An Article by
Ben Tanosborn
Many members of the military are not so sure they want to welcome the year of the Rat, not that the Pig now exiting was good for them.  In the enlisted ranks, they’ve just about had it with the civilian top-echelon of command and the multiple tours to Iraq.  And the Rat could prove to be not only a carrier of pestilence in 2008 but also provide Bush, and his neocon entourage, with a scabby distraction from the looming economic bloodbath; and if you happen to be thinking “Iran”, my answer to you is… bingo!

Available current data on political contributions by US military personnel to presidential candidates indicate that Ron Paul, a Republican, and Barack Obama, a Democrat, are the leading cash beneficiaries.  Interestingly enough, those are two candidates who, if elected, would bring the troops home… either immediately (Ron Paul), or within a year (Barack Obama).  Or so the promises go!

The collection plate has proven to be somewhat less generous for the hawks (McCain, Romney, Huckabee and Clinton) when it was passed along, and although there are no records of contributions by rank, it’s probably safe to assume that almost all political donations for those hawks came from the commissioned officers’ higher ranks.

What is an officer to do?  “It’s your career, stupid!”  Little or nothing has changed from those medieval times when some people were born to preach while others were piously entrusted to bear arms; in both cases “chosen people” whose destiny was to serve God and country, the two holy banners by which people have been, throughout the millennia, killing each other, replacing love and compassion with hate and righteousness; all done in hero-worshipping ways… and in total denial of obvious criminality.

And that righteousness, forcefully expressed from the pulpit, invariably makes those men of the cloth guardians of the faith, as well as the morals that people must observe; also coming from the White House and Pentagon, assuring us that the brave military are the true defenders of freedom and democracy, sole protectors against terror. That while we are being poisoned with the government’s cocktail – laced with propaganda and pseudo-patriotism… and served daily by the hooker-media – giving in to the crudest of lies from those who have self-designated to be in charge, uncontested claimants as upholders and sole translators of the US Constitution.

For years many Americans have shown resentment against what they believe to be the US role as “the world’s policeman.”  Those assertions have been made as indictments against wasting money overseas, and not as repudiation of systemic belligerence, or a true advocacy for peace – and the sanctity of human life.  Even today, as the American economy graduates from globalization to “bubbleization”… and we stand to become the biggest bubble reality show – where Americans are both actors and audience – it does perplex one’s mind to discover the great majority of our citizenry still believing that this nation is a big Santa Claus feeding and clothing the world; and our military, a pro-bono police force whose “sacrifices” go unappreciated by the international community.

And, saddest of all, those who know better appear to do nothing to enlighten the rest!

Yesterday, January 6, Gerald Seib of the Wall Street Journal, in an article which had the feeling of an editorial, basically subscribed to the fear in our capitalist elite – always well reflected by that newspaper – that wounds being inflicted during this political campaign by and among Democrats may be difficult to heal.  And that could spell serious trouble for an America which has always been united-in-captivity; a nation kept docile and truth- suppressed, as if the clear divide did not exist.  So the elite needs to put the lid on the simmering, at times boiling, pot and hypocritically give the salute: “God bless America.”

So there is a chasm between whites and blacks, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, women and men, young and old; but we don’t like to spread the “horrible” truth of un-American disunity.

Give me a brake!  Ours is a “United States” not a “United People”… and just as some have experienced that “American dream,” many others have had to endure that well-hidden “American nightmare.”  Problems need to surface, be confronted, tackled and, hopefully, solved; we are still many years away from becoming a “United People.”  Our capitalist elite have always wanted to keep us non-rebellious, under the chimera that we are a united people.  That implanted idea is likely to receive, and soon, a major jolt as the economic recession proves to be not just a two-quarter adjustment in the economy, but a true consumption lifetime adjustment that will bare naked social, economic and political flaws in our predatory capitalist system.

Meantime the US military will continue to be kept as the overworked, underpaid police force of the US capitalist elite… hoping, perhaps, for reinforcements from the NATO vassals; or, God save us, the reinstitution of the military draft.  A not too promising Year of the Rat for the United States, the Middle East, parts of South Asia… and, definitely, not the United States military.

Tags: Ben Tanosborn, economics, empire, neoconservatism, politics, war
Categories: Commentary, Economics, War, Empire, neoconservatism, Ben Tanosborn
No Comments »

Time Magazine, in their annual declaration of the individual that qualifies as the most influential person of the year, cited Ron Paul, not as the most influential, but as a person worthy of mention. However, in the brief description of Ron Paul and his political advocacies, Time Magazine incorrectly portrayed Paul as an isolationist when it comes to foreign policy:

Booed by Republicans for his [bold face added to original text] isolationist foreign policy views and anathema to Democrats for his anti-government philosophy, the Texas congressman was proudly out of step with both political parties. But marching to his own drummer, the grandfatherly libertarian found himself leading an online parade. Millions of dollars poured into his quixotic presidential campaign, raising an inevitable question: What’s next for this free-thinking and strangely compelling grassroots crusader?

This characterization of Paul is patently false, and Time Magazine needs to correct its erroneous description of Ron Paul and his political positions.

In actuality, Ron Paul is a non-interventionist; which is certainly a marked distinction from the foreign policy philosophy of an isolationist. Ron Paul does not want America to look inward, not taking an interest and a role in geopolitical affairs. Rather, Paul is opposed to a foreign policy that is modeled upon an international activist programme, whereby America feels obliged to intervene in the domestic affairs of other countries, even if through military force.

We have suffered – for the last 6 years – under a Presidential regime that has acted belligerently toward other nations, and has, indeed, militarily invaded non-aggressor states in order to install regimes that are favorable to the United States. It is precisely this militarism, which is the hallmark of the Bush Administration, to which Ron Paul is opposed.

Please inform the Time Magazine associate responsible for writing this description of Ron Paul that you take exception to his erroneous characterization of Ron Paul’s foreign policy philosophy.

Please consider writing to the editor, in order to ensure that Time Magazine makes a correction to its incorrect portrayal of Ron Paul.  You can find the mistatement regarding Ron Paul at the following uri:

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/personoftheyear/article/0,28804,1690753_1690758_1693558,00.html

Russell Cole

Tags: foreign policy, Global, government, imperialism, military, neoconservatism, politics, war
Categories: Commentary, Global, government, Politics, War, Foreign Policy, Imperialism, military, neoconservatism
No Comments »

Meanings of human ‘intelligence,’ new discoveries are important in 21st century
An Article by:
Steve Hammons

Originally Published on:
December 20, 2007
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=46675

It seems helpful for us to continue expanding the meaning of “intelligence” in the 21st century and recognize that the word intelligence has many meanings, including new meanings.

For example, in my two novels, MISSION INTO LIGHT and the sequel LIGHT’S HAND, the San Diego-based joint-service “Joint Reconnaissance Study Group” intelligence team and their friends conduct research on mysterious topics that have captured the interest of millions of people worldwide.

Readers join the research team of ten women and men in the exploration of strange and unknown phenomena, and of themselves.

I have said it before and I will say it again: Right now, the human race needs all the intelligence we can get our hands on — intelligence in the broadest meaning of that word.

The dedicated members of the “JRSG” intel team conduct investigations into current and future human evolution, deep-memory DNA theories, anomalous cognition (ESP) and remote viewing, near-death experiences, Navy dolphin projects, past and future Earth geological disasters, UFOs, crop circles, and Native American culture and legends.

They travel from San Diego to the Arizona Sonoran Desert, Sedona, Arizona, the “Four Corners” area, Durango, Colorado, in the southern Rockies, New Mexico and Oahu, Hawaii.

The researchers try to put together pieces of a strange cosmic puzzle. They conduct urgent operations to understand emerging intelligence affecting the United States, the human race and planet Earth.

Sudden, seemingly miraculous events surprise even the most open-minded and hopeful members of the group.

Or maybe these events and processes are just natural. Maybe Nature, Earth and the Great Spirit are revealing phenomena the human race is finally ready to understand.

TEAM MISSION

The Joint Reconnaissance Study Group is given a mission that is described as follows:

Mission Identification:

The Joint Reconnaissance Study Group (JRSG) is a research entity designed to utilize the resources of the Department of Defense and national intelligence services in the missions to be defined by the Congress of the United States, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President of the United States.

JRSG personnel will endeavor to investigate intelligence-related matters deemed relevant to the national security of the United States of America.

Areas to be explored by JRSG will be regarded as TOP SECRET / SCI, using the compartmented code word BOONE. Need-to-know protocol will be in force. Study groups within JRSG will be compartmented to the degree necessary.

Cross-fertilization of data and intelligence will be at the discretion of study group team members and the commanding officer of JRSG. Research and investigative findings will be compiled and interpreted by the senior officers on each team and submitted to the JRSG CO for communication to higher command authorities.

Group Structure and Personnel:

JRSG teams will be structured as follows to enhance cross-service, and cross-agency cooperation and communication. Initial organization of study teams include three, three-person groups. The JRSG CO, Colonel Thomas O’Brien, U.S. Air Force, will have direct command and full discretionary command and control.

