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January 16, 2005
Open Thread
Comments
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 16 2005 14:01 utc | 1
just read a part of the interview with bush & his ‘accountability moment’ – i prefer to think of it as a ‘1933 & enabling act moment’
good god
Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 16 2005 14:29 utc | 2
NYT on the Armstrong case
“Or is Mr. Williams merely the first one of his ilk to be exposed? Every time this administration puts out fiction through the news media – the ‘Rambo’ exploits of Jessica Lynch, the initial cover-up of Pat Tillman’s death by friendly fire – it’s assumed that a credulous and excessively deferential press was duped. But might there be more paid agents at loose in the media machine? In response to questions at the White House, Mr. McClellan has said that he is ‘not aware’ of any other such case and that he hasn’t ‘heard’ whether the administration’s senior staff knew of the Williams contract – nondenial denials with miles of wiggle room. Mr. Williams, meanwhile, has told both James Rainey of The Los Angeles Times and David Corn of The Nation that he has ‘no doubt’ that there are ‘others’ like him being paid for purveying administration propaganda and that ‘this happens all the time.’ So far he is refusing to name names – a vow of omertà all too reminiscent of that taken by the low-level operatives first apprehended in that ‘third-rate burglary’ during the Nixon administration. If CNN, just under new management, wants to make amends for the sins of ‘Crossfire,’ it might dispatch some real reporters to find out just which ‘others’ Mr. Williams is talking about and to follow his money all the way back to its source.”
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 16 2005 15:19 utc | 3
Interesting account of a German journalist who travelled (let himself be taken) from Amman to Baghdad: If you are an American, you are as good as dead.
Posted by: teuton | Jan 16 2005 16:00 utc | 4
That’s very interesting, teuton. Do we have any idea of how many American civilian construction workers might be circulating among the Sunnis?
Posted by: alabama | Jan 16 2005 16:10 utc | 5
Meanwhile, where’s that Uncle $cam guy, now that Sibel Edmonds has finally gotten some mainstream validation?
Posted by: ralphbon | Jan 16 2005 16:43 utc | 6
alabama,
I don’t know about the number of American civilian contruction workers among the Sunnis; the report is silent on that topic. Do you have any sources on that?
One of the ‘native’s’ statements in the report could perhaps give us a clue: “Fallujah. […] Do you understand now? In every family whose house has been destroyed, there are emerging new Mujaheddin, dozens, hundreds. The Americans cannot prevent this any more, no matter what they do now, it is too late. The whole area from here to Amman and up to Mossul is full of resistance fighters. And everybody supports them.”
Looks like a losing position to me.
Posted by: teuton | Jan 16 2005 17:35 utc | 8
Hi teuton,
Time to interact again. I hope this time, for me, from a more considered response.
I checked your link posted at 11:00 AM but found the text in a format of my deficiency. I tried a few things to try to find an English translation (my default, if fact, sadly, my only language) but couldn’t find one.
Anyway, got an English translation? I’d be interested.
If I live long enough (equivocal enough to get out of any commitment) I’ll learn another language, though I actually have. I’ve learned to read (on a third grade level) music notation for my Guitar.
Posted by: Juannie | Jan 16 2005 18:23 utc | 9
Hi Juannie, nice to see you. I’m sorry, I somehow thought there was an English translation (Der Spiegel offers quite a lot these days), but this is Tagesschau, so there is none.
One of the most chilling quotes I translated above. In addition, the journalist’s guide declares that he, apparently like many others, first welcomed the US soldiers, but that he is now ideologically on the side of the Mujaheddin. And he comes across like a regular guy, no fanatic at all. The report once more confirms that the US seem to have quite a large part of the Iraqi people against them, and the question is if these are the Sunni and nobody else. Fallujah seems to have been an outrage for all Iraqis, and the US will probably not be forgiven that sin in the foreseeable future.
The report contains nothing absolutely new, but it is interesting for its actuality and immediacy.
Posted by: teuton | Jan 16 2005 18:41 utc | 10
Now, it should be incandescently clear that no one who has any concern for the integrity and life of America today can ignore the present war. If America’s soul becomes totally poisoned, part of the autopsy must read “Vietnam.” It can never be saved so long as it destroys the deepest hopes of men the world over.
Posted by: biklett | Jan 16 2005 19:14 utc | 11
seymour hersh has a new article in the ‘new yorker’ – telling of armed operations against iran – preparations for a coming war
Posted by: remembereringgiap | Jan 16 2005 20:12 utc | 12
Time Magazine, which gave Bush “Man of the Match” for 2004, is now getting involved in the British General Election
Who owns Time Magazine?
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 16 2005 20:49 utc | 15
If I was a solider in Iraq, I would shit my pants when I read this. Because the Iranians can only turn the screws a little to make my life hell.
What happens if 100,000 Iranians cross during bad weather, bearing straight for Baghdad? You know, battlefield nukes, or more likely Fuel Air munitions won’t stop them. They’ll come with armor and artillery and we’re spread out across the country. And all our allies, they’ll be home on the next boat.
Bush and DOD act like the Army could stop them. We can’t stop the guerillas now. The Iranians, can, well short of crossing the border, make it impossible for the US to stay in Iraq. The US acts like we can fight any war, any where and thge Army is falling apart. You know the Iraqi resistance reads our newspapers and websites. They know all about hillbilly armor and low morale.
Iranian campaign? With what Army? You think social security theft is shaky, try introducing a draft? Reality is like gravity, it eventually reminds you that it exists.
Link, and a good blooger
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 16 2005 22:40 utc | 17
“I am realistic about how quickly a society that has been dominated by a tyrant can become a democracy. . . . I am more patient than some.” Bush speaks with authority
Posted by: Citizen | Jan 16 2005 22:56 utc | 18
“Accountability”: since the American public bought into the lie, they now “Own” it.
Very successful strategy. Use the collective guilt.
This is what these guys have been counting on all along. It worked the first time!
From the beginning they have created the picture they wanted thru the work of others. Then have brilliantly pointed the finger from whence it came. And the American people have bought it all.
So now for everyone who voted for Bush, congratulations. He has effectively said it was your fault.
Posted by: elf | Jan 16 2005 23:04 utc | 19
Bush, “I blame the people that voted for me”
Goodnight all.
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 16 2005 23:09 utc | 20
This from the guy who purportedly reports from inside the White House.
He refers to the real hidden-from-the-press casualty numbers, 8000 killed and 15,000 wounded so far.
Make of it what you will. Recent press releases from arabic sources detail many many incidents (of death) that we never see in our own beloved MSM. Why do you think viewing incoming caskets is prohibited? Somebody might count em.
see the entry over at thetruthseeker.co.uk
Posted by: rapt | Jan 16 2005 23:52 utc | 21
looks like this site must read this site, based upon the entry they cribbed and did not attribute to Billmon.
(scroll down, if needed)
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 17 2005 5:21 utc | 22
sorry, that was me. working off a different computer.
Posted by: fauxreal | Jan 17 2005 5:22 utc | 23
Trying to make Rice Christians out of Tamil Tsunami Vitcims doesn’t go over well…
all together now, with a really abrasive nasal whine: Why Do They Haaaate Us?
DeAnander: I’m just disappointed they didn’t kill the bastards on the spot and took the stuff. That’s all they deserve.
There was already the case of loony US fundies who fundraised to take 300 orphaned kids from Aceh to take them and Christianise them – which was aborted when Indonesian authority became furious over it. Looks like it’s not an isolated case.
Posted by: CluelessJoe | Jan 17 2005 9:35 utc | 25
photos said to be “US losses” in Iraq. Some clearly are and I wonder why no one leaks the real numbers.
On the lighter side of the day:
How to become 103% efficient:
In order to find this out we first need to determine what constitutes 100% efficiency and then we can work from there.
Here’s a little mathematical formula that might help all of us answer these questions:
If A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z can be represented numerically as: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 then H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K = 8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11 which totals 98%.
On the same basis K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E represented as 11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5 = 96%.
But A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E represented by 1+20+20+9+20+21+4+5 = 100% while BS (spelled out) and represented by 2+21+12+12+19+8+9+20 = 103%.
So, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that while hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, it’s the BS that gives the real success.
b, thank you – I guess I will have to show a little more respect for BS in the futur. 😛
Posted by: Fran | Jan 17 2005 10:45 utc | 28
To stay on the light side:
I missed the right date to put this up: holiday wishes, as tortured by the lawyers:
[For your review:]
From me (“the wisher”) to you (“the wishee”):
Please accept without obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally
conscious, socially responsible, politically correct, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral,
celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the
religious persuasion or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular
persuasions and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious/secular
traditions at all.
I wish you a financially rewarding, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated
recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2005, but with due respect for
the calendars of choice of other cultures or sects, and having regard to the race, creed, color,
age, physical ability, religious faith, choice of computer platform or sexual preference of the
wishee.
By accepting this greeting you are bound by these terms that:
1. This greeting is subject to further clarification or withdrawal.
2. This greeting is freely transferable provided that no alteration shall be made to the
original and that the proprietary rights of the wisher are acknowledged.
3. This greeting implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the
wishes.
This greeting may not be enforceable in certain jurisdictions and/or the restrictions herein
may not be binding upon certain wishees, in certain jurisdictions, and it is revocable at the
sole discretion of the wisher.
This greeting is warranted to perform, as reasonably as may be expected, within the usual
application of good tidings, for a period of one year, or until the issuance of a subsequent
holiday greeting, whichever comes first. The wisher warrants this greeting only for the limited
replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher.
Any references in this greeting to “Father Christmas”, “Santa Claus”, “Rudolph the red nosed
reindeer” or any other festive figures, whether actual or fictitious, dead or alive, shall not
imply any endorsement by, or from them, in respect of this greeting, and all proprietary rights
in any referenced third party names and images are hereby acknowledged.
Posted by: Jérôme | Jan 17 2005 11:32 utc | 30
Want to see some real recent BS from Rumsfeld on this clip?
Posted by: Cloned Poster | Jan 17 2005 11:50 utc | 31
Good article in the Times this week-end: Our overuse of the term ‘holocaust’ belittles the true horror of Nazism
Surveys show that many people are ignorant of the horrifying facts about the Holocaust. So expensively-educated young men can think it is OK to wear a swastika in polite company. Yet at the same time, the terms “Nazi” and “holocaust” are promiscuously thrown around to describe all manner of present-day problems and conflicts.
The demand that we “learn the lessons of the Holocaust” often has little to do with studying the history of the Final Solution. Instead it means slapping these historic labels on to whatever you do not like today. Thus everything from abortion to killing chickens for food is now denounced as a “holocaust”.
(…)
There are two ways of diminishing the importance and unique horror of the Nazi Holocaust. You can try to deny that it happened — a lunatic creed preached by a few cranks. Or, perhaps for the best of motives, you can belittle it by drawing endless parallels between the Holocaust and other events. The danger is that this fashionable attitude buries the true horror of the deaths of six million Jews and others, by rendering Nazi barbarism banal and putting the crime of the last century on a par with unpleasant everyday events. That seems to me a bigger problem, if we want to respect the memory and meaning of the Holocaust, than what the prattish Prince wears to a fancy dress party.
Posted by: Jérôme | Jan 17 2005 12:54 utc | 32
Mwahahaha. Germaine Greer in the UK “Celeb Big Brother”? Looks like the Bush admin isn’t the only one to plagiarise the Onion 🙂
Posted by: CluelessJoe | Jan 17 2005 13:36 utc | 33
This WaPo opinion piece Trouble In Our Back Yard shows what’s so wrong withe US press.
Who owns the backyard? The OpEd is about South America – is this a United States “backyard”? Is Canada the front porch?
The author calls for “long, arduous and carefully calibrated program to rally support for democratic freedoms and convince Latin leaders that they cannot afford to allow their neighbors to subvert them” after damning the leaders and left movements of Venezuela, Bolivia, Nicaragua and Ecuador as anti-democratic even though all of them are elected.
Venezuelas Chavez of course is really bad: “Last week literally declared war against privately owned farms, sending troops to occupy one of the country’s largest cattle ranches.”
Chavez did send police to help to enact a law that was passed by a democratic elected parliament that is supposed to redistribute unused land.
With at least 50% of Venezuelen cereal needed to be imported, it does make sense to take land from cattle ranches and give it to peasants so they can grow crops. The cattle ranch owners will get compensated based on the law, but then who wants to have pesants in his backyard?
LINK
McDonald’s Corp said Charlie Bell, who stepped down as the fast-food chain’s chief executive in November to focus on his battle with cancer, died on Monday in his hometown of Sydney, Australia…..
A charismatic leader who said he ate a McDonald’s product most days, Bell was diagnosed with colorectal cancer just weeks after being named to the company’s top job in April.
Posted by: kat | Jan 17 2005 14:47 utc | 35
@kat
Nice advertising for McDonald food – reminds of Atkin’s death. Beter to have this kind of toothache.
@B:
Think the author, Mr. Diehl is on Pravda on the Potomac’s editorial board.
What I enjoyed most was Diehl’s rewrite of L.A. history in the 80s under Reagan: all that democracy being born in the backyard, you know.
@KAT:
And you had to do that just now, as I was getting ready to tear into my Hardee’s sausage and egg breakfast biscuits.
Posted by: FlashHarry | Jan 17 2005 15:10 utc | 37
The Poor Man makes a promise that will be hard to keep: We will plunge headlong into the spiritual wasteland of theocrats, crypto-fascists, asexuals, militiamen, torture apologists, Millenialists, Bush idolators, racists, Randians, flat Earthers, Likudniks, hypocrites, liars, and the many other sour, brittle old harpies and doughy, bowtied chronic masturbators of the Right, and return with such victuals as can be scrounged from this unforgiving soil.
Posted by: teuton | Jan 17 2005 17:26 utc | 39
Oh Goodie, A Better Lie Detector
They’d better not let the Bush Gang get near it, the pre-amp will fry.
In case you don’t want to accidently click into a Fox station, someone has invented a filter to block them out. Seems like over-engineering but what the heck…..
Posted by: dan of steele | Jan 17 2005 20:56 utc | 41
b- I wanted to thank you for posting the link to the earth at night photo some time back. it’s great wallpaper, and when I’m on this site, I try to imagine where you all are in those lights.
Posted by: fauxreal | Jan 18 2005 1:32 utc | 42
What the Well Dressed Protestor will NOT be Carrying/Wearing (courtesy of the Capitol Police, DC, with my emphasis):
Prohibited Items
Firearms, weapons of any kind, ammunition (either real or simulated), explosives of any kind (including fireworks), knives, blades, or sharp objects (of any length), aerosol sprays, coolers, thermal or glass containers, mace, pepper spray, sticks, poles, pocket or hand tools (such as a leatherman), packages, backpacks, large bags, duffel bags, suitcases, laser pointers, posters, signs, placards (including supports structures), animals other than guide dogs or service dogs assisting handicapped individuals, strollers, chairs, umbrellas, alcoholic beverages, and any other items at the discretion of the security screeners that may pose a potential safety hazard.
So, no “posters signs or placards” may be carried by those who go to see King George crowned. I guess the organisers of Turn Your Back were wise to make their protest action independent of any props. And though the Gummint has forbidden parade participants to look at the Preznit as they pass the reviewing stand, no one has yet commanded the audience lining the street to face in any particular direction, so TYBOB is still a legal action.
Criminy. Land of the Free.
He said inauguration activities would include military-themed events such as a Commander-in-Chief Ball and a Salute to Service.
“There’s ways for us to honour the soldier and, at the same time, celebrate,” the president said.
more brave than me:more blond than you.
