives like max boot seem reasoned old hands sober thinkers many ways deluded trump bomb throwers case point recent article brookings institutes kagan entitled backing world war iii argues us must challenge russia china late accepting spheres influence recipe disaster160 kagan generally lumped neocons like boot paul wolfowitz elliot abrams richard perlethe latter three helped design invasion iraqbut calls liberal interventionist supported hillary clinton last election clinton leading interventionist along former un representative samantha power president obamas natural security advisor susan rice kagan posits china russia classic revisionist powers although never enjoyed greater security foreign powers todayrussia traditional enemies west china traditional enemy eastthey dissatisfied current global configuration power seek restore hegemonic dominance enjoyed respective regions regions include central eastern europe central asia russia essentially everything west hawaiian islands china kagan less real estate mere existence democracies borders global free flow information control dangerous connection free market capitalism political freedomall pose threat rulers depend keeping restive forces countries check times one wonders world people like kagan live anatol lieven foreign policy researcher journalist currently professor georgetown university qatar points concerning russia child map look strategic border 1988 today work side advanced direction 1999 yugoslav war served excuse president bill clinton break decadeold agreement soviet union recruit former members warsaw pact nato wars aftermath western coalition signed bulgaria czech republic hungary poland romania first time modern history russia hostile military alliance borders including american soldiers exactly gives russia greater security enemies west clear course way kagan dog fight wife former assistant secretary state europe eurasian affairs victoria nuland helped organize 2014 coup overthrew ukrainian president victor yanukovych prior coup nuland caught tape using vulgar term dismiss peace efforts european union discussing would replace yanukovych nuland also admitted us spent 5 billion trying influence ukraines political development lieven argues russias intervention ukraine ukraine country supreme historical ethnic cultural strategic economic importance russia implies nothing rest eastern europe kagan gives evidence russias designs central asia although one assumes talking shanghai cooperation organization since trade security grouping includes china india pakistan well kyrgyzstan tajikistan uzbekistan kazakhstaniran applied membershipexactly russia would dominate countries clear kagans argument accommodation russia encourages aggression according lieven view based upon selfdeception part western elites interested maintaining confrontation russia distraction important painful problems home like migration industrial decline anger globalization free market capitalism fallout ravages american style capital wrought people one major reasons donald trump sits oval office according kagan us allies asiahe presents evidence thisare wondering reliable us given mostly rhetoric pivot asia inadequate defense spending premature unnecessary withdrawal iraq accommodating agreement iran nuclear program one wonders looking glass brookings institute views world us 400 military bases asia turned guam fortress deployed marines nuclear capable aircraft australia sent six 10 aircraft carriers region spends defense rest world combined illegal invasion iraq unmitigated disaster iran given nuclear enrichment program stockpile enhanced uranium world alternative facts thing counts us longer dominates world decades world war ii united states capacity unique geographical advantages provide global security relative stability writes kagan stable balance power europe asia without united states fact security stability kagan yearns generated dozens war frightening nuclear arms race growing economic inequality decades support dictators monarchs five continents never seems figure equation politics trump fits means clear president goes bannons paranoid hate 160islamand given conspiracy theorist islamophobe frank gaffney appointed special advisor president bad betthen things go sharply south middle east pushes china follows bannons prediction war two powers maybe time look real estate new zealand like number billionaires40 percent americansare already matter foreign policy current one talks indispensible nation conceptborn indian spanishamerican wars weighs like nightmare brain living karl marx wrote 18th brumaire century half ago snowy wyoming ridge company 18th infantry regiment discovered everyone wanted shining city hill shallow creek bed surrounding cottonwoods box elders people whose land us process stealing struck back battle lodge pine ridge last long none regiment survived stunning blow war us native americans within less two years army would admit defeat retreat end indians match numbers technology firepower us within little three decades civilized sterile povertyridden reservations exceptionalism experience lowest life expectancy ethnic group united states view american institutions organization capital superior dangerous delusion increasingly unacceptableand unenforceablein multipolar world tragedy widespread deep sentiments world envious shining city hill indeed trump white house aghast would probably better sentiment envy | 1,127 |
<p>HUNTER OF STORIES</p>
<p>The late Eduardo Galeano’s forthcoming book,&#160;Hunter of Stories, has five or ten sentences on each page — each page a tiny story, their combination engaging and powerful. Galeano includes the story of a war resister who chose to die rather than kill, and that of an Iraqi who foretold and pre-grieved the 2003 looting of the National Museum, also the story of former drone pilot Brandon Bryant who quit after killing a child and being lied to that the child had been a dog, not to mention the story of the World War I Christmas truces. These are all true stories, some new and some familiar, all well documented elsewhere, but Galeano doesn’t bother with the documentation here. He simply tells the stories — extremely simply, he tells the stories. He inspires me to offer the following, and to search for more. If you have ideas for the very best incidents to recount that fit into the following pattern, please let me know. The stories below are meant, not to depict every aspect of war or peace, much less to cover the entire history of war and peace. There’s no need to send me the full list of thousands and millions of stories not included here. The stories below are meant to encourage questioning of war-thinking. Send me the best anecdotes that further that project please.</p>
<p>HAVE SOME BLANKETS AND DIE</p>
<p>Jeffrey Amherst, commanding general of British forces in North America, later a Lord, and man for whom Amherst, Massachusetts, is named, wrote this in a letter to a subordinate: “Could it not be contrived to send the Small Pox among those disaffected tribes of Indians? We must on this occasion use every stratagem in our power to reduce them.” Beyond small pox, Amherst proposed “to try Every other method that can serve to Extirpate this Execrable Race.” He asked that “Measures to be taken as would Bring about the Total Extirpation of those Indian Nations.” He hoped to “put a most Effectual Stop to their very Being.” His plans were acted upon using infected blankets and handkerchiefs. Total extirpation was not achieved. Hundreds of years later it remains common for members of the U.S. military to describe invaded lands as “Indian Country.” In 2017, President Donald Trump proposed “total destruction” and Senator John McCain proposed “extermination” for North Korea.</p>
<p>NOBODY HAD YET THOUGHT OF A BETTER WAY, EXCEPT THOSE WHO HAD</p>
<p>From 1683 to 1755 Pennsylvania’s European settlers had no major wars with the native nations, in stark contrasts with other British colonies. Pennsylvania had slavery, it had capital and other horrific punishments, it had individual violence. But it chose not to use war, not to take land without what was supposed to be just compensation, and not to push alcohol on the native people in the way that opium was later pushed on China and guns and planes are now pushed on nasty despots. In 1710, the Tuscaroras from North Carolina sent messengers to Pennsylvania asking for permission to settle there. All the money that would have been used for militias, forts, and armaments in Pennsylvania was available, for better or worse, to build Philadelphia (remember what its name means) and develop the colony. The colony had 4,000 people&#160;within 3 years, and by 1776 Philadelphia surpassed Boston and New York in size. So while the superpowers of the day were battling for control of the continent, one group of people rejected the idea that war is necessary, and prospered more rapidly than any of their neighbors who insisted it was. (Thank you to John Reuwer for this story.)</p>
<p>LIGHTING A MATCH</p>
<p>It was March 23, 1775, and a wealthy, white man who owned many people as slaves was giving a speech in a church in Richmond, Virginia. What he said was not recorded, but we know that he spoke poorly of rule by England. An account just the next week by a man who had attended the speech tells us that the speaker called King George III, “a Tyrant, a fool, a puppet, and a tool.” This orator may have merely hinted at revolution, as on other occasions, or he may have openly advocated it. He also probably spoke on this day, as he did on others before and after, of the need to militarily suppress slave revolts and to resist any British efforts to free people from slavery, as well as of the need to attack Native Americans to the west, where this man was making a fortune on land speculation. Forty-two years later, a supposed text of the speech was published, having been concocted from decades-old memories solicited second-hand, plus sheer invention. The original speaker had long since died. But now we learned that he had spoken against a metaphorical enslavement to England, and possibly even acted out liberating himself from invisible bondage. Words put into his mouth included these: “I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death.” There is no record of Patrick Henry subsequently risking death; he saw no combat action. He did, however, campaign against ratification of the U.S. Constitution. His rallying cry popularizing a war theretofore desired mostly by elites, is sufficient, however, to rank him as a heroic Founding Father of a sort that people in Canada and Australia must deeply regret lacking. (Thank you to Ray Raphael for this story.)</p>
<p>WAS THAT THE RUBICON?</p>
<p>The native people of his country called him Conotocaurious, meaning Town Destroyer. He was the wealthiest man on his continent, and he ruled fiercely over his fighters. Those who misbehaved were often given 100 lashes with a whip. Conotocaurious tried to increase the punishment to 500 lashes. He led a desperate insurgency against the legitimate government, and a turning point came with the crossing of a river. It was Christmas night when he sneaked his fighters across a wide river and marched them on a sleepy camp of government mercenaries. The insurgents, or what the U.S. State Department would today call terrorists, killed 22, wounded 83, and took about 900 prisoners, as well as seizing their supplies. The attackers’ own loses were 5 wounded and 0 dead in the battle, though two died from exposure to the cold during the march. Among the group of freedom fighters or terrorists (choose your term, but apply it also to resisters in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Sudan, Niger, Philippines, etc.) were James Madison, James Monroe, John Marshall, Aaron Burr, Alexander Hamilton, and their leader whose other name was George Washington. Two hundred and thirty-five years later&#160;a giant triumphalist phallic monument to Washington cracked in an earthquake, possibly caused by fracking, while the regime established in that Delaware-River-crossing war long ago, waged wars in several different places around the globe, maintaining a troop presence in 175 countries.</p>
<p>COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION</p>
<p>At the end of the 1700s the world was dominated by slavery. Slavery was the norm. The vast majority of people on earth were in slavery or serfdom. Before the end of the 1800s slavery had been outlawed almost everywhere, and drastically reduced in its actual presence. Most parts of the world that ended or took steps to virtually end slavery and the slave trade did so without civil wars, driven forward by a nonviolent abolitionist movement and some violent slave revolts. The United States dramatically reduced slavery at the cost of 750,000 dead, cities burned, militarism glorified, and seemingly eternal resentment fostered. To suggest that another course was possible is typically met with the facts of how dramatically differently people would have had to think and behave — in other words, an underestimation of the term “possible.” Incredibly difficult though it was to enact, there was someone who had an idea. From 1856 to 1860 Elihu Burritt promoted a plan to prevent civil war through compensated emancipation, or the purchase and liberation of enslaved people by the government, an example that the English had set in the West Indies, and an approach that would be used for Washington, D.C., but not the rest of the United States, in 1862. Burritt traveled constantly, all over the country, speaking. He organized a mass convention that was held in Cleveland. He lined up prominent supporters. He edited newsletters. On June 20, 2013, the&#160;Atlantic&#160;published an article called “No, Lincoln Could Not Have ‘Bought the Slaves’.” Why not? Well, the slave owners didn’t want to sell. That’s perfectly true. They didn’t, not at all. But the&#160;Atlantic&#160;focuses on another argument, namely that it would have just been too expensive, costing as much as $3 billion (in 1860s money). Yet, if you read closely — it’s easy to miss it — the author admits that the war cost over twice that much. The cost of freeing people was simply unaffordable. Yet the cost — over twice as much — of killing people, goes by almost unnoticed — as if it were a current Pentagon budget.</p>
<p>THE BROOKS BROTHERS ARYAN</p>
<p>A very popular and famous promoter of wars for the Aryan race had his war costume designed especially for him by Brooks Brothers. In his worldview, the Aryans had come from the Middle East to Germany and from there to England in the form of the Anglo-Saxons, who had moved westward across North America and on to the Pacific, from which they would come full-circle to the eventual (and still longed for) conquering of what is now called Iran. In a 1910 lecture at Oxford, this well-dressed Aryan argued in favor of “ethnic conquest,” claiming that allowing members of conquered peoples to live was slowing the progress of the race. His name was Teddy Roosevelt.</p>
<p>THE YANKEES OF THE FAR EAST</p>
<p>In 1614 Japan had cut itself off from the West, resulting in centuries of relative peace and prosperity and the blossoming of Japanese art and culture. In 1853 the U.S. Navy had forced Japan open to U.S. merchants, missionaries, and militarism. The Japanese studied the Americans’ racism and adopted a strategy to deal with it. They sought to westernize themselves and present themselves as a separate race superior to the rest of the Asians. They became honorary Aryans. Lacking a single god or a god of conquest, they invented a divine emperor borrowing heavily from Christian tradition. They dressed and dined like Americans and sent their students to study in the United States. The Japanese were often referred to in the United States as the “Yankees of the Far East.” In 1872 the U.S. military began training the Japanese in how to conquer other nations, with an eye on Taiwan. Charles LeGendre proposed a Monroe Doctrine for Asia, that is a Japanese policy of dominating Asia in the way that the United States dominated its hemisphere. Japan established a Bureau of Savage Affairs and invented new words like koronii (colony). Talk in Japan began to focus on the responsibility of the Japanese to civilize the savages. In 1873, Japan invaded Taiwan with U.S. military “advisors.” And Korea was next.</p>
<p>IT’S ALL KOREA’S FAULT</p>
<p>Korea and Japan had known nothing but peace for centuries. When the Japanese arrived with U.S. ships, wearing U.S. clothing, talking about their divine emperor, and proposing a treaty of “friendship,” the Koreans thought the Japanese had lost their minds, and told them to get lost, knowing that China was there at Korea’s back. But the Japanese talked China into allowing Korea to sign the treaty, without explaining to either the Chinese or Koreans what the treaty meant in its English translation. In 1894 Japan declared war on China, a war in which U.S. weapons carried the day. China gave up Taiwan and the Liaodong Peninsula, paid a large indemnity, declared Korea independent, and gave Japan the same commercial rights in China that the U.S. and European nations had. Japan was triumphant, until China persuaded Russia, France, and Germany to oppose Japanese ownership of Liaodong. Japan gave it up and Russia grabbed it. Japan felt betrayed by white Christians. In 1904, President Teddy Roosevelt was pleased with a Japanese surprise attack on Russian ships. As the Japanese again waged war on Asia as honorary Aryans, Roosevelt secretly and unconstitutionally cut deals with them, approving a Monroe Doctrine for Japan in Asia and handing Japan Korea as a koronii. Yet Roosevelt backed Russia’s refusal to pay Japan a dime, and he refused to make his Monroe Doctrine for Japan public. Japan began to deeply resent its mentor. (Thank you to James Bradley for this story.)</p>
<p>A NONVIOLENT ARMY IN PAKISTAN</p>
<p>Abdul Ghaffar Khan, or Bacha Khan, was born in British-controlled India in 1890 to a wealthy landowning family. Bacha Khan forewent a life of luxury in order to create a nonviolent organization, named the “Red Shirt Movement,” which was dedicated to Indian independence. Khan met Mohandas Gandhi, a champion of nonviolent civil disobedience, and Khan became one of his closest advisors, leading to a friendship that would last until Gandhi’s assassination in 1948. Bacha Khan used nonviolent civil disobedience to gain rights for the Pashtuns in Pakistan, and he was arrested numerous times for his courageous actions. As a Muslim, Khan used his religion as an inspiration to promote a free and peaceful society, where the poorest citizens would be given assistance and allowed to rise economically. The British Empire feared the actions of Gandhi and Bacha Khan, as it showed when over 200 peaceful, unarmed protestors were brutally killed by the British police. The Massacre at Kissa Khani Bazaar showcased the brutality of the British colonists and demonstrated why Bacha Khan fought for independence. In an interview in 1985, Bacha Khan stated, “I am a believer in nonviolence and I say that no peace or tranquility will descend upon the world until nonviolence is practiced, because nonviolence is love and it stirs courage in people.”</p>
<p>TO HELL WITH SPAIN</p>
<p>“Remember the Maine and to hell with Spain!” That was the cry of the yellow journalists of 1898 who blamed an explosion and sinking of the&#160;U.S.S. Maine&#160;in Havana harbor on the Spanish. Spain proposed that the dispute over what caused the explosion in or near the ship be sent to a third party for arbitration. Spain committed to abiding by any decision and to making any amends required. To hell with that! The U.S. government preferred to go to war — a war on Cuba, the Philippines, and various Pacific islands. Today, the&#160;U.S.S. Maine&#160;is as widely dispersed as a medieval saint, with one mast on display as a monument in Arlington, Virginia, and another at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, plus anchors from the ship displayed in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts (2), and Maine, as well as guns, propellers, other parts, and plaques made from melting the ship down now on display in at least 84 other locations around the United States. It is not known whether touching these relics aids one in believing the marketing for the most recent wars.</p>
<p>FREEING THE PHILIPPINES</p>
<p>More Filipinos died in the first day of fighting off their U.S. benefactors than Americans would die storming the beaches at Normandy. In the days that followed, many Filipinos were discovered to be in need of waterboarding. U.S. troops in the Philippines sang a pleasant little song about providing the water torture to the Filipinos. Here’s a verse:</p>
<p>“Oh pump it in him till he swells like a toy balloon. The fool pretends that liberty is not a precious boon. But we’ll contrive to make him see the beauty of it soon. Shouting the battle cry of freedom.”</p>
<p>How could that fail to work?</p>
<p>SUNKEN SHIPS LOOSEN LIPS</p>
<p>Germany sank the&#160;Lusitania&#160;— a horrible act of mass-murder. The&#160;Lusitania&#160;had been loaded up with weapons and troops for the British — another horrible act of mass-murder. Most damaging, however, were the lies told about it all. Germany had published warnings in New York newspapers and newspapers around the United States. These warnings had been printed right next to ads for sailing on the&#160;Lusitania&#160;and had been signed by the German embassy. Newspapers had written articles about the warnings. The Cunard company had been asked about the warnings. The former captain of the&#160;Lusitania&#160;had already quit — reportedly due to the stress of sailing through what Germany had publicly declared a war zone. Meanwhile Winston Churchill is quoted as having said “It is most important to attract neutral shipping to our shores in the hope especially of embroiling the United States with Germany.” It was under his command that the usual British military protection was not provided to the&#160;Lusitania, despite Cunard having stated that it was counting on that protection. U.S. Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan resigned over the U.S. failure to remain neutral. That the&#160;Lusitania&#160;was carrying weapons and troops to aid the British in the war against Germany was asserted by Germany and by other observers, and was true. Yet the U.S. government said then, and U.S. text books say now, that the innocent&#160;Lusitania&#160;was attacked without warning, an action alleged to justify entering a war.</p>
<p>WAIT JUST A MINUTE</p>
<p>Exactly at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, in 1918, people across Europe suddenly stopped shooting guns at each other. Up until that moment, they were killing and taking bullets, falling and screaming, moaning and dying. Then they stopped, on schedule. It wasn’t that they’d gotten tired or come to their senses. Both before and after&#160;11 o’clock&#160;they were simply following orders. The Armistice agreement that ended World War I had set&#160;11 o’clock&#160;as quitting time. Henry Nicholas John Gunther had been born in Baltimore, Maryland, to parents who had immigrated from Germany. In September 1917 he had been drafted to help kill Germans. When he had written home from Europe to describe how horrible the war was and to encourage others to avoid being drafted, he had been demoted (and his letter censored). He had told his buddies he would prove himself. At 5:00 a.m. on 11/11/1918 the Armistice was signed. As the deadline of&#160;11:00 a.m.&#160;approached, Henry got up, against orders, and bravely charged with his bayonet toward two German machine guns. The Germans were aware of the Armistice and tried to wave him off. He kept approaching and shooting. When he got close, a short burst of machine gun fire ended his life at&#160;10:59 a.m.&#160;Henry was the last of the 11,000 men to be killed or wounded between the signing of the Armistice and its taking effect. Henry Gunther was given his rank back, but not his life.</p>
<p>ARMISTICE DAY</p>
<p>Each year, for a lot of years, there was a remembrance on November 11th. The U.S. Congress called Armistice Day a holiday to “perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations,” a day “dedicated to the cause of world peace.” When churches rang their bells at&#160;11:00, that was what they meant. It was a holiday for peace, and it lasted as long as the idea of peace did.</p>
<p>OUTLAWING WAR</p>
<p>A lawyer in Chicago named Salmon Levinson had an idea. If you could ban dueling, why couldn’t you ban war? He built a popular movement that did just that. Until 1928, war was legal. Its outlawing, by means of all the wealthiest nations on earth signing and ratifying the Kellogg-Briand Pact, was the biggest news story of 1928. Wars were prevented. After World War II, the losers were prosecuted for the new crime. Wealthy nations never went to war with each other again. Conquest and colonialism virtually ceased. Territorial gains through war were restored to 1928 borders. The number of nations on earth quickly doubled, as it became relatively safe to exist as a small country. But the outlawing of war was never accompanied by disarming of weapons. In fact, the arming and funding of future enemies became a growing industry from that day to this. The law was twisted at Nuremberg and Tokyo, and in the United Nations Charter, into a ban only on aggressive and non-U.N.-authorized wars. The five biggest weapons dealers and war makers were given veto power in the Security Council. Endless rules were invented for proper wars. The idea that war was a crime was intentionally forgotten. If anyone mentions it nowadays, the response is that war exists and is therefore not a crime — a response that seems to work only in this instance and not for any other crimes, all of which exist or there would be no point in criminalizing them.</p>
<p>THE GREAT DEPRESSION/PREPARATION BY MULE</p>
<p>In the 1930s, the U.S. military expanded into the Pacific. In March 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt bestowed Wake Island on the U.S. Navy and gave Pan Am Airways a permit to build runways on Wake Island, Midway Island, and Guam. Japanese military commanders announced that they were disturbed and viewed these runways as a threat. So did peace activists in the United States. By the next month, Roosevelt had planned war games and maneuvers near the Aleutian Islands and Midway Island. By the following month, peace activists were marching in New York advocating friendship with Japan. Norman Thomas wrote in 1935: “The Man from Mars who saw how men suffered in the last war and how frantically they are preparing for the next war, which they know will be worse, would come to the conclusion that he was looking at the denizens of a lunatic asylum.” The U.S. believed a Japanese attack on Hawaii would begin with conquering the island of Ni’ihau, from which flights would take off to assault the other islands. U.S. Army Air Corp. Lt. Col. Gerald Brant approached the Robinson family, which owned Ni’ihau and still does. He asked them to plow furrows across the island in a grid, to render it useless for airplanes. Between 1933 and 1937, three Ni’ihau men cut the furrows with plows pulled by mules or draft horses. The U.S. Navy spent the next few years working up plans for war with Japan, the March 8, 1939, version of which described “an offensive war of long duration.” As it turned out, the Japanese had no plans to use Ni’ihau, but when a Japanese plane that had just been part of the attack on Pearl Harbor had to make an emergency landing, it landed on Ni’ihau despite all the efforts of the mules and horses.</p>
<p>DOWNING STREET PART I</p>
<p>On August 18, 1941, Prime Minister Winston Churchill met with his cabinet at 10 Downing Street, his house. Churchill told his cabinet, according to the minutes: “The [U.S.] President had said he would wage war but not declare it.” In addition, “Everything was to be done to force an incident.” British propagandists had argued since at least 1938 for using Japan to bring the United States into the war. At the Atlantic Conference on August 12, 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt had assured Churchill that the United States would bring economic pressure to bear on Japan. Within a week, the Economic Defense Board had gotten economic sanctions under way. On September 3, 1941, the U.S. State Department sent Japan a demand that it accept the principle of “nondisturbance of the status quo in the Pacific.” The Allied blockade cut off about 75% of normal trade to Japan according to the&#160;New York Times. By September 1941 the Japanese press was outraged that the United States had begun shipping oil right past Japan to reach Russia. Japan, its newspapers said, was dying a slow death from “economic war.” An October 1940 memorandum by Lieutenant Commander Arthur H. McCollum had called for eight actions that McCollum predicted would lead the Japanese to attack, including arranging for the use of British bases in Singapore and for the use of Dutch bases in what is now Indonesia, aiding the Chinese government, sending a division of long-range heavy cruisers to the Philippines or Singapore, sending two divisions of submarines to “the Orient,” keeping the main strength of the fleet in Hawaii, insisting that the Dutch refuse the Japanese oil, and embargoing all trade with Japan. The day after McCollum’s memo, the State Department had told Americans to evacuate far eastern nations, and Roosevelt had ordered the fleet kept in Hawaii over the strenuous objection of Admiral James O. Richardson who quoted the President as saying “Sooner or later the Japanese would commit an overt act against the United States and the nation would be willing to enter the war.” In late October, 1941, U.S. spy Edgar Mower spoke with a man in Manila named Ernest Johnson, a member of the Maritime Commission, who said he expected “The Japs will take Manila before I can get out.” When Mower expressed surprise, Johnson replied “Didn’t you know the Jap fleet has moved eastward, presumably to attack our fleet at Pearl Harbor?” On November 3, 1941, the U.S. ambassador tried — not for the first time — to get something through his government’s thick skull, sending a lengthy telegram to the State Department warning that the economic sanctions might force Japan to commit “national hara-kiri.” He wrote: “An armed conflict with the United States may come with dangerous and dramatic suddenness.” On November 15, 1941, Army Chief of Staff George Marshall briefed the media: “We are preparing an offensive war against Japan.”&#160;Ten days later&#160;Secretary of War Henry Stimson wrote in his diary that he’d met in the Oval Office with Marshall, President Roosevelt, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox, Admiral Harold Stark, and Secretary of State Cordell Hull. Roosevelt had told them the Japanese were likely to attack soon, possibly&#160;next Monday. The United States had broken the Japanese’ codes. It was Hull who leaked a Japanese intercept to the press, resulting in the November 30, 1941, headline “Japanese May Strike Over Weekend.” The message that Admiral Harold Stark sent to Admiral Husband Kimmel on November 28, 1941, read, “IF HOSTILITIES CANNOT REPEAT CANNOT BE AVOIDED THE UNITED STATES DESIRES THAT JAPAN COMMIT THE FIRST OVERT ACT.” Joseph Rochefort, cofounder of the Navy’s communication intelligence section, who was instrumental in failing to communicate to Pearl Harbor what was coming, would later comment: “It was a pretty cheap price to pay for unifying the country.” Also on November 28, 1941, Vice Admiral William F. Halsey, Jr., gave instructions to “shoot down anything we saw in the sky and to bomb anything we saw on the sea.” On May 24, 1941, the&#160;New York Times&#160;had reported on U.S. training of the Chinese air force, and the provision of “numerous fighting and bombing planes” to China by the United States. “Bombing of Japanese Cities is Expected” read the subheadline. By July, the Joint Army-Navy Board had approved a plan called JB 355 to firebomb Japan. A front corporation would buy American planes to be flown by American volunteers. Roosevelt approved, and his China expert Lauchlin Currie, in the words of Nicholson Baker, “wired Madame Chaing Kai-Shek and Claire Chennault a letter that fairly begged for interception by Japanese spies.” The 1st American Volunteer Group (AVG) of the Chinese Air Force, also known as the Flying Tigers, moved ahead with recruitment and training immediately, were provided to China prior to Pearl Harbor, and first saw combat on December 20, 1941. Marshall later admitted to Congress that Japanese codes had been broken, that the United States had initiated Anglo-Dutch-American agreements for unified action against Japan and put them into effect before Pearl Harbor, and that the United States had provided officers of its military to China for combat duty before Pearl Harbor. Henry Luce in&#160;Life&#160;magazine on July 20, 1942, referred to “the Chinese for whom the U.S. had delivered the ultimatum that brought on Pearl Harbor.”</p>
<p>PEACE VS. HOLOCAUST</p>
<p>Jessie Wallace Hughan, founder of the War Resisters League, was very concerned in 1942 by stories of Nazi plans, no longer focused on expelling Jews but turning toward plans to murder them. Hughan believed that such a development appeared “natural, from their pathological point of view,” and that it might really be acted upon if World War II continued. “It seems that the only way to save thousands and perhaps millions of European Jews from destruction,” she wrote, “would be for our government to broadcast the promise” of an “armistice on condition that the European minorities are not molested any further. . . . It would be very terrible if&#160;six months from now&#160;we should find that this threat has literally come to pass without our making even a gesture to prevent it.” When her predictions were fulfilled only too well by 1943, she wrote to the U.S. State Department and the&#160;New York Times:&#160;“two million [Jews] have already died” and “two million more will be killed by the end of the war.” She warned that military successes against Germany would just result in further scapegoating of Jews. “Victory will not save them, for dead men cannot be liberated,” she wrote. (Thank you to Lawrence Wittner for this story.)</p>
<p>LET’S TRY TO STAY FOCUSED</p>
<p>“Anthony Eden, Britain’s foreign secretary, who’d been tasked by Churchill with handling queries about refugees, dealt coldly with one of many important delegations, saying that any diplomatic effort to obtain the release of the Jews from Hitler was ‘fantastically impossible.’ On a trip to the United States, Eden candidly told Cordell Hull, the secretary of state, that the real difficulty with asking Hitler for the Jews was that ‘Hitler might well take us up on any such offer, and there simply are not enough ships and means of transportation in the world to handle them.’ Churchill agreed. ‘Even were we to obtain permission to withdraw all the Jews,’ he wrote in reply to one pleading letter, ‘transport alone presents a problem which will be difficult of solution.’ Not enough shipping and transport? Two years earlier, the British had evacuated nearly 340,000 men from the beaches of Dunkirk in just nine days. The U.S. Air Force had many thousands of new planes. During even a brief armistice, the Allies could have airlifted and transported refugees in very large numbers out of the German sphere.” (Thank you to and quoted from Nicholson Baker.)</p>
<p>ANNE FRANK’S VISA APPLICATION</p>
<p>A ship of Jewish refugees from Germany was chased away from Miami by the Coast Guard. The U.S. and other nations refused to accept most Jewish refugees, and the majority of the U.S. public supported that position. The U.S. engaged in no diplomatic or military effort to save the victims in the Nazi concentration camps. Anne Frank’s family was denied U.S. visas.</p>
<p>KYOTO’S SURVIVAL</p>
<p>U.S. Secretary of War Henry Stimson kept Kyoto off the list of targets for nuclear bombs. Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not more military or less civilian than Kyoto was. And they were considered less ideal locations to demonstrate the new bombs. But Kyoto had cultural significance, and it appears that among those who appreciated Kyoto’s beauty was Henry Stimson, who had visited Kyoto. As far as we know, he had never been to Hiroshima or Nagasaki, which was too bad for them.</p>
<p>WHY ARE THERE TWO KOREAS?</p>
<p>Following World War II, two American colonels, after&#160;midnight, on August 11, 1945, pulled out a&#160;National Geographic&#160;map and picked a place as far north as they thought they could get away with. They chose the thirty-eighth parallel of latitude. They drew a line. They thereby doubled the number of Koreas in the world. The North stopped receiving food from the South, and the South stopped receiving electricity from the North. The North got a leader chosen by the Soviet Union, and the South got one chosen by and imported from Washington, D.C. What could go wrong?</p>
<p>THE VIEW OF NUREMBERG FROM GUATEMALA</p>
<p>Robert Jackson, Chief U.S. Prosecutor at the trials of Nazis for war and related crimes held in Nuremberg, Germany, following World War II, set a standard for the world: “If certain acts of violation of treaties are crimes, they are crimes whether the United States does them or whether Germany does them, and we are not prepared to lay down a rule of criminal conduct against others which we would not be willing to have invoked against us.” Among the trials held in Nuremberg was one of Nazi doctors accused of human experimentation and mass murder. This trial lasted from December 9, 1946, to August 20, 1947. An important witness provided by the American Medical Association was Dr. Andrew C. Ivy. He explained that Nazi doctors’ actions “were crimes because they were performed on prisoners without their consent and in complete disregard for their human rights. They were not conducted so as to avoid unnecessary pain and suffering.” In the April 27, 1947,&#160;New York Times, that newspaper’s science editor Waldemar Kaempffert wrote that human experiments with syphilis would be valuable but “ethically impossible.” Dr. John C. Cutler read the short article. He was at the time engaged in giving syphilis to unsuspecting victims in Guatemala. He was doing this with the funding, knowledge, and support of his superiors at the U.S. Public Health Service. He called the&#160;Times&#160;article to the attention of Dr. John F. Mahoney, his director at the Venereal Diseases Research Laboratory (VDRL) of the Public Health Service. Cutler wrote to Mahoney that in light of the&#160;Times&#160;article, Cutler’s work in Guatemala should be guarded with increased secrecy. Cutler had gone to Guatemala because he believed it was a place where he could get away with intentionally infecting people with syphilis in order to experiment with possible cures and placebos. He did not believe he could get away with such actions in the United States. In February 1947, Cutler had begun infecting female prostitutes with syphilis and using them to infect numerous men. In April he began infecting men directly. The motivation was to find better ways to cure syphilis in members of the U.S. military, which clearly was not considering ending its operations simply because the war had ended and the United Nations been established. Many U.S. doctors at this time considered the Nuremberg Code that came out of the Nazi trials to be “a good code for barbarians.” Many went right on human experimenting for decades.</p>
<p>HOW DO YOU GIVE LSD TO AN ENTIRE VILLAGE?</p>
<p>On August 16, 1951, the quiet village of Pont Saint Esprit on the Rhone River in Southern France began to lose its mind. People were hit with insanity, delirium, hallucinations, and horror. A man screamed that his belly was being eaten by snakes. He tried to drown himself. Another yelled “I am a plane!” He jumped from a second-floor window and broke both of his legs. Nonetheless, he got up and continued to roam around ranting. One man said that his heart had escaped through his feet. Hundreds of people were affected, dozens taken to an asylum in straight jackets. Five people died. Decades later, a researcher found U.S. government documents confirming that the CIA had put LSD into the local food as an experiment. Probably the easiest way to hear an apology for the incident from the CIA would be to try some LSD.</p>
<p>WHO IS MOSSADEGH?</p>
<p>Mohammad Mossadegh, the popular, democratically elected president of Iran, visited the United States and the United Nations in 1951. He posed with the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. He was the&#160;Time&#160;magazine person of the year in 1952. Many respected him, even if begrudgingly. Others truly liked and admired him. But he believed that Iran should profit from its oil, rather than a British corporation grow rich at Iranians’ expense. This proved unacceptable. The British recruited the CIA, with President Dwight Eisenhower’s approval, to overthrow Mossadegh in 1953. The operation was led by Teddy Roosevelt’s grandson, Kermit Roosevelt Jr. The United States replaced Mossadegh with Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the former Shah of Iran, who ruled as a brutal dictator but a good weapons customer until 1979, when he was tossed out by an Iranian revolution. Fearing another U.S. action, Iranians took over the U.S. embassy from which the 1953 coup had been launched. The revolutionaries held U.S. embassy employees as hostages. U.S. Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan made a deal with the Iranians not to release the hostages while Jimmy Carter was president. They were released the day Reagan was inaugurated. Iran’s was one of at least 36 governments that the United States has overthrown since World War II, during which time the United States has attempted to assassinate over 50 leaders and dropped bombs on over 30 countries. The blowback from the Iranian coup — that is to say, the undesirable results in the years that have followed, results that appear spontaneous and irrational to uninformed observers — has been fairly typical of all such operations.</p>
<p>CAN YOU WASH A BRAIN?</p>
<p>During and after the Korean War of 1950 – 1953, the United States had a problem for which the solution was brainwashing — not actual brainwashing, but the creation and popularization of the concept of brainwashing. It became very useful to spread about the idea that the Chinese were capable of things that the CIA only dreamed of and desperately searched for, such as the creation of Manchurian candidates, human beings programed like machines. In particular, it became necessary to convince people that the Chinese could erase someone’s mind and replace it with a bunch of made-up stories that would be sincerely believed. This feat, which is not actually possible in the real world, was called brainwashing. But why was it needed? Well, U.S. troops who had been held as prisoners during the war, had said some pretty terrible things about the crimes they had been engaged in. And now they were free and back home and refusing to recant their testimony. During the Korean War, the United States bombed virtually all of North Korea and a good bit of the South, killing millions of people. It dropped massive quantities of Napalm. It bombed dams, bridges, villages, houses. This was all-out mass-slaughter. But there was something the U.S. government didn’t want known, something deemed unethical in this genocidal madness. We now know that the United States dropped on China and North Korea insects and feathers carrying anthrax, cholera, encephalitis, and bubonic plague. This was supposed to be a secret at the time, and the Chinese response of mass vaccinations and insect eradication probably contributed to the project’s general failure (hundreds were killed, but not millions). But members of the U.S. military taken prisoner by the Chinese confessed to what they had been a part of, and confessed publicly when they got back to the United States. It was quickly discovered, to everyone’s great relief, that these poor souls were victims of brainwashing.</p>
<p>HOW VETERANS DAY GOT ITS NAME</p>
<p>Right up through the Korean War, the United States celebrated Armistice Day. Then Congress turned Armistice Day into Veterans Day. A day for peace became a day on which Veterans For Peace groups are often excluded from war-promoting Veterans Day parades. Not just the day changed. Veterans were changed into props for the marketing of wars, and of a permanent state of war, sold to the public as if it were all for the benefit of the young people sent off to acquire PTSD, brain injury, moral injury, and sometimes amputations and other visible hints at what’s inside.</p>
<p>WHERE DID LYME DISEASE COME FROM?</p>
<p>Less than 2 miles off the east end of Long Island sits Plum Island, where the U.S. government has worked with biological weapons, including weapons consisting of diseased insects that can be dropped from airplanes on a (presumably foreign) population. One such insect is the deer tick. Deer swim to Plum Island. Birds fly to Plum Island. In July of 1975, a disease nobody had seen in the United States before, appeared in Old Lyme, Connecticut, just north of Plum Island. Plum Island experimented with the Lone Star tick, whose habitat at the time was confined to Texas. Yet the Lone Star tick showed up in New York and Connecticut, infecting people with Lyme disease — and killing them. The Lone Star tick is now endemic in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. This disease spread fast. Its source was a mystery, and in U.S. journalism it is treated as such to this day. But Plum Island held a germ warfare laboratory to which the U.S. government had brought former Nazi germ warfare scientists in the 1940s to work on the same evil work for a different employer. These included the head of the Nazi germ warfare program who had worked directly for Heinrich Himmler. On Plum Island these scientists frequently conducted their experiments out of doors.&#160;Documents record outdoor experiments with diseased ticks in the 1950s. Even the indoors, where participants admit to experiments with ticks, was not sealed tight. And test animals mingled with wild deer, test birds with wild birds. By the 1990s, the eastern end of Long Island had by far the greatest concentration of Lyme disease. If you drew a circle around the area of the world heavily impacted by Lyme disease, the center of that circle was Plum Island. (Thank you to Michael Carroll for this story.)</p>
<p>DOWNING STREET PART II</p>
<p>On July 23, 2002, British Prime Minister Tony Blair met with his cabinet at his house,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">10 Downing Street</a>. Minutes were taken that would be published in May 2005. Top British spy Sir Richard Dearlove was just returned from meeting with the head of the CIA George Tenet. According to the Downing Street Minutes, Dearlove’s report was as follows. “There was a perceptible shift in attitude. Military action was now seen as inevitable. Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy. The NSC had no patience with the UN route, and no enthusiasm for publishing material on the Iraqi regime’s record. There was little discussion in Washington of the aftermath after military action.” This document, never disputed by the British government, and later confirmed by numerous other sources, showed that eight months before attacking Iraq, the United States had decided to do so. First, however, would come eight months of claiming to be trying to avoid war while doing everything possible to get a war started.</p>
<p>CAN WE GET ONE OF OUR PLANES SHOT DOWN?</p>
<p>On January 31, 2003, six months after the Downing Street meeting, President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair met in the White House. Bush proposed painting U.S. airplanes to look like United Nations planes, and flying them over Iraq in hopes of getting them shot at, in order to start a war. It is not recorded what Blair replied to this idea. We do know that Blair urged Bush to try for authorization of a war by the United Nations. Bush replied that “the U.S. would put its full weight behind efforts to get another resolution and would ‘twist arms’ and ‘even threaten’. But he had to say that if ultimately we failed, military action would follow anyway.” Blair made clear that he’d go along, saying that he was “solidly with the President and ready to do whatever it took to disarm Saddam.” Bush and Blair then walked out together to meet with reporters and cameras. They assured the media that they were working to avoid war. The press conference can be watched on Youtube, by people with strong stomachs.</p>
<p>PAY NO ATTENTION TO SPAIN</p>
<p>Foreign terrorism is always concentrated virtually entirely in nations engaged in foreign wars and occupations. On March 11, 2004, Al Qaeda bombs killed 191 people in Madrid, Spain, just before an election in which one party was campaigning against Spain’s participation in the U.S.-led war on Iraq. The people of Spain voted the Socialists into power, and they removed all Spanish troops from Iraq by May. There were no more bombs. This history stands in strong contrast to that of Britain, the United States, and other nations that have responded to blowback with more war, generally producing more blowback. It is generally considered inappropriate to pay attention to the Spanish example, and U.S. media has even developed the habit of reporting on this history in Spain as if the opposite of what happened happened.</p>
<p>HE SHOULD HAVE HAD BETTER PARENTS</p>
<p>President Barack Obama made clear to the&#160;New York Times&#160;just before his second election in 2012 that he looked through a list of men, women, and children on Tuesdays, picking which ones to have killed with missiles from drones. He reportedly — and he did not dispute the report — remarked during that reelection campaign that he was “really good at killing people.” Two weeks after killing a man named Anwar al-Awlaki as punishment for things he had written and said, Obama killed Awlaki’s 16-year-old American son Abdulrahman al-Awlaki. Obama campaign senior adviser and former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs, when asked about this killing, replied that Abdulrahman “should have [had] a far more responsible father.”</p>
<p>GOOD MORNING. YOU JUST BOMBED MY VILLAGE.</p>
<p>On April 23, 2013, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee hearing on drones was not just your usual droning and yammering. One witness was a young man from Yemen, the site of President Obama’s “successful drone war.” Farea Al-Muslimi had been scheduled to testify for some time, but — as things worked out — just prior to the hearing a U.S. drone attacked his home village. Al-Muslimi described the effects — all bad for the people of the village, for the people of Yemen, and for the United States and its mission to eliminate all the bad people in the world without turning any of the good people against it. Al-Muslimi asserted that U.S. drones were doing more to build support for terrorists in Yemen than those terrorists could have ever dreamed of creating on their own. In fact, in the years that followed, the situation in Yemen deteriorated in a manner consistent with Muslimi’s observations, but not with the statements of the White House. Another witness at the same hearing, a law professor named Rosa Brooks, explained to curious Congress Members that if “drone strikes” are part of war, that’s fine, but if they’re not part of war, then they’re murder. But since the memos that “legalize” the drone strikes are secret, Brooks said, we don’t know whether they’re perfectly fine or murder. Needless to say, nobody asked her what could legalize a war.</p>
<p>WHAT JAPAN NEEDS IS MILITARISM</p>
<p>A U.S. occupying army put the words of the Kellogg-Briand Pact forbidding war into the Japanese Constitution, and the U.S. government quickly began pressuring Japan to violate them. Japan refused to send troops to the U.S. wars on Korea and Vietnam. Japan took ownership of its Constitution. By 2017, however, the President of Japan was intent on “reinterpreting” the ban on war as a license for unlimited war making. The President of the United States supports this effort. After all, what could go wrong?</p> | true | 4 | hunter stories late eduardo galeanos forthcoming book160hunter stories five ten sentences page page tiny story combination engaging powerful galeano includes story war resister chose die rather kill iraqi foretold pregrieved 2003 looting national museum also story former drone pilot brandon bryant quit killing child lied child dog mention story world war christmas truces true stories new familiar well documented elsewhere galeano doesnt bother documentation simply tells stories extremely simply tells stories inspires offer following search ideas best incidents recount fit following pattern please let know stories meant depict every aspect war peace much less cover entire history war peace theres need send full list thousands millions stories included stories meant encourage questioning warthinking send best anecdotes project please blankets die jeffrey amherst commanding general british forces north america later lord man amherst massachusetts named wrote letter subordinate could contrived send small pox among disaffected tribes indians must occasion use every stratagem power reduce beyond small pox amherst proposed try every method serve extirpate execrable race asked measures taken would bring total extirpation indian nations hoped put effectual stop plans acted upon using infected blankets handkerchiefs total extirpation achieved hundreds years later remains common members us military describe invaded lands indian country 2017 president donald trump proposed total destruction senator john mccain proposed extermination north korea nobody yet thought better way except 1683 1755 pennsylvanias european settlers major wars native nations stark contrasts british colonies pennsylvania slavery capital horrific punishments individual violence chose use war take land without supposed compensation push alcohol native people way opium later pushed china guns planes pushed nasty despots 1710 tuscaroras north carolina sent messengers pennsylvania asking permission settle money would used militias forts armaments pennsylvania available better worse build philadelphia remember name means develop colony colony 4000 people160within 3 years 1776 philadelphia surpassed boston new york size superpowers day battling control continent one group people rejected idea war necessary prospered rapidly neighbors insisted thank john reuwer story lighting match march 23 1775 wealthy white man owned many people slaves giving speech church richmond virginia said recorded know spoke poorly rule england account next week man attended speech tells us speaker called king george iii tyrant fool puppet tool orator may merely hinted revolution occasions may openly advocated also probably spoke day others need militarily suppress slave revolts resist british efforts free people slavery well need attack native americans west man making fortune land speculation fortytwo years later supposed text speech published concocted decadesold memories solicited secondhand plus sheer invention original speaker long since died learned spoken metaphorical enslavement england possibly even acted liberating invisible bondage words put mouth included know course others may take give liberty give death record patrick henry subsequently risking death saw combat action however campaign ratification us constitution rallying cry popularizing war theretofore desired mostly elites sufficient however rank heroic founding father sort people canada australia must deeply regret lacking thank ray raphael story rubicon native people country called conotocaurious meaning town destroyer wealthiest man continent ruled fiercely fighters misbehaved often given 100 lashes whip conotocaurious tried increase punishment 500 lashes led desperate insurgency legitimate government turning point came crossing river christmas night sneaked fighters across wide river marched sleepy camp government mercenaries insurgents us state department would today call terrorists killed 22 wounded 83 took 900 prisoners well seizing supplies attackers loses 5 wounded 0 dead battle though two died exposure cold march among group freedom fighters terrorists choose term apply also resisters iraq afghanistan syria libya pakistan yemen somalia sudan niger philippines etc james madison james monroe john marshall aaron burr alexander hamilton leader whose name george washington two hundred thirtyfive years later160a giant triumphalist phallic monument washington cracked earthquake possibly caused fracking regime established delawarerivercrossing war long ago waged wars several different places around globe maintaining troop presence 175 countries compensated emancipation end 1700s world dominated slavery slavery norm vast majority people earth slavery serfdom end 1800s slavery outlawed almost everywhere drastically reduced actual presence parts world ended took steps virtually end slavery slave trade without civil wars driven forward nonviolent abolitionist movement violent slave revolts united states dramatically reduced slavery cost 750000 dead cities burned militarism glorified seemingly eternal resentment fostered suggest another course possible typically met facts dramatically differently people would think behave words underestimation term possible incredibly difficult though enact someone idea 1856 1860 elihu burritt promoted plan prevent civil war compensated emancipation purchase liberation enslaved people government example english set west indies approach would used washington dc rest united states 1862 burritt traveled constantly country speaking organized mass convention held cleveland lined prominent supporters edited newsletters june 20 2013 the160atlantic160published article called lincoln could bought slaves well slave owners didnt want sell thats perfectly true didnt the160atlantic160focuses another argument namely would expensive costing much 3 billion 1860s money yet read closely easy miss author admits war cost twice much cost freeing people simply unaffordable yet cost twice much killing people goes almost unnoticed current pentagon budget brooks brothers aryan popular famous promoter wars aryan race war costume designed especially brooks brothers worldview aryans come middle east germany england form anglosaxons moved westward across north america pacific would come fullcircle eventual still longed conquering called iran 1910 lecture oxford welldressed aryan argued favor ethnic conquest claiming allowing members conquered peoples live slowing progress race name teddy roosevelt yankees far east 1614 japan cut west resulting centuries relative peace prosperity blossoming japanese art culture 1853 us navy forced japan open us merchants missionaries militarism japanese studied americans racism adopted strategy deal sought westernize present separate race superior rest asians became honorary aryans lacking single god god conquest invented divine emperor borrowing heavily christian tradition dressed dined like americans sent students study united states japanese often referred united states yankees far east 1872 us military began training japanese conquer nations eye taiwan charles legendre proposed monroe doctrine asia japanese policy dominating asia way united states dominated hemisphere japan established bureau savage affairs invented new words like koronii colony talk japan began focus responsibility japanese civilize savages 1873 japan invaded taiwan us military advisors korea next koreas fault korea japan known nothing peace centuries japanese arrived us ships wearing us clothing talking divine emperor proposing treaty friendship koreans thought japanese lost minds told get lost knowing china koreas back japanese talked china allowing korea sign treaty without explaining either chinese koreans treaty meant english translation 1894 japan declared war china war us weapons carried day china gave taiwan liaodong peninsula paid large indemnity declared korea independent gave japan commercial rights china us european nations japan triumphant china persuaded russia france germany oppose japanese ownership liaodong japan gave russia grabbed japan felt betrayed white christians 1904 president teddy roosevelt pleased japanese surprise attack russian ships japanese waged war asia honorary aryans roosevelt secretly unconstitutionally cut deals approving monroe doctrine japan asia handing japan korea koronii yet roosevelt backed russias refusal pay japan dime refused make monroe doctrine japan public japan began deeply resent mentor thank james bradley story nonviolent army pakistan abdul ghaffar khan bacha khan born britishcontrolled india 1890 wealthy landowning family bacha khan forewent life luxury order create nonviolent organization named red shirt movement dedicated indian independence khan met mohandas gandhi champion nonviolent civil disobedience khan became one closest advisors leading friendship would last gandhis assassination 1948 bacha khan used nonviolent civil disobedience gain rights pashtuns pakistan arrested numerous times courageous actions muslim khan used religion inspiration promote free peaceful society poorest citizens would given assistance allowed rise economically british empire feared actions gandhi bacha khan showed 200 peaceful unarmed protestors brutally killed british police massacre kissa khani bazaar showcased brutality british colonists demonstrated bacha khan fought independence interview 1985 bacha khan stated believer nonviolence say peace tranquility descend upon world nonviolence practiced nonviolence love stirs courage people hell spain remember maine hell spain cry yellow journalists 1898 blamed explosion sinking the160uss maine160in havana harbor spanish spain proposed dispute caused explosion near ship sent third party arbitration spain committed abiding decision making amends required hell us government preferred go war war cuba philippines various pacific islands today the160uss maine160is widely dispersed medieval saint one mast display monument arlington virginia another us naval academy annapolis maryland plus anchors ship displayed virginia pennsylvania massachusetts 2 maine well guns propellers parts plaques made melting ship display least 84 locations around united states known whether touching relics aids one believing marketing recent wars freeing philippines filipinos died first day fighting us benefactors americans would die storming beaches normandy days followed many filipinos discovered need waterboarding us troops philippines sang pleasant little song providing water torture filipinos heres verse oh pump till swells like toy balloon fool pretends liberty precious boon well contrive make see beauty soon shouting battle cry freedom could fail work sunken ships loosen lips germany sank the160lusitania160 horrible act massmurder the160lusitania160had loaded weapons troops british another horrible act massmurder damaging however lies told germany published warnings new york newspapers newspapers around united states warnings printed right next ads sailing the160lusitania160and signed german embassy newspapers written articles warnings cunard company asked warnings former captain the160lusitania160had already quit reportedly due stress sailing germany publicly declared war zone meanwhile winston churchill quoted said important attract neutral shipping shores hope especially embroiling united states germany command usual british military protection provided the160lusitania despite cunard stated counting protection us secretary state william jennings bryan resigned us failure remain neutral the160lusitania160was carrying weapons troops aid british war germany asserted germany observers true yet us government said us text books say innocent160lusitania160was attacked without warning action alleged justify entering war wait minute exactly 11th hour 11th day 11th month 1918 people across europe suddenly stopped shooting guns moment killing taking bullets falling screaming moaning dying stopped schedule wasnt theyd gotten tired come senses after16011 oclock160they simply following orders armistice agreement ended world war set16011 oclock160as quitting time henry nicholas john gunther born baltimore maryland parents immigrated germany september 1917 drafted help kill germans written home europe describe horrible war encourage others avoid drafted demoted letter censored told buddies would prove 500 11111918 armistice signed deadline of1601100 am160approached henry got orders bravely charged bayonet toward two german machine guns germans aware armistice tried wave kept approaching shooting got close short burst machine gun fire ended life at1601059 am160henry last 11000 men killed wounded signing armistice taking effect henry gunther given rank back life armistice day year lot years remembrance november 11th us congress called armistice day holiday perpetuate peace good mutual understanding nations day dedicated cause world peace churches rang bells at1601100 meant holiday peace lasted long idea peace outlawing war lawyer chicago named salmon levinson idea could ban dueling couldnt ban war built popular movement 1928 war legal outlawing means wealthiest nations earth signing ratifying kelloggbriand pact biggest news story 1928 wars prevented world war ii losers prosecuted new crime wealthy nations never went war conquest colonialism virtually ceased territorial gains war restored 1928 borders number nations earth quickly doubled became relatively safe exist small country outlawing war never accompanied disarming weapons fact arming funding future enemies became growing industry day law twisted nuremberg tokyo united nations charter ban aggressive nonunauthorized wars five biggest weapons dealers war makers given veto power security council endless rules invented proper wars idea war crime intentionally forgotten anyone mentions nowadays response war exists therefore crime response seems work instance crimes exist would point criminalizing great depressionpreparation mule 1930s us military expanded pacific march 1935 president franklin roosevelt bestowed wake island us navy gave pan airways permit build runways wake island midway island guam japanese military commanders announced disturbed viewed runways threat peace activists united states next month roosevelt planned war games maneuvers near aleutian islands midway island following month peace activists marching new york advocating friendship japan norman thomas wrote 1935 man mars saw men suffered last war frantically preparing next war know worse would come conclusion looking denizens lunatic asylum us believed japanese attack hawaii would begin conquering island niihau flights would take assault islands us army air corp lt col gerald brant approached robinson family owned niihau still asked plow furrows across island grid render useless airplanes 1933 1937 three niihau men cut furrows plows pulled mules draft horses us navy spent next years working plans war japan march 8 1939 version described offensive war long duration turned japanese plans use niihau japanese plane part attack pearl harbor make emergency landing landed niihau despite efforts mules horses downing street part august 18 1941 prime minister winston churchill met cabinet 10 downing street house churchill told cabinet according minutes us president said would wage war declare addition everything done force incident british propagandists argued since least 1938 using japan bring united states war atlantic conference august 12 1941 president franklin roosevelt assured churchill united states would bring economic pressure bear japan within week economic defense board gotten economic sanctions way september 3 1941 us state department sent japan demand accept principle nondisturbance status quo pacific allied blockade cut 75 normal trade japan according the160new york times september 1941 japanese press outraged united states begun shipping oil right past japan reach russia japan newspapers said dying slow death economic war october 1940 memorandum lieutenant commander arthur h mccollum called eight actions mccollum predicted would lead japanese attack including arranging use british bases singapore use dutch bases indonesia aiding chinese government sending division longrange heavy cruisers philippines singapore sending two divisions submarines orient keeping main strength fleet hawaii insisting dutch refuse japanese oil embargoing trade japan day mccollums memo state department told americans evacuate far eastern nations roosevelt ordered fleet kept hawaii strenuous objection admiral james richardson quoted president saying sooner later japanese would commit overt act united states nation would willing enter war late october 1941 us spy edgar mower spoke man manila named ernest johnson member maritime commission said expected japs take manila get mower expressed surprise johnson replied didnt know jap fleet moved eastward presumably attack fleet pearl harbor november 3 1941 us ambassador tried first time get something governments thick skull sending lengthy telegram state department warning economic sanctions might force japan commit national harakiri wrote armed conflict united states may come dangerous dramatic suddenness november 15 1941 army chief staff george marshall briefed media preparing offensive war japan160ten days later160secretary war henry stimson wrote diary hed met oval office marshall president roosevelt secretary navy frank knox admiral harold stark secretary state cordell hull roosevelt told japanese likely attack soon possibly160next monday united states broken japanese codes hull leaked japanese intercept press resulting november 30 1941 headline japanese may strike weekend message admiral harold stark sent admiral husband kimmel november 28 1941 read hostilities repeat avoided united states desires japan commit first overt act joseph rochefort cofounder navys communication intelligence section instrumental failing communicate pearl harbor coming would later comment pretty cheap price pay unifying country also november 28 1941 vice admiral william f halsey jr gave instructions shoot anything saw sky bomb anything saw sea may 24 1941 the160new york times160had reported us training chinese air force provision numerous fighting bombing planes china united states bombing japanese cities expected read subheadline july joint armynavy board approved plan called jb 355 firebomb japan front corporation would buy american planes flown american volunteers roosevelt approved china expert lauchlin currie words nicholson baker wired madame chaing kaishek claire chennault letter fairly begged interception japanese spies 1st american volunteer group avg chinese air force also known flying tigers moved ahead recruitment training immediately provided china prior pearl harbor first saw combat december 20 1941 marshall later admitted congress japanese codes broken united states initiated anglodutchamerican agreements unified action japan put effect pearl harbor united states provided officers military china combat duty pearl harbor henry luce in160life160magazine july 20 1942 referred chinese us delivered ultimatum brought pearl harbor peace vs holocaust jessie wallace hughan founder war resisters league concerned 1942 stories nazi plans longer focused expelling jews turning toward plans murder hughan believed development appeared natural pathological point view might really acted upon world war ii continued seems way save thousands perhaps millions european jews destruction wrote would government broadcast promise armistice condition european minorities molested would terrible if160six months now160we find threat literally come pass without making even gesture prevent predictions fulfilled well 1943 wrote us state department the160new york times160two million jews already died two million killed end war warned military successes germany would result scapegoating jews victory save dead men liberated wrote thank lawrence wittner story lets try stay focused anthony eden britains foreign secretary whod tasked churchill handling queries refugees dealt coldly one many important delegations saying diplomatic effort obtain release jews hitler fantastically impossible trip united states eden candidly told cordell hull secretary state real difficulty asking hitler jews hitler might well take us offer simply enough ships means transportation world handle churchill agreed even obtain permission withdraw jews wrote reply one pleading letter transport alone presents problem difficult solution enough shipping transport two years earlier british evacuated nearly 340000 men beaches dunkirk nine days us air force many thousands new planes even brief armistice allies could airlifted transported refugees large numbers german sphere thank quoted nicholson baker anne franks visa application ship jewish refugees germany chased away miami coast guard us nations refused accept jewish refugees majority us public supported position us engaged diplomatic military effort save victims nazi concentration camps anne franks family denied us visas kyotos survival us secretary war henry stimson kept kyoto list targets nuclear bombs hiroshima nagasaki military less civilian kyoto considered less ideal locations demonstrate new bombs kyoto cultural significance appears among appreciated kyotos beauty henry stimson visited kyoto far know never hiroshima nagasaki bad two koreas following world war ii two american colonels after160midnight august 11 1945 pulled a160national geographic160map picked place far north thought could get away chose thirtyeighth parallel latitude drew line thereby doubled number koreas world north stopped receiving food south south stopped receiving electricity north north got leader chosen soviet union south got one chosen imported washington dc could go wrong view nuremberg guatemala robert jackson chief us prosecutor trials nazis war related crimes held nuremberg germany following world war ii set standard world certain acts violation treaties crimes crimes whether united states whether germany prepared lay rule criminal conduct others would willing invoked us among trials held nuremberg one nazi doctors accused human experimentation mass murder trial lasted december 9 1946 august 20 1947 important witness provided american medical association dr andrew c ivy explained nazi doctors actions crimes performed prisoners without consent complete disregard human rights conducted avoid unnecessary pain suffering april 27 1947160new york times newspapers science editor waldemar kaempffert wrote human experiments syphilis would valuable ethically impossible dr john c cutler read short article time engaged giving syphilis unsuspecting victims guatemala funding knowledge support superiors us public health service called the160times160article attention dr john f mahoney director venereal diseases research laboratory vdrl public health service cutler wrote mahoney light the160times160article cutlers work guatemala guarded increased secrecy cutler gone guatemala believed place could get away intentionally infecting people syphilis order experiment possible cures placebos believe could get away actions united states february 1947 cutler begun infecting female prostitutes syphilis using infect numerous men april began infecting men directly motivation find better ways cure syphilis members us military clearly considering ending operations simply war ended united nations established many us doctors time considered nuremberg code came nazi trials good code barbarians many went right human experimenting decades give lsd entire village august 16 1951 quiet village pont saint esprit rhone river southern france began lose mind people hit insanity delirium hallucinations horror man screamed belly eaten snakes tried drown another yelled plane jumped secondfloor window broke legs nonetheless got continued roam around ranting one man said heart escaped feet hundreds people affected dozens taken asylum straight jackets five people died decades later researcher found us government documents confirming cia put lsd local food experiment probably easiest way hear apology incident cia would try lsd mossadegh mohammad mossadegh popular democratically elected president iran visited united states united nations 1951 posed liberty bell philadelphia the160time160magazine person year 1952 many respected even begrudgingly others truly liked admired believed iran profit oil rather british corporation grow rich iranians expense proved unacceptable british recruited cia president dwight eisenhowers approval overthrow mossadegh 1953 operation led teddy roosevelts grandson kermit roosevelt jr united states replaced mossadegh mohammad reza pahlavi former shah iran ruled brutal dictator good weapons customer 1979 tossed iranian revolution fearing another us action iranians took us embassy 1953 coup launched revolutionaries held us embassy employees hostages us presidential candidate ronald reagan made deal iranians release hostages jimmy carter president released day reagan inaugurated irans one least 36 governments united states overthrown since world war ii time united states attempted assassinate 50 leaders dropped bombs 30 countries blowback iranian coup say undesirable results years followed results appear spontaneous irrational uninformed observers fairly typical operations wash brain korean war 1950 1953 united states problem solution brainwashing actual brainwashing creation popularization concept brainwashing became useful spread idea chinese capable things cia dreamed desperately searched creation manchurian candidates human beings programed like machines particular became necessary convince people chinese could erase someones mind replace bunch madeup stories would sincerely believed feat actually possible real world called brainwashing needed well us troops held prisoners war said pretty terrible things crimes engaged free back home refusing recant testimony korean war united states bombed virtually north korea good bit south killing millions people dropped massive quantities napalm bombed dams bridges villages houses allout massslaughter something us government didnt want known something deemed unethical genocidal madness know united states dropped china north korea insects feathers carrying anthrax cholera encephalitis bubonic plague supposed secret time chinese response mass vaccinations insect eradication probably contributed projects general failure hundreds killed millions members us military taken prisoner chinese confessed part confessed publicly got back united states quickly discovered everyones great relief poor souls victims brainwashing veterans day got name right korean war united states celebrated armistice day congress turned armistice day veterans day day peace became day veterans peace groups often excluded warpromoting veterans day parades day changed veterans changed props marketing wars permanent state war sold public benefit young people sent acquire ptsd brain injury moral injury sometimes amputations visible hints whats inside lyme disease come less 2 miles east end long island sits plum island us government worked biological weapons including weapons consisting diseased insects dropped airplanes presumably foreign population one insect deer tick deer swim plum island birds fly plum island july 1975 disease nobody seen united states appeared old lyme connecticut north plum island plum island experimented lone star tick whose habitat time confined texas yet lone star tick showed new york connecticut infecting people lyme disease killing lone star tick endemic new york connecticut new jersey disease spread fast source mystery us journalism treated day plum island held germ warfare laboratory us government brought former nazi germ warfare scientists 1940s work evil work different employer included head nazi germ warfare program worked directly heinrich himmler plum island scientists frequently conducted experiments doors160documents record outdoor experiments diseased ticks 1950s even indoors participants admit experiments ticks sealed tight test animals mingled wild deer test birds wild birds 1990s eastern end long island far greatest concentration lyme disease drew circle around area world heavily impacted lyme disease center circle plum island thank michael carroll story downing street part ii july 23 2002 british prime minister tony blair met cabinet house160 10 downing street minutes taken would published may 2005 top british spy sir richard dearlove returned meeting head cia george tenet according downing street minutes dearloves report follows perceptible shift attitude military action seen inevitable bush wanted remove saddam military action justified conjunction terrorism wmd intelligence facts fixed around policy nsc patience un route enthusiasm publishing material iraqi regimes record little discussion washington aftermath military action document never disputed british government later confirmed numerous sources showed eight months attacking iraq united states decided first however would come eight months claiming trying avoid war everything possible get war started get one planes shot january 31 2003 six months downing street meeting president george w bush prime minister tony blair met white house bush proposed painting us airplanes look like united nations planes flying iraq hopes getting shot order start war recorded blair replied idea know blair urged bush try authorization war united nations bush replied us would put full weight behind efforts get another resolution would twist arms even threaten say ultimately failed military action would follow anyway blair made clear hed go along saying solidly president ready whatever took disarm saddam bush blair walked together meet reporters cameras assured media working avoid war press conference watched youtube people strong stomachs pay attention spain foreign terrorism always concentrated virtually entirely nations engaged foreign wars occupations march 11 2004 al qaeda bombs killed 191 people madrid spain election one party campaigning spains participation usled war iraq people spain voted socialists power removed spanish troops iraq may bombs history stands strong contrast britain united states nations responded blowback war generally producing blowback generally considered inappropriate pay attention spanish example us media even developed habit reporting history spain opposite happened happened better parents president barack obama made clear the160new york times160just second election 2012 looked list men women children tuesdays picking ones killed missiles drones reportedly dispute report remarked reelection campaign really good killing people two weeks killing man named anwar alawlaki punishment things written said obama killed awlakis 16yearold american son abdulrahman alawlaki obama campaign senior adviser former white house press secretary robert gibbs asked killing replied abdulrahman far responsible father good morning bombed village april 23 2013 us senate judiciary committees subcommittee hearing drones usual droning yammering one witness young man yemen site president obamas successful drone war farea almuslimi scheduled testify time things worked prior hearing us drone attacked home village almuslimi described effects bad people village people yemen united states mission eliminate bad people world without turning good people almuslimi asserted us drones build support terrorists yemen terrorists could ever dreamed creating fact years followed situation yemen deteriorated manner consistent muslimis observations statements white house another witness hearing law professor named rosa brooks explained curious congress members drone strikes part war thats fine theyre part war theyre murder since memos legalize drone strikes secret brooks said dont know whether theyre perfectly fine murder needless say nobody asked could legalize war japan needs militarism us occupying army put words kelloggbriand pact forbidding war japanese constitution us government quickly began pressuring japan violate japan refused send troops us wars korea vietnam japan took ownership constitution 2017 however president japan intent reinterpreting ban war license unlimited war making president united states supports effort could go wrong | 4,438 |
<p>China’s crackdown against Tibetan protesters ahead of the Summer Olympics in Beijing carries with it a brutal echo from the past. Scores of people, including school children are reported dead and more repression has been promised. The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC), said “[We must] resolutely crush the ‘Tibet independence’ forces’ conspiracy and sabotaging activities.”</p>
<p>Even after decades of occupation, the ruthlessness of the crackdown has shocked much of the world. It happens the week after the US State Department removed China from its list of the world’s worst human rights offenders.</p>
<p>Yet the concern expressed by world leaders has seemed less for the people of Tibet than the fate of the Summer Games, with Olympic cash deemed more precious than Tibetan blood. The Olympics were supposed to be China’s multibillion-dollar, super sweet sixteen. Britain’s Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, Mark Malloch-Brown told the BBC, “This is China’s coming-out party, and they should take great care to do nothing that will wreck that.”</p>
<p>Other countries hankering after a piece of China’s thriving economy have rushed to put daylight between the crackdown in Tibet and the Olympics. No surprise, the Bush’s White House, underwriting their war in Iraq on loans from Beijing, headed off any talk that President Bush would cancel his appearance at the Olympic Games when spokeswoman Dana Perino said Bush believed that the Olympics “should be about the athletes and not necessarily about politics.” Earlier, the European Union said a “boycott would not be the appropriate way to address the work for respect of human rights, which means the ethnic and religious rights of the Tibetans.”</p>
<p>While the nations of the West have ruled out the idea of boycotting the games, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said Tuesday that the EU should at least consider boycotting the opening ceremony if violence continues. Later Kouchner backtracked, saying “We’re not in favor of it. When you’re dealing in international relations with countries as important as China, obviously when you make economic decisions it’s sometimes at the expense of human rights. That’s elementary realism.”</p>
<p>Whatever happens next, China’s crackdown is not happening in spite of the Beijing Olympics, but because of them. It is a bold play by China to set a tone for the remainder of the year. Since its occupation of the country in 1951, China has suppressed its Buddhist faith and made Tibetans a persecuted minority in their own country via the mass migration of millions of Han Chinese. As monks and young Tibetans took their grievances to the streets over the weekend, the government made clear it would brook no protest and tolerate no dissent.</p>
<p>But it’s helpful to remember that in many countries, including our own, pre-Olympic repression is as much of a tradition as lighting the torch.</p>
<p>In 1984, Los Angeles Police Chief Daryl Gates oversaw the jailing of thousands of young black men in the infamous Olympic Gang Sweeps. Gates also sent the LA Swat Team to Israel and West Berlin for special training.</p>
<p>The 1996 Atlanta games were supposed to demonstrate the gains of the New South, but the New South ended up looking much like the old one, as public housing was razed to make way for Olympic venues, homeless people were chased off the streets and perceived trouble-makers were arrested. As Wendy Pedersen of the Carnegie Community Action Project recently recalled in Vancouver, BC, another city poised to crack down on crime, drugs and homelessness in preparation for the Winter Olympics in 2010, Atlanta officials “had six ordinances that made all kinds of things illegal, including lying down. Lots of people were shipped out, and lots of people were put in jail. [The Olympic Planning Committee] actually built the city jail. Activists there called it the first Olympic project completed on time.”</p>
<p>Repression followed the Olympic Rings to Greece in 2004. As the radio program “Democracy Now,” reported at the time, authorities in Athens “round[ed] up homeless people, drug addicts and the mentally ill, requiring that psychiatric hospitals lock them up.” The pre-Olympics “cleanup” included detaining or deporting refugees and asylum-seekers. Being the first Olympics after 9/11, police surveillance of immigrant Muslims and makeshift mosques in Athens greatly increased.</p>
<p>But the worst example of Olympic repression–and the most resonantto the current moment–came in 1968 in Mexico City, where hundreds of Mexican students and workers occupying the National University were slaughtered in the Plaza de las Tres Culturas on October 2, 1968, ten days before the start of the games. Recently declassified documents paint a picture of a massacre as cold and methodical as President Luis Echeverría’s instructions.</p>
<p>Echeverría’s aim was the same as China’s: a pre-emptive strike to make sure that using the Olympic games as a platform for protest would not be on the itinerary. The irony, of course, is that while Echeverría succeeded in crushing the protest movement outside the games, on the inside US athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their black-gloved fists in an expression of Black Power, cementing the 1968 games as a place defined by discontent. It’s a lesson the 2008 athletes might remember. Officials may try to smother dissent on the streets of Lhasa and elsewhere in China, but in the games themselves–from the path of the Olympic torch up Mount Everest to the opulent venues constructed in Beijing–the risk for protest, and the opportunity, is real.</p>
<p>DAVE ZIRIN is a columnist for sports illustrated.com and the author of “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931859418/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Welcome to the Terrordome</a>,” (Haymarket).</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | chinas crackdown tibetan protesters ahead summer olympics beijing carries brutal echo past scores people including school children reported dead repression promised peoples daily official newspaper ruling communist party china cpc said must resolutely crush tibet independence forces conspiracy sabotaging activities even decades occupation ruthlessness crackdown shocked much world happens week us state department removed china list worlds worst human rights offenders yet concern expressed world leaders seemed less people tibet fate summer games olympic cash deemed precious tibetan blood olympics supposed chinas multibilliondollar super sweet sixteen britains minister africa asia united nations mark mallochbrown told bbc chinas comingout party take great care nothing wreck countries hankering piece chinas thriving economy rushed put daylight crackdown tibet olympics surprise bushs white house underwriting war iraq loans beijing headed talk president bush would cancel appearance olympic games spokeswoman dana perino said bush believed olympics athletes necessarily politics earlier european union said boycott would appropriate way address work respect human rights means ethnic religious rights tibetans nations west ruled idea boycotting games french foreign minister bernard kouchner said tuesday eu least consider boycotting opening ceremony violence continues later kouchner backtracked saying favor youre dealing international relations countries important china obviously make economic decisions sometimes expense human rights thats elementary realism whatever happens next chinas crackdown happening spite beijing olympics bold play china set tone remainder year since occupation country 1951 china suppressed buddhist faith made tibetans persecuted minority country via mass migration millions han chinese monks young tibetans took grievances streets weekend government made clear would brook protest tolerate dissent helpful remember many countries including preolympic repression much tradition lighting torch 1984 los angeles police chief daryl gates oversaw jailing thousands young black men infamous olympic gang sweeps gates also sent la swat team israel west berlin special training 1996 atlanta games supposed demonstrate gains new south new south ended looking much like old one public housing razed make way olympic venues homeless people chased streets perceived troublemakers arrested wendy pedersen carnegie community action project recently recalled vancouver bc another city poised crack crime drugs homelessness preparation winter olympics 2010 atlanta officials six ordinances made kinds things illegal including lying lots people shipped lots people put jail olympic planning committee actually built city jail activists called first olympic project completed time repression followed olympic rings greece 2004 radio program democracy reported time authorities athens rounded homeless people drug addicts mentally ill requiring psychiatric hospitals lock preolympics cleanup included detaining deporting refugees asylumseekers first olympics 911 police surveillance immigrant muslims makeshift mosques athens greatly increased worst example olympic repressionand resonantto current momentcame 1968 mexico city hundreds mexican students workers occupying national university slaughtered plaza de las tres culturas october 2 1968 ten days start games recently declassified documents paint picture massacre cold methodical president luis echeverrías instructions echeverrías aim chinas preemptive strike make sure using olympic games platform protest would itinerary irony course echeverría succeeded crushing protest movement outside games inside us athletes tommie smith john carlos raised blackgloved fists expression black power cementing 1968 games place defined discontent lesson 2008 athletes might remember officials may try smother dissent streets lhasa elsewhere china games themselvesfrom path olympic torch mount everest opulent venues constructed beijingthe risk protest opportunity real dave zirin columnist sports illustratedcom author welcome terrordome haymarket 160 160 160 160 | 546 |
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<p>Give Wesley Clark his due: he looks great on paper. First in his class at Westpoint, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, victor in Kosovo, architect of Dayton, Rhodes Scholar. Not bad. What’s more, less than a week after declaring for president, Clark is running stronger than anyone could have predicted. A Newsweek poll puts him top of the Democratic field, meaning <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/news/969441.asp?0cv=KB20" type="external">he’s already leapfrogged Howard Dean,</a> the most formidable Democratic contender until now. The Democratic party is making nice with Clark, reinforcing the notion that the general, unlike the lightweight Dean, can beat Bush on national security. As New York magazine recently put it, “the only antiwar candidate America is ever going to elect is one who is a four-star general.”</p>
<p>But it’s beginning to seem as though the “white knight” has some chinks in his armor, and that he might even be vulnerable where he seemed strongest.</p>
<p>Clark’s greatest asset, notes London’s Observer, can be summed up in one word: “ <a href="http://observer.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,6903,1046348,00.html" type="external">General.</a>”</p>
<p>“For half a century the Republicans have pounded the Democrats for being soft on national security. Clark, like a white knight on a charger, can finally slay that dragon. It says much about America that the only sort of anti-war candidate with a chance of being elected is a four-star General, and Clark is that man. Cut him and he bleeds the army. He fought in one war and led Nato in another. But he opposed invading Iraq and, unlike many other Democrat candidates, he did it from the beginning.”</p>
<p>Or did he?</p>
<p>Lately Clark has been a strong critic of the Bush administration’s war in Iraq, as in this quote from the New York Times:</p>
<p>“‘It’s important to ask why the administration set the timeline in such a manner that they were unable to wait for an international coalition to emerge and work together,’ he said. ‘And why is it that they failed to plan adequately for the postwar task? Certainly the officers in uniform understood very well the difficulties and what could happen afterward. Why is it that the administration didn’t want those difficulties aired?'”</p>
<p>But last week Clark seemed a lot less sure of his ground. On Thursday he stunned his supporters by telling the Times that <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/19/politics/campaigns/19CLAR.html?ex=1064635200&amp;en=3cf55b5c39e03a89&amp;ei=5062&amp;partner=GOOGLE" type="external">he would have voted for war</a>:</p>
<p>“‘At the time, I probably would have voted for it, but I think that’s too simple a question,’ General Clark said.</p>
<p>A moment later, he said: ‘I don’t know if I would have or not. I’ve said it both ways because when you get into this, what happens is you have to put yourself in a position — on balance, I probably would have voted for it.'”</p>
<p>The following day, Clark stammered — revealing that this general can also wear a politican’s suit and tie:</p>
<p>“I never would have voted for war … What I would have voted for is leverage. Leverage for the United States to avoid a war. That’s what we needed to avoid a war.”</p>
<p>Some see Clark’s flip-flop as part of a larger <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news2003/0916-10.htm" type="external">pattern of backpeddling</a>. Here’s Fairness &amp; Accuracy in Reporting, a media watchdog:</p>
<p>“Hearing Clark talking to CNN‘s Paula Zahn (7/16/03), it would be understandable to think he was an opponent of the war. ‘From the beginning, I have had my doubts about this mission, Paula,” he said. “And I have shared them previously on CNN.’</p>
<p>But a review of his statements before, during and after the war reveals that Clark has taken a range of positions– from expressing doubts about diplomatic and military strategies early on, to celebrating the U.S. ‘victory’ in a column declaring that George W. Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair ‘should be proud of their resolve in the face of so much doubt’ (London Times, 4/10/03).</p>
<p>While political reporters might welcome Clark’s entry into the campaign, to label a candidate with such views ‘anti-war’ is to render the term meaningless.”</p>
<p>What to make of this? Here’s a possible clue, from an online discussion between Washington Post military reporter, Vernon Loeb, and Post readers, one of whom asked:</p>
<p>“From what I remember of Clark’s appearances on TV before and during the war, he seemed to mask whether he supported the war or not. One minute he was applauding the liberation of the Iraqi people, and the next he was saying we should have done it with more allies. But then he said that if the UN wouldn’t pass a resolution, we should find a coalition of the willing to take down Saddam. What gives? Did he support the war or not?”</p>
<p>Loeb replied:</p>
<p>“Well, you’ve put your finger on what I would call the Clark problem. Saying different things to different people, sometimes different things to the same people. His critics in the military chide him for just such double-speak, and say this is one reason why people tend not to trust him. On the other hand, there are those who trust him totally, and say Clark is very loyal to people and greatly respects people of comptence…. He is a very complex guy, but sometimes complex doesn’t wear well on the campaign trial, when complex appears to be confusing and a bit manipulative. But you’ve asked THE question about his candidacy.”</p>
<p>Clark’s contradictions extend beyond what he’s said to what he’s done. Though he’s gone on record criticizing Bush for not taking multilateral approach in Iraq, as The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel notes, Clark has in the past shown quite another side — that of a <a href="http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7" type="external">reckless</a> leader with a go-at-it-alone attitude:</p>
<p>“On June 12, 1999, in the immediate aftermath of NATO’s air war against Yugoslavia, a small contingent of Russian troops dashed to occupy the Pristina airfield in Kosovo. Clark was so anxious to stop the Russians that he ordered an airborne assault to confront these units–an order which could have unleashed the most frightening showdown with Moscow since the end of the Cold War. Hyperbole? You can decide. But British General Michael Jackson, the three-star general and commander of K-FOR, the international force organized and commanded by NATO to enforce an agreement in Kosovo, told Clark: “Sir, I’m not starting world war three for you,” when refusing to accept his order to prevent Russian forces from taking over the airport. (Jackson was rightly worried that any precipitous NATO action could risk a confrontation with a nuclear- armed Russia and upset the NATO-led peacekeeping plan just getting underway with the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo.)</p>
<p>After being rebuffed by Jackson, Clark, according to various media reports at the time, then ordered Admiral James Ellis, the American in charge of NATO’s southern command, to use Apache helicopters to occupy the airfield.</p>
<p>… In the end, Russian reinforcements were stopped when Washington persuaded Hungary, a new NATO member, to refuse to allow Russian aircraft to fly over its territory.”</p>
<p>So he’s a complex guy, with a complicated history. That, on its own, isn’t a deal-breaker. But Clark has gone very quickly from the perfect Democratic candidate to a potential liability. He’s riding high in the polls, for now. Whether he stays up there will depend on how quickly he gets his campaign game on track and his story straight. But, on current evidence, the more the public learns more about Clark’s background, the less willing it will be to give him the benefit of the doubt. For now, let’s just say he’s “complex,” and contradictory. Then again, there’s always the possibility that he’s just plain confused. After all, he’s a Democrat who <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A46203-2003Sep22.html" type="external">voted</a> for both Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | give wesley clark due looks great paper first class westpoint former supreme allied commander nato victor kosovo architect dayton rhodes scholar bad whats less week declaring president clark running stronger anyone could predicted newsweek poll puts top democratic field meaning hes already leapfrogged howard dean formidable democratic contender democratic party making nice clark reinforcing notion general unlike lightweight dean beat bush national security new york magazine recently put antiwar candidate america ever going elect one fourstar general beginning seem though white knight chinks armor might even vulnerable seemed strongest clarks greatest asset notes londons observer summed one word general half century republicans pounded democrats soft national security clark like white knight charger finally slay dragon says much america sort antiwar candidate chance elected fourstar general clark man cut bleeds army fought one war led nato another opposed invading iraq unlike many democrat candidates beginning lately clark strong critic bush administrations war iraq quote new york times important ask administration set timeline manner unable wait international coalition emerge work together said failed plan adequately postwar task certainly officers uniform understood well difficulties could happen afterward administration didnt want difficulties aired last week clark seemed lot less sure ground thursday stunned supporters telling times would voted war time probably would voted think thats simple question general clark said moment later said dont know would ive said ways get happens put position balance probably would voted following day clark stammered revealing general also wear politicans suit tie never would voted war would voted leverage leverage united states avoid war thats needed avoid war see clarks flipflop part larger pattern backpeddling heres fairness amp accuracy reporting media watchdog hearing clark talking cnns paula zahn 71603 would understandable think opponent war beginning doubts mission paula said shared previously cnn review statements war reveals clark taken range positions expressing doubts diplomatic military strategies early celebrating us victory column declaring george w bush british prime minister tony blair proud resolve face much doubt london times 41003 political reporters might welcome clarks entry campaign label candidate views antiwar render term meaningless make heres possible clue online discussion washington post military reporter vernon loeb post readers one asked remember clarks appearances tv war seemed mask whether supported war one minute applauding liberation iraqi people next saying done allies said un wouldnt pass resolution find coalition willing take saddam gives support war loeb replied well youve put finger would call clark problem saying different things different people sometimes different things people critics military chide doublespeak say one reason people tend trust hand trust totally say clark loyal people greatly respects people comptence complex guy sometimes complex doesnt wear well campaign trial complex appears confusing bit manipulative youve asked question candidacy clarks contradictions extend beyond hes said hes done though hes gone record criticizing bush taking multilateral approach iraq nations katrina vanden heuvel notes clark past shown quite another side reckless leader goatitalone attitude june 12 1999 immediate aftermath natos air war yugoslavia small contingent russian troops dashed occupy pristina airfield kosovo clark anxious stop russians ordered airborne assault confront unitsan order could unleashed frightening showdown moscow since end cold war hyperbole decide british general michael jackson threestar general commander kfor international force organized commanded nato enforce agreement kosovo told clark sir im starting world war three refusing accept order prevent russian forces taking airport jackson rightly worried precipitous nato action could risk confrontation nuclear armed russia upset natoled peacekeeping plan getting underway withdrawal serbian forces kosovo rebuffed jackson clark according various media reports time ordered admiral james ellis american charge natos southern command use apache helicopters occupy airfield end russian reinforcements stopped washington persuaded hungary new nato member refuse allow russian aircraft fly territory hes complex guy complicated history isnt dealbreaker clark gone quickly perfect democratic candidate potential liability hes riding high polls whether stays depend quickly gets campaign game track story straight current evidence public learns clarks background less willing give benefit doubt lets say hes complex contradictory theres always possibility hes plain confused hes democrat voted ronald reagan richard nixon | 672 |
<p>By way of jumping right into the conversation, may I say to Ani Zonneveld, one of the four participants in Democracy’s fascinating “Islam and Liberalism” roundtable discussion: I’m all for the reform of Islam, but pork stays off the table. Ew. Don’t eat pork, Malcom X’s mother taught him. I’m with her.</p>
<p>But more seriously: How did we get to a point in world history where someone needs to ask where in Islam is there a foundation for liberalism? Two things brought us here: Three hundred years of imperialist violence undergirded by racist Orientalist cultural production, and five decades of an increasingly violent Muslim reactionism. Nobody would have needed to ask this question in historical eras when it was easier to write as a scientist or to be gay in the Abbasid Caliphate than in England, or easier to live as a Jew in Muslim kingdoms than in Christian ones. Anna Karenina couldn’t get a divorce, but a woman of her aristocratic class in the Ottoman Empire in the same era would have been able to divorce and remarry. I am definitely not saying that any premodern era meets our human rights standards, but I am agreeing with Hassan Abbas that the conditions we are addressing are not some timeless part of Islamic societies; also, that the West must not forget its history of struggling with these human rights issues. And both sides have a continuing struggle. Neither side is innocent.</p>
<p>Human rights is the best vehicle through which to work for “liberalism.” Secular and religious people alike must be able to come to agreement on basic universal standards for equality. I don’t care what the specific inspirations are as long as we do the work. If you wanted me to, I could line up which Islamic teachings would work for me, and they would include the Quranic verse indicated by Asra Nomani, which says, “Stand up for justice even if it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, rich or poor,” as well as a meditation on the name of God that Keith Ellison cited, “the Compassionate,” which has the same root as the word for “womb.”</p>
<p>I would add the Quranic verse stressed by the Syrian teacher of nonviolence Jawdat Said: “Even though you stretch out your hand to kill me, I will not stretch out my hand to kill you.” I would also mention the spiritual bewilderment of the thirteenth-century Sufi Ibn al-Arabi and the feminist practice of the contemporary Islamic scholar and activist Dr. Amina Wadud. I would add a lot of other things that would take me a semester to list. Each community can glean teachings from its own heritage that will get us to agree on universal human rights standards. Let’s just get there.</p>
<p>When I say “universal human rights,” some people may search for an out. Conservative Muslims don’t get excused from joining in the formulation of universal human rights standards by manipulating the concept of cultural relativism any more than conservative Christians get to claim an exemption by manipulating the concept of religious freedom. Nor do Zionist Jews get a free pass on human rights because the West perpetrated the most horrific genocidal massacre in modern human history against the Jews, or because the Bible says they’re special. Cut through all those false moves, because if you are a believer, then ultimately you believe that your religion and your existence is beneficial to humankind. So let it be beneficial. Find a way.</p>
<p>We are teetering on the edge of a climate disaster that will affect all of us. How are we supposed to work together on that if we don’t even consider the lives of these people and the lives of those other people equally worth saving? If we can’t even endorse that Black Lives do Matter or give LGBTQ individuals the same civil rights as everyone else? If we don’t arrive at basic agreement on universal human rights standards?</p>
<p>World, I’m putting you on notice until 2067. That’s when I turn 100, if I live—and if I don’t, I’m still coming after you from the spirit realm to ask: Have you fixed human rights? Have you established minimum standards for decency that you’re willing to uphold everywhere?</p>
<p>How do we get there from here?</p>
<p>Not by erasing economics from the debate about religious liberalism. The underlying have-and-have-not economic crisis of our particular era often manifests as religious extremism. All of your roundtable participants, and myself too, we’re not the mega-rich but we’re also not the scraping poor, and we cannot just speak from our position of relative privilege without addressing the economic injustice that so often goes into radicalizing people, be they Christian militia members in the high-poverty state where I live, Arkansas, or Islamist militia members elsewhere. We need to tackle the poverty that often drives the xenophobia so easily manipulated by demagogues.</p>
<p>Nor can we erase politics from this struggle for Islamic liberalism. Take the campaign in Lebanon struggling for a liberal interpretation of Islam that would allow interfaith civil marriage. There is a small group of activists advocating the legality of those interfaith civil marriages that have already been allowed to happen through a loophole in the law, and a small faction passionately against it on religious grounds (both Muslim and Christian, by the way). The majority is passive. I think interfaith civil marriage is eventually going to gain ground in Lebanon, but only after concerted work on social change swings more people. And there, you’re working on social change in a post-conflict society; Lebanon’s 15-year civil war only ended in 1990, and the state has been set up for sectarian conflict by colonialism and then, in more recent years, repeatedly bombed by Israel.So you ask if the majority there is liberal. It’s apples and oranges to compare liberalism across post-conflict societies on the one hand, which have been shredded by occupation, invasion, and wars fought on their soil, and the United States on the other, which has not had that since the American Civil War, although it has had a social-and-legal-system war against black Americans and indigenous peoples. It’s bogus to compare the United States or France to postcolonial states that have been set up for sectarian conflict as Syria and Iraq were—set up that way by France and the United States, to boot. It’s disingenuous to expect people living under dictatorships and military rule and monarchy to get up and reform their religious traditions overnight on somebody else’s command.</p>
<p>And when that somebody is speaking from the country that has a vested interest in that dictatorship, it adds another layer of bad faith. Whenever an American criticizes how deeply conservative Saudi society is, we also need to face the fact that our country has long been deeply invested in keeping Saudi Arabia stable for the sake of oil and military interests, and thus our lifestyles are also implicated in Saudi conservatism—its anti-unionism, its racist labor laws, and its gender inequality. When we get in our cars and participate in earth-destroying consumption, we also contribute to maintaining the Saudi regime’s need to appease the conservatives in its society. We can’t have it both ways. We can’t demand low gas prices then rail about Saudi fornication laws.</p>
<p>I’m over here working hard on reforming Islam where my hand can reach, and I’m paying a price for it. But it’s not some airy debate, whether Islam can be liberal—it’s being conducted over bodies, soil, and societies that have been shattered. And it’s also about our over-consumptive lifestyle, our devouring of the world’s resources. By “we” I mean we who benefit without examining our investment. We attribute violence exclusively to the Other, the sexist mullah who threatens our lifestyle. And that violence is not an illusion—it’s 9/11 real, and it’s devastating. And, at the same time, our desire to consume is so embedded in us and has been constructed for us as such a towering part of our identity—as what we need to be us—that it has made us agree to destroy others in order to protect that desire. We need to remember that each time we jingle our car keys.</p>
<p>I’m not letting the imam over there off the hook by saying all this. He needs to be lifting his hand to work for human rights wherever he can reach, and he’s not. If he’s all “Islam is a religion of peace” and railing against Islamophobia and imperialism while not declaring zero-tolerance on domestic violence and the sexual trafficking of Yazidi women, he’s also implicated. Dual critique, or activism against injustices on multiple fronts simultaneously, is what I’m after, on an axis of human rights. To do this as Muslims, we call out our co-religionists on human rights abuses while calling out imperialist power and its racist double standards on human rights.</p>
<p>What we have right now is a bifurcation where each side has tunnel vision. Conservative Muslim Americans are vigilant against Islamophobia, and thus often get chummy with U.S. liberals who promote understanding of Muslim Americans. But without the rebar of human rights under it, this kind of work will collapse. They adopt the language of liberalism but don’t walk the walk, don’t step up against gender injustice within the faith community, don’t apply tolerance to LGBTQ Muslims, toward marginalized groups within. Just after the Orlando shooting this June, when a straight Muslim-American homophobe shot up a gay club, I received notices from Muslim-American groups encouraging dialogue “between Muslims and the LBGTQ community,” and other such language assuming that the two were mutually exclusive and ignoring Muslim LGBTQ folk. Add to that the immigrant Muslims who entered under the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965, benefiting from the U.S. civil rights struggle by black Americans and adopting its language to advocate for ourselves, but failing to step up in solidarity for black lives. And we immigrant Muslim Americans tend to say things like “America has not had a history of Islam,” ignoring the Islam that enslaved Africans brought to this hemisphere 400 years ago. Plus, many immigrant Muslim Americans regularly stand up for Palestinians trampled by the Israeli state while rarely speaking out for the land and water rights of indigenous peoples in the Western Hemisphere.</p>
<p>On the other hand, progressive&#160;Muslims do advocate for gender equality within, do criticize conservative Islamic institutions, do throw down for LGBTQ rights—and I’m with them on all those things. But sometimes they do this work in ways that fall in with right-wing American anti-Muslim bigotry, with its advocacy for racial profiling and heightened domestic surveillance, and its accompanying foreign-policy militarism. They, too, let go the handhold of human rights in their single-sided critique. By focusing just on the sexist imam in Afghanistan (who deserves criticism), but not struggling simultaneously against how we are over-consuming beings invested in powers that keep killing children in the imam’s village—or black women in Texas—we use the term “progressive” in a manner that implies our innocence. By not noticing the agonizing struggle of Syrian people against a dictator but coming out full voice only when ISIS unleashed its terror, too many progressive American Muslims exposed themselves as sheep-like bleaters. ISIS terrorizes Iraqis and Syrians more than it terrorizes anyone else, but Assad is still unmatched as killer of Syrian civilians.</p>
<p>We need to critique ourselves and the larger forces at play simultaneously, not being co-opted by either struggle into blindness toward the other struggle. That’s dual critique, or really multiple critique, or what Edward Said called being “contrapuntal.” But whatever you call it, it’s simply about being consistent on human rights. So we stand up and say ISIS killing civilians is wrong and immoral, and we stand up and say the death penalty in the United States is disproportionately executed on black men, even though one is committed by an authoritarian non-state actor that thinks it’s a state, and the other by a democratic state with checks and balances and habeas corpus. Torture is wrong for both. They both think they’re saving lives by means they deem necessary—but they’re each bent on saving only the lives they think matter. And dual critique includes solidarity with Black Lives Matter and the rights of indigenous peoples. One ethical standard of human rights and human equality, because as soon as we lose our handhold on universally equal human rights we lose the only lever that can pull us all out of this.</p>
<p>I want it all fixed by 2067. So let’s get to it. And I want music in it, Ani, and your beautiful voice singing. And, Asra, I want tantric sex to be part of it. A girl can dream. (But no pork, please.)</p> | true | 4 | way jumping right conversation may say ani zonneveld one four participants democracys fascinating islam liberalism roundtable discussion im reform islam pork stays table ew dont eat pork malcom xs mother taught im seriously get point world history someone needs ask islam foundation liberalism two things brought us three hundred years imperialist violence undergirded racist orientalist cultural production five decades increasingly violent muslim reactionism nobody would needed ask question historical eras easier write scientist gay abbasid caliphate england easier live jew muslim kingdoms christian ones anna karenina couldnt get divorce woman aristocratic class ottoman empire era would able divorce remarry definitely saying premodern era meets human rights standards agreeing hassan abbas conditions addressing timeless part islamic societies also west must forget history struggling human rights issues sides continuing struggle neither side innocent human rights best vehicle work liberalism secular religious people alike must able come agreement basic universal standards equality dont care specific inspirations long work wanted could line islamic teachings would work would include quranic verse indicated asra nomani says stand justice even parents kin rich poor well meditation name god keith ellison cited compassionate root word womb would add quranic verse stressed syrian teacher nonviolence jawdat said even though stretch hand kill stretch hand kill would also mention spiritual bewilderment thirteenthcentury sufi ibn alarabi feminist practice contemporary islamic scholar activist dr amina wadud would add lot things would take semester list community glean teachings heritage get us agree universal human rights standards lets get say universal human rights people may search conservative muslims dont get excused joining formulation universal human rights standards manipulating concept cultural relativism conservative christians get claim exemption manipulating concept religious freedom zionist jews get free pass human rights west perpetrated horrific genocidal massacre modern human history jews bible says theyre special cut false moves believer ultimately believe religion existence beneficial humankind let beneficial find way teetering edge climate disaster affect us supposed work together dont even consider lives people lives people equally worth saving cant even endorse black lives matter give lgbtq individuals civil rights everyone else dont arrive basic agreement universal human rights standards world im putting notice 2067 thats turn 100 liveand dont im still coming spirit realm ask fixed human rights established minimum standards decency youre willing uphold everywhere get erasing economics debate religious liberalism underlying haveandhavenot economic crisis particular era often manifests religious extremism roundtable participants megarich also scraping poor speak position relative privilege without addressing economic injustice often goes radicalizing people christian militia members highpoverty state live arkansas islamist militia members elsewhere need tackle poverty often drives xenophobia easily manipulated demagogues erase politics struggle islamic liberalism take campaign lebanon struggling liberal interpretation islam would allow interfaith civil marriage small group activists advocating legality interfaith civil marriages already allowed happen loophole law small faction passionately religious grounds muslim christian way majority passive think interfaith civil marriage eventually going gain ground lebanon concerted work social change swings people youre working social change postconflict society lebanons 15year civil war ended 1990 state set sectarian conflict colonialism recent years repeatedly bombed israelso ask majority liberal apples oranges compare liberalism across postconflict societies one hand shredded occupation invasion wars fought soil united states since american civil war although socialandlegalsystem war black americans indigenous peoples bogus compare united states france postcolonial states set sectarian conflict syria iraq wereset way france united states boot disingenuous expect people living dictatorships military rule monarchy get reform religious traditions overnight somebody elses command somebody speaking country vested interest dictatorship adds another layer bad faith whenever american criticizes deeply conservative saudi society also need face fact country long deeply invested keeping saudi arabia stable sake oil military interests thus lifestyles also implicated saudi conservatismits antiunionism racist labor laws gender inequality get cars participate earthdestroying consumption also contribute maintaining saudi regimes need appease conservatives society cant ways cant demand low gas prices rail saudi fornication laws im working hard reforming islam hand reach im paying price airy debate whether islam liberalits conducted bodies soil societies shattered also overconsumptive lifestyle devouring worlds resources mean benefit without examining investment attribute violence exclusively sexist mullah threatens lifestyle violence illusionits 911 real devastating time desire consume embedded us constructed us towering part identityas need usthat made us agree destroy others order protect desire need remember time jingle car keys im letting imam hook saying needs lifting hand work human rights wherever reach hes hes islam religion peace railing islamophobia imperialism declaring zerotolerance domestic violence sexual trafficking yazidi women hes also implicated dual critique activism injustices multiple fronts simultaneously im axis human rights muslims call coreligionists human rights abuses calling imperialist power racist double standards human rights right bifurcation side tunnel vision conservative muslim americans vigilant islamophobia thus often get chummy us liberals promote understanding muslim americans without rebar human rights kind work collapse adopt language liberalism dont walk walk dont step gender injustice within faith community dont apply tolerance lgbtq muslims toward marginalized groups within orlando shooting june straight muslimamerican homophobe shot gay club received notices muslimamerican groups encouraging dialogue muslims lbgtq community language assuming two mutually exclusive ignoring muslim lgbtq folk add immigrant muslims entered immigration nationality act 1965 benefiting us civil rights struggle black americans adopting language advocate failing step solidarity black lives immigrant muslim americans tend say things like america history islam ignoring islam enslaved africans brought hemisphere 400 years ago plus many immigrant muslim americans regularly stand palestinians trampled israeli state rarely speaking land water rights indigenous peoples western hemisphere hand progressive160muslims advocate gender equality within criticize conservative islamic institutions throw lgbtq rightsand im things sometimes work ways fall rightwing american antimuslim bigotry advocacy racial profiling heightened domestic surveillance accompanying foreignpolicy militarism let go handhold human rights singlesided critique focusing sexist imam afghanistan deserves criticism struggling simultaneously overconsuming beings invested powers keep killing children imams villageor black women texaswe use term progressive manner implies innocence noticing agonizing struggle syrian people dictator coming full voice isis unleashed terror many progressive american muslims exposed sheeplike bleaters isis terrorizes iraqis syrians terrorizes anyone else assad still unmatched killer syrian civilians need critique larger forces play simultaneously coopted either struggle blindness toward struggle thats dual critique really multiple critique edward said called contrapuntal whatever call simply consistent human rights stand say isis killing civilians wrong immoral stand say death penalty united states disproportionately executed black men even though one committed authoritarian nonstate actor thinks state democratic state checks balances habeas corpus torture wrong think theyre saving lives means deem necessarybut theyre bent saving lives think matter dual critique includes solidarity black lives matter rights indigenous peoples one ethical standard human rights human equality soon lose handhold universally equal human rights lose lever pull us want fixed 2067 lets get want music ani beautiful voice singing asra want tantric sex part girl dream pork please | 1,128 |
<p>When I was a kid growing up in Utica, New York in the 1950s and early 1960s, an ungodly amount of our Social Studies curriculum was devoted to hard-core anti-Communist propaganda.&#160; Since our town was nestled in the Mohawk Valley—the heart of French and Indian War country–we were also forced to study obscenely detailed accounts of Catholic priests being flayed alive by Iroquois squaws, cooked alive on spits but never renouncing their Savior, etc. This theme—of Catholics martyred by infidels—surfaced yet again when we studied “Red” China, which Mister Fletcher soberly informed us had slaughtered 100,000 Catholic priests.&#160; It was never really clear to us what the hell 100,000 Catholic priests were doing in “Red” China in the first place, but the net effect of all this flaying and roasting and slaughter, in a largely Catholic town, was probably to discourage boys from entering the priesthood.</p>
<p>But this blood-soaked anti-communist syllabus wasn’t even confined to the classroom.&#160; As weekend homework in sixth grade, that same Mister Fletcher—actually an excellent teacher, who generously allowed me to heckle and debate him—had us listen to a radio program (radio! yes! I’m that freaking old!). The program was called Fred Schwarz’ Christian Anti-Communist Crusade.&#160; Much to my mother’s disgust, once a week I had to tune our bulky but handsome Blaupunkt console radio away from Ray Charles or Chubby Checker to Schwarz’ show, which (like his book) was called You Can Trust the Communists…To Do Exactly What They Say!</p>
<p>It’s a pretty snappy title, and Fred Schwarz—who had converted from Judaism at 20—was a pretty snappy fascist.&#160; Reading his stuff now makes you pine for the golden days of anti-communism; Schwarz had actually read Lenin, Trotsky, Marx, and Engels, and spoke knowingly of Hegelian dialectics and nodal points and other things I still don’t understand.&#160; Nonetheless, Dr&#160; Fred Schwarz was a freaking lunatic, and it was like forcing sixth-grade students to watch Alex Jones bellowing about false flag shotings.&#160; Schwarz’ shtick—a simple, not to say simplistic one, repeated ad nauseum—was to present a quote from Marx, Stalin, Kruschev, whoever, either taken way out of context or completely made up, which “proved” his thesis: that Communism was a flesh-eating alien force that would soon devour us all.&#160; In Schwarz’ world, little existed beyond Communism.&#160; Little Richard? Brando? Women in trousers? The infield fly rule? Broken dinner appointments? Communism was more than just an evil political force.&#160; It was a mystical, all-annihilating, airborne pathogen.</p>
<p>It was, come to think of it, pretty much what the Jews were to Hitler and Goebbels.</p>
<p>And what “Russia” has become to MSNBC.</p>
<p>To Schwarz, as to the John Birch Society, the problem wasn’t just those hard-core, obvious Communists like Dwight D Eisenhower.&#160; No, there was an even more insidious group of “comsymps” at work in every school and office in America, jelly-spined weaklings who did the Rooskies’ bidding by failing to condemn them at every turn. These Comsymps were everywhere and nowhere.&#160; That “nice” postman who delivers The Saturday Evening Post, with its radical filth by Pearl Buck? Possible Comsymp. Your pediatrician, recommending Doctor Spock? A definite medical Comsymp. Now that I think of it, Mister Fletcher himself may well have been a Comsymp, consciously over-hyping right-wing nonsense in order to breed yet more Comsymps!</p>
<p>Of course, this was more than a half-century ago, and Dr Fred Schwarz now sleeps on the wrong side of the lawn. And yet his spirit hovers on, smelling of boiling cabbage, in the studios of MSNBC. &#160;Day or night, MSNBC gonna MSNBC.&#160;&#160; It’s become a quick-take machine which sucks in the raw political material of the day and packs it into shapely—but deeply paranoid—anti-Russia narratives.&#160; When they’re forced to interrupt this Trump/Putin/Assange horror story to briefly cover hurricanes or mass shootings, you can sense the foot-tapping impatience in Joy Reid—um, when can we get back to Robert Mueller?&#160; At a time when one in five American children goes to bed hungry, we hear absolutely nothing about it, but we are barraged with endless details about the FBI serving warrants on Paul Manafort.&#160; As millions of black, Hispanic, Native American and poor white people rot in jails for drug possession, we hear absolutely nothing about it, but we are kept up to the minute on Jared Kushner’s real –estate holdings.&#160; Yes, you can trust MSBNC to do whatever it takes to make Russia seem evil–Joy Reid even claimed that it’s still a Communist hell!—so as to distract its viewers from Hillary Clinton’s dumb-bell campaign, and the staggering failures of the Democratic Party.&#160; We can be grateful that at least they no longer pretend to “Lean Forward;” Reid herself admits that she now feels closer to neo-con war freaks like Bill Kristol and Jon Podhoretz than she does to “the left.”</p>
<p>MSNBC has even pinpointed the Comsymps of 2017: that’s everyone who doesn’t share their obsessive belief that a band of super-genius Russian Lex Luthors stole our election by sub-tweeting John Podesta’s emails and taking out some ads on Facebook.&#160; Don’t believe it? There’s a simple, MSNBC-approved test. The next time you have an appointment with your child’s pediatrician, I dare you—see if he or she even mentions Paul Manafort!&#160; Perhaps then your eyes will finally be opened to the horror…</p>
<p>I wish you Godspeed, my friends, because the road is dark, and the Comsymps are everywhere.&#160; Thank God you can trust MSBNC!</p> | true | 4 | kid growing utica new york 1950s early 1960s ungodly amount social studies curriculum devoted hardcore anticommunist propaganda160 since town nestled mohawk valleythe heart french indian war countrywe also forced study obscenely detailed accounts catholic priests flayed alive iroquois squaws cooked alive spits never renouncing savior etc themeof catholics martyred infidelssurfaced yet studied red china mister fletcher soberly informed us slaughtered 100000 catholic priests160 never really clear us hell 100000 catholic priests red china first place net effect flaying roasting slaughter largely catholic town probably discourage boys entering priesthood bloodsoaked anticommunist syllabus wasnt even confined classroom160 weekend homework sixth grade mister fletcheractually excellent teacher generously allowed heckle debate himhad us listen radio program radio yes im freaking old program called fred schwarz christian anticommunist crusade160 much mothers disgust week tune bulky handsome blaupunkt console radio away ray charles chubby checker schwarz show like book called trust communiststo exactly say pretty snappy title fred schwarzwho converted judaism 20was pretty snappy fascist160 reading stuff makes pine golden days anticommunism schwarz actually read lenin trotsky marx engels spoke knowingly hegelian dialectics nodal points things still dont understand160 nonetheless dr160 fred schwarz freaking lunatic like forcing sixthgrade students watch alex jones bellowing false flag shotings160 schwarz shticka simple say simplistic one repeated ad nauseumwas present quote marx stalin kruschev whoever either taken way context completely made proved thesis communism flesheating alien force would soon devour us all160 schwarz world little existed beyond communism160 little richard brando women trousers infield fly rule broken dinner appointments communism evil political force160 mystical allannihilating airborne pathogen come think pretty much jews hitler goebbels russia become msnbc schwarz john birch society problem wasnt hardcore obvious communists like dwight eisenhower160 even insidious group comsymps work every school office america jellyspined weaklings rooskies bidding failing condemn every turn comsymps everywhere nowhere160 nice postman delivers saturday evening post radical filth pearl buck possible comsymp pediatrician recommending doctor spock definite medical comsymp think mister fletcher may well comsymp consciously overhyping rightwing nonsense order breed yet comsymps course halfcentury ago dr fred schwarz sleeps wrong side lawn yet spirit hovers smelling boiling cabbage studios msnbc 160day night msnbc gon na msnbc160160 become quicktake machine sucks raw political material day packs shapelybut deeply paranoidantirussia narratives160 theyre forced interrupt trumpputinassange horror story briefly cover hurricanes mass shootings sense foottapping impatience joy reidum get back robert mueller160 time one five american children goes bed hungry hear absolutely nothing barraged endless details fbi serving warrants paul manafort160 millions black hispanic native american poor white people rot jails drug possession hear absolutely nothing kept minute jared kushners real estate holdings160 yes trust msbnc whatever takes make russia seem eviljoy reid even claimed still communist hellso distract viewers hillary clintons dumbbell campaign staggering failures democratic party160 grateful least longer pretend lean forward reid admits feels closer neocon war freaks like bill kristol jon podhoretz left msnbc even pinpointed comsymps 2017 thats everyone doesnt share obsessive belief band supergenius russian lex luthors stole election subtweeting john podestas emails taking ads facebook160 dont believe theres simple msnbcapproved test next time appointment childs pediatrician dare yousee even mentions paul manafort160 perhaps eyes finally opened horror wish godspeed friends road dark comsymps everywhere160 thank god trust msbnc | 532 |
<p>The nation’s chemical and energy-intensive food and farming system, Food Inc., is out-of-control, posing a mortal threat to public health, the environment, and climate stability.</p>
<p>Economically stressed and distracted consumers have become dependent on a factory farm system designed to provide cheap processed food that may be cosmetically perfect and easily shipped, but which is seriously degraded in terms of purity and nutritional value.</p>
<p>USDA studies reveal that the food currently grown on America’s chemical-intensive farms contains drastically less vitamins and essential trace minerals than the food produced 50 years ago (when far less pesticides and chemical fertilizers were used). As even Time magazine has admitted recently, given the hidden costs of damage to public health, climate stability, and the environment, conventional (factory farm) food is extremely expensive.&#160; Much of Food Inc.’s common fare is not only nutritionally deficient, but also routinely contaminated–laced with pesticide residues, antibiotics, hormones, harmful bacteria and viruses, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and toxic chemicals. 1 Like tobacco, factory farm food is dangerous to your health. No wonder organic food is by far the fastest growing segment of U.S. agriculture.</p>
<p>The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the California Department of Agriculture (CDFA), and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) have shown that many of the nation’s favorite foods are contaminated with a lethal cocktail of the most toxic chemicals, putting consumers, and especially children and infants (who are up to 100 times more sensitive to toxic chemicals) at risk. For those living in factory farming communities and working on farms, the constant exposure to the most toxic pesticides poses an even greater risk than the general population for cancer, birth defects, asthma, Parkinson’s, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, Alzheimer’s, liver, kidney, heart disease, and many other ailments. Forty-eight percent of U.S. women now get cancer, as well as 38% of men.</p>
<p>There is now conclusive evidence that exposure to farm and household chemicals (including body care and cleaning products) greatly increase your chances of getting cancer or other serious diseases. This is why there are large and growing clusters of cancers and birth defects in farm and urban communities all over the U.S. These clusters are a direct result of the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers on our farms, ranches, gardens, and lawns. 2</p>
<p>Several recent French court decisions have determined that farmers are suffering from leukemia, Parkinson’s, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and myeloma cancers as a direct result of chemicals they’ve used on their farms. 3 The chemicals causing these cancers and leukemia are the same chemicals used to grow food in the U.S.</p>
<p>Besides the damage to human health from pesticide use, chemical agriculture’s use of synthetic fertilizers and sewage sludge have polluted the nation’s streams, creeks, rivers, oceans, drinking water, and millions of acres of farmland. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Environmental Working Group, two-thirds of the U.S. population is drinking water contaminated with high levels of nitrates and nitrites, caused by nitrate fertilizer runoff from factory farms. Large areas along our coastlines, bays, and gulfs have become “dead zones” as a result of excess nitrogen fertilizer and sewage sludge flowing into them. Serious illness and death are directly attributable to high levels of nitrates and pesticides in drinking water. 4</p>
<p>Factory farming’s carbon footprint is also huge. Government officials have consistently failed to regulate agriculture’s greenhouse gas emissions or even admit that they are a serious problem. Most official estimates of greenhouse gas pollution of U.S. agriculture range from a ridiculously low 7% to 12% of total U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Recent analysis has demonstrated that U.S. factory farms and industrial agriculture are responsible for at least 35%, and possibly up to 50%, of greenhouse gas emissions. 5 Unfortunately, agriculture is currently exempted from even weak U.S. efforts to control greenhouse gases, including the recent cap and trade legislation passed by the House of Representatives. 6 Hopefully the most recent U.S. EPA directives in December 2009 on curbing greenhouse gasses will apply to agriculture, our most polluting industry. However, “just say no” Republican and Democratic congressmen are doing the bidding of their pesticide, fertilizer, and petroleum clients (instead of their constituents) and have vowed to block any efforts by the EPA to regulate emissions.</p>
<p>The farm and chemical industry may now be as vulnerable as the tobacco industry was in the 1990s. People in the U.S. have finally become suspicious of the safety of the (non-organic) food supply. Millions are wary of home pesticides, weed killers, and synthetic garden and lawn fertilizers. Big agricultural chemical companies are under increasing criticism from consumers, including relatives of those hospitalized and killed by farm chemicals and factory farm contaminated food.</p>
<p>Giant tobacco corporations lied to the public for decades, claiming that cigarettes were safe. Similarly chemical corporations and agri-business have conducted a hundred year campaign to hide the dangers of their farm chemicals. They hired scientists in the 1920s and 1930s to lie to the public about the dangers of arsenic and lead, the most widely used pesticides of the era. They hired scientists in the 1950s and 1960s to counteract the criticism of DDT and the other World War II pesticides and fertilizers. In the mid 1960s and the 1970s corporate agribusiness and chemical giants like Monsanto put enormous resources into debunking the criticisms of toxic chemicals in Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring and those of other public health and environmental activists.</p>
<p>Chemical companies hired fake laboratories to give their most toxic chemicals a guarantee of safety in the 1980s and 90s. The EPA, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the USDA accepted these bogus reports as valid until independent scientists and safe-food activists exposed the truth. The chemical industry has routinely stalled or neutered any chemical regulations passed in the U.S. Much of the public still believes it is protected because Congress passed several landmark pesticide and chemical control laws in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. Unfortunately, the chemical corporations and corporate agribusiness have lobbied successfully against these laws, weakening or repealing them. As a result, only a handful of the 80,000 industrial chemicals or pesticides used in farming or found in consumer products have lost their federal or state registration in the last 40 years. 7</p>
<p>As the co-author of this essay, Will Allen, concluded in his 2008 book The War on Bugs, it is time to conduct a full-scale offensive against factory farming and industrial agriculture. It is time for consumers to stop buying chemical food and using poisonous chemicals on their lawns, gardens, and in their houses. It is time for executives and workers on factory farms to become whistle blowers. It is time for chemically assaulted farmworkers and farmers to sue these killers. It is time for chemical and food industry employees and feedlot cowboys to expose factory farming’s dirty secrets, just as high-level tobacco executives and tobacco workers did in the 1990s. It is time for courageous magazines or Internet sites to refuse farm and home chemical advertisements.</p>
<p>In 1905, Colliers magazine refused to publish any more patent medicine ads. Almost immediately, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Ladies Home Journal joined the boycott. This didn’t solve the problem of useless patent medicines, but it provoked a public dialogue and the rejection of thousands of dangerous potions. The public exposure of these “snake oil” remedies saved countless lives.</p>
<p>Similar bold moves need to be taken to protect us all from the ravages of Food Inc. Time magazine’s recent expose in August of 2009 of our dangerous and costly food system may be a signal that at least some reporters in the media are willing to expose the hazards of factory farms and chemical agriculture. Sadly, other media outlets continue to serve as cheerleaders for GMOs and industrial food. The New Yorker magazine and National Public Radio continue to carry Monsanto’s ads claiming that GMO crops use less pesticides and can feed the world’s population, when in fact recent research has shown that GMO crops actually increase pesticide use. Other studies have demonstrated that yields of both GMO corn and soy are actually lower than non-GMO varieties. 8</p>
<p>In the European Union (EU), pesticides and farm chemicals have come under increased scrutiny since the EU instituted a rigorous chemical evaluation and registration process, known as REACH (Registration, Evaluation, and Authorization of Chemicals). Many of the most toxic (and profitable) chemicals used in farming and consumer products could lose their registration in the EU within the next few years. U.S. agricultural chemical lobbyists are worried that more aggressive regulations such as REACH are going to limit their sales in Europe and that more rigorous chemical enforcements are headed to the US, following the European example.</p>
<p>It is time for the federal government to stop promoting and subsidizing factory farms and junk food. Food Inc.’s “business as usual” practices are destroying public health and the environment, destabilizing the climate, and setting us up for disaster in the coming era of petroleum and water scarcity.</p>
<p>It is time for the Obama Administration and government regulators to place mandatory warnings on dozens of the most toxic foods, similar to the Surgeon General’s warnings on tobacco products. We also need warning labels on pesticides and chemical fertilizers, as well as a wide range of consumer products.</p>
<p>The following are proposed Surgeon General’s warnings for a few of the many (non-organic) crops we have analyzed, strawberries, peaches, and carrots:</p>
<p>DANGER! PROPOSED SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING FOR STRAWBERRIES</p>
<p>Average Pesticide and Fertilizer Use on 2006 California Strawberries 9,274,453 pounds of pesticides used at an average of 279.44 lbs per acre on 33,190 acres. THIS IS THE HIGHEST AVERAGE PESTICIDE USE ON ANY FRUIT OR VEGETABLE! Two of top five pesticides are probable carcinogens. All five of the top chemicals cause multiple birth defects. Five pesticides account for more than 90% of use on California strawberries. Most used pesticide was Chloropicrin, or tear gas. Second most used pesticide was Methyl bromide, the ozone destroyer. 92.3% of berries tested had pesticide residues. 69.2% of berries tested had two or more residues. Of the 109 pesticides used on strawberries, 38 were detectable on berry samples. Some strawberry samples had as many as 8 residues. Strawberries were the SECOND most pesticide contaminated fruit in the EWG study Fertilizer use averaged 350 pounds of Nitrogen fertilizer per acre on coastal lands, which drain into the ocean. NITROGEN FERTILIZER IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF NITRATE WATER POLLUTION, DEAD ZONES IN THE OCEAN &amp; GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION. PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY ARE MOST AT RISK FROM THE USE OF THIS FRUIT! Sources: California EPA, DPR and CDFA, Environmental Working Group, U.S.EP</p>
<p>DANGER! PROPOSED SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING FOR PEACHES</p>
<p>Average Pesticide and Fertilizer use on 2006 California Peaches &#160; 4,676,273 pounds of pesticides used at an average of 76 lbs. per acre on 61,377.95 acres. Two of top five pesticides are probable carcinogens, three cause birth defects, one is an endocrine disruptor, and three damage fish and other aquatic life.&#160; 96.6% of peaches had pesticide residues. 86.6% had two or more residues. 42 different pesticide residues were still detectable on the fruit. Some had as many as 9 residues on a single sample.Peaches had the highest percentage of fruit with dangerous residues of all fruit tested. An average of 125 pounds of NITROGEN, 10 pounds of PHOSPHOROUS, and 200-500 pounds of POTASH fertilizer were used per acre-NITROGEN IS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF U.S. DRINKING WATER POLLUTION, DEAD ZONES IN THE OCEAN, AND A MAJOR SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION. PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY ARE MOST AT RISK FROM THESE FRUITS! Sources: California EPA, DPR and CDFA, Environmental Working Group, U.S.EPA</p>
<p>DANGER! PROPOSED SURGEON GENERAL’S WARNING FOR CARROTS</p>
<p>Average Pesticide and Fertilizer use on 2006 California Carrots 6,616,796 pounds of pesticides were used at an Average of 102 lbs per acre on 64,870.55 acres. Most used pesticide was Metam sodium (Temik).&#160; Temik, Telone II, and Methyldithiocarbamate account for 90% of pesticides on carrots. All three cause birth defects, two are probable carcinogens. 81.7% of carrots had pesticide residues. 48.3% had two or more residues. 31 poisons were detected on the samples. 6 residues detected on a single sample. An average of 250 pounds of Nitrogen and more than 100 pounds of phosphorous and potash fertilizer were used per acre on carrots-NITROGEN IS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF U.S. DRINKING WATER POLLUTION, DEAD ZONES IN THE OCEAN, AND A MAJOR SOURCE OF GREENHOUSE GAS POLLUTION. PREGNANT WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY ARE MOST AT RISK FROM THIS VEGETABLE! Sources: California EPA, DPR and CDFA, Environmental Working Group, U.S.EPA</p>
<p>The proposed warnings above are not the kind of corporate-friendly regulations that will be tolerated by chemical companies such as Monsanto, Dow, Syngenta, Bayer, DuPont or BASF. Consumers will need to fight these corporations to gain their right-to-know what’s in our food and other products. But these are indeed the types of warning labels that are needed, similar to the warnings on tobacco products.</p>
<p>Given the regulatory coma of the FDA, the USDA, and the EPA, we&#160; need to be careful about what we eat and feed to our families. We must seek out and purchase organic foods and products whenever possible (organic standards prohibit the use of toxic pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and GMOs), but we also need to be aggressive about demanding that the current factory farm system must change. It is, after all, our tax dollars that prop up the GMOs, chemical agriculture, and junk food of Food Inc. Our tax dollars literally subsidize the production of foods that cause diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and cancer. Recent studies indicate that 68% of the U.S. population is overweight, while 34% is obese. This fattening of America over the last 20 years is a direct result of the highly processed junk foods that we eat, loaded with fat, sugar, salt, and toxic residues. Only our collective voices, votes, purchases, and demands for fundamental reform and regulation can change the nation’s dangerous system of food production and distribution. 9</p>
<p>But, don’t wait for the regulators to act before you change your food habits. Organic and health-minded consumers are transforming the marketplace with their purchasing power all over the world. You can too!</p>
<p>We need to demand that our presently out-of-control food and farming system be regulated. Like the mortgage, bank, insurance industries, and Wall Street, agriculture has not been properly regulated for decades, if ever.&#160; EPA, FDA, and the USDA regulatory practices have been severely weakened by pro-agribusiness, deregulatory administrations since Reagan. It’s time to crack down on the hazardous practice of corporate agribusiness.</p>
<p>As long as no one is regulating how many different toxic substances are applied to conventionally grown food, a staggering amount of chemical cocktails and synthetic fertilizer will continue to be used. The scary bottom line is that America’s corporate food handlers and processors do not care about your safety. They care about their profits.</p>
<p>All the “conventional” horrors of industrial agriculture are banned on organic and biodynamic farms. Why? Because organic consumers and farmers decided to create third party certification organizations in the 1980s that enforced strict regulations on how organic food could be grown. So, instead of asking: Why does organic food cost more than “conventional” food? We should be asking:&#160; How cheap would poisoned (“conventional”) food have to be to be a good deal?</p>
<p>The time has come to stand up and be counted, to force the chemical, genetic engineering, petroleum and sewage sludge corporations to bend to the people’s will, to endure their own tobacco moment. Only then will Rachel Carson’s hopes for a sustainable future be realized. Only then will a 21st Century Silent Spring be averted. 10 Only then will we be able to stop factory farming’s assault on public health and all Earth’s creatures, large and small.</p>
<p>Will Allen is a famer, community organizer, activist, and writer who farms in Vermont. His first book, <a href="" type="internal">The War on Bugs</a>, was published by Chelsea Green in 2008. His website is <a href="http://www.thewaronbugsbook.com" type="external">www.thewaronbugsbook.com</a>. The farm website is <a href="http://www.cedarcirclefarm.org" type="external">www.cedarcirclefarm.org</a></p>
<p>Ronnie Cummins is an organizer, writer, and activist. He is the International Director of the Organic Consumers Association and co-author of the book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1569244693/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Genetically Engineered Food: A Self-Defense Guide for Consumers</a>. His organization’s website is <a href="http://www.OrganicConsumers.org" type="external">www.OrganicConsumers.org</a></p>
<p>Footnotes:</p>
<p>1.&#160;&#160;&#160; Will Allen, The Death of Food, Alternet, April, 2008. The Real Cost of Cheap Food, Alternet, June 2008. Organic Consumer’s Association Newsletter, April and June 2008. Bryan Walsh, Getting Real about the High Cost of Cheap Food, Time magazine, August 21, 2009</p>
<p>2.&#160;&#160;&#160; The Environmental Working Group’s 2008 Dirty Dozen Vegetables and Fruits (with the highest residues). Residue analyses from the United States Department of Agriculture. California EPA, Pesticide Use Reports, 1970-2006. Will Allen, The War on Bugs, Chelsea Green, White River Junction, Vt., March 2008.</p>
<p>3.&#160;&#160;&#160; Smith, Diana, 2010, Cancer and Pesticides: Victims Fight for Justice. Ecologist, February 4.</p>
<p>4.&#160;&#160;&#160; See: The Environmental Working Group’s study of EPA water quality data, and California Department of Agriculture’s Fertilizer studies from 1985 to 2006.</p>
<p>5.&#160;&#160;&#160; Shiva, Vandana, 2009, Soil not Oil, Navdanya, New Delhi, India. Allen, Will and Cummins, Ronnie, 2010 Beyond Copenhagen: Building a Green and Organic Future. Huffington Post, Organic Bytes, February</p>
<p>6.&#160;&#160;&#160; Greenhouse Gas emissions were deemed on December 7, 2009 to be deleterious to public health by the U.S. EPA. It will be interesting to see if this ruling allows greenhouse gasses emitted from agriculture to be regulated like other industries</p>
<p>7.&#160;&#160;&#160; The United States Environmental Protection Agency began in 1970. Instead of protecting the public the EPA has aligned itself with Monsanto, DuPont, Bayer, Crop Life and other chemical protective groups. California’s Proposition 65, passed in 1983 to regulate Cancer Causing Chemicals in public places. Instead of banning them or regulating them they now only inform you that cancer causing chemicals are present. California’s Birth Defect Prevention Act, passed in 1984 was designed to eliminate the most dangerous birth defect generating chemicals. After 25 years almost no chemicals have lost their registration.</p>
<p>8.&#160;&#160;&#160; Chuck Benbrook, 2009 Impacts of Genetically Engineered Crops on Pesticide Use: The First Thirteen Years. The Organic Center. November 17. Boulder, Colorado</p>
<p>9.&#160;&#160;&#160; Will Allen, We Need Food and Farming Regulation NOW! Chelsea Green Blog, April, 2009., Organic Consumer’s Association Newsletter, April, 2009, Common Dreams, May, 2009.</p>
<p>10. Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, 1962, Fawcett Publications, Greenwich, Conn.</p>
<p>Zuri Allen Star and Michael Kanter researched the California Pesticide statistics, and the authors researched the fertilizer data. Any errors in interpretation, however are entirely the authors’.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | nations chemical energyintensive food farming system food inc outofcontrol posing mortal threat public health environment climate stability economically stressed distracted consumers become dependent factory farm system designed provide cheap processed food may cosmetically perfect easily shipped seriously degraded terms purity nutritional value usda studies reveal food currently grown americas chemicalintensive farms contains drastically less vitamins essential trace minerals food produced 50 years ago far less pesticides chemical fertilizers used even time magazine admitted recently given hidden costs damage public health climate stability environment conventional factory farm food extremely expensive160 much food incs common fare nutritionally deficient also routinely contaminatedlaced pesticide residues antibiotics hormones harmful bacteria viruses genetically modified organisms gmos toxic chemicals 1 like tobacco factory farm food dangerous health wonder organic food far fastest growing segment us agriculture us department agriculture usda california department agriculture cdfa environmental working group ewg shown many nations favorite foods contaminated lethal cocktail toxic chemicals putting consumers especially children infants 100 times sensitive toxic chemicals risk living factory farming communities working farms constant exposure toxic pesticides poses even greater risk general population cancer birth defects asthma parkinsons nonhodgkins lymphoma alzheimers liver kidney heart disease many ailments fortyeight percent us women get cancer well 38 men conclusive evidence exposure farm household chemicals including body care cleaning products greatly increase chances getting cancer serious diseases large growing clusters cancers birth defects farm urban communities us clusters direct result use toxic pesticides fertilizers farms ranches gardens lawns 2 several recent french court decisions determined farmers suffering leukemia parkinsons nonhodgkins lymphoma myeloma cancers direct result chemicals theyve used farms 3 chemicals causing cancers leukemia chemicals used grow food us besides damage human health pesticide use chemical agricultures use synthetic fertilizers sewage sludge polluted nations streams creeks rivers oceans drinking water millions acres farmland according us environmental protection agency epa environmental working group twothirds us population drinking water contaminated high levels nitrates nitrites caused nitrate fertilizer runoff factory farms large areas along coastlines bays gulfs become dead zones result excess nitrogen fertilizer sewage sludge flowing serious illness death directly attributable high levels nitrates pesticides drinking water 4 factory farmings carbon footprint also huge government officials consistently failed regulate agricultures greenhouse gas emissions even admit serious problem official estimates greenhouse gas pollution us agriculture range ridiculously low 7 12 total us greenhouse gas ghg emissions recent analysis demonstrated us factory farms industrial agriculture responsible least 35 possibly 50 greenhouse gas emissions 5 unfortunately agriculture currently exempted even weak us efforts control greenhouse gases including recent cap trade legislation passed house representatives 6 hopefully recent us epa directives december 2009 curbing greenhouse gasses apply agriculture polluting industry however say republican democratic congressmen bidding pesticide fertilizer petroleum clients instead constituents vowed block efforts epa regulate emissions farm chemical industry may vulnerable tobacco industry 1990s people us finally become suspicious safety nonorganic food supply millions wary home pesticides weed killers synthetic garden lawn fertilizers big agricultural chemical companies increasing criticism consumers including relatives hospitalized killed farm chemicals factory farm contaminated food giant tobacco corporations lied public decades claiming cigarettes safe similarly chemical corporations agribusiness conducted hundred year campaign hide dangers farm chemicals hired scientists 1920s 1930s lie public dangers arsenic lead widely used pesticides era hired scientists 1950s 1960s counteract criticism ddt world war ii pesticides fertilizers mid 1960s 1970s corporate agribusiness chemical giants like monsanto put enormous resources debunking criticisms toxic chemicals rachel carsons silent spring public health environmental activists chemical companies hired fake laboratories give toxic chemicals guarantee safety 1980s 90s epa food drug administration fda usda accepted bogus reports valid independent scientists safefood activists exposed truth chemical industry routinely stalled neutered chemical regulations passed us much public still believes protected congress passed several landmark pesticide chemical control laws 1970s 1980s 1990s unfortunately chemical corporations corporate agribusiness lobbied successfully laws weakening repealing result handful 80000 industrial chemicals pesticides used farming found consumer products lost federal state registration last 40 years 7 coauthor essay allen concluded 2008 book war bugs time conduct fullscale offensive factory farming industrial agriculture time consumers stop buying chemical food using poisonous chemicals lawns gardens houses time executives workers factory farms become whistle blowers time chemically assaulted farmworkers farmers sue killers time chemical food industry employees feedlot cowboys expose factory farmings dirty secrets highlevel tobacco executives tobacco workers 1990s time courageous magazines internet sites refuse farm home chemical advertisements 1905 colliers magazine refused publish patent medicine ads almost immediately saturday evening post ladies home journal joined boycott didnt solve problem useless patent medicines provoked public dialogue rejection thousands dangerous potions public exposure snake oil remedies saved countless lives similar bold moves need taken protect us ravages food inc time magazines recent expose august 2009 dangerous costly food system may signal least reporters media willing expose hazards factory farms chemical agriculture sadly media outlets continue serve cheerleaders gmos industrial food new yorker magazine national public radio continue carry monsantos ads claiming gmo crops use less pesticides feed worlds population fact recent research shown gmo crops actually increase pesticide use studies demonstrated yields gmo corn soy actually lower nongmo varieties 8 european union eu pesticides farm chemicals come increased scrutiny since eu instituted rigorous chemical evaluation registration process known reach registration evaluation authorization chemicals many toxic profitable chemicals used farming consumer products could lose registration eu within next years us agricultural chemical lobbyists worried aggressive regulations reach going limit sales europe rigorous chemical enforcements headed us following european example time federal government stop promoting subsidizing factory farms junk food food incs business usual practices destroying public health environment destabilizing climate setting us disaster coming era petroleum water scarcity time obama administration government regulators place mandatory warnings dozens toxic foods similar surgeon generals warnings tobacco products also need warning labels pesticides chemical fertilizers well wide range consumer products following proposed surgeon generals warnings many nonorganic crops analyzed strawberries peaches carrots danger proposed surgeon generals warning strawberries average pesticide fertilizer use 2006 california strawberries 9274453 pounds pesticides used average 27944 lbs per acre 33190 acres highest average pesticide use fruit vegetable two top five pesticides probable carcinogens five top chemicals cause multiple birth defects five pesticides account 90 use california strawberries used pesticide chloropicrin tear gas second used pesticide methyl bromide ozone destroyer 923 berries tested pesticide residues 692 berries tested two residues 109 pesticides used strawberries 38 detectable berry samples strawberry samples many 8 residues strawberries second pesticide contaminated fruit ewg study fertilizer use averaged 350 pounds nitrogen fertilizer per acre coastal lands drain ocean nitrogen fertilizer main cause nitrate water pollution dead zones ocean amp greenhouse gas pollution pregnant women children elderly risk use fruit sources california epa dpr cdfa environmental working group usep danger proposed surgeon generals warning peaches average pesticide fertilizer use 2006 california peaches 160 4676273 pounds pesticides used average 76 lbs per acre 6137795 acres two top five pesticides probable carcinogens three cause birth defects one endocrine disruptor three damage fish aquatic life160 966 peaches pesticide residues 866 two residues 42 different pesticide residues still detectable fruit many 9 residues single samplepeaches highest percentage fruit dangerous residues fruit tested average 125 pounds nitrogen 10 pounds phosphorous 200500 pounds potash fertilizer used per acrenitrogen major cause us drinking water pollution dead zones ocean major source greenhouse gas pollution pregnant women children elderly risk fruits sources california epa dpr cdfa environmental working group usepa danger proposed surgeon generals warning carrots average pesticide fertilizer use 2006 california carrots 6616796 pounds pesticides used average 102 lbs per acre 6487055 acres used pesticide metam sodium temik160 temik telone ii methyldithiocarbamate account 90 pesticides carrots three cause birth defects two probable carcinogens 817 carrots pesticide residues 483 two residues 31 poisons detected samples 6 residues detected single sample average 250 pounds nitrogen 100 pounds phosphorous potash fertilizer used per acre carrotsnitrogen major cause us drinking water pollution dead zones ocean major source greenhouse gas pollution pregnant women children elderly risk vegetable sources california epa dpr cdfa environmental working group usepa proposed warnings kind corporatefriendly regulations tolerated chemical companies monsanto dow syngenta bayer dupont basf consumers need fight corporations gain righttoknow whats food products indeed types warning labels needed similar warnings tobacco products given regulatory coma fda usda epa we160 need careful eat feed families must seek purchase organic foods products whenever possible organic standards prohibit use toxic pesticides chemical fertilizer gmos also need aggressive demanding current factory farm system must change tax dollars prop gmos chemical agriculture junk food food inc tax dollars literally subsidize production foods cause diabetes obesity heart disease cancer recent studies indicate 68 us population overweight 34 obese fattening america last 20 years direct result highly processed junk foods eat loaded fat sugar salt toxic residues collective voices votes purchases demands fundamental reform regulation change nations dangerous system food production distribution 9 dont wait regulators act change food habits organic healthminded consumers transforming marketplace purchasing power world need demand presently outofcontrol food farming system regulated like mortgage bank insurance industries wall street agriculture properly regulated decades ever160 epa fda usda regulatory practices severely weakened proagribusiness deregulatory administrations since reagan time crack hazardous practice corporate agribusiness long one regulating many different toxic substances applied conventionally grown food staggering amount chemical cocktails synthetic fertilizer continue used scary bottom line americas corporate food handlers processors care safety care profits conventional horrors industrial agriculture banned organic biodynamic farms organic consumers farmers decided create third party certification organizations 1980s enforced strict regulations organic food could grown instead asking organic food cost conventional food asking160 cheap would poisoned conventional food good deal time come stand counted force chemical genetic engineering petroleum sewage sludge corporations bend peoples endure tobacco moment rachel carsons hopes sustainable future realized 21st century silent spring averted 10 able stop factory farmings assault public health earths creatures large small allen famer community organizer activist writer farms vermont first book war bugs published chelsea green 2008 website wwwthewaronbugsbookcom farm website wwwcedarcirclefarmorg ronnie cummins organizer writer activist international director organic consumers association coauthor book genetically engineered food selfdefense guide consumers organizations website wwworganicconsumersorg footnotes 1160160160 allen death food alternet april 2008 real cost cheap food alternet june 2008 organic consumers association newsletter april june 2008 bryan walsh getting real high cost cheap food time magazine august 21 2009 2160160160 environmental working groups 2008 dirty dozen vegetables fruits highest residues residue analyses united states department agriculture california epa pesticide use reports 19702006 allen war bugs chelsea green white river junction vt march 2008 3160160160 smith diana 2010 cancer pesticides victims fight justice ecologist february 4 4160160160 see environmental working groups study epa water quality data california department agricultures fertilizer studies 1985 2006 5160160160 shiva vandana 2009 soil oil navdanya new delhi india allen cummins ronnie 2010 beyond copenhagen building green organic future huffington post organic bytes february 6160160160 greenhouse gas emissions deemed december 7 2009 deleterious public health us epa interesting see ruling allows greenhouse gasses emitted agriculture regulated like industries 7160160160 united states environmental protection agency began 1970 instead protecting public epa aligned monsanto dupont bayer crop life chemical protective groups californias proposition 65 passed 1983 regulate cancer causing chemicals public places instead banning regulating inform cancer causing chemicals present californias birth defect prevention act passed 1984 designed eliminate dangerous birth defect generating chemicals 25 years almost chemicals lost registration 8160160160 chuck benbrook 2009 impacts genetically engineered crops pesticide use first thirteen years organic center november 17 boulder colorado 9160160160 allen need food farming regulation chelsea green blog april 2009 organic consumers association newsletter april 2009 common dreams may 2009 10 rachel carson silent spring 1962 fawcett publications greenwich conn zuri allen star michael kanter researched california pesticide statistics authors researched fertilizer data errors interpretation however entirely authors 160 160 words stick | 1,939 |
<p />
<p>Fox News Radio host Todd Starnes</p>
<p />
<p>Moore sent out a&#160; <a href="http://www.christianpost.com/news/michael-moore-says-jesus-wouldnt-shoot-people-or-send-soldiers-into-war-in-criticism-of-us-military-operations-133148/" type="external">series of Tweets</a>&#160;about “American Sniper” over the weekend, including these three:</p>
<p>Tomorrow’s Sunday School (1) What Would Jesus Do? Oh, I know what he’d do–hide on top of a roof and shoot people in the back!</p>
<p>Sunday School (2) But What Would Jesus Do if he could be a sniper &amp; save soldiers lives by shooting “savages” in the back?</p>
<p>Answer: Jesus wouldn’t put any soldiers in harm’s way in the first place because he wouldn’t have sent them 2 Iraq.</p>
<p>This was too much for Todd Starnes. How dare Michael Moore, a man who never served a day in the military, write something like that? Granted, Starnes has never served a day in the military either, but he loves America, and obviously Michael Moore doesn’t, so cue self-righteous indignation.</p>
<p>Todd responded to Moore’s comments on his Fox program “American Dispatch.” To his credit, he stated twice that he was no “theologian,” then went on to tell his viewers what&#160;he&#160;thought Jesus would really do. Starnes believes in White Jesus, or more specifically, Ammosexual Jesus. A heavily armed Caucasian man, wearing&#160; <a href="http://www.1791.com/" type="external">jeans</a>&#160;from Glenn Beck’s website, and a tank-top emblazoned with the American flag, with blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. A man who only exists in the fevered imaginations of heavily-armed conservative Christians.</p>
<p>To prove he worships Ammosexual Jesus, Todd Starnes said this in response to Moore’s Tweets:</p>
<p>Well, I’m no theologian, but I suspect Jesus would tell that God-fearing, red-blooded American sniper “Well done, thou good and faithful servant for dispatching another godless Jihadist to the lake of fire.” But then again, I’m no theologian.&#160;</p>
<p>Godless jihadist? Todd, you must understand, somewhere under your patronizing attitude towards all liberals, that the entire motivation for Islamic extremists is their twisted faith, right? Calling Islamic extremists godless is like calling Christians who bomb abortion clinics godless. Or calling&#160; <a href="http://www.scottroeder.org/" type="external">Scott Roeder</a>&#160;godless.</p>
<p>What about the&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-do-we-ignore-the-civilians-killed-in-american-wars/2011/12/05/gIQALCO4eP_story.html" type="external">hundreds of thousands of dead Iraqi civilians</a>, Todd? Were they all “godless Jihadists?” Would Actual Jesus commend their deaths, cheer their suffering? Would he call them “savages,” as so many on the right do? How about sand n*ggers, which is a commonly-used anti-Arab epithet? Towel-heads? Camel jockeys? Would Actual Jesus side with&#160; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/05/11/us.soldier.iraq.killings/index.html?eref=ib_us" type="external">Steven Green</a>&#160;and his Army buddies, or would Actual Jesus side with the&#160;child who was raped and killed? Would Ammosexual Jesus cheer the slaughter of an entire family, because they were godless Jihadists?</p>
<p>This is what Actual Jesus taught:</p>
<p>Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.Matthew 5:39</p>
<p>Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.Matthew 5:44</p>
<p>Blessed are the peacemakers. Matthew 5:9</p>
<p>Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all who live by the sword will die by the sword.’ Enough of this, stop it!&#160;Luke 22:49-51</p>
<p>Blessed are the peacemakers. Not the war makers, not the occupiers, not the invaders. The peacemakers. Love your enemies. This is from the Bible, these are the words of Actual Jesus. But you don’t worship Actual Jesus. Very few conservative Christians-at least the ones who get themselves on the radio or cable news-seem to follow his message. Ammosexual Jesus would absolutely applaud the killing of people, he wouldn’t tell his followers to live in peace, or turn the other cheek. He’d say “Shoot those towel-heads! Kill those godless, savage Jihadists!”</p>
<p>Todd Starnes has a history of saying truly horrible things. He said this about an episode of “Glee:”</p>
<p>The Mainstream Media is lavishing adoration on GLEE for their episode last night featuring underage gay sex, underage straight sex, and an endorsement for unprotected underage sex.&#160;For the sake of diversity, I wonder why GLEE doesn’t feature a Transgender Lactose Intolerant, Muslim Midget?&#160;</p>
<p>You can read more of Todd Starnes’ hate speech&#160; <a href="http://equalitymatters.org/blog/201204060002" type="external">here</a>.</p>
<p>Bottom line is most conservatives still believe there were WMDs in Iraq. They believe we engaged in a holy war, they believe Bobby Jindal’s lie about “ <a href="http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/bobby-jindal-teach-our-judeo-christian-heritage-combat-non-existent-no-go-zones" type="external">no-go zones</a>,” and they believe that all Muslims are evil, horrible people, who deserve, at the very least, scorn, and at the very worst, death. They believe in a Christ who would champion war and death.</p>
<p>Rarely do I agree with Michael Moore, but on this, he’s right. Actual Jesus wouldn’t have put soldiers in harm’s way in the first place by lying to the American people about Iraq. Chris Kyle would&#160;still be alive, thousands of our service members would still be alive, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians would still be alive. Now that sounds a little more like the answer to WWJD.</p>
<p>Watch the Fox News video below:</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Todd Starnes' Tweets Forget About Reagan, Bush, &amp; Decency</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Todd Starnes' Xenophobic Opinions About Cantor &amp; Detained Immigrant Children</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Fox News Host Loses His Mind On Gay Rights, Declares Official 'Jesus chicken' (Video)</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | true | 4 | fox news radio host todd starnes moore sent a160 series tweets160about american sniper weekend including three tomorrows sunday school 1 would jesus oh know hed dohide top roof shoot people back sunday school 2 would jesus could sniper amp save soldiers lives shooting savages back answer jesus wouldnt put soldiers harms way first place wouldnt sent 2 iraq much todd starnes dare michael moore man never served day military write something like granted starnes never served day military either loves america obviously michael moore doesnt cue selfrighteous indignation todd responded moores comments fox program american dispatch credit stated twice theologian went tell viewers what160he160thought jesus would really starnes believes white jesus specifically ammosexual jesus heavily armed caucasian man wearing160 jeans160from glenn becks website tanktop emblazoned american flag blonde hair piercing blue eyes man exists fevered imaginations heavilyarmed conservative christians prove worships ammosexual jesus todd starnes said response moores tweets well im theologian suspect jesus would tell godfearing redblooded american sniper well done thou good faithful servant dispatching another godless jihadist lake fire im theologian160 godless jihadist todd must understand somewhere patronizing attitude towards liberals entire motivation islamic extremists twisted faith right calling islamic extremists godless like calling christians bomb abortion clinics godless calling160 scott roeder160godless the160 hundreds thousands dead iraqi civilians todd godless jihadists would actual jesus commend deaths cheer suffering would call savages many right sand nggers commonlyused antiarab epithet towelheads camel jockeys would actual jesus side with160 steven green160and army buddies would actual jesus side the160child raped killed would ammosexual jesus cheer slaughter entire family godless jihadists actual jesus taught take revenge someone wrongs someone strikes right cheek turn alsomatthew 539 love enemies pray persecute youmatthew 544 blessed peacemakers matthew 59 men stepped forward seized jesus arrested one jesus companions reached sword drew struck servant high priest cutting ear put sword back place jesus said live sword die sword enough stop it160luke 224951 blessed peacemakers war makers occupiers invaders peacemakers love enemies bible words actual jesus dont worship actual jesus conservative christiansat least ones get radio cable newsseem follow message ammosexual jesus would absolutely applaud killing people wouldnt tell followers live peace turn cheek hed say shoot towelheads kill godless savage jihadists todd starnes history saying truly horrible things said episode glee mainstream media lavishing adoration glee episode last night featuring underage gay sex underage straight sex endorsement unprotected underage sex160for sake diversity wonder glee doesnt feature transgender lactose intolerant muslim midget160 read todd starnes hate speech160 bottom line conservatives still believe wmds iraq believe engaged holy war believe bobby jindals lie nogo zones believe muslims evil horrible people deserve least scorn worst death believe christ would champion war death rarely agree michael moore hes right actual jesus wouldnt put soldiers harms way first place lying american people iraq chris kyle would160still alive thousands service members would still alive hundreds thousands iraqi civilians would still alive sounds little like answer wwjd watch fox news video todd starnes tweets forget reagan bush amp decency todd starnes xenophobic opinions cantor amp detained immigrant children fox news host loses mind gay rights declares official jesus chicken video 0 facebook comments | 519 |
<p>The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill late Tuesday to delay implementation of an Obama administration rule on ground-level ozone pollution. Environmental groups say the bill will weaken the Clean Air Act, including switching the Environmental Protection Agency’s mandated review of ozone from every five years to every 10.</p>
<p>The Obama-era regulation lowered the allowable concentration of ozone to 70 parts per billion, from the previous 75. Opponents of the stricter standard argue that <a href="http://www.rollcall.com/news/policy/house-takes-bill-delay-ozone-rule-compliance" type="external">puts</a> an undue economic burden on industry and the House followed suit: voting 229–199 to pass <a href="https://www.congress.gov/115/bills/hr806/BILLS-115hr806ih.pdf" type="external">H.R. 806</a>, introduced by Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX), which would delay enforcement of the stronger smog protection until 2025.</p>
<p>Ozone is the main ingredient in smog and is created when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds — both of which can come from car exhaust and power plants — interact with sunlight. Breathing in ozone can contribute to a range of health impacts, including a decrease in lung function and an increase in respiratory symptoms.</p>
<p>The EPA is required to review the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone standards every five years and revise them if necessary to protect public health. States are subsequently required to develop plans to achieve and maintain compliance with the revised standards.</p>
<p>“An asthma attack cannot be delayed a year,” Sierra Club responds.</p>
<p>Democrats and environmental groups decried the bill, saying it would cost lives through increased rates of asthma and lung disease while threatening decades of progress in cleaning up the environment.</p>
<p>Delaying enforcement “would mean years during which we would have 230,000 extra childhood asthma attacks every year, along with higher levels of other serious lung diseases and premature deaths,” EDF Action President Elizabeth Thompson said in statement. EDF Action is the advocacy arm of the Environmental Defense Fund.</p>
<p>A growing body of scientific studies show air pollution is dangerous even at lower levels than those considered in this legislation. More than a dozen major health organizations <a href="http://www.lung.org/assets/documents/advocacy-archive/health-and-medical-2.pdf" type="external">opposed</a> the bill, including the National Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Public Health Association.</p>
<p>“We need more protection [from] air pollution,” Thompson said. “Instead, Rep. Pete Olson of Texas and the other House Members who voted for this bill want to block the protections we already established.”</p>
<p>A similar bill <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/4775" type="external">passed</a> the House in 2016 that also would have undermined the updated smog pollution standard <a href="" type="internal">put in place</a> by the Obama administration in 2015. “The measure passed once before and then died in the Senate. Let’s hope our senators recognize its dangers and grant it the same fate now,” Thompson said.</p>
<p>Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) <a href="https://olson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/olson-capito-flake-manchin-flores-latta-reintroduce-ozone-bill" type="external">introduced</a> similar legislation in the Senate. Four Democrats voted for the House bill: Reps. Sanford Bishop (GA), Jim Costa (CA), Henry Cuellar (TX), and Collin Peterson (MN).</p>
<p>Last month, the Trump administration’s EPA <a href="" type="internal">alerted</a> the nation’s governors that it is giving states an additional year to develop air quality plans that will comply with agency’s 2015 ground-level ozone standard. The one-year extension also will provide the EPA an opportunity to look at ways to make it easier for states to meet the ozone standards, the agency said.</p>
<p />
<p>EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt said he will establish an Ozone Cooperative Compliance Task Force that will try to find ways for states to comply with the ozone standard with less hardship. “The agency is taking time to better understand some lingering, complicated issues so that air attainment decisions can be based on the latest and greatest information,” the EPA said.</p>
<p>Climate activists also see a connection between a warming planet and smog. Studies <a href="http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-ozone-smog-20140505-story.html" type="external">have shown</a> that smog could worsen in the coming decades as climate change boosts summer temperatures and makes ozone levels more difficult to control.</p>
<p>Terry McGuire, senior legislative representative with Earthjustice, noted it is important to see the connections between climate change and ozone, which is itself a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. “If the models bear out and we have more hot days in the future, then we’re going to have longer ozone seasons in a lot of parts of the country,” McGuire told ThinkProgress.</p>
<p>A week after they <a href="" type="internal">helped to kill</a> an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented the Department of Defense from analyzing and addressing climate change, 17 Republican members of the House Climate Solutions Caucus voted for Olson’s bill.</p>
<p>Environmental groups have been <a href="" type="internal">keeping an eye</a> on how the Republican members of the climate caucus vote on bills that impact not only the climate but environmental and human health. The Republican members who voted for Olson’s bill included Reps. Darrell Issa (CA), <a href="" type="internal">widely viewed</a> as a climate science denier, and Mia Love (UT), who represents a state where smog <a href="" type="internal">blankets</a> its urban valleys in the winter.</p>
<p>The seven Republican members of the climate caucus who voted against the bill were caucus co-founder Rep. Carlos Curbelo (FL) and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA), Elise Stefanik (NY), Brian Mast (FL), Dave Reichert (WA), and John Faso (NY).</p>
<p>In a Tuesday statement, Mary Anne Hitt, director of Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign, accused the majority of House members who voted for Olson’s bill of voting “to surrender clean air to the fossil fuel industry.”</p>
<p>In addition to threatening federal protections against smog pollution, the bill also would reduce protections from carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and toxic lead pollution, pollutants linked to a range of health serious problems including heart attacks, strokes, and asthma attacks, the Sierra Club said.</p> | true | 4 | us house representatives passed bill late tuesday delay implementation obama administration rule groundlevel ozone pollution environmental groups say bill weaken clean air act including switching environmental protection agencys mandated review ozone every five years every 10 obamaera regulation lowered allowable concentration ozone 70 parts per billion previous 75 opponents stricter standard argue puts undue economic burden industry house followed suit voting 229199 pass hr 806 introduced rep pete olson rtx would delay enforcement stronger smog protection 2025 ozone main ingredient smog created nitrogen oxides volatile organic compounds come car exhaust power plants interact sunlight breathing ozone contribute range health impacts including decrease lung function increase respiratory symptoms epa required review national ambient air quality standard ozone standards every five years revise necessary protect public health states subsequently required develop plans achieve maintain compliance revised standards asthma attack delayed year sierra club responds democrats environmental groups decried bill saying would cost lives increased rates asthma lung disease threatening decades progress cleaning environment delaying enforcement would mean years would 230000 extra childhood asthma attacks every year along higher levels serious lung diseases premature deaths edf action president elizabeth thompson said statement edf action advocacy arm environmental defense fund growing body scientific studies show air pollution dangerous even lower levels considered legislation dozen major health organizations opposed bill including national medical association american academy pediatrics american public health association need protection air pollution thompson said instead rep pete olson texas house members voted bill want block protections already established similar bill passed house 2016 also would undermined updated smog pollution standard put place obama administration 2015 measure passed died senate lets hope senators recognize dangers grant fate thompson said sens shelley moore capito rwv joe manchin dwv jeff flake raz introduced similar legislation senate four democrats voted house bill reps sanford bishop ga jim costa ca henry cuellar tx collin peterson mn last month trump administrations epa alerted nations governors giving states additional year develop air quality plans comply agencys 2015 groundlevel ozone standard oneyear extension also provide epa opportunity look ways make easier states meet ozone standards agency said epa administrator scott pruitt said establish ozone cooperative compliance task force try find ways states comply ozone standard less hardship agency taking time better understand lingering complicated issues air attainment decisions based latest greatest information epa said climate activists also see connection warming planet smog studies shown smog could worsen coming decades climate change boosts summer temperatures makes ozone levels difficult control terry mcguire senior legislative representative earthjustice noted important see connections climate change ozone greenhouse gas contributes climate change models bear hot days future going longer ozone seasons lot parts country mcguire told thinkprogress week helped kill amendment national defense authorization act would prevented department defense analyzing addressing climate change 17 republican members house climate solutions caucus voted olsons bill environmental groups keeping eye republican members climate caucus vote bills impact climate environmental human health republican members voted olsons bill included reps darrell issa ca widely viewed climate science denier mia love ut represents state smog blankets urban valleys winter seven republican members climate caucus voted bill caucus cofounder rep carlos curbelo fl reps brian fitzpatrick pa elise stefanik ny brian mast fl dave reichert wa john faso ny tuesday statement mary anne hitt director sierra clubs beyond coal campaign accused majority house members voted olsons bill voting surrender clean air fossil fuel industry addition threatening federal protections smog pollution bill also would reduce protections carbon monoxide sulfur dioxide toxic lead pollution pollutants linked range health serious problems including heart attacks strokes asthma attacks sierra club said | 595 |
<p>“Governor Perry, if elected President, will you adopt the Texas Republican Party’s extreme anti-gay platform as your own?”&#160;That is one question NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams, Politico Editor-in-chief John F. Harris, and Telemundo’s Jose Diaz-Balart surely will not ask, but certainly should, at tonight’s <a href="" type="internal">Republican Debate from California’s Reagan Library</a>&#160;when&#160;Texas Governor Rick Perry will make his debut on the national debate stage.</p>
<p>READ:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">GOP Debate: When Is The Republican Party Debate? How Do I Watch?</a></p>
<p>We already know that Texas Governor Rick Perry doesn’t “believe” in same-sex marriage, but to what extent?</p>
<p>Straight from the Texas GOP’s 2010 platform — the latest one published — here are its references to homosexuality. Can you say “Hate?” “Homophobia?” “Ignorance?” “Dangerous?”</p>
<p>RELATED: Visit Our&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Rick Perry Files</a></p>
<p>Perhaps ironically, there are thirteen references to homosexuality. I’ve taken the liberty of placing them in bold for you.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://static.texastribune.org/media/documents/FINAL_2010_STATE_REPUBLICAN_PARTY_PLATFORM.pdf" type="external">2010 STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM</a></p>
<p>Family Values – We affirm that this section is a response to the attacks on traditional family values. These include well- funded, vigorous political and judicial attempts by powerful organizations and branches of the government to force acceptance, affirmation and normalization of homosexual behavior upon school children, parents, educational institutions, businesses, employees, government bodies and religious institutions and charities. These aggressive, intolerant efforts marginalize as bigots anyone who dissents.</p>
<p>Homosexuality – We believe that the practice of homosexuality tears at the fabric of society, contributes to the breakdown of the family unit, and leads to the spread of dangerous, communicable diseases. Homosexual behavior is contrary to the fundamental, unchanging truths that have been ordained by God, recognized by our country’s founders, and shared by the majority of Texans. Homosexuality must not be presented as an acceptable “alternative” lifestyle in our public education and policy, nor should “family” be redefined to include homosexual “couples.” We are opposed to any granting of special legal entitlements, refuse to recognize, or grant special privileges including, but not limited to: marriage between persons of the same sex (regardless of state of origin), custody of children by homosexuals, homosexual partner insurance or retirement benefits. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values.</p>
<p>Child Support and Visitation – We support equity between responsible parents in child support, custody, and visitation rights and costs, as well as the strengthening of laws designed to protect children from abuse. No parent/grandparent should be denied court ordered visitation, because of jurisdictional disputes between states. We also believe that no homosexual or any individual convicted of child abuse or molestation should have the right to custody or adoption of a minor child, and that visitation with minor children by such persons should be prohibited but if ordered by the court limited to supervised periods.</p>
<p>Adoption – We support reducing the time, bureaucratic interference and cost of adoption. The law should assure mothers of a choice in selecting a traditional home for their children at the time of terminating their rights for adoption. We oppose mandatory open adoption and adoption by homosexuals.</p>
<p>Americans with Disabilities Act – We support amendment of the Americans with Disabilities Act to exclude from its definition those persons with infectious diseases, substance addiction, learning disabilities, behavior disorders, homosexual practices and mental stress, thereby reducing abuse of the Act.</p>
<p>Support of Our Armed Forces – We encourage all Americans to support the brave and patriotic men and women of our armed forces. They should be paid a wage sufficient to prevent them from ever needing food stamps and that encourages retention. We strongly recommend that all our armed forces remain commanded only by the Commander-in-Chief and his subordinate commanders; upgrading, modernizing and maintaining the equipment, weapons, and vehicles for the safety, efficiency and effectiveness of our armed forces; the continuation of an all volunteer armed forces, the recruitment and advancement of military personnel based on the needs of the military and the qualifications of the person; disqualification of homosexuals from military service; immediate discharge of HIV positive individuals; separation of men and women in basic training; exclusion of women from ground and submarine combat roles; provision of full military honors for burial of veterans; restoration of all veteran benefits without an offset for disability pay; health and disability benefits equal to active military for national guard and reserves; passage of a “new” G.I Bill that fully funds expanded educational scholarship opportunities for honorably separated Veterans; restoration of full lifetime health benefits to retired military and their families; and assurance that military and civilian voters displaced by their service be afforded full opportunity for their votes to be counted; and the expeditious construction of a Veterans Museum in Texas. We oppose the repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy.</p>
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<p>William K. Black, author of The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Own One, teaches economics and law at the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC). He was the Executive Director of the Institute for Fraud Prevention from 2005-2007. He has taught previously at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin and at Santa Clara University, where he was also the distinguished scholar in residence for insurance law and a visiting scholar at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.</p>
<p>Black was litigation director of the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, deputy director of the FSLIC, SVP and general counsel of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco, and senior deputy chief counsel, Office of Thrift Supervision. He was deputy director of the National Commission on Financial Institution Reform, Recovery and Enforcement.</p>
<p>Black developed the concept of "control fraud" frauds in which the CEO or head of state uses the entity as a "weapon." Control frauds cause greater financial losses than all other forms of property crime combined. He recently helped the World Bank develop anti-corruption initiatives and served as an expert for OFHEO in its enforcement action against Fannie Mae's former senior management.</p>
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<p /> JESSICA DESVARIEUX, PRODUCER, TRNN: Welcome to the Real News Network. I'm Jessica Desvarieux in Baltimore.
