Entries Tagged 'Empire' ↓

Last week Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spent three days in Pakistan defending U.S. Policy before a variety of groups. Some of the audiences were blunt and combative, reflecting the dramatic decline in popularity of U. S. policy. The Pakistani criticisms include U.S. interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs, U.S. failure to allow Pakistani textiles into American markets in desired quotas, and the growing U.S. relationship with India particularly on nuclear matters.

But the issue that drew the most attention and anger is the U.S. use of unmanned drone airplanes to kill people in Pakistan, a program guided offshore by civilians from as far away as western United States. Some Pakistanis told Clinton that the program amounted to “execution without trial”. Others asked Clinton if she viewed these drone attacks as terrorism. “No, I do not”, she replied, but refused to comment further. Continue reading →

by Ivan Eland, Independent Institute

A recent article in the New York Times reported that the military has become frustrated with President Barack Obama because he hasn’t quickly decided to risk more of their lives in an Afghan war that is likely to be unwinnable. In a post-World War II world that has featured a non-traditional militarized foreign policy of profligate interventions into the affairs of other nations, the U.S. military and its opinion have acquired great prestige and are accorded hushed reverence in American society. The military and flag are worshiped as never before. But is this really patriotism? Continue reading →

The Great French Philosopher Voltaire once observed “ It is dangerous to be right when your Government is wrong”. I am afraid that observation comes very close to the political climate of the United States in this day and time.

Voltaire made that observation after he had been exiled to a penal colony Island by the King of France who didn’t take more harsh action because Voltaire was loved by the public who agreed with his writings that the King was a despot. Continue reading →

OCTOBER 7, 2001: the U.S. attacked Afghanistan. Many lies have been used to justify the continuation and escalation of this war. President Obama sent 34,000 more troops to occupy Afghanistan, and is considering sending as many as 45,000 more, not including tens of thousands of private U.S. contractors.

LIES USED TO JUSTIFY THIS INCLUDE:

Afghanistan is a “good war” against the “real terrorists” who attacked Americans Continue reading →

by Ron Paul

This past week there has been a lot of discussion and debate on the continuing war in Afghanistan. Lasting twice as long as World War II and with no end in sight, the war in Afghanistan has been one of the longest conflicts in which our country has ever been involved. The situation has only gotten worse with recent escalations.

The current debate is focused entirely on the question of troop levels. How many more troops should be sent over in order to pursue the war? The administration has already approved an additional 21,000 American service men and women to be deployed by November, which will increase our troop levels to 68,000. Will another 40,000 do the job? Or should we eventually build up the levels to 100,000 in addition to that? Why not 500,000 – just to be “safe”? And how will public support be brought back around to supporting this war again when 58 percent are now against it? Continue reading →

by Eric Margolis

Truth is war’s first casualty. The Afghan war’s biggest untruth is, “we’ve got to fight terrorists over there so we don’t have to fight them at home.”

Many North Americans still buy this lie because they believe the 9/11 attacks came directly from the Afghanistan-based al-Qaida and Taliban movements.

False. The 9/11 attacks were planned in Germany and Spain, and conducted mainly by U.S.-based Saudis to punish America for supporting Israel. Continue reading →

The Nobel Committee’s tradition is long and inglorious, but for the well-informed no surprise. Consider its past honorees:

– Henry Kissinger;

– Shimon Peres;

– Yitzhak Rabin;

– Menachem Begin;

– FW de Klerk;

– Al Gore;

– The Dalai Lama, a covert CIA asset;

– Kofi Annan, a reliable imperial war supporter;

– UN Peacekeeping (Paramilitary) Forces that foster more conflicts than they resolve;

– Elie Wiesel, a hawkish Islamophobe;

– Norman Borlaug, whose “green revolution” wheat strains killed millions;

– Medecins Sans Frontieres, co-founded by rabid war hawk Bernard Kouchner, now France’s Minister of Foreign and European Affairs;

– Woodrow Wilson who broke his pledge to keep “us out of war,”

– Jimmy Carter who backed an array of tyrants and drew the Soviets into its Afghan quagmire that took a million or more lives;

– George C. Marshall, instrumental in creating NATO and waging war against North Korea;

– Theodore Roosevelt who once said “I should welcome almost any war, for I think this country needs one;” and

– other undeserving winners….”War is peace,” what Orwell understood and why the award legitimizes wars and the leaders who wage them.
Continue reading →

Dear Mr. Obama,
This morning your minions sent me the following message over your signature: Continue reading →

Lou Dobbs has a petition out to have ALL U.S. troops brought home – not just from Iraq and Afghanistan, but the entire world. Congratulations, Lou!

Click here to sign the petition

Lou’s message to bring the troops home:
Continue reading →

Some fantastic commentary on the economy, foreign policy, empire, and more. Watch it: