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<p>Photo by thierry ehrmann | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>I’m at the annual meeting of the Modern Language Association (MLA) in Philadelphia.&#160; The MLA Delegate Assembly voted today on two resolutions, for and against, of an academic boycott of Israel.&#160; The resolution against the boycott was carried narrowly, the resolution in favor of the boycott was defeated by a wider margin.</p>
<p>There were several forums which addressed the pros and cons of the boycott at this meeting.</p>
<p>Speaking as someone who cut his political teeth as part of the group coordinating the boycott of apartheid South Africa at my UK university in the late 1960s and early 70s, the arguments and observations made by the anti-boycotters here were uncannily similar, indeed eerily so, to those I encountered from apartheid supporters and sympathizers decades ago.</p>
<p>Hence, it was said here that the boycott of Israel would hurt Palestinians more than Israelis, in exactly the way that apartheid supporters said the same on behalf of nameless and countless black South Africans.</p>
<p>Palestinian civil society launched the boycott movement (BDS) and called for international support, in just the way that the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa called for an international boycott of their country.</p>
<p>Both Palestinians and South African blacks said they were willing to make the concomitant sacrifices.&#160; Who are we to deny their request, unless we happen to be Zionists now or supporters of South African apartheid then?</p>
<p>The old canard of “academic freedom”, and the alleged violation thereof by BDS, was trotted out.</p>
<p>Er, what about the across-the-board violation of the academic freedom of Palestinian teachers, scholars, and students?</p>
<p>Palestinian schools and universities are routinely raided and vandalized during “security searches” (and bombed to smithereens when Israel decides to “mow the lawn” periodically), the curriculum is routinely suspended by arbitrary curfews, the commute to school invariably requires negotiation of army checkpoints that can delay students and teachers for hours on end, volleys of tear gas fired onto campuses disrupt classes, Palestinian professors are not free to travel to conferences and seminars, distinguished foreign academics such as Noam Chomsky are prevented from lecturing at Palestinian universities, “incitement” laws restrict meaningful discussion of Israeli policy, power shortages created by the Israeli government require classes to be held in candlelight, and so on.</p>
<p>Whose “academic freedom” should we be talking about at this convention?</p>
<p>It was also alleged that BDS is a futile and self-aggrandizing gesture on the part of privileged western academics.&#160; The same was said about the South African boycott, though it was of course successful in the end, especially when it came to severing sporting ties– sporting prowess being a matter of immense national pride for white South Africans.</p>
<p>The academics against BDS, alas for their argument, are my equally privileged colleagues at US universities!</p>
<p>So: what about their privilege, especially since many are invited to give lucrative lectures at Israeli universities, most likely as a token of gratitude for their stance against BDS?</p>
<p>No impoverished Palestinian university can afford to pay someone like me and likeminded BDS colleagues tuppence to give a lecture there.&#160; We’d go for free if asked, though given our support for BDS, acquiring the requisite Israeli entry visa may be a fraught undertaking.</p>
<p>Also heard were heartfelt (or so they sounded) pleas that as an academic organization the MLA should not involve itself in dubious political grandstanding, but should instead advocate for “real issues”, such as “promoting its associated disciplines” (invariably part of the boilerplate mission statements of all academic organizations), championing adjunct faculty on paltry “gig” contracts, as well as alleviating the burdens of severely indebted graduate students, etc.</p>
<p>Several adjuncts and grad students spoke in favor of BDS, and pretty much blew this argument out of the water.</p>
<p>As put-upon, indeed exploited, academic proletarians their natural affinity was with underprivileged Palestinian academics and students, and not the holders of handsomely-paid distinguished chairs and other sinecures at American universities who pay no price for supporting the Zionist cause and being anti-BDS.</p>
<p>Moreover, the “promoting its associated disciplines” argument is an absolute evasion.&#160;&#160; There is no obvious way to “promote” a discipline.&#160; Even throwing huge sums of money at it only works in some instances.</p>
<p>So how about turning the question round and asking “how do we remove impediments to studying a discipline (philosophy, history, literature, etc.) in X or Y (where X happens to be Palestine)?”.</p>
<p>The response in anti-BDS quarters made here that an American organization should only concern itself with what goes on in the US (“we are not experts in Middle East politics” is typically said by such people) is thoroughly bogus.</p>
<p>Academia is many things, but one of the things it is, is an age-old patronage system, and today academia is globalized, so this American patronage system is willy-nilly global in its reach.</p>
<p>Therefore, the most productive answer to the “we should only be in the business of promoting our own disciplines in this country” refrain is simple:&#160; in principle, all global impediments to education in its broadest sense of the term will be detrimental, whether in the longer or shorter term, to the overall promotion of an academic field.</p>
<p>And this is occurring in Israel-Palestine on a massive scale.</p>
<p>Allied to the “pointless political grandstanding” argument made by the anti-boycotters was the proposal that the MLA should instead underwrite practical ground-level measures providing “real relief” for Palestinians.</p>
<p>This proposal came from Cary Nelson, who CounterPunch readers will remember as one of the main protagonists in the disgraceful “unhiring” of the Palestinian-American Steven Salaita at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne.</p>
<p>Nelson has a reputation for being a wily customer, known to operate from behind the scenes (the “unhiring” of Salaita comes immediately to mind), and his proposal was rightly viewed as a window-dressing evasion.</p>
<p>Numerous major international organizations have been involved for decades in providing substantive relief for the Palestinians– WHO, UNICEF, UNHCR, Doctors without Borders, Red Crescent/Red Cross– and have had their efforts diluted and wrecked by successive Israeli governments.</p>
<p>The idea that the MLA can somehow prevail, by mere advocacy on the part of Cary Nelson of largely cosmetic measures, when these ostensibly powerful international organizations have not been consistently successful in aiding the Palestinians, is a painfully feeble joke.</p>
<p>Moreover, it was pointed out to Nelson that he was posing his proposal as an alternative to BDS, when BDS is perfectly compatible with any such practical relief efforts!</p>
<p>The good professor had no response, since his transparent aim is to derail BDS, window-dressing sympathy for the Palestinian cause notwithstanding.</p>
<p>The “Why pick on Israel, when there is also North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and so forth?” plaint was also heard at this conference, and for me this resonated very closely with the similar complaint made by South African apartheid sympathizers: “Why pick on South Africa?&#160; What about those African cruel dictators– Mobutu, Idi Amin, the “Emperor” Bokassa—who treat their people as excrement?”.</p>
<p>The answer to this objection is fourfold:</p>
<p>1/ No African despot ever pretended to uphold “western values” (whatever these may be) in the way Israel does, and white South Africa did, at least symbolically.</p>
<p>2/ If the African tyrants were asked whether they respected “democracy”, their deep resounding laughter would have answered this question. Israel on the other hand….</p>
<p>3/ Israel is the largest recipient of US military aid, nearly all of which is used to subjugate the Palestinians. If the US turned off this tap, Israel would probably soon be motivated to mend some of its ways.&#160; So would Saudi Arabia, effectively an Israeli/US proxy in the Arab world along with Egypt.&#160; No such tap exists where North Korea is concerned.&#160; The simple lesson is that we fight battles where we can be effective.</p>
<p>4/ The logic of this argument is faulty. Consider the following analogy:</p>
<p>You own a house and the land it’s on.&#160; Some people come to your house, citing some holy book if it suits them, and they take it over by force of arms, perhaps invoking the holy book.&#160; You are told that from now on you must live in the tiny tool shed at the back of the property.</p>
<p>You protest, saying “but this is my house and land!”.&#160; “Tough”, they say, “from now on this is ours”.</p>
<p>The law (as international law does for the Palestinians), however, allows you to use all legal means, including justifiable force, to resist them and get them to end their seizure of your house and land.</p>
<p>As you are about to do this, someone comes along and says at the Philadelphia MLA conference: “No, you can’t take measures to get them to leave.&#160; In this town, there are several other houses that have been taken over by lawbreakers, who also tortured their owners, kidnapped their children, and so on.&#160; So, you can’t evict the illegal occupiers of your own house, until you go out and protest against these other illegalities, initiate boycotts of their perpetrators, and so on”.</p>
<p>The appropriate response: “If the law is on my side, I can resist the home invaders, so you can go *@#$ yourself”.</p>
<p>The weakest of the arguments made at this conference by the anti-boycotters was that “the BDS resolution will do irreparable harm to the MLA”.&#160; Hence it was said that if the BDS resolution was adopted, membership would decline, the MLA would lose prestige and become a laughing stock, it would show itself to be little more than a partisan pressure group, etc.</p>
<p>The current and past presidents of three academic associations which adopted BDS resolutions recently formed a panel at this conference discussing the impact of these resolutions on their organizations.&#160; One, the president of the American Studies Association, pointed out that its membership had in fact grown after its adoption of a BDS resolution.</p>
<p>Moreover, those of us who have been around for a while will recall that the MLA suffered no short-term decline in membership when it passed a BDS resolution against apartheid South Africa in the 1980s.&#160; In fact, MLA membership grew significantly in the 1990s, though it has since declined.</p>
<p>Nor was this issue raised when the MLA passed, a short time ago, a resolution condemning the ongoing victimization of Turkish academics who speak out against the repressive policies of the Erdogan government.</p>
<p>The face-palm moment here in the town hall on the BDS resolution was provided by an American anti-boycotter, who said that as a visiting professor in Israel she held classes in which Arab women were taught alongside men.&#160; She said this was a liberating experience compared to the gender-segregated patriarchy they would encounter if they attended Palestinian universities.&#160; BDS would end her challenge to Palestinian-Arab patriarchy!</p>
<p>In response, a Jewish-American professor in favor of BDS got up and threw his hands in the air, saying: “OK, you talk about Arab women and the misogynist men they have to deal with– but what about religiously ultra-orthodox Jewish women, and the patriarchy they confront?”.</p>
<p>Indeed, these ultra-orthodox Jewish women can only use beaches reserved for them one day a week.&#160; They must be covered from head to toe, and are harassed by “modesty patrols” if they do otherwise.&#160; These Jewish women must also sit at the back of the bus and avoid public dancing.&#160; They can’t initiate divorce proceedings (only a man can do this), can’t take jobs involving interactions with men, can’t pray alongside men, can’t have their photos published, can’t have their voices broadcast on radio, and so on.</p>
<p>So much for being against BDS in toto because one American visiting academic gives a few Arab women in Israel the opportunity to escape their version of patriarchy by sitting in a co-ed class!</p>
<p>In addition to the two votes on the resolutions for and against BDS, the Delegate Assembly had two other resolutions before it.</p>
<p>One– condemning Hamas and the Palestinian Authority for their violations of Palestinian academic freedom with no mention of Israel’s transgressions! — was clearly the work of the Zionists who proposed the initial resolution against BDS.</p>
<p>As my friend, Salah Hassan, a delegate, pointed out when the Zionists asked for it to be tabled indefinitely after their resolution against BDS was carried, this was a despicable ploy on their part to have a fallback resolution, allowing them the chance of a minor victory, in case their anti-BDS resolution failed.&#160; Now that their anti-BDS resolution succeeded, they wanted to make a hollow “conciliatory” gesture by tabling their fallback resolution.</p>
<p>It got tabled, but not before a handful of people stood up and said that a resolution which failed to mention Israel’s massive violations of Palestinian academic freedom while blaming Hamas and the PA, was a vicious distortion of fact and amounted to racism of the most bare-faced kind.</p>
<p>But what else can we expect from supporters of the Zionist apartheid system?</p>
<p>The soon to be ex-US Secretary of State, John Kerry, was careful to avoid the word “apartheid” in his recent speech condemning Israel’s long and flagrant flouting of international law where the Palestinians are concerned.&#160; To all intents and purposes “Israeli apartheid” is what he meant.</p>
<p>Kerry has known for years that endless illegal settlement expansion is Israel’s agenda.&#160; Like Obama, the wretched fellow bit his tongue until his last days in office, in the hope he could somehow facilitate the illusory two-state solution.</p>
<p>Anti-BDS academics know this as well, though like Kerry until he finally loosened his tongue, they pretend otherwise. &#160;All the meeting rooms in this convention, where Israel-Palestine was discussed by the anti-boycotters, reeked palpably of this pretense.</p>
<p>It is high time American academic organizations mean what Kerry (at last) meant when he was on his way out, and acted accordingly.</p>
<p>The time for pretense is over.</p>
<p>The supporters of Zionism in American academia are prevailing for now, with the tacit collusion of fence-sitters of the usual high-minded intellectual variety, with their platitudes about “the value of dialogue and discussion” with scholars in Israeli universities, and so forth.</p>
<p>The struggle continues.</p>
<p>The Delegate Assembly then passed an “emergency” resolution proposed by Michael Bérubé, an ex-MLA president who was one of the opponents of the BDS resolution. Bérubé’s resolution denounced the incoming Trump administration and its expected threats to academic freedom.</p>
<p>This resolution was a catalogue of boilerplate flummery regarding various “freedoms” (speech, political and religious belief, etc.) of concern to academics, all couched in the most anodyne terms, the kind of stuff one expects in a low-gear civics class.</p>
<p>The speeches lauding this resolution came in the main from the self-same Zionists who earlier had opposed a resolution in support of Palestinian academic freedom!</p>
<p>By this time, I had enough of their puke-inducing hypocrisy, and left the hall before the vote was taken.</p> | true | 4 | photo thierry ehrmann cc 20 im annual meeting modern language association mla philadelphia160 mla delegate assembly voted today two resolutions academic boycott israel160 resolution boycott carried narrowly resolution favor boycott defeated wider margin several forums addressed pros cons boycott meeting speaking someone cut political teeth part group coordinating boycott apartheid south africa uk university late 1960s early 70s arguments observations made antiboycotters uncannily similar indeed eerily encountered apartheid supporters sympathizers decades ago hence said boycott israel would hurt palestinians israelis exactly way apartheid supporters said behalf nameless countless black south africans palestinian civil society launched boycott movement bds called international support way antiapartheid movement south africa called international boycott country palestinians south african blacks said willing make concomitant sacrifices160 deny request unless happen zionists supporters south african apartheid old canard academic freedom alleged violation thereof bds trotted er acrosstheboard violation academic freedom palestinian teachers scholars students palestinian schools universities routinely raided vandalized security searches bombed smithereens israel decides mow lawn periodically curriculum routinely suspended arbitrary curfews commute school invariably requires negotiation army checkpoints delay students teachers hours end volleys tear gas fired onto campuses disrupt classes palestinian professors free travel conferences seminars distinguished foreign academics noam chomsky prevented lecturing palestinian universities incitement laws restrict meaningful discussion israeli policy power shortages created israeli government require classes held candlelight whose academic freedom talking convention also alleged bds futile selfaggrandizing gesture part privileged western academics160 said south african boycott though course successful end especially came severing sporting ties sporting prowess matter immense national pride white south africans academics bds alas argument equally privileged colleagues us universities privilege especially since many invited give lucrative lectures israeli universities likely token gratitude stance bds impoverished palestinian university afford pay someone like likeminded bds colleagues tuppence give lecture there160 wed go free asked though given support bds acquiring requisite israeli entry visa may fraught undertaking also heard heartfelt sounded pleas academic organization mla involve dubious political grandstanding instead advocate real issues promoting associated disciplines invariably part boilerplate mission statements academic organizations championing adjunct faculty paltry gig contracts well alleviating burdens severely indebted graduate students etc several adjuncts grad students spoke favor bds pretty much blew argument water putupon indeed exploited academic proletarians natural affinity underprivileged palestinian academics students holders handsomelypaid distinguished chairs sinecures american universities pay price supporting zionist cause antibds moreover promoting associated disciplines argument absolute evasion160160 obvious way promote discipline160 even throwing huge sums money works instances turning question round asking remove impediments studying discipline philosophy history literature etc x x happens palestine response antibds quarters made american organization concern goes us experts middle east politics typically said people thoroughly bogus academia many things one things ageold patronage system today academia globalized american patronage system willynilly global reach therefore productive answer business promoting disciplines country refrain simple160 principle global impediments education broadest sense term detrimental whether longer shorter term overall promotion academic field occurring israelpalestine massive scale allied pointless political grandstanding argument made antiboycotters proposal mla instead underwrite practical groundlevel measures providing real relief palestinians proposal came cary nelson counterpunch readers remember one main protagonists disgraceful unhiring palestinianamerican steven salaita university illinois urbanachampagne nelson reputation wily customer known operate behind scenes unhiring salaita comes immediately mind proposal rightly viewed windowdressing evasion numerous major international organizations involved decades providing substantive relief palestinians unicef unhcr doctors without borders red crescentred cross efforts diluted wrecked successive israeli governments idea mla somehow prevail mere advocacy part cary nelson largely cosmetic measures ostensibly powerful international organizations consistently successful aiding palestinians painfully feeble joke moreover pointed nelson posing proposal alternative bds bds perfectly compatible practical relief efforts good professor response since transparent aim derail bds windowdressing sympathy palestinian cause notwithstanding pick israel also north korea saudi arabia ukraine forth plaint also heard conference resonated closely similar complaint made south african apartheid sympathizers pick south africa160 african cruel dictators mobutu idi amin emperor bokassawho treat people excrement answer objection fourfold 1 african despot ever pretended uphold western values whatever may way israel white south africa least symbolically 2 african tyrants asked whether respected democracy deep resounding laughter would answered question israel hand 3 israel largest recipient us military aid nearly used subjugate palestinians us turned tap israel would probably soon motivated mend ways160 would saudi arabia effectively israelius proxy arab world along egypt160 tap exists north korea concerned160 simple lesson fight battles effective 4 logic argument faulty consider following analogy house land on160 people come house citing holy book suits take force arms perhaps invoking holy book160 told must live tiny tool shed back property protest saying house land160 tough say law international law palestinians however allows use legal means including justifiable force resist get end seizure house land someone comes along says philadelphia mla conference cant take measures get leave160 town several houses taken lawbreakers also tortured owners kidnapped children on160 cant evict illegal occupiers house go protest illegalities initiate boycotts perpetrators appropriate response law side resist home invaders go weakest arguments made conference antiboycotters bds resolution irreparable harm mla160 hence said bds resolution adopted membership would decline mla would lose prestige become laughing stock would show little partisan pressure group etc current past presidents three academic associations adopted bds resolutions recently formed panel conference discussing impact resolutions organizations160 one president american studies association pointed membership fact grown adoption bds resolution moreover us around recall mla suffered shortterm decline membership passed bds resolution apartheid south africa 1980s160 fact mla membership grew significantly 1990s though since declined issue raised mla passed short time ago resolution condemning ongoing victimization turkish academics speak repressive policies erdogan government facepalm moment town hall bds resolution provided american antiboycotter said visiting professor israel held classes arab women taught alongside men160 said liberating experience compared gendersegregated patriarchy would encounter attended palestinian universities160 bds would end challenge palestinianarab patriarchy response jewishamerican professor favor bds got threw hands air saying ok talk arab women misogynist men deal religiously ultraorthodox jewish women patriarchy confront indeed ultraorthodox jewish women use beaches reserved one day week160 must covered head toe harassed modesty patrols otherwise160 jewish women must also sit back bus avoid public dancing160 cant initiate divorce proceedings man cant take jobs involving interactions men cant pray alongside men cant photos published cant voices broadcast radio much bds toto one american visiting academic gives arab women israel opportunity escape version patriarchy sitting coed class addition two votes resolutions bds delegate assembly two resolutions one condemning hamas palestinian authority violations palestinian academic freedom mention israels transgressions clearly work zionists proposed initial resolution bds friend salah hassan delegate pointed zionists asked tabled indefinitely resolution bds carried despicable ploy part fallback resolution allowing chance minor victory case antibds resolution failed160 antibds resolution succeeded wanted make hollow conciliatory gesture tabling fallback resolution got tabled handful people stood said resolution failed mention israels massive violations palestinian academic freedom blaming hamas pa vicious distortion fact amounted racism barefaced kind else expect supporters zionist apartheid system soon exus secretary state john kerry careful avoid word apartheid recent speech condemning israels long flagrant flouting international law palestinians concerned160 intents purposes israeli apartheid meant kerry known years endless illegal settlement expansion israels agenda160 like obama wretched fellow bit tongue last days office hope could somehow facilitate illusory twostate solution antibds academics know well though like kerry finally loosened tongue pretend otherwise 160all meeting rooms convention israelpalestine discussed antiboycotters reeked palpably pretense high time american academic organizations mean kerry last meant way acted accordingly time pretense supporters zionism american academia prevailing tacit collusion fencesitters usual highminded intellectual variety platitudes value dialogue discussion scholars israeli universities forth struggle continues delegate assembly passed emergency resolution proposed michael bérubé exmla president one opponents bds resolution bérubés resolution denounced incoming trump administration expected threats academic freedom resolution catalogue boilerplate flummery regarding various freedoms speech political religious belief etc concern academics couched anodyne terms kind stuff one expects lowgear civics class speeches lauding resolution came main selfsame zionists earlier opposed resolution support palestinian academic freedom time enough pukeinducing hypocrisy left hall vote taken | 1,325 |
<p>Barack Obama and Co. are planning to launch their own version of economic “shock and awe” in the opening weeks of the new administration. Aside from the $825 billion stimulus package, which will be used to create 3 million new jobs and make up for flagging consumer demand; Obama is planning a financial rescue operation for banks that are buried under hundreds of billions of dollars of troubled assets. Spearheaded by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and White House economics chief Lawrence Summers, the new program will create a government-backed “aggregator” bank that will purchase mortgage-backed securities (MBS) and other problem assets for which there is currently no active market. The proposed “bad bank” will do what the TARP program was supposed to do; wipe clean the banks balance sheets so they resume lending to consumers and businesses. Until the credit mechanism is fixed, the economy will continue slip deeper and deeper into recession.</p>
<p>This is not a normal recession where the mismatch between supply and demand will work itself out over time. The banking system is clogged and dysfunctional, the Wall Street funding-model (securitization) has broken down, global markets are in disarray and falling, and unemployment is steadily rising. The system is broken and can’t be fixed without intervention. The question is, what parts of the present system are salvageable and which parts should be scrapped altogether. So far, too much attention has been devoted to re-inflating the credit bubble and not enough to off-balance sheets operations, over-leveraged assets, SIVs, opaque hedge funds, unregulated derivatives contracts and a financial system that operates without guard rails or oversight. The Obama team is more focused on treating the symptoms than curing the disease. That suggests that their ties to Wall Street make them unsuitable for the task at hand. The job requires competent people who are free from institutional and class bias which prevent them from acting in the public interest.</p>
<p>While it is true that the banks need emergency triage; the underlying problem is falling demand brought on by stagnant wages. This can’t can be solved by making credit more easily available. In fact, credit expansion is what led to the present crisis. There needs to be a rethinking of wealth-distribution so that future crises can be avoided. The only way to maintain a healthy economy, without producing destructive speculative bubbles, is by strengthening the middle class via higher wages. That’s the key to sustained consumer demand. The recent attempt to bust the auto makers union indicates that many members of Congress believe that the economy can thrive even though a disproportionate amount of the nation’s wealth goes to the upper 5 percent. The current economic crisis illustrates the flaws in this argument.</p>
<p>Presently, the banks are sinking faster than the government’s efforts to bail them out. That’s why Obama asked Congress for the remaining $350 billion of the TARP funds. He knows that he’ll need to be ready to provide emergency funding for capital-starved financial institutions (like Bank of America) as soon as he is sworn in. The market for mortgage-backed securities, credit card debt, car loans and student loans is frozen. The Fed has started to purchase large amounts of these toxic assets, but to no effect. Bernanke’s purchase of agency debt–Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae–has pushed the 30-year fixed mortgage below 5 percent for the first time, but housing prices continue to tumble and sales are at record lows. The Fed’s monetarist lifeline has done nothing to slow the pace of defaults, foreclosures or bankruptcies. Money supply alone cannot reverse the effects of a collapsing credit bubble.</p>
<p>Economists are finally making realistic projections of the costs of the meltdown. According to the Wall Street Journal:</p>
<p>“Estimates from Goldman Sachs: $1.1 trillion from residential mortgages, $390 billion from corporate loans and bonds, $234 billion from commercial real estate, $226 billion from credit cards, and $133 billion from auto loans.”</p>
<p>Roughly $2 trillion in losses for financial institutions. Originally, experts thought the losses would be no more than $200 billion, a small sum considering that 65 percent of mortgages were securitized between 2003 to 2007 representing roughly $4 trillion in additional mortgage debt. Clearly, with housing prices plummeting, foreclosures skyrocketing and millions of mortgages under pressure from negative equity; losses were bound to be significantly larger than originally predicted. The banks have no way of making up the $2 trillion of lost capital, which is why economist Nouriel Roubini says, “the banking system is basically insolvent.”</p>
<p>Up to this point, Secretary of the Treasury Henry Paulson has tried to keep critical banks functioning through capital injections. In theory, this allows the bank to lend even though it may be holding billions in toxic assets that are downgraded with every reporting period. As it happens, the injections have not increased bank lending at all. According to a recent report, the banks increased their reserves by over $600 billion in a matter of months. In other words, the banks are taking money from the Fed’s lending facilities and hoarding it for the tough times ahead. Naturally, this has angered Congress which feels that it was duped into giving away $350 billion with no guarantees about how it was to be used.</p>
<p>Summers and Geithner have decided to abandon the capital injection program and buy the bad assets directly. The costs to the taxpayer and future generations in terms of larger deficits, higher interest rates, less capital for private investment, and lower standard of living will be astronomical. Even so, the plan is expected to zoom through congress without any serious opposition just like the TARP.</p>
<p>Between the massive stimulus package and the so-called “bad bank” program; the economy could show signs of life by the 3rd Quarter, (If there is not a run on the dollar!) but who’s really served by these deficit-producing fiscal policies; working people or bankers?</p>
<p>Will these solutions address the growing wealth gap, which is greater than anytime since the Gilded Age? Will they “level the playing field” or create opportunities for upward mobility? Or are they just a quick-fix to get the country through a rough patch without social upheaval?</p>
<p>The Obama economic recovery plan is a misreading of the real problem, which is not the availability of credit, but debt. Bernanke, Summers and Geithner are approaching the issue from the wrong end; they want to stimulate the economy through credit expansion and more red ink. This is just more of Greenspan’s bubblenomics; the endless boom and bust cycle triggered by low interest crack sold to credulous speculators. The only ones who benefit are the Wall Street insiders who know how the cards are marked and then vamoose before the bubble pops. Easy money won’t reverse the deflationary slide from a deep recession. It’s time to rebuild on a solid foundation of rising wages, a stronger workforce, and a revitalized middle class. There’s only two ways to grow the economy; higher wages or credit expansion. The latter option has already been tried and it ended in disaster.</p>
<p>Still, don’t expect the Fed or the Treasury to be dissuaded by the facts. The Fed is presently purchasing mortgage-backed junk from Fannie and Freddie to push down interest rates so it can seduce buyers into going deeper into debt. Fortunately, most people are wise enough to see that it is not in their best interest to buy a home during the biggest real estate crash in history. In fact, most people already have more debt than they can handle, so they’re cutting back sharply on spending. Falling stock markets, battered 401Ks, and loss of job security have caused a fundamental change in consumer attitudes. Frugality is making a comeback while consumer confidence is at its nadir. It’s hunker-down time in USA.</p>
<p>The Fed’s low interest rates and other credit-enhancing inducements have been unable to stimulate spending. According to the Wall Street Journal:</p>
<p>“U.S. household debt, which has been growing steadily since the Federal Reserve began tracking it in 1952, declined for the first time in the third quarter of 2008. In the same quarter, U.S. consumer spending growth declined for the first time in 17 years.</p>
<p>That has resulted in a rise in the personal saving rate, which the government calculates as the difference between earnings and expenditures. In recent years, as Americans spent more than they earned, the personal saving rate dipped below zero. Economists now expect the rate to rebound to 3% to 5%, or even higher, in 2009, among the sharpest reversals since World War II. Goldman Sachs last week predicted the 2009 saving rate could be as high as 6% to 10%.</p>
<p>As savings increase, economists say, spending is likely to contract further. They expect gross domestic product to decline at an annualized rate of at least 5% in the fourth quarter, the biggest drop in a quarter-century.”</p>
<p>(Hard-Hit Families Finally Start Saving, Aggravating Nation’s Economic Woe, Kelly Evans, WSJ)</p>
<p>Summers and Geithner should pay attention to what’s going on in the country and change their approach. The US consumer will not lead the way out of this economic downturn. It’s physically impossible. The country is undergoing a generational shift from profligate consumerism to thriftiness. Stimulus alone won’t get people spending. Salaries will have to go up to make up for losses in retirement funds and housing prices; and the face-value of mortgages and credit card debt will have to be written-down. Otherwise, spending will continue to falter and the economy will tank. No economic recovery plan has a chance of succeeding if it doesn’t address these two key issues; higher wages and debt relief.</p>
<p>Naturally, the Federal Reserve does not want to deal with the underlying causes of the crisis. After all, they’re in the credit-peddling business. The Fed’s job is to generate business for the financial community, which means creating a favorable environment for credit expansion. In recent weeks, the Fed has provided billions of dollars to GMAC (General Motors finance arm) so that prospective buyers of GM vehicles can secure 0 percent financing even though they have bad credit scores. This is how the Fed stealthily perpetuates subprime lending even though it leads inevitably to disaster. The Fed is working a similar scam through the FHA where according to Business Week:</p>
<p>“The same people whose reckless practices triggered the global financial crisis are onto a similar scheme that could cost taxpayers tons more…</p>
<p>“As if they haven’t done enough damage. Thousands of subprime mortgage lenders and brokers—many of them the very sorts of firms that helped create the current financial crisis—are going strong. Their new strategy: taking advantage of a long-standing federal program designed to encourage homeownership by insuring mortgages for buyers of modest means.</p>
<p>You read that correctly. Some of the same people who propelled us toward the housing market calamity are now seeking to profit by exploiting billions in federally insured mortgages. Washington, meanwhile, has vastly expanded the availability of such taxpayer-backed loans as part of the emergency campaign to rescue the country’s swooning economy.(FHA-Backed Loans: The New Subprime, Chad Terhune and Robert Berner, Business Week)</p>
<p>Unbelievable; one Fed sting after another. And when they blow up, as they often do, the taxpayer foots the bill. This shows that the Fed has only one arrow in its quiver; easy money. Bernanke’s panacea for joblessness, falling demand, plummeting asset prices and deflation is credit expansion–one size fits all.</p>
<p>In a recent Financial Times op-ed, Lawrence Summers showed that he’s resolved to tackle the central issues head on. This comes as something of a surprise since Summers was one of the main proponents of deregulation. Here’s what he said:</p>
<p>“We need to reform tax incentives that encourage financial risk taking, regulate leverage and prevent government policies that give rise to a toxic combination of privatized gains and socialized losses. This offers the prospect of a prosperity that is more firmly grounded and more inclusive. More fundamentally, short and longer-term imperatives come together with respect to policies that seek to ensure that any future prosperity is inclusive. The policies that are most effective in helping to support demand are those that help households struggling either because of low incomes or because they have recently lost part of their income. Recent events also remind us that individuals can become impoverished or lose health insurance through no fault of their own. This reinforces the need for people to have basic health and retirement security protection regardless of what happens to their employers.” (“The pendulum swings towards regulation”, Lawrence Summers Financial Times)</p>
<p>Summer’s article is an indictment of the finance-driven system that he helped create. He sounds more like Robert Reich than Milton Friedman, but has he really changed that dramatically or will he continue to serve the interests of Wall Street once he’s in office?</p>
<p>The test for Summers will be how he goes about fixing the banking system. That will prove whether he’s sincere or not. As expensive as it may be, recapitalizing the banks and purchasing their bad assets is the easy part. The hard part is to establish a facility, like the Resolution Trust corporation (RTC), and use it as a morgue for winding down insolvent banks. It requires someone who can ignore political and institutional pressure and be impartial in deciding whether a financial institution can be saved or not. The bad banks have to be put out of their misery. It’s is a tough job, but it has to be done. Otherwise, zombie banks will suck up vast amounts of public money even though they’re unable to effectively distribute credit to consumers and businesses. That’s what dragged Japan’s economy into the “lost decade”.</p>
<p>Anil Kashyap, of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business summed it up like this:</p>
<p>“Policy makers should stay focused on recapitalizing the banking system…. Financial firms won’t start lending again until their balance sheets are in better shape. But BAD BANKS SHOULD BE SHUT DOWN or nationalized more aggressively. “It is a complete waste of taxpayer money to bail out somebody who is insolvent”.</p>
<p>The good news is that there is a solution. The bad news is that it will be an excruciating undertaking to turn out the lights at hundreds of banks where the liabilities greatly exceed the assets. But that’s what it will take to get the banking system back on its feet.</p>
<p>The Obama stimulus package is a good place to start, but it skirts the core issues of wages and debt relief. Both of these will have to be factored into any plan that, as Larry Summers says, “seeks to ensure that any future prosperity is inclusive.”</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | barack obama co planning launch version economic shock awe opening weeks new administration aside 825 billion stimulus package used create 3 million new jobs make flagging consumer demand obama planning financial rescue operation banks buried hundreds billions dollars troubled assets spearheaded treasury secretary timothy geithner white house economics chief lawrence summers new program create governmentbacked aggregator bank purchase mortgagebacked securities mbs problem assets currently active market proposed bad bank tarp program supposed wipe clean banks balance sheets resume lending consumers businesses credit mechanism fixed economy continue slip deeper deeper recession normal recession mismatch supply demand work time banking system clogged dysfunctional wall street fundingmodel securitization broken global markets disarray falling unemployment steadily rising system broken cant fixed without intervention question parts present system salvageable parts scrapped altogether far much attention devoted reinflating credit bubble enough offbalance sheets operations overleveraged assets sivs opaque hedge funds unregulated derivatives contracts financial system operates without guard rails oversight obama team focused treating symptoms curing disease suggests ties wall street make unsuitable task hand job requires competent people free institutional class bias prevent acting public interest true banks need emergency triage underlying problem falling demand brought stagnant wages cant solved making credit easily available fact credit expansion led present crisis needs rethinking wealthdistribution future crises avoided way maintain healthy economy without producing destructive speculative bubbles strengthening middle class via higher wages thats key sustained consumer demand recent attempt bust auto makers union indicates many members congress believe economy thrive even though disproportionate amount nations wealth goes upper 5 percent current economic crisis illustrates flaws argument presently banks sinking faster governments efforts bail thats obama asked congress remaining 350 billion tarp funds knows hell need ready provide emergency funding capitalstarved financial institutions like bank america soon sworn market mortgagebacked securities credit card debt car loans student loans frozen fed started purchase large amounts toxic assets effect bernankes purchase agency debtfreddie mac fannie maehas pushed 30year fixed mortgage 5 percent first time housing prices continue tumble sales record lows feds monetarist lifeline done nothing slow pace defaults foreclosures bankruptcies money supply alone reverse effects collapsing credit bubble economists finally making realistic projections costs meltdown according wall street journal estimates goldman sachs 11 trillion residential mortgages 390 billion corporate loans bonds 234 billion commercial real estate 226 billion credit cards 133 billion auto loans roughly 2 trillion losses financial institutions originally experts thought losses would 200 billion small sum considering 65 percent mortgages securitized 2003 2007 representing roughly 4 trillion additional mortgage debt clearly housing prices plummeting foreclosures skyrocketing millions mortgages pressure negative equity losses bound significantly larger originally predicted banks way making 2 trillion lost capital economist nouriel roubini says banking system basically insolvent point secretary treasury henry paulson tried keep critical banks functioning capital injections theory allows bank lend even though may holding billions toxic assets downgraded every reporting period happens injections increased bank lending according recent report banks increased reserves 600 billion matter months words banks taking money feds lending facilities hoarding tough times ahead naturally angered congress feels duped giving away 350 billion guarantees used summers geithner decided abandon capital injection program buy bad assets directly costs taxpayer future generations terms larger deficits higher interest rates less capital private investment lower standard living astronomical even plan expected zoom congress without serious opposition like tarp massive stimulus package socalled bad bank program economy could show signs life 3rd quarter run dollar whos really served deficitproducing fiscal policies working people bankers solutions address growing wealth gap greater anytime since gilded age level playing field create opportunities upward mobility quickfix get country rough patch without social upheaval obama economic recovery plan misreading real problem availability credit debt bernanke summers geithner approaching issue wrong end want stimulate economy credit expansion red ink greenspans bubblenomics endless boom bust cycle triggered low interest crack sold credulous speculators ones benefit wall street insiders know cards marked vamoose bubble pops easy money wont reverse deflationary slide deep recession time rebuild solid foundation rising wages stronger workforce revitalized middle class theres two ways grow economy higher wages credit expansion latter option already tried ended disaster still dont expect fed treasury dissuaded facts fed presently purchasing mortgagebacked junk fannie freddie push interest rates seduce buyers going deeper debt fortunately people wise enough see best interest buy home biggest real estate crash history fact people already debt handle theyre cutting back sharply spending falling stock markets battered 401ks loss job security caused fundamental change consumer attitudes frugality making comeback consumer confidence nadir hunkerdown time usa feds low interest rates creditenhancing inducements unable stimulate spending according wall street journal us household debt growing steadily since federal reserve began tracking 1952 declined first time third quarter 2008 quarter us consumer spending growth declined first time 17 years resulted rise personal saving rate government calculates difference earnings expenditures recent years americans spent earned personal saving rate dipped zero economists expect rate rebound 3 5 even higher 2009 among sharpest reversals since world war ii goldman sachs last week predicted 2009 saving rate could high 6 10 savings increase economists say spending likely contract expect gross domestic product decline annualized rate least 5 fourth quarter biggest drop quartercentury hardhit families finally start saving aggravating nations economic woe kelly evans wsj summers geithner pay attention whats going country change approach us consumer lead way economic downturn physically impossible country undergoing generational shift profligate consumerism thriftiness stimulus alone wont get people spending salaries go make losses retirement funds housing prices facevalue mortgages credit card debt writtendown otherwise spending continue falter economy tank economic recovery plan chance succeeding doesnt address two key issues higher wages debt relief naturally federal reserve want deal underlying causes crisis theyre creditpeddling business feds job generate business financial community means creating favorable environment credit expansion recent weeks fed provided billions dollars gmac general motors finance arm prospective buyers gm vehicles secure 0 percent financing even though bad credit scores fed stealthily perpetuates subprime lending even though leads inevitably disaster fed working similar scam fha according business week people whose reckless practices triggered global financial crisis onto similar scheme could cost taxpayers tons havent done enough damage thousands subprime mortgage lenders brokersmany sorts firms helped create current financial crisisare going strong new strategy taking advantage longstanding federal program designed encourage homeownership insuring mortgages buyers modest means read correctly people propelled us toward housing market calamity seeking profit exploiting billions federally insured mortgages washington meanwhile vastly expanded availability taxpayerbacked loans part emergency campaign rescue countrys swooning economyfhabacked loans new subprime chad terhune robert berner business week unbelievable one fed sting another blow often taxpayer foots bill shows fed one arrow quiver easy money bernankes panacea joblessness falling demand plummeting asset prices deflation credit expansionone size fits recent financial times oped lawrence summers showed hes resolved tackle central issues head comes something surprise since summers one main proponents deregulation heres said need reform tax incentives encourage financial risk taking regulate leverage prevent government policies give rise toxic combination privatized gains socialized losses offers prospect prosperity firmly grounded inclusive fundamentally short longerterm imperatives come together respect policies seek ensure future prosperity inclusive policies effective helping support demand help households struggling either low incomes recently lost part income recent events also remind us individuals become impoverished lose health insurance fault reinforces need people basic health retirement security protection regardless happens employers pendulum swings towards regulation lawrence summers financial times summers article indictment financedriven system helped create sounds like robert reich milton friedman really changed dramatically continue serve interests wall street hes office test summers goes fixing banking system prove whether hes sincere expensive may recapitalizing banks purchasing bad assets easy part hard part establish facility like resolution trust corporation rtc use morgue winding insolvent banks requires someone ignore political institutional pressure impartial deciding whether financial institution saved bad banks put misery tough job done otherwise zombie banks suck vast amounts public money even though theyre unable effectively distribute credit consumers businesses thats dragged japans economy lost decade anil kashyap university chicago booth school business summed like policy makers stay focused recapitalizing banking system financial firms wont start lending balance sheets better shape bad banks shut nationalized aggressively complete waste taxpayer money bail somebody insolvent good news solution bad news excruciating undertaking turn lights hundreds banks liabilities greatly exceed assets thats take get banking system back feet obama stimulus package good place start skirts core issues wages debt relief factored plan larry summers says seeks ensure future prosperity inclusive 160 160 160 | 1,409 |
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<p>Obama’s dwindling band of true believers has taken heart that their man has finally delivered on one of his many promises–the closing of the Guantanamo prison. But the prison is not being closed. It is being moved to Illinois, if the Republicans permit.</p>
<p>In truth, Obama has handed his supporters another defeat. Closing Guantanamo meant ceasing to hold people in violation of our legal principles of habeas corpus and due process and ceasing to torture them in violation of US and international laws.</p>
<p>All Obama would be doing would be moving 100 people, against whom the US government is unable to bring a case, from the prison in Guantanamo to a prison in Thomson, Illinois.</p>
<p>Are the residents of Thomson despondent that the US government has chosen their town as the site on which to continue its blatant violation of US legal principles? No, the residents are happy. It means jobs.</p>
<p>The hapless prisoners had a better chance of obtaining release from Guantanamo. Now the prisoners are up against two US senators, a US representative, a mayor, and a state governor who have a vested interest in the prisoners’ permanent detention in order to protect the new prison jobs in the hamlet devastated by unemployment.</p>
<p>Neither the public nor the media have ever shown any interest in how the detainees came to be incarcerated. Most of the detainees were unprotected people who were captured by Afghan war lords and sold to the Americans as “terrorists” in order to collect a proffered bounty. It was enough for the public and the media that the Defense Secretary at the time, Donald Rumsfeld, declared the Guantanamo detainees to be the “780 most dangerous people on earth.”</p>
<p>The vast majority have been released after years of abuse. The 100 who are slated to be removed to Illinois have apparently been so badly abused that the US government is afraid to release them because of the testimony the prisoners could give to human rights organizations and foreign media about their mistreatment.</p>
<p>Our British allies are showing more moral conscience than Americans are able to muster. Former PM Tony Blair, who provided cover for President Bush’s illegal invasion of Iraq, is being damned for his crimes by UK officialdom testifying before the Chilcot Inquiry.</p>
<p>The London Times on December 14 summed up the case against Blair in a headline: “Intoxicated by Power, Blair Tricked Us Into War.” Two days later the British First Post declared: “War Crime Case Against Tony Blair Now Rock-solid.” In an unguarded moment Blair let it slip that he favored a conspiracy for war regardless of the validity of the excuse [weapons of mass destruction] used to justify the invasion.</p>
<p>The movement to bring Blair to trial as a war criminal is gathering steam. Writing in the First Post Neil Clark reported: “There is widespread contempt for a man [Blair] who has made millions [his reward from the Bush regime] while Iraqis die in their hundreds of thousands due to the havoc unleashed by the illegal invasion, and who, with breathtaking arrogance, seems to regard himself as above the rules of international law.” Clark notes that the West’s practice of shipping Serbian and African leaders off to the War Crimes Tribunal, while exempting itself, is wearing thin.</p>
<p>In the US, of course, there is no such attempt to hold to account Bush, Cheney, Condi Rice, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and the large number of war criminals that comprised the Bush Regime. Indeed, Obama, whom Republicans love to hate, has gone out of his way to protect the Bush cohort from being held accountable.</p>
<p>Here in Great Moral America we only hold accountable celebrities and politicians for their sexual indiscretions. Tiger Woods is paying a bigger price for his girlfriends than Bush or Cheney will ever pay for the deaths and ruined lives of millions of people. The consulting company, Accenture Plc, which based its marketing program on Tiger Woods, has removed Woods from its Web site. Gillette announced that the company is dropping Woods from its print and broadcast ads. AT&amp;T says it is re-evaluating the company’s relationship with Woods.</p>
<p>Apparently, Americans regard sexual infidelity as far more serious than invading countries on the basis of false charges and deception, invasions that have caused the deaths and displacement of millions of innocent people. Remember, the House impeached President Clinton not for his war crimes in Serbia, but for lying about his affair with Monica Lewinsky.</p>
<p>Americans are more upset by Tiger Woods’ sexual affairs than they are by the Bush and Obama administrations’ destruction of US civil liberty. Americans don’t seem to mind that “their” government for the last 8 years has resorted to the detention practices of 1,000 years ago–simply grab a person and throw him into a dungeon forever without bringing charges and obtaining a conviction.</p>
<p>According to polls, Americans support torture, a violation of both US and international law, and Americans don’t mind that their government violates the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and spies on them without obtaining warrants from a court. Apparently, the brave citizens of the “sole remaining superpower” are so afraid of terrorists that they are content to give up liberty for safety, an impossible feat.</p>
<p>With stunning insouciance, Americans have given up the rule of law that protected their liberty. The silence of law schools and bar associations indicates that the age of liberty has passed. In short, the American people support tyranny. And that’s where they are headed.</p>
<p>PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He is coauthor of <a href="" type="internal">The Tyranny of Good Intentions.</a> His new book, How the Economy was Lost, will be published next month by AK Press / CounterPunch. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com" type="external">PaulCraigRoberts@yahoo.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | obamas dwindling band true believers taken heart man finally delivered one many promisesthe closing guantanamo prison prison closed moved illinois republicans permit truth obama handed supporters another defeat closing guantanamo meant ceasing hold people violation legal principles habeas corpus due process ceasing torture violation us international laws obama would would moving 100 people us government unable bring case prison guantanamo prison thomson illinois residents thomson despondent us government chosen town site continue blatant violation us legal principles residents happy means jobs hapless prisoners better chance obtaining release guantanamo prisoners two us senators us representative mayor state governor vested interest prisoners permanent detention order protect new prison jobs hamlet devastated unemployment neither public media ever shown interest detainees came incarcerated detainees unprotected people captured afghan war lords sold americans terrorists order collect proffered bounty enough public media defense secretary time donald rumsfeld declared guantanamo detainees 780 dangerous people earth vast majority released years abuse 100 slated removed illinois apparently badly abused us government afraid release testimony prisoners could give human rights organizations foreign media mistreatment british allies showing moral conscience americans able muster former pm tony blair provided cover president bushs illegal invasion iraq damned crimes uk officialdom testifying chilcot inquiry london times december 14 summed case blair headline intoxicated power blair tricked us war two days later british first post declared war crime case tony blair rocksolid unguarded moment blair let slip favored conspiracy war regardless validity excuse weapons mass destruction used justify invasion movement bring blair trial war criminal gathering steam writing first post neil clark reported widespread contempt man blair made millions reward bush regime iraqis die hundreds thousands due havoc unleashed illegal invasion breathtaking arrogance seems regard rules international law clark notes wests practice shipping serbian african leaders war crimes tribunal exempting wearing thin us course attempt hold account bush cheney condi rice rumsfeld wolfowitz large number war criminals comprised bush regime indeed obama republicans love hate gone way protect bush cohort held accountable great moral america hold accountable celebrities politicians sexual indiscretions tiger woods paying bigger price girlfriends bush cheney ever pay deaths ruined lives millions people consulting company accenture plc based marketing program tiger woods removed woods web site gillette announced company dropping woods print broadcast ads atampt says reevaluating companys relationship woods apparently americans regard sexual infidelity far serious invading countries basis false charges deception invasions caused deaths displacement millions innocent people remember house impeached president clinton war crimes serbia lying affair monica lewinsky americans upset tiger woods sexual affairs bush obama administrations destruction us civil liberty americans dont seem mind government last 8 years resorted detention practices 1000 years agosimply grab person throw dungeon forever without bringing charges obtaining conviction according polls americans support torture violation us international law americans dont mind government violates foreign intelligence surveillance act spies without obtaining warrants court apparently brave citizens sole remaining superpower afraid terrorists content give liberty safety impossible feat stunning insouciance americans given rule law protected liberty silence law schools bar associations indicates age liberty passed short american people support tyranny thats headed paul craig roberts assistant secretary treasury reagan administration coauthor tyranny good intentions new book economy lost published next month ak press counterpunch reached paulcraigrobertsyahoocom 160 | 533 |
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<p>“Politics is the concentrated essence of economic forces in motion.” Forget the politics of the June 23 Brexit referendum for a minute. Let’s take a look at the money.</p>
<p>The European Union (EU) was founded in 1993. Its distinguishing feature, as set forth in the Treaty of Maastricht, was the aim of a common currency – the euro. Today there are twenty-eight countries in the European Union, of which 19 belong to the Euro Zone (EZ), those countries which use the common currency.</p>
<p>Germany was reunified in 1990. The EU is one of the foremost outcomes of German reunification. The common currency of the EZ makes the EU fundamentally distinct from all previous European common economic zones.</p>
<p>Reunified Germany has the largest population and the largest economy in Europe. The expansion of the EU and the EZ were driven by an alliance of Germany and France. From the beginning there were those who understood that Masstricht and the euro were intended to be instruments of German domination of Europe.</p>
<p>Britain is a member of the EU but not of the EZ. It continues to use its own currency, the pound. The City of London (the traditional name of the financial district) comprises the world’s largest international brokerage, even larger in that respect than Wall Street. Switzerland, a country crucial to international banking, is a member of neither.</p>
<p>Germany is a manufacturing powerhouse. Huge export accounts are the key to its longer term economic stability. One justification of the EU is it keeps the Germans busy making autos and elevators instead of panzers. But the problem isn’t Germany. It’s capitalism.</p>
<p>Due to the common currency, the Eurozone is an unrestricted export domain. Trade imbalances can no longer be corrected by changes in currency exchange rates. Here’s how it works when countries have their own currencies:</p>
<p>Let us say that in 1991 the German deutschmark and the Greek drachma are at parity, i.e., they are exchanged one-for one. Greeks like German cars and Germans like Greek wine. Things go on this way. By 1995 German auto makers hold one million drachmas from their Greek sales, and Greek vintners hold 100,000 deutschmarks from their German sales. Now ten drachmas are exchanged for one DM.</p>
<p>That nifty Benz that sold for 50,000 drachmas in 1990 costs a cool half million by 1995. A bottle of Greek wine that sold for in Germany DM20 in 1991 is only DM2 in 1995. Now Greece is selling lots more wine to Germany and Germany is selling very few cars in Greece. Trade and the exchange tend to even out around some sort of equilibrium.</p>
<p>The balancing-out of exchange rates in EZ countries disappeared when the euro went into circulation in 2002. The euro is really the deutschmark rebranded The European Union functions to work out international finances on a broader basis. . Germany is the country that by far benefits the most.</p>
<p>Unrestricted imports stunt the production sectors of countries on the receiving end. But, production, and production alone, creates new capital and new value. The EZ countries that run chronic balance of payments deficits end up no longer doing enough of their own production. They can’t pay the bills for the stuff they import.</p>
<p>Greece had longstanding problems with trade deficits. At the time of the adoption of the euro in 2002, its bore over $50bn in accumulated trade deficits. Membership in the EZ rapidly made things worse.</p>
<p>By 2005 the trade deficit grew to $13bn. The cumulative debt had plunged to over $100bn. The bottom had fallen out.</p>
<p>In 2009 the annual deficit was over $50bn, the cumulative approached $300bn.</p>
<p>When the crisis came in 2015 the cumulative deficit was around $370bn. Subject to these conditions, by 2015 Greek GDP had shrunk by 25% in five years.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Germany ran enormous trade surpluses, around $250bn in 2014. It ended up with profits that vastly exceed anything that could profitably be re <a href="#_edn1" type="external">[i]</a>invested in production. Germany, like all developed capitalist countries, has a slow-growth economy. All of them have huge amounts of capital for which they cannot find any profitable investment.</p>
<p>To make up for the lack of real capital expansion the Greek government issued bonds valued in the hundreds of billions of euros. Huge amounts of Greek bonds ended up in foreign hands.</p>
<p>But the Greeks were not able to put the bond money to productive use, since somebody else was already doing the manufacturing. The money went for patronage jobs and the like. Greece still couldn’t repay the bonds. One problem had only been replaced with another. Still there is a means of recourse for governments with their own currencies. In an emergency they can devalue their currencies.</p>
<p>Let’s say a government has bonds in the amount of a million smackers coming due, but has only 500,000 smackers with which to repay. If it must, it can devalue its currency at two to one. Now it has a million smackers with which to repay. It’s only repayment at 50% but it’s the better course if disaster is the only alternative.</p>
<p>Lacking its own currency, Greece could not do that – and met disaster. It was forced to make payments toward its bond obligations that wiped out its economy. Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Spain are close to the same condition.</p>
<p>Financial markets in Europe lost over a trillion dollars in value in a few days following the Brexit vote. The Greek crisis made clear that maintenance of the unbalanced trade relations of the EZ requires all kinds of financial chicanery. It was already known that European securities markets were overvalued. All the collapse needed was a signal. Now the horse is out of the barn. It hardly matters what Britain does next. The EU is doomed because the EZ is economically unworkable.</p>
<p>The right in Britain took command of the Brexit issue with a “blame the victim” campaign of racism against immigrants, of Islamophobia, and ultra-nationalism. The left was ineffective for no good reason.</p>
<p>It is essential to understand the economic roots of the Brexit crisis. The crux of the matter is the Euro Zone. Hardly anybody is talking about it. The crisis cannot be explained exclusively in political terms. It is necessary to bring political economy to the struggle against xenophobia, ultra-nationalism, and right-wing havoc.</p>
<p>Marx and Engels laughed that professors found their theories hard and workers found them easy. Maybe it is time for the left to be more like workers, do its job and explain the crisis in terms of political economy.</p>
<p>Notes.</p>
<p><a href="#_ednref1" type="external">[i]</a> <a href="https://www.quandl.com/data/ODA/GRC_BCA-Greece-Current-Account-Balance-USD-Billions" type="external">https://www.quandl.com/data/ODA/GRC_BCA-Greece-Current-Account-Balance-USD-Billions</a></p> | true | 4 | politics concentrated essence economic forces motion forget politics june 23 brexit referendum minute lets take look money european union eu founded 1993 distinguishing feature set forth treaty maastricht aim common currency euro today twentyeight countries european union 19 belong euro zone ez countries use common currency germany reunified 1990 eu one foremost outcomes german reunification common currency ez makes eu fundamentally distinct previous european common economic zones reunified germany largest population largest economy europe expansion eu ez driven alliance germany france beginning understood masstricht euro intended instruments german domination europe britain member eu ez continues use currency pound city london traditional name financial district comprises worlds largest international brokerage even larger respect wall street switzerland country crucial international banking member neither germany manufacturing powerhouse huge export accounts key longer term economic stability one justification eu keeps germans busy making autos elevators instead panzers problem isnt germany capitalism due common currency eurozone unrestricted export domain trade imbalances longer corrected changes currency exchange rates heres works countries currencies let us say 1991 german deutschmark greek drachma parity ie exchanged onefor one greeks like german cars germans like greek wine things go way 1995 german auto makers hold one million drachmas greek sales greek vintners hold 100000 deutschmarks german sales ten drachmas exchanged one dm nifty benz sold 50000 drachmas 1990 costs cool half million 1995 bottle greek wine sold germany dm20 1991 dm2 1995 greece selling lots wine germany germany selling cars greece trade exchange tend even around sort equilibrium balancingout exchange rates ez countries disappeared euro went circulation 2002 euro really deutschmark rebranded european union functions work international finances broader basis germany country far benefits unrestricted imports stunt production sectors countries receiving end production production alone creates new capital new value ez countries run chronic balance payments deficits end longer enough production cant pay bills stuff import greece longstanding problems trade deficits time adoption euro 2002 bore 50bn accumulated trade deficits membership ez rapidly made things worse 2005 trade deficit grew 13bn cumulative debt plunged 100bn bottom fallen 2009 annual deficit 50bn cumulative approached 300bn crisis came 2015 cumulative deficit around 370bn subject conditions 2015 greek gdp shrunk 25 five years meanwhile germany ran enormous trade surpluses around 250bn 2014 ended profits vastly exceed anything could profitably iinvested production germany like developed capitalist countries slowgrowth economy huge amounts capital find profitable investment make lack real capital expansion greek government issued bonds valued hundreds billions euros huge amounts greek bonds ended foreign hands greeks able put bond money productive use since somebody else already manufacturing money went patronage jobs like greece still couldnt repay bonds one problem replaced another still means recourse governments currencies emergency devalue currencies lets say government bonds amount million smackers coming due 500000 smackers repay must devalue currency two one million smackers repay repayment 50 better course disaster alternative lacking currency greece could met disaster forced make payments toward bond obligations wiped economy portugal italy ireland spain close condition financial markets europe lost trillion dollars value days following brexit vote greek crisis made clear maintenance unbalanced trade relations ez requires kinds financial chicanery already known european securities markets overvalued collapse needed signal horse barn hardly matters britain next eu doomed ez economically unworkable right britain took command brexit issue blame victim campaign racism immigrants islamophobia ultranationalism left ineffective good reason essential understand economic roots brexit crisis crux matter euro zone hardly anybody talking crisis explained exclusively political terms necessary bring political economy struggle xenophobia ultranationalism rightwing havoc marx engels laughed professors found theories hard workers found easy maybe time left like workers job explain crisis terms political economy notes httpswwwquandlcomdataodagrc_bcagreececurrentaccountbalanceusdbillions | 602 |
<p>A couple of days ago, I did <a href="" type="internal">an interview</a> with economist Bart Wilson on the role of prices in markets. We were riffing off the commentary on Steve Brill's 22,000 word opus on hospital pricing, but some readers complained that we weren't really getting down in the weeds of the health care market.</p>
<p>Well, the dark and weedy recesses of the health care market are Martin Gaynor's specialty, and he's written a <a href="http://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2013/02/27/are-price-controls-the-answer/#more-58515" type="external">great piece</a> for the health care blog on cost control:</p>
<p>. . . there are some countries that use rate setting, such as Australia, France, Israel, and Italy that have lower growth rates than the US, and some such as Canada, Finland, and the UK that have higher growth rates. The US is below the OECD average, whereas Finland is above, as is The Netherlands. While I wouldn’t put much weight on anything we see in cross-country differences (there are way too many differences across countries besides price controls), nonetheless nothing striking emerges from these numbers.</p>
<p>. . . So what do we conclude? My answer is that we don’t know what the impact of rate setting (price controls) would be on health care spending in the US. It’s possible that rate setting could prevent some of the most egregious practices recorded in the Brill article, but that depends on what’s enacted and how it’s enforced. Whether rate setting would substantially slow the rate of growth of health care spending isn’t clear. Further, the question that must be asked is what is the alternative? There’s evidence to suggest that robust price competition, such as we had with managed care during the 1990s, can perform very well in controlling costs. Unfortunately there has been a tremendous amount of consolidation in health care markets since the 1990s, raising serious challenges to competition. Whether the US decides to go with competition or with regulation, we have some serious work to do to make the system we choose work effectively.</p>
<p>Medicare does seem to show somewhat lower average growth rates than the private sector in recent years. But we should be cautious about assuming that this could be extended economy-wide.</p>
<p>As I've written before, Medicare pricing exploits the difference between the marginal cost and the average cost. Say you have a hospital with 100 rooms. That hospital costs you something, say $100,000 in mortgage every month. On top of that, you have to heat it, provide telephone service, pay to have the lobbies cleaned, maintain at least a skeleton staff of doctors and nurses and check-in clerks and billing specialists, put flowers in the lobby, and so forth--all before you let the first patient through the door. That's your fixed cost, and in our fictional example (numbers chosen less for accuracy than for easy division), it's $3,00 per room per month.</p>
<p>Now on top of that fixed cost you have a marginal cost: the amount that it costs you to actually put a patient in a room. Patients require a nurse to watch over them, an orderly to wheel them around, more doctors, food, laundry, medicine, electricity, heat and so on. Let's say for simplicity's sake that our marginal cost is also $3,000 a month, for a total cost of $6,000 a month, or $200 a day.</p>
<p>In order to make my hospital pay, I need each room to average $6,000 a month. But that doesn't mean that every patient should pay exactly $200 a night. Probably, not all of my rooms will be filled every night--in fact, we don't want them to be, because then where will we put emergency admissions? If they're filled 25 days out of 30, then I'll need to charge at least $240 a night to break even.</p>
<p>But let's that I'm a hospital adminsitrator at this hospital, averaging 5 empty days a month per room, and a new government program comes to me. This program plans to give the uninsured health insurance, so all the new patients will be people we weren't treating before. They'll guarantee us another 100 patient-nights a month. But there's a catch: they only want to pay $150 a night. Should I take this deal?</p>
<p>Absolutely! I've already got the fixed expenses covered by the existing patients. And it only costs me an extra $100 per night to actually care for the added patients, so they're giving me a clear $50 a night profit. I might even be able to give all the other patients a slight discount. Everyone wins.</p>
<p>That's why it's possible that Medicare is a great deal for hospitals--and that nonetheless, we cannot save money by puting everyone on Medicare. (At least, not without pushing a bunch of hospital groups into bankruptcy--or raising Medicare rates so that they aren't so cheap any more.) Everyone wants to be the marginal cost consumer. In fact, most people think they deserve to be the marginal cost consumer. But this is mathematically impossible. Someone has to pay for the walls and the air conditioning.</p>
<p>So the disparity we see in growth rates between Medicare payments and those in the private sector may simply reflect cost transfers: the government declares by fiat that it will not pay, and so more and more costs are transferred to the private payers. Medicare costs grow more slowly; private sector costs grow faster. We have not ended cost inflation, just redistributed it.</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>The experience in other countries that use rate setting should give us some pause. Implemented at a national scale, fiat pricing does not seem to be a sure-fire strategy for holding down cost growth.</p>
<p>But wait, I hear you cry--Europe has lower costs than we do! Indeed they do. But they don't have lower cost growth. The US experienced a unique burst of health care cost-inflation in the 1980s. Growth rates since then have been well within OECD averages, but we're growing from a much higher base, and over time that's added up to a giant disparity.</p>
<p>However, no one is really talking about using fiat pricing to actually lower reimbursements. It's a lot easier to curb increases than it is to do actual cuts, for the same reason that you'd find it easier to stomach a year with no raises than you would a sudden 10% decrease in your salary. If countries that use rate setting can't even reliably hodl their growth rates down below ours, I find it hard to believe that rate setting is going to somehow enable us to make large absolute cuts.</p>
<p>All of which, I think, reinforces Wilson's core argument: ". . . the simple solution sounds like, let the government take it all over. But it is only the statement that is simple."</p> | true | 4 | couple days ago interview economist bart wilson role prices markets riffing commentary steve brills 22000 word opus hospital pricing readers complained werent really getting weeds health care market well dark weedy recesses health care market martin gaynors specialty hes written great piece health care blog cost control countries use rate setting australia france israel italy lower growth rates us canada finland uk higher growth rates us oecd average whereas finland netherlands wouldnt put much weight anything see crosscountry differences way many differences across countries besides price controls nonetheless nothing striking emerges numbers conclude answer dont know impact rate setting price controls would health care spending us possible rate setting could prevent egregious practices recorded brill article depends whats enacted enforced whether rate setting would substantially slow rate growth health care spending isnt clear question must asked alternative theres evidence suggest robust price competition managed care 1990s perform well controlling costs unfortunately tremendous amount consolidation health care markets since 1990s raising serious challenges competition whether us decides go competition regulation serious work make system choose work effectively medicare seem show somewhat lower average growth rates private sector recent years cautious assuming could extended economywide ive written medicare pricing exploits difference marginal cost average cost say hospital 100 rooms hospital costs something say 100000 mortgage every month top heat provide telephone service pay lobbies cleaned maintain least skeleton staff doctors nurses checkin clerks billing specialists put flowers lobby forthall let first patient door thats fixed cost fictional example numbers chosen less accuracy easy division 300 per room per month top fixed cost marginal cost amount costs actually put patient room patients require nurse watch orderly wheel around doctors food laundry medicine electricity heat lets say simplicitys sake marginal cost also 3000 month total cost 6000 month 200 day order make hospital pay need room average 6000 month doesnt mean every patient pay exactly 200 night probably rooms filled every nightin fact dont want put emergency admissions theyre filled 25 days 30 ill need charge least 240 night break even lets im hospital adminsitrator hospital averaging 5 empty days month per room new government program comes program plans give uninsured health insurance new patients people werent treating theyll guarantee us another 100 patientnights month theres catch want pay 150 night take deal absolutely ive already got fixed expenses covered existing patients costs extra 100 per night actually care added patients theyre giving clear 50 night profit might even able give patients slight discount everyone wins thats possible medicare great deal hospitalsand nonetheless save money puting everyone medicare least without pushing bunch hospital groups bankruptcyor raising medicare rates arent cheap everyone wants marginal cost consumer fact people think deserve marginal cost consumer mathematically impossible someone pay walls air conditioning disparity see growth rates medicare payments private sector may simply reflect cost transfers government declares fiat pay costs transferred private payers medicare costs grow slowly private sector costs grow faster ended cost inflation redistributed start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont experience countries use rate setting give us pause implemented national scale fiat pricing seem surefire strategy holding cost growth wait hear cryeurope lower costs indeed dont lower cost growth us experienced unique burst health care costinflation 1980s growth rates since well within oecd averages growing much higher base time thats added giant disparity however one really talking using fiat pricing actually lower reimbursements lot easier curb increases actual cuts reason youd find easier stomach year raises would sudden 10 decrease salary countries use rate setting cant even reliably hodl growth rates find hard believe rate setting going somehow enable us make large absolute cuts think reinforces wilsons core argument simple solution sounds like let government take statement simple | 622 |
<p>On New Year’s Day, 2011, members of the family gathered around the lunch table, or around a hot tea pot which summed up the warmth of the hearts happy to be together after long absences because of work, study or travel. After some conversation and after exchanging best wishes and aspirations for the New Year, a family member suggests watching a film in order to extend this cozy atmosphere which comes only once or twice a year.&#160; They choose Presidential Decision produced Fox Movies. They all took their places ready to watch afilm which appeared from the beginning to be a political propaganda film, aimed at spreading hatred against Arabs and Muslims.</p>
<p>The movie starts by showing nice human relations between the crew and passengers on board an airplane heading to Dallas airport in Washington. Then, it is revealed that the plane, carrying over 200 passengers, is also carrying a nuclear device in the possession of a terrorist group which hijacks the plane.&#160; The group demands the release of other terrorists.&#160; They kill in cold blood the beautiful hostess and some other innocent passengers.&#160; Soon, it is revealed that this bloody and ruthless terrorist group consists of Arabs and Muslims: some of them shout in Arabic; and one terrorist hands another a Quran.&#160; The groups does not hesitate to slaughter a congressman who tries to mediate; and when the battle heats up, a terrorist kills the captain and his assistant.</p>
<p>This is one of numerous movies produced by Hollywood about Arabs and Muslims in this idiom. And in this way, this image of Arabs and Muslims takes root in the minds of people in the West to the extent that they can no longer distinguish between the image and the civilian, innocent Arab victims of American and Israeli wars.&#160; It becomes so difficult to correct this image. Hollywood spares no effort in targeting Arabs and presenting them always as violent, treacherous and backward villains.&#160; Meanwhile, Arab movie makers have not invested sufficient money and effort in combating these poisonous movies by producing ones which depicting reality, their rights, their suffering as a result of Western wars, the Israeli occupation, genocide, racism, assassination and torture in Guantanamo, Abu Ghraib and Boca at the hands of Western and Israeli intelligence agencies, like the Mossad and terrorist firms like Black Water and many others.</p>
<p>The late Mustafa Akkad was the First Arab to rise up to this difficult and important challenge when he directed movies like The Message, about Prophet Mohammad’s call to Islam, Lion of the Desert about Omar Mukhtar and others.&#160; He became an important reference point in the United States where his movies were screened to university students and discussed in seminars which in themselves became important venues for correcting the distorted image of Muslims in the minds of Americans and Westerners in general.&#160; For this reason, terrorists killed him by exploding a bomb at &#160;the wedding he was attending in Amman, and thus an end was put to a career in which he tried to redress the imbalance and fill a gap in world cinema by portraying Arabs and Muslims in a realistic manner.</p>
<p>The problem is that wealthy Arabs do not invest any money in producing movies in the footsteps of Akkad to show the reality of Arab civilization, their historical contribution and their tolerance.&#160; The paradox, however, lies in the difference between the image of the Arab in American cinema and the official Arab money spent annually on film festivals, without achieving the desired objectives.</p>
<p>For film festivals to proliferate in the Arab world, sometimes with the host country not having produced a single film which it tries to market, is difficult to understand.&#160; If Arabs are good at producing drama series, why do not these series portray the suffering of Arabs and Muslims as a result of Western terrorism and wars for over a century and their suffering at the hands of ‘civilized’ Westerners, and the settlers of the ‘oasis of democracy’ in the Middle East?&#160; Why don’t these festivals focus on what we produce and need to market and pass to young generations?&#160; What is the point of all these film festivals held in Arab capitals and cities, in light of the miserable conditions of the film industry?</p>
<p>Wouldn’t it be better if those responsible for film festivals in Damascus, Dubai, Cairo, Wahran, Beirut, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Alexandria, Carthage, Rabat, Marrakesh and others, agreed on holding one Arab film festival a year in one of these cities and mobilized all energies and capacities for producing Arab films with significant artistic and political import, like Presidential Decision, and market them, using a single Arab marketing strategy?&#160; What is happening instead is that Arab cities are competing with each other to show foreign films in their festivals.&#160; It is a typical Arab competition which strengthens, most of the time, country biases and uses criteria far from being objective and have nothing to do with world cinema.</p>
<p>Every day a Palestinian tells a story of heroism and belonging that is worth being the material for creative artists and producers concerned about the causes of their nation.&#160; But this needs a new vision which aspires to put Arab movies on the global scene instead of competing behind closed doors far from the real impact of world public opinion.</p>
<p>BOUTHAINA SHAABAN is Political and Media Advisor at the Syrian Presidency, and former Minister of Expatriates. She is also a writer and professor at Damascus University since 1985. She has been the spokesperson for Syria and was nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. She can be reached through <a href="mailto:nizar_kabibo@yahoo.com" type="external">nizar_kabibo@yahoo.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | new years day 2011 members family gathered around lunch table around hot tea pot summed warmth hearts happy together long absences work study travel conversation exchanging best wishes aspirations new year family member suggests watching film order extend cozy atmosphere comes twice year160 choose presidential decision produced fox movies took places ready watch afilm appeared beginning political propaganda film aimed spreading hatred arabs muslims movie starts showing nice human relations crew passengers board airplane heading dallas airport washington revealed plane carrying 200 passengers also carrying nuclear device possession terrorist group hijacks plane160 group demands release terrorists160 kill cold blood beautiful hostess innocent passengers160 soon revealed bloody ruthless terrorist group consists arabs muslims shout arabic one terrorist hands another quran160 groups hesitate slaughter congressman tries mediate battle heats terrorist kills captain assistant one numerous movies produced hollywood arabs muslims idiom way image arabs muslims takes root minds people west extent longer distinguish image civilian innocent arab victims american israeli wars160 becomes difficult correct image hollywood spares effort targeting arabs presenting always violent treacherous backward villains160 meanwhile arab movie makers invested sufficient money effort combating poisonous movies producing ones depicting reality rights suffering result western wars israeli occupation genocide racism assassination torture guantanamo abu ghraib boca hands western israeli intelligence agencies like mossad terrorist firms like black water many others late mustafa akkad first arab rise difficult important challenge directed movies like message prophet mohammads call islam lion desert omar mukhtar others160 became important reference point united states movies screened university students discussed seminars became important venues correcting distorted image muslims minds americans westerners general160 reason terrorists killed exploding bomb 160the wedding attending amman thus end put career tried redress imbalance fill gap world cinema portraying arabs muslims realistic manner problem wealthy arabs invest money producing movies footsteps akkad show reality arab civilization historical contribution tolerance160 paradox however lies difference image arab american cinema official arab money spent annually film festivals without achieving desired objectives film festivals proliferate arab world sometimes host country produced single film tries market difficult understand160 arabs good producing drama series series portray suffering arabs muslims result western terrorism wars century suffering hands civilized westerners settlers oasis democracy middle east160 dont festivals focus produce need market pass young generations160 point film festivals held arab capitals cities light miserable conditions film industry wouldnt better responsible film festivals damascus dubai cairo wahran beirut abu dhabi doha alexandria carthage rabat marrakesh others agreed holding one arab film festival year one cities mobilized energies capacities producing arab films significant artistic political import like presidential decision market using single arab marketing strategy160 happening instead arab cities competing show foreign films festivals160 typical arab competition strengthens time country biases uses criteria far objective nothing world cinema every day palestinian tells story heroism belonging worth material creative artists producers concerned causes nation160 needs new vision aspires put arab movies global scene instead competing behind closed doors far real impact world public opinion bouthaina shaaban political media advisor syrian presidency former minister expatriates also writer professor damascus university since 1985 spokesperson syria nominated nobel peace prize 2005 reached nizar_kabiboyahoocom 160 | 514 |
<p>I suspect that when my life is over I will have had two opportunities to vote in a presidential election for a black man, and I intend to take both of them.</p>
<p>That's not to say that we're done progressing, but I don't think in 1960 my Polish-American grandmother realized Jack Kennedy was going to be the last Catholic she saw in the White House and I'm not taking anything for granted.</p>
<p>In 30 years I think we will look back and marvel at how strange it was that a country with this many bigots, both closeted and overt, once elected a man with a Muslim name to fight two wars in that part of the world.</p>
<p>By that time, global warming will have turned New York's subway system into an underwater attraction. New Yorkers will pay their rent with bundled mortgages or, as is common today, plasma.</p>
<p />
<p>I've been daydreaming a lot lately. It's how I'm coping with the red-faced circus clowns who have come to replace everyone in our political process, from Ron Paul to the commenters on websites.</p>
<p>People don't seem to speak or argue anymore. They just rage. And no one uses complete sentences. "President Obama extended the Bush tax cuts!" That's actually a fragment. The full sentence is: "President Obama extended the Bush tax cuts as part of a deal to keep unemployment benefits and food stamps going through Christmas, thus keeping millions of poor people alive!" What an asshole.</p>
<p>You can tell that Obama secretly hates poor people because of his national health insurance plan, which forces everyone to buy insurance. Actually, that's another fragment. It forces everyone who can afford to buy insurance, and declines, to buy insurance. It gives insurance to millions of previously uncovered poor people and it subsidizes the rest. Those of us who already have insurance may pay a little more, but we get nifty new regulations on the health care industry.</p>
<p>I should admit here that I have a bias. I had brain surgery. It involved a dozen doctors, half as many MRIs and a few bills that resembled the defense budget. I didn't have to pay for most of that because my insurance company wasn't allowed to drop me and my pre-existing condition. They still can't. Unless Mitt Romney gets himself elected, I suppose.</p>
<p>Obamacare is such a giveaway to the insurance companies that mine had to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars for my brain surgery. It will make it up off some healthy young thing's premiums. What's left of my brain and I are fine with that.</p>
<p>Another confession: My brain medication makes me irritable. That makes it especially difficult for me not to mouth off every time I think about the president's hawkish tendencies, from his expanded use of drones to his escalation of the war in Afghanistan. Yes, he told us many times as a candidate in 2008 that he intended to refocus the military on Afghanistan and hunt down and kill terrorists (real and imagined) across the globe, but at the time I thought he was just trying to trick the moderate Republicans who were also volunteering in the campaign.</p>
<p>I was thinking about Obama's drone policy while watching an episode of Oliver Stone's astonishing <a href="http://www.sho.com/sho/oliver-stones-untold-history-of-the-united-states/home" type="external">"Untold History of the United States."</a> According to the filmmaker and his acclaimed historians, Adolf Hitler himself admitted that he would have been beaten back had the Western powers shown just a little more backbone earlier on. There were a half-dozen opportunities for the United States, Britain and France to contain the Nazi state and save as many as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties" type="external">70 million</a> people. President Franklin Roosevelt wanted desperately to oblige, but more than 90 percent of the American public was against the idea. So he did nothing. What an asshole.</p>
<p>I bring this up because a <a href="http://rt.com/usa/news/drone-strikes-pew-cia-603/" type="external">large majority</a> of Americans supports the use of drone strikes, and I suspect that has something to do with Obama using them. This doesn't excuse such immoral and illegal behavior, but my point is, even FDR fucked up when the polls got to him.</p>
<p>Presidents are strange creatures. I think Chris Hedges is right when <a href="" type="internal">he says</a> "those who hunger for power are psychopathic bastards." I wouldn't want the job. Imagine presiding over an empire in decline, with a trillion-dollar-a-year war machine, an economy built on funny money and an oligarchy climbing up your ass. Then throw in a do-nothing, obstructionist Congress populated by opportunists, sadists and goofballs.</p>
<p>Why the hell does Jill Stein, running on the Green Party ticket, want to be president? She must know she can't win. Otherwise, she's crazy to desire a piece of that action. I wonder if she ever wakes up in a cold sweat, having had a nightmare that she won and has to go to work with John Boehner in the morning.</p>
<p>My friend Alex is in Youngstown, Ohio, trying to get people who literally can't afford front doors on their houses to vote for Obama. Alex has lived in all sorts of hellholes while campaigning for Obama, both in 2008 and this time around. His specialty in the previous election was registering African-American voters in communities long abandoned by all levels of government. Alex is a Jew from the Pacific Palisades, so it's a bit of a mystery how this came to be. Regardless, he was good at it and it's thanks to him as much as anybody that the first time any of us got to vote in a general election for a black candidate for president, the black man won.</p>
<p>Alex worked for the labor movement between the Obama campaigns, and he told me why the unions stood by the president even after the demise of the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill no one has ever heard of that might have ultimately restored the power of the middle class in America. Unions, he explained, spend most of their leverage with employers fighting over health care. Beginning Jan. 1, 2014, as a result of the Affordable Care Act, businesses that employ more than 50 workers will have to provide health care or pay a $2,000 per worker penalty. So here's another fragment: Obama failed the unions. Full sentence: Obama failed the unions, except that he got them health care and freed up their resources to focus on more important issues, like growing again.</p>
<p>In the year 2000, I voted for Ralph Nader, because I was 19, Al Gore's gay marriage position was offensive, and Ralph promised a new age of political idealism. He got less than 3 percent of the vote and I got four years of George W. Bush. After that I voted for John Kerry, and I didn't give a shit what position he took on gay marriage. Four years later, it seemed like we would never emerge from the darkness, and then we got a black president with a Muslim name and the first thing he did was sign the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.</p>
<p>Power seekers are psychos, and Obama has sins to answer for, but how crazy do you have to be to let another George W. Bush happen? I think some of us prefer misery, so long as the villains are obvious.</p>
<p>On the left we talk a lot about the lesser of evils. But health care is not evil. Fair pay, two women on the Supreme Court, a FEMA that functions and food for the hungry - these things are not evil. They're progress.</p>
<p>My friend Eric spent two years surviving on Obama's unemployment checks, student loans and his own ingenuity. Now he's a taxpayer. That's not evil. That's an America that works.</p>
<p>I may have a hole in my head, but on Tuesday I'm going to take that second opportunity to vote for America's first black president. And on Wednesday, and Thursday and Friday, I'm going to do my best to keep him honest.</p> | true | 4 | suspect life two opportunities vote presidential election black man intend take thats say done progressing dont think 1960 polishamerican grandmother realized jack kennedy going last catholic saw white house im taking anything granted 30 years think look back marvel strange country many bigots closeted overt elected man muslim name fight two wars part world time global warming turned new yorks subway system underwater attraction new yorkers pay rent bundled mortgages common today plasma ive daydreaming lot lately im coping redfaced circus clowns come replace everyone political process ron paul commenters websites people dont seem speak argue anymore rage one uses complete sentences president obama extended bush tax cuts thats actually fragment full sentence president obama extended bush tax cuts part deal keep unemployment benefits food stamps going christmas thus keeping millions poor people alive asshole tell obama secretly hates poor people national health insurance plan forces everyone buy insurance actually thats another fragment forces everyone afford buy insurance declines buy insurance gives insurance millions previously uncovered poor people subsidizes rest us already insurance may pay little get nifty new regulations health care industry admit bias brain surgery involved dozen doctors half many mris bills resembled defense budget didnt pay insurance company wasnt allowed drop preexisting condition still cant unless mitt romney gets elected suppose obamacare giveaway insurance companies mine pay hundreds thousands dollars brain surgery make healthy young things premiums whats left brain fine another confession brain medication makes irritable makes especially difficult mouth every time think presidents hawkish tendencies expanded use drones escalation war afghanistan yes told us many times candidate 2008 intended refocus military afghanistan hunt kill terrorists real imagined across globe time thought trying trick moderate republicans also volunteering campaign thinking obamas drone policy watching episode oliver stones astonishing untold history united states according filmmaker acclaimed historians adolf hitler admitted would beaten back western powers shown little backbone earlier halfdozen opportunities united states britain france contain nazi state save many 70 million people president franklin roosevelt wanted desperately oblige 90 percent american public idea nothing asshole bring large majority americans supports use drone strikes suspect something obama using doesnt excuse immoral illegal behavior point even fdr fucked polls got presidents strange creatures think chris hedges right says hunger power psychopathic bastards wouldnt want job imagine presiding empire decline trilliondollarayear war machine economy built funny money oligarchy climbing ass throw donothing obstructionist congress populated opportunists sadists goofballs hell jill stein running green party ticket want president must know cant win otherwise shes crazy desire piece action wonder ever wakes cold sweat nightmare go work john boehner morning friend alex youngstown ohio trying get people literally cant afford front doors houses vote obama alex lived sorts hellholes campaigning obama 2008 time around specialty previous election registering africanamerican voters communities long abandoned levels government alex jew pacific palisades bit mystery came regardless good thanks much anybody first time us got vote general election black candidate president black man alex worked labor movement obama campaigns told unions stood president even demise employee free choice act bill one ever heard might ultimately restored power middle class america unions explained spend leverage employers fighting health care beginning jan 1 2014 result affordable care act businesses employ 50 workers provide health care pay 2000 per worker penalty heres another fragment obama failed unions full sentence obama failed unions except got health care freed resources focus important issues like growing year 2000 voted ralph nader 19 al gores gay marriage position offensive ralph promised new age political idealism got less 3 percent vote got four years george w bush voted john kerry didnt give shit position took gay marriage four years later seemed like would never emerge darkness got black president muslim name first thing sign lilly ledbetter fair pay act power seekers psychos obama sins answer crazy let another george w bush happen think us prefer misery long villains obvious left talk lot lesser evils health care evil fair pay two women supreme court fema functions food hungry things evil theyre progress friend eric spent two years surviving obamas unemployment checks student loans ingenuity hes taxpayer thats evil thats america works may hole head tuesday im going take second opportunity vote americas first black president wednesday thursday friday im going best keep honest | 709 |
<p>By Justin Elliott, ProPublica</p>
<p>This article originally appeared at <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/obama-drone-death-figures-dont-add-up" type="external">ProPublica</a></p>
<p>Last month, a “senior administration official” said the number of civilians killed in drone strikes in Pakistan under President Obama is in the “single digits.” But last year “U.S. officials” said drones in Pakistan killed about 30 civilians in just a yearlong stretch under Obama.</p>
<p>Both claims can’t be true.</p>
<p />
<p>A centerpiece of President Obama’s national security strategy, drones strikes in Pakistan are credited by the administration with crippling Al Qaeda but criticized by human rights groups and others for being conducted in secret and killing civilians. The underlying facts are often in dispute and claims about how many people died and who they were vary widely.</p>
<p>So we decided to narrow it down to just one issue: have the administration’s own claims been consistent?</p>
<p>We collected claims by the administration about deaths from drone strikes in Pakistan and compared each one not to local reports but rather to other administration claims. The numbers sometimes do not add up. (Check out <a href="http://www.propublica.org/special/how-obama-drone-death-claims-stack-up#1" type="external">our interactive graphic</a> to explore the claims.)</p>
<p>Even setting aside the discrepancy between official and outside estimates of civilian deaths, our analysis shows that the administration’s own figures quoted over the years raise questions about their credibility.</p>
<p>There have been 307 American drone strikes in Pakistan since 2004, according to a New America Foundation <a href="http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones" type="external">count</a>. Just 44 occurred during the Bush administration. President Obama has greatly expanded the use of drones to attack suspected members of Al Qaeda, the Pakistani Taliban, and other groups in Pakistan’s remote northwest region.</p>
<p>Obama officials generally do not comment by name on the drone strikes in Pakistan, but they frequently talk about it to reporters ( <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/dissecting-obamas-standard-on-drone-strike-deaths" type="external">including us</a>) on condition of anonymity. Often those anonymously sourced comments have come in response to outside tallies of civilian deaths from drone attacks, which are generally much higher than the administration’s own figures.</p>
<p>The outright contradiction we noted above comes from two claims made about a year apart:</p>
<p>* April 22, 2011 McClatchy reports that U.S. officials claim <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/22/112685/pakistan-us-feud-boils-over-cia.html" type="external">“about 30”</a> civilians died in the year between August 2009 and August 2010.</p>
<p>* May 29, 2012 The New York Times reports that, according to a senior Obama administration official, the number of civilians killed in drone strikes in Pakistan under president Obama is in the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1&amp;pagewanted=all#p%5BTMATMA%5D" type="external">“single digits.”</a></p>
<p>As we also show in our <a href="http://www.propublica.org/special/how-obama-drone-death-claims-stack-up#1" type="external">interactive graphic</a>, other anonymous administration claims about civilian deaths are possible but imply conclusions that seem improbable.</p>
<p>Consider:</p>
<p>* April 26, 2010 The Washington Post quotes an “internal CIA accounting” saying that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/25/AR2010042503114.html" type="external">“just over 20 civilians”</a> have been killed by drones in Pakistan since January 2009.</p>
<p>* Aug. 11, 2011 The New York Times reports that CIA officers claim <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/12/world/asia/12drones.html?pagewanted=all" type="external">zero civilians</a> were killed since May 2010</p>
<p>* Aug. 12, 2011 CNN quoted a U.S. official saying there were <a href="http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/12/us-disputes-report-alleging-high-death-toll-from-drone-strikes/" type="external">50 civilians</a> killed over the years in drone strikes in Pakistan.</p>
<p>If this set of claims is assumed to be accurate, it suggests that the majority of the 50 total civilian deaths occurred during the Bush administration 2014 when the drone program was still in its infancy. As we’ve noted, in the entire Bush administration, there were 44 strikes. In the Obama administration through Aug. 12, 2011, there were 222. So according to this set of claims more civilians died in just 44 strikes under Bush than did in 222 strikes under Obama. (Again, <a href="http://www.propublica.org/special/how-obama-drone-death-claims-stack-up#2" type="external">the graphic</a> is helpful to assess the administration assertions.)</p>
<p>Consider also <a href="http://www.propublica.org/special/how-obama-drone-death-claims-stack-up#3" type="external">these three claims</a>, which imply two lengthy periods when zero or almost zero civilians were killed in drone strikes:</p>
<p>* September 10, 2010 Newsweek quotes a government estimate that <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/blogs/declassified/2010/09/10/a-new-weapon-in-the-war-on-terror.html" type="external">“about 30”</a> civilians were killed since the beginning of 2008.</p>
<p>* April 22, 2011 McClatchy reports that U.S. officials claim <a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/04/22/112685/pakistan-us-feud-boils-over-cia.html" type="external">“about 30”</a> civilians died in the year between August 2009 and August 2010.</p>
<p>* July 15, 2011 Reuters quotes a source familiar with the drone program as saying <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/15/us-usa-war-drones-idUSTRE76E0RT20110715" type="external">“about 30”</a> civilians were killed since July 2008.</p>
<p>It’s possible that all these claims are true. But if they are, it implies that the government believes there were zero or almost zero civilian deaths between the beginning of 2008 and August 2009, and then again zero deaths between August 2010 and July 2011. Those periods comprise a total of 182 strikes.</p>
<p>The administration has rejected in the strongest terms outside claims of a high civilian toll from the drone attacks.</p>
<p>Those outside estimates also vary widely. A count by <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/staff.php" type="external">Bill Roggio</a>, editor of the website the Long War Journal, which bases its estimates on news reports, <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/pakistan-strikes.php" type="external">puts</a> the number of civilian killed in Pakistan at 138. The New America Foundation <a href="http://counterterrorism.newamerica.net/drones" type="external">estimates</a> that, based on press reports, between 293 and 471 civilians have been killed in the attacks. The London-based Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which <a href="http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2011/08/10/pakistan-drone-strikes-the-methodology2/" type="external">draws on</a> a wider array of sources including researchers and lawyers in Pakistan, puts the number of civilians killed at between 482 and 832. The authors of the various estimates all emphasize that their counts are imperfect.</p>
<p>There are likely multiple reasons for the varying counts of civilian deaths from drone strikes in Pakistan. The attacks are executed remotely in often inaccessible regions. And there’s the question of who U.S. officials are counting as civilians. A <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/obamas-leadership-in-war-on-al-qaeda.html?pagewanted=1&amp;_r=1&amp;pagewanted=all#p%5BTMATMA%5D" type="external">story</a> last month in the New York Times <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/dissecting-obamas-standard-on-drone-strike-deaths" type="external">reported that</a> President Obama adopted a policy that “in effect counts all military-age males in a strike zone as combatants.”</p>
<p>There are also <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/369827-backgroundnoteasilcolumbia.html#document/p15" type="external">ongoing debates</a> in the humanitarian law community about who the U.S. may legitimately target with drone strikes and how the CIA is applying the <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/369827-backgroundnoteasilcolumbia.html#document/p30" type="external">principle of proportionality</a> 2014 which holds that attacks that might cause civilian deaths must be proportional to the level of military advantage anticipated.</p>
<p>In a rare public comment on drone strikes, President Obama <a href="http://content.usatoday.com/communities/theoval/post/2012/01/obama-defends-drone-strikes/1#.T9kAPCtYuSJ" type="external">told</a> an online town hall in January that the drones had not caused “a huge number of civilian casualties.”</p>
<p>When giving their own figures on civilian deaths, administration officials are often countering local reports. In March 2011, for example, <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12769209" type="external">Pakistanis</a> <a href="http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014522314_apaspakistan.html" type="external">including</a> the country’s army chief accused a U.S. drone strike of hitting a peaceful meeting of tribal elders, killing around 40 people. An unnamed U.S. official rejected the accusations, telling the AP: “There’s every indication that this was a group of terrorists, not a charity car wash in the Pakistani hinterlands.”</p>
<p>Unnamed U.S. officials <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2011/nov/07/world/la-fg-cia-drones-20111108" type="external">told</a> the Los Angeles Times last year that “they are confident they know who has been killed because they watch each strike on video and gather intelligence in the aftermath, observing funerals for the dead and eavesdropping on conversations about the strikes.”</p>
<p>U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay <a href="http://tribune.com.pk/story/390225/us-drone-attacks-in-pakistan-un-backs-probe-into-civilian-casualties/" type="external">said</a> during a visit to Pakistan this month that there should be investigation of killings of civilians by drones and that victims should be compensated. The U.S. has <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011124571_apasafghanpaybacktime.html" type="external">given compensation</a> to victims of airstrikes in Afghanistan but there are no reports of victims of drone strikes in Pakistan being compensated.</p>
<p>Since the various administration statements over the years were almost all quoted anonymously, it’s impossible to go back to the officials in question to ask them about contradictions.</p>
<p>Asked about the apparent contradictions, National Security Council spokesman Tommy Vietor told ProPublica: “[W]e simply do not comment on alleged drone strikes.”</p>
<p>Additional reporting by Cora Currier.</p> | true | 4 | justin elliott propublica article originally appeared propublica last month senior administration official said number civilians killed drone strikes pakistan president obama single digits last year us officials said drones pakistan killed 30 civilians yearlong stretch obama claims cant true centerpiece president obamas national security strategy drones strikes pakistan credited administration crippling al qaeda criticized human rights groups others conducted secret killing civilians underlying facts often dispute claims many people died vary widely decided narrow one issue administrations claims consistent collected claims administration deaths drone strikes pakistan compared one local reports rather administration claims numbers sometimes add check interactive graphic explore claims even setting aside discrepancy official outside estimates civilian deaths analysis shows administrations figures quoted years raise questions credibility 307 american drone strikes pakistan since 2004 according new america foundation count 44 occurred bush administration president obama greatly expanded use drones attack suspected members al qaeda pakistani taliban groups pakistans remote northwest region obama officials generally comment name drone strikes pakistan frequently talk reporters including us condition anonymity often anonymously sourced comments come response outside tallies civilian deaths drone attacks generally much higher administrations figures outright contradiction noted comes two claims made year apart april 22 2011 mcclatchy reports us officials claim 30 civilians died year august 2009 august 2010 may 29 2012 new york times reports according senior obama administration official number civilians killed drone strikes pakistan president obama single digits also show interactive graphic anonymous administration claims civilian deaths possible imply conclusions seem improbable consider april 26 2010 washington post quotes internal cia accounting saying 20 civilians killed drones pakistan since january 2009 aug 11 2011 new york times reports cia officers claim zero civilians killed since may 2010 aug 12 2011 cnn quoted us official saying 50 civilians killed years drone strikes pakistan set claims assumed accurate suggests majority 50 total civilian deaths occurred bush administration 2014 drone program still infancy weve noted entire bush administration 44 strikes obama administration aug 12 2011 222 according set claims civilians died 44 strikes bush 222 strikes obama graphic helpful assess administration assertions consider also three claims imply two lengthy periods zero almost zero civilians killed drone strikes september 10 2010 newsweek quotes government estimate 30 civilians killed since beginning 2008 april 22 2011 mcclatchy reports us officials claim 30 civilians died year august 2009 august 2010 july 15 2011 reuters quotes source familiar drone program saying 30 civilians killed since july 2008 possible claims true implies government believes zero almost zero civilian deaths beginning 2008 august 2009 zero deaths august 2010 july 2011 periods comprise total 182 strikes administration rejected strongest terms outside claims high civilian toll drone attacks outside estimates also vary widely count bill roggio editor website long war journal bases estimates news reports puts number civilian killed pakistan 138 new america foundation estimates based press reports 293 471 civilians killed attacks londonbased bureau investigative journalism draws wider array sources including researchers lawyers pakistan puts number civilians killed 482 832 authors various estimates emphasize counts imperfect likely multiple reasons varying counts civilian deaths drone strikes pakistan attacks executed remotely often inaccessible regions theres question us officials counting civilians story last month new york times reported president obama adopted policy effect counts militaryage males strike zone combatants also ongoing debates humanitarian law community us may legitimately target drone strikes cia applying principle proportionality 2014 holds attacks might cause civilian deaths must proportional level military advantage anticipated rare public comment drone strikes president obama told online town hall january drones caused huge number civilian casualties giving figures civilian deaths administration officials often countering local reports march 2011 example pakistanis including countrys army chief accused us drone strike hitting peaceful meeting tribal elders killing around 40 people unnamed us official rejected accusations telling ap theres every indication group terrorists charity car wash pakistani hinterlands unnamed us officials told los angeles times last year confident know killed watch strike video gather intelligence aftermath observing funerals dead eavesdropping conversations strikes un high commissioner human rights navi pillay said visit pakistan month investigation killings civilians drones victims compensated us given compensation victims airstrikes afghanistan reports victims drone strikes pakistan compensated since various administration statements years almost quoted anonymously impossible go back officials question ask contradictions asked apparent contradictions national security council spokesman tommy vietor told propublica simply comment alleged drone strikes additional reporting cora currier | 722 |
<p>“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”</p>
<p>Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826)</p>
<p>“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”</p>
<p>H.L. Mencken (1880-1956)</p>
<p>“Morality is a venereal disease. Its primary stage is called virtue; its secondary stage, boredom; its tertiary stage, syphilis.”</p>
<p>Karl Kraus (1874-1936)</p>
<p>Like most folks I know, I’ve been singing the Blues since Red Tuesday. Yes indeed, Brothers &amp; Sisters, Lovers &amp; Sinners, I got dem Dem-dumb Blue State Blues…I’ll get over it. I’m essentially optimistic. But let me tell you: When I’m Blue, I don’t need some red-faced Red State redneck, who voted for the nastiest gaggle of chickenhawk war criminals and crony-nesting thieves ever to perch upon the Executive Branch, lecturing me about “moral values.” Nor do I need any lily-livered, “Time for Healing,” down-n-defeated Dems trying to turn my deep Blue Values purple with acquiescence, or render them vomit green with a dollop of cowardly yellow.</p>
<p>And speaking of cowardly lions, hey Cowboy King George: Now’s the time to hop on your horse and ride through town, spending all that political capital you claim you earned! What’s the matter, Georgy, ‘fraid of horses?</p>
<p>Not daring to question the “mandate” of their horse-fearing Moral Leader, American pundits in both Red and Blue States have taken refuge in bloviating upon the importance of Moral Values in politics. As if the phrase “honest politician” is anything but an oxymoron. Though this is not about honesty, of course. Honesty is only a Red Issue when you’re talking about a Democrat, and it has something to do with sex.</p>
<p>Nor does it seem that Red State Moral Values have anything to do with torturing, raping or killing innocent people. As the pundits never tire of telling us, one in five American voters (obviously, a small minority of Americans) cited “moral values” as a major issue, and eight out of 10 of these Solomonic adjudicators voted for a President who, independent studies had just revealed, had summarily, and quite merrily executed over 100,000 men, women and children (mostly the latter) upon invading the wrong country in his terrorist War on Terror. And that’s just a count for the first year.</p>
<p>But who cares about counting dead people? Not General Tommy Franks who says, “We don’t do body counts.” Even if we did, Barbara Bush (the Matriarch Medusa, not the cute Yalie half of the Bush Twins) doesn’t want to “waste my beautiful mind on something like…body bags and deaths and how many and when…” Nor does moral Red America, who much prefers counting sexual sins, in which any kind of sex–outside of married, monogamous, missionary position intercourse with the lights out, for procreation only-counts against you, if you’re caught. And that’s a big IF. As a Blue State sex therapist who counsels a lot of Red State clients, I know that more than a few exurbs-full of these pink-cheeked moralizers are screwing their neighbors’ wives, as well as their neighbors’ sons, not to mention their sheep, in between voting-as-sacrament for the horse-phobic cowboy with the trigger-happy soul. And no, I won’t name names.</p>
<p>Though I’m their trusted Mother Confessor in private, the Red Statists spare no effort in excoriating my profession in public. Typical Madonna/Whore complex, I suppose, but it’s getting medieval. In the World According to the Red States, sex therapists, educators, entertainers and other Americans like me (especially those of us who reside in the azure-Blue State of California) are more dangerous than Osama, Saddam, John Kerry or even Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>With the supreme assurance of the ignorant, they assert our lack of values. Correct me if I’m wrong (and please, no anthrax or horse poop in my email), but as far as I can see, Red State Values come down to the 10 A’s: antiabortion, anti-female, anti-secular, anti-science, anti-environment, anti-poor-people, anti-gay, anti-art, anti-porn &amp; anti-sex (aka abstinence only). Now excuse me for not helping with the “healing” here, but these are some sorry, terrorized excuses for values. Any political compromise that bows down to these values is as immoral and irrational as saying your candidate would be “better and smarter” at conducting Dubya’s depraved War on Iraq.</p>
<p>To hear the pundits tell it, one could assume that Americans who don’t genuflect to the 10 A’s have no values (or value) at all. It’s just Red Values and Blue Flipflops. It’s true that many Democrats don’t seem to know which end is up these days, which is one reason why their candidate could barely inspire the mammoth Anybody But Bush (ABB) vote. Just imagine if he really had represented Blue Values. We actually might have “Licked Bush, Beat Dick” and taken the bastards out.</p>
<p>So what about Blue Values? What about good old-fashioned Jeffersonian, radical-liberal, democratic (with a small d), progressive, populist, personal, Constitution-enshrined, science-based, heartfelt, sexual values? Yes, SEXUAL. After all, VALUES is code for SEX, isn’t it? Or is it WAR? Well, it depends on the color of your glasses</p>
<p>So let me bring these colors into focus, Brothers &amp; Sisters, Lovers &amp; Sinners, at least as I see them. And remember: I’m a sex therapist, so don’t be shocked if my values turn you on.</p>
<p>MY BLUE VALUES</p>
<p>Note: The following is a personal free-associated list, not necessarily in order of importance, and not necessarily representing YOUR BLUE VALUES</p>
<p>When I talk about Blue Values…</p>
<p>I’m talking about the values of the Enlightenment, and not the Apocalypse;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of Hot Love, and not Perma-War;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the values of the U.S. Constitution, and not the Bible, the Koran, the Bhagavad-Gita, The Book of Thoth, or the Gospels According to Anybody;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of lust, and not greed;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of explosive orgasms, and not exploding ordnance;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of bare beauty, and not naked aggression;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of pussy juice and lube, and not our blood for their oil;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of hard dicks, and not hardnosed dickheads;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness,” and not “God, Guns and Gay-Bashing”;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of Ethical Hedonism, and not Unethical Puritanism;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of dildos and vibrators, and not cruise missiles and killing machines;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of intelligent erotica and smokin’ BLUE movies, and not Mel’s Christian death porn or U.S. military snuff films showing the village greens of Iraq running RED with blood;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of the Bonobo Way, and not acting like a baboon;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of masturbation, and not occupation;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of consensual BDSM games, and not colonial-style torture;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of people in bed with their lovers, and not TV news shows “embedded” with the government;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of science, innovation, open-mindedness and courage, and not superstition, creationism, bigotry and fear;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of governance based upon sweet reason, thrift and compassion, and not religious hysteria, acid-induced ecstasy, or even the rose-colored glasses of love;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of sexual connection, and not gender competition;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of good wine and good weed, and not jamming more than 2 million Americans in prison, many for victimless “crimes”;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of blue skies and a clean environment, and not red skies radiating pollution;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of sex research and education, and not enforced sexual stupidity;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of marriage, and not banning “certain people” from getting married;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of helping those less fortunate, and not blaming the poor for being poor;</p>
<p>I’m talking about the value of stem cell research, and not valuing the so-called “rights” of the unborn over the living</p>
<p>And…</p>
<p>I’ve got plenty more values I could talk about…though I don’t want to get too preachy (hehe). But speaking of abortion, let me indulge my Blues State Blues for just a moment here, since being “pro-life” is being touted, in hushed tones, as the #1 Moral Values Issue rallying the Red State “values voters.” I’ve often wondered why Corporate America supports the Religious Right’s war on women’s reproductive freedom. I mean, what do all these rich folks get out of forcing all these poor women-even raped women–to have kids they don’t want to have? Of course, they don’t help these reluctant moms raise their unwanted kids; on the contrary, they take away their aid. It’s not possible that all these corporate fat cats who support the rabid anti-abortionites are just sadists (though as a therapist, I happen to know that more than a few of them are). There has to be a solid, practical reason.</p>
<p>But I just didn’t get it. Then Kelpie Wilson reminded me to look to history, specifically Ancient Rome, so often compared to modern America. Abortion was very popular in Rome and throughout the ancient world. It was neither immoral nor illegal. Unwanted children were a problem then as they are now. Many families sold their “extra” kids into slavery. Was abortion less moral than selling one’s own child into brutal slavery? You decide.</p>
<p>History tells us that more and more Roman women decided in favor of abortion, as well as contraception. They enjoyed their sex, those Romans. But as the Imperial Empire spread and the Imperial economy slowed, they stopped having large families they couldn’t afford. Thus the Roman slave population was drastically reduced. What was practical and moral for Roman women and their families became an obstacle for the Empire.</p>
<p>The Empire needed slaves. At its height, about 20% of the Roman Empire’s subjects were slaves. When fewer women bore unwanted children that they had to sell into slavery, many Roman systems (like the military) started to falter. That’s when the Roman government stepped in to outlaw abortion, as well as some forms of contraception. Lawmakers forced women, especially poor women, to bear unwanted children, precisely because they wanted these women to sell these same children into slavery to the state-and at a cheap price. Is that what the Reds mean by “value”?</p>
<p>Obviously, American Evangelicals, despite the fact that their movement made its name by being avid “abolitionists” instrumental in awakening the nation to the evils of slavery before the Civil War, don’t see it this way. But the fact is that all empires need slaves. They need militaries filled with poor young people who have virtually no other options. Of course, we don’t call them “slaves” here in modern America. We call them the Volunteer Army.</p>
<p>When a young poor person is enticed to enlist to “be all they can be,” then sent to Iraq to do Dubya’s dirty work and die, that’s slavery. So: when women have the right to abortion and contraception, they produce fewer slaves. They tend to match the size of their families to the resources available, to Mother Nature. They do not breed for the state’s slave army naturally; that sort of breeding tends to be forced upon them.</p>
<p>The Nazis also criminalized abortion. I know, it’s not very sporting to utter the N-word in the wake of Kerry’s defeat and the desire of the jubilating Reds and certain obsequious Blues for “healing.” But there’s no doubt that Hermann and Adolf rode the wave of Red Values (Rote Werte!), just like Karl and George II. In both Nazi Germany and Bush’s America, a militant, political Protestantism was and is used to try to destroy “evil” and dominate the world. Of course, the Nazis didn’t ultimately succeed, and neither will the Bushites. But our Blue Values place us rather close in spirit to the academies and theaters of Weimar Berlin that flourished in the 1920s, and look what happened to them when the German Christian Brownshirts stormed in to “clean” up the town.</p>
<p>It’s scary enough to make us Blue Staters spend hours drawing and redrawing maps featuring the United States of Canada, with a short front “leg” reaching into the Northeast and a longer hind leg picking up the Pacific. We Californians are threatening secession, and only half-joking when we do. We’re the beautiful, blue-eyed, battered wife, beaten black-and-blue by the redneck husband with a pistol under his pillow. Beaten and belittled! So enough already, we want a divorce! To add insult to injury, this battered wife here is paying the bills! That is, almost every one of the Blue States, led by California, sends more tax dollars to Washington than Washington sends back to us, meaning we hedonistic but hardworking Blues are subsidizing our Red church-hugging counterparts (so ignorant they can’t support themselves), even as they slap us around, spend our hard-earned money on stupid wars and other extravagances, and call us sluts and whores and bitches.</p>
<p>If a woman like California asked me for advice on what to do about a husband like, say, Mississippi, I’d counsel her to “Cut your losses and leave, honey.” And I must say, it’s tempting. But I think I’ll give it another year. Ever the optimist, I see a silver-blue lining in Electile Dysfunction ’04. It has made me, and many Blue Staters like me, stand just a little taller for our true Blue Values than we did during the height of the election season when the ABB mantra effectively shut us up. I’m true Blue, and I stand by my Blue Values with as much passion and conviction as Red Staters believe that the Virgin Birth was a fact of life, and Dubya is an honest man</p>
<p>And I believe that Jesus is on my side; after all, wasn’t his “best friend” Mary Magdalene? Mohammed, too; that harem thing isn’t so bad if the women are bi and like each other.</p>
<p>Brothers and Sisters, Lovers and Sinners, we are all Children of Sex. We may or may not be Children of God, but no matter what color our state, no matter whom we vote for or whether our votes are counted or stolen, or whether we’re of the majority of Americans that don’t bother to vote at all, no matter how many people we kill or liberate or touch or heal, no matter whom we hate or how much we love, we are ALL Children of SEX. Praise the Lord and the Lady.</p>
<p>Now we true Blues just need a few sexy, smart, media-friendly candidates to represent our values. Let’s start a Blue Party! Let’s mount our horses, and battle on, as indecent insurgents in our own land, doing what we can to protect our Enlightenment-inspired Constitution and hard-won political and sexual freedoms. Let us ride like Paul Revere, singing out to the world that not all Americans are Red with love for the murderous policies of George W. Bush. Let us conspire, preach, protest, party and inform. And let us not take up arms (except in self-defense or the defense of our loved ones), for that is against our values.</p>
<p>Suing for our rights is another matter. Let us cultivate the friendship of lawyers and/or sue for our rights in pro per. Actually, I sued the LAPD in pro per for infringement of my 4th amendment rights last year, and negotiated a very good financial settlement, as well as reached a more respectful understanding (more on that later). And let us fight-in the courts and in the media, in the streets and in the cornfields, in the boardrooms and in the bedrooms, in the churches and in the strip clubs–for what we believe. And let us continue to do so with pleasure, compassion, art and lots of lube, because these are things we value.</p>
<p>Can I hear an Amen? Can I hear an Awomen? All right then, Brothers &amp; Sisters, Lovers &amp; Sinners, I want you to roll up your sleeves and pull down your pants! There’s lots of work and play to be done, and less and less freedom to do it.</p>
<p>Note from Dr. Suzy: This column was extrapolated from my monologue “Bottoms Up For Blue Values,” broadcast live on November 6, 2004 on The Dr. SUSAN BLOCK Show.</p>
<p>Please Write Me! Send me your tired, your poor, your hate mail, love letters, commentary, photos, questions and confessions at <a href="mailto:liberties@blockbooks.com" type="external">liberties@blockbooks.com</a>.</p>
<p>Dr. SUSAN BLOCK is a sex educator, cultural commentator, host of The Dr. SUSAN BLOCK Show and author of The 10 Commandments of Pleasure. Her essay on John Ashcroft’s “breast fetish” is included in CounterPunch’s <a href="http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/CounterPunch/CP_Books.html" type="external">Serpents in the Garden: Liaisons with Sex and Culture</a>. Visit her website at <a href="http://www.drsusanblock.com/" type="external">http://www.drsusanblock.com</a>.</p>
<p>© November 10, 2004, Dr. SUSAN BLOCK. For reprint rights, please contact rox@blockbooks.com</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | question boldness even existence god one must approve homage reason blindfolded fear thomas jefferson 17431826 democracy perfected office president represents closely inner soul people great glorious day plain folks land reach hearts desire last white house adorned downright moron hl mencken 18801956 morality venereal disease primary stage called virtue secondary stage boredom tertiary stage syphilis karl kraus 18741936 like folks know ive singing blues since red tuesday yes indeed brothers amp sisters lovers amp sinners got dem demdumb blue state bluesill get im essentially optimistic let tell im blue dont need redfaced red state redneck voted nastiest gaggle chickenhawk war criminals cronynesting thieves ever perch upon executive branch lecturing moral values need lilylivered time healing downndefeated dems trying turn deep blue values purple acquiescence render vomit green dollop cowardly yellow speaking cowardly lions hey cowboy king george nows time hop horse ride town spending political capital claim earned whats matter georgy fraid horses daring question mandate horsefearing moral leader american pundits red blue states taken refuge bloviating upon importance moral values politics phrase honest politician anything oxymoron though honesty course honesty red issue youre talking democrat something sex seem red state moral values anything torturing raping killing innocent people pundits never tire telling us one five american voters obviously small minority americans cited moral values major issue eight 10 solomonic adjudicators voted president independent studies revealed summarily quite merrily executed 100000 men women children mostly latter upon invading wrong country terrorist war terror thats count first year cares counting dead people general tommy franks says dont body counts even barbara bush matriarch medusa cute yalie half bush twins doesnt want waste beautiful mind something likebody bags deaths many moral red america much prefers counting sexual sins kind sexoutside married monogamous missionary position intercourse lights procreation onlycounts youre caught thats big blue state sex therapist counsels lot red state clients know exurbsfull pinkcheeked moralizers screwing neighbors wives well neighbors sons mention sheep votingassacrament horsephobic cowboy triggerhappy soul wont name names though im trusted mother confessor private red statists spare effort excoriating profession public typical madonnawhore complex suppose getting medieval world according red states sex therapists educators entertainers americans like especially us reside azureblue state california dangerous osama saddam john kerry even hillary clinton supreme assurance ignorant assert lack values correct im wrong please anthrax horse poop email far see red state values come 10 antiabortion antifemale antisecular antiscience antienvironment antipoorpeople antigay antiart antiporn amp antisex aka abstinence excuse helping healing sorry terrorized excuses values political compromise bows values immoral irrational saying candidate would better smarter conducting dubyas depraved war iraq hear pundits tell one could assume americans dont genuflect 10 values value red values blue flipflops true many democrats dont seem know end days one reason candidate could barely inspire mammoth anybody bush abb vote imagine really represented blue values actually might licked bush beat dick taken bastards blue values good oldfashioned jeffersonian radicalliberal democratic small progressive populist personal constitutionenshrined sciencebased heartfelt sexual values yes sexual values code sex isnt war well depends color glasses let bring colors focus brothers amp sisters lovers amp sinners least see remember im sex therapist dont shocked values turn blue values note following personal freeassociated list necessarily order importance necessarily representing blue values talk blue values im talking values enlightenment apocalypse im talking value hot love permawar im talking values us constitution bible koran bhagavadgita book thoth gospels according anybody im talking value lust greed im talking value explosive orgasms exploding ordnance im talking value bare beauty naked aggression im talking value pussy juice lube blood oil im talking value hard dicks hardnosed dickheads im talking value life liberty pursuit happiness god guns gaybashing im talking value ethical hedonism unethical puritanism im talking value dildos vibrators cruise missiles killing machines im talking value intelligent erotica smokin blue movies mels christian death porn us military snuff films showing village greens iraq running red blood im talking value bonobo way acting like baboon im talking value masturbation occupation im talking value consensual bdsm games colonialstyle torture im talking value people bed lovers tv news shows embedded government im talking value science innovation openmindedness courage superstition creationism bigotry fear im talking value governance based upon sweet reason thrift compassion religious hysteria acidinduced ecstasy even rosecolored glasses love im talking value sexual connection gender competition im talking value good wine good weed jamming 2 million americans prison many victimless crimes im talking value blue skies clean environment red skies radiating pollution im talking value sex research education enforced sexual stupidity im talking value marriage banning certain people getting married im talking value helping less fortunate blaming poor poor im talking value stem cell research valuing socalled rights unborn living ive got plenty values could talk aboutthough dont want get preachy hehe speaking abortion let indulge blues state blues moment since prolife touted hushed tones 1 moral values issue rallying red state values voters ive often wondered corporate america supports religious rights war womens reproductive freedom mean rich folks get forcing poor womeneven raped womento kids dont want course dont help reluctant moms raise unwanted kids contrary take away aid possible corporate fat cats support rabid antiabortionites sadists though therapist happen know solid practical reason didnt get kelpie wilson reminded look history specifically ancient rome often compared modern america abortion popular rome throughout ancient world neither immoral illegal unwanted children problem many families sold extra kids slavery abortion less moral selling ones child brutal slavery decide history tells us roman women decided favor abortion well contraception enjoyed sex romans imperial empire spread imperial economy slowed stopped large families couldnt afford thus roman slave population drastically reduced practical moral roman women families became obstacle empire empire needed slaves height 20 roman empires subjects slaves fewer women bore unwanted children sell slavery many roman systems like military started falter thats roman government stepped outlaw abortion well forms contraception lawmakers forced women especially poor women bear unwanted children precisely wanted women sell children slavery stateand cheap price reds mean value obviously american evangelicals despite fact movement made name avid abolitionists instrumental awakening nation evils slavery civil war dont see way fact empires need slaves need militaries filled poor young people virtually options course dont call slaves modern america call volunteer army young poor person enticed enlist sent iraq dubyas dirty work die thats slavery women right abortion contraception produce fewer slaves tend match size families resources available mother nature breed states slave army naturally sort breeding tends forced upon nazis also criminalized abortion know sporting utter nword wake kerrys defeat desire jubilating reds certain obsequious blues healing theres doubt hermann adolf rode wave red values rote werte like karl george ii nazi germany bushs america militant political protestantism used try destroy evil dominate world course nazis didnt ultimately succeed neither bushites blue values place us rather close spirit academies theaters weimar berlin flourished 1920s look happened german christian brownshirts stormed clean town scary enough make us blue staters spend hours drawing redrawing maps featuring united states canada short front leg reaching northeast longer hind leg picking pacific californians threatening secession halfjoking beautiful blueeyed battered wife beaten blackandblue redneck husband pistol pillow beaten belittled enough already want divorce add insult injury battered wife paying bills almost every one blue states led california sends tax dollars washington washington sends back us meaning hedonistic hardworking blues subsidizing red churchhugging counterparts ignorant cant support even slap us around spend hardearned money stupid wars extravagances call us sluts whores bitches woman like california asked advice husband like say mississippi id counsel cut losses leave honey must say tempting think ill give another year ever optimist see silverblue lining electile dysfunction 04 made many blue staters like stand little taller true blue values height election season abb mantra effectively shut us im true blue stand blue values much passion conviction red staters believe virgin birth fact life dubya honest man believe jesus side wasnt best friend mary magdalene mohammed harem thing isnt bad women bi like brothers sisters lovers sinners children sex may may children god matter color state matter vote whether votes counted stolen whether majority americans dont bother vote matter many people kill liberate touch heal matter hate much love children sex praise lord lady true blues need sexy smart mediafriendly candidates represent values lets start blue party lets mount horses battle indecent insurgents land protect enlightenmentinspired constitution hardwon political sexual freedoms let us ride like paul revere singing world americans red love murderous policies george w bush let us conspire preach protest party inform let us take arms except selfdefense defense loved ones values suing rights another matter let us cultivate friendship lawyers andor sue rights pro per actually sued lapd pro per infringement 4th amendment rights last year negotiated good financial settlement well reached respectful understanding later let us fightin courts media streets cornfields boardrooms bedrooms churches strip clubsfor believe let us continue pleasure compassion art lots lube things value hear amen hear awomen right brothers amp sisters lovers amp sinners want roll sleeves pull pants theres lots work play done less less freedom note dr suzy column extrapolated monologue bottoms blue values broadcast live november 6 2004 dr susan block show please write send tired poor hate mail love letters commentary photos questions confessions libertiesblockbookscom dr susan block sex educator cultural commentator host dr susan block show author 10 commandments pleasure essay john ashcrofts breast fetish included counterpunchs serpents garden liaisons sex culture visit website httpwwwdrsusanblockcom november 10 2004 dr susan block reprint rights please contact roxblockbookscom 160 160 160 | 1,586 |
<p>The Ohio Republican Party has moved four ways to steal America’s 2012 election. &#160;The Buckeye State is almost certain to emerge as a decider in this year’s presidential election, and the GOP is moving fast to ensure victory, no matter what it takes.</p>
<p>The strategy reflects much of what was done by the Republicans in 2000 and 2004 to steal those presidential elections for George W. Bush, as we report in the newly published WILL THE GOP STEAL AMERICA’S 2012 ELECTION? (now at <a href="http://www.harveywasserman.ning.com/" type="external">www.harveywasserman.ning.com</a> and soon at <a href="http://www.freepress.org/" type="external">www.freepress.org</a>).</p>
<p>If they get away with it, the Ohio GOP could make it virtually impossible for Barack Obama to carry Ohio this November. In the years since Florida 2000 and Ohio 2004, the Democratic Party has made little headway in reforming our electoral system to make such thefts impossible:</p>
<p>1. Since 2009, the Ohio GOP has purged some 1.25 million citizens from the state’s voter rolls. This accounts for more than 20% of the roughly 5.2 million votes counted for president in the state in 2008. The purge focusses on counties that are predominantly urban and Democratic. &#160;(&#160; <a href="" type="internal">http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2012/1927</a> )</p>
<p>2. Electronic voting machines have been installed throughout the state which are owned, operated, programmed and maintained — and will be tallied—by Republican-connected firms, including Diebold (now Premier), ES&amp;S and Triad. (&#160; <a href="" type="internal">http://www.freepress.org/columns/display/3/2012/1925</a> )</p>
<p>3. &#160;The GOP controls both houses of the Ohio Legislature, the governorship, the secretary of state’s office, and the state supreme court. &#160;Soon after the 2008 election, it imposed a draconian photo ID law designed to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of suspected Democrats, as is being done throughout the US. &#160;But Ohio is a referendum state. &#160;A statewide grassroots movement recently crushed a GOP-pushed anti-labor law, and many Republicans feared the photo ID law would also go down. &#160;Then Husted was ruled ineligible to hold office over a residency conflict. &#160;Ohio’s Supreme Court re-instated his eligibility, but he was prompted to oppose the photo ID law. &#160;Today a prospective Ohio voter can use 17 different kinds of ID, but in recent elections some poll workers have demanded photo ID anyway. &#160;Without a grassroots army of independent election monitors to protect them, many more Ohioans are likely to be disenfranchised.</p>
<p>4. &#160;In 2004, 10.6% of the votes cast in Ohio were so-called “early votes” via absentee ballots. A voter had to be absent from the county to vote absentee. In-person Election Day voters at the 42 predominantly black inner-city precincts in Columbus waited between 3-7 hours to vote.</p>
<p>In 2005, Ohio election law was modified so absentees could vote without actually being absent from their home county. When Ohio went for Barack Obama with 52% of the vote, early voting nearly tripled to 29.7%. This included voters able to vote in person at locations all over the state for 35 days prior to Election Day, including on weekends.</p>
<p>This summer the Ohio GOP attempted to allow Republican Counties to use weekend voting, while denying the right to counties that are predominantly Democratic. &#160;By banning all voting the weekend before the election, Husted took credit for “leveling the playing field.” &#160;But African-American State Representative Charleta Tavares immediately charged that the exclusion of weekend voting represented a deliberate attempt to suppress Democratic voters, and particularly black voters who voted 95% for Obama in 2008.</p>
<p>On Friday, August 17, while some 500 Ohioans protested outside his office, Husted suspended Democratic Montgomery County Board of Election members Dennis Lieberman and Tom Ritchie, Sr. because they introduced and supported—and then refused to rescind—a motion for weekend voting.</p>
<p>Lieberman told the Dayton Daily News that, “I believe that this is so critical to our freedom in America . . . that I’m doing what I think is right, and I cannot vote to rescind this motion.” Lieberman also argued that the directive did not specifically prohibit weekend hours.</p>
<p>The Ohio Association of Election Officials, overwhelmingly dominated by Republicans from Ohio’s rural counties, endorsed the idea of cutting the final three early voting days. They argued that they needed the extra time over the weekend to prepare for Election Day, although some of the counties have very small voting populations compared to the nine urban counties that support keeping the three final early voting days. &#160; Doug Priesse, Chair of the Franklin County (Columbus) GOP, sparked a firestorm when he explained that &#160; “I guess I really actually feel we shouldn’t contort the voting process to accommodate the urban — read African-American — voter turnout machine.”</p>
<p>The Obama campaign has sued, arguing that weekend voting be restored for all Ohioans, as it has been for members of the military. &#160;The GOP has charged Obama with trying to deny those in the military their right to vote, which would be impossible for him to do. &#160;Husted and GOP Attorney-General Mike DeWine responded with a suit saying: &#160;“There is no fundamental right to in-person early voting.”</p>
<p>By purging registration lists, limiting voting times, messing with voter ID requirements and controlling electronic voting machines, the GOP has a huge leg up on winning what has often been America’s key swing state.</p>
<p>Clearly the Ohio GOP is once again geared up to deny the vote—and vote count—to as many Democrats as it can. &#160;If it succeeds, as it did in 2004, Barack Obama stands little chance of being re-elected.</p>
<p>Bob Fitrakis and Harvey Wasserman’s new WILL THE GOP STEAL AMERICA’S 2012 ELECTION?, introduced by Greg Palast, is a $4.99 e-book now at <a href="http://www.harveywasserman.ning.com/" type="external">www.harveywasserman.ning.com</a> &#160;and soon at <a href="http://www.freepress.org/" type="external">www.freepress.org</a>.</p> | true | 4 | ohio republican party moved four ways steal americas 2012 election 160the buckeye state almost certain emerge decider years presidential election gop moving fast ensure victory matter takes strategy reflects much done republicans 2000 2004 steal presidential elections george w bush report newly published gop steal americas 2012 election wwwharveywassermanningcom soon wwwfreepressorg get away ohio gop could make virtually impossible barack obama carry ohio november years since florida 2000 ohio 2004 democratic party made little headway reforming electoral system make thefts impossible 1 since 2009 ohio gop purged 125 million citizens states voter rolls accounts 20 roughly 52 million votes counted president state 2008 purge focusses counties predominantly urban democratic 160160 httpwwwfreepressorgcolumnsdisplay320121927 2 electronic voting machines installed throughout state owned operated programmed maintained talliedby republicanconnected firms including diebold premier esamps triad 160 httpwwwfreepressorgcolumnsdisplay320121925 3 160the gop controls houses ohio legislature governorship secretary states office state supreme court 160soon 2008 election imposed draconian photo id law designed disenfranchise hundreds thousands suspected democrats done throughout us 160but ohio referendum state 160a statewide grassroots movement recently crushed goppushed antilabor law many republicans feared photo id law would also go 160then husted ruled ineligible hold office residency conflict 160ohios supreme court reinstated eligibility prompted oppose photo id law 160today prospective ohio voter use 17 different kinds id recent elections poll workers demanded photo id anyway 160without grassroots army independent election monitors protect many ohioans likely disenfranchised 4 160in 2004 106 votes cast ohio socalled early votes via absentee ballots voter absent county vote absentee inperson election day voters 42 predominantly black innercity precincts columbus waited 37 hours vote 2005 ohio election law modified absentees could vote without actually absent home county ohio went barack obama 52 vote early voting nearly tripled 297 included voters able vote person locations state 35 days prior election day including weekends summer ohio gop attempted allow republican counties use weekend voting denying right counties predominantly democratic 160by banning voting weekend election husted took credit leveling playing field 160but africanamerican state representative charleta tavares immediately charged exclusion weekend voting represented deliberate attempt suppress democratic voters particularly black voters voted 95 obama 2008 friday august 17 500 ohioans protested outside office husted suspended democratic montgomery county board election members dennis lieberman tom ritchie sr introduced supportedand refused rescinda motion weekend voting lieberman told dayton daily news believe critical freedom america im think right vote rescind motion lieberman also argued directive specifically prohibit weekend hours ohio association election officials overwhelmingly dominated republicans ohios rural counties endorsed idea cutting final three early voting days argued needed extra time weekend prepare election day although counties small voting populations compared nine urban counties support keeping three final early voting days 160 doug priesse chair franklin county columbus gop sparked firestorm explained 160 guess really actually feel shouldnt contort voting process accommodate urban read africanamerican voter turnout machine obama campaign sued arguing weekend voting restored ohioans members military 160the gop charged obama trying deny military right vote would impossible 160husted gop attorneygeneral mike dewine responded suit saying 160there fundamental right inperson early voting purging registration lists limiting voting times messing voter id requirements controlling electronic voting machines gop huge leg winning often americas key swing state clearly ohio gop geared deny voteand vote countto many democrats 160if succeeds 2004 barack obama stands little chance reelected bob fitrakis harvey wassermans new gop steal americas 2012 election introduced greg palast 499 ebook wwwharveywassermanningcom 160and soon wwwfreepressorg | 567 |
<p>The expulsion of the Palestinians in 1948 and the disastrous decision to lie about it made an Israel Lobby in America necessary. Christians were willing participants in this destructive process from the beginning. The stated purpose of “interfaith dialogue” in the US after 1945 was for Jews and Christians to work together to oppose anti-Semitism on American soil—and there’s no reason to suspect that that most participants weren’t completely sincere about that. But Christians were also looking to Jews to help them manage their guilt and their bewilderment about the Holocaust. In some ways this was relatively easy to do, because US Christians did not have the same tradition of anti-Semitism as European Christians. But helping people manage their trauma is a tricky business, because those who do so can quickly learn to exploit it, if there is something they want very badly. Of course, Jews were more traumatized by the Holocaust than Christians, but they understood it better—it was simply a much larger and more terrifying version of what they had always gotten from Christians. On the other hand, the immensity of the Holocaust was too much for most American Christians to comprehend.</p>
<p>This was to some extent because Americans also have a kind of willed innocence where certain unpleasant realities are concerned—thinking and talking about the Holocaust upset certain middleclass sensibilities, although most decent American Christians probably would have admitted that it was an important subject. The entire Holocaust seemed unbelievable—nobody could really explain why it had happened, or even how it happened. The world turned to Jews for an explanation, since they had been most directly impacted. And indeed it was Jews (Hilberg, Arendt, Milgram) who generally came up with the most reliable writing about the Holocaust, with Stanley Migram arriving at perhaps the most satisfying explanation of why it had occurred. But Jews concentrated on the psychological aspects of systemic evil in Nazism, whereas those aspects of Christianity that had for many centuries been most closely associated with Christian anti-Semitism were ignored by both Christians and Jews.</p>
<p>If American Christians really wanted to know what caused German Christians to murder millions, they might have looked closely at their own belief in the redemptive violence of Christ’s crucifixion. Throughout the history of Christianity in Europe, it was usually when public displays of emotion about Christ’s crucifixion were most visible—around the time of Easter week, for example—that anti-Semitic outbursts were likely to happen. If Christ’s bloody death redeemed followers to eternal life, what about the Jews that voted to crucify Jesus, and continued to reject him in modern times? But it was precisely this troubling core dynamic of Christian thaumaturgy, and its historical association with anti-Semitism, that Christians didn’t want to look at. Such an inquiry was likely to lead American Christians to a dark place where they weren’t ready to go.</p>
<p>In addition to reading the writing of Jewish intellectuals, meeting with leaders of the organized Jewish community offered Christians some sense of meaningful response to the horror of Auschwitz. And both Jews and Christians could do this in the name of community-building in the US, without either side required to go explain or explore their own beliefs. By simply showing up for “interfaith dialogue” with Jews, Christians were able to convince themselves that they were doing something important about ending anti-Semitism. That, in turn, helped them get a handle on the guilt they were beginning to feel, as it became clearer that the political anti-Semitism that led to the Holocaust had arisen directly from Christian anti-Semitism. The power of the Israel Lobby was prefigured by the rich irony of American Jews absolving “good” American Christians of guilt by association with “bad” German Christians, which became un unspoken and often unconscious dynamic of interfaith dialogue between Christians and Jews.</p>
<p>But why had anti-Semitism been a part of Christianity for so long? The unwillingness of US Christians to look critically at their own theology turned out to be a missed opportunity, for the liberal Protestant establishment was soon overwhelmed by a rightwing evangelical movement that greatly outnumbered them. The ultra-conservative Christians of the Religious Right generally belonged to denominations or embraced theologies associated with anti-Semitism in the past, but were quickly adjusting to the loss of anti-Semitism (which had now become a supreme example of politically incorrectness) by finding new objects of hatred in gays, Muslims and “secularist humanists.”</p>
<p>By the late 1960s and 1970s Jewish leaders were, on the other hand, beginning to identify with the new Jewish state Israel, which they saw as a kind of living representation of Judaism in the world of realpolitik. For the more important Jewish leaders, supporting Israel suddenly gave them legitimacy—now they were associated not merely with a religion but with an important geo-political entity. And there was another reason, again mainly unspoken: it made Jews look good in the eyes of the goyim—they were a people with no land who had taken over a land with no people, as the Zionists liked to say, and they had made the desert bloom! No more would they been seen as cloth jobbers, money speculators and subversive intellectuals with coke-bottle glasses—now their excellence as soldiers, farmers and nation-builders would be crystal clear to the non-Jewish world.</p>
<p>There was apparently no downside to the dream of Zionism—Judaism in search of Jewish identity need look no more. One became a good Jews by uncritically supporting the Jewish state, whereas Christians could prove how free of anti-Semitism they were by uncritically supporting it. After sixteen hundred years, major reconciliation of Christians and Jews! This happy picture was not sullied by any mention of the Palestinians’ tragedy, partly because information about it had been suppressed in the West, and partly because those who knew something kept their mouths shut rather than face a firestorm of denunciation by ecstatic Jews sincerely convinced that it was all a lie. The role of the Israel Lobby would be precisely to make sure nobody ever found out about what had happened to the Palestinians in 1947-49, and to keep those who did know something from talking about it. They would do this by keeping the Holocaust in the public eye as much as possible. If Jews were always the victim, how could the Palestinians be victims? Public opinion in the US tended to accommodate only one victimized group at a time.</p>
<p>Because of the confluence of these mainly unspoken needs, Christians and Jews adopted certain unconscious but highly charged roles that would govern “interfaith dialogue” between Christians and Jews for the rest of the 20th century. The main rule was, Don’t say anything bad about Israel. After a decent (or indecent, if you prefer) interval this was followed by its inevitable corollary: Say anything bad about Israel, and you will be publicly denounced as an anti-Semite.&#160; But these extreme conditions didn’t faze most Christians—if uncritical support for Israel was required for overcoming anti-Semitism, Christians were willing to do it.</p>
<p>None of this was conducive to speaking frankly, of course—nor, one must add, did it encourage anything like trust or respect. It did create an elephant in the interfaith parlor which only got larger and more fractious as the years went by.&#160; The name-change of the National Conference of Christians and Jews to the more mundane National Conference for Community and Justice may have occurred partly because of a claustrophobic sense of divisions that nobody was allowed—or could allow themselves—to talk about. To speak candidly about the origins of Israel in front of certain audiences, to mention the undeniable fact that ethnic cleansing had been used to dispossess Palestinians, and that torture and death squads were regularly used on Palestinians inside and outside Israel, was to invite a riot. Even today, campus speakers on Israel/Palestine are the only oneds that regularly require police protection.</p>
<p>Christians also used interfaith connections for their own corrupt purposes. As Peter Novick convincingly demonstrates in The Holocaust in American Life, Catholic leaders used interfaith connections to try to suppress the American production of The Deputy, asking “their Jewish dialogue partners to put pressure on the Jewish producer and director to cancel the play, or at least to join them in denouncing it.” The Deputy (a play that questioned Pope Pius’ unwillingness to speak out against the Nazi Holocaust) had been produced at a time of “tense politicking at Vatican Council II in Rome over a declaration repudiating anti-Semitism and absolving Jews of culpability in the death of Jesus.” According to Novick, the American Jewish Committee “did its best, albeit unsuccessfully, to prevent the play from going on—and made sure that church officials knew that it had tried.” The national tour was canceled, probably as a direct result of combined Catholic/Jewish pressure to do away with it. <a href="" type="internal">[1]</a></p>
<p>Needless to say, a play should never be closed down because it criticizes organized religion, any religion; and using it as a poker chip in such backstage tummeling is another example of how the Nazi Holocaust corrupts everything. If American Catholics and Jews had to suppress a play about the Holocaust to get the Pope to stop blaming Jews for the death of Jesus, the entire project of reconciliation had, certainly for the people involved in the suppression, no meaning whatsoever. Similarly, the postponement of candid discussion about Israel was both stupid and tragic, because as time went on the elephant in the parlor got bigger and bigger; and in the total absence of tough love from American Jews, the political class in Israel kept moving to the right until it had completely embraced the neo-fascist Jabotinsky form of Zionism. There was still no talk about what had happened to the Palestinians, because few people knew about it, and most Americans didn’t want to know about it.</p>
<p>But the few people who did know were often Jews such as Noam Chomsky, who insisted on telling the truth. Chomsky was universally condemned by major Jewish leaders and organizations as a monster, a crypto-Nazi and a betrayer of all Jews everywhere. As a young man involved in union politics, I was told by “progressives” that Noam Chomsky suffered from a form of mental illness that caused him to criticize the government of Israel because he could not come to terms with the fact that he was Jewish. He was, in other words, a self-hating Jew.</p>
<p>It is important to remember, however, that the unspoken decision of Christians not to discuss their doubts about Israel to their “interfaith dialogue partners” was to a large extent the creature of institutional Christianity, both Protestant and Catholic. Why? Christians overlooked the evil of Zionism because they were overwhelmed by the evil of Hitler. Christianity, the single social instrument in the West that could both explain and expiate evil, had been itself complicit in the greatest example of evil the world had ever seen. If the only way Christians could reconcile to Jews was to support Israel uncritically, they felt they had to do it. Remember that there was no theory of evil, either secular or religious, that could even begin to explain why German Christians had behaved as they did. Nor was there any immediate explanation for the next potential genocide that was now looming on the horizon in the threat of nuclear war.</p>
<p>Indeed, it was because nobody could explain the sudden emergence of so much evil in the middle of the 20th century that evangelicalism arose in Christianity, and extreme religious nationalism in Judaism. Both evangelicalism and religious nationalism actually fed the evil that had driven people to create them; but both, in the late 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, seemed to serve the need for apocalyptic solutions to apocalyptic problems.</p>
<p>Most Jews had never had enough organization power to engage in systemic evil, either in Europe or the US; but in Israel, for the first time, Jews had some power. With that power, they were to learn the addictive nature of sadism and aggression, which are not things that most people are anxious to discuss. And since nobody dared to talk about it, the political class of Israel, once they got a taste of it, naturally wanted more. How nice not to be the victim for once, and to try one’s hand at a little oppression of the natives!</p>
<p>This was formulated in memorable form by the German Jewish journalist Henryk Broder:</p>
<p>“Israel is presently more perpetrator than victim. But that is good and it is right. After all, for nearly two thousand years the Jews were in the role of the perennial victims, and their experiences in &#160;this role were bad indeed. Perpetrators mostly have a longer life expectancy than victims, and it is much more fun to be a perpetrator.” <a href="" type="internal">[2]</a></p>
<p>This disgusting endorsement of brutality was made by Broder in the German forward to A Case for Israel by Alan Dershowitz.</p>
<p>What Zionists now wanted, in other words, was what Christianity had always had, which was redemption through violence—but the Zionist settlers of Israel had no idea how habit-forming it was, and especially they had no idea how dangerous it was to the future of the Jewish people. Nor did they realize how fast the world was changing, and to what extent people outside Israel were internalizing the idea of universal human rights. Meanwhile Israelis were still stuck in 1948, in a time when human rights for Jews could only be guaranteed by taking away the rights of Palestinians.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Christians were desperate to expiate their guilt for the Holocaust, and Zionists were more than willing to take advantage of that desperation. It was also for this reason that those Christians and Jews that engaged in “interfaith dialogue” were engaging in a kind of hypocritical game that neither could control. Certain they never arrived at anything like real dialogue—or at least the kind of dialogue one has with people if one happens to care about them. When they sat down to have dialogue with Jews, Christians really cared more about expiating their own guilt than they did about the Jews with whom they were supposedly in dialogue. One reason for this desperation was no doubt a growing (sometimes unconscious) lack of confidence in the ability of Christianity to expiate sin. Christians were ready to let anti-Semitism go, but they did not really want to know why it had been there so long, nor did they want to know what was likely to take its place.</p>
<p>The evangelical movement in America quickly filled the vacuum with Islamophobia, the strident projection of guilt, anger and fear onto Muslims, and a world mission of defeating Islam and converting Muslims to Christianity in the “10-40 window,” those 28 or so Muslim-majority countries located in the forty degrees north of the equator. Many rightwing evangelicals, including Franklin Graham, supported both the Gulf and Iraq wars because they saw it as a chance to proselytize Muslims; and almost all the evangelical churches that had missions began to concentrate on the “10-40” window. As always, there was little introspection about how much of that mission would be various forms of cultural imperialism, and whether evangelicals could really help people in those countries, and how.</p>
<p>For Jewish leaders in the US, the rise of the ecstatic rightwing evangelicals were not such a bad deal as one might imagine. In fact, the growing political power of the Religious Right in the US produced a new kind of inclusive nomenclature, proving that American meritocracy extended to entire religions as well as to individuals—as long as the Jewish leaders involved did not look to closely at, or protest too strenuously about, the grandiose specifics of evangelical Christian world mission.</p>
<p>Jews were now to be upgraded to something known as “Judeo-Christianity,” a bogus expression invented by rightwing evangelicals to promote Christian nationalism and advocate in the public square for certain evangelical values without being called anti-Semitic. Jews were now to be allowed into that part of the conservative establishment that was encouraging coalition with the evangelicals of the Religious Right; and the expression “Judeo-Christian values” was unveiled to pre-empt any question of anti-Semitism. Jews were perceived as a difficult group that had a baffling tendency to vote Democratic, but whose institutional leadership was practically a domestic extension of the rightwing parties of Israel; it could therefore be used to whip the intelligentsia into line when American corporate interests were threatened in the Middle East. The expression “Judeo-Christian civilization” was used to reassure Jews that if and when the evangelicals succeeded in making their form of Christianity a state religion, Jews would have nothing to fear.</p>
<p>The entire issue of whether Christian evangelicals in America would continue to proselytize Jews was finessed in an interesting but dishonest way: the Religious Right would give uncritical support to the government of Israel; in return, institutional Jewish leaders would say nothing regarding the fact that evangelicals taught that Jews would go to hell unless they converted to Christianity. Later the issue of proselytizing Jews would be even more subtly finessed by a little-known provision in the dispensationalist playbook — namely, that during the End Time (the Christian evangelical term for the Second Coming of Christ), Jews would for reasons unknown suddenly convert to Christianity as the New Jerusalem arrived. The recalcitrant ones, those Jews who for some reason refused Jesus’ kind offer of conversion to Christianity, would be mass-murdered by God, who would thereby neatly finish in the End of Days what Hitler had started back at the Wannsee Conference in 1942. As long as Jews kept quiet about the essentially anti-Semitic nature of this juvenile and astonishingly bigoted theology, evangelicals would give uncritical support to whatever government had gotten itself into power in Israel. In concert with this cultural development, the Protestant old-boy network that still controlled most of the capital in the American corporate upper class would let some of “them” into the conservative establishment.</p>
<p>The turning point was the emergence of Henry Kissinger as a modern Mandarin of American imperialism. Some report a moment in the early 1980s when Kissinger derisively referred to a roomful of people at the Council on Foreign Relations as “You Episcopalians—“ Many of the Christians present were not Episcopalians (the days when Anglicanism dominated the boardrooms of America had passed some time before) but they all knew what Henry meant. There were going to have to open their ranks to let in some new blood. And the new ones would have to have power, not just vague and—to them—meaningless trappings of prestige.</p>
<p>This set the state for the empowerment of the neo-conservative movement. Neo-cons in those days were—and many still are—essentially upper-mobile, rightwing Zionists afflicted by an extreme case of ambition, aggression and power worship. They understood that if America continued to uncritically support the Likudniks in government in Israel, no concessions to the Palestinians or the Arab states would ever be necessary. Of course, the result would be permanent war, sometimes covert and sometimes hot, but their sons would never have to fight in it; and it would enable—and even encourage—the corporate upper class to set up a new neo-colonial apparatus in the Middle East. In return, Israel would become the mafia enforcers of American “interests” in Arabic-speaking lands, becoming in the process a super-militarized, highly armed camp of Arab-hating soldiers and fighter pilots, bristling with the will and the psychological need to kill Arabs on a regular basis. Jewish leaders in the US were seen—correctly—as uncritically supporting this process, by destroying or de-legitimizing every person or organization that questioned it. But the neo-conservatives went beyond the goals of most Jewish leaders, whom they wished to manipulate but not emulate. If the US could intervene in the affair of the Middle East, why couldn’t it intervene everywhere in the developing world, openly and unapologetically?</p>
<p>The neo-conservatives hit upon the idea that America would be in a much better shape to intervene on Israel’s behalf if overt or covert intervention were central to American policy everywhere in the world. Neo-conservatism was the Jabotinsky school of Zionism writ large, applied not just to Palestinians but to everybody in the developing world; and since this translated into a new and particularly lethal version of early 20th-century gunboat diplomacy, a great many old-time conservatives were attracted to it, including people who cared nothing about Israel or the Middle East. People in the Third World who did what American policy-makers demanded of them would be rewarded; those who didn’t would be imprisoned or killed. The idea of international cooperation would be completely abandoned. Behind the policy-makers would be the US corporate upper class and its phalanxes of hired intellectuals, because only those leaders created by the marketplace could really be trusted.</p>
<p>The neo-cons were extremely savvy about public relations and influence generally, since they, like other Zionists, tended to see the defense of Israel as mainly a public relations problem. They invented extremely effective new methods (neo-con foundations, for example) to provide political cover for their activities and goals, also providing money to buy off their political opponents and marginalize the rest. Under the tutelage of neo-cons, the “Judeo-Christian” label was more about promoting American “interests” (that is, empire) throughout the developing world, in which effort the Israelis were to be the errand boys and arms suppliers. But this idea existed and was promoted on pretty much the same wave-length as the rightwing evangelicals of the Religious Right during their rise in the 1980s and 1990s.. Call it “Judeo-Christianity,” or simply the neo-con’s unapologetic appeal to American domination, it boiled down to the same thing: some lucky Jews were to be allowed to sit at the table of empire if they did as they were told, kept the Arabs in line, and agreed not to say anything bad about the ancient Protestants that still controlled the corporate upper class, particularly that part of it interested in keeping energy based on fossil fuels (the same part that would later swing the entire Republican party behind climate denial). The old-boy network of Episcopalians and other Protestants that had mainly controlled the corporate upper class before the 1980s would now do their part by increasingly including Israel, and certain of its rich American proxies, into their imperial calculations.</p>
<p>The Zionist part of the Faustian bargain was to help get the Likudnik political class in Israel get what it wanted, after the collapse of final status talks in 2000, which is the ethnic cleansing of the remaining Palestinians, either slowly (by making life unbearably difficult), in installments, or all at once. By controlling almost half of the West Bank, the Israelis have made the two-state solution nearly impossible. Under a one-state solution, on the other hand, they will be able to do whatever they want to the Palestinians; and without question they will—if there is no external or internal pressures to stop them—kill and ethnically cleanse the Palestinians by the millions. The will finish the job of ethnic cleansing begun in 1947-1949.</p>
<p>Zionism, and then neo-conservatism, were the outgrowth of western-style imperialism, and were only incidentally a religious phenomenon at first; but this desperate and mistaken collaboration has gradually become one in which religious nationalism is by far the most dynamic, unpredictable and dangerous factor within the conservative foreign policy coalition. It is all the more volatile because of the guilt, fear and anger arising from the Holocaust and the Nazi nightmare, a free-floating trauma that nobody has been able to explain or deconstruct. For that reason, it still drives decisions made about the present and the future. Christian evangelical leaders have recently striven to adopt a more mainstream image, and embraced centrist and even progressive concerns; but the evangelical voting bloc within the Republican Party will be a reliable source of support for imperial wars for some time, not to mention torture, Muslim-baiting and obscurantism generally. But the most problematic reality is that both evangelicals and Zionists are still quite prepared to give religious labels to their organizational behavior—in other words, both are likely to support and promote the idea of a worldwide religious war against Islam, whether covert or overt. This is the most dangerous outcome of the Zionist collaboration with the Religious Right.</p>
<p>For neo-cons, the irrational and tribal side of the evangelical/neo-con deal has far out-stripped every other consideration; and that is what increasingly makes neo-conservatism a cult rather than a considered geo-political worldview. This has alarmed the paleo-conservatives, first because there are now almost as many Jewish billionaires as Protestant ones, but also because the old-boy Prods can no longer control the volatile Zionists they had originally hired on as errand boys and mercenaries.</p>
<p>The paleos are alarmed for a reason that should also alarm us, but not because it inconveniences a few rich Protestants. The neo-con approach to problem-solving is no longer rational, or based on enlightened or even informed self-interest, but has become an apocalyptic movement based on identification with the Holocaust, driven by an almost complete internalization of its trauma and an ever-present and semi-hysterical death worship of the six million. The basic neo-conservative idea is that both America and Israel must exist in a state of permanent war, an idea that neo-cons first expressed in their public letter to Netayahu in 1996 pleading against a peace deal with the Palestinians. But what country can remain in a state of permanent war? Why is that better than peace? Permanent war is an abomination, and people who believe in it are insane.</p>
<p>The apocalyptic, victimology-driven Jewish neo-cons who want permanent war do not flinch for a moment at the potential loss of Jewish lives; indeed, they have lived for years in a moral and emotional universe in which it is assumed as self-evident that the world hates the Jews, everybody is against them, and a new Holocaust is on the way. In fact it is so self-evident and so necessary to their weltanschauung that the neo-cons that believe in it will do almost anything to make it happen.</p>
<p>The more Jews that die: the more children murdered: the more the neo-cons can trumpet to the world that everybody really does hate them. Their solution is an apocalyptic one, borrowed from the most hysterical and blood-obsessed form of Christianity, but going the Christians one step better—to the neo-cons the objective is not to win the Final Battle, but to lose it, thereby acting out to ecstatic completion the total authenticity of their victim status. The apocalyptic solution is, at bottom, a dangerous, narcissistic form of public suicide that seeks the destruction of the world as its answer to the paradoxes of the human dilemma.</p>
<p>LAWRENCE SWAIM is executive director of the Interfaith Freedom Foundation.</p>
<p>Notes.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">[1]</a> Peter Novick, The Holocaust in American Life &#160;(New York: Mariner Books, 2000), 143-144.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">[2]</a> Hajo G. Meyer, The End of Judaism (Amsterdam: G. Meyer Books, 2007), 188.</p> | true | 4 | expulsion palestinians 1948 disastrous decision lie made israel lobby america necessary christians willing participants destructive process beginning stated purpose interfaith dialogue us 1945 jews christians work together oppose antisemitism american soiland theres reason suspect participants werent completely sincere christians also looking jews help manage guilt bewilderment holocaust ways relatively easy us christians tradition antisemitism european christians helping people manage trauma tricky business quickly learn exploit something want badly course jews traumatized holocaust christians understood betterit simply much larger terrifying version always gotten christians hand immensity holocaust much american christians comprehend extent americans also kind willed innocence certain unpleasant realities concernedthinking talking holocaust upset certain middleclass sensibilities although decent american christians probably would admitted important subject entire holocaust seemed unbelievablenobody could really explain happened even happened world turned jews explanation since directly impacted indeed jews hilberg arendt milgram generally came reliable writing holocaust stanley migram arriving perhaps satisfying explanation occurred jews concentrated psychological aspects systemic evil nazism whereas aspects christianity many centuries closely associated christian antisemitism ignored christians jews american christians really wanted know caused german christians murder millions might looked closely belief redemptive violence christs crucifixion throughout history christianity europe usually public displays emotion christs crucifixion visiblearound time easter week examplethat antisemitic outbursts likely happen christs bloody death redeemed followers eternal life jews voted crucify jesus continued reject modern times precisely troubling core dynamic christian thaumaturgy historical association antisemitism christians didnt want look inquiry likely lead american christians dark place werent ready go addition reading writing jewish intellectuals meeting leaders organized jewish community offered christians sense meaningful response horror auschwitz jews christians could name communitybuilding us without either side required go explain explore beliefs simply showing interfaith dialogue jews christians able convince something important ending antisemitism turn helped get handle guilt beginning feel became clearer political antisemitism led holocaust arisen directly christian antisemitism power israel lobby prefigured rich irony american jews absolving good american christians guilt association bad german christians became un unspoken often unconscious dynamic interfaith dialogue christians jews antisemitism part christianity long unwillingness us christians look critically theology turned missed opportunity liberal protestant establishment soon overwhelmed rightwing evangelical movement greatly outnumbered ultraconservative christians religious right generally belonged denominations embraced theologies associated antisemitism past quickly adjusting loss antisemitism become supreme example politically incorrectness finding new objects hatred gays muslims secularist humanists late 1960s 1970s jewish leaders hand beginning identify new jewish state israel saw kind living representation judaism world realpolitik important jewish leaders supporting israel suddenly gave legitimacynow associated merely religion important geopolitical entity another reason mainly unspoken made jews look good eyes goyimthey people land taken land people zionists liked say made desert bloom would seen cloth jobbers money speculators subversive intellectuals cokebottle glassesnow excellence soldiers farmers nationbuilders would crystal clear nonjewish world apparently downside dream zionismjudaism search jewish identity need look one became good jews uncritically supporting jewish state whereas christians could prove free antisemitism uncritically supporting sixteen hundred years major reconciliation christians jews happy picture sullied mention palestinians tragedy partly information suppressed west partly knew something kept mouths shut rather face firestorm denunciation ecstatic jews sincerely convinced lie role israel lobby would precisely make sure nobody ever found happened palestinians 194749 keep know something talking would keeping holocaust public eye much possible jews always victim could palestinians victims public opinion us tended accommodate one victimized group time confluence mainly unspoken needs christians jews adopted certain unconscious highly charged roles would govern interfaith dialogue christians jews rest 20th century main rule dont say anything bad israel decent indecent prefer interval followed inevitable corollary say anything bad israel publicly denounced antisemite160 extreme conditions didnt faze christiansif uncritical support israel required overcoming antisemitism christians willing none conducive speaking frankly coursenor one must add encourage anything like trust respect create elephant interfaith parlor got larger fractious years went by160 namechange national conference christians jews mundane national conference community justice may occurred partly claustrophobic sense divisions nobody allowedor could allow themselvesto talk speak candidly origins israel front certain audiences mention undeniable fact ethnic cleansing used dispossess palestinians torture death squads regularly used palestinians inside outside israel invite riot even today campus speakers israelpalestine oneds regularly require police protection christians also used interfaith connections corrupt purposes peter novick convincingly demonstrates holocaust american life catholic leaders used interfaith connections try suppress american production deputy asking jewish dialogue partners put pressure jewish producer director cancel play least join denouncing deputy play questioned pope pius unwillingness speak nazi holocaust produced time tense politicking vatican council ii rome declaration repudiating antisemitism absolving jews culpability death jesus according novick american jewish committee best albeit unsuccessfully prevent play going onand made sure church officials knew tried national tour canceled probably direct result combined catholicjewish pressure away 1 needless say play never closed criticizes organized religion religion using poker chip backstage tummeling another example nazi holocaust corrupts everything american catholics jews suppress play holocaust get pope stop blaming jews death jesus entire project reconciliation certainly people involved suppression meaning whatsoever similarly postponement candid discussion israel stupid tragic time went elephant parlor got bigger bigger total absence tough love american jews political class israel kept moving right completely embraced neofascist jabotinsky form zionism still talk happened palestinians people knew americans didnt want know people know often jews noam chomsky insisted telling truth chomsky universally condemned major jewish leaders organizations monster cryptonazi betrayer jews everywhere young man involved union politics told progressives noam chomsky suffered form mental illness caused criticize government israel could come terms fact jewish words selfhating jew important remember however unspoken decision christians discuss doubts israel interfaith dialogue partners large extent creature institutional christianity protestant catholic christians overlooked evil zionism overwhelmed evil hitler christianity single social instrument west could explain expiate evil complicit greatest example evil world ever seen way christians could reconcile jews support israel uncritically felt remember theory evil either secular religious could even begin explain german christians behaved immediate explanation next potential genocide looming horizon threat nuclear war indeed nobody could explain sudden emergence much evil middle 20th century evangelicalism arose christianity extreme religious nationalism judaism evangelicalism religious nationalism actually fed evil driven people create late 1960s 1970s 1980s seemed serve need apocalyptic solutions apocalyptic problems jews never enough organization power engage systemic evil either europe us israel first time jews power power learn addictive nature sadism aggression things people anxious discuss since nobody dared talk political class israel got taste naturally wanted nice victim try ones hand little oppression natives formulated memorable form german jewish journalist henryk broder israel presently perpetrator victim good right nearly two thousand years jews role perennial victims experiences 160this role bad indeed perpetrators mostly longer life expectancy victims much fun perpetrator 2 disgusting endorsement brutality made broder german forward case israel alan dershowitz zionists wanted words christianity always redemption violencebut zionist settlers israel idea habitforming especially idea dangerous future jewish people realize fast world changing extent people outside israel internalizing idea universal human rights meanwhile israelis still stuck 1948 time human rights jews could guaranteed taking away rights palestinians christians desperate expiate guilt holocaust zionists willing take advantage desperation also reason christians jews engaged interfaith dialogue engaging kind hypocritical game neither could control certain never arrived anything like real dialogueor least kind dialogue one people one happens care sat dialogue jews christians really cared expiating guilt jews supposedly dialogue one reason desperation doubt growing sometimes unconscious lack confidence ability christianity expiate sin christians ready let antisemitism go really want know long want know likely take place evangelical movement america quickly filled vacuum islamophobia strident projection guilt anger fear onto muslims world mission defeating islam converting muslims christianity 1040 window 28 muslimmajority countries located forty degrees north equator many rightwing evangelicals including franklin graham supported gulf iraq wars saw chance proselytize muslims almost evangelical churches missions began concentrate 1040 window always little introspection much mission would various forms cultural imperialism whether evangelicals could really help people countries jewish leaders us rise ecstatic rightwing evangelicals bad deal one might imagine fact growing political power religious right us produced new kind inclusive nomenclature proving american meritocracy extended entire religions well individualsas long jewish leaders involved look closely protest strenuously grandiose specifics evangelical christian world mission jews upgraded something known judeochristianity bogus expression invented rightwing evangelicals promote christian nationalism advocate public square certain evangelical values without called antisemitic jews allowed part conservative establishment encouraging coalition evangelicals religious right expression judeochristian values unveiled preempt question antisemitism jews perceived difficult group baffling tendency vote democratic whose institutional leadership practically domestic extension rightwing parties israel could therefore used whip intelligentsia line american corporate interests threatened middle east expression judeochristian civilization used reassure jews evangelicals succeeded making form christianity state religion jews would nothing fear entire issue whether christian evangelicals america would continue proselytize jews finessed interesting dishonest way religious right would give uncritical support government israel return institutional jewish leaders would say nothing regarding fact evangelicals taught jews would go hell unless converted christianity later issue proselytizing jews would even subtly finessed littleknown provision dispensationalist playbook namely end time christian evangelical term second coming christ jews would reasons unknown suddenly convert christianity new jerusalem arrived recalcitrant ones jews reason refused jesus kind offer conversion christianity would massmurdered god would thereby neatly finish end days hitler started back wannsee conference 1942 long jews kept quiet essentially antisemitic nature juvenile astonishingly bigoted theology evangelicals would give uncritical support whatever government gotten power israel concert cultural development protestant oldboy network still controlled capital american corporate upper class would let conservative establishment turning point emergence henry kissinger modern mandarin american imperialism report moment early 1980s kissinger derisively referred roomful people council foreign relations episcopalians many christians present episcopalians days anglicanism dominated boardrooms america passed time knew henry meant going open ranks let new blood new ones would power vague andto themmeaningless trappings prestige set state empowerment neoconservative movement neocons days wereand many still areessentially uppermobile rightwing zionists afflicted extreme case ambition aggression power worship understood america continued uncritically support likudniks government israel concessions palestinians arab states would ever necessary course result would permanent war sometimes covert sometimes hot sons would never fight would enableand even encouragethe corporate upper class set new neocolonial apparatus middle east return israel would become mafia enforcers american interests arabicspeaking lands becoming process supermilitarized highly armed camp arabhating soldiers fighter pilots bristling psychological need kill arabs regular basis jewish leaders us seencorrectlyas uncritically supporting process destroying delegitimizing every person organization questioned neoconservatives went beyond goals jewish leaders wished manipulate emulate us could intervene affair middle east couldnt intervene everywhere developing world openly unapologetically neoconservatives hit upon idea america would much better shape intervene israels behalf overt covert intervention central american policy everywhere world neoconservatism jabotinsky school zionism writ large applied palestinians everybody developing world since translated new particularly lethal version early 20thcentury gunboat diplomacy great many oldtime conservatives attracted including people cared nothing israel middle east people third world american policymakers demanded would rewarded didnt would imprisoned killed idea international cooperation would completely abandoned behind policymakers would us corporate upper class phalanxes hired intellectuals leaders created marketplace could really trusted neocons extremely savvy public relations influence generally since like zionists tended see defense israel mainly public relations problem invented extremely effective new methods neocon foundations example provide political cover activities goals also providing money buy political opponents marginalize rest tutelage neocons judeochristian label promoting american interests empire throughout developing world effort israelis errand boys arms suppliers idea existed promoted pretty much wavelength rightwing evangelicals religious right rise 1980s 1990s call judeochristianity simply neocons unapologetic appeal american domination boiled thing lucky jews allowed sit table empire told kept arabs line agreed say anything bad ancient protestants still controlled corporate upper class particularly part interested keeping energy based fossil fuels part would later swing entire republican party behind climate denial oldboy network episcopalians protestants mainly controlled corporate upper class 1980s would part increasingly including israel certain rich american proxies imperial calculations zionist part faustian bargain help get likudnik political class israel get wanted collapse final status talks 2000 ethnic cleansing remaining palestinians either slowly making life unbearably difficult installments controlling almost half west bank israelis made twostate solution nearly impossible onestate solution hand able whatever want palestinians without question willif external internal pressures stop themkill ethnically cleanse palestinians millions finish job ethnic cleansing begun 19471949 zionism neoconservatism outgrowth westernstyle imperialism incidentally religious phenomenon first desperate mistaken collaboration gradually become one religious nationalism far dynamic unpredictable dangerous factor within conservative foreign policy coalition volatile guilt fear anger arising holocaust nazi nightmare freefloating trauma nobody able explain deconstruct reason still drives decisions made present future christian evangelical leaders recently striven adopt mainstream image embraced centrist even progressive concerns evangelical voting bloc within republican party reliable source support imperial wars time mention torture muslimbaiting obscurantism generally problematic reality evangelicals zionists still quite prepared give religious labels organizational behaviorin words likely support promote idea worldwide religious war islam whether covert overt dangerous outcome zionist collaboration religious right neocons irrational tribal side evangelicalneocon deal far outstripped every consideration increasingly makes neoconservatism cult rather considered geopolitical worldview alarmed paleoconservatives first almost many jewish billionaires protestant ones also oldboy prods longer control volatile zionists originally hired errand boys mercenaries paleos alarmed reason also alarm us inconveniences rich protestants neocon approach problemsolving longer rational based enlightened even informed selfinterest become apocalyptic movement based identification holocaust driven almost complete internalization trauma everpresent semihysterical death worship six million basic neoconservative idea america israel must exist state permanent war idea neocons first expressed public letter netayahu 1996 pleading peace deal palestinians country remain state permanent war better peace permanent war abomination people believe insane apocalyptic victimologydriven jewish neocons want permanent war flinch moment potential loss jewish lives indeed lived years moral emotional universe assumed selfevident world hates jews everybody new holocaust way fact selfevident necessary weltanschauung neocons believe almost anything make happen jews die children murdered neocons trumpet world everybody really hate solution apocalyptic one borrowed hysterical bloodobsessed form christianity going christians one step betterto neocons objective win final battle lose thereby acting ecstatic completion total authenticity victim status apocalyptic solution bottom dangerous narcissistic form public suicide seeks destruction world answer paradoxes human dilemma lawrence swaim executive director interfaith freedom foundation notes 1 peter novick holocaust american life 160new york mariner books 2000 143144 2 hajo g meyer end judaism amsterdam g meyer books 2007 188 | 2,377 |