- Team One: Commander Daniel Wells, U.S. Navy; Lieutenant Commander James Etienne, U.S. Navy; Captain Amy Mella, U.S. Air Force

- Team Two: Colonel Edward Thompson, U.S. Army; Captain William MacNeil, U.S. Army; Michael Green

- Team Three: Colonel Gene Voss, U.S. Marine Corps; Major Karen Valdez, U.S. Air Force; Jennifer Thorsen

Areas of Research:

JRSG teams will conduct broad-based, yet narrowly focused research and investigations into areas as identified and directed by the JRSG CO. These areas will include, but will not be limited to, the following general categories:

1) Unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Alleged abductions of humans by same. Reported technology and method of operations.

2) Extra-sensory perception (ESP). Alleged perception of information available to human beings through means other than the five senses.

3) Near-death experience (NDE). Alleged contacts with Heavenly persons and afterlife-type phenomena reported by persons experiencing clinical death.

4) Research in sub-atomic and quantum physics and how these fields may affect or illuminate the above areas.

5) DNA and other genetics studies and how these fields may affect or illuminate the above areas.

6) Native American culture and history and how it may affect or illuminate the above areas.

7) Cross-theoretical/cross-cultural religious and philosophical studies and how they may affect or illuminate the above areas.
Methods and Goals:

JRSG personnel will conduct field interviews and other information and intelligence gathering tasks as directed by the JRSG CO. JRSG teams will pursue intelligence and reconnaissance based on their investigative discretion and initiative.

Senior officers Commander Daniel Wells, Colonel Edward Thompson, and Colonel Gene Voss will report directly to the JRSG CO. JRSG CO Colonel Thomas O’Brien will report directly to the National Security Council, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the President of the United States.
JRSG teams will endeavor to conduct reconnaissance on the seven general areas of study and maintain security of the intelligence collected. The JRSG will be granted the full cooperation of all military commands and civilian governmental agencies. Reports will be channeled from JRSG field teams to the JRSG CO on an as needed basis at the discretion of senior team officers.

UNCONVENTIONAL GROUP

In MISSION INTO LIGHT, what starts out as a phone call and job offer to forty-something Arizonan Mike Green quickly evolves into a mystifying adventure into the unknown.

Mike is recruited into a quasi-scientific Defense Department research team based in San Diego. He starts his job with the Joint Reconnaissance Study Group on San Diego’s Point Loma peninsula. Ten women and men comprise the JRSG. Several loyal allies, and deadly opponents, soon emerge.

The JRSG and its friends search for information on unusual national security-related issues and mysteries. They look into crop circles, dolphin intelligence, deep DNA memory theories, UFOs, ESP, modern physics, near-death experiences, so-called “Earth changes” and “pole shift” concepts, and Native American culture and legends.

Connections between these areas are discovered as well as links to the past and the future of Earth and the human race. The women and men of the research group explore ancient questions and modern discoveries crucial to the evolution and survival of humanity.

They face experiences that are scientific, physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. The group uncovers dangerous threats to their investigation, to the United States, Earth, and human civilization.

Mike feels he’s getting in over his head at times. Even with the support and fellowship of the research group and friends, he faces extreme circumstances alone.

In the midst of dangers and challenges, there is romantic heat between him and Amy Mella, one of the group’s dolphin researchers.

This is also a story of relationships between women and men, military and civilian, the intelligence community and the average American. It is an exploration of phenomena and mysteries that now rightly hold the interest and attention of millions of people worldwide.

The story climaxes in a hidden canyon on the Navajo Nation in far northeastern Arizona. In a kiva, one of the large sunken stone circles of the ancient Anasazi people, many VIPs attend a special field conference. Sudden discoveries, dangers, and the experience of the strange unknown shock those present.

The characters in MISSION INTO LIGHT follow paths of discovery and knowledge to find new understanding of their nation, the human species, and the hoped-for breakthrough that will change the world.

FRIENDS AND DISCOVERIES

In MISSION INTO LIGHT, members of the JRSG, their friends and associates work together and carefully share information about research areas related to their missions.

For example, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, JRSG members Mike Green and Army Special Forces Captain Bill MacNeil interview Dr. Brenda Carruthers, associate professor of anthropology, New Mexico State University, about unconventional research topics.

Another interesting development is when former U.S. Marine and World War II Navajo Code Talker Joe Bear has a vision during a sweat lodge with fellow former Code Talkers near his home on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona.

On an operation in the Sedona area, in the Red Rock-Secret Mountain Wilderness Area, Mike has a near-death experience and enters into an apparent DNA deep-memory phenomena. He learns about connections between UFOs, extraterrestrials and Native Americans in the era before European conquest of the ancient Cherokee homeland in the Smokey Mountain region. He also learns about pending unconventional developments.

