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<p>Just as our Thanksgiving turkey was drying out, the <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/confidential/tim-tebow-find-zone-article-1.2447008" type="external">New York Daily News</a> was ready to fill a different hunger with a deliciously juicy report of sex, religious convictions, heartbreak, and an exceptionally attractive semi-famous couple.</p>
<p>The famously religious, ex-NFL quarterback <a href="" type="internal">Tim Tebow</a> had been allegedly dumped by former <a href="" type="internal">Miss Universe Olivia Culpo</a> because, as <a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/11/miss-universe-dumped-tebow-over-his-abstinence.html" type="external">New York’s</a> The Cut simply put it, “he won’t bone.”</p>
<p>While the formerly married Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson has declared himself a <a href="" type="internal">“born-again” virgin</a>, by all accounts, there’s nothing “born again” about Tebow’s virginity.</p>
<p>The Heisman Trophy winner had always been open about his commitment to Christianity. He <a href="http://blogs.suntimes.com/sportsprose/2009/07/tim_tebow_a_virgin.html" type="external">confirmed in 2009</a> during his last season of playing for the University of Florida that this commitment included abstaining from sex until marriage.</p>
<p>An insider told the Daily News that Culpo “had to break up with him because she just couldn’t handle it.”</p>
<p>The tale of a handsome, 28-year-old, virgin male and a sexually frustrated beauty queen could not escape the Web’s attention.</p>
<p>In the accounts that followed Culpo was often cast as a temptress, with the Daily News and <a href="http://jezebel.com/miss-universe-allegedly-dumped-tim-tebow-because-he-ref-1745203158" type="external">other</a> <a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2015/11/miss-universe-dumped-tebow-over-his-abstinence.html" type="external">outlets</a> quickly pointing out that she allegedly got <a href="" type="internal">Nick Jonas</a> to shed his promise ring (nod, nod, wink, wink).</p>
<p>With Tebow, he fell into one of two roles: 1) the wimpy, virginal chump 2) the righteous, self-controlled Samson who actually successfully resisted Delilah.</p>
<p>Sports Illustrated gleefully posted on its <a href="http://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2015/11/27/tim-tebow-olivia-culpo-breakup-virgin-hot-clicks" type="external">website</a> the headline “Tim Tebow’s Virginity Costs Him Again.”</p>
<p>Of the details in the initial Daily News report that Tebow sent Culpo romantic letters, Rachel Vorona Cote at Jezebel snarkily countered “most women don’t orgasm because of cute notes.”</p>
<p>That’s true, though many of us don’t through sexual intercourse either (the numbers vary, but the <a href="http://sogc.org/publications/female-orgasms-myths-and-facts/" type="external">Society of Obstetricians and Gynacologists of Canada</a> say only about a third of women regularly orgasm from intercourse).</p>
<p>On the other hand, Us Weekly gushed in admiration that while a source told the publication “last month that the athlete thought Culpo was ‘a goddess,’” ultimately, “no goddess could make him change his sacred promise.”</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
<p>A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.barstoolsports.com/boston/olivia-culpo-dumped-tim-tebow-because-tebow-wouldnt-give-her-the-dick-sandwich/" type="external">Barstool Sports</a> applauded Tebow for his commitment to virginity—though at the cost of painting Culpo as more than a temptress.</p>
<p>She was a sex-crazed beast, hungry for “the dick sandwich” (a supremely unsexy euphemism for heterosexual relations). The author, under the pseudonym El Presidente, wrote:</p>
<p>You almost have to respect it. He literally has most beautiful woman in the universe begging him to stuff her and he still wouldn’t do it…. Olivia Culpo makes a living getting whatever dick she wants. I’m sure that’s been the case her entire life. She knew the rumors, but probably loved the challenge… The chase is half the fun. But 2 months later and she still can’t break him. Sometimes you just got to tip your cap to the wild virgin and let him roam free.</p>
<p>Apparently, being an attractive woman who wants to have sex sometimes equates to “mak[ing] a living getting whatever dick she wants” and being a successful athlete (at least on the collegiate level) equates to being a “wild virgin” who is almost deserving of respect.</p>
<p>It is far from clear that lack of sex was a cause for the Tebow-Culpo split.</p>
<p>Neither has commented directly on it, and <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/719722/tim-tebow-and-olivia-culpo-split-what-went-wrong" type="external">E! Online</a> reported today that an insider source claimed the breakup “had ‘nothing to do’ with Tebow's decision to remain abstinent.”</p>
<p>But the truth doesn’t matter. We’ve missed the days of both <a href="" type="internal">salivating and speculating</a> over Britney Spears’s and later Selena Gomez’s virginity.</p>
<p>Virginity—which is both stigmatized and idolized—still sends our tongues wagging like few other sexual predilections. Perhaps it’s because it seems oddly titillating in our over-sexualized culture, especially if the practitioner is a sexy male athlete, who could “bone,” one assumes, whichever partner of his choosing.</p>
<p>“The reason the story probably got so much attention is the virginity. That’s what makes it so interesting. Even though Tebow is out and proud about being a virgin, being a virgin is a stigmatized category today,” Rachel Hills, the author of <a href="http://books.simonandschuster.com/The-Sex-Myth/Rachel-Hills/9781451685787" type="external">The Sex Myth</a>, a book debunking the belief that everyone is having loads of sex, told The Daily Beast. “It’s the freak show aspect that probably interested people.”</p>
<p>That “freak show” attention may also be result of the fact that Tebow is the virgin in the former couple, which is an “inversion of the typical gender roles,” Hills noted. We usually expect women to be the ones refusing sex and maintaining their virginity.</p>
<p>But because men are, perhaps, less expected to be virgins in heterosexual relationships, Hills said women in general face more scrutiny for their sexual behavior—just as we see in the way Culpo is being portrayed.</p>
<p>“There was an interesting study that showed men are generally given more latitude with sexual choices—more latitude to have as much sex as they like and also more latitude to abstain without it being considered a stigmatizing thing,” she explained. “Whereas with women, it is so easy for us to fall into being perceived as either having too much sex or too little sex.”</p>
<p>In general, though, for both men and women, being a virgin “is something that is considered weird and probably makes you undesirable,” Hills said.</p>
<p>In a time where mainstream society has not only accepted sex before marriage, but a wide range of far more “exotic” predilections, virgin status can be fodder for titillation and mockery.</p>
<p>For those who haven’t won Heisman trophies and national fame, it can be harder than the ribbing Tebow faces without any of the praise he also, at least sometimes, enjoys.</p>
<p>As a handsome, athletic celebrity, Tebow may also be something of an exception in terms of earning a level of accolades for his virginity.</p>
<p>“I’m not sure how much it applies outside of celebrity,” said Hills. “I think idolizing virginity extends less into your twenties. In high school and college, it may be seen as a moral choice, but there’s less celebration once you get above a certain age.”</p> | true | 4 | thanksgiving turkey drying new york daily news ready fill different hunger deliciously juicy report sex religious convictions heartbreak exceptionally attractive semifamous couple famously religious exnfl quarterback tim tebow allegedly dumped former miss universe olivia culpo new yorks cut simply put wont bone formerly married seattle seahawks russell wilson declared bornagain virgin accounts theres nothing born tebows virginity heisman trophy winner always open commitment christianity confirmed 2009 last season playing university florida commitment included abstaining sex marriage insider told daily news culpo break couldnt handle tale handsome 28yearold virgin male sexually frustrated beauty queen could escape webs attention accounts followed culpo often cast temptress daily news outlets quickly pointing allegedly got nick jonas shed promise ring nod nod wink wink tebow fell one two roles 1 wimpy virginal chump 2 righteous selfcontrolled samson actually successfully resisted delilah sports illustrated gleefully posted website headline tim tebows virginity costs details initial daily news report tebow sent culpo romantic letters rachel vorona cote jezebel snarkily countered women dont orgasm cute notes thats true though many us dont sexual intercourse either numbers vary society obstetricians gynacologists canada say third women regularly orgasm intercourse hand us weekly gushed admiration source told publication last month athlete thought culpo goddess ultimately goddess could make change sacred promise start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont barstool sports applauded tebow commitment virginitythough cost painting culpo temptress sexcrazed beast hungry dick sandwich supremely unsexy euphemism heterosexual relations author pseudonym el presidente wrote almost respect literally beautiful woman universe begging stuff still wouldnt olivia culpo makes living getting whatever dick wants im sure thats case entire life knew rumors probably loved challenge chase half fun 2 months later still cant break sometimes got tip cap wild virgin let roam free apparently attractive woman wants sex sometimes equates making living getting whatever dick wants successful athlete least collegiate level equates wild virgin almost deserving respect far clear lack sex cause tebowculpo split neither commented directly e online reported today insider source claimed breakup nothing tebows decision remain abstinent truth doesnt matter weve missed days salivating speculating britney spearss later selena gomezs virginity virginitywhich stigmatized idolizedstill sends tongues wagging like sexual predilections perhaps seems oddly titillating oversexualized culture especially practitioner sexy male athlete could bone one assumes whichever partner choosing reason story probably got much attention virginity thats makes interesting even though tebow proud virgin virgin stigmatized category today rachel hills author sex myth book debunking belief everyone loads sex told daily beast freak show aspect probably interested people freak show attention may also result fact tebow virgin former couple inversion typical gender roles hills noted usually expect women ones refusing sex maintaining virginity men perhaps less expected virgins heterosexual relationships hills said women general face scrutiny sexual behaviorjust see way culpo portrayed interesting study showed men generally given latitude sexual choicesmore latitude much sex like also latitude abstain without considered stigmatizing thing explained whereas women easy us fall perceived either much sex little sex general though men women virgin something considered weird probably makes undesirable hills said time mainstream society accepted sex marriage wide range far exotic predilections virgin status fodder titillation mockery havent heisman trophies national fame harder ribbing tebow faces without praise also least sometimes enjoys handsome athletic celebrity tebow may also something exception terms earning level accolades virginity im sure much applies outside celebrity said hills think idolizing virginity extends less twenties high school college may seen moral choice theres less celebration get certain age | 583 |
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<p>Photo by Gerry &amp; Bonni | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p />
<p>The Trump administration is making its first radical policy change in the Middle East by escalating American involvement in the <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Yemen" type="external">civil war in Yemen</a>. Wrecked by years of conflict, the unfortunate country will supposedly be the place where the US will start to confront and roll back Iranian influence in the region as a whole.</p>
<p>To this end, the US is to <a href="" type="internal">increase military support</a> for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and local Yemeni allies in a bid to <a href="" type="internal">overthrow the Houthis</a> – a militarised Shia movement strong in northern Yemen – fighting alongside much of the Yemeni army, which remains loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh.</p>
<p>If ever there was a complicated and unwinnable war to keep out of, it is this one.</p>
<p>Despite Saudi allegations, there is little evidence that the Houthis get more than rhetorical support from <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Iran" type="external">Iran</a> and this is far less than <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/SaudiArabia" type="external">Saudi Arabia</a> gets from the US and Britain. There is no sign that the Saudi-led air bombardment, which has been going on for two years, will decisively break the military stalemate. All that Saudi intervention has achieved so far is to bring Yemen close to all out famine. “Seven million Yemenis are ever closer to starvation,” said Jamie McGoldrick, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen in an appeal for more aid this week.</p>
<p>But at the very moment that the UN is warning about the calamity facing Yemen, the US State Department has given permission for a resumption of the supply of precision guided weapons to Saudi Arabia. These sales were suspended last October by President Obama after Saudi aircraft bombed a funeral in the capital Sana’a, killing more than 100 mourners. Ever since Saudi Arabia started its bombing campaign in March 2015, the US has been refuelling its aircraft and has advisors in the Saudi operational headquarters. For the weapons sales to go ahead all that is needed is White House permission.</p>
<p>A bizarre element in Trump’s decision to take the offensive against Iran in Yemen is that the Iranians provide very little financial and military aid to the Houthis. Saudi propaganda, often echoed by the international media, speaks of the Houthis as “Iran-backed”, but Yemen is almost entirely cut off from the outside world by Saudi ground, air and sea forces.</p>
<p>Even food imports, on which Yemenis are wholly reliant, are more and more difficult to bring in through the half-wrecked port of Hodeida on the western coast.</p>
<p>The resumption of the supply of precision-guided munitions is not the first indication that the Trump administration sees Yemen as a good place to put into operation a more hawkish strategy in the region. On 29 January, days after he took office, Trump sent some 30 members of US Navy Seal Team 6, backed by helicopters, to attack an impoverished village called al Ghayil in al-Bayda province in southern Yemen. The purpose of the raid, according to the Pentagon, was intelligence-gathering – though it may well have been a failed attempt to kill or capture <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/qassim-al-rimi" type="external">Qassim al Rimi</a>, the head of <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/topic/Al-Qaeda" type="external">al-Qaeda</a> in the Arabian Peninsula.</p>
<p>Whatever the aim of the attack, it swiftly turned into a bloody fiasco, with as many 29 civilians in al Ghayil killed along with one Seal, Chief Petty Officer William Owens. The Pentagon’s explanation of what happened sounds very much like similar attempts to explain away civilian killed and wounded over the past half century in Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. The head of the US military’s central command, General Joseph Votel, told a Senate hearing that between four and 12 civilians might have died in the raid, adding that an “exhaustive after-action review” had not found incompetence, poor decision making or bad judgement.</p>
<p>For its part, the Trump administration tried to shut down any investigation into what had really happened at al Ghayil by saying that an inquiry would be an affront into the legacy of the fallen Seal, William Owens. This stance was swiftly criticised by the <a href="" type="internal">father of the dead man</a>, Bill Owens, who said the government owed his son an inquiry. “Don’t hide behind my son’s death to prevent an investigation,” he said.</p>
<p>In the event, the White House and the Pentagon have so far hidden fairly successfully from any real examination of the destruction of this remote Yemeni village, perhaps calculating that no independent journalist could make the dangerous journey to the site of the attack. But a lengthy on-the-spot report by Iona Craig, entitled “Death in al Ghayil” and appearing in the online investigative magazine The Intercept, convincingly rebuts the official version of events, little of which appears to be true.</p>
<p>Craig quotes surviving villagers as saying that the Seal team came under heavy fire from the beginning and attack helicopters were sent in. She writes: “In what seemed to be blind panic, the gunships bombarded the entire village, striking more than a dozen buildings, razing stone dwellings where families slept, and wiping out more than 120 goats, sheep and donkeys.” At least six women and 10 children were killed in their houses as projectiles tore through the straw and timber roofs or were mown down as they ran into the open.</p>
<p>The Trump administration says this was a “highly successful operation” and there had been an assault on a fortified compound – except that there are no such compounds in the village. Trump claimed that a “large amount of vital intelligence” had been obtained and the Pentagon released video footage seized in al Ghayil only to later admit that the footage had been around for 10 years and contained nothing new.</p>
<p>Ironically, the villagers who fought back against the Seal team actually belonged to the forces opposing the Houthis and the pro-Saleh forces and, on the night of the assault, “local armed tribesmen assumed the Houthis had arrived to capture their village”. It was only when they saw coloured laser lights coming from the weapons of the attacking force that they realised that they were fighting Americans. As the Seals retreated, with one dead and two seriously wounded, the MV-22 Osprey that was to extract them crash-landed and had to be destroyed by other US aircraft.</p>
<p>The Trump administration’s first counter-terrorism operation was a failure for the US and much worse for the Yemeni villagers who are dead, wounded, homeless and have seen their livestock, on which they depended for their livelihoods, all killed. But when Senator John McCain, who heads the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that the raid has been a failure he was promptly denounced by Trump who said that Owens “had died on a winning mission” and to debate its outcome would “only embolden the enemy”.</p>
<p>International media coverage tends to focus on the wars in Syria and Iraq, but in those countries Trump and the Pentagon are largely following the policies and plans of Obama.</p>
<p>It is in Yemen that new policies are beginning to emerge as the Trump administration carries out its first counter-terrorism operation against al Qaeda – if that was what it was – leading to the slaughter of civilians and a botched cover-up. Yemen may soon join Afghanistan and Iraq as wars in which the US wishes it had never got involved.</p> | true | 4 | photo gerry amp bonni cc 20 trump administration making first radical policy change middle east escalating american involvement civil war yemen wrecked years conflict unfortunate country supposedly place us start confront roll back iranian influence region whole end us increase military support saudi arabia united arab emirates local yemeni allies bid overthrow houthis militarised shia movement strong northern yemen fighting alongside much yemeni army remains loyal former president ali abdullah saleh ever complicated unwinnable war keep one despite saudi allegations little evidence houthis get rhetorical support iran far less saudi arabia gets us britain sign saudiled air bombardment going two years decisively break military stalemate saudi intervention achieved far bring yemen close famine seven million yemenis ever closer starvation said jamie mcgoldrick un humanitarian coordinator yemen appeal aid week moment un warning calamity facing yemen us state department given permission resumption supply precision guided weapons saudi arabia sales suspended last october president obama saudi aircraft bombed funeral capital sanaa killing 100 mourners ever since saudi arabia started bombing campaign march 2015 us refuelling aircraft advisors saudi operational headquarters weapons sales go ahead needed white house permission bizarre element trumps decision take offensive iran yemen iranians provide little financial military aid houthis saudi propaganda often echoed international media speaks houthis iranbacked yemen almost entirely cut outside world saudi ground air sea forces even food imports yemenis wholly reliant difficult bring halfwrecked port hodeida western coast resumption supply precisionguided munitions first indication trump administration sees yemen good place put operation hawkish strategy region 29 january days took office trump sent 30 members us navy seal team 6 backed helicopters attack impoverished village called al ghayil albayda province southern yemen purpose raid according pentagon intelligencegathering though may well failed attempt kill capture qassim al rimi head alqaeda arabian peninsula whatever aim attack swiftly turned bloody fiasco many 29 civilians al ghayil killed along one seal chief petty officer william owens pentagons explanation happened sounds much like similar attempts explain away civilian killed wounded past half century vietnam afghanistan iraq head us militarys central command general joseph votel told senate hearing four 12 civilians might died raid adding exhaustive afteraction review found incompetence poor decision making bad judgement part trump administration tried shut investigation really happened al ghayil saying inquiry would affront legacy fallen seal william owens stance swiftly criticised father dead man bill owens said government owed son inquiry dont hide behind sons death prevent investigation said event white house pentagon far hidden fairly successfully real examination destruction remote yemeni village perhaps calculating independent journalist could make dangerous journey site attack lengthy onthespot report iona craig entitled death al ghayil appearing online investigative magazine intercept convincingly rebuts official version events little appears true craig quotes surviving villagers saying seal team came heavy fire beginning attack helicopters sent writes seemed blind panic gunships bombarded entire village striking dozen buildings razing stone dwellings families slept wiping 120 goats sheep donkeys least six women 10 children killed houses projectiles tore straw timber roofs mown ran open trump administration says highly successful operation assault fortified compound except compounds village trump claimed large amount vital intelligence obtained pentagon released video footage seized al ghayil later admit footage around 10 years contained nothing new ironically villagers fought back seal team actually belonged forces opposing houthis prosaleh forces night assault local armed tribesmen assumed houthis arrived capture village saw coloured laser lights coming weapons attacking force realised fighting americans seals retreated one dead two seriously wounded mv22 osprey extract crashlanded destroyed us aircraft trump administrations first counterterrorism operation failure us much worse yemeni villagers dead wounded homeless seen livestock depended livelihoods killed senator john mccain heads senate armed services committee said raid failure promptly denounced trump said owens died winning mission debate outcome would embolden enemy international media coverage tends focus wars syria iraq countries trump pentagon largely following policies plans obama yemen new policies beginning emerge trump administration carries first counterterrorism operation al qaeda leading slaughter civilians botched coverup yemen may soon join afghanistan iraq wars us wishes never got involved | 672 |
<p>In a suit filed in Georgia state court, former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney charges the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) and its parent company, Cox Enterprises, a multi-national corporation, with waging a libelous, defamatory and malicious vendetta resulting in the loss of her congressional seat, last year.</p>
<p>The case is a window – albeit a narrow, legal one – on the general corporate campaign to penetrate and reshape black politics in the United States, to impose a docile class of corporate-friendly black “leaders.” The corporate press is key to accomplishing the coup.</p>
<p>At the core of the suit is Cynthia Tucker, the black editor of the AJC’s editorial page, who has for years been incapable of uttering McKinney’s name without sneering. Tucker, depicted McKinney’s March, 2006, encounter with a Capitol Hill policeman as an unprovoked assault, pure and simple. “She slugged him with her telephone,” wrote Tucker, in a column that appeared barely a week before McKinney faced challenger Hank Johnson, the favorite of most whites and the corporate establishment, in a Democratic primary runoff. Tucker “tried to spin this incident into a felony,” said McKinney, in her suit. “This false and libelous allegation is not supported by any witness or other evidence.” McKinney was never indicted for any crime, and says the incident was the result of racial and political harassment by the Capitol Police.</p>
<p>Tucker made McKinney’s defeat a priority project. “Tucker falsely attempted to attribute what she interprets as anti-Semitic statements by Cynthia McKinney’s father by stating that ‘her father, [is] a spokesman for the campaign,'” the suit states. “Her father was not a spokesman for the campaign or for her.”</p>
<p>McKinney has long been targeted by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for her failure to tow the Israeli line in Congress. Although McKinney’s father, a former Atlanta police officer and state lawmaker, has indeed made indiscreet comments, no one has ever claimed Rep. McKinney has uttered anything that could remotely be deemed anti-Semitic. “The attempted attribution was false, defamatory and libelous,” states her legal brief.</p>
<p>McKinney labels as “malicious” Tucker’s repetitive assertions that “She suggested that President Bush had known in advance about the Sept. 11 attacks but did nothing to stop them so his friends could profit from the ensuing war.” That’s not what McKinney said, back in the Spring of 2002, and her questioning of the conduct and motives of the Bush regime have since proved prescient.</p>
<p>Cox Enterprises’ Atlanta radio outlet, WSB, carried attacks on McKinney. She looks like a “ghetto slut,” shrieked talk show personality Neal Boortz – a “slander,” according to McKinney’s suit.</p>
<p>Cox did nothing to rein in their radio personality, and Cynthia Tucker won a Pulitzer Prize for her columns, including the one that savaged McKinney. A Cox spokesman called McKinney’s suit “preposterous.”</p>
<p>Newspaper as Serial Liar</p>
<p>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution worked in tandem with corporate money and AIPAC to first unseat Cynthia McKinney in the 2002 Democratic primary election. The paper, like its corporate siblings across the nation, was anxious to prove that a political sea change had occurred in Black America. Gone were the days of “civil rights-style” rhetoric and confrontation – or so the theory went. Middle class African Americans like those in McKinney’s district, centered in Dekalb County, the second most affluent Black majority county in the nation, were becoming more conservative, it was said. According to the new paradigm the Cynthia McKinneys of Black America are passé, and no longer appeal to an upwardly mobile class of African American voters. Dekalb County would tell the tale.</p>
<p>While AIPAC and corporate donors stuffed the coffers of black challenger Denise Majette – a former Republican and protégé of pro-Republican Democratic Senator Zell Miller – the Atlanta Journal Constitution provided Majette with free publicity and attack-dog services. Cynthia Tucker led the local and national corporate media pack, intent on making a fait accompli of their own analysis, that blacks were sliding to the Right. Tens of thousands of white Republicans prepared to cross over to vote as Democrats in the “open primary,” eager to put the uppity McKinney in her place. Majette outspent the McKinney by 40 per cent.</p>
<p>Majette won. Corporate media rejoiced, nationwide. As their local representative, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution claimed to conduct a study that showed Majette had assembled a “biracial coalition of voters” to win victory, ushering in a new age of “centrist” black politics. The prophecy had been fulfilled. Bruce Dixon, now Black Agenda Report’s managing editor, did his own study of the election data and found that Majette could not have won more than 19 percent of the Black vote. The key to Majette’s victory was an abnormally high white turnout, 90 percent of which she won. Majette was not the Great Black Centrist Hope – she was the white candidate, and the black community had overwhelmingly supported McKinney. There was no history-shaking “split” among blacks in relatively affluent Dekalb County; it was a fiction.</p>
<p>More than half a year after Dixon proved that the Atlanta Journal Constitution’s “study” was bogus, the paper’s own favorite political scientist and quote-man, University of Georgia Prof. Charles Bullock, declared Majette’s “bi-racial coalition” a myth. His research showed Majette garnered no more than 17 percent of the black vote. “What Majette needs to be doing is getting out, courting in the black community, trying to broaden her coalition because she did so poorly in her community,” wrote Prof. Bullock.</p>
<p>What Majette did was get out of the district, embarking on a Quixotic, hopeless quest for Zell Miller’s vacating senate seat. With no time for AIPAC, the Atlanta Journal Constitution and corporate capital to vet a Designated Negro of their own, Cynthia McKinney won her seat back in 2004.</p>
<p>The Atlanta Journal-Constitution found defamatory manna from heaven in the last year of McKinney’s term, when a Capitol Hill policeman confronted her as she attempted to do the people’s work. We commend Cynthia McKinney for challenging Tucker and the Cox corporate giant that is Tucker’s only backbone, in court, while fully understanding that the chances of judicial success are slim. If deliberate distortion of reality by corporate media could be effectively prosecuted in the United States, the entire industry would be behind bars or bankrupted. McKinney is putting their crimes against truth on the record, and we salute her.</p>
<p>The assaults against McKinney’s character and seven-term career are but one skirmish in a nationwide corporate offensive that was sketched out by rightwing strategists in the mid-Nineties and fully implemented in the early years of the Bush regime. For the first time, corporate American would make a concerted and coordinated effort to cleanse the African American polity of what remained of the Black Freedom Movement. The year 2002 was their D-Day for invasion of black politics. They came strapped with millions in cash, and the supporting artillery of corporate media.</p>
<p>The first target was Newark, New Jersey, where the hard right Bradley Foundation’s black acolyte Cory Booker, a 31-year-old second term city councilman and private school voucher advocate, raised millions in his mayoral campaign and won endorsements from every New York region corporate media outlet, thanks to the skills of the Bradley-funded Manhattan Institute. I am proud to say that my research and writings, exposing him as a Trojan Horse for the Right, forestalled Booker’s ascension to City Hall for four years. Booker was beaten, but remained on the A-list of corporate-designated “new black leaders” until he finally won the mayor’s office in 2006.</p>
<p>The corporate juggernaut rolled on, in 2002, vastly overspending (by 60 percent) and ousting Black Alabama Congressman Earl Hilliard, who had resisted the pro-Israel lobby and corporate demands. He was replaced by the pliant but deviously skilled Artur Davis. Then it was Cynthia McKinney’s turn, later that summer.</p>
<p>At the end of the 2002 offensive, the corporate blitzkrieg had installed Artur Davis, Denise Majette, and an obscure new congressman from the Atlanta-area, David Scott, in the Congressional Black Caucus. They joined Columbus, Georgia’s Sanford Bishop and the rapidly Right-rushing Harold Ford, Jr. (TN) to form a corporate faction within the Caucus, along with Maryland’s Albert Wynn and shaky members who trembled whenever the winds blew rightward. The Congressional Black Caucus was finished as a coherent political force on Capitol Hill, unable to resist corporate capital as represented in its own ranks.</p>
<p>The black masses have not undergone any political sea change; they have simply been abandoned by their representatives, who have been suborned or terrorized by money and concentrated media and lobby power. Corporations have embraced “diversity” as a weapon. About a decade ago, they realized that their vast wealth empowered them to create an alternative black political structure, and that there were plenty of black opportunists eager to be recruited. At this point, corporate victory is all but complete, having neutered black electoral and traditional institutions in lightning speed.</p>
<p>The disaster puts in graphic relief the failures of legal strategies, which are so narrow that nine people on the Supreme Court can thwart the will of 40 million African Americans, and the impotence of conventional electoral strategies, which are negated in Dekalb County, Georgia, and everywhere else in the nation through sheer force of money.</p>
<p>There is no substitute for a mass movement in opposition to the cages that capital erects around us. Cynthia McKinney represents the overwhelming majority of black people in her district. They are inspired by her courage and defiance of Power – and are no different than African Americans, everywhere. The corporate project uses its media to invent a fantasy black polity, and then deploys its media muscle and money to make it so. Some of us believe the constantly repeated lie. If it goes unchallenged long enough, it becomes a received truth – and progressive politics, with its base in black America, will be over.</p>
<p>African Americans must press for self-determination, not mitigated by money or the power of white voter “democracy” – a democracy from Hell, as we have known throughout our entire sojourn on this continent. Only WE affirm ourselves, not corporate media, not the millions that Barack Obama gathers from his rich friends. But that means we must organize. It is a lifelong project, as it was for our ancestors.</p>
<p>GLEN FORD is editor of <a href="http://www.BlackAgendaReport.com" type="external">Black Agenda Report</a>, where this piece appears. He can be contacted at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>. <a href="" type="internal" /></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | suit filed georgia state court former congresswoman cynthia mckinney charges atlanta journalconstitution ajc parent company cox enterprises multinational corporation waging libelous defamatory malicious vendetta resulting loss congressional seat last year case window albeit narrow legal one general corporate campaign penetrate reshape black politics united states impose docile class corporatefriendly black leaders corporate press key accomplishing coup core suit cynthia tucker black editor ajcs editorial page years incapable uttering mckinneys name without sneering tucker depicted mckinneys march 2006 encounter capitol hill policeman unprovoked assault pure simple slugged telephone wrote tucker column appeared barely week mckinney faced challenger hank johnson favorite whites corporate establishment democratic primary runoff tucker tried spin incident felony said mckinney suit false libelous allegation supported witness evidence mckinney never indicted crime says incident result racial political harassment capitol police tucker made mckinneys defeat priority project tucker falsely attempted attribute interprets antisemitic statements cynthia mckinneys father stating father spokesman campaign suit states father spokesman campaign mckinney long targeted american israel public affairs committee failure tow israeli line congress although mckinneys father former atlanta police officer state lawmaker indeed made indiscreet comments one ever claimed rep mckinney uttered anything could remotely deemed antisemitic attempted attribution false defamatory libelous states legal brief mckinney labels malicious tuckers repetitive assertions suggested president bush known advance sept 11 attacks nothing stop friends could profit ensuing war thats mckinney said back spring 2002 questioning conduct motives bush regime since proved prescient cox enterprises atlanta radio outlet wsb carried attacks mckinney looks like ghetto slut shrieked talk show personality neal boortz slander according mckinneys suit cox nothing rein radio personality cynthia tucker pulitzer prize columns including one savaged mckinney cox spokesman called mckinneys suit preposterous newspaper serial liar atlanta journalconstitution worked tandem corporate money aipac first unseat cynthia mckinney 2002 democratic primary election paper like corporate siblings across nation anxious prove political sea change occurred black america gone days civil rightsstyle rhetoric confrontation theory went middle class african americans like mckinneys district centered dekalb county second affluent black majority county nation becoming conservative said according new paradigm cynthia mckinneys black america passé longer appeal upwardly mobile class african american voters dekalb county would tell tale aipac corporate donors stuffed coffers black challenger denise majette former republican protégé prorepublican democratic senator zell miller atlanta journal constitution provided majette free publicity attackdog services cynthia tucker led local national corporate media pack intent making fait accompli analysis blacks sliding right tens thousands white republicans prepared cross vote democrats open primary eager put uppity mckinney place majette outspent mckinney 40 per cent majette corporate media rejoiced nationwide local representative atlanta journalconstitution claimed conduct study showed majette assembled biracial coalition voters win victory ushering new age centrist black politics prophecy fulfilled bruce dixon black agenda reports managing editor study election data found majette could 19 percent black vote key majettes victory abnormally high white turnout 90 percent majette great black centrist hope white candidate black community overwhelmingly supported mckinney historyshaking split among blacks relatively affluent dekalb county fiction half year dixon proved atlanta journal constitutions study bogus papers favorite political scientist quoteman university georgia prof charles bullock declared majettes biracial coalition myth research showed majette garnered 17 percent black vote majette needs getting courting black community trying broaden coalition poorly community wrote prof bullock majette get district embarking quixotic hopeless quest zell millers vacating senate seat time aipac atlanta journal constitution corporate capital vet designated negro cynthia mckinney seat back 2004 atlanta journalconstitution found defamatory manna heaven last year mckinneys term capitol hill policeman confronted attempted peoples work commend cynthia mckinney challenging tucker cox corporate giant tuckers backbone court fully understanding chances judicial success slim deliberate distortion reality corporate media could effectively prosecuted united states entire industry would behind bars bankrupted mckinney putting crimes truth record salute assaults mckinneys character seventerm career one skirmish nationwide corporate offensive sketched rightwing strategists midnineties fully implemented early years bush regime first time corporate american would make concerted coordinated effort cleanse african american polity remained black freedom movement year 2002 dday invasion black politics came strapped millions cash supporting artillery corporate media first target newark new jersey hard right bradley foundations black acolyte cory booker 31yearold second term city councilman private school voucher advocate raised millions mayoral campaign endorsements every new york region corporate media outlet thanks skills bradleyfunded manhattan institute proud say research writings exposing trojan horse right forestalled bookers ascension city hall four years booker beaten remained alist corporatedesignated new black leaders finally mayors office 2006 corporate juggernaut rolled 2002 vastly overspending 60 percent ousting black alabama congressman earl hilliard resisted proisrael lobby corporate demands replaced pliant deviously skilled artur davis cynthia mckinneys turn later summer end 2002 offensive corporate blitzkrieg installed artur davis denise majette obscure new congressman atlantaarea david scott congressional black caucus joined columbus georgias sanford bishop rapidly rightrushing harold ford jr tn form corporate faction within caucus along marylands albert wynn shaky members trembled whenever winds blew rightward congressional black caucus finished coherent political force capitol hill unable resist corporate capital represented ranks black masses undergone political sea change simply abandoned representatives suborned terrorized money concentrated media lobby power corporations embraced diversity weapon decade ago realized vast wealth empowered create alternative black political structure plenty black opportunists eager recruited point corporate victory complete neutered black electoral traditional institutions lightning speed disaster puts graphic relief failures legal strategies narrow nine people supreme court thwart 40 million african americans impotence conventional electoral strategies negated dekalb county georgia everywhere else nation sheer force money substitute mass movement opposition cages capital erects around us cynthia mckinney represents overwhelming majority black people district inspired courage defiance power different african americans everywhere corporate project uses media invent fantasy black polity deploys media muscle money make us believe constantly repeated lie goes unchallenged long enough becomes received truth progressive politics base black america african americans must press selfdetermination mitigated money power white voter democracy democracy hell known throughout entire sojourn continent affirm corporate media millions barack obama gathers rich friends means must organize lifelong project ancestors glen ford editor black agenda report piece appears contacted glenfordblackagendareportcom 160 | 1,011 |
<p>&lt;a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/6878658111/"&gt;Gage Skidmore&lt;/a&gt;/Flickr</p>
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<p>The political media world has been in a tizzy these past few days due to the news that Mitt Romney is serious about taking a third stab at a presidential run. On Friday, the Wall Street Journal <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/romney-tells-donors-he-is-considering-2016-white-house-bid-1420839312" type="external">reported</a> that Romney had told a group of Republican fat-cat funders—who else?—that he was pondering a 2016 bid. On Monday, the Washington Post <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/romney-moves-to-reassemble-campaign-apparatus-for-2016/2015/01/12/d968592e-9a88-11e4-96cc-e858eba91ced_story.html" type="external">revealed</a> that Romney was trying to get the band back together, calling former aides and donors and informing them he was almost ready to jump in. With Jeb Bush, another GOP prince with a business career open to political attacks, plotting his own 2016 moves, Romney’s actions raised the possibility of a dynasty-versus-dynasty clash that would cause awkward conversations in country clubs and corporate boardrooms across the land, with the two tussling to win the hearts, minds, and mega-dollars of the GOP establishment. Given that the voting base of the Republican Party will likely be motivated by tea party passions, not centrism or concerns about electability, a Romney-Bush primary battle might be akin to a contest to make the best salad at a cannibals’ convention. Nevertheless, it promises to be a bitter and bare-knuckled brawl, as each camp has already begun shooting spitballs at the other.</p>
<p>For Romney, the key question is this: What would he do differently than last time? In 2012, he did manage to win the GOP nomination, but he achieved that within a profoundly weak Republican field. Rick Perry <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uvmKnFY4uk" type="external">opposed</a> his way into inconsequence. And Romney only had to vanquish Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Jon Huntsman, Ron Paul, Herman Cain, Tim Pawlenty, and Michele Bachmann—none of them serious contenders. In the general election, he was widely panned—even by Republicans and conservatives—as a less-than-stellar campaigner who could not fully exploit the external factors (a still-sluggish economy, low approval numbers for President Barack Obama) that afforded the Republicans a good chance of seizing the White House. And, of course, there was that <a href="" type="internal">47 percent moment</a>—for which Romney has been offering <a href="" type="internal">contradictory and factually-challenged explanations ever since.</a></p>
<p>This race promises to present Romney with more serious contenders. And in these early days of the Romney-Bush slugfest, there are signs that the problems that plagued Romney four years ago will re-emerge in this new iteration. Jeb Bush reportedly <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/jeb-bush-tax-returns-114045.html" type="external">plans to release</a> a decade or more of his personal tax returns. Romney stubbornly refused to do so three years ago—and handed the Obama campaign an easy, what-is-he-hiding issue. Will Romney relent this time around? How would he explain yet another switcheroo? And in recent months, Romney has been privately telling Republican influencers that Jeb Bush, as a presidential candidate, would have a Mitt Romney problem. Well, that’s probably not exactly how Romney has put it, but in making a case against Bush he has <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/mitt-romney-considers-2016-presidential-campaign-114132.html" type="external">pointed out</a> that Bush’s business ties—for instance, he worked for Lehman Brothers before the financial collapse—would leave the brother of George W. Bush open to the sort of anti-plutocrat assaults that descended upon Romney in 2012. Yet if Bush would be vulnerable to such criticism in 2016, couldn’t Romney expect to experience a rerun of what occurred last time? Has he done anything since his concession speech—say, spend his days building homes for low-income Americans—that would inoculate him from a reprise?</p>
<p>There doesn’t yet seem to be much of a New Romney in the making—though the twice-failed presidential candidate has reportedly told donors that should he enter the fray he would aim to run to the right of Bush. (This appears to be more a decision of calculation than principle, which, no doubt, Ted Cruz, Rand Paul, and others will note.) So what might Romney change up for a 2016 bid? Here’s a modest suggestion: no behind-closed-doors fundraisers.</p>
<p>Romney need not be <a href="" type="internal">reminded</a> that his 47 percent comments were surreptitiously recorded by bartender Scott Prouty at a May 17, 2012, fundraiser at the lovely Boca Raton, Florida, home of hedge-fund tycoon Marc Leder. The price to get in the door: $50,000 per plate. It was in this ritzy setting—with no media present—that Romney, responding to a question from one of the 1 percenters in attendance, dismissed almost half of all Americans as freeloaders who do not take responsibility for their own lives. It’s a fair assumption that Romney spoke freely in this instance because he felt comfortable in Leder-land. Moreover, the power of the video was enhanced because it showed this candidate speaking within his natural environment—think of it as wildlife footage—and revealed that what goes on in private can be quite different than what voters are permitted to see.</p>
<p>So Romney ought to make a pledge: no more exclusive chats just for the benefit of zillionaires. Whenever he has a fundraiser, he should allow the media to attend. (For small soirees at fancy homes, there can be a pool crew. No need to trample the garden or ruin the rugs.)</p>
<p>In an <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/05/magazine/mitt-isnt-ready-to-call-it-quits-just-yet.html?_r=0" type="external">interview</a> with the New York Times last year, Romney did note that were he ever to campaign again, he would want a constant reminder that anything he says could be recorded and used against him:</p>
<p>I was talking to one of my political advisers, and I said: ‘If I had to do this again, I’d insist that you literally had a camera on me at all times.’ I want to be reminded that this is not off the cuff.</p>
<p>But Romney was clearly more worried about inadvertently uttering something stupid and believed he would need extra help to prevent him from going off script. That’s a start. But the larger point concerns transparency: In Boca, Romney was able to speak differently than he would in public because he was with like-minded swells in the safety of Leder’s mansion.</p>
<p>Promising to end private talks with those who can afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege would signal that Romney now realizes that political access due to wealth is undemocratic and that politicians should not be allowed to get away with sharing their real positions in private with patrons while singing a different tune before the voters. Most people don’t remember that at that Boca Raton dinner Romney expressed <a href="" type="internal">a much different and more hawkish view</a> on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than the position he had stated in public. Voters deserve to know what the candidates truly believe—at least as much as the donors.</p>
<p>It’s tough to see how Romney 2016 will explain away his best-known and most notorious words of 2012. In private, he has told GOP millionaires that he is thinking of running as a candidate who will address poverty. (It seems as if he has swiped the issue that <a href="" type="internal">Rep. Paul Ryan was developing</a>, now that Ryan, Romney’s ticket-mate in 2012, is not running for president.) Perhaps this is Romney’s strategy for de-47izing himself: Talk about the poor. And there’s nothing wrong with that. Yet he might also help his cause if he takes a step that shows he knows how much he screwed up in Boca and that indicates he wants to run a different kind of campaign. And there’s this: swearing off private fundraisers will have the benefit of ensuring that Romney does not make the same mistake twice.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | lta hrefhttpswwwflickrcomphotosgageskidmore6878658111gtgage skidmoreltagtflickr political media world tizzy past days due news mitt romney serious taking third stab presidential run friday wall street journal reported romney told group republican fatcat funderswho elsethat pondering 2016 bid monday washington post revealed romney trying get band back together calling former aides donors informing almost ready jump jeb bush another gop prince business career open political attacks plotting 2016 moves romneys actions raised possibility dynastyversusdynasty clash would cause awkward conversations country clubs corporate boardrooms across land two tussling win hearts minds megadollars gop establishment given voting base republican party likely motivated tea party passions centrism concerns electability romneybush primary battle might akin contest make best salad cannibals convention nevertheless promises bitter bareknuckled brawl camp already begun shooting spitballs romney key question would differently last time 2012 manage win gop nomination achieved within profoundly weak republican field rick perry opposed way inconsequence romney vanquish newt gingrich rick santorum jon huntsman ron paul herman cain tim pawlenty michele bachmannnone serious contenders general election widely pannedeven republicans conservativesas lessthanstellar campaigner could fully exploit external factors stillsluggish economy low approval numbers president barack obama afforded republicans good chance seizing white house course 47 percent momentfor romney offering contradictory factuallychallenged explanations ever since race promises present romney serious contenders early days romneybush slugfest signs problems plagued romney four years ago reemerge new iteration jeb bush reportedly plans release decade personal tax returns romney stubbornly refused three years agoand handed obama campaign easy whatishehiding issue romney relent time around would explain yet another switcheroo recent months romney privately telling republican influencers jeb bush presidential candidate would mitt romney problem well thats probably exactly romney put making case bush pointed bushs business tiesfor instance worked lehman brothers financial collapsewould leave brother george w bush open sort antiplutocrat assaults descended upon romney 2012 yet bush would vulnerable criticism 2016 couldnt romney expect experience rerun occurred last time done anything since concession speechsay spend days building homes lowincome americansthat would inoculate reprise doesnt yet seem much new romney makingthough twicefailed presidential candidate reportedly told donors enter fray would aim run right bush appears decision calculation principle doubt ted cruz rand paul others note might romney change 2016 bid heres modest suggestion behindcloseddoors fundraisers romney need reminded 47 percent comments surreptitiously recorded bartender scott prouty may 17 2012 fundraiser lovely boca raton florida home hedgefund tycoon marc leder price get door 50000 per plate ritzy settingwith media presentthat romney responding question one 1 percenters attendance dismissed almost half americans freeloaders take responsibility lives fair assumption romney spoke freely instance felt comfortable lederland moreover power video enhanced showed candidate speaking within natural environmentthink wildlife footageand revealed goes private quite different voters permitted see romney ought make pledge exclusive chats benefit zillionaires whenever fundraiser allow media attend small soirees fancy homes pool crew need trample garden ruin rugs interview new york times last year romney note ever campaign would want constant reminder anything says could recorded used talking one political advisers said id insist literally camera times want reminded cuff romney clearly worried inadvertently uttering something stupid believed would need extra help prevent going script thats start larger point concerns transparency boca romney able speak differently would public likeminded swells safety leders mansion promising end private talks afford pay tens thousands dollars privilege would signal romney realizes political access due wealth undemocratic politicians allowed get away sharing real positions private patrons singing different tune voters people dont remember boca raton dinner romney expressed much different hawkish view israelipalestinian conflict position stated public voters deserve know candidates truly believeat least much donors tough see romney 2016 explain away bestknown notorious words 2012 private told gop millionaires thinking running candidate address poverty seems swiped issue rep paul ryan developing ryan romneys ticketmate 2012 running president perhaps romneys strategy de47izing talk poor theres nothing wrong yet might also help cause takes step shows knows much screwed boca indicates wants run different kind campaign theres swearing private fundraisers benefit ensuring romney make mistake twice | 663 |
<p>The Emergency Room at San Francisco General Hospital is an American Bedlam. Now the only trauma center in a city that has suffered nearly 100 violent homicides in the first 10 months of 2008, ER is a snake pit boiling over nightly with gunshot and stabbing victims, those mangled in street confrontations or otherwise mowed down in traffic, damaged gangbangers, raving lunatics, drunks in the throes of the DTs, handcuffed prisoners in Guantanamo-like jumpsuits, snarling cops, and harried if heroically serene medical personal just trying to survive their shifts.</p>
<p>Broken men and women moan and thrash on blood-drenched gurneys so jamming the narrow hallways that treatment is reduced to triage. Some patients are lashed to their impromptu beds, the more comatose hooked up to blinking machines. Bodily fluids are sprayed and spat so rudely that the caregivers are forced to wear plastic face visors.</p>
<p>I arrived in this little corner of Hell courtesy of 911 after I had stopped breathing, a borderline emergency, and was shelved for 25 hours in a war zone hallway while the mayhem surged and ebbed all around me. Twice during my stay, the hospital decreed a red alert and the ER was locked down by armed deputies, a measure a retired nurse tells me is imposed when rival gangs face off in the parking lot.</p>
<p>The desperation was palpable. I overheard one severely wounded man threaten to murder his medic. Others were more patient. Some would not immediately respond to the questions of their caregivers. What’s your name, the nurses would demand? What month is it? Where are you? Who is the president?</p>
<p>“Barack Fucking Obama!” an Afro-American throat roared back down the hall and the entire Emergency Room, nurses and doctors and patients together, clapped and cheered wildly. I turned towards the wall and curled into a fetal position.</p>
<p>I don’t buy Barack Obama as the Messiah. I didn’t vote for him (I voted for another Afro-American) and I haven’t filed an application to join his regime. He ran a duplicitous, multi-million dollar campaign that masqueraded as a social movement and because it was a gimmick and a shuck, will thwart and demoralize the re-creation of real social movement for years to come.</p>
<p>The suckers packed shoulder to shoulder in Grant Park on Election Night were not a movement. 40 years ago, the Left stood in that park and were burning American flags, not waving them – although the reasons were equally specious. Back then, it was the denial of another false Messiah’s rightful place on the Democratic Party ticket. We ran a pig for president to underscore our disdain for the electoral process and when Mayor Dailey’s cops kidnapped and barbecued our candidate, we turned to yet another Afro-American who was also not the Messiah. In August 1968, the Mayor of Chicago, whose son is now Barack Obama’s most trusted political advisor, sent in the real pigs to beat us into the Grant Park grass like so many baby harp seals.</p>
<p>Now that was a social movement…</p>
<p>Eduardo Galeano does not get it. When he tells Amy Goodman that he has high hopes for El Baracko because black slaves once built the White House for which the president-elect is now measuring the drapes, he does not consider that Obama himself is a slave, a slave to Wall Street and General Motors and Big Oil and Big Ethanol, a slave to the War Machine and U.S. Imperialism and Israel, a slave to We’re Number One jingoism, avarice, and greed and the American Nightmare, a slave to the free market and free enterprise and free trade and the flimflam of corporate globalization, and most of all, a slave to the Democratic Party puppet masters who now move his strings.</p>
<p>Galeano doesn’t seem to recall that Afro-Americans can be mass murderers too. Condi is a killer and Barack’s big booster Colin Powell once obligated the United National Security Council to cover up a reproduction of Picasso’s “Gernika” before he could lie that contaminated body in the eye about Saddam’s make-believe WMDs and jumpstart a war that has now taken a million Iraqi lives. So far. The bloodletting has hardly abated.</p>
<p>We are in garbage time. The adulatory garbage being spewed about the virtues of Barrack Obama are a toxic trick on the peoples of the earth. One glaring recent example: 100,000 marched from sea to shining sea in the U.S. last weekend (Nov. 16th) in support of same sex marriage and no one had the moxie to even mention that Barack Obama does not support same sex marriage.</p>
<p>False Messiahs are made to be unmasked. Anyone who aspires to be the maximum capo of the world’s most homicidal on-going criminal conspiracy is just that, a criminal. Barack Obama is a war criminal-in-waiting masquerading as a peace candidate on the pretext that he will move the Yanqui troops two wars to the east to massacre civilians who did not vote for him. I am not fooled.</p>
<p>I am not invested in the United States of North America. I do not have an IRA or a CD or whatever they call the shekel-sucking scams that are flogged by those who just bankrupted the nation. I have no stocks or bonds or health insurance or retirement account. I don’t have a job and I don’t pay taxes. I don’t drink Coca Cola and I don’t drive or own a car. Indeed, I don’t own any property at all. I don’t know how to get to Main Street. Hell, I don’t even live in this benighted country.</p>
<p>Recession, depression and financial crisis are great equalizers. Bring ’em on! Those of us who live down at the bottom know how to survive. We are not going away.</p>
<p>On the night that Barack Obama was elected commander-in-chief, U.S. killers operating under NATO impunity, murdered at least 40 more Afghani civilians – “NATO” has now snuffed out over a thousand non-combattant lives this year in a war that Obama is pledged to escalate.</p>
<p>Also on Election Night, the Zionists of Israel deliberately bombed Gaza breaking a months-long truce to send the U.S, president-elect a clear and unequivocal message. 48 hours later that message was received and acknowledged and Rahm Israel Emanuel, a member of the Israeli army, was appointed Obama’s chief of staff.</p>
<p>The scenario is being written as we read. Before he is done, Barack Obama will bomb bomb bomb Iran. Here in our Americas, he will spit in Hugo Chavez’s eye and kick Evo Morales in the balls, prolong the Cuban blockade, and cuddle up to cold-blooded killers like Colombia’s Uribe and Mexico’s Calderon. Galeano will have many new chapters to write.</p>
<p>My pal Sasha Crow is just back from Amman where she is helping to pick up the pieces of the shattered lives of Iraqi refugees driven out of their homeland by an American war. Despite the evacuation of the White House by a president who wrecked their families and destroyed their livelihoods, the refugees to whom she speaks don’t think that Barack Obama is the Messiah either.</p>
<p>Sasha is the motor behind the Collateral Repair Project, a response by grass roots Americans to the unspeakable collateral carnage this country has inflicted upon the innocent to sustain the sort of We’re Number One domination of which Barack Obama is an enthusiastic devotee. If you want to make some change that the world can really believe in, send her some real change at <a href="http://www.collateralrepairproject.org" type="external">www.collateralrepairproject.org</a>.</p>
<p>JOHN ROSS can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a> or visit johnross- <a href="mailto:rebeljournalist.com" type="external">rebeljournalist.com</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | emergency room san francisco general hospital american bedlam trauma center city suffered nearly 100 violent homicides first 10 months 2008 er snake pit boiling nightly gunshot stabbing victims mangled street confrontations otherwise mowed traffic damaged gangbangers raving lunatics drunks throes dts handcuffed prisoners guantanamolike jumpsuits snarling cops harried heroically serene medical personal trying survive shifts broken men women moan thrash blooddrenched gurneys jamming narrow hallways treatment reduced triage patients lashed impromptu beds comatose hooked blinking machines bodily fluids sprayed spat rudely caregivers forced wear plastic face visors arrived little corner hell courtesy 911 stopped breathing borderline emergency shelved 25 hours war zone hallway mayhem surged ebbed around twice stay hospital decreed red alert er locked armed deputies measure retired nurse tells imposed rival gangs face parking lot desperation palpable overheard one severely wounded man threaten murder medic others patient would immediately respond questions caregivers whats name nurses would demand month president barack fucking obama afroamerican throat roared back hall entire emergency room nurses doctors patients together clapped cheered wildly turned towards wall curled fetal position dont buy barack obama messiah didnt vote voted another afroamerican havent filed application join regime ran duplicitous multimillion dollar campaign masqueraded social movement gimmick shuck thwart demoralize recreation real social movement years come suckers packed shoulder shoulder grant park election night movement 40 years ago left stood park burning american flags waving although reasons equally specious back denial another false messiahs rightful place democratic party ticket ran pig president underscore disdain electoral process mayor daileys cops kidnapped barbecued candidate turned yet another afroamerican also messiah august 1968 mayor chicago whose son barack obamas trusted political advisor sent real pigs beat us grant park grass like many baby harp seals social movement eduardo galeano get tells amy goodman high hopes el baracko black slaves built white house presidentelect measuring drapes consider obama slave slave wall street general motors big oil big ethanol slave war machine us imperialism israel slave number one jingoism avarice greed american nightmare slave free market free enterprise free trade flimflam corporate globalization slave democratic party puppet masters move strings galeano doesnt seem recall afroamericans mass murderers condi killer baracks big booster colin powell obligated united national security council cover reproduction picassos gernika could lie contaminated body eye saddams makebelieve wmds jumpstart war taken million iraqi lives far bloodletting hardly abated garbage time adulatory garbage spewed virtues barrack obama toxic trick peoples earth one glaring recent example 100000 marched sea shining sea us last weekend nov 16th support sex marriage one moxie even mention barack obama support sex marriage false messiahs made unmasked anyone aspires maximum capo worlds homicidal ongoing criminal conspiracy criminal barack obama war criminalinwaiting masquerading peace candidate pretext move yanqui troops two wars east massacre civilians vote fooled invested united states north america ira cd whatever call shekelsucking scams flogged bankrupted nation stocks bonds health insurance retirement account dont job dont pay taxes dont drink coca cola dont drive car indeed dont property dont know get main street hell dont even live benighted country recession depression financial crisis great equalizers bring em us live bottom know survive going away night barack obama elected commanderinchief us killers operating nato impunity murdered least 40 afghani civilians nato snuffed thousand noncombattant lives year war obama pledged escalate also election night zionists israel deliberately bombed gaza breaking monthslong truce send us presidentelect clear unequivocal message 48 hours later message received acknowledged rahm israel emanuel member israeli army appointed obamas chief staff scenario written read done barack obama bomb bomb bomb iran americas spit hugo chavezs eye kick evo morales balls prolong cuban blockade cuddle coldblooded killers like colombias uribe mexicos calderon galeano many new chapters write pal sasha crow back amman helping pick pieces shattered lives iraqi refugees driven homeland american war despite evacuation white house president wrecked families destroyed livelihoods refugees speaks dont think barack obama messiah either sasha motor behind collateral repair project response grass roots americans unspeakable collateral carnage country inflicted upon innocent sustain sort number one domination barack obama enthusiastic devotee want make change world really believe send real change wwwcollateralrepairprojectorg john ross reached johnrossigcorg visit johnross rebeljournalistcom 160 160 160 160 | 692 |