<p>Who do I need to prove my faith to—and why should I try?</p>
<p>I’ve lately observed conservatives questioning Obama’s faith with more than professional interest. Because if Obama’s not Christian, what does that make me?</p>
<p>I have not been public about my faith. I am somewhat tempted to embrace the punk-rockness of being a progressive, feminist, tattooed, pro-choice, graduate-educated believer—and then I have to remind myself that believing in God is about as punk rock as wearing pants, maybe even less so. <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/story?id=90356" type="external">Almost nine in ten Americans believe in God</a>; in any given moment, how many are wearing pants?</p>
<p>In my personal life, my faith is not something I struggle with or something I take particular pride in. It is just part of who I am.</p>
<p>The only place where my spirituality feels volatile is in my professional life; the only time I’ve ever felt uncomfortable talking about my faith is when it comes up in conversation with colleagues.</p>
<p>It does come up: Since leaving Washington, I have made my life over and I am happier, freer, and healthier in body and spirit and apparently it shows. When people ask me, “What changed?” or, “How did you do it?” or, sometimes, with nervous humor, “Tell me your secret!” I have a litany of concrete lifestyle changes I can give them—simply leaving Washington is near the top of the list—but the honest answer would be this: I try, every day, to give my will and my life over to God. I try to be like Christ. I get down on my knees and pray.</p>
<p>The last time I tried giving that answer was in the Fox News green room and it stopped conversation as surely as a fart, and generated the same kind of throat-clearing discomfort.</p>
<p>Conservatives might pounce on my closeted Christianity as evidence of a liberal media aversion to God. After all, my day job is all about expressing my opinions and beliefs—some of them unpopular. In my private life, and very cautiously on social media, the people close to me can see evidence of my affiliation. Tweeting out prayers and quotes from Scripture still feels subversive. But until now, I have avoided publicly aligning myself with one of the most popular beliefs in the world.</p>
<p>My hesitancy to flaunt my faith has nothing to do with fear of judgment by non-believers. My mother was an angry, agnostic ex-Baptist; my father is a casual atheist. (I asked him once why he didn’t believe in God, and he replied easily, “Because He doesn’t exist.”)</p>
<p>I am not smart enough to argue with those that cling to disbelief. Centuries of philosophers have made better arguments than I could, and I am comfortable with just pointing in their direction if an acquaintance insists, “If there is a God, then why [insert atrocity]?” For me, belief didn’t come after I had the answer to that question. Belief came when I stopped needing the answer.</p>
<p>No, I’m nervous to come out as a Christian because I worry I’m not good enough of one. I’m not scared that non-believers will make me feel an outcast. I’m scared that Christians will.</p>
<p>I am not sure if there is anything Obama could do to make someone like Erick Erickson believe he is Christian in a “ <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/erick-erickson-scott-walker-obama-christian" type="external">meaningful way</a>.” For a thousand reasons, mostly bad ones, I presume for me he and his compatriots would set the bar lower. But how low?</p>
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<p>Not going to church low? For Erickson and others, that’s passive evidence against Obama, <a href="http://www.factcheck.org/2010/01/a-trifecta-of-nonsense/" type="external">even though Reagan didn’t go to church</a>, either. What about Bible literacy? Mine is mostly limited to dimly remembered excerpts from the Old Testament we read in my college humanities class and a daily verse email. I read spiritual meditations, but the Word is still a second language I speak less than fluently. If Obama’s occasional mangling of scripture is proof positive that he’s not a “real” Christian, I have so much studying to do I may never catch up.</p>
<p>Here is why I believe I am a Christian: I believe I have a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior. I believe in the grace offered by the Resurrection. I believe that whatever spiritual rewards I may reap come directly from trying to live the example set by Christ. Whether or not I succeed in living up to that example is primarily between Him and me.</p>
<p>My understanding of Christianity is that it doesn’t require me to prove my faith to anyone on this plane of existence. It is about a direct relationship with the divine and freely offered salvation. That’s one of the reasons that when my generic “There must be something out there” gut feeling blossomed into a desire for a personal connection to that “something,” it was Christianity that I choose to explore. They’ll let anyone in.</p>
<p>To be clear, I don’t just believe in God. I am a Christian. Decades of mass culture New Ageism has fluffed up “belief in God” into a spiritual buffet, a holy catch-all for those who want to cover all the numbers: Pascal’s wager as a roulette wheel and not a coin toss. Me, I’m going all in with Jesus. It’s not just that the payoff could be tremendous—it already has been! The only cost is the judgment that comes from others, from telling people that my belief has a specific shape, with its own human legacy of both shame and triumph.</p>
<p>Intellectually, I know that the public performance of Christianity means something different when it comes to the president. I know that when conservatives talk about Obama’s faith, they are also talking race, fear, society, and status, as well as winning elections. Obama’s Christianity—or lack of it—matters to them only to the extent that it proves an existing hypothesis about who he is at his core.</p>
<p>Yet in part because of the judgment thrown upon him, proclaiming my belief in God—the God of the Bible, God who gave his only Son as proof of His inexhaustible grace—feels risky. I proceed because that very belief teaches me that all earthly risk is illusion.</p>
<p>The truth of this world’s impermanence also suggests that my anxiety about coming out as Christian has a perversely self-interested aspect. It is true that I feel intimidated by a conservative culture that seems intent on creating boundaries around Christianity rather than open doors. But it is also true that I wrote this article knowing that at least a few of them will probably like it—some might even tell me it needed to be written. The image of Christianity and progressivism as a newly hip fusion genre—it’s fucking edgy, man—is a strong siren song.</p>
<p>Yet any rumbling desire to turn my religion into something fashionably rebellious is an artifact of ego. It’s an attempt to make this story about me, someone who did something and then changed, ta-da—cue workout montage and triumphant final scene. On some level, I still want credit for the spiritual makeover—I was lost, but now am found, and I am the one that found me.</p>
<p>But if I understand God’s grace correctly, the miracle of redemption is that I was found all along. God does not see charming dissonance in being a liberal who follows Christ; He’s not looking for that New York Times Style section trend story. I do not get to think of myself as “edgy” for being just another believer. There is nothing to reconcile.</p>
<p>One of the most painful and reoccurring stumbling blocks in my journey is my inability to accept that I am completely whole and loved by God without doing anything. That’s accompanied by a corresponding truth: There is nothing so great I can do to make God love me more.</p>
<p>Because before I found God, I had an unconsciously manufactured higher power: I spent a lifetime trying to earn extra credit from some imaginary teacher, grade-grubbing under the delusion that my continuing mistakes—missed assignments, cheating, other nameless sins—were constantly held against me.</p>
<p>And I knew in my heart that failure was inevitable.</p>
<p>What Christ teaches me, if I let myself be taught, is that there is only one kind of judgment that matters. I am saved not because of who I am or what I have done (or didn’t do), but simply because I have accepted the infinite grace that was always offered to me.</p>
<p>My hope is that His love is somewhere underneath the ego and grievances that inspired me to write this. I believe that it is. What I pray is that you can find it for yourself as well.</p> | true | 4 | need prove faith toand try ive lately observed conservatives questioning obamas faith professional interest obamas christian make public faith somewhat tempted embrace punkrockness progressive feminist tattooed prochoice graduateeducated believerand remind believing god punk rock wearing pants maybe even less almost nine ten americans believe god given moment many wearing pants personal life faith something struggle something take particular pride part place spirituality feels volatile professional life time ive ever felt uncomfortable talking faith comes conversation colleagues come since leaving washington made life happier freer healthier body spirit apparently shows people ask changed sometimes nervous humor tell secret litany concrete lifestyle changes give themsimply leaving washington near top listbut honest answer would try every day give life god try like christ get knees pray last time tried giving answer fox news green room stopped conversation surely fart generated kind throatclearing discomfort conservatives might pounce closeted christianity evidence liberal media aversion god day job expressing opinions beliefssome unpopular private life cautiously social media people close see evidence affiliation tweeting prayers quotes scripture still feels subversive avoided publicly aligning one popular beliefs world hesitancy flaunt faith nothing fear judgment nonbelievers mother angry agnostic exbaptist father casual atheist asked didnt believe god replied easily doesnt exist smart enough argue cling disbelief centuries philosophers made better arguments could comfortable pointing direction acquaintance insists god insert atrocity belief didnt come answer question belief came stopped needing answer im nervous come christian worry im good enough one im scared nonbelievers make feel outcast im scared christians sure anything obama could make someone like erick erickson believe christian meaningful way thousand reasons mostly bad ones presume compatriots would set bar lower low start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont going church low erickson others thats passive evidence obama even though reagan didnt go church either bible literacy mine mostly limited dimly remembered excerpts old testament read college humanities class daily verse email read spiritual meditations word still second language speak less fluently obamas occasional mangling scripture proof positive hes real christian much studying may never catch believe christian believe personal relationship lord savior believe grace offered resurrection believe whatever spiritual rewards may reap come directly trying live example set christ whether succeed living example primarily understanding christianity doesnt require prove faith anyone plane existence direct relationship divine freely offered salvation thats one reasons generic must something gut feeling blossomed desire personal connection something christianity choose explore theyll let anyone clear dont believe god christian decades mass culture new ageism fluffed belief god spiritual buffet holy catchall want cover numbers pascals wager roulette wheel coin toss im going jesus payoff could tremendousit already cost judgment comes others telling people belief specific shape human legacy shame triumph intellectually know public performance christianity means something different comes president know conservatives talk obamas faith also talking race fear society status well winning elections obamas christianityor lack itmatters extent proves existing hypothesis core yet part judgment thrown upon proclaiming belief godthe god bible god gave son proof inexhaustible gracefeels risky proceed belief teaches earthly risk illusion truth worlds impermanence also suggests anxiety coming christian perversely selfinterested aspect true feel intimidated conservative culture seems intent creating boundaries around christianity rather open doors also true wrote article knowing least probably like itsome might even tell needed written image christianity progressivism newly hip fusion genreits fucking edgy manis strong siren song yet rumbling desire turn religion something fashionably rebellious artifact ego attempt make story someone something changed tadacue workout montage triumphant final scene level still want credit spiritual makeoveri lost found one found understand gods grace correctly miracle redemption found along god see charming dissonance liberal follows christ hes looking new york times style section trend story get think edgy another believer nothing reconcile one painful reoccurring stumbling blocks journey inability accept completely whole loved god without anything thats accompanied corresponding truth nothing great make god love found god unconsciously manufactured higher power spent lifetime trying earn extra credit imaginary teacher gradegrubbing delusion continuing mistakesmissed assignments cheating nameless sinswere constantly held knew heart failure inevitable christ teaches let taught one kind judgment matters saved done didnt simply accepted infinite grace always offered hope love somewhere underneath ego grievances inspired write believe pray find well | 706 |
<p>Private and corporate jet sales are taking off, reflecting an increase in the extreme concentration of wealth in the United States and around the world.</p>
<p>Worldwide sales of private jets have more than doubled since 2003, to $19.4 billion in 2007. The number of jets sold increased 28 percent between 2006 and 2007 alone, and sales are up sharply in the first quarter of 2008. Corporate jet ownership has increased by about 70 percent since the early 1990s. Demand for private jets is so high that a used jet bought in 2006 can now be sold at a handsome profit.</p>
<p>But where luxury items like a fancy bottle of wine or a Picasso painting are simply a private extravagance, private jet use imposes real costs on everyone who isn’t a high flyer — and on the planet. The costs are documented in “ <a href="http://www.ips-dc.org/reports/#461" type="external">High Flyers: How Private Jet Travel is Straining the System, Warming the Planet and Costing You Money</a>,” a new report issued today by the Institute of Policy Studies and Essential Action (an organization I direct).</p>
<p>Soaring private jet use reflects and is emblematic of skyrocketing wealth inequality, in the United States and globally. Private jet sales grew in parallel with commercial air travel until 1997. Then as wealth inequality began to ascend to stratospheric levels, so did private jet use.</p>
<p>The rise of a global billionaire class has globalized the private jet market. The main manufacturers report that half or more of sales are coming from outside of North America.</p>
<p>Private and corporate jets give the super-rich not just ease and comfort, convenience and luxury — including an escape from the bothers of security lines and flight delays — but a way to distinguish themselves from everyone else. Private jet marketing explicitly emphasizes the elite status and conspicuousness of this consumption.</p>
<p>And, because the ultra-rich are always eager to distinguish themselves from the very rich, private jets are becoming more luxurious and expensive. Boeing’s largest business jet costs $67 million. Other companies sell airplanes that are nearly as costly: Airbus’s priciest plane goes for $55 million, while Gulfstream Aerospace’s G550 sells for $46 million. A relative handful of the high flyers set aside Learjets and the like as child toys, and insist on owning their own personal jumbo jet — Boeing 757s and the like.</p>
<p>Fueling the take-off in jet use is not just concentrating wealth, but numerous subsidies. Amazingly, U.S. taxpayers subsidize private jet use and ownership. Corporate CEOs flying on jets for vacation on personal use pay personal income tax based on the value of the gifted flight — but the value is calculated based on much lower commercial airfares. Most startlingly, the 2008 Economic Stimulus Act enables private jet buyers to take a “bonus depreciation” — allowing them to take larger tax deductions in the first year after purchase than they otherwise would.</p>
<p>Private jet use is subsidized as well by commercial air traffic. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, general aviation — the segment of the industry that includes corporate jets, charters, air taxis, and recreational pilots — uses 16 percent of the FAA’s services, but pays just 3 percent of the cost. Very substantial amounts of federal funds spent on airport improvement between 2005 and 2007 — $2.2 billion of $7 billion total — went to small airports that primarily serve private jets. These are places like California’s Napa Valley Airport.</p>
<p>Private jet use is further subsidized through corporate profligacy, at the expense of workers, consumers and shareholders. Personal use of the company jet is the most common perk for CEOs of large U.S. companies. The Corporate Library has found that more than half of 215 companies surveyed allowed or required — yes, required; it’s supposedly a security precaution — executives to use company aircraft on personal trips, with a median annual cost of $182,929.56.</p>
<p>Perhaps the worst element of private jet use is the environmental damage. Burning airplane fuel spews huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere, making air travel a significant contributor to global warming. Private jet travel is far less efficient than commercial air flights, because so few people are transported on each private jet flight.</p>
<p>Four passengers flying in a private Cessna Citation X from Los Angeles to New York, for example, would each be responsible for more than five times as much CO2 emitted by a commercial air passenger making the same trip.</p>
<p>And that’s a very generous calculation, given estimates that 40 percent of private jet flights are empty — as pilots return home rather than sit idle waiting for a return trip.</p>
<p>At least some in the industry aren’t very sensitive to these considerations. Robert Baugniet, senior manager of corporate communications for Gulfstream Aerospace told my colleague Jennifer Wedekind that concerns about the private jet contribution to global warming “fallacious.”</p>
<p>“So if you go in a bus and pump out a whole bunch of CO2 into the environment, but because you’ve got 40 passengers on board it’s OK?” he queries. (Answer: Not OK, but a whole lot better.) In the aggregate, says Baugniet, air travel is a relatively small contributor to global warming, and private jet travel is a small part of that. So, what’s the big deal?</p>
<p>To the extent that private jets are symbols of an economic system gone awry, remedying the problem will require big picture policy changes — steep wealth and income taxes and other measures to redress inequality, and comprehensive policies to address global warming.</p>
<p>But soaring private jet use also demands its own response. Tax breaks for buying and flying private jets should be ended. Private jets should pay, at least, their fair share of FAA costs. And a hefty luxury tax should be imposed on private jet sales and flying.</p>
<p>We shouldn’t be supporting the High Flyers in their luxury indulgence. If such heavy-polluting opulence is to be permitted at all, the super-rich should pay a stiff price for the privilege.</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 | private corporate jet sales taking reflecting increase extreme concentration wealth united states around world worldwide sales private jets doubled since 2003 194 billion 2007 number jets sold increased 28 percent 2006 2007 alone sales sharply first quarter 2008 corporate jet ownership increased 70 percent since early 1990s demand private jets high used jet bought 2006 sold handsome profit luxury items like fancy bottle wine picasso painting simply private extravagance private jet use imposes real costs everyone isnt high flyer planet costs documented high flyers private jet travel straining system warming planet costing money new report issued today institute policy studies essential action organization direct soaring private jet use reflects emblematic skyrocketing wealth inequality united states globally private jet sales grew parallel commercial air travel 1997 wealth inequality began ascend stratospheric levels private jet use rise global billionaire class globalized private jet market main manufacturers report half sales coming outside north america private corporate jets give superrich ease comfort convenience luxury including escape bothers security lines flight delays way distinguish everyone else private jet marketing explicitly emphasizes elite status conspicuousness consumption ultrarich always eager distinguish rich private jets becoming luxurious expensive boeings largest business jet costs 67 million companies sell airplanes nearly costly airbuss priciest plane goes 55 million gulfstream aerospaces g550 sells 46 million relative handful high flyers set aside learjets like child toys insist owning personal jumbo jet boeing 757s like fueling takeoff jet use concentrating wealth numerous subsidies amazingly us taxpayers subsidize private jet use ownership corporate ceos flying jets vacation personal use pay personal income tax based value gifted flight value calculated based much lower commercial airfares startlingly 2008 economic stimulus act enables private jet buyers take bonus depreciation allowing take larger tax deductions first year purchase otherwise would private jet use subsidized well commercial air traffic according federal aviation administration general aviation segment industry includes corporate jets charters air taxis recreational pilots uses 16 percent faas services pays 3 percent cost substantial amounts federal funds spent airport improvement 2005 2007 22 billion 7 billion total went small airports primarily serve private jets places like californias napa valley airport private jet use subsidized corporate profligacy expense workers consumers shareholders personal use company jet common perk ceos large us companies corporate library found half 215 companies surveyed allowed required yes required supposedly security precaution executives use company aircraft personal trips median annual cost 18292956 perhaps worst element private jet use environmental damage burning airplane fuel spews huge amounts carbon atmosphere making air travel significant contributor global warming private jet travel far less efficient commercial air flights people transported private jet flight four passengers flying private cessna citation x los angeles new york example would responsible five times much co2 emitted commercial air passenger making trip thats generous calculation given estimates 40 percent private jet flights empty pilots return home rather sit idle waiting return trip least industry arent sensitive considerations robert baugniet senior manager corporate communications gulfstream aerospace told colleague jennifer wedekind concerns private jet contribution global warming fallacious go bus pump whole bunch co2 environment youve got 40 passengers board ok queries answer ok whole lot better aggregate says baugniet air travel relatively small contributor global warming private jet travel small part whats big deal extent private jets symbols economic system gone awry remedying problem require big picture policy changes steep wealth income taxes measures redress inequality comprehensive policies address global warming soaring private jet use also demands response tax breaks buying flying private jets ended private jets pay least fair share faa costs hefty luxury tax imposed private jet sales flying shouldnt supporting high flyers luxury indulgence heavypolluting opulence permitted superrich pay stiff price privilege robert weissman editor washington dcbased multinational monitor director essential action 160 160 160 160 160 | 624 |
<p>“I copied the concept of paramilitary forces from the Israelis.” Carlos Castaño, head of the paramilitary AUC (United Self-Defense of Colombia)</p>
<p>Five months ago, Colombian President Álvaro Uribe ordered “Operation Orion,” in which a combined military-police-intelligence task force of 3,000 troops moved into Medellín’s Comuna 13, a district of 100,000 people in the central-western hill, with tanks and a helicopter gunship to “cleanse” the area of “subversives.” As predicted, the “target” neighborhoods that make up Comuna 13 (especially 20 de Julio, Belencito, Corazón, El Salado y las Independencias) are now under control of the paramilitary AUC (United Self-Defense of Colombia).</p>
<p>In late 2002, President Uribe entered into “peace negotiations” with the leaders of the AUC-talks that will most likely lead to the legalization of paramilitarism along the lines of the CONVIVIRs that figured so prominently during Uribe’s term as governor of Antioquia (1995-97)-but various regional paramilitary fractions, including Medellín’s Bloque Metro and Cacique Nutibarra, have opted out of the agreements, perhaps because of their stipulations against drug trafficking, in which paramilitaries are deeply involved. So far, the crowbar that acted as the lever for Operation Orion, the Colombian Army’s Fourth Brigade, has yet to take action against the paramilitaries in Comuna 13, which is unsurprising since the two forces have worked hand in iron glove in Comuna 13-as in the rest of the city-for several years.</p>
<p>Before mid-October, most of Comuna 13 was carved up among three “revolutionary” urban militias: the FARC, the ELN, and the CAP (People’s Armed Comandos). The first generation of these militias sprouted in the mid-1980s after the peace process between President Belisario Betancur and the FARC, EPL (Maoist), and M-19 (national populist) broke down. In Comuna 13, the third generation of milicianos was composed of young people from the neighborhoods, the occasional university students, and a handful of second-generation veterans that survived Medellín’s wars of the 1990s. Though they purported to favor an overthrow of the Colombian state and the institution of a more equitable, democratic political and economic system, militia methods were often reprehensible: kidnapping, extortion, blackmail and murder.</p>
<p>Yet alongside these militias (militias which, it must be said, kept the paramilitaries out of Comuna 13 for over a year), and with scant resources and minimal access to employment or education, communities have struggled to build a common life for themselves. This they have done through organization and cooperation in the face of constant violence, threats, and harassment from the police, military, and paramilitary forces. In Comuna 13, people have built their roads, schools, health clinics, senior citizens’ centers and youth centers with their own hands and funds, and they have fought for proper sewage, drinking water and electricity.</p>
<p>The state and paramilitaries that appeared after 1999 fear and loathe such independent community organizing as much as they do the “revolutionary” militias. Paramilitaries had displaced a considerable minority of Comuna 13’s residents from the countryside in Urabá in the 1980s and 90s, many of them Afro-Colombians; all arrived in Comuna 13 with venerable traditions of village organizing and protest intact. Operation Orion and the subsequent paramilitary occupation of Comuna 13 have, however, displaced the displaced.</p>
<p>There is an element of tragic absurdity in this repetition, but the logic is clear. While some of the displaced returned to Comuna 13 in February, people directly connected to the paramilitaries have occupied most of the houses that Operation Orion left vacant. The community organizations have been infiltrated with paramilitaries as well. In the eyes of the “forces of order,” anyone from Comuna 13 who is not working with the AUC is a potential or actual guerrilla-an enemy to be eliminated.</p>
<p>Homicide is down 38% over the same period last year, from 114 to 75, though according to a community leader from 20 de Julio, “they are not killing people in the neighborhood anymore. Rather, they take them out and kill them in neighborhoods nearby, which distorts the indices of violence in Comuna 13.” Gunfire no longer echoes through the night because now more than half the killings are done with knives. The paramilitaries want to avoid making the same mistakes the militias made, so they do not “tax” public transportation or petty commerce, either. Instead, they rob gasoline from the Ecopetrol pipeline near San Cristobal, and, at $.50 to $.60 per gallon, sell $10,000 worth of it daily. Meanwhile, in Saravena, Arauca, U.S. Special Forces are training a new Colombian Army brigade to protect Occidental Petroleum’s pipeline from guerrilla sabotage-part of a $94 million subsidy of the petroleum industry in Colombia, courtesy of President Bush.</p>
<p>Now that Comuna 13 is under control of “dissident” paramilitaries of the Bloque Metro and those of Cacique Nutibarra, which have moved toward unity, a highway to Urabá, to be financed in part with North American capital, will cut a secondary road through its heart. Urabá, which gives way to the Caribbean port of Turbo, is home to the core constituency of the regional paramilitary right-the multinational banana plantations, the logging companies and the cattle barons. Through Uribe and his Goebbels, Minister of Justice and the Interior Fernando Londoño, this group currently exercises power at the national level.</p>
<p>Urabá’s “strategic corridor” is the route through which arms and drugs move in and out of Colombia. Whatever the legal niceties of Uribe’s negotiations with the leadership of the AUC, then, the paramilitary occupation of Comuna 13 in Medellín dovetails neatly with the broader, U.S.-led counterinsurgent strategy of control of strategic territory, transport routes and resources. The extent to which it favors the “primitive” (because of its methods) accumulation of capital is unmistakable.</p>
<p>Where have the displaced of Comuna 13 gone? The countryside, where 82% of the population is poor and where warfare is even more relentless than in Medellín, is not an option, so many, especially milicianos, have gone to the northeastern part of the city, which sits in a fold that slopes gently up to an emerald ridge on the other side of which lies the corridor from Guarne to the municipalities of the east where the FARC and the ELN have a strong presence: Santa Ana, San Luis and Granada. Military intelligence alleges that the 34th Front of the FARC and the Carlos Alirio Buitrago Front of the ELN have sent reinforcements from the east to protect the corridor out of the city at all costs.</p>
<p>The war between the FARC, ELN, and CAP militias and the paramilitary Bloque Metro and Cacique Nutibarra has made the northeastern sector into the city’s most violent. According to police, there have been 133 homicides there this year; in Robledo alone there have been 54. It is a matter of time before “one, two, three, many” operations like Orion pave the way for paramilitary occupation of northeastern Medellín. Such is life in the Cattle Ranchers’ Republica true paramilitary paradise.</p>
<p>FORREST HYLTON is conducting doctoral research in history in Bolivia and can be reached at <a href="mailto:forresthylton@hotmail.com" type="external">forresthylton@hotmail.com</a>.</p>
<p>Sources:</p>
<p>For <a href="http://www.colombiareport.org/occupied_medellin.htm" type="external">a detailed report on Operation Orion click here</a>.</p>
<p>Semana, “ <a href="http://www.semana.com/" type="external">Guerra silenciosa en Comuna 13</a>”</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | copied concept paramilitary forces israelis carlos castaño head paramilitary auc united selfdefense colombia five months ago colombian president Álvaro uribe ordered operation orion combined militarypoliceintelligence task force 3000 troops moved medellíns comuna 13 district 100000 people centralwestern hill tanks helicopter gunship cleanse area subversives predicted target neighborhoods make comuna 13 especially 20 de julio belencito corazón el salado las independencias control paramilitary auc united selfdefense colombia late 2002 president uribe entered peace negotiations leaders auctalks likely lead legalization paramilitarism along lines convivirs figured prominently uribes term governor antioquia 199597but various regional paramilitary fractions including medellíns bloque metro cacique nutibarra opted agreements perhaps stipulations drug trafficking paramilitaries deeply involved far crowbar acted lever operation orion colombian armys fourth brigade yet take action paramilitaries comuna 13 unsurprising since two forces worked hand iron glove comuna 13as rest cityfor several years midoctober comuna 13 carved among three revolutionary urban militias farc eln cap peoples armed comandos first generation militias sprouted mid1980s peace process president belisario betancur farc epl maoist m19 national populist broke comuna 13 third generation milicianos composed young people neighborhoods occasional university students handful secondgeneration veterans survived medellíns wars 1990s though purported favor overthrow colombian state institution equitable democratic political economic system militia methods often reprehensible kidnapping extortion blackmail murder yet alongside militias militias must said kept paramilitaries comuna 13 year scant resources minimal access employment education communities struggled build common life done organization cooperation face constant violence threats harassment police military paramilitary forces comuna 13 people built roads schools health clinics senior citizens centers youth centers hands funds fought proper sewage drinking water electricity state paramilitaries appeared 1999 fear loathe independent community organizing much revolutionary militias paramilitaries displaced considerable minority comuna 13s residents countryside urabá 1980s 90s many afrocolombians arrived comuna 13 venerable traditions village organizing protest intact operation orion subsequent paramilitary occupation comuna 13 however displaced displaced element tragic absurdity repetition logic clear displaced returned comuna 13 february people directly connected paramilitaries occupied houses operation orion left vacant community organizations infiltrated paramilitaries well eyes forces order anyone comuna 13 working auc potential actual guerrillaan enemy eliminated homicide 38 period last year 114 75 though according community leader 20 de julio killing people neighborhood anymore rather take kill neighborhoods nearby distorts indices violence comuna 13 gunfire longer echoes night half killings done knives paramilitaries want avoid making mistakes militias made tax public transportation petty commerce either instead rob gasoline ecopetrol pipeline near san cristobal 50 60 per gallon sell 10000 worth daily meanwhile saravena arauca us special forces training new colombian army brigade protect occidental petroleums pipeline guerrilla sabotagepart 94 million subsidy petroleum industry colombia courtesy president bush comuna 13 control dissident paramilitaries bloque metro cacique nutibarra moved toward unity highway urabá financed part north american capital cut secondary road heart urabá gives way caribbean port turbo home core constituency regional paramilitary rightthe multinational banana plantations logging companies cattle barons uribe goebbels minister justice interior fernando londoño group currently exercises power national level urabás strategic corridor route arms drugs move colombia whatever legal niceties uribes negotiations leadership auc paramilitary occupation comuna 13 medellín dovetails neatly broader usled counterinsurgent strategy control strategic territory transport routes resources extent favors primitive methods accumulation capital unmistakable displaced comuna 13 gone countryside 82 population poor warfare even relentless medellín option many especially milicianos gone northeastern part city sits fold slopes gently emerald ridge side lies corridor guarne municipalities east farc eln strong presence santa ana san luis granada military intelligence alleges 34th front farc carlos alirio buitrago front eln sent reinforcements east protect corridor city costs war farc eln cap militias paramilitary bloque metro cacique nutibarra made northeastern sector citys violent according police 133 homicides year robledo alone 54 matter time one two three many operations like orion pave way paramilitary occupation northeastern medellín life cattle ranchers republica true paramilitary paradise forrest hylton conducting doctoral research history bolivia reached forresthyltonhotmailcom sources detailed report operation orion click semana guerra silenciosa en comuna 13 160 | 658 |
<p>There’s a telling email exchange quoted in the Defense Department Inspector General’s report on America Supports You (ASY), a Pentagon program launched in 2004, ostensibly to boost troop morale.</p>
<p>Allison Barber, who founded and led ASY until her recent resignation as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications and Public Liaison (and who infamously helped President Bush stage a teleconference with troops in Iraq), asked in a June 2004 email: “Overseas, we make troops [not living on military bases] buy a digital receiver for their televisions so they can see AFRTS,” the American Forces Radio and Television Service. “Is there a way for me to make this situation know [sic] to corporate America and offer them the option of ‘sponsoring’ a receiver? So the receiver might have a sticker on it that says ‘brought to you by Sears’.”</p>
<p>An attorney with the Defense Department’s Standards of Conduct Office responded sharply: “Of course, you may not solicit anyone, especially corporate America, to sponsor the receivers. That’s a no-no.”</p>
<p>Judging by the Inspector General’s report — which was 18 months in the making — Allison Barber was responsible for quite a lot of “no-no’s.” Among the report’s major findings are that ASY was run in a “questionable and unregulated manner … not consistent with the program’s primary objective”; that Susan Davis International, the PR firm that was paid $8.8 million “to promote or ‘brand’ the ASY program,” used taxpayer money inappropriately; that $9.2 million in ASY funding was funneled through the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, against Pentagon rules and with such inadequate oversight that officials “lost visibility of about $4.1 million”; and that a private non-profit established under the ASY name “creat[es] confusion” between it and the Defense Department program, implying government endorsement and “presenting additional liability for any misuse of donations” by the private group.</p>
<p>It’s a surprisingly strong report. Maybe that’s why the Inspector General’s office released it late on December 12, a Friday — a notoriously difficult time of the week to attract media attention.</p>
<p>Too cozy with corporations</p>
<p>Defense Department policies clearly forbid asking for donations, as well as implicitly or explicitly endorsing non-government entities. To avoid potential conflicts of interest and undue outside influence on the nation’s military, U.S. law specifically directs how gift funds may be used to benefit service members. Pentagon lawyers periodically reminded Allison Barber of these restrictions, but she seemed not to understand or care that she was breaking the rules.</p>
<p>In a September 2005 email quoted in the Inspector General’s report, Barber asked if she could accept a “token check” from the PGA Tour at one of their events. The Tour “had raised over [$]300,000 for the military charities,” Barber wrote. “[I]sn’t that great?”</p>
<p>The response she received was less than enthusiastic. Department of Defense (DoD) officials “could not endorse the PGA or solicit funds,” cautioned the Standards of Conduct Office attorney. Instead of accepting the check, the lawyer suggested that Barber “thank the PGA and stand on the perimeter of the presentation of the bogus check to a representative of the military relief societies.” Then the lawyer asked, “Is this event appropriate for DoD to participate in? Is it a fundraiser?”</p>
<p>It’s clear from the Inspector General’s report that ASY poured significant time and resources into seeking corporate support. Several examples of Barber eagerly courting companies can also be found in the Pentagon pundit documents, as I reported previously:</p>
<p>In an April 2006 email referring to an upcoming event with some 50 members of the Business Council, Barber excitedly wrote to fellow Pentagon public affairs staffer Dallas Lawrence that “we could have our entire corporate outreach for asy [sic] done in one meeting!” … The agenda for a June 2006 Pentagon meeting with the National Association of Manufacturers lists Barber as giving the “welcome and America Supports You update.” ASY is the only program mentioned by name. Other documents name NASCAR, Ringling Brothers and Babies “R” Us as ASY corporate contacts.</p>
<p>ASY’s emphasis on corporate outreach happened by design. Susan Davis International (SDI), the private firm that did public relations work for ASY, developed a “corporate toolkit” to recruit companies. “The toolkit makes many promises of publicity for corporations in return for their support of the ASY program,” notes the Inspector General’s report. As described in ASY’s “corporate toolkit,” these quid pro quo offers included features on the American Forces Radio and Television Service and the Pentagon Channel, ads in the Stars and Stripes newspaper, and mentions in ASY’s “weekly e-newsletter … delivered to thousands of key supporters nationwide, to Congress, and to the news media.”</p>
<p>In addition, the America Supports You website featured the logos of its corporate supporters, in violation of Defense Department policies. (That page has since been removed from the ASY site, but an archived version can be <a href="" type="internal">seen here</a>.)</p>
<p>Lastly, ASY gave “Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Awards” to individual and corporate ASY supporters. SDI suggested giving the awards, to create hooks for “op-eds, regional media, newsletters, member radio / TV shows.” The Inspector General’s report questions this “recognition program,” noting that “there are no written criteria for selecting the recipients of this award.” In other words, public honors could be given out to the highest bidders.</p>
<p>Public relations problems</p>
<p>One public relations firm, Susan Davis International, received a whopping $8.8 million of the $9.2 million in ASY funding through fiscal year 2007, or more than 95 percent of the program’s total expenses. As the Inspector General’s report states repeatedly, ASY was established “to communicate public support to the troops,” not to “brand” ASY, get media coverage, or solicit corporate or celebrity support. Yet, SDI used taxpayer funds to pitch Allison Barber to “Fox and Friends,” sponsor a “Weekly Reader” supplement that urged schoolchildren to hold “Freedom Walks” on September 11, purchase and decorate an ASY float for a Memorial Day parade, and design, produce and promote dog tags with the ASY logo.</p>
<p>Further complicating the SDI / ASY picture is the personal friendship between Allison Barber and Susan Ann Davis, who heads the PR firm. Their friendship is hinted at in the Inspector General’s report, which mentions in passing that “SDI frequently traveled with the Deputy Assistant Secretary [Barber] on the same flights and used the same lodging locations.” SDI also billed ASY for staff hours spent drafting a letter nominating Barber for a “Communicator of the Year” award, “a service unrelated to the ASY contract,” as the report notes.</p>
<p>Add to this murky situation an almost-complete lack of specific goals for or oversight of SDI’s work. Given such wide latitude, SDI staff charged “annual rates” for their ASY work of up to $662,945, which the Inspector General’s report admits “appear excessive for public relations support.” The firm also sought and received payment for “specifically unallowable” expenses, such as alcohol, first-class airfare and expensive hotel rooms, in addition to duplicate expenses. Other “questionable” payments to SDI include “entertainment expenses” for performers at ASY events, such as actor Gary Sinise’s Lt. Dan Band and country star Clint Black, and labor charges for “well-known Republican political strategist” Ed Rollins.</p>
<p>Yet, SDI retained the lucrative contract for America Supports You. In early 2008, when ASY’s PR contract was up for renewal, the Pentagon supposedly opened it up to bids by outside firms. However, the process limited who could bid, gave outside firms less than three weeks’ notice and evaluated bids on terms that clearly benefited SDI. The head of one firm complained, “The process … leads me to believe that it has been designed to retain the incumbent agency.” The Inspector General’s report agrees that no firm other “than the incumbent had a fair opportunity.”</p>
<p>Susan Davis has called the findings of the Inspector General’s report “outrageous,” adding: “We are extraordinarily proud of our work.” Presumably, Davis would say that SDI helped draw public attention and support to the more than 300 military charity groups associated with ASY. Yet, SDI and ASY angered many of those groups by playing favorites. One group, Operation Homefront, was frequently featured in SDI’s media pitches and chosen as a beneficiary of corporate ASY fundraisers. Another group, ThanksUSA, was given $50,000 worth of SDI’s PR services. In January 2006, SDI was authorized to spend another $600,000 on “assistance with [the] launch of the ThanksUSA nationwide treasure hunt.”</p>
<p>Barber’s “involvement in the entire procurement process” — from obtaining funds for ASY to awarding contracts to her friends at SDI and then overseeing those contracts — was the major cause of the program’s problems. Simply put, Barber had “too much power and influence,” the Inspector General’s report concludes. ASY was supposed to have a steering committee, to oversee and direct the program. But instead of establishing the committee, Barber stalled and then insisted on appointing herself as its head. Rather than fight Barber, the Pentagon’s public affairs office gave up on the steering committee idea.</p>
<p>Since Barber’s resignation, ASY has stopped using the SDI firm. The ASY program has also been refocused on its “original mission” of “communicating support for U.S. troops and their families,” promised Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs Robert Hastings. “You won’t find any of us out there building or driving that activity,” Hastings told Stars and Stripes. “We’re simply communicating.”</p>
<p>The ASY Fund</p>
<p>One legacy of Allison Barber’s (and hence ASY’s) lack of boundaries is the ASY Fund. The ASY Fund is a private group that obtained nonprofit status in mid-2007. The group’s placeholder website uses the Defense Department’s ASY logo, and variously gives its full name as the “America Supports You Fund” and the “America Salutes You Fund.”</p>
<p>The ASY Fund’s apparent affiliation with the Defense Department program “causes confusion for the public and constitutes implied endorsement by DoD,” concludes the Inspector General’s report. It also allows the private group to “unfairly” benefit “from DoD branding the ASY program name.”</p>
<p>Barber initially wanted the ASY Fund to be a Pentagon program. It was only established as a separate entity after Congress rebuffed her repeated attempts to obtain permission for the Defense Department “to solicit and accept monetary donations from citizens,” according to the report.</p>
<p>Yet the ASY Fund has, at times, functioned like a Pentagon program. Susan Davis International billed ASY for public relations work done on behalf of the ASY Fund. Barber helped obtain the ASY Fund’s largest donation to date, $50,000 from Bank of America. The confusion between the Defense Department’s ASY program and the private ASY Fund is further illustrated by the fact that Bank of America sent its ASY Fund donation to SDI.</p>
<p>The ASY Fund’s board “consists of former senior Federal employees,” notes the report. According to the group’s 2007 financial report, these include president Grant S. Green Jr., a marketing executive and former Undersecretary of State who Barber asked to establish the ASY Fund. The board’s chair is Lawrence Di Rita, a former Defense Department public affairs official who was involved in the Pentagon’s covert pundit program and who now serves as a spokesperson for Bank of America. Also on ASY Fund board is Celia Hoke, Barber’s former assistant at the Pentagon, and Patricia Meadows, who works at Green’s marketing firm for military contractors.</p>
<p>The Inspector General’s report states that the ASY Fund’s board “will be reconstituted in the near future,” but questions the private group’s use of the Defense Department program’s name and logo. Pentagon lawyers are studying the matter, the report notes, and will provide a “more detailed response … within 30 days.”</p>
<p>Where is Allison Barber?</p>
<p>In an interview with the Navy Times, Assistant Secretary of Defense Hastings stressed that the Inspector General’s report on America Supports You was “an audit of management practices” and “declined to speculate on any future actions to audit report’s conclusions could spark.” It’s also unclear what Allison Barber has been doing, since her October 2008 resignation.</p>
<p>Will Allison Barber be held accountable for the nepotism, misuse of public funds and multiple breaches of Pentagon policy — not to mention the misdirection of resources intended to benefit U.S. service members — that have been documented at ASY? Or will she quietly return to the private sector, perhaps providing PR advice to the same companies to which she once gave Defense Department awards?</p>
<p>It’s easy to be cynical, but a cynic wouldn’t have dreamt that the Inspector General’s office would author such a damning report on ASY. The various Defense Department offices involved are supposed to respond in full to the report by January 12. Stay tuned.</p>
<p>DIANE FARSETTA is the <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/" type="external">Center for Media and Democracy’s</a> senior researcher. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:diane@prwatch.org" type="external">diane@prwatch.org</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | theres telling email exchange quoted defense department inspector generals report america supports asy pentagon program launched 2004 ostensibly boost troop morale allison barber founded led asy recent resignation deputy assistant secretary defense internal communications public liaison infamously helped president bush stage teleconference troops iraq asked june 2004 email overseas make troops living military bases buy digital receiver televisions see afrts american forces radio television service way make situation know sic corporate america offer option sponsoring receiver receiver might sticker says brought sears attorney defense departments standards conduct office responded sharply course may solicit anyone especially corporate america sponsor receivers thats nono judging inspector generals report 18 months making allison barber responsible quite lot nonos among reports major findings asy run questionable unregulated manner consistent programs primary objective susan davis international pr firm paid 88 million promote brand asy program used taxpayer money inappropriately 92 million asy funding funneled military newspaper stars stripes pentagon rules inadequate oversight officials lost visibility 41 million private nonprofit established asy name creates confusion defense department program implying government endorsement presenting additional liability misuse donations private group surprisingly strong report maybe thats inspector generals office released late december 12 friday notoriously difficult time week attract media attention cozy corporations defense department policies clearly forbid asking donations well implicitly explicitly endorsing nongovernment entities avoid potential conflicts interest undue outside influence nations military us law specifically directs gift funds may used benefit service members pentagon lawyers periodically reminded allison barber restrictions seemed understand care breaking rules september 2005 email quoted inspector generals report barber asked could accept token check pga tour one events tour raised 300000 military charities barber wrote isnt great response received less enthusiastic department defense dod officials could endorse pga solicit funds cautioned standards conduct office attorney instead accepting check lawyer suggested barber thank pga stand perimeter presentation bogus check representative military relief societies lawyer asked event appropriate dod participate fundraiser clear inspector generals report asy poured significant time resources seeking corporate support several examples barber eagerly courting companies also found pentagon pundit documents reported previously april 2006 email referring upcoming event 50 members business council barber excitedly wrote fellow pentagon public affairs staffer dallas lawrence could entire corporate outreach asy sic done one meeting agenda june 2006 pentagon meeting national association manufacturers lists barber giving welcome america supports update asy program mentioned name documents name nascar ringling brothers babies r us asy corporate contacts asys emphasis corporate outreach happened design susan davis international sdi private firm public relations work asy developed corporate toolkit recruit companies toolkit makes many promises publicity corporations return support asy program notes inspector generals report described asys corporate toolkit quid pro quo offers included features american forces radio television service pentagon channel ads stars stripes newspaper mentions asys weekly enewsletter delivered thousands key supporters nationwide congress news media addition america supports website featured logos corporate supporters violation defense department policies page since removed asy site archived version seen lastly asy gave office secretary defense exceptional public service awards individual corporate asy supporters sdi suggested giving awards create hooks opeds regional media newsletters member radio tv shows inspector generals report questions recognition program noting written criteria selecting recipients award words public honors could given highest bidders public relations problems one public relations firm susan davis international received whopping 88 million 92 million asy funding fiscal year 2007 95 percent programs total expenses inspector generals report states repeatedly asy established communicate public support troops brand asy get media coverage solicit corporate celebrity support yet sdi used taxpayer funds pitch allison barber fox friends sponsor weekly reader supplement urged schoolchildren hold freedom walks september 11 purchase decorate asy float memorial day parade design produce promote dog tags asy logo complicating sdi asy picture personal friendship allison barber susan ann davis heads pr firm friendship hinted inspector generals report mentions passing sdi frequently traveled deputy assistant secretary barber flights used lodging locations sdi also billed asy staff hours spent drafting letter nominating barber communicator year award service unrelated asy contract report notes add murky situation almostcomplete lack specific goals oversight sdis work given wide latitude sdi staff charged annual rates asy work 662945 inspector generals report admits appear excessive public relations support firm also sought received payment specifically unallowable expenses alcohol firstclass airfare expensive hotel rooms addition duplicate expenses questionable payments sdi include entertainment expenses performers asy events actor gary sinises lt dan band country star clint black labor charges wellknown republican political strategist ed rollins yet sdi retained lucrative contract america supports early 2008 asys pr contract renewal pentagon supposedly opened bids outside firms however process limited could bid gave outside firms less three weeks notice evaluated bids terms clearly benefited sdi head one firm complained process leads believe designed retain incumbent agency inspector generals report agrees firm incumbent fair opportunity susan davis called findings inspector generals report outrageous adding extraordinarily proud work presumably davis would say sdi helped draw public attention support 300 military charity groups associated asy yet sdi asy angered many groups playing favorites one group operation homefront frequently featured sdis media pitches chosen beneficiary corporate asy fundraisers another group thanksusa given 50000 worth sdis pr services january 2006 sdi authorized spend another 600000 assistance launch thanksusa nationwide treasure hunt barbers involvement entire procurement process obtaining funds asy awarding contracts friends sdi overseeing contracts major cause programs problems simply put barber much power influence inspector generals report concludes asy supposed steering committee oversee direct program instead establishing committee barber stalled insisted appointing head rather fight barber pentagons public affairs office gave steering committee idea since barbers resignation asy stopped using sdi firm asy program also refocused original mission communicating support us troops families promised assistant secretary defense public affairs robert hastings wont find us building driving activity hastings told stars stripes simply communicating asy fund one legacy allison barbers hence asys lack boundaries asy fund asy fund private group obtained nonprofit status mid2007 groups placeholder website uses defense departments asy logo variously gives full name america supports fund america salutes fund asy funds apparent affiliation defense department program causes confusion public constitutes implied endorsement dod concludes inspector generals report also allows private group unfairly benefit dod branding asy program name barber initially wanted asy fund pentagon program established separate entity congress rebuffed repeated attempts obtain permission defense department solicit accept monetary donations citizens according report yet asy fund times functioned like pentagon program susan davis international billed asy public relations work done behalf asy fund barber helped obtain asy funds largest donation date 50000 bank america confusion defense departments asy program private asy fund illustrated fact bank america sent asy fund donation sdi asy funds board consists former senior federal employees notes report according groups 2007 financial report include president grant green jr marketing executive former undersecretary state barber asked establish asy fund boards chair lawrence di rita former defense department public affairs official involved pentagons covert pundit program serves spokesperson bank america also asy fund board celia hoke barbers former assistant pentagon patricia meadows works greens marketing firm military contractors inspector generals report states asy funds board reconstituted near future questions private groups use defense department programs name logo pentagon lawyers studying matter report notes provide detailed response within 30 days allison barber interview navy times assistant secretary defense hastings stressed inspector generals report america supports audit management practices declined speculate future actions audit reports conclusions could spark also unclear allison barber since october 2008 resignation allison barber held accountable nepotism misuse public funds multiple breaches pentagon policy mention misdirection resources intended benefit us service members documented asy quietly return private sector perhaps providing pr advice companies gave defense department awards easy cynical cynic wouldnt dreamt inspector generals office would author damning report asy various defense department offices involved supposed respond full report january 12 stay tuned diane farsetta center media democracys senior researcher reached dianeprwatchorg 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,312 |
<p><a href="#fringe" type="external">The Protesters Are "The Fringe" And "Lunatics"</a></p>
<p><a href="#unabomber" type="external">OWS Website Reads Like "The Ravings Of ... The Unabomber"</a></p>
<p><a href="#rascals" type="external">They're Only "Little Rascals" And "Petulant Little Children" ...</a></p>
<p><a href="#don'tknow" type="external">... Who Don't Know What They Want ...</a></p>
<p><a href="#anarchists" type="external">... But We Know They're Socialists, Marxists, And Anarchists Bent On "Destroy[ing] Capitalism" ...</a></p>
<p><a href="#taxes!" type="external">... And They Don't Even Pay Taxes!</a></p>
<p><a href="#diverse" type="external">They're Not Diverse Enough (Maybe) ...</a></p>
<p><a href="#anti-semitic" type="external">... But They Sure Are Anti-Semitic</a></p>
<p><a href="#astroturf" type="external">Their Protests Are Astroturfed</a></p>
<p><a href="#irannchavez" type="external">Iran And Chavez Support The Protests ...</a></p>
<p><a href="#nazis" type="external">... And So Do Nazis!</a></p>
<p><a href="#dirtyhippie" type="external">The Protesters Don't Shower Enough</a></p>
<p><a href="#ericksonpercent" type="external">So Don't Support The 99% -- Support The 53%</a></p>
<p>Fox's Doug Schoen Claims The Occupy Wall Street Movement "Reflects Values That Are Dangerously Out Of Touch With The Broad Mass Of The American People." In an October 18 Wall Street Journal article, Fox News contributor Doug Schoen claimed, based on in-person interviews his polling firm conducted at Zuccotti Park, that the Occupy Wall Street movement "reflects values that are dangerously out of touch with the broad mass of the American people." [The Wall Street Journal, <a href="/blog/2011/10/18/polling-and-concern-trolling-occupy-wall-street/181391" type="external">10/18/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>For more on Schoen's flawed poll, <a href="/blog/2011/10/18/polling-and-concern-trolling-occupy-wall-street/181391" type="external">SEE HERE</a></p>
<p>Varney: Demonstrators Are The "Fringe Of The Fringe Of The Fringe." On the October 14 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, Fox Business host Stuart Varney claimed:</p>
<p>VARNEY: I think the numbers [of protesters] start to fade away. Rain and cold will do that to demonstrators. I -- they haven't got the numbers. This is not a movement, certainly not in New York, that's numbered in the thousands. It's a few hundred, mostly. And let's not forget, it's the fringe of the fringe of the fringe. That's who is down there demonstrating. And the rest, those who are not fringe, fringe, fringe people, they're flat-out socialists. [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/14/foxs-varney-on-occupy-wall-street-demonstrators/181851" type="external">10/14/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Hannity Graphic Labels Protesters "Lunatics Of The Left Wing." During the September 30 edition of Fox News' Hannity, an on-screen graphic aired while the co-hosts discussed the protests, reading, "Lunatics of the left wing":</p>
<p />
<p>[Fox News, Hannity, <a href="/research/2011/10/03/after-relentlessly-promoting-tea-party-protests/181918" type="external">9/30/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox's Trotta On Occupy Wall Street Website: "What You Will Read Is The Ravings Of What Sounds Like The Unabomber." On the October 8 edition of Fox News' America's News HQ, Fox News contributor Liz Trotta claimed, "I advise anybody who has a sense of humor left about this to go to OccupyWallStreet.com, and what you will read is the ravings of what sounds like the Unabomber ... it's certainly better going down there and carrying signs than going out and hitting the pavement for a job." [Fox News, America's News HQ, <a href="/video/2011/10/08/foxs-trotta-on-occupy-wall-street-website-ravin/182535" type="external">10/8/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Doocy Quotes NY Post To Claim "Number One Reason" People Attend The Protest Is "Free Food." On the October 11 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, co-host Gretchen Carlson claimed she "wanted to give you a flavor of some of the people who are" at the protests. Fox &amp; Friends then showed a picture of an alleged "fugitive" who they said "needs some methadone every day." Carlson then showed an image of a man who was allegedly teaching protesters "how to pick a set of handcuffs with a bobby pin." Co-host Steve Doocy concluded the segment by citing a New York Post article to claim that the "number one reason people are -- you know the crowd is growing -- number one reason people are going to this thing: food, there is free food for everybody." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/10/doocy-quotes-ny-post-to-claim-the-number-one-re/182669" type="external">10/10/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Bolling: Occupy Wall Street Protesters "Do Seem Like Petulant Little Children." On the October 10 edition of Fox News' Your World, guest host Eric Bolling hosted syndicated columnist Star Parker to attack the Occupy Wall Street protests. Bolling introduced the segment by claiming that the protesters "do seem like petulant little children ... how about going out and trying to find a job instead?" [Fox News, Your World, <a href="/video/2011/10/10/foxs-bolling-occupy-wall-street-protesters-do-s/182693" type="external">10/10/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Limbaugh Derides Occupy Wall Street Protesters As "Pure, Genuine Parasites," Says Many Are "Bored Trust Fund Kids." On the October 10 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show, Rush Limbaugh called the protesters "pure, genuine parasites" and said many are "bored trust fund kids." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, <a href="/video/2011/10/07/limbaugh-derides-occupy-wall-street-protesters/182194" type="external">10/10/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox's Johnson: Wall Street Protesters Are "The Little Rascals Gone Camping Down In Downtown Manhattan." On the October 6 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. said of the Occupy Wall Street protesters, "We basically have the Little Rascals gone camping down in downtown Manhattan." Johnson later claimed the protesters have become the "unintentional dupes of the 2012 election." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/06/foxs-johnson-on-ows-protests-we-basically-have/183183" type="external">10/6/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox's Stephen Hayes On Occupy Wall Street: "This Is Not Going To Amount Of Any Kind Of A Serious Movement." During the October 4 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom, Stephen Hayes, a Fox News contributor and senior writer for The Weekly Standard, said of the Occupy Wall Street protests, "This is not going to amount to any kind of a serious movement." [Fox News, America's Newsroom, <a href="/video/2011/10/04/foxs-stephen-hayes-on-occupy-wall-street-this-i/182675" type="external">10/4/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Johnson: "I Would Think" Wall Street Protesters "Are Deluded In A Lot Of Ways." On the October 3 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson Jr. attacked the Occupy Wall Street protesters, claiming, "Clearly, I would think these folks are deluded in a lot of ways and probably provide the best argument for national service for 18-year-olds that we have ever seen." Johnson later said of the protests: "I don't know what it is. I don't think they know what it is. But it's costing Americans millions of dollars in tax dollars in order to arrest them." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/03/foxs-johnson-i-would-think-wall-street-proteste/181720" type="external">10/3/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox's Watters: Wall Street Protesters Are "The Sludge" Of "Every Left-Wing Cause." On the September 30 edition of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Fox News producer Jesse Watters said of the protests: "I think if you put every single left-wing cause into a blender and hit power this is the sludge you'd get. And it's basically anti-capitalism. And they want to redistribute the wealth. But if you eliminate capitalism, there is no wealth to redistribute." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, <a href="/video/2011/09/30/foxs-watters-degrades-wall-street-protests-as-t/181386" type="external">9/30/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Guilfoyle: Protesters Have "Absolutely No Purpose Or Focus" And Are "Just Looking To ... Dirty The Streets." On the September 30 edition of Fox News' Hannity, Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle said of the protests: "It's like Woodstock meets Burning Man meets people with absolutely no purpose or focus in life. No wonder, they have nothing but free time to be down there. They make up a slogan or a cause as they go along. And they are just looking to, like, go out there and dirty the streets. And they really don't have any, like, idea about what they are doing there." [Fox News, Hannity, <a href="/video/2011/09/30/foxs-guilfoyle-wall-street-protesters-are-peopl/181420" type="external">9/30/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>On Fox, NY Post's Goodwin Says OWS Is A "Socialist Movement Designed To Destroy Capitalism." On the October 18 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, New York Post columnist Michael Goodwin said that Occupy Wall Street is a "socialist movement designed to destroy capitalism." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/18/on-fox-ny-posts-goodwin-says-ows-is-a-socialist/151887" type="external">10/18/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox's Charles Gasparino: Occupy Wall Street Is A "Marxist Epicenter" That's Becoming "Increasingly Violent." On the October 17 edition of Fox News' Happening Now, co-host Jenna Lee quoted her guest, Fox Business correspondent Charles Gasparino, as calling the protests a "Marxist epicenter." Gasparino went on to repeatedly call the protesters "Marxist" and later called them "anti-American" and said the protests are becoming "increasingly violent." [Fox News, Happening Now, <a href="/video/2011/10/17/foxs-charlie-gasparino-occupy-wall-street-is-a/183404" type="external">10/17/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>WSJ's Bret Stephens: Occupy Wall Street Protests Are "Not Populism -- This Is, Maybe, Anarchism." On the October 16 edition of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, Wall Street Journal columnist and editor Bret Stephens said the Occupy Wall Street protests are "not populism -- this is, maybe, anarchism or something entirely different." [CNN, Fareed Zakaria GPS, <a href="/video/2011/10/16/wsjs-bret-stephens-occupy-wall-street-protests/182727" type="external">10/16/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Nugent: "Occupy Wall Street Is Nothing More Than Anti-American Socialism On Parade." In his October 14 Washington Times column, Ted Nugent derided the Occupy Wall Street protesters as "useful idiots" and "softheaded numskulls," and claimed that the movement is "nothing more than anti-American socialism on parade." [The Washington Times, <a href="/blog/2011/10/15/nugent-occupy-wall-street-is-nothing-more-than/182656" type="external">10/14/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Kilmeade: "Taxpayers [Are] Launching A Counter Protest, Saying ... 'We Are the 53 Percent That Actually Pay Our Taxes.' " During the October 11 broadcast of Fox &amp; Friends, co-host Brian Kilmeade hyped conservative commentator Erick Erickson's counter protest, "We Are The 53 Percent," by saying:</p>
<p>KILMEADE: All right, Occupy Wall Street getting some competition. Taxpayers launching a counter protest, saying, quote, "We are the 53 percent that actually pay our taxes and the protests are costing us millions." All true. [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/11/kilmeade-hypes-ericksons-wall-street-counterpun/183021" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Crowley: Protesters Are "Useful Idiots Who Probably Haven't Paid Much In Taxes Their Whole Life." On the October 10 edition of Fox News' Your World, Fox News contributor Monica Crowley called the protesters "useful idiots who probably haven't paid much in taxes their whole life, have no concept -- and all they know is, 'Oh, profit is a four-letter word, corporations and rich folks -- millionaires and billionaires are evil, they need to be taxed more.' As if they don't pay enough." [Fox News, Your World, <a href="/video/2011/10/10/crowley-wall-street-protestors-are-useful-idiot/182742" type="external">10/10/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Daily Caller, Malkin Claim Occupy Wall Street Protests Suffer From "A Serious Lack Of Diversity" And Are "99 Percent Non-Diverse." On October 4, The Daily Caller published an article titled, "99% what? 'Occupy Wall Street' organizers look for minorities." The article claimed "photos and videos" of protesters "indicate they suffer from a serious lack of diversity." It went on to quote right-wing pundit Michelle Malkin as saying, "When Occupy Wall Street activists call themselves the '99 percent,' it turns out they mean 99 percent non-diverse (by their own politically correct measurements)." [The Daily Caller, <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/04/99-what-occupy-wall-street-organizers-look-for-minorities/" type="external">10/4/11</a>]</p>
<p>Fox Nation Links To Daily Caller Article Under Photo Of Diverse Crowd. On October 5, Fox Nation linked to the Daily Caller story under a picture of a racially diverse crowd of protesters:</p>
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<p>[Fox Nation, <a href="http://nation.foxnews.com/wall-street-protests/2011/10/05/malkin-occupy-wall-street-99-white" type="external">10/5/11</a>]</p>
<p>Limbaugh Speculates About "Anti-Semitic Code" In Phrases Like "We Are The 99 Percent" And "Occupy Wall Street." From the October 11 edition of Premiere Radio Networks' The Rush Limbaugh Show:</p>
<p>LIMBAUGH: Now, there's something interesting, too, about the protests. We've talked to you before, last week, week before that, I think, about this group, this magazine called Adbusters. You know, Adbusters is also very much involved in the Occupy Wall Street Now movement. And David Brooks, you know, a clock is right twice a day. David Brooks has a column in The New York Times today with an interesting implication. He writes that the impetus for Occupy Wall Street was sparked by Adbusters magazine.</p>
<p>Now, Adbusters magazine is known for -- you may not have heard of them, but within certain circles Adbusters magazine is known for quite a lot, and one of the things that they did that stands out was an essay in 2004 entitled "Why Won't They Say They Are Jewish?" David Brooks says that that 2004 essay in Adbusters outed influential Jews as a tiny elite with a nefarious grip on America. The old Jewish power brokers, the movies, the bankers, that stereotype, that conspiracy theory. Well, not just the neocons. This was an attack on -- neocons included in it -- but this was an attack on all Jews, this was an anti-Semitic bunch. The -- and some people no doubt are gonna think that Brooks is on to something here. The one percent line -- these people are running around saying, "I'm the 99 percent." These signs I just shared with you in the first half hour of these people writing, "I am the 99 percent" is how each of them ends. That's the last line in each of these signs, or messages, that these people are writing. But they are touting themselves as the 99 percent.</p>
<p>Now, some people think the 99 percent's also the 99 weeks of unemployment compensation because that group also calls themselves the 99ers, but the 99 percent versus the 1 percent is another angle that the group is talking about here. And Wall Street and bankers, those two terms have been anti-Semitic code for Jews in this country for a long time. Occupier, Occupy Wall Street Now. I mean that's -- I've often said, I said last week he who controls the definition of words, the meaning of words, controls the debate. He who controls the language controls the debate. There's a lot of interesting stuff here. Occupy Wall Street Now, 99 percent, that leaves 1 percent, roughly the percentage of Jews in the population, too. And Wall Street and bankers have been anti-Semitic code for Jews in this country going back quite a while.</p>
<p>Now, what's happening here is that the Democrats -- this is where Brooks may be on to something. It's too early to tell. But the Democrats are embracing this group of people. They are embracing them big time. The Democrats -- Jan Schakowsky in Illinois, members of Congress -- cannot help themselves. They are embracing this group and encouraging this group. Celebrities are showing up now. Kanye West shows up with Russell Simmons, and he was wearing his big gold chains, and he hung around for a while. He did a little -- he did a perp walk, signed some autographs and had to get out of there because he was mobbed by these people. But this Adbusters bunch has a history of anti-Semitism, proud anti-Semitism. The article about Jewish "neocons" was just one of their pieces, Snerdley, that you mentioned here, along those lines. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Rush Limbaugh Show, <a href="/video/2011/10/11/limbaugh-speculates-about-anti-semitic-code-in/182952" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Ace Of Spades Labels Occupy Wall Street Movement "Anti-Semitic." From an Ace of Spades HQ post titled "Obama to Embrace Anti-Semitic 'Occupy' Movement":</p>
<p>After waiting three weeks for glowing MBM reports and biased polls to give the Occupy movement some heft, the White House is ready affiliate itself with the raging hipsters.</p>
<p>In a call previewing Obama's upcoming bus tour through North Carolina and Virginia, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Obama "will continue to acknowledge the frustration that he himself shares," about Washington's laggard response to the financial crisis.</p>
<p>Earnest added that while on the trip, Obama will make it clear that he is fighting to make certain that the "interests of 99 percent of Americans are well represented" -- the first time the White House has used the term to differentiate the vast majority of Americans from the wealthy.</p>
<p>The media worked night and day to make the Tea Party out to be a racist, violent group of astroturfed malcontents without any legitimate goal, an impression the Democrats were happy to abet. This time around, the make-believe media is delighted to look the other way while the Occupiers demonstrate casual anti-Semitism. [Ace of Spades, <a href="http://minx.cc/?post=322669" type="external">10/17/11</a>]</p>
<p>Daily Caller Publishes Story Claiming One Organizer "Admit[ted] To Paying Some 'Occupy DC' Protesters." On October 7, The Daily Caller published a story claiming to show that "a liberal organizer" said he "paid some Hispanics to attend 'Occupy DC' protests." [The Daily Caller, <a href="/blog/2011/10/07/doocy-daily-caller-try-and-fail-to-manufacture/182073" type="external">10/7/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Fox &amp; Friends Hypes Daily Caller Story: It's "The Paid-To-Protest Scandal You Got To Hear To Believe." On the October 7 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, co-host Steve Doocy said, "And those Wall Street protests spreading again, this time to Washington, D.C. Hundreds showing up to occupy our nation's capital. But hey -- I'd show up, too, if I was getting paid. That's right -- the paid-to-protest scandal you got to hear to believe." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/blog/2011/10/07/doocy-daily-caller-try-and-fail-to-manufacture/182073" type="external">10/7/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>For the truth about the Daily Caller's story, <a href="/blog/2011/10/07/doocy-daily-caller-try-and-fail-to-manufacture/182073" type="external">SEE HERE</a>.</p>
<p>Fox's Baier Claimed Occupy Wall Street Protests "Elicit[ed] Support" From Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei. On the October 12 edition of Fox News' Special Report, host Bret Baier claimed that the protests had "elicit[ed] support" from Iran's Ayatollah Khamenei. [Fox News, Special Report, <a href="/blog/2011/10/13/fox-enlists-iran-chavez-in-campaign-to-discredi/181431" type="external">10/12/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Baier Previously Claimed Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez "Threw His Support Behind Protesters." On the October 11 edition of Special Report, Baier claimed that Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez "threw his support behind protesters" at Occupy Wall Street. [Fox News, Special Report, <a href="/blog/2011/10/13/fox-enlists-iran-chavez-in-campaign-to-discredi/181431" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>For the truth about Chavez's and Khamenei's statements, <a href="/blog/2011/10/13/fox-enlists-iran-chavez-in-campaign-to-discredi/181431" type="external">SEE HERE</a>.</p>
<p>Fox, Jim Hoft, And The Blaze Hype American Nazi Party's Endorsement Of Occupy Wall Street Protests. On October 15, Fox Nation, blogger Jim Hoft, and Glenn Beck's site The Blaze all hyped the American Nazi Party's announcement of support for the Occupy Wall Street movement. On the October 17 edition of Special Report, Baier said that the Occupy Wall Street protests were "getting support from some out-of-the-mainstream groups," including the "American Nazi Party." [Media Matters, <a href="/blog/2011/10/18/the-latest-desperate-smear-of-occupy-wall-stree/183829" type="external">10/18/11</a>]</p>
<p>For more on the right-wing's hyping of the American Nazi Party's endorsement, <a href="/blog/2011/10/18/the-latest-desperate-smear-of-occupy-wall-stree/183829" type="external">SEE HERE</a>.</p>
<p>Nugent: Wall Street Protesters Are "Hygiene-Challenged" "Stinky Hippies." In an October 14 Washington Times column, Ted Nugent called the Occupy Wall Street protesters "hygiene-challenged, uber-lefty America-haters" and "[s]tinky hippies." [Washington Times, <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/oct/14/nobody-needs-michael-moores-hypocritical-advice/" type="external">10/14/11</a>]</p>
<p>Erickson: Protesters Are "Unwashed Hippies" And "Most Of The Common Ground With Most Of These Damn Dirty Communists Is Superficial." In an October 14 post on RedState, Erick Erickson wrote: "We shouldn't let unwashed hippies be the only people [the unemployed] hear speaking to their concerns. ... Most of the common ground with most of these damn dirty communists is superficial." [RedState, <a href="http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/10/14/what-the-gop-must-do-finding-common-ground-with-the-occupiers/" type="external">10/14/11</a>]</p>
<p>RedState: Wall Street Protesters Are "A Slothful And Dirty Bunch." From an October 14 RedState post:</p>
<p>Apparently, the protesters holed up in lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park are a slothful and dirty bunch. Or, to put it in more PC terms, as the owners of the park, Brookfield Partners, stated in a flyer:</p>
<p>"The manner in which Zuccotti Park has been used for the past several weeks has created unsanitary conditions."</p>
<p>As a result, the park that has housed the Neo-Com protesters for the last several weeks is scheduled to get a badly-needed cleaning on Friday morning.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the squatters of Zuccotti Park are upset at the fact that their hovel needs a bath, insisting, according to CNN, that they will not be moving for the clean up.</p>
<p>"Come tomorrow morning, we will passively resist and make it as difficult a process to remove us as possible," said Occupy Wall Street spokesman Tyler Combelic. "It's not an occupation if you can't occupy the park."</p>
<p>Of course not. You can't be a squatter if you can't squat. [RedState, <a href="http://www.redstate.com/laborunionreport/2011/10/14/afl-cio-backs-occupywallst-protesters-fighting-evictions-from-their-homes/" type="external">10/14/11</a>]</p>
<p>Kilmeade: Protesters "Sit In Their Own Squalor All Day." On the October 11 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, Kilmeade claimed Occupy Wall Street protesters "sit in their own squalor all day." [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/11/doocy-promotes-anti-wall-street-protest-blog-th/183034" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Kilmeade: Wall Street Protesters "Choose Not To Shower Much." On the October 4 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, Kilmeade mocked the Wall Street protesters, claiming:</p>
<p>KILMEADE: Do you remember during the Bush years around 2004, 2005, the anarchists would just show up at all the G7 meetings? Lot of young people, mostly European, they would show up. This looks [like] the same thing and the same group of people who have one thing in common, they choose not to shower much. [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/04/varney-and-kilmeade-mock-wall-st-protesters-the/182592" type="external">10/4/11</a> via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Erickson: "I'm One Of The 53% ... Subsidizing These People So They Can Go Hang Out On Wall Street To Complain." In an October 5 post on RedState, CNN contributor Erick Erickson wrote:</p>
<p>Well, these people apparently forgot that life is not fair and are demanding the government intervene to legislate that life suddenly become fair. They are claiming to be the "99%" against the evil 1% of rich people who work on Wall Street. They are posting pictures to a website holding up their sob stories. Some are terribly tragic, but most? Boo-freakin'-hoo. Life is not, never has been, and never will be fair.</p>
<p>I would like to point out to these people that I work three jobs, can't sell my house in this economy, still am paying massive student loans, and somehow or another do not blame Wall Street for my situation. In fact, I'm one of the 53% -- the 53% of Americans subsidizing these people so they can go hang out on Wall Street to complain.</p>
<p>Get a job hippies! [RedState, <a href="http://www.redstate.com/erick/2011/10/05/the-occupy-wall-street-fools/" type="external">10/5/11</a>]</p>
<p>Doocy: "The Message [Of The 53 Percent Site] Is The Protesters Have Failed To Take Personal Responsibility ... They Say, 'Suck It Up, You Whiners.' " On the October 11 edition of Fox News' Fox &amp; Friends, the co-hosts hyped Erickson's "53 percent" site. Kilmeade claimed the people posting to the 53 percent site "have jobs, and they're trying to earn a living," in contrast to the Occupy Wall Street protesters, who "sit in their own squalor all day." From the broadcast:</p>
<p>CARLSON: In the meantime, you know how this Occupy Wall Street stuff has continued into its fourth week? Well, now some conservatives are launching a counterattack to that, and they are calling this "We are the 53 percent." What does that mean? That means that they say that they are the 53 percent that are paying the taxes that the 47 percent who don't pay federal income taxes -- they're the other group in America who is actually paying federal income taxes.</p>
<p>DOOCY: Yeah, this is the brainchild of Erick Erickson, who runs the RedState.com website. And the message is the protesters have failed to take personal responsibility for blaming their economic problems on other -- on others. They say, quote, "Suck it up, you whiners. I am the 53 percent subsidizing you so you can hang out on Wall Street and complain." He's taking aim at those people right there, holding the signs.</p>
<p>KILMEADE: And people also -- that's the picture that they have and that's their daily (unclear) -- and some of the people that write, I don't have health insurance, but I don't blame Wall Street. Stop whining, suck it up, and God bless the U.S.A. I don't blame Wall Street, it doesn't matter what Wall Street or anyone else does, I'm responsible for my own destiny, is another one of the messages. And in the big picture, I think it's interesting that they put pictures and explanations, because they have jobs, and they're trying to earn a living. And they cannot sit in - sit in their own squalor all day. [Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/video/2011/10/11/doocy-promotes-anti-wall-street-protest-blog-th/183034" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>Kilmeade: "The 53 Percent" Are "The People Who Actually Pay Their Taxes" And "Want You To Pay Your Fair Share." Later during the show, Kilmeade said:</p>
<p>KILMEADE: All right. Wall Street occupiers meet their match. The people who actually pay their taxes are on their way. They call themselves the 53 percent. And they want you to pay your fair share. I'm optimistic that will be a good segment.</p>
<p>During the tease, the following text was aired on-screen:</p>
<p />
<p>[Fox News, Fox &amp; Friends, <a href="/research/2011/10/11/fox-attacks-99-percent-to-support-53-percent/183048" type="external">10/11/11</a>, via Media Matters]</p>
<p>The Blaze: "Could The 53%-ers Be The New Silent Majority In America?" An October 13 post on The Blaze promoted "a budding movement called 'I am the 53%' " whose followers, it claimed, "are not 'wealthy' people ... but they do not blame 'Wall Street.' " The post went on to claim that the "53%-ers feel a common bond with other responsible/self-sufficient citizens. They also wear their successes and failures with honor." From The Blaze:</p>
<p>Less than a week ago we reported on a budding movement called "I am the 53%." These folks call themselves the 53% because they claim to be part of the 53% of the American people who actually pay Federal Income Taxes, meaning they are ones who support the 47% that pay nothing in Federal taxes.</p>
<p>These are not "wealthy" people. Many are struggling to make ends meet or even to hold on to their homes, but they do not blame "Wall Street." In fact, most feel as if the politicians in Washington, DC are at the core of the problem and do not have the solutions to the troubles plaguing our economy.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>The 53%-ers feel a common bond with other responsible/self-sufficient citizens. They also wear their successes and failures with honor. This informal, but growing group of citizens that do not identify with the "Occupy Wall Street" crowd must be of concern for the Left and those who are endorsing the "occupiers" because the Left has started attacking and mocking the 53% movement.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>And yet, the growth and momentum of this fledgling movement seems to be building.</p>
<p>Could the 53%-ers be the new silent majority in America? [The Blaze, <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/which-liberal-outlets-are-attacking-the-i-am-the-53-movement/" type="external">10/13/11</a>]</p> | true | 4 | protesters fringe lunatics ows website reads like ravings unabomber theyre little rascals petulant little children dont know want know theyre socialists marxists anarchists bent destroying capitalism dont even pay taxes theyre diverse enough maybe sure antisemitic protests astroturfed iran chavez support protests nazis protesters dont shower enough dont support 99 support 53 foxs doug schoen claims occupy wall street movement reflects values dangerously touch broad mass american people october 18 wall street journal article fox news contributor doug schoen claimed based inperson interviews polling firm conducted zuccotti park occupy wall street movement reflects values dangerously touch broad mass american people wall street journal 101811 via media matters schoens flawed poll see varney demonstrators fringe fringe fringe october 14 edition fox news fox amp friends fox business host stuart varney claimed varney think numbers protesters start fade away rain cold demonstrators havent got numbers movement certainly new york thats numbered thousands hundred mostly lets forget fringe fringe fringe thats demonstrating rest fringe fringe fringe people theyre flatout socialists fox news fox amp friends 101411 via media matters hannity graphic labels protesters lunatics left wing september 30 edition fox news hannity onscreen graphic aired cohosts discussed protests reading lunatics left wing fox news hannity 93011 via media matters foxs trotta occupy wall street website read ravings sounds like unabomber october 8 edition fox news americas news hq fox news contributor liz trotta claimed advise anybody sense humor left go occupywallstreetcom read ravings sounds like unabomber certainly better going carrying signs going hitting pavement job fox news americas news hq 10811 via media matters doocy quotes ny post claim number one reason people attend protest free food october 11 edition fox news fox amp friends cohost gretchen carlson claimed wanted give flavor people protests fox amp friends showed picture alleged fugitive said needs methadone every day carlson showed image man allegedly teaching protesters pick set handcuffs bobby pin cohost steve doocy concluded segment citing new york post article claim number one reason people know crowd growing number one reason people going thing food free food everybody fox news fox amp friends 101011 via media matters bolling occupy wall street protesters seem like petulant little children october 10 edition fox news world guest host eric bolling hosted syndicated columnist star parker attack occupy wall street protests bolling introduced segment claiming protesters seem like petulant little children going trying find job instead fox news world 101011 via media matters limbaugh derides occupy wall street protesters pure genuine parasites says many bored trust fund kids october 10 edition premiere radio networks rush limbaugh show rush limbaugh called protesters pure genuine parasites said many bored trust fund kids premiere radio networks rush limbaugh show 101011 via media matters foxs johnson wall street protesters little rascals gone camping downtown manhattan october 6 edition fox news fox amp friends fox news legal analyst peter johnson jr said occupy wall street protesters basically little rascals gone camping downtown manhattan johnson later claimed protesters become unintentional dupes 2012 election fox news fox amp friends 10611 via media matters foxs stephen hayes occupy wall street going amount kind serious movement october 4 edition fox news americas newsroom stephen hayes fox news contributor senior writer weekly standard said occupy wall street protests going amount kind serious movement fox news americas newsroom 10411 via media matters johnson would think wall street protesters deluded lot ways october 3 edition fox news fox amp friends fox news legal analyst peter johnson jr attacked occupy wall street protesters claiming clearly would think folks deluded lot ways probably provide best argument national service 18yearolds ever seen johnson later said protests dont know dont think know costing americans millions dollars tax dollars order arrest fox news fox amp friends 10311 via media matters foxs watters wall street protesters sludge every leftwing cause september 30 edition fox news oreilly factor fox news producer jesse watters said protests think put every single leftwing cause blender hit power sludge youd get basically anticapitalism want redistribute wealth eliminate capitalism wealth redistribute fox news oreilly factor 93011 via media matters guilfoyle protesters absolutely purpose focus looking dirty streets september 30 edition fox news hannity fox news host kimberly guilfoyle said protests like woodstock meets burning man meets people absolutely purpose focus life wonder nothing free time make slogan cause go along looking like go dirty streets really dont like idea fox news hannity 93011 via media matters fox ny posts goodwin says ows socialist movement designed destroy capitalism october 18 edition fox news fox amp friends new york post columnist michael goodwin said occupy wall street socialist movement designed destroy capitalism fox news fox amp friends 101811 via media matters foxs charles gasparino occupy wall street marxist epicenter thats becoming increasingly violent october 17 edition fox news happening cohost jenna lee quoted guest fox business correspondent charles gasparino calling protests marxist epicenter gasparino went repeatedly call protesters marxist later called antiamerican said protests becoming increasingly violent fox news happening 101711 via media matters wsjs bret stephens occupy wall street protests populism maybe anarchism october 16 edition cnns fareed zakaria gps wall street journal columnist editor bret stephens said occupy wall street protests populism maybe anarchism something entirely different cnn fareed zakaria gps 101611 via media matters nugent occupy wall street nothing antiamerican socialism parade october 14 washington times column ted nugent derided occupy wall street protesters useful idiots softheaded numskulls claimed movement nothing antiamerican socialism parade washington times 101411 via media matters kilmeade taxpayers launching counter protest saying 53 percent actually pay taxes october 11 broadcast fox amp friends cohost brian kilmeade hyped conservative commentator erick ericksons counter protest 53 percent saying kilmeade right occupy wall street getting competition taxpayers launching counter protest saying quote 53 percent actually pay taxes protests costing us millions true fox news fox amp friends 101111 via media matters crowley protesters useful idiots probably havent paid much taxes whole life october 10 edition fox news world fox news contributor monica crowley called protesters useful idiots probably havent paid much taxes whole life concept know oh profit fourletter word corporations rich folks millionaires billionaires evil need taxed dont pay enough fox news world 101011 via media matters daily caller malkin claim occupy wall street protests suffer serious lack diversity 99 percent nondiverse october 4 daily caller published article titled 99 occupy wall street organizers look minorities article claimed photos videos protesters indicate suffer serious lack diversity went quote rightwing pundit michelle malkin saying occupy wall street activists call 99 percent turns mean 99 percent nondiverse politically correct measurements daily caller 10411 fox nation links daily caller article photo diverse crowd october 5 fox nation linked daily caller story picture racially diverse crowd protesters fox nation 10511 limbaugh speculates antisemitic code phrases like 99 percent occupy wall street october 11 edition premiere radio networks rush limbaugh show limbaugh theres something interesting protests weve talked last week week think group magazine called adbusters know adbusters also much involved occupy wall street movement david brooks know clock right twice day david brooks column new york times today interesting implication writes impetus occupy wall street sparked adbusters magazine adbusters magazine known may heard within certain circles adbusters magazine known quite lot one things stands essay 2004 entitled wont say jewish david brooks says 2004 essay adbusters outed influential jews tiny elite nefarious grip america old jewish power brokers movies bankers stereotype conspiracy theory well neocons attack neocons included attack jews antisemitic bunch people doubt gon na think brooks something one percent line people running around saying im 99 percent signs shared first half hour people writing 99 percent ends thats last line signs messages people writing touting 99 percent people think 99 percents also 99 weeks unemployment compensation group also calls 99ers 99 percent versus 1 percent another angle group talking wall street bankers two terms antisemitic code jews country long time occupier occupy wall street mean thats ive often said said last week controls definition words meaning words controls debate controls language controls debate theres lot interesting stuff occupy wall street 99 percent leaves 1 percent roughly percentage jews population wall street bankers antisemitic code jews country going back quite whats happening democrats brooks may something early tell democrats embracing group people embracing big time democrats jan schakowsky illinois members congress help embracing group encouraging group celebrities showing kanye west shows russell simmons wearing big gold chains hung around little perp walk signed autographs get mobbed people adbusters bunch history antisemitism proud antisemitism article jewish neocons one pieces snerdley mentioned along lines premiere radio networks rush limbaugh show 101111 via media matters ace spades labels occupy wall street movement antisemitic ace spades hq post titled obama embrace antisemitic occupy movement waiting three weeks glowing mbm reports biased polls give occupy movement heft white house ready affiliate raging hipsters call previewing obamas upcoming bus tour north carolina virginia white house spokesman josh earnest said obama continue acknowledge frustration shares washingtons laggard response financial crisis earnest added trip obama make clear fighting make certain interests 99 percent americans well represented first time white house used term differentiate vast majority americans wealthy media worked night day make tea party racist violent group astroturfed malcontents without legitimate goal impression democrats happy abet time around makebelieve media delighted look way occupiers demonstrate casual antisemitism ace spades 101711 daily caller publishes story claiming one organizer admitted paying occupy dc protesters october 7 daily caller published story claiming show liberal organizer said paid hispanics attend occupy dc protests daily caller 10711 via media matters fox amp friends hypes daily caller story paidtoprotest scandal got hear believe october 7 edition fox news fox amp friends cohost steve doocy said wall street protests spreading time washington dc hundreds showing occupy nations capital hey id show getting paid thats right paidtoprotest scandal got hear believe fox news fox amp friends 10711 via media matters truth daily callers story see foxs baier claimed occupy wall street protests elicited support irans ayatollah khamenei october 12 edition fox news special report host bret baier claimed protests elicited support irans ayatollah khamenei fox news special report 101211 via media matters baier previously claimed venezuelan president hugo chavez threw support behind protesters october 11 edition special report baier claimed venezuelan president hugo chavez threw support behind protesters occupy wall street fox news special report 101111 via media matters truth chavezs khameneis statements see fox jim hoft blaze hype american nazi partys endorsement occupy wall street protests october 15 fox nation blogger jim hoft glenn becks site blaze hyped american nazi partys announcement support occupy wall street movement october 17 edition special report baier said occupy wall street protests getting support outofthemainstream groups including american nazi party media matters 101811 rightwings hyping american nazi partys endorsement see nugent wall street protesters hygienechallenged stinky hippies october 14 washington times column ted nugent called occupy wall street protesters hygienechallenged uberlefty americahaters stinky hippies washington times 101411 erickson protesters unwashed hippies common ground damn dirty communists superficial october 14 post redstate erick erickson wrote shouldnt let unwashed hippies people unemployed hear speaking concerns common ground damn dirty communists superficial redstate 101411 redstate wall street protesters slothful dirty bunch october 14 redstate post apparently protesters holed lower manhattans zuccotti park slothful dirty bunch put pc terms owners park brookfield partners stated flyer manner zuccotti park used past several weeks created unsanitary conditions result park housed neocom protesters last several weeks scheduled get badlyneeded cleaning friday morning unsurprisingly squatters zuccotti park upset fact hovel needs bath insisting according cnn moving clean come tomorrow morning passively resist make difficult process remove us possible said occupy wall street spokesman tyler combelic occupation cant occupy park course cant squatter cant squat redstate 101411 kilmeade protesters sit squalor day october 11 edition fox news fox amp friends kilmeade claimed occupy wall street protesters sit squalor day fox news fox amp friends 101111 via media matters kilmeade wall street protesters choose shower much october 4 edition fox news fox amp friends kilmeade mocked wall street protesters claiming kilmeade remember bush years around 2004 2005 anarchists would show g7 meetings lot young people mostly european would show looks like thing group people one thing common choose shower much fox news fox amp friends 10411 via media matters erickson im one 53 subsidizing people go hang wall street complain october 5 post redstate cnn contributor erick erickson wrote well people apparently forgot life fair demanding government intervene legislate life suddenly become fair claiming 99 evil 1 rich people work wall street posting pictures website holding sob stories terribly tragic boofreakinhoo life never never fair would like point people work three jobs cant sell house economy still paying massive student loans somehow another blame wall street situation fact im one 53 53 americans subsidizing people go hang wall street complain get job hippies redstate 10511 doocy message 53 percent site protesters failed take personal responsibility say suck whiners october 11 edition fox news fox amp friends cohosts hyped ericksons 53 percent site kilmeade claimed people posting 53 percent site jobs theyre trying earn living contrast occupy wall street protesters sit squalor day broadcast carlson meantime know occupy wall street stuff continued fourth week well conservatives launching counterattack calling 53 percent mean means say 53 percent paying taxes 47 percent dont pay federal income taxes theyre group america actually paying federal income taxes doocy yeah brainchild erick erickson runs redstatecom website message protesters failed take personal responsibility blaming economic problems others say quote suck whiners 53 percent subsidizing hang wall street complain hes taking aim people right holding signs kilmeade people also thats picture thats daily unclear people write dont health insurance dont blame wall street stop whining suck god bless usa dont blame wall street doesnt matter wall street anyone else im responsible destiny another one messages big picture think interesting put pictures explanations jobs theyre trying earn living sit sit squalor day fox news fox amp friends 101111 via media matters kilmeade 53 percent people actually pay taxes want pay fair share later show kilmeade said kilmeade right wall street occupiers meet match people actually pay taxes way call 53 percent want pay fair share im optimistic good segment tease following text aired onscreen fox news fox amp friends 101111 via media matters blaze could 53ers new silent majority america october 13 post blaze promoted budding movement called 53 whose followers claimed wealthy people blame wall street post went claim 53ers feel common bond responsibleselfsufficient citizens also wear successes failures honor blaze less week ago reported budding movement called 53 folks call 53 claim part 53 american people actually pay federal income taxes meaning ones support 47 pay nothing federal taxes wealthy people many struggling make ends meet even hold homes blame wall street fact feel politicians washington dc core problem solutions troubles plaguing economy 53ers feel common bond responsibleselfsufficient citizens also wear successes failures honor informal growing group citizens identify occupy wall street crowd must concern left endorsing occupiers left started attacking mocking 53 movement yet growth momentum fledgling movement seems building could 53ers new silent majority america blaze 101311 | 2,510 |
<p>A Daughter’s View</p>
<p>Like every parent, I love my child beyond words.&#160; I want my young daughter to have the best opportunities in a peaceful, industrious world.&#160; I am running to represent the Second Congressional District of South Carolina because I am confident that our District can emerge from <a href="https://joewilson.house.gov/" type="external">“Status Quo” Joe</a> stagnation and work to create a better, more prosperous way for all.</p>
<p>This “all” includes you.&#160; It includes my daughter and your precious loved ones as well.&#160; In fact, it’s a&#160; <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/1964/king-acceptance_en.html" type="external">“peoples everywhere”</a>&#160;kind of all, in the tradition of Dr. King.</p>
<p>Several times a year, my daughter and I sit on the top steps of the South Carolina State House.&#160; We eat a picnic of crackers and cheese, apple slices, and grandma’s world-class chocolate chip cookies. &#160;We admire the view of the State House grounds.&#160; We discuss the meaning of history and symbols, and how “We the People” govern ourselves.</p>
<p>I have managed billion-dollar state programs, presented to governors and senators, shepherded legislation, and written speeches for numerous business and political leaders. &#160;But nothing has helped me understand the complexity of government as much as explaining it to an 8-year-old girl.&#160; Whether my daughter and I are discussing the <a href="" type="internal">Confederate Flag</a>, national healthcare, or Presidential campaigns, so many of our conversations conclude, “So you see, there’s a better way.”</p>
<p>My daughter has a bright mind.&#160; She heard that phrase enough times that eventually she asked, “Then why don’t you try to show people a better way?”</p>
<p>The 3 Branches of Government.</p>
<p>Finding a Better Way for Everybody</p>
<p>A construction paper poster hangs on our wall at home.&#160; It’s one of my daughter’s school assignments—a tree with the three branches of government:&#160; Legislative, Executive, and Judicial.&#160; I asked her if she knows what Congress does—or at least what it’s supposed to do.</p>
<p>She told me there are too many men and women in Congress to fit in the White House—that would make the President feel crowded.&#160; Also, people in Congress don’t wear robes like judges.&#160; Judges tell Congress if they’re writing good laws—which is what Congress does.&#160; Congress makes laws to keep us safe and free.&#160; Plus it pays the bills.</p>
<p>I asked my daughter how she felt about the idea of me running for Congress.&#160; She said I should do it so long as we still can do bedtime reading.&#160; I told her I was confident the voters of the Second Congressional District of South Carolina would want their Representative to stay abreast of all things Harry Potter.</p>
<p>She added that I should run for Congress because leaders make a lot of money. &#160;“Leaders are rich,” she said.&#160; “Nope,” I corrected her.&#160; “Many politicians are rich, true.&#160; But being a true leader means serving the voters.&#160; It means working nonstop to find opportunities for your community.&#160; It means finding a better way for everybody.”</p>
<p>Why I’m Running / The Issues</p>
<p>I’m running to represent the Second Congressional District of South Carolina.&#160; I’m running against “Status Quo” Joe.&#160; But much more importantly, I’m running&#160;for&#160;you.</p>
<p>My opponents, “Status Quo” Joe and the fake Democrat Phil Black, think Government is a four-letter word from which you need protection. &#160;That’s a common tactic used to trick people into voting against their own self-interest.</p>
<p>The fact is, Government is “We the People.”&#160; We are Government.&#160; And the job of Government is to efficiently and rigorously link and protect individuals, communities, and industry.&#160; When “We the People” do our job as stewards of society, Government is a powerful, positive force.</p>
<p>I am convinced “There’s a Better Way”—a better way for our district, for our state, for our nation. &#160;But we won’t progress as a society by&#160;being&#160;liberal or conservative. &#160;We’ll achieve success when we provide opportunities and security for all.&#160; That doesn’t mean compromising our values.&#160; It means ensuring that civilized values are represented in a just, prosperous society.&#160; Getting there, of course, is no easy task.</p>
<p>SC Congressional District 2 has a critical choice to make.&#160; If our District continues following the dead-end political agenda of “Status Quo” Joe, our District will never find its way.&#160; We’ll never stand in solidarity and be linked in a common cause. &#160;We’ll perpetuate the culture and industry of enemy-making and live in constant, paralyzing fear. &#160;In short, we will never achieve progress.</p>
<p>Instead, let’s partner to provide our community with increased job opportunities and a better quality of life. &#160;Let’s work together to keep our community safe, to build peace, and to ensure freedom.&#160; Let’s use our resources as wisely and efficiently as possible to the betterment of all.&#160; Our work together begins at the polls on <a href="http://elections.mytimetovote.com/dates/south_carolina.html" type="external">June 14 (our District Democratic Primary)</a> and November 8 (national General Election).</p>
<p>Together, let’s vote for a better way.</p>
<p>Infrastructure</p>
<p>From the American Society of Civil Engineers to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, there is almost universal acknowledgement that the overall state of our national infrastructure—from waterways to electrical grids to highway systems—is failing.&#160; In fact, things are so desperate that we’re in danger of becoming a Civilization dropout if we don’t set aside partisan ways to find and fund solutions.</p>
<p>The citizens of the Second Congressional District of South Carolina recently survived a catastrophic 1,000-Year Flood.&#160; It doesn’t take an engineer to know that our most essential infrastructure is in dire need of repair. &#160;During our daily commutes, we shake our heads as we pass broken bridges, damaged buildings, and garbage-cluttered waterways.&#160; And, of course, natural disasters aren’t our only concerns, as our District is pivotal to the national nuclear power industry.</p>
<p>Investing in a 21st-century infrastructure backbone&#160;must be&#160;a primary consideration for the next Representative of SC Congressional District 2.&#160; In fact, the entire South Carolina Congressional Delegation should stand in unison for the rebuilding of our state’s infrastructure.&#160; Government must do its job—and do it efficiently and effectively—so that our citizens never have to think twice about the systems that support their lives and livelihoods.</p>
<p>Education &amp; Economic Development</p>
<p>Higher education has received major attention throughout the 2016 Presidential Campaign—and for good reason.&#160; In a knowledge-based economy, educated workforces prosper.&#160; And states with the highest per capita college degree rates lead the way in significant economic outcomes, including average annual income.</p>
<p>That’s why the Democratic Presidential Candidates are pushing minimally for debt-free higher education.&#160; It’s also why South Carolina should be applauded for its strong technical college system, and for its bridge programs that help technical college students transfer seamlessly to public colleges and universities.</p>
<p>That said, the college degree rate in SC Congressional District 2 remains far short of its potential—a statement you’ll never hear from “Status Quo” Joe.&#160; Nearly 60% of the adult population over age 25 are missing out on nearly $1 million!&#160; That’s the income difference between having a high school diploma versus&#160;having a completed college education over the course of a lifetime.</p>
<p>We must fully fund PK-12 education and support the work of our heroic teachers and leaders like State Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman, who are preparing our students for life beyond high school.&#160; We must remove the economic burden and access restrictions of higher education.&#160; And we must create collaboration pathways for higher education and industry—because doing so always leads to innovation and increased jobs.</p>
<p>Healthcare &amp; Healthcare Research</p>
<p>Healthcare is a basic human right.&#160; Yet more than 90,000 of our SC Congressional District 2 neighbors remain without healthcare.&#160; That’s more people than can fit in Williams-Brice Stadium.&#160; And even if you have healthcare coverage, medical emergencies can make paupers of anyone at any time.&#160; What’s worse, our poorest neighbors are locked out from receiving healthcare because South Carolina’s Governor refuses to expand Medicaid—a decision supported wholeheartedly by “Status Quo” Joe.&#160; I will work tirelessly to right this ethically criminal wrong.</p>
<p>I will also work to ensure that our nation continues down the path of patient-centered healthcare research.&#160; Medical research funding in the U.S. is increasingly being used to study patient-priority needs.&#160; Think of it as “the customer is always right” healthcare research.&#160; This is good!&#160; Because our personal health problems are where our health research dollars should be directed.&#160; Simply put, good health leads to a high quality of life and economic prosperity.&#160; Why would voters settle for anything less?&#160; They shouldn’t—which is why it’s time to show “Status Quo” Joe the door.</p>
<p>Security &amp; Peace</p>
<p>I would dishonor my family by issuing lip service support for our military.&#160; My family knows full well the sacrifice of military service.&#160; My uncle was barely past his teen years when he died serving his country.&#160; I have often visited the Vietnam Memorial and considered the avoidable war that stole my uncle from my mother, her best friend—the war that prevented a lifetime of mentoring from an uncle to a future nephew.</p>
<p>I am convinced that Uncle Sonny would want me, as a Congressman, to support our military by staring the U.S. military mission in the eye and finding the courage to challenge a national industry that has, for decades, created a culture and economy dependent on enemy-making.&#160; This was, in fact, a final <a href="http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/eisenhower001.asp" type="external">warning</a> that President Eisenhower presented to our nation:</p>
<p>“In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”</p>
<p>While our troops have served—and do serve—their country valiantly, our politicians have all too often failed it.&#160; Military might has been flexed where rigorous diplomacy could have prevailed.&#160; And then tens of thousands of veterans are&#160;sent home to&#160;spend lifetimes wondering why so much has been sacrificed.&#160; And worse, these veterans encounter a government and culture seemingly indifferent to their needs.</p>
<p>I pledge to be a Congressman who refuses to send you, your sons and daughters, and your loved ones to war without exhausting every possible alternative.&#160; Nor will I neglect the critical healthcare and transition needs of those who return from honorable service.</p>
<p>At the same time, I do not demand&#160;a reduction in military funding.&#160; Instead, I am convinced that our military appropriations can be continually purposed toward more humanitarian and exploratory missions that serve not only the security and peace of our nation, but of all humanity.</p>
<p>Environment</p>
<p>The Environment is such a monumental, and often controversial, subject that perhaps a fresh political perspective is in order.</p>
<p>A famous scientist once referred to our planet as a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot#/media/File:Pale_Blue_Dot.png" type="external">Pale Blue Dot</a>.&#160; This is a reference to a photo of Earth taken by the Voyager I space probe just before it exited the solar system. &#160;As one sees our fleck of a planet from 4 billion miles away, one is moved by a sacred duty to care-take the small corner in which we find ourselves.</p>
<p>At times, it is easy to lose awe for our planet.&#160; But we must renew our respect and responsibility for the Earth and everything in it.</p>
<p>Timber, agriculture, fisheries, and of course tourism—these are major state industries that depend on environment stewardship.&#160; We’ve all seen the economic and mortal consequences on humans and nature alike when water resources, air quality, and mining operation conditions are neglected.&#160; The citizens of SC Congressional District 2 need to approach the preservation and maintenance of our natural resources, our home, with deliberate care.</p>
<p>That isn’t just philosophy and stargazing—it’s business common sense.&#160; And it’s a common sense that “Status Quo” Joe has lacked his entire decade-plus in office.&#160; This is why the League of Conservation voters has awarded “Status Quo” Joe a Lifetime Failing Score, and in 2015 downgraded him all the way to 0%.&#160; If “Status Quo” Joe doesn’t care about our planet, does he really care about you?</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Bernin’ the Midnight Oil on the Congress Campaign Trail</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">There’s a Better Way: Remarks to the South Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">There’s a Better Way:&#160; Remarks to the 2016 South Carolina Democratic Party Convention</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | true | 4 | daughters view like every parent love child beyond words160 want young daughter best opportunities peaceful industrious world160 running represent second congressional district south carolina confident district emerge status quo joe stagnation work create better prosperous way includes you160 includes daughter precious loved ones well160 fact a160 peoples everywhere160kind tradition dr king several times year daughter sit top steps south carolina state house160 eat picnic crackers cheese apple slices grandmas worldclass chocolate chip cookies 160we admire view state house grounds160 discuss meaning history symbols people govern managed billiondollar state programs presented governors senators shepherded legislation written speeches numerous business political leaders 160but nothing helped understand complexity government much explaining 8yearold girl160 whether daughter discussing confederate flag national healthcare presidential campaigns many conversations conclude see theres better way daughter bright mind160 heard phrase enough times eventually asked dont try show people better way 3 branches government finding better way everybody construction paper poster hangs wall home160 one daughters school assignmentsa tree three branches government160 legislative executive judicial160 asked knows congress doesor least supposed told many men women congress fit white housethat would make president feel crowded160 also people congress dont wear robes like judges160 judges tell congress theyre writing good lawswhich congress does160 congress makes laws keep us safe free160 plus pays bills asked daughter felt idea running congress160 said long still bedtime reading160 told confident voters second congressional district south carolina would want representative stay abreast things harry potter added run congress leaders make lot money 160leaders rich said160 nope corrected her160 many politicians rich true160 true leader means serving voters160 means working nonstop find opportunities community160 means finding better way everybody im running issues im running represent second congressional district south carolina160 im running status quo joe160 much importantly im running160for160you opponents status quo joe fake democrat phil black think government fourletter word need protection 160thats common tactic used trick people voting selfinterest fact government people160 government160 job government efficiently rigorously link protect individuals communities industry160 people job stewards society government powerful positive force convinced theres better waya better way district state nation 160but wont progress society by160being160liberal conservative 160well achieve success provide opportunities security all160 doesnt mean compromising values160 means ensuring civilized values represented prosperous society160 getting course easy task sc congressional district 2 critical choice make160 district continues following deadend political agenda status quo joe district never find way160 well never stand solidarity linked common cause 160well perpetuate culture industry enemymaking live constant paralyzing fear 160in short never achieve progress instead lets partner provide community increased job opportunities better quality life 160lets work together keep community safe build peace ensure freedom160 lets use resources wisely efficiently possible betterment all160 work together begins polls june 14 district democratic primary november 8 national general election together lets vote better way infrastructure american society civil engineers us chamber commerce almost universal acknowledgement overall state national infrastructurefrom waterways electrical grids highway systemsis failing160 fact things desperate danger becoming civilization dropout dont set aside partisan ways find fund solutions citizens second congressional district south carolina recently survived catastrophic 1000year flood160 doesnt take engineer know essential infrastructure dire need repair 160during daily commutes shake heads pass broken bridges damaged buildings garbagecluttered waterways160 course natural disasters arent concerns district pivotal national nuclear power industry investing 21stcentury infrastructure backbone160must be160a primary consideration next representative sc congressional district 2160 fact entire south carolina congressional delegation stand unison rebuilding states infrastructure160 government must joband efficiently effectivelyso citizens never think twice systems support lives livelihoods education amp economic development higher education received major attention throughout 2016 presidential campaignand good reason160 knowledgebased economy educated workforces prosper160 states highest per capita college degree rates lead way significant economic outcomes including average annual income thats democratic presidential candidates pushing minimally debtfree higher education160 also south carolina applauded strong technical college system bridge programs help technical college students transfer seamlessly public colleges universities said college degree rate sc congressional district 2 remains far short potentiala statement youll never hear status quo joe160 nearly 60 adult population age 25 missing nearly 1 million160 thats income difference high school diploma versus160having completed college education course lifetime must fully fund pk12 education support work heroic teachers leaders like state superintendent education molly spearman preparing students life beyond high school160 must remove economic burden access restrictions higher education160 must create collaboration pathways higher education industrybecause always leads innovation increased jobs healthcare amp healthcare research healthcare basic human right160 yet 90000 sc congressional district 2 neighbors remain without healthcare160 thats people fit williamsbrice stadium160 even healthcare coverage medical emergencies make paupers anyone time160 whats worse poorest neighbors locked receiving healthcare south carolinas governor refuses expand medicaida decision supported wholeheartedly status quo joe160 work tirelessly right ethically criminal wrong also work ensure nation continues path patientcentered healthcare research160 medical research funding us increasingly used study patientpriority needs160 think customer always right healthcare research160 good160 personal health problems health research dollars directed160 simply put good health leads high quality life economic prosperity160 would voters settle anything less160 shouldntwhich time show status quo joe door security amp peace would dishonor family issuing lip service support military160 family knows full well sacrifice military service160 uncle barely past teen years died serving country160 often visited vietnam memorial considered avoidable war stole uncle mother best friendthe war prevented lifetime mentoring uncle future nephew convinced uncle sonny would want congressman support military staring us military mission eye finding courage challenge national industry decades created culture economy dependent enemymaking160 fact final warning president eisenhower presented nation councils government must guard acquisition unwarranted influence whether sought unsought military industrial complex potential disastrous rise misplaced power exists persist troops servedand servetheir country valiantly politicians often failed it160 military might flexed rigorous diplomacy could prevailed160 tens thousands veterans are160sent home to160spend lifetimes wondering much sacrificed160 worse veterans encounter government culture seemingly indifferent needs pledge congressman refuses send sons daughters loved ones war without exhausting every possible alternative160 neglect critical healthcare transition needs return honorable service time demand160a reduction military funding160 instead convinced military appropriations continually purposed toward humanitarian exploratory missions serve security peace nation humanity environment environment monumental often controversial subject perhaps fresh political perspective order famous scientist referred planet pale blue dot160 reference photo earth taken voyager space probe exited solar system 160as one sees fleck planet 4 billion miles away one moved sacred duty caretake small corner find times easy lose awe planet160 must renew respect responsibility earth everything timber agriculture fisheries course tourismthese major state industries depend environment stewardship160 weve seen economic mortal consequences humans nature alike water resources air quality mining operation conditions neglected160 citizens sc congressional district 2 need approach preservation maintenance natural resources home deliberate care isnt philosophy stargazingits business common sense160 common sense status quo joe lacked entire decadeplus office160 league conservation voters awarded status quo joe lifetime failing score 2015 downgraded way 0160 status quo joe doesnt care planet really care bernin midnight oil congress campaign trail theres better way remarks south carolina democratic party executive committee theres better way160 remarks 2016 south carolina democratic party convention 0 facebook comments | 1,169 |
<p>“Jesus Lives” screamed the giant billboard on I-80, some 20 miles east of Lovelock, Nevada. At the bottom of the sign appears the sponsor: adsforGod.org, an “organization whose only purpose is to advertise for The only True Living God whose only begotten Son is Jesus The Christ.”</p>
<p>From the car, driving through dramatic mountain scenery in Wyoming and into Nevada, I saw mountains covered with snow, sagebrush and clouds. No people, cars, trucks or houses appeared on the horizon. As soon as I reached a populated place in the state where slot machines abound at every seedy bar and high class casino, at airports and eateries, I suppose I could try to find out exactly where Jesus lives. Since there’s no Bethlehem in Nevada, perhaps he’d take up residence at the Mustang Ranch outside of Winnemucca, the world’s most famous brothel?</p>
<p>On the edge of Carlin, Nevada (population 2,161), I see a trailer park and signs for several fast food chains. To further dampen my appetite, a sign tells me Carlin is home to a prison, euphemistically called the Carlin Conservation Center. The next roadside sign warns: “don’t pick up hitchhikers.” Suppose the guy with his thumb up was Jesus?</p>
<p>Maybe Jesus lives near the prison guards in the communities of modest small homes? Or in the shacks and trailers of those who work in the mines, gold and other minerals, no longer the silver for which the state was named? One can see how the modern Judases still sell their souls for the old 30 pieces of silver – add a few hundred million – as the refineries and smelters pour contaminating smoke into the pristine sky. The payoff for such sins has grown. The silver processing in Biblical times was a lot less contaminating. John Prine offered an appropriate soundtrack on the car CD:</p>
<p>“The coal company came with the world’s largest shovel And they tortured the timber and stripped all the land They dug for their coal till the land was forsaken Then they wrote it all down as the progress of man.” (“Paradise”)</p>
<p>Through the thousand miles of deserted Wyoming and Nevada landscape lay God’s perfection – except for billboards and a virtually empty four lane highway. After fifteen minutes passed without me seeing another vehicle, I finally crept up to the car ahead of me. The bumper stickers said: “Jesus Will Forgive You” and “McCain/Palin 2008.” Another Prine song played:</p>
<p>“Father forgive us for what we must do You forgive us, and we’ll forgive you. We’ll forgive each other till we both turn blue Then we’ll whistle and go fishing in Heaven.”</p>
<p>(“Fish and Whistle”)</p>
<p>For the un-forgiven, Nevada provides lots of prisons. On the outskirts of Lovelock, another fortress looms on the landscape. The guard towers loom over the medieval structure chiseled into the base of a brooding mountain. “Correctional Institution,” the euphemism used throughout the country for caging men for their sins, has a poor record for correcting either their past behavior or their future course. Most of the inmates, like those in prisons and jails throughout the country, engaged in sins like smoking or using prohibited drugs and petty larceny. Some committed violent crimes, but compare their sins to those performed by the bankers and security speculators, Bernie Madoff and the members of the military and the mercenaries who have slaughtered civilians throughout Iraq and Afghanistan! &#160;The wealthy hire legal talent that finds loopholes and brokers to pay off judges. The military – well, they’re only following orders.</p>
<p>A billboard “welcomes” us to the town of Lovelock (population 1,889). On a nearby highway sign, the big criminals advertise their polluting product; the petty ones rot away in penitentiaries. Those visiting family or friends can stay at a nearby Holiday Inn or Best Western Motel. &#160;Such facilities will house visitors of O.J. Simpson, who was sent to lock-up in Lovelock Correctional Center (Medium Security Prison) for 9-33 years. Simpson, who starred at USC, won the 1968 Heisman Trophy, but on October 3, 2008, a jury convicted him of robbery, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon, following a September 2007 confrontation with two memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel room. Simpson said he was just trying to get his football trophies back from people who had improperly acquired them. (He could no longer afford the high paid legal talent that got him acquitted in the murder trail.)</p>
<p>Simpson’s cell mates will include a high number of sex offenders. Like the other inmates, Simpson will receive three meals a day, access to mail, limited phone privileges and up to one hour of exercise every day. He can also work doing yard labor, and kitchen chores. (Melissa Arseniuk and Cy Ryan, Las Vegas Sun, Dec. 19, 2008)</p>
<p>Back in 1994, I thought that the LAPD had framed the right guy for the murder of his wife and her friend. It took 13 years for the police fraternity to catch O.J. again – in what looked like a minor infraction at best. But time wounds all heels.</p>
<p>Simpson deserved punishment. But how does one equate his murderous acts with Chevron’s behavior in Ecuador or Nigeria, where they not only dirtied the environment, but collaborated, according to two law suits (filed by Nigerian residents represented by EarthRights International), with Nigeria’s repressive forces to kill people. On January 4, 1999, a woman and her children were fishing in Opia, a small Nigerian village, when soldiers opened fire, killing her. Two lawsuits allege that Chevron paid the soldiers, and that they traveled in Chevron-owned trucks and helicopters in more than one such bloody “incident,” including an armed attack on protestors at an oil drilling platform.</p>
<p>Nor does time seem to punish massive government-private sector corruption. “Contractors” in collusion with US military officials stole hundreds of billions of dollars supposedly reconstructing Iraq. According to Patrick Cockburn, $57.8 million was sent in “pallet upon pallet of hundred-dollar bills” to the US comptroller for south-central Iraq, Robert J Stein Jr., who had himself photographed standing with the mound of money. He is among the few US officials in Iraq to be convicted of fraud and money-laundering.</p>
<p>Since 2003, Congress has appropriated hundreds of millions each year for reconstruction, but “there have been no cranes visible on the Baghdad skyline except those at work building a new US embassy and others rusting beside a half-built giant mosque that Saddam was constructing when he was overthrown. One of the few visible signs of government work on Baghdad’s infrastructure is a tireless attention to planting palm trees and flowers in the centre strip between main roads. Those are then dug up and replanted a few months later. Iraqi leaders are convinced that the theft or waste of huge sums of US and Iraqi government money could have happened only if senior US officials were themselves involved in the corruption.” (Counterpunch.org, February 16, 2009)</p>
<p>Instead of seeing the symbol of corruption, the Casino, each Nevada town no matter the size sports signs of virtue: church spires emerge on the Horizon. According to adsforGod.org “there exist 9,900 different ‘Religions’ on the face of this earth,” but only “‘one’…can prove that it is the ‘Inherent Word’ of the ‘Only True Living God.’”</p>
<p>But the certainty of religious statements must stand next to screaming commercialism symbolized by towering Golden Arches sporting an American flag and blinking neon signs shouting “Casino.” I’m sure I would find, if I looked on the website of adsforGod.org, an explanation of how God intended man to create shopping centers that would merge into harmony with His perfect creation.</p>
<p>My road trip began in Chicago and offered me a chance to see how a traveler can adopt a shield of aesthetic insensitivity — beyond the crime of scenery pollution. On the radio, news reported, as it usually does, acts of extreme violence in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan. A news report talked about the final count of the dead in Gaza, casual summaries of what Hannah Arendt called “the phenomenon of evil deeds, committed on a gigantic scale,” the kind that can’t be “traced to any particularity of wickedness, pathology or ideological conviction in the doer.” Arendt saw “extraordinary shallowness” beneath these wicked deeds, the kind cultivated by a mass consumer society, snuggled in religion. The four lane highway and the car radio combine to offer drivers and passengers a way to think only about their consuming needs. The messages in print on billboards or blaring from radio commercials distract us. They direct our thinking away from the sky, the mountains, the people, plants and animals and toward “choices” of brands of soap and brands of representatives who will make war.</p>
<p>Then, we can blame them for what they have done to us and others. We continue to accept the word “free” as the defining adjective of American life as the economy sinks into the mire of stagflation. Much easier to go with the dictum of adsforGod.org: “The Bible is Right” – whatever that means.</p>
<p>SAUL LANDAU’s film, “The Jail,” is available on DVD ( <a href="mailto:roundworldproductions@gmail.com" type="external">roundworldproductions@gmail.com</a>). He is an Institute for Policy Studies Fellow. His latest book, A BUSH AND BOTOX WORLD was published by Counterpunch A/K.</p> | true | 4 | jesus lives screamed giant billboard i80 20 miles east lovelock nevada bottom sign appears sponsor adsforgodorg organization whose purpose advertise true living god whose begotten son jesus christ car driving dramatic mountain scenery wyoming nevada saw mountains covered snow sagebrush clouds people cars trucks houses appeared horizon soon reached populated place state slot machines abound every seedy bar high class casino airports eateries suppose could try find exactly jesus lives since theres bethlehem nevada perhaps hed take residence mustang ranch outside winnemucca worlds famous brothel edge carlin nevada population 2161 see trailer park signs several fast food chains dampen appetite sign tells carlin home prison euphemistically called carlin conservation center next roadside sign warns dont pick hitchhikers suppose guy thumb jesus maybe jesus lives near prison guards communities modest small homes shacks trailers work mines gold minerals longer silver state named one see modern judases still sell souls old 30 pieces silver add hundred million refineries smelters pour contaminating smoke pristine sky payoff sins grown silver processing biblical times lot less contaminating john prine offered appropriate soundtrack car cd coal company came worlds largest shovel tortured timber stripped land dug coal till land forsaken wrote progress man paradise thousand miles deserted wyoming nevada landscape lay gods perfection except billboards virtually empty four lane highway fifteen minutes passed without seeing another vehicle finally crept car ahead bumper stickers said jesus forgive mccainpalin 2008 another prine song played father forgive us must forgive us well forgive well forgive till turn blue well whistle go fishing heaven fish whistle unforgiven nevada provides lots prisons outskirts lovelock another fortress looms landscape guard towers loom medieval structure chiseled base brooding mountain correctional institution euphemism used throughout country caging men sins poor record correcting either past behavior future course inmates like prisons jails throughout country engaged sins like smoking using prohibited drugs petty larceny committed violent crimes compare sins performed bankers security speculators bernie madoff members military mercenaries slaughtered civilians throughout iraq afghanistan 160the wealthy hire legal talent finds loopholes brokers pay judges military well theyre following orders billboard welcomes us town lovelock population 1889 nearby highway sign big criminals advertise polluting product petty ones rot away penitentiaries visiting family friends stay nearby holiday inn best western motel 160such facilities house visitors oj simpson sent lockup lovelock correctional center medium security prison 933 years simpson starred usc 1968 heisman trophy october 3 2008 jury convicted robbery kidnapping assault deadly weapon following september 2007 confrontation two memorabilia dealers las vegas hotel room simpson said trying get football trophies back people improperly acquired could longer afford high paid legal talent got acquitted murder trail simpsons cell mates include high number sex offenders like inmates simpson receive three meals day access mail limited phone privileges one hour exercise every day also work yard labor kitchen chores melissa arseniuk cy ryan las vegas sun dec 19 2008 back 1994 thought lapd framed right guy murder wife friend took 13 years police fraternity catch oj looked like minor infraction best time wounds heels simpson deserved punishment one equate murderous acts chevrons behavior ecuador nigeria dirtied environment collaborated according two law suits filed nigerian residents represented earthrights international nigerias repressive forces kill people january 4 1999 woman children fishing opia small nigerian village soldiers opened fire killing two lawsuits allege chevron paid soldiers traveled chevronowned trucks helicopters one bloody incident including armed attack protestors oil drilling platform time seem punish massive governmentprivate sector corruption contractors collusion us military officials stole hundreds billions dollars supposedly reconstructing iraq according patrick cockburn 578 million sent pallet upon pallet hundreddollar bills us comptroller southcentral iraq robert j stein jr photographed standing mound money among us officials iraq convicted fraud moneylaundering since 2003 congress appropriated hundreds millions year reconstruction cranes visible baghdad skyline except work building new us embassy others rusting beside halfbuilt giant mosque saddam constructing overthrown one visible signs government work baghdads infrastructure tireless attention planting palm trees flowers centre strip main roads dug replanted months later iraqi leaders convinced theft waste huge sums us iraqi government money could happened senior us officials involved corruption counterpunchorg february 16 2009 instead seeing symbol corruption casino nevada town matter size sports signs virtue church spires emerge horizon according adsforgodorg exist 9900 different religions face earth onecan prove inherent word true living god certainty religious statements must stand next screaming commercialism symbolized towering golden arches sporting american flag blinking neon signs shouting casino im sure would find looked website adsforgodorg explanation god intended man create shopping centers would merge harmony perfect creation road trip began chicago offered chance see traveler adopt shield aesthetic insensitivity beyond crime scenery pollution radio news reported usually acts extreme violence iraq afghanistan pakistan news report talked final count dead gaza casual summaries hannah arendt called phenomenon evil deeds committed gigantic scale kind cant traced particularity wickedness pathology ideological conviction doer arendt saw extraordinary shallowness beneath wicked deeds kind cultivated mass consumer society snuggled religion four lane highway car radio combine offer drivers passengers way think consuming needs messages print billboards blaring radio commercials distract us direct thinking away sky mountains people plants animals toward choices brands soap brands representatives make war blame done us others continue accept word free defining adjective american life economy sinks mire stagflation much easier go dictum adsforgodorg bible right whatever means saul landaus film jail available dvd roundworldproductionsgmailcom institute policy studies fellow latest book bush botox world published counterpunch ak | 902 |
<p>The choices for America in Afghanistan are simpler than they appear in the fog of political debate: We can win or we can lose. Definitions can be debated, but in short, victory will mean that Afghanistan will not be a sustainable operational haven for al Qaeda, its political and terrorist affiliates, or a base for aggression against the U.S. and its allies.</p>
<p>Two years ago when he announced a troop surge into Afghanistan, President Obama promised "troops will begin to come home" in July 2011. The White House is now reportedly engaged in an internal tussle to decide just how many troops should be part of that summer drawdown. As usual, self-serving counsel is being ladled out generously by politicos of left and right concerned by cost, endgame, and most of all, their own political prospects come November 2012. Ditto the White House, which is divided between partisans of Barack Obama (the president) and Barack Obama (the candidate).</p>
<p>Certainly, there are complexities to understand, but Afghanistan is not more complex than any other war fought at any other time. And there are core truths that are being obscured, sometimes deliberately, in order to design an endgame that satisfies political rather than strategic and military exigencies. Following are some of the key arguments against the fight, and analysis for how to think about them:</p>
<p>1) The partnership gap: This argument was a favorite on Iraq, too. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/26/world/asia/26strategy.html" type="external">Embraced</a> by former National Security Adviser James Jones and outgoing Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry (among others), this line of thought suggests that President Hamid Karzai is too corrupt, selfish, or incompetent to be the partner who can manage Afghanistan and eventually allow us to leave. Accepting that Karzai indeed may not be the next incarnation of—whom do we trust? King Abdullah? King Mohammed? Prime Minister Maliki?—the slam on Karzai nonetheless begs the question: Whom do you wish to lead Afghanistan? Karzai needs to be improved, not swapped out for a better model. There isn't one. Proponents of this argument are basically saying: We can never win with this loser, so let's get out.</p>
<p>2) The ethnic divide: Perhaps nostalgic for the Great Game, someone always wants to divide up a foreign country. Vice President Joe Biden wanted to divide Iraq. Former Ambassador Robert Blackwill, a foreign-policy eminence grise, <a href="http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/67026/robert-d-blackwill/plan-b-in-afghanistan" type="external">wishes</a> to divide Afghanistan. Other than the subtle racism of ethnic determinism, the flaw in this argument is simple: It isn't what the Afghans want, and it won't solve the Taliban or al Qaeda problem. It may shrink the territorial challenge, if there are really long walls built between the ethnic sub-states of Afghanistan. But, in short, the gist of this argument is: Afghanistan's a loser. Let's divide it up and then leave.</p>
<p>3) The counterterrorism option: Secretary of Defense nominee Leon Panetta is said to be in the camp that wishes to continue the war in Afghanistan by remote control, substituting drones for boots and the CIA and Special Forces for brigade combat teams. This could be labeled the "feel-good-strongman option," because it envisions continuing the fight without actually fighting. It gives Afghanistan up as a lost cause and pictures us killing off enemies (if we can find them) with unmanned combat air vehicles, developing intelligence (without any forces to gather intel) and giving over territory to whoever wants it. Shorthand: Let's withdraw most forces now.</p>
<p>4. Graveyard of empires: History buffs like this. They point knowingly to Wikipedia entries about the British and Soviet experiences in Afghanistan. This is another variant of the suggestion that Afghanistan is too lousy a mess to ever "win" anything, too big, too complex, too riven by war, and too poor. Shorthand: We will lose; let's get out.</p>
<p>5. Pakistan, Pakistan, Pakistan: This argument is a 2.0 version of Obama's campaign trope that we were losing in Afghanistan because we were fighting the wrong war (Iraq). Proponents of the new "wrong war" line suggest that Afghanistan is merely a sideshow. And while it's true that Pakistan is a major part of the problem we face in South Asia, few are advocating that we invade Pakistan. As my colleague Fred Kagan has written, "Insurgencies with cross-border sanctuaries have two vulnerabilities—the loss of the sanctuary itself and the loss of the local networks required to make use of it." If we're not taking on one, we need to take on the other. But the real message behind the Pakistan-not-Afghanistan headline is that we should abandon the fight we are now in.</p>
<p>6. Al Qaeda is finished: This argument seems too foolish to credit, but on the night bin Laden was killed, many analysts told the world al Qaeda is done for. There are <a href="http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/05/04/lugar-demands-endgame-in-afghanistan/" type="external">"only 100 al Qaeda remaining"</a> in Afghanistan, so let's call it a day. Will they come back if we simply pack up? Or is the worldwide swamp drained and Afghanistan now so uncongenial that al Qaeda and its cronies will abandon their dream of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan? In short, this thesis presents a new twist: We have already won.</p>
<p>7. Negotiations are the only road to victory: Proponents of a negotiated path to peace in Afghanistan, among them Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, suggest that al Qaeda's "defeat" should bring the Taliban to the table for a political settlement to the war. While Clinton has not suggested withdrawing all troops, the subtext of this recommendation is that somehow the Taliban is divisible from al Qaeda and open to denying haven to the group and its allies. But while some in the Taliban may only be "soft" adherents, the senior leadership has <a href="http://blog.american.com/2011/05/taliban-jihad-will-become-stronger-with-death-of-bin-laden/" type="external">rejected</a> talks completely and has maintained ties to al Qaeda. Talking without holding the upper hand militarily is a recipe for disaster.</p>
<p>8. The economy, stupid: John Conyers <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-conyers/the-war-in-afghanistan-a_b_850584.html" type="external">writes</a> that taxpayers can no longer afford this war. He's not alone, even on the other side of the political spectrum. In reality, even President Obama is not going to pull the plug and withdraw all of our troops from Afghanistan. The debate now is between a drawdown of 5,000 and about 15,000. The savings associated with that drawdown are tiny, particularly when measured against behemoths like entitlements. But even a total skedaddle from the field would net little. In the end, the savings will pale in comparison to the costs of losing the war.</p>
<p>If the United States chooses not to lose the war in Afghanistan, victory will not look like Germany or South Korea. But that should not be our aspiration. We cannot "nation-build" Afghanistan into a state it will not soon be—but it can be better. The surge that Barack Obama ordered so courageously in 2009 is <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/06/08/501364/main20070127.shtml" type="external">working</a>, and we must make every effort to ensure that, like the Iraqis, Afghans turn away from <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/05/19/remarks-president-middle-east-and-north-africa" type="external">what Obama calls</a> "the perils of political violence for a democratic process." In 2006, there was little faith that Iraq could ever work. In 2011, too many are pressing to choose defeat in Afghanistan. They may be hiding behind the economy, bin Laden's dead body, or a half-dozen other euphemisms for "surrender," but make no mistake: That is their aim.</p> | true | 4 | choices america afghanistan simpler appear fog political debate win lose definitions debated short victory mean afghanistan sustainable operational al qaeda political terrorist affiliates base aggression us allies two years ago announced troop surge afghanistan president obama promised troops begin come home july 2011 white house reportedly engaged internal tussle decide many troops part summer drawdown usual selfserving counsel ladled generously politicos left right concerned cost endgame political prospects come november 2012 ditto white house divided partisans barack obama president barack obama candidate certainly complexities understand afghanistan complex war fought time core truths obscured sometimes deliberately order design endgame satisfies political rather strategic military exigencies following key arguments fight analysis think 1 partnership gap argument favorite iraq embraced former national security adviser james jones outgoing ambassador afghanistan karl eikenberry among others line thought suggests president hamid karzai corrupt selfish incompetent partner manage afghanistan eventually allow us leave accepting karzai indeed may next incarnation ofwhom trust king abdullah king mohammed prime minister malikithe slam karzai nonetheless begs question wish lead afghanistan karzai needs improved swapped better model isnt one proponents argument basically saying never win loser lets get 2 ethnic divide perhaps nostalgic great game someone always wants divide foreign country vice president joe biden wanted divide iraq former ambassador robert blackwill foreignpolicy eminence grise wishes divide afghanistan subtle racism ethnic determinism flaw argument simple isnt afghans want wont solve taliban al qaeda problem may shrink territorial challenge really long walls built ethnic substates afghanistan short gist argument afghanistans loser lets divide leave 3 counterterrorism option secretary defense nominee leon panetta said camp wishes continue war afghanistan remote control substituting drones boots cia special forces brigade combat teams could labeled feelgoodstrongman option envisions continuing fight without actually fighting gives afghanistan lost cause pictures us killing enemies find unmanned combat air vehicles developing intelligence without forces gather intel giving territory whoever wants shorthand lets withdraw forces 4 graveyard empires history buffs like point knowingly wikipedia entries british soviet experiences afghanistan another variant suggestion afghanistan lousy mess ever win anything big complex riven war poor shorthand lose lets get 5 pakistan pakistan pakistan argument 20 version obamas campaign trope losing afghanistan fighting wrong war iraq proponents new wrong war line suggest afghanistan merely sideshow true pakistan major part problem face south asia advocating invade pakistan colleague fred kagan written insurgencies crossborder sanctuaries two vulnerabilitiesthe loss sanctuary loss local networks required make use taking one need take real message behind pakistannotafghanistan headline abandon fight 6 al qaeda finished argument seems foolish credit night bin laden killed many analysts told world al qaeda done 100 al qaeda remaining afghanistan lets call day come back simply pack worldwide swamp drained afghanistan uncongenial al qaeda cronies abandon dream islamic emirate afghanistan short thesis presents new twist already 7 negotiations road victory proponents negotiated path peace afghanistan among secretary state hillary clinton suggest al qaedas defeat bring taliban table political settlement war clinton suggested withdrawing troops subtext recommendation somehow taliban divisible al qaeda open denying group allies taliban may soft adherents senior leadership rejected talks completely maintained ties al qaeda talking without holding upper hand militarily recipe disaster 8 economy stupid john conyers writes taxpayers longer afford war hes alone even side political spectrum reality even president obama going pull plug withdraw troops afghanistan debate drawdown 5000 15000 savings associated drawdown tiny particularly measured behemoths like entitlements even total skedaddle field would net little end savings pale comparison costs losing war united states chooses lose war afghanistan victory look like germany south korea aspiration nationbuild afghanistan state soon bebut better surge barack obama ordered courageously 2009 working must make every effort ensure like iraqis afghans turn away obama calls perils political violence democratic process 2006 little faith iraq could ever work 2011 many pressing choose defeat afghanistan may hiding behind economy bin ladens dead body halfdozen euphemisms surrender make mistake aim | 642 |
<p>&lt;a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-94265743/stock-photo-on-the-big-screen.html?src=FYdTUWWCyDiToTQcSE6ipw-1-26"&gt;Everett Collection&lt;/a&gt;/ShutterStock</p>
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<p>The company behind the Oscar-nominated film Dallas Buyers Club <a href="http://ia700302.us.archive.org/24/items/gov.uscourts.txsd.1151133/gov.uscourts.txsd.1151133.1.0.pdf" type="external">sued 31 people</a> in a federal district court in Texas this month for allegedly using the legal file-sharing service BitTorrent to download the movie illegally. The lawsuit is one of thousands that have been brought by companies against BitTorrent users in recent years, in an effort to crack down on Americans who are stealing movies, music, porn, <a href="http://www.dailydot.com/business/bittorrent-for-dummies-lawsuit-john-wiley/" type="external">books</a>, and <a href="https://torrentfreak.com/first-software-maker-joins-bittorrent-lawsuit-bonanza-121116/" type="external">software</a>. But it could have a tough time. Recently, several federal judges have ruled that key information—computer internet protocol (IP) addresses—used by film studios and others to target supposed thefts is insufficient proof to proceed with the lawsuits. And copyright experts say that even though companies are still winning lots of settlements, these firms are going after fewer plaintiffs at once than they were a few years ago. This suggests that their ability to pursue&#160;large piracy cases has been hampered.</p>
<p>“I think the trend is towards judges looking at [piracy] cases more carefully than they used to, requiring more upfront investigation,” says Mitch Stoltz, a staff attorney at the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). “There may always be some judges who will simply rubber-stamp these cases…but there are fewer of those judges than before.”</p>
<p>When companies bring copyright lawsuits, they often don’t know the identities of the alleged pirates. (This was true in the Dallas Buyers Club case.) Instead, they use IP addresses, unique numbers assigned to each device on an internet network, to track the computers that have been used for illegal downloading. Then they ask a judge to issue a subpoena to the internet service providers, so they can obtain the name of the person associated with that IP address. If the judge approves this request, plaintiffs&#160;can make additional demands, such as seeking a copy of the person’s hard drive. Armed with this information, the plaintiff then typically forces the defendants to settle. The average settlement ranges from $2,000 to $5,000,&#160;says Jeffrey Antonelli, a Chicago attorney who has represented numerous people accused of illegal BitTorrent use.</p>
<p>But this strategy isn’t perfect. “IP addresses are continuing to be less and less of an indicator of the identity of a particular person or computer on the net,” says R. Polk Wagner, a law professor at the University of Pennsylvania who specializes in intellectual-property law. The name connected to an IP address usually identifies who is the paying the internet bill, not who is doing the downloading. Ten years ago, most people didn’t use wireless routers at home, but now, <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/04/05/study-61-of-u-s-households-now-have-wifi/" type="external">more than 60 percent of people do</a>. And all the computers using a single wireless router have the same IP address. So if your tech-savvy neighbor is piggybacking off your wireless internet—and illegally downloading Mean Girls—you could take the heat. And Stoltz, from the Electronic Frontier Foundation, points out that when people receive settlement letters, they are often scared into paying up—”even when they didn’t download illegally, or had valid defenses.”</p>
<p>Here’s an example of how imprecise IP addresses can be in pinpointing a specific computer: In 2012, law enforcement tried to <a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/swat-team-throws-flashbangs-raids-wrong-home-due-to-open-wifi-network/" type="external">catch a person</a> making online threats to local police in Indiana by tracing the person’s IP address to a specific house. After a SWAT team broke down the door and tossed a couple of flashbangs into the entryway, they realized they’d gotten the wrong place. The home had an <a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/06/swat-team-throws-flashbangs-raids-wrong-home-due-to-open-wifi-network/" type="external">open wifi router.</a>The threats were coming from down the street.</p>
<p>Recently, some judges have become more wary about granting subpoenas to companies who come to them with only IP addresses. Last month, a judge in the <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/201180332/ORDER-Granting-Motion-to-Dismiss" type="external">US District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle dismissed</a> a case brought by the studio that produced Elf-Man—a direct-to-video Christmas movie—against 152 anonymous defendants. According to the judge, “simply identifying the account holder associated with an IP address tells us very little about who actually downloaded Elf-Man.” In May 2013, a f <a href="http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/otis.pdf" type="external">ederal judge in California</a> came down hard and issued a $81,320 fine against copyright holders that were “porno trolling” or going after people accused of downloading porn illegally. According to the judge, the plaintiff, <a href="http://pietzlawfirm.com/copyright/ingenuity-13-llc-prenda-law" type="external">Ingenuity 13 LLC</a>, relied too heavily on IP addresses and did not do an adequate enough investigation to bring claims. And in May 2012, a federal district judge in New York <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57427671-93/ip-address-doesnt-id-individuals-in-piracy-lawsuit-judge-rules/" type="external">reached a similar conclusion</a> about IP addresses, as did a <a href="http://www.out-law.com/page-11901" type="external">federal judge in Illinois</a> the year before. Wagner notes, “Judges are increasingly realizing that [IP addresses] don’t have a high degree of reliability, and they’re&#160;not an accurate representation of who has control of the computer.”</p>
<p>Antonelli, the Chicago attorney, takes a different position. “Sure, we’ve seen a sprinkling of courts that have taken this position,” he says, “but in my opinion, it’s not enough, especially when you look at just how many lawsuits are being filed. I don’t see a trend yet.” He notes, however, that studios are no longer going after tens of thousands of plaintiffs at once, like they were doing from 2011 to late 2012. In 2011, for example, the producers for Hurt Locker&#160; <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/228519/Hurt_Locker_Lawsuit_Targets_24583_BitTorrent_Users.html" type="external">sued almost 25,000&#160;BitTorrent&#160;users</a>—and almost all the claims were <a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/66928562/Progress-Report-Dismiss" type="external">voluntarily dismissed by the studio, because it was taking too long to track down all of the defendants via their IP addresses.</a> “That’s certainly changed. Typically we see no more than 100 defendants…I think that was a smart move on the plaintiffs. Courts were losing patience,” says Antonelli.&#160;Wanger adds, “It’s possible companies think that if they sue fewer people who are doing more significant activities,&#160;that’s a more defensible public relations approach.” (The Motion Picture Association of America and the Recording Industry Association of America didn’t provide comment to Mother Jones as to whether studios are now going after fewer plaintiffs.)</p>
<p>For now, whether or not the Dallas Buyers Club producers will be able to successfully subpoena the alleged downloaders remains to be seen. (An attorney representing the producers did not return multiple requests for comment.) “It really depends on the judge assigned to the case,” says Stoltz. He says movies studios should be able to bring claims that are plausible, based on the facts they gather before suing.</p>
<p>The founder of the website <a href="http://dietrolldie.com/" type="external">Die Troll Die</a>, who goes by the name John Doe, says that he started his website to fight alleged copyright trolls after being <a href="http://dietrolldie.com/what-is-your-story/" type="external">sued for copyright infringement</a>—something&#160;he claims he didn’t do. He says he’s happy to see that the tide is turning against companies using IP addresses to bring lawsuits. He told Mother Jones via email, “I can say first-hand that being threatened with a lawsuit because someone else used your internet connection is a horrible experience.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | lta hrefhttpwwwshutterstockcompic94265743stockphotoonthebigscreenhtmlsrcfydtuwwcyditotqcse6ipw126gteverett collectionltagtshutterstock company behind oscarnominated film dallas buyers club sued 31 people federal district court texas month allegedly using legal filesharing service bittorrent download movie illegally lawsuit one thousands brought companies bittorrent users recent years effort crack americans stealing movies music porn books software could tough time recently several federal judges ruled key informationcomputer internet protocol ip addressesused film studios others target supposed thefts insufficient proof proceed lawsuits copyright experts say even though companies still winning lots settlements firms going fewer plaintiffs years ago suggests ability pursue160large piracy cases hampered think trend towards judges looking piracy cases carefully used requiring upfront investigation says mitch stoltz staff attorney electronic frontier foundation eff may always judges simply rubberstamp casesbut fewer judges companies bring copyright lawsuits often dont know identities alleged pirates true dallas buyers club case instead use ip addresses unique numbers assigned device internet network track computers used illegal downloading ask judge issue subpoena internet service providers obtain name person associated ip address judge approves request plaintiffs160can make additional demands seeking copy persons hard drive armed information plaintiff typically forces defendants settle average settlement ranges 2000 5000160says jeffrey antonelli chicago attorney represented numerous people accused illegal bittorrent use strategy isnt perfect ip addresses continuing less less indicator identity particular person computer net says r polk wagner law professor university pennsylvania specializes intellectualproperty law name connected ip address usually identifies paying internet bill downloading ten years ago people didnt use wireless routers home 60 percent people computers using single wireless router ip address techsavvy neighbor piggybacking wireless internetand illegally downloading mean girlsyou could take heat stoltz electronic frontier foundation points people receive settlement letters often scared paying upeven didnt download illegally valid defenses heres example imprecise ip addresses pinpointing specific computer 2012 law enforcement tried catch person making online threats local police indiana tracing persons ip address specific house swat team broke door tossed couple flashbangs entryway realized theyd gotten wrong place home open wifi routerthe threats coming street recently judges become wary granting subpoenas companies come ip addresses last month judge us district court western district washington seattle dismissed case brought studio produced elfmana directtovideo christmas movieagainst 152 anonymous defendants according judge simply identifying account holder associated ip address tells us little actually downloaded elfman may 2013 f ederal judge california came hard issued 81320 fine copyright holders porno trolling going people accused downloading porn illegally according judge plaintiff ingenuity 13 llc relied heavily ip addresses adequate enough investigation bring claims may 2012 federal district judge new york reached similar conclusion ip addresses federal judge illinois year wagner notes judges increasingly realizing ip addresses dont high degree reliability theyre160not accurate representation control computer antonelli chicago attorney takes different position sure weve seen sprinkling courts taken position says opinion enough especially look many lawsuits filed dont see trend yet notes however studios longer going tens thousands plaintiffs like 2011 late 2012 2011 example producers hurt locker160 sued almost 25000160bittorrent160usersand almost claims voluntarily dismissed studio taking long track defendants via ip addresses thats certainly changed typically see 100 defendantsi think smart move plaintiffs courts losing patience says antonelli160wanger adds possible companies think sue fewer people significant activities160thats defensible public relations approach motion picture association america recording industry association america didnt provide comment mother jones whether studios going fewer plaintiffs whether dallas buyers club producers able successfully subpoena alleged downloaders remains seen attorney representing producers return multiple requests comment really depends judge assigned case says stoltz says movies studios able bring claims plausible based facts gather suing founder website die troll die goes name john doe says started website fight alleged copyright trolls sued copyright infringementsomething160he claims didnt says hes happy see tide turning companies using ip addresses bring lawsuits told mother jones via email say firsthand threatened lawsuit someone else used internet connection horrible experience | 633 |
<p>In a 2001 case involving a patient named Babu Lal the San Francisco Police Department articulated a policy of not returning marijuana to patients, even if it had been confiscated illegally. “Federal law supercedes state law,” explained Lt. Kevin Cashman, head of the narcotics squad (and now a captain in charge of Northern Station), as if he truly wished he could accommodate Mr. Lal. “I can’t order my officers to commit a crime. It would be illegal under federal law for us to physically hand over somebody’s marijuana. It doesn’t matter if he’s a bona fide patient…”</p>
<p>The policy remained in place, as they say, until Friday, Oct. 29, when SFPD Lt. Ed Martinez handed over to Joseph Heid, 44, a bona fide patient, four ziplock bags containing a total of about 20 grams of marijuana -a two-weeks’ supply Heid had purchased (along with some edibles that were not returned) at a local dispensary on the afternoon of July 7. Heid’s medicine had been confiscated by the highway patrol that evening after he was stopped for driving erratically on US 101. Heid doesn’t fault the CHP for stopping him. He acknowledges being in a hurry, changing lanes abruptly, and maneuvering his 1999 GMC suburban in a way that could be mistaken for erratic but was actually, he says, “precision driving.”</p>
<p>An officer told Heid she smelled marijuana in the car. He produced an S.F. Department of Public Health card confirming his status as a patient. “The officers said they had never seen such a card,” recalls Heid. He told them that indeed he had smoked marijuana in the car earlier in the day, after driving to a theater and parking in the lot. Since then he had seen a movie and eaten dinner in a restaurant; about four hours had elapsed and he was unimpaired.</p>
<p>Three or four CHP cars had pulled up, according to Heid. “They seemed confused about what to do. They were inclined to think I was okay, except the supervisor, who was adamant about ‘zero-tolerance.'” He was given a field sobriety test, which he assumed he passed, but then he was taken to the city jail at 850 Bryan and charged with driving under the influence of a drug. He provided a urine sample that would subsequently reveal no recently ingested marijuana or alcohol in his system.</p>
<p>Throughout his detention, Heid says, “I was thinking, ‘These people have to go through this and find out that what they’re doing is wrong.’ I turned it around and tried to make it education. I told them: ‘I need it every day, I think I would die without it.’ I use it responsibly at my workplace. I can’t iterate enough how important it is for ITAL the supervisors END ITAL to get on board and understand that there really is medical marijuana, it’s not a hoax, it enables people like me to live and be on an even keel. Ironically, had I been high, I wouldn’t have been driving like that.”</p>
<p>Heid hired defense specialist Omar Figueroa, who arranged for him to plead no contest to a reckless driving charge (not “under the influence” of anything) and then sought the return of his modest stash, which the CHP had brought to SFPD for analysis and custody. On October 5 Figueroa filed a motion asking the Superior Court to order the return of Heid’s property.</p>
<p>Under the California Constitution, no state agency has the power to “refuse to enforce a statute on the basis that federal law or federal regulations prohibit the enforcement… unless an appellate court has made a determination that the enforcement of such statute is prohibited by federal or federal regulations.” Figueroa pointed out that no appellate court had determined that enforcing Prop 215 would violate federal law.</p>
<p>“Contrary to a somewhat common misconception,” Figueroa wrote, “the opinion of the US Supreme Court in the civil case of U.S. v. Oakland Cannabis Buyers’ Cooperative did not consider -much less decide- the question of whether federal or federal regulations prohibit the enforcement of Proposition 215 (codified as Health &amp; Safety Code 11362.5).” Justice Stevens’s dissent “took pains to make clear that the only question presented was whether the federal Controlled Substances Act countenanced a medical necessity defense.”</p>
<p>What Figueroa called “a somewhat common misconception” about the scope of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the OCBC case can be seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy by the media, whose inaccurate headlines and soundbites proclaimed “pot illegal,” and by police, sheriffs and DAs who resented Prop 215 as an infringement on their power over the citizenry and used the OCBC ruling as an excuse to ignore it.</p>
<p>Figueroa cited the Ninth Circuit’s ruling in Raich v. Aschcroft “that an individual who possesses and cultivates marijuana for medical use in accordance with California law does NOT violate federal law provided he or she does not engage in interstate commerce.”</p>
<p>For good measure, Figueroa cited 885(d), the section of the federal controlled substances act that allows undercover narcs to handle illicit drugs. If 885(d) rings a bell, you might be recalling it as the basis on which the Oakland City Council authorized Jeff Jones’s club to distribute cannabis. Ed Rosenthal claimed protection under 885(d), arguing that he’d been deputized by Jones to grow starter plants for distribution to patients.</p>
<p>Figueroa’s request for an order directing SFPD to return Joseph Heid’s marijuana was heard by Judge Donald J. Sullivan on the morning of Oct. 26. When the matter was called, Assistant District Attorney Paul Kelly requested a delay so that a police department lawyer, John Shanley, could be brought in to defend the no-return policy. Shanley could not be found, however, and when the hearing resumed, Kelly, a fair-minded prosecutor more concerned about the Red Sox’s chances than SFPD’s prerogatives, raised no objections. Judge Sullivan signed the order and Figueroa immediately handcarried it up to “Police Legal” on the fifth floor. Lt. Martinez glanced at the paperwork, then did a take. “This will take a few days,” he said. “fine,” said Omar, smiling broadly. Scotch-taped to an adjoining wall was a frayed, yellowing photocopy of a newspaper story headlined “Citizens Can’t Get Pot Back.” It referred to a ruling by Judge Wallace Douglass in the Lal case. Martinez had posted it to save himself the trouble of explaining the situation to disappointed lawyers and citizens. It is now outdated</p>
<p>“The Heid case is a victory for justice and compassion,” says Figuera. “Cannabis was recognized as lawful medicine by Judge Sullivan, and both the CHP and SFPD respected a patient’s need and right to have it.”</p>
<p>Heid used his medicine soon after retrieving it. “Seemed to be in perfect condition,” he reports. “A bit smashed, as if it had been under a ton of paperwork.”</p>
<p>FRED GARDNER can be reached at <a href="mailto:journal@ccrmg.org" type="external">journal@ccrmg.org</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 2001 case involving patient named babu lal san francisco police department articulated policy returning marijuana patients even confiscated illegally federal law supercedes state law explained lt kevin cashman head narcotics squad captain charge northern station truly wished could accommodate mr lal cant order officers commit crime would illegal federal law us physically hand somebodys marijuana doesnt matter hes bona fide patient policy remained place say friday oct 29 sfpd lt ed martinez handed joseph heid 44 bona fide patient four ziplock bags containing total 20 grams marijuana twoweeks supply heid purchased along edibles returned local dispensary afternoon july 7 heids medicine confiscated highway patrol evening stopped driving erratically us 101 heid doesnt fault chp stopping acknowledges hurry changing lanes abruptly maneuvering 1999 gmc suburban way could mistaken erratic actually says precision driving officer told heid smelled marijuana car produced sf department public health card confirming status patient officers said never seen card recalls heid told indeed smoked marijuana car earlier day driving theater parking lot since seen movie eaten dinner restaurant four hours elapsed unimpaired three four chp cars pulled according heid seemed confused inclined think okay except supervisor adamant zerotolerance given field sobriety test assumed passed taken city jail 850 bryan charged driving influence drug provided urine sample would subsequently reveal recently ingested marijuana alcohol system throughout detention heid says thinking people go find theyre wrong turned around tried make education told need every day think would die without use responsibly workplace cant iterate enough important ital supervisors end ital get board understand really medical marijuana hoax enables people like live even keel ironically high wouldnt driving like heid hired defense specialist omar figueroa arranged plead contest reckless driving charge influence anything sought return modest stash chp brought sfpd analysis custody october 5 figueroa filed motion asking superior court order return heids property california constitution state agency power refuse enforce statute basis federal law federal regulations prohibit enforcement unless appellate court made determination enforcement statute prohibited federal federal regulations figueroa pointed appellate court determined enforcing prop 215 would violate federal law contrary somewhat common misconception figueroa wrote opinion us supreme court civil case us v oakland cannabis buyers cooperative consider much less decide question whether federal federal regulations prohibit enforcement proposition 215 codified health amp safety code 113625 justice stevenss dissent took pains make clear question presented whether federal controlled substances act countenanced medical necessity defense figueroa called somewhat common misconception scope supreme courts ruling ocbc case seen selffulfilling prophecy media whose inaccurate headlines soundbites proclaimed pot illegal police sheriffs das resented prop 215 infringement power citizenry used ocbc ruling excuse ignore figueroa cited ninth circuits ruling raich v aschcroft individual possesses cultivates marijuana medical use accordance california law violate federal law provided engage interstate commerce good measure figueroa cited 885d section federal controlled substances act allows undercover narcs handle illicit drugs 885d rings bell might recalling basis oakland city council authorized jeff joness club distribute cannabis ed rosenthal claimed protection 885d arguing hed deputized jones grow starter plants distribution patients figueroas request order directing sfpd return joseph heids marijuana heard judge donald j sullivan morning oct 26 matter called assistant district attorney paul kelly requested delay police department lawyer john shanley could brought defend noreturn policy shanley could found however hearing resumed kelly fairminded prosecutor concerned red soxs chances sfpds prerogatives raised objections judge sullivan signed order figueroa immediately handcarried police legal fifth floor lt martinez glanced paperwork take take days said fine said omar smiling broadly scotchtaped adjoining wall frayed yellowing photocopy newspaper story headlined citizens cant get pot back referred ruling judge wallace douglass lal case martinez posted save trouble explaining situation disappointed lawyers citizens outdated heid case victory justice compassion says figuera cannabis recognized lawful medicine judge sullivan chp sfpd respected patients need right heid used medicine soon retrieving seemed perfect condition reports bit smashed ton paperwork fred gardner reached journalccrmgorg 160 | 647 |
<p>Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Government and Public Policy Lawrence Wilkerson's last positions in government were as Secretary of State Colin Powell's Chief of Staff (2002-05), Associate Director of the State Department's Policy Planning staff under the directorship of Ambassador Richard N. Haass, and member of that staff responsible for East Asia and the Pacific, political-military and legislative affairs (2001-02). Before serving at the State Department, Wilkerson served 31 years in the U.S. Army. During that time, he was a member of the faculty of the U.S. Naval War College (1987 to 1989), Special Assistant to General Powell when he was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989-93), and Director and Deputy Director of the U.S. Marine Corps War College at Quantico, Virginia (1993-97). Wilkerson retired from active service in 1997 as a colonel, and began work as an advisor to General Powell. He has also taught national security affairs in the Honors Program at the George Washington University. He is currently working on a book about the first George W. Bush administration.</p>
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<p /> SHARMINI PERIES: It's The Real News Network. I'm Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore. This week the world leaders will be gathering in New York for the UN General Assembly. President Donald Trump shall be giving his first speech to the UN Assembly. According to his secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, and his national security adviser, H.R. McMaster, Trump will be focusing on sovereignty, democracy, North Korea, Iran, and terrorism. He will also be focusing on the efficiency of the UN itself. We will have to wait and see whether the disturbingly hawkish views espoused by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley will be reiterated by her boss.
<p /> Also, here for the omnibus UN meeting is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He will meet with Donald Trump on Monday to push the U.S. to withdraw from the nuclear accord with Iran, something that he was not able to do under the Obama administration.
<p /> Joining us today to discuss Trump's upcoming speech before the UN General Assembly, along with Nikki Haley's recent address at the American Enterprise Institute, is Colonel Larry Wilkerson. Larry is the former chief of staff to the U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell. He is now a distinguished professor at the college of William and Mary in Virginia. He's, of course, a regular contributor here on The Real News Network.
<p /> Larry, as always, good to have you with us.
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: Good to be here, Sharmini.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, you recently wrote an article, which we published on The Real News Network site, and it's titled Here We Go Again. In it you describe Nikki Haley's remarks on the Iran nuclear deal, which you said “scared the bejesus” out of you. We have today Netanyahu meeting with President Trump, and he will present a similar argument to President Trump, which is that America's adherence to the Iran nuclear deal cannot solely depend on Iran's compliance with the agreement, but also whether Iran and other policies challenge U.S. national interests and, of course, Israel's national interests.
<p />REX TILLERSON: Well, my view on the nuclear deal is they are in technical compliance of the nuclear arrangement.
<p /> That's why all these sanctions were lifted. But since the nuclear deal has been concluded what we have witnessed is Iran has stepped up its destabilizing activities in Yemen. It's stepped up its destabilizing activities in Syria. It exports arms to Hezbollah and other terrorist groups. And it continues to conduct a very active ballistic missile program. None of that, I would believe, is consistent with that preamble commitment that was made by everyone.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Can you explain what you meant by, first, "Here we go again," and second, by this very disturbing view to undo Iran’s nuclear agreement?
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: I think there's a real disconnect between what the previous administration saw with regard to Iran and what, for political reasons or perhaps even national security reasons, one has a hard time telling with this administration, are very different for the Trump administration. That said, let's look at it for a moment from our allies, our friends, and even our enemies in the world, and those who might fall somewhere in between. The United States negotiates in supposedly good faith a diplomatic agreement, signs that agreement, does so in consonance with the other permanent members of the UN Security Council, and Germany, and with a lot of facilitation by the European Union, and buy-in by the Union. And the next administration looks as if it's going to abrogate that agreement with no real reason that the rest of the world, predominantly those powers I just enumerated, can understand.
<p /> Who in his right mind as a state in today's world would want to do any diplomatic business with the United States when one administration can say one thing and the other administration can come in and negate that thing and take its own course with regard to such a serious action as the nuclear non-proliferation treaty and Iran's abidance thereby? This is incredible what is happening.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, let's listen to Ambassador Haley, a short clip of her speaking at the new conservative think tank, the American Enterprise Institute.
<p />NIKKI HALEY: The truth is the Iran deal has so many flaws that it's tempting to leave it, but the deal was constructed in a way that makes leaving it less attractive. It gave Iran what it wanted upfront in exchange for temporary promises to deliver what we want. That's not good.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, there's various positions coming into convergence here. The position of the U.S., of course, and Israel second, and Saudi Arabia third in terms of pushing back on Iran's nuclear deal and trying to get Iran in a position where it feels threatened in the region and, of course, threatened by all kinds of measures, including more sanctions. Tell us what's going on here. Is the Israeli interest, U.S. interest, and, of course, the Saudi’s interest all converging here?
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: We are looking at a more sophisticated and perhaps more subtle, after all, even pigs learn when they do find some acorns, attempt to do the same thing that was done in 2002 and early 2003. To wit, to convince the American people, we don't even care about the international community anymore, but the American people or at least the majority of them or at least the base that voted for Trump, that Iran is in noncompliance with the nuclear agreement even though we've certified its in compliance, or, and this is at the same time, that the other activities of Iran, some of which are explicable, very explicable, very rational, very reasonable even, and some of the activities that are not so reasonable and explicable but are nonetheless inimical to the United States are in fact reason to abrogate the most important aspect of a security agreement, nuclear weapons. That's all the diplomacy was about was nuclear weapons. We never would have achieved the diplomacy and a non-nuclear weapon state in Iran if we hadn't limited to just nuclear weapons.
<p /> The other issues, like it's constantly said, as Haley did, support for terrorism. Iran does not support terrorists of any great width and breadth like Saudi Arabia does or like, for that matter, other members of the GCC do. Iran supports one group. That group is called Hezbollah. We don't like Iran's support of Hezbollah because Hezbollah is the principle enemy, perhaps the most capable enemy, of the state of Israel. So Iran's support of terrorism is pure hokey. Iran supports Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a terrorist organization is a determination that we have made and we have made it based on certain principles, which are reasonable and I can agree with. But let's call a spade a spade. Iran supports Hezbollah. It doesn't support terrorist organizations, plural.
<p /> The other thing we've talked about is ballistic missiles and Iran's development of ballistic missiles, which is entirely reasonable, entirely explicable, because Iran went through one of the most brutal wars, if not the most brutal war, in the region in the last millennium. That was the Iran/Iraq war. The only way Iran was able to defend itself in a decisive way was with ballistic missiles. Iraq, we must recall, whom we were supporting, rained ballistic missiles on Iran. So I wouldn't fault them at all for developing the only weaponry they can in that sense to defend themselves. Most of the other things with which they might defend themselves, we have sanctioned in terms of their ability to keep them up, to maintain them, to train on them, to use them, and so forth. So it's quite explicable why Iran is doing this.
<p /> The other thing, of course, Iran is doing is it is becoming a major power in what remains of Syria. It is also contesting the brutal Saudi war in Yemen, which we're supporting the Saudis in, I must say to my disgrace and shame as an American. So you have to look at this from a much more nuanced point of view, a much more sophisticated point of view, which is not what the George W. Bush administration would do with regard to Iraq in 2002 and '03. Instead, we looked at it as possessing weapons of mass destruction. Tony Blair said 45 minutes warning time. We said that it was a threat to its neighbors and a threat to us. We insinuated it was an existential threat. It was no such thing.
<p /> So while Nikki Haley and her gang have learned to be a little more circumspect and a little more sophisticated, they still are distorting the facts, lying outright. They still are trying to march this country to a position where it does not necessarily need to go. Maybe some day we will. Maybe some day there'll be no choice but a war with Iran, but we don't need to go there right now. We certainly don't need to abrogate the only success that we've had with regard to Iran, which is to stop their nuclear weapons program in its tracks.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, in your article you write, "Here we go again." This is the title of the piece. You are reminiscing on these moments in the past administration of George W. Bush. Now, who is advising Trump that you think is problematic here? I did mention off the top that Netanyahu is here. He will be meeting with Trump just prior to Trump's speech tomorrow at the United Nations. Is this a lot of what determines US foreign policy, Israel?
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: It is. As we discussed within the group that helped President Obama work the JCPOA, the nuclear agreement with Iran, through the U.S. Congress, we worked with them, we validated our work often with members of Mossad, of the Israeli Defense Force, of the different political parties in Israel, and other experts retired and active within their intelligence and their security community in general. What we found was that in a tone and tint way, and oftentimes in a very straightforward way, these people, even if they were on active duty so to speak, were in agreement with us and not with Netanyahu about the benefits of the nuclear agreement with Iran.
<p /> They did have some reservations. They wanted to see what we were going to do in the interim. That is to say, when we reached the 15 and then the 20-year point and so forth what plans we had for going beyond that, how we were going to make sure that there was a follow-on agreement perhaps, a follow on adherence to the NPT, but by and large they recognized the nuclear agreement as what you might call on the hierarchy of bad choices, in other words they were all bad, as the better of the bad choices, and they were for the nuclear agreement. Of course, they couldn't in many cases be public about this, because they could be defying their own government.
<p /> So here we have Avigdor Lieberman, the minister of defense, and maybe Netanyahu, is really the ultra right-wing Israeli politicians who are trying to hold on to power in their own country and see Iran as an instrument of political use in that regard and want to make Iran the bugaboo, the security bugaboo. Let's look at what Netanyahu's done with his policies so far. His policy has been to help the United States and others create chaos in the region. That chaos strategically would mean that Israel was safe, at least for an interim period of time, because all the countries that might bring some kind of harm to Israel, Syria, Iraq and so forth, would be involved in this chaos. So Israel would be safe.
<p /> Well, look what he got with that strategic objective. He's got Israel into a position where it's in more danger now than it's been since probably 1948 in its founding. He's got countries all around him who are ready and willing, possibly, to challenge him. Not least of which is Iran, which has gained a very much cheek and jowl chokehold on Syria. Hezbollah in Syria helping Iran. Syria itself, which has just beat off a terrible insurgency, and did so largely because of the Sunni, not the Shia, the Sunni members of the Saudi military. And he's got the Kurds surrounding him seeking autonomous nature, a state, seeking to be independent in Iraq, independent maybe in Syria and Turkey, looking at all of that with aspirations of maybe leaving NATO, making Russia its principal supplier of weaponry and becoming a neutral country. I mean, Netanyahu's worked a miracle in southwest Asia.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: All right. Larry, one thing that's very interesting is that UN, of course, is supposed to represent all of the nation-states involved, and yet more and more it is responding to the United States’ demands at the UN. You've been there. You're a diplomat. You served, and you dealt with the United Nations a lot. How much weight does the United States have in order to overturn these kinds of multilaterally-negotiated deals like that of the Iran nuclear deal?
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: The United States can walk away from the agreement any time it wants to. There's no question about that. It's within the president's prerogative to do so. He's got the support of, I think, the majority of the legislature. Some democrats, mostly republicans. Most of that is based on Israel, too. Don't ask me why Chuck Schumer would be against the deal, except that I would answer in one word: Israel. Israel. Israel. That's three words, but the same one thrice. So there's no question that the president can say: I'm out of this agreement.
<p /> What that does within the UN community and within the global community in general, though, particularly to our allies, is tell them not only are we untrustworthy, not only do we not adhere to agreements that previous administrations have engineered, not only do we feel that Article 5, for example in NATO is no longer is relevant, if it's relevant at all, certainly not as relevant as it was, not only do we want to make America great again but we want to make it great again without anyone else's help and without providing any help to anyone else. But we are also a diplomatic fiasco in all respects. We essentially aren't going to adhere to an agreement that others are signed up to and that we signed up to in good faith. We're going to do it. We're going to back out for some reasons that the rest of the world's not going to understand.
<p /> The United Nations is, in some respects, what Donald Trump has alluded to it as being, it's a talking shop. It's a place where people come together, mostly diplomats from all the countries in the world, and they sit down and they talk. But as Winston Churchill said, jaw-jaw is a lot better than war-war. That's what it was intended to be. One of the things the American people don't understand about the UN is the UN for years from its creation on has been a tool of the United States in many respects. More often than not, we get what we want from the UN, and we get it either by criticizing the UN when we want to and when we know why we're doing it, or we get it with compliance from the UN. But the UN has been as much a tool of American diplomacy in the world and American nefariousness in the world from time to time as any other tool in our toolbox.
<p /> So to disparage the UN is one thing in terms of political purpose in the United States. It's quite another thing when it comes to the real purpose of the UN and how the UN has been used by the U.S. from time to time from the Korean War on for its own purposes.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Right. Larry, before we go we're going to take a look at a clip of Donald Trump today at a ECOSOC meeting talking about how bureaucratic the United Nations is and how it needs reform. Let's have a listen.
<p />DONALD TRUMP: Yet in recent years, the United Nations has not reached its full potential because of bureaucracy and mismanagement. While the United Nations on a regular budget has increased 140% and its staff has more than doubled since 2000, we are not seeing the results in line with this investment. We must ensure that no one and no member state shoulders a disproportionate share of the burden. That's militarily or financially. We also ask that every peacekeeping mission have clearly defined goals and metrics for evaluating success.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Larry, you're a diplomat, or you were one under the Bush administration. You know the workings of the United Nations fairly well. Is Donald Trump correct here? Is there a big large bureaucracy at the UN that's highly inefficient?
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: Well, it sounds like Ronald Reagan without the skills, diplomatic, political, or otherwise. Many of the things he said are true, and are true of the United States as well, and also true of the European Union and true of Russia and true of China, true of any great state entity or international organization. Bureaucracy is not a pejorative, Mr. Trump. It is not a pejorative. You can call it the deep state. You can call it the meritocracy. You can call it whatever you want to, but it's what makes the world go around. Not you and your real estate business, not you and your deals with Russia, not you and your deals with the rest of the world building hotels and so forth. That's an important part of the commercial relations of this country and the world. But it's not a part of what keeps war from happening. It's not a part of what keeps nations talking to one another rather than in conflict with one another.
<p /> I don't care where you do that or how you do that, you're going to need a bureaucracy. You're going to need people who actually make the trains run on time day after day. You're going to need resources. Is there corruption in expending those resources? Is there misuse of those resources? Of course. There's the same thing in Washington, the same thing in Moscow, the same thing in Beijing and so forth. It's the nature of man. If we were angels, we wouldn't need governments.
<p /> So to criticize the United Nations, it's not very productive. What's productive is doing the right kind of talking, bringing the right kind of leverage, bringing the right kind of incentives, doing the right kind of operations, whether they're peacekeeping operations under Chapter 6 or under Chapter 7. I must differ with Mr. Trump. When you are a country as gifted as the United States is or as China is or as Japan is or some of the other countries that run down that spectrum of OECD countries and countries that are called developed and have more money than they know what to do with sometimes, which is why they have so much corruption perhaps, you owe something back. You owe something back.
<p /> I remember when Ronald Reagan restored the UN arrears or paid the UN arrears that the United States owed. That was a dramatic moment. It was a good moment for Ronald Reagan because he was reasserting the United States' support for the concept that is the United Nations. As corrupt and inefficient as that concept may be, it's the only one we've got. So Ronald Reagan was saying I'm going to restore the U.S. arrearage. I'm going to pay our dues. It is excessive in terms of the percentage that the US pays as opposed to other countries, but then we owe that back to the world. After all, that's where we made that money in the first place.
<p /> So I don't see anything wrong with that. I do think efficiency should be attempted. I do think corruption should be rubbed out and so forth. But I think the basic concept of the United Nations as a talking house is solid and sound and has been more in the past half century-plus since its founding to the benefit of the United States rather than to its detriment.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: All right. Larry, I thank you so much for joining us today. Lots of things to think about there.
<p />LARRY WILKERSON: Thank you, Sharmini.
