Tyrants love war. It keeps them in power, it protects the flow of cash to their buddies in the weapons industry, and it keeps the sheeple busy rooting for their soldier boys. And imperialist America never met a war it didn't like, from Korea and Vietnam to present-day Iraq and (soon) Iran. All empires eventually embrace the concept of perpetual war, regardless of whether they are winnable or even justified in the first place.
The current war in Iraq, for example, is based on the ridiculous idea that the people of Iraq would welcome with open arms an army of foreign invaders (that's us, numbskull) who came to take over their cities, their government, their economy and their way of life. It makes about as much sense as thinking that Americans would invite the Chinese military to just walk across the United States and take over our country because we're all just so jealous of China's way of life.
It's a stupid idea, but that's what the Bush Administration sold to the American people: All those Iraqis just love America! They want us to invade their country, kill their leader, take over their economy, install a new puppet government, and then stand around with automatic weapons waiting for everyone to spontaneously thank us for saving them from themselves. The arrogance is astounding.
We should have learned this lesson in Vietnam: Very few foreign occupying forces have ever succeeded in controlling remote territory in the long run. The British tried it with India and the original U.S. colonies. Hitler tried it with Russia and got stomped in Stalingrad. The Japanese tried it in China and Taiwan. The U.S. tried it in Vietnam, and of course, virtually every civilization throughout history tried and failed at the same strategy: the Greeks, Romans, Arabs, and, more recently, Israel. And the result is almost always the same: the locals stage a violent revolt and power returns to the hands of the people who have lived there for ages.
There are a few notable exceptions to this, of course: the U.S. colonials managed to nearly exterminate Native Americans and continue to occupy their lands today (the entire state of New York, for example, technically still belongs to the Native American Indians). Similarly, the Australians (most of which were actually Europeans) pulled the same stunt with Australian aboriginals and gave them free beer, to boot. And, of course, the Hawaiian islands continue to be controlled by an occupying force -- the U.S. military, which maintains control over the islands for their obvious military strategic value.
Students of history could easily give other examples, but the point is the same: Running a country half-way around the world with an occupying military force is a losing proposition. It only gets more complex, not simpler. It only gets more expensive, not cheaper. And it only gets more violent, not more peaceful. Isn't it time the U.S. faced the fact that Iraq is a modern-day Vietnam?
That's the simple point of this particular CounterThink cartoon, which features my favorite Congressman, Rep. Ron Paul. On paper, he's a Republican, but in reality, he's more like a people's Congressman... a Libertarian. He wants the U.S. out of Iraq, and he actually belives in protecting the U.S. Constitution, unlike our current leaders who only seek to destroy it in their endless quest for centralized power. Ron Paul is one of the very few remaining honest elected officials in Washington.
The other fun part about this comic is the idea that Bush wouldn't know how to spell Iraq. It's not a stretch, really, when you consider some of the dopey things he's said in the last six years. If you think about it, most of the people who support Bush have a lower IQ than Bush himself. Do the math. That's a whopper.
Whether you agree or disagree with the initial invasion of Iraq (which was, by all accounts, a blatantly illegal war action that violated both international law and U.S. law), you will no doubt eventually come to the conclusion that escalating our presence in that region is only an invitation for a Vietnam-like quagmire. Only the dullest of the dull remain fooled by the continued war mongering propaganda campaigns engineered by the White House and the mainstream media.
Smart people have figured out that for the amount of money we've spent on bombs, bullets and war machines, we could have funded and built a massive Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) system in the Southwest deserts of the United States that would right now be providing enough electricity to power the entire nation, utterly eliminating the need for oil imports altogether and providing an infrastructure for electric cars and high-speed railway systems.
Or we could have built new schools in every single city and town across the country. Or, if we wished, we could have invested in disease prevention campaigns and slashed the rates of cancer, diabetes and heart disease in America, saving over half a million lives each year.
But of course those are not priorities in Washington. War is far more important than progress, and blowing things up in a foreign land is a lot more fun than building useful things at home, apparently.