<p>In a speech in the Senate on 19 March, the first day of war against Iraq, Robert Byrd, the Democrat Senator from West Virginia, asked: ‘What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomacy when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy?’</p>
<p>No one bothered to answer, but as the American military machine currently in Iraq stirs restlessly in other directions, these questions give urgency to the failure, if not the corruption, of democracy.</p>
<p>Let us examine what the US’s Middle East policy has wrought since George W. Bush came to power. Even before the atrocities of 11 September, Bush’s team had given Ariel Sharon’s government freedom to colonise the West Bank and Gaza, kill and detain people at will, demolish their homes, expropriate their land and imprison them by curfew and military blockades. After 9/11, Sharon simply hitched his wagon to ‘the war on terrorism’ and intensified his unilateral depredations against a defenceless civilian population under occupation, despite UN Security Council Resolutions enjoining Israel to withdraw and desist from its war crimes and human-rights abuses.</p>
<p>In October 2001, Bush launched the invasion of Afghanistan, which opened with concentrated, high-altitude bombing (an ‘anti-terrorist’ military tactic, which resembles ordinary terrorism in its effects and structure) and by December had installed a client regime with no effective power beyond Kabul. There has been no significant US effort at reconstruction, and it seems the country has returned to its former abjection.</p>
<p>Since the summer of 2002, the Bush administration has conducted a propaganda campaign against the despotic government of Iraq and with the UK, having unsuccessfully tried to push the Security Council into compliance, started the war. Since last November, dissent disappeared from the mainstream media swollen with a surfeit of ex-generals sprinkled with recent terrorism experts drawn from Washington right-wing think-tanks.</p>
<p>Anyone who was critical was labelled anti-American by failed academics, listed on websites as an ‘enemy’ scholar who didn’t toe the line. Those few public figures who were critical had their emails swamped, their lives threatened, their ideas trashed by media commentators who had become sentinels of America’s war.</p>
<p>A torrent of material appeared equating Saddam Hussein’s tyranny not only with evil, but with every known crime. Some of this was factually correct but neglected the role of the US and Europe in fostering Saddam’s rise and maintaining his power. In fact, the egregious Donald Rumsfeld visited Saddam in the early 80s, assuring him of US approval for his catastrophic war against Iran. US corporations supplied nuclear, chemical and biological materials for the supposed weapons of mass destruction and then were brazenly erased from public record.</p>
<p>All this was deliberately obscured by government and media in manufacturing the case for destroying Iraq. Either without proof or with fraudulent information, Saddam was accused of harbouring weapons of mass destruction seen as a direct threat to the US. The appalling consequences of the US and British intervention in Iraq are beginning to unfold, with the calculated destruction of the country’s modern infrastructure, the looting of one of the world’s richest civilisations, the attempt to engage motley ‘exiles’ plus large corporations in rebuilding the country, and the appropriation of its oil and its modern destiny. It’s been suggested that Ahmad Chalabi, for example, will sign a peace treaty with Israel, hardly an Iraqi idea. Bechtel has already been awarded a huge contract.</p>
<p>This is an almost total failure in democracy – ours, not Iraq’s: 70 per cent of the American people are supposed to support this, but nothing is more manipulative than polls asking 465 Americans whether they ‘support our President and troops in time of war’. As Senator Byrd said: ‘There is a pervasive sense of rush and risk and too many questions unanswered … a pall has fallen over the Senate Chamber. We avoid our solemn duty to debate the one topic on the minds of all Americans, even while scores of our sons and daughters faithfully do their duty in Iraq.’</p>
<p>I am convinced this was a rigged, unnecessary and unpopular war. The reactionary Washington institutions that spawned Wolfowitz, Perle, Abrams and Feith provide an unhealthy intellectual and moral atmosphere. Policy papers circulate without real peer review, adopted by a government requiring justification for illicit policy. The doctrine of military pre-emption was never voted on by the American people or their representatives. How can citizens stand up against the blandishments offered to the government by companies like Halliburton and Boeing? Charting a strategic course for the most lavishly endowed military establishment in history is left to ideologically based pressure groups (eg fundamentalist Christian leaders), wealthy private foundations and lobbies like AIPAC, the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee. It seems so monumentally criminal that important words like democracy and freedom have been hijacked, used as a mask for pillage, taking over territory and settling scores. The US programme for the Arab world has become the same as Israel’s. Along with Syria, Iraq once represented the only serious military threat to Israel and, therefore, it had to be smashed.</p>
<p>Besides, what does it mean to liberate and democratise a country when no one asked you to do it and when, in the process, you occupy it militarily while failing to preserve law and order? What a travesty of strategic planning when you assume ‘natives’ will welcome your presence after you’ve bombed and quarantined them for 13 years.</p>
<p>A preposterous mindset about American beneficence has infiltrated the minutest levels of the media. In writing about a 70-year-old Baghdad widow who ran a cultural centre in her home that was wrecked by US raids and who is now beside herself with rage, New York Times reporter Dexter Filkins implicitly chastises her for her ‘comfortable life under Saddam Hussein’ and piously disapproves of her tirade against the Americans, ‘and this from a graduate of London University’.</p>
<p>Adding to the fraudulence of the weapons not found, the Stalingrads that didn’t occur, the artillery defences that never happened, I wouldn’t be surprised if Saddam disappeared suddenly because a deal was made in Moscow to let him, his family, and his money leave in return for the country. The war had gone badly for the US in the south, and Bush couldn’t risk the same in Baghdad. On 6 April, a Russian convoy leaving Iraq was bombed; Condi Rice appeared in Russia on 7 April; Baghdad fell 9 April.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, Americans have been cheated, Iraqis have suffered impossibly and Bush looks like a cowboy. On matters of the gravest importance, constitutional principles have been violated and the electorate lied to. We are the ones who must have our democracy back.</p>
<p>EDWARD SAID is Professor of Comparative Literature at Columbia University, New York</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | speech senate 19 march first day war iraq robert byrd democrat senator west virginia asked happening country become nation ignores berates friends decide risk undermining international order adopting radical doctrinaire approach using awesome military might abandon diplomacy turmoil world cries diplomacy one bothered answer american military machine currently iraq stirs restlessly directions questions give urgency failure corruption democracy let us examine uss middle east policy wrought since george w bush came power even atrocities 11 september bushs team given ariel sharons government freedom colonise west bank gaza kill detain people demolish homes expropriate land imprison curfew military blockades 911 sharon simply hitched wagon war terrorism intensified unilateral depredations defenceless civilian population occupation despite un security council resolutions enjoining israel withdraw desist war crimes humanrights abuses october 2001 bush launched invasion afghanistan opened concentrated highaltitude bombing antiterrorist military tactic resembles ordinary terrorism effects structure december installed client regime effective power beyond kabul significant us effort reconstruction seems country returned former abjection since summer 2002 bush administration conducted propaganda campaign despotic government iraq uk unsuccessfully tried push security council compliance started war since last november dissent disappeared mainstream media swollen surfeit exgenerals sprinkled recent terrorism experts drawn washington rightwing thinktanks anyone critical labelled antiamerican failed academics listed websites enemy scholar didnt toe line public figures critical emails swamped lives threatened ideas trashed media commentators become sentinels americas war torrent material appeared equating saddam husseins tyranny evil every known crime factually correct neglected role us europe fostering saddams rise maintaining power fact egregious donald rumsfeld visited saddam early 80s assuring us approval catastrophic war iran us corporations supplied nuclear chemical biological materials supposed weapons mass destruction brazenly erased public record deliberately obscured government media manufacturing case destroying iraq either without proof fraudulent information saddam accused harbouring weapons mass destruction seen direct threat us appalling consequences us british intervention iraq beginning unfold calculated destruction countrys modern infrastructure looting one worlds richest civilisations attempt engage motley exiles plus large corporations rebuilding country appropriation oil modern destiny suggested ahmad chalabi example sign peace treaty israel hardly iraqi idea bechtel already awarded huge contract almost total failure democracy iraqs 70 per cent american people supposed support nothing manipulative polls asking 465 americans whether support president troops time war senator byrd said pervasive sense rush risk many questions unanswered pall fallen senate chamber avoid solemn duty debate one topic minds americans even scores sons daughters faithfully duty iraq convinced rigged unnecessary unpopular war reactionary washington institutions spawned wolfowitz perle abrams feith provide unhealthy intellectual moral atmosphere policy papers circulate without real peer review adopted government requiring justification illicit policy doctrine military preemption never voted american people representatives citizens stand blandishments offered government companies like halliburton boeing charting strategic course lavishly endowed military establishment history left ideologically based pressure groups eg fundamentalist christian leaders wealthy private foundations lobbies like aipac americanisrael public affairs committee seems monumentally criminal important words like democracy freedom hijacked used mask pillage taking territory settling scores us programme arab world become israels along syria iraq represented serious military threat israel therefore smashed besides mean liberate democratise country one asked process occupy militarily failing preserve law order travesty strategic planning assume natives welcome presence youve bombed quarantined 13 years preposterous mindset american beneficence infiltrated minutest levels media writing 70yearold baghdad widow ran cultural centre home wrecked us raids beside rage new york times reporter dexter filkins implicitly chastises comfortable life saddam hussein piously disapproves tirade americans graduate london university adding fraudulence weapons found stalingrads didnt occur artillery defences never happened wouldnt surprised saddam disappeared suddenly deal made moscow let family money leave return country war gone badly us south bush couldnt risk baghdad 6 april russian convoy leaving iraq bombed condi rice appeared russia 7 april baghdad fell 9 april nevertheless americans cheated iraqis suffered impossibly bush looks like cowboy matters gravest importance constitutional principles violated electorate lied ones must democracy back edward said professor comparative literature columbia university new york 160 160 | 657 |
<p>Elected on a platform of “Keynesianism in one country,” Mitterrand was forced to choose between spending more money and keeping the franc within the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM). Outsiders were betting he couldn’t do both — and they were right.</p>
<p>After much discussion with his anti-ERM “visiteurs du soir,” he opted to follow the advice of his finance ministry and give up his Keynesian policies. But instead of declaring a clean break with socialism, Mitterrand presented his decision as a commitment to European integration. Market-friendly policies were introduced through the backdoor without any ideological change at the party level.</p>
<p>Hence the difficulty for the post-Mitterrand Socialist Party: they have pro-market policies but no new ideology with which to justify them.</p>
<p>François Hollande, in much-discussed press conference in January this year, fumbled around with the language of social democracy. “Liberal” in France remains a taboo, particularly on the Left.&#160;The result is disenchantment all-round. Verbal gestures, such as Hollande’s promise to attack finance and “re-moralize” capitalism in his 2012 presidential campaign, fall flat as no policies are forthcoming that match the rhetoric.</p>
<p>In the 1980s, the French Communist Party (PCF) lost its status as the main mass-based opposition party. Former PCF voters have gone in a number of different directions: Many withdrew from politics altogether, a few remained within the party or joined other small far-left parties, and a large number shifted to the far right and began to vote (or at least sympathize with) the National Front (FN).</p>
<p>The shift from the PCF to the FN is one of the most significant political developments for France in recent decades, though it is rarely commented on. The Socialist Party has retained the support of much of France’s large public sector, but it also competes for an&#160;urban middle class vote that has little in common with former card-carrying Communists who spent their lives working in French shipyards or train yards.</p>
<p>The bourgeois social base of the French left was evident in the recent European elections. The Front de Gauche, a party to the left of the PS, drew virtually none of its supporters from the unemployed. The FN, in contrast, is by far the party favored most by those out of work. The PS did worst in the May elections among workers, while its highest numbers were the so-called cadres supérieures, the high-flying professionals. Classified by income, the share of the Socialist vote rises as one moves up the income scale; the opposite is true of the FN. (See <a href="http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/elections-europeennes-2014/20140526.OBS8488/europeennes-qui-a-vote-fn.html" type="external">here</a> for these results.)</p>
<p>For all his eloquence and timely put-downs, Mélenchon’s obsession is himself. Rarely can he give an interview without talking about his persecution by the Socialist Party and the Socialist-sympathizing French media. The momentum his party gained during the 2012 election campaign was partly a consequence of the widespread anti-finance and anti-elite sentiment, which also helped Hollande win the presidency.</p>
<p>Yet Mélenchon, once again overcome by his own ego, decided to run in the parliamentary elections against Marine Le Pen in Hénin-Baumon, a locality in the North of France, as if his mere presence could lift a town out of its depressed state and magically infuse it with some anti–National Front fervor.</p>
<p>He fared&#160;poorly (receiving just over 20%; Le Pen won with just under 50% of the vote) and has since become&#160;a more marginal figure in French politics. This year, the Front de Gauche has had little impact in&#160;elections, scoring only <a href="http://www.results-elections2014.eu/en/country-results-fr-2014.html" type="external">6.33%</a>&#160;in the European elections and not seeming to benefit at all from the governing Socialist Party’s historic unpopularity.</p>
<p>He is what he has always been: a party apparatchik, clever and determined, but without any big idea or project.</p>
<p>His election in 2012 was fortuitous. He became candidate because of the exit from the race of Dominique Strauss-Kahn and won the election because of the strength of anti-Sarkozy sentiment. His own contribution was to hold the line and not make any big mistake.</p>
<p>Even then, he only just won. Another week of campaigning could have been enough for Sarkozy to claw back a victory. So there will be no “Mitterrand moment,” as Peter Gumbel <a href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/06e63836-7c70-11e3-b514-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2qeHn88P4" type="external">once put it</a>; no grand transformation, no rabbit pulled out of the hat.</p>
<p>The first was the goal of growth and social equality: pulling France out of its quagmire, reducing the terribly high levels of unemployment, doing something about the searing injustices of the dual labour market, tackling the decline in competitiveness.</p>
<p>On that score, Hollande’s&#160;record is dismal. He&#160;failed to renegotiate the Fiscal Compact in favor of growth, as he had promised, and the preference for internal devaluation of prices and wages as a condition for the return of growth within the Eurozone — the “sadomonetarist” agenda — remains central to EU macro-economic policymaking.</p>
<p>The second goal was to halt the drift in French politics towards the right — evident in the mainstreaming of National Front rhetoric, the growing social acceptability of racism and anti-immigrant sentiment, and the turn to law and order as a solution to France’s social problems. On this, the Socialist government has also failed completely, with its passing of the law on gay marriage an exception that proves the rule. (Even there, many defended gay marriage in the name of the family rather than equality.) The results of the European elections sealed this failure, with the FN coming out on top by a large margin.</p>
<p>Another telling sign was the decision to replace Jean-Marc Ayrault with Manuel Valls as Prime Minister. Valls’ popularity has come through being a hardline interior minister willing to take on France’s Roma population. His nomination as prime minister led to the exit from the government of its Green Party ministers.</p>
<p>In his actions and rhetoric, there is little to differentiate Valls from the Right. Unlikely to collude with the National Front in an election, the Socialist Party has nevertheless acquiesced in the rightward shift of politics in France. Here we also have to thank Mitterrand, whose tolerance of the National Front was due to his calculation that it would split the Right and therefore keep the Left in power.</p>
<p>Halfway through his term, Hollande has failed on both these counts. He is partly to blame, but this failure also reflects the failure of the&#160;French Left.</p> | true | 4 | elected platform keynesianism one country mitterrand forced choose spending money keeping franc within european exchange rate mechanism erm outsiders betting couldnt right much discussion antierm visiteurs du soir opted follow advice finance ministry give keynesian policies instead declaring clean break socialism mitterrand presented decision commitment european integration marketfriendly policies introduced backdoor without ideological change party level hence difficulty postmitterrand socialist party promarket policies new ideology justify françois hollande muchdiscussed press conference january year fumbled around language social democracy liberal france remains taboo particularly left160the result disenchantment allround verbal gestures hollandes promise attack finance remoralize capitalism 2012 presidential campaign fall flat policies forthcoming match rhetoric 1980s french communist party pcf lost status main massbased opposition party former pcf voters gone number different directions many withdrew politics altogether remained within party joined small farleft parties large number shifted far right began vote least sympathize national front fn shift pcf fn one significant political developments france recent decades though rarely commented socialist party retained support much frances large public sector also competes an160urban middle class vote little common former cardcarrying communists spent lives working french shipyards train yards bourgeois social base french left evident recent european elections front de gauche party left ps drew virtually none supporters unemployed fn contrast far party favored work ps worst may elections among workers highest numbers socalled cadres supérieures highflying professionals classified income share socialist vote rises one moves income scale opposite true fn see results eloquence timely putdowns mélenchons obsession rarely give interview without talking persecution socialist party socialistsympathizing french media momentum party gained 2012 election campaign partly consequence widespread antifinance antielite sentiment also helped hollande win presidency yet mélenchon overcome ego decided run parliamentary elections marine le pen héninbaumon locality north france mere presence could lift town depressed state magically infuse antinational front fervor fared160poorly receiving 20 le pen 50 vote since become160a marginal figure french politics year front de gauche little impact in160elections scoring 633160in european elections seeming benefit governing socialist partys historic unpopularity always party apparatchik clever determined without big idea project election 2012 fortuitous became candidate exit race dominique strausskahn election strength antisarkozy sentiment contribution hold line make big mistake even another week campaigning could enough sarkozy claw back victory mitterrand moment peter gumbel put grand transformation rabbit pulled hat first goal growth social equality pulling france quagmire reducing terribly high levels unemployment something searing injustices dual labour market tackling decline competitiveness score hollandes160record dismal he160failed renegotiate fiscal compact favor growth promised preference internal devaluation prices wages condition return growth within eurozone sadomonetarist agenda remains central eu macroeconomic policymaking second goal halt drift french politics towards right evident mainstreaming national front rhetoric growing social acceptability racism antiimmigrant sentiment turn law order solution frances social problems socialist government also failed completely passing law gay marriage exception proves rule even many defended gay marriage name family rather equality results european elections sealed failure fn coming top large margin another telling sign decision replace jeanmarc ayrault manuel valls prime minister valls popularity come hardline interior minister willing take frances roma population nomination prime minister led exit government green party ministers actions rhetoric little differentiate valls right unlikely collude national front election socialist party nevertheless acquiesced rightward shift politics france also thank mitterrand whose tolerance national front due calculation would split right therefore keep left power halfway term hollande failed counts partly blame failure also reflects failure the160french left | 563 |
<p>Trayvon was not killed by a police officer, but he was killed and his killer given a pass by a broader criminal justice system that sees young black men as suspicious, only able to be controlled through violence.</p>
<p>By now of course you've heard that George Zimmerman, the admitted killer of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, has been acquitted of murder by a Florida jury.</p>
<p>You have probably also heard that <a href="http://colorlines.com/archives/2013/07/heres_a_look_at_this_weekends_nationwide_protest_in_support_of_trayvon_martin.html" type="external">thousands of protestors swelled the streets</a> of New York, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, and many other cities. You may have been there, and may have spilled from sidewalk to street and stopped traffic for a while with your grief. You may have carried a handwritten sign, or seen the ones that read, “Will they shoot me too?” or “Trayvon Martin is my son” or “We are united in anger and we too will stand our ground,” or that simply called for justice.</p>
<p>The legal system did not deliver justice, if justice would have been Zimmerman going to prison. Justice will have to come through other avenues.</p>
<p>In the wake of the acquittal, the U.S. justice department may consider a <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/george-zimmerman-hiding-verdict-article-1.1398369" type="external">civil-</a> <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/george-zimmerman-hiding-verdict-article-1.1398369" type="external">rights prosecution</a>, and civil charges from Trayvon’s family are possible. In Florida, there are calls to overturn the ALEC-backed “ <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/07/15/stateline-zimmerman-stand-your-ground/2517507/" type="external">Stand Your Ground</a>” law that allowed Zimmerman to go free after the shooting.</p>
<p>Zimmerman might never have stood trial at all if people across America had not taken to the streets. Six weeks passed between the night he was released, having claimed self-defense, and the date he was finally charged with second-degree murder. In that time, his case had become a national cause. Many of the people who rallied together after the verdict had stood together, marched together, during those six weeks in 2012, as people around the country called for Zimmerman to face a jury. Politicians donned hoodies like the one Trayvon wore that day and stood in protest in the halls of city councils and state legislatures and on the floor of the House of Representatives. A group of young people who call themselves the <a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/12208-dream-defenders-challenge-candidates-to-tackle-the-war-on-youth-in-next-debate" type="external">Dream Defenders</a> came together to call for justice for Trayvon—they marched 40 miles from Daytona, Florida, to Sanford, where they held a sit-in outside of the police station and demanded answers.</p>
<p>They demanded a response from the authorities who believe that a young man being black is reason enough to be afraid of him, that shooting an unarmed teenager is an appropriate response to seeing that teenager walking in your neighborhood. They demanded attention from a wider society that has been taught that blackness is a threat and that white people are justified—even expected—to take violent action in response.</p>
<p>The movement worked—Zimmerman was arrested and faced a jury of his peers. But that jury, which was almost all white, didn't convict him, apparently finding the antics of a defense attorney who at one point claimed that Trayvon had been armed with “ <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/24/zimmerman-lawyer-trayvon-martin-armed-himself-with-the-concrete-sidewalk/" type="external">the sidewalk</a>” more sympathetic than the friends and family of a teenage boy who'd had nothing but Skittles and an iced tea in his pockets.</p>
<p>It may be naïve to expect justice from a courtroom in a country whose Supreme Court just gutted the Voting Rights Act, declaring in effect—and wrongly—that the fight against racial discrimination has succeeded.</p>
<p>We will have to make much more fundamental changes. &#160;Justice for Trayvon, for <a href="http://gothamist.com/2012/04/10/fired_sean_bell_shooting_detective.php" type="external">Sean Bell</a>, for <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2013/07/12/2294011/fruitvale-station-director-ryan-coogler-on-filming-police-brutality-the-bay-area-and-trayvon-martin/" type="external">Oscar Grant</a> (who is the subject of a film that opened this weekend, Fruitvale Station), <a href="http://www.villagevoice.com/2013-03-20/news/kimani-gray-flatbush/" type="external">Kimani Grey</a>, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/story/154161/is_nypd_running_wild_patterns_of_brutality_raise_questions_about_mayor's_control_of_police" type="external">Ramarley Graham</a>, and so many others, will not be “found” in the current legal system, where young black men are never presumed innocent. Justice is not a passive object to be stumbled across or to be granted from above. We will have to create our own justice.&#160;</p>
<p>A sign that appeared at several rallies this weekend read, “The whole damn system is guilty.”</p>
<p />
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>I live in New York, where the public, legalized face of <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175260/white-supremacy-acquits-george-zimmerman#axzz2Z867NIoa" type="external">white supremacy</a> is a policy called Stop and Frisk. Ostensibly aimed at getting guns off the streets, Stop and Frisk leaves young men, <a href="http://gawker.com/5909190/stop-and-frisk-is-basically-a-black-guy-harassment-program" type="external">almost always</a> of color, at the mercy of the police who patrol their streets. A Twitter user with the handle “ <a href="https://twitter.com/stopandfrisk" type="external">stopandfrisk</a>,” aggregating data from the New York Civil Liberties Union, quotes the NYPD’s stated reasons for stops: “furtive movements,” “fits a relevant description,” “suspicious bulge” and just “other.”</p>
<p>Stop and frisk is not just racial profiling. It is a policy of daily acts of violence against young black and brown people, mostly men. <a href="http://www.alternet.org/civil-liberties/how-stop-and-frisk-too-often-sexual-assault-cops-teenagers-targeted-nyc" type="external">Kristen Gwynne at AlterNet</a> documents how the young men targeted by the NYPD feel about the constant harassment:</p>
<p>A black teenager in Bedford-Stuyvesant described how embarrassed he was to have “old ladies” watch as his pants landed around his ankles while police searched him. A 17-year-old in the Bronx <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;cad=rja&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CC8QFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alternet.org%2Fstory%2F154161%2Fis_nypd_running_wild_patterns_of_brutality_raise_questions_about_mayor's_control_of_police&amp;ei=H779UP2yEcu30gHSy4G4CA&amp;usg=AFQjCNFdqRJ5SI2USknCgnG3jsUdnKUekQ&amp;bvm=bv.41248874,d.dmQ" type="external">explained</a> that police, “They go in my pants. You’re not supposed to go in my pants.” Being touched by a female police officer can be especially upsetting for adolescent males. “It’s annoying because it doesn’t matter what kind of cop it is, female or male, they’re gonna frisk you. If you say something to the female about it, the female says something to you like ‘What? I can do what I want.' And they still frisk you. You can’t say sexual harassment, nothing,” 18-year-old South Bronx resident Garnell told me last year, adding, “And they go hard, grabbing stuff they’re not supposed to.”</p>
<p>In New York, the movement against Stop and Frisk has won some recent victories: The City Council passed <a href="https://twitter.com/bradlander/status/356265874551873536" type="external">two bills</a> in June aimed at curbing the policy. <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/175025/end-stop-and-frisk#ixzz2XXdfpmHK" type="external">One bill</a>, which passed with a strong 40-11 veto-proof majority, would create an inspector general to oversee the NYPD; the other, which passed with just one vote past the veto-proof threshold, would allow New Yorkers who've been stopped to sue if they feel they've been racially profiled. Billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to use his own fortune, as well as his considerable powers of, shall we say, persuasion, to try to peel off one vote and prevent the anti-racial-profiling bill from becoming law.</p>
<p>Ray Kelly, the police commissioner, staunchly defends the program and his department’s use of it, even in the face of criticism from the <a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/raykelly_blasts_obama_administration_76qz5GrzapRFNZdffmwRDL" type="external">Obama justice department</a> and an ongoing <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/may/21/nypd-stop-frisk-trial-closing" type="external">federal lawsuit</a> that could result in the appointment of an outside monitor to oversee the department.</p>
<p>In the course of that trial,&#160; <a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/04/01/ray_kelly_wants_stop_and_frisk_to_i.php" type="external">State Senator Eric Adams</a>, a former police captain, testified that when he raised questions about the disproportionate impact of stop and frisk on young men of color, Kelly told him “he targeted or focused on that group because he wanted to instill fear in them that any time they leave their homes they could be targeted by police.” On <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/nypd-commissioner-defends-stop-and-frisk-against-critics-african-americans-are-being-understopped/" type="external">Nightline</a> in May, Kelly argued, “About 70 to 75 percent of the people described as committing violent crimes—assault, robbery, shootings, grand larceny—are described as being African-American. …The percentage of people who are stopped is 53 percent African-American. So really, African Americans are being understopped in relation to the percentage of people being described as being the perpetrators of violent crime.”</p>
<p>Bloomberg has echoed those comments. Yet <a href="http://www.nyclu.org/issues/racial-justice/stop-and-frisk-practices" type="external">according to the NYPD's own reports</a>, nearly 90 percent of those stopped and frisked are innocent—and the <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/05/22/2046451/white-people-stopped-by-new-york-police-are-more-likely-to-have-guns-or-drugs-than-minorities/" type="external">white people who are stopped</a> are almost twice as likely to have a weapon or drugs on them.</p>
<p>But New York will soon have a new mayor, and many of those mayoral candidates have been <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/nypd-muslims-stop-and-frisk-nyc-mayor_n_2664639.html" type="external">loud</a> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/nypd-muslims-stop-and-frisk-nyc-mayor_n_2664639.html" type="external">critics</a> <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/11/nypd-muslims-stop-and-frisk-nyc-mayor_n_2664639.html" type="external">of stop and frisk</a>. Bill de Blasio, Bill Thompson, and even Christine Quinn—who has been quite close with Bloomberg—have called for reforms. John Liu has demanded an end to stop and frisk entirely.</p>
<p>Yet this past week, when news broke that Janet Napolitano was leaving the federal Department of Homeland Security, several of those candidates supported the call from New York Senator Chuck Schumer <a href="http://capitalnewyork.com/article/politics/2013/07/8531833/liu-and-stringer-back-ray-kelly-homeland-security-secretary" type="external">to make Ray Kelly the head of DHS</a>. (That’s especially painful because the other major complaint against Kelly in New York City is his targeted <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/raymond-kelly-defends-spying-calling-essential-safety-strategy-city-article-1.1032607" type="external">surveillance of Muslims</a> for possible “terrorism.”)</p>
<p>Brad Lander, Brooklyn City Councilmember and one of the sponsors of the package of anti-stop-and-frisk bills, called out the opportunism of one mayoral candidate on Twitter Sunday night. When Anthony Weiner (who has said that he would not have Kelly back as commissioner but would support him getting a promotion to DHS) tweeted, “Let’s make the legacy of Trayvon a commitment to ending racial profiling,” <a href="https://twitter.com/bradlander/status/356265874551873536" type="external">Lander replied</a>, “Start by supporting our efforts to end it here.”&#160;</p>
<p>Trayvon was not killed by a police officer, but he was killed, and his killer was given a pass by a broader criminal justice system that sees young black men as suspicious, and uncontrollable except through violence. As Michelle Alexander has written in her book The New Jim Crow and has argued in <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149808240/race-politics-and-the-trayvon-martin-case" type="external">relation to Trayvon's shooting</a>, white supremacy is sustained by this ideology; the continued criminalization, incarceration, harassment and killing of black men creates what she calls “ <a href="http://www.thenation.com/article/new-jim-crow#axzz2Z8IcSTSn" type="external">a permanent American undercaste</a>.”</p>
<p>Alexander <a href="http://www.npr.org/2012/04/01/149808240/race-politics-and-the-trayvon-martin-case" type="external">told NPR</a>, “I would love to see the Trayvon Martin tragedy help to birth and fuel a movement to end mass incarceration, a human rights movement for education, not incarceration, for jobs, not jails, a movement ought to inspire people, to view a young kid like Trayvon Martin even in his hoodie as a young kid who might well be president of the United States one day rather than someone who looks like he might be on drugs or up to no good.”</p>
<p>A good start would be understanding that one cannot oppose racial profiling and stop and frisk and yet approve of the person who implements and defends them.</p>
<p><a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Council-Member-Williams--Statement-on-the-Verdict-in-the-Trial-of-Trayvon-Martin-s-Murder.html?soid=1102557709761&amp;aid=s8TdKV9xKxg" type="external">Jumaane Williams</a> is a Brooklyn City Councilmember who has led the fight to reform the NYPD since his own <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/06/nyregion/city-councilman-jumaane-d-williams-is-handcuffed-at-west-indian-day-parade.html" type="external">run-in with the police</a> at 2011’s West Indian Day parade, and the other sponsor of the anti-stop-and-frisk measures. He said of Zimmerman's acquittal, “Our society must be re-examined at every level, from law enforcement to criminal justice to the basic way we relate to each other.”</p>
<p>He took the streets yesterday with the crowds, in a hoodie that read “Unarmed Civilian.”</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>This is my first time writing publicly about Trayvon Martin, because I didn’t want to insert myself &#160;into the story. This isn't about me examining my white privilege in public.</p>
<p>But I do want to tell you a story that I think is relevant. I want to tell you about friends of mine in high school, teenage boys who liked to smoke marijuana and to shoplift 40-oz malt liquor bottles on occasion, boys who begged me to buy them cigarettes because I was 18 and even wanted me to try buying beer because I was a girl, and thus, they figured, might get away with it. Boys who got in fights sometimes, who got chased by the police for skateboarding on private property.</p>
<p>Boys I loved. Boys who were the best and most loyal friends I ever had, some of whom are still my friends today. Boys I cried over when they took stupid risks, committed petty crimes, got caught, and went to jail.</p>
<p>They all–each and every one–got out, rebuilt their lives, and today are what almost anyone would call contributing members of society.</p>
<p>They all got that chance because they were white. Some of them were working-class, some were upper-middle-class, and you bet that had an impact on how long they spent in jail if they did get caught. Regardless, they got out far faster than they would have had they been black.</p>
<p>I know what it’s like to worry that the people you love will have a bad run-in with the cops. But I didn’t have to worry the way so many of the fathers and mothers who took to the streets yesterday with their children do. I didn’t fear that my friends would be shot or be arrested for things they didn't do. We didn’t worry that the cops would throw them up against the wall, pat them down and search for any piece of evidence to put them away because their very bodies made them criminal.</p>
<p>They were less “innocent,” by whatever measure we count such things, than Trayvon Martin—their “crimes” worse than being caught with a little pot. They were kids. They all got to grow up. They got second and third chances.</p>
<p>Trayvon didn't need a second chance. He just needed to not be black in a system that always sees black men and boys as threats to be eliminated, as examples to be made. That whole system needs to be dismantled.</p>
<p>This is not a tragedy for “the black community,” as mainstream media figures like to say. It is a tragedy for all of us. It is up to all of us to create justice for Trayvon.&#160;</p>
<p><a href="http://sarahljaffe.com" type="external">Sarah Jaffe</a> is a former staff writer at In These Times and author of Necessary Trouble: Americans in Revolt , which Robin D.G. Kelley called “The most compelling social and political portrait of our age.” You can follow her on Twitter <a href="http://twitter.com/sarahljaffe" type="external">@sarahljaffe</a>.</p> | true | 4 | trayvon killed police officer killed killer given pass broader criminal justice system sees young black men suspicious able controlled violence course youve heard george zimmerman admitted killer 17yearold trayvon martin acquitted murder florida jury probably also heard thousands protestors swelled streets new york los angeles san francisco bay area chicago atlanta detroit many cities may may spilled sidewalk street stopped traffic grief may carried handwritten sign seen ones read shoot trayvon martin son united anger stand ground simply called justice legal system deliver justice justice would zimmerman going prison justice come avenues wake acquittal us justice department may consider civil rights prosecution civil charges trayvons family possible florida calls overturn alecbacked stand ground law allowed zimmerman go free shooting zimmerman might never stood trial people across america taken streets six weeks passed night released claimed selfdefense date finally charged seconddegree murder time case become national cause many people rallied together verdict stood together marched together six weeks 2012 people around country called zimmerman face jury politicians donned hoodies like one trayvon wore day stood protest halls city councils state legislatures floor house representatives group young people call dream defenders came together call justice trayvonthey marched 40 miles daytona florida sanford held sitin outside police station demanded answers demanded response authorities believe young man black reason enough afraid shooting unarmed teenager appropriate response seeing teenager walking neighborhood demanded attention wider society taught blackness threat white people justifiedeven expectedto take violent action response movement workedzimmerman arrested faced jury peers jury almost white didnt convict apparently finding antics defense attorney one point claimed trayvon armed sidewalk sympathetic friends family teenage boy whod nothing skittles iced tea pockets may naïve expect justice courtroom country whose supreme court gutted voting rights act declaring effectand wronglythat fight racial discrimination succeeded make much fundamental changes 160justice trayvon sean bell oscar grant subject film opened weekend fruitvale station kimani grey ramarley graham many others found current legal system young black men never presumed innocent justice passive object stumbled across granted create justice160 sign appeared several rallies weekend read whole damn system guilty 160 live new york public legalized face white supremacy policy called stop frisk ostensibly aimed getting guns streets stop frisk leaves young men almost always color mercy police patrol streets twitter user handle stopandfrisk aggregating data new york civil liberties union quotes nypds stated reasons stops furtive movements fits relevant description suspicious bulge stop frisk racial profiling policy daily acts violence young black brown people mostly men kristen gwynne alternet documents young men targeted nypd feel constant harassment black teenager bedfordstuyvesant described embarrassed old ladies watch pants landed around ankles police searched 17yearold bronx explained police go pants youre supposed go pants touched female police officer especially upsetting adolescent males annoying doesnt matter kind cop female male theyre gon na frisk say something female female says something like want still frisk cant say sexual harassment nothing 18yearold south bronx resident garnell told last year adding go hard grabbing stuff theyre supposed new york movement stop frisk recent victories city council passed two bills june aimed curbing policy one bill passed strong 4011 vetoproof majority would create inspector general oversee nypd passed one vote past vetoproof threshold would allow new yorkers whove stopped sue feel theyve racially profiled billionaire mayor michael bloomberg expected use fortune well considerable powers shall say persuasion try peel one vote prevent antiracialprofiling bill becoming law ray kelly police commissioner staunchly defends program departments use even face criticism obama justice department ongoing federal lawsuit could result appointment outside monitor oversee department course trial160 state senator eric adams former police captain testified raised questions disproportionate impact stop frisk young men color kelly told targeted focused group wanted instill fear time leave homes could targeted police nightline may kelly argued 70 75 percent people described committing violent crimesassault robbery shootings grand larcenyare described africanamerican percentage people stopped 53 percent africanamerican really african americans understopped relation percentage people described perpetrators violent crime bloomberg echoed comments yet according nypds reports nearly 90 percent stopped frisked innocentand white people stopped almost twice likely weapon drugs new york soon new mayor many mayoral candidates loud critics stop frisk bill de blasio bill thompson even christine quinnwho quite close bloomberghave called reforms john liu demanded end stop frisk entirely yet past week news broke janet napolitano leaving federal department homeland security several candidates supported call new york senator chuck schumer make ray kelly head dhs thats especially painful major complaint kelly new york city targeted surveillance muslims possible terrorism brad lander brooklyn city councilmember one sponsors package antistopandfrisk bills called opportunism one mayoral candidate twitter sunday night anthony weiner said would kelly back commissioner would support getting promotion dhs tweeted lets make legacy trayvon commitment ending racial profiling lander replied start supporting efforts end here160 trayvon killed police officer killed killer given pass broader criminal justice system sees young black men suspicious uncontrollable except violence michelle alexander written book new jim crow argued relation trayvons shooting white supremacy sustained ideology continued criminalization incarceration harassment killing black men creates calls permanent american undercaste alexander told npr would love see trayvon martin tragedy help birth fuel movement end mass incarceration human rights movement education incarceration jobs jails movement ought inspire people view young kid like trayvon martin even hoodie young kid might well president united states one day rather someone looks like might drugs good good start would understanding one oppose racial profiling stop frisk yet approve person implements defends jumaane williams brooklyn city councilmember led fight reform nypd since runin police 2011s west indian day parade sponsor antistopandfrisk measures said zimmermans acquittal society must reexamined every level law enforcement criminal justice basic way relate took streets yesterday crowds hoodie read unarmed civilian first time writing publicly trayvon martin didnt want insert 160into story isnt examining white privilege public want tell story think relevant want tell friends mine high school teenage boys liked smoke marijuana shoplift 40oz malt liquor bottles occasion boys begged buy cigarettes 18 even wanted try buying beer girl thus figured might get away boys got fights sometimes got chased police skateboarding private property boys loved boys best loyal friends ever still friends today boys cried took stupid risks committed petty crimes got caught went jail alleach every onegot rebuilt lives today almost anyone would call contributing members society got chance white workingclass uppermiddleclass bet impact long spent jail get caught regardless got far faster would black know like worry people love bad runin cops didnt worry way many fathers mothers took streets yesterday children didnt fear friends would shot arrested things didnt didnt worry cops would throw wall pat search piece evidence put away bodies made criminal less innocent whatever measure count things trayvon martintheir crimes worse caught little pot kids got grow got second third chances trayvon didnt need second chance needed black system always sees black men boys threats eliminated examples made whole system needs dismantled tragedy black community mainstream media figures like say tragedy us us create justice trayvon160 sarah jaffe former staff writer times author necessary trouble americans revolt robin dg kelley called compelling social political portrait age follow twitter sarahljaffe | 1,187 |
<p>A year ago, the November election, still a half year off, was already sucking the oxygen out of the political air.&#160; &#160;This had been going on for months.&#160; It happens every four years.&#160; It’s the American way!</p>
<p>But thanks to Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, there was more political energy afoot than anyone would have thought possible a few months earlier. &#160;Those two “outsiders” weren’t just siphoning oxygen off into electoral dead ends; they were also pumping fresh air in.</p>
<p>They were feisty; they seemed uncompromising; they had the common touch. &#160;With so many voters appalled and damaged by politics as usual, they both found enthusiastic audiences.</p>
<p>Our politics normally inspires indifference or despair or both.&#160; The political polarization of the last several decades only makes the problem worse.&#160; Democrats cross the street to avoid Republicans and vice versa.</p>
<p>That there is so much polarization is odd, inasmuch as there is almost no ideological substance behind it.</p>
<p>Talk of a “national interest” is just that – talk.&#160; Both parties serve their donors, above all.&#160; &#160;Their respective donor classes overlap – not entirely, but to a great extent.</p>
<p>The parties also draw votes from different constituencies; there is less overlap there.</p>
<p>These facts on the ground account for the ways in which Democrats and Republicans differ and are alike.</p>
<p>In a deeper sense, though, they are entirely alike.&#160; They both unequivocally serve the same master: the capitalist system.</p>
<p>There can be, and currently are, acute disagreements on issues that do not impinge on capitalists’ interests.&#160; But there is complete accord on matters that bear on the capitalist system itself.</p>
<p>Counter-systemic, even overtly anti-capitalist, views can be freely expressed in the political arena; in theory, anything goes.&#160; In practice, however, because our two party system is so deeply entrenched, and because its consequences spill over into nearly all our institutions, it is all but guaranteed that electoral politics in the United States is only good for registering superficial challenges to the existing order.</p>
<p>Sanders, the “democratic socialist,” was no exception to that rule; neither, of course, was Trump.</p>
<p>Sanders was, and Trump pretended to be, on the side of the victims of capitalism’s neoliberal turn. &#160;Sanders meant well, and his campaign did upset some high-flying capitalist muckety-mucks.&#160; But their worries were, to say the least, overblown.&#160; Had he been elected President, Democrats and Republicans would have hobbled his efforts at serious reform; and even if he could somehow prevail, his socialism was just capitalism with a human – or slightly less inhuman — face.&#160; Trump, on the other hand, never gave the “billionaire class,” as Sanders called it, the slightest cause for concern.&#160; All he did was bluster.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, the people who rallied behind Sanders did push the spectrum to the left, at least partly with Sanders’ help.</p>
<p>Trump pushed the spectrum as far to the right as possible while still maintaining a semblance of plausible respectability.&#160; Someday we may know whether he hit on this strategy by himself, or whether he glommed onto it opportunistically once he realized how well it was working for him.</p>
<p>The Democratic Party plays a key role in tamping down progressive aspirations.&#160; Inadvertently, Sanders tapped into the resulting discontent.&#160; Thus he awakened a sleeping giant.</p>
<p>Trump’s anti-establishment belligerence had a ready audience too — among the miscreants of the “alt-right,” as they are nowadays called.&#160;&#160; Steve Bannon and his minions didn’t conjure that monster into existence; all he and his people did was help Trump lead them on.</p>
<p>Now that Jared and Ivanka seem to be calling the shots, Bannon and the others have suddenly become so last week.&#160; But the odor of perniciousness that Bannon exudes remains.&#160;&#160; Whether or not he continues to be on the outs, the political scene will go on falling ever deeper into the alt-right netherworld.</p>
<p>Sanders advocated a twenty-first century version of New Deal – Great Society politics. &#160;Except for his use of the words “socialism” and “revolution,” words that became anathema in America in the post-World War II era, no one would have thought his politics unusual, much less radical, half a century ago.</p>
<p>A year ago, however, his politics seemed off the charts.&#160; This was a large part of its appeal to voters too young to do more than imagine how much less noxious political life in America had been before Reagan, the Clintons, the Bushes, and Barack Obama.</p>
<p>Trump’s appeal was that he had no politics – only a blustery and belligerent attitude and a determination to promote his brand.&#160;&#160; He was just the man for voters who wanted to flip the bird to the whole rotten system.</p>
<p>But the movement that his candidacy ignited was pure throwback.&#160; He breathed new life into an authoritarian and paranoid style of politics that had been in eclipse in the American mainstream at least since the high tide of the McCarthy era.</p>
<p>In this way, he, along with Sanders, added a whiff of ideological contestation to the already polarized political scene.&#160;&#160; Therefore, to everyone’s surprise, the 2016 election took on a more genuinely political cast than any in recent memory.</p>
<p>But because our party system is depoliticizing, and because we have no other institutional means capable of sustaining serious political struggle, we now find ourselves again with two highly polarized but profoundly likeminded parties having at each other.&#160; Apolitical politics is back – with a vengeance.</p>
<p>This doesn’t help movement-building efforts that actually can change the world for the better.&#160;&#160; Democrats and Republicans both work hard to assure that nothing like that takes place.</p>
<p>On the left, however, there is movement-building activity going on – in the streets.&#160; The Democratic Party would like to coopt every bit of it – not just to gain the votes of people fighting Trump, but also to defuse the threat it poses to their role in the status quo.</p>
<p>If the resistance movement only targets Trump and does not also take on the conditions that make the Trump phenomenon possible – including the Democratic Party – they could succeed, and an historical opportunity will again be lost.</p>
<p>Of course, it is good that, in “red” Georgia, Democrat Jon Ossof nearly won the Congressional seat left vacant by Tom Price, Trump’s choice to “deconstruct” the Department of Health and Human Services.&#160; It is clear, though, that if he prevails in the runoff, he will have Trump to thank, not the Democratic Party.</p>
<p>Trump was behind Democrat Ron Estes’s strong showing in Kansas too; and if Rob Quist wins the special election to be held in May for the Montana Congressional seat vacated by Trump’s Secretary of the Interior, Ryan Zinke, thank Trump for that as well.</p>
<p>The fewer Republicans there are in Congress, the less odious Congress becomes; and each “red” district that turns blue is a sty in the eye of Devil Don Trump.&#160; But this is not a way to change the world for the better; electing Democrats is useless for that.</p>
<p>With very few exceptions, Democrats are not even lesser evils or at least they wouldn’t be if the Republicans they run against were less execrable.&#160; This was very evident between 2006 and 2010 when they held power in both the Senate and the House.</p>
<p>How wonderful it would be if the Democratic Party were replaced by a genuinely progressive opposition.&#160; That would be eminently possible in other Western democracies.&#160; But the rules of the game in the Land of the Free effectively rule that level of (small-d) democracy off the agenda.</p>
<p>Therefore “third” – or shouldn’t we say “second” – party building, though admirable in intent, is very likely a non-starter.&#160; But the “donors” who call the shots can be made to realize that if they want to hold onto their power, they will have to cede some of it to forces advancing ameliorative or, better still, counter-systemic positions.</p>
<p>That won’t happen, however, unless they fear that they might lose all of their power if they fail to accommodate to popular demands for equality and peace and for respect for the dignity of all and the restoration of the rights and liberties Americans have lost since the Bush-Obama-Trump War on Terror began.</p>
<p>It has been a long time since popular insurgencies on American soil showed any promise of developing into truly revolutionary situations.&#160; On several occasions, however, “we, the people” have caused enough fear in ruling circles to force the authorities to drop their opposition to popular efforts to civilize the body politic.</p>
<p>The mounting resistance to the Trump phenomenon could put America on that road again.</p>
<p>However, an obstacle has suddenly arisen — again thanks to Trump, inasmuch as where he goes, chaos reigns to such an extent that even the Zeitgeist changes day by day.&#160; Thus it appears that, in the aftermath of the turmoil that followed Trump’s election victory, resignation is again on the rise.&#160; For the moment at least, “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” has become the spirit of the age.</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>The Sanders campaign was Case Number One.</p>
<p>By running against the Party establishment, Sanders fanned the flames of discontent.&#160; This was more consequential than anything he said or how he said it.</p>
<p>The Democratic Party establishment tolerated and even encouraged Sanders at first; they deemed him useful for keeping voters fed up with Clintonian (neoliberal, liberal imperialist) politics within the Democratic fold, and for drawing in voters who are otherwise too fed up with the political scene in general to vote at all.</p>
<p>Everyone who had been paying attention knew, of course, that the election was “rigged”; that the Democratic National Committee and the various state committees were doing all they could to assure that the nomination would go to Hillary Clinton.</p>
<p>Not wanting to alienate Sanders voters unnecessarily, leading Democrats feigned neutrality.&#160; But there was no need to see John Podesta’s emails to know what was going on.&#160; The emails made availably by Wikileaks only confirmed the obvious.</p>
<p>When it became clear that the nomination process would go the way that the party wanted, Sanders capitulated utterly. &#160;&#160;This ought not to have surprised anyone; nevertheless, it did.</p>
<p>From that point on, he could have made history – by running as a Green or by splitting the party and running independently.&#160; Either way, he would have done more good than anything he did in the campaign.&#160; But the “independent” Senator wanted to stay in the good graces of the Democratic Party establishment.</p>
<p>At the time, he probably thought, like everybody else, that Clinton had no more than a negligible chance of losing.&#160; But, just in case she blew a sure thing, he didn’t want to be blamed for Trump the way that, to this day, Ralph Nader is blamed for George W. Bush.</p>
<p>That charge is ludicrous, but it won’t go away – because Democrats and their media hacks find it useful.</p>
<p>Thus Sanders let a rare historical opportunity pass.&#160; Many of his supporters were reluctant, at first, to follow his lead.&#160; In time, though, many of them acquiesced.&#160; Why would they not?&#160; “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”&#160; If Clinton’s victory is inevitable, why not make the best of it?&#160; Politics is “the art of the possible,” after all.</p>
<p>Why not indeed!&#160; The short answer is: because the politics Clinton represents is not only part of the problem; it is what made the Trump phenomenon both necessary and possible.</p>
<p>It could be argued that Republicans were actually the first, this election season, to act on that principle by joining what they could not defeat.&#160; They had, after all, made peace with the Tea Party – by adopting its views.</p>
<p>But that was a hostile takeover.&#160; Establishment Republicans never quite joined forces with the useful idiots they had recruited.&#160; Instead, they let themselves be led grudgingly along.</p>
<p>It serves them right.&#160; For decades, establishment Republicans have been pandering shamelessly to populations they despise but whose votes they craved.&#160; This was hardly an ennobling project, but it did serve them well.</p>
<p>This changed in 2012, in part because, unlike Ronald Reagan, Mitt Romney wasn’t a good enough actor to pull it off.&#160; &#160;He pandered as shamelessly as the others, but his sheer disingenuousness shined through.</p>
<p>That was the last straw for the yahoos who made the Tea Party what it was.&#160; They aren’t good for much, but they can smell a phony from a mile off, and their obstinacy is awe-inspiring.&#160; They were determined in 2016 to hold their ground, and therefore to hold the field of Republican candidates to account.&#160; This made Republicans contending for the nomination easy prey for the Donald.</p>
<p>The Tea Party had been enabled, in part, by malign, self-interested rightwing donors pushing nefarious agendas.&#160; However, there was a grassroots component as well.&#160; It wasn’t until Trump got going that it became clear how little those grassroots Tea Partiers cared about the donors’ ideological predilections.&#160; &#160;They were not exactly opposed to what the donors wanted, but they were mainly acting out their own malaise.&#160;&#160; Trump realized this instinctively, and was therefore able to sweep Tea Partiers into his domain – for as long as “crooked Hillary,” a living embodiment of the causes of that malaise, was available as a foil.</p>
<p>She still is, of course; but she is fast becoming history.&#160; When the transformation is complete, Trump had better watch his back.</p>
<p>There is a certain irony in this.&#160; The Republican establishment had been working for decades to recruit the votes and loyalty of people in the Tea Party demographic, assuming that they could keep them under control.&#160; They recruited too well — by 2016, the inmates had taken over the asylum.</p>
<p>And then Trump stole their thunder.&#160; There is an even greater irony in that. &#160;Because Trump needed the GOP to win and then to govern, if that is the right word for what he is doing, Tea Party energies were deflected back into the institutional ambit that Tea Party militants opposed.</p>
<p>The “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” spirit didn’t quite become manifest in the dark recesses of Republican minds until Trump had all but decimated the Republican Party.&#160;&#160; It may not now look like that is what he did; it might even seem that he overcame the party’s cultural conditions by bringing its base together to elect him.&#160; But that impression is incorrect.&#160; The degree of unity that sufficed to secure Trump his Electoral College victory was nothing more than a byproduct of Clinton’s ineptitude.&#160; Had Trump faced a more competent opponent, the GOP would now be in shambles.</p>
<p>But Clinton was Clinton and so, for now, Republicans are making the best of President Trump.&#160; Why would they not?&#160;&#160; How else could they have a chance of getting their agendas through?</p>
<p>Being clueless on governance and having no political organization of his own, Trump needs them as much as Republicans need him.</p>
<p>It is a marriage made in Hell and it won’t last because, with the Donald, it all depends on who has his ear – the alt-right epigone Bannon, the callow but well-heeled and loyal Likudnik Jared, the shamelessly mercenary fashionista Ivanka, or whoever’s star rises next.&#160; These are not Republican establishment types, a fact that is bound to register and become consequential soon.</p>
<p>For now, though, the establishment types, having been among Trump’s most ardent critics a few months ago, are now in full “if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em” mode.</p>
<p>Much the same is happening in corporate media circles, though in more subtle ways.&#160; Greedy for ratings, the corporate brass gave Trump free, seemingly limitless, news coverage during the campaign, notwithstanding their obvious preference for the more biddable Hillary.&#160;&#160; When they, along with everyone else, were sure that the Donald would lose, that seemed like a safe and reliable way to enhance their bottom lines.</p>
<p>They did enhance those bottom lines, and they also enhanced Trump’s opportunities to make himself an object of ridicule for comedians and hack Democratic Party pundits.&#160; This too enhances some of the same bottom lines – MSNBC’s, for example, and CNN’s.</p>
<p>Otherwise, the press now seems to be taking Trump and Trumpians seriously, treating them, as best they can, as if theirs is a normal administration.&#160; What the corporate wing of America’s Fourth Estate is good at is accommodating to power.&#160; And so, having not gotten the President they wanted, they are now normalizing Trump – effectively legitimating his rule.</p>
<p>This is especially evident in respectable print media like The New York Times and The Washington Post, on National Public Radio’s morning and afternoon news broadcasts.&#160;&#160; At first, it seemed that every media outlet this side of Fox was too taken aback by Trump’s victory to resume their usual regime-serving ways.&#160; This is no longer the case.</p>
<p>The main exemplar of the latest, Trump-induced wrinkle in the Zeitgeist is, of course, Trump himself.</p>
<p>In the past week or two he hasn’t let up on throwing a few bones to his most “deplorable” supporters.&#160; But he has been shedding his populist skin as quickly as he can.</p>
<p>Hillary the person lost, but Hillary the idea –the neoliberal, liberal imperialist, Russophobic warmonger — is therefore now being channeled through the man the Electoral College let loose upon the world.</p>
<p>With the benefit of hindsight, one can see that this was bound to happen; that the “America first” babble, coming from a card carrying member of the billionaire class, was crap.&#160; Nevertheless, the speed of the transformation is astonishing.</p>
<p>It is impossible to say how long Trump will stay in his present mode.&#160; The best guess is: not long.&#160; The man is too corrupt, opportunistic and erratic to hold steadfastly to any position at all.</p>
<p>But, for now, we find ourselves in a situation in which the best hope for the survival of the planet lies with a former General nicknamed “Mad Dog,” a National Security Advisor cut from the same cloth, and Trump’s thirty-something daughter and son-in-law, a gilded, otherwise undistinguished couple for whom the White House is a cash cow.</p>
<p>For Jared and his family, it’s a lubricant for real estate deals; for Ivanka, it’s about selling clothes.</p>
<p>There are ostensibly respectable commentators who say that Ivanka is the Great Blonde Hope – a true feminist, dedicated to pursuing an intra-familial mission civilsatrice!&#160; If only MSNBC (=DNC) had a Sean Spicer to point out how even Eva Braun never relied upon any man’s fondness for her – not her father’s, not her lover’s, not anyone’s — to obtain exclusive patents and licenses to peddle lines of schlock accessories and shoes in the emporia of other axis powers or in lands that the Wehrmacht might overrun.</p> | true | 4 | year ago november election still half year already sucking oxygen political air160 160this going months160 happens every four years160 american way thanks bernie sanders donald trump political energy afoot anyone would thought possible months earlier 160those two outsiders werent siphoning oxygen electoral dead ends also pumping fresh air feisty seemed uncompromising common touch 160with many voters appalled damaged politics usual found enthusiastic audiences politics normally inspires indifference despair both160 political polarization last several decades makes problem worse160 democrats cross street avoid republicans vice versa much polarization odd inasmuch almost ideological substance behind talk national interest talk160 parties serve donors all160 160their respective donor classes overlap entirely great extent parties also draw votes different constituencies less overlap facts ground account ways democrats republicans differ alike deeper sense though entirely alike160 unequivocally serve master capitalist system currently acute disagreements issues impinge capitalists interests160 complete accord matters bear capitalist system countersystemic even overtly anticapitalist views freely expressed political arena theory anything goes160 practice however two party system deeply entrenched consequences spill nearly institutions guaranteed electoral politics united states good registering superficial challenges existing order sanders democratic socialist exception rule neither course trump sanders trump pretended side victims capitalisms neoliberal turn 160sanders meant well campaign upset highflying capitalist mucketymucks160 worries say least overblown160 elected president democrats republicans would hobbled efforts serious reform even could somehow prevail socialism capitalism human slightly less inhuman face160 trump hand never gave billionaire class sanders called slightest cause concern160 bluster nevertheless people rallied behind sanders push spectrum left least partly sanders help trump pushed spectrum far right possible still maintaining semblance plausible respectability160 someday may know whether hit strategy whether glommed onto opportunistically realized well working democratic party plays key role tamping progressive aspirations160 inadvertently sanders tapped resulting discontent160 thus awakened sleeping giant trumps antiestablishment belligerence ready audience among miscreants altright nowadays called160160 steve bannon minions didnt conjure monster existence people help trump lead jared ivanka seem calling shots bannon others suddenly become last week160 odor perniciousness bannon exudes remains160160 whether continues outs political scene go falling ever deeper altright netherworld sanders advocated twentyfirst century version new deal great society politics 160except use words socialism revolution words became anathema america postworld war ii era one would thought politics unusual much less radical half century ago year ago however politics seemed charts160 large part appeal voters young imagine much less noxious political life america reagan clintons bushes barack obama trumps appeal politics blustery belligerent attitude determination promote brand160160 man voters wanted flip bird whole rotten system movement candidacy ignited pure throwback160 breathed new life authoritarian paranoid style politics eclipse american mainstream least since high tide mccarthy era way along sanders added whiff ideological contestation already polarized political scene160160 therefore everyones surprise 2016 election took genuinely political cast recent memory party system depoliticizing institutional means capable sustaining serious political struggle find two highly polarized profoundly likeminded parties other160 apolitical politics back vengeance doesnt help movementbuilding efforts actually change world better160160 democrats republicans work hard assure nothing like takes place left however movementbuilding activity going streets160 democratic party would like coopt every bit gain votes people fighting trump also defuse threat poses role status quo resistance movement targets trump also take conditions make trump phenomenon possible including democratic party could succeed historical opportunity lost course good red georgia democrat jon ossof nearly congressional seat left vacant tom price trumps choice deconstruct department health human services160 clear though prevails runoff trump thank democratic party trump behind democrat ron estess strong showing kansas rob quist wins special election held may montana congressional seat vacated trumps secretary interior ryan zinke thank trump well fewer republicans congress less odious congress becomes red district turns blue sty eye devil trump160 way change world better electing democrats useless exceptions democrats even lesser evils least wouldnt republicans run less execrable160 evident 2006 2010 held power senate house wonderful would democratic party replaced genuinely progressive opposition160 would eminently possible western democracies160 rules game land free effectively rule level smalld democracy agenda therefore third shouldnt say second party building though admirable intent likely nonstarter160 donors call shots made realize want hold onto power cede forces advancing ameliorative better still countersystemic positions wont happen however unless fear might lose power fail accommodate popular demands equality peace respect dignity restoration rights liberties americans lost since bushobamatrump war terror began long time since popular insurgencies american soil showed promise developing truly revolutionary situations160 several occasions however people caused enough fear ruling circles force authorities drop opposition popular efforts civilize body politic mounting resistance trump phenomenon could put america road however obstacle suddenly arisen thanks trump inasmuch goes chaos reigns extent even zeitgeist changes day day160 thus appears aftermath turmoil followed trumps election victory resignation rise160 moment least cant beat em join em become spirit age sanders campaign case number one running party establishment sanders fanned flames discontent160 consequential anything said said democratic party establishment tolerated even encouraged sanders first deemed useful keeping voters fed clintonian neoliberal liberal imperialist politics within democratic fold drawing voters otherwise fed political scene general vote everyone paying attention knew course election rigged democratic national committee various state committees could assure nomination would go hillary clinton wanting alienate sanders voters unnecessarily leading democrats feigned neutrality160 need see john podestas emails know going on160 emails made availably wikileaks confirmed obvious became clear nomination process would go way party wanted sanders capitulated utterly 160160this ought surprised anyone nevertheless point could made history running green splitting party running independently160 either way would done good anything campaign160 independent senator wanted stay good graces democratic party establishment time probably thought like everybody else clinton negligible chance losing160 case blew sure thing didnt want blamed trump way day ralph nader blamed george w bush charge ludicrous wont go away democrats media hacks find useful thus sanders let rare historical opportunity pass160 many supporters reluctant first follow lead160 time though many acquiesced160 would not160 cant beat em join em160 clintons victory inevitable make best it160 politics art possible indeed160 short answer politics clinton represents part problem made trump phenomenon necessary possible could argued republicans actually first election season act principle joining could defeat160 made peace tea party adopting views hostile takeover160 establishment republicans never quite joined forces useful idiots recruited160 instead let led grudgingly along serves right160 decades establishment republicans pandering shamelessly populations despise whose votes craved160 hardly ennobling project serve well changed 2012 part unlike ronald reagan mitt romney wasnt good enough actor pull off160 160he pandered shamelessly others sheer disingenuousness shined last straw yahoos made tea party was160 arent good much smell phony mile obstinacy aweinspiring160 determined 2016 hold ground therefore hold field republican candidates account160 made republicans contending nomination easy prey donald tea party enabled part malign selfinterested rightwing donors pushing nefarious agendas160 however grassroots component well160 wasnt trump got going became clear little grassroots tea partiers cared donors ideological predilections160 160they exactly opposed donors wanted mainly acting malaise160160 trump realized instinctively therefore able sweep tea partiers domain long crooked hillary living embodiment causes malaise available foil still course fast becoming history160 transformation complete trump better watch back certain irony this160 republican establishment working decades recruit votes loyalty people tea party demographic assuming could keep control160 recruited well 2016 inmates taken asylum trump stole thunder160 even greater irony 160because trump needed gop win govern right word tea party energies deflected back institutional ambit tea party militants opposed cant beat em join em spirit didnt quite become manifest dark recesses republican minds trump decimated republican party160160 may look like might even seem overcame partys cultural conditions bringing base together elect him160 impression incorrect160 degree unity sufficed secure trump electoral college victory nothing byproduct clintons ineptitude160 trump faced competent opponent gop would shambles clinton clinton republicans making best president trump160 would not160160 else could chance getting agendas clueless governance political organization trump needs much republicans need marriage made hell wont last donald depends ear altright epigone bannon callow wellheeled loyal likudnik jared shamelessly mercenary fashionista ivanka whoevers star rises next160 republican establishment types fact bound register become consequential soon though establishment types among trumps ardent critics months ago full cant beat em join em mode much happening corporate media circles though subtle ways160 greedy ratings corporate brass gave trump free seemingly limitless news coverage campaign notwithstanding obvious preference biddable hillary160160 along everyone else sure donald would lose seemed like safe reliable way enhance bottom lines enhance bottom lines also enhanced trumps opportunities make object ridicule comedians hack democratic party pundits160 enhances bottom lines msnbcs example cnns otherwise press seems taking trump trumpians seriously treating best normal administration160 corporate wing americas fourth estate good accommodating power160 gotten president wanted normalizing trump effectively legitimating rule especially evident respectable print media like new york times washington post national public radios morning afternoon news broadcasts160160 first seemed every media outlet side fox taken aback trumps victory resume usual regimeserving ways160 longer case main exemplar latest trumpinduced wrinkle zeitgeist course trump past week two hasnt let throwing bones deplorable supporters160 shedding populist skin quickly hillary person lost hillary idea neoliberal liberal imperialist russophobic warmonger therefore channeled man electoral college let loose upon world benefit hindsight one see bound happen america first babble coming card carrying member billionaire class crap160 nevertheless speed transformation astonishing impossible say long trump stay present mode160 best guess long160 man corrupt opportunistic erratic hold steadfastly position find situation best hope survival planet lies former general nicknamed mad dog national security advisor cut cloth trumps thirtysomething daughter soninlaw gilded otherwise undistinguished couple white house cash cow jared family lubricant real estate deals ivanka selling clothes ostensibly respectable commentators say ivanka great blonde hope true feminist dedicated pursuing intrafamilial mission civilsatrice160 msnbc dnc sean spicer point even eva braun never relied upon mans fondness fathers lovers anyones obtain exclusive patents licenses peddle lines schlock accessories shoes emporia axis powers lands wehrmacht might overrun | 1,634 |
<p>The world is now at the mercy of a coalition of three of the most dangerous autocrats on the planet:&#160; Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Arabia’s new absolute ruler Mohammad bin Salman a name that will become increasingly familiar as the months go by. These three ‘leaders’ are now collaborating in an incredibly reckless plan to permanently reshape the Middle East.</p>
<p>The final outcome will unfold no matter what Canada does. But unless the Trudeau government gets a grip on reality Canada will be drawn into this potential catastrophe by virtue of foreign policy positions it has already taken. Geopolitics is getting incredibly complex and there is little evidence that the Liberal government has a clue how to navigate through the dangers. The problem is that despite all the hype about “being back” Canada’s foreign policy under Trudeau and Freeland is still characterized by cynicism and ill-considered trade-offs on files within the broad spectrum of foreign affairs – including investor rights agreements like NAFTA and the Trans Pacific Partnership.</p>
<p>Obviously a certain amount of realpolitik is inevitable and even necessary to protect Canada’s interests. But even so it begs the question of how Canada’s interests are defined. How much of the store is Trudeau willing to give away to buy favour with the US on NAFTA, especially when it seems concessions like putting our troops on Russia’s border has gotten us nothing in return? With Trump and his redesigned US Empire, there is no quid pro quo.</p>
<p>The embarrassing “me too” gang up on Russia is bad enough. The Canadian version of the US Magnitzky Act is a pathetic effort to please the US (EU allies in NATO are increasingly uneasy about Russophobia given their own particular national interests). And Putin can hurt Canada and Canadian businesses more than we can hurt Putin and his oligarchs – and he has promised to do so.</p>
<p>And the Middle East is a whole other question. Canada’s past sins like torture in Afghanistan, and the destruction of Libya can be dismissed by the government as old news. Canada has thankfully avoided getting re-involved in the chaos that is Middle East politics. But with the coming to (absolute) power of the new and reckless Saudi ruler Mohammad bin Salman Middle East policy is suddenly fraught with danger and risk for any country allied with the US or with any claim to interests in the region.</p>
<p>The new Saudi prince (who has arrested everyone who might challenge his authority) is encouraging Israel to invade Lebanon, urging the Israelis to do what they want to do anyway: deal a crippling blow to Israel’s most effective foe, Hezbollah. Hezbollah basically governs Lebanon and has its own well-armed force. Funded by and allied to Iran, it fought the Israeli army to a standstill in 2006. It is this fact that prompted the Saudi’s to force the resignation of the Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri: he refused or was unable to curb Hezbollah’s political power. The Saudi government upped the ante saying the Lebanese government would “be dealt with as a government declaring war on Saudi Arabia.”&#160;It ordered all Saudi citizens to leave Lebanon.</p>
<p>For the Saudi’s the ultimate target is Shiite Iran and its significant influence in the Middle East and presence, directly or indirectly, in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen. When bin Salman declared that a rocket attack on Riyadh by Yemeni rebels could be seen as an act of war by Iran, the US backed him up, implicitly giving the Saudi dictator a green light for more aggressive action.</p>
<p>Given the political situations in the he US, Israel and SaudiArabia all sorts of sorts case scenarios are now being&#160; <a href="http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/48176.htm" type="external">speculated about</a>.</p>
<p>With the potential for a rapid escalation of military confrontations, to the point of risking a confrontation between the US and Russia. The first would be an Israeli assault on Hezbollah and Lebanon’s infrastructure. That could be followed by a Saudi-led invasion of Qatar and the removal of its government. While less likely, another confrontation could see the US launch a campaign to seize Syrian territory reclaimed by the Assad regime, on behalf of Israel and risking a direct confrontation with Russia.</p>
<p>All of this could be a prelude to an attack on Iran itself and possibly the use by Israel of nuclear weapons. The rich potential for unintended consequences includes world war three.</p>
<p>If all of this sounds fantastical consider who currently runs Israel, the US and Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu is mired in his own corruption scandal and needs a distracting war to survive. Bin Salman has already demonstrated a stunning recklessness and ruthlessness: the brutal bombing of Yemen (and now a blockade of food and medicine), the blockade of Qatar, and the house arrest of another country’s prime minister. As for Trump (and some of his generals) he seems to genuinely believe that the US is invulnerable, a truly suicidal assumption. All three heads of state adhere to the doctrine of exceptionalism: the normal rules of international behaviour don’t apply to them.</p>
<p>If one or more of these scenarios begins to play out just what will Trudeau do? His government’s policy towards Israel is driven by political cowardice rooted in fear of the Israel lobby. Towards Saudi Arabia, it is driven by sales of armoured personnel carriers and a blind eye towards gross human rights violations. With respect to the US it is characterized by ad hoc efforts to predict the unpredicatable.</p>
<p>If any of this war scenario plays out Trudeau will suddenly be pressed to come up with principled positions in response and not just political opportunism and calculated ambiguity. And he should take note: Canadians’ attitudes towards Israel have turned very critical with 46 percent expressing negative views and just <a href="" type="internal">28 percent positive views</a> of that country.&#160;As for our proposed $15 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia, <a href="" type="internal">64 percent disapprove</a>.</p>
<p>While these progressive attitudes lie relatively dormant at the moment another slaughter of innocents will bring them to life.&#160; Is the Prime Minister prepared?</p> | true | 4 | world mercy coalition three dangerous autocrats planet160 donald trump benjamin netanyahu saudi arabias new absolute ruler mohammad bin salman name become increasingly familiar months go three leaders collaborating incredibly reckless plan permanently reshape middle east final outcome unfold matter canada unless trudeau government gets grip reality canada drawn potential catastrophe virtue foreign policy positions already taken geopolitics getting incredibly complex little evidence liberal government clue navigate dangers problem despite hype back canadas foreign policy trudeau freeland still characterized cynicism illconsidered tradeoffs files within broad spectrum foreign affairs including investor rights agreements like nafta trans pacific partnership obviously certain amount realpolitik inevitable even necessary protect canadas interests even begs question canadas interests defined much store trudeau willing give away buy favour us nafta especially seems concessions like putting troops russias border gotten us nothing return trump redesigned us empire quid pro quo embarrassing gang russia bad enough canadian version us magnitzky act pathetic effort please us eu allies nato increasingly uneasy russophobia given particular national interests putin hurt canada canadian businesses hurt putin oligarchs promised middle east whole question canadas past sins like torture afghanistan destruction libya dismissed government old news canada thankfully avoided getting reinvolved chaos middle east politics coming absolute power new reckless saudi ruler mohammad bin salman middle east policy suddenly fraught danger risk country allied us claim interests region new saudi prince arrested everyone might challenge authority encouraging israel invade lebanon urging israelis want anyway deal crippling blow israels effective foe hezbollah hezbollah basically governs lebanon wellarmed force funded allied iran fought israeli army standstill 2006 fact prompted saudis force resignation lebanese prime minister saad hariri refused unable curb hezbollahs political power saudi government upped ante saying lebanese government would dealt government declaring war saudi arabia160it ordered saudi citizens leave lebanon saudis ultimate target shiite iran significant influence middle east presence directly indirectly lebanon syria iraq yemen bin salman declared rocket attack riyadh yemeni rebels could seen act war iran us backed implicitly giving saudi dictator green light aggressive action given political situations us israel saudiarabia sorts sorts case scenarios being160 speculated potential rapid escalation military confrontations point risking confrontation us russia first would israeli assault hezbollah lebanons infrastructure could followed saudiled invasion qatar removal government less likely another confrontation could see us launch campaign seize syrian territory reclaimed assad regime behalf israel risking direct confrontation russia could prelude attack iran possibly use israel nuclear weapons rich potential unintended consequences includes world war three sounds fantastical consider currently runs israel us saudi arabia netanyahu mired corruption scandal needs distracting war survive bin salman already demonstrated stunning recklessness ruthlessness brutal bombing yemen blockade food medicine blockade qatar house arrest another countrys prime minister trump generals seems genuinely believe us invulnerable truly suicidal assumption three heads state adhere doctrine exceptionalism normal rules international behaviour dont apply one scenarios begins play trudeau governments policy towards israel driven political cowardice rooted fear israel lobby towards saudi arabia driven sales armoured personnel carriers blind eye towards gross human rights violations respect us characterized ad hoc efforts predict unpredicatable war scenario plays trudeau suddenly pressed come principled positions response political opportunism calculated ambiguity take note canadians attitudes towards israel turned critical 46 percent expressing negative views 28 percent positive views country160as proposed 15 billion arms sale saudi arabia 64 percent disapprove progressive attitudes lie relatively dormant moment another slaughter innocents bring life160 prime minister prepared | 562 |
<p />
<p>With only five months to go before the presidential election, the American public has concluded that something is going very wrong with America. Faced with the stark images of prisoner abuse and the grim reality of rising combat deaths, it is perhaps not surprising that a pall hangs over the nation. But doubts about the state of the union run deeper than those about Iraq and suggest how difficult it will be for the White House as it struggles to hold power in Washington. In this special national survey for Mother Jones, ordinary citizens describe an America where so many aspects of life, from the economy and financial standing to the country’s character and position in the world, have taken a bad turn.</p>
<p>As of today, Bush’s support has not collapsed despite the harsh mood of the country because of partisan division and polarization, which George Bush has fostered as part of his White House and campaign strategy for tightening the Republican hold on the three major institutions of government. The Bush people are deeply invested in appeals to their Republican base and to feeding the fires of the culture war. Their goal is to mobilize conservative foot soldiers and achieve greater unity with Republican base voters, despite unrest.</p>
<p>In a narrow sense, the conservatives have succeeded. Almost <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results_refined.html?pl_q=24&amp;pl_r=2" type="external">90 percent of self-identified Republicans are voting for Bush</a>, while 84 percent of Democrats back Kerry. On measure after measure, the candidates’ strategies for governing and politics have stalled the country at parity. The Bush-Kerry vote seems a dead heat and equal parts of the voting electorate approve and disapprove of Bush’s job performance. In the seventeen battleground states where the electoral college vote will be decided, Bush and Kerry divide the vote, as they do nationally. In the industrial heartland, in states like Michigan and Ohio, Kerry has a slight edge; whereas Bush has a comparable lead in rural states like Iowa and Missouri. Among voters who identify themselves as “middle class,” the race is dead-even. And on the cultural front, equal numbers like and dislike the NRA, and the same is true of pro-life, anti-abortion groups.</p>
<p>This political parity, however, does not square with the public’s perception of what is happening to the country. Just 30 percent of registered voters (and only 31 percent of likely voters) think the country is <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results1.html#1" type="external">headed in the right direction</a> and twice as many think the country is headed seriously off track. A mere 38 percent want to “continue in the direction Bush is headed,” while 57 percent want to “ <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results3.html#28" type="external">go in a significantly different direction</a>.” So the country is far from divided when it comes to judging the state of the union.</p>
<p>The problem is captured in a simple question we asked 500 survey participants: “Tell me whether you think our country is better off or worse off today than it was three years ago when it comes” to a list of “issues facing the country.” We asked another 500 participants about “issues facing people today” and “whether you are better off or worse off than you were three years ago.” They were asked about the country and themselves, respectively, with no mention of George Bush or politics.</p>
<p>For a start, one searches for an area where people think things have improved. There is one: people believe their local communities and communities across the nation have been strengthened. But in areas related to George Bush’s stewardship and the state of the union, voters believe a wide range of things are getting worse. Nothing rivals the federal deficit as an area of concern: it is a symbol of bad governance as well as a signal that government lacks the capacity to finance things important to the country. In a near unanimous vote, 80 percent say the deficits have worsened under Bush, with only 8 percent seeing improvement. And on nearly all indicators of material wellbeing, both for the country and for themselves, the overwhelming majority of Americans think things have worsened during Bush’s tenure. This is true for job security, the ability of personal incomes to keep up with the cost of living, access to affordable health care, the economy, and the creation of new good paying jobs.</p>
<p>Perhaps Bush’s tax policies could have offset this trend. But by nearly a two-to-one ratio ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results3.html#30" type="external">54 to 29 percent</a>), people think their own tax burden has worsened. Tax cuts were the cornerstone of Bush’s economic policy, but even here the public says their burden is getting worse, not better. Maybe the job growth of the last three months and robust growth in the five months ahead will persuade voters to reevaluate their disposition. After all, it is hard to imagine that such improvements would not reduce the present bleakness of these economic judgments somewhat. But voters, as we learned in this survey, are reluctant to allow positive economic trends occurring on the macro level to override what they see going on in their own lives. However, even when we noted recent gains, <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#91" type="external">two-thirds said</a> that “the national economy may be turning around, but good jobs are still difficult to find in my community.”</p>
<p>Ironically, the one area where the country divides its conclusions is on “ <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results3.html#36" type="external">national unity</a>“: 41 percent of voters say that America is better off and 45 percent think it is worse off. But this is misleading because it is Republican partisans who see a growing national unity, while Democrats and independents, by <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results_refined.html?pl_q=36&amp;pl_r=2" type="external">50 to 34 percent</a>, say we grow less united. For Bush, self-described “wartime” president, this can only be disheartening.</p>
<p>Winners and Losers</p>
<p>While these views about worsening conditions in everyday America are important, an even more powerful indicator of public’s consciousness is the perceived shuffling of the “winners” and “losers” in society, revealing the character of America in the Bush era.</p>
<p>People’s view of America is the starting point. In this period of American assertiveness, in which the U.S. has toppled two regimes, just <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#72" type="external">53 percent</a> say America is a “winner,” while fully 41 percent say we are a “loser.” But again, this bare majority is produced by the bravado of self-identified Republicans, three-quarters of whom say America is a “winner”. Among independents and Democrats, <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results_refined.html?pl_q=72&amp;pl_r=2" type="external">only 40 percent</a> reach this conclusion.</p>
<p>The American public is watching a changing world, and is unsettled about America’s security and economic position, and uneasy about rising global violence. But this is also a period where international organizations and anyone or country caught up in a war is losing. The position of the United Nations has eroded, as <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#82" type="external">55 percent</a> see it as a “loser,” with only 29 percent seeing it as a “winner”. All of the combatants in all of the major struggles have lost: Al Qaeda ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#85" type="external">62 to 22 percent</a>), the Palestinians ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#89" type="external">59 to 17 percent</a>); the Israelis ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#87" type="external">43 to 35 percent</a>); the Afghan people ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#88" type="external">41 to 38 percent</a>) and the Iraqi people ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#86" type="external">48 to 39 percent</a>). In fact, the American electorate sees very few “liberated people.” There is not much nobility, stability or pride to be had in a world where barely a majority of Americans believe we have won, where international organizations seemed damaged, and war zones produce only “losers”.</p>
<p>The electorate also has a very clear view of how our current government is choosing to remake America at home – by diminishing the middle class and elevating the already privileged, namely corporations and the wealthiest Americans. The starting point is the “middle class,” where voters have little doubt about their fate over the past three years: <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#62" type="external">56 percent says losers</a> and only 37 percent says winners. “American workers,” no doubt buffeted by job losses in the manufacturing sector, help drag them down ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#63" type="external">63 to 30 percent</a>); “the poor” are not surprisingly losers in this era ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#64" type="external">75 to 15 percent</a>). Their fate is dramatically counter-balanced by “the wealthy,” whom <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#61" type="external">85 percent describe as winners</a>, followed by “big corporations” ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#59" type="external">71 percent</a>) and “CEOs” ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results4.html#65" type="external">65 percent</a>). America has clearly been remade in the Bush era, resulting in an American society, best characterized as unfair or unbalanced, or, at best, divided.</p>
<p>America Divided</p>
<p>America knows it is a divided country, and under Bush’s leadership likely to become even more so. Nearly <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results5.html#96" type="external">two-thirds agree</a> with the “many experts” who “say our country is now more politically divided on cultural, religious, and economic issues than at any time in our history. The results is very few voters left in the political center, and increasingly partisan and polarized political process.” When these voters were asked what would happen in the next few years, a sizeable plurality ( <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results5.html#97" type="external">41 to 18 percent</a>) said the country would become more, rather than less, divided. A third thought we would remain as divided, as we are now.</p>
<p>If George Bush were to win reelection, the country has little hope of escaping the partisan polarization: <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results5.html#98" type="external">51 percent</a> envision a country more divided, while 38 percent believe it will be more united. But voters are not even sure that President Kerry could change the well-entrenched political dynamics, with <a href="/news/special_reports/2004/06/results5.html#99" type="external">nearly equal numbers</a> expecting more unity (38 percent) and more division (35 percent).</p>
<p>In the Bush era, polarization has been furthered by government policy and the social currents that swirl around it. Thus, under Bush, “Christian Conservatives” are viewed as winners, as are “gun owners.” On both sides of the cultural divide – conservatives and liberals, devout evangelicals and the secular, those owning no guns and those who own up to three – everyone acknowledges the gains of the social conservatives. Against secularizing trends, the Bush administration has acted to create a more hospitable public space for religion and to no new restrictions on gun owners.</p>
<p>But social conservatives have not defeated social liberals. The American public also sees “gays and lesbians” and “women” as winners. And again, both sides – men and women, conservatives and liberals, those who are married and those unmarried – all agree on this point, as modernizing forces continue to bring change and grow tolerance, regardless of who is in power. There is a reason why New York Times columnist Frank Rich, and other social critics, believe liberals are winning the cultural battles, even under the Bush presidency.</p>
<p>The result, however, is increased polarization. Each side grows stronger but each side also sees its enemies grow stronger as well. The result is a more divided America.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | five months go presidential election american public concluded something going wrong america faced stark images prisoner abuse grim reality rising combat deaths perhaps surprising pall hangs nation doubts state union run deeper iraq suggest difficult white house struggles hold power washington special national survey mother jones ordinary citizens describe america many aspects life economy financial standing countrys character position world taken bad turn today bushs support collapsed despite harsh mood country partisan division polarization george bush fostered part white house campaign strategy tightening republican hold three major institutions government bush people deeply invested appeals republican base feeding fires culture war goal mobilize conservative foot soldiers achieve greater unity republican base voters despite unrest narrow sense conservatives succeeded almost 90 percent selfidentified republicans voting bush 84 percent democrats back kerry measure measure candidates strategies governing politics stalled country parity bushkerry vote seems dead heat equal parts voting electorate approve disapprove bushs job performance seventeen battleground states electoral college vote decided bush kerry divide vote nationally industrial heartland states like michigan ohio kerry slight edge whereas bush comparable lead rural states like iowa missouri among voters identify middle class race deadeven cultural front equal numbers like dislike nra true prolife antiabortion groups political parity however square publics perception happening country 30 percent registered voters 31 percent likely voters think country headed right direction twice many think country headed seriously track mere 38 percent want continue direction bush headed 57 percent want go significantly different direction country far divided comes judging state union problem captured simple question asked 500 survey participants tell whether think country better worse today three years ago comes list issues facing country asked another 500 participants issues facing people today whether better worse three years ago asked country respectively mention george bush politics start one searches area people think things improved one people believe local communities communities across nation strengthened areas related george bushs stewardship state union voters believe wide range things getting worse nothing rivals federal deficit area concern symbol bad governance well signal government lacks capacity finance things important country near unanimous vote 80 percent say deficits worsened bush 8 percent seeing improvement nearly indicators material wellbeing country overwhelming majority americans think things worsened bushs tenure true job security ability personal incomes keep cost living access affordable health care economy creation new good paying jobs perhaps bushs tax policies could offset trend nearly twotoone ratio 54 29 percent people think tax burden worsened tax cuts cornerstone bushs economic policy even public says burden getting worse better maybe job growth last three months robust growth five months ahead persuade voters reevaluate disposition hard imagine improvements would reduce present bleakness economic judgments somewhat voters learned survey reluctant allow positive economic trends occurring macro level override see going lives however even noted recent gains twothirds said national economy may turning around good jobs still difficult find community ironically one area country divides conclusions national unity 41 percent voters say america better 45 percent think worse misleading republican partisans see growing national unity democrats independents 50 34 percent say grow less united bush selfdescribed wartime president disheartening winners losers views worsening conditions everyday america important even powerful indicator publics consciousness perceived shuffling winners losers society revealing character america bush era peoples view america starting point period american assertiveness us toppled two regimes 53 percent say america winner fully 41 percent say loser bare majority produced bravado selfidentified republicans threequarters say america winner among independents democrats 40 percent reach conclusion american public watching changing world unsettled americas security economic position uneasy rising global violence also period international organizations anyone country caught war losing position united nations eroded 55 percent see loser 29 percent seeing winner combatants major struggles lost al qaeda 62 22 percent palestinians 59 17 percent israelis 43 35 percent afghan people 41 38 percent iraqi people 48 39 percent fact american electorate sees liberated people much nobility stability pride world barely majority americans believe international organizations seemed damaged war zones produce losers electorate also clear view current government choosing remake america home diminishing middle class elevating already privileged namely corporations wealthiest americans starting point middle class voters little doubt fate past three years 56 percent says losers 37 percent says winners american workers doubt buffeted job losses manufacturing sector help drag 63 30 percent poor surprisingly losers era 75 15 percent fate dramatically counterbalanced wealthy 85 percent describe winners followed big corporations 71 percent ceos 65 percent america clearly remade bush era resulting american society best characterized unfair unbalanced best divided america divided america knows divided country bushs leadership likely become even nearly twothirds agree many experts say country politically divided cultural religious economic issues time history results voters left political center increasingly partisan polarized political process voters asked would happen next years sizeable plurality 41 18 percent said country would become rather less divided third thought would remain divided george bush win reelection country little hope escaping partisan polarization 51 percent envision country divided 38 percent believe united voters even sure president kerry could change wellentrenched political dynamics nearly equal numbers expecting unity 38 percent division 35 percent bush era polarization furthered government policy social currents swirl around thus bush christian conservatives viewed winners gun owners sides cultural divide conservatives liberals devout evangelicals secular owning guns three everyone acknowledges gains social conservatives secularizing trends bush administration acted create hospitable public space religion new restrictions gun owners social conservatives defeated social liberals american public also sees gays lesbians women winners sides men women conservatives liberals married unmarried agree point modernizing forces continue bring change grow tolerance regardless power reason new york times columnist frank rich social critics believe liberals winning cultural battles even bush presidency result however increased polarization side grows stronger side also sees enemies grow stronger well result divided america | 963 |
<p>There’s no way around it: to solve the worsening climate crisis requires we must accept both that the vast majority of fossil fuels must now be left underground, and that through democratic planning, we must collectively reboot our energy, transport, agricultural, production, consumption and disposal systems so that by 2050 we experience good living with less than a quarter of our current levels of greenhouse gas emissions.</p>
<p>That’s what science tells our species, and here in South Africa a punctuation mark was just provided by a near-disaster in Durban – host of the world climate summit, four months from now – during intense storms with six-meter waves last week. A decrepit 40-year old oil tanker, MT Phoenix, lost its anchor mooring on July 26 and was pushed to the rocky shoreline in Christmas Bay, 25km north of the city.</p>
<p>The shipwreck is in the heart of a beautiful albeit class-segregated tourist and retirement site, Durban’s North Coast, that just two weeks earlier held an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world competition, Mr Price Pro. That event boasted some of the best waves ever seen in ASP history, said contestants.</p>
<p>But cold winter swells from marine hell reemerged just when MT Phoenix was being towed into Durban harbour for confiscation, having lost its engines a few hundred miles down the coast. According to Cathleen Jacka of the maritimematters.net website, the incident confounded the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), what “with hints at a deliberate beaching; the possibility of a mystery stowaway still hiding onboard; uncertainty as to the true identity of the owners and even that the vessel was scrapped in India last year.” A SAMSA official observed that the 15-member crew “seemed inexperienced in the basic actions required to stabilise the vessel’s position” and remarked, “It would not be the first time that an unscrupulous ship owner was prepared to sacrifice a vessel in attempt to realise the insured value.”</p>
<p>Except that there was apparently no insurance for the MT Phoenix, since Lloyds took it off the books late last year, and allegedly it was on its final trip, from West Africa to India’s ghastly ship breaking graveyard. The owner, Suhair Khan of Dubai, stopped taking calls, leaving South Africans to bear the risk of 400 tons of oil spilling if the ship broke on the rocks. Estimates of the heroic rescue operation’s cost to the taxpayer easily run into the millions of dollars, but thankfully the crew was saved and oil was laboriously pumped ashore.</p>
<p>Offshore drilling in the ‘remarkably stable’ (sic) Agulhas Current</p>
<p>However another potential oil disaster looms in this very location, thanks to South African government energy bureaucrats. On May 5, the Petroleum Agency of SA began authorizing seismic oil surveying by a dubious Singapore-registered company, Silver Wave Energy, in water depths ranging from 30 meters to two kilometers. By comparison, BP’s Deepwater Horizon platform in the much calmer Gulf of Mexico drilled 1.5 km down to the seafloor surface.</p>
<p>Silver Wave Energy’s primary owner is Burmese businessman Min Min Aung, who is tight with the junta that still rules there, according to reliable reports. Exploitation of oil and gas in Burma’s Andaman Sea has long been controversial (my grandfather was deputy warden there during brutal colonial times), and when Unocal – now Chevron – built a pipeline to Thailand, it did such enormous damage to people and the environment that local villagers, supported by Earthrights International, successfully sued the firm for $30 million.</p>
<p>Since 2007 the Arakan islands on Burma’s Bay of Bengal coast have been the main site of intense conflict, as Jockai Khaing from Arakan Oil Watch told me last week, and again Aung is a key player. Silver Wave has also been exploring dubious extraction projects in Russia, Sudan, Guinea-Conakry, Indonesia and Iraq, but in spite of sanctions against Burma (supposedly supported by South Africa), Aung received PetroSA’s endorsement to explore 8000 square km stretching from Durban to SA’s main aluminum-smelting city, Richards Bay.</p>
<p>Silver Wave simultaneously announced a $100 million oil search in the fragile Hukaung Valley in northeastern Burma, and if the company carries out its initial plans, this will threaten local villagers as well as endangered tigers, Himalayan bears, elephants and leopards. Although the area contains the world’s largest tiger reserve, according to reporter Thomas Maung Shwe of Mizzima news service, “the Burmese regime has encouraged logging, gold mining, large scale farms and the building of factories inside.” As the scandal grew, Silver Wave denied what its own press release had announced, but conceded it would drill near the reserve.</p>
<p>A company this dastardly is a high risk, and to prove the point, Silver Wave’s environmental impact document includes a description of the notorious Agulhas Current, which begins at the Mozambique border: “Compared to other western boundary currents the Agulhas Current adjacent to southern Africa’s East Coast exhibits a remarkable stability.” Huh? In reality, the Natal Pulse races down the Agulhas a half-dozen times each year, pushing 20km per day. It is one reason Durban’s coastline hosts more than 50 major ship carcasses. Creating havoc further south on the Wild Coast, the Pulse contributes to the rouge waves that have sunk 1000 more vessels in what is considered one of the world’s most dangerous shipping corridors.</p>
<p>Susan Casey’s book The Wave pays Agulhas this respect: “Crude, diesel, jet fuel, liquefied natural gas: oil in all its forms was heartbreaking, infuriating and all-too-common sight in the ocean. Supertankers, behemoths that couldn’t make it through the Suez Canal, swung down from the Middle East, took their chances hopping a ride in the Agulhas, and met their share of disasters. Salvagers used every tool at their disposal to prevent the damaged tankers from gushing out their contents, especially in fragile near-shore environments, but sometimes the battle was lost.”</p>
<p>South Africa’s petrochem armpit</p>
<p>If, thankfully, the beaches at Christmas Bay were saved from a spill this week, others have not been so fortunate. Just offshore South Durban’s Cuttings Beach, a few kilometers from where I’m writing, we witnessed a significant 2004 oil spill of five tons at the Single Buoy Mooring, the 50-meter deep intake pump that feeds the refineries with 80 percent of SA’s crude oil imports. Onshore, corporate pollution standards are so lax that the rust-bucket structures regularly spring disastrous leaks and explode.</p>
<p>Daily, poisons are flared onto thousands of neighbouring residents. The Indian, coloured and African communities suffer the world’s highest-ever recorded asthma rate in a school (52 percent of kids), as Settlers Primary sits next to the country’s largest paper mill (Mondi) and between two refineries: one run by Engen, Chevron and Total; and the other, called Sapref, by BP, Shell and Thebe Investments. Sapref’s worst leak so far was 1.5 million liters into the Bluff Nature Reserve and adjoining residences in 2001.</p>
<p>Together these refineries can process 300,000 barrels of oil a day, more than any other single site in Africa aside from an Algerian mega-refinery. A new 705km pipeline from the Durban refineries to Johannesburg will double the existing pumping capacity, an invitation for much more damage here. Delayed two years, the government pipeline project’s cost overrun went from $1.4 billion announced in 2005 to $3.4 bn today. Our petrochemical armpit gets smellier, as soaring financial costs add to the social and environmental calamaties.</p>
<p>Amazonian oil soils our forest lungs</p>
<p>Because of flying so much, I am feeling an acute need to identify and contest the full petroleum commodity chain up to the point it not only poisons my South Durban neighbours but generates catastrophic climate change. And regrettably, this search must include Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador (and from last week Peru as well), for even South America’s most progressive governments are currently extracting and exporting as much oil and gas as they possibly can. We may even be recipients in South Africa, if government’s plans to build a massive $15 billion heavy oil refinery near Port Elizabeth come to fruition. A $300 million downpayment was announced in the last budget, and full capacity will be 400,000 barrels per day.</p>
<p>From where would this dirty crude come? Two weeks before he was booted from office in September 2008, disgraced SA president Thabo Mbeki signed a heavy oil deal with Hugo Chavez. It appeared a last-gasp effort by Mbeki to restore a shred of credibility with the core group to his left – the Congress of SA Trade Unions and SA Communist Party – who successfully conspired to replace him with their own candidate, Jacob Zuma, as ruling party leader nine months earlier. In those last moments of power, Mbeki fancifully claimed he wanted to pursue Bolivarian-type trade deals, and Chavez told Mbeki, “It is justice … it will be a wonderful day when the first Venezuelan tanker stops by to leave oil for South Africa.” The harsh reality is that the preferred refinery site, Port Elizabeth’s Coega, will probably retain its nickname, the “Ghost on the Coast”, and Durban will continue to suffer the bulk of oil imports, as BP now actively campaigns against a new state refinery.</p>
<p>Venezuelan dirty crude is akin to Canadian tar sands, and hopefully sense will prevail in Caracas. There is a fierce battle, however, for hearts and minds in both Bolivia – where movements fighting ‘extractivism’ have held demonstrations against the first indigenous president, Evo Morales, even at the same time his former UN ambassador Pablo Solon bravely led the world climate justice fight within the hopeless arena of UN Framework Convention on Climate Change negotiations – and Ecuador where Rafael Correa regularly speaks of replacing capitalism with socialism. Both have rising ‘buen vivir’ (good living) decolonial movements and even ‘rights of Mother Earth’ in their constitutions – so far untested.</p>
<p>In Quito and Neuva Rocafuerte deep in the Amazon last week, I witnessed the most advanced eco-social battle for a nation’s hearts-and-minds underway anywhere, with the extraordinary NGO Accion Ecologica insisting that Correa’s grudging government leaves the oil in Yasuni National Park’s soil. Because he was trained in neoclassical economics and hasn’t quite recovered, Correa favours selling Yasuni forests on the carbon markets, which progressive ecologists reject in principle.</p>
<p>Accion Ecologica assembled forty members of the civil society network Oilwatch – including four others from Africa led by Friends of the Earth International chairperson Nnimmo Bassey from the Niger Delta – first to witness the mess left by Chevron after a quarter century’s operations. Six months ago, local courts found the firm responsible for $8.6 billion in damages: cultural destruction including extinction of two indigenous nations, and water and soil pollution and deforestation in the earth’s greatest lung – but Chevron’s California headquarters refuses to cough up.</p>
<p>The really hopeful part of the visit, however, was Accion Ecologica’s proposal at Yasuni, on the Peruvian border, that $7-10 billion worth of oil in the block known as ITT not be drilled. Part of the North’s debt for overuse of the planet’s CO2 carrying capacity must be to compensate Ecuador’s people the $3.5 billion that they would otherwise earn from extracting the oil. Leaving it unexploited in the Amazon is the most reasonable way that industrial and post-industrial countries can make a downpayment on their climate debt.</p>
<p>If the UN’s Green Climate Fund design team, co-chaired by South African planning minister Trevor Manuel, were serious about spending its promised $100 billion a year by 2020, this project is where they would start, with an announcement on November 28 to put the Durban COP17 climate summit on the right footing.</p>
<p>Don’t count on it. Instead, as usual, civil society must push this argument, in the process insisting on leaving oil in the soil everywhere so that other tankers share what we pray will be the final fate of the wretched ship MT Phoenix: a graceful not rocky retirement.</p>
<p>Patrick Bond is with the UKZN Centre for Civil Society in Durban: <a href="mailto:http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za" type="external">http://ccs.ukzn.ac.za</a>.</p> | true | 4 | theres way around solve worsening climate crisis requires must accept vast majority fossil fuels must left underground democratic planning must collectively reboot energy transport agricultural production consumption disposal systems 2050 experience good living less quarter current levels greenhouse gas emissions thats science tells species south africa punctuation mark provided neardisaster durban host world climate summit four months intense storms sixmeter waves last week decrepit 40year old oil tanker mt phoenix lost anchor mooring july 26 pushed rocky shoreline christmas bay 25km north city shipwreck heart beautiful albeit classsegregated tourist retirement site durbans north coast two weeks earlier held association surfing professionals asp world competition mr price pro event boasted best waves ever seen asp history said contestants cold winter swells marine hell reemerged mt phoenix towed durban harbour confiscation lost engines hundred miles coast according cathleen jacka maritimemattersnet website incident confounded south african maritime safety authority samsa hints deliberate beaching possibility mystery stowaway still hiding onboard uncertainty true identity owners even vessel scrapped india last year samsa official observed 15member crew seemed inexperienced basic actions required stabilise vessels position remarked would first time unscrupulous ship owner prepared sacrifice vessel attempt realise insured value except apparently insurance mt phoenix since lloyds took books late last year allegedly final trip west africa indias ghastly ship breaking graveyard owner suhair khan dubai stopped taking calls leaving south africans bear risk 400 tons oil spilling ship broke rocks estimates heroic rescue operations cost taxpayer easily run millions dollars thankfully crew saved oil laboriously pumped ashore offshore drilling remarkably stable sic agulhas current however another potential oil disaster looms location thanks south african government energy bureaucrats may 5 petroleum agency sa began authorizing seismic oil surveying dubious singaporeregistered company silver wave energy water depths ranging 30 meters two kilometers comparison bps deepwater horizon platform much calmer gulf mexico drilled 15 km seafloor surface silver wave energys primary owner burmese businessman min min aung tight junta still rules according reliable reports exploitation oil gas burmas andaman sea long controversial grandfather deputy warden brutal colonial times unocal chevron built pipeline thailand enormous damage people environment local villagers supported earthrights international successfully sued firm 30 million since 2007 arakan islands burmas bay bengal coast main site intense conflict jockai khaing arakan oil watch told last week aung key player silver wave also exploring dubious extraction projects russia sudan guineaconakry indonesia iraq spite sanctions burma supposedly supported south africa aung received petrosas endorsement explore 8000 square km stretching durban sas main aluminumsmelting city richards bay silver wave simultaneously announced 100 million oil search fragile hukaung valley northeastern burma company carries initial plans threaten local villagers well endangered tigers himalayan bears elephants leopards although area contains worlds largest tiger reserve according reporter thomas maung shwe mizzima news service burmese regime encouraged logging gold mining large scale farms building factories inside scandal grew silver wave denied press release announced conceded would drill near reserve company dastardly high risk prove point silver waves environmental impact document includes description notorious agulhas current begins mozambique border compared western boundary currents agulhas current adjacent southern africas east coast exhibits remarkable stability huh reality natal pulse races agulhas halfdozen times year pushing 20km per day one reason durbans coastline hosts 50 major ship carcasses creating havoc south wild coast pulse contributes rouge waves sunk 1000 vessels considered one worlds dangerous shipping corridors susan caseys book wave pays agulhas respect crude diesel jet fuel liquefied natural gas oil forms heartbreaking infuriating alltoocommon sight ocean supertankers behemoths couldnt make suez canal swung middle east took chances hopping ride agulhas met share disasters salvagers used every tool disposal prevent damaged tankers gushing contents especially fragile nearshore environments sometimes battle lost south africas petrochem armpit thankfully beaches christmas bay saved spill week others fortunate offshore south durbans cuttings beach kilometers im writing witnessed significant 2004 oil spill five tons single buoy mooring 50meter deep intake pump feeds refineries 80 percent sas crude oil imports onshore corporate pollution standards lax rustbucket structures regularly spring disastrous leaks explode daily poisons flared onto thousands neighbouring residents indian coloured african communities suffer worlds highestever recorded asthma rate school 52 percent kids settlers primary sits next countrys largest paper mill mondi two refineries one run engen chevron total called sapref bp shell thebe investments saprefs worst leak far 15 million liters bluff nature reserve adjoining residences 2001 together refineries process 300000 barrels oil day single site africa aside algerian megarefinery new 705km pipeline durban refineries johannesburg double existing pumping capacity invitation much damage delayed two years government pipeline projects cost overrun went 14 billion announced 2005 34 bn today petrochemical armpit gets smellier soaring financial costs add social environmental calamaties amazonian oil soils forest lungs flying much feeling acute need identify contest full petroleum commodity chain point poisons south durban neighbours generates catastrophic climate change regrettably search must include venezuela bolivia ecuador last week peru well even south americas progressive governments currently extracting exporting much oil gas possibly may even recipients south africa governments plans build massive 15 billion heavy oil refinery near port elizabeth come fruition 300 million downpayment announced last budget full capacity 400000 barrels per day would dirty crude come two weeks booted office september 2008 disgraced sa president thabo mbeki signed heavy oil deal hugo chavez appeared lastgasp effort mbeki restore shred credibility core group left congress sa trade unions sa communist party successfully conspired replace candidate jacob zuma ruling party leader nine months earlier last moments power mbeki fancifully claimed wanted pursue bolivariantype trade deals chavez told mbeki justice wonderful day first venezuelan tanker stops leave oil south africa harsh reality preferred refinery site port elizabeths coega probably retain nickname ghost coast durban continue suffer bulk oil imports bp actively campaigns new state refinery venezuelan dirty crude akin canadian tar sands hopefully sense prevail caracas fierce battle however hearts minds bolivia movements fighting extractivism held demonstrations first indigenous president evo morales even time former un ambassador pablo solon bravely led world climate justice fight within hopeless arena un framework convention climate change negotiations ecuador rafael correa regularly speaks replacing capitalism socialism rising buen vivir good living decolonial movements even rights mother earth constitutions far untested quito neuva rocafuerte deep amazon last week witnessed advanced ecosocial battle nations heartsandminds underway anywhere extraordinary ngo accion ecologica insisting correas grudging government leaves oil yasuni national parks soil trained neoclassical economics hasnt quite recovered correa favours selling yasuni forests carbon markets progressive ecologists reject principle accion ecologica assembled forty members civil society network oilwatch including four others africa led friends earth international chairperson nnimmo bassey niger delta first witness mess left chevron quarter centurys operations six months ago local courts found firm responsible 86 billion damages cultural destruction including extinction two indigenous nations water soil pollution deforestation earths greatest lung chevrons california headquarters refuses cough really hopeful part visit however accion ecologicas proposal yasuni peruvian border 710 billion worth oil block known itt drilled part norths debt overuse planets co2 carrying capacity must compensate ecuadors people 35 billion would otherwise earn extracting oil leaving unexploited amazon reasonable way industrial postindustrial countries make downpayment climate debt uns green climate fund design team cochaired south african planning minister trevor manuel serious spending promised 100 billion year 2020 project would start announcement november 28 put durban cop17 climate summit right footing dont count instead usual civil society must push argument process insisting leaving oil soil everywhere tankers share pray final fate wretched ship mt phoenix graceful rocky retirement patrick bond ukzn centre civil society durban httpccsukznacza | 1,249 |