<p />SHARMINI PERIES: Thank you for joining us here on The Real News Network. | true | 4 | distinguished adjunct professor government public policy lawrence wilkersons last positions government secretary state colin powells chief staff 200205 associate director state departments policy planning staff directorship ambassador richard n haass member staff responsible east asia pacific politicalmilitary legislative affairs 200102 serving state department wilkerson served 31 years us army time member faculty us naval war college 1987 1989 special assistant general powell chairman joint chiefs staff 198993 director deputy director us marine corps war college quantico virginia 199397 wilkerson retired active service 1997 colonel began work advisor general powell also taught national security affairs honors program george washington university currently working book first george w bush administration sharmini peries real news network im sharmini peries coming baltimore week world leaders gathering new york un general assembly president donald trump shall giving first speech un assembly according secretary state rex tillerson national security adviser hr mcmaster trump focusing sovereignty democracy north korea iran terrorism also focusing efficiency un wait see whether disturbingly hawkish views espoused us ambassador un nikki haley reiterated boss also omnibus un meeting israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu meet donald trump monday push us withdraw nuclear accord iran something able obama administration joining us today discuss trumps upcoming speech un general assembly along nikki haleys recent address american enterprise institute colonel larry wilkerson larry former chief staff us secretary state colin powell distinguished professor college william mary virginia hes course regular contributor real news network larry always good us larry wilkerson good sharmini sharmini peries larry recently wrote article published real news network site titled go describe nikki haleys remarks iran nuclear deal said scared bejesus today netanyahu meeting president trump present similar argument president trump americas adherence iran nuclear deal solely depend irans compliance agreement also whether iran policies challenge us national interests course israels national interests rex tillerson well view nuclear deal technical compliance nuclear arrangement thats sanctions lifted since nuclear deal concluded witnessed iran stepped destabilizing activities yemen stepped destabilizing activities syria exports arms hezbollah terrorist groups continues conduct active ballistic missile program none would believe consistent preamble commitment made everyone sharmini peries explain meant first go second disturbing view undo irans nuclear agreement larry wilkerson think theres real disconnect previous administration saw regard iran political reasons perhaps even national security reasons one hard time telling administration different trump administration said lets look moment allies friends even enemies world might fall somewhere united states negotiates supposedly good faith diplomatic agreement signs agreement consonance permanent members un security council germany lot facilitation european union buyin union next administration looks going abrogate agreement real reason rest world predominantly powers enumerated understand right mind state todays world would want diplomatic business united states one administration say one thing administration come negate thing take course regard serious action nuclear nonproliferation treaty irans abidance thereby incredible happening sharmini peries larry lets listen ambassador haley short clip speaking new conservative think tank american enterprise institute nikki haley truth iran deal many flaws tempting leave deal constructed way makes leaving less attractive gave iran wanted upfront exchange temporary promises deliver want thats good sharmini peries larry theres various positions coming convergence position us course israel second saudi arabia third terms pushing back irans nuclear deal trying get iran position feels threatened region course threatened kinds measures including sanctions tell us whats going israeli interest us interest course saudis interest converging larry wilkerson looking sophisticated perhaps subtle even pigs learn find acorns attempt thing done 2002 early 2003 wit convince american people dont even care international community anymore american people least majority least base voted trump iran noncompliance nuclear agreement even though weve certified compliance time activities iran explicable explicable rational reasonable even activities reasonable explicable nonetheless inimical united states fact reason abrogate important aspect security agreement nuclear weapons thats diplomacy nuclear weapons never would achieved diplomacy nonnuclear weapon state iran hadnt limited nuclear weapons issues like constantly said haley support terrorism iran support terrorists great width breadth like saudi arabia like matter members gcc iran supports one group group called hezbollah dont like irans support hezbollah hezbollah principle enemy perhaps capable enemy state israel irans support terrorism pure hokey iran supports hezbollah hezbollah terrorist organization determination made made based certain principles reasonable agree lets call spade spade iran supports hezbollah doesnt support terrorist organizations plural thing weve talked ballistic missiles irans development ballistic missiles entirely reasonable entirely explicable iran went one brutal wars brutal war region last millennium iraniraq war way iran able defend decisive way ballistic missiles iraq must recall supporting rained ballistic missiles iran wouldnt fault developing weaponry sense defend things might defend sanctioned terms ability keep maintain train use forth quite explicable iran thing course iran becoming major power remains syria also contesting brutal saudi war yemen supporting saudis must say disgrace shame american look much nuanced point view much sophisticated point view george w bush administration would regard iraq 2002 03 instead looked possessing weapons mass destruction tony blair said 45 minutes warning time said threat neighbors threat us insinuated existential threat thing nikki haley gang learned little circumspect little sophisticated still distorting facts lying outright still trying march country position necessarily need go maybe day maybe day therell choice war iran dont need go right certainly dont need abrogate success weve regard iran stop nuclear weapons program tracks sharmini peries larry article write go title piece reminiscing moments past administration george w bush advising trump think problematic mention top netanyahu meeting trump prior trumps speech tomorrow united nations lot determines us foreign policy israel larry wilkerson discussed within group helped president obama work jcpoa nuclear agreement iran us congress worked validated work often members mossad israeli defense force different political parties israel experts retired active within intelligence security community general found tone tint way oftentimes straightforward way people even active duty speak agreement us netanyahu benefits nuclear agreement iran reservations wanted see going interim say reached 15 20year point forth plans going beyond going make sure followon agreement perhaps follow adherence npt large recognized nuclear agreement might call hierarchy bad choices words bad better bad choices nuclear agreement course couldnt many cases public could defying government avigdor lieberman minister defense maybe netanyahu really ultra rightwing israeli politicians trying hold power country see iran instrument political use regard want make iran bugaboo security bugaboo lets look netanyahus done policies far policy help united states others create chaos region chaos strategically would mean israel safe least interim period time countries might bring kind harm israel syria iraq forth would involved chaos israel would safe well look got strategic objective hes got israel position danger since probably 1948 founding hes got countries around ready willing possibly challenge least iran gained much cheek jowl chokehold syria hezbollah syria helping iran syria beat terrible insurgency largely sunni shia sunni members saudi military hes got kurds surrounding seeking autonomous nature state seeking independent iraq independent maybe syria turkey looking aspirations maybe leaving nato making russia principal supplier weaponry becoming neutral country mean netanyahus worked miracle southwest asia sharmini peries right larry one thing thats interesting un course supposed represent nationstates involved yet responding united states demands un youve youre diplomat served dealt united nations lot much weight united states order overturn kinds multilaterallynegotiated deals like iran nuclear deal larry wilkerson united states walk away agreement time wants theres question within presidents prerogative hes got support think majority legislature democrats mostly republicans based israel dont ask chuck schumer would deal except would answer one word israel israel israel thats three words one thrice theres question president say im agreement within un community within global community general though particularly allies tell untrustworthy adhere agreements previous administrations engineered feel article 5 example nato longer relevant relevant certainly relevant want make america great want make great without anyone elses help without providing help anyone else also diplomatic fiasco respects essentially arent going adhere agreement others signed signed good faith going going back reasons rest worlds going understand united nations respects donald trump alluded talking shop place people come together mostly diplomats countries world sit talk winston churchill said jawjaw lot better warwar thats intended one things american people dont understand un un years creation tool united states many respects often get want un get either criticizing un want know get compliance un un much tool american diplomacy world american nefariousness world time time tool toolbox disparage un one thing terms political purpose united states quite another thing comes real purpose un un used us time time korean war purposes sharmini peries right larry go going take look clip donald trump today ecosoc meeting talking bureaucratic united nations needs reform lets listen donald trump yet recent years united nations reached full potential bureaucracy mismanagement united nations regular budget increased 140 staff doubled since 2000 seeing results line investment must ensure one member state shoulders disproportionate share burden thats militarily financially also ask every peacekeeping mission clearly defined goals metrics evaluating success sharmini peries larry youre diplomat one bush administration know workings united nations fairly well donald trump correct big large bureaucracy un thats highly inefficient larry wilkerson well sounds like ronald reagan without skills diplomatic political otherwise many things said true true united states well also true european union true russia true china true great state entity international organization bureaucracy pejorative mr trump pejorative call deep state call meritocracy call whatever want makes world go around real estate business deals russia deals rest world building hotels forth thats important part commercial relations country world part keeps war happening part keeps nations talking one another rather conflict one another dont care youre going need bureaucracy youre going need people actually make trains run time day day youre going need resources corruption expending resources misuse resources course theres thing washington thing moscow thing beijing forth nature man angels wouldnt need governments criticize united nations productive whats productive right kind talking bringing right kind leverage bringing right kind incentives right kind operations whether theyre peacekeeping operations chapter 6 chapter 7 must differ mr trump country gifted united states china japan countries run spectrum oecd countries countries called developed money know sometimes much corruption perhaps owe something back owe something back remember ronald reagan restored un arrears paid un arrears united states owed dramatic moment good moment ronald reagan reasserting united states support concept united nations corrupt inefficient concept may one weve got ronald reagan saying im going restore us arrearage im going pay dues excessive terms percentage us pays opposed countries owe back world thats made money first place dont see anything wrong think efficiency attempted think corruption rubbed forth think basic concept united nations talking house solid sound past half centuryplus since founding benefit united states rather detriment sharmini peries right larry thank much joining us today lots things think larry wilkerson thank sharmini sharmini peries thank joining us real news network | 1,802 |
<p>Occupy Wall Street’s (OWS) nationwide May Day campaign was undertaken in New York and some 100-plus other cities.&#160; Its goal was twofold.&#160; First, it sought to focus attention on the major banks, the principal culprits in the still lingering fiscal crisis.&#160; Second, it sought to highlight the growing inequality deforming American society, which still resonance as an election-year issue.</p>
<p>The day’s gathering drew thousands across the country.&#160; Those who assembled were enraged and, for the most part, law-abiding citizen who drew the expected responses from local law enforcement agents, those duly sworn to protect the interests of the 1 percent — clubbings, roundups and arrests.</p>
<p>In New York at least 50 people were busted and roundups occurred in many other cities as well.&#160; The local police are increasingly being deployed to restrict if not prevent mass political actions, especially directed at the banks.</p>
<p>May Day has come and gone, but there are lessons to be learned.&#160; In particular, the forces of established order, especially government officials and law enforcement agents, are perfecting their policing techniques to suppress popular democracy.</p>
<p>Local government officials held conference calls to plan their strategic responses.&#160; Local law agents coordinated their efforts with federal authorities.&#160; One innovative tactic saw many of the world’s biggest banks take up a pro-active campaign to fight OWS.&#160;&#160; In anticipation of the May Day mobilizations, these banks not only worked with one another but with local police and private industry-security consultants to gather intelligence to thwart the OWS campaign.</p>
<p>OWS’s May Day rallies were an exception to the vicissitudes of daily life.&#160; They were highly organized political actions, qualitatively different from the humdrum ordinariness of everyday life.&#160; But in their exception, they point toward the workings of the new police surveillance state.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The coordinated federal, state and private security apparatus jointly responded to OWS’s May Day mobilization.&#160; This represented a new stage in the militarization of government efforts to curtail mass democratic protest.</p>
<p>An initial indication of this coordinated effort was revealed in November 2011 when Oakland’s Mayor Jean Quan admitted in a BBC interview, “I was recently on a conference call with 18 cities across the country,” she admitted, “who had the same situation. . . .”&#160; Further evidence of a coordinated strategy came from the US Conference of Mayors.&#160; It confirmed that during late-2011 it held two conference calls with mayors and police officials.</p>
<p>In addition, the Police Executive Research Forum, a national police group, revealed that police officials from nearly 40 cities participated in conference calls on how to best handle OWS.</p>
<p>Brian McNary, director of global risk at Pinkerton Consulting &amp;&#160;Investigations, acknowledged the full scope of police and corporate collaboration in law-enforcement planning.&#160; His clients, international financial firms, retained him to “identify, map and track” protesters.&#160; They were tracked across all social media as well as gatherings and demonstrations.&#160; Proudly, he admits that these companies gathered data “carefully and methodically.” &#160;Their goal is to prevent business&#160;disruptions.</p>
<p>In anticipation of the Chicago anti-NATO demonstrations in May, banks gathered and shared information from video surveillance, robots and officers in nearby buildings.&#160; As NcNary admitted, this give “a real-time, 360-degree” view of what was happening.</p>
<p>Earlier this year it was further revealed that federal officials actively monitored and coordinated efforts to subvert OWS.&#160; The DHS seems to have taken the lead, involving a number of its agencies including ICE, the Coast Guard and the TSA’s Federal Air Marshals.&#160; In addition, still other federal agencies participated in OWS surveillance including the US Marshals, the Secret Service and the FBI.&#160; According to a DHS memo, its officials were “actively engaged with local law enforcement and trade partners to establish contingency plans.”</p>
<p>Local law enforcement officials likely employed a variety of tactics to subvert OWS.&#160; Given 21st technology, the demos were likely videotaped, individuals photographed, OWS websites monitored and the cellphone records of the ostensible OWS leadership monitored.</p>
<p>Under conditions of post-9/11 “war on terror” military preparedness, every demonstrator is conceived as a potential terrorist. &#160;There have been reports of police undercover agents infiltrating local OWS groups and agents provocateurs provoking isolated elements of an otherwise nonviolent movement into criminal activity.&#160; Police around the world have used versions of these tactics to quell civil discontent for centuries and continue to do as evident from the ongoing Arab Spring.</p>
<p>Drawing inspiration from judges in Syria and China, a New York judge ordered the social networking site, Twitter, to turn over three months worth of user data of an OWS activist, Malcolm Harris.&#160; He had been busted in last year’s Brooklyn Bridge fracas and the cops are throwing the widest net to find “evidence” of wrongdoing.&#160; The ACLU, the EEF and Public Citizen have joined Twitter in fighting the order.</p>
<p>In the face of the nation’s ongoing economic stagnation and OWS’s ability to give voice and direction to popular dissatisfaction, law enforcement officials are seeking new, more high-tech methods to contain popular outrage.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>On July&#160;9th, Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) released the first set of findings from the House’s Bipartisan Congressional Privacy Caucus.&#160; It found that, in 2011, over 1.3 million federal, state and local law enforcement data requests were made to cellphone companies for personal records.</p>
<p>Among the tracking information provided to law enforcement entities were: geo-locational or GPS data, 911 call responses, text message content, billing records, wiretaps, PING location data and what are known as cell tower “dumps” (i.e., a carrier provides all the phones numbers of cell users that connect with a discrete tower during a discrete period of time).</p>
<p>Rep.&#160;Markey&#160;findings are from nine of the nation’s leading wireless service providers: AT&amp;T, C Spire Wireless, Cricket,&#160;MetroPCS, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, TracFone&#160;Wireless, U.S. Cellular and Verizon. &#160;Each company claimed that it fulfills law enforcement requests based on either (i) the demands of “exigent” circumstance (e.g., a 911 inquiry) or (ii) having received a valid subpoena, etc.</p>
<p>In a separate and equally revealing disclosure, the ACLU obtained the information from over 200 local law enforcement agencies from around the country.&#160; It found that cell-phone tracking is engaged in by an “overwhelming majority”&#160;of the 200 entities that reported. But usage varies considerably. A law enforcement entity in Raleigh, NC, reported tracking hundred of calls a year while 10 groups claimed they had never used tracking.</p>
<p>Most disturbing, the <a href="http://www.aclu.org/protecting-civil-liberties-digital-age/cell-phone-location-tracking-public-records-request" type="external">ACLU found</a> that most agencies that engaged in cell-phone tracking did not obtain a warrant, subpoena or other court order.</p>
<p>There is a peculiar difference between what the cellphone companies “formally”&#160;report (i.e., in a legal document) and what police agencies “informally” admit (i.e., in a nonbinding questionnaire). &#160;It suggests an interesting grey area. The difference between the claims – i.e., carriers met legal requirements vs. agencies rarely use warrants – is, in all likelihood, the shared fiction that keeps the whole system of deceit functioning.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>The Republican and Democratic Party conventions later this summer will probably witness the mass arrest of many American citizens assembling to exercise their 1st Amendment rights.&#160; Mass arrests accompanied the Republican conventions held in New York in 2004, when 900 people were busted, and in St. Paul in 2008 when 300 were detained, including 30 journalists.</p>
<p>A political convention is designated a “ <a href="http://www.secretservice.gov/nsse.shtml" type="external">National Special Security Event</a>” (NSSE), a category of state security originally established by&#160;Pres. Clinton through a classified 1998 directive.&#160;&#160;NSSEs&#160;also include the Olympics, the Super Bowl and gatherings of world leaders like the&#160;G20&#160;or NATO summits.</p>
<p>An NSSE event gives federal and local law enforcement wide discretion, often leading them to treat protestors as potential terrorists, threats to national security.&#160; This attitude was visible in the NATO summit held in Chicago in May.&#160; Approximately 70 people were busted over two days, including three for “terrorism,” allegedly planning to fire bomb the Obama campaign headquarters.</p>
<p>Less reported upon but perhaps more illuminating, law enforcement authorities cobbled together a small army to execute the Chicago&#160;NSSE&#160;campaign.&#160; In addition to the estimated 3,100 members of the Chicago Police Dept., ground troops came from near and far.&#160; For example, the Illinois State Police contributed 700 troopers, Milwaukee supplied 100 officers, a Philadelphia contingent consisted of 68 officers and still other police personnel came Charlotte-Mecklenburg.</p>
<p>Major-party conventions are designated&#160;NSSE&#160;campaigns.&#160; The Secret Service will oversee the Republican convention in Tampa Bay, FL, from August 27-30, 2012, as well as the Democratic Party convention takes place in Charlotte, NC, from September 3-6, 2012.</p>
<p>The mass mobilization opposing the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Seattle in 1999 was the game-changer in popular protest.&#160; The forces of&#160;corporate-state order were unprepared for what took place; 157 people were arrested and nearly all released for lack of probable cause or hard evidence.</p>
<p>In the intervening decade, popular protest has begun to build and the forces of authority have gotten smarter.&#160; They have put in place increasingly repressive legal provisions and sophisticated, high-tech policing techniques to restrict mass political assembly.&#160; For more than a decade, 9/11 has provided the rationale for an expanded state military and security apparatus.</p>
<p>Today, the fears of 9/11 are waning and the political-military failures in Iraq and Afghanistan (like in Vietnam a generation earlier) are self-evident.&#160; To maintain the massive military, intelligence and policing apparatus of state power, a new enemy has to be identified.&#160; In the globalization war for resources, todays “enemy” is China and Iran; in the domestic struggle over inequality, its political activists.</p>
<p>Popular unrest and mass arrest marked the 2004 and 2008 Republican conventions.&#160; More troubling, arrests at&#160;OWS&#160;gathering in New York (e.g., 700 arrested in Brooklyn Bridge march) and Chicago (e.g., 175 arrested in Congress Plaza) suggest just how prepared the state is getting.&#160; The hot summer of 2012 is coming to a boil.</p>
<p>David Rosen&#160;writes the blog, Media Current, for Filmmaker and regularly contributes to the Brooklyn Rail; he can be reached at&#160; <a href="mailto:drosennyc@verizon.net" type="external">drosennyc@verizon.net</a>.</p> | true | 4 | occupy wall streets ows nationwide may day campaign undertaken new york 100plus cities160 goal twofold160 first sought focus attention major banks principal culprits still lingering fiscal crisis160 second sought highlight growing inequality deforming american society still resonance electionyear issue days gathering drew thousands across country160 assembled enraged part lawabiding citizen drew expected responses local law enforcement agents duly sworn protect interests 1 percent clubbings roundups arrests new york least 50 people busted roundups occurred many cities well160 local police increasingly deployed restrict prevent mass political actions especially directed banks may day come gone lessons learned160 particular forces established order especially government officials law enforcement agents perfecting policing techniques suppress popular democracy local government officials held conference calls plan strategic responses160 local law agents coordinated efforts federal authorities160 one innovative tactic saw many worlds biggest banks take proactive campaign fight ows160160 anticipation may day mobilizations banks worked one another local police private industrysecurity consultants gather intelligence thwart ows campaign owss may day rallies exception vicissitudes daily life160 highly organized political actions qualitatively different humdrum ordinariness everyday life160 exception point toward workings new police surveillance state coordinated federal state private security apparatus jointly responded owss may day mobilization160 represented new stage militarization government efforts curtail mass democratic protest initial indication coordinated effort revealed november 2011 oaklands mayor jean quan admitted bbc interview recently conference call 18 cities across country admitted situation 160 evidence coordinated strategy came us conference mayors160 confirmed late2011 held two conference calls mayors police officials addition police executive research forum national police group revealed police officials nearly 40 cities participated conference calls best handle ows brian mcnary director global risk pinkerton consulting amp160investigations acknowledged full scope police corporate collaboration lawenforcement planning160 clients international financial firms retained identify map track protesters160 tracked across social media well gatherings demonstrations160 proudly admits companies gathered data carefully methodically 160their goal prevent business160disruptions anticipation chicago antinato demonstrations may banks gathered shared information video surveillance robots officers nearby buildings160 ncnary admitted give realtime 360degree view happening earlier year revealed federal officials actively monitored coordinated efforts subvert ows160 dhs seems taken lead involving number agencies including ice coast guard tsas federal air marshals160 addition still federal agencies participated ows surveillance including us marshals secret service fbi160 according dhs memo officials actively engaged local law enforcement trade partners establish contingency plans local law enforcement officials likely employed variety tactics subvert ows160 given 21st technology demos likely videotaped individuals photographed ows websites monitored cellphone records ostensible ows leadership monitored conditions post911 war terror military preparedness every demonstrator conceived potential terrorist 160there reports police undercover agents infiltrating local ows groups agents provocateurs provoking isolated elements otherwise nonviolent movement criminal activity160 police around world used versions tactics quell civil discontent centuries continue evident ongoing arab spring drawing inspiration judges syria china new york judge ordered social networking site twitter turn three months worth user data ows activist malcolm harris160 busted last years brooklyn bridge fracas cops throwing widest net find evidence wrongdoing160 aclu eef public citizen joined twitter fighting order face nations ongoing economic stagnation owss ability give voice direction popular dissatisfaction law enforcement officials seeking new hightech methods contain popular outrage july1609th rep ed markey dma released first set findings houses bipartisan congressional privacy caucus160 found 2011 13 million federal state local law enforcement data requests made cellphone companies personal records among tracking information provided law enforcement entities geolocational gps data 911 call responses text message content billing records wiretaps ping location data known cell tower dumps ie carrier provides phones numbers cell users connect discrete tower discrete period time rep160markey160findings nine nations leading wireless service providers atampt c spire wireless cricket160metropcs sprint nextel tmobile tracfone160wireless us cellular verizon 160each company claimed fulfills law enforcement requests based either demands exigent circumstance eg 911 inquiry ii received valid subpoena etc separate equally revealing disclosure aclu obtained information 200 local law enforcement agencies around country160 found cellphone tracking engaged overwhelming majority160of 200 entities reported usage varies considerably law enforcement entity raleigh nc reported tracking hundred calls year 10 groups claimed never used tracking disturbing aclu found agencies engaged cellphone tracking obtain warrant subpoena court order peculiar difference cellphone companies formally160report ie legal document police agencies informally admit ie nonbinding questionnaire 160it suggests interesting grey area difference claims ie carriers met legal requirements vs agencies rarely use warrants likelihood shared fiction keeps whole system deceit functioning republican democratic party conventions later summer probably witness mass arrest many american citizens assembling exercise 1st amendment rights160 mass arrests accompanied republican conventions held new york 2004 900 people busted st paul 2008 300 detained including 30 journalists political convention designated national special security event nsse category state security originally established by160pres clinton classified 1998 directive160160nsses160also include olympics super bowl gatherings world leaders like the160g20160or nato summits nsse event gives federal local law enforcement wide discretion often leading treat protestors potential terrorists threats national security160 attitude visible nato summit held chicago may160 approximately 70 people busted two days including three terrorism allegedly planning fire bomb obama campaign headquarters less reported upon perhaps illuminating law enforcement authorities cobbled together small army execute chicago160nsse160campaign160 addition estimated 3100 members chicago police dept ground troops came near far160 example illinois state police contributed 700 troopers milwaukee supplied 100 officers philadelphia contingent consisted 68 officers still police personnel came charlottemecklenburg majorparty conventions designated160nsse160campaigns160 secret service oversee republican convention tampa bay fl august 2730 2012 well democratic party convention takes place charlotte nc september 36 2012 mass mobilization opposing world trade organization wto seattle 1999 gamechanger popular protest160 forces of160corporatestate order unprepared took place 157 people arrested nearly released lack probable cause hard evidence intervening decade popular protest begun build forces authority gotten smarter160 put place increasingly repressive legal provisions sophisticated hightech policing techniques restrict mass political assembly160 decade 911 provided rationale expanded state military security apparatus today fears 911 waning politicalmilitary failures iraq afghanistan like vietnam generation earlier selfevident160 maintain massive military intelligence policing apparatus state power new enemy identified160 globalization war resources todays enemy china iran domestic struggle inequality political activists popular unrest mass arrest marked 2004 2008 republican conventions160 troubling arrests at160ows160gathering new york eg 700 arrested brooklyn bridge march chicago eg 175 arrested congress plaza suggest prepared state getting160 hot summer 2012 coming boil david rosen160writes blog media current filmmaker regularly contributes brooklyn rail reached at160 drosennycverizonnet | 1,049 |
<p>For tourists interested in democracy, the best attraction in Washington, DC, from April 23-26 will be the World Bank at 1818 H St. NW.</p>
<p>It’s not what is inside the building that is worth the stop those days, but the three people who will be across the street on a symbolic hunger strike “to commemorate the forgotten people in the Bank’s 60-year history, those whose right to development has been violated by the very institution that claims to listen to the voices of the poor.”</p>
<p>The action, which will coincide with the Bank’s and International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings, is at odds with the Bank’s campaign to cast itself as the new champion of the downtrodden. “The global imbalance between rich and poor countries must be urgently addressed if the world is to prosper into the 21st century,” reads the news release.</p>
<p>Beyond the slick statements of Bank officials, we should look to the experience of the people who deal directly with the Bank. As Indian activist Medha Patkar put it in an interview this fall: “The existing development process is skewed; in the name of development, it leaves a large majority of our population out of the real benefits of this growth model.” Instead of promoting a more democratic system, “institutions like the World Bank undermine the process of community participation within the country,” Patkar said. ( <a href="" type="external">Read the whole interview</a>)</p>
<p>Angana Chatterji (anthropology professor, California Institute of Integral Studies), Dana Clark (president, International Accountability Project, Berkeley, CA) and Dickson Mundia (founder, Basilwizi Trust, Zimbabwe) hope their strike will inject some reality into the Bank’s publicity campaign by highlighting the devastating effects on people evicted from their lands and homes as a result of projects financed by the Bank.</p>
<p>Their statement, excepted below, deserves close study and consideration by those engaged in the global-justice and anti-empire movements in the United States. For the full version, with the list of demands and a place to endorse, go to: <a href="http://www.aidindia.org/wbfast/" type="external">http://www.aidindia.org/wbfast/</a></p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Why Are We Fasting?</p>
<p>We are here to commemorate the forgotten people in the Bank’s 60-year history, those whose right to development has been violated by the very institution that claims to listen to the voices of the poor. We are bearing witness to situations across the globe where the Bank’s lending has violated its mandate and its policy framework, and we are undertaking a fast to call attention to this aspect of the Bank’s legacy. We stand in solidarity with those who have suffered devastating impacts after having been evicted from their lands and their homes to make way for Bank-financed projects.</p>
<p>We are here to call on the Bank to abandon its indifference to the plight of people who are suffering from the effects of these failures, and instead to respect the rights of project-affected people, and to support the right to development for those marginalized and impoverished communities that have borne the brunt of 60 years of lending dangerously.</p>
<p>Over the past sixty years, the Bank has supported projects that, in the name of development, have led to the displacement of tens of millions of people. Nobody knows exactly how many people have been displaced by Bank projects over time, because the Bank has been negligent in keeping track. However, the reality is that World Bank-financed dam projects alone have displaced ten million people over the years. The World Bank’s own research has shown that most people who are involuntarily resettled do not easily regain their previous standard of living, much less benefit from the project and have their standard of living improved, as called for by Bank policy.</p>
<p>We are gravely concerned by the role played by the World Bank in funding and legitimizing many projects that have come to represent a legacy of implementation difficulties, of underestimated and under-resourced externalities and costs, costs which are borne by those least able to bear them. The Kariba dam in Zimbabwe and Zambia, built during a time of British colonial occupation in the 1950s, has been an enduring source of misery for 50 years for the Tonga people. The Singrauli coal-fired plants in India, financed by the Bank from the mid-70s to the early 90s, have wreaked havoc on the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. The Yacyreta dam in Paraguay and Argentina, financed in the 1980s and early 1990s by the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, has been the subject of multiple inspection panel claims and yet problems still persist and effective remedial measures remain elusive.</p>
<p>We recognize that in the past two decades, there have been significant shifts in the World Bank’s commitment to sustainable development, in particular the development of a set of environmental and social policies and the creation of the groundbreaking Inspection Panel. We commend this attention to the empowerment of the people affected by World Bank lending and the increased awareness of social and environmental risks associated with World Bank lending.</p>
<p>We are also aware of an unfortunate recent trend that has manifested itself: the World Bank’s shifts to minimize its obligations and shift more of the burdens and risks onto local people and borrowing governments. This tendency is reflected in the recent exercises in reformulating Bank operational policies. Many organizations have engaged in dialogue with the Bank over the years regarding revisions to its policy framework – including policies on involuntary resettlement and indigenous peoples – only to be frustrated by the Bank’s practice of weakening policies and resisting calls for the policies to be improved and brought into line with existing and emerging standards of international law. This frustration is similarly reflected in the press conference being held this week by participants in the World Commission on Dams, Structural Adjustment Review Initiative, and the Extractive Industries Review; in each case, the Bank is seeking to avoid recommendations developed as part of multi-stakeholder processes.</p>
<p>We are particularly concerned about project supervision issues. Although the Bank has apparently been paying more attention to due diligence at the design stage ever since the China Western Poverty Reduction Project, there is still much to be desired in the Bank’s approach to project supervision and project implementation. In 2001, the World Bank significantly weakened the language of its project supervision policy; the revision was done without public input.</p>
<p>In correspondence last month regarding the threat of an increase in the height of Sardar Sarovar dam on the Narmada river without adequate rehabilitation and in violation of the terms of the loan agreement, the country director for India confirmed that the Bank as a rule does not supervise projects beyond the disbursement of funds by the bank to the borrower. We note that when the Bank was forced to withdraw from Sardar Sarovar in 1993, the Bank’s General Counsel clarified that the terms of the loan agreement continue to apply to a project until it is repaid. The Sardar Sarovar Project loan has not been repaid and is therefore still legally binding. Nonetheless, Bank Management is taking a hands-off, laissez-faire approach to project supervision – at least with respect to the environmental and social loan conditionalities. This approach makes a mockery of the terms of the involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, and other policies that are supposed to mitigate the longer-term impacts of Bank-financed projects. By failing to ensure that funds are being used in accordance with the purpose and conditions of the loan, the Bank is abrogating its responsibilities as a lender, and its mandate of poverty alleviation.</p>
<p>We are acting in solidarity with people affected by Sardar Sarovar on the Narmada river, where the World Bank has willfully ignored publicly reported accounts of policy violations, and remained silent when the Indian government authorized yet another increase in the height of the dam. The Bank shares complicity in last month’s decision to increase the dam height to 110 meters, as a result of which thousands of people – mostly indigenous or tribal people – will face an onslaught of miseries this year.</p>
<p>The Bank’s silent acceptance of forcible displacement without adequate resettlement and rehabilitation is in violation of its own policy framework, and in violation of basic principles of international law. Its determination to continue displacing people and ignoring the consequences is reflected in its renewed emphasis on high-risk infrastructure, including potential support for the Omkareshwar dam upstream of Sardar Sarovar, a dam project that would displace 50,000 people.</p>
<p>We are aware that many projects in the Bank’s portfolio are out of compliance with the loan agreements and Bank policies – including projects like Sardar Sarovar that are not actionable through the Panel process. In addition, we are troubled that those problems that have been identified by local people and confirmed by the Inspection Panel have not been adequately remedied. We stand in solidarity with communities affected by these accountability gaps.</p>
<p>We are concerned that lessons of the past do not seem to be affecting plans for the future. A recent report by International Rivers Network, “The World Bank at 60: A Case of Institutional Amnesia?” documents the Bank’s return to a strategy of financing high-risk and unsound infrastructure projects, and emphasis on a government and corporate focused approach to development that systematically marginalizes civil society in decision-making. Where is the Bank’s commitment to addressing critical problems and implementing effective remedial measures? These problems must not be ignored, as they play out, harshly impacting people and the environment.</p>
<p>To remedy some of these problems, we call on the Bank to ensure, at a minimum, that projects that it has supported are brought into compliance with its own policies and loan covenants. We call in particular for full compliance with the terms of the resettlement policy for all communities that have been displaced by a Bank-financed project. The Bank must ensure that people who have suffered displacement by its projects are able to regain and improve their standard of living. The Bank should dedicate new resources and create institutional capacity to address implementation failures and assist the borrowers and affected communities to come to terms with legacy issues. We call on the World Bank to take responsibility for ensuring the development effectiveness of its lending and the accomplishment of a rights-respecting and rights-enhancing approach to development.</p>
<p>—————————-</p>
<p>Angana Chatterji, Associate Professor of Anthropology, California Institute of Integral Studies. Since 1984, Dr. Chatterji has been conducting advocacy and policy research with postcolonial social movements toward enabling participatory democracy for social and ecological justice.</p>
<p>Dana Clark, President, International Accountability Project, Berkeley, CA. Ms. Clark is a human rights and environmental lawyer that has recently edited a book assessing the efficacy of the World Bank’s Inspection Panel.</p>
<p>Dickson Mundia, Founder, Basilwizi Trust, Kariba Dam (Zimbabwe) oustee. Mr. Mundia is a lawyer campaigning for compensation for the Tonga people, displaced by the World Bank funded Kariba Dam in Zimbabwe.</p>
<p>ROBERT JENSEN is a journalism professor at the University of Texas at Austin and author of “ <a href="http://www.citylights.com/CLpubRE.html#citizens" type="external">Citizens of the Empire: The Struggle to Claim Our Humanity</a>.” He can be reached at <a href="mailto:rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu" type="external">rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | tourists interested democracy best attraction washington dc april 2326 world bank 1818 h st nw inside building worth stop days three people across street symbolic hunger strike commemorate forgotten people banks 60year history whose right development violated institution claims listen voices poor action coincide banks international monetary funds annual meetings odds banks campaign cast new champion downtrodden global imbalance rich poor countries must urgently addressed world prosper 21st century reads news release beyond slick statements bank officials look experience people deal directly bank indian activist medha patkar put interview fall existing development process skewed name development leaves large majority population real benefits growth model instead promoting democratic system institutions like world bank undermine process community participation within country patkar said read whole interview angana chatterji anthropology professor california institute integral studies dana clark president international accountability project berkeley ca dickson mundia founder basilwizi trust zimbabwe hope strike inject reality banks publicity campaign highlighting devastating effects people evicted lands homes result projects financed bank statement excepted deserves close study consideration engaged globaljustice antiempire movements united states full version list demands place endorse go httpwwwaidindiaorgwbfast fasting commemorate forgotten people banks 60year history whose right development violated institution claims listen voices poor bearing witness situations across globe banks lending violated mandate policy framework undertaking fast call attention aspect banks legacy stand solidarity suffered devastating impacts evicted lands homes make way bankfinanced projects call bank abandon indifference plight people suffering effects failures instead respect rights projectaffected people support right development marginalized impoverished communities borne brunt 60 years lending dangerously past sixty years bank supported projects name development led displacement tens millions people nobody knows exactly many people displaced bank projects time bank negligent keeping track however reality world bankfinanced dam projects alone displaced ten million people years world banks research shown people involuntarily resettled easily regain previous standard living much less benefit project standard living improved called bank policy gravely concerned role played world bank funding legitimizing many projects come represent legacy implementation difficulties underestimated underresourced externalities costs costs borne least able bear kariba dam zimbabwe zambia built time british colonial occupation 1950s enduring source misery 50 years tonga people singrauli coalfired plants india financed bank mid70s early 90s wreaked havoc lives hundreds thousands people yacyreta dam paraguay argentina financed 1980s early 1990s world bank interamerican development bank subject multiple inspection panel claims yet problems still persist effective remedial measures remain elusive recognize past two decades significant shifts world banks commitment sustainable development particular development set environmental social policies creation groundbreaking inspection panel commend attention empowerment people affected world bank lending increased awareness social environmental risks associated world bank lending also aware unfortunate recent trend manifested world banks shifts minimize obligations shift burdens risks onto local people borrowing governments tendency reflected recent exercises reformulating bank operational policies many organizations engaged dialogue bank years regarding revisions policy framework including policies involuntary resettlement indigenous peoples frustrated banks practice weakening policies resisting calls policies improved brought line existing emerging standards international law frustration similarly reflected press conference held week participants world commission dams structural adjustment review initiative extractive industries review case bank seeking avoid recommendations developed part multistakeholder processes particularly concerned project supervision issues although bank apparently paying attention due diligence design stage ever since china western poverty reduction project still much desired banks approach project supervision project implementation 2001 world bank significantly weakened language project supervision policy revision done without public input correspondence last month regarding threat increase height sardar sarovar dam narmada river without adequate rehabilitation violation terms loan agreement country director india confirmed bank rule supervise projects beyond disbursement funds bank borrower note bank forced withdraw sardar sarovar 1993 banks general counsel clarified terms loan agreement continue apply project repaid sardar sarovar project loan repaid therefore still legally binding nonetheless bank management taking handsoff laissezfaire approach project supervision least respect environmental social loan conditionalities approach makes mockery terms involuntary resettlement indigenous peoples policies supposed mitigate longerterm impacts bankfinanced projects failing ensure funds used accordance purpose conditions loan bank abrogating responsibilities lender mandate poverty alleviation acting solidarity people affected sardar sarovar narmada river world bank willfully ignored publicly reported accounts policy violations remained silent indian government authorized yet another increase height dam bank shares complicity last months decision increase dam height 110 meters result thousands people mostly indigenous tribal people face onslaught miseries year banks silent acceptance forcible displacement without adequate resettlement rehabilitation violation policy framework violation basic principles international law determination continue displacing people ignoring consequences reflected renewed emphasis highrisk infrastructure including potential support omkareshwar dam upstream sardar sarovar dam project would displace 50000 people aware many projects banks portfolio compliance loan agreements bank policies including projects like sardar sarovar actionable panel process addition troubled problems identified local people confirmed inspection panel adequately remedied stand solidarity communities affected accountability gaps concerned lessons past seem affecting plans future recent report international rivers network world bank 60 case institutional amnesia documents banks return strategy financing highrisk unsound infrastructure projects emphasis government corporate focused approach development systematically marginalizes civil society decisionmaking banks commitment addressing critical problems implementing effective remedial measures problems must ignored play harshly impacting people environment remedy problems call bank ensure minimum projects supported brought compliance policies loan covenants call particular full compliance terms resettlement policy communities displaced bankfinanced project bank must ensure people suffered displacement projects able regain improve standard living bank dedicate new resources create institutional capacity address implementation failures assist borrowers affected communities come terms legacy issues call world bank take responsibility ensuring development effectiveness lending accomplishment rightsrespecting rightsenhancing approach development angana chatterji associate professor anthropology california institute integral studies since 1984 dr chatterji conducting advocacy policy research postcolonial social movements toward enabling participatory democracy social ecological justice dana clark president international accountability project berkeley ca ms clark human rights environmental lawyer recently edited book assessing efficacy world banks inspection panel dickson mundia founder basilwizi trust kariba dam zimbabwe oustee mr mundia lawyer campaigning compensation tonga people displaced world bank funded kariba dam zimbabwe robert jensen journalism professor university texas austin author citizens empire struggle claim humanity reached rjensenutsccutexasedu 160 160 | 1,009 |
<p>OK, for a start, there really is no “Judith Miller and me,” at least in the sense that I’d invite her to my birthday party. But I have talked to her on the phone a few times (nothing to do with Valerie Plame, Scooter Libby or Karl Rove, however). For a time, our lives were remotely in each other’s gravity, drawn together by a pseudo-journalist–indeed, a model for what Miller has become–named Steven Emerson.</p>
<p>I don’t like what Miller represents in journalism. She is not, to my mind, a journalist. She forfeited that claim when she became a conduit of propaganda for the neo-conservative cabal that has its bloody hands on the control levers of the nation. In a stunning declaration this month, Miller admitted that she’d been granted a Pentagon security clearance. She tried to backpedal on the assertion, claiming the clearance was routine. But she couldn’t spin away the disclosure that she’d been blindsiding her editors and colleagues. She had become a shill for the Bush administration; her employment at the New York Times&lt;/i was merely a cover.</p>
<p>She boasted in a self-serving article two weeks ago that she “had everything to be proud of and nothing to apologize for.” That bombast was in the same edition as a companion piece where the Times&lt;/i admitted to censoring reporters who had written an article that would have exposed details about Libby and his role in outing Plame’s work as a covert CIA agent. In short, the Times&lt;/i’ publisher, Arthur Sulzberger Jr., had turned his newspaper into a public relations vehicle for an out-of-control pet reporter. If burying the truth was the price, Sulzberger was willing to pay.</p>
<p>Miller’s 85 days in jail elicit no sympathy from me. She was made to appear a martyr for “protecting sources,” a cynical attempt to repair her slime-adorned reputation after she contributed to the serial misleading of America on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction. When the Times issued an after-the-fact semi-confession that it had on at least a half-dozen occasions failed to due its duty in vetting articles that credulously backed George Bush’s war propaganda, all but one of the stories was a Miller job. The newspaper, oh-so protective of the woman, did not mention her name, however.</p>
<p>The reality behind her jailing is that she was merely carrying water for the Bush administration in its (likely criminal) efforts to punish former Ambassador Joe Wilson, who had exposed one of George Bush’s chief fabrications in support of invading Iraq, the wild tale that Saddam Hussein was trying to buy “yellowcake” uranium from Niger. Revenge was exacted by the Bushies in the form of outing Wilson’s wife, Plame, as a CIA operative.</p>
<p>The Bush machine spin — relentlessly echoed by the right, from Pat Buchanan (who knows a few things about seeing White House colleagues indicted) to Sean Hannity–is that the Plamegate (or Treasongate, as Bush’s more trenchant foes call it) affair is just politics as usual. In Washington, information is currency that is traded among factotums and scribes, the Bush apologists claim. Actually indicting someone, as seems likely will happen, will as Hannity screeched recently, “criminalize politics.” Of course, the spin was different when Bill Clinton was dropping his pants, but was not, as is happening in the current administration, betraying the nation.</p>
<p>Information bartering is, indeed, part of journalism, but it’s clear that what Miller was up to was far from anything that even remotely could be called newsgathering. She was simply spreading the smear the White House wanted spread. The WMD lies exposed by Wilson were integral to the whole scare-and-deceive-the-public strategy to bolster support for the war. The famed British “Downing Street Memo” spoke of the Bushies’ efforts to “fix” intelligence. Miller was nothing more than one of the fixers.</p>
<p>The incredible fact that no at the Times or almost any other mainstream media outlet has addressed is that all of this is nothing new with Miller. She’s been doing carefully calculated propaganda for years.</p>
<p>Here is an excerpt that illustrate my point. They’re from a 1996 review of Miller’s book, <a href="" type="internal">God Has 99 Names,</a> by famed Arab-American academic Edward Said.</p>
<p>Miller “trades in ‘the Islamic threat’ — her particular mission has been to advance the millennial thesis that militant Islam is a danger to the West. … [B]ooks like Miller’s are symptomatic because they are weapons in the contest to subordinate, beat down, compel and defeat any Arab or Muslim resistance to U.S.-Israeli dominance. Moreover, by surreptitiously justifying a policy of single-minded obduracy that links Islamism to a strategically important, oil-rich part of the world, the anti-Islam campaign virtually eliminates the possibility of equal dialogue between Islam and the Arabs, and the West or Israel.</p>
<p>“To demonize and dehumanize a whole culture … is to turn Muslims into the objects of a therapeutic, punitive attention. I do not want to be misunderstood here: The manipulation of Islam, or for that matter Christianity or Judaism, for retrograde political purposes is catastrophically bad and must be opposed, not just in Saudi Arabia, the West Bank and Gaza, Pakistan, Sudan, Algeria and Tunisia but also in Israel, among the right-wing Christians in Lebanon (for whom Miller shows an unseemly sympathy) and wherever theocratic tendencies appear. And I do not at all believe that all the ills of Muslim countries are due to Zionism and imperialism. But this is very far from saying that Israel and the United States, and their intellectual flacks, have not played a combative, even incendiary role in stigmatizing and heaping invidious abuse on an abstraction called ‘Islam,’ deliberately in order to stir up feelings of anger and fear about Islam among Americans and Europeans. …</p>
<p>“Perhaps Miller’s most consistent failing as a journalist is that she only makes connections and offers analyses of matters that suit her thesis about the militant, hateful quality of the Arab world. I have little quarrel with the general view that the Arab world is in a dreadful state, and have said so repeatedly for the past three decades. But she barely registers the existence of a determined anti-Arab and anti-Islamic U.S. policy. She plays fast and loose with fact.”</p>
<p>Did you get that last sentence by Said: Miller “plays fast and loose with fact.” Said wrote that nine years ago. The Times apparently just noticed.</p>
<p>Miller first surfaced on my radar about a decade ago. Her close confederate was Emerson. Both had been engaged in a furious campaign attacking virtually every Arab and Muslim voice in America. Emerson–who also at various times claimed to be a journalist–lost his foothold as a commentator among most responsible media, especially after he tried to pin the Oklahoma City bombing on Muslims.</p>
<p>Emerson’s most noteworthy crusade has been against a Tampa professor, Sami Al-Arian. Emerson and an ally at The Tampa Tribune were relentless. I eventually exposed many of Emerson’s and the Trib’s distortions and exaggerations. More important, the top FBI counterterrorism chief told me Al-Arian had not committed any federal crimes, and the lead federal prosecutor in the case also said there was no evidence to prosecute.</p>
<p>My heavily documented revelations about Emerson provoked him to retaliate via a lawsuit. Noteworthy, the lawyer he went to for advice was Floyd Abrams, most recently in the news as Miller’s attorney. That’s only fitting.</p>
<p>We spent four years litigating with Emerson, and finally prevailed in both federal and state courts. The final blow to his case came when we obtained an order compelling him to show proof of his allegations. He wouldn’t–couldn’t?–and he ran away.</p>
<p>During the litigation, one of the most interesting insights that I gleaned were reports of meetings held that involved Miller, Emerson, arch-Islamaphobe Daniel Pipes–and a number of other people we now call “neo-cons.” All of these people had strong ties to the right-wing Likud party in Israel. Heck, Miller had even sat in on Israeli “interrogation” sessions of Palestinians; and Emerson provided beds in his Washington apartment to Likud spooks who slipped into the United States to try and undermine peace negotiations.</p>
<p>Keep in mind, it took 9/11 to restore a veneer of credibility to Emerson as an “expert” on terrorism.</p>
<p>Many people, including me, had predicted years ago that terrorism would reach our shores. If we declare we are on the road to inevitable conflict with a culture and religion, and pursue policies that reflect such belligerence, it’s likely to happen. (Of course, missing from Miller’s, Emerson’s and Pipes’ breathless predictions about terrorism striking America is the fact that it long ago had. The Islam-haters neglect to notice the thousands of terrorist events in the United States committed by fundamentalist Christians who hate blacks or oppose abortion, not to mention the scores of bombings and murders committed by right-wing Cubans in Miami. Indeed, the only three actual Middle East-related terrorist events in Florida, including an assassination attempt on a former Israeli prime minister, were committed by radical supporters of Israel, not by Arabs or Muslims. But you’re not supposed to know that.)</p>
<p>Emerson’s and Miller’s mission had always been to depict all Muslims as likely terrorists–to foster the idea of a “conflict of cultures.” One of the more enlightening explanations of that process was “ <a href="http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-177.html%22" type="external">The Green Peril,</a>” a 1992 Cato Institute paper by Leonard Hadar, a former bureau chief for the Jerusalem Post. In descriptions that, looking back 13 years, are near-prophetic, Hadar describes how the “green peril”–Islam–will be substituted for the “red menace.” The process, Hadar wrote, will involve government leaks that, without skepticism, are echoed by the media, creating fear and distrust in the nation.</p>
<p>In other words, a perfect description of the work of Judith Miller.</p>
<p>Prior to 9/11, the Tampa federal probe of Al-Arian had stalled. This was unacceptable to the neo-cons and their Likudnik allies; Al-Arian was arguably the most prominent advocate for Palestinians in America, and had gained audiences with many Congressmen and even the White House (George Bush welcomed him in a 2000 campaign photograph). Thus, Israel conjured up “intelligence”–not actual documents and information that could be vetted and responded to by Al-Arian, but shadowy insinuations much like Miller’s WMD claims. Miller, in fact, was one of the water-carriers for the Israeli “intelligence.”</p>
<p>The essence of the work of people such as Miller and Emerson is to blur the distinctions among Arabs. Palestinians have adopted horribly reprehensible and self-defeating tactics, but they are nonetheless an indisputably oppressed people. The tactic is to equate Palestinians, with their justifiable claims to nationhood, with the criminal madmen of Al-Qaida. It’s an effective technique. And it’s clearly the party line from Likud. Former Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, when asked what 9/11 would mean for American-Israeli relations, responded: “It’s very good.” Realizing his maladroit gaffe, he then added: “Well, it’s not good, but it will generate immediate sympathy” for Israel from the United States. The fact that no Palestinian had anything to do with 9/11 is a mountain-size distinction intentionally overlooked by Netanyahu–and Emerson and Miller.</p>
<p>In the post-9/11 anti-Arab frenzy, Al-Arian was bushwhacked on the Bill O’Reilly show. The new “intelligence,” thanks to Miller and The Tampa Tribune led to Al-Arian’s indictment. His trial has been going on for months in Tampa. The government has repeatedly been caught prevaricating–including claiming Israeli intelligence wasn’t involved in the prosecution, only to be exposed by an Israeli newspaper, Ha’aretz (and me).</p>
<p>Without doubt, Al-Arian had secrets, including participation with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. But that involvement appears to have been during a period when it was legal, and the government has had a hard time showing that Al-Arian actually did anything illegal. But justice was never the purpose of the trial–or of the work by Miller and Emerson. The judge in the case has dictated that jurors are supposed to hear only about the deaths of innocent Israelis and never about the far more numerous deaths of innocent Palestinians. In this Kafkaesque setting, if Martin Luther King Jr. were on trial for civil disobedience, he wouldn’t be allowed to mention Jim Crow, lynchings or the Ku Klux Klan.</p>
<p>Reading the latest about Miller wasn’t a surprise. I’d seen it before in her alliance with Emerson and her catering to the neo-cons behind the Al-Arian prosecution. She’s not a journalist. She’s a convenient tool for some very bad people.</p>
<p>John F. Sugg is senior editor of the <a href="http://www.creativeloafing.com/" type="external">Creative Loafing/Weekly Planet</a>newspapers in Atlanta, Tampa, Charlotte and Sarasota.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | ok start really judith miller least sense id invite birthday party talked phone times nothing valerie plame scooter libby karl rove however time lives remotely others gravity drawn together pseudojournalistindeed model miller becomenamed steven emerson dont like miller represents journalism mind journalist forfeited claim became conduit propaganda neoconservative cabal bloody hands control levers nation stunning declaration month miller admitted shed granted pentagon security clearance tried backpedal assertion claiming clearance routine couldnt spin away disclosure shed blindsiding editors colleagues become shill bush administration employment new york timeslti merely cover boasted selfserving article two weeks ago everything proud nothing apologize bombast edition companion piece timeslti admitted censoring reporters written article would exposed details libby role outing plames work covert cia agent short timeslti publisher arthur sulzberger jr turned newspaper public relations vehicle outofcontrol pet reporter burying truth price sulzberger willing pay millers 85 days jail elicit sympathy made appear martyr protecting sources cynical attempt repair slimeadorned reputation contributed serial misleading america iraqs weapons mass destruction times issued afterthefact semiconfession least halfdozen occasions failed due duty vetting articles credulously backed george bushs war propaganda one stories miller job newspaper ohso protective woman mention name however reality behind jailing merely carrying water bush administration likely criminal efforts punish former ambassador joe wilson exposed one george bushs chief fabrications support invading iraq wild tale saddam hussein trying buy yellowcake uranium niger revenge exacted bushies form outing wilsons wife plame cia operative bush machine spin relentlessly echoed right pat buchanan knows things seeing white house colleagues indicted sean hannityis plamegate treasongate bushs trenchant foes call affair politics usual washington information currency traded among factotums scribes bush apologists claim actually indicting someone seems likely happen hannity screeched recently criminalize politics course spin different bill clinton dropping pants happening current administration betraying nation information bartering indeed part journalism clear miller far anything even remotely could called newsgathering simply spreading smear white house wanted spread wmd lies exposed wilson integral whole scareanddeceivethepublic strategy bolster support war famed british downing street memo spoke bushies efforts fix intelligence miller nothing one fixers incredible fact times almost mainstream media outlet addressed nothing new miller shes carefully calculated propaganda years excerpt illustrate point theyre 1996 review millers book god 99 names famed arabamerican academic edward said miller trades islamic threat particular mission advance millennial thesis militant islam danger west books like millers symptomatic weapons contest subordinate beat compel defeat arab muslim resistance usisraeli dominance moreover surreptitiously justifying policy singleminded obduracy links islamism strategically important oilrich part world antiislam campaign virtually eliminates possibility equal dialogue islam arabs west israel demonize dehumanize whole culture turn muslims objects therapeutic punitive attention want misunderstood manipulation islam matter christianity judaism retrograde political purposes catastrophically bad must opposed saudi arabia west bank gaza pakistan sudan algeria tunisia also israel among rightwing christians lebanon miller shows unseemly sympathy wherever theocratic tendencies appear believe ills muslim countries due zionism imperialism far saying israel united states intellectual flacks played combative even incendiary role stigmatizing heaping invidious abuse abstraction called islam deliberately order stir feelings anger fear islam among americans europeans perhaps millers consistent failing journalist makes connections offers analyses matters suit thesis militant hateful quality arab world little quarrel general view arab world dreadful state said repeatedly past three decades barely registers existence determined antiarab antiislamic us policy plays fast loose fact get last sentence said miller plays fast loose fact said wrote nine years ago times apparently noticed miller first surfaced radar decade ago close confederate emerson engaged furious campaign attacking virtually every arab muslim voice america emersonwho also various times claimed journalistlost foothold commentator among responsible media especially tried pin oklahoma city bombing muslims emersons noteworthy crusade tampa professor sami alarian emerson ally tampa tribune relentless eventually exposed many emersons tribs distortions exaggerations important top fbi counterterrorism chief told alarian committed federal crimes lead federal prosecutor case also said evidence prosecute heavily documented revelations emerson provoked retaliate via lawsuit noteworthy lawyer went advice floyd abrams recently news millers attorney thats fitting spent four years litigating emerson finally prevailed federal state courts final blow case came obtained order compelling show proof allegations wouldntcouldntand ran away litigation one interesting insights gleaned reports meetings held involved miller emerson archislamaphobe daniel pipesand number people call neocons people strong ties rightwing likud party israel heck miller even sat israeli interrogation sessions palestinians emerson provided beds washington apartment likud spooks slipped united states try undermine peace negotiations keep mind took 911 restore veneer credibility emerson expert terrorism many people including predicted years ago terrorism would reach shores declare road inevitable conflict culture religion pursue policies reflect belligerence likely happen course missing millers emersons pipes breathless predictions terrorism striking america fact long ago islamhaters neglect notice thousands terrorist events united states committed fundamentalist christians hate blacks oppose abortion mention scores bombings murders committed rightwing cubans miami indeed three actual middle eastrelated terrorist events florida including assassination attempt former israeli prime minister committed radical supporters israel arabs muslims youre supposed know emersons millers mission always depict muslims likely terroriststo foster idea conflict cultures one enlightening explanations process green peril 1992 cato institute paper leonard hadar former bureau chief jerusalem post descriptions looking back 13 years nearprophetic hadar describes green perilislamwill substituted red menace process hadar wrote involve government leaks without skepticism echoed media creating fear distrust nation words perfect description work judith miller prior 911 tampa federal probe alarian stalled unacceptable neocons likudnik allies alarian arguably prominent advocate palestinians america gained audiences many congressmen even white house george bush welcomed 2000 campaign photograph thus israel conjured intelligencenot actual documents information could vetted responded alarian shadowy insinuations much like millers wmd claims miller fact one watercarriers israeli intelligence essence work people miller emerson blur distinctions among arabs palestinians adopted horribly reprehensible selfdefeating tactics nonetheless indisputably oppressed people tactic equate palestinians justifiable claims nationhood criminal madmen alqaida effective technique clearly party line likud former israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu asked 911 would mean americanisraeli relations responded good realizing maladroit gaffe added well good generate immediate sympathy israel united states fact palestinian anything 911 mountainsize distinction intentionally overlooked netanyahuand emerson miller post911 antiarab frenzy alarian bushwhacked bill oreilly show new intelligence thanks miller tampa tribune led alarians indictment trial going months tampa government repeatedly caught prevaricatingincluding claiming israeli intelligence wasnt involved prosecution exposed israeli newspaper haaretz without doubt alarian secrets including participation palestinian islamic jihad involvement appears period legal government hard time showing alarian actually anything illegal justice never purpose trialor work miller emerson judge case dictated jurors supposed hear deaths innocent israelis never far numerous deaths innocent palestinians kafkaesque setting martin luther king jr trial civil disobedience wouldnt allowed mention jim crow lynchings ku klux klan reading latest miller wasnt surprise id seen alliance emerson catering neocons behind alarian prosecution shes journalist shes convenient tool bad people john f sugg senior editor creative loafingweekly planetnewspapers atlanta tampa charlotte sarasota 160 | 1,140 |
<p>Photo by Edoardo Costa | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>Just imagine: A new movement among the Mizrahim is born in Israel.</p>
<p>It declares that all the existing organizations of Mizrahim (Oriental Jews) are phony. That they are all instruments of the Ashkenazi (European Jewish) elite to keep the Mizrahim in subjugation. That the Oriental Shas party is a joke, especially since the death of Rabbi Ovadia Josef, who was an authentic Mizrahi leader.</p>
<p>It says the Likud is the most cunning instrument for keeping the Mizrahim down. That the endless rule of Binyamin Netanyahu, the very personification of the Ashkenazi elite, symbolizes the powerlessness of the ignorant Mizrahi masses, who keep him and his entire Ashkenazi gang in power.</p>
<p>So a new Mizrahi party is set up, led by energetic young people who put forward a shocking revolutionary idea: separation.</p>
<p>Their plan is to partition the State of Israel&#160;along the Jaffa &#160;– Jerusalem road,&#160;dividing the country into two halves. Everything north of the dividing line will remain the property of the Ashkenazis, everything south of it will become the new sovereign Mizrahi state, to be called Medinat Mizrah.</p>
<p>From there, your imagination can lead you anywhere you want.</p>
<p>Where would I stand in such a situation? Asking myself seriously, I find myself in a very ambiguous situation.</p>
<p>I am an Ashkenazi. As Ashkenazi as you get. I was born in Germany. My family had been there for ages. But I never defined myself as such. The very idea of being “Ashkenazi” is completely alien to me.</p>
<p>More so, I have a very deep attachment to the Mizrahi society. I had it even before four young recruits from Morocco risked their young lives to save my life in the 1948 war. I was attached to Oriental culture from early childhood.</p>
<p>So, confronted with a vigorous Oriental separation movement, where would I stand? Frankly, I do not know. I certainly would not send the Israeli army and police to put it down. That would be impossible anyhow, considering that most soldiers and police are themselves Mizrahim.</p>
<p>Fortunately, the whole idea is preposterous. Can’t happen. Even less than Kurdish or Catalonian separation.</p>
<p>Curiously enough, the Kurds and the Catalans are two peoples I have always liked.</p>
<p>I don’t know when I started to like the Kurds or why. In my youth, Kurds were considered nice but primitive. The saying “Ana Kurdi” (Arabic for “I am a Kurd”) meant that I am a simple person who fulfills his task without asking questions.</p>
<p>Jewish immigrants from Iraqi Kurdistan spoke of their former hosts with affection – unlike most Jewish immigrants from other countries.</p>
<p>In the 1950s I came to know a semi-clandestine cell of Egyptian Jewish émigrés in Paris. They assisted the Algerian struggle for independence – a cause which I fervently supported myself. Its leader was Henri Curiel, and one of its members was a young Egyptian Jewish woman, Joyce Blau, who was also an ardent supporter of the Kurdish cause. This was also the field of her academic studies.</p>
<p>Through her, I learned more about the Kurdish story, or tragedy. Though Kurdistan is a compact territory, it is divided into pieces that belong to different states – Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, with more communities dispersed in other countries.</p>
<p>At the end of World War I, there was an effort to set up a Kurdish state, but the rapaciousness of the victors and the re-emergence of a strong Turkey made this impossible. The Kurds themselves were not completely blameless: they were and are consistently unable to unite. Their leading families act against each other.</p>
<p>After having set up the “Israeli Council for Algerian Independence”, I found an Israeli group of immigrants from Iraqi Kurdistan and together we founded the “Israeli Council for an Independent Kurdistan”.</p>
<p>As a member, I had some unforgettable experiences. Twice I was invited to address mass meetings of Kurds in Germany. Mass meetings in the literal sense: huge numbers of Kurds from all over Europe cheered my speech, quite a boost for my ego.</p>
<p>My efforts petered out when I discovered that high-level Israeli army officers were already in Iraqi Kurdistan, helping to train the Peshmerga (“Before Death”) guerrillas. The motive of the Israeli government in sending them there was quite cynical: to undermine the Iraqi state, according to the eternal Roman maxim “Divide et Impera”, divide and rule.</p>
<p>How did they get there? Easy, they were under the benevolent protection of the Shah of Iran. But one day the Shah made peace with Saddam Hussein, and that was the end of this particular Israeli project. When the Shah was toppled and Iran became Israel’s deadly enemy, Israeli military intervention in Kurdistan became impossible.</p>
<p>But the sentiment remains. I believe that the Kurds deserve independence, especially if they are able to unite. Since they are blessed – or cursed – with oil riches, foreign interests are deeply involved.</p>
<p>There is no similarity whatsoever between the Kurds and the Catalans, except that I like them both.</p>
<p>Catalonia is a highly developed country, and during my several short visits there I felt quite at home. Like all tourists, I strolled in the Rambla of Barcelona – both Hebrew names, so it seems. They are remnants from the times when Spain was a colony of Carthago, a city founded by Semitic people from Phoenicia, who spoke a kind of Hebrew. Barcelona is probably derived from Barak (lightning in Hebrew), and Rambla from the Arabic Ramle (sandy.)</p>
<p>Trouble is, I also love other parts of Spain, especially places like Cordoba and Sevilla. Would be a pity to break it up. On the other hand, one cannot really prevent a people from achieving its independence, if it wants to.</p>
<p>Fortunately, nobody asks me.</p>
<p>The larger question is why smaller and smaller peoples want independence, when the world is creating larger and larger political units?</p>
<p>It looks like a paradox, but really isn’t.</p>
<p>We in this generation are witnessing the end of the nation state, which has dominated world history for the last few hundred years. It was born out of necessity. Small countries were unable to build modern mass industries which depended on a large domestic market. They could not defend themselves, when modern armies required more and more sophisticated weapons. Even cultural development depended on larger language-areas.</p>
<p>So Wales and Scotland joined England, Savoy and Sicily created Italy, Corsica and the Provence joined France. Small nationalities joined larger ones. It was necessary for survival.</p>
<p>History is moving on, and now even the nation-State is not large enough to compete. States unite in ever-larger units, such as the European Union. I have no doubt that by the end of this century, there will be in place an effective world government, turning the entire world effectively into one state. (If some extra-terrestrials threaten this world, it will help.)</p>
<p>So how does the separation into smaller and smaller states fit this trend? Simply, if the state of Spain is not necessary anymore for economic and military purposes and its central functions are moving from Madrid to Brussels, why shouldn’t the Catalans and the Basques secede and join the Union under their own flags? Look at Yugoslavia, look even at the Soviet Union. Germany is the great exception but it is quite large by itself.</p>
<p>The two processes are not contradictory, they complement each other.</p>
<p>The idiotic Brexit is ahistorical. But if the Scots and the Welsh want to separate from England, they will succeed.</p>
<p>I have great respect for the power of nationalism. In our era, it has prove, to be stronger than religion, communism or any other creed. It is strongest when it combines with religion, as in the Arab world. So the nationalism of small peoples will gain satisfaction in football games, while the real business will be conducted elsewhere.</p>
<p>At this very moment, the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, is busy with enacting a new law, called the Nation Law, which is intended to make clear that the Jewishness of the Jewish State takes precedence over democracy and human rights.</p>
<p>Israel has no constitution, but until now it was assumed that Israel was equally “Jewish” and “democratic”. The new law is about to abolish that notion.</p>
<p>As usual, we are one or two centuries behind world history.</p> | true | 4 | photo edoardo costa cc 20 imagine new movement among mizrahim born israel declares existing organizations mizrahim oriental jews phony instruments ashkenazi european jewish elite keep mizrahim subjugation oriental shas party joke especially since death rabbi ovadia josef authentic mizrahi leader says likud cunning instrument keeping mizrahim endless rule binyamin netanyahu personification ashkenazi elite symbolizes powerlessness ignorant mizrahi masses keep entire ashkenazi gang power new mizrahi party set led energetic young people put forward shocking revolutionary idea separation plan partition state israel160along jaffa 160 jerusalem road160dividing country two halves everything north dividing line remain property ashkenazis everything south become new sovereign mizrahi state called medinat mizrah imagination lead anywhere want would stand situation asking seriously find ambiguous situation ashkenazi ashkenazi get born germany family ages never defined idea ashkenazi completely alien deep attachment mizrahi society even four young recruits morocco risked young lives save life 1948 war attached oriental culture early childhood confronted vigorous oriental separation movement would stand frankly know certainly would send israeli army police put would impossible anyhow considering soldiers police mizrahim fortunately whole idea preposterous cant happen even less kurdish catalonian separation curiously enough kurds catalans two peoples always liked dont know started like kurds youth kurds considered nice primitive saying ana kurdi arabic kurd meant simple person fulfills task without asking questions jewish immigrants iraqi kurdistan spoke former hosts affection unlike jewish immigrants countries 1950s came know semiclandestine cell egyptian jewish émigrés paris assisted algerian struggle independence cause fervently supported leader henri curiel one members young egyptian jewish woman joyce blau also ardent supporter kurdish cause also field academic studies learned kurdish story tragedy though kurdistan compact territory divided pieces belong different states turkey iran iraq syria communities dispersed countries end world war effort set kurdish state rapaciousness victors reemergence strong turkey made impossible kurds completely blameless consistently unable unite leading families act set israeli council algerian independence found israeli group immigrants iraqi kurdistan together founded israeli council independent kurdistan member unforgettable experiences twice invited address mass meetings kurds germany mass meetings literal sense huge numbers kurds europe cheered speech quite boost ego efforts petered discovered highlevel israeli army officers already iraqi kurdistan helping train peshmerga death guerrillas motive israeli government sending quite cynical undermine iraqi state according eternal roman maxim divide et impera divide rule get easy benevolent protection shah iran one day shah made peace saddam hussein end particular israeli project shah toppled iran became israels deadly enemy israeli military intervention kurdistan became impossible sentiment remains believe kurds deserve independence especially able unite since blessed cursed oil riches foreign interests deeply involved similarity whatsoever kurds catalans except like catalonia highly developed country several short visits felt quite home like tourists strolled rambla barcelona hebrew names seems remnants times spain colony carthago city founded semitic people phoenicia spoke kind hebrew barcelona probably derived barak lightning hebrew rambla arabic ramle sandy trouble also love parts spain especially places like cordoba sevilla would pity break hand one really prevent people achieving independence wants fortunately nobody asks larger question smaller smaller peoples want independence world creating larger larger political units looks like paradox really isnt generation witnessing end nation state dominated world history last hundred years born necessity small countries unable build modern mass industries depended large domestic market could defend modern armies required sophisticated weapons even cultural development depended larger languageareas wales scotland joined england savoy sicily created italy corsica provence joined france small nationalities joined larger ones necessary survival history moving even nationstate large enough compete states unite everlarger units european union doubt end century place effective world government turning entire world effectively one state extraterrestrials threaten world help separation smaller smaller states fit trend simply state spain necessary anymore economic military purposes central functions moving madrid brussels shouldnt catalans basques secede join union flags look yugoslavia look even soviet union germany great exception quite large two processes contradictory complement idiotic brexit ahistorical scots welsh want separate england succeed great respect power nationalism era prove stronger religion communism creed strongest combines religion arab world nationalism small peoples gain satisfaction football games real business conducted elsewhere moment israeli parliament knesset busy enacting new law called nation law intended make clear jewishness jewish state takes precedence democracy human rights israel constitution assumed israel equally jewish democratic new law abolish notion usual one two centuries behind world history | 719 |
<p>By Matt Stannard / <a href="https://cowboysonthecommons.org/2016/11/03/north-dakotas-public-bank-is-funding-police-repression-at-standing-rock/" type="external">Cowboys on the Commons</a></p>
<p />
<p>Matt Stannard</p>
<p>The brutal repression of indigenous and allied protesters at Standing Rock has shocked the conscience of fair-minded Americans, particularly those advocating economic and ecological reform. Although the protesters had in some cases been encroaching on “company land,” they had done so peacefully, and their chief modes of political action have been prayer and nonviolent civil disobedience. The crackdowns of the last few weeks have seen attack dogs and rubber bullets causing bloody injuries to protesters, detention and malicious prosecutions, and other dehumanizing behavior from the cops and soldiers deployed there by North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple.</p>
<p />
<p>For those of us in the public banking movement, used to holding up the Bank of North Dakota (the nation’s only public bank) as an example of how promising public banks are, the recent news that Dalrymple and an emergency spending panel voted to add $4 million in additional credit onto a&#160;$10 million line from BND, to fund law enforcement expenses at Standing Rock, is troubling. It means BND is using its heralded public power over fractional reserve banking to pay for those rubber bullets and a host of logistical expenses involved in arresting and evicting protesters the federal government has refused to evict, citing free speech concerns.</p>
<p>This financing is part of one of BND’s core functions: providing emergency loans. A more positive deployment of that function happened in 1997, when BND provided emergency loans for the Grand Forks flood, at a time when communities desperately needed loans before receiving slow-moving FEMA reimbursements. Unlike the need to abuse peaceful protesters, the flood was a real public emergency–the flooding caused structure fires and destroyed dozens of buildings via fire or water. Property losses in Grand Forks topped $3.5 billion. There were 50,000 evacuees. BND provided over $70 million in funds for relief.</p>
<p>The Bank of North Dakota was conceived a century ago in the molding of distinctly American, agrarian-socialist populism. North Dakota farmers were in trouble, getting cheated by the big banks and big grain companies headquartered in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Those entities knew they had farmers at their mercy, and so all the interest rates were double-digit, all the loan terms were unfavorable (and less favorable to those who relied on them the most), and as the grain companies operated every grain elevator along the railroad route; those companies offered farmers destructively low prices, often cheating on&#160;tonnage&#160;because the farmers had nowhere else to go.</p>
<p>In 1915, led by a&#160;struggling farmer named A.C. Townley, a group of North Dakotans formed the Nonpartisan League to push back against those powerful grain and banking interests. The NPL ended up taking political power in the state, creating both the Bank of North Dakota and the North Dakota Mill and Elevator. Today, those&#160;two public utilities&#160;are the only institutions of their kind under any state government in the U.S. They’ve long outlived the NPL, whose&#160;inexperienced political leaders&#160;were subject to constant attacks and red-baiting from big business interests, exacerbating NPL infighting and corruption, culminating in the recall of Governor Lynn Frazier, alongside whom the state legislature had created one of the most progressive state agendas in American history.</p>
<p>Since then, for understandable reasons,&#160;BND has been militantly apolitical. BND President and CEO Eric Hardmeyer has explicitly repudiated arguments that the BND ought to be a model, despite his effective touting of its successes. The Bank exists to help the state and its businesses function well and to maintain liquidity and economic stability. BND created the infrastructure for North Dakota’s oil boom, and if the state were to commit to a truly proactive transition to renewable and clean energy (it has taken baby steps), the BND would make it happen financially–with an efficiency that would put the rest of the country to shame.</p>
<p>But in&#160;the present political reality, cops and soldiers are brutally cracking down on Standing Rock protesters, and BND is funding&#160;it, and that makes BND not truly apolitical, but a facilitator of injustice. Public banks are tools, not sources of virtue in themselves. In the hands of bad policymakers, they can prop up bad policies.</p>
<p>So what do we do with this unfortunate knowledge, besides continuing to support the Standing Rock protesters, calling the governor regularly (if you do, please mention that using BND to finance repression is shameful), and pushing for&#160;a just and sustainable transition to clean energy (including economic support for energy sector workers and their families)? What do these unfortunate events teach us about our movement?</p>
<p>First, the awful actions in North Dakota don’t undermine the idea of public banking. If anything, they’re more evidence against private ownership and shareholding in both fossil fuels and the financial sector. In financing those rubber bullets and smoke bombs, BND is paying the security costs of private corporations, subsidizing the worst of big oil capitalism. But as my colleague, Ira Dember, pointed out to me yesterday, North Dakota is rich in wind and is building wind farms. That four&#160;million dollars could have been better lent to develop additional wind resources and technology, and to train workers to transition from oil fields to wind farms and more. That depends on a larger movement, which I’ll talk more about below.</p>
<p>Second, the actions illustrate the folly of pushing for state and local control without accompanying universal human and environmental rights. Economic and environmental justice advocates have long promoted local autonomy as a bulwark against big corporations and their puppets in national and state government. But local governments (often pushed by state legislators and governors) can do violence to indigenous communities just as they have enforced segregation and lynchings in the South. Human rights and environmental protection must be encoded in national and international norms and these norms need to have a complimentary and non-oppressive relationship with local communities. That makes our coalition-building and policy-making tasks bigger and more challenging. It makes allies and communication more important, and demands clarity about various movements’ and organizations’ ethical frameworks.</p>
<p>Third, you can’t keep people you disagree with ideologically out of single-issue movements. Sometimes this can be frustrating: There are all sorts of people in the public banking movement, including a few&#160;supporters who aren’t committed to ending fossil fuel consumption, and even weirder and more disturbing, a tiny handful of extremists&#160;who want to take down big private banks because they associate banking with Jews. Thankfully, those toxic forces don’t show up in any significant numbers (and the Public Banking Institute has explicitly repudiated them). While the movement is primarily white and bourgeois, there are powerful non-white, non-bourgeois voices in it, and its alignment with the New Economy Coalition and other economic justice coalitions helps considerably.&#160;It matters who you do your activist business with.</p>
<p>Finally, whatever your own organization’s commitment to justice, the policies and institution your movement creates, if it is lucky enough to create them, will only be as socially positive and ethically correct as the people working inside of them, and the communities overseeing them. Public banks can fund a post-carbon, sustainable energy transition–but only if people successfully demand a post-carbon, sustainable energy transition. Public banks can create safe and prosperous communities for all, but only if that’s what communities are already committed to.</p>
<p>Public banking advocates, in particular, ought to emphasize the ways public control of state and municipal finance can fund new structures of work and production that neither exploit nor extract. That has always been the most powerful argument for public banks: that they can produce justice because as community-controlled entities, we can make them just.</p>
<p>Matt Stannard is policy director at <a href="http://www.commonomicsusa.org" type="external">Commonomics USA</a> and was formerly on the <a href="http://www.publicbankinginstitute.org" type="external">Public Banking Institute</a>’s board of directors. The views expressed in this post are his own.</p> | true | 4 | matt stannard cowboys commons matt stannard brutal repression indigenous allied protesters standing rock shocked conscience fairminded americans particularly advocating economic ecological reform although protesters cases encroaching company land done peacefully chief modes political action prayer nonviolent civil disobedience crackdowns last weeks seen attack dogs rubber bullets causing bloody injuries protesters detention malicious prosecutions dehumanizing behavior cops soldiers deployed north dakota governor jack dalrymple us public banking movement used holding bank north dakota nations public bank example promising public banks recent news dalrymple emergency spending panel voted add 4 million additional credit onto a16010 million line bnd fund law enforcement expenses standing rock troubling means bnd using heralded public power fractional reserve banking pay rubber bullets host logistical expenses involved arresting evicting protesters federal government refused evict citing free speech concerns financing part one bnds core functions providing emergency loans positive deployment function happened 1997 bnd provided emergency loans grand forks flood time communities desperately needed loans receiving slowmoving fema reimbursements unlike need abuse peaceful protesters flood real public emergencythe flooding caused structure fires destroyed dozens buildings via fire water property losses grand forks topped 35 billion 50000 evacuees bnd provided 70 million funds relief bank north dakota conceived century ago molding distinctly american agrariansocialist populism north dakota farmers trouble getting cheated big banks big grain companies headquartered minneapolis saint paul entities knew farmers mercy interest rates doubledigit loan terms unfavorable less favorable relied grain companies operated every grain elevator along railroad route companies offered farmers destructively low prices often cheating on160tonnage160because farmers nowhere else go 1915 led a160struggling farmer named ac townley group north dakotans formed nonpartisan league push back powerful grain banking interests npl ended taking political power state creating bank north dakota north dakota mill elevator today those160two public utilities160are institutions kind state government us theyve long outlived npl whose160inexperienced political leaders160were subject constant attacks redbaiting big business interests exacerbating npl infighting corruption culminating recall governor lynn frazier alongside state legislature created one progressive state agendas american history since understandable reasons160bnd militantly apolitical bnd president ceo eric hardmeyer explicitly repudiated arguments bnd ought model despite effective touting successes bank exists help state businesses function well maintain liquidity economic stability bnd created infrastructure north dakotas oil boom state commit truly proactive transition renewable clean energy taken baby steps bnd would make happen financiallywith efficiency would put rest country shame in160the present political reality cops soldiers brutally cracking standing rock protesters bnd funding160it makes bnd truly apolitical facilitator injustice public banks tools sources virtue hands bad policymakers prop bad policies unfortunate knowledge besides continuing support standing rock protesters calling governor regularly please mention using bnd finance repression shameful pushing for160a sustainable transition clean energy including economic support energy sector workers families unfortunate events teach us movement first awful actions north dakota dont undermine idea public banking anything theyre evidence private ownership shareholding fossil fuels financial sector financing rubber bullets smoke bombs bnd paying security costs private corporations subsidizing worst big oil capitalism colleague ira dember pointed yesterday north dakota rich wind building wind farms four160million dollars could better lent develop additional wind resources technology train workers transition oil fields wind farms depends larger movement ill talk second actions illustrate folly pushing state local control without accompanying universal human environmental rights economic environmental justice advocates long promoted local autonomy bulwark big corporations puppets national state government local governments often pushed state legislators governors violence indigenous communities enforced segregation lynchings south human rights environmental protection must encoded national international norms norms need complimentary nonoppressive relationship local communities makes coalitionbuilding policymaking tasks bigger challenging makes allies communication important demands clarity various movements organizations ethical frameworks third cant keep people disagree ideologically singleissue movements sometimes frustrating sorts people public banking movement including few160supporters arent committed ending fossil fuel consumption even weirder disturbing tiny handful extremists160who want take big private banks associate banking jews thankfully toxic forces dont show significant numbers public banking institute explicitly repudiated movement primarily white bourgeois powerful nonwhite nonbourgeois voices alignment new economy coalition economic justice coalitions helps considerably160it matters activist business finally whatever organizations commitment justice policies institution movement creates lucky enough create socially positive ethically correct people working inside communities overseeing public banks fund postcarbon sustainable energy transitionbut people successfully demand postcarbon sustainable energy transition public banks create safe prosperous communities thats communities already committed public banking advocates particular ought emphasize ways public control state municipal finance fund new structures work production neither exploit extract always powerful argument public banks produce justice communitycontrolled entities make matt stannard policy director commonomics usa formerly public banking institutes board directors views expressed post | 761 |
<p>‘Mr Harris said that wealth creation was “absolutely” a Christian activity. “I think perpetuating wealth is a good thing,” he said. “If you can build wealth, and you can build an environment where you can perpetuate it and constantly give, I think it is the most honourable thing you can do.”</p>
<p>‘Mr Harris said his vision was to extend God’s kingdom by generating billions of dollars. Business Alpha, a Christian business network with which Mr Harris is associated, says on its website: “Peter’s Vision of Billions of Dollars for Millions of Souls is awakening business people everywhere to the fact that their businesses can be a channel for God’s blessing to others.” Mr Harris said businesses “should generate to (sic) a lot of money and take on a social dimension”.’</p>
<p>– John Garnaut, Sydney Morning Herald, 4 October 2004, on Peter Harris, founder and chairman of the Family First Party.</p>
<p>‘”God is stirring the hearts of key people across the nation,” [Peter Harris] told the [Assemblies of God] magazine Now! “He is equipping elite forces who are positioning themselves to influence entire communities and cities for Christ.’</p>
<p>‘Treasurer Peter Costello, for example, told 22,000 people at a Hillsong Conference in July: “We need to return to faith and the values which have made our country strong.”‘</p>
<p>– Daryl Passmore, Sunday Mail, 12 September 2004.</p>
<p>‘”Spot Satan’s strongholds in the areas you are living in (brothels, gambling places, bottle shops, mosque, temples-Freemason/Buddhist/ Hindu etc, witchcraft ” He urged followers to circle the place on a map. “If you are ready to pray against it, do so. If not, bring it to your church and ask your intercessors, through the pastor, to pull these strongholds down,” the [“Rise up Australia” call-to-prayer pamphlet] says.’</p>
<p>Ian McPhedran, Herald-Sun, 4 October 2004, on Danny Nalliah, Family First Senate candidate in Victoria.</p>
<p>‘Influential American evangelist Pat Robertson said yesterday that Evangelical Christians feel so deeply about Jerusalem that if President George W. Bush were to “touch” the city, Evangelicals would abandon their traditional Republican leanings and form a third party.’</p>
<p>Daphne Berman, Haaretz, 5 October 2004.</p>
<p>Like a lightning flash from God Almighty himself, out of the firmament came the Family First Party, electrifying the Australian political landscape in the October 9 election.</p>
<p>Family First has sprung fully blown out of the simmering enclaves of the pentacostal Assemblies of God. But the light on the hill is the Hillsong Church in outer suburban Sydney, a full service conglomerate on the Southern American model of preaching, beautiful people, pulsating togetherness and commercialisation.</p>
<p>In the antipodes, the eye has been on Hollywood as the commanding cultural import. Move over Hollywood; Southern Evangelism has found root in Australia.</p>
<p>For illumination on the mainspring of modern Evangelism, consider W. J. Cash, The Mind of the South, 1941. Here follows a liberally edited text, ellipses omitted; accuracy of transcription vouchsafed:</p>
<p>What our Southerner required was [not the Anglicanism of the Virginian aristocracy, which regarded emotion as a kind of moral small pox but] a faith as simple and emotional as himself. A faith to draw men together in hordes, to terrify them with Apocalyptic rhetoric, to cast them into the pit, rescue them, and at last bring them shouting into the fold of Grace. A faith, not of liturgy and prayer book, but of primitive frenzy and the blood sacrifice. The God demanded was an anthropomorphic God ­ the Jehovah of the Old Testament.</p>
<p>A personal God, a God for the individualist, a God whose representatives were not silked priests but preachers risen from the people themselves. But the spirit of these sects was essentially Hebraic ­ their ideal theocratic.</p>
<p>Thus, as the nouveaux came to power, this spirit and this ideal came to power also, and the evangelical ministers armored all too often in ignorance and bitter fanaticism, virtually always in a rigid narrowness of outlook, entered upon that long career of always growing and generally inept sway over public affairs, over the whole mind of the South.</p>
<p>The triumph of the evangelical sects also naturally involved the establishment of the Puritan ideal. Adherence was demanded to a code increasingly Mosaic in its sternness. And this coincidentally with the growth of that curious Southern hedonism which was its antithesis. Hypocrisy? Far from it. One may say more simply and more safely that it was all part and parcel of that naïve capacity for unreality which was characteristic of him.</p>
<p>Outside of two or three exceptions, hardly any Southerner of the master class ever even slightly apprehended that the general shiftlessness and degradation of the masses was a social product. Hardly one ever concerned himself about the systematic raising of the economic and social level of these masses. These same men would take the lead in indignantly rejecting the Yankee idea of universal free schools maintained at the public charge ­ would condemn the run of Southern whites to group in illiteracy and animal ignorance in the calm conviction of acting entirely for the public good.</p>
<p>Within this [Southern] frame of politics and rhetoric the hammer and thrust of the Yankee did something else too: It called forth the fire-eating orator and mob-master. There were not many non-Anglican pulpits left in the South in 1857 which did not see the passage of Donati’s great comet as a herald of the imminent outpouring of divine wrath.</p>
<p>From the pulpit the word went forth that infidelity and a new paganism masking under the name of science were sweeping the world. From pulpit and hustings ran the dark suggestion that the God of the Yankee was not God at all but Antichrist loosed at last from the pit. [H]ear the Presbyterian Dr. J. H. Thornwell declaiming in 1850: “The parties in this conflict are not merely abolitionists and slaveholders ­ they are atheists, socialists, communists, red republicans, jacobins on the one side, and the friends of order and regulated freedom on the other. In one word, the world is the battleground ­ Christianity and atheism the combatants; and the progress of humanity the stake.”</p>
<p>Everything was as it was because He had ordained it so. Hence slavery, and, indeed, everything that was, was His responsibility, not the South’s. So far from being evil, it was the very essence of Right.</p>
<p>The Reconstruction years left their mark upon the religious pattern of the South. In New England, the influence of the Transcendentalists and the Unitarians had already set up a definite drift toward the general sophistication and liberalization of the old beliefs. And in the decades from 1870 to 1900, the drift, reinforced by the rapid spread of scientific ideas, would continually gather head. More or less complete and open skepticism would become an increasingly common phenomenon. And everywhere north of the Potomac and Ohio rivers piety, remaining always a mighty force, would nevertheless grow steadily more gentle, more vague, and at the same time more rational.</p>
<p>But in the South the movement was in the opposite quarter. [T]he level of education and information in the South fell tragically in these decades. Actual illiteracy increased among the millions.</p>
<p>It fell out inevitably that the religion of the South was brought over to the twentieth century as simple, as completely supernatural and Apocalyptic, as it had been in the earliest decades of the nineteenth, and far more rigidly held, far more pugnacious and assertive, far more impervious to change.</p>
<p>The final great result of Reconstruction is that it reestablished what I have called the savage ideal as it had not been established in any Western people since the decay of medieval feudalism, and almost as truly as it is established today in Fascist Italy, in Nazi Germany, in Soviet Russia ­ and so paralyzed Southern culture at the root. Here, under pressure of what was felt to be a matter of life and death, was that old line between what was Southern and what was not, etched in fire and carried through every department of life.</p>
<p>Tolerance, in sum, was pretty well extinguished all along the line, and conformity made a nearly universal law. Criticism, analysis, detachment, all those activities and attitudes so necessary to the healthy development of any civilization, every one of them took on the aspect of high and aggravated treason.</p>
<p>In the years from 1880 to 1895 all the great Northern schools were completely made over. And by 1900 the whole of Northern thinking was impregnated with the new Verstand. By 1900 Yankeeland had definitely taken its place in the vanguard and was already becoming a chief protagonist, not of the machine alone, but of the modern intelligence as well. The parsons of the South regarded the growth of this modern mind with a terror; they saw in it simply the Faustian hell-compact, a gigantic conspiracy to crush truth out of the world, to loose the beast in man, and to strip them of their ancient sway. Determined to preserve their flocks from its contamination at any cost, they were honestly convinced that the use of any means to the purpose was justified, and even required of them by Heaven.</p>
<p>It is [in the 1920s] of the most rapid expansion of Southern industrialism, of speculation, and of the rapid widening of the physical and special gulf between the classes that we find such sects as the Holy Rollers and the Church of God establishing themselves widely and solidly in the South ­ in the mill villages, in the poorest sections of the towns, and even in the countryside. And is it just at this time also that the traveling, feverish evangelists reached their heyday.</p>
<p>Thus the preachers of the frenetic sects themselves officially ascribe their great success, next after the workings of the Holy Ghost, to the rising demand of the people for a place where they might worship without feeling ashamed of their clothes and manners, and a religion that would stress and give outlet to emotion. And all the evangelists insisted even more than the politicians on their own lowly origins, and discoursed continually on the theme of the superior virtue and piety of the poor as against the stiff-necked rich, and the certainty that in heaven it would be the former who would sit at the head of the table.</p>
<p>The young man returning to his native place, particularly if he lived in the larger towns, might now and then find a few people tolerant enough by education or native temperament to listen to him amiably and quietly and perhaps to encourage him in some of his notions. But the general effect on the community, in all classes, was to produce terror and anger in one degree or another.</p>
<p>The very commonest white saw it as a menace to his interest, once it had been called to his attention by his masters; he felt within himself that it all constituted a danger to his conventional status as the superior of every Negro whatever.</p>
<p>And in the South it was naturally the textile mills which first began to suffer from [the 1929 Depression]. But the immediately precipitating factor in the case was that the mills of New England, which had remained depressed throughout the period since the war because of their inability to meet the competition of low wages in the South, had hit upon a device which for the moment enabled them to compete again and so inevitably to drive down prices. I mean the use of the so-called stretch-out system, under which, by forcing him to spend every working moment at the peak of nervous concentration, an operative is made to care for several times as many machines as was formerly considered a fair assignment.</p>
<p>Faced with that, the masters of the Southern mills responded in characteristic fashion ­ by proceeding to take the difference out of their employees in one way or another. Wage cuts became fairly common by the spring of 1929. And the stretch-out was introduced into Dixie, to become the match to the powder of the slow irritation and restlessness growing up between the surface in the whole period after the close of the war. The wage cuts were bitterly resented. For many families its immediate effect was a sharp and tragic reduction in income. The result was the first genuinely serious labor revolt the South had every known.</p>
<p>Indeed, the whole business community of the region, devoted as strongly as the mill masters to the notion that the maintenance of cheap labor and the status quo was essential to their well-being, participated in the feeling that the strike represented a direct and intolerable threat to their personal interests; as did all those swarming thousands who hoped to profit under Progress. For if the unionism and the strikes succeed in industry, would they not in time be likely to reach out into the country-side also? Would not [the spirit of the strikers] come eventually to infect not only the tenants and croppers, all white farm labor, but perhaps the very Negroes?</p>
<p>[U]nder the essential Calvinism of outlook which had been fixed by slavery before the Civil War and riveted home by the conditions of Reconstruction, it was widely felt in all classes that the strikes constituted a sort of defiance of the will of Heaven. God had called one man to be rich and master, another to be poor and servant. Heaven apportions its reward in exact relationship to the merit and goodness of the recipient ­ that both the mill-owners and their workmen were already getting what they deserved.</p>
<p>Proud, brave, honorable by its lights, courteous, personally generous, loyal, swift to act, often too swift, but signally effective, sometimes terrible, in its action ­ such was the South at its best. Violence, intolerance, aversion and suspicion toward new ideas, an incapacity for analysis, an inclination to act from feeling rather than from thought, an exaggerated individualism and a too narrow concept of social responsibility, attachment to fictions and false values, above all too great attachment to racial values and a tendency to justify cruelty and injustice in the name of those values, sentimentality and a lack of realism ­ they have been its characteristic vices in the past. And, despite changes for the better, they remain its characteristic vices today.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Thus opined Wilbur Joseph Cash in 1941. Cash’s literary executor, Joseph Morrison, describes Cash as ‘an obscure North Carolina newspaperman’. Morrison notes that ‘[h]is life’s experience had taught him the inifite capcity of the South for self-deception. Cash committed suicide soon after the publication of The Mind. He would not live to witness the great upsurge of an ‘essential Calvinism of outlook’ after 1945, and an unprecedented access to political influence in Washington.</p>
<p>EVAN JONES can be reached at: <a href="mailto:E.Jones@econ.usyd.edu.au" type="external">E.Jones@econ.usyd.edu.au</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | mr harris said wealth creation absolutely christian activity think perpetuating wealth good thing said build wealth build environment perpetuate constantly give think honourable thing mr harris said vision extend gods kingdom generating billions dollars business alpha christian business network mr harris associated says website peters vision billions dollars millions souls awakening business people everywhere fact businesses channel gods blessing others mr harris said businesses generate sic lot money take social dimension john garnaut sydney morning herald 4 october 2004 peter harris founder chairman family first party god stirring hearts key people across nation peter harris told assemblies god magazine equipping elite forces positioning influence entire communities cities christ treasurer peter costello example told 22000 people hillsong conference july need return faith values made country strong daryl passmore sunday mail 12 september 2004 spot satans strongholds areas living brothels gambling places bottle shops mosque templesfreemasonbuddhist hindu etc witchcraft urged followers circle place map ready pray bring church ask intercessors pastor pull strongholds rise australia calltoprayer pamphlet says ian mcphedran heraldsun 4 october 2004 danny nalliah family first senate candidate victoria influential american evangelist pat robertson said yesterday evangelical christians feel deeply jerusalem president george w bush touch city evangelicals would abandon traditional republican leanings form third party daphne berman haaretz 5 october 2004 like lightning flash god almighty firmament came family first party electrifying australian political landscape october 9 election family first sprung fully blown simmering enclaves pentacostal assemblies god light hill hillsong church outer suburban sydney full service conglomerate southern american model preaching beautiful people pulsating togetherness commercialisation antipodes eye hollywood commanding cultural import move hollywood southern evangelism found root australia illumination mainspring modern evangelism consider w j cash mind south 1941 follows liberally edited text ellipses omitted accuracy transcription vouchsafed southerner required anglicanism virginian aristocracy regarded emotion kind moral small pox faith simple emotional faith draw men together hordes terrify apocalyptic rhetoric cast pit rescue last bring shouting fold grace faith liturgy prayer book primitive frenzy blood sacrifice god demanded anthropomorphic god jehovah old testament personal god god individualist god whose representatives silked priests preachers risen people spirit sects essentially hebraic ideal theocratic thus nouveaux came power spirit ideal came power also evangelical ministers armored often ignorance bitter fanaticism virtually always rigid narrowness outlook entered upon long career always growing generally inept sway public affairs whole mind south triumph evangelical sects also naturally involved establishment puritan ideal adherence demanded code increasingly mosaic sternness coincidentally growth curious southern hedonism antithesis hypocrisy far one may say simply safely part parcel naïve capacity unreality characteristic outside two three exceptions hardly southerner master class ever even slightly apprehended general shiftlessness degradation masses social product hardly one ever concerned systematic raising economic social level masses men would take lead indignantly rejecting yankee idea universal free schools maintained public charge would condemn run southern whites group illiteracy animal ignorance calm conviction acting entirely public good within southern frame politics rhetoric hammer thrust yankee something else called forth fireeating orator mobmaster many nonanglican pulpits left south 1857 see passage donatis great comet herald imminent outpouring divine wrath pulpit word went forth infidelity new paganism masking name science sweeping world pulpit hustings ran dark suggestion god yankee god antichrist loosed last pit hear presbyterian dr j h thornwell declaiming 1850 parties conflict merely abolitionists slaveholders atheists socialists communists red republicans jacobins one side friends order regulated freedom one word world battleground christianity atheism combatants progress humanity stake everything ordained hence slavery indeed everything responsibility souths far evil essence right reconstruction years left mark upon religious pattern south new england influence transcendentalists unitarians already set definite drift toward general sophistication liberalization old beliefs decades 1870 1900 drift reinforced rapid spread scientific ideas would continually gather head less complete open skepticism would become increasingly common phenomenon everywhere north potomac ohio rivers piety remaining always mighty force would nevertheless grow steadily gentle vague time rational south movement opposite quarter level education information south fell tragically decades actual illiteracy increased among millions fell inevitably religion south brought twentieth century simple completely supernatural apocalyptic earliest decades nineteenth far rigidly held far pugnacious assertive far impervious change final great result reconstruction reestablished called savage ideal established western people since decay medieval feudalism almost truly established today fascist italy nazi germany soviet russia paralyzed southern culture root pressure felt matter life death old line southern etched fire carried every department life tolerance sum pretty well extinguished along line conformity made nearly universal law criticism analysis detachment activities attitudes necessary healthy development civilization every one took aspect high aggravated treason years 1880 1895 great northern schools completely made 1900 whole northern thinking impregnated new verstand 1900 yankeeland definitely taken place vanguard already becoming chief protagonist machine alone modern intelligence well parsons south regarded growth modern mind terror saw simply faustian hellcompact gigantic conspiracy crush truth world loose beast man strip ancient sway determined preserve flocks contamination cost honestly convinced use means purpose justified even required heaven 1920s rapid expansion southern industrialism speculation rapid widening physical special gulf classes find sects holy rollers church god establishing widely solidly south mill villages poorest sections towns even countryside time also traveling feverish evangelists reached heyday thus preachers frenetic sects officially ascribe great success next workings holy ghost rising demand people place might worship without feeling ashamed clothes manners religion would stress give outlet emotion evangelists insisted even politicians lowly origins discoursed continually theme superior virtue piety poor stiffnecked rich certainty heaven would former would sit head table young man returning native place particularly lived larger towns might find people tolerant enough education native temperament listen amiably quietly perhaps encourage notions general effect community classes produce terror anger one degree another commonest white saw menace interest called attention masters felt within constituted danger conventional status superior every negro whatever south naturally textile mills first began suffer 1929 depression immediately precipitating factor case mills new england remained depressed throughout period since war inability meet competition low wages south hit upon device moment enabled compete inevitably drive prices mean use socalled stretchout system forcing spend every working moment peak nervous concentration operative made care several times many machines formerly considered fair assignment faced masters southern mills responded characteristic fashion proceeding take difference employees one way another wage cuts became fairly common spring 1929 stretchout introduced dixie become match powder slow irritation restlessness growing surface whole period close war wage cuts bitterly resented many families immediate effect sharp tragic reduction income result first genuinely serious labor revolt south every known indeed whole business community region devoted strongly mill masters notion maintenance cheap labor status quo essential wellbeing participated feeling strike represented direct intolerable threat personal interests swarming thousands hoped profit progress unionism strikes succeed industry would time likely reach countryside also would spirit strikers come eventually infect tenants croppers white farm labor perhaps negroes essential calvinism outlook fixed slavery civil war riveted home conditions reconstruction widely felt classes strikes constituted sort defiance heaven god called one man rich master another poor servant heaven apportions reward exact relationship merit goodness recipient millowners workmen already getting deserved proud brave honorable lights courteous personally generous loyal swift act often swift signally effective sometimes terrible action south best violence intolerance aversion suspicion toward new ideas incapacity analysis inclination act feeling rather thought exaggerated individualism narrow concept social responsibility attachment fictions false values great attachment racial values tendency justify cruelty injustice name values sentimentality lack realism characteristic vices past despite changes better remain characteristic vices today thus opined wilbur joseph cash 1941 cashs literary executor joseph morrison describes cash obscure north carolina newspaperman morrison notes lifes experience taught inifite capcity south selfdeception cash committed suicide soon publication mind would live witness great upsurge essential calvinism outlook 1945 unprecedented access political influence washington evan jones reached ejoneseconusydeduau 160 160 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<p>From a Coast Guard flyover of Long Island after Hurricane Sandy.&lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dvids/"&gt;DVIDSHUB&lt;/a&gt;/Flickr</p>
<p />
<p>The catastrophic damage left by Hurricane Sandy has once again underscored the costly shortcomings of the way we—that is, federal taxpayers—insure property owners against the monster storms that are becoming ever more predictable as the planet warms and <a href="" type="internal">sea levels rise</a>.</p>
<p>Storms, not terrorists, present the biggest threat to the coastal cities and communities that are home to <a href="http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/websites/retiredsites/sotc_pdf/POP.PDF" type="external">more than half</a> of all Americans—not to mention critical conduits for international trade. And yet the FEMA-administered federal flood insurance program, which took a bath after Hurricane Katrina six years ago, is still foundering. As the New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/13/nyregion/federal-flood-insurance-program-faces-new-stress.html?hp" type="external">reported</a> this morning:</p>
<p>The federal program collects about <a href="http://www.fema.gov/policy-claim-statistics-flood-insurance/policy-claim-statistics-flood-insurance/policy-claim-13-13" type="external">$3.5 billion in annual premiums</a>. But in four of the past eight years, claims will have eclipsed premiums, most glaringly in 2005—the year of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma—when claims totaled $17.7 billion. Private insurance companies have long avoided offering flood insurance to homeowners.</p>
<p>“It’s like rat poison to them,” said Tony Bullock, an insurance industry lobbyist, explaining how the risk outweighs the benefit for private insurers. “You need the federal backstop.”</p>
<p>While Sandy’s overall financial toll has yet to be tallied, Gov. Andrew Cuomo has estimated damages in New York state alone at $50 billion. No more than $20 billion of the overall cost will be covered by private insurance, says Cynthia McHale, director of the insurance program at Ceres, a sustainable-economy coalition consisting of companies, investors, and public-interest groups. This puts most of the remaining burden on state and federal governments.</p>
<p>Many states finance their own residual insurance programs; most of Florida’s coastal development, for example, is covered by its Property Insurance Corporation. And as private insurers keep dumping their “rat poison” coverage, the public initiatives take up the slack. In 1990, states were covering just $55 billion worth of assets. Today, it’s $760 billion. “They are underfunded,” McHale says. “They don’t have enough money in the bank to cover those losses.”</p>
<p>But it is the similarly underfunded federal flood insurance program that’s poised to take the biggest hit after Sandy. Bob Hunter, who administered the program during the 1970s, analyzed data last week for every coastal community from Delaware through Massachusetts affected by Sandy. According to his calculations, 200,000 homes were affected. Based on claims from previous storms, he estimates that the average claim will run about $50,000 for a total of $10 billion. (The program has perhaps $4 billion in its accounts.)</p>
<p>The federal flood insurance program, Hunter says, was designed “to retard construction near the coast and near edges of lakes and rivers.” But under FEMA, <a href="http://www.propertyshark.com/mason/ny/New-York-City/Maps/FEMA-Flood-Zone" type="external">the maps</a> used to assess risk and set premiums have become badly outdated. The result is below-market insurance rates that have permitted, if not encouraged, construction in flood zones. (It doesn’t help matters that many coastal communities have fought zoning changes that would make structures less vulnerable—but also less attractive.)</p>
<p>Earlier this year, Congress passed legislation mandating minor changes to the federal insurance program—FEMA is in the process of updating its flood-plain maps and will start including rising ocean levels in its premium calculations. But something more radical seems in order to deal with property owners who are flooded again and again only to rebuild in the same stricken locations. From the Times:</p>
<p>Perhaps the most troubling problem, program officials acknowledge, is that only a tiny share of enrolled properties accounts for a giant share of the overall claims, as the properties are repeatedly flooded and rebuilt in low coastal regions and in hurricane flight paths.</p>
<p>One Biloxi, Miss., property valued at $183,000 flooded 15 times over a decade, costing the program $1.47 million, according to federal data provided by the agency to a member of Congress. Another in Humble, Tex., has resulted in over $2 million in flood payouts even though it was worth just $116,000.</p>
<p>The flood insurance program has been steeped in politics at least since the early 1990s, when a move to discourage coastal overdevelopment was scuttled by then-Sen. Alfonse D’Amato (R-NY). Here’s how the Times&#160; <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/04/nyregion/d-amato-shift-dooms-a-bill-on-insurance.html" type="external">reported</a> it back in October 1992:</p>
<p>The Senator, a Long Island Republican…was one of six co-sponsors of a sweeping reform of the Federal Flood Insurance Program. But after he was pressed by a group of Fire Island residents, who own some of the most expensive beachfront homes on the East Coast, Mr. D’Amato became a major opponent of even a watered down version of the measure.</p>
<p>Environmentalists supporting the reform efforts say Mr. D’Amato’s abrupt change of heart is an extraordinary example of how special interests can kill legislation that would benefit the vast majority of Americans by reducing billions of dollars in Federal liabilities and protecting sensitive coastal areas from further damaging development…</p>
<p>Advocates of reform say the insurance, which is prohibitively expensive on the private market, has encouraged destructive and dangerous construction in environmentally sensitive and otherwise uninsurable areas like barrier islands, the shifting spits that jut up from the ocean, providing storm protection for much of the East and Gulf coasts. The insurance program has become, the critics say, a subsidy for some of the country’s richest homeowners.</p>
<p>But D’Amato won the day, and ever since, developers have continued to build in fragile, low-lying coastal zones. To this day, most the risk on these otherwise uninsurable properties is assumed by taxpayers.</p>
<p>An interesting side note: Last week, Fitch, the insurance rating agency, reported that the hardest hit private insurers were household names, including State Farm Mutual Group, Allstate Corporation, Travelers Group, Liberty Mutual Insurance Group, and the Chubb Corporation. These companies are themselves insured from climate-related losses, at least in part, by global re-insurance conglomerates like Swiss Re, Renaissance Re and Munich Re. And while American insurance executives have been reticent about attributing their coastal losses to climate change, the re-insurers have been outspoken. A sample from one company’s Twitter feed:</p>
<p>Eric Smith, President of Swiss Re Americas, discusses <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23climate" type="external">#climate</a> resilience in the wake of superstorm <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Sandy" type="external">#Sandy</a> <a href="http://t.co/Gpj6Gxbd" type="external">ow.ly/f9DNL</a></p>
<p>— SwissRe (@SwissRe) <a href="https://twitter.com/SwissRe/status/266899276255354880" type="external">November 9, 2012</a></p>
<p /> | true | 4 | coast guard flyover long island hurricane sandylta hrefhttpwwwflickrcomphotosdvidsgtdvidshubltagtflickr catastrophic damage left hurricane sandy underscored costly shortcomings way wethat federal taxpayersinsure property owners monster storms becoming ever predictable planet warms sea levels rise storms terrorists present biggest threat coastal cities communities home half americansnot mention critical conduits international trade yet femaadministered federal flood insurance program took bath hurricane katrina six years ago still foundering new york times reported morning federal program collects 35 billion annual premiums four past eight years claims eclipsed premiums glaringly 2005the year hurricanes katrina rita wilmawhen claims totaled 177 billion private insurance companies long avoided offering flood insurance homeowners like rat poison said tony bullock insurance industry lobbyist explaining risk outweighs benefit private insurers need federal backstop sandys overall financial toll yet tallied gov andrew cuomo estimated damages new york state alone 50 billion 20 billion overall cost covered private insurance says cynthia mchale director insurance program ceres sustainableeconomy coalition consisting companies investors publicinterest groups puts remaining burden state federal governments many states finance residual insurance programs floridas coastal development example covered property insurance corporation private insurers keep dumping rat poison coverage public initiatives take slack 1990 states covering 55 billion worth assets today 760 billion underfunded mchale says dont enough money bank cover losses similarly underfunded federal flood insurance program thats poised take biggest hit sandy bob hunter administered program 1970s analyzed data last week every coastal community delaware massachusetts affected sandy according calculations 200000 homes affected based claims previous storms estimates average claim run 50000 total 10 billion program perhaps 4 billion accounts federal flood insurance program hunter says designed retard construction near coast near edges lakes rivers fema maps used assess risk set premiums become badly outdated result belowmarket insurance rates permitted encouraged construction flood zones doesnt help matters many coastal communities fought zoning changes would make structures less vulnerablebut also less attractive earlier year congress passed legislation mandating minor changes federal insurance programfema process updating floodplain maps start including rising ocean levels premium calculations something radical seems order deal property owners flooded rebuild stricken locations times perhaps troubling problem program officials acknowledge tiny share enrolled properties accounts giant share overall claims properties repeatedly flooded rebuilt low coastal regions hurricane flight paths one biloxi miss property valued 183000 flooded 15 times decade costing program 147 million according federal data provided agency member congress another humble tex resulted 2 million flood payouts even though worth 116000 flood insurance program steeped politics least since early 1990s move discourage coastal overdevelopment scuttled thensen alfonse damato rny heres times160 reported back october 1992 senator long island republicanwas one six cosponsors sweeping reform federal flood insurance program pressed group fire island residents expensive beachfront homes east coast mr damato became major opponent even watered version measure environmentalists supporting reform efforts say mr damatos abrupt change heart extraordinary example special interests kill legislation would benefit vast majority americans reducing billions dollars federal liabilities protecting sensitive coastal areas damaging development advocates reform say insurance prohibitively expensive private market encouraged destructive dangerous construction environmentally sensitive otherwise uninsurable areas like barrier islands shifting spits jut ocean providing storm protection much east gulf coasts insurance program become critics say subsidy countrys richest homeowners damato day ever since developers continued build fragile lowlying coastal zones day risk otherwise uninsurable properties assumed taxpayers interesting side note last week fitch insurance rating agency reported hardest hit private insurers household names including state farm mutual group allstate corporation travelers group liberty mutual insurance group chubb corporation companies insured climaterelated losses least part global reinsurance conglomerates like swiss renaissance munich american insurance executives reticent attributing coastal losses climate change reinsurers outspoken sample one companys twitter feed eric smith president swiss americas discusses climate resilience wake superstorm sandy owlyf9dnl swissre swissre november 9 2012 | 624 |
<p>In his May 20 message to Cubans this year our president made no specific reference to any further steps being considered to bring about a “transition to democracy” (code word for unregulated capitalism), the legally required US policy towards Cuba. There have been bills pending in Congress for at least ten years to end the US blockade of Cuba or various segments of it, and there have been a substantial majorities in both House and Senate favoring these bills for at least five years. Each year the Administration must ask for enforcement funding. In the past three years both bodies have refused to fund the unconstitutional travel restrictions (hence there are no judges to enforce them) and some other aspects of the blockade. The only time a vote was allowed on the merits, public pressure in the fall of the election year 2000 had forced party leaders to permit voting on a bill allowing the sale of medicine and nutritional food to Cuba. This passed by substantial margins in both chambers, only to be worse than emasculated by the party leaders in conference (they appointed as conferees members who opposed it). Financing was prohibited for the food and medicine, and as a kicker the unconstitutional travel restrictions, heretofore administrative regs only, were codified — although they were never part of the bills which had been passed. Rep. Mark Sanford, R., SC said his leadership had “behaved shamefully,” and Sen. Max Baucus, D., MT called the maneuver “a travesty of our democracy.”</p>
<p>Our Constitution provides that the responsibility for foreign affairs resides in the Executive rather Legislative Department. The reasons are obvious — relationships with other nations are not legislative matters, and Congress is not set up to deal with them. Foreign policy must be flexible, subject to change for good reason within reasonable time periods, based on expertise of officials who have contact with and knowledge of what is happening in the other nation. Even a century ago when it was still somewhat functional, our Congress would never have considered involving itself in the details of a relationship with another country. This is the purpose and business of our State Department.</p>
<p>In trying to change the regime in Cuba, our Executive bureaucracies such as NED, CIA, State Department (including its AID) and others are simply enforcing detailed Cuba laws passed by Congress in the 1990s, such as the Toricelli and Helms-Burton Acts. The primary political event that has effected US Cuba policy in the last 20 years has been the transfer of the responsibility for Cuba affairs by default (at the apparent desire of our last four presidents) from our State Department to our Congress. This is the only time in US history this has happened. Normally our Executive bureaucracies can be counted on to protect and save their turf.</p>
<p>The primary factors which motivate our Congresspersons are personal — retaining their offices, which bring them wealth and power. They therefore respond primarily to the businesses and other powerful lobbies which fund their campaigns. Our Congress functions slowly if at all — it takes years to resolve most issues, and many are never resolved. What and when issues are voted on are determined by a few powerful men called “party leaders.” Seats become secure when public positions on controversial issues are avoided. Most are elected in uncontested or not seriously contested elections, with about 35-40% of the eligible electorate voting. Pursuing primarily private rather than public interests, our Congress has become oligarchic rather than democratic. It has become apparent to everyone, including the Cuban government, that the Cuba blockade will never fairly be voted on in Congress, therefore change within the present US political system is impossible.</p>
<p>The key to our present Cuba policy can be deduced from our president’s answer a couple of years ago to a question why his Cuba policy differs so radically from his China policy. He said it was because there exists in China a strong “entrepreneurial” class. In other words before we change anything, there needs to be a class society in Cuba based on big business, wealth and power, led by elite’s who run things through the media and politicians, as in the US. This is why former Secretary of State William Rogers is saying we must rely on the Miami “exiles” to return Cuba to teach Cubans how to become good capitalists. This is why seminars are being held in South Florida for Cuban businessmen — to help them run things in Cuba without making the mistakes that were made in Eastern Europe. This is why AID, CIA, NED and other government agencies have been funneling money and property to Cuban American “free Cuba” groups, and thence to Cuban “dissenters” (code word for counterrevolutionary mercenaries) directly and through our Interest Section in Havana. This is why not only hard-line Cuban emigres, but also members of our Administration and our Florida governor, are now openly talking about regime change.</p>
<p>The Miami hard-liners can be counted on to do everything they can to destabilize and overthrow the Cuban people’s government, but they lack national power. The real power behind present policy rests with people on Wall Street and in Washington. What we are now seeing is the Cuban American community being used as the “fall guy” for an unpopular policy. For example, when Republican House majority leader Dick Armey retired last year was asked for his biggest regret in office, he said it was promoting the Cuba blockade which he had really wanted to end but didn’t permit votes on because of his friendship with the two Miami Cuban American Congresspersons. According to recent polls, the majority of Cuban Americans want the blockade ended.</p>
<p>The Cuban government seems to be the only one in the world that is standing up publicly against the US drive for world commercial empire based on its neo-liberal ideology. Although many Third World governments apparently agree, they are presently unwilling to risk capital disinvestment in their countries. Cuba is not particularly rich in natural resources, but it has twelve million potential consumers of our products and the survival of its revolution presents a major danger, ideologically, to world commercial oligarchy based on US hegemony. Those of us who desire real democracy should not be encouraged by the lack of specifics in our president’s May 20 comments. Indeed, the future of the Cuban revolution looks more ominous than ever now in view of the intensity of the present US propaganda campaign, which seems eerily similar to what started last August regarding Iraq. So long as the Cuban revolution survives there will remain hope for democracy here and around the world. In this sense, Jose Marti’s saying over a century ago seems prescient: “Cuba, al salvarse, salva.”</p>
<p>TOM CRUMPACKER is with the Miami Coalition to End the US Embargo of Cuba. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:Crump8@aol.com" type="external">Crump8@aol.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | may 20 message cubans year president made specific reference steps considered bring transition democracy code word unregulated capitalism legally required us policy towards cuba bills pending congress least ten years end us blockade cuba various segments substantial majorities house senate favoring bills least five years year administration must ask enforcement funding past three years bodies refused fund unconstitutional travel restrictions hence judges enforce aspects blockade time vote allowed merits public pressure fall election year 2000 forced party leaders permit voting bill allowing sale medicine nutritional food cuba passed substantial margins chambers worse emasculated party leaders conference appointed conferees members opposed financing prohibited food medicine kicker unconstitutional travel restrictions heretofore administrative regs codified although never part bills passed rep mark sanford r sc said leadership behaved shamefully sen max baucus mt called maneuver travesty democracy constitution provides responsibility foreign affairs resides executive rather legislative department reasons obvious relationships nations legislative matters congress set deal foreign policy must flexible subject change good reason within reasonable time periods based expertise officials contact knowledge happening nation even century ago still somewhat functional congress would never considered involving details relationship another country purpose business state department trying change regime cuba executive bureaucracies ned cia state department including aid others simply enforcing detailed cuba laws passed congress 1990s toricelli helmsburton acts primary political event effected us cuba policy last 20 years transfer responsibility cuba affairs default apparent desire last four presidents state department congress time us history happened normally executive bureaucracies counted protect save turf primary factors motivate congresspersons personal retaining offices bring wealth power therefore respond primarily businesses powerful lobbies fund campaigns congress functions slowly takes years resolve issues many never resolved issues voted determined powerful men called party leaders seats become secure public positions controversial issues avoided elected uncontested seriously contested elections 3540 eligible electorate voting pursuing primarily private rather public interests congress become oligarchic rather democratic become apparent everyone including cuban government cuba blockade never fairly voted congress therefore change within present us political system impossible key present cuba policy deduced presidents answer couple years ago question cuba policy differs radically china policy said exists china strong entrepreneurial class words change anything needs class society cuba based big business wealth power led elites run things media politicians us former secretary state william rogers saying must rely miami exiles return cuba teach cubans become good capitalists seminars held south florida cuban businessmen help run things cuba without making mistakes made eastern europe aid cia ned government agencies funneling money property cuban american free cuba groups thence cuban dissenters code word counterrevolutionary mercenaries directly interest section havana hardline cuban emigres also members administration florida governor openly talking regime change miami hardliners counted everything destabilize overthrow cuban peoples government lack national power real power behind present policy rests people wall street washington seeing cuban american community used fall guy unpopular policy example republican house majority leader dick armey retired last year asked biggest regret office said promoting cuba blockade really wanted end didnt permit votes friendship two miami cuban american congresspersons according recent polls majority cuban americans want blockade ended cuban government seems one world standing publicly us drive world commercial empire based neoliberal ideology although many third world governments apparently agree presently unwilling risk capital disinvestment countries cuba particularly rich natural resources twelve million potential consumers products survival revolution presents major danger ideologically world commercial oligarchy based us hegemony us desire real democracy encouraged lack specifics presidents may 20 comments indeed future cuban revolution looks ominous ever view intensity present us propaganda campaign seems eerily similar started last august regarding iraq long cuban revolution survives remain hope democracy around world sense jose martis saying century ago seems prescient cuba al salvarse salva tom crumpacker miami coalition end us embargo cuba reached crump8aolcom 160 160 | 629 |
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<p>Andrew Perez is a National Political Reporter for International Business Times, where he covers money in politics and the 2016 presidential campaign. He previously wrote about politics for The Huffington Post. Andrew lives in in Washington, D.C.</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 />The Clintons continue to be plagued by one scandal or another. On Tuesday the International Business Times reported that Clinton Foundation donors received weapons deals from the State Department while Hillary was secretary of state. According to the International Business times, a consortium of American defense contractors led by Boeing would deliver $29 billion worth of advanced fighter jets to the United States' oil-rich ally in the Middle East, and that's Saudi Arabia.
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<p />Joining us now to discuss this is the author of the report Andrew Perez. Andrew is a national political reporter for International Business Times. Andrew, thank you so much for joining us.
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<p />ANDREW PEREZ, NATIONAL POLITICAL REPORTER, INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES: Thank you for having me.
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<p />PERIES: Andrew, explain what the Clintons actually did wrong here in terms of the relationship between the arms manufacturers delivering weapons to Saudi Arabia, which is obviously a contractual agreement, and then the donations they made to the foundation, or by way of speaking engagements.
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<p />PEREZ: Okay. With that situation what we know is that Saudi Arabia over the course of the duration of the Clinton Foundation has donated at least $10 million to the Foundation. Additionally Boeing, which was the prime contractor in that agreement to deliver F15 aircraft has also donated at least I believe between $1 million and $5 million to the Clinton Foundation. Again, I mean, there's no kind of way to prove that it had, that the contract was in any way linked to the Clinton Foundation donation. However, we are just looking at, there is a pattern here of countries and companies that give to the foundation are receiving favorable outcomes.
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<p />PERIES: And what are the other countries?
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<p />PEREZ: I mean, there's 20 countries in total and there's 6 defense contractors. Some of the countries include Qatar, Algeria, the United Arab Emirates. Other defense contractors that have given to the Foundation include Lockheed Martin, Goldman Sachs, which owned a defense contractor called Hawker Beechcraft.
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<p />In any event, there's 20 countries, and as we've charted, a number of them saw substantial increases in the values that were approved by the State Department after Hillary Clinton took over.
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<p />PERIES: And do we have a total amount of the kind of money we're talking about here that has changed hands?
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<p />PEREZ: Well, the money that went to the Clinton Foundation is anywhere between, I believe, $50 million and $140 million. They only disclose in a range. But as far as under the direct commercial sales process that is run by the State Department, there's--I believe it's around $150 billion worth of contracts that were approved.
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<p />PERIES: And in terms of the Boeing-led consortium, what is it that they exactly contributed to the foundation?
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<p />PEREZ: Boeing has contributed I think $5 million to the Clinton Foundation. I need to check the number. But additionally they had sponsored an event hosted by the Global Business Travel Association that had paid President Clinton $250,000 I believe, in 2010 or 2011.
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<p />PERIES: And what is it in our ethics guidelines that prevent them from doing this?
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<p />PEREZ: In practice, not very much. There's nothing that prohibits companies with business before the State Department from giving to the Secretary of State's spouse or to a foundation that the family runs. Under the terms of an agreement that Secretary Clinton and the Clinton Foundation agreed to with the Obama administration, during her nomination process they agreed to run any speeches by, or any speaking fees by State Department ethics officials before the speech.
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<p />PERIES: Now, the contributions to the Clinton Foundation is separate from the fees that they had garnered for speaking engagements. Is that so?
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<p />PEREZ: Yes, though in some cases it seems that--it's kind of unclear at this point, but it seems like the Clintons accepted speaking fees that they then donated to the Foundation. So some of those weren't originally disclosed. I believe the government of Thailand is one example of such a donation that wasn't disclosed, and they said that was because it was paid to them as a speaking fee and then they donated it.
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<p />PERIES: And is there a tax advantage in doing that, for the Clintons?
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<p />PEREZ: I'm not sure. The Clintons have said that they didn't take any tax exemptions on those transactions.
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<p />PERIES: And Hillary Clinton's on record saying her and Bill Clinton has been fortunate to garner these kinds of fees for their speaking engagements. Now, one of the things that one could argue is that if they're actually donating some of this money to the Foundation and the Foundation is doing good things as they say they do in places like Haiti, how would you contest that?
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<p />PEREZ: That's something that a number of the companies did tell us. Boeing mentioned that they had donated to earthquake relief efforts. That's not a, I don't think anyone would contest that the Clinton Foundation does good work around the globe. However, I think some people do question if there's been any kind of linkage between State Department policy under Hillary Clinton and donations to the Foundation.
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<p />However, of course, that's not entirely clear that there is any kind of link.
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<p />PERIES: All right. Andrew, thank you so much for joining us today.
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<p />PEREZ: All right, thank you for having me.
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<p />PERIES: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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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 | andrew perez national political reporter international business times covers money politics 2016 presidential campaign previously wrote politics huffington post andrew lives washington dc sharmini peries exec producer trnn welcome real news network im sharmini peries coming baltimore clintons continue plagued one scandal another tuesday international business times reported clinton foundation donors received weapons deals state department hillary secretary state according international business times consortium american defense contractors led boeing would deliver 29 billion worth advanced fighter jets united states oilrich ally middle east thats saudi arabia joining us discuss author report andrew perez andrew national political reporter international business times andrew thank much joining us andrew perez national political reporter international business times thank peries andrew explain clintons actually wrong terms relationship arms manufacturers delivering weapons saudi arabia obviously contractual agreement donations made foundation way speaking engagements perez okay situation know saudi arabia course duration clinton foundation donated least 10 million foundation additionally boeing prime contractor agreement deliver f15 aircraft also donated least believe 1 million 5 million clinton foundation mean theres kind way prove contract way linked clinton foundation donation however looking pattern countries companies give foundation receiving favorable outcomes peries countries perez mean theres 20 countries total theres 6 defense contractors countries include qatar algeria united arab emirates defense contractors given foundation include lockheed martin goldman sachs owned defense contractor called hawker beechcraft event theres 20 countries weve charted number saw substantial increases values approved state department hillary clinton took peries total amount kind money talking changed hands perez well money went clinton foundation anywhere believe 50 million 140 million disclose range far direct commercial sales process run state department theresi believe around 150 billion worth contracts approved peries terms boeingled consortium exactly contributed foundation perez boeing contributed think 5 million clinton foundation need check number additionally sponsored event hosted global business travel association paid president clinton 250000 believe 2010 2011 peries ethics guidelines prevent perez practice much theres nothing prohibits companies business state department giving secretary states spouse foundation family runs terms agreement secretary clinton clinton foundation agreed obama administration nomination process agreed run speeches speaking fees state department ethics officials speech peries contributions clinton foundation separate fees garnered speaking engagements perez yes though cases seems thatits kind unclear point seems like clintons accepted speaking fees donated foundation werent originally disclosed believe government thailand one example donation wasnt disclosed said paid speaking fee donated peries tax advantage clintons perez im sure clintons said didnt take tax exemptions transactions peries hillary clintons record saying bill clinton fortunate garner kinds fees speaking engagements one things one could argue theyre actually donating money foundation foundation good things say places like haiti would contest perez thats something number companies tell us boeing mentioned donated earthquake relief efforts thats dont think anyone would contest clinton foundation good work around globe however think people question theres kind linkage state department policy hillary clinton donations foundation however course thats entirely clear kind link peries right andrew thank much joining us today perez right thank peries thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 522 |
<p>The facts, as stated by the AP May 12: “New Jersey forward Clifford Robinson was suspended five games without pay by the NBA on Friday after violating terms of the league’s drug policy for the second time in two seasons. Robinson will miss at least the rest of the Eastern Conference semifinals. His suspension begins Friday night with Game 3 of the Nets’ series against the Miami Heat, and leaves New Jersey without one of its possible options for defending Shaquille O’Neal.</p>
<p>“Robinson was also suspended five games in February 2005 while playing for Golden State. Under terms of last year’s collective bargaining agreement, a player would be suspended five games for a third positive test for marijuana. The 39-year-old Robinson is a valuable reserve for the Nets. He averaged 6.9 points in 80 games this season, his 17th in the NBA.”</p>
<p>Among active NBA players, Cliff Robinson is second only to Dikembe Mutombo in age. What does that say about his marijuana use? The league, i.e. the owners, set him up by insisting that he only use corporate drugs to deal with the pounding his body took. Clifford Robinson was obviously unimpaired as an athlete. By all accounts he was friendly, intelligent, even-tempered un-egotistical -a great teammate. He didn’t like being screamed at by PJ Carlesimo, but he handled the situation more diplomatically than another player did a few years later. Lot of good it did him…</p>
<p>Young Latrell moved to Flint to live with his dad Who then got taken prisoner in your war on drugs gone mad Over some marijuana they put another man away Was that good for General Motors, was it any good for the USA?</p>
<p>PJ Carlesimo was the coach at Seton Hall Never won a championship but PJ got the call to try his style of leadershit on the players up in the pros He was Caucasian, by the way, the players mostly Negroes</p>
<p>Sprewell won a fellowship to attend the Crimson Tide Where the athletes lived segregation camouflaged as pride He got well known for defense and always working hard Nelson drafted him after saying “Why ever draft a guard?”</p>
<p>Carlesimo in Portland for three unpleasant years Rod Strickland and Clifford Robinson said “Let me out of here!” And for his mediacrisy, what be PJ’s fate? A five year contract to coach Golden State</p>
<p>A team that was imploding since unloading proud Tyrone Acquiring Chris Webber who did not like Nellie’s tone He asked for some changes but Nellies said “Neigh,” Red Auerbach taught him everything he must have thought he knew the way</p>
<p>Carlesimo was one of those men who has to scream Insults at grown-ups to mold them into “his team” He’d scowl and growl to exercise control And on the floor he tried to make a sycophant of a man named Bimbo Coles</p>
<p>Losing night after losing night in slow descent to Hell And every day at practice coach would denigrate Latrell Until at last Spree could not take one more nasty crack And they grabbed him in a headlock for a momentary payback</p>
<p>Then he ran off to the lockers, then he stormed back on the floor To say just like Clifford Robinson “I won’t work for you no more!” The team all in between ’em Spree swung out for effect It was just a way of saying, “Man, here’s your disrespect.”</p>
<p>It was just a way of trying to show him how it feels Just a flash of honesty -it was real And for this they tried to take his job forever and a day The arbitrator said “No, just all season without pay.”</p>
<p>The fans all across the dial squealed “We been had. I can’t choke my boss,” the double standard made ’em mad And attorney general Lungren who was supposed to uphold the law Misstated the facts trying to win a few votes more.</p>
<p>I hear that there’s a movie out about a mutiny led by a slave On the good ship Amistad and Spielberg’s all “How brave.” Of course that was another century and the black men nameless freight Not the celebrated contract-locked-up property of Golden State.</p>
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<p>Hemp for Victory (NBA Version)</p>
<p>There are at least two young billionaires in the San Francisco Bay Area with a love of hoops and a social conscience. There’s another young billionaire who could care less about hoops but whose political wish list includes ending the drug war. And there’s George Zimmer, owner of the Men’s Wearhouse, to whom this letter is addressed. Any of them could act on the ideas herein, which are given away free (although your correspondent would not be adverse to a job in the “media relations” office).</p>
<p>Dear George,</p>
<p>Knowing that you’re a big Oakland booster, a big sports fan, and a major critic of the marijuana prohibition, allow me to suggest a way to advance all three interests at once. Buy the Warriors. As owner you can not only bring an NBA title to Oakland, you can strike the biggest blow against the Drug War since we, the voters, with your help, passed Prop 215 in ’96. Here’s the scenario.</p>
<p>One: You buy the Warriors Let’s not quibble over how many mill it’s going to cost. The Men’s Wearhouse is a Fortune 500 company, is it not? And it’s an investment -the price of sports franchises keeps going up. And it’s publicity. And it’s a tax write-off, I guarentee it. But that’s not the point… The point is what you can accomplish culturally and politically and health-wise for suffering mankind.</p>
<p>Two: You hire a member of the Society of Cannabis Clinicians as team doctor. Players are advised that it’s legal in California to smoke marijuana with physician approval, and that it is recommended as an after-game relaxant and anti-inflammatory, and as an alternative to alcohol, SSRI anti-depressants, painkillers and sleeping pills. As you may have read in the New York Times in 1997, 60 to 70 percent of the players in the NBA use marijuana and/or alcohol, and more would if they could do so legally and not jeopardize their jobs. I guarantee it.</p>
<p>Three: As they become free agents, players like Allen Iverson and Lamar Odom and Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber -instead of accepting humiliation and living in low-key fear- would WANT to run with your team. I guarantee it.</p>
<p>Four: You urge the owners association to drop the demand for drug testing when the collective-bargaining agreement is renewed with the players association. Every sports section in the country will explain your reasoning. The radio talk shows will reverberate with discussion of the drug war. The A-level TV shows (Leno, etc.) will jostle each other trying to book you. I guarantee it. Knowing he’s got your backing, the Warriors player rep can take a stand against marijuana testing.</p>
<p>Five: The players association, after some serious soul searching, decides to take a stand against testing for marijuana, not just on behalf of the players themselves but also for millions of black and brown and white Americans who use marijuana responsibly… This is the iffiest part of the scenario, and we can expect the players’ agents to function as political prison guards. (They’d sooner negotiate for more money than better working conditions.) But even if you can’t start a league-wide uprising, you can transform the Warriors into a team of legal, up-front cannabis users. All it would take is one owner allowing/encouraging his employees to emancipate themselves from the gross indignity of urine-testing, and in so doing, to help emancipate the rest of us. I guarantee it.</p>
<p>Six: The obvious choice for coach is migraine sufferer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, a medicinal-cannabis user who has spent years trying to fight his way off the NBA blacklist and get a head coaching job. Another would be the most durable player of his era, Robert Parrish, discarded early in his career by the Warriors, humiliated towards the end by a marijuana-possession charge.</p>
<p>Seven: The O-rena is a name we could do without. This is to propose “The Men’s Greenhouse.” Or simply, “The Oakland Garden.” And Warrirors is hardly appropriate for a team opposed to the drug war. Instead, how about “the Bay Area Fearies?” It has a nice ring to it, an internal rhyme. And won’t it be great to see “Faeries 108, Rockets 97” crawl across the bottom of the TV screen?… There is a whole new market that can be tapped of people here and in other cities who will come to games or watch on TV just to root for -or against- the Bay Area Faeries. I guarantee it.</p>
<p>p.s. Do you remember “the doobie section” – a ramp at one end of the Coliseum where Warrior fans by the hundreds used to smoke marijuana at half-time? It flourished in the ’70s, the glory years of Rick Barry and Phil Smith (rest in peace)… The current anti-smoking laws would prevent you from bringing back the doobie section, alas. But you can bring an NBA championship to Oakland and challenge the basic premise of the drug war on the level at which it needs to be challenged.</p>
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<p>Abe Rosenthal, Drug Warrior</p>
<p>Abe Rosenthal, whose obituaries last week made copious reference to his “fierce drive,” “outmaneuvering his rivals,” etc., wrote a hysterical op-ed piece entitled “While We Slept” that the NY Times ran nine days after Prop 215 passed (11/15/96). As the title suggests, the East Coast Drug Warriors had assumed that an initiative to legalize marijuana in California had no chance of winning -that Attorney General Dan Lungren, leader of the No-on-215 campaign, had the situation well in hand, and that the masses, having absorbed a lifetime of war-on-drugs propaganda, were not about to tell the government to change course. Rosenthal’s piece rested on and reiterated a false assumption: that the outcome was a result of George Soros paying for Yes-on-215 ads.</p>
<p>“‘Drug money” used to mean just one thing — the fortunes manipulated by drug criminals. Last week, while America slept, it took on one more meaning: the gobs of money contributed by a few rich Americans determined to put across state ballot-propositions that would widen the use of narcotics, and without penalty…</p>
<p>“The California proposition allows marijuana to be grown and used by anybody who has an oral ”recommendation” from a doctor that it would be beneficial in treating ”any illness that marijuana provides relief for.” No penalties for using or growing marijuana and none for the oral ”caregivers.”</p>
<p>“Drug legalizers and drug fighters both know that the most important instrument America has in persuading children not to use narcotics has been strong social and parental disapproval. Both know that creeping legalization will eliminate those influences against drugs, goodbye. [sic]</p>
<p>“Both know that neither proposition could have carried except for the money behind it — particularly George Soros’s money. Mr. Soros is a financier. He gave hundreds of millions to philanthropy. Now he gives money to drug legalization, by whatever euphemism his beneficiaries call it.</p>
<p>“Joseph A. Califano Jr., president of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, said that out-of-state money ”bamboozled” California …with misleading advertising. Gen. Barry McCaffrey, the director of U.S. drug policy, said these bankrollers should be ashamed of themselves.”</p>
<p>Rosenthal’s false analysis in the Times was self-reenforcing, and to this day it is widely assumed that the Soros-funded ad campaign was a crucial factor in Prop 215’s success. It wasn’t. What’s true is that Soros’s funding of a professional signature drive in the first quarter of ’96 was crucial to the measure making the ballot. But even before that point, a poll by David Binder showed, California voters favored legalizing marijuana for medical use by a 60-40 margin. The No-on-215 campaign didn’t raise a big ad budget because Lungren didn’t think he needed one. He directed the Bureau of Narcotics to raid and close Dennis Peron’s San Francisco Buyers Club on Aug. 4, 1996, which was the biggest story in the state and drove home what the zealous prosecutor considered his key point: that the author of Prop 215 was a gay pot dealer from San Francisco with a criminal record as long as your arm.</p>
<p>The raid on Dennis’s clubsinspired the great Garry Trudeau to do a week of pro-cannabis buyers’ club Doonesbury strips. Lungren responded with a letter urging California publishers not to run the strips, which he released at a press conference, making him a target of mockery. Trudeau weighed in with another week of strips in October, at which point the Yes-on-215 poll numbers stopped a slow slide and rose agaijn. The three Soros-funded TV spots, developed by Santa Monica campaign consultant Bill Zimmerman, were well done and undoubtedly swayed some voters in Southern California. But they were not decisive by any means. The total budget was less than $1 million, most of Soros’s contribution having gone to the signature drive.</p>
<p>Abe Rosenthal distorted the facts to serve his Prohibitionist purpose in this instance, and this instance typified his relationship to the truth. He personified the New York Times at its worst. I met him once in an elevator in the Hilton Hotel on Michigan Ave in Chicago as the anti-war protests were building outside. During a ride to the eighth floor we had what the Times used to call “a full and frank exchange of views.”</p>
<p>FRED GARDNER is the editor of <a href="http://www.ccrmg.org/journal/" type="external">O’Shaughnessy’s</a> 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 | facts stated ap may 12 new jersey forward clifford robinson suspended five games without pay nba friday violating terms leagues drug policy second time two seasons robinson miss least rest eastern conference semifinals suspension begins friday night game 3 nets series miami heat leaves new jersey without one possible options defending shaquille oneal robinson also suspended five games february 2005 playing golden state terms last years collective bargaining agreement player would suspended five games third positive test marijuana 39yearold robinson valuable reserve nets averaged 69 points 80 games season 17th nba among active nba players cliff robinson second dikembe mutombo age say marijuana use league ie owners set insisting use corporate drugs deal pounding body took clifford robinson obviously unimpaired athlete accounts friendly intelligent eventempered unegotistical great teammate didnt like screamed pj carlesimo handled situation diplomatically another player years later lot good young latrell moved flint live dad got taken prisoner war drugs gone mad marijuana put another man away good general motors good usa pj carlesimo coach seton hall never championship pj got call try style leadershit players pros caucasian way players mostly negroes sprewell fellowship attend crimson tide athletes lived segregation camouflaged pride got well known defense always working hard nelson drafted saying ever draft guard carlesimo portland three unpleasant years rod strickland clifford robinson said let mediacrisy pjs fate five year contract coach golden state team imploding since unloading proud tyrone acquiring chris webber like nellies tone asked changes nellies said neigh red auerbach taught everything must thought knew way carlesimo one men scream insults grownups mold team hed scowl growl exercise control floor tried make sycophant man named bimbo coles losing night losing night slow descent hell every day practice coach would denigrate latrell last spree could take one nasty crack grabbed headlock momentary payback ran lockers stormed back floor say like clifford robinson wont work team em spree swung effect way saying man heres disrespect way trying show feels flash honesty real tried take job forever day arbitrator said season without pay fans across dial squealed cant choke boss double standard made em mad attorney general lungren supposed uphold law misstated facts trying win votes hear theres movie mutiny led slave good ship amistad spielbergs brave course another century black men nameless freight celebrated contractlockedup property golden state 160 hemp victory nba version least two young billionaires san francisco bay area love hoops social conscience theres another young billionaire could care less hoops whose political wish list includes ending drug war theres george zimmer owner mens wearhouse letter addressed could act ideas herein given away free although correspondent would adverse job media relations office dear george knowing youre big oakland booster big sports fan major critic marijuana prohibition allow suggest way advance three interests buy warriors owner bring nba title oakland strike biggest blow drug war since voters help passed prop 215 96 heres scenario one buy warriors lets quibble many mill going cost mens wearhouse fortune 500 company investment price sports franchises keeps going publicity tax writeoff guarentee thats point point accomplish culturally politically healthwise suffering mankind two hire member society cannabis clinicians team doctor players advised legal california smoke marijuana physician approval recommended aftergame relaxant antiinflammatory alternative alcohol ssri antidepressants painkillers sleeping pills may read new york times 1997 60 70 percent players nba use marijuana andor alcohol would could legally jeopardize jobs guarantee three become free agents players like allen iverson lamar odom rasheed wallace chris webber instead accepting humiliation living lowkey fear would want run team guarantee four urge owners association drop demand drug testing collectivebargaining agreement renewed players association every sports section country explain reasoning radio talk shows reverberate discussion drug war alevel tv shows leno etc jostle trying book guarantee knowing hes got backing warriors player rep take stand marijuana testing five players association serious soul searching decides take stand testing marijuana behalf players also millions black brown white americans use marijuana responsibly iffiest part scenario expect players agents function political prison guards theyd sooner negotiate money better working conditions even cant start leaguewide uprising transform warriors team legal upfront cannabis users would take one owner allowingencouraging employees emancipate gross indignity urinetesting help emancipate rest us guarantee six obvious choice coach migraine sufferer kareem abduljabbar medicinalcannabis user spent years trying fight way nba blacklist get head coaching job another would durable player era robert parrish discarded early career warriors humiliated towards end marijuanapossession charge seven orena name could without propose mens greenhouse simply oakland garden warrirors hardly appropriate team opposed drug war instead bay area fearies nice ring internal rhyme wont great see faeries 108 rockets 97 crawl across bottom tv screen whole new market tapped people cities come games watch tv root bay area faeries guarantee ps remember doobie section ramp one end coliseum warrior fans hundreds used smoke marijuana halftime flourished 70s glory years rick barry phil smith rest peace current antismoking laws would prevent bringing back doobie section alas bring nba championship oakland challenge basic premise drug war level needs challenged 160 abe rosenthal drug warrior abe rosenthal whose obituaries last week made copious reference fierce drive outmaneuvering rivals etc wrote hysterical oped piece entitled slept ny times ran nine days prop 215 passed 111596 title suggests east coast drug warriors assumed initiative legalize marijuana california chance winning attorney general dan lungren leader noon215 campaign situation well hand masses absorbed lifetime warondrugs propaganda tell government change course rosenthals piece rested reiterated false assumption outcome result george soros paying yeson215 ads drug money used mean one thing fortunes manipulated drug criminals last week america slept took one meaning gobs money contributed rich americans determined put across state ballotpropositions would widen use narcotics without penalty california proposition allows marijuana grown used anybody oral recommendation doctor would beneficial treating illness marijuana provides relief penalties using growing marijuana none oral caregivers drug legalizers drug fighters know important instrument america persuading children use narcotics strong social parental disapproval know creeping legalization eliminate influences drugs goodbye sic know neither proposition could carried except money behind particularly george soross money mr soros financier gave hundreds millions philanthropy gives money drug legalization whatever euphemism beneficiaries call joseph califano jr president national center addiction substance abuse columbia university said outofstate money bamboozled california misleading advertising gen barry mccaffrey director us drug policy said bankrollers ashamed rosenthals false analysis times selfreenforcing day widely assumed sorosfunded ad campaign crucial factor prop 215s success wasnt whats true soross funding professional signature drive first quarter 96 crucial measure making ballot even point poll david binder showed california voters favored legalizing marijuana medical use 6040 margin noon215 campaign didnt raise big ad budget lungren didnt think needed one directed bureau narcotics raid close dennis perons san francisco buyers club aug 4 1996 biggest story state drove home zealous prosecutor considered key point author prop 215 gay pot dealer san francisco criminal record long arm raid denniss clubsinspired great garry trudeau week procannabis buyers club doonesbury strips lungren responded letter urging california publishers run strips released press conference making target mockery trudeau weighed another week strips october point yeson215 poll numbers stopped slow slide rose agaijn three sorosfunded tv spots developed santa monica campaign consultant bill zimmerman well done undoubtedly swayed voters southern california decisive means total budget less 1 million soross contribution gone signature drive abe rosenthal distorted facts serve prohibitionist purpose instance instance typified relationship truth personified new york times worst met elevator hilton hotel michigan ave chicago antiwar protests building outside ride eighth floor times used call full frank exchange views fred gardner editor oshaughnessys journal california cannabis research medical group reached fredplebesitecom 160 160 | 1,267 |
<p>Pioneering women at United Airlines (UAL) organized the world’s first Flight Attendant (FA) union in 1945. They were quickly recognized by the carrier as the official bargaining representative when the CEO said “they need a union.” Today, these same workers stand last as the lowest paid among all the major airlines and are hardly getting any notice from management. Negotiations have stalled.</p>
<p>“We are working at 1994-wage levels after suffering wage cuts, staff reductions and rising health care costs,” Chris Black told several hundred flight attendants and other union supporters picketing on January 8 at UAL departure gates at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).</p>
<p>Black is SFO Council 11 President, Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), and it was her national AFL-CIO union that organized protests on the same day their contract became amendable. A preliminary count by the AFA is that over 1800 participated at airports all over the world.</p>
<p>Contracts negotiated under the Railway Labor Act do not actually expire but rather become “amendable” with terms remaining “status quo” throughout negotiations overseen by the National Mediation Board. So, while the system does retain contract protections during negotiations, extremely long delays lasting several years have become commonplace.</p>
<p>In ordinary times, this means workers fall further and further behind rising living expenses as talks drag on. But the 2002-2006 bankruptcy of UAL forced even more extremely onerous concessions that substantially compounded the normal burden of delayed negotiations.</p>
<p>Union spokeswoman Sara Nelson said that “after the airline went bankrupt several years ago, the union accepted cuts of more than $3 billion in pay, working conditions and health care, along with the termination of workers’ pensions.</p>
<p>“We were promised the cuts would remain in place for a certain amount of time, but we continue to live under these concessions while executives have rewarded themselves with millions of dollars in bonuses.”</p>
<p>As one example, UAL CEO Glenn Tilton’s bonus upon exiting bankruptcy was by itself sufficient to provide a 10% bonus for all 15,000 FA’s then on the payroll.</p>
<p>Attempting to achieve early settlements, each of the six unions currently in talks with UAL now have contract clauses providing for the commencement of negotiations several months before the amendable dates.</p>
<p>The AFA, for example, has been bargaining with UAL since April 6, 2009. But to no avail. According to an AFA press statement, “members are angry that management has not discussed the improvements envisioned, seeming only interested in delaying….”</p>
<p>United, now dropped from first to the world’s third-largest airline, claims that a weakened economy, rising fuel costs and fluctuations in demand has enormously reduced profits. We heard this argument during bankruptcy when prominent union financial analyst Dan Akins estimates airline workers suffered reductions in wages and benefits totaling $11 billion.</p>
<p>This could actually be a low figure. A US Government Accountability Office report estimated a “loss of $3.2 billion to [UAL] participants” alone just from the pension default.</p>
<p>In any case, everyone realizes the airline industry has always been characterized by intense competition, high fixed costs such as fuel, cyclical demand and vulnerability to intermittent economic lows. We also know from experience that whether in good times or in bad times, carriers have continuously sought concessions.</p>
<p>But with the enormously rising fuel costs since the Gulf War, United embarked on an even more dramatic and sustained burn and slash program of service, route and fleet reductions combined with unprecedented employee layoffs.</p>
<p>For example, the Company reports that its workforce fell from 100,000 in December 2000 to 46,000 in December 2009 with FA numbers at 23,000 and 13,000 in that same period.</p>
<p>However, cutting back is an extremely controversial and unproven method of returning airlines to profitability.</p>
<p>Union leaders explain that reducing passenger capacity is not the answer. It is passengers that pay the bills and it has been shown historically that eliminating routes and laying off employees in fact lowers passenger-generated earnings more rapidly than reducing stable fixed costs.</p>
<p>Reducing the operation is a discredited shortcut that utterly fails to increase revenue and therein lies the problem.</p>
<p>“Cutting its fleet of airplanes does not address the larger cost problems that continue to beleaguer this airline,” said then UAL Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) chairman Captain Steve Wallach back in 2007. “Instead of doling out hundreds of millions of dollars to shareholders and pocketing millions of dollars in bonuses and salary increases, perhaps management should reinvest that money into our operation.”</p>
<p>His comments are still relevant today. They are echoed by the current UAL ALPA chair, Capt. Wendy Morse, who commented on the day of the AFA picketing that “United’s tactics to shrink to profitability has proved disastrous.”</p>
<p>Simply put, when airlines cut back, earnings generally fall more rapidly than costs.</p>
<p>With United management flying in the wrong direction, it is likely to be a tough round of negotiations for flight attendants. But there is some relief in sight. Airlines have made millions from their numerous increased fees. Fuel costs have also stabilized at around $80 a barrel from the high of well over $100. Even Wall St. analysts are cautiously optimistic.</p>
<p>“To sum up,” writes airline analyst Michael Derchin in the November 30, 2009 Yahoo Finance report, &#160;“we are looking for 2010 to be a modestly profitable year for the industry [even if fuel goes to $90 a barrel], setting a stage for a nicely profitable year in 2011 and beyond, assuming the global economy continues to recover.”</p>
<p>In fact, there are already signs of deep-pocket business travelers returning to the soft, cushy, leather recliners in the front.</p>
<p>These trends should provide some bargaining leverage for FA’s and other UAL employees who want to recover from their losses of recent years. But, of course, it is the collective solidarity of all the six unions currently bargaining that will be the most important factor influencing management..</p>
<p>The AFA set a good example by beginning to mobilize members and to reach out to other unions. This is a winning combination. As one Machinist union Local President commented to me wishfully, “we may be negotiating separately but we should be fighting together.”</p>
<p>CARL FINAMORE was a &#160;UAL baggage handler at SFO &#160;and former President (ret), Air Transport Employees, Local Lodge 1781, AFL-CIO. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:local1781@yahoo.com" type="external">local1781@yahoo.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | pioneering women united airlines ual organized worlds first flight attendant fa union 1945 quickly recognized carrier official bargaining representative ceo said need union today workers stand last lowest paid among major airlines hardly getting notice management negotiations stalled working 1994wage levels suffering wage cuts staff reductions rising health care costs chris black told several hundred flight attendants union supporters picketing january 8 ual departure gates san francisco international airport sfo black sfo council 11 president association flight attendants afacwa national aflcio union organized protests day contract became amendable preliminary count afa 1800 participated airports world contracts negotiated railway labor act actually expire rather become amendable terms remaining status quo throughout negotiations overseen national mediation board system retain contract protections negotiations extremely long delays lasting several years become commonplace ordinary times means workers fall behind rising living expenses talks drag 20022006 bankruptcy ual forced even extremely onerous concessions substantially compounded normal burden delayed negotiations union spokeswoman sara nelson said airline went bankrupt several years ago union accepted cuts 3 billion pay working conditions health care along termination workers pensions promised cuts would remain place certain amount time continue live concessions executives rewarded millions dollars bonuses one example ual ceo glenn tiltons bonus upon exiting bankruptcy sufficient provide 10 bonus 15000 fas payroll attempting achieve early settlements six unions currently talks ual contract clauses providing commencement negotiations several months amendable dates afa example bargaining ual since april 6 2009 avail according afa press statement members angry management discussed improvements envisioned seeming interested delaying united dropped first worlds thirdlargest airline claims weakened economy rising fuel costs fluctuations demand enormously reduced profits heard argument bankruptcy prominent union financial analyst dan akins estimates airline workers suffered reductions wages benefits totaling 11 billion could actually low figure us government accountability office report estimated loss 32 billion ual participants alone pension default case everyone realizes airline industry always characterized intense competition high fixed costs fuel cyclical demand vulnerability intermittent economic lows also know experience whether good times bad times carriers continuously sought concessions enormously rising fuel costs since gulf war united embarked even dramatic sustained burn slash program service route fleet reductions combined unprecedented employee layoffs example company reports workforce fell 100000 december 2000 46000 december 2009 fa numbers 23000 13000 period however cutting back extremely controversial unproven method returning airlines profitability union leaders explain reducing passenger capacity answer passengers pay bills shown historically eliminating routes laying employees fact lowers passengergenerated earnings rapidly reducing stable fixed costs reducing operation discredited shortcut utterly fails increase revenue therein lies problem cutting fleet airplanes address larger cost problems continue beleaguer airline said ual air line pilots association alpa chairman captain steve wallach back 2007 instead doling hundreds millions dollars shareholders pocketing millions dollars bonuses salary increases perhaps management reinvest money operation comments still relevant today echoed current ual alpa chair capt wendy morse commented day afa picketing uniteds tactics shrink profitability proved disastrous simply put airlines cut back earnings generally fall rapidly costs united management flying wrong direction likely tough round negotiations flight attendants relief sight airlines made millions numerous increased fees fuel costs also stabilized around 80 barrel high well 100 even wall st analysts cautiously optimistic sum writes airline analyst michael derchin november 30 2009 yahoo finance report 160we looking 2010 modestly profitable year industry even fuel goes 90 barrel setting stage nicely profitable year 2011 beyond assuming global economy continues recover fact already signs deeppocket business travelers returning soft cushy leather recliners front trends provide bargaining leverage fas ual employees want recover losses recent years course collective solidarity six unions currently bargaining important factor influencing management afa set good example beginning mobilize members reach unions winning combination one machinist union local president commented wishfully may negotiating separately fighting together carl finamore 160ual baggage handler sfo 160and former president ret air transport employees local lodge 1781 aflcio reached local1781yahoocom 160 160 160 160 | 645 |
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<p>President Barack Obama made history again, with a victory that defied a decades-long trend: Incumbents don’t triumph when the economy remains in the doldrums and the public sentiment is one of unease. In an archly ideological race that pitted a progressive case for government against a conservative assault on government, the president, burdened by a slow recovery but bolstered by a brilliant ground game based on hard-and-fast demographic realities, beat back Mitt Romney, who embraced the tea-partyization of the Republican Party and campaigned (often in an ugly fashion) for the chance to be CEO of the United States.</p>
<p>The election, a close call for Obama, signaled that division is still rampant within the political culture. Yet in his victory speech before thousands in a Chicago convention hall, Obama spoke of the “difficult compromises needed to move this country forward.” He insisted, “We are an American family, and we rise and fall together.” Moments later, he strode across a confetti-drenched stage, as the PA played Bruce Springsteen’s “The Rising.” He had mounted something of a political resurrection.</p>
<p>This election was always going to be arduous for the president. Not since FDR had an incumbent commander in chief won reelection with unemployment so high. But after Obama’s party took a drubbing in the 2010 congressional elections, the president concocted a strategy for retaining the White House. In the weeks after that election, he told his aides and advisers that they needed to turn the 2012 contest into a battle of values and visions—no matter whom the Republicans would nominate. The reelection fight, he and his aides believed, had to be transformed from a conventional referendum on the guy in office and his handling of the economy to a stark choice between Obama’s aims and those of the GOP standard bearer.</p>
<p>So as the president racked up legislative victories (a tax cut compromise, ending the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, ratifying the New START arms control treaty) and then jousted with tea-party-driven congressional Republicans over the budget, the deficit, and the debt ceiling, Obama—displaying strategic patience—constantly endeavored to tether the tussle of the moment to a values-based message that emphasized the fundamental difference between him and the Rs: He wanted to preserve and use government as a communal force to fund investments in infrastructure, innovation, and education that would bolster the nation’s economic prospects, raise taxes on the well-to-do to underwrite such efforts and ease the task of deficit reduction, and protect (if modify) the social safety; the other side believed in affording more power to the the markets, downsizing government, and handing greater tax breaks to the wealthy to juice up the economy.</p>
<p>These were two conflicting approaches. And congressional Republicans assisted Obama’s efforts by embracing Rep. Paul Ryan’s proposed budget that included draconian cuts in domestic programs, the abolition of the Medicare guarantee, and tax cuts for high-income Americans that went far beyond the George W. Bush trickle-down tax reductions.</p>
<p>There was indeed a choice. And Romney, once he became the de facto GOP nominee, reinforced Obama’s narrative. He repeatedly described the election as a face-off between two alternative paths—claiming that Obama was intent on leading the nation into the wasteland of a European socialist, secular, government-centric society, and insisting that he, a lover of freedom, would guide the country into an age of dynamism, self-reliance, and economic growth spurred by freedom-loving entrepreneurs operating within free markets in a business environment without burdensome taxes and annoying regulations. Ideologues of the right and the left often huff that there is little that separates the major political parties. But in this campaign, each candidate found it in their interest to tie his core arguments to ideological stakes.</p>
<p>Romney did not ignore the it’s-a-referendum line of attack. He repeatedly asserted that Obama had failed to revive the economy sufficiently and claimed he could do better, inflating his job-creating cred as a past CEO of Bain Capital. Still, Obama got the vision-and-values face-off he wanted. When Romney selected Ryan as his campaign soulmate, it sealed the deal. At the GOP convention in Tampa, Ryan delivered one of the most ideological addresses given by a nominee in recent years. He contended that Obama had turned the nation into Ayn Rand’s worst nightmare—”the best this administration offers [is] a dull, adventureless journey from one entitlement to the next, a government-planned life, a country where everything is free but us”—and essentially called for a right-wing revolution. &#160;</p>
<p>Following the convention, Romney did pivot to the center. Actually, it was closer to a reckless U-turn on a crowded highway at 60 miles per hour. After the release of his <a href="" type="internal">47 percent rant</a> reinforced the criticism he was an out-of-touch plutocrat who cared little for those who cannot afford dressage horses or health care, Romney quickly moved to sand down the rough edges of the hard-right stances on immigration, abortion, and gay rights he had peddled vigorously to win the nomination during the wild and wacky GOP primary contest. (On Election Day, an Obama adviser told me that in the weeks after the video was released, focus group participants who were undecided raised Romney’s 47 percent remark on their own: “That’s what they wanted to talk about.”) And during the debates, Romney refused to fess up to key proposals, including his call for gargantuan tax cuts and his support for severe cuts in government programs. This undermined Obama’s effort to present the election as a choice between two conflicting courses. But for months—most of the campaign—the president had succeeded in crafting the contest as a choice election.</p>
<p>Obama had, of course, been blessed with the good fortune of ending up with Romney as his foe. For much of the race, the former Massachusetts governor was a Grade B campaigner. Once a self-professed moderate, he had veered far to the right to win over the tea party, and he was carrying a trunkful of blatant flip-flops (some of which became flip-flop-flips). Obama’s team had a tough time deciding whether to pounce on Romney for his crass situational politics or his newfound conservatism. But there was more: They were able to target his days as a private-equity profiteer who sought to “ <a href="" type="internal">harvest</a>” companies to benefit investors and, on occasion, <a href="" type="internal">exploit outsourcing overseas</a>, rather than build or revive American businesses in a manner that would create jobs for the long run.</p>
<p>Romney lost the race to define himself—a strategic misstep that probably determined his fate. That was partly because there were so many different past and present Romneys for Romney to reconcile. His approval ratings always lagged. Polls routinely found that many Americans did not believe he truly cared about them and the challenges they face. No doubt, many voters were not satisfied with Obama’s performance and yearned for another option. But they didn’t like—or trust—Romney, even though polls often showed that many voters believed he could handle the economy better than Obama. Those pesky undecided voters appeared to confront a dilemma: Do I vote for the fellow I trust but who has disappointed me or the fellow I think might be able to do better but whom I don’t trust? These voters may have wanted change and a candidate like Romney…but just not Romney himself. And Romney’s often hapless campaign—which included insulting cookie makers and Olympics hosts—likely did not inspire confidence among undecideds (that is, if they were paying attention).</p>
<p>Obama’s biggest obstacle—besides the sluggish economy—was of his own making. From the start of his presidency, he has not succeeded in a critical duty: selling his own accomplishments. After the 2010 shellacking, Obama and his crew readily admitted that they had failed miserably in persuading the general public that the stimulus, the health care overhaul, and Wall Street reform had been big winners. The refrain was: We were too busy enacting policies during a time of economic crisis (while managing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan) and neglected to engage in adequate promotion, but we’ll do better. Then…they didn’t.</p>
<p>After forcing the Republicans to accept a second stimulus—in return for assenting to a two-year extension of the Bush tax cuts for the well-heeled—Obama won no credit from his own supporters, or anyone else, for this progressive win. The fact that he lowered taxes for most taxpayers has gone unrecognized by a majority of Americans. And most voters went to the polls knowing little of the <a href="" type="internal">benefits of Obamacare</a>. At the infamous first debate, the president failed to be his own best advocate and, worse, allowed Romney an unimpeded opportunity to present himself as a white knight who could rescue the economy.</p>
<p>Obama and his campaign have done a better job selling the choice than his own record. In Washington, he repeatedly lost the message war. On the campaign trail, he didn’t talk a great deal about the successful stimulus or health care reform. Yet he did refer often to his rescue of the auto industry—a true defining difference with Romney—and that certainly won him the Midwest, which guaranteed his success. (He also mentioned the bin Laden raid.) And message wasn’t everything. Obama’s reelection crew, headed by <a href="" type="internal">Jim Messina</a>, pulled together an impresive field operation that will be studied by politicos and political scientists for years to come. Many of the final state tallies were within a tenth of a point of the the campaign’s razor-thin estimates. Midway through Election Day, several Obama aides told me they had had but one concern: that there would be a bump in GOP turnout that they had not foreseen. No such uptick occurred.</p>
<p>For Romney’s part, he did a poor job of selling himself for most of the campaign—until he went into shape-shifting overdrive at that first debate. For months, he seemed pinned down by his own efforts to court the right. At the Tampa convention, a Romney adviser <a href="" type="internal">told me</a> that Romney campaign has become “preconditioned” to placating conservatives. “They were in that mode for a year during the primaries and can’t get out of it.”</p>
<p>As part of the effort, Romney played footsie with the (often racialized) excesses of the Obama Hate Machine. He hugged Donald Trump, the nation’s No. 1 birther. His chief surrogate, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu, called Obama “lazy” and said he wished the president would “learn how to be an American.” Romney hurled the false charge that the president had weakened welfare rules to help his base. (Get it?) He often declared that Obama did not understand the United States or its exceptional qualities—and that he apologized for it. The Republican candidate shied away from outright birtherism, but <a href="" type="internal">embraced otherism</a>. He accused the Obama administration of sympathizing with terrorists and enemies of the United States after the attacks in Benghazi. He scoffed at traditions of transparency, refusing to release his taxes or identify his chief fundraisers (or release key details of his economic plan). And through it all, Romney waged a campaign predicated on fundamental lies, closing with <a href="" type="internal">brazenly false ads</a> that were denounced by the chief executives of GM and Chrysler. (Wasn’t Romney supposed to be business-friendly?)</p>
<p>Romney could have run a high-road, policy-oriented campaign that touted his past as a moderate governor who pragmatically tackled tough issues (read: Romneycare). Instead, he went with the muck. And the muck just wasn’t enough—not when the demographics were turning against the GOP and not when its nominee could not escape the extremism of his own party or the corporate excesses of his own past. A GOP candidate with less baggage and a defter touch could have vanquished Obama. The Republicans blew their opportunity and can thank the tea party. (No doubt, in the coming civil war within the party’s ranks, some Rs will argue the party didn’t go far right enough.)</p>
<p>Obama’s success did not mark an end to political wars of the United States. The pundit pooh-bahs will be quick to remind all that the country remains bitterly divided—as it heads toward the fiscal cliff. (Romney’s concession speech included only a brief and tepid call to put aside “partisan bickering.”)&#160;And extreme voices on the right will no doubt continue to question Obama’s legitimacy. (It took Trump nanoseconds after the election was called to throw a tweet-tantrum: “This election is a total sham and a travesty. We are not a democracy!”) The challenges of Obama’s second term will be daunting, the opportunities for progress (and compromise) limited. But Obama, coolly sticking to his long-term plan and bare-knuckling when necessary—held back a nasty and reactionary tide. That in itself is a historic triumph.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | president barack obama made history victory defied decadeslong trend incumbents dont triumph economy remains doldrums public sentiment one unease archly ideological race pitted progressive case government conservative assault government president burdened slow recovery bolstered brilliant ground game based hardandfast demographic realities beat back mitt romney embraced teapartyization republican party campaigned often ugly fashion chance ceo united states election close call obama signaled division still rampant within political culture yet victory speech thousands chicago convention hall obama spoke difficult compromises needed move country forward insisted american family rise fall together moments later strode across confettidrenched stage pa played bruce springsteens rising mounted something political resurrection election always going arduous president since fdr incumbent commander chief reelection unemployment high obamas party took drubbing 2010 congressional elections president concocted strategy retaining white house weeks election told aides advisers needed turn 2012 contest battle values visionsno matter republicans would nominate reelection fight aides believed transformed conventional referendum guy office handling economy stark choice obamas aims gop standard bearer president racked legislative victories tax cut compromise ending militarys dont ask dont tell policy ratifying new start arms control treaty jousted teapartydriven congressional republicans budget deficit debt ceiling obamadisplaying strategic patienceconstantly endeavored tether tussle moment valuesbased message emphasized fundamental difference rs wanted preserve use government communal force fund investments infrastructure innovation education would bolster nations economic prospects raise taxes welltodo underwrite efforts ease task deficit reduction protect modify social safety side believed affording power markets downsizing government handing greater tax breaks wealthy juice economy two conflicting approaches congressional republicans assisted obamas efforts embracing rep paul ryans proposed budget included draconian cuts domestic programs abolition medicare guarantee tax cuts highincome americans went far beyond george w bush trickledown tax reductions indeed choice romney became de facto gop nominee reinforced obamas narrative repeatedly described election faceoff two alternative pathsclaiming obama intent leading nation wasteland european socialist secular governmentcentric society insisting lover freedom would guide country age dynamism selfreliance economic growth spurred freedomloving entrepreneurs operating within free markets business environment without burdensome taxes annoying regulations ideologues right left often huff little separates major political parties campaign candidate found interest tie core arguments ideological stakes romney ignore itsareferendum line attack repeatedly asserted obama failed revive economy sufficiently claimed could better inflating jobcreating cred past ceo bain capital still obama got visionandvalues faceoff wanted romney selected ryan campaign soulmate sealed deal gop convention tampa ryan delivered one ideological addresses given nominee recent years contended obama turned nation ayn rands worst nightmarethe best administration offers dull adventureless journey one entitlement next governmentplanned life country everything free usand essentially called rightwing revolution 160 following convention romney pivot center actually closer reckless uturn crowded highway 60 miles per hour release 47 percent rant reinforced criticism outoftouch plutocrat cared little afford dressage horses health care romney quickly moved sand rough edges hardright stances immigration abortion gay rights peddled vigorously win nomination wild wacky gop primary contest election day obama adviser told weeks video released focus group participants undecided raised romneys 47 percent remark thats wanted talk debates romney refused fess key proposals including call gargantuan tax cuts support severe cuts government programs undermined obamas effort present election choice two conflicting courses monthsmost campaignthe president succeeded crafting contest choice election obama course blessed good fortune ending romney foe much race former massachusetts governor grade b campaigner selfprofessed moderate veered far right win tea party carrying trunkful blatant flipflops became flipflopflips obamas team tough time deciding whether pounce romney crass situational politics newfound conservatism able target days privateequity profiteer sought harvest companies benefit investors occasion exploit outsourcing overseas rather build revive american businesses manner would create jobs long run romney lost race define himselfa strategic misstep probably determined fate partly many different past present romneys romney reconcile approval ratings always lagged polls routinely found many americans believe truly cared challenges face doubt many voters satisfied obamas performance yearned another option didnt likeor trustromney even though polls often showed many voters believed could handle economy better obama pesky undecided voters appeared confront dilemma vote fellow trust disappointed fellow think might able better dont trust voters may wanted change candidate like romneybut romney romneys often hapless campaignwhich included insulting cookie makers olympics hostslikely inspire confidence among undecideds paying attention obamas biggest obstaclebesides sluggish economywas making start presidency succeeded critical duty selling accomplishments 2010 shellacking obama crew readily admitted failed miserably persuading general public stimulus health care overhaul wall street reform big winners refrain busy enacting policies time economic crisis managing wars iraq afghanistan neglected engage adequate promotion well better thenthey didnt forcing republicans accept second stimulusin return assenting twoyear extension bush tax cuts wellheeledobama credit supporters anyone else progressive win fact lowered taxes taxpayers gone unrecognized majority americans voters went polls knowing little benefits obamacare infamous first debate president failed best advocate worse allowed romney unimpeded opportunity present white knight could rescue economy obama campaign done better job selling choice record washington repeatedly lost message war campaign trail didnt talk great deal successful stimulus health care reform yet refer often rescue auto industrya true defining difference romneyand certainly midwest guaranteed success also mentioned bin laden raid message wasnt everything obamas reelection crew headed jim messina pulled together impresive field operation studied politicos political scientists years come many final state tallies within tenth point campaigns razorthin estimates midway election day several obama aides told one concern would bump gop turnout foreseen uptick occurred romneys part poor job selling campaignuntil went shapeshifting overdrive first debate months seemed pinned efforts court right tampa convention romney adviser told romney campaign become preconditioned placating conservatives mode year primaries cant get part effort romney played footsie often racialized excesses obama hate machine hugged donald trump nations 1 birther chief surrogate former new hampshire gov john sununu called obama lazy said wished president would learn american romney hurled false charge president weakened welfare rules help base get often declared obama understand united states exceptional qualitiesand apologized republican candidate shied away outright birtherism embraced otherism accused obama administration sympathizing terrorists enemies united states attacks benghazi scoffed traditions transparency refusing release taxes identify chief fundraisers release key details economic plan romney waged campaign predicated fundamental lies closing brazenly false ads denounced chief executives gm chrysler wasnt romney supposed businessfriendly romney could run highroad policyoriented campaign touted past moderate governor pragmatically tackled tough issues read romneycare instead went muck muck wasnt enoughnot demographics turning gop nominee could escape extremism party corporate excesses past gop candidate less baggage defter touch could vanquished obama republicans blew opportunity thank tea party doubt coming civil war within partys ranks rs argue party didnt go far right enough obamas success mark end political wars united states pundit poohbahs quick remind country remains bitterly dividedas heads toward fiscal cliff romneys concession speech included brief tepid call put aside partisan bickering160and extreme voices right doubt continue question obamas legitimacy took trump nanoseconds election called throw tweettantrum election total sham travesty democracy challenges obamas second term daunting opportunities progress compromise limited obama coolly sticking longterm plan bareknuckling necessaryheld back nasty reactionary tide historic triumph | 1,167 |
<p>“Our model [neo-liberal economic model] is very good for Brazil, but not so good for Brazilians.”</p>
<p>— President Emilio Medici, 1971</p>
<p>According to comedian Chris Rock, democracy doesn’t deliver equality. For example “a black C student can’t even be the manager of Burger King. Meanwhile, a white C student just happens to be the president of the United States of America.”</p>
<p>I told this to a Tijuana cab driver. He laughed.</p>
<p>So, I said, with the election of Vicente Fox in 2000, Mexico now has democracy.</p>
<p>“And I can walk on water,” he replied.</p>
<p>Well, at least democratic elections. Tell me, has this changed your life in any way?</p>
<p>“You mean did I get a beautiful new girlfriend, or a new house with a swimming pool?”</p>
<p>No, I said. Has democracy improved your situation? You see, the UN Development Program recently took a poll in Latin America and found that while democratic institutions had spread throughout the region, most people did not think they had benefited from them.</p>
<p>“Polls?” the driver retorted. “Some pollsters found that the majority of adults know people who go to work drunk or stoned on drugs. The minority used the survey as rolling paper.”</p>
<p>I laughed.</p>
<p>“What’s democracy got to do with poverty,” he asked, turning suddenly serious. “I voted for Fox because the PRI [the Institutionalized Revolutionary Party that governed Mexico for seven decades] was a bunch of thieves. But Fox didn’t ask his billionaire friends to share their fortunes with working people. Those who stole vast sums from the public, thanks to their political cronies, have gotten richer. Am I poorer or richer in the last four years? Who has time to count?</p>
<p>“Listen, in Mexico, poor people expect nothing. That way they can’t get too disappointed. I imagine most of Latin America feels the same way. Politicians say democracy as if it would produce magic, like they did with NAFTA. They swore life would change for the better. But it hasn’t. Sure, NAFTA made new jobs, but at the same time the government devalued the currency. If I had 50 thousand pesos in the bank before devaluation, they were worth a third of that afterwards. Patriots like me deposited savings in Mexican banks instead of the ones in San Diego. I was a fool,” said the cab driver.</p>
<p>Some multi national corporations that had built plants in the Otay Mesa area have recently moved to China because they paid lower wages there. Had this changed life in this buzzing border city?</p>
<p>“Tijuana has more people now. Maybe 2 million? Who really knows? They come from rural Mexico or other places where there’s no work. More people are employed than say, ten years ago. And more are unemployed as well. Tijuana has more money, more crime, more consumer goods and more drugs. In the old days, whores worked at bars that watered down drinks and offered sex shows to sailors and marines from California. The farmacias still sell cheap drugs to retired Americans. But now, Tijuana lives off maquilas. The new whores sell themselves to the young men who come from the farms. Disease, divorce, more passion crimes. Well, that’s evolution,” he concluded.</p>
<p>“It’s like democracy. You get an honest election, but not necessarily honest politicians who win them.”</p>
<p>I paid my fare. Did this cab driver represent Latin American public opinion?</p>
<p>The UN researchers, directed by former Argentine Foreign Minister Dante Caputo, interviewed 20,000 people in 18 countries (excluding Cuba) and concluded that like the Tijuana cabby, the majority have become disillusioned with democracy because it hasn’t touched inequality. By failing to deal with the consequences of extreme poverty, the researchers conclude, the current system could lead “to the slow death of democracy” and the reemergence of military dictatorships.</p>
<p>One doesn’t need to conduct a survey to discover that since 2000, four elected presidents have left office before the end of their terms. Last October, prolonged economic stagnation provoked rage among Bolivians who forced President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada to flee to Miami in fear. In Argentina and Ecuador, elected presidents also recently left office because their economic policies produced political hatred. Aristide’s departure had more complex reasons, but certainly the failure of the free market model loomed large in Haiti.</p>
<p>And in Peru, Alejandro Toledo, who won wide appeal by trumpeting democracy in his campaign, has watched his approval rating dip to 7 percent. He had promised voters that he not only meant free speech and politics, but the creation of jobs to address Peru’s super high unemployment rate. Now Peruvians know that democracy means US-backed “free market” economics.</p>
<p>The UN study doesn’t ask those interviewed what they mean by democracy. Nor does it ask the State Department, which has reserved its blessings for governments that adopt free market policies. And no wonder! The balance of trade falls favorably on the U.S. side. The investments receive protection, the World Bank and IMF hand out loans at substantial interest rates of course and the elected governments then take the heat, as they should.</p>
<p>In 1989, Venezuelan Social Democratic President Carlos Andres Perez ordered troops to quell an anti-IMF riot in Caracas. Estimates of those killed by their own army ran as high as 2,000. Then, when the Social Democrats lost the next election, the Christian Democrats replaced them and followed the same failed economic policy. When anti-free market Hugo Chavez won in 1998, Washington withdrew its approval.</p>
<p>Yes, democracy in Latin America is preferable to dictatorship. Thousands of people no longer “disappear” in Argentina, Chile and Uruguay as they did in the 1970s and 80s; tens of thousands don’t experience torture and hundreds of thousands need not flee into exile. Organized constituencies occasionally even win some gains on the economic and cultural fronts.</p>
<p>But they prove short lived. The neo-liberal model has actually reduced living standards in several countries, meaning that the right to vote does not necessarily mean making a living wage, getting an education or access to medical care.</p>
<p>A 2003 report by the Inter-American Development Bank indicates that Latin American unemployment rates have reached all time highs, and poverty has spiraled out of control. As a result, the majority apparently reject democracy, which many see as the free market model and demand instead that governments make social issues a priority.</p>
<p>The antipathy towards democracy revealed in the poll means that voters understand the word as voting for one of a choice of candidates, all of whom support free market economics. Freedom in practice means foreign investors get favors and workers get screwed; rule of law covers multinational corporate investments. When George W. Bush repeats “free Iraq” or lauds democracy in Latin America as he browbeats Latin Americans into supporting the FTAA (Free Trade Agreement of the Americas), he doesn’t envision freedom as the majority exercising its will to uplift their economic conditions.</p>
<p>The April 26 NY Times editorial assumes that democracy has truly spread, but warns that “it’s easy to take the triumph for granted… to lose sight of just how anomalous it is for the bulk of Latin America to be governed by democratic rule, given the region’s authoritarian tradition and trends in other developing parts of the world.”</p>
<p>Please, the United States has a tradition of slavery and apartheid. The reason democracy as practiced has little meaning relates to the fact that successive governments refuse to deal with redistribution of wealth and, when one does, as with Castro in Cuba or Chavez in Venezuela, the United States targets it with violence, propaganda and economic sanctions.</p>
<p>It’s easy and boring to relegate the issue to “chronic official corruption,” when in fact US policies reward such behavior: US policy not only tolerated but supported the most corrupt regimes in the Hemisphere, including the Somoza and Duvalier family dictatorships in Nicaragua and Haiti from the 1930s through the 1980s. U.S. policy overthrew elected governments that tried to address poverty and corruption in Guatemala (1954), Brazil (1964) and Chile (1973).</p>
<p>When the NY Times preaches that “democracy is about more than elections and market-opening economic reforms the twin obsessions of United States policy makers and multilateral financial organizations” you know the elite has begun to worry. But reviving old saws like “bolstering the rule of law” and “development of independent judiciaries” does not touch the redistribution of wealth. Such a path would call for the United States to begin to return some of the fortune it has stolen from the people of Latin America just doing business over the past century. Don’t hold you breath. Latin Americans, even if they resort to rule of law and honest courts, will have to do this without support from Washington or the NY Times.</p>
<p>On my way back to the U.S. border I asked another cab driver, less vocal than the one who brought me, if he felt optimistic about democracy in Mexico. He shrugged his shoulders. “Someone said that an optimist is simply a poorly informed pessimist. I try not to think about such things. It clouds my mind.”</p>
<p>SAUL LANDAU is a fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies. He teaches at Cal Poly Pomona University. For Landau’s writing in Spanish visit: <a href="http://www.rprogreso.com/" type="external">www.rprogreso.com</a>. His new book, <a href="" type="internal">PRE-EMPTIVE EMPIRE: A GUIDE TO BUSH S KINGDOM,</a> has just been published by Pluto Press. His new film is Syria: Between Iraq and a Hard Place, now available from the <a href="http://www.cinemaguild.com/" type="external">Cinema Guild</a>. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:landau@counterpunch.org" type="external">landau@counterpunch.org</a></p> | true | 4 | model neoliberal economic model good brazil good brazilians president emilio medici 1971 according comedian chris rock democracy doesnt deliver equality example black c student cant even manager burger king meanwhile white c student happens president united states america told tijuana cab driver laughed said election vicente fox 2000 mexico democracy walk water replied well least democratic elections tell changed life way mean get beautiful new girlfriend new house swimming pool said democracy improved situation see un development program recently took poll latin america found democratic institutions spread throughout region people think benefited polls driver retorted pollsters found majority adults know people go work drunk stoned drugs minority used survey rolling paper laughed whats democracy got poverty asked turning suddenly serious voted fox pri institutionalized revolutionary party governed mexico seven decades bunch thieves fox didnt ask billionaire friends share fortunes working people stole vast sums public thanks political cronies gotten richer poorer richer last four years time count listen mexico poor people expect nothing way cant get disappointed imagine latin america feels way politicians say democracy would produce magic like nafta swore life would change better hasnt sure nafta made new jobs time government devalued currency 50 thousand pesos bank devaluation worth third afterwards patriots like deposited savings mexican banks instead ones san diego fool said cab driver multi national corporations built plants otay mesa area recently moved china paid lower wages changed life buzzing border city tijuana people maybe 2 million really knows come rural mexico places theres work people employed say ten years ago unemployed well tijuana money crime consumer goods drugs old days whores worked bars watered drinks offered sex shows sailors marines california farmacias still sell cheap drugs retired americans tijuana lives maquilas new whores sell young men come farms disease divorce passion crimes well thats evolution concluded like democracy get honest election necessarily honest politicians win paid fare cab driver represent latin american public opinion un researchers directed former argentine foreign minister dante caputo interviewed 20000 people 18 countries excluding cuba concluded like tijuana cabby majority become disillusioned democracy hasnt touched inequality failing deal consequences extreme poverty researchers conclude current system could lead slow death democracy reemergence military dictatorships one doesnt need conduct survey discover since 2000 four elected presidents left office end terms last october prolonged economic stagnation provoked rage among bolivians forced president gonzalo sanchez de lozada flee miami fear argentina ecuador elected presidents also recently left office economic policies produced political hatred aristides departure complex reasons certainly failure free market model loomed large haiti peru alejandro toledo wide appeal trumpeting democracy campaign watched approval rating dip 7 percent promised voters meant free speech politics creation jobs address perus super high unemployment rate peruvians know democracy means usbacked free market economics un study doesnt ask interviewed mean democracy ask state department reserved blessings governments adopt free market policies wonder balance trade falls favorably us side investments receive protection world bank imf hand loans substantial interest rates course elected governments take heat 1989 venezuelan social democratic president carlos andres perez ordered troops quell antiimf riot caracas estimates killed army ran high 2000 social democrats lost next election christian democrats replaced followed failed economic policy antifree market hugo chavez 1998 washington withdrew approval yes democracy latin america preferable dictatorship thousands people longer disappear argentina chile uruguay 1970s 80s tens thousands dont experience torture hundreds thousands need flee exile organized constituencies occasionally even win gains economic cultural fronts prove short lived neoliberal model actually reduced living standards several countries meaning right vote necessarily mean making living wage getting education access medical care 2003 report interamerican development bank indicates latin american unemployment rates reached time highs poverty spiraled control result majority apparently reject democracy many see free market model demand instead governments make social issues priority antipathy towards democracy revealed poll means voters understand word voting one choice candidates support free market economics freedom practice means foreign investors get favors workers get screwed rule law covers multinational corporate investments george w bush repeats free iraq lauds democracy latin america browbeats latin americans supporting ftaa free trade agreement americas doesnt envision freedom majority exercising uplift economic conditions april 26 ny times editorial assumes democracy truly spread warns easy take triumph granted lose sight anomalous bulk latin america governed democratic rule given regions authoritarian tradition trends developing parts world please united states tradition slavery apartheid reason democracy practiced little meaning relates fact successive governments refuse deal redistribution wealth one castro cuba chavez venezuela united states targets violence propaganda economic sanctions easy boring relegate issue chronic official corruption fact us policies reward behavior us policy tolerated supported corrupt regimes hemisphere including somoza duvalier family dictatorships nicaragua haiti 1930s 1980s us policy overthrew elected governments tried address poverty corruption guatemala 1954 brazil 1964 chile 1973 ny times preaches democracy elections marketopening economic reforms twin obsessions united states policy makers multilateral financial organizations know elite begun worry reviving old saws like bolstering rule law development independent judiciaries touch redistribution wealth path would call united states begin return fortune stolen people latin america business past century dont hold breath latin americans even resort rule law honest courts without support washington ny times way back us border asked another cab driver less vocal one brought felt optimistic democracy mexico shrugged shoulders someone said optimist simply poorly informed pessimist try think things clouds mind saul landau fellow institute policy studies teaches cal poly pomona university landaus writing spanish visit wwwrprogresocom new book preemptive empire guide bush kingdom published pluto press new film syria iraq hard place available cinema guild reached landaucounterpunchorg | 925 |
<p>In 1953 my family — my parents and their four boys, aged 4 to 12, I was 10 — moved from the suburbs of Washington, D.C., to Israel, where we remained for seven years. My father was what might be called a McCarthy refugee, a former Truman administration official who was also a “premature anti-fascist” (look it up) and thus not eminently employable in that chilly era of Red-hunting. I’ve since read my father’s FBI file and I know how close he came to being fingered as a former Communist Party member (my parents both left the CP after the 1939 Hitler-Stalin pact). My father received offers to join many other former government officials in taking overseas posts in such imperial outposts as Japan, Indonesia and Pakistan, but my mother said she wouldn’t raise her children in a “foreign nationals” bubble surrounded by servants. An offer to my father to join a group of economic advisers to the prime minister of the then 5-year-old state of Israel was another matter. To my mother, the daughter of longtime Labor Zionists, this was an appealing option, and we left the States for what was to be a two-year stint. After the two years were over, my father moved to the Hebrew University, where he taught for the next five years before we returned to the United States and I started college.</p>
<p>I’ve long thought that it wasn’t a bad bargain, missing out on the 1950s in the United States, by all accounts a very missable decade, and instead experiencing life in the young and then exciting and idealistic state of Israel. From the sixth grade through high school I went to Jerusalem schools, using Hebrew and absorbing a blend of nationalism and Jewish-slanted perspectives on history, within a context of widely proclaimed external threats and internal nation-building. This was a period in which education — history, geography and even Bible studies — was clearly in the service of the national enterprise. Even in the secular schools Bible study was required, but the subject largely was taught as an extension of the story of the Jews, reinforcing the connections of the Chosen People to the land, with the names of biblical places still present all around us, cementing the historical continuity we were now experiencing after 2,000 years of exile. As the familiar song went, we have come to the Land, to build and to be rebuilt in it.</p>