When the United States collapses -- an event that is closer than you think -- it will be remembered not for its contributions to the world, but rather for its incessant military bullying that has made the U.S. the No. 1 rogue nation in the eyes of other nations. Americans are now the most hated citizens in the developed world, and if you disagree with that, it's because you've probably never traveled outside the country. (I dare you to travel to Egypt on a U.S. passport. See how far you get...)
Virtually the entire world sees the U.S. as a serious threat to global stability. We are the bullies. We're the ones who violate international law and invade whoever we want, regardless of justification, even without a formal declaration of war at home. We export disease, impoverish the farmers of third world nations with our intellectual property claims over their seeds, devestate the populations of AIDS-sticken nations by refusing to release patents rights on AIDS drugs, poison nations by exporting banned pesticides and pharmaceuticals (which are illegal to sell in the U.S.), take over the banking systems of nations and force them into a system of financial servitude to the World Bank, and generally seek to control, destroy or claim ownership over everything in sight. It's the American way!
But many Americans have been fooled into thinking we're the good guys! We're the ones bringing PEACE to all these nations, right? (At gunpoint.) We're the ones bringing medicines to the world, right? (Pay up for those patent royalties.) We're the ones bringing FREE TRADE to the people of poor nations, right? (Here, buy our cigarettes, junk food and burger joints, and you'll get cancer just like we do. And if you don't buy all our junk, we'll slap trade sanctions on ya...)
And yet, when you look at the historical facts, the United States is the only nation in the world that ever dropped an atomic bomb on civilians. And we did it not once, but twice. We have made a habit of invading foreign nations, kidnapping their leaders, and either exterminating or prosecuting them (Panama, Iraq and others). We continue to act with no regard whatsoever for international law, choosing to distort it in whatever way suits us best at the moment.
The United States was once a great nation, and it once deserved respect. Today, however, it is no longer respected; only feared for its weapons. I hope the U.S. can someday be respected again. But it will never achieve redemption unless it relenquishes its false claims on the lands and resources of other nations around the world and begins to take care of its people at home.
I say, get out of Iraq. Bring the soldiers home. Use that money to build more schools, more parks, and more renewable energy. Spend money on education, infrastucture and genuine health care. Invest in the United States and the people who live here right now! You can only make a nation great by investing in your own people at home, not by killing other people abroad.
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Showing posts with label War. Show all posts
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I know i cant change your mind but read this for hindsight.
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General Conversation, Introductions, and Humor
Usually I like to keep Politics and Religion out of most conversations. I have a military like stance, don't ask don't tell. I know I am not going to change anyone’s mind, even though I would like to, so talking about it or arguing about it is pointless. However, in light of the current campaigns and the magnitude of this election I would like to put my two cents in. After watching the Vice Presidential Debates I hope it has become appallingly clear that Sarah Palin has absolutely no clue what she is talking about. She has, so far, been unable to answer a question directly regardless of the interview or forum. She skates around the issue and regurgitates what she thinks her contingents want to hear. Joe Biden answered every question directly and concisely. The clear winner of that debate was Biden. Regardless of your opinion on the issues that were discussed Biden won that debate.I am a recovering Republican, not really though, my parents were Republicans but that was because they were well off and liked the tax breaks. They understood Reaganomics and were in a tax bracket that voting Republican would benefit them. Yes, they are conservative on most issues but not the ones you might think or for the reasons you might think. I would call them fiscally Republican and socially Democrat. I was a Republican because they were. This brings me to my next point. If you are a Republican because of your religion then you are not thinking critically. Unless your church pays taxes (NONE of them do) then they should NOT be preaching politics. If you are voting the Republican ticket because someone else told you to or tried to sway you, you are not thinking critically. Try thinking for yourself, if you really do, then a light should come on in your head. Ask yourself this question. Am I voting on issues that I know are right, or that have been sold to me by someone else? Examples would be friends, family members, pastors, priests, deacons, rabbis, peer group members. etc. etc. I am going to list some keys political points and then show that critical thinkers should vote using their brains, not their “hearts”.
National Security: John McCain (JMc) would be a worse threat to national security than Barack Obama (BO). BO has huge international support, when he gets elected BO will reflect that Americans are fed up with the current government and we are indeed ready for change. Both in foreign policy and domestic policy, the world would view us as a different country than we have been for the last 8 years. JMc would be viewed as an extension of George W. Bush. Therefore, our foreign policy would not really change, our enemies would still hate us and we would be more vulnerable to attack. Both here and abroad.
Gay Rights: Are you are married? Do you plan on getting married? How would you feel if the government told you that you could not marry the person you love? Gay people are just that. They are People. They are not to be “tolerated” like Palin implied, they are to be treated with the same respect every person deserves. You as an American have the right to marry or do pretty much anything you want, as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else. Gay marriages don’t hurt anybody. They are not “abominations”; they are people that are just different than you. It is not a choice or a lifestyle. They are born that way.
Roe v. Wade: This is a touchy one but if you think critically you will understand my point. Mind your own FUCKING business.
Global Warming: We do not need to start off-shore drilling, this is a band aid. Yes, it will decrease dependence on foreign oil but it will help perpetuate the carbon emission problem. BO is right on the money, we need to focus on new energy resources. This will create new jobs and clean up the air. If we set the example the rest of the world will follow. We could actually make a new export! Imagine, having a real export besides grain. Now we would become players in the global economy again instead of just being consumers.
Taxes: If you make over $250,000.00 a year BO’s tax plan might hurt you a little in the pocket book. It is fact that the top income earners pay most of the taxes in the U.S. Even if you DO make more the $250K (I think I know ONE family right now that does) a year this would not be a reason to vote Republican. If you do make $250K or more then good for you, you can afford to pay higher taxes. You can also do your part in helping your country pull out of Iraq and giving health care to millions of Americans who don’t have it. If you are like me and most are, then BO’s new tax plan will help you.
The War: Haven’t enough people died over there? We need to get our troops home now. I have had friends and neighbors that have been on multiple tours. They are tired and have served their country well. They don’t need to go back. Having a full scale withdrawal would help international affairs not hinder them. The only thing that I agree with G. W. Bush on is “Mission Accomplished”. If you define ‘winning’ the war, over throwing the old régime and installing a democracy winning the war. Then we have won, and we need to get out. If you define it as occupying a foreign country and securing the region to control the flow and price of oil, then no, we haven’t won and we never will. We still need to get out of that country before the rest of the world joins the Taliban.
I know there are a lot more topics but these are the top six as far as I am concerned. If you have anymore that you want to discuss feel free to respond. I know I am not going to sway you. This is why I use the term over and over, think critically. Critical Thinkers vote for Obama!Superstitious people with imaginary friends vote for McCain. Think or know don’t “feel or believe”.Heathensrule
General Conversation, Introductions, and Humor
Usually I like to keep Politics and Religion out of most conversations. I have a military like stance, don't ask don't tell. I know I am not going to change anyone’s mind, even though I would like to, so talking about it or arguing about it is pointless. However, in light of the current campaigns and the magnitude of this election I would like to put my two cents in. After watching the Vice Presidential Debates I hope it has become appallingly clear that Sarah Palin has absolutely no clue what she is talking about. She has, so far, been unable to answer a question directly regardless of the interview or forum. She skates around the issue and regurgitates what she thinks her contingents want to hear. Joe Biden answered every question directly and concisely. The clear winner of that debate was Biden. Regardless of your opinion on the issues that were discussed Biden won that debate.I am a recovering Republican, not really though, my parents were Republicans but that was because they were well off and liked the tax breaks. They understood Reaganomics and were in a tax bracket that voting Republican would benefit them. Yes, they are conservative on most issues but not the ones you might think or for the reasons you might think. I would call them fiscally Republican and socially Democrat. I was a Republican because they were. This brings me to my next point. If you are a Republican because of your religion then you are not thinking critically. Unless your church pays taxes (NONE of them do) then they should NOT be preaching politics. If you are voting the Republican ticket because someone else told you to or tried to sway you, you are not thinking critically. Try thinking for yourself, if you really do, then a light should come on in your head. Ask yourself this question. Am I voting on issues that I know are right, or that have been sold to me by someone else? Examples would be friends, family members, pastors, priests, deacons, rabbis, peer group members. etc. etc. I am going to list some keys political points and then show that critical thinkers should vote using their brains, not their “hearts”.
National Security: John McCain (JMc) would be a worse threat to national security than Barack Obama (BO). BO has huge international support, when he gets elected BO will reflect that Americans are fed up with the current government and we are indeed ready for change. Both in foreign policy and domestic policy, the world would view us as a different country than we have been for the last 8 years. JMc would be viewed as an extension of George W. Bush. Therefore, our foreign policy would not really change, our enemies would still hate us and we would be more vulnerable to attack. Both here and abroad.
Gay Rights: Are you are married? Do you plan on getting married? How would you feel if the government told you that you could not marry the person you love? Gay people are just that. They are People. They are not to be “tolerated” like Palin implied, they are to be treated with the same respect every person deserves. You as an American have the right to marry or do pretty much anything you want, as long as it doesn’t hurt anybody else. Gay marriages don’t hurt anybody. They are not “abominations”; they are people that are just different than you. It is not a choice or a lifestyle. They are born that way.
Roe v. Wade: This is a touchy one but if you think critically you will understand my point. Mind your own FUCKING business.
Global Warming: We do not need to start off-shore drilling, this is a band aid. Yes, it will decrease dependence on foreign oil but it will help perpetuate the carbon emission problem. BO is right on the money, we need to focus on new energy resources. This will create new jobs and clean up the air. If we set the example the rest of the world will follow. We could actually make a new export! Imagine, having a real export besides grain. Now we would become players in the global economy again instead of just being consumers.
Taxes: If you make over $250,000.00 a year BO’s tax plan might hurt you a little in the pocket book. It is fact that the top income earners pay most of the taxes in the U.S. Even if you DO make more the $250K (I think I know ONE family right now that does) a year this would not be a reason to vote Republican. If you do make $250K or more then good for you, you can afford to pay higher taxes. You can also do your part in helping your country pull out of Iraq and giving health care to millions of Americans who don’t have it. If you are like me and most are, then BO’s new tax plan will help you.
The War: Haven’t enough people died over there? We need to get our troops home now. I have had friends and neighbors that have been on multiple tours. They are tired and have served their country well. They don’t need to go back. Having a full scale withdrawal would help international affairs not hinder them. The only thing that I agree with G. W. Bush on is “Mission Accomplished”. If you define ‘winning’ the war, over throwing the old régime and installing a democracy winning the war. Then we have won, and we need to get out. If you define it as occupying a foreign country and securing the region to control the flow and price of oil, then no, we haven’t won and we never will. We still need to get out of that country before the rest of the world joins the Taliban.
I know there are a lot more topics but these are the top six as far as I am concerned. If you have anymore that you want to discuss feel free to respond. I know I am not going to sway you. This is why I use the term over and over, think critically. Critical Thinkers vote for Obama!Superstitious people with imaginary friends vote for McCain. Think or know don’t “feel or believe”.Heathensrule
Thursday, October 9, 2008
WHAT IS BUSH DOING????
* P Trilla
We're sorry, but this discussion has just been closed to further replies.
D!ME QU33N
why has this discussion been closed.
WHAT IS BUSH DOING????
* Posted by D!ME QU33N on October 9, 2008 at 7:24pm in News
* Add as Friend View Discussions
The conflict began in February 2003. This summer the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, indicted Mr Bashir, the president, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for the war in Darfur. Vice President Ali Osman Taha told the UN General Assembly in New York late last month that the realization of peace in Darfur and the ICC's aims were two different tracks that could never meet. Last month, 31 civilians were killed in South Darfur when government troops opened fire on a camp for the displaced, claiming they were trying to confiscate illegal weapons from within the camp.The War in Darfur is a military conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Unlike the Second Sudanese Civil War, the current lines of conflict are seen to be ethnic and tribal, rather than religious. My question to you all is, if Sadam Hussein was a tyrant and we hung him then what do you call Omar Bashir? You can google the war if you don't believe me, but the government if helping to exterminate people. When the holocaust happened people ignored it because the German government successfully down played the genocide to the rest of the world. In these days with the help of technology Bashir can't hide what he is doing...So where is the aid for the Sudanese people why is it every time there is genocide or apartheid in Africa the world just looks on and does nothing :but a country, rich in resources, that kills it's people is of more moral value!!!! To them, and I mean those in power, lives mean nothing. Natural resources, on the other hand, mean money and THAT means everything to them...If Bush wanted to redeem himself now would be the time I mean he is STILL our president.
