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Ever More Shocked, Never Yet Awed
By David Swanson
March 18, 2013
This report is being made available in an attractive 86-page PDF from ColdType here.
Alex Bell has kindly produced an ePub and a Kindle version, also available here: ePub and Kindle.
It is also available at http://davidswanson.org/iraq


Congress Today: Who Does it Really Represent?

With U.S. approval of Congress holding steady at a whopping 15%, one wonders just who it is the elected representatives are representing. Perhaps we can answer that question, by looking at some of their recent activities, and considering some of the things currently left undone.

Protesting War Criminal Rice's (Hypocritical) Speech "Why Democracy Matters" to Minnesota "Law Day" Participants

----------------PRESS RELEASE--------------------------------------------------------

Contact:  WAMM (612-827-5364) or Coleen Rowley

Women Against Military Madness’ “Tackling Torture at the Top” Committee will lead a demonstration outside the Minneapolis Hilton, 1001 Marquette Avenue South, beginning at 4:00 p.m.  (Thursday, May 23).  

A number of peace activists will be wearing orange jumpsuits, to keep reminding the world of the innocent Gitmo detainees who are on hunger strike because they are so hopeless at being held indefinitely without the right to even know of the charges against them.  

Afghanistan Drawdown, 20 More Years Of War

 

Source: Afghan Women's Writing Project "A Mother Expecting Still"
In order to reduce the number of boots on the ground in Afghanistan, the Pentagon asked Congress for $9.6 billion of its allowance to be moved from one budget line to another. They asked permission to shift funds away from research and weapons purchases to instead “support funding shortfalls” in transportation, due to the high cost of removing from landlocked, mountainous Afghanistan. The Pentagon is reluctant to run short on funds for fuel, engaged as it is in the business of maintaining the largest carbon footprint on the planet.
 
But lest you make the mistake of thinking that withdrawal of many troops from Afghanistan means the war is over, a Pentagon official testifying to the Senate Armed Services committee said that the current war on terrorism could continue for ten, or maybe even twenty, more years. Also, now battlefields are chosen by "the enemy" and thus can and do keep cropping up in all sorts of unlikely places -- even Boston.
 
Downsizing the occupation consists of relying more and more on drones, or flying killer robots, and less and less on soldiers. Our mammoth fortified “embassy” in Kabul isnearly complete, Pepsi is building a new bottling plant there, and our imperial ambitions are leaning toward Africa while simultaneously pivoting to the Pacific. Look for more request for advances on the Pentagon's allowance.
 
What chaos do we leave in our wake as we "exit" Afghanistan? Every major news outlet (all owned by a few corporations, all headed by wealthy white men) participates in churning out the falsehoods that conceal the weeping of the bereaved in Kabul and Kandahar -- so that people in North America cannot hear them. 

Here, for example, is the New York Times reporting on negotiation of the devilish details of the "strategic partnership agreement" for post-2014:

Iraq Today: America's Imperial Legacy

 

Iraq Today: America's Imperial Legacy

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

US imperial wars reflect mass slaughter, widespread destruction, ecocide, resource theft, exploitation, unspeakable human pain, suffering and misery, as well as permanent occupation.

 

Washington came to Iraq to stay. US military and other security elements infest the region. It's the oil and unchallenged Middle East dominance, stupid.

 

Mission Creep Toward Full-Scale War on Syria

 

Mission Creep Toward Full-Scale War on Syria

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

On May 20, Secretary of State John Kerry headed back to the Middle East. It's his fourth regional visit since January. 

 

On May 21, he met Oman's Sultan Qaboos. An air defense system/weapons sale, Syria, and related issues were discussed.

 

Protest at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at 10 a.m. This Friday

You know how the government is owned by the lobbyists? Well, on Friday, we're marching on the lobbyists.

A group of unemployed workers and their families have spent the last week marching all the way from Philadelphia to DC, with the intent of marching on the US Chamber of Commerce's headquarters this Friday, May 24th. Their march is called "Operation Green Jobs," and they'll be holding the US Chamber accountable for buying off congress and using their millions to stop action on jobs, climate change, and a more equitable tax code.

