90% of Americans would actively oppose Obama's wars if all Americans (conscription) had to participate and these wars had to be paid for while being fought (tax-increases).
Look out on your classroom and imagine the actions that the parents, of your students, would take if their little darlings had to participate in Americas military misadventures.
American empathy for the Libyan rebels would disappear - just as it never existed for those American kids, lacking other economic opportunities, that ended up in Iraq or Afghanistan over the last decade.
The Arab Spring began when the police in Tunisia refused to fire on the peaceful protesters. As one Tunisian put it, "Tunisia is a peaceful country, we don't shoot each other, the robbers don't even use guns."
While the US has a small elite that oppresses the masses, America is a violent country where shooting each other is an accepted dimension of American life.
Remember Kent State. Wisconsin Governor Walker recently admitted that he considered planting terrorists among the peaceful protesters in Madison. Besides, if the police refused to fire on us, Blackwater would gleefully pull the trigger and then cash their checks from uncle Sam.
Productivity doubles in the US over the last 40 years, so wages doubled also?
No! Wages are down 7%.
Congress needs to investigate this very real, home-grown, threat to America.
Note that American workers have been screwed over the last 40 YEARS - Democrats are fine with King's investigation as it is a distraction from their decades-long complicity with Republicans to exploit the American worker.
"Clinton, W & Obama ...billionaires are their long-lost parent ..." Very perceptive.
Juan, you mentioned the use of drone attacks as murder, don't forget that Barack Obama's administration has authorised the assassination of the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a rare move against an American citizen.
Democrats are going to do nothing for the left until the left can show the Dems that they will not vote for Democrats.
Historically, the left's three options in an election are: to vote Democratic, vote independent or not to vote - all three options result in a conservative government.
A fourth voting option, which may sound counter intuitive, is for the left to vote Republican. You still end up with a conservative government, but at least you got rid of the faux Democrats and have shown that the days of electing conservative Democrats are over.
Could you imagine if McCain and Republican chambers in Congress were elected in 2008. They would have done the same things Obama has done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Banking, taxes, etc. I think the 2010 mid-terms would have elected veto proof Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.
Iran's government denounced the 911 attacks on the US. Candlelit vigils were held in Iran and 60K observed a moment of silence in a sports stadium. Us & Iranian forces liberated Herat, Afghanistan in 2001.
As the US prepared for the invasion of Afghanistan, Tehran was immensely helpful to Washington, providing key connections to the Taliban’s foes in Afghanistan, the Northern Alliance. The early months of the war saw considerable US-Iranian cooperation, from help with US troop logistics to Iranian offers to conduct search and rescue missions for American pilots.
Then 2002, W, in a moment of brilliance, called Iran part of the Axis of Evil.
Still, in March of 2003, Iran appeared willing to put everything on the table (in a letter to Washington) - including being completely open about its nuclear programme, helping to stabilise Iraq, ending its support for Palestinian militant groups and help in disarming Hezbollah - if the US would halt it's hostile position and admit that Iran was not Evil.
The US consumes 23 barrels of oil per person each year - China consumes two barrels. If American oil consumption follows American wages, which we are told must compete with China, expect a few less cars on American highways and hypothermia as a rising cause of early mortality.
In the spring of 2001, George Bush gave the Taliban $43 million as a reward for virtually eliminating the Afghan poppy fields. Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were being given refuge in Afghanistan at the time. The CIA had determined by March of 2001 that Al-Qaeda was responsible for the October, 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen which killed 17 sailors. America was just fine with the Taliban then.
Google "mini-skirt Kabul" and you'll find photos of women wearing mini-skirts in Kabul in the early 1970's. It was Jimmy Carter and his backing of the mujahideen that threw Afghanistan back into the stone age.
I don't think the US cared who controlled Kuwaiti oil - the only use the locals had for the oil was to sell it on the world market at the going price.
Recall that John Kelly, assistant secretary of state for Middle East affairs, testified before congress a few days after the Glaspie-Saddam meeting, and three days before the invasion:
[in the event of an Iraqi invasion],"Is it correct to say that we [USA] have no treaty, no commitment, which would oblige us to use American forces?"
John Kelly, "That's exactly right."
The Iraqi army is sitting on the Kuwaiti border and everyone in the US State Department is saying, "It doesn't concern us."
Also, recall that Bush I had no immediate reaction to the invasion. He didn't address the nation for six days, on August 8, 1990.
One of the more interesting aspects concerning this invasion was the PR campaign mounted convince the American public that soldiers should spill blood to save an oligarchy. Bush & Company floundered for almost two months to find a reason (James Baker, "It's about jobs", didn't fly) until the New York Times did a survey, in October 1990, which showed that the only reason Americans would support attacking Saddam, and only 52%, was if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. WMD has been a propaganda tool ever since.