<p>If the United States today elects an African American man to the presidency, that event will mark a turning point in US history and culture. It will genuinely represent a triumph of hope over fear – all the more so because Barack Obama for the most part ran a dignified and inclusive campaign, in the face of the hateful and divisive rhetoric of John McCain. It’s significance cannot be overstated, Yet, as Ken Silverstein of Harpers observes, an Obama victory is “not about politics but about the man.” Ironically, Obama may transform the face and spirit of a nation, without dramatically changing the substance of its policies.</p>
<p>As everyone knows, Obama is a cautious politician. He doesn’t look like a leader who is ready to launch anything as bold as FDR’s New Deal. But then, Roosevelt didn’t initially look like that kind of leader, either. Perhaps if Obama wins the White House he will be emboldened by the remarkable groundswell of support that put him there. Perhaps he will be one of those men who has greatness thrust upon him, and will become fully worthy of the faith and optimism that so many millions have invested in him.</p>
<p>But in the humdrum world of political reality, what happens in the coming years will depend a great deal upon the behind-the-scenes workings of Congress, without which significant change cannot take place. All the polls indicate the Democrats will increase their majorities in both the House and Senate, but whether the character and direction of Congress changes is hard to predict. Since they gained control of Congress in 2006, the Democrats have been careful and conservative. Although they ran against the war in 2006, congressional Democrats voted to continue the war. Despite perennial calls for healthcare reform, the only program that actually materialized came from Republicans, in the highly compromised form of Medicare drug subsidies for the elderly. The Democrats promised to root out corruption and malfeasance, and while much has been exposed under the leadership of Henry Waxman and a few others, the exposure so far has resulted in few real consequences and little change. Social welfare programs have been cut back and state government budgets have continued haemorrhaging. As for the roots of the current financial crisis, the Democrats, if the truth be told, largely stood by while the financial regulatory structure established during the New Deal was dismantled. Some, like those in Bill Clinton’s treasury department, were in fact all too eager to lend a hand.</p>
<p>Some of these facts can be blamed on the presence of a rightwing Republican in the White House and a Democratic congressional majority too slim to survive a Senate filibuster, much less a presidential veto. Others, mostly likely, have deeper causes. What obstacles to real change would remain with a Democratic president and a stronger majority in Congress?</p>
<p>* In Iraq, it means mustering a sizeable coalition that can implement a policy to bring the troops home. But does that mean leaving Iraq altogether? Probably not. The key to Iraq has always been oil, and we still need the oil. One way or another, obtaining that oil will depend on divvying up what were under Saddam nationalized reserves and putting them into the hands of the international oil companies, returning essentially to the days at the beginning of the 20th century when those companies created a cartel. The US military already has set down a long-term policy of maintaining permanent bases in the region. That is unlikely to change any time soon, although meaningful changes in energy policy could begin to gradually have their effect. As for Afghanistan, the west has tried without success to dominate the place for centuries. A stalemate is likely to continue indefinitely.</p>
<p>* The debate over universal healthcare has been carried on nonstop since before Medicare was enacted in the 1960s. Everyone in Washington knows the clear course here: improve and extend Medicare to everyone. To make that work, the government must reign in the drug prices and eliminate the participation of the insurance industry. But the unwritten deal on Capitol Hill is that token reforms – getting rid of the gap in Medicare Part D, for example, or negotiating better drug prices – can be discussed, but only if everyone agrees to the participation of the insurance and pharmaceutical companies. Only the most incremental changes, therefore, are even remotely possible.</p>
<p>* The financial mess requires direct government participation in reorganising defaulting mortgages with public financing if need be. It requires reinstatement in one form or another of the New Deal Glass Steagall Act that separated investment banking from banking. And most of all it requires a drastic reform in the Federal Reserve System, the central bank that is run not by Congress but by the banking industry. Wall Street is unlikely to stand for any of these changes – and a Congress and a president with campaigns so lavishly financed by the finance industry is unlikely to force them through. The Democrats will undoubtedly pursue some modest regulatory improvements, but nothing like what $700bn ought to buy.</p>
<p>* Finally, creating a fairer and sounder tax system would mean taking on the formidable bloc of conservative Democrats in the House. These fiscal conservatives can be counted on to join with conservative Republicans to fight for fiscal conservative measures which in the past often end up as cuts to the social welfare programs.</p>
<p>What might happen under an Obama presidency is certainly a preferable alternative to the warmongering free-market free-for-all promised by John McCain. But the promised change, when it boils down to policy, will be modest, slow, and hard-won – and no doubt disappointing to many who expected more of the new world they worked so hard to create.</p>
<p>JAMES RIDGEWAY is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1583227121/counterpunchmaga" type="external">5 Unanswered Questions About 9/11</a>, <a href="" type="internal">It’s All For Sale: The Control of Global Resources</a> and <a href="" type="internal">A Guide to Environmental Bad Guys</a>, co-written with Jeffrey St. Clair. Ridgeway can be reached through <a href="http://www.ridgewayng.com/blog/" type="external">his website</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | united states today elects african american man presidency event mark turning point us history culture genuinely represent triumph hope fear barack obama part ran dignified inclusive campaign face hateful divisive rhetoric john mccain significance overstated yet ken silverstein harpers observes obama victory politics man ironically obama may transform face spirit nation without dramatically changing substance policies everyone knows obama cautious politician doesnt look like leader ready launch anything bold fdrs new deal roosevelt didnt initially look like kind leader either perhaps obama wins white house emboldened remarkable groundswell support put perhaps one men greatness thrust upon become fully worthy faith optimism many millions invested humdrum world political reality happens coming years depend great deal upon behindthescenes workings congress without significant change take place polls indicate democrats increase majorities house senate whether character direction congress changes hard predict since gained control congress 2006 democrats careful conservative although ran war 2006 congressional democrats voted continue war despite perennial calls healthcare reform program actually materialized came republicans highly compromised form medicare drug subsidies elderly democrats promised root corruption malfeasance much exposed leadership henry waxman others exposure far resulted real consequences little change social welfare programs cut back state government budgets continued haemorrhaging roots current financial crisis democrats truth told largely stood financial regulatory structure established new deal dismantled like bill clintons treasury department fact eager lend hand facts blamed presence rightwing republican white house democratic congressional majority slim survive senate filibuster much less presidential veto others mostly likely deeper causes obstacles real change would remain democratic president stronger majority congress iraq means mustering sizeable coalition implement policy bring troops home mean leaving iraq altogether probably key iraq always oil still need oil one way another obtaining oil depend divvying saddam nationalized reserves putting hands international oil companies returning essentially days beginning 20th century companies created cartel us military already set longterm policy maintaining permanent bases region unlikely change time soon although meaningful changes energy policy could begin gradually effect afghanistan west tried without success dominate place centuries stalemate likely continue indefinitely debate universal healthcare carried nonstop since medicare enacted 1960s everyone washington knows clear course improve extend medicare everyone make work government must reign drug prices eliminate participation insurance industry unwritten deal capitol hill token reforms getting rid gap medicare part example negotiating better drug prices discussed everyone agrees participation insurance pharmaceutical companies incremental changes therefore even remotely possible financial mess requires direct government participation reorganising defaulting mortgages public financing need requires reinstatement one form another new deal glass steagall act separated investment banking banking requires drastic reform federal reserve system central bank run congress banking industry wall street unlikely stand changes congress president campaigns lavishly financed finance industry unlikely force democrats undoubtedly pursue modest regulatory improvements nothing like 700bn ought buy finally creating fairer sounder tax system would mean taking formidable bloc conservative democrats house fiscal conservatives counted join conservative republicans fight fiscal conservative measures past often end cuts social welfare programs might happen obama presidency certainly preferable alternative warmongering freemarket freeforall promised john mccain promised change boils policy modest slow hardwon doubt disappointing many expected new world worked hard create james ridgeway author 5 unanswered questions 911 sale control global resources guide environmental bad guys cowritten jeffrey st clair ridgeway reached website 160 160 | 543 |
<p>The last American combat brigade in Iraq has left the country, so the Pentagon announced this week. The 40,000 personnel from 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division began crossing into Kuwait August 19. The US combat mission in Iraq – Operation Iraqi Freedom – is scheduled to end on August 31.</p>
<p>The least credible human in America is a president or a general guaranteeing imminent victory, plus withdrawal of troops from the quagmire of the day.</p>
<p>The rhetorical embroidery decorating this pledge changes little from decade to decade. In 1970, President Richard Nixon declared that the Vietnam War was proceeding so auspiciously that he was planning to pull out 150,000 American troops. The South Vietnamese forces, he asserted, were now of sufficient military competence to carry the brunt of the fighting.</p>
<p>The truth was that the South Vietnamese forces were ill-trained, averse to battle and led by corrupt officers booking their flights to America. The war was lost, but it dragged on for another five years.</p>
<p>In Iraq in 2007, General Petraeus famously announced his “surge” strategy and confided to visiting journalists that the strategy was working well, with “astonishing signs of normalcy” in Baghdad. Monica Crowley of Fox News nominated Petraeus for the “most honest person of the year”.</p>
<p>The truth was that in substantive terms, for reasons entirely unrelated to the fictive “surge”, the Sunni had given up fighting the Americans. Baghdad was in ruins, the war, in terms of the objectives declared in 2003, was a disaster.</p>
<p>In 2008 Obama campaigned on pledges of withdrawal from Iraq and escalation in Afghanistan. At the start of this month, addressing cadets at West Point military academy on August 2, 2010, the president &#160;said that the war in Iraq had been won: “This is what success looks like.” Departing US troops will leave behind a “democratic” and “sovereign” Iraq, one that is now “no haven” for “the kind of violent extremists who attacked America on 9/11.”</p>
<p>It’s a bizarre definition of success and furthermore &#160;the U.S. State Department, also General Odierno and others feels it necessary to emphasize that US involvement in Iraq is far from over.&#160; More on that here next week.</p>
<p>What about Obama’s pledge, when he was selling his Afghan surge last year,&#160; that withdrawal there would begin in 2011? Here’s where serious domestic politics – always the driver of foreign policy – takes over. The Democrats feel they cannot go into any election in either 2010 or 2012 and be accused of “losing” in Afghanistan. This, unlike Iraq, is Obama’s war.</p>
<p>The Obama administration has said the US would begin to withdraw troops from Afghanistan in July 2011. But last Sunday on NBC’s Meet the Press, Petraeus, now in command of US and coalition troops in Afghanistan, said the withdrawal date was “conditions-based” and that it was possible it could be pushed back further.</p>
<p>“Conditions-based”, cynically but accurately defined, means what Obama can tout as “mission accomplished”. That’s a tough sell for the foreseeable future, since there’s zero evidence that the US-led coalition is achieving anything that can be sold as “success” in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>But the Pentagon is trying to push “success” nonetheless. In an interview last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said “everybody – all of our partner nations and I think everybody in this government – would agree that two things are central to success. One is building up the Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF), which is going pretty well, and governance, which is going, but not as well. It’s still moving in the right direction, but a lot slower than we would like.”</p>
<p>No credible reporter would endorse Gates’s opinion on the zeal and efficiency of the ANSF and every credible reporter notes the utter corruption of “governance” in Afghanistan. In terms of domestic politics here in the Homeland, the US cannot quit – and will not do so by 2012 because there is zero evidence for any substantive achievement. Unlike Iraq, a victorious “surge” is not a saleable proposition as Petraeus acknowledges.</p>
<p>The Afghan war, launched covertly three decades ago, will be with us for at least two more years, and maybe several more , the need for protraction&#160; buttressed by such shock tactics as the picture of an Afghan woman with her nose cut off by the Taliban, featured on the cover of Time recently. It was certainly a horrible piece of barbarism, inflicted because the woman had breached the Talibans’ concept of moral propriety.&#160; The message was that with premature US withdrawal a lot more women’s noses will &#160;be sliced off, or women lashed and then shot for imputed “adultery” years after their husbands had died. I did feel all the same that balance should have required Time also to feature bits of human flesh strewn around after a Predator missile had landed on yet another Afghan wedding party, an inevitable feature of what happens so long as&#160; the US stays.</p>
<p>The only reliable definition of “success” in any of the United States’ martial enterprises is the effective destruction in economic, social and environmental terms of the target country. That certainly happened in Iraq and is a process far advanced in Afghanistan.</p>
<p>The Extreme Action Hero</p>
<p>The best laid plans don’t always work out. In the wonderful slice of her book How to Become An Extreme Action Hero, featured today on our site, Elizabeth Streb describes what happened</p>
<p>“when my life partner, Laura Flanders, [AC: niece of yours truly] turned forty … I &#160;wanted to give her a supreme and symbolic gift. I conceived of a fire dance, a conceptual one. I named it ‘BlazeAway.’ It was performed to a Melissa Etheridge song with the lyric, ‘I’m the only one who’d walk across the fire for you.’</p>
<p>“A fire was lit as large as the square my hips outlined. The idea was to walk up to the fire along a narrow lane, just long enough so that by the time I got to the blaze it would be quite large. I crouched down and flew into the air, making a very large horizontal X with my body, arms, and legs, and landed dead center on the flame. It was supposed to go out. But when I looked under my stomach and stood up, I realized that I was on fire, fully ablaze…”</p>
<p>You can read the rest of the story <a href="" type="internal">here</a> on our site. I strongly recommend Elizabeth’s book, decorated by a truthful blurb by Mikhail Baryshnikov, “Fearlessness and intelligence combined – that is what makes Elizabeth Streb’s work so potent and beautiful.”</p>
<p>Up or down? Meet the Amarnath Shivalingam</p>
<p>Our latest newsletter is choc a bloc with terrific pieces. Peter Lee reports on the ghastly ongoing struggles in Kashmir, and the enormous tensions caused by the Hindu shrine of the Amarnath Shivalingam. This is a large ice spike displaying the lingam shape, formed by water dripping on the floor of the immense Amarnath cave in the remote high mountains of Kashmir. In 2006, disaster struck.&#160; Climatic conditions caused a failure of the Shivalingam and it did not form at all. A crude and clearly-handcrafted snowman pinch-hitting for the Shivalingam outraged the Hindu faithful. Lee’s story lays out the macabre saga and the overall political tragedy.</p>
<p>Meet the women trying to reform America’s insane sex offender laws.&#160; JoAnn Wypijewski talks to them, describes their struggle.</p>
<p>I urge you to <a href="http://www.easycartsecure.com/CounterPunch/Annual_Subscriptions.html" type="external">subscribe now!</a></p>
<p>ALEXANDER COCKBURN can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p> | true | 4 | last american combat brigade iraq left country pentagon announced week 40000 personnel 4th stryker brigade 2nd infantry division began crossing kuwait august 19 us combat mission iraq operation iraqi freedom scheduled end august 31 least credible human america president general guaranteeing imminent victory plus withdrawal troops quagmire day rhetorical embroidery decorating pledge changes little decade decade 1970 president richard nixon declared vietnam war proceeding auspiciously planning pull 150000 american troops south vietnamese forces asserted sufficient military competence carry brunt fighting truth south vietnamese forces illtrained averse battle led corrupt officers booking flights america war lost dragged another five years iraq 2007 general petraeus famously announced surge strategy confided visiting journalists strategy working well astonishing signs normalcy baghdad monica crowley fox news nominated petraeus honest person year truth substantive terms reasons entirely unrelated fictive surge sunni given fighting americans baghdad ruins war terms objectives declared 2003 disaster 2008 obama campaigned pledges withdrawal iraq escalation afghanistan start month addressing cadets west point military academy august 2 2010 president 160said war iraq success looks like departing us troops leave behind democratic sovereign iraq one kind violent extremists attacked america 911 bizarre definition success furthermore 160the us state department also general odierno others feels necessary emphasize us involvement iraq far over160 next week obamas pledge selling afghan surge last year160 withdrawal would begin 2011 heres serious domestic politics always driver foreign policy takes democrats feel go election either 2010 2012 accused losing afghanistan unlike iraq obamas war obama administration said us would begin withdraw troops afghanistan july 2011 last sunday nbcs meet press petraeus command us coalition troops afghanistan said withdrawal date conditionsbased possible could pushed back conditionsbased cynically accurately defined means obama tout mission accomplished thats tough sell foreseeable future since theres zero evidence usled coalition achieving anything sold success afghanistan pentagon trying push success nonetheless interview last week defense secretary robert gates said everybody partner nations think everybody government would agree two things central success one building afghan national security forces ansf going pretty well governance going well still moving right direction lot slower would like credible reporter would endorse gatess opinion zeal efficiency ansf every credible reporter notes utter corruption governance afghanistan terms domestic politics homeland us quit 2012 zero evidence substantive achievement unlike iraq victorious surge saleable proposition petraeus acknowledges afghan war launched covertly three decades ago us least two years maybe several need protraction160 buttressed shock tactics picture afghan woman nose cut taliban featured cover time recently certainly horrible piece barbarism inflicted woman breached talibans concept moral propriety160 message premature us withdrawal lot womens noses 160be sliced women lashed shot imputed adultery years husbands died feel balance required time also feature bits human flesh strewn around predator missile landed yet another afghan wedding party inevitable feature happens long as160 us stays reliable definition success united states martial enterprises effective destruction economic social environmental terms target country certainly happened iraq process far advanced afghanistan extreme action hero best laid plans dont always work wonderful slice book become extreme action hero featured today site elizabeth streb describes happened life partner laura flanders ac niece truly turned forty 160wanted give supreme symbolic gift conceived fire dance conceptual one named blazeaway performed melissa etheridge song lyric im one whod walk across fire fire lit large square hips outlined idea walk fire along narrow lane long enough time got blaze would quite large crouched flew air making large horizontal x body arms legs landed dead center flame supposed go looked stomach stood realized fire fully ablaze read rest story site strongly recommend elizabeths book decorated truthful blurb mikhail baryshnikov fearlessness intelligence combined makes elizabeth strebs work potent beautiful meet amarnath shivalingam latest newsletter choc bloc terrific pieces peter lee reports ghastly ongoing struggles kashmir enormous tensions caused hindu shrine amarnath shivalingam large ice spike displaying lingam shape formed water dripping floor immense amarnath cave remote high mountains kashmir 2006 disaster struck160 climatic conditions caused failure shivalingam form crude clearlyhandcrafted snowman pinchhitting shivalingam outraged hindu faithful lees story lays macabre saga overall political tragedy meet women trying reform americas insane sex offender laws160 joann wypijewski talks describes struggle urge subscribe alexander cockburn reached alexandercockburnasiscom | 689 |
<p>This has been a debate garnering some attention in the UK for several years, mainly under the auspices of a contrast between “Red Tory” and “Blue Labour”.</p>
<p>This debate, which has about the need for a mutualism countering the bureaucratic state and providing collective resources for private individuals abandoned to laissez faire, has not however been significant in the US.</p>
<p>In the US, the function of the state is very much to aid and abet the oligarchy by blurring the line between the government and the private sector to the advantage of the latter, as opposed to being a check on it.&#160;&#160; US governments have therefore all but abandoned their role as the indispensable and major provider of essential welfare services.</p>
<p>Even “Tricky Dicky” Nixon, knave that he was, went along with such relatively ample provision by the state.</p>
<p>Today, however, American politicians, unless they are super-rich, can’t campaign effectively without monetary heft from a plutocratic private sector, to which they are then utterly beholden. Hillary Clinton anyone?</p>
<p>American politicians who mount the slightest challenge to this rapaciously dysfunctional political system—George McGovern in days of yore, Denis Kucinich a few years ago, and now Sanders– are sent packing by its upholders.</p>
<p>In the UK the Tories and New Labour have advanced on a similar neoliberal path since Thatcher, but encountered more resistance from voters, largely because its Celtic fringe adheres resolutely to the welfare state, and because there is still in the UK a solid bloc of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1784534919/counterpunchmaga" type="external" />voters to the left of the main parliamentary parties on several major issues (war, environmental protection, ringfencing the NHS, a commitment to public education, and the need for a fairer electoral system, being the most prominent).</p>
<p>The postwar settlements after 1945 in the countries of the west depended on a broadly Keynesian concordat, mediated by the state, between labour and capital.</p>
<p>In the 1970s this concordat fell into a crisis, and was dissolved by the governments of Reagan and Thatcher, whose names are often given to the succeeding neoliberal politico-economic paradigm.</p>
<p>However, neoliberalism, with its emphasis on supposed market forces, has failed to deliver a general prosperity while exacerbating economic inequality, as well as promoting unstable bubble economies as the sole alternative to a widespread stagnation.</p>
<p>In response to these failures of the social-welfare state (on the one hand) and a no-holds-barred neoliberal economic individualism (on the other), there has been a growth of interest in the UK in “mutualist” paradigms emphasizing cooperation, in self-governing and voluntary associations, on a scale smaller than the state but larger and more collective than that acceptable to a market-bedazzled or market-entrapped homo oeconomicus.</p>
<p>These voluntary and self-governing associations will be non-profit making and funded out of the public purse.</p>
<p>In the UK, the Blue Labour “tendency” (for it is no more than that in effective political terms) ratifies a form of mutualism, and in the US Bernie Sanders expressed interest in participatory political forms stressing mutualism, at least when he was still contending with Hillary Clinton for their party’s nomination to be a candidate for the 2016 presidential election.</p>
<p>However, a state-driven social democracy of the kind prevailing until the 1970s will be difficult to revive because the state favoured by neoliberalism is a Market-State in root and branch, with market-imperatives– or rather those of quasi-markets, because neoliberal markets are rigged and rent-seeking (as <a href="http://michael-hudson.com/" type="external">Michael Hudson</a>, <a href="https://www.bitebackpublishing.com/books/the-corruption-of-capitalism" type="external">Guy Standing</a>, and others have pointed out) — dominating the State’s core.</p>
<p>This neoliberal Market-State is more about entrenching the parasitic rentier-based oligarchy than promoting the fabled competitive markets extolled by classical liberalism.</p>
<p>So, the key question for us is whether new forms of cooperation and mutualism, socialist in nature, can emerge in an innovative kind of post-neoliberal state, forms which can then exist in concert with crucially-important local and regional formations.</p>
<p>Blue Labour’s proponents have identified a panoply of measures and steps as the way to inaugurate a full-blown associationism: co-operative ventures of all kinds, community banks and credit unions, community-sponsored daycare and eldercare, youth clubs, greatly augmented municipal government, proper apprenticeship schemes (as opposed to largely inconsequential “work your way in the hope you get a job” workfare arrangements), and so on.</p>
<p>However, if neoliberalism remains, there will be no real move to a sufficient mutualism. So, decisive steps must be taken to push neoliberalism to the side.&#160;&#160; Blue Labour purports to be an alternative to neoliberalism, but does not endorse (at least not explicitly) the revolutionary means needed to supplant the neoliberal order.</p>
<p>A mutualism which does not tackle the overridingly important issue of the ownership of assets, and fails to advance their common ownership, is going to be a paper tiger (to resort to the nomenclature of the Great Helmsman).</p>
<p>Other interim measures will include an overturning of regnant macroeconomic policy, to encompass the greater taxation of wealth; the abolition of opportunities to extract rentier-based incomes (neoliberalism’s modus operandi); the repatriation of capital that has migrated to Wall Street and the City of London; the introduction of capital controls; the reduction of military spending; greater provision of resources on infrastructure, health, and education; converting banks into public utilities whose sole role is the intermediation between buyers and sellers (as opposed to the emphasis on gratuitously unproductive forms of speculation and arbitrage so prevalent today); supporting trade unions; placing important services conducing to our overall good in the public domain, which need not necessarily be statist, since the public domain will perforce now include a variety of formations that are associationist.</p>
<p>Another significant step would be the disruption of the monetary symbiosis now existing between the corporate and political élites.</p>
<p>Also important will be the reduction, and ultimately the elimination, of the for-profit sector when this does not operate for the public good.</p>
<p>An example of how a project undertaken by a private company can easily be placed in the hands of a publicly-owned organization is the upcoming construction of London’s “super sewer” system. Balfour Beatty, <a href="https://corporatewatch.org/company-profiles/uk-construction-industry-major-players#beatty" type="external">the controversial giant construction company</a>, has been awarded a £416m contract to build a section of this “super sewer” (and we can count on the almost inevitable cost overruns doubling and even tripling the sum stipulated in the original deal).</p>
<p>BB is a private company with shareholders and private investors.&#160;&#160; A project on this scale could easily have been undertaken by a publicly-owned and controlled body, which would return earnings to the public purse, as opposed to feathering the nests of a small group of private citizens.</p>
<p>Today colossally lucrative enterprises, making their originators some of the wealthiest people on earth, exist in a realm that can best be described as virtual.</p>
<p>Uber owns no taxis, Airbnb owns no rental properties, EBay/Alibaba possess no inventory, Facebook generates no content of its own, TaskRabbit and Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (the latter’s motto being “giving you access to a scalable workforce”) create no sustainable jobs but use the internet to “match” individuals with substantial incomes needing someone to undertake menial tasks or run small errands, with a hapless “gig” clientele more or less willing to do this for chickenfeed.</p>
<p>In addition, high-speed stock traders sit at desks transmuting algorithms into computer pixels to generate obscene rental returns (“profit” generally being used in classical economics only to characterize gains accruing from actual productive investment) in a few clicks of the keyboard.</p>
<p>Dispensing with the stock-market racket will only require political will, admittedly not an easy undertaking since the political élites have also been allowed to feed at its trough.</p>
<p>At the same time, the other virtual enterprises can be put to social uses: Uber can become a communal car-sharing service, Airbnb can serve the homeless, and TaskRabbit and Mechanical Turk can service the needs of a market providing substantial employment beyond the level of “gig” jobs.</p>
<p>All citizens should have access to common basic entitlements, and associations will be publicly funded only if they are open to all and willing to provide services on the basis of public entitlements.</p>
<p>The removal of neoliberalism, and ultimately capitalism itself, is going to be the surest way to bring about an extended and long-lasting mutualism and associationism.</p>
<p>If neoliberalism and capitalism continue exist, we will be mired in an ethos based on the absurd proposition that we must first “create wealth”, then somehow find ways to prise the loot generated by this process out of the fingers of a fortunate few to “improve the quality of life” for the rest of us.</p>
<p>Is there any greater idiocy, apart from the possible notion that the interests of the generality of the US and the world will be adequately served by a Trump or Clinton presidency?</p>
<p>Kenneth Surin is&#160;Professor of Literature and Professor of Religion and Critical Theory Program in Literature and Critical Theory at Duke University.</p> | true | 4 | debate garnering attention uk several years mainly auspices contrast red tory blue labour debate need mutualism countering bureaucratic state providing collective resources private individuals abandoned laissez faire however significant us us function state much aid abet oligarchy blurring line government private sector advantage latter opposed check it160160 us governments therefore abandoned role indispensable major provider essential welfare services even tricky dicky nixon knave went along relatively ample provision state today however american politicians unless superrich cant campaign effectively without monetary heft plutocratic private sector utterly beholden hillary clinton anyone american politicians mount slightest challenge rapaciously dysfunctional political systemgeorge mcgovern days yore denis kucinich years ago sanders sent packing upholders uk tories new labour advanced similar neoliberal path since thatcher encountered resistance voters largely celtic fringe adheres resolutely welfare state still uk solid bloc voters left main parliamentary parties several major issues war environmental protection ringfencing nhs commitment public education need fairer electoral system prominent postwar settlements 1945 countries west depended broadly keynesian concordat mediated state labour capital 1970s concordat fell crisis dissolved governments reagan thatcher whose names often given succeeding neoliberal politicoeconomic paradigm however neoliberalism emphasis supposed market forces failed deliver general prosperity exacerbating economic inequality well promoting unstable bubble economies sole alternative widespread stagnation response failures socialwelfare state one hand noholdsbarred neoliberal economic individualism growth interest uk mutualist paradigms emphasizing cooperation selfgoverning voluntary associations scale smaller state larger collective acceptable marketbedazzled marketentrapped homo oeconomicus voluntary selfgoverning associations nonprofit making funded public purse uk blue labour tendency effective political terms ratifies form mutualism us bernie sanders expressed interest participatory political forms stressing mutualism least still contending hillary clinton partys nomination candidate 2016 presidential election however statedriven social democracy kind prevailing 1970s difficult revive state favoured neoliberalism marketstate root branch marketimperatives rather quasimarkets neoliberal markets rigged rentseeking michael hudson guy standing others pointed dominating states core neoliberal marketstate entrenching parasitic rentierbased oligarchy promoting fabled competitive markets extolled classical liberalism key question us whether new forms cooperation mutualism socialist nature emerge innovative kind postneoliberal state forms exist concert cruciallyimportant local regional formations blue labours proponents identified panoply measures steps way inaugurate fullblown associationism cooperative ventures kinds community banks credit unions communitysponsored daycare eldercare youth clubs greatly augmented municipal government proper apprenticeship schemes opposed largely inconsequential work way hope get job workfare arrangements however neoliberalism remains real move sufficient mutualism decisive steps must taken push neoliberalism side160160 blue labour purports alternative neoliberalism endorse least explicitly revolutionary means needed supplant neoliberal order mutualism tackle overridingly important issue ownership assets fails advance common ownership going paper tiger resort nomenclature great helmsman interim measures include overturning regnant macroeconomic policy encompass greater taxation wealth abolition opportunities extract rentierbased incomes neoliberalisms modus operandi repatriation capital migrated wall street city london introduction capital controls reduction military spending greater provision resources infrastructure health education converting banks public utilities whose sole role intermediation buyers sellers opposed emphasis gratuitously unproductive forms speculation arbitrage prevalent today supporting trade unions placing important services conducing overall good public domain need necessarily statist since public domain perforce include variety formations associationist another significant step would disruption monetary symbiosis existing corporate political élites also important reduction ultimately elimination forprofit sector operate public good example project undertaken private company easily placed hands publiclyowned organization upcoming construction londons super sewer system balfour beatty controversial giant construction company awarded 416m contract build section super sewer count almost inevitable cost overruns doubling even tripling sum stipulated original deal bb private company shareholders private investors160160 project scale could easily undertaken publiclyowned controlled body would return earnings public purse opposed feathering nests small group private citizens today colossally lucrative enterprises making originators wealthiest people earth exist realm best described virtual uber owns taxis airbnb owns rental properties ebayalibaba possess inventory facebook generates content taskrabbit amazons mechanical turk latters motto giving access scalable workforce create sustainable jobs use internet match individuals substantial incomes needing someone undertake menial tasks run small errands hapless gig clientele less willing chickenfeed addition highspeed stock traders sit desks transmuting algorithms computer pixels generate obscene rental returns profit generally used classical economics characterize gains accruing actual productive investment clicks keyboard dispensing stockmarket racket require political admittedly easy undertaking since political élites also allowed feed trough time virtual enterprises put social uses uber become communal carsharing service airbnb serve homeless taskrabbit mechanical turk service needs market providing substantial employment beyond level gig jobs citizens access common basic entitlements associations publicly funded open willing provide services basis public entitlements removal neoliberalism ultimately capitalism going surest way bring extended longlasting mutualism associationism neoliberalism capitalism continue exist mired ethos based absurd proposition must first create wealth somehow find ways prise loot generated process fingers fortunate improve quality life rest us greater idiocy apart possible notion interests generality us world adequately served trump clinton presidency kenneth surin is160professor literature professor religion critical theory program literature critical theory duke university | 804 |
<p>Only the hypocrite is really rotten to the core.</p>
<p>Hannah Arendt, On Revolution</p>
<p>Once again the death penalty is prowling around the halls of justice looking for work.</p>
<p>Found in the interstices of the local papers was a story that Puerto Rico is the latest beneficiary of Mr. Ashcroft’s gentle importuning on behalf of the friend on whom he relies to dissuade criminals from doing the sorts of things that give the death penalty license to continue with its life’s work.</p>
<p>Mr. Ashcroft’s penchant for overriding his own U.S. attorneys and mandating that they seek the death penalty even when they, in their considered wisdom, have concluded that it is not appropriate in a given case, is well known. According to the Federal Death Penalty Resource Counsel, there have been 30 cases in the last two years in which Mr. Ashcroft overrode the judgement of local U.S. attorneys and demanded the death sentence. In at least one or two cases the demand was made after the U.S. attorneys had already agreed to a plea bargain for a lesser sentence. (Former Attorney General, Janet Reno, by contrast, only overrode local prosecutors 26 times in eight years.)</p>
<p>According to the death penalty’s spokesperson, Barbara Comstock, Mr. Ashcroft wants to establish “one standard” for death sentences and eliminate the present disparity between states. New York and Connecticut, for example, despite being the home of many of our most enlightened citizens, execute fewer people than places like Virginia and Texas. In a perfect world those states would execute the same number of criminals as those two.</p>
<p>John Muhammad and Lee Malvo, the snipers who terrorized the Washington, D.C. area for most of October, were examples of Mr. Ashcroft’s interest in the death penalty’s welfare. The shootings started in Montgomery County, Maryland, and ended there with the arrest of the two men. That was an unfortunate coincidence, as far as Mr. Ashcroft was concerned, because Maryland had a moratorium on hiring Mr. Ashcroft’s friend and before the existence of the moratorium, had permitted the death penalty to work its will on only three people in the preceding twenty-five years, a dismal record indeed from the perspective of the death penalty and Mr. Ashcroft. (He helped the death penalty in that case by taking steps that resulted in moving the trial to Virginia whose enthusiasm for the death penalty is exceeded only by that of Texas.) Having worked his magic in Maryland, Mr. Ashcroft has now turned his attention to Puerto Rico. That benighted place which is less sophisticated than its cousins on the mainland, enacted a constitution in 1952 that has this bizarre sentence: “The death penalty shall not exist.” That is a palpably absurd statement and one which the death penalty finds demeaning. Everyone knows it both exists and performs a useful function. People know what the Puerto Ricans meant is that they don’t want the death penalty to take up residence in their fair island. For them the attorney general has news. His friend exists in Puerto Rico notwithstanding the Puerto Rican constitution.</p>
<p>A federal trial is taking place in Puerto Rico as this is written in which the Justice Department wants to enlist the aid of the death penalty when it’s time for punishment. According to a report in the New York Times, everyone from local politicians, to lawyers, scholars and just plain folk have denounced the trial. They call it a betrayal of their constitution which was approved in its entirety by the U.S. Congress in 1952.</p>
<p>The Justice Department didn’t see it that way. Court filings by the U.S. attorney say that federal criminal laws override local laws irrespective of their genesis. The law establishing Puerto Rico says, among other things, that federal laws that are “not locally inapplicable” are in force on the island. Whether that prevents the death penalty from plying its trade is a matter of conjecture and inconsistent decisions.</p>
<p>Commenting on a Puerto Rican capital case being tried in front of him some years ago, Salvador E. Casellas, a federal judge said: “It shocks the conscience to impose the ultimate penalty, death, upon American citizens who are denied the right to participate directly or indirectly in the government that enacts and authorizes the imposition of such punishment.” The First Circuit in Boston said it understood that Puerto Ricans were not friends of the death penalty but nonetheless permitted it to compete in the trial saying the argument about the death penalty is “a political one, not a legal one.”</p>
<p>William Matthewman is the lawyer representing Acosta Martinez, the defendant in the case now being tried. He is under court order not to discuss the case. In his only reported public comment he said: “It seems a waste of time and resources for the federal government to go into any jurisdiction where it’s not wanted.” Mr. Matthewman has not met John Ashcroft.</p>
<p>As observed above, Mr. Ashcroft likes nothing better than to go into a jurisdiction where he’s not wanted, if in so doing he’s helping out the death penalty. That has not, however, been as helpful to his friend as he might have hoped. The Death Penalty Information Center reports that from 1988 to 2000, 46% of the federal capital trials resulted in death sentences. Since John Ashcroft has been attorney general, only 15% of the capital trials have produced that result. Juries in 15 of the last 16 cases tried have declined to impose the death penalty. That might tell the meddlesome Mr. Ashcroft something were he listening.</p>
<p>CHRISTOPHER BRAUCHLI is a Boulder, Colorado lawyer. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | true | 4 | hypocrite really rotten core hannah arendt revolution death penalty prowling around halls justice looking work found interstices local papers story puerto rico latest beneficiary mr ashcrofts gentle importuning behalf friend relies dissuade criminals sorts things give death penalty license continue lifes work mr ashcrofts penchant overriding us attorneys mandating seek death penalty even considered wisdom concluded appropriate given case well known according federal death penalty resource counsel 30 cases last two years mr ashcroft overrode judgement local us attorneys demanded death sentence least one two cases demand made us attorneys already agreed plea bargain lesser sentence former attorney general janet reno contrast overrode local prosecutors 26 times eight years according death penaltys spokesperson barbara comstock mr ashcroft wants establish one standard death sentences eliminate present disparity states new york connecticut example despite home many enlightened citizens execute fewer people places like virginia texas perfect world states would execute number criminals two john muhammad lee malvo snipers terrorized washington dc area october examples mr ashcrofts interest death penaltys welfare shootings started montgomery county maryland ended arrest two men unfortunate coincidence far mr ashcroft concerned maryland moratorium hiring mr ashcrofts friend existence moratorium permitted death penalty work three people preceding twentyfive years dismal record indeed perspective death penalty mr ashcroft helped death penalty case taking steps resulted moving trial virginia whose enthusiasm death penalty exceeded texas worked magic maryland mr ashcroft turned attention puerto rico benighted place less sophisticated cousins mainland enacted constitution 1952 bizarre sentence death penalty shall exist palpably absurd statement one death penalty finds demeaning everyone knows exists performs useful function people know puerto ricans meant dont want death penalty take residence fair island attorney general news friend exists puerto rico notwithstanding puerto rican constitution federal trial taking place puerto rico written justice department wants enlist aid death penalty time punishment according report new york times everyone local politicians lawyers scholars plain folk denounced trial call betrayal constitution approved entirety us congress 1952 justice department didnt see way court filings us attorney say federal criminal laws override local laws irrespective genesis law establishing puerto rico says among things federal laws locally inapplicable force island whether prevents death penalty plying trade matter conjecture inconsistent decisions commenting puerto rican capital case tried front years ago salvador e casellas federal judge said shocks conscience impose ultimate penalty death upon american citizens denied right participate directly indirectly government enacts authorizes imposition punishment first circuit boston said understood puerto ricans friends death penalty nonetheless permitted compete trial saying argument death penalty political one legal one william matthewman lawyer representing acosta martinez defendant case tried court order discuss case reported public comment said seems waste time resources federal government go jurisdiction wanted mr matthewman met john ashcroft observed mr ashcroft likes nothing better go jurisdiction hes wanted hes helping death penalty however helpful friend might hoped death penalty information center reports 1988 2000 46 federal capital trials resulted death sentences since john ashcroft attorney general 15 capital trials produced result juries 15 last 16 cases tried declined impose death penalty might tell meddlesome mr ashcroft something listening christopher brauchli boulder colorado lawyer reached brauchli56postharvardedu | 519 |
<p>Michael T. Snyder <a href="" type="internal">RINF Alternative News</a></p>
<p>Someone is attempting to harass and intimidate media personalities that are very critical of Barack Obama and his administration. Whoever is doing this has extremely advanced technical capabilities. As you will see below, there is very strong anecdotal evidence that federal agents are involved. But these agents would never commit such actions on their own.</p>
<p>It seems clear that they are getting orders from someone above them. Of course Barack Obama (or any of his top lieutenants) would never come out and publicly admit that Gestapo tactics are being used against media personalities on Obama’s rumored “enemies list”, but that appears to be precisely what is happening. Hopefully by shining a light on these activities it will cause those that are doing these things to cease and desist. And it is very important to point out that what is being done to these media personalities is illegal. Anyone that is involved in harassing media personalities because of what they are saying is violating federal law and is in danger of going to prison for a very, very long time.</p>
<p>Later in this article, I want to share with you the shocking harassment and intimidation that Rick Wiles of TruNews has been enduring lately. But first, let’s review what has happened to former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson. She was an award-winning journalist for more than thirty years, but that didn’t stop the Obama administration from systematically harassing her. In her new book entitled <a href="http://amzn.to/1vErIPv" type="external">Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama’s Washington</a>, she makes some extremely startling claims. She believes that the harassment and intimidation that she experienced were the direct result of her determination to get to the truth about Benghazi, Fast and Furious, the green energy scandals and Obamacare. The following are some of the main points that she has been sharing with the media in recent weeks…</p>
<p>-While she was working at CBS News her computers were hacked by the government, her keystrokes were monitored and potentially incriminating classified material was planted on her hard drive.</p>
<p>-She says that her computers would “turn themselves on in the night, make&#160;strange noises, then shut themselves down”.</p>
<p>-An exhaustive examination of one of her computers found that it had been hacked by “ <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/10/27/ex-cbs-reporter-government-related-entity-bugged-my-computer/" type="external">a sophisticated entity that used commercial, nonattributable spyware that’s proprietary to a government agency: either the CIA, FBI, the Defense Intelligence Agency or the National Security Agency</a>.”</p>
<p>-The expert that examined her system told her that three classified documents were “ <a href="http://nypost.com/2014/10/27/ex-cbs-reporter-government-related-entity-bugged-my-computer/" type="external">buried deep in your operating system. In a place that, unless you’re a some kind of computer whiz specialist, you wouldn’t even know exists</a>.”</p>
<p>-She claims that the feds even had the ability to <a href="http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2014/11/08/sharyl-attkisson-joins-kmoxs-mark-reardon-to-discuss-controversial-new-book/" type="external">remotely activate Skype</a> on her computer and listen to any private conversations that she was having: “It’s pretty chilling when you consider the extent of the abilities they had, according to the forensics reports, to monitor my every keystroke, to activate Skype by getting the password to my account, and listen through Skype on to audio if I was talking in the room or talking on the phone. Being able to exfiltrate files using Skype, downloading and refreshing these surveillance methods periodically using something called a BGAN satellite terminal, using WiFi when I was at a Ritz Carlton at one point.”</p>
<p>-She has been told that Barack Obama has an “enemies list” similar to what Richard Nixon once had.</p>
<p>-She claims that important stories about Obama administration scandals such as Benghazi and Fast and Furious were routinely blocked by gatekeepers while she was at CBS News.</p>
<p>-She says that reporters have essentially been turned into “casting agents” and are told to find people that will express a particular point of view.</p>
<p>-In a moment of frustration, Deputy Press Secretary Eric Schultz blurted out the following at her: “The Washington Post is reasonable, the LA Times is reasonable, The New York Times is reasonable. You’re the only one who’s not reasonable!”</p>
<p>So who ultimately ordered federal agents to go after Sharyl Attkisson?</p>
<p>If it was Barack Obama, that is grounds for immediate impeachment.</p>
<p>If it was someone else in his administration, that individual is in danger of going to prison for a very, very long time.</p>
<p>Sadly, Attkisson is far from alone. A whole host of other media personalities that have also been very critical of Barack Obama have been targeted. As we have seen, sometimes the IRS is the vehicle used to go after them. Other times, more direct action is taken.</p>
<p>For example, there have been very few media personalities that have been more critical of Barack Obama than Rick Wiles of TruNews. And what he has been going through in recent months is more than just a little bit alarming.</p>
<p>How would you feel if strange vehicles sat outside your home and the men sitting inside the vehicles stared at you for hours? Well, that is exactly what is happening at TruNews headquarters. The following is an excerpt&#160; <a href="http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/is-trunews-headquarters-under-surveillance/110856" type="external">from what Rick shared with his listeners</a> just the other day…</p>
<p>Friday was an unusually busy day. A total of four vehicles parked in the same spot throughout the day. The moment one vehicle departed it was immediately replaced by another vehicle. If I were a paranoid conspiracy theorist, I’d think we were under surveillance! What a crazy idea. This is America. That kind of stuff doesn’t happen here, right?</p>
<p>Friday morning started out with the first car. Soon after, another vehicle joined. Both vehicles sat next to each other for several hours. I can turn around in my office and look out the window and see them. I walked outside and took photos of the vehicles. I wanted them to see me watching them.</p>
<p>Shortly after taking the photographs, both vehicles drove away. &#160;Immediately, they were replaced by a third vehicle.</p>
<p>I walked outside and took a photo of the third vehicle too. &#160;He started his engine and very slowly drove toward me. &#160;He had his window down and stared at me as he slowly drove by the office. &#160;I waved at him to let him know I was aware of his presence and wasn’t intimidated.</p>
<p>But even more troubling have been the repeated break-ins at night. Nothing has ever been stolen during these break-ins, and whoever was conducting them had the ability to <a href="http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/is-trunews-headquarters-under-surveillance/110856" type="external">turn off the security cameras</a>…</p>
<p>The good news is that the mysterious breaking and entering intrusions into our offices appear to have stopped. For months there were clear signs that somebody was entering the building. We found ceiling tiles moved, ceiling attic doors hanging open, and some doors unlocked. Nothing was ever stolen or moved.</p>
<p>I changed the locks and security access codes multiple times throughout the summer. They continued to enter as though they walked through the walls. Furthermore, our security cameras stopped recording at certain hours during the night. Obviously, the intruders were people with advanced skills and technologies to enable them to evade detection.</p>
<p>Most disturbing of all is what has been going on at Rick’s private residence.</p>
<p>Someone has been breaking into his home every day and turning on music with the volume dialed up to the highest level. Clearly, someone is trying&#160; <a href="http://www.fromthetrenchesworldreport.com/is-trunews-headquarters-under-surveillance/110856" type="external">to mess with his head</a>…</p>
<p>An unusual thing has happened every night this week. &#160;When I arrive home and get out of my vehicle, I can hear loud music in my house. Each night I have discovered that our in-house stereo system was turned on with the volume at the maximum level. &#160;The music was so loud each night I could hear it when I got out of my vehicle in the driveway. &#160;My neighbors must think I’m losing my hearing….or my mind!</p>
<p>And that’s the point. &#160;Somebody is messing with my head. &#160;Somebody is intimidating me.</p>
<p>I have gone to the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office twice to tell deputies that I’m under surveillance.</p>
<p>Next week I will request a private meeting with Indian River County Sheriff Deryl Loar. &#160;I will tell him that I am being stalked. &#160;I am under surveillance. &#160;I believe that my life is in danger.</p>
<p>This is one of the most chilling things that I have read in a very long time.</p>
<p>To do this kind of thing, you have to be very twisted.</p>
<p>And to order that this kind of thing be done, you have to be even more twisted.</p>
<p>This is the kind of thing that the Nazis did.</p>
<p>Sadly, the truth is that we are <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/20-signs-that-the-nazification-of-america-is-almost-complete" type="external">becoming more like Nazi Germany</a>with each passing day.</p>
<p>What in the world is happening to this country?</p>
<p>Officials in the federal government cannot harass and intimidate media personalities just because they do not like what they are saying.</p>
<p>By doing so, they are breaking the law. And if the full truth about this ever came out, it could prove to be one of the greatest scandals in American political history.</p>
<p>So do you know of any other media personalities that are being subjected to this kind of harassment? Please feel free to add to the discussion by posting a comment below…</p>
<p>Michael T. Snyder is a graduate of the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia and has a law degree and an LLM from the University of Florida Law School. He is an attorney that has worked for some of the largest and most prominent law firms in Washington D.C. and who now spends his time researching and writing and trying to wake the American people up. You can follow his work on <a href="http://www.theeconomiccollapseblog.com/" type="external">The Economic Collapse blog</a>, <a href="http://endoftheamericandream.com/" type="external">End of the American Dream</a>and <a href="http://thetruthwins.com/" type="external">The Truth Wins</a>. His new novel entitled “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNKRHRE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00CNKRHRE&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=theeconomiccollapse-20" type="external">The Beginning Of The End</a>” is now available on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CNKRHRE/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=390957&amp;creativeASIN=B00CNKRHRE&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=theeconomiccollapse-20" type="external">Amazon.com</a>.</p> | true | 4 | michael snyder rinf alternative news someone attempting harass intimidate media personalities critical barack obama administration whoever extremely advanced technical capabilities see strong anecdotal evidence federal agents involved agents would never commit actions seems clear getting orders someone course barack obama top lieutenants would never come publicly admit gestapo tactics used media personalities obamas rumored enemies list appears precisely happening hopefully shining light activities cause things cease desist important point done media personalities illegal anyone involved harassing media personalities saying violating federal law danger going prison long time later article want share shocking harassment intimidation rick wiles trunews enduring lately first lets review happened former cbs news reporter sharyl attkisson awardwinning journalist thirty years didnt stop obama administration systematically harassing new book entitled stonewalled fight truth forces obstruction intimidation harassment obamas washington makes extremely startling claims believes harassment intimidation experienced direct result determination get truth benghazi fast furious green energy scandals obamacare following main points sharing media recent weeks working cbs news computers hacked government keystrokes monitored potentially incriminating classified material planted hard drive says computers would turn night make160strange noises shut exhaustive examination one computers found hacked sophisticated entity used commercial nonattributable spyware thats proprietary government agency either cia fbi defense intelligence agency national security agency expert examined system told three classified documents buried deep operating system place unless youre kind computer whiz specialist wouldnt even know exists claims feds even ability remotely activate skype computer listen private conversations pretty chilling consider extent abilities according forensics reports monitor every keystroke activate skype getting password account listen skype audio talking room talking phone able exfiltrate files using skype downloading refreshing surveillance methods periodically using something called bgan satellite terminal using wifi ritz carlton one point told barack obama enemies list similar richard nixon claims important stories obama administration scandals benghazi fast furious routinely blocked gatekeepers cbs news says reporters essentially turned casting agents told find people express particular point view moment frustration deputy press secretary eric schultz blurted following washington post reasonable la times reasonable new york times reasonable youre one whos reasonable ultimately ordered federal agents go sharyl attkisson barack obama grounds immediate impeachment someone else administration individual danger going prison long time sadly attkisson far alone whole host media personalities also critical barack obama targeted seen sometimes irs vehicle used go times direct action taken example media personalities critical barack obama rick wiles trunews going recent months little bit alarming would feel strange vehicles sat outside home men sitting inside vehicles stared hours well exactly happening trunews headquarters following excerpt160 rick shared listeners day friday unusually busy day total four vehicles parked spot throughout day moment one vehicle departed immediately replaced another vehicle paranoid conspiracy theorist id think surveillance crazy idea america kind stuff doesnt happen right friday morning started first car soon another vehicle joined vehicles sat next several hours turn around office look window see walked outside took photos vehicles wanted see watching shortly taking photographs vehicles drove away 160immediately replaced third vehicle walked outside took photo third vehicle 160he started engine slowly drove toward 160he window stared slowly drove office 160i waved let know aware presence wasnt intimidated even troubling repeated breakins night nothing ever stolen breakins whoever conducting ability turn security cameras good news mysterious breaking entering intrusions offices appear stopped months clear signs somebody entering building found ceiling tiles moved ceiling attic doors hanging open doors unlocked nothing ever stolen moved changed locks security access codes multiple times throughout summer continued enter though walked walls furthermore security cameras stopped recording certain hours night obviously intruders people advanced skills technologies enable evade detection disturbing going ricks private residence someone breaking home every day turning music volume dialed highest level clearly someone trying160 mess head unusual thing happened every night week 160when arrive home get vehicle hear loud music house night discovered inhouse stereo system turned volume maximum level 160the music loud night could hear got vehicle driveway 160my neighbors must think im losing hearingor mind thats point 160somebody messing head 160somebody intimidating gone indian river county sheriffs office twice tell deputies im surveillance next week request private meeting indian river county sheriff deryl loar 160i tell stalked 160i surveillance 160i believe life danger one chilling things read long time kind thing twisted order kind thing done even twisted kind thing nazis sadly truth becoming like nazi germanywith passing day world happening country officials federal government harass intimidate media personalities like saying breaking law full truth ever came could prove one greatest scandals american political history know media personalities subjected kind harassment please feel free add discussion posting comment michael snyder graduate mcintire school commerce university virginia law degree llm university florida law school attorney worked largest prominent law firms washington dc spends time researching writing trying wake american people follow work economic collapse blog end american dreamand truth wins new novel entitled beginning end available amazoncom | 811 |