WHO: Operation Green Jobs
WHAT: March on the US Chamber of Commerce
WHEN: Friday, May 24 at 10 AM
WHERE: 1615 H St NW, Washington DC 20062
If you can't make it in person, you can still join the virtual march at http://shutthechamber.org/virtualmarch. All you need to do is click the link, tell your story of how corporate greed has affected you, and your story will be seen by the world with your permission.

Whether it's any of the imperial wars for resources, catastrophic climate change, crippling poverty and unemployment or austerity, all roads lead to the US Chamber of Commerce and their lobbying efforts. Join the march in DC on Friday, or join the virtual march at http://shutthechamber.org/virtualmarch.

In solidarity,
Carl Gibson

Lead Organizer, Shut The Chamber

Obama Promises His Speech Will End Some Day

President Obama is expected to announce that the eternal war on the world will have an end.

When?

He won't say.

I too have an announcement.  I promise my drinking problem will end some day.

When?

I'm not saying.  But the celebrations of the armistice in 1918 began when plans for it were announced, and the partying continued until it actually happened.  Perhaps that is the best approach here.  As an aid to your festivities, let me present the . . .

Afternoon Obama Murder Rap Drinking Game
(which I promise to stop playing soon)

1. The President is going to admit that he has a murder problem and propose to correct it by murdering less in certain countries.  If examples occur to you of crimes you might commit that you could not continue committing by promising to limit your criminal activities in some countries but not in others, DRINK!

2. The President is going to claim to have targeted, or to have allowed an unnamed John Brennan to have targeted, only one U.S. citizen for murder but to have killed three by mistake, on top of three killed by President Bush by mistake.  If you can think of outrages you might commit that you could not go on committing by claiming that 86% of them were accidental side effects, DRINK!

3. The President is going to claim that the one U.S. citizen he or his subordinate chose to murder was an imminent (meaning eventual theoretical) threat to violently attack the United States, that capture was infeasible (meaning the target was hiding following lots of death threats, but his location was known anyway), and that said citizen was a senior operational leader of al Qaeda (or an associated group or was an adherent or a backstage groupie who had once met a guy whose cousin knew where an al Qaeda meeting was held one time).  If you understand what that means, DRINK!

4. The President is going to hope that nobody notices that laws against war and murder don't include exceptions for people who invent lists of arcane criteria that they require themselves to meet before murdering.  If you think you could invent and meet at least three qualifications before engaging in some immoral behavior, DRINK!

5. The President is going to hope nobody notices that he did not actually meet his own criteria before murdering Awlaki.  Attorney General Eric Holder now says Awlaki was killed for actions, not words.  Prior to the deed, Holder said it was the "hatred spewed" on Awlaki's blog that put him "on the same list with bin Laden."  Asked if he wanted Awlaki captured or killed, Holder did not say "captured if feasible," but evaded the question.  Awlaki, as far as we know, was never a member of al Qaeda.  Obama's and Holder's claims about Awlaki's role in terrorist attacks are undocumented claims.  No evidence has been presented and no charges were ever brought in court.  If you think shouting "Whoever he is, and whatever he's charged with, he did it!" would be a nifty way to get out of jury duty, DRINK!

6. The President is going to speed past the fact that over 99% of the people he's murdered have not been U.S. citizens, and that the pretense of justification so lazily applied to U.S. citizens has not been bothered with at all in these cases.  He's not going to discuss "signature strikes" targeting unknown people and whoever's near them, or the targeting of the rescuers of victims.  He's not going to discuss children, women, seniors.  He's not going to discuss the posthumous identification of males as "enemy combatants" -- a non-legal term that adds insult to murder.  He's not going to discuss the many known cases in which the victims could quite feasibly have been captured, were clearly not involved with al Qaeda in any way, and lacked any capacity whatsoever to threaten the United States.  He's going to propose applying the fraudulent, meaningless, and illegal standards he applies to murdering U.S. citizens to murdering non-U.S. citizens in the future ... in some countries.  If you can think of some people who might not be satisfied with this reform, DRINK!