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Attachments:
* child_stares.jpe,
* where_is_un.jpe,
* Darfur girl.jpe,
Replies to This Discussion
D!ME QU33N Permalink Reply by D!ME QU33N 50 minutes ago
I bet if I posted naked hoes and shit you people would have a lot to say...
Derrik Permalink Reply by Derrik 38 minutes ago
he's on some bullshit!! that's what he is.
boubacar Permalink Reply by boubacar 37 minutes ago
i feel u girl i feel you, its true, and the sad part is they don't give a fuck about africa...by the way all 50s dickriders don't even know whats the capital of sudan!!!
knowledge Permalink Reply by knowledge 26 minutes ago
@boubacar
what does the post gotta do with 50?
anyways george bush cant redeem himself, he is already perceived as the worst president ever and they dont care about Africa because ever since i was a lil jit Africa has always been da Continent with the most struggles and shit and none of the world leaders are trying to assist them or make an effort to stop the genocide in sudan
D!ME QU33N Permalink Reply by D!ME QU33N 8 minutes ago
Thanks to everybody that voiced their opinions I just had to get this off my chest!!!!
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Follow – Email me when people reply
P Trilla
We're sorry, but this discussion has just been closed to further replies.
D!ME QU33N
why has this discussion been closed.
WHAT IS BUSH DOING????
* Posted by D!ME QU33N on October 9, 2008 at 7:24pm in News
* Add as Friend View Discussions
The conflict began in February 2003. This summer the International Criminal Court, based in The Hague, indicted Mr Bashir, the president, on charges of genocide and crimes against humanity for the war in Darfur. Vice President Ali Osman Taha told the UN General Assembly in New York late last month that the realization of peace in Darfur and the ICC's aims were two different tracks that could never meet. Last month, 31 civilians were killed in South Darfur when government troops opened fire on a camp for the displaced, claiming they were trying to confiscate illegal weapons from within the camp.The War in Darfur is a military conflict in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Unlike the Second Sudanese Civil War, the current lines of conflict are seen to be ethnic and tribal, rather than religious. My question to you all is, if Sadam Hussein was a tyrant and we hung him then what do you call Omar Bashir? You can google the war if you don't believe me, but the government if helping to exterminate people. When the holocaust happened people ignored it because the German government successfully down played the genocide to the rest of the world. In these days with the help of technology Bashir can't hide what he is doing...So where is the aid for the Sudanese people why is it every time there is genocide or apartheid in Africa the world just looks on and does nothing :but a country, rich in resources, that kills it's people is of more moral value!!!! To them, and I mean those in power, lives mean nothing. Natural resources, on the other hand, mean money and THAT means everything to them...If Bush wanted to redeem himself now would be the time I mean he is STILL our president.
Share
Attachments:
* child_stares.jpe,
* where_is_un.jpe,
* Darfur girl.jpe,
Replies to This Discussion
D!ME QU33N Permalink Reply by D!ME QU33N 50 minutes ago
I bet if I posted naked hoes and shit you people would have a lot to say...
Derrik Permalink Reply by Derrik 38 minutes ago
he's on some bullshit!! that's what he is.
boubacar Permalink Reply by boubacar 37 minutes ago
i feel u girl i feel you, its true, and the sad part is they don't give a fuck about africa...by the way all 50s dickriders don't even know whats the capital of sudan!!!
knowledge Permalink Reply by knowledge 26 minutes ago
@boubacar
what does the post gotta do with 50?
anyways george bush cant redeem himself, he is already perceived as the worst president ever and they dont care about Africa because ever since i was a lil jit Africa has always been da Continent with the most struggles and shit and none of the world leaders are trying to assist them or make an effort to stop the genocide in sudan
D!ME QU33N Permalink Reply by D!ME QU33N 8 minutes ago
Thanks to everybody that voiced their opinions I just had to get this off my chest!!!!
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Follow – Email me when people reply
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