<p>Even then there were tangles in the stories that were woven through the nationalist tapestry: The barely disguised racism to which Sephardic Jews from the Arab countries were subjected, in comparison with the preferential treatment of Ashkenazi Jews from Western Europe and the United States — to my parents’ amusement, British and American Jews were routinely referred to as “Anglo-Saxons” — and the even less disguised racism directed at Arabs. Traveling with my father, whose advisory brief included public housing, to visit settlements for Sephardic immigrants — Maabarot — it was easy to see the contrast between the government’s views of various categories of olim (immigrants), and the vast difference in social services and opportunities extended. It was also easy to see that Israeli Arabs occupied a distinctly lower status.</p>
<p>At the same time, to be blunt, it was also clear to me that the beauty of the landscape and the indigenous architecture that seemed to grow organically on the rocky hills, a landscape and architecture that has etched itself on my soul, was the creation of the Palestinian people who had lived in these hills for generations. In contrast, the new settlements built by the Israeli government spread across the hilltops like an ugly ribbon of concrete.</p>
<p />
<p>The big city of the time, Tel Aviv, despite some neighborhoods with low-rise apartment buildings echoing the Bauhaus style, felt ugly and cramped and already was falling apart. Now, I know that Tel Aviv has been transformed, with skyscrapers and freeways, bright lights and nightlife, but it also looks like nearly every other modern metropolis. The adjacent Arab port of Jaffa, absorbed into a unified Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, has been gentrified and touristed up.</p>
<p>The Jerusalem of my childhood was a divided city, in which the new part, the Israeli portion, was a small town I could traverse on my bicycle, avoiding the scar of barbed-wired “no man’s land” that divided it from the Jordanian-controlled Old City. Since 1967 the unified city, along with the extensive territories annexed into “Greater Jerusalem,” has grown and expanded and build up and out. High-rises have desecrated the timeless skyline of the city, as new housing settlements have covered the surrounding hills.</p>
<p>Even more striking than the sheer growth of the city is its domination by the ultra-orthodox. I recall the first riot I ever saw, in the mid-1950s, when thousands of black-suited men thronged the center of the city to protest the building of the first public swimming pool in Jerusalem. The pool was expected to permit men and women to swim at the same time, a provocation and blasphemy that roused the orthodox communities to outrage. Previously, the orthodox communities had limited themselves to barricading their streets during the Sabbath and throwing stones at cars that wandered too close to their neighborhoods. They also greeted other violations in similar fashion: I recall my mother being pelted with pebbles by small boys when she wore a sleeveless dress as we walked on a street that was the border between orthodox and secular neighborhoods. But the tensions of that time were nothing compared to the rise of religious nationalism after the 1967 Six Day War, when many ultra-orthodox groups previously hostile to Zionism — God will decide when we return to Zion, not men, they argued, and thus Zionism is presumptuous — took the Israeli victory as a sign that God now favored the Zionist enterprise, and therefore Jews had the right and indeed the obligation to settle the entire Land of Israel.Which brings me to the crux of the issue, the Palestinian Problem. When I was a youngster learning Jewish history in Jerusalem’s schools, the story was clear and even simple. In many ways, it could be encapsulated in a saying one heard occasionally, attributed to early Zionists: “A land without people for a people without land.” Well, there are several striking problems with this aphorism, the most obvious being that there were people already living in the Holy Land, the Palestinians. This phrase originated in writings of British clergy and statesmen who viewed with favor what later became the Zionist cause, decades before Theodor Herzl wrote <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodor_Herzl" type="external">“The Jewish State”</a> (see the fascinating and important <a href="http://www.meforum.org/1877/a-land-without-a-people-for-a-people-without" type="external">article by Diana Muir</a> on the history of the phrase).</p>
<p>Not surprising for the people who retell the ancient story of liberation from slavery in Egypt every year at Passover, the official Zionist story was frequently retold. The story I was taught in school was repeated in the nearly obligatory youth movements that organized much of our out-of-school lives (the choice was between youth movements, each aligned with a political party; not belonging to any movement carried a sentence of total social isolation). This story was also repeated on the frequent occasions for public expression of nationalistic fervor (the Zionist leaders of the day were reminiscent of Fidel Castro in their love of delivering long speeches). It was the story of the return to The Land, the Rebuilding of the Land and the People, and the continuity of Jewish identification with the Land, from biblical times to the present. The Arab residents of the land — Palestinian was not a term used at that time, either by the Jews or, as far as I can recall, by the Arabs — were generally viewed as peasants, shopkeepers or craftsmen, living in the Levantine past, neither part of the romantic Hebrew past nor the modern new state being built around them.</p>
<p>Then there were the “infiltrators” — Arab peasants, taken from their refugee camps in Gaza or the West Bank, armed by the cynical Egyptians or Jordanians, and sent over the border to kill Israelis, unless, as usually happened, the Israelis killed them first. I well recall spending time with my high school class doing “national service” on a kibbutz near Gaza — helping out in the fields as replacement for kibbutzniks off on military service — when the army killed several infiltrators not far from where we were working. It was a familiar story that fit with the national narrative that blamed the neighboring Arab states for the plight of the Palestinian refugees kept confined in camps reminiscent of the Maabarot, in which the Israeli government settled immigrants from Arab countries. True, of course, the Egyptian, Jordanian and Lebanese governments were callous and calculating in their realpolitik treatment of the refugees. But the larger story, and a key foundation of the mythology of Israeli nationalism, is that the refugees had not been deliberately driven out by the Israeli army in an act of what we now call ethnic cleansing.</p>
<p>In the Jerusalem of my youth the nicest houses by far were the Arab mansions of certain West Jerusalem neighborhoods, many of them truly beautiful examples of Eastern Mediterranean architecture, with thick stone walls, cool courtyards and tiled floors. These “abandoned” homes, technically controlled by the government as trustee for “enemy property,” were given out to politically favored or wealthy Israelis, without any visible irony or candor. I recall visiting Golda Meir’s apartment in the mid-1950s with my parents — Golda, then minister of labor, was an old friend of my Labor Zionist grandparents, and my father was consulting for her as well — which occupied the top floor of one of these mansions, its large stone-tiled balcony overlooking lush gardens. The floor below was the home of a Supreme Court justice whose son was my youth movement group leader.</p>
<p>Somewhat later my family became close to a young Yemenite woman who worked for us as a housekeeper (most middle-class Ashkenazi families employed Sephardic housekeepers — I heard Tel Aviv housewives refer to them as the “Schwartzeh”). We came to know her family, headed by an elderly patriarch who succeeded in marrying her off to someone she neither knew nor wanted. The family lived in Liftah, a run-down “abandoned” Arab village just below the main road at the entry to Jerusalem; a common pattern in which Jews from Arab countries were settled in former Arab villages.</p>
<p>The Israel of my youth was not only hostile to its Arab citizens and neighbors, it was also frequently contemptuous of European Jews, especially the Shtetl Jews who had been massacred in the Holocaust. I recall my grandfather’s dismay and anger at the Israeli rejection of Yiddish, truly my grandparents’ mother tongue, which was treated as a badge of the old Jewry, deformed by exile and now to be replaced by the New Jews building a new country. Long before Hannah Arendt was attacked for seeming to blame the victims for their fate under the Nazis (this was the grounds for the firestorm of criticism leveled at her <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eichmann_in_Jerusalem" type="external">“Eichmann in Jerusalem”</a>), it was common to hear the charge that Ghetto Jews had gone like sheep to the slaughter, not fighting back as Sabras would as a matter of course. In this context, understandably, the resistance fighters of the Warsaw Ghetto were among the most celebrated of the Holocaust victims.While I am not sure how much of the national story I was questioning at the time I left Israel and returned to the United States, I do know I was clearly aware of the pervasive racism directed at both Arabs and Sephardic Jews. But then, I was returning to a country itself in the midst of a struggle over civil rights and still mostly unwilling to acknowledge its racist past and present. I also know that I was aware of the shallowness of the commitment to social democracy that the Israeli Labor-dominated establishment proclaimed. I had learned from my father’s experience that much of the familiar story was bogus. For example, that the kibbutz system, the crown jewel of Israel’s new society and the birthplace of much of its military-governmental elite, was artificially maintained by a system of public subsidies. And that the political deal that continued through every coalition government yielded authority over domestic life to the religious parties that joined the government, thus giving them total control over such “minor” matters as marriage, divorce and the rights of women and children. I recall accompanying my mother when she went to court to support another one of our housekeepers, who was entangled in a dispute with her abusive husband. He was refusing to give her a divorce. In the religious courts that control such matters, only a husband can grant a divorce.</p>
<p>What became even clearer in subsequent years was that single-party rule by the Labor coalition over decades had created the sort of complacent and often corrupt political system familiar from Eastern Europe, in which bureaucratic sludge infiltrates most corners of public institutions, and in which knowing the right person — what Israelis, in a term imported from Poland, call Protectzia — is the only key that will open the door you’ve been banging on. The systematic oppression of Sephardic communities led to an eruption in the 1970s, when young people organized their version of the Black Panthers, and then finally to the political upheaval in which the Labor government’s rule was finally ended. As it turned out, the new governing bloc, Menachem Begin’s right-wing coalition, was only slightly more accommodating to the “Eastern communities” that voted them in, but that’s another, also familiar story.</p>
<p>The dividing line in the history of Israel, and the region, of course, is the 1967 war in which Israel defeated Egypt, Jordan and Syria, capturing the Sinai, the West Bank and the Golan Heights. By this time, I was living in New York, attending graduate school, and I recall following the news of the war and, as it drew to a close, thinking that most subsequent challenges could be resolved, except for the future of Jerusalem. As it turns out, I was overly optimistic, as almost everything has been mishandled, either by the Israelis or, in many cases, the Arab neighbors and the various Palestinian factions that have emerged. In a famous line Israeli diplomat Abba Eban used to characterize the Palestinians, but that could more accurately be applied to all parties to the dispute, they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity.</p>
<p>As has often been noted, it was Israel that largely created the sense of Palestinian national identity as a political force. In a famous Israeli short story I read in high school, a kibbutznik argues that there is no Jewish history, because Jews have always been reacting to what the Goyim have done to them — chased them from country to country, limited the occupations permitted to them, attacked their communities and confiscated their wealth. This account can be applied as well to the relationship between the Palestinians and Israel.</p>
<p>We have also learned uncomfortable truths from “revisionist” histories of the War of Independence, as it is called by Israel, as well as more recent accounts of the 1967 war and its aftermath. It turns out that the Six Day War was not forced on Israel by an overreaching Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, although his posturing, like Saddam Hussein’s decades later, played into the hands of those happy for the excuse to attack. Israeli leaders saw an opportunity and took it, under the guise of defending their nation from annihilation (see this <a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/06/20116781531161171.html" type="external">recent account</a> of the events of this period), as well as <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&amp;v=c4ZfnpN4Dfc" type="external">Miko Peled’s riveting account</a> of the involvement of his father, Israeli Gen. Matti Peled, in these events.</p>
<p>In the aftermath of the stunning success, many Israeli leaders, including the old lion David Ben-Gurion, warned of the dangers of holding on to and occupying the conquered lands, especially the West Bank, and their warnings have proved prescient. What I don’t believe was foreseen among the secular but nationalistic governmental/military leaders — such farm-community-raised generals as Dayan, Alon and Rabin — was the explosion of religious fundamentalism that transformed their vision of a security-based string of semi-military settlements along the Jordan River into the rash of <a href="http://countrystudies.us/israel/102.htm%20" type="external">Gush Emunim</a> settlements that spread across the West Bank and Gaza, as well as into the Old City of Jerusalem and the center of Hebron. So was the scene set for the most intractable of human conflicts, when mutually antagonistic faith communities claim sole ownership of the same territory. Whether it’s Hindus and Muslims in India, Hindus and Buddhists in Sri Lanka, Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland, or Jews and Palestinians in the West Bank, the plot is all too familiar, and the chances for a peaceful outcome equally remote.</p>
<p>This, however, is not enough, as it leaves us with a false equivalence of competing claims and culpability. Israel is the occupying power, in clear contravention of international law and United Nations resolutions, and the moral consequences are as clear as they were predictable in 1967. Israel has squandered its moral integrity and corrupted the lives of generations of young folk drafted into an army of occupation.</p>
<p>I recall hearing stories from Holocaust survivors of the treatment of Jews in Germany and Austria in the 1930s. Not stories of concentration camps and gas chambers, although those, too, of course. But stories of legally enacted restrictions and humiliations, put in place by the government and carried out by its agents, police and soldiers, often young and often callous. Stories that are uncomfortably recalled when seeing the oppression and humiliation inflicted on Palestinians by Israeli soldiers at checkpoints; of soldiers mistreating civilians protesting the confiscation of their land and the destruction of their homes and orchards; of roads cutting through Palestinian lands that are open only to Israeli settlers; of Palestinians cut off from their own communities by a wall that cuts across the landscape like an ugly scar.</p>
<p>I recall visiting Germany for the first time in the late 1950s and thinking, as I looked at folks in their 30s and older, “What were you doing during that period?” I can’t help thinking that civilized folks will be asking the same question of Israelis, now and in the future.</p>
<p>Larry Gross is the director of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication, one of the founders of queer studies and a scholar of art, media, and the portrayal of minorities.</p> | true | 4 | 1953 family parents four boys aged 4 12 10 moved suburbs washington dc israel remained seven years father might called mccarthy refugee former truman administration official also premature antifascist look thus eminently employable chilly era redhunting ive since read fathers fbi file know close came fingered former communist party member parents left cp 1939 hitlerstalin pact father received offers join many former government officials taking overseas posts imperial outposts japan indonesia pakistan mother said wouldnt raise children foreign nationals bubble surrounded servants offer father join group economic advisers prime minister 5yearold state israel another matter mother daughter longtime labor zionists appealing option left states twoyear stint two years father moved hebrew university taught next five years returned united states started college ive long thought wasnt bad bargain missing 1950s united states accounts missable decade instead experiencing life young exciting idealistic state israel sixth grade high school went jerusalem schools using hebrew absorbing blend nationalism jewishslanted perspectives history within context widely proclaimed external threats internal nationbuilding period education history geography even bible studies clearly service national enterprise even secular schools bible study required subject largely taught extension story jews reinforcing connections chosen people land names biblical places still present around us cementing historical continuity experiencing 2000 years exile familiar song went come land build rebuilt even tangles stories woven nationalist tapestry barely disguised racism sephardic jews arab countries subjected comparison preferential treatment ashkenazi jews western europe united states parents amusement british american jews routinely referred anglosaxons even less disguised racism directed arabs traveling father whose advisory brief included public housing visit settlements sephardic immigrants maabarot easy see contrast governments views various categories olim immigrants vast difference social services opportunities extended also easy see israeli arabs occupied distinctly lower status time blunt also clear beauty landscape indigenous architecture seemed grow organically rocky hills landscape architecture etched soul creation palestinian people lived hills generations contrast new settlements built israeli government spread across hilltops like ugly ribbon concrete big city time tel aviv despite neighborhoods lowrise apartment buildings echoing bauhaus style felt ugly cramped already falling apart know tel aviv transformed skyscrapers freeways bright lights nightlife also looks like nearly every modern metropolis adjacent arab port jaffa absorbed unified tel avivyafo municipality gentrified touristed jerusalem childhood divided city new part israeli portion small town could traverse bicycle avoiding scar barbedwired mans land divided jordaniancontrolled old city since 1967 unified city along extensive territories annexed greater jerusalem grown expanded build highrises desecrated timeless skyline city new housing settlements covered surrounding hills even striking sheer growth city domination ultraorthodox recall first riot ever saw mid1950s thousands blacksuited men thronged center city protest building first public swimming pool jerusalem pool expected permit men women swim time provocation blasphemy roused orthodox communities outrage previously orthodox communities limited barricading streets sabbath throwing stones cars wandered close neighborhoods also greeted violations similar fashion recall mother pelted pebbles small boys wore sleeveless dress walked street border orthodox secular neighborhoods tensions time nothing compared rise religious nationalism 1967 six day war many ultraorthodox groups previously hostile zionism god decide return zion men argued thus zionism presumptuous took israeli victory sign god favored zionist enterprise therefore jews right indeed obligation settle entire land israelwhich brings crux issue palestinian problem youngster learning jewish history jerusalems schools story clear even simple many ways could encapsulated saying one heard occasionally attributed early zionists land without people people without land well several striking problems aphorism obvious people already living holy land palestinians phrase originated writings british clergy statesmen viewed favor later became zionist cause decades theodor herzl wrote jewish state see fascinating important article diana muir history phrase surprising people retell ancient story liberation slavery egypt every year passover official zionist story frequently retold story taught school repeated nearly obligatory youth movements organized much outofschool lives choice youth movements aligned political party belonging movement carried sentence total social isolation story also repeated frequent occasions public expression nationalistic fervor zionist leaders day reminiscent fidel castro love delivering long speeches story return land rebuilding land people continuity jewish identification land biblical times present arab residents land palestinian term used time either jews far recall arabs generally viewed peasants shopkeepers craftsmen living levantine past neither part romantic hebrew past modern new state built around infiltrators arab peasants taken refugee camps gaza west bank armed cynical egyptians jordanians sent border kill israelis unless usually happened israelis killed first well recall spending time high school class national service kibbutz near gaza helping fields replacement kibbutzniks military service army killed several infiltrators far working familiar story fit national narrative blamed neighboring arab states plight palestinian refugees kept confined camps reminiscent maabarot israeli government settled immigrants arab countries true course egyptian jordanian lebanese governments callous calculating realpolitik treatment refugees larger story key foundation mythology israeli nationalism refugees deliberately driven israeli army act call ethnic cleansing jerusalem youth nicest houses far arab mansions certain west jerusalem neighborhoods many truly beautiful examples eastern mediterranean architecture thick stone walls cool courtyards tiled floors abandoned homes technically controlled government trustee enemy property given politically favored wealthy israelis without visible irony candor recall visiting golda meirs apartment mid1950s parents golda minister labor old friend labor zionist grandparents father consulting well occupied top floor one mansions large stonetiled balcony overlooking lush gardens floor home supreme court justice whose son youth movement group leader somewhat later family became close young yemenite woman worked us housekeeper middleclass ashkenazi families employed sephardic housekeepers heard tel aviv housewives refer schwartzeh came know family headed elderly patriarch succeeded marrying someone neither knew wanted family lived liftah rundown abandoned arab village main road entry jerusalem common pattern jews arab countries settled former arab villages israel youth hostile arab citizens neighbors also frequently contemptuous european jews especially shtetl jews massacred holocaust recall grandfathers dismay anger israeli rejection yiddish truly grandparents mother tongue treated badge old jewry deformed exile replaced new jews building new country long hannah arendt attacked seeming blame victims fate nazis grounds firestorm criticism leveled eichmann jerusalem common hear charge ghetto jews gone like sheep slaughter fighting back sabras would matter course context understandably resistance fighters warsaw ghetto among celebrated holocaust victimswhile sure much national story questioning time left israel returned united states know clearly aware pervasive racism directed arabs sephardic jews returning country midst struggle civil rights still mostly unwilling acknowledge racist past present also know aware shallowness commitment social democracy israeli labordominated establishment proclaimed learned fathers experience much familiar story bogus example kibbutz system crown jewel israels new society birthplace much militarygovernmental elite artificially maintained system public subsidies political deal continued every coalition government yielded authority domestic life religious parties joined government thus giving total control minor matters marriage divorce rights women children recall accompanying mother went court support another one housekeepers entangled dispute abusive husband refusing give divorce religious courts control matters husband grant divorce became even clearer subsequent years singleparty rule labor coalition decades created sort complacent often corrupt political system familiar eastern europe bureaucratic sludge infiltrates corners public institutions knowing right person israelis term imported poland call protectzia key open door youve banging systematic oppression sephardic communities led eruption 1970s young people organized version black panthers finally political upheaval labor governments rule finally ended turned new governing bloc menachem begins rightwing coalition slightly accommodating eastern communities voted thats another also familiar story dividing line history israel region course 1967 war israel defeated egypt jordan syria capturing sinai west bank golan heights time living new york attending graduate school recall following news war drew close thinking subsequent challenges could resolved except future jerusalem turns overly optimistic almost everything mishandled either israelis many cases arab neighbors various palestinian factions emerged famous line israeli diplomat abba eban used characterize palestinians could accurately applied parties dispute never miss opportunity miss opportunity often noted israel largely created sense palestinian national identity political force famous israeli short story read high school kibbutznik argues jewish history jews always reacting goyim done chased country country limited occupations permitted attacked communities confiscated wealth account applied well relationship palestinians israel also learned uncomfortable truths revisionist histories war independence called israel well recent accounts 1967 war aftermath turns six day war forced israel overreaching egyptian president gamal abdel nasser although posturing like saddam husseins decades later played hands happy excuse attack israeli leaders saw opportunity took guise defending nation annihilation see recent account events period well miko peleds riveting account involvement father israeli gen matti peled events aftermath stunning success many israeli leaders including old lion david bengurion warned dangers holding occupying conquered lands especially west bank warnings proved prescient dont believe foreseen among secular nationalistic governmentalmilitary leaders farmcommunityraised generals dayan alon rabin explosion religious fundamentalism transformed vision securitybased string semimilitary settlements along jordan river rash gush emunim settlements spread across west bank gaza well old city jerusalem center hebron scene set intractable human conflicts mutually antagonistic faith communities claim sole ownership territory whether hindus muslims india hindus buddhists sri lanka catholics protestants northern ireland jews palestinians west bank plot familiar chances peaceful outcome equally remote however enough leaves us false equivalence competing claims culpability israel occupying power clear contravention international law united nations resolutions moral consequences clear predictable 1967 israel squandered moral integrity corrupted lives generations young folk drafted army occupation recall hearing stories holocaust survivors treatment jews germany austria 1930s stories concentration camps gas chambers although course stories legally enacted restrictions humiliations put place government carried agents police soldiers often young often callous stories uncomfortably recalled seeing oppression humiliation inflicted palestinians israeli soldiers checkpoints soldiers mistreating civilians protesting confiscation land destruction homes orchards roads cutting palestinian lands open israeli settlers palestinians cut communities wall cuts across landscape like ugly scar recall visiting germany first time late 1950s thinking looked folks 30s older period cant help thinking civilized folks asking question israelis future larry gross director uscs annenberg school communication one founders queer studies scholar art media portrayal minorities | 1,639 |
<p><a href="" type="internal">Why America Failed</a>, which this book is not about, is nonetheless a devastating and eviscerating critique proving convincingly that America has failed, and abominably, even tragically.&#160; That makes it a very important book that I hope will find an attentive audience, particularly among those of the media and intelligentsia who need to understand its truths and rid themselves of the increasingly common idea that there is some kind of palliative that will reform and restore American government to some imagined efficient and democratic past. (Please copy, Occupiers, Tea Partyers, Tenthers, and all Democrats,etc.)</p>
<p>I cannot overemphasize how essential this wisdom is to any comprehension of America today, or tomorrow, or how powerfully Morris Berman (an academic historian who has emigrated to Mexico) makes his case.&#160; It is not a long book (196 pages, plus backmatter), but it is replete with overwhelming evidence to support the thesis, as he puts it on his first page:</p>
<p>The principal goal of North American civilization, and of its inhabitants, is and always has been an ever-expanding economy—&#160;affluence—and endless technological innovation—“progress.” A&#160;nation of hustlers, writes [Walter] McDougall, a people relentlessly&#160;on the make.</p>
<p>From the very start, from the Puritans’ shining “city on a hill” and the Jamestown settlement’s conquest and exploitation of Indian lands, this country has been about making and taking, a business culture with a commercial orientation, devoted to growth and power, wealth and property, private advancement and profit, militarism and materialism, expansion and empire. John Adams saw it at the beginning: the U.S. was “more Avaricious than any other Nation that ever existed.” Or as de <a href="" type="internal" />Tocqueville was to say later: “As one digs deeper into the national character of the Americans, one sees that they have sought the value of everything in this world only in the answer to this single question: how much money will it bring in?”</p>
<p>Let it be acknowledged that, given this as its goal and ideal, this nation has done pretty well.&#160; It is in most terms rich and powerful (let us discount the fact that we are $16 trillion in debt and wiped out $14 trillion in household wealth in the last crash), full of comforts and conveniences, food and shelter and plumbing and heat for most, high-tech gadgetry and systems, a developed (if crumbling) infrastructure coast to coast, the largest military in the world, the world’s fall-back currency, an unmatched service industry, and all the rest of what makes up a modern industrial capitalist nation.</p>
<p>But what Berman shows, in fascinating detail, is that with all that concentration on hustling, which makes up our entire lives for our lives, is that we have lost a sense of the public good in the face of private interest, an understanding of community in the face of aggravated individualism, a sense of spiritual well-being in the face of material pressure and stress, an appreciation of the simple life in the face of technological complexity, even a true sense of republicanism and the political commonwealth in the face of&#160;manipulative and intrusive oligarchy and political individual wealth.&#160; Much of what we still think of as in some way valuable—stability rather than progress, face-to-face instead of on-line, family and friends instead of networks and “friends,” craftsmanship instead of mass production, virtue and tradition and honor and simplicity rather than egotism and modernity and self-interest and multi-tasking, gemeinschaft instead of gesellshaft—much of that has been quite lost in the dominant hustling culture.</p>
<p>Not only that, but we have acquired a host of evils and sorrows along with material prosperity.&#160; Berman compiles a whole raft of rather depressing facts that show what the downside of the technocommerial society is: mass unemployment, foreclosures, increasing poverty for the many (with corporate bailouts and bonuses for the egregious few); a criminal culture with the highest rate of homicide in the world and a corrections system that contains 25 per cent of all the world’s prisoners; a high incidence of violence throughout the culture, including crime, domestic violence, and warfare, along with movies, TV, and video games; a social numbness and clinically diagnosed “empathy deficit disorders”; consumption of two-thirds of the global market in antidepressants with at least 164 million users; a rank on the worldwide Happy Planet Index in 2009 of 150th; fully 25 per cent of American households had only one person, a rate of aloneness probably the highest in the world. Or, as Berman puts it at one point:</p>
<p>The culmination of a hustling, laissez-faire capitalist culture is that&#160;everything gets dumbed down, that all significant questions are ignored, and that every human activity is turned into a commodity,&#160;and anything goes if it sells. What we have is domination by corporate media, politics via poll-driven sound bites, a foreign policy based on unilateralism and preemptive strikes, a failing newspaper industry, a poorly informed citizenry, the unemployed winding up destitute, weak (or no) mass transit systems, and a health care system that ranks thirty-seventh in the world.</p>
<p>The emperor, and the empire, have no clothes.</p>
<p>Berman spends a good deal of time talking about the “alternative culture” to all this, including “a commitment to craft, community, the public good, the natural environment, spiritual practice, and the ‘simple life,” and he shows that its adherents and champions have existed all along, though of course overwhelmed by the dominant culture.&#160; He cites, for example, Thoreau, Melville, Henry Adams, Veblen, Sinclair Lewis, Henry Demarest Lloyd, Ruskin and Morris and the craft movement, Eric Fromm, Lewis Mumford (on whom he justly spends many pages), the Southern Agrarians, Robert Redfield, Vance Packard, William A. Williams, Marcuse, Ellul, Roszak, Schumacher, Lasch, Wendell Berry, and more recently Jerry Mander, Langdon Winner, Neil Postman, and somewhat surprisingly Ted Kaczynski. This is a distinguished bunch, and they are known today because the work they did was careful and trenchant and exposed powerfully the ills of a material society, but, as Berman notes when talking about Mumford, in the end “you can’t get taken seriously if you point this out.”&#160; How well I know.</p>
<p>And so the alternative culture, though it has always existed on the fringe, and still does even now, has never seriously derailed the steamengine of the hustler civilization nor in fact even slowed it down perceptively.&#160; In fact that civilization will always take steps to marginalize it, even destroy it if necessary, a fact that Berman illustrates in a chapter on the antebellum South.&#160; He shows how the South was “the one example we have of an opponent of [the dominant] ideology that had real political teeth,” and blatantly opted for a life premodern (indeed “neofeudal”), agrarian, slow, conservative, and honoring tradition, honor, chivalry, and hospitality more than making a buck or inventing a gadget.&#160; This ultimately the increasingly industrial and expansive North could not stand and so began a war to destroy it. “The treatment of the South by the North,” Berman says, “was the template for the way the United States would come to treat any nation it regarded as an enemy: not merely a scorched earth policy, but also a ‘scorched soul’ policy’” that it would use in Hawaii, the Philippines, Cuba, Japan, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and anywhere else it could achieve it.</p>
<p>Which is why in the end Berman concludes that nothing will ever change our hustling civilization and all attempts at trying to replace it are fruitless: “I regard the fantasy of a recovered future as pure drivel.”&#160; He sees, instead, that it is headed toward inevitable collapse, and not too many decades away.&#160; He quotes a U.S. intelligence report from the Washington Post that predicts “a steady decline” in American dominance in the coming decades, the country eroding “at an accelerating pace” in “political, economic and arguably, cultural arenas,” to which he adds, “Nothing could be more obvious.”</p>
<p>In a rare moment of optimism he goes on to say, “Collapse could be a good thing” if it could ultimately “open the door to the alternative tradition,” a process he admits is “a long shot.”&#160; And here he suggests, and wins my heart as he does so, that one means to that is secession, which holds promise precisely because it has given up on trying to change the industrial society as a whole, across the nation, and picks instead smaller places (such as Vermont) where some version of the alternative tradition might be realized.</p>
<p>At the present time, he says, “this project doesn’t have a hope in hell,” but “in thirty or forty years, it may not seem so far-fetched.”</p>
<p>Well, it may take a generation, but I don’t think so.&#160; The collapse will come sooner than we realize—I&#160;&#160; have predicted within a decade—and&#160; it will open up secession (or some equivalent such as city-states or medieval walled cities) as the only possible opportunity for a new society with new human-scale alternatives.&#160; I’m not predicting it, mind you, I’m just saying it’s the only way to go.</p>
<p>Kirkpatrick Sale is the author of a dozen books, including <a href="" type="internal">Human Scale</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Rebels Against the Future: The Luddites and Their War on the Industrial Revolution</a>, and is the Director of the Middlebury Institute for the study of separation, secession, and self-determination.</p> | true | 4 | america failed book nonetheless devastating eviscerating critique proving convincingly america failed abominably even tragically160 makes important book hope find attentive audience particularly among media intelligentsia need understand truths rid increasingly common idea kind palliative reform restore american government imagined efficient democratic past please copy occupiers tea partyers tenthers democratsetc overemphasize essential wisdom comprehension america today tomorrow powerfully morris berman academic historian emigrated mexico makes case160 long book 196 pages plus backmatter replete overwhelming evidence support thesis puts first page principal goal north american civilization inhabitants always everexpanding economy160affluenceand endless technological innovationprogress a160nation hustlers writes walter mcdougall people relentlessly160on make start puritans shining city hill jamestown settlements conquest exploitation indian lands country making taking business culture commercial orientation devoted growth power wealth property private advancement profit militarism materialism expansion empire john adams saw beginning us avaricious nation ever existed de tocqueville say later one digs deeper national character americans one sees sought value everything world answer single question much money bring let acknowledged given goal ideal nation done pretty well160 terms rich powerful let us discount fact 16 trillion debt wiped 14 trillion household wealth last crash full comforts conveniences food shelter plumbing heat hightech gadgetry systems developed crumbling infrastructure coast coast largest military world worlds fallback currency unmatched service industry rest makes modern industrial capitalist nation berman shows fascinating detail concentration hustling makes entire lives lives lost sense public good face private interest understanding community face aggravated individualism sense spiritual wellbeing face material pressure stress appreciation simple life face technological complexity even true sense republicanism political commonwealth face of160manipulative intrusive oligarchy political individual wealth160 much still think way valuablestability rather progress facetoface instead online family friends instead networks friends craftsmanship instead mass production virtue tradition honor simplicity rather egotism modernity selfinterest multitasking gemeinschaft instead gesellshaftmuch quite lost dominant hustling culture acquired host evils sorrows along material prosperity160 berman compiles whole raft rather depressing facts show downside technocommerial society mass unemployment foreclosures increasing poverty many corporate bailouts bonuses egregious criminal culture highest rate homicide world corrections system contains 25 per cent worlds prisoners high incidence violence throughout culture including crime domestic violence warfare along movies tv video games social numbness clinically diagnosed empathy deficit disorders consumption twothirds global market antidepressants least 164 million users rank worldwide happy planet index 2009 150th fully 25 per cent american households one person rate aloneness probably highest world berman puts one point culmination hustling laissezfaire capitalist culture that160everything gets dumbed significant questions ignored every human activity turned commodity160and anything goes sells domination corporate media politics via polldriven sound bites foreign policy based unilateralism preemptive strikes failing newspaper industry poorly informed citizenry unemployed winding destitute weak mass transit systems health care system ranks thirtyseventh world emperor empire clothes berman spends good deal time talking alternative culture including commitment craft community public good natural environment spiritual practice simple life shows adherents champions existed along though course overwhelmed dominant culture160 cites example thoreau melville henry adams veblen sinclair lewis henry demarest lloyd ruskin morris craft movement eric fromm lewis mumford justly spends many pages southern agrarians robert redfield vance packard william williams marcuse ellul roszak schumacher lasch wendell berry recently jerry mander langdon winner neil postman somewhat surprisingly ted kaczynski distinguished bunch known today work careful trenchant exposed powerfully ills material society berman notes talking mumford end cant get taken seriously point out160 well know alternative culture though always existed fringe still even never seriously derailed steamengine hustler civilization fact even slowed perceptively160 fact civilization always take steps marginalize even destroy necessary fact berman illustrates chapter antebellum south160 shows south one example opponent dominant ideology real political teeth blatantly opted life premodern indeed neofeudal agrarian slow conservative honoring tradition honor chivalry hospitality making buck inventing gadget160 ultimately increasingly industrial expansive north could stand began war destroy treatment south north berman says template way united states would come treat nation regarded enemy merely scorched earth policy also scorched soul policy would use hawaii philippines cuba japan vietnam iraq afghanistan anywhere else could achieve end berman concludes nothing ever change hustling civilization attempts trying replace fruitless regard fantasy recovered future pure drivel160 sees instead headed toward inevitable collapse many decades away160 quotes us intelligence report washington post predicts steady decline american dominance coming decades country eroding accelerating pace political economic arguably cultural arenas adds nothing could obvious rare moment optimism goes say collapse could good thing could ultimately open door alternative tradition process admits long shot160 suggests wins heart one means secession holds promise precisely given trying change industrial society whole across nation picks instead smaller places vermont version alternative tradition might realized present time says project doesnt hope hell thirty forty years may seem farfetched well may take generation dont think so160 collapse come sooner realizei160160 predicted within decadeand160 open secession equivalent citystates medieval walled cities possible opportunity new society new humanscale alternatives160 im predicting mind im saying way go kirkpatrick sale author dozen books including human scale rebels future luddites war industrial revolution director middlebury institute study separation secession selfdetermination | 832 |
<p>"We are standing up to live better," say Walmart's retail workers, playfully twisting Walmart's slogan of "live better" into a rallying cry for better conditions and treatment.</p>
<p>In a taste of what the nation's largest retailer can expect on Black Friday, frustrated Walmart workers have again started walking off their jobs to protest their employer's attempts to silence outspoken workers.</p>
<p>Workers from both the retail and warehouse sectors of Walmart's supply chain have called for nation-wide protests, strikes and actions on, and leading up to, next Friday - the busiest shopping day of the year. In the past week, wildcat strikes in Dallas, Seattle and the Bay Area saw dozens of retail workers - from multiple store - walk away from their shifts, suggesting that the Black Friday threats are to be taken seriously.</p>
<p>Dan Schlademan, Director of the Making Change at Walmart campaign, said in a nation-wide conference call organized for media on Thursday that Walmart can expect more than 1,000 different protests, including strikes and rallies at Walmart stores between now and Black Friday.</p>
<p>According to organizers working with the Walmart retail workers' association, OUR Walmart, stores around the country - including, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Washington D.C. and others - can expect workers to go on strike. Specific dates have not been announced yet out of concern to minimize chances for Walmart to preemptively silence workers' voices.</p>
<p>"We are expecting a wide variety of activity - strikers right in front of their stores, demonstrations, flash mobs, rallies and people working to educate customers - I think it's going to be a very creative day." said Schlademan. "Brave strikers are seeing a huge amount of support from community allies."</p>
<p>As Waging Nonviolence has previously reported, the historic wildcat strikes are invigorating a new form of labor organizing of non-union labor. By drawing on the support of community allies - particularly from religious and student groups - workers are finding it increasingly easier to resist their employer's abuses.</p>
<p>In addition to joining striking workers at rallies at Walmart stores, supporters are able to donate to Making Change at Walmart to help the striking low-wage workers make up lost wages. In the form of food gift cards, the community support organization Making Change at Walmart is providing concrete ways for others to be in solidarity with Walmart's workers. Thus far, $25,000 has been raised.</p>
<p>But this kind of grassroots support pales in comparison to the revenue and capital at Walmart's disposal. Some Walmart executives are making upwards of $10 million a year while full-time retail workers struggle to make ends meet. Sara Gilbert, a customer service manager at a Seattle Walmart, makes only $14,000 a year to support her family.</p>
<p>"I work full time for one of the richest companies in the world and yet my children are on state healthcare and we get subsidized housing," said Gilbert who joined other OUR Walmart associates in Seattle's walkout on Thursday. Walmart posted almost $16 billion in profits last year and recently announced changes to employee healthcare premiums that could raise the cost for workers as much as 36 percent.</p>
<p>Also back in the struggle against Walmart are its warehouse workers. On November 14, the Inland Empire, Calif., warehouse workers - who are privately contracted through the logistics company NFI but move 100 percent Walmart goods - resumed their strike due to retaliations against outspoken workers. The workers were part of the 15-day strike in mid-September that re-ignited workers' efforts to change Walmart's treatment of its employees.</p>
<p>David Garcia, a warehouse worker from Southern California who took part in the first strike, was recently terminated for speaking out against unsafe working conditions and broken equipment. According to Elizabeth Brennan, an organizer with Warehouse Workers United with whom the NFI workers are affiliated, about three dozen workers have had their hours cut while others have been demoted and suspended in retaliatory efforts from Walmart's contractor to curb organizing efforts.</p>
<p>"It's been tough," said Garcia. "My kids need food, school supplies and an apartment to sleep in at night, but right now it is difficult to provide them these basic things."</p>
<p>On Thursday, six community supporters were arrested for blocking a major thoroughfare to the Walmart-contracted warehouse. The two dozen striking warehouse workers returned to work on November 16.</p>
<p>The Inland Empire strike, which still demands an end to unsafe working conditions, retaliatory practices and poor wages, comes during a crucial time when much of Walmart's supply chain is moving into high gear. It remains unclear whether the strikes and walkouts will generate enough pressure to force Walmart to systematically change how it treats its 1.4 million employees, but the Walmart workers movement seems to be spreading and growing.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://corporateactionnetwork.org/" type="external">Corporate Action Network</a> is hosting online activism for supporters as well as publicizing some of the events planned at Walmart stores for Black Friday. While some activists for workers' rights and just wages advocate boycotting Walmart and shopping on Black Friday in general, Making Change at Walmart has not called for boycotts but affirms all efforts that support workers' rights to assemble and speak out.</p>
<p>Charlene Fletcher, a Walmart employee in California plans to go on strike to emphasize her message that Walmart is not listening to its workers. Fletcher and her husband both have to work Thanksgiving Day for Walmart and will miss spending the holiday with their two young children. Complaints have alleged that Walmart's scheduling practices have made it very difficult for families to spend time with each other on holidays like Thanksgiving when Walmart plans to open its doors to shoppers that evening. Fletcher wants Walmart executives to know that Walmart's employees are just as important as its customers.</p>
<p>"We are going to make the ultimate sacrifice," said Fletcher who is also a part of OUR Walmart. "By going on strike on the busiest shopping day of the year, we hope to send a message out to Walmart that we are not a small percentage of workers who are struggling and that we mean business."</p> | true | 4 | standing live better say walmarts retail workers playfully twisting walmarts slogan live better rallying cry better conditions treatment taste nations largest retailer expect black friday frustrated walmart workers started walking jobs protest employers attempts silence outspoken workers workers retail warehouse sectors walmarts supply chain called nationwide protests strikes actions leading next friday busiest shopping day year past week wildcat strikes dallas seattle bay area saw dozens retail workers multiple store walk away shifts suggesting black friday threats taken seriously dan schlademan director making change walmart campaign said nationwide conference call organized media thursday walmart expect 1000 different protests including strikes rallies walmart stores black friday according organizers working walmart retail workers association walmart stores around country including chicago dallas los angeles miami milwaukee washington dc others expect workers go strike specific dates announced yet concern minimize chances walmart preemptively silence workers voices expecting wide variety activity strikers right front stores demonstrations flash mobs rallies people working educate customers think going creative day said schlademan brave strikers seeing huge amount support community allies waging nonviolence previously reported historic wildcat strikes invigorating new form labor organizing nonunion labor drawing support community allies particularly religious student groups workers finding increasingly easier resist employers abuses addition joining striking workers rallies walmart stores supporters able donate making change walmart help striking lowwage workers make lost wages form food gift cards community support organization making change walmart providing concrete ways others solidarity walmarts workers thus far 25000 raised kind grassroots support pales comparison revenue capital walmarts disposal walmart executives making upwards 10 million year fulltime retail workers struggle make ends meet sara gilbert customer service manager seattle walmart makes 14000 year support family work full time one richest companies world yet children state healthcare get subsidized housing said gilbert joined walmart associates seattles walkout thursday walmart posted almost 16 billion profits last year recently announced changes employee healthcare premiums could raise cost workers much 36 percent also back struggle walmart warehouse workers november 14 inland empire calif warehouse workers privately contracted logistics company nfi move 100 percent walmart goods resumed strike due retaliations outspoken workers workers part 15day strike midseptember reignited workers efforts change walmarts treatment employees david garcia warehouse worker southern california took part first strike recently terminated speaking unsafe working conditions broken equipment according elizabeth brennan organizer warehouse workers united nfi workers affiliated three dozen workers hours cut others demoted suspended retaliatory efforts walmarts contractor curb organizing efforts tough said garcia kids need food school supplies apartment sleep night right difficult provide basic things thursday six community supporters arrested blocking major thoroughfare walmartcontracted warehouse two dozen striking warehouse workers returned work november 16 inland empire strike still demands end unsafe working conditions retaliatory practices poor wages comes crucial time much walmarts supply chain moving high gear remains unclear whether strikes walkouts generate enough pressure force walmart systematically change treats 14 million employees walmart workers movement seems spreading growing corporate action network hosting online activism supporters well publicizing events planned walmart stores black friday activists workers rights wages advocate boycotting walmart shopping black friday general making change walmart called boycotts affirms efforts support workers rights assemble speak charlene fletcher walmart employee california plans go strike emphasize message walmart listening workers fletcher husband work thanksgiving day walmart miss spending holiday two young children complaints alleged walmarts scheduling practices made difficult families spend time holidays like thanksgiving walmart plans open doors shoppers evening fletcher wants walmart executives know walmarts employees important customers going make ultimate sacrifice said fletcher also part walmart going strike busiest shopping day year hope send message walmart small percentage workers struggling mean business | 600 |
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<p>“Does anyone doubt that 10,000 bin Ladens have been created by the events of the past two and a half years? If they do, they have their head in the sand.”</p>
<p>George Galloway; British Parliament, 7-7-05</p>
<p>America has never been involved in a war more clearly immoral than Iraq. From the phony pretext of weapons of mass destruction to the sadistic treatment of prisoners at Abu Ghraib, the conflict has been a sickening chronicle of butchery and deception. Now, the victims of that massive crime are striking back in London and Madrid while the Bush press-corps regurgitates the same stale theories about radicals and Islam.</p>
<p>What baloney. Baghdad has morphed into an assembly-line for extremists, churning out enough fanatics to produce 1,000 London-type bombings. This is the real effect of Bush’s war. The people who were killed in the London subway died for the crimes of their government, not because some young Muslim studied under a fiery cleric in South Leeds. The bloodshed is as much Bush and Blair’s responsibility as if they had detonated the bombs themselves.</p>
<p>Those who’ve watched the developments in Iraq know that the situation has steadily deteriorated. Rumsfeld’s storm troopers, The Wolf Brigade, now roam the country freely, killing and maiming as they see fit; spreading terror to every corner of the Sunni heartland. At the same time, the military-juggernaut is lurching from city to city, destroying everything in its path. Falluja, Sammarra, Ramadi, Karbala, Heet, Qaim; everywhere the story is the same; the cities are pounded mercilessly, beyond the view of America’s embedded media, while the people are denied water, food, electricity and vital medical supplies. The crusade to crush the resistance is reducing more and more Sunni cities to rubble and their people to destitution.</p>
<p>This is Rumsfeld’s remedy for resistance. This is Bush’s “Liberation”. Take a good look. The people in London are the lucky ones. If they’d been in Iraq (after the explosions) the passers-by would have been cut-down by snipers on top of surrounding buildings. Their ambulances would have been fired on as they tried to remove the dead and wounded. Their hospitals would have been bombed and occupied by foreign soldiers. They would have been deprived of even the most basic medical supplies to keep them alive. How can anyone compare the bombings in London to the all-encompassing campaign of terror in Iraq?</p>
<p>The victims of the London bombings deserve our sympathy, just as surely as the cut-throats in Washington and 10 Downing Street deserve our contempt. MP George Galloway summarized the feelings of many of us when he said, “Members of Parliament find it easy to feel empathy with people killed in explosions by razor-sharp red-hot steel and splintering flying glass when they are in London, but they can blank out of their mind entirely the fact that a person killed in exactly the same way in Falluja died exactly the same death.”</p>
<p>There’s a straight line between Falluja and the London subway; just as there is a straight line between the gulag at Abu Ghraib and the terror attacks that Americans can expect to face in the near future.</p>
<p>For America, the prospect of London-type bombings is a mathematical certainty.</p>
<p>American newspapers are all breathlessly circulating their theory of “suicide bombers” in headlines across the nation.</p>
<p>Why not? It fits nicely with the racist ideology that underscores Bush’s war on terror.</p>
<p>Washington knows that its support would disappear in a flash if they failed to conjure up the requisite racial stereotypes that feed the public rage. And, no one is better at demonizing and fear-mongering than the Bush administration.</p>
<p>Listen to Bush’s comments following the London attack:</p>
<p>“And the contrast couldn’t be clearer between the intentions of those who care deeply about human rights, and those who kill, those who’ve got such evil in their hearts that they will take the lives of innocent folks.”</p>
<p>What rubbish; Bush’s empty pieties and moral pretensions will never atone for the ocean of blood he’s spilled in Iraq. And, his “war-poodle”, Blair, is not much better.</p>
<p>“It is important,” Blair opined, “that those engaged in terrorism realize that our determination to defend our way of life is greater than their determination to cause death and destruction to innocent people in a desire to impose extremism on the world.”</p>
<p>“Our way of life”? Is that what we are defending; or the blatant misuse of military force to subjugate an entire nation and steal its resources?</p>
<p>No one is fooled by Bush-Blair’s facile rhetoric. Bin Laden doesn’t care a whit about “our freedoms”; his message has been consistent throughout; “Get out of our countries, stop training our brutal secret police, stop propping up our corrupt regimes, and stop stealing our resources.” When the imperialism stops, so, too, will the terrorism.</p>
<p>We know the root of terrorism now; the secret has been divulged. Robert Pape has done an exhaustive study that provides scientifically-researched answers to all the critical questions surrounding suicide bombers. His findings are more important to antiwar activists than the contents of the Downing Street memo.</p>
<p>Why? Because his research proves beyond a doubt that suicide bombing is the predictable upshot of occupation. As social scientist Scott Atran said, “Most jihadists have no history of religious education prior to becoming ‘born again’ radical Islamists, and many are well-educated, middle class and married. Most would-be suicide bomberssay they act to restore dignity to their communities — real or virtual — marginalized by globalization and humiliated by military occupation.”</p>
<p>This counters Bush’s claim that terrorists “hate our freedoms”, and contradicts the propaganda from the mainstream media. Every columnist from Tom Friedman (who calls the bombers a “jihadist death-cult”) to Christopher Hitchens (who coined the phrase “Islamo-fascism”) has fed the illusion that terrorism emerges either from an irrational hatred of the West or from religious zealotry. Neither is true. These theories have only confused the public and prolonged a conflict that serves the exclusive interests of elites.</p>
<p>Pape’s article in the New York Times, “Al Qaida’a Smart Bombs” 7-9-05, dispels many of the fantasies about terrorism and uncovered the underlying reason for the current rash of attacks; Occupation. The driving force behind terrorism, Pape says, is “to compel the United States and its Western allies to withdraw combat forces from the Arabian Peninsula and other Muslim countries”.</p>
<p>Pape’s findings have exposed the vile fraud that fuels Bush’s orgy of carnage and pointed the way out of the war on terror. With a clear-eyed approach to terrorism we can cut-through the demagoguery and derail the Bush strategy for perennial war.</p>
<p>MIKE WHITNEY lives in Washington state. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:fergiewhitney@msn.com" type="external">fergiewhitney@msn.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 anyone doubt 10000 bin ladens created events past two half years head sand george galloway british parliament 7705 america never involved war clearly immoral iraq phony pretext weapons mass destruction sadistic treatment prisoners abu ghraib conflict sickening chronicle butchery deception victims massive crime striking back london madrid bush presscorps regurgitates stale theories radicals islam baloney baghdad morphed assemblyline extremists churning enough fanatics produce 1000 londontype bombings real effect bushs war people killed london subway died crimes government young muslim studied fiery cleric south leeds bloodshed much bush blairs responsibility detonated bombs whove watched developments iraq know situation steadily deteriorated rumsfelds storm troopers wolf brigade roam country freely killing maiming see fit spreading terror every corner sunni heartland time militaryjuggernaut lurching city city destroying everything path falluja sammarra ramadi karbala heet qaim everywhere story cities pounded mercilessly beyond view americas embedded media people denied water food electricity vital medical supplies crusade crush resistance reducing sunni cities rubble people destitution rumsfelds remedy resistance bushs liberation take good look people london lucky ones theyd iraq explosions passersby would cutdown snipers top surrounding buildings ambulances would fired tried remove dead wounded hospitals would bombed occupied foreign soldiers would deprived even basic medical supplies keep alive anyone compare bombings london allencompassing campaign terror iraq victims london bombings deserve sympathy surely cutthroats washington 10 downing street deserve contempt mp george galloway summarized feelings many us said members parliament find easy feel empathy people killed explosions razorsharp redhot steel splintering flying glass london blank mind entirely fact person killed exactly way falluja died exactly death theres straight line falluja london subway straight line gulag abu ghraib terror attacks americans expect face near future america prospect londontype bombings mathematical certainty american newspapers breathlessly circulating theory suicide bombers headlines across nation fits nicely racist ideology underscores bushs war terror washington knows support would disappear flash failed conjure requisite racial stereotypes feed public rage one better demonizing fearmongering bush administration listen bushs comments following london attack contrast couldnt clearer intentions care deeply human rights kill whove got evil hearts take lives innocent folks rubbish bushs empty pieties moral pretensions never atone ocean blood hes spilled iraq warpoodle blair much better important blair opined engaged terrorism realize determination defend way life greater determination cause death destruction innocent people desire impose extremism world way life defending blatant misuse military force subjugate entire nation steal resources one fooled bushblairs facile rhetoric bin laden doesnt care whit freedoms message consistent throughout get countries stop training brutal secret police stop propping corrupt regimes stop stealing resources imperialism stops terrorism know root terrorism secret divulged robert pape done exhaustive study provides scientificallyresearched answers critical questions surrounding suicide bombers findings important antiwar activists contents downing street memo research proves beyond doubt suicide bombing predictable upshot occupation social scientist scott atran said jihadists history religious education prior becoming born radical islamists many welleducated middle class married wouldbe suicide bomberssay act restore dignity communities real virtual marginalized globalization humiliated military occupation counters bushs claim terrorists hate freedoms contradicts propaganda mainstream media every columnist tom friedman calls bombers jihadist deathcult christopher hitchens coined phrase islamofascism fed illusion terrorism emerges either irrational hatred west religious zealotry neither true theories confused public prolonged conflict serves exclusive interests elites papes article new york times al qaidaa smart bombs 7905 dispels many fantasies terrorism uncovered underlying reason current rash attacks occupation driving force behind terrorism pape says compel united states western allies withdraw combat forces arabian peninsula muslim countries papes findings exposed vile fraud fuels bushs orgy carnage pointed way war terror cleareyed approach terrorism cutthrough demagoguery derail bush strategy perennial war mike whitney lives washington state reached fergiewhitneymsncom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 623 |
<p>Despite the bad name he has with liberals these days, Jesus did have the right idea. He’d get right down there on the street and grunt with the people, feeling them all over and healing their boils, feeding them and preaching his ass off while everybody hollered and saw the light as blind men popped open their eyes and lame folks started doing the Dead Sea Macarena. No maintaining a professional distance, no opinion polls for that guy. He just went out there and “got ‘er done” in plain sight of everybody. Including the Jewish religious mafia ands the Roman super-state thugs of the time — which is why he got whacked. But he left the world impressed enough that an influential book about his exploits is still on the best seller list today, dispelling publishing industry wisdom that people will not read a book over 300 pages. Jesus seems to have left no heirs to receive royalties, contrary to the speculations of Da Vinci Code readers, The Da Vinci Code being the middle-class equivalent of the Left Behind series. Anyway, Jesus ain’t on my shit list and I surely hope I am not on his.</p>
<p>Two thousand years later, the public expects more from their miracles than leprous hides instantly infused with the pink blush of health, or Lazarus dragging his rigor mortis locked bones into a fully upright position, then strolling off down the street as if death itself was no more than a bad case of the flu. Computer animation rendered all that passé decades ago, thus we seculars remain unimpressed. A wardrobe malfunction by Mary Magdalene might punch up the New Testament a little, but it’s never going to budge the Neilson numbers, except at Easter and Christmas, and never going to register unless we see it on television or in the cinema, where Jesus on a pole is acceptable, providing he spills enough blood a la Mel Gibson while he is up there.</p>
<p>Call it consumer conditioned numbness, which it is. But it is safe to say most Americans give not a happy damn about the rest of humanity, starving infants, the homeless and whatnot, so long as the unhygienic swarms stay the hell out of our yards and don’t bring up that tired commie stuff about our lifestyle being based upon armed global theft and sweatshop misery. In that way, we all test positive for the Devil’s hickey.</p>
<p>Republicans may flaunt their hickeys like high school kids in the locker room, but guilt-plagued Democrats, feeling the smart of the mark of the beast, console themselves that they can banish it at the ballot box, if only they close their eyes and wish upon a star. Thus their comfortable self-delusions that the Tiger Woods of the Democratic Party, the technically black Barack Obama, is somehow blessed with an inner moral compass lacking in the rest of society, and therefore does not bear the damnable mark. Wiser souls, aware that Obama possesses a net worth of several millions, a Harvard law degree and a career born in that venerable political whorehouse called Chicago, assume the Devil’s mark is probably located on his posterior where we cannot see it. Another political wish upon a star is that Hillary Clinton, a woman marked by so many hickeys that she looks like a victim of massive hemangioma — but with botox — will reform our brutal health care system without pulling up her skirt for the insurance industry. Like she says, there is “no possible governmental solution that does not include the insurance industry.”</p>
<p>Of course not. Industry is our government. Our votes merely decide which industries have front spots at the public trough for the next four to eight years. Lately it has been Big Pharma and the credit industry, and what a run they’ve had. Mandatory mental health screening in schools stuffs more prescription drugs into children. The credit card industry’s new bankruptcy laws wring the last drop from consumers, instead of giving them the fresh start our forefathers had in mind when they established debtor’s laws. But in a new twist on incarceration, they make one’s home the new debtor’s prison, a place where we sleep while we work off usury interest payments on debt.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, out there in the vast looms of our government-as-corporation, the fast food industry weaves the Cheeseburger Bill, giving itself immunity to lawsuits as it fattens a nation of steers whose sole purpose is to consume, never to be butchered, except in the wars that protect the corporate cheeseburger. Even on the battlefront, it turns profit on millions of burgers and fries that are served to those who fight the oil and cheeseburger wars. American consumers watch this on TV and see it as comfortably familiar. We cannot possibly be doing so badly in Iraq if a soldier can get a Fishwich, a Red Bull, and a Puff Daddy CD on the battlefield. Right? Which is true enough, if you have been conditioned to see a Fishwich and a CD as a symbol of liberty and the utmost accomplishment of the republic — if you see it as “our way of life.” And indeed it is that. Oblivion with an order of fries.</p>
<p>Children of the landfill</p>
<p>When it comes to such oblivious pursuit after senseless commerce, the sheer turnover of goods and consumption as happiness, we cannot blame the Devil’s hickey entirely on capitalism. America was not even a capitalist country during its early years, yet people still chased the same illusions. By 1848 we seem to have had the disease. Alexis de Tocqueville — that damned guy holds up well, doesn’t he! — observed that Americans seemed to live for the chase after transactions, after change, consistently throwing away satisfaction in the process:</p>
<p>“In America I saw the freest and most enlightened men, placed in circumstances the happiest to be found in the world; yet it seemed to me as if a cloud habitually hung on their brow, and I thought them serious and almost sad even in their pleasures. Maybe it’s the price you pay for living in a society based round not happiness per se, but its pursuit.”</p>
<p>— Alexis de Tocqueville</p>
<p>Toqueville pointed out that Americans no more than got a nice family home built, than we turned around an immediately sold it for no apparent reason, other than the joy of the transaction. Then they were off to pursue some other transaction. I cannot help but think about the house I am trying to sell right now, the fifth one I have owned and sold. It was all so unnecessarily wasteful and destructive of creativity and thought in every way, the home owning lifestyle being what it is (you never own it, just rent it from our monolithic extractive financial system.) In any case, we seem to have found what we were pursuing — the anesthetic of consumer capitalism. Lots of transactions, lots of goods, with the directions for pursuit televised so we don’t even have to get off the couch — just lie there and watch house hunting shows and lifestyle shows on Home and Garden Television, which are classified as “education/learning” by the rating system.</p>
<p>The couch is a reasonable place to be these days, given that there is no real work left in America for sane functioning human beings. There is just survival (although the upper 20% of Americans safely isolated from the perspiring classes seem to think they are thriving because they more resemble the people pictured in slick lifestyle advertisements than most people. But it is still just a more elaborate form of survival amid the pointless and thin joy of consumerism, and the inherent material and spiritual wastefulness of life in here in the designated global landfill of that next rising empire, China. We are nowhere near rich, we are just conditioned to buy and throw away more expensive stuff. Not that we are entirely alone; Western Europeans are about a gnat’s ass behind us in our wretched consumer excesses. But not being alongside or leading the pack, they are quick to point up our gluttony. When America’s population drops dead from morbid obesity, Europeans will scale the mountain of our fallen porcine ranks, then jump into their newly inherited SUVs and drive off in search of a mall. But until then, they are left with a relatively equitable, sane society as a consolation prize, for a while longer at least.</p>
<p>Here in China’s global landfill, tens of millions of Americans are prisoners — including me. And that is not counting the quarter of the world’s incarcerated population who are America citizens physically held in US prison system. The rest of us serve a life sentence, released on personal recognition to pull our time in our own homes, processing goods for the Great Asian Goods Landfill Culture, here at the end of their new globalized Silk Route of Confucian capitalism. At this end of the electronics Silk Road we are prisoners of consumption, rather like those caged French geese that are force fed corn so as to produce fatty livers for pate. But in a marvelous marriage of psychology, psychometric marketing and the gulag, our system imprisons its people from the inside out. We even punish ourselves without supervision — to doubt the system is its own punishment, purely for the social and personal anxiety it causes. Given enough insight, a thoughtful person can nearly question himself or herself to death. (Does the Department of Homeland Security really need access to my medical records and grocery receipts, or am I just paranoid? Will being uncircumcised put me on the no-fly list?) I do it every day and so do many of you. The system counts on that.</p>
<p>On the whole though, our infantilized citizenry is having too much fun to question itself. In the drive for a harder hard-on, faster everything, and round the clock stimulation, we have created an artificial and frivolous citizenry, one that is incapable of serious thought or deeper humor — a nation of children completely happy to stay that way. America’s childish material gratification is so grotesquely satisfying that it smothers the most basic sort of reason, much less philosophical thinking. Fuck it all. Nietzsche and Rimbaud are too goddamned hard to read anyway.</p>
<p>Beyond that, western philosophical tradition is based on grief and suffering. So is most great literature. I’ve never been a fan of the Van Gogh’s ear school of creativity, but I have to admit that the few truly great American writers I’ve met wrote with at least one foot planted in pain. Who wants to read that, when entertainment of every imaginable sort, sparkles in the great hologram of our national illusion-delusion, right there for the plucking? For that matter, who can pull themselves away from such brilliant distraction? Not me. The only way to beat it is to leave it. Get outside the hologram.</p>
<p>More thoughtful Americans are left facing the dilemma of a senseless life of senseless work, insensate sex, Oprah’s flaccid moralizing books, cinema as high culture, fast food, guns and Jaaayzus. It is irrational that any culture born in the Age of Reason would turn out to be so irrational — so completely in unquestioned contradiction it cannot be persuaded by argument, no matter how compelling. It seems doubtful that reason will ever provide the answer to this dilemma. I can tell you from experience that standing up in a KFC holding a “Buffalo Snacker” and yelling “Do you people really eat this shit?” is not taken as a call to reason. Meanwhile, the boys in corporate are cooking up a thousand fresh hells for us, including a 24/7 Pentagon TV channel and The Superbowl, KFC’s new Chicken Potato Cheese Gravy Wad o’ Food — ample proof in itself that civilization is about done for.</p>
<p>Hurricanes and boneyard gin</p>
<p>I poop in a bucket … and when the sun comes out I grab a shovel and bury it under the guava trees behind my house, where fallen passion fruit litter the ground like huge yellow Easter eggs. Poop out, passion fruit in, ancient organic system. But that doesn’t matter. What does matter is the Idea of the Week. Every week, for fifty-two weeks, I think about one idea. One idea that is never discussed in American society. And the idea we need to pursue right now is: wouldn’t we get more respect and cooperation from the rest of the world if we gave the world food, not bombs, medicines, water purification technology, and grains? Wouldn’t we?</p>
<p>— Rich Zubaty, “The Rude Guy,” a homeless person living in his truck in Maui, Hawaii</p>
<p>I am here to tell you, dear hearts, this is one ole boy who does not intend to see the next fresh hell served up. Indeed I ain’t! Why in the hell not turn off the television, park the car and just walk away? Why would anyone care to remain part of such a sorry-assed system, a government of war criminals ruling over a fearful nation of fattened livestock that probably will not change until the economy collapses, and then only after trying to kill half the planet in a desperate effort to preserve the Olive Garden lifestyle and 116 cable channels? What kind of citizenry consistently sneers at a candidate like Kucinich who openly declares for world peace to the most militarized nation on earth? (Hell, it’s no crime to be three feet tall.) Or stands up against corporate ownership of our government like Nader does (It is no crime to be smart like Nader either, just don’t be so damned smart you bore everyone to death, like Al Gore.) Simple action is available. Non-action really. If a quarter of Americans did not pay their bills for one month the hologram would come crashing down. The government would either come crawling on its knees, or expose itself for the police state it really is.</p>
<p>For me, salvation is at hand, as the preachers say. After more three years of ups and downs and setbacks, I am finally off to Central America to eat rice and beans, and to do a little more good in the world than just process and deposit toner cartridges, beer bottles and triple AAA remote control batteries into the landfill. And do a little writing by the sea to boot. Perhaps I’ll be lucky enough to eventually die there and be washed out into that great god-created soup from which life sprang. I ain’t gonna kill myself to do it, but it is the preferred scenario at this late age. I do not expect it to change.</p>
<p>However, this being America, any move on the board is at a cost. We must pay. The system makes sure of that. So I risk losing family and social position (ha!) and an economic stake in present American society. (Which is fine by me, but please, oh lord, don’t let the Republicans steal the Social Security kitty too — I can make do on half the SS I paid for and smoke ditchweed pot, but good gin is a price stable commodity.) I’ve already thrown away health insurance by quitting my magazine editorial job, and am happily left to figure out how to conduct the rest of my breathing hours, no small issue for a COPD victim such as myself. So hell, why not go to Belize? Or Madagascar for that matter? Or sleep forever on the beach in Mexico. Sure, sun and sand are the easy paint-by-numbers notion of paradise for Americans, but it depends upon where said sand is located. Cancun and Aruba ain’t everybody’s idea of heaven. Personally, I can live with a few lizards in my kitchen and the occasional hurricane if the people around me are decent. In truth, I’ll be thrilled pissless if this little adventure in aging lets me spend half the year out of the country. Any escape from the hologram is an empowering thing, if you can possibly find a hole in its shroud.</p>
<p>None of this requires much money by American standards — at least not until the dollar, in its present descent, starts hovering somewhere next door to the Bengladeshi taka. Which appears to be sometime next week. But when I stop to consider that it was money and the things it will buy that got our asses in this jam to start with, well, it seems like a good idea not to have too much of it around. So why not live on about $4000 to $5,000 a year? I picked the number as globally equitable, based upon the advice of a couple of very good economists. Obviously, neither of them were American. And guess what? They over estimated the cost of happiness, because my first choice was squatting by the burning ghats of India. Almost no cost at all. Bring your own firewood. Just the godhead in your eyes every waking hour. Delusional? Naw, it’s just a matter of one’s goals and tastes. It is quite true that writers care only for themselves and their art in the end — especially in the end.</p>
<p>I’ve seen good people rendered madmen and hermits by our system and I do know this: It will destroy me if I keep living inside its machinery, dally too long on the landfill. It’s more than a hunch. Too many days my nerves are shot if I think about it very long. Call me weak, but I’m calling time out — an end to trying to buy material security in a nation so addicted to it there can never be enough. We all carry our own asses down the path to the bone yard. The question is whether to drag your feet as you go, by spending your life in meaningless employment hell just so you can have health insurance (thereby living longer so you can spend more time in employment hell) or jog the path. Grim as this may be to the young’uns reading, I can hear the old fucks laughing along with me.</p>
<p>In any case, there are plenty of paths to the boneyard. There are flourescent lit fitness centers, so you can die in top condition, there is the American “career path,” chasing the buck in harness with untold millions so you can engorge your carcass with fine wine and cheese and have a koa wood casket with gold fittings. Liquor is another path. For the morally and financially challenged writer, there is the classic combination of booze, nerves and cigarettes.</p>
<p>My wife’s anguished voice asks “Why did you start smoking again? Didn’t the doctor tell you it would kill you?” Kill me, for fuck sake? There have been times when I asked myself how many sedatives purchased online constitute an overdose. Looking back, I consider that progress. As Kafka said, when you find yourself considering suicide, you are beginning to understand the human race. And it becomes obvious that the death of one individual by smoking pales against the mass sacrifice of 300 million American’s humanity to the post modern god whose scripture is the spread sheet and the P&amp;L statement.</p>
<p>Ah, but this is America and every individual consumer ass is solid gold, even if as a nation, we are a throng of numb obese killers on its way to the gym for a workout. Has everybody lost all sense of proportion and sheer gravity in this country? How can we continue to make jolly amid the escalating wars and death from which we all profit? What is this? The damned German interwar cabaret society of diversion?</p>
<p>Fortunately, just like everywhere else, darkness and sleep comes to the glittering landfill, ending unpleasant arguments about smoking and the cabaret society alike. I awoke last night to the warm odor of fluffy baby chicks filling the bedroom. My grandfather used to raise chicks when I was six, and by some nocturnal alchemy the long trapped childhood ecstasy of putting a handful of them to my face in the warm brooder house came flooding back. Upon closing my eyes again, an image of the blackish red spilled blood of a gunshot wound puddled on a blue tile floor in some desert place. The cabaret music rises, drowning the muffled screams from our empire’s far flung network of “black sites,” and all those other unpleasant things that happen in the dark rippling wake of our happiness.</p>
<p>JOE BAGEANT is the author of a forthcoming book, <a href="" type="internal">Deer Hunting With Jesus: Dispatches from America’s Class War</a>, from Random House Crown about working class America, scheduled for spring 2007 release. A complete archive of his online work, along with the thoughts of many working Americans on the subject of class may be found at: <a href="http://www.joebageant.com/" type="external">http://www.joebageant.com</a>. Feel free to contact him at: <a href="mailto:joebageant@joebageant.com" type="external">joebageant@joebageant.com</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright © 2006 by JOE BAGEANT.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | despite bad name liberals days jesus right idea hed get right street grunt people feeling healing boils feeding preaching ass everybody hollered saw light blind men popped open eyes lame folks started dead sea macarena maintaining professional distance opinion polls guy went got er done plain sight everybody including jewish religious mafia ands roman superstate thugs time got whacked left world impressed enough influential book exploits still best seller list today dispelling publishing industry wisdom people read book 300 pages jesus seems left heirs receive royalties contrary speculations da vinci code readers da vinci code middleclass equivalent left behind series anyway jesus aint shit list surely hope two thousand years later public expects miracles leprous hides instantly infused pink blush health lazarus dragging rigor mortis locked bones fully upright position strolling street death bad case flu computer animation rendered passé decades ago thus seculars remain unimpressed wardrobe malfunction mary magdalene might punch new testament little never going budge neilson numbers except easter christmas never going register unless see television cinema jesus pole acceptable providing spills enough blood la mel gibson call consumer conditioned numbness safe say americans give happy damn rest humanity starving infants homeless whatnot long unhygienic swarms stay hell yards dont bring tired commie stuff lifestyle based upon armed global theft sweatshop misery way test positive devils hickey republicans may flaunt hickeys like high school kids locker room guiltplagued democrats feeling smart mark beast console banish ballot box close eyes wish upon star thus comfortable selfdelusions tiger woods democratic party technically black barack obama somehow blessed inner moral compass lacking rest society therefore bear damnable mark wiser souls aware obama possesses net worth several millions harvard law degree career born venerable political whorehouse called chicago assume devils mark probably located posterior see another political wish upon star hillary clinton woman marked many hickeys looks like victim massive hemangioma botox reform brutal health care system without pulling skirt insurance industry like says possible governmental solution include insurance industry course industry government votes merely decide industries front spots public trough next four eight years lately big pharma credit industry run theyve mandatory mental health screening schools stuffs prescription drugs children credit card industrys new bankruptcy laws wring last drop consumers instead giving fresh start forefathers mind established debtors laws new twist incarceration make ones home new debtors prison place sleep work usury interest payments debt meanwhile vast looms governmentascorporation fast food industry weaves cheeseburger bill giving immunity lawsuits fattens nation steers whose sole purpose consume never butchered except wars protect corporate cheeseburger even battlefront turns profit millions burgers fries served fight oil cheeseburger wars american consumers watch tv see comfortably familiar possibly badly iraq soldier get fishwich red bull puff daddy cd battlefield right true enough conditioned see fishwich cd symbol liberty utmost accomplishment republic see way life indeed oblivion order fries children landfill comes oblivious pursuit senseless commerce sheer turnover goods consumption happiness blame devils hickey entirely capitalism america even capitalist country early years yet people still chased illusions 1848 seem disease alexis de tocqueville damned guy holds well doesnt observed americans seemed live chase transactions change consistently throwing away satisfaction process america saw freest enlightened men placed circumstances happiest found world yet seemed cloud habitually hung brow thought serious almost sad even pleasures maybe price pay living society based round happiness per se pursuit alexis de tocqueville toqueville pointed americans got nice family home built turned around immediately sold apparent reason joy transaction pursue transaction help think house trying sell right fifth one owned sold unnecessarily wasteful destructive creativity thought every way home owning lifestyle never rent monolithic extractive financial system case seem found pursuing anesthetic consumer capitalism lots transactions lots goods directions pursuit televised dont even get couch lie watch house hunting shows lifestyle shows home garden television classified educationlearning rating system couch reasonable place days given real work left america sane functioning human beings survival although upper 20 americans safely isolated perspiring classes seem think thriving resemble people pictured slick lifestyle advertisements people still elaborate form survival amid pointless thin joy consumerism inherent material spiritual wastefulness life designated global landfill next rising empire china nowhere near rich conditioned buy throw away expensive stuff entirely alone western europeans gnats ass behind us wretched consumer excesses alongside leading pack quick point gluttony americas population drops dead morbid obesity europeans scale mountain fallen porcine ranks jump newly inherited suvs drive search mall left relatively equitable sane society consolation prize longer least chinas global landfill tens millions americans prisoners including counting quarter worlds incarcerated population america citizens physically held us prison system rest us serve life sentence released personal recognition pull time homes processing goods great asian goods landfill culture end new globalized silk route confucian capitalism end electronics silk road prisoners consumption rather like caged french geese force fed corn produce fatty livers pate marvelous marriage psychology psychometric marketing gulag system imprisons people inside even punish without supervision doubt system punishment purely social personal anxiety causes given enough insight thoughtful person nearly question death department homeland security really need access medical records grocery receipts paranoid uncircumcised put nofly list every day many system counts whole though infantilized citizenry much fun question drive harder hardon faster everything round clock stimulation created artificial frivolous citizenry one incapable serious thought deeper humor nation children completely happy stay way americas childish material gratification grotesquely satisfying smothers basic sort reason much less philosophical thinking fuck nietzsche rimbaud goddamned hard read anyway beyond western philosophical tradition based grief suffering great literature ive never fan van goghs ear school creativity admit truly great american writers ive met wrote least one foot planted pain wants read entertainment every imaginable sort sparkles great hologram national illusiondelusion right plucking matter pull away brilliant distraction way beat leave get outside hologram thoughtful americans left facing dilemma senseless life senseless work insensate sex oprahs flaccid moralizing books cinema high culture fast food guns jaaayzus irrational culture born age reason would turn irrational completely unquestioned contradiction persuaded argument matter compelling seems doubtful reason ever provide answer dilemma tell experience standing kfc holding buffalo snacker yelling people really eat shit taken call reason meanwhile boys corporate cooking thousand fresh hells us including 247 pentagon tv channel superbowl kfcs new chicken potato cheese gravy wad food ample proof civilization done hurricanes boneyard gin poop bucket sun comes grab shovel bury guava trees behind house fallen passion fruit litter ground like huge yellow easter eggs poop passion fruit ancient organic system doesnt matter matter idea week every week fiftytwo weeks think one idea one idea never discussed american society idea need pursue right wouldnt get respect cooperation rest world gave world food bombs medicines water purification technology grains wouldnt rich zubaty rude guy homeless person living truck maui hawaii tell dear hearts one ole boy intend see next fresh hell served indeed aint hell turn television park car walk away would anyone care remain part sorryassed system government war criminals ruling fearful nation fattened livestock probably change economy collapses trying kill half planet desperate effort preserve olive garden lifestyle 116 cable channels kind citizenry consistently sneers candidate like kucinich openly declares world peace militarized nation earth hell crime three feet tall stands corporate ownership government like nader crime smart like nader either dont damned smart bore everyone death like al gore simple action available nonaction really quarter americans pay bills one month hologram would come crashing government would either come crawling knees expose police state really salvation hand preachers say three years ups downs setbacks finally central america eat rice beans little good world process deposit toner cartridges beer bottles triple aaa remote control batteries landfill little writing sea boot perhaps ill lucky enough eventually die washed great godcreated soup life sprang aint gon na kill preferred scenario late age expect change however america move board cost must pay system makes sure risk losing family social position ha economic stake present american society fine please oh lord dont let republicans steal social security kitty make half ss paid smoke ditchweed pot good gin price stable commodity ive already thrown away health insurance quitting magazine editorial job happily left figure conduct rest breathing hours small issue copd victim hell go belize madagascar matter sleep forever beach mexico sure sun sand easy paintbynumbers notion paradise americans depends upon said sand located cancun aruba aint everybodys idea heaven personally live lizards kitchen occasional hurricane people around decent truth ill thrilled pissless little adventure aging lets spend half year country escape hologram empowering thing possibly find hole shroud none requires much money american standards least dollar present descent starts hovering somewhere next door bengladeshi taka appears sometime next week stop consider money things buy got asses jam start well seems like good idea much around live 4000 5000 year picked number globally equitable based upon advice couple good economists obviously neither american guess estimated cost happiness first choice squatting burning ghats india almost cost bring firewood godhead eyes every waking hour delusional naw matter ones goals tastes quite true writers care art end especially end ive seen good people rendered madmen hermits system know destroy keep living inside machinery dally long landfill hunch many days nerves shot think long call weak im calling time end trying buy material security nation addicted never enough carry asses path bone yard question whether drag feet go spending life meaningless employment hell health insurance thereby living longer spend time employment hell jog path grim may younguns reading hear old fucks laughing along case plenty paths boneyard flourescent lit fitness centers die top condition american career path chasing buck harness untold millions engorge carcass fine wine cheese koa wood casket gold fittings liquor another path morally financially challenged writer classic combination booze nerves cigarettes wifes anguished voice asks start smoking didnt doctor tell would kill kill fuck sake times asked many sedatives purchased online constitute overdose looking back consider progress kafka said find considering suicide beginning understand human race becomes obvious death one individual smoking pales mass sacrifice 300 million americans humanity post modern god whose scripture spread sheet pampl statement ah america every individual consumer ass solid gold even nation throng numb obese killers way gym workout everybody lost sense proportion sheer gravity country continue make jolly amid escalating wars death profit damned german interwar cabaret society diversion fortunately like everywhere else darkness sleep comes glittering landfill ending unpleasant arguments smoking cabaret society alike awoke last night warm odor fluffy baby chicks filling bedroom grandfather used raise chicks six nocturnal alchemy long trapped childhood ecstasy putting handful face warm brooder house came flooding back upon closing eyes image blackish red spilled blood gunshot wound puddled blue tile floor desert place cabaret music rises drowning muffled screams empires far flung network black sites unpleasant things happen dark rippling wake happiness joe bageant author forthcoming book deer hunting jesus dispatches americas class war random house crown working class america scheduled spring 2007 release complete archive online work along thoughts many working americans subject class may found httpwwwjoebageantcom feel free contact joebageantjoebageantcom copyright 2006 joe bageant 160 | 1,841 |
<p>Blankley: "[T]he country will be rocked to its core" if GOP fails to reclaim majority. In an August 9 Washington Times op-ed, Tony Blankley warned that the country will be "rocked to its core" if the GOP doesn't retake the House this fall. He also described a "foul and dangerous brew" that the Republicans will need to counter, a part of which, he said, is "the thwarting of the public will -- with glee -- by the entrenched, non-elected powers (in the courts, media, colleges and government bureaucracies)." After listing all the conservative policies he hopes will be enacted if the Republicans do end up with a majority, Blankley <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/aug/9/we-socialists-vs-we-the-people/" type="external">wrote</a>:</p>
<p>No, what worries me is a scenario in which the GOP does not take back the House and at least make major gains in the Senate, or takes it back but fails to find the power to begin having a serious check on administration policies and actions. I don't say that with a mere partisan, boostering mentality.</p>
<p>Rather, if the upcoming election results fail for any reason (including GOP campaign incompetence) to empower the public's overwhelming desire to stop and reverse the "fundamental transformation" of the United States -- I suspect the country will be rocked to its core within the following months and few years.</p>
<p>Conservatives at Right Online conference use extreme rhetoric to stump for GOP votes in midterms. While speaking at the 2010 Right Online <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6WwiCbNGoE" type="external">conference</a>, held July 23-24, a number of conservative media figures used extreme rhetoric to show support for the GOP in the upcoming midterm elections.</p>
<p>IBD op-ed: Republicans may take over in November, but even that "will not necessarily stop Obama." In an Investor's Business Daily op-ed titled, " <a href="http://www.investors.com/NewsAndAnalysis/Article/542171/201007301830/Will-Washingtons-Failures-Lead-To-Second-American-Revolution-.aspx" type="external">Will Washington's failures lead to second American Revolution?</a>" Ernest S. Christian, a Ford administration official, and Gary A. Robbins, a Reagan administration official, wrote:</p>
<p>Opinion polls suggest that in the November mid-term elections, voters will replace the present Democratic majority in Congress with opposition Republicans -- but that will not necessarily stop Obama.</p>
<p>A President Obama intent on achieving his transformative goals despite the disagreement of the American people has powerful weapons within reach. In one hand, he will have a veto pen to stop a new Republican Congress from repealing ObamaCare and the Dodd-Frank takeover of banks.</p>
<p>In the other, he will have a fistful of executive orders, regulations and Obama-made fiats that have the force of law.</p>
<p>[...]</p>
<p>The overgrown, un-pruned power of the presidency to reward, punish and intimidate may now be so overwhelming that his re-election in 2012 is already assured -- Chicago-style.</p>
<p>Geller: Obama "is itching for a civil war. And at the rate he is going, he is going to get one." In a June 23 <a href="/blog/2010/06/23/geller-obama-is-is-itching-for-a-civil-war-and/166667" type="external">post</a> at Atlas Shrugs titled "Forecast: Blood On The Streets," Pamela Geller wrote that "It is increasingly clear that the most divisive President in history is itching for a civil war. And at the rate he is going, he is going to get one -- if he continues to ignore the will of the American people."</p>
<p>Savage: "We're going to have a revolution in this country"; "These people are pushing the wrong people around." Michael Savage discussed multiculturalism and predicted in <a href="/video/2009/08/21/savage-predicts-a-revolution-in-this-country-if/153662" type="external">August 2009</a>: "This is not going to go on in this country much longer. We're going to have a revolution in this country if this keeps up. These people are pushing the wrong people around." Savage further said that "the rage has reached a boil. If they keep pushing us around, and if we keep having these schmucks running for office catering to the multicultural people who are destroying the culture of this country ... guaranteed the people -- the white male in particular."</p>
<p>Quinn called for "riots": "Our country was built on revolution, and it's about time we took it back." Discussing health care reform in September 2009, Jim Quinn <a href="/video/2009/09/10/during-unhinged-health-reform-rant-quinn-says-i/154430" type="external">stated</a>, "You have got to say no to this, and if they push this through, you need to riot in the streets. You need to riot in the streets." He further said, "Our country was built on revolution and it's about time we took it back. These people are dangerous," and, "It's about time to put an end to this leftist control of this country, and if a revolution is what it takes, damn it, then that's what it's going to take, because liberty will not be denied."</p>
<p>Chuck Norris: "[W]ill history need to record a second American Revolution?" In his March 9, 2009, <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&amp;pageId=91103" type="external">column</a> for WorldNetDaily.com, actor and political activist Chuck Norris wrote: "How much more will Americans take? When will enough be enough? And, when that time comes, will our leaders finally listen or will history need to record a second American Revolution? We the people have the authority according to America's Declaration of Independence." Norris also wrote: "On <a href="http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/196/22220/" type="external">Glenn Beck's radio show</a> last week, I quipped in response to our wayward federal government, 'I may run for president of Texas.' That need may be a reality sooner than we think."</p>
<p>Limbaugh: LA's Arizona boycott "is the kind of stuff that starts civil wars" and "is not accidental." On the May 20 <a href="/video/2010/05/20/limbaugh-on-las-arizona-boycott-this-is-the-kin/165039" type="external">edition</a> of his radio show, Rush Limbaugh claimed that Obama won't enforce the border because he's trying to win the Hispanic vote. Limbaugh then referred to the Arizona boycott by the city of Los Angeles over the state's immigration law, saying that "[t]his is the kind of stuff that starts civil wars, folks. This is not coincidental. It is not accidental. And the answer today to virtually every question you've got is liberalism."</p>
<p>Savage: "I almost feel as though Obama's trying to create a civil war in America for his own reasons." On the June 18 <a href="/video/2010/06/21/savage-i-almost-feel-as-though-obamas-trying-to/166530" type="external">edition</a> of his radio show, Savage said: "This administration has produced a turmoil in the American people unseen since -- I don't know, what? What should I say? Since World War II? I've never seen anything like this. Should I go back to the Civil War? I almost feel as though Obama's trying to create a civil war in America for his own reasons."</p>
<p>Beck suggested Obama is "trying to destroy the country" and is pushing America toward civil war. While <a href="/video/2010/05/19/beck-suggests-obama-is-trying-to-destroy-the-co/164973" type="external">discussing</a> the ongoing controversy over Arizona's immigration law, Glenn Beck told listeners on his radio show that "we are being pushed" toward civil war and that Obama is "trying to destroy the country."</p>
<p>Quoting Jefferson, Beck warned about "rivers of blood." On his Fox News show, Beck <a href="/video/2010/05/14/after-quoting-jefferson-beck-says-there-will-be/164760" type="external">quoted</a> a letter by Thomas Jefferson warning " 'if they lose freedom' -- he's speaking of us, future generations -- 'if they lose freedom, there will be rivers of blood.' " Beck continued in his own words, "Boy, I hope that's not true, but I can tell you there will be rivers of blood if we don't have values and principles."</p>
<p>Beck: "There is a coup going on. There is a stealing of America." Beck <a href="/video/2009/08/31/beck-there-is-a-coup-going-on-it-has-been-done/154064" type="external">has claimed</a> that "there is a revolution, and they think they can get away with it quietly," adding: "At this point, gang, I'm not sure, they may be able to because they are so far ahead of us. They know what they're dealing against; most of America does not yet. Most of America doesn't have a clue as to what's going on. There is a coup going on. There is a stealing of America, and the way it is done, it has been done through the -- the guise of an election, but they lied to us the entire time." He also said, "And they're gonna say, 'we did it democratically,' and they are going to grab power every way they can. And God help us in an emergency."</p>
<p>Beck suggested that progressives support "armed insurrection." After Obama signed health care reform legislation into law, Beck <a href="/video/2010/03/23/beck-the-president-has-just-punched-you-in-the/162151" type="external">suggested</a> that progressives support "armed insurrection" and asked: "Why would the president take up immigration right away, after he's just punched you in the face with health care?"</p>
<p>Beck suggested Pelosi and Obama support "pick[ing] up a gun" to advance "revolution." Beck has also <a href="/video/2010/03/23/beck-likens-passage-of-health-care-reform-to-be/162147" type="external">said</a> that "violence is the wrong way to go," but asked his viewers: "You'd pick up a gun? Have you ever thought of that?" He then pointed to several pictures, including images of Obama and Pelosi, and stated: "These people have. Because possibly, maybe the question should be asked, maybe they're tired of evolution, and maybe they are waiting for revolution." Beck also said: "Haven't we just been spanked? Hasn't most of the country -- doesn't most of the country feel like they've been spanked over health care? You bet. I do, you do. A lot of people do."</p>
<p>Bob Owens: "[O]ne would be wise to prepare for possible conflict." Responding to a commenter about a previous post, Confederate Yankee blogger Bob Owens <a href="http://confederateyankee.mu.nu/archives/304223.php" type="external">wrote</a>:</p>
<p>We have moved "closer to midnight" not because of any singular act , but because of inertia of a political class that does not respect or enforce the laws, or this nation's sovereignty. We have diametrically opposed views of how our nation can and should be run, and it appears that there is very little room left for negotiation.</p>
<p>Propagandists for the elitists at Media Matters seem troubled by A Nation on the Edge of Revolt. They portray it as a threat when "Conservative media figures openly discuss armed revolution."</p>
<p>I hope they do feel threatened. Attempts at peaceable protests have been met at turns by feigned ignorance, then mockery, then attacks on the character and motives of those would not sit quietly by. Perhaps it will take a serious review of our capacity for violence to get them to realize we shall not surrender our individual liberties to their lust for power.</p>
<p>I have not yet been swayed to the point of view that an armed conflict is inevitable, TN_NamVolunteer. But we are close enough that one would be wise to prepare for a possible conflict, just as one would prepare for any coming storm.</p> | true | 4 | blankley country rocked core gop fails reclaim majority august 9 washington times oped tony blankley warned country rocked core gop doesnt retake house fall also described foul dangerous brew republicans need counter part said thwarting public glee entrenched nonelected powers courts media colleges government bureaucracies listing conservative policies hopes enacted republicans end majority blankley wrote worries scenario gop take back house least make major gains senate takes back fails find power begin serious check administration policies actions dont say mere partisan boostering mentality rather upcoming election results fail reason including gop campaign incompetence empower publics overwhelming desire stop reverse fundamental transformation united states suspect country rocked core within following months years conservatives right online conference use extreme rhetoric stump gop votes midterms speaking 2010 right online conference held july 2324 number conservative media figures used extreme rhetoric show support gop upcoming midterm elections ibd oped republicans may take november even necessarily stop obama investors business daily oped titled washingtons failures lead second american revolution ernest christian ford administration official gary robbins reagan administration official wrote opinion polls suggest november midterm elections voters replace present democratic majority congress opposition republicans necessarily stop obama president obama intent achieving transformative goals despite disagreement american people powerful weapons within reach one hand veto pen stop new republican congress repealing obamacare doddfrank takeover banks fistful executive orders regulations obamamade fiats force law overgrown unpruned power presidency reward punish intimidate may overwhelming reelection 2012 already assured chicagostyle geller obama itching civil war rate going going get one june 23 post atlas shrugs titled forecast blood streets pamela geller wrote increasingly clear divisive president history itching civil war rate going going get one continues ignore american people savage going revolution country people pushing wrong people around michael savage discussed multiculturalism predicted august 2009 going go country much longer going revolution country keeps people pushing wrong people around savage said rage reached boil keep pushing us around keep schmucks running office catering multicultural people destroying culture country guaranteed people white male particular quinn called riots country built revolution time took back discussing health care reform september 2009 jim quinn stated got say push need riot streets need riot streets said country built revolution time took back people dangerous time put end leftist control country revolution takes damn thats going take liberty denied chuck norris history need record second american revolution march 9 2009 column worldnetdailycom actor political activist chuck norris wrote much americans take enough enough time comes leaders finally listen history need record second american revolution people authority according americas declaration independence norris also wrote glenn becks radio show last week quipped response wayward federal government may run president texas need may reality sooner think limbaugh las arizona boycott kind stuff starts civil wars accidental may 20 edition radio show rush limbaugh claimed obama wont enforce border hes trying win hispanic vote limbaugh referred arizona boycott city los angeles states immigration law saying kind stuff starts civil wars folks coincidental accidental answer today virtually every question youve got liberalism savage almost feel though obamas trying create civil war america reasons june 18 edition radio show savage said administration produced turmoil american people unseen since dont know say since world war ii ive never seen anything like go back civil war almost feel though obamas trying create civil war america reasons beck suggested obama trying destroy country pushing america toward civil war discussing ongoing controversy arizonas immigration law glenn beck told listeners radio show pushed toward civil war obama trying destroy country quoting jefferson beck warned rivers blood fox news show beck quoted letter thomas jefferson warning lose freedom hes speaking us future generations lose freedom rivers blood beck continued words boy hope thats true tell rivers blood dont values principles beck coup going stealing america beck claimed revolution think get away quietly adding point gang im sure may able far ahead us know theyre dealing america yet america doesnt clue whats going coup going stealing america way done done guise election lied us entire time also said theyre gon na say democratically going grab power every way god help us emergency beck suggested progressives support armed insurrection obama signed health care reform legislation law beck suggested progressives support armed insurrection asked would president take immigration right away hes punched face health care beck suggested pelosi obama support picking gun advance revolution beck also said violence wrong way go asked viewers youd pick gun ever thought pointed several pictures including images obama pelosi stated people possibly maybe question asked maybe theyre tired evolution maybe waiting revolution beck also said havent spanked hasnt country doesnt country feel like theyve spanked health care bet lot people bob owens one would wise prepare possible conflict responding commenter previous post confederate yankee blogger bob owens wrote moved closer midnight singular act inertia political class respect enforce laws nations sovereignty diametrically opposed views nation run appears little room left negotiation propagandists elitists media matters seem troubled nation edge revolt portray threat conservative media figures openly discuss armed revolution hope feel threatened attempts peaceable protests met turns feigned ignorance mockery attacks character motives would sit quietly perhaps take serious review capacity violence get realize shall surrender individual liberties lust power yet swayed point view armed conflict inevitable tn_namvolunteer close enough one would wise prepare possible conflict one would prepare coming storm | 887 |
<p>Psychologists have learned to recognize projection, placing on another impulses one denies in oneself. Understanding projections requires openness, even modesty. A self-effacing attitude is the only way one can understand that what we are accusing another person of feeling or doing dialectically represents unacceptable feelings we ourselves have but can’t seem to look at or accept. So with a spirit of modesty, let us look at the possibility that the war which the United States is about to enter may constellate around projective elements which divert our attention away from far more basic truths.</p>
<p>When President Bush said Saddam Hussein ‘tried to kill my Dad,’ what is projected in that remark is that George Bush senior attempted to kill Saddam Hussein first. He made numerous attempts, and in his zeal he killed 186,000 Iraqis in Operation Desert Storm, but he missed Saddam.</p>
<p>When Bush accuses Iraq of building weapons of mass destruction, the force of that projection takes consciousness away from the entirely undiscussed issue that Israel already possesses weapons of mass destruction and may be the only power in the Middle East which has them. It is estimated by most military experts that Israel has between 100-200 nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>As President Bush attacks Iraq for not allowing inspections, we are mysteriously lulled into somnolence forgetting that Israel has disallowed any and every effort to permit inspections of its nuclear facilities.</p>
<p>Bush accuses Iraq of lying to the world about its weapons of mass destruction, yet, like Hussein, Israel’s Shimon Peres flatly denied Israel had the bomb. Either that statement is true, and the world’s military experts, including our own, are deluded, or Nobel laureate, Shimon Peres, is lying too.</p>
<p>In Bush’s recent speech to the UN, he cited nine UN resolutions that Iraq disregarded and failed to honor. But American vigilance on this matter seems to completely disregard the number of UN resolutions Israel has ignored and breached, most recently the Security Council resolution in late September.</p>
<p>When Bush calls Iraq a pariah state outside the mainstream of world opinion and consensus, consciousness is diverted from recognizing the number of times Israel and the US have been the only nations on one side of a general assembly vote and 154 nations on the other. . . at least five such incidents since 1998.</p>
<p>When Bush assails Iraq for developing chemical and biological weapons, attentions shift towards Iraq and away from Israel’s programs in these areas. When Bush condemns Iraq for killing its own citizens, we seem to forget that Israel has been fighting its own residents for years with 1800 Palestinians killed in only the last few years, including 250 children. When Bush attacks Hussein for suppressing his own people, few recognize that Israel has held 3 million of its residents under military occupation for almost 30 years. When the President points out how Iraqi children are starving and the standard of living of normal Iraqis depleted, consciousness seems to be deflected away from any awareness that the unemployment rate in the Palestinian territories is close to 70%, and 30% of Palestinian children are malnourished.</p>
<p>Clearly there are projective parallels to address. There is still reality to deal with too, however: Israel has been attacked. It has legitimate needs to defend itself, not only with respect to the recent intifada but longer term too. Just as we wince when we hear Ariel Sharon’s troops slaughtered another fifth grade girl in her school uniform, so too do bristle at hearing of a 92 year old Auschwitz survivor who died in another Hamas suicide bombing.</p>
<p>Projections do not tell the entire story, but the value of looking through these lenses can help us all see a bigger picture. The United States is prepared to embark upon another of its all-too-many wars. This one could cost $200 billion in national resources and expose the economy, agriculture, and America’s children to lethal consequences. As the media ruminatively discusses biological warfare, inoculating the population against small pox, Al Queda, terrorism, anthrax, ebola, and obsessive alerts from the office of Homeland security, it is important to see what is not being talked about, what is not found in newspapers, and what is not seen on television. That is where awareness of projection is critical.</p>
<p>Diane Sawyer is quite astute in grilling Tarik Aziz about Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction, but she isn’t asking any questions about Israel’s hydrogen bombs. Mike Wallace is sharp as a tack in finding inconsistencies in Iraqi statements about surreptitious attempts to purchase fissionable material on the black market, but he is not probing into how Israel obtained centrifuges, critical switches, or plutonium for its weapons. There is little discussion of these issues in the media, even less on Capitol Hill. While much press is devoted to Russian scientists who have been recruited to work on Iraq’s secret weapons, there is none looking at Russian experts who are now immigrants into Israel’s vast weapons programs.</p>
<p>It is as if American foreign policy and its consequent war footing is determined by a policy that Israel shall be the only country in the Middle East which has weapons of mass destruction, and any nation attempting to counterbalance this power shall be crushed. I wonder how many Americans would truly vote to send their children to die in a war halfway round the world to defend such a policy.</p>
<p>Expanding consciousness when on the precipice of war was Carl Jung’s only prescription to avoid collective bloodshed and catastrophe. Under George Bush senior, we sent American women into battle—and to their deaths—to liberate Kuwait, a non-democratic country which didn’t allow women to vote. . . and still doesn’t. No one seemed to notice for what cause American parents sacrificed their daughters then, just as so much is going unnoticed today.</p>
<p>Lack of consciousness is akin to stupidity and ignorance. Indeed a major war may ignite over what seems to be an axis of infantilism: whether we can inspect the home of the man ‘who tried to kill my dad.’ We insist on going into his house to have a look, and if he doesn’t let us in, we’ll kill him. That is what this seems to be coming down to.</p>
<p>Projections teach us that if we are prepared to go to war demanding to look in the house of our enemy, then the fuller truth to be discovered is what is hidden inside our own.</p>
<p>JERRY KROTH is an associate professor of counseling psychology in the graduate division of Santa Clara University in California. His most recent book is <a href="" type="internal">Psychology Underground: from politically correct orthodoxies to a new century of inquiry</a>. ARP Press, 2001. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:anya@znet.com" type="external">anya@znet.com</a></p> | true | 4 | psychologists learned recognize projection placing another impulses one denies oneself understanding projections requires openness even modesty selfeffacing attitude way one understand accusing another person feeling dialectically represents unacceptable feelings cant seem look accept spirit modesty let us look possibility war united states enter may constellate around projective elements divert attention away far basic truths president bush said saddam hussein tried kill dad projected remark george bush senior attempted kill saddam hussein first made numerous attempts zeal killed 186000 iraqis operation desert storm missed saddam bush accuses iraq building weapons mass destruction force projection takes consciousness away entirely undiscussed issue israel already possesses weapons mass destruction may power middle east estimated military experts israel 100200 nuclear weapons president bush attacks iraq allowing inspections mysteriously lulled somnolence forgetting israel disallowed every effort permit inspections nuclear facilities bush accuses iraq lying world weapons mass destruction yet like hussein israels shimon peres flatly denied israel bomb either statement true worlds military experts including deluded nobel laureate shimon peres lying bushs recent speech un cited nine un resolutions iraq disregarded failed honor american vigilance matter seems completely disregard number un resolutions israel ignored breached recently security council resolution late september bush calls iraq pariah state outside mainstream world opinion consensus consciousness diverted recognizing number times israel us nations one side general assembly vote 154 nations least five incidents since 1998 bush assails iraq developing chemical biological weapons attentions shift towards iraq away israels programs areas bush condemns iraq killing citizens seem forget israel fighting residents years 1800 palestinians killed last years including 250 children bush attacks hussein suppressing people recognize israel held 3 million residents military occupation almost 30 years president points iraqi children starving standard living normal iraqis depleted consciousness seems deflected away awareness unemployment rate palestinian territories close 70 30 palestinian children malnourished clearly projective parallels address still reality deal however israel attacked legitimate needs defend respect recent intifada longer term wince hear ariel sharons troops slaughtered another fifth grade girl school uniform bristle hearing 92 year old auschwitz survivor died another hamas suicide bombing projections tell entire story value looking lenses help us see bigger picture united states prepared embark upon another alltoomany wars one could cost 200 billion national resources expose economy agriculture americas children lethal consequences media ruminatively discusses biological warfare inoculating population small pox al queda terrorism anthrax ebola obsessive alerts office homeland security important see talked found newspapers seen television awareness projection critical diane sawyer quite astute grilling tarik aziz iraqs weapons mass destruction isnt asking questions israels hydrogen bombs mike wallace sharp tack finding inconsistencies iraqi statements surreptitious attempts purchase fissionable material black market probing israel obtained centrifuges critical switches plutonium weapons little discussion issues media even less capitol hill much press devoted russian scientists recruited work iraqs secret weapons none looking russian experts immigrants israels vast weapons programs american foreign policy consequent war footing determined policy israel shall country middle east weapons mass destruction nation attempting counterbalance power shall crushed wonder many americans would truly vote send children die war halfway round world defend policy expanding consciousness precipice war carl jungs prescription avoid collective bloodshed catastrophe george bush senior sent american women battleand deathsto liberate kuwait nondemocratic country didnt allow women vote still doesnt one seemed notice cause american parents sacrificed daughters much going unnoticed today lack consciousness akin stupidity ignorance indeed major war may ignite seems axis infantilism whether inspect home man tried kill dad insist going house look doesnt let us well kill seems coming projections teach us prepared go war demanding look house enemy fuller truth discovered hidden inside jerry kroth associate professor counseling psychology graduate division santa clara university california recent book psychology underground politically correct orthodoxies new century inquiry arp press 2001 reached anyaznetcom | 623 |
<p><a href="http://wp.me/p3bwni-jHy" type="external">21st Century Wire</a> says…</p>
<p>The ‘Burkini Ban.’ Whatever the French state’s proclivities towards knee-jerk reactionary politics might be, having French police force Muslim women to <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/burkini-nice-beach-police-woman-undressed-isis-support-west-war-with-islam-a7207001.html" type="external">remove their clothes on a public beach</a> is definitely NOT the right answer.</p>
<p>Far from being a dramatic climax to this conversation, it’s only the beginning…</p>
<p>If she is truly keen to diffuse the current situation, the Muslim female author featured below, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, might do well to look at little closer into the string of so-called ‘terrorist’ and ‘ISIS-inspired’ attacks across Europe this year. Are they all as advertised? Nonetheless, she’s made many important points in her essay – many of which are the fundamental building blocks of civil liberties in a modern nation state. She also nails home the residual cause and effect dynamic set in motion by French colonialism. Sure, French mainstream ‘intellectuals’, leisurely journalists and political geniuses can ignore these important arguments, as they are now, but only at their peril.</p>
<p>It’s crucial to note here that one of the main exhibits held-up by the French state and its reactionary media – to justify the emergence of the newer, nastier version of itself, now permanently suspended in a ‘state of emergency’ – is the notorious <a href="" type="internal">Nice Attacks</a>. The only problem with this pop-up mainstream narrative is that all available evidence indicates that the French authorities not only had foreknowledge of the alleged ‘terror’ suspect, but <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/17/nice-terror-attack-police-vans-blocking-promenade-withdrawn-hour1/" type="external">they also stood down</a> in the moments before the attack – effectively letting the chaos ensue on the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Later we learned how the truck driver cum-terrorist whom authorities had attributed the incident to was hardly Islamist material, in fact, quite the opposite. According to multiple media reports and witnesses, the Tunisian driver Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel was described in the media as “a violent loner who liked to drink, lift weights and go salsa dancing,” and was subsequently revealed to be a career criminal, prolific thief, drug addict and bisexual sex adventurer who was a regular on the local dating app scene – and was completely on the police radar, and had no previous indications of radicalization – making the official story even more improbable. Bouhlel fits the ideal confidential police informant profile, or the ideal patsy in a private contractor-run operation.</p>
<p>In other words: French security services would do well to investigate its own police informant cells and ‘security drills’,&#160; rather than infuse this newly contrived ‘Clash of Civilizations’ narrative with a level of toxicity that will almost certainly provoke a real civil war in Europe. Or, perhaps that what their masterplan to begin with.</p>
<p>Isn’t it funny how western feminists, by subscribe to the mindless media-driven group think of ‘regime change’ in Syria – are by default backing the very same jihadist takeover of Syria that we saw in Libya. That wouldn’t be very good for the millions of women in Syria. Neither is forcing Muslim women to disrobe in European public spaces. You see, basic logic is now completely abandoned by politically confused and ill-informed feminists and ‘left’ activists in the west.</p>
<p>Oh, and by the way… what good is it for the French to be up in arms about women wearing burkini swimming apparel – when the French government itself, along with NATO member states, <a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/08/27/frsy-a27.html" type="external">have been supplying weapons and training to listed Islamist Terrorist organizations in Syria</a> (French President François Hollande admitted this already in a Le Monde interview)?</p>
<p>Time to wake up. If you haven’t already worked it out, this sequence of high profile ‘terror’ events and the corresponding vapid media commentaries are being weaponized to trigger a hyper-reactionary culture designed to manipulate and divide factions of the public against each other.</p>
<p>On it’s present trajectory, this current situation in France, and Europe, can only get worse…</p>
<p />
<p>. Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/burkini-ban-muslim-women-france-nice-beach-forced-undress-liberation-burkha-islam-dear-white-people-a7207811.html" type="external">The Independent</a></p>
<p>I’ve been putting off writing this post. I was hoping I wouldn’t need to, hoping I wouldn’t bother. Hoping that I’d see outrage fill people’s timelines and all the usual feminist social media spaces so I wouldn’t feel forced to write something, anything, explaining my outrage.</p>
<p>But here I am. Here I am writing about feminism and Muslim women&#160;again&#160;and namely responding to the deafening, choking, claustrophobic silence from White Feminists.</p>
<p>What we are seeing in France is part of the continued criminalisation of being Muslim. Particularly the criminalisation of visibly Muslim people – particularly Muslim women. What we are seeing is a vulgar display of White Feminism codified and legislated by the state. We’re seeing women being&#160;forced&#160;to conform to something held up as ‘liberty’ with no irony at all. Women are&#160;coerced&#160;–&#160; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/aug/24/french-police-make-woman-remove-burkini-on-nice-beach" type="external">with the threat of force</a>&#160;– &#160;to take off their burkinis at the beach. A Muslim woman was ordered off the beach in Cannes and fined for simply wearing her headscarf. We know already, of course, that the French implemented the ‘burqa ban’, we know that headscarves ‘and other religious symbols’ are banned in state schools and there have been multiple incidents of school-girls being&#160; <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32510606" type="external">forbidden from wearing ‘long skirts’ to school</a>&#160;– not when they’re worn as a fashion statement, but when they’re worn by Muslim girls because then it suddenly becomes a ‘religious symbol’.</p>
<p>Cannes, in France, has banned the burkini because it “could risk disrupting public order while France was the target of terrorist attacks” and because burkinis are “not respectful of [the] good morals and secularism” of France.</p>
<p>We’re going to need some space to unpack this one, bear with me.</p>
<p>So first of all, correct me if I’m wrong but I thought this was a pretty black and white thing we feminists were agreed on. An article of faith if you will: Thou Shalt Leave Women To Do As They Will With Their Own Bodies. France, often posturing itself as&#160;the&#160;beacon of feminism because apparently feminism was born of the French Revolution (don’t know if all the working-class women and women in the colonies heard about that liberation, sorry guys!) should surely know this article more than most. And yet, here it is – the French state itself – forcing women to wear or not wear certain clothes! Incredible!</p>
<p>Recently I saw a spate of articles about the hijab in Iran. In Iran women are forced to wear the hijab by law and can be publicly admonished, fined or even arrested for ‘inadequate’ covering. Now, I’m sure many more feminists – and I’m guessing particularly those in Europe – would be quick to agree this is Not Okay. Surely the best thing is for women to be free to choose to dress however they want – be it wearing a headscarf or a miniskirt. Yet, it seems that oppression is only when brown men tell you how to dress; when white men do it it’s called liberation…</p>
<p>Now, if you’re about to comment saying, “Dear me TBH I’m afraid its just&#160;not&#160;that simple”, you’re bang-on-the-money absolutely spot on correct it’s not.</p>
<p>WATCH: UK TV talk show clip on burkini ban.</p>
<p>And that brings me to my second point. The bans in France are specifically targeted at Muslim women. The idea that the burkini could be linked to terrorism somehow and therefore a ban on it justified seems ludicrous, and yet this is the stage we’ve reached. The extreme policing of Muslim women’s dress is somehow an acceptable ‘anti-extremism’ measure. More than that, Muslim women are posited always as victims of their dress who require liberation from the French authorities. And here’s the catch: this French desire to liberate Muslim women and the positing of Muslimness as ‘oppositional’ to Frenchness has a long and bloody history.</p>
<p>Oh yes, here I go again.</p>
<p>French colonies in North Africa were the ones with large Muslim populations, but also the ones with some of the longest and bloodiest battles for independence – see Algeria. That sort of history and that sort of war is not a good start for making you the experts on legislating on Muslim dress. In fact, you might argue that it gives you a slightly biased picture of history and one that’s full of images of you battling your unruly Muslim subjects who for years you have depicted as the very opposite ‘sorts of people’ as you are and therefore as savage, animalistic, backwards, ignorant, male despots and female victims. So, when, from the 1960s and 70s and 80s those same colonies, now independent, saw people begin to migrate to France – because oh, I don’t know maybe there’d been a long history of war and repression which kind of made opportunities not so great over there – this long background of antagonism and racism can’t have disappeared…</p>
<p><a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/burkini-ban-muslim-women-france-nice-beach-forced-undress-liberation-burkha-islam-dear-white-people-a7207811.html" type="external">Continue this article at The Independent</a></p>
<p>READ MORE FRANCE NEWS AT: <a href="" type="internal">21st Century Wire French 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></p> | true | 4 | 21st century wire says burkini ban whatever french states proclivities towards kneejerk reactionary politics might french police force muslim women remove clothes public beach definitely right answer far dramatic climax conversation beginning truly keen diffuse current situation muslim female author featured suhaiymah manzoorkhan might well look little closer string socalled terrorist isisinspired attacks across europe year advertised nonetheless shes made many important points essay many fundamental building blocks civil liberties modern nation state also nails home residual cause effect dynamic set motion french colonialism sure french mainstream intellectuals leisurely journalists political geniuses ignore important arguments peril crucial note one main exhibits heldup french state reactionary media justify emergence newer nastier version permanently suspended state emergency notorious nice attacks problem popup mainstream narrative available evidence indicates french authorities foreknowledge alleged terror suspect also stood moments attack effectively letting chaos ensue promenade des anglais nice later learned truck driver cumterrorist authorities attributed incident hardly islamist material fact quite opposite according multiple media reports witnesses tunisian driver mohamed lahouaiej bouhlel described media violent loner liked drink lift weights go salsa dancing subsequently revealed career criminal prolific thief drug addict bisexual sex adventurer regular local dating app scene completely police radar previous indications radicalization making official story even improbable bouhlel fits ideal confidential police informant profile ideal patsy private contractorrun operation words french security services would well investigate police informant cells security drills160 rather infuse newly contrived clash civilizations narrative level toxicity almost certainly provoke real civil war europe perhaps masterplan begin isnt funny western feminists subscribe mindless mediadriven group think regime change syria default backing jihadist takeover syria saw libya wouldnt good millions women syria neither forcing muslim women disrobe european public spaces see basic logic completely abandoned politically confused illinformed feminists left activists west oh way good french arms women wearing burkini swimming apparel french government along nato member states supplying weapons training listed islamist terrorist organizations syria french president françois hollande admitted already le monde interview time wake havent already worked sequence high profile terror events corresponding vapid media commentaries weaponized trigger hyperreactionary culture designed manipulate divide factions public present trajectory current situation france europe get worse suhaiymah manzoorkhan independent ive putting writing post hoping wouldnt need hoping wouldnt bother hoping id see outrage fill peoples timelines usual feminist social media spaces wouldnt feel forced write something anything explaining outrage writing feminism muslim women160again160and namely responding deafening choking claustrophobic silence white feminists seeing france part continued criminalisation muslim particularly criminalisation visibly muslim people particularly muslim women seeing vulgar display white feminism codified legislated state seeing women being160forced160to conform something held liberty irony women are160coerced160160 threat force160 160to take burkinis beach muslim woman ordered beach cannes fined simply wearing headscarf know already course french implemented burqa ban know headscarves religious symbols banned state schools multiple incidents schoolgirls being160 forbidden wearing long skirts school160 theyre worn fashion statement theyre worn muslim girls suddenly becomes religious symbol cannes france banned burkini could risk disrupting public order france target terrorist attacks burkinis respectful good morals secularism france going need space unpack one bear first correct im wrong thought pretty black white thing feminists agreed article faith thou shalt leave women bodies france often posturing as160the160beacon feminism apparently feminism born french revolution dont know workingclass women women colonies heard liberation sorry guys surely know article yet french state forcing women wear wear certain clothes incredible recently saw spate articles hijab iran iran women forced wear hijab law publicly admonished fined even arrested inadequate covering im sure many feminists im guessing particularly europe would quick agree okay surely best thing women free choose dress however want wearing headscarf miniskirt yet seems oppression brown men tell dress white men called liberation youre comment saying dear tbh im afraid just160not160that simple youre bangonthemoney absolutely spot correct watch uk tv talk show clip burkini ban brings second point bans france specifically targeted muslim women idea burkini could linked terrorism somehow therefore ban justified seems ludicrous yet stage weve reached extreme policing muslim womens dress somehow acceptable antiextremism measure muslim women posited always victims dress require liberation french authorities heres catch french desire liberate muslim women positing muslimness oppositional frenchness long bloody history oh yes go french colonies north africa ones large muslim populations also ones longest bloodiest battles independence see algeria sort history sort war good start making experts legislating muslim dress fact might argue gives slightly biased picture history one thats full images battling unruly muslim subjects years depicted opposite sorts people therefore savage animalistic backwards ignorant male despots female victims 1960s 70s 80s colonies independent saw people begin migrate france oh dont know maybe thered long history war repression kind made opportunities great long background antagonism racism cant disappeared continue article independent read france news 21st century wire french files support 21wire work subscribing becoming member 21wiretv | 799 |
<p>In 1982, Nancy Reagan&#160;formally launched the post-modern prohibition movement, the war on drugs.&#160;&#160;&#160;While begun under President Richard Nixon,&#160;her infamous “Just Say No” speech&#160;at&#160;the&#160;Longfellow Elementary School in Oakland, CA,&#160;officially established the war on drugs as national policy.</p>
<p>Her original campaign sought to address an assortment of alleged youthful vices, including alcohol and drug use, peer violence and premarital sex.&#160;&#160;However, shrewd moralists, clever politicians and opportunists within the police-corporate system (the domestic corollary to President Dwight Eisenhower’s military-industrial complex) used the speech to capture the new cash cow, the war on drugs.</p>
<p>During the last three decades, the war on drugs has proven an ever-deepening failure.&#160;&#160;Like 1920s Prohibition that fashioned the modern crime syndicate, this “war” established a new service business for corporate capitalism, the prison-industrial complex.</p>
<p>While it is impossible to tabulate the full costs of drug use in the U.S., even the most conservative estimates are staggering.&#160;Millions of people (some estimates run as high as 20% of the population) either regularly abuse or are addicted to “drugs,” whether legal or illegal, whether a commercial or underground product.&#160;&#160;One estimate places the costs associated with of drug addiction/abuse at “over $484 billion per year” that includes costs for policing, healthcare, crime and lost earnings.</p>
<p>In 2010, the U.S. government spent an estimated $15 billion waging its fruitless war on drugs.&#160;&#160;Two academic experts, Jeffrey Miron and Katherine Waldock, estimate that de-criminalizing (i.e., regulating) currently illegal drugs would save Americans approximately $41 billion a year in federal and state government expenditures relating to drug enforcement.</p>
<p>In the years since Mrs. Reagan uttered her dubious words, the total costs of the war on drugs is estimated at $1 trillion.&#160;According to a study released by the Associated Press in 2010, the $1 trillion expenditure covers: border efforts at interception drug trafficking; foreign drug wars in Afghanistan, Mexico and Columbia;&#160;arrest and prosecution of those in federal prisons for drug offenses;&#160;arrest and prosecution nonviolent drug offenders at the state and local levels; and&#160;marketing “Just Say No”-style messages to America’s youth and other abstinence programs.</p>
<p>The AP concludes its report with the following cautionary words: “This year, 25 million Americans will snort, swallow, inject and smoke illicit drugs, about 10 million more than in 1970, with the bulk of those drugs imported from Mexico.”[ <a href="" type="internal">http://nevergetbusted.com/2010/articles/ap-us-drug-war-has-met-none-of-its-goals</a>]</p>
<p>The line between the legal and the illegal, like that between the moral and immoral or the licit and illicit, is arbitrary.&#160;&#160;It is a terrain of social conflict that changes over time through popular struggle.&#160;&#160;At any one time, the line appears “fixed” as much by moral authority as by formal legal regulation and enforcement practice.&#160;&#160;However, the appearance of “fixed,” to the extent that it can be, is in name only.</p>
<p>The failed temperance campaign that culminated in the passage of the 18th&#160;Amendment establishing 13 years of Prohibition (and which was repealed by the 21st&#160;Amendment) unraveled after the 1929 stock market crash.&#160;&#160;Today’s “war on drugs” is unraveling.&#160;&#160;Its failure is evident in the ever-growing costs related to enforcement, at the federal, state and city levels, as well as the social and personal costs incurred by those who succumb to their drug of choice.</p>
<p>It appears that a goodly proportion of Americans, either just once for fun or on a more continuing basis, have taken an illegal substance or have a family member, friend or neighbor whose been arrested due to a drug-related offense (including alcohol-related acts).&#160;&#160;This common awareness underlies the nationwide effort to establish a new drug policy, one from the bottom up.&#160;It is defined by efforts to legalize medical marijuana clinics (now legal in 16 states and the District of Columbia) and to decriminalize “non-hard” drugs like marijuana and some party drugs (e.g., LSD).&#160;&#160;In the wake of the fiscal crises faced by many states, there has been a move to reduce the nonviolent prison population, particularly those arrested for a nonviolent drug-related offense.</p>
<p>In the wake of the Great Depression, America ended Prohibition, an unworkable and expensive moralistic campaign masquerading as public policy.&#160;&#160;(The church had taken control of the state, imposing its temperance beliefs as national policy.)&#160;As economic and social pressures mount during the aftermath of the Great Recession, there will likely be a significant increase in all manner of drug taking throughout the nation. This will, hopefully, lead to a rethinking of the nation’s failed “war on drugs.”&#160;Lets hope.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>America is a drugged-out nation.&#160;&#160;To appreciate the enormity of drug use, one needs to acknowledge the scope of “drug” taking.&#160;&#160;The first step in this process is to give up the fiction that separates the legal from the illegal, the regulated from the un-regulated and the over-the-counter from backstreet drugs.&#160;&#160;A second step is to map out the labyrinth-like world of the abused and/or addictive drugs and see how they saturate social life.</p>
<p>Ken Liska, in “Drugs and the Human Body,” defines a drug as “any absorbed substance that changes or enhances any physical or psychological function in the body.”</p>
<p>The following overview of drug taking in America is necessarily cursory, outlining the boundaries to this (in a 1950’s film&#160;noirsense) underworld.&#160;&#160;Information is drawn predominately from federal sources, including the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, the National&#160;Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).</p>
<p>Legal unregulated “drugs”</p>
<p>Today, coffee, sugar and chocolate are widely enjoyed products that some considering harmful “drugs.”&#160;&#160;&#160;Many, many Americans can’t image starting the day without that first cup of java, cut with a hearty dose of sugar and topped off with a tasty chocolate donut.</p>
<p>Coffee</p>
<p>One of the first “drugs” to take hold of the West was coffee, introduced into Europe in 1645.&#160;&#160;In England, for example, coffee houses flourished, serving as the era’s “speakeasies,” inebriating the new merchant class.&#160;&#160;Over the next century, efforts by the powers-that-be to close these houses of ill repute were repeatedly rebuffed.&#160;&#160;It was not until 1820 that coffee’s active ingredient, caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, was identified.&#160;&#160;Between 2001-2004 some&#160;265 cases of caffeine overdoses ended up in Emergency Rooms visits.&#160;&#160;While medical authorities do not list caffeine as an addictive drug, some Christian religious groups do so and encourage their members to avoid it</p>
<p>Sugar</p>
<p>Coffee drinking is aided by another often-alleged addictive substance, sugar.&#160;&#160;Sugar has been in the West since the Crusades, brought back from the Holy Lands as a new spice.&#160;&#160;In the U.S, sugar is considered a food but&#160;has no nutritional value.&#160;&#160;However, withdrawal from sugar can be as difficult as cutting coffee or alcohol.&#160;&#160;Many warn that people couldn’t get enough sugar and that it made people hyperirritable.&#160;&#160;Research shows that sugar affects opioids and dopamine in the brain, and thus might be addictive.&#160;&#160;Some researchers have found that&#160;cocaine and&#160;methamphetamine&#160;addicts eat a lot of sugar.</p>
<p>Chocolate</p>
<p>While Columbus first brought back cocoa beans to Europe, Cortès popularized it in Spain in the 1520s; a century later it spread to the rest of Europe.&#160;&#160;Chocolate, along with other sweet and high-fat foods, releases serotonin that makes people happier.&#160;Cocoa products contain neuroactive alkaloids common to wine, beer and liquor.&#160;&#160;Today, many people, but especially woman, are&#160;called “chocoholics” and, when denied their “drug” of choice, suffer withdrawal symptoms, including seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and pre-menstrual syndrome.</p>
<p>Legal regulated drugs</p>
<p>Three other legal drugs, alcohol, tobacco and prescription medications, are regulated to varying degrees by individual states, localities and/or the federal government.</p>
<p>Alcohol</p>
<p>Alcohol, like tobacco, is an over-the-counter consumer product regulated principally by buyer age requirements.&#160;&#160;With the repeal of Prohibition in 1933, alcohol has become a huge industry.&#160;&#160;According to an alcohol-industry trade association,&#160;&#160;“the U.S. beverage alcohol industry contributed nearly $382 billion to the U.S. total economic activity in 2007.”&#160;&#160;(“Contributed” includes wages, taxes and a nebulous category dubbed “economic activity” seems to mean sales.)&#160;&#160;Its legality comes with a significant social cost.</p>
<p>Ethyl alcohol (or ethanol) is the intoxicating ingredient found in beer, wine and liquor.&#160;&#160;A standard drink contains 0.6 ounces of pure ethanol; this is equivalent to 12 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces (a “shot”) of 80-proof distilled spirits.</p>
<p>In 2009, 52 percent of Americans age 12 and older are considered regular drinkers, having consumed alcohol at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey.&#160;&#160;More revealing, federal data shows that 24 percent of drinkers had binged (5+ drinks within 2 hours) and 7 percent drank heavily (5+ drinks on 5+ occasions).*&#160;&#160;However, per capita alcohol consumption has declined over 12 percent over the last three decades, to 2.31 in 2007 gallons from 2.64 gallons in 1977.</p>
<p>Since 1982, the number of alcohol-related driving fatalities has been cut nearly in half: in 2008, 13,846 people died in car crashes due to drunk drivers compared to 26,173 in 1982.&#160;&#160;Mirroring the decline in drunk-driving fatalities, the rate of drunk driving for the 2006-2009 is estimated at 13.2 percent, a decline from the 14.6 percent for the 2002-2005 period.</p>
<p>In 2008, 70 percent of the an estimated 189,000 alcohol-related emergency room visits made by patients aged 12 to 20 involved alcohol only;</p>
<p>30.0 percent involved alcohol in combination with other drugs.&#160;&#160;Between 1975 and 2005, deaths due to&#160;liver&#160;cirrhosis has remained relatively consistent at approximately 12,900 deaths per year.</p>
<p>[*Data drawn from National Survey on Drug Use and Health&#160;at <a href="http://www.samhsa.gov" type="external">www.samhsa.gov</a>]</p>
<p>Tobacco</p>
<p>Cigarettes have (almost) lost their cool.&#160;&#160;Of Americans 18 years and older, an estimated 46 million still smoke cigarettes.&#160;Smoking is more common among men (24%) than women (18%).&#160;&#160;In the U.S., cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths, accounting for approximately 443,000 deaths (or 1 of every 5 deaths) each year.</p>
<p>In the nearly half century since the U.S. Surgeon General issued a report linking smoking to cancer in 1964, there has had a dramatic decline is smoking.&#160;&#160;Since 1998, tobacco sales in the U.S. have declined by 2 percent a year; since 2000, there has been an 18 percent decline in the number of cigarette packs sold: 17.4 billion packs were sold in 2007 compared to 21.1 billion packs in 2000.</p>
<p>However, this has taken place with a significant uptick in the number of “cigarette pack equivalents” (CPE’s), non-cigarette nicotine product, totaling&#160;1.10 billion CPEs.&#160;&#160;These include: 714 million moist snuff, 256 million roll-your-own tobacco and 130 million small cigars.</p>
<p>Prescription medications</p>
<p>A doctor’s prescription is required to “legally” purchase a pharmaceutical medical drug.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 16 million Americans age 12 and older had taken a prescription pain reliever, tranquilizer, stimulant or sedative for nonmedical purposes at least once in the prior year prior.&#160;&#160;From 2004 to 2008, the reported incidents of prescription drug overdoses more than doubled to 305,885 from 144,644.</p>
<p>Among the leading abused prescription drugs are: opioids (for pain), depressants (for anxiety and sleep disorders) and stimulants (for ADHD and narcolepsy).&#160;&#160;Opioids include OxyContin, Vicodin and Percocet; depressants or tranquilizers include barbiturates such as pentobarbital sodium (e.g., Nembutal) and benzodiazepines such as diazepam (aka Valium) and alprazolam (aka Xanax); and stimulants include dextroamphetamine (e.g., Dexedrine), methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin and Concerta) and amphetamines (e.g., Adderall).</p>
<p>With regard to antidepressants,&#160;in 2008, adolescents made 23,124 visits to an emergency room for drug-related suicide attempts, and young adults made 38,036 such visits; of these visits, 23 percent of the adolescents and 18 percent of young adults did so for “OD-ing” on an antidepressant.</p>
<p>Since 1998, there has been a significant increase in the hospital admissions of benzodiazepines tranquilizers like Valium and Xanax.&#160;&#160;While hospital admissions over reactions to depressants increased 11 percent between 1998 and 2008, benzodiazepine-related admissions nearly tripled.</p>
<p>Prescription steroids, which increase muscle mass and may be prescribed for muscle-wasting conditions like cancer and AIDS, are also subject to abuse by athletes and non-athletes.&#160;&#160;Most often, they are taken to improve the user’s appearance or performance.&#160; Good luck.</p>
<p>Washington’s Attorney General, Rob McKenna, among a growing number of state and federal law-enforcement officials, has called the rise in prescription drugs an “epidemic.”&#160;&#160;Federal data shows that&#160;among young people ages 12-17, prescription drugs have become the second most abused illegal drug, behind marijuana.&#160;&#160;Teens report they get prescription drugs from parents’ medicine cabinets, other people’s prescriptions and that they are “available everywhere.”</p>
<p>Unregulated illegal drugs</p>
<p>These drugs make up what are known as the “hard” drugs, easy to abuse and seriously addictive.&#160;&#160;They include cocaine, heroin and marijuana; many consider marijuana a “soft” drug, like alcohol, and should be decriminalized and its sale regulated like tobacco.</p>
<p>Cocaine</p>
<p>Cocaine, also known as coke, snow and flake, is a powerful stimulate that can be snorted, injected or smoked; crack is cocaine hydrochloride powder processed to form a rock crystal that is then smoked.&#160;&#160;Cocaine gives people a real high, making them feel euphoric and energetic; however, it increases blood pressure and heart rate, often leading to heart attacks, strokes and seizures.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 4.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused cocaine in some form and 1.0 million had abused crack at least once in the previous year.</p>
<p>Heroin</p>
<p>Heroin, also known as H, smack or junk, is the hardest of the “hard” drugs.&#160;&#160;Processed from morphine, it usually appears as a white or brown powder or as a black, sticky substance.&#160;&#160;Injecting, snorting or smoking H makes one feel euphoric; however, it depresses breathing, thus, an overdose can be fatal.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 605,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused heroin at least once in the prior year.</p>
<p>Marijuana</p>
<p>Marijuana, derived from the dried parts of the Cannabis sativa hemp plant, is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S.&#160;In 2009, 28.5 million Americans age 12 and older had smoked marijuana at least once in the previous year.&#160;&#160;Known as pot, mary jane, ganga, weed or grass, smoking it makes one feel euphoric, often distorting perceptions, memory recall and conventional linear thinking.&#160;&#160;One feels&#160;high.</p>
<p>Unregulated club drugs</p>
<p>These drugs make up what are known as the “party” drugs, taken at&#160;bars, nightclubs and concerts; they are&#160;even easier to abuse and can lead to serious abuse.&#160;&#160;While club goers might take cocaine, heroine and marijuana to enhance a good time, a crop of specialty drugs have emerged designed tp enhance a singular good time.&#160;&#160;These include LSD (aka acid), MDMA (aka ecstasy) and PCP (aka angel dust) as well as&#160;Rohypnol (aka roofies), GHB (aka liquid ecstasy) and ketamine (aka special K, vitamin K, jet).&#160;&#160;And there’s also methamphetamine that is really in a class by itself.</p>
<p>LSD</p>
<p>Acid became popular during the oh-so psychedelic ‘60s, altering perceptions and invoking a world of hallucinations.&#160;&#160;Acid “trips” can last about 12 hours and, for some, fostering enormous pleasure, for others terrifying delusions.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 779,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused LSD at least once in the prior year.</p>
<p>MDMA</p>
<p>MDMA (aka&#160;3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine)&#160;better known as ecstasy, is a synthetic stimulate with psychoactive properties.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 2.8 million Americans age 12 and older had abused MDMA at least once in the prior year.&#160;&#160;Most disturbing, a 2010 NIDA study found that 4.5 percent of 12th graders had used MDMA at least once in the prior year.</p>
<p>PCP</p>
<p>PCP (phencyclidine)&#160;is a synthetic drug popularly known as angel dust, ozone, wack and rocket fuel and can be snorted, smoked or eaten.&#160;&#160;It is&#160;a “dissociative” drug, distorting perceptions of sight and sound.&#160;&#160;However, many users complain of unpleasant psychological effects that mimic schizophrenia, including delusions, hallucinations and extreme anxiety.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 122,000 Americans age 12 and older had abused PCP at least once in the prior year.</p>
<p>Methamphetamine</p>
<p>Methamphetamine is a very addictive stimulant that goes by a variety of street names, including meth, speed, chalk, ice, crystal and glass.&#160;&#160;More revealing, it has become known as white people’s crack and is very toxic to the central nervous system.&#160;&#160;In 2009, 1.2 million Americans age 12 and older had abused methamphetamine at least once in the prior year.</p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p>Abstinence was imposed on the nation in 1920 and repealed in 1933; the 18th&#160;Amendment establishing Prohibition is the only Amendment to be repealed.&#160;&#160;In the early 20th&#160;century, Americans could get ripped on good-old&#160;Coca-Cola.&#160;&#160;Originally intended as a patent medicine, Coke once contained an estimated nine&#160; <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milligram" type="external">milligrams</a>&#160;of cocaine per glass. By the ‘20s, the coke was out but caffeine gave the drink a jolt.</p>
<p>In 1937, just four years after the passage of the 21st&#160;Amendment repealing Prohibition, Congress passed the Marihuana Tax Act.&#160;&#160;During the ‘30s, hemp was popular and profitable, used for a variety of commercial purposes, including the smoking kind.&#160;The Act sought to garner the federal government much needed tax revenues without outlawing marijuana production or consumption.</p>
<p>In 1970, President Nixon championed the Controlled Substances Act that superseded the Marihuana Act and started the war on drugs.&#160;&#160;In a 1970 speech, he declared, “this nation faces a major crisis in terms of the increasing use of drugs, particularly among our young people.”&#160;&#160;A year later, he upped the ante: “Public enemy No. 1 in the United States is drug abuse. In order to fight and defeat this enemy, it is necessary to wage a new, all-out offensive.”&#160;&#160;&#160;America’s war on “domestic terrorism” had begun.</p>
<p>Now, four decades later, the forces of moral order, in league with the police-corporate complex, have scooped up $1 trillion and left behind a failed, second temperance movement, the “war on drugs.”&#160;&#160;These drug-opportunists have left wrecked lives in their wake.&#160;&#160;An untold number of drug-related dead bodies and destroyed lives litter the national landscape.</p>
<p>Nationally, prescription drug abuse is killing more people than crack cocaine in the 1980s and heroin in the 1970s combined.&#160;Now, as the Great Recession begins to draw out to (dare I say) a possible second Great Depression, financial reality might force those in power (whether moralist, politician, police or greedy corporate con-artist milking the drug scam) to abandon the prohibitionist mindset that has been in-force since Nixon.</p>
<p>As the Great Recession drags on and misery intensifies, the ab/use of both legally-regulated and illegal drugs will likely increase.&#160;&#160;It’s time to rethink America’s failed drug policy.&#160;&#160;Get ready for the coming drug tsunami.</p>
<p>David Rosen can be reached at <a href="mailto:drosennyc@verizon.net" type="external">drosennyc@verizon.net</a>.</p> | true | 4 | 1982 nancy reagan160formally launched postmodern prohibition movement war drugs160160160while begun president richard nixon160her infamous say speech160at160the160longfellow elementary school oakland ca160officially established war drugs national policy original campaign sought address assortment alleged youthful vices including alcohol drug use peer violence premarital sex160160however shrewd moralists clever politicians opportunists within policecorporate system domestic corollary president dwight eisenhowers militaryindustrial complex used speech capture new cash cow war drugs last three decades war drugs proven everdeepening failure160160like 1920s prohibition fashioned modern crime syndicate war established new service business corporate capitalism prisonindustrial complex impossible tabulate full costs drug use us even conservative estimates staggering160millions people estimates run high 20 population either regularly abuse addicted drugs whether legal illegal whether commercial underground product160160one estimate places costs associated drug addictionabuse 484 billion per year includes costs policing healthcare crime lost earnings 2010 us government spent estimated 15 billion waging fruitless war drugs160160two academic experts jeffrey miron katherine waldock estimate decriminalizing ie regulating currently illegal drugs would save americans approximately 41 billion year federal state government expenditures relating drug enforcement years since mrs reagan uttered dubious words total costs war drugs estimated 1 trillion160according study released associated press 2010 1 trillion expenditure covers border efforts interception drug trafficking foreign drug wars afghanistan mexico columbia160arrest prosecution federal prisons drug offenses160arrest prosecution nonviolent drug offenders state local levels and160marketing say nostyle messages americas youth abstinence programs ap concludes report following cautionary words year 25 million americans snort swallow inject smoke illicit drugs 10 million 1970 bulk drugs imported mexico httpnevergetbustedcom2010articlesapusdrugwarhasmetnoneofitsgoals line legal illegal like moral immoral licit illicit arbitrary160160it terrain social conflict changes time popular struggle160160at one time line appears fixed much moral authority formal legal regulation enforcement practice160160however appearance fixed extent name failed temperance campaign culminated passage 18th160amendment establishing 13 years prohibition repealed 21st160amendment unraveled 1929 stock market crash160160todays war drugs unraveling160160its failure evident evergrowing costs related enforcement federal state city levels well social personal costs incurred succumb drug choice appears goodly proportion americans either fun continuing basis taken illegal substance family member friend neighbor whose arrested due drugrelated offense including alcoholrelated acts160160this common awareness underlies nationwide effort establish new drug policy one bottom up160it defined efforts legalize medical marijuana clinics legal 16 states district columbia decriminalize nonhard drugs like marijuana party drugs eg lsd160160in wake fiscal crises faced many states move reduce nonviolent prison population particularly arrested nonviolent drugrelated offense wake great depression america ended prohibition unworkable expensive moralistic campaign masquerading public policy160160the church taken control state imposing temperance beliefs national policy160as economic social pressures mount aftermath great recession likely significant increase manner drug taking throughout nation hopefully lead rethinking nations failed war drugs160lets hope america druggedout nation160160to appreciate enormity drug use one needs acknowledge scope drug taking160160the first step process give fiction separates legal illegal regulated unregulated overthecounter backstreet drugs160160a second step map labyrinthlike world abused andor addictive drugs see saturate social life ken liska drugs human body defines drug absorbed substance changes enhances physical psychological function body following overview drug taking america necessarily cursory outlining boundaries 1950s film160noirsense underworld160160information drawn predominately federal sources including white houses office national drug control policy national160institute drug abuse nida national institute alcohol abuse alcoholism niaaa centers disease control cdc legal unregulated drugs today coffee sugar chocolate widely enjoyed products considering harmful drugs160160160many many americans cant image starting day without first cup java cut hearty dose sugar topped tasty chocolate donut coffee one first drugs take hold west coffee introduced europe 1645160160in england example coffee houses flourished serving eras speakeasies inebriating new merchant class160160over next century efforts powersthatbe close houses ill repute repeatedly rebuffed160160it 1820 coffees active ingredient caffeine psychoactive stimulant identified160160between 20012004 some160265 cases caffeine overdoses ended emergency rooms visits160160while medical authorities list caffeine addictive drug christian religious groups encourage members avoid sugar coffee drinking aided another oftenalleged addictive substance sugar160160sugar west since crusades brought back holy lands new spice160160in us sugar considered food but160has nutritional value160160however withdrawal sugar difficult cutting coffee alcohol160160many warn people couldnt get enough sugar made people hyperirritable160160research shows sugar affects opioids dopamine brain thus might addictive160160some researchers found that160cocaine and160methamphetamine160addicts eat lot sugar chocolate columbus first brought back cocoa beans europe cortès popularized spain 1520s century later spread rest europe160160chocolate along sweet highfat foods releases serotonin makes people happier160cocoa products contain neuroactive alkaloids common wine beer liquor160160today many people especially woman are160called chocoholics denied drug choice suffer withdrawal symptoms including seasonal affective disorder sad premenstrual syndrome legal regulated drugs three legal drugs alcohol tobacco prescription medications regulated varying degrees individual states localities andor federal government alcohol alcohol like tobacco overthecounter consumer product regulated principally buyer age requirements160160with repeal prohibition 1933 alcohol become huge industry160160according alcoholindustry trade association160160the us beverage alcohol industry contributed nearly 382 billion us total economic activity 2007160160contributed includes wages taxes nebulous category dubbed economic activity seems mean sales160160its legality comes significant social cost ethyl alcohol ethanol intoxicating ingredient found beer wine liquor160160a standard drink contains 06 ounces pure ethanol equivalent 12 ounces beer 8 ounces malt liquor 5 ounces wine 15 ounces shot 80proof distilled spirits 2009 52 percent americans age 12 older considered regular drinkers consumed alcohol least 30 days prior survey160160more revealing federal data shows 24 percent drinkers binged 5 drinks within 2 hours 7 percent drank heavily 5 drinks 5 occasions160160however per capita alcohol consumption declined 12 percent last three decades 231 2007 gallons 264 gallons 1977 since 1982 number alcoholrelated driving fatalities cut nearly half 2008 13846 people died car crashes due drunk drivers compared 26173 1982160160mirroring decline drunkdriving fatalities rate drunk driving 20062009 estimated 132 percent decline 146 percent 20022005 period 2008 70 percent estimated 189000 alcoholrelated emergency room visits made patients aged 12 20 involved alcohol 300 percent involved alcohol combination drugs160160between 1975 2005 deaths due to160liver160cirrhosis remained relatively consistent approximately 12900 deaths per year data drawn national survey drug use health160at wwwsamhsagov tobacco cigarettes almost lost cool160160of americans 18 years older estimated 46 million still smoke cigarettes160smoking common among men 24 women 18160160in us cigarette smoking leading cause preventable deaths accounting approximately 443000 deaths 1 every 5 deaths year nearly half century since us surgeon general issued report linking smoking cancer 1964 dramatic decline smoking160160since 1998 tobacco sales us declined 2 percent year since 2000 18 percent decline number cigarette packs sold 174 billion packs sold 2007 compared 211 billion packs 2000 however taken place significant uptick number cigarette pack equivalents cpes noncigarette nicotine product totaling160110 billion cpes160160these include 714 million moist snuff 256 million rollyourown tobacco 130 million small cigars prescription medications doctors prescription required legally purchase pharmaceutical medical drug160160in 2009 16 million americans age 12 older taken prescription pain reliever tranquilizer stimulant sedative nonmedical purposes least prior year prior160160from 2004 2008 reported incidents prescription drug overdoses doubled 305885 144644 among leading abused prescription drugs opioids pain depressants anxiety sleep disorders stimulants adhd narcolepsy160160opioids include oxycontin vicodin percocet depressants tranquilizers include barbiturates pentobarbital sodium eg nembutal benzodiazepines diazepam aka valium alprazolam aka xanax stimulants include dextroamphetamine eg dexedrine methylphenidate eg ritalin concerta amphetamines eg adderall regard antidepressants160in 2008 adolescents made 23124 visits emergency room drugrelated suicide attempts young adults made 38036 visits visits 23 percent adolescents 18 percent young adults oding antidepressant since 1998 significant increase hospital admissions benzodiazepines tranquilizers like valium xanax160160while hospital admissions reactions depressants increased 11 percent 1998 2008 benzodiazepinerelated admissions nearly tripled prescription steroids increase muscle mass may prescribed musclewasting conditions like cancer aids also subject abuse athletes nonathletes160160most often taken improve users appearance performance160 good luck washingtons attorney general rob mckenna among growing number state federal lawenforcement officials called rise prescription drugs epidemic160160federal data shows that160among young people ages 1217 prescription drugs become second abused illegal drug behind marijuana160160teens report get prescription drugs parents medicine cabinets peoples prescriptions available everywhere unregulated illegal drugs drugs make known hard drugs easy abuse seriously addictive160160they include cocaine heroin marijuana many consider marijuana soft drug like alcohol decriminalized sale regulated like tobacco cocaine cocaine also known coke snow flake powerful stimulate snorted injected smoked crack cocaine hydrochloride powder processed form rock crystal smoked160160cocaine gives people real high making feel euphoric energetic however increases blood pressure heart rate often leading heart attacks strokes seizures160160in 2009 48 million americans age 12 older abused cocaine form 10 million abused crack least previous year heroin heroin also known h smack junk hardest hard drugs160160processed morphine usually appears white brown powder black sticky substance160160injecting snorting smoking h makes one feel euphoric however depresses breathing thus overdose fatal160160in 2009 605000 americans age 12 older abused heroin least prior year marijuana marijuana derived dried parts cannabis sativa hemp plant commonly used illegal drug us160in 2009 285 million americans age 12 older smoked marijuana least previous year160160known pot mary jane ganga weed grass smoking makes one feel euphoric often distorting perceptions memory recall conventional linear thinking160160one feels160high unregulated club drugs drugs make known party drugs taken at160bars nightclubs concerts are160even easier abuse lead serious abuse160160while club goers might take cocaine heroine marijuana enhance good time crop specialty drugs emerged designed tp enhance singular good time160160these include lsd aka acid mdma aka ecstasy pcp aka angel dust well as160rohypnol aka roofies ghb aka liquid ecstasy ketamine aka special k vitamin k jet160160and theres also methamphetamine really class lsd acid became popular ohso psychedelic 60s altering perceptions invoking world hallucinations160160acid trips last 12 hours fostering enormous pleasure others terrifying delusions160160in 2009 779000 americans age 12 older abused lsd least prior year mdma mdma aka16034methylenedioxymethamphetamine160better known ecstasy synthetic stimulate psychoactive properties160160in 2009 28 million americans age 12 older abused mdma least prior year160160most disturbing 2010 nida study found 45 percent 12th graders used mdma least prior year pcp pcp phencyclidine160is synthetic drug popularly known angel dust ozone wack rocket fuel snorted smoked eaten160160it is160a dissociative drug distorting perceptions sight sound160160however many users complain unpleasant psychological effects mimic schizophrenia including delusions hallucinations extreme anxiety160160in 2009 122000 americans age 12 older abused pcp least prior year methamphetamine methamphetamine addictive stimulant goes variety street names including meth speed chalk ice crystal glass160160more revealing become known white peoples crack toxic central nervous system160160in 2009 12 million americans age 12 older abused methamphetamine least prior year abstinence imposed nation 1920 repealed 1933 18th160amendment establishing prohibition amendment repealed160160in early 20th160century americans could get ripped goodold160cocacola160160originally intended patent medicine coke contained estimated nine160 milligrams160of cocaine per glass 20s coke caffeine gave drink jolt 1937 four years passage 21st160amendment repealing prohibition congress passed marihuana tax act160160during 30s hemp popular profitable used variety commercial purposes including smoking kind160the act sought garner federal government much needed tax revenues without outlawing marijuana production consumption 1970 president nixon championed controlled substances act superseded marihuana act started war drugs160160in 1970 speech declared nation faces major crisis terms increasing use drugs particularly among young people160160a year later upped ante public enemy 1 united states drug abuse order fight defeat enemy necessary wage new allout offensive160160160americas war domestic terrorism begun four decades later forces moral order league policecorporate complex scooped 1 trillion left behind failed second temperance movement war drugs160160these drugopportunists left wrecked lives wake160160an untold number drugrelated dead bodies destroyed lives litter national landscape nationally prescription drug abuse killing people crack cocaine 1980s heroin 1970s combined160now great recession begins draw dare say possible second great depression financial reality might force power whether moralist politician police greedy corporate conartist milking drug scam abandon prohibitionist mindset inforce since nixon great recession drags misery intensifies abuse legallyregulated illegal drugs likely increase160160its time rethink americas failed drug policy160160get ready coming drug tsunami david rosen reached drosennycverizonnet | 1,903 |
<p>Malaysia’s opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, who is on trial in Kuala Lumpur on sodomy charges for a second time, speaks to journalist WAJAHAT ALI about the controversy and discusses the country’s ethnic and religious conflicts as well as issues facing the Muslim world.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Dr. Ibrahim, you are currently facing controversial, criminal charges of sodomy in Kuala Lumpur alleged by an ex-aide. The trial is under way as we speak, and the Malaysian press has dubbed this event “Sodomy 2” since you were convicted on similar charges in 1998 (which were overturned by the Supreme Court in 2004). You also served six years in solitary confinement after being convicted in ’98 for corruption. First, if there was no truth to these allegations then why would the aide under oath swear and testify in graphic detail to such a sordid event and also be subjected to such humiliation, considering sodomy is both illegal and highly disfavored in Malaysia? Second, if these allegations are “trumped up” (by the ruling coalition) and a sham, as you and your followers have said, why?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: The government today is in survival mode. Sensing its own protracted demise, and bereft of ideas that would enable it to regain popular support, its strategy is to tear down the opposition no matter what the cost. Since our unprecedented victory in the March 2008 polls, there have been relentless attacks to destabilize our state governments, to threaten and intimidate our elected officials and to undermine public confidence in our ability to govern. You name it and it’s been hurled at us…. The charges leveled against me have to be seen in this broader context. The fact that the same plot that was hatched in 1998 is being repeated reflects a certain bankruptcy and lack of creativity on their part. They must still believe some segment of the Malay-Muslim electorate, who will likely determine the outcome of the next General Election, will be alienated by these charges. I doubt that is the case. There is polling to prove it and when we go around the country now the crowds of people number sometimes in the tens of thousands. The Malaysian people are much smarter and more aware today and will not easily be fooled.</p>
<p>As for the swearing of oaths in courts and in mosques — these are theatrics that ignore due process and legal principles. In a normal court of law, a verdict would rest on objective, incontrovertible evidence. But in Malaysia, show trials are being used to defame and discredit those who have fallen out of the favor of the establishment. This gives us all the more resolve to fight for reform.</p>
<p>(The Malaysian government has rejected allegations of wrongdoing and all claims that it has tried to silence Anwar and his political party. The Government has also denied any involvement in the sodomy cases against Anwar.)</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Malaysia promotes itself as a peaceful, democratic, multi-ethnic, Muslim country. On December 31, a court ruled that non-Muslims, namely Christians, were finally allowed to use the word “Allah” as a term for God, which quickly prompted a government appeal. Following the ruling, nearly 11 churches have been attacked, Christians have been harassed, and even a Sikh temple and several mosques were vandalized. Both the government’s appeal and the conduct of several Malays seem to suggest discrimination towards their non-Muslim neighbors. Many in America assume this is due to an innate Muslim antagonism and elitism towards the “other.” How would you explain this current phenomenon, and why is the term “Allah” only reserved for Muslims?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: The handling of the Allah issue sent the wrong message to people around the world about Islam. In the current climate of xenophobia in Europe and the U.S., how can we as Muslims say we are any better when we treat our non-Muslim citizens with disrespect and disdain? It is odd that this issue seems relevant only in Malaysia and not in the Middle East or even Indonesia.</p>
<p>Dialogue and engagement are essential. The mainstream media all controlled by the ruling coalition should present all viewpoints and not just the most extreme views supported by the government. Sensitive issues that touch on religious and ethnic sentiments should be handled delicately. Instead the government allowed the case to be dragged through the courts, sanctioned incendiary public demonstrations and only after the situation exploded in violence did its leaders start to make more measured statements and call for calm. I find this deplorable.</p>
<p>In Malaysia such posturing by Muslim leaders has much more to do with politics than religion and ideology. The ruling government hopes that by taking a hard line it will curry some favor with an increasingly radical right wing upon which its party is increasingly based. The recent caning of individuals for illicit sexual relations is likewise part of an effort to boost the perceived Islamic credentials of the government and portray the opposition as soft on morals and subservient to international pressure.</p>
<p>I understand there are broader concerns about the ability of contemporary Islamic societies to deal with issues of pluralism and diversity. Malaysia’s handling of this issue is certainly not helping to abate these fears. But there is a silver lining. We have used this incident as an opportunity to launch a series of interfaith dialogues around the country. And I am very encouraged by statements from Pan Islamic Party of Malaysia, PAS, which has come out strongly in support of the rights of all Malaysian citizens under the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of conscience and religion.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Following on that question, is there space for Muslims and non-Muslims to live harmoniously in Malaysia? If your party had power, how would it handle the current situation and subsequently implement changes that would minimize ethnic and religious conflicts in the future?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: Southeast Asian Islam is known for its inclusivistic approach. The religion came to this region via traders from Arabia and by Sufi masters who integrated with the existing cultural and social landscape. While Islam gradually became the dominant civilization this was not done at the expense of the other groups. In fact I recall back in the ’90s we convened the first-ever conference on Islam and Confucianism that led to the founding of an entire department at the University of Malaya on this topic. This in my mind represents the vast potential of our multi-ethnic society.</p>
<p>The religious tensions currently on display are a recent phenomenon in that they are largely the result of a political conflict rather than deep-seated religious antagonisms. This is not to ignore the challenges Malaysia faces as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious society. But for the most part these tensions can be alleviated through efforts to promote greater integration and interaction within the society. Politicians unfortunately have found it expedient to exacerbate ethnic and religious tensions as a means of prolonging a political system that benefits the few at the expense of the many. We see deliberate attempts to provoke religious tensions to give a pretext to clamp down on civil liberties and justify the continuation of the same old race-based policies of the past.</p>
<p>The antidote for this behavior is to restore credibility to the institutions of civil society. The media should be free, politicians must be held accountable through free and fair elections and the judiciary must be able to operate without interference from politicians. Economics also factor importantly into the equation. Income inequality in Malaysia is among the worst in the world. Despite decades of an affirmative action policy designed to uplift the poor and marginalized Malays, in Malaysia the rich get richer while the poor stay poor — and that includes poor Malays, Chinese and Indians.</p>
<p>We need to revisit the design of economic policy and how the country allocates welfare and resources. Affirmative action remains essential to ensure that the poor marginalized are not forgotten. But there is no reason to exclude poor Chinese and Indians from the policy, as has been the case for so long. Endemic corruption has led to the enrichment of a few well-connected businessmen and politicians but the vast majority of their wealth never trickles down.</p>
<p>If we can overcome some of the most basic shortcomings in governance and accountability I am quite confident that Malaysia will be on a better footing when it comes to building a peaceful society.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: U.S. President Barack Obama was embraced with rapturous applause, standing ovations, and stunning poll numbers by Muslim communities worldwide last year when he gave his historic speech in Cairo. A year later, there has been a significant dip in his polls numbers both domestically and abroad. How confident do Muslims feel about him and America as a “true partner” in 2010 when compared to Bush’s administration? What will Obama have to do to regain Muslim trust and achieve a true conciliation between America and Muslims around the world?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: When he won I shared in the optimism expressed by many that his presidency would usher in a new chapter in relations between America and the Muslim world. I did not expect he alone to solve all the problems. After all he is not the Caliph. He is the President of the United States, and therefore bound by significant constraints. But he is certainly better than his predecessor and we appreciated his Cairo speech, which was a historic and bold statement of friendship between two civilizations.</p>
<p>His pronouncements — such as closing Guantanamo, an end to settlement activity in the West Bank and pushing for a two state-solution, withdrawing from Iraq and searching for diplomatic solutions to dealing with Iran — are the right statements. Unfortunately he has yet to deliver on major initiatives. At this point, few see much difference between his foreign policy and that of the Bush administration. I remain optimistic for now — it is too soon to offer a final verdict.</p>
<p>I believe Muslims are willing to give whoever sits in the White House a chance. Muslims respect America as a democracy and want to see its policies as fair, just and consistent. For there to be a real watershed in the Obama administration’s approach he will have to be seen to be acting fairly in resolving the Arab-Israeli conflict and show more compassion (when) it comes to dealing with Afghanistan, where thousands of innocent people are still being killed. Otherwise I fear the good will he has built will be forgotten.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Why does the Israeli occupation of Palestine overwhelmingly dominate the emotions and anger of Muslims worldwide when Muslims are also suffering tremendously in Iraq, Africa, Russia, Afghanistan and so forth? Can Muslims move “beyond” the Palestine issue?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: It is often forgotten that Jerusalem holds a special, symbolic meaning for Muslims as the site of the Prophet Muhammad’s ascent to heaven. In fact, Muslims living during the Prophet’s time prayed towards Jerusalem until instructions were later given to switch the direction of the prayer to Mecca. This makes Jerusalem and access to the holy sites very relevant to Muslims around the world.</p>
<p>Certainly there is deep anger over the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. The enduring conflicts in other countries, the imposition of dictatorial regimes and the legacy of colonialism and rampant poverty are all factors which affect the relationship. But the Arab-Israeli conflict has come to symbolize the entire grouse of the Muslim world with the interference of foreign powers in our affairs.</p>
<p>Our frustration with the United States stems entirely from its lopsided handling of the conflict. Consider the result of Palestinian elections which were held democratically and brought Hamas into power. America punished Palestinians for voting (with) their conscience. Or consider (Israel’s) blockade on Gaza — another example of collective punishment being used to force a different political outcome. If America is seen to be inconsistent in applying principles of freedom, justice and self-determination in Palestine then Muslims elsewhere are going to have a hard time believing the rhetoric is real.</p>
<p>And the failure to achieve a meaningful peace gives authoritarian Muslim governments an easy opportunity to score political mileage out of the Palestinians’ plight. Stoking the flames of anti-Americanism and anti-Semitism is a good distraction from the stench in their own backyard, namely rampant corruption, denial of basic human rights, abuse of power and the suppression of civil society.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Do you think it’s time for Muslims to readjust their grievances and sources of victimization?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: When Abu Ghraib happened it was rightly condemned as a terrible injustice and came to symbolize what was wrong about the American invasion and occupation of Iraq. But Muslims have to be consistent. The lack of due process, gruesome prison conditions and corruption in law enforcement agencies are very serious problems in Muslim countries that must also be condemned. So when many Muslim governments attacked the U.S. they were being hypocritical.</p>
<p>Muslims have expressed clear views on this matter. The (Gallup) Muslim World Poll demonstrated that the vast majority of Muslims prefer governments that are more democratic, more accountable and more humane than the ones that exist today. Which means many would be quite supportive of a change in the corrupt and authoritarian governments that exist throughout the Middle East. The frustration that many Muslims have with the West is that America often preaches one thing about democracy but turns a blind eye to some of the worst dictators. So they are squeezed on both sides — their own governments and the so-called savior from the West.</p>
<p>I think oppression and injustice has to be condemned whenever and wherever it exists and Muslims should be at the forefront of this call for justice. Otherwise what is it that we hope to tell the world about our values and ethics?</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: Do you believe that democracy and Islam are capable of coexistence, especially as a functional system of government in the modern age? Judging by the track record over the past century, it seems Islam and politics make volatile bed fellows.</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: The experience of democracy in the Muslim world has not been entirely negative as the question suggests. Independence movements were often based on political parties which organized around principles of freedom and justice. Freedom fighters didn’t expel their colonial master only to want to replace them with ruthless dictators. On the contrary — there were vibrant democracies emerging in places like Indonesia, Iran and even Iraq in the 1950s. The great betrayal happened later, when secular autocrats who, in the name of nationalism, socialism or modernity, hijacked the governments and imposed a level cruelty worse than what existed under colonialism. But let us be clear — these were secular movements which used religion only to buy legitimacy from the people.</p>
<p>It is therefore quite historic to see democracy re-emerging in places like Indonesia and Turkey. The peaceful transformation of Indonesia to the world’s largest Muslim democracy is one of the most important developments in the world. Likewise, Turkey has taken its place as a vibrant democracy. And what is more interesting is that in Indonesia in recent elections the more conservative Islamic parties were allowed to campaign openly — and they were handed defeat. This did not require locking them up in prison. On the contrary it was the people themselves who opted for a system that was inclusive, democratic and at the same time cognizant of the country’s religious and cultural heritage.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI: You’re an active presence in new media with a popular Facebook profile and a steady stream of tweets from your Twitter account. In fact, you and many of your supporters have been tweeting throughout the trial. Last year, Iranians successfully used Twitter to educate the world about the daily protests against the government crackdowns following the controversial election results. First, what do you hope to achieve by tweeting throughout your trial? Secondly, do you believe new media and the Internet is the transformative vehicle and tool for Muslims in the 21st century to reclaim both their political and religious voices, which have been silenced or hijacked by those claiming legitimacy and power?</p>
<p>Anwar Ibrahim: New media has been a cornerstone of the opposition’s communications strategy. The mainstream press in Malaysia is completely controlled by the government, but the Internet has remained free. An attempt last year to introduce an Internet filter was quickly shot down, not surprisingly, by an overwhelming response of Internet users in Malaysia.</p>
<p>The coverage of my trial has been quite favorable in the international media but locally you would be surprised how vicious and despicable the manipulation of facts has already become. We need to be active online and develop innovative ways of reaching out to online and offline constituencies to compensate for this information deficit.</p>
<p>And we also realize there is a new generation of Malaysians who were too young to remember the Reform movement that started a decade ago. Reaching out to them will happen in large part through technology. I never believed technology is a panacea. But it is certainly changing the course of politics and policy around the world. The president of the United States ran an effective online campaign and continues to do so while in office, but so too have extremist groups. Opposition parties in Malaysia are actively courting voters online. Who ultimately benefits from technology will depend on two things — the execution of a coherent strategy and the quality of the message. Information tends to travel quickly by whatever means if there is a demand for the content.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI’s acclaimed play, <a href="http://www.domesticcrusaders.com/" type="external">“The Domestic Crusaders,”</a> is playing at U.C. Berkeley’s Durham Theater on April 10-11. He blogs at <a href="http://www.goatmilkblog.com/" type="external">Goatmilk.</a></p>
<p>Originally published on CNN.com</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | malaysias opposition leader anwar ibrahim trial kuala lumpur sodomy charges second time speaks journalist wajahat ali controversy discusses countrys ethnic religious conflicts well issues facing muslim world wajahat ali dr ibrahim currently facing controversial criminal charges sodomy kuala lumpur alleged exaide trial way speak malaysian press dubbed event sodomy 2 since convicted similar charges 1998 overturned supreme court 2004 also served six years solitary confinement convicted 98 corruption first truth allegations would aide oath swear testify graphic detail sordid event also subjected humiliation considering sodomy illegal highly disfavored malaysia second allegations trumped ruling coalition sham followers said anwar ibrahim government today survival mode sensing protracted demise bereft ideas would enable regain popular support strategy tear opposition matter cost since unprecedented victory march 2008 polls relentless attacks destabilize state governments threaten intimidate elected officials undermine public confidence ability govern name hurled us charges leveled seen broader context fact plot hatched 1998 repeated reflects certain bankruptcy lack creativity part must still believe segment malaymuslim electorate likely determine outcome next general election alienated charges doubt case polling prove go around country crowds people number sometimes tens thousands malaysian people much smarter aware today easily fooled swearing oaths courts mosques theatrics ignore due process legal principles normal court law verdict would rest objective incontrovertible evidence malaysia show trials used defame discredit fallen favor establishment gives us resolve fight reform malaysian government rejected allegations wrongdoing claims tried silence anwar political party government also denied involvement sodomy cases anwar wajahat ali malaysia promotes peaceful democratic multiethnic muslim country december 31 court ruled nonmuslims namely christians finally allowed use word allah term god quickly prompted government appeal following ruling nearly 11 churches attacked christians harassed even sikh temple several mosques vandalized governments appeal conduct several malays seem suggest discrimination towards nonmuslim neighbors many america assume due innate muslim antagonism elitism towards would explain current phenomenon term allah reserved muslims anwar ibrahim handling allah issue sent wrong message people around world islam current climate xenophobia europe us muslims say better treat nonmuslim citizens disrespect disdain odd issue seems relevant malaysia middle east even indonesia dialogue engagement essential mainstream media controlled ruling coalition present viewpoints extreme views supported government sensitive issues touch religious ethnic sentiments handled delicately instead government allowed case dragged courts sanctioned incendiary public demonstrations situation exploded violence leaders start make measured statements call calm find deplorable malaysia posturing muslim leaders much politics religion ideology ruling government hopes taking hard line curry favor increasingly radical right wing upon party increasingly based recent caning individuals illicit sexual relations likewise part effort boost perceived islamic credentials government portray opposition soft morals subservient international pressure understand broader concerns ability contemporary islamic societies deal issues pluralism diversity malaysias handling issue certainly helping abate fears silver lining used incident opportunity launch series interfaith dialogues around country encouraged statements pan islamic party malaysia pas come strongly support rights malaysian citizens constitution guarantees freedom conscience religion wajahat ali following question space muslims nonmuslims live harmoniously malaysia party power would handle current situation subsequently implement changes would minimize ethnic religious conflicts future anwar ibrahim southeast asian islam known inclusivistic approach religion came region via traders arabia sufi masters integrated existing cultural social landscape islam gradually became dominant civilization done expense groups fact recall back 90s convened firstever conference islam confucianism led founding entire department university malaya topic mind represents vast potential multiethnic society religious tensions currently display recent phenomenon largely result political conflict rather deepseated religious antagonisms ignore challenges malaysia faces multiethnic multireligious society part tensions alleviated efforts promote greater integration interaction within society politicians unfortunately found expedient exacerbate ethnic religious tensions means prolonging political system benefits expense many see deliberate attempts provoke religious tensions give pretext clamp civil liberties justify continuation old racebased policies past antidote behavior restore credibility institutions civil society media free politicians must held accountable free fair elections judiciary must able operate without interference politicians economics also factor importantly equation income inequality malaysia among worst world despite decades affirmative action policy designed uplift poor marginalized malays malaysia rich get richer poor stay poor includes poor malays chinese indians need revisit design economic policy country allocates welfare resources affirmative action remains essential ensure poor marginalized forgotten reason exclude poor chinese indians policy case long endemic corruption led enrichment wellconnected businessmen politicians vast majority wealth never trickles overcome basic shortcomings governance accountability quite confident malaysia better footing comes building peaceful society wajahat ali us president barack obama embraced rapturous applause standing ovations stunning poll numbers muslim communities worldwide last year gave historic speech cairo year later significant dip polls numbers domestically abroad confident muslims feel america true partner 2010 compared bushs administration obama regain muslim trust achieve true conciliation america muslims around world anwar ibrahim shared optimism expressed many presidency would usher new chapter relations america muslim world expect alone solve problems caliph president united states therefore bound significant constraints certainly better predecessor appreciated cairo speech historic bold statement friendship two civilizations pronouncements closing guantanamo end settlement activity west bank pushing two statesolution withdrawing iraq searching diplomatic solutions dealing iran right statements unfortunately yet deliver major initiatives point see much difference foreign policy bush administration remain optimistic soon offer final verdict believe muslims willing give whoever sits white house chance muslims respect america democracy want see policies fair consistent real watershed obama administrations approach seen acting fairly resolving arabisraeli conflict show compassion comes dealing afghanistan thousands innocent people still killed otherwise fear good built forgotten wajahat ali israeli occupation palestine overwhelmingly dominate emotions anger muslims worldwide muslims also suffering tremendously iraq africa russia afghanistan forth muslims move beyond palestine issue anwar ibrahim often forgotten jerusalem holds special symbolic meaning muslims site prophet muhammads ascent heaven fact muslims living prophets time prayed towards jerusalem instructions later given switch direction prayer mecca makes jerusalem access holy sites relevant muslims around world certainly deep anger invasion iraq afghanistan enduring conflicts countries imposition dictatorial regimes legacy colonialism rampant poverty factors affect relationship arabisraeli conflict come symbolize entire grouse muslim world interference foreign powers affairs frustration united states stems entirely lopsided handling conflict consider result palestinian elections held democratically brought hamas power america punished palestinians voting conscience consider israels blockade gaza another example collective punishment used force different political outcome america seen inconsistent applying principles freedom justice selfdetermination palestine muslims elsewhere going hard time believing rhetoric real failure achieve meaningful peace gives authoritarian muslim governments easy opportunity score political mileage palestinians plight stoking flames antiamericanism antisemitism good distraction stench backyard namely rampant corruption denial basic human rights abuse power suppression civil society wajahat ali think time muslims readjust grievances sources victimization anwar ibrahim abu ghraib happened rightly condemned terrible injustice came symbolize wrong american invasion occupation iraq muslims consistent lack due process gruesome prison conditions corruption law enforcement agencies serious problems muslim countries must also condemned many muslim governments attacked us hypocritical muslims expressed clear views matter gallup muslim world poll demonstrated vast majority muslims prefer governments democratic accountable humane ones exist today means many would quite supportive change corrupt authoritarian governments exist throughout middle east frustration many muslims west america often preaches one thing democracy turns blind eye worst dictators squeezed sides governments socalled savior west think oppression injustice condemned whenever wherever exists muslims forefront call justice otherwise hope tell world values ethics wajahat ali believe democracy islam capable coexistence especially functional system government modern age judging track record past century seems islam politics make volatile bed fellows anwar ibrahim experience democracy muslim world entirely negative question suggests independence movements often based political parties organized around principles freedom justice freedom fighters didnt expel colonial master want replace ruthless dictators contrary vibrant democracies emerging places like indonesia iran even iraq 1950s great betrayal happened later secular autocrats name nationalism socialism modernity hijacked governments imposed level cruelty worse existed colonialism let us clear secular movements used religion buy legitimacy people therefore quite historic see democracy reemerging places like indonesia turkey peaceful transformation indonesia worlds largest muslim democracy one important developments world likewise turkey taken place vibrant democracy interesting indonesia recent elections conservative islamic parties allowed campaign openly handed defeat require locking prison contrary people opted system inclusive democratic time cognizant countrys religious cultural heritage wajahat ali youre active presence new media popular facebook profile steady stream tweets twitter account fact many supporters tweeting throughout trial last year iranians successfully used twitter educate world daily protests government crackdowns following controversial election results first hope achieve tweeting throughout trial secondly believe new media internet transformative vehicle tool muslims 21st century reclaim political religious voices silenced hijacked claiming legitimacy power anwar ibrahim new media cornerstone oppositions communications strategy mainstream press malaysia completely controlled government internet remained free attempt last year introduce internet filter quickly shot surprisingly overwhelming response internet users malaysia coverage trial quite favorable international media locally would surprised vicious despicable manipulation facts already become need active online develop innovative ways reaching online offline constituencies compensate information deficit also realize new generation malaysians young remember reform movement started decade ago reaching happen large part technology never believed technology panacea certainly changing course politics policy around world president united states ran effective online campaign continues office extremist groups opposition parties malaysia actively courting voters online ultimately benefits technology depend two things execution coherent strategy quality message information tends travel quickly whatever means demand content wajahat alis acclaimed play domestic crusaders playing uc berkeleys durham theater april 1011 blogs goatmilk originally published cnncom | 1,560 |
<p>Photos used under a Creative Commons license by flickr user &lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/soldiersmediacenter/"&gt;Army.mil&lt;/a&gt;</p>
<p />
<p>328 BC—Alexander the Great forms Hellenistic state in portions of what is now Afghanistan.</p>
<p>400 AD—White Huns invade region, dominate for two centuries.</p>
<p>642—After sacking Persia, Arab armies invade and attempt to introduce Islam.</p>
<p>870—Dawn of the Saffarid dynasty, whose expansive empire competes with two others for control of the wider region.</p>
<p>998—Turkic dynasty cements Islamic era.</p>
<p>1219—Genghis Khan leads Mongol invasion.</p>
<p>Late 14th century—Tamerlane, Khan’s descendent, brings Afghanistan into his Asian empire.</p>
<p>1738—Nadir Shah and his Iranian army take Kandahar and Kabul.</p>
<p>1747—After Shah is assassinated, Afghans convene a loya jirga—grand council of factions—and name a king, Ahmad Shah Durrani. The new king embarks on an imperialist rampage, eventually conquering all of modern-day Afghanistan and parts of Iran and India.</p>
<p>1772—His empire waning, Durrani dies and turf battles ensue; by 1818 his inept successors control little more than Kabul.</p>
<p>1839—First Anglo-Afghan War: British forces invade to prop up a Durrani successor. Upon retreat, they are massacred.</p>
<p>1878—Second Anglo-Afghan War: Brits take over and install a chieftain they can deal with.</p>
<p>1919—Third Anglo-Afghan War ends in Treaty of Rawalpindi; Brits recognize Afghan independence.</p>
<p>1933—Mohammad Zahir Shah takes the throne. Although he doesn’t rule the country in practice, his relatively peaceful 40-year reign earns him the title “father of the nation” in the current constitution.</p>
<p>1934—US recognizes Afghanistan.</p>
<p>1947—Partition: British colonial turf divided, leading to bad blood between Afghanistan and its newly created neighbor, Pakistan, as well as a Pakistan-India military rivalry.</p>
<p>1966—Afghanistan signs the Convention on the Political Rights of Women, ensuring a woman’s right to vote and hold public office.</p>
<p>1973—King Zahir Shah’s disgruntled cousin, Sardar Mohammad Daoud, stages a coup while the king is overseas. Daoud declares Afghanistan a republic with himself as president.</p>
<p>1978—The People’s Democratic Party of Afghanistan (PDPA), an Afghan communist faction, seizes power and slaughters Daoud and his family. Led by communist president Nur Muhammad Taraki, the new government signs a friendship treaty with Moscow.</p>
<p>1979—Former prime minister Hafizullah Amin snatches the reins, executes Taraki, and begins slaughtering PDPA members. Three months later, Soviet forces roll into Kabul, execute Amin, and install a new prime minister.</p>
<p>1980—Regional factions in Afghanistan and Pakistan team up to resist the Soviets. They call themselves mujahideen, “those who engage in jihad.”</p>
<p>March 21, 1982—President Ronald Reagan proclaims the date Afghanistan Day and lauds mujahideen as “freedom fighters…defending principles of independence and freedom that form the basis of global security and stability.”</p>
<p>1984— <a href="" type="internal">US begins funneling billions of dollars, plus weapons and training, to the mujahideen.</a> The biggest beneficiary is Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a religious zealot whom one former professor called a “psychopath” due to his acid attacks and beatings of female students at Kabul University.</p>
<p>1986—Mohammad Najibullah, former head of the secret police, becomes president.</p>
<p>1987—In Bond flick The Living Daylights, heroic Afghan freedom fighters help 007 defeat the Evil Empire.</p>
<p>1988—Anti-Soviet jihadist Osama bin Laden joins with fellow Islamic hardliners to form Al Qaeda. Pakistan, Afghanistan, America, Soviet Union sign Geneva peace accords, guaranteeing Afghan independence and <a href="" type="internal">withdrawal of 100,000 Soviet troops</a>.</p>
<p>April 1992—After Najibullah is ousted by the Afghan military, mujahideen take over Kabul and impose strict laws—including a ban on booze.</p>
<p>June 1992—Tajik leader Burhanuddin Rabbani becomes interim president, but mujahideen infighting disintegrates into civil war, prompting Kabul residents to flee en masse.</p>
<p>1993—Fighting among the warlord factions leaves tens of thousands of civilians dead or wounded.</p>
<p>1994—During his brief stint as prime minister, the US-funded Hekmatyar orders shelling of Kabul, reportedly killing more than 25,000. With backing from ISI, Pakistan’s military-intelligence branch, Islamic theological students form fundamentalist Taliban militia.</p>
<p>1995—Taliban on the rise across the country. Relieved for a bit of peace, Afghans welcome the militants.</p>
<p>September 1996—Taliban takes over Kabul and promptly crack down on the arts and public participation by women. A strict new dress code mandates <a href="" type="internal">burkas</a>; men must wear beards. Violators are flogged.</p>
<p>1998—A vengeful god? Earthquakes in February and May leave more than 6,000 Afghans dead. In June, severe flooding kills another 6,000. A four-year nationwide drought ensues, saddling poppy farmers with salaam debt, which obliges them to sell future opium harvests to their creditors at bargain-basement prices.</p>
<p>October 1999—UN orders Taliban to turn over bin Laden. Taliban Foreign Minister Mohammed Hassan Akhund responds, “No proof came from anyone, especially America, that Osama was involved in terrorist activities.”</p>
<p>March 2001—Taliban destroys ancient cliff Buddhas at Bamiyan, provoking international outrage.</p>
<p>May 2001—Taliban orders Hindus to wear tags identifying themselves as non-Muslims.</p>
<p>September 9, 2001—Taliban militants posing as TV reporters detonate camera bomb, assassinating Northern Alliance chief Ahmad Shah Massoud.</p>
<p>September 11, 2001—The horror. Pentagon soon embarks on war plans for Afghanistan—and Iraq.</p>
<p>October 2, 2001—President Bush orders the Taliban to surrender bin Laden. Taliban ambassador Abdul Salam Zaeef demurs, “Where is the evidence? Where is the proof?”</p>
<p>October 7, 2001—US launches Afghan bombing campaign with support from Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand.</p>
<p>December 2001—UN brokers Bonn Agreement to establish a new government and convene an emergency loya jirga. US and British forces swarm the mountains of Tora Bora after radio intercepts indicate bin Laden is hiding there. Some 200 Qaeda and Taliban fighters die, but no bin Laden. Mullah Mohammed Omar, leader of the Taliban, is also AWOL.</p>
<p>January 2002—Bush State of the Union: Iraq, Iran, North Korea = Axis of Evil.</p>
<p>March 2003—US and British forces invade Iraq.</p>
<p>January 2004—Bush State of the Union: “The men and women of Afghanistan are building a nation that is free and proud and fighting terror—and America is honored to be their friend.”</p>
<p>September 2004—In the preceding six months, reports the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, at least 123 women set themselves on fire to escape forced marriages and domestic violence—13 lived.</p>
<p>October 2004—Roughly 8.2 million Afghans vote in country’s first presidential election. America’s favorite, Hamid Karzai, wins by a landslide.</p>
<p>June 2005—Sher Mohammed Akhundzada is removed as governor of Helmand province after 9,000 kilos of opium are found at his offices.</p>
<p>December 2005—President Karzai appoints Akhundzada to serve in the Afghan senate.</p>
<p>Late 2005—CIA unit dedicated to hunting bin Laden shuts down.</p>
<p>October 2006—In “Germany’s Abu Ghraib,” photos surface of that nation’s soldiers kissing, posing with, and making pyramids out of skulls and bones in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>November 2006—Government Accountability Office estimates that putting a dent in Afghan <a href="" type="internal">poppy cultivation</a> and <a href="" type="internal">drug trafficking</a> will take at least a decade.</p>
<p>January 2007—Taliban announces new schools to teach Islam to boys.</p>
<p>Spring 2007—Afghan poppy farmers reap record harvest: 8.2 million kilos of raw opium, enough to satisfy 93 percent of the illicit global market.</p>
<p>September 2007—More than 100,000 textbooks traveling from Kabul to Kandahar and Nooristan provinces are seized and burned by anti-government forces.</p>
<p>December 2007—Year’s toll: 751 US soldiers wounded (an 87 percent jump) and 117 dead. Back home, moviegoers flock to see Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson’s War, dramatizing America’s covert support of mujahideen.</p>
<p>May 2008—Monthly US fatalities in Afghanistan surpass those in Iraq—even though America has nearly five times fewer troops in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>July 2008—Faulty US air strike demolishes wedding in Nangarhar mountains, leaving around 50 dead. Four months later, in Kandahar, US bombs ruin another wedding party.</p>
<p>September 2008—Lamenting America’s paltry development aid to Afghanistan, Joint Chiefs chairman Admiral Michael Mullen complains to the House Armed Services Committee, “We can’t kill our way to victory.”</p>
<p>October 2008— <a href="" type="internal">Sarah Palin</a> name-drops “our neighboring country of Afghanistan” at a San Francisco fundraiser.</p>
<p>November 2008—Taliban militants embarrass coalition forces by driving around in American Humvees stolen from more than a dozen hijacked supply trucks; Karzai appears before the UN Security Council, seeking a timeline for coalition withdrawal.</p>
<p>January 2009—Karzai: Mounting civilian casualties “strengthening the terrorists.”</p>
<p>February 2009—BBC/ABC poll: Karzai’s popularity waning, and 73 percent of Afghans oppose any increase in foreign troops. CNN poll: 63 percent of Americans support Obama’s plan to send in 17,000 more soldiers.</p>
<p>March 2009—Glimpses of <a href="" type="internal">Obama’s strategy</a>: In addition to the 17,000 troops, he’ll provide 4,000 new trainers to get Afghan cops and soldiers up to speed, meaningful funding for aid and diplomacy, a regional approach that involves friends and foes (perhaps even Taliban elements), and $7.5 billion in development assistance to win hearts and minds in Pakistan’s nettlesome tribal areas. The approach is praised by Karzai and Pakistani president Asif Ali Zardari.</p>
<p>April 2009—Pakistan’s Zardari, hoping to quell his country’s own Taliban insurgency, signs a bill that puts six districts, including the former resort area of Swat Valley, under Shariah law—a strict Islamic interpretation that denies the rights of women and often metes out punishments Westerners consider barbaric.</p>
<p>Nikki Gloudeman is a senior fellow at Mother Jones.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | photos used creative commons license flickr user lta hrefhttpwwwflickrcomphotossoldiersmediacentergtarmymilltagt 328 bcalexander great forms hellenistic state portions afghanistan 400 adwhite huns invade region dominate two centuries 642after sacking persia arab armies invade attempt introduce islam 870dawn saffarid dynasty whose expansive empire competes two others control wider region 998turkic dynasty cements islamic era 1219genghis khan leads mongol invasion late 14th centurytamerlane khans descendent brings afghanistan asian empire 1738nadir shah iranian army take kandahar kabul 1747after shah assassinated afghans convene loya jirgagrand council factionsand name king ahmad shah durrani new king embarks imperialist rampage eventually conquering modernday afghanistan parts iran india 1772his empire waning durrani dies turf battles ensue 1818 inept successors control little kabul 1839first angloafghan war british forces invade prop durrani successor upon retreat massacred 1878second angloafghan war brits take install chieftain deal 1919third angloafghan war ends treaty rawalpindi brits recognize afghan independence 1933mohammad zahir shah takes throne although doesnt rule country practice relatively peaceful 40year reign earns title father nation current constitution 1934us recognizes afghanistan 1947partition british colonial turf divided leading bad blood afghanistan newly created neighbor pakistan well pakistanindia military rivalry 1966afghanistan signs convention political rights women ensuring womans right vote hold public office 1973king zahir shahs disgruntled cousin sardar mohammad daoud stages coup king overseas daoud declares afghanistan republic president 1978the peoples democratic party afghanistan pdpa afghan communist faction seizes power slaughters daoud family led communist president nur muhammad taraki new government signs friendship treaty moscow 1979former prime minister hafizullah amin snatches reins executes taraki begins slaughtering pdpa members three months later soviet forces roll kabul execute amin install new prime minister 1980regional factions afghanistan pakistan team resist soviets call mujahideen engage jihad march 21 1982president ronald reagan proclaims date afghanistan day lauds mujahideen freedom fightersdefending principles independence freedom form basis global security stability 1984 us begins funneling billions dollars plus weapons training mujahideen biggest beneficiary gulbuddin hekmatyar religious zealot one former professor called psychopath due acid attacks beatings female students kabul university 1986mohammad najibullah former head secret police becomes president 1987in bond flick living daylights heroic afghan freedom fighters help 007 defeat evil empire 1988antisoviet jihadist osama bin laden joins fellow islamic hardliners form al qaeda pakistan afghanistan america soviet union sign geneva peace accords guaranteeing afghan independence withdrawal 100000 soviet troops april 1992after najibullah ousted afghan military mujahideen take kabul impose strict lawsincluding ban booze june 1992tajik leader burhanuddin rabbani becomes interim president mujahideen infighting disintegrates civil war prompting kabul residents flee en masse 1993fighting among warlord factions leaves tens thousands civilians dead wounded 1994during brief stint prime minister usfunded hekmatyar orders shelling kabul reportedly killing 25000 backing isi pakistans militaryintelligence branch islamic theological students form fundamentalist taliban militia 1995taliban rise across country relieved bit peace afghans welcome militants september 1996taliban takes kabul promptly crack arts public participation women strict new dress code mandates burkas men must wear beards violators flogged 1998a vengeful god earthquakes february may leave 6000 afghans dead june severe flooding kills another 6000 fouryear nationwide drought ensues saddling poppy farmers salaam debt obliges sell future opium harvests creditors bargainbasement prices october 1999un orders taliban turn bin laden taliban foreign minister mohammed hassan akhund responds proof came anyone especially america osama involved terrorist activities march 2001taliban destroys ancient cliff buddhas bamiyan provoking international outrage may 2001taliban orders hindus wear tags identifying nonmuslims september 9 2001taliban militants posing tv reporters detonate camera bomb assassinating northern alliance chief ahmad shah massoud september 11 2001the horror pentagon soon embarks war plans afghanistanand iraq october 2 2001president bush orders taliban surrender bin laden taliban ambassador abdul salam zaeef demurs evidence proof october 7 2001us launches afghan bombing campaign support australia canada england france germany italy new zealand december 2001un brokers bonn agreement establish new government convene emergency loya jirga us british forces swarm mountains tora bora radio intercepts indicate bin laden hiding 200 qaeda taliban fighters die bin laden mullah mohammed omar leader taliban also awol january 2002bush state union iraq iran north korea axis evil march 2003us british forces invade iraq january 2004bush state union men women afghanistan building nation free proud fighting terrorand america honored friend september 2004in preceding six months reports afghan independent human rights commission least 123 women set fire escape forced marriages domestic violence13 lived october 2004roughly 82 million afghans vote countrys first presidential election americas favorite hamid karzai wins landslide june 2005sher mohammed akhundzada removed governor helmand province 9000 kilos opium found offices december 2005president karzai appoints akhundzada serve afghan senate late 2005cia unit dedicated hunting bin laden shuts october 2006in germanys abu ghraib photos surface nations soldiers kissing posing making pyramids skulls bones afghanistan november 2006government accountability office estimates putting dent afghan poppy cultivation drug trafficking take least decade january 2007taliban announces new schools teach islam boys spring 2007afghan poppy farmers reap record harvest 82 million kilos raw opium enough satisfy 93 percent illicit global market september 2007more 100000 textbooks traveling kabul kandahar nooristan provinces seized burned antigovernment forces december 2007years toll 751 us soldiers wounded 87 percent jump 117 dead back home moviegoers flock see tom hanks julia roberts charlie wilsons war dramatizing americas covert support mujahideen may 2008monthly us fatalities afghanistan surpass iraqeven though america nearly five times fewer troops afghanistan july 2008faulty us air strike demolishes wedding nangarhar mountains leaving around 50 dead four months later kandahar us bombs ruin another wedding party september 2008lamenting americas paltry development aid afghanistan joint chiefs chairman admiral michael mullen complains house armed services committee cant kill way victory october 2008 sarah palin namedrops neighboring country afghanistan san francisco fundraiser november 2008taliban militants embarrass coalition forces driving around american humvees stolen dozen hijacked supply trucks karzai appears un security council seeking timeline coalition withdrawal january 2009karzai mounting civilian casualties strengthening terrorists february 2009bbcabc poll karzais popularity waning 73 percent afghans oppose increase foreign troops cnn poll 63 percent americans support obamas plan send 17000 soldiers march 2009glimpses obamas strategy addition 17000 troops hell provide 4000 new trainers get afghan cops soldiers speed meaningful funding aid diplomacy regional approach involves friends foes perhaps even taliban elements 75 billion development assistance win hearts minds pakistans nettlesome tribal areas approach praised karzai pakistani president asif ali zardari april 2009pakistans zardari hoping quell countrys taliban insurgency signs bill puts six districts including former resort area swat valley shariah lawa strict islamic interpretation denies rights women often metes punishments westerners consider barbaric nikki gloudeman senior fellow mother jones | 1,062 |
<p>Blame only your curiosity if you’ve failed to notice it. Over the past ten years the eyes of creative filmmakers and film theorists alike have been set on Central and East-Asia. Perspective lines have focused right. East-Asian cinema–in Japan, China, Hong-Kong and Taiwan foremost–has been challenging Western conceptions of beauty and narrative form. It has won over audiences of cinemaphiles the world over–wherever the infrastructure to project foreign films has not been exterminated. On that issue, the American-Hollywood conglomerates, who spread their management doctrines to the film theaters, have banked their money and contract signatures to decide on what films you get to see. And whenever they can help it, those films aren’t from abroad.</p>
<p>Takashi “Beat” Kitano, Wong Kar-Wai, Hsiao-Hsien Hou, and John Woo pre-Hollywood flight, are just some of the director names worth memorizing. Failing which, you might miss a golden opportunity at capturing artists chiseling at the cutting-edge marble of the seventh art. Even more than representing their respective national artistic renaissances, these filmmakers participate in the universal category of ‘auteur cinema’.</p>
<p>The Asian tigers may have refined art just as they renewed collective capitalism. Yet nothing compares with the outstanding production of Iranian cinema. No other country over the past ten years has contributed so prolifically to retracing the boundaries of the audiovisual art. No other culture has challenged the dictates of the post-modern American medley, welding consumerized business principles to artistic creation, as has the land of Attar and Hedayat.</p>
<p>A CAMERA IN THE PASSENGER’S SEAT</p>
<p>Many Westerners are dead-set convinced of the repressive nature of Iranian society in the aftermath of the Shi’ite revolution. But how do you equate the following situation? In the US, the self-declared bastion of free speech and art, the majority of film viewers are deprived of exposure to the world’s greatest films. They are force-fed a monopolistic potpourri of that ol’ ultraviolence, voyeuristic nudity and fantasy representation to such a degree that Hollywood long ago became a synonym of an insult to intelligence. Whereas in Iran you may find an astonishing depiction of a millenary civilization, whose past contributions to the arts and sciences were left unexceeded even by Rome. This is a culture bursting into high-tech modernity, although one that refuses to merely be co-opted into the Western system of representation and value.</p>
<p>American cinema no longer has anything to teach the Iranians. Not only are we the ones who have all to learn from them, it’s learning to learn from them which has become our work. Our incessant exposure to insipid commercial products has warped our minds. The beats that pound in our hearts echo to a war cry. This is why seeking out the films of the contemporary Iranian masters is a duty not only to art, but to thought.</p>
<p>Islamist Iran never put the great filmmakers Abbas Kiarostami or Mohsen Makhmalbaf in jail. Yet Makmalbaf was tortured at the hands of the Shah’s US-trained and funded secret police. As for Kiarostami, he had to await an invitation from freedom’s bastion to be denied the right to speak. Last summer he was refused entry into the US as he planned to attend an homage to his life’s work, organized by Harvard University no less.</p>
<p>As for the timeliness of Makhmalbaf’s film “Kandahar” and publication of his film journal, they have given us more information and wisdom on the plight of Afghan society than the hundreds of hours of ideological soup produced by CNN and its cronies. If that wasn’t enough, he has brought up one of the shining lights of young Iranian cinema, his own daughter, Samira, already the director of two critically acclaimed features.</p>
<p>For just cause the filmworks of Kiarostami and Makhmalbaf, among several others’, whispers in the same breath as 1940’s Italian Neo-Realism. Their filming strategy allows the real to supervene as it settles into artistic form, emerging autonomously from the human agents who set about its creation. Art matched up fully with the real in the film “Kandahar”, its release coinciding with the American bombing of Afghanistan. Form spoke transparently to those intent on gazing.</p>
<p>As a real living object, Makhmalbaf’s work took an even more ominous turn. It appeared that Tabid Sahib, playing the medical doctor in Kandahar, was living out a film within the film. An American ex-pat at other times known as David Belfield, he is allegedly involved with the assassination of an ancien-regime Iranian diplomat in the late seventies. Upon conversion to Islam, he took the name of Daoud Salah Addine and escaped to Iran. The nom-de-plume of Hassan Tantai launched his acting career. Spot the fiction, if you can.</p>
<p>In a statement issued by Avatar films and published in The Guardian in January 2002, Makhmalbaf claimed to know nothing of the controversy. “I have made more than 20 feature films. I have always chosen my actors from crowded streets and barren desserts. I never ask those who act in my films what they have done before, nor do I follow what they do after I finish shooting my film. ‘Kandahar’ is no exception.”</p>
<p>As for whether Makhmalbaf would have still hired him had he known of the actor’s involvement in a political murderer, the director stood tall. Governments tend to pardon political crimes when committed against injustice, why would the filmmaker act the moralist? A neo-realist film aesthetic and methodology draw out the moral norms. Makhmalbaf avowed wanting to make “a film with him about the murder that he had committed, in order to explore why it is that in the civilized and opulent United States, a black man commits a political assassination and then escapes to a country like Iran, which has a tense relationship with the United States. In fact it has just occurred to me that if I were to see him I will make that film.” As it also dawned on him that, while Belfield is a marked man internationally, the filmmaker’s own torturers live comfortably in the US, the land of the free.</p>