7. The President is going to claim to be moving some but not all drone kill operations from a secret agency technically lacking in Congressional oversight to a department Congress simply chooses not to oversee.  If this falls short of what you can imagine when you hear "most transparent administration ever," DRINK!

8. The President will not be speaking about how some 75 other nations with drones should begin applying his standards to their own behavior.  If you think such matters are worth discussing, DRINK!

9. The President is going to brush over the question of where and how he will be ordering the murder of people by means other than missiles.  If you can think of ways this might become seen as a problem down the road, DRINK!

10. The President is going to speed past the existence of a massive ongoing U.S. war on Afghanistan, larger now than when Obama moved into the White House, and expected to continue for many years after it "ends" in another year and a half.  If his ability to get away with this strikes you as perhaps what he must love most about drones and how they change the conversation, DRINK!

11. If you have concerns that go unanswered about the global expansion of U.S. bases, threats to Syria, weapons provided to Israel, threats to Iran, or the gargantuan military budget, DRINK!

12. The President will leak a great deal of information about his kill list program in this speech, as he has done on some previous "I killed bin Laden!" occasions, and yet will fail to prosecute himself for espionage at the end of the speech.  If you believe laws should be applied equally to all, DRINK!

Syria News May 23

 

 

Syria opposition calls for for rebels across the country to send reinforcements in embattled Qusair - reuters.com

FSA Tawhid Brigade in Aleppo sends 300 support units to al-Qusayr - Anadolu Agency

Idriss to Washington Post: Free Syria Army has just received a new shipment of 35 tons of weapons from Saudi Arabia - moqawama.org

Syria Gov on the Battle for Qusayr: First Stage Ended Successfully, Second Stage Launched - almanar.com

Hizbullah-Backed Syrian Troops Advance in Northern Qusayr Town - Naharnet

Syrian Army detains Saudi, Qatari officers caught aiding rebel forces in Qusair - World Tribune

Qusayr Battle Far From Over - Al Akhbar English

Friends of Syria demands Hezbollah, Iran fighters withdraw - Yahoo! News

German Intelligence Believes Assad Regime Regaining Lost Power - SPIEGEL ONLINE

This Russian Mobile SAM Site Could Be a Serious Ace Up Syria's Sleeve - gizmodo.com

VIDEO: Intercepted Radio Conversations Gives An Insight Into The Fighting In Qusayr - Brown Moses Blog

Sectarian violence over Syria war rages in Lebanon's Tripoli - Yahoo! News

Attacks against Lebanese Alawites deepen fears - wwlp.com

The Jihadist Threat to Lebanon - Al-Monitor

UN: Fighting displaces 70-80% of Palestinians in Syria - AFP

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Sec’y of State Kerry says US, allies ready to step up aid to Syrian opposition in the event that the Assad regime is unwilling to negotiate - The Washington Post

Syria's Reaction to Proposed Peace Talks 'Constructive', Says Lavrov — Naharnet

Syrian Opposition’s Stance On Peace Talks ‘Not Reassuring’ - Lavrov - RIA Novosti

FSA chief Idriss says he would not attend the Geneva peace conference: "It's not valuable to go to negotiations when we are weak on the ground" - Washington Post

Kerry Mideast Talks on Syria to Include Russian Call for Involving Iran - VOA

UK sees no Syria peace deal with Assad in place - AFP

UK: EU Should Be Ready To Change Syria Arms Embargo To Pressure Assad - WSJ.com

Austria Ordered the Peacekeepers to Withdraw from Golan if EU Arms Initiated Syrian Revolts - Austrian Tribune

France says Syria's Assad must give up power to end war - Reuters

Qatar PM says Assad departure a must for Syria peace - AFP

US Syria Arms Bill Real Bad For Russia - Business Insider

British politician compares London machete attack to U.K. policy in Syria, Killer: “The only reasons we have done this is because Muslims are dying every day" - washingtonpost.com

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Hacker Group Redhack Releases Alleged Turkey's Gendarmerie Intelligence Unit Cables on Reyhanlı, Al Nusra Suspected to be Related to the Blasts - Bianet

PHOTOS: Photos of the gendarmerie’s Reyhanlı attack document - CyberGuerrilla soApboX