<p />
<p />So you may remember back at the end of last year, Congress passed a cromnibus spending bill which included a partial repeal of the Dodd-Frank Act. That's the financial regulation bill that came to be after the financial crash of 2008. what this reveal did was essentially reverse a so-called swaps pushout rule for certain derivatives. I know. That sounds very confusing, and we'll explain more of that later.
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<p />But at the time, Massachusetts Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren came out strongly against this repeal and spoke on the Senate floor about her frustration. Let's take a listen.
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<p />ELIZABETH WARREN (D-MA): Enough is enough. With Citigroup passing eleventh hour deregulatory provisions that nobody takes ownership over but everybody will come to regret.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: Well, have we come to regret it? It's been almost a year since that happened, and let's see if her prediction was right. An investigation launched by Senator Warren and Maryland Democratic Representative Elijah Cummings found that the rule reversal allows banks to keep $10 trillion in swaps trades on their books, which taxpayers could be on the hook for if the banks need another bailout. Here to dig into the findings of the investigation and put this all into context is our guest, Bill Black. Bill is an associate professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri Kansas City. He is a white-collar criminologist, former financial regulator, and a regular contributor to the Real News. Thanks for joining us, Bill.
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<p />BILL BLACK: Thank you.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: So Bill, this is like another language for most people. Can you just explain to folks exactly how this partial repeal of Dodd-Frank works, and would it affect everyday people?
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<p />BLACK: So to put it in context, this is one of the byproducts of the repeal of Glass-Steagall. So Glass-Steagall was the law passed in the great depression after another investigation about what helped cause the Great Depression. And it said we shouldn't be providing deposit insurance, a federal subsidy, to banks when they're out owning things and competing with other businesses. That doesn't make any sense. It would distort competition, give them an advantage, and it would put us at enormous risk, and it would create lots of conflicts of interest. And Glass-Steagall worked brilliantly for decades, but then in, near the end of President Clinton's term in office, he eagerly worked with the Republicans to get rid of Glass-Steagall.
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<p />Then came, of course, the current financial crisis. And you would have thought that we would have reinstated Glass-Steagall. But President Obama and the Republicans agreed that they would not bring Glass-Steagall back. So Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve and someone President Obama had touted in his first campaign, that Paul Volcker, by then the most prestigious finance expert in the world, was serving as an economic advisor to the president. So Paul Volcker said, well, if you aren't willing to bring back Glass-Steagall, you should at least prevent what's called proprietary trading in derivatives. And that means trading for the bank's own purposes. And so we got the Volcker rule and restrictions on swaps. A swap is a form of a financial derivative, and as the name implies you swap two things between two parties.
<p />
<p />So the most common of these is interest rate swap, where one party, usually a bank, swaps with another party, usually a bank. One gets a fixed rate of interest and the other gets a variable rate of interest that is usually based off of LIBOR, that other fraud that we've talked about in the past. So when they [gimmicked] the LIBOR rates, these were, these $10 trillion figure that you talked about, is a subset of the $350 trillion in derivatives that they were manipulating when they manipulated the LIBOR rate.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: And Bill, just really quickly, what's a derivative again?
<p />
<p />BLACK: A derivative is a financial instrument that gathers its value from something else in the real economy. So the derivatives that people are most familiar with probably are the collateralized debt obligations and the credit default swaps that played such a role in the crisis. So a collateralized debt obligation is supposedly backed by mortgages, or mortgage-backed securities. Those things that back it and provide the cash flow are called the underline. So that's what this kind of derivative, or all kinds of derivatives, are examples of it.
<p />
<p />Now, it's a really bad, you know, it's the best Volcker could do, but it's not very good. Because once you don't have Glass-Steagall, and the rule is whether it's, the bank is trading for its own account or whether it's hedging, well, you can call almost anything a hedge, and obeyed the Volcker rule, and frankly obeyed much of the swap rule as well. So there's a bit of a question whether even without the repeal that you talked about, whether the law would have been effective. But of course they made--they being Wall Street, wanted to make absolutely sure it was ineffective. So they got this repeal, which tells you that since they used their political capital to get it that it was a very high priority, and they literally drafted the great bulk of the legislation that did this. And so the actual language was taken from the banks by the legislators.
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<p />And this was done, you know, somewhat over the resistance of the Obama administration. Because the Republicans were holding hostage the budget. But in truth, major parts of the Obama administration, which is to say Treasury and the chiefs of staff and [inaud.] have typically opposed the Volcker rule. Hate Glass-Steagall. And so they weren't so terribly unhappy to reach this deal with the Republicans. They could tell progressives, oh, we didn't really want to do it. We were forced to do it by the Republicans. But with the bankers, you know, they took credit for it to see how we worked together in a spirit of bipartisanship and remedy these things.
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<p />Okay. So all of this means that there's roughly $10 trillion of this stuff out there. To the extent it's interest rate swaps, it's not the scariest of derivatives. Collateralized debt obligations and credit default swaps were much scarier derivatives than things like interest rate swaps. But you can see situations in which they could cause bank failures, or amplify bank failures, make them more expensive, and we would be on the hook. But more broadly, again, it distorts commerce. It gives an unfair federal subsidy to a particular subset of banks.
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<p />So here's what you need to know about derivatives. Depending on the exact time period, the big five banks in the United States that do derivatives do roughly 95 percent of all the derivative trades in the United States. So this hasn't ever been done for banks as--and that clip you read from Senator Warren, this was done for Citibank. For Citigroup, at this point. And a handful of other institutions, like JP Morgan, as well.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: Okay. And Bill, I want to bring up another part of the report. It found that regulators had not conducted an analysis of the financial and taxpayer risk posed by this repeal. So what do you make of this? I mean, Washington's always talking about accountability, but we haven't been able to even do a proper analysis of the repeal one year later.
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<p />BLACK: Well, more precisely, both the Obama administration, the Wall Street wing of the Democratic party, and virtually all Republicans, certainly all the candidates, Republican candidates, say we've got to really stop the government from acting. It should never act without a cost-benefit analysis. Asterisk, except of course if you're doing something that the banks want. In which case, no problem. No cost-benefit analysis ever done to support any of the deregulation, and none of them could have passed an honest cost-benefit analysis. But of course it wouldn't have been a cost--an honest cost-benefit analysis even if they had done so.
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<p />But yes, you're absolutely right. There wasn't even the pretense that this was good for the United States of America and shown through any kind of study. This was raw political power, and Congress, with a fair degree of acquiescence and maybe even outright support from the Obama administration, and for cutting back this aspect of Dodd-Frank that they never wanted. And remember, there's still this huge wing, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton have said they don't want to bring back Glass-Steagall even though it was immensely successful, and even though we can see when you don't have that general rule and you have to rely on specific, partial provisions, it's easy to evade and it's even easier to chip away at. And this was a big chip, a $10 trillion chip, that they've already taken out of Dodd-Frank.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: All right. Bill Black, joining us from Kansas City. It's always a pleasure having you on the program. Thanks so much for being with us.
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<p />BLACK: Thank you.
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<p />DESVARIEUX: And thank you for joining us on the Real News Network.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | william k black author best way rob bank one teaches economics law university missouri kansas city umkc executive director institute fraud prevention 20052007 taught previously lbj school public affairs university texas austin santa clara university also distinguished scholar residence insurance law visiting scholar markkula center applied ethics black litigation director federal home loan bank board deputy director fslic svp general counsel federal home loan bank san francisco senior deputy chief counsel office thrift supervision deputy director national commission financial institution reform recovery enforcement black developed concept control fraud frauds ceo head state uses entity weapon control frauds cause greater financial losses forms property crime combined recently helped world bank develop anticorruption initiatives served expert ofheo enforcement action fannie maes former senior management jessica desvarieux producer trnn welcome real news network im jessica desvarieux baltimore may remember back end last year congress passed cromnibus spending bill included partial repeal doddfrank act thats financial regulation bill came financial crash 2008 reveal essentially reverse socalled swaps pushout rule certain derivatives know sounds confusing well explain later time massachusetts democratic senator elizabeth warren came strongly repeal spoke senate floor frustration lets take listen elizabeth warren dma enough enough citigroup passing eleventh hour deregulatory provisions nobody takes ownership everybody come regret desvarieux well come regret almost year since happened lets see prediction right investigation launched senator warren maryland democratic representative elijah cummings found rule reversal allows banks keep 10 trillion swaps trades books taxpayers could hook banks need another bailout dig findings investigation put context guest bill black bill associate professor economics law university missouri kansas city whitecollar criminologist former financial regulator regular contributor real news thanks joining us bill bill black thank desvarieux bill like another language people explain folks exactly partial repeal doddfrank works would affect everyday people black put context one byproducts repeal glasssteagall glasssteagall law passed great depression another investigation helped cause great depression said shouldnt providing deposit insurance federal subsidy banks theyre owning things competing businesses doesnt make sense would distort competition give advantage would put us enormous risk would create lots conflicts interest glasssteagall worked brilliantly decades near end president clintons term office eagerly worked republicans get rid glasssteagall came course current financial crisis would thought would reinstated glasssteagall president obama republicans agreed would bring glasssteagall back paul volcker former chairman federal reserve someone president obama touted first campaign paul volcker prestigious finance expert world serving economic advisor president paul volcker said well arent willing bring back glasssteagall least prevent whats called proprietary trading derivatives means trading banks purposes got volcker rule restrictions swaps swap form financial derivative name implies swap two things two parties common interest rate swap one party usually bank swaps another party usually bank one gets fixed rate interest gets variable rate interest usually based libor fraud weve talked past gimmicked libor rates 10 trillion figure talked subset 350 trillion derivatives manipulating manipulated libor rate desvarieux bill really quickly whats derivative black derivative financial instrument gathers value something else real economy derivatives people familiar probably collateralized debt obligations credit default swaps played role crisis collateralized debt obligation supposedly backed mortgages mortgagebacked securities things back provide cash flow called underline thats kind derivative kinds derivatives examples really bad know best volcker could good dont glasssteagall rule whether bank trading account whether hedging well call almost anything hedge obeyed volcker rule frankly obeyed much swap rule well theres bit question whether even without repeal talked whether law would effective course madethey wall street wanted make absolutely sure ineffective got repeal tells since used political capital get high priority literally drafted great bulk legislation actual language taken banks legislators done know somewhat resistance obama administration republicans holding hostage budget truth major parts obama administration say treasury chiefs staff inaud typically opposed volcker rule hate glasssteagall werent terribly unhappy reach deal republicans could tell progressives oh didnt really want forced republicans bankers know took credit see worked together spirit bipartisanship remedy things okay means theres roughly 10 trillion stuff extent interest rate swaps scariest derivatives collateralized debt obligations credit default swaps much scarier derivatives things like interest rate swaps see situations could cause bank failures amplify bank failures make expensive would hook broadly distorts commerce gives unfair federal subsidy particular subset banks heres need know derivatives depending exact time period big five banks united states derivatives roughly 95 percent derivative trades united states hasnt ever done banks asand clip read senator warren done citibank citigroup point handful institutions like jp morgan well desvarieux okay bill want bring another part report found regulators conducted analysis financial taxpayer risk posed repeal make mean washingtons always talking accountability havent able even proper analysis repeal one year later black well precisely obama administration wall street wing democratic party virtually republicans certainly candidates republican candidates say weve got really stop government acting never act without costbenefit analysis asterisk except course youre something banks want case problem costbenefit analysis ever done support deregulation none could passed honest costbenefit analysis course wouldnt costan honest costbenefit analysis even done yes youre absolutely right wasnt even pretense good united states america shown kind study raw political power congress fair degree acquiescence maybe even outright support obama administration cutting back aspect doddfrank never wanted remember theres still huge wing bill clinton hillary clinton said dont want bring back glasssteagall even though immensely successful even though see dont general rule rely specific partial provisions easy evade even easier chip away big chip 10 trillion chip theyve already taken doddfrank desvarieux right bill black joining us kansas city always pleasure program thanks much us black thank desvarieux thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 947 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>“Privatize first, ask questions later.”</p>
<p>William D Hartung</p>
<p>“I would like to have the largest, most professional private army in the world”</p>
<p>Gary Jackson, President of Blackwater, hired to protect Lt. Gen Paul Bremer, head of the CPA.</p>
<p>“For most of the world’s governments, though, there are simply no applicable laws that regulate and define the jurisdictions under which PMF’s (Private Military Firms) operate.”</p>
<p>P.W. Singer</p>
<p>“It’s more cost effective to outsource some of those activities, those functions, outside of the military. I didn’t do the numbers, but I’m telling you, it’s cheaper.” Paul Cerjan, VP of Worldwide military affairs, Halliburton/KBR</p>
<p>“Isn’t it pretty to think so?”</p>
<p>Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>The black heart of outsourcing core, military functions to Private Military Firms (PMF’s) revealed itself yet again this week with the most recent (of many) Blackwater scandals. Blackwater, the North Carolina based private security firm with 1,000 employees currently deployed in Iraq, first came to prominence as the contracted, personal bodyguards of former Coalition Provisional Authority head Lt. General Paul Bremer. Unfortunately, Blackwater’s international reputation has blossomed due to its notoriety warranted by irresponsible and violent acts in Iraq. These incidents, which seem like a recurring, annual trend, emphasize the crucial, prescient need to closely examine PMF’s roles, responsibilities, and most importantly–legal accountability–in the “War on Terror.”</p>
<p>Recently, Iraqi investigations revealed Blackwater employees were responsible for nearly 6 violent episodes this year resulting in 10 deaths and countless wounded civilians. However, on September 27, The State Department, for the first time, publicly stated Blackwater’s security personnel has actually been involved in 56 shootings while guarding American diplomats in Iraq so far this year alone.</p>
<p>Furthermore, federal prosecutors are currently investigating Blackwater employees for illegally smuggling weapons into Iraq and selling them on the black market, which have, ironically, ended up in the hands of organizations that the United States government has officially deemed as “terrorist.” Surely, the U.S. government has reprimanded this organization, cancelled their contracts, and held them accountable for such illegal and negligent acts. Right? Wrong. Reaffirming their undying loyalty to private military firms, The White House, through its cabinet member of choice Condoleezza Rice, said they have, yet again, ordered a review of the government’s handling of private contractors in Iraq, but added “We (the government) havereceived the protection of Blackwater for number of years now, and they have lost their own people in protecting our own people (high ranking U.S. diplomats and ambassadors) – and that needs to be said.” What also should be said is that Blackwater is just one of many private military firms whose illegal conduct has gone largely unnoticed and unpunished under either U.S. or international law.</p>
<p>We must recall The Abu Ghraib Torture Scandal that rocked the headlines in the summer of 2004. Aside from permanently disgracing the United States military reputation in the Middle East, this harrowing episode introduced the world to the catastrophic consequences and weaknesses of privatizing certain military functions to private contractors. The Taguba Report, prepared by Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba to investigate the scandal, highlighted private military firms CACI and Titan as being “directly or indirectly responsible” for the abuses, since they employed 30 or so interrogators who made up more than half of the Abu Ghraib interrogation team. Torrin Nelson, former employee of CACI working as an interrogator at Abu Ghraib, illustrated a grave problem with outsourcing core military functions to the private market when he said, “The problem with outsourcing intelligence work is the limit of oversight and control by the military administrators over the independent contractors.” Other egregious examples include the complete exoneration of private military firm DynCorp (hired as Bosnia’s police force), whose employees were involved in a Bosnian rape and child prostitution scandal. None of the men, including DynCorp’s site supervisor who videotaped himself raping two young women, were ever legally prosecuted, instead they were “sprinting out of the country, away from local authorities.” How convenient.</p>
<p>The lack of responsibility and accountability for private military actors are major areas of concern, since PMF’s are generally subject only to the laws of the market. Specifically, a public military actor, such as an Army Marine, would be court marshaled, dishonorably discharged, or arrested for partaking in illegal activities contrary to domestic and international law. Certain manners of control and regulation would ensure this type of swift punishment and accountability, such as internal checks and balances, domestic laws regulating military force, public opinion, parliamentary scrutiny, and numerous international laws. However, no agency, legislative oversight, or legal recourse truly affects the PMF’s, such as Blackwater, aside from the checks and balances of it shareholders, whose decision to punish or appraise depends primarily on profit incentives. In fact, the army concluded in 2002 that it lacked a “specific identified force structure” and “detailed policy on how to establish contractor management oversight within an area of responsibility.”</p>
<p>Furthermore, there exists a lack of proper monitoring of PMF contracts and employment activities, such as those witnessed at Abu Ghraib. Specifically, both private and public sectors agree on proper monitoring by public authorities, but that would raise contract costs, blur the chain of command, and diffuse responsibility. Most PMF contracts, such as those in Iraq, take place in the “fog of war”–a highly complex and uncertain war time environment, making routine monitoring extremely difficult For example, in the detention facility at Abu Ghraib, the civilian contractors “wandered about with too much unsupervised free access in the detainee area” according to the Taguba Report, which also remarked they (the civilian contractors) “do not appear to be properly supervised.” Also, PMF contract terms are often unspecific, because they lack outside standards of achievement and established measures of effectiveness. The result? The principal defers to the client for progress reports, instead of obtaining up to minute, accurate unbiased evaluations from neutral, professional, public monitoring groups.</p>
<p>The lack of accurate monitoring and oversight has also led to scandals of PMF’s overcharging for un-provided services, thereby undermining one of the main motives for privatization: cost savings. Particularly, P.W. Singer urges clients, such as the United States government, to notice that a firm’s primary aim, that of profit maximization, cannot always perfectly align itself perfectly with their client’s interests. The phenomenon is known as “improper contracting”, illustrated by Dick Cheney’s old company, Halliburton, which operates over 60 sites in Iraq as the military’s main supplier due to $12 billion worth of service contracts. To be fair, any industry contains actors willing to engage in unscrupulous practices, such as overcharging, hiding failures, not performing to peak capacity, and skirting corners to maximize profit and minimize costs. Improper contracting concerns have plagued two companies in particular; Halliburton and the provider firm Custer Battles, who, according to experts, operate “with poor oversight.”</p>
<p>The recent debacle by Blackwater contractors and Halliburton truckers elucidates concern involving the relationship between civilian contractors and military actors, and whether this relationship truly fosters efficient end results. This interdependence of civilian and military actors might result in a lopsided over-dependence. Specifically, if the government places core functions and strategic plans in the hands of a private firm, then the government succumbs to the economic term “ex-post holdup” meaning it becomes “too dependent” and “at the mercy” of the private agent. An analogy could be drawn between the sadist who hovers the carrot on the stick in front of the starving prisoner, knowing full well the prisoner will oblige any indulgence to obtain the precious resource. In Iraq, after a 19-truck Haliburton KBR convoy was ambushed, with six drivers killed, several KBR truckers absolutely refused to drive until assured of improved security. In fact, hundreds of drivers left their jobs and the country. As a result, the United States military, dependent on Halliburton trucks and truckers for supplies, was left with “dwindling stores of ammunition, fuel, and water.” Unlike public military actors, private actors, such as the Halliburton truckers, can break their contracts and leave without fear of court martial or prosecution.</p>
<p>This “abandonment with immunity” not only threatens reliability and confidence in private actors, but also undermines the safety of American soldiers and the integrity of military operations. Barry Yeoman articulates the problem clearly when he states:</p>
<p>Think about it: a private military firm might decide to pack its own bags for any number of reasons, leaving American soldiers and equipment vulnerable to enemy attack. If the military really can’t fight wars without contractors, it must at least come up with ironclad policies on what do if the private soldiersleave American forces in the lurch.”</p>
<p>The competing interests and functions of civilian contractors and military personnel lead to deteriorating communication and harmony between the two sectors. Open streams of communication can help efficiency by allowing private and public sector actors to know of each other’s functional capabilities, resource strength, and locations, especially in hot zones According to Steven Schooner, an expert in government contracting, since the contractors are outside the military command structure there is a lack of coordination on the battlefield, and furthermore “contractors and the military don’t communicate in the same networks. They don’t get the same intelligence information.” Col. Jill Morgenthaler, a spokeswoman for the U.S. military command headquarters in Baghdad, agreed, “There is no formal arrangement for intelligence sharing” however “ad hoc relationships are in place”</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the tragic results of inefficient communication between private and public actors are exemplified by the killings of 4 Blackwater personnel two years ago. These private contractors were killed and mutilated in Fallujah while escorting three empty trucks on their way to pick up kitchen equipment. The State Department’s report states, “Blackwater took on the Fallujah mission before its contract officially began, and after being warned by its predecessor that it was too dangerous. It sent its team on the mission without properly armored vehicles and machine guns. And it cut the standard mission team by two members, thus depriving them of rear gunners.” This tragic incident catalyzed a U.S. military assault on Fallujah leaving 36 U.S. soldiers, 200 Sunni insurgents and 600 Iraqi civilians dead. The United States Oversight Committee on Oversight and Government Reform officially stated that Blackwater “delayed and impeded” a congressional probe of this tragic and unnecessary debacle .</p>
<p>The images of the Iraqi mob burning the Blackwater car and hanging their bodies from the bridge gave civilian contractors chills, specifically the family members of the slain men who filed wrongful death suits against Blackwater for failing to supply adequate guards as promised in the contract. Surprisingly, Marine Col. John Toolan was in command of the region during the tragic episode and had no knowledge of the contractors’ presence in the area due to lack of communication and information sharing. Furthermore, their deaths compelled him to set aside a core military strategy, quelling the insurgency, because he was forced to invade Fallujah and find the murderers. In hindsight, one can only assume an alternative result if there was a formal, consistent stream of communication between civilian contractors, such as Blackwater, and military personnel, such as Col John Toolan. Perhaps lives would have been saved and crucial military functions would have proceeded as planned. However, the lack of communication highlighted problems between the two sets of actors both supposedly working towards a unified goal, but harming their respective progress and interests instead.</p>
<p>So, here we are again in 2007 with another public, international PR crisis involving American PMF’s in Iraq threatening our already maligned reputation and endangering the sovereignty and efficiency of the United States military. History has taught us repeatedly that strict accountability, professional, independent monitoring systems of PMF’s, and swift, public legal recourse for unlawful conduct would not only curb future abuses, but also show the world the United States punishes those contractors who act recklessly and with impunity. History has also taught us that war is profitable and the clarity of accountability and legal ethics is generally always lost in this “fog of war.” And as of September 2007, Blackwater continues its convoy movements on the streets of Iraq. The black heart of American private military firms in Iraq has a strong, healthy pulse indeed.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI is a poet, playwrite and essayist living in the Bay Area. His widely acclaimed work, <a href="http://www.domesticcrusaders.com/" type="external">The Domestic Crusaders</a>, the first major play about Muslim-Americans was produced by Ishmael Reed. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:wajahatmali@gmail.com" type="external">wajahatmali@gmail.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 privatize first ask questions later william hartung would like largest professional private army world gary jackson president blackwater hired protect lt gen paul bremer head cpa worlds governments though simply applicable laws regulate define jurisdictions pmfs private military firms operate pw singer cost effective outsource activities functions outside military didnt numbers im telling cheaper paul cerjan vp worldwide military affairs halliburtonkbr isnt pretty think ernest hemingway sun also rises 160 black heart outsourcing core military functions private military firms pmfs revealed yet week recent many blackwater scandals blackwater north carolina based private security firm 1000 employees currently deployed iraq first came prominence contracted personal bodyguards former coalition provisional authority head lt general paul bremer unfortunately blackwaters international reputation blossomed due notoriety warranted irresponsible violent acts iraq incidents seem like recurring annual trend emphasize crucial prescient need closely examine pmfs roles responsibilities importantlylegal accountabilityin war terror recently iraqi investigations revealed blackwater employees responsible nearly 6 violent episodes year resulting 10 deaths countless wounded civilians however september 27 state department first time publicly stated blackwaters security personnel actually involved 56 shootings guarding american diplomats iraq far year alone furthermore federal prosecutors currently investigating blackwater employees illegally smuggling weapons iraq selling black market ironically ended hands organizations united states government officially deemed terrorist surely us government reprimanded organization cancelled contracts held accountable illegal negligent acts right wrong reaffirming undying loyalty private military firms white house cabinet member choice condoleezza rice said yet ordered review governments handling private contractors iraq added government havereceived protection blackwater number years lost people protecting people high ranking us diplomats ambassadors needs said also said blackwater one many private military firms whose illegal conduct gone largely unnoticed unpunished either us international law must recall abu ghraib torture scandal rocked headlines summer 2004 aside permanently disgracing united states military reputation middle east harrowing episode introduced world catastrophic consequences weaknesses privatizing certain military functions private contractors taguba report prepared maj gen antonio taguba investigate scandal highlighted private military firms caci titan directly indirectly responsible abuses since employed 30 interrogators made half abu ghraib interrogation team torrin nelson former employee caci working interrogator abu ghraib illustrated grave problem outsourcing core military functions private market said problem outsourcing intelligence work limit oversight control military administrators independent contractors egregious examples include complete exoneration private military firm dyncorp hired bosnias police force whose employees involved bosnian rape child prostitution scandal none men including dyncorps site supervisor videotaped raping two young women ever legally prosecuted instead sprinting country away local authorities convenient lack responsibility accountability private military actors major areas concern since pmfs generally subject laws market specifically public military actor army marine would court marshaled dishonorably discharged arrested partaking illegal activities contrary domestic international law certain manners control regulation would ensure type swift punishment accountability internal checks balances domestic laws regulating military force public opinion parliamentary scrutiny numerous international laws however agency legislative oversight legal recourse truly affects pmfs blackwater aside checks balances shareholders whose decision punish appraise depends primarily profit incentives fact army concluded 2002 lacked specific identified force structure detailed policy establish contractor management oversight within area responsibility furthermore exists lack proper monitoring pmf contracts employment activities witnessed abu ghraib specifically private public sectors agree proper monitoring public authorities would raise contract costs blur chain command diffuse responsibility pmf contracts iraq take place fog wara highly complex uncertain war time environment making routine monitoring extremely difficult example detention facility abu ghraib civilian contractors wandered much unsupervised free access detainee area according taguba report also remarked civilian contractors appear properly supervised also pmf contract terms often unspecific lack outside standards achievement established measures effectiveness result principal defers client progress reports instead obtaining minute accurate unbiased evaluations neutral professional public monitoring groups lack accurate monitoring oversight also led scandals pmfs overcharging unprovided services thereby undermining one main motives privatization cost savings particularly pw singer urges clients united states government notice firms primary aim profit maximization always perfectly align perfectly clients interests phenomenon known improper contracting illustrated dick cheneys old company halliburton operates 60 sites iraq militarys main supplier due 12 billion worth service contracts fair industry contains actors willing engage unscrupulous practices overcharging hiding failures performing peak capacity skirting corners maximize profit minimize costs improper contracting concerns plagued two companies particular halliburton provider firm custer battles according experts operate poor oversight recent debacle blackwater contractors halliburton truckers elucidates concern involving relationship civilian contractors military actors whether relationship truly fosters efficient end results interdependence civilian military actors might result lopsided overdependence specifically government places core functions strategic plans hands private firm government succumbs economic term expost holdup meaning becomes dependent mercy private agent analogy could drawn sadist hovers carrot stick front starving prisoner knowing full well prisoner oblige indulgence obtain precious resource iraq 19truck haliburton kbr convoy ambushed six drivers killed several kbr truckers absolutely refused drive assured improved security fact hundreds drivers left jobs country result united states military dependent halliburton trucks truckers supplies left dwindling stores ammunition fuel water unlike public military actors private actors halliburton truckers break contracts leave without fear court martial prosecution abandonment immunity threatens reliability confidence private actors also undermines safety american soldiers integrity military operations barry yeoman articulates problem clearly states think private military firm might decide pack bags number reasons leaving american soldiers equipment vulnerable enemy attack military really cant fight wars without contractors must least come ironclad policies private soldiersleave american forces lurch competing interests functions civilian contractors military personnel lead deteriorating communication harmony two sectors open streams communication help efficiency allowing private public sector actors know others functional capabilities resource strength locations especially hot zones according steven schooner expert government contracting since contractors outside military command structure lack coordination battlefield furthermore contractors military dont communicate networks dont get intelligence information col jill morgenthaler spokeswoman us military command headquarters baghdad agreed formal arrangement intelligence sharing however ad hoc relationships place unfortunately tragic results inefficient communication private public actors exemplified killings 4 blackwater personnel two years ago private contractors killed mutilated fallujah escorting three empty trucks way pick kitchen equipment state departments report states blackwater took fallujah mission contract officially began warned predecessor dangerous sent team mission without properly armored vehicles machine guns cut standard mission team two members thus depriving rear gunners tragic incident catalyzed us military assault fallujah leaving 36 us soldiers 200 sunni insurgents 600 iraqi civilians dead united states oversight committee oversight government reform officially stated blackwater delayed impeded congressional probe tragic unnecessary debacle images iraqi mob burning blackwater car hanging bodies bridge gave civilian contractors chills specifically family members slain men filed wrongful death suits blackwater failing supply adequate guards promised contract surprisingly marine col john toolan command region tragic episode knowledge contractors presence area due lack communication information sharing furthermore deaths compelled set aside core military strategy quelling insurgency forced invade fallujah find murderers hindsight one assume alternative result formal consistent stream communication civilian contractors blackwater military personnel col john toolan perhaps lives would saved crucial military functions would proceeded planned however lack communication highlighted problems two sets actors supposedly working towards unified goal harming respective progress interests instead 2007 another public international pr crisis involving american pmfs iraq threatening already maligned reputation endangering sovereignty efficiency united states military history taught us repeatedly strict accountability professional independent monitoring systems pmfs swift public legal recourse unlawful conduct would curb future abuses also show world united states punishes contractors act recklessly impunity history also taught us war profitable clarity accountability legal ethics generally always lost fog war september 2007 blackwater continues convoy movements streets iraq black heart american private military firms iraq strong healthy pulse indeed wajahat ali poet playwrite essayist living bay area widely acclaimed work domestic crusaders first major play muslimamericans produced ishmael reed reached wajahatmaligmailcom 160 | 1,286 |
<p>It’s on! Michael Bloomberg, New York’s Mayor, is going to Ireland. He will fly into West International Airport on August 22 in a private plane. About 200 people plus TV crews are coming with him.</p>
<p>An 8:00 a.m. breakfast at Sligo Town Hall opens his public day. Then he will give an 11:00 a.m. speech at the dedication ceremony for an “Ireland National Monument to the Fighting 69th Infantry Regiment, New York National Guard,” in Ballymote Town Park, Sligo. There will be a reception after the monument unveiling.</p>
<p>That “legendary Irish Brigade,” was founded in 1851 by immigrants. “Our city takes enormous pride in the Fighting 69th, and there is no more fitting tribute to those who have marched under its green flag than a monument on Irish soil.” Except that today’s 69th, part of the occupying army in Iraq, is no more Irish than any other US regiment.</p>
<p>What else will he discuss? In his 1997 memoir he mused that he’d make a great “mayor, governor or president.” Recently New York newspapers have carried stories about him running for President in 2008. To say the least, most journalists were surprised. None had ever considered him as qualified for the post.</p>
<p>But NY’s weekly Irish Voice reports that “The trip to Ireland, to remote Co. Sligo, no less, is an interesting step by the mayor who, it is hinted, might want to spend up to $500 million of his fortune on a presidential run as a third party candidate.”</p>
<p>The Minister of Foreign Affairs recently spent $37,000 lobbying US politicians on behalf of the McCain-Kennedy immigration law reform bill, benefiting an estimated 60,000 Irish illegals. Bloomberg just testified in favor of reform.</p>
<p>He will be happy if the press asks about it. In any case be certain that he will let Irish-American voters know about his passion for rights for illegal Irish immigrants. Yes, the minute he saw recent massive New York illegal immigrant rights demos, he woke from the dead and leaped onto the popular bandwagon.</p>
<p>Will he also announce an investment in Ireland? Or hail it as a great place for others to invest? Or encourage Irish capital to invest in his city, home of so many Irish? No one should be “shocked, shocked” if any of these happened.</p>
<p>With $5.1 billion, he is the 40th richest American. Bloomberg LP data terminals are world wide and the 7/18 New York Times reported that “20% of American foreign investment is now committed to Ireland.”</p>
<p>What won’t he discuss? The words “legalize marijuana,’ widely used in New York and Ireland, will not exactly leap from his mouth. But that’s not to say that he doesn’t have an opinion. According to the 4/16/01 issue of New York magazine, “Ask him if he ever smoked a joint in the past, and he replies, ‘You bet I did, and I enjoyed it.’”</p>
<p>That helped him win that year’s mayoral election. In modern America, if a politician says he never smoked pot, media folks, who all did or do puff away, hold him in contempt. Admitting to having smoked it establishes your credentials as ‘a regular guy,’ who of course gave it up and is now serious. Sure enough, when he took office he announced that “We should enforce the laws as they are, and the Police Department will do so vigorously.”</p>
<p>Hypocrisy? Certainly. But that’s a synonym for US politics, now his game. In 2001 the magazine also asked how much he was going to spend on getting elected. He refused “to say how much he’ll spend, but the numbers that have been floating around go as high as $30 million. That’s TOO high, he says, ‘At some point, you start to look obscene.’” Then he spent $74 million that year and $84 million in 2005.</p>
<p>Obscenities come forth nonstop from him. In 1995, before he thought of running for public office, he was interviewed by Jerusalem Report, an Israeli magazine. It informed its readers that he had “no particular desire to visit Israel.” He “had a bar mitzvah in a Conservative synagogue; is currently a member of one temple in Westchester and one in Manhattan.” But, he proudly announced, “’I’m not terribly religious …. I don’t spend time davening [praying – LB]. If I don’t call God, he won’t call me.’ But he does have firm views on Israel, and on Jewish philanthropy: ‘I won’t give too much money to the U[nited] J[ewish] A[ppeal],’ he says, ‘because of the hold the religious have on Israel. I have one wish: Shoot all the clerics.’”</p>
<p>At 13, religious Jewish boys celebrate their bar mitzvah. They become adult members of synagogues. The Conservative Judaic sect upholds most doctrines of Orthodoxy, Israel’s state religion, except where they conflict with modern life. Conservatives go along with biblical bans on pork, shrimp, lobster. But Orthodoxy says no riding on the Sabbath day of rest, while Conservative suburbanites drive cars to their synagogues, often many miles from their homes.</p>
<p>Bloomberg moved on from his family’s Conservativism. “Temple” is what the Reform sect, America’s largest Judaic group, calls a synagogue. They are a zillion miles from Orthodoxy. They and the Conservatives have women rabbis. But they pride themselves on their gay rabbis, while Conservatives fight over ordaining them. However, beyond temple membership, there isn’t evidence that he believes in any theology.</p>
<p>He is the ultimate joiner. The Jewish mayor proudly says that, as a teenager, he was “an Eagle Scout, and sold more Christmas wreaths than anyone.” When he grew up and became rich he joined endless charities, a few Jewish, most secular, because that’s what rich Americans are supposed to do. His political ambitions started when he’d call on other rich for donations. Give to his charity and he’d give to your favorite politician’s campaign. He was then a Democrat yet he’d fund Republican snakes, Democratic rats, whoever you wanted. He has no serious principles in religion or politics.</p>
<p>Whatever his theology or lack thereof, he knew that Conservatives and Reform are not recognized by Israel. They are allowed synagogues there, but the state doesn’t recognize marriages or divorces solemnized by their rabbis. So 1995 Bloomberg, nonpolitical businessman, denounced Israel for denying equality before the law to his sect.</p>
<p>In 2001, he openly said he became a Republican only because it was easier that year to win that party’s nomination. He then did what every major New York capitalist political player does. The city is 8 per cent Jewish, so during his campaign he went, for the 1st time, to the Israel he despised.</p>
<p>After his election, he went back again with Rudy Giuliani, to show that his 1st visit wasn’t just about votes. The confidence game turned into one of the low points of his life.</p>
<p>The ultimate electronic capitalist got sucked into a classic Israeli photo-op. On 12/9/01 he had to follow Orthodox custom. He put a paper prayer to God into a crack in the Wailing Wall. Its what remains of Herod’s Temple of Jerusalem. ‘I feel your pain’ is today’s America’s most hackneyed cliche. But even his enemies will cry over his anguish, unspoken but all over his gloomy face.</p>
<p>That was then. Capitalist politicians learn to do what capitalist politicians must do. Soon he was off to Albania to visit Mother Teresa’s birthplace. That excited Albanian Catholics, major players in NY real estate. There are 150 nationalities in NY. US capitalist politics as she is played has degenerated into an endless shuffle from nationality parades to religious shrines and back.</p>
<p>Marching in St. Patrick’s Day parades is a must. Five percent of the city is Irish. But there are two rival parades. The Catholic church controls the 5th Avenue event. Gay group banners are banned. They march elsewhere. Bloomberg eventually had to come out for gay marriage as gays are now a major element in the town. So he marches in the Irish gay parade and also hikes up the avenue with the ever dwindling followers of the hierarchy.</p>
<p>Keep at it, you get good at anything. He showed up again in Jerusalem, 8/31/03, wearing a red, white and blue skullcap, and kissed the Wailing Wall. No one is obliged to kiss it. Average American Reform visitors certainly don’t. And I’ve never seen a Jew in America wearing a red, white and blue skullcap. After all, who wants to be mistaken for a shameless politician hustling votes?</p>
<p>He traveled to Israel yet again in 2005. But the 3/17/05 New York Times reported that the Mayor “acknowledged feeling uncomfortable wearing his religion on his sleeve. In fact, he said, while he is proud of his heritage … he simply is not that religious. He said he rarely went to temple except on major holidays …. ‘I’ve always believed that God will, No. 1, look at you based on what you did, not whether you follow a set of ceremonies laid down by somebody else …. Religion, I’m not comfortable in talking about …. It may be good politics, but it’s not me.’”</p>
<p>Still, “Bloomberg’s aides seemed buoyant about his visit here. It gave him … a chance to show reform Jews like himself as well as the city’s Orthodox Jews his emphatic support for Israel. He made many statements that will certainly please that constituency.”</p>
<p>Bloomberg differs from most American politicians, Democrat or Republican, in only one aspect. These creatures would swim across vast oceans of snot, stark naked, to get campaign contributions from rich pro-Zionist Jews. He doesn’t have to. But Orthodox Zionists are an increasingly important part of the New York Republican Party’s vote. If he doesn’t give them what they want, they will take their votes and money to the Democrats, who would support Israel even if it murdered their moms. So now he proclaims that</p>
<p>“I have always believed that the fate of Israel and the future of New York a re deeply connected …. A strong Israel means a strong America and a strong New York …. I have said time and again that you cannot negotiate when there is a gun to your head.”</p>
<p>Soldiers die for their country. Politicians lie for it. Certainly the guy who wished that he could “shoot all the clerics,” AKA Israel’s rabbis, didn’t “always” believe that “the fate of Israel and the future of New York are deeply connected.” His support for Israel’s drive into Lebanon caused Sligo County Council member Declan Bree to propose canceling his visit.</p>
<p>Security will be super tight for the faker’s visit. The US is providing special vehicles which will be escorted by the Gardai, the police. Roads will be closed off and there will be random searches. But antiwar activists should go to his events. Peacefully confront him with his own words. Challenge Irish politicians who meet him to comment on them. Send them to every radio and TV commentator, to every newspaper in Ireland. If the Irish government said that Israel’s military onslaught was “harsh and disproportionate,” we can be sure that many media folks are even more outraged at Zionism’s latest crime.</p>
<p>Politically literate Irish know British politicians ‘play the orange card,’ demagogically pandering to Ulster Protestant fanatics. They won’t have the slightest difficulty in seeing Bloomberg as likewise playing the Zionist card to hustle the most fanatic of his country’s Jews.</p>
<p>In 1787, America’s founding constitutional convention debated giving the vote to the poor. James Madison, the historians’ “father of the constitution,” gave the decisive argument in favor. Poor whites had the vote in some states.</p>
<p>They would have been outraged if it was denied to them in federal elections. But Madison realized that giving it to them had enormous potentials: “In future times a great majority of the people will not only be without landed, but any other sort of property. These will either combine under the influence of their common situation; in which case, the right of property and the public liberty will not be secure in their hands; or which is more probable, they will become the tools of opulence and ambition, in which case there will be equal danger on another side.”</p>
<p>Bloomberg made his fortune. But no matter how great your wealth, you only know what you know. When the billionaire self-funder entered onto the political stage he didn’t have enough historical knowledge to understand that he automatically cast himself as the villain in a play scripted by none less than Madison. His ignorance re American history also produced a total lack of principle re the relationship of religion and politics. This led him to demagogically jump onto Zionism’s bandwagon, even as it marches into ever increasing isolation, among Jews and gentiles alike. But now the Irish antiwar movement can teach him a lesson, the 1st of many that he, America and Ireland will never forget.</p>
<p>LENNI BRENNER co-founded the National Association for Irish Justice, the American affiliate of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association. He is the editor of 51 Documents: Zionist Collaboration with the Nazis, and Jefferson &amp; Madison On Separation of Church and State: Writings on Religion and Secularism. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:BrennerL21@aol.com" type="external">BrennerL21@aol.com</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | michael bloomberg new yorks mayor going ireland fly west international airport august 22 private plane 200 people plus tv crews coming 800 breakfast sligo town hall opens public day give 1100 speech dedication ceremony ireland national monument fighting 69th infantry regiment new york national guard ballymote town park sligo reception monument unveiling legendary irish brigade founded 1851 immigrants city takes enormous pride fighting 69th fitting tribute marched green flag monument irish soil except todays 69th part occupying army iraq irish us regiment else discuss 1997 memoir mused hed make great mayor governor president recently new york newspapers carried stories running president 2008 say least journalists surprised none ever considered qualified post nys weekly irish voice reports trip ireland remote co sligo less interesting step mayor hinted might want spend 500 million fortune presidential run third party candidate minister foreign affairs recently spent 37000 lobbying us politicians behalf mccainkennedy immigration law reform bill benefiting estimated 60000 irish illegals bloomberg testified favor reform happy press asks case certain let irishamerican voters know passion rights illegal irish immigrants yes minute saw recent massive new york illegal immigrant rights demos woke dead leaped onto popular bandwagon also announce investment ireland hail great place others invest encourage irish capital invest city home many irish one shocked shocked happened 51 billion 40th richest american bloomberg lp data terminals world wide 718 new york times reported 20 american foreign investment committed ireland wont discuss words legalize marijuana widely used new york ireland exactly leap mouth thats say doesnt opinion according 41601 issue new york magazine ask ever smoked joint past replies bet enjoyed helped win years mayoral election modern america politician says never smoked pot media folks puff away hold contempt admitting smoked establishes credentials regular guy course gave serious sure enough took office announced enforce laws police department vigorously hypocrisy certainly thats synonym us politics game 2001 magazine also asked much going spend getting elected refused say much hell spend numbers floating around go high 30 million thats high says point start look obscene spent 74 million year 84 million 2005 obscenities come forth nonstop 1995 thought running public office interviewed jerusalem report israeli magazine informed readers particular desire visit israel bar mitzvah conservative synagogue currently member one temple westchester one manhattan proudly announced im terribly religious dont spend time davening praying lb dont call god wont call firm views israel jewish philanthropy wont give much money united jewish appeal says hold religious israel one wish shoot clerics 13 religious jewish boys celebrate bar mitzvah become adult members synagogues conservative judaic sect upholds doctrines orthodoxy israels state religion except conflict modern life conservatives go along biblical bans pork shrimp lobster orthodoxy says riding sabbath day rest conservative suburbanites drive cars synagogues often many miles homes bloomberg moved familys conservativism temple reform sect americas largest judaic group calls synagogue zillion miles orthodoxy conservatives women rabbis pride gay rabbis conservatives fight ordaining however beyond temple membership isnt evidence believes theology ultimate joiner jewish mayor proudly says teenager eagle scout sold christmas wreaths anyone grew became rich joined endless charities jewish secular thats rich americans supposed political ambitions started hed call rich donations give charity hed give favorite politicians campaign democrat yet hed fund republican snakes democratic rats whoever wanted serious principles religion politics whatever theology lack thereof knew conservatives reform recognized israel allowed synagogues state doesnt recognize marriages divorces solemnized rabbis 1995 bloomberg nonpolitical businessman denounced israel denying equality law sect 2001 openly said became republican easier year win partys nomination every major new york capitalist political player city 8 per cent jewish campaign went 1st time israel despised election went back rudy giuliani show 1st visit wasnt votes confidence game turned one low points life ultimate electronic capitalist got sucked classic israeli photoop 12901 follow orthodox custom put paper prayer god crack wailing wall remains herods temple jerusalem feel pain todays americas hackneyed cliche even enemies cry anguish unspoken gloomy face capitalist politicians learn capitalist politicians must soon albania visit mother teresas birthplace excited albanian catholics major players ny real estate 150 nationalities ny us capitalist politics played degenerated endless shuffle nationality parades religious shrines back marching st patricks day parades must five percent city irish two rival parades catholic church controls 5th avenue event gay group banners banned march elsewhere bloomberg eventually come gay marriage gays major element town marches irish gay parade also hikes avenue ever dwindling followers hierarchy keep get good anything showed jerusalem 83103 wearing red white blue skullcap kissed wailing wall one obliged kiss average american reform visitors certainly dont ive never seen jew america wearing red white blue skullcap wants mistaken shameless politician hustling votes traveled israel yet 2005 31705 new york times reported mayor acknowledged feeling uncomfortable wearing religion sleeve fact said proud heritage simply religious said rarely went temple except major holidays ive always believed god 1 look based whether follow set ceremonies laid somebody else religion im comfortable talking may good politics still bloombergs aides seemed buoyant visit gave chance show reform jews like well citys orthodox jews emphatic support israel made many statements certainly please constituency bloomberg differs american politicians democrat republican one aspect creatures would swim across vast oceans snot stark naked get campaign contributions rich prozionist jews doesnt orthodox zionists increasingly important part new york republican partys vote doesnt give want take votes money democrats would support israel even murdered moms proclaims always believed fate israel future new york deeply connected strong israel means strong america strong new york said time negotiate gun head soldiers die country politicians lie certainly guy wished could shoot clerics aka israels rabbis didnt always believe fate israel future new york deeply connected support israels drive lebanon caused sligo county council member declan bree propose canceling visit security super tight fakers visit us providing special vehicles escorted gardai police roads closed random searches antiwar activists go events peacefully confront words challenge irish politicians meet comment send every radio tv commentator every newspaper ireland irish government said israels military onslaught harsh disproportionate sure many media folks even outraged zionisms latest crime politically literate irish know british politicians play orange card demagogically pandering ulster protestant fanatics wont slightest difficulty seeing bloomberg likewise playing zionist card hustle fanatic countrys jews 1787 americas founding constitutional convention debated giving vote poor james madison historians father constitution gave decisive argument favor poor whites vote states would outraged denied federal elections madison realized giving enormous potentials future times great majority people without landed sort property either combine influence common situation case right property public liberty secure hands probable become tools opulence ambition case equal danger another side bloomberg made fortune matter great wealth know know billionaire selffunder entered onto political stage didnt enough historical knowledge understand automatically cast villain play scripted none less madison ignorance american history also produced total lack principle relationship religion politics led demagogically jump onto zionisms bandwagon even marches ever increasing isolation among jews gentiles alike irish antiwar movement teach lesson 1st many america ireland never forget lenni brenner cofounded national association irish justice american affiliate northern ireland civil rights association editor 51 documents zionist collaboration nazis jefferson amp madison separation church state writings religion secularism reached brennerl21aolcom 160 160 160 160 | 1,199 |
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<p>Following recent elections that were widely boycotted, a Constituent Assembly charged with rewriting the Venezuelan constitution met in early August. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro called for the Constituent Assembly in May, proposing it as a solution to the crisis that Venezuela has faced in recent years. The U.S., the right-wing opposition in Venezuela and the Washington's European and Latin American allies denounced the Constituent Assembly as an undemocratic power grab. When the "Constituent" convened, the Trump administration announced new sanctions against Venezuela.</p>
<p>While Trump and the U.S. have no business lecturing the Venezuelan government on democracy, the Constituent Assembly has also caused controversy in the Latin American and international left. This debate is only one part of a broader discussion about what attitude to take to the Maduro government in its confrontation with the right-wing opposition and its imperialist backers--see articles by&#160; <a href="https://www.jacobinmag.com/2017/07/venezuela-maduro-helicopter-attack-psuv-extractivism-oil" type="external">Mike Gonzalez</a>, author of&#160;Hugo Chávez: Socialist for the 21st Century,&#160; <a href="https://socialistworker.org/2017/07/13/being-honest-about-venezuela" type="external">reprinted at SocialistWorker.org</a>; and&#160; <a href="https://jacobinmag.com/2017/07/venezuela-elections-chavez-maduro-bolivarianism" type="external">George Ciccarello-Maher</a>, author of&#160;We Created Chávez: A People's History of the Venezuelan Revolution.</p>
<p>This interview with&#160;Carlos Carcione, a leading member of the socialist organization Marea Socialista, provides a perspective on events from the vantage point of the Venezuelan opposition to the left of the government.&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/ddhh/n309525.html" type="external">Originally published in June at Aporrea</a>, the Venezuelan site for news and commentary from a left perspective, it provides some essential background for understanding the dynamics in Venezuela today. Carcione also addresses the debate in the international left about the nature and direction of the Maduro government.</p>
<p>Carcione refers to the government of "Maduro, Diosdado and Padrino"--that is, the government whose main leaders are a troika of President Nicolás Maduro; Diosdado Cabello, the first vice president of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and PSUV leader in the now-dissolved National Assembly; and Vladimir Padrino, the defense minister and chief of the armed forces.</p>
<p>Carcione criticizes government plans, announced in 2016, to encourage foreign investment for mining of diamonds and other minerals in Arco Minero in Orinoco, a large zone in the south-central part of the country. Environmentalists and Indigenous rights activists have protested this decision. He makes that case that the left must develop a project independent of both the government and the right-wing opposition. This interview was translated for&#160;Socialist Worker&#160;by Lance Selfa.</p>
<p>THE COMPLICATED and uncertain situation in Venezuela has opened up a debate in what we might generically call the Latin American and international left. As the situation in the country has gotten more serious, it seems that that two more or less clearly articulated groups have arisen. One defends the government of Nicolás Maduro and the other questions it. How do you see this argument?</p>
<p>WHAT WE see in the press is, to me, a simplification that stems from a deeper argument. I want to make clear that our stance is from a position of being part of the Bolivarian process and not just against the Maduro government, a government that a dear friend, Santiago Arconada, correctly labeled as the government of Maduro, Diosdado, Padrino.</p>
<p>Because from my point of view, what's at stake in that debate is your stance on the policies of the government/PSUV: its orientation, what social sectors it expresses, what interests it represents, and what are the consequences of these for the country and the population. It's not only about the leading figures in the government or speeches or the demagogic appeals to the geopolitical conflict.</p>
<p>Speaking from what's generally called the "left," if we analyze those elements, noting what I said earlier and in light of the Maduro's proposed Constituent Assembly, we see that there are two broad sectors on the left in Venezuela today. One is on the side of the PSUV-government-Polo Patriótico, and the other is the ensemble of broad and varied platforms of social and political struggle--like the Citizens Platform in Defense of the Constitution, which fights against the&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/economia/n296148.html" type="external">Arco Minero in Orinoco</a>; newly formed regroupments of the labor and social movements; of the Platform for a Public and Citizen Audit; Marea Socialista as a political organization; and Bolivarian political parties like Unidad Política Popular 89; as well as some well-known personalities.</p>
<p>The current of that left that I'm describing advances proposals that grapple with the collapse of Venezuela's oil-based rentier economy. If we understand this, if we understand what these differences are and that they are radical, we can understand the controversy more clearly. It shows more clearly where each side on the left stands.</p>
<p>This vantage point, from inside the Bolivarian process, has additional importance. Take, for example, Marea Socialista, which recently left the PSUV and since has said that its politics aren't represented either by the PSUV or the MUD. It is an opposition from the left to the Maduro government, and it should go without saying that we have nothing to do with the right-wing opposition or MUD.</p>
<p>Marea Socialista doesn't repudiate its membership in the Bolivarian process, unlike a group of ex-ministers in the Chávez government--such as Héctor Navarro, the ex-minister of Education and Electric Energy or Ana Elisa Osorio, the ex-minister of the Environment, among others--or the heterogeneous movement known in the media as "critical Chavismo."</p>
<p>On the contrary, the criticisms, warnings, proposals and policies that Marea and like-minded others take as their starting point the conscientious defense of the economic, social and political gains of the Bolivarian process, including the 1999 Constitution--gains that are under ferocious attack from this government.</p>
<p>As long as the pro-government left and those who support them internationally--with automatic and unconditional support for the president--don't look critically at government policies nor at the Constituent Assembly, they are either tacitly or explicitly expressing support for those policies.</p>
<p>COULD YOU clarify the differences between those two parts of the Venezuelan and international left that you've identified?</p>
<p>IN SCHEMATIC terms, those differences revolve around the brutal economic crash that we're living through, the pronounced regression in the political system into an authoritarian model that they're trying to consolidate and deepen with the Constituent Assembly, and the tremendously regressive counter-reforms to the social policies. I will try to synthesize these briefly.</p>
<p>Regarding economic policy, we can see two distinct periods under the Maduro government. First, there is a period of gradual macroeconomic adjustment that failed spectacularly. We can specify the time between the February 2013 currency devaluation, a month before Chávez died, and the second half of 2014 when the government approved the first packet of Enabling Acts, as an attempt to cut spending and social investment in the social Missions, to reduce imports and to cut real wages through inflation. This policy has a clear regressive outcome, because the adjustment falls heavily on income and access to basic goods for working families and the poorest sectors. It fails.</p>
<p>And it fails because, among other reasons, not only does it not attack, but it actually deepens, the mafia-like pattern of rentier accumulation that is rooted in the illegal capital flight stemming from two fraudulent financial mechanisms: first, illegal diversions of petro dollars designated for imports to large construction projects or big contracts or international agreements; and secondly, illegal speculation with the sovereign national debt or the debt of the national oil company PDVSA, including domestic debt that has been shown to be outsourced.</p>
<p>These maneuvers have driven the nation's debt to somewhere around 80 percent of the GDP, according to a thorough study by&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/economia/a245302.html" type="external">Oly Millán Campos and Paulino Núñez</a>, who work with me on the Platform for a Public and Citizens' Audit. These illicit maneuvers make this debt illegitimate and odious, as Paulino says every time he gets the chance.</p>
<p>Despite all the warnings about this, despite all of the documentation, despite all of demands we've made, the government punctually makes every payment on this debt, while reducing imports, precipitating the sharp crisis of shortages of food and medicine that is putting us on the verge of a humanitarian crisis. It is seriously compromising the nation's patrimony.</p>
<p>Instead of accepting the Public and Citizens' Audit proposals that he take the same attitude to the debt that [former President Rafael] Correa took to the Ecuadorian debt, Maduro has continued to pay while refusing any type of investigation or independent audit. [Translator's note: In 2008, Ecuador defaulted on $3.2 billion in foreign debt. At the time, Correa said the debt was "illegitimate" and called bondholders "real monsters."]</p>
<p>As a result, Maduro has frittered away $60 billion in three years. And we never tire of insisting that this debt is paid for with the Venezuelan people's hunger, literally, because complying with these debt obligations means eliminating essential imports.</p>
<p>The second period that we point to begins at the end of 2014 with the passage of a new Enabling Act that allows the government to rule by decree. These laws make possible the creation of Special Economic Zones where Venezuelan law doesn't apply. These take full force as the price of oil was falling. Above all, from the beginning of 2016 when the government presented the so-called&#160; <a href="http://www.telesurtv.net/news/Gobierno-venezolano-instala-feria-de-motores-economicos-20160518-0019.html" type="external">"15 motors of the productive economy"</a>&#160;as a plan to overcome dependence on oil, what is really happening is a colossal extension of extractive industry and making the country even more dependent on raw materials exports. From the "Mining Motor" with the Arco Minero mines in Orinoco, to the "Energy Motor" with the opening of offshore drilling, to the "Timber Motor" to the "Tourism Motor," they are saddling us with a ferocious opening to transnational capital.</p>
<p>The international left that supports Nicolás Maduro unconditionally says nothing about any of this. They don't explain why this plan would be necessary, nor if it's beneficial, nor have they heard or read any of the criticism of it, nor have they proposed alternatives. On these grounds they're silent, a complicit silence.</p>
<p>It's as if all of this didn't happen, as if reality was frozen in the year 2012. All they talk about is economic blackmail, extortion and imperialism's economic way--none of which we deny--but these would have about one-tenth of the impact they do, if they weren't bolstered by these policies of selling out the country, and this mafia-like pattern of accumulation that, while existing long before, has been boosted exponentially by the Maduro government to today's levels of looting of the country.</p>
<p>As Oly Millán writes in his article&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/economia/a246950.html" type="external">"It's the Economy, Stupid,"</a>&#160;the Constituent Assembly has, among other goals, providing the legal framework to sustain this model.</p>
<p>WHAT ARE the counter-reforms to social policy that you mentioned?</p>
<p>IN THIS respect, the left that gives the government knee-jerk support continues to cite statistics from 2012-2013, the last full and complete figures the government published. Those statistics describe a country that doesn't exist anymore. Yet the left holds onto those numbers because, if they acknowledged today's reality, most of their argument in support of the government would collapse.</p>
<p>What in reality happened is this: Where there had been popular markets like Mercal or PDVDAL where a large part of the population could get good quality food at subsidized prices, today there exists, barely, a door-to-door system of state-run distribution, the Local Committees of Supply and Production [known by its initials in Spanish, CLAP], that still has only managed to reach a very small number of families, who can just access these boxes or bags every month and a half.</p>
<p>Where there was a national system of primary medical care, for everyone--the Barrio Adentro program--where people could receive treatment, basic and some more advanced medical tests, and free medicines if needed. Today there is a wasteland, where equipment doesn't work, medicine isn't available, the ability to perform basic medical tests is lacking, and neglected infrastructure is decaying. Staffing of medical professionals has declined dramatically.</p>
<p>There were communal kitchens [casas de alimentación] in the poorest areas, organized so that those who needed them received free meals, operated by volunteers and housewives in the neighborhoods. But after months, going into years, of shortages of cooking supplies, a phenomenon unknown in Bolivarian Venezuela began to take place: more and more people "dumpster-diving" to eat. This is just one of the long list of successful social policies that are today disappearing.</p>
<p>The same is happening will progressive legislation, like, for example, the Law of Labor Rights [Ley Orgánica del Trabajo]. These laws remain on paper, but that's about it, because they don't really apply. And let's not even talk about wages that are some of the first in Latin America that have fallen to the levels of those in Haiti. Meanwhile, big business--both domestic and foreign--receives outrageous handouts of all types.</p>
<p>In the face of all of this, the pro-government left doesn't want to look at reality, so it looks elsewhere and repeats outdated statistics, and talks about old social advances, that have long been refuted by Venezuelans' lost weight from what the people call "Maduro's diet."</p>
<p>Because of mistreatment, persecution of the most oppressed sectors and the criminal hiding of all official information, we don't even know what the real budget of the country is. It's been converted into a secret under lock-and-key.</p>
<p>WHAT DO you mean by the strong authoritarian tendency in the political system?</p>
<p>ABOUT TWO years ago, the government began developing, I would say, as a state policy, a process of dismantling the rights and guarantees established in the Constitution of 1999. Suppression of political and social rights. Elimination of economic rights and sovereignty in much of the national territory. Suspension, obstruction and elimination of union and student elections, from autonomous institutions like universities and from political positions such as regional governors, elimination of the right to the recall.</p>
<p>As professor and activist&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/ddhh/n309163.html" type="external">Edgardo Lander points out in a recent interview</a>, "I think that after the parliamentary elections of 2015 the government seems to assume that its continuity in power is not possible if it appeals to the popular vote or if it respects the Constitution."</p>
<p>Here I will not describe the growth, also exponential, of state police violence outside the protests, in relation to, for example, the "People's Liberation Operation" [Operación de liberación del Pueblo] policy of clean-up operations and extermination of what the press calls "common crimes" against all legal and human standards. [Translator's note: The original interview describes this operation as a "police policy that consists of patrols in the poorest parts of major cities to arrest, raid, repress, and even use deadly force without any respect for constitutional rights or minimum standards of legality."]</p>
<p>This trend started earlier. Its major milestone was the Supreme Court's failed Resolutions 155 and 156, abolishing the National Assembly, in late March 2017. These decisions amounted to a mini-coup, led Attorney General Luisa Ortega Díaz, to denounce them as "breaking the constitutional thread." They had to be "reviewed" and revoked because of the national and international outcry they provoked.</p>
<p>The trend has accelerated since the start of the protests in April 2017. There are two recent studies that correctly describe and assess the situation in which there have already been 60 killed in the course of demonstrations. [Translator's note: Since this interview, the figure of those killed in demonstrations has increased to more than 100.]</p>
<p>But perhaps the most striking symbol of the deepening of this tendency is the deployment, against all legal principle, of military tribunals for the summary trial of civilians, and the use of military facilities for the detention of civilians condemned by the military courts. The Constituent Assembly is designed, according to the objectives assigned to it by all the official spokespeople, to consolidate this authoritarian tendency.</p>
<p>We are going to insist on this point that it's clear that there are those on the side of MUD sectors that are taking advantage of the climate of protest to launch guerrilla attacks. No doubt, these groups are no doubt financed, and some of them are trained by the United States or by the Colombian right, followers of ex-President Álvaro Uribe and his paramilitary supporters, do not seek a democratic or electoral exit from the crisis but seek the liquidation of chavismo. But this, which we repudiate, can in no way justify the de facto elimination of the right to protest and other elementary human rights, let alone the disproportionate and indiscriminate state repression of the protests.</p>
<p>In this case, the same thing happens in the previous ones. The pro-government left automatically lines up the government of Maduro, exaggerating "terrorist" role of the guerrilla actions, and lets the state off the hook from its responsibility for how it is handling the protests and repression.</p>
<p>This brings us to the extreme case of [left intellectual]&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/tiburon/a246559.html" type="external">Atilio Boron who advises President Maduro in a recent article</a>&#160;to crush some unidentified "terrorists." In the context of the article, the word "crush" can be read as "exterminate."</p>
<p>Therefore, that old left demands that we unconditionally close ranks with an alleged "revolutionary leadership" in the face of imperialist threats. We demand the application of clear policies to break with the domination of finance capital, beginning with the suspension of payments of the debt. And we denounce all those policies that compound dependence on this system of capital, that ruin the environment, that eliminate national sovereignty, that dismantle the social, economic and political achievements of the Bolivarian process, that consolidate the government's capitulation to imperialism and that open the door to foreign interference or intervention.</p>
<p>Four years into this period, we can no longer speak of mistakes. On the contrary, for us the government of Maduro, Cabello, Padrino is following a planned policy, hoping to placate these concentrated sectors of big capital.</p>
<p>Similarly, because, unlike the confusion spread by sectors of the left who unconditionally support Maduro, or who timidly demand a partial and limited policy change, we do not trust the leadership of the PSUV/government. That is that we are engaged in the construction of a new alternative that is anti-capitalist, environmentalist, feminist, and that recovers the democratic, anti-imperialist and Bolivarian keys of the process, fighting to deepen them.</p>
<p>BUT WOULDN'T the Constituent Assembly be a way out of the crisis? Could it not stop the escalation of violence and open a dialogue to establish rules of the game that everyone accepts?</p>
<p>BEFORE ANSWERING your question it's necessary to establish a characterization of the current moment. And why, from my point of view, the resolution to the crisis can only be one that is favorable to the country and working people, with more democracy and not with more authoritarianism. And more democracy means at this moment, making the Constitution of 1999 work again.</p>
<p>Today we are moving between Maduro's fraudulent Constituent Assembly and the civil war/crushing [of the protests] that Borón proposes, knowing that these two options seek the establishment of an authoritarian system to consolidate the sellout of the country that I have been pointing out.</p>
<p>Or, on the other hand, we can reinvigorate the Constitution of 1999, hold regional and municipal elections and specify a clear timetable for the presidential election. This would include full guarantees of political participation for all expressions of national political thought, without exclusions or proscriptions.</p>
<p>I think it is also important to make another distinction. The characterization of the current confrontation between the two leading political forces (i.e. the government and the right-wing opposition), is--unlike the one in 2002-03, and against what the government's side spills rivers of ink maintaining and what pro-government intellectuals internationally argue--not a fight between the popular sectors against the oligarchs. On the contrary, it is a struggle to define which of these two leading groups guarantees itself, in the next period, control of the state so as to manage and distribute the oil wealth.</p>
<p>They are two sectors of the elite, both subordinated to the international financial capital, a traditional one and an emergent one. And neither sector is democratic. Both have made clear that they need a completely authoritarian political system to successfully implement the ongoing economic counterrevolution and the counter-reforms to the political and social achievements, which, with all their shortcomings, were gained in the best years of the Chávez period.</p>
<p>As comrade Oly Millán says in the article I quoted earlier: "But also, the history of the oil industry has another characteristic very&#160;sui generis&#160;and that is, in each process of oil boom, there is a rearrangement of the groups in power, i.e., some fall by the wayside, while others are strengthened and emerge anew." Today, on the downside of the oil boom and at a time of collapse of the rentier model, there is a predatory war between these two sectors of the Elites.</p>
<p>In this context, another goal of the Constituent Assembly is this: The leadership that today has control of state power but is threatened with losing its privileges, as punishment for the anti-popular and anti-national policy that has been applied in the last four years, is trying to retain it by means of a Constituent Assembly. The calling of this assembly is spurious and its electoral underpinnings are, without a doubt, dishonest.</p>
<p>On this point, many left-wing militants and intellectuals, chavista or not, agree. On&#160; <a href="http://www.aporrea.org/" type="external">Aporrea.org</a>&#160;you can read interviews with Héctor Navarro, Edgardo Lander or Gonzalo Gómez and read articles by Nicmer Evans, Jesús Puerta, Sergio Sánchez, Felipe Pachano Azuaje and Javier Biardeau, among many others, who make this point. The government is taking the route of the Constituent Assembly so that it doesn't have to renew its mandate in a universal election, in which, undoubtedly, according to all the polls, it would be defeated.</p>
<p>In these conditions, the Constituent Assembly is not a "weapon for peace," as the PSUV/government leadership says. On the contrary, it is the weapon with which it will try to construct an authoritarian regime. The regional elections promised for December or the plebiscite for the new Constitution that Maduro will call, are just the mask to dress up this process with a false "democratic" breadth, a ruse. And since it is not a weapon of peace, the enormous danger that it entails is that it ends up turning into an instrument which, in the current escalation of violence between the new elite that controls the state and the old elite that believes that it's time to regain that control has arrived, opens the door to a civil confrontation with unpredictable consequences.</p>
<p>However, the calling of the Constituent Assembly has opened another door, unexpected by the leadership of the PSUV, through which has begun to seep dissent from a significant part of chavismo. Militants, deputies and middle leaders of the party, current officials, former officials, intellectuals and academics, and according to many reports even a substantive part of the armed forces, strongly reject the antidemocratic maneuver.</p>
<p>With this sector we agree on an essential point: the only democratic road, which cannot be captured by either of the two elites that are instigating violence, is the struggle to renew the Constitution of 1999. We are part of that effort, while the old left, in its decline, with its allegiance to a government that has broken with the process that carried it here, continues to show the world its poverty.</p>
<p>First published at&#160; <a href="https://www.aporrea.org/ddhh/n309525.html" type="external">Aporrea.org</a>. Translated into English by Lance Selfa.</p>
<p><a href="/filter/tips" type="external">More information about formatting options</a></p> | true | 4 | following recent elections widely boycotted constituent assembly charged rewriting venezuelan constitution met early august venezuelan president nicolás maduro called constituent assembly may proposing solution crisis venezuela faced recent years us rightwing opposition venezuela washingtons european latin american allies denounced constituent assembly undemocratic power grab constituent convened trump administration announced new sanctions venezuela trump us business lecturing venezuelan government democracy constituent assembly also caused controversy latin american international left debate one part broader discussion attitude take maduro government confrontation rightwing opposition imperialist backerssee articles by160 mike gonzalez author of160hugo chávez socialist 21st century160 reprinted socialistworkerorg and160 george ciccarellomaher author of160we created chávez peoples history venezuelan revolution interview with160carlos carcione leading member socialist organization marea socialista provides perspective events vantage point venezuelan opposition left government160 originally published june aporrea venezuelan site news commentary left perspective provides essential background understanding dynamics venezuela today carcione also addresses debate international left nature direction maduro government carcione refers government maduro diosdado padrinothat government whose main leaders troika president nicolás maduro diosdado cabello first vice president ruling united socialist party venezuela psuv psuv leader nowdissolved national assembly vladimir padrino defense minister chief armed forces carcione criticizes government plans announced 2016 encourage foreign investment mining diamonds minerals arco minero orinoco large zone southcentral part country environmentalists indigenous rights activists protested decision makes case left must develop project independent government rightwing opposition interview translated for160socialist worker160by lance selfa complicated uncertain situation venezuela opened debate might generically call latin american international left situation country gotten serious seems two less clearly articulated groups arisen one defends government nicolás maduro questions see argument see press simplification stems deeper argument want make clear stance position part bolivarian process maduro government government dear friend santiago arconada correctly labeled government maduro diosdado padrino point view whats stake debate stance policies governmentpsuv orientation social sectors expresses interests represents consequences country population leading figures government speeches demagogic appeals geopolitical conflict speaking whats generally called left analyze elements noting said earlier light maduros proposed constituent assembly see two broad sectors left venezuela today one side psuvgovernmentpolo patriótico ensemble broad varied platforms social political strugglelike citizens platform defense constitution fights the160 arco minero orinoco newly formed regroupments labor social movements platform public citizen audit marea socialista political organization bolivarian political parties like unidad política popular 89 well wellknown personalities current left im describing advances proposals grapple collapse venezuelas oilbased rentier economy understand understand differences radical understand controversy clearly shows clearly side left stands vantage point inside bolivarian process additional importance take example marea socialista recently left psuv since said politics arent represented either psuv mud opposition left maduro government go without saying nothing rightwing opposition mud marea socialista doesnt repudiate membership bolivarian process unlike group exministers chávez governmentsuch héctor navarro exminister education electric energy ana elisa osorio exminister environment among othersor heterogeneous movement known media critical chavismo contrary criticisms warnings proposals policies marea likeminded others take starting point conscientious defense economic social political gains bolivarian process including 1999 constitutiongains ferocious attack government long progovernment left support internationallywith automatic unconditional support presidentdont look critically government policies constituent assembly either tacitly explicitly expressing support policies could clarify differences two parts venezuelan international left youve identified schematic terms differences revolve around brutal economic crash living pronounced regression political system authoritarian model theyre trying consolidate deepen constituent assembly tremendously regressive counterreforms social policies try synthesize briefly regarding economic policy see two distinct periods maduro government first period gradual macroeconomic adjustment failed spectacularly specify time february 2013 currency devaluation month chávez died second half 2014 government approved first packet enabling acts attempt cut spending social investment social missions reduce imports cut real wages inflation policy clear regressive outcome adjustment falls heavily income access basic goods working families poorest sectors fails fails among reasons attack actually deepens mafialike pattern rentier accumulation rooted illegal capital flight stemming two fraudulent financial mechanisms first illegal diversions petro dollars designated imports large construction projects big contracts international agreements secondly illegal speculation sovereign national debt debt national oil company pdvsa including domestic debt shown outsourced maneuvers driven nations debt somewhere around 80 percent gdp according thorough study by160 oly millán campos paulino núñez work platform public citizens audit illicit maneuvers make debt illegitimate odious paulino says every time gets chance despite warnings despite documentation despite demands weve made government punctually makes every payment debt reducing imports precipitating sharp crisis shortages food medicine putting us verge humanitarian crisis seriously compromising nations patrimony instead accepting public citizens audit proposals take attitude debt former president rafael correa took ecuadorian debt maduro continued pay refusing type investigation independent audit translators note 2008 ecuador defaulted 32 billion foreign debt time correa said debt illegitimate called bondholders real monsters result maduro frittered away 60 billion three years never tire insisting debt paid venezuelan peoples hunger literally complying debt obligations means eliminating essential imports second period point begins end 2014 passage new enabling act allows government rule decree laws make possible creation special economic zones venezuelan law doesnt apply take full force price oil falling beginning 2016 government presented socalled160 15 motors productive economy160as plan overcome dependence oil really happening colossal extension extractive industry making country even dependent raw materials exports mining motor arco minero mines orinoco energy motor opening offshore drilling timber motor tourism motor saddling us ferocious opening transnational capital international left supports nicolás maduro unconditionally says nothing dont explain plan would necessary beneficial heard read criticism proposed alternatives grounds theyre silent complicit silence didnt happen reality frozen year 2012 talk economic blackmail extortion imperialisms economic waynone denybut would onetenth impact werent bolstered policies selling country mafialike pattern accumulation existing long boosted exponentially maduro government todays levels looting country oly millán writes article160 economy stupid160the constituent assembly among goals providing legal framework sustain model counterreforms social policy mentioned respect left gives government kneejerk support continues cite statistics 20122013 last full complete figures government published statistics describe country doesnt exist anymore yet left holds onto numbers acknowledged todays reality argument support government would collapse reality happened popular markets like mercal pdvdal large part population could get good quality food subsidized prices today exists barely doortodoor system staterun distribution local committees supply production known initials spanish clap still managed reach small number families access boxes bags every month half national system primary medical care everyonethe barrio adentro programwhere people could receive treatment basic advanced medical tests free medicines needed today wasteland equipment doesnt work medicine isnt available ability perform basic medical tests lacking neglected infrastructure decaying staffing medical professionals declined dramatically communal kitchens casas de alimentación poorest areas organized needed received free meals operated volunteers housewives neighborhoods months going years shortages cooking supplies phenomenon unknown bolivarian venezuela began take place people dumpsterdiving eat one long list successful social policies today disappearing happening progressive legislation like example law labor rights ley orgánica del trabajo laws remain paper thats dont really apply lets even talk wages first latin america fallen levels haiti meanwhile big businessboth domestic foreignreceives outrageous handouts types face progovernment left doesnt want look reality looks elsewhere repeats outdated statistics talks old social advances long refuted venezuelans lost weight people call maduros diet mistreatment persecution oppressed sectors criminal hiding official information dont even know real budget country converted secret lockandkey mean strong authoritarian tendency political system two years ago government began developing would say state policy process dismantling rights guarantees established constitution 1999 suppression political social rights elimination economic rights sovereignty much national territory suspension obstruction elimination union student elections autonomous institutions like universities political positions regional governors elimination right recall professor activist160 edgardo lander points recent interview think parliamentary elections 2015 government seems assume continuity power possible appeals popular vote respects constitution describe growth also exponential state police violence outside protests relation example peoples liberation operation operación de liberación del pueblo policy cleanup operations extermination press calls common crimes legal human standards translators note original interview describes operation police policy consists patrols poorest parts major cities arrest raid repress even use deadly force without respect constitutional rights minimum standards legality trend started earlier major milestone supreme courts failed resolutions 155 156 abolishing national assembly late march 2017 decisions amounted minicoup led attorney general luisa ortega díaz denounce breaking constitutional thread reviewed revoked national international outcry provoked trend accelerated since start protests april 2017 two recent studies correctly describe assess situation already 60 killed course demonstrations translators note since interview figure killed demonstrations increased 100 perhaps striking symbol deepening tendency deployment legal principle military tribunals summary trial civilians use military facilities detention civilians condemned military courts constituent assembly designed according objectives assigned official spokespeople consolidate authoritarian tendency going insist point clear side mud sectors taking advantage climate protest launch guerrilla attacks doubt groups doubt financed trained united states colombian right followers expresident Álvaro uribe paramilitary supporters seek democratic electoral exit crisis seek liquidation chavismo repudiate way justify de facto elimination right protest elementary human rights let alone disproportionate indiscriminate state repression protests case thing happens previous ones progovernment left automatically lines government maduro exaggerating terrorist role guerrilla actions lets state hook responsibility handling protests repression brings us extreme case left intellectual160 atilio boron advises president maduro recent article160to crush unidentified terrorists context article word crush read exterminate therefore old left demands unconditionally close ranks alleged revolutionary leadership face imperialist threats demand application clear policies break domination finance capital beginning suspension payments debt denounce policies compound dependence system capital ruin environment eliminate national sovereignty dismantle social economic political achievements bolivarian process consolidate governments capitulation imperialism open door foreign interference intervention four years period longer speak mistakes contrary us government maduro cabello padrino following planned policy hoping placate concentrated sectors big capital similarly unlike confusion spread sectors left unconditionally support maduro timidly demand partial limited policy change trust leadership psuvgovernment engaged construction new alternative anticapitalist environmentalist feminist recovers democratic antiimperialist bolivarian keys process fighting deepen wouldnt constituent assembly way crisis could stop escalation violence open dialogue establish rules game everyone accepts answering question necessary establish characterization current moment point view resolution crisis one favorable country working people democracy authoritarianism democracy means moment making constitution 1999 work today moving maduros fraudulent constituent assembly civil warcrushing protests borón proposes knowing two options seek establishment authoritarian system consolidate sellout country pointing hand reinvigorate constitution 1999 hold regional municipal elections specify clear timetable presidential election would include full guarantees political participation expressions national political thought without exclusions proscriptions think also important make another distinction characterization current confrontation two leading political forces ie government rightwing opposition isunlike one 200203 governments side spills rivers ink maintaining progovernment intellectuals internationally arguenot fight popular sectors oligarchs contrary struggle define two leading groups guarantees next period control state manage distribute oil wealth two sectors elite subordinated international financial capital traditional one emergent one neither sector democratic made clear need completely authoritarian political system successfully implement ongoing economic counterrevolution counterreforms political social achievements shortcomings gained best years chávez period comrade oly millán says article quoted earlier also history oil industry another characteristic very160sui generis160and process oil boom rearrangement groups power ie fall wayside others strengthened emerge anew today downside oil boom time collapse rentier model predatory war two sectors elites context another goal constituent assembly leadership today control state power threatened losing privileges punishment antipopular antinational policy applied last four years trying retain means constituent assembly calling assembly spurious electoral underpinnings without doubt dishonest point many leftwing militants intellectuals chavista agree on160 aporreaorg160you read interviews héctor navarro edgardo lander gonzalo gómez read articles nicmer evans jesús puerta sergio sánchez felipe pachano azuaje javier biardeau among many others make point government taking route constituent assembly doesnt renew mandate universal election undoubtedly according polls would defeated conditions constituent assembly weapon peace psuvgovernment leadership says contrary weapon try construct authoritarian regime regional elections promised december plebiscite new constitution maduro call mask dress process false democratic breadth ruse since weapon peace enormous danger entails ends turning instrument current escalation violence new elite controls state old elite believes time regain control arrived opens door civil confrontation unpredictable consequences however calling constituent assembly opened another door unexpected leadership psuv begun seep dissent significant part chavismo militants deputies middle leaders party current officials former officials intellectuals academics according many reports even substantive part armed forces strongly reject antidemocratic maneuver sector agree essential point democratic road captured either two elites instigating violence struggle renew constitution 1999 part effort old left decline allegiance government broken process carried continues show world poverty first published at160 aporreaorg translated english lance selfa information formatting options | 2,064 |
<p>Haiti’s history has been cursed by white nationalism and associated political and economic domination and not by rebelling slaves’ “pact to the devil,” as televangelist Pat Robertson “prophesized” after the fact of the 7.0 earthquake’s devastation of the country.&#160; Unfortunately, whatever coverage America’s mainstream media gave to Robertson’s comment focused on its outlandishness and not on the real history of Haiti’s liberation struggles against past and present white oppression.&#160; A comparison of evangelical Christian Robertson’s “divining” words with Haiti’s actual history provides an informed moral basis for judging and undoing the real “pacts with the devil” still cursing Haiti.</p>
<p>The day after the horrible earthquake buried Haiti in inconceivable destruction and injury and death, Pat Robertson said on his televised and widely viewed 700 Club on the Christian Broadcasting Network,</p>
<p>Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it.&#160; They were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the devil; they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the Prince.&#160; True story [italics added].&#160; And so the devil said, ‘OK, it’s a deal.’</p>
<p>And they kicked the French out, the Haitians revolted and got themselves free, and ever since they have been cursed by one thing after the other, desperately poor.&#160; . . . And we need to pray for them, a great turning to God.&#160; And out of this tragedy, I’m optimistic something good may come, but right now we are helping the suffering people, and the suffering is unimaginable. (“Pat Robertson Blames Haiti’s ‘Pact to the Devil,’” from Jan. 13 edition of the 700 Club program, CBN, &#160;www.youtube.com, Jan. 13, 2010)</p>
<p>“True story.&#160; . . . And people might not want to talk about it.&#160; . . . And we need to pray for them, a great turning to God.”&#160; Pat Robertson is a white evangelical Christian taking “liberty” with black people’s oppression.&#160; A son and benefactor of America’s white-controlled hierarchy of access to political and economic and religious power.&#160; Whose obvious revisionist distortion of Haiti’s true history reveals that he did “not want to talk about it.”&#160; Nor did mainstream media, with their momentary on-the-scene coverage of the earthquake’s horrific destruction, want to dig into the related racist ruins of Haiti’s early and recent past.&#160; But Haitian activist and political analyst Jean Saint-Vil did “want to talk about it”—and did so before the earthquake led Haiti to cross Robertson’s mind with his passing and dishonoring judgment.</p>
<p>Instead of a “pact to the devil,” Jean Saint-Vil called Haiti’s “uprising against slavery . . . ‘A Giant Step for Mankind—Made in Haiti.’” (godisnotwhite.org, Aug.11, 2009).&#160; That “giant step,” Saint-Vil writes, was taken against brutal oppression, which Pat Robertson and mainstream media choose “not . . . to talk about”:</p>
<p>Popes, kings and queens enriched themselves and built vast empires on the profits made with the sweat and blood of kidnapped men, women and children loaded on ships, stacked like sardines and reduced to slavery on plantations of coffee, sugar, cotton, cocoa, all over the Americas[1].&#160; . . . millions of human beings . . . kidnapped, terrorized, thrown to sharks in the middle of the Atlantic ocean.&#160; . . . It has been estimated that the population of Africa in the mid 19th century would have been 50 million instead of 25 million had this catastrophe known as the MAAFA [also known as the African Holocaust] not taken place[3].</p>
<p>Following his graphic documentation of the actual “devils,” Jean Saint-Vil then discloses the “giant step for mankind—made in Haiti,” which Pat Robertson and America’s white-controlled dominant press did not talk or write or report about.&#160; Saint-Vil states,</p>
<p>It is within such an atmosphere of unparalleled terrorism and human decadence that a remarkable gathering of men and women took place on the small Caribbean island of Haiti, the evening of August 14-15, 1791.&#160; Known as the Bwa Kay Iman Ceremony[4], it is said that this revolutionary meeting brought together representatives of twenty-one displaced African nations who vowed to revolt against the powers that had unleashed against their people such a relentless campaign of terror; a genocide that was expertly conceived and implemented, state-sponsored and financed, justified with numerous literary works and blessed by the most powerful and influential religious institutions of the day[5].</p>
<p>The “giant step for mankind—made in Haiti” included a “giant step” for the religious equality of womankind.&#160; Jean Saint-Vil states that the main leaders, of this “first [successful] major revolt against racial slavery in the Americas,” were a female Vodou Priest named Cecile Fatiman[6] and a male Vodou Priest called [Dutty] Boukman[7].&#160; Voudou religion (publicized as Voodoo), with its emphasis on individual respect, generosity and solidarity within community, and gender and sexual orientation inclusiveness,&#160; recognized the full and equal power of women in religion centuries before most Christian denominations began cutting their “umbiblical” cord of patriarchy.&#160; (See “About Haitian Vodou—Haitian Voodoo History &amp; Beliefs,” by Mike Rock, <a href="http://www.erzulies.com/" type="external">www.erzulies.com</a>; and “Voodoo a Legitimate Religion, Anthropologist Says,” by Brian Handwerk, for National Geographic News, Oct. 21, 2002).</p>
<p>With Vodou Priests Cecile Fatiman and Dutty Boukman leading the revolt’s “giant step for mankind,” Jean Saint-Vil states that Boukman gave the call to action, which was not a “pact to the devil” but a deeply human and spiritual pact with the “heart.”&#160; This pact of liberation was made at a religious ceremony, with the following prayer by Boukman signaling the beginning of the revolt:</p>
<p>The god who created the earth; who created the sun that gives us light.&#160; The god who holds up the ocean; who makes the thunder roar.&#160; Our God who has ears to hear.&#160; You who are hidden in the clouds; who watch us from where you are.&#160; You see all that the white has made us suffer.&#160; The white man’s god asks him to commit crimes.&#160; But the god within us [italics added] wants to do good.&#160; Our god, who is so good, so just, He orders us to revenge our wrongs.&#160; It’s He who will direct our arms and bring us the victory.&#160; It’s He who will assist us.&#160; We all should throw away the image of the white man’s god who is so pitiless.&#160; Listen to the voice for liberty that speaks in all our hearts[8].</p>
<p>It was “a great turning to God,” but not to the white god paternalistic Pat Robertson had in mind and prays to.&#160; It was a god who empowered people, not a white-controlled institutionalized god who seeks power over people—and then curses them when they overthrow him and his creators and gain their human birthright of freedom.</p>
<p>“Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people may not want to talk about it.”&#160; Five years ago, Ed Kinane, who worked in Haiti with Peace Brigade International, wrote that the United States did “not want to talk about it.”&#160; He stated, “This was the world’s first successful slave revolt.&#160; Ignored in our history books, it was an accomplishment as significant and as liberating as the French or U.S. revolutions.” (“Why the U.S. and France Hate Haiti,” MinutemanMedia.org, July 20, 2005, reprinted in CommonDreams.org.)</p>
<p>If Pat Robertson and mainstream media did “not want to talk about” Vodou Priests Cecile Fatiman and Dutty Boukman, they surely would not “want to talk about” Toussaint L’Ouverture, who became a great leader of the Haitian slaves’ struggle for independence.&#160; The Toussaint Louverture Project on “Toussaint Louverture” states that he “was the preeminent figure of the Haitian Revolution.”&#160; The statement continues:</p>
<p>A former slave, he became a brilliant general and capableadministrator, defeating British, Spanish, and French troops, emancipating the slave population, and overseeing the country’s initial attempts at reforming its political and social structure.&#160; His extraordinary efforts at reaching across lines of race and class set him apart from his contemporaries, and his vision of a race-blind, independent country of equals was ahead of his time.</p>
<p>Toussaint L’Ouverture’s&#160; words, upon capture by the French, are most inspiring for Haiti’s earthquake victims, for those who want to talk about it.&#160; Toussaint told his captors:&#160; “In overthrowing me, you have cut down in Saint-Dominque only the trunk of the tree of liberty.&#160; It will spring up again by the roots, for they are numerous.” (Ibid)</p>
<p>In his book, The Negro, civil rights activist, historian and writer W.E.B. Du Bois called Toussaint L’Ouverture “the greatest of American Negroes and one of the great men of all time.”&#160; Du Bois then quoted Massachusetts Anti-slavery Society president Wendell Phillips’ 1861 lecture on “Toussaint L’Ouverture”:</p>
<p>Some doubt the courage of the Negro.&#160; Go to Hayti and stand on those fifty thousand graves of the best soldiers France ever had and ask them what they think of the Negro’s sword.&#160; I would call him Napoleon, but Napoleon made his way to empire over broken oaths and through a sea of blood.&#160; This man never broke his word.&#160; I would call him Cromwell, but Cromwell was only a soldier, and the state he founded went down with him into his grave.&#160; I would call him Washington, but the great Virginian held slaves.&#160; This man risked his empire rather than permit the slave trade in the humblest village of his dominions.&#160; You think me a fanatic, for you read history, not with your eyes, but with your prejudices.&#160; But fifty years hence, when Truth gets a hearing, the Muse of history will put Phocion for the Greek, Brutus for the Roman, Hampden for the English, LaFayette for France, choose Washington as the bright, consummate flower of our earlier civilization, then, dipping her pen in the sunlight, will write in the clear blue, above them all, the name of the soldier, the statesman, the martyr Toussaint L’Ouverture.&#160; [See, “ ‘Toussaint L’Ouverture’ A lecture by Wendell Phillips (1861)”)</p>
<p>Published in 1915, W.E.B. Du Bois ends his “Text on Haiti” with prophetic words:</p>
<p>In political life Hayti is still in the sixteenth century; but in economic life she has succeeded in placing on their own little farms the happiest and most contented peasantry in the world, after raising them from a veritable hell of slavery.&#160; If modern capitalistic greed can be restrained from interference until the best elements of Hayti secure permanent political leadership the triumph of the revolution will be complete.</p>
<p>The most accurate account of the Haitian Revolution is believed to be C. L. R. James’s book The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Overture and the San Domingo Revolution.&#160;&#160; James analyzes the economic and class differences driving the revolution more than the influence of racial divisions.&#160; He writes, “The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous.&#160; But,” James also stresses, “to neglect the racial factor as merely incidental is an error only less grave than to make it fundamental. (283)”&#160; (See “The Black Jacobins: a Class Analysis of Revolution,” by Benjamin Graves ’98, Brown //University, <a href="http://www.postcolonialweb.org/poldisco" type="external">www.postcolonialweb.org/poldisco</a>)</p>
<p>Tragically, “capitalistic greed” engulfed Haiti.&#160; And “Truth” has not received a hearing.&#160; Beneath the earthquake’s massive rubble in Haiti today is seen the real “pact with the devil.”&#160; The historical reality that Pat Robertson and America’s mainstream media do “not want to talk about.”&#160; Like, France’s demand for “reparations” following the slave revolt as compensation for lost plantations and slaves, a demand the United States supported, which crippled Haiti’s economy for over 100 years.&#160; The refusal of the United States to even recognize Haiti’s independence from slavery until its own slavery foundation began to crack during the Civil War (See “Great television/bad journalism: Media failures in Haiti coverage,” By Robert Jensen, OpEdNews.com, Jan 25, 2010)</p>
<p>Robert Flamini talks about “The Risk of Sending U.S. Troops to Haiti” now.&#160; In the January 19, 2010 World Politics Review, he writes, “In 1915, Woodrow Wilson sent in the marines to Haiti, ostensibly to steady the country, then beset by coup and counter-coup, but actually to protect American business interests.”&#160; Flamini continued, “Wilson took control of the Haitian National Bank and transferred $500,000 to the United States for ‘safekeeping.’&#160; A virtual occupation,” he added, “with the U.S. marine commander acting as provincial governor, remained in force until 1934.”</p>
<p>There is more on America’s “capitalistic greed” under the earthquake’s ruins that America’s political and religious status quo and their guardian media do “not want to talk about.”&#160; The United States government’s support of the repressive dictatorships of Francois “Papa Doc Duvalier and then his son Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier from 1957 to 1986.&#160; The BBC News reported, “During their 31-year rule tens of thousands of people were killed, some tortured to death,” with Haitian exiles in France calling for “Baby Doc” Duvalier to be tried for “crimes against humanity.”(“World: Americas ‘Bring Baby Doc to justice,’” Dec. 8, 1998)&#160;&#160; But the United States government did “not want to talk about it.”&#160; As Gary Younge writes in The Guardian, “Both the US and France backed the Duvaliers’ brutal dictatorships and when democratic government did arrive it was hogtied by terms imposed by the IMF and the World Bank.&#160; Among other things,” Younge continues, “rigged trade agreements transformed Haiti from a self-sufficient rice producer to importing the bulk of its rice from subsidized growers in the US.”&#160; (“The West Owes Haiti a Bailout. And It Would Be a Hand-Back, Not a Handout,” Feb. 1, 2010) &#160;Ashley Smith talks about it this way: “Floods of U.S. agricultural imports destroyed peasant agriculture.&#160; As a result,” Smith writes, “hundreds of thousands of people flocked to the teeming slums of Port-au-Prince to labor for pitifully low wages in sweatshops located in U.S. export processing zones.” (“The Incapacitation of Haiti,” Counterpunch, Jan. 14, 2010; see also, “Haiti Earthquake: Made in the USA: Why the Blood is on Our Hands,” by Ted Rell, CommonDreams.org, Jan. 14, 2010)</p>
<p>“Something happened” not too long ago “in Haiti,” and America’s “modern capitalistic greed”- controlled government and guardian media and accommodating religious status quo “might not want to talk about it” today.&#160; The US-sponsored coups that drove democratically elected, reform-committed, Catholic priest and liberation theologian Jean-Bertrand Aristide from the presidency in 1991, and again in 2004.&#160; The New York Times reporting that the C.I.A. had financed Haiti’s “most feared right-wing paramilitary group . . . accused of murdering, raping and beating hundreds of supporters of Haiti’s President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.” (“Haitian Ex-Paramilitary Leader Confirms C.I.A. Relationship,” By Tim Weiner, Dec. 3, 1995).&#160; The US-instigated banishing of Aristide from Haiti and banning of his Fanmi Lavalas party, the most popular political party in the country, from participating in elections.&#160; Why?&#160; Aristide’s Lavalas party threatened US business and political interests with its emphasis on restoring Haiti’s independence and self-sufficiency. (See “Plan of Death in Haiti,” By Vijay Prashad, Counterpunch, Jan. 27, 2010).</p>
<p>There is much US oppression of Haiti that our government does not want talked about.&#160; Seen in President Obama appointing former presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to lead the humanitarian response to Haiti’s earthquake victims—the very two presidents whose administrations overthrew President Aristide’s democratically-elected governments in 1991 and 2004.&#160; (See, “Haiti, Aristide and Ideology,” By William Blum, Counterpunch, Feb. 10, 2010)&#160; Sadly, their appointment indicates that the Obama administration “would rather not talk about it.”</p>
<p>The January 12 earthquake exposed America’s historic “pact with the devil” in Haiti.&#160; The pervasive poverty.&#160; The stifling slums and fragile housing in Port-au-Prince.&#160; The lack of adequate life-sustaining infrastructure of clean water, sanitation and electrical power.&#160; The limited and limiting educational system.&#160; The minimal social and health care services.&#160; And a US-weakened and dependent government.&#160; These political and economic fault lines were made in America, and contributed greatly to the severity&#160; of the earthquake’s damage.</p>
<p>The response to Haiti’s overwhelming catastrophe should not just be about charity.&#160; Though the generous giving and services of countless individuals and groups and helping professions is most urgently needed and laudable.&#160; But Haiti’s overwhelming need and criminal victimization call for full reparations from the US government.&#160; Citizens’ contributions to Haiti should include demanding that the US government recognize the injustices America has committed against Haiti and pay full reparations for those past and present crimes against its people.&#160; America’s response to Haiti should not be about looking good in the eyes of the world but about doing good.</p>
<p>It is also about reparations.&#160; As Peter Hallwood writes in The Guardian/UK,</p>
<p>Along with sending emergency relief, we should ask what we can do to facilitate the self-empowerment of Haiti’s people and public institutions.&#160; If we are serious about helping we need to stop trying to control Haiti’s government, to pacify its citizens, and to exploit its economy.&#160; And then we need to start paying for at least some of the damage we’ve already done. (“Our Role in Haiti’s Plight,” Jan. 14, 2010, reprinted in CommonDreams.org.)</p>
<p>America should not be about sacrificing and destroying lives and resources in profit-and political power-driven imperialistic wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and Pakistan.&#160; Our country should be using its human and material resources to respond justly and fully to the rights and overwhelming needs of our Haitian neighbors and to the impoverishment of our own vulnerable citizens.&#160; America’s security lies in alleviating the suffering that terrorizes people not in being the cause of their terror.</p>
<p>Rev. WILLIAM E. ALBERTS is a hospital chaplain and a diplomate in the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.&#160; Both a Unitarian Universalist and a United Methodist minister, he has written research reports, essays and articles on racism, war, politics and religion.&#160; He can be reached at <a href="mailto:william.alberts@bmc.org" type="external">william.alberts@bmc.org</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | haitis history cursed white nationalism associated political economic domination rebelling slaves pact devil televangelist pat robertson prophesized fact 70 earthquakes devastation country160 unfortunately whatever coverage americas mainstream media gave robertsons comment focused outlandishness real history haitis liberation struggles past present white oppression160 comparison evangelical christian robertsons divining words haitis actual history provides informed moral basis judging undoing real pacts devil still cursing haiti day horrible earthquake buried haiti inconceivable destruction injury death pat robertson said televised widely viewed 700 club christian broadcasting network something happened long time ago haiti people might want talk it160 heel french uh know napoleon third whatever got together swore pact devil said serve get us free prince160 true story italics added160 devil said ok deal kicked french haitians revolted got free ever since cursed one thing desperately poor160 need pray great turning god160 tragedy im optimistic something good may come right helping suffering people suffering unimaginable pat robertson blames haitis pact devil jan 13 edition 700 club program cbn 160wwwyoutubecom jan 13 2010 true story160 people might want talk it160 need pray great turning god160 pat robertson white evangelical christian taking liberty black peoples oppression160 son benefactor americas whitecontrolled hierarchy access political economic religious power160 whose obvious revisionist distortion haitis true history reveals want talk it160 mainstream media momentary onthescene coverage earthquakes horrific destruction want dig related racist ruins haitis early recent past160 haitian activist political analyst jean saintvil want talk itand earthquake led haiti cross robertsons mind passing dishonoring judgment instead pact devil jean saintvil called haitis uprising slavery giant step mankindmade haiti godisnotwhiteorg aug11 2009160 giant step saintvil writes taken brutal oppression pat robertson mainstream media choose talk popes kings queens enriched built vast empires profits made sweat blood kidnapped men women children loaded ships stacked like sardines reduced slavery plantations coffee sugar cotton cocoa americas1160 millions human beings kidnapped terrorized thrown sharks middle atlantic ocean160 estimated population africa mid 19th century would 50 million instead 25 million catastrophe known maafa also known african holocaust taken place3 following graphic documentation actual devils jean saintvil discloses giant step mankindmade haiti pat robertson americas whitecontrolled dominant press talk write report about160 saintvil states within atmosphere unparalleled terrorism human decadence remarkable gathering men women took place small caribbean island haiti evening august 1415 1791160 known bwa kay iman ceremony4 said revolutionary meeting brought together representatives twentyone displaced african nations vowed revolt powers unleashed people relentless campaign terror genocide expertly conceived implemented statesponsored financed justified numerous literary works blessed powerful influential religious institutions day5 giant step mankindmade haiti included giant step religious equality womankind160 jean saintvil states main leaders first successful major revolt racial slavery americas female vodou priest named cecile fatiman6 male vodou priest called dutty boukman7160 voudou religion publicized voodoo emphasis individual respect generosity solidarity within community gender sexual orientation inclusiveness160 recognized full equal power women religion centuries christian denominations began cutting umbiblical cord patriarchy160 see haitian vodouhaitian voodoo history amp beliefs mike rock wwwerzuliescom voodoo legitimate religion anthropologist says brian handwerk national geographic news oct 21 2002 vodou priests cecile fatiman dutty boukman leading revolts giant step mankind jean saintvil states boukman gave call action pact devil deeply human spiritual pact heart160 pact liberation made religious ceremony following prayer boukman signaling beginning revolt god created earth created sun gives us light160 god holds ocean makes thunder roar160 god ears hear160 hidden clouds watch us are160 see white made us suffer160 white mans god asks commit crimes160 god within us italics added wants good160 god good orders us revenge wrongs160 direct arms bring us victory160 assist us160 throw away image white mans god pitiless160 listen voice liberty speaks hearts8 great turning god white god paternalistic pat robertson mind prays to160 god empowered people whitecontrolled institutionalized god seeks power peopleand curses overthrow creators gain human birthright freedom something happened long time ago haiti people may want talk it160 five years ago ed kinane worked haiti peace brigade international wrote united states want talk it160 stated worlds first successful slave revolt160 ignored history books accomplishment significant liberating french us revolutions us france hate haiti minutemanmediaorg july 20 2005 reprinted commondreamsorg pat robertson mainstream media want talk vodou priests cecile fatiman dutty boukman surely would want talk toussaint louverture became great leader haitian slaves struggle independence160 toussaint louverture project toussaint louverture states preeminent figure haitian revolution160 statement continues former slave became brilliant general capableadministrator defeating british spanish french troops emancipating slave population overseeing countrys initial attempts reforming political social structure160 extraordinary efforts reaching across lines race class set apart contemporaries vision raceblind independent country equals ahead time toussaint louvertures160 words upon capture french inspiring haitis earthquake victims want talk it160 toussaint told captors160 overthrowing cut saintdominque trunk tree liberty160 spring roots numerous ibid book negro civil rights activist historian writer web du bois called toussaint louverture greatest american negroes one great men time160 du bois quoted massachusetts antislavery society president wendell phillips 1861 lecture toussaint louverture doubt courage negro160 go hayti stand fifty thousand graves best soldiers france ever ask think negros sword160 would call napoleon napoleon made way empire broken oaths sea blood160 man never broke word160 would call cromwell cromwell soldier state founded went grave160 would call washington great virginian held slaves160 man risked empire rather permit slave trade humblest village dominions160 think fanatic read history eyes prejudices160 fifty years hence truth gets hearing muse history put phocion greek brutus roman hampden english lafayette france choose washington bright consummate flower earlier civilization dipping pen sunlight write clear blue name soldier statesman martyr toussaint louverture160 see toussaint louverture lecture wendell phillips 1861 published 1915 web du bois ends text haiti prophetic words political life hayti still sixteenth century economic life succeeded placing little farms happiest contented peasantry world raising veritable hell slavery160 modern capitalistic greed restrained interference best elements hayti secure permanent political leadership triumph revolution complete accurate account haitian revolution believed c l r jamess book black jacobins toussaint loverture san domingo revolution160160 james analyzes economic class differences driving revolution influence racial divisions160 writes race question subsidiary class question politics think imperialism terms race disastrous160 james also stresses neglect racial factor merely incidental error less grave make fundamental 283160 see black jacobins class analysis revolution benjamin graves 98 brown university wwwpostcolonialweborgpoldisco tragically capitalistic greed engulfed haiti160 truth received hearing160 beneath earthquakes massive rubble haiti today seen real pact devil160 historical reality pat robertson americas mainstream media want talk about160 like frances demand reparations following slave revolt compensation lost plantations slaves demand united states supported crippled haitis economy 100 years160 refusal united states even recognize haitis independence slavery slavery foundation began crack civil war see great televisionbad journalism media failures haiti coverage robert jensen opednewscom jan 25 2010 robert flamini talks risk sending us troops haiti now160 january 19 2010 world politics review writes 1915 woodrow wilson sent marines haiti ostensibly steady country beset coup countercoup actually protect american business interests160 flamini continued wilson took control haitian national bank transferred 500000 united states safekeeping160 virtual occupation added us marine commander acting provincial governor remained force 1934 americas capitalistic greed earthquakes ruins americas political religious status quo guardian media want talk about160 united states governments support repressive dictatorships francois papa doc duvalier son jeanclaude baby doc duvalier 1957 1986160 bbc news reported 31year rule tens thousands people killed tortured death haitian exiles france calling baby doc duvalier tried crimes humanityworld americas bring baby doc justice dec 8 1998160160 united states government want talk it160 gary younge writes guardian us france backed duvaliers brutal dictatorships democratic government arrive hogtied terms imposed imf world bank160 among things younge continues rigged trade agreements transformed haiti selfsufficient rice producer importing bulk rice subsidized growers us160 west owes haiti bailout would handback handout feb 1 2010 160ashley smith talks way floods us agricultural imports destroyed peasant agriculture160 result smith writes hundreds thousands people flocked teeming slums portauprince labor pitifully low wages sweatshops located us export processing zones incapacitation haiti counterpunch jan 14 2010 see also haiti earthquake made usa blood hands ted rell commondreamsorg jan 14 2010 something happened long ago haiti americas modern capitalistic greed controlled government guardian media accommodating religious status quo might want talk today160 ussponsored coups drove democratically elected reformcommitted catholic priest liberation theologian jeanbertrand aristide presidency 1991 2004160 new york times reporting cia financed haitis feared rightwing paramilitary group accused murdering raping beating hundreds supporters haitis president jeanbertrand aristide haitian exparamilitary leader confirms cia relationship tim weiner dec 3 1995160 usinstigated banishing aristide haiti banning fanmi lavalas party popular political party country participating elections160 why160 aristides lavalas party threatened us business political interests emphasis restoring haitis independence selfsufficiency see plan death haiti vijay prashad counterpunch jan 27 2010 much us oppression haiti government want talked about160 seen president obama appointing former presidents bill clinton george w bush lead humanitarian response haitis earthquake victimsthe two presidents whose administrations overthrew president aristides democraticallyelected governments 1991 2004160 see haiti aristide ideology william blum counterpunch feb 10 2010160 sadly appointment indicates obama administration would rather talk january 12 earthquake exposed americas historic pact devil haiti160 pervasive poverty160 stifling slums fragile housing portauprince160 lack adequate lifesustaining infrastructure clean water sanitation electrical power160 limited limiting educational system160 minimal social health care services160 usweakened dependent government160 political economic fault lines made america contributed greatly severity160 earthquakes damage response haitis overwhelming catastrophe charity160 though generous giving services countless individuals groups helping professions urgently needed laudable160 haitis overwhelming need criminal victimization call full reparations us government160 citizens contributions haiti include demanding us government recognize injustices america committed haiti pay full reparations past present crimes people160 americas response haiti looking good eyes world good also reparations160 peter hallwood writes guardianuk along sending emergency relief ask facilitate selfempowerment haitis people public institutions160 serious helping need stop trying control haitis government pacify citizens exploit economy160 need start paying least damage weve already done role haitis plight jan 14 2010 reprinted commondreamsorg america sacrificing destroying lives resources profitand political powerdriven imperialistic wars iraq afghanistan pakistan160 country using human material resources respond justly fully rights overwhelming needs haitian neighbors impoverishment vulnerable citizens160 americas security lies alleviating suffering terrorizes people cause terror rev william e alberts hospital chaplain diplomate college pastoral supervision psychotherapy160 unitarian universalist united methodist minister written research reports essays articles racism war politics religion160 reached williamalbertsbmcorg 160 160 | 1,708 |
<p>Photo Credit: Sarah Jane Rhee/Chicago Indymedia</p>
<p>In state after state, parents of all political persuasions are coming together over the issue of meaningless standardized tests whose sole purpose seems to be rating schools and teachers. These tests have become the performance review of childhood. The results matter—not for learning, of course, but to measure how well kids are doing their job as consumers of information. Since we can’t fire kids from being students if they don’t measure up, we penalize their teachers and close their “underperforming” schools. Because these test scores carry such huge consequences, we spend vast amounts of time and money teaching kids how to get the right answers. What we don’t teach them is how to actually think, or how learning can be rewarding for its own sake.</p>
<p>In the cash-strapped state of Illinois, where I live, which has no budget or money for actually educating children, the State Board of Education (ISBE) is now spending money on an investigation into the reason families and children opted out of taking last year’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test. Perhaps if I share the reasons why my children decided to opt out of PARCC for their kids, I can save the state the time and money it plans to spend crunching data and interviewing (harassing?) administrators, parents and even children to understand the opt-out phenomenon.</p>
<p>So why did my grandkids opt out?</p>
<p>1.&#160;Like most high-stakes standardized tests, PARCC disrupts learning. Teachers are forced to teach to the test, and a significant chunk of instructional time is also lost to administering the assessment. Students, even in elementary school, spend more time taking the PARCC test than lawyers do who sit for the Bar Exam. Educator Myree Conway notes that this issue of test prep time and what is does to classrooms is one of the signature dangers of standardized testing. She explains that not devoting classroom time to test preparation is unfair to her students. “I don't want to ‘teach to the test,’ but I also don't want my students feeling ambushed.”</p>
<p>2. The tests themselves aren’t very good.Formative assessments, the traditional tests we all remember taking, give educators and students immediate feedback, and are designed to enhance teaching, shape the curriculum and help children learn. These standardized tests, on the other hand, are summative assessments, tests used to evaluate students by comparing their scores to those of other students. Like PARCC, many of these new Common Core tests are of questionable quality and reliability and need revision before their widespread use.</p>
<p>3. There are no appropriate accommodations for many of the English language learners and special education students taking PARCC. 90 percent of children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) who were forced to sit for PARCC failed last year—no surprise.</p>
<p>4. The computer technology required for the test is still not in place in many schools, nor are younger children able to perform some of the required computer operations. In fact, last year kids who took the paper and pencil version scored much higher than those using the computer. Thus far this spring, Internet problems forced Alaska to cancel its standardized testing, and technology problems made public school students in Texas lose their answers on state standardized exams.</p>
<p>5. PARCC is heavily language oriented, featuring wordy math problems and reading passages that are not meaningful to children. Children with different learning styles are at a huge disadvantage.</p>
<p>6. PARCC is used primarily to rate students, teachers and schools rather than to give feedback about student learning that can help parents and teachers of individual children maximize their learning potential. Recently, I received a letter from a veteran teacher who questioned why PARCC is being given again, despite the fact that he didn’t receive the results from last year's test until after parent-teacher conferences this year. Thus he couldn't even tell parents how their children did on last year's test. When the results did arrive, they consisted of a single page spreadsheet of numbers. There was nothing meaningful about how individual students performed on the test to inform his instruction.</p>
<p>7. Many children are highly anxious and stressed about taking these tests. According to New York school psychologists, the state tests make children especially anxious. Is our love affair with standardized testing driving our children crazy? As long as we persist in treating our children with the same pressure that we have come to accept in our own lives, will we be raising a generation of anxious kids who do not believe they are more than a score?</p>
<p>8. The tests are a symptom of a failed educational experiment. The intent of the Common Core curriculum and the high-stakes standardized tests used to measure its effectiveness was to level the educational playing field. If anything, PARCC and similar standardized test results simply show an even greater achievement gap between white children and children of color, as well as wealthy children and children living in poverty—with little to nothing being done to remedy the situtation. All this, despite hours and hours of time wasted preparing students in schools across the country. Opting out is a powerful way to express dissatisfaction with this failed experiment.</p>
<p>Last year, we found it was difficult to opt out of PARCC for my grandchild with special needs, while my other grandchild (age eight) was permitted to opt herself out of taking the test rather simply. It took a huge effort by the parents of the child with special needs to advocate for a different evaluation for her, because she was unable to refuse PARCC on her own—which strikes me as yet another outrageous symptom of how these tests are failing even our most vulnerable students. ISBE is telling parents of elementary students, who should have the right to make major decisions for their children, that they don't have the right to opt them out of a meaningless test that will do much more harm than good.</p>
<p>In the year since, nothing has changed. The opt-out bill that passed the Illinois House languishes in the Senate, and we remain one of six states and Washington D.C. left in the PARCC Consortium that at one time included 24 states. With no overarching opt-out policy in place, each school is free to decide on its own how to manage the children not taking PARCC. Last year at my granddaughter’s elementary school, the opt-out kids were pretty much left to their own devices on testing days and told to just read a book while others took the tests. These were good kids, but did anyone really think they would read quietly to themselves for six long hours? And what about the children at other schools who were forced to remain in the classrooms and “sit and stare” while their classmates took PARCC?</p>
<p>PARCC is a ridiculous waste of money for Illinois, especially when Chicago Public Schools (CPS) are on the verge of bankruptcy and teachers are being asked to sacrifice pay and pensions. Taxpayers end up burdened with the cost of administering PARCC. $57 million is the projected annual price tag, plus hidden costs for schools, including paying for the technology and staffing needed to administer it. But it’s the children who really pay the price. How many of the CPS teachers and support staff laid off during this school year could have kept their jobs without this huge expense? How many repairs could have been made to broken-down schools?</p>
<p>There is no need for ISBE to spend another cent trying to figure out why the opt-out movement is growing or how its students measure up to the expectations of this test. I can predict how the Illinois school children who participate in this second round of PARCC testing will do. 30-40 percent will pass—because that’s the way the test is designed.</p>
<p>Rather than giving millions of dollars to Pearson, a for-profit company from Great Britain that is raking in big bucks as part of the educational-industrial complex, let’s instead give the money saved by not administering the PARCC test directly to our schools, so teachers can teach and children can learn. Let’s work to bring joy, creativity, curiosity and risk-taking to the educational lives of children—because that’s what every child deserves.</p>
<p>It’s time to opt all children out of taking these meaningless standardized tests.&#160;</p>
<p>An earlier version of this article ran on <a href="//chicagonow.com" type="external">Chicago Now.</a></p> | true | 4 | photo credit sarah jane rheechicago indymedia state state parents political persuasions coming together issue meaningless standardized tests whose sole purpose seems rating schools teachers tests become performance review childhood results matternot learning course measure well kids job consumers information since cant fire kids students dont measure penalize teachers close underperforming schools test scores carry huge consequences spend vast amounts time money teaching kids get right answers dont teach actually think learning rewarding sake cashstrapped state illinois live budget money actually educating children state board education isbe spending money investigation reason families children opted taking last years partnership assessment readiness college careers parcc test perhaps share reasons children decided opt parcc kids save state time money plans spend crunching data interviewing harassing administrators parents even children understand optout phenomenon grandkids opt 1160like highstakes standardized tests parcc disrupts learning teachers forced teach test significant chunk instructional time also lost administering assessment students even elementary school spend time taking parcc test lawyers sit bar exam educator myree conway notes issue test prep time classrooms one signature dangers standardized testing explains devoting classroom time test preparation unfair students dont want teach test also dont want students feeling ambushed 2 tests arent goodformative assessments traditional tests remember taking give educators students immediate feedback designed enhance teaching shape curriculum help children learn standardized tests hand summative assessments tests used evaluate students comparing scores students like parcc many new common core tests questionable quality reliability need revision widespread use 3 appropriate accommodations many english language learners special education students taking parcc 90 percent children individualized education plans ieps forced sit parcc failed last yearno surprise 4 computer technology required test still place many schools younger children able perform required computer operations fact last year kids took paper pencil version scored much higher using computer thus far spring internet problems forced alaska cancel standardized testing technology problems made public school students texas lose answers state standardized exams 5 parcc heavily language oriented featuring wordy math problems reading passages meaningful children children different learning styles huge disadvantage 6 parcc used primarily rate students teachers schools rather give feedback student learning help parents teachers individual children maximize learning potential recently received letter veteran teacher questioned parcc given despite fact didnt receive results last years test parentteacher conferences year thus couldnt even tell parents children last years test results arrive consisted single page spreadsheet numbers nothing meaningful individual students performed test inform instruction 7 many children highly anxious stressed taking tests according new york school psychologists state tests make children especially anxious love affair standardized testing driving children crazy long persist treating children pressure come accept lives raising generation anxious kids believe score 8 tests symptom failed educational experiment intent common core curriculum highstakes standardized tests used measure effectiveness level educational playing field anything parcc similar standardized test results simply show even greater achievement gap white children children color well wealthy children children living povertywith little nothing done remedy situtation despite hours hours time wasted preparing students schools across country opting powerful way express dissatisfaction failed experiment last year found difficult opt parcc grandchild special needs grandchild age eight permitted opt taking test rather simply took huge effort parents child special needs advocate different evaluation unable refuse parcc ownwhich strikes yet another outrageous symptom tests failing even vulnerable students isbe telling parents elementary students right make major decisions children dont right opt meaningless test much harm good year since nothing changed optout bill passed illinois house languishes senate remain one six states washington dc left parcc consortium one time included 24 states overarching optout policy place school free decide manage children taking parcc last year granddaughters elementary school optout kids pretty much left devices testing days told read book others took tests good kids anyone really think would read quietly six long hours children schools forced remain classrooms sit stare classmates took parcc parcc ridiculous waste money illinois especially chicago public schools cps verge bankruptcy teachers asked sacrifice pay pensions taxpayers end burdened cost administering parcc 57 million projected annual price tag plus hidden costs schools including paying technology staffing needed administer children really pay price many cps teachers support staff laid school year could kept jobs without huge expense many repairs could made brokendown schools need isbe spend another cent trying figure optout movement growing students measure expectations test predict illinois school children participate second round parcc testing 3040 percent passbecause thats way test designed rather giving millions dollars pearson forprofit company great britain raking big bucks part educationalindustrial complex lets instead give money saved administering parcc test directly schools teachers teach children learn lets work bring joy creativity curiosity risktaking educational lives childrenbecause thats every child deserves time opt children taking meaningless standardized tests160 earlier version article ran chicago | 790 |
<p>By Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica</p>
<p />
<p><a href="http://goo.gl/zcP2Ku" type="external">Shutterstock</a></p>
<p>Last week, the Justice Department convened hearings under the Prison Rape Elimination Act to examine the prevalence of rape and sexual abuse in the nation’s prisons and juvenile detention centers. As we’ve reported, the department has found alarming rates of <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/boys-in-custody-and-the-women-who-abuse-them" type="external">abuse by staff on youngsters in custody</a>. In a <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/709100-svjfry12-emb-052813" type="external">2013 survey</a> of more than 8,700 juveniles housed in 326 facilities across the country, 8 percent said they experienced sex abuse at the hands of the staff supervising them. Twenty percent of those who said they were victimized by staff said it happened on <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/709100-svjfry12-emb-052813#document/p24" type="external">more than 10 occasions</a>. But perhaps the most surprising finding: <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/709100-svjfry12-emb-052813#document/p23" type="external">Nine out of 10 victims were males abused by female staffers</a>.</p>
<p />
<p>The prison rape elimination legislation first passed in 2003, but it then took the Justice Department nearly 10 years to study the issue and release rules for prisons and juvenile detention centers to implement. Beginning late last year, auditors contracted by the federal government <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/in-effort-to-end-prison-rape-questions-about-a-monitors-independence" type="external">started inspecting</a> these facilities to make sure that staff members are being trained on how to prevent sexual abuse and that there are effective means to monitor it.</p>
<p>American University law professor Brenda Smith has devoted much of her research to studying the problem, and she and her work helped shape the legislation that addresses it. We talked to her about the difficulty of getting the bill passed, the resistance from the corrections industry, and the psychological damage suffered by young boys who are abused by the women overseeing them. This is an edited transcript of our conversation.</p>
<p>People who have worked in this field know that sexual abuse in prisons has been a problem for decades. Why did it take so long to get Congress and the Justice Department to act?</p>
<p>I think gender has a lot to do with it. When legislation was first proposed by Rep. John Conyers in 1998, it was part of the Violence Against Women Act, and it had to get stripped out so the rest of the bill could pass.</p>
<p>But then, in 2001, Human Rights Watch released a report that really focused on inmate on inmate, male-on-male rape. And I think that because men could identify with sort of the vulnerability of being sexually victimized in custody, you got a lot of traction all of a sudden.</p>
<p>And I also think that there were some other groups that came together that were concerned about it. You had the human rights organizations; you had an organization called Stop Prisoner Rape, now <a href="http://www.justdetention.org/" type="external">Just Detention International</a>, which was comprised of mainly male survivors. Then you had some conservative groups, like the Catholic Church, the Hudson Institute, basically what they were concerned about was the spread of homosexuality.</p>
<p>I also think that there was concern about 2014 well, frankly, there’s just no other way to say it because it’s actually in the statute 2014 the racial dynamics of sexual victimization in custody: That white men were going to be sexually victimized by black men. So the underpinnings of the legislation were not really that wholesome.</p>
<p>But it was this group of very powerful co-sponsors, Ted Kennedy and Jeff Sessions in the Senate and Frank Wolf and Bobby Scott in the House. And so for some reason it just kind of took off like a bullet. And people like me and others who had been doing this work for a long time thought this legislation was going nowhere. Then the next thing we knew it had passed unanimously with unprecedented funding.</p>
<p>There’s a rising female population among the staffs in juvenile settings. What accounts for that? What challenges does that present?</p>
<p>It’s not that men aren’t qualified; it’s that they often can’t meet the requirements, which require a certain degree of education, no past criminal record, and passing a drug test. Women are more likely to be able to do that.</p>
<p>In New York, Rikers Island is majority female staff, 75 percent of them are African American. And that’s very common in cities.</p>
<p>One of the things that people are still trying to understand is what the harm can be to a boy who has experience of abuse with an older woman in these facilities. What’s the current body of scholarship on female-on-male abuse?</p>
<p>The short of it is that anytime a wrong has happened, you need somebody to acknowledge that something wrong has happened. Just the fact that people can’t wrap their head around the fact that this was something that happened to you that should not have happened to you, that it’s not okay.</p>
<p>One of the biggest harms is that these guys are victims, but they don’t even get a chance to name their victimhood because there is such a huge culture of masculinity, it would be like, why are you complaining about that?</p>
<p>If nobody even recognizes that that’s a problem then there’s not going to be any services, or any education, or any intervention to address it. And because people don’t understand that, then what happens is it deepens the harm.</p>
<p>And as far as the long-term consequences?</p>
<p>Anger, violent behavior, depression, the same thing that happens to all victims, post-traumatic stress, hostility and aggression toward women, all of that is in the literature. Many of them were reared by women, who maybe didn’t protect them, so it solidifies this perception that women are not there for them.</p>
<p>And talk about the consequences for women who actually have been caught violating young boys. How often are you seeing prosecutions? How often are you seeing penalties levied against female abusers of boys?</p>
<p>Well, we’ve been studying this, and this whole problem of sanctions has been there from the beginning. We’ve found about 300 cases total of female-on-male abuse 2013 cases that were reported in the media between 1990 and 2013. About 30 of the cases were related to juveniles. And if I remember correctly, of those 30, there were only seven or nine actual convictions.</p>
<p>But what we’re looking at is how the media characterized what happened, were they characterized as relationships? And did that characterization have an impact on the prosecution or the sanction? I think that’s a huge problem, because the likelihood of there being a sanction is really related to the importance that society places on harm to that victim.</p>
<p>For the most part these women pleaded guilty to things that wouldn’t lead you to believe that this person had any kind of sexual relationship with a youth, so they didn’t even have to register as a sex offender. And more often than not there is nothing about their behavior that would’ve led somebody else in a custodial setting not to hire them again.</p>
<p>And these are just the rare cases where there was some visibility in the media. When you talk about what happens at the facility level, and there’s no coverage, the consequences consist of a termination or a resignation. And what happens is people resign and when they resign, you don’t have to say anything. That means they can easily be hired somewhere else.</p>
<p>Do you see any commonalities among facilities where this seems to be particularly problematic, where there is a particularly high incidence rate?</p>
<p>Overcrowding. And this is true with both juvenile and adult facilities. Overcrowding means there’s an inability to supervise and a scarcity of resources, so you’re going to cut corners somewhere.</p>
<p>Culture is also a huge issue. What is the culture of your facility? First of all, there is the culture of corrections, and then there is the culture of the different shifts that people are on. And it really is an 2018okay, you cover me, I’ll cover you kind of situation.’ And the things that can go on that people feel are acceptable are really, really, really astonishing.</p> | true | 4 | joaquin sapien propublica shutterstock last week justice department convened hearings prison rape elimination act examine prevalence rape sexual abuse nations prisons juvenile detention centers weve reported department found alarming rates abuse staff youngsters custody 2013 survey 8700 juveniles housed 326 facilities across country 8 percent said experienced sex abuse hands staff supervising twenty percent said victimized staff said happened 10 occasions perhaps surprising finding nine 10 victims males abused female staffers prison rape elimination legislation first passed 2003 took justice department nearly 10 years study issue release rules prisons juvenile detention centers implement beginning late last year auditors contracted federal government started inspecting facilities make sure staff members trained prevent sexual abuse effective means monitor american university law professor brenda smith devoted much research studying problem work helped shape legislation addresses talked difficulty getting bill passed resistance corrections industry psychological damage suffered young boys abused women overseeing edited transcript conversation people worked field know sexual abuse prisons problem decades take long get congress justice department act think gender lot legislation first proposed rep john conyers 1998 part violence women act get stripped rest bill could pass 2001 human rights watch released report really focused inmate inmate maleonmale rape think men could identify sort vulnerability sexually victimized custody got lot traction sudden also think groups came together concerned human rights organizations organization called stop prisoner rape detention international comprised mainly male survivors conservative groups like catholic church hudson institute basically concerned spread homosexuality also think concern 2014 well frankly theres way say actually statute 2014 racial dynamics sexual victimization custody white men going sexually victimized black men underpinnings legislation really wholesome group powerful cosponsors ted kennedy jeff sessions senate frank wolf bobby scott house reason kind took like bullet people like others work long time thought legislation going nowhere next thing knew passed unanimously unprecedented funding theres rising female population among staffs juvenile settings accounts challenges present men arent qualified often cant meet requirements require certain degree education past criminal record passing drug test women likely able new york rikers island majority female staff 75 percent african american thats common cities one things people still trying understand harm boy experience abuse older woman facilities whats current body scholarship femaleonmale abuse short anytime wrong happened need somebody acknowledge something wrong happened fact people cant wrap head around fact something happened happened okay one biggest harms guys victims dont even get chance name victimhood huge culture masculinity would like complaining nobody even recognizes thats problem theres going services education intervention address people dont understand happens deepens harm far longterm consequences anger violent behavior depression thing happens victims posttraumatic stress hostility aggression toward women literature many reared women maybe didnt protect solidifies perception women talk consequences women actually caught violating young boys often seeing prosecutions often seeing penalties levied female abusers boys well weve studying whole problem sanctions beginning weve found 300 cases total femaleonmale abuse 2013 cases reported media 1990 2013 30 cases related juveniles remember correctly 30 seven nine actual convictions looking media characterized happened characterized relationships characterization impact prosecution sanction think thats huge problem likelihood sanction really related importance society places harm victim part women pleaded guilty things wouldnt lead believe person kind sexual relationship youth didnt even register sex offender often nothing behavior wouldve led somebody else custodial setting hire rare cases visibility media talk happens facility level theres coverage consequences consist termination resignation happens people resign resign dont say anything means easily hired somewhere else see commonalities among facilities seems particularly problematic particularly high incidence rate overcrowding true juvenile adult facilities overcrowding means theres inability supervise scarcity resources youre going cut corners somewhere culture also huge issue culture facility first culture corrections culture different shifts people really 2018okay cover ill cover kind situation things go people feel acceptable really really really astonishing | 633 |
<p>With great admiration for her spirit and tenacity, a fraction of which if either Al Gore or John Kerry had he would have become President, I still refuse to support Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>My reason: no senator who helped start the Iraq War deserves to be elected; even less so if that person then offered a cock-and-bull story about having thought the vote was to strengthen the President’s hand to send in weapons inspectors to Iraq. Not only does the title of the bill (Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002) render this claim nonsensical, is it also not rather silly to say something which can be demolished by an obvious question,</p>
<p>“Why then, Senator, you must have protested from the rooftops on March 20, 2003, when you found out that the President had gone to war without trying to put inspectors back in?”</p>
<p>That she puts forth this claim shows the contempt with which politicians view a press which has given fresh meaning to “Times New Roman”, to say nothing of their respect for a public which is beyond caring even about the most brazen lies. No sane dispensation would have refrained from making that question its permanent refrain. But then we are talking of Bush’s America.</p>
<p>So what exactly did Hillary Clinton do on March 20, 2003, when began the war that would spell her presidential Waterloo? Her Senate website reproduces her speech on the Senate floor that day. It contains some references to the war, but no hint of protest at her vote on the War Resolution having been misused by the president to validate a preemptive war. Far from registering indignation, it does not even express regret that the war was launched. Instead it ends with these words:</p>
<p>“I hope Madam President that we will decide to put aside previously existing ideological and partisan positions and come together in this Senate as we’re coming together in this country on behalf of the military and on behalf of the country that they are fighting to defend. Thank you.”</p>
<p>If Senator Clinton’s was an act of commission, her rival’s was one of (progressive) omission. Here is Obama’s run up to the wicket (a cricket expression for trajectory):</p>
<p>March 3, 2003: Obama condemns Democratic weakness in a few well-chosen words: “What’s tempting is to take the path of least resistance and keep quiet on the issue, knowing that maybe in two or three or six months, at least the fighting will be over and you can see how it plays itself out,” said Obama, a state senator from Chicago. (AP)</p>
<p>March 17, 2003: Thousands of demonstrators packed Daley Center Plaza for a two- hour rally Sunday [two days before Bush issued his ultimatum against Saddam and four days before the invasion], then marched through downtown in Chicago’s largest protest to date against an Iraq war. Crowd estimates from police and organizers ranged from 5,000 to 10,000…. State Sen. Barack Obama (D-Chicago) told the crowd, ‘It’s not too late’ to stop the war.” (Chicago Sun Times)</p>
<p>March 20, 2003: On the day of the War itself, Obama began mouthing the mom-and-apple-pie political line which any viewer of cable news can repeat in his sleep: “Once the president makes the decision to go in, our priority has to be with the safety and success of our troops,” state Sen. Barack Obama, D-Chicago, said from Springfield, where the state Legislature is in its spring session. (AP)</p>
<p>On March 28, 2003, on Aaron Brown’s CNN show (by now any moral disquiet is quickly banished. This is a now a pol in full running-for-office gear.) BARACK OBAMA, ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE: Well, I think that, obviously, the overriding concern right now is safety of the troops. And, you know, I’ve been traveling around the state and at least once or twice a day, I’ll have people come up to me whose son’s were reservists who have been called up, daughters who have been called up. And, obviously, people really are concerned about making sure they’re safe. And that’s true across the board, whether people support or do not support the war. But I do think there’s an underlying anxiety, in part because of their concerns about America’s role in the world and the aftermath of the war. And, in part, because they’re concerned about domestic policy and how this war is going to impact the economy, which is going through very tough times in Illinois.</p>
<p>It didn’t occur to (then) State Senator Obama to add that of course, the safest thing for the troops would have been to keep them away from an unnecessary (per his previous position) war.</p>
<p>Caution was now firmly ensconced. Andrew Young’s autobiography is called, An Easy Consience, but the title about covers Obama’s career the next few years. This is how the Boston Globe saw it last year, looking back: But a review of Obama’s record during his 26 months in Congress reveals that he has taken a more nuanced and cautious position on the war than the full-bore opposition.</p>
<p>Campaigning for the Illinois Senate seat in 2003 and 2004, Obama scolded Bush for invading Iraq and vowed he would “unequivocally” vote against an additional $87 billion to pay for it. Yet since taking office in January 2005, he has voted for four separate war appropriations, totaling more than $300 billion.</p>
<p>(That $87 billion, presumably, is the figure that featured in the famous ‘I was for it before I was against it’ episode which helped sink the USS John Kerry in November 2004. Of course, standing against the Grand Canyon that summer to declare that given the same Iraq vote now, he would vote exactly the same way, might have also contributed).</p>
<p>Bill Clinton, who whatever his faults is not politically ignorant, and can spot political posturing as well as anyone, caught Obama out on this, calling his record and Hillary Clinton’s practically indistinguishable once Obama got to the US Senate. Instead of following up, as he might have hoped, a bulldog media unrelenting in its pursuit of triviality instead latched on to his use of the words, ‘fairy tale’. He may also have missed a tactical truism: who supported the war and who opposed it is scarcely the question either Democrats or the talk show hosts want to (re)visit. They are keenly aware of their rights under the Fifth Amendment even as they might occasionally forget those under the First.</p>
<p>Thus we have three choices for President: one off-his-rocker gaffe-of-the-day Republican warmonger, an oily man hoping to replace the oilmen now in power. Then we have the two Democratic candidates, both of prodigious intelligence matched by prodigious dishonesty. Clinton’s fibbing on issues large and small has been been well recorded, including in a scorching article by Jeffrey St. Clair on Counterpunch yesterday. Elsewhere, Counterpuncher Evelyn Pringle has written a multi-part expose of Obama and his alleged corruption problems.</p>
<p>But we’re getting big on symbolism in America (another sign of third-world status?), and make much of the red-hot prospect of a woman or a black-white candidate becoming president, even as the latter runs away from his whiteness as eagerly as the former is happy to flaunt hers. It is imporatant to note that if one attitude is racist, so is the other. It is a wonder McCain doesn’t use his senior-citizen cache, but then even he knows America is not partial to age.</p>
<p>This is the choice eight years — of what should have been political graduate school for the country — has left us with. At the end of it all, popular will has been weak where it has not been wanting, with no systematic political effort to build or bolster it Attending a Barack or Hillary rally and shouting Yes We Can or Hill-A-Ry is good in normal times, but in times of executive abuse, people’s power is built when men and women are ready to do more, including going to jail. About only public figure who has shown willingness to do so is Cindy Sheehan, with whom neither Democratic Candidate would be caught dead, and whom the press views as deranged. Not for nothing did Gandhi caution Indians not to be confuse freedom with the end of British Rule:</p>
<p>“Real Swaraj (freedom) will come, not by acquisition of authority by a few, but by the acquisition of the capacity by all to resist authority when abused.”</p>
<p>Thomas Jefferson said something similar. How free are we, by this reckoning? Abuse after abuse has punctuated our recent public life, with so many of our so-called leaders watching mutely, in those instances when they have not actively connived. Obama actually celebrates the fact that in this election, George Bush and Dick Cheney will not be on the ballot, and the crowd cheers. If he is angry that his country let two war criminals get away he doesn’t mention it.</p>
<p>Some election, this. Some leadership. Eight years after Florida, the Democratic Party still goes along with elections without paper trails. Ready on Day 1? Not ready on Day 2920 (365 times 8) is more like it.</p>
<p>I have a suggestion: Ron Paul and Ralph Nader should unite to put together a platform with an single-point agenda: to restore the Constitution and the Rule of Law. All else can follow.</p>
<p>NIRANJAN RAMAKRISHNAN is a writer living on the West Coast. He can be reached at <a href="" type="internal">njn_2003@yahoo.com</a>.</p> | true | 4 | great admiration spirit tenacity fraction either al gore john kerry would become president still refuse support hillary clinton reason senator helped start iraq war deserves elected even less person offered cockandbull story thought vote strengthen presidents hand send weapons inspectors iraq title bill authorization use military force iraq resolution 2002 render claim nonsensical also rather silly say something demolished obvious question senator must protested rooftops march 20 2003 found president gone war without trying put inspectors back puts forth claim shows contempt politicians view press given fresh meaning times new roman say nothing respect public beyond caring even brazen lies sane dispensation would refrained making question permanent refrain talking bushs america exactly hillary clinton march 20 2003 began war would spell presidential waterloo senate website reproduces speech senate floor day contains references war hint protest vote war resolution misused president validate preemptive war far registering indignation even express regret war launched instead ends words hope madam president decide put aside previously existing ideological partisan positions come together senate coming together country behalf military behalf country fighting defend thank senator clintons act commission rivals one progressive omission obamas run wicket cricket expression trajectory march 3 2003 obama condemns democratic weakness wellchosen words whats tempting take path least resistance keep quiet issue knowing maybe two three six months least fighting see plays said obama state senator chicago ap march 17 2003 thousands demonstrators packed daley center plaza two hour rally sunday two days bush issued ultimatum saddam four days invasion marched downtown chicagos largest protest date iraq war crowd estimates police organizers ranged 5000 10000 state sen barack obama dchicago told crowd late stop war chicago sun times march 20 2003 day war obama began mouthing momandapplepie political line viewer cable news repeat sleep president makes decision go priority safety success troops state sen barack obama dchicago said springfield state legislature spring session ap march 28 2003 aaron browns cnn show moral disquiet quickly banished pol full runningforoffice gear barack obama illinois state legislature well think obviously overriding concern right safety troops know ive traveling around state least twice day ill people come whose sons reservists called daughters called obviously people really concerned making sure theyre safe thats true across board whether people support support war think theres underlying anxiety part concerns americas role world aftermath war part theyre concerned domestic policy war going impact economy going tough times illinois didnt occur state senator obama add course safest thing troops would keep away unnecessary per previous position war caution firmly ensconced andrew youngs autobiography called easy consience title covers obamas career next years boston globe saw last year looking back review obamas record 26 months congress reveals taken nuanced cautious position war fullbore opposition campaigning illinois senate seat 2003 2004 obama scolded bush invading iraq vowed would unequivocally vote additional 87 billion pay yet since taking office january 2005 voted four separate war appropriations totaling 300 billion 87 billion presumably figure featured famous episode helped sink uss john kerry november 2004 course standing grand canyon summer declare given iraq vote would vote exactly way might also contributed bill clinton whatever faults politically ignorant spot political posturing well anyone caught obama calling record hillary clintons practically indistinguishable obama got us senate instead following might hoped bulldog media unrelenting pursuit triviality instead latched use words fairy tale may also missed tactical truism supported war opposed scarcely question either democrats talk show hosts want revisit keenly aware rights fifth amendment even might occasionally forget first thus three choices president one offhisrocker gaffeoftheday republican warmonger oily man hoping replace oilmen power two democratic candidates prodigious intelligence matched prodigious dishonesty clintons fibbing issues large small well recorded including scorching article jeffrey st clair counterpunch yesterday elsewhere counterpuncher evelyn pringle written multipart expose obama alleged corruption problems getting big symbolism america another sign thirdworld status make much redhot prospect woman blackwhite candidate becoming president even latter runs away whiteness eagerly former happy flaunt imporatant note one attitude racist wonder mccain doesnt use seniorcitizen cache even knows america partial age choice eight years political graduate school country left us end popular weak wanting systematic political effort build bolster attending barack hillary rally shouting yes hillary good normal times times executive abuse peoples power built men women ready including going jail public figure shown willingness cindy sheehan neither democratic candidate would caught dead press views deranged nothing gandhi caution indians confuse freedom end british rule real swaraj freedom come acquisition authority acquisition capacity resist authority abused thomas jefferson said something similar free reckoning abuse abuse punctuated recent public life many socalled leaders watching mutely instances actively connived obama actually celebrates fact election george bush dick cheney ballot crowd cheers angry country let two war criminals get away doesnt mention election leadership eight years florida democratic party still goes along elections without paper trails ready day 1 ready day 2920 365 times 8 like suggestion ron paul ralph nader unite put together platform singlepoint agenda restore constitution rule law else follow niranjan ramakrishnan writer living west coast reached njn_2003yahoocom | 838 |
<p>In recent years, the Moroccan government has championed the idea of autonomy as a solution to its territorial dispute with pro-independence advocates over Western Sahara. Rabat has said it is willing to consider an autonomous, locally elected government in Western Sahara, which would have powers independent of the central government, albeit circumscribed by Morocco’s ultimate sovereignty. The movement for Western Saharan statehood, on the other hand, has rejected autonomy. It continues to claim the right of self-determination, to be exercised through a final status referendum among the territory’s indigenous ethnic Sahrawis.</p>
<p>There is a broad international consensus, political and juridical, backing the right of self-determination in former European colonies. This consensus was applied most recently in East Timor. Western Sahara, like East Timor, was a European colony until the mid-1970s. In a landmark 1975 ruling, the International Court of Justice dismissed Morocco’s historical claims to Western Sahara and instead supported the Sahrawis’ right to self-determination. The UN Security Council and Secretary General have both reiterated their support for a solution that provides for self-determination, which would entail a vote including, but not limited to, the option of independence.</p>
<p>From 1988 to 1999, the Security Council attempted to hold a vote on self-determination in Western Sahara. Then, in 2000, the discourses started shifting away from self-determination to a “third way” that was neither independence nor integration with Morocco. Autonomy has become that “third way” solution, and it seems like the best compromise on paper. Yet, when mapped onto the realities of the conflict, autonomy becomes a recipe for disaster — both at the negotiating table and on the ground in Western Sahara.</p>
<p>Though the Ford, Carter, and Reagan administrations had provided material support for Morocco’s invasion and occupation of Western Sahara from 1975 to 1991, the first Bush and Clinton administrations maintained a hands-off policy toward the early UN referendum process (1992-1996). Indirect, high-level U.S. involvement — in the form of former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker — began in 1997. However, Baker’s seven-year engagement was sabotaged, on the U.S. side, by larger geo-strategic concerns: Morocco’s role as an ally in — and after May 2003 a site of — the war on terror. The U.S. government’s attitude toward the conflict since then has been to leave it to the parties to make their own proposals while discretely encouraging autonomy. Stalemate</p>
<p>The stalemate in Western Sahara was originally achieved on the battlefield during a 16-year war pitting Western-supported Morocco against the Algerian-backed Sahrawi guerrillas of the Polisario Front. The armed conflict ended in 1991 when the Security Council backed an agreement to hold a referendum on independence, but only with the consent of the two parties, most importantly Morocco. Several hundred UN peacekeepers began monitoring the ceasefire in 1991. Five years later, and no closer to a vote, the UN seriously considered a withdrawal. Then, in 1997, former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker agreed to mediate the dispute.</p>
<p>During his seven-year tenure as the UN Secretary General’s personal envoy to Western Sahara, Baker was the center of gravity in the peace process. He originally brokered a series of agreements that revived the referendum process in 1997. However, when it was time to hold a vote in 2000, the Security Council decided that a referendum was no longer realistic. Behind the scenes, the Clinton administration also backed away from a referendum and instead supported the new regime in Morocco under King Mohammed VI. To avoid the kind of dangerous referendum the Security Council had botched in East Timor, Baker started searching for an alternative to an independence/integration referendum. However, in 2002, the UN Security Council said that it would consider any peace proposal so long as it provided for self-determination (i.e., a referendum on independence).</p>
<p>In 2003, Baker presented his final proposal. The idea was to grant Western Sahara four years of autonomy as a kind of trial period and then hold a final status referendum. The choices would be autonomy, integration with Morocco, or full independence. To sweeten the deal for Rabat, Baker proposed that non-Sahrawi Moroccan settlers could participate in the vote. With Moroccan colonists outnumbering the native Sahrawi population by as much as two-to-one, it came as quite a shock that Rabat rejected the proposal as soon as Polisario accepted it. Baker worked with Morocco for another year, but all of Rabat’s counter-proposals demonstrated a deep unwillingness to compromise on the most fundamental issue, the right of self-determination.</p>
<p>For the George W. Bush administration, Morocco’s role in the “war on terror” was more important than supporting Baker in Western Sahara. The same month Baker resigned, Morocco won major non-NATO ally status and a free trade agreement from Washington. Elliott Abrams, head of Middle Eastern affairs in the National Security Council, is most likely the lead cheerleader in the White House for Western Saharan autonomy. Indeed, Moroccan expectations that the United States would support a unilaterally implemented autonomy had echoes of U.S. support for Israeli unilateralism in the occupied Palestinian territories. Sharing the Land</p>
<p>In Western Sahara, total victory is impossible and total defeat is unthinkable for the Moroccan government and the Polisario Front. In such a situation, both sides should, if they are self-interested rational actors, search for a middle-of-the-road solution. The two obvious compromise options for Western Sahara are either sharing the territory or splitting it up. Both sides, however, have rejected the latter. Besides setting an ugly precedent for the international community, a mini-Saharan state would be severely disadvantaged in terms of its viability, which is in no one’s interests.</p>