Later, JRSG member Air Force Captain Amy Mella has a vivid dream about a huge catastrophe on Earth, possibly geological in nature. She and Mike meet with fellow JRSG member Navy Commander Dan Wells to discuss Wells’ knowledge about theories of Earth geological changes, including crustal displacement and crustal pole shift theories.

Also in the novel, based on the real-life 1997 “Phoenix Lights” event that made national headlines, multiple witnesses in Arizona and the metro Phoenix area see a large triangle or boomerang-shaped craft drift silently over the city, going from northwest to southeast, one evening.

And in the final chapter, at a special seminar of sorts in an ancient kiva, at the bottom of a hidden canyon near the Monument Valley area, dozens of guests and VIPs witness, and experience, a strange anti-gravity phenomenon. As this unfolds other unusual and urgent developments at the top of the canyon include the appearance of a triangular-shaped craft that plays a key role in the final climax.

THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

In this sequel, LIGHT’S HAND, readers continue on a thought-provoking metaphysical adventure with the top secret Joint Reconnaissance Study Group.

This small Defense Department research team continues their intelligence investigation of unusual phenomena.

Other strange phenomena emerge and challenge the researchers, who travel from their San Diego base to the Four Corners area, Durango, Colorado, and Flagstaff, Arizona, as well as the Arizona Sonoran Desert.

The main characters, Mike and Amy, are deployed to the Navajo Nation in northeast Arizona after the National Security Agency reports a strange signal coming from deep space. The message is in Morse code, and in the World War Two Navajo Code Talker code.

In the midst of urgent developments in and around the Four Corners area, Mike and Amy explore the depths of their love relationship and learn more about each other. About their passion, and compassion.

The dedicated researchers put together pieces of a cosmic puzzle just in the nick of time. Because strange and mysterious developments are underway. A sudden increase in crop circles, requests for safe houses on higher ground, and an ancient Cherokee legend are parts of this puzzle.

A breakthrough occurs when a strange event and process kicks the researchers into high gear, and the group acts as a rapid response team to the site of a possible miracle.

MORE INTEL AND RECON

As the second novel begins, two National Security Agency officials visit WWII Marine Code Talker veteran Joe Bear at his home on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. They ask him to interpret signals the NSA has picked up coming from deep space. The signals are in Morse Code and World War II Marine Corps Navajo Code Talker code.

From New Mexico, Mike, Amy and CIA analyst Jennifer Thorsen interview Dr. Ben Westman, former Army intelligence major and anthropology professor at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, about unconventional research topics.

Meanwhile, back in San Diego, Air Force Colonel Tom O’Brien, commanding officer of the Joint Reconnaissance Study Group, returns from top secret briefings and meetings back east. He contemplates the implications of what he has learned and how these things fit into the mission of his group.

Up in the Four Corners, Mike, Amy and Jennifer leave Durango for Flagstaff, Arizona where they visit a book-signing at a local bookstore by a Cherokee author and story-teller.

He tells a story strikingly similar to the vision Mike was given by his grandparents during a near-death experience in MISSION INTO LIGHT. In that experience, Mike seemed to go back in time, and into his own ancient DNA of his Cherokee ancestry to a strange incident.

Mike, Amy and Jennifer conduct a field interview with the author to obtain more information.

Then, many developments begin to converge including increased global appearance of crop circles, detection of undersea fault activity by Navy dolphins and other matters.

Members of the Joint Reconnaissance Study Group continue their operations and prepare for a possible significant event to occur as part of, yet distinct from, a steady process they have become aware of.

Suddenly, in the early morning hours on the north side of Phoenix, Arizona, a strange light slowly and gently emerges. Public safety personnel and the JRSG members respond to the scene … and find that something very significant is occurring, something that changes the world.

Tags: education, government, history, military, war
Categories: Commentary, government, Education, War, History, military
No Comments »

For those of us who have had considerable doubts as to the veracity of the latest claims coming from the Bush Administration and the select members of the Military Generalship, who serve as the Administration’s proxies, regarding the current success of the “Surge,” in Iraq, I can assure you that your cynicism is well founded.

As was reported in the Washington Post on Sunday, August 5th * - the Bush Administration has been less than candid and, in fact, deceitful with respect to the current, “Surge;” not to mention every other aspect of their conduct in the Executive Branch of Government. As it turns out, the reduction of violence in Iraq, which the Generalship has attributed to the cooperation of local tribal leaders, is certainly not the consequence of the American Military forging alliances with organic elements in the Iraqi population; instead, we have merely been arming as well as bribing Sunni sections of the Baghdad population, in order to entice them into suppressing the violence in the neighborhoods in which they have influence, which I suspect to be a social dynamic comparable to the power wielded by a warlord, or something along those lines.