<p>Faced with the most fascinating moral issue to burst from the art world since Giuliani banned the “Sensations”exhibit, the American Academy of the Motion Picture Arts and Sciences decided to do the public’s philosophical work. After winning Cannes’ Ecumenical Jury prize in 2001, and a sure-set nominee for the Best Foreign Film category, Makhmalbaf’s masterpiece was dropped from the roster. As it’s a foreign film, the issue of censorship was never raised. That’s because when it comes to foreign films, they’re already earmarked for censorship by commercial and linguistic interests. So where does the globalized world begin?</p>
<p>CINEMA NUEVO</p>
<p>A brand of exclusion stands equally for the rising tide of Brazilian cinema masterpieces. Those interested in Brazil’s golden year of 2002 have had to search long and hard to find information on the country. In every article where the New York Times South America correspondent links the word ‘leftist’ to newly-elected president Lula da Silva and uses innuendo to twist the sense of ‘anti-globalization former metalworker union leader’, a thousand people loose out on the chance to see a Brazilian film. Sure Brazil’s World Cup victory was celebrated in the international press. And if you live in Europe or NYC you’ve probably had the opportunity of getting familiar with some of Brazil’s recent musical creation–crafted either by exiles or natives. But it only takes a bat to flutter its wings for a glance to be sidelined.</p>
<p>When handsomely paid corresponds are the henchmen to belittle foreign cultures, how easy is it to keep an open mind and broaden it evermore toward their creations? As with Iran, how many are aware of the outstanding years of cinematic creation the country has lived?</p>
<p>The background to this creation is far different from the Cinema Nuevo movement of the 1960s, spearheaded by the late Glauber Rocha. It had given Brazilian art its international laurels in a century pierced with thorns. The country was then under a harsh military dictatorship. To quell the mounting social and political revolution of 1968, the generals increased the brutality. Glauber Rocha’s films express the desperation of an entire generation seeing themselves severed from the international youth movement.</p>
<p>Sprouting minds were forced to keep living under a centralized hold on power that set the country back to the nineteenth century latifundios in terms of political freedom. In reaction, these minds grew into radicals and revolutionaries, unleashing as they did the State’s violence. Use of torture became commonplace. The rest of Latin America turned to authoritarian rule as its landed aristocracy crushed the will to reform and distribute wealth either in the fields or the cities. The early years of Brazil’s military rule seem polite in comparison.</p>
<p>Nowadays Brazil is teaching the world a lesson in deliberative democracy. Its society is still gnawed severely by rampant inequality and the environmental catastrophe of desertification in the North-East states. Residents of its largest cities live in a continual state of preparation for violence wrought by a generation of youth with nothing to lose but a snort of glue or coke and padding their pockets with the green bill. Still, this country has historically ushered into power a government with a potential to introduce social change on a scale not seen since Chile’s Salvador Allende assumed power by popular vote in 1970.</p>
<p>It’s against this contemporary background that, ever since Walter Salles’s surprise Oscar victory in the best Foreign Film for “Central Station” (Central do Brasil), every month has seen a steady flow of high-level cinematic creation. And every semester has ushered in a masterpiece.</p>
<p>Excuse me for flogging the poverty of American cinema to a pulp fiction. It’s a lesson that so many Brazilians also have yet to wake up to and learn. With the exception of David Lynch, American cinema has become a medium organized only for the ideological dissemination of triumphalist abnegation. With every additional Gladiator thrown at a crowd starved for art, US people continue in their simultaneously pathetic and arrogant self-portrait, forever in denial over the fact that their country is now nothing less than an Empire.</p>
<p>Caught in the web of the victim-hero complex, Americans suffer raw of being art-deprived by the commercial control on what gets to be shown and advertised in their Homeland secure. They prove to the world that vis-a-vis their State the population acts so often in complicity. For lack of political opposition, Americans underwrite the nightmare its current administration is forging around the world. The scenario there is of intensified poverty, spread of war and hatred, and a deregulated environment. Washington intellectuals seem unable to look at these outgrowths with clear eyes, were their spirits imbued with reading Chicago School economics and attending Georgetown University foreign policy lectures.</p>
<p>As Noble laureate Joseph Stiglitz put it in his last book, Globalization and its Discontents, the presence of the grand Logos of Channel, Calvin Klein, or even MacDonald’s on the streets of the former socialist block states (Europe’s new power centre, as Rumsfeld would have it) is anything but a sign of economic progress when ramping corruption aided and abetted by the IMF’s fiscal ideology sends the masses tumbling into spiraling poverty.</p>
<p>FIVE MASTERPIECES</p>
<p>Brazilian intellectuals long ago understood that art was incorporation, cannibalism. Failure to ingest leads a nation’s art to wilt from depression, if not explode in fury.</p>
<p>Nor has the country been spared the ravages of globalized shareholder capitalism. After all, its ruling financial clique has been among the IMF’s star players in market deregulation. Still, as if on a bas-relief, Brazilian cinema has become political only in a broader sense. Were one to consider five bona fide cases, “To the Left of the Father” (Lavoura Arcaica), Hans Staden, Madam Sata, “Behind the Sun” (Abril Despedacado), or the greatest Brazilian international success since “Dona Flor and her Two Husbands”, “City of God” (Cidade de Deus), all of these films are set in the past.</p>
<p>Lavoura Arcaica is Luiz Fernando Carvalho’s mood piece of a young man’s passion for his sister. Based on one of the foremost works in contemporary Brazilian literature, Raduan Nasser’s eponymous novel, it tells the tale of a Lebanese immigrant family’s life in the Pindorama, toward the interior of Sao Paulo State. The images are crafted by Walter Carvalho, the leading innovator among DoPs working in Brazil, or anywhere in the world at the moment. At times distorting images of lust into anamorphic ecstasy, he reminds one of Alexander Sokurof’s tonal inversions of Christ’s passion. Caught amidst the humidity of hills and forests, in which secrecy and denial carve at the family patriarch’s staunch insistence for the Arabic homeland values to prevail, Carvalho’s camera inches by quoting Andrei Tarkovsky at the edge of Starker’s void. The film’s opening draws the viewer into a rush channeled by a stunning soundtrack mainly performed by Brazil’s premier experimental ensemble, Uakti, with sound switched into curdled milk bathing your face. Not before its 171 minutes stretch into the finale is the viewer released from penetration by the loss of unlivable desire.</p>
<p>Luiz Alberto Pereira’s Hans Staden is based on the autobiographical account of a German explorer and adventurer of the same name, The True History of his Captivity, published in the 1557. It recounts the explorer’s plight at the hands of a Tupinamba tribe on the coast of what was to become Sao Paulo state. The music composed by Marlui Miranda and Lelo Nazario, is performed by Uakti once again. Its effect is to make the film’s language, spoken in Tupi, into a universal expression. Staden had in fact learned the language, a trading lingua france, after three years in Brazil. I can think of no film so intelligently designed on earlier Amerindian life that has been produced in either Canada or the US. Hans Staden’s nobility is acknowledged by the Tupis, the privilege of which for a prisoner is to be eaten. The Tupis grace the “Friesian” explorer with foremost hospitality. He is given a wife and allowed full participation in daily and spiritual life, as he awaits his fateful moment. When illness starts ravaging the tribe, Hans Staden not only steals his fate by fleeing to Europe. He witnesses the future devastation that disease would inflict on all American native nations without exception.</p>
<p>Madam Sata, directed by Karim Ainouz, is another film shot by Walter Carvalho, this time taking on Fassbinder’s Querelle as deconstruction. Set in the hot Lapa district of Rio de Janeiro in the 1930s, swarming with “malandro” hustlers, it traces the origins of a transsexual who would become one of the great celebrities of Rio’s carnaval, dancing as a star with numerous samba schools. A masterpiece of acting, Madam Sata stars Lazaro Ramos, whose pathologic outbursts are only offset by his finesse, artistic grace and brooding sexuality. Living from the gregarious gender-bending cabarets that brought Brazilian transsexuals their international fame, Sata becomes a hunted animal. He has slain an intoxicated gay-hater, who taunts him as if by a prohibitive messenger of God sent to keep the marginal deep within the Styx. The film is an aural experience. Music and chatter reverberate through the narrow alleys spreading under the bleech-white aqueduc that today hosts the roots samba revival. Through the heat and sweat, sex and murder, the hands of the narrative leave the cavaquinho and quique to pound drums built up multiplying fivehundredfold as the film sambas to climax.</p>
<p>Walter Salles was involved in Brazil’s recent tide of cinema from the start–as was his family. In 1996, brother Murilo Salles shot a stunning tale of regular teenage banditry, Como nascem os anjos (“How Angels are Born”). It may only be seen these days by subscribers of Brazil’s fine cable channel, “Canal Brasil”, but this film anticipated the theme of kid-adults turned into psychopathic killers as if fed on a diet of rampant poverty. Their late-father, founder and former head of Unibanco, one of Brazil’s major investment banks, was a patron of the arts for many decades. His lavish house, an architectural wonder in the heights over Gavea, is now open as an art and photo gallery, seating one of Rio’s best small-scale cinemas. A music center has also recently been added to a research wing that had previously funded projects such as Claude Levi-Strauss’ Odysseyan “Saudade for Brazil”.</p>
<p>Whereas the name of most art patrons are lost within the stone and paint and glass of which their funds release the creation, Salles passed his patronym onto cinema in the work of his sons. In “Behind the Sun”, Walter sets a story written by Albanian author Ismael Kandare in the legendary Sertao backlands. It’s a historical journey into the gang-related violence today tearing apart Brazil’s urban fabric. The setting juts straight out from the initial chapters of Euclide de Cunhas “Rebellion in the Backlands”, but focuses on the plight of two clans condemned by the Law of Talion to seek retribution generation after murdered generation for the killing of past loved ones. Walter Carvalho is again behind the lenses, this time venturing alone into the infernal representational maelstrum as if following a catinga plant’s off-shooting stems.</p>
<p>Carvalho’s astonishing work as director of photography should incite the reader to see his own documentary on blindness, featuring Hermeto Pascoal and Wim Wenders. Indeed, Brazil’s documentary production has been second to none. This year has seen two outstanding features, Edificio Master and Omnibus 174, both set in contemporary Rio de Janeiro. The outstanding films discussed above may innovate on fiction, representation and narrative through historical pallettes. But the documentary form–whether classically demarcated, or integrated into fictional narratives–borrows present-time as its instrument for staining tears with blood.</p>
<p>As a blood banquet, “City of God” reaches parasidical heights of filmic expression. Dovetailing so many features composing this rising tide of cinema, its historical backtracking encapsulates what Brazil’s current renaissance is all about. The samba and the funk, the poverty and rebellion, intensify the grind of living in two of the hemisphere’s largest cities, need I say megalopolises. Much is still being written on the film and its social import, and more will surely be said. When I think of its hip action, and its sanguine humanism, I grow into a victim, subdued by the syncopation of legendary samba composer and cantor, Cartola.</p>
<p>His Psalm of Psalms beckons to art “Chora, disfarca e chora”–Weep, disguise and weep. And I do so neither because of what lies within the film’s form, nor owing to what attacks from without the cinema’s doors. No, I cry and clap and scream because art exceeds life here in neo-realist form, reaching into the pantheons of creation and eternity as if set afloat on Yemanja’s barque gliding beyond the underworld.</p>
<p>NORMAN MADARASZ is a Canadian philosopher based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He welcomes comments at <a href="mailto:normanmadarasz2@hotmail.com" type="external">normanmadarasz2@hotmail.com</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | blame curiosity youve failed notice past ten years eyes creative filmmakers film theorists alike set central eastasia perspective lines focused right eastasian cinemain japan china hongkong taiwan foremosthas challenging western conceptions beauty narrative form audiences cinemaphiles world overwherever infrastructure project foreign films exterminated issue americanhollywood conglomerates spread management doctrines film theaters banked money contract signatures decide films get see whenever help films arent abroad takashi beat kitano wong karwai hsiaohsien hou john woo prehollywood flight director names worth memorizing failing might miss golden opportunity capturing artists chiseling cuttingedge marble seventh art even representing respective national artistic renaissances filmmakers participate universal category auteur cinema asian tigers may refined art renewed collective capitalism yet nothing compares outstanding production iranian cinema country past ten years contributed prolifically retracing boundaries audiovisual art culture challenged dictates postmodern american medley welding consumerized business principles artistic creation land attar hedayat camera passengers seat many westerners deadset convinced repressive nature iranian society aftermath shiite revolution equate following situation us selfdeclared bastion free speech art majority film viewers deprived exposure worlds greatest films forcefed monopolistic potpourri ol ultraviolence voyeuristic nudity fantasy representation degree hollywood long ago became synonym insult intelligence whereas iran may find astonishing depiction millenary civilization whose past contributions arts sciences left unexceeded even rome culture bursting hightech modernity although one refuses merely coopted western system representation value american cinema longer anything teach iranians ones learn learning learn become work incessant exposure insipid commercial products warped minds beats pound hearts echo war cry seeking films contemporary iranian masters duty art thought islamist iran never put great filmmakers abbas kiarostami mohsen makhmalbaf jail yet makmalbaf tortured hands shahs ustrained funded secret police kiarostami await invitation freedoms bastion denied right speak last summer refused entry us planned attend homage lifes work organized harvard university less timeliness makhmalbafs film kandahar publication film journal given us information wisdom plight afghan society hundreds hours ideological soup produced cnn cronies wasnt enough brought one shining lights young iranian cinema daughter samira already director two critically acclaimed features cause filmworks kiarostami makhmalbaf among several others whispers breath 1940s italian neorealism filming strategy allows real supervene settles artistic form emerging autonomously human agents set creation art matched fully real film kandahar release coinciding american bombing afghanistan form spoke transparently intent gazing real living object makhmalbafs work took even ominous turn appeared tabid sahib playing medical doctor kandahar living film within film american expat times known david belfield allegedly involved assassination ancienregime iranian diplomat late seventies upon conversion islam took name daoud salah addine escaped iran nomdeplume hassan tantai launched acting career spot fiction statement issued avatar films published guardian january 2002 makhmalbaf claimed know nothing controversy made 20 feature films always chosen actors crowded streets barren desserts never ask act films done follow finish shooting film kandahar exception whether makhmalbaf would still hired known actors involvement political murderer director stood tall governments tend pardon political crimes committed injustice would filmmaker act moralist neorealist film aesthetic methodology draw moral norms makhmalbaf avowed wanting make film murder committed order explore civilized opulent united states black man commits political assassination escapes country like iran tense relationship united states fact occurred see make film also dawned belfield marked man internationally filmmakers torturers live comfortably us land free faced fascinating moral issue burst art world since giuliani banned sensationsexhibit american academy motion picture arts sciences decided publics philosophical work winning cannes ecumenical jury prize 2001 sureset nominee best foreign film category makhmalbafs masterpiece dropped roster foreign film issue censorship never raised thats comes foreign films theyre already earmarked censorship commercial linguistic interests globalized world begin cinema nuevo brand exclusion stands equally rising tide brazilian cinema masterpieces interested brazils golden year 2002 search long hard find information country every article new york times south america correspondent links word leftist newlyelected president lula da silva uses innuendo twist sense antiglobalization former metalworker union leader thousand people loose chance see brazilian film sure brazils world cup victory celebrated international press live europe nyc youve probably opportunity getting familiar brazils recent musical creationcrafted either exiles natives takes bat flutter wings glance sidelined handsomely paid corresponds henchmen belittle foreign cultures easy keep open mind broaden evermore toward creations iran many aware outstanding years cinematic creation country lived background creation far different cinema nuevo movement 1960s spearheaded late glauber rocha given brazilian art international laurels century pierced thorns country harsh military dictatorship quell mounting social political revolution 1968 generals increased brutality glauber rochas films express desperation entire generation seeing severed international youth movement sprouting minds forced keep living centralized hold power set country back nineteenth century latifundios terms political freedom reaction minds grew radicals revolutionaries unleashing states violence use torture became commonplace rest latin america turned authoritarian rule landed aristocracy crushed reform distribute wealth either fields cities early years brazils military rule seem polite comparison nowadays brazil teaching world lesson deliberative democracy society still gnawed severely rampant inequality environmental catastrophe desertification northeast states residents largest cities live continual state preparation violence wrought generation youth nothing lose snort glue coke padding pockets green bill still country historically ushered power government potential introduce social change scale seen since chiles salvador allende assumed power popular vote 1970 contemporary background ever since walter salless surprise oscar victory best foreign film central station central brasil every month seen steady flow highlevel cinematic creation every semester ushered masterpiece excuse flogging poverty american cinema pulp fiction lesson many brazilians also yet wake learn exception david lynch american cinema become medium organized ideological dissemination triumphalist abnegation every additional gladiator thrown crowd starved art us people continue simultaneously pathetic arrogant selfportrait forever denial fact country nothing less empire caught web victimhero complex americans suffer raw artdeprived commercial control gets shown advertised homeland secure prove world visavis state population acts often complicity lack political opposition americans underwrite nightmare current administration forging around world scenario intensified poverty spread war hatred deregulated environment washington intellectuals seem unable look outgrowths clear eyes spirits imbued reading chicago school economics attending georgetown university foreign policy lectures noble laureate joseph stiglitz put last book globalization discontents presence grand logos channel calvin klein even macdonalds streets former socialist block states europes new power centre rumsfeld would anything sign economic progress ramping corruption aided abetted imfs fiscal ideology sends masses tumbling spiraling poverty five masterpieces brazilian intellectuals long ago understood art incorporation cannibalism failure ingest leads nations art wilt depression explode fury country spared ravages globalized shareholder capitalism ruling financial clique among imfs star players market deregulation still basrelief brazilian cinema become political broader sense one consider five bona fide cases left father lavoura arcaica hans staden madam sata behind sun abril despedacado greatest brazilian international success since dona flor two husbands city god cidade de deus films set past lavoura arcaica luiz fernando carvalhos mood piece young mans passion sister based one foremost works contemporary brazilian literature raduan nassers eponymous novel tells tale lebanese immigrant familys life pindorama toward interior sao paulo state images crafted walter carvalho leading innovator among dops working brazil anywhere world moment times distorting images lust anamorphic ecstasy reminds one alexander sokurofs tonal inversions christs passion caught amidst humidity hills forests secrecy denial carve family patriarchs staunch insistence arabic homeland values prevail carvalhos camera inches quoting andrei tarkovsky edge starkers void films opening draws viewer rush channeled stunning soundtrack mainly performed brazils premier experimental ensemble uakti sound switched curdled milk bathing face 171 minutes stretch finale viewer released penetration loss unlivable desire luiz alberto pereiras hans staden based autobiographical account german explorer adventurer name true history captivity published 1557 recounts explorers plight hands tupinamba tribe coast become sao paulo state music composed marlui miranda lelo nazario performed uakti effect make films language spoken tupi universal expression staden fact learned language trading lingua france three years brazil think film intelligently designed earlier amerindian life produced either canada us hans stadens nobility acknowledged tupis privilege prisoner eaten tupis grace friesian explorer foremost hospitality given wife allowed full participation daily spiritual life awaits fateful moment illness starts ravaging tribe hans staden steals fate fleeing europe witnesses future devastation disease would inflict american native nations without exception madam sata directed karim ainouz another film shot walter carvalho time taking fassbinders querelle deconstruction set hot lapa district rio de janeiro 1930s swarming malandro hustlers traces origins transsexual would become one great celebrities rios carnaval dancing star numerous samba schools masterpiece acting madam sata stars lazaro ramos whose pathologic outbursts offset finesse artistic grace brooding sexuality living gregarious genderbending cabarets brought brazilian transsexuals international fame sata becomes hunted animal slain intoxicated gayhater taunts prohibitive messenger god sent keep marginal deep within styx film aural experience music chatter reverberate narrow alleys spreading bleechwhite aqueduc today hosts roots samba revival heat sweat sex murder hands narrative leave cavaquinho quique pound drums built multiplying fivehundredfold film sambas climax walter salles involved brazils recent tide cinema startas family 1996 brother murilo salles shot stunning tale regular teenage banditry como nascem os anjos angels born may seen days subscribers brazils fine cable channel canal brasil film anticipated theme kidadults turned psychopathic killers fed diet rampant poverty latefather founder former head unibanco one brazils major investment banks patron arts many decades lavish house architectural wonder heights gavea open art photo gallery seating one rios best smallscale cinemas music center also recently added research wing previously funded projects claude levistrauss odysseyan saudade brazil whereas name art patrons lost within stone paint glass funds release creation salles passed patronym onto cinema work sons behind sun walter sets story written albanian author ismael kandare legendary sertao backlands historical journey gangrelated violence today tearing apart brazils urban fabric setting juts straight initial chapters euclide de cunhas rebellion backlands focuses plight two clans condemned law talion seek retribution generation murdered generation killing past loved ones walter carvalho behind lenses time venturing alone infernal representational maelstrum following catinga plants offshooting stems carvalhos astonishing work director photography incite reader see documentary blindness featuring hermeto pascoal wim wenders indeed brazils documentary production second none year seen two outstanding features edificio master omnibus 174 set contemporary rio de janeiro outstanding films discussed may innovate fiction representation narrative historical pallettes documentary formwhether classically demarcated integrated fictional narrativesborrows presenttime instrument staining tears blood blood banquet city god reaches parasidical heights filmic expression dovetailing many features composing rising tide cinema historical backtracking encapsulates brazils current renaissance samba funk poverty rebellion intensify grind living two hemispheres largest cities need say megalopolises much still written film social import surely said think hip action sanguine humanism grow victim subdued syncopation legendary samba composer cantor cartola psalm psalms beckons art chora disfarca e choraweep disguise weep neither lies within films form owing attacks without cinemas doors cry clap scream art exceeds life neorealist form reaching pantheons creation eternity set afloat yemanjas barque gliding beyond underworld norman madarasz canadian philosopher based rio de janeiro brazil welcomes comments normanmadarasz2hotmailcom 160 | 1,801 |
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<p><a type="external" href="" />Nov. 23, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.jsonline.com/news/editorials/nov01/tribe-edit111901.asp" type="external">Keep terror trials public — Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel</a> Bush’s proposed secret military trials of terror suspects would be counter-productive, cautions the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. “How would America look to the rest of the world if it started to conduct secret military tribunals? How much credibility would the verdicts of such trials have, especially in the Muslim world?” it asks.”These people commit acts of terrorism in part, they say, because of what America represents in the world. What America represents is the rule of law, and these criminals – perhaps especially these criminals — should be subject to it.”</p>
<p><a href="http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011122/pl/bush_fec_1.html" type="external">Republican campaign insider to oversee campaign financing rules – Associated Press</a> President Bush aims to nominate a top Republican Party attorney and campaign official to serve on the Federal Election Commission, the AP reports. Michael E. Toner, the Republican National Committee’s chief counsel, was the Bush campaign’s general counsel and an attorney for former Sen. Bob Dole’s 1996 presidential campaign. “This is another example of appointing people to the Federal Election Commission who represent views of the regulated community rather than the public,” commented Fred Wertheimer, head of Democracy 21, campaign-finance watchdog group.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="" /> Nov. 22, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/yahoo/la-000092903nov21.story?coll=la%2Dnewsaol%2Dheadlines" type="external">Bush to cut federal funding for California hospitals — Los Angeles Times</a> The Bush administration is closing a “regulatory loophole” that has provided hundreds of millions of federal dollars to health care facilities catering to the poor and uninsured, report Roger Rosenblatt and Nicholas Riccardi. “California’s safety net hospitals already are having trouble meeting their mission of caring for large numbers of people who lack health insurance,” they note, and hospital officials predict disaster.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.richardreeves.com/latest_column.html" type="external">Bush “stabbed history in the back” — Richard Reeves</a> “With a stroke of the pen on November 1, President Bush stabbed history in the back and blocked Americans’ ‘right to know’ how presidents actually make decisions,” says columnist Richard Reeves. After Bush signed the executive order severely limiting access to his own presidential papers as well as those of Ronald Reagan, George Bush Sr., and Bill Clinton, Reeves sent the president “a couple of books on recent presidencies along with a note saying they might become valuable artifacts, because no writer will be able to do books like them anymore.” In the past, he notes, presidential papers have provided valuable clues to US plans to assassinate foreign leaders including Fidel Castro, Chile’s Salvador Allende, and South Vietnam’s Ngo Dinh Diem. “I suspect these Bushmen, aware that they are headed into a nasty war, simply do not want to have to spend their later lives defending the decisions they are making now,” Reeves concludes.</p>
<p><a type="external" href="" />Nov. 20, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.suntimes.com/output/novak/cst-edt-novak181.html" type="external">Republican unrest on the Hill — Chicago Sun-Times</a> A Tuesday meeting of Republican congressional whips “erupted” with anger and frustration, columnist Robert Novak reports. The GOP stalwarts were upset by what they see as a lack of support from President George W. Bush, who they believe has abandoned them recently on key legislation, Novak says. The Republicans are reportedly “mystified” that Bush has failed to take a strong stand on the economic stimulus and airport security bills. The GOP whips also expressed animosity toward Budget Director Mitchell Daniels, “the latest Bush Cabinet member to become the target of Republican lawmakers,” Novak says.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=special&amp;s=cobble20011119" type="external">What the recount didn’t count — The Nation</a> The results of the long-awaited analysis of disputed Florida ballots in the 2000 presidential election by a consortium of major media outets led many to declare George W. Bush the clear winner. But The Nation reminds that the recount did nothing to address several serious flaws in the balloting itself, from the wrongful purging from voter lists of people mistakenly identified as felons to antiquated machinery in poor and minority districts that made votes in those areas more likely to be discarded. <a type="external" href="" /></p>
<p>Nov. 19, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=11927" type="external">Bush’s multilateral hypocrisy — AlterNet</a> There is a double standard at work, David Corn argues, when George W. Bush calls on the nations of the world to join the US in its international war on terrorism but refuses to join that same international community in its war on global warming. The US was conspicuously absent last week as 165 nations agreed to a new version of the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. The Bush administration should be humbled by the success of the climate talks, says Corn. “No doubt, the Bush administration had hoped that, with the United States out of the picture, other industrial nations would retreat (“Hey, why should we cut our greenhouse gasses, if America won’t?”) and this would trigger the collapse of the Kyoto process,” Corn says. “Then Bush could say, ‘Told you this was a bad deal, nobody’s sticking with it.’ But the other countries — including European partners in Bush’s anti-terrorism coalition — stayed the course.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.salon.com/tech/feature/2001/11/19/bush_oil/index.html" type="external">The oiliest administration — Salon.com</a> In the first of two articles on the Bush administration’s ties to the energy industry, Damien Cave outlines just how deep the connections with Big Oil run. We all know that Bush comes from an oil family, and that Vice President Dick Cheney was chief of an oil services firm until just before the election. But the connections go farther, extending to dozens of other administration members: National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice was on the board of Chevron; Commerce Secretary Donald Evans was the CEO of the natural gas firm Tom Brown Inc. “Their friends, finances, and worldviews are all oil-drenched,” writes Cave. “George W.’s ties to oil don’t prove that the industry decides our every foreign policy move. But they do just about guarantee, for all practical purposes, that nothing significant will change in American energy policy.” A great primer for understanding the oily context of current White House policy, both at home and overseas.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | nov 23 2001 keep terror trials public milwaukee journalsentinel bushs proposed secret military trials terror suspects would counterproductive cautions milwaukee journalsentinel would america look rest world started conduct secret military tribunals much credibility would verdicts trials especially muslim world asksthese people commit acts terrorism part say america represents world america represents rule law criminals perhaps especially criminals subject republican campaign insider oversee campaign financing rules associated press president bush aims nominate top republican party attorney campaign official serve federal election commission ap reports michael e toner republican national committees chief counsel bush campaigns general counsel attorney former sen bob doles 1996 presidential campaign another example appointing people federal election commission represent views regulated community rather public commented fred wertheimer head democracy 21 campaignfinance watchdog group nov 22 2001 bush cut federal funding california hospitals los angeles times bush administration closing regulatory loophole provided hundreds millions federal dollars health care facilities catering poor uninsured report roger rosenblatt nicholas riccardi californias safety net hospitals already trouble meeting mission caring large numbers people lack health insurance note hospital officials predict disaster bush stabbed history back richard reeves stroke pen november 1 president bush stabbed history back blocked americans right know presidents actually make decisions says columnist richard reeves bush signed executive order severely limiting access presidential papers well ronald reagan george bush sr bill clinton reeves sent president couple books recent presidencies along note saying might become valuable artifacts writer able books like anymore past notes presidential papers provided valuable clues us plans assassinate foreign leaders including fidel castro chiles salvador allende south vietnams ngo dinh diem suspect bushmen aware headed nasty war simply want spend later lives defending decisions making reeves concludes nov 20 2001 republican unrest hill chicago suntimes tuesday meeting republican congressional whips erupted anger frustration columnist robert novak reports gop stalwarts upset see lack support president george w bush believe abandoned recently key legislation novak says republicans reportedly mystified bush failed take strong stand economic stimulus airport security bills gop whips also expressed animosity toward budget director mitchell daniels latest bush cabinet member become target republican lawmakers novak says recount didnt count nation results longawaited analysis disputed florida ballots 2000 presidential election consortium major media outets led many declare george w bush clear winner nation reminds recount nothing address several serious flaws balloting wrongful purging voter lists people mistakenly identified felons antiquated machinery poor minority districts made votes areas likely discarded nov 19 2001 bushs multilateral hypocrisy alternet double standard work david corn argues george w bush calls nations world join us international war terrorism refuses join international community war global warming us conspicuously absent last week 165 nations agreed new version kyoto protocol global warming bush administration humbled success climate talks says corn doubt bush administration hoped united states picture industrial nations would retreat hey cut greenhouse gasses america wont would trigger collapse kyoto process corn says bush could say told bad deal nobodys sticking countries including european partners bushs antiterrorism coalition stayed course oiliest administration saloncom first two articles bush administrations ties energy industry damien cave outlines deep connections big oil run know bush comes oil family vice president dick cheney chief oil services firm election connections go farther extending dozens administration members national security adviser condoleezza rice board chevron commerce secretary donald evans ceo natural gas firm tom brown inc friends finances worldviews oildrenched writes cave george ws ties oil dont prove industry decides every foreign policy move guarantee practical purposes nothing significant change american energy policy great primer understanding oily context current white house policy home overseas | 592 |
<p>When I read books by nonexperts about nuclear weapons I imagine I am in a position somewhat similar to that of a professional musician who goes to a concert. The intention may be purely aesthetic but the facts intrude. One simply cannot ignore the “clinkers,” whatever one makes of the overall performance. This is what struck me when I read Garry Wills new book, “Bomb Power: The Modern Presidency and the National Security State.” Here are some of the clinkers I found in the first 26 pages. They range from the relatively trivial to the significant.</p>
<p>On Page 16, Wills tells us how Robert Oppenheimer was able to recruit some famous scientists to go to Los Alamos. He includes I.I. Rabi and Leo Szilard. Rabi declined to go to Los Alamos because he thought that radar was more important, and Szilard was never asked. The last thing Oppenheimer wanted to deal with was the temperament of Leo Szilard. On the next page Wills tells us that seven of the young people at Los Alamos went on to win Nobel prizes. The number was actually nine. It is easy to leave out Val Fitch, who went there as a soldier and began helping with some of the experiments and later was a professor at Princeton. On Page 13, Wills speaks of the work done at Hanford, Wash., as “to collect, extract and purify” plutonium. He seems not to understand that plutonium was manufactured at Hanford. Still less does he understand the difference between the plutonium weapons and the uranium one. He refers on Page 26 to the “plutonium-implosion one” and the “uranium-explosion one.” Does he think that the plutonium bomb did not explode? The difference is how the critical mass was assembled in the two weapons. In the uranium bomb two subcritical masses were fired at each other, while in the plutonium bomb a single mass was compressed.</p>
<p>Perhaps most seriously Wills does not seem to know about the genesis of Russian attempts to make the bomb. The Russians knew through their espionage just how far the Americans had gotten, and in December of 1944 Josef Stalin appointed Lavrenty Beria, the head of the secret police, to head the project. The Russians knew about our test at Alamogordo in July 1945 and the details of what was tested. When at Potsdam President Harry S. Truman told Stalin about a new weapon we had, Stalin showed little surprise. He already knew.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Power-Presidency-National-Security/dp/1594202400%3FSubscriptionId%3D1XWTFJ60BR6QZ1PW9FR2%26tag%3Dtruthdig20-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1594202400" type="external" /></p>
<p />
<p>By Garry Wills</p>
<p>The Penguin Press HC, 288 pages</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Power-Presidency-National-Security/dp/1594202400%3FSubscriptionId%3D1XWTFJ60BR6QZ1PW9FR2%26tag%3Dtruthdig20-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1594202400" type="external" /></p>
<p>As a rule when I find that someone has made such a collection of mistakes I stop reading. But Wills is an interesting writer of considerable stature and deserves to be read to the end. Besides, these howlers, while annoying, do not really affect the thesis of the book. It is Wills’ contention that the Bomb—he capitalizes the B when he refers to the nuclear device and so shall I—whatever the justification for its manufacture and use was built unconstitutionally and that the precedent that this set much amplified endures to the present day. As I will explain, I agree with the first part but think the second is largely in the se non è vero, è ben trovato category.</p>
<p>The American Bomb project began—but very slowly—with a 1939 letter mostly written by the aforementioned Szilard but signed by Albert Einstein and sent to President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Thus, from its inception the Bomb was in a different category from any other kind of military development such as radar. When Col. Leslie Groves reluctantly accepted the post of directing the Manhattan Project in 1942 he extracted several concessions. First there was an immediate promotion to brigadier general. Then he demanded an AAA priority for everything connected to the Bomb. Not only that, but Congress was to know nothing about it, something that extended even to Vice President Truman. The approximately 2 billion early-1940s dollars spent to build it were spent without any explicit congressional authorization. Groves had cities like Oak Ridge, Tenn., and Hanford constructed and filled with tens of thousands of inhabitants that were subject to no laws except for the ones he gave them. Los Alamos was a military base, and Groves could and did have anyone drafted into the Army at any time. As Wills points out, Article I, Section 9, Clause 7 of the Constitution says: “No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in the consequences of appropriation made by law, and a regular statement and account of the receipts and expenditures of all public money, shall be published from time to time.” As far as Groves was concerned, “from time to time” meant when he was good and ready. It must also be recalled that the ultimate use of the Bomb, then and now is a decision of the president alone. No congressional vote here.</p>
<p>One wonders how and why this happened. I cannot think of any other military development of this character. Radar, which was developed at this time, was certainly done on the books. Was it the secrecy of the Bomb program? Then and now, working on nuclear weapons requires a special kind of clearance called a “Q clearance.” As I can testify, one’s past life is pretty carefully scrutinized. I tried to get my security report using the Freedom of Information Act. I was going to write an article called “Friends and Neighbors.” Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan finally got it for me. It was largely redacted. No article. But wartime radar was also highly classified. Rabi told me that getting a clearance to work on it was harder than getting one to work at Los Alamos. Perhaps it was what was at stake. If the Germans had gotten the Bomb, the great fear at the time, the world would look very different. In retrospect it probably would not have made that much difference to the outcome if they had known as much about it as the Russians. Neither country had the resources in wartime for a project of this dimension. Groves’ concern—obsession—was with the Russians. This is why in the end he pushed the project through even after the Germans had surrendered. He knew from our own intelligence work months before that the Germans had gotten nowhere, something he did not share.After the war Groves wanted to maintain the American military hegemony over the Bomb. In this President Truman concurred and attempted to rush though a bill—the May-Johnson bill—which would have accomplished just that. But the atomic scientists and others objected strongly, and in the end the McMahon Act was passed in 1946 creating the civilian Atomic Energy Commission. The ultimate use of the Bomb was still a unilateral decision of the president, as was Truman’s January 1950 decision to institute a crash program to build the hydrogen bomb. A panel of distinguished scientists had been convened to advise. Nearly all of them said not to go ahead, that this was not a weapon of war but an instrument of genocide. Truman, mistakenly in my view, ignored them, and this set off an unnecessary arms race which we are still trying to unwind. On the matter of the presidential power over the Bomb, I confess I am of two minds. It can lead to foolish presidential decisions such as announcing a crash program for making the hydrogen bomb when no one had any idea how to do it. What it accomplished was setting the Russians off on their own program—this one without the aid of espionage. They succeeded. We succeeded. The French, the British and the Chinese succeeded and probably the Israelis, Indians and Pakistanis as well, and none of this has increased anyone’s security an iota. On the other hand, it can lead to excellent presidential decisions such as Truman’s to fire Gen. Douglas MacArthur in the Korean War when the latter wanted to use nuclear weapons on the Chinese. Truman had the power to do this despite the uproar he knew it would generate. My democratic instincts tell me that concentrating so much power in an individual is wrong, but on the other hand I am not sure that I can think of a better system. Wills is sure that it is wrong, but what is his better system?</p>
<p>Wills’ book is a catalog of the abuses of the “imperial presidency.” This part is fine, but tying all of this into the Bomb I find procrustean. Take the case of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Wills points out how Eisenhower was complicit in the attempt to overthrow several foreign governments, including that of Mohammad Mossadegh in Iran. But he ignores what Eisenhower actually tried to do about nuclear weapons. In 1953, Eisenhower gave an address to the United Nations on the subject that is still worth reading. Here is a little sample:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Power-Presidency-National-Security/dp/1594202400%3FSubscriptionId%3D1XWTFJ60BR6QZ1PW9FR2%26tag%3Dtruthdig20-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1594202400" type="external" /></p>
<p>By Garry Wills</p>
<p>The Penguin Press HC, 288 pages</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bomb-Power-Presidency-National-Security/dp/1594202400%3FSubscriptionId%3D1XWTFJ60BR6QZ1PW9FR2%26tag%3Dtruthdig20-20%26linkCode%3Dxm2%26camp%3D2025%26creative%3D165953%26creativeASIN%3D1594202400" type="external" /></p>
<p>“The United States would seek more than the mere reduction or elimination of atomic materials for military purposes.</p>
<p>“It is not enough to take this weapon out of the hands of the soldiers. It must be put into the hands of those who will know how to strip its military casing and adapt it to the arts of peace.</p>
<p>“The United States knows that if the fearful trend of atomic military build-up can be reversed, this greatest of destructive forces can be developed into a great boon, for the benefit of all mankind.</p>
<p>“The United States knows that peaceful power from atomic energy is no dream of the future. That capability, already proved, is here — now — today. Who can doubt, if the entire body of the world’s scientists and engineers had adequate amounts of fissionable material with which to test and develop their ideas, that this capability would rapidly be transformed into universal, efficient, and economic usage.</p>
<p>“To hasten the day when fear of the atom will begin to disappear from the minds of people, and the governments of the East and West, there are certain steps that can be taken now.</p>
<p>“I therefore make the following proposals:</p>
<p>“The Governments principally involved, to the extent permitted by elementary prudence, to begin now and continue to make joint contributions from their stockpiles of normal uranium and fissionable materials to an international Atomic Energy Agency. We would expect that such an agency would be set up under the aegis of the United Nations.</p>
<p>“The ratios of contributions, the procedures and other details would properly be within the scope of the ‘private conversations’ I have referred to earlier.</p>
<p>“The United States is prepared to undertake these explorations in good faith. Any partner of the United States acting in the same good faith will find the United States a not unreasonable or ungenerous associate.</p>
<p>“Undoubtedly initial and early contributions to this plan would be small in quantity. However, the proposal has the great virtue that it can be undertaken without the irritations and mutual suspicions incident to any attempt to set up a completely acceptable system of world-wide inspection and control.</p>
<p>“The Atomic Energy Agency could be made responsible for the impounding, storage, and protection of the contributed fissionable and other materials. The ingenuity of our scientists will provide special safe conditions under which such a bank of fissionable material can be made essentially immune to surprise seizure.</p>
<p>“The more important responsibility of this Atomic Energy Agency would be to devise methods whereby this fissionable material would be allocated to serve the peaceful pursuits of mankind. Experts would be mobilized to apply atomic energy to the needs of agriculture, medicine, and other peaceful activities. A special purpose would be to provide abundant electrical energy in the power-starved areas of the world. Thus the contributing powers would be dedicating some of their strength to serve the needs rather than the fears of mankind.</p>
<p>“The United States would be more than willing—it would be proud to take up with others ‘principally involved’ the development of plans whereby such peaceful use of atomic energy would be expedited.</p>
<p>“Of those ‘principally involved’ the Soviet Union must, of course, be one.”</p>
<p>Eisenhower followed this up in 1955 at a large “Atoms for Peace” conference in Geneva. A reactor was manufactured for the occasion by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and there are photographs of Ike turning it on. Twenty-six countries, including Iran and Pakistan, were given grants to buy American reactors. There was one catch. Because we had excess amounts of highly enriched uranium—weapons grade—this became the fuel element of choice. There is still about a hundred metric tons of the stuff, much of it still floating around—enough to make a huge arsenal of bombs. There is an ongoing attempt to buy this back from countries we gave it to. This is a real concern and not some intellectual exercise which tries to connect all the ills of the abuse of presidential power to the Bomb. I found much of this argument irrelevant and distracting. I kept thinking of a lunch I attended years ago in the French mountain town of Chamonix. The guest of honor was a French climber noted for both his Alpine skills and his sardonic sense of humor. The ladies specially prepared a canard a l’Orange. The honored guest was asked for his opinion. “Without these lousy oranges,” he said, “it would have been delicious.”</p>
<p>Jeremy Bernstein is a physicist who has worked at Los Alamos. He is the author of numerous books, including, most recently, “Quantum Leaps” and “Plutonium: A History of the World’s Most Dangerous Element.”</p> | true | 4 | read books nonexperts nuclear weapons imagine position somewhat similar professional musician goes concert intention may purely aesthetic facts intrude one simply ignore clinkers whatever one makes overall performance struck read garry wills new book bomb power modern presidency national security state clinkers found first 26 pages range relatively trivial significant page 16 wills tells us robert oppenheimer able recruit famous scientists go los alamos includes ii rabi leo szilard rabi declined go los alamos thought radar important szilard never asked last thing oppenheimer wanted deal temperament leo szilard next page wills tells us seven young people los alamos went win nobel prizes number actually nine easy leave val fitch went soldier began helping experiments later professor princeton page 13 wills speaks work done hanford wash collect extract purify plutonium seems understand plutonium manufactured hanford still less understand difference plutonium weapons uranium one refers page 26 plutoniumimplosion one uraniumexplosion one think plutonium bomb explode difference critical mass assembled two weapons uranium bomb two subcritical masses fired plutonium bomb single mass compressed perhaps seriously wills seem know genesis russian attempts make bomb russians knew espionage far americans gotten december 1944 josef stalin appointed lavrenty beria head secret police head project russians knew test alamogordo july 1945 details tested potsdam president harry truman told stalin new weapon stalin showed little surprise already knew garry wills penguin press hc 288 pages rule find someone made collection mistakes stop reading wills interesting writer considerable stature deserves read end besides howlers annoying really affect thesis book wills contention bombhe capitalizes b refers nuclear device shall iwhatever justification manufacture use built unconstitutionally precedent set much amplified endures present day explain agree first part think second largely se non è vero è ben trovato category american bomb project beganbut slowlywith 1939 letter mostly written aforementioned szilard signed albert einstein sent president franklin roosevelt thus inception bomb different category kind military development radar col leslie groves reluctantly accepted post directing manhattan project 1942 extracted several concessions first immediate promotion brigadier general demanded aaa priority everything connected bomb congress know nothing something extended even vice president truman approximately 2 billion early1940s dollars spent build spent without explicit congressional authorization groves cities like oak ridge tenn hanford constructed filled tens thousands inhabitants subject laws except ones gave los alamos military base groves could anyone drafted army time wills points article section 9 clause 7 constitution says money shall drawn treasury consequences appropriation made law regular statement account receipts expenditures public money shall published time time far groves concerned time time meant good ready must also recalled ultimate use bomb decision president alone congressional vote one wonders happened think military development character radar developed time certainly done books secrecy bomb program working nuclear weapons requires special kind clearance called q clearance testify ones past life pretty carefully scrutinized tried get security report using freedom information act going write article called friends neighbors sen daniel patrick moynihan finally got largely redacted article wartime radar also highly classified rabi told getting clearance work harder getting one work los alamos perhaps stake germans gotten bomb great fear time world would look different retrospect probably would made much difference outcome known much russians neither country resources wartime project dimension groves concernobsessionwas russians end pushed project even germans surrendered knew intelligence work months germans gotten nowhere something shareafter war groves wanted maintain american military hegemony bomb president truman concurred attempted rush though billthe mayjohnson billwhich would accomplished atomic scientists others objected strongly end mcmahon act passed 1946 creating civilian atomic energy commission ultimate use bomb still unilateral decision president trumans january 1950 decision institute crash program build hydrogen bomb panel distinguished scientists convened advise nearly said go ahead weapon war instrument genocide truman mistakenly view ignored set unnecessary arms race still trying unwind matter presidential power bomb confess two minds lead foolish presidential decisions announcing crash program making hydrogen bomb one idea accomplished setting russians programthis one without aid espionage succeeded succeeded french british chinese succeeded probably israelis indians pakistanis well none increased anyones security iota hand lead excellent presidential decisions trumans fire gen douglas macarthur korean war latter wanted use nuclear weapons chinese truman power despite uproar knew would generate democratic instincts tell concentrating much power individual wrong hand sure think better system wills sure wrong better system wills book catalog abuses imperial presidency part fine tying bomb find procrustean take case president dwight eisenhower wills points eisenhower complicit attempt overthrow several foreign governments including mohammad mossadegh iran ignores eisenhower actually tried nuclear weapons 1953 eisenhower gave address united nations subject still worth reading little sample garry wills penguin press hc 288 pages united states would seek mere reduction elimination atomic materials military purposes enough take weapon hands soldiers must put hands know strip military casing adapt arts peace united states knows fearful trend atomic military buildup reversed greatest destructive forces developed great boon benefit mankind united states knows peaceful power atomic energy dream future capability already proved today doubt entire body worlds scientists engineers adequate amounts fissionable material test develop ideas capability would rapidly transformed universal efficient economic usage hasten day fear atom begin disappear minds people governments east west certain steps taken therefore make following proposals governments principally involved extent permitted elementary prudence begin continue make joint contributions stockpiles normal uranium fissionable materials international atomic energy agency would expect agency would set aegis united nations ratios contributions procedures details would properly within scope private conversations referred earlier united states prepared undertake explorations good faith partner united states acting good faith find united states unreasonable ungenerous associate undoubtedly initial early contributions plan would small quantity however proposal great virtue undertaken without irritations mutual suspicions incident attempt set completely acceptable system worldwide inspection control atomic energy agency could made responsible impounding storage protection contributed fissionable materials ingenuity scientists provide special safe conditions bank fissionable material made essentially immune surprise seizure important responsibility atomic energy agency would devise methods whereby fissionable material would allocated serve peaceful pursuits mankind experts would mobilized apply atomic energy needs agriculture medicine peaceful activities special purpose would provide abundant electrical energy powerstarved areas world thus contributing powers would dedicating strength serve needs rather fears mankind united states would willingit would proud take others principally involved development plans whereby peaceful use atomic energy would expedited principally involved soviet union must course one eisenhower followed 1955 large atoms peace conference geneva reactor manufactured occasion oak ridge national laboratory photographs ike turning twentysix countries including iran pakistan given grants buy american reactors one catch excess amounts highly enriched uraniumweapons gradethis became fuel element choice still hundred metric tons stuff much still floating aroundenough make huge arsenal bombs ongoing attempt buy back countries gave real concern intellectual exercise tries connect ills abuse presidential power bomb found much argument irrelevant distracting kept thinking lunch attended years ago french mountain town chamonix guest honor french climber noted alpine skills sardonic sense humor ladies specially prepared canard lorange honored guest asked opinion without lousy oranges said would delicious jeremy bernstein physicist worked los alamos author numerous books including recently quantum leaps plutonium history worlds dangerous element | 1,177 |
<p>ginosphotos/Getty</p>
<p />
<p>When Carlos Eliezer Ortiz Muñoz arrived at the Denver Contract Detention Facility in Aurora, Colorado, in 2014, he was given a clothing package and assigned to a housing unit, where he’d have to stay for months. Like <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/publications/DHS%20HSAC%20PIDF%20Final%20Report.pdf" type="external">tens of thousands</a> of other immigrants across the country who are kept in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention each night, Ortiz and his fellow detainees were waiting to see if they’d win their immigration cases or face deportation.</p>
<p>Before long, the private prison company that ran the detention center put Ortiz to work. Each day in his housing unit, guards assigned a crew of six detainees to clean the private and common living areas; scrub down toilets, showers, and eating tables; and sweep and mop floors. “None of us got paid anything,” Ortiz said in a court statement. But he couldn’t protest—he knew he could be sent to solitary confinement if he refused to do the cleaning. “Some of the guards would threaten us by saying, ‘¿Quieres ir al hoyo?‘” Ortiz said. “‘You want to go to the hole?'”</p>
<p>The GEO Group, the private prison company that operates Aurora, allegedly forced more than 50,000 immigrants like Ortiz to work without pay or for $1 a day since 2004, according to a lawsuit that nine detainees brought against the company in 2014. On February 27, a federal judge ruled that their case could proceed as a class action, breathing new life into a suit that exposes the extent to which the for-profit company relied on cheap or unpaid detainee labor to minimize costs at the Aurora facility.</p>
<p>“If we’re right, and these practices are illegal, it has tremendous implications on the ability of the government to use detention in the immigration enforcement architecture,” says Andrew Free, an immigration attorney on the detainees’ legal team. “It would prompt a serious rethinking of whom to detain, and how much it’s going to cost.”</p>
<p>GEO incarcerates more immigrants (and receives more public money to do so) than any other detention center operator, according to an <a href="http://www.endisolation.org/resources/immigration-detention/" type="external">analysis</a> by the anti-detention group CIVIC. And its business detaining immigrants for ICE is only expected to grow “with this increased and expanded approach to border security,” CEO George Zoley said in a&#160;February <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/4048527-geo-groups-geo-ceo-george-zoley-q4-2016-results-earnings-call-transcript" type="external">earnings call</a>.</p>
<p>According to the lawsuit, there were two ways GEO cashed in on cheap labor from detainees. There was the facility’s <a href="" type="internal">sanitation policy</a>, under which detainees like Ortiz were required to work as janitors without pay. If they didn’t, they risked being punished with solitary confinement, according to GEO’s <a href="" type="internal">local detainee handbook</a>. Detainees could also apply for a job in Aurora’s voluntary work program, which paid them exactly $1 a day to keep the facility running.</p>
<p>In a statement, GEO spokesman Pablo Paez wrote that GEO’s volunteer work program policies follow federal standards. “We have consistently, strongly refuted the allegations made in this lawsuit, and we intend to continue to vigorously defend our company against these claims,” he said. “The&#160;volunteer&#160;work&#160;program&#160;at all immigration facilities as well as the minimum wage rates and standards associated with the&#160;program&#160;are set by the Federal government under mandated performance-based national detention standards.”</p>
<p>ICE’s <a href="https://www.ice.gov/doclib/detention-standards/2011/5-8.pdf" type="external">standards</a> for immigration detention centers say that voluntary work programs are intended to give detainees “opportunities to work and earn money while confined.” Yet David Fathi, director of the ACLU’s National Prison Project, says it’s questionable whether such programs are truly voluntary for people “held in captivity, against their will.” While working may be a positive outlet for incarcerated people, Fathi says, “the problem isn’t the existence of the work program. The problem is this inherently coercive relationship that makes the workers uniquely vulnerable to exploitation and abuse.”</p>
<p>Some people in Aurora’s program stripped and waxed floors, while others did laundry, prepared food, cut hair, or worked in the library. Shifts lasted between three and eight hours, according to a copy of Aurora’s <a href="" type="internal">detainee work program policy</a>, and detainees were paid the same $1 no matter how long they were assigned to work.</p>
<p>Lourdes Argueta volunteered. She was given a job as a janitor in the medical unit, where she and other detainees “clean toilets, sweep and mop floors, pull carpets and clean floors, clean windows, remove trash, clean patients’ rooms (including cleaning up blood, feces and urine), and perform other cleaning tasks,” she said in a statement to the court. She also worked in GEO’s booking area, creating new detainee files and putting together packages of clothing for new detainees.</p>
<p>During a deposition, GEO’s assistant business manager at Aurora testified that if there were no “voluntary workers” like Argueta, the company would need to bring in additional officers, paid at hourly wages set by rules in GEO’s contract, to get the same work done. So how much would the company have to shell out if it didn’t rely on cheap detainee labor? Under GEO’s contract with ICE, which incorporated federal wage regulations, the lowest allowable employee wage at the Aurora facility was $10.90 an hour for food service workers. A typical shift in the voluntary work program lasted approximately seven hours, according to the <a href="" type="internal">detainee work program policy</a>—so if GEO had hired additional employees to do the work, it would have cost the company nearly $76.30 per shift. (That’s a lowball estimate, given that some detainees worked jobs that would have paid significantly more.) Instead, they spent $1.</p>
<p>That translates to huge cost savings. Take, for example, November 2012, when detainees took hundreds of voluntary work program shifts. If GEO had hired employees to do those jobs instead, the company would have spent more than $125,000 in wages and benefits that month. GEO’s actual payments: $1,680.</p>
<p>That number only increases if you account for Aurora’s sanitation policy, under which all detainees in the facility did janitorial work in the housing units for no pay, the lawsuit alleges. GEO employees doing the same work would have been eligible for $12.01 per hour in wages, under the company’s contract with ICE.</p>
<p>“If GEO was absorbing all of the labor costs, its profit would be less,” explains Nina DiSalvo, executive director of <a href="http://www.towardsjustice.org/" type="external">Towards Justice</a>, one of the firms representing the detainees. Andrew Free, the attorney, goes further: “It turns their profits upside down,” he claims. “It would be a money-losing enterprise if they had to pay the people to operate this facility under the current contract.” (Given that the Department of Homeland Security pays an average of <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/wp-content/uploads/publications/FY2017_BIB-MASTER.pdf" type="external">$126.46 per day</a> to detain one immigrant, that may not be a stretch.)</p>
<p>So how does the company get away with it? The “dollar a day” policy dates back to 1978, when Congress passed an appropriations bill funding voluntary detainee work programs, says Jacqueline Stevens, the head of Northwestern University’s <a href="http://buffett.northwestern.edu/programs/deportationresearch/" type="external">Deportation Research Clinic</a>, whose research on detainee labor informed the 2014 suit. But that was before the rise of private prison companies, she adds—and it was initially implemented in government-run facilities, not those run by for-profit companies beholden to shareholders. “GEO’s privately held, so there’s an extra concern that they may be exploiting people in a way an institution run by the federal government would not be,” Stevens explains.</p>
<p>When immigrants inside Aurora filed grievances asking why they weren’t paid more, GEO’s assistant business manager replied by saying that ICE, not the company, set the daily rate. But in February’s order, Colorado District Court Judge John Kane ruled that while ICE only reimburses GEO for $1 per detainee shift, the company could pay more if it wanted. (And in fact, in at least one other location, <a href="http://deportationresearchclinic.org/GEO-S-TX-July-2009.pdf" type="external">it appears</a> to have paid detainees more than the $1 ICE reimbursed it for, Stevens says.) While the detainees aren’t eligible for employment under GEO’s contract, their lawsuit argues that GEO “unjustly enriched” itself by misleading them about how much it could pay.</p>
<p>“By far the greatest expense of running any detention facility is labor,” Fathi says. “GEO has got to be worried that if this practice is unlawful at one facility, it’s presumptively unlawful at all facilities.” If they lose, he adds, “they have to be looking at not just what they would have to pay at Aurora.”</p>
<p>The lawsuit also argues that the <a href="" type="internal">sanitation policy</a> violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, a modern anti-slavery statute. To maintain cleanliness in the housing units, GEO used housekeeping crews like the one Ortiz was assigned to when he arrived at Aurora. According to GEO’s <a href="" type="internal">local detainee handbook</a>, refusing to clean was considered a “high moderate”-level offense and was punishable by several possible sanctions, including up to three days of so-called “disciplinary segregation”: solitary confinement. Plaintiff Demetrio Valerga told the court in a statement that he “did the work anyway because it was well known that those who refused to do that work for free were put in ‘the hole.'” With the sanitation policy in place, the company employed just one janitor for the 1,500-bed facility.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ice.gov/doclib/detention-standards/2011/5-8.pdf" type="external">ICE’s own standards</a> say detainees can’t be required to work, except for keeping “immediate living areas” neat: making their beds, stacking loose papers, and keeping the floor and furniture uncluttered. Under questioning during a deposition, Aurora’s assistant warden of operations made it clear that GEO considered all parts of the housing unit (bathrooms and day areas, as well as cells) to be fair game. Yet a federal watchdog agency recently <a href="https://www.oig.dhs.gov/assets/Mga/OIG-mga-030617.pdf" type="external">found</a> that requiring detained immigrants to clean any common areas used by all detainees was a violation of ICE standards.</p>
<p>“Imagine you see people being yelled at by guards and thrown in solitary all the time,” Free says. “In order to avoid solitary yourself, you have to maintain the sanitary nature of the facility you’re being housed in. And then they say, ‘If you want, we’ll pay you a dollar a day to do something else. If you don’t, you’re still going to work when we tell you to.’ And the company that’s on the other end of this is making millions.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | ginosphotosgetty carlos eliezer ortiz muñoz arrived denver contract detention facility aurora colorado 2014 given clothing package assigned housing unit hed stay months like tens thousands immigrants across country kept immigration customs enforcement ice detention night ortiz fellow detainees waiting see theyd win immigration cases face deportation long private prison company ran detention center put ortiz work day housing unit guards assigned crew six detainees clean private common living areas scrub toilets showers eating tables sweep mop floors none us got paid anything ortiz said court statement couldnt protesthe knew could sent solitary confinement refused cleaning guards would threaten us saying quieres ir al hoyo ortiz said want go hole geo group private prison company operates aurora allegedly forced 50000 immigrants like ortiz work without pay 1 day since 2004 according lawsuit nine detainees brought company 2014 february 27 federal judge ruled case could proceed class action breathing new life suit exposes extent forprofit company relied cheap unpaid detainee labor minimize costs aurora facility right practices illegal tremendous implications ability government use detention immigration enforcement architecture says andrew free immigration attorney detainees legal team would prompt serious rethinking detain much going cost geo incarcerates immigrants receives public money detention center operator according analysis antidetention group civic business detaining immigrants ice expected grow increased expanded approach border security ceo george zoley said a160february earnings call according lawsuit two ways geo cashed cheap labor detainees facilitys sanitation policy detainees like ortiz required work janitors without pay didnt risked punished solitary confinement according geos local detainee handbook detainees could also apply job auroras voluntary work program paid exactly 1 day keep facility running statement geo spokesman pablo paez wrote geos volunteer work program policies follow federal standards consistently strongly refuted allegations made lawsuit intend continue vigorously defend company claims said the160volunteer160work160program160at immigration facilities well minimum wage rates standards associated the160program160are set federal government mandated performancebased national detention standards ices standards immigration detention centers say voluntary work programs intended give detainees opportunities work earn money confined yet david fathi director aclus national prison project says questionable whether programs truly voluntary people held captivity working may positive outlet incarcerated people fathi says problem isnt existence work program problem inherently coercive relationship makes workers uniquely vulnerable exploitation abuse people auroras program stripped waxed floors others laundry prepared food cut hair worked library shifts lasted three eight hours according copy auroras detainee work program policy detainees paid 1 matter long assigned work lourdes argueta volunteered given job janitor medical unit detainees clean toilets sweep mop floors pull carpets clean floors clean windows remove trash clean patients rooms including cleaning blood feces urine perform cleaning tasks said statement court also worked geos booking area creating new detainee files putting together packages clothing new detainees deposition geos assistant business manager aurora testified voluntary workers like argueta company would need bring additional officers paid hourly wages set rules geos contract get work done much would company shell didnt rely cheap detainee labor geos contract ice incorporated federal wage regulations lowest allowable employee wage aurora facility 1090 hour food service workers typical shift voluntary work program lasted approximately seven hours according detainee work program policyso geo hired additional employees work would cost company nearly 7630 per shift thats lowball estimate given detainees worked jobs would paid significantly instead spent 1 translates huge cost savings take example november 2012 detainees took hundreds voluntary work program shifts geo hired employees jobs instead company would spent 125000 wages benefits month geos actual payments 1680 number increases account auroras sanitation policy detainees facility janitorial work housing units pay lawsuit alleges geo employees work would eligible 1201 per hour wages companys contract ice geo absorbing labor costs profit would less explains nina disalvo executive director towards justice one firms representing detainees andrew free attorney goes turns profits upside claims would moneylosing enterprise pay people operate facility current contract given department homeland security pays average 12646 per day detain one immigrant may stretch company get away dollar day policy dates back 1978 congress passed appropriations bill funding voluntary detainee work programs says jacqueline stevens head northwestern universitys deportation research clinic whose research detainee labor informed 2014 suit rise private prison companies addsand initially implemented governmentrun facilities run forprofit companies beholden shareholders geos privately held theres extra concern may exploiting people way institution run federal government would stevens explains immigrants inside aurora filed grievances asking werent paid geos assistant business manager replied saying ice company set daily rate februarys order colorado district court judge john kane ruled ice reimburses geo 1 per detainee shift company could pay wanted fact least one location appears paid detainees 1 ice reimbursed stevens says detainees arent eligible employment geos contract lawsuit argues geo unjustly enriched misleading much could pay far greatest expense running detention facility labor fathi says geo got worried practice unlawful one facility presumptively unlawful facilities lose adds looking would pay aurora lawsuit also argues sanitation policy violated trafficking victims protection act modern antislavery statute maintain cleanliness housing units geo used housekeeping crews like one ortiz assigned arrived aurora according geos local detainee handbook refusing clean considered high moderatelevel offense punishable several possible sanctions including three days socalled disciplinary segregation solitary confinement plaintiff demetrio valerga told court statement work anyway well known refused work free put hole sanitation policy place company employed one janitor 1500bed facility ices standards say detainees cant required work except keeping immediate living areas neat making beds stacking loose papers keeping floor furniture uncluttered questioning deposition auroras assistant warden operations made clear geo considered parts housing unit bathrooms day areas well cells fair game yet federal watchdog agency recently found requiring detained immigrants clean common areas used detainees violation ice standards imagine see people yelled guards thrown solitary time free says order avoid solitary maintain sanitary nature facility youre housed say want well pay dollar day something else dont youre still going work tell company thats end making millions | 982 |
<p>On December 7 security forces in Pakistan Kashmir (PK) closed a camp linked with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LT), the Pakistan militant group India says was behind the killings in Mumbai. The government then banned its civilian “front” Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JD), following its designation as a “terrorist group” by the United Nations: 100 offices were sealed and 50 leaders arrested.</p>
<p>Among those detained were LT commanders Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi and&#160; Zarrar Shah and LT founder and JD “emir” Hafiz Saeed. India says the first two orchestrated the Mumbai carnage. It says Saeed gave the gunmen a “motivational” speech in a LT camp in PK before they set out for Mumbai.</p>
<p>The United States welcomed the moves, as did the European Union. India kept silent. Understandably.</p>
<p>Before his arrest Saeed denied all charges as “Indian propaganda”, vowing to take his case to the Pakistan High court. But he called for neither protests nor violence. “We don’t want confrontation,” said a JD source. “We understand the government needs good relations with India”.</p>
<p>Sure enough, the sweep against LT and JD has so far met barely a bump.&#160; The signs are it will be no more serious than its 2002 preamble. Then LT and other Pakistan militant groups were banned and 2,000 arrested on Indian charges that they had attacked the Indian parliament. Most were released within the year. Pakistan’s powerful military establishment – which determines policy on “banned” groups rather than the civilian&#160; government – may think this time too the squall will pass.</p>
<p>It probably won’t. Since Mumbai, India and the US have choreographed a policy of coercive diplomacy against Islamabad. America is the good cop, saying there is “no evidence” linking the Pakistan state to Mumbai. Delhi is the bad: “there is not a modicum of doubt about the complicity of elements of Pakistan, including the ISI” (Pakistan’s Inter Service Intelligence agency), says an Indian official.</p>
<p>But both are cops and determined to break whatever links remain between the ISI and groups like LT. The fall out from Mumbai will depend on how the army responds.</p>
<p>Proxy Wars in Kashmir</p>
<p>LT was set up in 1989 to fight Pakistan’s “deniable” proxy wars in Afghanistan and Indian Kashmir (IK), the Himalayan territory claimed by both states since partition and cause of two of their three wars. LT’s goal is the establishment of a “pure Islamic state” throughout South Asia, including India. The ISI’s goal was to use proxies to “bleed” India into submission in IK.</p>
<p>In the 1990s, the liaison was overt. LT recruited fighters throughout Pakistan, but particularly the southern Punjab (whence most the Mumbai gunmen allegedly derive). In 1999 they fought with Pakistan soldiers in Kargil in IK: the last time the two armies tried to force a resolution of the conflict.</p>
<p>But change came with the attack on the Indian parliament – apparently. Guided by the US, Pakistan and India moved from near war to a ceasefire to, in 2004, a peace process. What began as a ban, appeared to become policy.</p>
<p>The ISI demobilized 12,000 fighters in PK. Six divisions of the army were moved from the eastern border with India to the western border with Afghanistan, where Pakistan was battling an indigenous insurgency by the Pakistan Taliban. Infiltration into IK fell.</p>
<p>But “war by proxy” wasn’t abandoned altogether, particularly for pro-Pakistan groups like LT. Their camps were moved inland or, on frontiers like PK, camouflaged as JD “centers”: their guerillas did sterling work as rescuers during the 2005 Kashmir earthquake. When presented with this as evidence that the “jihadis” had not been de- mobbed but “re-jobbed” a Pakistani General was unapologetic. “We won’t disband them. If we did, Kashmir would go cold and India will bury it forever”.</p>
<p>Kashmir has warmed since. This year has seen increased militant penetration across the Line of Control separating Pakistan from Indian Kashmir, triggering skirmishes. In southern Punjab LT-JD “recruiters” have reappeared, proselytizing for jihad. At a funeral in Bahawalpur in the summer a JD preacher eulogized “60 martyrs” from that area alone, most killed in Kashmir.</p>
<p>The new line must have been driven by the ISI: it emerged during in the hiatus between the end of General Pervez Musharraf’s military regime and Pakistan’s new civilian government, elected in February 2008. But it doesn’t seem to have been a response to the mass demonstrations for independence that rocked IK this summer. These were caused by&#160; indigenous Muslim alienation to Indian rule rather than any “mischief” by Pakistan, cede Indian analysts.</p>
<p>Meanwhile in Afghanistan …</p>
<p>The reason the ISI relaxed its hold on LT was probably Afghanistan.</p>
<p>For the last two years the army has been fighting Islamic militants on its Afghan border. More than 1000 soldiers have been killed. The insurgency’s epicenter is the Pashtun tribal areas that straddle the so-called Durrand Line: drawn by the British in the 19th century and accepted as Pakistan’s western border at the time of partition, no Afghan government has ever recognized it. Defeat in the tribal areas would mean the emergence of an “independent” Pashtun Islamic “state”, says a Pakistani officer.</p>
<p>Pakistan’s counterinsurgency is not uniform. In Bajaur tribal area punitive aerial bombardments are coupled with ground offensives to wrest back territory captured by the “enemy”. In North and South Waziristan ceasefires are cut with pro-Taliban tribesmen, often mediated by Afghan Taliban commanders Jalaluddin and Sirajuddin Haqqani.&#160; The army says it lacks the capacity to “deal with all the Taliban groups at once. If you go for all out confrontation, you lose whatever control you have”.</p>
<p>But there’s another reason for the difference. In Bajaur the army believes it’s fighting an anti-Pakistan insurgency led by the Pakistan Taliban and elements of al Qaeda but fueled by “agencies” from India and Afghanistan. In the Waziristans the tribes support the Afghan Taliban but are not anti-Pakistani per se. Unlike the militants in Bajaur they are not deemed hostile by the army. “They are our people,” says an officer.</p>
<p>India denies any hand in the tribal areas. “In Afghanistan we build roads”, says an Indian diplomat. That’s so. India, with Iran, is laying a road network that once complete will circumvent landlocked Afghanistan’s need to use Pakistan’s ports to the Gulf, outlets Islamabad deems vital to its economic future. India also helps train the Afghan army. Its aid to Afghanistan is $2.1 billion – quite a bit for a country that’s 99 percent Muslim and with which Delhi has no border.</p>
<p>And Delhi exerts undue influence over American policy in Afghanistan, says army officials. Two examples are cited. One is Washington’s endorsement&#160; of India’s claim that the ISI was “involved” in the July bombing of its embassy in Kabul, where 50 were killed. Since then, the CIA has refused to share intelligence with the ISI, including in the tribal areas. “It fears we will pass it on to the Afghan Taliban,” says an officer.</p>
<p>The other was President Bush’s order in July that US Special Forces in Afghanistan could enter Pakistani territory in pursuit of al Qaeda and Taliban “targets” without the approval of the Pakistani government. There has been one US ground assault and 22 aerial missile strikes since, overwhelmingly in the Waziristans. These, says the CIA, are “safe havens” for the Taliban and al Qaeda: the source of the greatest seepage of fighters into Afghanistan and where the “next 9/11” is probably being plotted. They’re also one of the few sites of peace between the army and the Taliban.</p>
<p>Washington says there is a “tacit” agreement about the strikes with Pakistan. The government denies this. The army says they are violations of Pakistani sovereignty and “counterproductive” to its attempts to move the tribes against the militants. It also sees Indian fingerprints all over them. “The Americans want India to be the regional power,” says a security source. Many of “these militants in the tribal areas are being financed by India and Afghanistan”.</p>
<p>To what end? Two scenarios are sketched by the military. The mildest is to create such ferment in the tribal areas that the CIA, NATO and Afghan army will enter them, wresting back Pashtun lands long claimed by Kabul. The worst is to dismember Pakistan as the world’s only Muslim nuclear state. “India thinks a fragmented Pakistan would reduce the threat level,” says another source.</p>
<p>“The more I talk to the (military) establishment, the more I’m convinced fear and hatred of India is growing,” says a Pakistani analyst, who refused to be attributed. “And now it’s India with America”.</p>
<p>Does this mean the ISI was involved in the Mumbai or Kabul attacks? Not necessarily: it simply underscores the recklessness of having proxies or covert alliances over which Islamabad actually has no control.</p>
<p>None but the most conspiratorial can believe Pakistan’s regional aims are furthered by the atrocities in Mumbai and Kabul. Yet they may square with the goals of those (like the Taliban and al Qaeda) that want “independence of activity” in the tribal areas or (like LT) a “clash of civilizations” between Hindu and Muslim in South Asia. These are the fissures in which all three groups thrive.</p>
<p>This is the reason Pakistan’s current suppression of LT-JD should be real rather than virtual. But “coercive diplomacy” won’t induce it. Nor is it much use for Washington or London to conspire with Pakistan’s hapless civilian government to wrest national security policy from the hands of the army and ISI. Afghanistan, India and nuclear weapons have been their policy preserve for 30 years. With the western border aflame and the eastern simmering they are not going to be given up now.</p>
<p>The only way the army will loosen its hold on these policies – and abandon proxies – is if its regional concerns are addressed. With Afghanistan this means recognition by its government and US that the Durrand Line is Pakistan’s legitimate border and that all counterinsurgency operations on the Pakistani side are the exclusive right of the army. With India it means resolution of Kashmir. The two are interlinked, says an analyst.</p>
<p>“The army’s recent experience with India is very bitter. After 2004 the army scaled down militant intrusions into Kashmir by 95 percent. And India’s response was not to talk about Kashmir and say the issue was solved. The army thinks it would be the same in Afghanistan if it abandoned the Afghan Taliban”.</p>
<p>Prior to Mumbai it wasn’t only analysts who made that connection. Last year US president-elect Barack Obama wrote: “if Pakistan can look towards the east with confidence, it will be less likely to believe its interests are best advanced through cooperation with the Taliban”. He later said peace between India and Pakistan could be the fulcrum for a greater regional engagement in America’s losing war in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>Of all Mumbai’s casualties the end of that link may be the deadliest.</p>
<p>GRAHAM USHER is a writer and journalist in Islamabad and author of <a href="" type="internal">Dispatches From Palestine: The Rise and Fall of the Oslo Peace Process</a>, Pluto, London, 1998.</p>
<p>This article appears in the January&#160;edition of this excellent monthly, whose English language edition can be found at <a href="http://www.mondediplo.com/" type="external">mondediplo.com.</a> This full text appears by agreement with Le Monde Diplomatique. CounterPunch features one or two articles from LMD every month.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | december 7 security forces pakistan kashmir pk closed camp linked lashkaretaiba lt pakistan militant group india says behind killings mumbai government banned civilian front jamaatuddawa jd following designation terrorist group united nations 100 offices sealed 50 leaders arrested among detained lt commanders zakiurrehman lakhvi and160 zarrar shah lt founder jd emir hafiz saeed india says first two orchestrated mumbai carnage says saeed gave gunmen motivational speech lt camp pk set mumbai united states welcomed moves european union india kept silent understandably arrest saeed denied charges indian propaganda vowing take case pakistan high court called neither protests violence dont want confrontation said jd source understand government needs good relations india sure enough sweep lt jd far met barely bump160 signs serious 2002 preamble lt pakistan militant groups banned 2000 arrested indian charges attacked indian parliament released within year pakistans powerful military establishment determines policy banned groups rather civilian160 government may think time squall pass probably wont since mumbai india us choreographed policy coercive diplomacy islamabad america good cop saying evidence linking pakistan state mumbai delhi bad modicum doubt complicity elements pakistan including isi pakistans inter service intelligence agency says indian official cops determined break whatever links remain isi groups like lt fall mumbai depend army responds proxy wars kashmir lt set 1989 fight pakistans deniable proxy wars afghanistan indian kashmir ik himalayan territory claimed states since partition cause two three wars lts goal establishment pure islamic state throughout south asia including india isis goal use proxies bleed india submission ik 1990s liaison overt lt recruited fighters throughout pakistan particularly southern punjab whence mumbai gunmen allegedly derive 1999 fought pakistan soldiers kargil ik last time two armies tried force resolution conflict change came attack indian parliament apparently guided us pakistan india moved near war ceasefire 2004 peace process began ban appeared become policy isi demobilized 12000 fighters pk six divisions army moved eastern border india western border afghanistan pakistan battling indigenous insurgency pakistan taliban infiltration ik fell war proxy wasnt abandoned altogether particularly propakistan groups like lt camps moved inland frontiers like pk camouflaged jd centers guerillas sterling work rescuers 2005 kashmir earthquake presented evidence jihadis de mobbed rejobbed pakistani general unapologetic wont disband kashmir would go cold india bury forever kashmir warmed since year seen increased militant penetration across line control separating pakistan indian kashmir triggering skirmishes southern punjab ltjd recruiters reappeared proselytizing jihad funeral bahawalpur summer jd preacher eulogized 60 martyrs area alone killed kashmir new line must driven isi emerged hiatus end general pervez musharrafs military regime pakistans new civilian government elected february 2008 doesnt seem response mass demonstrations independence rocked ik summer caused by160 indigenous muslim alienation indian rule rather mischief pakistan cede indian analysts meanwhile afghanistan reason isi relaxed hold lt probably afghanistan last two years army fighting islamic militants afghan border 1000 soldiers killed insurgencys epicenter pashtun tribal areas straddle socalled durrand line drawn british 19th century accepted pakistans western border time partition afghan government ever recognized defeat tribal areas would mean emergence independent pashtun islamic state says pakistani officer pakistans counterinsurgency uniform bajaur tribal area punitive aerial bombardments coupled ground offensives wrest back territory captured enemy north south waziristan ceasefires cut protaliban tribesmen often mediated afghan taliban commanders jalaluddin sirajuddin haqqani160 army says lacks capacity deal taliban groups go confrontation lose whatever control theres another reason difference bajaur army believes fighting antipakistan insurgency led pakistan taliban elements al qaeda fueled agencies india afghanistan waziristans tribes support afghan taliban antipakistani per se unlike militants bajaur deemed hostile army people says officer india denies hand tribal areas afghanistan build roads says indian diplomat thats india iran laying road network complete circumvent landlocked afghanistans need use pakistans ports gulf outlets islamabad deems vital economic future india also helps train afghan army aid afghanistan 21 billion quite bit country thats 99 percent muslim delhi border delhi exerts undue influence american policy afghanistan says army officials two examples cited one washingtons endorsement160 indias claim isi involved july bombing embassy kabul 50 killed since cia refused share intelligence isi including tribal areas fears pass afghan taliban says officer president bushs order july us special forces afghanistan could enter pakistani territory pursuit al qaeda taliban targets without approval pakistani government one us ground assault 22 aerial missile strikes since overwhelmingly waziristans says cia safe havens taliban al qaeda source greatest seepage fighters afghanistan next 911 probably plotted theyre also one sites peace army taliban washington says tacit agreement strikes pakistan government denies army says violations pakistani sovereignty counterproductive attempts move tribes militants also sees indian fingerprints americans want india regional power says security source many militants tribal areas financed india afghanistan end two scenarios sketched military mildest create ferment tribal areas cia nato afghan army enter wresting back pashtun lands long claimed kabul worst dismember pakistan worlds muslim nuclear state india thinks fragmented pakistan would reduce threat level says another source talk military establishment im convinced fear hatred india growing says pakistani analyst refused attributed india america mean isi involved mumbai kabul attacks necessarily simply underscores recklessness proxies covert alliances islamabad actually control none conspiratorial believe pakistans regional aims furthered atrocities mumbai kabul yet may square goals like taliban al qaeda want independence activity tribal areas like lt clash civilizations hindu muslim south asia fissures three groups thrive reason pakistans current suppression ltjd real rather virtual coercive diplomacy wont induce much use washington london conspire pakistans hapless civilian government wrest national security policy hands army isi afghanistan india nuclear weapons policy preserve 30 years western border aflame eastern simmering going given way army loosen hold policies abandon proxies regional concerns addressed afghanistan means recognition government us durrand line pakistans legitimate border counterinsurgency operations pakistani side exclusive right army india means resolution kashmir two interlinked says analyst armys recent experience india bitter 2004 army scaled militant intrusions kashmir 95 percent indias response talk kashmir say issue solved army thinks would afghanistan abandoned afghan taliban prior mumbai wasnt analysts made connection last year us presidentelect barack obama wrote pakistan look towards east confidence less likely believe interests best advanced cooperation taliban later said peace india pakistan could fulcrum greater regional engagement americas losing war afghanistan mumbais casualties end link may deadliest graham usher writer journalist islamabad author dispatches palestine rise fall oslo peace process pluto london 1998 article appears january160edition excellent monthly whose english language edition found mondediplocom full text appears agreement le monde diplomatique counterpunch features one two articles lmd every month 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,074 |
<p>The <a href="" type="internal">April 15, 2016, episode</a> of CounterSpin reaired excerpts from Sanho Tree’s interview on the Hiroshima bombing, originally aired in August 1995. This is a lightly edited transcript of the rebroadcast.</p>
<p>Sanho Tree: “By and large, the mass media don’t speak out, because they would essentially have to call the president a liar and challenge his official rationale.” (image: <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/77260934/live-chat-drug-policy-expert-sanho-tree" type="external">Stuff</a>)</p>
<p>Janine Jackson: Media reports noted that Secretary of State John Kerry was the highest-ranking sitting US official to visit the war memorial in Hiroshima. US ambassadors have shown their respects, and Jimmy Carter went there when he was out of office. But from non-blame-assigning references to “one of the most destructive acts of World War II,” as a New York Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/12/world/asia/john-kerry-hiroshima-wwii-japan.html?_r=0" type="external">article</a> had it, to an obliviously ethnocentric focus on how these commemorations have, as the Times said, “long troubled American diplomats,” nothing suggests that US media find much to grapple with.</p>
<p>And why would they when, as the paper of record tells us, “a majority of Americans have long believed that the bombings were necessary to force Japan’s surrender and to spare American lives”? That’s why “any hint that the US was apologizing could prove highly damaging politically.”</p>
<p>Well, corporate media have shown little interest in probing the official history on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Did you know, for example, that on August 9, 1945, Harry Truman declared falsely in a <a href="http://www.trumanlibrary.org/publicpapers/?pid=104" type="external">radio address</a>:</p>
<p>The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, a military base. That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid, insofar as possible, the killing of civilians.</p>
<p>On the 50th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1995, CounterSpin spoke with military and diplomatic historian Sanho Tree, who had just collaborated with Gar Alperovitz on <a href="http://www.garalperovitz.com/atomic-bomb/" type="external">The Decision to Use the Atomic Bomb and the Architecture of an American Myth</a>. Sanho Tree is today the director of the Drug Policy Project at the Institute for Policy Studies. We asked, first of all, about the key issues US media were discussing just prior to the bombing.</p>
<p>AP photo of the ruins of Hiroshima after the atomic bombing.</p>
<p>Sanho Tree: The first was the rapid deterioration of the Japanese war economy and military situation, that their navy was at the bottom of the sea, their air force was nonexistent, and that she was reduced to crashing kamikaze planes into ships. Their fighters were gone, the American planes were going over Japan unopposed.</p>
<p>Another point was unconditional surrender, that the Allied war aim of unconditional surrender was interpreted by the Japanese to mean the execution of the emperor, that he would be prosecuted and perhaps hung as a war criminal, and the Japanese regarded him as a deity. And all of Truman’s advisors advised him, you know, you’ve got to tell them to keep the emperor or they’ll keep on fighting forever.</p>
<p>A third point was the Russian entry into the war. The Soviet Union was neutral throughout this period, and was going to declare war on Japan in mid-August by common agreement with the United States and Great Britain. This was the secret agreement made at Yalta.</p>
<p>And the fourth was the peace feelers that were breaking out all over Europe and also in the Soviet Union, that the Japanese were trying to reach American emissaries to explain to them what terms they wanted for surrender. And the one term that always came up was the retention of the emperor.</p>
<p>JJ: Everything changed, though, after the bomb was dropped, including in the media.</p>
<p>ST: Throughout the media there was this pretty much a euphoria, oh thank God, the war is over. Many attribute this to the bomb, even though their own newspapers and their own magazines had reported that the Japanese were already defeated and were seeking peace. There are a few critics, people of conscience, the religious community continued to speak out. By and large, the mass media don’t speak out, because they would essentially have to call the president a liar and challenge his official rationale.</p>
<p>And the people who do speak out, it’s interesting, are the conservatives. The first decade and a half, up until the 1960s, it’s the conservatives and the right wing that keep up the steady drumbeat saying that Hiroshima was not necessary. And this is completely forgotten about today. The National Review, for instance, or Human Events or a far-right-wing journal called The Freemen, these were all journals that were saying that this was an atrocity. And the National Review headline was “Hiroshima: An Assault on a Beaten Foe.” This is 1958, William F. Buckley’s journal. And, of course, nowadays Buckley takes a completely different position, says they were necessary.</p>
<p>JJ: CounterSpin asked if it wasn’t strange that contemporary complaints about a Smithsonian exhibit of the Enola Gay being too critical of the United States, for example, were labeling revisionist what had actually been an open position in the US media at the time.</p>
<p>ST: Absolutely. For instance, the Washington Post kept up the steady drumbeat throughout the spring and summer of 1945, saying you must change the terms of surrender, day after day, and every other day it seemed that they were having a different editorial trying to drive home this point, that the emperor must be spared, you know, that’s the only way to get a surrender out of Japan.</p>
<p>And, of course, now the Washington Post ridicules all this stuff as revisionist. This is their own position. They were in fact so proud of their editorials, they published a booklet around 1946, and it was called Psychological Warfare: The Special Weapon That Had Japan Defeated and Ready to Yield 13 Days Before the Atomic Bombs Were Dropped. They were so proud of their role back then, and now they dismiss all of this as revisionist.</p>
<p>JJ: We asked Tree to describe the Washington Post’s coverage of the controversy at the Smithsonian about the display of the Enola Gay.</p>
<p>ST: The Washington Post, for instance, Ken Ringle, one of their key reporters on this beat, reproduced an erroneous quote in the Wall Street Journal, and this is in August of 1994, which touched off the firestorm in Washington. And the quote was attributed to the curators of the exhibit, and the quote read—it was describing the kamikaze pilots, and it said, “these youths, their bodies overflowing with life.” And, of course, this was actually a caption that said this was said by another kamikaze pilot, describing his comrades. And this was a Japanese view. But the Wall Street Journal attributed it to the curators. Ringle repeated it the next day in the newspaper, in the Washington Post, and it becomes this political football at that point.</p>
<p>And, you know, suddenly it blows up in everyone’s faces, and everyone goes running for cover. You will not see in the exhibit, for instance, quotes by General Eisenhower or Admiral Leahy, who was the chief of staff of the president and presiding officer of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Both of them had tremendously powerful quotes where they talk about how they didn’t think it was necessary and advised so. And they called it—you know, Leahy calls it a “barbarous weapon,” and it was of “no material assistance in our war against Japan. The Japanese were already defeated and ready to surrender.” That’s gone.</p>
<p>JJ That was Sanho Tree, discussing media coverage of the US bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on CounterSpin in 1995.</p> | true | 4 | april 15 2016 episode counterspin reaired excerpts sanho trees interview hiroshima bombing originally aired august 1995 lightly edited transcript rebroadcast sanho tree large mass media dont speak would essentially call president liar challenge official rationale image stuff janine jackson media reports noted secretary state john kerry highestranking sitting us official visit war memorial hiroshima us ambassadors shown respects jimmy carter went office nonblameassigning references one destructive acts world war ii new york times article obliviously ethnocentric focus commemorations times said long troubled american diplomats nothing suggests us media find much grapple would paper record tells us majority americans long believed bombings necessary force japans surrender spare american lives thats hint us apologizing could prove highly damaging politically well corporate media shown little interest probing official history hiroshima nagasaki know example august 9 1945 harry truman declared falsely radio address world note first atomic bomb dropped hiroshima military base wished first attack avoid insofar possible killing civilians 50th anniversary bombing hiroshima nagasaki august 1995 counterspin spoke military diplomatic historian sanho tree collaborated gar alperovitz decision use atomic bomb architecture american myth sanho tree today director drug policy project institute policy studies asked first key issues us media discussing prior bombing ap photo ruins hiroshima atomic bombing sanho tree first rapid deterioration japanese war economy military situation navy bottom sea air force nonexistent reduced crashing kamikaze planes ships fighters gone american planes going japan unopposed another point unconditional surrender allied war aim unconditional surrender interpreted japanese mean execution emperor would prosecuted perhaps hung war criminal japanese regarded deity trumans advisors advised know youve got tell keep emperor theyll keep fighting forever third point russian entry war soviet union neutral throughout period going declare war japan midaugust common agreement united states great britain secret agreement made yalta fourth peace feelers breaking europe also soviet union japanese trying reach american emissaries explain terms wanted surrender one term always came retention emperor jj everything changed though bomb dropped including media st throughout media pretty much euphoria oh thank god war many attribute bomb even though newspapers magazines reported japanese already defeated seeking peace critics people conscience religious community continued speak large mass media dont speak would essentially call president liar challenge official rationale people speak interesting conservatives first decade half 1960s conservatives right wing keep steady drumbeat saying hiroshima necessary completely forgotten today national review instance human events farrightwing journal called freemen journals saying atrocity national review headline hiroshima assault beaten foe 1958 william f buckleys journal course nowadays buckley takes completely different position says necessary jj counterspin asked wasnt strange contemporary complaints smithsonian exhibit enola gay critical united states example labeling revisionist actually open position us media time st absolutely instance washington post kept steady drumbeat throughout spring summer 1945 saying must change terms surrender day day every day seemed different editorial trying drive home point emperor must spared know thats way get surrender japan course washington post ridicules stuff revisionist position fact proud editorials published booklet around 1946 called psychological warfare special weapon japan defeated ready yield 13 days atomic bombs dropped proud role back dismiss revisionist jj asked tree describe washington posts coverage controversy smithsonian display enola gay st washington post instance ken ringle one key reporters beat reproduced erroneous quote wall street journal august 1994 touched firestorm washington quote attributed curators exhibit quote readit describing kamikaze pilots said youths bodies overflowing life course actually caption said said another kamikaze pilot describing comrades japanese view wall street journal attributed curators ringle repeated next day newspaper washington post becomes political football point know suddenly blows everyones faces everyone goes running cover see exhibit instance quotes general eisenhower admiral leahy chief staff president presiding officer joint chiefs staff tremendously powerful quotes talk didnt think necessary advised called ityou know leahy calls barbarous weapon material assistance war japan japanese already defeated ready surrender thats gone jj sanho tree discussing media coverage us bombing hiroshima nagasaki counterspin 1995 | 652 |
<p>US House candidate Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas)&lt;a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/betoforcongress/7026017235/sizes/z/in/photostream/"&gt;Beto O'Rourke for US Congress&lt;/a&gt;/Flickr</p>
<p>[Update: 10:36 PM&#160;PST, 5/29/2012: With all precincts reporting, Beto O’Rourke has knocked off Rep. Silvestre Reyes with 50.47 percent of the vote to win the Democratic nomination. He’s all but certain to win the November general election in his heavily Democratic district.]</p>
<p>When a new congressman heads to Washington from Texas’ 16th congressional district, he tends to stick around a while. The 16th, a border district that includes the city of El Paso, has been represented by just three men in 48 years; primary challenges are virtually unheard of. So it was noteworthy when, earlier this month, the area’s largest newspaper asked its readers to fire eight-term incumbent Rep. Silvestre Reyes.</p>
<p>In Reyes’ place, the El Paso Times <a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/opinion/ci_20610724/16th-congressional-district" type="external">recommended</a> Beto O’Rourke, a 40-year-old former El Paso councilman who’s running neck and neck with the incumbent ahead of Tuesday’s Democratic primary. O’Rourke is an outsider in two key respects. He is a white man of Irish decent in a district that’s 77 percent Latino. And he is, as the author of a new book proposing the legalization of marijuana, an outspoken critic of federal drug policy. That makes O’Rourke’s clash with Reyes more than just a story of an insurgent taking on the machine—in a border district, the contest is partly a referendum on the War on Drugs itself.</p>
<p>The race should be close. The first poll conducted last September had O’Rourke, a web developer by trade whose father was a county judge, just 7 points back. A University of Texas–El Paso (UTEP) exit poll of early voting precincts had the race deadlocked (exit polls are highly imprecise, however).</p>
<p>In interviews and on the stump, O’Rourke emphasizes that he’s not running as a pro-pot crusader; drug policy is one of a number of issues on which he feels the incumbent has been an empty chair. As a congressman, O’Rourke says he’ll refrain from pushing through policies his constituents don’t want. But it was the Drug War stance that made him a minor star, landing him speaking invitations at places like the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnO8vVafpFg" type="external">Cato Institute</a>&#160;and, in 2011, a book deal. Last November, two months after he kicked off his race against Reyes, O’Rourke and an ally on the city council, Susie Byrd, published a book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dealing-Death-Drugs-Business-Checkpoint/dp/1933693940" type="external">Dealing Death and Drugs</a>, highlighting flaws in American drug policy and offering an array of prescriptions, including marijuana legalization.</p>
<p>“On the major issues that we understand better than anybody else—immigration, trade, drug policy, bilateral relations with Mexico,” Reyes is “a zero,” O’Rourke said in an interview with Mother Jones in March. “He’s just not part of the conversation, much less leading it or bending it towards our region’s interests.” (The Reyes campaign did not respond to a request for comment.)</p>
<p>O’Rourke is getting help from the <a href="" type="internal">Campaign for Primary Accountability</a>, the anti-incumbent super-PAC funded in part by TD Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts. The group has spent $195,000 on television, radio, and direct mail attacking Reyes for voting to raise his own pay (a common CFPA trope) and granting a federal contract to a firm that hired three of his kids.</p>
<p>But Reyes hasn’t exactly thrown in the towel. In April, he picked up endorsements from President Barack Obama and former President Bill Clinton. His campaign has highlighted O’Rourke’s “checkered past”—a reference to a 1997 drunk-driving charge—and sought to portray O’Rourke’s Drug War advocacy as hopelessly naive, if not flat-out dangerous. One <a href="http://vimeo.com/37489037%20" type="external">30-second Reyes TV ad</a>, which aired during the Oscars, featured a series of precocious young children taking turns face-palming and shouting “No” as “Beto O’Rourke wants to legalize drugs” flashed across the screen:</p>
<p />
<p />
<p>Reyes and O’Rourke have a history together. O’Rourke, who who was raised in El Paso and speaks Spanish fluently (Beto is a nickname for Robert), won a city council seat in a largely Hispanic district in 2005. But it was four years before he started thinking seriously about the Drug War. Before then, the problems across the border were “of no interest or impact to me,” O’Rourke explained. “It just seemed like an academic exercise.” An uptick in cartel violence, much of it in nearby Ciudad Juarez, changed that.</p>
<p>“Sixteen-hundred-plus people had been murdered in Juarez in the most horrific, brutal fashion imaginable,” O’Rourke said. “It caused me and many others in the region to think about what the causes of that were.” In Mexico, the problem was weak and often corrupt public institutions. “And then on the US side,” O’Rourke said, “I thought the two key inputs…were drug demand and drug prohibition.”</p>
<p>In January 2009, O’Rourke introduced a resolution in the city council calling for the federal government to revisit its prohibition on marijuana. The resolution was not, he takes pains to note today, specifically advocating repeal—but he wanted Washington to think about it. The eight councilmen, often at odds, <a href="http://newspapertree.com/news/3284" type="external">passed the resolution</a> unanimously, but after the mayor (a fellow Democrat) vetoed the measure, their coalition fractured. O’Rourke needed six votes for an override; he got four. He blames Reyes.</p>
<p>The incumbent congressman “ended up pressuring or threatening or extorting the members of the city council…to change their votes to block that resolution that we had passed unanimously,” O’Rourke claims. In O’Rourke’s telling, Reyes had specifically threatened to turn off the federal spigots for his city council district, an area of El Paso that included El Segundo Barrio, one of the poorest zip codes in the country. O’Rourke says other councilmen got the same call.</p>
<p>Reyes, a former Border Patrol sector chief, viewed the violence across the river as a natural process that would, if given time, sort itself out. He compared the bloodshed to the Bruce Willis flick Last Man Standing, suggesting that the United States would be best served by letting the cartels have at it.</p>
<p>In early 2010, O’Rourke and his allies settled for a public letter, signed by luminaries from El Paso and nearby Las Cruces, New Mexico, declaring the “War on Drugs has been a dismal social, economic and policy failure.” A few months later, O’Rourke launched his campaign against Reyes.</p>
<p>Gregory Rocha, a UTEP political scientist,&#160;credits O’Rourke for personally knocking on doors (10,000 of them by early March) and doing his homework, and he thinks the young challenger caught Reyes flat-footed. “There’s been no response from the Reyes campaign—and I watch this stuff pretty carefully,” he says. “You’ve seen those ads, and you think, ‘What’s going on here? Why isn’t he replying or responding quickly?’ He’s getting defined, for all intents and purposes, by the O’Rourke people.”</p>
<p>Case in point: Reyes’ campaign website set up a page devoted to the “ <a href="http://www.reyesforcongress.com/beto-truth.php" type="external">Truth About Beto</a>,” but as of Tuesday, one week before the election and eight months after the Times poll showed the race deadlocked, it still says “coming soon.”</p>
<p>This time around, the last man standing might just be O’Rourke.</p> | true | 4 | us house candidate beto orourke dtexaslta hrefhttpwwwflickrcomphotosbetoforcongress7026017235sizeszinphotostreamgtbeto orourke us congressltagtflickr update 1036 pm160pst 5292012 precincts reporting beto orourke knocked rep silvestre reyes 5047 percent vote win democratic nomination hes certain win november general election heavily democratic district new congressman heads washington texas 16th congressional district tends stick around 16th border district includes city el paso represented three men 48 years primary challenges virtually unheard noteworthy earlier month areas largest newspaper asked readers fire eightterm incumbent rep silvestre reyes reyes place el paso times recommended beto orourke 40yearold former el paso councilman whos running neck neck incumbent ahead tuesdays democratic primary orourke outsider two key respects white man irish decent district thats 77 percent latino author new book proposing legalization marijuana outspoken critic federal drug policy makes orourkes clash reyes story insurgent taking machinein border district contest partly referendum war drugs race close first poll conducted last september orourke web developer trade whose father county judge 7 points back university texasel paso utep exit poll early voting precincts race deadlocked exit polls highly imprecise however interviews stump orourke emphasizes hes running propot crusader drug policy one number issues feels incumbent empty chair congressman orourke says hell refrain pushing policies constituents dont want drug war stance made minor star landing speaking invitations places like cato institute160and 2011 book deal last november two months kicked race reyes orourke ally city council susie byrd published book dealing death drugs highlighting flaws american drug policy offering array prescriptions including marijuana legalization major issues understand better anybody elseimmigration trade drug policy bilateral relations mexico reyes zero orourke said interview mother jones march hes part conversation much less leading bending towards regions interests reyes campaign respond request comment orourke getting help campaign primary accountability antiincumbent superpac funded part td ameritrade founder joe ricketts group spent 195000 television radio direct mail attacking reyes voting raise pay common cfpa trope granting federal contract firm hired three kids reyes hasnt exactly thrown towel april picked endorsements president barack obama former president bill clinton campaign highlighted orourkes checkered pasta reference 1997 drunkdriving chargeand sought portray orourkes drug war advocacy hopelessly naive flatout dangerous one 30second reyes tv ad aired oscars featured series precocious young children taking turns facepalming shouting beto orourke wants legalize drugs flashed across screen reyes orourke history together orourke raised el paso speaks spanish fluently beto nickname robert city council seat largely hispanic district 2005 four years started thinking seriously drug war problems across border interest impact orourke explained seemed like academic exercise uptick cartel violence much nearby ciudad juarez changed sixteenhundredplus people murdered juarez horrific brutal fashion imaginable orourke said caused many others region think causes mexico problem weak often corrupt public institutions us side orourke said thought two key inputswere drug demand drug prohibition january 2009 orourke introduced resolution city council calling federal government revisit prohibition marijuana resolution takes pains note today specifically advocating repealbut wanted washington think eight councilmen often odds passed resolution unanimously mayor fellow democrat vetoed measure coalition fractured orourke needed six votes override got four blames reyes incumbent congressman ended pressuring threatening extorting members city councilto change votes block resolution passed unanimously orourke claims orourkes telling reyes specifically threatened turn federal spigots city council district area el paso included el segundo barrio one poorest zip codes country orourke says councilmen got call reyes former border patrol sector chief viewed violence across river natural process would given time sort compared bloodshed bruce willis flick last man standing suggesting united states would best served letting cartels early 2010 orourke allies settled public letter signed luminaries el paso nearby las cruces new mexico declaring war drugs dismal social economic policy failure months later orourke launched campaign reyes gregory rocha utep political scientist160credits orourke personally knocking doors 10000 early march homework thinks young challenger caught reyes flatfooted theres response reyes campaignand watch stuff pretty carefully says youve seen ads think whats going isnt replying responding quickly hes getting defined intents purposes orourke people case point reyes campaign website set page devoted truth beto tuesday one week election eight months times poll showed race deadlocked still says coming soon time around last man standing might orourke | 689 |
<p>Even before the present intifada, Yasser Arafat was never seen as a sympathetic figure in Israel. Oddly enough, one of the times he incurred especially vitriolic criticism was when he sought to demonstrate solidarity with the Jewish people in relation to its most painful subject–the Holocaust. In January 1998, pressure from the U.S. administration led to an invitation being issued to Arafat to visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington. The possibility of such a visit had the Knesset in an uproar. MK Shmuel Halpert of United Torah Judaism called it “a defamation of the memory of those who were killed in the Holocaust, a trampling of Jewish dignity and a terrible insult to the last remaining survivors.” The late Rehavam Ze’evi harshly rebuked representatives of the museums at Yad Mordechai and Lohamei Hagetaot, who had also issued invitations to Arafat. He called them “stooping Jews who groveled before this villain,” and asked: “What is this murderer looking for at the Holocaust Museum? Does he want to have his picture taken there while, lips trembling, he cries crocodile tears at the sight of the horrors so that we’ll think that he’s human? Does he want to study Adolph Hitler’s exploits so he can learn from him?”</p>
<p>Naturally, these comments could not go unanswered. Azmi Bishara remarked in astonishment: “Finally someone wants to recognize your collective memory and you say no.” The next day, in an interview with Haaretz, writer and journalist Salem Jubran said: “I ask those who object to Arafat’s visit to the Holocaust Museum–What would they have said if he’d turned down the invitation to visit the museum?” Jubran suggested that Arafat also be invited to visit Yad Vashem.</p>
<p>As announced at a Jerusalem press conference this past Monday morning, a large group of Jews and Israeli Arabs plans to venture into this volatile triangle of Jews-Arabs-Holocaust. Together, they will attend a series of seminars and lectures about the Holocaust, and then go on a joint visit to Auschwitz. This extraordinary initiative was the brainchild of an Arab priest and teacher; the enthusiastic reception it has received from Jews is fairly surprising, given the general atmosphere of wariness and despair.</p>
<p>Two months after the October 2000 riots in the Arab sector, Father Emil Shufani realized that he was facing a new reality. Shufani, from Nazareth, serves as archimandrite at the Greek Catholic Church in the Galilee. A few years ago, he was the Netanyahu government’s leading candidate to replace the community’s retiring archbishop, but the Vatican had other ideas. Netanyahu’s support for Shufani surprised many people, since Shufani had been closely identified with Hadash. For many years, Shufani has been running the St.</p>
<p>Joseph High School in Nazareth, which is one of the most prestigious Arab schools in Israel. He has always advocated dialogue between Jews and Arabs and he practices what he preaches. In recent years, he has conducted regular meetings between students from his school and students from the Hebrew University High School in Jerusalem.</p>
<p>This tradition was not interrupted by the events of October 2000. At the December 2000 meeting, Shufani heard some things that really knocked him for a loop: “We were in Jerusalem for the weekend, and we talked about the painful things that had happened. A teacher whom I’d known for 15 years, someone who had always presented himself as an Israeli who supports democracy and equality, started to talk about the fact that he is above all a Jew, and he mentioned the Holocaust. And he wasn’t the only one. I felt that the Holocaust was coming back to people, that the feeling of persecution and the palpable fear of the Jews was not just a historical event that belongs to the past, but very present right now. It pained me to see this teacher; there was a disparity between the values that he supported intellectually and what he felt on the emotional level. That was the moment when I realized that there is no chance for true dialogue and reconciliation unless we have an in-depth understanding of this matter of the Holocaust, unless we touch the suffering, the memory, the terminology. It may not be sufficient to get us out of the mud we’re stuck in, but it’s definitely necessary.”</p>
<p>Binational project</p>
<p>Shufani, who became interested in the Holocaust when he was a student in France in the 1970s, started to toss around some ideas. One person he shared his thoughts with was Nazir Majli. Majli, also from Nazareth, is a well-known figure among the Arab public in Israel. A journalist for 30 years, he was for seven years editor of Al-Ittihad, the Communist movement’s newspaper, a position he took over from his “teacher and mentor,” writer Emil Habibi. In recent years, Majli has been analyzing events in Israel for a variety of media outlets in the Arab world, and is also part of an Internet project in which Israeli newspapers are translated daily into Arabic.</p>
<p>Shufani and Majli decided that their project had to be binational, so they searched for Jewish partners. Four months ago, they contacted Ruth Bar-Shalev. Bar-Shalev, from Tel Aviv, specializes in teaching individuals and organizations how to make breakthroughs, or “take a stand and create a new situation where there seemed to be a dead end,” as she puts it. She took it upon herself to put together the Jewish-Israeli group that would take part in the project.</p>
<p>The effort to recruit participants is now in full swing. So far, the list includes more than 100 Arabs and 80 Jews. Bar-Shalev expects the final number to be about 300: “Our guiding thought was to reach a critical mass. Granted, it’s not an intimate framework, but if we were to work with just 20 people, they wouldn’t change the thinking of the broader public. We want a mass of people who will write, act, lead and live within the new paradigm. Our goal was to enlist people who are leaders, entrepreneurs, trendsetters–not politicians.”</p>
<p>The Arab participants include prominent attorney Ahmed Masalha; bus and tour company director Ahmed Afifi; Sheikh Nimr Darwish, leader of the northern section of the Islamic movement; actor Salim Daw; soccer player Walid Badir; singer Amal Murkus; writer Naim Areide and a long list of academics and educators. An initial, partial list of the Jewish participants includes:</p>
<p>Chief Rabbi Yisrael Lau, singer Ahinoam Nini, singer Ehud Banai and poet Agi Mishol. This is an expensive project; a nonprofit organization called Mizikhron Leshalom (“From Memory to Peace”) has been set up for fund-raising purposes, and a Web site where participants can exchange views and experiences has recently been inaugurated. Bar-Shalev says that sizable contributions have already been received from several private donors.</p>
<p>The project’s Arab founders formulated its goals in a document they entitled “Remembering the pain for the sake of peace”: We, the undersigned, a group of Arab citizens of Israel, who are concerned about the deterioration in relations between Jews and Arabs in our country … are going out to feel the pain of the other side. The two peoples will not be able to abandon the path of bloodshed until each understands and internalizes the other’s pain and the other’s fears, which pushed them to the line of fire, conflict and war … We wish to study and to get to know the suffering, the hardships, the torture and the destruction … to fully identify with and express solidarity with the Jews.”</p>
<p>In upcoming weeks, the participants will attend three weekend seminars dedicated to study and discussion of the Holocaust from various angles. On the first day, only the Arabs will participate. The Jews will join them after that. As part of the seminars, the participants will hear lectures about the historical background of World War II and the Holocaust, will meet Holocaust survivors, learn about the syndrome of second- and third-generation descendants of survivors and also devote time to a particularly loaded subject–The Arab world and its attitude toward the Holocaust. The project is supposed to reach its climax toward the end of May, when the group will leave for a five-day visit to the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. They will be joined there by a 150-member delegation from France that includes leaders of the Jewish and Muslim communities.</p>
<p>Why now?</p>
<p>As expected, the initiative, and especially its timing, is eliciting a lot of questions from the Arab world. Ever since October 2000, Israelis and Palestinians have been expending considerable energy vying for the right to be perceived as the real victim of the conflict. Each side does its best to diminish the enemy’s pain and suffering. Then along comes this group of Israeli Arabs that seeks to bond with Jews in the one place in the world where Jews clearly hold exclusive rights to the title of victim–the place that epitomizes the Holocaust.</p>
<p>A good number of Israeli Arabs object to this move, but are reluctant to voice their criticism publicly; they know that the Holocaust is a sacred cow in the Israeli discourse. One Arab public figure, who requested anonymity, said the following: “I don’t for a moment question the evil of the Nazis or the fact that the Jewish Holocaust was a horrific event. But everything has a context. When the two peoples are competing for victim status, and when the Jews cynically exploit the memory of the Holocaust in order to commit war crimes in the territories and to imprison an entire nation with closures and curfews, I feel that there’s an almost immoral element in traveling to Auschwitz and showing solidarity with the Jewish victim right at this time. Personally, my heart is with the Jews who suffered and were exterminated in the concentration camps, but there’s a difference between feeling solidarity–which is an intimate human emotion–and making a public display of this solidarity, which is an act that has political significance.”</p>
<p>Nazir Majli is well prepared to respond to such criticism. Over the last</p>
<p>months, he has frequently been asked, “Why are you going to Auschwitz when the Israelis are killing our children in Jenin?”</p>
<p>How do you reply?</p>
<p>Majli: “I tell people that we mustn’t let ourselves be prisoners of the existing modes of thinking, that we shouldn’t be fettered to outmoded concepts. Yes, we are trying to turn things inside out, which is good, because the present situation and all the hatred that exists will destroy both peoples. We know we’ll get clobbered by critics and perhaps even pay a heavy personal price, but the hope for a better future in this region is worth more. We’re living in hell and we want to breathe a little clean air, to be more pure. I’m out to cleanse myself and my people from the hatred that exists today.”</p>
<p>Majli and his friends were anticipating a barrage of criticism as soon as the project was announced–not only within Israel, but primarily from the Arab world. In a bid to soften the expected blow, Majli went to Egypt a few weeks ago to meet with a group of prominent intellectuals. “I explained to them that this wasn’t about a Zionization of the Israeli Arabs, that it wasn’t sycophancy, but rather a patriotic Arab deed of the first rank that was intended to demonstrate our humanity. The overwhelming majority of the people we met there gave us their blessing and we also were able to meet with the foreign minister, Amr Moussa, who told us it was a very important, even obvious, step to take in terms of the Arab world. He also promised us that if we were attacked when the project was launched, he would make a public statement of support.”</p>
<p>Poet, writer and journalist Salem Jubran (he is the editor of the weekly Al Ahli, based in Sakhnin), is a participant in the project and has been dealing with these issues for some years now. In the early days of Oslo, when it</p>
<p>appeared that normalcy was finally on its way to the region, he lectured on the Holocaust at the Givat Haviva Institute, to West Bank Palestinians who were interested in the subject. He currently teaches a seminar at Beit Lohamei Hagetaot to mixed groups of Jewish and Arab teachers.</p>
<p>Jubran: “As a person, as a humanist, as a leftist, I cannot be indifferent to an ideology of extermination. In my seminars, at first the people do not let go of their national affinities, but after two or three sessions, it becomes harder to think in terms of being only Jews or only Arabs. We are human beings first of all.”</p>
<p>No doubt you’ve been accused of obsequiousness.</p>
<p>“There are those who would even call the aspiration to live in coexistence obsequiousness, so what can one do? I find that one of the most moving moments is when people come up to me at the end of the course and tell me that learning about the Holocaust has actually made them more Arab, more</p>
<p>proud. Learning about the suffering of the Jews doesn’t take anything away from our national identity. Is that what national identity is–hating another people? In the course, we strive to understand the difference between patriotism and chauvinism, between loving oneself and hating the other. If I say that you are a true victim, does that have to mean that I am not a true victim? Maybe we both can be victims simultaneously. To me, visiting the</p>
<p>Lohamei Hagetaot museum isn’t obsequiousness and it doesn’t mean that you’re distancing yourself from our own nationality. Rather, it’s a distillation of all that is humane and moral in the Arab nation.”</p>
<p>Arab attitudes</p>
<p>Grappling with the Holocaust has always been a complex challenge for the Arab world. In the collective Israeli consciousness, the Arab attitude toward the Holocaust is embodied by the Mufti of Jerusalem, who maintained ties with Adolph Hitler during the war. The reality is more complicated, of course. Contrasting forces were actually at work in the Arab world then–those who held a positive view of the Nazis’ rise to power and those who doggedly opposed it, led by the members of the Communist movements.</p>
<p>Prof. Moshe Zimmerman of Hebrew University: “Because of their connections in the Arab world, such as the Jerusalem Mufti and with Iraq, and the hope of forging cooperation with officials in Egypt, at a certain stage the Nazis started to refrain from using the term `anti-Semitism,’ since the Arabs are also Semites, and instead talked about `anti-Jewishness.’ In their propaganda, they also tried to emphasize that the rivalry between Islam and Judaism was just as great as that between Christianity and Judaism, which, of course, was supposed to be a testament to the Jews’ nature. On the other</p>
<p>hand, Zionist propaganda tends to imply that the connection between the Mufti and the Nazis is representative of all the Palestinians and that’s a problematic generalization. One should be careful about that.”</p>
<p>Salem Jubran: “The Mufti’s attitude toward Hitler was `The enemy of my enemy is my friend.’ There were also a lot of Palestinian intellectuals who proudly and publicly took a stand against the Nazis. It’s a terrible tragedy that the right-wing Zionist establishment sought to blacken the reputation of the</p>
<p>entire Palestinian people. All Arabs are not the same, just as all Jews are not the same. Today, you won’t find a single person in the top ranks of the Palestinian national leadership who would justify the Nazi movement, even tacitly. In the days before Oslo, when I traveled to Tunis, Arafat asked me to lecture to his people about the Jews, the Arabs and the Holocaust. He wanted me to help them understand the Jews’ psychology, to learn how to soften the toughness.”</p>
<p>Two years ago, the Arab world was roiled when a number of Holocaust-denial organizations were scheduled to hold a conference in Beirut. Fourteen prominent Arab intellectuals, including poet Mahmoud Darwish, published a petition saying, “We are appalled by this anti-Semitic initiative” and demanded that the Lebanese government stop the conference from taking place. An editorial in Al-Hayat said that “The conference degrades Lebanon” and that “in the name of the Palestinian victims, the conference will seek to defend the Nazi executioner and his crimes against the Jews.” Israeli Arab MK Ahmed Tibi wrote a letter to the Lebanese president in which he said, “We cannot agree to any step whose objective is to express understanding for Nazism and its crimes as genocide of other peoples, including the Jewish people, who suffered greatly from the crimes of the Nazi executioner.” The Lebanese government caved under the pressure and the conference was canceled.</p>
<p>In May 2000, only a few months before the outbreak of the intifada, MK Tawfiq Khatib (Ra’am) was part of a parliamentary delegation to the concentration camps in Poland and the March of the Living at Auschwitz. “I consider my</p>
<p>participation an important mission. In doing this, I represented the true Arab face. The few who criticized me are a distortion of our true face,” he said at the time.</p>
<p>When Khatib spoke about his critics, he was referring mainly to Tamim Mansur, a high school teacher in Tira and lecturer at Beit Berl, who published a scathing article in the Balad party newspaper. Mansur argued that by joining the delegation, Khatib was lending a helping hand to Israeli and world Zionist propaganda, which stages annual “tearjerker productions at the camps in order to cover up their past and present crimes against the Palestinian people.”</p>
<p>Mansur is not very enthusiastic about the new educational project either: “Just because I’m opposed to it doesn’t mean that I’m for the Nazis. I’m a graduate of Tel Aviv University with a degree in the history of the Land of Israel and the Jewish People. You can’t say that I don’t know the subject. But I think that going to Auschwitz now is assisting Israeli propaganda. I don’t recall seeing a Jewish leader, from the left or right, visit Sabra and Chatila or one of the cemeteries that are full of Palestinian corpses.</p>
<p>“There are enough leaders in the world who display solidarity with the Jewish people in everything regarding the Holocaust, and I think that the Jews have exploited it well and used it as a clearly political issue and done a lot of terrible things in the name of the Holocaust. They built a state here at the expense of the Palestinian people thanks to the Holocaust, so I am not obliged to show solidarity with them.”</p>
<p>If there were peace, would your view be any different?</p>
<p>“Obviously, it’s also a matter of timing. The timing right now is very bad, because the Jews do not recognize the suffering of the Palestinian people and the oppression and the occupation are getting worse every day. I deal with the subject of the Holocaust all the time, because I teach history in high school. I have a problem, because nearly every morning when I enter the classroom, the students have recently heard on the news that a few more Palestinians were killed in Nablus or Gaza. In this situation, if I start talking to them about the suffering of the Jews, they’ll say, `It’s too bad they didn’t kill all of them.”</p>
<p>So what do you do? After all, Holocaust studies are a required subject in Israeli schools [including Israeli Arab schools].</p>
<p>“I teach them what’s in the book. I stick close to what’s written there and am careful not to show empathy or solidarity, because as soon as that happens, they scold me: `While they’re killing us, you’re crying for the Jews.’ If I were to talk about how the Jews suffered, they’d chase me out of the classroom. I gently try to convey the message to them that there’s no point in hating others, that we have to be ethical and only when one of the kids says something like, `They deserve it,’ do I confront him head-on.”</p>
<p>Mixed feelings</p>
<p>MK Azmi Bishara: “When I was in Germany, I visited almost all of the concentration camps. I had an obsession against the Nazis. At first, it was as a Communist. Later, this feeling extended to Communism itself and against any totalitarian regime.”</p>
<p>Nonetheless, Bishara has mixed feelings about the new project: “Several of the people who are involved in it are friends of mine and they also consulted with me. If this interest in the subject contains a genuine and honest desire to know about the historical and collective memory of the majority in the state we live in, then I think it’s a good thing. Any such effort is welcome.</p>
<p>“The problem is that I’m a little skeptical. For example, I suspect that there’s an attempt here to be `okay.’ As if this by itself will open hearts and affect public opinion among the Jews–that as soon as they see that we’re interested in them, they’ll start to be interested in us. The problem is that, up to now, when other nations have shown an interest in the Holocaust, the result was that Israel turned this solidarity into a tool for justifying its own actions. This is the instrumentalization of the Holocaust. There are two great offenses related to the Holocaust–denial of it and the use that is made of it. Both contain an element of denial, because as soon as you compare the Holocaust to all kinds of other things, you’re also diminishing it.”</p>
<p>After the crisis of October 2000, what’s wrong with an effort finally being made on the part of Israeli Arabs to reach out to the Jewish public?</p>
<p>“It’s not something bad, I’m just not sure that it’s the right way. It could blur the fact that the main factor in the worsening of relations between Jews and Arabs is the occupation–not a lack of knowledge about Jewish history. In my experience, when I’ve shown sensitivity, I’ve ended up being attacked even harder, because then they can’t neatly categorize me as they’d like. They want an Arab who will listen when Jews talk about the Holocaust. I remember the one time I was part of Dan Shilon’s famous circle on Channel Two. Benny Katzover was there, too, and he said, `What they did to us in Yamit was a mini-Holocaust.’ I was outraged–not as an Arab, but as a human being. I asked him what remarks like that do to the memory of the Holocaust, how he could be so insensitive. Not only did no one else there back me up, they all started shouting at me–`Who are you to defend the victims of the Holocaust?’ and hurling all kinds of collective accusations about `you Arabs’ and all that we did or didn’t do during the Holocaust.”</p>
<p>Jewish reciprocity</p>
<p>Ruth Bar-Shalev has been busy trying to increase the number of Jewish participants in the project. She says she is surprised anew each time from people’s “responsiveness and willingness to come and work. They don’t just say yes–They immediately get to work and take on responsibilities.”</p>
<p>One such person is retired police superintendent Aryeh Amit, a former commander of the Jerusalem police. “Since October 2000, I’ve felt that the divide between Jews and Arabs in Israel is a strategic problem,” he says. “We don’t know one another. We don’t know each other’s culture, each other’s dreams, each other’s poetry and literature. They’re actually ahead of us in terms of knowing the other side, and still they’re the ones who are saying, `We’re going to be the first to learn about you. We are taking this step.’ Last week, I was at a meeting in Nazareth where the project was discussed and after two minutes I knew that I wanted in. Not as a member of the Council for Peace and Security, but as a citizen who is very excited by it and wants to help, to be a soldier–though soldier probably isn’t the right word to use in this context.”</p>
<p>In the next stage, would you be prepared to learn about and show solidarity with Palestinian victimhood, regarding the Nakba for instance?</p>
<p>“I don’t know about showing solidarity, but I’d definitely be ready to learn. They decided that they’re volunteering to go first, and I have no doubt that this group will afterward study the Arab issue with courage and thoroughness.”</p>
<p>The matter of reciprocity could prove to be the project’s undoing. The Arabs are coming to express solidarity; for now, Amit is only ready to learn. Luckily, the Arabs did not make reciprocity a condition and, at this point, nothing of the sort has been made part of the plans for the project.</p>
<p>Nazir Majli: “We’re coming to recognize your victimhood. Will you recognize ours afterward? I wouldn’t be telling you the truth if I said that I hadn’t thought about this, but I try to ignore such thoughts. I’m doing this to serve my people, so should I be expecting something in return from the Jews at the same time? We’re pursuing this initiative for the sake of the Arab people. You [Jews] do what you want to do for the sake of your people. If we succeed in changing something in the relations between the two peoples, then we’ve accomplished something. If not, then we did something for ourselves personally.”</p>
<p>Emil Shufani: “We leave it to the Jewish street to say how it wishes to make the parallel move. No conditions are being set. The time has come to put an end to the ping-pong dialectic that we’ve been stuck in for the past two years. I don’t know what the Jews’ answer to this will be, and I’m not waiting for it. Whoever wants to offer an answer is most welcome to do so.”</p>
<p>This article originally appeared in Ha’aretz.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | even present intifada yasser arafat never seen sympathetic figure israel oddly enough one times incurred especially vitriolic criticism sought demonstrate solidarity jewish people relation painful subjectthe holocaust january 1998 pressure us administration led invitation issued arafat visit holocaust museum washington possibility visit knesset uproar mk shmuel halpert united torah judaism called defamation memory killed holocaust trampling jewish dignity terrible insult last remaining survivors late rehavam zeevi harshly rebuked representatives museums yad mordechai lohamei hagetaot also issued invitations arafat called stooping jews groveled villain asked murderer looking holocaust museum want picture taken lips trembling cries crocodile tears sight horrors well think hes human want study adolph hitlers exploits learn naturally comments could go unanswered azmi bishara remarked astonishment finally someone wants recognize collective memory say next day interview haaretz writer journalist salem jubran said ask object arafats visit holocaust museumwhat would said hed turned invitation visit museum jubran suggested arafat also invited visit yad vashem announced jerusalem press conference past monday morning large group jews israeli arabs plans venture volatile triangle jewsarabsholocaust together attend series seminars lectures holocaust go joint visit auschwitz extraordinary initiative brainchild arab priest teacher enthusiastic reception received jews fairly surprising given general atmosphere wariness despair two months october 2000 riots arab sector father emil shufani realized facing new reality shufani nazareth serves archimandrite greek catholic church galilee years ago netanyahu governments leading candidate replace communitys retiring archbishop vatican ideas netanyahus support shufani surprised many people since shufani closely identified hadash many years shufani running st joseph high school nazareth one prestigious arab schools israel always advocated dialogue jews arabs practices preaches recent years conducted regular meetings students school students hebrew university high school jerusalem tradition interrupted events october 2000 december 2000 meeting shufani heard things really knocked loop jerusalem weekend talked painful things happened teacher id known 15 years someone always presented israeli supports democracy equality started talk fact jew mentioned holocaust wasnt one felt holocaust coming back people feeling persecution palpable fear jews historical event belongs past present right pained see teacher disparity values supported intellectually felt emotional level moment realized chance true dialogue reconciliation unless indepth understanding matter holocaust unless touch suffering memory terminology may sufficient get us mud stuck definitely necessary binational project shufani became interested holocaust student france 1970s started toss around ideas one person shared thoughts nazir majli majli also nazareth wellknown figure among arab public israel journalist 30 years seven years editor alittihad communist movements newspaper position took teacher mentor writer emil habibi recent years majli analyzing events israel variety media outlets arab world also part internet project israeli newspapers translated daily arabic shufani majli decided project binational searched jewish partners four months ago contacted ruth barshalev barshalev tel aviv specializes teaching individuals organizations make breakthroughs take stand create new situation seemed dead end puts took upon put together jewishisraeli group would take part project effort recruit participants full swing far list includes 100 arabs 80 jews barshalev expects final number 300 guiding thought reach critical mass granted intimate framework work 20 people wouldnt change thinking broader public want mass people write act lead live within new paradigm goal enlist people leaders entrepreneurs trendsettersnot politicians arab participants include prominent attorney ahmed masalha bus tour company director ahmed afifi sheikh nimr darwish leader northern section islamic movement actor salim daw soccer player walid badir singer amal murkus writer naim areide long list academics educators initial partial list jewish participants includes chief rabbi yisrael lau singer ahinoam nini singer ehud banai poet agi mishol expensive project nonprofit organization called mizikhron leshalom memory peace set fundraising purposes web site participants exchange views experiences recently inaugurated barshalev says sizable contributions already received several private donors projects arab founders formulated goals document entitled remembering pain sake peace undersigned group arab citizens israel concerned deterioration relations jews arabs country going feel pain side two peoples able abandon path bloodshed understands internalizes others pain others fears pushed line fire conflict war wish study get know suffering hardships torture destruction fully identify express solidarity jews upcoming weeks participants attend three weekend seminars dedicated study discussion holocaust various angles first day arabs participate jews join part seminars participants hear lectures historical background world war ii holocaust meet holocaust survivors learn syndrome second thirdgeneration descendants survivors also devote time particularly loaded subjectthe arab world attitude toward holocaust project supposed reach climax toward end may group leave fiveday visit auschwitzbirkenau concentration camp joined 150member delegation france includes leaders jewish muslim communities expected initiative especially timing eliciting lot questions arab world ever since october 2000 israelis palestinians expending considerable energy vying right perceived real victim conflict side best diminish enemys pain suffering along comes group israeli arabs seeks bond jews one place world jews clearly hold exclusive rights title victimthe place epitomizes holocaust good number israeli arabs object move reluctant voice criticism publicly know holocaust sacred cow israeli discourse one arab public figure requested anonymity said following dont moment question evil nazis fact jewish holocaust horrific event everything context two peoples competing victim status jews cynically exploit memory holocaust order commit war crimes territories imprison entire nation closures curfews feel theres almost immoral element traveling auschwitz showing solidarity jewish victim right time personally heart jews suffered exterminated concentration camps theres difference feeling solidaritywhich intimate human emotionand making public display solidarity act political significance nazir majli well prepared respond criticism last months frequently asked going auschwitz israelis killing children jenin reply majli tell people mustnt let prisoners existing modes thinking shouldnt fettered outmoded concepts yes trying turn things inside good present situation hatred exists destroy peoples know well get clobbered critics perhaps even pay heavy personal price hope better future region worth living hell want breathe little clean air pure im cleanse people hatred exists today majli friends anticipating barrage criticism soon project announcednot within israel primarily arab world bid soften expected blow majli went egypt weeks ago meet group prominent intellectuals explained wasnt zionization israeli arabs wasnt sycophancy rather patriotic arab deed first rank intended demonstrate humanity overwhelming majority people met gave us blessing also able meet foreign minister amr moussa told us important even obvious step take terms arab world also promised us attacked project launched would make public statement support poet writer journalist salem jubran editor weekly al ahli based sakhnin participant project dealing issues years early days oslo appeared normalcy finally way region lectured holocaust givat haviva institute west bank palestinians interested subject currently teaches seminar beit lohamei hagetaot mixed groups jewish arab teachers jubran person humanist leftist indifferent ideology extermination seminars first people let go national affinities two three sessions becomes harder think terms jews arabs human beings first doubt youve accused obsequiousness would even call aspiration live coexistence obsequiousness one find one moving moments people come end course tell learning holocaust actually made arab proud learning suffering jews doesnt take anything away national identity national identity ishating another people course strive understand difference patriotism chauvinism loving oneself hating say true victim mean true victim maybe victims simultaneously visiting lohamei hagetaot museum isnt obsequiousness doesnt mean youre distancing nationality rather distillation humane moral arab nation arab attitudes grappling holocaust always complex challenge arab world collective israeli consciousness arab attitude toward holocaust embodied mufti jerusalem maintained ties adolph hitler war reality complicated course contrasting forces actually work arab world thenthose held positive view nazis rise power doggedly opposed led members communist movements prof moshe zimmerman hebrew university connections arab world jerusalem mufti iraq hope forging cooperation officials egypt certain stage nazis started refrain using term antisemitism since arabs also semites instead talked antijewishness propaganda also tried emphasize rivalry islam judaism great christianity judaism course supposed testament jews nature hand zionist propaganda tends imply connection mufti nazis representative palestinians thats problematic generalization one careful salem jubran muftis attitude toward hitler enemy enemy friend also lot palestinian intellectuals proudly publicly took stand nazis terrible tragedy rightwing zionist establishment sought blacken reputation entire palestinian people arabs jews today wont find single person top ranks palestinian national leadership would justify nazi movement even tacitly days oslo traveled tunis arafat asked lecture people jews arabs holocaust wanted help understand jews psychology learn soften toughness two years ago arab world roiled number holocaustdenial organizations scheduled hold conference beirut fourteen prominent arab intellectuals including poet mahmoud darwish published petition saying appalled antisemitic initiative demanded lebanese government stop conference taking place editorial alhayat said conference degrades lebanon name palestinian victims conference seek defend nazi executioner crimes jews israeli arab mk ahmed tibi wrote letter lebanese president said agree step whose objective express understanding nazism crimes genocide peoples including jewish people suffered greatly crimes nazi executioner lebanese government caved pressure conference canceled may 2000 months outbreak intifada mk tawfiq khatib raam part parliamentary delegation concentration camps poland march living auschwitz consider participation important mission represented true arab face criticized distortion true face said time khatib spoke critics referring mainly tamim mansur high school teacher tira lecturer beit berl published scathing article balad party newspaper mansur argued joining delegation khatib lending helping hand israeli world zionist propaganda stages annual tearjerker productions camps order cover past present crimes palestinian people mansur enthusiastic new educational project either im opposed doesnt mean im nazis im graduate tel aviv university degree history land israel jewish people cant say dont know subject think going auschwitz assisting israeli propaganda dont recall seeing jewish leader left right visit sabra chatila one cemeteries full palestinian corpses enough leaders world display solidarity jewish people everything regarding holocaust think jews exploited well used clearly political issue done lot terrible things name holocaust built state expense palestinian people thanks holocaust obliged show solidarity peace would view different obviously also matter timing timing right bad jews recognize suffering palestinian people oppression occupation getting worse every day deal subject holocaust time teach history high school problem nearly every morning enter classroom students recently heard news palestinians killed nablus gaza situation start talking suffering jews theyll say bad didnt kill holocaust studies required subject israeli schools including israeli arab schools teach whats book stick close whats written careful show empathy solidarity soon happens scold theyre killing us youre crying jews talk jews suffered theyd chase classroom gently try convey message theres point hating others ethical one kids says something like deserve confront headon mixed feelings mk azmi bishara germany visited almost concentration camps obsession nazis first communist later feeling extended communism totalitarian regime nonetheless bishara mixed feelings new project several people involved friends mine also consulted interest subject contains genuine honest desire know historical collective memory majority state live think good thing effort welcome problem im little skeptical example suspect theres attempt okay open hearts affect public opinion among jewsthat soon see interested theyll start interested us problem nations shown interest holocaust result israel turned solidarity tool justifying actions instrumentalization holocaust two great offenses related holocaustdenial use made contain element denial soon compare holocaust kinds things youre also diminishing crisis october 2000 whats wrong effort finally made part israeli arabs reach jewish public something bad im sure right way could blur fact main factor worsening relations jews arabs occupationnot lack knowledge jewish history experience ive shown sensitivity ive ended attacked even harder cant neatly categorize theyd like want arab listen jews talk holocaust remember one time part dan shilons famous circle channel two benny katzover said us yamit miniholocaust outragednot arab human asked remarks like memory holocaust could insensitive one else back started shouting mewho defend victims holocaust hurling kinds collective accusations arabs didnt holocaust jewish reciprocity ruth barshalev busy trying increase number jewish participants project says surprised anew time peoples responsiveness willingness come work dont say yesthey immediately get work take responsibilities one person retired police superintendent aryeh amit former commander jerusalem police since october 2000 ive felt divide jews arabs israel strategic problem says dont know one another dont know others culture others dreams others poetry literature theyre actually ahead us terms knowing side still theyre ones saying going first learn taking step last week meeting nazareth project discussed two minutes knew wanted member council peace security citizen excited wants help soldierthough soldier probably isnt right word use context next stage would prepared learn show solidarity palestinian victimhood regarding nakba instance dont know showing solidarity id definitely ready learn decided theyre volunteering go first doubt group afterward study arab issue courage thoroughness matter reciprocity could prove projects undoing arabs coming express solidarity amit ready learn luckily arabs make reciprocity condition point nothing sort made part plans project nazir majli coming recognize victimhood recognize afterward wouldnt telling truth said hadnt thought try ignore thoughts im serve people expecting something return jews time pursuing initiative sake arab people jews want sake people succeed changing something relations two peoples weve accomplished something something personally emil shufani leave jewish street say wishes make parallel move conditions set time come put end pingpong dialectic weve stuck past two years dont know jews answer im waiting whoever wants offer answer welcome article originally appeared haaretz 160 | 2,148 |
<p>Before I take your questions, let me speak with the American people about the situation in Iraq.</p>
<p>This has been tough weeks in that country. Coalition forces have encountered serious violence in some areas of Iraq. Our military commanders report that this violence is being instigated by three groups. Of course, as you all know, these military commanders and their civilian bosses would never lie to me. After all, it is because of the proof they presented to us about Iraqi WMDs that we invaded Iraq in the first place. One of these groups is led by Manny of the Pep Boys, and the other two are led by his cohorts in crime: Moe and Jack.</p>
<p>They want to run us out of Iraq and destroy the profit-seeking hopes of Halliburton and its subsidiaries.</p>
<p>The violence we have seen is a power grab by these extreme and ruthless elements. It’s not a civil war. It’s not a popular uprising. It’s even crazier than that. Iraq is relatively stable, especially if you compare it to the first or second circle of Hell. Most Iraqis, by far, reject violence and oppose dictatorship. This is why they support the resistance in its struggle against US authoritarianism. In forums where Iraqis have met to discuss their political future and in all the proceedings of the Iraqi Governing Council, Iraqis have expressed clear commitments. They want strong protections for individual rights, they want their independence and they want their freedom. But guess what, they can’t have it except on our terms.</p>
<p>America’s commitment to the occupation of Iraq is required by our interests. Iraq will either be a US client regime or it will be leveled.</p>
<p>By helping to secure Iraq, Americans serving in that country are protecting the interests of a lot of my rich friends. We are grateful to them all and to their families that face hardship and long separation. This weekend at a Fort Hood hospital, I presented a Purple Heart to some of the wounded, had the honor of thanking them on behalf of all my family’s friends. Other men and women have paid an even greater cost. We pray that their families will find God’s comfort in the midst of their grief. As I’ve said to those who have lost loved ones: What a bunch of suckers. Hell, I never had to go to Vietnam, because I wasn’t going to risk nothing for my dad’s friends.</p>
<p>America’s armed forces are performing brilliantly, following orders to kill men, women and children and then blame them for their deaths. I am constantly reviewing their needs. Troop strength now and in the future is determined by the situation on the ground. If additional forces are needed, I will send them. If additional resources are needed, we will provide them. After all, I don’t give a shit. I don’t know any of these guys.</p>
<p>The people of our country are united behind the men and women in uniform. They want them to return to the States right away. Guess what? That is not going to happen. One central commitment of their mission is the transfer of a sovereignty back to the Iraqi people. We have set a deadline of June 30. It is important that we meet that deadline. As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation, and neither does America. This means that we have to let them think they’re running the show. So, what we’re going to do is let the Iraqis we pick (because they owe us big time) do some of the little things around Iraq, like planting flowers and holding traffic court. Everything else, like running the army and the police, will still be under our control.</p>
<p>America’s objective in Iraq is limited and it is firm. We seek a compliant Iraq where US and British corporations can feel secure as they profit from that country’s resources. Were the coalition to step back from the June 30 pledge, many Iraqis would question our intentions and feel their hopes betrayed. So, we’re going to make a big show about this transfer thing and hopefully that will convince the Iraqi people that we are no longer there running their country and killing those Iraqis who don’t like us. After all, they must be stupid people since they don’t speak English, right?</p>
<p>Iraqi authorities who work for the US are now confronting the security challenge of the last several weeks. In Falluja, coalition forces have suspended the collective punishment we wreaked on that city, allowing members of the Iraqi Governing Council and local leaders to try and convince the insurgents that once they give up the city we aren’t going to kill every one of them and hang their burned bodies from a bridge. Of course, we might.</p>
<p>Our coalition is standing with Iraqi leaders who wouldn’t even be there if US forces weren’t protecting them as they attempt to establish any kind of authority in their country. The transition to what we like to call sovereignty also requires an atmosphere of security. And our coalition is working to provide that security. We will continue taking the greatest care to prevent harm to contractors working for US companies. We will not permit the spread of chaos and violence unless it is US forces conducting that violence. I have directed our military commanders to make every preparation to use decisive force if necessary to maintain order and to protect our troops.</p>
<p>On June 30 when the flag of Iraq is raised, our handpicked Iraqi officials will assume responsibility for a couple of the ministries of government—like traffic and rubbish removal. On that day the transitional administrative law will take full effect. The United States and all the nations of our coalition will establish normal diplomatic relations with our handpicked Iraqi government. An American embassy will open and an American ambassador will be posted. This Embassy will oversee continued US military operations in that country and will also manage the activities of thousands of CIA agents, along with the work of tens of thousands of private mercenaries they have working over there. You can be sure that the US Ambassador will be experienced in intelligence operations and well versed in our colonial aspirations.</p>
<p>According to the schedule already approved by the Governing Council, Iraq will hold elections for a national assembly no later than next January. This government better well be the one we want or there will be some more problems. Iraqis’ neighbors also have responsibilities to make their region more stable. So I’m sending Deputy Secretary of State Armitage to the Middle East to discuss with these nations our common interest in a free and independent Iraq and how they can help achieve this goal. Of course, unless they agree with the plans Israel and the US have for that region, they may very well be the next country to feel the wrath of America’s military force.</p>
<p>Let me repeat, our commitment to the success and security of Iraq will not end on June 30. On July 1 and beyond, our reconstruction assistance will continue and our military commitment will continue. This is necessary in order to keep the natives down. Having forced a new government on the Iraqi people, US military forces will be necessary to protect their government from the large numbers Iraqis who disagree with their presence and have no respect for its authority.</p>
<p>Now is the time and Iraq is the place in which the enemies of US imperialism are testing the will of the Empire. We must not waver. The violence we are seeing in Iraq is familiar. The F-16 that drops a bomb on a mosque or in a civilian neighborhood is serving the same ideology of murder that kills innocent people on trains in Madrid and murdered children in Vietnam and El Salvador. We’ve seen the same ideology of murder in the killing of millions around the world. The attacks on the Pequot Indians back in the 17th Century, the destruction of two cities in Japan with nuclear weapons at the end of World War II, and in the merciless horror inflicted upon millions of innocent men and women and children during our war on Vietnam.</p>
<p>None of these acts is the work of a religion. All are the work of a fanatical political ideology. The servants of this ideology seek tyranny in the Middle East and beyond. They seek to oppress and persecute women. They seek the death of every Jew, Christian and Muslim who desires peace over terror. They seek to set free peoples against each other. And they seek weapons of mass destruction to blackmail and murder on a massive scale.</p>
<p>We will succeed in Iraq or we will kill a lot of people trying. We’re carrying out a decision that has already been made and will not change. Iraq will be America’s Arab pawn. And America and Israel’s plans for the region will be safer because of it. We serve the cause of unfettered capital and that is always and everywhere a cause worth serving.</p>
<p>RON JACOBS can be reached at: <a href="mailto:rjacobs@uvm.edu" type="external">rjacobs@uvm.edu</a></p>
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crazier iraq relatively stable especially compare first second circle hell iraqis far reject violence oppose dictatorship support resistance struggle us authoritarianism forums iraqis met discuss political future proceedings iraqi governing council iraqis expressed clear commitments want strong protections individual rights want independence want freedom guess cant except terms americas commitment occupation iraq required interests iraq either us client regime leveled helping secure iraq americans serving country protecting interests lot rich friends grateful families face hardship long separation weekend fort hood hospital presented purple heart wounded honor thanking behalf familys friends men women paid even greater cost pray families find gods comfort midst grief ive said lost loved ones bunch suckers hell never go vietnam wasnt going risk nothing dads friends americas armed forces performing brilliantly following orders kill men women children blame deaths constantly reviewing needs troop strength future determined situation ground additional forces needed send additional resources needed provide dont give shit dont know guys people country united behind men women uniform want return states right away guess going happen one central commitment mission transfer sovereignty back iraqi people set deadline june 30 important meet deadline proud independent people iraqis support indefinite occupation neither america means let think theyre running show going let iraqis pick owe us big time little things around iraq like planting flowers holding traffic court everything else like running army police still control americas objective iraq limited firm seek compliant iraq us british corporations feel secure profit countrys resources coalition step back june 30 pledge many iraqis would question intentions feel hopes betrayed going make big show transfer thing hopefully convince iraqi people longer running country killing iraqis dont like us must stupid people since dont speak english right iraqi authorities work us confronting security challenge last several weeks falluja coalition forces suspended collective punishment wreaked city allowing members iraqi governing council local leaders try convince insurgents give city arent going kill every one hang burned bodies bridge course might coalition standing iraqi leaders wouldnt even us forces werent protecting attempt establish kind authority country transition like call sovereignty also requires atmosphere security coalition working provide security continue taking greatest care prevent harm contractors working us companies permit spread chaos violence unless us forces conducting violence directed military commanders make every preparation use decisive force necessary maintain order protect troops june 30 flag iraq raised handpicked iraqi officials assume responsibility couple ministries governmentlike traffic rubbish removal day transitional administrative law take full effect united states nations coalition establish normal diplomatic relations handpicked iraqi government american embassy open american ambassador posted embassy oversee continued us military operations country also manage activities thousands cia agents along work tens thousands private mercenaries working sure us ambassador experienced intelligence operations well versed colonial aspirations according schedule already approved governing council iraq hold elections national assembly later next january government better well one want problems iraqis neighbors also responsibilities make region stable im sending deputy secretary state armitage middle east discuss nations common interest free independent iraq help achieve goal course unless agree plans israel us region may well next country feel wrath americas military force let repeat commitment success security iraq end june 30 july 1 beyond reconstruction assistance continue military commitment continue necessary order keep natives forced new government iraqi people us military forces necessary protect government large numbers iraqis disagree presence respect authority time iraq place enemies us imperialism testing empire must waver violence seeing iraq familiar f16 drops bomb mosque civilian neighborhood serving ideology murder kills innocent people trains madrid murdered children vietnam el salvador weve seen ideology murder killing millions around world attacks pequot indians back 17th century destruction two cities japan nuclear weapons end world war ii merciless horror inflicted upon millions innocent men women children war vietnam none acts work religion work fanatical political ideology servants ideology seek tyranny middle east beyond seek oppress persecute women seek death every jew christian muslim desires peace terror seek set free peoples seek weapons mass destruction blackmail murder massive scale succeed iraq kill lot people trying carrying decision already made change iraq americas arab pawn america israels plans region safer serve cause unfettered capital always everywhere cause worth serving ron jacobs reached rjacobsuvmedu keep counterpunch alive make taxdeductible donation today online home subscribe us books archives search links ron jacobs | 790 |
<p>Given that unions in the United States and Europe continue to be co-opted, usurped, assaulted, demonized, marginalized, and traumatized—pick your poison—it seems both ironic and fantastic that organized labor could be on the ascendancy in a country as troubled and improbable as war-torn Iraq.&#160; But fantastic or not, it’s true.&#160; Day by day, member by member, Iraq’s labor unions continue to gain support.</p>
<p>Actually, a home-grown Iraqi labor movement isn’t as improbable as it seems.&#160; In fact, when you examine its history, you discover the country has a genuine, if modest, labor lineage going back many decades.&#160; Beginning shortly after the end of WWI hostilities, Iraqi workers—led by longshoremen, petroleum and railway employees, and in defiance of their British masters—joined together to establish a formidable organizing network.</p>
<p>Jumping ahead to 1959, there were already an estimated 250,000 union members in Iraq.&#160; Then, just as the movement seemed on the verge of taking off, the whole edifice came crashing down.&#160; In 1963, a Baathist regime took over the country (with the CIA’s help) and all but decimated the unions.&#160; By 1968, Iraq’s organized labor infrastructure had been demoralized, corrupted and reduced to a Baathist public relations tool.</p>
<p>When Saddam Hussein seized power, in 1979, it was more of the same. By insisting that all the jobs in the country belonged to the Iraqi state and that all the workers were, therefore, government employees (“civil servants”), Saddam expropriated the labor movement in both name and deed.&#160; He went so far as to decree that the term “worker” no longer be used.</p>
<p>With everyone in the country gainfully employed and under the paternal care of the state, Saddam officially declared that there was no longer a need for anything as anachronistic and unreliable as trade unions.&#160; The Iraqi labor movement was effectively made invisible, driven underground.&#160; According to Political Risk Services (a corporate consulting group), from the early 1970s to the overthrow of Saddam, there were zero strikes in the country.</p>
<p>Remarkably, the post-Saddam era changed everything.&#160; Today there are three relatively large labor federations in the country, the largest of which is the General Federation of Iraqi Workers (GFIW), formed in 2005 and formerly known as the Iraqi Federation of Trade Unions (IFTU).&#160; There is a teachers’ union in Iraq, a journalists’ union, an engineers’ union, an oil and gas union, a carpenters’ union, a journeymen electricians’ union; there is an organization called the Syndicate Union of Kurdistan Workers.&#160; The diversity and vitality are astonishing.</p>
<p>Obviously, while organized labor has definitely gained a foothold, it has a ways to go.&#160; The fledgling Iraqi government, including the American occupational forces, still looks upon the GFIW and the other federations with a jaundiced eye.&#160; Behind the scenes, American mega-corporations such as Bechtel and Halliburton have sought to undermine the Iraqi labor movement, having, predictably, carried with them across the Atlantic Ocean their vehemently anti-union policies.</p>
<p>Workers’ collectives have always drawn opposition, and Iraq’s defiantly independent federations are no exception.&#160; Threatened by their growing stature and unwillingness to go along with the program, even the insurgency took time away from its bloody engagement with the American invaders to mount attacks against the unions.&#160; In 2005, insurgents murdered Hadi Saleh, a former federation leader.</p>
<p>Approximately 70-percent of the Iraqi economy is state-owned.&#160; And because it wasn’t until recently that it even became legal to unionize public sector workers, the overwhelming majority of the workforce still remains non-union (as it is in the U.S.).&#160; It will be an uphill battle tapping into that sector.&#160; Still, even with those obstacles facing them, Iraq’s unions are on the ascendancy.</p>
<p>The original IFTU, formed in May of 2003, was and remains affiliated with the Iraqi Communist Party (founded in 1934), and under its new name the GFIW is the only “officially recognized” labor group in the country.&#160; The other two organizations are the Federation of Workers Councils and Unions in Iraq (FWCUI) and the Federation of Oil Unions in Iraq (FOUI)—more or less competitors of the GFIW.&#160; All three federations have ties with the Iraqi Communist Party.</p>
<p>The tendency to view Iraq (or any Moslem country, for that matter) as a religious-cultural monolith is set on its head by the presence of an active communist party.&#160; Yet, given communism’s ideological underpinnings (i.e., atheistic dialectical materialism), the notion of doctrinaire Iraqi Marxists capering in the desert with twitchy Islamic fundamentalists is stubbornly counterintuitive.</p>
<p>But counterintuitive or not, it’s true.&#160; Secular Iraq has had a significant communist influence since the 1940s, manifested by peasant uprisings, organizing drives, and the progressive leadership of the ultra-nationalist but “benign autocrat,” Abdul Karim Qasim, who, in 1958, abolished the monarchy and became Iraq’s first prime minister.&#160; One of Qasim’s first acts was repealing the official ban on the communist party.&#160; Had Qasim not been overthrown by the Baathists, there’s no telling how strong labor could have become.</p>
<p>What the presence of a vigorous labor movement in today’s Iraq most reveals—more than testimony to the human spirit, more than evidence of Iraq’s healthy secularism, more, even, than the dangers in making glib or sweeping generalizations—is the resilience and universality of worker solidarity.</p>
<p>While an American tourist walking the streets of Baghdad (or Damascus or Cairo) might feel ill at ease—not only out of place, but confused and vaguely threatened by the strangeness of the sights, sounds and customs—a unionized Iraqi oil worker and an American Teamster or UAW member would instantly recognize a fraternal bond.</p>
<p>These union members would recognize that they not only share a common destiny, but they speak a universal language.&#160; And despite the fact that their life experiences are an ocean, an epoch, a civilization apart, that recognition, that natural affinity, has to be profoundly gratifying.</p>
<p>DAVID MACARAY, a Los Angeles playwright, is the author of “ <a href="" type="internal">It’s Never Been Easy:&#160; Essays on Modern Labor</a>” (available at Amazon, Borders, Barnes &amp; Noble, etc.) He can be reached at <a href="mailto:dmacaray@earthlink.net" type="external">dmacaray@earthlink.net</a></p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | given unions united states europe continue coopted usurped assaulted demonized marginalized traumatizedpick poisonit seems ironic fantastic organized labor could ascendancy country troubled improbable wartorn iraq160 fantastic true160 day day member member iraqs labor unions continue gain support actually homegrown iraqi labor movement isnt improbable seems160 fact examine history discover country genuine modest labor lineage going back many decades160 beginning shortly end wwi hostilities iraqi workersled longshoremen petroleum railway employees defiance british mastersjoined together establish formidable organizing network jumping ahead 1959 already estimated 250000 union members iraq160 movement seemed verge taking whole edifice came crashing down160 1963 baathist regime took country cias help decimated unions160 1968 iraqs organized labor infrastructure demoralized corrupted reduced baathist public relations tool saddam hussein seized power 1979 insisting jobs country belonged iraqi state workers therefore government employees civil servants saddam expropriated labor movement name deed160 went far decree term worker longer used everyone country gainfully employed paternal care state saddam officially declared longer need anything anachronistic unreliable trade unions160 iraqi labor movement effectively made invisible driven underground160 according political risk services corporate consulting group early 1970s overthrow saddam zero strikes country remarkably postsaddam era changed everything160 today three relatively large labor federations country largest general federation iraqi workers gfiw formed 2005 formerly known iraqi federation trade unions iftu160 teachers union iraq journalists union engineers union oil gas union carpenters union journeymen electricians union organization called syndicate union kurdistan workers160 diversity vitality astonishing obviously organized labor definitely gained foothold ways go160 fledgling iraqi government including american occupational forces still looks upon gfiw federations jaundiced eye160 behind scenes american megacorporations bechtel halliburton sought undermine iraqi labor movement predictably carried across atlantic ocean vehemently antiunion policies workers collectives always drawn opposition iraqs defiantly independent federations exception160 threatened growing stature unwillingness go along program even insurgency took time away bloody engagement american invaders mount attacks unions160 2005 insurgents murdered hadi saleh former federation leader approximately 70percent iraqi economy stateowned160 wasnt recently even became legal unionize public sector workers overwhelming majority workforce still remains nonunion us160 uphill battle tapping sector160 still even obstacles facing iraqs unions ascendancy original iftu formed may 2003 remains affiliated iraqi communist party founded 1934 new name gfiw officially recognized labor group country160 two organizations federation workers councils unions iraq fwcui federation oil unions iraq fouimore less competitors gfiw160 three federations ties iraqi communist party tendency view iraq moslem country matter religiouscultural monolith set head presence active communist party160 yet given communisms ideological underpinnings ie atheistic dialectical materialism notion doctrinaire iraqi marxists capering desert twitchy islamic fundamentalists stubbornly counterintuitive counterintuitive true160 secular iraq significant communist influence since 1940s manifested peasant uprisings organizing drives progressive leadership ultranationalist benign autocrat abdul karim qasim 1958 abolished monarchy became iraqs first prime minister160 one qasims first acts repealing official ban communist party160 qasim overthrown baathists theres telling strong labor could become presence vigorous labor movement todays iraq revealsmore testimony human spirit evidence iraqs healthy secularism even dangers making glib sweeping generalizationsis resilience universality worker solidarity american tourist walking streets baghdad damascus cairo might feel ill easenot place confused vaguely threatened strangeness sights sounds customsa unionized iraqi oil worker american teamster uaw member would instantly recognize fraternal bond union members would recognize share common destiny speak universal language160 despite fact life experiences ocean epoch civilization apart recognition natural affinity profoundly gratifying david macaray los angeles playwright author never easy160 essays modern labor available amazon borders barnes amp noble etc reached dmacarayearthlinknet | 569 |
<p>On May 16, just four days after demonstrations against the private prison industry in cities across the country–part of the National Prison Industry Divestment Campaign–Pershing Square Capital Management, a New York-based hedge fund, sold its remaining shares of Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) stock. After selling 3.4 million shares earlier in the year, the fund unloaded another 4.4 million. Altogether, the shares were worth nearly $200 million.</p>
<p>Pershing didn’t say it was reacting to the new campaign, but Enlace, an umbrella group of 21 worker centers, unions and community groups in the United States and Mexico that is leading the divestment campaign, took credit in a statement later that month.</p>
<p>On May 12, the first day of the campaign, Enlace and other groups organized protests in New York City, Los Angeles, Tucson, Nashville and Miami to pressure Wells Fargo, General Electric, Fidelity, Wellington Management Company and other firms to divest from private prison corporations including CCA, GEO Group (GEO) and Management and Training Corporation (MTC).</p>
<p>CCA, the private prison industry’s largest company, which has contracts with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Marshal Service, is also the nation’s largest detainer of undocumented immigrants. Since the company began to receive ICE contracts in 2000, immigrant rights groups have been targeting CCA for prisoner abuse, poor working conditions for guards and the company’s connections to anti-immigrant legislation. Now Enlace is trying to force reform by targeting firms that financially support CCA’s entire industry.</p>
<p>Chuck Foy, the former executive director of the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association, a union for prison guards, told Prescott, Ariz.’s The Daily Courier in 2009 that CCA facilities provide wages at $10 to $12 per hour–almost 50 percent below the wages at state-run prisons. Foy also said CCA prisons hire fewer correctional officers and provide, on average, 240 hours fewer of training to their personnel.</p>
<p>A 2005 lawsuit brought by the watchdog group Michigan Protection and Advocacy Service against GEO, the nation’s second-largest private prison company, claimed there was only one social worker for 483 inmates at the GEO-run Michigan Youth Correctional Facility in Baldwin, Mich. The facility reported 61 suicide attempts in a six-month period that year, compared to 18 the previous year.</p>
<p>As of December 31, 2010, Wells Fargo had $88.7 million invested in GEO and $5.9 million in CCA. “When we spoke to Wells Fargo, they denied having any holdings with CCA and GEO group. Even though the information is public, they still denied it,” said Peter Cervantes-Gautschi, director of Enlace. While the bank may not admit its connections to the private prison industry–at least to activists–its investments are sound.</p>
<p>Detainment is a lucrative trade. Prisons can earn $90-$200 per inmate per night, which translates into nearly $5 billion in revenues each year. The industry has lobbied diligently to secure profits, supporting and even writing laws to increase prison sentences and populations, especially among undocumented immigrants. Between 2003 and 2010, private prison companies spent more than $20 million lobbying legislators and the Department of Homeland Security. Additionally, GEO has given $790,000 to lobbying firms HighGround and Podesta Group, while CCA has given $680,000 to the Washington, D.C. lobbying firm Akin Gump.</p>
<p>Arizona state senator Russell Pearce, the purported writer of SB1070, Arizona’s anti-immigrant law passed in 2010, met with CCA representatives at an American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conference in December 2009, where together they reportedly drafted the legislation. When Pearce introduced the bill in January 2010, 36 senators signed on as co-sponsors. Over the next six months, 30 of them received donations from CCA, GEO or MTC.</p>
<p>“Criminal justice law is supposed to protect citizens, not purposely put them away for financial gain,” Cervantes-Gautschi said.</p>
<p>Since SB1070 was signed into law in April 2010, five other states–Utah, Indiana, Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina–have passed similar or near-identical legislation. On May 13, Georgia governor Nathan Deal, who has received thousands of dollars worth of campaign contributions from CCA, signed his state’s version of the bill, HB87, into law.</p>
<p>As anti-immigrant laws gain support across the country, solidarity groups are redoubling their efforts against the corporations that stand to benefit. On July 1, when HB87 took effect, the prison divestment campaign held its second, larger round of demonstrations outside of Wells Fargo offices in 14 cities across the country, demanding that the bank and all other shareholders of private prisons dump their investments. Activists in Denver convinced the Wells Fargo regional vice president to agree to meet with them in August. A different vice president rescinded an earlier agreement in San Francisco, however, saying that while the Wells Fargo mutual fund invests in prisons, the bank does not.</p>
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<p>Joel Handley, a former assistant editor at In These Times, is a Chicago-based independent journalist and freelance editor.</p> | true | 4 | may 16 four days demonstrations private prison industry cities across countrypart national prison industry divestment campaignpershing square capital management new yorkbased hedge fund sold remaining shares corrections corporation america cca stock selling 34 million shares earlier year fund unloaded another 44 million altogether shares worth nearly 200 million pershing didnt say reacting new campaign enlace umbrella group 21 worker centers unions community groups united states mexico leading divestment campaign took credit statement later month may 12 first day campaign enlace groups organized protests new york city los angeles tucson nashville miami pressure wells fargo general electric fidelity wellington management company firms divest private prison corporations including cca geo group geo management training corporation mtc cca private prison industrys largest company contracts immigration customs enforcement ice us marshal service also nations largest detainer undocumented immigrants since company began receive ice contracts 2000 immigrant rights groups targeting cca prisoner abuse poor working conditions guards companys connections antiimmigrant legislation enlace trying force reform targeting firms financially support ccas entire industry chuck foy former executive director arizona correctional peace officers association union prison guards told prescott arizs daily courier 2009 cca facilities provide wages 10 12 per houralmost 50 percent wages staterun prisons foy also said cca prisons hire fewer correctional officers provide average 240 hours fewer training personnel 2005 lawsuit brought watchdog group michigan protection advocacy service geo nations secondlargest private prison company claimed one social worker 483 inmates georun michigan youth correctional facility baldwin mich facility reported 61 suicide attempts sixmonth period year compared 18 previous year december 31 2010 wells fargo 887 million invested geo 59 million cca spoke wells fargo denied holdings cca geo group even though information public still denied said peter cervantesgautschi director enlace bank may admit connections private prison industryat least activistsits investments sound detainment lucrative trade prisons earn 90200 per inmate per night translates nearly 5 billion revenues year industry lobbied diligently secure profits supporting even writing laws increase prison sentences populations especially among undocumented immigrants 2003 2010 private prison companies spent 20 million lobbying legislators department homeland security additionally geo given 790000 lobbying firms highground podesta group cca given 680000 washington dc lobbying firm akin gump arizona state senator russell pearce purported writer sb1070 arizonas antiimmigrant law passed 2010 met cca representatives american legislative exchange council alec conference december 2009 together reportedly drafted legislation pearce introduced bill january 2010 36 senators signed cosponsors next six months 30 received donations cca geo mtc criminal justice law supposed protect citizens purposely put away financial gain cervantesgautschi said since sb1070 signed law april 2010 five statesutah indiana georgia alabama south carolinahave passed similar nearidentical legislation may 13 georgia governor nathan deal received thousands dollars worth campaign contributions cca signed states version bill hb87 law antiimmigrant laws gain support across country solidarity groups redoubling efforts corporations stand benefit july 1 hb87 took effect prison divestment campaign held second larger round demonstrations outside wells fargo offices 14 cities across country demanding bank shareholders private prisons dump investments activists denver convinced wells fargo regional vice president agree meet august different vice president rescinded earlier agreement san francisco however saying wells fargo mutual fund invests prisons bank like youve read subscribe times magazine make taxdeductible donation fund reporting joel handley former assistant editor times chicagobased independent journalist freelance editor | 547 |
<p>The following interview is part of our continuing effort to provide a voice for Iraqis in regards to the American occupation. Dr. Saad Jawad is a prominent political scientist at Baghdad University. Baghdad University, once one of the finest academic institutions in the Arab world, has suffered tremendously under the US occupation, not to mention the twelve year long sanctions that preceded it. Dr. Jawad and I discussed the continued assassination of Iraqi intellectuals, a phenomenon largely ignored by the western media. Over one thousand Iraqi academics, intellectuals and scientists have been assassinated since the American invasion-most of them opposed to the occupation.</p>
<p>LAITH AL-SAUD: As a political scientist what is your assessment of the economic future of Iraq, particularly in relation to the supposed rebuilding undertaken by the Americans.</p>
<p>Dr. Saad Jawad: The Iraqi economy has suffered heavily under the occupation or more correct under the American domination. Most of the money allocated for reconstruction, as is now well known, has either been looted or spent on the security of the American forces and personnel. American writers now speak about the squandering of (looting) more the 25 billion dollars from the Iraqi economy. Such a situation will never help in building a new strong economy, or at least salvage the weak Iraqi economy. The amount of destruction incurred by the American invasion added to that made by the war, invasion and the long sanctions (12 years).</p>
<p>LA: Similarly what is your assessment of the possibilities of civil war in Iraq? It is often said that if America withdraws Iraq will plunge into civil war, what is your analysis?</p>
<p>SJ: The possibility of civil war does exist but it is very much a remote one. Judging by how Iraqis have reacted to attempts to ignite such a war currently and the old social history of inter-marriage and fraternity I strongly believe the possibility is very remote. As I said, we have wide spread evidence that outside forces are attempting to instigate a civil war here and Iraqis are conscious of that and have made a determined effort not to respond to it. The Iraqi reaction to these different attempts to trigger a civil war substantiates my argument.</p>
<p>LA: The resistance in Iraq has no doubt been persistent and intrepid: as of yet, however, we have not seen (or at least it has not received much attention) an intellectual resistance that ties the occupation to larger and more general themes of history, nationalism and Islam. For example why should people resist this occupation intellectually?</p>
<p>SJ: The intellectuals were genuinely divided between their hatred of the old regime and the hope of building a new democratic Iraq with American assistance. Unfortunately the Americans proved to be of no help at all. The hatred of the old regime drove a fair number of the intellectuals, especially in the first year of the occupation, to voice their opinions along sectarian lines. Only recently after their disappointment with the occupation policy have they realized how misled they were. That is why their movement to form an intellectual resistance was late. But it is progressing following their disappointment with the occupation policy and that of those so-called Iraqis who came with them.</p>
<p>LA: How much influence does the Iraqi intelligentsia have around the country and to what extent was their expertise made use of in providing Iraq stability?</p>
<p>SJ: To my knowledge no Iraqi academic body was consulted for example in drafting the constitution. This ignorance was very obvious and clear. That is why the constitution was drafted according to American wishes and narrow sectarian and ethnic lines. Most of the political movements now, however, are resorting to the advice of the intellectuals. Most movements and organizations are including intellectuals now. It is true that their role is mostly small, but they are there.</p>
<p>LA: It is well known to those who care that Iraqi intellectuals are being targeted in unbelievable numbers, who is responsible for this targeting and why?</p>
<p>SJ: Iraqi intellectuals and scientists are targeted by many elements. [When we analyze who is targeted and by what methods it is clear that] the Israelis and the Americans are after one part of them. Iran and the sectarian parties are after some others. The Baathists liquidated some of their old comrades when they noticed that they were cooperating with the Americans, and the local mafias kidnapped and assassinated others after making them pay ransoms. The problem of security, or the lack of it, is the main reason why intellectuals have become such easy targets for any act. Yet, precisely because of the chaos, the systematized assassinations of Iraqi intellectuals have gone largely unnoticed in the outside world. Iraq is being drained of its most able thinkers, thus an important component to any true Iraqi independence is being eliminated.</p>
<p>LA: What do you think of the demand made at the Cairo conference for an American timetable for withdrawal?</p>
<p>SJ: I believe the request put forth at the Cairo conference for a timetable scheduling the withdrawal of American forces (which was later approved) was a pre-condition put forward by the opposition to attend the meeting. Until that time the American administration refused to speak or allow anyone else to speak about this issue. The Americans wanted to make their presence as permanent and long as possible. To me a sudden withdrawal is not advisable, however. I believe before taking such a step the American administration should re-instate the bulk of the Iraqi army, security and police forces. This is the institution that could bring back security and order into the country. Of course when I say re-instate I mean fully re-instate, i.e. furnished with all the necessary arms and equipment to carry out its duty. Otherwise we will continue to live in the current up-side-down situation in which all of the professionals and experts were forced out of duty and all the amateurs placed on duty. In addition those forced out of the army are oppressed, under paid, humiliated and constantly threatened with liquidation. Meanwhile those who have found themselves within the new American circle are generously paid and protected despite their old tarnished history. Does anybody blame members of the old army when the join the resistance and defy the attempts to finish them? Once the military and security apparatus is established, and this should not take long because the members of this institution are very well trained and capable of switching to duty soon, then the American forces should start withdrawing.</p>
<p>LAITH AL-SAUD is a college lecturer in the social sciences and a member of the People’s Struggle Movement-an organization politically opposed to the occupation of Iraq.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | following interview part continuing effort provide voice iraqis regards american occupation dr saad jawad prominent political scientist baghdad university baghdad university one finest academic institutions arab world suffered tremendously us occupation mention twelve year long sanctions preceded dr jawad discussed continued assassination iraqi intellectuals phenomenon largely ignored western media one thousand iraqi academics intellectuals scientists assassinated since american invasionmost opposed occupation laith alsaud political scientist assessment economic future iraq particularly relation supposed rebuilding undertaken americans dr saad jawad iraqi economy suffered heavily occupation correct american domination money allocated reconstruction well known either looted spent security american forces personnel american writers speak squandering looting 25 billion dollars iraqi economy situation never help building new strong economy least salvage weak iraqi economy amount destruction incurred american invasion added made war invasion long sanctions 12 years la similarly assessment possibilities civil war iraq often said america withdraws iraq plunge civil war analysis sj possibility civil war exist much remote one judging iraqis reacted attempts ignite war currently old social history intermarriage fraternity strongly believe possibility remote said wide spread evidence outside forces attempting instigate civil war iraqis conscious made determined effort respond iraqi reaction different attempts trigger civil war substantiates argument la resistance iraq doubt persistent intrepid yet however seen least received much attention intellectual resistance ties occupation larger general themes history nationalism islam example people resist occupation intellectually sj intellectuals genuinely divided hatred old regime hope building new democratic iraq american assistance unfortunately americans proved help hatred old regime drove fair number intellectuals especially first year occupation voice opinions along sectarian lines recently disappointment occupation policy realized misled movement form intellectual resistance late progressing following disappointment occupation policy socalled iraqis came la much influence iraqi intelligentsia around country extent expertise made use providing iraq stability sj knowledge iraqi academic body consulted example drafting constitution ignorance obvious clear constitution drafted according american wishes narrow sectarian ethnic lines political movements however resorting advice intellectuals movements organizations including intellectuals true role mostly small la well known care iraqi intellectuals targeted unbelievable numbers responsible targeting sj iraqi intellectuals scientists targeted many elements analyze targeted methods clear israelis americans one part iran sectarian parties others baathists liquidated old comrades noticed cooperating americans local mafias kidnapped assassinated others making pay ransoms problem security lack main reason intellectuals become easy targets act yet precisely chaos systematized assassinations iraqi intellectuals gone largely unnoticed outside world iraq drained able thinkers thus important component true iraqi independence eliminated la think demand made cairo conference american timetable withdrawal sj believe request put forth cairo conference timetable scheduling withdrawal american forces later approved precondition put forward opposition attend meeting time american administration refused speak allow anyone else speak issue americans wanted make presence permanent long possible sudden withdrawal advisable however believe taking step american administration reinstate bulk iraqi army security police forces institution could bring back security order country course say reinstate mean fully reinstate ie furnished necessary arms equipment carry duty otherwise continue live current upsidedown situation professionals experts forced duty amateurs placed duty addition forced army oppressed paid humiliated constantly threatened liquidation meanwhile found within new american circle generously paid protected despite old tarnished history anybody blame members old army join resistance defy attempts finish military security apparatus established take long members institution well trained capable switching duty soon american forces start withdrawing laith alsaud college lecturer social sciences member peoples struggle movementan organization politically opposed occupation iraq 160 | 567 |
<p>Reading Karl Kautsky today&#160;is a peculiar undertaking. For starters, there is the burning question of “who actually reads Kautsky?”</p>
<p>Vilified by the Bolsheviks and their descendants for, in their eyes, <a href="https://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1918/oct/10.htm" type="external">betraying</a> the Marxist principles his writings had done so much to popularize, yet still too Marxist for comfort in the rightward-moving Social Democratic Party of Weimar Germany, the “Pope of Marxism” has largely been consigned (along with <a href="http://www.marxists.org/archive/plekhanov/" type="external">Georgi Plekhanov</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Bauer" type="external">Bruno Bauer</a>, and others) to the pile of seemingly-important authors one should at least have read about, but is not obligated to actually read.</p>
<p>Once we move beyond this first peculiarity, we are confronted with the second: namely, that a lot of what <a href="http://www.marxists.org/archive/kautsky/" type="external">Kautsky writes</a> is quite good. Sure, his work is riddled with over-simplifications and teleological projections that hold little water a century after the fact. But to reduce his Marxism to these shortcomings alone is to ignore&#160;one of the most important socialists of the twentieth century.</p>
<p>Kautsky’s most significant contribution — namely, systematizing classical Marxist theory into a series of easily understandable, digestible works fit for mass consumption — brought socialist theory and politics into the hearts and minds of millions of European workers at the turn of the last century. Kautsky was considered a “Pope” not due to unassailable ecclesiastic authority or backroom intrigues within the upper ranks of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Social_Democratic_Party_of_Germany#Pre-republic_1863.E2.80.931918" type="external">SPD</a>, but rather because he represented one of the main authorities on Marxist theory in an age where the spirit of revolution was sweeping up the German working classes like never before (and never since).</p>
<p>He sat at the pinnacle of an expanding workers’ movement, whose promises of inevitable socialist transformation seemed plausible and within reach. He wrote for an audience of millions of eager, attentive militants, and no doubt felt a sense of responsibility to use his authority to imbue the spirit of class consciousness in his readers.</p>
<p>This spirit runs through <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=rR4pAAAAYAAJ&amp;lpg=PP9&amp;ots=CCG_GuMpAR&amp;dq=communism%20in%20the%20time%20of%20reformation&amp;pg=PA155#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false" type="external">Communism in Central Europe at the Time of the Reformation</a>, in which Kautsky traces the revolutionary egalitarian impulses of subaltern Protestant currents in the Middle Ages, identifying both an “egalitarian communism” of the poor and downtrodden masses, as well as an intellectualized “Utopian communism” of the educated upper classes.</p>
<p>Communism in Central Europe was originally part of a much larger, untranslated work titled Die Vorläufer des neuen Sozialismus (“The Forebearers of Modern Socialism”) before being published in English as a stand-alone text. The book is Kautsky’s attempt to reconstruct human history as a history of class struggles, in order to imbue his readers with a sense of historical tradition, revolutionary continuity, and moral obligation to the socialist future.</p>
<p>Kautsky sees communism historically as developing in two spheres: communism as the intellectual, ideological task of imagining a society free of poverty and exploitation; and communism as the real, living struggle of the oppressed and exploited for a better existence. Though it is only under conditions of developed capitalism that a unity of these spheres is possible — realized, for Kautsky, in the form of the industrial proletariat endowed with Social Democratic leadership — that does not mean that people throughout history have not already been fighting for a better world.</p>
<p>In the book’s introduction, Kautsky urges his readers to familiarize themselves with the history of communism in order to more fully appreciate the meaning and historical necessity of the struggle and to become better socialists because of it.</p>
<p>“The Influence of Christian Tradition” describes how the world of ideas propelled communist discourses forward, even under precarious and backwards material conditions. Kautsky shows how the oppressed of the Middle Ages drew on Christian teachings, specifically the Gospels, to develop a moral critique of the inequality and unfairness they experienced in life.</p>
<p>He depicts a world dominated by the Church and drenched in Catholic dogma, but one in which the very individuals responsible for propagating this dogma (the Church and the ruling classes) had long ceased to believe in it themselves.</p>
<p>Religious doctrine was drilled into the masses in order to prevent other, potentially dangerous ideas from filling that space. Christianity served as an ideological fog to mystify the workings of feudal expropriation, but was not a material force as such.</p>
<p>Protestantism turned Catholic dogma on its head (or perhaps on its feet?), ushering in a relative democratization of Biblical interpretation and theological discussion. This democratization at first allowed for the building of broad alliances against Papal authority, uniting elements of the bourgeoisie with the disenfranchised peasant masses.</p>
<p>According to Kautsky, however, these interpretations were also open to much more radical conclusions — the prospect of “democratic communism” — which made them dangerous not only to the Church but also to the ruling class as a whole, and in turn encouraged the bourgeois leadership of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestant_Reformation" type="external">Reformation</a> to bring things back under control as soon as possible.</p>
<p>“The Influence of Christian Tradition” demonstrates that wherever and whenever people are oppressed, they will invariably find a language to articulate their feelings of oppression. These languages are often wanting and mediated by the historical circumstances in which they arise, but they always serve this purpose.</p>
<p>Throughout history, oppression and exploitation have never gone unopposed, nor do they today. The task, then as now, is to take up the already-existing languages and practices of the exploited and illuminate them with the prospect of a democratic communism for the twenty-first century.</p>
<p>Kautsky may not have much to tell us about what that goal means today, but his exhaustive survey of how previous generations of “political and rebellious” communists sought a better world in their time can serve as inspiration for the next generation. Below is an excerpt from Communism in Central Europe.</p> | true | 4 | reading karl kautsky today160is peculiar undertaking starters burning question actually reads kautsky vilified bolsheviks descendants eyes betraying marxist principles writings done much popularize yet still marxist comfort rightwardmoving social democratic party weimar germany pope marxism largely consigned along georgi plekhanov bruno bauer others pile seeminglyimportant authors one least read obligated actually read move beyond first peculiarity confronted second namely lot kautsky writes quite good sure work riddled oversimplifications teleological projections hold little water century fact reduce marxism shortcomings alone ignore160one important socialists twentieth century kautskys significant contribution namely systematizing classical marxist theory series easily understandable digestible works fit mass consumption brought socialist theory politics hearts minds millions european workers turn last century kautsky considered pope due unassailable ecclesiastic authority backroom intrigues within upper ranks spd rather represented one main authorities marxist theory age spirit revolution sweeping german working classes like never never since sat pinnacle expanding workers movement whose promises inevitable socialist transformation seemed plausible within reach wrote audience millions eager attentive militants doubt felt sense responsibility use authority imbue spirit class consciousness readers spirit runs communism central europe time reformation kautsky traces revolutionary egalitarian impulses subaltern protestant currents middle ages identifying egalitarian communism poor downtrodden masses well intellectualized utopian communism educated upper classes communism central europe originally part much larger untranslated work titled die vorläufer des neuen sozialismus forebearers modern socialism published english standalone text book kautskys attempt reconstruct human history history class struggles order imbue readers sense historical tradition revolutionary continuity moral obligation socialist future kautsky sees communism historically developing two spheres communism intellectual ideological task imagining society free poverty exploitation communism real living struggle oppressed exploited better existence though conditions developed capitalism unity spheres possible realized kautsky form industrial proletariat endowed social democratic leadership mean people throughout history already fighting better world books introduction kautsky urges readers familiarize history communism order fully appreciate meaning historical necessity struggle become better socialists influence christian tradition describes world ideas propelled communist discourses forward even precarious backwards material conditions kautsky shows oppressed middle ages drew christian teachings specifically gospels develop moral critique inequality unfairness experienced life depicts world dominated church drenched catholic dogma one individuals responsible propagating dogma church ruling classes long ceased believe religious doctrine drilled masses order prevent potentially dangerous ideas filling space christianity served ideological fog mystify workings feudal expropriation material force protestantism turned catholic dogma head perhaps feet ushering relative democratization biblical interpretation theological discussion democratization first allowed building broad alliances papal authority uniting elements bourgeoisie disenfranchised peasant masses according kautsky however interpretations also open much radical conclusions prospect democratic communism made dangerous church also ruling class whole turn encouraged bourgeois leadership reformation bring things back control soon possible influence christian tradition demonstrates wherever whenever people oppressed invariably find language articulate feelings oppression languages often wanting mediated historical circumstances arise always serve purpose throughout history oppression exploitation never gone unopposed today task take alreadyexisting languages practices exploited illuminate prospect democratic communism twentyfirst century kautsky may much tell us goal means today exhaustive survey previous generations political rebellious communists sought better world time serve inspiration next generation excerpt communism central europe | 513 |
<p>The New York Times‘ Nicholas Kristof ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/opinion/sunday/3-tvs-and-no-food-growing-up-poor-in-america.html" type="external">10/28/16</a>) blames the United States’ 21 percent child poverty rate on people who buy too many television sets.</p>
<p>New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, who was awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 2006 for giving “voice to the voiceless” on international social justice issues, wrote an op-ed in yesterday’s Times ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/30/opinion/sunday/3-tvs-and-no-food-growing-up-poor-in-america.html?_r=1" type="external">10/30/16</a>) arguing for increased government action on poverty. His calls for heightened attention to economic deprivation, though, were buried in a larger message that was familiar to longtime Kristof-watchers: that the poor aren’t actually poor because they lack enough money, but because of their own moral failings.</p>
<p>Kristof’s op-ed, as is his custom, opened with an anecdote about a particular impoverished child, in this case a “sweet, grinning, endangered 13-year-old boy” in Arkansas:</p>
<p>Emanuel has three televisions in his room, two of them gargantuan large-screen models. But there is no food in the house. As for the TVs, at least one doesn’t work, and the electricity was supposed to be cut off for nonpayment on the day I visited his house here in Pine Bluff: Emanuel’s mother deployed her pit bull terrier in the yard in hopes of deterring the utility man. (This seemed to work.)</p>
<p>The home, filthy and chaotic with a broken front door, reeks of marijuana.</p>
<p>To drive home his point, Kristof explicitly argued that this surfeit of entertainment options despite the lack of bare necessities was a sign of how America’s poor are trapped in a “cycle of poverty” that leaves them constitutionally incapable of adopting the behaviors that would enable them to live better lives:</p>
<p>What many Americans don’t understand about poverty is that it’s perhaps less about a lack of money than about not seeing any path out. More than <a href="http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/09/Understanding-Poverty-in-the-United-States-Surprising-Facts-About-Americas-Poor" type="external">80 percent</a> of American households living below the poverty line have air-conditioning, so in material terms they’re incomparably better off than poor families in India or Congo. In other ways their lives can be worse.</p>
<p>None of this is new terrain for Kristof, who previously wrote ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/opinion/23kristof.html" type="external">5/23/10</a>) of African poverty that “if the poorest families spent as much money educating their children as they do on wine, cigarettes and prostitutes, their children’s prospects would be transformed,” and insisted &#160;( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/09/opinion/sunday/kristof-profiting-from-a-childs-illiteracy.html" type="external">12/9/12</a>) that poor families in Appalachia were pulling their kids out of literacy programs to earn disability benefits. But as in those past instances (FAIR Blog, <a href="" type="internal">5/24/10</a>; Extra!, <a href="" type="internal">6/13</a>), Kristof’s examples of the supposedly self-destructive poor clash with actual data:</p>
<p>Arguments that the poor are trapped in a “culture of poverty” have a long history, dating back to well-off reformers in the late 19th century. “These are folks who generally wanted to help, but were so blinded by their inability to think of poor people and poor immigrants as fully fledged capable humans” that they could only offer behavioral solutions, notes University of New Hampshire poverty researcher Stephen Pimpare, whose book The New Victorians traced the common threads linking 19th century poverty crusaders with today’s “welfare reformers” and their ilk. “They would offer structural diagnoses—’the buildings are in terrible shape, there’s no clean water, the children are dying of dysentery and malaria, we’ve got no access to good schools—for god’s sake, why do they drink so much beer?'”</p>
<p>It’s an attitude that shows up again and again among establishment approaches to poverty, from then–Assistant Labor Secretary Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/09/the-moynihan-report-an-annotated-edition/404632/" type="external">1965 report</a> that blamed “the deterioration of the Negro family” for black poverty, to Rep. Paul Ryan saying that poverty programs need to teach poor men “the value and the culture of work” ( <a href="https://thinkprogress.org/paul-ryan-blames-poverty-on-lazy-inner-city-men-6448050b3059#.oxke2q5ia" type="external">ThinkProgress, 3/12/14</a>).</p>
<p>Kristof, in fact, has a history of echoing conservative talking points on poverty: His 2012 essay on poor families trying to cheat their way into SSI benefits came in the wake of gripes about the alleged “disability con” by conservative pundits like Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly (FAIR Blog, <a href="" type="internal">7/6/12</a>). Likewise, noting that America’s poor families have televisions and air conditioning was a direct restatement of the Heritage Foundation’s 2011 report that observed that “the overwhelming majority of the poor have air conditioning, cable TV and a host of other modern amenities,” making them “not poor in any ordinary sense of the term.” At the time, O’Reilly made hay with the report’s observation that 82 percent of poor families have air conditioning and 78 percent have a microwave, wondering aloud, “How can you be so poor and have all this stuff?” ( <a href="http://mediamatters.org/research/2011/07/22/fox-cites-ownership-of-appliances-to-downplay-h/148574" type="external">Fox News, 7/20/11</a>)—drawing mocking agreement from Stephen Colbert ( <a href="http://www.cc.com/video-clips/zq2rpw/the-colbert-report--poor--in-america" type="external">Comedy Central, 7/26/11</a>): “A refrigerator and a microwave? I guess the ‘poor’ are too good for mold and trichinosis.”</p>
<p>Kristof concludes his essay with the tale of a single mother who was sexually abused as a small child and physically abused by her baby’s father, and who ended up in drug treatment for marijuana and methamphetamine use. “Sure, Bethany made poor choices, but almost any of us born in that environment might have done the same,” he writes. “And while we should demand better choices from people like Bethany, we should also insist on better choices from our politicians; both are necessary to reduce poverty.”</p>
<p>It’s a balancing act—both the poor and government policies for the poor are to blame—that may win friends in Beltway circles, but does nothing to explain the actual reasons for persistently high poverty rates, let alone hint at ways to solve them. “Why are children in the United States poor—as [Kristof] rightly points out, significantly poorer than children in other countries?” asks Pimpare:</p>
<p>It’s because we have very low minimum wages, they have less job security; we don’t have things like universal subsidies for childcare, which makes it harder for those parents to go out and work; healthcare is still wildly expensive; we have very high disability rates—many low-income parents are raising disabled children. And we have stingy benefit programs to supplement that, all of which has been made worse since welfare reform in the 1990s.</p>
<p>Ultimately, argues Pimpare, blame-the-poor arguments have remained pervasive not because they have factual underpinnings—there is zero evidence that the poor are any lazier or are inherently worse at making spending decisions than people with higher incomes—but because they defend people from fears of falling victim to a broken economic system: “If you recognize that these are larger forces beyond your control, this stuff can happen to you too. It’s much easier to say ‘Well, that’s never going to happen to me, because I don’t do that.'”</p>
<p>For newspaper columnists as well as politicians, “there but for the grace of God go I” is a lot easier to say when you can blame big-screen TV purchases for making people fall out of God’s grace.</p>
<p>Neil deMause, a contributing writer for FAIR, writes frequently on poverty issues. He is the author of&#160; <a href="http://www.brooklynwars.com" type="external">The Brooklyn Wars: The Stories Behind the Remaking of New York’s Most Celebrated Borough</a>&#160;(Second System Press, 2016).</p>
<p>You can send a message to the New York Times at <a href="mailto:letters@nytimes.com" type="external">letters@nytimes.com</a>, or write to public editor Liz Spayd at&#160; <a href="mailto:public@nytimes.com" type="external">public@nytimes.com</a>&#160;(Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes" type="external">@NYTimes</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/spaydl" type="external">@SpaydL</a>). Please remember that respectful communication is the most effective.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | new york times nicholas kristof 102816 blames united states 21 percent child poverty rate people buy many television sets new york times columnist nicholas kristof awarded pulitzer prize 2006 giving voice voiceless international social justice issues wrote oped yesterdays times 103016 arguing increased government action poverty calls heightened attention economic deprivation though buried larger message familiar longtime kristofwatchers poor arent actually poor lack enough money moral failings kristofs oped custom opened anecdote particular impoverished child case sweet grinning endangered 13yearold boy arkansas emanuel three televisions room two gargantuan largescreen models food house tvs least one doesnt work electricity supposed cut nonpayment day visited house pine bluff emanuels mother deployed pit bull terrier yard hopes deterring utility man seemed work home filthy chaotic broken front door reeks marijuana drive home point kristof explicitly argued surfeit entertainment options despite lack bare necessities sign americas poor trapped cycle poverty leaves constitutionally incapable adopting behaviors would enable live better lives many americans dont understand poverty perhaps less lack money seeing path 80 percent american households living poverty line airconditioning material terms theyre incomparably better poor families india congo ways lives worse none new terrain kristof previously wrote 52310 african poverty poorest families spent much money educating children wine cigarettes prostitutes childrens prospects would transformed insisted 160 12912 poor families appalachia pulling kids literacy programs earn disability benefits past instances fair blog 52410 extra 613 kristofs examples supposedly selfdestructive poor clash actual data arguments poor trapped culture poverty long history dating back welloff reformers late 19th century folks generally wanted help blinded inability think poor people poor immigrants fully fledged capable humans could offer behavioral solutions notes university new hampshire poverty researcher stephen pimpare whose book new victorians traced common threads linking 19th century poverty crusaders todays welfare reformers ilk would offer structural diagnosesthe buildings terrible shape theres clean water children dying dysentery malaria weve got access good schoolsfor gods sake drink much beer attitude shows among establishment approaches poverty thenassistant labor secretary daniel patrick moynihans 1965 report blamed deterioration negro family black poverty rep paul ryan saying poverty programs need teach poor men value culture work thinkprogress 31214 kristof fact history echoing conservative talking points poverty 2012 essay poor families trying cheat way ssi benefits came wake gripes alleged disability con conservative pundits like fox news bill oreilly fair blog 7612 likewise noting americas poor families televisions air conditioning direct restatement heritage foundations 2011 report observed overwhelming majority poor air conditioning cable tv host modern amenities making poor ordinary sense term time oreilly made hay reports observation 82 percent poor families air conditioning 78 percent microwave wondering aloud poor stuff fox news 72011drawing mocking agreement stephen colbert comedy central 72611 refrigerator microwave guess poor good mold trichinosis kristof concludes essay tale single mother sexually abused small child physically abused babys father ended drug treatment marijuana methamphetamine use sure bethany made poor choices almost us born environment might done writes demand better choices people like bethany also insist better choices politicians necessary reduce poverty balancing actboth poor government policies poor blamethat may win friends beltway circles nothing explain actual reasons persistently high poverty rates let alone hint ways solve children united states pooras kristof rightly points significantly poorer children countries asks pimpare low minimum wages less job security dont things like universal subsidies childcare makes harder parents go work healthcare still wildly expensive high disability ratesmany lowincome parents raising disabled children stingy benefit programs supplement made worse since welfare reform 1990s ultimately argues pimpare blamethepoor arguments remained pervasive factual underpinningsthere zero evidence poor lazier inherently worse making spending decisions people higher incomesbut defend people fears falling victim broken economic system recognize larger forces beyond control stuff happen much easier say well thats never going happen dont newspaper columnists well politicians grace god go lot easier say blame bigscreen tv purchases making people fall gods grace neil demause contributing writer fair writes frequently poverty issues author of160 brooklyn wars stories behind remaking new yorks celebrated borough160second system press 2016 send message new york times lettersnytimescom write public editor liz spayd at160 publicnytimescom160twitter nytimes spaydl please remember respectful communication effective 160 | 684 |
<p>Fat cats like to breathe clean air: that was the facile takeaway from the Sierra Club’s recent conferring of its Trailblazer Award on Michael Bloomberg for his advocacy of the Club’s ‘Beyond Coal’ program and the support provided by Bloomberg Philanthropies. The event was held at a cavernous exhibition hall in San Francisco’s Palace of Fine Arts complex – an early monument to globalism built as the centerpiece of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition of 1915, which celebrated the completion of the Panama Canal and thus the linkage of the old Atlantic World with the emergent Pacific Rim.</p>
<p>There’s plenty of historical precedent for the rich and powerful supporting environmental advocacy or simply ensuring that certain parts of the world are maintained in a pristine state for their edification and enjoyment. The shahs of Persia built their pleasure gardens, English kings maintained depopulated forests for the pleasures of the chase and Teddy Roosevelt saw in the creation of America’s National Parks (depopulated too, of their Native American inhabitants) the preservation of his big-game hunting privileges. Bloomberg is set to enjoy the results of shutting down the nation’s coal-powered power plants and breathing the cool fresh air (free of sooty particulates) that may thus result from averting global warming: and he is magnanimously sharing this beneficence with the rest of us. Not that there’s anything wrong with that – unless you are uncomfortable with the self-interested perspectives of the uber wealthy.</p>