<p>Sharing the territory involves roughly four choices:</p>
<p>* giving Western Sahara special regional status within Morocco though without governmental autonomy;</p>
<p>* transforming Morocco into a symmetrical federalist state so that each region, including Western Sahara, has its own elected government that can not be dissolved by Rabat;</p>
<p>* granting Western Sahara special governmental autonomy within Morocco;</p>
<p>* confederating an independent or quasi-independent Western Sahara with Morocco.</p>
<p>The first approach, regionalism, calls for little compromise on the part of Morocco and a massive concession from Polisario, and so is unlikely to be taken seriously by the latter. The second approach, federalism, has some sympathy in Morocco, but it requires a massive and messy overhaul of Morocco’s state structures through a new constitution, effectively involving the entire Moroccan population in the peace process. Federalism also does not recognize the special status of Western Sahara, so it is seriously deficient as a peacemaking tool. A confederation between an independent Western Sahara and Morocco is another option, but Rabat is unlikely to consider such a serious challenge to its “territorial integrity.”</p>
<p>Thus the third option, autonomy, wins by default. A peace agreement between Morocco and Polisario could allow for the creation of a quasi-independent Western Sahara with its own locally elected government and internal responsibilities. Both Morocco and Western Sahara would have to share security duties, with Morocco likely retaining military duties and the foreign relations portfolio. Unripe for Compromise</p>
<p>On paper, autonomy seems like the ideal solution. The problem, however, is just that: it is ideal, not real. Autonomy might be viable under a situation corresponding to a prisoners’ dilemma, wherein mutual cooperation produces a positive sum outcome rather than the zero-sum outcome of competition. Yet an honest appraisal of the situation in Western Sahara reveals that the parties’ thinking is still war-like; neither Morocco nor Polisario yet believes that total victory is impossible. While there are “hurting” aspects to the stalemate for both sides, the “pain” isn’t enough to alter either’s fundamental objectives. Morocco’s control of the territory is incomplete and lacking in international legitimacy, but its control is enough that the administration is routine and the prospect of being militarily dislodged appears slim.</p>
<p>While Morocco’s offer of autonomy might seem like a compromise, the autonomy it put on the table this month is far less than Baker offered in 2001 and 2003. Despite their glowing statements of support, some U.S., UN, and even French officials off the record are very disappointed that Morocco’s idea of a concession is still very limited. Rabat’s support for autonomy is, for now, merely rhetorical, a tactical concession made to regain the moral high ground after rejecting the Baker Plan — and Baker — in 2004.</p>
<p>Polisario, as well, is acting as if time is on its side, even though it also faces problems. Polisario exists in exile, its arms are deteriorating, and there are generational tensions. A recent poll of youth in the Western Saharan refugee camps in southwest Algeria — home of Polisario’s popular base of support — suggests that young Sahrawis are increasingly frustrated with the limits of camp life. Polisario also has to contend with the constant and growing calls for a return to arms against Morocco. These internal tensions may well come to a head at the movement’s upcoming triennial congress.</p>
<p>Meanwhile within Western Sahara, nationalism has exploded rather than receded in recent years. Growing in militancy, the Western Saharan independence movement has spawned its own intifadah, a decentralized, youth-led, anti-Moroccan protest movement in the occupied region. The Sahrawi heroes of this struggle are former political prisoners who have become unashamed nationalists. Many Sahrawis living under Moroccan administration are no longer afraid to speak their mind about the Moroccan occupation, for which they suffer regular beatings and imprisonment. The flag of Polisario, once unseen in Moroccan-controlled areas, is now a ubiquitous symbol of Sahrawi resistance. The only internal feedback that Polisario’s leaders are receiving is toward greater confrontation not compromise.</p>
<p>Additionally, support for independence from Algeria’s executive is at nearly unprecedented levels. As post-conflict Algeria gains in international status and regional power, literally fuelled by soaring hydrocarbon sales, Polisario is more and more confident that it has sided with North Africa’s emerging hegemon. Furthermore, Polisario has interpreted Morocco’s offer of autonomy not as a peace gesture but as the desperate gesticulations of an occupier slowly losing its grip. Challenge of Negotiations</p>
<p>Western Sahara is experiencing a long, drawn-out diplomatic war of attrition. Indeed, the peace process has significantly deteriorated in the past two years. Negotiations, or even the admitted existence of some kind of first-track initiative, would constitute a breakthrough at this point. Neither side has been willing to talk, even under the most non-committal and secretive situation. The fundamental attitudes of the parties reflect Foucault’s inversion of Clausewitz: both still see politics as war by other means.</p>
<p>The current standoff in negotiations involves a reluctance to lose face in order to gain through compromise. Polisario wants Morocco to accept the principles of the 2003 Baker Plan — including a referendum on independence — before negotiations can start. Morocco claims it is willing to enter into negotiations without preconditions, yet Rabat will not discuss a referendum on independence. So, from Polisario’s point of view, Morocco’s negotiations “without preconditions” still entail an implicit precondition: Polisario must take self-determination off the table. According to the history and realities on the ground, then the likelihood of either side making a fundamental concession — just to get talks started — is nil.</p>
<p>The clear subtext to the current UN thinking on Western Sahara is to get Polisario to abandon a vote on independence. This is technically impossible under international law, as only the Western Saharans can, through a referendum, give up their right to self-determination. But former Secretary General Kofi Annan was even bold enough to suggest that the right of self-determination is the prerogative of the Security Council. In his last report on Western Sahara, October 2006, Annan warned that “Polisario would be well advised to enter into negotiations now, while there is still consensus in the Council that a negotiated political solution must provide for the self-determination of the people of Western Sahara.”</p>
<p>But Polisario is not in the mood, nor is it willing, to make further concessions. The Western Saharan independence movement has already agreed to a referendum under the 2003 Baker Plan that would be dominated by Moroccan settlers. Indeed, Polisario has made all of the major concessions in the peace process: from the criteria for registering referendum voters to agreeing to live under Moroccan autonomy for four years before a referendum. The movement’s officials reasonably argue that it can’t make any more concessions. All that is left to compromise is Polisario’s fundamental core: the right to a vote on independence. Abandoning self-determination would completely de-legitimize Polisario in the eyes of its constituents and its international support. If a compromise is unlikely from either Morocco or Polisario, the autonomy option is a non-starter.</p>
<p>Negotiating autonomy will also require secret talks so that no one loses face. Again, the problem is that Polisario’s leadership is neither willing nor able to enter into such negotiations. Any backroom deal for autonomy is unlikely to receive support from Western Saharan nationalists, especially in the camps. Most Western Saharan nationalists still think the 2003 Baker Plan is a dangerous compromise, only made worthwhile by Morocco’s stern rejection of it. However, many nationalists swear that the Baker Plan was the last and ultimate compromise. If that is the limit of Polisario’s concessions, then there should be little hope for autonomy. Implementation</p>
<p>The challenges to autonomy are not just in the negotiating stage. Both sides also have reasons for concern about implementation, should it come to that. To create an environment where Sahrawi refugees feel safe to return, both Morocco’s military-security apparatus and the numbers of Moroccan settlers will have to decrease. For autonomy to work, Western Sahara must revert to being Sahrawi, not Moroccan, in both the majority of its citizens and the visible elements of its regional security. However, in any autonomy scheme, Rabat will constantly fear separatist moves, so it will demand a sizable military presence to guarantee its “territorial integrity.” Finding a balance will be difficult if not impossible, yet this issue is not even on the radar.</p>
<p>The real question, however, is whether or not the international community, especially the Security Council, is willing to invest in the kind of multinational peace-building project such an autonomy agreement would warrant. No one is talking about how to get Morocco and Polisario to work together after 30 years of mutual mistrust. Then there are the coercive aspects of implementing autonomy: will an international force be required to maintain the peace if Sahrawi separatists organize an insurgency and Moroccan settlers form death squads?</p>
<p>The implementation of autonomy thus involves many moving parts and will require a credible threat — if not the actual use — of force from the international community. For autonomy to work in Western Sahara, there has to be a tripartite willingness that has been historically lacking: the willingness of Morocco, Polisario, and the Security Council.</p>
<p>In 2003, Baker asked the Security Council to endorse his proposal so that he could have a mandate to twist some arms. Instead, he got a weak vote of support after Morocco protested directly to France and the United States. Will the Security Council suddenly find the will to use coercion in support of autonomy in Western Sahara? If so, this begs the question: Why reject self-determination because it requires coercion when autonomy will need the same? Autonomy is, after all, a far more complicated solution to implement than an independent Western Sahara. Washington’s options</p>
<p>The problem of Western Sahara is not that the Moroccan annexation is a fait accompli, which is one of the dominant assumptions driving calls for autonomy. Instead, the determinant reality is that Western Saharan nationalism is growing, not diminishing. Thirty years of exile (for the Sahrawi refugees in Algeria) and socio-economic marginalization (for the Sahrawis under Moroccan administration) have strengthened their resolve, not diminished it. In the streets of Western Sahara, an escalating dialectic of violence is being played out day by day. Protest meets repression meets counter-protest meets police retaliation in an endless cycle. How much longer can Polisario’s leaders justify to their constituents, without losing all credibility, the maintenance of a cease-fire that is now considered pointless by many nationalists? Sooner or later the international community must face this fact, or they will be forced to face it. We can either intervene in a realistic manner or we can, feigning ignorance, let another obscure African conflict deteriorate before our very eyes.</p>
<p>The politics of the least-worst option in Western Sahara are no longer working. The time has come for a new approach. The Security Council has to confront the Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara and bring it to a legal and practical end using the weapons of non-violence at its disposal.</p>
<p>There is only one hope for a peaceful and just resolution to the Western Sahara conflict. Key states, like the U.S. government, must back up their rhetorical support of self-determination with meaningful action. International pressure must build on Morocco to allow and respect an internationally organized expression of self-determination for the native population of Western Sahara. As Morocco is highly sensitive to its international image, the only weapon required is the tool of shame. At the same time, though, Morocco’s domestic stability and reform should be supported in word and deed.</p>
<p>Thus the U.S. government should take a two-track approach in its relations with Morocco: supporting self-determination in Western Sahara on the one hand while supporting Moroccan stability and reforms on the other. In other words, Washington should decouple support for Rabat from support for the occupation of Western Sahara. The U.S. Congress should reaffirm its support for U.S. initiatives aimed at supporting Moroccan stability and internal democratization processes. But Congress should simultaneously press the White House to support self-determination in Western Sahara. None of this, however, will be possible without political will. International, grassroots, faith- and community-based organizations will have to create broader awareness of the problem in the United States. Such pressure helped bring a peaceful end to apartheid in South Africa and was key to ending Indonesia’s occupation of East Timor.</p>
<p>JACOB MUNDY is coauthor, with Stephen Zunes, of Western Sahara: War, Nationalism and Conflict Irresolution (Syracuse University Press, forthcoming). He is a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus (www.fpif.org).</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | recent years moroccan government championed idea autonomy solution territorial dispute proindependence advocates western sahara rabat said willing consider autonomous locally elected government western sahara would powers independent central government albeit circumscribed moroccos ultimate sovereignty movement western saharan statehood hand rejected autonomy continues claim right selfdetermination exercised final status referendum among territorys indigenous ethnic sahrawis broad international consensus political juridical backing right selfdetermination former european colonies consensus applied recently east timor western sahara like east timor european colony mid1970s landmark 1975 ruling international court justice dismissed moroccos historical claims western sahara instead supported sahrawis right selfdetermination un security council secretary general reiterated support solution provides selfdetermination would entail vote including limited option independence 1988 1999 security council attempted hold vote selfdetermination western sahara 2000 discourses started shifting away selfdetermination third way neither independence integration morocco autonomy become third way solution seems like best compromise paper yet mapped onto realities conflict autonomy becomes recipe disaster negotiating table ground western sahara though ford carter reagan administrations provided material support moroccos invasion occupation western sahara 1975 1991 first bush clinton administrations maintained handsoff policy toward early un referendum process 19921996 indirect highlevel us involvement form former us secretary state james baker began 1997 however bakers sevenyear engagement sabotaged us side larger geostrategic concerns moroccos role ally may 2003 site war terror us governments attitude toward conflict since leave parties make proposals discretely encouraging autonomy stalemate stalemate western sahara originally achieved battlefield 16year war pitting westernsupported morocco algerianbacked sahrawi guerrillas polisario front armed conflict ended 1991 security council backed agreement hold referendum independence consent two parties importantly morocco several hundred un peacekeepers began monitoring ceasefire 1991 five years later closer vote un seriously considered withdrawal 1997 former us secretary state james baker agreed mediate dispute sevenyear tenure un secretary generals personal envoy western sahara baker center gravity peace process originally brokered series agreements revived referendum process 1997 however time hold vote 2000 security council decided referendum longer realistic behind scenes clinton administration also backed away referendum instead supported new regime morocco king mohammed vi avoid kind dangerous referendum security council botched east timor baker started searching alternative independenceintegration referendum however 2002 un security council said would consider peace proposal long provided selfdetermination ie referendum independence 2003 baker presented final proposal idea grant western sahara four years autonomy kind trial period hold final status referendum choices would autonomy integration morocco full independence sweeten deal rabat baker proposed nonsahrawi moroccan settlers could participate vote moroccan colonists outnumbering native sahrawi population much twotoone came quite shock rabat rejected proposal soon polisario accepted baker worked morocco another year rabats counterproposals demonstrated deep unwillingness compromise fundamental issue right selfdetermination george w bush administration moroccos role war terror important supporting baker western sahara month baker resigned morocco major nonnato ally status free trade agreement washington elliott abrams head middle eastern affairs national security council likely lead cheerleader white house western saharan autonomy indeed moroccan expectations united states would support unilaterally implemented autonomy echoes us support israeli unilateralism occupied palestinian territories sharing land western sahara total victory impossible total defeat unthinkable moroccan government polisario front situation sides selfinterested rational actors search middleoftheroad solution two obvious compromise options western sahara either sharing territory splitting sides however rejected latter besides setting ugly precedent international community minisaharan state would severely disadvantaged terms viability ones interests sharing territory involves roughly four choices giving western sahara special regional status within morocco though without governmental autonomy transforming morocco symmetrical federalist state region including western sahara elected government dissolved rabat granting western sahara special governmental autonomy within morocco confederating independent quasiindependent western sahara morocco first approach regionalism calls little compromise part morocco massive concession polisario unlikely taken seriously latter second approach federalism sympathy morocco requires massive messy overhaul moroccos state structures new constitution effectively involving entire moroccan population peace process federalism also recognize special status western sahara seriously deficient peacemaking tool confederation independent western sahara morocco another option rabat unlikely consider serious challenge territorial integrity thus third option autonomy wins default peace agreement morocco polisario could allow creation quasiindependent western sahara locally elected government internal responsibilities morocco western sahara would share security duties morocco likely retaining military duties foreign relations portfolio unripe compromise paper autonomy seems like ideal solution problem however ideal real autonomy might viable situation corresponding prisoners dilemma wherein mutual cooperation produces positive sum outcome rather zerosum outcome competition yet honest appraisal situation western sahara reveals parties thinking still warlike neither morocco polisario yet believes total victory impossible hurting aspects stalemate sides pain isnt enough alter eithers fundamental objectives moroccos control territory incomplete lacking international legitimacy control enough administration routine prospect militarily dislodged appears slim moroccos offer autonomy might seem like compromise autonomy put table month far less baker offered 2001 2003 despite glowing statements support us un even french officials record disappointed moroccos idea concession still limited rabats support autonomy merely rhetorical tactical concession made regain moral high ground rejecting baker plan baker 2004 polisario well acting time side even though also faces problems polisario exists exile arms deteriorating generational tensions recent poll youth western saharan refugee camps southwest algeria home polisarios popular base support suggests young sahrawis increasingly frustrated limits camp life polisario also contend constant growing calls return arms morocco internal tensions may well come head movements upcoming triennial congress meanwhile within western sahara nationalism exploded rather receded recent years growing militancy western saharan independence movement spawned intifadah decentralized youthled antimoroccan protest movement occupied region sahrawi heroes struggle former political prisoners become unashamed nationalists many sahrawis living moroccan administration longer afraid speak mind moroccan occupation suffer regular beatings imprisonment flag polisario unseen moroccancontrolled areas ubiquitous symbol sahrawi resistance internal feedback polisarios leaders receiving toward greater confrontation compromise additionally support independence algerias executive nearly unprecedented levels postconflict algeria gains international status regional power literally fuelled soaring hydrocarbon sales polisario confident sided north africas emerging hegemon furthermore polisario interpreted moroccos offer autonomy peace gesture desperate gesticulations occupier slowly losing grip challenge negotiations western sahara experiencing long drawnout diplomatic war attrition indeed peace process significantly deteriorated past two years negotiations even admitted existence kind firsttrack initiative would constitute breakthrough point neither side willing talk even noncommittal secretive situation fundamental attitudes parties reflect foucaults inversion clausewitz still see politics war means current standoff negotiations involves reluctance lose face order gain compromise polisario wants morocco accept principles 2003 baker plan including referendum independence negotiations start morocco claims willing enter negotiations without preconditions yet rabat discuss referendum independence polisarios point view moroccos negotiations without preconditions still entail implicit precondition polisario must take selfdetermination table according history realities ground likelihood either side making fundamental concession get talks started nil clear subtext current un thinking western sahara get polisario abandon vote independence technically impossible international law western saharans referendum give right selfdetermination former secretary general kofi annan even bold enough suggest right selfdetermination prerogative security council last report western sahara october 2006 annan warned polisario would well advised enter negotiations still consensus council negotiated political solution must provide selfdetermination people western sahara polisario mood willing make concessions western saharan independence movement already agreed referendum 2003 baker plan would dominated moroccan settlers indeed polisario made major concessions peace process criteria registering referendum voters agreeing live moroccan autonomy four years referendum movements officials reasonably argue cant make concessions left compromise polisarios fundamental core right vote independence abandoning selfdetermination would completely delegitimize polisario eyes constituents international support compromise unlikely either morocco polisario autonomy option nonstarter negotiating autonomy also require secret talks one loses face problem polisarios leadership neither willing able enter negotiations backroom deal autonomy unlikely receive support western saharan nationalists especially camps western saharan nationalists still think 2003 baker plan dangerous compromise made worthwhile moroccos stern rejection however many nationalists swear baker plan last ultimate compromise limit polisarios concessions little hope autonomy implementation challenges autonomy negotiating stage sides also reasons concern implementation come create environment sahrawi refugees feel safe return moroccos militarysecurity apparatus numbers moroccan settlers decrease autonomy work western sahara must revert sahrawi moroccan majority citizens visible elements regional security however autonomy scheme rabat constantly fear separatist moves demand sizable military presence guarantee territorial integrity finding balance difficult impossible yet issue even radar real question however whether international community especially security council willing invest kind multinational peacebuilding project autonomy agreement would warrant one talking get morocco polisario work together 30 years mutual mistrust coercive aspects implementing autonomy international force required maintain peace sahrawi separatists organize insurgency moroccan settlers form death squads implementation autonomy thus involves many moving parts require credible threat actual use force international community autonomy work western sahara tripartite willingness historically lacking willingness morocco polisario security council 2003 baker asked security council endorse proposal could mandate twist arms instead got weak vote support morocco protested directly france united states security council suddenly find use coercion support autonomy western sahara begs question reject selfdetermination requires coercion autonomy need autonomy far complicated solution implement independent western sahara washingtons options problem western sahara moroccan annexation fait accompli one dominant assumptions driving calls autonomy instead determinant reality western saharan nationalism growing diminishing thirty years exile sahrawi refugees algeria socioeconomic marginalization sahrawis moroccan administration strengthened resolve diminished streets western sahara escalating dialectic violence played day day protest meets repression meets counterprotest meets police retaliation endless cycle much longer polisarios leaders justify constituents without losing credibility maintenance ceasefire considered pointless many nationalists sooner later international community must face fact forced face either intervene realistic manner feigning ignorance let another obscure african conflict deteriorate eyes politics leastworst option western sahara longer working time come new approach security council confront moroccan occupation western sahara bring legal practical end using weapons nonviolence disposal one hope peaceful resolution western sahara conflict key states like us government must back rhetorical support selfdetermination meaningful action international pressure must build morocco allow respect internationally organized expression selfdetermination native population western sahara morocco highly sensitive international image weapon required tool shame time though moroccos domestic stability reform supported word deed thus us government take twotrack approach relations morocco supporting selfdetermination western sahara one hand supporting moroccan stability reforms words washington decouple support rabat support occupation western sahara us congress reaffirm support us initiatives aimed supporting moroccan stability internal democratization processes congress simultaneously press white house support selfdetermination western sahara none however possible without political international grassroots faith communitybased organizations create broader awareness problem united states pressure helped bring peaceful end apartheid south africa key ending indonesias occupation east timor jacob mundy coauthor stephen zunes western sahara war nationalism conflict irresolution syracuse university press forthcoming contributor foreign policy focus wwwfpiforg 160 | 1,745 |
<p>By most accounts, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown is genuinely passionate about reducing global poverty.</p>
<p>But he is not willing to challenge the structures of the global economy that generate poverty, or the corporations that build, benefit from and maintain those structures.</p>
<p>Nor, apparently, is he immune to gimmicky notions of corporate leadership to support development, or the lure of high-profile summits to shed light on new plans to do — very little.</p>
<p>Thus, earlier this week the UK was treated to the spectacle of the Business Call to Action summit, which Brown’s office co-sponsored with the UN Development Program. More than 80 CEOs of large companies gathered with Brown and other luminaries to discuss how they could help meet the Millennium Development Goals, which aspire to reduce global poverty by half by 2015. Roughly two dozen of these CEOs — from Anglo American, Bechtel, Citigroup, Coca-Cola, De Beers, Diageo, FedEx, Goldman Sachs, GE, Merck, Microsoft, SAB Miller, Wal-Mart and others — have signed the Business Call to Action, which states, “as leaders from the private sector, we declare our commitment to meet this development emergency.”</p>
<p>The premise of the event, as Gordon Brown said, was to advance “a new approach — moving beyond minimum standards, beyond philanthropy and beyond traditional corporate social responsibility — important though they are — to develop long-term business initiatives that mobilize the resources and talents that are the central strengths of global business.”</p>
<p>The mantra of the event was for corporations to “explore new business opportunities that use their core business expertise” and that also help spur development.</p>
<p>Taken at its face value, this was, um, not exactly inspiring. Says Peter Hardstaff of the UK-based World Development Movement, the CEOs “have all agreed — to do more business.”</p>
<p>But the problem goes way beyond the fact that business as usual — or even a little bit of new business initiative with a development-conscious orientation — is not going to do much to reduce global poverty. The real problem is that business as usual is a central part the problem.</p>
<p>“Instead of holding these companies to account for their actions,” says John Hilary, executive director of War on Want, a UK-based anti-poverty group. “Gordon Brown has allowed them to portray themselves as allies in the fight against poverty. The prime minister should be working to address the poverty and human rights problems caused by business, not giving the companies a free ride.”</p>
<p>War on Want focused attention on the harmful development impacts of many of the corporations signing the Business Call to Action. The group has campaigned against mining giant Anglo American. It has documented how Anglo American has benefited from human rights abuses associated with civil wars in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Local mining communities in Ghana and Mali have seen little economic benefit from Anglo American’s operations (or the spike in the price of gold); instead, says War on Want, the company’s mines harm their environment, health and livelihoods.</p>
<p>Other corporate signatories to the Business Call to Action have directly hurt poor people through their “core business” more than can be offset by development-tinged ventures (even assuming such ventures succeed). Wal-Mart contracts with sweatshops. Bechtel tried to price-gouge and rip-off Bolivian consumers and the Bolivian state through control of the country’s privatized water system. Merck refuses to license life-saving medicines for cheap generic production.</p>
<p>Simultaneous with Brown’s business summit, Action Aid UK pointed to a major systemic abuse by multinational corporations that undermines development: They don’t pay their taxes. The group released a report looking at tax payments of 14 corporate signers of the Business Call to Action. It found that these companies combined are underpaying taxes by more than $6 billion a year, as compared to what they would pay if they paid at the statutory rate in the United States and UK. The group did not suggest any illegal activities by the companies — there are plenty enough legal tax avoidance strategies.</p>
<p>Money lost to developing countries through capital flight and tax avoidance is many times greater than aid flows into poor countries, says Jesse Griffith, the lead author of the Action Aid UK report.</p>
<p>Tax avoidance is a key issue because it strips money from national treasuries that would otherwise be available for social investment, and because it reflects structural problems that could and should be cured without any need for global philanthropy or aid.</p>
<p>But tax avoidance is only one of many ways that corporations exploit and perpetuate economic policies and institutional arrangements that contribute to poverty or inhibit authentic development.</p>
<p>The World Development Movement issued a 10-point challenge to corporations that claim an interest in promoting global development. It called on companies to stop using their political influence to promote policies that undermine development. It urged companies to: stop lobbying to open up developing country markets, and let developing countries “use the same trade policy tools industrialized countries used to get rich;” stop demanding rich country-style patent rules for the poor; support radical government action, starting in rich countries, to address climate change; support binding codes of conduct for multinationals, including respect for labor rights; end support for privatization and deregulation, including particularly financial deregulation; stop lobbying for and exploiting tax loopholes; and other measures.</p>
<p>This is not exactly an agenda that global business leaders are likely to take up soon.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it’s not exactly likely that global business leaders are going to lead the way to end global poverty.</p>
<p>Among other things, that’s going to take a global movement, led from the Global South, to implement the policies implicit in the World Development Movement call.</p>
<p>ROBERT WEISSMAN is editor of the Washington, D.C.-based <a href="http://www.multinationalmonitor.org" type="external">Multinational Monitor</a> and director of <a href="http://www.essentialaction.org" type="external">Essential Action</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | accounts uk prime minister gordon brown genuinely passionate reducing global poverty willing challenge structures global economy generate poverty corporations build benefit maintain structures apparently immune gimmicky notions corporate leadership support development lure highprofile summits shed light new plans little thus earlier week uk treated spectacle business call action summit browns office cosponsored un development program 80 ceos large companies gathered brown luminaries discuss could help meet millennium development goals aspire reduce global poverty half 2015 roughly two dozen ceos anglo american bechtel citigroup cocacola de beers diageo fedex goldman sachs ge merck microsoft sab miller walmart others signed business call action states leaders private sector declare commitment meet development emergency premise event gordon brown said advance new approach moving beyond minimum standards beyond philanthropy beyond traditional corporate social responsibility important though develop longterm business initiatives mobilize resources talents central strengths global business mantra event corporations explore new business opportunities use core business expertise also help spur development taken face value um exactly inspiring says peter hardstaff ukbased world development movement ceos agreed business problem goes way beyond fact business usual even little bit new business initiative developmentconscious orientation going much reduce global poverty real problem business usual central part problem instead holding companies account actions says john hilary executive director war want ukbased antipoverty group gordon brown allowed portray allies fight poverty prime minister working address poverty human rights problems caused business giving companies free ride war want focused attention harmful development impacts many corporations signing business call action group campaigned mining giant anglo american documented anglo american benefited human rights abuses associated civil wars colombia democratic republic congo drc local mining communities ghana mali seen little economic benefit anglo americans operations spike price gold instead says war want companys mines harm environment health livelihoods corporate signatories business call action directly hurt poor people core business offset developmenttinged ventures even assuming ventures succeed walmart contracts sweatshops bechtel tried pricegouge ripoff bolivian consumers bolivian state control countrys privatized water system merck refuses license lifesaving medicines cheap generic production simultaneous browns business summit action aid uk pointed major systemic abuse multinational corporations undermines development dont pay taxes group released report looking tax payments 14 corporate signers business call action found companies combined underpaying taxes 6 billion year compared would pay paid statutory rate united states uk group suggest illegal activities companies plenty enough legal tax avoidance strategies money lost developing countries capital flight tax avoidance many times greater aid flows poor countries says jesse griffith lead author action aid uk report tax avoidance key issue strips money national treasuries would otherwise available social investment reflects structural problems could cured without need global philanthropy aid tax avoidance one many ways corporations exploit perpetuate economic policies institutional arrangements contribute poverty inhibit authentic development world development movement issued 10point challenge corporations claim interest promoting global development called companies stop using political influence promote policies undermine development urged companies stop lobbying open developing country markets let developing countries use trade policy tools industrialized countries used get rich stop demanding rich countrystyle patent rules poor support radical government action starting rich countries address climate change support binding codes conduct multinationals including respect labor rights end support privatization deregulation including particularly financial deregulation stop lobbying exploiting tax loopholes measures exactly agenda global business leaders likely take soon hand exactly likely global business leaders going lead way end global poverty among things thats going take global movement led global south implement policies implicit world development movement call robert weissman editor washington dcbased multinational monitor director essential action 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 597 |
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<p>Photo by Tyler Merbler | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>Some preliminary thoughts on the Democrats’ failure to beat someone as loathsome as Donald Trump:</p>
<p>1) Insider Democrats did all they could to tilt the scales (Wasserman Schultz, Donna Brazile, et al) to nominate the most out-spokenly neo-liberal candidate ever. Though I wasn’t a Bernie supporter, leading Democrats chose to ignore how their candidate was the least able to defeat anyone in the Republican field – Wall Street had their candidate, and they were with her, and everyone in the Dems’ base just had to suck it up.</p>
<p>In 2008, Obama and Clinton did their best to out anti-NAFTA each other in the Ohio and other rust belt primaries, and despite evidence to the contrary, hope-against-hope, many working class people believed them. Eight years later the evidence was too glaring to ignore — Goldman Sachs speeches, Clinton Fdn pay-to-play, TPP, etc., and for good, and demonstrably bad reasons, white working class voters deserted the Democrats. Any wonder why Trump swept the rust belt?</p>
<p>2) The last two years have, with good reason, seen an explosion of fury against racist police murders – with most of the mayors covering for the cops being Dems of the Rahm Emanuel variety. So is it any wonder that Dems couldn’t more motivate urban areas of Pennsylvania and Ohio to offset the white, rural racist vote?</p>
<p>3) As a political junky I’ve tried to engage as many people of as many different backgrounds as possible to find out their views on the election. Despite many months of conversations, I have yet to have had a face-to-face discussion with anyone who was enthusiastically FOR Clinton. The enthusiasm of her many supporters always went the other way – AGAINST the bigotry of Trump, and “yes she’s got faults, but Trump is SO horrible.”</p>
<p>This was seen in the largest, truly motivated group of Clinton voters – Latinos. After a record 2 million deportations of the undocumented under an incumbent Democrat, Latinos swept to the polls not in an act of pro-Clinton allegiance, but in anti-racist disgust against Trump.</p>
<p>3) The United States has always been much more racist and otherwise bigoted than most liberals congratulated themselves about after the 2008 victory of President Obama. The 2008 election should have been an FDR vs. Herbert Hoover cake-walk victory. We had by far the worst recession since the Great Depression (that year’s October surprise) and yet the incumbent party only narrowly lost?</p>
<p>The explanation should have been clear at the time – the only reason it was close at all was because the challenger was a black man, and racist America largely wasn’t ready to accept a black man as president despite the disaster that was the was the incumbent party.</p>
<p>Seven years later and most working class incomes are just beginning to recover to the pre-Great Recession levels, and that’s not even accounting for the fact that real working class incomes have lost enormous ground since the early 1970s. Enter a racist bloviator who blames that declining income on all the usual scapegoats, and adds in some phony anti-Wall Street populism for good measure.</p>
<p>Just about the only solace the Dems should take from this is that the next recession will likely occur during a Trump first term, and it will likely not be a “usual” recession, but a really bad one that will hurt all working class people enormously.</p>
<p>Here’s why: We already have one of the longest (and weakest) economic expansions in history. The next recession will probably be unusually savage because the usual stimulators for moderating such recessions — lowering interest rates and deficit spending — are already largely tapped out. The savage effects of the next recession will not only be accentuated by a governing party that loathes U.S. cities and their residents.</p>
<p>The incumbent party, in this case the Republicans, will be blamed for it, just as the Democrats have been blamed for the failure of the current anemic expansion to make a real difference in most working class people’s incomes.</p>
<p>But don’t expect the Democrats to offer the sort of truly paradigm-altering programs we saw during the Great Depression — unless forced to by massive opposition to BOTH parties from the ground up. Things like the three general strikes in 1934. Things like the occupations of all major workplaces and the formation of the mass, industrial unions in the immediate few years thereafter that forced the creation of America’s first social safety net after many previous decades’ failures.</p>
<p>Rather than tinker around the edges with phony “help the homeless” vouchers, token job-training programs and other such neoliberal nonsense that is common currency today, massive public works programs put millions to work, massive construction of affordable housing put people in homes, and rights like the 8 hour day and Social Security pensions for the elderly were won.</p>
<p>All of the promises of the early New Deal years began to go down the toilet when the independent left largely threw its lot in with Democrats in the 1936 election and thereafter. With the onset of WWII, McCarthyism and then the more severe recessions beginning in the 1970s, Democratic politicians increasingly attacked their own base. The same was seen after the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, when the remnants of those movements threw their lot in with the Democrats in the 1970s.</p>
<p>Unlike some Bernie supporters, I do not see that even the most robust New Deal style programs will even begin to solve the most fundamental, anti-human, anti-planet problems of capitalism. They will at best ameliorate them.</p>
<p>But this side of overthrowing capitalism, widespread amelioration is a better alternative to the far more savage results we saw during the 1930s in other countries. And for that we need to re-learn the lessons of the struggles of the 1930s, and how BOTH major parties were at the core of the problems, and not the solutions.</p> | true | 4 | photo tyler merbler cc 20 preliminary thoughts democrats failure beat someone loathsome donald trump 1 insider democrats could tilt scales wasserman schultz donna brazile et al nominate outspokenly neoliberal candidate ever though wasnt bernie supporter leading democrats chose ignore candidate least able defeat anyone republican field wall street candidate everyone dems base suck 2008 obama clinton best antinafta ohio rust belt primaries despite evidence contrary hopeagainsthope many working class people believed eight years later evidence glaring ignore goldman sachs speeches clinton fdn paytoplay tpp etc good demonstrably bad reasons white working class voters deserted democrats wonder trump swept rust belt 2 last two years good reason seen explosion fury racist police murders mayors covering cops dems rahm emanuel variety wonder dems couldnt motivate urban areas pennsylvania ohio offset white rural racist vote 3 political junky ive tried engage many people many different backgrounds possible find views election despite many months conversations yet facetoface discussion anyone enthusiastically clinton enthusiasm many supporters always went way bigotry trump yes shes got faults trump horrible seen largest truly motivated group clinton voters latinos record 2 million deportations undocumented incumbent democrat latinos swept polls act proclinton allegiance antiracist disgust trump 3 united states always much racist otherwise bigoted liberals congratulated 2008 victory president obama 2008 election fdr vs herbert hoover cakewalk victory far worst recession since great depression years october surprise yet incumbent party narrowly lost explanation clear time reason close challenger black man racist america largely wasnt ready accept black man president despite disaster incumbent party seven years later working class incomes beginning recover pregreat recession levels thats even accounting fact real working class incomes lost enormous ground since early 1970s enter racist bloviator blames declining income usual scapegoats adds phony antiwall street populism good measure solace dems take next recession likely occur trump first term likely usual recession really bad one hurt working class people enormously heres already one longest weakest economic expansions history next recession probably unusually savage usual stimulators moderating recessions lowering interest rates deficit spending already largely tapped savage effects next recession accentuated governing party loathes us cities residents incumbent party case republicans blamed democrats blamed failure current anemic expansion make real difference working class peoples incomes dont expect democrats offer sort truly paradigmaltering programs saw great depression unless forced massive opposition parties ground things like three general strikes 1934 things like occupations major workplaces formation mass industrial unions immediate years thereafter forced creation americas first social safety net many previous decades failures rather tinker around edges phony help homeless vouchers token jobtraining programs neoliberal nonsense common currency today massive public works programs put millions work massive construction affordable housing put people homes rights like 8 hour day social security pensions elderly promises early new deal years began go toilet independent left largely threw lot democrats 1936 election thereafter onset wwii mccarthyism severe recessions beginning 1970s democratic politicians increasingly attacked base seen civil rights black power movements remnants movements threw lot democrats 1970s unlike bernie supporters see even robust new deal style programs even begin solve fundamental antihuman antiplanet problems capitalism best ameliorate side overthrowing capitalism widespread amelioration better alternative far savage results saw 1930s countries need relearn lessons struggles 1930s major parties core problems solutions | 536 |
<p>Throughout the misguided and misleading debate on how to “fix” the health care system in the United States, a fundamental fallacy continues to assert itself: that patients who require treatment are somehow like shoppers who want a new pair of shoes or a handbag.</p>
<p>This pernicious notion invariably emerges around the discussion of whether to tax high-cost insurance plans in order to help pay for this so-called insurance reform. The plan proposed by Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., would tax plans that cost more than $8,000 per individual per year or $21,000 per family per year. Now House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says the House is also considering such a tax.</p>
<p>For instance, any media account of the subject will include at least one statement like this one in a recent AP article: “Proponents of the insurance tax, which President Barack Obama has endorsed, say it would help to lower health care costs by encouraging people to become more cost-conscious health care consumers.”</p>
<p>This statement is a shorthand version of the theory that has come to be known as consumer driven health care.</p>
<p>This theory contends that an individual, already in the position of requiring treatment because his health is endangered or damaged, will, if faced with greater personal expense, somehow make not only different but better decisions about what treatments to purchase. Furthermore, these decisions will somehow lead to a lower overall cost of treatment for the patient’s condition.</p>
<p>The not-so-subtle point is that the patient is the one who is responsible for the high cost of health care. It’s all about the individual. It’s the health care industry application of the blame-the-victim subterfuge that is commonly employed when major players in our winner-take-all economic system find a need to divert attention from the true causes of the disasters they have wrought. It’s akin to the effort to assign equal blame for the sub-prime mortgage crisis to both the banks that set up the system of soliciting and re-selling bad loans and to the poor suckers who took out the loans.</p>
<p>Only this blame-the-victim scheme is even more reprehensible because the decision of what to do to restore health when you are sick is not like deciding what neighborhood to live in or how many bedrooms you need.</p>
<p>Consumer driven health care discounts the role of the physicians, hospitals, drug companies and insurance companies in the high cost of health care. It disregards the fact that physicians most often either make or greatly control health care decisions, and at the very least closely control the options presented to the patient. It disregards the considerations the physician may bring to the process, including the frequent need to over-prescribe and over-test to prevent malpractice claims, or the need to satisfy insurance company requirements. It overlooks the fact that some physicians over-prescribe because they are paid by the number of services they perform (the fee-for-service model). Yes there are significant savings (perhaps as much as $700 billion per year) to be had in reducing the number of tests conducted and other unnecessary procedures. But patient decisions are not the primary force behind the blizzard of over-testing. Nor can patients be held responsible for unnecessary insurance company bureaucracy and profits or artificially high drug costs.</p>
<p>And the patient-as-consumer propaganda also conveniently ignores the fact that it simply is not possible to “shop” for health care.</p>
<p>Consumers in most markets have few choices between health insurance companies. In most major metropolitan areas one or two companies dominate the market. Depending on what kind of insurance plan they have, patients have limited choice of doctors and hospitals.</p>
<p>Regardless of how big a list of doctors a patient can choose from, it’s getting increasingly difficult to even find a doctor who is accepting new patients.</p>
<p>In Boston, the average wait time for an appointment with a family physician is 63 days, according to a recent survey of 15 metropolitan markets by the national physician recruitment firm Merritt, Hawkins &amp; Associates in Irving, Texas. The 15-city average was 20.3 days.</p>
<p>Boston’s long wait times may be a result of Massachusetts’ 2006 health reform legislation, which expanded health insurance coverage to nearly everyone in the state. If Congress expands coverage to tens of millions more people nationwide, more patients will be seeking appointments with the same pool of physicians. Wait times for appointments could increase dramatically. If a patient must wait 20 days for an appointment to deal with an illness, how many can be expected to wait even longer for treatment while they shop around.</p>
<p>If shopping for doctors is difficult, how about comparing and selecting treatments?</p>
<p>In many cases the generally accepted standards of treatment for a particular condition are well established and most physicians will follow the same protocols. Often is little choice to be had among types of treatments. (Unless you consider alternative medicine, of which most forms are not covered by insurance.)</p>
<p>Just as patients can’t really shop for product, nor do they have the option of shopping for providers or product on the basis of price. In most cases patients have no way to find out in advance what the cost of their treatments will be. To say that providers and insurance companies are reluctant to quote prices is an understatement. At best a patient may be able to obtain a range of prices that will be so broad as to be meaningless.</p>
<p>Providers may explain this lack of transparency by saying that they cannot be sure exactly what procedures will be needed. Insurance companies may simply state that they do no divulge proprietary contractual information for competitive purposes. Some of these reasons are simply maddening examples of a non-competitive market in action.</p>
<p>And some of this reluctance to quote prices is appropriate. No doubt some free market disciples who would reduce patients to consumers would likewise prefer to monetize the art of healing and the complexity of human health in terms of definable units with static values that are measurable and marketable. It’s simply not that easy.</p>
<p>So for reasons both good and bad, price comparison shopping in health care is simply not possible for most people most of the time.</p>
<p>Consumer driven health care makes even less sense when you consider the fact that some 75 percent of all health care costs are accounted for by the treatment of just five conditions, heart disease, diabetes, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and obesity.</p>
<p>As pointed out by Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, a member of the Senate Health Committee, in an op-ed piece earlier this summer, the real opportunity for savings in health care is that these five diseases are largely preventable and even reversible by changes in nutrition, physical activity, and lifestyle. Unfortunately, Harkin adds, 95 percent of all health care spending is for treatment of illnesses and conditions after they occur.</p>
<p>Harkin’s point: improving health and saving money is more about prevention than how much you charge people after they are ill.</p>
<p>Consistent with Harkin’s contention, long-term studies conducted by major private employers have found that reducing the barriers to care by reducing or eliminating co-pays and deductibles for certain common chronic conditions actually reduced the long-term costs of treating those employees. They found that when faced with higher co-pays, patients tended to make worse health care decisions, such as postponing care or skipping routine care in order to save money.</p>
<p>The consumer driven model undermines the concept of the doctor-patient relationship that should form the basis of our health care system, where the doctor truly knows his or her patients and is involved not only in the treatment of their illnesses but in the maintenance of their health. This model’s proper functioning can only be realized in a regime of low barriers to access, or in other words, a system based on prevention of illness as a means to minimize costs, rather than a system of cost reduction based on making better decisions after one is already ill.</p>
<p>After all, even with the Internet, is it possible for patients to gather enough information to presume to know so much about medicine that they will routinely make decisions counter to the advice given by their physicians. If that is not what we mean by consumer driven health care, then why pretend that the patient is or should be primarily responsible for critical health care decisions, or that the cost of visits or procedures should play an important role in these decisions, no matter who makes them.</p>
<p>As for the high-cost insurance plans that are purported to epitomize this rampant consumer abuse of health care, who is it that enjoys these plans?</p>
<p>Is it highly paid executives just enjoying another perk? Perhaps in some cases. If this were the root of the problem, the rich can be taxed on income to pay for this so-called luxury. But the fact is that everyone should enjoy this level of coverage as a right and it would cost us less if that were so.</p>
<p>More likely these kinds of costs will be seen in companies where the work force includes a disproportionate share of older workers, or in union plans where the stress, difficulty and danger of the work wears down the health of the workers over time.</p>
<p>And who was it that conceived of this consumer driven theory in the first place? Well, it was the insurance companies.</p>
<p>The idea emerged and took hold over the last decade as insurance premiums took off. As employers became less able to shoulder the annual double digit increases and remain competitive, they began to shift more and more of the cost increases to employees in the form of either increased payroll deductions or larger co-pays and deductibles.</p>
<p>Insurance companies and consultants latched onto the consumer driven story to justify the shift, to make it seem a reasonable and effective strategy to combat the problem of rising costs. With its core message that consumers/employees were somehow responsible for the cost increases, it gave employers some cover for an unpopular practice, but more importantly it shifted the attention and the blame away from the insurance companies, doctors and hospitals and drug companies, where it rightfully belonged.</p>
<p>No doubt some employees have probably begun to doubt their own experience as a result of the propaganda and begun to question their own legitimate use of health care. Because it resonates so beautifully with the zeitgeist of a nation in thrall to free market ideology, where the individual is always responsible no matter the behavior of large corporations, its message may seem more cogent.</p>
<p>Certainly it has its followers, and promoters, inside the D.C. Beltway, where Congress is about to enact a misguided reform relying at least in part on this faulty and health-endangering premise.</p>
<p>Jeff Sher lives in the Bay Area. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:jeffsher@sbcglobal.net" type="external">jeffsher@sbcglobal.net</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | throughout misguided misleading debate fix health care system united states fundamental fallacy continues assert patients require treatment somehow like shoppers want new pair shoes handbag pernicious notion invariably emerges around discussion whether tax highcost insurance plans order help pay socalled insurance reform plan proposed senate finance chairman max baucus dmont would tax plans cost 8000 per individual per year 21000 per family per year house speaker nancy pelosi says house also considering tax instance media account subject include least one statement like one recent ap article proponents insurance tax president barack obama endorsed say would help lower health care costs encouraging people become costconscious health care consumers statement shorthand version theory come known consumer driven health care theory contends individual already position requiring treatment health endangered damaged faced greater personal expense somehow make different better decisions treatments purchase furthermore decisions somehow lead lower overall cost treatment patients condition notsosubtle point patient one responsible high cost health care individual health care industry application blamethevictim subterfuge commonly employed major players winnertakeall economic system find need divert attention true causes disasters wrought akin effort assign equal blame subprime mortgage crisis banks set system soliciting reselling bad loans poor suckers took loans blamethevictim scheme even reprehensible decision restore health sick like deciding neighborhood live many bedrooms need consumer driven health care discounts role physicians hospitals drug companies insurance companies high cost health care disregards fact physicians often either make greatly control health care decisions least closely control options presented patient disregards considerations physician may bring process including frequent need overprescribe overtest prevent malpractice claims need satisfy insurance company requirements overlooks fact physicians overprescribe paid number services perform feeforservice model yes significant savings perhaps much 700 billion per year reducing number tests conducted unnecessary procedures patient decisions primary force behind blizzard overtesting patients held responsible unnecessary insurance company bureaucracy profits artificially high drug costs patientasconsumer propaganda also conveniently ignores fact simply possible shop health care consumers markets choices health insurance companies major metropolitan areas one two companies dominate market depending kind insurance plan patients limited choice doctors hospitals regardless big list doctors patient choose getting increasingly difficult even find doctor accepting new patients boston average wait time appointment family physician 63 days according recent survey 15 metropolitan markets national physician recruitment firm merritt hawkins amp associates irving texas 15city average 203 days bostons long wait times may result massachusetts 2006 health reform legislation expanded health insurance coverage nearly everyone state congress expands coverage tens millions people nationwide patients seeking appointments pool physicians wait times appointments could increase dramatically patient must wait 20 days appointment deal illness many expected wait even longer treatment shop around shopping doctors difficult comparing selecting treatments many cases generally accepted standards treatment particular condition well established physicians follow protocols often little choice among types treatments unless consider alternative medicine forms covered insurance patients cant really shop product option shopping providers product basis price cases patients way find advance cost treatments say providers insurance companies reluctant quote prices understatement best patient may able obtain range prices broad meaningless providers may explain lack transparency saying sure exactly procedures needed insurance companies may simply state divulge proprietary contractual information competitive purposes reasons simply maddening examples noncompetitive market action reluctance quote prices appropriate doubt free market disciples would reduce patients consumers would likewise prefer monetize art healing complexity human health terms definable units static values measurable marketable simply easy reasons good bad price comparison shopping health care simply possible people time consumer driven health care makes even less sense consider fact 75 percent health care costs accounted treatment five conditions heart disease diabetes prostate cancer breast cancer obesity pointed sen tom harkin diowa member senate health committee oped piece earlier summer real opportunity savings health care five diseases largely preventable even reversible changes nutrition physical activity lifestyle unfortunately harkin adds 95 percent health care spending treatment illnesses conditions occur harkins point improving health saving money prevention much charge people ill consistent harkins contention longterm studies conducted major private employers found reducing barriers care reducing eliminating copays deductibles certain common chronic conditions actually reduced longterm costs treating employees found faced higher copays patients tended make worse health care decisions postponing care skipping routine care order save money consumer driven model undermines concept doctorpatient relationship form basis health care system doctor truly knows patients involved treatment illnesses maintenance health models proper functioning realized regime low barriers access words system based prevention illness means minimize costs rather system cost reduction based making better decisions one already ill even internet possible patients gather enough information presume know much medicine routinely make decisions counter advice given physicians mean consumer driven health care pretend patient primarily responsible critical health care decisions cost visits procedures play important role decisions matter makes highcost insurance plans purported epitomize rampant consumer abuse health care enjoys plans highly paid executives enjoying another perk perhaps cases root problem rich taxed income pay socalled luxury fact everyone enjoy level coverage right would cost us less likely kinds costs seen companies work force includes disproportionate share older workers union plans stress difficulty danger work wears health workers time conceived consumer driven theory first place well insurance companies idea emerged took hold last decade insurance premiums took employers became less able shoulder annual double digit increases remain competitive began shift cost increases employees form either increased payroll deductions larger copays deductibles insurance companies consultants latched onto consumer driven story justify shift make seem reasonable effective strategy combat problem rising costs core message consumersemployees somehow responsible cost increases gave employers cover unpopular practice importantly shifted attention blame away insurance companies doctors hospitals drug companies rightfully belonged doubt employees probably begun doubt experience result propaganda begun question legitimate use health care resonates beautifully zeitgeist nation thrall free market ideology individual always responsible matter behavior large corporations message may seem cogent certainly followers promoters inside dc beltway congress enact misguided reform relying least part faulty healthendangering premise jeff sher lives bay area reached jeffshersbcglobalnet 160 | 992 |
<p>We can all agree that President Donald Trump is a disaster for the country.</p>
<p>He has been proving this pretty much every day since his inauguration.</p>
<p>But Democrats and progressive activists need to do more than decry Trump’s horrific actions, from his ban on immigrants, including refugees, from seven majority-Muslim countries, to his murder of an eight-year-old American girl in a Special Forces raid in Yemen, his order to the US Army Corps of Engineers to approve a permit for the completion of a pipeline upstream of the Standing Rock Sioux reservation, or his nomination of Judge Neil Gorsuch, a Antonin Scalia clone, to fill the late Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court.</p>
<p>Blocking or at least opposing bad executive orders, laws and nominations is of course important, but in a situation where the Republican Party is in solid control of both houses of Congress, it is also futile, and thus only symbolic.</p>
<p>Democrats lost control of Congress in 2010, and lost the White House last November, because they were not offering American voters a real progressive alternative. For decades now, the party and its elected officials in Washington have been DINOs (Democrats in Name Only). Corporatists as much as their Republican opponents, they have been posing as something different by playing to their base with things like support for gay marriage, support for the unenforceable and purely aspirational Paris Climate Agreement, and support for…um, well, it’s actually a pretty short list when you think about what Democrats have been for lately that really rates as progressive.</p>
<p>Recall that when President Obama came into office, with a solid Democratic majority in both houses of congress, he came off a campaign in which he had vowed to restore open constitutional government, to make it easier for unions to organize, to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to kickstart the recession-mired economy with a burst of major deficit spending. He did none of that, and the Democratic Congress did none of it for him either. Obama and the Democrats paid for their lack of decisive progressive action by losing Congress two years later and it’s been downhill ever since.</p>
<p>Now they’ve lost the White House too.</p>
<p>Unless that party wakes up and realizes that it needs a wholesale makeover, in the form of a return to its New Deal roots, it will lose the Congressional elections in 2018, and it will lose the presidential race in 2020, along with even more state governorships and statehouses (currently 32 of the 50 states are wholly in Republican hands).</p>
<p>People have said that third parties have no chance in the US, but the Democratic Party seems hell-bent on proving them wrong by becoming a “third party” on its own, but in a one-party system with the Republicans being the last major party standing. At the rate things are going, we could end up with the next presidential election featuring a Republican nominee, whether Trump or someone else, debating himself because the Democratic nominee won’t make the 15% polling cut-off to be eligible to participate!</p>
<p>Most Americans have a pretty low opinion of both parties these days, and are registered as independents for a reason. Republicans, including Trump, were elected largely as a protest vote against eight years of do-nothing Democrats, and the Democratic party is so ossified that it’s unlikely that its leadership, the Democratic National Committee, can be changed, especially in time for the congressional elections of 2018, when we’re likely to see the same lame corporatist candidates running for re-election.</p>
<p>This means it’s up to us, the progressive majority in America, to organize a movement outside the Democratic Party, built around those demands that could and would create a powerful force for change.</p>
<p>I see four big issues such a movement could be built around: work and retirement security, health care, climate change, and peace and military spending. The demands can be quite simple:</p>
<p>Fair Pay and Retirement Security for Everyone! Anyone who works at a full-time job should earn enough to support a family. That means we need a federal minimum wage — now! — of $15 per/hour, with an annual adjustment for inflation. Workers should be able to have union representation on their job if a majority of workers at a company sign cards saying they want one. Period. And Social Security should pay benefits that are high enough that retired people can live decently on those benefits, since it is clear that companies are no longer offering pensions and nobody but the wealthy earns enough to save any significant amount for retirement.</p>
<p>Medicare for All!</p>
<p>When Obama announced his plan for the complicated and in the end far too costly and ironically named Affordable Care Act, he lied to Congress and the American people saying that while other countries might have socialized medical systems that are cheaper and work well, “We in America have no experience with such systems,” and so we would reform the system “our own way.” In fact, as the president well knew, the US has long experience running both a Canadian-style “single-payer” system, where the government is the insurer, and bargains to set the prices charged by doctors, hospital treatment and drugs (our system is called Medicare, but you have to be 65 in order to qualify for it), and a British-ttyle system of National Health, where doctors work on salary for the government and hospitals are owned by the government (we called it the Veterans Hospital System, only you have to be a veteran in order to get care, and even then the government makes it hard to meet eligibility requirements for treatment).</p>
<p>Combat Climate Change!</p>
<p>Most people are aware that the earth’s climate is changing rapidly. Farmers in the midwest and Southwest are keenly aware that things are getting hotter and drier, fishermen along the northeast coast know that all the fish are moving northward as warmer seas ruin their habitat, Floridians near the coast can no longer buy new home insurance policies because the insurers see such policies as guaranteed losses they don’t want to face as sea levels rise dramatically, and Alaskans watch tall stands of pine that stretch to the horizon suddenly become “drunken forests” as the trees, growing atop ancient permafrost, suddenly have that solid ground beneath them melt away, leaving them balancing in mud in which their roots can no longer hold them erect. It’s clear to any sentient American with a high-school understanding of science that the climate is out of kilter and that worse is coming unless drastic measures are taken to reduce the pumping of more carbon into the air. And those measures must start immediately.</p>
<p>Slash US Military Spending and Bring All the Troops Home!</p>
<p>The US military accounts for $1.3 trillion, or 57% of all discretionary spending. This is a figure that is generally hidden from the public by adding into the budget the mandated outlays for Social Security benefits and Medicare. But this is misleading, because those programs, unlike the military, are funded by separate payroll taxes, not by general taxation. Furthermore, unlike Social Security and Medicare, which are mandated benefits, military spending is wholly determined each year by Congress, based upon policies set by the government. And those policies are nuts! No other country in the world spends that much money, either in actual dollars, or as a percentage of its national budget, trying to dominate the entire world. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies [1], in 2015 the US spent more than four times what China, with the second biggest military budget, spent (and remember that China’s military is mostly used for domestic control, given that the country is still a dictatorship), and almost nine times what our supposedly “existential enemy” Russia spent (Russia that year budgeted less on its military that did Britain!). Clearly the outrageous US military, with its endless wars, its navy armadas on patrol in every ocean and its over 1000 bases around the globe, is bankrupting the US and by itself explains the increasingly third-world status of the US in terms of education, infrastructure, transportation and quality of life. The US military must be cut down to size and refocused on what it is supposed to do: defend America, not control the world.</p>
<p>Building a movement around these four big over-arching issues, through mass demonstrations, local organizing in churches, community and social organizations, unions and among friends and neighbors, will either force the nearly moribund Democratic Party to refocus and revitalize itself or will lead to the establishment of a new party on the left to take its place.</p>
<p>The model should be the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, and the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Neither of these movements was tied to the Democratic Party, but both forced the Democratic Party — and even to some extent the Republican Party — to come to them and accommodate their demands.</p>
<p>Building a left progressive political alternative in the US is doomed to failure if the focus is on the specific demands of “identity” groups, as important as those issues — like gay rights, abortion rights, affirmative action, or immigration reform — may be. It’s not that such issues should be ignored — they should not be — but taken as a whole, they are not unifying demands around which to build a movement. We need to focus on big demands and big issues that benefit all but the ruling elites and that will fundamentally change the way the country operates,.</p>
<p>The rest of the changes that are needed will surely follow.</p>
<p>The author, arrested and jailed for occupying the Pentagon mall in October ’67, was a war resister and foot-soldier in the anti-war movement of the 1960s and 1970s.</p> | true | 4 | agree president donald trump disaster country proving pretty much every day since inauguration democrats progressive activists need decry trumps horrific actions ban immigrants including refugees seven majoritymuslim countries murder eightyearold american girl special forces raid yemen order us army corps engineers approve permit completion pipeline upstream standing rock sioux reservation nomination judge neil gorsuch antonin scalia clone fill late scalias seat supreme court blocking least opposing bad executive orders laws nominations course important situation republican party solid control houses congress also futile thus symbolic democrats lost control congress 2010 lost white house last november offering american voters real progressive alternative decades party elected officials washington dinos democrats name corporatists much republican opponents posing something different playing base things like support gay marriage support unenforceable purely aspirational paris climate agreement support forum well actually pretty short list think democrats lately really rates progressive recall president obama came office solid democratic majority houses congress came campaign vowed restore open constitutional government make easier unions organize end wars iraq afghanistan kickstart recessionmired economy burst major deficit spending none democratic congress none either obama democrats paid lack decisive progressive action losing congress two years later downhill ever since theyve lost white house unless party wakes realizes needs wholesale makeover form return new deal roots lose congressional elections 2018 lose presidential race 2020 along even state governorships statehouses currently 32 50 states wholly republican hands people said third parties chance us democratic party seems hellbent proving wrong becoming third party oneparty system republicans last major party standing rate things going could end next presidential election featuring republican nominee whether trump someone else debating democratic nominee wont make 15 polling cutoff eligible participate americans pretty low opinion parties days registered independents reason republicans including trump elected largely protest vote eight years donothing democrats democratic party ossified unlikely leadership democratic national committee changed especially time congressional elections 2018 likely see lame corporatist candidates running reelection means us progressive majority america organize movement outside democratic party built around demands could would create powerful force change see four big issues movement could built around work retirement security health care climate change peace military spending demands quite simple fair pay retirement security everyone anyone works fulltime job earn enough support family means need federal minimum wage 15 perhour annual adjustment inflation workers able union representation job majority workers company sign cards saying want one period social security pay benefits high enough retired people live decently benefits since clear companies longer offering pensions nobody wealthy earns enough save significant amount retirement medicare obama announced plan complicated end far costly ironically named affordable care act lied congress american people saying countries might socialized medical systems cheaper work well america experience systems would reform system way fact president well knew us long experience running canadianstyle singlepayer system government insurer bargains set prices charged doctors hospital treatment drugs system called medicare 65 order qualify britishttyle system national health doctors work salary government hospitals owned government called veterans hospital system veteran order get care even government makes hard meet eligibility requirements treatment combat climate change people aware earths climate changing rapidly farmers midwest southwest keenly aware things getting hotter drier fishermen along northeast coast know fish moving northward warmer seas ruin habitat floridians near coast longer buy new home insurance policies insurers see policies guaranteed losses dont want face sea levels rise dramatically alaskans watch tall stands pine stretch horizon suddenly become drunken forests trees growing atop ancient permafrost suddenly solid ground beneath melt away leaving balancing mud roots longer hold erect clear sentient american highschool understanding science climate kilter worse coming unless drastic measures taken reduce pumping carbon air measures must start immediately slash us military spending bring troops home us military accounts 13 trillion 57 discretionary spending figure generally hidden public adding budget mandated outlays social security benefits medicare misleading programs unlike military funded separate payroll taxes general taxation furthermore unlike social security medicare mandated benefits military spending wholly determined year congress based upon policies set government policies nuts country world spends much money either actual dollars percentage national budget trying dominate entire world according international institute strategic studies 1 2015 us spent four times china second biggest military budget spent remember chinas military mostly used domestic control given country still dictatorship almost nine times supposedly existential enemy russia spent russia year budgeted less military britain clearly outrageous us military endless wars navy armadas patrol every ocean 1000 bases around globe bankrupting us explains increasingly thirdworld status us terms education infrastructure transportation quality life us military must cut size refocused supposed defend america control world building movement around four big overarching issues mass demonstrations local organizing churches community social organizations unions among friends neighbors either force nearly moribund democratic party refocus revitalize lead establishment new party left take place model civil rights movement 1950s 1960s antiwar movement 1960s 1970s neither movements tied democratic party forced democratic party even extent republican party come accommodate demands building left progressive political alternative us doomed failure focus specific demands identity groups important issues like gay rights abortion rights affirmative action immigration reform may issues ignored taken whole unifying demands around build movement need focus big demands big issues benefit ruling elites fundamentally change way country operates rest changes needed surely follow author arrested jailed occupying pentagon mall october 67 war resister footsoldier antiwar movement 1960s 1970s | 889 |
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<p>WASHINGTON (AP) — The last time Congress passed a farm bill, Democrats had control of the House and the food stamp program was about half the size it is today.</p>
<p>That was five years ago.</p>
<p>Conservatives calling for an overhaul of the domestic food aid program will try to trim the nation’s nearly $80 billion grocery bill when the House weighs in on farm legislation in a few weeks. The Senate overwhelmingly voted Monday to expand subsidies for crop insurance and make small cuts to food stamps in a five-year, half-trillion dollar measure. But passage in the House isn’t expected to be so easy — or so bipartisan.</p>
<p>House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Monday that his chamber will take up its version of the farm bill later this month. He made clear his own dislike for generous farm subsidies included in the bill, saying his “concerns about our country’s farm programs are well-known.” But Boehner acknowledged that the rest of the chamber might not agree with him.</p>
<p>“If you have ideas on how to make the bill better, bring them forward,” Boehner said in a statement directed to his colleagues. “Let’s have the debate, and let’s vote on them.”</p>
<p>Both the House and Senate versions of the legislation cost almost $100 billion annually and expand some subsidies while eliminating others. The Senate version would end up saving about $2.4 billion a year on the farm and nutrition programs, including across-the-board cuts that took effect earlier this year, while the House version would save about $4 billion a year.</p>
<p>House consideration will come after more than a year’s delay. The Senate passed a similar version of its farm bill last year, but the House declined to take it up during an election year amid conflict over the amount to cut from food stamps, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. One in seven Americans — or about 47 million people — now uses the program.</p>
<p>The Senate bill would cut the food stamp program, now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, by about $400 million a year, or half a percent, and Senate Democrats have been reluctant to cut more. The farm bill approved by the House Agriculture Committee last month would cut the program by $2 billion a year, or a little more than 3 percent, and make it more difficult for some people to qualify.</p>
<p>In his statement Monday, Boehner signaled support for the House bill’s level of food stamp cuts, saying they are changes that “both parties know are necessary.” Other Republicans are expected to offer amendments to expand the cuts, setting up a potentially even more difficult resolution with the Senate version. At the same time, Democrats are expected to try and eliminate the cuts.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.nccendpoverty.org/index.php" type="external">National Council of Churches Poverty Initiative</a> issued a statement Tuesday, noting that the food stamp program has helped lift 4.7 million people out of poverty, including 2.1 million children. The group added that about half of those who are fed by SNAP are kids.</p>
<p>“Congress’ repeated decisions to cut SNAP are troubling examples of misplaced priorities. The economy is on a slow and unequal recovery. Today, more than three people are seeking jobs for every job opening available. Many of those job seekers are struggling parents. Meanwhile, the deficit has already been cut in half since 2010. It is strange that in 2013, the Congress continues to prioritize deficit reduction over and above dealing with the human crises of poverty and unemployment,”&#160;Shantha Ready Alonso, the group’s Poverty Initiative director, said in a statement.</p>
<p>“It is wrong to leave a legacy of debt to our children. But we will also be judged for relegating children to needless suffering today. Faith leaders know our elected officials have both the creativity and capability to reduce the deficit without increasing poverty or inequality. What is lacking is the political will to do so. I pray we will not see more actions from the Congress as short sighted and cruel as this one.”</p>
<p>Food stamps were added to the farm bill decades ago to gain urban votes for the rural measure, which sets policy for farm subsidies, programs to protect environmentally sensitive land and other rural development projects. But with the program’s exponential growth during the recent economic downturn, food stamps are now making passage harder.</p>
<p>“I expect it to come from all directions,” House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said last month, acknowledging the complications of moving the bill through his chamber.</p>
<p>On the Senate floor, senators rejected amendments on food stamp cuts, preserving the $400 million annual decrease. The bill’s farm-state supporters also fended off efforts to cut sugar, tobacco and other farm supports.</p>
<p>Senators looking to pare back subsidies did win one victory in the Senate, an amendment to reduce the government’s share of crop insurance premiums for farmers with adjusted gross incomes of more than $750,000. Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Tom Coburn, R-Okla., said their amendment would affect about 20,000 farmers.</p>
<p>Currently the government pays for an average 62 percent of crop insurance premiums and also subsidizes the companies that sell the insurance. The overall bill expands crop insurance for many crops and also creates a program to compensate farmers for smaller, or “shallow,” revenue losses before the paid insurance kicks in.</p>
<p>The crop insurance expansion is likely to benefit Midwestern corn and soybean farmers, who use crop insurance more than other farmers. The bill would also boost subsidies for Southern rice and peanut farmers, lowering the threshold for those farms to receive government help.</p>
<p>The help for rice and peanuts was not in last year’s bill but was added this year after the agriculture panel gained a new top Republican, Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran. Critics, including the former top Republican on the committee, Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts, said the new policy could guarantee that the rice and peanut farmers’ profits are average or above average.</p>
<p>The House has similar provisions expanding crop insurance and rice and peanut subsidies. Farm-state lawmakers say the expanded help for those farmers is necessary because they have traditionally relied on a $5 billion annual subsidy called direct payments that is eliminated in both bills.</p>
<p>Though the issue didn’t come up during the Senate debate, dairy programs could be contentious on the House floor. Both the Senate and House bills would overhaul dairy policy by creating a new insurance program for dairy producers, eliminating other dairy subsidies and price supports. The new policy includes a market stabilization program that could dictate production cuts when oversupply drives down prices.</p>
<p>Food companies that sell dairy products have said that market stabilization program could drive up milk prices, and Boehner last year called it “Soviet-style.” He reiterated those concerns in his statement Monday, saying he will support an amendment on the floor to challenge the proposed policy.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Equal Voice News contributed to this report.&#160;</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Contact author</a></p>
<p>&#160;&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Families</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Food Stamps</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Senate farm bill</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program</a></p> | true | 4 | 160 washington ap last time congress passed farm bill democrats control house food stamp program half size today five years ago conservatives calling overhaul domestic food aid program try trim nations nearly 80 billion grocery bill house weighs farm legislation weeks senate overwhelmingly voted monday expand subsidies crop insurance make small cuts food stamps fiveyear halftrillion dollar measure passage house isnt expected easy bipartisan house speaker john boehner rohio said monday chamber take version farm bill later month made clear dislike generous farm subsidies included bill saying concerns countrys farm programs wellknown boehner acknowledged rest chamber might agree ideas make bill better bring forward boehner said statement directed colleagues lets debate lets vote house senate versions legislation cost almost 100 billion annually expand subsidies eliminating others senate version would end saving 24 billion year farm nutrition programs including acrosstheboard cuts took effect earlier year house version would save 4 billion year house consideration come years delay senate passed similar version farm bill last year house declined take election year amid conflict amount cut food stamps known supplemental nutrition assistance program snap one seven americans 47 million people uses program senate bill would cut food stamp program known supplemental nutrition assistance program snap 400 million year half percent senate democrats reluctant cut farm bill approved house agriculture committee last month would cut program 2 billion year little 3 percent make difficult people qualify statement monday boehner signaled support house bills level food stamp cuts saying changes parties know necessary republicans expected offer amendments expand cuts setting potentially even difficult resolution senate version time democrats expected try eliminate cuts national council churches poverty initiative issued statement tuesday noting food stamp program helped lift 47 million people poverty including 21 million children group added half fed snap kids congress repeated decisions cut snap troubling examples misplaced priorities economy slow unequal recovery today three people seeking jobs every job opening available many job seekers struggling parents meanwhile deficit already cut half since 2010 strange 2013 congress continues prioritize deficit reduction dealing human crises poverty unemployment160shantha ready alonso groups poverty initiative director said statement wrong leave legacy debt children also judged relegating children needless suffering today faith leaders know elected officials creativity capability reduce deficit without increasing poverty inequality lacking political pray see actions congress short sighted cruel one food stamps added farm bill decades ago gain urban votes rural measure sets policy farm subsidies programs protect environmentally sensitive land rural development projects programs exponential growth recent economic downturn food stamps making passage harder expect come directions house agriculture committee chairman frank lucas rokla said last month acknowledging complications moving bill chamber senate floor senators rejected amendments food stamp cuts preserving 400 million annual decrease bills farmstate supporters also fended efforts cut sugar tobacco farm supports senators looking pare back subsidies win one victory senate amendment reduce governments share crop insurance premiums farmers adjusted gross incomes 750000 sens dick durbin dill tom coburn rokla said amendment would affect 20000 farmers currently government pays average 62 percent crop insurance premiums also subsidizes companies sell insurance overall bill expands crop insurance many crops also creates program compensate farmers smaller shallow revenue losses paid insurance kicks crop insurance expansion likely benefit midwestern corn soybean farmers use crop insurance farmers bill would also boost subsidies southern rice peanut farmers lowering threshold farms receive government help help rice peanuts last years bill added year agriculture panel gained new top republican mississippi sen thad cochran critics including former top republican committee kansas sen pat roberts said new policy could guarantee rice peanut farmers profits average average house similar provisions expanding crop insurance rice peanut subsidies farmstate lawmakers say expanded help farmers necessary traditionally relied 5 billion annual subsidy called direct payments eliminated bills though issue didnt come senate debate dairy programs could contentious house floor senate house bills would overhaul dairy policy creating new insurance program dairy producers eliminating dairy subsidies price supports new policy includes market stabilization program could dictate production cuts oversupply drives prices food companies sell dairy products said market stabilization program could drive milk prices boehner last year called sovietstyle reiterated concerns statement monday saying support amendment floor challenge proposed policy ___ equal voice news contributed report160 160 contact author 160160 families food stamps senate farm bill supplemental nutrition assistance program | 714 |
<p>The political arena leaves one no alternative, one must either be a dunce or a rogue.&#160;(Emma Goldman)</p>
<p>I was born in 1969, so the Cold War and the threat of nuclear annihilation were major themes in the political and emotional landscapes of my childhood. When the neighborhood kids got together, “nuclear war” was one of the games we played. This was in Omaha, Nebraska, and we were told that our city would be one of the first hit by the Russians due to the location of the Strategic Air Command nearby. This was taken as reassuring by some since it was assumed that in the utter horror of a post-nuclear exchange world, the survivors would “envy the dead” (in the famous words of&#160; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Kahn" type="external">Herman Kahn</a>).</p>
<p>Throughout the 70’s and 80’s, the Cold War was regularly referenced not just on the news, but in&#160; <a href="" type="internal">movies</a>,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">songs</a>&#160;and television. It was omnipresent and inescapable, a threat that never went away. Authority figures, including the nuns at my school, used it as a hammer to keep people in line. I hated it. I don’t think anyone enjoyed it except the arms manufacturers and politicians.</p>
<p>It was a great relief, then, when (as it seemed to me at the time) Gorbachev stepped back from the whole terrible business, and with the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, ended the Cold War. It felt like the world had been given a new lease on life, like taking a deep, free breath after years of suffocating and terrifying constriction.</p>
<p>So I was alarmed when Hillary Clinton started revving up the anti-Russia rhetoric during the presidential campaign in 2016. Don’t we have enough challenges to face in the world today without adding that one back into the mix?</p>
<p>Soon enough I was also angered as Democratic partisans fell into line and began parroting her. I’m not talking about DNC politicians here, but the rank and file. The “good liberals” who listen to NPR, read the New York Times and are proud of themselves for recycling and supporting gay marriage. The ones who didn’t make a peep about the brutality of US foreign policy for eight years because it was Obama who was ( <a href="" type="internal">literally</a>) calling the shots.</p>
<p>What was wrong with these people? I wondered. I knew many of them were old enough to remember the relentless dread of the Cold War. Were they willing to revive it just because Hillary said so? As it turns out—yes, unfortunately, they were.</p>
<p>Over the course of the campaign, the Russia line changed. As Wikileaks revealed more and more information that embarrassed Hillary and the DNC, it became necessary to slander both the organization and its founder, Julian Assange, by tying them into the Russia narrative. I watched as the liberal class that had cheered for Wikileaks a few years earlier took up anti-Assange messaging with religious fervor. “We’ve always been at war with Eastasia.” Time for&#160; <a href="http://www.intellectualtakeout.org/blog/heres-original-two-minutes-hate" type="external">Two Minutes Hate</a>.</p>
<p>The Russia story took another turn after the election, when the blame for Hillary’s loss was pinned on alleged Russian meddling (and on Jill Stein, and Sanders supporters, and the FBI,&#160;etc., etc…) Shocked Hillary fans were happy to jump on any and every excuse and pass each one around like gospel, regardless of whether they were true or even coherent. At this time, the Washington Post published&#160; <a href="" type="internal">a slanderous hit piece attempting to link alternative media to Russia</a>. “Fake News” was born, and&#160; <a href="https://www.newslogue.com/debate/277/CaitlinJohnstone" type="external">it bore the marks of a psy-op</a>.</p>
<p>From January through June of this year, I spent most of my time WiFi-less, either camping out in the desert or working on farms in the sticks and so I was repeatedly away from news for two to three weeks at a time. Whenever I logged back in to catch up between these gigs, I would be both surprised and disappointed to see that the Russia non-story was still a story, with only the angle of attack shifting as each approach wore itself out.</p>
<p>No evidence has yet to be offered. None. Zero. Zip. And regardless of that, we get the same shrill insistence from the liberal chattering class and their bots and their followers, who hang on and won’t let go. If only such persistence could be turned to other ends, like fighting racism, militarism or ecocide! I have been repeatedly disgusted to see so much propaganda spouted by people I’ve known for years who are “otherwise intelligent,” as they say (though my doubts about that characterization are growing).</p>
<p>One cannot take Russiagate seriously unless one sets aside all intellectual rigor. The theory only has credence within the arena of belief; it does not inhabit the world of facts. This is ironic considering the unremitting skepticism for “faith-based” ideas espoused within the very circles of educated liberals who refuse to let go of this shit.</p>
<p>No one seem cognizant of the size of the bite that’s been taken and how unchewable it is. That is to say, the people ferrying this crap are apparently oblivious that Russia-baiting could lead to very serious, planet-killing results. Do you really want to be poking a nuclear-armed bear with a sharp stick? ‘Cuz that’s what you’re doing!</p>
<p>From my non-partisan perspective, it is obvious that Russiagate both plays cover for and justifies the increasingly belligerent behavior of the US toward Russia. Contrast how many people know about NATO’s provocative military maneuvers on Russia’s borders (see&#160; <a href="" type="internal">this</a>,&#160; <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/nato-shows-firepower-poland-u-s-allies-worry-about-russia-n714156" type="external">this</a>,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">this</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="http://popularmilitary.com/f-35s-participate-nato-exercises-near-russian-border/" type="external">this</a>) with the number who have heard the baseless accusations of “election hacking.” Imagine if Russia were holding military exercises along the Rio Grande in Mexico or establishing bases in Quebec. How would the US be reacting? With a flurry of drones,&#160; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GBU-43/B_MOAB" type="external">MOABs</a>&#160;and white phosphorous, you can be sure. All things considered, I would say that Russia is being admirably restrained, but we cannot count on that lasting forever. Everyone has a breaking point.</p>
<p>If an explanation is needed for why Hillary lost besides the fact that she was a profoundly unpalatable politician with unpopular positions, then there’s a simple one, and journalist Greg Palast <a href="" type="internal">&#160;wrote about it before the election took place</a>. To wit, many thousands of voters were purposely and improperly removed from voter rolls in 27 states, including swing states that cost Hillary the electoral college. The purged voters were overwhelmingly people of color, the majority of whom would’ve voted Democratic. After the election,&#160; <a href="http://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/" type="external">Palast showed how enough voters were excluded in the right states for Trump to win</a>.</p>
<p>The method that was&#160;used for kicking off these voters is called the Interstate Voter Registration Crosscheck Program, or just “Crosscheck” for short. The corporate media has almost universally disregarded this story, though it is highly scandalous. So have the Democratic partisans. Thus the racism of the voter purge itself is compounded by the racism of ignoring it. Push the blame overseas so as not to deal with the real trouble at home.&#160; <a href="http://www.thesaurus.com/browse/disgusted" type="external">I need an entire thesaurus entry to describe how I feel about this</a>.</p>
<p>There’s very few people on the Left who are willing to take on Russiagate as the pack of revolving lies that it is. You’ll be accused of supporting Trump or of being a shill for Putin if you do. We’ve all heard of “crowdsourcing”—well, this is “crowdstoning”. It’s ugly, but that’s partisanship for you. It’s never pretty.</p>
<p>The issues facing the world right now are of deadly gravity. Environmental degradation and the threat of runaway climate change, for example, represent existential threats to life on the planet. We’ve got to focus on the serious stuff if we are going to survive. That means dropping Russiagate immediately. Continuing to pursue it would be an exercise in extreme immaturity and unforgivable irresponsibility. Risking war with a nuclear power rather than facing political reality is insanely reckless. C’mon, partisan Dems—grow up and drop this crap!</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Recommended journalists: <a href="https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone" type="external">Caitlin Johnstone</a>&#160;– “rogue journalist” in Australia. See her comprehensive&#160; <a href="https://medium.com/@caityjohnstone/the-big-fat-compendium-of-russiagate-debunkery-4278a753a3af" type="external">Big Fat Compendium Of Russiagate Debunkery</a>. <a href="http://freedomrider.blogspot.com/" type="external">Margaret Kimberly</a>&#160;– editor and contributor for the&#160; <a href="https://blackagendareport.com/" type="external">Black Agenda Report</a> <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/tag/robert-parry/" type="external">Robert Parry</a>&#160;– investigative reporter, and others at&#160; <a href="https://consortiumnews.com/" type="external">Consortium News</a></p>
<p>See also:</p> | true | 4 | political arena leaves one alternative one must either dunce rogue160emma goldman born 1969 cold war threat nuclear annihilation major themes political emotional landscapes childhood neighborhood kids got together nuclear war one games played omaha nebraska told city would one first hit russians due location strategic air command nearby taken reassuring since assumed utter horror postnuclear exchange world survivors would envy dead famous words of160 herman kahn throughout 70s 80s cold war regularly referenced news in160 movies160 songs160and television omnipresent inescapable threat never went away authority figures including nuns school used hammer keep people line hated dont think anyone enjoyed except arms manufacturers politicians great relief seemed time gorbachev stepped back whole terrible business dismantling berlin wall ended cold war felt like world given new lease life like taking deep free breath years suffocating terrifying constriction alarmed hillary clinton started revving antirussia rhetoric presidential campaign 2016 dont enough challenges face world today without adding one back mix soon enough also angered democratic partisans fell line began parroting im talking dnc politicians rank file good liberals listen npr read new york times proud recycling supporting gay marriage ones didnt make peep brutality us foreign policy eight years obama literally calling shots wrong people wondered knew many old enough remember relentless dread cold war willing revive hillary said turns outyes unfortunately course campaign russia line changed wikileaks revealed information embarrassed hillary dnc became necessary slander organization founder julian assange tying russia narrative watched liberal class cheered wikileaks years earlier took antiassange messaging religious fervor weve always war eastasia time for160 two minutes hate russia story took another turn election blame hillarys loss pinned alleged russian meddling jill stein sanders supporters fbi160etc etc shocked hillary fans happy jump every excuse pass one around like gospel regardless whether true even coherent time washington post published160 slanderous hit piece attempting link alternative media russia fake news born and160 bore marks psyop january june year spent time wifiless either camping desert working farms sticks repeatedly away news two three weeks time whenever logged back catch gigs would surprised disappointed see russia nonstory still story angle attack shifting approach wore evidence yet offered none zero zip regardless get shrill insistence liberal chattering class bots followers hang wont let go persistence could turned ends like fighting racism militarism ecocide repeatedly disgusted see much propaganda spouted people ive known years otherwise intelligent say though doubts characterization growing one take russiagate seriously unless one sets aside intellectual rigor theory credence within arena belief inhabit world facts ironic considering unremitting skepticism faithbased ideas espoused within circles educated liberals refuse let go shit one seem cognizant size bite thats taken unchewable say people ferrying crap apparently oblivious russiabaiting could lead serious planetkilling results really want poking nucleararmed bear sharp stick cuz thats youre nonpartisan perspective obvious russiagate plays cover justifies increasingly belligerent behavior us toward russia contrast many people know natos provocative military maneuvers russias borders see160 this160 this160 this160and160 number heard baseless accusations election hacking imagine russia holding military exercises along rio grande mexico establishing bases quebec would us reacting flurry drones160 moabs160and white phosphorous sure things considered would say russia admirably restrained count lasting forever everyone breaking point explanation needed hillary lost besides fact profoundly unpalatable politician unpopular positions theres simple one journalist greg palast 160wrote election took place wit many thousands voters purposely improperly removed voter rolls 27 states including swing states cost hillary electoral college purged voters overwhelmingly people color majority wouldve voted democratic election160 palast showed enough voters excluded right states trump win method was160used kicking voters called interstate voter registration crosscheck program crosscheck short corporate media almost universally disregarded story though highly scandalous democratic partisans thus racism voter purge compounded racism ignoring push blame overseas deal real trouble home160 need entire thesaurus entry describe feel theres people left willing take russiagate pack revolving lies youll accused supporting trump shill putin weve heard crowdsourcingwell crowdstoning ugly thats partisanship never pretty issues facing world right deadly gravity environmental degradation threat runaway climate change example represent existential threats life planet weve got focus serious stuff going survive means dropping russiagate immediately continuing pursue would exercise extreme immaturity unforgivable irresponsibility risking war nuclear power rather facing political reality insanely reckless cmon partisan demsgrow drop crap recommended journalists caitlin johnstone160 rogue journalist australia see comprehensive160 big fat compendium russiagate debunkery margaret kimberly160 editor contributor the160 black agenda report robert parry160 investigative reporter others at160 consortium news see also | 736 |
<p>Daniel Ellsberg once said that he got the Pentagon Papers out to impress a woman. In his book Secrets Duncan Campbell at the Guardian said this about Ellsberg's story.</p>
<p>"It is also, in a way, a love story about how he fell for his wife, Patricia Marx, and her pivotal role in ensuring that the papers were leaked."</p>
<p>In the forth Episode of The Newsroom, Reese, the president of the company that owns the network ACN, is explaining to the female producer MacKenzie, why they can't run a big story. The new network owner's lawyers had advised him that the Justice department would hit ACN with "crippling criminal fines."</p>
<p>MacKenzie calls this horseshit and starts shouting about what everyone gave up for this story. Will, the anchor, might go to jail to protect the source. If the story doesn't get out she feels that it was all for nothing. Reese tells her why he thinks Will has been so willing to stand up for journalism for this story.</p>
<p>Reese: "Since the day you got here Will has been having a battle with himself, is he a real journalist or is he just good on TV? Did you ever think he might be doing this for you?"</p>
<p>Mac: "I've got his ring on my finger he's not doing this to win my approval."</p>
<p>Reese: "Then it would be the first thing I've seen him do that wasn't. "</p>
<p>All this season I've been watching The Newsroom to see what Sorkin can tell me about some of the pressures that real people might feel in his fantasy network newsroom.</p>
<p>I then compare what I see that meshes with the experiences of myself and others in the corporate world, the world of media and in our personal lives. My goal is to figure out how we might use those same pressures on the real network news to our benefit.</p>
<p>The Will/ MacKenzie dynamic is something that might be hard to replicate with the journalists at the cable and network news. Lots of people assume that the network news people have no values. But I don't think that is correct. I think that they are constantly trying to balance competing values and looking for excuses or reasons to follow one over the other. They tell themselves things like 'live to fight another day" when they back away from a story.</p>
<p>I wonder, do any of the Sunday show hosts or network news anchors have a MacKenzie in their lives? Do they care what anyone thinks about their journalism? Are they looking for an excuse to not do the best they can, or a reason to do it?</p>
<p>In this episode the broadcast version of the Snowden-like story is squashed because of nervous lawyers' opinion and the phrase, "crippling criminal fines."</p>
<p>Of course they could be wrong, but it is a standard acceptable excuse to a corporation to not run a story. Blame the government! It will cost us too much! They have internalized their duty is to the shareholders, not to the public. (Go ahead and say it's <a href="http://youtu.be/cNSx1RdPl04?t=30s" type="external">all about money, money, money,</a> but remember, MSNBC didn't care about the money when it canceled the highly rated and profitable Donahue show. <a href="http://my.firedoglake.com/spocko/2010/05/12/rupert-and-me-i-question-the-newscorp-ceo-about-subsidizing-glenn-beck-5/" type="external">News Corp kept the money losing Glenn Beck Show</a> on the air with no advertisers. )</p>
<p>Sorkin has shown us that money, "crippling fines," have the biggest impact on the network's ultimately behavior.</p>
<p>If the parent corporation really wanted to make money on Sunday mornings shows they wouldn't have Chuck Todd talking to President McCain every week. They have other reasons for keeping those shows on.</p>
<p>Sure we can beg Chris Matthews, George Stephanopolis or Chuck Todd to honor their inner MacKenzie, but they might not have one. Instead, why don't we push the institutional investors, AKA, "The Almighty Shareholders" on how unprofitable the Sunday shows and the news divisions are?</p>
<p>Then the parent corp will start talking about its duty and quoting from the ignored FCC charters about "serving the public." They would be making long speeches about how essential the news is and how it doesn't have to make money.</p>
<p>When the TV networks decided that serving the public came after serving the shareholder, they became vulnerable to the same whims of advertisers as a sitcom. When they saw being "the press" as a way to make money from the access privileges and didn't feel the need to fulfill their other press duties, they became vulnerable to Wall Street's demand for quarterly profits.</p>
<p>In the end of the episode we see how people who try to hang onto their values in the network TV world do it. MacKenzie gets the story to a principled journalist, a 71 year old woman at the AP. The network that should have benefited from the scoop, ACN, won't. No guts, no glory.</p>
<p>Charlie, the network news president, thinks he has found someone who shares his values who will buy the network. But it turns out he was suckered by another rich person using the upcoming sale of the network as leverage for her own purposes.</p>
<p>I think this is Sorkin's way of reminding us that money people always have their own agenda that is only tangentially related to what a company actually does. They will say they are on the side of quality or schlock, as long as they get what they want at that time.</p>
<p>If "The Almighty Stockholders" don't buy into the fundamental difference of owning a "press entity" vs owning a Content Creator, they will let "The most trusted name in news" become a slogan and nothing more.</p>
<p>Network News Brands and their value.</p>
<p>Is the news network brand damaged when they fail to identify who is paying retired generals pushing drone strikes and bombings? Is their paid compensation from Raytheon or General Dynamics relevant? Or doesn't it matter if "everyone is doing it?" Does that mean failing to identify the drug companies behind doctors is next? Would that hurt their brand? Why identify one funding source and not the other?</p>
<p>Sorkin is also showing us that individuals can maintain their values in an organization that says it can't afford to have them. Right now the individuals pay the price. At one point in this episode MacKenzie challenges the source to flee to Venezuelan or face a grand jury instead the ACN staff. The source responds,</p>
<p>"Do you really think the price for telling the truth should be that high?"</p>
<p>MacKenzie shakes her head, "No I don't."</p>
<p>Who is paying the price for the failure of our network news? We know who benefits.</p>
<p>To quote <a href="http://youtu.be/aFQFB5YpDZE?t=3m15s" type="external">John Stewart to the hosts of Crossfire,</a> "Stop. Stop, stop, stop, stop. Stop hurting America."</p> | true | 4 | daniel ellsberg said got pentagon papers impress woman book secrets duncan campbell guardian said ellsbergs story also way love story fell wife patricia marx pivotal role ensuring papers leaked forth episode newsroom reese president company owns network acn explaining female producer mackenzie cant run big story new network owners lawyers advised justice department would hit acn crippling criminal fines mackenzie calls horseshit starts shouting everyone gave story anchor might go jail protect source story doesnt get feels nothing reese tells thinks willing stand journalism story reese since day got battle real journalist good tv ever think might mac ive got ring finger hes win approval reese would first thing ive seen wasnt season ive watching newsroom see sorkin tell pressures real people might feel fantasy network newsroom compare see meshes experiences others corporate world world media personal lives goal figure might use pressures real network news benefit mackenzie dynamic something might hard replicate journalists cable network news lots people assume network news people values dont think correct think constantly trying balance competing values looking excuses reasons follow one tell things like live fight another day back away story wonder sunday show hosts network news anchors mackenzie lives care anyone thinks journalism looking excuse best reason episode broadcast version snowdenlike story squashed nervous lawyers opinion phrase crippling criminal fines course could wrong standard acceptable excuse corporation run story blame government cost us much internalized duty shareholders public go ahead say money money money remember msnbc didnt care money canceled highly rated profitable donahue show news corp kept money losing glenn beck show air advertisers sorkin shown us money crippling fines biggest impact networks ultimately behavior parent corporation really wanted make money sunday mornings shows wouldnt chuck todd talking president mccain every week reasons keeping shows sure beg chris matthews george stephanopolis chuck todd honor inner mackenzie might one instead dont push institutional investors aka almighty shareholders unprofitable sunday shows news divisions parent corp start talking duty quoting ignored fcc charters serving public would making long speeches essential news doesnt make money tv networks decided serving public came serving shareholder became vulnerable whims advertisers sitcom saw press way make money access privileges didnt feel need fulfill press duties became vulnerable wall streets demand quarterly profits end episode see people try hang onto values network tv world mackenzie gets story principled journalist 71 year old woman ap network benefited scoop acn wont guts glory charlie network news president thinks found someone shares values buy network turns suckered another rich person using upcoming sale network leverage purposes think sorkins way reminding us money people always agenda tangentially related company actually say side quality schlock long get want time almighty stockholders dont buy fundamental difference owning press entity vs owning content creator let trusted name news become slogan nothing network news brands value news network brand damaged fail identify paying retired generals pushing drone strikes bombings paid compensation raytheon general dynamics relevant doesnt matter everyone mean failing identify drug companies behind doctors next would hurt brand identify one funding source sorkin also showing us individuals maintain values organization says cant afford right individuals pay price one point episode mackenzie challenges source flee venezuelan face grand jury instead acn staff source responds really think price telling truth high mackenzie shakes head dont paying price failure network news know benefits quote john stewart hosts crossfire stop stop stop stop stop stop hurting america | 566 |
<p>In the days since the U.S. Green Party’s (GP) Feb. 1 announcement that two candidates – Dr. Jill Stein and comedian Roseanne Barr – had filed the necessary paperwork to meet party requirements for its presidential ballot, the Massachusetts physician has emerged as the odds-on favorite.</p>
<p>Even Barr, who insists her candidacy is serious, accepts Stein as the nominee apparent. On Feb. 2, the&#160;National Journal&#160;reported a Barr tweet: “I will run until the convention in July in Baltimore – I fully expect Jill Stein 2b the nominee &amp; I will support her, but til then – I’ll serve.”</p>
<p>Stein won 90 percent of the vote in the party’s first state nominating convention in Ohio on Feb. 4 over Barr and two other declared candidates – Kent Mesplay and Harley Mikkelson, according to a&#160; <a href="http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=478" type="external">GP news release</a>. A nationwide Feb. 1-2 Green Party Watch (GPW) poll produced similarly one-sided results, with Stein attracting 68 percent of the vote over the same field.</p>
<p>“There is clearly a very significant amount of support in the Green Party for Jill Stein, who has been a Green Party organizer since 2000,” GPW said in a&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Feb. 2 post</a>. GPW is an independent news site, not connected to the Green Party, according to its&#160; <a href="http://www.greenpartywatch.org/about/" type="external">About page</a>.</p>
<p>Neither Mesplay, an air quality inspector with San Diego County, nor Mikkleson, who is retired from the Michigan Departments of Community Health, Education, and Human Service, have qualified to seek the party’s nomination at its July convention in Baltimore. Mesplay is often mentioned as Stein’s running mate.</p>
<p>Stein has been a Green Party candidate for state office since 2002 and an advocate for single-payer, universal health care, the GPW post said. She has been building a network of campaign support since November 2011, is actively fundraising, has hired three staff and campaigned in California, Colorado, Delaware, Washington D.C., Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, Wisconsin and other states.</p>
<p>She has spoken at Occupy Wall Street encampments from Boston to Sacramento, including a gathering in Indianapolis on Super Bowl Sunday, just days after Indiana governor and emergent Republican presidential candidate Mitch Daniels signed a bill making the state the 23d “right-to-work” in the nation.</p>
<p>“She rallied with union members from across the Midwest and met with the Indiana Greens as they begin petitioning to place Jill Stein’s name on the 2012 ballot,” her campaign said in a&#160; <a href="" type="internal">website post</a>&#160;titled “Decisive victory for Jill Stein in Ohio Green presidential primary.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>In addition to Stein, the piece cited two Tennessee Democrats who have challenged Tea Party Republican, First District Congressman Phil Roe, who garnered 80 percent of the vote just two years ago. The district has been Republican since 1881.</p>
<p>The veteran Lexington, Mass., activist’s shot, Becker’s post suggests, is long, but not quite as distant as the Tennesseeans’. Indeed, Stein’s decision to enter the race was based on an impressive showing in a three-way vote between a Green ticket of Stein/Mesplay, a Democratic Obama/Clinton and Republican Romney/Ryan in&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Western Illinois University’s mock election</a>&#160;just three months ago.</p>
<p>Stein gave a six-minute presentation at the November 2011 WIU vote, which is “often cited as an early predictor of the general election,” Becker wrote. The Greens expected to poll less than 5 percent.</p>
<p>“Instead, Stein finished in third place with a surprising 27 percent of the total vote, behind President Obama at 39 percent and Mitt Romney’s 33 percent,” she said. “Buoyed by these results, she decided to run to win.”</p>
<p>The Western Illinois exercise, Becker wrote, demonstrated that, “when the voices of alternative political representatives are amplified, people listen.”</p>
<p>Stein believes that “third parties are not the sideshow, they are the real show,” Becker wrote in her post, and her&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Green New Deal</a>&#160;for the 99 percent appeals to marginalized voters of every political persuasion.</p>
<p>“In Stein’s words, ‘We don’t need to run America like a business or like the military,'” Becker said. “‘We need to run America like a democracy.'”</p>
<p>The campaign doesn’t benefit from Super-PACs funded by billionaires, she continued. “She relies on ordinary people, who contact her online to donate small sums or volunteer. Her grassroots campaign focuses on getting a ballot line in all 50 states and fundraising to meet public financing requirements.”</p>
<p>Stein is seeking “a threshold of $5,000 per state,” Becker wrote. “This candidate isn’t beholden to special interests.”</p>
<p>Becker places Stein’s long-shot bid in the even-desperation category, calling her a “desperate doctor” who understood the science behind today’s obesity, asthma and cancer epidemics.</p>
<p>“She worked with advocacy groups and at the state and local level challenging environmental policies,” her&#160;HuffPo&#160;blog continued. “As a presidential candidate, she is also concerned with the nation’s high levels of poverty, foreclosure, unemployment, incarceration and the uninsured, as well as our low corporate tax rates and corporate tax loopholes.”</p>
<p>Re-emphasizing the resonance of Stein’s message, Becker said her presentations at Occupy events, community colleges and small-scale gatherings are received as though “she were handing out candy.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>The&#160; <a href="" type="internal">National Journal</a>&#160;post “Comedian Roseanne Barr Running for President,” published eight days after she filed with the Federal Election Commission, exemplified the reaction.</p>
<p>“Barr, a comedian known for her raunchy standup acts, a tone-deaf performance of the National Anthem and for her role in the 80s-era sitcom&#160;Roseanne, is seeking the Green Party’s nomination,” the publication said in an unattributed post on Feb. 2.</p>
<p>The California Secretary of State’s inclusion of Barr on the state’s 2012 presidential ballot prompted a Feb. 7 “Opinion LA”&#160; <a href="" type="internal">blog post</a>&#160;by&#160;Los Angeles Times&#160;staffer Dan Turner titled “Roseanne for pres: A chicken in every bucket, a pie in every face.”</p>
<p>Recalling a 2005&#160;faux&#160;run for California governor by actor Warren Beatty, Turner contemplated the conundrums high-profile candidates pose for journalists.</p>
<p>“This kind of thing poses a challenge for the media because it’s hard to know how seriously to take celebrity candidates,” he wrote. “Obviously, some are real contenders — Ronald Reagan showed that Americans were willing to elect a movie star as president, and dozens of others, from Schwarzenegger to former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura, have proved that fame goes a long way in swaying voters.”</p>
<p>Turner divided celebrity candidates into three categories: publicity hounds, satirists and real political hopefuls, placing Barr squarely in the first. “She has no discernible campaign apparatus, zero political experience and very, very little credibility as a policy expert.”</p>
<p>Some Greens, but not all, share the cynicism, as evidenced by comments on the Jan. 26&#160; <a href="" type="internal">GPW post</a>&#160;“Roseanne Barr to Seek Green Party Presidential Nomination.”</p>
<p>Some welcomed her ideas and urged a sense of openness. “She may be a comedian, but she has some good ideas,” one commenter wrote. “She is for the working people.”</p>
<p>But others worried she would bring ridicule to the party. “I have nothing against Roseanne as an entertainer, but this is stupid,” another said. “I am a big supporter of the Green Party, but to advance they need serious candidates who are policy wonks and science-oriented, not celebrities.”</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>“The President is wrong to have embraced the corrupt corporate politics of&#160;Citizens United, and that’s what you’re doing when you start using and consorting with Super PACs,” Stein’s post said.</p>
<p>Obama is not the same man who ran in 2008, she added. “Whomever Barack Obama may have once been, that man is not occupying the White House today.”</p>
<p>In a related statement, Stein criticized Obama’s foreign policy for undermining democracy in the Indian Ocean island nation Republic of Maldives.</p>
<p>“This week, as Obama was embracing corporate money, his State Department welcomed the military coup in the Maldives, which removed from office democratically elected President Nasheed, one of world’s most vocal critics of climate change,” she said. “Big oil is happy to see him gone. First Honduras, now the Maldives. So much for a foreign policy that promotes democracy and human rights.”</p>
<p>Back home in Massachusetts on Feb. 9, the Northampton-based&#160; <a href="http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=14643" type="external">Valley Advocate</a>&#160;published a glowing story on Stein’s candidacy.</p>
<p>“Stein, who lives in Lexington, is well known in the commonwealth, where she has run for governor and other statewide posts, gaining more support – and more respect – with each campaign,” the story said.</p>
<p>Stein, the article said, is a rare person who embarks upon impossible political journeys without seeming quixotic.</p>
<p>“Intelligent, informed and devoid of careerist or financial motives, she can’t be lightly dismissed,” the&#160;Advocate&#160;article said. “When she loses elections, she still wins influence and raises the Green Party’s profile.”</p>
<p>Steven Higgs can be reached at&#160; <a href="mailto:editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com" type="external">editor@BloomingtonAlternative.com</a>.</p> | true | 4 | days since us green partys gp feb 1 announcement two candidates dr jill stein comedian roseanne barr filed necessary paperwork meet party requirements presidential ballot massachusetts physician emerged oddson favorite even barr insists candidacy serious accepts stein nominee apparent feb 2 the160national journal160reported barr tweet run convention july baltimore fully expect jill stein 2b nominee amp support til ill serve stein 90 percent vote partys first state nominating convention ohio feb 4 barr two declared candidates kent mesplay harley mikkelson according a160 gp news release nationwide feb 12 green party watch gpw poll produced similarly onesided results stein attracting 68 percent vote field clearly significant amount support green party jill stein green party organizer since 2000 gpw said a160 feb 2 post gpw independent news site connected green party according its160 page neither mesplay air quality inspector san diego county mikkleson retired michigan departments community health education human service qualified seek partys nomination july convention baltimore mesplay often mentioned steins running mate stein green party candidate state office since 2002 advocate singlepayer universal health care gpw post said building network campaign support since november 2011 actively fundraising hired three staff campaigned california colorado delaware washington dc illinois maryland massachusetts new york virginia wisconsin states spoken occupy wall street encampments boston sacramento including gathering indianapolis super bowl sunday days indiana governor emergent republican presidential candidate mitch daniels signed bill making state 23d righttowork nation rallied union members across midwest met indiana greens begin petitioning place jill steins name 2012 ballot campaign said a160 website post160titled decisive victory jill stein ohio green presidential primary addition stein piece cited two tennessee democrats challenged tea party republican first district congressman phil roe garnered 80 percent vote two years ago district republican since 1881 veteran lexington mass activists shot beckers post suggests long quite distant tennesseeans indeed steins decision enter race based impressive showing threeway vote green ticket steinmesplay democratic obamaclinton republican romneyryan in160 western illinois universitys mock election160just three months ago stein gave sixminute presentation november 2011 wiu vote often cited early predictor general election becker wrote greens expected poll less 5 percent instead stein finished third place surprising 27 percent total vote behind president obama 39 percent mitt romneys 33 percent said buoyed results decided run win western illinois exercise becker wrote demonstrated voices alternative political representatives amplified people listen stein believes third parties sideshow real show becker wrote post her160 green new deal160for 99 percent appeals marginalized voters every political persuasion steins words dont need run america like business like military becker said need run america like democracy campaign doesnt benefit superpacs funded billionaires continued relies ordinary people contact online donate small sums volunteer grassroots campaign focuses getting ballot line 50 states fundraising meet public financing requirements stein seeking threshold 5000 per state becker wrote candidate isnt beholden special interests becker places steins longshot bid evendesperation category calling desperate doctor understood science behind todays obesity asthma cancer epidemics worked advocacy groups state local level challenging environmental policies her160huffpo160blog continued presidential candidate also concerned nations high levels poverty foreclosure unemployment incarceration uninsured well low corporate tax rates corporate tax loopholes reemphasizing resonance steins message becker said presentations occupy events community colleges smallscale gatherings received though handing candy the160 national journal160post comedian roseanne barr running president published eight days filed federal election commission exemplified reaction barr comedian known raunchy standup acts tonedeaf performance national anthem role 80sera sitcom160roseanne seeking green partys nomination publication said unattributed post feb 2 california secretary states inclusion barr states 2012 presidential ballot prompted feb 7 opinion la160 blog post160by160los angeles times160staffer dan turner titled roseanne pres chicken every bucket pie every face recalling 2005160faux160run california governor actor warren beatty turner contemplated conundrums highprofile candidates pose journalists kind thing poses challenge media hard know seriously take celebrity candidates wrote obviously real contenders ronald reagan showed americans willing elect movie star president dozens others schwarzenegger former minnesota gov jesse ventura proved fame goes long way swaying voters turner divided celebrity candidates three categories publicity hounds satirists real political hopefuls placing barr squarely first discernible campaign apparatus zero political experience little credibility policy expert greens share cynicism evidenced comments jan 26160 gpw post160roseanne barr seek green party presidential nomination welcomed ideas urged sense openness may comedian good ideas one commenter wrote working people others worried would bring ridicule party nothing roseanne entertainer stupid another said big supporter green party advance need serious candidates policy wonks scienceoriented celebrities president wrong embraced corrupt corporate politics of160citizens united thats youre start using consorting super pacs steins post said obama man ran 2008 added whomever barack obama may man occupying white house today related statement stein criticized obamas foreign policy undermining democracy indian ocean island nation republic maldives week obama embracing corporate money state department welcomed military coup maldives removed office democratically elected president nasheed one worlds vocal critics climate change said big oil happy see gone first honduras maldives much foreign policy promotes democracy human rights back home massachusetts feb 9 northamptonbased160 valley advocate160published glowing story steins candidacy stein lives lexington well known commonwealth run governor statewide posts gaining support respect campaign story said stein article said rare person embarks upon impossible political journeys without seeming quixotic intelligent informed devoid careerist financial motives cant lightly dismissed the160advocate160article said loses elections still wins influence raises green partys profile steven higgs reached at160 editorbloomingtonalternativecom | 887 |
<p>Jane Barlow/PA Wire via AP</p>
<p />
<p>When Donald Trump takes center stage at the first Republican presidential primary debate Thursday night, he will likely begin his remarks by issuing the standard&#160;thank you to Fox News for hosting the event.&#160;But he really should be thanking the conservative news network for a whole lot more than that.</p>
<p>It’s no secret that Fox News both boosts the GOP and wields significant influence over the party—the so-called Fox News Effect.&#160;It covers the news that Republicans want covered long after the mainstream media have&#160;moved on (Benghazi! IRS targeting! Planned Parenthood tapes!). But the network, where many Republican voters get most of their news, is also partly responsible for setting the party’s agenda and boosting&#160;its major players, including Trump. And by helping Trump maneuver to the front of the GOP pack and putting him in the spotlight Thursday night, Fox may be doing significant damage to the party it has long favored.</p>
<p>When the Republican National Committee assigned Fox the first of up to 12 primary debates, it also gave the network the ability to choose the debate format and qualification criteria. (The RNC <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-we-improved-the-gop-debates-1437949856" type="external">says</a> that because it is neither an 501(c)(3) nor a media outlet, it is not legally allowed to set the terms of the debate under federal election law.) Fox decided to cap participation from the large GOP field of candidates at 10, determined by who was polling the highest—according to the polls Fox chose to use. The candidate with the highest poll numbers <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/trump-will-occupy-center-stage-flanked-by-walker-and-jeb-bush-b99550671z1-320707681.html" type="external">will be center stage</a>Thursday night. Trump’s numbers are <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/07/on-trump-murdoch-has-lost-control-of-ailes-fox.html" type="external">nearly double</a> those of Jeb Bush and Scott Walker, who occupy the No. 2 and No. 3 spots, respectively.</p>
<p>Several of the candidates on the debate stage Thursday night owe much of their success to the network, either as frequent guests or as hosts of Fox News shows. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee&#160;built his brand with the help of <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/mike-huckabee-quits-tv-show-explore-2016-run" type="external">his own&#160;Fox News show</a>. Ohio Gov. John Kasich hosted “From the Heartland with John Kasich” on Fox from 2001 to 2007. And then there’s Trump, who has been a frequent guest for over a decade,&#160;giving his thoughts on the news of the day, including his own past flirtations with running for president. Recently, New York magazine’s Gabriel Sherman <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2015/07/on-trump-murdoch-has-lost-control-of-ailes-fox.html" type="external">reported</a> that Fox News CEO Roger Ailes “is pushing Fox to defend Trump’s most outlandish comments.” In June, Fox gave Trump more coverage than any other candidate, according to Sherman.</p>
<p>“I don’t think there’s any question that they essentially made Trump, because going back several years now they would invite him on quite often to discuss political issues, and in the process made him a political figure,” says Bruce Bartlett, a former Reagan administration official and a critic of the Republican Party’s recent&#160;ideological move to the right. “Trump is sort of the most obvious example in which Fox is exercising outside influence on the Republican electoral process. I think without Fox, he would not be running, let alone a serious candidate.”</p>
<p>Kevin Arceneaux, a political scientist at Temple University, says Fox’s influence over the debate—and its role in making Trump a front-runner—is part of a larger trend of the declining power of parties in choosing their own nominees. In the 2008 book “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Party-Decides-Presidential-Nominations/dp/0226112373" type="external">The Party Decides</a>,” four political scientists demonstrated that for the past several decades, the candidate in both parties favored by the&#160;party’s elites—members of Congress, governors, and influential local party leaders—always won the nomination. The parties, the book argues, “scrutinize and winnow the field before voters get involved, attempt to build coalitions behind a single preferred candidate, and sway voters to ratify their choice.” And since the 1970s, they have been successful. But Arceneaux believes that may change this year as parties cede power to the media and the billionaire donors who have emerged since 2010, when the Supreme Court struck down limits on outside election spending in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. “The parties still set the rules for how nominations take place,” he says. “But they have a bit more competition at the table saying who should be the standard bearer for the party.”</p>
<p>To Bartlett, the question is not whether Fox is influential, but whether its influence is good or bad for the GOP. In <a href="http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2604679" type="external">an academic paper</a> earlier this year, Bartlett posited that the network, which once gave voice to the party’s agenda, may now be directing that agenda to the detriment of the party. He called it a “self-brainwashing” that has pushed the party to the right, making it harder for Republicans to win presidential elections.</p>
<p>The RNC has <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/how-we-improved-the-gop-debates-1437949856" type="external">voiced support</a> for how Fox News has organized the first debate, but the setup could inadvertently highlight the party’s weaknesses.&#160;Making Trump the face of the party Thursday night might hurt the GOP “if only because of his toxic effect on Latinos,” a critical voting block in several swing states, says Bartlett. Trump alienated many Latinos when&#160;he suggested undocumented immigrants from Mexico are “rapists.”&#160;</p>
<p>“If I was a Democrat, I’d just stand back—I’d do everything in my power to make Trump the face of the Republican Party,” Bartlett says.&#160;“Not that they have to make much effort.”</p>
<p>Whatever the outcome for the GOP, it’s&#160;all good news for Fox. The network is, after all, a for-profit business, and putting Trump on stage will drive up viewership. “I’ll be watching,” says Bartlett. “I wouldn’t be watching if Trump wasn’t there, I guarantee you.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | jane barlowpa wire via ap donald trump takes center stage first republican presidential primary debate thursday night likely begin remarks issuing standard160thank fox news hosting event160but really thanking conservative news network whole lot secret fox news boosts gop wields significant influence partythe socalled fox news effect160it covers news republicans want covered long mainstream media have160moved benghazi irs targeting planned parenthood tapes network many republican voters get news also partly responsible setting partys agenda boosting160its major players including trump helping trump maneuver front gop pack putting spotlight thursday night fox may significant damage party long favored republican national committee assigned fox first 12 primary debates also gave network ability choose debate format qualification criteria rnc says neither 501c3 media outlet legally allowed set terms debate federal election law fox decided cap participation large gop field candidates 10 determined polling highestaccording polls fox chose use candidate highest poll numbers center stagethursday night trumps numbers nearly double jeb bush scott walker occupy 2 3 spots respectively several candidates debate stage thursday night owe much success network either frequent guests hosts fox news shows former arkansas gov mike huckabee160built brand help own160fox news show ohio gov john kasich hosted heartland john kasich fox 2001 2007 theres trump frequent guest decade160giving thoughts news day including past flirtations running president recently new york magazines gabriel sherman reported fox news ceo roger ailes pushing fox defend trumps outlandish comments june fox gave trump coverage candidate according sherman dont think theres question essentially made trump going back several years would invite quite often discuss political issues process made political figure says bruce bartlett former reagan administration official critic republican partys recent160ideological move right trump sort obvious example fox exercising outside influence republican electoral process think without fox would running let alone serious candidate kevin arceneaux political scientist temple university says foxs influence debateand role making trump frontrunneris part larger trend declining power parties choosing nominees 2008 book party decides four political scientists demonstrated past several decades candidate parties favored the160partys elitesmembers congress governors influential local party leadersalways nomination parties book argues scrutinize winnow field voters get involved attempt build coalitions behind single preferred candidate sway voters ratify choice since 1970s successful arceneaux believes may change year parties cede power media billionaire donors emerged since 2010 supreme court struck limits outside election spending citizens united v federal election commission parties still set rules nominations take place says bit competition table saying standard bearer party bartlett question whether fox influential whether influence good bad gop academic paper earlier year bartlett posited network gave voice partys agenda may directing agenda detriment party called selfbrainwashing pushed party right making harder republicans win presidential elections rnc voiced support fox news organized first debate setup could inadvertently highlight partys weaknesses160making trump face party thursday night might hurt gop toxic effect latinos critical voting block several swing states says bartlett trump alienated many latinos when160he suggested undocumented immigrants mexico rapists160 democrat id stand backid everything power make trump face republican party bartlett says160not make much effort whatever outcome gop its160all good news fox network forprofit business putting trump stage drive viewership ill watching says bartlett wouldnt watching trump wasnt guarantee | 525 |
<p>Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle/AP</p>
<p>New Mexico’s top education official is misleading the public about how his agency crafted a series of controversial changes to the state’s science standards, according to a former state employee who worked on the standards and later quit in protest.</p>
<p>Last month, as <a href="" type="internal">Mother Jones first reported</a>, the state’s public education agency released a plan for updating its science education guidelines for grades K-12. The draft language drew heavily on the <a href="http://nextgenscience.org" type="external">Next Generation Science Standards</a> (NGSS), which <a href="http://www.nextgenscience.org/faqs" type="external">were developed</a> over several years by national science and teaching associations, as well as by an array of other scientists, teachers, professors, engineers, cognitive experts, and business leaders. At least 18 states and the District of Columbia <a href="http://ngss.nsta.org/About.aspx" type="external">have adopted</a> NGSS to teach science to their students.</p>
<p>But there were some eyebrow-raising differences in New Mexico’s guidelines. The proposed standards deleted language from the NGSS referencing the <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p31/a375576" type="external">“4.6-billion-year”</a> history of the Earth, omitted&#160;entirely <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p34/a375644" type="external">one mention</a> of evolution, and <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p31/a375577" type="external">eliminated</a> <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p34/a375642" type="external">references</a> to human-caused global warming. In one case, the proposed standards <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p31/a375577" type="external">would replace</a> language about the “rise in global temperatures” with a reference to the supposed “fluctuation” in global temperatures. The new standards have not yet gone into effect; they’ll be debated at a public meeting later this month.</p>
<p>News of the anti-science language sparked a backlash in a state that is home to such renowned institutions as <a href="http://www.lanl.gov/" type="external">Los Alamos National Laboratory</a> and the <a href="http://www.sandia.gov/contact_us/index.html" type="external">Sandia National Laboratories</a>. New Mexico’s two US senators <a href="https://medium.com/@nmsenator1/science-education-essential-to-nms-future-ad91dd84c1e3" type="external">wrote</a> that they were “disturbed” at their state’s actions.&#160;Glenn Branch, the deputy director of the&#160; <a href="http://ncse.com/about" type="external">National Center for Science Education</a>,&#160;said the changes were “evidently intended to placate creationists and climate change deniers.”</p>
<p>Christopher Ruszkowski, the head of New Mexico’s Public Education Department, <a href="" type="external">shot back</a> at critics by saying that his agency’s proposed changes—including those that fly in the face of <a href="https://climate.nasa.gov/vital-signs/global-temperature/" type="external">peer-reviewed science</a> and <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-science-figured-out-the-age-of-the-earth/" type="external">long-accepted facts</a>—resulted from input by “a bunch of different groups,” among them “business groups, civic groups, teacher groups, superintendents.” He wouldn’t specify who the groups were but&#160; <a href="" type="external">said</a> the process that went into writing the controversial proposed standards was “how PED does business.”</p>
<p>But that’s not how it happened, according to <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-galyas-45172433/" type="external">Lesley Galyas</a>, a former state employee who was in charge of PED’s efforts to revamp its outdated science standards until late last year, when she resigned. Galyas, who served four years as the math and science bureau chief at the department, said her job in part entailed overseeing teachers’ groups, focus groups, and a math and science advisory committee, all with the aim of bringing New Mexico’s standards in line with the latest research on science and teaching.</p>
<p>In an interview with Mother Jones, Galyas&#160;described an attempt by “one or two people” working “behind closed doors” to politicize how science is taught in the state. She was reluctant to speak about her time at PED, but she said the directive to alter the standards came from her superiors. One of the officials involved, she says, was Ruszkowski, who was then a <a href="http://ped.state.nm.us/ped/PEDDocs/Master_Directory_by_Name.xlsx" type="external">deputy secretary</a>.</p>
<p>“They wanted me to personalize [NGSS] for New Mexico, and then more requests [for changes] came out of it,” she recalls. “I didn’t feel comfortable with it.” According to Galyas,&#160;she wasn’t allowed to share the changes with others in her department as they were being debated internally.</p>
<p>When asked why she believed her bosses sought the changes, Galyas replied: “They were really worried about creationists and the oil companies.”</p>
<p>A Public Education Department spokeswoman did not respond to a detailed set of questions for this story.</p>
<p>Galyas, whose <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lesley-galyas-45172433/" type="external">LinkedIn profile lists</a>&#160;a doctorate in science curriculum from New Mexico State University, says she fought against the changes internally. “I warned them that the school district in Los Alamos and the teachers would reject them,” she says. “I told them that it’s going to backfire.” In the end, she quit her job at PED rather than go along with the requests made by her superiors. “I felt I had a moral obligation to leave my position,” she says.</p>
<p>This isn’t the first time Galyas has spoken publicly about her time at PED and the controversy over the state’s science standards. In February,&#160;while the standards were still being developed,&#160;she read a brief statement during a state House of Representatives hearing on <a href="https://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/17%20Regular/bills/house/HB0211.pdf" type="external">a bill</a> that would have required PED to adopt NGSS without significant changes. Galyas told lawmakers that before she left the department, she had received numerous letters from industry officials, teachers, superintendents, and associations of scientists and science teachers urging the state to adopt NGSS.</p>
<p>“Toward the end of my tenure at the PED, I was tasked to edit and change some of the language in the standards to make them politically sanitized,” she said. “My request is that the Next Generation Science Standards be&#160;adopted as written in the whole as the experts wrote them. And not be piecemealed.”</p>
<p>The bill went on to pass the state House and Senate but <a href="https://www.nmlegis.gov/Legislation/Legislation?Chamber=H&amp;LegType=B&amp;LegNo=211&amp;year=17" type="external">was vetoed</a> by <a href="" type="internal">Gov. Susana Martinez</a>, a Republican now in her second term. Martinez <a href="http://krwg.org/post/martinez-appoints-christopher-ruszkowski-cabinet-secretary-public-education-department" type="external">elevated</a>&#160;Ruszkowski, a former social studies teacher and staffer in Delaware’s education department, to be New Mexico’s education secretary in August.</p>
<p>In September, seven months after Galyas first raised the alarm, PED released its proposal. The <a href="" type="internal">new standards</a> borrowed substantial language from the NGSS, but the changes were hard to miss. In addition to removing language about rising temperatures, evolution, and the age of the Earth, the proposal <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/4044070-New-Mexico-PED-Proposed-STEM-Standards-September.html#document/p31/a375645" type="external">would add</a> a new standard declaring that middle school students should be able to “describe the benefits associated with technologies related to the local industries and energy production.”</p>
<p>The new proposed standards have led to calls for protests. The Santa Fe school board voted to organize a <a href="http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/santa-fe-school-board-oks-science-teach-in-for-state/article_64d24592-90d1-5f35-acf7-6a6cd5ba8681.html" type="external">teach-in</a> for state education officials. Outside experts involved in advising PED criticized the process. The <a href="https://www.lanlfoundation.org/" type="external">Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation</a>, an independent nonprofit that funds education programs in northern New Mexico, sent a letter to PED last week <a href="https://www.lanlfoundation.org/news/science-standards-letter-to-ped" type="external">charging that</a>&#160;“the collective expertise and voice of [PED’s math and science advisory] council was ignored, with no involvement in the revisions leading to these objectionable changes proposed by the PED.”</p>
<p>PED says it will <a href="http://www.ped.state.nm.us/ped/PubNotDocs/2017/6.29.10_PEDnotice_Final.docx" type="external">hold a public hearing</a> on its proposed science standards on October 16 in Santa Fe, the state capital.</p> | true | 4 | steve gonzaleshouston chronicleap new mexicos top education official misleading public agency crafted series controversial changes states science standards according former state employee worked standards later quit protest last month mother jones first reported states public education agency released plan updating science education guidelines grades k12 draft language drew heavily next generation science standards ngss developed several years national science teaching associations well array scientists teachers professors engineers cognitive experts business leaders least 18 states district columbia adopted ngss teach science students eyebrowraising differences new mexicos guidelines proposed standards deleted language ngss referencing 46billionyear history earth omitted160entirely one mention evolution eliminated references humancaused global warming one case proposed standards would replace language rise global temperatures reference supposed fluctuation global temperatures new standards yet gone effect theyll debated public meeting later month news antiscience language sparked backlash state home renowned institutions los alamos national laboratory sandia national laboratories new mexicos two us senators wrote disturbed states actions160glenn branch deputy director the160 national center science education160said changes evidently intended placate creationists climate change deniers christopher ruszkowski head new mexicos public education department shot back critics saying agencys proposed changesincluding fly face peerreviewed science longaccepted factsresulted input bunch different groups among business groups civic groups teacher groups superintendents wouldnt specify groups but160 said process went writing controversial proposed standards ped business thats happened according lesley galyas former state employee charge peds efforts revamp outdated science standards late last year resigned galyas served four years math science bureau chief department said job part entailed overseeing teachers groups focus groups math science advisory committee aim bringing new mexicos standards line latest research science teaching interview mother jones galyas160described attempt one two people working behind closed doors politicize science taught state reluctant speak time ped said directive alter standards came superiors one officials involved says ruszkowski deputy secretary wanted personalize ngss new mexico requests changes came recalls didnt feel comfortable according galyas160she wasnt allowed share changes others department debated internally asked believed bosses sought changes galyas replied really worried creationists oil companies public education department spokeswoman respond detailed set questions story galyas whose linkedin profile lists160a doctorate science curriculum new mexico state university says fought changes internally warned school district los alamos teachers would reject says told going backfire end quit job ped rather go along requests made superiors felt moral obligation leave position says isnt first time galyas spoken publicly time ped controversy states science standards february160while standards still developed160she read brief statement state house representatives hearing bill would required ped adopt ngss without significant changes galyas told lawmakers left department received numerous letters industry officials teachers superintendents associations scientists science teachers urging state adopt ngss toward end tenure ped tasked edit change language standards make politically sanitized said request next generation science standards be160adopted written whole experts wrote piecemealed bill went pass state house senate vetoed gov susana martinez republican second term martinez elevated160ruszkowski former social studies teacher staffer delawares education department new mexicos education secretary august september seven months galyas first raised alarm ped released proposal new standards borrowed substantial language ngss changes hard miss addition removing language rising temperatures evolution age earth proposal would add new standard declaring middle school students able describe benefits associated technologies related local industries energy production new proposed standards led calls protests santa fe school board voted organize teachin state education officials outside experts involved advising ped criticized process los alamos national laboratory foundation independent nonprofit funds education programs northern new mexico sent letter ped last week charging that160the collective expertise voice peds math science advisory council ignored involvement revisions leading objectionable changes proposed ped ped says hold public hearing proposed science standards october 16 santa fe state capital | 611 |
<p>Politicians normally like to be praised, but I have to wonder how President Obama feels having gotten accolades from such unaccustomed sources as Ari Fleischer, John McCain and the Wall Street Journal.</p>
<p>As a presidential candidate, Obama rightly called the military commissions at Guantanamo “an enormous failure.” On his second day in office, he suspended the commissions for 120 days and announced plans to close the detention center at Guantanamo within a year.</p>
<p>But this month, the Obama administration announced that it would resume trials of Guantanamo detainees by military commissions, albeit under new rules that would offer defendants greater legal protections. The additional rules prohibit the introduction of evidence obtained through cruel treatment, tighten the rules on hearsay evidence, and allow detainees greater choice in selecting defense lawyers. While the revised commissions improve somewhat on the model used by the Bush administration, they still fall far short of providing the due process guarantees found in U.S. federal courts.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, Republicans are jubilant. Portraying Obama’s reversal as a belated embrace of the Bush administration’s war on terror, their tone is unabashedly triumphant.</p>
<p>“With some minor changes, he really is following the same path President Bush pursued,” declared Fleischer. “He has now decided to preserve a tribunal process that will be identical in every material way to the one favored by Dick Cheney,” crowed the Wall Street Journal.</p>
<p>This is not change we can believe in.</p>
<p>Military Commissions So Far</p>
<p>The Obama tribunals will be round three in what has been a long, ad hoc, and entirely unnecessary process. The first set of post-9/11 commissions, established by executive order in 2001, were struck down by the Supreme Court in the 2006 case of Hamdan v. Rumsfeld. Congress reinstituted the system via the Military Commissions Act of 2006, and the commissions obtained their first conviction (by guilty plea) in March 2007.</p>
<p>David Hicks, an Australian former kangaroo skinner, served nine months of a seven-year suspended sentence, most of which was spent in his home country. He is now a free man.</p>
<p>Military commission charges are currently pending against 20 defendants, but only two other defendants have been convicted by the commissions: Salim Hamdan, Osama bin Laden’s former driver, and Ali Hamza al-Bahlul, bin Laden’s self-proclaimed media secretary. Hamdan was sentenced to five-and-a-half years of imprisonment, but was granted 61 months’ credit for time served and is now free in his native Yemen. Al-Bahlul was sentenced to life in prison after refusing to mount a defense.</p>
<p>While none of the detainees tried before the commissions have been acquitted, Hamdan was found not guilty of some of the most serious charges against him.</p>
<p>Tinkering with the Bush Model</p>
<p>The proposed changes to the military commissions are improvements, but they tinker with the basic model rather than repudiate it. Notably, the very purpose of the commissions was to permit trials that would not be bound by the due process protections available to defendants in federal courts, and this remains true today.</p>
<p>An inherent problem with the commissions is their lack of independence. Being part of the larger military structure, they are vulnerable to improper executive branch influence and control.</p>
<p>Another issue of concern is the commissions’ continued reliance on hearsay evidence. Although some defenders of the commissions have pointed to international tribunals’ relatively permissive rules on hearsay, a crucial distinction is that the triers of fact in such tribunals are judges – who know to properly discount the weight of hearsay – not laypersons, who do not.</p>
<p>The previous set of military commissions was beset with problems that resulted from starting a system from scratch. Defendants and their legal counsel could never be confident about the rules of procedure, which were ad hoc and untested, making the preparation of a defense difficult. For instance, the system in place to provide discovery to defendants left defense counsel without access to critical – and in some cases possibly exculpatory – evidence. Many issues were subject to legal challenge, resulting in long and unnecessary delays.</p>
<p>The U.S. federal courts, by contrast, have procedures that have already withstood years of litigation. And although critics assert that trials in U.S. courts would jeopardize national security by exposing sensitive intelligence information, the courts have carefully crafted rules to protect sensitive information from becoming public.</p>
<p>The federal court system also has a long history of providing fair trials in difficult cases. Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, implicated in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and Zacarias Moussaoui, implicated in the 9/11 attacks, were both tried and convicted in the federal courts. During the seven-year period when military commissions prosecuted three terrorism suspects, the federal courts tried more than 145 terrorism cases.</p>
<p>Even if the revived military commissions are improved dramatically, they will be deeply tainted by the moral and political baggage of the old commissions. The unhappy history of the commissions virtually guarantees that, in future trials, the unfairness of the proceedings will distract from the gravity of the crimes being adjudicated.</p>
<p>Preventive Detention?</p>
<p>All in all, defenders of the Bush administration’s misguided counterterrorism policies have good reason to exult. Yet liberals who refuse to be discouraged might perceive at least one possible silver lining in President Obama’s decision to rely on the commissions. Because of the commissions’ looser rules, the Department of Justice may end up prosecuting people before the commissions whom they would not have tried to prosecute in the federal courts. Importantly, this could mean that fewer people end up in a purported “third category” of detainee — those who are said to be impossible to prosecute but too dangerous to release, and who might face indefinite preventive detention.</p>
<p>Reinstating military commissions is a terrible misstep, but continuing the Bush administration’s policy of detention without trial would be worse. Let’s hope the Wall Street Journal never gets the chance to commend Obama for that.</p>
<p>JOANNE MARINER is a human rights lawyer living in Paris.</p> | true | 4 | politicians normally like praised wonder president obama feels gotten accolades unaccustomed sources ari fleischer john mccain wall street journal presidential candidate obama rightly called military commissions guantanamo enormous failure second day office suspended commissions 120 days announced plans close detention center guantanamo within year month obama administration announced would resume trials guantanamo detainees military commissions albeit new rules would offer defendants greater legal protections additional rules prohibit introduction evidence obtained cruel treatment tighten rules hearsay evidence allow detainees greater choice selecting defense lawyers revised commissions improve somewhat model used bush administration still fall far short providing due process guarantees found us federal courts unsurprisingly republicans jubilant portraying obamas reversal belated embrace bush administrations war terror tone unabashedly triumphant minor changes really following path president bush pursued declared fleischer decided preserve tribunal process identical every material way one favored dick cheney crowed wall street journal change believe military commissions far obama tribunals round three long ad hoc entirely unnecessary process first set post911 commissions established executive order 2001 struck supreme court 2006 case hamdan v rumsfeld congress reinstituted system via military commissions act 2006 commissions obtained first conviction guilty plea march 2007 david hicks australian former kangaroo skinner served nine months sevenyear suspended sentence spent home country free man military commission charges currently pending 20 defendants two defendants convicted commissions salim hamdan osama bin ladens former driver ali hamza albahlul bin ladens selfproclaimed media secretary hamdan sentenced fiveandahalf years imprisonment granted 61 months credit time served free native yemen albahlul sentenced life prison refusing mount defense none detainees tried commissions acquitted hamdan found guilty serious charges tinkering bush model proposed changes military commissions improvements tinker basic model rather repudiate notably purpose commissions permit trials would bound due process protections available defendants federal courts remains true today inherent problem commissions lack independence part larger military structure vulnerable improper executive branch influence control another issue concern commissions continued reliance hearsay evidence although defenders commissions pointed international tribunals relatively permissive rules hearsay crucial distinction triers fact tribunals judges know properly discount weight hearsay laypersons previous set military commissions beset problems resulted starting system scratch defendants legal counsel could never confident rules procedure ad hoc untested making preparation defense difficult instance system place provide discovery defendants left defense counsel without access critical cases possibly exculpatory evidence many issues subject legal challenge resulting long unnecessary delays us federal courts contrast procedures already withstood years litigation although critics assert trials us courts would jeopardize national security exposing sensitive intelligence information courts carefully crafted rules protect sensitive information becoming public federal court system also long history providing fair trials difficult cases sheikh omar abdelrahman implicated 1993 world trade center bombing zacarias moussaoui implicated 911 attacks tried convicted federal courts sevenyear period military commissions prosecuted three terrorism suspects federal courts tried 145 terrorism cases even revived military commissions improved dramatically deeply tainted moral political baggage old commissions unhappy history commissions virtually guarantees future trials unfairness proceedings distract gravity crimes adjudicated preventive detention defenders bush administrations misguided counterterrorism policies good reason exult yet liberals refuse discouraged might perceive least one possible silver lining president obamas decision rely commissions commissions looser rules department justice may end prosecuting people commissions would tried prosecute federal courts importantly could mean fewer people end purported third category detainee said impossible prosecute dangerous release might face indefinite preventive detention reinstating military commissions terrible misstep continuing bush administrations policy detention without trial would worse lets hope wall street journal never gets chance commend obama joanne mariner human rights lawyer living paris | 584 |
<p>James S. Henry is an investigative economist and lawyer, a Global Justice Fellow at Yale University, and a Senior Advisor at the Tax Justice Network. Previously, James served as Chief Economist at the international consultancy firm McKinsey &amp; Co. As an investigative journalist his work has appeared in numerous publications like Forbes, The Nation and The New York Times.</p>
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<p /> KIM BROWN: Welcome to The Real News Network in Baltimore. I'm Kim Brown.
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<p /> Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was heavily involved in working for a Russian oligarch, and for the government of Vladimir Putin about ten years ago, according to an Associated Press report that was released on Wednesday. The report details how Manafort received $10 million from Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska who is also a close ally of Vladimir Putin's.
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<p /> Now, in exchange, Manafort is said to have helped Deripaska obtain visas to the U.S. and worked on a plan to promote Russian interests in the former So,viet republics. White House spokesperson Sean Spicer responded to the AP report by saying that Manafort's links to Russia are decades old and have nothing to do with his brief service as Trump's campaign manager.
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<p /> Joining us to talk about this latest development is James Henry. James is a leading economist, attorney and investigative journalist who has been investigating Donald Trump's economic ties to Russian oligarchs.
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<p /> James, we appreciate you joining us. Thank you so much for being here.
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<p />JAMES HENRY: Good to be with you.
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<p />KIM BROWN: What is the significance of this latest AP report because we already knew that Manafort was tied to the former pro-Russian government of the Ukraine, which is why he was removed as Trump's campaign manager, so what is new about this latest report from AP?
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<p />JAMES HENRY: Well, here we have the second one of two campaign managers... I mean, Manafort was Trump's campaign manager and he was a significant player, not just a minor figure in the Trump campaign up until his dismissal last summer. And then his business partner, Rick Davis, was John McCain's campaign manager back in 2008.
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<p />So, here we have two Republican presidential campaign managers in a row here, that, except for Romney, that were, turns out, both of them were on the take from not just a Ukrainian oligarch that nobody's ever heard of, or president of the Ukraine, but someone who was very close to President Putin, very wealthy Russian oligarch. Deripaska is his name. And this is a fellow that Paul Manafort was reportedly taking $10 million per year from 2006 to 2009, after having proposed in June of 2005 to help Russia really combat its bad image around the planet. And, you know, proposing really, to help run a PR campaign effectively on behalf of President Putin.
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<p /> So, I think, you know, the FBI is going to have to examine this fellow very closely. But what I know about Deripaska is from another case that I've studied, which is that involving Bobby Levinson who has disappeared in Iran about ten years ago. It turns out that when the FBI was looking for him, they turned to Deripaska to try to find him. And Deripaska is a very well connected guy in the sense of lots of Mafia-type connections, and he actually turned to some Canadian business associates and was working for a while with the FBI in order to get these visas that Manafort apparently was involved in getting for him. He was trying to locate Bobby Levinson in Iran based on his connections in Iran.
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<p /> So, what I want to know from Manafort is were you involved in basically the search for Bobby Levinson? And, by the way, why do the FBI turn to someone with such peculiar connections when we know that Levinson was one of the leading experts in the United States on Russian organized crime, and none of the people around Deripaska or Putin would've had any love lost for Bobby Levinson.
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<p />KIM BROWN: Interesting. And when we were talking about Sean Spicer's reaction to being asked about Paul Manafort and his connection to this Associated Press report...
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<p />JAMES HENRY: Yeah.
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<p />KIM BROWN: ...I mean, Sean Spicer basically tried to make it sound as if Paul Manafort was, like, an intern on the campaign. He was just handing out t-shirts. Like, he didn't have a huge role.
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<p />JAMES HENRY: Yeah, you know... they are running away from the story as fast as possible. I mean, today, you had Nunes, the Chairman of the House Intel Committee reversing himself and saying, hey, by the way, there was probably collateral intelligence, incidental intelligence, picking up Trump team people talking to Russian diplomats in the fall.
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<p /> You know, Trump tweeted then saying that, oh, this confirms my theory about wiretapping. It does no such thing. I mean those were normal kinds of monitoring activities that the NSA always does with the leading Russian diplomats just to protect against their recruitment of U.S. spies. And so this... Nunes has just reversed himself two days ago. He was saying there was no evidence at all of any such connections.
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<p />KIM BROWN: And also not to mention that there was a story recently that was just a refresher story, as it were, about the Russian gambling ring that was busted in Trump Tower. I believe it was 2010. I may have to double-check on the year, but I think that was a case that Preet Bharara, the former U.S. Attorney General of New York, did prosecute. So,, Trump Tower has been under surveillance.
<p />
<p />JAMES HENRY: Well, it turns out that his leading campaign manager was getting ten million bucks a year, and was talking to his proposal to Deripaska had talked about significantly influencing public opinion in Western countries, it seems to be consistent with what we think went on in the 2016 election. And that's a lot of money per year to be flashing around. It raises the question of who else in the Republican Party got money from the former Soviet Union, or from Russians.
<p />
<p /> We do know that Senator Mitch McConnell, for example, got a $1 million donation from Viktor Vekselberg's business partner, Leo Blavatnik, back in October. Blavatnik's a former Russian 'garch. There seems to be a kind of an odor here of at least, at the very least, being willing to turn a blind eye to businesspeople that we know have all kinds of unsavory connections. I mean, nobody gets to be a 'garch like Deripaska without having Putin's nod these days.
<p />
<p /> That being the case, I think there's a risk that the U.S. center-left is basically obsessed with this story and is looking for kind of a magic bullet solution to the Trump administration. That's going to distract us from going back to work doing the kind of organizing at the grassroots level that's necessary for the 2018 elections. We need to fight and get ready for all of the issues that are on the table with respect to that – with respect to climate change, Obamacare, the social programs that are being stripped, the outrageous increases in the defense budget.
<p />
<p /> There is not probably going to be, I think, down the road, unless the FBI comes up with some direct evidence of these contacts, you know, a special prosecutor or a Watergate-type committee coming out of this Republican-controlled Congress. I think that's kind of wishful thinking.
<p />
<p />KIM BROWN: But so much of this is historic, James. I mean, in terms of the policy proposals that Trump is putting forward, those are historic, the cuts that he's making to different federal agencies and social programs. But also... I mean, this level of scandalaciousness – 'scuse me for making up the word ...
<p />
<p />JAMES HENRY: Yeah. No, that's a good one. I like that one.
<p />
<p />KIM BROWN: I mean this is some scandalous stuff. I mean he's only been in office not even 100 days. So, I wanted to ask you, you know, as someone that has studied U.S. history and our political system and our process, historically, is there something that you can compare this to? We hear a lot of Watergate comparisons, but Watergate doesn't kind of fit because there wasn't a foreign power associated with Watergate. So, is this kind of like Iran-Contra? Like, is there something in our history that we can compare what we're experiencing right now?
<p />
<p />JAMES HENRY: Yeah. I would say this is on a whole new level, and it's partly just due to the fact that this is the first kind of global business guy that we've elected president of the United States, so there are bound to be dozens of conflicts of interest, just from that fact alone.
<p />
<p /> Secondly, we've had a guy in office who's basically amoral about who he does business with. I mean, we have him... all of his... many of his projects were failures, but, you know, in the process of coming up with them he was basically willing to take money from all kinds of oligarchs. I mean, the Trump SoHo in New York, Trump Tower in Toronto, Panama Ocean Club, the Baku project, these are all riddled with dodgy investors.
<p />
<p /> Third, I think, you know, what we may also realize is that Putin may have buyer regret here. He has got to be worried about getting what he asked for. Trump is on a mission to increase the defense budget. He wants NATO to spend 2% of GDP. These are probably things that Trump... that Putin is not going to like, and he hasn't had the sanctions reversed yet, either.
<p />
<p /> Because in effect, Trump has been put on the spot here. I mean, he's probably bending over backwards to appear to be tough on Russia, and so that may backfire from the standpoint of what Putin was after. I mean the main thing that Trump has delivered to Putin so far is on climate change and energy prices. He's basically sustained the carbon bubble for at least four more years. But aside from that, I mean, Putin may be regretting some of the assistance he gave to the Trump campaign back in the fall.
<p />
<p />KIM BROWN: Well, we're certainly not at a loss of Russian connections to Donald Trump and his inner circle and those connected to his campaign, so as you said, James, we're probably going to see more of these stories coming forward in the future.
<p />
<p /> We've been speaking with James Henry. James is a leading economist, attorney and investigative journalist. We appreciate you speaking to us today, James. Thanks.
<p />
<p />JAMES HENRY: You're quite welcome.
<p />
<p />KIM BROWN: And thank you for watching The Real News Network.