<p>A week or so from now, after the congressional recess, efforts to enact financial reform will go into high gear. The House of Representatives has passed a bill, the Senate is about to debate one, and President Obama is determined to sign a new law by early summer. In <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307379051/thedaibea-20/" type="external">13 Bankers: The Wall Street Takeover and the Next Financial Meltdown</a>, Simon Johnson and James Kwak predict, correctly in my view, that the ultimate legislation will be fairly modest in its impact. There will be nothing to compare, for example, to the 1930s’ passage of the Glass-Steagall Act that separated staid commercial banking from risky investment banking, or the establishment of federal deposit insurance to prevent runs on a bank, or the creation of the Securities &amp; Exchange Commission to protect investors. The authors ask what accounts for the lack of radical change given the severity of the recent banking crisis and the deep, painful recession. The bulk of this riveting book answers that question not with reference to short-term politics but instead with an extraordinarily rich sweep of history.</p>
<p>The only answer, say the authors, is to bust what they call the American financial oligarchy, which they compare to the power wielded by a handful of oligarchs in Russia or South Korea.</p>
<p>But <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307379051/thedaibea-20/" type="external">13 Bankers</a> is not a dramatic story of the credit implosion or the government response, as is Andrew Ross Sorkin’s pot boiler <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0670021253/thedaibea-20/" type="external">Too Big to Fail</a>. It doesn’t cover the waterfront of policy issues such as Robert Pozen’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0470499052/thedaibea-20/" type="external">Too Big to Save</a>, and it isn’t a substitute for personal accounts, such as Henry Paulson’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446561932/thedaibea-20/" type="external">On the Brink</a>. What it does do, uniquely, is provide a clear and compelling account of the evolution of the relationship between Wall Street and Washington from the days when Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton argued over how fragmented or centralized America’s banking system should be. It provides the essential context for understanding how the financial and the political worlds in America came to interact as they do, and how Wall Street and all it has stood for—free markets, constant innovation, the glamour of personal wealth—came to dominate American politics so heavily in the past 30 years.</p>
<p>Starting with the Reagan revolution, the book describes Wall Street’s growing clout in financing political campaigns and the additional policy influence it has accrued from the movement of its leaders—such as ex-Goldman Sachs CEOs Robert Rubin and Henry Paulson—to the most influential Washington positions. Johnson, a professor at MIT, and Kwak, a consultant and entrepreneur, show how waves of deregulation since the 1980s have allowed banks to expand from being able to operate in just one state to establishing branches throughout the country; how barriers dissolved between conservative deposit-taking institutions and those who were able to take big investment risks; and how trading in derivatives escaped regulation. While Wall Street was able to earn outsized profits in good times, say the authors, they didn’t hesitate to come running to taxpayers for a bailout when they got into trouble. Moreover, their political influence insured that the government rescue was enacted with hardly any constraints on their future behavior.</p>
<p>In addition to a fascinating historical tour, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307379051/thedaibea-20/" type="external">13 Bankers</a> describes the high degree of concentration that has resulted from bank mergers over the years and how it was greatly enhanced since 2008, giving the big financial firms even more political clout than they had. JPMorgan Chase is emblematic. Before the crisis, it was a roll up of what had been Chemical Bank, Manufacturers Hanover, Bank One, First Chicago, Chase Manhattan, and JP Morgan. During the crisis, it acquired Bear Stearns and Washington Mutual. In 2008, Bank of America, also comprised of many former companies, acquired Merrill Lynch, and Wells Fargo gobbled up Wachovia. There are far fewer megabanks today, but they now control a far greater proportion of the nation’s assets, including mortgages and derivatives, than they did in 2007, and their global reach and connections are even greater than before. As a result, the most explosive problem with big banking has now been magnified: They are free to take exceptional risks because they are sure that taxpayers cannot and will not let them fail. Given that, there is no reason to think another major crisis will not take place.</p>
<p>The only answer, say the authors, is to bust up what they call the American financial oligarchy, which they compare to the power wielded by a handful of oligarchs in Russia or South Korea. They call for dismantling the big banks—reduce their size, and separate deposit-taking from more risky investments—and thereby defuse their political capability to hold the country hostage. Johnson and Kwak understand that such actions will require a new political zeitgeist in America, but they are hopeful that the public mood could shift over the next several years, just as it changed from the laissez-faire attitudes of the late 19th century to the early 20th century, when Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson finally busted up big industrial trusts such as US Steel and Standard Oil.</p>
<p>I wish I shared their optimism that there is a political scenario in which big banks could fail and not bring down the global financial system with them, but the American public could be light years away from agreeing to the massive government intrusion that would be necessary to implement this book’s revolutionary proposal. Even the Supreme Court has recently made it easier for big companies to influence elections. Besides that, the authors too cavalierly wave off critical competitive issues of America’s needing big banks at a time when European and Asian financial institutions are bulking up. And although the authors try to come to grips with the question of how big is too big, they, like everyone else, don’t really have a good answer.</p>
<p>When Congress and the administration fight it out, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0307379051/thedaibea-20/" type="external">13 Bankers</a> will be a must-read. And come the next crash, it will be so again.</p>
<p>Plus: <a href="" type="internal">Check out Book Beast, for more news on hot titles and authors and excerpts from the latest books</a>.</p>
<p>Jeffrey E. Garten is the Juan Trippe professor of international trade and finance at the Yale School of Management, and served in economic and foreign-policy positions in the Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Clinton administrations.</p> | true | 4 | week congressional recess efforts enact financial reform go high gear house representatives passed bill senate debate one president obama determined sign new law early summer 13 bankers wall street takeover next financial meltdown simon johnson james kwak predict correctly view ultimate legislation fairly modest impact nothing compare example 1930s passage glasssteagall act separated staid commercial banking risky investment banking establishment federal deposit insurance prevent runs bank creation securities amp exchange commission protect investors authors ask accounts lack radical change given severity recent banking crisis deep painful recession bulk riveting book answers question reference shortterm politics instead extraordinarily rich sweep history answer say authors bust call american financial oligarchy compare power wielded handful oligarchs russia south korea 13 bankers dramatic story credit implosion government response andrew ross sorkins pot boiler big fail doesnt cover waterfront policy issues robert pozens big save isnt substitute personal accounts henry paulsons brink uniquely provide clear compelling account evolution relationship wall street washington days thomas jefferson alexander hamilton argued fragmented centralized americas banking system provides essential context understanding financial political worlds america came interact wall street stood forfree markets constant innovation glamour personal wealthcame dominate american politics heavily past 30 years starting reagan revolution book describes wall streets growing clout financing political campaigns additional policy influence accrued movement leaderssuch exgoldman sachs ceos robert rubin henry paulsonto influential washington positions johnson professor mit kwak consultant entrepreneur show waves deregulation since 1980s allowed banks expand able operate one state establishing branches throughout country barriers dissolved conservative deposittaking institutions able take big investment risks trading derivatives escaped regulation wall street able earn outsized profits good times say authors didnt hesitate come running taxpayers bailout got trouble moreover political influence insured government rescue enacted hardly constraints future behavior addition fascinating historical tour 13 bankers describes high degree concentration resulted bank mergers years greatly enhanced since 2008 giving big financial firms even political clout jpmorgan chase emblematic crisis roll chemical bank manufacturers hanover bank one first chicago chase manhattan jp morgan crisis acquired bear stearns washington mutual 2008 bank america also comprised many former companies acquired merrill lynch wells fargo gobbled wachovia far fewer megabanks today control far greater proportion nations assets including mortgages derivatives 2007 global reach connections even greater result explosive problem big banking magnified free take exceptional risks sure taxpayers let fail given reason think another major crisis take place answer say authors bust call american financial oligarchy compare power wielded handful oligarchs russia south korea call dismantling big banksreduce size separate deposittaking risky investmentsand thereby defuse political capability hold country hostage johnson kwak understand actions require new political zeitgeist america hopeful public mood could shift next several years changed laissezfaire attitudes late 19th century early 20th century theodore roosevelt woodrow wilson finally busted big industrial trusts us steel standard oil wish shared optimism political scenario big banks could fail bring global financial system american public could light years away agreeing massive government intrusion would necessary implement books revolutionary proposal even supreme court recently made easier big companies influence elections besides authors cavalierly wave critical competitive issues americas needing big banks time european asian financial institutions bulking although authors try come grips question big big like everyone else dont really good answer congress administration fight 13 bankers mustread come next crash plus check book beast news hot titles authors excerpts latest books jeffrey e garten juan trippe professor international trade finance yale school management served economic foreignpolicy positions nixon ford carter clinton administrations | 575 |
<p>To live for 101 glorious years like the recently departed <a href="" type="internal">David Rockefeller</a> (1915–2017) is a pleasantry that most of us will never enjoy. Every year untold millions of lives are unnecessarily cut short because of poverty and war; all because a ruling, billionaire class, feels obliged to <a href="" type="internal">inflict violence</a> upon the rest of us to enhance their own profit margins. Mr Rockefeller was fairly typical in this regard, and his callous disregard for humanity was best expressed in his devoted support of murderous dictators and despots whenever democratic imperatives threatened to impinge upon his class’s wealth.</p>
<p>The troubling legacy of the billionaire class’ murderous and uncivil politics recently gave the American electorate a nasty choice between two Wall Street politicians (Trump and Clinton), both of whom had dedicated their lives to serving the needs of the super-rich. The result of such a monumental failure of the democratic process was never going to be good for the 99%.</p>
<p>Just one of the late David Rockefeller’s continuing billionaire-club projects is something known as the Council on Foreign Relations – an organization which Laurence Shoup correctly referred to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1583675515/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Wall Street’s Think Tank</a> in his recent book on the Council. In a review of this important study, <a href="https://monthlyreview.org/product/wall_streets_think_tank/" type="external">Noam Chomsky concludes</a> how the elites running the Council on Foreign Relations “have set the contours for much of recent history, not least the neoliberal assault that has had a generally destructive impact on populations while serving as an effective instrument of class war.”</p>
<p>In the ongoing and intensifying class war that is being waged upon us, there is nothing that elites fear more than genuine democracy and the potential it has to unite the working-class against the violent edifice of capitalism. This is why elites based at think tanks like the Council on Foreign Relations continue to worry about where the next potential threat to their oppressive system may come from.</p>
<p>One such member of this poisonous sect, who has <a href="" type="internal">gained notoriety</a> for his unwelcome historical tales of how mass organizations succeed in overthrowing governments, is Peter Ackerman, a former financier, who until <a href="" type="internal" />recently served as a board member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the coauthor of <a href="" type="internal">A Force More Powerful: A Century of Nonviolent Conflict</a>(St. Martin’s Press, 2001), and is the founding chair of the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC). Ackerman and his Centre’s work are misleading to say the least, that is, if you are concerned with truly understanding the relationship between mass movements and the government’s they have overthrown.</p>
<p>Another member of the Council on Foreign Relations elite creed who, so to say, has picked up on Ackerman’s profound interest in civilian resistance is Professor Erica Chenoweth; an individual who in addition to serving as the co-chair of the ICNC’s advisory board, is the co-author of <a href="" type="internal">Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict</a>&#160;(Columbia University Press, 2011). Chenoweth prefers not to concern herself with the finer details of U.S. foreign policy, which have seen her pals in high government install and sustain dictatorial regimes across the world, while simultaneously acting to overthrow democratically elected government deemed too democratic for billionaires. (Chenoweth’s detailed, albeit problematic, engagement with the dynamics of the people-power movement in the Philippine’s — that ousted their dictator in 1986 — capably illustrates her own class orientation and the limitations of her analyses of popular struggles.)</p>
<p>The good professor’s message is apparently a simple statistical truth, as Chenoweth <a href="" type="internal">repeatedly</a> draws attention to the findings of her book, that: “Between 1900 and 2006 campaigns of nonviolent resistance against authoritarian regimes were twice as likely to succeed as violent movements.” Of course it is self-evident that any sustainable and successful campaign to overthrow a government is predicated upon having overwhelming public support. But just because such mass democratic campaigns should rely upon nonviolent strategies to win power, does not mean that those same individuals do not have the right to forcibly defend their gains from the same viciously violent forces of reaction that they displace. The anti-democratic representatives of the billionaire class are certainly not known for their peaceful acceptance of socialism, or even justice for that matter.&#160;</p>
<p>Elite experts like Chenoweth are therefore considered to be a vital asset to the <a href="" type="internal">full armament</a> of the ruling-class, all the better that they may intervene to undermine the threat to their rule posed by civilian resistance. Making this point clearly, the title of Chenoweth’s most recent academic article asks “Can Structural Conditions Explain the Onset of Nonviolent Uprisings? (Journal of Conflict Resolution, Vol.61, No.2, 2017). She writes how “exploring generalized correlates of nonviolent uprisings is valuable for several reasons” and then proceeds to outline how she hopes that her statistical analyses may help her to predict the occurrence of popular uprisings. Needless to say, one can well imagine why members of the capitalist class may find it useful if Chenoweth can stumble upon a Rosetta stone that enables them to foresee immanent threats to their misrule. So it is appropriate that she reports, at the end of the article, that: “This research was partially supported by the <a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Political_Instability_Task_Force" type="external">Political Instability Task Force</a>, which is funded by the Central Intelligence Agency.” (p.320)</p>
<p>Of course this funding relationship is no anomaly for Chenoweth, as in recent years — as openly highlighted on her <a href="" type="internal">online CV</a> — the peace-loving professor has received millions of dollars of funding from elite sources. (Recent financiers for her terrorism or nonviolence-related studies have seen the professor in receipt the following grants: $270,099 from the CIA-backed Political Instability Task Force, $150,000 from the Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence, $1,665,000 from the Norwegian Defense Research Establishment, over $2 million from the Minerva Initiative, U.S. Department of Defense, and just short of $1 million from the Carnegie Corporation.)</p>
<p>Chenoweth, like many Americans is not too happy about the election of Donald Trump, but given her elite credentials she has the fortune to be able to blog about these matters for the <a href="http://www.alternet.org/media/owner-washington-post-doing-business-cia-while-keeping-his-readers-dark" type="external">Washington Post</a>. In January this year she blogged that she had just initiated (on a voluntary basis) a project called the <a href="https://sites.google.com/view/crowdcountingconsortium/home" type="external">Crowd Counting Consortium</a> that aims “to continually keep track of how many people are protesting” and where, not just anti-Trump demos. Last month Chenoweth and the other co-director of the project, Professor Jeremy Pressman, concluded that so far, “ <a href="" type="internal">we think</a> our tally gives us a useful pool of information to better understand political mobilization in the United States — particularly how reports of crowds change from month to month.” A glowing interview with Chenoweth and Pressman carried in <a href="" type="internal">The Atlantic</a> reported that the pair are…</p>
<p>“thinking about ways to institutionalize their ad hoc head-counting operation to track future events. For now, they hope that a running count of will offer march leaders and participants a rare commodity in organizing: a way to measure their success.”</p>
<p>Whether individuals and groups choose to pass on details of their protests to Chenoweth is their own decision, although a good case can be made that this project is not quite as useful as people might first expect. However, what is certain is that the endless poverty and wars that the billionaire class continue to enforce upon us will, in the coming months and years, be resisted with increased vigour both in America and all over the world. For instance, moves are already afoot to organise city-wide one-day general strikes across America, with hopes to expand such plans to incorporate a <a href="" type="internal">national one-day general strike</a>. So let us continue to unite as a class and make sure that the nightmares of the billionaire class, and those who work for them at the Council on Foreign Relations, are soon made all too real.</p> | true | 4 | live 101 glorious years like recently departed david rockefeller 19152017 pleasantry us never enjoy every year untold millions lives unnecessarily cut short poverty war ruling billionaire class feels obliged inflict violence upon rest us enhance profit margins mr rockefeller fairly typical regard callous disregard humanity best expressed devoted support murderous dictators despots whenever democratic imperatives threatened impinge upon classs wealth troubling legacy billionaire class murderous uncivil politics recently gave american electorate nasty choice two wall street politicians trump clinton dedicated lives serving needs superrich result monumental failure democratic process never going good 99 one late david rockefellers continuing billionaireclub projects something known council foreign relations organization laurence shoup correctly referred wall streets think tank recent book council review important study noam chomsky concludes elites running council foreign relations set contours much recent history least neoliberal assault generally destructive impact populations serving effective instrument class war ongoing intensifying class war waged upon us nothing elites fear genuine democracy potential unite workingclass violent edifice capitalism elites based think tanks like council foreign relations continue worry next potential threat oppressive system may come one member poisonous sect gained notoriety unwelcome historical tales mass organizations succeed overthrowing governments peter ackerman former financier recently served board member council foreign relations coauthor force powerful century nonviolent conflictst martins press 2001 founding chair international center nonviolent conflict icnc ackerman centres work misleading say least concerned truly understanding relationship mass movements governments overthrown another member council foreign relations elite creed say picked ackermans profound interest civilian resistance professor erica chenoweth individual addition serving cochair icncs advisory board coauthor civil resistance works strategic logic nonviolent conflict160columbia university press 2011 chenoweth prefers concern finer details us foreign policy seen pals high government install sustain dictatorial regimes across world simultaneously acting overthrow democratically elected government deemed democratic billionaires chenoweths detailed albeit problematic engagement dynamics peoplepower movement philippines ousted dictator 1986 capably illustrates class orientation limitations analyses popular struggles good professors message apparently simple statistical truth chenoweth repeatedly draws attention findings book 1900 2006 campaigns nonviolent resistance authoritarian regimes twice likely succeed violent movements course selfevident sustainable successful campaign overthrow government predicated upon overwhelming public support mass democratic campaigns rely upon nonviolent strategies win power mean individuals right forcibly defend gains viciously violent forces reaction displace antidemocratic representatives billionaire class certainly known peaceful acceptance socialism even justice matter160 elite experts like chenoweth therefore considered vital asset full armament rulingclass better may intervene undermine threat rule posed civilian resistance making point clearly title chenoweths recent academic article asks structural conditions explain onset nonviolent uprisings journal conflict resolution vol61 no2 2017 writes exploring generalized correlates nonviolent uprisings valuable several reasons proceeds outline hopes statistical analyses may help predict occurrence popular uprisings needless say one well imagine members capitalist class may find useful chenoweth stumble upon rosetta stone enables foresee immanent threats misrule appropriate reports end article research partially supported political instability task force funded central intelligence agency p320 course funding relationship anomaly chenoweth recent years openly highlighted online cv peaceloving professor received millions dollars funding elite sources recent financiers terrorism nonviolencerelated studies seen professor receipt following grants 270099 ciabacked political instability task force 150000 department homeland security center excellence 1665000 norwegian defense research establishment 2 million minerva initiative us department defense short 1 million carnegie corporation chenoweth like many americans happy election donald trump given elite credentials fortune able blog matters washington post january year blogged initiated voluntary basis project called crowd counting consortium aims continually keep track many people protesting antitrump demos last month chenoweth codirector project professor jeremy pressman concluded far think tally gives us useful pool information better understand political mobilization united states particularly reports crowds change month month glowing interview chenoweth pressman carried atlantic reported pair thinking ways institutionalize ad hoc headcounting operation track future events hope running count offer march leaders participants rare commodity organizing way measure success whether individuals groups choose pass details protests chenoweth decision although good case made project quite useful people might first expect however certain endless poverty wars billionaire class continue enforce upon us coming months years resisted increased vigour america world instance moves already afoot organise citywide oneday general strikes across america hopes expand plans incorporate national oneday general strike let us continue unite class make sure nightmares billionaire class work council foreign relations soon made real | 714 |
<p />
<p>An extraordinary rendition may be defined as the extrajudicial transfer of an individual to a country where there is reasonable probability he will be tortured. In our research we have counted 67 known cases of extraordinary rendition by the United States since 1995. While the details are often incomplete, they help paint a more complete picture of this secretive and controversial Central Intelligence Agency program.</p>
<p>Our research is based on reports from Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice at NYU Law School, Andy Worthington’s The Guantanamo Files, Stephen Grey’s Ghost Plane, and media accounts. (Special thanks to Joanne Mariner of Human Rights Watch for her invaluable assistance.)</p>
<p>Before September 11</p>
<p>Then-CIA director George Tenet testified before the 9/11 Commission that there were more than 80 renditions before September 11, 2001. We found information on 29 cases of extraordinary and ordinary rendition prior to 9/11. Of the 14 that qualify as extraordinary renditions, 12 were to Egypt.</p>
<p>Prisoners who remained in American custody generally were accused of involvement with terrorist actions, such as the 1985 Egypt Air hijacking, the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, and the 1998 African embassy bombings.</p>
<p>Names in parentheses are alternate spellings or aliases.</p>
<p>Name</p>
<p>Citizenship</p>
<p>RenderedFrom</p>
<p>RenderedTo</p>
<p>Date</p>
<p>Outcome</p>
<p>1</p>
<p>Abu Talal al-Qasimi (Talat Fouad Qassem)</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Croatia</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>September 1995</p>
<p>Questioned on a U.S. ship off the coast of Croatia; transferred to Egypt in 1998; executed in Cairo</p>
<p>2</p>
<p>Ahmed al-Naggar</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Albania</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>July 1998</p>
<p>Hanged in Egypt, February 2000</p>
<p>3</p>
<p>Mohammed Hassan Tita</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Albania</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>July 1998</p>
<p>Sentenced to 10 years in prison in Egypt</p>
<p>4</p>
<p>Shawki Salama Attiya</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Albania</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>July 1998</p>
<p>Sentenced to life imprisonment in Egypt</p>
<p>5</p>
<p>Ahmed Ismail Osman Saleh</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Albania</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>August 1998</p>
<p>Hanged in Egypt, February 2000</p>
<p>6</p>
<p>Essam Abdel Tawwab Abdel Halim</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Bulgaria</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>August 1998</p>
<p>Sentenced to 10 years in prison in Egypt</p>
<p>7</p>
<p>Ihab Mohammed Saqr</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Azerbaijan</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>Fall 1998</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>8</p>
<p>Ahmed Mohammed Mabrouk</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Azerbaijan</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>Fall 1998</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>9</p>
<p>Essam Mohammed Hafez Marzouq</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Azerbaijan</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>Fall 1998</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>10</p>
<p>Mohammed al-Zawahiri (brother of Ayman al-Zawahiri)</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>United Arab Emirates</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>April 1999</p>
<p>Imprisoned in Egypt</p>
<p>11</p>
<p>Hani al-Sayegh</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>U.S.</p>
<p>Saudi Arabia</p>
<p>October 1999</p>
<p>Deported to Saudi Arabia, October 1999</p>
<p>12</p>
<p>Hussein al-Zawahiri (brother of Ayman al-Zawahiri)</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Malaysia</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>December 1999</p>
<p>Released in 2000</p>
<p>13</p>
<p>Abdul Rahman Muhammad Nasir Qasim al-Yaf’i</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>October 2000</p>
<p>Returned to Yemen, March 2001</p>
<p>14</p>
<p>Rifa Ahmed Taha (Abu Yasser)</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>2001</p>
<p>Unclear if rendered before or after 9/11</p>
<p>After September 11</p>
<p>We found information on 117 renditions that have occurred since September 11, 2001. When we excluded renditions to Afghanistan, CIA secret prisons (or “black sites”), Guantanamo, or American custody, we found 53 cases of extraordinary rendition. All individuals for whom the rendition destination is known were sent to countries that have been criticized by the State Department’s annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, which document “torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.”</p>
<p>Of these 53 prisoners, more than one quarter have explicitly claimed that they were tortured while in foreign custody; four claim they were tortured while passing through American custody either en route to or following foreign custody. Four others may have been tortured while in foreign custody based on secondhand accounts or vague descriptions of treatment in prisons in their destination countries. Sixteen of the 53 individuals have been released after extraordinary renditions, and half of them claimed they were tortured while in foreign custody; two claim they were tortured while in American custody.</p>
<p>Name</p>
<p>Citizenship</p>
<p>RenderedFrom</p>
<p>RenderedTo</p>
<p>Date</p>
<p>Outcome</p>
<p>1</p>
<p>Jamal Mohammed Alwai Mar’i</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>September 2001</p>
<p>Says he was not tortured in Jordan; transferred to Guantanamo</p>
<p>2</p>
<p>Mamdouh Habib</p>
<p>Australian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Egypt, Afghanistan</p>
<p>October 2001</p>
<p>Tortured in Egypt; transferred to Guantanamo; released January 2005</p>
<p>3</p>
<p>Jamil Qasim Saeed Mohammed</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>October 2001</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>4</p>
<p>Muhammad Haydar Zammar</p>
<p>German (Syrian descent)</p>
<p>Morocco</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>November 2001 or December 2001</p>
<p>Tortured in Syria; now in Syrian custody</p>
<p>5</p>
<p>Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Abu Musab)</p>
<p>Mauritanian</p>
<p>Mauritania</p>
<p>Jordan, Afghanistan</p>
<p>November 2001</p>
<p>Tortured in Jordan; transferred to Guantanamo</p>
<p>6</p>
<p>Ibn al-Shaykh al-Libi (Ali Abdul-Hamid al-Fakhiri)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Afghanistan, Libya</p>
<p>In CIA custody as of November 2001; rendered to Libya late 2005/early 2006</p>
<p>Possibly tortured in Egypt; sent to Libya</p>
<p>7</p>
<p>Ahmed Agiza</p>
<p>Egyptian (living in Sweden)</p>
<p>Sweden</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>December 2001</p>
<p>Tortured in Egypt; still imprisoned there</p>
<p>8</p>
<p>Muhammad Zery</p>
<p>Egyptian (living in Sweden)</p>
<p>Sweden</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>December 2001</p>
<p>Tortured in Egypt; released October 2003</p>
<p>9</p>
<p>Hassan (Raba’i)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Libya, Afghanistan</p>
<p>2002</p>
<p>May have been rendered to Libya in late 2005 or 2006; status unknown</p>
<p>10</p>
<p>Muhammad Saad Iqbal Madni</p>
<p>Egyptian (held Pakistani passport)</p>
<p>Indonesia</p>
<p>Egypt, Afghanistan</p>
<p>January 2002</p>
<p>Fellow prisoners say he was tortured in Egypt; transferred to Guantanamo</p>
<p>11</p>
<p>Walid al-Qadasi</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Iran</p>
<p>Afghanistan, Yemen</p>
<p>January 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in “dark prison” in Afghanistan; transferred to Yemen April 2004; released February 2006</p>
<p>12</p>
<p>Anas al-Libi (Anas al-Sabai, Nazih al-Raghie)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Sudan</p>
<p>Probably Egypt</p>
<p>February 2002</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>13</p>
<p>Abduh Ali Shaqawi (Abdul Rahim al-Sharqawi; Riyadh the Facilitator)</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Jordan, Afghanistan</p>
<p>February 2002</p>
<p>Transferred to Afghanistan January 2004; transferred to Guantanamo September 2004.</p>
<p>14</p>
<p>Abou Elkassim Britel [Abu al-Kassem Britel]</p>
<p>Italian/Moroccan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Pakistan, Morocco</p>
<p>March or May 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in Morocco; released February 2003; recaptured May 2003; currently in Moroccan custody</p>
<p>15</p>
<p>Suleiman Abdalla Salim (Suleiman Abdalla, Issa Tanzania)</p>
<p>Yemeni, Tanzanian</p>
<p>Somalia</p>
<p>Afghanistan or Kenya</p>
<p>March 2002 or March 2003</p>
<p>Claims he was tortured in U.S. custody; status unknown</p>
<p>16</p>
<p>Binyam Mohamed al-Habashi</p>
<p>Ethiopian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Morocco, Afghanistan</p>
<p>April or July 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in Morocco; transferred to Guantanamo, September 2004</p>
<p>17</p>
<p>Barah Abdul Latif</p>
<p>Syrian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>May 2002</p>
<p>Questioned in Palestine Branch Prison, Damascus</p>
<p>18</p>
<p>Bahaa Mustafa Jaghel</p>
<p>Syrian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>May 2002</p>
<p>Questioned in Palestine Branch Prison, Damascus</p>
<p>19</p>
<p>Abdel Halim Dalak</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>May 2002</p>
<p>Student arrested in November 2001; Status unknown</p>
<p>20</p>
<p>Omar Ghramesh</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>May 2002</p>
<p>Arrested with Abu Zubaydah; Status unknown</p>
<p>21</p>
<p>Unidentified teenager</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>May 2002</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>22</p>
<p>Abu Zubair al-Haili (Fawzi Saad al-‘Obaydi)</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>Morocco</p>
<p>Morocco</p>
<p>June 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in Morocco; Status unknown</p>
<p>23</p>
<p>Sheikh Ahmed Salim (Swedan)</p>
<p>Kenyan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>July 2002</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>24</p>
<p>Yasser Tinawi</p>
<p>Syrian</p>
<p>Somalia</p>
<p>Ethiopia, Egypt, Syria</p>
<p>July 2002</p>
<p>Interrogated by U.S. agents in Ethiopia, then flown to Cairo; transferred to Syria</p>
<p>25</p>
<p>Omar bin Hassan</p>
<p>Palestinian</p>
<p>Somalia</p>
<p>Ethiopia</p>
<p>July 2002</p>
<p>Released after questioning on Somali border</p>
<p>26</p>
<p>Maher Arar</p>
<p>Syrian/Canadian</p>
<p>New York</p>
<p>Syria</p>
<p>September 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in Syria; released February 2004</p>
<p>27</p>
<p>Hassan bin Attash</p>
<p>Saudi (born in Yemen)</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Jordan, Afghanistan</p>
<p>September 2002</p>
<p>Tortured in Jordan; transferred to Guantanamo</p>
<p>28</p>
<p>Saif al Islam el Masry</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Georgia</p>
<p>Possibly Egypt</p>
<p>September 2002</p>
<p>Believed to be held in a secret CIA prison</p>
<p>29</p>
<p>Abdallah al-Sadeq (Sadek)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Thailand</p>
<p>Libya</p>
<p>2003</p>
<p>Libyan custody</p>
<p>30</p>
<p>Abu Munder al-Saadi</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Hong Kong</p>
<p>Libya</p>
<p>2003</p>
<p>Libyan custody</p>
<p>31</p>
<p>Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr (Abu Omar)</p>
<p>Egyptian; asylum in Italy</p>
<p>Italy</p>
<p>Egypt</p>
<p>February 2003</p>
<p>Tortured in Egypt; released February 2007</p>
<p>32</p>
<p>Aafia</p>
<p>Siddiqui</p>
<p>Pakistani</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>March 2003</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>33</p>
<p>Saud Memon (involved in Daniel Pearl slaying)</p>
<p>Pakistani</p>
<p>South Africa</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>March 2003</p>
<p>Released April 2007 “badly injured and emaciated”; Died May 2007</p>
<p>34</p>
<p>Laid Saidi</p>
<p>Algerian</p>
<p>Expelled from Tanzania to Malawi</p>
<p>Afghanistan; Algeria</p>
<p>May 2003</p>
<p>Says he was tortured at Bagram; transferred to Algeria; released August 2004</p>
<p>35</p>
<p>Safwan al-Hasham (Haffan al-Hasham)</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>May 2003</p>
<p>Appeared on a congressional “Terrorists No Longer a Threat” list in July 2006; status unknown</p>
<p>36</p>
<p>Jawad al-Bashar</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>May 2003</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>37</p>
<p>Mahmoud Sardar Issa</p>
<p>Sudanese</p>
<p>Malawi</p>
<p>Zimbabwe, Sudan</p>
<p>June 2003</p>
<p>Released July 2003 in Sudan</p>
<p>38</p>
<p>Fahad al-Bahli</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>Malawi</p>
<p>Zimbabwe, Sudan</p>
<p>June 2003</p>
<p>Released July 2003 in Sudan</p>
<p>39</p>
<p>Arif Ulusam</p>
<p>Turkish</p>
<p>Malawi</p>
<p>Zimbabwe, Sudan</p>
<p>June 2003</p>
<p>Released July 2003 in Sudan</p>
<p>40</p>
<p>Ibrahim Itabaci</p>
<p>Turkish</p>
<p>Malawi</p>
<p>Zimbabwe, Sudan</p>
<p>June 2003</p>
<p>Released July 2003 in Sudan</p>
<p>41</p>
<p>Khalifa Abdi Hassan</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>Malawi</p>
<p>Zimbabwe, Sudan</p>
<p>June 2003</p>
<p>Released July 2003 in Sudan</p>
<p>42</p>
<p>Salah Nasser Salim ‘Ali</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Indonesia</p>
<p>Jordan, Afghanistan, Yemen</p>
<p>August 2003 / October 2003</p>
<p>Tortured in Jordan; held in Yemen</p>
<p>43</p>
<p>Muhammad Faraj Ahmed Bashmilah</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Indonesia</p>
<p>Jordan, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe, Yemen</p>
<p>October 2003</p>
<p>Tortured in Jordan; released March 2006</p>
<p>44</p>
<p>Salah Nasir Salim ‘Ali Qaru</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Jordan</p>
<p>Djibouti, Afghanistan, Eastern Europe</p>
<p>October 2003</p>
<p>Tortured at a “black site”; returned to Yemen May 2005</p>
<p>45</p>
<p>Muhammad Abdullah Salah al-Assad</p>
<p>Yemeni</p>
<p>Tanzania</p>
<p>Djibouti, Afghanistan, Yemen (CIA custody)</p>
<p>December 2003</p>
<p>Harsh conditions in secret prisons (no direct mention of torture); released March 2006</p>
<p>46</p>
<p>Khaled al-Sharif (Abu Hazem)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Libya,Afghanistan</p>
<p>Late 2003</p>
<p>May have been rendered to Libya in late 2005 or 2006; status unknown</p>
<p>47</p>
<p>Ibad al Yaquti al Sheikh al Sufiyan</p>
<p>Saudi</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>January 2004</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>48</p>
<p>Walid bin Azmi, USS Cole suspect</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>January 2004</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>49</p>
<p>Marwan Ibrahim Jabour</p>
<p>Palestinian (born in Jordan)</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Pakistan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Israel</p>
<p>May 2004</p>
<p>Tortured in Pakistan; released in Gaza November 2006</p>
<p>50</p>
<p>Sharif al-Masri (Abd-al-Sattar Sharif al-Masri. Told Pak. authorities of Al Q plan to smuggle nuclear materials to U.S. from Mexico)</p>
<p>Egyptian</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Unknown</p>
<p>August 2004</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p>51</p>
<p>Qari Saifullah Akhtar (Amir Harkat-ul-Ansar Qari Saifullah)</p>
<p>Pakistani</p>
<p>United Arab Emirates</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>August 2004</p>
<p>Appeared on FBI’s “Terrorists No Longer a Threat” list in July 2006; status unknown</p>
<p>52</p>
<p>Mustafa Setmariam Nasar (Abu Musab al-Suri)</p>
<p>Syrian-Spanish dual</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>India? Syria?</p>
<p>November 2005</p>
<p>Arrested by Pakistani police; was in U.S. custody in early 2006; now likely in Syrian custody</p>
<p>53</p>
<p>[First name unknown] al-Mahdi-Jawdeh (Abu Ayoub, Ayoub al-Libi)</p>
<p>Libyan</p>
<p>Pakistan</p>
<p>Libya</p>
<p>2006</p>
<p>Status unknown</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | extraordinary rendition may defined extrajudicial transfer individual country reasonable probability tortured research counted 67 known cases extraordinary rendition united states since 1995 details often incomplete help paint complete picture secretive controversial central intelligence agency program research based reports human rights watch amnesty international american civil liberties union center human rights global justice nyu law school andy worthingtons guantanamo files stephen greys ghost plane media accounts special thanks joanne mariner human rights watch invaluable assistance september 11 thencia director george tenet testified 911 commission 80 renditions september 11 2001 found information 29 cases extraordinary ordinary rendition prior 911 14 qualify extraordinary renditions 12 egypt prisoners remained american custody generally accused involvement terrorist actions 1985 egypt air hijacking 1993 world trade center bombing 1998 african embassy bombings names parentheses alternate spellings aliases name citizenship renderedfrom renderedto date outcome 1 abu talal alqasimi talat fouad qassem egyptian croatia egypt september 1995 questioned us ship coast croatia transferred egypt 1998 executed cairo 2 ahmed alnaggar egyptian albania egypt july 1998 hanged egypt february 2000 3 mohammed hassan tita egyptian albania egypt july 1998 sentenced 10 years prison egypt 4 shawki salama attiya egyptian albania egypt july 1998 sentenced life imprisonment egypt 5 ahmed ismail osman saleh egyptian albania egypt august 1998 hanged egypt february 2000 6 essam abdel tawwab abdel halim egyptian bulgaria egypt august 1998 sentenced 10 years prison egypt 7 ihab mohammed saqr unknown azerbaijan egypt fall 1998 unknown 8 ahmed mohammed mabrouk unknown azerbaijan egypt fall 1998 unknown 9 essam mohammed hafez marzouq unknown azerbaijan egypt fall 1998 unknown 10 mohammed alzawahiri brother ayman alzawahiri egyptian united arab emirates egypt april 1999 imprisoned egypt 11 hani alsayegh saudi us saudi arabia october 1999 deported saudi arabia october 1999 12 hussein alzawahiri brother ayman alzawahiri egyptian malaysia egypt december 1999 released 2000 13 abdul rahman muhammad nasir qasim alyafi yemeni egypt jordan october 2000 returned yemen march 2001 14 rifa ahmed taha abu yasser egyptian syria egypt 2001 unclear rendered 911 september 11 found information 117 renditions occurred since september 11 2001 excluded renditions afghanistan cia secret prisons black sites guantanamo american custody found 53 cases extraordinary rendition individuals rendition destination known sent countries criticized state departments annual country reports human rights practices document torture cruel inhuman degrading treatment punishment 53 prisoners one quarter explicitly claimed tortured foreign custody four claim tortured passing american custody either en route following foreign custody four others may tortured foreign custody based secondhand accounts vague descriptions treatment prisons destination countries sixteen 53 individuals released extraordinary renditions half claimed tortured foreign custody two claim tortured american custody name citizenship renderedfrom renderedto date outcome 1 jamal mohammed alwai mari yemeni pakistan jordan september 2001 says tortured jordan transferred guantanamo 2 mamdouh habib australian pakistan egypt afghanistan october 2001 tortured egypt transferred guantanamo released january 2005 3 jamil qasim saeed mohammed yemeni pakistan jordan october 2001 unknown 4 muhammad haydar zammar german syrian descent morocco syria november 2001 december 2001 tortured syria syrian custody 5 mohamedou ould slahi abu musab mauritanian mauritania jordan afghanistan november 2001 tortured jordan transferred guantanamo 6 ibn alshaykh allibi ali abdulhamid alfakhiri libyan pakistan egypt jordan morocco afghanistan libya cia custody november 2001 rendered libya late 2005early 2006 possibly tortured egypt sent libya 7 ahmed agiza egyptian living sweden sweden egypt december 2001 tortured egypt still imprisoned 8 muhammad zery egyptian living sweden sweden egypt december 2001 tortured egypt released october 2003 9 hassan rabai libyan pakistan libya afghanistan 2002 may rendered libya late 2005 2006 status unknown 10 muhammad saad iqbal madni egyptian held pakistani passport indonesia egypt afghanistan january 2002 fellow prisoners say tortured egypt transferred guantanamo 11 walid alqadasi yemeni iran afghanistan yemen january 2002 tortured dark prison afghanistan transferred yemen april 2004 released february 2006 12 anas allibi anas alsabai nazih alraghie libyan sudan probably egypt february 2002 unknown 13 abduh ali shaqawi abdul rahim alsharqawi riyadh facilitator yemeni pakistan jordan afghanistan february 2002 transferred afghanistan january 2004 transferred guantanamo september 2004 14 abou elkassim britel abu alkassem britel italianmoroccan pakistan pakistan morocco march may 2002 tortured morocco released february 2003 recaptured may 2003 currently moroccan custody 15 suleiman abdalla salim suleiman abdalla issa tanzania yemeni tanzanian somalia afghanistan kenya march 2002 march 2003 claims tortured us custody status unknown 16 binyam mohamed alhabashi ethiopian pakistan morocco afghanistan april july 2002 tortured morocco transferred guantanamo september 2004 17 barah abdul latif syrian pakistan syria may 2002 questioned palestine branch prison damascus 18 bahaa mustafa jaghel syrian pakistan syria may 2002 questioned palestine branch prison damascus 19 abdel halim dalak unknown pakistan syria may 2002 student arrested november 2001 status unknown 20 omar ghramesh unknown pakistan syria may 2002 arrested abu zubaydah status unknown 21 unidentified teenager unknown pakistan syria may 2002 status unknown 22 abu zubair alhaili fawzi saad alobaydi saudi morocco morocco june 2002 tortured morocco status unknown 23 sheikh ahmed salim swedan kenyan pakistan unknown july 2002 status unknown 24 yasser tinawi syrian somalia ethiopia egypt syria july 2002 interrogated us agents ethiopia flown cairo transferred syria 25 omar bin hassan palestinian somalia ethiopia july 2002 released questioning somali border 26 maher arar syriancanadian new york syria september 2002 tortured syria released february 2004 27 hassan bin attash saudi born yemen pakistan jordan afghanistan september 2002 tortured jordan transferred guantanamo 28 saif al islam el masry egyptian georgia possibly egypt september 2002 believed held secret cia prison 29 abdallah alsadeq sadek libyan thailand libya 2003 libyan custody 30 abu munder alsaadi libyan hong kong libya 2003 libyan custody 31 hassan mustafa osama nasr abu omar egyptian asylum italy italy egypt february 2003 tortured egypt released february 2007 32 aafia siddiqui pakistani pakistan march 2003 status unknown 33 saud memon involved daniel pearl slaying pakistani south africa pakistan march 2003 released april 2007 badly injured emaciated died may 2007 34 laid saidi algerian expelled tanzania malawi afghanistan algeria may 2003 says tortured bagram transferred algeria released august 2004 35 safwan alhasham haffan alhasham saudi pakistan may 2003 appeared congressional terrorists longer threat list july 2006 status unknown 36 jawad albashar egyptian pakistan 160 may 2003 status unknown 37 mahmoud sardar issa sudanese malawi zimbabwe sudan june 2003 released july 2003 sudan 38 fahad albahli saudi malawi zimbabwe sudan june 2003 released july 2003 sudan 39 arif ulusam turkish malawi zimbabwe sudan june 2003 released july 2003 sudan 40 ibrahim itabaci turkish malawi zimbabwe sudan june 2003 released july 2003 sudan 41 khalifa abdi hassan saudi malawi zimbabwe sudan june 2003 released july 2003 sudan 42 salah nasser salim ali yemeni indonesia jordan afghanistan yemen august 2003 october 2003 tortured jordan held yemen 43 muhammad faraj ahmed bashmilah yemeni indonesia jordan afghanistan eastern europe yemen october 2003 tortured jordan released march 2006 44 salah nasir salim ali qaru yemeni jordan djibouti afghanistan eastern europe october 2003 tortured black site returned yemen may 2005 45 muhammad abdullah salah alassad yemeni tanzania djibouti afghanistan yemen cia custody december 2003 harsh conditions secret prisons direct mention torture released march 2006 46 khaled alsharif abu hazem libyan pakistan libyaafghanistan late 2003 may rendered libya late 2005 2006 status unknown 47 ibad al yaquti al sheikh al sufiyan saudi pakistan unknown january 2004 status unknown 48 walid bin azmi uss cole suspect unknown pakistan unknown january 2004 status unknown 49 marwan ibrahim jabour palestinian born jordan pakistan pakistan afghanistan jordan israel may 2004 tortured pakistan released gaza november 2006 50 sharif almasri abdalsattar sharif almasri told pak authorities al q plan smuggle nuclear materials us mexico egyptian pakistan unknown august 2004 status unknown 51 qari saifullah akhtar amir harkatulansar qari saifullah pakistani united arab emirates pakistan august 2004 appeared fbis terrorists longer threat list july 2006 status unknown 52 mustafa setmariam nasar abu musab alsuri syrianspanish dual pakistan india syria november 2005 arrested pakistani police us custody early 2006 likely syrian custody 53 first name unknown almahdijawdeh abu ayoub ayoub allibi libyan pakistan libya 2006 status unknown | 1,322 |
<p>The recent passage by Israel’s Knesset of a law requiring either a two-thirds Knesset majority or approval by an unprecedented national referendum before Israel can “cede” any land in expanded East Jerusalem to a Palestinian state or any land in the Golan Heights to Syria has been widely recognized as making any “two-state solution”, as well as any Israeli-Syrian peace, even more inconceivable than was previously the case. It also highlights the need for a concerted effort by politicians, negotiators and commentators to adopt a new “language of peace”.</p>
<p>The words which people use, often unconsciously, can have a critical impact upon the thoughts and attitudes of those who speak and write, as well as those who listen and read. Dangerously misleading terminology remains a major obstacle to Israeli-Palestinian peace.</p>
<p>It is normal practice for parties to a dispute to use terminology which favors them. In this regard, Israel has been spectacularly successful in imposing its terminology not simply on Israeli consciousness and American usage but even on many Arab parties and commentators. It has done so not simply in obvious ways like use of the terms “terrorism”, “security”, “Eretz Israel” or “Judea and Samaria” but also in more subtle ways which have had and continue to have a profound negative impact on perceptions of legal realities and other matters of substance.</p>
<p>Commentators on all sides speak of Israel’s “ceding” territory occupied in 1967 to the Palestinians. The word suggests a transfer of land by its legitimate owner. Unless there are reciprocal exchanges of territory in a final peace agreement, the issue of Israel’s “ceding” territory to Palestine does not arise. Israel can withdraw from occupied Palestinian territory or hand over administrative control of such territory, but to “cede” property one must first possess legal title to it. Israel can no more cede title to occupied Palestinian lands than a squatter can cede title to an apartment which he has illegally occupied. In reality, it is Israel which continues to insist that Palestine cede to Israel indisputably Palestinian lands forming part of the meager 22% remnant of historical Palestine which Israel did not conquer until 1967.</p>
<p>There is also much talk of “concessions” — “painful”, “far-reaching” or otherwise — being demanded from Israel. The word suggests the surrender of some legitimate right or position. In fact, while Israel demands numerous concessions from Palestine, Palestine is not seeking any concessions from Israel. What it has long insisted upon is “compliance” – compliance with agreements already signed, compliance with international law and compliance with relevant United Nations resolutions – nothing more and nothing less. Compliance is not a concession. It is an obligation, both legally and morally, and it is essential if peace is ever to be achieved.</p>
<p>It is not only the Western-embraced Fatah which insists on nothing more and nothing less than compliance. The Western-shunned Hamas, winners of the most recent Palestinian elections, now publicly proclaims the same position. At a December 1 press conference, Ismael Haniyeh stated: “We accept a Palestinian state on the borders of 1967, with Jerusalem as its capital, the release of Palestinian prisoners and the resolution of the issue of refugees.”</p>
<p>The Palestinian territories conquered by Israel in 1967 are frequently referred to as “disputed”. They are not. They are “occupied” — and illegally so, since the status of “perpetual belligerent occupation” which Israel has been seeking to impose over the past 43 years does not exist in international law. While sovereignty over expanded East Jerusalem, which Israel has formally annexed, is explicitly contested, none of the world’s other 194 sovereign states has recognized Israel’s sovereignty claim and Palestinian sovereignty over the Gaza Strip and the rest of the West Bank is, in both literal and legal senses, uncontested (even if not yet universally “recognized”).</p>
<p>Israel has never even purported to annex these territories, knowing that doing so would raise awkward questions about the rights (or lack of them) of the indigenous population living there. Jordan renounced all claims to the West Bank in favor of the Palestinians in July 1988. While Egypt administered the Gaza Strip for 19 years, it never asserted sovereignty over it. Since November 15, 1988, when Palestinian independence and statehood were formally proclaimed, the only state asserting sovereignty over those portions of historical Palestine which Israel occupied in 1967 (aside from expanded East Jerusalem) has been the State of Palestine, a state which, even though it continues to operate within its own territory through a hobbled Trojan Horse named the “Palestinian Authority”, meets all the customary international law criteria for sovereign statehood and is already recognized as a state by over 100 other sovereign states.</p>
<p>Misleading language has been particularly destructive with respect to Jerusalem. For years, Israeli politicians have repeated like a mantra that “Jerusalem must remain united under Israeli sovereignty.” Understandably, Israelis have come to believe that Israel currently possesses sovereignty over Jerusalem. It does not. It possesses only administrative control. While a country can acquire administrative control by force of arms, it can acquire sovereignty (the state-level equivalent of title or ownership) only with the consent of the international community.</p>
<p>The position of the international community regarding Jerusalem, which the 1947 UN partition plan envisioned as an internationally administered city legally separate from the two contemplated states, is clear and categorical: Israel is in belligerent occupation of East Jerusalem and has only de facto authority over West Jerusalem. The refusal of the international community (even including the United States) to recognize West Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, supported by the maintenance of all embassies accredited to Israel in Tel Aviv, vividly demonstrates the refusal of the international community, pending an agreed solution to the status of Jerusalem, to concede that any part of the city is Israel’s sovereign territory.</p>
<p>There can be no question of Israel relinquishing or transferring sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem for the simple reason that Israel currently possesses no such sovereignty. Indeed, the only ways that Israel might ever acquire sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem are by agreeing with Palestine on a fair basis for either sharing or dividing sovereignty over the city (or doing a bit of both) which is recognized as fair and accepted by the international community or by agreeing with the Palestinians to transform all of historical Palestine in a single, fully democratic state with equal rights for all who live there, in which case the Jerusalem conundrum, as well as most of the other perennial roadblocks to peace intrinsic to any potential “two-state solution”, would cease to pose any problem.</p>
<p>This legal reality is of fundamental intellectual and psychological importance for Israeli public opinion. There is a world of difference for an Israeli leader between being perceived as the man who achieved Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem for the first time in 2000 years and being perceived as the man who relinquished some measure of Jewish sovereignty over Jerusalem. It could be a life-or-death distinction.</p>
<p>One word which has been too rarely used in connection with the “peace process” (and which should be invoked more often) is “justice”. For obvious reasons, it is never used by Israeli or American politicians as a component of the “peace” which they envision. Yet a true and lasting “peace”, as opposed to a mere temporary cessation of hostilities, is inconceivable unless some measure of justice is both achieved and perceived, by both sides, to have been achieved.</p>
<p>Israel is not generously contemplating ceding its own land to Palestine but insisting that Palestine cede indisputably Palestinian lands to Israel. Palestine is not seeking concessions from Israel, only compliance. The Palestinian territories conquered in 1967 are not disputed, simply illegally occupied. The only ways Israel might ever acquire sovereignty over any part of Jerusalem are by agreeing to share or divide the city with Palestine or by accepting a democratic one-state solution. Any true peace requires some measure of justice.</p>
<p>It is high time for all involved to recognize and speak clearly about these fundamental realities. The clarity of thought necessary to achieve either a decent two-state solution or a democratic one-state solution would be greatly enhanced by clarity of language, by taking care to use terminology which both reflects reality and facilitates, rather than hinders, the achievement of both peace and some measure of justice.</p>
<p>JOHN V. WHITBECK, an international lawyer who has advised the Palestinian negotiating team in negotiations with Israel, is author of “ <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/892379228/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The World According to Whitbeck</a>“.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | recent passage israels knesset law requiring either twothirds knesset majority approval unprecedented national referendum israel cede land expanded east jerusalem palestinian state land golan heights syria widely recognized making twostate solution well israelisyrian peace even inconceivable previously case also highlights need concerted effort politicians negotiators commentators adopt new language peace words people use often unconsciously critical impact upon thoughts attitudes speak write well listen read dangerously misleading terminology remains major obstacle israelipalestinian peace normal practice parties dispute use terminology favors regard israel spectacularly successful imposing terminology simply israeli consciousness american usage even many arab parties commentators done simply obvious ways like use terms terrorism security eretz israel judea samaria also subtle ways continue profound negative impact perceptions legal realities matters substance commentators sides speak israels ceding territory occupied 1967 palestinians word suggests transfer land legitimate owner unless reciprocal exchanges territory final peace agreement issue israels ceding territory palestine arise israel withdraw occupied palestinian territory hand administrative control territory cede property one must first possess legal title israel cede title occupied palestinian lands squatter cede title apartment illegally occupied reality israel continues insist palestine cede israel indisputably palestinian lands forming part meager 22 remnant historical palestine israel conquer 1967 also much talk concessions painful farreaching otherwise demanded israel word suggests surrender legitimate right position fact israel demands numerous concessions palestine palestine seeking concessions israel long insisted upon compliance compliance agreements already signed compliance international law compliance relevant united nations resolutions nothing nothing less compliance concession obligation legally morally essential peace ever achieved westernembraced fatah insists nothing nothing less compliance westernshunned hamas winners recent palestinian elections publicly proclaims position december 1 press conference ismael haniyeh stated accept palestinian state borders 1967 jerusalem capital release palestinian prisoners resolution issue refugees palestinian territories conquered israel 1967 frequently referred disputed occupied illegally since status perpetual belligerent occupation israel seeking impose past 43 years exist international law sovereignty expanded east jerusalem israel formally annexed explicitly contested none worlds 194 sovereign states recognized israels sovereignty claim palestinian sovereignty gaza strip rest west bank literal legal senses uncontested even yet universally recognized israel never even purported annex territories knowing would raise awkward questions rights lack indigenous population living jordan renounced claims west bank favor palestinians july 1988 egypt administered gaza strip 19 years never asserted sovereignty since november 15 1988 palestinian independence statehood formally proclaimed state asserting sovereignty portions historical palestine israel occupied 1967 aside expanded east jerusalem state palestine state even though continues operate within territory hobbled trojan horse named palestinian authority meets customary international law criteria sovereign statehood already recognized state 100 sovereign states misleading language particularly destructive respect jerusalem years israeli politicians repeated like mantra jerusalem must remain united israeli sovereignty understandably israelis come believe israel currently possesses sovereignty jerusalem possesses administrative control country acquire administrative control force arms acquire sovereignty statelevel equivalent title ownership consent international community position international community regarding jerusalem 1947 un partition plan envisioned internationally administered city legally separate two contemplated states clear categorical israel belligerent occupation east jerusalem de facto authority west jerusalem refusal international community even including united states recognize west jerusalem israels capital supported maintenance embassies accredited israel tel aviv vividly demonstrates refusal international community pending agreed solution status jerusalem concede part city israels sovereign territory question israel relinquishing transferring sovereignty part jerusalem simple reason israel currently possesses sovereignty indeed ways israel might ever acquire sovereignty part jerusalem agreeing palestine fair basis either sharing dividing sovereignty city bit recognized fair accepted international community agreeing palestinians transform historical palestine single fully democratic state equal rights live case jerusalem conundrum well perennial roadblocks peace intrinsic potential twostate solution would cease pose problem legal reality fundamental intellectual psychological importance israeli public opinion world difference israeli leader perceived man achieved jewish sovereignty jerusalem first time 2000 years perceived man relinquished measure jewish sovereignty jerusalem could lifeordeath distinction one word rarely used connection peace process invoked often justice obvious reasons never used israeli american politicians component peace envision yet true lasting peace opposed mere temporary cessation hostilities inconceivable unless measure justice achieved perceived sides achieved israel generously contemplating ceding land palestine insisting palestine cede indisputably palestinian lands israel palestine seeking concessions israel compliance palestinian territories conquered 1967 disputed simply illegally occupied ways israel might ever acquire sovereignty part jerusalem agreeing share divide city palestine accepting democratic onestate solution true peace requires measure justice high time involved recognize speak clearly fundamental realities clarity thought necessary achieve either decent twostate solution democratic onestate solution would greatly enhanced clarity language taking care use terminology reflects reality facilitates rather hinders achievement peace measure justice john v whitbeck international lawyer advised palestinian negotiating team negotiations israel author world according whitbeck 160 | 773 |