Turkey shuts Syria border crossing after deadly bombs - Yahoo! News

Syria: 10,000 people at the gates of Turkey - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) International

Turkey and Saudi Arabia reiterated their common understanding on the civil war in Syria - hurriyetdailynews.com

Iraqi forces dismantle cell linked to Jabhat al-Nusra in Syria - Mawtani

Al Nusra leader in hiding after disputed merger - Worldnews.com

 

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

The Government's List of "Anti-Government" People

Should the U.S. government be building a list of people whom a stranger has concluded based on as little as a moment's interaction are "anti-government"?  Look at this photo of a U.S. Census laptop.  There's a box to check if a respondent is reluctant to participate in the census.

The next screen wants the census interviewer to explain the potential interviewee's reluctance:

Notice that there is a box for hostile or threatening.  That seems important.  There are boxes for just not interested or too busy.  There is a box for those who object that too many personal questions are asked.  The basics all seem to be covered.  But the Census employee is to check multiple boxes, "all that apply," and one is  "Anti-government concerns."  What does that mean?  What do Census workers think it means?  It clearly means something other than reluctant to give the government this information.  To be "anti-" the government sounds like someone is in favor of overthrowing the government.  And a government that thinks purely in terms of violence would inevitably interpret such a desire as one in favor of violently overthrowing the government.  But surely nobody tells a representative of the government that they favor its violent overthrow unless they don't really take themselves seriously and are not actually a threat.  So maybe this "Anti-government concerns" box is equivalent to "Seems nuts," but what sort of training does the survey taker have in mental health?  The serious question is what lists your name goes on if somebody marks you down as Anti-government.

Talk Nation Radio: Carl Gibson on Shutting Down the U.S. Chamber of Commerce

https://soundcloud.com/davidcnswanson/talk-nation-radio-carl-gibson

Carl Gibson is currently engaged in a Green Jobs March from Philadelphia to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., as part of a campaign called ShutTheChamber.org.  You can join the march virtually by uploading a photo on their website, or you can join in reality at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce across from the White House at 10 a.m. Friday, May 24th.  Gibson is lead organizer of ShutTheChamber and cofounder of USUncut.  He discusses the damage the U.S. Chamber does to our political system pushing environmental destruction, wars, and the plutocratic concentration of wealth.  Gibson says that small businesses paying dues to local chambers that themselves have little in common with the U.S. Chamber end up funding assaults on small businesses, as the local chambers fund the state chambers which fund the U.S. Chamber -- an institution that also serves to funnel vast quantities of unaccountable corporate money into politics.

Total run time: 29:00

Host: David Swanson.
Producer: David Swanson.
Music by Duke Ellington.

Download or get embed code from Archive or  AudioPort or LetsTryDemocracy.

Syndicated by Pacifica Network.

Please encourage your local radio stations to carry this program every week!

Past Talk Nation Radio shows are all available free and complete at
http://davidswanson.org/talknationradio

Connecticut Advances Conversion from War to Peace Economy

The Connecticut legislature has sent to the governor to sign a bill that would create a commission to develop a plan for, among other things:

"the diversification or conversion of defense-related industries with an emphasis on encouraging environmentally-sustainable and civilian product manufacturing. On or before December 1, 2014, the commission shall submit such report to the Governor and, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to commerce."

The commission "shall Advise the General Assembly and the Department of Economic and Community Development on issues relating to the diversification or conversion of defense-related industries" among other things.

Obama's War on Free Expression

 

Obama's War on Free Expression

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

It's the most fundamental right. Without it all others are endangered. Obama's waging war to destroy it. He's done so throughout his tenure. 

 

He targeted AP. He did so unjustifiably. A previous article discussed it.

 

Israel Heads Closer to War on Syria

 

Israel Heads Closer to War on Syria

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

Syria is Washington's war. It was planned years ago. It began in early 2011. No end of conflict looks near. Escalating it appears likely.

 

Israel's very much involved. It abhors peace and stability. Its history reflects belligerence. It’s a direct threat. It borders Syria. 