In 1990, Hill & Knowlton, the PR firm, was headed by Craig Fuller, Bush I's former chief of staff when Bush I was vice-president (recall the Kuwati woman testifying before congress about the babies being killed in Kuwait - turned out she was the Kuwati ambassador's daughter and had not been in Kuwait). Victoria Clark was the manager of the D.C. office for Hill & Knowlton - yep, the same Victoria Clark that was Rumsfeld's spokesperson for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and she also organized the embedded media pools which controlled info the public received about the second war with Saddam
"Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map because no such idiom exists in Persian," remarked Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan and critic of American policy who has argued that the Iranian president was misquoted. "He did say he hoped its regime, i.e., a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse." Since Iran has not "attacked another country aggressively for over a century," he said in an e-mail exchange, "I smell the whiff of war propaganda."
The toner cartridge "bombs" were set to explode mid-air (we are told), but were addressed to “Diego Deza” and “Reynald Krak” at a Chicago synagogue. Deza was a notorious Grand Inquisitor during the Spanish Inquisition of the sixteenth century, who tortured people accused of being secret Muslims. The latter name is a rare variant of Raynald of Chatillon, a French knight who slaughtered Muslims en route to Mecca as pilgrims during the Second Crusade in the twelfth century. http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp11052010.html
This toner cartridge episode reeks of "terrorist" amateurism (as do the shoe & underwear bombers). It took authorities two days to track down the packages containing the toners - why weren't the likely cargo planes grounded until the packages were found (if we are concerned about planes falling out of the air)?
"Labor unions were obliged to lessen their demands and not to strike, given the critical need for maintaining the supply of the tools of war. Workers became resentful, however, thinking that they were being taken advantage of by management."
My guess is that excessive war profits were not being shared with the workers, who were being asked to sacrifice. Is there any data on this?
90% of Americans would actively oppose Obama's wars if all Americans (conscription) had to participate and these wars had to be paid for while being fought (tax-increases).
Look out on your classroom and imagine the actions that the parents, of your students, would take if their little darlings had to participate in Americas military misadventures.
American empathy for the Libyan rebels would disappear - just as it never existed for those American kids, lacking other economic opportunities, that ended up in Iraq or Afghanistan over the last decade.
Popular sovereignty in the US? Not a chance.
The Arab Spring began when the police in Tunisia refused to fire on the peaceful protesters. As one Tunisian put it, "Tunisia is a peaceful country, we don't shoot each other, the robbers don't even use guns."
While the US has a small elite that oppresses the masses, America is a violent country where shooting each other is an accepted dimension of American life.
Remember Kent State. Wisconsin Governor Walker recently admitted that he considered planting terrorists among the peaceful protesters in Madison. Besides, if the police refused to fire on us, Blackwater would gleefully pull the trigger and then cash their checks from uncle Sam.
America needs to rethink the terrorist threat to nuclear power plants.
We are told to be very afraid of the terrorists but to feel safe that they wont fly a 747 into a nuclear power plant.
Either the terrorist threat is real or it isn't.
Productivity doubles in the US over the last 40 years, so wages doubled also?
No! Wages are down 7%.
Congress needs to investigate this very real, home-grown, threat to America.
Note that American workers have been screwed over the last 40 YEARS - Democrats are fine with King's investigation as it is a distraction from their decades-long complicity with Republicans to exploit the American worker.
"Clinton, W & Obama ...billionaires are their long-lost parent ..." Very perceptive.
Juan, you mentioned the use of drone attacks as murder, don't forget that Barack Obama's administration has authorised the assassination of the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a rare move against an American citizen.
Democrats are going to do nothing for the left until the left can show the Dems that they will not vote for Democrats.
Historically, the left's three options in an election are: to vote Democratic, vote independent or not to vote - all three options result in a conservative government.
A fourth voting option, which may sound counter intuitive, is for the left to vote Republican. You still end up with a conservative government, but at least you got rid of the faux Democrats and have shown that the days of electing conservative Democrats are over.
Could you imagine if McCain and Republican chambers in Congress were elected in 2008. They would have done the same things Obama has done in Iraq, Afghanistan, Banking, taxes, etc. I think the 2010 mid-terms would have elected veto proof Democratic majorities in both houses of Congress.
An interesting take on the role that the supply of food & oil plays in the current events in Eqypt:
http://www.theoildrum.com/node/7425#more
Watching Olberman (or all of MsNBC), you wouldn't know the Palestinian-Israeli conflict exists.
I come to this website to discover what corporate media fails to report on the Middle East.
America needs an enemy.
Iran's government denounced the 911 attacks on the US. Candlelit vigils were held in Iran and 60K observed a moment of silence in a sports stadium. Us & Iranian forces liberated Herat, Afghanistan in 2001.