<p />
<p />-------------------------
<p />END | true | 4 | james henry investigative economist lawyer global justice fellow yale university senior advisor tax justice network previously james served chief economist international consultancy firm mckinsey amp co investigative journalist work appeared numerous publications like forbes nation new york times kim brown welcome real news network baltimore im kim brown former trump campaign manager paul manafort heavily involved working russian oligarch government vladimir putin ten years ago according associated press report released wednesday report details manafort received 10 million russian billionaire oleg deripaska also close ally vladimir putins exchange manafort said helped deripaska obtain visas us worked plan promote russian interests former soviet republics white house spokesperson sean spicer responded ap report saying manaforts links russia decades old nothing brief service trumps campaign manager joining us talk latest development james henry james leading economist attorney investigative journalist investigating donald trumps economic ties russian oligarchs james appreciate joining us thank much james henry good kim brown significance latest ap report already knew manafort tied former prorussian government ukraine removed trumps campaign manager new latest report ap james henry well second one two campaign managers mean manafort trumps campaign manager significant player minor figure trump campaign dismissal last summer business partner rick davis john mccains campaign manager back 2008 two republican presidential campaign managers row except romney turns take ukrainian oligarch nobodys ever heard president ukraine someone close president putin wealthy russian oligarch deripaska name fellow paul manafort reportedly taking 10 million per year 2006 2009 proposed june 2005 help russia really combat bad image around planet know proposing really help run pr campaign effectively behalf president putin think know fbi going examine fellow closely know deripaska another case ive studied involving bobby levinson disappeared iran ten years ago turns fbi looking turned deripaska try find deripaska well connected guy sense lots mafiatype connections actually turned canadian business associates working fbi order get visas manafort apparently involved getting trying locate bobby levinson iran based connections iran want know manafort involved basically search bobby levinson way fbi turn someone peculiar connections know levinson one leading experts united states russian organized crime none people around deripaska putin wouldve love lost bobby levinson kim brown interesting talking sean spicers reaction asked paul manafort connection associated press report james henry yeah kim brown mean sean spicer basically tried make sound paul manafort like intern campaign handing tshirts like didnt huge role james henry yeah know running away story fast possible mean today nunes chairman house intel committee reversing saying hey way probably collateral intelligence incidental intelligence picking trump team people talking russian diplomats fall know trump tweeted saying oh confirms theory wiretapping thing mean normal kinds monitoring activities nsa always leading russian diplomats protect recruitment us spies nunes reversed two days ago saying evidence connections kim brown also mention story recently refresher story russian gambling ring busted trump tower believe 2010 may doublecheck year think case preet bharara former us attorney general new york prosecute trump tower surveillance james henry well turns leading campaign manager getting ten million bucks year talking proposal deripaska talked significantly influencing public opinion western countries seems consistent think went 2016 election thats lot money per year flashing around raises question else republican party got money former soviet union russians know senator mitch mcconnell example got 1 million donation viktor vekselbergs business partner leo blavatnik back october blavatniks former russian garch seems kind odor least least willing turn blind eye businesspeople know kinds unsavory connections mean nobody gets garch like deripaska without putins nod days case think theres risk us centerleft basically obsessed story looking kind magic bullet solution trump administration thats going distract us going back work kind organizing grassroots level thats necessary 2018 elections need fight get ready issues table respect respect climate change obamacare social programs stripped outrageous increases defense budget probably going think road unless fbi comes direct evidence contacts know special prosecutor watergatetype committee coming republicancontrolled congress think thats kind wishful thinking kim brown much historic james mean terms policy proposals trump putting forward historic cuts hes making different federal agencies social programs also mean level scandalaciousness scuse making word james henry yeah thats good one like one kim brown mean scandalous stuff mean hes office even 100 days wanted ask know someone studied us history political system process historically something compare hear lot watergate comparisons watergate doesnt kind fit wasnt foreign power associated watergate kind like irancontra like something history compare experiencing right james henry yeah would say whole new level partly due fact first kind global business guy weve elected president united states bound dozens conflicts interest fact alone secondly weve guy office whos basically amoral business mean many projects failures know process coming basically willing take money kinds oligarchs mean trump soho new york trump tower toronto panama ocean club baku project riddled dodgy investors third think know may also realize putin may buyer regret got worried getting asked trump mission increase defense budget wants nato spend 2 gdp probably things trump putin going like hasnt sanctions reversed yet either effect trump put spot mean hes probably bending backwards appear tough russia may backfire standpoint putin mean main thing trump delivered putin far climate change energy prices hes basically sustained carbon bubble least four years aside mean putin may regretting assistance gave trump campaign back fall kim brown well certainly loss russian connections donald trump inner circle connected campaign said james probably going see stories coming forward future weve speaking james henry james leading economist attorney investigative journalist appreciate speaking us today james thanks james henry youre quite welcome kim brown thank watching real news network end | 931 |
<p>Even for a sport with <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/07/21/the-wwe-is-too-scared-to-go-lgbt.html" type="external">fictional back stories and sensational sagas</a>, , it’s been a week of unscripted lunacy and violence involving <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/04/01/my-bizarre-night-at-wrestlemania-is-the-wwe-in-the-midst-of-an-identity-crisis.html" type="external">WWE fans and wrestlers</a> alike:</p>
<p>• WWE legend Jimmy Snuka (“Superfly”) was arrested on Tuesday and charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter in the 34-year-old cold-case murder of a former girlfriend.</p>
<p>• One of the sport’s fanatics is fighting for his life in Orlando, Florida, after he was gunned down on Monday by deputies who said he was brandishing a sharp object and stalking a female wrestler.</p>
<p>• A buxom, tattooed wrestler in a tawdry tryst with WWE superstar Seth Rollins was outed as an alleged Nazi sympathizer and was drop-kicked out of the sport.</p>
<p>• Grappling big Dean Ambrose was ambushed during a taped event on August 25 by a rogue who was initially feared to be toting a knife, before security intervened.</p>
<p>• A British former WWE star was suspended after being arrested on charges of domestic battery.</p>
<p>• Crestfallen icon of the sport <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/07/25/hulk-hogan-s-n-word-tirade-and-the-wwe-s-racist-past.html" type="external">Hulk “The Hulkster” Hogan</a> made a tearful mea culpa on national television Monday over his use of racist epithets.</p>
<p>It’s not the first time that WWE’s over-the-top, outlaw ethos has lost control and spilled beyond the ring into the headlines. (See: The aforementioned Hulk Hogan scandal.) But the sport’s juiced-up theatrics got some stiff competition this week from real-life scandals.</p>
<p>The 72-year-old Snuka is being held on $100,000 bail in connection with the 1983 death of former girlfriend Nancy Argentino, whose battered body was found in a motel room outside Allentown, Pennsylvania. At the time, Snuka was one of the WWF’s biggest stars, and <a href="http://touch.mcall.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-84333101/" type="external">he told authorities</a> that he’d returned to his motel room after a taping to find Argentino struggling to breathe and leaking yellow fluid from her nose and mouth.</p>
<p>According to the Morning Call, an autopsy report showed that Argentino had died of traumatic brain injuries and noted that her body bore signs of possible “mate abuse”—including two dozen cuts and bruises on her face and extremities. Snuka was named a person of interest but never charged in the case until now.</p>
<p>The WWE issued a statement about the arrest on Tuesday, expressing “its continued sympathy to the Argentino family for their loss” and noted that “ultimately this legal matter will be decided by our judicial system.”</p>
<p>On Monday, Florida’s Orange County Sheriff’s Office began piecing together why Armando Montalvo had allegedly menaced employees at a World Wrestling training facility in Orlando, Florida—according to official <a href="http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/man-shot-outside-wwe-performance-center-orlando/nnTyN/" type="external">reports</a>, the 29-year-old was armed with a sharp object and refused to lay down his weapon until Corporal Steve Wahl fired a round from his service weapon and struck the intruder.</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
<p>A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't).</p>
<p>A report today in The Daily Mail claims Montalvo had become obsessed with a female wrestler and was stalking her. A court order, which had not yet been served, reportedly prohibited Montalvo from being on WWE property.</p>
<p>Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings said that Montalvo was “fixated on one of the female wrestlers” and had been banned from the premises after stirring up trouble there for over a month.</p>
<p>That wrestling muse may very well be <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32jyHcmfk2E" type="external">AJ Lee</a>. Montalvo dedicated his Facebook background to Lee’s breasts and even made a video where he wiped his face with a blue thong while seductively chanting AJ Lee’s name and bragging about casting her in a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=811814515551379&amp;set=pb.100001685156594.-2207520000.1441087922.&amp;type=3&amp;theater" type="external">Ghostbusters III</a> film that he said he had written and was directing.</p>
<p>Beyond his WWE fixation, Montalvo had creating an extensive library of half-baked YouTube videos that featured the bespectacled young man on <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HxnMuoCOzo" type="external">mad missions</a>, sometimes twirling <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=10&amp;v=mVsfkeKgNN0" type="external">nunchucks</a> or barber shears, rapping, and even defecating on camera.</p>
<p>In one video Montalvo speaks for an hour about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?t=13&amp;v=Ku5FDjqEhRc" type="external">battling mental illness</a> and blames doctors for overdosing him with various antipsychotic meds and causing him to lose his wits and commit stunts such as hopping an airport fence to hitchhike an airplane ride.</p>
<p>After the shooting, Montalvo was shuttled to a local hospital, where he was undergoing surgery to recover from the life-threatening injuries.</p>
<p>Even as Montalvo’s condition remains grave, pro wrestler Dean Ambrose was lucky to avoid the ER last week. As the pro wrestler was strutting through the crowd after a match, he was almost <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2558164-dean-ambrose-nearly-attacked-by-fan-during-wwe-smackdown-taping" type="external">clobbered by a fan</a> during a SmackDown taping in Providence, Rhode Island. The man narrowly missed Ambrose; security members stepped in to neutralize the attacker, who, an insider confirmed, was not armed with a blade.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, two star gladiators of the wrestling ring are now unemployed after disturbing scandals this week. Thomas Latimer, a Brit who fights under the pseudonym Bram for the TNA Wrestling league—and who was once hitched to <a href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/wrestling/tna-wrestlings-bram-famous-father-in-law-4390008" type="external">Rick Flair’s wrestling dynamo daughter Ashley Fliehr</a>, is on <a href="http://www.wrestlezone.com/news/615137-breaking-impact-wrestling-star-bram-arrested-suspended-indefinitely-tna-comments" type="external">indefinite suspension,</a> accused of attempting to strangle a Florida woman.</p>
<p>And Zahra Schreiber, a nascent fan favorite who is dating franchise wrestler Seth Rollins, was booted from the WWE after it was revealed she had posted art with swastikas and a “ <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2015/08/31/wwe-seth-rollins-girlfriend-nazi-pics-zahra-schreiber/" type="external">My Little Pony</a>” character wearing a Hitler mustache on her Instagram account in 2012.</p>
<p>A WWE spokesman confirmed that Schreiber was no longer a wrestler in their ranks “due to inappropriate and offensive remarks she made.”</p>
<p>Schreiber defended her <a href="http://www.tmz.com/2015/08/31/wwe-seth-rollins-girlfriend-nazi-pics-zahra-schreiber/#ixzz3kShvlDr7" type="external">Nazi art</a> by claiming that “the swastika means prosperity and luck. It was around way before Hitler turned it into an icon.”</p>
<p>Schreiber, a Saginaw, Michigan, native, had been wrestling for the WWE’s development branch NXT and already made a salacious splash when she stole Rollins from his fiancèe, who unleashed a series of <a href="http://deadspin.com/lets-all-look-at-seth-rollinss-dong-nsfw-1684849435" type="external">nude tit-for-tats</a> that played out in true cyber-rumble fashion on Twitter.</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Jen Yamato</p> | true | 4 | even sport fictional back stories sensational sagas week unscripted lunacy violence involving wwe fans wrestlers alike wwe legend jimmy snuka superfly arrested tuesday charged thirddegree murder involuntary manslaughter 34yearold coldcase murder former girlfriend one sports fanatics fighting life orlando florida gunned monday deputies said brandishing sharp object stalking female wrestler buxom tattooed wrestler tawdry tryst wwe superstar seth rollins outed alleged nazi sympathizer dropkicked sport grappling big dean ambrose ambushed taped event august 25 rogue initially feared toting knife security intervened british former wwe star suspended arrested charges domestic battery crestfallen icon sport hulk hulkster hogan made tearful mea culpa national television monday use racist epithets first time wwes overthetop outlaw ethos lost control spilled beyond ring headlines see aforementioned hulk hogan scandal sports juicedup theatrics got stiff competition week reallife scandals 72yearold snuka held 100000 bail connection 1983 death former girlfriend nancy argentino whose battered body found motel room outside allentown pennsylvania time snuka one wwfs biggest stars told authorities hed returned motel room taping find argentino struggling breathe leaking yellow fluid nose mouth according morning call autopsy report showed argentino died traumatic brain injuries noted body bore signs possible mate abuseincluding two dozen cuts bruises face extremities snuka named person interest never charged case wwe issued statement arrest tuesday expressing continued sympathy argentino family loss noted ultimately legal matter decided judicial system monday floridas orange county sheriffs office began piecing together armando montalvo allegedly menaced employees world wrestling training facility orlando floridaaccording official reports 29yearold armed sharp object refused lay weapon corporal steve wahl fired round service weapon struck intruder start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont report today daily mail claims montalvo become obsessed female wrestler stalking court order yet served reportedly prohibited montalvo wwe property orange county sheriff jerry demings said montalvo fixated one female wrestlers banned premises stirring trouble month wrestling muse may well aj lee montalvo dedicated facebook background lees breasts even made video wiped face blue thong seductively chanting aj lees name bragging casting ghostbusters iii film said written directing beyond wwe fixation montalvo creating extensive library halfbaked youtube videos featured bespectacled young man mad missions sometimes twirling nunchucks barber shears rapping even defecating camera one video montalvo speaks hour battling mental illness blames doctors overdosing various antipsychotic meds causing lose wits commit stunts hopping airport fence hitchhike airplane ride shooting montalvo shuttled local hospital undergoing surgery recover lifethreatening injuries even montalvos condition remains grave pro wrestler dean ambrose lucky avoid er last week pro wrestler strutting crowd match almost clobbered fan smackdown taping providence rhode island man narrowly missed ambrose security members stepped neutralize attacker insider confirmed armed blade meanwhile two star gladiators wrestling ring unemployed disturbing scandals week thomas latimer brit fights pseudonym bram tna wrestling leagueand hitched rick flairs wrestling dynamo daughter ashley fliehr indefinite suspension accused attempting strangle florida woman zahra schreiber nascent fan favorite dating franchise wrestler seth rollins booted wwe revealed posted art swastikas little pony character wearing hitler mustache instagram account 2012 wwe spokesman confirmed schreiber longer wrestler ranks due inappropriate offensive remarks made schreiber defended nazi art claiming swastika means prosperity luck around way hitler turned icon schreiber saginaw michigan native wrestling wwes development branch nxt already made salacious splash stole rollins fiancèe unleashed series nude titfortats played true cyberrumble fashion twitter additional reporting jen yamato | 559 |
<p>After I dedicated <a href="" type="internal">a column</a>to the manifold errors of the soundtrack to Slumdog Millionaire by Oscar laureate A. R. Rahman the emails poured in from the sub-continent.&#160; Many admitted that they were glad to hear the Musical Patriot abuse a feel-good film about Indian poverty and denigrate its implausible music of redemption. Others thought my commentary ill-informed and cruel, and suggested that I would have rather have seen all the main characters killed off or mutilated to the tune of depressing laments.</p>
<p>By coincidence I took in a screening of The Battle of Algiers a few days after the column appeared back in March, and witnessed again the harrowing torture scene that begins the film and to which Slumdog’stepid interrogation opener pays unwitting homage. The original score of The Battle of Algiers is the work of the incomparable Ennio Morricone, but the director Gillo Pontecorvo involved himself directly in choosing other music to follow important themes of the conflict.&#160; What we hear after the grim extraction of information by French interrogators from the small, aged Algerian is the opening chorus of Bach’s Matthew Passion, whose throbbing bass line and gnashing chromaticism tells us that we are in for brutal epic. It’s not just that Bach is a better composer than Rahman; few would contest that.&#160; Rather, Pontecorvo and Morricone understood that there is nothing in such cases there is nothing more difficult than truth, a necessary precondition for reconciliation.</p>
<p>What I argued in my prosecutorial brief against Slumdog was that a soundtrack that avoids any real confrontation with its difficult subject matter, indeed numbs the viewer to the implications of the images on screen, and should not be trusted. The two-fisted Oscar for Rahman only confirmed my suspicions. The award is a dual barometer of manipulation and mediocrity.</p>
<p>Along the many good-humored, funny, and gloriously vituperative emails I received, I had the good fortune to be corrected on one matter by Nandhu Sundaram, chief copy editor of the Times of London, who informed me that “a brilliant piece of criticism on A R Rahman’s music was marred by a slight factual error.”&#160; How gently did my correspondent point out a gaff that was hardly “slight.” Turns out, as Mr. Sundaram, and many others from India and elsewhere let me know, that Rahman did not, as I had claimed, write the music and lyrics for the closing song, “Jai Ho”—heard for the film’s concluding song sequence, the last gasp nod to Bollywood staged with the final credits. “Jai Ho” won Oscar for best song. The words were in fact written by Gulzar, who, as an email from Sajay Janardhana Kurup instructed&#160; me, is “A Famous Indian Lyrisct who accepted a Muslim Pen name though being a Hindu.”</p>
<p>I stand corrected many times over!&#160; Gulzar it is your lyrics that are crap!</p>
<p>Rather than continue to simmer in my scorn for Slumdog I have now embarked&#160; on a study of Rahman’s work under the long-distance tutelage of Professor Nilanjana Bhattacharjya of Colorado College. She’s an expert on Bollywood music, and has this to say about Slumdog:</p>
<p>“I can’t begin to explain how tired I am of hearing about this film and what I think is some of A.R. Rahman’s weakest work, so I am grateful (schadenfroh, more accurately) to see critiques of the film that are not based in its depiction of poor people in India, and Indian people’s supposed inability to deal with seeing its dirty laundry. (It’s hard to avoid unless you’re blind, and that view overlooks a long history of extremely popular films in which significantly disadvantaged people get treated horrifically, fight against the system, and claw their way through to come out ahead despite their never being asked to be on an inane game show.”</p>
<p>Professor Bhattacharjya has an illuminating&#160; article in the most recent issue of the journal Asian Music on song sequences in popular Hindi Film; though her focus in this essay is movies of the Indian diaspora, it has much to say about Western attitudes about this vast corpus. A crucial part of Asian music cultural, the song sequence (banished to the closing credits in Slumdog) often seems to those new to this cinematic experience like irrelevant intrusions into the narrative.&#160; These long, and at their best, sumptuously choreographed and orchestrated sequences suspend the temporal progression of events, reveling instead in spectacle and sentiment. In this respect Bollywood is not unlike opera seria of the 18th-century, where the narrative flow is continually interrupted by lengthy arias that explore the emotional state of their characters rather than push the plot forward. Because these song sequences, as in the case of opera’s arias, last so long, the films, like the operas, tend themselves to be epic events: three hours and intermission is a common enough format in both genres. These attitude towards the song sequence bears some reflection.</p>
<p>Hollywood and its obedient consumers seem to think that car chases and the demolition of people and buildings do not constitute detours from the “story,” but in general these sequences are hardly less stagey in their the usurpation of the cinematic moment are than Indian dance numbers or European opera arias. The scream of sirens is Hollywood’s coloratura, the squeal of brakes its cadenza, the explosion its thundering timpani. Indeed, after watching enough Bollywood, one returns more reluctantly than ever to Hollywood’s formulaic action sequences and finds them surprisingly stagnant, a cultural form of entertainment far more artificial—and expensive—than the tableaux vivant of Indian film. For all its frenzy, Hollywood action usually ends up going nowhere. Bollywood can destroy things, too, but it seems to invest its creative energy most vigorously in song and dance, rather than high-speed shoot-‘em-and-blow-‘em-ups.</p>
<p>I’ve begun my encounter with Rahman’s massive and quickly-expanding oeuvre with his sprawling score to Lagaan, which was nominated for best foreign film by that same Academy back in 2001. The movie rather archly stages the colonial encounter with the British on a dusty improvised cricket ground in 19th-century India. On that field a rag tag group of villagers quickly learn the colonial regime’s game, even while taking time off to sing and dance, and then miraculously defeating the local regiment. The victory gains villagers a three-year reprieve from the crushing grain tax (Lagaan) imposed on them by the redcoats.</p>
<p>I’ll admit that deflecting the violence and repression of colonialism onto the cricket pitch seemed to me a bit like having the Sioux take on the 7th Cavalry in game of baseball to decide who gets the Black Hills. The Untouchable taken grudgingly onto the Lagaan team and who’s a preternatural spinbowler with a mean “googly” would be something like the discovery that Sitting Bull turns out to have mastered the bunt thanks to all those years counting coup,&#160; setting the stage for the decisive suicide squeeze play that turns out to be Custer’s Little Bighorn. Anyway, I hope that the premise of Lagaan was at least partly inflected with irony, especially given the ultimate ascendance of Indian and Pakistani cricket in terms of market share and sporting talent, as Tariq Ali shows in a wonderful article on the sport in a recent issue of the London Review of Books,</p>
<p>Still, the parched and varied landscape of rural Indian of Lagaan, and the peasants clad in stylish and pristine homespun, provides the ideal backdrop and cast for the sweep of Rahman’s melody and his mastery for pacing musical effects over a long sequences. Slumdog showed Rahman can deftly wield his musical airbrush, but his talent demands a grand scale so his ideas can gather momentum and the sonic feast they serve up can be savored.</p>
<p>Next I watched Taal (1999), a film that follows an innocent mountain girl’s discovery by a slimy producer (played by Anil Kapoor, the game show host from Slumdog) and her transformation into a musical superstar.&#160; Here again Rahman is at the top of his multi-faceted game of creating atmosphere with his intense, arching melodies and billowing harmonies and special musical effects. Aside from its colorful score and diverse song sequences that range from rural ritual to urban techno flash, the film also boasts one of the most carefully staged Coca Cola product placement contrivances in the history of world cinema. At a lavish reception, the cosmopolitan hero, more doughy than dashing, stops a drinks attendant and slakes his thirst from a Coke bottle, then sends it on to the mountain girl clumped with her sisters on the far side of the party gathering. Needless to say, she can’t help but grab the bottle from her sister, and touch her lips to the sweet glass where his had just been.</p>
<p>Subtly erotic flourishes of music—all shimmering bangles and echoing female vocalizations punctuated by intermittent claps and bursts of disco energy—follow the progress of the bottle from one set of lips to another.&#160; Making big brown eyes at our hero, she doesn’t drink, but strolls out of frame, the bottle pressed to her breast. Rahman now goes for the Romantic surge, and the hero follows her as she fondles the bottle lovingly.&#160; He waits, we wait, for the corporately sponsored kiss, but the mountain girl suddenly pours the bottle into a nearby potted geranium, as Rahman’s music wilts along with the hero’s ardor. It seems clear that Rahman’s got a sense of humor, one strangled by Slumdog’s&#160; pawing sentimentality.</p>
<p>The real first kiss in Taal comes in the next scene against the backdrop of the Himalayan foothills, but we all know that sweet syrup still clings to lovers’ lips. At this consummation of a sort, Rahman deploys his global mastery of cinematic affect: his Love Story piano, Bacharach strings, and transcendental, textless chorus bed the fully-clothed couple down on the soft and verdant grass above steep bluffs. Much of Rahman’s greatness seems to lie in the fact that he, too, has no shame: even with all the studio contrivances and effects, he really knows how to let himself go.</p>
<p>Now queued up on my Rahman docket is Dil Se from 1998 which, Professor Bhattacharjya tells me, will deal with terrorism, ethnic conflict and other urgent issues. I can’t wait to see the dance numbers. If Rossini can do justice to the freedom fighter William Tell, I don’t doubt that the Mozart of Madras can offer untold insights into the horrors of globalization and ethnic conflict, or at least overcome the implausible with his music’s alternation of bittersweet strains and world-beating rhythmic drive.&#160; At this rate, it will take me dozens of lifetime’s to work through Rahman’s oeuvre, and by the time I catch up he’ll have already moved on to his next film, seated in his opulent studio among his synthesizers wrapped in the swirling sonorities that have already conquered the world.</p>
<p>DAVID YEARSLEY teaches at Cornell University. A long-time contributor to the Anderson Valley Advertiser, he is author of <a href="" type="internal">Bach and the Meanings of Counterpoint</a>His latest CD, “All Your Cares Beguile: Songs and Sonatas from Baroque London”, has just been released by <a href="http://www.musicaomnia.org/index2.htm" type="external">Musica Omnia</a>. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:dgy2@cornell.edu" type="external">dgy2@cornell.edu</a></p> | true | 4 | dedicated columnto manifold errors soundtrack slumdog millionaire oscar laureate r rahman emails poured subcontinent160 many admitted glad hear musical patriot abuse feelgood film indian poverty denigrate implausible music redemption others thought commentary illinformed cruel suggested would rather seen main characters killed mutilated tune depressing laments coincidence took screening battle algiers days column appeared back march witnessed harrowing torture scene begins film slumdogstepid interrogation opener pays unwitting homage original score battle algiers work incomparable ennio morricone director gillo pontecorvo involved directly choosing music follow important themes conflict160 hear grim extraction information french interrogators small aged algerian opening chorus bachs matthew passion whose throbbing bass line gnashing chromaticism tells us brutal epic bach better composer rahman would contest that160 rather pontecorvo morricone understood nothing cases nothing difficult truth necessary precondition reconciliation argued prosecutorial brief slumdog soundtrack avoids real confrontation difficult subject matter indeed numbs viewer implications images screen trusted twofisted oscar rahman confirmed suspicions award dual barometer manipulation mediocrity along many goodhumored funny gloriously vituperative emails received good fortune corrected one matter nandhu sundaram chief copy editor times london informed brilliant piece criticism r rahmans music marred slight factual error160 gently correspondent point gaff hardly slight turns mr sundaram many others india elsewhere let know rahman claimed write music lyrics closing song jai hoheard films concluding song sequence last gasp nod bollywood staged final credits jai ho oscar best song words fact written gulzar email sajay janardhana kurup instructed160 famous indian lyrisct accepted muslim pen name though hindu stand corrected many times over160 gulzar lyrics crap rather continue simmer scorn slumdog embarked160 study rahmans work longdistance tutelage professor nilanjana bhattacharjya colorado college shes expert bollywood music say slumdog cant begin explain tired hearing film think ar rahmans weakest work grateful schadenfroh accurately see critiques film based depiction poor people india indian peoples supposed inability deal seeing dirty laundry hard avoid unless youre blind view overlooks long history extremely popular films significantly disadvantaged people get treated horrifically fight system claw way come ahead despite never asked inane game show professor bhattacharjya illuminating160 article recent issue journal asian music song sequences popular hindi film though focus essay movies indian diaspora much say western attitudes vast corpus crucial part asian music cultural song sequence banished closing credits slumdog often seems new cinematic experience like irrelevant intrusions narrative160 long best sumptuously choreographed orchestrated sequences suspend temporal progression events reveling instead spectacle sentiment respect bollywood unlike opera seria 18thcentury narrative flow continually interrupted lengthy arias explore emotional state characters rather push plot forward song sequences case operas arias last long films like operas tend epic events three hours intermission common enough format genres attitude towards song sequence bears reflection hollywood obedient consumers seem think car chases demolition people buildings constitute detours story general sequences hardly less stagey usurpation cinematic moment indian dance numbers european opera arias scream sirens hollywoods coloratura squeal brakes cadenza explosion thundering timpani indeed watching enough bollywood one returns reluctantly ever hollywoods formulaic action sequences finds surprisingly stagnant cultural form entertainment far artificialand expensivethan tableaux vivant indian film frenzy hollywood action usually ends going nowhere bollywood destroy things seems invest creative energy vigorously song dance rather highspeed shootemandblowemups ive begun encounter rahmans massive quicklyexpanding oeuvre sprawling score lagaan nominated best foreign film academy back 2001 movie rather archly stages colonial encounter british dusty improvised cricket ground 19thcentury india field rag tag group villagers quickly learn colonial regimes game even taking time sing dance miraculously defeating local regiment victory gains villagers threeyear reprieve crushing grain tax lagaan imposed redcoats ill admit deflecting violence repression colonialism onto cricket pitch seemed bit like sioux take 7th cavalry game baseball decide gets black hills untouchable taken grudgingly onto lagaan team whos preternatural spinbowler mean googly would something like discovery sitting bull turns mastered bunt thanks years counting coup160 setting stage decisive suicide squeeze play turns custers little bighorn anyway hope premise lagaan least partly inflected irony especially given ultimate ascendance indian pakistani cricket terms market share sporting talent tariq ali shows wonderful article sport recent issue london review books still parched varied landscape rural indian lagaan peasants clad stylish pristine homespun provides ideal backdrop cast sweep rahmans melody mastery pacing musical effects long sequences slumdog showed rahman deftly wield musical airbrush talent demands grand scale ideas gather momentum sonic feast serve savored next watched taal 1999 film follows innocent mountain girls discovery slimy producer played anil kapoor game show host slumdog transformation musical superstar160 rahman top multifaceted game creating atmosphere intense arching melodies billowing harmonies special musical effects aside colorful score diverse song sequences range rural ritual urban techno flash film also boasts one carefully staged coca cola product placement contrivances history world cinema lavish reception cosmopolitan hero doughy dashing stops drinks attendant slakes thirst coke bottle sends mountain girl clumped sisters far side party gathering needless say cant help grab bottle sister touch lips sweet glass subtly erotic flourishes musicall shimmering bangles echoing female vocalizations punctuated intermittent claps bursts disco energyfollow progress bottle one set lips another160 making big brown eyes hero doesnt drink strolls frame bottle pressed breast rahman goes romantic surge hero follows fondles bottle lovingly160 waits wait corporately sponsored kiss mountain girl suddenly pours bottle nearby potted geranium rahmans music wilts along heros ardor seems clear rahmans got sense humor one strangled slumdogs160 pawing sentimentality real first kiss taal comes next scene backdrop himalayan foothills know sweet syrup still clings lovers lips consummation sort rahman deploys global mastery cinematic affect love story piano bacharach strings transcendental textless chorus bed fullyclothed couple soft verdant grass steep bluffs much rahmans greatness seems lie fact shame even studio contrivances effects really knows let go queued rahman docket dil se 1998 professor bhattacharjya tells deal terrorism ethnic conflict urgent issues cant wait see dance numbers rossini justice freedom fighter william tell dont doubt mozart madras offer untold insights horrors globalization ethnic conflict least overcome implausible musics alternation bittersweet strains worldbeating rhythmic drive160 rate take dozens lifetimes work rahmans oeuvre time catch hell already moved next film seated opulent studio among synthesizers wrapped swirling sonorities already conquered world david yearsley teaches cornell university longtime contributor anderson valley advertiser author bach meanings counterpointhis latest cd cares beguile songs sonatas baroque london released musica omnia reached dgy2cornelledu | 1,036 |
<p>Mother Jones guest blogger Mark Armstrong is the founder of <a href="http://www.longreads.com/" type="external">Longreads</a>, a site devoted to uncovering the best long-form nonfiction articles available online. And what better time to curl up with a great read than over the weekend?&#160;Below, a hand-picked bouquet of five interesting stories, including word count and approximate reading time. (Readers can also <a href="http://www.longreads.com/subscribe" type="external">subscribe to The Top 5 Longreads of the Week by clicking here</a>.)</p>
<p>New! This week’s featured Longreader: Jodi Ettenberg ( <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/legalnomads" type="external">@legalnomads</a>), former lawyer, world traveler, blogger at <a href="http://www.legalnomads.com/" type="external">Legal Nomads:</a> “My favorite Longread this week was <a href="http://www.mensjournal.com/the-blind-man-who-taught-himself-to-see/print/" type="external">‘The Blind Man Who Taught Himself to See’ (Men’s Journal).</a> Not only was the story of a blind man using echolocation to ‘see’ incredibly inspiring, but the article managed to paint a very human picture of a man both passionate about his cause and somewhat overwhelmed by the success he has achieved.”</p>
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<p>1. <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b172fd26-3ef1-11e0-834e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Ff97drKa" type="external">Hiding Out</a> | Hisham Matar | Financial Times | Feb. 26, 2011 | 12 minutes (2,999 words)</p>
<p>The Libyan writer, whose father was an outspoken dissident, reflects on dangerous times during his youth under Qaddafi’s rule. Matar convinced his family to let him attend boarding school in England, but he had to first change his name (to “Bob,” in honor of Bob Marley and Bob Dylan) to help hide his family identity. “It all seemed surprisingly easy at first,” he writes, until he arrived for his second year of school:</p>
<p>“On my return to school one of my friends came to tell me about a new boy.</p>
<p>“‘He’s Arabic,’ he said.</p>
<p>“‘Really? Where from?’ I asked.</p>
<p>“‘Libya.</p>
<p>“I went to look up the name. His father worked for the Qaddafi regime. I had no doubt he, too, would recognize my family name. Our fathers were on opposite sides of a conflict. I had no doubt he, certainly his father, would see us as enemies.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/b172fd26-3ef1-11e0-834e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1Ff97drKa" type="external" /></p>
<p>&#160;2. <a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/ff_bishop/all/1" type="external">What Made University Scientist Amy Bishop Snap?</a> | Amy Wallace | Wired | March 1, 2011 | 36 minutes (9,013 words)</p>
<p>Chilling portrait of the University of Alabama scientist and mother of four who gunned down six of her colleagues last year. Questions remain about a separate incident more than two decades prior, when Bishop fatally shot her brother, Seth (her parents, and police, called it an accident even though she tried to steal a getaway car at gunpoint). Her lawyer is arguing for her to be declared insane:</p>
<p>“Bishop’s court-appointed lawyer, Roy Miller, called her simply ‘wacko.’ Later he apologized for his word choice, but he has continued to press the point. ‘They’re going to try to show she’s sane, that she was just mean as hell,’ he tells me, referring to the prosecution, which is seeking capital murder charges against Bishop in the killings of department chair Gopi Podila and professors Maria Ragland Davis and Adriel Johnson. ‘If they seek the death penalty, which we have to assume they will, our only defense is mental.'”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201103/charlie-sheen-amy-wallace?printable=true" type="external">Also from Amy Wallace: “Coke, Hookers, Hospital, Repeat.” Charlie Sheen profile (GQ, April 2011)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.wired.com/magazine/2011/02/ff_bishop/all/1" type="external" />3. <a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/hate-man/Content?oid=2491949&amp;showFullText=true" type="external">Hate Man</a> | Kathleen Richards and Sandeep Abraham | East Bay Express | March 2, 2011 | 22 minutes (5,499 words)</p>
<p>How does a former New York Times reporter end up becoming a “hate evangelist” in Berkeley’s People’s Park? A glimpse into the life of a homeless man, Mark Hawthorne, and the decisions that turned him from a married University of Connecticut graduate into the bearded, cigarette-bartering “Hate Man.” Hawthorne’s family life remains complicated:</p>
<p>“He says he’s at ‘arms-length’ with his older daughter, who he calls ‘Equation’ and who lives in Ohio with her husband and daughter, and ZiZi, who still lives in Berkeley. ‘That’s one thing I have not solved,’ Hate lamented. ‘The kids feel abandoned, like I don’t care about them.’ When they do get together, he said, ‘it feels fake. There’s an emotional rift.'”</p>
<p>This was the second most-popular Longread of the week (behind <a href="http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201103/charlie-sheen-amy-wallace?printable=true" type="external">Charlie Sheen</a>).</p>
<p><a href="http://tentcityusa.tumblr.com/" type="external">See also: “Tent City USA” (George Saunders, GQ, Oct. 2009)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/gyrobase/hate-man/Content?oid=2491949&amp;showFullText=true" type="external" /></p>
<p>4. <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/04/jack-dorsey-201104" type="external">Twitter Was Act One</a> | David Kirkpatrick | Vanity Fair | March 3, 2011 | 18 minutes (4,543 words)</p>
<p>“The Facebook Effect” author David Kirkpatrick on another Silicon Valley superstar—Twitter and Square founder Jack Dorsey. In submitting to his first in-depth profile, we learn about the events the led to him stepping down as CEO (“It was like being punched in the stomach”), his long-term goal (to become mayor of New York City), and his earliest career experiences:</p>
<p>“Jim McKelvey, who owned a company which archived documents onto CD-ROMs, and who today is Jack Dorsey’s partner in Square… took Dorsey on as an intern and learned that this awkward teenager could swiftly master most computing tasks. When McKelvey began to worry his company could get killed by an online competitor, he found that Dorsey was the only one on his small staff who agreed on the need to migrate the business onto the fledgling Internet. McKelvey hired several freelancers for the project. ‘One guy asked me, “What’s my job title going to be?” I said, “Assistant to the summer intern.” He was basically a stick figure. I said, “Just do everything this kid says.”‘ “</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/31/technology/31ev.html?src=twt&amp;twt=nytimes&amp;pagewanted=all" type="external">See also: “Why Twitter’s CEO Demoted Himself” (Claire Cain Miller, New York Times, Oct. 2010)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/04/jack-dorsey-201104" type="external" /></p>
<p>5. <a href="http://nymag.com/print/?/news/features/berniemadoff-2011-3/" type="external">The Madoff Tapes</a> | Steve Fishman | New York Magazine | Feb. 28, 2011 | 32 minutes (7,951 words)</p>
<p>Prison phone conversations with the man who defrauded clients of nearly $65 billion—and whose family and career have been destroyed. Madoff, speaking from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina, attempts to answer the question he asked his prison therapist (“Am I a sociopath?”) and repair the damage he’s done to his own family. (His son Mark committed suicide in December.)</p>
<p>“‘With both my sons, I could never even explain to them what happened,’ Madoff said. ‘Of course, it’s too late for my son Mark, but my son Andy …’ Madoff often thinks of that last day, that meeting in his study when he confessed to them. ‘I can’t get a message to Andy,’ he continues, getting emotional. ‘The lawyers don’t want that to happen.’ I think that Madoff talks to me, in part, as a way of reaching Andrew.</p>
<p>“But the world is not as Madoff imagines it from behind prison bars. To a friend, Andrew mocked his father’s thoughts: ‘Yes, I stole every penny that you had, and you’ve got to dive into a Dumpster to get a meal, but, you know, that’s the past, get over it.'”</p>
<p><a href="http://nymag.com/print/?/news/crimelaw/66468/" type="external">See also: “Bernie Madoff, Free at Last” (Steve Fishman, New York Magazine, June 2010)</a></p>
<p><a href="http://nymag.com/print/?/news/features/berniemadoff-2011-3/" type="external" /></p>
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<p>Thanks for your support. <a href="http://longreads.tumblr.com/sponsor" type="external">Click here to become a Longreads sponsor.</a></p> | true | 4 | mother jones guest blogger mark armstrong founder longreads site devoted uncovering best longform nonfiction articles available online better time curl great read weekend160below handpicked bouquet five interesting stories including word count approximate reading time readers also subscribe top 5 longreads week clicking new weeks featured longreader jodi ettenberg legalnomads former lawyer world traveler blogger legal nomads favorite longread week blind man taught see mens journal story blind man using echolocation see incredibly inspiring article managed paint human picture man passionate cause somewhat overwhelmed success achieved 160 1 hiding hisham matar financial times feb 26 2011 12 minutes 2999 words libyan writer whose father outspoken dissident reflects dangerous times youth qaddafis rule matar convinced family let attend boarding school england first change name bob honor bob marley bob dylan help hide family identity seemed surprisingly easy first writes arrived second year school return school one friends came tell new boy hes arabic said really asked libya went look name father worked qaddafi regime doubt would recognize family name fathers opposite sides conflict doubt certainly father would see us enemies 1602 made university scientist amy bishop snap amy wallace wired march 1 2011 36 minutes 9013 words chilling portrait university alabama scientist mother four gunned six colleagues last year questions remain separate incident two decades prior bishop fatally shot brother seth parents police called accident even though tried steal getaway car gunpoint lawyer arguing declared insane bishops courtappointed lawyer roy miller called simply wacko later apologized word choice continued press point theyre going try show shes sane mean hell tells referring prosecution seeking capital murder charges bishop killings department chair gopi podila professors maria ragland davis adriel johnson seek death penalty assume defense mental also amy wallace coke hookers hospital repeat charlie sheen profile gq april 2011 3 hate man kathleen richards sandeep abraham east bay express march 2 2011 22 minutes 5499 words former new york times reporter end becoming hate evangelist berkeleys peoples park glimpse life homeless man mark hawthorne decisions turned married university connecticut graduate bearded cigarettebartering hate man hawthornes family life remains complicated says hes armslength older daughter calls equation lives ohio husband daughter zizi still lives berkeley thats one thing solved hate lamented kids feel abandoned like dont care get together said feels fake theres emotional rift second mostpopular longread week behind charlie sheen see also tent city usa george saunders gq oct 2009 4 twitter act one david kirkpatrick vanity fair march 3 2011 18 minutes 4543 words facebook effect author david kirkpatrick another silicon valley superstartwitter square founder jack dorsey submitting first indepth profile learn events led stepping ceo like punched stomach longterm goal become mayor new york city earliest career experiences jim mckelvey owned company archived documents onto cdroms today jack dorseys partner square took dorsey intern learned awkward teenager could swiftly master computing tasks mckelvey began worry company could get killed online competitor found dorsey one small staff agreed need migrate business onto fledgling internet mckelvey hired several freelancers project one guy asked whats job title going said assistant summer intern basically stick figure said everything kid says see also twitters ceo demoted claire cain miller new york times oct 2010 5 madoff tapes steve fishman new york magazine feb 28 2011 32 minutes 7951 words prison phone conversations man defrauded clients nearly 65 billionand whose family career destroyed madoff speaking federal correctional institution butner north carolina attempts answer question asked prison therapist sociopath repair damage hes done family son mark committed suicide december sons could never even explain happened madoff said course late son mark son andy madoff often thinks last day meeting study confessed cant get message andy continues getting emotional lawyers dont want happen think madoff talks part way reaching andrew world madoff imagines behind prison bars friend andrew mocked fathers thoughts yes stole every penny youve got dive dumpster get meal know thats past get see also bernie madoff free last steve fishman new york magazine june 2010 got favorite longread share twitter longreads email marklongreadscom thanks support click become longreads sponsor | 673 |
<p>50 million barrels of oil are being parked in tankers sitting offshore, lacking buyers. Let’s call it: Parkland.</p>
<p>But in Miami, Parkland is a name with another meaning. Parkland is a zoning application to move Miami-Dade’s abused Urban Development Boundary closer to the Everglades. Zoning and permitting processes in the United States can be mind-numbingly complex, reduced finally to the most arcane province of lawyers, engineers, planners, their statistics and formulas; but they are the base layer of government and the flip-side of the coin of the realm, through which mortgage debt is securitized, chopped up and sold off to investors seeking a higher return than the hum-drum stuff of direct government obligations secured by tax receipts.</p>
<p>For a century, the promise of development in Florida has had a golden ring. But generations of environmentalists and civic activists have struggled against the promise to preserve today’s quality of life and natural resources; a constantly shifting baseline that only intensifies conflict notwithstanding suites of blue ribbon panels, public/private partnerships, all the king’s horses and all the king’s men. You don’t have to stray far from Florida’s main arterial highways; the flags waving in the eternal sunshine proclaim one development after another hidden behind stucco walls named liked potions or salves; Sunset Lakes, Miami Gardens, Biscayne Landing, Crocodile Point, and Parkland.</p>
<p>Parkland, as a zoning application, will be heard by thirteen members of the Miami Dade county commission and could be approved by a super-majority 2/3rds vote to the State of Florida, unless a promised veto by mayor Carlos Alvarez is sustained. Today the development target is 1000 acres of row crops supplying winter vegetables to the nation’s industrial food supply. In 2014 if the developers get their way, a sprawling city of 18,000 will grow from those farmlands as a “green” development, green the way a chameleon is green in the grass.</p>
<p>What sets Parkland apart is not just the audacity of re-zoning farmland for a destroyed economic model, suburban sprawl, but that the developers are the elite of Miami’s builders, developers and bankers who fomented Miami’s housing market bubble in the first place. Parkland pits environmentalists, community activists, and professional agency planners against entrenched economic interests who have controlled the county commission for decades. The shareholders of Parkland include bankers like Sergio Pino and Ramon Rasco who know in fine detail how politics they encouraged contributed to the current economic disaster while ordinary investors who bought the Cool-Aid of the housing boom are out of luck and time. The developers would argue this point in private; that they are not to blame but only followed for profit what the market wanted and what the law permits, but in public, defending a failed economic model has no place. And certainly not in Miami, a premier city in a state where logic, common sense, and fiscal prudence were steamrollered to provide mortgages to any buyer who could be dredged from the melting pot.</p>
<p>In respect to Miami’s role as the epicenter of the housing market boom and bust–Parkland stands out as a supertanker on the horizon. It floats on the same logic that in a state with a sole source of revenue– from real estate and related transactions– the only way forward is to increase tax base and lift all ships. In the end, it did neither. Today, as 2008 draws to a close, home-owners are left paying taxes on unrealizable assessed values. The tide has dropped far out to sea in Miami, leaving 100,000 foreclosures and more en route.</p>
<p>Tomorrow’s zoning hearing on Parkland will proceed according to a worn-out charade: presentations and powerpoints and last minute proferrings by the prospective developer, improvements to roads, schools and infrastructure well and far above what might be expected– Christmas stocking stuffers. There will be stock speeches by the smattering of opponents who can afford to take the time, and rote talking points by “the neighbors” (the preacher, the small businessman, the mother seeking the best for her children) who are bused in, understanding little beyond the offering of a desultory lunch and a few bucks. Last but not least, there will be county commissioners whose votes had been tallied long before the meeting, by quid pro quo’s and campaign contributions from the developers or their surrogates.</p>
<p>This is how important public hearings on zoning happen in Florida, to be scheduled before holidays or in the dead heat of summer or other inopportune times that best suit civic suppression. But Parkland is different. The Parkland application is a semi-colon on the way to 2009: the Forbes family has laid off the crew of its yacht wintering on the Miami River and is down to a skeleton staff. Good cheer is scarce as hens’ teeth. If you want a sense of Florida this Christmas, forget the Netjet set or the seven hundred a night rooms on Miami Beach. Drive through the suburbs that ring the proposed Parkland development site in far west Dade; cheap housing marketed as affordable, red roofed Mediterranean tiles by the hundred acre now pock-marked with for sale and foreclosure signs.</p>
<p>Parkland’s owners now say that they will not break ground on their development until 2014. What they really mean– this too will not be subject to discussion in tomorrow’s hearings– is that they need a zoning change from the county then the state to monetize land purchased at peak speculative values, the better to foist on European, or Asian, or MIddle Eastern investors / vultures who might be persuaded that all the rosy population growth pushed forward by the Latin Builders Association in 2005 still hold true.</p>
<p>Only, those investors are having trouble of their own– having put so much faith in the US dollar (see, below). But the problems of Dubai are an ocean or two away. Miami Dade county commissioners could approve the Parkland regional development irrespective of the euro, the ruble or the pound; after all, sending the proposal to the state of Florida, that will likely reject the plan and send it to court, is more or less like walking cows to the barn. It is a pattern that simply replicates the drama played out last week at the Dade County Courthouse where last year’s surviving applications to move the Urban Development Boundary were heard by an administrative law judge. All very polite. All just doing their jobs. Isn’t that model clear enough: low-cost legal battle versus the high cost of political independence?</p>
<p>The TV investigative series, 60 Minutes, on Sunday showed how the US economy is about to be hit with a second tsunami of mortgage foreclosures tied to Alt A and ARM mortgages; ie. the middle and upper middle class. The segment featured Miami but did not elaborate how these mortgages comprise the bedrock of Miami’s economic demographics: doctors, lawyers and Indian chiefs who salvaged money from the dot.com bust in 2001 and speculated that real estate always goes up. So much, for that.</p>
<p>The pages of 2008’s economic misery would have to include a foreward on the abandonment of common sense, fiscal prudence, and how the risk to our quality of life, our environment, and job security was privately banked by the the entire supply chain related to unsustainable debt long before the crisis occurred. Their vision of dancing sugar plum fairies was all about paving over Florida wetlands, their twelve days of Christmas about shifting drinking water supplies between watersheds, burying municipal wastewater in deep underground aquifers nestled against drinking water reservoirs, destroying shallow seagrass wilderness, polluting estuaries, rivers and streams all to foster “build it, and they will come”.</p>
<p>So far, president-elect Obama has only promised that new jobs and trillions of dollars will be applied to “green” jobs in a new energy economy. Whether or not those dollars and his force of persuasion can filter, quickly enough, into the minds of decision-makers at the local level requires a feat of great political leadership. The kind of leadership that would reject Parkland out of hand.</p>
<p>So it will be interesting to see what happens to the Parkland development application to move the Urban Development Boundary, if only for an indication whether a pulse exists in the base layer of government. The nation’s banks are hoarding cash and bundling up for winter, a luxury not extended to consumers whose lifestyles had already depended on debt and two wage-earners per family. Every minute that government wastes, trying to kick-start the old economic model of growth that will not work for the foreseeable future, is a minute pushing America closer to a Depression.</p>
<p>But don’t take my word: read what George Soros wrote yesterday in the <a href="" type="internal">Financial Times</a>. Mr. Soros is a big investor in real estate in Key Biscayne, an island enclave adjacent to Miami; on any night, he could stand on his penthouse balcony and see the outline of dozens of downtown, darkened and empty condominiums and in the opposite direction, twinkling on the horizon of the Gulf of Mexico, the lights of heavy freighters hanging offshore, laden with oil.</p>
<p>ALAN FARAGO, who writes on the environment and politics from Coral Gables, Florida, and can be reached at <a href="mailto:alanfarago@yahoo.com" type="external">alanfarago@yahoo.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 50 million barrels oil parked tankers sitting offshore lacking buyers lets call parkland miami parkland name another meaning parkland zoning application move miamidades abused urban development boundary closer everglades zoning permitting processes united states mindnumbingly complex reduced finally arcane province lawyers engineers planners statistics formulas base layer government flipside coin realm mortgage debt securitized chopped sold investors seeking higher return humdrum stuff direct government obligations secured tax receipts century promise development florida golden ring generations environmentalists civic activists struggled promise preserve todays quality life natural resources constantly shifting baseline intensifies conflict notwithstanding suites blue ribbon panels publicprivate partnerships kings horses kings men dont stray far floridas main arterial highways flags waving eternal sunshine proclaim one development another hidden behind stucco walls named liked potions salves sunset lakes miami gardens biscayne landing crocodile point parkland parkland zoning application heard thirteen members miami dade county commission could approved supermajority 23rds vote state florida unless promised veto mayor carlos alvarez sustained today development target 1000 acres row crops supplying winter vegetables nations industrial food supply 2014 developers get way sprawling city 18000 grow farmlands green development green way chameleon green grass sets parkland apart audacity rezoning farmland destroyed economic model suburban sprawl developers elite miamis builders developers bankers fomented miamis housing market bubble first place parkland pits environmentalists community activists professional agency planners entrenched economic interests controlled county commission decades shareholders parkland include bankers like sergio pino ramon rasco know fine detail politics encouraged contributed current economic disaster ordinary investors bought coolaid housing boom luck time developers would argue point private blame followed profit market wanted law permits public defending failed economic model place certainly miami premier city state logic common sense fiscal prudence steamrollered provide mortgages buyer could dredged melting pot respect miamis role epicenter housing market boom bustparkland stands supertanker horizon floats logic state sole source revenue real estate related transactions way forward increase tax base lift ships end neither today 2008 draws close homeowners left paying taxes unrealizable assessed values tide dropped far sea miami leaving 100000 foreclosures en route tomorrows zoning hearing parkland proceed according wornout charade presentations powerpoints last minute proferrings prospective developer improvements roads schools infrastructure well far might expected christmas stocking stuffers stock speeches smattering opponents afford take time rote talking points neighbors preacher small businessman mother seeking best children bused understanding little beyond offering desultory lunch bucks last least county commissioners whose votes tallied long meeting quid pro quos campaign contributions developers surrogates important public hearings zoning happen florida scheduled holidays dead heat summer inopportune times best suit civic suppression parkland different parkland application semicolon way 2009 forbes family laid crew yacht wintering miami river skeleton staff good cheer scarce hens teeth want sense florida christmas forget netjet set seven hundred night rooms miami beach drive suburbs ring proposed parkland development site far west dade cheap housing marketed affordable red roofed mediterranean tiles hundred acre pockmarked sale foreclosure signs parklands owners say break ground development 2014 really mean subject discussion tomorrows hearings need zoning change county state monetize land purchased peak speculative values better foist european asian middle eastern investors vultures might persuaded rosy population growth pushed forward latin builders association 2005 still hold true investors trouble put much faith us dollar see problems dubai ocean two away miami dade county commissioners could approve parkland regional development irrespective euro ruble pound sending proposal state florida likely reject plan send court less like walking cows barn pattern simply replicates drama played last week dade county courthouse last years surviving applications move urban development boundary heard administrative law judge polite jobs isnt model clear enough lowcost legal battle versus high cost political independence tv investigative series 60 minutes sunday showed us economy hit second tsunami mortgage foreclosures tied alt arm mortgages ie middle upper middle class segment featured miami elaborate mortgages comprise bedrock miamis economic demographics doctors lawyers indian chiefs salvaged money dotcom bust 2001 speculated real estate always goes much pages 2008s economic misery would include foreward abandonment common sense fiscal prudence risk quality life environment job security privately banked entire supply chain related unsustainable debt long crisis occurred vision dancing sugar plum fairies paving florida wetlands twelve days christmas shifting drinking water supplies watersheds burying municipal wastewater deep underground aquifers nestled drinking water reservoirs destroying shallow seagrass wilderness polluting estuaries rivers streams foster build come far presidentelect obama promised new jobs trillions dollars applied green jobs new energy economy whether dollars force persuasion filter quickly enough minds decisionmakers local level requires feat great political leadership kind leadership would reject parkland hand interesting see happens parkland development application move urban development boundary indication whether pulse exists base layer government nations banks hoarding cash bundling winter luxury extended consumers whose lifestyles already depended debt two wageearners per family every minute government wastes trying kickstart old economic model growth work foreseeable future minute pushing america closer depression dont take word read george soros wrote yesterday financial times mr soros big investor real estate key biscayne island enclave adjacent miami night could stand penthouse balcony see outline dozens downtown darkened empty condominiums opposite direction twinkling horizon gulf mexico lights heavy freighters hanging offshore laden oil alan farago writes environment politics coral gables florida reached alanfaragoyahoocom 160 160 160 160 160 | 871 |
<p>I am accused of committing the crime of defacing the sidewalk when I used chalk on the sidewalks of Pacific Ave. in Santa Cruz on July 21, 2002. The ordinance in question, written in 1964, is not clear regarding the issue of chalk writing and the City cannot prove that the ordinance has ever been used against chalkwriting prior to the year 2000. In fact, when I requested 34 years of records, the police only provided me with one month’s worth of records. The Santa Cruz Police Department claims they have destroyed all records prior to January 2001, according to a February 13th memo from the SCPD records department. Only two months before, they told me they only had 10 years of records. <a href="http://www.huffsantacruz.org/becky/" type="external">(Click here to see photos of Becky’s arrest and chalking.)</a></p>
<p>My activities were constitutionally protected acts of free speech and the City had no compelling government interest which overrode my first amendment activities which include speech, written materials, and non-destructive temporary messages.</p>
<p>City Attorney John Barisone disagrees. In a brief filed February 15, 2003, the City says “that the City does have a significant governmental interest illustrating the pervasive and deleterious nature of the graffiti problem in the City’s central business district.” The City claims it it is responsible for “preserving an aesthetically pleasing and economically viable downtown.” Citing the Broken Windows Theory as a source, the City found that “unless graffiti, applied by any medium, is immediately abated the problem will increase exponentially in a very short period of time thereby transforming a moderately damaged are into a substantially degraded area with a higher crime rate and depressed economy,” Lt. Sapone was less subtle. “It’s an eyesore,” she said.</p>
<p>Chalk lines are the easiest, least expensive, least damaging, and most reasonable method to communicate. Since chalk is made of crushed seashells and vegetable dyes, its not a hazard for the Monterey Bay, where it will eventually arrive. Compared to tagging with a permanent marker, chalk is light years milder. On July 21st, I chalked specific extremely time-sensitive information which the entire community had the right to know — information which the public had been prevented from knowing and which was to be voted into law 48 hours later.</p>
<p>I believe that I am being prosecuted more for who I am and for the content of my speech. Hopscotch is not some great harm to society leading to bedlam, the decline in property values, and loss of revenue to the City. Indeed chalk festivals are considered a boon to business generating crowds at minimal expense. At my previous trial on September 13th, 2002, SCPD Sgt. Jack McPhillips, Redevelopment Agency anaylst Julie Hendee, and City Attorney John Barisone in his briefs revealed that the City of Santa Cruz utilizes and emulates the model of policing based on the Broken Windows Theory.</p>
<p>Broken Windows in not about crime. Even the authors of the first 1982 version admitted five years later that they had no evidence that utilizing police methods where very minor “quality of life” citations are used selectively against those who “don’t belong” reduces crime. It is only a way to create the appearance of order and has no statistically relevant correlation to crimes against property or acts of violence.</p>
<p>In other words, if I piss on a sidewalk, I’m not likely to rob a bank. None the less, Cities across the nation including Santa Cruz have adopted this model. Both the Santa Cruz Redevelopment Agency and the Santa Cruz Police Department use the Broken Windows Theory in their pattern of enforcement. Even Mayor Emily Reilly was unaware of this. And this is an unconstitutional manner of police enforcement for it violates the 8th amendment which offers equal protection under the law. For under Broken Windows — a police officer looks up and down his beat and looks for people who belong, such as shop owners, residents, and shoppers and he looks for those who don’t belong. Those who don’t belong get cited for sitting, lying down, or for any one of dozens of ordinances which are all victimless “crimes” for homeless people but just ordinary behavior for the shoppers and the tourists. Somehow people who “don’t belong” tend to be people of color in the wrong neighborhood, young people, people who are living alternative lifestyles, poor people, homeless people, and political activists.</p>
<p>I would put myself in that latter category. But please, do not assume that because I am a homeless activist that I was committing civil disobedience. For I know what civil disobedience is, and this was not the case. I genuinely believed that chalkwriting, due to its impermanent and non-destructive nature and lack of environmental impact was a legal activity if conducted on a public sidewalk. I had plenty of reason to believe this. First, I have been chalking at various events for years, often in front of police officers, and have never so much as received a warning, much less a citation or an arrest. Second, I have read the McKinney decision in Berkeley where not only was the chalker found not guilty, but the City of Berkeley ended up paying a large settlement to the person arrrested. In that case as part of the written decision of the 9th circuit court it states “No reasonable person could think that writing with chalk would damage a sidewalk.” Third: I knew that political messages written with chalk do have constitutionally protections of free speech, provided their is no significant government health or safety interest.</p>
<p>Likewise in People vs. Johnson/People vs. Rinker City Attorney John Barisone argued that in One World, supra, 76 F. 3d at 1012 allows the city to ban giving away tee-shirts for a donation on Beach St. because those activities are allowed on Pacific Ave. But in my case, the ban on chalking is citywide and does not provide a legal public place for chalking. Indeed, if chalking on a sidewalk truly defaces the sidewalk, then this is an activity which cannot be then allowed “on special occasions” for defacement is damage to the public sidewalk and cannot be “allowed” when the authorities feel like. Not unless the law itself is meaningless— to be enforced when the suspect is a poor or homeless person, but completely ignored or even celebrated if its First Night on Pacific Ave. or at any number of chalk festivals which are gaining popularity nationwide with the resulting increase and tourism associated with those chalk festivals at almost no expense.</p>
<p>Barisone argues that “Cities have a substantial interest in protecting the aesthetic appearance of their communities by ‘avoiding visual clutter’. He further says that “it is well settled that the state may legitimately exercise its police powers to advance aesthetic values.’ This language concerns me. Are we saying that we want our police to look for evidence of visual disturbances which are aesthetically displeasing for which to cite and arrest? Since a child’s hopscotch playing is ignored, it must be considered aesthetically undisturbing. Where do we stop with these police powers? A car painted the wrong color? Someones clothing not mended or stained? How about the crime of wearing plaids and stripes together?</p>
<p>And even if Barisone is correct, and the City has a substantial interest in protecting its aesthetic values (demonstrated by installing Pet Smart, Ross Dress for Less, and the River Street Sign?) how can any of this reasonably apply to the chalked lines I drew to show where the safe zones would be for music, political tables, sitting, or begging?</p>
<p>I was in Carmel a couple of months ago. You can’t find a pricyer neighborhood than Carmel by the Sea. I was on Scenic Drive which is perched on the cliffs over the ocean beaches near the mouth of the Carmel river. There was a house there, and hung above it was bright, orange netting covering an area 30 or 40 feet wide and about 15 feet high. I found its bright color, and large shape to be at complete odds with the aesthetic element of the very scenic environment. What I saw, and what I am sure most of you have seen countless times was that orange netting put up there so neighbors, store owners, joggers, community members, and public authorities can all have a little preview of the contruction that is to come. Its best to give people a clue ahead of time of any permanent change that is about to take place.</p>
<p>People need to know what it about to happen to their community that will forever–or for a very long time anyway– change the very look of, the character, and the shape of their neighborhood from then on. That is what I was trying to do on July 21st. The City was about to ban, on a second reading to be voted on on July 23rd and ordinance which would prohibit sitting, playing music, street performers, political tables, and beggars to very tiny zones on a few sidewalks and eliminating those spaces and hence those activities completely on many sidewalks thoughout our City.</p>
<p>That is what I was doing. I wasn’t there to flaunt Officer Phelps authority. In fact, I didn’t even know he was there observing me chalk. I wasn’t there to prove that chalking is a legal activity. Commissioner Irwin Jospeh and I disagree on this point. I believe it is legal and constitutionally protected free speech. And these days we need to fight to keep every avenue of free speech left to us. For if we don’t have free speech, how can we address any other problem?</p>
<p>What I am saying, is that I had a compelling interest to communicate to the citizens and visitors to Santa Cruz. It was not trivial. It was quite serious. I did not “deface” the sidewalk in any manner. My chalk writings were minimally noticable. They were far away from businesses. They were informative. They were, unlike the maps the Redevelopment Agency provided to the public regarding the offensively labeled “opportunity zones” accurate.</p>
<p>Since the maps provided to the City were inaccurate, I had an even more compelling interest to demonstrate to the City just how limiting these ordinances would be to life in Santa Cruz as we have known it for decades. I just don’t know today how I could have more clearly informed the public of the upcoming changes in store for Pacific Ave. Just as the owner of that house in Carmel could not just hand out a flyer to his neighbors showing a before and after picture that would clearly communicate the size and the scale of the changes coming.</p>
<p>On July 21st, I chalked the minimum to convey the information. I was performing a public service. I could not convey this message on a flyer or poster. And I was ready and willing to remove the chalkwriting if asked. I even asked Officer Phelps if he wanted me to remove the chalk marks. He told me “It is of no concern to me one way or another if you remove the chalk.”</p>
<p>If the City were truly concerned about the diminishment of its aesthetic values by the minor amount of chalking I did on July 21st, then the City would have wanted me to clean up that chalkwriting–either by asking me to do it, or at least encouraging me to clean it up when I offered to do so. Does the City of Santa Cruz want to remove me instead?</p>
<p>And remove the content of what I wrote and what I will write next?. Those little chalk lines delineating those tiny little areas where all beggars, all street musicians, all Clowns, all magicians, all political tables must now crowd together. That is what I chalked. That is why I have been cited, and even later arrested, jailed, thrown in the drunk tank, and charged $1000 bail. Because the SCPD cannot stand for the information that I write to stand the light of day.</p>
<p>BECKY JOHNSON’s Chalking trial is scheduled for March 14, 2003 in Department 1 at 10:00 AM in the court of Commissioner Irwin Joseph at the Santa Cruz County Courthouse, 701 Ocean St. Santa Cruz, Ca.</p>
<p>BECKY JOHNSON can be reached at: <a href="mailto:becky_johnson@sbcglobal.net" type="external">becky_johnson@sbcglobal.net</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | accused committing crime defacing sidewalk used chalk sidewalks pacific ave santa cruz july 21 2002 ordinance question written 1964 clear regarding issue chalk writing city prove ordinance ever used chalkwriting prior year 2000 fact requested 34 years records police provided one months worth records santa cruz police department claims destroyed records prior january 2001 according february 13th memo scpd records department two months told 10 years records click see photos beckys arrest chalking activities constitutionally protected acts free speech city compelling government interest overrode first amendment activities include speech written materials nondestructive temporary messages city attorney john barisone disagrees brief filed february 15 2003 city says city significant governmental interest illustrating pervasive deleterious nature graffiti problem citys central business district city claims responsible preserving aesthetically pleasing economically viable downtown citing broken windows theory source city found unless graffiti applied medium immediately abated problem increase exponentially short period time thereby transforming moderately damaged substantially degraded area higher crime rate depressed economy lt sapone less subtle eyesore said chalk lines easiest least expensive least damaging reasonable method communicate since chalk made crushed seashells vegetable dyes hazard monterey bay eventually arrive compared tagging permanent marker chalk light years milder july 21st chalked specific extremely timesensitive information entire community right know information public prevented knowing voted law 48 hours later believe prosecuted content speech hopscotch great harm society leading bedlam decline property values loss revenue city indeed chalk festivals considered boon business generating crowds minimal expense previous trial september 13th 2002 scpd sgt jack mcphillips redevelopment agency anaylst julie hendee city attorney john barisone briefs revealed city santa cruz utilizes emulates model policing based broken windows theory broken windows crime even authors first 1982 version admitted five years later evidence utilizing police methods minor quality life citations used selectively dont belong reduces crime way create appearance order statistically relevant correlation crimes property acts violence words piss sidewalk im likely rob bank none less cities across nation including santa cruz adopted model santa cruz redevelopment agency santa cruz police department use broken windows theory pattern enforcement even mayor emily reilly unaware unconstitutional manner police enforcement violates 8th amendment offers equal protection law broken windows police officer looks beat looks people belong shop owners residents shoppers looks dont belong dont belong get cited sitting lying one dozens ordinances victimless crimes homeless people ordinary behavior shoppers tourists somehow people dont belong tend people color wrong neighborhood young people people living alternative lifestyles poor people homeless people political activists would put latter category please assume homeless activist committing civil disobedience know civil disobedience case genuinely believed chalkwriting due impermanent nondestructive nature lack environmental impact legal activity conducted public sidewalk plenty reason believe first chalking various events years often front police officers never much received warning much less citation arrest second read mckinney decision berkeley chalker found guilty city berkeley ended paying large settlement person arrrested case part written decision 9th circuit court states reasonable person could think writing chalk would damage sidewalk third knew political messages written chalk constitutionally protections free speech provided significant government health safety interest likewise people vs johnsonpeople vs rinker city attorney john barisone argued one world supra 76 f 3d 1012 allows city ban giving away teeshirts donation beach st activities allowed pacific ave case ban chalking citywide provide legal public place chalking indeed chalking sidewalk truly defaces sidewalk activity allowed special occasions defacement damage public sidewalk allowed authorities feel like unless law meaningless enforced suspect poor homeless person completely ignored even celebrated first night pacific ave number chalk festivals gaining popularity nationwide resulting increase tourism associated chalk festivals almost expense barisone argues cities substantial interest protecting aesthetic appearance communities avoiding visual clutter says well settled state may legitimately exercise police powers advance aesthetic values language concerns saying want police look evidence visual disturbances aesthetically displeasing cite arrest since childs hopscotch playing ignored must considered aesthetically undisturbing stop police powers car painted wrong color someones clothing mended stained crime wearing plaids stripes together even barisone correct city substantial interest protecting aesthetic values demonstrated installing pet smart ross dress less river street sign reasonably apply chalked lines drew show safe zones would music political tables sitting begging carmel couple months ago cant find pricyer neighborhood carmel sea scenic drive perched cliffs ocean beaches near mouth carmel river house hung bright orange netting covering area 30 40 feet wide 15 feet high found bright color large shape complete odds aesthetic element scenic environment saw sure seen countless times orange netting put neighbors store owners joggers community members public authorities little preview contruction come best give people clue ahead time permanent change take place people need know happen community foreveror long time anyway change look character shape neighborhood trying july 21st city ban second reading voted july 23rd ordinance would prohibit sitting playing music street performers political tables beggars tiny zones sidewalks eliminating spaces hence activities completely many sidewalks thoughout city wasnt flaunt officer phelps authority fact didnt even know observing chalk wasnt prove chalking legal activity commissioner irwin jospeh disagree point believe legal constitutionally protected free speech days need fight keep every avenue free speech left us dont free speech address problem saying compelling interest communicate citizens visitors santa cruz trivial quite serious deface sidewalk manner chalk writings minimally noticable far away businesses informative unlike maps redevelopment agency provided public regarding offensively labeled opportunity zones accurate since maps provided city inaccurate even compelling interest demonstrate city limiting ordinances would life santa cruz known decades dont know today could clearly informed public upcoming changes store pacific ave owner house carmel could hand flyer neighbors showing picture would clearly communicate size scale changes coming july 21st chalked minimum convey information performing public service could convey message flyer poster ready willing remove chalkwriting asked even asked officer phelps wanted remove chalk marks told concern one way another remove chalk city truly concerned diminishment aesthetic values minor amount chalking july 21st city would wanted clean chalkwritingeither asking least encouraging clean offered city santa cruz want remove instead remove content wrote write next little chalk lines delineating tiny little areas beggars street musicians clowns magicians political tables must crowd together chalked cited even later arrested jailed thrown drunk tank charged 1000 bail scpd stand information write stand light day becky johnsons chalking trial scheduled march 14 2003 department 1 1000 court commissioner irwin joseph santa cruz county courthouse 701 ocean st santa cruz ca becky johnson reached becky_johnsonsbcglobalnet 160 | 1,069 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />You know, I’m really not sure.</p>
<p>I’ve gone back and forth with this for a while.</p>
<p>On one hand I get some of the arguments those who support its legalization use, such as it’s medicinal purposes.&#160; And honestly for medical purposes I fully support its legalization—but then that opens the door to my first problem with it being legal.</p>
<p>In this country we have a huge problem with people abusing prescription pills, many of which are obtained legally from a doctor.&#160; What many of these individuals do is network with people that share a similar addiction, locate doctors who they know hand out prescriptions like candy, then they continue to use that doctor to feed their habit.&#160; Many of these individuals also learn what to say to doctors to get the certain kinds of pills they’re after.</p>
<p>So, with the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes, I see the same thing happening.</p>
<p>Continuing with the medical argument, what if people take it for anxiety?&#160; Do we allow people to smoke whenever they feel anxious?&#160; Then if that’s the case, what’s to stop people who want to smoke from simply claiming they “felt an anxiety attack coming on” just to get high?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t that mean people could possibly have a reason to be high at work?&#160; School?&#160; Isn’t that a little dangerous?&#160; It’s illegal to operate a vehicle while under the influence–wouldn’t smoking weed constitute being “under the influence?”</p>
<p>Something I often hear when it comes to marijuana legalization is “it’s not as bad as alcohol,” and that might be true, but people aren’t advocating the medical use of vodka.&#160; Alcohol is mostly seen as just a substance.&#160; You won’t hear rational people argue that people should drink alcohol for medical reasons.</p>
<p>Someone won’t go to their boss at work and say, “I need a drink, doctor’s orders.”&#160; But if you legalize marijuana that could be something employees begin to say.&#160; Then in today’s society, an employer questioning someone’s medical conditions can be a giant civil liberties lawsuit just waiting to happen.</p>
<p>But let’s say it’s legal for medical uses, but not at work, how would you tell if someone is high or not?&#160; A substance like alcohol has a metabolic process in which it filters through our body–marijuana is not the same.&#160; Someone could have smoked last night and still test positive for its use the next day when they were perfectly sober.</p>
<p>Then say it’s only legal for medical reasons, and you (someone not medically cleared to smoke) happen to be around someone who has medical permission to smoke marijuana.&#160; You get hired for a new job but must pass a drug test before you can start, only you fail the drug test due to secondhand consumption of smoke when you were around your friend—now what?&#160; How do you prove that you didn’t smoke? &#160;This is an extreme example and is unlikely to happen in most cases, but it is possible.</p>
<p>Another issue I’ve thought about is the consumption of marijuana.&#160; Do we limit how one can intake the substance, or do we allow people to consume it any way they’d like?</p>
<p>If you allow it to be smoked, do you only allow it smoked in private residences?&#160; After all, it is possible to get high off secondhand marijuana smoke.</p>
<p>So then do you legalize marijuana but make its public consumption illegal?</p>
<p>I also question the habit of smoking itself.&#160; Not smoking marijuana exactly, but smoking in general.&#160; People who smoke tend to do so out of the habit of smoking, not just the physical cravings for the substance.</p>
<p>Anyone who knows a smoker can almost predict when they’ll smoke.&#160; Often when they first wake up, when they drink their coffee, after they eat, as soon as they get in/out of a car, when they drink, as soon as they get home, right before bed, etc…</p>
<p>Now, I know many will say marijuana isn’t addictive, and they might be right on some levels.&#160; It doesn’t seem to carry with it the same physically addicting qualities of nicotine, but you’re naive if you deny that the act of smoking itself for many marijuana users is a habit.&#160; Just because you might not smoke off and on throughout the day doesn’t mean that there aren’t many smokers who do.</p>
<p>But smoking as a habit is simply handled differently by most than drinking.&#160; At work if you “step out for a smoke” you keep your job, if you “step out for a drink” you’ll likely be terminated.</p>
<p>Then there’s the argument of the millions we spend on incarcerating people who smoke weed and that&#160;I will say is ridiculous.&#160; If marijuana is going to stay illegal, it should be treated much like alcohol consumption by a minor—not on equal standing with drugs like heroin and crystal meth.&#160; If they want to keep it illegal and jail those who sell marijuana I could see that argument, but to jail its users is just—stupid.</p>
<p>But honestly what I hear most goes back to that line I mentioned earlier about how “it’s not as bad as alcohol” or “alcohol is worse.”&#160; Whenever I hear that, I don’t hear “Marijuana is good.”&#160; I just hear it isn’t as bad as something else.</p>
<p>I always say to these people, “You claim it isn’t as bad, and that might be true, but why should we introduce legality to a substance just because it’s not as bad as another substance?”&#160; Isn’t that really an argument to ban both substances?</p>
<p>These arguments always produce stats showing the horrible impact alcohol has on our society—the deaths, the illness and the damage it causes to families—but that’s showing why alcohol is bad, not why marijuana is good.</p>
<p>I’m still not sure where I stand, however I do feel people need to take a bigger picture view on this issue before jumping to a conclusion either way.</p>
<p>Because while both sides for and against the legalization of marijuana have their points,&#160;I don’t believe we’ve spent enough time viewing the issue from each perspective. &#160;That being said, you can check out a differing perspective from one of my colleagues <a href="" type="internal">here</a>, it’s well worth the read. &#160;Where do you stand?</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Seattle Medical Marijuana Raids Highlight the Clash between State and Federal Law</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Stoned Bunnies: The DEA's Latest Ridiculous Argument Against Legalizing Medical Marijuana</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">This is why I've Reversed My Position on Marijuana Legalization</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | true | 4 | know im really sure ive gone back forth one hand get arguments support legalization use medicinal purposes160 honestly medical purposes fully support legalizationbut opens door first problem legal country huge problem people abusing prescription pills many obtained legally doctor160 many individuals network people share similar addiction locate doctors know hand prescriptions like candy continue use doctor feed habit160 many individuals also learn say doctors get certain kinds pills theyre legalization marijuana medical purposes see thing happening continuing medical argument people take anxiety160 allow people smoke whenever feel anxious160 thats case whats stop people want smoke simply claiming felt anxiety attack coming get high wouldnt mean people could possibly reason high work160 school160 isnt little dangerous160 illegal operate vehicle influencewouldnt smoking weed constitute influence something often hear comes marijuana legalization bad alcohol might true people arent advocating medical use vodka160 alcohol mostly seen substance160 wont hear rational people argue people drink alcohol medical reasons someone wont go boss work say need drink doctors orders160 legalize marijuana could something employees begin say160 todays society employer questioning someones medical conditions giant civil liberties lawsuit waiting happen lets say legal medical uses work would tell someone high not160 substance like alcohol metabolic process filters bodymarijuana same160 someone could smoked last night still test positive use next day perfectly sober say legal medical reasons someone medically cleared smoke happen around someone medical permission smoke marijuana160 get hired new job must pass drug test start fail drug test due secondhand consumption smoke around friendnow what160 prove didnt smoke 160this extreme example unlikely happen cases possible another issue ive thought consumption marijuana160 limit one intake substance allow people consume way theyd like allow smoked allow smoked private residences160 possible get high secondhand marijuana smoke legalize marijuana make public consumption illegal also question habit smoking itself160 smoking marijuana exactly smoking general160 people smoke tend habit smoking physical cravings substance anyone knows smoker almost predict theyll smoke160 often first wake drink coffee eat soon get inout car drink soon get home right bed etc know many say marijuana isnt addictive might right levels160 doesnt seem carry physically addicting qualities nicotine youre naive deny act smoking many marijuana users habit160 might smoke throughout day doesnt mean arent many smokers smoking habit simply handled differently drinking160 work step smoke keep job step drink youll likely terminated theres argument millions spend incarcerating people smoke weed that160i say ridiculous160 marijuana going stay illegal treated much like alcohol consumption minornot equal standing drugs like heroin crystal meth160 want keep illegal jail sell marijuana could see argument jail users juststupid honestly hear goes back line mentioned earlier bad alcohol alcohol worse160 whenever hear dont hear marijuana good160 hear isnt bad something else always say people claim isnt bad might true introduce legality substance bad another substance160 isnt really argument ban substances arguments always produce stats showing horrible impact alcohol societythe deaths illness damage causes familiesbut thats showing alcohol bad marijuana good im still sure stand however feel people need take bigger picture view issue jumping conclusion either way sides legalization marijuana points160i dont believe weve spent enough time viewing issue perspective 160that said check differing perspective one colleagues well worth read 160where stand seattle medical marijuana raids highlight clash state federal law stoned bunnies deas latest ridiculous argument legalizing medical marijuana ive reversed position marijuana legalization 0 facebook comments | 554 |
<p>Photo: Wikimedia Commons</p>
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<p>Sobriety checkpoints in California are increasingly turning into profitable operations for local police departments—operations that are far more likely to seize cars from unlicensed motorists than catch drunk drivers. An investigation by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley with California Watch has found that impounds at checkpoints in 2009 generated an estimated $40 million in towing fees and police fines—revenue that cities divide with towing firms. In addition, police officers received about $30 million in overtime pay for the <a href="/kevin-drum/2009/07/breath-tests-take-hit" type="external">DUI crackdowns</a>, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.</p>
<p>In dozens of interviews over the past three months, law enforcement officials and tow truck operators say that vehicles are predominantly taken from minority drivers, often <a href="/mojo/2007/11/elliot-spitzer-drops-plan-issue-drivers-licenses-illegal-immigrants-boy-ill-bet-hillary" type="external">illegal immigrants</a>. In the course of its examination, the Investigative Reporting Program reviewed hundreds of pages of city financial records and police reports, and analyzed data documenting the results from every checkpoint that received state funding during the past two years. Among the findings:</p>
<p>• Sobriety checkpoints frequently screen traffic within, or near, Hispanic neighborhoods. Cities where Hispanics are a majority of the population are seizing cars at three times the rate of cities with small minority populations. In South Gate, a Los Angeles County city where Hispanics make up 92 percent of the population, police confiscated an average of 86 vehicles per operation last fiscal year.</p>
<p>• The seizures appear to defy a 2005 federal appellate court ruling that determined police cannot impound cars solely because the driver is unlicensed. In fact, police across the state have ratcheted up vehicle seizures. Last year, officers impounded more than 24,000 cars and trucks at checkpoints. That total is roughly seven times higher than the 3,200 drunken driving arrests at roadway operations. The percentage of vehicle seizures has increased 53 percent compared to 2007.</p>
<p>• Departments frequently overstaff checkpoints with officers, all earning overtime. The Moreno Valley Police Department in Riverside County averaged 38 officers at each operation last year, six times more than federal guidelines say is required. Nearly 50 other local police and sheriff’s departments averaged 20 or more officers per checkpoint—operations that averaged three DUI arrests a night.</p>
<p>To be sure, DUI checkpoints have saved countless lives and have brought thousands of drunken drivers to justice. And by inspecting driver’s licenses, police often catch motorists driving unlawfully, typically without insurance. With support from groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving, California has more than doubled its use of sobriety checkpoints the past three years.</p>
<p>Law enforcement officials say demographics play no role in determining where those checkpoints are established. Indeed, the Investigative Reporting Program’s analysis did not find evidence that police departments set up checkpoints to specifically target Hispanic neighborhoods. The operations typically take place on major thoroughfares near highways, and minority motorists are often caught in the checkpoints’ net. “All we’re looking for is to screen for sobriety and if you have a licensed driver,” said Capt. Ralph Newcomb of the Montebello Police Department, southeast of Los Angeles. “Where you’re from, what your status is, that never comes up.”</p>
<p>California police have seized the cars of unlicensed drivers for 15 years under the state law that allows such vehicles to be impounded for 30 days. But in 2005, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in an Oregon case that law enforcement can’t impound a vehicle if the only offense is unlicensed driving. To do so would violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects everyone within the United States, whether they are legal residents or not.</p>
<p>One exception is called the “community caretaker” doctrine, which permits police to impound a car if it poses a threat to public safety, is parked illegally or would be vandalized imminently if left in place. But reporters attending checkpoints in Sacramento, Hayward and Los Angeles observed officers impounding cars that appeared to pose no danger. Many of the drivers who lost their cars at these checkpoints were illegal immigrants, based on interviews with the drivers and police. They rarely challenge vehicle seizures or have the cash to recover their cars, studies and interviews show.</p>
<p>Some tow truck company officials relayed stories of immigrant mothers arriving at impound lots to remove baby car seats and children’s toys before leaving the vehicle to the tow firm. “I have to stand here for days and watch them take their whole life out of their vehicles,” said Mattea Ezgar, an office manager at Terra Linda Towing in San Rafael. By contrast, police do not typically seize the cars of motorists arrested for drunken driving, meaning the owners can retrieve their vehicles the next day, according to law enforcement officials.</p>
<p>The city of Montebello, southeast of Los Angeles, runs checkpoints that are among California’s least effective at getting drunks off the road, the Investigative Reporting Program found. Last year, officers there failed to conduct a single field sobriety test at three of the city’s five roadway operations, state records show. Yet the city collected upward of $95,000 during the last fiscal year from checkpoints, including grant money for police overtime. The California Office of Traffic Safety, which is administered in part by officials at UC Berkeley, continues to fund Montebello’s operations, providing a fresh $37,000 grant for this year.</p>
<p>The state does not consistently collect data on where local police departments set up checkpoints. A majority of California law enforcement agencies declined to release records showing which intersections they target, or what transpired at checkpoints, making it difficult to perform a statistical analysis of seizures in heavily minority communities. But cities across the state operate checkpoints in communities with high minority populations, the Investigative Reporting Program found. Checkpoints in cities where Hispanics are the largest share of the population seized 34 cars per operation, a rate three times higher than cities with the smallest Hispanic populations, the analysis shows. The disparity between vehicles impounds and DUI arrests exist in virtually every region of California.</p>
<p>In San Rafael, near San Francisco, 10 of the city’s 12 sobriety checkpoints the past two years took place on streets surrounding the city’s heavily Hispanic neighborhoods. Those operations resulted in four DUI arrests and 121 impounded cars for driver’s license violations. The Los Angeles Police Department averaged six DUI arrests per checkpoint in 2009, state data shows, more than most California departments. But the LAPD’s driver’s license impounds doubled the past two years. One operation in December netted 64 vehicle seizures and just four drunken driving arrests.</p>
<p>The federal government provides the California Office of Traffic Safety about $100 million each year to promote responsible driving that reduces roadway deaths. Of that, $30 million goes into programs that fund drunken driving crackdowns, particularly checkpoints. Police overtime accounts for more than 90 percent of the expense of sobriety checkpoints. Statewide, police departments on average deployed 18 officers at each checkpoint, according to state data. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises that police can set up checkpoints with as few as six officers. The additional dozen officers typical at a California roadway operation cost state and federal taxpayers an extra $5.5 million during the 2008-2009 fiscal year, according to the Investigative Reporting Program’s analysis. And the LAPD assigned 35 officers, on average, to every sobriety crackdown.</p>
<p>At least a dozen officers spent hours sitting and chatting at an operation in early January in downtown Los Angeles. A couple of officers smoked cigars as they watched cars go through the screening. Officers seized 22 cars that evening and made one DUI arrest. The state data shows that last fiscal year, the LAPD spent $16,200 per checkpoint, all of it on officer overtime. And the trend shows to no sign of letting up. State officials have declared that 2010 will be the “year of the checkpoint,” and police are scheduling 2,500 of the operations throughout California.</p>
<p>More on this story:</p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.californiawatch.org/public-safety/reporter-details-how-story-came-together" type="external">Reporter details story methodology</a> • <a href="http://www.californiawatch.org/data/map-agencies-impounding-more-cars-sober-drivers-dui-checkpoints" type="external">MAP: Agencies impounding more cars from sober drivers at DUI checkpoints</a> • <a href="http://www.californiawatch.org/data/uc-berkeley-program-administers-checkpoint-funds" type="external">UC Berkeley program administers checkpoint funds</a> • <a href="http://www.californiawatch.org/data/checkpoint-grants-help-cover-police-overtime" type="external">Checkpoint grants help cover police overtime</a> • <a href="http://www.californiawatch.org/interactive-cities-highest-impoundment-rates" type="external">INTERACTIVE: Cities with the highest impoundment rates</a></p>
<p>Ryan Gabrielson, the winner of the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Local Reporting, is a reporter and fellow at UC Berkeley’s Investigative Reporting Program directed by Lowell Bergman, one of the founders of the Center for Investigative Reporting. This story was edited by Mark Katches and Lowell Bergman. It was copy edited by William Cooley.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | photo wikimedia commons sobriety checkpoints california increasingly turning profitable operations local police departmentsoperations far likely seize cars unlicensed motorists catch drunk drivers investigation investigative reporting program uc berkeley california watch found impounds checkpoints 2009 generated estimated 40 million towing fees police finesrevenue cities divide towing firms addition police officers received 30 million overtime pay dui crackdowns funded california office traffic safety dozens interviews past three months law enforcement officials tow truck operators say vehicles predominantly taken minority drivers often illegal immigrants course examination investigative reporting program reviewed hundreds pages city financial records police reports analyzed data documenting results every checkpoint received state funding past two years among findings sobriety checkpoints frequently screen traffic within near hispanic neighborhoods cities hispanics majority population seizing cars three times rate cities small minority populations south gate los angeles county city hispanics make 92 percent population police confiscated average 86 vehicles per operation last fiscal year seizures appear defy 2005 federal appellate court ruling determined police impound cars solely driver unlicensed fact police across state ratcheted vehicle seizures last year officers impounded 24000 cars trucks checkpoints total roughly seven times higher 3200 drunken driving arrests roadway operations percentage vehicle seizures increased 53 percent compared 2007 departments frequently overstaff checkpoints officers earning overtime moreno valley police department riverside county averaged 38 officers operation last year six times federal guidelines say required nearly 50 local police sheriffs departments averaged 20 officers per checkpointoperations averaged three dui arrests night sure dui checkpoints saved countless lives brought thousands drunken drivers justice inspecting drivers licenses police often catch motorists driving unlawfully typically without insurance support groups mothers drunk driving california doubled use sobriety checkpoints past three years law enforcement officials say demographics play role determining checkpoints established indeed investigative reporting programs analysis find evidence police departments set checkpoints specifically target hispanic neighborhoods operations typically take place major thoroughfares near highways minority motorists often caught checkpoints net looking screen sobriety licensed driver said capt ralph newcomb montebello police department southeast los angeles youre status never comes california police seized cars unlicensed drivers 15 years state law allows vehicles impounded 30 days 2005 ninth us circuit court appeals ruled oregon case law enforcement cant impound vehicle offense unlicensed driving would violate fourth amendment protects everyone within united states whether legal residents one exception called community caretaker doctrine permits police impound car poses threat public safety parked illegally would vandalized imminently left place reporters attending checkpoints sacramento hayward los angeles observed officers impounding cars appeared pose danger many drivers lost cars checkpoints illegal immigrants based interviews drivers police rarely challenge vehicle seizures cash recover cars studies interviews show tow truck company officials relayed stories immigrant mothers arriving impound lots remove baby car seats childrens toys leaving vehicle tow firm stand days watch take whole life vehicles said mattea ezgar office manager terra linda towing san rafael contrast police typically seize cars motorists arrested drunken driving meaning owners retrieve vehicles next day according law enforcement officials city montebello southeast los angeles runs checkpoints among californias least effective getting drunks road investigative reporting program found last year officers failed conduct single field sobriety test three citys five roadway operations state records show yet city collected upward 95000 last fiscal year checkpoints including grant money police overtime california office traffic safety administered part officials uc berkeley continues fund montebellos operations providing fresh 37000 grant year state consistently collect data local police departments set checkpoints majority california law enforcement agencies declined release records showing intersections target transpired checkpoints making difficult perform statistical analysis seizures heavily minority communities cities across state operate checkpoints communities high minority populations investigative reporting program found checkpoints cities hispanics largest share population seized 34 cars per operation rate three times higher cities smallest hispanic populations analysis shows disparity vehicles impounds dui arrests exist virtually every region california san rafael near san francisco 10 citys 12 sobriety checkpoints past two years took place streets surrounding citys heavily hispanic neighborhoods operations resulted four dui arrests 121 impounded cars drivers license violations los angeles police department averaged six dui arrests per checkpoint 2009 state data shows california departments lapds drivers license impounds doubled past two years one operation december netted 64 vehicle seizures four drunken driving arrests federal government provides california office traffic safety 100 million year promote responsible driving reduces roadway deaths 30 million goes programs fund drunken driving crackdowns particularly checkpoints police overtime accounts 90 percent expense sobriety checkpoints statewide police departments average deployed 18 officers checkpoint according state data national highway traffic safety administration advises police set checkpoints six officers additional dozen officers typical california roadway operation cost state federal taxpayers extra 55 million 20082009 fiscal year according investigative reporting programs analysis lapd assigned 35 officers average every sobriety crackdown least dozen officers spent hours sitting chatting operation early january downtown los angeles couple officers smoked cigars watched cars go screening officers seized 22 cars evening made one dui arrest state data shows last fiscal year lapd spent 16200 per checkpoint officer overtime trend shows sign letting state officials declared 2010 year checkpoint police scheduling 2500 operations throughout california story reporter details story methodology map agencies impounding cars sober drivers dui checkpoints uc berkeley program administers checkpoint funds checkpoint grants help cover police overtime interactive cities highest impoundment rates ryan gabrielson winner 2009 pulitzer prize local reporting reporter fellow uc berkeleys investigative reporting program directed lowell bergman one founders center investigative reporting story edited mark katches lowell bergman copy edited william cooley | 909 |
<p>War between Islam and the nations of the West? There have been a good many careless words printed and broadcast in America touching on this simplistic idea. And an American president who lacks the most superficial knowledge of the world or its history offers no reassurance, as he lurches from one misstatement to another, that this idea is not being incorporated into national policy.</p>
<p>The concept of Islam as an intrinsically violent, anti-progressive opponent in the modern world is both ignorant and dangerous. The new prominence of this idea in America provides a good measure of the distorted information that exists in our political environment. It’s almost as though the bloody, parochial views of Ariel Sharon on the nature of Palestinians had been exalted to a world view, worthy of every statesman’s consideration.</p>
<p>How easily we forget that the history of organized Christianity provides almost certainly the bloodiest tale in all of human history.</p>
<p>The Crusades, that dark saga of Christianity written in blood and terror, continued sporadically over hundreds of years. They served little other purpose than gathering wealth through spoils and sacking cities and easing the periodic domestic political difficulties of the papacy and major princes of Europe.</p>
<p>We hear of the treatment of women under Islam in certain places, not remembering that Christian women were left locked in iron chastity belts for years while their husbands raped their way across the Near East. And the character of Saladin, hard warrior that he was, shines nobly in history compared to the moral shabbiness of Richard Lionheart.</p>
<p>Europe wove a remarkable tapestry of horrors in the name of Christianity from the beginning of the modern era. There was the Holy Inquisition, the Expulsion of the Jews from Spain, the Reformation, the Counter-Reformation, the Thirty Years’ War, the English Civil War, the St Bartholomew Massacre, Cromwell’s slaughter in Ireland, the enslavement and widespread extermination of native peoples in the Americas, the Eighty Years’ War in Holland, the expulsion of the Huguenots from France, the pogroms, the burning of witches, and numberless other horrific events right down to The Holocaust itself, which was largely the work of people who considered themselves, as did the slave drivers of America’s South, to be Christians.</p>
<p>Over and above the conflicts motivated by religion, European and American history, a history dominated by people calling themselves Christian, runs with rivers, lakes, and whole seas of blood. Just a sampling includes the Hundred Years’ War, the War of the Spanish Succession, the Seven Years’ War, the slave trade, the French Revolution, the Vendee, the Napoleonic Wars, the Trail of Tears, the Opium War, African slavery in the American South, the American Civil War, the Franco-Prussian War, the massacre in the Belgium Congo, the Crimean War, lynchings, the Mexican War, the Spanish-American War, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, World War I, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II.</p>
<p>How anyone with this heritage can describe Islam as notably bloodthirsty plainly tells us that immense ignorance is at work here.</p>
<p>What limited knowledge I have of Islam is enough to know that there is no history, despite bloody characters like Tamerlane, to overtop Europe’s excesses, and, in some cases, there has been generosity of spirit exceeding that shown by Christians.</p>
<p>The Moorish kings of Spain tended to follow the same tolerant attitude towards religion that the classical Romans had done. The Romans allowed any religion to flourish, often officially adopting the gods of a conquered people, so long as the religion represented no political threat to Rome’s authority.</p>
<p>People today point to a well-publicized excess like the Taliban’s destruction of ancient statues, apparently completely oblivious to the fact that the religiously-insane Puritans, direct ancestors of America’s Christian fundamentalists, ran through the beautiful, ancient cathedrals of England after the Reformation, smashing stained glass, desecrating ancient tombs, destroying priceless manuscripts, and smashing sculptures.</p>
<p>A remarkably tolerant society flourished under the Moors in Spain for hundreds of years. Jews, Christians, and Muslims were tolerated, and the talented served the state in many high capacities regardless of religion. Learning advanced, trade flourished.</p>
<p>During the centuries of the Jewish Diaspora, the Arab people of the Holy Land looked after the holy places and largely treated Jewish visitors with hospitality and respect. There was none of the bitter hatred we see today. All this changed at the birth of modern Israel and the expulsion of Palestinians from places they had inhabited for centuries.</p>
<p>No reasonable, decent-minded person can deny that the manner of Israel’s rebirth did a great injustice to the Palestinians. And the great powers, first Britain and then the United States, had entirely selfish motives in seeing this done.</p>
<p>Under the original UN proposal for Israel, there were to be two roughly-equal states carved out of Palestine, and the city of Jerusalem was to have an international status. More than half a century later, what we have is an Israel that covers three-quarters of Palestine and militarily occupies the rest.</p>
<p>Yet somehow, the burden of appropriate behavior, in a fuzzily-defined “peace process” leading to some fuzzily-defined Palestinian state at some undefined date, is always placed upon the Palestinians. They are supposed to live patiently, exhibiting the peacefulness of model citizens in Dorothy’s Kansas, while under a humiliating occupation in order just to earn the privilege of talking to Israel about the situation.</p>
<p>I often wonder how Americans, with their Second-Amendment rights and hundreds of millions of guns, would behave under such circumstances. Would they patiently wait decade after decade, watching “settlers” fresh from other places build on what was their land? Watching bulldozers flatten their orchards? Watching their people harassed and often demeaned at checkpoints as they simply travel from one point to another near their homes? Not being able to so much as build a road or a sewer without the almost impossible-to-get permission of the occupying authorities? Being told that only their patient behavior can earn them the right to talk with those who control their lives?</p>
<p>Looking at the situation in that hypothetical light may offer a better appreciation for what the Palestinians have endured with considerable patience.</p>
<p>The simple fact is that it has been the clear policy of Israeli governments over the last half century to avoid, at all costs, the creation of a Palestinian state. Every effort at delay, every quibble over definitions, every tactical shift that could possibly be made has been made, many times over, in an effort to buy time, hoping that time alone will somehow make the problem of the Palestinians go away.</p>
<p>This policy may have changed, ever-so-slightly, under Mr. Barak from one of preventing the creation of a Palestinian state to one of preventing the creation of a viable Palestinian state, but that is not the same thing as “the great opportunity missed” that has been dramatized, over and over again, in America’s press. And even this slight change in policy remains unacceptable to many conservatives in Israel.</p>
<p>And when the Palestinians, morally exhausted by endless waiting that yields no change, resist the occupation they are under with the limited, desperate means they possess, they are regarded as unstable lunatics who don’t love their children. A number of apologists for Israel’s worst excesses have repeated this theme, an extension of a remark attributed to the late Golda Meir about peace coming “when the Palestinians learn to love their children more than they hate us.” The actual quote from Ms. Meir that is most applicable here is one she made to the Sunday Times of June 15, 1969, “They [the Palestinians] did not exist.”</p>
<p>We are repeatedly told that Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East and it is defending itself against malevolent forces. This vaguely-defined image of enlightenment versus darkness appeals to Americans. But democracy has never been a guarantee of fairness or decency. It is only a means of selecting a government.</p>
<p>Under any democracy, a bare majority of people with an ugly prejudice can tyrannize over others almost in perpetuity. Indeed, this very experience is a large part of the history of the United States, even with its much-vaunted Bill of Rights. But Israel has no Bill of Rights, and what’s more important for actual day-to-day fairness and decency, the very will to act in a fair manner appears to be absent. What else can one say where assassination, torture, and improper arrest have been management tools of government for decades?</p>
<p>Israel’s politics are highly polarized, undoubtedly far worse than those of the United States, and the balance of power needed to form any parliamentary coalition is always in the hands of far-out religious parties. The interests of these people are anything but informed by enlightenment values and democracy, holding to views and ideas, as they do, that predate the existence of democracy or human rights.</p>
<p>It is not an exaggeration to say that killing the Philistines or tearing down the walls of Jericho are regarded as current events by a good many of these fundamentalist party members. A number of their leaders have, time and again, described Palestinians as “vermin.”</p>
<p>The extreme conservatives receive many special privileges in Israel that distort the entire political mechanism. For example, their rabbis decide the rules governing who is accepted as a Jew or what are acceptable religious, and religiously-approved social, practices. The students in the fundamentalist religious schools traditionally have been exempt from the army. In effect, they are exempt from the violent results of the very policies they advocate.</p>
<p>These parties generally believe in a greater Israel, that is, an Israel that includes what little is left of Palestine, the West Bank and Gaza, minus its current undesirable inhabitants. It has been the view of Israeli government after Israeli government over the last half century to consider Jordan as the Palestinian’s proper home. Thus, when Israeli governments talked of peace, it meant something entirely different than what Palestinians meant.</p>
<p>And when, finally, an offer for a Palestinian state was made by Mr. Barak at Camp David – an offer that, by all reports, was made quite angrily and contemptuously to Mr. Arafat – under any honest, rational analysis, it reduced to one for a giant holding facility for people not wanted in Israel. How surprising that Mr. Arafat left in anger when after days of being subjected to good-cop/bad-cop treatment by Mr. Clinton and Mr. Barak, this was the end result. Surely, this was an immensely-frustrating disappointment to the Palestinians after years of effort and compromise to achieve and implement the Oslo Accords.</p>
<p>Mr. Bush’s War on Terror, a mindless crusade against disagreeable Islamic governments, has had the terrible effect of casting the bloody-minded Mr. Sharon in the role of partner against the forces of terror and darkness. He has received a new mantle of legitimacy for continued destruction and delay, for continued injustice against those too powerless to effectively oppose him.</p>
<p>As Israel’s leaders well know, the Palestinian population is growing rapidly. Rapid population growth is the general case for poor people throughout the world. Israel’s highly organized and costly efforts to support Jewish immigration reflect awareness of this fact. But a combination of large birth rates on one side and heavy immigration on the other is a certain formula for disaster in the long term. The region’s basic resources, especially water, will sustain only a limited population.</p>
<p>A large population, outsizing its resources, almost certainly is the major underlying reason for the immense slaughters and numberless coups and civil wars of Western Africa in recent years, a region whose population growth has been high but whose usable resources are limited. And the history of civilization tells us that vast changes and movements of population have been far more decisive in human affairs than atomic weapons.</p>
<p>So it appears that not only in the short term, but over some much longer time horizon, Israel and the Palestinians are on a deadly collision course.</p>
<p>There is hope. Modern societies have all experienced a phenomenon called demographic transition. This term simply means that, faced with a reduced death rate, people’s normal response is a reduced birth rate, yielding a net result of slow, or even negative, population growth. Couples prefer to have only two or three children who are almost certain to survive instead of six or more, at least half of whom die before growing up. This is the reason why modern countries depend entirely on migration for growth, or to avoid actual decline, in population.</p>
<p>Israel, populated largely by people from Europe and North America and being a fairly prosperous society, follows the pattern of advanced nations. The West Bank and Gaza, with some of the world’s highest birth rates, do not. Now, the only way to trigger demographic transition is through healthful measures like adequate diet, good public sanitation, and basic health care, especially measures for infant care. These things done, nature takes a predictable path and people stop having large families.</p>
<p>But these are not measures that can be accomplished quickly, and the need to get on with them should add some sense of urgency to ending the occupation and helping the Palestinians achieve a state with some degree of prosperity.</p>
<p>By now, it should be clear that life in Israel for the foreseeable future cannot be quite the same as life in Dorothy’s Kansas no matter who leads the government. No one has been more ruthless or bloody-minded than Mr. Sharon, and he has only succeeded in making every problem worse.</p>
<p>Yet life in Israel similar to Dorothy’s Kansas – that is, a life as though you were not surrounded by people seething over injustice and occupation and steeped in poverty – is a condition that Mr. Sharon insists on as a precondition even for talking about peace. Somehow, Mr. Arafat, with a wave of his hand, is to make all the violence disappear. This is not only unrealistic, it is almost certainly dishonest.</p>
<p>Israel herself, in any of the places she has occupied, and despite having one of the best equipped armies in the world, has never been able to do that very thing. All those years in Lebanon, and the violence continued at some level for the entire time. Indeed, a new enemy, Hizballah, rose in response to Israel’s activities. It is simply a fact that there has always been some level of violence in any place occupied by Israel. How is Mr. Arafat, with his limited resources and in the face of many desperate factions, supposed to be able to accomplish what the Israeli army and secret services cannot?</p>
<p>And were he to try running the kind of quasi-police state one assumes Israel favors, with regular mass arrests of suspects, how long would he remain in power?</p>
<p>Moreover, Mr. Sharon treats Mr. Arafat with utter contempt, dismissing him as insignificant, and has destroyed many of the means and symbols of his authority. How can a leader, treated as contemptible, exercise authority? For all his faults, and he has a number of them, Mr. Arafat has demonstrated through many compromises related to the Oslo Accords that he is a man who sincerely desires peace and a constructive relationship with Israel.</p>
<p>Mr. Sharon’s entire adult life has been dedicated to killing. I do believe there is more blood on his hands than any terrorist you care to name. Mr. Sharon first made a name for himself with the Qibya massacre in 1953, when a force under his command blew up forty-five houses and killed sixty-nine people, most of them women and children.</p>
<p>Nearly thirty years later, in 1982, he was still at it when Lebanese militia forces under his control murdered and dumped into mass graves, using Israeli-supplied bulldozers, between two and three-thousand civilians in the refugee camps called Sabra and Shatila.</p>
<p>Mr. Sharon was responsible for the disastrous invasion of Lebanon which saw hundreds of civilians killed by Israel’s shelling of Beirut and precipitated a bloody civil war in which thousands more died.</p>
<p>Mr. Sharon’s policies of assassination and bombing have succeeded only in multiplying the suicide bombings beyond anything in recent memory. It is almost impossible to imagine this man as capable of making a meaningful gesture towards peace. Yes, of course he wants peace, peace on his terms, a cheap peace without giving anything, but by definition that is not peace for the Palestinians.</p>
<p>We always hear about what is required of the Palestinians for peace, but a genuine peace requires some extraordinary things on Israel’s part.</p>
<p>First, she must at some point accept a Palestinian state. This condition is a necessary one, but it is far from sufficient, for she must be prepared to generously assist this state towards achieving some prosperity, reducing the causes of both run-away population growth and the dreary hopelessness that causes people to strap bombs to their bodies.</p>
<p>Most difficult of all, it is hard to see how Israel can avoid some level of violence during a period of Palestinian nation-building. This is something no ordinary state would consciously embrace, but then Israel is no ordinary state. The norms of Dorothy’s Kansas simply do not apply. The hatreds generated by a half century of aggressive policies are not going to just melt away, but if there is enough genuine, demonstrated goodwill, it does seem likely that such violence would be minimal. It is an unappetizing risk that almost certainly needs to be taken, for no one is going to run a police state on Israel’s behalf in the West Bank.</p>
<p>Considering the immense difficulty of these things and political barriers that exist against them in Israel, it does not seem likely that peace is coming any time soon. The prospect seems rather for low-grade, perpetual war, paralleling that Mr. Bush so relishes speaking of. For someone of Mr. Sharon’s turn of mind, this may be a wholly acceptable alternative.</p>
<p>John Chuckman, a columnist for <a href="http://www.yellowtimes.org/" type="external">YellowTimes</a>, lives in Ontario, Canada. He encourages your comments: <a href="mailto:jchuckman@YellowTimes.org" type="external">jchuckman@YellowTimes.org</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | war islam nations west good many careless words printed broadcast america touching simplistic idea american president lacks superficial knowledge world history offers reassurance lurches one misstatement another idea incorporated national policy concept islam intrinsically violent antiprogressive opponent modern world ignorant dangerous new prominence idea america provides good measure distorted information exists political environment almost though bloody parochial views ariel sharon nature palestinians exalted world view worthy every statesmans consideration easily forget history organized christianity provides almost certainly bloodiest tale human history crusades dark saga christianity written blood terror continued sporadically hundreds years served little purpose gathering wealth spoils sacking cities easing periodic domestic political difficulties papacy major princes europe hear treatment women islam certain places remembering christian women left locked iron chastity belts years husbands raped way across near east character saladin hard warrior shines nobly history compared moral shabbiness richard lionheart europe wove remarkable tapestry horrors name christianity beginning modern era holy inquisition expulsion jews spain reformation counterreformation thirty years war english civil war st bartholomew massacre cromwells slaughter ireland enslavement widespread extermination native peoples americas eighty years war holland expulsion huguenots france pogroms burning witches numberless horrific events right holocaust largely work people considered slave drivers americas south christians conflicts motivated religion european american history history dominated people calling christian runs rivers lakes whole seas blood sampling includes hundred years war war spanish succession seven years war slave trade french revolution vendee napoleonic wars trail tears opium war african slavery american south american civil war francoprussian war massacre belgium congo crimean war lynchings mexican war spanishamerican war korean war vietnam war world war spanish civil war world war ii anyone heritage describe islam notably bloodthirsty plainly tells us immense ignorance work limited knowledge islam enough know history despite bloody characters like tamerlane overtop europes excesses cases generosity spirit exceeding shown christians moorish kings spain tended follow tolerant attitude towards religion classical romans done romans allowed religion flourish often officially adopting gods conquered people long religion represented political threat romes authority people today point wellpublicized excess like talibans destruction ancient statues apparently completely oblivious fact religiouslyinsane puritans direct ancestors americas christian fundamentalists ran beautiful ancient cathedrals england reformation smashing stained glass desecrating ancient tombs destroying priceless manuscripts smashing sculptures remarkably tolerant society flourished moors spain hundreds years jews christians muslims tolerated talented served state many high capacities regardless religion learning advanced trade flourished centuries jewish diaspora arab people holy land looked holy places largely treated jewish visitors hospitality respect none bitter hatred see today changed birth modern israel expulsion palestinians places inhabited centuries reasonable decentminded person deny manner israels rebirth great injustice palestinians great powers first britain united states entirely selfish motives seeing done original un proposal israel two roughlyequal states carved palestine city jerusalem international status half century later israel covers threequarters palestine militarily occupies rest yet somehow burden appropriate behavior fuzzilydefined peace process leading fuzzilydefined palestinian state undefined date always placed upon palestinians supposed live patiently exhibiting peacefulness model citizens dorothys kansas humiliating occupation order earn privilege talking israel situation often wonder americans secondamendment rights hundreds millions guns would behave circumstances would patiently wait decade decade watching settlers fresh places build land watching bulldozers flatten orchards watching people harassed often demeaned checkpoints simply travel one point another near homes able much build road sewer without almost impossibletoget permission occupying authorities told patient behavior earn right talk control lives looking situation hypothetical light may offer better appreciation palestinians endured considerable patience simple fact clear policy israeli governments last half century avoid costs creation palestinian state every effort delay every quibble definitions every tactical shift could possibly made made many times effort buy time hoping time alone somehow make problem palestinians go away policy may changed eversoslightly mr barak one preventing creation palestinian state one preventing creation viable palestinian state thing great opportunity missed dramatized americas press even slight change policy remains unacceptable many conservatives israel palestinians morally exhausted endless waiting yields change resist occupation limited desperate means possess regarded unstable lunatics dont love children number apologists israels worst excesses repeated theme extension remark attributed late golda meir peace coming palestinians learn love children hate us actual quote ms meir applicable one made sunday times june 15 1969 palestinians exist repeatedly told israel democracy middle east defending malevolent forces vaguelydefined image enlightenment versus darkness appeals americans democracy never guarantee fairness decency means selecting government democracy bare majority people ugly prejudice tyrannize others almost perpetuity indeed experience large part history united states even muchvaunted bill rights israel bill rights whats important actual daytoday fairness decency act fair manner appears absent else one say assassination torture improper arrest management tools government decades israels politics highly polarized undoubtedly far worse united states balance power needed form parliamentary coalition always hands farout religious parties interests people anything informed enlightenment values democracy holding views ideas predate existence democracy human rights exaggeration say killing philistines tearing walls jericho regarded current events good many fundamentalist party members number leaders time described palestinians vermin extreme conservatives receive many special privileges israel distort entire political mechanism example rabbis decide rules governing accepted jew acceptable religious religiouslyapproved social practices students fundamentalist religious schools traditionally exempt army effect exempt violent results policies advocate parties generally believe greater israel israel includes little left palestine west bank gaza minus current undesirable inhabitants view israeli government israeli government last half century consider jordan palestinians proper home thus israeli governments talked peace meant something entirely different palestinians meant finally offer palestinian state made mr barak camp david offer reports made quite angrily contemptuously mr arafat honest rational analysis reduced one giant holding facility people wanted israel surprising mr arafat left anger days subjected goodcopbadcop treatment mr clinton mr barak end result surely immenselyfrustrating disappointment palestinians years effort compromise achieve implement oslo accords mr bushs war terror mindless crusade disagreeable islamic governments terrible effect casting bloodyminded mr sharon role partner forces terror darkness received new mantle legitimacy continued destruction delay continued injustice powerless effectively oppose israels leaders well know palestinian population growing rapidly rapid population growth general case poor people throughout world israels highly organized costly efforts support jewish immigration reflect awareness fact combination large birth rates one side heavy immigration certain formula disaster long term regions basic resources especially water sustain limited population large population outsizing resources almost certainly major underlying reason immense slaughters numberless coups civil wars western africa recent years region whose population growth high whose usable resources limited history civilization tells us vast changes movements population far decisive human affairs atomic weapons appears short term much longer time horizon israel palestinians deadly collision course hope modern societies experienced phenomenon called demographic transition term simply means faced reduced death rate peoples normal response reduced birth rate yielding net result slow even negative population growth couples prefer two three children almost certain survive instead six least half die growing reason modern countries depend entirely migration growth avoid actual decline population israel populated largely people europe north america fairly prosperous society follows pattern advanced nations west bank gaza worlds highest birth rates way trigger demographic transition healthful measures like adequate diet good public sanitation basic health care especially measures infant care things done nature takes predictable path people stop large families measures accomplished quickly need get add sense urgency ending occupation helping palestinians achieve state degree prosperity clear life israel foreseeable future quite life dorothys kansas matter leads government one ruthless bloodyminded mr sharon succeeded making every problem worse yet life israel similar dorothys kansas life though surrounded people seething injustice occupation steeped poverty condition mr sharon insists precondition even talking peace somehow mr arafat wave hand make violence disappear unrealistic almost certainly dishonest israel places occupied despite one best equipped armies world never able thing years lebanon violence continued level entire time indeed new enemy hizballah rose response israels activities simply fact always level violence place occupied israel mr arafat limited resources face many desperate factions supposed able accomplish israeli army secret services try running kind quasipolice state one assumes israel favors regular mass arrests suspects long would remain power moreover mr sharon treats mr arafat utter contempt dismissing insignificant destroyed many means symbols authority leader treated contemptible exercise authority faults number mr arafat demonstrated many compromises related oslo accords man sincerely desires peace constructive relationship israel mr sharons entire adult life dedicated killing believe blood hands terrorist care name mr sharon first made name qibya massacre 1953 force command blew fortyfive houses killed sixtynine people women children nearly thirty years later 1982 still lebanese militia forces control murdered dumped mass graves using israelisupplied bulldozers two threethousand civilians refugee camps called sabra shatila mr sharon responsible disastrous invasion lebanon saw hundreds civilians killed israels shelling beirut precipitated bloody civil war thousands died mr sharons policies assassination bombing succeeded multiplying suicide bombings beyond anything recent memory almost impossible imagine man capable making meaningful gesture towards peace yes course wants peace peace terms cheap peace without giving anything definition peace palestinians always hear required palestinians peace genuine peace requires extraordinary things israels part first must point accept palestinian state condition necessary one far sufficient must prepared generously assist state towards achieving prosperity reducing causes runaway population growth dreary hopelessness causes people strap bombs bodies difficult hard see israel avoid level violence period palestinian nationbuilding something ordinary state would consciously embrace israel ordinary state norms dorothys kansas simply apply hatreds generated half century aggressive policies going melt away enough genuine demonstrated goodwill seem likely violence would minimal unappetizing risk almost certainly needs taken one going run police state israels behalf west bank considering immense difficulty things political barriers exist israel seem likely peace coming time soon prospect seems rather lowgrade perpetual war paralleling mr bush relishes speaking someone mr sharons turn mind may wholly acceptable alternative john chuckman columnist yellowtimes lives ontario canada encourages comments jchuckmanyellowtimesorg 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,636 |
<p>Hillary Clinton’s Latin America tour is turning out to be about as successful as George W. Bush’s visit in 2005, when he ended up leaving Argentina a day ahead of schedule just to get the hell out of town. The main difference is that she is not being greeted with protests and riots. For that she can thank the positive media image that her boss, President Obama, has managed to maintain in the region, despite his continuation of his predecessor’s policies.</p>
<p>But she has been even more diplomatically clumsy that Bush, who at least recognized that there were serious problems and knew what not to say. “The Honduras crisis has been managed to a successful conclusion,” Clinton said in Buenos Aires, adding that “it was done without violence.”</p>
<p>This is rubbing salt into her hosts’ wounds, as they see the military overthrow of President Mel Zelaya last June, and the United States’ subsequent efforts to legitimize the dictatorship there, as not only a failure but a threat to democracy throughout the region.</p>
<p>It is also an outrageous thing to say, given the political killings, beatings, mass arrests and torture that the coup government used in order to maintain power and repress the pro-democracy movement. The worst part is that they are still committing these crimes.</p>
<p>Today nine members of the U.S. Congress – including some Democrats in Congressional leadership positions – wrote to Secretary Clinton and to the White House about this violence. They wrote:</p>
<p>“Since President Lobo’s inauguration, several prominent opponents of the coup have been attacked. On February 3rd, Vanessa Zepeda, a nurse and union organizer who had previously received death threats linked to her activism in the resistance movement, was strangled and her body dumped from a vehicle in Tegucigalpa. On February 15th, Julio Funes Benitez, a member of the SITRASANAA trade union and an active member of the national resistance movement, was shot and killed by unknown gunmen on a motorcycle outside his home. Most recently, Claudia Brizuela, an opposition activist, was murdered in her home on February 24th. Unfortunately these are only three of the numerous attacks against activists and their families …”</p>
<p>Secretary Clinton will meet Friday with “Pepe” Lobo of Honduras, who was elected president after a campaign marked by media shutdowns and police repression of dissent. The Organization of American States and European Union refused to send official observers to the election.</p>
<p>The Members of Congress also asked that Clinton, in her meeting with Lobo, “send a strong unambiguous message that the human rights situation in Honduras will be a critical component of upcoming decisions regarding the further normalizations of relations, as well as the resumption of financial assistance.”</p>
<p>This was the third letter that Clinton received from Congress on human rights in Honduras. On Aug. 7 and Sept. 25, Members of Congress from Hillary Clinton’s own Democratic Party wrote to her to complain of the ongoing human rights abuses in Honduras and impossibility of holding free elections under these conditions. They did not even get a perfunctory reply until Jan. 28, more than four months after the second letter was sent. This is an unusual level of disrespect for the elected representatives of one’s own political party.</p>
<p>For these New Cold Warriors, it seems that all that has mattered is that they got rid of one social democratic president of one small, poor country.</p>
<p>In Brazil, Clinton continued her Cold War strategy by throwing in some gratuitous insults toward Venezuela. This is a bit like going to a party and telling the host how much you don’t like his friends. After ritual denunciations of Venezuela, Clinton said, “We wish Venezuela were looking more to its south and looking at Brazil and looking at Chile and other models of a successful country.”</p>
<p>Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim responded with diplomacy, but there was no mistaking his strong rebuff to her insults: He said that he agreed with “one point” that Clinton made, “that Venezuela should look southwards more … that is why we have invited Venezuela to join MERCOSUR as a full member country.” Ms. Clinton’s right wing allies in Paraguay’s legislature – the remnants of that country’s dictatorship and 60 years of one-party rule – are currently holding up Venezuela’s membership in the South American trade block. This is not what she wanted to hear from Brazil.</p>
<p>The Brazilians also rejected Clinton’s rather undiplomatic efforts to pressure them to join Washington in calling for new sanctions against Iran. “It is not prudent to push Iran against a wall,” said Brazilian president Lula da Silva. “The prudent thing is to establish negotiations.”</p>
<p>“We will not simply bow down to an evolving consensus if we do not agree,” Amorim said at a press conference with Clinton.</p>
<p>Secretary Clinton made one concession to Argentina, calling for the U.K. to sit down with the Argentine government and discuss their dispute over the Malvinas (Falkland) Islands. But it seems unlikely that Washington will do anything to make this happen.</p>
<p>For now, the next crucial test will be Honduras: Will Clinton continue Washington’s efforts to whitewash the Honduran government’s repression? Or will she listen to the rest of the hemisphere as well as her own Democratic Members of Congress and insist on some concessions regarding human rights, including the return of Mel Zelaya to his country (as the Brazilians also emphasized)? This story may not get much U.S. media attention, but Latin America will be watching.</p>
<p>MARK WEISBROT is an economist and co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research.</p>
<p>This article was originally published by <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/" type="external">The Guardian.</a></p>
<p />
<p /> | true | 4 | hillary clintons latin america tour turning successful george w bushs visit 2005 ended leaving argentina day ahead schedule get hell town main difference greeted protests riots thank positive media image boss president obama managed maintain region despite continuation predecessors policies even diplomatically clumsy bush least recognized serious problems knew say honduras crisis managed successful conclusion clinton said buenos aires adding done without violence rubbing salt hosts wounds see military overthrow president mel zelaya last june united states subsequent efforts legitimize dictatorship failure threat democracy throughout region also outrageous thing say given political killings beatings mass arrests torture coup government used order maintain power repress prodemocracy movement worst part still committing crimes today nine members us congress including democrats congressional leadership positions wrote secretary clinton white house violence wrote since president lobos inauguration several prominent opponents coup attacked february 3rd vanessa zepeda nurse union organizer previously received death threats linked activism resistance movement strangled body dumped vehicle tegucigalpa february 15th julio funes benitez member sitrasanaa trade union active member national resistance movement shot killed unknown gunmen motorcycle outside home recently claudia brizuela opposition activist murdered home february 24th unfortunately three numerous attacks activists families secretary clinton meet friday pepe lobo honduras elected president campaign marked media shutdowns police repression dissent organization american states european union refused send official observers election members congress also asked clinton meeting lobo send strong unambiguous message human rights situation honduras critical component upcoming decisions regarding normalizations relations well resumption financial assistance third letter clinton received congress human rights honduras aug 7 sept 25 members congress hillary clintons democratic party wrote complain ongoing human rights abuses honduras impossibility holding free elections conditions even get perfunctory reply jan 28 four months second letter sent unusual level disrespect elected representatives ones political party new cold warriors seems mattered got rid one social democratic president one small poor country brazil clinton continued cold war strategy throwing gratuitous insults toward venezuela bit like going party telling host much dont like friends ritual denunciations venezuela clinton said wish venezuela looking south looking brazil looking chile models successful country brazilian foreign minister celso amorim responded diplomacy mistaking strong rebuff insults said agreed one point clinton made venezuela look southwards invited venezuela join mercosur full member country ms clintons right wing allies paraguays legislature remnants countrys dictatorship 60 years oneparty rule currently holding venezuelas membership south american trade block wanted hear brazil brazilians also rejected clintons rather undiplomatic efforts pressure join washington calling new sanctions iran prudent push iran wall said brazilian president lula da silva prudent thing establish negotiations simply bow evolving consensus agree amorim said press conference clinton secretary clinton made one concession argentina calling uk sit argentine government discuss dispute malvinas falkland islands seems unlikely washington anything make happen next crucial test honduras clinton continue washingtons efforts whitewash honduran governments repression listen rest hemisphere well democratic members congress insist concessions regarding human rights including return mel zelaya country brazilians also emphasized story may get much us media attention latin america watching mark weisbrot economist codirector center economic policy research article originally published guardian | 512 |
<p>Brixton and Peckham, two of the communities in London rocked by the recent riots, are not mere dots on a map to Paul Bower. He’s lived in both communities, including living through a riot in Brixton thirty years ago.</p>
<p>Bower says people need to carefully distinguish between legitimate grievances festering in the now riot-scared areas – things like lack of employment – and the lawlessness of youthful looters.</p>
<p>The fiery and destructive looter rampages, Bower stresses, like inner city riots in the US in the US during the 1960s, have destroyed many small businesses owned by non-whites and the homes of poor people, white and non-white alike.</p>
<p>“These riots were not about unemployment. Yes, there is a lack of opportunity but [the looters] weren’t saying they want to work. They were saying I want what’s in that window,” Bower said during a telephone interview from London.</p>
<p>Bower’s work includes increasing job opportunities for London residents, so he’s well acquainted with the difficulties people have finding jobs in the UK these days.</p>
<p>“In hip-hop terms this is not Public Enemy ‘Fight the Power.’ It is 50-Cent ‘Get Rich or Die Trying,'” explained Bower, who now lives near London’s Camden section, which also experienced some of the rioting.</p>
<p>The current wave of rioting has already led to nearly 1,000 arrests in Britain’s capital city over just a few days or unrest.</p>
<p>The trigger for the recent riots that swept through communities in London and across other major cities in Britain was yet another death of a black man while in police custody. Over 330 people have died in police custody since 1998 without the conviction of a single police officer.</p>
<p>Abusive police misconduct sparked the 1981 riot in Brixton in South London and the 1985 riot in the North London Broadwater Farm section of Tottenham – the community where this latest round of rioting began on Saturday, Aug. 6, In that incident, police police fatally shot Mark Duggan, a 29-year-old father.</p>
<p>While Paul Bower feels that “stealing,” not social justice, has spurred many of the looters (a mixture of black and white youths), he and many others in London point to systemic social ills like economic inequities and unchecked police misconduct that too many leaders (governmental and corporate) simply ignore.</p>
<p>The slashing of social service funding, particularly for youth related matters from education to recreation, by Britain’s Conservative led coalition government, has accelerated the conversion of Tottenham into a “tinder box waiting to explode,” declares Diane Abbott, the first black women ever elected to Britain’s Parliament. Abbott represents a district adjacent to Tottenham.</p>
<p>Dr. Nina Power, a philosophy professor at London’s Roehampton University, wrote in a commentary that, “Images of burning buildings may provide spectacular fodder for a restless media, ever hungry for new stories and fresh groups to demonize, but we will understand nothing of these events if we ignore the history and context in which they occur.”</p>
<p>Now compounding the growing list of ignored ills are austerity measures implemented by Britain’s Conservative-led government — cuts that have devastated funding for desperately needed social services.</p>
<p>“Those condemning the events of the past couple of nights in north London and elsewhere would do well to take a step back and consider the bigger picture: a country in which the richest 10% are now 100 times better off than the poorest [and] where consumerism predicated on personal debt has been pushed for years as the solution to a faltering economy,” Power wrote in a commentary published in The Guardian/UK headlined: “There is a Context to London’s Riots that Can’t Be Ignored.”</p>
<p>Unemployment in Tottenham is double the national average and one section of that community contains London’s fourth highest level of child poverty, Power wrote.</p>
<p>Diane Abbott, condemning rioting and looting in an article published during the height of the rioting in The Independent newspaper, wrote that given the government’s funding cuts in services and jobs creation, “It is difficult to see how areas like Tottenham can become less flammable soon.”</p>
<p>Symeon Brown, a youth worker raised in Tottenham who co-founded a youth uplift initiative in that community in 2007 is quoted in a blog posting stating, “Young people feel their representatives do not care about them. The council’s youth services have been cut by 75%, which is astronomical. It is a real assault on social democracy and public services.”</p>
<p>Lurking monster-like behind lack of employment, social service cuts and other embedded inequities is rampant police abuse.</p>
<p>One consistently criticized British police practice is the infamous policy of “Stop-&amp;-Search,” which, as in the United States in cities like New York and Philadelphia, is used by police in Britain to to target racial minorities.</p>
<p>The British police “Stop-&amp;-Search” practice – widely referenced there as “SUS” – rivals fatal shootings by police for generating outrage among non-whites (including recent immigrants) and poor whites.</p>
<p>“This sounds familiar doesn’t it?” remarked one Philadelphia talk radio show host during a recent program, in reacting to a guest who cited London statistics about the ‘Stop-&amp;-Search’ practices and fatal police shootings.</p>
<p>Minorities on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean complain about abuses and humiliation from these contacts with police that rarely produce arrests for guns or other weapons which is the officially stated purpose for the dragnet practice.</p>
<p>In May 2010 the New York Times reported that blacks and Latinos in New York City were nine times more likely than whites to be stopped and searched by police but no more likely to be arrested for a violation found during that search.</p>
<p>In October 2010 the Guardian reported that blacks were 26 times more likely than whites to be stopped and searched by police in England and Wales – confirming claims of racial profiling by police.</p>
<p>In March 2011 many in Britain expressed outrage over the police custody death of David Emmanuel, a 48-year-old widely known as Smiley Culture. Police contend that Emmanuel stabbed himself to death by ramming a knife completely through his body while in the kitchen of his London home surrounded by four policemen.</p>
<p>“Either you believe Smiley stabbed himself or that he was stabbed by one of the police officers present,” stated a press release from London’s Pan-Afrikan Society Community Forum, an organization that addresses police abuse.</p>
<p>“No police murderer has ever been convicted in Britain,” continued the release, which contains five and a half single-spaced pages of names/details of persons who have died in police custody dating back to the late 1970s.</p>
<p>“The so-called Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) came into existence on April Fool’s Day (1st April 2004) and the record remains unchanged,” that release asserted. “The state funded/controlled IPCC…is a cruel joke against victims of police violence/wrong doing.”</p>
<p>Simon Woolley, director of Operation Black Vote, a prominent equal rights organization in Britain, questions the law-&amp;-order focused reactions to the latest riots by Britain’s Prime Minister and the Mayor of London – two officials fearful of impacts these disturbances will have on Britain’s image and on the 2012 Summer Olympics slated for London.</p>
<p>“Social and racial injustice will not be on the agenda” of the meetings by top officials about the riots, Woolley predicted in an analysis posted on OBV’s website.</p>
<p>“If we don’t get this right, the very element that caused national disturbances – heavy-handed, unaccountable policing – could get much worse,” Woolley noted in that analysis, which went on to criticize the looters for ‘hijacking’ a peaceful protest Saturday (8/6) against the death of Mark Duggan.</p>
<p>Woolley, during a telephone interview from London, said much news media coverage of the disturbances has been derelict.</p>
<p>“What is shockingly missing is a perspective from the black community that is bold enough to articulate the complicated dynamics. What we have is condemnation without understanding,” Woolley pointed out.</p>
<p>Woolley feels that the British government has lost its moral authority with many on the lower rungs of that society’s economic ladder.</p>
<p>“Many see the government looting everyday like expense scandals involving members of Parliament and government giving money to the banks that looted the economy,” said Woolley.</p>
<p>“The youths are kicking back hard. All reports now say that social mobility in [Britain] is at a stand-still…and there is no official recognition that the infrastructure people need in order to flourish is not there.”</p>
<p>LINN WASHINGTON, JR., is a founding member of&#160; <a href="https://www.counterpunch.org/www.thiscantbehappening.net" type="external">ThisCantBeHappening!</a>, the new independent, collectively-owned, journalist-run, reader-supported online alternative newspaper just beginning its second year of daily publication.</p> | true | 4 | brixton peckham two communities london rocked recent riots mere dots map paul bower hes lived communities including living riot brixton thirty years ago bower says people need carefully distinguish legitimate grievances festering riotscared areas things like lack employment lawlessness youthful looters fiery destructive looter rampages bower stresses like inner city riots us us 1960s destroyed many small businesses owned nonwhites homes poor people white nonwhite alike riots unemployment yes lack opportunity looters werent saying want work saying want whats window bower said telephone interview london bowers work includes increasing job opportunities london residents hes well acquainted difficulties people finding jobs uk days hiphop terms public enemy fight power 50cent get rich die trying explained bower lives near londons camden section also experienced rioting current wave rioting already led nearly 1000 arrests britains capital city days unrest trigger recent riots swept communities london across major cities britain yet another death black man police custody 330 people died police custody since 1998 without conviction single police officer abusive police misconduct sparked 1981 riot brixton south london 1985 riot north london broadwater farm section tottenham community latest round rioting began saturday aug 6 incident police police fatally shot mark duggan 29yearold father paul bower feels stealing social justice spurred many looters mixture black white youths many others london point systemic social ills like economic inequities unchecked police misconduct many leaders governmental corporate simply ignore slashing social service funding particularly youth related matters education recreation britains conservative led coalition government accelerated conversion tottenham tinder box waiting explode declares diane abbott first black women ever elected britains parliament abbott represents district adjacent tottenham dr nina power philosophy professor londons roehampton university wrote commentary images burning buildings may provide spectacular fodder restless media ever hungry new stories fresh groups demonize understand nothing events ignore history context occur compounding growing list ignored ills austerity measures implemented britains conservativeled government cuts devastated funding desperately needed social services condemning events past couple nights north london elsewhere would well take step back consider bigger picture country richest 10 100 times better poorest consumerism predicated personal debt pushed years solution faltering economy power wrote commentary published guardianuk headlined context londons riots cant ignored unemployment tottenham double national average one section community contains londons fourth highest level child poverty power wrote diane abbott condemning rioting looting article published height rioting independent newspaper wrote given governments funding cuts services jobs creation difficult see areas like tottenham become less flammable soon symeon brown youth worker raised tottenham cofounded youth uplift initiative community 2007 quoted blog posting stating young people feel representatives care councils youth services cut 75 astronomical real assault social democracy public services lurking monsterlike behind lack employment social service cuts embedded inequities rampant police abuse one consistently criticized british police practice infamous policy stopampsearch united states cities like new york philadelphia used police britain target racial minorities british police stopampsearch practice widely referenced sus rivals fatal shootings police generating outrage among nonwhites including recent immigrants poor whites sounds familiar doesnt remarked one philadelphia talk radio show host recent program reacting guest cited london statistics stopampsearch practices fatal police shootings minorities sides atlantic ocean complain abuses humiliation contacts police rarely produce arrests guns weapons officially stated purpose dragnet practice may 2010 new york times reported blacks latinos new york city nine times likely whites stopped searched police likely arrested violation found search october 2010 guardian reported blacks 26 times likely whites stopped searched police england wales confirming claims racial profiling police march 2011 many britain expressed outrage police custody death david emmanuel 48yearold widely known smiley culture police contend emmanuel stabbed death ramming knife completely body kitchen london home surrounded four policemen either believe smiley stabbed stabbed one police officers present stated press release londons panafrikan society community forum organization addresses police abuse police murderer ever convicted britain continued release contains five half singlespaced pages namesdetails persons died police custody dating back late 1970s socalled independent police complaints commission ipcc came existence april fools day 1st april 2004 record remains unchanged release asserted state fundedcontrolled ipccis cruel joke victims police violencewrong simon woolley director operation black vote prominent equal rights organization britain questions lawamporder focused reactions latest riots britains prime minister mayor london two officials fearful impacts disturbances britains image 2012 summer olympics slated london social racial injustice agenda meetings top officials riots woolley predicted analysis posted obvs website dont get right element caused national disturbances heavyhanded unaccountable policing could get much worse woolley noted analysis went criticize looters hijacking peaceful protest saturday 86 death mark duggan woolley telephone interview london said much news media coverage disturbances derelict shockingly missing perspective black community bold enough articulate complicated dynamics condemnation without understanding woolley pointed woolley feels british government lost moral authority many lower rungs societys economic ladder many see government looting everyday like expense scandals involving members parliament government giving money banks looted economy said woolley youths kicking back hard reports say social mobility britain standstilland official recognition infrastructure people need order flourish linn washington jr founding member of160 thiscantbehappening new independent collectivelyowned journalistrun readersupported online alternative newspaper beginning second year daily publication | 849 |
<p>The World Health Organization honored Cuba’s Henry Reeve Brigade in 2017. <a href="#_edn1" type="external">[i]</a> Named after a US internationalist, its 48,000 health care workers throughout the South are more than all the rich countries combined. The Brigade has treated 3.5 million people in 21 countries since Fidel Castro created it in 2005.</p>
<p>Some think Cuba’s medical internationalism an impossible dream. Not for a poor country, they say. Don Quixote is honored in Cuba. A large replica dominates a square near the University of Havana.</p>
<p>But Don Quixote is often misunderstood, at least in the North. It is not about impossible dreams.</p>
<p>The word “anarchy” pops up these days, along with “seize your destiny”, “imagine”, “create”. Those following dreams are compared to the Man of the Mancha. We admire them, as if they are courageous, taking risks for an ideal.</p>
<p>Yet Victor Hugo noticed that even revolutionaries resist Don Quixote. They’d rather be Leonidas, with victory assured. Their visions, Hugo writes, are “illusions … [of] human certainty”.</p>
<p>It was not so with Don Quixote. His appealing mixture of “madness and intelligence”, whatever else it was, did not expect certainty. He charged windmills and herds of sheep. But his “madness” was not the straight and narrow.</p>
<p>Cuba has exported solidarity. The US, in contrast, exports ignorance. In 1961, at an economics conference, Che Guevara showed how it works. <a href="#_edn2" type="external">[ii]</a> President Kennedy said the US development program “Alliance for Progress” was about democracy. He didn’t define the term. It was defined by power.</p>
<p>Guevara knew “democracy”, the US view, was an expectation. No other view was permitted. The demo in “democracy” is supposed to mean people. Guevara knew people were not permitted, at least not Latin American ones. He said so at the meeting. Cuba was expelled.</p>
<p>Expectations arise from practises. If I live in a white society, I expect people to be white. A non-white person becomes “different”. I don’t admit to thinking people are white. But because of social practises, I have that expectation.</p>
<p>Expectations are useful. I expect heat to burn and withdraw my hand. I may not know the physics but my expectation arises from practises, some scientific. It is reliable. Some expectations, though, are arbitrary, defined only by power.</p>
<p>It explains ignorance about the Henry Reeves Brigade and what it means for democracy and human rights.</p>
<p>The great US novel Moby-Dick is about expectations. It is supposed to be about US democracy because of multiplicity of perspectives. The ship includes Queequeg, a cannibal with strange rituals and beliefs, one of the nicest characters on the boat.</p>
<p>But Moby Dick is a US book because of expectations: for certainty. It is about Captain Ahab’s vengeful pursuit of a whale. But it is also about Ishmael, the narrator, who seeks meaning. Ishmael is central because he seeks meaning. Standing watch at the masthead, he takes the “mystic ocean at his feet for the visible image of the deep, blue bottomless soul pervading mankind and nature”.</p>
<p>Some say the search for meaning is a human propensity. Ishmael contemplates the “almighty forlornness” of human beings in nature. He seeks meaning in the whale, its face (which it doesn’t have), its ears and tail.</p>
<p>But we search for what we want to know. We don’t just look for meaning. We look for some meaning. It starts with a question, a set of values, a worldview.</p>
<p>Ishmael cannot know the whale. “Dissect him how I may, then, I but go skin deep. I know him not, and never will. But if I know not even the tail of this whale, how understand his head“.&#160; Yet Ishmael wouldn’t say the whale cannot be understood if there were no expectation it might be understood.</p>
<p>Moby-Dick, the novel, is about how Ahab’s expectation for superiority over nature fails and how Ishmael, unlike Ahab, accepts the failure. But expecting such superiority is itself surprising, or should be.</p>
<p>Human beings are part of the mysterious and complex unfolding of the universe. Our existence is insecure and, ultimately, unpredictable. We know this from science. Causation is complex, even chaotic. Human beings are subject to such causation.</p>
<p>Smart, sensitive philosophers from across the ages, and across the globe, say the art of dying and the art of living are the same. The reason is simple: All life, including human life, involves decay. Every moment involves change, which is loss. But as Victor Hugo notes, even revolutionaries want certainty.</p>
<p>He calls it the “blind, iron horse of the straight and narrow”. Following dreams is that blind horse. It is following expectations, arbitrary ones, arising from a single, powerful society, a set of values, a worldview. They are followed in ignorance: of expectations, arbitrary ones.</p>
<p>Don Quixote is not about impossible dreams. It is about rationality. Don Quixote wasn’t driven by an “inner voice”, nourished by himself, seeking security that doesn’t exist. However considered, the Man of the Mancha had a vision. He studied and lived it.</p>
<p>Guevara said that thinking freely and creatively is a “close dialectical unity” between individuals and the vision. There has to be vision, direction and leadership. It cannot be otherwise because of the role of expectations, generated by social practises. In a dehumanizing world, they must be transformed.</p>
<p>The role of expectations, rooted in practises, is well known in the philosophy of science. But it is ignored in political philosophy, especially liberal political philosophy, but also anarchism, even sometimes in academic Marxism.</p>
<p>It means reliance upon dreams, imagination, creativity, can only ever be conservative if there is no vision, no direction, no leadership. Cuba has had a vision, more urgent now than ever. The Henry Reeves Brigade is just part.</p>
<p>Ana Belén Montes had that vision. <a href="#_edn3" type="external">[iii]</a> She’s in jail, in the US, under harsh conditions. Please sign <a href="" type="internal">petition here.</a></p>
<p>Notes.</p>
<p><a href="#_ednref1" type="external">[i]</a> <a href="" type="internal">http://www.cubadebate.cu/noticias/2017/05/27/organizacion-mundial-de-la-salud-entrega-importante-premio-a-brigada-henry-reeve/#.Wi-ToVWnHIV</a></p>
<p><a href="#_ednref2" type="external">[ii]</a> Inter-American Economics and Social Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) at Punta del Este, Uruguay.</p>
<p><a href="#_ednref3" type="external">[iii]</a> <a href="http://www.prolibertad.org/ana-belen-montes" type="external">http://www.prolibertad.org/ana-belen-montes</a>. For more information, write to the <a href="mailto:cnc@canadiannetworkoncuba.ca" type="external">cnc@canadiannetworkoncuba.ca</a> or <a href="mailto:cincoheroes@listas.cujae.edu.cu" type="external">cincoheroes@listas.cujae.edu.cu</a></p> | true | 4 | world health organization honored cubas henry reeve brigade 2017 named us internationalist 48000 health care workers throughout south rich countries combined brigade treated 35 million people 21 countries since fidel castro created 2005 think cubas medical internationalism impossible dream poor country say quixote honored cuba large replica dominates square near university havana quixote often misunderstood least north impossible dreams word anarchy pops days along seize destiny imagine create following dreams compared man mancha admire courageous taking risks ideal yet victor hugo noticed even revolutionaries resist quixote theyd rather leonidas victory assured visions hugo writes illusions human certainty quixote appealing mixture madness intelligence whatever else expect certainty charged windmills herds sheep madness straight narrow cuba exported solidarity us contrast exports ignorance 1961 economics conference che guevara showed works ii president kennedy said us development program alliance progress democracy didnt define term defined power guevara knew democracy us view expectation view permitted demo democracy supposed mean people guevara knew people permitted least latin american ones said meeting cuba expelled expectations arise practises live white society expect people white nonwhite person becomes different dont admit thinking people white social practises expectation expectations useful expect heat burn withdraw hand may know physics expectation arises practises scientific reliable expectations though arbitrary defined power explains ignorance henry reeves brigade means democracy human rights great us novel mobydick expectations supposed us democracy multiplicity perspectives ship includes queequeg cannibal strange rituals beliefs one nicest characters boat moby dick us book expectations certainty captain ahabs vengeful pursuit whale also ishmael narrator seeks meaning ishmael central seeks meaning standing watch masthead takes mystic ocean feet visible image deep blue bottomless soul pervading mankind nature say search meaning human propensity ishmael contemplates almighty forlornness human beings nature seeks meaning whale face doesnt ears tail search want know dont look meaning look meaning starts question set values worldview ishmael know whale dissect may go skin deep know never know even tail whale understand head160 yet ishmael wouldnt say whale understood expectation might understood mobydick novel ahabs expectation superiority nature fails ishmael unlike ahab accepts failure expecting superiority surprising human beings part mysterious complex unfolding universe existence insecure ultimately unpredictable know science causation complex even chaotic human beings subject causation smart sensitive philosophers across ages across globe say art dying art living reason simple life including human life involves decay every moment involves change loss victor hugo notes even revolutionaries want certainty calls blind iron horse straight narrow following dreams blind horse following expectations arbitrary ones arising single powerful society set values worldview followed ignorance expectations arbitrary ones quixote impossible dreams rationality quixote wasnt driven inner voice nourished seeking security doesnt exist however considered man mancha vision studied lived guevara said thinking freely creatively close dialectical unity individuals vision vision direction leadership otherwise role expectations generated social practises dehumanizing world must transformed role expectations rooted practises well known philosophy science ignored political philosophy especially liberal political philosophy also anarchism even sometimes academic marxism means reliance upon dreams imagination creativity ever conservative vision direction leadership cuba vision urgent ever henry reeves brigade part ana belén montes vision iii shes jail us harsh conditions please sign petition notes httpwwwcubadebatecunoticias20170527organizacionmundialdelasaludentregaimportantepremioabrigadahenryreevewitovwnhiv ii interamerican economics social council organization american states oas punta del este uruguay iii httpwwwprolibertadorganabelenmontes information write cnccanadiannetworkoncubaca cincoheroeslistascujaeeducu | 543 |
<p>Many people, including members of Trump’s inner circle, have commented on his mental and emotional instability.&#160; The following uses a professional point of view, where possible, to understand his psychology and way of operating, based, of course, on publicly available material.&#160; I include a section at the end on how best to stop his march to unlimited power.</p>
<p>There is a “Goldwater” rule in the therapeutic community that one should not try to diagnose politicians.&#160; This was broken in January 2017 with an article reportedly backed by almost 60,000 psychologists, announcing that Trump suffers from “malignant narcissism” (egotism, selfishness), and is a danger to the American people. The authors felt that “Goldwater” was overridden by <a href="" type="internal">a duty to warn</a>, under the Tarasoff rule, which sets aside confidentiality if the person presents a threat to others.</p>
<p>I cannot claim objectivity when, in fact, I’m furious with Trump, and frightened of the direction he is taking.&#160; I fear that he is working toward becoming a fascist dictator.&#160; &#160;&#160;And he is destroying any chance of a reasonable future for our children and grandchildren.</p>
<p>I believe that his apparent instability is very calculated.&#160; It gains attention, which his narcissistic personality craves, and which keeps his brand name selling, selling, selling.&#160; It also keeps everyone around him off balance, so that he can amass control.&#160; He even boasts about doing it.&#160; And it works for him.</p>
<p>Trump has, against all expectations, succeeded in become the President of the United States, which also makes him the Commander-in-Chief of the US Armed Forces.&#160; It puts his finger on the nuclear button, so he can hold the whole world hostage.&#160; Is he satisfied?&#160; Will he settle down and serve the people?</p>
<p>Not so far.&#160; Now that Trump has been in office for 2 months, we can see that the psychologists were correct with their diagnosis of malignant narcissism.&#160; He is a threat to 99.9% of us.&#160; His presidency is ego-driven and megalomaniacal.&#160;&#160; His goal is personal power and profit rather than the welfare of the people who elected him.&#160;</p>
<p>During Trump’s short time in office, his family has cost Americans extraordinary amounts of money while Trump lines his own pocket.&#160; He refuses to divest from his businesses, which have gotten a boost since he’s taken office. This means Trump is literally <a href="" type="internal">pocketing profits</a> made from taxpayer dollars.</p>
<p>He seems to believe he is above the law.&#160; He has fits when judges block his immigration policies, and when he can, fires anyone who thwarts him.</p>
<p>I believe Bernie Sanders has it right.</p>
<p>Trump’s goal, Sanders said to the <a href="" type="internal">Guardian</a>, “is to end up as leader of a nation which has moved in a significant degree toward authoritarianism where the president of the United States has extraordinary powers, far more so than our constitution has provided for or the values of the American people support.”</p>
<p>Timothy Snyder, author of&#160; <a href="" type="internal">On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century</a>, &#160;which studies the rise to power of Hitler and others, says fascism happens quickly, within a year or two, once a megalomaniac gets into power.&#160; We only have a limited window of opportunity to stop Trump. &#160;</p>
<p>Trump is attempting to control the public’s perception of reality by accusing the most respected news sources of promulgating or distributing “fake news”.&#160; Of course, he is the master of this art.&#160; As in Orwell’s prophetic noel, 1984, he turns truth on its head and does his best to confuse everyone.&#160; A recent article by <a href="" type="internal">Todd Gitlin</a> analyzes his modus operandi.</p>
<p>His proposal of a huge expansion of the military budget implies that he intends to conquer the world.&#160; “The world is in trouble, but we’re going to straighten it out, OK? That’s what I do – I fix things,” Trump said in a speech on 2/2/17.</p>
<p>He has no concern for the future, gutting all regulations that protect the environment.&#160; His Director of the Office of Management and Budget recently said “The EPA is a waste of money”.</p>
<p>Trump has grandchildren; will they thank him 50 years from now, when food is scarce and there are many more climate refugees? &#160;Or will they be billionaires living underground, eating hydroponic food? &#160;And how many of his beachfront hotels will be under water in 20 years when <a href="" type="internal">climate change</a> has raised sea level to the point of flooding coastal cities?</p>
<p>Perhaps he is like Louis XVI just before the French Revolution:&#160;“Apres moi, le deluge”.</p>
<p>We have let a megalomaniacal predator, a man who has appointed a Cabinet full of predators, take over our government.&#160; We are watching the Trump administration take a wrecking ball to everything we hold dear: &#160;the rule of law, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, the health of our environment, our national parks, the US leadership among nations, tolerance of people who are different from us, and worst of all,&#160; the future of our children and grandchildren.</p>
<p>Yet almost half of the electorate voted for him, and his approval rating, though falling, is still <a href="" type="internal">37%</a>. &#160;What is going on in this country?</p>
<p>Using professional diagnostic codes, this article will look at how Trump was able gain enough votes to win the Electoral College.&#160; (Of course, he had lots of help, from Republican state rules that disqualify voters of color, from GOP manipulation of voting machines, from the divided and corrupt Democratic Party).&#160; And he continues to have significant support.</p>
<p>First, let’s look at Trump from a medical point of view.&#160; In 2016, he produced a letter which may be fake from his “doctor of 35 years” (Dr. Bornstein, a gastroenterologist) stating that he would be “the healthiest individual ever elected to the presidency”&#160; – statement no MD could make in good conscience.</p>
<p>He does not exercise, eats junk food, consumes diet coke all day, gets only 3-4 hours of sleep/night, and needs to lose <a href="" type="internal">at least 20 pounds</a>.&#160;This is not a healthy life style, even for a young person, and at 70, Trump is the oldest man ever to become president.</p>
<p>There have been questions raised about whether he has some brain dysfunction, because of some of his odd expressions, memory problems and impulsive behavior.&#160; His father died of <a href="" type="internal">Alzheimer’s</a>.</p>
<p>Diet coke contains an artificial sweetener, aspartame, which metabolizes to the amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine, and methanol.&#160; Excessive aspartic acid leads to neural degeneration, and over time, to Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or Alzheimer’s.&#160; Methanol is a deadly neurotoxin.&#160; What has <a href="" type="internal">Diet Coke</a> done to Trump’s brain?</p>
<p>There is also speculation that he has used amphetamine-like diet pills for years.&#160; His constant sniffing during the presidential debates raised the question of <a href="" type="internal">cocaine use</a>.&#160; Trump firmly denies any illegal drug use.</p>
<p>Psychiatrically, Trump &#160;fits into several categories under the general heading of Personality Disorders.&#160; The following are taken from the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- ICD-10.</p>
<p>F60.2 Dissocial (Antisocial) Personality Disorder</p>
<p>At least 3 of the following:</p>
<p>1 callous unconcern for the feelings of others;</p>
<p>2 gross and persistent attitude of irresponsibility and disregard for social norms, rules and obligations;</p>
<p>3 incapacity to maintain enduring relationships, though having no difficulty in establishing them;</p>
<p>4 very low tolerance to frustration and a low threshold for discharge of aggression, including violence;</p>
<p>5 incapacity to experience guilt and to profit from experience, particularly punishment;</p>
<p>6 marked proneness to blame others, or to offer plausible rationalizations, for the behavior that has brought the person into conflict with society.</p>
<p>In other words, Antisocial Personality Disorder applies to criminals, con artists, and people without scruples.&#160; Is it a form of insanity?</p>
<p>According to <a href="http://thelawdictionary.org/criminal-insanity/" type="external">Black’s Law Dictionary</a>, the definition of criminal insanity is “a state of mental illness where a person is unable to determine between right and wrong and as a result will commit unlawful acts.” &#160;&#160; Surely, Trump has repeatedly demonstrated that he doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies, right and wrong, and doesn’t care, which makes him criminally insane.</p>
<p>He wouldn’t be able to use the M’Naughton defense (not guilty by reason of insanity) to plead innocence in a court of law, since sociopaths are excluded from that defense.</p>
<p>However, his criminal insanity might provide ample justification to remove him from office under the Twenty- Fifth Amendment.</p>
<p>He also fits into the category of:</p>
<p>F60.4 Histrionic Personality Disorder</p>
<p>At least 3 of the following:</p>
<p>1 self-dramatization, theatricality, exaggerated expression of emotions;</p>
<p>2 suggestibility, easily influenced by others or by circumstances;</p>
<p>3 shallow and labile affectivity;</p>
<p>4 continual seeking for excitement, appreciation by others, and activities in which the person is the centre of attention;</p>
<p>5 inappropriate seductiveness in appearance or behaviour;</p>
<p>6 over-concern with physical attractiveness.</p>
<p>Associated features may include egocentricity, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, feelings that are easily hurt, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve own needs.</p>
<p>In laymen’s terms, such people are often called “drama queens”.</p>
<p>Because of limited space, rather than give examples, I refer the reader to <a href="" type="internal">the paper</a> referenced above, which gives many instances of Trump’s behaviors that fit these descriptions. &#160;&#160; No doubt the reader can supply some as well.</p>
<p>People with these personality disorders are usually considered untreatable by psychiatry.&#160; They tend to think they are above the law, and to be out of touch with reality.&#160; They often become suicidal when their fantasies crash into reality, and&#160; end up in a mental hospital.&#160; Or their disregard of the law may land them in jail or prison.&#160; How did this man end up in the White House instead?</p>
<p>Trump was born with a long silver spoon in his mouth, inheriting wealth and the real estate business from his father.&#160; Money has always protected him from the consequences of his misbehavior, and gave him a huge head start on his business career.</p>
<p>Trump claims an IQ of 155.&#160; He has been able to turn his usually maladaptive personality traits into success by a combination of ruthlessness, showmanship, and unlimited ambition.&#160; Being sociopathic, he is a master manipulator.&#160; Being histrionic, he knows how to keep himself in the spotlight, and get the constant attention he craves. Hosting the reality TV show Executive Apprentice for 14 years gave him lots of experience with the media, and got him name recognition.</p>
<p>The following quote is from an article in <a href="" type="internal">Vanity Fair</a>.</p>
<p>Jeff Jenkins, Co-President of Entertainment and Development for Bunim/Murray:&#160;“Donald Trump has over a decade of experience delivering sound bites on his former game show that need to be very short, clear, and effective,” …I think that we sometimes forget the enormous reach of celebrity and fame.</p>
<p>A recent article in <a href="" type="internal">The Guardian</a> makes the point that “Donald Trump won the election with the support of the <a href="" type="internal">majority of men</a> against a highly-qualified female opponent, <a href="" type="internal">despite his reported behaviour</a>. Or … because of it?”&#160; It argues that the widespread indulgence in internet porn made male voters less concerned about ethics and more accepting of Trump’s blatant sexism.</p>
<p>To summarize: &#160;Trump sold himself to the American people as a successful businessman.&#160; He knows how to create and maintain conflicts that attract unending attention, and how to portray himself as a winner.&#160; He titillates and attracts male voters with his slurs against women.&#160; All of this works beautifully for a presidential campaign, which for most people is a form of entertainment.</p>
<p>Running a presidential campaign is not very different from running a reality TV show.&#160; The executive has control over his staff, and his main job is to entertain and dazzle the public into electing him.&#160; No wonder a man who knows how to provide endless entertainment was able to capture the attention and votes of so many people!&#160;&#160; During the campaign, reality TV was more influential than the reality of climate change.</p>
<p>Manipulation of public perception doesn’t work so well once Trump has to actually deal with reality as POTUS, as we are seeing.&#160; The real world is not a media audience.&#160; He loses control, and has temper tantrums.&#160; His administration is chaotic, with lots of infighting and poorly thought out initiatives.</p>
<p>He is running into massive opposition, and tolerating it badly.&#160; The “deep state”, including the intelligence community, Democratic leaders, and much of the press are doing their best to paint him as allied to and influenced by Russia. The courts are blocking his immigration bans.&#160; <a href="" type="internal">The Atlantic</a> just ran a story on his ongoing ethical conflicts of interest.</p>
<p>The people are constantly marching, demonstrating, organizing against his policies.</p>
<p>Another Personality Disorder is emerging now.</p>
<p>F60.0 Paranoid Personality Disorder</p>
<p>Personality disorder characterized by at least 3 of the following:</p>
<p>1 excessive sensitiveness to setbacks and rebuffs;</p>
<p>2 tendency to bear grudges persistently, i.e. refusal to forgive insults and injuries or slights;</p>
<p>3 suspiciousness and a pervasive tendency to distort experience by misconstruing the neutral or friendly actions of others as hostile or contemptuous;</p>
<p>4 a combative and tenacious sense of personal rights out of keeping with the actual situation;</p>
<p>5 recurrent suspicions, without justification, regarding sexual fidelity of spouse or sexual partner;</p>
<p>6 tendency to experience excessive self-importance, manifest in a persistent self-referential attitude;</p>
<p>7 preoccupation with unsubstantiated “conspiratorial” explanations of events both immediate to the patient and in the world at large.</p>
<p>Trump’s accusations that Obama wiretapped his campaign, and that the press is purveying fake news are good illustrations.</p>
<p>Trump is maintaining support by projecting the image of a strong energetic leader, which appeals to people raised in authoritarian families.&#160; (See George Lakoff’s <a href="" type="internal">Don’t Think of an Elephant</a> for an analysis of how the GOP has been deliberately fostering this family structure for several decades.)&#160;&#160; Trump plays to the egotism and paranoia of a large segment of Americans, by appealing to racism, sexism, xenophobia and patriotism- the classic strategy of fascist leaders.&#160; His rudeness and cruelty gives legitimacy to behaviors of people who like to express those qualities.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Climate denial</a> is a major factor in his continued popularity.&#160; Trump’s insistence on denying climate change appeals to many voters who don’t want to face the future, and would prefer to believe that science is not to be trusted.&#160;&#160; A recent study shows that people tend to choose ignorance over possible bad news.</p>
<p>Hillary knew this too and the topic of climate change was carefully avoided in all three campaign debates.</p>
<p>Yet the attack on the environment is probably the worst of all of Trump’s hateful policies. While his targeting of racial and religious groups is reprehensible, and his assault on services to the poor such as MediCal and Social Security is appalling, the consequences of refusing to recognize climate change will be disastrous to the future of our children and grandchildren.</p>
<p>What do we do now, with a paranoid, histrionic, sociopathic megalomaniac in the White House?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, at this point we are not only dealing with Trump, but also with the likeminded billionaires he has put in key positions, as well as a gleeful Republican Congress that is hastening to implement his policies.&#160; &#160;Corporate America may have been slow to warm up to Donald Trump, but once Trump secured the nomination, “the big money began to recognize an unprecedented opportunity,” Monbiot wrote. “His incoherence was not a liability, but an opening: his agenda could be shaped. And the dark money network already developed by some American corporations was perfectly positioned to shape it.”&#160;</p>
<p>We are up against an administration that is getting rid of all the regulations that protected workers and the environment, and putting in laws that will curb dissent or make it illegal.&#160; The local police are being formed into a national army by way of immigration raids.&#160; Many states and the Congress are pushing forward on these policies, which are hastening the doom of the biosphere..</p>
<p>Yet, as Bernie Sanders says, “Despair is not an option”.</p>
<p>In a way, Trump has done us a huge favor, by waking us up to the difference between entertainment and reality.&#160; His aggressive policies of hatred toward Muslims and Mexicans have aroused the best in our culture, as millions rally in support of targeted populations.&#160; His appointment of one billionaire after another has alerted us to our true interests as people, which are being trampled on.</p>
<p>People are leaving their TV sets and laptop screens to go to the streets, to confront their Congresspeople at town hall meetings, to boycott banks and corporations that support Trump policies, and to gather with friends and neighbors and strategize on other responses.</p>
<p>The opposite of despair is faith.&#160; Everyone now working for the future against all odds must be leaning on faith at some level- faith that the battle is still worthwhile, and that the tide can be reversed, even at this late hour.&#160; Whether it is faith in a higher power, in the universe, in the Force, or in human creativity, it is necessary to keep going.&#160; We are being pushed by our very DNA, which is using us as a vehicle to make sure it perpetuates itself.</p>
<p>This is a spiritual battle, a battle between the forces of life, love, peace, justice, caring for the future generations, against the forces of greed, selfishness, and ruthlessness toward the people and our children and grandchildren, not to mention all the other creatures on the planet.</p>
<p>Many people are responding to the situation with very appropriate thinking and actions.&#160; The following suggestions are meant to be a helpful guide.</p>
<p>+ Be clear that we are in an emergency situation. We only have a few months to prevent fascism, and can’t wait until the next election.&#160; We have to pace ourselves, but work as hard as we can right now.&#160; We have to meet, lobby, write, demonstrate, – do everything we can and more.</p>
<p>+ Take care of ourselves. Breathe, don’t be overwhelmed by the shock and awe tactics, get enough sleep and exercise, eat well, take time to relax.</p>
<p>+ Ask everyone you know- family and friends, what they are doing to stop Trump. Point out that we can’t afford apathy any more.&#160; Get them mobilized as much as you can.</p>
<p>+ Reach out to Trump supporters. Don’t waste time with hardcore right wingers.&#160;&#160; Many people still feel it’s only fair to give him a chance, or that the President should be respected.&#160;&#160;&#160; We all have relatives or friends in this category.&#160; They might be open to looking at the reality of what he is doing&#160; Explain how he and his policies are dangerous and must be resisted.</p>
<p>+ We can learn much from the Standing Rock Hunkpapa. This small tribe was able to&#160; interrupt the building of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) for nearly a year.&#160; Using only nonviolent methods, the Lakota have mobilized support from over 200 Native American tribes, were backed by&#160; millions of people.&#160;&#160; They call themselves Protectors, not protestors, protectors of their sacred land and water, which they hold in trust for future generations.&#160;&#160; Though the pipeline is being completed under Trump, who is a major investor, the battle is continuing through the courts, and many other pipeline projects are being held up now.</p>
<p>Some of their lessons: &#160;&#160;Restoring a sense of the sacred is effective.&#160; Nonviolence works.&#160; Courage and willingness to endure hardship are essential to success.&#160; The enthusiasm of young people is crucial. &#160;Perseverance furthers.&#160; Social media forms an essential tool.&#160; Believe in miracles.</p>
<p>+ Like sailors on a sinking ship, we need to pray for help. This may not seem like a practical suggestion, but it actually accomplishes many things.&#160; It helps us to remain nonviolent in the face of provocation, and put our egos aside in the interest of the greater good.&#160; It opens us to wisdom and inspiration.&#160; We can pray for courage, stamina, calm- the qualities we need personally to sustain us during these hard times.</p>
<p>+ Timothy Snyder, author of <a href="" type="internal">On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century</a>, &#160;gives instructions for preventing tyranny from getting established: Don’t obey in advance. Believe in truth. Stand out. Defend institutions. Be calm but as courageous as you can be.</p>
<p>+ As so many are already doing, we need to leave our laptops and TV sets, and meet our neighbors. There is power in numbers.&#160; We need each other.</p>
<p>+ Young people are the most important group to mobilize. They have the most energy, and their future is at stake.</p>
<p>A groundbreaking <a href="" type="internal">climate lawsuit</a>, brought against the federal government by 21 children, has been hailed by environmentalists as a bold new strategy to press for climate action in the United States. It argues the federal government has violated the constitutional right of the 21 plaintiffs to a healthy climate system.&#160; But the Trump administration, which has pledged to undo Barack Obama’s climate&#160;regulations, is doing its best to make sure the case doesn’t get far.</p>
<p>Brought by the <a href="" type="internal">Children’s Trust</a>, this lawsuit may well be the most significant action taking place, and deserves our full support.&#160; It addresses the central issue of our time- the loss of a habitable planet.&#160; If we take caring for our grandchildren as our guide for action, we can’t go wrong.</p>
<p>Answer hate with love. It’s ironic that so many of Trump’s supporters claim to be Christian, yet they go along with his policies of hating Mexicans, Muslims, gay and trans people, etc. They forget what Jesus said. &#160;“Love your neighbor as yourself”.&#160; This is the greatest law of all.</p>
<p>Carol Wolman, MD is a graduate cum laude of Radcliffe College.&#160; She received her medical degree from Harvard, and is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.&#160; She has been practicing psychiatry for 40 years.&#160;</p>
<p>She has been an activist for peace and ecology for 60 years.&#160; With her husband, Robert Clapsadle, she worked with the Bigfoot Riders on <a href="http://www.paracove.com/RWK.html" type="external">a film</a> commemorating the centennial of the Wounded Knee massacre, and on several other films.&#160; &#160;She organized a group to impeach GW Bush, and then ran for Congress 3 times on an impeachment platform. She also has written many op-ed pieces, which are archived at <a href="http://www.opednews.com" type="external">www.opednews.com</a>&#160; Recently she has been active in the Sanders campaign, and has been supporting the Lakota Water Protectors at Standing Rock.</p> | true | 4 | many people including members trumps inner circle commented mental emotional instability160 following uses professional point view possible understand psychology way operating based course publicly available material160 include section end best stop march unlimited power goldwater rule therapeutic community one try diagnose politicians160 broken january 2017 article reportedly backed almost 60000 psychologists announcing trump suffers malignant narcissism egotism selfishness danger american people authors felt goldwater overridden duty warn tarasoff rule sets aside confidentiality person presents threat others claim objectivity fact im furious trump frightened direction taking160 fear working toward becoming fascist dictator160 160160and destroying chance reasonable future children grandchildren believe apparent instability calculated160 gains attention narcissistic personality craves keeps brand name selling selling selling160 also keeps everyone around balance amass control160 even boasts it160 works trump expectations succeeded become president united states also makes commanderinchief us armed forces160 puts finger nuclear button hold whole world hostage160 satisfied160 settle serve people far160 trump office 2 months see psychologists correct diagnosis malignant narcissism160 threat 999 us160 presidency egodriven megalomaniacal160160 goal personal power profit rather welfare people elected him160 trumps short time office family cost americans extraordinary amounts money trump lines pocket160 refuses divest businesses gotten boost since hes taken office means trump literally pocketing profits made taxpayer dollars seems believe law160 fits judges block immigration policies fires anyone thwarts believe bernie sanders right trumps goal sanders said guardian end leader nation moved significant degree toward authoritarianism president united states extraordinary powers far constitution provided values american people support timothy snyder author of160 tyranny twenty lessons twentieth century 160which studies rise power hitler others says fascism happens quickly within year two megalomaniac gets power160 limited window opportunity stop trump 160 trump attempting control publics perception reality accusing respected news sources promulgating distributing fake news160 course master art160 orwells prophetic noel 1984 turns truth head best confuse everyone160 recent article todd gitlin analyzes modus operandi proposal huge expansion military budget implies intends conquer world160 world trouble going straighten ok thats fix things trump said speech 2217 concern future gutting regulations protect environment160 director office management budget recently said epa waste money trump grandchildren thank 50 years food scarce many climate refugees 160or billionaires living underground eating hydroponic food 160and many beachfront hotels water 20 years climate change raised sea level point flooding coastal cities perhaps like louis xvi french revolution160apres moi le deluge let megalomaniacal predator man appointed cabinet full predators take government160 watching trump administration take wrecking ball everything hold dear 160the rule law constitution bill rights health environment national parks us leadership among nations tolerance people different us worst all160 future children grandchildren yet almost half electorate voted approval rating though falling still 37 160what going country using professional diagnostic codes article look trump able gain enough votes win electoral college160 course lots help republican state rules disqualify voters color gop manipulation voting machines divided corrupt democratic party160 continues significant support first lets look trump medical point view160 2016 produced letter may fake doctor 35 years dr bornstein gastroenterologist stating would healthiest individual ever elected presidency160 statement md could make good conscience exercise eats junk food consumes diet coke day gets 34 hours sleepnight needs lose least 20 pounds160this healthy life style even young person 70 trump oldest man ever become president questions raised whether brain dysfunction odd expressions memory problems impulsive behavior160 father died alzheimers diet coke contains artificial sweetener aspartame metabolizes amino acids aspartic acid phenylalanine methanol160 excessive aspartic acid leads neural degeneration time parkinsons multiple sclerosis alzheimers160 methanol deadly neurotoxin160 diet coke done trumps brain also speculation used amphetaminelike diet pills years160 constant sniffing presidential debates raised question cocaine use160 trump firmly denies illegal drug use psychiatrically trump 160fits several categories general heading personality disorders160 following taken latest diagnostic statistical manual icd10 f602 dissocial antisocial personality disorder least 3 following 1 callous unconcern feelings others 2 gross persistent attitude irresponsibility disregard social norms rules obligations 3 incapacity maintain enduring relationships though difficulty establishing 4 low tolerance frustration low threshold discharge aggression including violence 5 incapacity experience guilt profit experience particularly punishment 6 marked proneness blame others offer plausible rationalizations behavior brought person conflict society words antisocial personality disorder applies criminals con artists people without scruples160 form insanity according blacks law dictionary definition criminal insanity state mental illness person unable determine right wrong result commit unlawful acts 160160 surely trump repeatedly demonstrated doesnt know difference truth lies right wrong doesnt care makes criminally insane wouldnt able use mnaughton defense guilty reason insanity plead innocence court law since sociopaths excluded defense however criminal insanity might provide ample justification remove office twenty fifth amendment also fits category f604 histrionic personality disorder least 3 following 1 selfdramatization theatricality exaggerated expression emotions 2 suggestibility easily influenced others circumstances 3 shallow labile affectivity 4 continual seeking excitement appreciation others activities person centre attention 5 inappropriate seductiveness appearance behaviour 6 overconcern physical attractiveness associated features may include egocentricity selfindulgence continuous longing appreciation feelings easily hurt persistent manipulative behavior achieve needs laymens terms people often called drama queens limited space rather give examples refer reader paper referenced gives many instances trumps behaviors fit descriptions 160160 doubt reader supply well people personality disorders usually considered untreatable psychiatry160 tend think law touch reality160 often become suicidal fantasies crash reality and160 end mental hospital160 disregard law may land jail prison160 man end white house instead trump born long silver spoon mouth inheriting wealth real estate business father160 money always protected consequences misbehavior gave huge head start business career trump claims iq 155160 able turn usually maladaptive personality traits success combination ruthlessness showmanship unlimited ambition160 sociopathic master manipulator160 histrionic knows keep spotlight get constant attention craves hosting reality tv show executive apprentice 14 years gave lots experience media got name recognition following quote article vanity fair jeff jenkins copresident entertainment development bunimmurray160donald trump decade experience delivering sound bites former game show need short clear effective think sometimes forget enormous reach celebrity fame recent article guardian makes point donald trump election support majority men highlyqualified female opponent despite reported behaviour it160 argues widespread indulgence internet porn made male voters less concerned ethics accepting trumps blatant sexism summarize 160trump sold american people successful businessman160 knows create maintain conflicts attract unending attention portray winner160 titillates attracts male voters slurs women160 works beautifully presidential campaign people form entertainment running presidential campaign different running reality tv show160 executive control staff main job entertain dazzle public electing him160 wonder man knows provide endless entertainment able capture attention votes many people160160 campaign reality tv influential reality climate change manipulation public perception doesnt work well trump actually deal reality potus seeing160 real world media audience160 loses control temper tantrums160 administration chaotic lots infighting poorly thought initiatives running massive opposition tolerating badly160 deep state including intelligence community democratic leaders much press best paint allied influenced russia courts blocking immigration bans160 atlantic ran story ongoing ethical conflicts interest people constantly marching demonstrating organizing policies another personality disorder emerging f600 paranoid personality disorder personality disorder characterized least 3 following 1 excessive sensitiveness setbacks rebuffs 2 tendency bear grudges persistently ie refusal forgive insults injuries slights 3 suspiciousness pervasive tendency distort experience misconstruing neutral friendly actions others hostile contemptuous 4 combative tenacious sense personal rights keeping actual situation 5 recurrent suspicions without justification regarding sexual fidelity spouse sexual partner 6 tendency experience excessive selfimportance manifest persistent selfreferential attitude 7 preoccupation unsubstantiated conspiratorial explanations events immediate patient world large trumps accusations obama wiretapped campaign press purveying fake news good illustrations trump maintaining support projecting image strong energetic leader appeals people raised authoritarian families160 see george lakoffs dont think elephant analysis gop deliberately fostering family structure several decades160160 trump plays egotism paranoia large segment americans appealing racism sexism xenophobia patriotism classic strategy fascist leaders160 rudeness cruelty gives legitimacy behaviors people like express qualities climate denial major factor continued popularity160 trumps insistence denying climate change appeals many voters dont want face future would prefer believe science trusted160160 recent study shows people tend choose ignorance possible bad news hillary knew topic climate change carefully avoided three campaign debates yet attack environment probably worst trumps hateful policies targeting racial religious groups reprehensible assault services poor medical social security appalling consequences refusing recognize climate change disastrous future children grandchildren paranoid histrionic sociopathic megalomaniac white house unfortunately point dealing trump also likeminded billionaires put key positions well gleeful republican congress hastening implement policies160 160corporate america may slow warm donald trump trump secured nomination big money began recognize unprecedented opportunity monbiot wrote incoherence liability opening agenda could shaped dark money network already developed american corporations perfectly positioned shape it160 administration getting rid regulations protected workers environment putting laws curb dissent make illegal160 local police formed national army way immigration raids160 many states congress pushing forward policies hastening doom biosphere yet bernie sanders says despair option way trump done us huge favor waking us difference entertainment reality160 aggressive policies hatred toward muslims mexicans aroused best culture millions rally support targeted populations160 appointment one billionaire another alerted us true interests people trampled people leaving tv sets laptop screens go streets confront congresspeople town hall meetings boycott banks corporations support trump policies gather friends neighbors strategize responses opposite despair faith160 everyone working future odds must leaning faith level faith battle still worthwhile tide reversed even late hour160 whether faith higher power universe force human creativity necessary keep going160 pushed dna using us vehicle make sure perpetuates spiritual battle battle forces life love peace justice caring future generations forces greed selfishness ruthlessness toward people children grandchildren mention creatures planet many people responding situation appropriate thinking actions160 following suggestions meant helpful guide clear emergency situation months prevent fascism cant wait next election160 pace work hard right now160 meet lobby write demonstrate everything take care breathe dont overwhelmed shock awe tactics get enough sleep exercise eat well take time relax ask everyone know family friends stop trump point cant afford apathy more160 get mobilized much reach trump supporters dont waste time hardcore right wingers160160 many people still feel fair give chance president respected160160160 relatives friends category160 might open looking reality doing160 explain policies dangerous must resisted learn much standing rock hunkpapa small tribe able to160 interrupt building dakota access pipeline dapl nearly year160 using nonviolent methods lakota mobilized support 200 native american tribes backed by160 millions people160160 call protectors protestors protectors sacred land water hold trust future generations160160 though pipeline completed trump major investor battle continuing courts many pipeline projects held lessons 160160restoring sense sacred effective160 nonviolence works160 courage willingness endure hardship essential success160 enthusiasm young people crucial 160perseverance furthers160 social media forms essential tool160 believe miracles like sailors sinking ship need pray help may seem like practical suggestion actually accomplishes many things160 helps us remain nonviolent face provocation put egos aside interest greater good160 opens us wisdom inspiration160 pray courage stamina calm qualities need personally sustain us hard times timothy snyder author tyranny twenty lessons twentieth century 160gives instructions preventing tyranny getting established dont obey advance believe truth stand defend institutions calm courageous many already need leave laptops tv sets meet neighbors power numbers160 need young people important group mobilize energy future stake groundbreaking climate lawsuit brought federal government 21 children hailed environmentalists bold new strategy press climate action united states argues federal government violated constitutional right 21 plaintiffs healthy climate system160 trump administration pledged undo barack obamas climate160regulations best make sure case doesnt get far brought childrens trust lawsuit may well significant action taking place deserves full support160 addresses central issue time loss habitable planet160 take caring grandchildren guide action cant go wrong answer hate love ironic many trumps supporters claim christian yet go along policies hating mexicans muslims gay trans people etc forget jesus said 160love neighbor yourself160 greatest law carol wolman md graduate cum laude radcliffe college160 received medical degree harvard diplomate american board psychiatry neurology160 practicing psychiatry 40 years160 activist peace ecology 60 years160 husband robert clapsadle worked bigfoot riders film commemorating centennial wounded knee massacre several films160 160she organized group impeach gw bush ran congress 3 times impeachment platform also written many oped pieces archived wwwopednewscom160 recently active sanders campaign supporting lakota water protectors standing rock | 2,004 |
<p>Between a diner and an empty store that once housed a shoe store, video store, and tanning salon, in a small strip mall in Bloomsburg, Pa., is Friends-in-Mind, an independent bookstore.</p>
<p>On the first floor are more than 10,000 books on more than 1,200 running feet of shelves that create aisles only about three feet wide. On top of the shelves are stacks of 10, 15, even 20 more books. On the floor are hundreds more, stacked spine out three- or four-feet high. There are books in metal racks, drawers, and on counters. It’s hard to walk through the store without bumping into a pile in the 1,000-square foot store. In the basement, in reserve, are 2,000 more books.</p>
<p>“Sometimes I order four or five copies of a title, but often I only order one copy, but I want to have whatever my customers want,” says owner Arline Johnson who founded the store in 1976 after working almost two decades as a clinical psychologist and teacher. Unlike the chain stores with magazine and newspaper racks, wide aisles, track lighting, and even a coffee shop, Friends-in-Mind has only books and some greeting cards. Also unlike the chain stores with large budgets for space and promotion to attract hundreds of customers a day, Johnson says she sees “on a real good day” maybe 25 or 30 people; often she sees fewer than a dozen.</p>
<p>In September 1984, she saw someone she didn’t want to see. A week after the Naval Institute Press shipped three copies of Tom Clancy’s cold war thriller, The Hunt for Red October, the FBI showed up. The FBI, which apparently got the information from the publisher, “wanted to know where the books were and who purchased them,” says Johnson. She says she told the two men that she couldn’t remember to whom she sold two of the copies, but acknowledged she sent one copy to her cousin, who had served aboard a nuclear submarine, “and had all kinds of clearances.” Johnson says she wasn’t pleased about the interrogation–“and my cousin certainly wasn’t happy about anyone checking on what he was reading.”</p>
<p>The FBI never returned, but occasionally residents in this rural conservative community will complain about what’s in the store. She’s been challenged for selling books about Karl Marx, gay rights, and even dinosaurs. Johnson says she tells the “book police” that “it’s important that people learn and read about everything, whether they believe it or not.” She also stocks copies of the Constitution and the Federalist Papers. Left-wing. Right-wing. Business. Labor. Anti-establishment. Everything’s available in her store. “It’s not the government’s job to tell me or anyone what they can read,” she says.</p>
<p>But the government has decided that under the cloak of “national security” it can abridge the rights of the citizen. The base is the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Under that Act’s provisions, the government may conduct covert surveillance of individuals only after seeking an order from a special government-created secret court. However, that Court, in its first two decades, granted every one of the government’s more than 12,000 requests.</p>
<p>The most recent series of intrusions upon civil liberties began in 1998 when special prosecutor Ken Starr demanded a book store to release records of what Monica Lewinsky had purchased. It was a sweeping allegation that had no reasonable basis of establishing any groundwork in Starr’s attacks upon President Clinton. Since then, there have been several cases in which police, operating with warrants issued in state courts, have demanded a bookstore’s records.</p>
<p>In state actions, individuals have the right to ask local and state courts to quash subpoenas for records. If denied, they may appeal all the way to state supreme courts. There is no such protection under FISA. Not only can’t individuals and businesses be represented in that secret court, they’re bound by a federal gag order prohibiting any disclosure that such an order was even issued. There is no recourse. No appeal.</p>
<p>Then came the USA Patriot Act, drafted by the Bush administration, and fine-tuned in secret by the House and Senate leadership following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The Patriot Act, which incorporates and significantly expands FISA to include American citizens, was overwhelmingly approved by the Congress, most of whom admit they read only a few paragraphs, if any at all, of the 342-page document. President Bush enthusiastically signed the bill, Oct. 26.</p>
<p>Among its almost innumerable provisions, the Act reduces judicial oversight of telephone and internet surveillance and grants the FBI almost unlimited, and unchecked, access to business records without requiring it to show even minimal evidence of a crime. The FBI doesn’t even need to give the individual time to call an attorney. Failure to immediately comply could result in that person’s immediate detainment. The federal government can now require libraries to divulge who uses public computers or what books they check out, video stores to reveal what tapes customers bought or rented, even grocery and drug stores to disclose what paperbacks shoppers bought.</p>
<p>The effect of the USA Patriot Act upon businesses that loan, rent, or sell books, videos, magazines, and music CDs is not to find and incarcerate terrorists–there are far more ways to investigate threats to the nation than to check on a terrorist’s reading and listening habits–but to put a sweeping chilling effect upon Constitutional freedoms. The Act butts against the protections of the First (free speech), Fourth (unreasonable searches), Fifth (right against self-incrimination), and Sixth (due process) amendments.</p>
<p>If the Act is not modified, book publishers will take even fewer chances on publishing works that, like The Hunt for Red October “might” result in the government investigation; bookstore owners may not buy as many different titles; and the people, fearing that whatever they read might be subject to Big Brother’s scrutiny, may not buy controversial books or check books out of the library. Even worse, writers may not create the works that a free nation should read. How ironic it is that a President who says he wants everyone to read is the one who may be responsible for giving the people less choice in what they may read.</p>
<p>Chris Finan, president of the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, believes “we’ve seen some shift” in the hard-core attitudes of the government’s position. He believes public opinion will eventually shift “from the panic after Sept. 11 to allow a reasonable debate of the dangers” created by the USA Patriot Act. The Act has a built-in sunset provision–several sections will expire, unless Congress renews them, on Dec. 31, 2005.</p>
<p>Judith Krug of the American Library Association isn’t as optimistic as Finan. “It’s going to be used as long as they think they can get away with it,” says Krug, one of the nation’s leading experts in First Amendment rights and civil liberties. Krug says until the people “start challenging the Act in the federal courts, we’ll be lucky if we can ‘sunset’ out any of it.”</p>
<p>In the meantime, Arline Johnson says she doesn’t keep computer records, accept credit cards, or even have a store newsletter, all of which can compromise the Constitutional protections of her customers. “I once lived and taught in Bulgaria,” says Johnson, “and I don’t like totalitarian regimes.” It makes no difference if it’s a Balkan dictatorship or one created out of fear in a democracy. The Bush administration has put far more fear into the American people than any terrorist could.</p>
<p>As Benjamin Franklin once argued, a nation that gives up freedom to gain security deserves neither.</p>
<p>Walt Brasch, a former newspaper reporter and editor, never smoked–or even inhaled–but he understands a tax-shaft when he falls into one. Brasch’s latest book is “ <a href="" type="internal">The Joy of Sax</a>,” a witty and penetrating look at America During the Bill Clinton Era. The book is available at local and on-line bookstores. You may reach Brasch by e-mail at <a href="mailto:wbrasch@planetx.bloomu.edu" type="external">wbrasch@planetx.bloomu.edu</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | diner empty store housed shoe store video store tanning salon small strip mall bloomsburg pa friendsinmind independent bookstore first floor 10000 books 1200 running feet shelves create aisles three feet wide top shelves stacks 10 15 even 20 books floor hundreds stacked spine three fourfeet high books metal racks drawers counters hard walk store without bumping pile 1000square foot store basement reserve 2000 books sometimes order four five copies title often order one copy want whatever customers want says owner arline johnson founded store 1976 working almost two decades clinical psychologist teacher unlike chain stores magazine newspaper racks wide aisles track lighting even coffee shop friendsinmind books greeting cards also unlike chain stores large budgets space promotion attract hundreds customers day johnson says sees real good day maybe 25 30 people often sees fewer dozen september 1984 saw someone didnt want see week naval institute press shipped three copies tom clancys cold war thriller hunt red october fbi showed fbi apparently got information publisher wanted know books purchased says johnson says told two men couldnt remember sold two copies acknowledged sent one copy cousin served aboard nuclear submarine kinds clearances johnson says wasnt pleased interrogationand cousin certainly wasnt happy anyone checking reading fbi never returned occasionally residents rural conservative community complain whats store shes challenged selling books karl marx gay rights even dinosaurs johnson says tells book police important people learn read everything whether believe also stocks copies constitution federalist papers leftwing rightwing business labor antiestablishment everythings available store governments job tell anyone read says government decided cloak national security abridge rights citizen base foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa acts provisions government may conduct covert surveillance individuals seeking order special governmentcreated secret court however court first two decades granted every one governments 12000 requests recent series intrusions upon civil liberties began 1998 special prosecutor ken starr demanded book store release records monica lewinsky purchased sweeping allegation reasonable basis establishing groundwork starrs attacks upon president clinton since several cases police operating warrants issued state courts demanded bookstores records state actions individuals right ask local state courts quash subpoenas records denied may appeal way state supreme courts protection fisa cant individuals businesses represented secret court theyre bound federal gag order prohibiting disclosure order even issued recourse appeal came usa patriot act drafted bush administration finetuned secret house senate leadership following sept 11 terrorist attacks patriot act incorporates significantly expands fisa include american citizens overwhelmingly approved congress admit read paragraphs 342page document president bush enthusiastically signed bill oct 26 among almost innumerable provisions act reduces judicial oversight telephone internet surveillance grants fbi almost unlimited unchecked access business records without requiring show even minimal evidence crime fbi doesnt even need give individual time call attorney failure immediately comply could result persons immediate detainment federal government require libraries divulge uses public computers books check video stores reveal tapes customers bought rented even grocery drug stores disclose paperbacks shoppers bought effect usa patriot act upon businesses loan rent sell books videos magazines music cds find incarcerate terroriststhere far ways investigate threats nation check terrorists reading listening habitsbut put sweeping chilling effect upon constitutional freedoms act butts protections first free speech fourth unreasonable searches fifth right selfincrimination sixth due process amendments act modified book publishers take even fewer chances publishing works like hunt red october might result government investigation bookstore owners may buy many different titles people fearing whatever read might subject big brothers scrutiny may buy controversial books check books library even worse writers may create works free nation read ironic president says wants everyone read one may responsible giving people less choice may read chris finan president american booksellers foundation free expression believes weve seen shift hardcore attitudes governments position believes public opinion eventually shift panic sept 11 allow reasonable debate dangers created usa patriot act act builtin sunset provisionseveral sections expire unless congress renews dec 31 2005 judith krug american library association isnt optimistic finan going used long think get away says krug one nations leading experts first amendment rights civil liberties krug says people start challenging act federal courts well lucky sunset meantime arline johnson says doesnt keep computer records accept credit cards even store newsletter compromise constitutional protections customers lived taught bulgaria says johnson dont like totalitarian regimes makes difference balkan dictatorship one created fear democracy bush administration put far fear american people terrorist could benjamin franklin argued nation gives freedom gain security deserves neither walt brasch former newspaper reporter editor never smokedor even inhaledbut understands taxshaft falls one braschs latest book joy sax witty penetrating look america bill clinton era book available local online bookstores may reach brasch email wbraschplanetxbloomuedu 160 | 770 |
<p>So, it happened that a United Nations seminar on racism was scheduled to take place in the midst of Operation Red Christmas. Was the timing a coincidence or was the purpose to disrupt the UN seminar? The $19.5 million in CIA funding for Red Christmas was announced with the bombing of the Nicaraguan airline at the México City airport, just as I was waiting to board the plane to attend the UN meeting. That day, December 13, 1981, seared my memory with the reality of terrorism and my country’s role in state-sponsored terrorism.</p>
<p>Once I arrived at the airport, I lingered as long as possible in its immense continuous main lobby. A microcosm of México City, it was lined with pharmacies, boutiques, banks, cafes, bookstores, art galleries, taco stands. I had to do some last minute shopping for items I didn’t have time to buy in the rush to turn in my grades, things hard to find anymore in Nicaragua because of the U.S. economic blockade–aspirin, Pepto-Bismo, Bic lighters, batteries, and toothpaste. This airport was new since my travels in and out of the old one in 1968 during protests against the Olympics then being held in México City, protests that culminated in the massacre of hundreds of Mexican students. That airport was then a crowded, miserable place, with CIA agents checking the movements of all U.S. citizens to prevent us from traveling to Cuba, which was what I had been trying to do in 1968. One thing hadn’t changed: thong-sandaled Indian women padded to and fro across the elegant marble floors, just as they had on the old concrete ones-mopping them.</p>
<p>I checked my watch: 11 a.m., nearly time to go through immigration and on to the gate to catch the Nicaraguan plane. The flight was scheduled for 2 p.m., and even though the flight was notorious for always being late, the ticket agent had told me to arrive at the gate two hours before the scheduled departure time and to stay there. I had arrived from San Francisco at dawn on the Mexicana tecolote, the redeye flight. I had chosen that chaotic flight, filled with Mexican farmworkers wearing jeans and cowboy boots and hats, hugging new boomboxes and portable TVs, in order to secure a seat on the Nicaraguan flight. There had been no way to make a reservation from the United States. The Mexicana ticket agent in San Francisco had told me, “The State Department has a travel advisory on the computer. Travel agencies and airlines are not allowed to make reservations for travel to Nicaragua. Just fly to México and get to the airport at the crack of dawn and take your chances.”</p>
<p>I took that advice, and at the Aeronica counter, I had netted one of the two seats left. I tried to resist checking my carry-on leather duffel bag, but the ticket agent had insisted: “Security,” he had said. The word echoed in my head; usually they said that size was the issue.</p>
<p>At immigration on my way to the international area, the Mexican official snatched my U.S. passport and removed the Mexican tourist card. He asked my destination in English, and when I said, “Nicaragua,” he looked up at me and smiled. Of course, I knew that Mexicans appreciated us gringos who defied our government. That made me feel good. I bought five cartons of Marlboros in the duty-free shop, as gifts, not for myself, as I had quit, again.</p>
<p>I was two hours early to the Aeronica gate, but I was not the first. It seemed that the other passengers were already there in the austere, modern waiting room–mostly dark, wiry teenagers dressed almost identically in crisp designer jeans, tee-shirts in bright colors, and spotless white athletic shoes. I asked one young woman on the fringe of the group where they were from. They were Nicaraguan students at México’s National University on Mexican scholarships, going home for Christmas vacation. But most Nicaraguans who left their country were not returning. They were pouring into San Francisco, complaining that they couldn’t make a living in Nicaragua, and there were rumors of war. Suddenly, precious U.S. visas and green cards had, for some, people, become easy to obtain.</p>
<p>I looked around and saw only one other possible gringo–bespectacled young, crop-haired blond man. I walked over to him, extended my hand, and asked him if he were going to the UN seminar in Managua. He introduced himself as Clifford Krauss, a Latin American correspondent for Cox News Service in Atlanta. He wasn’t aware of the seminar, he said, rather was on a quest to find a Salvadoran combatant, who he heard was in Managua for an interview. He told me he was nervous about the flight because of the CIA program to organize anti-Sandinista forces in Honduras. We discussed the fact that Congress had just granted the CIA nearly $20 million for covert operations, and that the CIA was paying Argentine military officers to train former Somoza national guardsmen. He also said that he didn’t trust taking Aeronica, but that the other Central American airlines had stopped flying to Managua under pressure from Washington. he worried that most of the Aeronica pilots and crews had defected, and that there would b no one to fly the plane. He had been waiting two days, because the Nicaraguan plane–Aeronica owned only one jetliner–had not arrived the day before.</p>
<p>Clifford and I drifted apart, and I sat down to read. The book was by the founder of the FSLN, Carlos Fonseca, who had been killed in an ambush by Somoza guardsmen in 1976. I was reading about the eastern half of the country:</p>
<p>The Mosquitia of Nicaragua, bypassed by Spanish colonization, becomes for a time in the 17th century a refuge for African slaves who daringly escape the captivity imposed on them in the European-owned plantations of the Antilles islands.</p>
<p>Following the consolidation of the colonization of indigenous lands, the Nicaraguan territory is virtually shared by the Spanish and British empires. The Pacific coast and center of Nicaragua remains under Spanish domination. The eastern region, no longer a refuge for fugitive slaves, falls under the domination of the British, who establish what they call “the Kingdom of Mosquitia,” which of course is provided with a kinglet.</p>
<p>Suddenly, everyone scurried toward the plate glass window. The Aeronica plane had arrived from San Salvador, where it had stopped to pick up passengers, and was even on time. The line, such as it was, formed at once. The students crowded in as close to the exit as possible, and inevitably, they had to be coaxed back to allow space for the arriving passengers. The Nicaraguan airline agent scolded the students, “Set a revolutionary example!” The young people inched back in unison, just enough to let the arrivals squeeze through.</p>
<p>Then, the agent announced that the departure would be delayed until the replacement crew arrived–they were stuck in the México City afternoon rush hour. I visualized the specter of the monstrous traffic jams at la comida, the early afternoon meal when everyone drives home for two hours, then returns to work, and I reconciled myself to a two-hour wait. I knew that if the plane did not leave by 4 p.m., forget it, because there was no night radar equipment at the Managua airport, and night falls all year around at 6 p.m. in Central America. I also thought about Clifford’s concern about the crews defecting.</p>
<p>An hour passed quickly. The Nica students were all curled up sleeping, propped against each other near the gate. The silence of the waiting room was punctuated with flight announcements. I walked toward the airline agent to ask if the crew had arrived. Suddenly, a glaring light blinded me, then blackness. My ears rang and echoed. I was flat on my back on the floor and shards of glass rained down.</p>
<p>An earthquake was my first thought. I lifted my head and took in the sight of people piled on top of each other, writhing, screaming. It was hard to tell that the plate glass window was gone, because every inch of glass had blown out. But the blaze sizzled, and tongues of fire lapped through the gaping mouth that had been the window. I realized that the plane could explode. A man shouted, “Bomba, Vámonos!”</p>
<p>Somehow, I got to my feet and moved, for I found myself in the corridor leaning against a cool marble wall. Then, a rush of people running knocked me down. I sat cross-legged, head in hands. Someone grabbed me under the arms and dragged me. I looked up into the blood-soaked face of one of the Nicaragua teenagers. She said, “You know that bomb was supposed to go off in the air and kill us all. You see, your government doesn’t even care if it kills its own citizens.”</p>
<p>As if I didn’t know.</p>
<p>I saw Clifford nearby, taking notes, his face smudged with soot. He walked toward me. “Well, there went Aeronica Internacional, embarrassing to be gringos, huh?” He offered me a Lucy Strike, and I took it, without a thought of having quit.</p>
<p>ROXANNE DUNBAR-ORTIZ is a longtime activist, university professor, and writer. In addition to numerous scholarly books and articles she has published two historical memoirs, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859841627/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Red Dirt: Growing Up Okie</a> (Verso, 1997), and <a href="" type="internal">Outlaw Woman: A Memoir of the War Years, 1960­1975</a> (City Lights, 2002). “Red Christmas” is excerpted from her forthcoming book, <a href="" type="internal">Blood on the Border: A Memoir of the Contra War</a>, South End Press, October 2005. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:rdunbaro@pacbell.net" type="external">rdunbaro@pacbell.net</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | happened united nations seminar racism scheduled take place midst operation red christmas timing coincidence purpose disrupt un seminar 195 million cia funding red christmas announced bombing nicaraguan airline méxico city airport waiting board plane attend un meeting day december 13 1981 seared memory reality terrorism countrys role statesponsored terrorism arrived airport lingered long possible immense continuous main lobby microcosm méxico city lined pharmacies boutiques banks cafes bookstores art galleries taco stands last minute shopping items didnt time buy rush turn grades things hard find anymore nicaragua us economic blockadeaspirin peptobismo bic lighters batteries toothpaste airport new since travels old one 1968 protests olympics held méxico city protests culminated massacre hundreds mexican students airport crowded miserable place cia agents checking movements us citizens prevent us traveling cuba trying 1968 one thing hadnt changed thongsandaled indian women padded fro across elegant marble floors old concrete onesmopping checked watch 11 nearly time go immigration gate catch nicaraguan plane flight scheduled 2 pm even though flight notorious always late ticket agent told arrive gate two hours scheduled departure time stay arrived san francisco dawn mexicana tecolote redeye flight chosen chaotic flight filled mexican farmworkers wearing jeans cowboy boots hats hugging new boomboxes portable tvs order secure seat nicaraguan flight way make reservation united states mexicana ticket agent san francisco told state department travel advisory computer travel agencies airlines allowed make reservations travel nicaragua fly méxico get airport crack dawn take chances took advice aeronica counter netted one two seats left tried resist checking carryon leather duffel bag ticket agent insisted security said word echoed head usually said size issue immigration way international area mexican official snatched us passport removed mexican tourist card asked destination english said nicaragua looked smiled course knew mexicans appreciated us gringos defied government made feel good bought five cartons marlboros dutyfree shop gifts quit two hours early aeronica gate first seemed passengers already austere modern waiting roommostly dark wiry teenagers dressed almost identically crisp designer jeans teeshirts bright colors spotless white athletic shoes asked one young woman fringe group nicaraguan students méxicos national university mexican scholarships going home christmas vacation nicaraguans left country returning pouring san francisco complaining couldnt make living nicaragua rumors war suddenly precious us visas green cards people become easy obtain looked around saw one possible gringobespectacled young crophaired blond man walked extended hand asked going un seminar managua introduced clifford krauss latin american correspondent cox news service atlanta wasnt aware seminar said rather quest find salvadoran combatant heard managua interview told nervous flight cia program organize antisandinista forces honduras discussed fact congress granted cia nearly 20 million covert operations cia paying argentine military officers train former somoza national guardsmen also said didnt trust taking aeronica central american airlines stopped flying managua pressure washington worried aeronica pilots crews defected would b one fly plane waiting two days nicaraguan planeaeronica owned one jetlinerhad arrived day clifford drifted apart sat read book founder fsln carlos fonseca killed ambush somoza guardsmen 1976 reading eastern half country mosquitia nicaragua bypassed spanish colonization becomes time 17th century refuge african slaves daringly escape captivity imposed europeanowned plantations antilles islands following consolidation colonization indigenous lands nicaraguan territory virtually shared spanish british empires pacific coast center nicaragua remains spanish domination eastern region longer refuge fugitive slaves falls domination british establish call kingdom mosquitia course provided kinglet suddenly everyone scurried toward plate glass window aeronica plane arrived san salvador stopped pick passengers even time line formed students crowded close exit possible inevitably coaxed back allow space arriving passengers nicaraguan airline agent scolded students set revolutionary example young people inched back unison enough let arrivals squeeze agent announced departure would delayed replacement crew arrivedthey stuck méxico city afternoon rush hour visualized specter monstrous traffic jams la comida early afternoon meal everyone drives home two hours returns work reconciled twohour wait knew plane leave 4 pm forget night radar equipment managua airport night falls year around 6 pm central america also thought cliffords concern crews defecting hour passed quickly nica students curled sleeping propped near gate silence waiting room punctuated flight announcements walked toward airline agent ask crew arrived suddenly glaring light blinded blackness ears rang echoed flat back floor shards glass rained earthquake first thought lifted head took sight people piled top writhing screaming hard tell plate glass window gone every inch glass blown blaze sizzled tongues fire lapped gaping mouth window realized plane could explode man shouted bomba vámonos somehow got feet moved found corridor leaning cool marble wall rush people running knocked sat crosslegged head hands someone grabbed arms dragged looked bloodsoaked face one nicaragua teenagers said know bomb supposed go air kill us see government doesnt even care kills citizens didnt know saw clifford nearby taking notes face smudged soot walked toward well went aeronica internacional embarrassing gringos huh offered lucy strike took without thought quit roxanne dunbarortiz longtime activist university professor writer addition numerous scholarly books articles published two historical memoirs red dirt growing okie verso 1997 outlaw woman memoir war years 19601975 city lights 2002 red christmas excerpted forthcoming book blood border memoir contra war south end press october 2005 reached rdunbaropacbellnet 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 867 |
<p>Call of Duty is in decline. The juggernaut franchise that has broken all kinds of records and made obscene amounts of money may have finally reached the point of diminishing returns. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Call-Duty-Ghosts-PC/dp/B003O6CB6S" type="external">Call of Duty: Ghosts</a> could mark the beginning of the end.</p>
<p>Activision has confirmed that <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2013/11/08/activision-admits-call-of-duty-ghosts-didnt-outsell-black-ops-2-at-launch/" type="external">Call of Duty: Ghosts did not sell as well as its predecessor</a>, choosing to release extremely impressive shipment numbers (sold to retail) versus actual sales numbers (to consumers). Although Activision CEO Bobby Kotick was quick to point out that actual sales figures would not include either the Xbox One or PlayStation 4 versions of the game, it’s hard to see that as anything but bad news. This is also the first time that a game in the main series dipped below a 75 (the bar for “Generally favorable reviews”) on Metacritic on one of its main platforms. The Xbox 360 version of the game currently sits at a 74. Every game since Call of Duty 2 has received at least an 82, and no Infinity Ward-developed game has dipped below an 88.</p>
<p>So what happened?</p>
<p>It starts with the campaign. This is developer Infinity Ward’s first attempt at a new timeline since the original Modern Warfare, and boy how the mighty have fallen. Many people don’t play modern first-person shooters for their story (see Battlefield, aside from the Bad Company spinoffs), but as long as the campaign is a selling point, it deserves a serious look. Back in the day, a Call of Duty narrative was something to be excited about. Remember the atom bomb explosion in Modern Warfare? Or “No Russian” in its sequel? That was some heavy stuff (although the decision to allow players to skip that latter scene still leaves a bad taste in my mouth).</p>
<p>There is nothing like that here. There are some cool moments, and it’s a reasonably enjoyable ride, but the pacing is totally out of whack. There’s no sense of escalation because the whole thing is on such a massive scale. I lost track of how many times I had to run through crumbling/exploding set pieces over the course of the 6-hour-long campaign, and it just became tiresome. It’s not particularly original, either. It takes from everything, including <a href="http://www.oxm.co.uk/65559/call-of-duty-ghosts-cutscene-mirrors-modern-warfare-2-cutscene/" type="external">one of its predecessors</a>. It also features a scene that is shockingly reminiscent of the prologue in The Dark Knight Rises.</p>
<p>The narrative follows two brothers, Logan (who the player controls), and his brother, Hesh (who narrates most of the weird liquid-metal cut scenes). The two brothers join a special group called the Ghosts, which are secret soldiers who work in the shadows, and someone is trying to kill them off. I’m refraining from spoilers, but there’s nothing really surprising or interesting about the narrative. As soon as the opening ended, I figured out at least half of the basic story progression, and as soon as the major conflict was introduced, I figured out the rest.</p>
<p>One of the most significant steps back is the number of people who can join the multiplayer mode. On the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, matches are capped at six versus six or less, down from nine versus nine found in previous games, while the PC and PS4/Xbox One versions still have the capacity to hold that number. This isn’t a problem in some of the game’s smaller maps, but in the larger ones the one-third reduction in players is huge. One of the new game modes requires players to take out an opponent every 30 seconds, or else explode. On the bigger maps, it’s hard to run into anybody from the opposite team in just 30 seconds. Actual firefights last seconds, so running around alone only to be killed immediately is frustrating.</p>
<p>The biggest addition to the multiplayer is the customization. Not only can players choose a female avatar (in fact, the basic character defaults to the female model), but they can change the appearance in a number of ways, and this is a warmup for the new “Squads” mode. Every player has a team of 10 AI characters that they can outfit how they like. Someone who really wants to take their squad on a world domination tour will probably find this rewarding.</p>
<p>After completing the campaign, an “Extinction” mode opens up. It’s like the Zombie mode found in Treyarch’s Call of Duty games, except it has aliens in it. Players gang up (or go solo, but why would anyone do that?) to destroy alien pods and kill aliens. It’s a decent distraction, but other games have done it better. Work clearly went into making it, but it still feels like something to get feature parity with Treyarch’s releases rather than a truly inspired move.</p>
<p>And that’s how most of the game feels: uninspired. Just as development on Modern Warfare 3 began, Infinity Ward lost its heads in a bizarre scandal involving Activision, EA, and a billion-dollar lawsuit. Modern Warfare 3, even with Jason West and Vince Zampella’s basic framework, was a step back. The good people at Sledgehammer Games, run by the creators of the Dead Space franchise, helped in that game’s development after the chaos, but they had no part in Ghosts. Two people do not a development house make, but if Ghosts is any indication of where the studio is headed, there are going to be rough seas ahead.</p>
<p>Maybe the poor sales of Call of Duty: Ghosts aren’t attributable to indecision about platform purchases but point toward a larger ambivalence in the franchise. Any time I logged onto Call of Duty’s servers, there were over 200,000 people playing on the PlayStation 3, so it’s still successful. But this is the eighth year in a row that a Call of Duty game has been released, and next year will still see the arrival of another Call of Duty game—and if the cliffhanger ending of Ghosts is any indication, there will be a Ghosts 2 in 2015. It may finally be time to slow things down.</p> | true | 4 | call duty decline juggernaut franchise broken kinds records made obscene amounts money may finally reached point diminishing returns call duty ghosts could mark beginning end activision confirmed call duty ghosts sell well predecessor choosing release extremely impressive shipment numbers sold retail versus actual sales numbers consumers although activision ceo bobby kotick quick point actual sales figures would include either xbox one playstation 4 versions game hard see anything bad news also first time game main series dipped 75 bar generally favorable reviews metacritic one main platforms xbox 360 version game currently sits 74 every game since call duty 2 received least 82 infinity warddeveloped game dipped 88 happened starts campaign developer infinity wards first attempt new timeline since original modern warfare boy mighty fallen many people dont play modern firstperson shooters story see battlefield aside bad company spinoffs long campaign selling point deserves serious look back day call duty narrative something excited remember atom bomb explosion modern warfare russian sequel heavy stuff although decision allow players skip latter scene still leaves bad taste mouth nothing like cool moments reasonably enjoyable ride pacing totally whack theres sense escalation whole thing massive scale lost track many times run crumblingexploding set pieces course 6hourlong campaign became tiresome particularly original either takes everything including one predecessors also features scene shockingly reminiscent prologue dark knight rises narrative follows two brothers logan player controls brother hesh narrates weird liquidmetal cut scenes two brothers join special group called ghosts secret soldiers work shadows someone trying kill im refraining spoilers theres nothing really surprising interesting narrative soon opening ended figured least half basic story progression soon major conflict introduced figured rest one significant steps back number people join multiplayer mode xbox 360 playstation 3 matches capped six versus six less nine versus nine found previous games pc ps4xbox one versions still capacity hold number isnt problem games smaller maps larger ones onethird reduction players huge one new game modes requires players take opponent every 30 seconds else explode bigger maps hard run anybody opposite team 30 seconds actual firefights last seconds running around alone killed immediately frustrating biggest addition multiplayer customization players choose female avatar fact basic character defaults female model change appearance number ways warmup new squads mode every player team 10 ai characters outfit like someone really wants take squad world domination tour probably find rewarding completing campaign extinction mode opens like zombie mode found treyarchs call duty games except aliens players gang go solo would anyone destroy alien pods kill aliens decent distraction games done better work clearly went making still feels like something get feature parity treyarchs releases rather truly inspired move thats game feels uninspired development modern warfare 3 began infinity ward lost heads bizarre scandal involving activision ea billiondollar lawsuit modern warfare 3 even jason west vince zampellas basic framework step back good people sledgehammer games run creators dead space franchise helped games development chaos part ghosts two people development house make ghosts indication studio headed going rough seas ahead maybe poor sales call duty ghosts arent attributable indecision platform purchases point toward larger ambivalence franchise time logged onto call dutys servers 200000 people playing playstation 3 still successful eighth year row call duty game released next year still see arrival another call duty gameand cliffhanger ending ghosts indication ghosts 2 2015 may finally time slow things | 555 |
<p>Jeff Skilling had a vision for Enron. In February of 2001, he told the company’s employees that Enron, would, within five years, “be the leading company in the world.” World dominance was the main message that Skilling and Enron’s chairman, Ken Lay, imparted to their employees in the video of that 2001 meeting, which was re-played on Wednesday morning in courtroom 9B of the federal courthouse in Houston. Forget talk that Enron was short on cash, or that the mighty juggernaut was overextended and hobbled by competitors. Ignore the doubters, like the journalists at Fortune magazine, who had, a few days earlier, published a story saying that Enron’s business model was based on a “black box.” “The company is doing great,” Skilling told the Enron employees. “We’ve got a vision for the next century.”</p>
<p>It was during the playing of that video that it became clear: the Bush Administration has become Enron. World dominance.</p>
<p>The old rules don’t apply. Machiavellian vengeance toward naysayers. Corrupt accounting. And holding all of those ingredients together: a heaping helping of hubris, a hubris that leaves no room for doubt or uncertainty.</p>
<p>That George W. Bush has morphed into his old pal, “Kenny Boy” Lay shouldn’t be surprising. Enron was, until the 2004 campaign, Bush’s biggest career patron. The intrigue lies in the myriad parallels that can be drawn between the Bush regime and the Enron regime.</p>
<p>On a personality level, you have the similarities between Bush and Lay: both are the detached executives who couldn’t know — or didn’t bother to pay attention to — what was happening in their operations. Lay, his defense lawyers insist, had no idea that Enron’s chief financial officer, Andy Fastow, was cooking the books. Lay was in charge of the big picture. He was the public face of Enron, Mr. Outside. Never mind that Lay was a PhD. in economics who couldn’t read a cash flow statement. As for Bush, neither he nor his defense secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, can be held accountable for the torture of Iraqi prisoners that occurred at Abu Ghraib. That was done by rogue soldiers without approval from their commanders.</p>
<p>Both Lay and Bush have backed their subordinates, no matter how grievous their wrongdoing. In October of 2001, after Fastow’s double-dealing was exposed, Lay insisted that he and the Enron board “have the highest faith and confidence in Andy and think he’s doing an outstanding job as CFO.” In May of 2004, right after the Abu Ghraib scandal broke, Bush insisted that Rumsfeld was “doing a superb job” and that America owes him “a debt of gratitude.”</p>
<p>The old rules no longer apply. For Enron, it was the old rules of accounting. As Skilling once told Enron’s chief accounting officer, Rick Causey, “Cash doesn’t matter. All that matters is earnings.” Enron had blown up the old methods. It was operating in a new paradigm, and those who didn’t understand that, well, as Skilling often put it, they just “didn’t get it.”</p>
<p>For the Bush Administration the old rules include anachronisms like the Geneva Convention. Bush insist that he’s fighting a new, stateless, enemy, and thus the “global war on terror” cannot be constrained by old treaties, old rules, or the countries that Rumsfeld calls “old Europe.” That means that “illegal enemy combatants” can be held at Guantanamo Bay, or in secret prisons in Syria, or elsewhere, for as long as Bush deems necessary.</p>
<p>Cheney, plays the role of Skilling. Like the monomaniacal Enron executive who never doubted that his vision for a business that would dominate global markets in everything from natural gas and electricity to paper and steel, Cheney is the true believer in America’s global dominance, the one who constantly pushes against old notions that might constrain America’s power. If that means torturing prisoners, no problem. As Cheney said shortly after the 9-11 attacks, the U.S. government must, “work through, sort of, the dark side.” And that means that it is “vital for us to use any means at our disposal, basically, to achieve our objective.”</p>
<p>Opponents of the regime must be dealt with quickly and harshly. For Enron, that meant that stock analysts like Merrill Lynch’s John Olson, who never parroted the company’s rosy predictions, had to be silenced. Merrill fired Olson after Enron made its displeasure known. For the Bush regime, it meant smearing former ambassador Joe Wilson and his wife, Valerie Plame. Wilson’s offense: publicly questioning the story that Iraq was trying to buy radioactive materials from Niger.</p>
<p>Opponents who don’t follow the script are “assholes.” That was made clear in September 2000, when Bush, unaware that his microphone was on, pointed to New York Times reporter Adam Clymer and told Cheney, who was standing nearby, that Clymer was a “major league asshole.” Cheney readily agreed.</p>
<p>Skilling used the same term a few months later during an April 2001 conference call with analysts. When Boston hedge fund manager Richard Grubman pressed Skilling on a financial question, Skilling cut him off, and let all of the analysts and his Enron pals know that Grubman, too, was an “asshole.”</p>
<p>Finally, the defense strategies adopted by Bush and his cronies at Enron are exactly the same. That is: everything we did was legal. From the beginning of their trial, the attorneys for Lay and Skilling, Mike Ramsey and Dan Petrocelli, have stuck to that theme. During his opening argument, Petrocelli declared that Enron was “no house of cards…It was a wonderful company, a shining star.” Ramsey told jurors that Enron didn’t fail because of the billions of dollars in accounting shenanigans, it failed because of a “market panic.”</p>
<p>That same tactic has been used consistently by the Bush Administration to defend the CIA’s rendition of terror and the indefinite imprisonment of terrorism suspects – without charges — in places like Guantánamo Bay. Last week, about the same time that the first prosecution witness began testifying on the stand in Houston, Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, telling the senators that the secret wiretaps that Bush has authorized are legal. And why are they legal? Well, because Gonzales and the president say it’s legal.</p>
<p>Unlike the execrable Gonzales who has yet to utter a credible word in defense of torture or wiretaps, the Enron attorneys are at least partially correct in their diagnosis of the failure of Enron. It’s true that the collapse of Enron was hastened by a “market panic.” That panic was a direct result of Lay’s incompetence. Lay simply did not know how much money Enron had borrowed to fund its global ambitions. Nor did he grasp just how deeply distrusted Enron was by its peer companies.</p>
<p>Incompetence. Huge debts. Lack of trust. Just another set of parallels for Kenny Boy and his pal, W.</p>
<p>ROBERT BRYCE is the author of <a href="" type="internal">Pipe Dreams: Greed, Ego, and the Death of Enron</a>.</p> | true | 4 | jeff skilling vision enron february 2001 told companys employees enron would within five years leading company world world dominance main message skilling enrons chairman ken lay imparted employees video 2001 meeting replayed wednesday morning courtroom 9b federal courthouse houston forget talk enron short cash mighty juggernaut overextended hobbled competitors ignore doubters like journalists fortune magazine days earlier published story saying enrons business model based black box company great skilling told enron employees weve got vision next century playing video became clear bush administration become enron world dominance old rules dont apply machiavellian vengeance toward naysayers corrupt accounting holding ingredients together heaping helping hubris hubris leaves room doubt uncertainty george w bush morphed old pal kenny boy lay shouldnt surprising enron 2004 campaign bushs biggest career patron intrigue lies myriad parallels drawn bush regime enron regime personality level similarities bush lay detached executives couldnt know didnt bother pay attention happening operations lay defense lawyers insist idea enrons chief financial officer andy fastow cooking books lay charge big picture public face enron mr outside never mind lay phd economics couldnt read cash flow statement bush neither defense secretary donald rumsfeld held accountable torture iraqi prisoners occurred abu ghraib done rogue soldiers without approval commanders lay bush backed subordinates matter grievous wrongdoing october 2001 fastows doubledealing exposed lay insisted enron board highest faith confidence andy think hes outstanding job cfo may 2004 right abu ghraib scandal broke bush insisted rumsfeld superb job america owes debt gratitude old rules longer apply enron old rules accounting skilling told enrons chief accounting officer rick causey cash doesnt matter matters earnings enron blown old methods operating new paradigm didnt understand well skilling often put didnt get bush administration old rules include anachronisms like geneva convention bush insist hes fighting new stateless enemy thus global war terror constrained old treaties old rules countries rumsfeld calls old europe means illegal enemy combatants held guantanamo bay secret prisons syria elsewhere long bush deems necessary cheney plays role skilling like monomaniacal enron executive never doubted vision business would dominate global markets everything natural gas electricity paper steel cheney true believer americas global dominance one constantly pushes old notions might constrain americas power means torturing prisoners problem cheney said shortly 911 attacks us government must work sort dark side means vital us use means disposal basically achieve objective opponents regime must dealt quickly harshly enron meant stock analysts like merrill lynchs john olson never parroted companys rosy predictions silenced merrill fired olson enron made displeasure known bush regime meant smearing former ambassador joe wilson wife valerie plame wilsons offense publicly questioning story iraq trying buy radioactive materials niger opponents dont follow script assholes made clear september 2000 bush unaware microphone pointed new york times reporter adam clymer told cheney standing nearby clymer major league asshole cheney readily agreed skilling used term months later april 2001 conference call analysts boston hedge fund manager richard grubman pressed skilling financial question skilling cut let analysts enron pals know grubman asshole finally defense strategies adopted bush cronies enron exactly everything legal beginning trial attorneys lay skilling mike ramsey dan petrocelli stuck theme opening argument petrocelli declared enron house cardsit wonderful company shining star ramsey told jurors enron didnt fail billions dollars accounting shenanigans failed market panic tactic used consistently bush administration defend cias rendition terror indefinite imprisonment terrorism suspects without charges places like guantánamo bay last week time first prosecution witness began testifying stand houston attorney general alberto gonzales testifying senate judiciary committee telling senators secret wiretaps bush authorized legal legal well gonzales president say legal unlike execrable gonzales yet utter credible word defense torture wiretaps enron attorneys least partially correct diagnosis failure enron true collapse enron hastened market panic panic direct result lays incompetence lay simply know much money enron borrowed fund global ambitions grasp deeply distrusted enron peer companies incompetence huge debts lack trust another set parallels kenny boy pal w robert bryce author pipe dreams greed ego death enron | 656 |
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<p>“The worst Democrat is better than the best Republican.” That’s what my grandfather, a union man, used to say and it’s still considered political bedrock in my family. I, on the other hand . . .</p>
<p>I’m reminded of my grandfather’s saying because a version of this idea is now circulating among the Anyone But Bush crowd furious at Ralph Nader’s announcement to run for president. The problem with the Anyone But Bush position is that we know what Anyone But Bush looks like: he looks a lot like Bill Clinton. In 1992, beleaguered by twelve years of Reagan and Bush, the Democratic Party united behind a pro-business moderate Democrat. The result, as you may care to remember, was NAFTA, GATT, “the end of welfare as we know it,” don’t ask-don’t tell, the Telecommunications Bill, the Defense of Family Act, etc., etc.</p>
<p>My grandfather didn’t live to see the Clinton presidency, so I don’t know how he would have reacted. He may indeed have held firm in his belief. Or, noting that in his day a Democrat was someone who represented the interests of the working class while Democrats now tend to be an especially craven species beholden to corporate interests who bother to distinguish themselves from Republicans, if at all, on the basis of abortion and a handful of lifestyle issues, he might have decided that this new situation requires a new strategy. Perhaps he would have judged that his loyalty was not to the Democratic party but to the causes that the Democratic party used to champion. I do know, however, that he was unlikely to have shrieked at someone who voted for a candidate who actually represented his or her interests.</p>
<p>I should say up front that I voted for Ralph Nader in 1996 and in 2000. I should also say that I remain uncertain how I’ll vote in November. It is a difficult decision whether to vote for someone who represents your interests but is unlikely to win or to vote for the lesser of two evils who is more likely win. Only a clod would insist that it’s an obvious choice one way or the other. You see, I’m sympathetic to the pragmatic argument, but there is a point where pragmatism becomes concession, and I don’t see much that’s pragmatic about supporting a party that made zero concessions to its progressive block while making countless concessions to a president who didn’t even win the popular vote. The blaming by liberals of Nader and Nader supporters for the abject failures of the Democratic party, therefore, must stop right now and once and for all.</p>
<p>The Democratic party used to respond to threats from third parties by stealing their ideas in order to render those parties superfluous. After all, there’s no reason for to vote for a third party if one of the two parties can deliver what the third party promises. In 1935, for example, when a poll by the Democratic National Committee revealed that Huey Long was likely to receive three to four million votes if Long ran for president as an independent in 1936, FDR launched what became known as “the second hundred days,” during which time the Social Security Act, the Wagner Act, and the “soak the rich” Wealth Tax Act were passed. According to William Leuchtenburg, as the Wealth Tax Act was being read in the Senate, “Long swaggered through the Senate chamber, chortling and pointing to his chest.” That’s the kind of treatment third parties deserve. But the Democratic party did nothing of the sort after the 2000 election. In fact, even after a disastrous Bush-lite campaign in the 2002 election cycle–with no interference, I might add, from third party candidates at the national level–Terry McAuliffe still assumed that progressive Democrats would return to the fold come 2004. For liberals to insist shrilly that would-be Nader voters ought to line up and suffer gladly McAuliffe’s incompetence and contempt is simply too much. A nationally recognized candidate with Nader’s platform and record only comes along maybe once or twice in a lifetime. We would be fools to dismiss his campaign and seek to silence his supporters out of hand before we can figure out how we might use it, and them, to advance those causes. I’m open to suggestions, but the only way I know how to make a major party listen is to cost it elections. I agree, it’s maddening and outrageous that it may take two presidential elections for the party leadership to learn the lesson that FDR learned by glancing at a prospective poll, almost as maddening and outrageous, in fact, as demanding that progressive voters vote for a centrist candidate even when there hasn’t been a progressive law passed in this country for thirty years.</p>
<p>“But Nader’s not electable,” the liberals cry. Notice, however, it’s only liberals who worry about “electability.” A friend pointed out to me that if the Republican voters had worried about electability in 2000, McCain would have won the nomination hands down and be sitting in the oval office right now without any controversy haunting his election. But they voted instead for George Bush. Why? Because Bush convinced them that he would prosecute a pro-business agenda more effectively and reliably than the sometime populist McCain. They knew it didn’t matter if a member of their party was elected if he didn’t represent their interests once in office. Being a Republican means something more than merely projecting a cultural identity. The same used to be true for Democrats before liberals began worrying about things like electability. As David Brooks pointed out, this year’s Democratic nomination process became “an election about itself, with voters voting on the basis of who could win votes later on.” And you know you’re in a very ugly place when David Brooks has you pegged dead to right.</p>
<p>Why aren’t Republicans worried about electability? Because they figured out how to advance their causes without having to win every single election. Once Republicans reduce the “opposition” party to the role of band-aid while they take a time-out to sharpen their swords, it’s not a crisis if they occasionally lose a general election. Democrats would do well, for example, to enlarge and empower labor unions rather than being laissez faire toward them which would have the effect of enlarging and empowering the Democratic electoral base. But did the previous Anyone But Bush administration do anything like this? No. Clinton and his supporters were happy taking the executive foot off the gas pedal and coasting toward the cliff rather than racing toward it like Republicans. It’s been easy for George Bush to ram his agenda through Congress because he didn’t so much as have to turn the car around, there was nothing to undo from the previous Anyone But Bush administration. There was no need for him to spend political capital passing NAFTA because Anyone But Bush already did it. Should we kill Iraqi civilians with bombs? Why not? Anyone But Bush killed them with a decade of sanctions. Ought we to try to pass a federal law prohibiting gay marriage? Oh, that’s right, Anyone But Bush beat us to it. The liberals at The Nation warn us that a sound defeat of a Nader candidacy “can only hurt those causes” which he’s worked so hard for. But no one has yet to explain to me either the difference it makes whether a Republican president ignores those causes or a Democratic one does, or why an Anyone But Bush candidate, who can win his party’s nomination without embracing universal health care or instant runoff voting, would then take up these issues if he happens to win the general election. In short, which of Nader’s causes, which I’m assuming are our causes, is John Kerry going to entertain let alone advance if he wins the presidency? Go ahead, name one.</p>
<p>New Mexico governor Bill Richardson chimed in with perhaps the most common smear against Nader when he says that the decision to run was all about Nader’s ego: “It’s his personal vanity because he has no movement. Nobody’s backing him.” I, for one, couldn’t care less whether Nader’s decision is purely selfish or purely selfless. These are moral categories and frankly have no place in evaluating a candidate’s political positions. Again, my attraction to Nader’s candidacy isn’t due to his person but to his politics. This is one of the problems, as I see it, with Dennis Kucinich’s campaign. He often seems more interested in convincing us that his beautiful soul has a beautiful sensibility than in figuring out a way to give his positions efficacy.</p>
<p>Nader supporters will undoubtedly be criticized for not understanding how serious the situation is, how much rides on the 2004 election. But I wonder if it’s possible to see Nader supporters as seeing things as much more dire than the average liberal sees them. That is, if one cares to project into the future, what would things look like if we merely repeated the last twelve years, if Anyone But Bush wins two of the next three presidential elections and a reactionary Republican wins just one. Ask yourself, is that a country any of us could stand to live in?</p>
<p>I would not be misunderstood. This is not an endorsement for Nader and I remain uncertain how I will vote in November. But I think it’s important that liberals understand what’s attractive and potentially useful about his campaign and why eventual Nader voters don’t deserve liberals’ scorn half as much as registered Democrats, who voted for Bush by the millions despite the significant centrist concessions to them. Go screech at them.</p>
<p>DOUGLAS O’HARA for the moment resides in Chicago as he finishes his dissertation on the politics of space in 1590s London. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:doh@uclink.berkeley.edu" type="external">doh@uclink.berkeley.edu</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 worst democrat better best republican thats grandfather union man used say still considered political bedrock family hand im reminded grandfathers saying version idea circulating among anyone bush crowd furious ralph naders announcement run president problem anyone bush position know anyone bush looks like looks lot like bill clinton 1992 beleaguered twelve years reagan bush democratic party united behind probusiness moderate democrat result may care remember nafta gatt end welfare know dont askdont tell telecommunications bill defense family act etc etc grandfather didnt live see clinton presidency dont know would reacted may indeed held firm belief noting day democrat someone represented interests working class democrats tend especially craven species beholden corporate interests bother distinguish republicans basis abortion handful lifestyle issues might decided new situation requires new strategy perhaps would judged loyalty democratic party causes democratic party used champion know however unlikely shrieked someone voted candidate actually represented interests say front voted ralph nader 1996 2000 also say remain uncertain ill vote november difficult decision whether vote someone represents interests unlikely win vote lesser two evils likely win clod would insist obvious choice one way see im sympathetic pragmatic argument point pragmatism becomes concession dont see much thats pragmatic supporting party made zero concessions progressive block making countless concessions president didnt even win popular vote blaming liberals nader nader supporters abject failures democratic party therefore must stop right democratic party used respond threats third parties stealing ideas order render parties superfluous theres reason vote third party one two parties deliver third party promises 1935 example poll democratic national committee revealed huey long likely receive three four million votes long ran president independent 1936 fdr launched became known second hundred days time social security act wagner act soak rich wealth tax act passed according william leuchtenburg wealth tax act read senate long swaggered senate chamber chortling pointing chest thats kind treatment third parties deserve democratic party nothing sort 2000 election fact even disastrous bushlite campaign 2002 election cyclewith interference might add third party candidates national levelterry mcauliffe still assumed progressive democrats would return fold come 2004 liberals insist shrilly wouldbe nader voters ought line suffer gladly mcauliffes incompetence contempt simply much nationally recognized candidate naders platform record comes along maybe twice lifetime would fools dismiss campaign seek silence supporters hand figure might use advance causes im open suggestions way know make major party listen cost elections agree maddening outrageous may take two presidential elections party leadership learn lesson fdr learned glancing prospective poll almost maddening outrageous fact demanding progressive voters vote centrist candidate even hasnt progressive law passed country thirty years naders electable liberals cry notice however liberals worry electability friend pointed republican voters worried electability 2000 mccain would nomination hands sitting oval office right without controversy haunting election voted instead george bush bush convinced would prosecute probusiness agenda effectively reliably sometime populist mccain knew didnt matter member party elected didnt represent interests office republican means something merely projecting cultural identity used true democrats liberals began worrying things like electability david brooks pointed years democratic nomination process became election voters voting basis could win votes later know youre ugly place david brooks pegged dead right arent republicans worried electability figured advance causes without win every single election republicans reduce opposition party role bandaid take timeout sharpen swords crisis occasionally lose general election democrats would well example enlarge empower labor unions rather laissez faire toward would effect enlarging empowering democratic electoral base previous anyone bush administration anything like clinton supporters happy taking executive foot gas pedal coasting toward cliff rather racing toward like republicans easy george bush ram agenda congress didnt much turn car around nothing undo previous anyone bush administration need spend political capital passing nafta anyone bush already kill iraqi civilians bombs anyone bush killed decade sanctions ought try pass federal law prohibiting gay marriage oh thats right anyone bush beat us liberals nation warn us sound defeat nader candidacy hurt causes hes worked hard one yet explain either difference makes whether republican president ignores causes democratic one anyone bush candidate win partys nomination without embracing universal health care instant runoff voting would take issues happens win general election short naders causes im assuming causes john kerry going entertain let alone advance wins presidency go ahead name one new mexico governor bill richardson chimed perhaps common smear nader says decision run naders ego personal vanity movement nobodys backing one couldnt care less whether naders decision purely selfish purely selfless moral categories frankly place evaluating candidates political positions attraction naders candidacy isnt due person politics one problems see dennis kucinichs campaign often seems interested convincing us beautiful soul beautiful sensibility figuring way give positions efficacy nader supporters undoubtedly criticized understanding serious situation much rides 2004 election wonder possible see nader supporters seeing things much dire average liberal sees one cares project future would things look like merely repeated last twelve years anyone bush wins two next three presidential elections reactionary republican wins one ask country us could stand live would misunderstood endorsement nader remain uncertain vote november think important liberals understand whats attractive potentially useful campaign eventual nader voters dont deserve liberals scorn half much registered democrats voted bush millions despite significant centrist concessions go screech douglas ohara moment resides chicago finishes dissertation politics space 1590s london reached dohuclinkberkeleyedu 160 | 878 |
<p>Janine Jackson interviewed Alvaro Bedoya on privacy, technology and the targets of surveillance for the March 11, 2016, CounterSpin. This is a lightly edited transcript.</p>
<p>Alvaro Bedoya: “There is a sad and deep record of companies and the government making very poor decisions of how to treat the information of vulnerable people.”(image: <a href="http://blog.bigpicturescience.org/2015/09/big-picture-science-no-face-to-hide-alvaro-bedoya-recognizing-privacy/" type="external">Big Picture Science</a>)</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">MP3 Link</a></p>
<p>Janine Jackson: Would it bother you if, when you walked into a department store, a hidden camera scanned your face and checked it against a database of VIP customers, suspected shoplifters and “known litigious people”? What if your church used facial recognition technology to see who was attending?</p>
<p>You can almost divide people between those who find the idea creepy and wrong, and those who say, “Eh, all in a day,” with the latter reaction meaning maybe, “I have nothing to hide, so so what,” or maybe “it’s inevitable anyway; that ship has sailed.”</p>
<p>But is this unprecedented corporate access into our lives permitted just because it’s technically possible? What expectations of privacy remain when we shop or walk down the street? How does it relate to government surveillance and, as with government surveillance, shouldn’t we ask who, when it comes down to it, is most likely to be harmed?</p>
<p>Alvaro Bedoya is the founding executive director of the Center on Privacy &amp; Technology at Georgetown Law. He was chief counsel to the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law. He joins us now by phone from Washington, DC. Welcome to CounterSpin, Alvaro Bedoya.</p>
<p>Alvaro Bedoya: Thank you. It’s great to be here.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, I’d like to just beg the question of inevitability and assume that these things are not inevitable; technology exists, but we decide socially how to employ it. In the case of facial recognition technology, you have been part of the process seeking to figure out how it’s used, how privacy is protected. And the way that that process went is worth recounting in some detail, because it explains a lot about how we got to where we are. Tell us about those 2015 negotiations. Who was there, first of all?</p>
<p>AB: These negotiations were convened by the Department of Commerce, that aimed to have privacy advocates and industry representatives come together and settle upon a set of privacy best practices that companies could basically declare, we’re going to adhere to these, and that then could be enforceable against the company for their use of facial recognition technology. They started in 2014, end of 2014, and ran actually to this day, but they broke down in the summer of 2015.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, now, you were representing privacy advocates and being a privacy advocate; there were at the table tech companies, advertisers, retailers and those sort of folks, right?</p>
<p>AB: That’s right. Facebook was there, Microsoft was there, the Interactive Advertising Bureau was there, industry associations like NetChoice were there, and so there were a lot of lobbyists and actual representatives from companies.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, the mind-blowing part of this—and folks can find your <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/06/facial_recognition_privacy_talks_why_i_walked_out.html" type="external">article</a> about it on Slate.com—but what led to the walkout is, these groups really wouldn’t even agree to any instance in which consent was necessary. Tell us about what the stumbling block, if you will, was.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />AB: Sure. At its most basic level, the right to privacy is the ability to say no, leave me alone. This is how, basically, the American legal system has defined the right to privacy with respect to companies since the late 1800s. Right now, when you actually see most companies rolling out facial recognition, as a matter of practice, as a matter of what they do, Janine, they generally don’t use it on people to identify them without their permission.</p>
<p>And so, in this negotiation, the privacy advocates said, well, OK, guys, here’s this common sense, actual in-practice best practice, on-the-ground best practice, that you have to get permission before using facial recognition to identify someone in general. And so we said, why don’t we use that general rule, that you have to get permission, as a baseline for these best practices? And every single company and industry group that spoke up said no.</p>
<p>And so then we narrowed the ask even further. We said, can we all at least agree that when you are walking on a public street, that a company you have never heard of should have to get permission before using facial recognition to identify you by name? And again, not a single company or trade association would agree to that.</p>
<p>And that’s when we said, you know what, we are arguing with a bunch of—you’ve heard of yes men? We’re arguing with a bunch of no men. We’re arguing with a bunch of folks who aren’t here to reach an agreement or a consensus; they’re here to stop this. And that’s when we walked out.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, you put your finger, even more finely, on what’s going on here. Because you note that, first of all, the policy that they wouldn’t agree to on paper is the policy that the companies actually use in practice.</p>
<p>AB: Most of them, that’s right.</p>
<p>JJ: Because they have customers, and customers demand it. And part of what you’re identifying as the problem is that the folks who are in that room doing the lobbying—their connection to people, to customers, is rather indirect.</p>
<p>AB: That’s right. And this happens at a couple different levels. First of all, the representatives from the companies aren’t the folks who are actually, you know, either on the sales floor or rolling out a product online; they are the DC lobbyists. But I want to be honest, frankly, I would have preferred to work with a bunch of actual representatives of companies with skin in the game.</p>
<p>JJ: Uh-huh.</p>
<p>AB: Because, at the end of the day, they do have brands and reputations to maintain. The deeper layer to this is that you have trade associations that effectively cater to the lowest common denominator of their membership. Let’s say I’m a trade association and there’s five companies who are my members; in other words, the folks who pay my bills as a lobbyist. If two of them are OK with heightened privacy standards but one of them says, no sir, I gain nothing from those, those will hurt me; I have to cater to that lowest common denominator. And so the trade associations are entities you’ve never heard of, I frankly never heard of until I entered in the negotiations in many cases, and they are putting their foot down and blocking any hope of progress to establish these best practices.</p>
<p>JJ: Which is really a fascinating statement about the way the regulatory process and the lobbying decision-making process goes on in this country. It’s this tier of industry lobbyists who aren’t directly tethered to customers who are, as you put it, shutting down Washington’s ability to protect consumer privacy. I mean, it’s really quite remarkable, and something I would hope that journalists would see has implications even beyond this particular case, obviously, and is worth digging into as just kind of a “how laws get made,” you know, “how policies get made” story.</p>
<p>AB: Yeah, that’s exactly right.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, you also note that there are some things that are kind of structural, in the sense that when we talk about government surveillance, we have a couple of places that we can check that. Whether or not we do is another question. But when it comes to private companies, there are kind of fewer tools in the toolbox, aren’t there?</p>
<p>AB: Yes. And this is a more subtle point that I think a lot of folks miss. A lot of people look at where we are in terms of government surveillance. You know, they look at the Snowden papers, they look at what the NSA, we now know, has done, and they think, oh, man, you know, we are at a low point in terms of our privacy against the government. But what people forget is that our nation was literally founded on the idea of checking government overreach. And so, you know, we have the Fourth Amendment, which protects us against unreasonable searches and seizures, and we have Congress, where it’s very easy to form bipartisan alliances to stop government overreach.</p>
<p>You know, Edward Snowden released his documents, the Guardian and the Post published them, June 2013. One year later, the House had already passed a law to curtail the call records program; two years later, the president was signing that law after the Senate had passed it, and a federal judge had declared this program to be unconstitutional. And so, yes, there is government overreach on government surveillance, but we’re ready for it.</p>
<p>On the other side of the coin, though, as you note, our country was not built to combat corporate overreach. The only world in which a court or a government agency steps in to protect our privacy against companies is a world where either Congress or a state legislature has passed a law allowing them to do that.</p>
<p>And, unfortunately, as a result of this lobbying, Congress has stopped passing consumer privacy laws. Since 2009, only one minor expansion to consumer privacy law has occurred. And, in fact, there’s been one other thing which was a contraction of consumer privacy law, so I’d call it a wash.</p>
<p>JJ: Right.</p>
<p>AB: Instead, what you’re seeing is state legislatures starting to pass these bills, and that’s where I think the hope lies in terms of consumer privacy.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, and I’m sure some folks will be saying that Congress could do more and that we could do more on other levels in checking government surveillance. But I think the point is, at least we have the structures, at least we have the —</p>
<p>AB: That’s right.</p>
<p>JJ:—mechanisms to do that, whereas when it comes to the corporate side we’re kind of grasping to use the tools that we’ve got. And they’re not doing what they might be doing, which is passing new laws. And it’s not as though nothing has changed in terms of questions that might be addressed since 2009, in terms of consumer privacy; there’s been plenty.</p>
<p>AB: That’s right. And look at the technology we’re talking about now: facial recognition, geolocation technology, wearables, connected home devices like a smart TV or the Amazon Echo. These are technologies that around 2008 or so, 2007, 2009, we’d really never heard of. Maybe we heard geolocation, but all the rest of these were really products of the last five or six years. And yet all these technologies are effectively unregulated right now.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, in a 2014 regulatory finding, you and the Center called on Commerce to support strong consumer controls on the collection of personal data. You noted that this kind of ubiquitous collection is not inevitable. But you also pointed out in that&#160; <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/privacy-technology/publications-filings/upload/8-5-14-Bedoya-and-Vladeck-Comment-FINAL.pdf" type="external">finding</a> that “a de-emphasis on consumer controls may be particularly harmful for traditionally disadvantaged groups, including the poor, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, LGBT individuals and the elderly; privacy is in many ways a shield for the weak.” I wonder if you can talk a little bit about what you mean by that.</p>
<p>AB: Yeah. Let’s put this in really simple terms. Right now, what a lot of folks in the government and what a lot of companies want is a world where we protect privacy after your personal information is collected. It’s kind of like shoot first and ask questions later. Maybe that’s unfair, but think about it this way. Traditionally we’ve protected privacy by empowering people, particularly in the private sector, to say, yes, I’m OK with you to collect this sensitive information; no, I don’t want you to collect that information. And this empowers people to make choices.</p>
<p>Now, obviously as technology becomes more complicated, as we generate almost infinitely larger amounts of data, that exercise becomes harder. But what many in government and what a lot of folks in the private sector are arguing for now is a world where we no longer have that choice. Where instead of protecting privacy at the point of collection, privacy is purportedly protected after the fact. And the real problem here is that, who is making those decisions about how your information is used? Companies, the government. And for years and years, there is a sad and deep record of companies and the government making very poor decisions of how to treat the information of vulnerable people.</p>
<p>Japanese-American children in a US internment camp during World War II.</p>
<p>The government, for example, during World War II used Census data, that was supposedly only going to be used for the Census, to figure out where Japanese-Americans were living, to track them down and detain them in internment camps. Nowadays, you have data brokers who are literally creating lists of individuals who are HIV positive or individuals who are victims of sexual assault or who have diabetes or Parkinson’s disease. These are lists that, by and large, aren’t going to help the people on those lists.</p>
<p>JJ: Right. They’re selling those to —</p>
<p>AB: To rip people off, that’s right.</p>
<p>JJ: So they’re selling them to companies. Just to be clear, they’re collecting this data and selling it to companies who might then sell things to those people or…?</p>
<p>AB: Data brokers do this. And sometimes they are marketed to other companies that sell them things. Sometimes they’re actually literally purchased by fraud rings that call people up and enter them into a series of sweepstakes and other basically fraudulent enterprises that bilk them of thousands upon thousands of dollars. And, frankly, we don’t know what we don’t know about this industry, because it is unregulated. And so when I say privacy is a shield for the weak, privacy allows vulnerable people to go about their business and also make choices about their lives without powerful government entities or corporate entities second-guessing them on it and looking over their shoulder and saying don’t do this, do that, or using their data in a way that might harm them.</p>
<p>JJ: Well, let’s pivot just a little bit. Government and corporate surveillance technology may be subject to different mechanisms, but they share this impulse to collect and to use information that people may not know is being used, and whose use can have a serious impact. So there’s a reason that your group is hosting a conference in early April that’s called “The Color of Surveillance.” I wonder if you could talk a little about what we ought to know about that aspect of this issue that we’re discussing.</p>
<p>AB: Certainly. There is a really interesting thing going on in our country right now. What are people talking about? They’re talking about the brutality and pervasiveness of policing in the black community. That is one conversation that’s occurring. There is another conversation, though, that’s occurring about the role of government surveillance in a free and democratic society. This was triggered by the Edward Snowden revelations, and it continues to this day. And so you have these two huge debates, historic debates, and yet they almost never intersect.</p>
<p>There’s no discussion of the fact that for almost the entirety of our nation’s history, the black community and people of color in general have been the disproportionate targets of unjust surveillance. People might know about Martin Luther King and how the FBI surveilled him. People don’t know that the NSA also wiretapped him. And they might not know that it wasn’t just Martin Luther King, it was Fannie Lou Hamer, it was Whitney Young of the National Urban League, it was Cesar Chavez. Before that, it was W.E.B. Dubois and Marcus Garvey.</p>
<p>And before that, enslaved people in our country in cities like New York, for example, literally could not walk outside after dark without carrying a lantern on them so that everyone could see them. These were called lantern laws.</p>
<p>And fast forward all the way to this day, and I realize I’m covering about 300 years of history in about six breaths and four sentences, but today activists with Black Lives Matter and journalists have revealed that the Department of Homeland Security, an agency founded to combat terrorism, is using its resources to monitor Black Lives Matter, even entirely peaceful activities. And so the purpose of this conference is to bring these communities and bring these conversations together, and show that in a world where everyone is watched, everyone is not watched equally. And we need to reckon with that, as a society and in Congress.</p>
<p>JJ: Writing on this issue, Malkia Cyril <a href="http://www.progressive.org/news/2015/03/188074/black-americas-state-surveillance" type="external">noted</a> that “many journalists still focus their reporting on the technological trends and not the racial hierarchies that these trends are enforcing.” What would you like to see from the press corps? I did notice a piece on the previous issue of facial recognition technology. The Times had a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/29/technology/obamas-effort-on-consumer-privacy-falls-short-critics-say.html" type="external">piece</a> on February 29, and it mentioned harm from companies collecting data, the way they might use a person’s health status or financial straits, and connect that to unfair or inferior treatment. Certainly we have seen some coverage of some spying or intervention on organizing. But in general, what would you like to see from media in putting these issues together and carrying this story forward?</p>
<p>AB: Malkia’s exactly right, and frankly she’s probably the leader on these issues. What I would like to see is more attention to who the eye is watching. We spend so much time thinking about the eye, how it works, how invasive it is. But we never stop to ask, OK, in what communities are <a href="https://www.aclu.org/map/stingray-tracking-devices-whos-got-them" type="external">Stingrays</a> actually being deployed, and who is in these facial recognition databases, and what communities is predictive policing being rolled out in? And once we start asking the who of these questions and not the how, I think we will recognize that, by and large in this nation, invasive surveillance technology is almost as a rule beta tested on low-income black and Latino communities.</p>
<p>That is the first issue. We need to start asking about the who and not the what. The other issue is that we tend to think of surveillance as something technological, and in the 21st century and 2016, it increasingly is. But we can’t forget about all of the run-of-the-mill surveillance techniques, like, for example, stop and frisk and racial profiling of drivers and pulling over drivers “driving while black.” And we can’t forget that stopping someone and searching them on a pretense, or for frankly no good reason at all, that is surveillance. Stopping someone while they’re driving and asking them some questions and seeing if they trip up, that is also surveillance. We can’t just think that this is about technology. What it is is about monitoring a community. And we need a comprehensive evaluation of this trend, and we need to talk about how to fix it in Congress.</p>
<p>JJ: We’ve been speaking with Alvaro Bedoya of the <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/academics/centers-institutes/privacy-technology/" type="external">Center on Privacy &amp; Technology</a> at Georgetown Law. His articles “ <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2016/01/what_the_fbi_s_surveillance_of_martin_luther_king_says_about_modern_spying.html" type="external">The Color of Surveillance</a>” and “ <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future_tense/2015/06/facial_recognition_privacy_talks_why_i_walked_out.html" type="external">Why I Walked Out of Facial Recognition Negotiations</a>” can both be found on Slate.com. Alvaro Bedoya, thank you so much for joining us today on CounterSpin.</p>
<p>AB: It was my pleasure. Thank you so much.</p>
<p>Subscribe: <a href="" type="internal">Android</a> | <a href="" type="internal">RSS</a></p> | true | 4 | janine jackson interviewed alvaro bedoya privacy technology targets surveillance march 11 2016 counterspin lightly edited transcript alvaro bedoya sad deep record companies government making poor decisions treat information vulnerable peopleimage big picture science mp3 link janine jackson would bother walked department store hidden camera scanned face checked database vip customers suspected shoplifters known litigious people church used facial recognition technology see attending almost divide people find idea creepy wrong say eh day latter reaction meaning maybe nothing hide maybe inevitable anyway ship sailed unprecedented corporate access lives permitted technically possible expectations privacy remain shop walk street relate government surveillance government surveillance shouldnt ask comes likely harmed alvaro bedoya founding executive director center privacy amp technology georgetown law chief counsel senate judiciary subcommittee privacy technology law joins us phone washington dc welcome counterspin alvaro bedoya alvaro bedoya thank great jj well id like beg question inevitability assume things inevitable technology exists decide socially employ case facial recognition technology part process seeking figure used privacy protected way process went worth recounting detail explains lot got tell us 2015 negotiations first ab negotiations convened department commerce aimed privacy advocates industry representatives come together settle upon set privacy best practices companies could basically declare going adhere could enforceable company use facial recognition technology started 2014 end 2014 ran actually day broke summer 2015 jj well representing privacy advocates privacy advocate table tech companies advertisers retailers sort folks right ab thats right facebook microsoft interactive advertising bureau industry associations like netchoice lot lobbyists actual representatives companies jj well mindblowing part thisand folks find article slatecombut led walkout groups really wouldnt even agree instance consent necessary tell us stumbling block ab sure basic level right privacy ability say leave alone basically american legal system defined right privacy respect companies since late 1800s right actually see companies rolling facial recognition matter practice matter janine generally dont use people identify without permission negotiation privacy advocates said well ok guys heres common sense actual inpractice best practice ontheground best practice get permission using facial recognition identify someone general said dont use general rule get permission baseline best practices every single company industry group spoke said narrowed ask even said least agree walking public street company never heard get permission using facial recognition identify name single company trade association would agree thats said know arguing bunch ofyouve heard yes men arguing bunch men arguing bunch folks arent reach agreement consensus theyre stop thats walked jj well put finger even finely whats going note first policy wouldnt agree paper policy companies actually use practice ab thats right jj customers customers demand part youre identifying problem folks room lobbyingtheir connection people customers rather indirect ab thats right happens couple different levels first representatives companies arent folks actually know either sales floor rolling product online dc lobbyists want honest frankly would preferred work bunch actual representatives companies skin game jj uhhuh ab end day brands reputations maintain deeper layer trade associations effectively cater lowest common denominator membership lets say im trade association theres five companies members words folks pay bills lobbyist two ok heightened privacy standards one says sir gain nothing hurt cater lowest common denominator trade associations entities youve never heard frankly never heard entered negotiations many cases putting foot blocking hope progress establish best practices jj really fascinating statement way regulatory process lobbying decisionmaking process goes country tier industry lobbyists arent directly tethered customers put shutting washingtons ability protect consumer privacy mean really quite remarkable something would hope journalists would see implications even beyond particular case obviously worth digging kind laws get made know policies get made story ab yeah thats exactly right jj well also note things kind structural sense talk government surveillance couple places check whether another question comes private companies kind fewer tools toolbox arent ab yes subtle point think lot folks miss lot people look terms government surveillance know look snowden papers look nsa know done think oh man know low point terms privacy government people forget nation literally founded idea checking government overreach know fourth amendment protects us unreasonable searches seizures congress easy form bipartisan alliances stop government overreach know edward snowden released documents guardian post published june 2013 one year later house already passed law curtail call records program two years later president signing law senate passed federal judge declared program unconstitutional yes government overreach government surveillance ready side coin though note country built combat corporate overreach world court government agency steps protect privacy companies world either congress state legislature passed law allowing unfortunately result lobbying congress stopped passing consumer privacy laws since 2009 one minor expansion consumer privacy law occurred fact theres one thing contraction consumer privacy law id call wash jj right ab instead youre seeing state legislatures starting pass bills thats think hope lies terms consumer privacy jj well im sure folks saying congress could could levels checking government surveillance think point least structures least ab thats right jjmechanisms whereas comes corporate side kind grasping use tools weve got theyre might passing new laws though nothing changed terms questions might addressed since 2009 terms consumer privacy theres plenty ab thats right look technology talking facial recognition geolocation technology wearables connected home devices like smart tv amazon echo technologies around 2008 2007 2009 wed really never heard maybe heard geolocation rest really products last five six years yet technologies effectively unregulated right jj well 2014 regulatory finding center called commerce support strong consumer controls collection personal data noted kind ubiquitous collection inevitable also pointed that160 finding deemphasis consumer controls may particularly harmful traditionally disadvantaged groups including poor racial ethnic minorities immigrants lgbt individuals elderly privacy many ways shield weak wonder talk little bit mean ab yeah lets put really simple terms right lot folks government lot companies want world protect privacy personal information collected kind like shoot first ask questions later maybe thats unfair think way traditionally weve protected privacy empowering people particularly private sector say yes im ok collect sensitive information dont want collect information empowers people make choices obviously technology becomes complicated generate almost infinitely larger amounts data exercise becomes harder many government lot folks private sector arguing world longer choice instead protecting privacy point collection privacy purportedly protected fact real problem making decisions information used companies government years years sad deep record companies government making poor decisions treat information vulnerable people japaneseamerican children us internment camp world war ii government example world war ii used census data supposedly going used census figure japaneseamericans living track detain internment camps nowadays data brokers literally creating lists individuals hiv positive individuals victims sexual assault diabetes parkinsons disease lists large arent going help people lists jj right theyre selling ab rip people thats right jj theyre selling companies clear theyre collecting data selling companies might sell things people ab data brokers sometimes marketed companies sell things sometimes theyre actually literally purchased fraud rings call people enter series sweepstakes basically fraudulent enterprises bilk thousands upon thousands dollars frankly dont know dont know industry unregulated say privacy shield weak privacy allows vulnerable people go business also make choices lives without powerful government entities corporate entities secondguessing looking shoulder saying dont using data way might harm jj well lets pivot little bit government corporate surveillance technology may subject different mechanisms share impulse collect use information people may know used whose use serious impact theres reason group hosting conference early april thats called color surveillance wonder could talk little ought know aspect issue discussing ab certainly really interesting thing going country right people talking theyre talking brutality pervasiveness policing black community one conversation thats occurring another conversation though thats occurring role government surveillance free democratic society triggered edward snowden revelations continues day two huge debates historic debates yet almost never intersect theres discussion fact almost entirety nations history black community people color general disproportionate targets unjust surveillance people might know martin luther king fbi surveilled people dont know nsa also wiretapped might know wasnt martin luther king fannie lou hamer whitney young national urban league cesar chavez web dubois marcus garvey enslaved people country cities like new york example literally could walk outside dark without carrying lantern everyone could see called lantern laws fast forward way day realize im covering 300 years history six breaths four sentences today activists black lives matter journalists revealed department homeland security agency founded combat terrorism using resources monitor black lives matter even entirely peaceful activities purpose conference bring communities bring conversations together show world everyone watched everyone watched equally need reckon society congress jj writing issue malkia cyril noted many journalists still focus reporting technological trends racial hierarchies trends enforcing would like see press corps notice piece previous issue facial recognition technology times piece february 29 mentioned harm companies collecting data way might use persons health status financial straits connect unfair inferior treatment certainly seen coverage spying intervention organizing general would like see media putting issues together carrying story forward ab malkias exactly right frankly shes probably leader issues would like see attention eye watching spend much time thinking eye works invasive never stop ask ok communities stingrays actually deployed facial recognition databases communities predictive policing rolled start asking questions think recognize large nation invasive surveillance technology almost rule beta tested lowincome black latino communities first issue need start asking issue tend think surveillance something technological 21st century 2016 increasingly cant forget runofthemill surveillance techniques like example stop frisk racial profiling drivers pulling drivers driving black cant forget stopping someone searching pretense frankly good reason surveillance stopping someone theyre driving asking questions seeing trip also surveillance cant think technology monitoring community need comprehensive evaluation trend need talk fix congress jj weve speaking alvaro bedoya center privacy amp technology georgetown law articles color surveillance walked facial recognition negotiations found slatecom alvaro bedoya thank much joining us today counterspin ab pleasure thank much subscribe android rss | 1,632 |
<p>One of Eli Lilly’s key objectives, when they were marketing Prozac in the early 1990s was to get employers to reimburse for anti-depressants. Some leaders of the National Association of Manufacturers had expressed reluctance to underwrite “mental health benefits” in the Clinton Health Plan; they had to be convinced that a workforce on Prozac would be in their interests. Lilly funded a study by an MIT economist that Tipper Gore and Fred Goodwin of the National Institute on Mental Health ballyhooed at a press conference (also funded by Lilly) and Daniel Goleman publicized in the New York Times in December ’94 (without mentioning Lilly). “Depression Costs Put at $43 Billion,” said the headline.&#160; “The cost of days lost from work is about $11.7 billion,” Goleman reported, “and impairment from the symptoms while people continue on the job costs $12.1 billion more.” Add to this “earnings lost to suicide… about $7.5 billion.”</p>
<p>To make Prozac a blockbuster, Lilly spread the word that clinical depression was abroad in the land. They were helped by the NIMH (whose top officers retire and get hired by the drug companies the way Pentagon brass get hired by the arms makers) and the National Mental Health Association (a non-profit funded by pharmaceutical companies) and freelance opportunists like Dr. Peter Kramer (author of Listening to Prozac), and Dr. Douglas Jacobs, creator of National Depression Screening Day. The ultimate goal of all these promoters was to get the American people to take a simplistic test for depression -a test designed to convince almost any honest adult that he or she is a candidate for Prozac. The test is based on criteria set forth in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual, the so-called “bible” of the American Psychiatric Association. The drug companies influenced the drafting of the DSM so that the definition of depression would apply to as many people as possible -i.e., would maximize the potential customers. See “The Drafting of DSM-III,” a great book by Kirk and Kutchens.</p>
<p>This is how doctors are taught to detect depression: “The presence of depressed mood (5) or loss of interest (6) and at least four other symptoms over a two-week period is required for the diagnosis of a major depressive episode. 1) Changes in appetite and weight 2) Disturbed sleep 3) Motor retardation or agitation 4) Fatigue and loss of energy 5) Depressed or irritable mood 6) Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. 7) Feelings of worthlessness, self-reproach, excessive guilt 8) Suicidal thinking or attempts 9) Difficulty thinking or concentrating.</p>
<p>Is there a single adult in America who could not qualify for a diagnosis of depression? The criteria are vague and all-embracing. Losing weight? You’re depressed. Gaining weight? You’re depressed. Sleeping too little? You’re depressed. Sleeping too much? You’re depressed. Going too slow? You’re depressed. Going too fast? You’re depressed… The all-important fifth criterion -“Depressed or irritable mood”- used to define depression is a syllogism. And even when the external causes of a patient’s “depressed or irritable mood” may be obvious -loss of a job, a relationship on the rocks, kid trouble, etc.- the resultant diagnosis, “Clinical Depression,” will imply that his or her internal psychological condition was causal! Is there such a thing as a double syllogism?</p>
<p>“Loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities” can be associated with physical aging and/or deteriorating quality of life. For example, you may no longer take pleasure in swimming at a beach after you’ve noticed human shit bobbing in the waves. You may not find driving as pleasurable now that there’s bumper-to-bumper traffic and the ride that once took less than 20 minutes takes more than an hour.</p>
<p>The definition of “clinical depression” can never be rigorous and the whole concept -the medicalization of unhappiness- is a misdirection play, pointing away from the real causes, insecurity and loneliness. Insecurity is a function of the rich/poor system, compounded by looming ecodisaster and personal health problems. Loneliness is almost everybody’s lot in a socioeconomic system that breaks up families geographically.&#160; Prevention -which nobody ever talks about- would involve changing the system to encourage social stability. But in the meantime….</p>
<p>In this mean time, marijuana is the anti-depressant and anti-anxiety medication of choice for millions of Americans. That’s the statistical fact at the heart of Dennis Peron’s famous line, “In a society where they give Prozac to shy teenagers, all marijuana use is medical!”&#160;&#160; Prop 215 explicitly established the right to obtain and use marijuana in the treatment of any condition for which it provides relief. The medical profession and the government recognize depression as a serious, disabling illness for which Prozac, Wellbutrin, et al can be prescribed to provide relief -and were prescribed to some 2.5 million Californians last year. “What’s sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander,” as the old saying goes. Californians have every right to use marijuana in the treatment of depression.</p>
<p>This may be a winnable fight.&#160; U.S. employers were losing $3,000 per year per depressed worker, according to the 1994 MIT study. The biggest impact of depression, more costly to employers than absenteeism, was “the effects of poor concentration, indecisiveness, lack of self-confidence,” i.e., dawdling.&#160; Most employers probably assume that widespread marijuana use would lead to even more dawdling. Just wait till they find out it’s a performance enhancer!</p>
<p>What Prop 215 Authorized</p>
<p>The San Diego District Attorney doesn’t know — or just can’t stand It — that California law authorizes doctors to approve the use of marijuana as a treatment for “any condition for which marijuana provides relief.” After raids that closed five local dispensaries July 6, DA Bonnie Dumanis said “Our office has no intention of stopping those who are chronically ill with AIDS, glaucoma and cancer from obtaining any legally prescribed drug, including medical marijuana, to help them ease their pain.”&#160; Deputy DA Dana Greisen complained to Channel 10 News that profiteering doctors were approving marijuana use too readily: “The doctors, because they’re giving it to so many people, are basically legalizing marijuana one doctor and patient at a time… It’s being recommended for insomnia, depression, anxiety… The law is being abused on a massive scale.”</p>
<p>Actually, the law is being implemented on a limited scale, given how many Californians are using pharmaceutical antidepressants and how afraid/uneducated most doctors are when it comes to cannabis.&#160; The way to deprive cannabis specialists of revenue, if that were really law enforcement’s goal, would be to remove the fear that constrains other doctors from approving their patients’ use of the herb -mainly, fear of being investigated by the state medical board. So why has SDDA sent a letter to the medical board requesting investigations of four doctors who allegedly issue approvals too freely? The investigations will undoubtedly have a chilling effect on every doctor south of Capistrano Beach who might be considering a more liberal approach. Patients, instead of asking their regular doctors to approve their cannabis use, will continue to seek out the docs who advertise their cannabis consultation services in the San Diego Reader. The cost of lawyers will justify the cannabis consultant’s fee, and the system will grind grimly on.</p>
<p>Are Bonnie Dumanis and her deputies totally ignorant of the relevant history? In 1994 and again in 1995 the California legislature passed and Governor Pete Wilson vetoed bills that would have legalized marijuana for the treatment of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and multiple sclerosis -a finite list. After Wilson’s second veto, Dennis Peron gave up on the politicians and decided to change the law by ballot initiative. The measure he crafted, with input from Tod Mikuriya, MD, among others, left it entirely up to the doctors which conditions cannabis could be used to treat.&#160; Thus Prop 215 was and is much more liberal than the bills Wilson had vetoed. There was nothing misleading about what appeared on the ballot: the very first sentence of Prop 215 establishes “the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.”</p>
<p>The Voters Handbook “Argument Against Prop 215” clearly stated the opposition of the California State Sheriffs Association, the District Attorneys Association, the Police Chiefs Association, the Narcotics Officers Association and the California Peace Officers Association.&#160; “Prop 215 DOES NOT restrict the use of marijuana to AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and other serious illnesses,” they reminded us. “Read the fine print: Proposition 215 legalizes marijuana use for ‘any other illness for which marijuana provides relief.’ This could include stress, headaches, upset stomach, insomnia, a stiff neck, or just about anything.”</p>
<p>It wasn’t fine print, it was the first sentence of the measure that we, the people, read and passed by a 56-44 margin. The district attorney of San Diego ought to read it because it’s the law she’s supposed to uphold.</p>
<p>Accomplia Update</p>
<p>Acomplia, Sanofi’s weight-loss drug that works by blocking cannabinoid receptors in the brain, was approved by British regulatory authorities in late June and promptly offered for sale by on-line pharmacies such as SpeedyHealth.com –28 tablets (20 mg) for $389, which comes to about $336 per pound lost in the first year. Add to cart?… A paper published in General Archives in Psychiatry in April 2001 examined whether Sanofi’s drug blocks the psychoactive effects of marijuana. A team of researchers from the National Institute on Drug Abuse led by Marilyn Huestis gave various doses of the drug or a placebo to 63 cannabis smokers who then smoked NIDA-wanna (2.64% THC) or placebo joints. The authors’ abstract states that only at the 90 mg dose did Acomplia produce “a significant dose-dependent blockade of marijuana-induced intoxication.” But medical-graduate student Sunil Aggarwal has analyzed the paper and discerns a similar blocking effect at 10 mg. “It is not statistically significant per se, but the dose-response blocking curve is,” says Aggarwal.&#160; (20 mg/ day is Sanofi’s recommended starting dose of Acomplia. In clinical studies, higher doses led to an unacceptable incidence of gastrointestinal problems.)&#160; Huestis has reportedly done an unpublished study in which subjects taking 60 mg/day of Acomplia for two weeks did not lose the ability to get “high” when they smoked marijuana.</p>
<p>FRED GARDNER is the editor of O’Shaughnessy’s Journal of the California Cannabis Research Medical Group. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:fred@plebesite.com" type="external">fred@plebesite.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | one eli lillys key objectives marketing prozac early 1990s get employers reimburse antidepressants leaders national association manufacturers expressed reluctance underwrite mental health benefits clinton health plan convinced workforce prozac would interests lilly funded study mit economist tipper gore fred goodwin national institute mental health ballyhooed press conference also funded lilly daniel goleman publicized new york times december 94 without mentioning lilly depression costs put 43 billion said headline160 cost days lost work 117 billion goleman reported impairment symptoms people continue job costs 121 billion add earnings lost suicide 75 billion make prozac blockbuster lilly spread word clinical depression abroad land helped nimh whose top officers retire get hired drug companies way pentagon brass get hired arms makers national mental health association nonprofit funded pharmaceutical companies freelance opportunists like dr peter kramer author listening prozac dr douglas jacobs creator national depression screening day ultimate goal promoters get american people take simplistic test depression test designed convince almost honest adult candidate prozac test based criteria set forth diagnostic statistic manual socalled bible american psychiatric association drug companies influenced drafting dsm definition depression would apply many people possible ie would maximize potential customers see drafting dsmiii great book kirk kutchens doctors taught detect depression presence depressed mood 5 loss interest 6 least four symptoms twoweek period required diagnosis major depressive episode 1 changes appetite weight 2 disturbed sleep 3 motor retardation agitation 4 fatigue loss energy 5 depressed irritable mood 6 loss interest pleasure usual activities 7 feelings worthlessness selfreproach excessive guilt 8 suicidal thinking attempts 9 difficulty thinking concentrating single adult america could qualify diagnosis depression criteria vague allembracing losing weight youre depressed gaining weight youre depressed sleeping little youre depressed sleeping much youre depressed going slow youre depressed going fast youre depressed allimportant fifth criterion depressed irritable mood used define depression syllogism even external causes patients depressed irritable mood may obvious loss job relationship rocks kid trouble etc resultant diagnosis clinical depression imply internal psychological condition causal thing double syllogism loss interest pleasure usual activities associated physical aging andor deteriorating quality life example may longer take pleasure swimming beach youve noticed human shit bobbing waves may find driving pleasurable theres bumpertobumper traffic ride took less 20 minutes takes hour definition clinical depression never rigorous whole concept medicalization unhappiness misdirection play pointing away real causes insecurity loneliness insecurity function richpoor system compounded looming ecodisaster personal health problems loneliness almost everybodys lot socioeconomic system breaks families geographically160 prevention nobody ever talks would involve changing system encourage social stability meantime mean time marijuana antidepressant antianxiety medication choice millions americans thats statistical fact heart dennis perons famous line society give prozac shy teenagers marijuana use medical160160 prop 215 explicitly established right obtain use marijuana treatment condition provides relief medical profession government recognize depression serious disabling illness prozac wellbutrin et al prescribed provide relief prescribed 25 million californians last year whats sauce goose sauce gander old saying goes californians every right use marijuana treatment depression may winnable fight160 us employers losing 3000 per year per depressed worker according 1994 mit study biggest impact depression costly employers absenteeism effects poor concentration indecisiveness lack selfconfidence ie dawdling160 employers probably assume widespread marijuana use would lead even dawdling wait till find performance enhancer prop 215 authorized san diego district attorney doesnt know cant stand california law authorizes doctors approve use marijuana treatment condition marijuana provides relief raids closed five local dispensaries july 6 da bonnie dumanis said office intention stopping chronically ill aids glaucoma cancer obtaining legally prescribed drug including medical marijuana help ease pain160 deputy da dana greisen complained channel 10 news profiteering doctors approving marijuana use readily doctors theyre giving many people basically legalizing marijuana one doctor patient time recommended insomnia depression anxiety law abused massive scale actually law implemented limited scale given many californians using pharmaceutical antidepressants afraiduneducated doctors comes cannabis160 way deprive cannabis specialists revenue really law enforcements goal would remove fear constrains doctors approving patients use herb mainly fear investigated state medical board sdda sent letter medical board requesting investigations four doctors allegedly issue approvals freely investigations undoubtedly chilling effect every doctor south capistrano beach might considering liberal approach patients instead asking regular doctors approve cannabis use continue seek docs advertise cannabis consultation services san diego reader cost lawyers justify cannabis consultants fee system grind grimly bonnie dumanis deputies totally ignorant relevant history 1994 1995 california legislature passed governor pete wilson vetoed bills would legalized marijuana treatment aids cancer glaucoma multiple sclerosis finite list wilsons second veto dennis peron gave politicians decided change law ballot initiative measure crafted input tod mikuriya md among others left entirely doctors conditions cannabis could used treat160 thus prop 215 much liberal bills wilson vetoed nothing misleading appeared ballot first sentence prop 215 establishes right obtain use marijuana medical purposes medical use deemed appropriate recommended physician determined persons health would benefit use marijuana treatment cancer anorexia aids chronic pain spasticity glaucoma arthritis migraine illness marijuana provides relief voters handbook argument prop 215 clearly stated opposition california state sheriffs association district attorneys association police chiefs association narcotics officers association california peace officers association160 prop 215 restrict use marijuana aids cancer glaucoma serious illnesses reminded us read fine print proposition 215 legalizes marijuana use illness marijuana provides relief could include stress headaches upset stomach insomnia stiff neck anything wasnt fine print first sentence measure people read passed 5644 margin district attorney san diego ought read law shes supposed uphold accomplia update acomplia sanofis weightloss drug works blocking cannabinoid receptors brain approved british regulatory authorities late june promptly offered sale online pharmacies speedyhealthcom 28 tablets 20 mg 389 comes 336 per pound lost first year add cart paper published general archives psychiatry april 2001 examined whether sanofis drug blocks psychoactive effects marijuana team researchers national institute drug abuse led marilyn huestis gave various doses drug placebo 63 cannabis smokers smoked nidawanna 264 thc placebo joints authors abstract states 90 mg dose acomplia produce significant dosedependent blockade marijuanainduced intoxication medicalgraduate student sunil aggarwal analyzed paper discerns similar blocking effect 10 mg statistically significant per se doseresponse blocking curve says aggarwal160 20 mg day sanofis recommended starting dose acomplia clinical studies higher doses led unacceptable incidence gastrointestinal problems160 huestis reportedly done unpublished study subjects taking 60 mgday acomplia two weeks lose ability get high smoked marijuana fred gardner editor oshaughnessys journal california cannabis research medical group reached fredplebesitecom 160 160 | 1,056 |
<p>“The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks”</p>
<p>A book by Jeanne Theoharis</p>
<p>In 1960, Jet magazine sent a correspondent to interview Rosa Parks. Five short years had passed since Parks had famously refused to move to the back of the bus, with her arrest triggering a series of events — the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the elevation of Martin Luther King Jr. to the national stage — that would radically reshape the 20th century. But when the Jet reporter caught up with Parks she was living in Detroit, described as a “tattered rag of her former self — penniless, debt-ridden, ailing with stomach ulcers and a throat tumor, compressed into two rooms with her husband and mother.”</p>
<p>If the image is jarring, it is a testament to how little we actually “know” about one of the best-known women of American history. The boycott had been a remarkable victory, but it offered precious little relief for Parks. She had been fired for her activism and was supporting her husband, who had suffered a nervous breakdown and turned to drink under the stress of constant death threats. Though she had sparked the boycott and tirelessly traveled the country to raise funds in support, civil rights leaders in Montgomery, Ala. — unable to consider women equal partners in the struggle — never offered her a job. And so eight months after the city’s bus lines were integrated, Parks and her family, who had called Montgomery home for 25 years, fled to Detroit, never to return.</p>
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<p>Such details clang against the conventional narrative of Parks. Applauded today by politicians of all stripes — this alone should arouse considerable suspicion — her life has become a sort of chicken soup for the American soul, a feel-good story that is short on details and heavy on sentimentality. Even the most pertinent fact, her radical and lifelong activism, is discarded in this telling. Instead, Parks is depicted as an apolitical figure approaching sainthood in her purity: humble, quiet and spontaneously moved to take a stand when confronted by a glaring injustice. If anyone has ever needed “extrication from a pile of saccharine tablets and moist hankies,” as Christopher Hitchens memorably remarked about George Orwell, it is Rosa Parks.</p>
<p>Nearly 60 years after the boycott, we now have our first scholarly biography of Parks. “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks,” written by Brooklyn College professor Jeanne Theoharis, seeks to reveal a character that “continues to be hidden in plain sight, celebrated and paradoxically relegated to be a hero for children.” Theoharis, who previously studied civil rights activism in the North, dives deep into the archives to return with a nuanced if somewhat plodding portrait of a dedicated activist who managed to be both an iconic figure and an everywoman of the civil rights movement.</p>
<p>To see long excerpts from “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” at Google Books, <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=JAAN3WIiEAgC&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;dq=The+Rebellious+Life+of+Mrs.+Rosa+Parks&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=x7orUe_8L-TCigKhyQE&amp;ved=0CDMQuwUwAA&amp;safe=images" type="external">click here</a>.</p>
<p>For a biographer, Parks is far from an ideal subject. A collection of her papers has been caught up in a legal fight and is now in the possession of Guernsey’s Auctioneers, where they sit in a Manhattan warehouse. (Unforgivably, the auction house has refused scholarly access to the documents.) There is also Parks’ own sense of decorum, which prevented many of her private feelings from finding public expression. “My problem is — I don’t particularly enjoy talking about anything,” she once admitted. During interviews she tended to carefully choose words and deflect attention, repeating the same stories when asked the same questions. “Finding and hearing Rosa Parks has not been easy,” Theoharis notes. When the book hits dead spots — and there are several — it is usually because the voice of Parks refuses to pop. As a black woman who cut her activist teeth in Alabama in the 1930s, she learned early on to say only what needed to be said. “Is it worthwhile to reveal the intimacies of the past life?” she wrote on a scrap of paper sometime after the boycott. “Would the people be sympathetic or disillusioned when the facts of my life are told?”</p>
<p>The facts of Parks’ political life took shape in a working-class family. Her grandfather was militant in his black pride. Born into slavery and beaten regularly as a child, he quite understandably held a “somewhat belligerent attitude toward whites.” After World War I, when Klan terror intensified, he would sit on the porch with his rifle, waiting almost happily for any invaders. Parks would join him on his vigil — “I wanted to see him kill a Ku Kluxer,” she recalled — but Klansmen were smart enough to stay away.</p>
<p>After marrying, Parks got involved with the NAACP. She became secretary of the Montgomery chapter and worked with E.D. Nixon, an autodidact and local activist who became the chapter’s president. The pair spent much of the 1940s transforming the NAACP into a fighting organization, helped along by Ella Baker, one of the movement’s greatest strategists. Parks spent much of her time traveling the state to document and protest violence against blacks, the kind of work that usually goes nowhere and requires an almost superhuman optimism. Several years later, Parks organized the NAACP’s youth council, which protested segregation and included among its members a young teen named Claudette Colvin. Nine months before Parks’ arrest, Colvin would be booked for refusing to move to the back of a bus. Colvin was a brash teenager — and pregnant by a married man — and leaders were less willing to rally to her cause and launch a boycott.</p>
<p>The myth of Parks as apolitical, then, can be quickly discarded. Indeed, the summer before her arrest she attended a two-week workshop at the interracial Highlander Folk School in Tennessee whose topic was “Racial Desegregation: Implementing the Supreme Court Decision.” But there’s another myth concerning the “spontaneous” nature of the boycott that Theoharis demolishes. The boycott was in fact a long time coming. In 1954, Jo Ann Robinson, president of Montgomery’s Women’s Political Council, sent a letter to the mayor that diplomatically warned of a boycott if the buses remained segregated. When Parks was arrested a year and a half later, the WPC — which had been eagerly awaiting such a development — sprung into action, printing and distributing thousands of notices announcing a boycott. Like much of the civil rights movement, the boycott was driven by women through and through: sparked by Parks, called for by the WPC and made possible by the broad networks that female activists had created throughout the city.</p>
<p>Yet at nearly every turn, as Theoharis skillfully recounts, female leaders were marginalized. During a mass meeting on the first night of the boycott, a string of men took to the stage to speak, but despite calls from the crowd, Parks was never allowed to say a word. “You’ve said enough,” she was told. Not much had changed eight years later at the March on Washington, when not a single woman would address the crowd. Organizers defended the decision by explaining that choosing any one woman would alienate others. “The idea that multiple women might speak was too far-fetched to contemplate,” Theoharis observes.</p>
<p>Parks was no doubt angered at such slights, but her loyalty to the movement — and her tendency to keep some thoughts private — caused her to air criticism in an oblique manner. “I think everyone spoke but me,” is how Parks remembered the mass meeting in Montgomery. About the exclusion of women from addressing the crowd at the March on Washington, she told fellow activist Daisy Bates that she hoped for a “better day coming.”</p>
<p>Here is where the personality of Parks can make for frustrating reading. She was bright; she was a keen observer; and she possessed both uncommon guts and a deeply rooted sense of self-worth. Her activism too was far to the left of what is commonly assumed: She cited Malcolm X as her hero and supported a number of Black Power causes in Detroit, where she would finally enjoy some measure of economic stability while serving as an administrative assistant for Congressman John Conyers. But throughout her long life, she never fully opened up (unless, of course, within the unseen documents held by Guernsey’s). She was, as Theoharis writes, “a kind, unassuming woman, raised in the church and in the Southern traditions of good manners and public dissemblance.” A thoroughly political actor, she did precisely the opposite of most politicians by risking much and talking little. We may never know the intimate contours of her thoughts, or exactly what she went through — “There’s plenty I have never told,” she once admitted to a reporter — but we know what she gave us, and that’s more than enough.</p>
<p>Gabriel Thompson has written for The New York Times, New York, The Nation and Mother Jones. His most recent book is “Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won’t Do.”</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | rebellious life mrs rosa parks book jeanne theoharis 1960 jet magazine sent correspondent interview rosa parks five short years passed since parks famously refused move back bus arrest triggering series events montgomery bus boycott elevation martin luther king jr national stage would radically reshape 20th century jet reporter caught parks living detroit described tattered rag former self penniless debtridden ailing stomach ulcers throat tumor compressed two rooms husband mother image jarring testament little actually know one bestknown women american history boycott remarkable victory offered precious little relief parks fired activism supporting husband suffered nervous breakdown turned drink stress constant death threats though sparked boycott tirelessly traveled country raise funds support civil rights leaders montgomery ala unable consider women equal partners struggle never offered job eight months citys bus lines integrated parks family called montgomery home 25 years fled detroit never return details clang conventional narrative parks applauded today politicians stripes alone arouse considerable suspicion life become sort chicken soup american soul feelgood story short details heavy sentimentality even pertinent fact radical lifelong activism discarded telling instead parks depicted apolitical figure approaching sainthood purity humble quiet spontaneously moved take stand confronted glaring injustice anyone ever needed extrication pile saccharine tablets moist hankies christopher hitchens memorably remarked george orwell rosa parks nearly 60 years boycott first scholarly biography parks rebellious life mrs rosa parks written brooklyn college professor jeanne theoharis seeks reveal character continues hidden plain sight celebrated paradoxically relegated hero children theoharis previously studied civil rights activism north dives deep archives return nuanced somewhat plodding portrait dedicated activist managed iconic figure everywoman civil rights movement see long excerpts rebellious life mrs rosa parks google books click biographer parks far ideal subject collection papers caught legal fight possession guernseys auctioneers sit manhattan warehouse unforgivably auction house refused scholarly access documents also parks sense decorum prevented many private feelings finding public expression problem dont particularly enjoy talking anything admitted interviews tended carefully choose words deflect attention repeating stories asked questions finding hearing rosa parks easy theoharis notes book hits dead spots several usually voice parks refuses pop black woman cut activist teeth alabama 1930s learned early say needed said worthwhile reveal intimacies past life wrote scrap paper sometime boycott would people sympathetic disillusioned facts life told facts parks political life took shape workingclass family grandfather militant black pride born slavery beaten regularly child quite understandably held somewhat belligerent attitude toward whites world war klan terror intensified would sit porch rifle waiting almost happily invaders parks would join vigil wanted see kill ku kluxer recalled klansmen smart enough stay away marrying parks got involved naacp became secretary montgomery chapter worked ed nixon autodidact local activist became chapters president pair spent much 1940s transforming naacp fighting organization helped along ella baker one movements greatest strategists parks spent much time traveling state document protest violence blacks kind work usually goes nowhere requires almost superhuman optimism several years later parks organized naacps youth council protested segregation included among members young teen named claudette colvin nine months parks arrest colvin would booked refusing move back bus colvin brash teenager pregnant married man leaders less willing rally cause launch boycott myth parks apolitical quickly discarded indeed summer arrest attended twoweek workshop interracial highlander folk school tennessee whose topic racial desegregation implementing supreme court decision theres another myth concerning spontaneous nature boycott theoharis demolishes boycott fact long time coming 1954 jo ann robinson president montgomerys womens political council sent letter mayor diplomatically warned boycott buses remained segregated parks arrested year half later wpc eagerly awaiting development sprung action printing distributing thousands notices announcing boycott like much civil rights movement boycott driven women sparked parks called wpc made possible broad networks female activists created throughout city yet nearly every turn theoharis skillfully recounts female leaders marginalized mass meeting first night boycott string men took stage speak despite calls crowd parks never allowed say word youve said enough told much changed eight years later march washington single woman would address crowd organizers defended decision explaining choosing one woman would alienate others idea multiple women might speak farfetched contemplate theoharis observes parks doubt angered slights loyalty movement tendency keep thoughts private caused air criticism oblique manner think everyone spoke parks remembered mass meeting montgomery exclusion women addressing crowd march washington told fellow activist daisy bates hoped better day coming personality parks make frustrating reading bright keen observer possessed uncommon guts deeply rooted sense selfworth activism far left commonly assumed cited malcolm x hero supported number black power causes detroit would finally enjoy measure economic stability serving administrative assistant congressman john conyers throughout long life never fully opened unless course within unseen documents held guernseys theoharis writes kind unassuming woman raised church southern traditions good manners public dissemblance thoroughly political actor precisely opposite politicians risking much talking little may never know intimate contours thoughts exactly went theres plenty never told admitted reporter know gave us thats enough gabriel thompson written new york times new york nation mother jones recent book working shadows year jobs americans wont | 832 |
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<p>Frank Hammer is a retired General Motors employee and former President and Chairman of Local 909 in Warren, Michigan. He now organizes with the Auto Worker Caravan, an association of active and retired auto workers who advocate for workers demands in Washington. http://www.asotrecol.org/</p>
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore.
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<p />We're continuing our discussions looking at the Obama–Romney debate. And now joining us from Detroit is Frank Hammer. Frank is a retired GM autoworker. He was the former president of the UAW local 909, and he worked in the GM department of the United Auto Workers. And he's a regular contributor to The Real News Network. Thanks for joining us again, Frank.
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<p />FRANK HAMMER, FMR. PRESIDENT, UAW LOCAL 909: It's my pleasure, Paul.
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<p />JAY: So amongst other sort of surprises of the debates, I was surprised that President Obama didn't mention the word General Motors. I don't think he had talked about saving the auto industry. At the convention, that's about all they talked about, and that was supposed to be the thing: President Obama saved the auto industry and, according to Biden, killed bin Laden, and that was supposed to be the great achievement that differentiated him from Romney, and nary a word about it. What do you make of that?
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<p />HAMMER: I believe that there's—mythologies have been part of the election campaign cycle. Many of them have been pointed out in regards to the Romney campaign, the mythology that Obama wanted to put people back into welfare without having to work and to receive their stipends.
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<p />The mythology on Obama's campaign has been about the fact that he was credited with saving General Motors. The reality is that if you look at the Romney editorial, the op-ed piece that was written in NovemberÂ&#160;2008—it was titled, "Let Detroit go bankrupt". And the pundits and the Democrats, of course, picked up on that headline and said, oh, look, Romney wanted to eliminate—let companies go bankrupt, let Detroit fall, whereas the crusader Obama came in and saved General Motors. Well, that's a bit of a mythology.
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<p />JAY: Why?
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<p />HAMMER: Because if you look at the actual op-ed piece beyond the headline, the description that—what Romney was reacting to was: the previous day, General Motors' executive, Ford, and Chrysler, they all came with their hands open looking for money. And at that time, they were contemplating giving the companies $25Â&#160;billion to rescue them. And so he responded and said, oh, no, that would be ridiculous, to give them $25Â&#160;billion. It was either going to come out of the TARP or it was going to come out of the—there was a fund set up for more fuel-efficient vehicles. So his response was, we ought not give them $25Â&#160;billion like they asked for; we ought to insist on a restructuring of the companies in order for them to go into a managed bankruptcy. And you know what? That's exactly what Obama did. He did a structured bankruptcy, a managed bankruptcy with a restructuring of the company. And if you look at the prescription that Romney laid out in that op-ed piece, it is word-for-word what exactly in fact happened.
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<p />JAY: And the gist of that was what? Lower wages and shift the burden of the health care plan.
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<p />HAMMER: It was lowering wages, it was getting rid of the cumbersome labor contracts, it was diminishing retiree benefits, along with changing management at General Motors and, I think, the other two, or at least at Chrysler. And so if you were to read the op-ed piece, you would swear that it was Obama that had scripted it and not Romney.
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<p />JAY: So Obama can't raise this in the debate face-to-face with Romney, 'cause Romney can quote his own position and explain to people that it wasn't much different than Obama's.
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<p />HAMMER: Well, up till last night I thought that Romney was the best gift that Obama could have gotten, because Romney has at different periods taken different positions. He said at one point, oh, I take credit for the restructuring of the industry, because I said so on so-and-so and in the article. At another point, he said, well, I would have done the same thing that Obama did, but I would have done it faster.
<p />
<p />So what happened, I think, is that Obama took all the space out of Romney's position. But if you look at it very carefully, you'll see that it's exactly the same and that this was a Wall Street strategy, and whether it was Bush who initiated it or whether it was a Romney or whether it was an Obama, they would have all done the same.
<p />
<p />JAY: And the essence of this is what's been happening with wages. And where is that at now? Just what are workers making at the big three and what are workers, unionized workers, making at various parts manufacturers?
<p />
<p />HAMMER: Well, I can tell you that that's the other mythology. Obama has in various speeches talked about that the corporations are paying and the auto companies are paying workers enough money so that they can buy the products that they produce, the cars. And this is another myth.
<p />
<p />I think he also said something about that workers are earning $50,000 a year. The reality is that we have workers, for example at Lake Orion plant right here in Michigan, just about an hour away or a half an hour away from Detroit, that are working for subcontractors in the plant, in the actual facility, who are making $9 an hour.
<p />
<p />JAY: This is in an organized auto plant?
<p />
<p />HAMMER: This is a UAW-organized auto plant.
<p />
<p />JAY: Nine dollars an hour.
<p />
<p />HAMMER: Nine dollars an hour, by a logistics company that happens to be owned by a billionaire, who also operates our bridge here.
<p />
<p />JAY: And what are workers that are starting workers now making at the big three?
<p />
<p />HAMMER: Well, contractually they're ranging from about $14 to $16 an hour, which is about $12 to $14 less per hour than senior workers prior to the creation of the two tiers. But there are many, many workers in, for example, parts facilities, suppliers, that used to be part of the Ford system or the GM system that are now coming in at $10 and $11 an hour with very, very few benefits, so that the $14 an hour actually—the second tier is actually starting to look good compared to what workers are really coming in at.
<p />
<p />JAY: I was kind of taken at one moment during the Democratic Party convention. One of the speakers—I think it's some governor, but, I'm sorry, I don't remember who, but I remember what he said. He was bragging about the revival of the auto industry, and he talked about one worker he talked to who was saying that he works 60 hours a week and seemed to be happy about that, and that the slogan was that the guy eats, sleeps, and Jeeps. I wonder how you reacted to that.
<p />
<p />HAMMER: Well, the truth is that workers are working excessive amounts of overtime, partly because they don't know what's coming down the pike and they're going to make all the overtime that they can now, or they're the second-tier workers who are having a hard time maintaining the lifestyle that autoworkers, unionized autoworkers were able to maintain. So there is an excessive amount of overtime that's being worked.
<p />
<p />And then there's no mention made of workers who are out of a job and there's no effort made to resist overtime on the part of the union so to enable other workers to be employed.
<p />
<p />JAY: Well, what do you make of the argument that this was necessary, this type of restructuring, the lowering of wages and such and dealing with the pension plans, that if this hadn't been done, the auto industry simply would have collapsed and this is better than that?
<p />
<p />HAMMER: I think that I would turn that on its head and I would say that the financial crisis of 2007-2008 presented the perfect opportunity to transform the auto industry into an image more to their liking, which is to say we were required to replicate the conditions and pay structure and so on of the nonunion plants that are currently, you know, operating in the south and that this was their way of reducing the standard of living of workers here in the unionized north and basically more and more making the union irrelevant as a fighter for the workers at the big three, so that I think this is part of what you would call the shock doctrine, that under the shock of the financial crisis they were able to make sweeping changes that otherwise would have been resisted.
<p />
<p />And the other side of that—the other aspect of this question is a much larger one, and that is, because we're in such a globalized environment, where auto companies are producing cars all over the world with workers who are making a fraction of what workers make here, that that is a drag on our ability to maintain standards here in our country, in the U.S., so that in the larger scheme of things, we're, as a labor movement, as a union movement, way—many years behind the globalization effort of the big three and we have some serious catching up to do, and working with workers from other countries and unions from other countries is the order of the day. That's ultimately how we're going to defend our standards.
<p />
<p />JAY: Alright. Thanks for joining us, Frank.
<p />
<p />HAMMER: Thank you, Paul.
<p />
<p />JAY: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network. Don't forget there's a "Donate" button over here. If you don't click on this—I should say, if you don't click on that, we can't do this.