Posted by: slothrop | Jan 18 2005 1:57 utc | 44
NEOCOLONIALISM
I’m sure in the Neocon training packets there are 2 “C” words to avoid using at all cost: “crusade,” and “colony”. But now that Republicans hawks expect to be in Iraq for a decade, is there much of a difference? Back in the 19th century, there were three kinds of European colonies. There were protectorates. where a weak, dependent puppet govenrment was allowed to exist at the pleasure of the Great Power (this seems to be where Bush is heading in Iraq and Afghanistan if not there already) , there are colonies controled by indirect rule (where there is a foreign militayr presence and a few independent leaders are tolerated, but all decisions involve the “Great Power” (which looks like the Bush bail out plan), and finally direct rule, where there is no local government (the present situation). How it will evolve is anyone’s guess. But should it evolve at all?
The issue Americans face is whether it is moral and in our best interest to be colonial overlords. And don’t think that because we are NOT planting flags all over the Muslim world that this is not happening. Not all colonies were started with explorers planting flags. Many started out just this way: Great Nations moved in the troops to create a stable political enviroment for business in commodities (like oil) and they simply evolved over time to colonial status. To many, the same seems to be happening with the aggressive invasion of Iraq by the Bush adminstration. Like it or not, we are now responsible for 130,000,000 people. To the colonial eye, the US population has expanded by 33% with all the new “Americans” requiring extreme care and not paying taxes. For the record, most colonies were abandoned (its fiction in most cases to call it liberated) because of the massive cost and minimal profits gained by the Great Powers. So are we heading there? If so, it should be with the direct, conscious consent of the American people, not the haphazard stumbling of the neocon adminstration we have seen so far. No mandate was given for this!
So now Iran may be next…and who knows…maybe the other -stan sates of Central Asia where the new oil reserves are? But if America choses to play this dangerous game, there had better be a real mandate. Not the false one being hawked now. After all its your future: Republican, Independent or Democrat.
Posted by: Diogenes | Jan 18 2005 3:09 utc | 45
Bush Scandal Sheet to print, share, and fold into a handy barf bag as the need arises.
Posted by: fauxreal | Jan 18 2005 4:37 utc | 46
Beware – ballon problems! Amazing all the things you have to stay aware of for a coronation.;)
Special Report on Inaugural Balloons
Posted by: Fran | Jan 18 2005 6:01 utc | 47
You Say You Want a Revolution? – The Bush crowd could learn a thing or two from French history.
Given their envy of the French, Bush and his own Robespierre wannabe, Karl Rove, might well tune in to tonight’s two-hour special. If they do, they’ll discover an American indebtedness to the French that is sure to trouble them in more ways than one. For it was Louis XVI who bankrolled the American Revolution, thus impoverishing his government and opening the door to the events of 1789. Louis, you see, wanted to avenge his father’s defeat by the British in the Seven Years’ War.
Posted by: Fran | Jan 18 2005 6:09 utc | 48
Just in case someone didn´t notice: Oil will be back at $50 per barrel this week. Reuters Futures chart
If anybody wants to read the transcripts of the questioning by Boxer at the Rice confirmation hearing here they are
Posted by: dan of steele | Jan 18 2005 19:45 utc | 50
Wingnuts have been blaming France and Germany for corruption in the oil for food program. Now an American has been charged. I wonder how they will spin this
Posted by: dan of steele | Jan 18 2005 20:11 utc | 51
Found this through another blog and shamelessly drop it here. Scroll down to the m’s. Vote, vote, vote.
Posted by: Anonymous | Jan 18 2005 20:17 utc | 52
Our pathological sadist-in-chief, George Bush–that bedwetting, fire-setting, animal-torturing child, that death-row slaughtering governor, that soldier-destroying foreign-adventurer–offers a glimpse into his twisted mental processes with the nicknames he gives to his underlings (such as “turd blossom” for Karl Rove). Today, thanks to Froomkin’s column, we can add another name to that list: Bush refers to his long-time travel aide, Israel Hernandez, as “Altoid Boy”. I’ve been trying to think up a similar compliment for Bush himself, and the best I can offer right now is “Hummer Boy” (I obviously lack the knack for this kind of humor). Does anyone have a better idea–a nickname with some bite, point and focus?
Posted by: alabama | Jan 19 2005 6:04 utc | 55
Last one this morning, have to get going but thought this one is worth reading.