As the US prepared for the invasion of Afghanistan, Tehran was immensely helpful to Washington, providing key connections to the Taliban’s foes in Afghanistan, the Northern Alliance. The early months of the war saw considerable US-Iranian cooperation, from help with US troop logistics to Iranian offers to conduct search and rescue missions for American pilots.
Then 2002, W, in a moment of brilliance, called Iran part of the Axis of Evil.
Still, in March of 2003, Iran appeared willing to put everything on the table (in a letter to Washington) - including being completely open about its nuclear programme, helping to stabilise Iraq, ending its support for Palestinian militant groups and help in disarming Hezbollah - if the US would halt it's hostile position and admit that Iran was not Evil.
The US consumes 23 barrels of oil per person each year - China consumes two barrels. If American oil consumption follows American wages, which we are told must compete with China, expect a few less cars on American highways and hypothermia as a rising cause of early mortality.
In the spring of 2001, George Bush gave the Taliban $43 million as a reward for virtually eliminating the Afghan poppy fields. Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden were being given refuge in Afghanistan at the time. The CIA had determined by March of 2001 that Al-Qaeda was responsible for the October, 2000 bombing of the USS Cole in Yemen which killed 17 sailors. America was just fine with the Taliban then.
Google "mini-skirt Kabul" and you'll find photos of women wearing mini-skirts in Kabul in the early 1970's. It was Jimmy Carter and his backing of the mujahideen that threw Afghanistan back into the stone age.
There is no support for any of our current wars. These poll numbers are only valid so long as it is "someone else's kid" who is participating.
Implement a draft and the most ardent war supporter would become engaged in militant opposition.
Iraq & Afghanistan have revealed an America that lacks empathy.
I don't think the US cared who controlled Kuwaiti oil - the only use the locals had for the oil was to sell it on the world market at the going price.
Recall that John Kelly, assistant secretary of state for Middle East affairs, testified before congress a few days after the Glaspie-Saddam meeting, and three days before the invasion:
[in the event of an Iraqi invasion],"Is it correct to say that we [USA] have no treaty, no commitment, which would oblige us to use American forces?"
John Kelly, "That's exactly right."
The Iraqi army is sitting on the Kuwaiti border and everyone in the US State Department is saying, "It doesn't concern us."
Also, recall that Bush I had no immediate reaction to the invasion. He didn't address the nation for six days, on August 8, 1990.
One of the more interesting aspects concerning this invasion was the PR campaign mounted convince the American public that soldiers should spill blood to save an oligarchy. Bush & Company floundered for almost two months to find a reason (James Baker, "It's about jobs", didn't fly) until the New York Times did a survey, in October 1990, which showed that the only reason Americans would support attacking Saddam, and only 52%, was if Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. WMD has been a propaganda tool ever since.
In 1990, Hill & Knowlton, the PR firm, was headed by Craig Fuller, Bush I's former chief of staff when Bush I was vice-president (recall the Kuwati woman testifying before congress about the babies being killed in Kuwait - turned out she was the Kuwati ambassador's daughter and had not been in Kuwait). Victoria Clark was the manager of the D.C. office for Hill & Knowlton - yep, the same Victoria Clark that was Rumsfeld's spokesperson for the 2003 invasion of Iraq and she also organized the embedded media pools which controlled info the public received about the second war with Saddam
"Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map because no such idiom exists in Persian," remarked Juan Cole, a Middle East specialist at the University of Michigan and critic of American policy who has argued that the Iranian president was misquoted. "He did say he hoped its regime, i.e., a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse." Since Iran has not "attacked another country aggressively for over a century," he said in an e-mail exchange, "I smell the whiff of war propaganda."
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/weekinreview/11bronner.html
The toner cartridge "bombs" were set to explode mid-air (we are told), but were addressed to “Diego Deza” and “Reynald Krak” at a Chicago synagogue. Deza was a notorious Grand Inquisitor during the Spanish Inquisition of the sixteenth century, who tortured people accused of being secret Muslims. The latter name is a rare variant of Raynald of Chatillon, a French knight who slaughtered Muslims en route to Mecca as pilgrims during the Second Crusade in the twelfth century.
http://www.counterpunch.org/leupp11052010.html
This toner cartridge episode reeks of "terrorist" amateurism (as do the shoe & underwear bombers). It took authorities two days to track down the packages containing the toners - why weren't the likely cargo planes grounded until the packages were found (if we are concerned about planes falling out of the air)?
"Labor unions were obliged to lessen their demands and not to strike, given the critical need for maintaining the supply of the tools of war. Workers became resentful, however, thinking that they were being taken advantage of by management."
My guess is that excessive war profits were not being shared with the workers, who were being asked to sacrifice. Is there any data on this?
" ... thus to worsen U.S. security. "
Some Americans will profit from this circumstance.
The use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, esp. for political purposes?
If Profitt wasn't a white, male Christian, Eric Holder would be involved by now.