<p />
<p />End
<p />
<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | frank hammer retired general motors employee former president chairman local 909 warren michigan organizes auto worker caravan association active retired auto workers advocate workers demands washington httpwwwasotrecolorg paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay baltimore continuing discussions looking obamaâromney debate joining us detroit frank hammer frank retired gm autoworker former president uaw local 909 worked gm department united auto workers hes regular contributor real news network thanks joining us frank frank hammer fmr president uaw local 909 pleasure paul jay amongst sort surprises debates surprised president obama didnt mention word general motors dont think talked saving auto industry convention thats talked supposed thing president obama saved auto industry according biden killed bin laden supposed great achievement differentiated romney nary word make hammer believe theresâmythologies part election campaign cycle many pointed regards romney campaign mythology obama wanted put people back welfare without work receive stipends mythology obamas campaign fact credited saving general motors reality look romney editorial oped piece written novemberÂ1602008âit titled let detroit go bankrupt pundits democrats course picked headline said oh look romney wanted eliminateâlet companies go bankrupt let detroit fall whereas crusader obama came saved general motors well thats bit mythology jay hammer look actual oped piece beyond headline description thatâwhat romney reacting previous day general motors executive ford chrysler came hands open looking money time contemplating giving companies 25Â160billion rescue responded said oh would ridiculous give 25Â160billion either going come tarp going come theâthere fund set fuelefficient vehicles response ought give 25Â160billion like asked ought insist restructuring companies order go managed bankruptcy know thats exactly obama structured bankruptcy managed bankruptcy restructuring company look prescription romney laid oped piece wordforword exactly fact happened jay gist lower wages shift burden health care plan hammer lowering wages getting rid cumbersome labor contracts diminishing retiree benefits along changing management general motors think two least chrysler read oped piece would swear obama scripted romney jay obama cant raise debate facetoface romney cause romney quote position explain people wasnt much different obamas hammer well till last night thought romney best gift obama could gotten romney different periods taken different positions said one point oh take credit restructuring industry said soandso article another point said well would done thing obama would done faster happened think obama took space romneys position look carefully youll see exactly wall street strategy whether bush initiated whether romney whether obama would done jay essence whats happening wages workers making big three workers unionized workers making various parts manufacturers hammer well tell thats mythology obama various speeches talked corporations paying auto companies paying workers enough money buy products produce cars another myth think also said something workers earning 50000 year reality workers example lake orion plant right michigan hour away half hour away detroit working subcontractors plant actual facility making 9 hour jay organized auto plant hammer uaworganized auto plant jay nine dollars hour hammer nine dollars hour logistics company happens owned billionaire also operates bridge jay workers starting workers making big three hammer well contractually theyre ranging 14 16 hour 12 14 less per hour senior workers prior creation two tiers many many workers example parts facilities suppliers used part ford system gm system coming 10 11 hour benefits 14 hour actuallyâthe second tier actually starting look good compared workers really coming jay kind taken one moment democratic party convention one speakersâi think governor im sorry dont remember remember said bragging revival auto industry talked one worker talked saying works 60 hours week seemed happy slogan guy eats sleeps jeeps wonder reacted hammer well truth workers working excessive amounts overtime partly dont know whats coming pike theyre going make overtime theyre secondtier workers hard time maintaining lifestyle autoworkers unionized autoworkers able maintain excessive amount overtime thats worked theres mention made workers job theres effort made resist overtime part union enable workers employed jay well make argument necessary type restructuring lowering wages dealing pension plans hadnt done auto industry simply would collapsed better hammer think would turn head would say financial crisis 20072008 presented perfect opportunity transform auto industry image liking say required replicate conditions pay structure nonunion plants currently know operating south way reducing standard living workers unionized north basically making union irrelevant fighter workers big three think part would call shock doctrine shock financial crisis able make sweeping changes otherwise would resisted side thatâthe aspect question much larger one globalized environment auto companies producing cars world workers making fraction workers make drag ability maintain standards country us larger scheme things labor movement union movement wayâmany years behind globalization effort big three serious catching working workers countries unions countries order day thats ultimately going defend standards jay alright thanks joining us frank hammer thank paul jay thank joining us real news network dont forget theres donate button dont click thisâi say dont click cant end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 815 |
<p>Photo by David Shankbone | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>Numerous correspondents sent me the <a href="" type="internal">latest lengthy Atlantic essay</a> by the brilliant and eloquent but bourgeois Black Identitarian Ta-Nehesi Coates and asked for my reflections.&#160; I reluctantly agreed to read and comment on Coates’ long treatise.</p>
<p>“The Mind Seizes”</p>
<p>There is plenty to concur with and even applaud in Coates’ prolonged reflection, which bears the provocative title “The First White President.”&#160;&#160; The author is, I think, quite correct to note that that Donald Trump is a vicious white supremacist dedicated to denigrating and even erasing the legacy of the nation’s first technically Black president Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Also accurate, by my judgement is Coates’ view that tens of millions of, yes, deplorably racist whites voted for the ridiculously unqualified and dangerous Trump out of a nasty sense of white racial identity and redemption.</p>
<p>Coates is right to blast the still all-too widespread notion that Trump was elected by an aggrieved white proletariat.&#160; He admirably presents sound data showing that Trump’s electoral base was a cross-class coalition of Caucasians united largely by whiteness and racial animosity.</p>
<p>Coates correctly observes that Trump prevailed with “identity politics” – white identity politics. The phrase “identity politics” is a term commonly hurled at liberals, Democrats, and “the left” by the right.&#160; But the Republican right is knee-deep in identity politics of the right and white kind.</p>
<p>What decent person cannot agree with Coates’ matchless evocation of the sickening racial double standard that lay beneath the staid Harvard Law graduate Barack Obama’s succession by the blustering buffoon Donald Trump. Look at this splendid paragraph from Coates:</p>
<p>“Trump is the first president to have served in no public capacity before ascending to his perch. But more telling, Trump is also the first president to have publicly affirmed that his daughter is a ‘piece of ass.’ The mind seizes trying to imagine a black man extolling the virtues of sexual assault on tape (‘When you’re a star, they let you do it’), fending off multiple accusations of such assaults, immersed in multiple lawsuits for allegedly fraudulent business dealings, exhorting his followers to violence, and then strolling into the White House. But that is the point of white supremacy—to ensure that that which all others achieve with maximal effort, white people (particularly white men) achieve with minimal qualification. Barack Obama delivered to black people the hoary message that if they work twice as hard as white people, anything is possible. But Trump’s counter is persuasive: Work half as hard as black people, and even more is possible.”</p>
<p>Yes. Also instructive is Coates’ reflection that American politicians and pundits have been agonizing over an opiate crisis that has been reducing white working-class life spans while paying little attention to the fact Black life spans remain far below those of whites.&#160; Coates is also spot-on when he notes that U.S. media since the election of Trump has been rife with kindhearted discussions of the neglected and oppressed white working-class but has little to say about the millions of poor Black people who have been left behind in the neoliberal era:</p>
<p>“It’s worth asking why the country has not been treated to a raft of sympathetic portraits of this ‘forgotten’ young black electorate, forsaken by a Washington bought off by Davos elites and special interests. The unemployment rate for young blacks (20.6 percent) in July 2016 was double that of young whites (9.9 percent). And since the late 1970s, William Julius Wilson and other social scientists following in his wake have noted the disproportionate effect that the decline in manufacturing jobs has had on African American communities. If anyone should be angered by the devastation wreaked by the financial sector and a government that declined to prosecute the perpetrators, it is African Americans—the housing crisis was one of the primary drivers in the past 20 years of the wealth gap between black families and the rest of the country. But the cultural condescension toward and economic anxiety of black people is not news. Toiling blacks are in their proper state; toiling whites raise the specter of white slavery… a narrative of long-neglected working-class black voters, injured by globalization and the financial crisis, forsaken by out-of-touch politicians, and rightfully suspicious of a return of Clintonism, does not serve to cleanse the conscience of white people for having elected Donald Trump. Only the idea of a long-suffering white working class can do that.”</p>
<p>That, I think, is very well, even brilliantly said.</p>
<p>“The White Tribe United”?</p>
<p>After this, however, things become more problematic. What are we supposed to make of Coates’ statement near the end of his essay that the election and presidency of Trump is “as if the white tribe united in demonstration to say, ‘If a black man can be president, then any white man – no matter how fallen – can be president”?</p>
<p>Coates doesn’t mean all white Americans, though he certainly could have made more of an effort to make that clear. &#160;Midway through his essay, he writes that “though much has been written about the distance between elites and ‘Real America,’ the existence of a class-transcending, mutually dependent tribe of [U.S.] white people is evident.”&#160; I agree, though here I would use the phrase “cross-class,” not “class-transcending,” for class divisions live on within (and beyond) white America, deepened in fact by the ancient ruling class game of racial divide-and-rule.</p>
<p>But how big is this supposedly “class-transcending tribe”? There were 156 million non-Hispanic whites eligible to vote in the last United States presidential election. The racist (and sexist, militarist, eco-cidalist, nativist, plutocrat, and fake-populist) Donald Trump got 63 million votes in that election.&#160;&#160; Pretend that every one of Trump’s voters was a non-Hispanic Caucasian. We know that’s not the case, of course: according to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/election/results/exit-polls" type="external">CNN exit polls</a>, Trump got 28% of the Latino vote, 27% of the Asian American vote, and 8% of the Black vote along with 57% of the white vote. But even if we imagine that every single one of Trump’s voters was a non-Hispanic white, it would mean that Trump was backed by just 40 percent of the white electorate. We’re hardly talking about the whole “white tribe united.”</p>
<p>“Meanwhile, since the election,” Greg Sargent recently noted at The Washington Post:</p>
<p>“polls have showed broad majority [and I would add multi-racial-P.S.] condemnation of Trump’s&#160;mass deportations; his&#160;rescinding&#160;of protections for the ‘dreamers’; his&#160;Mexican wall; his&#160;pardoning&#160;of Joe Arpaio; his&#160;thinly-veiled Muslim ban; and his&#160;lending&#160;of succor to white supremacists responsible for racist violence and murder in Charlottesville. If anything, popular revulsion at the core elements of Trumpism has only grown. The pushback from civil society and from the chorus of voices (that Coates didn’t acknowledge) has intensified.”</p>
<p>For what it’s worth, some anecdotal reflections. I live in the predominantly white, formerly Obama-mad university town of Iowa City.&#160; Trump couldn’t speak here without facing mass protests. The protesters would be predominantly white, like the group that marched north of the city’s downtown to shut-down the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 while chanting “not my president” and calling Trump a racist (and other things) three days after the 2016 election.</p>
<p>There was significant, largely white turnout in Iowa City for protests of the racist police killings of Mike Brown and Eric Garner in 2014.&#160; There was a big, mostly white turnout in the city’s downtown Ped Mall to protest the racist murder of Trayvon Martin by George Zimmerman in early 2012.</p>
<p>Black Lives Matter speaker Patrice Cullors filled up the city’s downtown Englert Theater with hundreds of mostly white and loudly appreciative students and community members last fall.</p>
<p>In the much ballyhooed first-in-the-nation Iowa presidential Caucuses two Februaries ago, white Iowa City strongly backed Bernie Sanders, who denounced Trump as, among other things, a racist. In the November election, the town went mainly with Hillary Clinton, who denounced Trump as, among other things, a racist.</p>
<p>A white guy wearing a Make America Great cap would be viewed with disdain as he walked the white city’s downtown.</p>
<p>Similar stories could be told from numerous other highly Democratic and liberal, even left-leaning campus and other towns across the white America.</p>
<p>Obviously white America has some rather big internal fractures and different “tribes” when it comes to the spectacularly unpopular Trump.</p>
<p>Coates’ “Left” Caricature: Seven Problems</p>
<p>Coates’s biggest problem is that his essay is plagued by a preposterous misunderstanding and misrepresentation of what he calls “the modern [U.S.] left.”&#160; This “left,” he argues, has bought into the notion that Trump owes his election and hence presidency not to white racism but rather to the neoliberal Democrats’ betrayal of the “white working class” – a betrayal that pushed white workers into the arms of the pseudopopulist Trump.&#160; This “left,” Coates think, is so obsessed with “class struggle” that it shows no “recognition that there is something systemic and particular in the relationship between black people and their country that might require specific policy solutions.”&#160; Coates’ “leftists” are supposedly so blind and indifferent to the depth and specificity of racial oppression in the United States that they can only explain Trump’s victory as a result of the victimization of the white working class, not white racism.</p>
<p>By Coates’ reckoning, “the left” simply can’t “accept that racism remains, as it has been since 1776, at the heart of this country’s political life.&#160; The idea of acceptance frustrates the left. The left would much rather have a discussion about class struggles, which might entice the white working masses, instead of about the racist struggles that those same masses have historically been the agents and beneficiaries of.”</p>
<p>To understand Trump’s victory, Coates writes, class-obsessed “Leftists would have to cope with the failure, yet again, of class unity in the face of racism…Instead, the response has largely been an argument aimed at emotion – the summoning of the white working class, emblem of America’s hardscrabble roots, inheritor of its pioneer spirit, as a shield against the horrific and empirical evidence of trenchant bigotry.” &#160;The “left,” Coates alleges, has gotten caught up in the following narrative, crafted in his own words:</p>
<p>“support for Trump’s ‘Muslim ban,’ his scapegoating of immigrants, his defenses of police brutality are somehow the natural outgrowth of the cultural and economic gap between Lena Dunham’s America and Jeff Foxworthy’s. The collective verdict holds that the Democratic Party lost its way when it abandoned everyday economic issues like job creation for the softer fare of social justice. The indictment continues: To their neoliberal economics, Democrats and liberals have married a condescending elitist affect that sneers at blue-collar culture and mocks the white man as history’s greatest monster and prime-time television’s biggest doofus. In this rendition, Donald Trump is not the product of white supremacy so much as the product of a backlash against contempt for white working-class people.”</p>
<p>There are seven overlapping, interrelated, and fatal problems with Ta-Nahesi Coates’ critique and, as we shall see, caricature of “the left.” To begin with, Coates’ definition of the “modern left” is absurd.&#160; It includes people who aren’t remotely left at all, like the vanguard arch-neoliberal Bill Clinton, “national [neo]liberal politicians” like Obama and Hillary (“proud to have been a Goldwater Girl”) Clinton, and leading neoliberal Democratic pundits and essayists like Nicholas Kristof and George Packer.&#160; The radical-leftmost extreme of Coates’ American “left” is the supposed socialist Bernie Sanders, a vaguely social-democrat-ish New Deal Democrat who backs Israel and the F-35 fighter jet boondoggle and who lustily backed Bill Clinton’s criminal bombing of Serbia.</p>
<p>Second, Coates’ badly mangles the actual left critique of the neoliberal Democratic Party.&#160; He describes this critique as the charge that “the Democratic Party lost its way when it abandoned everyday economic issues like job creation for the softer fare of social justice.” That’s way off-base. The actual left analysis holds that the always capitalist Democratic Party “lost its way,” so to speak (turned further to the right), when it more completely abandoned economic and social justice (centrally including racial justice and equality), labor rights, the poor, minorities, and environmental sanity in pursuit of an ever-closer alliance with corporate America, Wall Street, and the elite professional class.&#160; To claim that leftists complain that the dismal-dollar-drenched Dems moved from “job creation” (one of capitalism’s standard boasts) to “social justice is absurd.</p>
<p>Third, “Democrats and liberals” really did “marr[y] a condescending elitist affect that sneers at blue-collar culture” to “their neoliberal economics” in ways that are highly relevant to the Democrats’ electoral collapse and the ever-more white-nationalist, Amerikaner-like Republicans’ success.&#160; The marriage has cost the Democrats the sympathies and votes of working- and lower-class people of all races and ethnicities, including working-class whites.&#160; This has quite obviously redounded to the benefit of the Republican Party even if it is a myth that Trump rode into office on a great wave of white working class economic resentment and anxiety.</p>
<p>Fourth, numerous actually Left analysts and writers, including <a href="https://www.truthdig.com/articles/the-notion-that-white-workers-elected-trump-is-a-myth-that-suits-the-ruling-class/" type="external">myself</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Dr. Anthony DiMaggio</a>, and <a href="" type="internal">Eric Draitser</a>, have preceded Coates in showing that Trump’s very white electoral base of support was disproportionately affluent and not particularly working-class.&#160; We have also preceded him in arguing (with far more empirical substance than Coates provides in his latest essay) that Trump’s white nationalist base was driven largely by racist white identity. We join him in acknowledging that Hillary Clinton (of whom we are harsh critics from the portside) was (in Coates’ words) “correct when she asserted that a large group of Americans was endorsing a candidate because of bigotry.”&#160; We have preceded and join him in rejecting Sanders’ cold dismissal of the notion that “the people who voted for Trump are racists and sexists and homophobes and just deplorable folks.”&#160; Sorry, Bernie:&#160; all too many of Trump’s voters are all that and more.</p>
<p>If the bourgeois centrist Coates doesn’t want to acknowledge the work of Marxists writing for online outlets like CounterPunch and Truthdig (both absurdly smeared by the Washington Post earlier this year as tools of the Russian conspiracy to “subvert American democracy”), he could consult a neat little report containing an excellent statistical breakdown and published by the more palatably <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/economic-anxiety-didnt-make-people-vote-trump-racism-did/" type="external">liberal Nation last May.</a> The Nation article was titled “Economic Anxiety Didn’t Make People Vote for Trump, Racism Did.”</p>
<p>Much of Coates “left” is quite conscious of – and has been actively reporting – precisely the racial voting analysis and data he (quite unoriginally and belatedly) presents in order to discredit the supposedly class-obsessed “left.”</p>
<p>Fifth, Coates is either flat-out lying or woefully ignorant when he argues that “the left” is disinterested in the big and significant problems of racial identity and racial justice.&#160; Bernie Sanders’ sometimes overly dismissive comments on race (“reparations are divisive”) and “identity politics” (see below) aside, real and actual U.S. leftists of various stripe all are about Black Lives Matter, opposition to racist mass incarceration, racist policing, Confederate Flags, school segregation, and more. Did Coates’ miss all the white socialists and anarchists who counter-protested against the white-supremacist Confederate statue defenders in Charlottesville last month, some of them putting their bodies on the line and facing violence in defense of Black civil rights and equality?&#160; Did Coates not hear the Black left preacher, scholar, and activist Cornel West note that largely white Antifa activists helped save his and other clergy-persons’ lives in Charlottesville, where armed Redneck Revolt militants stood guard on the perimeter to protect the racial justice marchers from fascist violence?</p>
<p>From Sanders and on to his more radical portside, the actual U.S. left and progressive program has long been and remains directed at addressing both (a) the specific discrimination and oppression faced by Black and other non-white Americans and (b) the economic/class inequality that oppresses the broad multi-racial working-class majority while it falls especially hard (thanks to racism, deeply understood) on the non-white poor. The longstanding legitimately Left progressive agenda addresses both race and class at one and the time. It does not accept Coates’ false dichotomy between class and race.</p>
<p>Coates’ smearing of “the left” is quite provocative and nauseating.&#160; It’s a low moment in his career.&#160; “As people of color, anti-racists, anti-fascists, and prison abolitionists within socialist organizations are dedicating time and resources to the battle against white supremacy,” the Marxist writer <a href="" type="internal">Asad Haider notes</a>, “Coates decides to stand with [the liberal political scientist Mark] Lilla on the sidelines and criticize them tout court (emphasis added). Socialist politics,” Haider adds, only appears in Coates’s essay as an&#160;alternative&#160;to racial politics, one which begins and ends in whiteness? – this as Coates “ignor[es] the historical existence and present resurgence of&#160;socialist&#160;anti-racism.”</p>
<p>(Here, at the risk of sounding self-promotional, let me mention that the second and third books I – a Marxist since age 19 – ever published dealt very specifically with racism and racial oppression.&#160; They did so in ways that allowed abundant space for race as a problem in and of itself but never required me to drop my socialist critique of class disparity and class rule: <a href="" type="internal">Segregated Schools: Educational Apartheid in the Post-Civil Rights Era</a> [2004] and <a href="" type="internal">Racial Oppression in the Global Metropolis: A Living Black Chicago History</a> [2007]).</p>
<p>Sixth, as Ryan Cooper all-too elementarily observes at <a href="http://theweek.com/articles/723853/what-tanehisi-coates-gets-wrong-about-leftists" type="external">The Week</a>, Coates’ call for “leftists …to cope with the failure, yet again, of class unity in the face of racism” in the wake of Trump’s election neglects the basic fact that “the leftist strategy&#160;was not tried in 2016. The Democratic Party,” Cooper notes, “ran the&#160;more conservative&#160;primary candidate, tried to win&#160;more upper-class votes&#160;(and&#160;succeeded to some degree), and lost.”</p>
<p>Seventh, Coates is unduly obsessed with electoral politics and candidates.&#160; If you really want to see white and other leftists fighting racism and whiteness and combining those fights with struggles against capitalism, nativism, sexism, imperialism, and, last but not least, eco-cide, then you need to play less attention to presidential contenders seeking vote from a majority (71%) white electorate and more attention to social movements on the ground.</p>
<p>One Dimensional History</p>
<p>It is unsurprising that Coates, who fancies himself something of an American historian, carries his anti-Leftist and centrist-liberal-bourgeois identitarian biases into his understanding of the national past.&#160; His essay makes numerous references to 19th century episodes in which leading white politicos and intellectuals appealed to cross-class white unity.&#160; Coates suggests that the appeals won out because whiteness/white-“tribalism” surpassed class then as now.&#160; Totally missing from Coates’ historical sensibilities here as in his previous writings are the many and remarkable moments when Black and white North American workers joined together in common struggle against wealth white exploiters, compelling the white ruling class to respond with strategies of racial divide-and-rule. There’s a considerable left historiography on all that, going back to Bacon’s Rebellion in 17th century Virginia up through and beyond the rise of anti-racist and (not just coincidentally) Left-led Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) during the 1930s and 1940s. “Since the 17th century,” Haider notes. “the resistance to racial oppression and capitalist exploitation have gone hand in hand.”&#160; None of that history and historiography fits Coates’ stark, zero-sum, all-or-nothing race versus/-over class dichotomy.</p>
<p>More Over-Reach</p>
<p>Questionable Cuck Talk</p>
<p>Beneath the eloquent elegance of his prose, Coates has a peculiar habit of bizarre over-reach. Listen to this odd formulation on Trump’s former top right-wing white-nationalist political adviser Steve Bannon:</p>
<p>“Trump’s rise was shepherded by Steve Bannon, a man who mocks his white male critics as ‘cucks.’ The word, derived from&#160;cuckold, is specifically meant to debase by fear and fantasy—the target is so weak that he would submit to the humiliation of having his white wife lie with black men. That the slur&#160;cuck&#160;casts white men as victims aligns with the dicta of whiteness, which seek to alchemize one’s profligate sins into virtue. So it was with Virginia slaveholders claiming that Britain sought to make slaves of them.”</p>
<p>Hold on. Bannon is a terrible racist, but how did those 91 words get past the Atlantic’s copy editors? There’s nothing about race in any known definition of the word cuckold.&#160; Maybe there ought to be but there isn’t.</p>
<p>An Imaginary “Sweeping Dismissal”</p>
<p>Coates claims that Sanders made a “sweeping dismissal of the concerns of those who don’t share kinship with white men” when the Vermont Senator said the following after Trump won last November: “I come from the white working class and I am deeply humiliated that the Democratic Party cannot talk to the people where I come from.”</p>
<p>Personally, and politically, I think Sanders should have left out the word “white” and just said “working class.”&#160; Still, the “sweeping dismissal” that Coates claims to see in the Senator’s remark is a mirage.&#160; It’s projected on to Sanders’ comment by Coates.</p>
<p>By pushing working people’s issues to the side of its corporate-funded neoliberal agenda, Sanders was saying, the Democratic Party has demobilized white working-class voters and lost touch with them.&#160; The dismal neoliberal Democrats’ failure to adequately represent working-class people obviously benefits the racist Republicans.&#160; It helped the ugly white-supremacist Trump prevail.</p>
<p>That’s not a racist, white-tribalist thing to note.&#160; It’s just an elementary observation.</p>
<p>“An Empty Statement”?</p>
<p>“To say that the rise of Donald Trump is about more than race,” Coates asserts, “is to make an empty statement, one that is small comfort to the people – black, Muslim, immigrant – who live under racism’s boot” (emphasis added).</p>
<p>The first part of that statement is sheer nonsense. Of course we should not expect Black and brown victims of racism should to be soothed or cheered by the knowledge that a racist president is also a sexist, a plutocratic fake-populist, a nativist, a reckless militarist, and an enemy of livable ecology. But surely those (including people suffering directly under racial oppression) who oppose racists in high office should and generally do also oppose sexism, nativism, and the rest. And surely, decent anti-racist people would want to understand all the factors that contributed to the terrible ascendancy of a horrific racist president like Donald Trump, including factors besides race and racism alone, no? Right? Hello?</p>
<p>Color and Character</p>
<p>Coates takes Sanders to task for saying the following when he was asked last year about a young woman trying to become the second Latina U.S. senator in American history: “It is not good enough for someone to say, ‘I’m a woman! Vote for me! No, that’s no good enough…One of the struggles that you’re going to see seeing in the Democratic Party is whether we go beyond identity politics.”</p>
<p>Coates interprets Sanders’ comment to mean that racial, gender, and ethnic experience and identity should be jettisoned in the name of white-tribalist and color-blind class struggle. But that is absurd given Sanders’ longstanding denunciation of racism and sexism.&#160; I would not have phrased Sanders’ comment the way he did. I have been a critique of Sanders’ failures on race (as well as on empire).&#160; Still, the Senator was stating an obvious truth that Dr. Martin Luther King would certainly second: the simple fact of one’s ethnic, racial, gender, or sexual identity alone does not qualify one for holding a position of policy-making power.&#160; “I have a dream,” King famously intoned in the summer of 1963, “that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the&#160;content&#160;of their&#160;character.”&#160; That beautiful sentiment must cut all ways, not just one.</p>
<p>Barack Obama, for whom Coates gave great if complicated support (Coates rightly faulted the first Black president for staying horribly mute and deceptively “post-racial” on the specifically racial oppression of Black Americans) is a perfect example of why that is so. Lacking the genuinely progressive character required to remotely oppose the nation’s unelected and interrelated dictatorships of money and empire, Obama advanced the deadly corporate-neoliberal, surveillance-state, and imperial agendas with a special absence of serious progressive resistance (including left and liberal white resistance) thanks in no small part to the simple fact of his technical half-Blackness. The color of Obama’s skin blinded many on Coates’ broad “left” to the neoliberal/capitalist, imperialist, police-statist, and ideologically white-supremacist content of his character. A Hillary Clinton presidency might well have performed some of the same trick with gender substituted for race.</p>
<p>Meanwhile the real conflict for many of us on the actual Left isn’t between identity politics and class politics.&#160; It’s between bourgeois, zero-sum, divide-and-rule identity politics and a left politics that understands racially (and gender- and ethnic- and so on) specific experience, oppression, and identity as critical in building movements of popular solidarity in the struggles against the combined, interrelated, and overlapping evils of class rule, racial oppression, imperialism, patriarchy, police-statism, and – last but not least – ecocide. (Please see my May 24th 2017 Counterpunch essay <a href="" type="internal">“Beyond Neoliberal Identity Politics”</a>)</p>
<p>Over-Praising and Under-Criticizing Democrats</p>
<p>Anti-Racist Hillary</p>
<p>Some of the more revealing parts of Coates’s essay come when he unduly downplays the failures and over-credits the successes of top neoliberal Democrats. “In 2016,” Coates writes, “Hillary Clinton acknowledged the existence of systemic racism more explicitly than any of her modern Democratic predecessors.”’ Besides giving the objectively racist Hillary more credit than she deserves, that statement is false.&#160; Read the transcripts of John Edwards facing off against Mrs. Clinton and Barack Obama in the presidential primary debate that took place in Charleston. South Carolina, in January of 2008.</p>
<p>But how much does this matter? Coates is absurdly over-focused on the statements of top candidates and other political elites. The solutions to contemporary capitalism-racism-imperialism-sexism-ecocide and other related evils won’t come from the top down. &#160;They’ll have to emerge from the common people, everyday workers and citizens, struggling and organizing from the bottom up.</p>
<p>Obama’s Mythical “National Health Care” Delivery</p>
<p>Almost as an aside, Coates applauds Obama for “deliverance of the ancient liberal goal of national health care” (emphasis added). &#160;But, of course, what Obama really passed was expanded neoliberal health insurance, with corporate profits and over-high premiums fully intact, millions still uninsured, health care and insurance still over-commodified, and tens of millions dependent on their employers (something full of authoritarian implication) for coverage.&#160; This was a far cry from the real “national health care” – single-payer Medicare for All – that serious progressives and many liberals have long advocated.&#160; Back in the Fair Deal and Great Society day, for what it’s worth, “the ancient liberal goal of national health care” was actually single-payer.</p>
<p>Obamacare was derived from the right-wing Heritage Foundation and test run under Republican governor Mitt Romney in Massachusetts.&#160; It was passed with single-payer advocates kicked to the curb, curiously enough given longstanding majority U.S. support for the Canadian model.</p>
<p>Is Class-Blindness Really Required?</p>
<p>Coates admonishes George Packer for writing that Obama left the U.S. “more divided and angrier than most Americans can remember.’&#160; Coates calls this “a statement that is likely true only because most Americans identify as white” (emphasis added). &#160;So, Coates failed to note that the nation’s savage New Gilded Age class inequalities reached new levels of extreme disparity during the years of the <a href="" type="internal">openly Wall Street-captive Obama White House</a>, itself chock full of Goldman Sachs operatives – a presidency that came to end with its <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Barack-Obama-Future-American-Politics/dp/1594516316" type="external">fake-progressive standard bearer</a> pushing for the explicitly global-corporatist Trans-Pacific Partnership and (as the terrible white-“tribal”-ist Bernie Sanders correctly noted in 2016) the top tenth of upper U.S. 1 Percent owning nearly as much wealth as the bottom U.S. 90 percent?</p>
<p>Does proper attention to racial oppression and identity mean that we must close our eyes to class divisions rooted in a <a href="" type="internal">richly bipartisan state-capitalist system</a> (that makes three of my books hyperlinked in the last 86 words) that brings disastrous consequences particularly but not exclusively to people of color (who lost already-scarce net worth relative to whites during the Obama years)?</p>
<p>Open for “The Russia Attack”</p>
<p>And then there’s this – brace yourself, comrades – near the end of Coates’ seemingly endless essay:</p>
<p>“In a recent&#160;New Yorker&#160;article, a former Russian military officer pointed out that interference in an election could succeed only where ‘necessary conditions’ and an ‘existing background’ were present. In America, that ‘existing background’ was a persistent racism, and the ‘necessary condition’ was a black president. The two related factors hobbled America’s ability to safeguard its electoral system. As late as July 2016, a majority of Republican voters doubted that Barack Obama had been born in the United States, which is to say they did not view him as a legitimate president. Republican politicians acted accordingly, infamously denying his final Supreme Court nominee a hearing and then, fatefully, refusing to work with the administration to defend the country against the Russian attack.”</p>
<p>Okay, so there you have it: the Neoliberal Democrat Ta-Nehisi Coates has bought into the John Podesta-Hillary Clinton-Rachel Maddow-Washington Post-Council on Foreign Relations “deep state” Blame Russia narrative, crafted by top Democrats&#160; from day one and before to give the corporate right-wing wing of their party a convenient neo-McCarthyite way to avoid blame for the epic electoral failures that result from &#160;neoliberal, donor-serving, and vote-suppressing demobilization of the working and lower classes. &#160;The bear ate their homework.</p>
<p>Coates leaves out a critical pre-existing condition for the (yes) deeply racist Trump’s triumph: the dismal dollar-drenched nature of the Democratic Party in the age of Coates’s erstwhile hero Barack Obama. Following in that great “leftist” Bill Clinton’s right-wing neoliberal footstep, Obama’s presidency has epitomized the left-liberal political scientist Sheldon Wolin’s early 2008 description of “the Democrats’ politics” as “the inauthentic opposition.” Wolin&#160;prophesied&#160;that “should Democrats somehow be elected,” they would do nothing “to alter significantly the direction of society” and to “substantially revers[e] the drift rightwards. … The timidity of a Democratic Party mesmerized by centrist precepts points to the crucial fact that for the poor, minorities, the working class and anti-corporatists there is no opposition party working on their behalf.” The corporatist Democrats would work to “marginalize any possible threat to the corporate allies of the Republicans.”</p>
<p>The venerable white professor called it. A nominal Democrat was elected president along with Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress in 2008. What followed under Obama (as under his Democratic presidential predecessors Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton) was the standard “elite”&#160;neoliberal&#160;manipulation of campaign populism and identity politics in service to the reigning big money bankrollers and their global empire. The Wall Street takeover of Washington and the related imperial agenda of the “Pentagon System” were advanced more effectively by the nation’s first half-white president than they could have been by any white Republican. New Gilded Age class and race inequality soared to new levels of abject obscenity under Obama’s “progressive” presidency, when nearly all of nation’s income gains went to the top 5 percent.</p>
<p>There was a left-led rebellion against the bipartisan plutocracy in the late summer and fall of 2011.&#160; It was called the Occupy Wall Street Movement.&#160; From Obama and his Department of Homeland Security down to mostly Democratic-run cities across the country, Democrats acted to do their capitalist masters’ bidding by crushing that populist uprising from coast to coast. The underlying “drift rightwards” sharpened, fed by a widespread and easily Republican-exploited sense of abandonment and betrayal, as the Democrats depressed and demobilized their own purported popular base. One result was the surreal ascendancy of the Twitter-addicted malignant narcissist and vile racist Donald Trump along with the Republican takeover of the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and the Supreme Court along with most of the nation’s state governorships and legislatures.</p>
<p>There was, yes, the Bernie Sanders rebellion within the Democratic Party last year.&#160; But the Inauthentic Opposition Party kept things fixed so he couldn’t defeat the Goldman-Clinton machine, which then handed the nuclear codes and the federal bench to the racist orange-haired beast.</p>
<p>Sanders, for all his ham-fisted failures on race, would likely have defeated Trump. He would be using the presidency to advocate policies that would have great value for people of color.</p>
<p>Marx-Blind: More Race Without Class</p>
<p>In his latest essay, as in his bestselling book <a href="" type="internal">Between the World and Me</a>, the amateur historian Coates stubbornly refuses to acknowledge that – recent elections and voting data aside – American white working-class people, too, have long paid a steep price for America’s deep and noxious white supremacism. In Coates’s rendering, the American white working-class has been the “beneficiary” of racism but never to any significant degree its victim.&#160; He’s wrong about that. For, as Haider notes:</p>
<p>“Treason to the white race, in fact, is in the interest of the vast majority of people classified as white. This should&#160;not&#160;be taken to mean that the privileges granted to white people by white supremacy are not real—they are all too real, and many white people enthusiastically participate in white supremacy to preserve these privileges. However, for the white people who are not owners of capital, white privilege is a poisoned bait.”</p>
<p>Why hasn’t the U.S. working class majority risen to challenge and destroy the socio-pathological profits system and the pitiless capitalist masters who have treated the laboring masses, the common good, and the ecosphere with murderous contempt? Part of the answer lay in the way that North American capitalism has encouraged the white majority of workers to, in the distinguished radical and white historian David Roediger’s words, “define and accept their class position by fashioning identities as ‘not slaves’ and ‘not black,’” By the great Black Marxist W.E.B. DuBois’ account&#160; <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Nt5mglDCNHEC" type="external">in 1935</a>, anti-black racism grants lower and working-class whites a perverse kind of “public and psychological wage” – a false and dysfunctional measure of status used to “compensate” for alienating and exploitative class relationships. As the democratic socialist and labor as well as Civil Rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. observed&#160; <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBiFnDuCJIU" type="external">in 1968</a>, racialized U.S. capitalism gave its Caucasian proletarian prey the deceptive “satisfaction of…thinking you are somebody big because you are white.” A long continental racial division and shame rooted originally in the profit calculations, class needs, and Machiavellian machinations of colonial and early national slave-owners – and their mercantile, industrial and political allies – continues to this day to obstruct working class unity to overthrow the absurdly unequal and authoritarian regime of capital, which now poses an ever more imminently catastrophic threat to livable ecology. (It does so along with the related psychological “wages of maleness” and “wages of Empire”: the sense that one is a big shot because one is male and because one lives in the world’s military and mass-cultural/mass-consumerist superpower).</p>
<p>The “satisfaction of thinking you are somebody because you are white” has always been a terrible lie. It has helped cloak white workers’ subordinate and expendable status, which never disappeared despite the very real if limited advantages white skin privilege has granted them relative to working- and low-class people of color. It has injured those workers’ material status by undermining their capacity to enhance their economic and political power by joining in solidarity with nonwhite workers. It has too often joined them in ultimately self-harming alliance with rich fellow whites who couldn’t care less about working class people of any color. It has focused white workers’ ire on the wrong enemies – those with the least power (non-white workers and the poor) instead of the moneyed elite, which wields its wealth and power to cripple and destroy lives and the common good. And it has (along with numerous other the related reactionary messages in the reigning American ideology) encouraged white workers to blame themselves as well as even less privileged people of color for their own difficult circumstances under the remorseless reign of capital. “Privileged” people are supposed to be doing well, after all. If they’re not, it must be their own fault. This is a hidden factor behind the recently reported rising death rate of working-class white males, driven largely by alcoholism, drug abuse, and gun suicide</p>
<p>Coates cites David Roediger repeatedly without showing any understanding that the historian in question is a Marxist who understands racism and whiteness both (imagine) as problems in their own rights and as key parts of how predominantly white capitalist class maintains power atop the overall working-class population.&#160; Perhaps Coates would like to read Roediger’s latest book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1786631237/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Class, Race, and Marxism</a> (Verso, 2017). According to his left publisher Verso:</p>
<p>“Roediger’s influential work on working people who have come to identify as white has so illuminated questions of identity that its grounding in Marxism has sometimes been missed. This new volume implicitly and explicitly reminds us that his ideas, and the best studies of whiteness generally, come from within the Marxist tradition. In his historical studies of the intersections of race, settler colonialism, and slavery, in his major chapter (with Elizabeth Esch) on race and the management of labor, in his detailing of the origins of critical studies of whiteness within Marxism, and in his reflections on the history of solidarity, Roediger argues that racial divisions not only tell us about the history of capitalism but also shed light on the logic of capital” (emphasis added).</p>
<p>We don’t have to learn about it just from white guys.&#160; Did nobody at Coates’s alma mater Howard University make him read DuBois or the forgotten Black Marxist sociologist Oliver Cox? What about CLR James?</p>
<p>Part of a Ruling Class Hit Job</p>
<p>Why does Coates take such strange and creepy aim at socialists, who have little power in the U.S. but tend to play very positive and sometimes heroic roles in the continuing struggle for Black equality and racial justice? As the left labor historian Chad Pearson recently wrote me:</p>
<p>“I don’t think the role of Coates is to inform us about race and racism; instead, I think his chief goal is to question the relevance of class and class analysis.&#160;&#160;Is it even true that ‘leftists’ fixate on class struggle over other matters’? The leftists I know are active in Black Lives Matter, BDS, the Confederate statue removal movement, etc…What Coates is doing here, I think, reflects the role that liberal academics and writers have been doing since at least the 1980s: suggesting that those interested in class routinely dismiss other divisions in society.&#160;&#160;This is not true, as scholarship from Du Bois to the present reminds us.&#160;&#160;But we can thank folks like Nell Irvin Painter, Joan Scott, some whiteness studies, and now Coates for making these cases.&#160;&#160;Every few months we get a Coates-like essay telling us, ‘hey, sure we have class, but don’t forget other divisions.’&#160;&#160;Do we really need the reminding?”</p>
<p>Reading Coates’ essay I found myself wondering how a writer as obviously brilliant and eloquent as its author would commit so much nonsense to paper with the knowledge that his reflections would be widely read by people fully capable of calling him out. Perhaps part of it is in fact the horizon-narrowing and power-serving hold that specifically bourgeois Identity Politics has on the minds of the intelligentsia, including even some of its sharpest thinkers in the neoliberal era.&#160; Or perhaps Coates is not so much a super-smart fool as a super-smart cynic who knows which side his bread is amply buttered on.&#160; You don’t get to hold a privileged perch at the neoliberal-capitalist Atlantic and get “Genius Grants” from the corporate-globalist MacArthur Foundation by being a Marxist who takes seriously the problem of class rule and its dialectically inseparable relationship with racial oppression. &#160;Going down that seriously radical path costs you money and prestige.&#160; It comes with a price.&#160; Serving the bourgeoisie and becoming part of the Russo-phobic ruling-class Neoliberal Democrats’ recent coordinated hit job on progressives (see <a href="" type="internal">this</a> and <a href="" type="internal">this</a> for other examples) in their right-wing party’s ranks is a much better-paying gig. Brilliant.</p> | true | 4 | photo david shankbone cc 20 numerous correspondents sent latest lengthy atlantic essay brilliant eloquent bourgeois black identitarian tanehesi coates asked reflections160 reluctantly agreed read comment coates long treatise mind seizes plenty concur even applaud coates prolonged reflection bears provocative title first white president160160 author think quite correct note donald trump vicious white supremacist dedicated denigrating even erasing legacy nations first technically black president barack obama also accurate judgement coates view tens millions yes deplorably racist whites voted ridiculously unqualified dangerous trump nasty sense white racial identity redemption coates right blast still alltoo widespread notion trump elected aggrieved white proletariat160 admirably presents sound data showing trumps electoral base crossclass coalition caucasians united largely whiteness racial animosity coates correctly observes trump prevailed identity politics white identity politics phrase identity politics term commonly hurled liberals democrats left right160 republican right kneedeep identity politics right white kind decent person agree coates matchless evocation sickening racial double standard lay beneath staid harvard law graduate barack obamas succession blustering buffoon donald trump look splendid paragraph coates trump first president served public capacity ascending perch telling trump also first president publicly affirmed daughter piece ass mind seizes trying imagine black man extolling virtues sexual assault tape youre star let fending multiple accusations assaults immersed multiple lawsuits allegedly fraudulent business dealings exhorting followers violence strolling white house point white supremacyto ensure others achieve maximal effort white people particularly white men achieve minimal qualification barack obama delivered black people hoary message work twice hard white people anything possible trumps counter persuasive work half hard black people even possible yes also instructive coates reflection american politicians pundits agonizing opiate crisis reducing white workingclass life spans paying little attention fact black life spans remain far whites160 coates also spoton notes us media since election trump rife kindhearted discussions neglected oppressed white workingclass little say millions poor black people left behind neoliberal era worth asking country treated raft sympathetic portraits forgotten young black electorate forsaken washington bought davos elites special interests unemployment rate young blacks 206 percent july 2016 double young whites 99 percent since late 1970s william julius wilson social scientists following wake noted disproportionate effect decline manufacturing jobs african american communities anyone angered devastation wreaked financial sector government declined prosecute perpetrators african americansthe housing crisis one primary drivers past 20 years wealth gap black families rest country cultural condescension toward economic anxiety black people news toiling blacks proper state toiling whites raise specter white slavery narrative longneglected workingclass black voters injured globalization financial crisis forsaken outoftouch politicians rightfully suspicious return clintonism serve cleanse conscience white people elected donald trump idea longsuffering white working class think well even brilliantly said white tribe united however things become problematic supposed make coates statement near end essay election presidency trump white tribe united demonstration say black man president white man matter fallen president coates doesnt mean white americans though certainly could made effort make clear 160midway essay writes though much written distance elites real america existence classtranscending mutually dependent tribe us white people evident160 agree though would use phrase crossclass classtranscending class divisions live within beyond white america deepened fact ancient ruling class game racial divideandrule big supposedly classtranscending tribe 156 million nonhispanic whites eligible vote last united states presidential election racist sexist militarist ecocidalist nativist plutocrat fakepopulist donald trump got 63 million votes election160160 pretend every one trumps voters nonhispanic caucasian know thats case course according cnn exit polls trump got 28 latino vote 27 asian american vote 8 black vote along 57 white vote even imagine every single one trumps voters nonhispanic white would mean trump backed 40 percent white electorate hardly talking whole white tribe united meanwhile since election greg sargent recently noted washington post polls showed broad majority would add multiracialps condemnation trumps160mass deportations his160rescinding160of protections dreamers his160mexican wall his160pardoning160of joe arpaio his160thinlyveiled muslim ban his160lending160of succor white supremacists responsible racist violence murder charlottesville anything popular revulsion core elements trumpism grown pushback civil society chorus voices coates didnt acknowledge intensified worth anecdotal reflections live predominantly white formerly obamamad university town iowa city160 trump couldnt speak without facing mass protests protesters would predominantly white like group marched north citys downtown shutdown eastbound lanes interstate 80 chanting president calling trump racist things three days 2016 election significant largely white turnout iowa city protests racist police killings mike brown eric garner 2014160 big mostly white turnout citys downtown ped mall protest racist murder trayvon martin george zimmerman early 2012 black lives matter speaker patrice cullors filled citys downtown englert theater hundreds mostly white loudly appreciative students community members last fall much ballyhooed firstinthenation iowa presidential caucuses two februaries ago white iowa city strongly backed bernie sanders denounced trump among things racist november election town went mainly hillary clinton denounced trump among things racist white guy wearing make america great cap would viewed disdain walked white citys downtown similar stories could told numerous highly democratic liberal even leftleaning campus towns across white america obviously white america rather big internal fractures different tribes comes spectacularly unpopular trump coates left caricature seven problems coatess biggest problem essay plagued preposterous misunderstanding misrepresentation calls modern us left160 left argues bought notion trump owes election hence presidency white racism rather neoliberal democrats betrayal white working class betrayal pushed white workers arms pseudopopulist trump160 left coates think obsessed class struggle shows recognition something systemic particular relationship black people country might require specific policy solutions160 coates leftists supposedly blind indifferent depth specificity racial oppression united states explain trumps victory result victimization white working class white racism coates reckoning left simply cant accept racism remains since 1776 heart countrys political life160 idea acceptance frustrates left left would much rather discussion class struggles might entice white working masses instead racist struggles masses historically agents beneficiaries understand trumps victory coates writes classobsessed leftists would cope failure yet class unity face racisminstead response largely argument aimed emotion summoning white working class emblem americas hardscrabble roots inheritor pioneer spirit shield horrific empirical evidence trenchant bigotry 160the left coates alleges gotten caught following narrative crafted words support trumps muslim ban scapegoating immigrants defenses police brutality somehow natural outgrowth cultural economic gap lena dunhams america jeff foxworthys collective verdict holds democratic party lost way abandoned everyday economic issues like job creation softer fare social justice indictment continues neoliberal economics democrats liberals married condescending elitist affect sneers bluecollar culture mocks white man historys greatest monster primetime televisions biggest doofus rendition donald trump product white supremacy much product backlash contempt white workingclass people seven overlapping interrelated fatal problems tanahesi coates critique shall see caricature left begin coates definition modern left absurd160 includes people arent remotely left like vanguard archneoliberal bill clinton national neoliberal politicians like obama hillary proud goldwater girl clinton leading neoliberal democratic pundits essayists like nicholas kristof george packer160 radicalleftmost extreme coates american left supposed socialist bernie sanders vaguely socialdemocratish new deal democrat backs israel f35 fighter jet boondoggle lustily backed bill clintons criminal bombing serbia second coates badly mangles actual left critique neoliberal democratic party160 describes critique charge democratic party lost way abandoned everyday economic issues like job creation softer fare social justice thats way offbase actual left analysis holds always capitalist democratic party lost way speak turned right completely abandoned economic social justice centrally including racial justice equality labor rights poor minorities environmental sanity pursuit evercloser alliance corporate america wall street elite professional class160 claim leftists complain dismaldollardrenched dems moved job creation one capitalisms standard boasts social justice absurd third democrats liberals really marry condescending elitist affect sneers bluecollar culture neoliberal economics ways highly relevant democrats electoral collapse evermore whitenationalist amerikanerlike republicans success160 marriage cost democrats sympathies votes working lowerclass people races ethnicities including workingclass whites160 quite obviously redounded benefit republican party even myth trump rode office great wave white working class economic resentment anxiety fourth numerous actually left analysts writers including dr anthony dimaggio eric draitser preceded coates showing trumps white electoral base support disproportionately affluent particularly workingclass160 also preceded arguing far empirical substance coates provides latest essay trumps white nationalist base driven largely racist white identity join acknowledging hillary clinton harsh critics portside coates words correct asserted large group americans endorsing candidate bigotry160 preceded join rejecting sanders cold dismissal notion people voted trump racists sexists homophobes deplorable folks160 sorry bernie160 many trumps voters bourgeois centrist coates doesnt want acknowledge work marxists writing online outlets like counterpunch truthdig absurdly smeared washington post earlier year tools russian conspiracy subvert american democracy could consult neat little report containing excellent statistical breakdown published palatably liberal nation last may nation article titled economic anxiety didnt make people vote trump racism much coates left quite conscious actively reporting precisely racial voting analysis data quite unoriginally belatedly presents order discredit supposedly classobsessed left fifth coates either flatout lying woefully ignorant argues left disinterested big significant problems racial identity racial justice160 bernie sanders sometimes overly dismissive comments race reparations divisive identity politics see aside real actual us leftists various stripe black lives matter opposition racist mass incarceration racist policing confederate flags school segregation coates miss white socialists anarchists counterprotested whitesupremacist confederate statue defenders charlottesville last month putting bodies line facing violence defense black civil rights equality160 coates hear black left preacher scholar activist cornel west note largely white antifa activists helped save clergypersons lives charlottesville armed redneck revolt militants stood guard perimeter protect racial justice marchers fascist violence sanders radical portside actual us left progressive program long remains directed addressing specific discrimination oppression faced black nonwhite americans b economicclass inequality oppresses broad multiracial workingclass majority falls especially hard thanks racism deeply understood nonwhite poor longstanding legitimately left progressive agenda addresses race class one time accept coates false dichotomy class race coates smearing left quite provocative nauseating160 low moment career160 people color antiracists antifascists prison abolitionists within socialist organizations dedicating time resources battle white supremacy marxist writer asad haider notes coates decides stand liberal political scientist mark lilla sidelines criticize tout court emphasis added socialist politics haider adds appears coatess essay an160alternative160to racial politics one begins ends whiteness coates ignores historical existence present resurgence of160socialist160antiracism risk sounding selfpromotional let mention second third books marxist since age 19 ever published dealt specifically racism racial oppression160 ways allowed abundant space race problem never required drop socialist critique class disparity class rule segregated schools educational apartheid postcivil rights era 2004 racial oppression global metropolis living black chicago history 2007 sixth ryan cooper alltoo elementarily observes week coates call leftists cope failure yet class unity face racism wake trumps election neglects basic fact leftist strategy160was tried 2016 democratic party cooper notes ran the160more conservative160primary candidate tried win160more upperclass votes160and160succeeded degree lost seventh coates unduly obsessed electoral politics candidates160 really want see white leftists fighting racism whiteness combining fights struggles capitalism nativism sexism imperialism last least ecocide need play less attention presidential contenders seeking vote majority 71 white electorate attention social movements ground one dimensional history unsurprising coates fancies something american historian carries antileftist centristliberalbourgeois identitarian biases understanding national past160 essay makes numerous references 19th century episodes leading white politicos intellectuals appealed crossclass white unity160 coates suggests appeals whitenesswhitetribalism surpassed class now160 totally missing coates historical sensibilities previous writings many remarkable moments black white north american workers joined together common struggle wealth white exploiters compelling white ruling class respond strategies racial divideandrule theres considerable left historiography going back bacons rebellion 17th century virginia beyond rise antiracist coincidentally leftled congress industrial organizations cio 1930s 1940s since 17th century haider notes resistance racial oppression capitalist exploitation gone hand hand160 none history historiography fits coates stark zerosum allornothing race versusover class dichotomy overreach questionable cuck talk beneath eloquent elegance prose coates peculiar habit bizarre overreach listen odd formulation trumps former top rightwing whitenationalist political adviser steve bannon trumps rise shepherded steve bannon man mocks white male critics cucks word derived from160cuckold specifically meant debase fear fantasythe target weak would submit humiliation white wife lie black men slur160cuck160casts white men victims aligns dicta whiteness seek alchemize ones profligate sins virtue virginia slaveholders claiming britain sought make slaves hold bannon terrible racist 91 words get past atlantics copy editors theres nothing race known definition word cuckold160 maybe ought isnt imaginary sweeping dismissal coates claims sanders made sweeping dismissal concerns dont share kinship white men vermont senator said following trump last november come white working class deeply humiliated democratic party talk people come personally politically think sanders left word white said working class160 still sweeping dismissal coates claims see senators remark mirage160 projected sanders comment coates pushing working peoples issues side corporatefunded neoliberal agenda sanders saying democratic party demobilized white workingclass voters lost touch them160 dismal neoliberal democrats failure adequately represent workingclass people obviously benefits racist republicans160 helped ugly whitesupremacist trump prevail thats racist whitetribalist thing note160 elementary observation empty statement say rise donald trump race coates asserts make empty statement one small comfort people black muslim immigrant live racisms boot emphasis added first part statement sheer nonsense course expect black brown victims racism soothed cheered knowledge racist president also sexist plutocratic fakepopulist nativist reckless militarist enemy livable ecology surely including people suffering directly racial oppression oppose racists high office generally also oppose sexism nativism rest surely decent antiracist people would want understand factors contributed terrible ascendancy horrific racist president like donald trump including factors besides race racism alone right hello color character coates takes sanders task saying following asked last year young woman trying become second latina us senator american history good enough someone say im woman vote thats good enoughone struggles youre going see seeing democratic party whether go beyond identity politics coates interprets sanders comment mean racial gender ethnic experience identity jettisoned name whitetribalist colorblind class struggle absurd given sanders longstanding denunciation racism sexism160 would phrased sanders comment way critique sanders failures race well empire160 still senator stating obvious truth dr martin luther king would certainly second simple fact ones ethnic racial gender sexual identity alone qualify one holding position policymaking power160 dream king famously intoned summer 1963 four little children one day live nation judged color skin the160content160of their160character160 beautiful sentiment must cut ways one barack obama coates gave great complicated support coates rightly faulted first black president staying horribly mute deceptively postracial specifically racial oppression black americans perfect example lacking genuinely progressive character required remotely oppose nations unelected interrelated dictatorships money empire obama advanced deadly corporateneoliberal surveillancestate imperial agendas special absence serious progressive resistance including left liberal white resistance thanks small part simple fact technical halfblackness color obamas skin blinded many coates broad left neoliberalcapitalist imperialist policestatist ideologically whitesupremacist content character hillary clinton presidency might well performed trick gender substituted race meanwhile real conflict many us actual left isnt identity politics class politics160 bourgeois zerosum divideandrule identity politics left politics understands racially gender ethnic specific experience oppression identity critical building movements popular solidarity struggles combined interrelated overlapping evils class rule racial oppression imperialism patriarchy policestatism last least ecocide please see may 24th 2017 counterpunch essay beyond neoliberal identity politics overpraising undercriticizing democrats antiracist hillary revealing parts coatess essay come unduly downplays failures overcredits successes top neoliberal democrats 2016 coates writes hillary clinton acknowledged existence systemic racism explicitly modern democratic predecessors besides giving objectively racist hillary credit deserves statement false160 read transcripts john edwards facing mrs clinton barack obama presidential primary debate took place charleston south carolina january 2008 much matter coates absurdly overfocused statements top candidates political elites solutions contemporary capitalismracismimperialismsexismecocide related evils wont come top 160theyll emerge common people everyday workers citizens struggling organizing bottom obamas mythical national health care delivery almost aside coates applauds obama deliverance ancient liberal goal national health care emphasis added 160but course obama really passed expanded neoliberal health insurance corporate profits overhigh premiums fully intact millions still uninsured health care insurance still overcommodified tens millions dependent employers something full authoritarian implication coverage160 far cry real national health care singlepayer medicare serious progressives many liberals long advocated160 back fair deal great society day worth ancient liberal goal national health care actually singlepayer obamacare derived rightwing heritage foundation test run republican governor mitt romney massachusetts160 passed singlepayer advocates kicked curb curiously enough given longstanding majority us support canadian model classblindness really required coates admonishes george packer writing obama left us divided angrier americans remember160 coates calls statement likely true americans identify white emphasis added 160so coates failed note nations savage new gilded age class inequalities reached new levels extreme disparity years openly wall streetcaptive obama white house chock full goldman sachs operatives presidency came end fakeprogressive standard bearer pushing explicitly globalcorporatist transpacific partnership terrible whitetribalist bernie sanders correctly noted 2016 top tenth upper us 1 percent owning nearly much wealth bottom us 90 percent proper attention racial oppression identity mean must close eyes class divisions rooted richly bipartisan statecapitalist system makes three books hyperlinked last 86 words brings disastrous consequences particularly exclusively people color lost alreadyscarce net worth relative whites obama years open russia attack theres brace comrades near end coates seemingly endless essay recent160new yorker160article former russian military officer pointed interference election could succeed necessary conditions existing background present america existing background persistent racism necessary condition black president two related factors hobbled americas ability safeguard electoral system late july 2016 majority republican voters doubted barack obama born united states say view legitimate president republican politicians acted accordingly infamously denying final supreme court nominee hearing fatefully refusing work administration defend country russian attack okay neoliberal democrat tanehisi coates bought john podestahillary clintonrachel maddowwashington postcouncil foreign relations deep state blame russia narrative crafted top democrats160 day one give corporate rightwing wing party convenient neomccarthyite way avoid blame epic electoral failures result 160neoliberal donorserving votesuppressing demobilization working lower classes 160the bear ate homework coates leaves critical preexisting condition yes deeply racist trumps triumph dismal dollardrenched nature democratic party age coatess erstwhile hero barack obama following great leftist bill clintons rightwing neoliberal footstep obamas presidency epitomized leftliberal political scientist sheldon wolins early 2008 description democrats politics inauthentic opposition wolin160prophesied160that democrats somehow elected would nothing alter significantly direction society substantially reverse drift rightwards timidity democratic party mesmerized centrist precepts points crucial fact poor minorities working class anticorporatists opposition party working behalf corporatist democrats would work marginalize possible threat corporate allies republicans venerable white professor called nominal democrat elected president along democratic majorities houses congress 2008 followed obama democratic presidential predecessors jimmy carter bill clinton standard elite160neoliberal160manipulation campaign populism identity politics service reigning big money bankrollers global empire wall street takeover washington related imperial agenda pentagon system advanced effectively nations first halfwhite president could white republican new gilded age class race inequality soared new levels abject obscenity obamas progressive presidency nearly nations income gains went top 5 percent leftled rebellion bipartisan plutocracy late summer fall 2011160 called occupy wall street movement160 obama department homeland security mostly democraticrun cities across country democrats acted capitalist masters bidding crushing populist uprising coast coast underlying drift rightwards sharpened fed widespread easily republicanexploited sense abandonment betrayal democrats depressed demobilized purported popular base one result surreal ascendancy twitteraddicted malignant narcissist vile racist donald trump along republican takeover us house us senate supreme court along nations state governorships legislatures yes bernie sanders rebellion within democratic party last year160 inauthentic opposition party kept things fixed couldnt defeat goldmanclinton machine handed nuclear codes federal bench racist orangehaired beast sanders hamfisted failures race would likely defeated trump would using presidency advocate policies would great value people color marxblind race without class latest essay bestselling book world amateur historian coates stubbornly refuses acknowledge recent elections voting data aside american white workingclass people long paid steep price americas deep noxious white supremacism coatess rendering american white workingclass beneficiary racism never significant degree victim160 hes wrong haider notes treason white race fact interest vast majority people classified white should160not160be taken mean privileges granted white people white supremacy realthey real many white people enthusiastically participate white supremacy preserve privileges however white people owners capital white privilege poisoned bait hasnt us working class majority risen challenge destroy sociopathological profits system pitiless capitalist masters treated laboring masses common good ecosphere murderous contempt part answer lay way north american capitalism encouraged white majority workers distinguished radical white historian david roedigers words define accept class position fashioning identities slaves black great black marxist web dubois account160 1935 antiblack racism grants lower workingclass whites perverse kind public psychological wage false dysfunctional measure status used compensate alienating exploitative class relationships democratic socialist labor well civil rights activist martin luther king jr observed160 1968 racialized us capitalism gave caucasian proletarian prey deceptive satisfaction ofthinking somebody big white long continental racial division shame rooted originally profit calculations class needs machiavellian machinations colonial early national slaveowners mercantile industrial political allies continues day obstruct working class unity overthrow absurdly unequal authoritarian regime capital poses ever imminently catastrophic threat livable ecology along related psychological wages maleness wages empire sense one big shot one male one lives worlds military massculturalmassconsumerist superpower satisfaction thinking somebody white always terrible lie helped cloak white workers subordinate expendable status never disappeared despite real limited advantages white skin privilege granted relative working lowclass people color injured workers material status undermining capacity enhance economic political power joining solidarity nonwhite workers often joined ultimately selfharming alliance rich fellow whites couldnt care less working class people color focused white workers ire wrong enemies least power nonwhite workers poor instead moneyed elite wields wealth power cripple destroy lives common good along numerous related reactionary messages reigning american ideology encouraged white workers blame well even less privileged people color difficult circumstances remorseless reign capital privileged people supposed well theyre must fault hidden factor behind recently reported rising death rate workingclass white males driven largely alcoholism drug abuse gun suicide coates cites david roediger repeatedly without showing understanding historian question marxist understands racism whiteness imagine problems rights key parts predominantly white capitalist class maintains power atop overall workingclass population160 perhaps coates would like read roedigers latest book class race marxism verso 2017 according left publisher verso roedigers influential work working people come identify white illuminated questions identity grounding marxism sometimes missed new volume implicitly explicitly reminds us ideas best studies whiteness generally come within marxist tradition historical studies intersections race settler colonialism slavery major chapter elizabeth esch race management labor detailing origins critical studies whiteness within marxism reflections history solidarity roediger argues racial divisions tell us history capitalism also shed light logic capital emphasis added dont learn white guys160 nobody coatess alma mater howard university make read dubois forgotten black marxist sociologist oliver cox clr james part ruling class hit job coates take strange creepy aim socialists little power us tend play positive sometimes heroic roles continuing struggle black equality racial justice left labor historian chad pearson recently wrote dont think role coates inform us race racism instead think chief goal question relevance class class analysis160160is even true leftists fixate class struggle matters leftists know active black lives matter bds confederate statue removal movement etcwhat coates think reflects role liberal academics writers since least 1980s suggesting interested class routinely dismiss divisions society160160this true scholarship du bois present reminds us160160but thank folks like nell irvin painter joan scott whiteness studies coates making cases160160every months get coateslike essay telling us hey sure class dont forget divisions160160do really need reminding reading coates essay found wondering writer obviously brilliant eloquent author would commit much nonsense paper knowledge reflections would widely read people fully capable calling perhaps part fact horizonnarrowing powerserving hold specifically bourgeois identity politics minds intelligentsia including even sharpest thinkers neoliberal era160 perhaps coates much supersmart fool supersmart cynic knows side bread amply buttered on160 dont get hold privileged perch neoliberalcapitalist atlantic get genius grants corporateglobalist macarthur foundation marxist takes seriously problem class rule dialectically inseparable relationship racial oppression 160going seriously radical path costs money prestige160 comes price160 serving bourgeoisie becoming part russophobic rulingclass neoliberal democrats recent coordinated hit job progressives see examples rightwing partys ranks much betterpaying gig brilliant | 3,940 |
<p>Photo: &lt;a href="http://www.owenfranken.com" target="new"&gt;Owen Franken&lt;/a&gt;</p>
<p />
<p>I never served in our nation’s armed forces. I was of draft age during the Vietnam War, in college from 1969 to 1973, and the Selective Service people felt, in their wisdom, that it was more important for me to complete my undergraduate education so I could prepare for my chosen profession—comedian.</p>
<p>Three decades later, I was asked to give back—by going on a USO Tour in 1999 to, among other places, Bosnia and Kosovo. It changed my view of the military. I returned home with nothing but admiration for our troops and their leaders. That’s what happens when you go on a USO Tour. There’s no way around it.</p>
<p>So, this article—about my recent tour to Iraq and Afghanistan—is not going to be what you might expect from me or from this magazine. As you probably know, I’ve been very critical of our current president, whom I consider arrogant, dishonest, petulant, and not a teeny bit stupid. And I’ve been critical of the hubris that led us into the war in Iraq, particularly the way it misled the American people, isolated us from most of the rest of the world, and seemed to plan for nothing other than a best-case scenario once we arrived.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, this is a story of a traveling troupe of “show folk” humbly doing our best to bring a little joy, laughter, music, and Christmas cheer to the men and women who bear the burden of this administration’s policies. As I said to every soldier who thanked me for coming, “It’s my honor.”</p>
<p>And a talented group of show folk we were. The Army band—every one a brilliant musician. Top country artists—Mark Wills, who had the No. 1 country hit “Nineteen Something” (okay, I’ve never heard it either—but he’s huge), and Darryl Worley, who wrote his No. 1 single “Have You Forgotten?” after visiting our troops in Afghanistan in 2002. If you listen to the lyrics (which evidently a lot of idiots do not), “Have You Forgotten?” is an emotional and somewhat jingoistic call of support for Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and not an explicit call for the war in Iraq.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Darryl does support Operation Iraqi Freedom wholeheartedly, and he told me on the last day of our trip that he’d become incensed when he first heard I was on the tour because he’d been looking forward to eight days when he didn’t have to defend his position. He sees these USO Tours as a kind of vacation from controversy, and now he thought he was going to have to debate me the whole eight days.</p>
<p>When Darryl told me this, I asked if he’d been worried I’d start the show in Baghdad like this: “Your president lied to you, and you are dying for no reason!!! Ladies and gentlemen, Darryl Worley!”</p>
<p>Darryl howled. He is a hilarious guy, and I have to say, we laughed our way through Southwest Asia. I love the guy.</p>
<p>There were other self-proclaimed “rednecks.” Darryl and Mark brought their guitarists, their mutual road manager, and personal manager. There was also Bradshaw, the World Wrestling Entertainment star from Texas, who is nowhere near as stupid as he likes to make out.</p>
<p>So, we had a Rednecks vs. the New York Jews dynamic set up. Which meant constant good-natured shit flying back and forth. With me, there was my brother, Owen, who was the trip’s photographer; former Saturday Night Live writer Andy Breckman, who was writing the comedy portions of the show with me; and Steve Kurtz, manager of No Illusion, a three-gal “urban” singing group who are beautiful and sing like angels. They’re young—19, 20, and 22—and given my rule that I don’t allow myself to be sexually attracted to women younger than my daughter, I behaved paternalistically toward No Illusion. That was not entirely true with the two Washington Redskins cheerleaders. No USO Tour is complete without NFL cheerleaders, and the Redskins sent two, Kelley and Katie Cornwell, whom the troops seemed happier to see than me. As I told the soldiers, “I don’t know how you guys do it for nine months. I’ve been over here a week, and the first thing I’m going to do when I get home is have sex with my wife—while thinking about the cheerleaders. Not so different from you guys, except I won’t be alone.”</p>
<p>I acted as co-emcee with Karri Turner, the attractive blond star of the popular CBS show JAG, which I’d never seen, but which is carried by the armed forces network and is very popular with the soldiers. So, our traveling troupe of show folk included musicians, composers, an actor, a writer, a comedian, singers, and dancers. My wife said to me before I left, “You don’t see Bill O’Reilly doing a USO Tour.”</p>
<p>“That’s not fair, honey. O’Reilly has no talent.”</p>
<p>Rounding out the show was singer Bonnie Tilley, a talented L.A. pop singer who sang on a Disney movie and happens to be the niece of the sergeant major of the Army, Jack Tilley, the leader of our tour. The sergeant major of the Army is the Army’s highest-ranking enlisted soldier and as such is loved and revered by the troops. Tilley had accompanied me on one of our tours to the Balkans and was happy to have me along; nevertheless, he got peeved at me once in Baghdad and used the occasion to inform me that he is “a killer.” Later in the tour, with just a hint of mist in his eyes, Tilley told me that prior to this trip, he had never met his niece. A life in the Army carries with it more than a few sacrifices.</p>
<p>WE TOOK OFF from Andrews Air Force Base on a cramped KC-10 (a converted DC-10 that doubles as a cargo and refueling plane) for the 14-hour flight to Kuwait, our first stop. Breckman and I wrote most of the way. The idea was to make this a variety show, a throwback to Bob Hope. After the Army band played a few songs, Karri would take the stage and say a few sincere words of her choosing, then introduce me.</p>
<p>Andy wrote my opening line: “Anybody here from out of town?” Then a couple more quick jokes: “Say, that Army chow isn’t sitting well with me. So far I’ve had five MREs [meals ready-to-eat] and none of them seem to have an exit strategy.”</p>
<p>Then into a bit with Karri, designed to get a soldier onstage.</p>
<p>AL: Karri, congratulations on the success of JAG.</p>
<p>KARRI: Thank you, Al. We’re on our ninth season.</p>
<p>AL: Wow. Nine seasons! You must have had thousands of guest stars appear on your show.</p>
<p>KARRI: Not thousands. But we’ve had a lot of great people. We’ve been very lucky.</p>
<p>AL: Well, I’ve never been on the show.</p>
<p>KARRI: As I say, we’ve been very lucky.</p>
<p>AL: I was thinking that maybe before the ninth season is over, I could do a guest shot.</p>
<p>KARRI: Well, y’know, JAG is really a drama show, and you’re such a terrific comedian. Maybe it’s not a fit.</p>
<p>AL: So, anyway, I’ve taken the liberty of writing a little audition piece to show my range. [Handing Karri the script.] I play a prosecutor sent in by the Pentagon to shake things up around the JAG office.</p>
<p>KARRI: You wrote this?</p>
<p>AL: Yeah. I’m a writer, comedian, dramatic actor. [Beat.] It’s your line.</p>
<p>KARRI: Oh. [Reading from script.] Lieutenant Hardgrove, what are you doing here in JAG OPS?</p>
<p>AL: I told you, Harriet. Call me Lance.</p>
<p>KARRI: Lieutenant Hardgrove, this is JAG OPS. It’s all business here.</p>
<p>AL: Is it? Then why are you wearing that negligee?</p>
<p>KARRI: [Off-script.] Al, my character would never wear a negligee to the office!</p>
<p>AL: You would if you were madly in love with Lieutenant Lance Hardgrove.</p>
<p>KARRI: Al, I’m married in the show! I have two kids—</p>
<p>AL: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Keep reading.</p>
<p>KARRI: [Reading script.] Lance, I’m wearing this negligee because I want tonight to be very special. I want to give myself to you completely. Now kiss me! [Al grabs Karri and kisses her. Karri fights him off.]</p>
<p>KARRI: Now, wait a minute! You just wrote this so you could kiss me! If I was gonna kiss anybody, it’d be a real soldier. Like one of these brave men…or women. Who wants to help me out? You, soldier. [Karri points to soldier in front.]</p>
<p>AL: Okay. I guess we are here to entertain the troops.</p>
<p>[The soldier comes up. Al hands him script. Improvise name, rank, where you from, etc. Karri and the soldier do the script….]</p>
<p>KARRI: Lieutenant Hardgrove, this is JAG OPS. It’s all business here.</p>
<p>SOLDIER: Is it? Then why are you wearing that negligee?</p>
<p>KARRI: Lance, I’m wearing this negligee because I want tonight to be very special. I want to give myself to you completely. Now kiss me! [They kiss a long, deep kiss. Cheers, etc. After kiss…]</p>
<p>AL: Wait! It’s not over. There’s another line.</p>
<p>KARRI: There is?</p>
<p>[Al points out line to soldier.]</p>
<p>AL: Go ahead. Read it.</p>
<p>SOLDIER: [Reading.] You know, Harriet, a woman your age should have a thorough breast examination every year. Lucky for you, Dr. Al Franken is here.</p>
<p>[Al approaches Karri.]</p>
<p>KARRI: Al!!! At ease!</p>
<p>AL: [Looking down at his crotch.] Too late for that now.</p>
<p>KARRI: Oh! Ewww. Let’s just bring out our first guest.</p>
<p>This Hope-style bit never failed to get huge laughs and giant cheers. Each time the soldier kissed Karri, it was as if every soldier had kissed her. Sex, in general, seemed a safe bet as a subject for sure laughs. By and large, these are men and women in their early 20s, a time of life when I recall thinking about sex almost constantly.</p>
<p>There are at least five men for every woman serving in the Persian Gulf (observation, not raw data), and one soldier told me at a base in Afghanistan that they had just sent five women back pregnant. “After you’ve been in the desert a while, a 2 begins to look like a 10,” he said. Actually, I saw a lot of attractive women in uniform. I particularly liked an M.P. in Kuwait named Davis who was just a little mean. And who knows, maybe it was the uniform. Mark Wills’ guitarist said he was picking up some desert fatigues for his wife.</p>
<p>MY BROTHER, Owen, is an expatriate who lives in Paris. You probably couldn’t find someone more against the war in Iraq than Owen. But during the trip, he was moved to tears on a number of occasions, and when we dropped him in Germany on the way home, he asked the whole group to sing “God Bless America” one last time. (We ended each show with it.)</p>
<p>It was a doubly emotional trip for both of us. Our mom had died about 10 days before the tour, and it was good that we got to spend this time together. (After it was announced in the press that my mom had died, some guy wrote this review of my latest book on Amazon: “See, if you write mean things about people, your mom might die.” Six of 37 people found the review “helpful.”)</p>
<p>We arrived in Kuwait tired. We were given some quarters, men separated from women, about three or four to a room. After a brief rest, I met with the cheerleaders and one of the girls from No Illusion to run through and choreograph the Taliban Cheerleader number.</p>
<p>I had borrowed some burkas from Saturday Night Live, and the idea was to introduce them saying, “All the way from Kabul, please welcome the Taliban Cheerleaders!” The girls enter in burkas, and I ask them to do a number. Through her burka, the lead Taliban Cheerleader whispers in my ear. I act puzzled. “You’re not allowed to dance?” I ask. “Or even listen to music?” She shakes her head, no. “But,” I point out, “we liberated Afghanistan from the Taliban. Certainly you can do one number? Whatta ya say, guys?” The troops cheer. The cheerleaders consult, and the leader nods—okay, one. “All right!” I say. “Hit it!” and we blast “Gonna Make You Sweat!” by C+C Music Factory. The girls do a bump-and-grind dance in their tearaway burkas, then peel them off and continue in their Redskins cheerleader outfits as the guys go nuts.</p>
<p>Worked like a charm every time.</p>
<p>The second day we take off in a Chinook to do meet-and-greets at various camps. Except for Kuwait City—which we were not allowed to visit (some Americans had been attacked there just before we arrived)—Kuwait is a fucking wasteland.</p>
<p>The troops in these outposts are incredibly appreciative. “Where you from?” I ask. “How long you been here?” “Reservist? National Guard?” They’re from all over. A lot from small towns, some from the Bronx or Brooklyn. Some from Puerto Rico. A lot from the South, from Montana, Minnesota, upstate New York. I ask reservists if they plan to re-enlist. “Hell no!” more than a few say. But their re-enlistment rate is 70 percent, I’m later told. Most of all, they’re grateful we came all this way.</p>
<p>The second night in Kuwait is our first show. At Camp Arifjan. The place isn’t too bad. There’s a Burger King, an equivalent of a Pizza Hut, and an Internet café where soldiers can instant-message with loved ones at home. The show lasts two and a half hours, and the troops love everything. Darryl’s up last and ends his set with “Have You Forgotten?” They all know the lyrics:</p>
<p>Have you forgotten how it felt that day / To see your homeland under fire/ And her people blown away?…/Some say this country’s just out looking for a fight. /After 9/11, man, I’d have to say that’s right.</p>
<p>The song climaxes on an emotional high and a standing ovation. The next day Andy Breckman deadpans to Darryl: “You know what you should sing in the next show? That 9/11 song.” Andy repeats that every day until our last show, when he slips a note into Darryl’s guitar case: “Don’t forget the 9/11 song.”</p>
<p>That first night I got all teary-eyed when we ended with “God Bless America.” In the front row I saw a black male soldier linking arms with a white male soldier and a woman soldier, swaying back and forth and really meaning it. I thought how the military could teach our colleges and universities a thing or two about affirmative action. Then I noticed that the woman soldier was holding the hand of a gay soldier, who was holding the hand of a transgender soldier.… Okay, that’s not true.</p>
<p>Early the next morning we were off to Baghdad. The plan had been to do a show that night and the next at Baghdad International Airport, but there was a change in plan. World Wrestling Entertainment was doing a show there, and there was nowhere to put us. We would split up the group and do smaller shows at different bases around Iraq, specifically in Saddam’s hometown of Tikrit, in Mosul, and at a base called Camp Junction City.</p>
<p>It was decided that Tikrit was the most dangerous of the three. Steve Kurtz, the manager of No Illusion, had promised the girls’ parents he’d do everything possible to keep them safe. So he chose Mosul. I agreed to go to Tikrit if we could visit the hole. The hole where they had found Saddam. My goal was to get a picture of myself in the hole with the Redskins cheerleaders. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Tilley said he’d try to make it happen but couldn’t guarantee anything.</p>
<p>Karri, the cheerleaders, the Army band, Andy, my brother, and I flew to Tikrit in two Black Hawks. My understanding was that the most dangerous part of the trip was landing and taking off from the Baghdad airport, flying across Iraq in a helicopter, then landing in Tikrit, the Baathist stronghold. Wearing flak jackets and helmets, we headed out, flying incredibly fast and incredibly low with two gunners looking for insurgents with shoulder-launched rockets designed to kill us. The point of flying low is that it makes it harder to get a bead on the chopper from the ground; in addition, we were constantly taking evasive action, swerving and making sudden changes in altitude, usually to jump power wires. A singer in the Army band threw up.</p>
<p>Flying over Baghdad, I had a flash of the movie Black Hawk Down. But in a good way—at least I got a glimpse of what life looked like in an impoverished Third World Arab city.</p>
<p>As we headed north, the country got greener. I saw shepherds grazing sheep. Two and a half days of Army food and I was already hoping for a lamb chop. An hour later, flying over Tikrit, you could see that Saddam had spread some cash around his hometown. Nice little city.</p>
<p>Once we landed inside the Army compound in Tikrit, we felt safe. It was an amazing complex, a couple of square miles comprised of a ridiculously huge and ornate Saddam palace and smaller guest palaces for members of the Baath Party and Uday’s friends. It was easy to envision the place as a Ritz-Carlton in about 15 years, perfect for corporate conferences.</p>
<p>We arrived early in the afternoon and settled into Uday’s guest house. We had some time before our show, so I started working on getting to the hole. The military brass was not encouraging, but I ran into a high-ranking member of the Coalition Provisional Authority, the civilian group that “runs” Iraq under Paul Bremer. This guy was in his 40s, also Jewish, and a fan of my work. He’d meet us at 3:30 to take us to the hole. But just me, Andy, and Owen. No picture of me in the hole with the cheerleaders. At 3:30, he tells us that Colonel Hickey is in a meeting, and we need his permission to go to the hole. We’ll have to go in the morning. Later that night, we get the word. No hole. Fuck.</p>
<p>But the show that night goes great. We’re doing it for the unit that actually caught Hussein, so they especially like the Saddam bit. I had borrowed a Saddam uniform, beret, and a mustache from Saturday Night Live, and Andy and I wrote a piece in the style of the old Tonight Show Mighty Carson Art Players. (As Saddam, with my faux Arabic accent, I didn’t sound so different from Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.)</p>
<p>KARRI: For reasons you’ll understand, we didn’t want to announce our next guest ahead of time. He’s a very special, very secret surprise. Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein!!! [Two M.P.s lead Al up in handcuffs.]</p>
<p>AL: Thank you! Thank you! If they allowed me to carry an AK-47, I’d be firing it into the air. Hi, Karri. It’s great to be back in Baghdad. Listen, before you say anything—I’ve been thinking, and I’ve decided to let the inspectors back in.</p>
<p>KARRI: Well, it’s kind of late for that.</p>
<p>AL: Oohh! I was afraid you’d say that.</p>
<p>KARRI: We’ve been looking for you, Saddam. Where have you been the last eight months?</p>
<p>AL: Well, you know, basically in the Tikrit area, visiting family, friends, socializing.</p>
<p>KARRI: Saddam, we captured you in a tiny hole.</p>
<p>AL: Yes, that’s true. I’ve been spending a lot of time in holes. I have many holes around the country. Actually the hole you found me in—that was one of my favorite holes. It’s my winter hole.</p>
<p>KARRI: Your winter hole?</p>
<p>AL: Oh, Karri, you should see it. It had everything. It had the air duct. I could roll over. The dirt was very nicely packed. As you know, Karri, I used to have 20, 30 palaces. But the kids had grown. You want to downsize. So…the hole.</p>
<p>KARRI: I see. Anyway, I have to say, you’re looking a lot better than when we first found you.</p>
<p>AL: Yes, you know, any mass murderer on the run sooner or later ends up looking like Ted Kaczynski.… But I’ve had a shave, a haircut, I’ve been deloused. I’m feeling great.</p>
<p>KARRI: You’re looking great.</p>
<p>AL: Thank you. I’ve been working out in the hole. Rolling over. First this way, then that way. It’s a good regimen.</p>
<p>KARRI: Saddam, I guess the thing that’s on everyone’s mind is the weapons of mass destruction.</p>
<p>AL: You’d like to know, wouldn’t you? The WMD. Where are they? Are they in Samarra? Maybe. Are they in Kirkuk. Could be. Maybe yes, maybe no. How ’bout Tikrit? Maybe they’re in my hole. Maybe while you were sleeping I put them in your hole. Who knows?</p>
<p>KARRI: Now, Saddam!</p>
<p>AL: I’m sorry. I kid. I kid because I love. I tell you what, Karri. I like you so much, I’m going to make you a deal. One time only. I give you the weapons—you leave Iraq. Let me return to power and resume killing and torturing anyone I want. Take it or leave it.</p>
<p>KARRI: I don’t know. Whatta ya say, guys? [Nos, boos, etc.]</p>
<p>AL: Well, okay, forget it. The important thing is, I’m back in Baghdad.</p>
<p>KARRI: Yes, and now that the hiding is over, what are you looking forward to?</p>
<p>AL: Two things, really. One—being deloused some more. They missed some. In the pubes mainly. I don’t have to tell you, Karri, what that’s like. Hey, I kid. Out of love. But, seriously, most of all, I am looking forward to being reunited with my beloved sons, Uday and Qusay.</p>
<p>KARRI: Oh.</p>
<p>AL: I didn’t like the sound of that “oh.”</p>
<p>KARRI: I guess you haven’t heard the news.…</p>
<p>AL: They’re in trouble again? Don’t tell me. It was Uday. Ooooh, that Uday!&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>KARRI: Well…let’s just say that everybody here is hoping you and your sons can be reunited very, very soon. [Applause, cheers.]</p>
<p>By the second day of the trip, “Ooooh, that Uday!” had become the catchphrase for the tour. It was as if Uday were just an irrepressible kid who’d broken curfew a few times.</p>
<p>IT TURNED OUT THAT WHILE we were in Tikrit, the three young ladies from No Illusion, who supposedly had been given the safer assignment, were in almost constant danger. That day they visited four different bases, traveling between them in convoys. In the city of Mosul, their convoy took a wrong turn, à la Jessica Lynch, and ended up at a dead end in a crowded market area, necessitating what’s known in the military as a “backing out” maneuver. They were sitting ducks, and the terrified young women and Steve, their manager, were ordered to lie down on the floor of their Humvees. This is how you get killed in Iraq. But by the time they settled in for the night at a base outside Mosul, a soldier offered Steve some reassurance: “Don’t worry. The two Iraqis who jumped the fence with the AK-47s have been apprehended.” &#160;&#160;&#160;</p>
<p>We flew back to Baghdad with $1.4 million of Saddam’s cash, which was stashed in tin containers. We landed midway at an outpost to drop off a chaplain because a soldier had been killed there the day before. When we landed at the Baghdad airport, the pilots seemed more interested in getting the $1.4 million to the right place than in us, and for the first time on the trip we were dropped off nowhere in particular.</p>
<p>We wandered into a bombed-out terminal where a unit of infantry had set up some makeshift bunks. These weren’t the guys from the public-affairs office who usually greet us, and their hollow eyes suggested they’d seen some shit—including, according to a private from Long Island, a recent suicide by a member of their unit. This was our little Apocalypse Now part of the tour, and we did a little show right there for about a dozen guys.</p>
<p>Reunited with our group, we did our regular show that afternoon in the same hangar where Bush had served Thanksgiving dinner. Afterward, a soldier went up to Steve and said, “It’s an honor to meet you.”</p>
<p>“No, no,” Steve replied. “I’m just the manager of the three girl singers.”</p>
<p>“You don’t understand,” the soldier said. “I’m a soldier. I have to be here. I met Bush, but he’s the president, so he really had to come. I’d rather meet you, because you don’t have to be here. You came because you care.”</p>
<p>There was a lot of that. Our just being there meant so much to these guys. Doing the show was gravy.</p>
<p>THAT NIGHT WE STAYED in another of Saddam’s palaces. Again, obscenely ornate, tons and tons of marble, his initials etched into every pillar and inlaid with gold. An Army chaplain had given me a Hanukkah kit comprised of a flimsy menorah and some candles. Andy said that the kit was to Hanukkah as the MREs were to food. But that night in the main room of Saddam’s palace—in our little “fuck you” to Saddam—we celebrated the second night of Hanukkah under the biggest cut-glass chandelier I’ve ever seen.</p>
<p>The next day, on our way to the plane, our driver pointed to his right. “Saddam’s being held in there.” I wanted to ask if I could meet him. I thought I could do the Saddam bit for him and see what he thought. But since they didn’t even let me go to the hole, I let it go.</p>
<p>The following morning, off to Afghani-stan. During the show in Kandahar, Andy called his fiancée in New York and found out that Time had just named the American Soldier as Person of the Year. Word spread fast. What a rush! To be performing to about a thousand Persons of the Year.</p>
<p>As we drove through Kandahar the next day, our driver, a private, saw a colonel walking up ahead of us. “That’s Colonel Garrett. He runs Afghanistan.”</p>
<p>“Let’s say hi,” I said from the backseat. We pulled beside him and I said, “Hi, colonel.”</p>
<p>“Hi, Al! Great show last night! I’m headed up to the airstrip to see you guys off.”</p>
<p>“We’ll give you a lift,” I said.</p>
<p>“No, thanks, my vehicle’s up ahead about 150 yards.”</p>
<p>“We’ll give you a lift to your vehicle. We’ve heard how lazy you are.” Our driver was suddenly freaked out.</p>
<p>“Yeah,” added Andy. “All we’ve been hearing is how lazy you are.”</p>
<p>“I’m not that lazy.” The colonel got it, but acted slightly insulted. “I can make it to my vehicle.”</p>
<p>The poor private weakly told the colonel, “I didn’t say you were lazy.” Colonel Garrett nodded, as if he didn’t believe him, and walked ahead. As we passed him, the private told us, “Actually, he’s one of the finest offi-cers I’ve ever known.”</p>
<p>“Then why,” I asked, “did you keep calling him lazy?”</p>
<p>“I didn’t!”</p>
<p>ON THE TARMAC at Kandahar, Sgt. Major Grippe, one of many gruff Sergeant Rock knockoffs we met along the way, gave us a send-off that included references to our troops being in Tehran and Damascus same time next year. It gave the New York Jews on the trip a bit of a chill.</p>
<p>We had been told during a safety briefing in Afghanistan not to step off the pavement. Soviet mines. I told the briefer I was an avid bird-watcher and asked if I could find anything in the field beyond the airstrip. “Yeah,” he said, “just walk till the first BOOM.”</p>
<p>It was cold in Afghanistan, and one night about 10 of us guys stayed in a tent heated by pumped-in hot air. When the air was on, the tent was about 100 degrees. Twenty minutes after we turned it off, the temperature dropped to about 40. After a lot of arguing, I arrived at a solution. We’d turn it off before we went to sleep. The first guy to wake up to piss would turn it back on, the next guy would turn it off, etc. As it turned out, I was the first guy up, and it was fucking freezing.</p>
<p>Next stop was Uzbekistan—the K-2 air base across the Afghan border. As in Iraq and Afghanistan, every soldier carries a gun. But there’s really no danger inside the base itself. The biggest enemy is monotony, and the soldiers call the camp “Groundhog Day” because every day is the same.</p>
<p>It was our last show, and during “God Bless America,” there were a lot of tears on- stage. Sgt. Maj. of the Army Tilley was retiring, and this was his last hurrah. Eight days and I found myself irrationally attached to these people, including the “killer,” who’s lived a life totally at odds from my own. (I’m a lover.)</p>
<p>We didn’t spend the night at K-2, flying instead to Germany, where awards were given out. I won a Distinguished Civilian Service medal from the secretary of the Army, which I plan to wear whenever I debate a conservative on TV.</p>
<p>We flew home and arrived at Andrews on Christmas Eve. I said goodbye to my fellow show folk and took the shuttle home to New York for Christmas with my family. But I couldn’t relate to them. They hadn’t been through what I had the last eight days, and they’d never know the hardships I had experienced and the horrors I had witnessed.</p>
<p>Actually, we had a nice dinner.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | photo lta hrefhttpwwwowenfrankencom targetnewgtowen frankenltagt never served nations armed forces draft age vietnam war college 1969 1973 selective service people felt wisdom important complete undergraduate education could prepare chosen professioncomedian three decades later asked give backby going uso tour 1999 among places bosnia kosovo changed view military returned home nothing admiration troops leaders thats happens go uso tour theres way around articleabout recent tour iraq afghanistanis going might expect magazine probably know ive critical current president consider arrogant dishonest petulant teeny bit stupid ive critical hubris led us war iraq particularly way misled american people isolated us rest world seemed plan nothing bestcase scenario arrived nevertheless story traveling troupe show folk humbly best bring little joy laughter music christmas cheer men women bear burden administrations policies said every soldier thanked coming honor talented group show folk army bandevery one brilliant musician top country artistsmark wills 1 country hit nineteen something okay ive never heard eitherbut hes huge darryl worley wrote 1 single forgotten visiting troops afghanistan 2002 listen lyrics evidently lot idiots forgotten emotional somewhat jingoistic call support operation enduring freedom afghanistan explicit call war iraq nevertheless darryl support operation iraqi freedom wholeheartedly told last day trip hed become incensed first heard tour hed looking forward eight days didnt defend position sees uso tours kind vacation controversy thought going debate whole eight days darryl told asked hed worried id start show baghdad like president lied dying reason ladies gentlemen darryl worley darryl howled hilarious guy say laughed way southwest asia love guy selfproclaimed rednecks darryl mark brought guitarists mutual road manager personal manager also bradshaw world wrestling entertainment star texas nowhere near stupid likes make rednecks vs new york jews dynamic set meant constant goodnatured shit flying back forth brother owen trips photographer former saturday night live writer andy breckman writing comedy portions show steve kurtz manager illusion threegal urban singing group beautiful sing like angels theyre young19 20 22and given rule dont allow sexually attracted women younger daughter behaved paternalistically toward illusion entirely true two washington redskins cheerleaders uso tour complete without nfl cheerleaders redskins sent two kelley katie cornwell troops seemed happier see told soldiers dont know guys nine months ive week first thing im going get home sex wifewhile thinking cheerleaders different guys except wont alone acted coemcee karri turner attractive blond star popular cbs show jag id never seen carried armed forces network popular soldiers traveling troupe show folk included musicians composers actor writer comedian singers dancers wife said left dont see bill oreilly uso tour thats fair honey oreilly talent rounding show singer bonnie tilley talented la pop singer sang disney movie happens niece sergeant major army jack tilley leader tour sergeant major army armys highestranking enlisted soldier loved revered troops tilley accompanied one tours balkans happy along nevertheless got peeved baghdad used occasion inform killer later tour hint mist eyes tilley told prior trip never met niece life army carries sacrifices took andrews air force base cramped kc10 converted dc10 doubles cargo refueling plane 14hour flight kuwait first stop breckman wrote way idea make variety show throwback bob hope army band played songs karri would take stage say sincere words choosing introduce andy wrote opening line anybody town couple quick jokes say army chow isnt sitting well far ive five mres meals readytoeat none seem exit strategy bit karri designed get soldier onstage al karri congratulations success jag karri thank al ninth season al wow nine seasons must thousands guest stars appear show karri thousands weve lot great people weve lucky al well ive never show karri say weve lucky al thinking maybe ninth season could guest shot karri well yknow jag really drama show youre terrific comedian maybe fit al anyway ive taken liberty writing little audition piece show range handing karri script play prosecutor sent pentagon shake things around jag office karri wrote al yeah im writer comedian dramatic actor beat line karri oh reading script lieutenant hardgrove jag ops al told harriet call lance karri lieutenant hardgrove jag ops business al wearing negligee karri offscript al character would never wear negligee office al would madly love lieutenant lance hardgrove karri al im married show two kids al yeah yeah yeah keep reading karri reading script lance im wearing negligee want tonight special want give completely kiss al grabs karri kisses karri fights karri wait minute wrote could kiss gon na kiss anybody itd real soldier like one brave menor women wants help soldier karri points soldier front al okay guess entertain troops soldier comes al hands script improvise name rank etc karri soldier script karri lieutenant hardgrove jag ops business soldier wearing negligee karri lance im wearing negligee want tonight special want give completely kiss kiss long deep kiss cheers etc kiss al wait theres another line karri al points line soldier al go ahead read soldier reading know harriet woman age thorough breast examination every year lucky dr al franken al approaches karri karri al ease al looking crotch late karri oh ewww lets bring first guest hopestyle bit never failed get huge laughs giant cheers time soldier kissed karri every soldier kissed sex general seemed safe bet subject sure laughs large men women early 20s time life recall thinking sex almost constantly least five men every woman serving persian gulf observation raw data one soldier told base afghanistan sent five women back pregnant youve desert 2 begins look like 10 said actually saw lot attractive women uniform particularly liked mp kuwait named davis little mean knows maybe uniform mark wills guitarist said picking desert fatigues wife brother owen expatriate lives paris probably couldnt find someone war iraq owen trip moved tears number occasions dropped germany way home asked whole group sing god bless america one last time ended show doubly emotional trip us mom died 10 days tour good got spend time together announced press mom died guy wrote review latest book amazon see write mean things people mom might die six 37 people found review helpful arrived kuwait tired given quarters men separated women three four room brief rest met cheerleaders one girls illusion run choreograph taliban cheerleader number borrowed burkas saturday night live idea introduce saying way kabul please welcome taliban cheerleaders girls enter burkas ask number burka lead taliban cheerleader whispers ear act puzzled youre allowed dance ask even listen music shakes head point liberated afghanistan taliban certainly one number whatta ya say guys troops cheer cheerleaders consult leader nodsokay one right say hit blast gon na make sweat cc music factory girls bumpandgrind dance tearaway burkas peel continue redskins cheerleader outfits guys go nuts worked like charm every time second day take chinook meetandgreets various camps except kuwait citywhich allowed visit americans attacked arrivedkuwait fucking wasteland troops outposts incredibly appreciative ask long reservist national guard theyre lot small towns bronx brooklyn puerto rico lot south montana minnesota upstate new york ask reservists plan reenlist hell say reenlistment rate 70 percent im later told theyre grateful came way second night kuwait first show camp arifjan place isnt bad theres burger king equivalent pizza hut internet café soldiers instantmessage loved ones home show lasts two half hours troops love everything darryls last ends set forgotten know lyrics forgotten felt day see homeland fire people blown awaysome say countrys looking fight 911 man id say thats right song climaxes emotional high standing ovation next day andy breckman deadpans darryl know sing next show 911 song andy repeats every day last show slips note darryls guitar case dont forget 911 song first night got tearyeyed ended god bless america front row saw black male soldier linking arms white male soldier woman soldier swaying back forth really meaning thought military could teach colleges universities thing two affirmative action noticed woman soldier holding hand gay soldier holding hand transgender soldier okay thats true early next morning baghdad plan show night next baghdad international airport change plan world wrestling entertainment show nowhere put us would split group smaller shows different bases around iraq specifically saddams hometown tikrit mosul base called camp junction city decided tikrit dangerous three steve kurtz manager illusion promised girls parents hed everything possible keep safe chose mosul agreed go tikrit could visit hole hole found saddam goal get picture hole redskins cheerleaders sgt maj army tilley said hed try make happen couldnt guarantee anything karri cheerleaders army band andy brother flew tikrit two black hawks understanding dangerous part trip landing taking baghdad airport flying across iraq helicopter landing tikrit baathist stronghold wearing flak jackets helmets headed flying incredibly fast incredibly low two gunners looking insurgents shoulderlaunched rockets designed kill us point flying low makes harder get bead chopper ground addition constantly taking evasive action swerving making sudden changes altitude usually jump power wires singer army band threw flying baghdad flash movie black hawk good wayat least got glimpse life looked like impoverished third world arab city headed north country got greener saw shepherds grazing sheep two half days army food already hoping lamb chop hour later flying tikrit could see saddam spread cash around hometown nice little city landed inside army compound tikrit felt safe amazing complex couple square miles comprised ridiculously huge ornate saddam palace smaller guest palaces members baath party udays friends easy envision place ritzcarlton 15 years perfect corporate conferences arrived early afternoon settled udays guest house time show started working getting hole military brass encouraging ran highranking member coalition provisional authority civilian group runs iraq paul bremer guy 40s also jewish fan work hed meet us 330 take us hole andy owen picture hole cheerleaders 330 tells us colonel hickey meeting need permission go hole well go morning later night get word hole fuck show night goes great unit actually caught hussein especially like saddam bit borrowed saddam uniform beret mustache saturday night live andy wrote piece style old tonight show mighty carson art players saddam faux arabic accent didnt sound different triumph insult comic dog karri reasons youll understand didnt want announce next guest ahead time hes special secret surprise former iraqi president saddam hussein two mps lead al handcuffs al thank thank allowed carry ak47 id firing air hi karri great back baghdad listen say anythingive thinking ive decided let inspectors back karri well kind late al oohh afraid youd say karri weve looking saddam last eight months al well know basically tikrit area visiting family friends socializing karri saddam captured tiny hole al yes thats true ive spending lot time holes many holes around country actually hole found inthat one favorite holes winter hole karri winter hole al oh karri see everything air duct could roll dirt nicely packed know karri used 20 30 palaces kids grown want downsize sothe hole karri see anyway say youre looking lot better first found al yes know mass murderer run sooner later ends looking like ted kaczynski ive shave haircut ive deloused im feeling great karri youre looking great al thank ive working hole rolling first way way good regimen karri saddam guess thing thats everyones mind weapons mass destruction al youd like know wouldnt wmd samarra maybe kirkuk could maybe yes maybe bout tikrit maybe theyre hole maybe sleeping put hole knows karri saddam al im sorry kid kid love tell karri like much im going make deal one time give weaponsyou leave iraq let return power resume killing torturing anyone want take leave karri dont know whatta ya say guys nos boos etc al well okay forget important thing im back baghdad karri yes hiding looking forward al two things really onebeing deloused missed pubes mainly dont tell karri thats like hey kid love seriously looking forward reunited beloved sons uday qusay karri oh al didnt like sound oh karri guess havent heard news al theyre trouble dont tell uday ooooh uday160160160160160160 karri welllets say everybody hoping sons reunited soon applause cheers second day trip ooooh uday become catchphrase tour uday irrepressible kid whod broken curfew times turned tikrit three young ladies illusion supposedly given safer assignment almost constant danger day visited four different bases traveling convoys city mosul convoy took wrong turn à la jessica lynch ended dead end crowded market area necessitating whats known military backing maneuver sitting ducks terrified young women steve manager ordered lie floor humvees get killed iraq time settled night base outside mosul soldier offered steve reassurance dont worry two iraqis jumped fence ak47s apprehended 160160160 flew back baghdad 14 million saddams cash stashed tin containers landed midway outpost drop chaplain soldier killed day landed baghdad airport pilots seemed interested getting 14 million right place us first time trip dropped nowhere particular wandered bombedout terminal unit infantry set makeshift bunks werent guys publicaffairs office usually greet us hollow eyes suggested theyd seen shitincluding according private long island recent suicide member unit little apocalypse part tour little show right dozen guys reunited group regular show afternoon hangar bush served thanksgiving dinner afterward soldier went steve said honor meet steve replied im manager three girl singers dont understand soldier said im soldier met bush hes president really come id rather meet dont came care lot meant much guys show gravy night stayed another saddams palaces obscenely ornate tons tons marble initials etched every pillar inlaid gold army chaplain given hanukkah kit comprised flimsy menorah candles andy said kit hanukkah mres food night main room saddams palacein little fuck saddamwe celebrated second night hanukkah biggest cutglass chandelier ive ever seen next day way plane driver pointed right saddams held wanted ask could meet thought could saddam bit see thought since didnt even let go hole let go following morning afghanistan show kandahar andy called fiancée new york found time named american soldier person year word spread fast rush performing thousand persons year drove kandahar next day driver private saw colonel walking ahead us thats colonel garrett runs afghanistan lets say hi said backseat pulled beside said hi colonel hi al great show last night im headed airstrip see guys well give lift said thanks vehicles ahead 150 yards well give lift vehicle weve heard lazy driver suddenly freaked yeah added andy weve hearing lazy im lazy colonel got acted slightly insulted make vehicle poor private weakly told colonel didnt say lazy colonel garrett nodded didnt believe walked ahead passed private told us actually hes one finest officers ive ever known asked keep calling lazy didnt tarmac kandahar sgt major grippe one many gruff sergeant rock knockoffs met along way gave us sendoff included references troops tehran damascus time next year gave new york jews trip bit chill told safety briefing afghanistan step pavement soviet mines told briefer avid birdwatcher asked could find anything field beyond airstrip yeah said walk till first boom cold afghanistan one night 10 us guys stayed tent heated pumpedin hot air air tent 100 degrees twenty minutes turned temperature dropped 40 lot arguing arrived solution wed turn went sleep first guy wake piss would turn back next guy would turn etc turned first guy fucking freezing next stop uzbekistanthe k2 air base across afghan border iraq afghanistan every soldier carries gun theres really danger inside base biggest enemy monotony soldiers call camp groundhog day every day last show god bless america lot tears stage sgt maj army tilley retiring last hurrah eight days found irrationally attached people including killer whos lived life totally odds im lover didnt spend night k2 flying instead germany awards given distinguished civilian service medal secretary army plan wear whenever debate conservative tv flew home arrived andrews christmas eve said goodbye fellow show folk took shuttle home new york christmas family couldnt relate hadnt last eight days theyd never know hardships experienced horrors witnessed actually nice dinner | 2,606 |
<p>Perhaps we have not paid enough attention to Exodus and have lost, therefore, the import of General “Jerry” Boykin’s words to the evangelical Christians as reported in the LA Times on the 16th, “We in the army of God, in the house of God, kingdom of God have been raised for such a time as this.” Exodus states it clearly enough: “The Lord is a man of war”(15:3). Lt. Gen. Boykin, the new deputy undersecretary of Defense for intelligence (sic), no doubt speaks for Bush and Rumsfeld’s forces in the field as he takes up his position as fourth in command under Lord General God. It is comforting to know that we are under the command of the Head Man in Heaven as we enter the lists against the infidels led by their god, a mere pagan “idol.” Boykin, who has probably met “face to face” with that other general, places the US squarely in God’s “house,” indeed, in His “Kingdom” as we “take up the cross” to fulfill His divine commands, our army having been “raised for such a time as this.”</p>
<p>One wonders if all the other ministers of war sat enthroned behind the General as he expounded on God’s words: Pat Robertson, Franklin Graham, Jerry Falwell, to name a few. Did they cheer him on? Did any of them suggest, perhaps, that his invocation to the God of War had imbedded in it yet another prayer, the one Mark Twain penned in his caustic satire that turned such fawning gibberish into nonsense, “The War Prayer.” Let me paraphrase: “Dear God who counseled ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you’ bless our cause and curse our enemy, destroy their children, leave their mothers’ barren and homeless, let the old and infirm weep alone as they await death, devastate their land, burn their fields, and destroy even the memory of their existence, in God’s name we pray!” These evangelical Christians listen in rapture to the general who has become their instrument to effect Armageddon even as they curse those who give the appearance of appeasement against the Islamic hordes, including that former general, Colin Powell who should be “nuked” according to Robertson.</p>
<p>Consider the import of this scene, the general garbed in full combat regalia, spit shined shoes, epaulets ablaze with glistening brass, marching before the attentive congregation declaring that “radical Islamists hated the United States ‘because we’re a Christian nation, because our foundation and roots are Judeo-Christian …'” And more, “He’s (Bush) in the White House because God put him there.” This man, now in charge of “intelligence” in the Defense Department, enlists his Christian warriors to take on “Satan.” He becomes the embodiment of the Tele-evangelists prophecy, those who proclaim “end-time theology,” the means by which God will bring about prophecies present in the Book of Revelation. This scene contains two important revelations, neither of them resident in the Book of Revelation: the ministers of war enlist once again the myths of Revelation to achieve power in the secular realm and the myths that proclaim America’s roots as Judeo-Christian rise once again as fact when, in fact, they are anathema to the concept and purpose of democracy.</p>
<p>The rising chorus of evangelicals decrying Islam as the sole source of terror, the increasing volatility of their wrath, and their visible displays of displeasure and impatience with the policies of government in a democracy threaten the very basis of a government based on separation of church and state. Dennis Prager (October 7, 2003), prophet of the right wing airways, attempts to defend America’s need to go it alone against Islamic “terror and tyranny” in this “war of civilizations.” He notes that the world is not supportive of the “American mission” to fulfill God’s word, and this explains in good measure why they dislike George W. Bush, “the believer in the biblical God and in an American mission.” “We cannot defeat the Islamist threat,” he proclaims, “without the same degree of faith fanatical Muslims have.” Here he notes, Israel and America are one because both nations have fanatical believers who can stand against the infidels. “One civilization believes in liberty and one does not.” Prager fears that Europe and non-believers in America can jeopardize the fulfillment of God’s mission. “It is between those who fervently believe in America and in Judeo-Christian revelation and those who fervently believe in neither.” Those who do not believe are, in Prager’s mind, “the Left, many Democratic Party leaders, pacifists, the cultural elite and academia…” This type of thinking pits religious denominations against the political system because the government must become the instrument to fulfill their interpretation of God’s word. Add to Prager’s views those of Pat Robertson who beseeches God on public television to intercede to change the make-up of the Supreme Court and declares that only devout Christians and Jews are fit to hold public office, and the casting of America as a theocracy takes form.</p>
<p>According to Philip Lindsey (“Are the Neo-Cons Conning Us”) “All the major figures of the Christian right have joined the new crusade to defend the Israeli state and spread Jewish settlements around Jerusalem and in the Occupied Territories. The Reverend James Hutchins, president of Christians for Israel/US, proclaimed that this support was in order to fulfil a ‘divine calling to assist the Jewish people in their return and restoration of the land of Israel.’ A quarter of a million US Christians have sent over $60 million to Israel while Hutchins’ organization has financed the immigration of 65,000 Jews. For both the Christian and Jewish right, Islam is the new ‘evil empire’ and Yasser Arafat is Israel’s ‘bin Laden.'” With the three prominent Tele-evangelists urging their flocks to reject the rights of Palestinians to a homeland because the Jews have a covenant with God, with their active and visible intervention in political affairs directly affecting this nation, with the financial support they provide to terrorists in the settlements, with their politically motivated sermons directing their congregations to vote for born again Christians and Zionist Jews, with their loud condemnation of non-Christians and Christians not supportive of the Zionist right wing, they have created a fissure of intolerance in America that threatens not only the pillar of separation of church and state, but the rationale that under girds this nation’s tolerance of all religions in favor of the fanatics that demand obeisance to the ministers of war who interpret God’s word for him in the Book of Revelation.</p>
<p>The actions of the Christian Zionists are arguably anti-American in their attempts to gain control of the democratic system, anti-American in their efforts to impose a right-wing Christian theocracy upon all Americans, illegal in their incitement to ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, who have done nothing to Americans, through their support of Jewish settlements that terrorize Palestinians, and illegal in their active promotion of right wing factions in Israel that oppose American foreign policy that calls for the creation of a Palestinian state. These militant actions of the Christian Zionists stem from their belief that the on-going crisis in the Mid-East is prophesied in the Book of Revelation. Belief in Revelation compels them to incite their congregations to destroy the infidels. Ironically, this is not the first use of the Book of Revelation on this continent by militant ministers of the Almighty that has resulted in the slaughter of innocents. In 1500, as Columbus ravaged the “new world” with the help of the Franciscans who were set to build “the Kingdom of God on earth,” a similar intolerance of other religions took hold. “There had always been a millenarian cast to the followers of Saint FrancisºMany believed that their founding saint was the angel of the apocalypse who had unlocked the seal of the sixth age of revelation; the gospel would now be preached throughout the new world and then would come the Anti-ChristºWas not Charles V the prophesied world emperor? And had not Mexico fallen to Catholicism just as northern Europe fell to the Lutheran heretics? Were these not signs that the hosts of good and evil were assembling for Armageddon? º On New Year’s Day, 1525, the friars drove the Mexican priests from their temples and began the ‘first battle against the devil'” (Ronald Wright, The Stolen Continent, 1992). The Franciscans, driven by their fanatical zeal and bound in allegiance to the Spanish Conquistadors to affect the fulfillment of their prophecies, lost sight of the humans they killed in the name of their God. They were the Christian Zionists of their day!</p>
<p>If this was the first abuse of Revelation on this continent, it followed 20 others in Europe dating from 1186 to 1492 and yet others in preceding centuries. Not all resulted in slaughter of innocents, but many did, including the crusades initiated by Urban II who used other myths to enlist peasants and knights to the slaughter of the Jews and Muslims in attempts to reclaim Jerusalem for the Church. Does not the shear number of pseudo-prophets who have proclaimed the imminence of Armageddon require us to declare our current crop benighted idiots?</p>
<p>Have we learned nothing from history? Does superstition guide civilized people in the year 2003? Must we fall prey to denizens of myths who find power in prophecy and ego enhancement in incitement to riot? Must we repeat what we have seen in our own past, that fanatics maliciously use their positions of respect to drive their believers to actions diametrically opposed to the teachings of their supposed leader, Jesus Christ? Are not these religious zealots criminals, exhorting their legions to engage in illegal behavior when they call on them to give millions of dollars to settlements damned as illegal by the UN and the worlds’ communities of nations in numerous resolutions? Are not their rabble-rousing harangues designed to justify acquiescence and complicity to the terrorism inflicted by Ariel Sharon on innocent civilians in Palestine in the name of the God of Revelation? Yet these ministers of war know no more of that God than all the previous prophets of doom that preceded them, but they should; they hold doctorate degrees in theology; they have the scientific evidence that tracks the biblical writings of Revelation to an unknown source on Patmos; they know no one knows the authors of the New Testament; they know they cannot speak for God anymore than the pseudo-prophets of the dark ages, yet they prophecy, they prophecy for profit and power, the true ends of their proselytizing!</p>
<p>With what absolution then do they preach death and destruction? Shouldn’t this administration find these false prophets enemies of the people? Do they not incite to riot and enlist their minions to support illegal activities that are detrimental to the peace of America? Have they not brought America more insecurity by confirming in the minds of those fearful of a clash of civilizations that indeed America is on a crusade to destroy Islam? Have they not given aid and comfort to Osama and his hordes by demonstrating the truth of what he says, the Christians are out to defeat Allah?</p>
<p>Consider the power these men wield over American policy. Not only does the “General of Intelligence” preach before the evangelical hordes, but Tom DeLay, the anointed leader of the Republican majority in the House and a rabid Christian Zionist, addressed the Israeli Knesset on July 30 urging Israel “to ignore the truce and go on killing Palestinian activists.” Benny Elon, Sharon’s Minister of Tourism, appeared with DeLay at the Washington convention of the Christian Coalition where he called for the expulsion of the Palestinians from their homeland claiming that land for Israel since it was guaranteed them in the Bible. The ethnic cleansing is authorized in that same Bible according to Elon, and confirmed by no less an authority than Richard Army who called for removal of the Palestinians, despite the presence of an indigenous population of Arabs in Palestine for the last 1900 years! Even now, this month, 500 evangelicals visited Israel in support of Sharon’s divisive actions against Palestinians. The yoking of the Christian Zionists, the right-wing Jewish Zionists and the pro-Israeli neo-cons has undermined the foundational concepts that guarantee American freedom of conscience and religious tolerance. Perhaps Melchior Grimm had it right when he declared in the mid 18th century: “It has taken centuries to subdue the human race to the tyrannical yoke of the priests; it will take centuries and a series of efforts and successes to secure its freedom.”</p>
<p>We need only pay heed to Thomas Jefferson’s words to Dr. Benjamin Rush in his letter of April 21, 1803: “It behooves every man who values liberty of conscience for himself, to resist invasions of it in the case of others; or their case may … become his own.” Freedom of conscience cannot exist in a climate of fear or in a nation that dictates truth. For the Christian right to impose its beliefs on this nation by controlling the ballot box to ensure the election of radical “end time” believers, to impose their religious beliefs through legislation that all must accept, or to align themselves with groups like the neo-cons who desire a similar goal and would willingly subvert the rights of the people as stated in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights to attain it, can and will result in the erosion of the principles that ensure our freedom. In that same letter to Rush, Jefferson noted the corruption of Jesus’ teachings as “doctrinized” by denominations, extolling instead Christ’s undiluted teachings: he taught “universal philanthropy, not only to kindred and friends, to neighbors and countrymen, but to all mankind, gathering into one family, under the bonds of love, charity, peace, common wants and common aids”(Italics mine). How different in concept this understanding of Christ’s teachings that provides tolerance of all as members of one family from the teachings of the Christian Zionists and right-wing Jewish Zionists who would purge a people from their homeland by superstitiously interpreting words that allow them to determine the fate of millions.</p>
<p>How brilliant does the wording of the Declaration seem now, “endowed by their creator with unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” a prescription guaranteed in the Bill of Rights that indelibly marks each and every human with the same rights to live in a free society unencumbered by the dominance of another’s infallible thoughts! Jefferson understood that religions are not tolerant or democratic; indeed, they are inherently neither, since ministers serve as intermediaries to the divine and become the conduit of doctrines and dogma that determine thought for the believer. It followed logically for Jefferson that church and state must be separate if all religions were to exist in the new country. America does not rest on Christian principles; it exists, as all democracies must, in tolerance of Christian beliefs as it exists in tolerance of all religious beliefs precisely because it was not founded on beliefs expounded by one religion. Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Paine, the principal exponents of the foundational concepts upon which this country rests, were Deists who accepted the genuine precepts of Jesus, not those that have evolved in the various denominations over the course of centuries. Love, charity, and compassion define Christ’s precepts; love of all, charity toward all, compassion for all, that all may live in peace. How anathema to General Boykin and the Christian Zionist teachings as they incite their congregations to war!</p>
<p>William Cook is a professor of English at the University of La Verne in southern California. His new book, <a href="" type="internal">Psalms for the 21st Century</a>, was just published by Mellen Press. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:cookb@ULV.EDU" type="external">cookb@ULV.EDU</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | perhaps paid enough attention exodus lost therefore import general jerry boykins words evangelical christians reported la times 16th army god house god kingdom god raised time exodus states clearly enough lord man war153 lt gen boykin new deputy undersecretary defense intelligence sic doubt speaks bush rumsfelds forces field takes position fourth command lord general god comforting know command head man heaven enter lists infidels led god mere pagan idol boykin probably met face face general places us squarely gods house indeed kingdom take cross fulfill divine commands army raised time one wonders ministers war sat enthroned behind general expounded gods words pat robertson franklin graham jerry falwell name cheer suggest perhaps invocation god war imbedded yet another prayer one mark twain penned caustic satire turned fawning gibberish nonsense war prayer let paraphrase dear god counseled unto others would unto bless cause curse enemy destroy children leave mothers barren homeless let old infirm weep alone await death devastate land burn fields destroy even memory existence gods name pray evangelical christians listen rapture general become instrument effect armageddon even curse give appearance appeasement islamic hordes including former general colin powell nuked according robertson consider import scene general garbed full combat regalia spit shined shoes epaulets ablaze glistening brass marching attentive congregation declaring radical islamists hated united states christian nation foundation roots judeochristian hes bush white house god put man charge intelligence defense department enlists christian warriors take satan becomes embodiment teleevangelists prophecy proclaim endtime theology means god bring prophecies present book revelation scene contains two important revelations neither resident book revelation ministers war enlist myths revelation achieve power secular realm myths proclaim americas roots judeochristian rise fact fact anathema concept purpose democracy rising chorus evangelicals decrying islam sole source terror increasing volatility wrath visible displays displeasure impatience policies government democracy threaten basis government based separation church state dennis prager october 7 2003 prophet right wing airways attempts defend americas need go alone islamic terror tyranny war civilizations notes world supportive american mission fulfill gods word explains good measure dislike george w bush believer biblical god american mission defeat islamist threat proclaims without degree faith fanatical muslims notes israel america one nations fanatical believers stand infidels one civilization believes liberty one prager fears europe nonbelievers america jeopardize fulfillment gods mission fervently believe america judeochristian revelation fervently believe neither believe pragers mind left many democratic party leaders pacifists cultural elite academia type thinking pits religious denominations political system government must become instrument fulfill interpretation gods word add pragers views pat robertson beseeches god public television intercede change makeup supreme court declares devout christians jews fit hold public office casting america theocracy takes form according philip lindsey neocons conning us major figures christian right joined new crusade defend israeli state spread jewish settlements around jerusalem occupied territories reverend james hutchins president christians israelus proclaimed support order fulfil divine calling assist jewish people return restoration land israel quarter million us christians sent 60 million israel hutchins organization financed immigration 65000 jews christian jewish right islam new evil empire yasser arafat israels bin laden three prominent teleevangelists urging flocks reject rights palestinians homeland jews covenant god active visible intervention political affairs directly affecting nation financial support provide terrorists settlements politically motivated sermons directing congregations vote born christians zionist jews loud condemnation nonchristians christians supportive zionist right wing created fissure intolerance america threatens pillar separation church state rationale girds nations tolerance religions favor fanatics demand obeisance ministers war interpret gods word book revelation actions christian zionists arguably antiamerican attempts gain control democratic system antiamerican efforts impose rightwing christian theocracy upon americans illegal incitement ethnic cleansing palestinians done nothing americans support jewish settlements terrorize palestinians illegal active promotion right wing factions israel oppose american foreign policy calls creation palestinian state militant actions christian zionists stem belief ongoing crisis mideast prophesied book revelation belief revelation compels incite congregations destroy infidels ironically first use book revelation continent militant ministers almighty resulted slaughter innocents 1500 columbus ravaged new world help franciscans set build kingdom god earth similar intolerance religions took hold always millenarian cast followers saint francisºmany believed founding saint angel apocalypse unlocked seal sixth age revelation gospel would preached throughout new world would come antichristºwas charles v prophesied world emperor mexico fallen catholicism northern europe fell lutheran heretics signs hosts good evil assembling armageddon º new years day 1525 friars drove mexican priests temples began first battle devil ronald wright stolen continent 1992 franciscans driven fanatical zeal bound allegiance spanish conquistadors affect fulfillment prophecies lost sight humans killed name god christian zionists day first abuse revelation continent followed 20 others europe dating 1186 1492 yet others preceding centuries resulted slaughter innocents many including crusades initiated urban ii used myths enlist peasants knights slaughter jews muslims attempts reclaim jerusalem church shear number pseudoprophets proclaimed imminence armageddon require us declare current crop benighted idiots learned nothing history superstition guide civilized people year 2003 must fall prey denizens myths find power prophecy ego enhancement incitement riot must repeat seen past fanatics maliciously use positions respect drive believers actions diametrically opposed teachings supposed leader jesus christ religious zealots criminals exhorting legions engage illegal behavior call give millions dollars settlements damned illegal un worlds communities nations numerous resolutions rabblerousing harangues designed justify acquiescence complicity terrorism inflicted ariel sharon innocent civilians palestine name god revelation yet ministers war know god previous prophets doom preceded hold doctorate degrees theology scientific evidence tracks biblical writings revelation unknown source patmos know one knows authors new testament know speak god anymore pseudoprophets dark ages yet prophecy prophecy profit power true ends proselytizing absolution preach death destruction shouldnt administration find false prophets enemies people incite riot enlist minions support illegal activities detrimental peace america brought america insecurity confirming minds fearful clash civilizations indeed america crusade destroy islam given aid comfort osama hordes demonstrating truth says christians defeat allah consider power men wield american policy general intelligence preach evangelical hordes tom delay anointed leader republican majority house rabid christian zionist addressed israeli knesset july 30 urging israel ignore truce go killing palestinian activists benny elon sharons minister tourism appeared delay washington convention christian coalition called expulsion palestinians homeland claiming land israel since guaranteed bible ethnic cleansing authorized bible according elon confirmed less authority richard army called removal palestinians despite presence indigenous population arabs palestine last 1900 years even month 500 evangelicals visited israel support sharons divisive actions palestinians yoking christian zionists rightwing jewish zionists proisraeli neocons undermined foundational concepts guarantee american freedom conscience religious tolerance perhaps melchior grimm right declared mid 18th century taken centuries subdue human race tyrannical yoke priests take centuries series efforts successes secure freedom need pay heed thomas jeffersons words dr benjamin rush letter april 21 1803 behooves every man values liberty conscience resist invasions case others case may become freedom conscience exist climate fear nation dictates truth christian right impose beliefs nation controlling ballot box ensure election radical end time believers impose religious beliefs legislation must accept align groups like neocons desire similar goal would willingly subvert rights people stated declaration independence constitution bill rights attain result erosion principles ensure freedom letter rush jefferson noted corruption jesus teachings doctrinized denominations extolling instead christs undiluted teachings taught universal philanthropy kindred friends neighbors countrymen mankind gathering one family bonds love charity peace common wants common aidsitalics mine different concept understanding christs teachings provides tolerance members one family teachings christian zionists rightwing jewish zionists would purge people homeland superstitiously interpreting words allow determine fate millions brilliant wording declaration seem endowed creator unalienable rights life liberty pursuit happiness prescription guaranteed bill rights indelibly marks every human rights live free society unencumbered dominance anothers infallible thoughts jefferson understood religions tolerant democratic indeed inherently neither since ministers serve intermediaries divine become conduit doctrines dogma determine thought believer followed logically jefferson church state must separate religions exist new country america rest christian principles exists democracies must tolerance christian beliefs exists tolerance religious beliefs precisely founded beliefs expounded one religion thomas jefferson benjamin franklin thomas paine principal exponents foundational concepts upon country rests deists accepted genuine precepts jesus evolved various denominations course centuries love charity compassion define christs precepts love charity toward compassion may live peace anathema general boykin christian zionist teachings incite congregations war william cook professor english university la verne southern california new book psalms 21st century published mellen press reached cookbulvedu 160 | 1,379 |
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<p>Progressive economist Heidi Schierholz once described America’s ongoing economic crisis—falling wages, insecure jobs, high unemployment, rampant home foreclosures—as “an experiment in stress” imposed on working families.</p>
<p>But the unwilling subjects of the “experiment in stress” now seem be in revolt, first among public employees in Wisconsin and in Ohio, and now with the Occupy Wall Street movement spreading to more than 1000 cities.</p>
<p>The supposed recovery has produced neither the desperately-needed expansion of jobs nor a long-awaited increases in wages, as Corporate America <a href="http://www.zcommunications.org/double-dip-recession-on-the-horizon-by-jack-rasmus" type="external">sits</a> on a record $2 trillion in domestic savings (and another $1&#160; trillion <a href="http://www.zcommunications.org/double-dip-recession-on-the-horizon-by-jack-rasmus" type="external">stashed</a> overseas) available for investment and pay hikes. In fact, The New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/10/us/recession-officially-over-us-incomes-kept-falling.html" type="external">reported</a> Monday that median household income actually declined twice as fast during the recovery, which technically began in June 2009, than during the two-year recession it followed:</p>
<p>In a grim sign of the enduring nature of the economic slump, household income declined more in the two years after the recession ended than it did during the recession itself, new research has found.</p>
<p>Between June 2009, when the recession officially ended, and June 2011, inflation-adjusted median household income fell 6.7 percent, to $49,909, according to a study by two former Bureau officials. During the recession — from December 2007 to June 2009 — household income fell 3.2 percent</p>
<p>The magnitude of the drop might be exaggerated by a difference in methods used in different Census Bureau studies, suggests Times economic reporter David Leonhardt. But there seems to be little doubt that wages have continued to fall during the recovery.&#160;</p>
<p>THE DISMAL DECADE OFFERED BIGGEST INCOME DROPS SINCE GREAT DEPRESSION</p>
<p>Leonhardt had noted in October 2009 that American workers' “pay cuts, sometimes the result of downgrades in rank or shortened workweeks, are occurring more frequently than at any time since the Great Depression.”</p>
<p>The existence of some 25 million workers who are jobless or forced to settle for part-time worker creates a huge “reserve army of labor” leaving employers with great enhanced leverage to drive down pay. A recent survey shows how newly-rehired workers have been <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/.../us/recession-officially-over-us-incomes-kept-fa" type="external">forced</a>&#160;to accept major decreases in pay:</p>
<p>Henry S. Farber, an economics professor at Princeton, found that people who lost jobs in the recession and later found work again made an average of 17.5 percent less than they had in their old jobs.</p>
<p>The Dismal Decade—aka the 2000s—was marked by a net job creation level just above <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/.../AR2010010101196.htm" type="external">zero</a>.&#160;In every decade since 1940s, America’s supply of jobs rose between 20 percent and 38 percent, the Washington Post reported last year. The other chief symptom of the Dismal Decade was falling wages. The Times' Leonhardt reported,&#160;</p>
<p>The typical American household made less money last year than the typical household made a full decade ago. Median household fell to $50,303 last year, from $52,163 in 2007. In 1998, median income was $51,295. All these numbers are adjusted for inflation.</p>
<p>This marks the first time in which median income has fallen for an entire decade “since at least the 1930s,” according to available data, he observed.</p>
<p>BOTH PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTORS TAKE SIMILAR HITS</p>
<p>Despite the recent enthusiasm of Republican governors like Wisconsin’s Scott Walker and Ohio’s John Kasich for targeting public employees like teachers, nurses, police officers and firefighters as a privileged class enjoying an exemption from the wage cuts occurring In the private sector, there <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/.../us/recession-officially-over-us-incomes-kept-fa" type="external">was</a> little difference in the pay declines for both public and private workers during the last decade.</p>
<p>"Real median annual income declined to a similar degree for households headed by private-sector wage workers (4.3 percent) and government-sector workers (3.9 percent), the Times reported.&#160;</p>
<p>Wage-cutting has been expanded even to unionized workforces at profitable corporations (as discussed&#160; <a href="" type="internal">here</a>&#160;in depth), which use the threat of relocation to impose two-tier wages structures.</p>
<p>The pattern on display over the Dismal Decade shows an emerging model of corporate globalization that is built on employing super-cheap workers (their wages held down by government policy in places like Mexico and China to attract more foreign investment) and simultaneously slashing wages and minimizing job creation in the United States.</p>
<p>As Harold Meyerson&#160; <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/27/AR2010072704791.html?hpi" type="external">puts</a>&#160;it:</p>
<p>… [Transnational corporations] are increasingly selling and producing overseas. General Motors is going like gangbusters in China, where it now sells more cars than it does in the United States. In China, GM employs 32,000 assembly-line workers; that's just 20,000 fewer than the number of such workers it has in the States. And those American workers aren't making what they used to; new hires get $14 an hour, roughly half of what veterans pull down.&#160;</p>
<p>The GM model typifies that of post-crash American business: massive layoffs, productivity increases, wage reductions (due in part to the weakness of unions) and reduced sales at home; increased hiring and booming sales abroad.&#160;</p>
<p>The chief outcome of these trends is deeper suffering for working families and greater inequality—and vastly enhanced profits and dividends for the richest 1 percent. But of course, as the growing Occupy Wall Street movement shows, many Americans are well aware of this.</p> | true | 4 | email name recipients email comma separated message captcha progressive economist heidi schierholz described americas ongoing economic crisisfalling wages insecure jobs high unemployment rampant home foreclosuresas experiment stress imposed working families unwilling subjects experiment stress seem revolt first among public employees wisconsin ohio occupy wall street movement spreading 1000 cities supposed recovery produced neither desperatelyneeded expansion jobs longawaited increases wages corporate america sits record 2 trillion domestic savings another 1160 trillion stashed overseas available investment pay hikes fact new york times reported monday median household income actually declined twice fast recovery technically began june 2009 twoyear recession followed grim sign enduring nature economic slump household income declined two years recession ended recession new research found june 2009 recession officially ended june 2011 inflationadjusted median household income fell 67 percent 49909 according study two former bureau officials recession december 2007 june 2009 household income fell 32 percent magnitude drop might exaggerated difference methods used different census bureau studies suggests times economic reporter david leonhardt seems little doubt wages continued fall recovery160 dismal decade offered biggest income drops since great depression leonhardt noted october 2009 american workers pay cuts sometimes result downgrades rank shortened workweeks occurring frequently time since great depression existence 25 million workers jobless forced settle parttime worker creates huge reserve army labor leaving employers great enhanced leverage drive pay recent survey shows newlyrehired workers forced160to accept major decreases pay henry farber economics professor princeton found people lost jobs recession later found work made average 175 percent less old jobs dismal decadeaka 2000swas marked net job creation level zero160in every decade since 1940s americas supply jobs rose 20 percent 38 percent washington post reported last year chief symptom dismal decade falling wages times leonhardt reported160 typical american household made less money last year typical household made full decade ago median household fell 50303 last year 52163 2007 1998 median income 51295 numbers adjusted inflation marks first time median income fallen entire decade since least 1930s according available data observed private public sectors take similar hits despite recent enthusiasm republican governors like wisconsins scott walker ohios john kasich targeting public employees like teachers nurses police officers firefighters privileged class enjoying exemption wage cuts occurring private sector little difference pay declines public private workers last decade real median annual income declined similar degree households headed privatesector wage workers 43 percent governmentsector workers 39 percent times reported160 wagecutting expanded even unionized workforces profitable corporations discussed160 here160in depth use threat relocation impose twotier wages structures pattern display dismal decade shows emerging model corporate globalization built employing supercheap workers wages held government policy places like mexico china attract foreign investment simultaneously slashing wages minimizing job creation united states harold meyerson160 puts160it transnational corporations increasingly selling producing overseas general motors going like gangbusters china sells cars united states china gm employs 32000 assemblyline workers thats 20000 fewer number workers states american workers arent making used new hires get 14 hour roughly half veterans pull down160 gm model typifies postcrash american business massive layoffs productivity increases wage reductions due part weakness unions reduced sales home increased hiring booming sales abroad160 chief outcome trends deeper suffering working families greater inequalityand vastly enhanced profits dividends richest 1 percent course growing occupy wall street movement shows many americans well aware | 539 |
<p>It was not until the final days of the 2016 presidential campaign that Republican candidate Donald Trump finally found his voice&#160; – and the MSM establishment, the country’s elite political class and the national polls totally missed what the American public heard.</p>
<p>As an outsider candidate from the outset, Trump was dismissed by a rabid opposition as a racist, from the lunatic fringe with a dictatorial penchant and little intellectual capacity, especially in the early days of the Republican primary.&#160;&#160; Not a cultivated speaker with well thought out ideas or expressed opinions, the political establishment of both parties openly scorned his&#160; ‘Make America Great Again” slogan just as he was dismissed for being a dangerous isolationist for “Putting America First” but Trump knew he was speaking to an angry, alienated American public.</p>
<p>And there will be those liberal Americans like Juan Williams of Fox News, locked in their own sense of superiority, who will never, ever be able to see Trump as anything but a crude, misogynist thug.&#160; Like it or not, he is now the President- elect.</p>
<p>As the campaign headed into its final days, Trump became a more disciplined, focused candidate as he stepped into the role of being President, frequently citing the need to ‘drain the swamp’ and end the corruption in Washington ; manifesting as an unconventional leader the American public had not seen in decades. &#160;Millions of Americans, devastated by NAFTA and the 2008 economic collapse, instinctively knew what he was talking about.</p>
<p>Unlike his status quo Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, Trump understood, as Bernie Sanders did, what Americans meant when 63% agreed that the country was going in the ‘wrong direction’ and that it disapproved of Congress by an overwhelming 76%.</p>
<p>These are not new statistics; they have been public knowledge for at least the last decade but on Tuesday evening, the privileged MSM media class and its partisan pundits were in shock and dismay as an unanticipated earthquake shook their self imposed stagnation.&#160;&#160; Rachel Maddow and Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s media elite did not take the shock well, blaming the loss of Florida on the marginal campaigns of Gary Johnson and Jill Stein, only to be followed by Julian Assange and Vladimir Putin.&#160; As if the Democrats deserved some sort of entitlement from voters, Matthews bemoaned “which side are you on?” &#160;&#160;&#160;They have obviously not&#160; read the Wikileaks emails with their names on the ‘rsvp’ list.</p>
<p>As the votes began to be counted Tuesday evening with discussion on a strong Hispanic turnout taking Trump down in Florida and what appeared to be a less than enthusiastic show of support from African Americans for HRC, the inevitable question that never gets asked is why the country’s ethnic minorities buy into the notion that the Democrats, after decades of benign neglect, deserve their votes.</p>
<p>As some African-American leaders like Van Jones lament Trump’s election, why do Democrats deserve the eternal electoral support of the black community when it was Bill Clinton’s ‘welfare reform’ which threw millions of &#160;poor. &#160;single black and white moms and their kids off Federal assistance?&#160;&#160; When was the last time &#160;the Black Congressional Caucus &#160;stood up for their constituency and refused to rollover for the party hierarchy or its current White House occupant?</p>
<p>Why should blue collar workers support a Wall Street friendly Democratic candidate when it was a Democratic President that pushed NAFTA through Congress, taking with it millions American manufacturing jobs?</p>
<p>Why should those Americans dispossessed by the 2008 economic disaster who lost their homes, their jobs and/or their health care ever again vote for a callous Democratic candidate?</p>
<p>Why should the Hispanic community support the Democratic candidate when a newly inaugurated Democrat in the White House and a Democratic Senate bungled &#160;approval of the DREAM Act in 2009?&#160;&#160; Why should the Hispanic community support a Democratic party after the President they supported in 2008 deported up to two million of its citizens?</p>
<p>To suggest that Trump’s stunning victory which crossed partisan lines in important states included a sweep of State House races around the country and a Republican Congress has left the Democratic party in shambles is an understatement&#160; but as the dust settles and the fig leaf of reform fades, the Democrats can be expected to continue living in the past as it rests on the laurals of the New Deal almost one hundred&#160; years ago.</p>
<p>To their credit, American voters saw through the inflammatory and provocative headlines of ‘blame it on the Russians’ and decades old sexual misbehavior for what they were; diversions from their real experience of chronic unemployment, spiraling government (and personal) debt, needless wars returning their children maimed for life, a corrupt economic system and a federal government not serving the needs of the public.&#160; As Trump said during an eloquent and gracious election night victory statement:</p>
<p>“The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer. We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure,&#160;“</p>
<p>“I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help so that we can work together and unify our great country.”</p>
<p>“I want to tell the world community that while we will always put America’s interests first, we will deal fairly with everyone, with everyone. All people and all other nations. We will seek common ground, not hostility, partnership, not conflict.&#160; … we will get along with all other nations, willing to get along with us.”</p>
<p>During the campaign, it was essential for the MSM to gloss over the truth of Trump’s policy positions as it quite efficiently convinced great multitudes of American voters that Trump was an embarrassment and lacking temperament – rather than acknowledge a dramatic departure in establishment institutional policy that terrified the elites, lest the repudiation of American globalization policies seep into the public consciousness.</p>
<p>The morning after the election, Rep. Paul Ryan and other Republicans, many of whom had not supported Trump, wrapped their collective arms around the new President as if to claim his victory for their own.&#160;&#160; Once the Republican euphoria fades, it will be fascinating to observe how the new President responds to the public’s intense dissatisfaction with the political status quo which finds expression within the Republican political agenda.&#160;&#160; Will Trump, who has proven resilient against everything that HRC and the Democrats threw at him, remain strong-willed and independent as the Republican establishment, as much a part of the stench in Washington as the Democrats, attempt to marginalize his efforts with petty partisan demands?</p>
<p>Or will Congressional Republicans reinvent themselves to follow Trump’s anti war lead, negotiations with Putin, reexamining the Fed Bank and the need for NATO, returning American jobs to America and continue the much needed national debate on government ethics and corruption. &#160;&#160;&#160;If not, how long will it take for a coordinated MSM/financial/surveillance industry coordination to savage Trump just as they undermined US relations with Russia.</p>
<p>While Trump is an unconventional Republican (once a registered Democrat), how will he deal with Sheldon Adelson multi million dollar contribution and a Zionist son-in-law when it comes to Israel’s demands on US foreign policy?</p> | true | 4 | final days 2016 presidential campaign republican candidate donald trump finally found voice160 msm establishment countrys elite political class national polls totally missed american public heard outsider candidate outset trump dismissed rabid opposition racist lunatic fringe dictatorial penchant little intellectual capacity especially early days republican primary160160 cultivated speaker well thought ideas expressed opinions political establishment parties openly scorned his160 make america great slogan dismissed dangerous isolationist putting america first trump knew speaking angry alienated american public liberal americans like juan williams fox news locked sense superiority never ever able see trump anything crude misogynist thug160 like president elect campaign headed final days trump became disciplined focused candidate stepped role president frequently citing need drain swamp end corruption washington manifesting unconventional leader american public seen decades 160millions americans devastated nafta 2008 economic collapse instinctively knew talking unlike status quo democratic opponent hillary clinton trump understood bernie sanders americans meant 63 agreed country going wrong direction disapproved congress overwhelming 76 new statistics public knowledge least last decade tuesday evening privileged msm media class partisan pundits shock dismay unanticipated earthquake shook self imposed stagnation160160 rachel maddow chris matthews msnbcs media elite take shock well blaming loss florida marginal campaigns gary johnson jill stein followed julian assange vladimir putin160 democrats deserved sort entitlement voters matthews bemoaned side 160160160they obviously not160 read wikileaks emails names rsvp list votes began counted tuesday evening discussion strong hispanic turnout taking trump florida appeared less enthusiastic show support african americans hrc inevitable question never gets asked countrys ethnic minorities buy notion democrats decades benign neglect deserve votes africanamerican leaders like van jones lament trumps election democrats deserve eternal electoral support black community bill clintons welfare reform threw millions 160poor 160single black white moms kids federal assistance160160 last time 160the black congressional caucus 160stood constituency refused rollover party hierarchy current white house occupant blue collar workers support wall street friendly democratic candidate democratic president pushed nafta congress taking millions american manufacturing jobs americans dispossessed 2008 economic disaster lost homes jobs andor health care ever vote callous democratic candidate hispanic community support democratic candidate newly inaugurated democrat white house democratic senate bungled 160approval dream act 2009160160 hispanic community support democratic party president supported 2008 deported two million citizens suggest trumps stunning victory crossed partisan lines important states included sweep state house races around country republican congress left democratic party shambles understatement160 dust settles fig leaf reform fades democrats expected continue living past rests laurals new deal almost one hundred160 years ago credit american voters saw inflammatory provocative headlines blame russians decades old sexual misbehavior diversions real experience chronic unemployment spiraling government personal debt needless wars returning children maimed life corrupt economic system federal government serving needs public160 trump said eloquent gracious election night victory statement forgotten men women country forgotten longer going fix inner cities rebuild highways bridges tunnels airports schools hospitals going rebuild infrastructure160 im reaching guidance help work together unify great country want tell world community always put americas interests first deal fairly everyone everyone people nations seek common ground hostility partnership conflict160 get along nations willing get along us campaign essential msm gloss truth trumps policy positions quite efficiently convinced great multitudes american voters trump embarrassment lacking temperament rather acknowledge dramatic departure establishment institutional policy terrified elites lest repudiation american globalization policies seep public consciousness morning election rep paul ryan republicans many supported trump wrapped collective arms around new president claim victory own160160 republican euphoria fades fascinating observe new president responds publics intense dissatisfaction political status quo finds expression within republican political agenda160160 trump proven resilient everything hrc democrats threw remain strongwilled independent republican establishment much part stench washington democrats attempt marginalize efforts petty partisan demands congressional republicans reinvent follow trumps anti war lead negotiations putin reexamining fed bank need nato returning american jobs america continue much needed national debate government ethics corruption 160160160if long take coordinated msmfinancialsurveillance industry coordination savage trump undermined us relations russia trump unconventional republican registered democrat deal sheldon adelson multi million dollar contribution zionist soninlaw comes israels demands us foreign policy | 667 |
<p>Powell River, BC</p>
<p>When the U.S. invaded Iraq riding a pack of lies and monstrous manipulation, the entire U.S. elite, including major news services, academics, and politicians from both parties, lined up to cheerlead and off they went to war. It was one of the most shameful chapters in the long history of shameful acts of U.S. imperial foreign policy.</p>
<p>But it actually didn’t take too long for dissenting voices to come out of the woodwork. The lies were exposed, the liars identified, the manipulation denounced. The war went ion but at least we knew the lies.</p>
<p>Watching the sorry media spectacle of the tragic farce unfolding in Libya, one has to wonder if anyone will ever expose the lies and hubris that have characterized the coverage of this faux Arab spring.</p>
<p>To be sure, as more journalists, aid workers and human rights representatives arrive in the country the more some of the obvious facts trickle out. The “freedom fighters” — more like soccer hooligans with guns — have looted dozens of arms depots of the Libyan military. According to Peter Bouckaert of Human Rights Watch, “Every time a city falls, they end up being looted. . . Every facility we go to where there were surface-to-air missiles, they’re gone.”</p>
<p>Just what will these lovers of democracy do with these weapons? The U.S. and E.U. might just start to worry that no matter who buys them on the black market, they will eventually end up in the hands of al Qaeda or other militant groups. As NATO knows full well, some of the so-called rebels have ties to al Qaeda. Or perhaps the missiles will end up in the hands of the Taliban where they will be used to shoot down U.S. helicopters. Talk about blowback. Too bad the Americans have never quite grasped the meaning of irony.</p>
<p>The photos of the revolutionaries give any thoughtful observer pause. Almost every photo of the victorious rebels show aggressive, undisciplined, young men armed to the teeth holding their guns high in the air (often firing randomly).&#160; Boys with their (lethal) toys.</p>
<p>And while the Western media repeatedly imply that the Nation Transitional Council is in control of these dangerous gangs the truth lies elsewhere. Several rebel groups have denounced the NTC and said they don’t recognize its authority. So not only does the council not represent anyone, it doesn’t even control its own “army.” The NTC is little more than a group of greedy opportunists salivating at the thought of getting its hands on the billions in state funds that NATO is now handing over to them. Only with the constant disciplinary efforts of its NATO handlers does the council manage to maintain a semblance of decorum and credibility.</p>
<p>In other situations where dictators were deposed the seizing of their assets was justified – because they were in personal bank accounts. But the tens of billions illegally seized by Western countries was money belonging to the Libyan state and its national bank. That no one has commented on the casual elimination of sovereignty, someone should. NATO has effectively destroyed the Libyan government — not just Gaddafi’s regime. Tens of thousands of foreign workers have left Libya, many of whom were critical to the running of the country. Rebels have been accused of randomly executing blacks, many of them students and workers. Who will fill their critical roles now?</p>
<p>But none of this bothers the Canadian political elite and its intellectual hired guns. One of the most shameful examples is Lloyd Axworthy, the “highly respected” former foreign affairs minister under Jean Chretien. He penned an op-ed for the Globe and Mail in which he waxed on romantically about how the NATO bombing of Libya is a huge advance for the principle of Responsibility to Protect – a UN principle promoted by Axworthy in&#160; in 1999-2000.</p>
<p>According to Axworthy, “We are seriously engaged in a resetting of the international order toward a more humane, just world.” I predict that instead NATO’s grotesque manipulation of the UN mandate to impose a “no fly” zone to protect “civilians” (a violation Axworthy doesn’t even mention) will in fact do more damage to the responsibility to protect principle than any similar action to date. It will tarnish the UN, too, which has allowed its mandate to be used for imperial gain. The rush by France, Britain and Italy in particular, to get their hands on Libyan oil will soon be too obvious to cover up. The revolutionaries are no doubt busy signing deals handing over that previously nationalized resource to the neo-colonialists who put them in power — robbing the real civilians of their birthright.</p>
<p>We should ask who will take the “responsibility to protect” Libyans from this new gang? Who will protect the people of Libya so that they continue to enjoy a literacy rate above 90 per cent, the lowest infant mortality rate and highest life expectancy of all of Africa, free medical care and education and the highest Human Development Index of any country on the continent?</p>
<p>Do the boys firing their guns in the air even have a clue that their living standards — subsidized by nationalized oil — were among the highest in Africa? Who will they blame when medical care disappears and their kids have to pay to go to school? Western, free-market democracy will come to Libya at a very high price when designed and delivered by the neo-colonial powers.</p>
<p>Why does virtually no one in the mainstream Canadian media even mention the fact that Libya was the biggest obstacle to the continued super-exploitation of Africa and its vast resources. This is, after all, the principle reason for NATO’s determination to turn a ‘no fly zone” into regime change. On a whole number of fronts, Libya was using its oil wealth to gradually close the doors to the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and the hegemony of the U.S. dollar in the economic domination of Africa.</p>
<p>Africa’s role as a giant pool of cheap resources was being threatened just as the U.S. and E.U. faced economic catastrophe because of the failure of their own neo-liberal policies. Gaddafi’s determination to eliminate Africa’s dependence on Western financial institutions was one of the most serious threats faced by global capitalism. Gaddafi was not only in the process of creating the African Investment Bank (providing interest-free loans to African nations) and the African Monetary Fund (to be centred in Cameroon) and eliminating the role of the IMF. It was also in the planning stages of creating a new, gold-backed African currency that would seriously weaken the U.S. by undermining the dollar.</p>
<p>It is almost certain that in return for putting the new bunch in power, and freeing up the billions in state funds, NATO will demand these new institutions be smothered in their cribs. Gaddafi was also instrumental in killing AFRICOM, a new U.S. military command and control base intended to add military intimidation to American economic domination. Look for that initiative to be revived.</p>
<p>It’s easy to be gratified getting rid of a brutal dictator. But when will we learn that waging war has enormous, long-lasting consequences? Already, the head of the new “government” is calling for legislation based on Sharia law – reversing 42 years of secularism in Libya. Western-style democracy is an unlikely outcome in a country consisting of many different and hostile tribes – unified only by Gaddafi’s iron fist and socialist policies which distributed wealth equally amongst them.</p>
<p>So if we are going to feel triumphant – Prime Minister Stephen Harper boasted about Canada “punching above our weight” – let’s be clear what we have accomplished. We got rid of one moderately nasty dictator. But we have eliminated a government which distributed its oil wealth more equally than any other Arab state, will impose on Libya a new market imperative, likely eliminating most social programs and making Libya less equal, may well end up with a government based on Islamic law (if it doesn’t fly apart in tribal warfare) and have destroyed Africa’s best hope for independent development.</p>
<p>How shall we celebrate?</p>
<p>MURRAY DOBBIN, now living in Powell River, BC has been a journalist, broadcaster, author and social activist for over forty years. He now writes a bi-weekly column for the on-line journals the Tyee and rabble.ca. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:mdobbin@telus.net" type="external">mdobbin@telus.net</a>.</p> | true | 4 | powell river bc us invaded iraq riding pack lies monstrous manipulation entire us elite including major news services academics politicians parties lined cheerlead went war one shameful chapters long history shameful acts us imperial foreign policy actually didnt take long dissenting voices come woodwork lies exposed liars identified manipulation denounced war went ion least knew lies watching sorry media spectacle tragic farce unfolding libya one wonder anyone ever expose lies hubris characterized coverage faux arab spring sure journalists aid workers human rights representatives arrive country obvious facts trickle freedom fighters like soccer hooligans guns looted dozens arms depots libyan military according peter bouckaert human rights watch every time city falls end looted every facility go surfacetoair missiles theyre gone lovers democracy weapons us eu might start worry matter buys black market eventually end hands al qaeda militant groups nato knows full well socalled rebels ties al qaeda perhaps missiles end hands taliban used shoot us helicopters talk blowback bad americans never quite grasped meaning irony photos revolutionaries give thoughtful observer pause almost every photo victorious rebels show aggressive undisciplined young men armed teeth holding guns high air often firing randomly160 boys lethal toys western media repeatedly imply nation transitional council control dangerous gangs truth lies elsewhere several rebel groups denounced ntc said dont recognize authority council represent anyone doesnt even control army ntc little group greedy opportunists salivating thought getting hands billions state funds nato handing constant disciplinary efforts nato handlers council manage maintain semblance decorum credibility situations dictators deposed seizing assets justified personal bank accounts tens billions illegally seized western countries money belonging libyan state national bank one commented casual elimination sovereignty someone nato effectively destroyed libyan government gaddafis regime tens thousands foreign workers left libya many critical running country rebels accused randomly executing blacks many students workers fill critical roles none bothers canadian political elite intellectual hired guns one shameful examples lloyd axworthy highly respected former foreign affairs minister jean chretien penned oped globe mail waxed romantically nato bombing libya huge advance principle responsibility protect un principle promoted axworthy in160 19992000 according axworthy seriously engaged resetting international order toward humane world predict instead natos grotesque manipulation un mandate impose fly zone protect civilians violation axworthy doesnt even mention fact damage responsibility protect principle similar action date tarnish un allowed mandate used imperial gain rush france britain italy particular get hands libyan oil soon obvious cover revolutionaries doubt busy signing deals handing previously nationalized resource neocolonialists put power robbing real civilians birthright ask take responsibility protect libyans new gang protect people libya continue enjoy literacy rate 90 per cent lowest infant mortality rate highest life expectancy africa free medical care education highest human development index country continent boys firing guns air even clue living standards subsidized nationalized oil among highest africa blame medical care disappears kids pay go school western freemarket democracy come libya high price designed delivered neocolonial powers virtually one mainstream canadian media even mention fact libya biggest obstacle continued superexploitation africa vast resources principle reason natos determination turn fly zone regime change whole number fronts libya using oil wealth gradually close doors international monetary fund world bank hegemony us dollar economic domination africa africas role giant pool cheap resources threatened us eu faced economic catastrophe failure neoliberal policies gaddafis determination eliminate africas dependence western financial institutions one serious threats faced global capitalism gaddafi process creating african investment bank providing interestfree loans african nations african monetary fund centred cameroon eliminating role imf also planning stages creating new goldbacked african currency would seriously weaken us undermining dollar almost certain return putting new bunch power freeing billions state funds nato demand new institutions smothered cribs gaddafi also instrumental killing africom new us military command control base intended add military intimidation american economic domination look initiative revived easy gratified getting rid brutal dictator learn waging war enormous longlasting consequences already head new government calling legislation based sharia law reversing 42 years secularism libya westernstyle democracy unlikely outcome country consisting many different hostile tribes unified gaddafis iron fist socialist policies distributed wealth equally amongst going feel triumphant prime minister stephen harper boasted canada punching weight lets clear accomplished got rid one moderately nasty dictator eliminated government distributed oil wealth equally arab state impose libya new market imperative likely eliminating social programs making libya less equal may well end government based islamic law doesnt fly apart tribal warfare destroyed africas best hope independent development shall celebrate murray dobbin living powell river bc journalist broadcaster author social activist forty years writes biweekly column online journals tyee rabbleca reached mdobbintelusnet | 756 |
<p>Carly Fiorina | &lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jkarsh/4607913120/"&gt;jkarsh&lt;/a&gt; (&lt;a href="http://www.creativecommons.org"&gt;Creative Commons&lt;/a&gt;).</p>
<p />
<p>With the BP oil spill, the nation is currently witnessing one of the worst acts of corporate negligence—or crime—in history. This eco-nightmare is occurring during a time of economic trouble triggered by brazen corporate malfeasance in the financial sector. So it might not be a good moment for a politician to be a CEO. Yet in California, Republican voters on Tuesday flocked to two self-financing ex-corporate honchos, selecting ex-eBay CEO Meg Whitman to be the party’s gubernatorial candidate (to face onetime Democratic governor and current state Attorney General Jerry Brown) and picking ex-Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina to be the party’s senatorial candidate (to take on Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer). Whitman might make some sense as a candidate, given that she left the corporate world with a solid reputation, having presided over massive growth that brought eBay from a company of 30 employees to one of 15,000 workers (though she engaged in controversial <a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Dirty-Dotcom-Deals-May-Doom-Whitman-Campaign-jw.html" type="external">“spinning”</a> while a member of the board of Goldman Sachs.) Yet Carly Fiorina had a <a href="" type="internal">controversial, if not troubled</a> tenure, at HP. Which raises the question: what are Californian GOPers (and Sarah Palin) thinking?</p>
<p>Fiorina, a marketing and sales expert, took over HP in 1999, as the tech boom was ending. Her solution to the company’s many problems at the time was engineering a $19 billion acquisition of Compaq—a move opposed by many HP stockholders and that ultimately was not widely regarded as a slam-dunk. On her watch, HP downsized and canned almost 18,000 employees—as Fiorina joined with other corporate execs to defend outsourcing and oppose measures that would limit this practice. After six years in the job, she was pushed out, but her departure was eased by a $21 million severance package. On the day she was dumped, the company’s stock price went up 7 percent. CBS News technology analyst Larry Magin <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/02/09/scitech/pcanswer/main672809.shtml" type="external">noted</a>,</p>
<p>There is plenty to criticize about Fiorina’s tenure at HP. At this point, the changes that Fiorina made didn’t turn out so well for the thousands of Hewlett-Packard and Compaq employees that were laid off and the millions of HP stockholders who lost equity since she took over. HP stock is worth less today than it was in 1999. Dell and IBM stock has increased in value.</p>
<p>Fiorina ended up symbolizing not one but three excesses of the corporate elite: mergers-and-acquisition mania, outsourcing, and golden parachutes. Yet during the Republican Senate campaign, this former corporate insider <a href="" type="internal">re-marketed</a> herself as an anti-establishment Tea Partier, even though one of her foes in the primary contest, <a href="" type="internal">Assemblyman Chuck Devore</a>, had a stronger claim on the Tea Party label. (Fiorina was helped in the who’s-the-Tea-Partiest-of-them-all competition when Palin endorsed her.)</p>
<p>It is possible that by aligning herself so closely with the Tea Partiers—as she spent large sums of her own money to win the nomination—Fiorina has diminished her chances of clearing out Boxer. Fiorina has campaigned as a diehard conservative, but in the Golden State, far-right GOPers often do not win statewide contests. (Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a national voice for climate change action; Fiorina recently released a <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/04/ca-sen-race-carly-fiorina-posts-most-idiotic-ad/" type="external">demagogic ad</a> blasting Boxer’s concern about climate change, comparing it to worrying about the weather.) Fiorina has so far played according to the basic rule of politics: in the primary, cater to the base, then in the general election move toward the center. But having veered so far to the right—she ran as a pro-lifer—she has plenty of ground to cover to reach&#160;the middle. Boxer, always a feisty campaigner, will spend much time and money in the coming months to remind California voters of Fiorina’s Tea Party stylings. Also, this Senate primary suggests that the Tea Party may not be so potent in California. Were it so, DeVore, the genuine Tea Partier, could have better surfed the movement’s anger, a la Rand Paul in Kentucky.</p>
<p>Moreover, a Washington Post/ABC <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/polls/postpoll_060810.html?sid=ST2010060800022" type="external">poll</a> released this week shows that a growing number of Americans are not fans of the Tea Party. In March, 39 percent said they had an unfavorable impression of the Tea Party. Now, it’s 50 percent. The percentage of people with no opinion of the Tea Party fell from 20 percent to 14 percent. This indicates that the more people learn about the Tea Party, the less they like it. That’s no surprise. As Tea Party-fueled Republicans receive more attention—especially on issues other than President Barack Obama’s controversial health care reform initiaitve—the brew doesn’t seem so tasty. After all, Rand Paul noted he didn’t support the entire 1964 Civil Rights Act and griped about Obama being too tough on BP (whining that this was un-American). Sharron Angle, the Tea Party favorite in the Nevada GOP Senate primary, <a href="http://www.politicsdaily.com/2010/06/06/nevada-senate-will-harry-reid-face-tea-party-favorite-sharron-a/" type="external">called for</a> shutting down the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy. (While there’s an oil spill of historic proportion?) Other Tea Partiers are urging repeal of the 17th Amendment (which mandates the direct election of senators).</p>
<p>Come November, the Tea Party tag might not be a winner—and a former but failed corporate titan who wrapped herself tight in its banner might not be seen by voters as the most compelling choice, even in a year of anti-incumbent fervor. Perhaps Fiorina, that onetime marketing wiz, will have to fire up one more rebranding campaign.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | carly fiorina lta hrefhttpwwwflickrcomphotosjkarsh4607913120gtjkarshltagt lta hrefhttpwwwcreativecommonsorggtcreative commonsltagt bp oil spill nation currently witnessing one worst acts corporate negligenceor crimein history econightmare occurring time economic trouble triggered brazen corporate malfeasance financial sector might good moment politician ceo yet california republican voters tuesday flocked two selffinancing excorporate honchos selecting exebay ceo meg whitman partys gubernatorial candidate face onetime democratic governor current state attorney general jerry brown picking exhewlettpackard ceo carly fiorina partys senatorial candidate take democratic sen barbara boxer whitman might make sense candidate given left corporate world solid reputation presided massive growth brought ebay company 30 employees one 15000 workers though engaged controversial spinning member board goldman sachs yet carly fiorina controversial troubled tenure hp raises question californian gopers sarah palin thinking fiorina marketing sales expert took hp 1999 tech boom ending solution companys many problems time engineering 19 billion acquisition compaqa move opposed many hp stockholders ultimately widely regarded slamdunk watch hp downsized canned almost 18000 employeesas fiorina joined corporate execs defend outsourcing oppose measures would limit practice six years job pushed departure eased 21 million severance package day dumped companys stock price went 7 percent cbs news technology analyst larry magin noted plenty criticize fiorinas tenure hp point changes fiorina made didnt turn well thousands hewlettpackard compaq employees laid millions hp stockholders lost equity since took hp stock worth less today 1999 dell ibm stock increased value fiorina ended symbolizing one three excesses corporate elite mergersandacquisition mania outsourcing golden parachutes yet republican senate campaign former corporate insider remarketed antiestablishment tea partier even though one foes primary contest assemblyman chuck devore stronger claim tea party label fiorina helped whostheteapartiestofthemall competition palin endorsed possible aligning closely tea partiersas spent large sums money win nominationfiorina diminished chances clearing boxer fiorina campaigned diehard conservative golden state farright gopers often win statewide contests republican governor arnold schwarzenegger national voice climate change action fiorina recently released demagogic ad blasting boxers concern climate change comparing worrying weather fiorina far played according basic rule politics primary cater base general election move toward center veered far rightshe ran prolifershe plenty ground cover reach160the middle boxer always feisty campaigner spend much time money coming months remind california voters fiorinas tea party stylings also senate primary suggests tea party may potent california devore genuine tea partier could better surfed movements anger la rand paul kentucky moreover washington postabc poll released week shows growing number americans fans tea party march 39 percent said unfavorable impression tea party 50 percent percentage people opinion tea party fell 20 percent 14 percent indicates people learn tea party less like thats surprise tea partyfueled republicans receive attentionespecially issues president barack obamas controversial health care reform initiaitvethe brew doesnt seem tasty rand paul noted didnt support entire 1964 civil rights act griped obama tough bp whining unamerican sharron angle tea party favorite nevada gop senate primary called shutting environmental protection agency department energy theres oil spill historic proportion tea partiers urging repeal 17th amendment mandates direct election senators come november tea party tag might winnerand former failed corporate titan wrapped tight banner might seen voters compelling choice even year antiincumbent fervor perhaps fiorina onetime marketing wiz fire one rebranding campaign | 524 |
<p>By Ellen Brown, Web of DebtThis piece first appeared at <a href="http://ellenbrown.com/2013/11/02/ireland-ground-zero-for-the-austerity-driven-asset-grab/" type="external">Web of Debt</a>.</p>
<p>The Irish have a long history of being tyrannized, exploited, and oppressed—from the forced conversion to Christianity in the Dark Ages, to slave trading of the natives in the 15th and 16th centuries, to the mid-nineteenth century “potato famine” that was really a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Famine_(Ireland)" type="external">holocaust</a>. The British got Ireland’s food exports, while at least one million Irish died from starvation and related diseases, and another million or more emigrated.</p>
<p>Today, Ireland is under a different sort of tyranny, one imposed by the banks and the troika—the EU, ECB and IMF. The oppressors have demanded austerity and more austerity, forcing the public to pick up the tab for bills incurred by profligate private bankers.</p>
<p>The official unemployment rate is 13.5%—up from 5% in 2006—and this figure does not take into account the mass emigration of Ireland’s young people in search of better opportunities abroad. Job loss and a flood of foreclosures are leading to suicides. A raft of new taxes and charges has been sold as necessary to reduce the deficit, but they are simply a backdoor bailout of the banks.</p>
<p />
<p>At first, the Irish accepted the media explanation: these draconian measures were necessary to “balance the budget” and were in their best interests. But after five years of belt-tightening in which unemployment and living conditions have not improved, the people are slowly waking up. They are realizing that their assets are being grabbed simply to pay for the mistakes of the financial sector.</p>
<p>Five years of austerity has not restored confidence in Ireland’s banks. In fact the banks themselves are packing up and leaving. On October 31st, RTE.ie <a href="http://www.rte.ie/blogs/business/2013/10/31/another-bank-to-leave-irish-retail-banking/" type="external">reported</a> that Danske Bank Ireland was closing its personal and business banking, only days after ACCBank announced it was handing back its banking license; and Ulster Bank’s future in Ireland remains unclear.</p>
<p>The field is ripe for some publicly-owned banks. Banks that have a mandate to serve the people, return the profits to the people, and refrain from speculating. Banks guaranteed by the state because they are the state, without resort to bailouts or bail-ins. Banks that aren’t going anywhere, because they are locally owned by the people themselves.</p>
<p>The Bank Guarantee That Bankrupted Ireland</p>
<p>Ireland was the first European country to watch its entire banking system fail. Unlike the Icelanders, who refused to bail out their bankrupt banks, in September 2008 the Irish government gave a blanket guarantee to all Irish banks, covering all their loans, deposits, bonds and other liabilities.</p>
<p>At the time, no one was aware of the huge scale of the banks’ liabilities, or just how far the Irish property market would fall.</p>
<p>Within two years, the state bank guarantee had bankrupted Ireland. The international money markets would no longer lend to the Irish government.</p>
<p>Before the bailout, the Irish budget was in surplus. By 2011, its deficit was 32% of the country’s GDP, the highest by far in the Eurozone. At that rate, bank losses would take <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2011/03/michael-lewis-ireland-201103" type="external">every penny</a> of Irish taxes for at least the next three years.</p>
<p>“This debt would probably be manageable,” <a href="http://www.voxeu.org/article/whatever-happened-ireland" type="external">wrote</a> Morgan Kelly, Professor of Economics at University College Dublin, “had the Irish government not casually committed itself to absorb all the gambling losses of its banking system.”</p>
<p>To avoid collapse, the government had to sign up for an €85 billion bailout from the EU-IMF and enter a four year program of economic austerity, monitored every three months by an EU/IMF team sent to Dublin.</p>
<p>Public assets have also been put on the auction block. Assets currently <a href="http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052970203960804577238793257737830" type="external">under consideration</a> include parts of Ireland’s power and gas companies and its 25% stake in the airline Aer Lingus.</p>
<p>At one time, Ireland could have followed the lead of Iceland and refused to bail out its bondholders or to bow to the demands for austerity. But that was before the Irish government used ECB money to pay off the foreign bondholders of Irish banks. Now its debt is to the troika, and the troika are tightening the screws. In September 2013, they demanded another 3.1 billion euro reduction in spending.</p>
<p>Some ministers, however, are resisting such cuts, which they say are politically undeliverable.</p>
<p>In The Irish Times on October 31, 2013, a former IMF official <a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/business/former-imf-official-warns-austerity-could-be-self-defeating-for-ireland-1.1470669" type="external">warned</a> that the austerity imposed on Ireland is self-defeating. Ashoka Mody, former IMF chief of mission to Ireland, said it had become “orthodoxy that the only way to establish market credibility” was to pursue austerity policies. But five years of crisis and two recent years of no growth needed “deep thinking” on whether this was the right course of action. He said there was “not one single historical instance” where austerity policies have led to an exit from a heavy debt burden.</p>
<p>Austerity has not fixed Ireland’s debt problems. Belying the rosy picture painted by the media, in September 2013 Antonio Garcia Pascual, chief euro-zone economist at Barclays Investment Bank, warned that Ireland may soon need a second bailout. <a href="http://www.irishcentral.com/story/roots/ireland_calling/five-years-on-irelands-banking-inquiry-with-no-teeth-225490192.html" type="external">According</a> to John Spain, writing in Irish Central in September 2013:</p>
<p>The anger among ordinary Irish people about all this has been immense. . . . There has been great pressure here for answers. . . . Why is the ordinary Irish taxpayer left carrying the can for all the debts piled up by banks, developers and speculators? How come no one has been jailed for what happened? . . . [D]espite all the public anger, there has been no public inquiry into the disaster.</p>
<p>Bail-in by Super-tax or Economic Sovereignty?</p>
<p>In many ways, Ireland is ground zero for the austerity-driven asset grab now sweeping the world. All Eurozone countries are mired in debt. The problem is systemic.</p>
<p>In October 2013, an IMF report discussed balancing the books of the Eurozone governments through a super-tax of 10% on all households in the Eurozone with positive net wealth. That would mean the confiscation of 10% of private savings to feed the insatiable banking casino.</p>
<p>The authors said the proposal was only theoretical, but that it appeared to be “an efficient solution” for the debt problem. For a group of 15 European countries, the measure would bring the debt ratio to “acceptable” levels, i.e. comparable to levels before the 2008 crisis.</p>
<p>A review posted on Gold Silver Worlds <a href="http://goldsilverworlds.com/money-currency/imf-discusses-a-super-tax-of-10-on-all-savings-in-eurozone/" type="external">observed</a>:</p>
<p>[T]he report right away debunks the myth that politicians and main stream media try to sell, i.e. the crisis is contained and the positive economic outlook for 2014.</p>
<p>. . . Prepare yourself, the reality is that more bail-ins, confiscation and financial repression is coming, contrary to what the good news propaganda tries to tell.</p>
<p>A more sustainable solution was proposed by Dr Fadhel Kaboub, Assistant Professor of Economics at Denison University in Ohio. In a letter posted in The Financial Times titled “What the Eurozone Needs Is Functional Finance,” he <a href="http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/2b6c44b6-0fb7-11e1-a36b-00144feabdc0.html?siteedition=intl" type="external">wrote</a>:</p>
<p>The eurozone’s obsession with “sound finance” is the root cause of today’s sovereign debt crisis. Austerity measures are not only incapable of solving the sovereign debt problem, but also a major obstacle to increasing aggregate demand in the eurozone. The Maastricht treaty’s “no bail-out, no exit, no default” clauses essentially amount to a joint economic suicide pact for the eurozone countries.</p>
<p>. . . Unfortunately, the likelihood of a swift political solution to amend the EU treaty is highly improbable. Therefore, the most likely and least painful scenario for [the insolvent countries] is an exit from the eurozone combined with partial default and devaluation of a new national currency. . . .</p>
<p>The takeaway lesson is that financial sovereignty and adequate policy co-ordination between fiscal and monetary authorities are the prerequisites for economic prosperity.</p>
<p>Standing Up to Goliath</p>
<p>Ireland could fix its budget problems by leaving the Eurozone, repudiating its blanket bank guarantee as “odious” (obtained by fraud and under duress), and issuing its own national currency. The currency could then be used to fund infrastructure and restore social services, putting the Irish back to work.</p>
<p>Short of leaving the Eurozone, Ireland could reduce its interest burden and expand local credit by forming publicly-owned banks, on the <a href="http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/the-north-dakota-miracle-not-all-about-oil" type="external">model</a> of the Bank of North Dakota. The newly-formed <a href="http://www.republicirelandbank.com" type="external">Public Banking Forum of Ireland</a> is pursuing that option. In Wales, which has also been exploited for its coal, mobilizing for a public bank is being organized by the <a href="http://www.ariancymru.eu" type="external">Arian Cymru ‘BERW’</a> (Banking and Economic Regeneration Wales).</p>
<p>Irish writer Barry Fitzgerald, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Building-Cities-Gold-Barry-Fitzgerald/dp/0984615474/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1383367778&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=building+cities+of+gold" type="external">Building Cities of Gold</a>, casts the challenge to his homeland in archetypal terms:</p>
<p>The Irish are mobilising and they are awakening. They hold the DNA memory of vastly ancient times, when all men and women obeyed the Golden rule of honouring themselves, one another and the planet. They recognize the value of this harmony as it relates to banking. They instantly intuit that public banking free from the soiled hands of usurious debt tyranny is part of the natural order.</p>
<p>In many ways they could lead the way in this unfolding, as their small country is so easily traversed to mobilise local communities. They possess vast potential renewable energy generation and indeed could easily use a combination of public banking and bond issuance backed by the people to gain energy independence in a very short time.</p>
<p>When the indomitable Irish spirit is awakened, organized and mobilized, the country could become the poster child not for austerity, but for economic prosperity through financial sovereignty.</p>
<p>Ellen Brown is an attorney, president of the <a href="http://publicbankinginstitute.org" type="external">Public Banking Institute</a>, and author of twelve books, including the best-selling <a href="http://www.webofdebt.com" type="external">Web of Debt</a>. In <a href="http://www.publicbanksolution.com" type="external">The Public Bank Solution</a>, her latest book, she explores successful public banking models historically and globally. Her blog articles are at <a href="http://ellenbrown.com" type="external">EllenBrown.com</a>.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | ellen brown web debtthis piece first appeared web debt irish long history tyrannized exploited oppressedfrom forced conversion christianity dark ages slave trading natives 15th 16th centuries midnineteenth century potato famine really holocaust british got irelands food exports least one million irish died starvation related diseases another million emigrated today ireland different sort tyranny one imposed banks troikathe eu ecb imf oppressors demanded austerity austerity forcing public pick tab bills incurred profligate private bankers official unemployment rate 135up 5 2006and figure take account mass emigration irelands young people search better opportunities abroad job loss flood foreclosures leading suicides raft new taxes charges sold necessary reduce deficit simply backdoor bailout banks first irish accepted media explanation draconian measures necessary balance budget best interests five years belttightening unemployment living conditions improved people slowly waking realizing assets grabbed simply pay mistakes financial sector five years austerity restored confidence irelands banks fact banks packing leaving october 31st rteie reported danske bank ireland closing personal business banking days accbank announced handing back banking license ulster banks future ireland remains unclear field ripe publiclyowned banks banks mandate serve people return profits people refrain speculating banks guaranteed state state without resort bailouts bailins banks arent going anywhere locally owned people bank guarantee bankrupted ireland ireland first european country watch entire banking system fail unlike icelanders refused bail bankrupt banks september 2008 irish government gave blanket guarantee irish banks covering loans deposits bonds liabilities time one aware huge scale banks liabilities far irish property market would fall within two years state bank guarantee bankrupted ireland international money markets would longer lend irish government bailout irish budget surplus 2011 deficit 32 countrys gdp highest far eurozone rate bank losses would take every penny irish taxes least next three years debt would probably manageable wrote morgan kelly professor economics university college dublin irish government casually committed absorb gambling losses banking system avoid collapse government sign 85 billion bailout euimf enter four year program economic austerity monitored every three months euimf team sent dublin public assets also put auction block assets currently consideration include parts irelands power gas companies 25 stake airline aer lingus one time ireland could followed lead iceland refused bail bondholders bow demands austerity irish government used ecb money pay foreign bondholders irish banks debt troika troika tightening screws september 2013 demanded another 31 billion euro reduction spending ministers however resisting cuts say politically undeliverable irish times october 31 2013 former imf official warned austerity imposed ireland selfdefeating ashoka mody former imf chief mission ireland said become orthodoxy way establish market credibility pursue austerity policies five years crisis two recent years growth needed deep thinking whether right course action said one single historical instance austerity policies led exit heavy debt burden austerity fixed irelands debt problems belying rosy picture painted media september 2013 antonio garcia pascual chief eurozone economist barclays investment bank warned ireland may soon need second bailout according john spain writing irish central september 2013 anger among ordinary irish people immense great pressure answers ordinary irish taxpayer left carrying debts piled banks developers speculators come one jailed happened despite public anger public inquiry disaster bailin supertax economic sovereignty many ways ireland ground zero austeritydriven asset grab sweeping world eurozone countries mired debt problem systemic october 2013 imf report discussed balancing books eurozone governments supertax 10 households eurozone positive net wealth would mean confiscation 10 private savings feed insatiable banking casino authors said proposal theoretical appeared efficient solution debt problem group 15 european countries measure would bring debt ratio acceptable levels ie comparable levels 2008 crisis review posted gold silver worlds observed report right away debunks myth politicians main stream media try sell ie crisis contained positive economic outlook 2014 prepare reality bailins confiscation financial repression coming contrary good news propaganda tries tell sustainable solution proposed dr fadhel kaboub assistant professor economics denison university ohio letter posted financial times titled eurozone needs functional finance wrote eurozones obsession sound finance root cause todays sovereign debt crisis austerity measures incapable solving sovereign debt problem also major obstacle increasing aggregate demand eurozone maastricht treatys bailout exit default clauses essentially amount joint economic suicide pact eurozone countries unfortunately likelihood swift political solution amend eu treaty highly improbable therefore likely least painful scenario insolvent countries exit eurozone combined partial default devaluation new national currency takeaway lesson financial sovereignty adequate policy coordination fiscal monetary authorities prerequisites economic prosperity standing goliath ireland could fix budget problems leaving eurozone repudiating blanket bank guarantee odious obtained fraud duress issuing national currency currency could used fund infrastructure restore social services putting irish back work short leaving eurozone ireland could reduce interest burden expand local credit forming publiclyowned banks model bank north dakota newlyformed public banking forum ireland pursuing option wales also exploited coal mobilizing public bank organized arian cymru berw banking economic regeneration wales irish writer barry fitzgerald author building cities gold casts challenge homeland archetypal terms irish mobilising awakening hold dna memory vastly ancient times men women obeyed golden rule honouring one another planet recognize value harmony relates banking instantly intuit public banking free soiled hands usurious debt tyranny part natural order many ways could lead way unfolding small country easily traversed mobilise local communities possess vast potential renewable energy generation indeed could easily use combination public banking bond issuance backed people gain energy independence short time indomitable irish spirit awakened organized mobilized country could become poster child austerity economic prosperity financial sovereignty ellen brown attorney president public banking institute author twelve books including bestselling web debt public bank solution latest book explores successful public banking models historically globally blog articles ellenbrowncom | 925 |
<p>For all those people who grew up feeling more affinity with fun-loving Lex Luthor than uptight Clark Kent, once again there is a supervillain to warm the heart.</p>
<p>The hero of Universal’s new animated feature, Despicable Me, is Gru, a criminal mastermind in the high-style tradition of the best Bond villains. Along with the requisite exotic accent (voiced by Steve Carell), Gru has a bizarre pet, an army of henchmen, an underground lair, and of course, an absurdly grandiose master plan. “We are going to pull off the TRUE crime of the century,” he announces to a noisy rally of minions. “We are going to steal the MOON!”</p>
<p>Click Image Below to View Our Gallery of Villainous Outfits</p>
<p>But just like the supervillain’s overelaborate death-traps, such diabolical grand schemes are doomed to failure because of their overweening narcissism. The evil-doer can’t resist telling the world about his plan, often laying out a formal dinner with a full lecture on the scheme for the one secret agent who can foil him. This emotional neediness was brilliantly parodied in the Austin Powers films with Dr. Evil. His out-of-date gambits for world attention are the most quoted (“We get the warhead and we hold the world ransom for... one million dollars!”) But really, the films are a feast of riffs on the tropes of Bondian megalomania, with the supervillain as controlling, perfectionist host—right down to his meticulous outfit. “Do you like your quasi-futuristic clothes, Mr. Powers?” a tightly buttoned-in Dr. Evil asks. “I designed them myself.”</p>
<p>A trademark outfit is vital to sending out the right signals of imperious power as real-life dictators understand all too well. The uniform is the man, and the man is a self-willed marvel who will not be denied. You will look without success for casually thrown-together knitwear pieces—supervillain couture takes its cue from into the two extremes of 20th-century despot chic: the unsmiling minimalism of Stalin and Chairman Mao (not even a bourgeois necktie), and the florid militaristic dress-up of Hitler and Mussolini.</p>
<p>For moon-stealing Gru’s wardrobe, the makers of Despicable Me settled on a retro mix of Cold War-era industrial-functionalism and King's Road ‘60s flair. Gru has a classic no-frills jacket with zipper, plus businesslike turtleneck, drainpipe trousers, and pointed Mod boots. His only sartorial flourish is a long, stripy scarf, which can’t help but evoke the British cartoon villain, Grimly Feendish. Like Dr. No, Hugo Drax, or Blofeld, Gru saves all his razzamatazz for his gadgets—and his rocket-launching outfit.</p>
<p>Despicable Me takes the narcissistic comedy of the supervillain further by giving Gru’s brash, young rival, Vector, his own supervillain corporate logo. (Even evil can’t resist building brand equity in the digital age.)</p>
<p>“For the design language of the film, we wanted to make sure Gru was the more traditional supervillain,” explains Chris Renaud, the co-director of the film. “He has the Cold War style of steel rivets and lots of black. His lair is not normal, but it can at least pass for a suburban house. Vector is the reverse. He’s a loud techno-geek. He wears a bright orange tracksuit. All his gadgets are white with orange trim. He has a huge compound with a big, orange V outside it.”</p>
<p>The choice of tracksuit for the upstart supervillain is inspired. Its informality is so fundamentally wrong for any true supervillain; its casualness so antithetical to the vaunting ambition of the authentic criminal artiste. “Man has climbed Mount Everest,” says Goldfinger with finger-pointing passion, “gone to the bottom of the ocean. He’s fired rockets at the moon, split the atom, achieved miracles in every field of human endeavor... except crime!”</p>
<p>It is this extroverted brashness that separates the classic supervillain from your run-of-the-mill evil nemesis. Their grand schemes are always attention-seeking feats of laborious ingenuity. Goldfinger doesn’t want to steal the gold in Fort Knox, he wants to make it radioactive for 58 years. Lex Luthor doesn’t just want to bomb California, he wants to create a new West Coast: “My West Coast. Costa Del Lex. Luthorville. Marina del Lex…”</p>
<p>The key to any great supervillain—and why we secretly like them—is that they are not destroyers, at heart, but creators. They don’t want riches or power, they want to realize a vision. They are arrogant and remote. Their certainty is breathtaking. But there’s no denying their artistry.</p>
<p>In The Power of Comics: History, Form and Culture, published last year, Randy Duncan and Matthew J. Smith note that “superheroes are largely conservative figures, usually content with the status quo… [while] supervillains, on the other hand, are out to change the world. Supervillains are active; superheroes are reactive.”</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
<p>A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't).</p>
<p>Such ambition deserves a wardrobe to match, and the makers of Despicable Me do not disappoint. Which is just as well, because the penalty for failure is death by piranha tank.</p>
<p>Plus: <a href="" type="internal">Check out more of the latest entertainment, fashion, and culture coverage on Sexy Beast—photos, videos, features, and Tweets</a>.</p>
<p>Sean Macaulay is a screenwriter, humorist and journalist, specializing in symptoms of the post-macho midlife crisis. He was the L.A. movie critic for The London Times from 1999 to 2007, and has written for The Daily Telegraph, Radio Times, Punch, and British GQ. He was most recently creative consultant on <a href="http://www.anvilthemovie.com/" type="external">Anvil! The Story of Anvil</a>, which was voted Best Documentary at the Independent Sprit Awards. You can follow him on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/SeanMacaulay" type="external">here</a>.</p> | true | 4 | people grew feeling affinity funloving lex luthor uptight clark kent supervillain warm heart hero universals new animated feature despicable gru criminal mastermind highstyle tradition best bond villains along requisite exotic accent voiced steve carell gru bizarre pet army henchmen underground lair course absurdly grandiose master plan going pull true crime century announces noisy rally minions going steal moon click image view gallery villainous outfits like supervillains overelaborate deathtraps diabolical grand schemes doomed failure overweening narcissism evildoer cant resist telling world plan often laying formal dinner full lecture scheme one secret agent foil emotional neediness brilliantly parodied austin powers films dr evil outofdate gambits world attention quoted get warhead hold world ransom one million dollars really films feast riffs tropes bondian megalomania supervillain controlling perfectionist hostright meticulous outfit like quasifuturistic clothes mr powers tightly buttonedin dr evil asks designed trademark outfit vital sending right signals imperious power reallife dictators understand well uniform man man selfwilled marvel denied look without success casually throwntogether knitwear piecessupervillain couture takes cue two extremes 20thcentury despot chic unsmiling minimalism stalin chairman mao even bourgeois necktie florid militaristic dressup hitler mussolini moonstealing grus wardrobe makers despicable settled retro mix cold warera industrialfunctionalism kings road 60s flair gru classic nofrills jacket zipper plus businesslike turtleneck drainpipe trousers pointed mod boots sartorial flourish long stripy scarf cant help evoke british cartoon villain grimly feendish like dr hugo drax blofeld gru saves razzamatazz gadgetsand rocketlaunching outfit despicable takes narcissistic comedy supervillain giving grus brash young rival vector supervillain corporate logo even evil cant resist building brand equity digital age design language film wanted make sure gru traditional supervillain explains chris renaud codirector film cold war style steel rivets lots black lair normal least pass suburban house vector reverse hes loud technogeek wears bright orange tracksuit gadgets white orange trim huge compound big orange v outside choice tracksuit upstart supervillain inspired informality fundamentally wrong true supervillain casualness antithetical vaunting ambition authentic criminal artiste man climbed mount everest says goldfinger fingerpointing passion gone bottom ocean hes fired rockets moon split atom achieved miracles every field human endeavor except crime extroverted brashness separates classic supervillain runofthemill evil nemesis grand schemes always attentionseeking feats laborious ingenuity goldfinger doesnt want steal gold fort knox wants make radioactive 58 years lex luthor doesnt want bomb california wants create new west coast west coast costa del lex luthorville marina del lex key great supervillainand secretly like themis destroyers heart creators dont want riches power want realize vision arrogant remote certainty breathtaking theres denying artistry power comics history form culture published last year randy duncan matthew j smith note superheroes largely conservative figures usually content status quo supervillains hand change world supervillains active superheroes reactive start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont ambition deserves wardrobe match makers despicable disappoint well penalty failure death piranha tank plus check latest entertainment fashion culture coverage sexy beastphotos videos features tweets sean macaulay screenwriter humorist journalist specializing symptoms postmacho midlife crisis la movie critic london times 1999 2007 written daily telegraph radio times punch british gq recently creative consultant anvil story anvil voted best documentary independent sprit awards follow twitter | 526 |
<p>Glen Ford is a distinguished radio-show host and commentator. In 1977, Ford co-launched, produced and hosted America's Black Forum, the first nationally syndicated Black news interview program on commercial television. In 1987, Ford launched Rap It Up, the first nationally syndicated Hip Hop music show, broadcast on 65 radio stations. Ford co-founded the <a href="http://www.blackcommentator.com" type="external">Black Commentator</a> in 2002 and in 2006 he launched the <a href="http://www.blackagendareport.com/" type="external">Black Agenda Report</a>. Ford is also the author of The Big Lie: An Analysis of U.S. Media Coverage of the Grenada Invasion.</p>
<p>Revolutionary, political commentator, activist, lover of books, author of Shackled and Chained: Mass Incarceration in Capitalist America.</p>
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<p /> JARED BALL, PRODUCER, TRNN: Welcome back to the Real News Network. I'm Jared Ball here in Baltimore.