<p>One of his Yale students, famed cartoonist Garry Trudeau, said of Yale University Chaplain, Williams Sloane Coffin, during those heady years in the Sixties; “Without him, the very air would have lost its charge. With him, we were changed forever.”</p>
<p>Who was this former Army Captain, ex-C.I.A. agent, talented musician, linguist and motorcycle rider? How did he become one of the most influential clergymen of his time by focusing public attention on the essential moral questions so often avoided in times of war, strife over civil rights and the perilous nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union? Most clergy do not roam so far from their Church.</p>
<p>When challenged to stick with his ministerial duties, this great speaker of sweeping vision and public virtue replied:</p>
<p>Every minister is given two roles: the priestly and the prophetic. The prophetic role is the disturber of the peace, to bring the minister himself, the congregation and entire social order under some judgment. If one plays a prophetic role, it’s going to mitigate against his priestly role. There are going to be those who will hate him.</p>
<p>And with that definition, the Rev. Coffin became the outspoken activist and doer of nonviolent civil disobedience directly from the principles of his Christian faith. He wrote, spoke, organized, marched, protested, was arrested, jailed and prosecuted. He inspired the struggles against the Vietnam war, Jim Crow laws, the military draft, poverty here and abroad, and the planet-threatening atomic arms race. He did all this with an historical frame of reference, biblical wisdom, and humor which was almost always witty and informative.</p>
<p>There was an arresting moment right after World War II when infantry Captain Coffin was assigned to the French and then the Russian army to compel Soviet refugees, who had been taken prisoner, to return to the Soviet Union. He admits to using deception to lure them onto the trains heading for Russia, leading some to attempt suicide because they knew what awaited them there. Many simply disappeared.</p>
<p>In his memoir Once to Every Man (1977), Rev. Coffin said his behavior left him a “burden of guilt I am sure to carry the rest of my life.” It led, he wrote, to his spending “three years in the C.I.A. opposing Stalin’s regime.”</p>
<p>In 1978, he became the head minister at the large, interdenominational Riverside Church in New York City, where he advanced his often affluent congregation toward addressing problems of unemployment and juvenile offenders.</p>
<p>Last October, I arranged a telephone interview about the Iraq war with Rev. Coffin from his Strafford, Vermont home. Though seriously ill, he was typically upbeat: “How are you, Reverend?” “Better than I have any right to feel, the rest is commentary,” he replied.</p>
<p>He made a number of cogent points in the interview, to wit:</p>
<p>What the rest of us have to remember is that dissent in a democracy is not unpatriotic, what is unpatriotic is subservience to a bad policy.</p>
<p>Local clergy must brave the accusation of meddling in politics, a charge first made no doubt by the Pharoah against Moses. When war has a bloodstained face, none of us have the right to avert our gaze.</p>
<p>And the search for peace is biblically mandated. If religious people don’t search hard, and only say ‘peace is desirable,’ then secular authorities are free to decide ‘War is necessary’.</p>
<p>I think the absence of a draft has much to do with the present lack of student protest. On the other hand, I think the colossal blunders of the administration will quicken an antiwar movement faster now than during the Vietnam war.</p>
<p>What we shouldn’t do is to believe President Bush when he says that to honor those who have died, more Americans must died. That’s using examples of his failures to promote still greater failures.</p>
<p>I asked him what he thinks should be done by the peace movement? He was direct, saying “I am very much in favor of well thought out, nonviolent civil disobedience, of occupying congressional offices, telling lawmakers, ‘You have to stop the slaughter, to admit mistakes and to right the wrong.'” ( <a href="" type="internal">Click here to read the entire interview</a>.)</p>
<p>Reverend William Sloane Coffin passed away in Strafford on April 12 at the age of 81.</p>
<p>Five weeks earlier, another storied man of conscience who waged peace for 65 years died at the age of 88 in Santa Rosa, California. Caleb Foote was such a profound war-resister that he spent 18 months in federal prison because he did not want to easily fake a religiously-based conscientious objection status, since his opposition was based on humanistic principles.</p>
<p>He went on as a law professor to engage decades of championing racial, economic and criminal justice. Not just by representing aggrieved defendants but by also putting forth studies which addressed systems of reform. He spent his later years active in local conservation initiatives.</p>
<p>Should their relatives and many friends and admirers be contemplating the extension of their legacies, they may wish to consider establishing an institution dedicated to the thought and action which these two men demonstrated.</p>
<p>Around two years ago, Reverand Coffin’s was honored at a large dinner in New York City. After eloquent encomiums by several noted speakers, he rose to give a few remarks. Listening on C-SPAN radio, I paraphrase one of his urgings to carry on: It is as if our long gone, valiant reformers in our country’s history were reaching out to us and saying “finish the job, finish the job.”</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | one yale students famed cartoonist garry trudeau said yale university chaplain williams sloane coffin heady years sixties without air would lost charge changed forever former army captain excia agent talented musician linguist motorcycle rider become one influential clergymen time focusing public attention essential moral questions often avoided times war strife civil rights perilous nuclear arms race united states soviet union clergy roam far church challenged stick ministerial duties great speaker sweeping vision public virtue replied every minister given two roles priestly prophetic prophetic role disturber peace bring minister congregation entire social order judgment one plays prophetic role going mitigate priestly role going hate definition rev coffin became outspoken activist doer nonviolent civil disobedience directly principles christian faith wrote spoke organized marched protested arrested jailed prosecuted inspired struggles vietnam war jim crow laws military draft poverty abroad planetthreatening atomic arms race historical frame reference biblical wisdom humor almost always witty informative arresting moment right world war ii infantry captain coffin assigned french russian army compel soviet refugees taken prisoner return soviet union admits using deception lure onto trains heading russia leading attempt suicide knew awaited many simply disappeared memoir every man 1977 rev coffin said behavior left burden guilt sure carry rest life led wrote spending three years cia opposing stalins regime 1978 became head minister large interdenominational riverside church new york city advanced often affluent congregation toward addressing problems unemployment juvenile offenders last october arranged telephone interview iraq war rev coffin strafford vermont home though seriously ill typically upbeat reverend better right feel rest commentary replied made number cogent points interview wit rest us remember dissent democracy unpatriotic unpatriotic subservience bad policy local clergy must brave accusation meddling politics charge first made doubt pharoah moses war bloodstained face none us right avert gaze search peace biblically mandated religious people dont search hard say peace desirable secular authorities free decide war necessary think absence draft much present lack student protest hand think colossal blunders administration quicken antiwar movement faster vietnam war shouldnt believe president bush says honor died americans must died thats using examples failures promote still greater failures asked thinks done peace movement direct saying much favor well thought nonviolent civil disobedience occupying congressional offices telling lawmakers stop slaughter admit mistakes right wrong click read entire interview reverend william sloane coffin passed away strafford april 12 age 81 five weeks earlier another storied man conscience waged peace 65 years died age 88 santa rosa california caleb foote profound warresister spent 18 months federal prison want easily fake religiouslybased conscientious objection status since opposition based humanistic principles went law professor engage decades championing racial economic criminal justice representing aggrieved defendants also putting forth studies addressed systems reform spent later years active local conservation initiatives relatives many friends admirers contemplating extension legacies may wish consider establishing institution dedicated thought action two men demonstrated around two years ago reverand coffins honored large dinner new york city eloquent encomiums several noted speakers rose give remarks listening cspan radio paraphrase one urgings carry long gone valiant reformers countrys history reaching us saying finish job finish job 160 160 | 513 |
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<p>In late August, not 10 hours after a disgruntled former TV reporter posted video on Twitter and Facebook of himself gunning down two ex-colleagues in Virginia, the New York Daily News tweeted a preview of <a href="https://twitter.com/nydailynews/status/636724797678977025?lang=en" type="external">its front page</a> for the next day. It featured a triptych of stills from the killer’s horrifying footage. Readers saw the attack from the shooter’s perspective—looking down the barrel of his <a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/virginia-tv-shooting/vester-flanagan-bought-gun-legally-virginia-dealer-officials-say-n417136" type="external">Glock 19</a> at the flash of the muzzle and a victim’s terrified face, just moments before her death.</p>
<p>It was a gut punch to the victims’ loved ones. Journalists and the public responded with a torrent of tweets decrying the cover as “repulsive” and “despicable” and saying that “the victims deserve better.” The Daily News <a href="http://observer.com/2015/08/nyc-tabloids-face-sharp-criticism-over-wdbj-covers/" type="external">said</a> that it published the images “to convey the true scale” of the attack “at a time when it is so easy for the public to become inured to such senseless violence.”</p>
<p>Journalism can be a powerful force for change, and news organizations should not flinch at reporting on mass shootings. But what the Daily News editors didn’t realize was that this sensational approach can possibly do more than perturb or offend. Such images provide the notoriety mass killers crave and can even be a jolt of inspiration for the next shooter.</p>
<p>The next one struck just five weeks later, in Oregon. The 26-year-old man who murdered nine and wounded nine others at Umpqua Community College last Thursday had <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/10/01/umpqua-gunman-id-d-as-chris-harper-mercer.html" type="external">posted comments</a> expressing admiration for the Virginia killer, apparently impressed with his social-media achievement: “His face splashed across every screen, his name across the lips of every person on the planet, all in the course of one day. Seems like the more people you kill, the more you’re in the limelight.”</p>
<p>Since the 1980s, forensic investigators have found examples of mass killers emulating their most famous predecessors. Now, there is growing evidence that the copycat problem is far more serious than is generally understood. Ever since the 1999 massacre at Colorado’s Columbine High School, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has been studying what motivates people to carry out these crimes. Earlier this year, I met with supervisory special agent Andre Simons, who until recently led a team of agents and psychology experts who assist local authorities in heading off violent attacks around the country, using <a href="" type="internal">a strategy known as threat assessment</a>. Since 2012, according to Simons, the FBI’s unit has taken on more than 400 cases—and has found evidence of the copycat effect rippling through many of them.</p>
<p>Evidence amassed by the FBI and other threat assessment experts shows that perpetrators and plotters look to past attacks both for inspiration and operational details, in hopes of causing even greater carnage. Would-be attackers frequently emulate the Columbine massacre; one high-level law enforcement agent told me that he’s encountered dozens of students around the country who say they admire the Columbine killers. “Some of these kids now weren’t even born when that happened,” he said. The 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech and other attacks that generated major publicity have also spawned many copycats, according to several law enforcement officials I spoke with.</p>
<p>As part of our <a href="" type="internal">investigation into threat assessment</a>, Mother Jones documented the chilling scope of the “Columbine effect”: We found at least <a href="" type="internal">74 plots and attacks</a> across 30 states in which suspects and perpetrators claimed to have been inspired by the nation’s worst high school massacre. Their goals ranged from attacking on the anniversary of Columbine to outdoing the original body count. Law enforcement stopped 53 of these plots before anyone was harmed. Twenty-one of them evolved into attacks, with a total of 89 victims killed, 126 injured, and nine perpetrators committing suicide. ( <a href="" type="internal">See more about this data here</a>.)</p>
<p>As they plan to strike, many mass shooters now express their desire for fame in comments and manifestos posted online. “They do this to claim credit and to articulate the grievance behind the attack,” Simons told me. “And we believe they do it to heighten the media attention that will be given to them, the infamy and notoriety they believe they’ll derive from the event.”</p>
<p>Despite whatever delusions or obsessive grievances they may be experiencing, many perpetrators are keenly aware of how their actions will be seen by the media and the public. “A lot of times they thrive on posing,” says Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist at the University of California-San Diego and a leading researcher on targeted violence who has interviewed and evaluated mass killers. He cites the police booking photo of Jared Loughner, who shot Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others in Tucson, Arizona, in 2011. “He’s got that contemptuous smile, like it’s a great pose. The savvy of these individuals to capitalize on visual exposure should not be underestimated.”</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal" /></p>
<p>A month before the Tucson rampage, Loughner <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jared-loughner-who-shot-gabrielle-giffords-in-tucson-ranted-online/" type="external">posted</a> what he called “a foreshadow” of his attack in comments on his MySpace page: “I’ll see you on National TV!” He got what he wanted—and then some. His booking photo “flashed around the world, at once haunting and fascinating,” Washington Post media reporter Paul Farhi <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/11/AR2011011106921.html" type="external">wrote</a> three days after the massacre.&#160;“Dozens of newspapers placed the photo atop their front pages, burning Loughner’s visage into the American consciousness.” (The Daily News ran a “nearly life-sized” version on its front page, Farhi noted, with the headline “Face of Evil,” while the New York Post ran a similar front page that blared “Mad Eyes of a Killer.”) Several of the nation’s largest news outlets have continued using the image in <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/27/gabby-giffords-shooting-records/2024589/" type="external">stories</a> and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/newly-released-jared-lee-loughner-files-reveal-chilling-details/" type="external">broadcasts</a> ever <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jared-loughner-who-shot-gabrielle-giffords-in-tucson-ranted-online/" type="external">since</a>.</p>
<p>The media faces a growing challenge in how its content is spread and recycled. When I asked various law enforcement and forensic psychology experts what might explain America’s <a href="" type="internal">rising tide of gun rampages</a>, I heard the same two words over and over: social media. Although there is no definitive research yet, widespread anecdotal evidence suggests that the speed at which social media bombards us with memes and images exacerbates the copycat effect.</p>
<p>Meloy and other threat assessment experts recommend some specific changes by the news media to address the copycat problem. Attackers’ names should be used minimally—and their images even less so. “Their use can have a dangerous effect on other young men vulnerable to dark and violent identifications with the perpetrators,” Meloy says. “When real life for these individuals is so blighted in terms of love and work, they turn to the anti-heroes.” The narcissism running through many copycat cases is even more troubling in this regard: “They don’t just want to be like them—they are envious and want to one-up them,” Meloy explains. Copycats will aim to accomplish that either by <a href="" type="internal">going for a higher body count</a>, he says, or, as in the Virginia case, killing in a more sensational way.</p>
<p>Meloy argues the media should also rethink some of its language. “Stop using the term ‘lone wolf’ and stop using ‘school shooter,'” he says. “In the minds of young men this makes these acts of violence cool. They think, ‘This has got some juice behind it, and I can get out there and do something really cool—I can be a lone wolf. I can be a shooter.'” Instead, Meloy suggests using terms such as “an act of lone terrorism” and “an act of mass murder.”</p>
<p><a href="http://www.npr.org/2015/10/06/446370810/mother-jones-report-examines-copy-cat-effect-in-mass-shootings" type="external" /></p>
<p>Changing how the media covers these stories may be especially important when it comes to preventing gun rampages in schools, according to John Van Dreal, a psychologist who helped build a pioneering threat assessment program in Oregon’s Salem-Keizer school district, which has more than 40,000 students. “I hear how all the kids talk about it,” Van Dreal says. “When it gets played up so much in the media, it becomes heroic to the kids who are thinking about doing it.” No one can control what explodes across social media platforms. But news organizations remain powerful magnifiers of content and could work toward “an ethical best practice to leave out the imagery and the name as much as possible,” Van Dreal says.</p>
<p>In January, Caren and Tom Teves—whose son Alex was one of the 12 people murdered in the July 2012 massacre in Aurora, Colorado—launched a “ <a href="http://money.cnn.com/2015/10/02/media/media-decisions-naming-showing-killers/" type="external">No Notoriety</a>” campaign admonishing the media never to use mass shooters’ names. There is a similar movement stirring among police officers: The Oregon sheriff handling the response to last week’s attack (whose views on <a href="" type="internal">gun regulations</a> and <a href="" type="internal">the Sandy Hook massacre</a> raised some eyebrows) vowed in a press conference that he would not say the shooter’s name—and the town of Roseburg <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-oregon-shooting-name-20151004-story.html" type="external">rallied around the idea</a>. His move echoed the <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/more-police-decide-against-naming-mass-shooting-suspects-1443985970" type="external">recommendations</a> of a FBI-endorsed law enforcement training program on active shooters at Texas State University, which recently began a “Don’t Name Them” campaign.</p>
<p>Though laudable, such absolutism is unrealistic in terms of the media’s duty to report. As the Poynter Institute’s chief media correspondent Jim Warren explained Sunday on CNN’s <a href="http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/10/04/exp-no-notoriety-parents.cnn" type="external">Reliable Sources</a>, reporting on the killers is crucial to public understanding of the problem—and for knocking down the rampant misinformation that ricochets around the internet in the aftermath of an attack. (Rumors swirled late last week that the Umpqua killer was a Muslim, for example, which was <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/02/oregon-shooter-said-to-have-singled-out-christians-for-killing-in-horrific-act-of-cowardice/" type="external">false</a>.)</p>
<p>But some journalists and news organizations are beginning to recast their coverage of mass shooters with the recognition that they should avoid glamorizing them, and that proportionality matters. The day of the Virginia murders, CNN said it would show a segment of the killer’s footage <a href="https://twitter.com/mathewi/status/636539236724920320" type="external">only once per hour</a>; if that sounded odd in its own right, it was an improvement over the sensationalism of the constant looping so common on cable news networks. Since Aurora, CNN’s Anderson Cooper has at times <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/davecullen/stop-naming-mass-shooters-in-reporting#.huXWGRYB3" type="external">declined to name on the air</a> the perpetrators of high-profile massacres.</p>
<p />
<p>There is precedent for establishing the type of industry standard that threat assessment experts suggest. Rape victims and juveniles charged with crimes are rarely named in news reports. Ditto people who commit suicide—another problem with a potent contagion effect. When American journalists are taken hostage overseas, news organizations usually agree not to report on their plight due to fears that it would undermine their safety and jeopardize negotiations for their release. Perhaps a rising awareness of the copycat problem will lead to a similar change in how the media covers gun rampages.</p>
<p>Over the past three years, a team of colleagues at Mother Jones and I have spent a great deal of time and effort <a href="" type="internal">reporting on mass shootings</a>. Knowing what we do now, we’ll continue to inform the public while avoiding what could contribute to the copycat problem. In light of the Umpqua attacker’s quest for notoriety, we’ve chosen not to publish his image or put his name in any headlines. We will focus attention on him or other killers only when we see clear journalistic value in doing so.</p>
<p>We made similar choices with our newly published <a href="" type="internal">cover package</a> on threat assessment and the Columbine effect. With most of our major investigations into gun violence, we have <a href="" type="internal">published</a> our <a href="" type="internal">underlying</a> <a href="" type="internal">datasets</a> so that anyone can use them for further study and analysis. But we are only providing summary data and analysis from <a href="" type="internal">our research on Columbine copycats</a>. Though much of the case-level data we’ve collected is publicly available, we decided not to make it easily accessible in one place, where it could potentially be used by aspiring attackers searching for inspiration or tactical information.</p>
<p>Below, we’ve compiled half a dozen recommendations based on interviews with and research from threat assessment experts concerned about this issue. Not all of these ideas will go over well in newsrooms, and as journalists, we can see arguments for and against these practices. But given the scope of the copycat problem, they are worthy of serious consideration and debate. [Ed. note: For more on that debate, see Follman’s <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2015/10/09/how-should-the-news-media-cover-mass-shooters/taking-a-different-ethical-approach-in-the-media-coverage-of-mass-shooters" type="external">opinion piece in the New York Times</a>.]</p>
<p>Report on the perpetrator forensically and with dispassionate language. Avoid terms like “lone wolf” and “school shooter,” which may carry cachet with young men aspiring to attack. Instead use language such as “perpetrator,” “lone act of terrorism,” and “act of mass murder.” Minimize use of the perpetrator’s name. When it isn’t necessary to repeat it, don’t. And don’t include middle names gratuitously, a common practice for distinguishing criminal suspects from others of the same name, but which can otherwise lend a false sense of their importance. Keep the perpetrator’s name out of headlines. Rarely, if ever, will a generic reference to him in a headline be any less practical. Minimize use of images of the perpetrator. This is especially important both in terms of aspiring copycats’ desire for fame, and the psychology of individuals who may be vulnerable to identifying with mass shooters. Avoid using “pseudocommando” or other posed photos of the perpetrator. Such self-styled images are the ones they hope will get publicity. These should be avoided especially after the images are outdated, such as showing the Aurora killer again with his “Joker” hair during his trial three years later, when he was heavier and wore glasses and a beard. Avoid publishing the perpetrators’ videos or manifestos except when clearly valuable to the reporting. Instead, paraphrase, cite sparingly, and provide analysis. The guiding question here may be: Is this evidence already easily accessible online? If so, is there a genuine reason to reproduce it in full and spread it, other than to generate page views?</p>
<p>Mother Jones was founded as a nonprofit in 1976 because we knew corporations and the wealthy wouldn’t fund the type of hard-hitting journalism we set out to do.</p>
<p>Today, reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget, allows us to dig deep on stories that matter, and lets us keep our reporting free for everyone. If you value what you get from Mother Jones, please join us with a tax-deductible donation so we can keep on doing the type of journalism that 2018 demands.</p>
<p>Mark Follman is the national affairs editor at Mother Jones. Contact him with tips or feedback at [email protected].</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Mark Follman</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Mark Follman</a> and <a href="" type="internal">Becca Andrews</a></p> | true | 4 | 160 late august 10 hours disgruntled former tv reporter posted video twitter facebook gunning two excolleagues virginia new york daily news tweeted preview front page next day featured triptych stills killers horrifying footage readers saw attack shooters perspectivelooking barrel glock 19 flash muzzle victims terrified face moments death gut punch victims loved ones journalists public responded torrent tweets decrying cover repulsive despicable saying victims deserve better daily news said published images convey true scale attack time easy public become inured senseless violence journalism powerful force change news organizations flinch reporting mass shootings daily news editors didnt realize sensational approach possibly perturb offend images provide notoriety mass killers crave even jolt inspiration next shooter next one struck five weeks later oregon 26yearold man murdered nine wounded nine others umpqua community college last thursday posted comments expressing admiration virginia killer apparently impressed socialmedia achievement face splashed across every screen name across lips every person planet course one day seems like people kill youre limelight since 1980s forensic investigators found examples mass killers emulating famous predecessors growing evidence copycat problem far serious generally understood ever since 1999 massacre colorados columbine high school federal bureau investigation studying motivates people carry crimes earlier year met supervisory special agent andre simons recently led team agents psychology experts assist local authorities heading violent attacks around country using strategy known threat assessment since 2012 according simons fbis unit taken 400 casesand found evidence copycat effect rippling many evidence amassed fbi threat assessment experts shows perpetrators plotters look past attacks inspiration operational details hopes causing even greater carnage wouldbe attackers frequently emulate columbine massacre one highlevel law enforcement agent told hes encountered dozens students around country say admire columbine killers kids werent even born happened said 2007 massacre virginia tech attacks generated major publicity also spawned many copycats according several law enforcement officials spoke part investigation threat assessment mother jones documented chilling scope columbine effect found least 74 plots attacks across 30 states suspects perpetrators claimed inspired nations worst high school massacre goals ranged attacking anniversary columbine outdoing original body count law enforcement stopped 53 plots anyone harmed twentyone evolved attacks total 89 victims killed 126 injured nine perpetrators committing suicide see data plan strike many mass shooters express desire fame comments manifestos posted online claim credit articulate grievance behind attack simons told believe heighten media attention given infamy notoriety believe theyll derive event despite whatever delusions obsessive grievances may experiencing many perpetrators keenly aware actions seen media public lot times thrive posing says reid meloy forensic psychologist university californiasan diego leading researcher targeted violence interviewed evaluated mass killers cites police booking photo jared loughner shot rep gabrielle giffords 18 others tucson arizona 2011 hes got contemptuous smile like great pose savvy individuals capitalize visual exposure underestimated month tucson rampage loughner posted called foreshadow attack comments myspace page ill see national tv got wantedand booking photo flashed around world haunting fascinating washington post media reporter paul farhi wrote three days massacre160dozens newspapers placed photo atop front pages burning loughners visage american consciousness daily news ran nearly lifesized version front page farhi noted headline face evil new york post ran similar front page blared mad eyes killer several nations largest news outlets continued using image stories broadcasts ever since media faces growing challenge content spread recycled asked various law enforcement forensic psychology experts might explain americas rising tide gun rampages heard two words social media although definitive research yet widespread anecdotal evidence suggests speed social media bombards us memes images exacerbates copycat effect meloy threat assessment experts recommend specific changes news media address copycat problem attackers names used minimallyand images even less use dangerous effect young men vulnerable dark violent identifications perpetrators meloy says real life individuals blighted terms love work turn antiheroes narcissism running many copycat cases even troubling regard dont want like themthey envious want oneup meloy explains copycats aim accomplish either going higher body count says virginia case killing sensational way meloy argues media also rethink language stop using term lone wolf stop using school shooter says minds young men makes acts violence cool think got juice behind get something really cooli lone wolf shooter instead meloy suggests using terms act lone terrorism act mass murder changing media covers stories may especially important comes preventing gun rampages schools according john van dreal psychologist helped build pioneering threat assessment program oregons salemkeizer school district 40000 students hear kids talk van dreal says gets played much media becomes heroic kids thinking one control explodes across social media platforms news organizations remain powerful magnifiers content could work toward ethical best practice leave imagery name much possible van dreal says january caren tom teveswhose son alex one 12 people murdered july 2012 massacre aurora coloradolaunched notoriety campaign admonishing media never use mass shooters names similar movement stirring among police officers oregon sheriff handling response last weeks attack whose views gun regulations sandy hook massacre raised eyebrows vowed press conference would say shooters nameand town roseburg rallied around idea move echoed recommendations fbiendorsed law enforcement training program active shooters texas state university recently began dont name campaign though laudable absolutism unrealistic terms medias duty report poynter institutes chief media correspondent jim warren explained sunday cnns reliable sources reporting killers crucial public understanding problemand knocking rampant misinformation ricochets around internet aftermath attack rumors swirled late last week umpqua killer muslim example false journalists news organizations beginning recast coverage mass shooters recognition avoid glamorizing proportionality matters day virginia murders cnn said would show segment killers footage per hour sounded odd right improvement sensationalism constant looping common cable news networks since aurora cnns anderson cooper times declined name air perpetrators highprofile massacres precedent establishing type industry standard threat assessment experts suggest rape victims juveniles charged crimes rarely named news reports ditto people commit suicideanother problem potent contagion effect american journalists taken hostage overseas news organizations usually agree report plight due fears would undermine safety jeopardize negotiations release perhaps rising awareness copycat problem lead similar change media covers gun rampages past three years team colleagues mother jones spent great deal time effort reporting mass shootings knowing well continue inform public avoiding could contribute copycat problem light umpqua attackers quest notoriety weve chosen publish image put name headlines focus attention killers see clear journalistic value made similar choices newly published cover package threat assessment columbine effect major investigations gun violence published underlying datasets anyone use study analysis providing summary data analysis research columbine copycats though much caselevel data weve collected publicly available decided make easily accessible one place could potentially used aspiring attackers searching inspiration tactical information weve compiled half dozen recommendations based interviews research threat assessment experts concerned issue ideas go well newsrooms journalists see arguments practices given scope copycat problem worthy serious consideration debate ed note debate see follmans opinion piece new york times report perpetrator forensically dispassionate language avoid terms like lone wolf school shooter may carry cachet young men aspiring attack instead use language perpetrator lone act terrorism act mass murder minimize use perpetrators name isnt necessary repeat dont dont include middle names gratuitously common practice distinguishing criminal suspects others name otherwise lend false sense importance keep perpetrators name headlines rarely ever generic reference headline less practical minimize use images perpetrator especially important terms aspiring copycats desire fame psychology individuals may vulnerable identifying mass shooters avoid using pseudocommando posed photos perpetrator selfstyled images ones hope get publicity avoided especially images outdated showing aurora killer joker hair trial three years later heavier wore glasses beard avoid publishing perpetrators videos manifestos except clearly valuable reporting instead paraphrase cite sparingly provide analysis guiding question may evidence already easily accessible online genuine reason reproduce full spread generate page views mother jones founded nonprofit 1976 knew corporations wealthy wouldnt fund type hardhitting journalism set today reader support makes twothirds budget allows us dig deep stories matter lets us keep reporting free everyone value get mother jones please join us taxdeductible donation keep type journalism 2018 demands mark follman national affairs editor mother jones contact tips feedback mfollmanmotherjonescom mark follman mark follman becca andrews | 1,335 |
<p>When hijacked airliners crashed into the tall Towers of the World Trade Center, in New York City, each injected a burning cloud of aviation fuel throughout the 6 levels (WTC 2) to 8 levels (WTC 1) in the impact zone. The burning fuel ignited the office furnishings: desks, chairs, shelving, carpeting, work-space partitions, wall and ceiling panels; as well as paper and plastic of various kinds.</p>
<p>How did these fires progress? How much heat could they produce? Was this heat enough to seriously weaken the steel framework? How did this heat affect the metal in the rubble piles in the weeks and months after the collapse? This report is motivated by these questions, and it will draw ideas from thermal physics and chemistry. My previous report on the collapses of the WTC Towers described the role of mechanical forces (1). Summary of National Institute of Technology and Standards (NIST)</p>
<p>Basic facts about the WTC fires of 9/11 are abstracted by the numerical quantities tabulated here.</p>
<p>Table 1, Time and Energy of WTC Fires</p>
<p>Item WTC 1 WTC 2</p>
<p>impact time (a.m.) 8:46:30 9:02:59</p>
<p>collapse (a.m.) 10:28:22 9:58:59</p>
<p>time difference 1:41:52 0:56:00</p>
<p>impact zone levels 92-99 78-83</p>
<p>levels in upper block 11 27</p>
<p>heat rate (40 minutes) 2 GW 1 GW</p>
<p>total heat energy 8000 GJ 3000 GJ</p>
<p>Tower 1 stood for one hour and forty-two minutes after being struck between levels 92 and 99 by an airplane; the block above the impact zone had 11 levels. During the first 40 minutes of this time, fires raged with an average heat release rate of 2 GW (GW = giga-watts = 10^9 watts), and the total heat energy released during the interval between airplane impact and building collapse was 8000 GJ (GJ = giga-joules = 10^9 joules).</p>
<p>A joule is a unit of energy; a watt is a unit of power; and one watt equals an energy delivery rate of one joule per second.</p>
<p>Tower 2 stood for fifty-six minutes after being struck between levels 78 and 83, isolating an upper block of 27 levels. The fires burned at a rate near 1 GW for forty minutes, diminishing later; and a total of 3000 GJ of heat energy was released by the time of collapse.</p>
<p>WTC 2 received half as much thermal energy during the first 40 minutes after impact, had just over twice the upper block mass, and fell within half the time than was observed for WTC 1. It would seem that WTC 1 stood longer despite receiving more thermal energy because its upper block was less massive.</p>
<p>The data in Table 1 are taken from the executive summary of the fire safety investigation by NIST (2).</p>
<p>The NIST work combined materials and heat transfer lab experiments, full-scale tests (wouldn’t you like to burn up office cubicles?), and computer simulations to arrive at the history and spatial distribution of the burning. From this, the thermal histories of all the metal supports in the impact zone were calculated (NIST is very thorough), which in turn were used as inputs to the calculations of stress history for each support. Parts of the structure that were damaged or missing because of the airplane collision were accounted for, as was the introduction of combustible mass by the airplane.</p>
<p>Steel loses strength with heat. For the types of steel used in the WTC Towers (plain carbon, and vanadium steels) the trend is as follows, relative to 100% strength at habitable temperatures.</p>
<p>Table 2, Fractional Strength of Steel at Temperature</p>
<p>temperature, degrees C fractional strength, %</p>
<p>200 86</p>
<p>400 73</p>
<p>500 66</p>
<p>600 43</p>
<p>700 20</p>
<p>750 15</p>
<p>800 10</p>
<p>I use C for Centigrade, F for Fahrenheit, and do not use the degree symbol in this report.</p>
<p>The fires heated the atmosphere in the impact zone (a mixture of gases and smoke) to temperatures as high as 1100 C (2000 F). However, there was a wide variation of gas temperature with location and over time because of the migration of the fires toward new sources of fuel, a complicated and irregular interior geometry, and changes of ventilation over time (e.g., more windows breaking). Early after the impact, a floor might have some areas at habitable temperatures, and other areas as hot as the burning jet fuel, 1100 C. Later on, after the structure had absorbed heat, the gas temperature would vary over a narrower range, approximately 200 C to 700 C away from centers of active burning.</p>
<p>As can be seen from Table 2, steel loses half its strength when heated to about 570 C (1060 F), and nearly all once past 700 C (1300 F). Thus, the structure of the impact zone, with a temperature that varies between 200 C and 700 C near the time of collapse, will only have between 20% to 86% of its original strength at any location.</p>
<p>The steel frames of the WTC Towers were coated with “sprayed fire resistant materials” (SFRMs, or simply “thermal insulation”). A key finding of the NIST Investigation was that the thermal insulation coatings were applied unevenly — even missing in spots — during the construction of the buildings, and — fatally — that parts of the coatings were knocked off by the jolt of the airplane collisions.</p>
<p>Spraying the lumpy gummy insulation mixture evenly onto a web of structural steel, assuming it all dries properly and none is banged off while work proceeds at a gigantic construction site over the course of several years, is an unrealistic expectation. Perhaps this will change, as a “lesson learned” from the disaster. The fatal element in the WTC Towers story is that enough of the thermal insulation was banged off the steel frames by the airplane jolts to allow parts of frames to heat up to 700 C. I estimate the jolts at 136 times the force of gravity at WTC 1, and 204 at WTC 2.</p>
<p>The pivotal conclusion of the NIST fire safety investigation is perhaps best shown on page 32, in Chapter 3 of Volume 5G of the Final Report (NIST NCSTAR 1-5G WTC Investigation), which includes a graph from which I extracted the data in Table 2, and states the following two paragraphs. (The NIST authors use the phrase “critical temperature” for any value above about 570 C, when steel is below half strength.)</p>
<p>“As the insulation thickness decreases from 1 1/8 in. to 1/2 in., the columns heat up quicker when subjected to a constant radiative flux. At 1/2 in. the column takes approximately 7,250 s (2 hours) to reach a critical temperature of 700 C with a gas temperature of 1,100 C. If the column is completely bare (no fireproofing) then its temperature increases very rapidly, and the critical temperature is reached within 350 s. For a bare column, the time to reach a critical temperature of 700 C ranges between 350 to 2,000 s.</p>
<p>“It is noted that the time to reach critical temperature for bare columns is less than the one hour period during which the buildings withstood intense fires. Core columnsthat have their fireproofing intact cannot reach a critical temperature of 600 C during the 1 or 1 1/2 hour period. (Note that WTC 1 collapsed in approximately 1 1/2 hour, while WTC 2 collapsed in approximately 1 hour). This implies that if the core columns played a role in the final collapse, some fireproofing damage would be required to result in thermal degradation of its strength.” (3)</p>
<p>Collapse</p>
<p>Airplane impact sheared columns along one face and at the building’s core. Within minutes, the upper block had transferred a portion of its weight from central columns in the impact zone, across a lateral support at the building crown called the “hat truss,” and down onto the three intact outer faces. Over the course of the next 56 minutes (WTC 2) and 102 minutes (WTC 1) the fires in the impact zone would weaken the remaining central columns, and this steadily increased the downward force exerted on the intact faces. The heat-weakened frames of the floors sagged, and this bowed the exterior columns inward at the levels of the impact zone. Because of the asymmetry of the damage, one of the three intact faces took up much of the mounting load. Eventually, it buckled inward and the upper block fell. (1)</p>
<p>Now, let’s explore heat further.</p>
<p>How Big Were These Fires?</p>
<p>I will approximate the size of a level (1 story) in each of the WTC Towers as a volume of 16,080 m^3 with an area of 4020 m^2 and a height of 4 m (4). Table 3 shows several ways of describing the total thermal energy released by the fires.</p>
<p>Table 3, Magnitude of Thermal Energy in Equivalent Weight of TNT</p>
<p>Item WTC 1 WTC 2</p>
<p>energy (Q) 8000 GJ 3000 GJ</p>
<p># levels 8 6</p>
<p>tons of TNT 1912 717</p>
<p>tons/level 239 120</p>
<p>lb/level 478,000 239,000</p>
<p>kg/m^2 (impact floors) 54 27</p>
<p>lb/ft^2 (impact floors) 11 6</p>
<p>The fires in WTC 1 released an energy equal to that of an explosion of 1.9 kilotons of TNT; the energy equivalent for WTC 2 is 717 tons. Obviously, an explosion occurs in a fraction of a second while the fires lasted an hour or more, so the rates of energy release were vastly different. Even so, this comparison may sharpen the realization that these fires could weaken the framework of the buildings significantly.</p>
<p>How Hot Did The Buildings Become?</p>
<p>Let us pretend that the framework of the building is made of “ironcrete,” a fictitious mixture of 72% iron and 28% concrete. This framework takes up 5.4% of the volume of the building, the other 94.6% being air. We assume that everything else in the building is combustible or an inert material, and the combined mass and volume of these are insignificant compared to the mass and volume of ironcrete. I arrived at these numbers by estimating volumes and cross-sectional areas of metal and concrete in walls and floors in the WTC Towers.</p>
<p>The space between floors is under 4 meters; and the floors include a layer of concrete about 1/10 meter thick. The building’s horizontal cross-section was a 63.4 meter square. Thus, the gap between floors was nearly 1/10 of the distance from the center of the building to its periphery. Heat radiated by fires was more likely to become trapped between floors, and stored within the concrete floor pans, than it was to radiate through the windows or be carried out through broken windows by the flow of heated air. We can estimate a temperature of the framework, assuming that all the heat became stored in it.</p>
<p>The amount of heat that can be stored in a given amount of matter is a property specific to each material, and is called heat capacity. The ironcrete mixture would have a volumetric heat capacity of Cv = 2.8*10^6 joules/(Centigrade*m^3); (* = multiply). In the real buildings, the large area of the concrete pads would absorb the heat from the fires and hold it, since concrete conducts heat very poorly. The effect is to bath the metal frame with heat as if it were in an oven or kiln. Ironcrete is my homogenization of materials to simplify this numerical example.</p>
<p>The quantity of heat energy Q absorbed within a volume V of material with a volumetric heat capacity Cv, whose temperature is raised by an amount dT (for “delta-T,” a temperature difference) is Q = Cv*V*dT. We can solve for dT. Here, V = (870 m^3)*(# levels); also dT(1) corresponds to WTC 1, and dT(2) corresponds to WTC 2.</p>
<p>dT(1) = (8 x 10^12)/[(2.8 x 10^6)*(870)*8] = 410 C,</p>
<p>dT(2) = (3 x 10^12)/[(2.8 x 10^6)*(870)*6] = 205 C.</p>
<p>Our simple model gives a reasonable estimate of an average frame temperature in the impact zone. The key parameter is Q (for each building). NIST spent considerable effort to arrive at the Q values shown in Table 3 (3). Our model gives a dT comparable to the NIST results because both calculations deposit the same energy into about the same amount of matter. Obviously, the NIST work accounts for all the details, which is necessary to arrive at temperatures and stresses that are specific to every location over the course of time. Our equation of heat balance Q = Cv*V*dT is an example of the conservation of energy, a fundamental principle of physics.</p>
<p>Well, Can The Heat Weaken The Steel Enough?</p>
<p>On this, one either believes or one doesn’t believe. Our simple example shows that the fires could heat the frames into the temperature range NIST calculates. It seems entirely reasonable that steel in areas of active and frequent burning would experience greater heating than the averages estimated here, so hotspots of 600 C to 700 C seem completely believable. Also, the data for WTC Towers steel strength at elevated temperatures is not in dispute. I believe NIST; answer: yes.</p>
<p>Let us follow time through a sequence of thermal events. Fireball</p>
<p>The airplanes hurtling into the buildings with speeds of at least 200 m/s (450 mph) fragmented into exploding torrents of burning fuel, aluminum and plastic. Sparks generated from the airframe by metal fracture and impact friction ignited the mixture of fuel vapor and air. This explosion blew out windows and billowed burning fuel vapor and spray throughout the floors of the impact zone, and along the stairwells and elevator shafts at the center of the building; burning liquid fuel poured down the central shafts. Burning vapor, bulk liquid and droplets ignited most of what they splattered upon. The intense infrared radiation given off by the 1100 C (2000 F) flames quickly ignited nearby combustibles, such as paper and vinyl folders. Within a fraction of a second, the high pressure of the detonation wave had passed, and a rush of fresh air was sucked in through window openings and the impact gash, sliding along the tops of the floors toward the centers of intense burning.</p>
<p>Hot exhaust gases: carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), water vapor (H2O), soot (carbon particles), unburned hydrocarbons (combinations with C and H), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), and particles of pulverized solids vented up stairwells and elevator shafts, and formed thick hot layers underneath floors, heating them while slowly edging toward the openings along the building faces. Within minutes, the aviation fuel was largely burned off, and the oxygen in the impact zone depleted. Thermal Storage</p>
<p>Fires raged throughout the impact zone in an irregular pattern dictated by the interplay of the blast wave with the distribution of matter. Some areas had intense heating (1100 C), while others might still be habitable (20 C). The pace of burning was regulated by the area available for venting the hot exhaust gases, and the area available for the entry of fresh air. Smoke was cleared from the impact gash by air entering as the cycle of flow was established. The fires were now fueled by the contents of the buildings.</p>
<p>Geometrically, the cement floors had large areas and were closely spaced. They intercepted most of the infrared radiation emitted in the voids between them, and they absorbed heat (by conduction) from the slowly moving (“ventilation limited”) layer of hot gases underneath each of them. Concrete conducts heat poorly, but can hold a great deal of it. The metal reinforcing bars within concrete, as well as the metal plate underneath the concrete pad of each WTC Towers floor structure, would tend to even out the temperature distribution gradually.</p>
<p>This process of “preheating the oven” would slowly raise the average temperature in the impact zone while narrowing the range of extremes in temperature. Within half an hour, heat had penetrated to the interior of the concrete, and the temperature everywhere in the impact zone was between 200 C and 700 C, away from sites of active burning. Thermal Decomposition — “Cracking”</p>
<p>Fire moved through the impact zone by finding new sources of fuel, and burning at a rate limited by the ventilation, which changed over time.</p>
<p>Heat within the impact zone “cracks” plastic into a sequence of decreasingly volatile hydrocarbons, similar to the way heat separates out an array of hydrocarbon fuels in the refining of crude oil. As plastic absorbs heat and begins to decompose, it emits hydrocarbon vapors. These may flare if oxygen is available and their ignition temperatures are reached. Also, plumes of mixed hydrocarbon vapor and oxygen may detonate. So, a random series of small explosions might occur during the course of a large fire.</p>
<p>Plastics not designed for use in high temperature may resemble soft oily tar when heated to 400 C. The oil in turn might release vapors of ethane, ethylene, benzene and methane (there are many hydrocarbons) as the temperature climbs further. All these products might begin to burn as the cracking progresses, because oxygen is present and sources of ignition (hotspots, burning embers, infrared radiation) are nearby. Soot is the solid end result of the sequential volatilization and burning of hydrocarbons from plastic. Well over 90% of the thermal energy released in the WTC Towers came from burning the normal contents of the impact zones. Hot Aluminum</p>
<p>Aluminum alloys melt at temperatures between 475 C and 640 C, and molten aluminum was observed pouring out of WTC 2 (5). Most of the aluminum in the impact zone was from the fragmented airframe; but many office machines and furniture items can have aluminum parts, as can moldings, fixtures, tubing and window frames. The temperatures in the WTC Towers fires were too low to vaporize aluminum; however, the forces of impact and explosion could have broken some of the aluminum into small granules and powder. Chemical reactions with hydrocarbon or water vapors might have occurred on the surfaces of freshly granulated hot aluminum.</p>
<p>The most likely product of aluminum burning is aluminum oxide (Al2O3, “alumina”). Because of the tight chemical bonding between the two aluminum atoms and three oxygen atoms in alumina, the compound is very stable and quite heat resistant, melting at 2054 C and boiling at about 3000 C. The affinity of aluminum for oxygen is such that with enough heat it can “burn” to alumina when combined with water, releasing hydrogen gas from the water, 2*Al + 3*H2O + heat -&gt; Al2O3 + 3*H2. Water is introduced into the impact zone through the severed plumbing at the building core, moisture from the outside air, and it is “cracked” out of the gypsum wall panels and to a lesser extent from concrete (the last two are both hydrated solids). Water poured on an aluminum fire can be “fuel to the flame.”</p>
<p>When a mixture of aluminum powder and iron oxide powder is ignited, it burns to iron and aluminum oxide, Al + Fe2O3 + ignition -&gt; Al2O3 + Fe. This is thermite. The reaction produces a temperature that can melt steel (above 1500 C, 2800 F). The rate of burning is governed by the pace of heat diffusion from the hot reaction zone into the unheated powder mixture. Granules must absorb sufficient heat to arrive at the ignition temperature of the process. The ignition temperature of a quiescent powder of aluminum is 585 C. The ignition temperatures of a variety of dusts were found to be between 315 C and 900 C, by scientists developing solid rocket motors. Burning thermite is not an accelerating chain reaction (“explosion”), it is a “sparkler.” My favorite reference to thermite is in the early 1950s motion picture, “The Thing.”</p>
<p>Did patches of thermite form naturally, by chance, in the WTC Towers fires? Could there really have been small bits of melted steel in the debris as a result? Could there have been “thermite residues” on pieces of steel dug out of the debris months later? Maybe, but none of this leads to a conspiracy. If the post-mortem “thermite signature” suggested that a mass of thermite comparable to the quantities shown in Table 3 was involved, then further investigation would be reasonable. The first task of such an investigation would be to produce a “chemical kinetics” model of the oxidation of the fragmented aluminum airframe, in some degree of contact to the steel framing, in the hot atmosphere of hydrocarbon fires in the impact zone. Once Nature had been eliminated as a suspect, one could proceed to consider Human Malevolence. Smoldering Rubble</p>
<p>Nature is endlessly creative. The deeper we explore, the more questions we come to realize.</p>
<p>Steel columns along a building face, heated to between 200 C and 700 C, were increasingly compressed and twisted into a sharpening bend. With increasing load and decreasing strength over the course of an hour or more, the material became unable to rebound elastically, had the load been released. The steel entered the range of plastic deformation, it could still be stretched through a bend, but like taffy it would take on a permanent set. Eventually, it snapped.</p>
<p>Months later, when this section of steel would be dug out of the rubble pile, would the breaks have the fluid look of a drawn out taffy, or perhaps “melted” steel now frozen in time? Or, would these be clean breaks, as edge glass fragments; or perhaps rough, granular breaks as through concrete?</p>
<p>The basements of the WTC Towers included car parks. After the buildings collapsed, it is possible that gasoline fires broke out, adding to the heat of the rubble. We can imagine many of the effects already described, to have occurred in hot pockets within the rubble pile. Water percolating down from that sprayed by the Fire Department might carry air down also, and act as an oxidizing agent.</p>
<p>The tight packing of the debris from the building, and the randomization of its materials would produce a haphazard and porous form of ironcrete aggregate: chunks of steel mixed with broken and pulverized concrete, with dust-, moisture-, and fume-filled gaps. Like a pyramid of barbecue briquettes, the high heat capacity and low thermal conductivity of the rubble pile would efficiently retain its heat.</p>
<p>Did small hunks of steel melt in rubble hot spots that had just the right mix of chemicals and heat? Probably unlikely, but certainly possible.</p>
<p>Pulverized concrete would include that from the impact zone, which may have had part of its water driven off by the heat. If so, such dust would be a desiccating substance (as is Portland cement prior to use; concrete is mixed sand, cement and water). Part of the chronic breathing disorders experienced by many people exposed to the atmosphere at the World Trade Center during and after 9/11 may be due to the inhalation of desiccating dust, now lodged in lung tissue.</p>
<p>Did the lingering hydrocarbon vapors and fumes from burning dissolve in water and create acid pools? Did the calcium-, silicon-, aluminum-, and magnesium-oxides of pulverized concrete form salts in pools of water? Did the sulfate from the gypsum wall panels also acidify standing water? Did acids work on metal surfaces over months, to alter their appearance?</p>
<p>In the enormity of each rubble pile, with its massive quantity of stored heat, many effects were possible in small quantities, given time to incubate. It is even possible that in some little puddle buried deep in the rubble, warmed for months in an oven-like enclosure of concrete rocks, bathed in an atmosphere of methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and perhaps a touch of oxygen, that DNA was formed.</p>
<p>In part one of this report I discuss the physics of 9/11. In part 3, I address the <a href="" type="internal">collapse of WTC 7</a>.</p>
<p>Manuel Garcia a native New Yorker who works as a physicist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California with a PhD Aerospace &amp; Mechanical Engineering, from Princeton His technical interests are generally in fluid flow and energy, specifically in gas dynamics and plasma physics; and his working experience includes measurements on nuclear bomb tests, devising mathematical models of energetic physical effects, and trying to enlarge a union of weapons scientists. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>Endnotes</p>
<p>(web sites active on dates noted)</p>
<p>[1] MANUEL GARCIA, Jr., “ <a href="" type="internal">The Physics of 9/11</a>,” Nov. 28, 2006,</p>
<p>[2] “ <a href="http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-5ExecutiveSummary.pdf" type="external">Executive Summary, Reconstruction of the Fires in the World Trade Center Towers,</a>” NIST NCSTAR 1-5, , (28 September 2006). NIST = National Institute of Standards and Technology, NCSTAR = National Construction Safety Team Advisory Committee.</p>
<p>[3] “Fire Structure Interface and Thermal Response of the World Trade Center Towers,” NIST NCSTAR1-5G, (draft supporting technical report G), http://wtc.nist.gov/pubs/NISTNCSTAR1-5GDraft.pdf, (28 September 2006), Chapter 3, page 32 (page 74 of 334 of the electronic PDF file).</p>
<p>[4] 1 m = 3.28 ft; 1 m^2 = 10.8 ft^2; 1 m^3 = 35.3 ft^3; 1 ft = 0.31 m; 1 ft^2 = 0.93 m^2; 1 ft^3 = 0.28 m^3.</p>
<p>[5] “ <a href="" type="internal">National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Federal Building and Fire Safety Investigation of the World Trade Center Disaster, Answers to Frequently Asked Questions,</a>” (11 September 2006)</p>
<p>CounterPunch Special Report: Debunking the Myths of 9/11</p>
<p>Alexander Cockburn here assembles his two prime commentaries in a final, expanded essay, “ <a href="" type="internal">The 9/11 Conspiracists and the Decline of the Left.</a>”</p>
<p>Manuel Garcia Jr, physicist and engineer, presents his three separate reports, undertaken for CounterPunch.</p>
<p>Part One is his report on the <a href="" type="internal">Physics of 9/11</a>.</p>
<p>Part Two (published here for the first time) is his report on the <a href="" type="internal">Thermodynamics of 9/11</a>.</p>
<p>Part Three, “ <a href="" type="internal">Dark Fire</a>“, is his report on the collapse of the World Trade Center’s Building 7.</p>