<p>It is just such a blinkered vision that informs Michael Bloomberg’s and Carl Pope’s recent best-seller,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Climate of Hope: How Cities, Businesses and Citizens Can Save the Planet</a>, 2017. Pope is a former executive director and chairman of the Sierra Club (any synergy resulting from the publication of the book and the Club’s award to one of its authors is doubtless coincidental). The two writers seem like twin Pollyannas with conjoined fingers to the wind, which they only care to extend when the breezes are balmy.&#160; Somehow, out of ever-worsening climate scenarios, they manage to fashion a book that conflates the amelioration of climate change with capitalism, new technologies and economic growth. Left unmentioned is any reference to the U.S. military as the country’s biggest CO2 polluter and that, lo these many years, economic growth and the unforeseen results of technological innovation have consistently been the primary drivers of anthropogenic climate change. Bloomberg and Pope celebrate a new generation of technological innovation that attempts the reduction of the climate impact of large-scale agri-business, inter-continental trade, discretionary travel, urban growth and a burgeoning global GDP; nary a word of disapproval is aimed at these fundamental building blocks of civilizational hubris, egregious energy consumption and of the destruction of wildlife habitat.</p>
<p>Their book documents the Sierra Club’s campaign ‘Beyond Coal’,&#160;which has been hugely successful in reducing the number of coal burning power plants in the U.S. and thus their climate impacting CO2 emissions, and is to be lauded on that account; but while Bloomberg and the Club may be in the process of winning this particular battle (he has pledged to continue his support of the program for a further three years), by undertaking environmental reform with the allied purpose of technologically driven economic growth, they and others like them, are fated to lose the battle for a sustainable planet.</p>
<p>Entirely missing from&#160;Climate of Hope&#160;is an historical awareness that coal itself was initially considered a great boon to mankind in its ability to power machines that vastly reduced the levels of back-breaking labor to which many had been inured for centuries, quite apart from its miraculous ability to energize the economy and jump-start the Industrial Revolution. These impacts were thought to totally out-weigh the brutal circumstances of its mining and were embraced in complete ignorance of coal’s long-term deleterious climate effects when burnt as a fuel, which were first identified at the end of the nineteenth century.</p>
<p>Now, production of photo-voltaic panels requires major inputs of energy and raw materials, including iron, copper and aluminum.&#160; Indeed, the panels require greater amounts of iron per produced KWh than conventional sources of energy – including coal fired installations. They also require a number of exotic minerals such as Telluride, Indium, Cadmium and Gallium which are by-products of the mining of zinc, aluminum and copper. The benefits of solar energy almost certainly outweigh the negative impacts of the panels’ production and land utilization, but the authors scrupulously excise any such considerations from their relentlessly upbeat survey.&#160;Other alternative energy strategies harbor deleterious environmental impacts which are entirely overlooked both in this book and in their euphoric public acclamation.</p>
<p>The authors do, however, document the very recent history of how ozone depleting CFCs, a class of multi-purpose industrial chemicals primarily used in refrigerant lines and aerosols, were replaced in the late 1980’s with HFCs which have subsequently added greatly to the atmospheric release of carbon dioxide and which themselves are now subject to global banishment – a cautionary tale that should have tempered their enthusiasm for the other behavioral and technological fixes for climate damaging economic activities which they tout so enthusiastically.</p>
<p>They acknowledge the role of concrete production in adding to the atmosphere’s carbon load, but blithely applaud infrastructure projects that feature massive use of the material. The Global Commission on the Economy and Climate estimates that the world will add $90 trillion in infrastructure by 2030. Much of that will be physically underpinned with concrete which currently contributes 5% of annual global anthropogenic CO2 production.&#160;The Commission further suggests that the level of today’s infrastructure will be doubled within the next thirty-five years: Bloomberg characteristically sees this as a financing challenge rather than the devastating source of aggravated CO2 production and of the eco-system destruction that it truly represents. As Carl Pope writes, in another context, “we need to get out of the nature-destruction business and into the habitat-restoration business”.</p>
<p>There is a great deal to be said for many of the initiatives which Bloomberg and Pope document in the on-going fight to restrain climate change. They chart progress in eco-system restoration projects throughout the world. Their plea for the capture of methane released in agricultural and oil production processes for use as a fuel is beyond reproach. Similarly, their documentation of efforts to reduce the use of automobiles and promote walking and bicycling is nothing but encouraging. They quite reasonably favor the city for its live/work adjacencies, as well as its more efficient utilization of ground space and energy because of its high rise apartments and concentrations of commercial and retail spaces.</p>
<p>But&#160;Climate of Hope&#160;remains relentlessly self-serving: it validates the continuing predation of the oligarchy whilst valorizing their selective support of green initiatives – the ones that, as Bloomberg candidly admits, hold the most promise of profit. It denies the reality that capitalism depends on economic growth – and that the planet likely reached the limits of sustaining that growth some decades ago.</p>
<p>What we need now is a similarly popular book, and perhaps a similarly popular and well-funded environmental non-profit (which might also adopt the imprimatur of John Muir) to serve as similarly relentless shills for the adoption of a new economic model of no-growth, one not addicted to technological fixes, and one that is fully compatible with the goal of keeping the planet in a condition which supports the vibrant mix of species in which they have evolved. Discontinuous environmental change, to which we are fated if the alteration of our climate and eco-systems is not checked, will inevitably pick favorites: humanity is not likely to be amongst them.</p>
<p>Full Disclosure: the book and an umbrella with a fabric rain canopy by the American designer Maya Lin (but made in China) were gifted to me at the end of the Sierra Club event.&#160;</p> | true | 4 | fat cats like breathe clean air facile takeaway sierra clubs recent conferring trailblazer award michael bloomberg advocacy clubs beyond coal program support provided bloomberg philanthropies event held cavernous exhibition hall san franciscos palace fine arts complex early monument globalism built centerpiece panamapacific international exposition 1915 celebrated completion panama canal thus linkage old atlantic world emergent pacific rim theres plenty historical precedent rich powerful supporting environmental advocacy simply ensuring certain parts world maintained pristine state edification enjoyment shahs persia built pleasure gardens english kings maintained depopulated forests pleasures chase teddy roosevelt saw creation americas national parks depopulated native american inhabitants preservation biggame hunting privileges bloomberg set enjoy results shutting nations coalpowered power plants breathing cool fresh air free sooty particulates may thus result averting global warming magnanimously sharing beneficence rest us theres anything wrong unless uncomfortable selfinterested perspectives uber wealthy blinkered vision informs michael bloombergs carl popes recent bestseller160 climate hope cities businesses citizens save planet 2017 pope former executive director chairman sierra club synergy resulting publication book clubs award one authors doubtless coincidental two writers seem like twin pollyannas conjoined fingers wind care extend breezes balmy160 somehow everworsening climate scenarios manage fashion book conflates amelioration climate change capitalism new technologies economic growth left unmentioned reference us military countrys biggest co2 polluter lo many years economic growth unforeseen results technological innovation consistently primary drivers anthropogenic climate change bloomberg pope celebrate new generation technological innovation attempts reduction climate impact largescale agribusiness intercontinental trade discretionary travel urban growth burgeoning global gdp nary word disapproval aimed fundamental building blocks civilizational hubris egregious energy consumption destruction wildlife habitat book documents sierra clubs campaign beyond coal160which hugely successful reducing number coal burning power plants us thus climate impacting co2 emissions lauded account bloomberg club may process winning particular battle pledged continue support program three years undertaking environmental reform allied purpose technologically driven economic growth others like fated lose battle sustainable planet entirely missing from160climate hope160is historical awareness coal initially considered great boon mankind ability power machines vastly reduced levels backbreaking labor many inured centuries quite apart miraculous ability energize economy jumpstart industrial revolution impacts thought totally outweigh brutal circumstances mining embraced complete ignorance coals longterm deleterious climate effects burnt fuel first identified end nineteenth century production photovoltaic panels requires major inputs energy raw materials including iron copper aluminum160 indeed panels require greater amounts iron per produced kwh conventional sources energy including coal fired installations also require number exotic minerals telluride indium cadmium gallium byproducts mining zinc aluminum copper benefits solar energy almost certainly outweigh negative impacts panels production land utilization authors scrupulously excise considerations relentlessly upbeat survey160other alternative energy strategies harbor deleterious environmental impacts entirely overlooked book euphoric public acclamation authors however document recent history ozone depleting cfcs class multipurpose industrial chemicals primarily used refrigerant lines aerosols replaced late 1980s hfcs subsequently added greatly atmospheric release carbon dioxide subject global banishment cautionary tale tempered enthusiasm behavioral technological fixes climate damaging economic activities tout enthusiastically acknowledge role concrete production adding atmospheres carbon load blithely applaud infrastructure projects feature massive use material global commission economy climate estimates world add 90 trillion infrastructure 2030 much physically underpinned concrete currently contributes 5 annual global anthropogenic co2 production160the commission suggests level todays infrastructure doubled within next thirtyfive years bloomberg characteristically sees financing challenge rather devastating source aggravated co2 production ecosystem destruction truly represents carl pope writes another context need get naturedestruction business habitatrestoration business great deal said many initiatives bloomberg pope document ongoing fight restrain climate change chart progress ecosystem restoration projects throughout world plea capture methane released agricultural oil production processes use fuel beyond reproach similarly documentation efforts reduce use automobiles promote walking bicycling nothing encouraging quite reasonably favor city livework adjacencies well efficient utilization ground space energy high rise apartments concentrations commercial retail spaces but160climate hope160remains relentlessly selfserving validates continuing predation oligarchy whilst valorizing selective support green initiatives ones bloomberg candidly admits hold promise profit denies reality capitalism depends economic growth planet likely reached limits sustaining growth decades ago need similarly popular book perhaps similarly popular wellfunded environmental nonprofit might also adopt imprimatur john muir serve similarly relentless shills adoption new economic model nogrowth one addicted technological fixes one fully compatible goal keeping planet condition supports vibrant mix species evolved discontinuous environmental change fated alteration climate ecosystems checked inevitably pick favorites humanity likely amongst full disclosure book umbrella fabric rain canopy american designer maya lin made china gifted end sierra club event160 | 733 |
<p>In the early years of the twentieth century, artists, scientists&#160; and philosophers in Central Europe were preoccupied with what was commonly referred to as the “Woman Question.” The changing roles of men and women in industrial society had spawned both the women’s emancipation movement and a plethora of studies in gender difference, of which purported to offer “objective” proof of female inferiority. Riffing on the latest scientific discoveries, men opined that evolution had hard wired women to be physically weaker, stupider and more submissive than they. Many of these mysogynistic theories were united in Otto Weininger’s hugely popular 1903 tract Sex and Character “In … the absolute female,” Weininger wrote, “there are no logic, and ethical phenomena and therefore the ground for the &#160;assumption of a soul is absent.”</p>
<p>Of particular &#160;concern to men was female sexuality. “The woman is devoted totally to sexual matters,” Weininger explained, “that is to the spheres of begetting and reproduction.” She was essentially all vagina, no brain. However other theorists, including Sigmund Freud, held that libido was an inherently masculine trait, and that sexual desire in a woman was abnormal. “Healthy” women successfully sublimated their erotic instincts in the service of bearing and raising children. This line of thought affirmed the age old Christian paradigms of the “Madonna” and the “whore,” as exemplified by the Virgin Mary and Eve, the first sinner. Women were either asexual maternal types, or evil nymphomaniacs.</p>
<p>The Madonna/whore dichotomy forms a recurrent leitmotif in the work of Gustav Klimt. His famous portraits of Viennese society ladies look like Byzantine or Russian religious icons. Little faces peek out from vast expanses of ornamentation, which not only conceal the women’s bodies but render them flat and virtually sexless. The subjects’ erotic power is subsumed within a sensuous decorative surround. In Klimt’s allegorical paintings and many of his studio drawings, on the other hand, sexuality is addressed in an extremely forthright manner. Often the women appear lost in an orgasmic trance. Nonetheless the unabashed beauty of these drawings holds their eroticism in check, turning the women into objects of aesthetic contemplation. Similarly, the nudes’ frequently supine positions reinforce their passive objecthood. Even in Klimt’s most abstract &#160;renderings, foreshortening anchors the women in their own separate spaces, thereby, securely pinioning them before the gaze of the (presumptively) male viewer.</p>
<p>Egon Schiele, by way of contrast, willfully violated every aesthetic device that had traditionally been used to contain the nude’s potentially volatile eroticism. In his drawings, recumbent figures arc frequently depicted&#160; vertically rather than horizontally, tipping forward so as to breach the previously sacrosanct boundary between the nude and her male observer. Seldom are Schiele’s nudes beautiful, serene objects of contemplation. Again unlike Klimt, Schiele evidenced a persistent interest in the female personality. The doe-eyed, lovelorn Wally, the elegant ingénue Elisabeth Lederer, and the artist’s fearsome, slightly depressed mother all come off as complex, complete human beings. They are the antitheses of the “soulless” creature, described by Weininger.</p>
<p>Female artists in the early twentieth century were by no means immune to prevalent gender stereotypes. Kathe Kollwitz, internalizing the common view that professionally ambitious women were hermaphrodites, acknowledged that “the tinge of masculinity within me helped me in my work.” Many feminists advocated employment opportunities only for women (such as through misfortune widows, orphans and “spinsters”) who through misfortune were denied male providers. Kolllwitz’s father encouraged her to pursue artistic training because he thought she was too ugly to find a husband. She, for her part, bemoaned the silliness of her female colleagues, many of whom were merely biding their time in art school as a prelude to marriage. Women were not admitted to the official art academies in Germany or Austria until after World War I, and the separate female art schools were for the most part distinctly inferior. To preserve their virginity, bourgeois girls at the turn of the century were kept largely ignorant of sexual matters. Because women could as a result study life drawing only at the private academies Julian and Colarossi in Paris, many foreigners (including Kollwitz and Paula Modersohn-Becker) traveled there to study.</p>
<p>Lack of experience in drawing naked models, as well as relative unease with her own sexuality, are reflected in the work of Kollwitz and many other female artists of her generation. The nude is “still foreign to me,” she wrote in 1919, when she was already in her fifties. “Only the total attitude and the face and hands speak to me.” Although Kollwitz did produce a small, “secret” body of erotic drawings in response to a short-lived extramarital affair, Freud would have approved of the way in which she on the whole sublimated her sexuality in the service of motherhood. Many have commented that Kollwitz’s depictions of mothers are her only happy works. Nurturing the seed of future generations was woman’s primary duty, making her also a powerful crusader for social justice and a promoter of pacifism. For Kollwitz, the roles of activist, artist and mother were integrally connected. “As you, the children of my body, have been my tasks”, she told her son Hans, “so too are my other works.” She remained rooted in a biological concept of femininity that was strongly conditioned by contemporary social imperatives.</p>
<p>Paula Modersohn-Becker was far more skeptical about the virtues of motherhood. The peasant mothers in her paintings and drawings seem worn down by narrowly circumscribed lives. Their children are like little aliens, lost in separate worlds of fantasy or fear. When Modersohn-Becker created these works she had never really experienced motherhood herself, nor would she. Married in 1901 to the much older painter Otto Modersohn, she soon chafed at his attempts to control her artistic and personal agenda. Recognizing that marriage was at the time incompatible with creative independence, she fled to Paris in 1906. Unfortunately, without support from her husband or family, Paula could not last long, and about a year later Otto brought her back to Germany. She died in November 1907, several days after giving birth to their daughter. Her last words were “Too bad.”</p>
<p>Male attempts to force women into the increasingly untenable molds of “lady” or “tramp” spawned a number of debasing moral clichés. Men did not necessarily condemn prostitution, so long as the “tramps” remained socially and economically beholden to them. For example, Max Klinger’s 1884 etching cycle, A Life, chronicles the path of a woman who, after being abandoned by her lover, takes to the stage (at the time considered a compromising vocation), then to the street and finally descends Into the gutter! She is eventually redeemed by Christ before falling back into nothingness in the final plate. Male viewers were prepared to offer sympathy in exchange for female humility and loss. On the other hand, unbridled female sexuality was perceived as a threat. Images of deadly temptresses turn up repeatedly in the early work of Alfred Kubin and in the many popular fin-de-siecle representations of Judith, the Old Testament heroine who seduces and then decapitates Holofernes. Oskar Kokoschka presented a stark iteration of the theme in his 1909 drama Murderer, Hope of Women: if you were a man, it was kill or be killed.</p>
<p>Beyond the Madonna/whore divide lay a deeper philosophical chasm. For centuries the male had been associated with civilization, culture, spirituality and intelligence, and the female with primitivism, nature, lust and instinct. While the former qualities were for the most part considered positive and the latter qualities negative, there was a contrarian line of thought, derived from the eighteenth century writings of Jean Jacques Rousseau, that idealized the “noble savage.” In the late nineteenth century, as European intellectuals grew increasingly dissatisfied with “rational” civilization, a cult of the “primitive” emerged. Rebelling against bourgeois norms, Expressionists such as Kokoschka and Ernst Ludwig Kirchner educated themselves at local ethnographic museums, appropriating the stylized forms and bright colors of tribal art. Posing their naked models outdoors in the countryside near Dresden, the Brücke artists achieved a perfect synthesis of primitivism, nature and female sexuality. Hermann Max Pechstein and Emil Nolde even traveled to the South Seas in pursuit of exotica, and Otto Mueller joined a band of Gypsies, intrigued by the women’s shameless nudity. Female dancers and circus performers, who likewise embodied uninhibited sensuality, were popular both on the stage and as artistic subjects. Woman thus became the emblem of man’s revolt against convention without in any sense being divested of her inferior cultural associations.</p>
<p>Artists’ attempts to recreate a primitive idyll beyond the reaches of modem industrial society were doomed to failure. The city was the engine of economic growth and consequently an unavoidable center of the art market. Two years after the Brücke group relocated from Dresden to Berlin in 1911, it lost its communal integrity and disbanded. Kirchner, nonetheless, was inspired in Berlin to produce some of his strongest works. The artist is justly celebrated for his depictions of sophisticated urban streetwalkers, although his attitude toward his subjects remains difficult to decode. It is not clear whether these seductive sex merchants are symbols of modem alienation, or rather an extension of Kirchner’s fascination with erotic exotica, earlier expressed in terms of bucolic innocence. The rejection of bourgeois mores was for many avant garde thinkers linked with an opposition to capitalism. Prostitution thus came to represent the dehumanizing commodification of daily life.</p>
<p>In Germany after World War I, artists often used prostitutes as symbols of socio economic-exploitation. It had quickly become evident that the ostensibly socialist government of the Weimar Republic was in cahoots with the capitalist industrialists whom leftist thinkers like George Grosz blamed for the war. At the same time, the women’s emancipation movement had made strides only dreamed of before the war. This was the era of the “new woman,” suddenly free to wander public spaces without a chaperone, to work outside the home, to study at the universities and art academics, and to vote. She cropped her hair, abandoned her corsets and shortened her skirts. Even proper young ladies began to acknowledge their sexuality and to recognize that it gave them a degree of power over men. In the cinema, the “tramp” morphed into the “vamp,” a character invented by the American silent film star Theda Bara. These phenomena breathed new life into the prewar image of woman as vampiric sexual predator.</p>
<p>Men’s fear of women was heightened by the feelings of vulnerability and impotence that soldiers had experienced during the war. Returning home, they were determined to take charge, to recoup in the battle of the sexes what had been lost on the battlefield. The carnage of combat had accustomed men to violence, and both Otto Dix and Grosz vented their post traumatic rage on female subjects. The ugliness of their nudes subverts the classical ideal not in the interest of unleashing female erotic power, but to the contrary, for the purpose of killing all desire. The literal killing (and sometimes dismemberment) of a naked woman, the Lustmord (sex murder), was a favorite theme for Dix and Grosz. Neither artist was especially concerned with women’s personalities. “I could give a shit about depth in a woman,” Grosz wrote. “Usually that means they suffer from a repulsive excess of male characteristics…. I am the only one with a mind.” With a few exceptions, men’s formal portraits of women in the immediate postwar period were as ugly as the nudes. For the most part the “lady” was eclipsed by the “tramp” in Weimar Germany.</p>
<p>As a female artist coming of age in the 1920s, Marie Louise Motesiczky benefited from the period’s new freedoms, but her creative autonomy was protected less by these circumstances than by her family’s wealth. She did not need to marry, nor did she have to sell her work. She could travel as she pleased throughout Europe and America, studying now in Paris, then in Frankfurt with Max Beckmann. A strikingly beautiful woman, she had many lovers, but a special attraction to unavailable geniuses. She vied with her friend Mathilde (Quappi) Kaulbach for Beckmann’s affections and later flirted with Kokoschka (who would shortly marry Olda Palkovska). Finally Motesiczky embarked on a five&#160; decades&#160; long affair with the married writer Elias Canetti. Although Canetti, a notorious philanderer, would eventually break her heart, he was supportive of the artist’s vocation in a way that a husband probably would not have been. Motesiczky knew well what marriage to a great man entailed: Quappi had given up her singing career to marry Beckmann. It seems likely that Motesiczky subconsciously acquiesced to the trade off implicit in the Canetti affair: better an intellectual love match than the constraints of a conventional marriage. Much of Motesiczky’s work is semiautobiographical, duly chronicling her various relationships romantic and otherwise. In these works, she is neither lady nor tramp, but a fully rounded human being, in confident command of her personal identity as well as her sexuality.</p>
<p>Today it is common to see the lady/tramp dichotomy and the Madonna/Whore divide as artifacts of a benighted bygone age. The blatant misogyny of someone like Otto Weininger now has little traction in the West. Nonetheless a debate still quietly rages regarding woman’s biological destiny, and the conflicting demands of motherhood and career are difficult to reconcile. While men have so far been harder hit by the current economic downturn than women, females still earn less than males. As middle class wages stagnate, males become more likely to vent their anger on the opposite sex, and females to seek economic security in a rich husband. Popular culture teaches little girls to exaggerate their “sex appeal” long before they reach puberty, and grown women resort to extremes of surgical intervention and dieting that are at best dehumanizing and at worst lethal. Men want women to act and look like whores and then blame them if they get raped. As the Dominique Strauss Kahn story illustrates, in cases of alleged sexual assault the man’s word still carries more weight than the woman’s, especially if mercenary motives can be ascribed to her testimony. Sex remains a commodity, both overtly and covertly. Male dominance is abetted by a moral code designed to denigrate women.</p>
<p>These reflections by Jane Kallir are taken from the&#160; 10/11-12/30, 2011 newsletter and sale catalogue of the Galerie St Etienne, 24 West 57th St, New York. The Galerie St. Etienne is the oldest gallery in the United States specializing in Expressionism and Self-Taught Art. Its predecessor, the Neue Galerie, was founded in Vienna in 1923 by the late Otto Kallir and was a principal exponent of German and Austrian modernism during the period between the two world wars. See the Galerie’s site <a href="http://www.gseart.com/" type="external">http://www.gseart.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | early years twentieth century artists scientists160 philosophers central europe preoccupied commonly referred woman question changing roles men women industrial society spawned womens emancipation movement plethora studies gender difference purported offer objective proof female inferiority riffing latest scientific discoveries men opined evolution hard wired women physically weaker stupider submissive many mysogynistic theories united otto weiningers hugely popular 1903 tract sex character absolute female weininger wrote logic ethical phenomena therefore ground 160assumption soul absent particular 160concern men female sexuality woman devoted totally sexual matters weininger explained spheres begetting reproduction essentially vagina brain however theorists including sigmund freud held libido inherently masculine trait sexual desire woman abnormal healthy women successfully sublimated erotic instincts service bearing raising children line thought affirmed age old christian paradigms madonna whore exemplified virgin mary eve first sinner women either asexual maternal types evil nymphomaniacs madonnawhore dichotomy forms recurrent leitmotif work gustav klimt famous portraits viennese society ladies look like byzantine russian religious icons little faces peek vast expanses ornamentation conceal womens bodies render flat virtually sexless subjects erotic power subsumed within sensuous decorative surround klimts allegorical paintings many studio drawings hand sexuality addressed extremely forthright manner often women appear lost orgasmic trance nonetheless unabashed beauty drawings holds eroticism check turning women objects aesthetic contemplation similarly nudes frequently supine positions reinforce passive objecthood even klimts abstract 160renderings foreshortening anchors women separate spaces thereby securely pinioning gaze presumptively male viewer egon schiele way contrast willfully violated every aesthetic device traditionally used contain nudes potentially volatile eroticism drawings recumbent figures arc frequently depicted160 vertically rather horizontally tipping forward breach previously sacrosanct boundary nude male observer seldom schieles nudes beautiful serene objects contemplation unlike klimt schiele evidenced persistent interest female personality doeeyed lovelorn wally elegant ingénue elisabeth lederer artists fearsome slightly depressed mother come complex complete human beings antitheses soulless creature described weininger female artists early twentieth century means immune prevalent gender stereotypes kathe kollwitz internalizing common view professionally ambitious women hermaphrodites acknowledged tinge masculinity within helped work many feminists advocated employment opportunities women misfortune widows orphans spinsters misfortune denied male providers kolllwitzs father encouraged pursue artistic training thought ugly find husband part bemoaned silliness female colleagues many merely biding time art school prelude marriage women admitted official art academies germany austria world war separate female art schools part distinctly inferior preserve virginity bourgeois girls turn century kept largely ignorant sexual matters women could result study life drawing private academies julian colarossi paris many foreigners including kollwitz paula modersohnbecker traveled study lack experience drawing naked models well relative unease sexuality reflected work kollwitz many female artists generation nude still foreign wrote 1919 already fifties total attitude face hands speak although kollwitz produce small secret body erotic drawings response shortlived extramarital affair freud would approved way whole sublimated sexuality service motherhood many commented kollwitzs depictions mothers happy works nurturing seed future generations womans primary duty making also powerful crusader social justice promoter pacifism kollwitz roles activist artist mother integrally connected children body tasks told son hans works remained rooted biological concept femininity strongly conditioned contemporary social imperatives paula modersohnbecker far skeptical virtues motherhood peasant mothers paintings drawings seem worn narrowly circumscribed lives children like little aliens lost separate worlds fantasy fear modersohnbecker created works never really experienced motherhood would married 1901 much older painter otto modersohn soon chafed attempts control artistic personal agenda recognizing marriage time incompatible creative independence fled paris 1906 unfortunately without support husband family paula could last long year later otto brought back germany died november 1907 several days giving birth daughter last words bad male attempts force women increasingly untenable molds lady tramp spawned number debasing moral clichés men necessarily condemn prostitution long tramps remained socially economically beholden example max klingers 1884 etching cycle life chronicles path woman abandoned lover takes stage time considered compromising vocation street finally descends gutter eventually redeemed christ falling back nothingness final plate male viewers prepared offer sympathy exchange female humility loss hand unbridled female sexuality perceived threat images deadly temptresses turn repeatedly early work alfred kubin many popular findesiecle representations judith old testament heroine seduces decapitates holofernes oskar kokoschka presented stark iteration theme 1909 drama murderer hope women man kill killed beyond madonnawhore divide lay deeper philosophical chasm centuries male associated civilization culture spirituality intelligence female primitivism nature lust instinct former qualities part considered positive latter qualities negative contrarian line thought derived eighteenth century writings jean jacques rousseau idealized noble savage late nineteenth century european intellectuals grew increasingly dissatisfied rational civilization cult primitive emerged rebelling bourgeois norms expressionists kokoschka ernst ludwig kirchner educated local ethnographic museums appropriating stylized forms bright colors tribal art posing naked models outdoors countryside near dresden brücke artists achieved perfect synthesis primitivism nature female sexuality hermann max pechstein emil nolde even traveled south seas pursuit exotica otto mueller joined band gypsies intrigued womens shameless nudity female dancers circus performers likewise embodied uninhibited sensuality popular stage artistic subjects woman thus became emblem mans revolt convention without sense divested inferior cultural associations artists attempts recreate primitive idyll beyond reaches modem industrial society doomed failure city engine economic growth consequently unavoidable center art market two years brücke group relocated dresden berlin 1911 lost communal integrity disbanded kirchner nonetheless inspired berlin produce strongest works artist justly celebrated depictions sophisticated urban streetwalkers although attitude toward subjects remains difficult decode clear whether seductive sex merchants symbols modem alienation rather extension kirchners fascination erotic exotica earlier expressed terms bucolic innocence rejection bourgeois mores many avant garde thinkers linked opposition capitalism prostitution thus came represent dehumanizing commodification daily life germany world war artists often used prostitutes symbols socio economicexploitation quickly become evident ostensibly socialist government weimar republic cahoots capitalist industrialists leftist thinkers like george grosz blamed war time womens emancipation movement made strides dreamed war era new woman suddenly free wander public spaces without chaperone work outside home study universities art academics vote cropped hair abandoned corsets shortened skirts even proper young ladies began acknowledge sexuality recognize gave degree power men cinema tramp morphed vamp character invented american silent film star theda bara phenomena breathed new life prewar image woman vampiric sexual predator mens fear women heightened feelings vulnerability impotence soldiers experienced war returning home determined take charge recoup battle sexes lost battlefield carnage combat accustomed men violence otto dix grosz vented post traumatic rage female subjects ugliness nudes subverts classical ideal interest unleashing female erotic power contrary purpose killing desire literal killing sometimes dismemberment naked woman lustmord sex murder favorite theme dix grosz neither artist especially concerned womens personalities could give shit depth woman grosz wrote usually means suffer repulsive excess male characteristics one mind exceptions mens formal portraits women immediate postwar period ugly nudes part lady eclipsed tramp weimar germany female artist coming age 1920s marie louise motesiczky benefited periods new freedoms creative autonomy protected less circumstances familys wealth need marry sell work could travel pleased throughout europe america studying paris frankfurt max beckmann strikingly beautiful woman many lovers special attraction unavailable geniuses vied friend mathilde quappi kaulbach beckmanns affections later flirted kokoschka would shortly marry olda palkovska finally motesiczky embarked five160 decades160 long affair married writer elias canetti although canetti notorious philanderer would eventually break heart supportive artists vocation way husband probably would motesiczky knew well marriage great man entailed quappi given singing career marry beckmann seems likely motesiczky subconsciously acquiesced trade implicit canetti affair better intellectual love match constraints conventional marriage much motesiczkys work semiautobiographical duly chronicling various relationships romantic otherwise works neither lady tramp fully rounded human confident command personal identity well sexuality today common see ladytramp dichotomy madonnawhore divide artifacts benighted bygone age blatant misogyny someone like otto weininger little traction west nonetheless debate still quietly rages regarding womans biological destiny conflicting demands motherhood career difficult reconcile men far harder hit current economic downturn women females still earn less males middle class wages stagnate males become likely vent anger opposite sex females seek economic security rich husband popular culture teaches little girls exaggerate sex appeal long reach puberty grown women resort extremes surgical intervention dieting best dehumanizing worst lethal men want women act look like whores blame get raped dominique strauss kahn story illustrates cases alleged sexual assault mans word still carries weight womans especially mercenary motives ascribed testimony sex remains commodity overtly covertly male dominance abetted moral code designed denigrate women reflections jane kallir taken the160 10111230 2011 newsletter sale catalogue galerie st etienne 24 west 57th st new york galerie st etienne oldest gallery united states specializing expressionism selftaught art predecessor neue galerie founded vienna 1923 late otto kallir principal exponent german austrian modernism period two world wars see galeries site httpwwwgseartcom 160 160 | 1,425 |
<p>McDonald’s recently launched a new burger-in-a-pita product in Norway: The “McAfrika.”</p>
<p>And with this they have inadvertently created a brilliantly succinct metaphor for the increasingly blatant corporate takeover of the Earth – country by Mccountry, continent by Mccontinent. I wonder if McDonald’s, its arches a great, snapping, golden maw, gobbling up one country’s burger market share while digesting a bit of another continent’s culture, created this product to honor the 12 million Africans doing their best to stave off unspeakable famine, or to pay tribute to the millions dying of AIDS, or perhaps to give a nod to the ever-growing numbers left without clean, public drinking water. It’s tough to say.</p>
<p>And I thought Disney putting on an Electricland Parade in California during last year’s blackouts so that all of us Blackouters, intermittently bereft of electricity, could get a little glimpse of 20 foot tall, light-bulb covered bumblebees was a gauche juxtaposition. At least McDonalds had the decency to do it in Norway, away from all that unappetizing African suffering. Disney did it right here in California. But, nobody said a word about it as far as I can tell; unlike in Norway where some people like the Norwegian Red Cross and Norwegian Church Aid have seen the incongruity. These groups have confronted McDonald’s and met with its representatives to discuss the issue and the possibility of sharing proceeds of its sales with the aid agencies helping Africans. Nothing yet. Maybe you should go to McDonald’s website and email this suggestion to them.</p>
<p>Yes, yes, I know. See the cup half full. The McAfrika could be hailed as a celebration of Africa and the wonderful new possibilities it’s rich culture can offer the ingredient-locked hamburger. Africans should be happy and proud as they wait in line for their daily emergency protein biscuit. Maybe they will all be so full from the heaping dose of irony, they won’t even need it.</p>
<p>This is not an invective against McDonald’s. It just happens to be McDonald’s. It could just as easily be any other multinational corporation doing something similar. The only thing I can figure is that maybe the people at McDonald’s don’t know what is going on in Africa, just like the guy down the street from me who herds those three pesky cigarette butts off the sidewalk into the gutter for twenty-five minutes every day with increasingly precious water spewed from his garden hose doesn’t know there is a huge drought going on in the Southwest, not to mention the clean water crisis in developing countries and soon, perhaps, the world. Or just like my neighbor who uses a disposable bib on her kid and then cleans him up with disposable baby wipes and then changes his disposable diapers while using disposable mop covers to clean the mess on the floor and then afterward washes her face and hands with disposable ‘cleansing cloths’ says to me ‘it’s not like I’m throwing away plutonium, for chrissakes.’</p>
<p>So, I was thinking: as long as we are appropriating a little culture from large land masses, creating yummy burgers for corporate gain, I’d like to offer a few burger suggestions of my own:</p>
<p>McMexico Burger: Made in an American-owned factory relocated to Mexico. Includes a yummy GMO corn tortilla hand wrapped by Mexicans. Don’t worry, no unions allowed! And, you know what that means: lower labor standards and sub-living wages. And that equals dirt-cheap prices for you! Get yours while the burgers and the workers last! [Also affectionately known by some as the McNAFTA Burger.]</p>
<p>McVenezuela Burger: Delicious. But, you can only get it if you secretly abet the Venezuelan Rightist in line with you and he is able to successfully oust the democratically elected Shift Manager. [Limited to American government officials only.]</p>
<p>McDeveloping Country Burger: Basic burger. Comes with a $19, 6 oz. cup of newly privatized water. [Cup and debt relief sold separately and only for those who have proof of a World Bank/IMF-endorsed contract with a big water company. No exceptions.] Some of the only uncontaminated water left in the country!! Time limited offer. Offer while water supplies last. Bribes welcome.</p>
<p>McEvil Axis Burger: [Also called the McBrave New World Burger.] Includes an absolutely FREE Bonus Ingredient: Valium. Yep, just another idea American military chiefs here in the ole’ US are reportedly thinking about to mellow out the evil out there. Offer limited to large, hostile populations and certified evildoers only. Yes, the McJust as Evil Country, But Strategically Important and Therefore Our Friend Burger has the exact same ingredients as the McEvil Axis Burger. Sorry, but we’ve completely sold out.</p>
<p>McIraq Burger: Basically, just some flat bread dripping in lots and lots and lots of oil. All the other ingredients have been sanctioned. We know Westerners are just dying to sink their teeth into this one. Remember, Iraq reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.</p>
<p>McEngland Burger: Kinda bland. Special orders? We’ll take ’em, whatever you want. Just tell us what you want! Your loyalty is important to us! [This offer is limited to American power holders only.]</p>
<p>McUSA Burger: Offered only in the USofA. We use pasteurized beef! [Okay, alright, irradiated beef. Po-TAY-to, Po-TAH-to. Whatever.] If your budget is tight and you only make $5.15 an hour, the federal minimum wage that congress has frozen for a while now, phone your congressperson and ask him/her to take you out to lunch. Because, unlike what they’ve done for you, they just voted themselves their yearly pay raise. They should all be pretty flush with cash. Soon to be made with 100% unadvertised, genetically modified ingredients. Yum! Comes with a side of beef-broth flavored vegetarian fries. Wrapped in a disposable, non-biodegradable American flag. But, really, order whatever you want, it’s a free country; nobody’s stopping you. Only be very, very careful to order things that are with us, not against us. Come to think of it, it doesn’t really matter what you order because with that new technology out of MIT that can falsify images, we can film you on our cameras and with a little digital alteration we can make it look exactly like you ordered an Extra-Large Weapon of Mass Destruction and a side of Anthrax.</p>
<p>Bon appetit!</p>
<p>McCarol McNorris is a freelance writer.</p>
<p>She can be contacted at <a href="mailto:partofthesolution@hotmail.com" type="external">partofthesolution@hotmail.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | mcdonalds recently launched new burgerinapita product norway mcafrika inadvertently created brilliantly succinct metaphor increasingly blatant corporate takeover earth country mccountry continent mccontinent wonder mcdonalds arches great snapping golden maw gobbling one countrys burger market share digesting bit another continents culture created product honor 12 million africans best stave unspeakable famine pay tribute millions dying aids perhaps give nod evergrowing numbers left without clean public drinking water tough say thought disney putting electricland parade california last years blackouts us blackouters intermittently bereft electricity could get little glimpse 20 foot tall lightbulb covered bumblebees gauche juxtaposition least mcdonalds decency norway away unappetizing african suffering disney right california nobody said word far tell unlike norway people like norwegian red cross norwegian church aid seen incongruity groups confronted mcdonalds met representatives discuss issue possibility sharing proceeds sales aid agencies helping africans nothing yet maybe go mcdonalds website email suggestion yes yes know see cup half full mcafrika could hailed celebration africa wonderful new possibilities rich culture offer ingredientlocked hamburger africans happy proud wait line daily emergency protein biscuit maybe full heaping dose irony wont even need invective mcdonalds happens mcdonalds could easily multinational corporation something similar thing figure maybe people mcdonalds dont know going africa like guy street herds three pesky cigarette butts sidewalk gutter twentyfive minutes every day increasingly precious water spewed garden hose doesnt know huge drought going southwest mention clean water crisis developing countries soon perhaps world like neighbor uses disposable bib kid cleans disposable baby wipes changes disposable diapers using disposable mop covers clean mess floor afterward washes face hands disposable cleansing cloths says like im throwing away plutonium chrissakes thinking long appropriating little culture large land masses creating yummy burgers corporate gain id like offer burger suggestions mcmexico burger made americanowned factory relocated mexico includes yummy gmo corn tortilla hand wrapped mexicans dont worry unions allowed know means lower labor standards subliving wages equals dirtcheap prices get burgers workers last also affectionately known mcnafta burger mcvenezuela burger delicious get secretly abet venezuelan rightist line able successfully oust democratically elected shift manager limited american government officials mcdeveloping country burger basic burger comes 19 6 oz cup newly privatized water cup debt relief sold separately proof world bankimfendorsed contract big water company exceptions uncontaminated water left country time limited offer offer water supplies last bribes welcome mcevil axis burger also called mcbrave new world burger includes absolutely free bonus ingredient valium yep another idea american military chiefs ole us reportedly thinking mellow evil offer limited large hostile populations certified evildoers yes mcjust evil country strategically important therefore friend burger exact ingredients mcevil axis burger sorry weve completely sold mciraq burger basically flat bread dripping lots lots lots oil ingredients sanctioned know westerners dying sink teeth one remember iraq reserves right refuse service anyone mcengland burger kinda bland special orders well take em whatever want tell us want loyalty important us offer limited american power holders mcusa burger offered usofa use pasteurized beef okay alright irradiated beef potayto potahto whatever budget tight make 515 hour federal minimum wage congress frozen phone congressperson ask himher take lunch unlike theyve done voted yearly pay raise pretty flush cash soon made 100 unadvertised genetically modified ingredients yum comes side beefbroth flavored vegetarian fries wrapped disposable nonbiodegradable american flag really order whatever want free country nobodys stopping careful order things us us come think doesnt really matter order new technology mit falsify images film cameras little digital alteration make look exactly like ordered extralarge weapon mass destruction side anthrax bon appetit mccarol mcnorris freelance writer contacted partofthesolutionhotmailcom 160 | 592 |
<p />
<p>An investigation ordered by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki into Blackwater’s September 16 shooting in Baghdad, in which 17 civilians were killed and another 24 were wounded, <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/lhttp://161.58.185.225/mb/mt.cgi?__mode=view&amp;_type=entry&amp;id=5725&amp;blog_id=1&amp;saved_changes=1ocalnewsheadlines/ci_7124758" type="external">has determined</a> that the company’s operators opened fired indiscriminately and without provocation. The official Iraqi report on the incident demands that the U.S. government pay $8 million in compensation to each of the victims’ families and sever all Iraq-based contracts with Blackwater within the next 6 months. It also demands that the Blackwater operators involved in the shootings be handed over to Iraqi authorities for possible prosecution in Iraqi courts.</p>
<p>It’s unclear if the U.S. government will comply and perhaps even more unclear if it could meet the Iraqi government’s demands even if it wanted to. Civilian employees of the State Department rely on Blackwater for protection. If the company were banished from Iraq, U.S. diplomatic operations would be paralyzed, at least until another private contractor could be hired for the job. Even if this were to happen, it’s doubtful that booting Blackwater would make much difference. More than likely, its operators would quickly find work with competitors like Triple Canopy and DynCorp, who would have to fill the Baghdad security void in Blackwater’s absence. The private security sector is a small one after all. Even Andrew Moonen, the Blackwater operator who got drunk in the Green Zone last Christmas Eve and murdered one of the Iraqi vice president’s security guards, found a new job with Combat Support Services Associates, which put him back to work in Kuwait just two months after the shooting.</p>
<p>So, will Blackwater survive this latest scandal? It’s impossible to know for sure, but there’s little reason to believe otherwise. The company, which started as a small-scale provider of firearms training in 1998, has grown into a billion-dollar Goliath, complete with an army of lobbyists and sympathetic politicians to press its agenda on Capitol Hill. Guided by its reclusive founder, Erik Prince, the company, over its short history, has deflected controversy with ease, all the while simultaneously expanding its reach into new markets and generating ever more profitable government contracts. What follows is a timeline that documents Blackwater’s rise and its history of misconduct in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>1965 Prince Corporation is founded in Holland, Michigan, by <a href="http://www.nndb.com/people/472/000130082/" type="external">Edgar Prince</a>, father of future Blackwater founder <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erik_Prince" type="external">Erik Prince</a>. The company specializes in auto parts.</p>
<p>June 6, 1969 Erik Prince is born.</p>
<p>1973 Prince Corporation begins marketing the “lighted sun visor” to car companies, a wildly successful innovation that nets the company billions of dollars.</p>
<p>February 1979 Erik Prince’s older sister Betsy marries <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_DeVos" type="external">Dick Devos</a>, CEO of Amway and a billionaire contributor to the GOP and right-wing political causes. Devos was the Republican candidate for governor in Michigan in 2006.</p>
<p>1988 Gary Bauer and James Dobson found the socially conservative <a href="http://www.frc.org/get.cfm?c=HOME" type="external">Family Research Council</a>, funded primarily by the Prince family. Erik Prince interns there, before moving on to an internship in President George H.W. Bush’s White House.</p>
<p>1992 Erik Prince earns a commission in the U.S. Navy. He goes on to become a Navy SEAL and serves in Haiti, Bosnia, and the Middle East.</p>
<p>March 2, 1995 Edgar Prince dies of a heart attack. July 22, 1996 Prince Corporation is sold for $1.35 billion. Erik Prince retires early from the U.S. military.</p>
<p>December 26, 1996 Erik Prince’s Blackwater Lodge and Training Center Inc. is incorporated in Delaware.</p>
<p>January 30, 1997 Blackwater purchases property in North Carolina.</p>
<p>January 1998 Blackwater gets its first paying customer, a Navy SEAL team. The company specializes in firearms training, but soon receives requests from Spain to train presidential security details and from Brazil for counterterrorism instruction.</p>
<p>February 1, 2000 Blackwater wins its first federal contract and is entered into the General Services Administration contracting database for government-approved goods and services, enabling it to compete for larger, longer-term federal contracts.</p>
<p>October 12, 2000 After the bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen, Blackwater gets its first long-term federal contract to train sailors for the U.S. Navy.</p>
<p>2001 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $736,906.</p>
<p>September 11, 2001 Terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, DC.</p>
<p>2002 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $3.4 million.</p>
<p>2002 Blackwater Security Consulting is founded, moving the company into the private security business.</p>
<p>2003 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $25 million.</p>
<p>March 20, 2003 The U.S. invades Iraq.</p>
<p>2004 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $48 million.</p>
<p>March 2004 Blackwater announces it has won a contract to train Azerbaijani maritime commandos. The work is done with approval of the U.S. government, which looks to Azerbaijan as a crucial ally in the oil- and gas-rich Caspian region.</p>
<p>March 31, 2004 Four Blackwater operators are killed in Falluja, their burnt bodies dragged through the streets and hung from a bridge. The incident sparks a major battle in the Iraq War. The public takes notice of Blackwater for the first time.</p>
<p>April 1, 2004 Blackwater engages <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Alexander_Strategy_Group" type="external">Alexander Strategy Group</a> to do damage control. Within days, Erik Prince has private meetings with senior Republican members of Congress.</p>
<p>April 4, 2004 U.S. Marines lay siege to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sj_r_3fUSMU&amp;mode=related&amp;search=War%20Iraq%20Marines%20Army%20Insurgents%203000" type="external">Falluja</a>, while to the south in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8V3H_dpd-r8&amp;mode=related&amp;search=" type="external">Najaf</a>, Blackwater operators defend the Coalition Provisional Authority’s headquarters from Mahdi Army attack.</p>
<p>June 28, 2004 <a href="http://www.cpa-iraq.org/regulations/" type="external">CPA Order 17</a> provides private contractors with immunity from Iraqi law.</p>
<p>September 2004 <a href="http://www.blackwaterusa.com/aviation/aircharter.asp" type="external">Presidential Airways</a>, a Blackwater-owned company, is awarded a $34.8 million contract to transport troops and supplies in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>November 27, 2004 A Presidential Airways plane <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/02/blackwater.afghan.crash/index.html" type="external">crashes into a mountain</a> in Afghanistan, killing three Blackwater operators and three U.S. military personnel. A subsequent investigation reveals that the pilots were joy riding in an uncharted area.</p>
<p>2005 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $352 million. January 5, 2005 Families of the four Blackwater contractors killed in Falluja in March 2004 file a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helvenston_et_al._v._Blackwater_Security" type="external">wrongful death suit</a> against the company. May 2005 A Blackwater-owned company called <a href="http://boardroom.deepblue.com/db/greystone/web/" type="external">Greystone Limited</a> is incorporated in Barbados. Among other things, it offers “proactive engagement teams” to conduct “stabilization efforts, asset protection and recovery, and emergency personnel withdrawal.” Clients are also offered training in “defensive and offensive small group operations.”</p>
<p>June 25, 2005 A Blackwater team fatally shoots an Iraqi man along the side of a road in Hilla. Operators do not report the incident. August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina strikes New Orleans. Blackwater operators arrive within hours with weapons and combat gear. It is the company’s first foray into the U.S. domestic security market. November 28, 2005 A Blackwater convoy collides with 18 cars while driving to and from a meeting at the Iraqi Ministry of Oil. Investigations later determine that operators’ accounts of the incident were “invalid, inaccurate, and at best, dishonest reporting.” According to one Blackwater operator, the convoy’s tactical commander “openly admitted giving clear direction to primary driver to conduct these acts of random negligence for no apparent reason.” Two Blackwater employees are fired.</p>
<p>2006 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $593 million.</p>
<p>May 2006 Blackwater announces plans for new combat training facilities in California and the Philippines.</p>
<p>February 6, 2006 Pentagon releases its <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/policy/dod/qdr-2006-report.htm" type="external">Quadrennial Defense Review</a>, classifying private contractors as a part of the Defense Department’s “Total Force.” September 24, 2006 Blackwater convoy driving down the wrong side of the road (“counter flowing”) in al-Hillah strikes an oncoming car, propelling it into a telephone pole. The Iraqi car bursts into flames. Blackwater contractors leave the scene without offering help to the victim, who dies in the fire. December 24, 2006 Drunken Blackwater operator Andrew Moonen shoots the Iraqi vice presidents’ security guard in the Green Zone. He is fired, fined, and flown back to the United States, but returns to Kuwait two months later with another private contracting firm.</p>
<p>2007 Blackwater’s federal contracts total $1 billion.</p>
<p>February 7, 2007 House Oversight and Government Reform Committee <a href="http://oversight.house.gov/story.asp?ID=1165" type="external">holds hearings</a> on the use of private security contractors in Iraq, focusing largely on Blackwater.</p>
<p>April 2007 Blackwater abandons plans for its Philippines’ training center and instead opens a <a href="http://www.blackwaterusa.com/training/bwnorth.asp" type="external">new facility in Illinois</a>.</p>
<p>May 2007 Blackwater operators fatally shoot an Iraqi man who strayed too close to their convoy outside the Iraqi Ministry of Interior. The incident leads to a tense standoff with Iraqi military and interior ministry guards. U.S. soldiers are forced to intervene. September 16, 2007 Seventeen Iraqis are killed and 24 wounded when Blackwater operators open fire in a traffic circle in central Baghdad.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | investigation ordered iraqi prime minister nouri almaliki blackwaters september 16 shooting baghdad 17 civilians killed another 24 wounded determined companys operators opened fired indiscriminately without provocation official iraqi report incident demands us government pay 8 million compensation victims families sever iraqbased contracts blackwater within next 6 months also demands blackwater operators involved shootings handed iraqi authorities possible prosecution iraqi courts unclear us government comply perhaps even unclear could meet iraqi governments demands even wanted civilian employees state department rely blackwater protection company banished iraq us diplomatic operations would paralyzed least another private contractor could hired job even happen doubtful booting blackwater would make much difference likely operators would quickly find work competitors like triple canopy dyncorp would fill baghdad security void blackwaters absence private security sector small one even andrew moonen blackwater operator got drunk green zone last christmas eve murdered one iraqi vice presidents security guards found new job combat support services associates put back work kuwait two months shooting blackwater survive latest scandal impossible know sure theres little reason believe otherwise company started smallscale provider firearms training 1998 grown billiondollar goliath complete army lobbyists sympathetic politicians press agenda capitol hill guided reclusive founder erik prince company short history deflected controversy ease simultaneously expanding reach new markets generating ever profitable government contracts follows timeline documents blackwaters rise history misconduct iraq afghanistan 1965 prince corporation founded holland michigan edgar prince father future blackwater founder erik prince company specializes auto parts june 6 1969 erik prince born 1973 prince corporation begins marketing lighted sun visor car companies wildly successful innovation nets company billions dollars february 1979 erik princes older sister betsy marries dick devos ceo amway billionaire contributor gop rightwing political causes devos republican candidate governor michigan 2006 1988 gary bauer james dobson found socially conservative family research council funded primarily prince family erik prince interns moving internship president george hw bushs white house 1992 erik prince earns commission us navy goes become navy seal serves haiti bosnia middle east march 2 1995 edgar prince dies heart attack july 22 1996 prince corporation sold 135 billion erik prince retires early us military december 26 1996 erik princes blackwater lodge training center inc incorporated delaware january 30 1997 blackwater purchases property north carolina january 1998 blackwater gets first paying customer navy seal team company specializes firearms training soon receives requests spain train presidential security details brazil counterterrorism instruction february 1 2000 blackwater wins first federal contract entered general services administration contracting database governmentapproved goods services enabling compete larger longerterm federal contracts october 12 2000 bombing uss cole yemen blackwater gets first longterm federal contract train sailors us navy 2001 blackwaters federal contracts total 736906 september 11 2001 terrorist attacks new york washington dc 2002 blackwaters federal contracts total 34 million 2002 blackwater security consulting founded moving company private security business 2003 blackwaters federal contracts total 25 million march 20 2003 us invades iraq 2004 blackwaters federal contracts total 48 million march 2004 blackwater announces contract train azerbaijani maritime commandos work done approval us government looks azerbaijan crucial ally oil gasrich caspian region march 31 2004 four blackwater operators killed falluja burnt bodies dragged streets hung bridge incident sparks major battle iraq war public takes notice blackwater first time april 1 2004 blackwater engages alexander strategy group damage control within days erik prince private meetings senior republican members congress april 4 2004 us marines lay siege falluja south najaf blackwater operators defend coalition provisional authoritys headquarters mahdi army attack june 28 2004 cpa order 17 provides private contractors immunity iraqi law september 2004 presidential airways blackwaterowned company awarded 348 million contract transport troops supplies afghanistan november 27 2004 presidential airways plane crashes mountain afghanistan killing three blackwater operators three us military personnel subsequent investigation reveals pilots joy riding uncharted area 2005 blackwaters federal contracts total 352 million january 5 2005 families four blackwater contractors killed falluja march 2004 file wrongful death suit company may 2005 blackwaterowned company called greystone limited incorporated barbados among things offers proactive engagement teams conduct stabilization efforts asset protection recovery emergency personnel withdrawal clients also offered training defensive offensive small group operations june 25 2005 blackwater team fatally shoots iraqi man along side road hilla operators report incident august 29 2005 hurricane katrina strikes new orleans blackwater operators arrive within hours weapons combat gear companys first foray us domestic security market november 28 2005 blackwater convoy collides 18 cars driving meeting iraqi ministry oil investigations later determine operators accounts incident invalid inaccurate best dishonest reporting according one blackwater operator convoys tactical commander openly admitted giving clear direction primary driver conduct acts random negligence apparent reason two blackwater employees fired 2006 blackwaters federal contracts total 593 million may 2006 blackwater announces plans new combat training facilities california philippines february 6 2006 pentagon releases quadrennial defense review classifying private contractors part defense departments total force september 24 2006 blackwater convoy driving wrong side road counter flowing alhillah strikes oncoming car propelling telephone pole iraqi car bursts flames blackwater contractors leave scene without offering help victim dies fire december 24 2006 drunken blackwater operator andrew moonen shoots iraqi vice presidents security guard green zone fired fined flown back united states returns kuwait two months later another private contracting firm 2007 blackwaters federal contracts total 1 billion february 7 2007 house oversight government reform committee holds hearings use private security contractors iraq focusing largely blackwater april 2007 blackwater abandons plans philippines training center instead opens new facility illinois may 2007 blackwater operators fatally shoot iraqi man strayed close convoy outside iraqi ministry interior incident leads tense standoff iraqi military interior ministry guards us soldiers forced intervene september 16 2007 seventeen iraqis killed 24 wounded blackwater operators open fire traffic circle central baghdad | 949 |
<p>The trouble with demonizing the leader of an unpopular government is that it gives the next leader a way too much slack. I remember writing a column years ago comparing the hated Brian Mulroney with Paul Martin (who more or less ran Jean Chretien’s government).&#160; Who was more destructive to the public interest and progressive government? Conventional wisdom would say Mulroney. But, while the “free trade” agreement set the stage for the remaking of Canada, it was nice-guy Paul Martin who did the deed. He slashed federal social spending by 40%, eliminated any strings attached to federal transfers (setting up huge cuts to welfare programs), and implemented the largest tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations in Canadian history.</p>
<p>And now we have Justin ‘Sunny Days’ Trudeau who presents as a great a personality contrast as one can imagine to the grim and heartless Stephen Harper. And there is no doubt that on many symbolic issues the Liberal prime minister has provided welcome relief from the ravages of the right-wing libertarian Mr. Harper.</p>
<p>But when it comes to the ideological commitment to trade and investment liberalization Mr. Trudeau is easily a match for his predecessor, cementing the history of the Liberal party as the party of “free trade.” This week he was in Ireland pushing CETA – the Canada-EU deal.</p>
<p>Throughout the Harper era, notwithstanding Harper’s dogged commitment to these deals, the Conservative government managed to actually take a very good position on one enormously important aspect of the neo-liberal agenda: government procurement. The ability of the federal, provincial and municipal governments to favour Canadian suppliers of goods and services was protected in NAFTA and all of the many bi-lateral agreements signed by Canada under Harper. Until CETA.</p>
<p>This was important not just because of the opportunities for local job creation but also for local businesses. BC, for example, under the NDP, had a program called “First Contract” by which provincial procurement departments could give a first contract to local company specifically to give it a chance to build its experience and capacity – waiving the normal low-bid rules.</p>
<p>Under CETA that would be explicitly prohibited because for the first time provincial procurement and that of the so-called MASH sector – municipal, academic, schools and hospitals – will be completely open to procurement competition from companies in 28 EU countries.</p>
<p>What are the implications? According to trade lawyer&#160; <a href="http://www.mondaq.com/canada/x/345758/Government+Contracts+Procurement+PPP/MASH+Sector+Needs+To+Brace+For+Possible+New+Era+In+Procurement+CanadaEU+Comprehensive+Economic+Trade" type="external">Roy Nieuwenburg</a>&#160;“Procurements by MASH entities would become more scrutinized and more susceptible to challenge. MASH entities would have to comply with stringent measures designed to ensure transparency and compliance. Disappointed bidders would have enforceable recourse. Remedies could include monetary awards and re-opening the outcome of bidding processes.”</p>
<p>One example from federal jurisdiction saw Corel successfully challenge the winning government contract bid of Microsoft in a Canadian International Trade Tribunal. It won a $9.9 million award.</p>
<p>Not only would local suppliers of goods and services be disadvantaged in bidding against giant EU companies – and municipal governments disempowered – the administrative burden on small to medium municipalities in dealing seriously with potentially dozens of bids from two dozen countries will be nightmarish.</p>
<p>Another potential victim: A relatively new but rapidly growing sector is focussed on building up food security through the purchase of local food production. Four provinces –&#160;Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Nova Scotia –&#160; are promoting the production and purchase of local food. Cities – and MASH sector institutions – are also pioneering efforts to support the public procurement of local food. <a href="" type="internal">CETA</a> could seriously undermine these initiatives which openly favour local producers.</p>
<p>As with virtually all these so-called trade agreements their zealous proponents in the trade department of the federal government sing the praises of the billions of dollars in opportunities for Canadian companies – billions calculated through economic models with no relationship to reality. Business itself does not share the enthusiasm of this free trade priesthood. According to Matthew Wilson, vice president of the Canadian Manufacturers &amp; Exporters <a href="" type="internal">very few Canadian companies</a> are anywhere near ready to take advantage of access to the $16.5 trillion EU market.&#160;The numbers tell the story: of approximately one million small and medium businesses in Canada just 10,000 currently export outside the US.</p>
<p>But the kicker in the whole procurement part of CETA is that Canada already has complete and open access to the EU’s MASH sector. Unbelievably – and inexcusably – Canada gave unfettered access to this sector and got absolutely nothing in return. In fact the Europeans were so dumbfounded by their good fortune they were almost giddy. In an <a href="" type="internal">EU document</a>&#160;&#160;analyzing CETA the authors all but called Canada a complete sucker – stating they had won concession far beyond their expectations:</p>
<p>“As regard market access the Canadian offer is the most ambitious and comprehensive Canada has yet made to a third party. For the first time Canadian provinces and municipalities will open their procurement to a foreign partner going well beyond what Canada has offered before.”</p>
<p>Municipal representatives should be shouting from their rooftops about this assault on their economic and social development authority. Where is the Federation of Canadian Municipalities on this issue – and where have they been all along? Do the mayors of Canada – especially those of the large cities where the first challenges are likely to arise – have any idea of the implications of CETA? If they do they seem inexplicably quiescent.</p>
<p>The Trudeau government could have nixed the procurement chapter but chose not to. Is there a chance that the new kid on the block, BC NDP premier designate John Horgan, might throw a last minute monkey wrench into this destructive machinery?</p>
<p>I know you’re busy, Mr. Horgan, but this act alone could establish your legacy.</p> | true | 4 | trouble demonizing leader unpopular government gives next leader way much slack remember writing column years ago comparing hated brian mulroney paul martin less ran jean chretiens government160 destructive public interest progressive government conventional wisdom would say mulroney free trade agreement set stage remaking canada niceguy paul martin deed slashed federal social spending 40 eliminated strings attached federal transfers setting huge cuts welfare programs implemented largest tax cuts wealthy corporations canadian history justin sunny days trudeau presents great personality contrast one imagine grim heartless stephen harper doubt many symbolic issues liberal prime minister provided welcome relief ravages rightwing libertarian mr harper comes ideological commitment trade investment liberalization mr trudeau easily match predecessor cementing history liberal party party free trade week ireland pushing ceta canadaeu deal throughout harper era notwithstanding harpers dogged commitment deals conservative government managed actually take good position one enormously important aspect neoliberal agenda government procurement ability federal provincial municipal governments favour canadian suppliers goods services protected nafta many bilateral agreements signed canada harper ceta important opportunities local job creation also local businesses bc example ndp program called first contract provincial procurement departments could give first contract local company specifically give chance build experience capacity waiving normal lowbid rules ceta would explicitly prohibited first time provincial procurement socalled mash sector municipal academic schools hospitals completely open procurement competition companies 28 eu countries implications according trade lawyer160 roy nieuwenburg160procurements mash entities would become scrutinized susceptible challenge mash entities would comply stringent measures designed ensure transparency compliance disappointed bidders would enforceable recourse remedies could include monetary awards reopening outcome bidding processes one example federal jurisdiction saw corel successfully challenge winning government contract bid microsoft canadian international trade tribunal 99 million award would local suppliers goods services disadvantaged bidding giant eu companies municipal governments disempowered administrative burden small medium municipalities dealing seriously potentially dozens bids two dozen countries nightmarish another potential victim relatively new rapidly growing sector focussed building food security purchase local food production four provinces 160ontario quebec british columbia nova scotia 160 promoting production purchase local food cities mash sector institutions also pioneering efforts support public procurement local food ceta could seriously undermine initiatives openly favour local producers virtually socalled trade agreements zealous proponents trade department federal government sing praises billions dollars opportunities canadian companies billions calculated economic models relationship reality business share enthusiasm free trade priesthood according matthew wilson vice president canadian manufacturers amp exporters canadian companies anywhere near ready take advantage access 165 trillion eu market160the numbers tell story approximately one million small medium businesses canada 10000 currently export outside us kicker whole procurement part ceta canada already complete open access eus mash sector unbelievably inexcusably canada gave unfettered access sector got absolutely nothing return fact europeans dumbfounded good fortune almost giddy eu document160160analyzing ceta authors called canada complete sucker stating concession far beyond expectations regard market access canadian offer ambitious comprehensive canada yet made third party first time canadian provinces municipalities open procurement foreign partner going well beyond canada offered municipal representatives shouting rooftops assault economic social development authority federation canadian municipalities issue along mayors canada especially large cities first challenges likely arise idea implications ceta seem inexplicably quiescent trudeau government could nixed procurement chapter chose chance new kid block bc ndp premier designate john horgan might throw last minute monkey wrench destructive machinery know youre busy mr horgan act alone could establish legacy | 557 |
<p>Ronnie forgot all this, but we shouldn’t</p>
<p>It’s not too late is it, to pay a few more respects to Ronald Reagan? Here are a few items from my file. Reagan’s excuses during L’affaire Contragate, also known as L’affaire Irangate: I didn’t know what was happening. If I did know, I didn’t know enough. If I knew enough, I didn’t know it in time. If I knew it in time, it wasn’t illegal. If it was illegal, the law didn’t apply to me. If the law applied to me, I didn’t know what was happening. Margaret Thatcher had this to say about her supposed great friend Ronnie: “Poor dear, there’s nothing between his ears.”{1}</p>
<p>In 1984, Reagan spoke to a group of American newspaper editors about possibly limiting a nuclear war to Europe, without a single one of them regarding it as newsworthy. The fuss about his remarks only came after a European reporter had read the transcript. This of course says as much about American newspaper editors as it does about Reagan.{2}</p>
<p>How can we leave Iraq?</p>
<p>Those of us who call for the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq are usually met with some variation on the theme of “But we can’t just leave!” Or “How can we just leave?”</p>
<p>Which is what protesters were asked repeatedly during the Vietnam War, and to which we replied: “Well, you put some of them on ships and sail away, others you put into planes and fly away. What could be simpler?” … until American troops finally did leave, several years and hundreds of thousands of deaths, American and Vietnamese, later.</p>
<p>Theodore H. White in his book “In Search of History”, believed that President Kennedy would have pulled all American troops out of Vietnam after the 1964 election. He quotes a Kennedy aide who asked the president how he would do that. “Easy,” quipped JFK. “Put a government in that will ask us to leave.”</p>
<p>It appears that the Bush administration has now installed a government in Iraq to ask the United States to stay. Last month Iraq’s new interim prime minister and former CIA asset, Ayad Allawi, formally invited US troops to remain in Iraq. Secretary of State Colin Powell then announced that Allawi had sent a letter outlining the terms under which he would agree to the presence of US-led coalition forces in Iraq. (Undoubtedly driving a very hard bargain.) Powell said he would respond in a letter “in a positive vein” to Allawi’s proposal.</p>
<p>Boy, that was a cliff-hanger.</p>
<p>Powell added that it was planned that Allawi’s letter and Powell’s response to it would form annexes to the UN resolution endorsing the transfer of sovereignty in Iraq.{3} They make it all so neat, so nice and legal, so open and spontaneous sounding. And it works. I would guess that most Americans are impressed with such a show.</p>
<p>In the same vein, we have Hamid Karzai, the Washington-appointed president of Afghanistan. The conservative Washington Times, in a large page-one headline on June 16, treated the world to this bit of astounding news: “Karzai lauds US war on terrorism.”</p>
<p>Tradition ain’t what it used to be</p>
<p>“This is a terrible thing,” said Ali Hashim, 33, a shoe salesman in downtown Baghdad. “Hostage-taking, beheading … it’s not our tradition. We have a tradition of hospitality. This hurts the image of the Iraqi people.”{4}</p>
<p>Imagine an American saying: “This is a terrible thing. Bombings, invasions, overthrowing governments, torture … it’s not our tradition. We have a tradition of peaceful solutions to conflicts with other countries and respect for international law. This hurts the image of the American people.”</p>
<p>Our bodies, ourselves</p>
<p>The upcoming Olympics has put the testing of athletes for drugs in the spotlight once again. And once again it raises this question in my mind: Presumably “drugs” are banned because they give an athlete an unfair advantage over athletes who are “clean”. But of all the things that athletes, and other people, put into their bodies to improve their health, fitness and performance, why are drugs singled out? Doesn’t taking vitamins give an athlete an unfair advantage over athletes who don’t take them? Shouldn’t vitamins be banned from sport competition? How about various food supplements, for the same reason? Vitamins and food supplements are often not any more “natural” than drugs. Why not ban those who follow a healthy diet because of the advantage this may give them? My questions are serious and I’d welcome some feedback.</p>
<p>I thought it was all Greek to him</p>
<p>Maybe Georgie W. is not as unlettered as he appears to be. Or perhaps it’s one of his speech writers who has read Thucydides’ “The History of the Peloponnesian War”, and the words of the Corinthians: “Do not delay, fellow-allies, but convinced of the necessity of the crisis, and the wisdom of our advice, vote for the war, undeterred by its immediate terrors, but looking beyond to the lasting peace by which it will be succeeded. War makes peace more secure.” That was four centuries before Christ, the war lasting 27 years. Imagine how the ancient defense contractors must have cleaned up, like old Halliburtonakis led by Cheneyopoulos.</p>
<p>And one on militarism?</p>
<p>The US State Department issues annual reports on the countries of the world rating their performance in various categories. There are separate reports dealing with religious freedom, the war on terrorism, human rights, the war on drugs, and trafficking in persons. What I’d like to see now is some government in the world issue a report rating countries on self-righteousness and arrogance.</p>
<p>Something to keep in mind for a future US bombing</p>
<p>In April 1986, during the US bombing of Libya, the French Embassy, located in a residential district, was destroyed. This, after the French had refused to grant flyover rights to American planes on their way to Libya.</p>
<p>In May 1999, during the US bombing of Belgrade, the Chinese embassy was hit, causing considerable damage and the death of two people inside the embassy. An investigation by The Observer of London revealed that the bombing was deliberate.{5}</p>
<p>In April 2003, US bombs dropped on Iraq found their way to the Soviet embassy in Baghdad several times. The Russians were suspicious enough to summon the US ambassador to the Foreign Ministry. The Soviet embassy was also located in a residential district.{6}</p>
<p>WILLIAM BLUM is the author of Killing Hope: U.S. Military and CIA Interventions Since World War II, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567511945/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Rogue State: a guide to the World’s Only Super Power</a>. and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1887128727/counterpunchmaga" type="external">West-Bloc Dissident: a Cold War Political Memoir</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1567511945/counterpunchmaga" type="external">.</a>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:BBlum6@aol.com" type="external">BBlum6@aol.com</a></p>
<p>NOTES</p>
<p>{1} Peter Jenkins, “Mrs. Thatcher’s Revolution”</p>
<p>{2} The Guardian (London), September 28, 1984, p.15</p>
<p>{3} Washington Post, June 6, 2004</p>
<p>{4} Ibid., July 1, 2004</p>
<p>{5} “Nato bombed Chinese deliberately”, The Observer (London), October 17, 1999; and November 28, 1999. Also see Extra! Update (Fairness &amp; Accuracy in Reporting, New York), December 1999</p>
<p>{6} Interfax news agency, April 2, 2003</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | ronnie forgot shouldnt late pay respects ronald reagan items file reagans excuses laffaire contragate also known laffaire irangate didnt know happening know didnt know enough knew enough didnt know time knew time wasnt illegal illegal law didnt apply law applied didnt know happening margaret thatcher say supposed great friend ronnie poor dear theres nothing ears1 1984 reagan spoke group american newspaper editors possibly limiting nuclear war europe without single one regarding newsworthy fuss remarks came european reporter read transcript course says much american newspaper editors reagan2 leave iraq us call withdrawal american troops iraq usually met variation theme cant leave leave protesters asked repeatedly vietnam war replied well put ships sail away others put planes fly away could simpler american troops finally leave several years hundreds thousands deaths american vietnamese later theodore h white book search history believed president kennedy would pulled american troops vietnam 1964 election quotes kennedy aide asked president would easy quipped jfk put government ask us leave appears bush administration installed government iraq ask united states stay last month iraqs new interim prime minister former cia asset ayad allawi formally invited us troops remain iraq secretary state colin powell announced allawi sent letter outlining terms would agree presence usled coalition forces iraq undoubtedly driving hard bargain powell said would respond letter positive vein allawis proposal boy cliffhanger powell added planned allawis letter powells response would form annexes un resolution endorsing transfer sovereignty iraq3 make neat nice legal open spontaneous sounding works would guess americans impressed show vein hamid karzai washingtonappointed president afghanistan conservative washington times large pageone headline june 16 treated world bit astounding news karzai lauds us war terrorism tradition aint used terrible thing said ali hashim 33 shoe salesman downtown baghdad hostagetaking beheading tradition tradition hospitality hurts image iraqi people4 imagine american saying terrible thing bombings invasions overthrowing governments torture tradition tradition peaceful solutions conflicts countries respect international law hurts image american people bodies upcoming olympics put testing athletes drugs spotlight raises question mind presumably drugs banned give athlete unfair advantage athletes clean things athletes people put bodies improve health fitness performance drugs singled doesnt taking vitamins give athlete unfair advantage athletes dont take shouldnt vitamins banned sport competition various food supplements reason vitamins food supplements often natural drugs ban follow healthy diet advantage may give questions serious id welcome feedback thought greek maybe georgie w unlettered appears perhaps one speech writers read thucydides history peloponnesian war words corinthians delay fellowallies convinced necessity crisis wisdom advice vote war undeterred immediate terrors looking beyond lasting peace succeeded war makes peace secure four centuries christ war lasting 27 years imagine ancient defense contractors must cleaned like old halliburtonakis led cheneyopoulos one militarism us state department issues annual reports countries world rating performance various categories separate reports dealing religious freedom war terrorism human rights war drugs trafficking persons id like see government world issue report rating countries selfrighteousness arrogance something keep mind future us bombing april 1986 us bombing libya french embassy located residential district destroyed french refused grant flyover rights american planes way libya may 1999 us bombing belgrade chinese embassy hit causing considerable damage death two people inside embassy investigation observer london revealed bombing deliberate5 april 2003 us bombs dropped iraq found way soviet embassy baghdad several times russians suspicious enough summon us ambassador foreign ministry soviet embassy also located residential district6 william blum author killing hope us military cia interventions since world war ii rogue state guide worlds super power westbloc dissident cold war political memoir reached bblum6aolcom notes 1 peter jenkins mrs thatchers revolution 2 guardian london september 28 1984 p15 3 washington post june 6 2004 4 ibid july 1 2004 5 nato bombed chinese deliberately observer london october 17 1999 november 28 1999 also see extra update fairness amp accuracy reporting new york december 1999 6 interfax news agency april 2 2003 160 | 642 |
<p>A small Buddhist Peace Fellowship delegation went to Burma to bear witness to the suffering of the people following the brutal crackdown by the Burmese military at the end of September on monks and the people of Burma. We wanted to communicate the support and solidarity of the international community with the people of Burma, and to be a voice for the voiceless by sharing with our communities on return. Our communities had expressed their concerns and given generously, and we offered the donations to various groups to let them know that the rest of the world deeply cares about Burma. We wanted to explore channels for future further support inside Burma, as well as finding ways to support the monks in exile.</p>
<p>The participants included two people from Thailand including a socially engaged Buddhist monk, Hozan Alan Senauke, a Zen priest and from Buddhist Peace Fellowship USA, and JILL JAMESON from Buddhist Peace Fellowship, Australia. Jill has worked with people from Burma since 1994 facilitating grassroots leadership training, peace building and conflict transformation.</p>
<p>Inside Burma and on the Thai-Burma border we met with activists, monks, students, orphans, Western diplomats, and ordinary people in teashops and restaurants. We listened to their stories about events of the last several months, and how they are continuing to work both for the liberation of Burma as well as for their survival and that of their families. Wherever we went, people were very happy to meet with us, and welcomed the opportunity to share their stories.</p>
<p>The generals want the international community to believe that everything has returned to ‘normal’, that Burma is safe again for tourists, and that the disorder from the protests is over. But the ‘normality’ for Burma under the military regime is a state of fear and repression. This verbal whitewash from the regime was very different from what we learned from the people we met.</p>
<p>Neither army, police or beggars were evident in downtown Rangoon, but we heard from ‘Aung Myint’ that beggars and the homeless had been taken to detention centres, and that some of the army were dressed as monks at Shwedagon Pagoda, and others were in plain clothes. Our group was investigated on one of our visits to a monastic orphanage by plain clothes police and fortunately, giving out packets of noodle soup to the children had not been a crime.</p>
<p>People are suffering very deeply. They suffer the consequences of a failed state which spends according to IMF: 0.5% of GNP on health, 0.4% on education and 40% on defenceon controlling their own people. ‘Dr. Win’ told us that many people just outside of Rangoon can only afford one meal a day, and that with fuel increases some people cannot afford the bus fare to go to work. We visited several Buddhist monastic schools and orphanages. At one of these there were 500 students, and often there was not enough food, only a little rice. Large classes of children sat at cramped benches, and the large dormitories smelt of neglect. During our visit, a health worker was lifting shirts to reveal ulcers and extensive ring worm, which were dabbed with a sulphur cream. Malnutrition, over-crowding and limited staff to care for the children surely exacerbate the problem. The families of children at such an orphanage as this cannot even afford the low fees of a government school. In the Rangoon Division alone we heard there were 162 such Buddhist orphanages. There are also many run by Christian denominations. ‘Betty’ who visits orphanages in other states, said there could be ‘be hundreds of thousands of orphans’. Often, she said, the child’s father was a soldier who had been killed, and mother may have been injured by a landmine gathering food in a forest. We also heard these children referred to as the ‘scrap children’ where many families are too poor to feed all their children. And their future? Many have no option but to join the army, or, to become a monk. And monks and soldiers are about equal in number. But many children are also forced conscripts to the army. Recent reports of child conscripts as young as 10 years have reached the international media. The regime’s response to this we heard from ‘Stephen’ was to fine either the child or its parents, anything to avoid responsibility being taken by the generals.</p>
<p>We had heard how one prominent monk responding to the food shortages had set up a food station to produce low cost boxed meals to distribute through downtown shops and in rural areas. The Venerable was very reluctant to talk about this and fear was palpable. We had hoped to be able to contribute to this program but suspect the program may have been suspended.</p>
<p>People are controlled not only by military force but also by fear. This is all pervasive. People often speak in code to avoid being overheard by unknown security people in plain clothes, or by informers so poor and desperate for basic survival that they will inform on anybody. We also touched this fear, with our antennas out on stalks, hyper-alert with our main concern for our friends not to suffer the consequences of talking with us. But there was also an increase in anger and urgency since last I was in Burma. San, a gentle elderly man confided he would like to get rid of the leaders somehowfor the greater good of all. Sitting at tea shops, people would approach us with a common theme; ‘life is so difficult now’, and ‘ 90% of the people are against this regime, and please do tell the international community’ and ‘ do take our message to the Security Council’. All we could do was listen. And as Buddhists, this is a valuable practice. So many people had a deep need to talk and share, to tell the whole story so often in all its violent and brutal detail ­ interspersed with jokes. Impossible to understand other than in terms of fear and power, and possibly history. Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected leader of Burma threw some light on this back in 1991. “It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”</p>
<p>Since September people are suffering deeply from the brutal onslaught on the highly revered monks in a country where 90% are Buddhist, and where respect for monks is deeply imbued in their culture and way of life. Many monks we heard had been forcibly disrobed so they could be tortured. And it was not 2% of the monks as claimed by the generals who marched, but nearer 30% were involved in the protests. They were compassionately drawing attention to the recent dramatic increases in rice and fuel costs. They knew intimately of the people’s plight ­ their begging bowls providing an indication. Despite their poverty people still however gave a little rice to the monks.</p>
<p>We heard from ‘Stephen’ that there were four categories of people in the protest There were those who were guilty by looking, those who clapped, those who offered water and those who marched. Only the first three categories were released after a month’s interrogation, and then only if they signed that they would never again protest. The forth category are probably still in detention. ‘Stephen’ also shared with us that his college friend who was now a colonel, had revealed details of invasion of a monastery while drunk, and that he was under orders to beat up monks when questioning them. These are very concerning humanitarian aspects, and we need to keep asking where are the monks and the people detained? We further heard from ‘Stephen’ that soon after the protests ended, that the crematorium had been running at the unusual hour of 1-4am.</p>
<p>‘Peter’ a reliable source, indicated numbers killed were much higher than given by the regime, and would seem to be higher than in the report by the Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, Paulo Pinheiro, 7 Dec. 2007. We heard that 30 monks were killed in Yangon and more than 70 people were killed in detention after the demonstrations had stopped. Piheiro reported that 31 monks had been killed and a further 74 listed as missing, and up to 1000 still detained – 106 of these were women, of whom six were Buddhist nuns. We heard on a visit to one monastery, that the nuns from nearby had left, and that they miss their chanting in the mornings. What has happened to other nuns in Burma?</p>
<p>An English teacher monk at a monastic school and orphanage for 500 children said there were now 15 monks, 35 novices, 12 teachers and 80 resident children. Prior to September, there were 200 monks and novices who have not been heard of since their participation in the ‘revolution’ and who had fled. They were to make contact but nothing has been heard. It is feared they are in detention or worse.</p>
<p>On the Thai-Burma border there are many local organisations, such as the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. There were photos of political prisoners around the walls and a prison model exhibition, depicting the forms of torture employed. And yet speaking with ‘Myint,’ a survivor of torture and 15 years of prison, including several years in solitary confinement, we were left in no doubt about the extraordinary courage and ardent commitment for democracy, freedom and dignity of many of the activists.</p>
<p>So how is the military crackdown impacting on Buddhism? On the one hand, many monks have gone from being revered to now being treated as criminals. On the other, meditation practice would seem to be strong. Some political prisoners we met, have survived long incarceration and torture and overcome deep depression through their meditation practice. Some monasteries such as Maggin in Rangoon have been closed and the HIV/Aids patients it cared for have been dispersed. There are 3,000 Buddhist monasteries throughout the country which provide accommodation, food, care and education for many children, and we could not get answers who is now taking responsibility for the children.</p>
<p>On the Thai Burma border we met with three different groups of monks who had managed to flee. Their number is surprisingly low given the 100, 000 monks who actively participated, leaving grave concerns for the safety of those still in Burma. We heard that some monks from Mandalay had fled in terror to the border, disrobed and are now working as migrant workers. Other monks who have fled are living in 3 safe-houses set up for 51 new arrivals from September. Despite being out of Burma, they have great difficulties. They have been forbidden refuge in Thai temples ­ 3 police cars were seen outside one temple keeping watch ­ they have no travel permits and if caught, may be very heavily fined or sent back to Burma. UNHCR is also no longer registering asylum seekers. On the other hand, resettlement of refugees in third countries such as Australia and the United states, is having a de-stabilising effect on border communities. Those people with some level of training, such as health workers and teachers are being given priority causing hardship for the local communities whose resources are already severely over-stretched.</p>
<p>Despite the fear, the poverty and with little hope of change, people we met demonstrate huge generosity, a great sense of humour and deep caring for their country, which was once the rice bowl of Asia, and with many highly educated people. Many have found ways to survive, of finding opportunities in the cracks between conflict and possibility, of taking one step at a time. There is a refusal to give up ­ people rising up again and again in full awareness of the consequences and risks to their lives and those of their families. Their message is very clear ­ and urgent ­ enough is enough, and it is time for freedom.</p>
<p>There is a growing movement with resonances of pre-independence India led by Gandhi. This mostly underground democracy movement inside Burma has strong links with a developing civil society and local organisations on the borders, linked with increased awareness and strength of an environmental movement. But it would seem that unless international community intervenes little will change for the people of Burma. Now is the time.</p>
<p>So, I feel a deep responsibility to speak out, to share as widely as possible, that life in Burma is ‘not back to normal’. People have been disappeared. Far too many. Where are they, and what has happened to them? The intense and pervasive fear and gross human rights abuse contravene international conventions. Even those not in official detention are in effect in detention in a place called Burma. There were pleas from many we met not to allow our Asian neighbours to accept this ‘normality’, and a warning not to accept what the generals say will change. It is not evident that they care one scrap about the people they control. We in Australia should support the broad based democracy movement and the people inside Burma with a passion for freedom, on the need for dialogue and reconciliation. There are no easy solutions and the wounding has been long and deep but the question now that we have all seen the pictures and heard the cries for help, how can we continue to respond? I feel we must prioritise the freeing of political prisoners including Aung San Suu Kyi, and encourage dialogue and reconciliation. There is also a great need for healing and humanitarian support.</p>
<p>JILL JAMESON is a member of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. This is an account of her visit to Burma in early December.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | small buddhist peace fellowship delegation went burma bear witness suffering people following brutal crackdown burmese military end september monks people burma wanted communicate support solidarity international community people burma voice voiceless sharing communities return communities expressed concerns given generously offered donations various groups let know rest world deeply cares burma wanted explore channels future support inside burma well finding ways support monks exile participants included two people thailand including socially engaged buddhist monk hozan alan senauke zen priest buddhist peace fellowship usa jill jameson buddhist peace fellowship australia jill worked people burma since 1994 facilitating grassroots leadership training peace building conflict transformation inside burma thaiburma border met activists monks students orphans western diplomats ordinary people teashops restaurants listened stories events last several months continuing work liberation burma well survival families wherever went people happy meet us welcomed opportunity share stories generals want international community believe everything returned normal burma safe tourists disorder protests normality burma military regime state fear repression verbal whitewash regime different learned people met neither army police beggars evident downtown rangoon heard aung myint beggars homeless taken detention centres army dressed monks shwedagon pagoda others plain clothes group investigated one visits monastic orphanage plain clothes police fortunately giving packets noodle soup children crime people suffering deeply suffer consequences failed state spends according imf 05 gnp health 04 education 40 defenceon controlling people dr win told us many people outside rangoon afford one meal day fuel increases people afford bus fare go work visited several buddhist monastic schools orphanages one 500 students often enough food little rice large classes children sat cramped benches large dormitories smelt neglect visit health worker lifting shirts reveal ulcers extensive ring worm dabbed sulphur cream malnutrition overcrowding limited staff care children surely exacerbate problem families children orphanage even afford low fees government school rangoon division alone heard 162 buddhist orphanages also many run christian denominations betty visits orphanages states said could hundreds thousands orphans often said childs father soldier killed mother may injured landmine gathering food forest also heard children referred scrap children many families poor feed children future many option join army become monk monks soldiers equal number many children also forced conscripts army recent reports child conscripts young 10 years reached international media regimes response heard stephen fine either child parents anything avoid responsibility taken generals heard one prominent monk responding food shortages set food station produce low cost boxed meals distribute downtown shops rural areas venerable reluctant talk fear palpable hoped able contribute program suspect program may suspended people controlled military force also fear pervasive people often speak code avoid overheard unknown security people plain clothes informers poor desperate basic survival inform anybody also touched fear antennas stalks hyperalert main concern friends suffer consequences talking us also increase anger urgency since last burma san gentle elderly man confided would like get rid leaders somehowfor greater good sitting tea shops people would approach us common theme life difficult 90 people regime please tell international community take message security council could listen buddhists valuable practice many people deep need talk share tell whole story often violent brutal detail interspersed jokes impossible understand terms fear power possibly history aung san suu kyi democratically elected leader burma threw light back 1991 power corrupts fear fear losing power corrupts wield fear scourge power corrupts subject since september people suffering deeply brutal onslaught highly revered monks country 90 buddhist respect monks deeply imbued culture way life many monks heard forcibly disrobed could tortured 2 monks claimed generals marched nearer 30 involved protests compassionately drawing attention recent dramatic increases rice fuel costs knew intimately peoples plight begging bowls providing indication despite poverty people still however gave little rice monks heard stephen four categories people protest guilty looking clapped offered water marched first three categories released months interrogation signed would never protest forth category probably still detention stephen also shared us college friend colonel revealed details invasion monastery drunk orders beat monks questioning concerning humanitarian aspects need keep asking monks people detained heard stephen soon protests ended crematorium running unusual hour 14am peter reliable source indicated numbers killed much higher given regime would seem higher report special rapporteur human rights situation myanmar paulo pinheiro 7 dec 2007 heard 30 monks killed yangon 70 people killed detention demonstrations stopped piheiro reported 31 monks killed 74 listed missing 1000 still detained 106 women six buddhist nuns heard visit one monastery nuns nearby left miss chanting mornings happened nuns burma english teacher monk monastic school orphanage 500 children said 15 monks 35 novices 12 teachers 80 resident children prior september 200 monks novices heard since participation revolution fled make contact nothing heard feared detention worse thaiburma border many local organisations assistance association political prisoners photos political prisoners around walls prison model exhibition depicting forms torture employed yet speaking myint survivor torture 15 years prison including several years solitary confinement left doubt extraordinary courage ardent commitment democracy freedom dignity many activists military crackdown impacting buddhism one hand many monks gone revered treated criminals meditation practice would seem strong political prisoners met survived long incarceration torture overcome deep depression meditation practice monasteries maggin rangoon closed hivaids patients cared dispersed 3000 buddhist monasteries throughout country provide accommodation food care education many children could get answers taking responsibility children thai burma border met three different groups monks managed flee number surprisingly low given 100 000 monks actively participated leaving grave concerns safety still burma heard monks mandalay fled terror border disrobed working migrant workers monks fled living 3 safehouses set 51 new arrivals september despite burma great difficulties forbidden refuge thai temples 3 police cars seen outside one temple keeping watch travel permits caught may heavily fined sent back burma unhcr also longer registering asylum seekers hand resettlement refugees third countries australia united states destabilising effect border communities people level training health workers teachers given priority causing hardship local communities whose resources already severely overstretched despite fear poverty little hope change people met demonstrate huge generosity great sense humour deep caring country rice bowl asia many highly educated people many found ways survive finding opportunities cracks conflict possibility taking one step time refusal give people rising full awareness consequences risks lives families message clear urgent enough enough time freedom growing movement resonances preindependence india led gandhi mostly underground democracy movement inside burma strong links developing civil society local organisations borders linked increased awareness strength environmental movement would seem unless international community intervenes little change people burma time feel deep responsibility speak share widely possible life burma back normal people disappeared far many happened intense pervasive fear gross human rights abuse contravene international conventions even official detention effect detention place called burma pleas many met allow asian neighbours accept normality warning accept generals say change evident care one scrap people control australia support broad based democracy movement people inside burma passion freedom need dialogue reconciliation easy solutions wounding long deep question seen pictures heard cries help continue respond feel must prioritise freeing political prisoners including aung san suu kyi encourage dialogue reconciliation also great need healing humanitarian support jill jameson member buddhist peace fellowship account visit burma early december 160 160 160 | 1,186 |
<p>The research arm of the U.S. Congress is warning that U.S. corporations’ use of tax havens has risen substantially in recent years, with companies offering massively inflated profit reports from small countries with loose tax regulations.</p>
<p>“Ample evidence of a significant amount of profit shifting exists, but the revenue cost estimates vary from about 10 billion to 60 billion (dollars) per year,” Jane G. Gravelle, a senior specialist in economic policy, writes in a new report for the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service (CRS).</p>
<p>Elsewhere, Gravelle suggests that the revenue losses from this “profit shifting” could reach as high as 90 billion dollars a year, while the cost of evasion on the part of individuals could be as high as 70 billion dollars a year. (Although CRS reports are not publicly released, a copy can be <a href="http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R40623.pdf" type="external">found here</a>.)</p>
<p>Further, these numbers appear to be growing. Extrapolation from the new CRS statistics suggests that U.S. corporate profits reported from, for instance, Bermuda grew by five times during the decade leading up to 2008, the last year for which data is available.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most striking part of the new findings is simply the brazenness with which U.S. corporations appear to have become accustomed to misreporting their overseas earnings. To run her analysis, Gravelle chose five relatively small but well-known tax havens – Bermuda, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland – and then looked at the percentage of profits U.S. companies reported as having come from those countries in 2008.</p>
<p>Incredibly, notes Citizens for Tax Justice, an advocacy group here in Washington, these countries were found to have accounted for 43 percent of the 940 billion dollars of overseas profits reported by U.S. multinational corporations, despite having made just seven percent of their foreign investments in those same countries.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the five countries where U.S. corporations do much of their overseas business (the United Kingdom, Germany, etc) were reported to tax authorities as having accounted for just 14 percent of overseas profits.</p>
<p>“Obviously they aren’t making their money in these countries – their economies are nowhere near large enough,” Robert S. McIntyre, the director of Citizens for Tax Justice (CTJ), told IPS. He points out, for instance, that U.S. multinationals’ reported profits in Bermuda amounted to 1,000 percent of the island’s economic output.</p>
<p>“This is just more significant proof that we have a really serious problem, both in the United States and in Western Europe,” McIntyre says, noting that the trend has almost certainly continued, if not increased, since 2008.</p>
<p>Food from the hungry</p>
<p>A December report by Global Financial Integrity, a Washington watchdog, found that the developing world lost nearly a trillion dollars in 2010 due to tax evasion, corruption and other financial crimes. That figure is 10 times larger than the 88 billion dollars provided as development assistance to developing countries that year – and, the researchers warned, this figure was almost certainly an underestimate.</p>
<p>“Whether you’re a big, developed country like the United States or a smaller developing country in Africa,” McIntyre says, “if you can’t get tax money out of the businesses operating in your territory, how are you going to pay for infrastructure, health, education and all of the other things you need to maintain and grow an economy?”</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Oxfam International, a humanitarian aid organisation, called for global policymakers to close off loopholes that have allowed for the recent increase in tax evasion. The group is suggesting that just a quarter of the revenue that could accrue from taxing misreported profits would be able to “lay the foundation for ending global hunger”.</p>
<p>“Governments should agree to end global hunger by 2025 and an end to tax havens, which could help pay for this and much more. Tax-dodging effectively takes food from hungry mouths,” Stephen Hale, advocacy head for Oxfam, said in a statement on Wednesday.</p>
<p>The group offers an estimate of 32 trillion dollars currently sitting in tax havens around the world, and notes that taxes on this lump sum could raise nearly 190 billion dollars a year. On the contrary, Oxfam states, “Just 50.2 billion (dollars) a year is estimated to be the level of additional investment needed, combined with other policy measures, to end global hunger.”</p>
<p>Dutch funnel</p>
<p>While the U.S.’ ability to impose taxes is supposed to span worldwide, that system includes a significant exception, in that foreign profits are not taxed until companies bring their earnings back into the country.</p>
<p>On the ground, the result has been more and more companies looking to keep their profits overseas – or claiming that the money was made in countries that have either strict privacy regulations or lax reporting requirements.</p>
<p>Due to legalities and bilateral treaties, the Netherlands has become a significant transit point for unreported earnings for companies across the world. According to recent estimates, the Netherlands is allowing some 13 trillion dollars to funnel through its financial system en route to classic tax havens such as the Cayman Islands.</p>
<p>Particularly given the current fiscal crunch in Europe, such figures have caught the attention of E.U. policymakers; in December, the European Commission warned that tax avoidance was costing the regional bloc a trillion euros every year. The E.U. is currently trying to put in place a system that would divide up corporate profits among member states before it could, say, end up in the Netherlands and then leave the continent.</p>
<p>Last week, the Dutch legislature took up the issue in what appears to be a broad-based attempt to tweak the country’s laws. Also last week, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron stated that, when his country takes over the rotating presidency of the Group of 8 (G8) rich countries this year, corporate tax evasion will be one of his central priorities.</p>
<p>In Washington, much of the effort is currently revolving around attempts to lower the U.S. corporate tax rate – at 35 percent, the highest among all developed countries. Beyond this, though, CTJ’s McIntyre warns that there are few allies for any major legislative push.</p>
<p>“Republicans like the fact that these companies are successfully avoiding taxes, while the Democrats are afraid that if they do anything strong, corporate money will go against them in the next election,” he says. “Companies are hoping that they’ll get away with these practices, and currently they have the (tax authorities) outgunned.”</p> | true | 4 | research arm us congress warning us corporations use tax havens risen substantially recent years companies offering massively inflated profit reports small countries loose tax regulations ample evidence significant amount profit shifting exists revenue cost estimates vary 10 billion 60 billion dollars per year jane g gravelle senior specialist economic policy writes new report nonpartisan congressional research service crs elsewhere gravelle suggests revenue losses profit shifting could reach high 90 billion dollars year cost evasion part individuals could high 70 billion dollars year although crs reports publicly released copy found numbers appear growing extrapolation new crs statistics suggests us corporate profits reported instance bermuda grew five times decade leading 2008 last year data available perhaps striking part new findings simply brazenness us corporations appear become accustomed misreporting overseas earnings run analysis gravelle chose five relatively small wellknown tax havens bermuda ireland luxembourg netherlands switzerland looked percentage profits us companies reported come countries 2008 incredibly notes citizens tax justice advocacy group washington countries found accounted 43 percent 940 billion dollars overseas profits reported us multinational corporations despite made seven percent foreign investments countries hand five countries us corporations much overseas business united kingdom germany etc reported tax authorities accounted 14 percent overseas profits obviously arent making money countries economies nowhere near large enough robert mcintyre director citizens tax justice ctj told ips points instance us multinationals reported profits bermuda amounted 1000 percent islands economic output significant proof really serious problem united states western europe mcintyre says noting trend almost certainly continued increased since 2008 food hungry december report global financial integrity washington watchdog found developing world lost nearly trillion dollars 2010 due tax evasion corruption financial crimes figure 10 times larger 88 billion dollars provided development assistance developing countries year researchers warned figure almost certainly underestimate whether youre big developed country like united states smaller developing country africa mcintyre says cant get tax money businesses operating territory going pay infrastructure health education things need maintain grow economy wednesday oxfam international humanitarian aid organisation called global policymakers close loopholes allowed recent increase tax evasion group suggesting quarter revenue could accrue taxing misreported profits would able lay foundation ending global hunger governments agree end global hunger 2025 end tax havens could help pay much taxdodging effectively takes food hungry mouths stephen hale advocacy head oxfam said statement wednesday group offers estimate 32 trillion dollars currently sitting tax havens around world notes taxes lump sum could raise nearly 190 billion dollars year contrary oxfam states 502 billion dollars year estimated level additional investment needed combined policy measures end global hunger dutch funnel us ability impose taxes supposed span worldwide system includes significant exception foreign profits taxed companies bring earnings back country ground result companies looking keep profits overseas claiming money made countries either strict privacy regulations lax reporting requirements due legalities bilateral treaties netherlands become significant transit point unreported earnings companies across world according recent estimates netherlands allowing 13 trillion dollars funnel financial system en route classic tax havens cayman islands particularly given current fiscal crunch europe figures caught attention eu policymakers december european commission warned tax avoidance costing regional bloc trillion euros every year eu currently trying put place system would divide corporate profits among member states could say end netherlands leave continent last week dutch legislature took issue appears broadbased attempt tweak countrys laws also last week uk prime minister david cameron stated country takes rotating presidency group 8 g8 rich countries year corporate tax evasion one central priorities washington much effort currently revolving around attempts lower us corporate tax rate 35 percent highest among developed countries beyond though ctjs mcintyre warns allies major legislative push republicans like fact companies successfully avoiding taxes democrats afraid anything strong corporate money go next election says companies hoping theyll get away practices currently tax authorities outgunned | 630 |
<p>The definition of “shooting yourself in the foot” is generally accepted as “doing something unintended that spoils things for you.”&#160; The Marx Brothers had a sketch in which one of them did just that, and politicians and bureaucrats have been doing it for centuries, but the present regime in Washington has reduced the art to farce form.</p>
<p>There are few people stranger than the current breed of &#160;high-priced functionaries who direct US foreign policy.&#160; Oddly enough, Hilary Clinton doesn’t deserve inclusion in this roll of folly, because she doesn’t seem to have much influence on US foreign policy anymore.&#160; But the generals and admirals and their mentors and associates, the loose mouthed morons who know nothing of diplomacy and are energetically furthering the profits of the happy arms’ merchants (whom so many of them join on retirement), are in full swing and never lose an opportunity to bash the patriot drum and set back the international interests of the United States by another decade or so.</p>
<p>And it goes higher than that, because there is a man called Leon Panetta, the Secretary of Defense, who has done his best to destroy the CIA’s prospects of ever again enlisting the assistance of an ‘asset’.&#160; Mr Panetta was formerly head of the CIA, but you wouldn’t deduce that from his recent statements.</p>
<p>One main thing about being a tool or informant of an intelligence organization is that you must have total faith in the people who employ you.&#160; If you decide to sell your own country’s secrets or otherwise behave traitorously to the land of your birth at the behest of the CIA —&#160; or any of the other amoral and unscrupulous intelligence agencies around the world — then you have the right to expect that your employer will rescue you before you’re caught, or, at the very least, will back you up to the hilt.&#160; The case of Jonathan Pollard, one of Israel’s agents caught spying against America, is an example. But it doesn’t always happen.</p>
<p>Last May’s raid into Pakistan by US Special Forces who killed Osama bin Laden was a good military operation.&#160; As a former soldier I can say only that it was . . .&#160; well, brilliant. &#160;Technically, it was top of the form.&#160; They went in and got him and shot him.&#160; It was professionally slick and quick — and also illegal, immoral, and against international law.&#160; But what bin Laden planned on 9/11 deserved death, and he got what was coming to him. &#160;And lots of clever dodges were employed in locating him in the town of Abbottabad.</p>
<p>But the trouble was that the Pakistan government and military were totally out of the loop concerning the Abbottabad attack, and were, to put it mildly, &#160;extremely annoyed that Washington didn’t tell anyone at the top &#160;that it was going to take place. &#160;&#160;Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan were already pretty grim because in February last year, just three months before the bin Laden foray, &#160;a U.S. citizen employed by the CIA shot and killed two Pakistanis in the city of Lahore and was spirited out of the country after payment of a few million dollars. And one of the things that really annoyed the Pakistanis was that President Obama told a deliberate lie concerning the killer, a CIA ‘contractor’, an arrogant former special forces heavy called Raymond Davis who is now awaiting trial in Colorado for a violent crime committed back home last October</p>
<p>Bloomberg reported that “President Barack Obama said Pakistan mustn’t prosecute a U.S. consulate worker who has been charged with murder in Pakistan and imprisoned after the shooting deaths of two Pakistanis. ‘Obviously, we’re concerned about the loss of life,’ Obama said at a press conference yesterday. Still, he said, the U.S. worker, Raymond Davis, should be treated as a diplomat. ‘There’s a broader principle at stake that I think we have to uphold,’ he said.”&#160; &#160;A broader principle?&#160; — &#160;&#160;Certainly, Mr President, uphold that broader principle, &#160;although one might recollect Groucho Marx’s caveat that &#160;“Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them . . .&#160; well, I have others.” &#160;Even if Davis had been a genuine diplomat, that wouldn’t have given him a license to kill people.</p>
<p>So a US citizen employed by the CIA murdered two Pakistanis and was declared to be immune from prosecution by the President of the United States and was set free and flown to the main U.S. military base in Afghanistan, escorted in the airplane by the U.S. ambassador to Pakistan, no less. &#160;He got away with murder.</p>
<p>But a foreigner who was a CIA asset who didn’t kill anyone yet helped the United States in its biggest public relations success in years, in killing bin Laden, is now in jail in Pakistan and likely to remain so because the U.S. hasn’t lifted a finger to get him out. &#160;Indeed, he’s been dropped right in a frizzling fry pan by Defense Secretary Panetta.</p>
<p>The man in the pan is Dr Shakil Afridi, a Pakistani medical practitioner who was engaged in furthering a polio vaccination program in the Abbottabad area. He is a pleasant and dedicated doctor who was persuaded by the CIA to assist in the quest for bin Laden. &#160;Apparently Dr Afridi thought he was acting in the best interests of morality and justice. He was asked to help identify the DNA of OBL. And who could disagree with that motivation?</p>
<p>But irrespective of motivation, the CIA left Dr Afridi to take the consequences of his well-meant activities. He’s on his own. &#160;And to compound his isolation and emphasize to the world that he was a CIA agent, Secretary Panetta declared “I am very concerned about what the Pakistanis did with this individual. This was an individual who, in fact, helped provide intelligence that was very helpful with regard to this [bin Laden] operation.”</p>
<p>Panetta was CIA chief when Dr Afridi worked for his Agency. Panetta knows exactly what risks a person takes when working for a foreign intelligence outfit.&#160; Panetta knows the most important rule in the event of an agent being detected is that he must be looked after. He must be got out of country in the event of a drama. Dr Afridi has been dropped deep down in the doo-doo by the very man who should have opened all stops to help him. Does Panetta really think that his public declaration will encourage Pakistanis to endorse the practice of having CIA assets working in their country? What else are they up to?</p>
<p>Panetta’s message is that anyone working for the CIA had better watch out, because if they’re blown they’re on their own. He has set recruiting and trust back a long long way. As Groucho so memorably said:&#160; “He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot.&#160; But don’t let that fool you:&#160; he really is an idiot”.</p>
<p>BRIAN CLOUGHLEY’s book about the Pakistan army, War, Coups and Terror, has just been published by Pen &amp; Sword Books (UK) and will be published in the US in May by Skyhorse (New York).</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | definition shooting foot generally accepted something unintended spoils things you160 marx brothers sketch one politicians bureaucrats centuries present regime washington reduced art farce form people stranger current breed 160highpriced functionaries direct us foreign policy160 oddly enough hilary clinton doesnt deserve inclusion roll folly doesnt seem much influence us foreign policy anymore160 generals admirals mentors associates loose mouthed morons know nothing diplomacy energetically furthering profits happy arms merchants many join retirement full swing never lose opportunity bash patriot drum set back international interests united states another decade goes higher man called leon panetta secretary defense done best destroy cias prospects ever enlisting assistance asset160 mr panetta formerly head cia wouldnt deduce recent statements one main thing tool informant intelligence organization must total faith people employ you160 decide sell countrys secrets otherwise behave traitorously land birth behest cia 160 amoral unscrupulous intelligence agencies around world right expect employer rescue youre caught least back hilt160 case jonathan pollard one israels agents caught spying america example doesnt always happen last mays raid pakistan us special forces killed osama bin laden good military operation160 former soldier say 160 well brilliant 160technically top form160 went got shot him160 professionally slick quick also illegal immoral international law160 bin laden planned 911 deserved death got coming 160and lots clever dodges employed locating town abbottabad trouble pakistan government military totally loop concerning abbottabad attack put mildly 160extremely annoyed washington didnt tell anyone top 160that going take place 160160relations us pakistan already pretty grim february last year three months bin laden foray 160a us citizen employed cia shot killed two pakistanis city lahore spirited country payment million dollars one things really annoyed pakistanis president obama told deliberate lie concerning killer cia contractor arrogant former special forces heavy called raymond davis awaiting trial colorado violent crime committed back home last october bloomberg reported president barack obama said pakistan mustnt prosecute us consulate worker charged murder pakistan imprisoned shooting deaths two pakistanis obviously concerned loss life obama said press conference yesterday still said us worker raymond davis treated diplomat theres broader principle stake think uphold said160 160a broader principle160 160160certainly mr president uphold broader principle 160although one might recollect groucho marxs caveat 160those principles dont like 160 well others 160even davis genuine diplomat wouldnt given license kill people us citizen employed cia murdered two pakistanis declared immune prosecution president united states set free flown main us military base afghanistan escorted airplane us ambassador pakistan less 160he got away murder foreigner cia asset didnt kill anyone yet helped united states biggest public relations success years killing bin laden jail pakistan likely remain us hasnt lifted finger get 160indeed hes dropped right frizzling fry pan defense secretary panetta man pan dr shakil afridi pakistani medical practitioner engaged furthering polio vaccination program abbottabad area pleasant dedicated doctor persuaded cia assist quest bin laden 160apparently dr afridi thought acting best interests morality justice asked help identify dna obl could disagree motivation irrespective motivation cia left dr afridi take consequences wellmeant activities hes 160and compound isolation emphasize world cia agent secretary panetta declared concerned pakistanis individual individual fact helped provide intelligence helpful regard bin laden operation panetta cia chief dr afridi worked agency panetta knows exactly risks person takes working foreign intelligence outfit160 panetta knows important rule event agent detected must looked must got country event drama dr afridi dropped deep doodoo man opened stops help panetta really think public declaration encourage pakistanis endorse practice cia assets working country else panettas message anyone working cia better watch theyre blown theyre set recruiting trust back long long way groucho memorably said160 may look like idiot talk like idiot160 dont let fool you160 really idiot brian cloughleys book pakistan army war coups terror published pen amp sword books uk published us may skyhorse new york 160 | 627 |
<p>Few people thought, back in 1941, that the Japanese military could defeat or pose a serious threat to the US military. Yet, by April 8, 1942, only five months into the war, United States’ forces stationed on Luzon, our Philippine colony, had surrendered to a upstart Asian colonial power, the empire of Japan. Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the US commander in the Far East, had fled in ignominous defeat from the colony to Australia a month before. The remaining Filipino and American prisoners of war were left behind and forced in a death march of 65 miles to move to POW camps, where they remained under brutal conditions for the rest of the war. The name “Bataan” has since come to symbolize the depths of depravity following defeat.</p>
<p>Bataan was invoked again by journalists to describe the conditions at the Brooklyn campaign headquarters of then-Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton in the wake of an improbable and unexpectedly harsh finding by the inspector general (IG) of the State Department. The State Department’s own watchdog found its former boss, Secretary Clinton, to have clearly violated the rules and procedures of her own agency and the legal requirements of the National Freedom of Information Act. Clinton, the IG’s report said, posed “significant security risks” through her decision to use a private email server for professional business while she was secretary of state.</p>
<p>The IG’s report promises to be the centerpiece of the Republican attack on the Democrats in the fall election if Secretary Clinton grabs the party’s presidential nomination.</p>
<p>While her damage-control operation — a fixture in the Clinton political machine through decades of scandals — has gone into full gear, and a largely supportive corporate media has predictably tried to play down the import of the IG’s report, there is still a major FBI investigation underway of the same misconduct by former Secretary Clinton, which has included granting immunity from at least one key member of her staff who handled her home communications system — a staffer who already took the Fifth over the issue at a House hearing. If the FBI were to indict Clinton, her situation would start to resemble General MacArthur’s in the spring of 1942 — surrounded with no way out but to flee the scene.</p>
<p>Some of Clinton’s mass media friends have attempted, predictably, to link these developments to the continuing assault by what she once called, “ … a vast right wing conspiracy.” The problem with this defense lies in the very nature of the IG process.</p>
<p>Most agencies of the Unites States government have inspector general offices. The IGs operate independently within each agency to investigate waste, fraud, mismanagement and abuse of federal resources. IGs have wide investigative latitude. The State Department IG is a direct appointment of the president of the United States, Barack Obama, hardly part of a vast right wing conspiracy. (FBI Director James Comey, while a former Republican-appointed federal prosecutor, was also appointed to his current post in 2013 by Obama.)</p>
<p>Inspectors general are the go-to guys for redress when federal employees spot illegal behavior. In a perfect world they are the guardians of decency and good process.</p>
<p>Most federal employees and contractors rarely expect an IG to fault the boss at the top. The relationship between IGs and the managers they scrutinize is often too cozy. For example, at Pasadena’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the IG offices are located on a different floor but in the same building as the top management. They ride the same elevators. They eat in the same cafeteria. They literally breathe the same air — or “conspire” together each day. Most JPL employees, who want to keep their jobs, know better than to turn to the IG for help if the offender is among the top brass. Yet, the State Department’s IG, appointed by President Obama, found serious improper behavior on Secretary Clinton’s part.</p>
<p>Some of Clinton’s mass media supporters were caught flatfooted by the IG’s findings on the private use of an email server for State Department business. The New York Times, which has endorsed Clinton, editorialized, “Contrary to Mrs. Clinton’s claims that the department had ‘allowed’ the arrangement, the inspector general also found that she had not sought or received approval to use the server.” The Times warned ominously, “Donald Trump, her Republican rival, will be merciless in swinging the inspector general’s report like a cudgel.”</p>
<p>The New York Times’ Maureen Dowd raised the Bataan analogy last month in her widely read column. Dowd said, “Hillary’s Bataan Death March is making Republicans reconsider their own suicide mission with Trump.” She speculates that they are thinking, “Maybe Teflon Don could pull this off.” The widely respected columnist Jeffery Goldberg of the Atlantic echoed Clinton’s Bataan analogy a week later on “Face the Nation.”</p>
<p>When MacArthur was surrounded in the Philippines, President Roosevelt understood the political loss he would suffer if the Supreme Commander of our colonial forces in the Philippines were to be captured. MacArthur was ordered to move with his family to Australia. The surrender of the colony was left to Generals Edward King and Matthew Wainwright.</p>
<p>The Democrats have until their convention in July to get Mrs. Clinton out of harm’s way. The option of a brokered convention is one solution. Assuming the Clinton supporters would never accept Senator Sanders, the superdelegates may attempt to find a “compromise candidate” acceptable to both the Sanders and the Clinton camps. Obviously this compromise would have to be a widely accepted “parent figure.” Adam Nagourney of The New York Times has pointed to Jerry Brown as someone who can be attractive to both camps. Other possibilities include Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden.</p>
<p>Desperate times call for desperate measures. If FBI Director Comey decides to take the State Department IG’s lead and indicts Clinton, or at a minimum releases a damning report on her actions, it will be desperate times at the DNC.</p> | true | 4 | people thought back 1941 japanese military could defeat pose serious threat us military yet april 8 1942 five months war united states forces stationed luzon philippine colony surrendered upstart asian colonial power empire japan gen douglas macarthur us commander far east fled ignominous defeat colony australia month remaining filipino american prisoners war left behind forced death march 65 miles move pow camps remained brutal conditions rest war name bataan since come symbolize depths depravity following defeat bataan invoked journalists describe conditions brooklyn campaign headquarters thendemocratic frontrunner hillary clinton wake improbable unexpectedly harsh finding inspector general ig state department state departments watchdog found former boss secretary clinton clearly violated rules procedures agency legal requirements national freedom information act clinton igs report said posed significant security risks decision use private email server professional business secretary state igs report promises centerpiece republican attack democrats fall election secretary clinton grabs partys presidential nomination damagecontrol operation fixture clinton political machine decades scandals gone full gear largely supportive corporate media predictably tried play import igs report still major fbi investigation underway misconduct former secretary clinton included granting immunity least one key member staff handled home communications system staffer already took fifth issue house hearing fbi indict clinton situation would start resemble general macarthurs spring 1942 surrounded way flee scene clintons mass media friends attempted predictably link developments continuing assault called vast right wing conspiracy problem defense lies nature ig process agencies unites states government inspector general offices igs operate independently within agency investigate waste fraud mismanagement abuse federal resources igs wide investigative latitude state department ig direct appointment president united states barack obama hardly part vast right wing conspiracy fbi director james comey former republicanappointed federal prosecutor also appointed current post 2013 obama inspectors general goto guys redress federal employees spot illegal behavior perfect world guardians decency good process federal employees contractors rarely expect ig fault boss top relationship igs managers scrutinize often cozy example pasadenas jet propulsion laboratory ig offices located different floor building top management ride elevators eat cafeteria literally breathe air conspire together day jpl employees want keep jobs know better turn ig help offender among top brass yet state departments ig appointed president obama found serious improper behavior secretary clintons part clintons mass media supporters caught flatfooted igs findings private use email server state department business new york times endorsed clinton editorialized contrary mrs clintons claims department allowed arrangement inspector general also found sought received approval use server times warned ominously donald trump republican rival merciless swinging inspector generals report like cudgel new york times maureen dowd raised bataan analogy last month widely read column dowd said hillarys bataan death march making republicans reconsider suicide mission trump speculates thinking maybe teflon could pull widely respected columnist jeffery goldberg atlantic echoed clintons bataan analogy week later face nation macarthur surrounded philippines president roosevelt understood political loss would suffer supreme commander colonial forces philippines captured macarthur ordered move family australia surrender colony left generals edward king matthew wainwright democrats convention july get mrs clinton harms way option brokered convention one solution assuming clinton supporters would never accept senator sanders superdelegates may attempt find compromise candidate acceptable sanders clinton camps obviously compromise would widely accepted parent figure adam nagourney new york times pointed jerry brown someone attractive camps possibilities include nancy pelosi joe biden desperate times call desperate measures fbi director comey decides take state department igs lead indicts clinton minimum releases damning report actions desperate times dnc | 573 |
<p>At approximately 7:20 am EST, Democracy Now! managed to reach exiled Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide by cell phone in the Central African Republic. His comments represent the most extensive English-language interview Aristide has given since he was removed from office and his country.</p>
<p>Moments before the Democracy Now! interview, Aristide appeared publicly for the first time since he was forced out of Haiti in what he has called a US-backed coup. The authorities in the Central African Republic allowed Aristide to hold a news conference after a delegation of visiting US activists charged that the Haitian president was being held under lock and key like a prisoner. The delegation included one of Aristide’s lawyers, Brian Concannon, as well as activists from the Haiti Support Network and the International Action Center, representatives of former US Attorney General Ramsey Clark. Shortly after they arrived in Bangui on Sunday, the delegation attempted to meet with Aristide at the palace of the Renaissance. The CAR government rebuked them.</p>
<p>Shortly after, the country’s foreign minister held a press conference in Bangui. Armed men threatened journalists in the room, warning them not to record the minister’s remarks. Mildred Aristide, the Haitian First lady, was brought into the room, but was not permitted to speak. The CAR foreign minister told the journalists that President Aristide would hold a news conference within 72 hours. Hours later, Aristide was allowed to address journalists.</p>
<p>In his interview on Democracy Now!, Aristide asserted that he is the legitimate president of Haiti and that he wants to return to the country as soon as possible. He details his last moments in Haiti, describing what he called his “kidnapping” and the coup d’etat against him. He responds to Vice President Dick Cheney’s comment that Aristide had “worn out his welcome” in Haiti.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: I am AMY GOODMAN from the radio/TV program Democracy Now! around the United States. We would like to know why you left Haiti.</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Thank you. First of all, I didn’t leave Haiti because I wanted to leave Haiti. They forced me to leave Haiti. It was a kidnapping, which they call coup d’etat or [inaudible] …forced resignation for me. It wasn’t a resignation. It was a kidnapping and under the cover of coup d’etat.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: It was a kidnapping under the cover of coup d’etat?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Yes.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Who forced you out of the country?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE:I saw U.S. officials with Ambassador Foley.</p>
<p>Mr. Moreno, [inaudible…] at the U.S. Embassy in Haiti I saw American soldiers. I saw former soldiers who are linked to drug dealers like Guy Philippe and to killers already convicted, Chamblain. They all did the kidnapping using Haitian puppets like Guy Philippe, [inaudible], and Chamblain, already convicted, and basically, this night, I didn’t see Haitians, I saw Americans.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: So, you say that they kidnapped you from the country. Secretary of State Powell said that that is ridiculous. Donald Rumsfeld said that is nonsense. Your response?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Well, I understand they try to justify what they cannot justify. Their own ambassador, ambassador Foley said we were going to talk to the media, to the press, and I can talk to the Haitian people calling for peace like I did one night before. And unfortunately, once they put me in their car, from my residence, a couple of days later, they put me in their planes full with military, because they already had all of the control of the Haitian airport in Port-au-Prince. And during the night, they surrounded my house, and the National Palace, and we had some of them in the streets. I don’t know how many are — were there. So it’s clearly something they planned and they did. Now, if someone wants to justify what I think they cannot justify and that’s — my goal is to tell the truth. This is what now I’m telling you — the truth.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: President Aristide, did you resign the Presidency?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: No, I did not resign. I exchanged words through conversations, we exchanged notes. I gave a written note before I went to the press at the time. And instead of taking me where they said they were taking me in front of the Haitian press, the foreign press, to talk to the people, to explain what is going on, to call for peace. They used that note as a letter of resignation, and I say, they are lying.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: When you went into the car from your house, did you understand you were going to the airport and being flown out?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Not at all. Because this is not what they told me. This was our best way to avoid bloodshed. We talked with them somehow in a nice, diplomatic way to avoid bloodshed, we played the best we could in a respectful way, in a legal and diplomatic way. Because they that told me that they were going to have bloodshed. Thousands of people were going to be killed, including myself. As I said, it was not for me, because I never cared about me, my life, my security. First of all, I care about the security and lives of other people. I was elected to protect the life of every single citizen. So, that night I did my best to avoid bloodshed and when they took me, putting me in their plane, that was their plan. My strategy was then all I could [do] to avoid bloodshed.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Are you being held in the Central African Republic against your will?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Actually, against my will, exactly. Let me tell you, this past twenty hours on the American plane with American soldiers, including nineteen American agents who had an agreement with the Haitian government to provide security to us. They were also in that plane, maybe, to keep the truth in the plane, instead of having one of them telling the truth out of the plane. Because one of them had a baby, one year and-a-half in the plane – he was an American guy – and they wouldn’t give him a chance to get out of the plane with the baby. My wife, the first lady, who was born in the United States, her father and mother were Haitians, with me. She didn’t have the right to even move the shade and look out through the windows. Which means, they violated their own law. Until twenty minutes before I arrived here, I knew where they request going to land, which means clearly, clear violation of international law. Unfortunately, they did that, but fortunately, I pay tribute to the government of Central Africa for the way they welcomed us. It was gracious, human, good, and until now, this is the time kind of relationship which we are developing together. I thank them for that once again.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: What do you want to happen now?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: I always call for peace. Those who realize their kidnapping cannot bring peace to the violence in my country. CARICOM, which means all of the heads of the Caribbean countries, call for peace and restoration of Constitutional order. In some way we heard the voice of Americans – American Senators, American members, U.S. members, members of the U.S. parliament. They’re all — they’re all U.S. citizens and the Haitians are actually calling for peace for the restoration of Constitutional order. This is what I also call for. Allow me to give you a very simple example. Peace means for us, in this time, education and investment in health care. In my country, after 200 years of independence — we are the first black independent country in the world – but we still have only one-point-five Haitian doctors for its 11,000 Haitians. We created a university, we founded a university with the faculty of medicine that has 247 students. Once U.S. soldiers arrived in Haiti after the kidnapping, what did they do? They closed the faculty of medicine and they are now in the classrooms. This is what they call peace. This is the opposite of peace. Peace means investing in human beings, investing in health care, respect for human rights, not violations for human rights, no violations for the rights of those who voted for an elected President, and this is what it means. It means that, for humans in the world, today this is their day, [inaudible] men in the world, all together, we can all work hard to restore peace and constitutional order to Haiti.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: This is president Jean-Bertrand Aristide speaking from the Central African Republic. Did you want to return as President to Haiti now?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: If it’s possible now, yes, now. Whenever it’s possible, I am ready because this is what my people voted for.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Are you being held — do you see yourself as being held as a prisoner in the Central African Republic?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Here I say it again, the people and government and the President, President Bozize, they are gracious, the way they treat us. I just paid public tribute to them, and if you have citizens of Central Africa listening to me, allow me to tell them [inaudible], which means thank you very much, because their country is a country called zo-quo-zu, in the language which means every human being is a human being. All that is to say, we I am grateful to them. But when you living in a house or in a palace that is their palace, which is a good sign of respect for us, and we are living in their conditions, although it’s still good because of the way they welcome us, we also feel that we should be in Haiti with the Haitian people doing our best to keep investing in education, health care, building a state of law. Slowly, but surely, building up that state of law.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: President Aristide, at least five people were killed in Haiti on Sunday. Opposition leaders say it was pro-Aristide forces that opened fire. Also including journalists – a Spanish journalist based in New York was shot dead. Another was also shot. Your response?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: First of all, I wasn’t there, and I don’t have many pieces of this information to comment, but the respect that I have for the truth, I will make some comments but I say it again, I wasn’t there. I don’t have yet any information so, I cannot go too far in my way to analyze the situation. I do believe because for the past years, each time drug dealers like Guy Philippe, people already convicted like Chamblain kill people, we heard exactly what I just heard. They blame the non-violent people and they blame the poor. When are poor, they are violated in their eyes, like the way they did. When you are already convicted, you are not violating human rights. So, I think or I suspect they are lying when they talk like that, accusing my followers.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: What message do you think the United States is sending the people of Haiti and the rest of the world in their actions with you?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: I think the citizens of the United States supporting democracy in Haiti, the Haitian People, and Haitians in Washington, Brooklyn and Milano, in Boston and elsewhere, calling for my return to Haiti and the constitutional order, I think all the citizens of the United States [inaudible] are a sending a very strong, critical signal to all of the countries in the world willing to work in a peaceful way for democracy. But those who [inaudible] me are sending a very wrong signal because if we don’t reach the result of democratic elections and then we cannot be elected and then you do that here and elsewhere, the signal you are sending is “No to democracy,” while you are talking about democracy. So, that’s why I wish they would connect – they did realize that they are wrong and they have a new approach, which will be protecting the rights of humans in the world. Because in the world, what do we mean, meaning peace. What do we mean, meaning democracy. What do we mean, we need to invest in human beings. Therefore, to go back, we should not send wrong signals as they did. They went to Iraq. We see how is the situation in Iraq. They went to Haiti. We see how is the situation in Haiti. Pretending they are imposing democracy with people killing people. Why don’t they change their approach to let democracy and the constitutional order flourish slowly, but surely. After imposing a criminal embargo on us being, from the cultural point of view, very rich from a historic point of view very rich but from an economic point of view, very poor because we are the poorest country in the western hemisphere, after imposing their economic embargo upon us, because the people wanted one man, one vote, so equality among us. Then they use drug dealers, they use people who are already convicted, pretending to lead the rebellion, while they went to Haiti killing people in Gonaives, killing people in Cap Hatian and killing people in Port-au-Prince and elsewhere. And now they continue in the face of the entire world, blessing impunity supporting those killers. My god, I have said it’s really ugly that image they project in the face of the world. Now it’s time for them to change, to respect them but we will also respect the truth. That’s why respectfully, we are telling them the truth. I said, when someone is wrong, the wrong way to behave is to continue to be wrong. The right way to behave is a move from wrong to being right. Now, it’s time to move from being wrong on their side to become right by supporting the constitutional order.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: President Aristide, Vice President Dick Cheney said you wore out your welcome in Haiti. It’s time for you to go. He also said — can I get your response to that?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: How can someone, after the kind of elections they had, now talk like that regarding Haiti where you had fair, democratic elections regarding the elected president. I think someone can have power, but that does not mean, we cannot see the truth and say the truth. I respect the rights of every single citizen in the world to talk, and we have to be tolerant because this is also about democracy. That’s why I have respect for him, I respect the way his way to talk, but at the same time I have respect for my people and for the truth. I say it, and I say it again, the Haitian people are a non-violent people. They voted for democracy. They will continue to fight in a peaceful way for democracy, and I will continue to be faithful to them doing the same. The peaceful approach, fighting peacefully for the restoration of the constitutional order.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Do you still consider yourself President of Haiti?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Yes, because the people voted for me. They are still fighting in a peaceful way for their elected President. I cannot betray them. That’s why I do my best to respect their will.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Well, how would you describe the situation in Haiti today? U.S. and French forces and Canadian troops are in Haiti. It is something you called for before you left, to support you, and to protect the — and to protect you there, then?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Yes. I called for them before they forced me to leave the country. Now, unfortunately, they are in Haiti. They don’t have the elected President with them to move with the constitutional order. But despite of that, I wish the United Nations in Haiti through peacekeepers can help keeping peace in the country, protecting all the Haitians, every single Haitian, because the life of every single man or woman is sacred. You have to respect that. So, I wish they will protect the lives and the rights of every single citizen by the time we continue to work hard, peacefully to restore democracy in Haiti.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Vice President Cheney said, ‘I have dealt with Aristide before when I was Secretary of Defense. We had a crisis involving Haiti. He left of his own free will. He signed a resignation letter on his way out. He left with his security detail on an aircraft we provided, not a military aircraft, but civilian charter. Now, I suppose he’s trying to revise history. But the fact of matter was, he’d worn out his welcome with the Haitian people. He was democratically elected, but he never governed as a democrat. He was corrupt, and he was in charge of many of the thugs that were committing crimes in Port-au-Prince. The suggestion that somehow the United States arrested him or forcibly put him on an aircraft to get him to leave, that’s simply not true. I’m happy he’s gone. I think the Haitian people are better off for it. I think now they’ll have an opportunity to elect a new government, and that’s as it should be. ‘</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Well, as I said before, he has the right to talk, and I respect his right, as I have the right to say the truth, and I will be saying the truth. I disagree with him, and I will continue to believe that the Haitian people will continue to fight in a peaceful way to restore democracy, and when the day will come to have elections, of course, they will have the ability to vote. Unfortunately, they didn’t want a coup d’etat, and they never wanted the Haitian people to keep moving from election to election. They preferred the Haitian people to move from coup d’etat, to coup d’etat. We celebrated 200 years of independence. We had a [inaudible] coup d’etat. We know, usually, who can choose to be behind the coup d’etat. So, now that we just had a kidnapping which they call a resignation, which others call coup d’etat, it’s clear that some people will be do their best to justify, but they may not be able to justify, and I will continue to be on the side of the truth, on the side of the human rights, on the side of all of those who knew about what happened, and stand firm with the Haitian people. The heads of the Caribbean countries stand firm for the restoration of the constitutional order, for peace. We have senators in the United States, members of the U.S. House, citizens in the States standing firm for peace, for democracy, for constitutional order, and I join them.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Why do you think that the United States government does not want you to be the president of Haiti?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Maybe, if you could just one single example, it can tell the world a lot. I know I have already told you that, but I will go through it again. In 200 years of independence, making Haiti the first black independent country of the world, we still have 1.5 Haitian doctors for each 11,000 Haitians. Then we have a university who the faculty of medicine had 237 students. [inaudible], they are now in that faculty of medicine, they closed it. And the students are out, and this is not what they decided to do. If, have a government or a President willing to invest in health care, apparently they don’t want that. If you have a president or government willing to invest in education, maybe they don’t want that. I will continue to believe that we must invest in human beings. We must invest in education and health care. This is what will bring peace. Because peace is not an empty word. It has to be full. Investing in education and health care, bring the real peace to the country, and what they call peace is not the real peace. It is violence. It is kidnapping. What we call peace through education is telling the world that we are right.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: President Aristide in your news conference, did you say that your country is now in the midst of an unacceptable occupation?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: It’s an occupation, and the last example I just gave says it is an occupation. How you can imagine that you come to me, you want to be in peace, and you close my university and you send out 247 students of medicine in the country where you don’t have hospitals and you don’t have enough doctors. God, this is an occupation. When you protect killers, when you protect drug dealers like Guy Philippe, like Chamblain, when you protect the citizens of the United States in violating the law of the United States, Mr. Andy Apaid is a citizen of the United States, violating the Neutral Act, the way with this act will destroying our Democracy, and once we do that, then this is an occupation.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Is true that — did you say that your security force around — that protected you in Haiti, from the Steele Foundation–that they were told by the U.S. government they could not send in reinforcements?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Yes. As a matter of fact they blocked them, to stop providing security, and twenty-five [inaudible] did come the day after, they were prevented to come. So it was a clear strategy did to move their way according to their plan. Now, time is gone. Unfortunately I need to stop because they just asked me to leave.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Do you think that you will ever see Haiti again as President?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: I will. I will once the Haitian people and the international community continue to work hard. It’s not impossible.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: What do you think people can do in the United States?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: I think they can continue to mobilize human resources to help bring peace for Haiti–democracy for Haiti. This is what the Haitian people want: Peace and democracy.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Will you be leaving the Central African Republic? Do you want to leave?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: No, no, no, no. They are not asking me to leave the country, they are asking me to end the…</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: I understand. I understand. I understand, but do you want to leave the country? Do you want to return immediately to Haiti?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: If I can go today, I would go today. If it’s tomorrow, tomorrow. Whenever time comes, I will say yes, because my people, they elected me.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: What is stopping you from returning today?</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Because it means to clear the way, and that’s what we are doing now.</p>
<p>AMY GOODMAN: Thank you very much for joining us, President Aristide.</p>
<p>PRESIDENT ARISTIDE: Thank you so much for you and wishing that we can meet again in Haiti.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Click here to listen to the interview.</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | approximately 720 est democracy managed reach exiled haitian president jeanbertrand aristide cell phone central african republic comments represent extensive englishlanguage interview aristide given since removed office country moments democracy interview aristide appeared publicly first time since forced haiti called usbacked coup authorities central african republic allowed aristide hold news conference delegation visiting us activists charged haitian president held lock key like prisoner delegation included one aristides lawyers brian concannon well activists haiti support network international action center representatives former us attorney general ramsey clark shortly arrived bangui sunday delegation attempted meet aristide palace renaissance car government rebuked shortly countrys foreign minister held press conference bangui armed men threatened journalists room warning record ministers remarks mildred aristide haitian first lady brought room permitted speak car foreign minister told journalists president aristide would hold news conference within 72 hours hours later aristide allowed address journalists interview democracy aristide asserted legitimate president haiti wants return country soon possible details last moments haiti describing called kidnapping coup detat responds vice president dick cheneys comment aristide worn welcome haiti 160 amy goodman amy goodman radiotv program democracy around united states would like know left haiti president aristide thank first didnt leave haiti wanted leave haiti forced leave haiti kidnapping call coup detat inaudible forced resignation wasnt resignation kidnapping cover coup detat amy goodman kidnapping cover coup detat president aristide yes amy goodman forced country president aristidei saw us officials ambassador foley mr moreno inaudible us embassy haiti saw american soldiers saw former soldiers linked drug dealers like guy philippe killers already convicted chamblain kidnapping using haitian puppets like guy philippe inaudible chamblain already convicted basically night didnt see haitians saw americans amy goodman say kidnapped country secretary state powell said ridiculous donald rumsfeld said nonsense response president aristide well understand try justify justify ambassador ambassador foley said going talk media press talk haitian people calling peace like one night unfortunately put car residence couple days later put planes full military already control haitian airport portauprince night surrounded house national palace streets dont know many clearly something planned someone wants justify think justify thats goal tell truth im telling truth amy goodman president aristide resign presidency president aristide resign exchanged words conversations exchanged notes gave written note went press time instead taking said taking front haitian press foreign press talk people explain going call peace used note letter resignation say lying amy goodman went car house understand going airport flown president aristide told best way avoid bloodshed talked somehow nice diplomatic way avoid bloodshed played best could respectful way legal diplomatic way told going bloodshed thousands people going killed including said never cared life security first care security lives people elected protect life every single citizen night best avoid bloodshed took putting plane plan strategy could avoid bloodshed amy goodman held central african republic president aristide actually exactly let tell past twenty hours american plane american soldiers including nineteen american agents agreement haitian government provide security us also plane maybe keep truth plane instead one telling truth plane one baby one year andahalf plane american guy wouldnt give chance get plane baby wife first lady born united states father mother haitians didnt right even move shade look windows means violated law twenty minutes arrived knew request going land means clearly clear violation international law unfortunately fortunately pay tribute government central africa way welcomed us gracious human good time kind relationship developing together thank amy goodman want happen president aristide always call peace realize kidnapping bring peace violence country caricom means heads caribbean countries call peace restoration constitutional order way heard voice americans american senators american members us members members us parliament theyre theyre us citizens haitians actually calling peace restoration constitutional order also call allow give simple example peace means us time education investment health care country 200 years independence first black independent country world still onepointfive haitian doctors 11000 haitians created university founded university faculty medicine 247 students us soldiers arrived haiti kidnapping closed faculty medicine classrooms call peace opposite peace peace means investing human beings investing health care respect human rights violations human rights violations rights voted elected president means means humans world today day inaudible men world together work hard restore peace constitutional order haiti amy goodman president jeanbertrand aristide speaking central african republic want return president haiti president aristide possible yes whenever possible ready people voted amy goodman held see held prisoner central african republic president aristide say people government president president bozize gracious way treat us paid public tribute citizens central africa listening allow tell inaudible means thank much country country called zoquozu language means every human human say grateful living house palace palace good sign respect us living conditions although still good way welcome us also feel haiti haitian people best keep investing education health care building state law slowly surely building state law amy goodman president aristide least five people killed haiti sunday opposition leaders say proaristide forces opened fire also including journalists spanish journalist based new york shot dead another also shot response president aristide first wasnt dont many pieces information comment respect truth make comments say wasnt dont yet information go far way analyze situation believe past years time drug dealers like guy philippe people already convicted like chamblain kill people heard exactly heard blame nonviolent people blame poor poor violated eyes like way already convicted violating human rights think suspect lying talk like accusing followers amy goodman message think united states sending people haiti rest world actions president aristide think citizens united states supporting democracy haiti haitian people haitians washington brooklyn milano boston elsewhere calling return haiti constitutional order think citizens united states inaudible sending strong critical signal countries world willing work peaceful way democracy inaudible sending wrong signal dont reach result democratic elections elected elsewhere signal sending democracy talking democracy thats wish would connect realize wrong new approach protecting rights humans world world mean meaning peace mean meaning democracy mean need invest human beings therefore go back send wrong signals went iraq see situation iraq went haiti see situation haiti pretending imposing democracy people killing people dont change approach let democracy constitutional order flourish slowly surely imposing criminal embargo us cultural point view rich historic point view rich economic point view poor poorest country western hemisphere imposing economic embargo upon us people wanted one man one vote equality among us use drug dealers use people already convicted pretending lead rebellion went haiti killing people gonaives killing people cap hatian killing people portauprince elsewhere continue face entire world blessing impunity supporting killers god said really ugly image project face world time change respect also respect truth thats respectfully telling truth said someone wrong wrong way behave continue wrong right way behave move wrong right time move wrong side become right supporting constitutional order amy goodman president aristide vice president dick cheney said wore welcome haiti time go also said get response president aristide someone kind elections talk like regarding haiti fair democratic elections regarding elected president think someone power mean see truth say truth respect rights every single citizen world talk tolerant also democracy thats respect respect way way talk time respect people truth say say haitian people nonviolent people voted democracy continue fight peaceful way democracy continue faithful peaceful approach fighting peacefully restoration constitutional order amy goodman still consider president haiti president aristide yes people voted still fighting peaceful way elected president betray thats best respect amy goodman well would describe situation haiti today us french forces canadian troops haiti something called left support protect protect president aristide yes called forced leave country unfortunately haiti dont elected president move constitutional order despite wish united nations haiti peacekeepers help keeping peace country protecting haitians every single haitian life every single man woman sacred respect wish protect lives rights every single citizen time continue work hard peacefully restore democracy haiti amy goodman vice president cheney said dealt aristide secretary defense crisis involving haiti left free signed resignation letter way left security detail aircraft provided military aircraft civilian charter suppose hes trying revise history fact matter hed worn welcome haitian people democratically elected never governed democrat corrupt charge many thugs committing crimes portauprince suggestion somehow united states arrested forcibly put aircraft get leave thats simply true im happy hes gone think haitian people better think theyll opportunity elect new government thats president aristide well said right talk respect right right say truth saying truth disagree continue believe haitian people continue fight peaceful way restore democracy day come elections course ability vote unfortunately didnt want coup detat never wanted haitian people keep moving election election preferred haitian people move coup detat coup detat celebrated 200 years independence inaudible coup detat know usually choose behind coup detat kidnapping call resignation others call coup detat clear people best justify may able justify continue side truth side human rights side knew happened stand firm haitian people heads caribbean countries stand firm restoration constitutional order peace senators united states members us house citizens states standing firm peace democracy constitutional order join amy goodman think united states government want president haiti president aristide maybe could one single example tell world lot know already told go 200 years independence making haiti first black independent country world still 15 haitian doctors 11000 haitians university faculty medicine 237 students inaudible faculty medicine closed students decided government president willing invest health care apparently dont want president government willing invest education maybe dont want continue believe must invest human beings must invest education health care bring peace peace empty word full investing education health care bring real peace country call peace real peace violence kidnapping call peace education telling world right amy goodman president aristide news conference say country midst unacceptable occupation president aristide occupation last example gave says occupation imagine come want peace close university send 247 students medicine country dont hospitals dont enough doctors god occupation protect killers protect drug dealers like guy philippe like chamblain protect citizens united states violating law united states mr andy apaid citizen united states violating neutral act way act destroying democracy occupation amy goodman true say security force around protected haiti steele foundationthat told us government could send reinforcements president aristide yes matter fact blocked stop providing security twentyfive inaudible come day prevented come clear strategy move way according plan time gone unfortunately need stop asked leave amy goodman think ever see haiti president president aristide haitian people international community continue work hard impossible amy goodman think people united states president aristide think continue mobilize human resources help bring peace haitidemocracy haiti haitian people want peace democracy amy goodman leaving central african republic want leave president aristide asking leave country asking end amy goodman understand understand understand want leave country want return immediately haiti president aristide go today would go today tomorrow tomorrow whenever time comes say yes people elected amy goodman stopping returning today president aristide means clear way thats amy goodman thank much joining us president aristide president aristide thank much wishing meet haiti click listen interview 160 | 1,829 |
<p>The Bush administration’s “war on terror” paraded a feather in its tattered cap with the Holy Land Foundation convictions delivered last week. Most observers accurately characterised this legal charade as a witch hunt, using Muslims and Arabs, specifically Palestinians, as its targets. In doing so the administration shamelessly abuses to advance its failed security measures and pro-Israel policy initiatives that systematically punishes Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank.</p>
<p>Five leaders from the once highly-respected charity group Holy Land Foundation, which gave nearly $12m to non-violent, Palestinian institutions to build hospitals and feed the poor, were convicted on 108 charges of supporting terrorism by funneling money to Hamas. A US official proudly declared: “Today’s verdicts are important milestones in America’s efforts against financiers of terrorism.” However, Linda Moreno, a defence lawyer for one of the HLF leaders, said she disagreed, and told me: “This was a political, ‘win at all costs’ prosecution.”</p>
<p>Indeed, the Bush administration suffered a humiliation in 2007 when its first prosecution against HLF ended in a mistrial, with the jurors deadlocked over the major counts. A juror from the 2007 trial said the government “kept showing us blown-up buses and they kept showing us little kids in bomb belts reenacting Hamas leaders … it had nothing to do with the actual charges. It had nothing to do with the defendants.”</p>
<p>The prosecution continued this strategy the second time around. Moreno explained to me that the US government “decided to use as much evidence of violence as they could get away with to inflame and scare the jury.” She continued: “The government conceded that my client, Ghassan Elashi, nor any of the other gentlemen, ever participated in any violence. There was not a single phone call or a scrap of evidence that showed Elashi supported violence; but there was evidence that he, along with all Palestinians, opposed the brutal Israeli occupation [of West Bank and Gaza.]”</p>
<p>This malicious prosecution was used by the administration to acquire a notch on its “get a terrorist” club. It also helps the administration to briefly save face for measures that have simultaneously trampled on our collective civil liberties while failing to adequately deter the tide of extremism and violence.</p>
<p>The three-trillion-dollar debacle of an Iraq war – which was sold to the global community on discredited and faulty evidence – significantly undermines the administration’s credibility and highlights its ideologically-motivated recklessness. The due process violations and lengthy detentions of innocents at the modern day gulag at Guantanamo Bay only strengthens any hesitation in blindly accepting the administration’s claims.</p>
<p>Yet, by picking on a perpetual scapegoat, the Palestinians, the US government acquires a few days worth of positive PR while creating a pervasive “chilling effect” that warns those who dare criticize their policy initiatives. As attorney and law professor John Turley told me: “For many Muslims, there is a state fear that these prosecutions are designed to deter any charity going to the Palestinian areas.” His client, Sami Al-Arian, is one of the most well-known and notorious victims of such attention – he is the Palestinian American professor whom John Ashcroft declared to be “the most dangerous financier of Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the Western Hemisphere.”</p>
<p>However, the chief prosecutor in Al-Arian’s trial conceded: “Mr Al-Arian was not directly linked to any of the violent acts that we showed during the trial.” Furthermore, a former FBI supervisor involved in the case admitted that they were in “shock” when the then attorney general John Ashcroft ordered it to indict Al-Arian since he felt the justice department rushed to indict Al-Arian without appraising the evidence. In the Holy Land trial, the prosecution used “secret evidence” to convict the parties while denying the defense both access to the evidence or the ability to rebut it. Furthermore, in an unprecedented move, the Court allowed the testimony of an anonymous Israeli Shin Bet agent, named Avi, to support the claim that HLF funneled monies to Hamas. Defense lawyer Linda Moreno was flabbergasted:</p>
<p>If Avi lied during his testimony, which we proved he did, how could he be prosecuted for perjury when we did not know his identity? I would submit that not even the president of the United States could enjoy such immunity from the law; he would have to disclose his identity. But not so for the Israeli security agent.</p>
<p>And yet the real victims of this debacle are the Palestinians who are being brutalised under an occupation that sees no end. In Gaza, as Israel’s blockade of the coastal territory continues, the main power plant was forced to shut down – eliminating electricity for 70% of Gaza residents. Hospitals suspended emergency operations due to fuel shortages, the health ministry ran out of 300 essential medicines due to Israeli bans, and contaminated water leaked back into Gaza’s water supply, causing a rise in malnutrition and anemia amongst children. Although many generous Americans want to help these people in need, they relent due to a paralyzing fear of facing a potential indictment. As John Turley explained to me, “People are terrified that any charity going to the Palestinian areas can be defined as material support if it benefits Hamas. Since Hamas controls these areas, it makes any charitable act a risky proposition.”</p>
<p>It’s a fitting testament to the absurdity and callousness of the Bush administration’s “compassionate conservatism” that attempting to feed some of the poorest people in the world amounts to supporting terrorism. Ultimately, because the administration failed to produce terrorists such as Osama bin Laden or Mullah Omar, it will publicly flog a Palestinian scapegoat. Sadly, the prosecution reveals the administration’s malicious pursuit of its own perverse sense of justice, one that sacrifices charity when dealing with those committed to helping human beings.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI is a Muslim American of Pakistani descent. He is a playwright, essayist, humorist, and Attorney at Law, whose work, “ <a href="http://www.domesticcrusaders.com/" type="external">The Domestic Crusaders</a>” is the first major play about Muslim Americans living in a post 9-11 America. His blog is at <a href="http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/" type="external">http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/</a>. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:wajahatmali@gmail.com" type="external">wajahatmali@gmail.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | bush administrations war terror paraded feather tattered cap holy land foundation convictions delivered last week observers accurately characterised legal charade witch hunt using muslims arabs specifically palestinians targets administration shamelessly abuses advance failed security measures proisrael policy initiatives systematically punishes palestinians living gaza west bank five leaders highlyrespected charity group holy land foundation gave nearly 12m nonviolent palestinian institutions build hospitals feed poor convicted 108 charges supporting terrorism funneling money hamas us official proudly declared todays verdicts important milestones americas efforts financiers terrorism however linda moreno defence lawyer one hlf leaders said disagreed told political win costs prosecution indeed bush administration suffered humiliation 2007 first prosecution hlf ended mistrial jurors deadlocked major counts juror 2007 trial said government kept showing us blownup buses kept showing us little kids bomb belts reenacting hamas leaders nothing actual charges nothing defendants prosecution continued strategy second time around moreno explained us government decided use much evidence violence could get away inflame scare jury continued government conceded client ghassan elashi gentlemen ever participated violence single phone call scrap evidence showed elashi supported violence evidence along palestinians opposed brutal israeli occupation west bank gaza malicious prosecution used administration acquire notch get terrorist club also helps administration briefly save face measures simultaneously trampled collective civil liberties failing adequately deter tide extremism violence threetrilliondollar debacle iraq war sold global community discredited faulty evidence significantly undermines administrations credibility highlights ideologicallymotivated recklessness due process violations lengthy detentions innocents modern day gulag guantanamo bay strengthens hesitation blindly accepting administrations claims yet picking perpetual scapegoat palestinians us government acquires days worth positive pr creating pervasive chilling effect warns dare criticize policy initiatives attorney law professor john turley told many muslims state fear prosecutions designed deter charity going palestinian areas client sami alarian one wellknown notorious victims attention palestinian american professor john ashcroft declared dangerous financier palestinian islamic jihad western hemisphere however chief prosecutor alarians trial conceded mr alarian directly linked violent acts showed trial furthermore former fbi supervisor involved case admitted shock attorney general john ashcroft ordered indict alarian since felt justice department rushed indict alarian without appraising evidence holy land trial prosecution used secret evidence convict parties denying defense access evidence ability rebut furthermore unprecedented move court allowed testimony anonymous israeli shin bet agent named avi support claim hlf funneled monies hamas defense lawyer linda moreno flabbergasted avi lied testimony proved could prosecuted perjury know identity would submit even president united states could enjoy immunity law would disclose identity israeli security agent yet real victims debacle palestinians brutalised occupation sees end gaza israels blockade coastal territory continues main power plant forced shut eliminating electricity 70 gaza residents hospitals suspended emergency operations due fuel shortages health ministry ran 300 essential medicines due israeli bans contaminated water leaked back gazas water supply causing rise malnutrition anemia amongst children although many generous americans want help people need relent due paralyzing fear facing potential indictment john turley explained people terrified charity going palestinian areas defined material support benefits hamas since hamas controls areas makes charitable act risky proposition fitting testament absurdity callousness bush administrations compassionate conservatism attempting feed poorest people world amounts supporting terrorism ultimately administration failed produce terrorists osama bin laden mullah omar publicly flog palestinian scapegoat sadly prosecution reveals administrations malicious pursuit perverse sense justice one sacrifices charity dealing committed helping human beings wajahat ali muslim american pakistani descent playwright essayist humorist attorney law whose work domestic crusaders first major play muslim americans living post 911 america blog httpgoatmilkwordpresscom reached wajahatmaligmailcom 160 160 160 160 | 582 |
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<p>“The battlefield is a great place for liars,” Stonewall Jackson once said on viewing the aftermath of a battle in the American civil war.</p>
<p>The great general meant that the confusion of battle is such that anybody can claim anything during a war and hope to get away with it. But even by the standards of other conflicts, Iraq has been particularly fertile in lies. Going by the claims of President George Bush, the war should long be over since his infamous “Mission Accomplished” speech on 1 May 2003. In fact most of the 1,600 US dead and 12,000 wounded have become casualties in the following two years.</p>
<p>The ferocious resistance encountered last week by the 1,000-strong US marine task force trying to fight its way into villages around the towns of Qaim and Obeidi in western Iraq shows that the war is far from over. So far nine marines have been killed in the week-long campaign, while another US soldier was killed and four wounded in central Iraq on Friday. Meanwhile, a car bomb targeting a police patrol exploded in central Baghdad yesterday, killing at least five Iraqis and injuring 12.</p>
<p>Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, the leader of one of the Kurdish parties, confidently told a meeting in Brasilia last week that there is war in only three or four out of 18 Iraqi provinces. Back in Baghdad Mr Talabani, an experienced guerrilla leader, has deployed no fewer than 3,000 Kurdish soldiers or peshmerga around his residence in case of attack. One visitor was amused to hear the newly elected President interrupt his own relentlessly upbeat account of government achievements to snap orders to his aides on the correct positioning of troops and heavy weapons around his house.</p>
<p>There is no doubt that the US has failed to win the war. Much of Iraq is a bloody no man’s land. The army has not been able to secure the short highway to the airport, though it is the most important road in the country, linking the US civil headquarters in the Green Zone with its military HQ at Camp Victory.</p>
<p>Ironically, the extent of US failure to control Iraq is masked by the fact that it is too dangerous for the foreign media to venture out of central Baghdad. Some have retreated to the supposed safety of the Green Zone. Mr Bush can claim that no news is good news, though in fact the precise opposite is true.</p>
<p>Embedded journalism fosters false optimism. It means reporters are only present where American troops are active, though US forces seldom venture into much of Iraq. Embedded correspondents bravely covered the storming of Fallujah by US marines last November and rightly portrayed it as a US military success. But the outside world remained largely unaware, because no reporters were present with US forces, that at the same moment an insurgent offensive had captured most of Mosul, a city five times larger than Fallujah.</p>
<p>Why has the vastly expensive and heavily equipped US army failed militarily in Iraq? After the crescendo of violence over the past month there should be no doubts that the US has not quashed the insurgents whom for two years American military spokesmen have portrayed as a hunted remnant of Saddam Hussein’s regime assisted by foreign fighters.</p>
<p>The failure was in part political. Immediately after the fall of Saddam Hussein polls showed that Iraqis were evenly divided on whether they had been liberated or occupied. Eighteen months later the great majority both of Sunni and Shia said they had been occupied, and they did not like it. Every time I visited a spot where an American soldier had been killed or a US vehicle destroyed there were crowds of young men and children screaming their delight. “I am a poor man but I am going home to cook a chicken to celebrate,” said one man as he stood by the spot marked with the blood of an American soldier who had just been shot to death.</p>
<p>Many of the resistance groups are bigoted Sunni Arab fanatics who see Shia as well as US soldiers as infidels whom it is a religious duty to kill. Others are led by officers from Saddam’s brutal security forces. But Washington never appreciated the fact that the US occupation was so unpopular that even the most unsavoury groups received popular support.</p>
<p>From the start, there was something dysfunctional about the American armed forces. They could not adapt themselves to Iraq. Their massive firepower meant they won any set-piece battle, but it also meant that they accidentally killed so many Iraqi civilians that they were the recruiting sergeants of the resistance. The army denied counting Iraqi civilian dead, which might be helpful in dealing with American public opinion. But Iraqis knew how many of their people were dying.</p>
<p>The US war machine was over-armed. I once saw a unit trying to restore order at a petrol station where there was a fist fight between Iraqi drivers over queue-jumping (given that people sometimes sleep two nights in their cars waiting to fill a tank, tempers were understandably frayed). In one corner was a massive howitzer, its barrel capable of hurling a shell 30km, which the soldiers had brought along for this minor policing exercise.</p>
<p>The US army was designed to fight a high-technology blitzkrieg, but not much else. It required large quantities of supplies and its supply lines were vulnerable to roadside bombs. Combat engineers, essentially sappers, lamented that they had received absolutely no training in doing this. Even conventional mine detectors did not work. Roadsides in Iraq are full of metal because Iraqi drivers normally dispose of soft drink cans out the window. Sappers were reduced to prodding the soil nervously with titanium rods like wizards’ wands. Because of poor intelligence and excessive firepower, American operations all became exercises in collective punishment. At first the US did not realise that all Iraqi men have guns and they considered possession of a weapon a sign of hostile intention towards the occupation. They confiscated as suspicious large quantities of cash in farmers’ houses, not realising that Iraqis often keep the family fortune at home in $100 bills ever since Saddam Hussein closed the banks before the Gulf war and, when they reopened, Iraqi dinar deposits were almost worthless.</p>
<p>The US army was also too thin on the ground. It has 145,000 men in Iraq, but reportedly only half of these are combat troops. During the heavily publicised assault on Fallujah the US forces drained the rest of Iraq of its soldiers. “We discovered the US troops had suddenly abandoned the main road between Kirkuk and Baghdad without telling anybody,” said one indignant observer. “It promptly fell under the control of the insurgents.”</p>
<p>The army acts as a sort of fire brigade, briefly effective in dousing the flames, but always moving on before they are fully extinguished. There are only about 6,000 US soldiers in Nineveh province, of which Mosul is the capital and which has a population of three million. For the election on 30 January, US reserves arriving in Iraq were all sent to Mosul to raise the level to 15,000 to prevent any uprising in the city. They succeeded in doing so but were then promptly withdrawn.</p>
<p>The shortage of US forces has a political explanation. Before the war Donald Rumsfeld, the Secretary of Defence, and his neo-conservative allies derided generals who said an occupation force numbering hundreds of thousands would be necessary to hold Iraq. When they were proved wrong they dealt with failure by denying it had taken place.</p>
<p>There is a sense of bitterness among many US National Guardsmen that they have been shanghaied into fighting in a dangerous war. I was leaving the Green Zone one day when one came up to me and said he noticed that I had a limp and kindly offered to show me a quicker way to the main gate. As we walked along he politely asked the cause of my disability. I explained I had had polio many years ago. He sighed and said he too had had his share of bad luck. Since he looked hale and hearty this surprised me. “Yes,” he said bitterly. “My bad luck was that I joined the Washington State National Guard which had not been called up since 1945. Two months later they sent me here where I stand good chance of being killed.”</p>
<p>The solution for the White House has been to build up an Iraqi force to take the place of US soldiers. This has been the policy since the autumn of 2003 and it has repeatedly failed. In April 2004, during the first fight for Fallujah, the Iraqi army battalions either mutinied before going to the city or refused to fight against fellow Iraqis once there. In Mosul in November 2004 the 14,000 police force melted away during the insurgent offensive, abandoning 30 police stations and $40m in equipment. Now the US is trying again. By the end of next year an Iraqi army and police force totalling 300,000 should be trained and ready to fight. Already they are much more evident in the streets of Baghdad and other cities.</p>
<p>The problem is that the troops are often based on militias which have a sectarian or ethnic base. The best troops are Kurdish peshmerga. Shia units are often connected with the Badr Brigade which fought on the side of Iran in the Iran-Iraq war. When 14 Sunni farmers from the Dulaimi tribe were found executed in Baghdad a week ago the Interior Ministry had to deny what was widely believed, that they had been killed by a Shia police unit.</p>
<p>The greatest failure of the US in Iraq is not that mistakes were made but that its political system has proved incapable of redressing them. Neither Mr Rumsfeld nor his lieutenants have been sacked. Paul Wolfowitz, under-secretary of defence and architect of the war, has been promoted to the World Bank.</p>
<p>Almost exactly a century ago the Russian empire fought a war with Japan in the belief that a swift victory would strengthen the powers-that-be in St Petersburg. Instead the Tsar’s armies met defeat. Russian generals, who said that their tactic of charging Japanese machine guns with sabre-wielding cavalry had failed only because their men had attacked with insufficient brio, held their jobs. In Iraq, American generals and their political masters of demonstrable incompetence are not fired. The US is turning out to be much less of a military and political superpower than the rest of the world had supposed.</p>
<p>PATRICK COCKBURN, co-author of the <a href="" type="internal">Out of the Ashes: the Resurrection of Saddam Hussein</a>, is the winner of the 2005 Martha Gellhorn Award for war reporting.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 battlefield great place liars stonewall jackson said viewing aftermath battle american civil war great general meant confusion battle anybody claim anything war hope get away even standards conflicts iraq particularly fertile lies going claims president george bush war long since infamous mission accomplished speech 1 may 2003 fact 1600 us dead 12000 wounded become casualties following two years ferocious resistance encountered last week 1000strong us marine task force trying fight way villages around towns qaim obeidi western iraq shows war far far nine marines killed weeklong campaign another us soldier killed four wounded central iraq friday meanwhile car bomb targeting police patrol exploded central baghdad yesterday killing least five iraqis injuring 12 iraqi president jalal talabani leader one kurdish parties confidently told meeting brasilia last week war three four 18 iraqi provinces back baghdad mr talabani experienced guerrilla leader deployed fewer 3000 kurdish soldiers peshmerga around residence case attack one visitor amused hear newly elected president interrupt relentlessly upbeat account government achievements snap orders aides correct positioning troops heavy weapons around house doubt us failed win war much iraq bloody mans land army able secure short highway airport though important road country linking us civil headquarters green zone military hq camp victory ironically extent us failure control iraq masked fact dangerous foreign media venture central baghdad retreated supposed safety green zone mr bush claim news good news though fact precise opposite true embedded journalism fosters false optimism means reporters present american troops active though us forces seldom venture much iraq embedded correspondents bravely covered storming fallujah us marines last november rightly portrayed us military success outside world remained largely unaware reporters present us forces moment insurgent offensive captured mosul city five times larger fallujah vastly expensive heavily equipped us army failed militarily iraq crescendo violence past month doubts us quashed insurgents two years american military spokesmen portrayed hunted remnant saddam husseins regime assisted foreign fighters failure part political immediately fall saddam hussein polls showed iraqis evenly divided whether liberated occupied eighteen months later great majority sunni shia said occupied like every time visited spot american soldier killed us vehicle destroyed crowds young men children screaming delight poor man going home cook chicken celebrate said one man stood spot marked blood american soldier shot death many resistance groups bigoted sunni arab fanatics see shia well us soldiers infidels religious duty kill others led officers saddams brutal security forces washington never appreciated fact us occupation unpopular even unsavoury groups received popular support start something dysfunctional american armed forces could adapt iraq massive firepower meant setpiece battle also meant accidentally killed many iraqi civilians recruiting sergeants resistance army denied counting iraqi civilian dead might helpful dealing american public opinion iraqis knew many people dying us war machine overarmed saw unit trying restore order petrol station fist fight iraqi drivers queuejumping given people sometimes sleep two nights cars waiting fill tank tempers understandably frayed one corner massive howitzer barrel capable hurling shell 30km soldiers brought along minor policing exercise us army designed fight hightechnology blitzkrieg much else required large quantities supplies supply lines vulnerable roadside bombs combat engineers essentially sappers lamented received absolutely training even conventional mine detectors work roadsides iraq full metal iraqi drivers normally dispose soft drink cans window sappers reduced prodding soil nervously titanium rods like wizards wands poor intelligence excessive firepower american operations became exercises collective punishment first us realise iraqi men guns considered possession weapon sign hostile intention towards occupation confiscated suspicious large quantities cash farmers houses realising iraqis often keep family fortune home 100 bills ever since saddam hussein closed banks gulf war reopened iraqi dinar deposits almost worthless us army also thin ground 145000 men iraq reportedly half combat troops heavily publicised assault fallujah us forces drained rest iraq soldiers discovered us troops suddenly abandoned main road kirkuk baghdad without telling anybody said one indignant observer promptly fell control insurgents army acts sort fire brigade briefly effective dousing flames always moving fully extinguished 6000 us soldiers nineveh province mosul capital population three million election 30 january us reserves arriving iraq sent mosul raise level 15000 prevent uprising city succeeded promptly withdrawn shortage us forces political explanation war donald rumsfeld secretary defence neoconservative allies derided generals said occupation force numbering hundreds thousands would necessary hold iraq proved wrong dealt failure denying taken place sense bitterness among many us national guardsmen shanghaied fighting dangerous war leaving green zone one day one came said noticed limp kindly offered show quicker way main gate walked along politely asked cause disability explained polio many years ago sighed said share bad luck since looked hale hearty surprised yes said bitterly bad luck joined washington state national guard called since 1945 two months later sent stand good chance killed solution white house build iraqi force take place us soldiers policy since autumn 2003 repeatedly failed april 2004 first fight fallujah iraqi army battalions either mutinied going city refused fight fellow iraqis mosul november 2004 14000 police force melted away insurgent offensive abandoning 30 police stations 40m equipment us trying end next year iraqi army police force totalling 300000 trained ready fight already much evident streets baghdad cities problem troops often based militias sectarian ethnic base best troops kurdish peshmerga shia units often connected badr brigade fought side iran iraniraq war 14 sunni farmers dulaimi tribe found executed baghdad week ago interior ministry deny widely believed killed shia police unit greatest failure us iraq mistakes made political system proved incapable redressing neither mr rumsfeld lieutenants sacked paul wolfowitz undersecretary defence architect war promoted world bank almost exactly century ago russian empire fought war japan belief swift victory would strengthen powersthatbe st petersburg instead tsars armies met defeat russian generals said tactic charging japanese machine guns sabrewielding cavalry failed men attacked insufficient brio held jobs iraq american generals political masters demonstrable incompetence fired us turning much less military political superpower rest world supposed patrick cockburn coauthor ashes resurrection saddam hussein winner 2005 martha gellhorn award war reporting 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,007 |
<p>Spouting off about stuff you know nothing about is traditionally considered unwise. But as the Republican war on science intensifies, ignorance has started to become not only less of a handicap, but a point of pride. In the face of expertise and facts, being belligerently ignorant—and offended that anyone dare suggest ignorance is less desirable than knowledge—has become the go-to position for many conservative politicians and pundits. Sadly, it’s a strategy that’s working, making it harder every day for liberals to argue the value of evidence and reason over wishful thinking and unblinking prejudice.</p>
<p>The strategy of holding out ignorance to be the equivalent of expertise and simply daring your opponents to try to do anything about it was epitomized recently in the Ohio legislature. <a href="//www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2014/06/05/hb_351_in_ohio_john_becker_s_bill_would_ban_insurance_coverage_of_abortion.html" type="external">Republican state legislator John Becker</a> introduced a bill that would ban all insurance plans in the state from covering abortion. It was a horribly misogynist and intrusive bill, but Becker didn’t stop at just trying to outlaw abortion coverage. He also insisted that IUDs, the most effective contraception available, be outlawed from insurance coverage. His reasoning was that he believes IUDs cause abortion, because he believes they work by killing fertilized eggs.</p>
<p>He is, of course, factually wrong in multiple ways.</p>
<p>An “abortion” is a procedure that stops a pregnancy, and if a fertilized egg fails to implant—and <a href="//www.ucsfhealth.org/education/conception_how_it_works/" type="external">about half fail to implant</a>, regardless of a woman’s choices—then you were never pregnant in the first place and therefore cannot get an abortion. But it’s also factually wrong that IUDs work by killing fertilized eggs. Like nearly all other forms of contraception, IUDs work by preventing sperm from meeting egg.</p>
<p>When confronted with the facts, Rep. Becker just blew them off. “This is just a personal view,” he said. “I’m not a medical doctor.”</p>
<p>Well then, sir, by all means. Let your random “view” pulled directly out of your hiney supersede the actual opinions of people who are considering the evidence before drawing conclusions.</p>
<p>But for modern Republicans, being downright proud of their ignorance has become a badge of honor, a way to demonstrate loyalty to the right-wing cause while also sticking it to those liberal pinheads who think there’s some kind of value in knowing what they're talking about before offering an opinion.</p>
<p>This mentality, in its modern form, can be traced back to the Bush White House. In 2004, <a href="//www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magazine/17BUSH.html?_r=0" type="external">Ron Suskind of the New York Times interviewed</a> an unnamed Bush official who famously pooh-poohed what he believed to be the shortcomings of journalists who insist that the truth matters more than fantasy:</p>
<p>The aide said that guys like me were ''in what we call the reality-based community,'' which he defined as people who ''believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality.'' I nodded and murmured something about enlightenment principles and empiricism. He cut me off. ''That's not the way the world really works anymore,'' he continued. ''We're an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality."</p>
<p>The sense that you could stick it to the liberals by being utterly indifferent to reality actually grew worse on the right after Bush left office, starting with the adoption of Sarah Palin as a right-wing hero. Palin represents this new era of treating the truth like it’s a horrible force of oppression trying to squelch conservative America. <a href="//www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/sarah-palin-collects-a-bushel-of-pinocchios-on-her-bus-tour/2011/06/02/AGkNAbHH_blog.html'" type="external">Subsequently, any</a> <a href="//www.ranker.com/list/13-social-studies-facts-sarah-palin-got-wrong/kel-varnsen?var=2&amp;utm_expid=16418821-19.fYivk2gAQXaM6nD77CvZZA.1&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F" type="external">utterance from</a> <a href="//crooksandliars.com/david-neiwert/sarah-palin-defends-her-lie-year-cla" type="external">her mouth</a> is far more likely to be a blatant and aggressive falsehood than anything resembling fact.</p>
<p>The thing is, shameless lying and ignorance work surprisingly well as debate tactics. It’s hard to argue with someone who not only has signaled that he doesn’t care what the truth is but is downright proud of how little he actually knows. Such a person is not amenable to being educated. Once the pretense of really caring one way or another about what is right and what is wrong has been abandoned, all avenue of discourse is shut down.</p>
<p>Take <a href="//thinkprogress.org/climate/2014/06/09/3446650/miller-florida-climate-denial/" type="external">Rep. Jeff Miller’s recent appearance on MSNBC</a>. It was a performance that has become standard on the right when talking about climate change: Dismissively wave away the scientific consensus and spout ignorance in the most condescending tone possible, as if nothing could be sillier than those scientists with their interests in facts and research. Miller repeatedly dismissed decades of scientific research showing the reality of global warming as “foolish." Then he went above and beyond the call of duty, really showing off how proud he was to know so very little. “Then why did the dinosaurs go extinct? Were there men that were causing — were there cars running around at that point, that were causing global warming? No,” he said, full of contempt for people who aren’t nearly as stupid as he is.</p>
<p>If Miller wasn’t such a major idiot, he would know that, in fact, the death of the dinosaurs was caused by an outside force that disrupted the Earth’s atmosphere; not cars, but a <a href="//www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/extinction/dinosaurs/asteroid.html" type="external">meteor that hit the planet</a> with such impact it caused a massive cooling and then—wait for it—major global warming effect that wiped out 70% of the species on the planet. It’s one of the major reasons we know that outside forces, whether meteors or cars, that have major impact on the planet’s atmosphere can create temperature changes that permanently affect life on this planet.</p>
<p>The problem here is that someone who is not only so catastrophically wrong but downright proud of being an ignoramus is not going to actually bother to listen to an explanation like that. That’s why the wall of ignorance is such a powerful rhetorical tool. When you have nothing but contempt for the facts, attempts to educate you will only make your pride in your own ignorance grow stronger. The more you try to educate the proudly ignorant, the dumber they get.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, the problem is one of identity. The conservative identity is one of being opposed to everything liberal, to the point of despising anything even associated with liberalism. As liberalism has increasingly been aligned with the values of empiricism and reason, the incentives for conservatives to reject empiricism and reason multiply. To be a “conservative” increasingly means taking a contemptuous view of reality. And so the proudly ignorant grow more belligerent, day after day.</p>
<p>Amanda Marcotte is a politics writer for Salon. She's on Twitter @AmandaMarcotte.&#160;</p> | true | 4 | spouting stuff know nothing traditionally considered unwise republican war science intensifies ignorance started become less handicap point pride face expertise facts belligerently ignorantand offended anyone dare suggest ignorance less desirable knowledgehas become goto position many conservative politicians pundits sadly strategy thats working making harder every day liberals argue value evidence reason wishful thinking unblinking prejudice strategy holding ignorance equivalent expertise simply daring opponents try anything epitomized recently ohio legislature republican state legislator john becker introduced bill would ban insurance plans state covering abortion horribly misogynist intrusive bill becker didnt stop trying outlaw abortion coverage also insisted iuds effective contraception available outlawed insurance coverage reasoning believes iuds cause abortion believes work killing fertilized eggs course factually wrong multiple ways abortion procedure stops pregnancy fertilized egg fails implantand half fail implant regardless womans choicesthen never pregnant first place therefore get abortion also factually wrong iuds work killing fertilized eggs like nearly forms contraception iuds work preventing sperm meeting egg confronted facts rep becker blew personal view said im medical doctor well sir means let random view pulled directly hiney supersede actual opinions people considering evidence drawing conclusions modern republicans downright proud ignorance become badge honor way demonstrate loyalty rightwing cause also sticking liberal pinheads think theres kind value knowing theyre talking offering opinion mentality modern form traced back bush white house 2004 ron suskind new york times interviewed unnamed bush official famously poohpoohed believed shortcomings journalists insist truth matters fantasy aide said guys like call realitybased community defined people believe solutions emerge judicious study discernible reality nodded murmured something enlightenment principles empiricism cut thats way world really works anymore continued empire act create reality sense could stick liberals utterly indifferent reality actually grew worse right bush left office starting adoption sarah palin rightwing hero palin represents new era treating truth like horrible force oppression trying squelch conservative america subsequently utterance mouth far likely blatant aggressive falsehood anything resembling fact thing shameless lying ignorance work surprisingly well debate tactics hard argue someone signaled doesnt care truth downright proud little actually knows person amenable educated pretense really caring one way another right wrong abandoned avenue discourse shut take rep jeff millers recent appearance msnbc performance become standard right talking climate change dismissively wave away scientific consensus spout ignorance condescending tone possible nothing could sillier scientists interests facts research miller repeatedly dismissed decades scientific research showing reality global warming foolish went beyond call duty really showing proud know little dinosaurs go extinct men causing cars running around point causing global warming said full contempt people arent nearly stupid miller wasnt major idiot would know fact death dinosaurs caused outside force disrupted earths atmosphere cars meteor hit planet impact caused massive cooling thenwait itmajor global warming effect wiped 70 species planet one major reasons know outside forces whether meteors cars major impact planets atmosphere create temperature changes permanently affect life planet problem someone catastrophically wrong downright proud ignoramus going actually bother listen explanation like thats wall ignorance powerful rhetorical tool nothing contempt facts attempts educate make pride ignorance grow stronger try educate proudly ignorant dumber get end day problem one identity conservative identity one opposed everything liberal point despising anything even associated liberalism liberalism increasingly aligned values empiricism reason incentives conservatives reject empiricism reason multiply conservative increasingly means taking contemptuous view reality proudly ignorant grow belligerent day day amanda marcotte politics writer salon shes twitter amandamarcotte160 | 560 |
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<p>If you happen to receive a call from someone who says they’re phoning on behalf of Organizing for America (OFA)—the successor group to Barack Obama’s campaign machine—don’t be surprised if he or she implores you to vote for tea party favorites like Sharron Angle, Christine O’Donnell, or Rand Paul, or merely lambasts health care reform. The caller won’t actually be a member of Obama’s 13-million strong legion of campaign supporters, but rather a tea party prankster who has access to your personal information, thanks to OFA’s privacy-challenged get-out-the-vote (GOTV)&#160;campaign.</p>
<p>Ahead of the midterms, OFA, which was folded into the Democratic National Committee following Obama’s election, has created an <a href="https://call.barackobama.com/campaigns/FL126" type="external">online “virtual” phone bank</a> ostensibly for use by Democratic volunteers. As of Monday, the web page provided the names of Democrats who voted in 2008 but who aren’t always regular voters, plus their phone numbers, ages, locations, and party affiliations. OFA also includes a script to use to encourage those voters to vote (and for the right candidates) on Election Day: “Will you help the president by committing to vote in your local elections in 2010, including the midterm elections on November 2nd?”</p>
<p>Anyone can access the information without so much as logging in. And as it turns out, some conservative activists are doing just that. Entrepreneurial tea partiers have seized on the Democrats’ GOTV tool to lobby for their own candidates, and sometimes just to annoy Democratic voters while posing as members of Obama’s campaign machine.</p>
<p>Last week, news of the open phone bank circulated on a tea party Google group and quickly got activists scheming about how to make the best use of it. One Florida activist, Robin Stublen, says he’s called at least 40 Obama supporters using the OFA list. “Whenever I want a couple of giggles, I call the Democrats. Why not? If they’re really that stupid, you gotta have fun,” he says with a hearty laugh. “You can be rude—hell, you’re calling Democrats!”</p>
<p>In his calls to Obama supporters, Stublen has asked Nevadans to vote for Angle, the tea party candidate running against Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. He’s berated people for not giving enough money to the Democratic Party. He even called one household and pretended to be taking a poll about their love of Sarah Palin. (“They hung up on me,” he admits.) He had been hoping to wake some people up by calling at 2 a.m., but sadly for him, the site shuts down after 9 p.m.</p>
<p>Stublen posted a link to OFA’s phone-banking effort on his Facebook page, which prompted an enthusiastic reply from one supporter who suggested tactics for others making similar calls. She writes, “This is fabulous! Ask them if they like higher taxes, illegal amnesty, the national debt, how Obama handled the Gulf Oil spill, do they know what Cap and Trade is, why are we suing AZ, that Health Care is NOT free; this worked for me in DE. Be conversational and polite.”</p>
<p>There’s no way of knowing how many other mischief-makers are out there pestering Obama supporters under the guise of OFA volunteers. But the fact that Stublen has been able to make so many calls suggests that the system is not especially well-regulated or privacy-conscious. OFA, of course, isn’t the only political group this year using a virtual phone bank to rally voters to the polls. The Republicans are doing it, too. But while the Republican National Committee’s website also hosts <a href="http://gop.com/phonefromhome/" type="external">a virtual phone bank</a>, the GOP’s tech wizards have done a far better job of protecting voters’—and volunteers’—privacy than their Democratic counterparts.</p>
<p>While OFA doesn’t require potential phone bankers to register before they’re able to make calls, the GOP site not only requires registration but a live phone call from the RNC to verify your indentity. Not only that, but the Republicans have also put measures in place to protect the privacy of its volunteers, so that their own phone numbers aren’t showing up on voters’ caller IDs. The GOP is using “click to call” technology to route volunteers’ calls from their home phones through state party offices—so it will look like the call is coming from, say, the Texas GOP, not some guy in Falls Church, Virginia.</p>
<p>Shaun Dakin, the CEO and founder of the National Political Do Not Contact Registry and a privacy activist involved in Democratic politics, <a href="http://shaundakin.posterous.com/democrats-vs-republicans-on-voter-privacy-who" type="external">wrote a blog post reviewing both systems</a> last week and explained why the GOP system is superior:</p>
<p>Imagine I’m making phone calls from my home phone here in Virginia to Ohio. The voter in Ohio 1) doesn’t recognize the 703 area code so probably won’t pick up 2) if they miss the call and see the number on their caller ID list they may call me back wondering why I was calling them in the first place. I remember doing these calls in the 04 and 06 cycles and having exactly this issue occur. I’d call into rural Ohio, leave a voice mail, and a few hours later get a call from a pissed off voter wondering why I was calling them.</p>
<p>He says the GOP’s click-to-call system also doesn’t reveal the phone number of the voter to the phone banker, protecting voter privacy that much more. “Privacy of voters is not something that either party cares about, but it looks like the Republicans have the edge there,” he says in an interview.</p>
<p>Dakin is not the only blogger shocked by OFA’s disregard of voter privacy. <a href="http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/democrats-online-phone-bank-system-compromises-americans-identity-security/" type="external">Bryan Preston at PajamasMedia</a> blogged about it last week, warning about the potential for identity theft and other ills, writing:</p>
<p>This is NOT standard practice for political parties. When a party has a volunteer work their phone bank, they typically have the phone bank worker sign documentation (paper or digitally), usually stating that they won’t misuse the information to which they are being granted access. The phone bank typically controls access either with a password account if the system is online, or by physically limiting access to where they have the phone bank if it’s an office style set-up. You don’t just let any person wander in off the street, rifle through your voter files and make calls on your behalf.</p>
<p>But that’s just what the DNC and OFA are doing here. And these are people who want us to trust them with our health care?</p>
<p>Dalkin says that OFA’s casual disregard for voter privacy “just goes down to the means justify the ends” mentality at work in modern politics. Presumably, having a few tea party pranksters make calls that piss off a few voters is simply the cost of doing business that is outweighed by the ease with which millions of OFA volunteers are making legitimate political appeals.</p>
<p>Lynda Tran, a spokeswoman for OFA, says she was unaware of the tea party mischief-makers, and she hasn’t heard any complaints about privacy issues. She insists that “information that’s on that website is for the most part what you would find in any Yellow Pages.” She says the site was designed to create as few hurdles as possible to getting volunteers involved. “We recognize that we’re in an always-on-the-go-society and we wanted to make sure that there are more tools out there that made it easier for people to volunteer.” And it’s working, she notes, adding that this weekend, using the calling tool, OFA contacted a million potential voters in a 24-hour period.</p>
<p>And Josh Hendler, OFA’s technology director writes in an email that the democrats did put measures in place to ensure that the system was not being misused. He writes:</p>
<p>We do allow users to make several calls without logging in. However, we also take several precautions including: (i) users may only make seven calls, and then are forced to authenticate, (ii) users can’t see age or partisanship information without logging in, (iii) we limit the overall number of voters that a user can see in a given day.</p>
<p>Apparently, though, some of these features are relatively recent, and mainly designed to prevent data-harvesting by hackers. When I checked the site on Monday, I never logged in but was very much able to see voters’ age, location, gender, phone number, and party affiliation (something some people might not necessarily want their neighbors to know about). I even made a few calls just to check that the database was legit. It was, though at least one person hung up on me—a sign perhaps that the calling tool might be working too well.</p>
<p>By Wednesday, the age and party affiliation features had disappeared from the files available to the casual visitor. Hendler won’t concede that the changes were made in response to blogger complaints about privacy issues: “I wouldn’t interpret bug-fixes and feature tweaks to mean anything beyond our standard process.” Even so, he says OFA isn’t necessarily ignoring critics, either. “I think that any organization that isn’t responding to feedback from users isn’t doing a very good job developing apps.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | happen receive call someone says theyre phoning behalf organizing america ofathe successor group barack obamas campaign machinedont surprised implores vote tea party favorites like sharron angle christine odonnell rand paul merely lambasts health care reform caller wont actually member obamas 13million strong legion campaign supporters rather tea party prankster access personal information thanks ofas privacychallenged getoutthevote gotv160campaign ahead midterms ofa folded democratic national committee following obamas election created online virtual phone bank ostensibly use democratic volunteers monday web page provided names democrats voted 2008 arent always regular voters plus phone numbers ages locations party affiliations ofa also includes script use encourage voters vote right candidates election day help president committing vote local elections 2010 including midterm elections november 2nd anyone access information without much logging turns conservative activists entrepreneurial tea partiers seized democrats gotv tool lobby candidates sometimes annoy democratic voters posing members obamas campaign machine last week news open phone bank circulated tea party google group quickly got activists scheming make best use one florida activist robin stublen says hes called least 40 obama supporters using ofa list whenever want couple giggles call democrats theyre really stupid got ta fun says hearty laugh rudehell youre calling democrats calls obama supporters stublen asked nevadans vote angle tea party candidate running senate majority leader harry reid hes berated people giving enough money democratic party even called one household pretended taking poll love sarah palin hung admits hoping wake people calling 2 sadly site shuts 9 pm stublen posted link ofas phonebanking effort facebook page prompted enthusiastic reply one supporter suggested tactics others making similar calls writes fabulous ask like higher taxes illegal amnesty national debt obama handled gulf oil spill know cap trade suing az health care free worked de conversational polite theres way knowing many mischiefmakers pestering obama supporters guise ofa volunteers fact stublen able make many calls suggests system especially wellregulated privacyconscious ofa course isnt political group year using virtual phone bank rally voters polls republicans republican national committees website also hosts virtual phone bank gops tech wizards done far better job protecting votersand volunteersprivacy democratic counterparts ofa doesnt require potential phone bankers register theyre able make calls gop site requires registration live phone call rnc verify indentity republicans also put measures place protect privacy volunteers phone numbers arent showing voters caller ids gop using click call technology route volunteers calls home phones state party officesso look like call coming say texas gop guy falls church virginia shaun dakin ceo founder national political contact registry privacy activist involved democratic politics wrote blog post reviewing systems last week explained gop system superior imagine im making phone calls home phone virginia ohio voter ohio 1 doesnt recognize 703 area code probably wont pick 2 miss call see number caller id list may call back wondering calling first place remember calls 04 06 cycles exactly issue occur id call rural ohio leave voice mail hours later get call pissed voter wondering calling says gops clicktocall system also doesnt reveal phone number voter phone banker protecting voter privacy much privacy voters something either party cares looks like republicans edge says interview dakin blogger shocked ofas disregard voter privacy bryan preston pajamasmedia blogged last week warning potential identity theft ills writing standard practice political parties party volunteer work phone bank typically phone bank worker sign documentation paper digitally usually stating wont misuse information granted access phone bank typically controls access either password account system online physically limiting access phone bank office style setup dont let person wander street rifle voter files make calls behalf thats dnc ofa people want us trust health care dalkin says ofas casual disregard voter privacy goes means justify ends mentality work modern politics presumably tea party pranksters make calls piss voters simply cost business outweighed ease millions ofa volunteers making legitimate political appeals lynda tran spokeswoman ofa says unaware tea party mischiefmakers hasnt heard complaints privacy issues insists information thats website part would find yellow pages says site designed create hurdles possible getting volunteers involved recognize alwaysonthegosociety wanted make sure tools made easier people volunteer working notes adding weekend using calling tool ofa contacted million potential voters 24hour period josh hendler ofas technology director writes email democrats put measures place ensure system misused writes allow users make several calls without logging however also take several precautions including users may make seven calls forced authenticate ii users cant see age partisanship information without logging iii limit overall number voters user see given day apparently though features relatively recent mainly designed prevent dataharvesting hackers checked site monday never logged much able see voters age location gender phone number party affiliation something people might necessarily want neighbors know even made calls check database legit though least one person hung mea sign perhaps calling tool might working well wednesday age party affiliation features disappeared files available casual visitor hendler wont concede changes made response blogger complaints privacy issues wouldnt interpret bugfixes feature tweaks mean anything beyond standard process even says ofa isnt necessarily ignoring critics either think organization isnt responding feedback users isnt good job developing apps | 844 |