 

Syria News May 22

 

Syrian and Hezbollah Fighters Push Qusayr Assault - NYTimes.com

Hezbollah sends new fighters to bloody Syria battle - Yahoo!7

Syria: Turning Point in the Battle of Qusayr - Al Akhbar English

FSA Warns Shiite/Alawite Towns Will Be Wiped Out if Qusair Falls to Government Troops, “We don’t want this to happen, but it will be a reality imposed on everyone” - Bloomberg

VIDEO (Arabic): FSA Colonel: Shiite/ Alawite Villages Will be Wiped Out if Qusair Falls - YouTube

Syria: Main al-Nusra Front commander killed in Qusayr clashes - PressTV

State Dep official: Iranians joining Hezbollah in key Syria battle, His information was based on reports from FSA commanders - AFP

Footage from rebels shows Iranian munitions in Syria - The Times of Israel

U.K. Pushes EU Blacklisting of Hezbollah Military Wing - WSJ.com

Tripoli braces for the worst as fighting enters fourth day - THE DAILY STAR

Baalbek residents back Hezbollah in Qusair fight - THE DAILY STAR

Israeli military chief issues stark warning after Syria, Israel trade fire across border - Fox News

Syrian army says captured Israeli Jeep is proof of aid to rebels - FRANCE 24

VIDEO: Israeli Jeep Used by FSA Terrorists Found in Qusayr by the Syrian Army - YouTube

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UN mediator: Syria government, rebels preparing for peace talks - NBC World News

Syria submits five names for possible peace talks - AFP

Syria Opposition Signals Tough Line on Peace Talks - ABC News

Syrian National Coalition to partake in 'Friends of Syria' talks - Ammon News

Iran wants in on Syria peace conference - AFP

Turkey's green light to Iran role in Syria talks a welcome step - todayszaman

Lavrov warns of hidden obstacles in upcoming conference on Syria - Russia Beyond The Headlines

Russia's Lavrov on Solving Syria through Diplomacy (Text of Interview) - Informed Comment

Top Russian security official visits US, He will deliver Putin’s response to a letter Obama sent in April - RT Russian politics

US President Obama to visit Russia with the Syrian crisis expected to top the agenda - hurriyetdailynews.com

Senate panel delivers bipartisan rebuke to Obama with vote to arm Syrian rebels - The Hill's Global Affairs

Armed, Bearded Syrians Flourish In Southern Turkey  - al-monitor.com

Three Chemical Weapon Specialist Answer Questions About Chemical Weapons In Syria - Brown Moses Blog

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Tensions Rise as Barzani Closes Syrian-Iraqi Kurdistan Border - Al-Monitor

Barzani warns PYD over its Syria policy in deepening row - todayszaman

Border Arrests Reveal Disunity, Conflict Among Syrian Kurds - Al-Monitor

 

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

Final Push for Signers & Donors for NY Times Full Page Ad

by Debra Sweet               The timing could not be better for our message to appear in The New York Times.  We are making a major push today for $9,703 to place the ad immediately for publication on stand-by this week. President Obama will give a major speech Thursday at the National Defense University in Washington, reportedly about drones and Guantanamo. 

Are Japanese Bonds Signaling Trouble?

 

Are Japanese Bonds Signaling Trouble?

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

A previous article discussed the disconnect between soaring markets and troubled economies. Liquidity driven markets only skyrocket so long.

 

What can't go on forever, won't. No one's sure when. Eventually the music stops. When that happens, watch out. Signals provide clues.

 

Reinventing Guatemalan History

 

Reinventing Guatemalan History

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

History reinventors support despots. Social democrats are vilified. Crimes of war, against humanity and genocide are sanitized. They're whitewashed. They disappear in plain sight.

 

Wall Street Journal columnist Mary O'Grady tried reinventing Guatemalan history. She failed. More on that below.

 

Supreme Court Colludes with Monsanto

 

Supreme Court Colludes with Monsanto

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

It's no surprise. Michael Parenti calls America's High Court its "autocratic branch." 

 

It's notoriously pro-business. It's longstanding. In Santa Clara County v. Southern Pacific Railway (1886), it granted corporations legal personhood.