* http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/080407A.shtml

—————————————————————-

As to whether the local tribal leaders are, indeed, turning against al-Qaeda is an issue that remains unresolved, due to the ambiguities resulting from the morphing semantics with which the lexicon, al-Qaeda, has been endowed on occasions involving various circumstances, in which the expression has been appropriated for purposes of political expediency.

Therefore, the banner, al-Qaeda, has been deployed in modes not keeping with conventions or standards of veracity or consistency; other than a congruency resulting from the Administration’s relentless introduction of the phrase, al-Qaeda, into public discourse every opportunity that the Administration gets. In fact, since the Bush Administration uses this label to depict nearly every instance of insurgent or terrorist violence, it is probably better at this point to discard with the term, al-Qaeda, altogether. The significance of the expression has been so depreciated that its continued invocation might result in an inadvertent contribution to the persistent and over arching disinformation campaign being waged by the Bush Administration upon the American public.

——————————————————————————————–

Interestingly, however, there is more to this scenario with respect to the larger political dimensions compelling these unruly and unpredictable flows and collisions of human interaction in Iraq. Assuming one has not been living in cave - or, to qualify: a cave that is unlike the one inhabited by Bin Laden, which, apparently, is furnished with the necessary technology to keep abreast of recent events as well as producing an occasional press release; not to mention the medical equipment necessary for kidney dialysis - he or she should be well aware of the parliamentary stagnation that is preventing Iraqi sectional reconciliation.

The indications of discontent among the Shiites in Iraq’s Parliament - who, despite the pressures placed upon it by the American Embassy, went on recess during the month of August - point to the fact that the American Generalship is actively arming Sunni sections of the Iraqi population. For the Shiites, this amounts to nothing less than an existential threat. We must not forget that the battles being waged by Sunni organic elements upon, ‘al-Qaeda,’ are occurring within the context of a lager conflict: the Iraqi Civil War, which amounts to a conflict drawn along the lines Islamic sectarianism - the Sunni and the Shiites.

——————————————————————————-

With the aforementioned considerations in mind, it is nearly unimaginable how the current policies in Iraq - which, granted, might be quelling violence to some degree in the streets of Baghdad - could possible lead to a larger political accomplishment, where the sections of Iraq came to a consensus, forming some treaty upon which the future organization of the country could be based.

Sadly, in my own opinion, this surge - similarly to every other strategy undertaken in Iraq and, let us be frank, in the, ‘War on Terror:’ another expression that is literally void of substantive meaning - is just another folly in a long chain of mishaps that are metaphorically comparable to the treatment of walking pneumonia with opiates: the pain might subside as the patient’s illness intensifies.

Russell Cole

Tags: foreign policy, Global, media, politics, Terrorism, war
Categories: Commentary, Global, Politics, War, Media, Terrorism, Foreign Policy
No Comments »

An Article by:
Ben Tanosborn

Originally published on:
www.tanosborn.com/columns.html

Nothing evidences our monolithic approach to international politics better than our response to a little foreign criticism coming from any quarter. Such criticism may come from nations that we usually identify with, and which have always been considered allies; or from nations that resent our meddling in their internal affairs and confront our behavior. It doesn’t matter. We trash them all: messengers as well as messages. How dare anyone challenge us!

We have seen French fries become - ‘freedom fries’ - courtesy of one very ‘patriotic’, and very crooked, politician, Rep. Robert Ney of Ohio; and democratically-elected leaders of nations, who dare challenge our imperialistic ways, become thugs, last such naming coming from Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, a ’supposedly’ liberal leader in the Democratic Party, as she referred to Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez. Ours is an equal opportunity thrashing from either side of our political coin, which unfortunately is the only currency we’ve got!

Why are our politicians, of either party, so quick on the draw to insult just about anyone? Anyone outside our borders, that is! Because it’s safe, and it garners votes, which for them is the end game. If everything else fails, there is always that ‘rally around the flag’ that will save the day. American exceptionalism, the high-grade pot we all appear to be smoking, will always come to the rescue of the scoundrel politicians that infest our ailing nation. Honesty and truth be damned!

Heck, we give them all a democratic treatment regardless where they are from. Banana republics, or nations with low-yield nuclear weapons and deficient delivery systems; we hold no bias towards one or the other. All we ask of these leaders is be responsive to our whims and, unequivocally, follow our directions. Why make things difficult for themselves, and their nations? See how placid things turned out for Pervez Musharraf, and Pakistan, after he followed - counsel he couldn’t refuse - from Richard Armitage? Musharraf will soon be collecting royalties from his memoirs, “In the Line of Fire,” and Pakistan doesn’t need to worry about finding its way out of the Stone Age. Look at the bright side of capitulation: you get to keep your life, and the roof over your head. This Pakistani head of state prevented a lot of pain and suffering for the people of Pakistan.