Fascism Anyone?
For the purpose of this perspective, I will consider the following regimes: Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, Franco’s Spain, Salazar’s Portugal, Papadopoulos’s Greece, Pinochet’s Chile, and Suharto’s Indonesia. To be sure, they constitute a mixed bag of national identities, cultures, developmental levels, and history. But they all followed the fascist or protofascist model in obtaining, expanding, and maintaining power. Further, all these regimes have been overthrown, so a more or less complete picture of their basic characteristics and abuses is possible.
Analysis of these seven regimes reveals fourteen common threads that link them in recognizable patterns of national behavior and abuse of power. These basic characteristics are more prevalent and intense in some regimes than in others, but they all share at least some level of similarity.
Posted by: Fran | Jan 19 2005 6:37 utc | 57
Just for the record
US and Congress knew Saddam was smuggling oil
The Clinton and Bush administrations not only knew but told the US Congress that Iraq was smuggling oil to Turkey and Jordan, and in both cases recommended continuing military and financial aid to countries seen as important allies.
Recent revelations that Saddam Hussein was able to raise billions of dollars in illicit revenue in defiance of international sanctions have prompted savage criticism of the United Nations by members of Congress and rightwing commentators.
Yet two letters sent by the State Department to Congress in 1998 and 2002 clearly show that successive US administrations knew of sanctions-busting and turned a blind eye to it. Some US lawmakers are now demanding that the US also hold itself to account for those decisions and not shift all the blame to the UN.
And another one for the record
Gonzales Says ’02 Policy on Detainees Doesn’t Bind C.I.A.
Officers of the Central Intelligence Agency and other nonmilitary personnel fall outside the bounds of a 2002 directive issued by President Bush that pledged the humane treatment of prisoners in American custody, Alberto R. Gonzales, the White House counsel, said in documents released on Tuesday.
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In written responses to questions posed by senators as part of his confirmation for attorney general, Mr. Gonzales also said a separate Congressional ban on cruel, unusual and inhumane treatment had “a limited reach” and did not apply in all cases to “aliens overseas.” That position has clear implications for prisoners held in American custody at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and in Iraq, legal analysts said.
…
Martin Lederman, a former Justice Department lawyer who has analyzed the administration’s legal positions on treatment of prisoners, said the documents released Tuesday made it clear that the White House had carved an exemption for the C.I.A. in how it goes about interrogating terror suspects, allowing the agency to engage in conduct outside the United States that would be unconstitutionally abusive within its borders. Although the C.I.A. has been largely bound by Congressional bans on torture, Mr. Lederman said that standard was more permissive than the 2002 directive from Mr. Bush.
Last month, at the urging of the White House, Congressional leaders scrapped a legislative measure that would have imposed new restrictions on the use of extreme interrogation measures by intelligence officers at the C.I.A. and elsewhere. Mr. Gonzales said in the newly released answers that he had not been involved in the lobbying effort
“But it’s notable,” Mr. Lederman added, “that Gonzales is not willing to tell the senators or anyone else just what techniques the C.I.A. has actually been authorized to use.”
The Britsh too
A catalogue of British abuse
(I wonder why the Independent uses the word “abuse” here. It´s torture!)
The images were produced at a court martial of three British soldiers accused of acts of abuse on Iraqis in an aid camp weeks after the fall of Saddam Hussein. They include forcing detainees to strip and simulate sex acts which were photographed by servicemen.
One of the photographs showed a grimacing Iraqi civilian bound tightly in an army cargo net being suspended from a forklift truck driven by a British soldier. A second depicted a soldier dressed in shorts and a T-shirt standing on the bound and tied body of an Iraqi civilian. Other pictures showed two naked Iraqi men being forced to simulate anal sex and two Iraqis forced to simulate oral sex.
I can not find the pictures on British newspaper sites but SPIEGEL has some of them online.
@ alabama (1:04am) He calls Vladimir Putin, Pooty-Poot.
Our “leader”. Wonder what Putin calls him…
Posted by: beq | Jan 19 2005 13:02 utc | 62
Rgiap’s favorite military historian, Max Hastings, sees a solution for Iraq:
Give Field Marshall Lady Roberts Overall Command of Coalition Forces
Posted by: FlashHarry | Jan 19 2005 15:59 utc | 63
Flash,
Interesting link, I wonder though if this time around that cultural card has’nt been so degenerated, that it’s appeal (of real freedom & democracy) has’nt been lost. I’ve for some time thought that one of the most significant loses in the US war on terror is this very notion of US “soft power” and it’s ability to carry US cultural values abroad. In many ways this appeal is grounded in the values of “liberal” culture and not in the reactionary “values” of redneck Christianity or horse-blinder military prowess. The likelyhood that a Pat Robertson, a Jerry Boykin, or a Zell Miller will become the next cool cultural icon to sweep over the world with envy, is about as likely as Somilia is to become a resort destination.
Posted by: anna missed | Jan 19 2005 19:36 utc | 64
@Anna Missed:
I don’t agree either, for many of the same reasons, but this guy is, after all, RG’s favorite historian , so I thought would post it.
What impressed me in the article was that it is finally sinking into the military that we won’t win this thing.
Posted by: FlashHarry | Jan 19 2005 21:37 utc | 65
Future Visions this for my (non)money, is one of the most interesting Tom Engelhardt essays of the last few months. it’s lengthy but worth the time.
his topic is futurism, the curious profession of imagining the future, and his theme is the increasingly fiction-like futurism of the professional planning elites, the degree to which they are living in a monstrous self-created, airtight vision of a controllable future, a predictable future… his other point is that the professionals’ future visions have become relentlessly dystopian.
The opponents of the Bush administration regularly refer to these tales the President, Vice-President, Secretary of Defense, National Security Advisor and others tell as “lies,” but that is perhaps too simple. Make no mistake, if they have imposed their fictions on us, they have also — evidently quite literally in George’s case — imposed them on themselves as well (usually under the rubric of “loyalty”). Like most ruling groups, many of them may believe that they are cleverly manipulating the public, but they have manipulated themselves as well. There is usually, in such situations, a kind of ruling group self-hypnosis which can prove powerful and yet, in the end, both delusional and disastrous […]
At some level, in fact, the Bush administration with its war-fighting fictions and global fantasies has brought a central crisis of our times to a boil — the worse the horrors of the last century, the deeper our government found itself plunged into the study of fiction-based realities. Ever since the Enola Gay dropped an atomic bomb dubbed “Little Boy” on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, obliterating a city in a way that would once have been reserved for god or nature or fiction alone, our leaders were, willy-nilly, plunged into an unfamiliar world of war-fighting fictions […]
As anyone will recall who has read the secret documents produced by the National Security Council in the early days of the Cold War, like the famed NSC 68, only a few years after victory in World War II our top policy-makers found themselves writing obsessively, not for public consumption but for each other, about a possible “global war of annihilation.”
[…] On a closer look, the CIA’s Global Future report, which drew on the work and advice of up to 1,000 scholars and experts, foreign and domestic, turns out to be a fascinating example of how the war- and conflict-planning parts of our government have plunged into the wind-swept vistas of the relatively distant future. The report offers full-blown scenarios for the years 2010, 2015, and 2020, all of which, given the nonexistence of the future, are by their very nature exercises in fiction. But more curiously yet, it also contains four “scenarios,” offering peeks at four different possible futures in 2020, all written (with gusto) as and labeled as “fiction.” (Some might find irony, by the way, in recent reports that, at the very moment when Porter Goss’s CIA is considering the further reining in of any reality-based revelations in the writings of future CIA agents, it’s sponsoring the NIC’s equivalent of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop.)
And one more tidbit: Robert Freeman (lately of Sybase inc) meditates on the inapplicability of industrial, Taylorist notions of “efficiency” to the education of children, and describes the disastrous result of our attempts to apply them.
We can continue to mass produce cookie-cutter students on the cheap and we will reap a generational whirlwind of well- regimented, intellectually impotent dullards.
Sorry, Robert, too late — already happening. And it’s just exactly what BushCo wants.