<p>JoAnn Wypijewski wrote her essay “ <a href="" type="internal">Conversations at Ground Zero</a>” after a day spent with people at the site on 9/11/2006.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | hijacked airliners crashed tall towers world trade center new york city injected burning cloud aviation fuel throughout 6 levels wtc 2 8 levels wtc 1 impact zone burning fuel ignited office furnishings desks chairs shelving carpeting workspace partitions wall ceiling panels well paper plastic various kinds fires progress much heat could produce heat enough seriously weaken steel framework heat affect metal rubble piles weeks months collapse report motivated questions draw ideas thermal physics chemistry previous report collapses wtc towers described role mechanical forces 1 summary national institute technology standards nist basic facts wtc fires 911 abstracted numerical quantities tabulated table 1 time energy wtc fires item wtc 1 wtc 2 impact time 84630 90259 collapse 102822 95859 time difference 14152 05600 impact zone levels 9299 7883 levels upper block 11 27 heat rate 40 minutes 2 gw 1 gw total heat energy 8000 gj 3000 gj tower 1 stood one hour fortytwo minutes struck levels 92 99 airplane block impact zone 11 levels first 40 minutes time fires raged average heat release rate 2 gw gw gigawatts 109 watts total heat energy released interval airplane impact building collapse 8000 gj gj gigajoules 109 joules joule unit energy watt unit power one watt equals energy delivery rate one joule per second tower 2 stood fiftysix minutes struck levels 78 83 isolating upper block 27 levels fires burned rate near 1 gw forty minutes diminishing later total 3000 gj heat energy released time collapse wtc 2 received half much thermal energy first 40 minutes impact twice upper block mass fell within half time observed wtc 1 would seem wtc 1 stood longer despite receiving thermal energy upper block less massive data table 1 taken executive summary fire safety investigation nist 2 nist work combined materials heat transfer lab experiments fullscale tests wouldnt like burn office cubicles computer simulations arrive history spatial distribution burning thermal histories metal supports impact zone calculated nist thorough turn used inputs calculations stress history support parts structure damaged missing airplane collision accounted introduction combustible mass airplane steel loses strength heat types steel used wtc towers plain carbon vanadium steels trend follows relative 100 strength habitable temperatures table 2 fractional strength steel temperature temperature degrees c fractional strength 200 86 400 73 500 66 600 43 700 20 750 15 800 10 use c centigrade f fahrenheit use degree symbol report fires heated atmosphere impact zone mixture gases smoke temperatures high 1100 c 2000 f however wide variation gas temperature location time migration fires toward new sources fuel complicated irregular interior geometry changes ventilation time eg windows breaking early impact floor might areas habitable temperatures areas hot burning jet fuel 1100 c later structure absorbed heat gas temperature would vary narrower range approximately 200 c 700 c away centers active burning seen table 2 steel loses half strength heated 570 c 1060 f nearly past 700 c 1300 f thus structure impact zone temperature varies 200 c 700 c near time collapse 20 86 original strength location steel frames wtc towers coated sprayed fire resistant materials sfrms simply thermal insulation key finding nist investigation thermal insulation coatings applied unevenly even missing spots construction buildings fatally parts coatings knocked jolt airplane collisions spraying lumpy gummy insulation mixture evenly onto web structural steel assuming dries properly none banged work proceeds gigantic construction site course several years unrealistic expectation perhaps change lesson learned disaster fatal element wtc towers story enough thermal insulation banged steel frames airplane jolts allow parts frames heat 700 c estimate jolts 136 times force gravity wtc 1 204 wtc 2 pivotal conclusion nist fire safety investigation perhaps best shown page 32 chapter 3 volume 5g final report nist ncstar 15g wtc investigation includes graph extracted data table 2 states following two paragraphs nist authors use phrase critical temperature value 570 c steel half strength insulation thickness decreases 1 18 12 columns heat quicker subjected constant radiative flux 12 column takes approximately 7250 2 hours reach critical temperature 700 c gas temperature 1100 c column completely bare fireproofing temperature increases rapidly critical temperature reached within 350 bare column time reach critical temperature 700 c ranges 350 2000 noted time reach critical temperature bare columns less one hour period buildings withstood intense fires core columnsthat fireproofing intact reach critical temperature 600 c 1 1 12 hour period note wtc 1 collapsed approximately 1 12 hour wtc 2 collapsed approximately 1 hour implies core columns played role final collapse fireproofing damage would required result thermal degradation strength 3 collapse airplane impact sheared columns along one face buildings core within minutes upper block transferred portion weight central columns impact zone across lateral support building crown called hat truss onto three intact outer faces course next 56 minutes wtc 2 102 minutes wtc 1 fires impact zone would weaken remaining central columns steadily increased downward force exerted intact faces heatweakened frames floors sagged bowed exterior columns inward levels impact zone asymmetry damage one three intact faces took much mounting load eventually buckled inward upper block fell 1 lets explore heat big fires approximate size level 1 story wtc towers volume 16080 m3 area 4020 m2 height 4 4 table 3 shows several ways describing total thermal energy released fires table 3 magnitude thermal energy equivalent weight tnt item wtc 1 wtc 2 energy q 8000 gj 3000 gj levels 8 6 tons tnt 1912 717 tonslevel 239 120 lblevel 478000 239000 kgm2 impact floors 54 27 lbft2 impact floors 11 6 fires wtc 1 released energy equal explosion 19 kilotons tnt energy equivalent wtc 2 717 tons obviously explosion occurs fraction second fires lasted hour rates energy release vastly different even comparison may sharpen realization fires could weaken framework buildings significantly hot buildings become let us pretend framework building made ironcrete fictitious mixture 72 iron 28 concrete framework takes 54 volume building 946 air assume everything else building combustible inert material combined mass volume insignificant compared mass volume ironcrete arrived numbers estimating volumes crosssectional areas metal concrete walls floors wtc towers space floors 4 meters floors include layer concrete 110 meter thick buildings horizontal crosssection 634 meter square thus gap floors nearly 110 distance center building periphery heat radiated fires likely become trapped floors stored within concrete floor pans radiate windows carried broken windows flow heated air estimate temperature framework assuming heat became stored amount heat stored given amount matter property specific material called heat capacity ironcrete mixture would volumetric heat capacity cv 28106 joulescentigradem3 multiply real buildings large area concrete pads would absorb heat fires hold since concrete conducts heat poorly effect bath metal frame heat oven kiln ironcrete homogenization materials simplify numerical example quantity heat energy q absorbed within volume v material volumetric heat capacity cv whose temperature raised amount dt deltat temperature difference q cvvdt solve dt v 870 m3 levels also dt1 corresponds wtc 1 dt2 corresponds wtc 2 dt1 8 x 101228 x 1068708 410 c dt2 3 x 101228 x 1068706 205 c simple model gives reasonable estimate average frame temperature impact zone key parameter q building nist spent considerable effort arrive q values shown table 3 3 model gives dt comparable nist results calculations deposit energy amount matter obviously nist work accounts details necessary arrive temperatures stresses specific every location course time equation heat balance q cvvdt example conservation energy fundamental principle physics well heat weaken steel enough one either believes one doesnt believe simple example shows fires could heat frames temperature range nist calculates seems entirely reasonable steel areas active frequent burning would experience greater heating averages estimated hotspots 600 c 700 c seem completely believable also data wtc towers steel strength elevated temperatures dispute believe nist answer yes let us follow time sequence thermal events fireball airplanes hurtling buildings speeds least 200 ms 450 mph fragmented exploding torrents burning fuel aluminum plastic sparks generated airframe metal fracture impact friction ignited mixture fuel vapor air explosion blew windows billowed burning fuel vapor spray throughout floors impact zone along stairwells elevator shafts center building burning liquid fuel poured central shafts burning vapor bulk liquid droplets ignited splattered upon intense infrared radiation given 1100 c 2000 f flames quickly ignited nearby combustibles paper vinyl folders within fraction second high pressure detonation wave passed rush fresh air sucked window openings impact gash sliding along tops floors toward centers intense burning hot exhaust gases carbon monoxide co carbon dioxide co2 water vapor h2o soot carbon particles unburned hydrocarbons combinations c h oxides nitrogen nox particles pulverized solids vented stairwells elevator shafts formed thick hot layers underneath floors heating slowly edging toward openings along building faces within minutes aviation fuel largely burned oxygen impact zone depleted thermal storage fires raged throughout impact zone irregular pattern dictated interplay blast wave distribution matter areas intense heating 1100 c others might still habitable 20 c pace burning regulated area available venting hot exhaust gases area available entry fresh air smoke cleared impact gash air entering cycle flow established fires fueled contents buildings geometrically cement floors large areas closely spaced intercepted infrared radiation emitted voids absorbed heat conduction slowly moving ventilation limited layer hot gases underneath concrete conducts heat poorly hold great deal metal reinforcing bars within concrete well metal plate underneath concrete pad wtc towers floor structure would tend even temperature distribution gradually process preheating oven would slowly raise average temperature impact zone narrowing range extremes temperature within half hour heat penetrated interior concrete temperature everywhere impact zone 200 c 700 c away sites active burning thermal decomposition cracking fire moved impact zone finding new sources fuel burning rate limited ventilation changed time heat within impact zone cracks plastic sequence decreasingly volatile hydrocarbons similar way heat separates array hydrocarbon fuels refining crude oil plastic absorbs heat begins decompose emits hydrocarbon vapors may flare oxygen available ignition temperatures reached also plumes mixed hydrocarbon vapor oxygen may detonate random series small explosions might occur course large fire plastics designed use high temperature may resemble soft oily tar heated 400 c oil turn might release vapors ethane ethylene benzene methane many hydrocarbons temperature climbs products might begin burn cracking progresses oxygen present sources ignition hotspots burning embers infrared radiation nearby soot solid end result sequential volatilization burning hydrocarbons plastic well 90 thermal energy released wtc towers came burning normal contents impact zones hot aluminum aluminum alloys melt temperatures 475 c 640 c molten aluminum observed pouring wtc 2 5 aluminum impact zone fragmented airframe many office machines furniture items aluminum parts moldings fixtures tubing window frames temperatures wtc towers fires low vaporize aluminum however forces impact explosion could broken aluminum small granules powder chemical reactions hydrocarbon water vapors might occurred surfaces freshly granulated hot aluminum likely product aluminum burning aluminum oxide al2o3 alumina tight chemical bonding two aluminum atoms three oxygen atoms alumina compound stable quite heat resistant melting 2054 c boiling 3000 c affinity aluminum oxygen enough heat burn alumina combined water releasing hydrogen gas water 2al 3h2o heat gt al2o3 3h2 water introduced impact zone severed plumbing building core moisture outside air cracked gypsum wall panels lesser extent concrete last two hydrated solids water poured aluminum fire fuel flame mixture aluminum powder iron oxide powder ignited burns iron aluminum oxide al fe2o3 ignition gt al2o3 fe thermite reaction produces temperature melt steel 1500 c 2800 f rate burning governed pace heat diffusion hot reaction zone unheated powder mixture granules must absorb sufficient heat arrive ignition temperature process ignition temperature quiescent powder aluminum 585 c ignition temperatures variety dusts found 315 c 900 c scientists developing solid rocket motors burning thermite accelerating chain reaction explosion sparkler favorite reference thermite early 1950s motion picture thing patches thermite form naturally chance wtc towers fires could really small bits melted steel debris result could thermite residues pieces steel dug debris months later maybe none leads conspiracy postmortem thermite signature suggested mass thermite comparable quantities shown table 3 involved investigation would reasonable first task investigation would produce chemical kinetics model oxidation fragmented aluminum airframe degree contact steel framing hot atmosphere hydrocarbon fires impact zone nature eliminated suspect one could proceed consider human malevolence smoldering rubble nature endlessly creative deeper explore questions come realize steel columns along building face heated 200 c 700 c increasingly compressed twisted sharpening bend increasing load decreasing strength course hour material became unable rebound elastically load released steel entered range plastic deformation could still stretched bend like taffy would take permanent set eventually snapped months later section steel would dug rubble pile would breaks fluid look drawn taffy perhaps melted steel frozen time would clean breaks edge glass fragments perhaps rough granular breaks concrete basements wtc towers included car parks buildings collapsed possible gasoline fires broke adding heat rubble imagine many effects already described occurred hot pockets within rubble pile water percolating sprayed fire department might carry air also act oxidizing agent tight packing debris building randomization materials would produce haphazard porous form ironcrete aggregate chunks steel mixed broken pulverized concrete dust moisture fumefilled gaps like pyramid barbecue briquettes high heat capacity low thermal conductivity rubble pile would efficiently retain heat small hunks steel melt rubble hot spots right mix chemicals heat probably unlikely certainly possible pulverized concrete would include impact zone may part water driven heat dust would desiccating substance portland cement prior use concrete mixed sand cement water part chronic breathing disorders experienced many people exposed atmosphere world trade center 911 may due inhalation desiccating dust lodged lung tissue lingering hydrocarbon vapors fumes burning dissolve water create acid pools calcium silicon aluminum magnesiumoxides pulverized concrete form salts pools water sulfate gypsum wall panels also acidify standing water acids work metal surfaces months alter appearance enormity rubble pile massive quantity stored heat many effects possible small quantities given time incubate even possible little puddle buried deep rubble warmed months ovenlike enclosure concrete rocks bathed atmosphere methane carbon monoxide carbon dioxide perhaps touch oxygen dna formed part one report discuss physics 911 part 3 address collapse wtc 7 manuel garcia native new yorker works physicist lawrence livermore national laboratory california phd aerospace amp mechanical engineering princeton technical interests generally fluid flow energy specifically gas dynamics plasma physics working experience includes measurements nuclear bomb tests devising mathematical models energetic physical effects trying enlarge union weapons scientists reached mangoidiomcom 160 endnotes web sites active dates noted 1 manuel garcia jr physics 911 nov 28 2006 2 executive summary reconstruction fires world trade center towers nist ncstar 15 28 september 2006 nist national institute standards technology ncstar national construction safety team advisory committee 3 fire structure interface thermal response world trade center towers nist ncstar15g draft supporting technical report g httpwtcnistgovpubsnistncstar15gdraftpdf 28 september 2006 chapter 3 page 32 page 74 334 electronic pdf file 4 1 328 ft 1 m2 108 ft2 1 m3 353 ft3 1 ft 031 1 ft2 093 m2 1 ft3 028 m3 5 national institute standards technology nist federal building fire safety investigation world trade center disaster answers frequently asked questions 11 september 2006 counterpunch special report debunking myths 911 alexander cockburn assembles two prime commentaries final expanded essay 911 conspiracists decline left manuel garcia jr physicist engineer presents three separate reports undertaken counterpunch part one report physics 911 part two published first time report thermodynamics 911 part three dark fire report collapse world trade centers building 7 joann wypijewski wrote essay conversations ground zero day spent people site 9112006 160 160 160 | 2,550 |
<p>As Noam Chomsky has often cautioned, when considering foreign relations, and especially military intervention, states should always heed the primary Hippocratic oath – “First, do no harm.”&#160;&#160; The U.S. has certainly disregarded this admonition with reckless abandon in Latin America, and Colombia is the foremost example of this, at least at the present time.&#160;&#160; Human Rights Watch appears to concur with this judgment.</p>
<p>Thus, Human Rights Watch&#160; (HRW) just released its annual human rights report on Colombia, and it is not pretty.&#160;&#160; The punch line of the report is most damning of the United States and its role in that country’s abysmal practices – undoubtedly, the very worst of this hemisphere.</p>
<p>As HRW concludes, after its litany of atrocities being committed by the Colombian state and its paramilitary (death squad) allies,</p>
<p>The U.S. remains the most influential foreign actor in Colombia.&#160; In 2011 it provided approximately US $562 million in aid, about 61 percent of which was military and police aid.&#160;&#160; Thirty percent of US military aid is subject&#160;to human rights conditions, which the US Department of State has not enforced.&#160;&#160; In September 2011 the State Department certified that Colombia was meeting human rights conditions.</p>
<p>HRW explains in detail that the human rights violations the U.S. is aiding and abetting in Colombia are indeed the worst imaginable.&#160;&#160; As HRW explains, in Colombia</p>
<p>paramilitary successor groups continue to grow, maintain extensive ties with public security force members and local officials, and commit widespread atrocities.&#160;&#160; There has also been ongoing violence against rights defenders, community leaders, and trade unionists.</p>
<p>According to the HRW report, the paramilitary death squads, whose power flows from “[t]oleration of the groups by public security forces,” actively “engage in drug trafficking; actively recruit members, including children; and&#160;commit widespread abuses against civilians, including massacres, killings, rapes and other forms of sexual violence, threats and forced displacement.”&#160;&#160; HRW notes that, “[i]n January 2011 Colombia’s national police chief publicly stated that&#160;such groups are the largest source of violence in Colombia.”&#160; This is a significant admission because the U.S., to justify its continued military support for Colombia, would have the public believe that it is the left-wing guerillas who are most responsible for the violence in Colombia.&#160;&#160; In fact, this is not true.&#160; Rather, it is the paramilitary death squads who bear this responsibility, and it is these death squads, allied as they are with the official Colombian security forces, which are being supported by the military aid the U.S. is sending to that country.</p>
<p>Moreover, while the U.S. attempts with a straight face to portray Colombia as a “democracy,” contrasting this with countries such as Cuba or Venezuela which the U.S claims lack democratic values, the recent HRW report makes it clear that Colombia is not recognizable as a democracy in any real sense.&#160; Thus, HRW explains that</p>
<p>Candidates campaigning for the nationwide and&#160; local elections in October 2011 were also frequently killed amid reports of alleged links between candidates and armed groups.&#160; According to the Colombian NGO Mision de Observacion Electoral, 40 candidates were killed in 2011, representing a 48 percent increase in such crimes reported during the 2007 local elections.</p>
<p>If the murder of political candidates were not bad enough, HRW explains that there is “ongoing infiltration of the political system by paramilitaries and their successor groups.&#160; . . .&#160; Colombia’s Ombudsman’s Office reported that 119 municipalities faced a high risk of electoral violence or interference by paramilitary successor groups during the October 2011 local elections.”</p>
<p>In addition, as HRW explains, the Colombian military has been guilty of more than 3,000 extrajudicial killings of civilians in what is known as the “false positive” scandal wherein “army personnel murdered civilians and reported them as combatants killed in action, apparently in response to pressure to boost body counts.”&#160;&#160; This “pressure to boost body counts,” moreover, is coming ultimately from the U.S. which is pursuing an aggressive anti-insurgency policy which rewards the Colombian military for its killing of guerillas.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, and of special concern to the labor movement in the U.S., HRW confirms that Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world for trade unionists with 28 unionists killed in 2011.&#160; And, this year has gotten off to a horrible start.&#160; Thus, in recent days, three (3) trade unionists have been killed in Colombia – at least one (Victor Manuel Hilarion Palacios) by the Colombian armed forces themselves.&#160;&#160;&#160; In another instance, Mauricio Redondo, a leader of the USO union (the oil union of Colombia and that country’s oldest union) was murdered along with his wife, leaving five children orphaned.&#160;&#160; Again, such killings do nothing to slow down U.S. aid to the Colombian regime.</p>
<p>Much is to be learned from the case of Colombia.&#160;&#160; For one, it puts a lie to the U.S.’s claim, often used to justify U.S. military intervention, of supporting democracy and human rights abroad.&#160;&#160; In the case of Colombia, the U.S. is indeed fueling massive human and labor rights abuses by supporting a regime that it is literally at war with its own people.</p>
<p>This brings us to the next and most important lesson – violence is not working in Colombia to end the insurgency or to bring about positive change.&#160; And yet, it is violence that the U.S. is choosing to use ostensibly to advance such ends.&#160;&#160; Apparently, the U.S. (the proverbial hammer seeing nails everywhere) does so because violence has become the only tool the U.S. knows to solve problems, despite the fact that this violence almost invariably exacerbates these problems and indeed creates many others.&#160;&#160; It is clear that in Colombia the only viable solution for a lasting peace, and for real prosperity, is a negotiated settlement to the armed conflict.&#160; Tragically, it is such a settlement which the U.S. has refused to support over the years.</p>
<p>Indeed, as Colombia Reports explained, the U.S. has actually put out a call in recent days for countries throughout the region to step up concerted, violent assaults on the guerillas in Colombia.&#160;&#160; Meanwhile, as Colombia Reports also explained, it is Cuba which is hosting secret peace talks between insurgents and the Colombian government.</p>
<p>As in the case of Haiti where the Cubans have sent doctors to fight cholera and the U.S. sent soldiers to fight the population, it is Cuba which is playing a positive, peaceful role in our hemisphere; not the U.S.&#160;&#160; This fact should be humbling to our leaders in the U.S. if they indeed know humility or shame.</p>
<p>Daniel Kovalik is Senior Associate General Counsel of the United Steelworkers (USW).&#160;</p> | true | 4 | noam chomsky often cautioned considering foreign relations especially military intervention states always heed primary hippocratic oath first harm160160 us certainly disregarded admonition reckless abandon latin america colombia foremost example least present time160160 human rights watch appears concur judgment thus human rights watch160 hrw released annual human rights report colombia pretty160160 punch line report damning united states role countrys abysmal practices undoubtedly worst hemisphere hrw concludes litany atrocities committed colombian state paramilitary death squad allies us remains influential foreign actor colombia160 2011 provided approximately us 562 million aid 61 percent military police aid160160 thirty percent us military aid subject160to human rights conditions us department state enforced160160 september 2011 state department certified colombia meeting human rights conditions hrw explains detail human rights violations us aiding abetting colombia indeed worst imaginable160160 hrw explains colombia paramilitary successor groups continue grow maintain extensive ties public security force members local officials commit widespread atrocities160160 also ongoing violence rights defenders community leaders trade unionists according hrw report paramilitary death squads whose power flows toleration groups public security forces actively engage drug trafficking actively recruit members including children and160commit widespread abuses civilians including massacres killings rapes forms sexual violence threats forced displacement160160 hrw notes january 2011 colombias national police chief publicly stated that160such groups largest source violence colombia160 significant admission us justify continued military support colombia would public believe leftwing guerillas responsible violence colombia160160 fact true160 rather paramilitary death squads bear responsibility death squads allied official colombian security forces supported military aid us sending country moreover us attempts straight face portray colombia democracy contrasting countries cuba venezuela us claims lack democratic values recent hrw report makes clear colombia recognizable democracy real sense160 thus hrw explains candidates campaigning nationwide and160 local elections october 2011 also frequently killed amid reports alleged links candidates armed groups160 according colombian ngo mision de observacion electoral 40 candidates killed 2011 representing 48 percent increase crimes reported 2007 local elections murder political candidates bad enough hrw explains ongoing infiltration political system paramilitaries successor groups160 160 colombias ombudsmans office reported 119 municipalities faced high risk electoral violence interference paramilitary successor groups october 2011 local elections addition hrw explains colombian military guilty 3000 extrajudicial killings civilians known false positive scandal wherein army personnel murdered civilians reported combatants killed action apparently response pressure boost body counts160160 pressure boost body counts moreover coming ultimately us pursuing aggressive antiinsurgency policy rewards colombian military killing guerillas meanwhile special concern labor movement us hrw confirms colombia remains dangerous country world trade unionists 28 unionists killed 2011160 year gotten horrible start160 thus recent days three 3 trade unionists killed colombia least one victor manuel hilarion palacios colombian armed forces themselves160160160 another instance mauricio redondo leader uso union oil union colombia countrys oldest union murdered along wife leaving five children orphaned160160 killings nothing slow us aid colombian regime much learned case colombia160160 one puts lie uss claim often used justify us military intervention supporting democracy human rights abroad160160 case colombia us indeed fueling massive human labor rights abuses supporting regime literally war people brings us next important lesson violence working colombia end insurgency bring positive change160 yet violence us choosing use ostensibly advance ends160160 apparently us proverbial hammer seeing nails everywhere violence become tool us knows solve problems despite fact violence almost invariably exacerbates problems indeed creates many others160160 clear colombia viable solution lasting peace real prosperity negotiated settlement armed conflict160 tragically settlement us refused support years indeed colombia reports explained us actually put call recent days countries throughout region step concerted violent assaults guerillas colombia160160 meanwhile colombia reports also explained cuba hosting secret peace talks insurgents colombian government case haiti cubans sent doctors fight cholera us sent soldiers fight population cuba playing positive peaceful role hemisphere us160160 fact humbling leaders us indeed know humility shame daniel kovalik senior associate general counsel united steelworkers usw160 | 631 |
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<p>Washington, DC</p>
<p>The last two presidential elections revealed that American democracy is in distress. A full public airing is much needed and the stature of the Carter-Baker Commission promises to garner the national attention and respect required to truly grapple with the scope of the problem. That is, until people begin to look at the make-up of the Commission and it’s agenda.</p>
<p>Perhaps the hottest issue in election reform is making sure that votes are counted accurately. It is now widely understood that paperless computer voting systems are vulnerable to human error, computer failure and malicious tampering and therefore verification of the vote is essential. Paperless electronic voting vs. voting with a voter verified paper ballot (VVPB) is now an issue under consideration in state legislatures across the country. So far, 14 states have passed laws requiring a VVPB, two of those are awaiting the governor’s signature.</p>
<p>Sadly, the Carter-Baker Commission has compromised itself at the outset by including a figure with an embarrassing corporate conflict of interest on the key question of vote counts. Ralph Munro is the Chairman of VoteHere, a company with millions invested in the ‘vote verification’ market. VoteHere is literally banking on the successful marketing of their cryptographic product as the verification method in spite of the fact that voter-verified paper ballots are the solution most recommended by independent computer security experts. Munro should recuse himself to save the Commission from further awkwardness. And, Commission Co-Chair James Baker is invested of the Carlyle Group which owns another voting machine company. The Commission should avoid such improprieties.</p>
<p>A model election is one which is so transparent that the losing candidate and their supporters trust the process completely. Make audits a routine practice of every election and deliver a refreshing boost to voter confidence. The good government practice of routine audits, required in the business world, elevates the credibility of the results. Imagine elections where the candidates truly earn the good will of the losing party. The only remaining decision should be what constitutes a sufficient audit, i.e. what percentage of hand counted paper ballots should be compared to the electronic count to be sure the election outcome was accurate.</p>
<p>Full audits, also known as recounts, are another essential for transparent and credible elections. Rather than fearing recounts election officials should welcome them as an opportunity to build public confidence in the process. Unfortunately in recent years election boards and state legislators have been moving ‘to legislate recounts out of existence’ as one state official describes it, by adding costs to those who request them and creating other hurdles. Administration of meaningful recounts – whether initiated by candidates and/or citizens ­ should be viewed as a fundamental duty of election officials in a democratic nation. After all, if voters do not trust election results, the legitimacy of government is undermined.</p>
<p>Why is voter turnout so low in the United States? A recent survey by California Voter Foundation found that the second most common reason people don’t vote is: “There are no candidates I believe in.” Both infrequent and non-voters agreed: “I don’t feel that candidates really speak to me” (49 percent of infrequent voters and 55 percent of nonvoters). As a ‘bi-partisan’ body, the Commission reproduces a major defect in our electoral system: the straight jacket of the two major parties on our democracy. There is much hand-wringing over how to increase voter participation but will the Commission, with its bi-partisan myopia, be able to see this fundamental flaw? Who on the Commission represents the one third of American voters who identify themselves as independent and unaffiliated with either the Democrats or Republicans?</p>
<p>Indeed America’s bi-partisan “democracy” is failing to effectively represent the views of many Americans. The two major parties have created barriers to ballot access for non-major party candidates. Will a partisan commission address this shortcoming in elections? Limiting voters to two major party candidates is at the root of the voters feeling unrepresented. Partisans prefer to limit the competition of other candidates and keep voters trapped into ‘lesser evil’ voting. Therefore, the obvious solution, ranked choice voting ­ allowing voters to pick their favorite candidate first and their lesser evil alternative second ­ and counting their second choice if the first does not win, will be overlooked by partisans.</p>
<p>Continuing this bi-partisan myopia, where are the independent counterparts to Carter and Baker such as Ralph Nader, Pat Buchanan, Ross Perot and John Anderson? Take note, it was only third party and independent candidates who stood up for recounts in states where citizens doubted the results this past November. Surely these candidates had constituencies beyond their party’s registration numbers, indeed among major party voters.</p>
<p>And who on this Commission will speak against the scandalous bi-partisan Presidential Debate Commission which degrades our democracy every cycle by conspiring to lock out candidates who might compete with their two party monopoly?</p>
<p>Will it stand against the redistricting abuses by both major parties? These abuses result in politicians choosing their voters rather than voters choosing their elected officials. Redistricting is designed by incumbents to ensure protect their seats. As a result most Americans are voting in one-party districts where there is no question of the outcome before the first vote is cast. If this were occurring in Communist China or Saudi Arabia we’d call it a phony democracy.</p>
<p>We hope the Commission proves us wrong but the partisan blinders of the Carter-Baker Commission are likely to leave critical issues unexamined.</p>
<p>Linda Schade is the director of TrueVoteMD.org and communications director of <a href="http://www.VoteTrustUSA.org/" type="external">VoteTrustUSA.org</a>.</p>
<p>Kevin Zeese is president of <a href="http://www.VoteTrustUSA.org/" type="external">VoteTrustUSA.org</a> and a member of the board of Velvet Revolution.</p>
<p>Further Information:</p>
<p>California Voter Foundation Comprehensive Results of Survey on Voting Incentives and Barriers, <a href="" type="internal">http://www.calvoter.org/news/releases/040705release.html</a>, April 7, 2005.</p>
<p>Larisa Alexandrovna, Partisans Discuss ‘Reform,’Questions surface regarding legitimacy of Baker-Carter election reform commission <a href="http://rawstory.com/exclusives/alexandrovna/carter_baker_electoral_reform_controversy_414.htm%2C" type="external">http://rawstory.com/</a>April 14, 2005.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 washington dc last two presidential elections revealed american democracy distress full public airing much needed stature carterbaker commission promises garner national attention respect required truly grapple scope problem people begin look makeup commission agenda perhaps hottest issue election reform making sure votes counted accurately widely understood paperless computer voting systems vulnerable human error computer failure malicious tampering therefore verification vote essential paperless electronic voting vs voting voter verified paper ballot vvpb issue consideration state legislatures across country far 14 states passed laws requiring vvpb two awaiting governors signature sadly carterbaker commission compromised outset including figure embarrassing corporate conflict interest key question vote counts ralph munro chairman votehere company millions invested vote verification market votehere literally banking successful marketing cryptographic product verification method spite fact voterverified paper ballots solution recommended independent computer security experts munro recuse save commission awkwardness commission cochair james baker invested carlyle group owns another voting machine company commission avoid improprieties model election one transparent losing candidate supporters trust process completely make audits routine practice every election deliver refreshing boost voter confidence good government practice routine audits required business world elevates credibility results imagine elections candidates truly earn good losing party remaining decision constitutes sufficient audit ie percentage hand counted paper ballots compared electronic count sure election outcome accurate full audits also known recounts another essential transparent credible elections rather fearing recounts election officials welcome opportunity build public confidence process unfortunately recent years election boards state legislators moving legislate recounts existence one state official describes adding costs request creating hurdles administration meaningful recounts whether initiated candidates andor citizens viewed fundamental duty election officials democratic nation voters trust election results legitimacy government undermined voter turnout low united states recent survey california voter foundation found second common reason people dont vote candidates believe infrequent nonvoters agreed dont feel candidates really speak 49 percent infrequent voters 55 percent nonvoters bipartisan body commission reproduces major defect electoral system straight jacket two major parties democracy much handwringing increase voter participation commission bipartisan myopia able see fundamental flaw commission represents one third american voters identify independent unaffiliated either democrats republicans indeed americas bipartisan democracy failing effectively represent views many americans two major parties created barriers ballot access nonmajor party candidates partisan commission address shortcoming elections limiting voters two major party candidates root voters feeling unrepresented partisans prefer limit competition candidates keep voters trapped lesser evil voting therefore obvious solution ranked choice voting allowing voters pick favorite candidate first lesser evil alternative second counting second choice first win overlooked partisans continuing bipartisan myopia independent counterparts carter baker ralph nader pat buchanan ross perot john anderson take note third party independent candidates stood recounts states citizens doubted results past november surely candidates constituencies beyond partys registration numbers indeed among major party voters commission speak scandalous bipartisan presidential debate commission degrades democracy every cycle conspiring lock candidates might compete two party monopoly stand redistricting abuses major parties abuses result politicians choosing voters rather voters choosing elected officials redistricting designed incumbents ensure protect seats result americans voting oneparty districts question outcome first vote cast occurring communist china saudi arabia wed call phony democracy hope commission proves us wrong partisan blinders carterbaker commission likely leave critical issues unexamined linda schade director truevotemdorg communications director votetrustusaorg kevin zeese president votetrustusaorg member board velvet revolution information california voter foundation comprehensive results survey voting incentives barriers httpwwwcalvoterorgnewsreleases040705releasehtml april 7 2005 larisa alexandrovna partisans discuss reformquestions surface regarding legitimacy bakercarter election reform commission httprawstorycomapril 14 2005 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 584 |
<p>Probably the last thing you’d expect to find when browsing the website of Boston University’s Trustees is a comment section where top university scientists debate right-wing policy advocates about the reality of human-caused climate change.</p>
<p>But if you look hard enough, that’s exactly what you’ll get.</p>
<p>At a bottom of a recently-released <a href="http://www.bu.edu/trustees/boardoftrustees/committees/acsri/investment-issues/fossil-fuel/fossil-fuel-issue-analysis/" type="external">document</a> discussing fossil fuel divestment at BU, at least four men affiliated with the conservative Heartland Institute are arguing about climate change with three professors — evolutionary ecologist Les Kaufman, molecular biologist Edward Loechler, and Department of Earth &amp; Environment associate professor Ian Sue Wing.</p>
<p>We didn’t expect the reality of climate change to be an issue in the university.</p>
<p>The arguments all surround a document called a “Fossil Fuel Issue Analysis” — an overview of the debate surrounding fossil fuels and climate change, conducted by the university’s Advisory Committee on Socially Responsible Investing (ACSRI). The ACSRI is currently considering <a href="http://www.divestbu.org/" type="external">a request to purge all fossil fuel investments</a> from the university’s $1.6 billion endowment, thereby taking a symbolic stance against the primary cause of global warming.</p>
<p>For Kaufman, a professor who advocates for fossil fuel divestment at the university, the document’s release was long overdue.</p>
<p>“We were excited when they put it right up there on the website and agreed to address the issue,” he told ThinkProgress. “But we were appalled by the first posting.”</p>
<p>Kaufman called the document “shocking.” In it, the viewpoints of scientific organizations like the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the National Research Council of the National Academies are juxtaposed with those of the right-wing think tank The Heartland Institute, and the <a href="http://johncolemanweather.com/" type="external">blog</a> of former weatherman John Coleman. While the document acknowledges that “a majority of scientists argue that human activity plays a significant role in climate change,” it also cites Heartland’s Nongovernmental International Panel on Climate Change, which argues that climate models are based on “gross and imperfect measurements” and that global warming won’t be bad for humankind.</p>
<p>For Kaufman, this was despicable. “We had hoped to have an open discussion [of divestment] that was based solely on hard data and how the data are interpreted,” Kaufman said. “We didn’t expect the reality of climate change to be an issue in the university.”</p>
<p>So, he took to the comment section to voice his outrage. His colleagues did as well.</p>
<p>Two weeks later, Kaufman got a response from Russell Cook, a blogger who says he receives “strings-free grants” from Heartland. Cook’s also the editor of <a href="http://gelbspanfiles.com/?page_id=18" type="external">the Gelbspan Files</a>, a site dedicated to proving that climate denying scientists are not corrupted by the fossil fuel industry. Cook confirmed to ThinkProgress that he wrote the comments, which disparage Kaufman for engaging in “anti-science efforts to push out one entire side of the issue for consideration.”</p>
<p>[T]here is little if any evidence CO2 is the primary cause of global&#160;warming.</p>
<p>Shortly after that, others affiliated with Heartland piled on. James H. Rust, a Heartland policy adviser, commented that global warming is a “fraud&#160;… [a] scare [that] has been kept alive by false predictions of catastrophic events for more than 20 years.” <a href="https://www.heartland.org/donn-dears" type="external">Donn Dears</a>, an energy expert for Heartland, wrote that “there is little if any evidence CO2 is the primary cause of global warming.”</p>
<p>Neither Rust nor Dears returned ThinkProgress’ request for confirmation that they wrote the comments, though well-known climate denier Lord Christopher Monckton of Brenchley — a one-time adviser to former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher and current policy adviser at Heartland — confirmed his own participation in the debate. Monckton’s remarks toed the line that global warming would not be severe or dangerous.</p>
<p>It’s clear why Kaufman and his colleagues were engaged with the Fossil Fuel Issue Analysis at Boston University, as both are involved in the university’s divestment movement. But it’s unclear how Heartland got involved. To get to the document itself, you have to go through five separate links. The document’s release was not advertised anywhere on the website. There have been no press releases or news articles discussing the document.</p>
<p>Of the four men affiliated with Heartland, Monckton and Cook responded to ThinkProgress’ inquiry on how they were alerted to the document. Via email, Monckton said he could not remember. Cook said he was directed there by Heartland.</p>
<p>Among some at the university, the think tank’s participation has brought a suspicion that political interests are making their way into BU’s decision on whether or not to divest. One professor, who asked not to be identified, voiced concern about a recent <a href="http://bizbeatblog.dallasnews.com/2015/03/allen-and-kelli-questrom-give-boston-u-50-million-former-jcpenney-ceo-an-alumnus.html/" type="external">$50 million gift</a> to the university from former J.C. Penney CEO Allen Questrom, who <a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/usearch/?q=Allen+Questrom&amp;cx=010677907462955562473%3Anlldkv0jvam&amp;cof=FORID%3A11" type="external">regularly donates</a> thousands of dollars to Republican politicians.</p>
<p>This committee has to do this. It’s proper. It’s&#160;logical.</p>
<p>Not everyone at BU thinks that way, though. Biology professor Edward Loechler — who is the faculty representative for <a href="http://www.divestbu.org/who-we-are/" type="external">Divest BU</a> — says he doesn’t think politics are perverting the divestment discussion. In fact, he said he welcomes the inclusion of the climate denier’s perspective in the Fossil Fuel Issue Analysis.</p>
<p>“This committee has to do this. It’s proper. It’s logical,” he said. “We live in an academic committee. As long as they adjudicate in the end, and say look, we look at both sides and we looked at the arguments from the deniers — as long as they do that, I think this is fine.”</p>
<p>Loechler noted that the ultimate decision on whether to divest will be made by the <a href="http://www.bu.edu/trustees/boardoftrustees/members/" type="external">Boston University Trustees</a>, a committee made up of CEOs, attorneys, religious leaders — people who might not necessarily be well-versed in the issue of climate science. If the ACSRI came to the committee without proving that it considered climate deniers, it may look biased — even though, in the scientific world, it isn’t.</p>
<p>“[The Trustees] want to know that this isn’t a whitewash,” Loechler said. “They want to know that the people who walked into this room to give them the best explanation of what’s going on here really grappled with this and really did their homework.”</p>
<p>Still, Loechler said the fact that the ACSRI did include climate denial in their assessment of fossil fuels is proof of the success of that movement relative to their credibility in the scientific world. In terms of the scientific reality, <a href="http://tigger.uic.edu/~pdoran/012009_Doran_final.pdf" type="external">97 percent</a> of scientists actively publishing climate research conclude that humans cause global warming. It’s the relative success of groups like Heartland that demand the other 3 percent’s inclusion in documents like this one.</p>
<p>“People at the Heartland Institute are trolling the internet, looking for places to put this garbage up,” he said, “to muddle things.”</p>
<p>People at the Heartland Institute are trolling the internet, looking for places to put this garbage&#160;up.</p>
<p>So, despite the inclusion of climate denial in BU’s Fossil Fuel Investment Analysis, Kaufman is optimistic about the ultimate outcome — that eventually, the Boston University Trustees will decide to divest from fossil fuels, based on the weight on the scientific evidence. “It’s my impression, and I believe it’s very likely, that eventually this will be adjudicated,” he said.</p>
<p>Claire Richer, who leads BU’s student divestment movement and is one of three student representatives of ACSRI, agreed. She noted that BU Student Government recently <a href="http://dailyfreepress.com/2015/04/15/divest-bu-hosts-speakers-advocating-for-climate-change-policy-reform/" type="external">passed a referendum</a> showing that 75 percent of students who voted believe the university should divest from fossil fuels. Richer said the next step is to hold forums on divestment in the fall semester to engage the community on the issue. A decision, she said, could possibly be made next year.</p>
<p>Richer said there may even be some changes made to the Fossil Fuel Investment Analysis document, just to clarify its intent. Indeed, she said the intent of the document was not to represent the be-all and end-all position of the university, but to “stimulate discussion&#160;… and make sure people are talking about [divestment].”</p>
<p>If the comment section is any indication, it’s certainly working out as planned.</p>
<p>This post has been updated to clarify the description of Russell Cook’s blog. It now says “corrupted,” not “funded.”</p> | true | 4 | probably last thing youd expect find browsing website boston universitys trustees comment section top university scientists debate rightwing policy advocates reality humancaused climate change look hard enough thats exactly youll get bottom recentlyreleased document discussing fossil fuel divestment bu least four men affiliated conservative heartland institute arguing climate change three professors evolutionary ecologist les kaufman molecular biologist edward loechler department earth amp environment associate professor ian sue wing didnt expect reality climate change issue university arguments surround document called fossil fuel issue analysis overview debate surrounding fossil fuels climate change conducted universitys advisory committee socially responsible investing acsri acsri currently considering request purge fossil fuel investments universitys 16 billion endowment thereby taking symbolic stance primary cause global warming kaufman professor advocates fossil fuel divestment university documents release long overdue excited put right website agreed address issue told thinkprogress appalled first posting kaufman called document shocking viewpoints scientific organizations like un intergovernmental panel climate change national research council national academies juxtaposed rightwing think tank heartland institute blog former weatherman john coleman document acknowledges majority scientists argue human activity plays significant role climate change also cites heartlands nongovernmental international panel climate change argues climate models based gross imperfect measurements global warming wont bad humankind kaufman despicable hoped open discussion divestment based solely hard data data interpreted kaufman said didnt expect reality climate change issue university took comment section voice outrage colleagues well two weeks later kaufman got response russell cook blogger says receives stringsfree grants heartland cooks also editor gelbspan files site dedicated proving climate denying scientists corrupted fossil fuel industry cook confirmed thinkprogress wrote comments disparage kaufman engaging antiscience efforts push one entire side issue consideration little evidence co2 primary cause global160warming shortly others affiliated heartland piled james h rust heartland policy adviser commented global warming fraud160 scare kept alive false predictions catastrophic events 20 years donn dears energy expert heartland wrote little evidence co2 primary cause global warming neither rust dears returned thinkprogress request confirmation wrote comments though wellknown climate denier lord christopher monckton brenchley onetime adviser former british prime minister margaret thatcher current policy adviser heartland confirmed participation debate moncktons remarks toed line global warming would severe dangerous clear kaufman colleagues engaged fossil fuel issue analysis boston university involved universitys divestment movement unclear heartland got involved get document go five separate links documents release advertised anywhere website press releases news articles discussing document four men affiliated heartland monckton cook responded thinkprogress inquiry alerted document via email monckton said could remember cook said directed heartland among university think tanks participation brought suspicion political interests making way bus decision whether divest one professor asked identified voiced concern recent 50 million gift university former jc penney ceo allen questrom regularly donates thousands dollars republican politicians committee proper its160logical everyone bu thinks way though biology professor edward loechler faculty representative divest bu says doesnt think politics perverting divestment discussion fact said welcomes inclusion climate deniers perspective fossil fuel issue analysis committee proper logical said live academic committee long adjudicate end say look look sides looked arguments deniers long think fine loechler noted ultimate decision whether divest made boston university trustees committee made ceos attorneys religious leaders people might necessarily wellversed issue climate science acsri came committee without proving considered climate deniers may look biased even though scientific world isnt trustees want know isnt whitewash loechler said want know people walked room give best explanation whats going really grappled really homework still loechler said fact acsri include climate denial assessment fossil fuels proof success movement relative credibility scientific world terms scientific reality 97 percent scientists actively publishing climate research conclude humans cause global warming relative success groups like heartland demand 3 percents inclusion documents like one people heartland institute trolling internet looking places put garbage said muddle things people heartland institute trolling internet looking places put garbage160up despite inclusion climate denial bus fossil fuel investment analysis kaufman optimistic ultimate outcome eventually boston university trustees decide divest fossil fuels based weight scientific evidence impression believe likely eventually adjudicated said claire richer leads bus student divestment movement one three student representatives acsri agreed noted bu student government recently passed referendum showing 75 percent students voted believe university divest fossil fuels richer said next step hold forums divestment fall semester engage community issue decision said could possibly made next year richer said may even changes made fossil fuel investment analysis document clarify intent indeed said intent document represent beall endall position university stimulate discussion160 make sure people talking divestment comment section indication certainly working planned post updated clarify description russell cooks blog says corrupted funded | 758 |
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<p>Photo by David Shankbone | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>“Having therefore no foreign establishments, either colonial or military, the ships of war of the United States, in war, will be like land birds, unable to fly far from their own shores. To provide resting places for them, where they can coal and repair, would be one of the first duties of a government proposing to itself the development of the power of the nation at sea.”</p>
<p>-Alfred Thayer Mahan</p>
<p>Trump’s pick for secretary of the Navy, private equity investor and former military intelligence officer Philip Bilden, has withdrawn his name from consideration.</p>
<p>Bilden said in&#160; <a href="" type="internal">a statement</a>, “I have determined that I will not be able to satisfy the Office of Government Ethics requirements without undue disruption and materially adverse divestment of my family’s private financial interests.” Oh, those pesky financial interests.</p>
<p>Earlier this month, Trump’s pick for Army secretary, the former chairman of the New York Mercantile Exchange, Vincent Viola (a man&#160; <a href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/vincent-viola/" type="external">worth close to $2 billion</a>), withdrew his nomination as well. Viola, like Bilden, accumulated&#160;his obscene wealth in the world of casino capitalism. Without doubt, the merger of finance capital and the military industrial complex&#160;has never been more visible than during the Trump Era.</p>
<p>Bilden, the son of a naval officer, was valedictorian of his graduating class. In 1982, he was awarded an Army ROTC scholarship and attended Georgetown University, where he studied International Politics and graduated&#160;magna cum laude,&#160;a proper pedigree indeed.</p>
<p>In 1986, Bilden won Georgetown’s W. Coleman Nevils Award for U.S. Diplomatic History for his paper on Alfred Thayer Mahan, one of the most&#160;important military theorists of the 19th century.</p>
<p>Mahan, the son of a professor at the United States Military Academy, commanded several warships as an officer for the Union Army during the American Civil War, but&#160;his naval skills were sub-par, as several of his vessels were involved in crashes. In typical military fashion, as a result, Mahan was appointed as a lecturer at the U.S. Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island (where Bilden happens to own a&#160; <a href="" type="internal">$6.4 million mansion</a>).</p>
<p>In 1890, Mahan wrote&#160; <a href="" type="internal">The Influence of Sea Power Upon History, 1660-1783</a>, which, at the time, was widely considered to be the most influential book on military ideology, theory and strategy since Carl von Clausewitz’s 1832 work,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">On War</a>.</p>
<p>The main thrust of Mahan’s work was the idea that supreme naval power was at the core of any “successful empire.” While Mahan admired the Roman Empire, it was the British Empire’s navy that served as the greatest influence for Mahan. Building on the British example, Mahan believed that “a strong navy and commercial fleet is a necessity.” He also believed that blockades and battleships were key to naval dominance.</p>
<p>Mahan’s influence was wide. Theodore Roosevelt, America’s unabashed imperialist, first met and befriended Mahan in 1888, when Mahan was President of the Naval War College. Teddy admired Mahan’s&#160;military&#160;strategies and expansionist ideologies. Mahan, a social darwinist and rabid racist, found a sympathetic ear and friend in Roosevelt.</p>
<p>Mahan’s vision of a U.S. Empire in the Pacific and Caribbean was realized by Teddy in the form of Pearl Harbor, a vital military outpost, and the Panama Canal, an essential development for U.S. business and military hegemony. By the early part of the 20th century, the intertwining of commercial and military interests, especially at sea, was finally complete.</p>
<p>Fast-forward 117 years: today, the President of the United States is a self-proclaimed “pussy-grabbing” billionaire who has surrounded himself with military generals and business executives. Bilden is just the latest in a long line of millionaires and billionaires who will frequent the Trump White House. According to many scholars, Trump’s cabinet is the&#160; <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-cabinet-richest-in-us-history-historians-say/" type="external">wealthiest in U.S. history</a>.</p>
<p>Rex Tillerson, former CEO of Exxon Mobile, runs the State Department, which, in many ways, is nothing new. Oil interests have been essentially running the State Department for decades. General James “Mad Dog” Mattis, a&#160; <a href="http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/james-mattis-war-criminal-i-experienced-his-attack-fallujah-firsthand" type="external">war criminal</a>, is the Secretary of Defense, which in many ways is also nothing new: war criminals have always frequented the halls of the Pentagon.</p>
<p>However, the fact that business executives and military generals no longer require middle-men to negotiate their interests should worry anyone interested in living in a quasi-democratic society.</p>
<p>Right-wing media figures such as Stephen Bannon and Alex Jones have a&#160; <a href="https://news.vice.com/story/trump-wont-go-to-white-house-correspondents-dinner" type="external">direct line to the White House</a>&#160;and America’s version of the royal family jet-sets across the globe, entertaining world leaders and managing The Donald’s multi-billion dollar business empire, while Trump manages Uncle Sam’s crumbling empire.</p>
<p>Indeed, after 15 years of the War on Terror, including the longest war in U.S. history (Afghanistan), the elephant in the room remains U.S. Empire.</p>
<p>The U.S. will either follow the path of the Roman Empire, or the path of the British Empire after WWII. If the U.S. chooses to replicate the actions of&#160;the overly confident, extremely stratified and decadent Romans (which seems to be the case), it will collapse and the result will be global chaos on an unimaginable scale.</p>
<p>On the other hand, if the U.S. chooses the path of the British Empire, it may be able to maintain some level of democracy and decency. Without effective anti-imperialist movements, both at home and abroad, this option remains off&#160;the table.</p> | true | 4 | photo david shankbone cc 20 160 therefore foreign establishments either colonial military ships war united states war like land birds unable fly far shores provide resting places coal repair would one first duties government proposing development power nation sea alfred thayer mahan trumps pick secretary navy private equity investor former military intelligence officer philip bilden withdrawn name consideration bilden said in160 statement determined able satisfy office government ethics requirements without undue disruption materially adverse divestment familys private financial interests oh pesky financial interests earlier month trumps pick army secretary former chairman new york mercantile exchange vincent viola man160 worth close 2 billion withdrew nomination well viola like bilden accumulated160his obscene wealth world casino capitalism without doubt merger finance capital military industrial complex160has never visible trump era bilden son naval officer valedictorian graduating class 1982 awarded army rotc scholarship attended georgetown university studied international politics graduated160magna cum laude160a proper pedigree indeed 1986 bilden georgetowns w coleman nevils award us diplomatic history paper alfred thayer mahan one most160important military theorists 19th century mahan son professor united states military academy commanded several warships officer union army american civil war but160his naval skills subpar several vessels involved crashes typical military fashion result mahan appointed lecturer us naval war college newport rhode island bilden happens a160 64 million mansion 1890 mahan wrote160 influence sea power upon history 16601783 time widely considered influential book military ideology theory strategy since carl von clausewitzs 1832 work160 war main thrust mahans work idea supreme naval power core successful empire mahan admired roman empire british empires navy served greatest influence mahan building british example mahan believed strong navy commercial fleet necessity also believed blockades battleships key naval dominance mahans influence wide theodore roosevelt americas unabashed imperialist first met befriended mahan 1888 mahan president naval war college teddy admired mahans160military160strategies expansionist ideologies mahan social darwinist rabid racist found sympathetic ear friend roosevelt mahans vision us empire pacific caribbean realized teddy form pearl harbor vital military outpost panama canal essential development us business military hegemony early part 20th century intertwining commercial military interests especially sea finally complete fastforward 117 years today president united states selfproclaimed pussygrabbing billionaire surrounded military generals business executives bilden latest long line millionaires billionaires frequent trump white house according many scholars trumps cabinet the160 wealthiest us history rex tillerson former ceo exxon mobile runs state department many ways nothing new oil interests essentially running state department decades general james mad dog mattis a160 war criminal secretary defense many ways also nothing new war criminals always frequented halls pentagon however fact business executives military generals longer require middlemen negotiate interests worry anyone interested living quasidemocratic society rightwing media figures stephen bannon alex jones a160 direct line white house160and americas version royal family jetsets across globe entertaining world leaders managing donalds multibillion dollar business empire trump manages uncle sams crumbling empire indeed 15 years war terror including longest war us history afghanistan elephant room remains us empire us either follow path roman empire path british empire wwii us chooses replicate actions of160the overly confident extremely stratified decadent romans seems case collapse result global chaos unimaginable scale hand us chooses path british empire may able maintain level democracy decency without effective antiimperialist movements home abroad option remains off160the table | 538 |
<p><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooting_of_Michael_Brown#/media/File:Memorial_to_Michael_Brown.jpg" type="external">Wikimedia</a></p>
<p>Sunday is the one-year anniversary of the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., and effectively the anniversary of the #blacklivesmatter movement. So what have we learned in the past year? We have learned that more blacks are dying at the hands of police and in police custody and at a faster rate than any of us could have known. Literally, we could not have known how many and how often black people were dying in these circumstances because there is no national database of officer-involved killings and deaths in custody.</p>
<p>We have also learned that the deaths are so frequent that we may not be able to keep up with them all. “Did you hear about the black man killed by police when he was running away?” You mean Michael Brown last year? “No, I mean Jonathan Ferrell two years ago!” But we only heard about it last week as the case went to trial. We only heard about it because Michael Brown’s shooting and the #blacklivesmatter movement have raised the consciousness of a nation.</p>
<p>This raised consciousness has resulted in a 14 percent increase just in the last year in Americans who feel that the nation needs to make more changes to bring equal rights to blacks. According to a Washington Post poll, fully 60 percent now feel such changes need to continue. Does that mean 60 percent believe that body cameras should be worn by all police officers? Or that 60 percent believe the Confederate flag should come down? Increasingly, these beliefs represent a consensus of the country. However, that still leaves 40 percent – 40 percent who support Darren Wilson (the officer who shot Michael Brown), 40 percent who support George Zimmerman (a Florida neighborhood watch volunteer who shot Trayvon Martin), and it leaves 100 percent of the Republican candidates for president who don’t believe #blacklivesmatter.</p>
<p />
<p>And that affirmation may be a major wedge issue in the presidential contest next year. The Democratic candidates have already been put on notice by activists that nothing less than an unqualified exhortation will suffice. The palliative “All lives matter” fails to recognize the moment that we are in, a moment ushered in by the killing of Michael Brown and all the others whom the movement represents.</p>
<p>In these brief 12 months we have begun to see a major shift in the way police departments and prosecutors are responding to police shootings. Officers are being fired, arrested and charged at a head-snapping pace — but only when there is incontrovertible video evidence laying out a clear picture of the incident. On Sept. 4, a South Carolina highway patrolman shot unarmed black motorist Levar Jones. Jones pulled into a gas station and got out of his car when the officer stopped him for not wearing a seat belt. When the officer instructed him to produce his driver’s license, Jones reached for it inside the car. The officer opened fire. Jones staggered backward, with his hands up, while the officer continued to shoot at him, striking him in the hip and injuring him.</p>
<p>So often it is said that if blacks would simply follow officers’ commands, there would be no reason for lethal force. The Jones case is a perfect example of how untrue that assumption is. The irony is that while witnesses disagree on whether Michael Brown had his hands up in the surrender gesture, Jones appears clearly on the video to be doing exactly that, to no avail. This makes the claims of witnesses who said Brown had his hands up at least plausible if not verifiable. The highway patrolman in the Jones case was fired and is being prosecuted by the district attorney.</p>
<p>On April 4, Walter Scott, another unarmed black man, also running away (as was Michael Brown), was shot in the back by an officer in North Charleston, S.C., after a scuffle. But this killing was captured on video by a witness, providing evidence that resulted in murder charges against the officer who otherwise might not have been charged at all.</p>
<p>On April 12, Freddie Gray was arrested in West Baltimore. Some of his arrest was captured on video, up to the point when he was put in a police van for what should have been a five-minute ride to the station. After a 45-minute “rough ride,” he was unconscious when the van finally arrived. Gray never came to and died a week later at the hospital.</p>
<p>Sandra Bland died July 13 in custody in her cell at the Waller County, Texas, jail. Her death was not caught on videotape, but her arrest was. The dashcam of the state trooper’s vehicle showed the exchange at the car after he pulled her over for failing to signal a lane change. He seemed to take every opportunity to provoke and escalate the encounter. When Bland refused to put out her cigarette, the trooper pulled her out of her car and arrested her, even though he had stopped her just to give her a warning. Three days later she was dead.</p>