 

Iran War Weekly - May 20, 2013

Iran War Weekly

May 20, 2013

 

Hello All – It’s official.  After almost a year of no progress in negotiations between “the West” and Iran about Iran’s nuclear program, last week’s meetings in Istanbul confirmed that there would be, indeed, no progress until at least after Iran’s presidential election, which will take place on June 14th.  Whatever the outcome of the election, it is likely that the post-election resumption of talks (if any) will take place in an international landscape greatly altered by the fighting in Syria.

 

Syria News May 21

 

 

Battle in Syria Pulls Hezbollah Further Into Assad’s War - NYTimes.com

Obama voices concern to Lebanon on Hezbollah role in Syria - Reuters

Syria Says the Army Restores Security and Stability to Most of al-Qseir in Homs- SANA, Syria

Idriss says Free Syrian Army well armed and determined to defend the city, warns Lebanon to restrain Hezbollah - THE DAILY STAR

Senior Hizbullah Official Killed in Syria Fighting - Israel National News

FSA: Mustafa Badreddine Leading Hizbullah Operations in Qusayr — Naharnet

Hariri slams state inaction over Hezbollah role in Syria - THE DAILY STAR

Tensions over Syria convulse Lebanese city again, 5 killed - Reuters

Attacks kill 95 in Iraq, hint of Syrian spillover - Yahoo! News

Iraqi campaign boosts Iraq-Syria border security - Al-Shorfa

Tribal and Islamist clashes in Syria reveal deep divisions - The National

Syria's Raqa opposition chief kidnapped, NGO says - afp

Video shows Syrian Islamists flogging men over illegal marriage - Yahoo! News

VIDEO: Sharia in Syria - whipping of men - LiveLeak.com

VIDEO: Evidence Of Iranian Arms Provided To Syria In The Past 18 Months - Brown Moses Blog

VIDEO: Syria crisis: 'Iraqi Shia fighters' join regime in battle - BBC News

VIDEO: Syria's makeshift oil refineries: 'It is like hell' –  guardian.co.uk

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Friends of Syria to push for peace conference - AFP

Russia: Assad foes must come to Syria meeting without conditions - Reuters

Syria top priority as Saudi crown prince visits Turkey - Alarabiya.net

William Hague hints at veto of Syria arms ban - FT.com

Syrian opposition meets in Madrid over conflict - AFP

Syria, Russia, and the S-300: Military and Technical Background - canadafreepress.co

VIDEO: The coalition of peaceful change forces welcomes peace initative for Syria - YouTube

 

To contact Bartolo email peaceloversingle@gmail.com

 

Official Story has Odd Wrinkles: A Pack of Questions about the Boston Bombing

 

By Dave Lindorff


           (This article was originally written forWhoWhatWhy News)


CIA: An Idea Whose Time Has Gone

There's a contradiction built into every campaign promise about transparent government beyond the failure to keep the promises.  Our government is, in significant portion, made up of secret operations, operations that include warmaking, kidnapping, torture, assassination, and infiltrating and overthrowing governments.  A growing movement is ready to see that end.

The Central Intelligence Agency is central to our foreign policy, but there is nothing intelligent about it, and there is no good news to be found regarding it.  Its drone wars are humanitarian and strategic disasters.  The piles of cash it keeps delivering to Hamid Karzai fuel corruption, not democracy.  Whose idea was it that secret piles of cash could create democracy? (Nobody's, of course, democracy being the furthest thing from U.S. goals.)  Lavishing money on potential Russian spies and getting caught helps no one, and not getting caught would have helped no one.  Even scandals that avoid mentioning the CIA, like Benghazigate, are CIA blowback and worse than we're being told.

We've moved from the war on Iraq, about which the CIA lied, and its accompanying atrocities serving as the primary recruiting tool for anti-U.S. terrorists, to the drone wars filling that role.  We've moved from kidnapping and torture to kidnapping and torture under a president who, we like to fantasize, doesn't really mean it.  But the slave-owners who founded this country knew very well what virtually anyone would do if you gave them power, and framed the Constitution so as not to give presidents powers like these.

There are shelves full in your local bookstore of books pointing out the CIA's outrageous incompetence.  The brilliant idea to give Iran plans for a nuclear bomb in order to prevent Iran from ever developing a nuclear bomb is one of my favorites. 