<p>Just got back from an event-filled two-plus weeks in the UK and I though I should share a few thoughts and impressions.</p>
<p>We visited briefly in Edinburgh, Scotland, London, Exeter and Oxford, the ancient university town where our daughter Ariel was graduating with a DPhil in Education — the primary purpose of our visit.</p>
<p>The first thing that struck me coming strait from the States was the scarcity of clearly overweight people. Sure you see a few, but not the huge number of really dangerously overweight people one sees everyday in the US, where bad food products are shamelessly pushed like addictive drugs. Perusing the supermarkets in Britain, it’s clear why this is so: the shelves aren’t bulging with oversized boxes of sugared cereal, potato chips, corn ships and other amalgams of starch, sugars and fats of all types, or aisles full of sweets.</p>
<p>Restaurant meals also offer normal sized portions, not huge quantities of foot that beckon guests to eat until they can’t stand up easily as in all too many US establishments.</p>
<p>The second thing I noticed — even outside of London — was a wide array of newspapers, ranging from junk like the&#160;Sun&#160;and the&#160;Daily Mail&#160;to serious journals of the center right like the&#160;Financial Times&#160;and the&#160;Times&#160;to left-leaning papers like the&#160;Guardian&#160;and the&#160;Independent. And people actually read the things.</p>
<p>Back in Philadelphia, the two options are the&#160;Inquirer&#160;and the&#160;Daily News, both desiccated shadows of their former selves and owned by the same publisher. If you’re lucky, and are near Center City, you might also find on newsstands a few copies of the&#160;NY Times&#160;and maybe even a&#160;Wall Street Journal, but don’t count on it.</p>
<p>The political scene, meanwhile, bears some small, superficial resemblance to the US at the moment, with a dysfunctional conservative government in power, and a leftist “resistance” in the wings, but that’s where all similarity ends.</p>
<p>In the US, the “resistance” is largely an illusion–really a kind of Democratic Party “rebranding” project. On the one hand you have the Democratic Party establishment, led these days by New York Sen. Chuck Schumer, a bought-and-paid lackey of the Wall Street banking industry, whose claim to fame is so far keeping his Senate colleagues in line voting as a bloc against every attempt by Senate Republicans to undo Obamacare. On the other hand, there’s Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont who had the Democratic nomination stolen from him by the unprincipled machinations of that Democratic Party establishment during last year’s primary campaign. Sanders, recall, as many had predicted, folded up his battle tent at the end of that manipulated primary contest and meekly endorsed the corrupt winner, Hillary Clinton. Since then he has been talking up his “political revolution,” but has yet to even lay out an alternative “single-payer” Medicare-for-All plan to counter Republicans and Trump and their schemes to steal what little health coverage poorer Americans have now, much less demand that Congressional Democrats stop fudging and commit to health care as a right, and to enacting a Canadian-style system that covers everyone.</p>
<p>Over in Britain, there’s Jeremy Corbyn, an unapologetic left-wing Labour member of parliament often wrongly portrayed in the US media as a British Bernie Sanders clone. They may both have gray hair and share a youthful history of civil rights and anti-war activism, but the similarities stop there. For one thing, Corbyn never stopped being an anti-war activist. Even during the heat of a bitterly fought parliamentary election campaign in June he never pandered to fear— even in the wake of a terrorist bombing of a huge youth concert in Manchester — or stopped calling for a halt to British military adventurism and blind support for US military actions, and for an end to military sales to tyrannical regimes like Saudi Arabia. (Sanders was calling for the US to work with Saudi Arabia and other dictatorial Arab regimes to challenge both Assad and ISIS).</p>
<p>Also different from Sanders is Corbyn’s and his movement’s strategy after losing to the Conservatives on June 8 (while stunningly denying the Conservatives a working parliamentary majority). Since then Corbyn has been visiting and campaigning in each closely contested parliamentary district across the UK, in preparation for what is likely to be a new election before year’s end. Not surprisingly, Corbyn, who as recently as last April was being mocked and derided, much like Sanders, in the establishment media, as an out of touch throwback to the ‘60s and ‘70s era, is viewed more favorably than PM Theresa May or any of her likely Conservative Party successors. His party, now rebranded as socialist again, not the so-called “New Labour” neoliberal party it was under war criminal Tony Blair, is being touted as likely to win in any coming national election contest.</p>
<p>The focus of Corbyn’s and the Labour Party’s campaigning at this point is not simply attacking May and the Conservatives, but rather involves laying out a new vision for a future Labour government — one that will re-fund the hugely popular but financially starved National Health Service, end college tuition and perhaps reduce the debt burden of already graduated students, restore funding for local police, resist and undo civil liberties-threatening legislation, improve funding for local education, renationalize the rail system, and end Britain’s slavish acquiescence in backing US militarist foreign policy.</p>
<p>Contrast that with the obsessively negative anti-Trump, anti-Republican focus of the so-called “resistance” movement and of Sanders’ so-called “political revolution” in the US.</p>
<p>There are plenty of Corbyn critics in the UK, including among disgruntled neoliberal Labourites who feel their party has been stolen away from them, but no one in the UK can have any doubt about what the revitalized Labour Party and its standard-bearer, “Prime-Minister-in-Waiting” Jeremy Corbyn, stand for.</p>
<p>Can anyone in the US honestly say that about the Democratic Party, or even, for that matter, about its still most popular would-be presidential contender, Bernie Sanders? I know I can’t. The latest Democratic Party statement about its goals, called “A Better Deal for Workers,” sounds as bland as milquetoast and could have been written by Hillary Clinton. I mean seriously, it’s just a call for higher pay for workers, lower costs by negotiating, finally, for lower drug prices, a revived anti-trust effort and tax credits to business for retraining laid-off workers. Not even a mention of restoring the decimated the right of workers to form unions and to negotiate contracts without endless delays and unpunished labor law violations by management.</p>
<p>Meanwhile Sanders hasn’t even come out against the Democrats’ continual obsession with the baseless claim that Russians hacked the DNC and helped elect Trump. And I can’t tell you what his position is on NATO expansion up to Russia’s borders, or Trump’s brinksmanship in the South China Sea, because Sanders has said nothing. Nor has Sanders said a word about ending US militarism abroad or cutting military spending significantly —only about “cutting waste” — something any Republican could say too.</p>
<p>Finally a word about health care differences.</p>
<p>While in the UK, I began to feel short of breath on exertion — a scary and unfamiliar condition that worsened markedly over the week. Eventually I went to a doctor who arranged for me to go to an ambulatory ward at the local National Health Service facility, John Radcliffe Hospital. There, with no financial biopsy required before admission, I was seen by a string of excellent, caring and patient doctors, including pulmonary and cardiac specialists, given a battery of blood tests, an Xray, CT-Scan and echocardiogram, and diagnosed with congestive heart failure.</p>
<p>I was also successfully treated for a low blood oxygen level that I was told prevented me from safely flying home, and five days later was able to do so, in order to be treated in the US by doctors covered by my Blue Cross insurance plan.</p>
<p>No one at the NHS made me pay a penny before I left the hospital. I may eventually get a bill, as I was advised that Blue Cross “probably won’t” reimburse the facility for all they did because “we don’t have codes for procedures or for doctors.” (The NHS just has a per day charge, which for Blue Cross in the US, which is used to hospitals charging for every aspirin, simply doesn’t compute.) But I’m told my bill will be “not be that much” since, as a tourist suffering an emergency, I will be charged as would a British resident on the NHS.</p>
<p>I’ll say this about my experience with the NHS: my American doctors, both excellent, say my treatment in the UK was stellar, something you cannot always say about care in the US — especially if you’re poor or, god forbid, uninsured. But according to 2016 OECD statistics, Britain pays $3900 per person for that level health care, which everyone has access to for free, while we in the US spends $9000 per person, and tens of millions of us can’t even get access to it.</p>
<p>And now our government is trying mightily to take medical coverage away from 20-30 million more of us…and still there’s no&#160;real&#160;revolution so far.</p>
<p>(Note: I am being assured that my condition is treatable, that my basic health is good, and that I should be back in good shape after a program of recovery is set up.)</p> | true | 4 | got back eventfilled twoplus weeks uk though share thoughts impressions visited briefly edinburgh scotland london exeter oxford ancient university town daughter ariel graduating dphil education primary purpose visit first thing struck coming strait states scarcity clearly overweight people sure see huge number really dangerously overweight people one sees everyday us bad food products shamelessly pushed like addictive drugs perusing supermarkets britain clear shelves arent bulging oversized boxes sugared cereal potato chips corn ships amalgams starch sugars fats types aisles full sweets restaurant meals also offer normal sized portions huge quantities foot beckon guests eat cant stand easily many us establishments second thing noticed even outside london wide array newspapers ranging junk like the160sun160and the160daily mail160to serious journals center right like the160financial times160and the160times160to leftleaning papers like the160guardian160and the160independent people actually read things back philadelphia two options the160inquirer160and the160daily news desiccated shadows former selves owned publisher youre lucky near center city might also find newsstands copies the160ny times160and maybe even a160wall street journal dont count political scene meanwhile bears small superficial resemblance us moment dysfunctional conservative government power leftist resistance wings thats similarity ends us resistance largely illusionreally kind democratic party rebranding project one hand democratic party establishment led days new york sen chuck schumer boughtandpaid lackey wall street banking industry whose claim fame far keeping senate colleagues line voting bloc every attempt senate republicans undo obamacare hand theres sen bernie sanders independent vermont democratic nomination stolen unprincipled machinations democratic party establishment last years primary campaign sanders recall many predicted folded battle tent end manipulated primary contest meekly endorsed corrupt winner hillary clinton since talking political revolution yet even lay alternative singlepayer medicareforall plan counter republicans trump schemes steal little health coverage poorer americans much less demand congressional democrats stop fudging commit health care right enacting canadianstyle system covers everyone britain theres jeremy corbyn unapologetic leftwing labour member parliament often wrongly portrayed us media british bernie sanders clone may gray hair share youthful history civil rights antiwar activism similarities stop one thing corbyn never stopped antiwar activist even heat bitterly fought parliamentary election campaign june never pandered fear even wake terrorist bombing huge youth concert manchester stopped calling halt british military adventurism blind support us military actions end military sales tyrannical regimes like saudi arabia sanders calling us work saudi arabia dictatorial arab regimes challenge assad isis also different sanders corbyns movements strategy losing conservatives june 8 stunningly denying conservatives working parliamentary majority since corbyn visiting campaigning closely contested parliamentary district across uk preparation likely new election years end surprisingly corbyn recently last april mocked derided much like sanders establishment media touch throwback 60s 70s era viewed favorably pm theresa may likely conservative party successors party rebranded socialist socalled new labour neoliberal party war criminal tony blair touted likely win coming national election contest focus corbyns labour partys campaigning point simply attacking may conservatives rather involves laying new vision future labour government one refund hugely popular financially starved national health service end college tuition perhaps reduce debt burden already graduated students restore funding local police resist undo civil libertiesthreatening legislation improve funding local education renationalize rail system end britains slavish acquiescence backing us militarist foreign policy contrast obsessively negative antitrump antirepublican focus socalled resistance movement sanders socalled political revolution us plenty corbyn critics uk including among disgruntled neoliberal labourites feel party stolen away one uk doubt revitalized labour party standardbearer primeministerinwaiting jeremy corbyn stand anyone us honestly say democratic party even matter still popular wouldbe presidential contender bernie sanders know cant latest democratic party statement goals called better deal workers sounds bland milquetoast could written hillary clinton mean seriously call higher pay workers lower costs negotiating finally lower drug prices revived antitrust effort tax credits business retraining laidoff workers even mention restoring decimated right workers form unions negotiate contracts without endless delays unpunished labor law violations management meanwhile sanders hasnt even come democrats continual obsession baseless claim russians hacked dnc helped elect trump cant tell position nato expansion russias borders trumps brinksmanship south china sea sanders said nothing sanders said word ending us militarism abroad cutting military spending significantly cutting waste something republican could say finally word health care differences uk began feel short breath exertion scary unfamiliar condition worsened markedly week eventually went doctor arranged go ambulatory ward local national health service facility john radcliffe hospital financial biopsy required admission seen string excellent caring patient doctors including pulmonary cardiac specialists given battery blood tests xray ctscan echocardiogram diagnosed congestive heart failure also successfully treated low blood oxygen level told prevented safely flying home five days later able order treated us doctors covered blue cross insurance plan one nhs made pay penny left hospital may eventually get bill advised blue cross probably wont reimburse facility dont codes procedures doctors nhs per day charge blue cross us used hospitals charging every aspirin simply doesnt compute im told bill much since tourist suffering emergency charged would british resident nhs ill say experience nhs american doctors excellent say treatment uk stellar something always say care us especially youre poor god forbid uninsured according 2016 oecd statistics britain pays 3900 per person level health care everyone access free us spends 9000 per person tens millions us cant even get access government trying mightily take medical coverage away 2030 million usand still theres no160real160revolution far note assured condition treatable basic health good back good shape program recovery set | 892 |
<p>&lt;a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_H._Petraeus_press_briefing_2007.jpg"&gt;DoD&lt;/a&gt;/Wikimedia</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com" type="external" />This <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175404/" type="external">story</a> first appeared on the <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/" type="external">TomDispatch</a> website.</p>
<p>I have a fairy tale for you. Once upon a time, a representative democracy was established with a constitution that distilled the wisdom of the ages. Its foundational principles included civilian control of the military and a system of checks and balances that encouraged vigorous public debate as a basis for effective policy-making.</p>
<p>In this fabled land, the role of civilian leaders was, in part, to serve as a check on military ambition and endless wars. They were to prove cautious, too, in committing their citizen-soldiers to battle, and when they did, they would issue Congressional declarations of war so that everyone could grasp the nature of the national emergency at hand and the necessity of military action. In waging war, they would rely on shared sacrifice and even raise taxes. When necessary, it was their job to rein in or even remove military leaders who acted like Caesar (read: General Douglas MacArthur) rather than <a href="http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/rulersleaderskings/p/Cincinnatus.htm" type="external">Cincinnatus</a> (read: General George Washington).</p>
<p>Yes, you’ve guessed it: it’s not a fairy tale, or at least not completely. It’s the United States—an older America that, despite a decidedly checkered and often imperial past, was nevertheless proud of its reluctance to fight, but steadfast in its commitment to win once it decided that battle was the course of action. Even then, this America remained resolute in its reluctance to embrace a military ethos or bow down before military gods, committed as it was to civilian primacy and the avoidance of a large standing army.</p>
<p>Paradoxically, the last vestiges of this America could still be seen some 50 years ago under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, himself a retired five-star general, who tried with varying degrees of success to limit defense spending, and who famously warned in his <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bqr5DVx3dw" type="external">farewell address</a> in 1961 of the dangers of a surging “military-industrial complex.”</p>
<p>And leaping forward almost four decades, here’s another paradox for you: prior to September 11, 2001, what many leading pundits and commentators fretted most about was an alleged widening gap between American civilians and their now all-volunteer military. In 1997, Wall Street Journal Pentagon correspondent Tom Ricks typically <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/past/issues/97jul/milisoc.htm" type="external">worried</a> about an all-volunteer military that saw civilians as privileged and flabby, increasingly considered itself a breed apart, and held the public it served in contempt.</p>
<p>Concerned as well was Richard Kohn, former chief historian of the US Air Force. In a special lecture to Air Force Academy cadets in 1999 on “the erosion of civilian control of the military in the United States today,” Kohn worried about a military that openly disrespected President Bill Clinton, its commander-in-chief, even as it meddled in areas like policy-making for which it was not suited and from which it had been excluded by the Constitution.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/1608460711/ref=nosim/?tag=tomdispatch-20" type="external" />How times have changed. In the post-9/11 world, a far more insidious problem confronts us. That gap, if it ever existed, is no more. Instead, at the highest levels, what’s civilian and what’s military are increasingly difficult to tell apart as the two spheres blur and blend. Today, civilian control of the military is largely a principle without a meaning, while inside Washington’s Beltway, even with a scorecard it’s hard to tell the players apart.</p>
<p>In the process, the military has gained a kind of unspoken and distinctly un-American primacy. Put another way, after a decade-long budgetary feeding frenzy, the Pentagon has soared, while an <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/american-leviathan" type="external">eclipsed</a> Department of State, all those civilian diplomats, has been left to eke out a living on <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/our-state-department-a-ti_b_748658.html" type="external">budgetary scraps</a> or, as in Iraq today, arm and <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175401/tomgram%3A_peter_van_buren%2C_how_not_to_withdraw_from_iraq/" type="external">militarize itself</a>. State, in other words, has become a remora clinging to the predatory shark that is the Department of Defense.</p>
<p>Large and small, symbolic or otherwise, signs of this civil-military blending (with the military significantly running the show) can be found almost anywhere you look. Civilian presidents regularly appear in military flight gear or jackets, as George W. Bush <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2003-05-01/politics/bush.carrier.landing_1_bush-speech-observation-deck-flight-deck?_s=PM:ALLPOLITICS" type="external">famously did</a> before his “Mission Accomplished” speech on the deck of the USS. Abraham Lincoln in 2003 and as President Obama <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/william-astore/military-clothing-for-pre_b_517635.html" type="external">did</a> on a visit to US troops in Afghanistan in 2010. Military leaders are now regularly put in charge of previously civilian intelligence agencies, as in the case of General David Petraeus, now <a href="http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tobyharnden/100082456/general-david-petraeus-tipped-to-take-over-cia/" type="external">nominated</a> to leave the Afghan battlefield and become director of the Central Intelligence Agency.</p>
<p>Civilian agencies now militarize themselves and wage war (as the CIA has done or is doing in various <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175155/tom_engelhardt_the_perfect_weapon" type="external">drone wars</a> in the Greater Middle East, often <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/09/world/middleeast/09intel.html" type="external">in conjunction with</a> the military). America’s part-time citizen-soldiers have <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174957/william_astore_generation_warfighter" type="external">morphed into</a> full-time warriors and warfighters, if not the equivalent of <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175034/william_astore_america%27s_foreign_legion" type="external">foreign legionnaires</a>. America’s civilian embassies continue to morph into so many <a href="http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2007/08/us_embassy_in_baghdad_fortress.html" type="external">militarized fortresses</a> protected by <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304906004576369801913947130.html" type="external">armed mercenaries</a>. And above all, among policy arguments in Washington, whether you’re a civilian official or a military one, the choices are increasingly between militarized alternatives—say, counterinsurgency versus counterterror—with that most civilian of all options, peace, not even on that “table” where officials eternally claim that all options are placed.</p>
<p>At the same time, a new civic religion at whose heart is military-worship implores us to “support our troops” (without any concomitant call to <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175398/tom_engelhardt_welcome_to_post-Legal_america" type="external">uphold our laws</a> and our Constitution). And even as ordinary Americans express serious doubts about the wisdom and <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175178/william_astore_they%27re_wasted" type="external">cost</a> of an open-ended commitment to Afghanistan—64% of Americans don’t believe the Afghan war is worth fighting, and 73% would prefer sizable withdrawals of US troops this summer, according to a <a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/03/15/134559832/poll-shows-64-percent-of-americans-saying-afghan-war-not-worth-it" type="external">recent Washington Post/ABC News poll</a>—the Pentagon continues to prepare for a future of “ <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/two-three-many-afghanistans" type="external">two, three, many Afghanistans</a>,” as Michael Klare, defense correspondent for the Nation magazine, noted in April 2010.</p>
<p>Clearly, if we’re not careful, the civilian and military will become the Washington equivalent of Siamese twins, co-joined at the head and, however bitter their internecine arguments, sharing the same underlying militarized thought processes. &#160;</p>
<p>Militarism Run Rampant</p>
<p>To separate such twins is a dicey thing, medically speaking, and no less so politically when the lines between civilian and military authority are being so rapidly erased. Make no mistake, as President Obama is wont to say, the impact of this erasure has been devastating.</p>
<p>It’s both sensible and logical to argue that our president and elected representatives must serve as a check on the military establishment, rather than issuing blank checks to them. It’s both sensible and logical to argue that all wars, as required by the Constitution, must have a Congressional declaration before American troops and treasure are committed. It’s both sensible and logical to argue that, as good as our military is, it ultimately can’t win someone else’s civil war (Iraq) or nation-build in a place where the concept of “nation” is little more than notional (Afghanistan).</p>
<p>Sensible and logical, yes, but such arguments have been made—and roundly ignored. They aren’t given the time of day among serious policy types in Washington, where to question the efficacy and legitimacy of the forces and tactics being used is simply not acceptable. Sharing one brain and one ethos means being incapable of grasping one’s own militarized rigidity or truly recognizing the perils that have been unleashed on this nation.</p>
<p>There’s a word for this disease, even if after all these years it remains remarkably foreign to American ears: militarism. When Americans think of that word, they tend to conjure up images of fanatical jackbooted Nazis or suicidal Japanese kamikazes, and so the concept seems eminently dismissible. But militarism also describes a situation in which a country’s civil society and political culture are permeated to the point of dominance by military attitudes and values—an undeniable fact of life, I would argue, in America today.</p>
<p>Militarists see war as productive, as offering solutions rather than posing problems. They see it as <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175276/william_astore_our_american_heroes" type="external">heroic</a>. (President Bush famously <a href="http://www.vetvoice.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=764" type="external">waxed poetic</a> about the “exciting” and “romantic” nature of fighting in Afghanistan.) When wars are romanticized as action-packed tests of a nation’s warriors, cuts to war spending are naturally seen as perfidiously unpatriotic—as kneecapping those same heroes. Hence our ever-growing “defense” budgets, even as a sledgehammer of a national debt hobbles America’s economic vitality and social security.</p>
<p>The end result of this militaristic mindset is a garrison state, constantly girding itself for national security crises, real or perceived, as in the last decade’s <a href="http://www.agenceglobal.com/Article.asp?Id=2567" type="external">open-ended</a> and frantic “war on terror.”</p>
<p>A singular danger of such a mindset, as pointed out by Laurence Radway in a telling article on “militarism” in the International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences, is that militarists, unable to select means appropriate to true defense needs, end up jeopardizing the very national security they say they’re seeking to safeguard. By exaggerating threats, defining all responses to those threats in military terms, dismissing dissenters as weak and deluded (even when they prove right), and being incapable of questioning their principles, they repeat the same mistakes again and again.</p>
<p>Until Americans turn away from militarism and learn again how to “support our Constitution” more than our troops (and don’t worry: those troops swear an oath to that very Constitution), until we return to a broader vision of national security that deemphasizes a garrison mentality, we will continue to wound, perhaps mortally, a once great republic.</p>
<p>And that’s no fairy tale, it’s a fact.</p>
<p>William J. Astore is a retired lieutenant colonel (USAF), professor of history, and <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/archive/175391/william_astore_the_crash_and_burn_of_old_regimes" type="external">TomDispatch regular</a>. He welcomes reader comments at <a href="mailto:wjastore@gmail.com" type="external">wjastore@gmail.com</a>. To stay on top of important articles like these, sign up to receive the latest updates from TomDispatch.com <a href="https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:Join/signupId:43308/acctId:25612" type="external">here</a>.</p> | true | 4 | lta hrefhttpenwikipediaorgwikifiledavid_h_petraeus_press_briefing_2007jpggtdodltagtwikimedia story first appeared tomdispatch website fairy tale upon time representative democracy established constitution distilled wisdom ages foundational principles included civilian control military system checks balances encouraged vigorous public debate basis effective policymaking fabled land role civilian leaders part serve check military ambition endless wars prove cautious committing citizensoldiers battle would issue congressional declarations war everyone could grasp nature national emergency hand necessity military action waging war would rely shared sacrifice even raise taxes necessary job rein even remove military leaders acted like caesar read general douglas macarthur rather cincinnatus read general george washington yes youve guessed fairy tale least completely united statesan older america despite decidedly checkered often imperial past nevertheless proud reluctance fight steadfast commitment win decided battle course action even america remained resolute reluctance embrace military ethos bow military gods committed civilian primacy avoidance large standing army paradoxically last vestiges america could still seen 50 years ago president dwight eisenhower retired fivestar general tried varying degrees success limit defense spending famously warned farewell address 1961 dangers surging militaryindustrial complex leaping forward almost four decades heres another paradox prior september 11 2001 many leading pundits commentators fretted alleged widening gap american civilians allvolunteer military 1997 wall street journal pentagon correspondent tom ricks typically worried allvolunteer military saw civilians privileged flabby increasingly considered breed apart held public served contempt concerned well richard kohn former chief historian us air force special lecture air force academy cadets 1999 erosion civilian control military united states today kohn worried military openly disrespected president bill clinton commanderinchief even meddled areas like policymaking suited excluded constitution times changed post911 world far insidious problem confronts us gap ever existed instead highest levels whats civilian whats military increasingly difficult tell apart two spheres blur blend today civilian control military largely principle without meaning inside washingtons beltway even scorecard hard tell players apart process military gained kind unspoken distinctly unamerican primacy put another way decadelong budgetary feeding frenzy pentagon soared eclipsed department state civilian diplomats left eke living budgetary scraps iraq today arm militarize state words become remora clinging predatory shark department defense large small symbolic otherwise signs civilmilitary blending military significantly running show found almost anywhere look civilian presidents regularly appear military flight gear jackets george w bush famously mission accomplished speech deck uss abraham lincoln 2003 president obama visit us troops afghanistan 2010 military leaders regularly put charge previously civilian intelligence agencies case general david petraeus nominated leave afghan battlefield become director central intelligence agency civilian agencies militarize wage war cia done various drone wars greater middle east often conjunction military americas parttime citizensoldiers morphed fulltime warriors warfighters equivalent foreign legionnaires americas civilian embassies continue morph many militarized fortresses protected armed mercenaries among policy arguments washington whether youre civilian official military one choices increasingly militarized alternativessay counterinsurgency versus counterterrorwith civilian options peace even table officials eternally claim options placed time new civic religion whose heart militaryworship implores us support troops without concomitant call uphold laws constitution even ordinary americans express serious doubts wisdom cost openended commitment afghanistan64 americans dont believe afghan war worth fighting 73 would prefer sizable withdrawals us troops summer according recent washington postabc news pollthe pentagon continues prepare future two three many afghanistans michael klare defense correspondent nation magazine noted april 2010 clearly careful civilian military become washington equivalent siamese twins cojoined head however bitter internecine arguments sharing underlying militarized thought processes 160 militarism run rampant separate twins dicey thing medically speaking less politically lines civilian military authority rapidly erased make mistake president obama wont say impact erasure devastating sensible logical argue president elected representatives must serve check military establishment rather issuing blank checks sensible logical argue wars required constitution must congressional declaration american troops treasure committed sensible logical argue good military ultimately cant win someone elses civil war iraq nationbuild place concept nation little notional afghanistan sensible logical yes arguments madeand roundly ignored arent given time day among serious policy types washington question efficacy legitimacy forces tactics used simply acceptable sharing one brain one ethos means incapable grasping ones militarized rigidity truly recognizing perils unleashed nation theres word disease even years remains remarkably foreign american ears militarism americans think word tend conjure images fanatical jackbooted nazis suicidal japanese kamikazes concept seems eminently dismissible militarism also describes situation countrys civil society political culture permeated point dominance military attitudes valuesan undeniable fact life would argue america today militarists see war productive offering solutions rather posing problems see heroic president bush famously waxed poetic exciting romantic nature fighting afghanistan wars romanticized actionpacked tests nations warriors cuts war spending naturally seen perfidiously unpatrioticas kneecapping heroes hence evergrowing defense budgets even sledgehammer national debt hobbles americas economic vitality social security end result militaristic mindset garrison state constantly girding national security crises real perceived last decades openended frantic war terror singular danger mindset pointed laurence radway telling article militarism international encyclopedia social sciences militarists unable select means appropriate true defense needs end jeopardizing national security say theyre seeking safeguard exaggerating threats defining responses threats military terms dismissing dissenters weak deluded even prove right incapable questioning principles repeat mistakes americans turn away militarism learn support constitution troops dont worry troops swear oath constitution return broader vision national security deemphasizes garrison mentality continue wound perhaps mortally great republic thats fairy tale fact william j astore retired lieutenant colonel usaf professor history tomdispatch regular welcomes reader comments wjastoregmailcom stay top important articles like sign receive latest updates tomdispatchcom | 898 |
<p>The&#160; <a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/04/29/us/justices-appear-willing-to-give-a-fired-public-worker-only-half-a-victory.html?smid=tw-share&amp;_r=0&amp;referrer=" type="external">New York Times</a>&#160;reports on a complicated Supreme Court case involving the First Amendment rights of a public employee in Alabama. The case boils down to this: Edward Lane, a state employee, was subpoenaed to testify at a federal trial about the corruption of another state employee. As a result of his testimony, Lane was fired by his boss. Lane claims that his First Amendment rights were violated; the lower courts have ruled against him. Now the Supreme Court is considering the case.</p>
<p>But this in the&#160;Times&#160;report is what caught my eye:</p>
<p>The federal appeals court in Atlanta said it was unnecessary to decide who was right because public employees have no First Amendment protections in any event for statements they make as part of their official duties.</p>
<p>Since “the record fails to establish that Lane testified as a citizen on a matter of public concern,” the appeals court said in&#160; <a href="http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/unpub/ops/201216192.pdf" type="external">an unsigned opinion</a>, “he cannot state a claim for retaliation under the First Amendment.”</p>
<p>While it seems that the Supreme Court intends to uphold the claim that employees like Lane do have such First Amendment rights (though it’s not clear whether the Court will uphold the claim that Lane himself had such a right at the time of his testimony, or at least that it was a “clearly established” right at that time), I’m struck by this disjuncture between the First Amendment rights one is said to have as a citizen versus the First Amendment rights one does not have as an employee of the government. The&#160; <a href="http://www.ca11.uscourts.gov/unpub/ops/201216192.pdf" type="external">federal appeals court puts the contrast clearly</a>:</p>
<p>Although the district court couched its decision in terms of qualified immunity, it determined that Lane’s speech was made pursuant to his official duties as CITY’s Director, not as a citizen on a matter of public concern. We reach the same conclusion.</p>
<p>[.&#160;.&#160;.]</p>
<p>To establish a claim of retaliation for protected speech under the First Amendment, a public employee must show, among other things, that he “spoke as a citizen on a matter of public concern.” See Garcetti v. Ceballos, 126&#160;S.Ct.&#160;1951, 1958 (2006) (a decision further restricting public employees’ protected speech). A government employee whose speech is made pursuant to his official duties is not speaking as citizen. See id. at 1960; Battle v. Bd. of Regents, 468&#160;F.3d&#160;755, 760 (11th&#160;Cir. 2006). Even if an employee was not required to make the speech as part of his official duties, he enjoys no First Amendment protection if his speech “owes its existence to [the] employee’s professional responsibilities” and is “a product that ‘the employer itself has commissioned or created.’” See Abdur-Rahman v. Walker, 567&#160;F.3d&#160;1278, 1286 (11th&#160;Cir. 2009)</p>
<p>I’ve reported on this blog many a time about the absence of First Amendment protections for workers in the private sector. And though I’ve talked less about this, some of that also holds true for workers in the public sector.</p>
<p>But what strikes me about this case is how the state’s investment in maintaining the hierarchical relationship of employer to employee (or, at least, its investment in not extending basic constitutional rights to the employee) creates a schizophrenia within the state. On the one hand, the state compels Lane to testify at a federal trial about the corruption of a public employee because, presumably, the state has a vested interest in that testimony; on the other hand, the state does not believe its own constitutional protections protect Lane when he performs what the state compels him to perform. As the federal appeals court puts it:</p>
<p>That Lane testified about his official activities pursuant to a subpoena and in the litigation context, in and of itself, does not bring Lane’s speech within the protection of the First Amendment.</p>
<p>According to the&#160;Times, even Chief Justice Roberts seemed to think this was a bridge too far:</p>
<p>Chief Justice John&#160;G. Roberts Jr appeared sympathetic to Mr Lane. “What is he supposed to do?” he asked Mark&#160;T. Waggoner, a lawyer for Mr&#160;Franks [the boss who fired Lane]. If Mr. Lane testified truthfully, the chief justice said, he could be fired. If he lied or failed to appear, he could be punished.</p>
<p>Mr. Waggoner said that he “would never suggest that anybody not comply with a subpoena, comply with an investigation, or testify truthfully.”</p>
<p>The chief justice responded, “But you are suggesting he can be fired if he does it.”</p>
<p>The whole distinction between the freedom we enjoy as citizens versus the non-freedom we suffer as private individuals (albeit individuals employed by the government) reminds me of Kant’s essay “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kant-Political-Writings-Cambridge-History/dp/0521398371" type="external">What is Enlightenment?</a>” Attempting to delineate the various uses and imports of reason, Kant make a sharp distinction between the importance and protection of reason in the public sphere and the absence of that protection in the private sphere. More specifically, he makes a distinction between the public use of reason and the private use of reason.</p>
<p>For enlightenment of this kind, all that is needed is&#160;freedom. And the freedom in question is the most innocuous form of all—freedom to make&#160;public use&#160;of one’s reason in all matters. But I hear on all sides the cry:&#160;Don’t argue!The officer says: Don’t argue, get on parade! The tax official: Don’t’ argue, pay! The clergyman: Don’t argue, believe!.&#160;.&#160;.All this means restrictions on freedom everywhere. But which sort of restriction prevents enlightenment, and which, instead of hindering it, can actually promote it? I reply: The&#160;public&#160;use of man’s reason must always be free, and it alone can bring about enlightenment among men; the&#160;private use&#160;of reason may quite often be very narrowly restricted, however, without undue hindrance to the progress of enlightenment. But by the public use of one’s own reason I mean that use which anyone may make of it&#160;as a man of learning&#160;addressing the entire&#160;reading public. What I term the private use of reason is that which a person may make of it in a particular&#160;civil&#160;post or office with which he is entrusted.</p>
<p>In other words, rather than distinguishing between institutional spheres of public versus private, we might say that Kant is distinguishing between our different orientations of mind. When we reason publicly, we are thinking of the public; when we reason privately, we are thinking about narrower matters&#160;—&#160;regardless of where we are (though I think Kant believes that where we are matters a great deal).</p>
<p>But even if we adopt that more generous reading, one could make the case that the judges on the federal appeals court are acting like good Kantians. As they write:</p>
<p>Although not dispositive, we consider it pertinent that the subject matter of Lane’s testimony touched only on acts he performed as part of his official duties. See Abdur-Rahman, 567&#160;F.3d at 1282. As in Morris, nothing evidences that Lane testified at Schmitz’s trial “primarily in [his] role as a citizen” or that his testimony was an attempt to comment publicly on CITY’s internal operations.</p>
<p>In other words, if Lane had been speaking out or to the public about taxes, say, or even about government corruption, his First Amendment rights might have come into play. (The same, of course, cannot be said if he were an employee in the private sector). But because he was speaking about matters pertaining and pursuant to his job, his First Amendment rights are irrelevant&#160;—&#160;even though the matters he was speaking of were of vital interest to the government and the public. The fact that he was speaking as a job-holder about his job rather than as a citizen about public issues is what matters.</p>
<p>This distinction, of course, was precisely what Marx was targeting in his essay “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Marx-Engels-Reader-Second-Karl-Marx/dp/039309040X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1398792381&amp;sr=1-1&amp;keywords=the+marx-engels+reader" type="external">On the Jewish Question</a>.” Thanks to Piketty, Marx the economist is back in the news. But before he turned to economics, Marx was a political theorist of the disjunctures the modern state creates between our emancipated lives as public citizens and our dominated lives as private men and women.</p>
<p>Though he was mostly focused in “On the Jewish Question” on the question of religion (and sometimes in yucky ways), the distinctions he drew there apply more generally to the divisions between private man, residing in “the sphere of human needs, labor, private interests, and civil law,” and “political&#160;man,” the citizen who “is only abstract, artificial man, man as an&#160;allegorical, moral&#160;person.”</p>
<p>Liberalism, Marx claimed, had emancipated the second (sort of); the real task was to emancipate the first.</p>
<p>Human emancipation will only be complete when the real, individual man has absorbed into himself the abstract citizen; when as an individual man, in his everyday life, in his work, and in his relationships, he has become a&#160;species-being; and when he has recognized and organized his own powers (forces propres) as&#160;social&#160;powers so that he no longer separates this social power from himself as&#160;political&#160;power.</p>
<p>Tell it to the judge.</p> | true | 4 | the160 new york times160reports complicated supreme court case involving first amendment rights public employee alabama case boils edward lane state employee subpoenaed testify federal trial corruption another state employee result testimony lane fired boss lane claims first amendment rights violated lower courts ruled supreme court considering case the160times160report caught eye federal appeals court atlanta said unnecessary decide right public employees first amendment protections event statements make part official duties since record fails establish lane testified citizen matter public concern appeals court said in160 unsigned opinion state claim retaliation first amendment seems supreme court intends uphold claim employees like lane first amendment rights though clear whether court uphold claim lane right time testimony least clearly established right time im struck disjuncture first amendment rights one said citizen versus first amendment rights one employee government the160 federal appeals court puts contrast clearly although district court couched decision terms qualified immunity determined lanes speech made pursuant official duties citys director citizen matter public concern reach conclusion 160160 establish claim retaliation protected speech first amendment public employee must show among things spoke citizen matter public concern see garcetti v ceballos 126160sct1601951 1958 2006 decision restricting public employees protected speech government employee whose speech made pursuant official duties speaking citizen see id 1960 battle v bd regents 468160f3d160755 760 11th160cir 2006 even employee required make speech part official duties enjoys first amendment protection speech owes existence employees professional responsibilities product employer commissioned created see abdurrahman v walker 567160f3d1601278 1286 11th160cir 2009 ive reported blog many time absence first amendment protections workers private sector though ive talked less also holds true workers public sector strikes case states investment maintaining hierarchical relationship employer employee least investment extending basic constitutional rights employee creates schizophrenia within state one hand state compels lane testify federal trial corruption public employee presumably state vested interest testimony hand state believe constitutional protections protect lane performs state compels perform federal appeals court puts lane testified official activities pursuant subpoena litigation context bring lanes speech within protection first amendment according the160times even chief justice roberts seemed think bridge far chief justice john160g roberts jr appeared sympathetic mr lane supposed asked mark160t waggoner lawyer mr160franks boss fired lane mr lane testified truthfully chief justice said could fired lied failed appear could punished mr waggoner said would never suggest anybody comply subpoena comply investigation testify truthfully chief justice responded suggesting fired whole distinction freedom enjoy citizens versus nonfreedom suffer private individuals albeit individuals employed government reminds kants essay enlightenment attempting delineate various uses imports reason kant make sharp distinction importance protection reason public sphere absence protection private sphere specifically makes distinction public use reason private use reason enlightenment kind needed is160freedom freedom question innocuous form allfreedom make160public use160of ones reason matters hear sides cry160dont arguethe officer says dont argue get parade tax official dont argue pay clergyman dont argue believe160160all means restrictions freedom everywhere sort restriction prevents enlightenment instead hindering actually promote reply the160public160use mans reason must always free alone bring enlightenment among men the160private use160of reason may quite often narrowly restricted however without undue hindrance progress enlightenment public use ones reason mean use anyone may make it160as man learning160addressing entire160reading public term private use reason person may make particular160civil160post office entrusted words rather distinguishing institutional spheres public versus private might say kant distinguishing different orientations mind reason publicly thinking public reason privately thinking narrower matters160160regardless though think kant believes matters great deal even adopt generous reading one could make case judges federal appeals court acting like good kantians write although dispositive consider pertinent subject matter lanes testimony touched acts performed part official duties see abdurrahman 567160f3d 1282 morris nothing evidences lane testified schmitzs trial primarily role citizen testimony attempt comment publicly citys internal operations words lane speaking public taxes say even government corruption first amendment rights might come play course said employee private sector speaking matters pertaining pursuant job first amendment rights irrelevant160160even though matters speaking vital interest government public fact speaking jobholder job rather citizen public issues matters distinction course precisely marx targeting essay jewish question thanks piketty marx economist back news turned economics marx political theorist disjunctures modern state creates emancipated lives public citizens dominated lives private men women though mostly focused jewish question question religion sometimes yucky ways distinctions drew apply generally divisions private man residing sphere human needs labor private interests civil law political160man citizen abstract artificial man man an160allegorical moral160person liberalism marx claimed emancipated second sort real task emancipate first human emancipation complete real individual man absorbed abstract citizen individual man everyday life work relationships become a160speciesbeing recognized organized powers forces propres as160social160powers longer separates social power as160political160power tell judge | 769 |
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Patrick Henningsen <a href="http://wp.me/p3bwni-8zc" type="external">21st Century Wire</a></p>
<p>The Vice President’s speech this week at Harvard University raised a few eyebrows when he blamed Washington’s Middle East allies for financing and&#160; fueling the rise of the Islamic terrorist phenomenon ISIS.</p>
<p>There’s more to this than meets the eye…</p>
<p>Biden admitted that Arabia’s oil Kings, ‘were so determined to get rid of Syria’s Assad that they sent money and gun to anyone willing to fight’, which caused the flood of foreign Jihadis, al Nusra, al Qaeda, and future ISIS terrorists into Syria from 2011. He also blamed Turkey for being a door mat for terrorists traveling from Turkey into Syria. He’s right, but <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-erdogan-biden-apologize-apology-isis-2014-10" type="external">Turkey was not happy with the comments from the VP</a>.</p>
<p><a href="http://rt.com/news/193172-turkey-apology-biden-isis/" type="external">RT reports</a>: On Thursday, Biden said his “old friend” Erdogan (Turkish President) had admitted to making a mistake in allowing foreign fighters to cross the Turkish border into Syria.</p>
<p>“You were right. We let too many people through.&#160; Now they’re trying to seal their border,” <a href="http://rt.com/news/192880-biden-isis-us-allies/" type="external">Biden quoted</a> Erdogan as saying.</p>
<p>So Biden just blew the lid on Syria’s Jihadi plague and threw Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE – the whole Arab coalition, under the bus. This is a significant departure from the Vice President’s wild-eyed, American muscle-flexing, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8OZE4N2PqM" type="external">“Gates of Hell” ISIS speech</a> unleashed only weeks earlier.</p>
<p>Most alternative journalists and geopolitical realists will certainly back Biden’s point, and some may even applaud it, but it’s still a huge break from the White House and US State Department, who have carefully crafted a mythology of a cohesive ‘Coalition’ in their battle to crush ISIS in Iraq and Syria (see video below).</p>
<p>Biden’s admission has prompted many alternative media pundits to ask the question: Has Joe Biden finally grown a brain?</p>
<p>It might look that way – like Biden has suddenly become a whistleblower of sorts (just imagine) but Biden has always had a brain. The ruling clique has gone to great lengths to craft the harmless ‘back seat’ image of ‘Uncle Joe’ as Barack Obama’s second in command, but just as power filtered through VP Dick Cheney during the Bush Jr years, so it is with Biden – one of Washington’s senior ‘ultimate insiders’ and super deal brokers.</p>
<p>Let’s not forget it was Senator Joe Biden (photo, left) then Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, who <a href="http://www.historycommons.org/timeline.jsp?the_isi:_a_more_detailed_look=mahmoodAhmed&amp;timeline=complete_911_timeline" type="external">met with Pakistani General Mahmood Ahmed the day after the attacks of September 11, 2001</a>. This is the same General Ahmed who transferred $100K to alleged 9/11 hijacker Mohammed Atta, as well as instructed terrorist Omar Saeed Sheikh. Bear in mind, all this was going on while Obama was just getting his feet wet in the Illinois state legislature. Any questions?</p>
<p>Although it might be a signal of Washington changing tact in order to escape from the political hole it has dug with ISIS and Syria, there’s something else, a bigger theme at play here in Biden’s Harvard speech…</p>
<p>By pointing the finger at the corrupt GCC petrol monarchies and the Turks, he distances himself not only from Obama’s own state position of an all-Arab love-in, but from other key Washington players as well, namely former Secretary of State and chief architect of the Syria’s civil war, Hillary Clinton. Notice at the tail end of his diatribe how Biden subtly points his finger of shame at <a href="" type="internal">the ‘Friends of Syria’ group spear-headed by Hillary Clinton</a> in 2011-2012.</p>
<p>Here we can see Biden distancing himself from a possible rival in the 2016 Presidential Democratic primary. In 2016, foreign policy will be the top plank in every presidential platform, and Biden 2016 will need a leg-up if he hopes to give serious competition to Hillary. To stand out with voters, he will need to escape blame from the ISIS quagmire, and what better way to do this than by blaming then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for that mess.&#160;</p>
<p>Now some naysayers will be&#160; screaming right about now, “how do you know Biden is even going to run in 2016?”. Over the last month, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/11/26/joe-biden-2016-president-democratic-nomination/2063301/" type="external">a number of major media outlets have been seeding the idea of a 2016 run</a>, and that’s not by accident. Yes, Uncle Joe is prone to gaff and bloopers, but he has the connections, the support network, and he can raise the funds.</p>
<p>With the help of then British Foreign Secretary William Hague, it was through the Friends of Syria that Clinton was able to create the political smokescreen necessary to coordinate arms and financial aid between the GCC and Turkey, as well as through the fledgling US puppet government in Libya in 2012 which no doubt included funneling ex-Gaddafi arms stock and Jihadist guerrilla fighters from Libya to their new-found rebel fighting force in Syria, a <a href="" type="internal">CIA-run covert operation which eventually cost the lives of Americans in Benghazi including US Ambassador Christopher Stevens</a>.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, Biden’s ISIS comments were mostly ignored by the mainstream press who drew a media curtain to conceal Biden’s controversial remarks, instead diverting headlines to Biden’s gaff, “Isn’t it a bitch”, <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2779928/Isn-t-b-ch-Joe-Biden-commiserates-Harvard-student-body-s-vice-president-second-banana.html" type="external">while speaking to his Harvard’s student body counterpart</a>, Student VP senior Sietse Goffard. The comic relief overshadowed the monumental controversy.</p>
<p>Once again, the media belies the seriousness of what’s happening before our eyes.</p>
<p />
<p>Biden can smell the power, and let’s face it – he’s used to riding on Air Force One, and let’s also face it – he’d love to call the shots and drop the bombs.</p>
<p>Think of a Biden Presidency as something like another Washington insider’s reign with George Bush Sr, only that Biden will have a lot more electoral competition than Bush had in 1988.</p>
<p>Watch this space…</p>
<p>READ MORE ISIS NEWS AT: <a href="" type="internal">21st Century Wire ISIS Files</a></p>
<p>–</p> | true | 4 | patrick henningsen 21st century wire vice presidents speech week harvard university raised eyebrows blamed washingtons middle east allies financing and160 fueling rise islamic terrorist phenomenon isis theres meets eye biden admitted arabias oil kings determined get rid syrias assad sent money gun anyone willing fight caused flood foreign jihadis al nusra al qaeda future isis terrorists syria 2011 also blamed turkey door mat terrorists traveling turkey syria hes right turkey happy comments vp rt reports thursday biden said old friend erdogan turkish president admitted making mistake allowing foreign fighters cross turkish border syria right let many people through160 theyre trying seal border biden quoted erdogan saying biden blew lid syrias jihadi plague threw turkey saudi arabia qatar kuwait bahrain uae whole arab coalition bus significant departure vice presidents wildeyed american muscleflexing gates hell isis speech unleashed weeks earlier alternative journalists geopolitical realists certainly back bidens point may even applaud still huge break white house us state department carefully crafted mythology cohesive coalition battle crush isis iraq syria see video bidens admission prompted many alternative media pundits ask question joe biden finally grown brain might look way like biden suddenly become whistleblower sorts imagine biden always brain ruling clique gone great lengths craft harmless back seat image uncle joe barack obamas second command power filtered vp dick cheney bush jr years biden one washingtons senior ultimate insiders super deal brokers lets forget senator joe biden photo left chairman senate foreign relations committee met pakistani general mahmood ahmed day attacks september 11 2001 general ahmed transferred 100k alleged 911 hijacker mohammed atta well instructed terrorist omar saeed sheikh bear mind going obama getting feet wet illinois state legislature questions although might signal washington changing tact order escape political hole dug isis syria theres something else bigger theme play bidens harvard speech pointing finger corrupt gcc petrol monarchies turks distances obamas state position allarab lovein key washington players well namely former secretary state chief architect syrias civil war hillary clinton notice tail end diatribe biden subtly points finger shame friends syria group spearheaded hillary clinton 20112012 see biden distancing possible rival 2016 presidential democratic primary 2016 foreign policy top plank every presidential platform biden 2016 need legup hopes give serious competition hillary stand voters need escape blame isis quagmire better way blaming secretary state hillary clinton mess160 naysayers be160 screaming right know biden even going run 2016 last month number major media outlets seeding idea 2016 run thats accident yes uncle joe prone gaff bloopers connections support network raise funds help british foreign secretary william hague friends syria clinton able create political smokescreen necessary coordinate arms financial aid gcc turkey well fledgling us puppet government libya 2012 doubt included funneling exgaddafi arms stock jihadist guerrilla fighters libya newfound rebel fighting force syria ciarun covert operation eventually cost lives americans benghazi including us ambassador christopher stevens surprisingly bidens isis comments mostly ignored mainstream press drew media curtain conceal bidens controversial remarks instead diverting headlines bidens gaff isnt bitch speaking harvards student body counterpart student vp senior sietse goffard comic relief overshadowed monumental controversy media belies seriousness whats happening eyes biden smell power lets face hes used riding air force one lets also face hed love call shots drop bombs think biden presidency something like another washington insiders reign george bush sr biden lot electoral competition bush 1988 watch space read isis news 21st century wire isis files | 563 |
<p>Let me begin by thanking Westminster College, which year after year invites political leaders to discuss the important issue of foreign policy and America’s role in the world. I am honored to be here today and I thank you very much for the invitation.</p>
<p>One of the reasons I accepted the invitation to speak here is that I strongly believe that not only do we need to begin a more vigorous debate about foreign policy, we also need to broaden our understanding of what foreign policy is.</p>
<p>So let me be clear:</p>
<p>Foreign policy is directly related to military policy and has everything to do with almost 7,000 young Americans being killed in Iraq and Afghanistan, and tens of thousands coming home wounded in body and spirit from a war we should never have started. That’s foreign policy. And foreign policy is about hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq and Afghanistan dying in that same war.</p>
<p>Foreign policy is about U.S. government budget priorities. At a time when we already spend more on defense than the next 12 nations combined, foreign policy is about authorizing a defense budget of some $700 billion, including a $50 billion increase passed just last week.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, at the exact same time as the president and many of my Republican colleagues want to substantially increase military spending, they want to throw 32 million Americans off of the health insurance they currently have because, supposedly, they are worried about the budget deficit. While greatly increasing military spending they also want to cut education, environmental protection and the needs of children and seniors.</p>
<p>Foreign policy, therefore, is remembering what Dwight D. Eisenhower said as he left office: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”</p>
<p>And he also reminded us that: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed. This world in arms is not spending money alone. It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children. The cost of one modern heavy bomber is this: a modern brick school in more than 30 cities. It is two electric power plants, each serving a town of 60,000 population. It is two fine, fully equipped hospitals. It is some 50 miles of concrete highway””</p>
<p>What Eisenhower said over 50 years ago is even more true today.</p>
<p>Foreign policy is about whether we continue to champion the values of freedom, democracy and justice, values which have been a beacon of hope for people throughout the world, or whether we support undemocratic, repressive regimes, which torture, jail and deny basic rights to their citizens.</p>
<p>What foreign policy also means is that if we are going to expound the virtues of democracy and justice abroad, and be taken seriously, we need to practice those values here at home. That means continuing the struggle to end racism, sexism, xenophobia and homophobia here in the United States and making it clear that when people in America march on our streets as neo-Nazis or white supremacists, we have no ambiguity in condemning everything they stand for.</p>
<p>There are no two sides on that issue.</p>
<p>Foreign policy is not just tied into military affairs, it is directly connected to economics. Foreign policy must take into account the outrageous income and wealth inequality that exists globally and in our own country. This planet will not be secure or peaceful when so few have so much, and so many have so little — and when we advance day after day into an oligarchic form of society where a small number of extraordinarily powerful special interests exert enormous influence over the economic and political life of the world.</p>
<p>There is no moral or economic justification for the six wealthiest people in the world having as much wealth as the bottom half of the world’s population — 3.7 billion people. There is no justification for the incredible power and dominance that Wall Street, giant multi-national corporations and international financial institutions have over the affairs of sovereign countries throughout the world.</p>
<p>At a time when climate change is causing devastating problems here in America and around the world, foreign policy is about whether we work with the international community — with China, Russia, India and countries around the world — to transform our energy systems away from fossil fuel to energy efficiency and sustainable energy. Sensible foreign policy understands that climate change is a real threat to every country on Earth, that it is not a hoax, and that no country alone can effectively combat it. It is an issue for the entire international community, and an issue that the United States should be leading in, not ignoring or denying.</p>
<p>My point is that we need to look at foreign policy as more than just the crisis of the day. That is important, but we need a more expansive view.</p>
<p>Almost 70 years ago, former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill stood on this stage and gave an historic address, known as the “Iron Curtain” speech, in which he framed a conception of world affairs that endured through the 20th century, until the collapse of the Soviet Union. In that speech, he defined his strategic concept as quote “nothing less than the safety and welfare, the freedom and progress, of all the homes and families of all the men and women in all the lands.”</p>
<p>“To give security to these countless homes,” he said, “they must be shielded from the two giant marauders, war and tyranny.”</p>
<p>How do we meet that challenge today? How do we fight for the “freedom and progress” that Churchill talked about in the year 2017? At a time of exploding technology and wealth, how do we move away from a world of war, terrorism and massive levels of poverty into a world of peace and economic security for all? How do we move toward a global community in which people have the decent jobs, food, clean water, education, health care and housing they need?</p>
<p>These are, admittedly, not easy issues to deal with, but they are questions we cannot afford to ignore.</p>
<p>At the outset, I think it is important to recognize that the world of today is very, very different from the world of Winston Churchill of 1946. Back then we faced a superpower adversary with a huge standing army, with an arsenal of nuclear weapons, with allies around the world, and with expansionist aims. Today the Soviet Union no longer exists.</p>
<p>Today we face threats of a different sort. We will never forget 9/11. We are cognizant of the terrible attacks that have taken place in capitols all over the world. We are more than aware of the brutality of ISIS, Al Qaeda, and similar groups.</p>
<p>We also face the threat of these groups obtaining weapons of mass destruction, and preventing that must be a priority.</p>
<p>In recent years, we are increasingly confronted by the isolated dictatorship of North Korea, which is making rapid progress in nuclear weaponry and intercontinental ballistic missiles.</p>
<p>Yes, we face real and very serious threats to our security, which I will discuss, but they are very different than what we have seen in the past and our response must be equally different.</p>
<p>But before I talk about some of these other threats, let me say a few words about a very insidious challenge that undermines our ability to meet these other crises, and indeed could undermine our very way of life.</p>
<p>A great concern that I have today is that many in our country are losing faith in our common future and in our democratic values.</p>
<p>For far too many of our people, here in the United States and people all over the world, the promises of self-government — of government by the people, for the people, and of the people — have not been kept. And people are losing faith.</p>
<p>In the United States and other countries, a majority of people are working longer hours for lower wages than they used to. They see big money buying elections, and they see a political and economic elite growing wealthier, even as their own children’s future grows dimmer.</p>
<p>So when we talk about foreign policy, and our belief in democracy, at the very top of our list of concerns is the need to revitalize American democracy to ensure that governmental decisions reflect the interests of a majority of our people, and not just the few — whether that few is Wall Street, the military industrial complex or the fossil fuel industry. We cannot convincingly promote democracy abroad if we do not live it vigorously here at home.</p>
<p>Maybe it’s because I come from the small state of Vermont, a state that prides itself on town meetings and grassroots democracy, that I strongly agree with Winston Churchill when he stated his belief that “democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms.”</p>
<p>In both Europe and the United States, the international order which the United States helped establish over the past 70 years, one which put great emphasis on democracy and human rights, and promoted greater trade and economic development, is under great strain. Many Europeans are questioning the value of the European Union. Many Americans are questioning the value of the United Nations, of the transatlantic alliance, and other multilateral organizations.</p>
<p>We also see a rise in authoritarianism and right wing extremism — both domestic and foreign — which further weakens this order by exploiting and amplifying resentments, stoking intolerance and fanning ethnic and racial hatreds among those in our societies who are struggling.</p>
<p>We saw this anti-democratic effort take place in the 2016 election right here in the United States, where we now know that the Russian government was engaged in a massive effort to undermine one of our greatest strengths: the integrity of our elections, and our faith in our own democracy.</p>
<p>I found it incredible, by the way, that when the President of the United States spoke before the United Nations on Monday, he did not even mention that outrage.</p>
<p>Well, I will. Today I say to Mr. Putin: we will not allow you to undermine American democracy or democracies around the world. In fact, our goal is to not only strengthen American democracy, but to work in solidarity with supporters of democracy around the globe, including in Russia. In the struggle of democracy versus authoritarianism, we intend to win.</p>
<p>When we talk about foreign policy it is clear that there are some who believe that the United States would be best served by withdrawing from the global community. I disagree. As the wealthiest and most powerful nation on earth, we have got to help lead the struggle to defend and expand a rules-based international order in which law, not might, makes right.</p>
<p>We must offer people a vision that one day, maybe not in our lifetimes, but one day in the future human beings on this planet will live in a world where international conflicts will be resolved peacefully, not by mass murder.</p>
<p>How tragic it is that today, while hundreds of millions of people live in abysmal poverty, the arms merchants of the world grow increasingly rich as governments spend trillions of dollars on weapons of destruction.</p>
<p>I am not naïve or unmindful of history. Many of the conflicts that plague our world are longstanding and complex. But we must never lose our vision of a world in which, to quote the Prophet Isaiah, “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.”</p>
<p>One of the most important organizations for promoting a vision of a different world is the United Nations. Former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, who helped create the UN, called it “our greatest hope for future peace. Alone we cannot keep the peace of the world, but in cooperation with others we have to achieve this much longed-for security.”</p>
<p>It has become fashionable to bash the UN. And yes, the UN needs to be reformed. It can be ineffective, bureaucratic, too slow or unwilling to act, even in the face of massive atrocities, as we are seeing in Syria right now. But to see only its weaknesses is to overlook the enormously important work the UN does in promoting global health, aiding refugees, monitoring elections, and doing international peacekeeping missions, among other things. All of these activities contribute to reduced conflict, to wars that don’t have to be ended because they never start.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, it is obvious that it makes far more sense to have a forum in which countries can debate their concerns, work out compromises and agreements. Dialogue and debate are far preferable to bombs, poison gas and war.</p>
<p>Dialogue however cannot only be take place between foreign ministers or diplomats at the United Nations. It should be taking place between people throughout the world at the grassroots level.</p>
<p>I was mayor of the city of Burlington, Vermont, in the 1980s, when the Soviet Union was our enemy. We established a sister city program with the Russian city of Yaroslavl, a program which still exists today. I will never forget seeing Russian boys and girls visiting Vermont, getting to know American kids, and becoming good friends. Hatred and wars are often based on fear and ignorance. The way to defeat this ignorance and diminish this fear is through meeting with others and understanding the way they see the world. Good foreign policy means building people to people relationships.</p>
<p>We should welcome young people from all over the world and all walks of life to spend time with our kids in American classrooms, while our kids, from all income levels, do the same abroad.</p>
<p>Some in Washington continue to argue that “benevolent global hegemony” should be the goal of our foreign policy, that the U.S., by virtue of its extraordinary military power, should stand astride the world and reshape it to its liking. I would argue that the events of the past two decades — particularly the disastrous Iraq war and the instability and destruction it has brought to the region — have utterly discredited that vision.</p>
<p>The goal is not for the United States to dominate the world. Nor, on the other hand, is our goal to withdraw from the international community and shirk our responsibilities under the banner of “America First.” Our goal should be global engagement based on partnership, rather than dominance. This is better for our security, better for global stability and better for facilitating the international cooperation necessary to meet shared challenges.</p>
<p>Here’s a truth that you don’t often hear about too often in the newspapers, on the television or in the halls of Congress. But it’s a truth we must face. Far too often, American intervention and the use of American military power has produced unintended consequences which have caused incalculable harm. Yes, it is reasonably easy to engineer the overthrow of a government. It is far harder, however, to know the long term impact that that action will have. Let me give you some examples:</p>
<p>In 1953 the United States, on behalf of Western oil interests, supported the overthrow of Iran’s elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, and the re-installation of the Shah of Iran, who led a corrupt, brutal and unpopular government. In 1979, the Shah was overthrown by revolutionaries led by Ayatollah Khomeini, and the Islamic Republic of Iran was created. What would Iran look like today if their democratic government had not been overthrown? What impact did that American-led coup have on the entire region? What consequences are we still living with today?</p>
<p>In 1973, the United States supported the coup against the democratically elected president of Chile Salvador Allende which was led by General Augusto Pinochet. The result was almost 20 years of authoritarian military rule and the disappearance and torture of thousands of Chileans — and the intensification of anti-Americanism in Latin America.</p>
<p>Elsewhere in Latin America, the logic of the Cold War led the United States to support murderous regimes in El Salvador and Guatemala, which resulted in brutal and long-lasting civil wars that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent men, women and children.</p>
<p>In Vietnam, based on a discredited “domino theory,” the United States replaced the French in intervening in a civil war, which resulted in the deaths of millions of Vietnamese in support of a corrupt, repressive South Vietnamese government. We must never forget that over 58,000 thousand Americans also died in that war.</p>
<p>More recently, in Iraq, based on a similarly mistaken analysis of the threat posed by Saddam Hussein’s regime, the United States invaded and occupied a country in the heart of the Middle East. In doing so, we upended the regional order of the Middle East and unleashed forces across the region and the world that we’ll be dealing with for decades to come.</p>
<p>These are just a few examples of American foreign policy and interventionism which proved to be counter-productive.</p>
<p>Now let me give you an example of an incredibly bold and ambitious American initiative which proved to be enormously successful in which not one bullet was fired — something that we must learn from.</p>
<p>Shortly after Churchill was right here in Westminster College, the United States developed an extremely radical foreign policy initiative called the Marshall Plan.</p>
<p>Think about it for a moment: historically, when countries won terrible wars, they exacted retribution on the vanquished. But in 1948, the United States government did something absolutely unprecedented.</p>
<p>After losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers in the most brutal war in history to defeat the barbarity of Nazi Germany and Japanese imperialism, the government of the United States decided not to punish and humiliate the losers. Rather, we helped rebuild their economies, spending the equivalent of $130 billion just to reconstruct Western Europe after World War II. We also provided them support to reconstruct democratic societies.</p>
<p>That program was an amazing success. Today Germany, the country of the Holocaust, the country of Hitler’s dictatorship, is now a strong democracy and the economic engine of Europe. Despite centuries of hostility, there has not been a major European war since World War II. That is an extraordinary foreign policy success that we have every right to be very proud of.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, today we still have examples of the United States supporting policies that I believe will come back to haunt us. One is the ongoing Saudi war in Yemen.</p>
<p>While we rightly condemn Russian and Iranian support for Bashar al-Assad’s slaughter in Syria, the United States continues to support Saudi Arabia’s destructive intervention in Yemen, which has killed many thousands of civilians and created a humanitarian crisis in one of the region’s poorest countries. Such policies dramatically undermine America’s ability to advance a human rights agenda around the world, and empowers authoritarian leaders who insist that our support for those rights and values is not serious.</p>
<p>Let me say a word about some of the shared global challenges that we face today.</p>
<p>First, I would mention climate change. Friends, it is time to get serious on this: Climate change is real and must be addressed with the full weight of American power, attention and resources.</p>
<p>The scientific community is virtually unanimous in telling us that climate change is real, climate change is caused by human activity, and climate change is already causing devastating harm throughout the world. Further, what the scientists tell us is that if we do not act boldly to address the climate crisis, this planet will see more drought, more floods — the recent devastation by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are good examples — more extreme weather disturbances, more acidification of the ocean, more rising sea levels and, as a result of mass migrations, there will be more threats to global stability and security.</p>
<p>President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement was not only incredibly foolish and short-sighted, but it will also end up hurting the American economy.</p>
<p>The threat of climate change is a very clear example of where American leadership can make a difference. Europe can’t do it alone, China can’t do it alone, and the United States can’t do it alone. This is a crisis that calls out for strong international cooperation if we are to leave our children and grandchildren a planet that is healthy and habitable. American leadership — the economic and scientific advantages and incentives that only America can offer –is hugely important for facilitating this cooperation.</p>
<p>Another challenge that we and the entire world face is growing wealth and income inequality, and the movement toward international oligarchy — a system in which a small number of billionaires and corporate interests have control over our economic life, our political life, and our media.</p>
<p>This movement toward oligarchy is not just an American issue. It is an international issue. Globally, the top 1 percent now owns more wealth than the bottom 99 percent of the world’s population.</p>
<p>In other words, while the very, very rich become much richer, thousands of children die every week in poor countries around the world from easily prevented diseases, and hundreds of millions live in incredible squalor.</p>
<p>Inequality, corruption, oligarchy and authoritarianism are inseparable. They must be understood as part of the same system, and fought in the same way. Around the world we have witnessed the rise of demagogues who once in power use their positions to loot the state of its resources. These kleptocrats, like Putin in Russia, use divisiveness and abuse as a tool for enriching themselves and those loyal to them.</p>
<p>But economic inequality is not the only form of inequality that we must face. As we seek to renew America’s commitment to promote human rights and human dignity around the world we must be a living example here at home. We must reject the divisive attacks based on a person’s religion, race, gender, sexual orientation or identity, country of origin or class. And when we see demonstrations of neo-Nazism and white supremacism as we recently did in Charlottesville, Virginia, we must be unequivocal in our condemnation, as our president shamefully was not.</p>
<p>And as we saw here so clearly in St. Louis in the past week we need serious reforms in policing and the criminal justice system so that the life of every person is equally valued and protected. We cannot speak with the moral authority the world needs if we do not struggle to achieve the ideal we are holding out for others.</p>
<p>One of the places we have fallen short in upholding these ideas is in the war on terrorism. Here I want to be clear: terrorism is a very real threat, as we learned so tragically on September 11, 2001, and many other countries knew already too well.</p>
<p>But, I also want to be clear about something else: As an organizing framework, the Global War on Terror has been a disaster for the American people and for American leadership. Orienting U.S. national security strategy around terrorism essentially allowed a few thousand violent extremists to dictate policy for the most powerful nation on earth. It responds to terrorists by giving them exactly what they want.</p>
<p>In addition to draining our resources and distorting our vision, the war on terror has caused us to undermine our own moral standards regarding torture, indefinite detention, and the use of force around the world, using drone strikes and other airstrikes that often result in high civilian casualties.</p>
<p>A heavy-handed military approach, with little transparency or accountability, doesn’t enhance our security. It makes the problem worse.</p>
<p>We must rethink the old Washington mindset that judges “seriousness” according to the willingness to use force. One of the key misapprehensions of this mindset is the idea that military force is decisive in a way that diplomacy is not.</p>
<p>Yes, military force is sometimes necessary, but always — always — as the last resort. And blustery threats of force, while they might make a few columnists happy, can often signal weakness as much as strength, diminishing U.S. deterrence, credibility and security in the process.</p>
<p>To illustrate this, I would contrast two recent U.S. foreign policy initiatives: The Iraq war and the Iran nuclear agreement.</p>
<p>Today it is now broadly acknowledged that the war in Iraq, which I opposed, was a foreign policy blunder of enormous magnitude.</p>
<p>In addition to the many thousands killed, it created a cascade of instability around the region that we are still dealing with today in Syria and elsewhere, and will be for many years to come. Indeed, had it not been for the Iraq War, ISIS would almost certainly not exist.</p>
<p>The Iraq war, as I said before, had unintended consequences. It was intended as a demonstration of the extent of American power. It ended up demonstrating only its limits.</p>
<p>In contrast, the Iran nuclear deal advanced the security of the U.S. and its partners, and it did this at a cost of no blood and zero treasure.</p>
<p>For many years, leaders across the world had become increasingly concerned about the possibility of an Iranian nuclear weapon. What the Obama administration and our European allies were able to do was to get an agreement that froze and dismantled large parts of that nuclear program, put it under the most intensive inspections regime in history, and removed the prospect of an Iranian nuclear weapon from the list of global threats.</p>
<p>That is real leadership. That is REAL POWER.</p>
<p>Just yesterday, the top general of U.S. Strategic Command, General John Hyden, said: “The facts are that Iran is operating under the agreements the we signed up for.” We now have a four-year record of Iran’s compliance, going back to the 2013 interim deal.</p>
<p>I call on my colleagues in the Congress, and all Americans: We must protect this deal. President Trump has signaled his intention to walk away from it, as he did the Paris agreement, regardless of the evidence that it is working. That would be a mistake.</p>
<p>Not only would this potentially free Iran from the limits placed on its nuclear program, it would irreparably harm America’s ability to negotiate future nonproliferation agreements. Why would any country in the world sign such an agreement with the United States if they knew that a reckless president and an irresponsible Congress might simply discard that agreement a few years later?</p>
<p>If we are genuinely concerned with Iran’s behavior in the region, as I am, the worst possible thing we could do is break the nuclear deal. It would make all of these other problems harder.</p>
<p>Another problem it would make harder is that of North Korea.</p>
<p>Let’s understand: North Korea is ruled by one of the worst regimes in the world. For many years, its leadership has sacrificed the well-being of its own people in order to develop nuclear weapons and missile programs in order to protect the Kim family’s regime. Their continued development of nuclear weapons and missile capability is a growing threat to the U.S. and our allies. Despite past efforts they have repeatedly shown their determination to move forward with these programs in defiance of virtually unanimous international opposition and condemnation.</p>
<p>As we saw with the 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran, real US leadership is shown by our ability to develop consensus around shared problems, and mobilize that consensus toward a solution. That is the model we should be pursuing with North Korea.</p>
<p>As we did with Iran, if North Korea continues to refuse to negotiate seriously, we should look for ways to tighten international sanctions. This will involve working closely with other countries, particularly China, on whom North Korea relies for some 80 percent of its trade. But we should also continue to make clear that this is a shared problem, not to be solved by any one country alone but by the international community working together.</p>
<p>An approach that really uses all the tools of our power — political, economic, civil society — to encourage other states to adopt more inclusive governance will ultimately make us safer.</p>
<p>Development aid is not charity, it advances our national security. It’s worth noting that the U.S. military is a stalwart supporter of non-defense diplomacy and development aid.</p>
<p>Starving diplomacy and aid now will result in greater defense needs later on.</p>
<p>U.S. foreign aid should be accompanied by stronger emphasis on helping people gain their political and civil rights to hold oppressive governments accountable to the people. Ultimately, governments that are accountable to the needs of their people will make more dependable partners.</p>
<p>Here is the bottom line: In my view the United States must seek partnerships not just between governments, but between peoples. A sensible and effective foreign policy recognizes that our safety and welfare is bound up with the safety and welfare of others around the world, with “all the homes and families of all the men and women in all the lands,” as Churchill said right here, 70 years ago.</p>
<p>In my view, every person on this planet shares a common humanity. We all want our children to grow up healthy, to have a good education, have decent jobs, drink clean water and breathe clean air, and to live in peace. That’s what being human is about.</p>
<p>Our job is to build on that common humanity and do everything that we can to oppose all of the forces, whether unaccountable government power or unaccountable corporate power, who try to divide us up and set us against each other. As Eleanor Roosevelt reminded us, “The world of the future is in our making. Tomorrow is now.”</p>
<p>My friends, let us go forward and build that tomorrow.</p>
<p>Text of Sanders’ speech at Westminster College speech on September 21, 2017.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | let begin thanking westminster college year year invites political leaders discuss important issue foreign policy americas role world honored today thank much invitation one reasons accepted invitation speak strongly believe need begin vigorous debate foreign policy also need broaden understanding foreign policy let clear foreign policy directly related military policy everything almost 7000 young americans killed iraq afghanistan tens thousands coming home wounded body spirit war never started thats foreign policy foreign policy hundreds thousands people iraq afghanistan dying war foreign policy us government budget priorities time already spend defense next 12 nations combined foreign policy authorizing defense budget 700 billion including 50 billion increase passed last week meanwhile exact time president many republican colleagues want substantially increase military spending want throw 32 million americans health insurance currently supposedly worried budget deficit greatly increasing military spending also want cut education environmental protection needs children seniors foreign policy therefore remembering dwight eisenhower said left office councils government must guard acquisition unwarranted influence whether sought unsought military industrial complex potential disastrous rise misplaced power exists persist also reminded us every gun made every warship launched every rocket fired signifies final sense theft hunger fed cold clothed world arms spending money alone spending sweat laborers genius scientists hopes children cost one modern heavy bomber modern brick school 30 cities two electric power plants serving town 60000 population two fine fully equipped hospitals 50 miles concrete highway eisenhower said 50 years ago even true today foreign policy whether continue champion values freedom democracy justice values beacon hope people throughout world whether support undemocratic repressive regimes torture jail deny basic rights citizens foreign policy also means going expound virtues democracy justice abroad taken seriously need practice values home means continuing struggle end racism sexism xenophobia homophobia united states making clear people america march streets neonazis white supremacists ambiguity condemning everything stand two sides issue foreign policy tied military affairs directly connected economics foreign policy must take account outrageous income wealth inequality exists globally country planet secure peaceful much many little advance day day oligarchic form society small number extraordinarily powerful special interests exert enormous influence economic political life world moral economic justification six wealthiest people world much wealth bottom half worlds population 37 billion people justification incredible power dominance wall street giant multinational corporations international financial institutions affairs sovereign countries throughout world time climate change causing devastating problems america around world foreign policy whether work international community china russia india countries around world transform energy systems away fossil fuel energy efficiency sustainable energy sensible foreign policy understands climate change real threat every country earth hoax country alone effectively combat issue entire international community issue united states leading ignoring denying point need look foreign policy crisis day important need expansive view almost 70 years ago former british prime minister winston churchill stood stage gave historic address known iron curtain speech framed conception world affairs endured 20th century collapse soviet union speech defined strategic concept quote nothing less safety welfare freedom progress homes families men women lands give security countless homes said must shielded two giant marauders war tyranny meet challenge today fight freedom progress churchill talked year 2017 time exploding technology wealth move away world war terrorism massive levels poverty world peace economic security move toward global community people decent jobs food clean water education health care housing need admittedly easy issues deal questions afford ignore outset think important recognize world today different world winston churchill 1946 back faced superpower adversary huge standing army arsenal nuclear weapons allies around world expansionist aims today soviet union longer exists today face threats different sort never forget 911 cognizant terrible attacks taken place capitols world aware brutality isis al qaeda similar groups also face threat groups obtaining weapons mass destruction preventing must priority recent years increasingly confronted isolated dictatorship north korea making rapid progress nuclear weaponry intercontinental ballistic missiles yes face real serious threats security discuss different seen past response must equally different talk threats let say words insidious challenge undermines ability meet crises indeed could undermine way life great concern today many country losing faith common future democratic values far many people united states people world promises selfgovernment government people people people kept people losing faith united states countries majority people working longer hours lower wages used see big money buying elections see political economic elite growing wealthier even childrens future grows dimmer talk foreign policy belief democracy top list concerns need revitalize american democracy ensure governmental decisions reflect interests majority people whether wall street military industrial complex fossil fuel industry convincingly promote democracy abroad live vigorously home maybe come small state vermont state prides town meetings grassroots democracy strongly agree winston churchill stated belief democracy worst form government except forms europe united states international order united states helped establish past 70 years one put great emphasis democracy human rights promoted greater trade economic development great strain many europeans questioning value european union many americans questioning value united nations transatlantic alliance multilateral organizations also see rise authoritarianism right wing extremism domestic foreign weakens order exploiting amplifying resentments stoking intolerance fanning ethnic racial hatreds among societies struggling saw antidemocratic effort take place 2016 election right united states know russian government engaged massive effort undermine one greatest strengths integrity elections faith democracy found incredible way president united states spoke united nations monday even mention outrage well today say mr putin allow undermine american democracy democracies around world fact goal strengthen american democracy work solidarity supporters democracy around globe including russia struggle democracy versus authoritarianism intend win talk foreign policy clear believe united states would best served withdrawing global community disagree wealthiest powerful nation earth got help lead struggle defend expand rulesbased international order law might makes right must offer people vision one day maybe lifetimes one day future human beings planet live world international conflicts resolved peacefully mass murder tragic today hundreds millions people live abysmal poverty arms merchants world grow increasingly rich governments spend trillions dollars weapons destruction naÃve unmindful history many conflicts plague world longstanding complex must never lose vision world quote prophet isaiah shall beat swords plowshares spears pruning hooks nation shall lift sword nation neither shall learn war one important organizations promoting vision different world united nations former first lady eleanor roosevelt helped create un called greatest hope future peace alone keep peace world cooperation others achieve much longedfor security become fashionable bash un yes un needs reformed ineffective bureaucratic slow unwilling act even face massive atrocities seeing syria right see weaknesses overlook enormously important work un promoting global health aiding refugees monitoring elections international peacekeeping missions among things activities contribute reduced conflict wars dont ended never start end day obvious makes far sense forum countries debate concerns work compromises agreements dialogue debate far preferable bombs poison gas war dialogue however take place foreign ministers diplomats united nations taking place people throughout world grassroots level mayor city burlington vermont 1980s soviet union enemy established sister city program russian city yaroslavl program still exists today never forget seeing russian boys girls visiting vermont getting know american kids becoming good friends hatred wars often based fear ignorance way defeat ignorance diminish fear meeting others understanding way see world good foreign policy means building people people relationships welcome young people world walks life spend time kids american classrooms kids income levels abroad washington continue argue benevolent global hegemony goal foreign policy us virtue extraordinary military power stand astride world reshape liking would argue events past two decades particularly disastrous iraq war instability destruction brought region utterly discredited vision goal united states dominate world hand goal withdraw international community shirk responsibilities banner america first goal global engagement based partnership rather dominance better security better global stability better facilitating international cooperation necessary meet shared challenges heres truth dont often hear often newspapers television halls congress truth must face far often american intervention use american military power produced unintended consequences caused incalculable harm yes reasonably easy engineer overthrow government far harder however know long term impact action let give examples 1953 united states behalf western oil interests supported overthrow irans elected prime minister mohammed mossadegh reinstallation shah iran led corrupt brutal unpopular government 1979 shah overthrown revolutionaries led ayatollah khomeini islamic republic iran created would iran look like today democratic government overthrown impact americanled coup entire region consequences still living today 1973 united states supported coup democratically elected president chile salvador allende led general augusto pinochet result almost 20 years authoritarian military rule disappearance torture thousands chileans intensification antiamericanism latin america elsewhere latin america logic cold war led united states support murderous regimes el salvador guatemala resulted brutal longlasting civil wars killed hundreds thousands innocent men women children vietnam based discredited domino theory united states replaced french intervening civil war resulted deaths millions vietnamese support corrupt repressive south vietnamese government must never forget 58000 thousand americans also died war recently iraq based similarly mistaken analysis threat posed saddam husseins regime united states invaded occupied country heart middle east upended regional order middle east unleashed forces across region world well dealing decades come examples american foreign policy interventionism proved counterproductive let give example incredibly bold ambitious american initiative proved enormously successful one bullet fired something must learn shortly churchill right westminster college united states developed extremely radical foreign policy initiative called marshall plan think moment historically countries terrible wars exacted retribution vanquished 1948 united states government something absolutely unprecedented losing hundreds thousands soldiers brutal war history defeat barbarity nazi germany japanese imperialism government united states decided punish humiliate losers rather helped rebuild economies spending equivalent 130 billion reconstruct western europe world war ii also provided support reconstruct democratic societies program amazing success today germany country holocaust country hitlers dictatorship strong democracy economic engine europe despite centuries hostility major european war since world war ii extraordinary foreign policy success every right proud unfortunately today still examples united states supporting policies believe come back haunt us one ongoing saudi war yemen rightly condemn russian iranian support bashar alassads slaughter syria united states continues support saudi arabias destructive intervention yemen killed many thousands civilians created humanitarian crisis one regions poorest countries policies dramatically undermine americas ability advance human rights agenda around world empowers authoritarian leaders insist support rights values serious let say word shared global challenges face today first would mention climate change friends time get serious climate change real must addressed full weight american power attention resources scientific community virtually unanimous telling us climate change real climate change caused human activity climate change already causing devastating harm throughout world scientists tell us act boldly address climate crisis planet see drought floods recent devastation hurricanes harvey irma good examples extreme weather disturbances acidification ocean rising sea levels result mass migrations threats global stability security president trumps decision withdraw paris agreement incredibly foolish shortsighted also end hurting american economy threat climate change clear example american leadership make difference europe cant alone china cant alone united states cant alone crisis calls strong international cooperation leave children grandchildren planet healthy habitable american leadership economic scientific advantages incentives america offer hugely important facilitating cooperation another challenge entire world face growing wealth income inequality movement toward international oligarchy system small number billionaires corporate interests control economic life political life media movement toward oligarchy american issue international issue globally top 1 percent owns wealth bottom 99 percent worlds population words rich become much richer thousands children die every week poor countries around world easily prevented diseases hundreds millions live incredible squalor inequality corruption oligarchy authoritarianism inseparable must understood part system fought way around world witnessed rise demagogues power use positions loot state resources kleptocrats like putin russia use divisiveness abuse tool enriching loyal economic inequality form inequality must face seek renew americas commitment promote human rights human dignity around world must living example home must reject divisive attacks based persons religion race gender sexual orientation identity country origin class see demonstrations neonazism white supremacism recently charlottesville virginia must unequivocal condemnation president shamefully saw clearly st louis past week need serious reforms policing criminal justice system life every person equally valued protected speak moral authority world needs struggle achieve ideal holding others one places fallen short upholding ideas war terrorism want clear terrorism real threat learned tragically september 11 2001 many countries knew already well also want clear something else organizing framework global war terror disaster american people american leadership orienting us national security strategy around terrorism essentially allowed thousand violent extremists dictate policy powerful nation earth responds terrorists giving exactly want addition draining resources distorting vision war terror caused us undermine moral standards regarding torture indefinite detention use force around world using drone strikes airstrikes often result high civilian casualties heavyhanded military approach little transparency accountability doesnt enhance security makes problem worse must rethink old washington mindset judges seriousness according willingness use force one key misapprehensions mindset idea military force decisive way diplomacy yes military force sometimes necessary always always last resort blustery threats force might make columnists happy often signal weakness much strength diminishing us deterrence credibility security process illustrate would contrast two recent us foreign policy initiatives iraq war iran nuclear agreement today broadly acknowledged war iraq opposed foreign policy blunder enormous magnitude addition many thousands killed created cascade instability around region still dealing today syria elsewhere many years come indeed iraq war isis would almost certainly exist iraq war said unintended consequences intended demonstration extent american power ended demonstrating limits contrast iran nuclear deal advanced security us partners cost blood zero treasure many years leaders across world become increasingly concerned possibility iranian nuclear weapon obama administration european allies able get agreement froze dismantled large parts nuclear program put intensive inspections regime history removed prospect iranian nuclear weapon list global threats real leadership real power yesterday top general us strategic command general john hyden said facts iran operating agreements signed fouryear record irans compliance going back 2013 interim deal call colleagues congress americans must protect deal president trump signaled intention walk away paris agreement regardless evidence working would mistake would potentially free iran limits placed nuclear program would irreparably harm americas ability negotiate future nonproliferation agreements would country world sign agreement united states knew reckless president irresponsible congress might simply discard agreement years later genuinely concerned irans behavior region worst possible thing could break nuclear deal would make problems harder another problem would make harder north korea lets understand north korea ruled one worst regimes world many years leadership sacrificed wellbeing people order develop nuclear weapons missile programs order protect kim familys regime continued development nuclear weapons missile capability growing threat us allies despite past efforts repeatedly shown determination move forward programs defiance virtually unanimous international opposition condemnation saw 2015 nuclear agreement iran real us leadership shown ability develop consensus around shared problems mobilize consensus toward solution model pursuing north korea iran north korea continues refuse negotiate seriously look ways tighten international sanctions involve working closely countries particularly china north korea relies 80 percent trade also continue make clear shared problem solved one country alone international community working together approach really uses tools power political economic civil society encourage states adopt inclusive governance ultimately make us safer development aid charity advances national security worth noting us military stalwart supporter nondefense diplomacy development aid starving diplomacy aid result greater defense needs later us foreign aid accompanied stronger emphasis helping people gain political civil rights hold oppressive governments accountable people ultimately governments accountable needs people make dependable partners bottom line view united states must seek partnerships governments peoples sensible effective foreign policy recognizes safety welfare bound safety welfare others around world homes families men women lands churchill said right 70 years ago view every person planet shares common humanity want children grow healthy good education decent jobs drink clean water breathe clean air live peace thats human job build common humanity everything oppose forces whether unaccountable government power unaccountable corporate power try divide us set us eleanor roosevelt reminded us world future making tomorrow friends let us go forward build tomorrow text sanders speech westminster college speech september 21 2017 160 | 2,659 |
<p>President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, according to a New York Times report last week, admittedly accepts <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/24/world/asia/24afghan.html?_r=1&amp;scp=2&amp;sq=DEXTER%20FILKINS&amp;st=cse%20" type="external">large cash payments</a> from the Iranian government. The political and religious dynamics of the region are complex. Iran obviously has an interest in keeping the Taliban at a distance and at the same time countering Pakistan’s influence in the area. In this caldron of intrigue we have a huge American expenditure in treasure and blood aimed at keeping Afghanistan in our camp, so to speak.</p>
<p>Umar Daudzai, Karzai’s chief of staff, is the acknowledged conduit for the Iranian money. Their “relationship is intimate,” an Afghan political leader said of Daudzai and the Iranians. The Times article obligingly noted that it is not clear whether Daudzai has personally profited, but then he is reported to own at least six homes in varying places, including Dubai and Vancouver, Canada — all acquired since he became Karzai’s chief of staff.</p>
<p>Imperial powers must operate with a level of collaboration from native groups. The clients, of course, have their own interests, and sometimes the tail wags the dog. But the historical landscape is littered with failures of the breed, marked by corruption, ineptitude and unreliability.</p>
<p>Think of the American experience in then-South Vietnam. The country did not survive, let alone its leaders. Is it déjà vu all over again? In 1954, we created a classic state where there had been none. In a whirlwind of publicity, we anointed Ngo Dinh Diem as president of South Vietnam. The old “China lobby” saw him as a savior who would rescue East Asia from the clutches of Red China and immediately hailed him as the “George Washington of Asia.” (How we trifle with the reputations of our great leaders!) Diem was a Catholic in a Buddhist country and with little indigenous following, perhaps except for his Catholic brethren, then refugees from the Vietminh state in the north.</p>
<p />
<p>In nine years of rule, Diem managed to alienate large segments of his country’s populace, amid what was to become a familiar pattern of authoritarianism and nepotism involving his relatives, most notably his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, an opium addict attracted to the Gestapo practices of the Nazi regime. Corruption was rife within Diem’s family, involved as it was in drug dealings, rice contracts with the U.S. government, and coerced contributions to the Catholic Church — headed in South Vietnam by Ngo Dình Thuc, archbishop of Hue, who happened to be Diem’s older brother. Madame Nhu labored mightily to install her version of morality upon the Vietnamese.</p>
<p>Diem eventually alienated his own military, which carried out a coup on Nov. 1, 1963, resulting in the assassination of Diem and Nhu. The U.S. military secretly promised the conspiring South Vietnam generals that Washington would not interfere. Thereafter a succession of incompetent and corrupt generals “governed” what was left of the country. Remember the likes of Gen. Nguyen Van Thieu and Nguyen Cao Ky? They became president and vice president, respectively, while we suffered the embarrassment of Ky’s admiration for Adolf Hitler.</p>
<p>We do not do coups well, and for our trouble we gained 10 more years of fruitless war, paid for with our men and materiel and presided over by Presidents Lyndon Johnson and Richard Nixon, each determined not to lose the war and to gain “peace with honor.” Adm. Elmo Zumwalt, chief of naval operations, said there were two words that did not characterize the Nixon-Kissinger 1973 peace accords: peace and honor. North Vietnam’s negotiator refused to accept a Nobel Prize for peace; Kissinger has yet to return his.</p>
<p>Enter President Karzai. Like Diem, he has held power as a result of corrupt elections, featuring the not-so-invisible hands of his American backers. Once again, we have bet the mortgage on one leader, no matter how inept and corrupt he might be. Karzai is playing off various sides, eagerly accepting the largesse and patronage of at least two governments, each with its own interests. Karzai has admitted that Iran has lavished millions of dollars in regular payments to him and his entourage. He has used the Iranian money, according to the New York Times story, to buy the allegiance of elected officials and insurgent commanders. Are we not to believe that Karzai has personally enriched himself, too?</p>
<p>Iran’s motives are difficult to fathom. Some American and NATO officials simply believe that Iran has conducted an aggressive campaign inside Afghanistan to undermine the U.S. mission and to gain influence in local politics.</p>
<p>Tunnel vision abounds; demons may not always be what they appear. Iran clearly has other fish to fry in the region. Consider its long, eastern contiguous border with Afghanistan; look, too, at its similar border with Pakistan. Iran, we might remember, did nothing to interfere with the American invasion of Afghanistan, supposedly undertaken to wipe out the Taliban, almost a decade ago. Perhaps Iranian concerns and motives should be obvious to American military commanders. Iran certainly would prefer the passive Karzai regime to a resurgent Taliban, openly aided by our supposed ally Pakistan.</p>
<p>We are once again waist-deep and sinking in a quagmire. We have a client state that is difficult to control and pursuing its own interests. At the same time, President Barack Obama is now captive to Karzai and the American military, and he is saddled with an increasingly unpopular, intractable war. To reverse that course, he undoubtedly will have to clash with current U.S. military leaders. When he had the opportunity and when it was right to begin our disengagement, the president instead raised our stake, fearful both of letting Karzai fail and rejecting the adventurism of his military people.</p>
<p>Obama’s Afghanistan war inevitably will become entangled in our already poisoned domestic politics. We can only guess at the turmoil and anguish that await us.</p>
<p>Stanley Kutler is the author of “The Wars of Watergate” and other writings.</p> | true | 4 | president hamid karzai afghanistan according new york times report last week admittedly accepts large cash payments iranian government political religious dynamics region complex iran obviously interest keeping taliban distance time countering pakistans influence area caldron intrigue huge american expenditure treasure blood aimed keeping afghanistan camp speak umar daudzai karzais chief staff acknowledged conduit iranian money relationship intimate afghan political leader said daudzai iranians times article obligingly noted clear whether daudzai personally profited reported least six homes varying places including dubai vancouver canada acquired since became karzais chief staff imperial powers must operate level collaboration native groups clients course interests sometimes tail wags dog historical landscape littered failures breed marked corruption ineptitude unreliability think american experience thensouth vietnam country survive let alone leaders déjà vu 1954 created classic state none whirlwind publicity anointed ngo dinh diem president south vietnam old china lobby saw savior would rescue east asia clutches red china immediately hailed george washington asia trifle reputations great leaders diem catholic buddhist country little indigenous following perhaps except catholic brethren refugees vietminh state north nine years rule diem managed alienate large segments countrys populace amid become familiar pattern authoritarianism nepotism involving relatives notably brother ngo dinh nhu opium addict attracted gestapo practices nazi regime corruption rife within diems family involved drug dealings rice contracts us government coerced contributions catholic church headed south vietnam ngo dình thuc archbishop hue happened diems older brother madame nhu labored mightily install version morality upon vietnamese diem eventually alienated military carried coup nov 1 1963 resulting assassination diem nhu us military secretly promised conspiring south vietnam generals washington would interfere thereafter succession incompetent corrupt generals governed left country remember likes gen nguyen van thieu nguyen cao ky became president vice president respectively suffered embarrassment kys admiration adolf hitler coups well trouble gained 10 years fruitless war paid men materiel presided presidents lyndon johnson richard nixon determined lose war gain peace honor adm elmo zumwalt chief naval operations said two words characterize nixonkissinger 1973 peace accords peace honor north vietnams negotiator refused accept nobel prize peace kissinger yet return enter president karzai like diem held power result corrupt elections featuring notsoinvisible hands american backers bet mortgage one leader matter inept corrupt might karzai playing various sides eagerly accepting largesse patronage least two governments interests karzai admitted iran lavished millions dollars regular payments entourage used iranian money according new york times story buy allegiance elected officials insurgent commanders believe karzai personally enriched irans motives difficult fathom american nato officials simply believe iran conducted aggressive campaign inside afghanistan undermine us mission gain influence local politics tunnel vision abounds demons may always appear iran clearly fish fry region consider long eastern contiguous border afghanistan look similar border pakistan iran might remember nothing interfere american invasion afghanistan supposedly undertaken wipe taliban almost decade ago perhaps iranian concerns motives obvious american military commanders iran certainly would prefer passive karzai regime resurgent taliban openly aided supposed ally pakistan waistdeep sinking quagmire client state difficult control pursuing interests time president barack obama captive karzai american military saddled increasingly unpopular intractable war reverse course undoubtedly clash current us military leaders opportunity right begin disengagement president instead raised stake fearful letting karzai fail rejecting adventurism military people obamas afghanistan war inevitably become entangled already poisoned domestic politics guess turmoil anguish await us stanley kutler author wars watergate writings | 553 |
<p>Millions marched against Trump for fear he’d cause devastation at home and abroad. This resistance movement still remains a powerful social force, and recently one of the movement’s biggest fears — a new war — was fully realized when Trump bombed the Syrian government and expanded the Middle East wars, at a time of immense risk of confrontation with Russia.</p>
<p>Immediately after the Syrian bombing Trump sent battleships to North Korea, and threatened to strike “preemptively,” á la Iraq in 2003. Then Trump escalated the Afghanistan war by dropping the world’s biggest non-nuclear bomb, at 21,000 pounds, whose one-mile blast radius creates nuclear-style havoc without the pesky label. The message is clear: Trump has become a seriously dangerous war president, the snake shedding his “isolationist” skin.</p>
<p>Society reeled from the newest war, but the fertile soil for protest barely produced a sprout. The establishment “supported” the new war, either directly by cheerleading or indirectly via silence.</p>
<p>The rest of the left was against the war but they didn’t bother to organize a protest. The only notable group that did — the ANSWER coalition — found little help from other left groups. The few protests that were organized were small or denounced by others on the left as being “pro Assad.” Trump was certainly pleased by the non-opposition and division against his new war.</p>
<p>Into the giant antiwar void crept the neo-Nazi “alt-right” groups, including leading white supremacist Richard Spencer, who loudly <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/salvadorhernandez/spencer-protests-trump-on-syria?utm_term=.lyZ8Bv9Pw#.evkjX1ex3" type="external">broke his support of Trump</a> by protesting the new Syria bombing in front of the White House. Other alt-right-associated individuals or organizations — including&#160; <a href="http://altright.com/" type="external">altright.com</a>&#160;and Infowars — loudly denounced their former Fuhrer.</p>
<p>In some ways the white supremacists protested more loudly and militantly than the left, which declined to ring any alarm bells, opting to minimize the aggression by dismissing the strike as “symbolic,” or “routine.”</p>
<p>While much of the alt-right unconditionally denounced the bombing, some on the left gave partial legitimacy to it by focusing half of their post-bombing energy on denouncing Trump’s target, Assad, helping to put the American public back to bed instead of agitating them into the streets.</p>
<p>Trump apparently silenced his critics by doing what they feared most. How did this happen?</p>
<p>In the political realm theory and action are inseparable. For revolutionaries the point of political theory/analysis is to directly intervene most effectively through organizing/action. The “what” of theory must be tightly connected to the “how” of organizing, sometimes referred to as “praxis.”</p>
<p>When it comes to theory/analysis on imperialism and war, the point is not just about understanding the “who,” “what,” and “why” of the conflict, but “how” to directly intervene to stop it.</p>
<p>Ultimately the only place that U.S. residents can directly intervene against war is in their own country, which is why any revolutionary analysis of the Syrian conflict must be oriented to agitating the U.S. public into action against “their” government’s war actions. Anything less is either abstract commentary or ineffectual moralizing.</p>
<p>Because theory is meant to prepare the working class to take action, a flawed theory results in inaction and political paralysis in the face of war. Leon Trotsky once compared a flawed theory to a leaky umbrella, “useless precisely when it rains.”</p>
<p>It’s raining now and instead of mass protests we have a sedated left, the result of several years of flawed analysis about the situation in the Middle East, coming to fruition just as the bombs began to rain down against yet another government.</p>
<p>What was the error? With each uptick in U.S. military intervention in Syria the left ignored or minimized it. Instead of educating the public about how the U.S. was <a href="" type="internal">openly organizing a proxy war</a> — the logic of which leads to direct military intervention — much of the left focused instead on how “monstrous” Syria’s President Assad was.</p>
<p>The left ignored the The <a href="" type="internal">New York Times reporting</a> that Obama was working with regional allies to recruit, train and arm soldiers, while funding them to attack the Syrian government. In 2013 The New York Times revealed that the U.S. had been overseeing a regional “weapons pipeline” to arm fighters. But this news barely registered on the left’s radar.</p>
<p>Instead of demanding that this intervention stop, many on the left gave it the green light; some actually demanded that the U.S. militarize the conflict by further arming Syrian rebels, or echoing the demand of some rebels to impose a military “no fly zone” in Syria ( <a href="https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4621738/dunford-tells-wicker-controlling-airspace-syria-means-war-russia-mccain-throws-tantrum-dunford" type="external">an act that requires war</a>).</p>
<p>The conflict would likely have ended several years ago without the direct intervention of the U.S., which not only gave guns and training but made regime change promises to allies, who were emboldened to go “all in” against the Syrian government by aiding the rebels, tearing the region apart in the process.</p>
<p>The majority of the left’s analysis focused on how awful Assad was, as if the U.S. public wasn’t already aware of the nonstop media coverage that turned him into a “monster,” a “butcher,” “Hitler,” etc.&#160; The left now appears too confused to protest; the conflict appears “very complicated.” People hate Trump but they are told Assad is even worse, so why protest a new U.S. war if the target deserves death?</p>
<p>It’s this conclusion that the U.S. government hopes to produce in every war. Saddam was a “monster,” Gaddafi was a “monster,” the Taliban are “monsters,” Milosevic was a “monster,” the Vietnamese too. Every new enemy of the U.S. military is compared to Hitler, because it is “moral” to kill Hitler, an idea now rebranded as “humanitarian intervention.” Every war the U.S. has ever waged was labeled “humanitarian,” including “taming the savages” during the indigenous American genocide.</p>
<p>The left shouldn’t fall victim to dehumanizing the enemy of the U.S. It’s true that Assad is no prince, but he’s a problem the Syrians have to deal with, not us. We have our hands full with Trump. The vast majority of nations have awful leaders, and all capitalist nations would react similarly to Assad when faced with protests that morphed into an armed revolt: they’d use vicious repression.</p>
<p>Saddam was every bit as “tyrannical” as Assad, having drowned in blood every threat against him. But you’d be hard pressed to see any anti-Saddam protest signs in the streets during the massive anti-war protests in 2003. The demand was simple: “Don’t Attack Iraq” or “No War.” Nobody was accused of being “pro-Saddam.”</p>
<p>In the face of war with Syria many left groups have foregone demands entirely, focusing instead on “condemning” every party to the war. Each party is declared equally guilty, which partially absolves every individual party, since “if everyone is guilty nobody is guilty.” This is the surest road to ambivalence and inaction if an antiwar movement is the goal. This lack of prioritizing guarantees ineffectual organizing and empty streets. The urgency to mobilize against U.S. imperialism is effectively muted. A demand isn’t an abstract slogan, but an urgent call to mobilize.</p>
<p>People should be putting only one government on trial for the Syrian conflict: the one they live under. Syrians should focus on Syria and Russians on Russia. U.S. residents only have proper jurisdiction in their own nation, where they are empowered to directly charge, convict and punish the guilty party, their government, through organizing and mobilizing the broader community into action.</p>
<p>The U.S. working class can do very little to stop the Syrian government from doing anything, nor are there Syrian revolutionary groups of any substance for U.S. residents to offer direct support to (the exception being the <a href="http://thekurdishproject.org/history-and-culture/kurdish-democracy/rojava-democracy/" type="external">Syrian Kurds in Rojava</a>).</p>
<p>It’s only inside of the United States where the government can be directly challenged, and even brought down via revolution when necessary. This is why for decades anti-war movements globally have used a general strategy in relation to organizing against war, which can be summarized as “the main enemy is in your own country.” This is the only internationalist approach to anti-war work. Real power must be leveraged, now, to stop the further expansion of this war. The U.S. public can show real solidarity to the Syrian people by stopping the biggest imperialist power in the world from further intervening there.</p>
<p>Demands and Social Movements</p>
<p>Strategic demands are a special weapon for the working class. They are indispensable tools for organizing, and effective demands are ones that agitate the broader population into action.&#160; Because most of the population will not unite over a litany of demands, the best demands are those that are limited, or singular, often referred to as “united front” demands, capable of uniting and rousing the population into action.</p>
<p>The most effective united front demand against U.S. imperialism has always been some variation of “Out Now,” or “Stop War” or “Hands Off Iraq” (or Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, etc.). One unifying demand that the working class can agree on, versus the laundry list of condemnations that cause confusion and disunity, resulting in passivity.</p>
<p>Demands are not a laundry list of opinions about whom you like or don’t like. The U.S. public doesn’t need to know “who” to support in this conflict, they need to know “how” to stop the war. No antiwar groups in any country waste their breath denouncing the target of the attack.</p>
<p>Several left groups combine their “demands,” such as “No Support for Trump or Assad.” Do the millions of people who marched against Trump — and hear daily anti-Assad media messages — need to be told “No Support for Trump or Assad”? Will this demand agitate them into action? The obvious answer is “no,” since you’re telling them what they already know while asking them to do nothing.</p>
<p>What people want to know is what to do now that their government has bombed yet another government. The public understands the matter is very serious, especially since Syria and Russia are tightly aligned and the situation is spiraling out of control.</p>
<p>Trump’s Dangerous Foreign Policy Shift</p>
<p>By not organizing protests against an expanded Syria war Trump is given a freer hand, and the neo-Nazi’s that call themselves “alt-right” are given an opportunity to gain further populist credentials by doing what the left used to do: unapologetically denounce U.S. foreign wars without condition.</p>
<p>The alt-right also seems to have a clearer analysis about what is happening in the White House. Trump’s election sidelined the section of the establishment that ran foreign policy for decades, often referred to as the “neocons.” &#160; Trump stymied them by campaigning as an “isolationist” who sought rapprochement with Russia. This approach found expression in Trump’s appointing General Flynn and fascist Steve Bannon to positions of power where military decisions are made.</p>
<p>Trump proclaimed the end to the U.S. policy of “regime change” in Syria, and the peace process already in place — which <a href="https://news.vice.com/story/russia-iran-and-turkey-are-shutting-the-u-s-out-of-the-syrian-peace-process" type="external">effectively excluded the U.S.</a> — would soon make concrete what everyone already knew: that Assad had won the war and would reclaim his “legitimacy” in global diplomacy.</p>
<p>Assad’s victory over Obama’s regime change strategy infuriated the neocons, who wanted to push Russia out of the Middle East and out of Eastern Europe, thereby maintaining the decades-long mastery of the U.S. over these regions.</p>
<p>Hillary Clinton was the candidate of the big banks and neocons, and consequently she campaigned on war with Syria, using the euphemism of a “no fly zone” to get rid of Assad. A big chunk of Trump’s populism was his being perceived as “antiwar” (with the exception of ISIS).</p>
<p>Post election the “neocons” waged an internal struggle with Trump which they’ve recently won, transforming Trump from an isolationist into the warmonger they wanted.&#160; The proof is in the pudding: Trump’s isolationist General Flynn was taken down by internal media leaks, replaced by neocon-oriented General McMaster, who, <a href="" type="internal">according to the Washington Post</a>, was responsible for pushing isolationist/fascist Steve Bannon off the National Security Council, only days before Trump bombed Syria, based on zero evidence of a gas attack (the alt-right asked for evidence of the gas attack, whereas much of the Left simply accepted Trump’s pretext for war).</p>
<p>The internal balance of power has shifted, and the dominant section of the U.S. establishment has reasserted itself over foreign policy. Trump has learned his place, and the rest of the world is a far more dangerous place as a consequence: tensions with North Korea have exploded at the same time while the military used its MOAB super-bomb in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>The “alt-right” will use Trump’s war to further their populist position, but they are too weak to lead any movement currently. If the left remains paralyzed on this issue the white supremacists will have space to grow.</p>
<p>There is immense revolutionary potential for a U.S. anti-war movement. The anti-Trump movement has prepared the population for the next steps; it’s up to the left to provide guidance at a time when Trump escalates his wars as the military budget starves the country.</p>
<p>It is the job of the U.S. left to unite the broader population around a united front demand, such as “No War With Syria” &#160;or a similar demand that focuses our energy into a powerful force that can push the anti-Trump movement to the next level, while exerting the revolutionary energy capable of stopping the war on Syria, Russia, North Korea, and beyond.</p> | true | 4 | millions marched trump fear hed cause devastation home abroad resistance movement still remains powerful social force recently one movements biggest fears new war fully realized trump bombed syrian government expanded middle east wars time immense risk confrontation russia immediately syrian bombing trump sent battleships north korea threatened strike preemptively á la iraq 2003 trump escalated afghanistan war dropping worlds biggest nonnuclear bomb 21000 pounds whose onemile blast radius creates nuclearstyle havoc without pesky label message clear trump become seriously dangerous war president snake shedding isolationist skin society reeled newest war fertile soil protest barely produced sprout establishment supported new war either directly cheerleading indirectly via silence rest left war didnt bother organize protest notable group answer coalition found little help left groups protests organized small denounced others left pro assad trump certainly pleased nonopposition division new war giant antiwar void crept neonazi altright groups including leading white supremacist richard spencer loudly broke support trump protesting new syria bombing front white house altrightassociated individuals organizations including160 altrightcom160and infowars loudly denounced former fuhrer ways white supremacists protested loudly militantly left declined ring alarm bells opting minimize aggression dismissing strike symbolic routine much altright unconditionally denounced bombing left gave partial legitimacy focusing half postbombing energy denouncing trumps target assad helping put american public back bed instead agitating streets trump apparently silenced critics feared happen political realm theory action inseparable revolutionaries point political theoryanalysis directly intervene effectively organizingaction theory must tightly connected organizing sometimes referred praxis comes theoryanalysis imperialism war point understanding conflict directly intervene stop ultimately place us residents directly intervene war country revolutionary analysis syrian conflict must oriented agitating us public action governments war actions anything less either abstract commentary ineffectual moralizing theory meant prepare working class take action flawed theory results inaction political paralysis face war leon trotsky compared flawed theory leaky umbrella useless precisely rains raining instead mass protests sedated left result several years flawed analysis situation middle east coming fruition bombs began rain yet another government error uptick us military intervention syria left ignored minimized instead educating public us openly organizing proxy war logic leads direct military intervention much left focused instead monstrous syrias president assad left ignored new york times reporting obama working regional allies recruit train arm soldiers funding attack syrian government 2013 new york times revealed us overseeing regional weapons pipeline arm fighters news barely registered lefts radar instead demanding intervention stop many left gave green light actually demanded us militarize conflict arming syrian rebels echoing demand rebels impose military fly zone syria act requires war conflict would likely ended several years ago without direct intervention us gave guns training made regime change promises allies emboldened go syrian government aiding rebels tearing region apart process majority lefts analysis focused awful assad us public wasnt already aware nonstop media coverage turned monster butcher hitler etc160 left appears confused protest conflict appears complicated people hate trump told assad even worse protest new us war target deserves death conclusion us government hopes produce every war saddam monster gaddafi monster taliban monsters milosevic monster vietnamese every new enemy us military compared hitler moral kill hitler idea rebranded humanitarian intervention every war us ever waged labeled humanitarian including taming savages indigenous american genocide left shouldnt fall victim dehumanizing enemy us true assad prince hes problem syrians deal us hands full trump vast majority nations awful leaders capitalist nations would react similarly assad faced protests morphed armed revolt theyd use vicious repression saddam every bit tyrannical assad drowned blood every threat youd hard pressed see antisaddam protest signs streets massive antiwar protests 2003 demand simple dont attack iraq war nobody accused prosaddam face war syria many left groups foregone demands entirely focusing instead condemning every party war party declared equally guilty partially absolves every individual party since everyone guilty nobody guilty surest road ambivalence inaction antiwar movement goal lack prioritizing guarantees ineffectual organizing empty streets urgency mobilize us imperialism effectively muted demand isnt abstract slogan urgent call mobilize people putting one government trial syrian conflict one live syrians focus syria russians russia us residents proper jurisdiction nation empowered directly charge convict punish guilty party government organizing mobilizing broader community action us working class little stop syrian government anything syrian revolutionary groups substance us residents offer direct support exception syrian kurds rojava inside united states government directly challenged even brought via revolution necessary decades antiwar movements globally used general strategy relation organizing war summarized main enemy country internationalist approach antiwar work real power must leveraged stop expansion war us public show real solidarity syrian people stopping biggest imperialist power world intervening demands social movements strategic demands special weapon working class indispensable tools organizing effective demands ones agitate broader population action160 population unite litany demands best demands limited singular often referred united front demands capable uniting rousing population action effective united front demand us imperialism always variation stop war hands iraq afghanistan libya syria etc one unifying demand working class agree versus laundry list condemnations cause confusion disunity resulting passivity demands laundry list opinions like dont like us public doesnt need know support conflict need know stop war antiwar groups country waste breath denouncing target attack several left groups combine demands support trump assad millions people marched trump hear daily antiassad media messages need told support trump assad demand agitate action obvious answer since youre telling already know asking nothing people want know government bombed yet another government public understands matter serious especially since syria russia tightly aligned situation spiraling control trumps dangerous foreign policy shift organizing protests expanded syria war trump given freer hand neonazis call altright given opportunity gain populist credentials left used unapologetically denounce us foreign wars without condition altright also seems clearer analysis happening white house trumps election sidelined section establishment ran foreign policy decades often referred neocons 160 trump stymied campaigning isolationist sought rapprochement russia approach found expression trumps appointing general flynn fascist steve bannon positions power military decisions made trump proclaimed end us policy regime change syria peace process already place effectively excluded us would soon make concrete everyone already knew assad war would reclaim legitimacy global diplomacy assads victory obamas regime change strategy infuriated neocons wanted push russia middle east eastern europe thereby maintaining decadeslong mastery us regions hillary clinton candidate big banks neocons consequently campaigned war syria using euphemism fly zone get rid assad big chunk trumps populism perceived antiwar exception isis post election neocons waged internal struggle trump theyve recently transforming trump isolationist warmonger wanted160 proof pudding trumps isolationist general flynn taken internal media leaks replaced neoconoriented general mcmaster according washington post responsible pushing isolationistfascist steve bannon national security council days trump bombed syria based zero evidence gas attack altright asked evidence gas attack whereas much left simply accepted trumps pretext war internal balance power shifted dominant section us establishment reasserted foreign policy trump learned place rest world far dangerous place consequence tensions north korea exploded time military used moab superbomb afghanistan altright use trumps war populist position weak lead movement currently left remains paralyzed issue white supremacists space grow immense revolutionary potential us antiwar movement antitrump movement prepared population next steps left provide guidance time trump escalates wars military budget starves country job us left unite broader population around united front demand war syria 160or similar demand focuses energy powerful force push antitrump movement next level exerting revolutionary energy capable stopping war syria russia north korea beyond | 1,223 |
<p>On December 21, the Central Intelligence Agency gave its Agency Seal Medal to Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. Hoekstra has labored almost ceaselessly to assure that the CIA can break federal laws with impunity.</p>
<p>CIA Director Leon Panetta announced at the ceremony for Hoekstra at CIA headquarters: “To honor your service, I want to present you with the agency Seal Medallion. You have been a strong voice for protecting the nation and we pay tribute to your service.” The official citation declared: “He worked to provide the Agency with the resources and support it needs to accomplish its mission.” Hoekstra responded: “I am honored and humbled to receive such recognition from the CIA.”</p>
<p>Hoekstra has been one of the most vigilant defenders of federal agencies that have ravaged Americans’ rights. As former CIA agent Ray McGovern reported, it was Hoekstra who “blocked any attempt to hold [National Security Agency chief Keith] Alexander accountable for his lie” in 2005 congressional testimony regarding the Bush administration’s massive illegal wiretaps of Americans. Hoekstra’s shining moment on the Intelligence Committee occurred when he proudly announced in 2006 that the U.S. military really did find weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. The main achievement of his press conference was to make Hoekstra a laughingstock.</p>
<p>When he was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2004 to 2006, Hoekstra occasionally bemoaned the CIA’s misleading Congress. But when push came to shove, Hoekstra has worked to protect CIA torturers from prosecution.</p>
<p>In April 2009, Hoekstra warned that torture investigations could have a “chilling effect” on interrogators.</p>
<p>In May 2009, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi accused the CIA of lying to Congress regarding torture, Hoekstra denounced her for becoming a “wrecking ball” for CIA morale. In August 2009, Hoekstra talked as if any consideration of Bush-era torture abuses would leave the nation vulnerable to another Al Qaeda attack: “Attorney General Holder should know that as he increases the focus on America’s past counterterrorism efforts, he is distracting from the CIA’s current counterterrorism efforts.”</p>
<p>In September 2009, after Holder signaled that he was going to pretend to seriously consider prosecuting CIA interrogation crimes, Hoekstra declaimed: “The political witch hunt and endless investigations against the CIA being conducted by partisan ideologues need to stop.”</p>
<p>This past February, Hoekstra led efforts to successfully defeat the proposed “Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Interrogations Prohibition Act of 2010.” The bill would have made clear that CIA employees can be prosecuted if they use beatings, electric shocks, or attack dogs to interrogate detainees. Hoekstra denounced as “shameful” the effort by some Democrats’ effort to “target those we ask to serve in harm’s way.”</p>
<p>On October 31, when the Republicans were poised to recapture control of the House in midterm elections, Hoekstra announced that the House Intelligence Committee would conduct “vigorous oversight” over the Justice Department’s “review of potential prosecutions of CIA folks involved in interrogation programs.” Hoekstra didn’t care what CIA agents had done. Instead, the only issue was whether the outside chance of being indicted caused the nation’s premier interrogators to lose sleep.</p>
<p>When WikiLeaks began releasing U.S. State Department cables last month, Hoekstra raced in front of the TV cameras to denounce the “breakdown of trust.” Hoekstra fretted that American allies would ask: “Can the United States be trusted - to keep a secret?” Apparently, as long as federal crimes are kept secret, then the U.S. government remains trustworthy. Or at least that’s what people like Hoekstra want Americans to think.</p>
<p>I interviewed Hoekstra in 1999 for an article I wrote on AmeriCorps. Hoekstra was good on that issue - even though he insisted that his most incisive criticisms were “off the record.” But as time went on, Hoekstra became increasingly Washingtonized. In 2002, he announced that he would scorn his term-limit pledge to voters and seek more terms in Congress. Hoekstra justified betraying voters in part because he had been “selected for more senior leadership posts in Congress, including the Intelligence Committee.” Hoekstra did not seek another term this year so that he could pursue the governorship of Michigan. (He failed to win the Republican primary this past August.)</p>
<p>Hoekstra is not the first Intelligence Committee member to receive the CIA Agency Seal Award. Previous recipients include Rep. Jane Harman (D-California), Sen. John Warner (R-Virginia), and Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) - all reliable stooges for the agency. The Founding Fathers would spin in their graves at the notion of federal agencies giving awards to the congressmen who were supposed to be holding the leash on the agency. This is akin to a judge bragging about receiving a Public Service Award from some mobster who he made sure was found “not guilty.”</p>
<p>Perhaps the official oath of office for congressmen should be revised. Instead of representatives swearing to uphold the Constitution, they should instead openly pledge fealty to the CIA and other federal agencies. Can American democracy fall any lower than congressmen sending out press releases bragging about Lap Dog awards from agencies whose crimes they helped cover up?</p>
<p>JAMES BOVARD is a policy advisor for <a href="http://www.fff.org/" type="external">The Future of Freedom Foundation</a> and is the author of <a href="" type="internal">Attention Deficit Democracy</a>, <a href="" type="internal">The Bush Betrayal</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Terrorism and Tyranny</a>, and other books.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | december 21 central intelligence agency gave agency seal medal rep pete hoekstra top republican house intelligence committee hoekstra labored almost ceaselessly assure cia break federal laws impunity cia director leon panetta announced ceremony hoekstra cia headquarters honor service want present agency seal medallion strong voice protecting nation pay tribute service official citation declared worked provide agency resources support needs accomplish mission hoekstra responded honored humbled receive recognition cia hoekstra one vigilant defenders federal agencies ravaged americans rights former cia agent ray mcgovern reported hoekstra blocked attempt hold national security agency chief keith alexander accountable lie 2005 congressional testimony regarding bush administrations massive illegal wiretaps americans hoekstras shining moment intelligence committee occurred proudly announced 2006 us military really find weapons mass destruction iraq main achievement press conference make hoekstra laughingstock chairman house intelligence committee 2004 2006 hoekstra occasionally bemoaned cias misleading congress push came shove hoekstra worked protect cia torturers prosecution april 2009 hoekstra warned torture investigations could chilling effect interrogators may 2009 house speaker nancy pelosi accused cia lying congress regarding torture hoekstra denounced becoming wrecking ball cia morale august 2009 hoekstra talked consideration bushera torture abuses would leave nation vulnerable another al qaeda attack attorney general holder know increases focus americas past counterterrorism efforts distracting cias current counterterrorism efforts september 2009 holder signaled going pretend seriously consider prosecuting cia interrogation crimes hoekstra declaimed political witch hunt endless investigations cia conducted partisan ideologues need stop past february hoekstra led efforts successfully defeat proposed cruel inhuman degrading interrogations prohibition act 2010 bill would made clear cia employees prosecuted use beatings electric shocks attack dogs interrogate detainees hoekstra denounced shameful effort democrats effort target ask serve harms way october 31 republicans poised recapture control house midterm elections hoekstra announced house intelligence committee would conduct vigorous oversight justice departments review potential prosecutions cia folks involved interrogation programs hoekstra didnt care cia agents done instead issue whether outside chance indicted caused nations premier interrogators lose sleep wikileaks began releasing us state department cables last month hoekstra raced front tv cameras denounce breakdown trust hoekstra fretted american allies would ask united states trusted keep secret apparently long federal crimes kept secret us government remains trustworthy least thats people like hoekstra want americans think interviewed hoekstra 1999 article wrote americorps hoekstra good issue even though insisted incisive criticisms record time went hoekstra became increasingly washingtonized 2002 announced would scorn termlimit pledge voters seek terms congress hoekstra justified betraying voters part selected senior leadership posts congress including intelligence committee hoekstra seek another term year could pursue governorship michigan failed win republican primary past august hoekstra first intelligence committee member receive cia agency seal award previous recipients include rep jane harman dcalifornia sen john warner rvirginia sen pat roberts rkansas reliable stooges agency founding fathers would spin graves notion federal agencies giving awards congressmen supposed holding leash agency akin judge bragging receiving public service award mobster made sure found guilty perhaps official oath office congressmen revised instead representatives swearing uphold constitution instead openly pledge fealty cia federal agencies american democracy fall lower congressmen sending press releases bragging lap dog awards agencies whose crimes helped cover james bovard policy advisor future freedom foundation author attention deficit democracy bush betrayal terrorism tyranny books 160 160 | 535 |
<p>Injured war veterans and their spouses rode horses into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness in late July—one of three Montana adventure to help them heal. Photo by Jan Falstad.</p>
<p>As justifiable fear gripped their guts, wounded Iraq veteran Charlie and his wife, Vionette, whispered about the wisdom of climbing on a horse for the first time in their lives and riding off into Montana’s Absaroka-Beartooth wilderness.</p>
<p>Standing by the horse trailers, Vionette seemed quietly paralyzed. Then she found the grit to mount Dennis, who loomed above her.</p>
<p>“Truthfully, I was afraid. I expected to not do it, saying, ‘I can’t do this,’” she said later.</p>
<p>More than 2,000 miles west of their home, the New Yorkers joined three other couples brought to the Stillwater River by Operation Second Chance of Maryland. The charity, whose motto is “Helping Heroes Move On,” pays for weeklong adventures across the United States for those wounded, injured and ill from fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>One of them,Mike, a vet from Oregon, was so weary of repeating the story about how the Iraq war claimed his left arm that he joked, “Hell, I just make stuff up. A shark bit it off!”</p>
<p>Second Chance asked that participating veterans be identified by their first names only.</p>
<p>Mike’s first trail ride up the Stillwater moved him so deeply that he and his wife, “Bree,” volunteer their time to drive to Montana to help other vets conquer their doubts.</p>
<p>His nickname is “John Wayne.” The one-eyed U.S. marshall that Wayne played in the ’60s Western “True Grit” rode with reins in his teeth so he could shoot guns with both arms.&#160;Mike rides with reins in teeth to take pictures with one arm.</p>
<p>During a hot week in late July, these warriors and their loved ones rode horses, rafted the Yellowstone River and drove ATVs across Hellroaring Plateau bordering Yellowstone National Park.</p>
<p>But the trail ride came first.</p>
<p>Climbing on a horse stirs up anxiety in people and spurs dramatic changes, said Steve and Debbie Mikels. They run Dream Dance Outfitters out of Roscoe, and for a decade they have donated the use of their backcountry skills and their seasoned trail horses to Operation Second Chance vets.</p>
<p>“I’m a warrior from a different time and place,” Steve said, explaining their commitment to help the vets. Debbie is nationally certified in using horses as therapy.</p>
<p>The beauty of the Beartooth Mountains helps riders relax, she said, but if they can find harmony and balance with their horse, they might rediscover creative places that have been covered up or lost.</p>
<p>“That’s what the horses are doing. They are showing them the way so they can lead a richer and fuller life,” she said. “That’s the gift from the horse.”</p>
<p>At the trailhead, the outfitters helped riders—injuries visible and invisible—onto their horses.</p>
<p>Charlie suffered back injuries from falling off a ledge during a mortar attack in Iraq. Then he went through two colon cancer surgeries he believes came from exposure to toxic chemicals. In 2001, he was a military first responder at Ground Zero after terrorists toppled the World Trade Center towers. This ride comes five months after his last surgery.</p>
<p>Charlie smiled a lot.</p>
<p>Like most of the others, Charity, of Maryland, mounted her tall horse from a boulder. But she got on from the right or opposite-the-normal side because her left kneecap was destroyed in a motorcycle accident.&#160;On this ride, there was scarce talk of the foot-long scar across a rib cage, traumatic brain injury or the purgatory of pain war brings.</p>
<p>To novices, horses can be powerful and scary. The Mikels want riders to see horses as intelligent, intuitive animals who can help them—if they can tune in.</p>
<p>“If you are grounded in who you are, they know it,” Debbie said. “They feel it.”</p>
<p>There was virtually no coaching and certainly no coddling on how to steer or stop a horse.</p>
<p>“Ride your horse. Trust your horse,” Steve commanded, before riding off in the lead.</p>
<p>At first, the trail up the Stillwater snakes through a gorge that leaves with little room for error. This start of the journey can make even seasoned riders suck in some breaths. On the right, granite cliffs climb straight up to the sky. On the left, the rock ledge drops off into the roiling river.</p>
<p>Because of the challenges of a first ride, much less through the canyon, Steve “ponied” or led Vionette’s horse. Razor-focused on staying on, both her hands gripped the saddle horn.</p>
<p>With no collective rhythm at all, 44 iron-shod hooves clip-clopped over uneven rocks. Riders tensed when a foot occasionally slipped off granite before the horse found footing again. If someone spoke, cascading water swallowed the words. The Stillwater doesn’t earn its name until miles downstream when it meanders through flatter ranch land.</p>
<p>After half an hour, the trail opened up into a small meadow.</p>
<p>Turning his sorrel gelding, Madison, around to face the party, Steve said that two weeks ago the Stillwater was running a couple of feet higher here—so high the turbulence sprayed both riders and horses.</p>
<p>“If you want to know who rules the world,” he said, “Mother Nature rules.”</p>
<p>That slice of adventure behind them, but not knowing what lay ahead, the riders’ wary faces relaxed some.</p>
<p>The outfitter handed Vionette her reins. About a mile later she dared to take control of her horse at one of many stream crossings.</p>
<p>“Dennis, stop drinking water and get going,” she ordered, pulling up his head and trying to kick him with her short legs. The horse obeyed—eventually—when he had drunk his fill and he was ready to go. Vionette looked ecstatic.</p>
<p>Wilderness trails carry their own risks. Grizzlies, for one. Steve, who is part Native American, wears a trio of bear teeth on a leather thong around his neck and practices Native American spirituality. Adopted into two Montana tribes, he is called Uukashee Sachee: man of clay or man of the earth, by the Crow. The Lakota call him Thunderbear. That was also the name given to the spiritual beings guarding the gates to the dream world.</p>
<p>Naturally, a rider asked, “What if?”</p>
<p>“If we meet grizzlies, they won’t touch you,” Thunderbear said. “I’m a relative.”</p>
<p>Besides, he said, the yellow, orange and red wild berries flanking the trail won’t ripen for another couple of weeks. When they do, the bears will move in to feast. Ninety minutes and 3½ miles later, riders reached the wide spot in the river called Sioux Charley Lake. They dismounted—sore butts happy to leave hard leather—and walked around like stiff ducks.</p>
<p>In the briefest of briefings, Thunderbear said that the grandfathers had asked him to bring the veterans here.</p>
<p>“Let your stress and sadness and pain go. Let it all flow out of you and down the Stillwater.”</p>
<p>“Release it all through your fingers and let it go.”</p>
<p>Smoke from wildfires, including the Lodgepole Fire scorching ranches 300 miles to the northeast, slightly obscured the high-country sun and blue skies. Among dozens of fires burning across the West that week, the Lodgepole blaze was the big one, consuming more than 400 square miles—a devastating burn as large as New York City.</p>
<p>Gravitating to the river, couples spread out quietly along the bank.</p>
<p>Heather and her staff sergeant husband, Derek, of Florida, settled by a large granite boulder. Most riders soaked their feet in the Stillwater, but Derek was gung-ho. Crawling up the largest boulder, the combat operations vet jumped. In a flash, he surfaced, letting out a war cry.</p>
<p>“That’s cold-ass water!” he shouted. “I think my nipples can cut glass.”</p>
<p>“No sir, that’s refreshing,” Steve shot back.</p>
<p>Songbirds serenaded the party. Wildflowers were in full charge, led by the wild rose, mountain bluebells and scarlet Indian paintbrush.</p>
<p>Charlie rested his back, lying down in the grass. Trying not to grimace, he swallowed an aspirin.</p>
<p>“I can take pain, but I was eight or nine riding up there on that horse today,” he said, speaking of the standard 1 to 10 pain scale. “I kept thinking when are we going to stop?”</p>
<p>Charlie, who works on the Veteran Advisory Board for the mayor of New York City, said time on a horse seemed to stand still. That reminded him of his favorite Salvador Dali painting: a clock melting off a table.</p>
<p>Speaking of riding a horse, Charlie said, “If you want to stop time, that’s the very way to do it. That’s deep.”</p>
<p>Debbie agreed, saying that horses live in the moment.</p>
<p>“They’re not worried we’re not done with lunch,” she said.</p>
<p>As Vionette watched over Charlie, she said she smelled something sweet, flowers probably, and the pungent pine. She put some souvenir cones in her shiny purse. Pairs of yellow wings flittered around.</p>
<p>“No way we see this in Central Park,” she said looking at the mountains. “Butterflies are good medicine.”</p>
<p>Maryland veteran Jason, who loves to shoot long-range rifles, and his wife with the wrecked kneecap focused on the river.</p>
<p>“I put the water on your leg and it started twitching,” he told Charity, wonder in his voice.</p>
<p>An experienced horseman, Jason said he often closed his eyes on the ride in.</p>
<p>“I listened to the birds and felt the air, which had a really calming effect,” he said.</p>
<p>When it seemed the natural time to head back, the vets resumed their combat camaraderie: good-natured, if sharp at times, ribbing.</p>
<p>Upright again, Charlie joked, “I’m walking back.”</p>
<p>After Debbie adjusted his backpack and stirrups and showed him a better way to sit his saddle, the New Yorker smiled and climbed back on his buckskin. Butter liked to trot from time to time.</p>
<p>Just before leaving, Jason helped Charity get back on Lawrence, a horse who once starred in movies.</p>
<p>As the sun dipped lower Steve turned his horse down trail and said, “Take us home Madison.”</p>
<p>Charity not only feared riding for the first time or with a missing kneecap. She feared the canyon with its heights and water.</p>
<p>“I was nervous, very nervous. And then I got to camp and I just felt it melting away,” she said.</p>
<p>But anxiety chased her again on the ride back.</p>
<p>No horse has ever committed suicide, Steve reassured her.</p>
<p>“Listen to the water. Feel the air. Smell the smells. Let the horse to his job,” he said.</p>
<p>Can Lawrence sense my fear?</p>
<p>“Yes, but he likes you.”</p>
<p>How do you know?</p>
<p>“He didn’t dump your ass.”</p>
<p>“OK, I’ll give it a try,” she said.</p>
<p>Back down through the gorge, Lawrence would sense when she tensed up and help her change.</p>
<p>“He would look back at me as if to say, ‘Stop it,’” Charity said. “I definitely have a different respect for him.”</p>
<p>The end of the trail approaching, Mike, aka “John Wayne,” pointed out the best pools to catch native cutthroat on a dry fly.</p>
<p>Back at the Dream Dance Ranch, riders loved on their horses and fed them grain. Charlie and Vionette were giddy, promising to find a stable and learn to ride when they got back to New York City.</p>
<p>“It was an amazing experience,” she sad. “It was the best I’ve ever had.”</p>
<p>After riding a mustang named Fox all day, Derek ranked the Stillwater at the top of his day’s adventure.</p>
<p>“I think getting in my undies and jumping in the river was the highlight of my day,” he said.</p>
<p>His wife, Heather, filled her wish list of riding a horse again and drinking in some mountain air after the dank Florida summer.</p>
<p>If people were as sensitive as horses, she said, they might understand PTSD better.</p>
<p>“They have a way to see things we people can’t. They are all different personalities,” Heather said. “Isn’t that amazing? You don’t even have to say anything.”</p>
<p>When Steve, the outfitter, asked the riders if they felt any different after their dose of wilderness, “John Wayne” drew roars of laughter when he quipped, “My butt hurts!”</p>
<p>That evening, volunteers from nearby Red Lodge served barbecue ribs they’d cooked for two days and all the fixins’. Popular guitarist and local singer Daniel Kosel played some original songs, including one about the Beartooths: “A mountain peace fills my soul and resets my heart…”</p>
<p>Mixing his own songs up with tunes by George Jones, Merle Haggard and even Guns N’ Roses, Kosel got the riders to loosen up even more, clapping and whistling at their favorite tunes, their arms around loved ones.</p>
<p>Dusk settled in. Wind and thunder charged in and a feared lightning strike that could spark another fire shot down into a nearby valley.</p>
<p>During the long goodbyes that evening, Jason mentioned that he’d never been in a tepee.</p>
<p>With mock horror, Debbie called her outfitter partner over.</p>
<p>“Steve, he’s never slept in a tepee!”</p>
<p>“What I did, we never had tepees,” he said, referring to his active duty time.</p>
<p>The Mikels invited him back to cut some lodgepole pines and experience the magic of those Native American lodges. The veteran, now working in law enforcement in Maryland, eagerly agreed and then offered to saddle horses, haul rocks, build fence—anything.</p>
<p>Talking quietly over food and song about the high country and the unpretentious folks they’d met in Red Lodge, Jason and Charity were already making plans to ride horses in Montana again. Maybe they’d return for good.</p>
<p>“I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said. “I’ve never felt this.”</p>
<p>Charity added, “I liked it when Steve said last night, ‘You’ll come as strangers and leave as friends.’”</p>
<p>To learn more, go to:&#160; <a href="http://www.dreamdanceoutfitters.com/" type="external">www.dreamdanceoutfitters.com</a>,&#160; <a href="http://www.dreamdanceranch.com/" type="external">www.dreamdanceranch.com</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="http://www.operationsecondchance.org/" type="external">www.operationsecondchance.org</a></p>
<p>This piece was first published by <a href="" type="internal">Last Best News</a>.</p> | true | 4 | injured war veterans spouses rode horses absarokabeartooth wilderness late julyone three montana adventure help heal photo jan falstad justifiable fear gripped guts wounded iraq veteran charlie wife vionette whispered wisdom climbing horse first time lives riding montanas absarokabeartooth wilderness standing horse trailers vionette seemed quietly paralyzed found grit mount dennis loomed truthfully afraid expected saying cant said later 2000 miles west home new yorkers joined three couples brought stillwater river operation second chance maryland charity whose motto helping heroes move pays weeklong adventures across united states wounded injured ill fighting iraq afghanistan one themmike vet oregon weary repeating story iraq war claimed left arm joked hell make stuff shark bit second chance asked participating veterans identified first names mikes first trail ride stillwater moved deeply wife bree volunteer time drive montana help vets conquer doubts nickname john wayne oneeyed us marshall wayne played 60s western true grit rode reins teeth could shoot guns arms160mike rides reins teeth take pictures one arm hot week late july warriors loved ones rode horses rafted yellowstone river drove atvs across hellroaring plateau bordering yellowstone national park trail ride came first climbing horse stirs anxiety people spurs dramatic changes said steve debbie mikels run dream dance outfitters roscoe decade donated use backcountry skills seasoned trail horses operation second chance vets im warrior different time place steve said explaining commitment help vets debbie nationally certified using horses therapy beauty beartooth mountains helps riders relax said find harmony balance horse might rediscover creative places covered lost thats horses showing way lead richer fuller life said thats gift horse trailhead outfitters helped ridersinjuries visible invisibleonto horses charlie suffered back injuries falling ledge mortar attack iraq went two colon cancer surgeries believes came exposure toxic chemicals 2001 military first responder ground zero terrorists toppled world trade center towers ride comes five months last surgery charlie smiled lot like others charity maryland mounted tall horse boulder got right oppositethenormal side left kneecap destroyed motorcycle accident160on ride scarce talk footlong scar across rib cage traumatic brain injury purgatory pain war brings novices horses powerful scary mikels want riders see horses intelligent intuitive animals help themif tune grounded know debbie said feel virtually coaching certainly coddling steer stop horse ride horse trust horse steve commanded riding lead first trail stillwater snakes gorge leaves little room error start journey make even seasoned riders suck breaths right granite cliffs climb straight sky left rock ledge drops roiling river challenges first ride much less canyon steve ponied led vionettes horse razorfocused staying hands gripped saddle horn collective rhythm 44 ironshod hooves clipclopped uneven rocks riders tensed foot occasionally slipped granite horse found footing someone spoke cascading water swallowed words stillwater doesnt earn name miles downstream meanders flatter ranch land half hour trail opened small meadow turning sorrel gelding madison around face party steve said two weeks ago stillwater running couple feet higher hereso high turbulence sprayed riders horses want know rules world said mother nature rules slice adventure behind knowing lay ahead riders wary faces relaxed outfitter handed vionette reins mile later dared take control horse one many stream crossings dennis stop drinking water get going ordered pulling head trying kick short legs horse obeyedeventuallywhen drunk fill ready go vionette looked ecstatic wilderness trails carry risks grizzlies one steve part native american wears trio bear teeth leather thong around neck practices native american spirituality adopted two montana tribes called uukashee sachee man clay man earth crow lakota call thunderbear also name given spiritual beings guarding gates dream world naturally rider asked meet grizzlies wont touch thunderbear said im relative besides said yellow orange red wild berries flanking trail wont ripen another couple weeks bears move feast ninety minutes 3½ miles later riders reached wide spot river called sioux charley lake dismountedsore butts happy leave hard leatherand walked around like stiff ducks briefest briefings thunderbear said grandfathers asked bring veterans let stress sadness pain go let flow stillwater release fingers let go smoke wildfires including lodgepole fire scorching ranches 300 miles northeast slightly obscured highcountry sun blue skies among dozens fires burning across west week lodgepole blaze big one consuming 400 square milesa devastating burn large new york city gravitating river couples spread quietly along bank heather staff sergeant husband derek florida settled large granite boulder riders soaked feet stillwater derek gungho crawling largest boulder combat operations vet jumped flash surfaced letting war cry thats coldass water shouted think nipples cut glass sir thats refreshing steve shot back songbirds serenaded party wildflowers full charge led wild rose mountain bluebells scarlet indian paintbrush charlie rested back lying grass trying grimace swallowed aspirin take pain eight nine riding horse today said speaking standard 1 10 pain scale kept thinking going stop charlie works veteran advisory board mayor new york city said time horse seemed stand still reminded favorite salvador dali painting clock melting table speaking riding horse charlie said want stop time thats way thats deep debbie agreed saying horses live moment theyre worried done lunch said vionette watched charlie said smelled something sweet flowers probably pungent pine put souvenir cones shiny purse pairs yellow wings flittered around way see central park said looking mountains butterflies good medicine maryland veteran jason loves shoot longrange rifles wife wrecked kneecap focused river put water leg started twitching told charity wonder voice experienced horseman jason said often closed eyes ride listened birds felt air really calming effect said seemed natural time head back vets resumed combat camaraderie goodnatured sharp times ribbing upright charlie joked im walking back debbie adjusted backpack stirrups showed better way sit saddle new yorker smiled climbed back buckskin butter liked trot time time leaving jason helped charity get back lawrence horse starred movies sun dipped lower steve turned horse trail said take us home madison charity feared riding first time missing kneecap feared canyon heights water nervous nervous got camp felt melting away said anxiety chased ride back horse ever committed suicide steve reassured listen water feel air smell smells let horse job said lawrence sense fear yes likes know didnt dump ass ok ill give try said back gorge lawrence would sense tensed help change would look back say stop charity said definitely different respect end trail approaching mike aka john wayne pointed best pools catch native cutthroat dry fly back dream dance ranch riders loved horses fed grain charlie vionette giddy promising find stable learn ride got back new york city amazing experience sad best ive ever riding mustang named fox day derek ranked stillwater top days adventure think getting undies jumping river highlight day said wife heather filled wish list riding horse drinking mountain air dank florida summer people sensitive horses said might understand ptsd better way see things people cant different personalities heather said isnt amazing dont even say anything steve outfitter asked riders felt different dose wilderness john wayne drew roars laughter quipped butt hurts evening volunteers nearby red lodge served barbecue ribs theyd cooked two days fixins popular guitarist local singer daniel kosel played original songs including one beartooths mountain peace fills soul resets heart mixing songs tunes george jones merle haggard even guns n roses kosel got riders loosen even clapping whistling favorite tunes arms around loved ones dusk settled wind thunder charged feared lightning strike could spark another fire shot nearby valley long goodbyes evening jason mentioned hed never tepee mock horror debbie called outfitter partner steve hes never slept tepee never tepees said referring active duty time mikels invited back cut lodgepole pines experience magic native american lodges veteran working law enforcement maryland eagerly agreed offered saddle horses haul rocks build fenceanything talking quietly food song high country unpretentious folks theyd met red lodge jason charity already making plans ride horses montana maybe theyd return good ive world ive never seen anything like said ive never felt charity added liked steve said last night youll come strangers leave friends learn go to160 wwwdreamdanceoutfitterscom160 wwwdreamdanceranchcom160and160 wwwoperationsecondchanceorg piece first published last best news | 1,323 |
<p>The Tea Party has a “big picture” vision and gay people are not in it. Neither are black people, Hispanic people, or outspoken women. Why do we pretend we don’t know what they really want?</p>
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<p>The Republicans are gathering again in Iowa this weekend at the Family Leadership Conference. Right Wing Watch <a href="" type="external">compiled a list of speakers</a>, and I as looked down it, I couldn’t help but wish there existed a fairy dust bomb we could explode in the atmosphere that would make their hearts all grow three sizes, and their dicks shrink two. That’s how you can tell I’m a Democrat. Had I been a Republican faced with a Left Wing rally for peace, or immigration, or LGBT rights, I’d be wishing for an assault rifle.</p>
<p>Right Wing Watch noted the Family Leadership conference this way:</p>
<p>“For anyone who anticipates that Republican presidential candidates will move towards the center in 2016, this weekend’s festivities are a very loud wake up call.”</p>
<p>Just who are these people who believe the Tea Party is ever going to move to the center? I swear, every time a pundit says “The Republicans will have to pass an immigration bill because demographic changes threaten their electability.” Tim Russert rolls over in his grave mumbling “idiot.”</p>
<p>I’m in a mood today to say what most everyone knows in their heart to be true, yet rarely admits aloud. The Republican Party of Karl Rove is now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Tea Party. The Tea Party accomplished this takeover by instilling in every elected Republican a testicle-shrinking fear of a primary challenger coming at him from the right. The Republicans of old, except for Ronald Reagan, who they like to pretend shared their stone-hearted philosophy, are no longer relevant.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />This new Tea Party controlled Republican Party does not want to attract any “ethnic” people to its membership. They do not want black people to join. They do not want Hispanics to join. They do not want people who aren’t Christian, and they especially do not want Muslims. They do not want women who don’t know how to be “demure” and “feminine”, and they do not want new gay Republicans. To the contrary, they have done everything but put a plank in the party platform pledging to reinstate sodomy laws, trying to make the Log Cabin Republicans feel disrespected enough to go away and play with their own kind. Or better yet, to go visit Russia.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />That said, nothing pisses off a Tea Party member more than being called a bigot. I understand the argument. To a true Tea Partier, someone’s skin color or social status is not the deciding factor of their “acceptability”. They like, and genuinely admire, refined, classical piano playing, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who believed in “American exceptionalism”, a philosophy Tea Partiers believe means, “Do what we want, or we will drone your ass.” They adore Justice Clarence Thomas, who thinks affirmative action is an insult to blacks. And they practically had public orgasms when former congressman Allen West called out the NAACP, President Obama, and told liberals to “Get the hell out of the United States.”</p>
<p>The Tea Party accepts black people who in their minds, “think like white people.” Same with Latinos. They like Marco Rubio just fine, as long as he doesn’t try to cross the amnesty line. Tea Partiers proffer the argument: if they are fine with a few people of color, it proves <a href="" type="internal" />they couldn’t possibly be racist, even if they gleefully circulate photoshopped images of President Obama with a bone through his nose.</p>
<p>That doesn’t mean I’m pronouncing the Tea Party a misunderstood group of ecumenical goodwill. To the Tea Party “acceptable” members of minority groups are an exception. Some of them would say a “rare exception.” They see everyone else as “takers.”</p>
<p>For some reason, news commentators are fond of isolating the issues of the day. Republicans and immigration. Republicans and voter suppression. Republicans and marriage equality. Republicans and women’s rights. But in the real world, these issues are all connected; all part of the larger vision the Tea Party has for America, and they should be discussed that way. They are all separate battles in a larger war for all the marbles.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />When the Tea Partiers talk about “taking my country back”, it’s true they yearn for a time when white made right. But it isn’t true that they want to go back to slavery, or ship black citizens “back to Africa.” They think there is a way to return to a time when people of color stayed in their ethnic ghettos and white people had the rest of the country to themselves, and in their minds, everyone got along just fine. Mexicans were content to stay in Mexico, except during harvest season, and there was no need to “push 2 for Spanish.” A women had dinner on the table by six and deferred to her husband at all times, and was judged by how clean she kept her kitchen and how many babies she pushed out. Dad was king of the castle, because he made the money, and because he was the man. And of course, the family spent every Sunday together in church, with neighbors who were just like them.</p>
<p>That vision cannot be accomplished by embracing diversity.</p>
<p>The Tea Party would rather lose, while adhering to their vision, than win by compromising. The way they steered the Romney race right, right, right off the highway, shows their commitment. They would rather lose than bend, but they don’t intend to lose. Intellectually, they know demographic changes threaten them, but they don’t see the answer as changing themselves to be more attractive to minorities.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /> The plan is to overcome the diversity advantage. That’s why felons can’t vote, and states are passing onerous ID laws, cutting down on early voting and ending same day registration. That’s why they have gerrymandered out of their districts every last liberal household they possibly could. That’s why they are trying to break the unions, who act as the foot soldiers who help Democrats get out the vote. That’s why Acorn had to go.</p>
<p>Once in power, they hope to enact laws that will make it unattractive for undocumented residents to stay. No public school or college education. No admittance to hospitals beyond the ER. Stop and search and papers on demand with no probable cause besides the officer’s suspicion needed. I’ve even heard no airplane travel mentioned, except “back to where they came from”. They are always quick to add that exception. New legal restrictions are the mechanism to accomplishing the “self-deportation” Mitt Romney was derided for mentioning. He just knew it wouldn’t help him politically to spell it out.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />The Tea Party vision is to establish a “Christian Country”. But they have adopted a &#160;modern standard of Christian conduct, where everyone is armed just as Jesus and the apostles would have been, had firearms been an option in 18 AD. Things would have gone a lot differently for Judas and Pontius Pilate if Jesus and his boys had been packing AK-47s.</p>
<p>Those who want public schools, and there are many who don’t, want them to teach a Christian curriculum, and students to be led daily in Christian prayer. They aren’t going to insist every student join in. They are willing to tolerate other faiths in the name of freedom of religion. But they want non-Christians to do their misguided worshiping quietly. In a Tea Party country, their Christian way would be the government sanctioned way, and all laws great and small would have to be in agreement with the Christian bible.</p>
<p>They want Baby Jesus in their school’s Christmas pagent. This seems important to them. They want schools where science takes a back seat to Bible studies. Where evolution is given the same weight as creationism. And where bullies are given a pass provided they are motivated by a deeply held religious belief that suspected gay kids should be given swirlies.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />In a Tea Party America, taxes should never go to improve the lives of citizens. They believe government benefits make people lazy. They suspect everyone is on the take. Everyone is looking for ways to cheat.</p>
<p>Though the concept may have been culled directly from the preamble of their favorite document, the U.S. Constitution, Teaists are not believers in promoting the “general welfare.” If you lose your job, they truly believe giving you unemployment benefits will just make you slow to look for a new one. If your children are in desperate need of food, or shelter, or healthcare? That saddens them, and on a personal level, they may reach into their pockets to help. But they are opposed to the government offering any relief. They call it “redistributing wealth”. Making sure your baby’s belly is full should not be the government’s concern. Taxes are for bombs and soldiers, and executing criminals, not for school lunches and Head Start. In a Tea Party America, not a dime would go to help the “takers.”</p>
<p>You have probably noticed the Tea Party uses the word “freedom” as if Americans were not already free. They have a sincere belief that they were given the planet by God, and they have the right to use it in anyway they please. They reject responding to climate change, because they consider such things as the realm of God; the planet will be as warm as he wants it to be. Some even think Earth can magically heal itself of pollution, which ironically is probably true. It’s just that how Earth will heal itself is by divesting the planet of the human infestation poisoning it.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />They also believe in ownership rights. If you own your business, there should be no government telling you who you can or can’t hire or fire, or who you have to serve. They believe the government has no place in saying how much you have to pay an employee, much less how long you can work him, or how many bathroom breaks he can have. If you’re a baker, and a nondiscrimination law makes you bake a wedding cake for a gay couple, to the Tea Party way of thinking, you are not a free citizen.</p>
<p>The Tea Party has a hope that if they can just capture all the levers of power, the House, the Senate, the White House and the Supreme Court, they can stall modernity. More than a few of them are ready to take up arms in the cause, though except for the TSA, who they think of as President Obama’s private army, I’m unclear who they plan to shoot. It’s a grand vision, and they are executing it while our political pundits pretend they are merely a bunch of conservative leaning folks who are concerned about the deficit.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" />Matthew, the Matthew of the Bible, says “By their fruits ye will know them.” Look at the fruits of the Tea Party:</p>
<p>If it’s true that “By their fruits ye will know them”, the Tea Party fruits are rotten to the core. The Tea Party infested Republicans are no longer the “loyal opposition” keeping a check on power. It’s time we start talking about them as the threat to domestic tranquility that they have become.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Photos are all from the Tea Party <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=539194769469346&amp;set=pb.133279166727577.-2207520000.1376066394.&amp;type=3&amp;theater" type="external">Facebook Page</a></p>
<p>. <a href="" type="internal">Jean Ann Esselink</a> is a straight friend to the gay community. Proud and loud Liberal. Closet writer of political fiction. Black sheep agnostic Democrat from a conservative Catholic family. Living in Northern Oakland County Michigan with Puck the Wonder Beagle.</p>
<p>Follow me on Twitter as <a href="https://twitter.com/Uncucumbered" type="external">@Uncucumbered</a> or friend me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/uncucumbered" type="external">Facebook</a>.</p>
<p>Tagged as: <a href="" type="internal">Family Leadership Conference</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Republicans</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Tea Party</a></p>
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bill demographic changes threaten electability tim russert rolls grave mumbling idiot im mood today say everyone knows heart true yet rarely admits aloud republican party karl rove wholly owned subsidiary tea party tea party accomplished takeover instilling every elected republican testicleshrinking fear primary challenger coming right republicans old except ronald reagan like pretend shared stonehearted philosophy longer relevant new tea party controlled republican party want attract ethnic people membership want black people join want hispanics join want people arent christian especially want muslims want women dont know demure feminine want new gay republicans contrary done everything put plank party platform pledging reinstate sodomy laws trying make log cabin republicans feel disrespected enough go away play kind better yet go visit russia said nothing pisses tea party member called bigot understand argument true tea partier someones skin color social status deciding factor acceptability like genuinely admire refined classical piano playing secretary state condoleezza rice believed american exceptionalism philosophy tea partiers believe means want drone ass adore justice clarence thomas thinks affirmative action insult blacks practically public orgasms former congressman allen west called naacp president obama told liberals get hell united states tea party accepts black people minds think like white people latinos like marco rubio fine long doesnt try cross amnesty line tea partiers proffer argument fine people color proves couldnt possibly racist even gleefully circulate photoshopped images president obama bone nose doesnt mean im pronouncing tea party misunderstood group ecumenical goodwill tea party acceptable members minority groups exception would say rare exception see everyone else takers reason news commentators fond isolating issues day republicans immigration republicans voter suppression republicans marriage equality republicans womens rights real world issues connected part larger vision tea party america discussed way separate battles larger war marbles tea partiers talk taking country back true yearn time white made right isnt true want go back slavery ship black citizens back africa think way return time people color stayed ethnic ghettos white people rest country minds everyone got along fine mexicans content stay mexico except harvest season need push 2 spanish women dinner table six deferred husband times judged clean kept kitchen many babies pushed dad king castle made money man course family spent every sunday together church neighbors like vision accomplished embracing diversity tea party would rather lose adhering vision win compromising way steered romney race right right right highway shows commitment would rather lose bend dont intend lose intellectually know demographic changes threaten dont see answer changing attractive minorities plan overcome diversity advantage thats felons cant vote states passing onerous id laws cutting early voting ending day registration thats gerrymandered districts every last liberal household possibly could thats trying break unions act foot soldiers help democrats get vote thats acorn go power hope enact laws make unattractive undocumented residents stay public school college education admittance hospitals beyond er stop search papers demand probable cause besides officers suspicion needed ive even heard airplane travel mentioned except back came always quick add exception new legal restrictions mechanism accomplishing selfdeportation mitt romney derided mentioning knew wouldnt help politically spell tea party vision establish christian country adopted 160modern standard christian conduct everyone armed jesus apostles would firearms option 18 ad things would gone lot differently judas pontius pilate jesus boys packing ak47s want public schools many dont want teach christian curriculum students led daily christian prayer arent going insist every student join willing tolerate faiths name freedom religion want nonchristians misguided worshiping quietly tea party country christian way would government sanctioned way laws great small would agreement christian bible want baby jesus schools christmas pagent seems important want schools science takes back seat bible studies evolution given weight creationism bullies given pass provided motivated deeply held religious belief suspected gay kids given swirlies tea party america taxes never go improve lives citizens believe government benefits make people lazy suspect everyone take everyone looking ways cheat though concept may culled directly preamble favorite document us constitution teaists believers promoting general welfare lose job truly believe giving unemployment benefits make slow look new one children desperate need food shelter healthcare saddens personal level may reach pockets help opposed government offering relief call redistributing wealth making sure babys belly full governments concern taxes bombs soldiers executing criminals school lunches head start tea party america dime would go help takers probably noticed tea party uses word freedom americans already free sincere belief given planet god right use anyway please reject responding climate change consider things realm god planet warm wants even think earth magically heal pollution ironically probably true earth heal divesting planet human infestation poisoning also believe ownership rights business government telling cant hire fire serve believe government place saying much pay employee much less long work many bathroom breaks youre baker nondiscrimination law makes bake wedding cake gay couple tea party way thinking free citizen tea party hope capture levers power house senate white house supreme court stall modernity ready take arms cause though except tsa think president obamas private army im unclear plan shoot grand vision executing political pundits pretend merely bunch conservative leaning folks concerned deficit matthew matthew bible says fruits ye know look fruits tea party true fruits ye know tea party fruits rotten core tea party infested republicans longer loyal opposition keeping check power time start talking threat domestic tranquility become 160 photos tea party facebook page jean ann esselink straight friend gay community proud loud liberal closet writer political fiction black sheep agnostic democrat conservative catholic family living northern oakland county michigan puck wonder beagle follow twitter uncucumbered friend facebook tagged family leadership conference republicans tea party friends invite sign new mailing list and160 subscribe new civil rights movement via email rss also please160 like us facebook follow us twitter | 1,060 |
<p>Economists agree that the collapse in housing markets in the United States plunged world economies into the worst crisis since the 1930’s. A revival of housing markets and new construction is one of the anticipated signs of recovery. In the meantime, the US taxpayer is on the hook for trillions of dollars of debt constituted from the detritus of the housing boom. If value is to be created in service of a new economic order, it is imperative that stimulus money be directed in ways that prevent reigniting a model of growth through construction and development that has demonstrably failed: namely, through the fraudulent wealth creator called suburban sprawl.</p>
<p>Congress recently permitted banks to no longer mark to market their toxic assets. In a real sense, this action postpones the day of reckoning for sprawl and its rotted foundation: derivative debt tied to mortgage backed securities. This wink and nod papers over—at immense taxpayer expense—and delays accounting for the excesses of the debt that showered billions on Wall Street and its supply chain.</p>
<p>In the final stage of the housing boom, from California’s Central Valley to the suburbs of Washington DC, it was called “the ownership society”: a marriage of greed and political imperatives accruing mainly to operatives and special interests identified with the Republican Party. Although we are through all that, by not confronting suburban sprawl and its costs directly, the Obama White House takes on considerable risk.</p>
<p>Here, there is danger in letting sleeping dogs lie. The construction and building industries, related to sprawl housing and construction of fringe suburbs, is dead as a doornail. Perhaps it is a pragmatic not to ask too directly; who owns what? On the other hand, the taxpayer does own a multi-trillion dollar share of assets that are rotten, toxic, cratered: our choice.</p>
<p>And since it is our choice, really, whether to shoulder such enormous fiscal burdens as the costs of suburban sprawl rotting on balance sheets everywhere, we might ask some common sense questions. For instance, if the day of reckoning of asset values is being delayed so that an incipient recovery (‘green shoots’) can help financial institutions and jobs through the crisis, what is the end result we have in mind?</p>
<p>A very small, powerful, and wealthy constituency is waiting for the pump to be primed, so that suburban sprawl can rise from its ashes and all asset bubbles begin inflating again. This is, after all, the path of least resistance. Marriages of convenience are convenient precisely because roles are well established. Economists offer no solution to the way greed lubricates political ambition and deforms democracy at the same time.</p>
<p>So if this is where we are headed, then it stands to reason that the recovery-to-be looks exactly like the same sprawling, platted opportunities for growth that are now half-empty subdivisions, or, millions of square feet of empty condos and strip malls and other commercial space built in the last gasp of an artificial boom serving hedge funds, flippers, and banks turned speculators. President Obama says otherwise, but there is nothing in TARP, or TALF, or any other specific funding measure to prevent stimulus moneys from flowing down exactly the same channels in respect to the built landscapes of America’s suburbs.</p>
<p>If we want, as a nation, another model of economic growth; one that does land us in the same crisis we are in, today, then “stress tests” for banks are a very rough tool for a job that requires fine thought and action. Banks are agnostic. They will sell loans to whatever the market wants and is within legal parameters. The market pretends to be agnostic, but it is not.</p>
<p>Indeed, if you pull the thread of controlling regulations intended to keep solid financial institutions far from the hands of speculators—in particular as relates to property development—where you end up is a place much closer to the need for “stress testing”: the underlying zoning and land use for construction and development.</p>
<p>The question of the hour is not why banks should be subject to stress tests but why land use decisions by local—and sometimes state—government are not. This is, after all, the fertile soil from which so much debt exploded like noxious weeds.</p>
<p>Banks and other financial institutions involve economic activities that link the interests of all Americans and so are regulated by the federal government. But test of federal interest is also true of land use, especially in farmland that converts to fringe suburbs through zoning changes by local government. Why should “one size fit all” when it comes to federal regulation of banks and insurance companies, but that control of private property is whatever owners can persuade local government to allow?</p>
<p>Both financial markets and raw land for suburbs have provided the opportunity for speculators arbitrage the inefficiency of laws regulating financial derivatives and what can be built from those confections of debt. The absence of regulations in financial derivatives marches hand in hand with the blushing bride: an empty, hollowed out regulatory structure that has failed to protect quality of life, environment, and communities.</p>
<p>A truer scenario for economic recovery would impose a stress test on zoning for land development, incorporating a higher set of hurdles than “concurrency” models that turn local zoning decisions into a game of counting angels on the head of a pin.</p>
<p>Almost as soon as the housing markets began to crash, the air at conservative foundations was filled with noise that land use regulations were to blame for our economic ills. Indeed, in state legislatures like Florida’s, the economic crisis has provided lobbyists from the Growth Machine with energy to knock down what marginal protections exist for sustainable growth. Instead of solving the budget crises, Florida’s Idiocracy is chasing down and mauling the state agency charged with growth management, pinning blame on too much regulation of development. The truth is that the sorts of development local and state government lavished attention to matched up exactly to the shape and cut of financial derivatives that wrecked the nation’s financial institutions.</p>
<p>Those responsible for the economic disaster are excellent at counting angels on a pin. Instead of medieval monks, we have land use and property rights lawyers, spurred on by speculators and local bankers who bought mortgages and sold them in packages and pools without looking or raising a single eyebrow. They are anti-regulation Idiocrats in a daisy chain with local title companies, mortgage brokers in Florida, and cement manufacturers promoting infrastructure by the ton, scooping up zoning officials and local politicians of every stripe along the way.</p>
<p>They are former Wall Street risk analysts lying low behind gated estates in Fairfield County, Connecticut and executives from Standard and Poor’s, Moody’s and AMBAC, paid billions to miscalculate risk of derivatives bundling suburban sprawl. They are Congressmen and White House economic advisors, past and present, who made sure that derivatives received communion every time they came from the pews. Everyone took a slice. Everyone ate a wafer. Everyone skimmed from the top. (The Miami Herald detailed how more than 10,000 felons permitted to become Florida mortgage brokers. Regrettably, Herald executives never unleashed its investigative team to track the fraud up the political food chain. They had the beast in its hands and let it go.)</p>
<p>Few in the supply chain thought there was a risk to the fetid, lousy development that passed for sound judgment and property rights.</p>
<p>When bankers and the real estate development lobby get hold of reporters, what they say is this: be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water. But a stress test of what suburban sprawl has done to our nation would pass no one’s muster except those who profited mightily from making derivatives out of every kind of stable value. The simple home and wetland is equally orphaned by the madness that has allowed “private property rights” to triumph over every reasonable protection of the public commons.</p>
<p>Here is one example that stands for thousands: Vitran Homes of the Preserve; a failed platted subdivision of two baker’s dozen in Southern Miami Dade County. Miami Dade is the epicenter of the housing boom and bust for this reason: the code was broken, here, in the mid 1990’s, tying conservative values in the political sphere, to deregulation of financial instruments in the economic sphere, permitting unfettered building and construction to bludgeon laws protecting the environment, and government agencies, like a copper penny flattened on a railroad track. And it all went very badly wrong.</p>
<p>Today, Vitran Homes exists as shells formed of concrete blocks shaped into a single story, false gabled homes set in weed-strewn, former farmland. To say the development is unfinished is an understatement. Its window openings are open to violation by the elements and squatters: spaces for doors and half-completed stick frame joists propping up Mediterranean tiled roofs.</p>
<p>That’s the outside. Inside, the “homes” have been christened by broken bottles, crushed shopping carts, an aquarium lying in a pool of its own glass, a discarded pair of pants hardened into unintelligible evidence. The development is post apocalyptic; a place for teenagers seeking relief from boredom, drugs and the ritual testing how reality shatters on cement, a haven for stray dogs and squatters. Vitran Homes is not a work-in-progress: it is a work in collapse.</p>
<p>What Vitran Homes does “preserve”, and all that it preserves, is the hubris that accompanied the building boom, scattering low cost production housing into Florida farmland and wetlands like confetti. According to a recent AP story, nearly one in four houses in the neighboring Homestead and Florida City areas are in foreclosure: one of the highest rates in the nation.</p>
<p>When you hear the term “toxic assets”, think: these access roads, these lots, these concrete shells occupy an address in the portfolio of a bank or insurance company or hedge fund that may have used properties like this as collateral for a loan, for another insurance-related product like a credit default swap. Today, you may own it. It may be yours.</p>
<p>Appropriately, Vitran Homes is identified as “theoretical” SW 226th Street. It is theoretical the way that the asset value is represented as theoretical debt still marked on some bank’s balance sheet, and now pegged to a level that retains the simulacrum of value on a balance sheet. There is nothing theoretical about the weeds reclaiming Vitran Homes. There is not a job in sight, unless you count the new hospital at Homestead whose patients were scavenged from other nearby hospitals, mostly uninsured and uninsurable in the wealthiest nation on earth. It was all good, until it was crap.</p>
<p>On the other side of the street from Vitran in South Miami Dade, a Google Earth satellite image shows a massive development by Miami’s homegrown heavyweight production homebuilder—Lennar Corporation–, scarified and prepped and ready for cement. The Google photo is only a few years old. It shows the green land scraped bare: white as bone or the dust of ancient, pulverized coral reef.</p>
<p>Today the Lennar development is finished in a manner of speaking. The entire development has the look as if its building plans were printed from a single computer file: this one has two hundred fifty units, Mediterranean like the rest of South Florida off the Turnpike, fire hydrants spaced and cul de sacs measured according to code, building materials spec’ed in China, etc.</p>
<p>A key feature of the financing underlying platted subdivisions like this is sameness. Ratings agencies like Moody’s or Standard &amp; Poor’s bless derivatives according to computer models that match the theoretical housing, from cement to every other cost element, to theoretical addresses and surrounding demographics: the imagined pool of American consumers who flock to sameness because it is low-cost and filled with features that support consumer “preferences”.</p>
<p>Back in the day, the proponents of so much Lennar-type sprawl called it “what the market wants”. What the market wants was shouted from the rafters of the National Association of Homebuilders to the National Association of Realtors, from Associated Industries to the Chambers of Commerce. The mainstream media, especially newspapers, bought it hook-line-and-sinker because it came attached with muscular advertising dollars. Today, the entire region feels as though the oxygen has been sucked out and all that remains are hapless passengers stranded by a bus that never will never arrive.</p>
<p>The Lennar regional VP is the president of the Latin Builders Association; the influential Miami-based lobbying group that controlled Miami politics through vilification of Castro while imposing its own hegemony through the award of county contracts, from road building to the painting of highway stripes, from insider deals at Miami International Airport to the conversion of the last remaining farmland in South Florida to suburban sprawl. The owner of Vitran Homes of the Preserve is a director of the South Florida Builders Association.</p>
<p>Theirs was a game of risk to play private profit through artificial demand, inflated by land use lawyers paid $500 to $750 an hour and especially, to berate citizen objectors (“They don’t know what they are talking about.”) and bedazzle officials with powerpoint presentations and slick graphics papering over campaign contributions delivered, sometimes, in paper sacks. No one knew what they were talking about, and especially not in the vegetable fields where farmers loved pallets of sheet rock more than pole beans, cement trucks more than tomatoes, and the certainty of road graders and ditch witches in irrigation fields.</p>
<p>When it comes to suburban sprawl, everyone was paid and paid well to be dumb as dirt.</p>
<p>Production homebuilders and their associations do excel in this: use profits from mass production housing to blow through calculations of risk in zoning and permitting of development. Whether risk to investors or the environment, it is all the same: a blazing confidence that public policy must keep its mitts off the formulas that worked so well in the past; an imaginary tide lifting all fictitious names and luxury yachts registered in the Bahamas. Developments like Vitran Homes are exactly what the builders’ lobby wanted and lobbied for, turning valuable farmland into the fiction of demand and manageable risk. They were neither.</p>
<p>Lennar recently took out an unusual advertisement in the Miami Herald: “Builder Closeout: Every Condo Must Be Sold”. It was a full page ad in bold red, white and black graphics. No longer, at least in the case of its two enormous Miami developments called Colonnade and North Bay Village, is Lennar trying to lure buyers with the promise of protection if the buyer loses his or her job. Now it’s a “Sealed-Bid Auction: Your Best Price Plus Zero Dollars Closing Costs!”</p>
<p>At the very same time, the corporation is offloading its stale inventory at auction. In the midst of the worst housing markets in a century, Lennar is promoting zoning changes in Miami-Dade farmland—a multi-thousand unit development called Parkland– outside Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary, close to the Everglades. The company wants the zoning change today, even though it will be 2014 before the development is ready for occupancy.</p>
<p>Lennar wants its cake and eat it too: fair enough. As long as you are inside the legal boundaries, why not?</p>
<p>There is nothing mystical about the deals and hand-shakes between developers and officials charged with zoning decisions that lead to so much carnage in farmland and on waterfronts. Across the America’s suburban landscape, there has been nothing like “wise use”. The pattern of low density suburban sprawl has wrecked aquifers, destroyed natural habitats and, at during the political ascendancy of “family values” torn apart families by imposing huge costs on commuters and consumers.</p>
<p>If “wise use” worked, why have American taxpayers been forced to shoulder the trillions in debt, underwriting the horrendous miscalculation of risk that showered wealth from Wall Street down the supply chain of developers and production homebuilders, into the campaign coffers of local city and county commissioners?</p>
<p>In respect to promoting regulatory reform of banks, hedge funds, and insurance companies, the Obama White House has been exceedingly careful. Banks should be subject to stress tests.</p>
<p>But there should also be a federal “stress test” for local zoning, tied to subsidies to states and local jurisdictions. Without a federal stress test, including measures to prevent fiscal stimulus billions from reviving suburban sprawl, Americans will continue to be driven by a growth machine that is in key respects a Ponzi scheme, requiring future taxpayers to shoulder the costs of trillion dollar mistakes. A top-down approach to stress testing financial institutions will not lead to any kind of recovery—because the revolving door of big engineering firms, planners, government agencies, lobbyists, and elected officials is committed to reviving a failed economic model of growth.</p>
<p>Real estate developers, their supply chain, and land speculators are taking advantage of confusion and the appearance of relative calm in stock markets to harden their bunkers before citizens take up the pitchforks. The conservative foundation gin mills are hard at work buffing and polishing and re-branding failed models of growth.</p>
<p>If banks are stress tested but underlying land use is not, future growth will be along exactly the same pathways leading to the worst economic crisis since the Depression, green shoots and all. It doesn’t have to be that way, but does President Obama understand why it is?</p>
<p>ALAN FARAGO lives in south Florida. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:afarago@bellsouth.net" type="external">afarago@bellsouth.net</a></p> | true | 4 | economists agree collapse housing markets united states plunged world economies worst crisis since 1930s revival housing markets new construction one anticipated signs recovery meantime us taxpayer hook trillions dollars debt constituted detritus housing boom value created service new economic order imperative stimulus money directed ways prevent reigniting model growth construction development demonstrably failed namely fraudulent wealth creator called suburban sprawl congress recently permitted banks longer mark market toxic assets real sense action postpones day reckoning sprawl rotted foundation derivative debt tied mortgage backed securities wink nod papers overat immense taxpayer expenseand delays accounting excesses debt showered billions wall street supply chain final stage housing boom californias central valley suburbs washington dc called ownership society marriage greed political imperatives accruing mainly operatives special interests identified republican party although confronting suburban sprawl costs directly obama white house takes considerable risk danger letting sleeping dogs lie construction building industries related sprawl housing construction fringe suburbs dead doornail perhaps pragmatic ask directly owns hand taxpayer multitrillion dollar share assets rotten toxic cratered choice since choice really whether shoulder enormous fiscal burdens costs suburban sprawl rotting balance sheets everywhere might ask common sense questions instance day reckoning asset values delayed incipient recovery green shoots help financial institutions jobs crisis end result mind small powerful wealthy constituency waiting pump primed suburban sprawl rise ashes asset bubbles begin inflating path least resistance marriages convenience convenient precisely roles well established economists offer solution way greed lubricates political ambition deforms democracy time headed stands reason recoverytobe looks exactly like sprawling platted opportunities growth halfempty subdivisions millions square feet empty condos strip malls commercial space built last gasp artificial boom serving hedge funds flippers banks turned speculators president obama says otherwise nothing tarp talf specific funding measure prevent stimulus moneys flowing exactly channels respect built landscapes americas suburbs want nation another model economic growth one land us crisis today stress tests banks rough tool job requires fine thought action banks agnostic sell loans whatever market wants within legal parameters market pretends agnostic indeed pull thread controlling regulations intended keep solid financial institutions far hands speculatorsin particular relates property developmentwhere end place much closer need stress testing underlying zoning land use construction development question hour banks subject stress tests land use decisions localand sometimes stategovernment fertile soil much debt exploded like noxious weeds banks financial institutions involve economic activities link interests americans regulated federal government test federal interest also true land use especially farmland converts fringe suburbs zoning changes local government one size fit comes federal regulation banks insurance companies control private property whatever owners persuade local government allow financial markets raw land suburbs provided opportunity speculators arbitrage inefficiency laws regulating financial derivatives built confections debt absence regulations financial derivatives marches hand hand blushing bride empty hollowed regulatory structure failed protect quality life environment communities truer scenario economic recovery would impose stress test zoning land development incorporating higher set hurdles concurrency models turn local zoning decisions game counting angels head pin almost soon housing markets began crash air conservative foundations filled noise land use regulations blame economic ills indeed state legislatures like floridas economic crisis provided lobbyists growth machine energy knock marginal protections exist sustainable growth instead solving budget crises floridas idiocracy chasing mauling state agency charged growth management pinning blame much regulation development truth sorts development local state government lavished attention matched exactly shape cut financial derivatives wrecked nations financial institutions responsible economic disaster excellent counting angels pin instead medieval monks land use property rights lawyers spurred speculators local bankers bought mortgages sold packages pools without looking raising single eyebrow antiregulation idiocrats daisy chain local title companies mortgage brokers florida cement manufacturers promoting infrastructure ton scooping zoning officials local politicians every stripe along way former wall street risk analysts lying low behind gated estates fairfield county connecticut executives standard poors moodys ambac paid billions miscalculate risk derivatives bundling suburban sprawl congressmen white house economic advisors past present made sure derivatives received communion every time came pews everyone took slice everyone ate wafer everyone skimmed top miami herald detailed 10000 felons permitted become florida mortgage brokers regrettably herald executives never unleashed investigative team track fraud political food chain beast hands let go supply chain thought risk fetid lousy development passed sound judgment property rights bankers real estate development lobby get hold reporters say careful throw baby bath water stress test suburban sprawl done nation would pass ones muster except profited mightily making derivatives every kind stable value simple home wetland equally orphaned madness allowed private property rights triumph every reasonable protection public commons one example stands thousands vitran homes preserve failed platted subdivision two bakers dozen southern miami dade county miami dade epicenter housing boom bust reason code broken mid 1990s tying conservative values political sphere deregulation financial instruments economic sphere permitting unfettered building construction bludgeon laws protecting environment government agencies like copper penny flattened railroad track went badly wrong today vitran homes exists shells formed concrete blocks shaped single story false gabled homes set weedstrewn former farmland say development unfinished understatement window openings open violation elements squatters spaces doors halfcompleted stick frame joists propping mediterranean tiled roofs thats outside inside homes christened broken bottles crushed shopping carts aquarium lying pool glass discarded pair pants hardened unintelligible evidence development post apocalyptic place teenagers seeking relief boredom drugs ritual testing reality shatters cement stray dogs squatters vitran homes workinprogress work collapse vitran homes preserve preserves hubris accompanied building boom scattering low cost production housing florida farmland wetlands like confetti according recent ap story nearly one four houses neighboring homestead florida city areas foreclosure one highest rates nation hear term toxic assets think access roads lots concrete shells occupy address portfolio bank insurance company hedge fund may used properties like collateral loan another insurancerelated product like credit default swap today may may appropriately vitran homes identified theoretical sw 226th street theoretical way asset value represented theoretical debt still marked banks balance sheet pegged level retains simulacrum value balance sheet nothing theoretical weeds reclaiming vitran homes job sight unless count new hospital homestead whose patients scavenged nearby hospitals mostly uninsured uninsurable wealthiest nation earth good crap side street vitran south miami dade google earth satellite image shows massive development miamis homegrown heavyweight production homebuilderlennar corporation scarified prepped ready cement google photo years old shows green land scraped bare white bone dust ancient pulverized coral reef today lennar development finished manner speaking entire development look building plans printed single computer file one two hundred fifty units mediterranean like rest south florida turnpike fire hydrants spaced cul de sacs measured according code building materials speced china etc key feature financing underlying platted subdivisions like sameness ratings agencies like moodys standard amp poors bless derivatives according computer models match theoretical housing cement every cost element theoretical addresses surrounding demographics imagined pool american consumers flock sameness lowcost filled features support consumer preferences back day proponents much lennartype sprawl called market wants market wants shouted rafters national association homebuilders national association realtors associated industries chambers commerce mainstream media especially newspapers bought hooklineandsinker came attached muscular advertising dollars today entire region feels though oxygen sucked remains hapless passengers stranded bus never never arrive lennar regional vp president latin builders association influential miamibased lobbying group controlled miami politics vilification castro imposing hegemony award county contracts road building painting highway stripes insider deals miami international airport conversion last remaining farmland south florida suburban sprawl owner vitran homes preserve director south florida builders association game risk play private profit artificial demand inflated land use lawyers paid 500 750 hour especially berate citizen objectors dont know talking bedazzle officials powerpoint presentations slick graphics papering campaign contributions delivered sometimes paper sacks one knew talking especially vegetable fields farmers loved pallets sheet rock pole beans cement trucks tomatoes certainty road graders ditch witches irrigation fields comes suburban sprawl everyone paid paid well dumb dirt production homebuilders associations excel use profits mass production housing blow calculations risk zoning permitting development whether risk investors environment blazing confidence public policy must keep mitts formulas worked well past imaginary tide lifting fictitious names luxury yachts registered bahamas developments like vitran homes exactly builders lobby wanted lobbied turning valuable farmland fiction demand manageable risk neither lennar recently took unusual advertisement miami herald builder closeout every condo must sold full page ad bold red white black graphics longer least case two enormous miami developments called colonnade north bay village lennar trying lure buyers promise protection buyer loses job sealedbid auction best price plus zero dollars closing costs time corporation offloading stale inventory auction midst worst housing markets century lennar promoting zoning changes miamidade farmlanda multithousand unit development called parkland outside miamidades urban development boundary close everglades company wants zoning change today even though 2014 development ready occupancy lennar wants cake eat fair enough long inside legal boundaries nothing mystical deals handshakes developers officials charged zoning decisions lead much carnage farmland waterfronts across americas suburban landscape nothing like wise use pattern low density suburban sprawl wrecked aquifers destroyed natural habitats political ascendancy family values torn apart families imposing huge costs commuters consumers wise use worked american taxpayers forced shoulder trillions debt underwriting horrendous miscalculation risk showered wealth wall street supply chain developers production homebuilders campaign coffers local city county commissioners respect promoting regulatory reform banks hedge funds insurance companies obama white house exceedingly careful banks subject stress tests also federal stress test local zoning tied subsidies states local jurisdictions without federal stress test including measures prevent fiscal stimulus billions reviving suburban sprawl americans continue driven growth machine key respects ponzi scheme requiring future taxpayers shoulder costs trillion dollar mistakes topdown approach stress testing financial institutions lead kind recoverybecause revolving door big engineering firms planners government agencies lobbyists elected officials committed reviving failed economic model growth real estate developers supply chain land speculators taking advantage confusion appearance relative calm stock markets harden bunkers citizens take pitchforks conservative foundation gin mills hard work buffing polishing rebranding failed models growth banks stress tested underlying land use future growth along exactly pathways leading worst economic crisis since depression green shoots doesnt way president obama understand alan farago lives south florida reached afaragobellsouthnet | 1,675 |
<p>When did the great executive stock option hog wallow really start? You can go back to the deregulatory push under Carter in the late Seventies, then move into the Reagan Eighties when corporate purchases of shares really took off. This was the era of the leveraged buy-out and merger-mania, assisted by tax laws that favored capital gains over stockholder dividends, and allowed corporations to write off interest payments entirely.</p>
<p>Between 1983 and l990 72.5 per cent of all US net equity purchases were bought by non-financial corporations. At the end of this spree the debt laden corporations withdrew to their tents for three years of necessary restraint and repose, until in 1994 they roared into action once more, plunging themselves into debt to finance their share purchases. This was the start of the options game.</p>
<p>Between 1994 and 1998 non-financial companies sank themselves in debt by either repurchasing their own shares or acquiring shares as a result of mergers. The annual value of the repurchases quadrupled, testimony to the most hectic, sustained orgy of self-aggrandizement by an executive class in the history of capitalism.</p>
<p>For these and ensuing reflections and specific numbers figures I’m mostly indebted to Robert Brenner’s prescient <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/185984636X/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The Boom and The Bubble</a>, published this spring with impeccable timing by Verso; also Robin Blackburn’s long awaited book (also from Verso) on the past and future of pensions, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859847951/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Banking on Death</a>.</p>
<p>Why did these chief executive officers, and chief financial officers, and boards of directors chose to burden their companies with debt? Since stock prices were going up, companies needing money could have raised funds by issuing shares, rather than borrowing money to buy shares back.</p>
<p>Top corporate officers stood to make vast killings on their options, and by the unstinting efforts of legislators such as Senator Joe Lieberman they were spared the inconvenience of having to report to stockholders the cost of these same options. Enlightened legislators had also been thoughtful enough to rewrite the tax laws in such a manner that corporations are allowed to deduct these same costs from company income.</p>
<p>As Brenner remarks, US law “thus encourages corporations to exaggerate their earnings in public for the benefit of their stockholders, while deflating them in private for the benefit of the Internal Revenue Service.”</p>
<p>It’s fun these days to read all the jubilant punditeers who favor Democrats now lashing Bush and Cheney for the way they made their fortunes while repining the glories of the Clinton boom when the dollar was mighty and the middle classes gazed into their 401(k) nest eggs with the devotion of Jonson’s Volpone eyeing his trove. “Good morning to the day; and, next, my gold: Open the shrine, that I may see my saint.”</p>
<p>Bush and Cheney deserve the punishment. But when it comes to political parties the seaminess is seamless. The Clinton boom was lofted in large part by the helium of bubble accountancy. Brenner cites a Bear, Stearns study reviewing all S&amp;P 500 companies in 1999 that calculated their net income in that year would have been 6 per cent lower had stock options been counted as an expense. Earnings at Yahoo, Broadcom, JDS Uniphase and the others would either have been wiped out or gone deeply negative.</p>
<p>By the end of 1999 average annual pay of CEOs at 362 of America’s largest corporations had swollen to $12.4 million, more than six times what it was in 1990. The top option pay-out was to Charles Wang, boss of Computer Associates International, who got $650 million in restricted shares, towering far above Ken Lay’s scrawny salary of $5.4 million and shares worth $49 million. As the Nineties blew themselves out, the corporate culture applauded on a weekly basis by such bullfrogs of the bubble as Thomas Friedman saw average CEO pay at America’s 362 largest companies rise to a level 475 times larger than that of the average manufacturing worker.</p>
<p>The executive suites of America’s largest companies became a vast hog wallow. CEOs and finance officers would borrow millions from some complicit bank, using the money to drive up company stock prices, thereby inflating the value of their options. Brenner offers us the memorable figure of $1.22 trillion as the total of borrowing by non-financial corporations between 1994 and 1999, inclusive. Of that sum, corporations used just 15.3 per cent for capital expenditures. They used 57 per cent of it, $697.4 billion, to buy back stock and thus enrich themselves. Surely the wildest smash and grab in the history of corporate thievery.</p>
<p>When the bubble burst, the parachutes opened, golden in a darkening sky. Blackburn cites the packages of two departing Lucent executives, Richard McGinn and Deborah Hopkins, a CFO. Whereas the laying off of 10,500 employees was dealt with in less than a page of Lucent’s quarterly report in August of 2001, it took a 15-page attachment to outline the treasures allotted to McGinn (just under $13 million after running Lucent for barely three years) and to Hopkins (at Lucent for less than a year, departing with almost $5 million. Michael Bonsignore, ousted as boss of Honeywell, got a $9 million settlement, plus a commitment that he continue to be treated as a chief executive, with “executive transportation” and “financial and tax-planning services” for the rest of his life.</p>
<p>Makes your blood boil, doesn’t it? Isn’t it time we had a “New Covenant for economic change that empowers people”. Aye to that! “Never again should Washington reward those who speculate in paper, instead of those who put people first.” Hurrah! Whistle the tune and memorize the words (Bill Clinton’s in 1992). Prime yourself for a bout of rhetorical populism, necessary to soothe popular indignation.</p>
<p>There are villains in this story, an entire piranha-elite. And there are victims, the people whose pension funds were pumped dry to flood the hog wallow with loot. One great battleground of the next decades across much of the world will revolve around pensions and issues of asset-based welfare for the swelling ranks of older folk. Here in the US privatization of Social Security has been only staved off because Bill Clinton couldn’t keep his hand from his zipper and again because George Bush’s credentials as a voucher for the ethics of private enterprise have taken a fierce beating.</p>
<p>But the wolves will be back, and pop-gun populism (a brawnier SEC, etc etc) won’t hold them off. The Democrats will no more defend the people from the predations of capital than they can protect the Bill of Rights. (In the most recent snoop bill pushed through the House, only three voted against a measure which allows life sentences for “malicious computer hacking”: Dennis Kucinich, and two Republicans, Jeff Miller of Florida and the great Texas libertarian, Ron Paul.)</p>
<p>It was the Democrats in the US senate in early July who rallied in defense of the accounting “principles” that permit the present deceptive treatment of stock options. Not just Joe Lieberman, the whore of Connecticut, but Tom Daschle of the Northern plains.</p>