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<p />August 6 marks the 50th anniversary of Lyndon B. Johnson's signing of the Voting Rights Act. The act, despite some popular misunderstanding, does not offer or deny the right to vote, but was ostensibly designed as a protection of already existing rights. In 2013 the Supreme Court weakened the act saying that it was no longer a necessity. And particularly now with a black president perhaps many more agree. Moreover, there has been some attention paid to HB 589, passed in North Carolina just after the 2013 Supreme Court ruling which weakened Voting Rights Act, attacking specifically provisions for same-day registration, early voting, out-of-precinct registration and pre-registration for 16 and 17-year-olds.
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<p />But beyond issues of registration or numbers of black elected officials, there remains a question more appropriate now than when it was initially asked in 1971 by George Jackson. That is, what is an honest election after the fact of monopoly capital? And it is there that I'd like to begin this segment with our guests Glen Ford, executive editor and founder of Black Agenda Report.com, and Eugene Puryear, author, activists, and founding member of the Party for Socialism and Liberation. Welcome to you both, to the Real News Network.
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<p />GLEN FORD, EXEC. EDITOR, BLACK AGENDA REPORT: Thank you.
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<p />EUGENE PURYEAR, AUTHOR, ACTIVIST: Thank you.
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<p />BALL: So Glen, as I asked in my intro, is there any value at all to the focus, all this focus on the Voting Rights Act, given the value of the vote in this moment of extreme concentration of wealth and its impact on elections in this country? Isn't George Jackson more right now than ever?
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<p />FORD: Well of course there's a value in understanding one's history. In terms of elections in the United States, nothing takes place outside of the purview of monopoly capital. It's interesting, until the passage of the Voting Rights Act, and related developments, there was one, only one party of capital in the South, and that was the Democratic party. And much of the civil rights movement was concerned with integrating that Democratic party, with getting rid of the all-white Democratic primary.
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<p />Once we had the Voting Rights Act, and three years later Richard Nixon, a Republican, puts in effect his Southern strategy, we see the movement of right people out of the Democratic party and the concomitant result among black folks that today not only are almost all black elected officials Democrats, but virtually all of the major black [sific] organizations are also annexes of the Democratic party. I'm talking about the NAACP and the National Urban League, virtually all of the leadership conference on civil rights. Certainly Al Sharpton's National Action Network, basically all of them. And when this black political class calls a summit meeting, as they pompously sometimes do, what it really turns into, what it really is, is a meeting of black Democrats.
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<p />And that means that this leadership class, entirely Democratic, is absolutely incapable of speaking up for the interests of the masses of black folks against the forces of Wall Street who really control the Democratic party apparatus. These folks, these black Democrats, collaborate every day with the ruling class. This wedding of, this absorption in of the Democratic party has meant that the last two generations there's been no independent black politics in the United States, and we're not going to see any independent black politics in the United States until the advent of a new mass, grassroots black movement. That's where the leadership will come from.
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<p />BALL: Eugene Puryear, let me ask you basically the same question, especially given your experience as a left of the Democratic party activist, and even a former candidate for DC city council. How do you see where we are 50 years into the Voting Rights Act, and where we are with the vote in general? Particularly how activists themselves see the value of the vote?
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<p />PURYEAR: Absolutely. Well, I think that there are three main points, really, to be considered here. I think one is that if you really look at the genesis of the Voting Rights Act and the civil rights movement, what's most notable about the civil rights movement is that it made significant political change, however you evaluate it, without very many votes at all. Sort of in the same way that the labor movement historically in the United States was able to make many gains in many of the initial strikes that took place that led up to the National Labor Relations Act happened when strikes were still illegal.
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<p />So I think sometimes we get too caught up in the machinery of what may be called a democracy, I consider it an oligarchy with Republican characteristics, whatever the political form is of this capitalist system. I would say second to that the post-1965 history has shown the strong limitations of the right to vote. Not that it was unimportant. But that at the end of the day the key element in capitalism is capital, which by and large is outside of the control of municipalities to the extent they are well-meaning to direct in any significant way, and most of the times they are not well meaning. And as Mr. Ford says, many times they are essentially bought off adjuncts of one of the two major parties and are essentially acting in the stead of capital.
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<p />All that being said, I think that there is still some value to this fight for a few different reasons. I don't think that it's the key arena. I don't think it should be focused on the key arena. But we do have the fact that the words and the voting rights act are really written in the blood of the martyrs of the black liberation movement who sacrificed for years to have the right to exist as citizens inside of this country, a human right that was denied to them despite their birthplace here. And I think that there is importance to that. Are we going to allow the right wing to restrict the ability of black people to vote in this country purely for partisan political gain?
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<p />I think as activists, you cannot change the system through voting. If you want to change the capitalist system, which is what you need to do to get to the root and solve, not just deal with but solve the problems that afflict us, the oppression, exploitation, you have to overthrow the system. Which sometimes requires running candidates, using that leverage, getting into office, using that leverage. Which means that it's very important for us to protect our strategic role here, I think, with the right to vote. I mean, there's a role here, I think, with the right to vote.
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<p />I mean, there's not too many people to vote here right now. If you're in North Carolina, most of the Democrats aren't that well. Look at Kay Hagan. She's against, an anti-immigrant individual. But nevertheless, what if there was, what if the Glen Ford-Eugene Puryear party was on the ballot in North Carolina and we needed masses of black people to come out from the point of [press sectors] we would certainly want to protect our ability to mobilize our people. So that's sort of the context I look at this at.
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<p />BALL: I always have to say that I want people to go back and check federalist paper number 10 from James Madison. Please see how the vote and the electoral system in this country was designed specifically to prevent the kind of change that people associate with voting. But in the few minutes we have left I thought, Glen, obviously you can respond to anything you've just heard. But I was hoping to get a comment from both of you, a little bit extending what you've already talked about. The process by which Johnson came to even sign the voting rights act in the first place. Never mind what he's quoted as saying at the signing, it's clear he did not have the genuine interests of black advancement at heart. What led to him signing the Voting Rights Act 50 years ago tomorrow in the first place?
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<p />FORD: Well, it was a black movement of masses of people in the street. You know, this decade of the '60s was really a full 10 years long, or longer, or shorter, was the most productive period, political period, I believe, in black history. And so much was accomplished, it goes far beyond the civil rights struggle, the struggle to guarantee black constitutional rights. The dialog, the alignment, the deep discussion about the nature of self-determination, all of this is gelling during this dynamic period.
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<p />And that had the powers that be quite nervous about what kind of America was being born out of this discussion within the black community and with our allies. And of course, cities were burning with some regularity.
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<p />And so of the measurement of black political power, if it's limited to just voting power, it really sells short our capabilities in this country. There's much more to politics than just voting. And in fact that's one of the tools that the rulers use to keep voters feeling powerless, is to say that, it's to define all politics as being going to some polling, some polling booth every two or four, six years.
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<p />BALL: Eugene, let me ask you to respond to the same question. And of course, anything that Glen just said.
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<p />PURYEAR: Yes. I mean, I certainly agree 100 percent. I mean, I think that at the end of the day, what we're really looking at here is the fact that the powers that be respond to threats. I think we saw that in the, there's the famous letter that exists from the gentleman who was the Supreme Court justice, it's eluding me now, about the shotgun attack on the system, as he called it. The fear that he had and that is expressed in that letter, of not just the masses rising in the street, but how that revolutionary action had polarized society to such a degree that you even had what he considered the quote-unquote respectable elements starting to embrace more radical and in some cases revolutionary politics.
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<p />So certainly, Lyndon Johnson who, if you read both the Taylor Branch biographies, books about the civil rights movement. The Caro biography of him. Master of politics. He understood his role to maintain the system both at home and abroad. The massive--the war, the imperialist war in Vietnam that he knew from the beginning could not be won, but millions of people had to be killed in some misguided attempt to maintain the imperial prestige of the United States of America. And certainly they were moving in response to the broader international context of the anti-colonial upsurge and the need to try to find a way to resolve the quote-unquote negro problem in order to move forward with the imperialist agenda.
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<p />I'd certainly agree that there are many, many other ways that politics take place. It happens in the street, it happens in the workplace. As individuals who act collectively we have social power. The ability to disrupt this profit-making system, that's the ultimate power. And how we use it in a myriad of ways is what will be the most important thing going forward.
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<p />FORD: Let me just add one point very briefly. The real danger to black folks' right to vote is not so much in these voter IDs that threaten small groups of black folks who can't get voter ID cards and such. It comes directly from the state. From the corporate state, which denies us the ability to vote for our local school boards. Locks up black public education in state-controlled mechanisms.
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<p />And we see in this new offensive, quite frightening, in Michigan where emergency financial managers are put in charge of every majority black city in that state so that effectively half of the black folks in the state of Michigan were disenfranchised in the last several years. Those are the real threats to the real effective enfranchisement here in this country, not--although I'm not poo-poohing the threat of, through voter ID tricks and such.
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<p />The real threat is through the shutting down of that which is accessible to the public through voting.
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<p />BALL: Right. Well, Glen Ford and Eugene Puryear, thank you very much for joining us here at the Real News.
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<p />FORD: Thank you.
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<p />PURYEAR: Thank you for having me.
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<p />BALL: And thank you for joining us here at the Real News. And for all involved, again, I'm Jared Ball here in Baltimore. And as always as Fred Hampton used to say, to you we say peace, if you're willing to fight for it. So peace, everybody, and we'll catch you in the whirlwind.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | glen ford distinguished radioshow host commentator 1977 ford colaunched produced hosted americas black forum first nationally syndicated black news interview program commercial television 1987 ford launched rap first nationally syndicated hip hop music show broadcast 65 radio stations ford cofounded black commentator 2002 2006 launched black agenda report ford also author big lie analysis us media coverage grenada invasion revolutionary political commentator activist lover books author shackled chained mass incarceration capitalist america jared ball producer trnn welcome back real news network im jared ball baltimore august 6 marks 50th anniversary lyndon b johnsons signing voting rights act act despite popular misunderstanding offer deny right vote ostensibly designed protection already existing rights 2013 supreme court weakened act saying longer necessity particularly black president perhaps many agree moreover attention paid hb 589 passed north carolina 2013 supreme court ruling weakened voting rights act attacking specifically provisions sameday registration early voting outofprecinct registration preregistration 16 17yearolds beyond issues registration numbers black elected officials remains question appropriate initially asked 1971 george jackson honest election fact monopoly capital id like begin segment guests glen ford executive editor founder black agenda reportcom eugene puryear author activists founding member party socialism liberation welcome real news network glen ford exec editor black agenda report thank eugene puryear author activist thank ball glen asked intro value focus focus voting rights act given value vote moment extreme concentration wealth impact elections country isnt george jackson right ever ford well course theres value understanding ones history terms elections united states nothing takes place outside purview monopoly capital interesting passage voting rights act related developments one one party capital south democratic party much civil rights movement concerned integrating democratic party getting rid allwhite democratic primary voting rights act three years later richard nixon republican puts effect southern strategy see movement right people democratic party concomitant result among black folks today almost black elected officials democrats virtually major black sific organizations also annexes democratic party im talking naacp national urban league virtually leadership conference civil rights certainly al sharptons national action network basically black political class calls summit meeting pompously sometimes really turns really meeting black democrats means leadership class entirely democratic absolutely incapable speaking interests masses black folks forces wall street really control democratic party apparatus folks black democrats collaborate every day ruling class wedding absorption democratic party meant last two generations theres independent black politics united states going see independent black politics united states advent new mass grassroots black movement thats leadership come ball eugene puryear let ask basically question especially given experience left democratic party activist even former candidate dc city council see 50 years voting rights act vote general particularly activists see value vote puryear absolutely well think three main points really considered think one really look genesis voting rights act civil rights movement whats notable civil rights movement made significant political change however evaluate without many votes sort way labor movement historically united states able make many gains many initial strikes took place led national labor relations act happened strikes still illegal think sometimes get caught machinery may called democracy consider oligarchy republican characteristics whatever political form capitalist system would say second post1965 history shown strong limitations right vote unimportant end day key element capitalism capital large outside control municipalities extent wellmeaning direct significant way times well meaning mr ford says many times essentially bought adjuncts one two major parties essentially acting stead capital said think still value fight different reasons dont think key arena dont think focused key arena fact words voting rights act really written blood martyrs black liberation movement sacrificed years right exist citizens inside country human right denied despite birthplace think importance going allow right wing restrict ability black people vote country purely partisan political gain think activists change system voting want change capitalist system need get root solve deal solve problems afflict us oppression exploitation overthrow system sometimes requires running candidates using leverage getting office using leverage means important us protect strategic role think right vote mean theres role think right vote mean theres many people vote right youre north carolina democrats arent well look kay hagan shes antiimmigrant individual nevertheless glen fordeugene puryear party ballot north carolina needed masses black people come point press sectors would certainly want protect ability mobilize people thats sort context look ball always say want people go back check federalist paper number 10 james madison please see vote electoral system country designed specifically prevent kind change people associate voting minutes left thought glen obviously respond anything youve heard hoping get comment little bit extending youve already talked process johnson came even sign voting rights act first place never mind hes quoted saying signing clear genuine interests black advancement heart led signing voting rights act 50 years ago tomorrow first place ford well black movement masses people street know decade 60s really full 10 years long longer shorter productive period political period believe black history much accomplished goes far beyond civil rights struggle struggle guarantee black constitutional rights dialog alignment deep discussion nature selfdetermination gelling dynamic period powers quite nervous kind america born discussion within black community allies course cities burning regularity measurement black political power limited voting power really sells short capabilities country theres much politics voting fact thats one tools rulers use keep voters feeling powerless say define politics going polling polling booth every two four six years ball eugene let ask respond question course anything glen said puryear yes mean certainly agree 100 percent mean think end day really looking fact powers respond threats think saw theres famous letter exists gentleman supreme court justice eluding shotgun attack system called fear expressed letter masses rising street revolutionary action polarized society degree even considered quoteunquote respectable elements starting embrace radical cases revolutionary politics certainly lyndon johnson read taylor branch biographies books civil rights movement caro biography master politics understood role maintain system home abroad massivethe war imperialist war vietnam knew beginning could millions people killed misguided attempt maintain imperial prestige united states america certainly moving response broader international context anticolonial upsurge need try find way resolve quoteunquote negro problem order move forward imperialist agenda id certainly agree many many ways politics take place happens street happens workplace individuals act collectively social power ability disrupt profitmaking system thats ultimate power use myriad ways important thing going forward ford let add one point briefly real danger black folks right vote much voter ids threaten small groups black folks cant get voter id cards comes directly state corporate state denies us ability vote local school boards locks black public education statecontrolled mechanisms see new offensive quite frightening michigan emergency financial managers put charge every majority black city state effectively half black folks state michigan disenfranchised last several years real threats real effective enfranchisement country notalthough im poopoohing threat voter id tricks real threat shutting accessible public voting ball right well glen ford eugene puryear thank much joining us real news ford thank puryear thank ball thank joining us real news involved im jared ball baltimore always fred hampton used say say peace youre willing fight peace everybody well catch whirlwind end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,195 |
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<p>Last year, Texas was the loser in a <a href="" type="internal">national showdown</a> over abortion rights, but conservative lawmakers in the state were not deterred. Several new anti-abortion measures have already gained traction in the 2017 legislative session, and two passed the Texas Senate on Tuesday—they now head to the House for a vote before they arrive at the governor’s desk.</p>
<p><a href="https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB25/id/1548615" type="external">Senate Bill 25</a>, also known as the “wrongful births” bill, would protect physicians from legal retribution in cases where the provider withholds information about fetal abnormalities if the physician believes that, if given the information, the patient would consider terminating the pregnancy. It passed the Texas Senate in a <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/03/20/texas-senate-wrongful-births-dismemberment-ban-legislation/" type="external">21-9</a> vote. Republican state Sen. Brandon Creighton said in <a href="http://www.senate.texas.gov/members/d04/press/en/p20161121a.pdf" type="external">a press release</a> that he sponsored the measure because “it is unacceptable that doctors can be penalized for embracing the sanctity of life.”</p>
<p>In what are known as “wrongful birth” lawsuits, parents have sued doctors after the birth of a child with a severe disability, when the parents feel they were not adequately informed about the disability and their options before birth. The concept originated in a 1975 Texas Supreme Court case, Jacobs v. Theimer, when Dorotha Jean Jacobs gave birth to a baby with defective organs after a bout with rubella in her first trimester, according to the <a href="https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/27/wrongful-births-bill-heads-senate-floor/" type="external">Texas Tribune</a>. Jacobs sued her doctor for failing to diagnose her illness early enough for them to understand the risks, and the court awarded Jacobs money to cover the child’s medical expenses.</p>
<p>In a Senate hearing, Creighton said he was concerned that without the law, doctors will warn patients of every likelihood for disability to avoid being sued. Anti-abortion advocates support the bill because they say it prevents physicians from encouraging patients to seek abortions in order to avoid lawsuits, while also protecting those physicians who do not recommend abortion procedures from facing litigation. Nine other states have bans on “wrongful-birth” lawsuits, including Arizona, South Dakota, and Indiana. Creighton <a href="http://www.senate.texas.gov/members/d04/press/en/p20161121a.pdf" type="external">has emphasized</a>that Texas has a special responsibility to put a stop to these lawsuits, since the Texas Supreme Court’s decision in Jacobs v. Theimer set a precedent for all subsequent suits.</p>
<p>“It breaks my heart that courts have punished doctors for the birth of children with Down Syndrome or a missing limb,” Creighton said in a <a href="http://www.senate.texas.gov/members/d04/press/en/p20161121a.pdf" type="external">press release</a>. “Every child is precious and deserving of our protection.”</p>
<p>Creighton also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/to-your-health/wp/2017/03/11/texas-lawmaker-says-his-bill-saves-disabled-children-critics-say-it-allows-doctors-to-lie-to-pregnant-women/?utm_term=.95607720beb9" type="external">claims</a> there has been an increase in attorneys who solicit clients as “wrongful-birth” specialists in metropolitan areas such as Austin and Houston. But malpractice attorneys told the <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2017/02/27/wrongful-birth-senate" type="external">Dallas Morning News</a> that these lawsuits are rare, if not completely nonexistent.</p>
<p>Abortion rights group argue that the measure encourages doctors to withhold important medical information from patients about fetal defects. During a discussion on the Senate floor, state Sen. Jose Rodriguez, a Democrat, expressed his reservations, describing the measure as “all about restricting and further limiting a woman’s right to exercise her choice as to what she’s going to do in the case of serious…congenital defects in the fetus.”</p>
<p>Heather Busby, executive director at NARAL Pro-Choice Texas, told Mother Jones in an emailed statement that the the bill allows doctors to lie to patients, plain and simple.</p>
<p>“Pregnant Texans deserve to feel like they can trust their doctors to provide them with all the information, and when a doctor does not do that, those families deserve to have a legal avenue to seek compensation to care for special needs children,” Busby said.</p>
<p>Another highly restrictive measure also passed the Texas Senate in a 21-9 vote on Monday. <a href="http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/SB00415I.pdf#navpanes=0" type="external">Senate Bill 415</a>, brought by state Sen. Charles Perry (R-TX) seeks to ban “dilation and evacuation” abortion procedures, which are the <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2017/02/de-abortion-bans-implications-banning-most-common-second-trimester-procedure" type="external">safest and most common</a> forms of second-trimester abortion. The Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights think tank, <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/gpr/2017/02/de-abortion-bans-implications-banning-most-common-second-trimester-procedure" type="external">reports</a> that 11 percent of abortions in the United States take place after the first trimester, and 95 percent of those procedures are D&amp;E abortions.</p>
<p>The bill refers to D&amp;E procedures as “dismemberment abortions” and is predicated on the erroneous notion that fetuses can feel pain in utero. This theory comes from a 2004 congressional expert testimony by Dr. Kanwaljeet “Sunny” Anand, now the chief of palliative care and critical care medicine at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, who said that a fetus can feel pain at 20 weeks after conception. As <a href="" type="internal">Mother Jones</a>has previously reported, his work is an outlier, and the general medical consensus is that the brain connections required to register pain are not formed until at least 24 weeks post-conception.</p>
<p>“Each year in Texas, more than a thousand lives are ended by dismemberment abortions,” Perry said in a <a href="http://www.senate.texas.gov/members/d28/press/en/p20170105a.pdf" type="external">press release</a>, which noted that his bill would also penalize abortion providers for performing the procedure, classifying the offense as state felony, which could result in jail time.</p>
<p>To protest the measure, a group of activists attended the Senate <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/women-wore-handmaids-tale-robes-to-texas-senate_us_58d034bee4b0ec9d29de74f5" type="external">meeting dressed in red-and-white costumes</a>, a reference to Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Handmaids-Tale-Margaret-Atwood/dp/038549081X" type="external">The Handmaid’s Tale.</a></p>
<p>The Center for Reproductive Rights, which defends the right to an abortion through legal means, has said the law is unconstitutional. CRR is also no stranger to litigation over Texas abortion law—they were plaintiffs in the case challenging HB2, which went to the Supreme Court last year and was ruled unconstitutional. Their efforts have blocked similar laws in Louisiana, Kansas, and Oklahoma.</p>
<p>Amanda Allen, CRR’s senior state legislative counsel, said in a <a href="https://www.reproductiverights.org/press-room/texas-senate-passes-ban-on-proven-safe-method-of-abortion" type="external">press release</a>, “Texas politicians need to abandon their crusade against women’s dignity and focus on measures that actually improve the lives and health of women and their families.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | 7postmangetty images last year texas loser national showdown abortion rights conservative lawmakers state deterred several new antiabortion measures already gained traction 2017 legislative session two passed texas senate tuesdaythey head house vote arrive governors desk senate bill 25 also known wrongful births bill would protect physicians legal retribution cases provider withholds information fetal abnormalities physician believes given information patient would consider terminating pregnancy passed texas senate 219 vote republican state sen brandon creighton said press release sponsored measure unacceptable doctors penalized embracing sanctity life known wrongful birth lawsuits parents sued doctors birth child severe disability parents feel adequately informed disability options birth concept originated 1975 texas supreme court case jacobs v theimer dorotha jean jacobs gave birth baby defective organs bout rubella first trimester according texas tribune jacobs sued doctor failing diagnose illness early enough understand risks court awarded jacobs money cover childs medical expenses senate hearing creighton said concerned without law doctors warn patients every likelihood disability avoid sued antiabortion advocates support bill say prevents physicians encouraging patients seek abortions order avoid lawsuits also protecting physicians recommend abortion procedures facing litigation nine states bans wrongfulbirth lawsuits including arizona south dakota indiana creighton emphasizedthat texas special responsibility put stop lawsuits since texas supreme courts decision jacobs v theimer set precedent subsequent suits breaks heart courts punished doctors birth children syndrome missing limb creighton said press release every child precious deserving protection creighton also claims increase attorneys solicit clients wrongfulbirth specialists metropolitan areas austin houston malpractice attorneys told dallas morning news lawsuits rare completely nonexistent abortion rights group argue measure encourages doctors withhold important medical information patients fetal defects discussion senate floor state sen jose rodriguez democrat expressed reservations describing measure restricting limiting womans right exercise choice shes going case seriouscongenital defects fetus heather busby executive director naral prochoice texas told mother jones emailed statement bill allows doctors lie patients plain simple pregnant texans deserve feel like trust doctors provide information doctor families deserve legal avenue seek compensation care special needs children busby said another highly restrictive measure also passed texas senate 219 vote monday senate bill 415 brought state sen charles perry rtx seeks ban dilation evacuation abortion procedures safest common forms secondtrimester abortion guttmacher institute reproductive rights think tank reports 11 percent abortions united states take place first trimester 95 percent procedures dampe abortions bill refers dampe procedures dismemberment abortions predicated erroneous notion fetuses feel pain utero theory comes 2004 congressional expert testimony dr kanwaljeet sunny anand chief palliative care critical care medicine lucile packard childrens hospital stanford said fetus feel pain 20 weeks conception mother joneshas previously reported work outlier general medical consensus brain connections required register pain formed least 24 weeks postconception year texas thousand lives ended dismemberment abortions perry said press release noted bill would also penalize abortion providers performing procedure classifying offense state felony could result jail time protest measure group activists attended senate meeting dressed redandwhite costumes reference margaret atwoods dystopian novel handmaids tale center reproductive rights defends right abortion legal means said law unconstitutional crr also stranger litigation texas abortion lawthey plaintiffs case challenging hb2 went supreme court last year ruled unconstitutional efforts blocked similar laws louisiana kansas oklahoma amanda allen crrs senior state legislative counsel said press release texas politicians need abandon crusade womens dignity focus measures actually improve lives health women families | 551 |
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<p>A little more than thirty-seven years (November 14-15, 1969), the streets of Washington , DC and San Francisco, CA were filled with a million protesters against the US war in Vietnam. These protests, known as the National Mobilization to End the War in Vietnam, had been preceded by a national Moratorium Against the War on October 15 the same year. The politics of the protesters ran from pacifists to liberals to hardcore anti-imperialist radicals bent on revolution. According to permanent war architect and advisor Henry Kissinger, the sight of so many protesters in the streets of DC caused the Nixon White House to reconsider its pending decision to nuke Hanoi, Vietnam. Furthermore, the pitched battles between police and some ten to twenty thousand protesters intent on storming the South Vietnamese Embassy on November 14th, 1969 and the Justice Department building the following day led Nixon’s Attorney General John Mitchell to compare the scene to Russia’s October revolution. While Mr. Mitchell was obviously exaggerating the situation, the comment itself is an indication of the level of paranoia then present among the rulers in Washington.</p>
<p>Another indication of the rulers’ fears was also taking place in Chicago that fall. this was the conspiracy trial of the Chicago 8. Without going into too much history, let it suffice to say that this trial was an attempt by the State to destroy the antiwar and Black liberation movements in the United States. While this trial did not reach its intended goal in the courtroom–indeed, the men were not convicted of the conspiracy charges although they did get convicted for a number of other political crimes–the repression that the trial was a part of did temporarily diminish the numbers involved in those movements.</p>
<p>I mention this historical moment not because I believe that the US antiwar movement against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are operating from a similar position of strength– indeed, today’s movement is far from that. Sure, we’ve elected Democrats in an election that most everyone from Nancy Pelosi to General Abizaid believes was a statement against those wars, and we could even convince ourselves that it was pressure begun by certain elements among the antiwar voices that caused the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld. But, that’s about it. Once again, if we look back to Fall 1969, we discover that Richard Nixon dismissed General Hershey, the head of the Selective Service in September 1969 in an attempt to make it appear that he was listening to his critics. Meanwhile, here in 2006, incoming chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee Charles Rangel has stated that he will reintroduce his bill that would restart the military draft. (Of course, he says he is doing this to prevent other wars from starting using a circular reasoning that if the rich have to send their kids to war, they won’t be as gung-ho about starting them. This rationale has been proven wrong in the past, since it tends to be working class soldiers that end up fighting while the rest end up elsewhere.) The war continues, much as the Vietnam war did after the aforementioned protests. In fact, George Bush recently commented during his visit to Vietnam that the basic mistake made by the United States during its murderous campaign in Vietnam was that it quit before victory was achieved.</p>
<p>Now, I don’t know about you, but that statement sounds awfully dangerous to me. If Bush and his advisors (civilian and military) truly believe this and are willing to say so in public, then we are even further from a withdrawal of US forces from Iraq than every politician in DC thinks (or hopes) we are. At least, back in 1969, Richard Nixon was telling the US people that he was working on a withdrawal plan that he called “Peace With Honor.” Of course, that turned out to be a lie, as the invasion of Cambodia proved a mere five-and-a-half months later. George Bush and Dick Cheney aren’t even pretending that they want US forces to withdraw from Iraq. In their minds, anything short of their definition of victory is surrender. General Abizaid recently backed these two men on this when he told Congress that setting any kind of withdrawal date or timeline would not be a good idea.</p>
<p>At this time, it is not clear to anybody willing to talk about it how such a victory is to take place. Rumors abound about increases in US troop strength in Iraq and a step up in the training of Iraqi forces. Simultaneously, Guard and Reserve units are being reactivated for another tour of duty in the war zone. Acquaintances of mine with sons in the US Special Forces tell me their kids (young men actually) are going over to Iraq and Afghanistan in the spring with a new mission–to train Iraqi and Afghani troops in US leadership techniques. Given what we know about Special Forces training, one can assume that the training will include more than leadership techniques. Furthermore, any influx of Special Forces tends to prove Washington’s intentions of fighting in Iraq over the long haul. To illustrate this point, let me quote a piece by a certain Bruce Hoffman, a US counterinsurgency expert employed by the RAND corporation (if the reader will recall, the Rand Corporation was Pentagon Papers exposer Daniel Ellsberg’s employer, as well). Anyhow, Hoffman writes, “Increasing the number of U.S. military special forces in Iraq in coming months could enhance the training of Iraqi military forces and police in counterinsurgency.” He continues by noting that the presence of such forces in Iraq would have to be for the foreseeable future. Given that the piece was written in 2004, that foreseeable future two years after the fact is (even moreso) at best indeterminable. Succinctly put, there is no indication from the Pentagon or the White House that they believe or want US troops (much less the CIA and its mercenaries) to leave either Iraq or Afghanistan in the next few years, much less the next few months.</p>
<p>This is where we come in. There is a protest against the war being planned by United for Peace and Justice (UFPJ) for January 27, 2007 in Washington, DC. This is around the date when the new Congress will take its seats in the Capitol Building. The stated purpose of the protest is to “call on Congress to take immediate action to end the war.” The hope is that hundreds of thousands of US residents will show up on that Saturday and bring the message home that we want an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. Now, despite UFPJ leadership’s tendency to gloss over the weaknesses of the Democratic Party–as evidenced by their refusal to challenge the Hilary Clintons and other Democrats who have yet to call for immediate withdrawal (or for any withdrawal at all), its muted opposition to Israeli aggression in the West Bank and Gaza and the PATRIOT Act with its accompanying repression of Muslim and Arab peoples, it is important that people do show up for this protest. And every other protest against the war coming up in the future. After all, it is the protesters who decide the course of the movement, not the so-called leadership or any of their Democratic pals. Another national protest is scheduled for March 17, 2007 in DC and other cities. Of course, one needn’t wait for national calls. There is always time to protest in your home town. Walden Bello put it best in a recent piece published in Counterpunch: “The movement cannot afford to squander this momentum,” wrote Bello, “for the price of stepping back and letting the Democrats come up with (a protracted exit) strategy will be more Iraqis and Americans dead, sacrificed for a meaningless war with no real end in sight.”</p>
<p>Not to mention Afghanis and perhaps Iranians.</p>
<p>RON JACOBS is author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859841678/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The Way the Wind Blew: a history of the Weather Underground</a>, which is just republished by Verso. Jacobs’ essay on Big Bill Broonzy is featured in CounterPunch’s collection on music, art and sex, <a href="http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/CounterPunch/CP_Books.html" type="external">Serpents in the Garden</a>. His first novel, Short Order Frame Up, is forthcoming from Mainstay Press. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:rjacobs3625@charter.net" type="external">rjacobs3625@charter.net</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 little thirtyseven years november 1415 1969 streets washington dc san francisco ca filled million protesters us war vietnam protests known national mobilization end war vietnam preceded national moratorium war october 15 year politics protesters ran pacifists liberals hardcore antiimperialist radicals bent revolution according permanent war architect advisor henry kissinger sight many protesters streets dc caused nixon white house reconsider pending decision nuke hanoi vietnam furthermore pitched battles police ten twenty thousand protesters intent storming south vietnamese embassy november 14th 1969 justice department building following day led nixons attorney general john mitchell compare scene russias october revolution mr mitchell obviously exaggerating situation comment indication level paranoia present among rulers washington another indication rulers fears also taking place chicago fall conspiracy trial chicago 8 without going much history let suffice say trial attempt state destroy antiwar black liberation movements united states trial reach intended goal courtroomindeed men convicted conspiracy charges although get convicted number political crimesthe repression trial part temporarily diminish numbers involved movements mention historical moment believe us antiwar movement wars iraq afghanistan operating similar position strength indeed todays movement far sure weve elected democrats election everyone nancy pelosi general abizaid believes statement wars could even convince pressure begun certain elements among antiwar voices caused resignation donald rumsfeld thats look back fall 1969 discover richard nixon dismissed general hershey head selective service september 1969 attempt make appear listening critics meanwhile 2006 incoming chairman house ways means committee charles rangel stated reintroduce bill would restart military draft course says prevent wars starting using circular reasoning rich send kids war wont gungho starting rationale proven wrong past since tends working class soldiers end fighting rest end elsewhere war continues much vietnam war aforementioned protests fact george bush recently commented visit vietnam basic mistake made united states murderous campaign vietnam quit victory achieved dont know statement sounds awfully dangerous bush advisors civilian military truly believe willing say public even withdrawal us forces iraq every politician dc thinks hopes least back 1969 richard nixon telling us people working withdrawal plan called peace honor course turned lie invasion cambodia proved mere fiveandahalf months later george bush dick cheney arent even pretending want us forces withdraw iraq minds anything short definition victory surrender general abizaid recently backed two men told congress setting kind withdrawal date timeline would good idea time clear anybody willing talk victory take place rumors abound increases us troop strength iraq step training iraqi forces simultaneously guard reserve units reactivated another tour duty war zone acquaintances mine sons us special forces tell kids young men actually going iraq afghanistan spring new missionto train iraqi afghani troops us leadership techniques given know special forces training one assume training include leadership techniques furthermore influx special forces tends prove washingtons intentions fighting iraq long haul illustrate point let quote piece certain bruce hoffman us counterinsurgency expert employed rand corporation reader recall rand corporation pentagon papers exposer daniel ellsbergs employer well anyhow hoffman writes increasing number us military special forces iraq coming months could enhance training iraqi military forces police counterinsurgency continues noting presence forces iraq would foreseeable future given piece written 2004 foreseeable future two years fact even moreso best indeterminable succinctly put indication pentagon white house believe want us troops much less cia mercenaries leave either iraq afghanistan next years much less next months come protest war planned united peace justice ufpj january 27 2007 washington dc around date new congress take seats capitol building stated purpose protest call congress take immediate action end war hope hundreds thousands us residents show saturday bring message home want immediate withdrawal us troops iraq despite ufpj leaderships tendency gloss weaknesses democratic partyas evidenced refusal challenge hilary clintons democrats yet call immediate withdrawal withdrawal muted opposition israeli aggression west bank gaza patriot act accompanying repression muslim arab peoples important people show protest every protest war coming future protesters decide course movement socalled leadership democratic pals another national protest scheduled march 17 2007 dc cities course one neednt wait national calls always time protest home town walden bello put best recent piece published counterpunch movement afford squander momentum wrote bello price stepping back letting democrats come protracted exit strategy iraqis americans dead sacrificed meaningless war real end sight mention afghanis perhaps iranians ron jacobs author way wind blew history weather underground republished verso jacobs essay big bill broonzy featured counterpunchs collection music art sex serpents garden first novel short order frame forthcoming mainstay press reached rjacobs3625charternet 160 160 160 | 739 |
<p>Faith Fippinger, who is now sixty-two years old, was once a schoolteacher. More recently, during the Iraq War, she was a “human shield.” In Iraq, she was part of a large group of protesters–only about 20 of whom, she says, were Americans–who spread out across the country to protest the war.</p>
<p>During the war, Fippinger spoke out against it. She told a reporter from The Christian Science Monitor, “The biggest shock is that America continues to pursue war in this way, and that’s just impossible to believe: to choose war, to choose death, to choose murder … killing hope, killing future.” And she told another reporter, “I may die here. But my death is no more or less important than the Iraqi lives that will be lost.”</p>
<p>Now, the U.S. government is going after Fippinger with a vengeance, saying she owes at least $10,000 in fines for violating U.S. sanctions that prohibit “virtually all direct or indirect commercial, financial or trade transactions with Iraq.” But Fippinger has refused to pay the fines, claiming that the only money she spent while in Iraq was for food and emergency supplies–hardly major international trade.</p>
<p>Fippinger has also–unwisely–invited the government to use the other available punishment for violation of the sanctions: imprisonment. Or, as Fippinger politely put it in her response to the government, since she will never pay the fines, “perhaps the alternative should be considered.”</p>
<p>But Fippinger shouldn’t be so quick to give in–or to be jailed as a martyr. Powerful, though circumstantial, evidence suggests she has been targeted because of her choice to speak out about the recent Iraq War. Already under heavy criticism–in part for its failure to produce the weapons of mass destruction that were a major justification for the war–the Bush Administration cannot be happy that Fippinger and others are drawing on their firsthand knowledge of the war to add to the chorus.</p>
<p>If so, then Fippinger is facing criminal charges largely because she availed herself of her First Amendment rights. Accordingly, she may be able to convince a court to dismiss these charges on the ground that they violate the Constitution.</p>
<p>A Court Would Be Unlikely to Hold that the First Amendment Protects Human Shields</p>
<p>To begin, is there a First Amendment right for a citizen like Fippinger to protest war by traveling abroad and becoming a human shield? The answer a court would reach is almost certainly no.</p>
<p>The military enjoys substantial judicial deference when it comes to First Amendment disputes, and other instances in which military objectives clash with civil liberties. And it’s hard to imagine a more acute clash that one between a military division trying to attack a target, and civilians standing in front of it as “human shields,” refusing to leave.</p>
<p>In such a situation, a court would doubtless side with the military. In doing so, it could also invoke the speech/conduct distinction. Although becoming a human shield is a form of symbolic speech, it is also an obstructing action, getting in the way of military movements and attacks–and the First Amendment, fundamentally, protects speech, not action.</p>
<p>Despite this argument’s poor chances of prevailing in court, however, it’s not as weak as it might seem. Being a “human shield” is a form of nonviolent political protest, in the tradition of sit-ins, and non-violent resistance generally. As such, it typically sends a symbolical political message. Fippinger’s message, for instance, was the one she subsequently voiced: “[M]y death is no more or less important than the Iraqi lives that will be lost.”</p>
<p>Such a message is inherently political. It threatens governments’ distinctions between citizen civilians (who must be protected at all cost) and noncitizen civilians (who can’t be directly targeted, but might be acceptable “collateral damage”).</p>
<p>Thus, becoming a human shield is virtually always a form of symbolic speech. It is also an exceptionally powerful one: One’s very life is literally at stake, and that forces the media, and hopefully also the government, to take notice.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, because the human shield’s adversary is the military, and under U.S. law, the military almost always wins, the outcome of this First Amendment argument is a foregone conclusion: It’s a loser.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean, however, that Fippinger has no First Amendment case. To the contrary, she may have a strong one.</p>
<p>Why It Seems Likely that the Government Is Bothered By Fippinger’s Speech, Not Her “Trade”</p>
<p>It seems extremely unlikely that the government is actually applying the Iraq sanctions to Fippinger based on her supposed “trade” with Iraq, as it claims. Her tiny purchases are simply not the kind of trade the sanctions contemplate.</p>
<p>Rather, these sanctions were meant to be enforced against those who illegally exported to, imported from, and did business with Saddam Hussein’s government, thus propping it up. They were meant, that is, to primarily target corporations, businesses, and business persons. Fippinger is none of these.</p>
<p>The sanctions were also meant to primarily target transactions in significant amounts. If Fippinger is correct that all she bought was food and emergency supplies, then her supposed violation was de minimis legal jargon for “too small for the government to bother with.”</p>
<p>To apply trade sanctions to Fippinger, therefore seems at best absurd, and at worst, pretextual. What really bothers the government can’t be the few bandages or meals she bought. Instead, it must be what she said, and the fact that the media has listened to her.</p>
<p>It’s an irresistible story, after all: A retired schoolteacher–and a very photogenic one, who resembles a cross between Katharine Hepburn and an old-time suffragette–felt so strongly about the Iraq War that she got on a plane, went there, and did what she could to help suffering people there, risking her own life.</p>
<p>Even worse–from the government’s perspective–is that, in addition to speaking out as a human shield in Iraq, Fippinger kept right on speaking to the media even after she returned to her home in Sarasota, Florida. In her interview with The Washington Post, she talked about conditions at Baghdad hospitals: “It’s just sobbing doctors,” she said, “because there was so much death, so much horror. . . . It was just death after death after death. From babies to old men and women, the whole range. Amputees. Arms gone, legs gone. Children filled with shrapnel from cluster bombs.” She remarked, “I’ve never seen in all my life such horrors . . . . But I’m sure I’ll see them for the rest of my life.”</p>
<p>More evidence that Fippinger is being targeted for speaking out comes from the poor fit between the sanctions invoked to go after her, and what she actually did. Whenever the government invokes a law that so poorly fits the crime alleged, you can be sure that something else is going on.</p>
<p>When the government went after Al Capone for tax evasion, it wasn’t worried about taxes; it simply knew it would have a hard time winning other cases against him. In going after Fippinger for trade sanctions violations, the government doesn’t really care about her negligible “trade with Iraq”; but it knows it can’t directly go after her for speaking out, because that would be a blatant First Amendment violation (as well as terrible public relations.)</p>
<p>U.S. citizens have a First Amendment right to criticize their government, whether they are in the U.S. or abroad. (Indeed, even enlisted soldiers have that right–as explained in a column by Dean Falvy for this site.) Fippinger should not be punished for availing herself of that right.</p>
<p>Fippinger’s Legal Battle Would Be Uphill, But Is One That Is Worth Fighting</p>
<p>Before packing her bag for prison, Fippinger should visit a lawyer. Her lawyer should then move to have the charges against her dismissed, among other reasons, because they violate the First Amendment. The government’s treatment of Fippinger may well outrage a judge enough to grant that motion.</p>
<p>Fippinger might also have a claim against the government–either under the federal civil rights statute that allows citizens to sue for damages when their constitutional rights are violated, or under the theory that she suffered from selective prosecution. Were other Americans who spent minimal money in Iraq, and did not speak out against the government, pursued under the unconvincing “trade violation” theory? If not, then Fippinger may have a strong case against the government.</p>
<p>Selective prosecution arguments are always hard to win. But this case might be an exception: It seems so obvious that it’s Fippinger’s speaking out that has made her a target. Why else would the government bother to enforce obsolete sanctions against a retired schoolteacher who did no real harm with her tiny purchases, and plainly lacks the money to easily pay the fines?</p>
<p>Many nonviolent protesters before this have gone to jail for their beliefs. But Fippinger need not necessarily be one of them.</p>
<p>JULIE HILDEN practiced First Amendment law at the D.C. law firm of Williams &amp; Connolly from 1996-99. Currently a freelance writer, she published a memoir, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1565121856/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The Bad Daughter</a>, in 1998. Her great new novel <a href="" type="internal">Three</a> was just published by Plume. This column originally appeared on <a href="http://writ.news.findlaw.com/" type="external">Findlaw’s Writ</a>.</p>
<p>She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:hilden@counterpunch.org" type="external">julhil@aol.com</a>.</p>
<p>Julie’s <a href="http://www.juliehilden.com/" type="external">new website</a> is a lot of fun. Have a look.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | faith fippinger sixtytwo years old schoolteacher recently iraq war human shield iraq part large group protestersonly 20 says americanswho spread across country protest war war fippinger spoke told reporter christian science monitor biggest shock america continues pursue war way thats impossible believe choose war choose death choose murder killing hope killing future told another reporter may die death less important iraqi lives lost us government going fippinger vengeance saying owes least 10000 fines violating us sanctions prohibit virtually direct indirect commercial financial trade transactions iraq fippinger refused pay fines claiming money spent iraq food emergency supplieshardly major international trade fippinger alsounwiselyinvited government use available punishment violation sanctions imprisonment fippinger politely put response government since never pay fines perhaps alternative considered fippinger shouldnt quick give inor jailed martyr powerful though circumstantial evidence suggests targeted choice speak recent iraq war already heavy criticismin part failure produce weapons mass destruction major justification warthe bush administration happy fippinger others drawing firsthand knowledge war add chorus fippinger facing criminal charges largely availed first amendment rights accordingly may able convince court dismiss charges ground violate constitution court would unlikely hold first amendment protects human shields begin first amendment right citizen like fippinger protest war traveling abroad becoming human shield answer court would reach almost certainly military enjoys substantial judicial deference comes first amendment disputes instances military objectives clash civil liberties hard imagine acute clash one military division trying attack target civilians standing front human shields refusing leave situation court would doubtless side military could also invoke speechconduct distinction although becoming human shield form symbolic speech also obstructing action getting way military movements attacksand first amendment fundamentally protects speech action despite arguments poor chances prevailing court however weak might seem human shield form nonviolent political protest tradition sitins nonviolent resistance generally typically sends symbolical political message fippingers message instance one subsequently voiced death less important iraqi lives lost message inherently political threatens governments distinctions citizen civilians must protected cost noncitizen civilians cant directly targeted might acceptable collateral damage thus becoming human shield virtually always form symbolic speech also exceptionally powerful one ones life literally stake forces media hopefully also government take notice nevertheless human shields adversary military us law military almost always wins outcome first amendment argument foregone conclusion loser doesnt mean however fippinger first amendment case contrary may strong one seems likely government bothered fippingers speech trade seems extremely unlikely government actually applying iraq sanctions fippinger based supposed trade iraq claims tiny purchases simply kind trade sanctions contemplate rather sanctions meant enforced illegally exported imported business saddam husseins government thus propping meant primarily target corporations businesses business persons fippinger none sanctions also meant primarily target transactions significant amounts fippinger correct bought food emergency supplies supposed violation de minimis legal jargon small government bother apply trade sanctions fippinger therefore seems best absurd worst pretextual really bothers government cant bandages meals bought instead must said fact media listened irresistible story retired schoolteacherand photogenic one resembles cross katharine hepburn oldtime suffragettefelt strongly iraq war got plane went could help suffering people risking life even worsefrom governments perspectiveis addition speaking human shield iraq fippinger kept right speaking media even returned home sarasota florida interview washington post talked conditions baghdad hospitals sobbing doctors said much death much horror death death death babies old men women whole range amputees arms gone legs gone children filled shrapnel cluster bombs remarked ive never seen life horrors im sure ill see rest life evidence fippinger targeted speaking comes poor fit sanctions invoked go actually whenever government invokes law poorly fits crime alleged sure something else going government went al capone tax evasion wasnt worried taxes simply knew would hard time winning cases going fippinger trade sanctions violations government doesnt really care negligible trade iraq knows cant directly go speaking would blatant first amendment violation well terrible public relations us citizens first amendment right criticize government whether us abroad indeed even enlisted soldiers rightas explained column dean falvy site fippinger punished availing right fippingers legal battle would uphill one worth fighting packing bag prison fippinger visit lawyer lawyer move charges dismissed among reasons violate first amendment governments treatment fippinger may well outrage judge enough grant motion fippinger might also claim governmenteither federal civil rights statute allows citizens sue damages constitutional rights violated theory suffered selective prosecution americans spent minimal money iraq speak government pursued unconvincing trade violation theory fippinger may strong case government selective prosecution arguments always hard win case might exception seems obvious fippingers speaking made target else would government bother enforce obsolete sanctions retired schoolteacher real harm tiny purchases plainly lacks money easily pay fines many nonviolent protesters gone jail beliefs fippinger need necessarily one julie hilden practiced first amendment law dc law firm williams amp connolly 199699 currently freelance writer published memoir bad daughter 1998 great new novel three published plume column originally appeared findlaws writ reached julhilaolcom julies new website lot fun look 160 | 812 |
<p>As the ghost of Handel clanks through this 250th year since his death, he must look on in astonishment at how the living have updated his legacy. The Handel of today is gay, a binge eater, and a chemical abuser, not just in the form of far too much wine, but also, and unwittingly, too much of the lead that was used in the 18th as a preservative in the liquid Handel consumed in vast quantities. In those days bottles could not be sealed as tightly as today and lead was used to prevent fine wines from the continent from going bad. According to Handel expert David Hunter writing most recently in the catalog for the exhibition “Handel Reveal’d” now at the Handel House in London’s Mayfair district and running until October of this, lead poisoning was the cause of the paralysis of the right hand and incipient dementia that beset Handel in 1737. Like a rock star served cocaine cut with some deadly compound, this substance abuser of the 18th-century was imbibing bad stuff.</p>
<p>By all reports, many doubtless exaggerated, the quantities of Handel’s intake of food and drink were enormous.&#160; Along with the haughty and talented Italian opera stars with whom he worked, and who nearly ruined him financially, Handel was one of the first international musical celebrities. In this respect he is perhaps most modern of all.&#160; His own appetite for fodder was itself fodder for the appetites of the raucous London media. These journalists, coffee-house gossips, pamphleteers, and cartoonists stoked and dampened the public’s fire for opera on which Handel’s musical and financial fortunes depended.</p>
<p>Then as now the lurid image is the fastest way towards notoriety.&#160; The expatriate French artist, Joseph Goupy, produced the most damning and memorable visual rendering of Handel’s excesses. Not surprisingly, this cartoon is scrupulously avoided&#160; in Donald Burrow’s still-definitive though hardly <a href="" type="internal">riveting biography</a>, first published in 1994. All Goupy gets in this book is a prim foonote dismissing the engraving as “cruel in intent.” Not so <a href="" type="internal">Christopher Hogwood</a>, whose excellent Handel biography, revised in 2007, is much richer in lively detail and human texture. One of the great exponents of Handel music as a conductor, player, and scholar, Hogwood is also the curator of the Handel House exhibition, and maintains that the best way to celebrate the composer’s death is to find out how he really lived.</p>
<p>Goupy’s infamous caricature was prompted by an evening at Handel’s in which the Frenchman was invited back to the composer’s Brook Street house for supper.&#160; The guest’s elevated palette was not much impressed by the fare, and he was also puzzled by Handel’s frequent disappearances from table.&#160; Goupy eventually found his host in the kitchen stuffing his face with far better food than he’d offered his visitor. The damning picture of Handel was Goupy’s thank-you card for a bad time. The friendship between the men came to a speedy end. The cartoon is the pre-digital ancestor of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps caught sucking at his bong.</p>
<p>Goupy’s engraving pictures a pig-snouted and bewigged Handel seated on a hogshead of ale with wine bottles lined up behind it.&#160; A long shopping list of delicacies spills from the hog’s red coat. Dead, unplucked fowl are in abundance: a rooster hangs from the side of the organ; a bigger bird of indefinite species sprawls belly-up on a kettledrum, itself dwarfed by Handel’s massive left leg encased in white hose like a giant sausage; a trussed-up goose rests on a table in front of a saucepan of turtle soup.</p>
<p>At the bottom of the image, a motto spreads across a snaking ribbon: “I Am Myself Alone.”&#160; This is the hedonist’s creed—to follow ones lusts unimpeded by the dictates of society, or even the basic social graces of a good host.&#160; In a clever representation of the self-destructive nature of gluttony, Goupy places Handel’s bulging shoe right above the word “myself.” Slave to his lusts, Handel threatens to stamp himself out.</p>
<p>Yet the pig plays, he does not eat. His dimpled fingers are at the keyboard not wrapped around a mutton leg. How much crueler and simpler it would have been for Soupy to have the hog with a ham hock in hand while at music? Surrounded by the temptations that have bloated his body, this Handel stares impassively ahead at the pipes in front of his snout. This, too, is pure self-delight, for the organ sings his music alone: wallowing in one’s own improvised harmonies apparently counts as just another form of self-indulgence. Is music just another addiction or can it alone hold Handel’s others appetites at bay? It would be most modern to say that both are true, that feast and famine are the twin engines of celebrity, a state of being defined by the rowdy night out in alternation with the weeks in rehab. Indulgence and resistance are front and back of the musical epicure’s menu, delayed gratification the spice of life.&#160; Put in more modern terms: Goupy gives us <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/composers/handel/pictures/images/handel_12.jpg" type="external">a Handel</a> in whom the great musicians and gourmand are co-dependants.</p>
<p>Anecdotes corroborating Handel’s mighty epicurean lusts circulated in his own time and after it. A later 18th-century vignette, which once again involves a gathering back at Handel’s Brook Street pad, brings to mind a Hollywood start repeatedly excusing himself from an already drunken table at the Chateau Marmont to go snort some lines alone.</p>
<p>“When Handel had once a large party to dinner, the cloth being removed, he introduced plain port. Having drank four or five glasses with his guests with his guests, he suddenly started up—exclaimed—I have a thought! and stalked out of the room, to which, after a short absence, he returned. Having drank a few more glasses, he uttered the same sentence—retreated, and again returned. It was naturally supposed that he wished to commit to paper some idea that struck him at the moment, and passed over; but when in less than an hour, he a third time started—growled out—I have a thought! and a third time left the company:—one of the gentlemen privately followed, and traced him into another apartment: where, on looking through the key-hole, he saw this great master of music kneel down to a hamper of champagne, that he might more conveniently reach out of a flask, which having nearly finished, he returned to his friends!”</p>
<p>Oh what a service the dubious informant would have rendered history had he had an iPhone and captured Handel on his knees to his addiction! But one also has to admire the refined intensity of Handel’s gluttony as portrayed in this account: drunkeness per se wasn’t the problem, since port was more alcoholic than champagne.&#160; Handel was keeping the good stuff for himself.</p>
<p>The celebrity’s jet-fuel mixture—stress and chemicals—threatened the fragmentation of a great creative mind. Handel’s official biographer, John Mainwaring published his account of the composer’s life the year after Handel’s death and took a moralistic view of his subject’s “excessive indulgence in this lowest of gratifications.” Mainwaring describes the physical and psychic troubles that piled on top of Handel’s financial woes as the composer threw his money down the pit of opera:</p>
<p>“His fortune was not more impaired, than his health and his understanding.&#160; His right-arm was become useless to him, from a stroke of the plays; and how greatly his senses were disordered at intervals, for a long time, appeared from an hundred instances, which are better forgotten than recorded. The most violent deviations from reason, are usually seen when the strongest faculties happen to be thrown out of course.”</p>
<p>An intervention is attempted by Handel’s friends: “”Tho’ he had the best advice, and tho’ the necessity of following it was urged to him in the most friendly manner, it was with the utmost difficulty that he was prevailed on to do what was proper.”</p>
<p>Finally&#160; convinced to save himself, Handel journeyed in the summer of 1737 to Aix-la-Chapelle to take the waters, like Gore Vidal removing himself to his favorite La Jolla spa to dry out.&#160; Even Handel’s appetite for rehab was enormous. In the famed recovery center, Handel took “recourse to the vapor-baths, over which he sat near three times as long as hath ever been the practice.”&#160; One wonders whether these warm venues also provided the opportunity for some same-sex encounters.</p>
<p>The waters worked.&#160; Handel’s recovery is usually referred to as miraculous, a result that would have been unlikely had Handel indeed suffered a stroke.&#160; The speedy improvement and subsequent relapse, leads David Hunter to postulate lead poisoning. Back in London, Handel returned to his old ways, as Goupy’s engraving and anecdotes like the above-cited, so evocatively remind us. Corpulence, dissipation, and blindness eventually ensued, but not before Handel had disgorged the great body of oratorios on which his posthumous fame now rests.</p>
<p>Hunter’s convincing theories about lead-poisoning and his goofily anachronistic diagnosis of binge-eating have the very modern effect of exonerating Handel from the charges of gluttony. The condemnation of sin is replaced by the sympathetic science of pathology.&#160; After all these centuries of hedonism, Handel, like everyone else, was merely a victim.</p>
<p>Denied the opportunity to make a full public disclosure of his sprawling appetites on Oprah, Handel’s ghost watches from the wings as his outsized undergarments are aired on history’s stage. I’m not sure if the ghost disapproves.&#160; His operas are full of timeless moments in which the soul is bared. Apparently unlucky in love, at least if measured against the monogamous—and heterosexual—standard of Christian marriage, Handel poured out his soul through his characters, especially his female ones. These will always be more interesting than the disclosures about the composer’s excesses.</p>
<p>And the Handel picture will certainly change. The ghost has many more costume changes to make as he trawls through the wardrobe of history. As an inveterate theater-maker, Handel knows that the next act will bring surprises. The opera isn’t over until the fat man sings.</p>
<p>DAVID YEARSLEY teaches at Cornell University. A long-time contributor to the Anderson Valley Advertiser, he is author of <a href="" type="internal">Bach and the Meanings of Counterpoint</a>His latest CD, “All Your Cares Beguile: Songs and Sonatas from Baroque London”, has just been released by <a href="http://www.musicaomnia.org/index2.htm" type="external">Musica Omnia</a>. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:dgy2@cornell.edu" type="external">dgy2@cornell.edu</a></p> | true | 4 | ghost handel clanks 250th year since death must look astonishment living updated legacy handel today gay binge eater chemical abuser form far much wine also unwittingly much lead used 18th preservative liquid handel consumed vast quantities days bottles could sealed tightly today lead used prevent fine wines continent going bad according handel expert david hunter writing recently catalog exhibition handel reveald handel house londons mayfair district running october lead poisoning cause paralysis right hand incipient dementia beset handel 1737 like rock star served cocaine cut deadly compound substance abuser 18thcentury imbibing bad stuff reports many doubtless exaggerated quantities handels intake food drink enormous160 along haughty talented italian opera stars worked nearly ruined financially handel one first international musical celebrities respect perhaps modern all160 appetite fodder fodder appetites raucous london media journalists coffeehouse gossips pamphleteers cartoonists stoked dampened publics fire opera handels musical financial fortunes depended lurid image fastest way towards notoriety160 expatriate french artist joseph goupy produced damning memorable visual rendering handels excesses surprisingly cartoon scrupulously avoided160 donald burrows stilldefinitive though hardly riveting biography first published 1994 goupy gets book prim foonote dismissing engraving cruel intent christopher hogwood whose excellent handel biography revised 2007 much richer lively detail human texture one great exponents handel music conductor player scholar hogwood also curator handel house exhibition maintains best way celebrate composers death find really lived goupys infamous caricature prompted evening handels frenchman invited back composers brook street house supper160 guests elevated palette much impressed fare also puzzled handels frequent disappearances table160 goupy eventually found host kitchen stuffing face far better food hed offered visitor damning picture handel goupys thankyou card bad time friendship men came speedy end cartoon predigital ancestor olympic swimmer michael phelps caught sucking bong goupys engraving pictures pigsnouted bewigged handel seated hogshead ale wine bottles lined behind it160 long shopping list delicacies spills hogs red coat dead unplucked fowl abundance rooster hangs side organ bigger bird indefinite species sprawls bellyup kettledrum dwarfed handels massive left leg encased white hose like giant sausage trussedup goose rests table front saucepan turtle soup bottom image motto spreads across snaking ribbon alone160 hedonists creedto follow ones lusts unimpeded dictates society even basic social graces good host160 clever representation selfdestructive nature gluttony goupy places handels bulging shoe right word slave lusts handel threatens stamp yet pig plays eat dimpled fingers keyboard wrapped around mutton leg much crueler simpler would soupy hog ham hock hand music surrounded temptations bloated body handel stares impassively ahead pipes front snout pure selfdelight organ sings music alone wallowing ones improvised harmonies apparently counts another form selfindulgence music another addiction alone hold handels others appetites bay would modern say true feast famine twin engines celebrity state defined rowdy night alternation weeks rehab indulgence resistance front back musical epicures menu delayed gratification spice life160 put modern terms goupy gives us handel great musicians gourmand codependants anecdotes corroborating handels mighty epicurean lusts circulated time later 18thcentury vignette involves gathering back handels brook street pad brings mind hollywood start repeatedly excusing already drunken table chateau marmont go snort lines alone handel large party dinner cloth removed introduced plain port drank four five glasses guests guests suddenly started upexclaimedi thought stalked room short absence returned drank glasses uttered sentenceretreated returned naturally supposed wished commit paper idea struck moment passed less hour third time startedgrowled outi thought third time left companyone gentlemen privately followed traced another apartment looking keyhole saw great master music kneel hamper champagne might conveniently reach flask nearly finished returned friends oh service dubious informant would rendered history iphone captured handel knees addiction one also admire refined intensity handels gluttony portrayed account drunkeness per se wasnt problem since port alcoholic champagne160 handel keeping good stuff celebritys jetfuel mixturestress chemicalsthreatened fragmentation great creative mind handels official biographer john mainwaring published account composers life year handels death took moralistic view subjects excessive indulgence lowest gratifications mainwaring describes physical psychic troubles piled top handels financial woes composer threw money pit opera fortune impaired health understanding160 rightarm become useless stroke plays greatly senses disordered intervals long time appeared hundred instances better forgotten recorded violent deviations reason usually seen strongest faculties happen thrown course intervention attempted handels friends tho best advice tho necessity following urged friendly manner utmost difficulty prevailed proper finally160 convinced save handel journeyed summer 1737 aixlachapelle take waters like gore vidal removing favorite la jolla spa dry out160 even handels appetite rehab enormous famed recovery center handel took recourse vaporbaths sat near three times long hath ever practice160 one wonders whether warm venues also provided opportunity samesex encounters waters worked160 handels recovery usually referred miraculous result would unlikely handel indeed suffered stroke160 speedy improvement subsequent relapse leads david hunter postulate lead poisoning back london handel returned old ways goupys engraving anecdotes like abovecited evocatively remind us corpulence dissipation blindness eventually ensued handel disgorged great body oratorios posthumous fame rests hunters convincing theories leadpoisoning goofily anachronistic diagnosis bingeeating modern effect exonerating handel charges gluttony condemnation sin replaced sympathetic science pathology160 centuries hedonism handel like everyone else merely victim denied opportunity make full public disclosure sprawling appetites oprah handels ghost watches wings outsized undergarments aired historys stage im sure ghost disapproves160 operas full timeless moments soul bared apparently unlucky love least measured monogamousand heterosexualstandard christian marriage handel poured soul characters especially female ones always interesting disclosures composers excesses handel picture certainly change ghost many costume changes make trawls wardrobe history inveterate theatermaker handel knows next act bring surprises opera isnt fat man sings david yearsley teaches cornell university longtime contributor anderson valley advertiser author bach meanings counterpointhis latest cd cares beguile songs sonatas baroque london released musica omnia reached dgy2cornelledu | 934 |
<p>Now we are treated to the semiannual spectacle of watching Republicans pretend they care about the deficit. They will hammer at this repeatedly as discussion progresses on the <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2012/02/13/obama-s-2013-budget-perfectly-reasonable-absolutely-terrible.html" type="external">president’s budget</a>, which projects a deficit of more than $1 trillion for this year and $901 billion for next. Obama and the Democrats generally have a history of quaking when this <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2012/02/13/obama-s-budget-gets-mixed-reviews-from-non-starter-to-his-boldest.html" type="external">deficit talk</a> starts up. But the best thing they can do now is stick to their guns and quote Dick Cheney: “Deficits don’t matter.” Growth matters. And for growth, <a href="/content/dailybeast/cheats/2012/02/13/obama-demands-tax-on-millionaires.html" type="external">we need investment</a>.</p>
<p>First, the Republican hypocrisy. I hope you are aware by now that they don’t actually care about deficits. They just care about money being spent on things they don’t like, which outside of overpriced ships the Navy probably doesn’t need and more reinforced steel for the border fence includes pretty much everything. If, say, instead of seeking to spend more money for transportation, Barack Obama had proposed cutting the top marginal tax rate down to 8 percent, well, that would have had a completely disastrous impact on future deficits. But you wouldn’t have seen Republicans complaining about that, because the rich deserve more of their money back.</p>
<p>You also didn’t see Republicans complaining about deficits when George W. Bush was running them up. Oh, a few did. But the protests were infrequent and mousy. By and large, Republicans shuffled along. It is astonishing, isn’t it, to think back on the prescription-drug benefit from 2003. An unfunded, roughly $500 billion expansion of socialized medicine (Medicare), and Tom DeLay kept the floor open for three extra hours so that the small number of Republicans who tried to take the Republican position on this could be browbeaten into voting with the White House. That episode, engineered by DeLay, was as close as we’ve come to legislative fascism in this country in a long, long time, both in the sense of the strong-arm tactics used and in the way it posited that day is night and black is white.</p>
<p>Of course, in 2003 the deficit was “just” $374 billion. This, remember, was only two years after Bush took office, met by a surplus of $237 billion. So he added $611 billion to the deficit in two short years, by diddling around with indefensible tax cuts for the wealthy (remember how they goosed the economy? Didn’t think so) and passing the aforementioned Medicare expansion to shore up the senior vote. Admittedly, Obama outpaced Bush. He added $1 trillion in a year. But we all know why. Well, some of us know why. The economy was going to die, and it needed money. Wall Street and the banks didn’t have it, so the government had to supply it.</p>
<p>The only problem with this was that it didn’t supply enough. I’ve started reading Noam Scheiber’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Escape-Artists-Noam-Scheiber/dp/1439172404" type="external">The Escape Arti$ts</a>, his new book about the Obama economic team’s successes and failures. Scheiber writes that Christina Romer, the administration’s first chief economist, got all the numbers on the economy from the Fed and other reputable sources and set out to determine how much federal intervention, free of political considerations, would be appropriate to prop up the collapsing economy. The number she and her staff settled on—$1.8 trillion—was so high that she didn’t even dare mention it at meetings. Obama, of course, did less than half that, which was the maximum that was politically possible.</p>
<p>After the heavy artillery fire he took for that, Obama decided he had to placate the deficit hawks, at least rhetorically, and so he did that for a while. But that collapsed, partly because the Republicans wouldn’t consider tax increases as part of the mix, and partly because he and the White House eventually figured out that trying to be moderate on these issues was both bad substance and lousy politics. It’s bad substance because, as much as it infuriates some people, government spending helps keep us afloat in hard times. And cutting that spending causes harm. For example, we are down about 610,000 government employees from the day <a href="http://data.bls.gov/timeseries/CES9000000001" type="external">Obama took office</a>. Most of those are at the state and local level, and while it’s hard to say how many are a result of the drastic cuts in federal aid to states, certainly many layoffs stem from budget cuts. Those cuts reduce the deficit, but they add directly to the jobless rolls. Is that what we’ve needed for these past two years? Obviously not.</p>
<p>And it’s bad politics because, as the White House now seems to grasp, it’s time to draw contrasts, and the public is largely on Obama’s side. People kinda-sorta say they care about the deficit, but they don’t, really, in large numbers. And to the extent that they do care, they’d rather raise taxes on the wealthy <a href="http://www.politicususa.com/en/polls-taxes-deficit" type="external">than cut programs</a>.</p>
<p>When the economy gets better, the deficit will start to heal itself. If the economy is truly picking up in the way the January jobs numbers suggest—and if unemployment goes down to around 8 percent by the end of the year—we’ll be poised for a recovery that will add jobs and tax revenue. At least, that is, until the next Republican president comes along and slashes taxes on multimillionaires, blowing another huge hole in the deficit (Mitt Romney’s hole, for example, would be $600 billion <a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-01-14/romney-tax-plan-adds-600-billion-to-deficit-analysis-says.html" type="external">in 2015 alone</a>). If Romney is actually elected, the same Republicans who are going to spend the next few months nattering about Obama’s irresponsibility will be marveling at President Romney’s courage.</p>
<p>But Obama standing firm against the deficit hypocrites will render a Romney presidency even more unlikely than it already is. Republicans use deficit politics to scare Democrats, and Democrats often respond exactly as Republicans hope. It’s time they stopped being afraid.</p> | true | 4 | treated semiannual spectacle watching republicans pretend care deficit hammer repeatedly discussion progresses presidents budget projects deficit 1 trillion year 901 billion next obama democrats generally history quaking deficit talk starts best thing stick guns quote dick cheney deficits dont matter growth matters growth need investment first republican hypocrisy hope aware dont actually care deficits care money spent things dont like outside overpriced ships navy probably doesnt need reinforced steel border fence includes pretty much everything say instead seeking spend money transportation barack obama proposed cutting top marginal tax rate 8 percent well would completely disastrous impact future deficits wouldnt seen republicans complaining rich deserve money back also didnt see republicans complaining deficits george w bush running oh protests infrequent mousy large republicans shuffled along astonishing isnt think back prescriptiondrug benefit 2003 unfunded roughly 500 billion expansion socialized medicine medicare tom delay kept floor open three extra hours small number republicans tried take republican position could browbeaten voting white house episode engineered delay close weve come legislative fascism country long long time sense strongarm tactics used way posited day night black white course 2003 deficit 374 billion remember two years bush took office met surplus 237 billion added 611 billion deficit two short years diddling around indefensible tax cuts wealthy remember goosed economy didnt think passing aforementioned medicare expansion shore senior vote admittedly obama outpaced bush added 1 trillion year know well us know economy going die needed money wall street banks didnt government supply problem didnt supply enough ive started reading noam scheibers escape artits new book obama economic teams successes failures scheiber writes christina romer administrations first chief economist got numbers economy fed reputable sources set determine much federal intervention free political considerations would appropriate prop collapsing economy number staff settled on18 trillionwas high didnt even dare mention meetings obama course less half maximum politically possible heavy artillery fire took obama decided placate deficit hawks least rhetorically collapsed partly republicans wouldnt consider tax increases part mix partly white house eventually figured trying moderate issues bad substance lousy politics bad substance much infuriates people government spending helps keep us afloat hard times cutting spending causes harm example 610000 government employees day obama took office state local level hard say many result drastic cuts federal aid states certainly many layoffs stem budget cuts cuts reduce deficit add directly jobless rolls weve needed past two years obviously bad politics white house seems grasp time draw contrasts public largely obamas side people kindasorta say care deficit dont really large numbers extent care theyd rather raise taxes wealthy cut programs economy gets better deficit start heal economy truly picking way january jobs numbers suggestand unemployment goes around 8 percent end yearwell poised recovery add jobs tax revenue least next republican president comes along slashes taxes multimillionaires blowing another huge hole deficit mitt romneys hole example would 600 billion 2015 alone romney actually elected republicans going spend next months nattering obamas irresponsibility marveling president romneys courage obama standing firm deficit hypocrites render romney presidency even unlikely already republicans use deficit politics scare democrats democrats often respond exactly republicans hope time stopped afraid | 517 |
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<p>Photo by SarahTz | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>So that’s it. The guy is crackers. There’s no stopping him. And Steve Bannon appears to have his hands on the levers. Poor old Jared Kushner, the son-in-law with the much-trumpeted power to “tame” the American president, couldn’t prevent that disgraceful White House Holocaust statement which somehow just failed to mention the Jews of Europe. Don’t tell me it was left out to appease the Armenians – whose own 1915 genocide was always left out by cowardly US presidents to avoid upsetting the Turks.</p>
<p>But now the White House is making some Israelis deeply concerned. In an extraordinary attack, Bradley Burston of the leftist Haaretz&#160;newspaper has fired off a volley at the White House. “It’s an inconceivably scary thought,” he wrote this week, “that the Trump administration is simply winging it, breakneck, disrupting and detonating and taking America apart – and all of it without a plan. But here’s the even scarier possibility – that there is, in fact, a plan.”</p>
<p>The plan, according to Burston, is a Holy War. “ <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/DonaldTrump" type="external">Donald Trump</a> needs a war. But not just any war. He needs just the right global non-Christian, all-powerful, all frightening, non-white, non-negotiable enemy… And he needs a doomsday weapon he can rely on. As it happens, he already has one. It’s called <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/steve-bannon" type="external">Steve Bannon</a>.” Burston has been combing through some of the nonsense spouted by Bannon at a Vatican conference in 2014.</p>
<p>Here’s a sample of what Trump’s new point man said then: “…we’re at the very beginning stages of a very brutal and bloody conflict, of which if the people in this room, the people in the church, do not bind together and really form what I feel is an aspect of the church militant … to fight for our belief against this new barbarity that’s starting, that will completely eradicate everything that we’ve been bequeathed over the last 2,000, 2,500 years.”</p>
<p>There’s no point in saying that this is preposterous. It is. “We’re now, I believe, at the beginning stages of a global war against Islamic fascism,” quoth Bannon. And Burston is right when he dissects this unpleasant oration for – and I quote Burston – “not only does it predict the imminence and the inevitability of a war pitting Christianity against Islam, it obliquely suggests that Jews could find themselves a target for US Christian anger somewhere down the road.”</p>
<p>When Bannon worked at Goldman Sachs, he told his Vatican listeners, he could see “there are people in New York that feel closer to people in London and in Berlin than they do to people in Kansas and in Colorado, and they have more of this elite mentality that they’re going to dictate to everybody how the world’s going to be run”.</p>
<p>Now I know that Boris doesn’t want us to compare Trump to Hitler – though Trump himself represents a kind of theatrical fascism – but the above quotation is pretty damning. This was indeed the kind of statement that could be made in the 1930s in Germany. And Burston goes on to fillet the Bannon speech a little further.</p>
<p>A few minutes after the above quotation – and here I quote Burston again – “Bannon exuberantly responds to a question about the 2014 Republican primary defeat of then-House majority leader Eric Cantor – at the time the sole Jewish Republican in either the House or Senate. Bannon, calling Cantor’s defeat “monumental” and “the biggest election upset in the history of the American Republic”… and says that Cantor’s opponent won because “Middle-class people and working-class people are tired of people like Eric Cantor&#160;…&#160;selling out their interests every day to crony capitalists”.</p>
<p>Now this is pretty dreadful stuff – and this, remember, is Trump’s senior advisor with a seat on the National Security Council. And despite all Trump’s glad-handing for Israel, I suspect that the Israelis themselves are going to have a far harder ride with Trump’s administration than with Obama’s. They might get the US embassy moved to Jerusalem – but they might also be very worried that folk like Bannon are going to provoke a war with Iran.</p>
<p>The problem is that when folk like Bannon become powerful in the most powerful nation in the world, they really can start wars. What did the US government mean, for example, that Iran was “on notice” after its recent missile test (the one which didn’t actually break any rules)?&#160;Was that a warning of dislike – or war?</p>
<p>Of course, when your President lives in fantasy land, you can only expect journalists to do the same. My long-standing chum Thomas Friedman has called upon America’s top business leaders to save American democracy – as if the most capitalist of all capitalists are going to oppose the President when they’re all waiting to see if Trump is going to get rid of Nafta and the EU which help, as Friedman says, to drive so much of the world economy.</p>
<p>And I doubt if the great and the good in the East Coast journalism trade are going to defend America from its elected leader. If they have been so afraid of offending Israel for so many years, they are certainly not going to offend Trump. But that’s the trouble at the moment. How can you be fair to a fantasist, of a man – of men – who simply tell untruths. I do suspect we’ve been down this road before. I seem to recall most Americans believed Saddam arranged the 9/11 attacks. And wasn’t the whole nonsense about “weapons of mass destruction” an “alternative fact”. And I do recall a little problem with the 45-minute warning. You don’t have to be an American president to dream up this stuff.</p>
<p>I think that May will have to summon up a little more courage if she’s going to represent her people’s view of Trump. And I do think that Boris should be careful about what he says on the subject of Hitler. No, Trump is not Hitler. But he has one characteristic in common with the infamous Austrian corporal. What he says he’s going to do is exactly what he does. And he’s got Bannon beside him.</p> | true | 4 | photo sarahtz cc 20 thats guy crackers theres stopping steve bannon appears hands levers poor old jared kushner soninlaw muchtrumpeted power tame american president couldnt prevent disgraceful white house holocaust statement somehow failed mention jews europe dont tell left appease armenians whose 1915 genocide always left cowardly us presidents avoid upsetting turks white house making israelis deeply concerned extraordinary attack bradley burston leftist haaretz160newspaper fired volley white house inconceivably scary thought wrote week trump administration simply winging breakneck disrupting detonating taking america apart without plan heres even scarier possibility fact plan plan according burston holy war donald trump needs war war needs right global nonchristian allpowerful frightening nonwhite nonnegotiable enemy needs doomsday weapon rely happens already one called steve bannon burston combing nonsense spouted bannon vatican conference 2014 heres sample trumps new point man said beginning stages brutal bloody conflict people room people church bind together really form feel aspect church militant fight belief new barbarity thats starting completely eradicate everything weve bequeathed last 2000 2500 years theres point saying preposterous believe beginning stages global war islamic fascism quoth bannon burston right dissects unpleasant oration quote burston predict imminence inevitability war pitting christianity islam obliquely suggests jews could find target us christian anger somewhere road bannon worked goldman sachs told vatican listeners could see people new york feel closer people london berlin people kansas colorado elite mentality theyre going dictate everybody worlds going run know boris doesnt want us compare trump hitler though trump represents kind theatrical fascism quotation pretty damning indeed kind statement could made 1930s germany burston goes fillet bannon speech little minutes quotation quote burston bannon exuberantly responds question 2014 republican primary defeat thenhouse majority leader eric cantor time sole jewish republican either house senate bannon calling cantors defeat monumental biggest election upset history american republic says cantors opponent middleclass people workingclass people tired people like eric cantor160160selling interests every day crony capitalists pretty dreadful stuff remember trumps senior advisor seat national security council despite trumps gladhanding israel suspect israelis going far harder ride trumps administration obamas might get us embassy moved jerusalem might also worried folk like bannon going provoke war iran problem folk like bannon become powerful powerful nation world really start wars us government mean example iran notice recent missile test one didnt actually break rules160was warning dislike war course president lives fantasy land expect journalists longstanding chum thomas friedman called upon americas top business leaders save american democracy capitalist capitalists going oppose president theyre waiting see trump going get rid nafta eu help friedman says drive much world economy doubt great good east coast journalism trade going defend america elected leader afraid offending israel many years certainly going offend trump thats trouble moment fair fantasist man men simply tell untruths suspect weve road seem recall americans believed saddam arranged 911 attacks wasnt whole nonsense weapons mass destruction alternative fact recall little problem 45minute warning dont american president dream stuff think may summon little courage shes going represent peoples view trump think boris careful says subject hitler trump hitler one characteristic common infamous austrian corporal says hes going exactly hes got bannon beside | 519 |
<p>NRA president David Keene (left) watches as executive vice president Wayne LaPierre testifies before the Senate in January.Fang Zhe/Xinhua/Zuma</p>
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<p>In the days leading up to last month’s crucial votes on the most significant gun control legislation to come before the Senate in nearly two decades, polls showed that about 90 percent of Americans supported background checks for all gun purchases. But when the clerk called the roll, the centerpiece amendment—requiring background checks for firearm sales at gun shows, through classified ads and on the internet—got just <a href="http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&amp;session=1&amp;vote=00097" type="external">54 yeas,</a> six votes short of the 60 vote supermajority required.</p>
<p>Just four months after Adam Lanza killed 26 people at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, and President Obama promised tougher gun laws, the vote proved to be the latest in a long-running string of victories for gun rights activists, the firearms industry, and particularly the National Rifle Association, the nation’s preeminent gun lobby.</p>
<p>The power of the gun lobby is rooted in multiple factors, among them the pure passion and single-mindedness of many gun owners, the NRA’s demonstrated ability to motivate its most fervent members to swarm their elected representatives, and the lobby’s ability to get out the vote on Election Day. But there’s little doubt that money, the political power it represents, and the fear of that power and money, which the NRA deftly exploits, have a lot to do with the group’s ability to repeatedly control the national debate about guns. Whether that fear is justified is an intriguing question—but it clearly exists. That has, perhaps, never been clearer than it was last month on Capitol Hill. &#160;</p>
<p>For starters, the dollars and cents disparities are nothing short of staggering. The NRA and its allies in the firearms industries, along with the even more militant Gun Owners of America, have together poured nearly $81 million into House, Senate, and presidential races since the 2000 election cycle, according to federal disclosures and a Center for Responsive Politics analysis done for the Center for Public Integrity.</p>
<p>The bulk of the cash—more than $46 million—has come in the form of independent expenditures made since court decisions in 2010 (especially the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision) essentially redefined electoral politics. Those decisions allowed individuals, corporations, associations, and unions to make unlimited “independent” expenditures aimed at electing or defeating candidates in federal elections, so long as the expenditures were not “coordinated” with a candidate’s actual campaign.</p>
<p>“Members of Congress pay attention to these numbers, and they know that in the last election cycle the NRA spent $18.6 million on various campaigns,” says <a href="http://sunlightfoundation.com/people/ldrutman/" type="external">Lee Drutman</a>, who has studied the role of gun money in politics for the Sunlight Foundation. “They know what the NRA is capable of doing and the kinds of ads they’re capable of running, and especially if you’re someone facing a close election, you don’t want hundreds of thousands and potentially millions of dollars in advertising to go against you.”</p>
<p>In the decade before Citizens United, from the 2000 election cycle to 2010, much of the money was donated directly to campaigns. During that period, pro-gun interests so thoroughly dominated electoral spending as to render gun control forces all but irrelevant, having directly donated fully 28 times the amount of their opponents in House and Senate races, $7 million on the pro-gun side compared to $245,000 on the gun control side. Of the total expended by gun rights interests, fully $3.9 million was delivered by the NRA. Since the Citizens United decision, gun control interests have gained new financial muscle, thanks largely to independent expenditures totaling at least $11.6 million by activist New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and groups tied to Bloomberg—nothing to sneeze at, but still just a fraction of that $46 million in post-2010 gun rights money.</p>
<p>Among the 46 senators who voted to prevent any expansion of background checks, 43 have received help—either direct campaign contributions or independent expenditures—from pro-gun interests since 2000; in aggregate about $8.5 million. NRA expenditures ranged anywhere from a $95 contribution in one race to more than $2.6 million spent on the 2010 election of Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.). A total of 38 of those senators have gotten $15,000 or more in overall NRA help since 2000. Among the leaders: Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), $1.2 million; Rob Portman (R-Ohio), $1.35 million; Richard Burr (R-N.C.), $852,000: John Thune (R-S.D.), $717,000; and Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), $355,000. In several races, gun rights groups spent independent money both for one candidate and against his opponent ( <a href="" type="internal">see chart</a>). Forty-one of the 46 who voted with gun rights groups against expanded background checks were Republican.</p>
<p>Five Democrats also voted against the background check amendment, although Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid did so to preserve his right under the Senate’s arcane rules to bring the measure up again. Reid, who has a B rating from the NRA, has benefited from $30,200 from gun rights groups since 2000, including $18,400 from the NRA. The other four Democrats who bucked their party and voted with the NRA, have benefited from a mere $30,830 in total funding from gun rights groups since 2000. Max Baucus of Montana (NRA A+) was the beneficiary of $28,830 while Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor (NRA C-) got $2,000. Mark Begich of Alaska (NRA A) and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota (NRA A) have received no money from gun rights groups.</p>
<p>As for the 54 senators who voted in favor of expanding background checks, at least 18 of them have also benefited from gun rights group help since 2000. By far the largest chunk—$1.7 million—benefited a single NRA “defector,” Sen. Patrick Toomey (R-Pa.), the coauthor of the background check amendment. The money those 54 have received since 2000 from gun control groups totals just $608,827.</p>
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<p>*Gun rights figures include contributions made by political action committees that advocate for firearm freedoms, as well as identifiable gun rights group leaders and activists. Totals do not include contributions of $200 or less, which do not have to be reported to the Federal Election Commission.</p>
<p>Top recipients of direct donations from gun control groups since 2000**</p>
<p>*Gun control figures include contributions made by political action committees that advocate for firearm restrictions, as well as identifiable gun control group leaders and activists. Totals do not include contributions of $200 or less, which do not have to be reported to the Federal Election Commission.</p>
<p>Bloomberg, who founded Mayors Against Illegal Guns in 2006, is a relatively new player in the gun debate but apparently wants to level the playing field. With a fortune estimated by Forbes magazine at about $27 billion, he has taken on the issue with great deliberation, organizing political allies, financing sophisticated research and, more recently, spending sizable amounts of his own money on pro-gun control television ads and elections. Prior to the most recent Senate votes Bloomberg said he would spend $12 million on issue ads aimed at 13 key senators, only four of whom ended up supporting his position. He has reportedly made a <a href="http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/02/11/16927831-bloomberg-made-six-figure-donation-to-giffords-led-group" type="external">six-figure donation</a> to Americans for Responsible Solutions, a group run by former Rep.&#160;Gabrielle Giffords&#160;(D-Ariz.) and her husband Mark Kelly, which financed television ads encouraging senators to vote for tougher background checks. And Mayors Against Illegal Guns is <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/politics/mark-pryor-may-soon-have-a-bloomberg-problem-20130423" type="external">contemplating an ad campaign</a> to make an example of Arkansas Democrat Mark Pryor because of his vote against the background check proposal.</p>
<p>Most of Bloomberg’s campaign money so far has gone to House races; his Independence USA PAC, a super-PAC that can raise and spend unlimited money, has spent more than $11 million on six such races, mostly in 2012, with victories in half. In February, the PAC scored a major victory when it spent $2.8 million in Illinois to defeat NRA-endorsed former Rep. Deborah Halvorson and elect Robin Kelly, both Democrats, in a race to fill the vacant seat of former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. Halvorson had an A rating from the NRA during her one term in Congress. Independence USA PAC also scored a victory in California where it spent $3.3 million to defeat an NRA A-rated Republican, Joe Baca, for a House seat; and it helped unseat A-rated and NRA-endorsed Republican Ann Marie Buerkle in New York. In Orlando, Fla., Bloomberg’s super-PAC spent $2 million in an unsuccessful effort to unseat Republican Daniel Webster. Webster had an A rating from the NRA, which endorsed his candidacy. His opponent, Val Demings, was rated F. In Illinois, Bloomberg spent nearly $1 million in a failed bid to keep Republican Robert Dold (NRA rating of D) in the House. Dold lost by less than 3,000 votes. Bloomberg has also spent nearly $60,000 of his own money on 16 Senate candidates since 2007, and Bloomberg also contributed $500,000 to a political action committee supporting the 2012 Senate election of Maine Independent Angus King.</p>
<p>Bloomberg has said he’s prepared to tap his personal fortune to support gun control—or what he prefers to call “anti-crime”—candidates and defeat those aligned with the NRA. And he recently announced that the mayors’ group will publish its own NRA-style ratings of senators on the gun issue. He hasn’t said how much he’s willing to spend, but if the races he’s gotten involved in so far are any indication, it’s going to be a lot. Stefan Friedman, the spokesman for Bloomberg’s Independence USA PAC, said the NRA has had “a wide open playing field for decades” and that’s no longer the case. “The Mayor’s been relatively clear in the wake of last [month’s] decisions in Washington and in other comments that this is an issue he cares passionately about.” So far, Bloomerg’s Independence USA PAC may only be batting 50 percent, but no one seriously doubts that a few million dollars thrown at a race for a House seat or a state legislative contest could have a huge effect. If Bloomberg is serious about staying in this game, he will undoubtedly make a difference. Says NRA president David Keene, “We can’t outspend Bloomberg.”</p>
<p>That remains to be seen. But a closer look at the background check vote—and NRA influence generally—reveals that there’s more at play than just cash. A lot more. The backgrounds and histories of the two sponsors of the background check amendment—Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat and Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican—illustrate some of those complexities.</p>
<p>Both Manchin and Toomey have A ratings from the NRA—or at least they did until last month. Both represent states with large numbers of gun owners. Pennsylvania has more NRA members than any other state, and sells more <a href="http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/Subpages/LicenseInfo/HuntingLicCertHistory20042012.pdf" type="external">hunting licenses</a> each year (2.5 million in 2012) than any state except Wisconsin. And Toomey has been the Senate’s leading beneficiary of NRA largesse. In 2010 the NRA spent more than $1.79 million to elect him and an additional $1.15 million on negative advertising to defeat his Democratic opponent Joe Sestak Jr. Thanks in part to those court decisions that loosened campaign finance limits, the nearly $3 million the NRA spent on the Toomey race was more than three times the total amount spent by the NRA for all of Toomey’s Senate colleagues combined between 2000 and 2010.</p>
<p>Asked about its spending on Toomey—the most the NRA has ever spent on any candidate—NRA president Keene joked, “It just shows what money can do for you.” The reality, however, as Keene acknowledged, is that the NRA’s spending on that particular race—in which Toomey spent a total of $17 million against his opponent’s $12 million—may have very well made a critical difference. Toomey won by only two percent of the vote.</p>
<p>But when it came to Toomey’s vote on expanded background checks, other factors were at play. “The Manchin-Toomey proposal,” says <a href="http://www.fandm.edu/politics/dr-g-terry-madonna" type="external">G. Terry Madonna</a>, a political scientist and pollster at Franklin &amp; Marshall College, “is very similar to a Pennsylvania law which was approved by a legislature that was Republican controlled, and signed into law by Republican Gov. Tom Ridge with the support of the NRA.” According to Madonna, Pennsylvania’s expanded background checks, first approved in 1995 and amended in 1998, were non-controversial.</p>
<p>Defending his proposal on the Senate floor, Toomey was careful to affirm his pro-gun credentials, insisting that “there is absolutely no way that this can be construed as an infringement on Second Amendment rights.” He argued that his proposal was a modest effort “to make it a little bit more difficult for criminals and the dangerously mentally ill to purchase handguns.” Toomey noted that under current Pennsylvania law, “anyone who buys a handgun anywhere at any time has a background check.” Having lived with such checks for more than a decade, Toomey apparently agrees with Madonna that they have been a non-issue for most of his constituents.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the history of the background check issue still speaks to the power of the NRA. The organization knows it can’t win every race or every vote. But it can turn what was once a total non-issue—expanded background checks—into a matter of existential concern for senators. Making that case at the national level was particularly audacious because the NRA not only endorsed background checks for Pennsylvania back in 1995, in 1999 it supported them for the nation at large. Testifying before Congress following the Columbine High School shooting in Colorado, NRA executive vice president <a href="http://judiciary.house.gov/legacy/lapierre.htm" type="external">Wayne LaPierre testified</a> that “it’s reasonable to provide mandatory instant criminal background checks for every sale at every gun show. No loopholes anywhere for anyone.”</p>
<p>Asked about the contradiction at a <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njBvpxhsa_Y" type="external">Senate Judiciary Committee hearing</a> in January, LaPierre equivocated, but said the NRA believes the current law is not being enforced and therefore should not be expanded. “I think the National Instant [Criminal Background] Check System the way it’s working now is a failure because this administration is not prosecuting the people that they catch” when they fail a background check.</p>
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<p>Hits and Misses The Citizens United decision largely freed the National Rifle Association to spend unlimited amounts of cash to overtly support or oppose political candidates, so long as the spending wasn’t coordinated with the actual campaigns. And NRA cash flowed especially freely in these four Senate races. The red portions indicate the amount spent in support of the Republican candidate; the blue portions show the amount spent to oppose the Democratic candidate. Hover over each portion to identify the candidate and amount spent.</p>
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<p>Credit: Dave Levinthal, Alan Berlow and Paul Williams.&#160;Source: Center for Responsive Politics.</p>
<p>Whatever the reasoning, clearly the NRA’s gifts were not a key factor for Toomey in deciding to sponsor the background check amendment. A total of 14 other senators who have benefited from gun lobby money also supported his amendment. On the other hand, three senators who never received a single dollar from gun rights interests—Begich and Heitkamp, the two Democrats mentioned earlier, as well as Republican Dan Coats of Indiana—nonetheless voted against expanded background checks last month. Overall, at least 60 of the Senate’s 100 members have benefited from at least $1,000 from the gun lobby during their careers.</p>
<p>Of course the background check amendment was not the only gun control proposal NRA supporters helped defeat. Senators also voted down a ban on assault weapons (40-60), a limit on large capacity magazines (46-54), and what might have seemed a thoroughly noncontroversial measure to make gun trafficking a crime (58-42). On top of that, they nearly passed (57-43) what is probably the NRA’s top legislative priority, a “reciprocity” measure that would have allowed citizens holding concealed weapons permits from any state to legally carry them in any other state that allows for concealed carry, even those with much tougher rules.</p>
<p>NRA President Keene says claims that his organization simply buys votes with campaign contributions completely misunderstand the way the lobby works. The NRA, he says, is active in every state on a wide range of gun issues, and uses a broad range of tactics. “In a typical state we represent 10 percent of the persuadable Second Amendment voters” on any given gun issue, Keene says. Those voters, he says, include Democrats, independents, and union members who are not only passionate about gun rights, but who rely on NRA ratings of members and endorsements of candidates at the ballot box. Keene says these gun owners are willing to pick up a phone and make a call when asked and cited one senator who he said got 5,000 phone calls opposing expanded background checks prior to the Senate vote. “It isn’t the money but the endorsements” that motivate lawmakers, Keene said. And those endorsements come from voting the NRA line.</p>
<p>Among the 42 Republicans who voted against stronger background checks, 40 are rated A or A+ by the NRA, meaning they virtually always vote with the NRA. Among the 41 Democrats who voted in favor of stronger background checks, 35 received ratings of D or F from the gun organization.</p>
<p><a href="http://web.bryant.edu/~gcarter/bio/bio.html" type="external">Gregg Lee Carter</a>, a professor of sociology at Bryant College in Rhode Island and the editor of Guns in American Society, generally agrees with Keene’s view on the role of money, although he states the case differently. “The issue is not so much how much the NRA gives any senator or member of the House, it’s how they can make their lives miserable. And how they make their lives miserable is they e-mail ’em, they call ’em, they fax ’em, they show up at meetings. The typical person who is for gun control is very different from the [pro-gun] person calling you or being right there, being an annoyance, hassling you personally. They’re much more activist than the other side and that’s what really produces their gains.”</p>
<p>Yet when it comes to campaign contributions, Carter says that the amount contributed by the NRA is most often a minuscule percentage of a House or Senate candidate’s overall campaign budget. “Money is important,” he says, “but that’s not what it’s really about.”</p>
<p>It is difficult to say with any precision how often lawmakers are swayed by the gun lobby’s money or its endorsements. But there’s no question some fear the NRA’s ability to make their lives miserable. Suffice to say that at least two Democrats who are up for reelection in 2014 and voted with the NRA against tighter background checks—Begich of Alaska and Pryor of Arkansas—were probably unwilling to test their luck.</p>
<p>There are 26 senators up for reelection in 2014.&#160; Since none of these lawmakers have run since the Citizens United decision, the amounts they’ve received from both sides have been modest.&#160; In reality, the number of those who are actually vulnerable to pressure from either pro- or anti-gun money and lobbying is probably relatively small, and neither the NRA nor Bloomberg can be expected to throw large amounts of money at either Senate or House races where they have little chance of winning. What makes an incumbent fearful of pressure on gun issues is an inexact science, but a recent analysis by New York Times data guru Nate Silver suggests that a key factor to look at is the rate of gun ownership in a given state. Silver found that among the 26 senators up next year, there was a <a href="http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/the-gun-vote-and-2014-will-there-be-an-electoral-price/" type="external">“near perfect” correlation</a> between gun ownership in their states and how those senators voted on the background check amendment. Where gun ownership in a state was 42 percent or above, 13 of 14 senators voted no; where ownership was below 42 percent, 11 of 12 voted yes. &#160;</p>
<p>But not all fear—even fear of the NRA—is rational. And it is by no means evident from the record that the average senator or congressman should fear the NRA anywhere as much as many apparently do. In 2012, the NRA invested $4.3 million in 16 Senate races, but won in only 3. It endorsed 20 candidates, but only 9 of them were victorious. In 15 Senate races during 2010 and 2012 in which the NRA made its largest contributions—$200,000 or more either to support a candidate it favored or to defeat one it opposed—it won only six times. The NRA also spent $13.6 million last year to elect Mitt Romney and to convince voters, as LaPierre <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAUdxT992yI" type="external">told a conservative audience</a> in 2011, that President Obama, once reelected, planned to “get busy dismantling and destroying our firearms freedom—erase the Second Amendment from the Bill of Rights and exorcize it from the US Constitution.” Most Americans were unconvinced.</p>
<p>The NRA may be losing a lot of elections but, as it noted in a <a href="http://www.nraila.org/news-issues/articles/2012/brady-campaign-batting-zero.aspx" type="external">statement</a> last November, “both the US Senate and the US House will continue to have pro-gun majorities.” The NRA’s genius for convincing a substantial number of gun owners that they are at Armageddon’s doorstep at any given moment has also been terrific for the group’s bottom line. Although its critics have long challenged the NRA’s <a href="" type="internal">claim to 4 million members</a>, Keene now says the NRA has added an additional million since President Obama pleaded for new gun laws in the wake of the Newtown murders.</p>
<p>Meanwhile the NRA’s most recent <a href="http://soprweb.senate.gov/index.cfm?event=getFilingDetails&amp;filingID=2e249df5-6a71-4f07-8d08-74bba2e6f5b2&amp;filingTypeID=51" type="external">lobbying report</a> shows that the organization and its legislative affiliate spent at least $800,000 lobbying the federal government during the first three months of 2013. In the previous year, the NRA spent $2.5 million on lobbying, 62 times as much money as the $40,000 spent by the leading pro-gun control advocacy organization, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.</p>
<p>Regardless of which side you’re on, it hardly seems like a fair fight. But it is a decisive fight. The NRA was victorious on every gun vote cast in the recent Senate debate and may have buried the chances for any gun control this year. It was by almost any measure an impressive performance—whatever the reason.</p>
<p>The Center for Public Integrity is a non-profit, independent investigative news outlet. For more of its stories on this topic go to <a href="http://www.publicintegrity.org" type="external">publicintegrity.org</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | nra president david keene left watches executive vice president wayne lapierre testifies senate januaryfang zhexinhuazuma days leading last months crucial votes significant gun control legislation come senate nearly two decades polls showed 90 percent americans supported background checks gun purchases clerk called roll centerpiece amendmentrequiring background checks firearm sales gun shows classified ads internetgot 54 yeas six votes short 60 vote supermajority required four months adam lanza killed 26 people sandy hook elementary school newtown connecticut president obama promised tougher gun laws vote proved latest longrunning string victories gun rights activists firearms industry particularly national rifle association nations preeminent gun lobby power gun lobby rooted multiple factors among pure passion singlemindedness many gun owners nras demonstrated ability motivate fervent members swarm elected representatives lobbys ability get vote election day theres little doubt money political power represents fear power money nra deftly exploits lot groups ability repeatedly control national debate guns whether fear justified intriguing questionbut clearly exists perhaps never clearer last month capitol hill 160 starters dollars cents disparities nothing short staggering nra allies firearms industries along even militant gun owners america together poured nearly 81 million house senate presidential races since 2000 election cycle according federal disclosures center responsive politics analysis done center public integrity bulk cashmore 46 millionhas come form independent expenditures made since court decisions 2010 especially supreme courts citizens united decision essentially redefined electoral politics decisions allowed individuals corporations associations unions make unlimited independent expenditures aimed electing defeating candidates federal elections long expenditures coordinated candidates actual campaign members congress pay attention numbers know last election cycle nra spent 186 million various campaigns says lee drutman studied role gun money politics sunlight foundation know nra capable kinds ads theyre capable running especially youre someone facing close election dont want hundreds thousands potentially millions dollars advertising go decade citizens united 2000 election cycle 2010 much money donated directly campaigns period progun interests thoroughly dominated electoral spending render gun control forces irrelevant directly donated fully 28 times amount opponents house senate races 7 million progun side compared 245000 gun control side total expended gun rights interests fully 39 million delivered nra since citizens united decision gun control interests gained new financial muscle thanks largely independent expenditures totaling least 116 million activist new york city mayor michael bloomberg groups tied bloombergnothing sneeze still fraction 46 million post2010 gun rights money among 46 senators voted prevent expansion background checks 43 received helpeither direct campaign contributions independent expendituresfrom progun interests since 2000 aggregate 85 million nra expenditures ranged anywhere 95 contribution one race 26 million spent 2010 election sen roy blunt rmo total 38 senators gotten 15000 overall nra help since 2000 among leaders ron johnson rwis 12 million rob portman rohio 135 million richard burr rnc 852000 john thune rsd 717000 saxby chambliss rga 355000 several races gun rights groups spent independent money one candidate opponent see chart fortyone 46 voted gun rights groups expanded background checks republican five democrats also voted background check amendment although senate majority leader harry reid preserve right senates arcane rules bring measure reid b rating nra benefited 30200 gun rights groups since 2000 including 18400 nra four democrats bucked party voted nra benefited mere 30830 total funding gun rights groups since 2000 max baucus montana nra beneficiary 28830 arkansas sen mark pryor nra c got 2000 mark begich alaska nra heidi heitkamp north dakota nra received money gun rights groups 54 senators voted favor expanding background checks least 18 also benefited gun rights group help since 2000 far largest chunk17 millionbenefited single nra defector sen patrick toomey rpa coauthor background check amendment money 54 received since 2000 gun control groups totals 608827 gun rights figures include contributions made political action committees advocate firearm freedoms well identifiable gun rights group leaders activists totals include contributions 200 less reported federal election commission top recipients direct donations gun control groups since 2000 gun control figures include contributions made political action committees advocate firearm restrictions well identifiable gun control group leaders activists totals include contributions 200 less reported federal election commission bloomberg founded mayors illegal guns 2006 relatively new player gun debate apparently wants level playing field fortune estimated forbes magazine 27 billion taken issue great deliberation organizing political allies financing sophisticated research recently spending sizable amounts money progun control television ads elections prior recent senate votes bloomberg said would spend 12 million issue ads aimed 13 key senators four ended supporting position reportedly made sixfigure donation americans responsible solutions group run former rep160gabrielle giffords160dariz husband mark kelly financed television ads encouraging senators vote tougher background checks mayors illegal guns contemplating ad campaign make example arkansas democrat mark pryor vote background check proposal bloombergs campaign money far gone house races independence usa pac superpac raise spend unlimited money spent 11 million six races mostly 2012 victories half february pac scored major victory spent 28 million illinois defeat nraendorsed former rep deborah halvorson elect robin kelly democrats race fill vacant seat former rep jesse jackson jr halvorson rating nra one term congress independence usa pac also scored victory california spent 33 million defeat nra arated republican joe baca house seat helped unseat arated nraendorsed republican ann marie buerkle new york orlando fla bloombergs superpac spent 2 million unsuccessful effort unseat republican daniel webster webster rating nra endorsed candidacy opponent val demings rated f illinois bloomberg spent nearly 1 million failed bid keep republican robert dold nra rating house dold lost less 3000 votes bloomberg also spent nearly 60000 money 16 senate candidates since 2007 bloomberg also contributed 500000 political action committee supporting 2012 senate election maine independent angus king bloomberg said hes prepared tap personal fortune support gun controlor prefers call anticrimecandidates defeat aligned nra recently announced mayors group publish nrastyle ratings senators gun issue hasnt said much hes willing spend races hes gotten involved far indication going lot stefan friedman spokesman bloombergs independence usa pac said nra wide open playing field decades thats longer case mayors relatively clear wake last months decisions washington comments issue cares passionately far bloomergs independence usa pac may batting 50 percent one seriously doubts million dollars thrown race house seat state legislative contest could huge effect bloomberg serious staying game undoubtedly make difference says nra president david keene cant outspend bloomberg remains seen closer look background check voteand nra influence generallyreveals theres play cash lot backgrounds histories two sponsors background check amendmentjoe manchin west virginia democrat pat toomey pennsylvania republicanillustrate complexities manchin toomey ratings nraor least last month represent states large numbers gun owners pennsylvania nra members state sells hunting licenses year 25 million 2012 state except wisconsin toomey senates leading beneficiary nra largesse 2010 nra spent 179 million elect additional 115 million negative advertising defeat democratic opponent joe sestak jr thanks part court decisions loosened campaign finance limits nearly 3 million nra spent toomey race three times total amount spent nra toomeys senate colleagues combined 2000 2010 asked spending toomeythe nra ever spent candidatenra president keene joked shows money reality however keene acknowledged nras spending particular racein toomey spent total 17 million opponents 12 millionmay well made critical difference toomey two percent vote came toomeys vote expanded background checks factors play manchintoomey proposal says g terry madonna political scientist pollster franklin amp marshall college similar pennsylvania law approved legislature republican controlled signed law republican gov tom ridge support nra according madonna pennsylvanias expanded background checks first approved 1995 amended 1998 noncontroversial defending proposal senate floor toomey careful affirm progun credentials insisting absolutely way construed infringement second amendment rights argued proposal modest effort make little bit difficult criminals dangerously mentally ill purchase handguns toomey noted current pennsylvania law anyone buys handgun anywhere time background check lived checks decade toomey apparently agrees madonna nonissue constituents nevertheless history background check issue still speaks power nra organization knows cant win every race every vote turn total nonissueexpanded background checksinto matter existential concern senators making case national level particularly audacious nra endorsed background checks pennsylvania back 1995 1999 supported nation large testifying congress following columbine high school shooting colorado nra executive vice president wayne lapierre testified reasonable provide mandatory instant criminal background checks every sale every gun show loopholes anywhere anyone asked contradiction senate judiciary committee hearing january lapierre equivocated said nra believes current law enforced therefore expanded think national instant criminal background check system way working failure administration prosecuting people catch fail background check hits misses citizens united decision largely freed national rifle association spend unlimited amounts cash overtly support oppose political candidates long spending wasnt coordinated actual campaigns nra cash flowed especially freely four senate races red portions indicate amount spent support republican candidate blue portions show amount spent oppose democratic candidate hover portion identify candidate amount spent credit dave levinthal alan berlow paul williams160source center responsive politics whatever reasoning clearly nras gifts key factor toomey deciding sponsor background check amendment total 14 senators benefited gun lobby money also supported amendment hand three senators never received single dollar gun rights interestsbegich heitkamp two democrats mentioned earlier well republican dan coats indiananonetheless voted expanded background checks last month overall least 60 senates 100 members benefited least 1000 gun lobby careers course background check amendment gun control proposal nra supporters helped defeat senators also voted ban assault weapons 4060 limit large capacity magazines 4654 might seemed thoroughly noncontroversial measure make gun trafficking crime 5842 top nearly passed 5743 probably nras top legislative priority reciprocity measure would allowed citizens holding concealed weapons permits state legally carry state allows concealed carry even much tougher rules nra president keene says claims organization simply buys votes campaign contributions completely misunderstand way lobby works nra says active every state wide range gun issues uses broad range tactics typical state represent 10 percent persuadable second amendment voters given gun issue keene says voters says include democrats independents union members passionate gun rights rely nra ratings members endorsements candidates ballot box keene says gun owners willing pick phone make call asked cited one senator said got 5000 phone calls opposing expanded background checks prior senate vote isnt money endorsements motivate lawmakers keene said endorsements come voting nra line among 42 republicans voted stronger background checks 40 rated nra meaning virtually always vote nra among 41 democrats voted favor stronger background checks 35 received ratings f gun organization gregg lee carter professor sociology bryant college rhode island editor guns american society generally agrees keenes view role money although states case differently issue much much nra gives senator member house make lives miserable make lives miserable email em call em fax em show meetings typical person gun control different progun person calling right annoyance hassling personally theyre much activist side thats really produces gains yet comes campaign contributions carter says amount contributed nra often minuscule percentage house senate candidates overall campaign budget money important says thats really difficult say precision often lawmakers swayed gun lobbys money endorsements theres question fear nras ability make lives miserable suffice say least two democrats reelection 2014 voted nra tighter background checksbegich alaska pryor arkansaswere probably unwilling test luck 26 senators reelection 2014160 since none lawmakers run since citizens united decision amounts theyve received sides modest160 reality number actually vulnerable pressure either pro antigun money lobbying probably relatively small neither nra bloomberg expected throw large amounts money either senate house races little chance winning makes incumbent fearful pressure gun issues inexact science recent analysis new york times data guru nate silver suggests key factor look rate gun ownership given state silver found among 26 senators next year near perfect correlation gun ownership states senators voted background check amendment gun ownership state 42 percent 13 14 senators voted ownership 42 percent 11 12 voted yes 160 feareven fear nrais rational means evident record average senator congressman fear nra anywhere much many apparently 2012 nra invested 43 million 16 senate races 3 endorsed 20 candidates 9 victorious 15 senate races 2010 2012 nra made largest contributions200000 either support candidate favored defeat one opposedit six times nra also spent 136 million last year elect mitt romney convince voters lapierre told conservative audience 2011 president obama reelected planned get busy dismantling destroying firearms freedomerase second amendment bill rights exorcize us constitution americans unconvinced nra may losing lot elections noted statement last november us senate us house continue progun majorities nras genius convincing substantial number gun owners armageddons doorstep given moment also terrific groups bottom line although critics long challenged nras claim 4 million members keene says nra added additional million since president obama pleaded new gun laws wake newtown murders meanwhile nras recent lobbying report shows organization legislative affiliate spent least 800000 lobbying federal government first three months 2013 previous year nra spent 25 million lobbying 62 times much money 40000 spent leading progun control advocacy organization brady campaign prevent gun violence regardless side youre hardly seems like fair fight decisive fight nra victorious every gun vote cast recent senate debate may buried chances gun control year almost measure impressive performancewhatever reason center public integrity nonprofit independent investigative news outlet stories topic go publicintegrityorg | 2,158 |
<p>…[A]s an outside observer…it is my conviction that I live in a society in which the traditional….patriarchal subjection of women has been compounded with an entirely new interiorized discrimination, which was unknown previously.</p>
<p>— David Cayley, <a href="" type="internal">Ivan Illich In Conversation</a></p>
<p>I will not allow the shadow of some brilliant future, of something which is to come, to fall on the concepts with which I try to grasp what is and what has been…I’m not one to dream about a totally degendered population of cyborgs, cybernetic organisms…I stand looking backwards, not forwards to what will happen in the next ten years.&#160; I look backwards, to the sad loss of that ….[gender] duality, which is gone.&#160; I have no fantasy about it coming back.</p>
<p>—&#160;Ibid.</p>
<p>The rustic Jew of Eastern Europe is a type completely unknown in the West….many [of whom] have the healthy common sense that one finds in the countryside and that develops wherever a sensible race is immediately subject to the laws of nature.”</p>
<p>— Joseph Roth, <a href="" type="internal">The Wandering Jews</a></p>
<p>When I was 20 years old, and braver in some ways than now, I traveled to Europe with a couple of friends, flying Icelandic, to hitchhike around, see the sights, have an adventure.&#160; Our male companion drifted away from us after Paris, where we spent just a couple of days.&#160; Our real goal in this otherwise improvisational trip, was Italy, to the north, where my woman companion had relatives, then to Florence where another mutual friend from an entirely different class than ourselves, was studying art.&#160; After a few weeks in Florence, we decided to trek on to Greece, and found ourselves in the port of Brindisi, the departure point for passage across the Adriatic.&#160; There we were instantly hounded by a gang of young men, asking us repeatedly&#160; “Do you speak English?” or “Sprechen sie deutsch?” etc.&#160; After several minutes of this annoyance, when we’d been somewhat cornered in a park, my friend spun around on our tormentors and flashed at them,&#160; “Do you speak English?”&#160; Several of them nodded eagerly.&#160; “You are assholes,” she shouted.&#160; After that, as memory serves, they left us alone.&#160; My admiration for my friend was boundless.&#160; I was from the school of polite endurance, of passive American girls who acquiesce, rather than saying “No!”&#160; Whether a remnant of my maternal side genteel English class heritage or not I don’t know;&#160; the habit did not serve me well in a working class environment where politeness is weakness and passivity could be interpreted as Yes.</p>
<p>What this story speaks of to me is the fact that women possess the capacity to fight (to me it was not coincidental that my friend had been raised as her father’s “son”), and that inasmuch as we have not been so taught, we resort to appeals to authorities to fight for us; we turn to the “patriarchy” to defend us and punish our offenders.&#160; By ‘the capacity to fight,’ I do not mean to maim, bully or punish, but simply, to summon from one’s own self the “No Pasaran” that is recognizable to any belligerent.&#160; (Recall the scene in Toni Morrison’s <a href="" type="internal">Sula</a>, when Sula unnerves the white bullies coming after her and Nel by cutting off the tip of her finger, while Nel remains paralyzed in fright.&#160; A “No Pasaran” moment!)</p>
<p>My aim is not to minimize the real insults being exposed in Me Too, but to ask if it’s possible to conceive that we could, in theory, rediscover this spirit of taking no bullshit.&#160; Surely even those of us conditioned to niceness have&#160; aggression in our nature, (not just passive-aggression), and could in good anti-faschist fashion, stand firm against those who mean us harm instead of after-the-fact seeking damages for an unwitnessed incident.&#160;&#160; The catch is this capacity to stand up for our own dignity would include all circumstances where it is demeaned, including show-all Rolling Stone magazine covers.&#160; Would not this refusal to sacrifice our dignity be a way to prevent “sexual misconduct,” not merely react to it, and to send a less mixed message to the powerful men, most of whom have decency in their nature just as we have aggression in ours?</p>
<p>The social context in which we’ve lost the cultural habit of solidarity with men that binds across this fundamental nature-given difference, is one in which we’ve surrendered our dignity generally in return for membership in the dominant, dehumanizing and destructive neoliberal economic order.&#160; Gendered difference disappears, replaced with a survival-of-the-fittest mentality between competing “equals” that has no goal and no loyalty beyond personal survival.&#160; Not having been&#160; taught to keep the fight local, don’t call in the police; they’re not your friends, in this increasingly unhinged Me Too moment women are calling in the authorities on every man who has hounded us, behaved in a way that made us feel uncomfortable, “forced” us to perform oral sex (without threat of&#160; gun or knife), and so on.&#160; Every outrage we’ve ever put up with now is fuel for a fury so intense it burns and destroys.&#160; How much of this endless sexual war is due to the loss of culture and community that kept us consciously in relation to each other,&#160; our personal No Pasaran firmly in place?</p>
<p>Groups of the oppressed – such as the Jews of pre-WWII eastern Europe, or African-Americans, communities that have maintained their culture by necessity, against the onslaughts of imperialist capitalism and structural racism, provide a vision of how this might have been done differently.&#160; Dominant history in the west, however, upholds that it was for the&#160; best we let go of the old ways, steeped in superstition, religion and the miserable struggle for subsistence as they were.&#160; With this bathwater, out went the “baby” –&#160; the “common sense” built over centuries in villages and countrysides in Europe and&#160; “wherever a sensible race is immediately subject to the laws of nature,” replaced with obedience to the dominant economic order.</p>
<p>With Me Too’s focus where it is, on man’s injury to woman,&#160; the capitalist for-profit system can wash its hands.&#160; Eyes glued to salacious details are off the oppressive economic order that has over time erased our cultures, communities and is set to destroy all life on the planet.&#160; Are we to see these as mild offenses,&#160; compared to the victimization caused by “sexual misconduct” that apparently now includes the fumblings and miscues of dating and “hooking up?”&#160; Eyes are off the puppeteers that pit us against each other in the competitive scramble for the ‘goods’ offered, goods that do not include the good of genuine individual identity – ( i.e., the ` struggle of the individual with his/her own daemon, not the Ayn Randian struggle of the capitalist titan against the others) – nor the good of human community in which each can be recognized for his/her best self, nor the good of a world in which our country does not need to depend upon the suffering of other people in other lands and on the destruction of the earth, for its own materialist well-being.</p>
<p>Eyes are off the fascism discernible in this mood of furious vengeance that casts the offender as a special category of monster, tosses aside due process, innocence until proven guilty, and ruins the alleged offender’s reputation for life.&#160; More than likely, the fury expressed in Me Too is really directed at the Big Honcho Abuser himself, who of course is untouched by all this. Others will be lynched for his crimes! No one seems to see, as Ivan Illich pointed out and was attacked for it, in the capitalist economic order, women will always be the second sex.&#160; At some level, women know this, and the knowledge, when we believe there’s no alternative, creates a terrible resentment.&#160; But an alternative exists, and women ought to go for it.&#160; We can be our full woman selves, free of resentment, victims no longer,&#160; when we withdraw our membership in the dominant order and serve the better dream,&#160; utopian and far-fetched as that may be.&#160; The dream wherein little girls can grow up to be women and little boys can grow up to be men, not into careerists scrambling over each other to achieve the “goods” this&#160; system has to offer.&#160; Instead of pitting ourselves fruitlessly in the quest for equality-under-capitalism, gaining the status of equal rats in the rat race for “success,”&#160; we (women) can free ourselves to embrace fully our loser status in that system!</p>
<p>The rule of equality has not brought freedom from discrimination, anymore than legal emancipation did for European Jews in the 18th century.&#160; In fact, it has created more resentment and bitterness than existed before.&#160; It has not brought a mutual respect between equals (if that is the goal) because it cannot.&#160; Freedom can only be obtained anarchistically by individuals willing to follow their inner “greatness,”&#160; the gift of the sovereign imagination.&#160; Only individuals who are actively repairing and restoring the humanity sacrificed over generations to the prospering and maintenance of industrial capitalism can be freely themselves;&#160; harmony can be realized only among people who are individual dignities first.</p>
<p>The outsized annihilating anger driving the Me Too movement comes from an abandonment of the indigenous psyche.&#160; No longer forced to do so, we do it voluntarily, in obeisance to ignorance and fear.&#160; If instead we practiced the art of womanliness, even surreptitiously but defiantly, growing our plants, mixing our potions, practicing our white magic, away from the watchful keepers of the norms, we would not be rageful furies, but mending, healing mothers of the new culture.&#160; To continue to refuse the inward direction we’re called to from deep humanity,&#160; we can only be forces for divisiveness, weakening the whole, refusing our bond with our brothers, scaring our sons into being good boys with powerful neuroses.</p>
<p>The fact that once women had our own sphere but lost it,&#160; in part due to horrendous persecutions of women in earlier times,&#160; and also to the surrender to modernity and the lure of “equality,”&#160; (and to just plain forgetting),&#160; makes me interested in looking backward for ideas of the alternative, better, human world, rather than to the future where cyborgian, free market-directed evolution is taking us.&#160; In the world in which women have our sphere,&#160; imagination-based but real, and men theirs, cruelty will not disappear,&#160;&#160; but the need for interdependence will cause us to seek peace and reconciliation, not war and enmity, and not the banal peace of life in capitalist society as it self- destructs.</p>
<p>In light of this, I’m prepared to say that oppression may not be the worst fate that can befall a human being if we are talking about the preservation of humanity itself – which we ought to be talking about.&#160; The worst is the delusional belief that I am (and ought to be) spared the suffering of cruelty; for this exceptionalist belief signals unconsciousness and death of the imagination.</p>
<p>In <a href="" type="internal">The Wandering Jews</a>, a book that looked back to the same richly human indigenous world that was the ground for Ivan Illich’s critique of degenderized modernity, Joseph Roth clearly mourns the loss of that world, the Jews’ giving up of themselves, “shedding their sad beauty,” in order to become, in the West, “ordinary little middle class people.”</p>
<p>Neither Roth nor Illich held any illusions about the possibility of turning backward, nor necessarily did they believe that would be a good thing to do.&#160; It would be good to mourn what we have lost, and to be motivated&#160; to return to our larger humanity, not by returning to shtetls and plows, but by anchoring ourselves in our Otherness.&#160; The distinctively individual identity that is each person’s to defend, is creative and&#160; naturally poetic, naturally reconciling with community, and naturally contrary to the economic order.</p> | true | 4 | outside observerit conviction live society traditionalpatriarchal subjection women compounded entirely new interiorized discrimination unknown previously david cayley ivan illich conversation allow shadow brilliant future something come fall concepts try grasp beenim one dream totally degendered population cyborgs cybernetic organismsi stand looking backwards forwards happen next ten years160 look backwards sad loss gender duality gone160 fantasy coming back 160ibid rustic jew eastern europe type completely unknown westmany healthy common sense one finds countryside develops wherever sensible race immediately subject laws nature joseph roth wandering jews 20 years old braver ways traveled europe couple friends flying icelandic hitchhike around see sights adventure160 male companion drifted away us paris spent couple days160 real goal otherwise improvisational trip italy north woman companion relatives florence another mutual friend entirely different class studying art160 weeks florence decided trek greece found port brindisi departure point passage across adriatic160 instantly hounded gang young men asking us repeatedly160 speak english sprechen sie deutsch etc160 several minutes annoyance wed somewhat cornered park friend spun around tormentors flashed them160 speak english160 several nodded eagerly160 assholes shouted160 memory serves left us alone160 admiration friend boundless160 school polite endurance passive american girls acquiesce rather saying no160 whether remnant maternal side genteel english class heritage dont know160 habit serve well working class environment politeness weakness passivity could interpreted yes story speaks fact women possess capacity fight coincidental friend raised fathers son inasmuch taught resort appeals authorities fight us turn patriarchy defend us punish offenders160 capacity fight mean maim bully punish simply summon ones self pasaran recognizable belligerent160 recall scene toni morrisons sula sula unnerves white bullies coming nel cutting tip finger nel remains paralyzed fright160 pasaran moment aim minimize real insults exposed ask possible conceive could theory rediscover spirit taking bullshit160 surely even us conditioned niceness have160 aggression nature passiveaggression could good antifaschist fashion stand firm mean us harm instead afterthefact seeking damages unwitnessed incident160160 catch capacity stand dignity would include circumstances demeaned including showall rolling stone magazine covers160 would refusal sacrifice dignity way prevent sexual misconduct merely react send less mixed message powerful men decency nature aggression social context weve lost cultural habit solidarity men binds across fundamental naturegiven difference one weve surrendered dignity generally return membership dominant dehumanizing destructive neoliberal economic order160 gendered difference disappears replaced survivalofthefittest mentality competing equals goal loyalty beyond personal survival160 been160 taught keep fight local dont call police theyre friends increasingly unhinged moment women calling authorities every man hounded us behaved way made us feel uncomfortable forced us perform oral sex without threat of160 gun knife on160 every outrage weve ever put fuel fury intense burns destroys160 much endless sexual war due loss culture community kept us consciously relation other160 personal pasaran firmly place groups oppressed jews prewwii eastern europe africanamericans communities maintained culture necessity onslaughts imperialist capitalism structural racism provide vision might done differently160 dominant history west however upholds the160 best let go old ways steeped superstition religion miserable struggle subsistence were160 bathwater went baby 160 common sense built centuries villages countrysides europe and160 wherever sensible race immediately subject laws nature replaced obedience dominant economic order toos focus mans injury woman160 capitalist forprofit system wash hands160 eyes glued salacious details oppressive economic order time erased cultures communities set destroy life planet160 see mild offenses160 compared victimization caused sexual misconduct apparently includes fumblings miscues dating hooking up160 eyes puppeteers pit us competitive scramble goods offered goods include good genuine individual identity ie struggle individual hisher daemon ayn randian struggle capitalist titan others good human community recognized hisher best self good world country need depend upon suffering people lands destruction earth materialist wellbeing eyes fascism discernible mood furious vengeance casts offender special category monster tosses aside due process innocence proven guilty ruins alleged offenders reputation life160 likely fury expressed really directed big honcho abuser course untouched others lynched crimes one seems see ivan illich pointed attacked capitalist economic order women always second sex160 level women know knowledge believe theres alternative creates terrible resentment160 alternative exists women ought go it160 full woman selves free resentment victims longer160 withdraw membership dominant order serve better dream160 utopian farfetched may be160 dream wherein little girls grow women little boys grow men careerists scrambling achieve goods this160 system offer160 instead pitting fruitlessly quest equalityundercapitalism gaining status equal rats rat race success160 women free embrace fully loser status system rule equality brought freedom discrimination anymore legal emancipation european jews 18th century160 fact created resentment bitterness existed before160 brought mutual respect equals goal cannot160 freedom obtained anarchistically individuals willing follow inner greatness160 gift sovereign imagination160 individuals actively repairing restoring humanity sacrificed generations prospering maintenance industrial capitalism freely themselves160 harmony realized among people individual dignities first outsized annihilating anger driving movement comes abandonment indigenous psyche160 longer forced voluntarily obeisance ignorance fear160 instead practiced art womanliness even surreptitiously defiantly growing plants mixing potions practicing white magic away watchful keepers norms would rageful furies mending healing mothers new culture160 continue refuse inward direction called deep humanity160 forces divisiveness weakening whole refusing bond brothers scaring sons good boys powerful neuroses fact women sphere lost it160 part due horrendous persecutions women earlier times160 also surrender modernity lure equality160 plain forgetting160 makes interested looking backward ideas alternative better human world rather future cyborgian free marketdirected evolution taking us160 world women sphere160 imaginationbased real men cruelty disappear160160 need interdependence cause us seek peace reconciliation war enmity banal peace life capitalist society self destructs light im prepared say oppression may worst fate befall human talking preservation humanity ought talking about160 worst delusional belief ought spared suffering cruelty exceptionalist belief signals unconsciousness death imagination wandering jews book looked back richly human indigenous world ground ivan illichs critique degenderized modernity joseph roth clearly mourns loss world jews giving shedding sad beauty order become west ordinary little middle class people neither roth illich held illusions possibility turning backward necessarily believe would good thing do160 would good mourn lost motivated160 return larger humanity returning shtetls plows anchoring otherness160 distinctively individual identity persons defend creative and160 naturally poetic naturally reconciling community naturally contrary economic order | 997 |
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<p><a href="" type="internal">21st Century Wire</a>says…</p>
<p>Breaking news from <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/375582-lavrov-syria-safe-zones/" type="external">Russia Today</a> has shocked geopolitical commentators and analysts. The controversy over President Trump’s <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-saudi-idUSKBN15D14L" type="external">proposals</a> for US administered “safe zones” inside Syria is now amplified by&#160;Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s statement today:&#160;</p>
<p>“Russia may support the US initiative to establish so-called ‘safe zones’ for refugees in Syria, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said. The plan would require close cooperation with the UN and approval from Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government, he added. Lavrov said the American proposal to create secure areas for refugees within Syria was put forward in the context of migrant flows to the neighboring countries, the Middle East, as well as Europe, and “at the end of the day, the US.</p>
<p>If this is about the people who were forced to leave their homes by the conflict, […] getting their basic needs covered, […] then I think that the idea to create areas within Syria for those internally displaced could be discussed with the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees and other organizations,” he said.”</p>
<p>Reuters has&#160; <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-saudi-idUSKBN15D14L" type="external">reported</a> a more&#160;perturbing aspect of Trump’s “safe zone” project, which is&#160;the inclusion of primary, global producer of terrorism, Saudi Arabia. Riyadh has been responsible for the funding, equipping&#160;and arming of some of the most extremist, ethnic cleansing, wahhabi factions, including Jaish al Fatah (the Army of Conquest) that have been perpetrating endless atrocities against the Syrian people, and globally, for the last six years.</p>
<p>While Reuters has run with this report, there is no evidence of the cited <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/01/28/president-trumps-first-week-action" type="external">White House</a> statement on the White House&#160;website, so this story must be treated with due caution, until fully confirmed.</p>
<p>“The president requested, and the King (Salman) agreed, to support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, as well as supporting other ideas to help the many refugees who are displaced by the ongoing conflicts,” the statement said.</p>
<p>This is a crucial and pivotal time in the negotiations for Syria’s future, free of international diplomatic, economic and proxy military meddling. It is hard to make a call when conflicting reports are being disseminated by the notoriously unreliable and duplicitous corporate media, particularly those focused on demonizing Trump and Russia.</p>
<p>Political commentator,&#160;Andrew Korybko, based in Moscow, tries to make sense of the apparent change in attitude from Russia towards Syria, their long term ally in the region…</p>
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<p>Decoding The Kremlin’s Signals</p>
<p>As the cliched saying goes, “there are no permanent allies, just permanent interests in politics”, and this wise adage appears to have just been proven through Russia’s latest diplomatic efforts in Syria. While presumably well-intentioned and designed to accelerate the conflict resolution process in the country, Russia’s public revelation that it <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701261050034035-syria-constitution-presidential-terms/" type="external">drafted a new Syrian Constitution</a> has unwittingly sparked serious criticism from those who firmly believe that something as crucial as the country’s key legal document should be a purely Syrian affair.</p>
<p>Most importantly, however, some of the positions advanced in the so-called “draft constitution” also go against Damascus’ previously stated policies. Therefore, it was inevitable that Russia’s initiative towards Syria would draw comparisons to the American effort in writing Iraq’s constitution over a decade ago, just like the Astana-participating “moderate rebel opposition” has <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2017-01-25/syria-opposition-rejects-russian-draft-of-new-constitution" type="external">claimed</a>, no matter the differences of context and intent which make such a parallel inaccurate.</p>
<p>Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Maria Zakharova <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701271050057831-russia-syria-opposition-talks-astana/" type="external">lashed out</a> at those voices which alleged that Russia is trying to force its desired political solution on Syrians, stating that such assertions “are inaccurate and are distorting the reality”. She also quoted the chief Russian negotiator at Astana and the man who publicly unveiled the draft text in the first place, Mr. Alexander Lavrentyev, as <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701261050026767-syria-constitution-russia/" type="external">saying</a> at the time that “Russia was not interfering in&#160;consideration of&#160;constitution and presented the draft to&#160;the opposition simply in&#160;order to&#160;accelerate the process.”</p>
<p>Even so, this hasn’t quelled the rising criticism that Russia is overstepping its authority by openly interfering in a domestic political process and contradicting its own stated policy, no matter its diplomatic rebuttals otherwise. It also doesn’t answer the uncomfortable question about why Russia publicly disclosed the fact that it was drafting Syria’s constitution, since this was predictably going to set off a firestorm of accusations about what Moscow really wants from the Arab Republic.</p>
<p>There’s no way of knowing the exact nature of the strategic calculations which went into the Kremlin’s decision to do this, so responsible restraint should be exercised by analysts who are trying to figure out Moscow’s motives in order to not unnecessarily complicate this already very sensitive situation. That being said, it’s natural in any pluralistic society such as Russia’s to have a diversity of professional assessments about key policies and events such as this one, and all governments thrive when there’s a rich discourse of ideas being discussed among their expert community.</p>
<p>Patriotism isn’t the blind adherence to every single position put forth by a given government, but the courage to respectfully speak up when one sees that their beloved country might be making a major mistake, and it’s with this intention in mind that the author proceeds with the following analysis. The first part will discuss exactly what’s being suggested in this “draft constitution”, while the second one will analyze the possible reasons behind Russia’s surprising volte face towards Syria from both the ‘official’ and skeptical positions.</p>
<p>“Federalization” Is Doomed To Fail</p>
<p>Before going any further, it needs to immediately be emphasized just how serious of a long-term geopolitical problem it is that so-called “autonomy” is being proposed for the Kurds, no matter what the short-term conflict resolution intentions behind such a move might be. The author wrote a total of 13 relevant articles explaining this from a variety of angles, and the reader should definitely review at least some of them in order to get a more comprehensive idea of why this is such a counterproductive initiative, but the main point behind it is that “Identity Federalism” will lead to a patchwork of quasi-independent identity-focused state-lets which will eventually turn Syria into a checkerboard of Great Power competition.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it’s clear to see that Russia is no longer adhering to the mindset that the de-facto internal partitioning of Syria (“federalization” or “autonomy”) is an existential threat to the country and geopolitical danger to the region at large. Instead, as can be understood from the last couple of articles, Moscow’s position appeared to have changed in mid-December when there was a sense that Russia might in fact embrace the very same positions which it had hitherto been against and which contradict Damascus’ official stance on several key issues. To remind the reader, Syria previously <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201603171036481779-security-kurds-region/" type="external">said</a> that it is against the Kurds’ unilateral declaration of “federalism” and that this position is at odds with international law, and President Assad has also reiterated many times that his political fate is dependent on the direct will of the people. These are two very important positions to keep in mind when evaluating the contents of the Russian-written “draft constitution”.</p>
<p>Russia’s Radical Shift on Syria</p>
<p>The Russian position towards Syria has radically shifted with the public unveiling of the “draft constitution” which it presented to both of the country’s visiting delegations at Astana. The full English-translated version of the document has yet to be released as of 27 January, so the analysis will proceed from the official excerpts reported on by two of Russia’s most prominent publicly funded international media outlets, <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701261050028006-text-syria-constitution/" type="external">Sputnik</a> and <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/375227-syria-constitution-draft-leaked/" type="external">RT</a>, which saw some of the proposal and shared it on their websites. It can safely be assumed that the passages included in their reporting are accurate, which is why they’re being used as the basis for this analysis. The present section will go through each article point by point in explaining the significance of each proposed measure.</p>
<p>“ <a href="https://sputniknews.com/politics/201701261050028006-text-syria-constitution/" type="external">Text&#160;of&#160;Draft&#160;Syrian&#160;Constitution&#160;Proposed&#160;by&#160;Russia&#160;Revealed</a>” – Sputnik:</p>
<p>* No “Arab” In The Syrian Republic:</p>
<p>The draft writers envisage that the word “Arab” be removed from the constitutional name of the Syrian Arab Republic in order to placate the vocal and militant Kurdish separatist minority in the north. It’s unlikely that the country’s Arab majority – which is proportionately larger in the Syrian Arab Republic than the share of Russians in the Russian Federation – will agree to this idea, as it places the concerns of a small fraction of the population above those of the rest of society.</p>
<p>* Redrawing State Boundaries Is Okay As Long As People Vote For It:</p>
<p>One of the most contentious clauses is bound to be the passage which states that the “change of state borders” can only proceed if all citizens vote on it in a referendum. Should the “federalization” (internal partition) plan move forward, then this will become one of the most important issues for the country’s domestic stability, and it’s foreseen that a slew of disputes will arise as various identity-centric parties fiercely compete with one another in laying stake to their own “federal” or “autonomous” territories, especially in the most cosmopolitan areas in the country’s densely populated western regions.</p>
<p>Given the enormity of what’s at stake for each group, it’s possible that a political deadlock might quickly set in which immediately precedes the resumption of multisided armed hostilities between them in the event that the national military is unable to maintain the peace. Additionally, on the topic of security forces, there’s no clear indication whether or not each “state” will be entitled to their own legally sanctioned armed representatives/militias, which becomes an issue when discussing the “draft constitution’s” proposed Kurdish “autonomies”/”self-ruling systems”.</p>
<p>Ambiguously, it’s unclear whether the phrasing of “state borders” refers to the country’s internal or external ones, though the preceding phrase about how “any loss of&#160;Syrian territories is not acceptable” seems to indicate that the word “state” in this document is synonymous with “province” or “governorate”. However, this ambiguity once again becomes an issue at the end of the examined Sputnik piece because of the curious inclusion of the word “regions”, which also seems from context to be yet another synonym for “province” and/or “governorate”, yet raises questions about the original inclusion of “state” in this context.</p>
<p>* Kurdish “Autonomies” And “Self-Ruling Systems”:</p>
<p>The Sputnik text refers to these two polities and their organizations as equally using the Arabic and Kurdish languages, and the “self-ruling systems” are also referred to as “cultural”. While this word might seem to indicate that they’re nothing more that territorially broad-based ‘NGOs’ without any political authority, that’s probably not the correct interpretation since something of such minimal importance as apolitical cultural organizations wouldn’t warrant their own passage in the “draft constitution”. Rather, given that Sputnik also earlier reported that “ <a href="https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201701141049588900-russia-syria-government-kurds/" type="external">Russia Is Acting As Guarantor Of Syrian-Kurdish Talks On Federalization</a>”, it’s obvious that the “autonomies” and “self-ruling systems” are probably just euphemisms for this sort of arrangement.</p>
<p>*A Parliamentary System That Can Overthrow The President:</p>
<p>If Russia’s proposal is accepted by the Syrian people in a forthcoming referendum, then the country’s powerful presidential system which has kept the Arab Republic together during these tumultuous times of terror will be replaced by what essentially amounts to a parliamentary one, whereby the legislative authorities will attain the responsibility for “decisions on&#160;war and peace issues, the removal of&#160;the president from&#160;the office, appointment of&#160;the members of&#160;the Supreme Constitutional Court, appointment of&#160;the head of&#160;the Syrian National Bank and his dismissal from&#160;office.”</p>
<p>Particular attention should be paid to the parliament’s powers in deciding “the removal of the president from office”. In practice, this means that legislators can overthrow an elected president in a ‘constitutional coup’, or in other words, what would by that time be Syria’s newfound replication of the Western ‘democratic’ system of ‘representative/indirect governance’ could amount to bureaucrats defying the people’s will. As it relates to the present situation in Syria, this might provide the ‘opportunity’ for the long-wished “political transition” against President Assad to commence, as it would technically be a ‘Syrian-led’ process in the sense that the People’s Assembly would be doing this and not any foreign power directly.</p>
<p>* Shaming The Syrian Arab Army:</p>
<p>No matter whether the wording was innocently meant as a symbolic concession to the “moderate rebel opposition” or not, the very fact that a powerful phrase about how “[the Syrian armed forces] should not be used as&#160;a means of&#160;oppression of&#160;Syrian people and interfere in&#160;the sphere of&#160;political interests” was included in the “draft constitution” was coldly received by many of the country’s people and taken as an unprecedented insult to the sacrifices of their countless martyrs. The Syrian Arab Army is not being used as a “means of oppression” against the Syrian people, nor does it “interfere in the sphere of political interests”, though the aforementioned passage strongly suggests that it is and that’s why a clause must be included in the new constitution in order to prevent this from ever happening again.</p>
<p>The only “oppression” being carried out against the Syrian people comes at the hands of the foreign-backed terrorist groups which have been wreaking havoc across the country for approximately the past 6 years already, and it’s completely understandable why many Syrians reject the wording that was included in the “draft constitution”. In fact, it can even be said that such a phrase is very dangerous to the long-term stability of the country because it leads to suspicion of the state’s chief law enforcement body, the military, and might mire it in unnecessary political-legal controversy and subsequent paralysis in the event that it ever has to be used to keep the peace in the country. Such a scenario could predictably transpire during an extended period of tense disagreements over the country’s forthcoming domestic political reorganization and territorial restructuring.</p>
<p>* International Law Trumps Domestic Law:</p>
<p>Although the Russian Duma <a href="https://www.rt.com/politics/325964-putin-gives-russian-constitution-priority/" type="external">passed a law</a> hand-signed by President Putin at the end of 2015 to give their country’s Constitutional Court priority over international ones, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for some reason wants to deny this sovereign right to Syrians and all but turn their country into an international protectorate similar in practice to the dysfunctional state of Bosnia and Herzegovina.</p>
<p>That’s probably not the intent behind this measure, as it’s probable that Russia instead thinks that doing so will prevent any unforeseen domestic political crisis from materializing due to the UN’s prevailing influence over Syrian sovereign laws, but it nevertheless sends a contradictory signal when Russia reserves political rights for itself while denying these same prerogatives to its allies.</p>
<p>Even worse, it seems to lend credence to the US and its partners’ accusations of Russian “neo-imperialism”, even though these are entirely untrue and misleading to even assert. The point being made, though, is that by specifying that Syrian domestic laws are subservient to international ones – despite Russia having recently revised its legislation in order to give its sovereign laws preponderance over those decided at the UN – Moscow is inadvertently doing much more harm than good to its soft power.</p>
<p>* Lebanon’s “Confessionalism” Comes To Syria:</p>
<p>One of the reasons why so many Syrians are pessimistic about the Russian-written “draft constitution” is that it transplants neighboring Lebanon’s paralyzing political institutions onto their country. The former province of Syria agreed to implement a form of government following its 15-year civil war which has since been called “ <a href="http://www.cjpme.org/fs_026" type="external">confessionalism</a>”, and it mandates proportional representation of the country’s many ethno-religious groups in government.</p>
<p>Sputnik reported that “Russian constitutional proposals for&#160;Syria that were presented to&#160;the opposition during&#160;Astana talks stipulate that all confessions and nationalities must be given equal representation in&#160;the government”, which is basically the implementation of “confessionalism” in everything but name.</p>
<p>This is very worrying because Lebanon’s unique form of government is largely blamed for Beirut’s perennial dysfunction, and turning a country as demographically and territorially large as Syria into a politically failed state might indefinitely destabilize the entire Mideast and end up being epically counterproductive. Institutionalized sectarianism and identity politics could even lead to the eventual dissolution of the Syrian state with time.</p>
<p>* “Regions” Or “States”?:</p>
<p>The last part of Sputnik’s initial reporting on the Russian-written “draft constitution” elaborates on how some of the broad ways in which the implementation of Syria’s undeclared system of “confessionalism” would work in the country, pertinently mentioning that “the president and the prime minister have the right to&#160;consult in&#160;this regard with&#160;the representatives of&#160;the People’s Assembly and regions.” As was referenced above when discussing how the document allows for the territorial division of the “state”, it’s unclear whether or not “state” and/or “region” refers to the country’s provinces/governorates.</p>
<p>In this examined context, “region” seems to be synonymous with the prior presumable understanding of “state” (province/governorate), but since it’s not explicitly said what the legal difference between these two terminologies is, and why they might be used interchangeably if that’s the case despite this apparently not being written in the document, it can’t be taken for granted that they refer to the same thing. Legal ambiguities in situations such as this one – where a foreign power is suggesting an entirely new constitution in order to bring an end to another country’s prolonged period of violent conflict – could easily end up being exploited by distraught parties later on in the political process, whether prior to the sealing of an actual deal or sometime afterwards.</p>
<p>Therefore, the failure to publicly specify at this point what the difference is, if any, between “states” and “regions” leads to the conclusion that they might technically mean different things, which in that case could signify that the aforementioned “change of state borders” could also refer to Syria’s external ones or that the “regions” are another term for nationwide “federalized” (internally partitioned) units. Neither of these possibilities is beneficial for Syrian stability, nor do they appear to reflect the will of the Syrian people at large. Until these ambiguities are conclusively settled, it’s doubtful that voters will approve of them in any potential referendum.</p>
<p>“ <a href="https://www.rt.com/news/375227-syria-constitution-draft-leaked/" type="external">Power Split &amp; Minority Rights Among Cornerstones Of Russia-Proposed Syrian Constitution – Leaked Doc</a>” – RT:</p>
<p>(This article has some overlap with the Sputnik one, so the passages which have already been analyzed will be omitted from this portion of the research in order to avoid redundancy. Because of this, some of the points that will addressed aren’t solely passages in the Russian-written “draft constitution”, but also some of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s own comments.)</p>
<p>* Russia Incorporated Other Regional Countries’ Suggestions:</p>
<p>While the document’s text was drafted by Russia, Lavrov revealed that “Moscow has based its suggestions on what it heard&#160;‘from the [Syrian] government, from the opposition and from the countries of the region’&#160;over the past few years.” He didn’t volunteer to name any of these “countries of the region”, but given Russia’s very close ties with Turkey and ‘Israel’ and the personal chemistry between President Putin and each of their leaders, it can’t be ruled out that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took their concerns into account when writing the “draft constitution”. The possible influence of Tel Aviv, however indirect it may speculatively be, is a disturbing thought for all Syrians and will be analyzed more in-depth throughout the research.</p>
<p>* “United” Doesn’t Always Mean “Unitary”:</p>
<p>RT builds upon what Sputnik first reported by writing that “in terms of sovereignty, the Russian proposal says that Syria&#160;‘is united, inviolable and indivisible.’&#160;Its territory is&#160;‘inalienable’&#160;and the state borders can only be changed after a public referendum conducted&#160;‘among all citizens of Syria.’” What’s new in this passage is the inclusion of the words “united, inviolable and indivisible”, which seem to suggest that nothing will change with the country’s internal or external borders, though followed of course by the caveat that this is ultimately dependent on the will of the Syrian people. Once again, it’s unclear if this is referencing a change in the country’s internal or external borders, and this ambiguity could easily become the source of future conflict.</p>
<p>Proceeding along the conventional understanding that the text is talking about the country’s internal political arrangement and hinting at “federalism” or “autonomy” (both of which would amount in the Syrian case to an undeclared internal partition), then the word “united” isn’t legally synonymous with “unitary”. The latter word, “unitary”, refers to a centralized state which has not devolved political responsibilities to the provinces to the extent that they are granted “autonomy” or “federalization”. Given how Russia’s coyness towards this issue has led many people to believe that Moscow implicitly supports one or the other in order to please its traditional Kurdish partners, then Moscow might unintentionally have been misleading in using the legal terminology of “united”, which many common people popularly associate with “unitary”.</p>
<p>Instead, if it indeed is the case that Russia is leaning towards having Syria grant the Kurds “autonomy” or “federalization” and/or intends for the examined clause to also refer to the country’s external borders, then it would have been better for it to expressly stipulate that this word is in reference to the spirit of the Syrian people and not the country’s internal or external borders. Again, it’s not for the author to speculate on what Russia’s motive was in writing this passage, but just to draw attention to the fact that it is legally questionable what it actually refers to. In hindsight, Moscow should have been clearer in conveying the point that it was trying to make, since the uncertainty surrounding it will inevitably cause confusion and expectedly be used to doubt Russia’s intentions in Syria.</p>
<p>* Does “Good Neighborliness” And The “Rejection Of War” Mean Recognizing ‘Israel’?:</p>
<p>According to the Russian-written “draft constitution”, Moscow wants Syria to “build its international relations&#160;‘based on principles of good neighborliness, cooperation and mutual security and other principles envisioned by the international legal norms.’”, as well as “reject war as a means&#160;‘to resolve international conflicts’”. To the unaware observer, this sounds perfectly acceptable and should be acquiesced to without a moment’s hesitation, but to those who are even remotely familiar with Syria’s long-standing and consistent international position in patronizing the Palestinian cause, this could easily be interpreted as a subtle hint that Damascus will be forced to recognize ‘Israel’ if it agrees to abide by the wording of this document.</p>
<p>For those readers which might not be aware, Syria does not recognize the <a href="http://katehon.com/article/acknowledge-weapons-mass-migration-or-legitimize-israel" type="external">“Weapons of Mass Migration”-created political entity of ‘Israel’</a> and presently has an outstanding territorial dispute with Tel Aviv over ownership of the Golan Heights. In order to apply the “principles of good neighborliness, cooperation and mutual security”, it naturally follows that Syria must recognize ‘Israel’ and potentially forfeit not only its backing of the Palestinian cause, but also its legal claims to the Golan Heights, which have been occupied by ‘Israel’ since 1967 and unilaterally annexed by Tel Aviv in violation of international law. It should be mentioned in this context that <a href="https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201510281029209074-golan-heights-oil-syrian-conflict-engdahl/" type="external">large reserves of oil</a> were recently discovered in this territory, which gives ‘Israel’ yet another reason to want to trick Syria into ceding its claims over this region through the inferred commitments of the Russian-written “draft constitution”.</p>
<p>Another problem with the analyzed passages is that they speak about how Syria must “reject war”, which basically signifies that Damascus will surrender its ability to defend itself in any potential conflict with its neighbors, especially ‘Israel’ over the Golan Heights or Palestine. Nobody is suggesting that Syria will initiate military hostilities against ‘Israel’ anytime in the near future, but just that Damascus should understandably reserve the right to that course of action if it understandably sees the need to defend itself against Tel Aviv’s documented track record of aggression against it. The very fact that Syria would be obliged by this “draft constitution” to enter into “good neighborliness, cooperation, and mutual security” with a neighboring political entity which it doesn’t even officially recognize &#160;and is currently occupying historical Syrian land contrary to international law is beyond unsettling for any patriotic Syrian.</p>
<p>* Presidential Term Limits:</p>
<p>RT wrote that “the President is elected by a public vote and can serve a maximum of two terms with seven years each.” This might seem like something obvious for a Western reader, but what it means to many Syrians is that President Assad would inevitably have to leave office after two terms even if he has the full backing of the people behind him. Despite what has been propagated by the Mainstream Media, President Assad remains overwhelmingly popular in Syria, and it’s possible that the incumbent leader could serve more than two terms in office if he had the support. Considering Syria’s political traditions and the president’s present standing (as reflected by his <a href="https://www.rt.com/op-edge/164284-syria-elections-assad-western-reaction/" type="external">unquestionable reelection</a> in 2014 with 88.7% of the vote), it’s not immediately clear why he should have a cap placed on his term limits. Astute observers, however, can trace the faint outlines of an inevitable “political transition” through this model in the event that all other attempts fail (such as a ‘constitutional coup’ by parliament).</p>
<p>* The “Assembly Of Territories”:</p>
<p>One of the proposed political institutions which isn’t elaborated on by Russian international media is the “Assembly of Territories”, which appears from context to refer to a sort of senate. This conclusion is due to RT writing that “the People’s Assembly serves as a parliament, passing laws which later should be forwarded for approval to the Assembly of Territories and then to the President.” Recalling Sputnik’s earlier reference about “regions”, it increasingly looks like there’s a plan to implement “autonomy” or “federalization” all throughout the country by giving each “region” its own broad-based political powers as practiced through the “Assembly of Territories”.</p>
<p>If Syrian patriots thought that it was disturbing enough that the Kurds of northern Syria might be granted their own quasi-independent state, then they’ll predictably be in vocal opposition to each of the newly redrawn internal polities (the “states” spoken about in Sputnik’s article) being granted these same sorts of privileges. While it may seem at first thought to be “fair”, this in practice could easily lead to the political fragmentation of the country into largely independent entities that would institutionalize the “internal partition” being implemented through the Russian-written “draft constitution” and undeclared “confessionalism”, with all of the resultant regional consequences of instability and Great Power rivalry over these new geopolitical ‘chess pieces’.</p>
<p>* Are “Independent” Judges International Judges?:</p>
<p>The last thing that RT reports on in their article is that “the highest part of the Judiciary is the Constitutional Court, which among others oversees the legality of laws, decrees and other forms of legislation”. Moreover, “the proposed Russian draft notes also that all judges are&#160;‘independent.’”</p>
<p>Although not stated, this heavily insinuates that the “independent” judges might just be international ones like is the case in Bosnia, the first-ever post-Cold War international protectorate and state predecessor to what Russia seems to be wanting to implement in Syria. More elaboration is needed on what constitutes an “independent” judge and whether Moscow envisions Syrians as being capable of producing such individuals from its own society or not, and the failure to expound more fully on this might lend credence to the justified fears that the botched Bosnian template is being blindly transferred to Syria.</p>
<p>Should this be the case, then what Russia suggests should be the “Syrian Republic” by that point could become just as much of an international protectorate as Bosnia presently is, whereby foreign bureaucrats have the final say over the country’s laws in order to make sure that they’re in line with international legislation (per what Sputnik reported on and which was analyzed previously).</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Part II of Andrew Korybko’s Analysis <a href="http://regionalrapport.com/2017/01/28/world-just-happened-russias-syria-strategy-part-ii/" type="external">here.</a></p>
<p>READ MORE SYRIA NEWS AT: <a href="" type="internal">21st Century Wire Syria Files</a></p>