But books that examine the illegality, immorality, and anti-democratic nature of even what the CIA so ham-handedly intends to do are rarer.  A new book called Dirty Wars, also coming out as a film in June, does a superb job.  I wrote a review a while back.  Another book, decades old now, might be re-titled "Dirty Wars The Prequel."  I'm thinking of Douglas Valentine's The Phoenix Program

It you read The Phoenix Program about our (the CIA's and "special" forces') secret crimes in Eastern Asia and Dirty Wars about our secret crimes in Western Asia, and remember that similar efforts were focused on making life hell for millions of people in Latin America in between these twin catastrophes, and that some of those running Phoenix were brought away from similar sadistic pursuits in the Philippines, it becomes hard to play along with the continual pretense that each uncovered outrage is an aberration, that the ongoing focus of our government's foreign policy "isn't who we are." 

Targeted murders with knives in Vietnam were justified with the same rhetoric that now justifies drone murders.  The similarities include the failure of primary goals, the counterproductive blowback results, the breeding of corruption abroad and at home, the moral and political degradation, the erosion of democratic ways of thinking, and -- of course -- the racist arrogance and cultural ignorance that shape the programs and blind their participants to what they are engaged in.  The primary difference between Phoenix and drone kills is that the drones don't suffer PTSD.  The same, however, cannot be said for the drone pilots

"The problem," wrote Valentine, "was one of using means which were antithetical to the desired end, of denying due process in order to create a democracy, of using terror and repression to foster freedom.  When put into practice by soldiers taught to think in conventional military and moral terms, Contre Coup engendered transgressions on a massive scale.  However, for those pressing the attack on VCI, the bloodbath was constructive, for indiscriminate air raids and artillery barrages obscured the shadow war being fought in urban back alleys and anonymous rural hamlets.  The military shield allowed a CIA officer to sit behind a steel door in a room in the U.S. Embassy, insulated from human concern, skimming the Phoenix blacklist, selecting targets for assassination, distilling power from tragedy."

At some point, enough of us will recognize that government conducted behind a steel door can lead only to ever greater tragedy. 

In an email that Valentine wrote for RootsAction.org on Monday, he wrote: "Through its bottomless black bag of unaccounted-for money, much of it generated by off-the-books proprietary companies and illegal activities like drug smuggling, the CIA spreads corruption around the world.  This corruption undermines our own government and public officials.  And the drone killings of innocent men, women, and children generate fierce resentment.. . .Tell your representative and senators right now that the CIA is the antithesis of democracy and needs to be abolished."

America: A Modern-Day Sparta

 

America: A Modern-Day Sparta

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

Permanent war is longstanding policy. America deplores peace. Throughout its history, it's waged war annually at home and/or abroad. Today it does so globally.

 

Giving peace a chance is loathed. Direct or proxy wars rage in multiple countries. 

 

Guantanamo Force-Feeding Constitutes Torture

 

Guantanamo Force-Feeding Constitutes Torture

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

Guantanamo detention constitutes torture, abuse and ill-treatment. Long-term detention compounds it. 

 

Force-feeding increases unconscionable pain and suffering. Doing so violates core rule of law principles.

 

Disconnect: Soaring Markets/Troubled Economies

 

Disconnect: Soaring Markets/Troubled Economies

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

Forget everything you learned about markets, economics and finance. Perhaps Newton, Galileo, Copernicus, Darwin, Freud, Einstein, and other noted figures were wrong.

 

Central banks run today's world. Major ones matter most. Money printing madness controls everything. Love doesn't make the world go round. Liquidity-driven markets reflect the power of bankers to do it. 

America Honors Its Worst

 

America Honors Its Worst

 

by Stephen Lendman

 

Presidential Medals of Freedom are awarded annually. They mock what they claim to represent. Many go to deplorable recipients. 

 

Previous dishonorees include GHW Bush, Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, Robert Gates, Henry Kissinger, Tony Blair, Shimon Peres, Margaret Thatcher, Alvaro Uribe, Colin Powell, Madeleine Albright, and Alan Greenspan among others.

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