<p>Pop-gun populism is not enough. Socialize accumulation! Details soon.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | great executive stock option hog wallow really start go back deregulatory push carter late seventies move reagan eighties corporate purchases shares really took era leveraged buyout mergermania assisted tax laws favored capital gains stockholder dividends allowed corporations write interest payments entirely 1983 l990 725 per cent us net equity purchases bought nonfinancial corporations end spree debt laden corporations withdrew tents three years necessary restraint repose 1994 roared action plunging debt finance share purchases start options game 1994 1998 nonfinancial companies sank debt either repurchasing shares acquiring shares result mergers annual value repurchases quadrupled testimony hectic sustained orgy selfaggrandizement executive class history capitalism ensuing reflections specific numbers figures im mostly indebted robert brenners prescient boom bubble published spring impeccable timing verso also robin blackburns long awaited book also verso past future pensions banking death chief executive officers chief financial officers boards directors chose burden companies debt since stock prices going companies needing money could raised funds issuing shares rather borrowing money buy shares back top corporate officers stood make vast killings options unstinting efforts legislators senator joe lieberman spared inconvenience report stockholders cost options enlightened legislators also thoughtful enough rewrite tax laws manner corporations allowed deduct costs company income brenner remarks us law thus encourages corporations exaggerate earnings public benefit stockholders deflating private benefit internal revenue service fun days read jubilant punditeers favor democrats lashing bush cheney way made fortunes repining glories clinton boom dollar mighty middle classes gazed 401k nest eggs devotion jonsons volpone eyeing trove good morning day next gold open shrine may see saint bush cheney deserve punishment comes political parties seaminess seamless clinton boom lofted large part helium bubble accountancy brenner cites bear stearns study reviewing sampp 500 companies 1999 calculated net income year would 6 per cent lower stock options counted expense earnings yahoo broadcom jds uniphase others would either wiped gone deeply negative end 1999 average annual pay ceos 362 americas largest corporations swollen 124 million six times 1990 top option payout charles wang boss computer associates international got 650 million restricted shares towering far ken lays scrawny salary 54 million shares worth 49 million nineties blew corporate culture applauded weekly basis bullfrogs bubble thomas friedman saw average ceo pay americas 362 largest companies rise level 475 times larger average manufacturing worker executive suites americas largest companies became vast hog wallow ceos finance officers would borrow millions complicit bank using money drive company stock prices thereby inflating value options brenner offers us memorable figure 122 trillion total borrowing nonfinancial corporations 1994 1999 inclusive sum corporations used 153 per cent capital expenditures used 57 per cent 6974 billion buy back stock thus enrich surely wildest smash grab history corporate thievery bubble burst parachutes opened golden darkening sky blackburn cites packages two departing lucent executives richard mcginn deborah hopkins cfo whereas laying 10500 employees dealt less page lucents quarterly report august 2001 took 15page attachment outline treasures allotted mcginn 13 million running lucent barely three years hopkins lucent less year departing almost 5 million michael bonsignore ousted boss honeywell got 9 million settlement plus commitment continue treated chief executive executive transportation financial taxplanning services rest life makes blood boil doesnt isnt time new covenant economic change empowers people aye never washington reward speculate paper instead put people first hurrah whistle tune memorize words bill clintons 1992 prime bout rhetorical populism necessary soothe popular indignation villains story entire piranhaelite victims people whose pension funds pumped dry flood hog wallow loot one great battleground next decades across much world revolve around pensions issues assetbased welfare swelling ranks older folk us privatization social security staved bill clinton couldnt keep hand zipper george bushs credentials voucher ethics private enterprise taken fierce beating wolves back popgun populism brawnier sec etc etc wont hold democrats defend people predations capital protect bill rights recent snoop bill pushed house three voted measure allows life sentences malicious computer hacking dennis kucinich two republicans jeff miller florida great texas libertarian ron paul democrats us senate early july rallied defense accounting principles permit present deceptive treatment stock options joe lieberman whore connecticut tom daschle northern plains popgun populism enough socialize accumulation details soon 160 | 686 |
<p>When Mazar-e-Sharif fell last Friday, U.S. war planners and pundits sent their warm regards to the brave boys of the Northern Alliance. Taking Mazar meant an allied supply route through the heart of the country, they burbled-a felicitous turn of events that stood to split the Taliban in half geographically and afford the opposition a leg up in what was sure to be a grueling series of battles in Kabul and elsewhere. When the Taliban fled Herat and Kabul over the weekend, the celebratory proclamations issuing from the U.S. grew more strained. By the time Kandahar began to crumble late Tuesday, George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld had to be rooting along with Mullah Omar as he took to the airwaves to beg Taliban troops for a show of resistance. It’s a rotten thing they’ve done by turning tail and scatting before the U.S. was prepared for the war to end.</p>
<p>If it has ended. The most immediate question is whether the Taliban are fleeing in disarray or mounting a strategic retreat from the cities into areas from which it’s easier to wage guerrilla war. I suspect the answer is a little of both. It now appears that the most serious blow struck in the U.S. bombing campaign was not to Taliban war materiel but to their communication systems. Numerous reports say it’s impossible for Taliban factions in different parts of the country to talk to each other except by horse-carried messenger. So it’s quite possible that what began as a strategic retreat from Mazar-e-Sharif cascaded into a panicked desertion of other Taliban centers when rumblings about Mazar began to circulate. As always there are the obligatory and unverified reports of mass defections; more concretely, London’s The Independent reported that the last remaining Taliban ambassador to Pakistan “shut up shop in Islamabad and roared off in his Japanese four-wheel drive to an unknown destination.”</p>
<p>The Taliban may seek to regroup in the mountains and fight a guerrilla war better suited to their strengths. In fact the gentlefolk at Stratfor, the military/strategic think tank, believe that’s exactly what they mean to do. If so they face dicey prospects. Supplies are the main issue. Having abandoned vital shipping routes not only in Mazar-e-Sharif but also Herat, Taloqan and Kunduz, they appear to be staking everything on the goodwill and assistance of sympathizers in Pakistan. In the words of Kim Sengupta, another correspondent for The Independent, “The Taliban believe they will receive reinforcements in this new war from across the Pakistani border from fellow Pushtuns and also fresh waves of international Islamist volunteers.” If not, they’re effectively finished. Afghan rebels fought for a decade against the Soviet Union, but they were armed to the teeth by the U.S. and others. Popular support is likewise a problem. There are signs that the Taliban is despised even by many of its tribal Pushtun brethren in the south. Indeed, the first word concerning the fall of Kandahar was that anti-Taliban Pushtun forces unconnected to the Northern Alliance had seized the local airport.</p>
<p>But part of the infinite charm of the place is that all this may change next week or next month. Conditioned by millennia of tribal and ethnic conflict, the innumerable factions that populate Afghanistan are accustomed to changing up their allegiances with a speed and sang-froid that would leave Machiavelli dizzy. Consider the case of Abdul Rashid Dostum, the drug-trading Uzbek warlord who is one of the three generals credited with taking Mazar-e-Sharif for the Northern Alliance. <a href="" type="internal">An excellent piece on the NA in Egypt’s Al-Ahram Weekly</a> summarizes Dostum’s career thus: “A powerful player in Afghanistan, Dostum is a political chameleon, having changed from fighting alongside Soviet forces to taking up arms [against them] with the mujahedin to allying with infamous extremist, Pakistani favorite and former Prime Minister Gulbiddin Hekmatyar, to joining [the Northern Alliance] Dostum is a wild card, not unlike many of the [Northern Alliance] factions.”</p>
<p>Do tell. The most intriguing dispatch to appear in the American press in recent days was an analysis piece by Mansoor Ijaz <a href="" type="internal">in Monday’s Los Angeles Times</a>. Ijaz, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, wrote that he was recently told by Pakistani fundamentalists in his acquaintance about a private meeting of Afghanistan’s loya jirga assembly that transpired in Peshawar, Pakistan several weeks ago. There the various factions “seriously debated” a reconciliation between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance to combat any coalition Afghan government headed by the deposed and decrepit former king, Zaher Shah. Ijaz adds this footnote: “Credible reports from the region indicate that Northern Alliance warlords are secretly supplying the Taliban with war munitions at hyperinflated prices in a bid to keep all their options open. After all, power, no matter how small a slice, is the all-consuming end for these notoriously shifty characters.”</p>
<p>It’s a lovely bunch of folks we’ve climbed in bed with. Funny no one outside the Middle East has thought to ask who they are. Nyier Abdou, the journalist who authored the Al-Ahram Weekly piece, observes that Americans and Brits “hear terms like anti-Taliban and think of a tightly organized, finely honed fighting machine, just waiting for its chance to do what is right.” To the contrary, he writes: The NA are “a loosely knit collection of former mujahedin commanders, Taliban defectors, regional leaders and foes-cum-friends.” Ethnically speaking they comprise, most visibly, elements of Uzbek, Tajik, and Hazara origin; many of their factions are traditional enemies to each other, and more significantly they represent minority groups in Afghanistan, where a plurality of the populace, 40 percent or so, claims Pushtun tribal roots, as do the leaders of the Taliban. The NA’s ethnic minority status is one of the reasons no one thinks they can head a viable governing coalition.</p>
<p>Another reason is that they are easily as brutal as the Taliban. Upon taking Mazar the NA made it a first order of business to execute a hundred or so Pakistani youths who had emigrated to the city to train as Taliban troops. And yesterday the UK tabloid The Mirror contained graphic descriptions of what happened to the Taliban stragglers and sympathizers who crossed their path in Kabul: “The Taliban fighters were beaten until their heads caved in. In a traditional Afghan symbol of victory, 10,000 Afghani notes were stuffed into their mouths, noses and what remained of their skulls. Other victims had cigarette butts up their nostrils or their limbs hacked away.”</p>
<p>But there were only a few dozen such casualties on day one in Kabul, so it was a moral victory of sorts for the West. The Northern Alliance has done much worse. When it controlled Kabul from 1992-1996, tens of thousands were slaughtered-drowned in wells, shut inside air-tight containers to smother, lined up and shot into mass graves. The Al-Ahram Weekly story notes that Human Rights Watch has “singled out numerous groups and high-profile commanders in the Northern Alliance as party to gross human rights infractions, not only against Taliban fighters but against civilians and suspected Taliban sympathizers.” Casts rather a different light on all those men in Kabul who shaved their beards, doesn’t it? One has to think a lot of them were simply trying to keep from being slaughtered as Taliban sympathizers.</p>
<p>So now what? The flight of the Taliban has left the U.S. in an awful mess. Whether they are licked or merely in hiding, they’ve left a vacuum in the seats of power. There is no semblance of a plan for a provisional government or for any peacekeeping force to hold the NA in check. It’s the Alliance’s ballgame for now, but they cannot hold the country ultimately. The longer they are allowed to remain, the hotter things will get for the U.S./U.K. axis and the Musharraf government in Pakistan. National borders notwithstanding, about half of Pushtuns live in Pakistan and half in Afghanistan, and neither country will stand for a government by the ethnic minority Alliance. Here’s Kim Sengupta of The Independent again: “Millions of ethnic Pushtuns, especially in North West Frontier Province, support the Taliban and vilify the Northern Alliance. Pakistan will have to reckon with their anger. Taliban commanders and their feared Arab comrades may take refuge in the rugged hills on the Pakistani side of the border, complicating the internal security problems there.” In fact there are several scenarios-a continued power vacuum in Kabul, popular outrage in Pakistan over the composition of a transitional government, or renewed guerrilla strikes by the Taliban-that could carry the war right across the border into Pakistan and topple the government there, affording us all a chance to find out firsthand just how fail-safe the components of their nuclear arsenal really are.</p>
<p>If there is a bright side to the past week’s events, it is that the Taliban retreat makes it much easier to carry food and medicine into Afghanistan-though it remains doubtful whether the U.S. will allow much of it to be distributed in the south, where it’s most needed, until the Bush administration is sure the Taliban is vanquished for good. Odds are the aid shipments will continue to be stinted. In the main, what the U.S. has purchased so far with its support of the Northern Alliance is a very large headache.</p>
<p>As for tracking down Osama bin Laden-remember him?-American officials admit their efforts have so far come to nothing. We can bomb all we like, but as a former secretary of the Army admitted on Fox News this morning, we won’t find Osama unless someone in his inner circle gives him up. CP</p>
<p>Steve Perry writes frequently for CounterPunch and is a contributor to the excellent <a href="http://www.cursor.org/default.htm" type="external">cursor.org</a> website, which offers incisive coverage of the current crisis. He lives in Minneapolis, MN.</p> | true | 4 | mazaresharif fell last friday us war planners pundits sent warm regards brave boys northern alliance taking mazar meant allied supply route heart country burbleda felicitous turn events stood split taliban half geographically afford opposition leg sure grueling series battles kabul elsewhere taliban fled herat kabul weekend celebratory proclamations issuing us grew strained time kandahar began crumble late tuesday george bush donald rumsfeld rooting along mullah omar took airwaves beg taliban troops show resistance rotten thing theyve done turning tail scatting us prepared war end ended immediate question whether taliban fleeing disarray mounting strategic retreat cities areas easier wage guerrilla war suspect answer little appears serious blow struck us bombing campaign taliban war materiel communication systems numerous reports say impossible taliban factions different parts country talk except horsecarried messenger quite possible began strategic retreat mazaresharif cascaded panicked desertion taliban centers rumblings mazar began circulate always obligatory unverified reports mass defections concretely londons independent reported last remaining taliban ambassador pakistan shut shop islamabad roared japanese fourwheel drive unknown destination taliban may seek regroup mountains fight guerrilla war better suited strengths fact gentlefolk stratfor militarystrategic think tank believe thats exactly mean face dicey prospects supplies main issue abandoned vital shipping routes mazaresharif also herat taloqan kunduz appear staking everything goodwill assistance sympathizers pakistan words kim sengupta another correspondent independent taliban believe receive reinforcements new war across pakistani border fellow pushtuns also fresh waves international islamist volunteers theyre effectively finished afghan rebels fought decade soviet union armed teeth us others popular support likewise problem signs taliban despised even many tribal pushtun brethren south indeed first word concerning fall kandahar antitaliban pushtun forces unconnected northern alliance seized local airport part infinite charm place may change next week next month conditioned millennia tribal ethnic conflict innumerable factions populate afghanistan accustomed changing allegiances speed sangfroid would leave machiavelli dizzy consider case abdul rashid dostum drugtrading uzbek warlord one three generals credited taking mazaresharif northern alliance excellent piece na egypts alahram weekly summarizes dostums career thus powerful player afghanistan dostum political chameleon changed fighting alongside soviet forces taking arms mujahedin allying infamous extremist pakistani favorite former prime minister gulbiddin hekmatyar joining northern alliance dostum wild card unlike many northern alliance factions tell intriguing dispatch appear american press recent days analysis piece mansoor ijaz mondays los angeles times ijaz member council foreign relations wrote recently told pakistani fundamentalists acquaintance private meeting afghanistans loya jirga assembly transpired peshawar pakistan several weeks ago various factions seriously debated reconciliation taliban northern alliance combat coalition afghan government headed deposed decrepit former king zaher shah ijaz adds footnote credible reports region indicate northern alliance warlords secretly supplying taliban war munitions hyperinflated prices bid keep options open power matter small slice allconsuming end notoriously shifty characters lovely bunch folks weve climbed bed funny one outside middle east thought ask nyier abdou journalist authored alahram weekly piece observes americans brits hear terms like antitaliban think tightly organized finely honed fighting machine waiting chance right contrary writes na loosely knit collection former mujahedin commanders taliban defectors regional leaders foescumfriends ethnically speaking comprise visibly elements uzbek tajik hazara origin many factions traditional enemies significantly represent minority groups afghanistan plurality populace 40 percent claims pushtun tribal roots leaders taliban nas ethnic minority status one reasons one thinks head viable governing coalition another reason easily brutal taliban upon taking mazar na made first order business execute hundred pakistani youths emigrated city train taliban troops yesterday uk tabloid mirror contained graphic descriptions happened taliban stragglers sympathizers crossed path kabul taliban fighters beaten heads caved traditional afghan symbol victory 10000 afghani notes stuffed mouths noses remained skulls victims cigarette butts nostrils limbs hacked away dozen casualties day one kabul moral victory sorts west northern alliance done much worse controlled kabul 19921996 tens thousands slaughtereddrowned wells shut inside airtight containers smother lined shot mass graves alahram weekly story notes human rights watch singled numerous groups highprofile commanders northern alliance party gross human rights infractions taliban fighters civilians suspected taliban sympathizers casts rather different light men kabul shaved beards doesnt one think lot simply trying keep slaughtered taliban sympathizers flight taliban left us awful mess whether licked merely hiding theyve left vacuum seats power semblance plan provisional government peacekeeping force hold na check alliances ballgame hold country ultimately longer allowed remain hotter things get usuk axis musharraf government pakistan national borders notwithstanding half pushtuns live pakistan half afghanistan neither country stand government ethnic minority alliance heres kim sengupta independent millions ethnic pushtuns especially north west frontier province support taliban vilify northern alliance pakistan reckon anger taliban commanders feared arab comrades may take refuge rugged hills pakistani side border complicating internal security problems fact several scenariosa continued power vacuum kabul popular outrage pakistan composition transitional government renewed guerrilla strikes talibanthat could carry war right across border pakistan topple government affording us chance find firsthand failsafe components nuclear arsenal really bright side past weeks events taliban retreat makes much easier carry food medicine afghanistanthough remains doubtful whether us allow much distributed south needed bush administration sure taliban vanquished good odds aid shipments continue stinted main us purchased far support northern alliance large headache tracking osama bin ladenremember himamerican officials admit efforts far come nothing bomb like former secretary army admitted fox news morning wont find osama unless someone inner circle gives cp steve perry writes frequently counterpunch contributor excellent cursororg website offers incisive coverage current crisis lives minneapolis mn | 893 |
<p>CNN produced a <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/middleeast/syria-isis-us-raid/" type="external">CGI version</a> of the US raid in Syria, turning official claims into visual reality.</p>
<p>The White House announced on Saturday that a team of Delta Force soldiers had gone into sovereign Syrian territory to kill an alleged ISIS &#160;“commander” and a few dozen other faceless bad guys.</p>
<p>Per usual, the media would retell the narrative based entirely on Pentagon and White House action movie prose. Just as with the bin Laden raid narrative—that later turned out to be <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/post/bin-ladens-wives-children-arrested-in-raid--1-son-killed/2011/05/02/AFwSTuZF_blog.html" type="external">mostly false</a>—this tale involved some unbelievably compelling details: “rescuing a Yazidi slave,” “hand-to-hand combat,” “women and children as human shields,” “precise fire” (that, of course, avoided these women and children), and a body count, “40 extremists,” that would make Jack Bauer blush.</p>
<p>To the New York Times‘ credit, it did <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/17/world/middleeast/abu-sayyaf-isis-commander-killed-by-us-forces-pentagon-says.html?_r=0" type="external">issue</a> one of the most passive-aggressive “we could not independently verify these claims” disclaimers in journalistic history:</p>
<p>A Defense Department official said Islamic State fighters who defended their building and Abu Sayyaf tried to use women and children as shields, but that the Delta Force commandos “used very precise fire” and “separated the women and children.” The official said the operation involved close “hand-to-hand fighting.” (The accounts of the raid came from military and government officials and could not be immediately verified through independent sources.)</p>
<p>No, of course they couldn’t!</p>
<p>Obviously, this is one of the limits of reporting on secret events in far-off, opaque war zones. Nonetheless, given that the last such politically loaded raid, on the bin Laden “compound” in Pakistan, turned out to be full of White House lies—to say nothing of Seymour Hersh’s recent, high-profile allegations that the <a href="http://www.lrb.co.uk/v37/n10/seymour-m-hersh/the-killing-of-osama-bin-laden" type="external">entire thing was staged</a>—you’d think a bit of skepticism would be in order. But, in a world of mass information asymmetry, the government’s word on these matters is treated as the authoritative one until proven otherwise.</p>
<p>This routine problem, however, is not the real journalistic crime here. The real issue is that the White House just admitted it has American ground troops engaged in combat missions in Syria—and no one seemed to notice, much less care.</p>
<p>While it’s true the White House <a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-news/20140820-white-house-officials-u.s.-rescue-mission-in-syria-failed.ece" type="external">has acknowledged</a> hostage rescue missions in Syria, this is the first time&#160;it’s admitted soldiers have been deployed inside Syria for expressly military purposes. As one Defense Department official would explain to the <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-kills-islamic-state-leader-in-syria-raid/2015/05/16/31280b26-fbca-11e4-a13c-193b1241d51a_story.html" type="external">Washington Post</a>:</p>
<p>The raid was only the second time US Special Operations forces are known to have operated on the ground in Syria, and the first “direct action” mission by US forces there. Special operators conducted an unsuccessful mission last summer to rescue American hostages being held by the militants, who later executed them.</p>
<p>Isn’t this important? Isn’t it significant that what began 292 days ago as a “ <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/08/world/middleeast/obama-weighs-military-strikes-to-aid-trapped-iraqis-officials-say.html?_r=0" type="external">limited,</a>” “ <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/us-launches-humanitarian-air-drop-mission-iraq" type="external">humanitarian</a>” mission in Iraq has now expanded (again) to include US ground troops—albeit in a measured capacity—in Syria? Many observers certainly thought so:</p>
<p>Nagata is black ops guy w long history of running covert SOF ops. This is just the beginning of increase of boots on the ground ops in Syria</p>
<p>— jeremy scahill (@jeremyscahill) <a href="https://twitter.com/jeremyscahill/status/599988377790894080" type="external">May 17, 2015</a></p>
<p>1. We have boots on the ground in Syria. 2. We killed a senior ISIS leader there. <a href="http://t.co/KGMuZWyoNH" type="external">http://t.co/KGMuZWyoNH</a></p>
<p>— Josh Greenman (@joshgreenman) <a href="https://twitter.com/joshgreenman/status/599571337070432257" type="external">May 16, 2015</a></p>
<p>I thought Obama promised no boots on the ground. <a href="http://t.co/KjYmRK5SZL" type="external">http://t.co/KjYmRK5SZL</a></p>
<p>— Ali Gharib (@Ali_Gharib) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ali_Gharib/status/599587951413219328" type="external">May 16, 2015</a></p>
<p />
<p>If you don’t have images of Delta Force carrying out a raid in Syria, a false-color <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/usasoc/16715486185/" type="external">photo</a> of Green Berets pretending to assault a drug-cartel outpost is the next best thing, the Daily Beast <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/16/u-s-troops-fought-hand-to-hand-in-syria-raid.html" type="external">finds</a>. (photo: Thomas Cieslak/DoD)</p>
<p>But almost every media outlet was too fascinated recapping the DoD’s superficial action narrative to ask why, or if, the US should have soldiers fighting in yet another country. Instead we got Pentagon-curated military-speak, that patented combination of sterilized violence, action prose and technology show-off, as with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/05/17/middleeast/syria-isis-us-raid/" type="external">CNN‘s</a> “Delta Force entered the target area on Black Hawk helicopters and V-22 aircraft, a US official familiar with the operation said.”</p>
<p>Or the Washington Post‘s similarly breathless account ( <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-kills-islamic-state-leader-in-syria-raid/2015/05/16/31280b26-fbca-11e4-a13c-193b1241d51a_story.html" type="external">5/16/15</a>), reading like the synopsis of a Hollywood thriller:</p>
<p>Delta Force troops, flying from Iraq aboard Black Hawk helicopters and V-22 Ospreys, encountered almost immediate fire from militant forces when they touched down….</p>
<p>In what a US Defense official described as “close-quarters combat” against militants using women and children as human shields, about a dozen militants were killed.</p>
<p>The key fact of the raid’s broader geopolitical significance is either glossed over or ignored altogether.</p>
<p>This war, just like the&#160; <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-13142441" type="external">US operation in Libya</a>, has been marked by mission creep. The White House promises the objectives are X. Then they’re X, but also Y. Then X, Y and introducing Z, which is couched in special forces porn so it largely goes unnoticed.</p>
<p>What the media rarely do is stop to put things in context. It’s the slow drip of a war that’s sold to an American public in small, disconnected parts, so we don’t notice.</p>
<p>Put another way: If we were told in August 2014 that within a year, the US would have ground troops carrying out raids in Syria and Iraq, as well as bombing in both countries, would we have agreed? Impossible to know, but with the media framing these qualitative leaps in scope as routine (but at the same time sexed-up) military operations, the bait-and-switch routine goes almost entirely unnoted.</p>
<p>As I’ve pointed out previously, <a href="http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/publications/reports/survey-research/how-americans-get-news/" type="external">only 40 percent</a> of Americans read past the headline, so when everyone from CNN to New York Times to <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/5/16/8615133/us-isis-raid" type="external">Vox</a> announces it as a military raid to catch a “key ISIS commander,” and puts the fact that it’s the first direct military action in Syria by US troops—if they do at all—in paragraph 12, most people will never notice the expansion in US military objectives.</p>
<p>Frame it however you like, but the US just announced it has active combat troops on the ground in Syria. Even if one thinks this is A-OK, shouldn’t media outlets make that the primary topic of at least one article?</p>
<p>Adam Johnson is a freelance journalist; formerly he was a founder of the hardware startup Brightbox. You can follow him on Twitter at&#160; <a href="https://twitter.com/adamjohnsonnyc" type="external">@AdamJohnsonNYC</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | cnn produced cgi version us raid syria turning official claims visual reality white house announced saturday team delta force soldiers gone sovereign syrian territory kill alleged isis 160commander dozen faceless bad guys per usual media would retell narrative based entirely pentagon white house action movie prose bin laden raid narrativethat later turned mostly falsethis tale involved unbelievably compelling details rescuing yazidi slave handtohand combat women children human shields precise fire course avoided women children body count 40 extremists would make jack bauer blush new york times credit issue one passiveaggressive could independently verify claims disclaimers journalistic history defense department official said islamic state fighters defended building abu sayyaf tried use women children shields delta force commandos used precise fire separated women children official said operation involved close handtohand fighting accounts raid came military government officials could immediately verified independent sources course couldnt obviously one limits reporting secret events faroff opaque war zones nonetheless given last politically loaded raid bin laden compound pakistan turned full white house liesto say nothing seymour hershs recent highprofile allegations entire thing stagedyoud think bit skepticism would order world mass information asymmetry governments word matters treated authoritative one proven otherwise routine problem however real journalistic crime real issue white house admitted american ground troops engaged combat missions syriaand one seemed notice much less care true white house acknowledged hostage rescue missions syria first time160its admitted soldiers deployed inside syria expressly military purposes one defense department official would explain washington post raid second time us special operations forces known operated ground syria first direct action mission us forces special operators conducted unsuccessful mission last summer rescue american hostages held militants later executed isnt important isnt significant began 292 days ago limited humanitarian mission iraq expanded include us ground troopsalbeit measured capacityin syria many observers certainly thought nagata black ops guy w long history running covert sof ops beginning increase boots ground ops syria jeremy scahill jeremyscahill may 17 2015 1 boots ground syria 2 killed senior isis leader httptcokgmuzwyonh josh greenman joshgreenman may 16 2015 thought obama promised boots ground httptcokjymrk5szl ali gharib ali_gharib may 16 2015 dont images delta force carrying raid syria falsecolor photo green berets pretending assault drugcartel outpost next best thing daily beast finds photo thomas cieslakdod almost every media outlet fascinated recapping dods superficial action narrative ask us soldiers fighting yet another country instead got pentagoncurated militaryspeak patented combination sterilized violence action prose technology showoff cnns delta force entered target area black hawk helicopters v22 aircraft us official familiar operation said washington posts similarly breathless account 51615 reading like synopsis hollywood thriller delta force troops flying iraq aboard black hawk helicopters v22 ospreys encountered almost immediate fire militant forces touched us defense official described closequarters combat militants using women children human shields dozen militants killed key fact raids broader geopolitical significance either glossed ignored altogether war like the160 us operation libya marked mission creep white house promises objectives x theyre x also x introducing z couched special forces porn largely goes unnoticed media rarely stop put things context slow drip war thats sold american public small disconnected parts dont notice put another way told august 2014 within year us would ground troops carrying raids syria iraq well bombing countries would agreed impossible know media framing qualitative leaps scope routine time sexedup military operations baitandswitch routine goes almost entirely unnoted ive pointed previously 40 percent americans read past headline everyone cnn new york times vox announces military raid catch key isis commander puts fact first direct military action syria us troopsif allin paragraph 12 people never notice expansion us military objectives frame however like us announced active combat troops ground syria even one thinks aok shouldnt media outlets make primary topic least one article adam johnson freelance journalist formerly founder hardware startup brightbox follow twitter at160 adamjohnsonnyc 160 | 635 |
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<p>Ramallah.</p>
<p>Hanan Ahsrawi tells us bluntly that the principal aim of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon and his right-wing, Zionist fundamentalist government is to make sure that no Palestinian state ever exists as a viable entity. Their goal, she says, “is not just dismantling the infrastructure, the structures of Palestinian statehood, but dismantling an identity: not just preventing formation of a viable Palestinian state but eliminating a nation and a people.” Ashrawi is a Palestinian legislator and former spokesperson for the Palestinian negotiating delegation who is known widely in the United States as an articulate, plain-talking, down-to-earth spokesperson for her people, easily able to relate to American audiences and speak to Americans in their own political dialect.</p>
<p>Ashrawi describes Israel as having returned to a strain of fundamentalist Zionism, reminiscent of 1948, that denies Palestinian identity altogether. It is attempting actually to deconstruct the Palestinian presence, to render it docile and compliant. Anyone who tries to assert himself, to stand up for Palestinian rights, is put down; no resistance is permitted. Israel, Ashrawi asserts, “is sending the message to the Palestinians that you are totally at our mercy, we’ve robbed you of any independence, you’re broken. Sharon has tried this before, and he’ll keep trying.”</p>
<p>The message that Ashrawi sees is clear wherever you go in the occupied West Bank. When we flew from Amman to Tel Aviv a week ago, the small commuter airliner flew at just 8,000 feet on a bright, cloudless day, giving us a striking bird’s-eye view of Israel’s massive encroachment on this Palestinian territory. An Israeli settlement or outpost stands on virtually every hilltop, commanding the terrain around it, cutting off one Palestinian town from another. There are over 200 of these Israeli settlements in a territory of about 2,000 square miles, a huge insertion of a Jewish/Israeli presence and identity into a Palestinian landscape.</p>
<p>Established settlements are easily identifiable by their uniformity: rows of ticky-tacky looking much like a new American suburban development, with identical shapes, identical red tiled rooftops, identical rows of tall trees taking up precious ground water that is denied to Palestinians. The new outposts, about 30 or 40 of them seized by wildcatters, but with government sanction, in the two years since Sharon came to office, are also readily recognizable by the open cut in the hilltops on which they sit, where trees have been cleared away and trailers or “caravans,” as they are called here, have been brought in as temporary housing. A vast network of limited-access highways (“settler roads,” the Palestinians call them) on which only those with yellow Israeli license plates may drive, connect these settlements to each other, further scarring the landscape, destroying Palestinian olive groves and agricultural land, further isolating Palestinian towns from each other What else could be the intent of this gigantic expropriation of another people’s land except the denial and dismantling of Palestinian identity that Ashrawi describes?</p>
<p>Turning to U.S. policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli situation, Ashrawi expresses dismay that, at present and for the foreseeable future, the narrative in the United States is “purely Israeli,” to a degree that she says is scary. For the first time ever, “we have a U.S. administration that adopts wholesale the Israeli version.” Ideologically, Ashrawi says, the Bush administration and the Sharon government are “not just tightly knit, there’s a real overlap” in the way they think and the way they determine policies. The U.S. speaks entirely according to an Israeli script and does so for the first time at the decision-making level. This is no longer just a matter of Christian fundamentalists allying with Zionist fundamentalists in think tanks and advisory bodies outside the administration, she notes, but “it’s in the Defense Department, in the White House. It’s an ideology that’s lethal.” The situation is made far more difficult, furthermore, because “the media is accepting a packaged message,” she says. “I have never seen such a monolithic approach to this conflict. It’s unprecedented in scope and magnitude.”</p>
<p>Yet Ashrawi can still see reason to hope. Asked if she shares the dismal vision of Israeli peace activist Jeff Halper, who has written in scathing articles about Israel’s physical and political absorption of the occupied territories into Israel that he sees little remaining hope of ever establishing an independent, viable Palestinian state, Ashrawi asserts that she is not willing to say it’s too late. “If there is a will, the settlements can be removed.” She acknowledges that it’s hard right now to count on any movement in this direction, but she is emphatic that the Palestinians will not succumb to Sharon’s attempt to break them.</p>
<p>Asked where the breaking point comes, she says she sees a greater likelihood of acts of desperation by Palestinians than of surrender or flight out of Palestine. Palestinians tend to regard the current difficulties as another historical phase that will pass. Demography is in the Palestinians’ favor, she says, but her hope for the future rests on more than just demography. “There’s a social cohesion and an identification with the land that are very important. Originally we’re all peasants who are completely bound to the land. The source of our self-value is tied to land.”</p>
<p>So the Palestinians are determined to stay, Ashrawi notes. After their experience in 1948, when over 700,000 fled what became the state of Israel in the belief that they would be able to return when the fighting stopped, Palestinians cannot now be fooled into leaving “temporarily.” The majority, she asserts with a large smile, “are staying because they know the price of leaving.”</p>
<p>Dr. Mustafa Barghouti, who directs a medical relief organization in the West Bank and Gaza, shares Ashrawi’s somber assessment of the present situation and also her long-term sense of hope. Barghouti’s most immediate concern is preparing for a possible total curfew imposed by Israel in the midst of the Iraq war, which would prevent Palestinians, already barred by checkpoints from seeking care at hospitals, from reaching any medical help at all. But Barghouti has also been involved in politics and heads what he and a few others are calling the Palestinian National Initiative, which puts itself forward as a third choice between the ineffective Palestinian government and the radical Hamas. “You cannot have true democracy and reform,” Barghouti believes, “without elections.” He and his organization are working to bring forth a new generation of Palestinian leaders not captive of either the Fatah/Palestinian Authority leadership or Hamas.</p>
<p>Barghouti’s principal fear at the moment is that under cover of the war in Iraq Israel will kill more Palestinian civilians on the pretext that they are terrorists and the international community will largely ignore the killing. In the last three weeks alone, as many as 90 Palestinians have been killed. He sees the killing of American peace activist Rachel Corrie last week as an indication that Israel feels it can act as it pleases while the world looks elsewhere and also as a deliberate effort to intimidate the young internationals who worked with Corrie to try to protect Palestinians against Israeli depredations. Barghouti also fears that Israel will attempt a large-scale “internal transfer” of Palestinians under the cover of the war. This could involve forcibly moving Palestinians out of villages near Israeli settlements, in order to create buffer zones around the settlements, or expelling Palestinians living along the route of the “separation wall” that Israel is building inside the West Bank. Construction of the wall, now underway in the northern sector of the border area between the West Bank and Israel, has thus far resulted in the expropriation of large tracts of Palestinian agricultural land, the separation of Palestinian towns from their farmlands, and the destruction of numerous wells that supply water to Palestinian towns and villages. Current planning by Israel’s defense establishment, as described today in the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz, envisions a vast increase in the amount of land to be incorporated into Israel behind the fence, in order, as the paper reports, “to get as many Jews and as few Palestinians as possible into the western [Israeli] side.” (Readers of CounterPunch.org will recall a searing article describing this appalling wall by Anne Gwynne on March 15. The article, “Anger and Tears at Israel’s Wall of Apartheid,” is a powerful cri de coeur.)</p>
<p>Despite his dire forecasts for the immediate future, Barghouti sees no alternative for the Palestinians but continued struggle for an independent state in the West Bank and Gaza.</p>
<p>Although some Palestinians and some Israeli peace activists have begun to advocate a one-state solution in which Palestinians press for citizenship in a single Israeli state established throughout all of Palestine, Barghouti believes Palestinians cannot give up on the two-state formula because it remains the only solution the international community will accept and because it is the only way for Palestinians to achieve real self-determination. He sees three reasons to be hopeful for the future: Palestinians are gaining more international support, more Americans have begun to recognize what is happening in Palestine and object to unquestioning U.S. support for Israel and, perhaps most important, the Palestinians themselves are undeterred in the struggle against Israel’s occupation.</p>
<p>“There are good, resilient people on the ground here,” he says, who will not give up. “We are like South Africa in the 1970s,” which gives him great hope.</p>
<p>Bill Christison joined the CIA in 1950, and served on the analysis side of the Agency for 28 years. From the early 1970s he served as National Intelligence Officer (principal adviser to the Director of Central Intelligence on certain areas) for, at various times, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Africa. Before he retired in 1979 he was Director of the CIA’s Office of Regional and Political Analysis, a 250-person unit.</p>
<p>Kathleen Christison also worked in the CIA, retiring in 1979. Since then she has been mainly preoccupied by the issue of Palestine. She is the author of Perceptions of Palestine and The Wound of Dispossession.</p>
<p>The Christison’s can be reached at: <a href="MAILTO:christison@counterpunch.org" type="external">christison@counterpunch.org</a></p>
<p>Yesterday’s Features</p>
<p>David Lindorff <a href="" type="internal">Peacekeepers at Ground Zero</a></p>
<p>Diane Christian <a href="" type="internal">Blood Sacrifice</a></p>
<p>Kathy Kelly <a href="" type="internal">The Morning After Shock and Awe</a></p>
<p>John Stanton <a href="" type="internal">US Bombs Iran</a></p>
<p>Wayne Madsen <a href="" type="internal">How to Live with a Rogue Superpower</a></p>
<p>Anthony Gancarski <a href="" type="internal">Iraq and the Death of the West</a></p>
<p>David Vest <a href="" type="internal">Earth vs. Bush</a></p>
<p>Ahmad Faruqui <a href="" type="internal">The Liberation of Iraq in Perspective</a></p>
<p>Robert Fisk <a href="" type="internal">We Bomb, They Suffer</a></p>
<p>Website of the War <a href="http://www.iraqbodycount.net/" type="external">Iraq Body Count</a></p>
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<p><a href="https://www.counterpunch.org" type="external">home</a> / <a href="http://www.easycarts.net/ecarts/CounterPunch/CounterPunch_Subscriptions.html" type="external">subscribe</a> / <a href="aboutus.html" type="external">about us</a> / <a href="books.html" type="external">books</a> / <a href="archive.html" type="external">archives</a> / <a href="search.html" type="external">search</a> / <a href="links.html" type="external">links</a> /</p> | true | 4 | 160 ramallah hanan ahsrawi tells us bluntly principal aim israeli prime minister sharon rightwing zionist fundamentalist government make sure palestinian state ever exists viable entity goal says dismantling infrastructure structures palestinian statehood dismantling identity preventing formation viable palestinian state eliminating nation people ashrawi palestinian legislator former spokesperson palestinian negotiating delegation known widely united states articulate plaintalking downtoearth spokesperson people easily able relate american audiences speak americans political dialect ashrawi describes israel returned strain fundamentalist zionism reminiscent 1948 denies palestinian identity altogether attempting actually deconstruct palestinian presence render docile compliant anyone tries assert stand palestinian rights put resistance permitted israel ashrawi asserts sending message palestinians totally mercy weve robbed independence youre broken sharon tried hell keep trying message ashrawi sees clear wherever go occupied west bank flew amman tel aviv week ago small commuter airliner flew 8000 feet bright cloudless day giving us striking birdseye view israels massive encroachment palestinian territory israeli settlement outpost stands virtually every hilltop commanding terrain around cutting one palestinian town another 200 israeli settlements territory 2000 square miles huge insertion jewishisraeli presence identity palestinian landscape established settlements easily identifiable uniformity rows tickytacky looking much like new american suburban development identical shapes identical red tiled rooftops identical rows tall trees taking precious ground water denied palestinians new outposts 30 40 seized wildcatters government sanction two years since sharon came office also readily recognizable open cut hilltops sit trees cleared away trailers caravans called brought temporary housing vast network limitedaccess highways settler roads palestinians call yellow israeli license plates may drive connect settlements scarring landscape destroying palestinian olive groves agricultural land isolating palestinian towns else could intent gigantic expropriation another peoples land except denial dismantling palestinian identity ashrawi describes turning us policy toward palestinianisraeli situation ashrawi expresses dismay present foreseeable future narrative united states purely israeli degree says scary first time ever us administration adopts wholesale israeli version ideologically ashrawi says bush administration sharon government tightly knit theres real overlap way think way determine policies us speaks entirely according israeli script first time decisionmaking level longer matter christian fundamentalists allying zionist fundamentalists think tanks advisory bodies outside administration notes defense department white house ideology thats lethal situation made far difficult furthermore media accepting packaged message says never seen monolithic approach conflict unprecedented scope magnitude yet ashrawi still see reason hope asked shares dismal vision israeli peace activist jeff halper written scathing articles israels physical political absorption occupied territories israel sees little remaining hope ever establishing independent viable palestinian state ashrawi asserts willing say late settlements removed acknowledges hard right count movement direction emphatic palestinians succumb sharons attempt break asked breaking point comes says sees greater likelihood acts desperation palestinians surrender flight palestine palestinians tend regard current difficulties another historical phase pass demography palestinians favor says hope future rests demography theres social cohesion identification land important originally peasants completely bound land source selfvalue tied land palestinians determined stay ashrawi notes experience 1948 700000 fled became state israel belief would able return fighting stopped palestinians fooled leaving temporarily majority asserts large smile staying know price leaving dr mustafa barghouti directs medical relief organization west bank gaza shares ashrawis somber assessment present situation also longterm sense hope barghoutis immediate concern preparing possible total curfew imposed israel midst iraq war would prevent palestinians already barred checkpoints seeking care hospitals reaching medical help barghouti also involved politics heads others calling palestinian national initiative puts forward third choice ineffective palestinian government radical hamas true democracy reform barghouti believes without elections organization working bring forth new generation palestinian leaders captive either fatahpalestinian authority leadership hamas barghoutis principal fear moment cover war iraq israel kill palestinian civilians pretext terrorists international community largely ignore killing last three weeks alone many 90 palestinians killed sees killing american peace activist rachel corrie last week indication israel feels act pleases world looks elsewhere also deliberate effort intimidate young internationals worked corrie try protect palestinians israeli depredations barghouti also fears israel attempt largescale internal transfer palestinians cover war could involve forcibly moving palestinians villages near israeli settlements order create buffer zones around settlements expelling palestinians living along route separation wall israel building inside west bank construction wall underway northern sector border area west bank israel thus far resulted expropriation large tracts palestinian agricultural land separation palestinian towns farmlands destruction numerous wells supply water palestinian towns villages current planning israels defense establishment described today israeli newspaper haaretz envisions vast increase amount land incorporated israel behind fence order paper reports get many jews palestinians possible western israeli side readers counterpunchorg recall searing article describing appalling wall anne gwynne march 15 article anger tears israels wall apartheid powerful cri de coeur despite dire forecasts immediate future barghouti sees alternative palestinians continued struggle independent state west bank gaza although palestinians israeli peace activists begun advocate onestate solution palestinians press citizenship single israeli state established throughout palestine barghouti believes palestinians give twostate formula remains solution international community accept way palestinians achieve real selfdetermination sees three reasons hopeful future palestinians gaining international support americans begun recognize happening palestine object unquestioning us support israel perhaps important palestinians undeterred struggle israels occupation good resilient people ground says give like south africa 1970s gives great hope bill christison joined cia 1950 served analysis side agency 28 years early 1970s served national intelligence officer principal adviser director central intelligence certain areas various times southeast asia south asia africa retired 1979 director cias office regional political analysis 250person unit kathleen christison also worked cia retiring 1979 since mainly preoccupied issue palestine author perceptions palestine wound dispossession christisons reached christisoncounterpunchorg yesterdays features david lindorff peacekeepers ground zero diane christian blood sacrifice kathy kelly morning shock awe john stanton us bombs iran wayne madsen live rogue superpower anthony gancarski iraq death west david vest earth vs bush ahmad faruqui liberation iraq perspective robert fisk bomb suffer website war iraq body count keep counterpunch alive make taxdeductible donation today online home subscribe us books archives search links | 982 |
<p>At first glance, history seems to repeat itself in Lebanon, where a lengthy cold war is intermittently interrupted by an extreme show of violence as traditional players quickly sprint into action, stacking their support behind one party or the other.</p>
<p>News headlines remind us of past conflicts such as that of 1978 when Israel illegally occupied parts of Lebanon and 1982 when Israel unleashed a full scale invasion and most deadly campaign against its small neighbor to the north, killing tens of thousands, mostly civilians.</p>
<p>But the unreserved significance of the ongoing conflict has more to do with Israel’s military ambitions not necessarily colonial, but rather strategic – than with Hizbollah’s ability to strike deep into Israel.</p>
<p>Let’s examine the bigger picture, starting well before Hizbollah’s daring capture of two Israeli soldiers in cross border fighting, which unfortunately, at least as far the media is concerned, is the solitary provocation that sparked the current conflict. (A San Francisco Chronicle investigative report by Matthew Kalman – Israel Set War Plan More Than a Year Ago, July 21, 2006 sheds more light on Israel’s intent to carry a three-week bombardment of Lebanon as early as 2000.)</p>
<p>For years, Israel’s strategic objective has been to break up the Syria-Lebanon front to isolate Syria and meddle as always in Lebanon’s affairs while diminishing whatever leverage Iran has in Lebanon through its support of Hizbollah.</p>
<p>As I argued in the first chapter of my book: the Second Palestinian Intifada, Israel’s military defeat in Lebanon and its army’s abrupt exit in May 2000, has espoused what became increasingly known as “the spirit of resistance” among Palestinians and Lebanese alike. Israel has proved once and for all to have serious military shortcomings, and Hizbollah an organization that was comprised mostly of the relatives of Israel’s victims in the invasion of 1982 and subsequent years- was the single entity that exposed those limitations.</p>
<p>Thus, Israel upgraded its use of violence to unprecedented degrees during the Palestinian uprising of September 2000 months after the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon- to send a clear message that their military travesty in Lebanon will not be repeated elsewhere. Moreover, despite its insistence that it left Lebanon for good, Israel never departed from its original military goal of destroying Hizbollah or meddling in Lebanese affairs.</p>
<p>Then there was the American attack on Iraq in March 2003 – clearly a highly dangerous military adventure which was lauded by Israeli and pro-Israeli neo-conservative ideologues in Tel Aviv and in Washington as prudent and indispensable involvement, that would further cement Israel’s security and the US strategic objectives in the Middle East thoughtlessly considered one and the same.</p>
<p>The Iraq war was anticipated to be a ‘cakewalk’, which would be followed according to various neo-cons documents available on the web by a regime change in Syria and Iran, respectively. Though both countries have proved unequally vital in the US so-called ‘war on terror’, Israel views both as imminent and ominous threats, for only these countries, after the collapse of the Iraqi military front, still possess real armies and potential military threats. Of course, such a claim, at least in the Syrian case, is highly questionable.</p>
<p>Bogged down in Iraq in an impossible war, it became clear that the US military is simply incapable of taking on more of Israel’s foes. According to Israel’s friends in the US Congress and media and they are plentiful the mission was not accomplished. This explains the growing neo-con intellectual insurgency against the administration, accusing it of ‘mishandling’ the Iraq conflict and failing to appreciate the gravity of the Iran threat. While President Bush is relentless in his anti Iran and Syria rhetoric, it’s becoming more transparent that a full invasion of Iran, or even Syria are now in the realm of wishful thinking.</p>
<p>With American military ambitions slowly dying out in the dust of the battlefield in Baghdad and Ramadi, Israel is growing utterly frustrated. Why? On one hand, despite the intense pressure on Syria to abandon Lebanon as it did Hizbollah’s military and political influence hardly faded, as Israel has hoped for an immediate overhaul of the political map of Lebanon and the dismantling of Hizbollah. Even worse, a movement that is parallel to Hizbollah in many ways in Palestinian and Arab psyche, Hamas, was on the rise, this time ironically – as part of the US advocated democratic reforms campaign in the Middle East.</p>
<p>Hamas, advent to power in January 2006, was followed by a less decisive Israeli election that brought to power a questionable coalition, whose prime minister and defense minister are known for having no military browses, a major diversion from Israel’s traditional politics. In other words, the new Israeli government had a great deal to prove on the battlefield to receive much needed validation at home.</p>
<p>Similar to its political pressure on Lebanon and Syria using Washington as a conduit- Tel Aviv took on Hamas: a suffocating economic siege, an international smear campaign and a diplomatic blockade using Washington, but also corrupt ex-Palestinian officials to achieve its goals. That too has failed terribly, which prompted military strikes against Gaza, killing scores and wounding hundreds, mostly civilians. In a rare diversion from its political leadership, the Hamas militant wing responded by capturing an Israeli solider at the border, vowing to only release him if all Palestinian women and children in Israeli jails are set free.</p>
<p>As far as Israel and the US administration and much of the Western media are concerned, Hamas provoked the Israeli military wrath that followed, the killing and wounding hundreds of innocent people and destroying what it has spared in past onslaughts. While Arab governments carried on with business as usual, Hizbollah who must’ve know that an Israeli military campaign against Lebanon was inevitable any way decided to take the initiative by opening a war front on Israel’s northern border in the least comfortable times for the Israeli military, with the hope to relieve some of the pressure on Palestinians. Whether it miscalculated or not is another story.</p>
<p>Neither Syria nor Iran asked Hizbollah to start a new war on Israel, though I can imagine that both will likely attempt to reap its benefits in case Hizbollah manages to survive the Israeli onslaught, which is, according to US analyst, William Lind, a victory in itself.</p>
<p>Israel doesn’t want to occupy Lebanon, but is keenly interested in destroying Hizbollah, thus sending a clear message to Iran that it is next. It also wants to broaden the Middle East conflict to force the US into an uninvited showdown with Iran and Syria. Expectedly, the US is providing 100 percent political, military and financial cover to Israel’s adventurism in Lebanon, but will it go further?</p>
<p>Hizbollah cannot lose if it wishes to survive as a formidable political force in Lebanon. If Hizbollah is disarmed, it is feared that Israel will go back to its full scale meddling in Lebanese affairs, isolating Syria even further, and gaining a strategic battle in its looming showdown with Tehran.</p>
<p>Tragically, Israel’s military adventurism and the US reprehensible backing of Israel’s endless quest for regional domination has so far seen the death and wounding of thousands of innocent Lebanese civilians, and the destruction of a nation that has barely recovered from past Israeli wars, to once again collapse under the rubble of a new one.</p>
<p>RAMZY BAROUD teaches mass communication at Curtin University of Technology and is the author of <a href="" type="internal">The Second Palestinian Intifada: A Chronicle of a People’s Struggle</a>. He is also the editor-in-chief of PalestineChronicle.com. He can be contacted at: <a href="mailto:editor@palestinechronicle.com" type="external">editor@palestinechronicle.com</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | first glance history seems repeat lebanon lengthy cold war intermittently interrupted extreme show violence traditional players quickly sprint action stacking support behind one party news headlines remind us past conflicts 1978 israel illegally occupied parts lebanon 1982 israel unleashed full scale invasion deadly campaign small neighbor north killing tens thousands mostly civilians unreserved significance ongoing conflict israels military ambitions necessarily colonial rather strategic hizbollahs ability strike deep israel lets examine bigger picture starting well hizbollahs daring capture two israeli soldiers cross border fighting unfortunately least far media concerned solitary provocation sparked current conflict san francisco chronicle investigative report matthew kalman israel set war plan year ago july 21 2006 sheds light israels intent carry threeweek bombardment lebanon early 2000 years israels strategic objective break syrialebanon front isolate syria meddle always lebanons affairs diminishing whatever leverage iran lebanon support hizbollah argued first chapter book second palestinian intifada israels military defeat lebanon armys abrupt exit may 2000 espoused became increasingly known spirit resistance among palestinians lebanese alike israel proved serious military shortcomings hizbollah organization comprised mostly relatives israels victims invasion 1982 subsequent years single entity exposed limitations thus israel upgraded use violence unprecedented degrees palestinian uprising september 2000 months israeli withdrawal lebanon send clear message military travesty lebanon repeated elsewhere moreover despite insistence left lebanon good israel never departed original military goal destroying hizbollah meddling lebanese affairs american attack iraq march 2003 clearly highly dangerous military adventure lauded israeli proisraeli neoconservative ideologues tel aviv washington prudent indispensable involvement would cement israels security us strategic objectives middle east thoughtlessly considered one iraq war anticipated cakewalk would followed according various neocons documents available web regime change syria iran respectively though countries proved unequally vital us socalled war terror israel views imminent ominous threats countries collapse iraqi military front still possess real armies potential military threats course claim least syrian case highly questionable bogged iraq impossible war became clear us military simply incapable taking israels foes according israels friends us congress media plentiful mission accomplished explains growing neocon intellectual insurgency administration accusing mishandling iraq conflict failing appreciate gravity iran threat president bush relentless anti iran syria rhetoric becoming transparent full invasion iran even syria realm wishful thinking american military ambitions slowly dying dust battlefield baghdad ramadi israel growing utterly frustrated one hand despite intense pressure syria abandon lebanon hizbollahs military political influence hardly faded israel hoped immediate overhaul political map lebanon dismantling hizbollah even worse movement parallel hizbollah many ways palestinian arab psyche hamas rise time ironically part us advocated democratic reforms campaign middle east hamas advent power january 2006 followed less decisive israeli election brought power questionable coalition whose prime minister defense minister known military browses major diversion israels traditional politics words new israeli government great deal prove battlefield receive much needed validation home similar political pressure lebanon syria using washington conduit tel aviv took hamas suffocating economic siege international smear campaign diplomatic blockade using washington also corrupt expalestinian officials achieve goals failed terribly prompted military strikes gaza killing scores wounding hundreds mostly civilians rare diversion political leadership hamas militant wing responded capturing israeli solider border vowing release palestinian women children israeli jails set free far israel us administration much western media concerned hamas provoked israeli military wrath followed killing wounding hundreds innocent people destroying spared past onslaughts arab governments carried business usual hizbollah mustve know israeli military campaign lebanon inevitable way decided take initiative opening war front israels northern border least comfortable times israeli military hope relieve pressure palestinians whether miscalculated another story neither syria iran asked hizbollah start new war israel though imagine likely attempt reap benefits case hizbollah manages survive israeli onslaught according us analyst william lind victory israel doesnt want occupy lebanon keenly interested destroying hizbollah thus sending clear message iran next also wants broaden middle east conflict force us uninvited showdown iran syria expectedly us providing 100 percent political military financial cover israels adventurism lebanon go hizbollah lose wishes survive formidable political force lebanon hizbollah disarmed feared israel go back full scale meddling lebanese affairs isolating syria even gaining strategic battle looming showdown tehran tragically israels military adventurism us reprehensible backing israels endless quest regional domination far seen death wounding thousands innocent lebanese civilians destruction nation barely recovered past israeli wars collapse rubble new one ramzy baroud teaches mass communication curtin university technology author second palestinian intifada chronicle peoples struggle also editorinchief palestinechroniclecom contacted editorpalestinechroniclecom 160 160 | 728 |
<p />
<p>It’s hard to tell whether what Bill Cosby is continuing is a crusade or a tirade, but so far, critics are voting for the second. As usual, average black folks are caught in the crossfire.</p>
<p>In May 2004, Cosby addressed the gala 50th commemoration of Brown v Board ( <a href="http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/billcosbypoundcakespeech.htm" type="external">full text here</a>) in a capacity-crowded Constitution Hall in DC. Rather than celebrate the victory and its attendant successes, “America’s Granddad” railed at length against a black sloth, nihilism, poor parenting and moribund morality that he believes worse than racism ever was. Here’s a taste:</p>
<p>We cannot blame white people. White people — white people don’t live over there. They close up the shop early. The Korean ones still don’t know us as well — they stay open 24 hours….</p>
<p>50 percent drop out rate, I’m telling you, and people in jail, and women having children by five, six different men. Under what excuse? I want somebody to love me. And as soon as you have it, you forget to parent. Grandmother, mother, and great grandmother in the same room, raising children, and the child knows nothing about love or respect of any one of the three of them. All this child knows is “gimme, gimme, gimme.” These people want to buy the friendship of a child, and the child couldn’t care less. Those of us sitting out here who have gone on to some college or whatever we’ve done, we still fear our parents. And these people are not parenting. They’re buying things for the kid — $500 sneakers — for what? They won’t buy or spend $250 on Hooked on Phonics.</p>
<p>Let’s just say the speech got noticed; three and a half years later, he’s still pugnaciously facing off with his <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/earl-ofari-hutchinson/come-on-people-no-come-_b_68990.html" type="external">detractors</a> who think Cosby is further entrenching racist stereotypes and <a href="http://news.duke.edu/2007/10/cosby.html" type="external">victim-blaming</a>. The blowback seems only to energize him.</p>
<p>As the criticism worsened, he embarked on a barnstorm town hall trip (inevitably blamed his <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=891845&amp;page=1" type="external">“Blame the Poor Tour”</a> by opponents) and took his message on the road to yet more capacity crowds even as Michael Eric Dyson wrote <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?r=1&amp;ean=9780641808418" type="external">an entire book</a>about Cosby’s speech and it’s implication of the black middle class in racism against the black poor. Juan Williams had Cosby’s back in <a href="http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780307338235" type="external">another book</a> inspired by the infamous speech (which I blurbed). Undaunted, Cosby has followed the speech, the tour and the controversy with a book, <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=bill+cosby&amp;z=y" type="external">Come On, People</a>, written with black psychiatrist Alvin Poussaint. Both Oprah and NBC’s Meet the Press give the authors major air time; books are selling nicely and the afro-sphere is abuzz, so far with condemnation. Duke scholar Karla FC Holloway sums up the critique’s main thrust:</p>
<p>Bill Cosby made his career earning our laughter, but his recent “call-out” to black communities — in which he blames the multifaceted perils of black children (whom he has called “dirty laundry”) on their parents’ disinterest in their success — only serves to solidify our biases about privilege, potential and race.</p>
<p>It’s undeniable that Cosby relies on a tenuous “argument by anecdote” approach (“women having children by five, six different men”) that seriously weakens his aim, still (or, maybe, as planned) it resonates with the black masses (the crowd hooting and clapping in Constitution Hall weren’t exactly Jabari and Jaquita Sixpack) and it is they, not the critics, who live everyday in the crosshairs. Caught between the gunsights of cops who may not bother to puzzle out whether being on the corner at 4 am means waiting for the bus to the assembly line or for someone to mug, haven’t the black masses a right to blow off some steam? Cosby didn’t get where he is by not knowing his audience and maybe that audience is not the po-mo, Black Students’ Association Past Presidents’ League and Modern Language Association Auxiliary. Or maybe he’s just <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2103794/" type="external">a tired, disspirited old man</a>. Either way, given the popular response, it may just be that the the black Joe Average is capable of grappling unselfconsciously with a complexity that the Talented Tenth are not. A la <a href="http://press.umsystem.edu/fall2001/teele.htm" type="external">E. Franklin Frazier</a>, their distance from whites (i.e. segregation) may insulate them from whites’ psychic violence (“Sorry Mr. CEO. Thought you were the janitor.”) and frees them to speak without censoring themselves (i.e. dog black folks they perceive to be misbehaving). They know exactly who the deserving and the undeserving poor are and just how tricky living in that integrated community can be. Funny that the black masses can call a spade a spade when a black Ph.D. cannot. Must not. One extremely suspicious aspect of these critiques is a suspicious over concern with the doings of whites to the detriment of black introspection and conversation, this business of ‘airing [blacks’] dirty laundry’ in public.</p>
<p>This analysis is a mainstay of protectionist black advocacy. It is illegitimate and speaks to the relevance of this much needed conversation, the very one that apologists for black underachievement don’t want to take place. Duke scholar Karla F.C. Holloway (author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bookmarks-Karla-F-C-Holloway/dp/0813539072" type="external">this lovely book</a>) offers the latest, and most elevated, example of this gambit wherein any perceived black disfunction must be de-coupled from blackness:</p>
<p>During Cosby’s recent appearance on Oprah to promote the book, parents who tragically lost a child to a drive-by shooting said they were “parents” who tried to protect “our child.” They did not say they were “black parents” who tried to protect “our black child.” I doubt Cosby heard the subtlety. He was too busy earning the audiences’ knowing chuckles when he explained to Oprah that he thought he was talking to “mines” (black folk) in these community attacks. He joked that he had no idea that whites would be listening in, or that someone would report the meeting’s agenda to a white friend or member of the press.</p>
<p>While the above is the mildest example of this tactic this writer has encountered, it’s common for black critics of the left-liberal status quo to be routinely excoriated, and accused of treason, for “giving ammunition to the enemy,” a la Cosby. It’s a strategem which must be baldly rejected; either the First Amendment applies among blacks or it does not. At least Dyson took the time to debate Cosby on the merits, however superficially IMHO (e.g. black parents are neither profligate nor uncaring for favoring $500 sneakers over Hooked on Phonics, since the latter hasn’t been proven effective). This argument simply takes as given that blacks must ignore their problems if it makes them look bad in front of whites. Presumably, if no one mentions the near 350 black on black murders in Philadelphia this year, George Will won’t notice.</p>
<p>More practically, exactly how are blacks, or any group, to discuss their issues, work to redress their grievances, or even comfort each other if they may only do so in a black ‘cone of silence,’ and doesn’t that tell Jaquita to shut the hell up while fronting for Susan? There is simply no set of secretive circumstances under which the National Review is ever going to run out of horrible things things to blame the black victim for, whether blacks stand mute or not. A sad insistence on keeping up the threadbare black urban identity is just that, sad. More significantly, it bespeaks a need for white approval as well as sacrifices a black progress which can only come from discussion, internal critique, and plans for uplift labored upon in concert with blacks and their allies. It simply boggles the mind to reconcile a belief in the kind of racism which helps to produce our urban social condition with the simultaneous insistence that whites must, at all costs, not be allowed to ‘hear’ a discussion of those conditions.</p>
<p>Dog him all you want, but the Cos’ has touched a nerve. This is a conversation black America wants to have, though it’s elite may not. Engage with it. Elevate it. Make Cosby admit where he’s being redunctionist or just plain wrong. Don’t just tell him to shut up because white folks are looking.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | hard tell whether bill cosby continuing crusade tirade far critics voting second usual average black folks caught crossfire may 2004 cosby addressed gala 50th commemoration brown v board full text capacitycrowded constitution hall dc rather celebrate victory attendant successes americas granddad railed length black sloth nihilism poor parenting moribund morality believes worse racism ever heres taste blame white people white people white people dont live close shop early korean ones still dont know us well stay open 24 hours 50 percent drop rate im telling people jail women children five six different men excuse want somebody love soon forget parent grandmother mother great grandmother room raising children child knows nothing love respect one three child knows gim gim gim people want buy friendship child child couldnt care less us sitting gone college whatever weve done still fear parents people parenting theyre buying things kid 500 sneakers wont buy spend 250 hooked phonics lets say speech got noticed three half years later hes still pugnaciously facing detractors think cosby entrenching racist stereotypes victimblaming blowback seems energize criticism worsened embarked barnstorm town hall trip inevitably blamed blame poor tour opponents took message road yet capacity crowds even michael eric dyson wrote entire bookabout cosbys speech implication black middle class racism black poor juan williams cosbys back another book inspired infamous speech blurbed undaunted cosby followed speech tour controversy book come people written black psychiatrist alvin poussaint oprah nbcs meet press give authors major air time books selling nicely afrosphere abuzz far condemnation duke scholar karla fc holloway sums critiques main thrust bill cosby made career earning laughter recent callout black communities blames multifaceted perils black children called dirty laundry parents disinterest success serves solidify biases privilege potential race undeniable cosby relies tenuous argument anecdote approach women children five six different men seriously weakens aim still maybe planned resonates black masses crowd hooting clapping constitution hall werent exactly jabari jaquita sixpack critics live everyday crosshairs caught gunsights cops may bother puzzle whether corner 4 means waiting bus assembly line someone mug havent black masses right blow steam cosby didnt get knowing audience maybe audience pomo black students association past presidents league modern language association auxiliary maybe hes tired disspirited old man either way given popular response may black joe average capable grappling unselfconsciously complexity talented tenth la e franklin frazier distance whites ie segregation may insulate whites psychic violence sorry mr ceo thought janitor frees speak without censoring ie dog black folks perceive misbehaving know exactly deserving undeserving poor tricky living integrated community funny black masses call spade spade black phd must one extremely suspicious aspect critiques suspicious concern doings whites detriment black introspection conversation business airing blacks dirty laundry public analysis mainstay protectionist black advocacy illegitimate speaks relevance much needed conversation one apologists black underachievement dont want take place duke scholar karla fc holloway author lovely book offers latest elevated example gambit wherein perceived black disfunction must decoupled blackness cosbys recent appearance oprah promote book parents tragically lost child driveby shooting said parents tried protect child say black parents tried protect black child doubt cosby heard subtlety busy earning audiences knowing chuckles explained oprah thought talking mines black folk community attacks joked idea whites would listening someone would report meetings agenda white friend member press mildest example tactic writer encountered common black critics leftliberal status quo routinely excoriated accused treason giving ammunition enemy la cosby strategem must baldly rejected either first amendment applies among blacks least dyson took time debate cosby merits however superficially imho eg black parents neither profligate uncaring favoring 500 sneakers hooked phonics since latter hasnt proven effective argument simply takes given blacks must ignore problems makes look bad front whites presumably one mentions near 350 black black murders philadelphia year george wont notice practically exactly blacks group discuss issues work redress grievances even comfort may black cone silence doesnt tell jaquita shut hell fronting susan simply set secretive circumstances national review ever going run horrible things things blame black victim whether blacks stand mute sad insistence keeping threadbare black urban identity sad significantly bespeaks need white approval well sacrifices black progress come discussion internal critique plans uplift labored upon concert blacks allies simply boggles mind reconcile belief kind racism helps produce urban social condition simultaneous insistence whites must costs allowed hear discussion conditions dog want cos touched nerve conversation black america wants though elite may engage elevate make cosby admit hes redunctionist plain wrong dont tell shut white folks looking | 742 |
<p>In recent weeks, as much of the Pakistani media remained fixated on the internecine squabbles of the country’s ruling elites, authorities in Sindh have been brutally cracking down on sections of workers and farmers in the province who’ve had the temerity to defend their rights and fight for improved living standards and working conditions.</p>
<p>On December 25, primary, secondary and high school teachers in Karachi held a defiant protest against the Sindh government due to its refusal to provide them with permanent jobs despite having agreed to do so in 2014.&#160; The provincial government is refusing to honor its agreement even after forcing teachers to pass a rigorous examination conducted by the National Testing Service and the University of Sindh.</p>
<p>Teachers from all over the province took part in the demonstration, including teachers from Hyderabad, some of whom marched the entire 140km distance to Karachi in order to participate.&#160; The teachers were attacked by the police when they tried to march toward the Chief Minister’s House.&#160; The police used water cannons, batons and tear gas against the protesting teachers and scores were arrested.&#160; On Tuesday, the Sindh authorities claimed that two dozen teachers were detained and that all have since been released.&#160; However, according to officials of the All Sindh Primary Teachers Association, more than 150 teachers were arrested and many others were injured by the heavy-handed tactics of the police. &#160;Despite the violent response of the police, the teachers have refused to back down until their demands are met, with negotiations between teachers’ representatives and the Sindh government ending in a stalemate on Friday.</p>
<p>Monday’s police attack against demonstrators in Karachi was one of several such assaults on teachers in Sindh in recent weeks. While the tactics deployed against teachers have been brutal, the sheer ruthlessness with which the Sindh government recently cracked down on protesting farmers was nothing less than shocking.</p>
<p>On December 11, scores of increasingly impoverished sugar cane growers from all over the Sindh staged a protest in Karachi against local sugar mill owners as well as the provincial government.&#160; The sugar cane growers have been asking the government to fix the price of sugar cane at Rs185 per 40kgs, but sugar mill owners in the province have been paying the farmers as little as Rs130 per 40kgs, even though the government has officially set the price at Rs182 per 40kgs.&#160; During the protest, farmers denounced government corruption and slammed provincial officials for colluding with sugar mill owners at the expense of poor farmers.&#160; The sugar mill owners are refusing to pay the correct price despite the fact that they have received billions of rupees in subsidies from both the federal and provincial governments.</p>
<p>The peaceful protest, in which many women and children participated, was baton-charged by police only 30 minutes after it began.&#160; When this failed to have the desired effect, tear gas and water cannons were used against the farmers, with many falling unconscious.&#160; According to farmers’ representatives, many sugar cane growers were injured and around 80 were arrested.&#160; While Sindh authorities were able to crush the protest in Karachi, the sugar cane growers have only grown more incensed and are unlikely to give up their struggle. On Thursday, a sugar cane grower set himself on fire during a farmers’ demonstration in Mirpurkhas that called for mill owners to pay the sugar cane price fixed by the government.</p>
<p>Far from a problem unique to Sindh, police brutality is par for the course in Pakistan, where a tiny clique of capitalists, landlords and military elites have lorded over and exploited the working class and rural poor since the country’s establishment.</p>
<p>The police in Punjab are notoriously corrupt and usually the first to resort to violence.&#160; On more than one occasion, police in Punjab have even used violent tactics against blind workers protesting for more job opportunities and the implementation of disabled-friendly policies in the province.&#160; Meanwhile, in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, doctors and nurses have repeatedly been attacked by police when organizing protests to demand better working conditions.</p>
<p>The response of the state to protests and movements of workers, the rural poor and other oppressed groups contrasts sharply with its strategy of appeasement and accommodation when dealing fascistic Muslim clerics and other reactionaries when such forces hold protests and launch movements.&#160; Throughout the month of November, Islamic extremists were allowed to wreak havoc in the capital city of Islamabad for 3 weeks, complicating daily life for thousands of ordinary people.&#160; As usual, no meaningful action was taken against the religious right, despite violent behavior by the protestors.&#160; The Punjab Rangers chief as even caught on video distributing cash to the demonstrators and allowing them to take selfies with him.&#160; Eventually, the federal government caved in to the clerics’ key demands, further empowering the clergy and emboldening extremist elements.</p>
<p>Indeed, while Pakistan’s ruling elites won’t hesitate to use brutal force against the poor and marginalized, they are unwilling to take any action against the Muslim clergy. The clergy benefit from the enduring legacy of the Partition, which incorporated communal divisions in the state structure of South Asia, elevating the status of the clerics in Pakistan and giving them tremendous sway over the country’s political life.</p>
<p>Ali Mohsin is an independent writer who was born in Pakistan, and raised in the New York area. He has a Master’s degree in Political Science and has a special interest in issues affecting workers in the US, Pakistan and globally.</p> | true | 4 | recent weeks much pakistani media remained fixated internecine squabbles countrys ruling elites authorities sindh brutally cracking sections workers farmers province whove temerity defend rights fight improved living standards working conditions december 25 primary secondary high school teachers karachi held defiant protest sindh government due refusal provide permanent jobs despite agreed 2014160 provincial government refusing honor agreement even forcing teachers pass rigorous examination conducted national testing service university sindh teachers province took part demonstration including teachers hyderabad marched entire 140km distance karachi order participate160 teachers attacked police tried march toward chief ministers house160 police used water cannons batons tear gas protesting teachers scores arrested160 tuesday sindh authorities claimed two dozen teachers detained since released160 however according officials sindh primary teachers association 150 teachers arrested many others injured heavyhanded tactics police 160despite violent response police teachers refused back demands met negotiations teachers representatives sindh government ending stalemate friday mondays police attack demonstrators karachi one several assaults teachers sindh recent weeks tactics deployed teachers brutal sheer ruthlessness sindh government recently cracked protesting farmers nothing less shocking december 11 scores increasingly impoverished sugar cane growers sindh staged protest karachi local sugar mill owners well provincial government160 sugar cane growers asking government fix price sugar cane rs185 per 40kgs sugar mill owners province paying farmers little rs130 per 40kgs even though government officially set price rs182 per 40kgs160 protest farmers denounced government corruption slammed provincial officials colluding sugar mill owners expense poor farmers160 sugar mill owners refusing pay correct price despite fact received billions rupees subsidies federal provincial governments peaceful protest many women children participated batoncharged police 30 minutes began160 failed desired effect tear gas water cannons used farmers many falling unconscious160 according farmers representatives many sugar cane growers injured around 80 arrested160 sindh authorities able crush protest karachi sugar cane growers grown incensed unlikely give struggle thursday sugar cane grower set fire farmers demonstration mirpurkhas called mill owners pay sugar cane price fixed government far problem unique sindh police brutality par course pakistan tiny clique capitalists landlords military elites lorded exploited working class rural poor since countrys establishment police punjab notoriously corrupt usually first resort violence160 one occasion police punjab even used violent tactics blind workers protesting job opportunities implementation disabledfriendly policies province160 meanwhile khyber pakhtunkhwa doctors nurses repeatedly attacked police organizing protests demand better working conditions response state protests movements workers rural poor oppressed groups contrasts sharply strategy appeasement accommodation dealing fascistic muslim clerics reactionaries forces hold protests launch movements160 throughout month november islamic extremists allowed wreak havoc capital city islamabad 3 weeks complicating daily life thousands ordinary people160 usual meaningful action taken religious right despite violent behavior protestors160 punjab rangers chief even caught video distributing cash demonstrators allowing take selfies him160 eventually federal government caved clerics key demands empowering clergy emboldening extremist elements indeed pakistans ruling elites wont hesitate use brutal force poor marginalized unwilling take action muslim clergy clergy benefit enduring legacy partition incorporated communal divisions state structure south asia elevating status clerics pakistan giving tremendous sway countrys political life ali mohsin independent writer born pakistan raised new york area masters degree political science special interest issues affecting workers us pakistan globally | 521 |
<p>As the first anniversary of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster arrives, the cover-up involving nuclear power is more extensive than ever.</p>
<p>The Big Lie was integral to the nuclear push from its start.</p>
<p>Promoters of nuclear power discounted the seriousness of nuclear plant accidents, although government documents acknowledged the vast scale of catastrophe. As the Atomic Energy Commission’s “WASH-740 update,” done at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the 1960s, repeatedly states about a major nuclear plant accident: “The possible size of the area of such a disaster might be equal to that of the State of Pennsylvania.”</p>
<p>They pushed the “peaceful atom”—although knowing that any nation with a nuclear plant would have the materiel from it (the plutonium produced as a byproduct) and trained personnel to make atomic weapons.</p>
<p>They downplayed the effects of radioactivity claiming it needed to reach a “threshold” to cause harm—even as it became clear that any amount of radioactivity can injure and kill.</p>
<p>And nuclear power would be “too cheap to meter,” they insisted.</p>
<p>And on and on…</p>
<p>The realities of nuclear power have become ever more evident—acutely so because of the disasters at Chernobyl and Fukushima.</p>
<p>But the Nuclear Big Lie continues bigger than ever.</p>
<p>In recent weeks, for example, there’s been the move to negate what has been the U.S. government’s benchmark analysis on the impacts of nuclear plant accidents. “Calculation Reactor Accident Consequences 2” (CRAC-2) was done for the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sandia National Laboratories in 1982. It catalogues the impacts from a meltdown with a breach of containment at every nuclear plant in the U.S.</p>
<p>It divides the consequences into “Peak Early Fatalities,” “Peak Early Injuries,” “Peak Cancer Deaths” and “Scaled Costs” for property damage—and the numbers are chilling.</p>
<p>For the Indian Point 3 nuclear plant north of New York City, for instance, it projects &#160;“Peak Early Fatalities” at 50,000, “Peak Early Injuries” at 167,000, “Peak Cancer Deaths” at 14,000 and “Scaled Costs” at $314 billion (in 1980 dollars).</p>
<p>The estimates turn out to be low considering the toll of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear plant accident.</p>
<p>But in January, the NRC put out a report that it intends to replace CRAC-2 with that it titles the “State-of-the-Art Reactor Consequences Analyses” or SOARCA. SOARCA flatly dismisses the high casualty and damage figures of CRAC-2 (and the WASH-740 update before it). Using as models the Surry nuclear station in Virginia and the Peach Bottom facility in Pennsylvania, each with two nuclear plants, the NRC declared that the “risks of public health consequences from severe accidents” at a nuclear plant “are very small.”</p>
<p>The “long-term risk” of a person dying from cancer from a nuclear plant accident is less than one-in-a billion, says SOARCA. This is because “successful implementation of existing mitigation measures can prevent reactor core damage or delay or reduce offsite releases of radioactive material.”</p>
<p>Tell that to the people impacted by Chernobyl and Fukushima.</p>
<p>Cindy Folkers of the organization Beyond Nuclear declares that the “NRC should immediately withdraw its absurd SOARCA report and get about the business of protecting the public health, safety, and the environment—its mandate—rather than doing the nuclear power industry’s bidding.”</p>
<p>Then there’s the attempt to cover up Fuksushima impacts.</p>
<p>“Health impacts from the radioactive materials released in the Fukushima Daiichi meltdowns will probably be too small to be easily measured,” began a New York Times piece by Matthew Wald last week. That was based on a Health Physics Society program at the National Press Club.</p>
<p>But the Health Physics Society is a booster of nuclear technology. It wasn’t supposed to be that. The health physics profession was founded in 1943 by Karl Z. Morgan, a physicist with an interest in the health effects of radioactivity. He was hired by the Manhattan Project, the World War II crash program to build atomic bombs, to deal with health issues caused by radioactivity at the project. Then, for more than two decades, he was director of health physics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was the first president of the Health Physics Society. And he saw and protested the profession selling out.</p>
<p>“It is with much reluctance and regret that I now must recognize that the U.S. profession of health physics has become essentially a labor union for the nuclear industry—not a profession of scientists dedicated to protect the worker and members of the public from radiation injury,” Dr. Morgan wrote in 1992.</p>
<p>The radioactivity that has fallen in Japan for many months from Fukushima will have enormous consequences to the people of Japan. The type of accident that occurred at Fukushima Daiichi was “something that never happened—a multiple reactor catastrophe…happening within 200 kilometers of 30 million people,” notes Dr. Alexey Yablokov, lead author of Chernobyl: Consequences of the Catastrophe for People and the Environment. Dr. Yablokov, a biologist, and two other scientists, in the 2009 book, published by the New York Academy of Sciences, find that 985,000 people died between 1986, the year of the Chernobyl accident, and 2004 from the radioactivity it released. He projects the Fukushima toll will be greater.</p>
<p>“The Fukushima disaster will be worse than Chernobyl,” agrees Dr. Janette Sherman, toxicologist and editor of the Chernobyl book. She also points to the Fukushima disaster involving several nuclear plants along with spent fuel pools affecting a part of Japan “far more populated” than the region around Chernobyl.</p>
<p>Fukushima fall-out has already caused death in the U.S., Dr. Sherman and epidemiologist Joseph Mangano of the Radiation and Public Health Project have determined.</p>
<p>Dr. Sherman and Mangano cross-checked data on infant mortality from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with records of Fukushima fallout from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and found that infant mortality spiked by an average of 35 percent in eight cities west of the Rocky Mountains, including San Francisco and Seattle, and by 48 percent in Philadelphia during the ten weeks after the accident began on March 11, 2011.</p>
<p>Infant mortality—defined as death of children from birth to one year old—is considered an early measure of radiation effects because there is rapid growth and cell division at this stage, increasing the impacts of radioactivity. Cancer is a subsequent consequence.</p>
<p>“A global increase in cancer can be expected from the Fukushima discharges,” says Dr. Sherman, who has been an advisor to the National Cancer Institute and has studied the impacts of radiation since working for the Atomic Energy Commission in the 1950s.</p>
<p>Besides blowing in the wind, the radioactive poisons from Fukushima have been spread in food, which is why several countries have restricted food imports from Japan.</p>
<p>Moreover, the sea along the Fukushima site provides a vast pathway for spreading radioactivity. When radioactive poison gets into the marine environment a “concentration factor” kicks in as the radiation moves up the food chain. Small fish eat radiation-contaminated seaweed, and medium-size fish eat the small fish. Then big fish eat the medium-size fish and radioactivity becomes increasingly concentrated. Some of the fish are migratory, so it’s not just sushi in Tokyo that’s imperiled.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the Nuclear Energy Institute, the nuclear industry trade group, continues to insist:&#160; “No health effects are expected among the Japanese people as a result of the events at Fukushima.” &#160;The American Nuclear Society proclaims on its website that “no public ill effects are expected from the Fukushima incident.”</p>
<p>Mangano says that “the absurd belief that no one will be harmed by Fukushima is perhaps the strongest evidence of the pattern of deception and denial by nuclear officials in industry and government.”</p>
<p>Further, last May 3,after doing at least weekly monitoring of radioactivity providing the data that Dr. Sherman and Mangano linked to infant mortality, the EPA announced it would only gather readings every three months. Jeff Ruch, executive director of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, described it as “inexplicable that EPA would shut down its radiation monitoring effort” while Fukushima discharges continued to fall on the U.S.</p>
<p>Inexplicable, but in line, says Dr. Jeffrey Patterson, immediate past president of Physicians for Social Responsibility, with the “cover-up, a minimization of the effects of radioactivity, since the development of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology.”</p>
<p>Here and there, there’s been a break through the Fukushima cover-up—such the PBS television Frontline program, Inside Japan’s Nuclear Meltdown, that aired last week with an interview with former Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in which he acknowledged that Japanese officials considered at one point an&#160; evacuation of the greater Tokyo area with its 30 million people. The New York Times, in a Page One story last week, also reported this based not on its own investigative work but on a six-month inquiry by the Rebuild Japan Initiative Foundation that resulted in a 400-page report.</p>
<p>Yes, as WASH-740-update said decades ago, the scale of a major nuclear plant accident “might be equal to that of the State of Pennsylvania.”</p>
<p>Another part of the cover-up since Fukushima has been the claim that there is no alternative to nuclear power. As Miranda Spencer wrote in last May’s issue of Extra! magazine, with the Fukushima disaster “U.S. government and nuclear industry spin control kicked in, asserting that a similar disaster couldn’t happen here, and that atomic power is here to stay…An option hardly mentioned: renewable energy, such as wind, solar and geothermal power.”</p>
<p>This is especially important for the nuclear establishment because, as Spencer pointed out, “wind is already cheaper per kilowatt-hour than nuclear” and “the National Research Council estimates that by 2020, the cost of geothermal will be comparable to or lower than that of nuclear (10 cents/kwh versus 6-13 cents/kwh). Solar power, which the Council said “could potentially produce many times the current and projected future U.S. electricity consumption,” &#160;is projected to cost anywhere from 8-30 cents/kwh. Also, “A Duke University study found that the cost of solar power has not only recently declined by half, but also is poised to become cheaper than nuclear, even in places that aren’t always sunny.” The claims, she accurately wrote, that safe, clean, renewable power is not here to substitute for atomic energy “simply don’t stand up to scrutiny.”</p>
<p>But “the story that emerged accordingly presented nuclear energy as a path with no real alternatives.” This is despite Germany, Italy, Switzerland and other nations deciding, because of Fukushima, to pursue safe, clean, renewable power instead of nuclear power. It can be done.</p>
<p>“Renewable Energy Can Power the World, Says Landmark IPCC Study,” headlined the British newspaper, The Guardian, also in May.&#160; It went on: “UN’s climate change science body says renewable supply, particularly solar power, can meet global demand.” The article, about a 1,000-page report of the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, added, however, that this is “only if governments pursue the policies needed to promote green power.”</p>
<p>An especially grisly angle was taken in last week’s Economist magazine. In an article titled “Radiation and evolution, Surviving fallout,” it reported on a study on birds around Chernobyl and Fukushima. “When researchers looked at the 14 bird species that lived in both regions, they found that the same level of radiation was associated with twice as large a drop in bird numbers in Fukushima as in Chernobyl.”</p>
<p>The Economist&#160;said that Dr. Timothy Mousseau, professor of biological sciences at the University of South Carolina, co-author of the study published in Environmental Pollution, believes a “likely explanation is that evolution has already been at work near Chernobyl, killing off individual birds that cannot cope with the background radiation and allowing the genes of those that have some tolerance to be passed on. The birds at Fukushima are only beginning to face the evolutionary challenge of living in a radioactive world.”</p>
<p>Does this point to the consequence of living in “a radioactive world” the elimination of huge numbers of people—with the more radiation-tolerant humans the survivors? Is this what we want?&#160; And is there no choice but to live in “a radioactive world.”</p>
<p>Nobel Award-winning biologist Dr. George Wald once said of nuclear power: “If you were to read in the newspapers tomorrow that astronomers had a shocking piece of information for us, they had just found another star is going to collide with the sun and that would be curtains, we’d have eight months more to go and, finished—why—heavens above! You would put on your best clothes and go dancing in the streets—that’s cosmic, that’s fate. You could go out with dignity.” But to die as a result of nuclear power, he said, “is so trivial, it’s so ghastly ignoble as to be, I think, intolerable, altogether unacceptable.” And he called for “the closing down of all nuclear power plants tomorrow.”</p>
<p>That’s more relevant—and urgent—than ever.</p>
<p>Karl Grossman, professor of journalism at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury, is a long-time investigative reporter and author of the book Power Crazy: Is LILCO Turning Shoreham Into America’s Chernobyl? (Grove Press, 1986).&#160;He is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press.&#160;</p> | true | 4 | first anniversary fukushima daiichi nuclear disaster arrives coverup involving nuclear power extensive ever big lie integral nuclear push start promoters nuclear power discounted seriousness nuclear plant accidents although government documents acknowledged vast scale catastrophe atomic energy commissions wash740 update done brookhaven national laboratory 1960s repeatedly states major nuclear plant accident possible size area disaster might equal state pennsylvania pushed peaceful atomalthough knowing nation nuclear plant would materiel plutonium produced byproduct trained personnel make atomic weapons downplayed effects radioactivity claiming needed reach threshold cause harmeven became clear amount radioactivity injure kill nuclear power would cheap meter insisted realities nuclear power become ever evidentacutely disasters chernobyl fukushima nuclear big lie continues bigger ever recent weeks example theres move negate us governments benchmark analysis impacts nuclear plant accidents calculation reactor accident consequences 2 crac2 done us nuclear regulatory commission us department energys sandia national laboratories 1982 catalogues impacts meltdown breach containment every nuclear plant us divides consequences peak early fatalities peak early injuries peak cancer deaths scaled costs property damageand numbers chilling indian point 3 nuclear plant north new york city instance projects 160peak early fatalities 50000 peak early injuries 167000 peak cancer deaths 14000 scaled costs 314 billion 1980 dollars estimates turn low considering toll 1986 chernobyl nuclear plant accident january nrc put report intends replace crac2 titles stateoftheart reactor consequences analyses soarca soarca flatly dismisses high casualty damage figures crac2 wash740 update using models surry nuclear station virginia peach bottom facility pennsylvania two nuclear plants nrc declared risks public health consequences severe accidents nuclear plant small longterm risk person dying cancer nuclear plant accident less oneina billion says soarca successful implementation existing mitigation measures prevent reactor core damage delay reduce offsite releases radioactive material tell people impacted chernobyl fukushima cindy folkers organization beyond nuclear declares nrc immediately withdraw absurd soarca report get business protecting public health safety environmentits mandaterather nuclear power industrys bidding theres attempt cover fuksushima impacts health impacts radioactive materials released fukushima daiichi meltdowns probably small easily measured began new york times piece matthew wald last week based health physics society program national press club health physics society booster nuclear technology wasnt supposed health physics profession founded 1943 karl z morgan physicist interest health effects radioactivity hired manhattan project world war ii crash program build atomic bombs deal health issues caused radioactivity project two decades director health physics oak ridge national laboratory first president health physics society saw protested profession selling much reluctance regret must recognize us profession health physics become essentially labor union nuclear industrynot profession scientists dedicated protect worker members public radiation injury dr morgan wrote 1992 radioactivity fallen japan many months fukushima enormous consequences people japan type accident occurred fukushima daiichi something never happeneda multiple reactor catastrophehappening within 200 kilometers 30 million people notes dr alexey yablokov lead author chernobyl consequences catastrophe people environment dr yablokov biologist two scientists 2009 book published new york academy sciences find 985000 people died 1986 year chernobyl accident 2004 radioactivity released projects fukushima toll greater fukushima disaster worse chernobyl agrees dr janette sherman toxicologist editor chernobyl book also points fukushima disaster involving several nuclear plants along spent fuel pools affecting part japan far populated region around chernobyl fukushima fallout already caused death us dr sherman epidemiologist joseph mangano radiation public health project determined dr sherman mangano crosschecked data infant mortality centers disease control prevention records fukushima fallout us environmental protection agency found infant mortality spiked average 35 percent eight cities west rocky mountains including san francisco seattle 48 percent philadelphia ten weeks accident began march 11 2011 infant mortalitydefined death children birth one year oldis considered early measure radiation effects rapid growth cell division stage increasing impacts radioactivity cancer subsequent consequence global increase cancer expected fukushima discharges says dr sherman advisor national cancer institute studied impacts radiation since working atomic energy commission 1950s besides blowing wind radioactive poisons fukushima spread food several countries restricted food imports japan moreover sea along fukushima site provides vast pathway spreading radioactivity radioactive poison gets marine environment concentration factor kicks radiation moves food chain small fish eat radiationcontaminated seaweed mediumsize fish eat small fish big fish eat mediumsize fish radioactivity becomes increasingly concentrated fish migratory sushi tokyo thats imperiled meanwhile nuclear energy institute nuclear industry trade group continues insist160 health effects expected among japanese people result events fukushima 160the american nuclear society proclaims website public ill effects expected fukushima incident mangano says absurd belief one harmed fukushima perhaps strongest evidence pattern deception denial nuclear officials industry government last may 3after least weekly monitoring radioactivity providing data dr sherman mangano linked infant mortality epa announced would gather readings every three months jeff ruch executive director public employees environmental responsibility described inexplicable epa would shut radiation monitoring effort fukushima discharges continued fall us inexplicable line says dr jeffrey patterson immediate past president physicians social responsibility coverup minimization effects radioactivity since development nuclear weapons nuclear technology theres break fukushima coverupsuch pbs television frontline program inside japans nuclear meltdown aired last week interview former japanese prime minister naoto kan acknowledged japanese officials considered one point an160 evacuation greater tokyo area 30 million people new york times page one story last week also reported based investigative work sixmonth inquiry rebuild japan initiative foundation resulted 400page report yes wash740update said decades ago scale major nuclear plant accident might equal state pennsylvania another part coverup since fukushima claim alternative nuclear power miranda spencer wrote last mays issue extra magazine fukushima disaster us government nuclear industry spin control kicked asserting similar disaster couldnt happen atomic power stayan option hardly mentioned renewable energy wind solar geothermal power especially important nuclear establishment spencer pointed wind already cheaper per kilowatthour nuclear national research council estimates 2020 cost geothermal comparable lower nuclear 10 centskwh versus 613 centskwh solar power council said could potentially produce many times current projected future us electricity consumption 160is projected cost anywhere 830 centskwh also duke university study found cost solar power recently declined half also poised become cheaper nuclear even places arent always sunny claims accurately wrote safe clean renewable power substitute atomic energy simply dont stand scrutiny story emerged accordingly presented nuclear energy path real alternatives despite germany italy switzerland nations deciding fukushima pursue safe clean renewable power instead nuclear power done renewable energy power world says landmark ipcc study headlined british newspaper guardian also may160 went uns climate change science body says renewable supply particularly solar power meet global demand article 1000page report united nations intergovernmental panel climate change added however governments pursue policies needed promote green power especially grisly angle taken last weeks economist magazine article titled radiation evolution surviving fallout reported study birds around chernobyl fukushima researchers looked 14 bird species lived regions found level radiation associated twice large drop bird numbers fukushima chernobyl economist160said dr timothy mousseau professor biological sciences university south carolina coauthor study published environmental pollution believes likely explanation evolution already work near chernobyl killing individual birds cope background radiation allowing genes tolerance passed birds fukushima beginning face evolutionary challenge living radioactive world point consequence living radioactive world elimination huge numbers peoplewith radiationtolerant humans survivors want160 choice live radioactive world nobel awardwinning biologist dr george wald said nuclear power read newspapers tomorrow astronomers shocking piece information us found another star going collide sun would curtains wed eight months go finishedwhyheavens would put best clothes go dancing streetsthats cosmic thats fate could go dignity die result nuclear power said trivial ghastly ignoble think intolerable altogether unacceptable called closing nuclear power plants tomorrow thats relevantand urgentthan ever karl grossman professor journalism state university new yorkcollege old westbury longtime investigative reporter author book power crazy lilco turning shoreham americas chernobyl grove press 1986160he contributor to160 hopeless barack obama politics illusion forthcoming ak press160 | 1,275 |
<p />
<p>June 16, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.dallasnews.com/politics/394388_fraud_15tex.AR.html" type="external">Aide says she leaked “Debategate” tape — Dallas Morning News</a> Bush campaign worker Juanita Lozano has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and perjury in connection with the leaking of debate-rehearsal videotape to the Gore campaign last fall. Some observers say the Bush camp sent the tape in an effort to frame the Gore campaign for stealing secrets. Lozano’s plea may figure in a deal to limit her sentence in the case.</p>
<p><a href="http://nypost.com/news/nationalnews/32599.htm" type="external">Jeffords’ wife miffed? — New York Post</a> Jim Jeffords’s wife unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to stay in the Republican party, and now she’s leaving the Senator’s side to return to Vermont alone. Mr. Jeffords said his wife’s departure had nothing to do with his decision to become an independent, and that she had long-standing plans to return to their Vermont home.</p>
<p><a href="http://hotlinescoop.com/web/content/polls/friday.htm" type="external">Americans don’t like missile defense — Hotline Scoop</a> President Bush is touring Europe trying to convince allies to support his missile defense proposal, but he might want to work a little harder selling it to the folks at home. According to a new poll, 43 percent of respondents believe that a system of arms-control treaties will do more to protect the US from attack than Bush’s pet project; only 34 percent thought a national missile defense would be more effective protection.</p>
<p>June 15, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.capitolhillblue.com/Article.asp?ID=1810" type="external">Father knows best — Capitol Hill Blue</a> George H.W. Bush Sr. kept a low profile in the first few months of Dubya’s administration, but with foreign policy issues tripping Jr. up, Bush Sr. is getting more involved in advising his son. The presidential pop even sent a memo to George W. urging him to ease his stance on North Korea — just weeks before Dubya announced he was suddenly willing to reopen talks with Pyongyang.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/2001-06-14/News_and_Views/Beyond_the_City/a-114857.asp" type="external">Rove profited from Intel merger deal — Associated Press</a> White House political strategist Karl Rove owned more than $100,000 in Intel stock when he and Vice President Dick Cheney met in March with Intel executives and lobbyists who were pushing for federal approval of a merger between one of Intel’s suppliers and a Dutch company. The Bush Administration approved the merger two months later.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.rollcall.com/pages/news/00/2001/06/news0614c.html" type="external">Liddy Dole for Senate? — Roll Call</a> The National Republican Senatorial Committee has reportedly approached erstwhile presidential aspirant Elizabeth Dole to consider running for Jesse Helms’ seat in 2002 if Helms chooses to step down. Dole was said to be “interested, but non-committal.”</p>
<p>June 14, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/asection/20010613/t000049185.html" type="external">Bush stands corrected on execution policy — Los Angeles Times</a> George W. Bush told European reporters earlier this week that “we should never execute someone who is retarded, and our court system protects the people who don’t understand the nature of the crime they committed nor the punishment they are about to receive.” But Bush appears to be confused about the law: Several states, including Texas, do allow executing the mentally retarded. White House aides have tried to clarify Bush’s statement by saying the president does, in fact, understand the law and has consistently taken the view that a jury must decide whether defendants understood the nature of their crimes.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.projo.com/cgi-bin/story.pl/opinion/05643351.htm" type="external">Another GOP defection looming? — Providence Journal</a> Jim Jeffords beat him to it, but Rhode Island Republican Lincoln Chafee has been considering bolting the GOP for months. Chafee tells the Providence Journal that he hasn’t ruled out renouncing his party affiliation. He says he is “genuinely dismayed” at the direction of the White House and the Senate Republican leadership, and that he is “holding his breath” in hopes of moderating the rightist tone of his fellow Republicans.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.washtimes.com/national/20010613-81854699.htm" type="external">A House seat for Ollie North? — Washington Times</a> Virginia Republicans are strategizing to carve out a Congressional district that would launch Oliver North into the House of Representatives. North, the retired lieutenant colonel who was at the center of the 1980s Iran-Contra scandal, would take on incumbent Democrat Rick Boucher in an area that voted for North in his failed 1994 Senate race. The plan was reportedly hatched by Virginia Governor James S. Gilmore III, who also happens to head the Republican National Committee.</p>
<p>June 13, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,505461,00.html" type="external">Advice for the accidental tourist — The Guardian (UK)</a> Bush arrived in Europe on his first official visit Tuesday, and seeing as how he hasn’t done a lot of overseas travel, let alone diplomacy, The Guardian (UK) has some helpful advice for the First Tourist, including:</p>
<p>“Tuesday, 1 pm: State lunch with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia. Don’t ask what it is. Just eat it.” “Friday noon: Arrive Warsaw for meetings with President Kwasniewski and Prime Minister Buzek of Poland. Subjects to avoid: Polish jokes. 3pm: Rest. 4pm: Rest. 5:30pm: PlayStation time. 6pm: Rest. ”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.wnyc.org/new/talk/onthemedia/transcripts_060901_bigidea.html" type="external">How Fleischer keeps the press in line– National Public Radio</a> A Houston Chronicle reporter tells NPR’s On the Media about the phone call she got from White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, two hours after she asked a question about the First Twins’ alcohol citation in a White House briefing. “He immediately told me that he thought I was out of bounds in asking the question; that none of the other national press had gone there about the questioning of — you know — that the lives of the daughters and — he said it had been quote ‘noted in the building that I had asked the question.'” It seemed like “a bullying tactic,” the reporter adds: “I mean, he has a perfect right not to like the question and call me and talk to me about it. But to sort of say that we’re, we’re you know – keeping lists or things like that…”</p>
<p>June 12, 2001</p>
<p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4201549,00.html" type="external">Foreign Policy for Dummies — The Guardian (UK)</a> President Bush spent the weekend in a series of crash courses on US foreign policy, the Guardian reports. His handlers, led by the “ferociously intelligent” Condoleezza Rice, are trying to counter Bush’s reputation for cluelessness among European leaders as the President takes his global missile defense road show to the continent.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/durable/2001/06/11/p6s1.htm" type="external">Germany will be a tough sell — The Christian Science Monitor</a> While Dick Cheney pushes for more nuclear power in the US, Germany is embarking on a plan to shut down all of its reactors within 25 years. Bush, who is trying to explain his unorthodox views on climate change to the Europeans, will have an especially hard time winning Berlin’s endorsement, notes the Monitor. “In this country, which views itself as a leader in the global debate on both climate change and nuclear energy, nuclear power is considered an outdated 20th-century technology. While Bush argues that greenhouse-gas reduction measures and economic growth are contradictory — and nuclear power is necessary to meet increased US energy demands — Germany is trying to prove the opposite.”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | june 16 2001 aide says leaked debategate tape dallas morning news bush campaign worker juanita lozano pleaded guilty mail fraud perjury connection leaking debaterehearsal videotape gore campaign last fall observers say bush camp sent tape effort frame gore campaign stealing secrets lozanos plea may figure deal limit sentence case jeffords wife miffed new york post jim jeffordss wife unsuccessfully tried persuade stay republican party shes leaving senators side return vermont alone mr jeffords said wifes departure nothing decision become independent longstanding plans return vermont home americans dont like missile defense hotline scoop president bush touring europe trying convince allies support missile defense proposal might want work little harder selling folks home according new poll 43 percent respondents believe system armscontrol treaties protect us attack bushs pet project 34 percent thought national missile defense would effective protection june 15 2001 father knows best capitol hill blue george hw bush sr kept low profile first months dubyas administration foreign policy issues tripping jr bush sr getting involved advising son presidential pop even sent memo george w urging ease stance north korea weeks dubya announced suddenly willing reopen talks pyongyang rove profited intel merger deal associated press white house political strategist karl rove owned 100000 intel stock vice president dick cheney met march intel executives lobbyists pushing federal approval merger one intels suppliers dutch company bush administration approved merger two months later liddy dole senate roll call national republican senatorial committee reportedly approached erstwhile presidential aspirant elizabeth dole consider running jesse helms seat 2002 helms chooses step dole said interested noncommittal june 14 2001 bush stands corrected execution policy los angeles times george w bush told european reporters earlier week never execute someone retarded court system protects people dont understand nature crime committed punishment receive bush appears confused law several states including texas allow executing mentally retarded white house aides tried clarify bushs statement saying president fact understand law consistently taken view jury must decide whether defendants understood nature crimes another gop defection looming providence journal jim jeffords beat rhode island republican lincoln chafee considering bolting gop months chafee tells providence journal hasnt ruled renouncing party affiliation says genuinely dismayed direction white house senate republican leadership holding breath hopes moderating rightist tone fellow republicans house seat ollie north washington times virginia republicans strategizing carve congressional district would launch oliver north house representatives north retired lieutenant colonel center 1980s irancontra scandal would take incumbent democrat rick boucher area voted north failed 1994 senate race plan reportedly hatched virginia governor james gilmore iii also happens head republican national committee june 13 2001 advice accidental tourist guardian uk bush arrived europe first official visit tuesday seeing hasnt done lot overseas travel let alone diplomacy guardian uk helpful advice first tourist including tuesday 1 pm state lunch king juan carlos queen sophia dont ask eat friday noon arrive warsaw meetings president kwasniewski prime minister buzek poland subjects avoid polish jokes 3pm rest 4pm rest 530pm playstation time 6pm rest fleischer keeps press line national public radio houston chronicle reporter tells nprs media phone call got white house press secretary ari fleischer two hours asked question first twins alcohol citation white house briefing immediately told thought bounds asking question none national press gone questioning know lives daughters said quote noted building asked question seemed like bullying tactic reporter adds mean perfect right like question call talk sort say know keeping lists things like june 12 2001 foreign policy dummies guardian uk president bush spent weekend series crash courses us foreign policy guardian reports handlers led ferociously intelligent condoleezza rice trying counter bushs reputation cluelessness among european leaders president takes global missile defense road show continent germany tough sell christian science monitor dick cheney pushes nuclear power us germany embarking plan shut reactors within 25 years bush trying explain unorthodox views climate change europeans especially hard time winning berlins endorsement notes monitor country views leader global debate climate change nuclear energy nuclear power considered outdated 20thcentury technology bush argues greenhousegas reduction measures economic growth contradictory nuclear power necessary meet increased us energy demands germany trying prove opposite | 678 |
<p>President Obama’s nomination of two labor union activists—attorneys Craig Becker and Mark Pearce—to the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) was greeted by two wildly divergent but predictable reactions.&#160; On the one side, organized labor was, as expected, more or less ecstatic.&#160; John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, said of the appointments, “Finally, a decisive move in the right direction.”</p>
<p>On the other side was the shrill, hysterical voice of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce—labor’s arch-enemy and most effective opponent.&#160; The Chamber’s spokesman, Steven Law, referred to the choices as “alarming,” and&#160; called upon the U.S. Senate to thoroughly vet these two potentially dangerous men before even considering confirmation.</p>
<p>You can bet the Chamber is already busily at work spending money and bending people’s ears to that purpose.&#160; It is estimated that the Chamber of Commerce spent, literally, tens of millions of dollars in its lobbying effort to defeat the EFCA (Employee Free Choice Act), which, had it been enacted, would have expanded card check privileges to employees seeking union representation.&#160; Fortunately, killing a controversial labor law is one thing, but torpedoing a Board appointment is another.</p>
<p>Craig Becker was associate general counsel to the SEIU (Service Employees International Union), and Mark Pearce was a founding partner of a law firm specializing in pro-union law.&#160; Although the SEIU is one of the most powerful and aggressive labor unions in the country,&#160; union politics being what they are, SEIU president Andrew Stern has been portrayed as either a wild-eyed labor radical or an insecure and egomaniacal corporate lackey, depending on who you talk to.&#160; Still, no one can deny the SEIU is one of the few American unions continuing to grow.</p>
<p>Becker and Pearce will be joining NLRB chairman Wilma Liebman (a Clinton appointee and former legal counsel to the Teamsters), an experienced Board member and acknowledged pro-worker advocate.&#160; If Becker and Pearce are confirmed—which, despite the Chamber’s efforts, is fairly likely, given that Democrats control the senate—this trio could mark a turning point in American labor relations.</p>
<p>If not a turning point, then certainly a dramatic improvement.&#160; George W. Bush’s NLRB chairman was Robert Batista, a hope-to-die, anti-union zealot credited with attempting to drive a dagger into organized labor’s heart by ruling that “charge nurses” (nurses who act as “leads” in hospitals and nursing homes) are in fact “supervisory personnel” and, therefore, not eligible to join a union.&#160;&#160; [see the Kentucky River decision]</p>
<p>Despite not having the authority of an actual boss (i.e., the power to hire, fire or discipline, to alter seniority, to adjust wages or hours of work), Batista’s NLRB nonetheless assigned these nurses management status.&#160; As a result, millions of workers (not just in the health care field, but in “lead” jobs across the board) were euchred out of the opportunity to join a union.&#160; It was a naked attempt to limit the organizing capabilities of labor, and it worked.</p>
<p>The NLRB was established 74 years ago as part of the NLRA (National Labor Relations Act), commonly known as the Wagner Act, and was designed, as part of the New Deal, to oversee labor relations between America’s businesses and its workers.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, over the years the NLRB has been systematically squeezed and intimidated by corporate interests to the point where the Board rarely renders any decision that could stand alone as unequivocally “pro-labor.”&#160; In short, the NLRB has forgotten what its mission was.&#160; Hopefully, Obama’s new team will restore its memory.</p>
<p>The country doesn’t need new labor laws in order to achieve a proper balance.&#160; Indeed, it doesn’t need a slew of new labor laws any more than the financial industry needs a truckload of new banking regulations.&#160; What it needs is a re-dedication on the part of its regulators—a re-commitment to the job they were assigned to do.</p>
<p>Taking the banks as an analogy, just consider how easily the recent financial melt-down could have been averted if the people responsible for overseeing the process had simply done their job; if the regulators and watchdogs—the civil servant employees of the SEC, FICA, et al, from top to bottom—had been diligent and sharp-eyed in monitoring the system rather than complicit in the gaming of it.</p>
<p>The same applies to the NLRB.&#160; If the Liebman-Becker-Pearce crew comes into this thing full of piss and vinegar, with the attitude that there’s a new sheriff in town and that this sheriff is going to reverse recent history by adopting a “Workers First” mentality, thereby putting the fear of God into the heart of Corporate America, it could transform the labor landscape of the country.</p>
<p>The NLRB can do this by closing loopholes, taking the workers’ side in disputes (until proven otherwise), giving field agents greater access to job sites, and demonstrating to management that they’re not afraid to prosecute for violations of the hundreds of labor statutes already on the books.</p>
<p>We don’t need new laws to get the job done.&#160; What we need is to instill a new attitude in our designated watchdogs.&#160; Turn those dogs loose with orders to bite.</p>
<p>DAVID MACARAY, a Los Angeles playwright (“Larva Boy,” “Americana”) and writer, was a former labor union rep.&#160; He can be reached at <a href="mailto:dmacaray@earthlink.net" type="external">dmacaray@earthlink.net</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | president obamas nomination two labor union activistsattorneys craig becker mark pearceto nlrb national labor relations board greeted two wildly divergent predictable reactions160 one side organized labor expected less ecstatic160 john sweeney president aflcio said appointments finally decisive move right direction side shrill hysterical voice us chamber commercelabors archenemy effective opponent160 chambers spokesman steven law referred choices alarming and160 called upon us senate thoroughly vet two potentially dangerous men even considering confirmation bet chamber already busily work spending money bending peoples ears purpose160 estimated chamber commerce spent literally tens millions dollars lobbying effort defeat efca employee free choice act enacted would expanded card check privileges employees seeking union representation160 fortunately killing controversial labor law one thing torpedoing board appointment another craig becker associate general counsel seiu service employees international union mark pearce founding partner law firm specializing prounion law160 although seiu one powerful aggressive labor unions country160 union politics seiu president andrew stern portrayed either wildeyed labor radical insecure egomaniacal corporate lackey depending talk to160 still one deny seiu one american unions continuing grow becker pearce joining nlrb chairman wilma liebman clinton appointee former legal counsel teamsters experienced board member acknowledged proworker advocate160 becker pearce confirmedwhich despite chambers efforts fairly likely given democrats control senatethis trio could mark turning point american labor relations turning point certainly dramatic improvement160 george w bushs nlrb chairman robert batista hopetodie antiunion zealot credited attempting drive dagger organized labors heart ruling charge nurses nurses act leads hospitals nursing homes fact supervisory personnel therefore eligible join union160160 see kentucky river decision despite authority actual boss ie power hire fire discipline alter seniority adjust wages hours work batistas nlrb nonetheless assigned nurses management status160 result millions workers health care field lead jobs across board euchred opportunity join union160 naked attempt limit organizing capabilities labor worked nlrb established 74 years ago part nlra national labor relations act commonly known wagner act designed part new deal oversee labor relations americas businesses workers unfortunately years nlrb systematically squeezed intimidated corporate interests point board rarely renders decision could stand alone unequivocally prolabor160 short nlrb forgotten mission was160 hopefully obamas new team restore memory country doesnt need new labor laws order achieve proper balance160 indeed doesnt need slew new labor laws financial industry needs truckload new banking regulations160 needs rededication part regulatorsa recommitment job assigned taking banks analogy consider easily recent financial meltdown could averted people responsible overseeing process simply done job regulators watchdogsthe civil servant employees sec fica et al top bottomhad diligent sharpeyed monitoring system rather complicit gaming applies nlrb160 liebmanbeckerpearce crew comes thing full piss vinegar attitude theres new sheriff town sheriff going reverse recent history adopting workers first mentality thereby putting fear god heart corporate america could transform labor landscape country nlrb closing loopholes taking workers side disputes proven otherwise giving field agents greater access job sites demonstrating management theyre afraid prosecute violations hundreds labor statutes already books dont need new laws get job done160 need instill new attitude designated watchdogs160 turn dogs loose orders bite david macaray los angeles playwright larva boy americana writer former labor union rep160 reached dmacarayearthlinknet 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 522 |
<p>Mexico’s official vote count unfolded more like a suspense novel than an electoral process yesterday. Commentators and common citizens sat poised at television or computer screens as Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s two-and-a-half point lead gradually dwindled until-at four in the morning-the conservative candidate, Felipe Calderón, pulled ahead. The final tally showed an unbelievably thin margin of just over half a percentage point.</p>
<p>The operative word here is “unbelievable.” López Obrador´s Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) and large parts of the population have publicly questioned the results. In a morning press conference, López Obrador announced he will challenge the vote count in the Electoral Tribunal. “We cannot accept these results,” he stated, citing “numerous irregularities-to put it mildly.”</p>
<p>The center-left candidate placed blame directly: “Both the government and the rightwing candidate lacked democratic will and there are many doubts about the role of the Electoral Institute.”</p>
<p>López Obrador criticized the Federal Electoral Institute (IFE) for refusing to open electoral packets and count the ballots individually. Although some electoral packages were opened for a vote-by-vote count, most of the tally was done based on the official tally sheets drawn up at the polling places. His party is demanding a ballot-by-ballot count.</p>
<p>This is the scenario that everyone hoped to avoid. A close race opens up doubts about the legitimacy of the winner and leads to protests that the public will has been violated. Under optimal circumstances, where the rule of law reigns and public confidence is high, a single vote lead should be sufficient to declare a winner in a one-round, majority vote like Mexico’s. But neither of those conditions characterizes Mexico today.</p>
<p>The problem is not just the extremely narrow base of the Calderón victory. It’s that many Mexicans feel they have seen this scenario played out before.</p>
<p>In 1988, the center-left opposition that eventually gave birth to the PRD apparently won the presidential elections. Its candidate, Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas, showed a lead when the computer system “crashed”-according to official explanations. When it came back up, it was to pronounce Carlos Salinas of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) the winner. Following protests, repression and demands for a real count, the PAN and PRI voted together to destroy the ballots in 1991. The historic memory of that election, along with numerous cases of electoral fraud before and after, has created an understandable scepticism. Scepticism is greatest among the left, which has suffered the brunt of electoral trickery and post-electoral repression.</p>
<p>Low Public Confidence in Election Results</p>
<p>Even as the votes were still being counted, the PRD and reporters began presenting evidence of instances of alleged errors and manipulation in Sunday’s election. López Obrador mentioned two examples to the press: manipulation of preliminary results that showed a consistent but narrowing Calderón lead, and the omission of thousands of polling place results until after the opposition protested. He did not go into detail but promised a full explanation on Saturday at an “informative assembly” called to be held in Mexico City’s central plaza.</p>
<p>Although Sunday’s voting was peaceful and turnout high, reporters in the streets and letters to the press testify to the thousands of voters who waited in line for hours, only to be told that their polling place had run out of ballots. Thousands more were informed that their names had disappeared from the rolls. These people now complain that they were frustrated in the exercise of their civic duty by a system they suspect of bias. They are joined by millions more who are convinced that the whole process-from the campaigns to the count-was riddled with inequities.</p>
<p>Many factors feed into this lack of public confidence. The first is the blatant partisan involvement of the president and federal government. President Fox consistently violated a Mexican law that calls for the neutrality of government officials in carrying out their public duties, despite weak admonitions from the elections authorities.</p>
<p>The campaigns were not what Mexico’s citizenry deserved. Calderón’s campaign slogan “López Obrador is a danger to México” was low-level politicking and worked not to inform voters but to create a climate of fear until it was finally declared illegal by elections authorities. The veiled threats of the Business Council and dire warnings of economic collapse from Calderón were neither grounded in fact nor ethical as a campaign tactic. When fear-of loss of jobs, houses, or national stability-trumps reasoned choice, it’s the nation as a whole that has lost the elections.</p>
<p>The PAN also made full use of the tactics of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Part of the political culture entails delivering votes to the highest bidder-the party that brings in building materials, a new basketball court, or cash payments. It is a civic vice that the Mexican political system as a whole has not yet overcome. After years of one-party rule, many citizens still view their vote as a commodity to be bartered and not a principled statement to chart a course for the nation. On the local level where vote-buying is most prominent, none of the major parties has done much to change this view. The flip side of vote-buying is vote coercion, or threatening to cut off goods or services for voting the wrong way.</p>
<p>Vote buying and vote coercion are tools primarily used by the government. Fox’s “government of change,” rather than eliminating this vestige of authoritarian rule, has refined it to a science. The first sign that this would be a major part of the PAN campaign came when Josefina Vázquez Mota, Secretary of Social Development was made campaign manager for Felipe Calderón. As secretary, she had access to detailed information on recipients of government assistance programs. An independent report commissioned by the government found that over four million people were susceptible to vote-buying or coercion due to the way government programs were used. During the campaigns, reporters gathered numerous testimonies of these practices in action. The Authorities’ Slipping Moral Authority</p>
<p>The Federal Electoral Institute has had credibility problems among PRD supporters from the outset. Formed in 1990 in response to the instability and inconformity that were the legacy of the ’88 elections, the institute has slowly but surely built up a more transparent and rules-based electoral system. However, the current president and general council were selected in 2003 in a show of force by the PAN and PRI, over the protests of the PRD. In recent weeks the media has been digging up the many personal contacts and political contacts between the PAN candidate and the president of the electoral authority.</p>
<p>The electoral institutions created over the past decade are still weak. They were unable or unwilling to stop the PAN from violating electoral laws that forbid smear campaigns and the intromission of government officials in campaigns. Suspicions of collusion between authorities and the PAN were reinforced just days before the elections when Mexican journalist Carmen Aristegui demonstrated on national television that the PAN had developed a secret access code to the national registry of voters. Voter registration data is restricted by law to electoral authorities.</p>
<p>The preliminary vote count presented by the Elections Institute only increased distrust. Over 2.5 million votes-the majority in favor of López Obrador-were not counted in the preliminary results and were only tabulated following public complaints from the PRD. That the official tally came up with different figures and showed a totally different behavior from the preliminary results further deepened suspicions that the system was rigged in favor of the conservative candidate. The strange results taint both the preliminary and official tallies.</p>
<p>The upshot is that millions of Mexicans do not fully believe electoral authorities when they cite a final count that continues to favor Calderón. The refusal to open up for a ballot count only detracts more from the credibility of the elections. Those who remain unconvinced of the official results-mostly, but not all, López Obrador supporters-form a critical mass in a potentially explosive chain of political events. Gap between the Rich and Poor</p>
<p>Another link in the chain is the polarization of Mexican politics that has taken place in recent years. The deep divisions did not begin with this year’s presidential campaign. The issue at the center of Mexico’s 2006 elections has always been the economy, and economic conditions are at the heart of the emotions unleashed during the elections.</p>
<p>The enormous gap between the rich and poor that has grown over the past decade has not surprisingly spilled over into politics. While there is some crossover between classes and a divided middle class in between, the poor overwhelmingly support López Obrador and the rich overwhelmingly support Calderón. The political platforms of the two candidates cater to their respective bases. López Obrador’s “First the poor” program falls short of changing the economic model that his party’s founding father called a “factory that produces poor people.” But he has outlined a series of social programs that seek to cover the most pressing needs of vulnerable sectors of the population and he defends the right of the government to redistribute wealth. Calderón has called to continue with the free market policies that widened the income gap and to keep government’s role to a minimum. Although he rhetorically recognized the need to address inequality and poverty in his pre-dawn statements, he roots his economic policy in Mexico’s ability to compete on the international market and increase macroeconomic growth rates.</p>
<p>A full state-by-state breakdown of the vote is still not available, but the reason the Calderón vote rose in the last hours of counting is because the last states to be counted were located in the north and center of the country-PAN strongholds. As the gap between rich and poor has grown, so has the regional gap in Mexico. The north has generally benefited, while the poor and largely indigenous south has suffered. Much of López Obrador’s support comes from the south. The exception is Mexico City, which has voted heavily for the PRD in local elections since 1998.</p>
<p>In a victory speech before dawn Thursday, Calderón offered reconciliation. “I will respond to the yearnings and aspirations of those who didn’t vote for me as well as those who did,” he stated in speech of premature largesse given to supporters before officially pronounced the victor.</p>
<p>But his claim is both unlikely and politically impossible. The political lines drawn correspond to deep fault lines in the social and economic terrain of the country. A new president will have to govern by negotiating these interests but will never be able to fully reconcile them. The King is Dead, Long Live the King!</p>
<p>Since Monday’s preliminary results gave him the edge, Calderón has been attempting to stitch his threadbare lead into a presidential mantle. He has had considerable help in his efforts, even before the official vote count proclaimed him the winner, from both the PRI and the media.</p>
<p>The PRI candidate, Roberto Madrazo, conceded defeat to Calderón before the official results came in. His party was left in ruins after Sunday’s vote, decimated by an historic defeat that not only relegated it to a distant third in presidential elections but also eroded its legislative base. Madrazo’s premature concession raised suspicions that the PRI is offering its support for the PAN candidate in his difficult task of consolidating legitimacy in return for power within the new government and a chance to recompose itself.</p>
<p>Within the PRI, a humiliated Madrazo will be forced to hand off power to his archenemy, Elba Esther Gordillo, leader of the powerful teachers union. Despite its electoral defeat, the party that single-handedly ran Mexican politics for over 70 years still holds many of the practical strings of power in the nation.</p>
<p>Much of the mainstream media has also been portraying a Calderón victory as a fait accompli, as part of a communications strategy which posits that repeating a supposition often enough will make it a fact. Their power has been somewhat curtailed by openly biased coverage of the campaigns and access to independent media and Internet as alternative sources of information.</p>
<p>Efforts to simply pass the sceptre, as planned by the PAN government, have become enormously complicated. Regardless of intentions, at this point it’s difficult to imagine reconciling political divisions that are based on differing economic interests and played out in a context of distrust in the political system itself. A full vote count is a minimum requirement for restored faith in the system. Investigations into what happened must also take place. What has changed much more than the electoral rules since 1988 is the attitude of the citizenry. The citizenry is mobilized and unlikely to desist in its demands for fair elections.</p>
<p>LAURA CARLSEN is director of the IRC Americas Program in Mexico City, where she has worked as a writer and political analyst for the past two decades. The Americas Program is online at www.americaspolicy.org.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | mexicos official vote count unfolded like suspense novel electoral process yesterday commentators common citizens sat poised television computer screens andrés manuel lópez obradors twoandahalf point lead gradually dwindled untilat four morningthe conservative candidate felipe calderón pulled ahead final tally showed unbelievably thin margin half percentage point operative word unbelievable lópez obradors party democratic revolution prd large parts population publicly questioned results morning press conference lópez obrador announced challenge vote count electoral tribunal accept results stated citing numerous irregularitiesto put mildly centerleft candidate placed blame directly government rightwing candidate lacked democratic many doubts role electoral institute lópez obrador criticized federal electoral institute ife refusing open electoral packets count ballots individually although electoral packages opened votebyvote count tally done based official tally sheets drawn polling places party demanding ballotbyballot count scenario everyone hoped avoid close race opens doubts legitimacy winner leads protests public violated optimal circumstances rule law reigns public confidence high single vote lead sufficient declare winner oneround majority vote like mexicos neither conditions characterizes mexico today problem extremely narrow base calderón victory many mexicans feel seen scenario played 1988 centerleft opposition eventually gave birth prd apparently presidential elections candidate cuauhtémoc cárdenas showed lead computer system crashedaccording official explanations came back pronounce carlos salinas institutional revolutionary party pri winner following protests repression demands real count pan pri voted together destroy ballots 1991 historic memory election along numerous cases electoral fraud created understandable scepticism scepticism greatest among left suffered brunt electoral trickery postelectoral repression low public confidence election results even votes still counted prd reporters began presenting evidence instances alleged errors manipulation sundays election lópez obrador mentioned two examples press manipulation preliminary results showed consistent narrowing calderón lead omission thousands polling place results opposition protested go detail promised full explanation saturday informative assembly called held mexico citys central plaza although sundays voting peaceful turnout high reporters streets letters press testify thousands voters waited line hours told polling place run ballots thousands informed names disappeared rolls people complain frustrated exercise civic duty system suspect bias joined millions convinced whole processfrom campaigns countwas riddled inequities many factors feed lack public confidence first blatant partisan involvement president federal government president fox consistently violated mexican law calls neutrality government officials carrying public duties despite weak admonitions elections authorities campaigns mexicos citizenry deserved calderóns campaign slogan lópez obrador danger méxico lowlevel politicking worked inform voters create climate fear finally declared illegal elections authorities veiled threats business council dire warnings economic collapse calderón neither grounded fact ethical campaign tactic fearof loss jobs houses national stabilitytrumps reasoned choice nation whole lost elections pan also made full use tactics institutional revolutionary party pri part political culture entails delivering votes highest bidderthe party brings building materials new basketball court cash payments civic vice mexican political system whole yet overcome years oneparty rule many citizens still view vote commodity bartered principled statement chart course nation local level votebuying prominent none major parties done much change view flip side votebuying vote coercion threatening cut goods services voting wrong way vote buying vote coercion tools primarily used government foxs government change rather eliminating vestige authoritarian rule refined science first sign would major part pan campaign came josefina vázquez mota secretary social development made campaign manager felipe calderón secretary access detailed information recipients government assistance programs independent report commissioned government found four million people susceptible votebuying coercion due way government programs used campaigns reporters gathered numerous testimonies practices action authorities slipping moral authority federal electoral institute credibility problems among prd supporters outset formed 1990 response instability inconformity legacy 88 elections institute slowly surely built transparent rulesbased electoral system however current president general council selected 2003 show force pan pri protests prd recent weeks media digging many personal contacts political contacts pan candidate president electoral authority electoral institutions created past decade still weak unable unwilling stop pan violating electoral laws forbid smear campaigns intromission government officials campaigns suspicions collusion authorities pan reinforced days elections mexican journalist carmen aristegui demonstrated national television pan developed secret access code national registry voters voter registration data restricted law electoral authorities preliminary vote count presented elections institute increased distrust 25 million votesthe majority favor lópez obradorwere counted preliminary results tabulated following public complaints prd official tally came different figures showed totally different behavior preliminary results deepened suspicions system rigged favor conservative candidate strange results taint preliminary official tallies upshot millions mexicans fully believe electoral authorities cite final count continues favor calderón refusal open ballot count detracts credibility elections remain unconvinced official resultsmostly lópez obrador supportersform critical mass potentially explosive chain political events gap rich poor another link chain polarization mexican politics taken place recent years deep divisions begin years presidential campaign issue center mexicos 2006 elections always economy economic conditions heart emotions unleashed elections enormous gap rich poor grown past decade surprisingly spilled politics crossover classes divided middle class poor overwhelmingly support lópez obrador rich overwhelmingly support calderón political platforms two candidates cater respective bases lópez obradors first poor program falls short changing economic model partys founding father called factory produces poor people outlined series social programs seek cover pressing needs vulnerable sectors population defends right government redistribute wealth calderón called continue free market policies widened income gap keep governments role minimum although rhetorically recognized need address inequality poverty predawn statements roots economic policy mexicos ability compete international market increase macroeconomic growth rates full statebystate breakdown vote still available reason calderón vote rose last hours counting last states counted located north center countrypan strongholds gap rich poor grown regional gap mexico north generally benefited poor largely indigenous south suffered much lópez obradors support comes south exception mexico city voted heavily prd local elections since 1998 victory speech dawn thursday calderón offered reconciliation respond yearnings aspirations didnt vote well stated speech premature largesse given supporters officially pronounced victor claim unlikely politically impossible political lines drawn correspond deep fault lines social economic terrain country new president govern negotiating interests never able fully reconcile king dead long live king since mondays preliminary results gave edge calderón attempting stitch threadbare lead presidential mantle considerable help efforts even official vote count proclaimed winner pri media pri candidate roberto madrazo conceded defeat calderón official results came party left ruins sundays vote decimated historic defeat relegated distant third presidential elections also eroded legislative base madrazos premature concession raised suspicions pri offering support pan candidate difficult task consolidating legitimacy return power within new government chance recompose within pri humiliated madrazo forced hand power archenemy elba esther gordillo leader powerful teachers union despite electoral defeat party singlehandedly ran mexican politics 70 years still holds many practical strings power nation much mainstream media also portraying calderón victory fait accompli part communications strategy posits repeating supposition often enough make fact power somewhat curtailed openly biased coverage campaigns access independent media internet alternative sources information efforts simply pass sceptre planned pan government become enormously complicated regardless intentions point difficult imagine reconciling political divisions based differing economic interests played context distrust political system full vote count minimum requirement restored faith system investigations happened must also take place changed much electoral rules since 1988 attitude citizenry citizenry mobilized unlikely desist demands fair elections laura carlsen director irc americas program mexico city worked writer political analyst past two decades americas program online wwwamericaspolicyorg 160 160 | 1,199 |
<p>If I wasn’t quite so busy thoroughly enjoying it, the prospect of one of the two major political parties of the world’s only superpower self-destructing so buffoonishly might otherwise give me pause.</p>
<p>As it is, however, few things could delight me more, and one of my major disappointments in life remains that I live in country where crackers like those in the GOP aren’t considered absolutely certifiable, and sent off to some Abu Ghraib for the ideologically criminal insane, right next to the rapists, child molesters and treasonous conspirators.</p>
<p>I like to have some fun with this stuff, you know, but only some of my words are meant for entertainment purposes.&#160; If you think ‘crackers’ and ‘certifiable’ are unfair potshots, have a gander at Alexandra Pelosi’s new film, “Right America:&#160; Feeling Wronged”, charting the discontents of McCain-Palin supporters from last year’s campaign.&#160; I defy anyone to make a meaningful distinction between these people and the ones at Jonestown.</p>
<p>Heck, for that matter, just take a look at the crazies who are supposed to be the responsible leaders of the conservative movement, and at its marionettes in the GOP.&#160; They’ve been putting on quite a show lately, and the timing is especially bad from their perspective.&#160; Not only is the country in no mood for such tomfoolery now, but the current contrast to regressive idiocy is no longer the adamant insistence of insisting on nothing, courtesy of Harry Reid’s and Nancy Pelosi’s Democratic Party.&#160; Now there’s a guy in the White House who’s confident, articulate, popular and sometimes even bold.</p>
<p>I couldn’t help thinking of that contrast watching Rush Limbaugh perform at the CPAC religious revival the other week.&#160; He is the antithesis to Obama, and I don’t just mean in terms of body-type.&#160; So much bluster (not to mention blubber) covering so much transparent insecurity and neediness.&#160; The guy is the ultimate Napoleon or Hitler who got shoved around on the grade school playground and is now seeking revenge on a global scale.&#160; But, of course, there will always be clowns like that.&#160; The real question is what sickness pervades the mind of those who empower such mountebanks by giving them positions of power, even if only giant soapboxes?&#160; More frightening than Limbaugh was the room full of Moonie-like acolytes hanging on his every word, most of them quite young in age.&#160; No one should follow anybody quite so religiously, let alone a sick crank, but these folks sure did. &#160;Limbaugh told a little ha-ha joke toward the beginning of his speech, in which he half-kiddingly referred to this being his maiden address to the nation, given that Fox Lies was carrying the entire rant (I’m sure they’ll pay equal attention to Noam Chomsky’s next speech as well).&#160; Everybody laughed.&#160; Okay, no problem – it was slightly humorous if you discount the delusions of grandeur he was pretending to self-mock.&#160; What blew me away, though, was how he repeated the same line – I’m not exaggerating here – another ten times over the next hour, and how all the disciples laughed each time, right on cue.</p>
<p>Scary, but in some ways not as much as watching the nominal leaders of the GOP prostrate themselves at the feet of this Jabba the Hut of the airwaves.&#160; Prodded into doing so by a politically adroit White House, four or five of them have gotten their backs up and said a ridiculously truthful unkind word or two about Mount Rushmore lately.&#160; No sooner did that happen then that he was giving them just the on-air whipping errant sons should get from the angry and disappointed paterfamilias, and no sooner did that happen then that they were crawling back to him – also sometimes on air – begging his forgiveness.&#160; The issue was whether Limbaugh was the de facto leader of the Republican Party.&#160; The nominal leaders of the party, their manhood insulted and their masculinity in question, sought to show who was the real boss.&#160; They did, too, but it turned out, um, shall we say, a bit different than the way they intended.</p>
<p>That seems like bad news over on that side of the aisle, but in fact, cavemen everywhere should be reassured.&#160; I mean, do they want Bobby Jindal instead, doing his impression of Herbert Hoover, complete with the rigor mortis stage presence and embalming fluid circulatory system?&#160; Or how about Newt Gingrich, the guy who once impeached a president for marital infidelities, even while he was off having a bacchanal of his own?&#160; No worries, though.&#160; Newtie’s now apologized for how he dumped Wife #2 on her post-cancer surgery hospital bed to run off with the babe who would become Wife #3.&#160; Besides, he’s full of ideas!&#160; The only problem is that they literally involve stuff like space flight and reorganization of the military command structure.&#160; Ah, the man of the hour in America’s time of need!&#160; What voter couldn’t be smitten by that?&#160; Or do you prefer Mitch McConnell, instead?&#160; He may not be as slimy as Newt, but he is slimier than a newt, and less appealing than a three-toed tree sloth.</p>
<p>That’s the GOP A-Team, folks.&#160; Newt, Mitch, Bobby and Sarah, all taking direction from Rush. It’s like some kind of emetic factory, or something.</p>
<p>Not to worry, though.&#160; They’ve brought in the big guns to save the day.&#160; Michael Steele is the new chairman of the GOP.&#160; One month into his new job, and most members of the party are already trying to figure out how to get rid of him (don’t be surprised if he has a tragic ‘accident’ soon).&#160; Like they really needed this freakin’ headache now, just as every imaginable disaster is already imploding on them at every imaginable turn.</p>
<p>It’s kinda hard to imagine why Steele is having so much trouble, though.&#160; I mean he seems so top notch.</p>
<p>True, he does have a record of massive failure.&#160; He couldn’t cut it as a priest, so he went into law, where he failed the Maryland bar exam.&#160; He passed the Pennsylvania one instead (Yo, PA:&#160; time to up your standards, fellas), and then proceeded to launch a consulting firm so successful that he nearly lost his home.&#160; He’s never won an election for public office, though he did manage to produce an ongoing federal corruption investigation into his 2006 smashing defeat in running for the Senate, because of a $40,000 payment he made to his sister’s company.&#160; For what, is still unclear.&#160; While running, he not only hid from being a Republican, but his campaign workers passed out sample ballots on election day that listed him as a Democrat.&#160; Just the kinda guy who should be the top Republican, eh?</p>
<p>But, you know, success can really be overrated.&#160; I guess that’s what Steele had in mind when he recently said “I always found it interesting that people would cast aspersions on failure, as if it were a bad thing”.</p>
<p>Um, ‘scuse me?&#160; Good god, is there a way to clone this man?&#160; Let’s get all his cousins and put them on the GOP payroll.&#160; Hey, that’s what he’s probably actually gonna do!&#160; You know, along with his sis.</p>
<p>Some people think that Steele is merely the most crass and buffoonish opportunist in the Glorified Opportunist Party, but it’s hard to see why.&#160; I mean, yes, he is a black man who was recruited to the GOP by Lee Atwater, the same guy who apologized on his deathbed for having run the racist Willie Horton ads back in 1988.&#160; But, so what?&#160; You know, Condoleeza Rice and Clarence Thomas are black Republicans!&#160; Uh, well, never mind about that…</p>
<p>Anyhow, the GOP decided, as the roof was falling in on them, that they really had to go with their varsity squad.&#160; True, Steele was elected on the sixth ballot.&#160; True, that was only after one candidate dropped out because he was a member of a racially exclusive country club.&#160; And, true, another guy also quit the race after the party actually debated whether it was okay for him to have distributed CDs to committee leaders complete with the happy tune, “Barack, The Magic Negro”, on them. &#160;(Remember that moment in “Spinal Tap” when the hapless metal band is told that the record label won’t let them have the S&amp;M misogynist album cover they want for their new release, “Smell The Glove”, because it’s sexist?&#160; And they respond, “So what?&#160; Wot’s wrong with being sexy?”&#160; I think you get the idea here.&#160; Rob Reiner, time for “Neanderthal Tap”, wouldn’t you say?)</p>
<p>But, you know, the Democrats elected Barack Obama president, so I guess the GOP decided they were gonna go after the young, black, contemporary vote as well, and hence they picked Rapmaster Steele to carry their standard.&#160; And so The Notorious M.I.K.E. has promised to give the Republican Party a “hip-hop makeover”.&#160; You think I’m makin’ this shit up, don’t you?&#160; I wish I was capable of such malicious creativity.</p>
<p>And you gotta hand it to the White House – they’ve played these fools like fiddles.&#160; Calling Limbaugh the “de facto head of the Republican Party” was as sure a bait as imaginable for getting the de jure head of the party to worry about his manhood and thus lash out at the Rustic One by calling him “ugly”, among other epithets.&#160; Until the next day, that is, when Macho Mike, Man of Steele, was on the phone apologizing profusely to the actual de facto, de facto head of Republican Party and his big fat radio audience, begging to keep his job.&#160; He did, so far, but Republican National Committee staff have not been quite so lucky, as around seventy of them have either quit or been fired under the new Steele Curtain regime, and the RNC house is empty these days. But if it seems like this is all some cartoonish clown show, instead of the leadership of one of the two major parties of the world’s most powerful country, you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet.&#160; Ol’ “What’s Wrong With Failure” Mike is just getting started.&#160; As he recently explained to the New York Times:&#160; “‘I’m very spontaneous,’ comparing working with him to riding a roller coaster without knowing when the next dip or curve might come.&#160; ‘Be prepared; you have no idea,’ he said. ‘Just buckle up and get ready to go.’”</p>
<p>Ooooooohhh!&#160; Baby!&#160; Gangsta!&#160; What a manly man!&#160; What an appealing swashbuckler!&#160; Boy, is he ever gonna peel away the black vote from Barack Obama!&#160; Boy, is the GOP ever gonna be getting its act together under Michael Steele’s stewardship!</p>
<p>I give the dude about one more month, after which I expect the Republicans will decide that abortion’s not such a bad thing after all.</p>
<p>Not that it matters a whit, anyhow.&#160; Steele’s pompously inflated exercises in idiocy are to the implosion of the GOP what a gnat is to a drowning elephant.&#160; Even if the gnat swims real, real hard, the big beast is still goin’ down.&#160; With the possible exception of Howard Dean, nobody knows who party chairs are anyhow, and for good reason.&#160; Does anyone think Mitch McConnell or John McCain are going to take direction from some staff flunky who’s never even won an election on his own?&#160; Does anyone think that a chairman could significantly change the fortunes of a party from where its real leaders are taking it anyhow?&#160; This guy could have all the leadership chops and strategic smarts of Alexander The Great and it wouldn’t matter a bit.</p>
<p>The GOP’s problem is its ideology, plain and simple.&#160; Their toxic brew of regressive policies, sold through hate-driven marketing techniques, all backed by the engine of kleptocratic thievery, just isn’t getting traction anymore.&#160; Just as it was inevitable that Bristol Palin and her nineteen year-old boyfriend, Levi Johnston, won’t be getting married after all (golly, didn’t see that one coming at all!) – Republican family values notwithstanding! – so was it clear that the GOP would end up being its own worst enemy.&#160; Americans show an amazing capacity for stupidity, to be sure, but just the same they will usually figure out in the end that what’s bad for them is bad for them.</p>
<p>The GOP is toast today, not because of the pathetic idiots at the helm, any one of whom could have become the Fourth Stooge, but because it has nowhere it can go, regardless of who leads it.</p>
<p>It has basically three choices, ideologically speaking.</p>
<p>It can stay where it is.&#160; But even the anvil-heads within the party can see that that’s a prescription for (more) disaster.&#160; Getting your clock cleaned in two elections running has a way of getting one’s attention.&#160; Near-death experiences tend to motivate change.</p>
<p>But, of course, that leaves the rather large question of what kind of change.&#160; You can see the party struggling with this every day, but I personally don’t see a viable solution anywhere on the horizon.&#160; Option Two is to turn to the right, and there are quite a few dingbats in the party who are making that argument right now.&#160; Evidently suicide by election is neither rapid nor violent enough for this lot.&#160; Of course, having governed with a hard-right agenda for eight years now, it becomes a bit awkward to make the claim that they haven’t been conservative enough.&#160; That’s why you’re now seeing the astonishing visage of party flacks trying to recreate George W. Bush as a non-conservative.&#160; Here’s John Bolton, for example: “Too many people identified Bush as being conservative, and we know that’s not the case”.&#160; Or Mike Huckabee:&#160; “Lenin and Stalin both would have loved Bush and Paulsen’s bailout plan”.&#160; Wow.&#160; Lenin and Stalin.&#160; Like, THE Lenin and Stalin?&#160; Gosh, imagine how bubble-headed Huckabee would have sounded if he had given in to the temptation to exaggerate here!</p>
<p>It’s quite amazing, not to mention absurdly improbable, this astonishing Bush-the-left-winger rap (who knew?).&#160; As such, the only thing they really talk about is spending (no war policy, no stem-cell stuff, no Terri Schiavo, no foreign policy issues), and since money is all that it’s really about for them, that’s not such a surprise.&#160; Nor is it a surprise that they didn’t object to W back when he was President Bush, rather than now that he’s former President Bush.&#160; Nor is it shocking that they don’t also criticize regressive demi-god Ronald Reagan, who presided over a tripling of the national debt in his voodoo economics spending spree.&#160; I guess you can only cover so much, you know?</p>
<p>But, golly, even if this made the slightest bit of sense, think of how rigorously batty you’d have to be to believe that if the Republicans only become more regressive, they’ll start winning elections.&#160; You know, like, if only they started more wars based on lies!&#160; If only they slashed Social Security and Medicare, in order to balance the budget!&#160; If only they let more cities drown!&#160; If only they intervened into every family’s personal medical crisis with congressional legislation!&#160; If only they deregulated Wall Street, so that we could have more frequent and far deeper recessions!&#160; If only they could give us further tax cuts to enrich the wealthy even more, and impoverish our children even further!&#160; If only they could make sure more of us die by blocking additional scientific research!&#160; If only they could make sure more of us die painfully by criminalizing not just medical marijuana, but all remedies!&#160; If only they could alienate more young voters with their homophobia, more Hispanics with their xenophobia, more women with their Palin pandering, and more blacks with their Magic Negro routines!&#160; If only they could replicate John Yoo, so that even the remaining shreds of the Constitution could themselves be shredded!</p>
<p>What a winning platform, eh?!?!&#160; Hard to imagine nobody else has thought of this before!</p>
<p>Of course, the only remotely plausible thing the GOP could actually do to ever hope for subsequent success would be to move toward the center, which is Door Number Three.&#160; Even that won’t work for quite some time, if it ever does.&#160; People are not soon going to forget the Rushpublican brand, and my guess is that Obama is going to continue to be popular for a long time to come, even if his policies don’t solve the economic crisis he’s been handed.&#160; But one could imagine, much as with Labour and the Tories in the UK, that a decade or two from now the Democrats will get lazy and corrupt and stupid enough to lose to a deradicalized Republican Party that runs on a non-ideological appeal purely focused on competence, as an alternative to the messed-up incumbents.</p>
<p>The problem for Republicans is that they can never get there.&#160; Perhaps after a third trouncing in 2010, but not now.&#160; And I’m even skeptical that that would be enough.&#160; This party is owned by the radical right – especially the social conservative base.&#160; These freaks are not going to let go, and they are going to punish horrifically any defectors from their ideological purity.&#160; John McCain is a real object lesson here.&#160; Having secured the nomination only by accident when two other candidates split the true-believer vote in a series of winner-take-all primaries, he was never embraced by his own party, who saw him as suspiciously liberal.&#160; John McCain!&#160; These are people who think – and will continue to think – that Sarah Palin is a really inspired choice who could make a great president.&#160; They even secretly still think that about Lil’ Bushie, though they’re at least sentient enough to realize that it’s impolitic to say it.</p>
<p>Progressives should count their blessings, after decades in the wilderness.</p>
<p>The new president and Congress show some signs of having moderately good politics, to start with.</p>
<p>But, as importantly, the Republicans are fielding their very best team, and it consists of transparent buffoons telling transparent lies.&#160; With lousy delivery, no less.</p>
<p>Best of all, though, is that they simply have nothing credible to say right now.</p>
<p>When the best you can offer to a frightened and submerged American public is some cheap and disingenuous rap about earmarks, along with a government that would do nothing to help, your party is going to go the same way as Herbert Hoover.</p>
<p>Because you are Herbert Hoover.</p>
<p>DAVID MICHAEL GREEN is a professor of political science at Hofstra University in New York.&#160; He is delighted to receive readers’ reactions to his articles ( <a href="mailto:dmg@regressiveantidote.net" type="external">dmg@regressiveantidote.net</a>), but regrets that time constraints do not always allow him to respond.&#160; More of his work can be found at his website, <a href="www.regressiveantidote.net" type="external">www.regressiveantidote.net</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | wasnt quite busy thoroughly enjoying prospect one two major political parties worlds superpower selfdestructing buffoonishly might otherwise give pause however things could delight one major disappointments life remains live country crackers like gop arent considered absolutely certifiable sent abu ghraib ideologically criminal insane right next rapists child molesters treasonous conspirators like fun stuff know words meant entertainment purposes160 think crackers certifiable unfair potshots gander alexandra pelosis new film right america160 feeling wronged charting discontents mccainpalin supporters last years campaign160 defy anyone make meaningful distinction people ones jonestown heck matter take look crazies supposed responsible leaders conservative movement marionettes gop160 theyve putting quite show lately timing especially bad perspective160 country mood tomfoolery current contrast regressive idiocy longer adamant insistence insisting nothing courtesy harry reids nancy pelosis democratic party160 theres guy white house whos confident articulate popular sometimes even bold couldnt help thinking contrast watching rush limbaugh perform cpac religious revival week160 antithesis obama dont mean terms bodytype160 much bluster mention blubber covering much transparent insecurity neediness160 guy ultimate napoleon hitler got shoved around grade school playground seeking revenge global scale160 course always clowns like that160 real question sickness pervades mind empower mountebanks giving positions power even giant soapboxes160 frightening limbaugh room full moonielike acolytes hanging every word quite young age160 one follow anybody quite religiously let alone sick crank folks sure 160limbaugh told little haha joke toward beginning speech halfkiddingly referred maiden address nation given fox lies carrying entire rant im sure theyll pay equal attention noam chomskys next speech well160 everybody laughed160 okay problem slightly humorous discount delusions grandeur pretending selfmock160 blew away though repeated line im exaggerating another ten times next hour disciples laughed time right cue scary ways much watching nominal leaders gop prostrate feet jabba hut airwaves160 prodded politically adroit white house four five gotten backs said ridiculously truthful unkind word two mount rushmore lately160 sooner happen giving onair whipping errant sons get angry disappointed paterfamilias sooner happen crawling back also sometimes air begging forgiveness160 issue whether limbaugh de facto leader republican party160 nominal leaders party manhood insulted masculinity question sought show real boss160 turned um shall say bit different way intended seems like bad news side aisle fact cavemen everywhere reassured160 mean want bobby jindal instead impression herbert hoover complete rigor mortis stage presence embalming fluid circulatory system160 newt gingrich guy impeached president marital infidelities even bacchanal own160 worries though160 newties apologized dumped wife 2 postcancer surgery hospital bed run babe would become wife 3160 besides hes full ideas160 problem literally involve stuff like space flight reorganization military command structure160 ah man hour americas time need160 voter couldnt smitten that160 prefer mitch mcconnell instead160 may slimy newt slimier newt less appealing threetoed tree sloth thats gop ateam folks160 newt mitch bobby sarah taking direction rush like kind emetic factory something worry though160 theyve brought big guns save day160 michael steele new chairman gop160 one month new job members party already trying figure get rid dont surprised tragic accident soon160 like really needed freakin headache every imaginable disaster already imploding every imaginable turn kinda hard imagine steele much trouble though160 mean seems top notch true record massive failure160 couldnt cut priest went law failed maryland bar exam160 passed pennsylvania one instead yo pa160 time standards fellas proceeded launch consulting firm successful nearly lost home160 hes never election public office though manage produce ongoing federal corruption investigation 2006 smashing defeat running senate 40000 payment made sisters company160 still unclear160 running hid republican campaign workers passed sample ballots election day listed democrat160 kinda guy top republican eh know success really overrated160 guess thats steele mind recently said always found interesting people would cast aspersions failure bad thing um scuse me160 good god way clone man160 lets get cousins put gop payroll160 hey thats hes probably actually gon na do160 know along sis people think steele merely crass buffoonish opportunist glorified opportunist party hard see why160 mean yes black man recruited gop lee atwater guy apologized deathbed run racist willie horton ads back 1988160 what160 know condoleeza rice clarence thomas black republicans160 uh well never mind anyhow gop decided roof falling really go varsity squad160 true steele elected sixth ballot160 true one candidate dropped member racially exclusive country club160 true another guy also quit race party actually debated whether okay distributed cds committee leaders complete happy tune barack magic negro 160remember moment spinal tap hapless metal band told record label wont let sampm misogynist album cover want new release smell glove sexist160 respond what160 wots wrong sexy160 think get idea here160 rob reiner time neanderthal tap wouldnt say know democrats elected barack obama president guess gop decided gon na go young black contemporary vote well hence picked rapmaster steele carry standard160 notorious mike promised give republican party hiphop makeover160 think im makin shit dont you160 wish capable malicious creativity got ta hand white house theyve played fools like fiddles160 calling limbaugh de facto head republican party sure bait imaginable getting de jure head party worry manhood thus lash rustic one calling ugly among epithets160 next day macho mike man steele phone apologizing profusely actual de facto de facto head republican party big fat radio audience begging keep job160 far republican national committee staff quite lucky around seventy either quit fired new steele curtain regime rnc house empty days seems like cartoonish clown show instead leadership one two major parties worlds powerful country aint seen nuthin yet160 ol whats wrong failure mike getting started160 recently explained new york times160 im spontaneous comparing working riding roller coaster without knowing next dip curve might come160 prepared idea said buckle get ready go ooooooohhh160 baby160 gangsta160 manly man160 appealing swashbuckler160 boy ever gon na peel away black vote barack obama160 boy gop ever gon na getting act together michael steeles stewardship give dude one month expect republicans decide abortions bad thing matters whit anyhow160 steeles pompously inflated exercises idiocy implosion gop gnat drowning elephant160 even gnat swims real real hard big beast still goin down160 possible exception howard dean nobody knows party chairs anyhow good reason160 anyone think mitch mcconnell john mccain going take direction staff flunky whos never even election own160 anyone think chairman could significantly change fortunes party real leaders taking anyhow160 guy could leadership chops strategic smarts alexander great wouldnt matter bit gops problem ideology plain simple160 toxic brew regressive policies sold hatedriven marketing techniques backed engine kleptocratic thievery isnt getting traction anymore160 inevitable bristol palin nineteen yearold boyfriend levi johnston wont getting married golly didnt see one coming republican family values notwithstanding clear gop would end worst enemy160 americans show amazing capacity stupidity sure usually figure end whats bad bad gop toast today pathetic idiots helm one could become fourth stooge nowhere go regardless leads basically three choices ideologically speaking stay is160 even anvilheads within party see thats prescription disaster160 getting clock cleaned two elections running way getting ones attention160 neardeath experiences tend motivate change course leaves rather large question kind change160 see party struggling every day personally dont see viable solution anywhere horizon160 option two turn right quite dingbats party making argument right now160 evidently suicide election neither rapid violent enough lot160 course governed hardright agenda eight years becomes bit awkward make claim havent conservative enough160 thats youre seeing astonishing visage party flacks trying recreate george w bush nonconservative160 heres john bolton example many people identified bush conservative know thats case160 mike huckabee160 lenin stalin would loved bush paulsens bailout plan160 wow160 lenin stalin160 like lenin stalin160 gosh imagine bubbleheaded huckabee would sounded given temptation exaggerate quite amazing mention absurdly improbable astonishing bushtheleftwinger rap knew160 thing really talk spending war policy stemcell stuff terri schiavo foreign policy issues since money really thats surprise160 surprise didnt object w back president bush rather hes former president bush160 shocking dont also criticize regressive demigod ronald reagan presided tripling national debt voodoo economics spending spree160 guess cover much know golly even made slightest bit sense think rigorously batty youd believe republicans become regressive theyll start winning elections160 know like started wars based lies160 slashed social security medicare order balance budget160 let cities drown160 intervened every familys personal medical crisis congressional legislation160 deregulated wall street could frequent far deeper recessions160 could give us tax cuts enrich wealthy even impoverish children even further160 could make sure us die blocking additional scientific research160 could make sure us die painfully criminalizing medical marijuana remedies160 could alienate young voters homophobia hispanics xenophobia women palin pandering blacks magic negro routines160 could replicate john yoo even remaining shreds constitution could shredded winning platform eh160 hard imagine nobody else thought course remotely plausible thing gop could actually ever hope subsequent success would move toward center door number three160 even wont work quite time ever does160 people soon going forget rushpublican brand guess obama going continue popular long time come even policies dont solve economic crisis hes handed160 one could imagine much labour tories uk decade two democrats get lazy corrupt stupid enough lose deradicalized republican party runs nonideological appeal purely focused competence alternative messedup incumbents problem republicans never get there160 perhaps third trouncing 2010 now160 im even skeptical would enough160 party owned radical right especially social conservative base160 freaks going let go going punish horrifically defectors ideological purity160 john mccain real object lesson here160 secured nomination accident two candidates split truebeliever vote series winnertakeall primaries never embraced party saw suspiciously liberal160 john mccain160 people think continue think sarah palin really inspired choice could make great president160 even secretly still think lil bushie though theyre least sentient enough realize impolitic say progressives count blessings decades wilderness new president congress show signs moderately good politics start importantly republicans fielding best team consists transparent buffoons telling transparent lies160 lousy delivery less best though simply nothing credible say right best offer frightened submerged american public cheap disingenuous rap earmarks along government would nothing help party going go way herbert hoover herbert hoover david michael green professor political science hofstra university new york160 delighted receive readers reactions articles dmgregressiveantidotenet regrets time constraints always allow respond160 work found website wwwregressiveantidotenet 160 160 160 160 | 1,667 |
<p>Jeff Malet/Newscom via ZUMA Press</p>
<p />
<p>At the beginning of 2017, reproductive rights advocates feared that the election of President Donald Trump and the Republican sweep in many statehouses would embolden anti-abortion legislators at the state level. By mid-January, four states had <a href="" type="internal">already introduced</a> late-term abortion bans, while others—Missouri, for instance—had filed a <a href="" type="internal">significant number</a> of anti-abortion-related legislation ahead of this year’s legislative session. As the first quarter of the year comes to a close, a <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2017/04/laws-affecting-reproductive-health-and-rights-state-policy-trends-first-quarter-2017" type="external">new report</a> released this week by the Guttmacher Institute, a reproductive rights research and advocacy think tank, finds that the policies introduced so far this year paint a more complicated picture.</p>
<p>The institute’s report finds that state legislatures across the country have introduced some 1,053 reproductive-health-related provisions since January, and that of those proposed measures, 431 would restrict access to abortion services, while 405 would expand access to reproductive health services—the report does not categorize the remaining measures.</p>
<p>Five states—Kentucky, Wyoming, Arizona, Arkansas, and Utah—have already passed at least one abortion restriction this year—with a total of 10 new restrictions becoming laws. In Kentucky, a <a href="" type="internal">ban on abortions 20 weeks post-fertilization</a> was signed by Republican Gov. Matt Bevin after a sprint through the state Legislature. Utah now requires doctors to tell women that medication abortions <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/utah-bill-medication-abortions-reversible_us_58d96c6be4b00f68a5c96c25" type="external">can be “reversed”</a> <a href="#correction" type="external">*</a>after the first dose in the two-dose protocol, a claim that, as with <a href="" type="internal">many abortion counseling requirements</a> in other states, is not supported by evidence. Arizona became one of the first states in the country to detail <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/legislature/2017/03/31/doug-ducey-signs-controversial-arizona-abortion-bill/99858360/" type="external">specific requirements</a> for how doctors must work to preserve the life of the fetus after an abortion procedure, a law that some critics have <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2017/03/16/arizona-abortion-bill-mothers-who-oppose-tell-their-stories/99241886/" type="external">challenged</a> for possibly prolonging the pain of nonviable fetuses.</p>
<p>“There is this competition to the bottom that has been happening with state legislatures and abortion over the past six years,” says Elizabeth Nash, the state issues manager for the Guttmacher Institute and the lead author on the report. But in 2017, she adds “the scale has changed.” She explained that compared with the same period from 2011 to 2016, “we haven’t been seeing as much activity on abortion as we have seen.” Rather than suggesting a diminished interest in abortion restrictions, Nash explains that given the onslaught of new abortion restrictions in the past six years, some states might simply be running out of measures to introduce. But beyond that, health care reform, state budgets, and the opioid crisis might have caused conservative state legislatures to focus their attention elsewhere at the beginning of their legislative sessions, suggesting that anti-abortion activity might pick up later in the year.</p>
<p>As a result of this reduced activity, Nash says, “we have been seeing less in the way of trends” when looking at the types of abortion restrictions introduced in 2017. There are still some commonalities among the various restrictions introduced in the states, particularly concerning “abortion bans” that prohibit abortions being sought for certain reasons—such as a genetic anomaly or the sex of the fetus—or after a specific point in the pregnancy.</p>
<p>In 28 states, legislators have introduced some 88 measures that would either ban abortion completely or prohibit it in specific circumstances. In Arkansas, for example, a law was <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/01/27/arkansas-abortion/97134562/" type="external">recently passed</a> that bars doctors from using a common second trimester abortion procedure known as “dilation and evacuation.” Similar restrictions have passed at least one chamber in Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas. The “20-week abortion ban” was passed in Kentucky and has cleared at least one legislative chamber in Iowa, Montana, and Pennsylvania. Six-week abortion bans, also known as “heartbeat bills,” are also being introduced in several states, possibly in response to Ohio legislators successfully presenting a version to Gov. John Kasich last year; he <a href="" type="internal">vetoed</a> the bill but signed a 20-week abortion ban into law.</p>
<p>Nash notes that some of the legislative support of abortion bans may be motivated by an <a href="" type="internal">interest</a> in getting a case before the Supreme Court in the next few years. “They are thinking about being the state that overturns Roe v. Wade and the way to do that is to adopt something like a 6-week abortion ban or a 20-week abortion ban and then send that up through the courts,” she says.</p>
<p>The Guttmacher report notes that abortion restrictions continue to be introduced at a relatively steady, if somewhat lessened, rate, but proactive reproductive health legislation has seen an increase, with 21 states and the District of Columbia considering measures that would expand reproductive health services. “The number of proactive measures grew from 221 in 2015 and 353 in 2016” to 405 in 2017, the report notes. The report suggests that this development is likely “in anticipation of the possible dismantling of the Affordable Care Act and loss of its contraceptive coverage guarantee.” So far Virginia is the only state to enact a proactive measure; the state will now require that insurance plans covering contraceptives allow enrollees to receive a year’s supply at once.</p>
<p>Proactive legislation on the state level is likely to become increasingly important as the Republican-controlled Congress and other conservative-led legislatures continue to use funding to target reproductive services providers such as Planned Parenthood. Last week, Trump <a href="" type="internal">signed into law</a> a measure allowing states to withhold public funds used for family planning—also known as Title X funding—marked for contraception and other nonabortion services from groups that also provide abortions. The move nullifies an Obama-era rule <a href="" type="internal">protecting</a> Planned Parenthood and other groups from losing federal family-planning funds.&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that Utah had passed a law requiring “doctors to tell women that medication abortions <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/utah-bill-medication-abortions-reversible_us_58d96c6be4b00f68a5c96c25" type="external">can be ‘reversed’</a> after the first dose in the two-dose protocol.” The “abortion reversal” language was removed from the bill prior to its signing. Utah <a href="https://le.utah.gov/~2017/bills/static/HB0141.html" type="external">now requires</a> doctors to “explain the options and consequences of aborting a medication-induced abortion” and tell women that pregnancies may still be viable after the first dose in the two-dose protocol.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | jeff maletnewscom via zuma press beginning 2017 reproductive rights advocates feared election president donald trump republican sweep many statehouses would embolden antiabortion legislators state level midjanuary four states already introduced lateterm abortion bans othersmissouri instancehad filed significant number antiabortionrelated legislation ahead years legislative session first quarter year comes close new report released week guttmacher institute reproductive rights research advocacy think tank finds policies introduced far year paint complicated picture institutes report finds state legislatures across country introduced 1053 reproductivehealthrelated provisions since january proposed measures 431 would restrict access abortion services 405 would expand access reproductive health servicesthe report categorize remaining measures five stateskentucky wyoming arizona arkansas utahhave already passed least one abortion restriction yearwith total 10 new restrictions becoming laws kentucky ban abortions 20 weeks postfertilization signed republican gov matt bevin sprint state legislature utah requires doctors tell women medication abortions reversed first dose twodose protocol claim many abortion counseling requirements states supported evidence arizona became one first states country detail specific requirements doctors must work preserve life fetus abortion procedure law critics challenged possibly prolonging pain nonviable fetuses competition bottom happening state legislatures abortion past six years says elizabeth nash state issues manager guttmacher institute lead author report 2017 adds scale changed explained compared period 2011 2016 havent seeing much activity abortion seen rather suggesting diminished interest abortion restrictions nash explains given onslaught new abortion restrictions past six years states might simply running measures introduce beyond health care reform state budgets opioid crisis might caused conservative state legislatures focus attention elsewhere beginning legislative sessions suggesting antiabortion activity might pick later year result reduced activity nash says seeing less way trends looking types abortion restrictions introduced 2017 still commonalities among various restrictions introduced states particularly concerning abortion bans prohibit abortions sought certain reasonssuch genetic anomaly sex fetusor specific point pregnancy 28 states legislators introduced 88 measures would either ban abortion completely prohibit specific circumstances arkansas example law recently passed bars doctors using common second trimester abortion procedure known dilation evacuation similar restrictions passed least one chamber pennsylvania south carolina texas 20week abortion ban passed kentucky cleared least one legislative chamber iowa montana pennsylvania sixweek abortion bans also known heartbeat bills also introduced several states possibly response ohio legislators successfully presenting version gov john kasich last year vetoed bill signed 20week abortion ban law nash notes legislative support abortion bans may motivated interest getting case supreme court next years thinking state overturns roe v wade way adopt something like 6week abortion ban 20week abortion ban send courts says guttmacher report notes abortion restrictions continue introduced relatively steady somewhat lessened rate proactive reproductive health legislation seen increase 21 states district columbia considering measures would expand reproductive health services number proactive measures grew 221 2015 353 2016 405 2017 report notes report suggests development likely anticipation possible dismantling affordable care act loss contraceptive coverage guarantee far virginia state enact proactive measure state require insurance plans covering contraceptives allow enrollees receive years supply proactive legislation state level likely become increasingly important republicancontrolled congress conservativeled legislatures continue use funding target reproductive services providers planned parenthood last week trump signed law measure allowing states withhold public funds used family planningalso known title x fundingmarked contraception nonabortion services groups also provide abortions move nullifies obamaera rule protecting planned parenthood groups losing federal familyplanning funds160 160 correction earlier version article stated utah passed law requiring doctors tell women medication abortions reversed first dose twodose protocol abortion reversal language removed bill prior signing utah requires doctors explain options consequences aborting medicationinduced abortion tell women pregnancies may still viable first dose twodose protocol | 593 |
<p>Presidents, and especially former presidents, sometimes say things that will surprise you.</p>
<p>One of the most surprising to many people, and one of the most thematically consistent, is the insistence of their claim to the weakness of the office.&#160; In making that complaint, I believe it was Lyndon Johnson – one of the most powerful of American presidents, and the one who accomplished, for better or worse, far more than most of his colleagues in the position – who said in frustration something along the lines of, What can I do?&#160; The only power that I have is the bomb, and I can’t use that’.</p>
<p>This consistent theme is remarkable for a variety of reasons, not least including the fact that these very same occupants join the rest of us in describing the office as the most powerful position on the planet.&#160; And they are – again, for better or worse – accurate in saying so.</p>
<p>What explains this conundrum is that the president sits atop a country that is head and shoulders beyond every other country in the world in terms of economic, military, political and cultural power.&#160; That may well not be the case in 2050, but it is now.&#160; To take just one simple example, consider that the United States spends about $1 trillion per year on its military.&#160; If you take all the other countries in the world – nearly 200 of them – and combine their spending on the military, together they equal about half of that amount.</p>
<p>At the same time the American president leads this incredibly powerful country, the office itself was designed by the Founders to be about as weak as possible – at least during peacetime – without the country falling apart altogether, as it had been doing under the even weaker Articles of Confederation.&#160; Thus, the president’s institutional power is weak, but the country he leads is powerful.&#160; And thus the conundrum of a presidency that seems simultaneously powerful and powerless.</p>
<p>Of course, presidents such as Roosevelt, Johnson, Nixon, Reagan and especially the little Bush have massively expanded the power of the presidency, metastasizing it into a monster you’d be tempted to say that the Founders would no longer recognize.&#160; Except, that they would.&#160; It would probably look uncomfortably familiar to them, in fact.&#160; The last George would remind them quite a bit of a George they came to know and hate, so much so that they twisted their new polity into pretzels of constitutional engineering in order to avoid replicating the British monarch.</p>
<p>They succeeded, and they failed.&#160; Not for nothing that we’ve been referring for a generation or two now to the “imperial presidency”.&#160; And, if Dick Cheney had had his way, that phrase would have been shortened by one word, simply to ‘Emperor’.&#160; Building on a foundation established by the other aforementioned presidents, who radically changed the office from the nineteenth century model, Bush and Cheney arrogated more power to the American executive then even Nixon might have fantasized about.&#160; And Barack Obama has so far displayed a somewhat troubling unwillingness to entirely renounce those claims.</p>
<p>In other words, it’s not your great-great-great-great-grandfather’s presidency, I’m afraid.&#160; At the same time, I think we have to honestly say that the framework of the Founders remains remarkably intact, at least when there are men and women possessing the wisdom and the courage to perform their prescribed functions underneath that constitutional design.&#160; To some degree, that is what we have today.&#160; Even the Boy King wasn’t able to sell off Social Security to his Wall Street cronies, try as he might, because Congress said “no”.&#160; He also wasn’t entirely able to run his sham kangaroo court system for detainees in his sham war on terrorism, either, because the Supreme Court said “no”.&#160; And so on.</p>
<p>These are, of course, rather exceptional cases.&#160; Generally, the American judiciary defers to the president with a high degree of regularity, especially on national security issues.&#160; That’s not necessarily a good thing, but in reality, not much has changed in that regard since the founding of the country.</p>
<p>Congress, on the other hand, has shown itself to be more or less a complete disaster.&#160; Republicans are all guts, and no wisdom, while Democrats have none of either.&#160; The GOP has near total party discipline, and uses it to vote like an army of rigid automatons that would make members of the Borg Collective uncomfortable.&#160; When they controlled Congress they gave Bush nearly everything he wanted – only choosing to block him when he wasn’t regressive enough – and they completely abdicated all of their responsibilities in terms of oversight, checks and balances, and good governance in any shape or form.&#160; Democrats, on the other hand, wouldn’t know a profile in courage if it slapped them upside the head.&#160; They took every fat opportunity Bush gave them to do the right thing and stand up for the interests of the American public, not to mention for a little thing called the law, and ran off into hiding instead.</p>
<p>All of that said, a little comparative analysis is still instructive in a big way.&#160; This institution – even under Bush and Cheney – does not resemble Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Kim, Khomeini or Castro.&#160; In truth, it doesn’t even resemble Gordon Brown.&#160; The British prime minister – sometimes accurately referred to as an elected dictator – is a far more powerful institution than the American president.&#160; There are no courts to strike down legislation or executive orders.&#160; There are no states or provinces with which to share power in a federalist system.&#160; There is no written constitution, per se, overtly proscribing certain governmental policies.&#160; And, at least under normal circumstances, there is no separate legislative branch to defy the prime minister, since he or she has, by definition, a built-in majority there.</p>
<p>The simple fact is that America is a hugely powerful country, but there are serious limitations on the power of the American presidency.&#160; And, as it turns out, the presidential power that is often the most significant is not even found in the Constitution.&#160; It’s the bully pulpit.&#160; It’s the power to persuade.&#160; It’s the biggest soapbox in the world.&#160; It’s all that, and actually a lot more.&#160; Because the real power, the serious power, of the bully pulpit is not so much to argue for one position or another in an ongoing debate, but rather to put an issue on the table that wasn’t there before.&#160; And then to frame the structure of discourse surrounding that issue.&#160; Typically, if a president argues that we need to start thinking about something that hasn’t been on the agenda so far, it will instantly be on the agenda from that time forward.&#160; And, typically, a president can also be extremely powerful in shaping the way we think about issues as well, which often constitutes more than half the battle when the issue is ultimately engaged.</p>
<p>I have written three columns about Barack Obama since he was inaugurated in January, including one just a week or two back.&#160; Every one of them has been critical – including one which referred to him as “Obusha” in the title – and if I had to label the Obama presidency with one word so far, it would be “disappointing”.&#160; It’s been this way for me since the beginning of his campaign.&#160; I see his potential to be a great president, particularly given the crises which surround us at the moment, the hunger of the American people for honest leadership, and the near complete implosion of the Republican opposition.&#160; And yet, I also see him consistently failing to act boldly.&#160; Worse, he too frequently carries forward the horrific agenda of his predecessor, sometimes even exacerbating it.</p>
<p>And yet, every once in a while he does something that truly impresses me.&#160; I think the first time I noticed this was his Philadelphia speech on race, which struck me as the most mature, adult conversation a president (or candidate) has had with his country in my lifetime.&#160; In truth, I guess a lot of what he’s done that I’m impressed with has taken the form of speeches, rather than action.&#160; In fairness, it’s pretty early for that latter agenda to bear fruit.&#160; If he’s serious about national healthcare, leaving Iraq, or shutting down Guantánamo, those are things that cannot be done on short order, and I’m not bothered by the fact that they are only in motion rather than completed, four months into this presidency (assuming, that is, that they do get completed).</p>
<p>One could certainly make a good argument that I’m a naïve fool, easily placated by empty rhetoric, while the president’s real agenda is simply more of the same, only this time presented with a happy liberal face fronting predatory policies, rather than a snarling Dick Cheney.&#160; I certainly can see the merit to that assertion, and I don’t even entirely disagree with it.&#160; On the other hand, however – and this is really significant – it ignores the huge potential power of the bully pulpit.</p>
<p>I was reminded of this once again the other week, as Obama gave the commencement speech to graduating students at Arizona State University.&#160; This is the paragraph that jumped out at me:</p>
<p>“You’re taught to chase after the usual brass rings, being on this ‘who’s who’ list or that top 100 list, how much money you make and how big your corner office is; whether you have a fancy enough title or a nice enough car.&#160; Let me suggest that such an approach won’t get you where you want to go.&#160; It displays a poverty of ambition, that in fact, the elevation of appearance over substance, celebrity over character, short-term gain over lasting achievement is precisely what your generation needs to help end.”</p>
<p>Maybe no one else will remember this one paragraph from this one speech.&#160; Then again, that’s what another president from Illinois said about a certain speech he once delivered, and it, ahem, turned out a bit differently in the end.</p>
<p>We should not underestimate the power of the bully pulpit to shape discourse and therefore, ultimately, both culture and policy outcomes.&#160; This can happen in a direct fashion, but the second, third and fourth level effects are the more interesting and potentially most powerful.&#160; By second level effect I mean the power to place an item on the agenda of the nation, as opposed to the (first level) impact of articulating a particular position on an existing policy question.&#160; By third level I mean the ability to frame the way the issue is considered.&#160; And by fourth level I mean the power to configure the very bounds of legitimate discourse.</p>
<p>For example, on the issue of gay marriage, a first level effect of the bully pulpit would be to take a pro position on the issue.&#160; This alone would have a considerable impact, and Obama has the capacity to cut a decade or two off the time it takes to bring this issue to fruition, notwithstanding the fact that the issue is taking off nowadays quite on its own (and quite without the help of the president).</p>
<p>A second level effect, using this same example, would be for him to use his giant soapbox to make the issue a national priority.&#160; Few individuals have that capacity to the degree presidents do, let alone popular ones.&#160; Two sentences in a state of the union address could immediately move the issue to the center of American political discourse.</p>
<p>A third level effect would have to do with the crucial matter of framing the issue.&#160; The question of the question – Is this an issue of preserving tradition versus one of basic human rights and justice? – is crucial to the ultimate matter of the policy’s political prospects.&#160; To use the most oft-quoted example as illustration, if you call it an estate tax, people support it.&#160; Reframe it as a death tax, and support plummets.</p>
<p>Finally, a fourth level effect of the bully pulpit provides for a kind of uber-framing that has the effect of legitimating or delegitimating certain kinds of discourse around an issue.&#160; Conservatives, following the pattern of Jackie Onasis, have semi-succeeded in redefining Ronald Reagan as some sort of demi-god, to the point where in America only political cranks could possibly have an unkind word to say about one of our greatest presidents.&#160; The fact that he was, in reality, actually one of our most destructive shows the power of this effect.&#160; Moving perceptions that far involves legitimating and delegitimating whole lines of thought.&#160; Imagine, for example, if Obama began a process of characterizing opponents of gay rights as people with a similar moral standing as slave holders, both of whom are profoundly about denying fundamental human rights to others.&#160; Were this ethos to take hold, it would instantly delegitimize the opposing position on the issue, making the legislative victories a cakewalk.</p>
<p>Obama cannot do everything, and without question he has an enormous agenda that has been thrust upon him.&#160; With the exceptions of Lincoln and FDR, I doubt any president has been more challenged walking in the door than this one.&#160; Moreover, it would do no good for anybody should he succeed on issues like gay marriage, but fail on the economic rescue or war crises.&#160; Say hello to President Jeb Bush if that happens.</p>
<p>It’s also absolutely the case that presidents have political capital no less limited than is real capital.&#160; What you spend on winning health care you cannot also spend on Iraq.</p>
<p>But, all that said, what if this president were to use the powers of his bully pulpit to reorient public thinking on major issues as dramatically as he began to with respect to life values in his ASU commencement address?</p>
<p>What if Obama profoundly changed the way we think about international relations, international law, international institutions, and America’s place in the world?&#160; So much of what we get wrong in this domain is premised on the original sin of thinking we are somehow morally superior to the rest of the planet, and therefore entitled to special treatment.&#160; So much of what needs to be done in order to reorient our horrid international politics could be unleashed by a new paradigm with respect to America’s place in the world, and the ensuring rights and privileges we assume should follow from there.&#160; A president could take us very far down these paths with thoughtful rhetoric alone.</p>
<p>If he was able to do this, he could also begin to talk sensibly about military spending, as well, particularly given the profound truth – merely waiting to be uttered again by a high level American official, fully fifty years after Eisenhower originally did it – that “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies, in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed”.</p>
<p>Of course, the military-industrial complex Ike warned against only got massively bigger and infinitely more clever at stealing from the hungry and the cold over the following half-century.&#160; Yet the power to correct this tragedy of greed – there is no other term for it – is magnified in the presidential bully pulpit.&#160; Obama may not be willing to spend the political capital to do so.&#160; Or – more unfortunate yet – he may not believe in the cause.&#160; But were he to take on the role of educator-in-chief on this issue, so much could be accomplished.&#160; It is not 1960 anymore, the Cold War is over, and young people in particular seem especially open to new paradigms at this moment.</p>
<p>Another major theme concerns the equitable distribution of wealth inside the country.&#160; The right has been incredibly successful at fomenting the Ayn Randian construction which worships selfishness in such great glory that it is enshrined in public policy.&#160; the result has been an incredible transfer of money over the last three decades, the decimation of the middle class, and a polarization of wealth that has put us now on par with any well-functioning banana republic one might care to choose.&#160; Obama seems completely disinclined toward moving the country on this issue, even away from the worst extremes of Reaganism-Bushism, but imagine what could be accomplished if he starter chastising the malefactors of wealth for their greed?&#160; Actually, we don’t have to imagine.&#160; It’s been done before, and we already know the salutary effects.</p>
<p>Campaign finance and electoral process is another domain that could produce enormous bang for every buck of political capital spent.&#160; By framing the issue as one of invigorating American democracy, Obama could generate enormous pressure leading to reforms it would be ludicrous to resist, generating wholesale enfranchisement of huge swathes of Americans today effectively blocked from voting.&#160; This could change forever the politics of this country.</p>
<p>Similarly, so much of where we go wrong in America is rooted in our system of campaign finance.&#160; As that screaming radical of the looney left, John McCain, once said, “America gets the best Congress money can buy”.&#160; Lots of Americans get enraged about taxes and pork barrel spending, but in doing so they (conveniently) miss the big picture.&#160; The problem is way deeper and way more fundamental.&#160; If a president were ever to lead on this, we could perhaps break the stranglehold that special interests have, not just on spending, but on policy.&#160; Almost every issue domain in American politics would turn out radically different if special interest’s interests were divorced from policy-making.</p>
<p>There are countless examples of what Obama could do with his bully pulpit but, above all, he must use it to completely reorient thinking (or what has passed for it) in this country on the global warming issue.&#160; This one never ceases to amaze me.&#160; Even the deck-chairs-on-the-Titanic metaphor fails to do justice to the sheer stupidity of American policy on this issue.&#160; As climatologists are now discovering that even their gloomy projections of massively destructive warming were insufficiently dire, my jaw sometimes drops so hard it dents the pavement in the realization that this society continues to allow short-term profits for extremely narrow special interests to continue their campaign of disinformation on the issue.&#160; Or that such-and-such a person’s job – or even a million jobs – stand in our way (falsely, at that) of saving the planet from total destruction.&#160; Do the oil and coal barons have some other celestial body their children will be able to inhabit, of which I’m unaware?&#160; Have they colonized Mars in preparation for the offspring of Shell and Exxon/Mobil CEOs to migrate there?&#160; Are there really human beings so impossibly sociopathic that they would trade entire species for a couple of extra decades with a second or third yacht?&#160; Yes, of course, there are.&#160; And the crisis therefore screams out for presidential leadership on the matter.&#160; Would it be so much for the president to say that these “What, me worry?” lies are, in fact, lies?</p>
<p>Barack Obama remains something of an unknown quantity to the world, even after two years of campaigning and a hundred days of governing.&#160; Both progressives and regressives alike have reasons for satisfaction and disappointment with the guy.&#160; Some in the former category still hold out hope that Obama is a practitioner of three-dimensional chess, that he’s smarter and more patient than the rest of us, and that he will implement progressive policy solutions soon enough, but cleverly, strategically, and deliberately.&#160; This may not necessarily (or, alas, may) be an entirely fantastical exercise in wishful thinking.&#160; Sounding reasonable and centrist while Cheney and Limbaugh push the GOP further toward the edge of the cliff with their insane histrionics, for example, is not necessarily a bad way to eventually move even dumbed-down America in the direction of a thoughtful politics.</p>
<p>Whether Obama ultimately turns out to be the clever progressive in centrist’s clothing, or the plain old centrist (and sometimes out-and-out conservative) in centrist’s clothing is yet to be determined.</p>
<p>What is clear, however, is that among any president’s greatest powers is the force of words, and that few presidents have ever had the rhetorical magic this one possesses.</p>
<p>If he uses this power thoughtfully and courageously, he might in so doing produce more positive impact on the direction of this country than would any bill rammed through Congress, or any redeployment of troops.</p>
<p>Getting Americans to think differently about themselves and their politics is the key that unlocks every door.</p>
<p>Obama carries those keys in his pocket.</p>
<p>DAVID MICHAEL GREEN is a professor of political science at Hofstra University in New York.&#160; He is delighted to receive readers’ reactions to his articles ( <a href="mailto:dmg@regressiveantidote.net" type="external">dmg@regressiveantidote.net</a>), but regrets that time constraints do not always allow him to respond.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | presidents especially former presidents sometimes say things surprise one surprising many people one thematically consistent insistence claim weakness office160 making complaint believe lyndon johnson one powerful american presidents one accomplished better worse far colleagues position said frustration something along lines do160 power bomb cant use consistent theme remarkable variety reasons least including fact occupants join rest us describing office powerful position planet160 better worse accurate saying explains conundrum president sits atop country head shoulders beyond every country world terms economic military political cultural power160 may well case 2050 now160 take one simple example consider united states spends 1 trillion per year military160 take countries world nearly 200 combine spending military together equal half amount time american president leads incredibly powerful country office designed founders weak possible least peacetime without country falling apart altogether even weaker articles confederation160 thus presidents institutional power weak country leads powerful160 thus conundrum presidency seems simultaneously powerful powerless course presidents roosevelt johnson nixon reagan especially little bush massively expanded power presidency metastasizing monster youd tempted say founders would longer recognize160 except would160 would probably look uncomfortably familiar fact160 last george would remind quite bit george came know hate much twisted new polity pretzels constitutional engineering order avoid replicating british monarch succeeded failed160 nothing weve referring generation two imperial presidency160 dick cheney way phrase would shortened one word simply emperor160 building foundation established aforementioned presidents radically changed office nineteenth century model bush cheney arrogated power american executive even nixon might fantasized about160 barack obama far displayed somewhat troubling unwillingness entirely renounce claims words greatgreatgreatgreatgrandfathers presidency im afraid160 time think honestly say framework founders remains remarkably intact least men women possessing wisdom courage perform prescribed functions underneath constitutional design160 degree today160 even boy king wasnt able sell social security wall street cronies try might congress said no160 also wasnt entirely able run sham kangaroo court system detainees sham war terrorism either supreme court said no160 course rather exceptional cases160 generally american judiciary defers president high degree regularity especially national security issues160 thats necessarily good thing reality much changed regard since founding country congress hand shown less complete disaster160 republicans guts wisdom democrats none either160 gop near total party discipline uses vote like army rigid automatons would make members borg collective uncomfortable160 controlled congress gave bush nearly everything wanted choosing block wasnt regressive enough completely abdicated responsibilities terms oversight checks balances good governance shape form160 democrats hand wouldnt know profile courage slapped upside head160 took every fat opportunity bush gave right thing stand interests american public mention little thing called law ran hiding instead said little comparative analysis still instructive big way160 institution even bush cheney resemble stalin mao hitler kim khomeini castro160 truth doesnt even resemble gordon brown160 british prime minister sometimes accurately referred elected dictator far powerful institution american president160 courts strike legislation executive orders160 states provinces share power federalist system160 written constitution per se overtly proscribing certain governmental policies160 least normal circumstances separate legislative branch defy prime minister since definition builtin majority simple fact america hugely powerful country serious limitations power american presidency160 turns presidential power often significant even found constitution160 bully pulpit160 power persuade160 biggest soapbox world160 actually lot more160 real power serious power bully pulpit much argue one position another ongoing debate rather put issue table wasnt before160 frame structure discourse surrounding issue160 typically president argues need start thinking something hasnt agenda far instantly agenda time forward160 typically president also extremely powerful shaping way think issues well often constitutes half battle issue ultimately engaged written three columns barack obama since inaugurated january including one week two back160 every one critical including one referred obusha title label obama presidency one word far would disappointing160 way since beginning campaign160 see potential great president particularly given crises surround us moment hunger american people honest leadership near complete implosion republican opposition160 yet also see consistently failing act boldly160 worse frequently carries forward horrific agenda predecessor sometimes even exacerbating yet every something truly impresses me160 think first time noticed philadelphia speech race struck mature adult conversation president candidate country lifetime160 truth guess lot hes done im impressed taken form speeches rather action160 fairness pretty early latter agenda bear fruit160 hes serious national healthcare leaving iraq shutting guantánamo things done short order im bothered fact motion rather completed four months presidency assuming get completed one could certainly make good argument im naïve fool easily placated empty rhetoric presidents real agenda simply time presented happy liberal face fronting predatory policies rather snarling dick cheney160 certainly see merit assertion dont even entirely disagree it160 hand however really significant ignores huge potential power bully pulpit reminded week obama gave commencement speech graduating students arizona state university160 paragraph jumped youre taught chase usual brass rings whos list top 100 list much money make big corner office whether fancy enough title nice enough car160 let suggest approach wont get want go160 displays poverty ambition fact elevation appearance substance celebrity character shortterm gain lasting achievement precisely generation needs help end maybe one else remember one paragraph one speech160 thats another president illinois said certain speech delivered ahem turned bit differently end underestimate power bully pulpit shape discourse therefore ultimately culture policy outcomes160 happen direct fashion second third fourth level effects interesting potentially powerful160 second level effect mean power place item agenda nation opposed first level impact articulating particular position existing policy question160 third level mean ability frame way issue considered160 fourth level mean power configure bounds legitimate discourse example issue gay marriage first level effect bully pulpit would take pro position issue160 alone would considerable impact obama capacity cut decade two time takes bring issue fruition notwithstanding fact issue taking nowadays quite quite without help president second level effect using example would use giant soapbox make issue national priority160 individuals capacity degree presidents let alone popular ones160 two sentences state union address could immediately move issue center american political discourse third level effect would crucial matter framing issue160 question question issue preserving tradition versus one basic human rights justice crucial ultimate matter policys political prospects160 use oftquoted example illustration call estate tax people support it160 reframe death tax support plummets finally fourth level effect bully pulpit provides kind uberframing effect legitimating delegitimating certain kinds discourse around issue160 conservatives following pattern jackie onasis semisucceeded redefining ronald reagan sort demigod point america political cranks could possibly unkind word say one greatest presidents160 fact reality actually one destructive shows power effect160 moving perceptions far involves legitimating delegitimating whole lines thought160 imagine example obama began process characterizing opponents gay rights people similar moral standing slave holders profoundly denying fundamental human rights others160 ethos take hold would instantly delegitimize opposing position issue making legislative victories cakewalk obama everything without question enormous agenda thrust upon him160 exceptions lincoln fdr doubt president challenged walking door one160 moreover would good anybody succeed issues like gay marriage fail economic rescue war crises160 say hello president jeb bush happens also absolutely case presidents political capital less limited real capital160 spend winning health care also spend iraq said president use powers bully pulpit reorient public thinking major issues dramatically began respect life values asu commencement address obama profoundly changed way think international relations international law international institutions americas place world160 much get wrong domain premised original sin thinking somehow morally superior rest planet therefore entitled special treatment160 much needs done order reorient horrid international politics could unleashed new paradigm respect americas place world ensuring rights privileges assume follow there160 president could take us far paths thoughtful rhetoric alone able could also begin talk sensibly military spending well particularly given profound truth merely waiting uttered high level american official fully fifty years eisenhower originally every gun made every warship launched every rocket fired signifies final sense theft hunger fed cold clothed course militaryindustrial complex ike warned got massively bigger infinitely clever stealing hungry cold following halfcentury160 yet power correct tragedy greed term magnified presidential bully pulpit160 obama may willing spend political capital so160 unfortunate yet may believe cause160 take role educatorinchief issue much could accomplished160 1960 anymore cold war young people particular seem especially open new paradigms moment another major theme concerns equitable distribution wealth inside country160 right incredibly successful fomenting ayn randian construction worships selfishness great glory enshrined public policy160 result incredible transfer money last three decades decimation middle class polarization wealth put us par wellfunctioning banana republic one might care choose160 obama seems completely disinclined toward moving country issue even away worst extremes reaganismbushism imagine could accomplished starter chastising malefactors wealth greed160 actually dont imagine160 done already know salutary effects campaign finance electoral process another domain could produce enormous bang every buck political capital spent160 framing issue one invigorating american democracy obama could generate enormous pressure leading reforms would ludicrous resist generating wholesale enfranchisement huge swathes americans today effectively blocked voting160 could change forever politics country similarly much go wrong america rooted system campaign finance160 screaming radical looney left john mccain said america gets best congress money buy160 lots americans get enraged taxes pork barrel spending conveniently miss big picture160 problem way deeper way fundamental160 president ever lead could perhaps break stranglehold special interests spending policy160 almost every issue domain american politics would turn radically different special interests interests divorced policymaking countless examples obama could bully pulpit must use completely reorient thinking passed country global warming issue160 one never ceases amaze me160 even deckchairsonthetitanic metaphor fails justice sheer stupidity american policy issue160 climatologists discovering even gloomy projections massively destructive warming insufficiently dire jaw sometimes drops hard dents pavement realization society continues allow shortterm profits extremely narrow special interests continue campaign disinformation issue160 suchandsuch persons job even million jobs stand way falsely saving planet total destruction160 oil coal barons celestial body children able inhabit im unaware160 colonized mars preparation offspring shell exxonmobil ceos migrate there160 really human beings impossibly sociopathic would trade entire species couple extra decades second third yacht160 yes course are160 crisis therefore screams presidential leadership matter160 would much president say worry lies fact lies barack obama remains something unknown quantity world even two years campaigning hundred days governing160 progressives regressives alike reasons satisfaction disappointment guy160 former category still hold hope obama practitioner threedimensional chess hes smarter patient rest us implement progressive policy solutions soon enough cleverly strategically deliberately160 may necessarily alas may entirely fantastical exercise wishful thinking160 sounding reasonable centrist cheney limbaugh push gop toward edge cliff insane histrionics example necessarily bad way eventually move even dumbeddown america direction thoughtful politics whether obama ultimately turns clever progressive centrists clothing plain old centrist sometimes outandout conservative centrists clothing yet determined clear however among presidents greatest powers force words presidents ever rhetorical magic one possesses uses power thoughtfully courageously might produce positive impact direction country would bill rammed congress redeployment troops getting americans think differently politics key unlocks every door obama carries keys pocket david michael green professor political science hofstra university new york160 delighted receive readers reactions articles dmgregressiveantidotenet regrets time constraints always allow respond 160 | 1,811 |
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