<p>SUPPORT 21WIRE and its work by Subscribing and becoming a Member @ <a href="https://21wire.tv/membership/plans/" type="external">21WIRE.TV</a>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 21st century wiresays breaking news russia today shocked geopolitical commentators analysts controversy president trumps proposals us administered safe zones inside syria amplified by160foreign minister sergey lavrovs statement today160 russia may support us initiative establish socalled safe zones refugees syria foreign minister sergey lavrov said plan would require close cooperation un approval syrian president bashar assads government added lavrov said american proposal create secure areas refugees within syria put forward context migrant flows neighboring countries middle east well europe end day us people forced leave homes conflict getting basic needs covered think idea create areas within syria internally displaced could discussed uns high commissioner refugees organizations said reuters has160 reported more160perturbing aspect trumps safe zone project is160the inclusion primary global producer terrorism saudi arabia riyadh responsible funding equipping160and arming extremist ethnic cleansing wahhabi factions including jaish al fatah army conquest perpetrating endless atrocities syrian people globally last six years reuters run report evidence cited white house statement white house160website story must treated due caution fully confirmed president requested king salman agreed support safe zones syria yemen well supporting ideas help many refugees displaced ongoing conflicts statement said crucial pivotal time negotiations syrias future free international diplomatic economic proxy military meddling hard make call conflicting reports disseminated notoriously unreliable duplicitous corporate media particularly focused demonizing trump russia political commentator160andrew korybko based moscow tries make sense apparent change attitude russia towards syria long term ally region decoding kremlins signals cliched saying goes permanent allies permanent interests politics wise adage appears proven russias latest diplomatic efforts syria presumably wellintentioned designed accelerate conflict resolution process country russias public revelation drafted new syrian constitution unwittingly sparked serious criticism firmly believe something crucial countrys key legal document purely syrian affair importantly however positions advanced socalled draft constitution also go damascus previously stated policies therefore inevitable russias initiative towards syria would draw comparisons american effort writing iraqs constitution decade ago like astanaparticipating moderate rebel opposition claimed matter differences context intent make parallel inaccurate russian ministry foreign affairs spokeswoman maria zakharova lashed voices alleged russia trying force desired political solution syrians stating assertions inaccurate distorting reality also quoted chief russian negotiator astana man publicly unveiled draft text first place mr alexander lavrentyev saying time russia interfering in160consideration of160constitution presented draft to160the opposition simply in160order to160accelerate process even hasnt quelled rising criticism russia overstepping authority openly interfering domestic political process contradicting stated policy matter diplomatic rebuttals otherwise also doesnt answer uncomfortable question russia publicly disclosed fact drafting syrias constitution since predictably going set firestorm accusations moscow really wants arab republic theres way knowing exact nature strategic calculations went kremlins decision responsible restraint exercised analysts trying figure moscows motives order unnecessarily complicate already sensitive situation said natural pluralistic society russias diversity professional assessments key policies events one governments thrive theres rich discourse ideas discussed among expert community patriotism isnt blind adherence every single position put forth given government courage respectfully speak one sees beloved country might making major mistake intention mind author proceeds following analysis first part discuss exactly whats suggested draft constitution second one analyze possible reasons behind russias surprising volte face towards syria official skeptical positions federalization doomed fail going needs immediately emphasized serious longterm geopolitical problem socalled autonomy proposed kurds matter shortterm conflict resolution intentions behind move might author wrote total 13 relevant articles explaining variety angles reader definitely review least order get comprehensive idea counterproductive initiative main point behind identity federalism lead patchwork quasiindependent identityfocused statelets eventually turn syria checkerboard great power competition unfortunately clear see russia longer adhering mindset defacto internal partitioning syria federalization autonomy existential threat country geopolitical danger region large instead understood last couple articles moscows position appeared changed middecember sense russia might fact embrace positions hitherto contradict damascus official stance several key issues remind reader syria previously said kurds unilateral declaration federalism position odds international law president assad also reiterated many times political fate dependent direct people two important positions keep mind evaluating contents russianwritten draft constitution russias radical shift syria russian position towards syria radically shifted public unveiling draft constitution presented countrys visiting delegations astana full englishtranslated version document yet released 27 january analysis proceed official excerpts reported two russias prominent publicly funded international media outlets sputnik rt saw proposal shared websites safely assumed passages included reporting accurate theyre used basis analysis present section go article point point explaining significance proposed measure text160of160draft160syrian160constitution160proposed160by160russia160revealed sputnik arab syrian republic draft writers envisage word arab removed constitutional name syrian arab republic order placate vocal militant kurdish separatist minority north unlikely countrys arab majority proportionately larger syrian arab republic share russians russian federation agree idea places concerns small fraction population rest society redrawing state boundaries okay long people vote one contentious clauses bound passage states change state borders proceed citizens vote referendum federalization internal partition plan move forward become one important issues countrys domestic stability foreseen slew disputes arise various identitycentric parties fiercely compete one another laying stake federal autonomous territories especially cosmopolitan areas countrys densely populated western regions given enormity whats stake group possible political deadlock might quickly set immediately precedes resumption multisided armed hostilities event national military unable maintain peace additionally topic security forces theres clear indication whether state entitled legally sanctioned armed representativesmilitias becomes issue discussing draft constitutions proposed kurdish autonomiesselfruling systems ambiguously unclear whether phrasing state borders refers countrys internal external ones though preceding phrase loss of160syrian territories acceptable seems indicate word state document synonymous province governorate however ambiguity becomes issue end examined sputnik piece curious inclusion word regions also seems context yet another synonym province andor governorate yet raises questions original inclusion state context kurdish autonomies selfruling systems sputnik text refers two polities organizations equally using arabic kurdish languages selfruling systems also referred cultural word might seem indicate theyre nothing territorially broadbased ngos without political authority thats probably correct interpretation since something minimal importance apolitical cultural organizations wouldnt warrant passage draft constitution rather given sputnik also earlier reported russia acting guarantor syriankurdish talks federalization obvious autonomies selfruling systems probably euphemisms sort arrangement parliamentary system overthrow president russias proposal accepted syrian people forthcoming referendum countrys powerful presidential system kept arab republic together tumultuous times terror replaced essentially amounts parliamentary one whereby legislative authorities attain responsibility decisions on160war peace issues removal of160the president from160the office appointment of160the members of160the supreme constitutional court appointment of160the head of160the syrian national bank dismissal from160office particular attention paid parliaments powers deciding removal president office practice means legislators overthrow elected president constitutional coup words would time syrias newfound replication western democratic system representativeindirect governance could amount bureaucrats defying peoples relates present situation syria might provide opportunity longwished political transition president assad commence would technically syrianled process sense peoples assembly would foreign power directly shaming syrian arab army matter whether wording innocently meant symbolic concession moderate rebel opposition fact powerful phrase syrian armed forces used as160a means of160oppression of160syrian people interfere in160the sphere of160political interests included draft constitution coldly received many countrys people taken unprecedented insult sacrifices countless martyrs syrian arab army used means oppression syrian people interfere sphere political interests though aforementioned passage strongly suggests thats clause must included new constitution order prevent ever happening oppression carried syrian people comes hands foreignbacked terrorist groups wreaking havoc across country approximately past 6 years already completely understandable many syrians reject wording included draft constitution fact even said phrase dangerous longterm stability country leads suspicion states chief law enforcement body military might mire unnecessary politicallegal controversy subsequent paralysis event ever used keep peace country scenario could predictably transpire extended period tense disagreements countrys forthcoming domestic political reorganization territorial restructuring international law trumps domestic law although russian duma passed law handsigned president putin end 2015 give countrys constitutional court priority international ones russian ministry foreign affairs reason wants deny sovereign right syrians turn country international protectorate similar practice dysfunctional state bosnia herzegovina thats probably intent behind measure probable russia instead thinks prevent unforeseen domestic political crisis materializing due uns prevailing influence syrian sovereign laws nevertheless sends contradictory signal russia reserves political rights denying prerogatives allies even worse seems lend credence us partners accusations russian neoimperialism even though entirely untrue misleading even assert point made though specifying syrian domestic laws subservient international ones despite russia recently revised legislation order give sovereign laws preponderance decided un moscow inadvertently much harm good soft power lebanons confessionalism comes syria one reasons many syrians pessimistic russianwritten draft constitution transplants neighboring lebanons paralyzing political institutions onto country former province syria agreed implement form government following 15year civil war since called confessionalism mandates proportional representation countrys many ethnoreligious groups government sputnik reported russian constitutional proposals for160syria presented to160the opposition during160astana talks stipulate confessions nationalities must given equal representation in160the government basically implementation confessionalism everything name worrying lebanons unique form government largely blamed beiruts perennial dysfunction turning country demographically territorially large syria politically failed state might indefinitely destabilize entire mideast end epically counterproductive institutionalized sectarianism identity politics could even lead eventual dissolution syrian state time regions states last part sputniks initial reporting russianwritten draft constitution elaborates broad ways implementation syrias undeclared system confessionalism would work country pertinently mentioning president prime minister right to160consult in160this regard with160the representatives of160the peoples assembly regions referenced discussing document allows territorial division state unclear whether state andor region refers countrys provincesgovernorates examined context region seems synonymous prior presumable understanding state provincegovernorate since explicitly said legal difference two terminologies might used interchangeably thats case despite apparently written document cant taken granted refer thing legal ambiguities situations one foreign power suggesting entirely new constitution order bring end another countrys prolonged period violent conflict could easily end exploited distraught parties later political process whether prior sealing actual deal sometime afterwards therefore failure publicly specify point difference states regions leads conclusion might technically mean different things case could signify aforementioned change state borders could also refer syrias external ones regions another term nationwide federalized internally partitioned units neither possibilities beneficial syrian stability appear reflect syrian people large ambiguities conclusively settled doubtful voters approve potential referendum power split amp minority rights among cornerstones russiaproposed syrian constitution leaked doc rt article overlap sputnik one passages already analyzed omitted portion research order avoid redundancy points addressed arent solely passages russianwritten draft constitution also russian foreign minister sergei lavrovs comments russia incorporated regional countries suggestions documents text drafted russia lavrov revealed moscow based suggestions heard160from syrian government opposition countries region160over past years didnt volunteer name countries region given russias close ties turkey israel personal chemistry president putin leaders cant ruled ministry foreign affairs took concerns account writing draft constitution possible influence tel aviv however indirect may speculatively disturbing thought syrians analyzed indepth throughout research united doesnt always mean unitary rt builds upon sputnik first reported writing terms sovereignty russian proposal says syria160is united inviolable indivisible160its territory is160inalienable160and state borders changed public referendum conducted160among citizens syria whats new passage inclusion words united inviolable indivisible seem suggest nothing change countrys internal external borders though followed course caveat ultimately dependent syrian people unclear referencing change countrys internal external borders ambiguity could easily become source future conflict proceeding along conventional understanding text talking countrys internal political arrangement hinting federalism autonomy would amount syrian case undeclared internal partition word united isnt legally synonymous unitary latter word unitary refers centralized state devolved political responsibilities provinces extent granted autonomy federalization given russias coyness towards issue led many people believe moscow implicitly supports one order please traditional kurdish partners moscow might unintentionally misleading using legal terminology united many common people popularly associate unitary instead indeed case russia leaning towards syria grant kurds autonomy federalization andor intends examined clause also refer countrys external borders would better expressly stipulate word reference spirit syrian people countrys internal external borders author speculate russias motive writing passage draw attention fact legally questionable actually refers hindsight moscow clearer conveying point trying make since uncertainty surrounding inevitably cause confusion expectedly used doubt russias intentions syria good neighborliness rejection war mean recognizing israel according russianwritten draft constitution moscow wants syria build international relations160based principles good neighborliness cooperation mutual security principles envisioned international legal norms well reject war means160to resolve international conflicts unaware observer sounds perfectly acceptable acquiesced without moments hesitation even remotely familiar syrias longstanding consistent international position patronizing palestinian cause could easily interpreted subtle hint damascus forced recognize israel agrees abide wording document readers might aware syria recognize weapons mass migrationcreated political entity israel presently outstanding territorial dispute tel aviv ownership golan heights order apply principles good neighborliness cooperation mutual security naturally follows syria must recognize israel potentially forfeit backing palestinian cause also legal claims golan heights occupied israel since 1967 unilaterally annexed tel aviv violation international law mentioned context large reserves oil recently discovered territory gives israel yet another reason want trick syria ceding claims region inferred commitments russianwritten draft constitution another problem analyzed passages speak syria must reject war basically signifies damascus surrender ability defend potential conflict neighbors especially israel golan heights palestine nobody suggesting syria initiate military hostilities israel anytime near future damascus understandably reserve right course action understandably sees need defend tel avivs documented track record aggression fact syria would obliged draft constitution enter good neighborliness cooperation mutual security neighboring political entity doesnt even officially recognize 160and currently occupying historical syrian land contrary international law beyond unsettling patriotic syrian presidential term limits rt wrote president elected public vote serve maximum two terms seven years might seem like something obvious western reader means many syrians president assad would inevitably leave office two terms even full backing people behind despite propagated mainstream media president assad remains overwhelmingly popular syria possible incumbent leader could serve two terms office support considering syrias political traditions presidents present standing reflected unquestionable reelection 2014 887 vote immediately clear cap placed term limits astute observers however trace faint outlines inevitable political transition model event attempts fail constitutional coup parliament assembly territories one proposed political institutions isnt elaborated russian international media assembly territories appears context refer sort senate conclusion due rt writing peoples assembly serves parliament passing laws later forwarded approval assembly territories president recalling sputniks earlier reference regions increasingly looks like theres plan implement autonomy federalization throughout country giving region broadbased political powers practiced assembly territories syrian patriots thought disturbing enough kurds northern syria might granted quasiindependent state theyll predictably vocal opposition newly redrawn internal polities states spoken sputniks article granted sorts privileges may seem first thought fair practice could easily lead political fragmentation country largely independent entities would institutionalize internal partition implemented russianwritten draft constitution undeclared confessionalism resultant regional consequences instability great power rivalry new geopolitical chess pieces independent judges international judges last thing rt reports article highest part judiciary constitutional court among others oversees legality laws decrees forms legislation moreover proposed russian draft notes also judges are160independent although stated heavily insinuates independent judges might international ones like case bosnia firstever postcold war international protectorate state predecessor russia seems wanting implement syria elaboration needed constitutes independent judge whether moscow envisions syrians capable producing individuals society failure expound fully might lend credence justified fears botched bosnian template blindly transferred syria case russia suggests syrian republic point could become much international protectorate bosnia presently whereby foreign bureaucrats final say countrys laws order make sure theyre line international legislation per sputnik reported analyzed previously part ii andrew korybkos analysis read syria news 21st century wire syria files support 21wire work subscribing becoming member 21wiretv160 | 2,530 |
<p />
<p>I know: I have a problem. It’s serious, and it’s not getting better. I’m obsessed with “Best of” lists. I love them! I collect them, compare them, fold them up into little squares and rub them against my cheeks. Not that last one. But I do read a lot of them, and yes, now mine does look pretty familiar: my Top 3, at least, is a lot like everyone else’s. But I swear it: these are the albums that I enjoyed the most, and felt were the most significant, of the year, and just because I kind of agree with Pitchfork, does that make me a bad person? …Don’t answer that.</p>
<p>10. Gui Boratto – Chromophobia (Kompakt) How to make sense of a Brazilian producing music that fits right in with Cologne, Germany’s minimal-house juggernaut Kompakt Records? Don’t ask, just relax and let these deceptively simple songs wash over you. This label releases some great stuff, and what unites it (and is most in evidence here) is a realization that “minimal” doesn’t have to mean “boring.” Track seven, “The Blessing,” is based on a rolling, echoey staccato melody, but strange clatters and atmospheric effects flow around the beat, giving you a sensation of both stillness and great speed, like flying through clouds, which by the way is a great place to listen to this album on your iPod, especially if you use your frequent-flier miles to upgrade to business class.</p>
<p>9. Caribou – Andorra (Merge) Canadian Dan Smith has assembled an unassuming (and at times shambolic) psychedelic masterpiece, which, despite his electronic history, is more Dungen than it is Aphex Twin. Opener “Melody Day,” with its flute trills and ecstatic chord changes, sounds both as familiar as The Beach Boys and as left-field as the Beta Band and it gets both stranger and more inspirational as it goes on, even if its tales of archetypal girls (“Irene,” “Desiree,”) are inspired by the past. Closer “Niobe” seems to take its euphoric uplift directly from trance music, but the drums never kick in: this is a record that’s all about melody… whoever she is.</p>
<p>8. Jay-Z – American Gangster (Roc-A-Fella) Guess who’s back? Jay-Z’s back! And there’s nobody who’s better positioned to take full advantage of what seems like the current trend towards hip-hop’s rediscovering soul classics like Curtis Mayfield and Marvin Gaye. On top of the affecting samples, Jay-Z is still a master poet, and his lyrics here combine dexterity with a wise maturity. Check out “Fallin’,” a dramatic string-led track, with complicated tongue-twisting internal rhymes and a final denouement that’s both acquiescence and release: “Fightin’, you’ll never survive/Runnin’, you’ll never escape/So just fall from grace.”</p>
<p>7. Blonde Redhead – 23 (4AD) Some reviews called this album “high-gloss,” but just because its cover doesn’t look like it was laying in a vault for 30 years doesn’t mean it’s a pop sellout. In fact, the band’s reorientation towards, let’s say it out loud, “shoegaze,” isn’t monolithic and seems like a far-from-assured move commercially. The title track, sure, it’s hypnotic and mid-tempo, with swirling guitars and Kazu Makino’s delicate vocals. But “Spring and By Summer Fall,” with its driving rhythms and awe-inspiring central guitar line, combines the swirl factor with something very new.</p>
<p>6. Kanye West – Graduation (Def Jam) As Technicolor musically as its Murakami cover, and as much of a musical “event” as anything else this year, Graduation is a leap forward, even for the already-running-pretty-fast Kanye. Dude didn’t have to look to J Dilla, Daft Punk, Justice, or Japan’s freakiest artist for inspiration, but he did. He still mouthed off all year, but somehow, the sheer joy of tracks like “Stronger” and “The Good Life” seemed to reorient the world towards Kanye’s viewpoint, and his braggodocio suddenly seemed almost like humility.</p>
<p>5. Of Montreal – Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? (Polyvinyl) More than anyone since Franz Ferdinand, these Georgians seem to understand the manic energy of the best new wave, and moreover, that sunny chords and synth lines are best paired with dark, troubled lyrics. With what sounds like a really rough breakup providing the album’s force, the lyrics somehow avoid cliché, always surprising with their takes on the emotional roller coaster. For instance, the “chemicals” of “Heimsdalgate” aren’t drugs, they’re far more dangerous: natural brain chemistry, of which bandleader Kevin Barnes demands, “come on mood shift, shift back to good again!”</p>
<p>4. Lil Wayne –Da Drought 3 / The Carter III (Interwebs) It’s kind of odd, when you think about it: Radiohead get all the attention for releasing a pay-what-you-want album on the internet, but Lil Wayne put out like 27 free mix tapes this year and is anybody lauding him for “changing the music industry?” Well, who cares, because the guy can’t seem to make a bad song. I’ve got another tie here, which I know is a cop-out, but both of these are towering achievements: the former a mix-tape using (and one-upping) current instrumental tracks from MIMS to Gnarls Barkley, the latter a studio album that leaked in an early, Beatles-sampling version all over the internet. Wayne’s laid-back style belies what’s clearly workaholism.</p>
<p>3. M.I.A. – Kala (XL/Interscope) I already said <a href="/riff_blog/archives/2007/08/5239_thoughts_on_mia.html" type="external">lots</a> and <a href="/riff_blog/archives/2007/07/5012_first_listen_mi.html" type="external">lots</a> of stuff about this album, so I’ll keep this kind of brief. Four months after its release, these tracks, mashups of familiar samples and avant-garde sensibility, still seem fresh; her lyrics, a devil-may-care collection of agit-prop sloganeering and quick-witted flirtation, still seem urgent. Rolling Stone, calling this their album of the year, says she’s a “criminal-minded art freak with a true rock &amp; roller’s love of flash and sensation and irresponsible shit-talking;” yes, but you forgot to mention “cute.”</p>
<p>2. Radiohead – In Rainbows (Intertubes) So, Mr. Dumb DJ Name Guy, how can an album that didn’t manage to generate any singles good enough for your Top 20 somehow land at #2 on your albums list, huh? Well, helpful internal voice of criticism, you unwittingly point out one of this album’s main strengths: it’s an album, all of whose songs seem to reference and lift up each other, and while “House of Cards” sounded pretty good on the radio, it just made me flip off the station and start the whole album up, because then I have to hear the Boards of Canada space-hop of “All I Need,” the rock ecstasy of “Bodysnatchers,” the abject despair of “Reckoner.” And I paid like $10.63 for it cause I forgot the pound is worth a million dollars, and I still don’t mind.</p>
<p>1. LCD Soundsystem – Sound of Silver (DFA) This shouldn’t surprise anybody: hey, a dancey album from an aging hipster who really seems to like weird old disco and the Talking Heads, why don’t you just put yourself at #1, nerd. Well, that’s part of it, since this album feels like a victory for the, ahem, “mature”: you don’t have to stop breaking ground and being awesome, even if your lyrics reflect the trouble you’ve seen. From the massive build-to-ecstasy of “Get Innocuous!” to the cheeky “North American Scum” and the majestic, mournful “Someone Great,” this is an album that runs the emotional gamut, and all of us, with all of our baggage, are invited to the shindig: “so throw a party til the cops come in and bust it up/oh you were planning it, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”</p>
<p>The next ten:</p>
<p>11. The Good, The Bad and The Queen – S/T (Virgin) Surprise: it’s not mashups, disco, or hip-hop: just melancholy, dub-inflected ballads.</p>
<p>12. Klaxons – Myths of the Near Future (Geffen) Nu-Rave? Nah, just forward-looking rock with super sci-fi references.</p>
<p>13. Justice – † (Vice) French duo turns up the techno until it turns into metal.</p>
<p>14. Feist – The Reminder (Interscope) A wildly diverse record of home-grown, straightforward tunes, insistently memorable but never cliché.</p>
<p>15. Simian Mobile Disco – Attack Decay Sustain Release (Wichita) Former rockers turn to dance music, and they don’t want to break your eardrums like Justice, they just want you to shake it.</p>
<p>16. Burial – Untrue (Hyperdub) The dubbed-out sound of South London through a soulful (and despairing) prism.</p>
<p>17. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible (Merge) Canadian collective works themselves into a religious frenzy until the church falls down.</p>
<p>18. The Field – From Here We Go Sublime (Kompakt) Chilly sample-based dance music with sources that will freak you out—was that Lionel Richie?</p>
<p>19. Jose Gonzalez – In Our Nature (Mute) Swedish singer-songwriter laments the state of humanity accompanied by rhythmic, hypnotic acoustic guitar.</p>
<p>20. The National – Boxer (Beggars Banguet) This album’s dark tales are like Raymond Carver short stories: brutal, too familiar.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | know problem serious getting better im obsessed best lists love collect compare fold little squares rub cheeks last one read lot yes mine look pretty familiar top 3 least lot like everyone elses swear albums enjoyed felt significant year kind agree pitchfork make bad person dont answer 10 gui boratto chromophobia kompakt make sense brazilian producing music fits right cologne germanys minimalhouse juggernaut kompakt records dont ask relax let deceptively simple songs wash label releases great stuff unites evidence realization minimal doesnt mean boring track seven blessing based rolling echoey staccato melody strange clatters atmospheric effects flow around beat giving sensation stillness great speed like flying clouds way great place listen album ipod especially use frequentflier miles upgrade business class 9 caribou andorra merge canadian dan smith assembled unassuming times shambolic psychedelic masterpiece despite electronic history dungen aphex twin opener melody day flute trills ecstatic chord changes sounds familiar beach boys leftfield beta band gets stranger inspirational goes even tales archetypal girls irene desiree inspired past closer niobe seems take euphoric uplift directly trance music drums never kick record thats melody whoever 8 jayz american gangster rocafella guess whos back jayzs back theres nobody whos better positioned take full advantage seems like current trend towards hiphops rediscovering soul classics like curtis mayfield marvin gaye top affecting samples jayz still master poet lyrics combine dexterity wise maturity check fallin dramatic stringled track complicated tonguetwisting internal rhymes final denouement thats acquiescence release fightin youll never surviverunnin youll never escapeso fall grace 7 blonde redhead 23 4ad reviews called album highgloss cover doesnt look like laying vault 30 years doesnt mean pop sellout fact bands reorientation towards lets say loud shoegaze isnt monolithic seems like farfromassured move commercially title track sure hypnotic midtempo swirling guitars kazu makinos delicate vocals spring summer fall driving rhythms aweinspiring central guitar line combines swirl factor something new 6 kanye west graduation def jam technicolor musically murakami cover much musical event anything else year graduation leap forward even alreadyrunningprettyfast kanye dude didnt look j dilla daft punk justice japans freakiest artist inspiration still mouthed year somehow sheer joy tracks like stronger good life seemed reorient world towards kanyes viewpoint braggodocio suddenly seemed almost like humility 5 montreal hissing fauna destroyer polyvinyl anyone since franz ferdinand georgians seem understand manic energy best new wave moreover sunny chords synth lines best paired dark troubled lyrics sounds like really rough breakup providing albums force lyrics somehow avoid cliché always surprising takes emotional roller coaster instance chemicals heimsdalgate arent drugs theyre far dangerous natural brain chemistry bandleader kevin barnes demands come mood shift shift back good 4 lil wayne da drought 3 carter iii interwebs kind odd think radiohead get attention releasing paywhatyouwant album internet lil wayne put like 27 free mix tapes year anybody lauding changing music industry well cares guy cant seem make bad song ive got another tie know copout towering achievements former mixtape using oneupping current instrumental tracks mims gnarls barkley latter studio album leaked early beatlessampling version internet waynes laidback style belies whats clearly workaholism 3 mia kala xlinterscope already said lots lots stuff album ill keep kind brief four months release tracks mashups familiar samples avantgarde sensibility still seem fresh lyrics devilmaycare collection agitprop sloganeering quickwitted flirtation still seem urgent rolling stone calling album year says shes criminalminded art freak true rock amp rollers love flash sensation irresponsible shittalking yes forgot mention cute 2 radiohead rainbows intertubes mr dumb dj name guy album didnt manage generate singles good enough top 20 somehow land 2 albums list huh well helpful internal voice criticism unwittingly point one albums main strengths album whose songs seem reference lift house cards sounded pretty good radio made flip station start whole album hear boards canada spacehop need rock ecstasy bodysnatchers abject despair reckoner paid like 1063 cause forgot pound worth million dollars still dont mind 1 lcd soundsystem sound silver dfa shouldnt surprise anybody hey dancey album aging hipster really seems like weird old disco talking heads dont put 1 nerd well thats part since album feels like victory ahem mature dont stop breaking ground awesome even lyrics reflect trouble youve seen massive buildtoecstasy get innocuous cheeky north american scum majestic mournful someone great album runs emotional gamut us baggage invited shindig throw party til cops come bust upoh planning didnt mean interrupt next ten 11 good bad queen st virgin surprise mashups disco hiphop melancholy dubinflected ballads 12 klaxons myths near future geffen nurave nah forwardlooking rock super scifi references 13 justice vice french duo turns techno turns metal 14 feist reminder interscope wildly diverse record homegrown straightforward tunes insistently memorable never cliché 15 simian mobile disco attack decay sustain release wichita former rockers turn dance music dont want break eardrums like justice want shake 16 burial untrue hyperdub dubbedout sound south london soulful despairing prism 17 arcade fire neon bible merge canadian collective works religious frenzy church falls 18 field go sublime kompakt chilly samplebased dance music sources freak outwas lionel richie 19 jose gonzalez nature mute swedish singersongwriter laments state humanity accompanied rhythmic hypnotic acoustic guitar 20 national boxer beggars banguet albums dark tales like raymond carver short stories brutal familiar | 862 |
<p>Unlike its chips, Chipotle's woes seem bottomless.</p>
<p>The burrito giant's plans to regain ground after last year's <a href="" type="internal">E. coli</a> <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/12/11/was-chipotle-s-freshness-obsession-its-downfall.html" type="external">outbreak</a> were foiled on Wednesday by <a href="https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1058090/000105809016000049/cmg-20160106x8k.htm" type="external">an SEC filing</a> in which the company admitted that its fourth-quarter sales were lower than expected and revealed that it has been served with a subpoena for a criminal investigation involving a norovirus outbreak at a California location last August.</p>
<p>In early December, Chipotle <a href="http://nrn.com/same-store-sales/chipotle-mexican-grill-expects-negative-4q-same-store-sales" type="external">predicted</a> an 8 to 11 percent fourth-quarter sales drop to result from the CDC's investigation of an E. coli outbreak connected to restaurants in several states. That investigation eventually encompassed over 50 cases of foodborne illness in nine states, most of which were reported to have begun in October 2015.</p>
<p>Then, on Dec. 21, the CDC <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2015/o26-11-15/index.html" type="external">announced</a> that it was investigating a more recent outbreak of a different strain of E. coli with start dates as late as Nov. 26, 2015. That investigation is still ongoing.</p>
<p>Now, the SEC filing has revealed the potential toll of the company's year-end woes: a fourth-quarter sales drop of 14.6 percent.</p>
<p>In December alone, comparable restaurant sales were down a full 30 percent after trending as low as negative 37 percent "following this [Dec. 21] announcement and related national media attention."</p>
<p>In addition, the SEC filing notes that the company has incurred one-time expenses between $14 million and $16 million during the fourth quarter, including "costs to replace food in select restaurants, lab analysis of food samples and environmental swabs, increased marketing expenses, retaining expert advisory services related to epidemiology and food safety, and preliminary estimates for legal claims and related expenses."</p>
<p>Much like guac, a food safety crisis costs extra.</p>
<p>Chipotle's stock <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2016-01-06/chipotle-food-safety-crisis-far-from-over" type="external">took a dive</a> following the news but the SEC filing also notes that the company's board has authorized a $300 million buyback program. That's in addition to the 609,000 shares of its stock that the company already repurchased in the fourth quarter at an average price of $556 per share. Most of those shares were bought back during December as the company endured its PR crisis and went on a public apology tour.</p>
<p>Most alarming to investors and wary customers, however, was the company's admission that it was served last month with a federal grand jury subpoena for a criminal investigation conducted jointly by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Office of Criminal Investigations.</p>
<p>"The subpoena requires us to produce a broad range of documents related to a Chipotle restaurant in Simi Valley, California, that experienced an isolated norovirus incident during August 2015," the filing noted.</p>
<p>Spokespeople for the U.S. Attorney's Office and the FDA declined to comment on the investigation or provide any further details, although the latter stressed its commitment to "protecting public health" and investigating foodborne illness outbreaks.</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
<p>A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't).</p>
<p>Chipotle spokesperson Chris Arnold told The Daily Beast, "As a matter of policy, we do not discuss details surrounding pending legal actions, but we will cooperate fully with the investigation."</p>
<p>Whatever the nature of the investigation, it pertains to an outbreak of <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/norovirus/" type="external">norovirus</a>, a highly contagious stomach illness, at a Chipotle restaurant in the Simi Valley Town Center shopping mall in August 2015. Norovirus and E. coli are separate illnesses, although both can result from unsanitary food handling.</p>
<p>As <a href="http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2015/08/at-least-60-people-sickened-after-eating-at-ca-chipotle-restaurant/#.Vo1oaZMrKRs" type="external">Food Safety News</a> (FSN) reported at the time, 99 people reported falling ill after eating at that location. The Ventura County Public Health department said that number included 82 customers and 17 employees, some of whom went to the emergency room.</p>
<p>"I was throwing up a lot," one affected customer told a local <a href="http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2015/08/22/dozens-fall-ill-after-eating-at-simi-valley-chipotle/" type="external">CBS affiliate</a>. "My aunt who works in the ER told me 19 people came in the night I got sick with food poisoning."</p>
<p>The Ventura County Environmental Health Division <a href="http://www.lamag.com/digestblog/99-people-got-sick-from-a-simi-valley-chipotle-heres-what-you-need-to-know/" type="external">investigated</a> the restaurant and found <a href="http://www.decadeonline.com/insp.phtml?agency=VEN&amp;record_id=PR0028081" type="external">several violations</a> including unsanitary premises, unclean equipment, flying insects, unauthorized food handlers, equipment being directly connected to the sewer, and unclean restrooms. According to FSN, the restaurant closed for an afternoon, cleaned up, brought in new food, and reopened the next day for lunch.</p>
<p>On top of the December 2015 norovirus incident, which affected <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2015/12/09/norovirus-confirmed-in-boston-chipotle-outbreak-120-sick-dj.html" type="external">120 Bostonians</a>, including several members of the Boston College men's basketball team, the criminal investigation into this relatively underpublicized Simi Valley outbreak is ill-timed indeed.</p>
<p>The Boston incident has, so far, not resulted in any criminal investigation but the civil suits have already begun, with one mother <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/12/17/mother-sues-chipotle-over-son-bout-norovirus/EVDT6Ejvq2Vn86FZoDjyNI/story.html" type="external">suing</a> the restaurant on behalf of her 16-year-old son. More litigation is expected to follow.</p>
<p>Judging from its SEC filing, Chipotle is digging in for potentially costly legal battles. In addition to spending money for "preliminary estimates for legal claims," the company noted that "[i]t is not possible at this time to determine whether we will incur, or to reasonably estimate the amount of any fines, penalties or further liabilities in connection with the investigation."</p>
<p>Until more details emerge, it's hard to know exactly how big of a bite this latest news will take out of Chipotle's already diminished public image. Suffice it to say that new reports of investigations into foodborne illness aren't making anyone any hungrier.</p> | true | 4 | unlike chips chipotles woes seem bottomless burrito giants plans regain ground last years e coli outbreak foiled wednesday sec filing company admitted fourthquarter sales lower expected revealed served subpoena criminal investigation involving norovirus outbreak california location last august early december chipotle predicted 8 11 percent fourthquarter sales drop result cdcs investigation e coli outbreak connected restaurants several states investigation eventually encompassed 50 cases foodborne illness nine states reported begun october 2015 dec 21 cdc announced investigating recent outbreak different strain e coli start dates late nov 26 2015 investigation still ongoing sec filing revealed potential toll companys yearend woes fourthquarter sales drop 146 percent december alone comparable restaurant sales full 30 percent trending low negative 37 percent following dec 21 announcement related national media attention addition sec filing notes company incurred onetime expenses 14 million 16 million fourth quarter including costs replace food select restaurants lab analysis food samples environmental swabs increased marketing expenses retaining expert advisory services related epidemiology food safety preliminary estimates legal claims related expenses much like guac food safety crisis costs extra chipotles stock took dive following news sec filing also notes companys board authorized 300 million buyback program thats addition 609000 shares stock company already repurchased fourth quarter average price 556 per share shares bought back december company endured pr crisis went public apology tour alarming investors wary customers however companys admission served last month federal grand jury subpoena criminal investigation conducted jointly us attorneys office central district california us food drug administrations office criminal investigations subpoena requires us produce broad range documents related chipotle restaurant simi valley california experienced isolated norovirus incident august 2015 filing noted spokespeople us attorneys office fda declined comment investigation provide details although latter stressed commitment protecting public health investigating foodborne illness outbreaks start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont chipotle spokesperson chris arnold told daily beast matter policy discuss details surrounding pending legal actions cooperate fully investigation whatever nature investigation pertains outbreak norovirus highly contagious stomach illness chipotle restaurant simi valley town center shopping mall august 2015 norovirus e coli separate illnesses although result unsanitary food handling food safety news fsn reported time 99 people reported falling ill eating location ventura county public health department said number included 82 customers 17 employees went emergency room throwing lot one affected customer told local cbs affiliate aunt works er told 19 people came night got sick food poisoning ventura county environmental health division investigated restaurant found several violations including unsanitary premises unclean equipment flying insects unauthorized food handlers equipment directly connected sewer unclean restrooms according fsn restaurant closed afternoon cleaned brought new food reopened next day lunch top december 2015 norovirus incident affected 120 bostonians including several members boston college mens basketball team criminal investigation relatively underpublicized simi valley outbreak illtimed indeed boston incident far resulted criminal investigation civil suits already begun one mother suing restaurant behalf 16yearold son litigation expected follow judging sec filing chipotle digging potentially costly legal battles addition spending money preliminary estimates legal claims company noted possible time determine whether incur reasonably estimate amount fines penalties liabilities connection investigation details emerge hard know exactly big bite latest news take chipotles already diminished public image suffice say new reports investigations foodborne illness arent making anyone hungrier | 546 |
<p>In 1979, Kathleen and Bill Christison retired from the CIA, where they worked as analysts. Ever since then, they’ve had an unorthodox retirement, to say the least. With only a couple relatively brief interludes, they’ve dedicated what could have been years of relaxation to fighting perhaps the most uphill battle imaginable: trying to bring the plight of the Palestinians to the public eye. The newest addition to the Christison canon is <a href="" type="internal">Palestine in Pieces: Graphic Perspectives on the Israeli Occupation</a>, published in August by Pluto Press. During this decade the Christisons have made a habit of visiting Palestine at least once per year; they returned from their most recent trip earlier this month. Since the couple warned against the potentially endless nature of a conversation over the phone, I elected to send them a few questions via email, which they were gracious enough to answer.</p>
<p>JEFF GORE: Kathleen: In a recent interview with Laura Flanders on GRITtv, you said that based on your travels to Palestine over the past half-decade or so, you believe the situation of the Palestinians “has gotten worse, every year.” Given that the interview was conducted before your latest trip, would you still say this today, considering the downgrade or closure of several checkpoints this year, and, according to the New York Times, “a sense of personal security and economic potential…spreading across the West Bank?”</p>
<p>Kathleen Christison: This is an extremely important question. The supposed closure of checkpoints throughout the West Bank and what is being widely touted as an opening of economic potential are a fiction—a huge scam perpetrated by Israel and the U.S., intended to make it look to the world as though Palestinians are now prospering, that the Palestinian economy is thriving and Palestinian society is now content, all thanks to the beneficence and good will of the Israelis. The media—not just the New York Times, but other print and electronic media and various opinion-molders like Thomas Friedman—have fallen for this scam and indeed have been knowingly participating in it.</p>
<p>The objective is to delude us all, including the Palestinians, into thinking that a new era of peace and prosperity is dawning in the West Bank because Palestinians have stopped terrorism and Israel has responded in good faith by easing restrictions, all in contrast to the situation in Gaza, where all the misery is supposedly the fault of Hamas because it refuses to recognize Israel and refuses to end violence. We are meant to forget that the occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem continues and is continually being reinforced, that Israel launched an unprovoked murderous assault on Gaza early this year, that Israel continues to dominate ever aspect of Palestinian daily lives.</p>
<p>In actual fact, things are no better for Palestinians in the West Bank, and in many cases they are worse. We’ve made two trips to Jerusalem and the West Bank this year, in April-May and October, and we’ve seen no substantial improvement in the situation Palestinians face on a daily basis. Despite the supposed removal of many checkpoints, most remain, and all can be reimposed at a moment’s notice. OCHA, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, which has kept careful track for the last several years of Israeli movement obstacles, just issued a report indicating that the numbers of obstacles, which include checkpoints, roadblocks, earth mounds across roads, and gates blocking roads, had been reduced in recent months hardly at all—from 618 earlier in the year to 592 now. OCHA also suggests that there’s a good deal of subterfuge in Israeli reporting: although the Israelis promised the removal of 100 roadblocks by the end of Ramadan and issued GPS coordinates for these supposedly vanishing obstacles, OCHA did an on-the-ground survey and could confirm the removal of only 35. In numerous instances, the Israeli GPS locations weren’t even in the West Bank.</p>
<p>It’s true that there has been some improvement in a few showcase locations. The cities of Jenin and Nablus are rebuilding after the terrible destruction there during the Israeli siege of 2002 and 2003, and there’s a bit more economic prosperity. Even in Hebron, which lives under siege from the most vicious of Israeli settlers, some market areas are reopening. The most notorious checkpoint, Huwara just south of Nablus, has been opened up somewhat so that Palestinian cars may now drive through and people no longer have to walk through. But this is classic colonialism, designed to make things just enough better to take the edge off the anger of the colonized: you fill the natives’ stomachs and hope they become tame, that they won’t want to resist your oppression, that they’ll forget that they have no freedom, that they still live under oppression, always at the mercy of a colonialist oppressor who has no intention of relinquishing his domination or ending his exploitation of the oppressed and their resources.</p>
<p>The “model cities” in Jenin and Nablus and the “model checkpoints” such as Huwara are the exceptions in the Palestinians’ grinding life under occupation. Movement from one area to another is still severely restricted. Most West Bank Palestinians still cannot visit Jerusalem. Those who have work permits to enter Jerusalem must still wait for hours in endless lines to enter the city and pass through multiple security checks, including biometric checks that leave a record of when they entered the city and whether they have exited by the end of the day. Israeli settlements continue to be built and expanded on confiscated Palestinian land. The road network connecting the settlements to each other and to Israel, on which Palestinians may not drive, continues to be expanded, cutting off increasing numbers of Palestinians from each other. Palestinians are still harassed and physically attacked by aggressive Israeli settlers. Olive groves and other agricultural land continue to be confiscated, destroyed, burned, either by settlers or by bulldozers clearing land for more settlements or for the Separation Wall. Construction of the Wall is proceeding, cutting off more Palestinian land from its owners.</p>
<p>Non-violent protesters who demonstrate regularly against the Wall continue to be shot and killed or imprisoned. While newly trained, spiffily uniformed Palestinian security forces patrol city streets during the day, Israeli forces control the night and therefore control the entire territory. They conduct middle-of-the-night raids in villages throughout the West Bank, arresting young Palestinian men on suspicion merely of being Palestinian, beating or even shooting anyone who resists. In Jerusalem, where the Netanyahu government is currently concentrating its harshest oppression, the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians continues quite openly. Palestinian homes continue to be demolished for no other reason than that they are in Israel’s way—in the way of the Wall’s advance, or of the next new or expanding Israeli settlement, or of Israel’s efforts to depopulate the land of Palestinians and create a Jewish majority. Palestinian families continue to be evicted from their homes so that Israeli settlers can live in them.</p>
<p>The catalog of horrors is long, and it is not ending, despite the hypocritical claims by the New York Times and others of an increased “sense of personal security,” despite all efforts by Netanyahu and the Obama administration to make us think peace has come. The occupation continues, and more harshly than ever. As Israeli journalist Amira Hass recently put it, the occupation “completely shrinks people’s lives,” and this has not changed.</p>
<p>JG: What are the advantages and disadvantages of being a white Westerner traveling in the Occupied Territories?</p>
<p>Kathleen &amp; Bill Christison: Although we feel very comfortable among Palestinians, and have always felt very welcome, at the same time we always feel some embarrassment because we’re there basically as voyeurs watching other people’s misery. In fact, we feel we’re helping by bringing the Palestinians’ story, the facts of the occupation and what it means for Palestinian daily lives, to public attention in the West, but it’s still hard to get away from the feeling that we’re invading other people’s privacy by watching them line up at checkpoints and taking pictures of them, or watching them sob as their homes are demolished. Or, as happened to us once, talking to a man scheduled for surgery in Jerusalem who had been waiting for days for an Israeli permit to get into the city and who cried as he told us his story and asked us to take a picture of the medical certificate that attested to his need for surgery and should have provided his entrée to the city. We’ve told his story, but we knew, and he knew, that we couldn’t do anything to help him and that we would ultimately be able to go home to our comfortable lives in the U.S. while he waits—waits for his permit, waits for his freedom, waits for a decent life.</p>
<p>This is the principal reason, incidentally, that we’ve decided we won’t take any royalties or other profits from our new book, but will donate them to organizations that we feel most benefit the Palestinians. No book on the Palestinians will ever make much money in the first place, sad to say, but the idea that we personally should make any money because we’ve been witness to other people’s misery is unacceptable to us.</p>
<p>JG: I’ve always thought that the strongest argument for the two-state solution — and against the one-state solution — was Michael Neumann’s assessment of Israel as unwilling to “abolish itself.” On the other hand, Kathleen, you’ve written critically about Neumann’s remarks and advocated a single democratic state in Palestine. Ruling out any precipitous fall in American power, any miraculous surge in power of the Palestinian governing body, or God forbid, any catastrophic regional war, in what scenario can you envision Israeli Jews consenting to a binational secular state; to changing their flag, national anthem, even the name of their country?</p>
<p>KC: I have to say I object to the premise of Michael Neumann’s argument—that we should or should not pursue one or another solution simply on the basis of whether it meets Israel’s desires. I think, on the contrary, that we should pursue a solution for no other reason than that it is just, for both Palestinians and Israeli Jews. A two-state solution—which at its very best would give Palestinians a state in less than one-quarter of their original homeland and at its most likely would give them a non-viable, non-contiguous state in little pieces constituting quite a bit less than one-quarter—is simply not just. I recognize that realists like Michael disdain “dreamers,” as he’s called one-state advocates, as naïve and maybe other-worldly to be talking about unrealistic, impractical concepts like justice. But I don’t think, first of all, that it’s really so naïve or even futile to advocate and work for justice—justice does prevail on occasion. And, secondly, I think perpetrating gross injustice is ultimately totally impractical and cannot endure: a two-state solution, to my mind, is so grossly unjust—not to say also unlikely because Israel doesn’t want that either—that it is also impractical.</p>
<p>So my preference, if we’re faced with a situation in which Israel is not willing at the moment to “abolish itself” but is also not willing to give the Palestinians anything, not even a non-viable, cantonized state, is to work for the most just solution, which is a single democratic state in which Palestinians and Jews would live as equal citizens with equal access to the instruments of government and a constitution that would guarantee the equality of everyone. (I would not, by the way, call this a “binational” state, which I see as a state that maintains some de jure separation between the two peoples. This is something I fear would perpetuate the power imbalance and perpetuate Jewish domination of Palestinians. Although nothing would be easy for the Palestinians no matter what solution is pursued, a single integrated state with constitutional guarantees of equality would more readily assure them of some kind of political and economic parity.)</p>
<p>Those like Michael who argue on the basis of what Israel would not want to do are arguing from the premise that might makes right, that might makes a reality that we cannot counter, and that simply because the powerful party in this conflict doesn’t want something, it won’t come to be and none of us should even speak about it. This is absurd. Who would have expected in the mid-1980s when liberals throughout the world were fighting a seemingly futile battle of sanctions against apartheid South Africa, that the very powerful white leadership of that country would decide in the next few years to “abolish itself”? Who would have expected at that same time that the very powerful Soviet Union would “abolish itself”?</p>
<p>My crystal ball isn’t clear enough to be able to lay out a precise scenario, but I believe that Zionism and the racism and injustice inherent in it simply cannot endure and that Israel will collapse of its own weight at some time in the future, hopefully in our lifetime. No empire has lasted in history, and gross, systematic injustice does not last either. I also give Jews greater credit for having a conscience, for caring about justice and caring about the injustices perpetrated against the Palestinians in the name of world Jewry, than Michael or others like Uri Avnery do, who criticize us one-staters because we don’t seem to realize, as they say, that Israeli Jews will always want to screw the Palestinians if they all live in the same state. I just don’t buy that. If white South Africans and Soviet appartchiks could relinquish power voluntarily and non-violently, then I believe Jews will ultimately be led by their consciences to do the same.</p>
<p>My bottom line is, I don’t think we can or should shut our mouths about a just peace settlement—or, even more importantly, deliberately limit Palestinian options by refusing to speak about the possibilities—simply because Israel might not happen to like it, which is what I see as the principal argument of the anti-one-staters.</p>
<p>JG: Similarly, in your travels, what impression have you gotten from Palestinians as to which solution they advocate?</p>
<p>KBC: It’s hard to make a definitive judgment on this, but it is fair to say that support for a one-state solution is growing among Palestinians. Polls of Palestinian opinion still show this support in the minority, but growing. Many Palestinians whom we’ve talked to still favor two states and specifically reject one state, either because they fear Jewish political and economic domination in a single state or because they are closely enough connected to the Palestinian Authority that they are unwilling even to think of any alternative to the PA’s official support for two states, which is the position that gives them entrée into negotiations and whatever favors are bestowed by the U.S. But an increasing number of our acquaintances now more explicitly favor one state. They are increasingly dissatisfied with the PA’s position and its acceptance of the two-state solution, all of which they see as collaboration with the Israeli oppressor and a betrayal of fundamental rights in return for no benefit whatsoever for the Palestinians.</p>
<p>Much of Palestinian thinking is formed more around the possibilities than strictly on the basis of preferences, which is to say that as long as the two-state solution was the only alternative held out to the Palestinians, support for this option was quite high, but the more the possibility of a one-state solution is talked about—and, of course, the more the likelihood of a real, independent Palestinian state ever being formed in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem has receded—the more Palestinians are willing to think about and advocate a single state. As it has become clearer and clearer to the Palestinians that Israel under its current leadership has no intention of ever withdrawing from the occupied territories and no intention of allowing Palestinians any sovereignty in Jerusalem, support for a single state in all of Palestine has grown. More importantly, Palestinians increasingly recognize that their demand for the right of return is ultimately incompatible with a two-state solution, in which only limited numbers of refugees, if any, would be allowed to return to their homes and land inside Israel and the vast majority would have to be accommodated inside the tiny Palestinian state. It’s unlikely that an enduring peace settlement will ever be forged that does not address and provide a fair solution of the refugee issue and the right of return.</p>
<p>JG: In my recent interview with Jonathan Cook, he spoke highly of the Boycott Divestment Sanctions (BDS) movement, saying that in his view, “there is no way to end the occupation unless Israelis are made to see that they will pay a heavy price for its continuance.” Would you agree with this? If so, how would you respond to criticism about harming “innocent” Israelis with a blanket boycott or sanctions? Or is there even such a thing as an “innocent” Israeli when it comes to the issue of Palestinian suffering?</p>
<p>KBC: We do indeed agree with Jonathan on the wisdom of BDS and the notion that Israelis must be made to pay a heavy price for continuing the occupation if there’s to be any hope of ever ending it. As to whether “innocent” Israelis might be harmed by a blanket application of BDS, we would ask where one should draw the line on what harms Israelis. Does it harm innocent Israelis to cut off or cut back U.S. aid to Israel—which would be the ultimate sanction? Under a long-term ten-year agreement, the U.S. gives, not lends, Israel $3 billion of military aid every year—in cash, at the beginning of each fiscal year—plus additional increments of economic aid and loan guarantees on a year-by-year basis. Aid of this magnitude and given under these terms obviously greatly helps the Israeli economy. It also gives Israel virtually total impunity to commit whatever atrocities it wants against the Palestinians without fear that the U.S. will cut it off. So if we’re worried about harming individual Israelis, we have to worry about the guy in an electronics shop who is harmed economically because he no longer gets the subcontract for some airplane or tank part, but we also have to worry about the innocent Palestinians—the literally millions of innocent Palestinians—in Gaza particularly, but elsewhere as well, who are being killed by those airplanes and tanks and other military equipment that Israel uses with the impunity granted it by the U.S. If blind justice weighs these two groups of innocents and the harm done to them on her scales, we believe she would conclude that the “innocent” Israeli is after all not so innocent.</p>
<p>Although it may be clearer how the scales should balance when we’re talking about military aid, the same factors must be weighed when we deal with boycotts of non-military products and academic and cultural boycotts, and we think the same conclusions must be reached: ending Palestinian suffering at Israel’s hands is a more worthy, more just objective than saving the economic hide or the jobs of any Israelis. Maybe you’re right that there is no such thing as an “innocent” Israeli when it comes to Palestinian suffering. In a democratic state—democratic at least for Israeli Jews—all Jewish Israelis are responsible for the injustices and the killing and the atrocities visited upon the Palestinians. They elected the governments that have carried out these policies and actions; they have failed to put an end to them; they live in a state established on the suffering and the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians over 60 years ago. We Americans are just as responsible for the killing and atrocities visited by U.S. forces on Iraqi and Afghan civilians and in past eras on civilians in places like Vietnam, and we would not claim that sanctions against the U.S. were unfair, even if these caused us to suffer personally. Perhaps this should be the criterion: that innocence lies in greater measure with the people being oppressed and bombed and occupied, and we must be more concerned with ending harm to them than with causing incidental harm to individuals in the oppressor-occupier nation.</p>
<p>JG: In your <a href="" type="internal">new book</a> you briefly compare Israel’s treatment of the Palestinians to the U.S’s treatment of Native Americans. That said, I was wondering if you had an opinion on how to respond to one of the peskier questions addressed specifically to Americans that nobody seems to be able to answer. The question is: what right do I have to criticize Israel as a “colonial” or “settler” state when I am a descendant of colonists and settlers myself, enjoying the spoils of theft from an indigenous people?</p>
<p>KBC: This is indeed a difficult question to answer, and there is for sure a measure of hypocrisy in criticizing Israel without also rectifying our own nation’s sins. But we don’t believe that one injustice, even when perpetrated by our own country, imposes an obligation to remain silent about another injustice or requires that we stop working on Israel’s injustice until we’ve resolved the United States’ unjust policies. In fact, having acquired a conscience about what our country did, and continues to do, to our own native population has given us, we feel, a bit more moral authority from which to demand that the United States stop giving Israel the means—the political, military, and economic support—with which to commit a similar atrocity against the Palestinians.</p>
<p>We all pick our battles in this life, and we happen to have picked support for Palestinian rights as our battle. We did this initially from a position of considerable—and, we would acknowledge, shameful—ignorance about the history of U.S. treatment of Native Americans, but our focus on the Palestinians has helped open our eyes to the Native Americans’ situation, and we’re now more conscious of the need to work for justice for both peoples. If we personally continue to devote more of our attention to the Palestinians, this is because it’s a more easily resolvable situation and because we’ve already invested 30-plus years of our education and work in it. But to repeat, whatever inequity exists in our own allocation of attention, whatever hypocrisy exists in demanding of Israel what the U.S. has not done for its own native population, does not put any obligation on us to give Israel carte blanche to continue its oppression unopposed.</p>
<p>JG: Kathleen, in the GRITtv interview you described losing interest in the conflict for a few years before returning to it due to its “haunting” nature. Could you describe that in more detail, or in other words, what has compelled you to keep writing on behalf of the Palestinians for three decades, despite their situation growing increasingly worse over that time period?</p>
<p>KC: Maybe it’s precisely because the Palestinians’ situation has grown worse that I’ve been so “haunted” and so compelled to continue working on this issue. Although I had worked on the Palestinian question for several years before Bill and I left the CIA in 1979, I never actually met a Palestinian until the late 1980s, when I began interviewing Palestinian Americans about their attitudes toward Israel—which ultimately led to my book The Wound of Dispossession. It was only by doing these interviews, and doing a lot of reading on the history of Palestine-Israel, that I really learned the Palestinian story. And I was and continue to be shocked at how horribly that story has been distorted in the United States and the rest of the West. For me—and for Bill too—it’s been a kind of crusade to bring this story to greater public attention. The Palestinians are such a graceful people and the injustices perpetrated against them for six decades and more have been so horrific—and so deliberate—that we both feel we can’t give up.</p>
<p>JG: For those who don’t have time or means to visit Palestine, but want to help the Palestinians, what would you suggest is the best thing that they can do?</p>
<p>KBC: This may be the most difficult of your questions to answer. The usual route, talking to one’s congressmen, is an almost totally futile pursuit on this issue. The Israel lobby, in all its aspects, has Congress so sewed up that it’s almost impossible to get any attention if one is talking about Palestinian rights or demanding concessions from Israel or advocating anything other than the current so-called international consensus on two states. We both think that at the popular level in the U.S. there’s been an upsurge in support for the Palestinians and a greater willingness to criticize Israel. This has been particularly true since Israel’s assault on Gaza early this year. But so far this change in viewpoint hasn’t reached up to the political level, meaning in the administration and Congress, because there simply aren’t enough people willing to mobilize, visit congressmen, write letters to the editor, etc. But this is what’s needed. We need to educate ourselves on the issue so that we can educate others, join whatever solidarity organizations exist in our areas, gain some political muscle by increasing our numbers, work together, lobby congressmen in numbers, write letters to the editor, force the media to pay attention to what’s happening on the ground, call out Israel’s supporters everywhere for their moral blindness, sign on to the many petitions and letters to politicians that circulate on the internet. In general, make ourselves known, make our position known, and make noise!</p>
<p>JEFF GORE is a freelance journalist based in Athens, GA. He is a frequent contributor to the Athens weekly Flagpole Magazine and has also written articles for Dissident Voice and The Comment Factory. His journal of his summer spent in Palestine can be read at <a href="http://www.holylanddispatches.blogspot.com" type="external">holylanddispatches.blogspot.com</a>. He can be reached at <a href="" type="internal">jgore00@gmail.com</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 1979 kathleen bill christison retired cia worked analysts ever since theyve unorthodox retirement say least couple relatively brief interludes theyve dedicated could years relaxation fighting perhaps uphill battle imaginable trying bring plight palestinians public eye newest addition christison canon palestine pieces graphic perspectives israeli occupation published august pluto press decade christisons made habit visiting palestine least per year returned recent trip earlier month since couple warned potentially endless nature conversation phone elected send questions via email gracious enough answer jeff gore kathleen recent interview laura flanders grittv said based travels palestine past halfdecade believe situation palestinians gotten worse every year given interview conducted latest trip would still say today considering downgrade closure several checkpoints year according new york times sense personal security economic potentialspreading across west bank kathleen christison extremely important question supposed closure checkpoints throughout west bank widely touted opening economic potential fictiona huge scam perpetrated israel us intended make look world though palestinians prospering palestinian economy thriving palestinian society content thanks beneficence good israelis medianot new york times print electronic media various opinionmolders like thomas friedmanhave fallen scam indeed knowingly participating objective delude us including palestinians thinking new era peace prosperity dawning west bank palestinians stopped terrorism israel responded good faith easing restrictions contrast situation gaza misery supposedly fault hamas refuses recognize israel refuses end violence meant forget occupation west bank east jerusalem continues continually reinforced israel launched unprovoked murderous assault gaza early year israel continues dominate ever aspect palestinian daily lives actual fact things better palestinians west bank many cases worse weve made two trips jerusalem west bank year aprilmay october weve seen substantial improvement situation palestinians face daily basis despite supposed removal many checkpoints remain reimposed moments notice ocha uns office coordination humanitarian affairs kept careful track last several years israeli movement obstacles issued report indicating numbers obstacles include checkpoints roadblocks earth mounds across roads gates blocking roads reduced recent months hardly allfrom 618 earlier year 592 ocha also suggests theres good deal subterfuge israeli reporting although israelis promised removal 100 roadblocks end ramadan issued gps coordinates supposedly vanishing obstacles ocha ontheground survey could confirm removal 35 numerous instances israeli gps locations werent even west bank true improvement showcase locations cities jenin nablus rebuilding terrible destruction israeli siege 2002 2003 theres bit economic prosperity even hebron lives siege vicious israeli settlers market areas reopening notorious checkpoint huwara south nablus opened somewhat palestinian cars may drive people longer walk classic colonialism designed make things enough better take edge anger colonized fill natives stomachs hope become tame wont want resist oppression theyll forget freedom still live oppression always mercy colonialist oppressor intention relinquishing domination ending exploitation oppressed resources model cities jenin nablus model checkpoints huwara exceptions palestinians grinding life occupation movement one area another still severely restricted west bank palestinians still visit jerusalem work permits enter jerusalem must still wait hours endless lines enter city pass multiple security checks including biometric checks leave record entered city whether exited end day israeli settlements continue built expanded confiscated palestinian land road network connecting settlements israel palestinians may drive continues expanded cutting increasing numbers palestinians palestinians still harassed physically attacked aggressive israeli settlers olive groves agricultural land continue confiscated destroyed burned either settlers bulldozers clearing land settlements separation wall construction wall proceeding cutting palestinian land owners nonviolent protesters demonstrate regularly wall continue shot killed imprisoned newly trained spiffily uniformed palestinian security forces patrol city streets day israeli forces control night therefore control entire territory conduct middleofthenight raids villages throughout west bank arresting young palestinian men suspicion merely palestinian beating even shooting anyone resists jerusalem netanyahu government currently concentrating harshest oppression ethnic cleansing palestinians continues quite openly palestinian homes continue demolished reason israels wayin way walls advance next new expanding israeli settlement israels efforts depopulate land palestinians create jewish majority palestinian families continue evicted homes israeli settlers live catalog horrors long ending despite hypocritical claims new york times others increased sense personal security despite efforts netanyahu obama administration make us think peace come occupation continues harshly ever israeli journalist amira hass recently put occupation completely shrinks peoples lives changed jg advantages disadvantages white westerner traveling occupied territories kathleen amp bill christison although feel comfortable among palestinians always felt welcome time always feel embarrassment basically voyeurs watching peoples misery fact feel helping bringing palestinians story facts occupation means palestinian daily lives public attention west still hard get away feeling invading peoples privacy watching line checkpoints taking pictures watching sob homes demolished happened us talking man scheduled surgery jerusalem waiting days israeli permit get city cried told us story asked us take picture medical certificate attested need surgery provided entrée city weve told story knew knew couldnt anything help would ultimately able go home comfortable lives us waitswaits permit waits freedom waits decent life principal reason incidentally weve decided wont take royalties profits new book donate organizations feel benefit palestinians book palestinians ever make much money first place sad say idea personally make money weve witness peoples misery unacceptable us jg ive always thought strongest argument twostate solution onestate solution michael neumanns assessment israel unwilling abolish hand kathleen youve written critically neumanns remarks advocated single democratic state palestine ruling precipitous fall american power miraculous surge power palestinian governing body god forbid catastrophic regional war scenario envision israeli jews consenting binational secular state changing flag national anthem even name country kc say object premise michael neumanns argumentthat pursue one another solution simply basis whether meets israels desires think contrary pursue solution reason palestinians israeli jews twostate solutionwhich best would give palestinians state less onequarter original homeland likely would give nonviable noncontiguous state little pieces constituting quite bit less onequarteris simply recognize realists like michael disdain dreamers hes called onestate advocates naïve maybe otherworldly talking unrealistic impractical concepts like justice dont think first really naïve even futile advocate work justicejustice prevail occasion secondly think perpetrating gross injustice ultimately totally impractical endure twostate solution mind grossly unjustnot say also unlikely israel doesnt want eitherthat also impractical preference faced situation israel willing moment abolish also willing give palestinians anything even nonviable cantonized state work solution single democratic state palestinians jews would live equal citizens equal access instruments government constitution would guarantee equality everyone would way call binational state see state maintains de jure separation two peoples something fear would perpetuate power imbalance perpetuate jewish domination palestinians although nothing would easy palestinians matter solution pursued single integrated state constitutional guarantees equality would readily assure kind political economic parity like michael argue basis israel would want arguing premise might makes right might makes reality counter simply powerful party conflict doesnt want something wont come none us even speak absurd would expected mid1980s liberals throughout world fighting seemingly futile battle sanctions apartheid south africa powerful white leadership country would decide next years abolish would expected time powerful soviet union would abolish crystal ball isnt clear enough able lay precise scenario believe zionism racism injustice inherent simply endure israel collapse weight time future hopefully lifetime empire lasted history gross systematic injustice last either also give jews greater credit conscience caring justice caring injustices perpetrated palestinians name world jewry michael others like uri avnery criticize us onestaters dont seem realize say israeli jews always want screw palestinians live state dont buy white south africans soviet appartchiks could relinquish power voluntarily nonviolently believe jews ultimately led consciences bottom line dont think shut mouths peace settlementor even importantly deliberately limit palestinian options refusing speak possibilitiessimply israel might happen like see principal argument antionestaters jg similarly travels impression gotten palestinians solution advocate kbc hard make definitive judgment fair say support onestate solution growing among palestinians polls palestinian opinion still show support minority growing many palestinians weve talked still favor two states specifically reject one state either fear jewish political economic domination single state closely enough connected palestinian authority unwilling even think alternative pas official support two states position gives entrée negotiations whatever favors bestowed us increasing number acquaintances explicitly favor one state increasingly dissatisfied pas position acceptance twostate solution see collaboration israeli oppressor betrayal fundamental rights return benefit whatsoever palestinians much palestinian thinking formed around possibilities strictly basis preferences say long twostate solution alternative held palestinians support option quite high possibility onestate solution talked aboutand course likelihood real independent palestinian state ever formed west bank gaza east jerusalem recededthe palestinians willing think advocate single state become clearer clearer palestinians israel current leadership intention ever withdrawing occupied territories intention allowing palestinians sovereignty jerusalem support single state palestine grown importantly palestinians increasingly recognize demand right return ultimately incompatible twostate solution limited numbers refugees would allowed return homes land inside israel vast majority would accommodated inside tiny palestinian state unlikely enduring peace settlement ever forged address provide fair solution refugee issue right return jg recent interview jonathan cook spoke highly boycott divestment sanctions bds movement saying view way end occupation unless israelis made see pay heavy price continuance would agree would respond criticism harming innocent israelis blanket boycott sanctions even thing innocent israeli comes issue palestinian suffering kbc indeed agree jonathan wisdom bds notion israelis must made pay heavy price continuing occupation theres hope ever ending whether innocent israelis might harmed blanket application bds would ask one draw line harms israelis harm innocent israelis cut cut back us aid israelwhich would ultimate sanction longterm tenyear agreement us gives lends israel 3 billion military aid every yearin cash beginning fiscal yearplus additional increments economic aid loan guarantees yearbyyear basis aid magnitude given terms obviously greatly helps israeli economy also gives israel virtually total impunity commit whatever atrocities wants palestinians without fear us cut worried harming individual israelis worry guy electronics shop harmed economically longer gets subcontract airplane tank part also worry innocent palestiniansthe literally millions innocent palestiniansin gaza particularly elsewhere well killed airplanes tanks military equipment israel uses impunity granted us blind justice weighs two groups innocents harm done scales believe would conclude innocent israeli innocent although may clearer scales balance talking military aid factors must weighed deal boycotts nonmilitary products academic cultural boycotts think conclusions must reached ending palestinian suffering israels hands worthy objective saving economic hide jobs israelis maybe youre right thing innocent israeli comes palestinian suffering democratic statedemocratic least israeli jewsall jewish israelis responsible injustices killing atrocities visited upon palestinians elected governments carried policies actions failed put end live state established suffering ethnic cleansing palestinians 60 years ago americans responsible killing atrocities visited us forces iraqi afghan civilians past eras civilians places like vietnam would claim sanctions us unfair even caused us suffer personally perhaps criterion innocence lies greater measure people oppressed bombed occupied must concerned ending harm causing incidental harm individuals oppressoroccupier nation jg new book briefly compare israels treatment palestinians uss treatment native americans said wondering opinion respond one peskier questions addressed specifically americans nobody seems able answer question right criticize israel colonial settler state descendant colonists settlers enjoying spoils theft indigenous people kbc indeed difficult question answer sure measure hypocrisy criticizing israel without also rectifying nations sins dont believe one injustice even perpetrated country imposes obligation remain silent another injustice requires stop working israels injustice weve resolved united states unjust policies fact acquired conscience country continues native population given us feel bit moral authority demand united states stop giving israel meansthe political military economic supportwith commit similar atrocity palestinians pick battles life happen picked support palestinian rights battle initially position considerableand would acknowledge shamefulignorance history us treatment native americans focus palestinians helped open eyes native americans situation conscious need work justice peoples personally continue devote attention palestinians easily resolvable situation weve already invested 30plus years education work repeat whatever inequity exists allocation attention whatever hypocrisy exists demanding israel us done native population put obligation us give israel carte blanche continue oppression unopposed jg kathleen grittv interview described losing interest conflict years returning due haunting nature could describe detail words compelled keep writing behalf palestinians three decades despite situation growing increasingly worse time period kc maybe precisely palestinians situation grown worse ive haunted compelled continue working issue although worked palestinian question several years bill left cia 1979 never actually met palestinian late 1980s began interviewing palestinian americans attitudes toward israelwhich ultimately led book wound dispossession interviews lot reading history palestineisrael really learned palestinian story continue shocked horribly story distorted united states rest west meand bill tooits kind crusade bring story greater public attention palestinians graceful people injustices perpetrated six decades horrificand deliberatethat feel cant give jg dont time means visit palestine want help palestinians would suggest best thing kbc may difficult questions answer usual route talking ones congressmen almost totally futile pursuit issue israel lobby aspects congress sewed almost impossible get attention one talking palestinian rights demanding concessions israel advocating anything current socalled international consensus two states think popular level us theres upsurge support palestinians greater willingness criticize israel particularly true since israels assault gaza early year far change viewpoint hasnt reached political level meaning administration congress simply arent enough people willing mobilize visit congressmen write letters editor etc whats needed need educate issue educate others join whatever solidarity organizations exist areas gain political muscle increasing numbers work together lobby congressmen numbers write letters editor force media pay attention whats happening ground call israels supporters everywhere moral blindness sign many petitions letters politicians circulate internet general make known make position known make noise jeff gore freelance journalist based athens ga frequent contributor athens weekly flagpole magazine also written articles dissident voice comment factory journal summer spent palestine read holylanddispatchesblogspotcom reached jgore00gmailcom 160 160 | 2,228 |
<p>Trick or treat, Trick or treat, Give me something good to eat. If you don’t I don’t care, I’ll pull down your underwear!</p>
<p>The above can be taken as a succinct analysis of the current economic situation, from the perspective of an elementary school yard. The following commentary springs from viewing short movies about the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVFBojFJTZM" type="external">crashing US housing market</a>, and a speech by P. Sainath on the agrarian crisis in India.</p>
<p>With the advancing economic recession, we can expect both lower prices and more crime. People in housing construction (and related fields) are losing jobs, and this loss of livelihood is bleeding into the general economy:</p>
<p>1) on the retail front: for example by falling car sales, generic and “economy brand” foods increasingly favored over name-brand items, retail outlets losing customers; and</p>
<p>2) on the finance industry front: broke consumers cannot buy new credit — loans — because they cannot even repay the old ones [up to an estimated $4 Trillion!!] and their collateral is now worthless.</p>
<p>I would love to see a 1929 style crash for real estate speculators, banks and other big investors. But, I know that any downturn will squeeze the “little people,” and that those with abundant cash will always pay less for their misdeeds. Housing values may very well drop 50% nationally within the next two years (by 2009), this is true in Florida right now. I hope this helps renters. Most US consumer and government debt is now being underwritten by foreigners, so if world confidence in the US dollar evaporates then US prices and values could drop as they did in the Great Depression, by 80% or even more (down as far as 95% in housing). This is a bad time to hold a mortgage that is over 50% of the 2006 market value of your property (or properties).</p>
<p>I am not in the financial business (and my income shows it), but I will offer this advice: reduce your debts now. Stop using your credit cards (cancel all accounts except one for emergencies; this lowers your identity theft risk). Yes, it becomes slower to acquire stuff [imagine sending a check by US Mail!!!], but buying with cash is ultimately cheaper, the single best way to stop incurring debt. Do not incur new debt, if possible, but certainly not for frivolities or “impulses.” Pay off existing debt (e.g., zero out credit card debt, make “added principal” payments on mortgages). Apply the 3 R’s: reuse, repair, recycle; reduce unnecessary expenses (e.g., do you really need cable TV?, cell phones?, gyms?, a new car?, a trip to Vegas?, all those magazine subscriptions? [I except Counter Punch], to smoke?; it all adds up).</p>
<p>Labor costs are going to drop through the floor, and commodity prices (e.g., food) will lag because nowadays there are far fewer suppliers, and they are much bigger corporations who are able both to throttle the market and pay off government to protect their rackets from social responsibility and democracy.</p>
<p>Loss of income for many will also mean loss of health-care. The stranglehold on the political process by the big money interests will prevent rapid and necessary government action to ameliorate social distress (e.g. Hurricane Katrina in your neighborhood). So, frustrations and desperation at the socio-economic floor will cause more people, who cannot imagine other action, turning to crime. There’s been a rash of bank robberies in my neighborhood in the last few months. All of you are being systematically defrauded right now, because the real inflation of the US dollar is much higher than the “official” numbers (a.k.a, the official numbers are lies), so you are losing the value of your earnings (especially if fixed-income), savings and investments (CDs, bonds).</p>
<p>The fixes are “no-brainers:” stop all our wars (including “drug” wars and “terror” wars, and “Israel,” the current phase of our 500 year Manifest Destiny race war against “the natives”), defund the military by 80%; tax the rich (when they are no richer than everybody else this taxing can stop); fund universal health-care, daycare, education through university (think of this as a prison prevention program), civil defense (e.g., a National Guard for wild-land fire-fighting, disaster relief and reconstruction, as should have been the case for Hurricane Katrina).</p>
<p>What about the “free market,” “private enterprise” and “faith-based initiatives?” Short answer: kill them. The Iraq War is a faith-based initiative, and the same nuts are trying the same lunacy on the same rubes to ignite an Iran War. When will the rubes finally wake up and tar and feather these bums and ride them on a rail to jail? (Read about the King and the Duke in “Huckleberry Finn.”)</p>
<p>All the fancy blather of all the talking heads is pure distraction from this simple fact: 99% of the American people (and of the world) are simply being robbed lock, stock and barrel. Their money, savings, pensions, livelihoods, homes, lands, jobs and career prospects, security, even their very food, water and air are being taken from them as quickly as the wheels of government, finance and industry can be turned to this task. We are taken to be crash-test dummies who can be hypnotized by televised images of Britney Spears underpants, and who won’t move our butts off the couch to keep our own homes and lives from being ripped off their financial foundations by the tornado-force suction of a rapaciously manipulated economy.</p>
<p>The one certainty I have is that if the “little guy” — in general — thinks like the big guy, “I’m getting all I can get, and the hell with you,” (typical of the “patriot” bible-thumping “Christian” Von Mises fans I’ve heard from), then we are all lost to a peasantry of a coming Dark Age. I would rather have a new Economic French Revolution, and start fresh.</p>
<p>MANUEL GARCIA, Jr. is a retired physicist who is “too smart to be rich.” His technical interests are gas and electrical physics and energy, his non-technical interests are varied, tending toward music and natural history. He is reconciled to his ignorance by the observation that the omniscient are ineducable. Email at <a href="mailto:mango@idiom.com" type="external">mango@idiom.com</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | trick treat trick treat give something good eat dont dont care ill pull underwear taken succinct analysis current economic situation perspective elementary school yard following commentary springs viewing short movies crashing us housing market speech p sainath agrarian crisis india advancing economic recession expect lower prices crime people housing construction related fields losing jobs loss livelihood bleeding general economy 1 retail front example falling car sales generic economy brand foods increasingly favored namebrand items retail outlets losing customers 2 finance industry front broke consumers buy new credit loans even repay old ones estimated 4 trillion collateral worthless would love see 1929 style crash real estate speculators banks big investors know downturn squeeze little people abundant cash always pay less misdeeds housing values may well drop 50 nationally within next two years 2009 true florida right hope helps renters us consumer government debt underwritten foreigners world confidence us dollar evaporates us prices values could drop great depression 80 even far 95 housing bad time hold mortgage 50 2006 market value property properties financial business income shows offer advice reduce debts stop using credit cards cancel accounts except one emergencies lowers identity theft risk yes becomes slower acquire stuff imagine sending check us mail buying cash ultimately cheaper single best way stop incurring debt incur new debt possible certainly frivolities impulses pay existing debt eg zero credit card debt make added principal payments mortgages apply 3 rs reuse repair recycle reduce unnecessary expenses eg really need cable tv cell phones gyms new car trip vegas magazine subscriptions except counter punch smoke adds labor costs going drop floor commodity prices eg food lag nowadays far fewer suppliers much bigger corporations able throttle market pay government protect rackets social responsibility democracy loss income many also mean loss healthcare stranglehold political process big money interests prevent rapid necessary government action ameliorate social distress eg hurricane katrina neighborhood frustrations desperation socioeconomic floor cause people imagine action turning crime theres rash bank robberies neighborhood last months systematically defrauded right real inflation us dollar much higher official numbers aka official numbers lies losing value earnings especially fixedincome savings investments cds bonds fixes nobrainers stop wars including drug wars terror wars israel current phase 500 year manifest destiny race war natives defund military 80 tax rich richer everybody else taxing stop fund universal healthcare daycare education university think prison prevention program civil defense eg national guard wildland firefighting disaster relief reconstruction case hurricane katrina free market private enterprise faithbased initiatives short answer kill iraq war faithbased initiative nuts trying lunacy rubes ignite iran war rubes finally wake tar feather bums ride rail jail read king duke huckleberry finn fancy blather talking heads pure distraction simple fact 99 american people world simply robbed lock stock barrel money savings pensions livelihoods homes lands jobs career prospects security even food water air taken quickly wheels government finance industry turned task taken crashtest dummies hypnotized televised images britney spears underpants wont move butts couch keep homes lives ripped financial foundations tornadoforce suction rapaciously manipulated economy one certainty little guy general thinks like big guy im getting get hell typical patriot biblethumping christian von mises fans ive heard lost peasantry coming dark age would rather new economic french revolution start fresh manuel garcia jr retired physicist smart rich technical interests gas electrical physics energy nontechnical interests varied tending toward music natural history reconciled ignorance observation omniscient ineducable email mangoidiomcom 160 160 160 | 568 |
<p>“We are going to build a different kind of Middle East, a different kind of broader Middle East that is going to be stable and democratic and where our children will one day not have to be worried about the kind of ideologies of hatred that led those people to fly those planes into those buildings on Sept. 11.”</p>
<p>Condoleezza Rice, to U.S. troops in Afghanistan, March 17, 2005</p>
<p>Straight from the horse’s mouth (although some find in it echoes of the Old Testament Book of Isaiah, Chapter 65), this pithy remark expresses the State Department’s attitude towards a large chunk of the planet. It cries out for translation and dissection. “We” of course means the United States, “coalitions of the willing” with shifting compositions, and most of all the GIs who comprised Rice’s Afghan audience. “Broader Middle East” (also known as “Greater Middle East”) is not a term often used by geographers but is applied idiosyncratically by the administration to North Africa, the Horn of Africa, Southwest Asia and parts of Central Asia. Geographers do not consider Afghanistan a Middle East nation; the fact that Bush and Rice do is significant for reasons that will become apparent.</p>
<p>A “broader Middle East that is going to be stable and democratic,” Condi declared as the worst bomb blast in 8 months killed 5 Afghans and injured over 30 in Kandahar. The resurgent Taliban vies for power with the Karzai puppet regime and the antidemocratic warlords in unstable Afghanistan, and as, two months after a supposedly democratic election, there is still no government in wobbly Iraq. The secretary would perhaps agree that neither of these “liberated” countries is stable yet, but Bush has repeatedly called them “democracies.” This merely means they have governments resulting from some sort of consultative or electoral procedure, surrounded by American money and manipulation, that can be depicted as somehow “free.” Elections have been shaped by U.S. operations in Georgia and Ukraine, and there will likely be U.S. input in the upcoming one in Lebanon. But Rice is talking to soldiers, talking about war that produces “regime change” and elections under U.S. guns.</p>
<p>These regime changes will, says Rice, ensure that “our children will one day not have to be worried about the kind of ideologies of hatred that led those people to fly those planes into those buildings on Sept. 11.” This is a clever conflation of a whole range of ideologies supposedly menacing the wee ones. One of them is of course that of al-Qaeda. But al-Qaeda’s ideology of hatred wasn’t brewing among the people of Iraq before the U.S. invasion, and to the extent that it exerts some minority appeal today is—as various intelligence reports frankly concede—a result of that invasion. There is hatred for the U.S. among the various communities and political forces in Iraq and for that matter for U.S. policy throughout Europe, Latin America, pretty much everywhere. Is all this hatred based on “ideologies of hatred” or mere human revulsion at crimes like the Iraq War?</p>
<p>What do the various countries of the “broader Middle East” have in common that makes them collectively targeted for U.S.-imposed “democracy and stability”? Afghanistan, the first target, was ruled by the Taliban who applied a very harsh version of Islamic law. The Taliban ran a bare-bones government that sought cordial ties with the U.S., and while Washington didn’t recognize the Taliban regime some of its leaders were entertained in the late nineties by Zalmay Khalilzad (former State Department official, Afghan-American and now ambassador to Afghanistan) on his Texas ranch while discussing an oil pipeline. Kabul received U.S. aid to successfully eradicate opium production in 2000. It’s not at all clear that Mullah Omar was even in on 9-11 although his primitive, unsophisticated regime did indeed host Osama bin Laden after he left Sudan in 1996. At the time the U.S. State Department felt that its former ally wouldn’t be able to do much harm from Afghanistan, which fell to the Taliban soon after bin Laden’s arrival.</p>
<p>In neighboring Iran, there is what State Department official Richard Armitage once acknowledged to be a “democracy,” managed by the Shiite mullahs who prune the electoral lists. It’s a very different regime (with a very different ideology) from the Taliban, and it almost went to war with Afghanistan five or six years ago. Bordering it, Iraq was under Saddam a secular Baathist state. The mullahs oppose Baathist ideology, although they maintain an alliance with secular Baathist Syria. Lebanon is probably the most democratic country in the Arab Middle East, although the political system gives Christians disproportionate power. Saudi Arabia is an absolute monarchy that applies Sunni religious law. Jordan is a constitutional monarchy with a weak parliament. We can continue this list but let us just notice that there is much political and ideological diversity among even the countries of this limited swath of the “broader Middle East.” Let us note too that Americans are generally weak on geography, not much concerned with foreign affairs until their family members are sent to kill and be killed out there in that wide foreign world where 95% of humans live, and would be hard-pressed to define “ideology.” Furthermore many are inclined to believe the government.</p>
<p>So what do the countries of that broad geographic category have in common that instills “ideologies of hatred” and inclines people to fly planes into buildings? Maybe all “those people” from Morocco to Afghanistan enjoy peanuts, chickpeas, figs, olives, chicken and mutton, but no one to my knowledge suggests that diet is a factor. Really the only thing they have in common is that they’re predominantly Muslim! So Rice is hinting that broader Middle East countries currently tend to generate hatred for the U.S. because Islam itself is the problem. Surely you have people in government who are true Islamophobes. Elliott Abrams, for example, is director of the National Security Council’s Office for Democracy and Human Rights and charged with promoting “democracy” throughout the world. His efforts to strengthen fundamentalist Christian support for Israel (in the name of America’s “Judeo-Christian tradition”), and disrespect for Muslim countries and people caused Muslim-Americans to bitterly oppose his appointment. Daniel Pipes, who has sat on the board of the presidentially-appointed “U.S. Institute for Peace” has stated, “The Muslim population in this country is not like any other group, for it includes within it a substantial body of people..who share with the suicide hijackers a hatred of the United States.” He has warmly welcomed Michelle Markin’s recent defense of the World War II Japanese internment camps and hinted that similar facilities may be appropriate for this suspect population.</p>
<p>Of course Condi doesn’t say Islam is the problem. Secretaries of state in today’s world, which is 20% Muslim, can’t say such things. But her implication is clear. Unless the U.S. installs its allies in broader Middle East (Muslim) capitals and works with them to change the “hearts and minds” of their Muslim populations, so that they get it into their heads that (as Bush insists) “the American people are a good people” (and their government also good by definition) our children here in the U.S. will have to worry about their safety. The “different kind of Middle East” the administration envisions is one in which Islamic belief itself undergoes a kind of reformation induced from without. The concept of jihad (in the sense of religious war) so enthusiastically promoted by Zbigniew Brzezinski when the U.S. made common cause with the anti-Soviet jihadis in Afghanistan, now needs to be castrated. Education needs to be reformed and secularized, even as the opposite trend occurs in the U.S. Networks like al-Jazeera, portrayed by U.S. officials (and Fox News) as “anti-American” need to be closed down. Then shall your children be able to sleep soundly.</p>
<p>But the proposition that the U.S. can through the efforts of its troops reduce the level of rage in the Muslim world against U.S. policies, particularly pertaining to Israel, is as absurd as the notion that you can quench fire with gasoline. I’ll bet that the learned Dr. Rice recognizes this, in which case she won’t be the first secretary of state to say things she doesn’t really believe. So peeling the onion just a little more, we get to the core. The U.S., which wants to establish its hegemony over a region producing 40% of the world’s oil, through conquests, convert actions and other interference, knows such actions will inevitably generate more antipathy towards the U.S. It blames and will continue to blame perfectly reasonable resistance to oppression on “ideologies of hatred.” While publicly insisting that it respects Islam as “a religion of peace,” the administration will continue to do what American politicians have done for years. “I’m for racial equality, equality of opportunity,” they’ll say, then use nuance and symbols and subtly play the race card. The administration exploits anti-Muslim bigotry and irrational fear of “those people” to justify to the American public an ongoing campaign, currently honing in on Syria and Iran, to “build” a “stable” Muslim world.</p>
<p>Parents dispatched to fight the imperialist wars will be told that to defend the Homeland they must force those people of the broader Middle Eastern people to cower naked, like Abu Ghraib detainees, in front of the Empire’s gaping canine jaws. While doing so they can take comfort in the belief that their children won’t have nightmares about airplanes, hijacked by those jihad-crazed Muslims, hitting their upright American homes. That’s the plan anyway. Use fear, racism, feelings of victimhood, knee-jerk “support our troops” nationalism, Christian millenarianism and Islamophobia to build domestic support for this project to “build a different kind of Middle East” in this New American Century. I have no doubt it will generate different kinds of outrage, different kinds of hatred, different ideological responses, different kinds of instability, and different kinds of resistance in the targeted region. Nor do I doubt that in those Middle Eastern homes, for years to come, some good children will dream of avenging the death of their own loved ones by actions some people, with some selectivity, label “terrorism.”</p>
<p>* * * * *</p>
<p>Just for reference, here’s what God, according to the Bible, says to the prophet Isaiah, way back when, concerning “a different Middle East” in the future, after God through fire and brimstone executes his righteous judgment on the region. Children have no worries, buildings are secure, all conflict ends, all worship the True God, and there is rejoicing in Jerusalem.</p>
<p>Isaiah 65:17 For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.</p>
<p>65:18 But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.</p>
<p>65:19 And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.</p>
<p>65:20 There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed.</p>
<p>65:21 And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.</p>
<p>65:22 They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.</p>
<p>65:23 They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.</p>
<p>65:24 And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.</p>
<p>65:25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust shall be the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.</p>
<p>Question for discussion: Does such material influence administration thinking?</p>
<p>GARY LEUPP is Professor of History at Tufts University, and Adjunct Professor of Comparative Religion. He is the author of <a href="" type="internal">Servants, Shophands and Laborers in in the Cities of Tokugawa Japan</a>; <a href="" type="internal">Male Colors: The Construction of Homosexuality in Tokugawa Japan</a>; and <a href="" type="internal">Interracial Intimacy in Japan: Western Men and Japanese Women, 1543-1900</a>. He is also a contributor to CounterPunch’s merciless chronicle of the wars on Iraq, Afghanistan and Yugoslavia, <a href="http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/CounterPunch/CP_Books.html" type="external">Imperial Crusades</a>.</p>
<p>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:gleupp@granite.tufts.edu" type="external">gleupp@granite.tufts.edu</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | going build different kind middle east different kind broader middle east going stable democratic children one day worried kind ideologies hatred led people fly planes buildings sept 11 condoleezza rice us troops afghanistan march 17 2005 straight horses mouth although find echoes old testament book isaiah chapter 65 pithy remark expresses state departments attitude towards large chunk planet cries translation dissection course means united states coalitions willing shifting compositions gis comprised rices afghan audience broader middle east also known greater middle east term often used geographers applied idiosyncratically administration north africa horn africa southwest asia parts central asia geographers consider afghanistan middle east nation fact bush rice significant reasons become apparent broader middle east going stable democratic condi declared worst bomb blast 8 months killed 5 afghans injured 30 kandahar resurgent taliban vies power karzai puppet regime antidemocratic warlords unstable afghanistan two months supposedly democratic election still government wobbly iraq secretary would perhaps agree neither liberated countries stable yet bush repeatedly called democracies merely means governments resulting sort consultative electoral procedure surrounded american money manipulation depicted somehow free elections shaped us operations georgia ukraine likely us input upcoming one lebanon rice talking soldiers talking war produces regime change elections us guns regime changes says rice ensure children one day worried kind ideologies hatred led people fly planes buildings sept 11 clever conflation whole range ideologies supposedly menacing wee ones one course alqaeda alqaedas ideology hatred wasnt brewing among people iraq us invasion extent exerts minority appeal today isas various intelligence reports frankly concedea result invasion hatred us among various communities political forces iraq matter us policy throughout europe latin america pretty much everywhere hatred based ideologies hatred mere human revulsion crimes like iraq war various countries broader middle east common makes collectively targeted usimposed democracy stability afghanistan first target ruled taliban applied harsh version islamic law taliban ran barebones government sought cordial ties us washington didnt recognize taliban regime leaders entertained late nineties zalmay khalilzad former state department official afghanamerican ambassador afghanistan texas ranch discussing oil pipeline kabul received us aid successfully eradicate opium production 2000 clear mullah omar even 911 although primitive unsophisticated regime indeed host osama bin laden left sudan 1996 time us state department felt former ally wouldnt able much harm afghanistan fell taliban soon bin ladens arrival neighboring iran state department official richard armitage acknowledged democracy managed shiite mullahs prune electoral lists different regime different ideology taliban almost went war afghanistan five six years ago bordering iraq saddam secular baathist state mullahs oppose baathist ideology although maintain alliance secular baathist syria lebanon probably democratic country arab middle east although political system gives christians disproportionate power saudi arabia absolute monarchy applies sunni religious law jordan constitutional monarchy weak parliament continue list let us notice much political ideological diversity among even countries limited swath broader middle east let us note americans generally weak geography much concerned foreign affairs family members sent kill killed wide foreign world 95 humans live would hardpressed define ideology furthermore many inclined believe government countries broad geographic category common instills ideologies hatred inclines people fly planes buildings maybe people morocco afghanistan enjoy peanuts chickpeas figs olives chicken mutton one knowledge suggests diet factor really thing common theyre predominantly muslim rice hinting broader middle east countries currently tend generate hatred us islam problem surely people government true islamophobes elliott abrams example director national security councils office democracy human rights charged promoting democracy throughout world efforts strengthen fundamentalist christian support israel name americas judeochristian tradition disrespect muslim countries people caused muslimamericans bitterly oppose appointment daniel pipes sat board presidentiallyappointed us institute peace stated muslim population country like group includes within substantial body peoplewho share suicide hijackers hatred united states warmly welcomed michelle markins recent defense world war ii japanese internment camps hinted similar facilities may appropriate suspect population course condi doesnt say islam problem secretaries state todays world 20 muslim cant say things implication clear unless us installs allies broader middle east muslim capitals works change hearts minds muslim populations get heads bush insists american people good people government also good definition children us worry safety different kind middle east administration envisions one islamic belief undergoes kind reformation induced without concept jihad sense religious war enthusiastically promoted zbigniew brzezinski us made common cause antisoviet jihadis afghanistan needs castrated education needs reformed secularized even opposite trend occurs us networks like aljazeera portrayed us officials fox news antiamerican need closed shall children able sleep soundly proposition us efforts troops reduce level rage muslim world us policies particularly pertaining israel absurd notion quench fire gasoline ill bet learned dr rice recognizes case wont first secretary state say things doesnt really believe peeling onion little get core us wants establish hegemony region producing 40 worlds oil conquests convert actions interference knows actions inevitably generate antipathy towards us blames continue blame perfectly reasonable resistance oppression ideologies hatred publicly insisting respects islam religion peace administration continue american politicians done years im racial equality equality opportunity theyll say use nuance symbols subtly play race card administration exploits antimuslim bigotry irrational fear people justify american public ongoing campaign currently honing syria iran build stable muslim world parents dispatched fight imperialist wars told defend homeland must force people broader middle eastern people cower naked like abu ghraib detainees front empires gaping canine jaws take comfort belief children wont nightmares airplanes hijacked jihadcrazed muslims hitting upright american homes thats plan anyway use fear racism feelings victimhood kneejerk support troops nationalism christian millenarianism islamophobia build domestic support project build different kind middle east new american century doubt generate different kinds outrage different kinds hatred different ideological responses different kinds instability different kinds resistance targeted region doubt middle eastern homes years come good children dream avenging death loved ones actions people selectivity label terrorism reference heres god according bible says prophet isaiah way back concerning different middle east future god fire brimstone executes righteous judgment region children worries buildings secure conflict ends worship true god rejoicing jerusalem isaiah 6517 behold create new heavens new earth former shall remembered come mind 6518 ye glad rejoice ever create behold create jerusalem rejoicing people joy 6519 rejoice jerusalem joy people voice weeping shall heard voice crying 6520 shall thence infant days old man hath filled days child shall die hundred years old sinner hundred years old shall accursed 6521 shall build houses inhabit shall plant vineyards eat fruit 6522 shall build another inhabit shall plant another eat days tree days people mine elect shall long enjoy work hands 6523 shall labour vain bring forth trouble seed blessed lord offspring 6524 shall come pass call answer yet speaking hear 6525 wolf lamb shall feed together lion shall eat straw like bullock dust shall serpents meat shall hurt destroy holy mountain saith lord question discussion material influence administration thinking gary leupp professor history tufts university adjunct professor comparative religion author servants shophands laborers cities tokugawa japan male colors construction homosexuality tokugawa japan interracial intimacy japan western men japanese women 15431900 also contributor counterpunchs merciless chronicle wars iraq afghanistan yugoslavia imperial crusades reached gleuppgranitetuftsedu 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,176 |
<p>A dead fish near the site of the recent fracking-chemical spill in Monroe County, Ohio.Courtesty of the Ohio Environmental Council</p>
<p />
<p>On the morning of June 28, a fire broke out at a Halliburton fracking site in Monroe County, Ohio. As flames engulfed the area, trucks began exploding and thousands of gallons of toxic chemicals spilled into a tributary of the Ohio River, which supplies drinking water for millions of residents. More than 70,000 fish died. Nevertheless, it took five days for the Environmental Protection Agency and its Ohio counterpart to get a full list of the chemicals polluting the waterway. “We knew there was something toxic in the water,” says an environmental official who was on the scene. “But we had no way of assessing whether it was a threat to human health or how best to protect the public.”</p>
<p>This episode highlights a glaring gap in fracking safety standards. In Ohio, as in most other states, fracking companies are allowed to withhold some information about the chemical stew they pump into the ground to break up rocks and release trapped natural gas. The oil and gas industry and its allies at the <a href="http://www.alec.org/" type="external">American Legislative exchange Council</a> (ALEC), a pro-business outfit that has played a major role in shaping fracking regulation, argue that the formulas are trade secrets that merit protection. But environmental groups say the lack of transparency makes it difficult to track fracking-related drinking water contamination and can hobble the government response to emergencies, such as the Halliburton spill in Ohio.</p>
<p>According to a <a href="http://www.MotherJones.com/EPA_Statoil_Report" type="external">preliminary EPA inquiry</a>, more than 25,000 gallons of chemicals, diesel fuel, and other compounds were released during the accident, which began with a ruptured hydraulic line spraying flammable liquid on hot equipment. The flames later engulfed 20 trucks, triggering some 30 explosions that rained shrapnel over the site and hampered firefighting efforts.</p>
<p>Officials from the EPA, the Ohio EPA, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) arrived on the scene shortly after the fire erupted. Working with an outside firm hired by Statoil, the site’s owner, they immediately began testing water for contaminates. They found a number of toxic chemicals, including ethylene glycol, which can damage kidneys, and phthalates, which are linked to a raft of grave health problems. Soon dead fish began surfacing downstream from the spill. Nathan Johnson, a staff attorney for the non-profit Ohio Environmental Council, describes the scene as “a miles-long trail of death and destruction” with tens of thousands of fish floating belly up.</p>
<p>Statoil and the federal and state officials set up a “unified command” center and began scouring a list of chemicals Halliburton had provided them for a compound that might be triggering the die off. But the company had not disclosed those ingredients that it considered trade secrets.</p>
<p>Halliburton was under no obligation to reveal the full roster of chemicals. Under <a href="http://www.legislature.state.oh.us/bills.cfm?ID=129_SB_315" type="external">a 2012 Ohio law</a>—which includes <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/alec-and-exxonmobil-push-loopholes-in-fracking-chemical-disclosure-rules" type="external">key provisions from ALEC’s model bill on fracking fluid disclosure</a>—gas drillers are legally required to reveal some of the chemicals they use, but only 60 days after a fracking job is finished. And they don’t have to disclose proprietary ingredients, except in emergencies.</p>
<p>Even in these cases, only emergency responders and the chief of the ODNR’s oil and gas division, which is known to be <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/21957-frackgate-ohio-regulators-planned-to-subvert-eco-groups-promote-fracking-in-state-parks" type="external">cozy with industry</a>, are entitled to the information. And they are barred from sharing it, even with environmental agencies and public health officials. Environmental groups argue this makes it impossible to adequately test for contamination or take other necessary steps to protect public health. “Ohio is playing a dangerous game of hide and seek with first responders and community safety,” says Teresa Mills of the Virginia-based Center for Health, Environment, and Justice.</p>
<p>Within two days of the spill, Halliburton disclosed the proprietary chemicals to firefighters and the oil and gas division chief, but it didn’t give this information to the EPA and its Ohio counterpart until five days after the accident, by which time the chemicals had likely reached or flowed past towns that draw drinking water from the Ohio River. The company says that it turned over the information as soon as it was requested. “We don’t know why USEPA and Ohio EPA didn’t have the information prior to July 3,” Halliburton spokeswoman Susie McMichael tells Mother Jones. “If they had asked us earlier, we would have provided the information, consistent with our standard practice.” The Ohio EPA, on the other hand, maintains that ODNR, emergency workers, and federal and state EPA officials had&#160;a representative ask Statoil and Halliburton for a complete list of chemicals just after the spill. Several days later, environmental regulators pressed for the information again and learned that it had already been shared with only ODNR, which according to the EPA report was not deeply involved in the emergency response.</p>
<p>Other key players, including local water authorities, the private company hired to monitor water contamination, and area residents, did not get a full rundown of chemicals, even after the EPA and the Ohio EPA finally received the information.</p>
<p>Ohio state officials maintain that the river water is safe to drink because the fracking chemicals have been so heavily diluted. But environmentalists are skeptical. “Tons of chemicals and brine entered the waterway and killed off thousands fish,” says Johnson of the Ohio Environmental Council. “There’s no way the drinking water utility or anyone else could monitor those chemical and determine whether the levels were safe without knowing what they were. Even today, I don’t think the public can be sure that the water is safe to drink.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | dead fish near site recent frackingchemical spill monroe county ohiocourtesty ohio environmental council morning june 28 fire broke halliburton fracking site monroe county ohio flames engulfed area trucks began exploding thousands gallons toxic chemicals spilled tributary ohio river supplies drinking water millions residents 70000 fish died nevertheless took five days environmental protection agency ohio counterpart get full list chemicals polluting waterway knew something toxic water says environmental official scene way assessing whether threat human health best protect public episode highlights glaring gap fracking safety standards ohio states fracking companies allowed withhold information chemical stew pump ground break rocks release trapped natural gas oil gas industry allies american legislative exchange council alec probusiness outfit played major role shaping fracking regulation argue formulas trade secrets merit protection environmental groups say lack transparency makes difficult track frackingrelated drinking water contamination hobble government response emergencies halliburton spill ohio according preliminary epa inquiry 25000 gallons chemicals diesel fuel compounds released accident began ruptured hydraulic line spraying flammable liquid hot equipment flames later engulfed 20 trucks triggering 30 explosions rained shrapnel site hampered firefighting efforts officials epa ohio epa ohio department natural resources odnr arrived scene shortly fire erupted working outside firm hired statoil sites owner immediately began testing water contaminates found number toxic chemicals including ethylene glycol damage kidneys phthalates linked raft grave health problems soon dead fish began surfacing downstream spill nathan johnson staff attorney nonprofit ohio environmental council describes scene mileslong trail death destruction tens thousands fish floating belly statoil federal state officials set unified command center began scouring list chemicals halliburton provided compound might triggering die company disclosed ingredients considered trade secrets halliburton obligation reveal full roster chemicals 2012 ohio lawwhich includes key provisions alecs model bill fracking fluid disclosuregas drillers legally required reveal chemicals use 60 days fracking job finished dont disclose proprietary ingredients except emergencies even cases emergency responders chief odnrs oil gas division known cozy industry entitled information barred sharing even environmental agencies public health officials environmental groups argue makes impossible adequately test contamination take necessary steps protect public health ohio playing dangerous game hide seek first responders community safety says teresa mills virginiabased center health environment justice within two days spill halliburton disclosed proprietary chemicals firefighters oil gas division chief didnt give information epa ohio counterpart five days accident time chemicals likely reached flowed past towns draw drinking water ohio river company says turned information soon requested dont know usepa ohio epa didnt information prior july 3 halliburton spokeswoman susie mcmichael tells mother jones asked us earlier would provided information consistent standard practice ohio epa hand maintains odnr emergency workers federal state epa officials had160a representative ask statoil halliburton complete list chemicals spill several days later environmental regulators pressed information learned already shared odnr according epa report deeply involved emergency response key players including local water authorities private company hired monitor water contamination area residents get full rundown chemicals even epa ohio epa finally received information ohio state officials maintain river water safe drink fracking chemicals heavily diluted environmentalists skeptical tons chemicals brine entered waterway killed thousands fish says johnson ohio environmental council theres way drinking water utility anyone else could monitor chemical determine whether levels safe without knowing even today dont think public sure water safe drink | 540 |
<p>A <a href="" type="internal">Spinwatch</a> investigation has revealed that journalists working for the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) have been commissioned to provide news reports to the BBC. The BBC has been using these reports as if they were genuine news. In fact, the SSVC is entirely funded by the Ministry of Defence as a propaganda operation, which according to its own website makes a ‘considerable contribution’ to the ‘morale’ of the armed forces.</p>
<p>In the US, Washington has been rocked by the scandal of fake journalists. The Bush administration has been paying actors to produce news, paying journalists to write propaganda, and paying Republican party members to pose as journalists. In the UK this has been reported with our customary shake of the head at the bizarre nature of US politics and media. Implicitly we are relieved that, however bad things are here, at least we are not as bad as they are.</p>
<p>But Spinwatch can reveal that we have our very own fake journalists operating in the UK. The government pays for their wages and they provide news as if they were normal journalists rather than paid propagandists. Normally they work in a little known outfit with the acronym BFBS, which stands for British Forces Broadcasting Service. BFBS exists to ‘entertain and inform’ British armed forces around the world and is entirely funded by the British Ministry of Defence. BFBS is run by the SSVC. But on this occasion no mention of Ministry of defence funding was made. She was introduced simply as a reporter ‘from the British Forces Broadcasting Service’ who ‘has been embedded with the Scots Guards’. As one wag inside the BBC puts it, this suggests a process of ‘double embedding’, first working for the MoD and second embedding with a regiment. The report began:</p>
<p>‘Route 6 is the main road North out of Basra. It runs through the badlands of Iraq’s marsh Arabs They make a living from crime – carjackings, smuggling and murder are common place. It’s also the scene of an age old feud between two warring tribes.’ (25 November 2004)</p>
<p>Naturally enough, we are told that the regiment in which the reporter is ’embedded’ has resolved these tribal problems by negotiating ‘a ceasefire’ following which ‘ the two tribes had had their first nights sleep in several months’.</p>
<p>The British Army view of the Iraqi people can be less than sympathetic. The army crackdown on looting early in the occupation was codenamed ‘Operation Ali Baba’ after the folk tale ‘Ali Baba and the forty thieves’. Issuing orders for Operation Ali Baba the commanding officer gave what the Army now acknowledges was an illegal order to ‘work them hard’. This led predictably to torture, only discovered when some brave soul in a photo developing shop reported the resulting record of abuse to the police. The view of the Iraq population as thieves is evidently shared by both torturers and propagandists.</p>
<p>There were interviews with five separate British soldiers including one with a ‘master sniper’ brought in to counter resistance attacks on the Iraqi police. But there are no interviews with any Iraqis. The report concludes with a straight forward piece of propaganda for the occupation: ‘While the Scots Guards remain the ceasefire is likely to hold strong. There’s been little trouble in the area since the peace was brokered and the ceasefire has been extended to December the first. But the Iraqi police and national guard still lack confidence and credibility to keep the peace on their own and should the fighting resume, the governor of Basra has given the go ahead for the Scots Guards to use more force to make route 6 safe again.’ Even although the report has itself hinted that the fighting is targetting the occupation, we are left with the extraordinary statement that the army in illegal ocupation of Iraq is actually a ‘peacekeeping’ force.</p>
<p>According to the editor of Good Morning Scotland the piece ‘was a bit a of a one-off because she happened to have been embedded&#160;with the Royal Scots.&#160;&#160; Until a few months ago Martha&#160;was a correspondent&#160;here at BBC Scotland (had been for several years)&#160;&#160;and is therefore a journalist we know and trust.&#160;&#160;&#160;‘It was quite an unsual commission’. Unusual indeed, but not unique. Further inquiries by Spinwatch have revealed that another item from a different BFBS journalist was broadcast on Radio Scotland on Christmas day 2004. Insiders at BBC Scotland are livid about this, indeed several have contacted Spinwatch to pass on their concerns. One reports that colleagues have remarked on the ‘complete lack of balance’ of the piece and one described it as ‘an audio press release for the Army’.*</p>
<p>But were the BBC right to say that the journalist concerned was one ‘we know and trust’? Certainly there has been a significant wave of journalists from the mainstream media signing up to work for the government since the election of the Blair government. Alastair Campbell is only the most famous. BBC journalists too have made the transition to propagandist as in the example of Mark Laity who became a spin doctor at NATO from whom no further work was commissioned..</p>
<p>The BBC editor claimed in defence that ‘I should stress too that BFBS is not controlled by the MOD.&#160; It is&#160;funded by them in much the same way the BBC World Service is funded by the Foreign Office.&#160; Their journalists&#160;are actually employed by the SSVC, the Services Sound and Vision Corporation, which is a charitable organisation with editorial independence from the MoD.’ (email to the author, December 2004)</p>
<p>This is not quite accurate. A quick visit to the website of the Services Sound and Vision Corporation (SSVC) which is the parent of the BFBS reveals that ‘Our work makes a considerable contribution to the maintenance of the efficiency and morale of the three Services. Our activities are carried out directly for the Ministry of Defence. Any profits are donated towards Forces’ welfare.’ Whatever might be said about the World Service relationship with the Foreign Office, it has not ever been accused of donating its profits to the welfare of Britain’s diplomats. The notion that the SSVC which is wholly funded by the MoD serves any other purpose than propaganda is fanciful.</p>
<p>The BBC editor also noted: ‘Nonetheless we did flag up&#160;in the cue that she was embedded for the&#160;BFBS.’ They did indeed, but very few radio listeners are familiar with what the BFBS is. This is true of the whole network of propaganda agencies in the UK is little known, but anyone with an internet connection can find out about the organisations involved. The Foreign Office runs a network of fake news operations and has done for years. In recently times these have been contracted out to private production companies with the helpful effect that the government funding is further camouflaged. They have also been extended markedly to focus more cetnrally on the middle east since 2001. One such is the London Press Service which is described as follows on the government I-uk site: ‘an agency offering the latest British headline news, news round-ups, features and pictures for use by journalists overseas.’</p>
<p>This is a rather coy way to describe a government propaganda service. Click on its website for an admission of the defining feature of this whole network of agencies; that the news on the site ‘is for free use by journalists’. Look in vain for an indication of who really funds this service. All you will see is a notice at the bottom of the home page : ‘The london Press Service is operated and maintained by Intelfax Ltd.’ Intelfax is in turn an independent production company but the London Press Service is funded entirely by the Foreign Office.</p>
<p>Or take the example of British Satellite News (BSN) broadcast for free over the Reuters World News Service. According to its website, BSN ‘is a free television news and features service, which provides you with coverage of worldwide topical events and stories from a British perspective. Our dedicated team of experienced television journalists specialise in producing topical stories that inform and entertain a global audience. ‘ Again not much in the way of a clue that this is a fake news site. BSN is run by a company called World Television which does work for the BBC such as the live coverage of the TUC conference and also works for multinationals such as GSK and Nestle. The Foreign Office helpfully tells us that BSN has ‘a particular focus on the Arab/Islamic world.’ It also mentions that BSN ‘s fake news ‘is currently used by 35 broadcasters in the Middle East and over 440 worldwide.’ The secret of all this material is that it is not only free to use but that it is used as if it was genuine news and not British propaganda.</p>
<p>The UK is awash with fake news, of which the examples here are only a taste, it is just that we don’t pay much attention to it. The American scandals over fake news are played out against the background of some pretty clear laws forbidding propaganda with a disguised source within the borders of the US. There are no laws forbidding fake news in the UK. Perhaps we needs some.</p>
<p>* Comments to the author from a BBC staffer, who, not unnaturally, prefers to remain anonymous, January 2005.</p>
<p>DAVID MILLER is the editor of Spinwatch. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:davidmiller@strath.ac.uk" type="external">davidmiller@strath.ac.uk</a></p>
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<p>Transcript follows:</p>
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<p>Good Morning Scotland, BBC Radio Scotland, 25 November 2004</p>
<p>Presenter 1: Soldiers from the Black Watch regiment in Iraq have carried out a major raid against suspected insurgents in villages on the banks of the Euphrates. The raid involving 500 troops was one of the largest British operations since the end of the Iraq war last year.</p>
<p>Presenter 2: Meanwhile the Scots Guards have successfully negotiated a ceasefire between two warring tribes just weeks into their tour of duty in Iraq. The soldiers were called in after fighting flared along the main road north out of Basra. Operation Energise aimed to stop the violence which has been affecting transport and communications to and from Basra City. Martha Fairley from the British Forces Broadcasting Service has been embedded with the Scots Guards.</p>
<p>Martha Fairley: Route 6 is the main road north out of Basra. It runs through the badlands of Iraq’s marsh Arabs They make a living from crime – carjackings, smuggling and murder are common place. It’s also the scene of an age old feud between two warring tribes. The Garamsha and Al Halaf (sp?) kept a low profile during Saddam’s regime. But recently the fighting’s flared up again and the warriors and tanks of the Scots Guards and Royal Dragoon Guards were brought in as a show of force and as Sergeant Jason Manassi from the Scots Guard has discovered they are also a source of fascination for hoards of local people.</p>
<p>Jason Manassi: There’s a lot of people obviously trying to get involved but it’s not in a bad way -they are -I really think they don’t mean any harm at this stage. However we still need to be on our toes. We’re at the moment doing a re-supply. We are showing a bit of force at the moment sending troops up all the time. It is working but I think they are more inquisitive as opposed to hostile at this present moment ­ which is good, which is good.</p>
<p>We travelled with a convoy of Scots Guards bringing supplies and fuel to the troops stationed along route 6. The Iraqi police have set up vehicle checkpoints along the road to try and control the violence and while they’re stopping and checking the vehicles, the British forces are providing them with the support and credibility they need. But even after the arrival of the Scots Guards there’s been a murder on this stretch of road. The second checkpoint we stop at is Beruki camp. The Iraqi police service have a station here and the policemen proudly show off their uniforms and weapons as we arrive. But they fear for their safety. Three of their colleagues have been killed by a sniper here in recent months. Scots Guards master sniper Robert Milton set up an operation to find the gunman who’s thought to be holed up a mile away</p>
<p>Robert Milton: There’s a sniper, enemy sniper within the buildings to our front, just behind and we’re here to take him on basically. And it gives them reassurance on the ground that we’re here to take out this person if we can find him.</p>
<p>MF: We return to route 6 the following morning a ten day cease fire had just been negotiated by the Scots Guards and the two tribes had had their first nights sleep in several months. Commanding officer Colonel Harry Nicoson says persuading them to come to the negotiating table was relatively easy.</p>
<p>Harry Nicoson: If you’ve got an armoured battle group and you plonk it in the middle of their village you tend to get their attention quite quickly and that is what happened. They immediately came up and spoke to us, we had two separate meetings brokered the cease fire with both sides and told them that if they didn’t stick to it then we would come and sort them out or words to that effect and that’s where we’ve got to at the moment. So we’re now waiting for them to take it forward, set up their own meetings, led by Iraqis to now try and find some sort of solution to this problem.</p>
<p>MF: Meanwhile some of the heavy armour has been rolled back as this tentative peace unfolds. For Lance Corporals Stewart Thorpe and Ian McGinty it’s been their first chance to get out on operation since they arrived in Iraq last month.</p>
<p>Stewart Thorpe: Basically we’re just sat in a static location. The Iraqi police are doing their vehicle checkpoints and we’re just showing a presence on the ground. If anything does happen we’re there to respond to it.</p>
<p>Ian McGinty: What we’ve seen so far is the people are quite friendly they come and talk to us there’s no problems there but the threat’s always out there so we just have to wait and see and bide our time sort of thing and keep safe. You just have to keep your wits about you, make sure the guys are doing their job and that and make sure you’re doing your own job as well.</p>
<p>MF: While the Scots Guards remain the ceasefire is likely to hold strong. There’s been little trouble in the area since the peace was brokered and the ceasefire has been extended to December the first. But the Iraqi police and national guard still lack confidence and credibility to keep the peace on their own and should the fighting resume, the governor of Basra has given the go ahead for the Scots Guards to use more force to make route 6 safe again.</p>
<p>Martha Fairley reporting from Basra city it’s 8.42</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | spinwatch investigation revealed journalists working services sound vision corporation ssvc commissioned provide news reports bbc bbc using reports genuine news fact ssvc entirely funded ministry defence propaganda operation according website makes considerable contribution morale armed forces us washington rocked scandal fake journalists bush administration paying actors produce news paying journalists write propaganda paying republican party members pose journalists uk reported customary shake head bizarre nature us politics media implicitly relieved however bad things least bad spinwatch reveal fake journalists operating uk government pays wages provide news normal journalists rather paid propagandists normally work little known outfit acronym bfbs stands british forces broadcasting service bfbs exists entertain inform british armed forces around world entirely funded british ministry defence bfbs run ssvc occasion mention ministry defence funding made introduced simply reporter british forces broadcasting service embedded scots guards one wag inside bbc puts suggests process double embedding first working mod second embedding regiment report began route 6 main road north basra runs badlands iraqs marsh arabs make living crime carjackings smuggling murder common place also scene age old feud two warring tribes 25 november 2004 naturally enough told regiment reporter embedded resolved tribal problems negotiating ceasefire following two tribes first nights sleep several months british army view iraqi people less sympathetic army crackdown looting early occupation codenamed operation ali baba folk tale ali baba forty thieves issuing orders operation ali baba commanding officer gave army acknowledges illegal order work hard led predictably torture discovered brave soul photo developing shop reported resulting record abuse police view iraq population thieves evidently shared torturers propagandists interviews five separate british soldiers including one master sniper brought counter resistance attacks iraqi police interviews iraqis report concludes straight forward piece propaganda occupation scots guards remain ceasefire likely hold strong theres little trouble area since peace brokered ceasefire extended december first iraqi police national guard still lack confidence credibility keep peace fighting resume governor basra given go ahead scots guards use force make route 6 safe even although report hinted fighting targetting occupation left extraordinary statement army illegal ocupation iraq actually peacekeeping force according editor good morning scotland piece bit oneoff happened embedded160with royal scots160160 months ago martha160was correspondent160here bbc scotland several years160160and therefore journalist know trust160160160it quite unsual commission unusual indeed unique inquiries spinwatch revealed another item different bfbs journalist broadcast radio scotland christmas day 2004 insiders bbc scotland livid indeed several contacted spinwatch pass concerns one reports colleagues remarked complete lack balance piece one described audio press release army bbc right say journalist concerned one know trust certainly significant wave journalists mainstream media signing work government since election blair government alastair campbell famous bbc journalists made transition propagandist example mark laity became spin doctor nato work commissioned bbc editor claimed defence stress bfbs controlled mod160 is160funded much way bbc world service funded foreign office160 journalists160are actually employed ssvc services sound vision corporation charitable organisation editorial independence mod email author december 2004 quite accurate quick visit website services sound vision corporation ssvc parent bfbs reveals work makes considerable contribution maintenance efficiency morale three services activities carried directly ministry defence profits donated towards forces welfare whatever might said world service relationship foreign office ever accused donating profits welfare britains diplomats notion ssvc wholly funded mod serves purpose propaganda fanciful bbc editor also noted nonetheless flag up160in cue embedded the160bfbs indeed radio listeners familiar bfbs true whole network propaganda agencies uk little known anyone internet connection find organisations involved foreign office runs network fake news operations done years recently times contracted private production companies helpful effect government funding camouflaged also extended markedly focus cetnrally middle east since 2001 one london press service described follows government iuk site agency offering latest british headline news news roundups features pictures use journalists overseas rather coy way describe government propaganda service click website admission defining feature whole network agencies news site free use journalists look vain indication really funds service see notice bottom home page london press service operated maintained intelfax ltd intelfax turn independent production company london press service funded entirely foreign office take example british satellite news bsn broadcast free reuters world news service according website bsn free television news features service provides coverage worldwide topical events stories british perspective dedicated team experienced television journalists specialise producing topical stories inform entertain global audience much way clue fake news site bsn run company called world television work bbc live coverage tuc conference also works multinationals gsk nestle foreign office helpfully tells us bsn particular focus arabislamic world also mentions bsn fake news currently used 35 broadcasters middle east 440 worldwide secret material free use used genuine news british propaganda uk awash fake news examples taste dont pay much attention american scandals fake news played background pretty clear laws forbidding propaganda disguised source within borders us laws forbidding fake news uk perhaps needs comments author bbc staffer unnaturally prefers remain anonymous january 2005 david miller editor spinwatch reached davidmillerstrathacuk 160 160 transcript follows _____________________________________ good morning scotland bbc radio scotland 25 november 2004 presenter 1 soldiers black watch regiment iraq carried major raid suspected insurgents villages banks euphrates raid involving 500 troops one largest british operations since end iraq war last year presenter 2 meanwhile scots guards successfully negotiated ceasefire two warring tribes weeks tour duty iraq soldiers called fighting flared along main road north basra operation energise aimed stop violence affecting transport communications basra city martha fairley british forces broadcasting service embedded scots guards martha fairley route 6 main road north basra runs badlands iraqs marsh arabs make living crime carjackings smuggling murder common place also scene age old feud two warring tribes garamsha al halaf sp kept low profile saddams regime recently fightings flared warriors tanks scots guards royal dragoon guards brought show force sergeant jason manassi scots guard discovered also source fascination hoards local people jason manassi theres lot people obviously trying get involved bad way really think dont mean harm stage however still need toes moment resupply showing bit force moment sending troops time working think inquisitive opposed hostile present moment good good travelled convoy scots guards bringing supplies fuel troops stationed along route 6 iraqi police set vehicle checkpoints along road try control violence theyre stopping checking vehicles british forces providing support credibility need even arrival scots guards theres murder stretch road second checkpoint stop beruki camp iraqi police service station policemen proudly show uniforms weapons arrive fear safety three colleagues killed sniper recent months scots guards master sniper robert milton set operation find gunman whos thought holed mile away robert milton theres sniper enemy sniper within buildings front behind take basically gives reassurance ground take person find mf return route 6 following morning ten day cease fire negotiated scots guards two tribes first nights sleep several months commanding officer colonel harry nicoson says persuading come negotiating table relatively easy harry nicoson youve got armoured battle group plonk middle village tend get attention quite quickly happened immediately came spoke us two separate meetings brokered cease fire sides told didnt stick would come sort words effect thats weve got moment waiting take forward set meetings led iraqis try find sort solution problem mf meanwhile heavy armour rolled back tentative peace unfolds lance corporals stewart thorpe ian mcginty first chance get operation since arrived iraq last month stewart thorpe basically sat static location iraqi police vehicle checkpoints showing presence ground anything happen respond ian mcginty weve seen far people quite friendly come talk us theres problems threats always wait see bide time sort thing keep safe keep wits make sure guys job make sure youre job well mf scots guards remain ceasefire likely hold strong theres little trouble area since peace brokered ceasefire extended december first iraqi police national guard still lack confidence credibility keep peace fighting resume governor basra given go ahead scots guards use force make route 6 safe martha fairley reporting basra city 842 160 160 | 1,308 |
<p>Kali Akuno was the Coordinator of Special Projects and External Funding for the late mayor Chokwe Lumumba in Jackson, MS. He is the author of the organizing handbook Let Your Motto Be Resistance and wrote the preface to the report Operation Ghetto Storm. He is an organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement (MXGM) (www.mxgm.org), former co-director of the US Human Rights Network, and served as executive director of the People's Hurricane Relief Fund based in New Orleans, LA. Kali currently resides in Jackson, MS.</p>
<p>Jared A. Ball is a father and husband. After that he is a multimedia host, producer, journalist and educator. Ball is also a founder of "mixtape radio" and "mixtape journalism" about which he wrote I MiX What I Like: A MiXtape Manifesto (AK Press, 2011) and is co-editor of A Lie of Reinvention: Correcting Manning Marable's Malcolm X (Black Classic Press, 2012). Ball is an associate professor of communication studies at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland and can be found online at <a href="http://imixwhatilike.org/" type="external">IMIXWHATILIKE.ORG</a>.</p>
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<p /> JARED BALL, PRODUCER, TRNN: Welcome everyone, back to the Real News Network. I'm Jared Ball here in Baltimore.
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<p />Why are black people being hunted and killed every 28 hours or more by various operatives of the law? Why don't black people seem to matter to this society? And what can and must we do to end these attacks and liberate ourselves? These are some of the questions our next guest addresses in a new piece recently published for Counterpunch, titled Until We Win: Black Labor and Liberation In the Disposable Era. To discuss his article and more is Kali Akuno. Akuno is a longtime activist and organizer with the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, is co-founder and co-director of Cooperation Jackson, and is currently also serving as advisor to the Jill Stein Green Party presidential campaign. He is also the producer of the forthcoming An American Nightmare: Black Labor and Liberation, a joint documentary project of Deep Dish TV and Cooperation Jackson.
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<p />He joins us now from his office in Jackson, Mississippi. We welcome you, Kali Akuno, back to the Real News.
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<p />KALI AKUNO: Pleasure to be here.
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<p />BALL: So Kali, you say in your piece that there are concrete answers to those questions I raised in the intro. You say that these answers are firmly grounded in the capitalist dynamics that structure the brutal European settler colonial project we live in, and how African people have historically been positioned within it. Please, if you would, explain what you mean.
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<p />AKUNO: Well, I'll try to be brief, but that's a long conversation.
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<p />BALL: Right, right.
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<p />AKUNO: Let me start with this. Number one, African folks have always been fully integrated into this society. Just not integrated in a manner that we so chose or in a manner that we so desire. But we were brought here to labor. Forced labor, cheap labor. And for the 400-plus years at least within the American project, the British-American project, that's the role that we've played. And our lives have always been to a certain extent expendable when we weren't making profit, or when we weren't maximizing profits for the benefit of the controllers of that system.
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<p />And that's a dynamic, in terms of writing this piece, I wanted a younger audience to always kind of, to grapple with, to understand. To have a deeper grasp on our history and what our particular role is. Because I think that shapes our demands and how we understand what our role is in transforming this society, in that you got uprooted from the ground up. From the floor up. And that reforming it, you got to deal with some things that might alleviate some pressure here or there, might make some things more bearable here and there. But the real solution calls for transforming society inside and out.
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<p />And that's what this piece is really trying to really kind of engage this present upsurge in the youth who are out there to understand the kind of material foundations of the society that they are confronting. And why they're asking these questions, why am I being treated like this, we can give them some kind of, some solid answers. We've always been treated like this. And we shouldn't expect the dynamics to change unless we are able to change the material foundations that kind of structure the society.
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<p />BALL: You know, you somewhat touched on this already. But if you would expand on this question of why this essay, now? What is in this moment that calls for this particular analysis? You talk a little bit about the Black Lives Matter effort. You talk about the post-Ferguson uprisings in this country. If you could just sort of more explain the moment we're in now and why this particular analysis remains so important.
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<p />BALL: You know, it's something that's been on my mind since Baltimore, really. The events that took place in you all's hometown. I thought that that was a critical shift in the upsurge, wherein you would see a couple of dynamics. One, that the more clever ends of the state, the velvet glove end of the states and [capital] were going to try to figure out how they can appropriate the energy of this movement and redirect it in ways that would serve their interest. And if they couldn't do that, how are they going to crush it? And I think we've basically kind of been at that moment for the last several months.
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<p />And I think the movement has been, this upsurge, if you look at its internal dialogs and conversation, it's been trying to figure out, well, where do we go? What are our programs, what are our demands? And just thinking about this and looking at the growing reaction that's taking place that you see, that I think to a certain extent you see now, with kind of the boiling over of what the counter is to a lot of our folks who were fighting against the Confederate flags all throughout the South, and what Donald Trump in his presidential campaign and some of the others, these other reactionaries at that end of the political spectrum, what they're really calling up. This level of what people are calling white resentment or white anger, white fear. Which I would challenge is a much more deeper piece that we've got to analyze within the civil society.
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<p />What I was trying to get, convey, mainly through conversation but also through this piece, is that we should expect and anticipate a very vicious white reaction, from the state and those forces outside the state, but which the state always has given a certain level of legitimacy to, or lend it a kind of a blind eye, or an uneven hand, if you would. So the here and now of why I thought this was important to try to release this, A, to start getting people to think on a little deeper level if a contribution could be made to that end. Hopefully this article kind of stimulates that. But more importantly, to get prepared for this reactionary backlash that's for sure to come, that's mounting, that's building, that's well organized, well financed, gets a lot of media attention and media coverage. And we need to get prepared first on the educational level, but more importantly on the educational level.
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<p />So I was just trying to make some contribution based upon my understanding and analysis of history, but also the work that I've been doing and kind of grounding it, and where I see some success and where I see some challenges.
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<p />BALL: Well, we definitely want to have you back again to talk about the various efforts you're involved in. But if you would, just very quickly, if you could summarize how the efforts you're involved in now, whether it's with the Green Party presidential campaign or Cooperation Jackson, or this forthcoming documentary An American Nightmare, how these efforts attempt to address this moment you're talking about, this disposable moment, sort of updating the work as we talked off-air about, of Sam Yette or Sidney Willhelm, and their previous work about the disposable nature of black people.
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<p />AKUNO: Again, a much longer conversation. But trying to be brief, you know, [inaud.]. Cooperation Jackson is an effort towards transforming our material conditions. Through our own efforts, through our own labor. Trying to meet this disposable era where we have skill capacity and resources in the present to kind of transform our communities from the ground up. That's really what Cooperation Jackson, this whole effort in building a solidarity economy, an economic democracy. That's really what that push is about.
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<p />The piece with the Jill Stein campaign and the Green Party, and playing a role of advisor there, that's a part around building independent politics. And there's many ways in which to do that. We have some experience doing that of a sort here in Jackson, Mississippi, with running Chokwe and Chokwe being mayor. So really trying to take some of the valuable lessons of that experience over the past six years and lend that to a bunch of different independent forces throughout the country, particularly with Jill Stein and the Green Party. I think in this piece of trying to get across some support, measures such as this, that was articulated in this article, to kind of reshape the debate and influence it to whatever extent possible.
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<p />And then the piece--moreso with the film project. That's trying to do education on a mass level, quite frankly. And something that can have a lasting impact, and an immediate impact. We're looking to try to release it in 2016. We're in the hunt for resources and doing a number of things of that nature for all of these projects, with all these campaigns, as you know. But for that one it's really trying to make a lasting impact.
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<p />We started this project, what's called the American Nightmare Project, we started it well before Ferguson. It's probably about two years in its conception already old now. And been trying to hone in on where exactly and how exactly do we tell this story, about the role of African people in this society, and do we have a future, in this society and in the world, looking at how the global economy and how the American economy and even local, domestic economies are shifting to make our labor not only redundant, but how we're being treated as basically obsolete and being disposed of.
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<p />And we wanted to--I really wanted to hone in on that analysis, because it's something I learned from my experience in Katrina ten years ago. And I think it's something that I'm still trying to develop and bring out, encourage people to argue and debate it, because I think we need it. We need a lot more theoretical engagement and analysis in our movement overall. But I think in this period there's a definite need for more.
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<p />So just trying to make those contributions and those three things. And this is kind of consistent with the trajectory that I've been trying to follow I think now for the last three to four years. It's some of what you saw in the Jackson-Kush plan. Those three elements. And you see that still being played out with Cooperation Jackson on a local and somewhat a national level, with the Jill Stein campaign moving some local dynamics hopefully to a national stage. And with this project, trying to do the mass education work that I think is necessary to move a generation further along a radical path.
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<p />BALL: Well, Kali Akuno, thank you very much for joining us here at the Real News. And we'll look to have you back again before too long.
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<p />AKUNO: Thank you.
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<p />BALL: And thank you for joining us here at the Real News. Again, for all involved I'm Jared Ball here in Baltimore, saying as Fred Hampton used to say, to you we say peace if you're willing to fight for it. So peace everybody, and we'll catch you in the whirlwind.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | kali akuno coordinator special projects external funding late mayor chokwe lumumba jackson ms author organizing handbook let motto resistance wrote preface report operation ghetto storm organizer malcolm x grassroots movement mxgm wwwmxgmorg former codirector us human rights network served executive director peoples hurricane relief fund based new orleans la kali currently resides jackson ms jared ball father husband multimedia host producer journalist educator ball also founder mixtape radio mixtape journalism wrote mix like mixtape manifesto ak press 2011 coeditor lie reinvention correcting manning marables malcolm x black classic press 2012 ball associate professor communication studies morgan state university baltimore maryland found online imixwhatilikeorg jared ball producer trnn welcome everyone back real news network im jared ball baltimore black people hunted killed every 28 hours various operatives law dont black people seem matter society must end attacks liberate questions next guest addresses new piece recently published counterpunch titled win black labor liberation disposable era discuss article kali akuno akuno longtime activist organizer malcolm x grassroots movement cofounder codirector cooperation jackson currently also serving advisor jill stein green party presidential campaign also producer forthcoming american nightmare black labor liberation joint documentary project deep dish tv cooperation jackson joins us office jackson mississippi welcome kali akuno back real news kali akuno pleasure ball kali say piece concrete answers questions raised intro say answers firmly grounded capitalist dynamics structure brutal european settler colonial project live african people historically positioned within please would explain mean akuno well ill try brief thats long conversation ball right right akuno let start number one african folks always fully integrated society integrated manner chose manner desire brought labor forced labor cheap labor 400plus years least within american project britishamerican project thats role weve played lives always certain extent expendable werent making profit werent maximizing profits benefit controllers system thats dynamic terms writing piece wanted younger audience always kind grapple understand deeper grasp history particular role think shapes demands understand role transforming society got uprooted ground floor reforming got deal things might alleviate pressure might make things bearable real solution calls transforming society inside thats piece really trying really kind engage present upsurge youth understand kind material foundations society confronting theyre asking questions treated like give kind solid answers weve always treated like shouldnt expect dynamics change unless able change material foundations kind structure society ball know somewhat touched already would expand question essay moment calls particular analysis talk little bit black lives matter effort talk postferguson uprisings country could sort explain moment particular analysis remains important ball know something thats mind since baltimore really events took place alls hometown thought critical shift upsurge wherein would see couple dynamics one clever ends state velvet glove end states capital going try figure appropriate energy movement redirect ways would serve interest couldnt going crush think weve basically kind moment last several months think movement upsurge look internal dialogs conversation trying figure well go programs demands thinking looking growing reaction thats taking place see think certain extent see kind boiling counter lot folks fighting confederate flags throughout south donald trump presidential campaign others reactionaries end political spectrum theyre really calling level people calling white resentment white anger white fear would challenge much deeper piece weve got analyze within civil society trying get convey mainly conversation also piece expect anticipate vicious white reaction state forces outside state state always given certain level legitimacy lend kind blind eye uneven hand would thought important try release start getting people think little deeper level contribution could made end hopefully article kind stimulates importantly get prepared reactionary backlash thats sure come thats mounting thats building thats well organized well financed gets lot media attention media coverage need get prepared first educational level importantly educational level trying make contribution based upon understanding analysis history also work ive kind grounding see success see challenges ball well definitely want back talk various efforts youre involved would quickly could summarize efforts youre involved whether green party presidential campaign cooperation jackson forthcoming documentary american nightmare efforts attempt address moment youre talking disposable moment sort updating work talked offair sam yette sidney willhelm previous work disposable nature black people akuno much longer conversation trying brief know inaud cooperation jackson effort towards transforming material conditions efforts labor trying meet disposable era skill capacity resources present kind transform communities ground thats really cooperation jackson whole effort building solidarity economy economic democracy thats really push piece jill stein campaign green party playing role advisor thats part around building independent politics theres many ways experience sort jackson mississippi running chokwe chokwe mayor really trying take valuable lessons experience past six years lend bunch different independent forces throughout country particularly jill stein green party think piece trying get across support measures articulated article kind reshape debate influence whatever extent possible piecemoreso film project thats trying education mass level quite frankly something lasting impact immediate impact looking try release 2016 hunt resources number things nature projects campaigns know one really trying make lasting impact started project whats called american nightmare project started well ferguson probably two years conception already old trying hone exactly exactly tell story role african people society future society world looking global economy american economy even local domestic economies shifting make labor redundant treated basically obsolete disposed wanted toi really wanted hone analysis something learned experience katrina ten years ago think something im still trying develop bring encourage people argue debate think need need lot theoretical engagement analysis movement overall think period theres definite need trying make contributions three things kind consistent trajectory ive trying follow think last three four years saw jacksonkush plan three elements see still played cooperation jackson local somewhat national level jill stein campaign moving local dynamics hopefully national stage project trying mass education work think necessary move generation along radical path ball well kali akuno thank much joining us real news well look back long akuno thank ball thank joining us real news involved im jared ball baltimore saying fred hampton used say say peace youre willing fight peace everybody well catch whirlwind end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,016 |
<p>OLBERMANN: I think the same fantasy has popped into the head of everybody in my business who has ever been told what I have been told: that this is going to be the last edition of your show. You go directly to the scene from the movie Network, complete with the pajamas and the rain coat, and you go off on an existential, other-worldly verbal journey of unutterable profundity and vision; you damn the impediments, and you insist upon the insurrections; and then you emit Peter Finch's guttural, resonant "so," and you implore. You will the viewer to go to the window, open it, stick out his head and yell. Well, you know the rest.</p>
<p>In the mundane world of television goodbyes, reality is laughably uncooperative. When I resigned from ESPN, 13 and a half years ago, I was literally given 30 seconds to say goodbye at the very end of my last edition of Sports Center. As God is my witness, in the commercial break just before the emotional moment, the producer got into my ear piece, and he said, "Um, can you cut it down to 15 seconds so we can get in this tennis result from Stuttgart?" So I'm grateful that I have a little more time to sign off here.</p>
<p>Regardless, this is the last edition of Countdown. It is just under 8 years since I returned to MSNBC. I was supposed to fill in for the late Jerry Nachman for exactly three days. Forty-nine days later, there was a four-year contract for me to return to this nightly 8 p.m. time slot, which I had fled four years earlier. The show gradually established its position as anti-establishment, from the stage craft of Mission Accomplished, to the exaggerated rescue of Jessica Lynch in Iraq, to the death of Pat Tillman, to Hurricane Katrina, to the nexus of politics and terror, to the first special comment.</p>
<p>The program grew, and grew thanks entirely to your support with great rewards for me, and I hope for you too. There were many occasions, particularly in the last two and a half years, where all that surrounded the show -- but never the show itself -- was just too much for me. But your support and loyalty, and if I may use the word insistence, ultimately required that I keep going. My gratitude to you is boundless, and if you think I have done good here, imagine how it looked from this end, as you donated $2 million to the National Association of Free Clinics, and my dying father watched from his hospital bed transcendentally comforted that his struggles were inspiring such overwhelming good for people he, and I, and you would never meet, but would always know.</p>
<p>This may be the only television program wherein the host was much more in awe of the audience than vice-versa. You will also be in my heart for that and for the donations to the Cranick family in Tennessee, and these victims of governmental heartlessness in Arizona, to say nothing of every letter, and email, and Tweet, and wave, and handshake, and online petition.</p>
<p>Time ebbs here, and I want to close with one more Thurber story. It is still Friday. So let me thank my gifted staff here and just a few of the many people here who fought with me and for me: Erik Sorenson, Phil Alongi, Neal Shapiro, Michael Weisman, the late David Bloom, John Palmer, Alana Russo, Monica Novotny, my dear friends Rachel Maddow and Bob Costas, and my greatest protector and most indefatigable cheerleader, the late Tim Russert.</p>
<p>And now let me finish by turning again to this ritual of reading Thurber stories to you. I read these to my late father in the hospital last winter and then to you at his specific suggestion. It is from Fables For Our Time and Modern Poems Illustrated, published first in 1940 when they taught those - they taught these kind of things, the Aesop's fables, much more than they do now. This one is called "The Scottie Who Knew Too Much," by James Thurber.</p>
<p>Several summers ago there was a Scottie who went to the country for a visit. He decided that all the farm dogs were cowards because they were afraid of a certain animal that had a white stripe down its back.</p>
<p>"You are a pussycat and I can lick you," the Scottie said to the farm dog who lived in the house where the Scottie was visiting. "I can lick the animal with the white stripe too. Show him to me."</p>
<p>"Don't you want to ask any questions about him?" said the farm dog.</p>
<p>"Nah," said the Scottie. "You ask the questions."</p>
<p>So the farm dog took the Scottie into the woods and showed him the white-striped animal, and the Scottie closed in on him, growling and slashing. It was all over in a moment, and the Scottie lay on his back.</p>
<p>When he came to, the farm dog said, "What happened?"</p>
<p>"He threw vitriol," said the Scottie, "but he never laid a glove on me."</p>
<p>A few days later the farm dog told the Scottie there was another animal all the farm dogs were afraid of.</p>
<p>"Lead me to him," said the Scottie. "I can lick anything that doesn't wear horseshoes."</p>
<p>"Don't you want to ask any questions about him?" said the farm dog.</p>
<p>"Nah," said the Scottie. "Just show me where he hangs out."</p>
<p>So the farm dog led him to a place in the woods and pointed out the little animal when he came along.</p>
<p>"The clown," said the Scottie. "A pushover."</p>
<p>And he closed in, leading with his left and exhibiting some mighty fancy footwork. In less than a second, the Scottie was flat on his back, and when he woke up the farm dog was pulling quills out of him.</p>
<p>"What happened?" said the farm dog.</p>
<p>"He pulled a knife on me," said the Scottie. "But at least I've learned how you fight up here in the country, and now I'm going to beat you up."</p>
<p>So he closed in on the farm dog, holding his nose with one front paw to ward off the vitriol and covering his eyes with the other front paw to keep out the knives. The Scottie couldn't see his opponent, and he couldn't smell his opponent, and he was so badly beaten that he had to be taken back to the city and put in a nursing home.</p>
<p>Moral? It is better to ask some of the questions than to know all the answers.</p>
<p>"The Scottie Who Knew Too Much," by James Thurber.</p>
<p>Chris Hayes filling in for Rachel Maddow on The Rachel Maddow Show is next. Again, all of my greatest thanks. Widen the shot out just a little bit so we can do one of these last time. Thank you, Brian.</p>
<p>Good night, and good luck.</p> | true | 4 | olbermann think fantasy popped head everybody business ever told told going last edition show go directly scene movie network complete pajamas rain coat go existential otherworldly verbal journey unutterable profundity vision damn impediments insist upon insurrections emit peter finchs guttural resonant implore viewer go window open stick head yell well know rest mundane world television goodbyes reality laughably uncooperative resigned espn 13 half years ago literally given 30 seconds say goodbye end last edition sports center god witness commercial break emotional moment producer got ear piece said um cut 15 seconds get tennis result stuttgart im grateful little time sign regardless last edition countdown 8 years since returned msnbc supposed fill late jerry nachman exactly three days fortynine days later fouryear contract return nightly 8 pm time slot fled four years earlier show gradually established position antiestablishment stage craft mission accomplished exaggerated rescue jessica lynch iraq death pat tillman hurricane katrina nexus politics terror first special comment program grew grew thanks entirely support great rewards hope many occasions particularly last two half years surrounded show never show much support loyalty may use word insistence ultimately required keep going gratitude boundless think done good imagine looked end donated 2 million national association free clinics dying father watched hospital bed transcendentally comforted struggles inspiring overwhelming good people would never meet would always know may television program wherein host much awe audience viceversa also heart donations cranick family tennessee victims governmental heartlessness arizona say nothing every letter email tweet wave handshake online petition time ebbs want close one thurber story still friday let thank gifted staff many people fought erik sorenson phil alongi neal shapiro michael weisman late david bloom john palmer alana russo monica novotny dear friends rachel maddow bob costas greatest protector indefatigable cheerleader late tim russert let finish turning ritual reading thurber stories read late father hospital last winter specific suggestion fables time modern poems illustrated published first 1940 taught taught kind things aesops fables much one called scottie knew much james thurber several summers ago scottie went country visit decided farm dogs cowards afraid certain animal white stripe back pussycat lick scottie said farm dog lived house scottie visiting lick animal white stripe show dont want ask questions said farm dog nah said scottie ask questions farm dog took scottie woods showed whitestriped animal scottie closed growling slashing moment scottie lay back came farm dog said happened threw vitriol said scottie never laid glove days later farm dog told scottie another animal farm dogs afraid lead said scottie lick anything doesnt wear horseshoes dont want ask questions said farm dog nah said scottie show hangs farm dog led place woods pointed little animal came along clown said scottie pushover closed leading left exhibiting mighty fancy footwork less second scottie flat back woke farm dog pulling quills happened said farm dog pulled knife said scottie least ive learned fight country im going beat closed farm dog holding nose one front paw ward vitriol covering eyes front paw keep knives scottie couldnt see opponent couldnt smell opponent badly beaten taken back city put nursing home moral better ask questions know answers scottie knew much james thurber chris hayes filling rachel maddow rachel maddow show next greatest thanks widen shot little bit one last time thank brian good night good luck | 549 |
<p>As Kermit the Frog, America’s most famous Muppet, says: “it’s not easy being green.”</p>
<p>Preliminary results of the Green Party’s latest national campaign confirm the reality of his observation. The Party’s much-touted goal was getting 5% of the vote on Nov. 8, so it could qualify for $10 million in federal funds for 2020 campaigning and maintain broad nationwide ballot access.</p>
<p>Despite fielding Jill Stein, a presidential candidate who was substantive, social media savvy, a good fund-raiser, and experienced at running for office, the Greens received about 1% of the popular vote, based on tallying so far. That’s several million less than in 2000, when Ralph Nader was their candidate, although twice as many as Stein got during her first presidential run four years ago.</p>
<p>While conducting a spirited, if much ignored, campaign this time around, Stein had to endure the slings, arrows, or lamentations of leftists justifiably worried about Trump winning. Writing for In These Times, Kate Aronoff chided Stein and her party for “putting too much emphasis on the presidency and the electoral process itself, while declining to undertake the kind of deep organizing necessary to alter the state of play in these arenas.” In The Nation, Joshua Holland dismissed the Greens as “perpetually dysfunctional and often self-marginalizing.”</p>
<p>Why So Marginal?</p>
<p>In an interview with Truthout, even a long-time advocate for independent political action like Noam Chomsky expressed disappointment with the GP’s lack of a down-ballot focus—“one reason they remain so marginal,” he observed. Glen Perusek, a former headquarters staffer for the AFL-CIO now based in Ohio, similarly bemoaned local Greens’ lack of “organizational chops.” In his view, this reflected an almost “studied unwillingness (incapacity?) to build solid grassroots organization.”</p>
<p>Political Science Professor Anthony DiMaggio, a self-confessed Green voter “for much of my adult life,” warned CounterPunch readers last month that “the party is no danger of building a progressive alternative to the Democratic Party in the near future,” in part because so many of its electoral efforts “are essentially run ineffectively.”</p>
<p>A leading labor leftist, writing anonymously for New Politics, agreed with that assessment, placing Stein’s 2016 showing in the long tradition of “protest votes by the left that have not built a movement, nor pulled the debate to the left.” In contrast, progressive “activists running local candidates, who actually have a chance to win, play a different role and can indeed help build movements,” this longtime socialist argued. A few of Stein’s own fundraising appeals did mention that 279 other Greens were running for local office. Prior to this election cycle, the party had about 140 public office holders in 16 states. Since 1987, more than 1,000 Greens have won elections, mainly at the municipal level and 57 have served as mayor. But, as Aronoff observed in her searing critique of the Greens today, only “meager resources” are invested in local politics and “that’s not where the party’s heart is.”</p>
<p>Trying A New Model?</p>
<p>After Tuesday’s national results, the Greens might want to re-think where their heart is or should be. One model for becoming more effective, at the municipal level, can be found in the biggest city ever to elect one of those 57 Green mayors. As I describe in Refinery Town: Big Oil, Big Money, and the Remaking of an American City (forthcoming from Beacon Press in January), a Richmond, CA. group founded by Greens has fielded 16 candidates in local “nonpartisan” races since 2004. Candidates for mayor or city council backed by the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) have won ten of those contests, a success rate far better than the Green Party’s local-election track record during the same period.</p>
<p>On Tuesday, this year’s RPA standard-bearers—Melvin Willis and Ben Choi—placed first and second in a field of nine running for Richmond council seats. In January, the 7-member council will have an unprecedented progressive “supermajority” of five. In addition, the RPA’s coordinated “Team Richmond 2016” campaign helped pass rent control by a strong margin. Rent regulation has been a longtime goal of Richmond housing activists; in several other Bay Area communities where the same issue was on the Nov. 8 ballot, the combined spending of the landlord lobby and real estate industry defeated this reform.</p>
<p>Progressives have succeeded, as an electoral force in Richmond, because they built a political organization which functions year round, not just at election time. The RPA has a dues-paying membership, a multi-issue organizing program, and elected leadership that includes both individual activists and representatives of allied labor and community organizations. Instead of branding itself, narrowly, as a Green Party branch, the Richmond Progressive Alliance (RPA) welcomed progressive independents, left-leaning Democrats, and socialists, along with voters registered as Greens or members of the California Peace and Freedom Party, a relic of Sixties’ radicalism in the state.</p>
<p>Like Greens elsewhere, founders of the RPA backed Ralph Nader’s presidential run in 2000. Post-election, they went local, creating a group initially called the Richmond Alliance for Green Public Power and Environmental Justice. They launched a series of single-issue campaigns with broad appeal in a largely non-white city of 110,000. They challenged Richmond police misconduct and harassment of Latino immigrants in traffic stops and day laborer crackdowns. They helped block a new fossil-fueled municipal power plant that would have added to neighborhood pollution and pushed for alternative energy solutions instead. They won passage of a stronger industrial safety ordinance to reduce the risk of refinery fires, explosions and chemical spills at Chevron, the city’s largest employer.</p>
<p>When Alliance leaders like Gayle McLaughlin shifted to electoral politics 12 years ago, they distinguished themselves by refusing to accept business donations, while welcoming the support of progressive unions. The RPA steadily expanded its grassroots base through volunteer recruitment, door-to-door canvassing, and well-targeted voter turnout efforts. The group developed campaign management expertise and a reliable network of small donors who have helped its candidates qualify for public matching funds since Richmond adopted that key campaign finance reform.</p>
<p>During her two terms as mayor (from 2006 to 2014), McLaughlin promoted continuous synergy between her activist city hall leadership and ongoing grassroots organizing in Richmond. When she was up for re-election six years ago, Richmond still had less than 500 registered Green voters; nearly 70 percent of the city’s voters were Democrats. Nevertheless, McLaughlin was able to defeat two business-backed Democrats, who ran with heavy funding from the local building trades council, police and firefighter unions, Chevron, and other business interests.</p>
<p>Attracting Labor Support</p>
<p>To counter the political weight of organized labor’s conservative wing, it helps to have other unions on your side. That’s been a challenge that few Green candidates, at any level, have met. In 2000, Ralph Nader’s presidential campaign won the backing of just two small left-led unions, the California Nurses Association and the United Electrical Workers; this year, even they ignored Stein. In Richmond, however, the more ecumenical approach of Greens, like McLaughlin, has led to strong RPA ties with the CNA, Local 1021 of the Service Employees International Union (which represents Richmond city employees), the National Union of Healthcare Workers, and locals of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees and Amalgamated Transit Union, both of which have members living or working in Richmond.</p>
<p>In 2014, Chevron pulled out all the stops to defeat the RPA with $3.1 million worth of “independent expenditures” against McLaughlin and her city council running mates. She invited Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, then weighing a presidential run, to come to Richmond and help counter this post-Citizens United spending blitz. Sanders raised money for the RPA and its candidates, speaking at a pre-election Richmond rally, which pre-figured West Coast events held on his own behalf less than a year later (with crowds 40-times larger).</p>
<p>While Greens elsewhere—and anti-Sanders socialists allied with them—objected to Bernie running as a Democratic candidate, RPA activists jumped into his California primary campaign. Breaking with Green orthodoxy, McLaughlin voted for Sanders in June and urged her Richmond supporters to do so as well. This fall, the Sanders connection paid off again. Bernie’s post-campaign organization, Our Revolution, endorsed Willis and Choi (along with 100 other candidates around the country), raising $5,000 for each with a single email blast to past Sanders’ donors.</p>
<p>In an interview with Against The Current earlier this Fall, Jill Stein reported that the Greens are finally “exploring the idea of being a membership party where members are expected to support the party with dues” so its candidates can be more competitive in local races and “participate in social movements with real organizational and financial resources.” That sounds like the right kind of Stein campaign follow-up. But if Greens really want to go beyond “protest vote” campaigns and actually win more elections to help build progressive movements locally and nationally, they should consider the path taken by their Richmond counterparts more than a decade ago.</p> | true | 4 | kermit frog americas famous muppet says easy green preliminary results green partys latest national campaign confirm reality observation partys muchtouted goal getting 5 vote nov 8 could qualify 10 million federal funds 2020 campaigning maintain broad nationwide ballot access despite fielding jill stein presidential candidate substantive social media savvy good fundraiser experienced running office greens received 1 popular vote based tallying far thats several million less 2000 ralph nader candidate although twice many stein got first presidential run four years ago conducting spirited much ignored campaign time around stein endure slings arrows lamentations leftists justifiably worried trump winning writing times kate aronoff chided stein party putting much emphasis presidency electoral process declining undertake kind deep organizing necessary alter state play arenas nation joshua holland dismissed greens perpetually dysfunctional often selfmarginalizing marginal interview truthout even longtime advocate independent political action like noam chomsky expressed disappointment gps lack downballot focusone reason remain marginal observed glen perusek former headquarters staffer aflcio based ohio similarly bemoaned local greens lack organizational chops view reflected almost studied unwillingness incapacity build solid grassroots organization political science professor anthony dimaggio selfconfessed green voter much adult life warned counterpunch readers last month party danger building progressive alternative democratic party near future part many electoral efforts essentially run ineffectively leading labor leftist writing anonymously new politics agreed assessment placing steins 2016 showing long tradition protest votes left built movement pulled debate left contrast progressive activists running local candidates actually chance win play different role indeed help build movements longtime socialist argued steins fundraising appeals mention 279 greens running local office prior election cycle party 140 public office holders 16 states since 1987 1000 greens elections mainly municipal level 57 served mayor aronoff observed searing critique greens today meager resources invested local politics thats partys heart trying new model tuesdays national results greens might want rethink heart one model becoming effective municipal level found biggest city ever elect one 57 green mayors describe refinery town big oil big money remaking american city forthcoming beacon press january richmond ca group founded greens fielded 16 candidates local nonpartisan races since 2004 candidates mayor city council backed richmond progressive alliance rpa ten contests success rate far better green partys localelection track record period tuesday years rpa standardbearersmelvin willis ben choiplaced first second field nine running richmond council seats january 7member council unprecedented progressive supermajority five addition rpas coordinated team richmond 2016 campaign helped pass rent control strong margin rent regulation longtime goal richmond housing activists several bay area communities issue nov 8 ballot combined spending landlord lobby real estate industry defeated reform progressives succeeded electoral force richmond built political organization functions year round election time rpa duespaying membership multiissue organizing program elected leadership includes individual activists representatives allied labor community organizations instead branding narrowly green party branch richmond progressive alliance rpa welcomed progressive independents leftleaning democrats socialists along voters registered greens members california peace freedom party relic sixties radicalism state like greens elsewhere founders rpa backed ralph naders presidential run 2000 postelection went local creating group initially called richmond alliance green public power environmental justice launched series singleissue campaigns broad appeal largely nonwhite city 110000 challenged richmond police misconduct harassment latino immigrants traffic stops day laborer crackdowns helped block new fossilfueled municipal power plant would added neighborhood pollution pushed alternative energy solutions instead passage stronger industrial safety ordinance reduce risk refinery fires explosions chemical spills chevron citys largest employer alliance leaders like gayle mclaughlin shifted electoral politics 12 years ago distinguished refusing accept business donations welcoming support progressive unions rpa steadily expanded grassroots base volunteer recruitment doortodoor canvassing welltargeted voter turnout efforts group developed campaign management expertise reliable network small donors helped candidates qualify public matching funds since richmond adopted key campaign finance reform two terms mayor 2006 2014 mclaughlin promoted continuous synergy activist city hall leadership ongoing grassroots organizing richmond reelection six years ago richmond still less 500 registered green voters nearly 70 percent citys voters democrats nevertheless mclaughlin able defeat two businessbacked democrats ran heavy funding local building trades council police firefighter unions chevron business interests attracting labor support counter political weight organized labors conservative wing helps unions side thats challenge green candidates level met 2000 ralph naders presidential campaign backing two small leftled unions california nurses association united electrical workers year even ignored stein richmond however ecumenical approach greens like mclaughlin led strong rpa ties cna local 1021 service employees international union represents richmond city employees national union healthcare workers locals american federation state county municipal employees amalgamated transit union members living working richmond 2014 chevron pulled stops defeat rpa 31 million worth independent expenditures mclaughlin city council running mates invited vermont senator bernie sanders weighing presidential run come richmond help counter postcitizens united spending blitz sanders raised money rpa candidates speaking preelection richmond rally prefigured west coast events held behalf less year later crowds 40times larger greens elsewhereand antisanders socialists allied themobjected bernie running democratic candidate rpa activists jumped california primary campaign breaking green orthodoxy mclaughlin voted sanders june urged richmond supporters well fall sanders connection paid bernies postcampaign organization revolution endorsed willis choi along 100 candidates around country raising 5000 single email blast past sanders donors interview current earlier fall jill stein reported greens finally exploring idea membership party members expected support party dues candidates competitive local races participate social movements real organizational financial resources sounds like right kind stein campaign followup greens really want go beyond protest vote campaigns actually win elections help build progressive movements locally nationally consider path taken richmond counterparts decade ago | 917 |
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