As repugnant as this behavior in American foreign policy might seem to some, it’s a fact of life that it’s carried with the consent of the American citizenry; indirectly, or by default, but with little indication of concern by the governed. For all the touting of our democracy, where the political centerpiece rests on - checks and balances - between the three branches of government, we find nothing wrong with having the Supreme Court select our president, or have Congress de-facto tender its powers to the President. Autocracy by default, it would seem, rather than democracy; thus, our foreign policy.

But, getting back to the subject of thugs and how quick we are to classify as ruffians, hoodlums and gangsters anyone unwilling to bow to us, let’s get real. Thugs, just like many other derogatory terms, including terrorists, are more indicative of our emotional state than the rational classification of those people by the what and why of their actions. It’s the “N” word in international affairs, often wrong and never appropriate.

However, there are thugs and there are Thugs; yes, thugs with a capital T. The latter were assassins operating in time past in northern India who paid homage to Kali, goddess of death and destruction - depicted as black, red-eyed, blood-stained and wearing a necklace of skulls - and offered their victims to her. The first group is the result of our insulting emotions - the second group, the creators of hell on earth. No longer operating in India, Thugs have found their way, their re-birth, among those who hold the reins of world power. It’s these Newborn Thugs that the world needs to worry about; and most of them, unfortunately, carry US passports: Armitage, Bolton, Cheney, Rumsfeld - the list of Thugs goes on and on. Most, however, would rather be called ‘men of war’ since they couldn’t be taken seriously as, ‘defenders of democracy and freedom.’ Men and women of war, true Thugs!

It is sad that we show our displeasure of those who confront us by calling them thugs, while we seem to show our respect and appreciation for our own Thugs.

Tags: chavez, empire, foreign policy, National, ney, pakistan, pelosi, political parties, politics, power, thugs, war
Categories: Commentary, National, Power, Politics, War, Empire, Foreign Policy
No Comments »

‘Mistakes’ or ‘plans’ in 9/11, Iraq invasion and occupation, War on Terror?

Authored by: Steve Hammons

Originally published in American Chronicle:
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=11401

In recent years, much been written and discussed about alleged ‘mistakes’ made prior to the 9/11 attacks, the invasion of Iraq, the occupation of Iraq, the so-called ‘War on Terror,’ the attempted capture of Osama bin Laden and the dramatic increase in national spending and the national debt.While some have claimed that mistakes were made and that these mistakes led to problematic outcomes, others have suggested that the apparent failures or blunders were actually part of larger and hidden plans. Some combination of mistakes and planned outcomes might also be in play.

In examining important events and developments over the last five years, these differing views seem to emerge as something worth considering carefully, although some seem outlandish and little more than conspiracy theories.

However, the claims that mistakes could actually be part of well-thought-out planning can be explored by addressing the following topics which are typically used as the major examples of various ‘mistake theories’ and’ plan theories:’

- 9/11 attacks

- Invasion of Iraq

- Occupation of Iraq

- War on Terror

- Capture of Osama bin Laden

- Dramatically increased federal spending and national debt

It may be worth noting that in the cases of many of the current elected and appointed national leaders pulling the strings in Washington, D.C., and those behind the scenes, they have been accused of many things. But, for most of them, being stupid is not one of the accusations.

Below are just some of the theories that these recent developments were either based on mistakes or on plans. And, as mentioned, some combination of the two could be considered.

9/11 ATTACKS

Mistake theory:

Our intelligence and law enforcement services and those of our allies failed to understand, detect and prevent the 9/11 planning and attacks.

Plan theory:

The attacks were predicted by our own and allied intelligence and law enforcement services and were, at a minimum, allowed to happen. The motivation was to create ‘A New Pearl Harbor’ that would facilitate other agendas such as invading Iraq and establishing permanent bases there, boosting defense spending, protecting allies in the region and attaining domestic political advantage.

INVASION OF IRAQ

Mistake theory:

Our intelligence services believed that weapons of mass destruction existed in Iraq and reported it to political leaders who felt this was an unreasonable risk.

Plan theory:

There was ample evidence that there were no significant WMDs in Iraq that would pose a serious threat to the United States. The WMD threat was just a convenient way to make a case for invasion. The real reasons had more to do with securing Iraq’s oil supply, establishing permanent bases there, boosting defense spending, protecting allies in the region and political advantage.

OCCUPATION OF IRAQ

Mistake theory:

Despite recommendations by seasoned military leaders and others, U.S. troop levels were not sufficient for smooth occupation and establishment of peace and order in Iraq. Disbanding the Iraqi army, allowing chaos in the streets and other mistakes resulted in a significant ongoing insurgency, near-civil war and deaths and injuries to U.S. troops and Iraqi civilians.

Plan theory:

If the goal was actually to stay in Iraq indefinitely, it might have been counterproductive to establish order, a working government, some measure of social cohesion and peace. If all had gone smoothly in the post-invasion occupation, many would call for U.S. forces to leave Iraq, mission accomplished. The turmoil and violence there actually provide a rationale for U.S. troops to stay in Iraq indefinitely.

WAR ON TERROR

Mistake theory:

Dehumanizing torture at Abu Ghraib and Guantanamo, war crimes and atrocities allegedly committed by U.S. personnel, inadvertent ‘collateral damage’ of death and injury to Iraq civilians including women and children, and other factors have made more people worldwide hostile toward the U.S. This has created more potential terrorists and increased the resolve of terrorists and enemies.

Plan theory:

Creating a never-ending threat of terrorism, and amplifying and expanding the hostility to the U.S. create continued opportunity for increased defense spending, military intervention and political advantage.

CAPTURE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN

Mistake theory:

After the successful CIA and Army Special Forces-led invasion of Afghanistan, U.S. forces and leaders missed an opportunity to capture bin Laden in Tora Bora due to mistaken tactical decisions.

Plan theory:

U.S. leaders might not have wanted to capture bin Laden. His family is associated with powerful business interests and connections in the U.S. Keeping him at large might create a more vivid picture of an ongoing terror threat.

DRAMATICALLY INCREASED FEDERAL SPENDING AND NATIONAL DEBT

Mistake theory:

The billions of spending on the Iraq War, related expenditures and other unrelated spending has been a mistake by leaders that will cause future severe difficulties for the U.S.

Plan theory:

The billions spent on defense and war will enrich those who are politically connected. In addition, the tremendous overspending helps ‘Starve the Beast.’ The Starve the Beast view is that if U.S. social safety net programs like Social Security cannot be defeated politically, then by simply treating significant financial stresses on the U.S. Government in future years, these programs can be curtailed or eliminated due to future fiscal limitations.

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

There seem to be many ideas and viewpoints about the alleged mistakes, plans and secret agendas that may be in play. It is obviously difficult to come to a clear conclusion on many of these topics.

Only the most naïve will take events and government actions at face value, for there are often many agendas going on behind the scenes. Legitimate and not-so-legitimate factors exist on many levels.

As outlandish and far-fetched as some of the views seem, it may be worthwhile for us to consider all possibilities and to look beneath the surface for answers.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=11401

Tags: economics, economy, empire, foreign policy, Global, government, homeland security, Iraq, National, national debt, power, Terrorism, war
Categories: Commentary, National, Global, Economics, government, Power, War, Empire, Homeland Security, Terrorism, Foreign Policy
2 Comments »

American politicians - with the exception of the atypically principled Chuck Hegel - refuse to even consider the possibility that Israel is anything less than fully justified in its ferocious attack upon the country and inhabitants of Lebanon. Apparently, the dehumanizing expression, collateral damage, is a sufficient rhetorical device to effectively obfuscate the destruction of non-combatant human life during military operations that are planned under the auspices of the foresight that such atrocities can likely occur and are in fact probable.

Israeli soldiers, who retain their humanity during the strategic considerations of the Israeli war technicians are not to be endangered through their deployment on the ground until the area has been thoroughly bombarded with artillery and bombs from the air. As it has been announced, Israel will take its time and choose when to actually attempt to occupy the Southern portions of Lebanon. Transparently, an Israeli life is far more esteemed than a Lebanese noncombatant civilian. Of course, Israel in a great gesture of consideration for the Lebanese inhabitants has dropped leaflets warning the indigenous population to leave their homes in order the avoid an impending assault from the American supplied planes dropping ‘high-precision’ American bombs upon the Lebanese that apparently are not precise enough to compensate for the imprecise intelligence of the Israeli war technicians as they coordinate their targets.

I, personally, am too the point of exasperation over the inability of this country, America, to even raise objection to this onslaught. In order for me to express the reasons for my dismay, let us go over the events that precipitated this slaughter. Israel currently detains, against international law, approximately 9000 Lebanese and Arabs in its prisons. In order to barter for the release of these prisoners, held in extrajudicial limbo, the militant group in Southern Lebanon, which formed in response to Israel’s earlier invasion and occupancy of Lebanon, captured 2 Israeli soldiers. Well, I suppose the value of a Muslim life has increased in its evaluation by two fold because it is now worth, approximately, 1/4500th, of an Israeli’s life, because this is what has ‘justified’ Israel’s unrelenting incursions with accumulating ’collateral damage’ into Lebanon.

I have some basic proposals for the general conditions that might eventually lead to an end of this ongoing conflict between Israel and virtually all of its geopolitical neighbors. First, and I borrow this recommendation from Chomsky, Israel can begin by following the Geneva Convention. Second, Israel can unconditionally withdrawal from the West Bank. Third, Israel will end what amounts to the guidoization of the Gaza Strip, as it continues to isolate to the most densely populated area in the World - I wonder why? - from all transactions it might conduct with its neighbors and fellow nationals.

Enough is enough, and I personally am not going to be inhibited from speaking out against this outrage due to it making me vulnerable to these ridiculous accusations of anti-Semanticist. The ”Little Warrior Nation,” Israel, must end this mistreatment of the indigenous inhabitants whom Israel has already displaced from much of their traditional homeland.

I am publicly, at this point, not an anti-Semite, but most certainly, and unapologetically, an anti-Zionist. There is nothing I can really affect with respect to this, but I have seen enough this dehumanization of Muslim life, and I refuse to politely swallow my own vomit any longer as these crimes against humanity continue, and members of my very own country refuse to consider that this should end, right now!

R Cole

Tags: anti war, collateral damage, foreign policy, israel, lebanon, middle east, war
Categories: Commentary, Global, Russell Cole's Blog, Politics, War
12 Comments »

Here is an article that was posted on the Alternet.  It is good to see that some people are beginning to lose their blind support of the Israelis, right or wrong, and coming to terms with the truth concerning who the real terrorist networks are in the Middle East:

George performs the dreaded G8 Wave…

3 of 220: The number of Lebanese dead who were Hezbollah militants. Here’s the opening to former Israeli general Uri Avnery’s take on the conflict:  

The aim is to change the regime in Lebanon and to install a puppet government.

   

That was the aim of Ariel Sharon’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982. It failed. But Sharon and his pupils in the military and political leadership have never really given up on it.

   

As in 1982, the present operation, too, was planned and is being carried out in full coordination with the US

.    

As then, there is no doubt that it is coordinated with a part of the Lebanese elite.

   

That’s the main thing. Everything else is noise and propaganda.

Categories: Commentary, Global, Russell Cole's Blog, War
No Comments »

I find it ironic that an ethnicity that has been so toiled by a history of oppression, persecution, and bigotry has so little sympathy for those who suffer under conditions that approximate some of the frightful circumstances that the Jewish ethnicity has found itself, in many varying forms, with respect to its history.

Indeed, many Jews, who espouse a camouflaged guise of the Zionist discourse, possess a metropolitan world-view with respect to the Palestinians and their history in this and the previous century, which amounts to nothing less than victimization as the subjects of the ethnic cleansing practices of an imperial culture, the Israelis.

I would like to perform some historical revision 101 for those who seem to lack the ability to adequately conceptualize the relationship between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The Palestinians did not voluntarily hand over their homeland to the influx of Jewish colonialist immigrants, occurring under the auspices of Zionism. The Palestinians were systematically routed by the Zionists.

Furthermore, the Palestinians, who were under the rule of the Egyptians and the Jordanians in Gaza and the West Bank, did not launch the second conflict against the Israelis in the last century; rather, it was the Israelites, who struck first upon the Egyptians, whom, according to the Israelis, where about to strike the state of Israel in order to initiated an anti-colonialist struggle; thus constituting what Israel refers to under the rhetorical ploy of an, ‘existential threat.’ Therefore, the Palestinians living in these two occupied territories did not concede their autonomy through some process of military defeat. Instead, similarly to the Checks in the Sudetenland, they came to be occupied by the Israelis due to the foreign-policy decisions of other nations.

Therefore, there is no justification for the state sponsored terrorism enacted by the Israelis against the Palestinians in the occupied territories; (notice the lexiconic relationship between territory and terrorism: they both possess the same stem, TERROR). So, perhaps, now, all those who scream, “Anti-Semite!” when anyone accumulates the necessary courage to speak out against the insidious assassinations conducted by the Israelis, always with a manifold of ‘collateral damage,’ can realize who the real terrorists are with respect to this ghastly situation in the Middle-east.

Perhaps, even, these profoundly insincere people - mostly Zionists and Evangelicals - will begin to realize the symbolic isomorphism, with regards to the significance these two concepts assume within their respective mythologies, between “Reich” and “Zion.”

Russell Cole

Tags: empire, ethniciy, foreign policy, Global, imperialism, israel, middle east, oppression, palestine, Russell Coles Blog, society, Terrorism, war, zionism, zionist
Categories: Commentary, Global, Society, Russell Cole's Blog, War, Empire, Terrorism, Foreign Policy, Imperialism
No Comments »