<p>On July 19, a University of Cincinnati police officer shot and killed Samuel DuBose, an unarmed black man, after stopping him for the lack of a front license plate. The officer started to open the door and ordered DuBose out of the car when he failed to produce a driver’s license. When DuBose turned on the ignition, the officer pulled his gun and shot him in the head. The car rolled to the other side of the street, with the officer in pursuit on foot. He later claimed that the car was dragging him down the street and he feared for his life. Less than two weeks later, the officer was indicted for murder.</p>
<p>How did we get from the months of waiting for a grand jury in St. Louis to announce its non-indictment in Michael Brown’s death to the almost immediate indictment of the University of Cincinnati officer? The main lesson we have learned from Ferguson and all the events in its wake is that transparency covers a multitude of sins. It may seem counterintuitive, but time and again we have seen that when the authorities are transparent about the processes and procedures around these killings, the public is quite willing to work within the grievance structures made available and limits of their constitutional rights. But when obfuscation, denial and cover-up occur, the demands of the people are made by any means necessary. In Ferguson and Baltimore, the concealment, cover-up and stonewalling by police departments led to what some called rioting and to violence by those in the community who felt no other response was adequate to address the violence unleashed by police on the residents of their community.</p>
<p>For those of us with any perspective, the public reactions in Baltimore, and certainly Ferguson, barely qualify for the label “riot.” Aug. 11 will be the 50th anniversary of the Watts riot in Los Angeles. A damaged convenience store in Ferguson and CVS in Baltimore have become the symbols of the recent events. In L.A. in 1965, 34 people died and 118 suffered gunshot wounds. Most of those who died were killed by the L.A. Police Department and the National Guard. Over $40 million in damage was done. In 1992 in L.A., after four police officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King, more than 60 people were killed, thousands were arrested and over a billion dollars in damage occurred over hundreds of square miles.</p>
<p>The one thing that these events have in common? They all started with a minor traffic violation or petty crime alleged by white officers against a black person. Michael Brown: jaywalking. Eric Garner: selling untaxed cigarettes. Sandra Bland: failure to use a turn signal. Samuel DuBose: lack of a front license plate (not even required in many states). Freddie Gray: running from police. Walter Scott: broken tail light. Jonathan Ferrell: being mistaken for a burglar when seeking help after a car crash. Levar Jones: not wearing a seat belt.</p>
<p>These are just a sampling of the best-known cases from the past year. There are likely scores or hundreds of others that, without the benefit of video, we will never know about but that are buried in the crime statistics (though still none on officer-involved shootings) from rural southern hamlets on through to the annals of the New York City Police Department’s “Stop and Frisk” program.</p>
<p>Michael Brown was not the first unarmed black man killed by police and he will not be the last — at least until #blacklivesmatter actually matters to everyone.</p>
<p>Show your support for Truthdig’s independent journalism and <a href="" type="internal">donate</a> today.</p>
<p><a href="https://vimeo.com/198757147" type="external">Rev. Shockley: Support Bringing Truth to a Post-Truth Era</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user60927618" type="external">Truthdig</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com" type="external">Vimeo</a>.</p> | true | 4 | wikimedia sunday oneyear anniversary killing michael brown ferguson mo effectively anniversary blacklivesmatter movement learned past year learned blacks dying hands police police custody faster rate us could known literally could known many often black people dying circumstances national database officerinvolved killings deaths custody also learned deaths frequent may able keep hear black man killed police running away mean michael brown last year mean jonathan ferrell two years ago heard last week case went trial heard michael browns shooting blacklivesmatter movement raised consciousness nation raised consciousness resulted 14 percent increase last year americans feel nation needs make changes bring equal rights blacks according washington post poll fully 60 percent feel changes need continue mean 60 percent believe body cameras worn police officers 60 percent believe confederate flag come increasingly beliefs represent consensus country however still leaves 40 percent 40 percent support darren wilson officer shot michael brown 40 percent support george zimmerman florida neighborhood watch volunteer shot trayvon martin leaves 100 percent republican candidates president dont believe blacklivesmatter affirmation may major wedge issue presidential contest next year democratic candidates already put notice activists nothing less unqualified exhortation suffice palliative lives matter fails recognize moment moment ushered killing michael brown others movement represents brief 12 months begun see major shift way police departments prosecutors responding police shootings officers fired arrested charged headsnapping pace incontrovertible video evidence laying clear picture incident sept 4 south carolina highway patrolman shot unarmed black motorist levar jones jones pulled gas station got car officer stopped wearing seat belt officer instructed produce drivers license jones reached inside car officer opened fire jones staggered backward hands officer continued shoot striking hip injuring often said blacks would simply follow officers commands would reason lethal force jones case perfect example untrue assumption irony witnesses disagree whether michael brown hands surrender gesture jones appears clearly video exactly avail makes claims witnesses said brown hands least plausible verifiable highway patrolman jones case fired prosecuted district attorney april 4 walter scott another unarmed black man also running away michael brown shot back officer north charleston sc scuffle killing captured video witness providing evidence resulted murder charges officer otherwise might charged april 12 freddie gray arrested west baltimore arrest captured video point put police van fiveminute ride station 45minute rough ride unconscious van finally arrived gray never came died week later hospital sandra bland died july 13 custody cell waller county texas jail death caught videotape arrest dashcam state troopers vehicle showed exchange car pulled failing signal lane change seemed take every opportunity provoke escalate encounter bland refused put cigarette trooper pulled car arrested even though stopped give warning three days later dead july 19 university cincinnati police officer shot killed samuel dubose unarmed black man stopping lack front license plate officer started open door ordered dubose car failed produce drivers license dubose turned ignition officer pulled gun shot head car rolled side street officer pursuit foot later claimed car dragging street feared life less two weeks later officer indicted murder get months waiting grand jury st louis announce nonindictment michael browns death almost immediate indictment university cincinnati officer main lesson learned ferguson events wake transparency covers multitude sins may seem counterintuitive time seen authorities transparent processes procedures around killings public quite willing work within grievance structures made available limits constitutional rights obfuscation denial coverup occur demands people made means necessary ferguson baltimore concealment coverup stonewalling police departments led called rioting violence community felt response adequate address violence unleashed police residents community us perspective public reactions baltimore certainly ferguson barely qualify label riot aug 11 50th anniversary watts riot los angeles damaged convenience store ferguson cvs baltimore become symbols recent events la 1965 34 people died 118 suffered gunshot wounds died killed la police department national guard 40 million damage done 1992 la four police officers acquitted beating rodney king 60 people killed thousands arrested billion dollars damage occurred hundreds square miles one thing events common started minor traffic violation petty crime alleged white officers black person michael brown jaywalking eric garner selling untaxed cigarettes sandra bland failure use turn signal samuel dubose lack front license plate even required many states freddie gray running police walter scott broken tail light jonathan ferrell mistaken burglar seeking help car crash levar jones wearing seat belt sampling bestknown cases past year likely scores hundreds others without benefit video never know buried crime statistics though still none officerinvolved shootings rural southern hamlets annals new york city police departments stop frisk program michael brown first unarmed black man killed police last least blacklivesmatter actually matters everyone show support truthdigs independent journalism donate today rev shockley support bringing truth posttruth era truthdig vimeo | 772 |
<p>“In every crisis there’s a point of no return….I’m increasingly convinced we’ve already passed that point of no return in Europe. The banks won’t lend to each other, the Germans won’t do Eurobonds, and the ECB won’t act as a lender of last resort. The confidence fairy has left the continent, and she isn’t about to return. Which means, as we used to say in 2008, that things are going to get worse before they get worse.”</p>
<p>–Felix Salmon, Reuters</p>
<p>Stocks rose sharply on Monday&#160;on news that France and Germany&#160;are close to a breakthrough agreement that will resolve the deepening debt crisis. While the details remain sketchy, the grand bargain appears to involve some pooling of debt (eurobonds?), a bigger role for the European Central Bank (ECB), and an intrusive EU oversight panel with veto-power over state budgets. There are also conflicting reports&#160;about a $600 billion IMF bailout&#160;for Italy,&#160;and a fast-track launching of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF), the emergency facility that was expected to end the crisis but has faltered through lack of funding.</p>
<p>While the rumours of progress continue to fly,&#160;&#160; EU leaders are still light-years from any real solution.&#160;Meanwhile,&#160;conditions in the credit markets continue to deteriorate&#160;while interbank lending languishes in a deep-freeze. Overnight deposits at the ECB have skyrocketed to around 250 billion euros while EU banks have become increasingly reliant on the ECB for funding. It’s all bad. The turmoil in the credit markets is leading to another recession or worse.</p>
<p>The eurozone is now in an irreversible slide that will end in the dissolution of the 17-member monetary union. The frantic efforts of German and French leaders to create a makeshift fiscal union on-the-fly is just “too little, too late”. There’s neither the popular base of support nor the political will for a United States of Europe. And that’s not what German Chancellor Angela Merkel or French PM Nicholas Sarkozy want anyway. What they want is a swift end to the crisis that’s now reached the epicenter of the Europe and is pushing yields on German bonds higher.</p>
<p>The significance of last Thursday’s “failed” bund auction has not been lost on Merkel, who was deeply shaken by the&#160;results.&#160;If the bond vigilantes can make short-shrift of German bund, then no one is safe. And no one is safe. Yields are rising across the board, even in surplus countries like Netherlands and Finland. That means the focus has shifted from deficits to something even more basic, like survival. Investors are now pricing in the possibility a collapse of the eurozone.</p>
<p>On Friday, yields on the 10-year German Bund rose above those of equivalent UK gilt, which means that it will cost more for Europe’s industrial powerhouse to borrow in the capital markets than it will for debt-stricken England. Does that make any sense? Only if one assumes that investors think that it’s too risky to be in euros at all. Then it makes perfect sense. After all, the strength and size of one’s economy does not necessarily make their bonds more attractive, especially if there’s there’s significant credit risk due to the ECB’s refusal to underwrite the debt. Absent an ECB guarantee, investors will continue to flee eurozone bonds. And, why not? After all, investors expect “risk free” assets to be risk free.</p>
<p>Since, last week’s Bund bloodbath, the German position on many of the key issues&#160;has softened. Here’s the story from Die Welt:</p>
<p>“The Bundesbank no longer rules out emission of common European bonds – so-called Eurobonds. Prerequisite, however, is closer financial integration for the euro countries. “This means joint control over the budgets of the member countries, including intervention rights if individual countries should violate the agreed rules,” said Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann to the “Berliner Zeitung”….</p>
<p>By the next European Council meeting, the Summit of Heads of State and Government at the end of the first week of December, the Chancellor could have negotiated a deal. Whereby their agreement could involve Eurobonds or a stronger commitment from the ECB in exchange for a promise from everyone in Europe to put their economies on a more sustainable path.” (“Officially Eurobonds are taboo but behind the scenes nothing has been ruled out”, Credit Writedowns)</p>
<p>If the Bundesbank supports eurobonds, then Merkel&#160;can be expected to&#160;fall in line, too. As for the “joint control over the budgets of the member countries, including intervention rights if individual countries should violate the agreed rules”; it’s a complete red herring. In fact, these sovereignty-eviscerating oversight panels are already in place in Italy, Greece, and Portugal, so what’s the point of acting like its something new? Merkel and Weidmann are just invoking “budget discipline” as a public relations&#160;smokescreen for greater debt pooling which is ferociously opposed by most Germans.</p>
<p>There’s also talk of a new “Stability Pact” which would circumvent existing treaties and skip the democratic process altogether. (The politicians want to avoid a public vote at all cost.) Here’s the scoop from Reuters:</p>
<p>“German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are planning more drastic means – including a quick new Stability Pact – to fight the euro zone sovereign debt crisis, Welt am Sonntag reported on Sunday….</p>
<p>The report, which echoed a Reuters report on Friday from Brussels, quoted German government sources as saying that the crisis fighting plan could possibly be announced by Merkel and Sarkozy in the coming week.</p>
<p>The report said that because it would take too long to change existing European Union treaties, euro zone countries should avoid such delays be agreeing to a new Stability Pact among themselves – possibly implemented at the start of 2012….</p>
<p>The European Central Bank should also emerge more as a crisis fighter in the euro zone. …”Based upon these measures, there should be a majority within the ECB for a stronger intervention in capital markets,” Welt am Sonntag said. It quotes a central banker as saying: “If the politicians can agree to a comprehensive step, the ECB will jump in and help.”…</p>
<p>In Brussels on Friday, euro zone officials said a push by euro zone countries towards very close fiscal integration could give the ECB the necessary room for manoeuvre to scale up euro zone bond purchases and stabilise markets.” (“Germany, France plan quick new Stability Pact”, Reuters)</p>
<p>If the report is true,&#160;then&#160;Merkel has done a complete 180 from her original position.&#160;Up to now, she has&#160;consistently opposed allowing the ECB to act as lender of last resort. Here’s more from Reuters:</p>
<p>“The European Commission, the EU executive arm, put forward proposals on Wednesday to grant it intrusive powers of approval of euro zone budgets before they are submitted to national parliaments, which, if approved, would effectively mean ceding some national sovereignty over budgets.</p>
<p>This could lead to joint debt issuance for the euro zone, where countries would be liable for each others’ debts.” (Reuters)</p>
<p>How do you get from “intrusive powers” and “ceding national sovereignty” to “joint debt issuance for the euro zone”? That’s a bit of a stretch, don’t you think? What the authors appear to be saying is that&#160;once nations abandon democracy altogether, then the Brussels-Berlin Axis will issue eurobonds to rebalance the system so that Soviet Europe works in a way that maximizes profits for the banksters. Is that what this is all about?</p>
<p>Sure it is. And if you had any doubts, then get a load of this in Yahoo Finance:</p>
<p>“Euro zone states may ditch plans to impose losses on private bondholders should countries need to restructure their debt under a new bailout fund due to launch in mid-2013, four EU officials told Reuters on Friday.</p>
<p>Commercial banks and insurance companies are still expected to take a hit on their holdings of Greek sovereign bonds as part of the second bailout package being finalized for Athens.</p>
<p>But clauses relating to PSI in the statutes of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) – the permanent facility scheduled to start operating from July 2013 – could be withdrawn, with the majority of euro zone states now opposed to them.</p>
<p>The concern is that forcing the private sector bondholders to take losses if a country restructures its debt is undermining confidence in euro zone sovereign bonds. If those stipulations are removed, most countries in the euro zone argue, market sentiment might improve.” (“Eurozone may drop bondholder losses from ESM bailout”, Yahoo Finance)</p>
<p>So the investors who bought bonds from countries that have been downgraded, will not lose money on their crappy investments. Instead, eurozone taxpayers will stump up the money so it doesn’t “undermine confidence”. Sound familiar?</p>
<p>So, what’s the endgame here? What needs to happen to save the eurozone from disintegration?</p>
<p>First, the ECB must be given a green light to provide a blanket backstop for sovereign bonds to keep rates down. Second, there must be some form of instrument (eurobonds) to collectivize debt in order to counterbalance capital flows from the surplus countries to the perimeter. Third, there must be greater fiscal AND political integration to establish the type of institutions that transform the 17-member confederation into a real country.</p>
<p>Does any of this sound even remotely possible in the next couple weeks?</p>
<p>No, it doesn’t. Which is why we can expect an economic catastrophe of historic proportions.</p>
<p>MIKE WHITNEY&#160;lives in Washington state. He is a contributor to&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Hopeless: Barack Obama and the Politics of Illusion</a>, forthcoming from AK Press. He can be reached at&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | true | 4 | every crisis theres point returnim increasingly convinced weve already passed point return europe banks wont lend germans wont eurobonds ecb wont act lender last resort confidence fairy left continent isnt return means used say 2008 things going get worse get worse felix salmon reuters stocks rose sharply monday160on news france germany160are close breakthrough agreement resolve deepening debt crisis details remain sketchy grand bargain appears involve pooling debt eurobonds bigger role european central bank ecb intrusive eu oversight panel vetopower state budgets also conflicting reports160about 600 billion imf bailout160for italy160and fasttrack launching european financial stability fund efsf emergency facility expected end crisis faltered lack funding rumours progress continue fly160160 eu leaders still lightyears real solution160meanwhile160conditions credit markets continue deteriorate160while interbank lending languishes deepfreeze overnight deposits ecb skyrocketed around 250 billion euros eu banks become increasingly reliant ecb funding bad turmoil credit markets leading another recession worse eurozone irreversible slide end dissolution 17member monetary union frantic efforts german french leaders create makeshift fiscal union onthefly little late theres neither popular base support political united states europe thats german chancellor angela merkel french pm nicholas sarkozy want anyway want swift end crisis thats reached epicenter europe pushing yields german bonds higher significance last thursdays failed bund auction lost merkel deeply shaken the160results160if bond vigilantes make shortshrift german bund one safe one safe yields rising across board even surplus countries like netherlands finland means focus shifted deficits something even basic like survival investors pricing possibility collapse eurozone friday yields 10year german bund rose equivalent uk gilt means cost europes industrial powerhouse borrow capital markets debtstricken england make sense one assumes investors think risky euros makes perfect sense strength size ones economy necessarily make bonds attractive especially theres theres significant credit risk due ecbs refusal underwrite debt absent ecb guarantee investors continue flee eurozone bonds investors expect risk free assets risk free since last weeks bund bloodbath german position many key issues160has softened heres story die welt bundesbank longer rules emission common european bonds socalled eurobonds prerequisite however closer financial integration euro countries means joint control budgets member countries including intervention rights individual countries violate agreed rules said bundesbank president jens weidmann berliner zeitung next european council meeting summit heads state government end first week december chancellor could negotiated deal whereby agreement could involve eurobonds stronger commitment ecb exchange promise everyone europe put economies sustainable path officially eurobonds taboo behind scenes nothing ruled credit writedowns bundesbank supports eurobonds merkel160can expected to160fall line joint control budgets member countries including intervention rights individual countries violate agreed rules complete red herring fact sovereigntyeviscerating oversight panels already place italy greece portugal whats point acting like something new merkel weidmann invoking budget discipline public relations160smokescreen greater debt pooling ferociously opposed germans theres also talk new stability pact would circumvent existing treaties skip democratic process altogether politicians want avoid public vote cost heres scoop reuters german chancellor angela merkel french president nicolas sarkozy planning drastic means including quick new stability pact fight euro zone sovereign debt crisis welt sonntag reported sunday report echoed reuters report friday brussels quoted german government sources saying crisis fighting plan could possibly announced merkel sarkozy coming week report said would take long change existing european union treaties euro zone countries avoid delays agreeing new stability pact among possibly implemented start 2012 european central bank also emerge crisis fighter euro zone based upon measures majority within ecb stronger intervention capital markets welt sonntag said quotes central banker saying politicians agree comprehensive step ecb jump help brussels friday euro zone officials said push euro zone countries towards close fiscal integration could give ecb necessary room manoeuvre scale euro zone bond purchases stabilise markets germany france plan quick new stability pact reuters report true160then160merkel done complete 180 original position160up has160consistently opposed allowing ecb act lender last resort heres reuters european commission eu executive arm put forward proposals wednesday grant intrusive powers approval euro zone budgets submitted national parliaments approved would effectively mean ceding national sovereignty budgets could lead joint debt issuance euro zone countries would liable others debts reuters get intrusive powers ceding national sovereignty joint debt issuance euro zone thats bit stretch dont think authors appear saying that160once nations abandon democracy altogether brusselsberlin axis issue eurobonds rebalance system soviet europe works way maximizes profits banksters sure doubts get load yahoo finance euro zone states may ditch plans impose losses private bondholders countries need restructure debt new bailout fund due launch mid2013 four eu officials told reuters friday commercial banks insurance companies still expected take hit holdings greek sovereign bonds part second bailout package finalized athens clauses relating psi statutes european stability mechanism esm permanent facility scheduled start operating july 2013 could withdrawn majority euro zone states opposed concern forcing private sector bondholders take losses country restructures debt undermining confidence euro zone sovereign bonds stipulations removed countries euro zone argue market sentiment might improve eurozone may drop bondholder losses esm bailout yahoo finance investors bought bonds countries downgraded lose money crappy investments instead eurozone taxpayers stump money doesnt undermine confidence sound familiar whats endgame needs happen save eurozone disintegration first ecb must given green light provide blanket backstop sovereign bonds keep rates second must form instrument eurobonds collectivize debt order counterbalance capital flows surplus countries perimeter third must greater fiscal political integration establish type institutions transform 17member confederation real country sound even remotely possible next couple weeks doesnt expect economic catastrophe historic proportions mike whitney160lives washington state contributor to160 hopeless barack obama politics illusion forthcoming ak press reached at160 fergiewhitneymsncom | 911 |
<p>At Christmas, the human infant in a manger disappears with the angelic announcement of his being conceived by a virgin.&#160; His divine transformation is aided by a mystical “star” guiding three wise men seeking “to pay him homage.” ( <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+1%3A+18-32%3B+2%3A1-12&amp;version=RSV" type="external">Matthew 1: 18-23; 2: 1-12)</a>&#160; He is majestically elevated by “an angel of the Lord,” who appears to “terrified” shepherds, tells them of the “good news of great joy for all the people” because of the birth of a “Savior,” and says that the “sign” will be “a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”&#160; Then “a multitude of the heavenly host” join in transporting him further upward with, “ ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!’ ” ( <a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+2%3A8-14&amp;version=NRSV" type="external">Luke 2: 8-14</a>) It is a festive, family-connecting, enchanting, empowering Christmas story. &#160;A story that brings joy to countless people, and hope to others who are marginalized and feel unloved.&#160; But it is also a myth that promotes favoritism in believers, and leads many Christians to create – or accommodate — ill will, division and conflict on earth, far more than good will and peace.</p>
<p>“On earth peace among those who he favors!” &#160;For countless Christians, these words are the bottom line of the mythical story of Jesus’ Virgin Birth. &#160;They believe that the biblical birth narrative of this one true “Savior” of the world makes their religion – and them – superior. &#160;And those who hold different beliefs are often viewed as lesser and thus treated paternalistically and not as equals and also as fair game for conversion – and even conquest. &#160;Ironically, the superiority and salvation of many Christians depend on the inferiority and damnation of others.&#160; Thus Jesus’ supernatural birth story is about exceptionalism, not empathy; about dogma, not diversity; about exclusion, not inclusion; about right belief, not just behavior; about favoritism, not fairness.</p>
<p>The baby in the manger represents the universal humanness of all children and their families – everywhere.&#160; But that message is covered up by mystical props and drowned out by heavenly voices proclaiming a “Savior” of the world and promising “peace . . . among those whom he favors.” &#160;Consider the myth about “those whom he favors” that negates the universal message of the manger.</p>
<p>A survey of the mission statements of major American denominations reveals their fundamental belief in the uniqueness of the child in the manger and thus the superiority of Christianity.&#160; The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops emphasizes that “the mission of evangelism . . . entrusted by Christ to his Church” is “to transform the world.” <a href="http://www.usccb.org/about/mission-statement.cfm" type="external">(“Mission Statement,”</a> <a href="http://www.usccb.org" type="external">www.usccb.org</a>)&#160; This mission is in keeping with the opening words of the Second Vatican Council’s Dogmatic Constitution on the Church: “Christ is the light of humanity; and . . . by proclaiming his Gospel to every creature, it may bring to all men that light of Christ which shines out visibly from the Church.” &#160; <a href="http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c3a9.htm" type="external">(‘ARTICLE 9 I BELIEVE IN THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH,’</a> Catechism of the Catholic Church, &#160; <a href="http://www.vatican.va" type="external">www.vatican.va</a>)&#160; The implication is that non-Christians live in darkness.</p>
<p>The supremacy of Christianity, foretold by the birth of a “Savior for all the people,” is heralded in the “missional vision” of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is “to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every person in the world and to make disciples of all the nations.”&#160; The Southern Baptists are “fully committed to the proposition that Jesus Christ is the only hope for the world.” <a href="http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/missionvision.asp" type="external">(“Southern Baptist Convention: Mission &amp; Vision,”</a> <a href="http://www.sbc.net" type="external">www.sbc.net</a>) &#160;And the Southern Baptists embody that hope, which makes them special indeed.</p>
<p>The United Methodist Church “believe[s] in Jesus as God’s special child” <a href="http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/our-christian-roots-jesus" type="external">(“Our Christian Roots: Jesus,”</a> <a href="http://www.umc.org" type="external">www.umc.org</a>).&#160;&#160; Thus “the mission of the Church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.” &#160;United Methodism “affirms that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the Savior of the world, and Lord of all.”&#160; And in the next breath, the Church seeks to mask its brand of Christian sovereignty with this softener: “As we make disciples, we respect persons of all religious faiths and we defend religious freedom for all persons.” <a href="http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/section-1-the-churches" type="external">(“Book of Discipline Section 1: The Churches,”</a> <a href="http://www.umc.org" type="external">www.umc.org</a>)&#160; It is about having your cake of superiority while eating with others at a round table.</p>
<p>The Episcopal Church believes that “although Jesus is a human being, he is believed to be truly distinct from all other human beings.” <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/library/glossary/virgin-birth" type="external">(“Virgin Birth,”</a> <a href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org" type="external">www.episcopalchurch.org</a>)&#160; Thus “the mission of the Episcopal Church . . . is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ.”&#160; The mission includes: “to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom” and “to teach, baptize and nurture new believers.” ( <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/about-us" type="external">“About Us,”</a> The Episcopal Church, <a href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org" type="external">www.episcopalchurch.org</a>)&#160; Here the human condition is one of impairment and alienation, with the Church’s unique message of proclaim[ing] “the Good News” of restoration “in Christ.”</p>
<p>In time, the human child in a manger was “re-wrapped” in heavenly royalty, and now “sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead,” so states The Apostles’ Creed, which Christians of various denominations say in union each Sunday. &#160; <a href="http://www.reformed.org/documents/index.html?mainframe=http://www.reformed.org/documents/apostles_creed.html" type="external">(“The Apostles’ Creed,”</a> www.reformed.org) &#160;&#160;And during Advent, along with repeating The Apostles’ Creed, Christian congregations will also be declaring the dominance of their faith in singing a favorite Christmas carol: “Joy to the world!,” which declares, “He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love.” <a href="https://hymnary.org/text/joy_to_the_world_the_lord_is_come#authority_media_flexscores" type="external">(“Joy to the World,”</a> hymnary.org)</p>
<p>The focus on Christianity’s assumed superiority is not meant to minimize the empathy and social justice beliefs of denominations.&#160; Pope Francis provides timely words in saying, “We are all equal – all of us – but this truth is not recognized.&#160; . . . We all have the same rights.&#160; When we do not see this, society is unjust . . . and where there is no justice, there cannot be peace.” <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/pope-s-quotes-no-justice-no-peace" type="external">(“Pope’s quotes: No justice, no peace,”</a> by NCR Staff, National Catholic Reporter, Jan. 22, 2016)</p>
<p>The Southern Baptist Convention believes that “all Christians are under obligation to seek to make the will of Christ supreme in our lives and in human society.”&#160; Thus “in the spirit of Christ, Christians should oppose racism, every form of greed . . . [and] provide for the orphaned, the needy, the abused, the aged, the helpless, and the sick.” &#160; <a href="http://www.sbc.net/aboutus/basicbeliefs.asp" type="external">(“Basic Beliefs,”</a> Southern Baptist Convention, <a href="http://www.sbc.net" type="external">www.sbc.net</a>)</p>
<p>The United Methodist Church’s “Social Principles” declare, “We affirm all persons “as equally valuable in the sight of God.“&#160; Thus the Church “supports the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education, communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances and physical protection.“&#160; And it “deplore[s] acts of hate and violence against groups or persons based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, age, gender, disability, status, economic condition, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation.” <a href="http://www.umc.org/what-we-believe/the-social-community" type="external">(“Social Principles: The Social Community,”</a> <a href="http://www.umc.org" type="external">www.umc.org</a>).</p>
<p>The mission of the Episcopal Church is “to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.”&#160; That means “respond[ing] to human need by loving service.” <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/five-marks-mission" type="external">(“The Five Marks of Mission,”</a> The Episcopal Church, www.episcopal church.org)</p>
<p>Catholics have an admirable history of following Jesus’ teaching to welcome strangers, reportedly “hav[ing] long fought for compassionate immigrant reform.” <a href="" type="internal">(“Catholic Leaders, Long On The Side Of Immigrants, Condemn Trump’s DACA Decision,”</a> By Antonia Blumberg, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com" type="external">www.huffingtonpost.com</a>, Sept. 5, 2017)&#160; “After the Red Cross and the Salvations Army,” the Southern Baptist Convention is reported to be “the biggest disaster relief organization in the country.” <a href="" type="internal">(“For Some, Helping With Disaster Relief Is Not Just Aid, It’s a Calling,”</a> By Kim Severson, The New York Times, May 9, 2011)&#160; The United Methodist Church’s Global AIDS Fund, &#160;reported by Rev. Don Messer, &#160;supports “284 projects in 44 countries,” addressing a “stigma” with compassion: “people with HIV/AIDS need to be loved and touched and cared for just like Jesus would do.” <a href="http://www.interpretermagazine.org/topics/aids-is-not-over-yet-United-Methodists-continue-fight" type="external">(“AIDS is not over yet’: United Methodists continue fight,”</a> By Polly House, Interpreter Magazine, Nov.-Dec. 2016)&#160; Similarly, “in 1976, the General Convention of the Episcopal&#160; Church declared that “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church,” and Episcopalians are committed to “working toward a greater understanding and radical inclusion of all of God’s children.” <a href="https://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/lgbt-church" type="external">(“LGBT in the Church,”</a> The Episcopal Church, <a href="http://www.episcopalchurch.org" type="external">www.episcopalchurch.org</a>)</p>
<p>The ecumenical good works of people of faith are many.&#160; On the horizon is a renewal of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s Poor People’s Campaign, with faith groups reportedly “hop[ing] to mount protests over 40 consecutive days next year, in at least 25 state capitals and other locations, with crowds in the tens of thousands courting arrest.”&#160; Rev. Dr. William Barber, one of the campaign’s faith leaders, said about the severely growing problem of poverty in America: “Nothing is going to change until we put a face on it, until we drive the public discourse, until we restart the moral narrative.”&#160; That “moral narrative” is about “wages, health care, immigrant rights, gay and transgender rights, criminal justice reform, and clean water and air.” <a href="" type="internal">(“Ministers Look to Revive Martin Luther King’s 1968 Poverty Campaign,”</a> By Laurie Goodstein, The New York Times, Dec. 4, 2017)</p>
<p>Similarly, a reported diverse group of Christian theologians recently issued the “Boston Declaration,” reminding everyone that, “in 1934 Karl Barth, Martin Niemoller and pastors of the Confessing Church released a Barmen Declaration, calling out the German Church’s complicity with Adolph Hitler’s Nazi Regime.&#160; “Inspired” by these Confessing Church leaders, “the Boston Declaration contends that following Jesus today means fighting poverty, economic exploitation, racism, sexism, and all forms of oppression from the deepest wells of our faith.”&#160; The diverse theologians “are outraged” by “many Evangelical Christians [who] have embraced the politics of exclusion and hatred, such that the Good News of Jesus has become cover for a social and economic order that can only be understood as bad news for many.” <a href="http://um-insight.net/in-the-church/diverse-group-releases-boston-declaration/" type="external">(“Diverse Group Releases ‘Boston Declaration’ Challenging U.S. Christians’ Corruption</a>: Called ‘A Prophetic Appeal to Christians in the USA,’ ” by Press Release, United Methodist Insight, Nov. 20, 2017)</p>
<p>The above are merely examples of the manifold good works of Christian denominations and the calls of interfaith leaders for social justice.&#160; Still, Christianity’s history reveals that belief in the supernatural birth and superiority of the manger child is the root of endless oppression and war, not good will and peace on earth.</p>
<p>Ironically, the divisiveness that undermines good will and peace is inspired by The Bible itself.&#160; As with Jesus’ birth, belief in his resurrection is another supernatural sign that he is the only Son of God and savior of the world, which further validates the superiority of Christians.&#160; Believing that one is superior fosters imperialism.&#160; And Christianity’s ingrained imperialism is seen in the Biblical belief in a resurrected Jesus’ own words to his disciples: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.&#160; Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” ( <a href="" type="internal">Matthew 28: 16-20</a>)&#160; Never mind that the doctrine of the Trinity (belief in Father, Son and Holy Spirit as comprising the threefold nature of one God) was not formulated in Christianity until 325 AD, at the Council of Trent, some 300 years after Jesus’ death. (See <a href="http://www.religionfacts.com/trinity" type="external">“Trinity,”</a> <a href="http://www.religiousfacts.com" type="external">www.religiousfacts.com</a>)</p>
<p>After enduring persecution and becoming recognized as the religion of the Roman state, Christians, following their imperialistic savior’s commission, joined the state in persecuting and evangelizing Jews and pagans – and other Christians promoting heretically-judged beliefs.&#160; And as Christianity increased in power, its mission changed from liberator to evangelizer.&#160; Salvation was interpreted as a personal matter of confessing one’s “original sin” of being born human and accepting Christ – who died on the cross for sinful humankind.&#160; Never mind the political, economic and legal realities that greatly determine who shall be oppressed and in need of prophets who “proclaim good news to the poor” and seek to “set at liberty those who are oppressed.” ( <a href="" type="internal">Luke 4: 16-20</a>)</p>
<p>Belief in the supernatural beginning — and end — of the human manger child has given Christianity a superiority complex that has victimized countless non-believers and their families.&#160; Martin Luther, the father of Protestantism, who inspired the exclusive belief in “justification by faith” in Jesus Christ alone, practiced “sharp mercy” toward the Jews, whom he judged to be beyond justification and redemption. (See Luther’s <a href="http://www.preteristarchive.com/Books/1543_luther_jews.html" type="external">“On the Jews and Their Lies,”</a> <a href="http://www.awitness.org" type="external">www.awitness.org</a>)</p>
<p>Adolph Hitler is reported to have been a “Christian and Catholic in good standing,” who “openly admired” Martin Luther and considered him a “brilliant reformer.” <a href="" type="internal">(“The Great Scandal: Christianity’s Role in the Rise of the Nazis,”</a> By Gregory Paul, Free Inquiry Magazine, churchandstate.org.uk, Oct. 11, 2003)&#160; And with the support or accommodation of most of Germany’s Catholic and Protestant Christians,&#160; a superior religion helped to breed a “master race” – and the extermination of six million Jews, and Gypsies, political dissidents, people with disabilities, Jehovah’s Witnesses and others. (See <a href="" type="internal">“Mosaic of Victims: In Depth,”</a> <a href="http://www.ushmm.org" type="external">www.ushmm.org</a>)</p>
<p>In our time, a “Jesus-changed-my heart” United Methodist, President George W. Bush, committed what is judged to be the worst war crime of the 21st century – on bended knee.&#160; (See <a href="" type="internal">“Duty, Honor and Atrocity: George W. Bush Receives a Character Award at West Point,”</a> By TomDispach On the Teaching of Revisionist History, by Erik Edstrom, www.printfriendly.com, Oct. 23, 2017)&#160; Shortly before launching his unnecessary, falsely-based, UN-judged illegal invasion of Iraq, Bush said, at a news conference, “I pray daily . . . for guidance and wisdom and strength.&#160; .&#160; . I pray for peace.” &#160;(“Transcript of Bush news conference on Iraq,” <a href="http://www.cnn.com" type="external">www.cnn.com</a>, Mar. 6, 2003)&#160; And a high majority of white evangelical Christians, who believe in the Virgin Birth of a “Prince of Peace,” supported Bush’s horrible war crime again millions of Iraqi children and their families – certain faith leaders reportedly seeing the invasion of Iraq as offering “exciting new prospects&#160; for proselytizing Muslims.” (See <a href="" type="internal">“Wayward Christian Soldiers,”</a> By Charles Marsh, The New York Times, Jan. 20, 2006)&#160; Christian Imperialism “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”</p>
<p>President Obama continued President Bush’s illegal wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.&#160; Obama also intensified drone warfare, which has killed untold numbers of children and their families.&#160; He also developed a “kill list” of “terrorists,” including Americans, whose execution, without due process, the president alone has the authority to order.&#160; The manger child was welcomed at the White House each year for eight years during Obama’s presidency, and the U.S. government policy of killing “enemy combatants” — and children and their families — continued in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia and Lybia. (See <a href="" type="internal">‘OBAMA’S COVERT DRONE WAR IN NUMBERS: TEN TIMES MORE STRIKES THAN BUSH,’</a> By Jessica Purkiss, Jack Serle, The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Jan. 17, 2017)</p>
<p>Then came presidential candidate Donald Trump, who promised Christians that, if he is elected “we’re gonna start saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again.” ( <a href="" type="internal">“Trump: ‘We are going to say merry Christmas again,’ “</a> By Brooke Seipel, The Hill, Dec. 13, 2016)&#160; These words hit a chord with many evangelical Christians, who believe there is a “War on Christmas” that is forcing them to take a back seat in a “politically correct” drive for “Happy Holidays”-diversity in the public square — a diversity that makes room for Chanukah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice and other traditions that bring light and life to pluralistically-living people.</p>
<p>For many Christians, “Happy Holidays” blunts their supreme belief that “He is the Reason for the Season.”&#160; &#160;They can say “Merry Christmas!” all they want in their places of worship and homes; but they want it to be the predominate greeting in department stores, public squares and on the air.&#160; Christmas is about “peace on earth among those whom he favors” (italics added).&#160; Thus their battle cry, “Keep Christ in Christmas.”&#160; And Trump heard them!&#160; Ironically, the universal appeal of the human infant in a manger is turned into belief in a god who plays favorites.</p>
<p>For President Trump, being able to say “ ‘Merry Christmas’ again” is about appealing to white evangelical Christians’ Advent belief in being “favored” – and thus superior.&#160; Saying “ ‘Merry Christmas’ again” goes with “Make America Great Again”: both are about white evangelical Christians regaining their favored position– which was existentially threatened by eight years of a black president, who may not have been born in the U.S. and who could be a Muslim – even though every year he said “Merry Christmas” from their White House.</p>
<p>“We’re gonna start saying ‘Merry Christmas’ again” are code words that legitimize Christians, whose need to feel superior and dominate others takes the form of racism and xenophobia. &#160;Such Christians hail the birth of the “Prince of Peace,” while supporting the ill will and violence of President Trump’s massive deportation of undocumented immigrants and barriers and bans, and ffhis bombing campaign &#160;against Muslim families — and a budget that will take from those Americans with less and give even more to those who have the most.&#160; A budget that is actually a big tax cut for the richest, dressed up in Trump’s disingenuous words, “We want to give you, the American people, a giant tax cut for Christmas.”</p>
<p>President Trump’s “Merry Christmas” is his divisive way of playing favorites.&#160; Another example is his favoring the Israelis over the occupied Palestinians in declaring that the United States government now recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and will move the American Embassy there. &#160;Applauded by Israelis, Trump’s unilateral decision has triggered violent confrontations by the oppressed Palestinians and widespread protests across the Middle East.&#160; The Palestinians claim east Jerusalem as their future capital in any future two-state peace solution with Israel, which Trump’s action has effectively further undermined.</p>
<p>President Trump’s decision to select Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is also an early Christmas gift to millions of evangelical Christians in his base.&#160; They share an “end times” Biblical prophecy that predicts:</p>
<p>&#160;when the Jews regain God’s eternal city of Jerusalem, where Jesus was crucified, he will return and establish a reign of peace for a thousand years, which begins with his judging the nations, including the Jews who will have a final opportunity to accept him as their savior or suffer eternal damnation with other unbelievers.&#160; Naturally, Israeli Jews welcome Trump’s gift for other, more worldly, autocratic, reasons.</p>
<p>Christians have always been able to say “Merry Christmas.”&#160; No one is stopping them.&#160; Nor is there any intent here to minimize the joy, comfort, peace, empowerment and salvation that the birth of a savior brings to countless Christians. &#160;As a former hospital chaplain, I witnessed firsthand the empowering&#160; meanings of Christmas for countless patients.&#160; The issue here is the assumed supremacy of belief, which, deep down, leads many Christians to resist making equal room for people who believe, look and speak differently. &#160;If what’s good for me is bad for you, then there is something bad about what’s good for me.</p>
<p>The issue is that evangelical Christians’ belief in the superiority of their “Savior of the world” makes other people lesser.&#160; Motivating the mission to “transform the world for Jesus Christ” is the belief that one’s faith is superior to others, who are judged to be inferior and in need of “reconciliation” – imperialistic religion, wrapped in professions of inclusion – which accommodate the U.S. government’s capitalistic pursuit of world domination.</p>
<p>If belief in the superiority of the manger child were not so, George W. Bush would not have been able to launch his unnecessary, illegal wars, or continue the Iraq war once his lie about Saddam Hussein having weapons of mass destruction was exposed.&#160; Nor would Barak Obama have been allowed to continue Bush’s wars against Afghanistan and Iraq, or create a “kill list.”&#160; And Donald Trump would not be deporting people and creating a wall and bans to keep America from welcoming strangers. ( <a href="" type="internal">Matthew 25: 31-40</a>)&#160; In America, Christian Churches often tailor their missions to accommodate imperial governmental power, which is contrary to the universal meaning of Jesus’ birth.</p>
<p>The message of the manger is that children everywhere have a right to be and to belong and to become – whether born in Bethlehem, the Palestinian Territories, Rohingya villages in Myanmar, Pyongyang, Baltimore, or anywhere else.&#160; The human manger child grew up to become a prophet who taught universal truths about love that favors everyone:</p>
<p>So In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up&#160;the Law and the Prophets. ( <a href="" type="internal">Matthew 7: 12</a>)</p>
<p>You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . and your neighbor as yourself,&#160;All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. ( <a href="" type="internal">Matthew 22L 36-40</a>)</p>
<p>Blessed are the peacemakers; for they will be called the children of God. ( <a href="" type="internal">Matthew 5: 9</a>)</p>
<p>Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the&#160;Kingdom &#160;of God belongs.&#160; . . . And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them,&#160;&#160;and blessed them. ( <a href="" type="internal">Mark 10: 13-16</a>)</p>
<p>The infant in the manger represents human love that transcends culture, class, race, nationality, religious belief, political ideology, straight, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender.&#160; People with less, love as deeply as people with more.&#160; As with birth, death reveals the humanness everyone shares, and love is the heart of that humanness.&#160; Everyone laughs and cries and loves and grieves. To hear each other’s laughter and to see each other’s tears is to experience each other’s humanness.&#160; That is the human message of the manger.</p> | true | 4 | christmas human infant manger disappears angelic announcement conceived virgin160 divine transformation aided mystical star guiding three wise men seeking pay homage matthew 1 1823 2 112160 majestically elevated angel lord appears terrified shepherds tells good news great joy people birth savior says sign child wrapped bands cloth lying manger160 multitude heavenly host join transporting upward glory god highest heaven earth peace among favors luke 2 814 festive familyconnecting enchanting empowering christmas story 160a story brings joy countless people hope others marginalized feel unloved160 also myth promotes favoritism believers leads many christians create accommodate ill division conflict earth far good peace earth peace among favors 160for countless christians words bottom line mythical story jesus virgin birth 160they believe biblical birth narrative one true savior world makes religion superior 160and hold different beliefs often viewed lesser thus treated paternalistically equals also fair game conversion even conquest 160ironically superiority salvation many christians depend inferiority damnation others160 thus jesus supernatural birth story exceptionalism empathy dogma diversity exclusion inclusion right belief behavior favoritism fairness baby manger represents universal humanness children families everywhere160 message covered mystical props drowned heavenly voices proclaiming savior world promising peace among favors 160consider myth favors negates universal message manger survey mission statements major american denominations reveals fundamental belief uniqueness child manger thus superiority christianity160 united states conference catholic bishops emphasizes mission evangelism entrusted christ church transform world mission statement wwwusccborg160 mission keeping opening words second vatican councils dogmatic constitution church christ light humanity proclaiming gospel every creature may bring men light christ shines visibly church 160 article 9 believe holy catholic church catechism catholic church 160 wwwvaticanva160 implication nonchristians live darkness supremacy christianity foretold birth savior people heralded missional vision southern baptist convention present gospel jesus christ every person world make disciples nations160 southern baptists fully committed proposition jesus christ hope world southern baptist convention mission amp vision wwwsbcnet 160and southern baptists embody hope makes special indeed united methodist church believes jesus gods special child christian roots jesus wwwumcorg160160 thus mission church make disciples jesus christ transformation world 160united methodism affirms jesus christ son god savior world lord all160 next breath church seeks mask brand christian sovereignty softener make disciples respect persons religious faiths defend religious freedom persons book discipline section 1 churches wwwumcorg160 cake superiority eating others round table episcopal church believes although jesus human believed truly distinct human beings virgin birth wwwepiscopalchurchorg160 thus mission episcopal church restore people unity god christ160 mission includes proclaim good news kingdom teach baptize nurture new believers us episcopal church wwwepiscopalchurchorg160 human condition one impairment alienation churchs unique message proclaiming good news restoration christ time human child manger rewrapped heavenly royalty sitteth right hand god father almighty thence shall come judge quick dead states apostles creed christians various denominations say union sunday 160 apostles creed wwwreformedorg 160160and advent along repeating apostles creed christian congregations also declaring dominance faith singing favorite christmas carol joy world declares rules world truth grace makes nations prove glories righteousness wonders love joy world hymnaryorg focus christianitys assumed superiority meant minimize empathy social justice beliefs denominations160 pope francis provides timely words saying equal us truth recognized160 rights160 see society unjust justice peace popes quotes justice peace ncr staff national catholic reporter jan 22 2016 southern baptist convention believes christians obligation seek make christ supreme lives human society160 thus spirit christ christians oppose racism every form greed provide orphaned needy abused aged helpless sick 160 basic beliefs southern baptist convention wwwsbcnet united methodist churchs social principles declare affirm persons equally valuable sight god160 thus church supports basic rights persons equal access housing education communication employment medical care legal redress grievances physical protection160 deplores acts hate violence groups persons based race color national origin ethnicity age gender disability status economic condition sexual orientation gender identity religious affiliation social principles social community wwwumcorg mission episcopal church seek transform unjust structures society challenge violence every kind pursue peace reconciliation160 means responding human need loving service five marks mission episcopal church wwwepiscopal churchorg catholics admirable history following jesus teaching welcome strangers reportedly long fought compassionate immigrant reform catholic leaders long side immigrants condemn trumps daca decision antonia blumberg wwwhuffingtonpostcom sept 5 2017160 red cross salvations army southern baptist convention reported biggest disaster relief organization country helping disaster relief aid calling kim severson new york times may 9 2011160 united methodist churchs global aids fund 160reported rev messer 160supports 284 projects 44 countries addressing stigma compassion people hivaids need loved touched cared like jesus would aids yet united methodists continue fight polly house interpreter magazine novdec 2016160 similarly 1976 general convention episcopal160 church declared homosexual persons children god full equal claim persons upon love acceptance pastoral concern care church episcopalians committed working toward greater understanding radical inclusion gods children lgbt church episcopal church wwwepiscopalchurchorg ecumenical good works people faith many160 horizon renewal rev dr martin luther kings poor peoples campaign faith groups reportedly hoping mount protests 40 consecutive days next year least 25 state capitals locations crowds tens thousands courting arrest160 rev dr william barber one campaigns faith leaders said severely growing problem poverty america nothing going change put face drive public discourse restart moral narrative160 moral narrative wages health care immigrant rights gay transgender rights criminal justice reform clean water air ministers look revive martin luther kings 1968 poverty campaign laurie goodstein new york times dec 4 2017 similarly reported diverse group christian theologians recently issued boston declaration reminding everyone 1934 karl barth martin niemoller pastors confessing church released barmen declaration calling german churchs complicity adolph hitlers nazi regime160 inspired confessing church leaders boston declaration contends following jesus today means fighting poverty economic exploitation racism sexism forms oppression deepest wells faith160 diverse theologians outraged many evangelical christians embraced politics exclusion hatred good news jesus become cover social economic order understood bad news many diverse group releases boston declaration challenging us christians corruption called prophetic appeal christians usa press release united methodist insight nov 20 2017 merely examples manifold good works christian denominations calls interfaith leaders social justice160 still christianitys history reveals belief supernatural birth superiority manger child root endless oppression war good peace earth ironically divisiveness undermines good peace inspired bible itself160 jesus birth belief resurrection another supernatural sign son god savior world validates superiority christians160 believing one superior fosters imperialism160 christianitys ingrained imperialism seen biblical belief resurrected jesus words disciples authority heaven earth given me160 therefore go make disciples nations baptizing name father son holy spirit teaching obey everything commanded matthew 28 1620160 never mind doctrine trinity belief father son holy spirit comprising threefold nature one god formulated christianity 325 ad council trent 300 years jesus death see trinity wwwreligiousfactscom enduring persecution becoming recognized religion roman state christians following imperialistic saviors commission joined state persecuting evangelizing jews pagans christians promoting hereticallyjudged beliefs160 christianity increased power mission changed liberator evangelizer160 salvation interpreted personal matter confessing ones original sin born human accepting christ died cross sinful humankind160 never mind political economic legal realities greatly determine shall oppressed need prophets proclaim good news poor seek set liberty oppressed luke 4 1620 belief supernatural beginning end human manger child given christianity superiority complex victimized countless nonbelievers families160 martin luther father protestantism inspired exclusive belief justification faith jesus christ alone practiced sharp mercy toward jews judged beyond justification redemption see luthers jews lies wwwawitnessorg adolph hitler reported christian catholic good standing openly admired martin luther considered brilliant reformer great scandal christianitys role rise nazis gregory paul free inquiry magazine churchandstateorguk oct 11 2003160 support accommodation germanys catholic protestant christians160 superior religion helped breed master race extermination six million jews gypsies political dissidents people disabilities jehovahs witnesses others see mosaic victims depth wwwushmmorg time jesuschangedmy heart united methodist president george w bush committed judged worst war crime 21st century bended knee160 see duty honor atrocity george w bush receives character award west point tomdispach teaching revisionist history erik edstrom wwwprintfriendlycom oct 23 2017160 shortly launching unnecessary falselybased unjudged illegal invasion iraq bush said news conference pray daily guidance wisdom strength160 160 pray peace 160transcript bush news conference iraq wwwcnncom mar 6 2003160 high majority white evangelical christians believe virgin birth prince peace supported bushs horrible war crime millions iraqi children families certain faith leaders reportedly seeing invasion iraq offering exciting new prospects160 proselytizing muslims see wayward christian soldiers charles marsh new york times jan 20 2006160 christian imperialism name father son holy spirit president obama continued president bushs illegal wars afghanistan iraq160 obama also intensified drone warfare killed untold numbers children families160 also developed kill list terrorists including americans whose execution without due process president alone authority order160 manger child welcomed white house year eight years obamas presidency us government policy killing enemy combatants children families continued afghanistan iraq pakistan yemen somalia lybia see obamas covert drone war numbers ten times strikes bush jessica purkiss jack serle bureau investigative journalism jan 17 2017 came presidential candidate donald trump promised christians elected gon na start saying merry christmas trump going say merry christmas brooke seipel hill dec 13 2016160 words hit chord many evangelical christians believe war christmas forcing take back seat politically correct drive happy holidaysdiversity public square diversity makes room chanukah kwanzaa winter solstice traditions bring light life pluralisticallyliving people many christians happy holidays blunts supreme belief reason season160 160they say merry christmas want places worship homes want predominate greeting department stores public squares air160 christmas peace earth among favors italics added160 thus battle cry keep christ christmas160 trump heard them160 ironically universal appeal human infant manger turned belief god plays favorites president trump able say merry christmas appealing white evangelical christians advent belief favored thus superior160 saying merry christmas goes make america great white evangelical christians regaining favored position existentially threatened eight years black president may born us could muslim even though every year said merry christmas white house gon na start saying merry christmas code words legitimize christians whose need feel superior dominate others takes form racism xenophobia 160such christians hail birth prince peace supporting ill violence president trumps massive deportation undocumented immigrants barriers bans ffhis bombing campaign 160against muslim families budget take americans less give even most160 budget actually big tax cut richest dressed trumps disingenuous words want give american people giant tax cut christmas president trumps merry christmas divisive way playing favorites160 another example favoring israelis occupied palestinians declaring united states government recognizes jerusalem capital israel move american embassy 160applauded israelis trumps unilateral decision triggered violent confrontations oppressed palestinians widespread protests across middle east160 palestinians claim east jerusalem future capital future twostate peace solution israel trumps action effectively undermined president trumps decision select jerusalem israels capital also early christmas gift millions evangelical christians base160 share end times biblical prophecy predicts 160when jews regain gods eternal city jerusalem jesus crucified return establish reign peace thousand years begins judging nations including jews final opportunity accept savior suffer eternal damnation unbelievers160 naturally israeli jews welcome trumps gift worldly autocratic reasons christians always able say merry christmas160 one stopping them160 intent minimize joy comfort peace empowerment salvation birth savior brings countless christians 160as former hospital chaplain witnessed firsthand empowering160 meanings christmas countless patients160 issue assumed supremacy belief deep leads many christians resist making equal room people believe look speak differently 160if whats good bad something bad whats good issue evangelical christians belief superiority savior world makes people lesser160 motivating mission transform world jesus christ belief ones faith superior others judged inferior need reconciliation imperialistic religion wrapped professions inclusion accommodate us governments capitalistic pursuit world domination belief superiority manger child george w bush would able launch unnecessary illegal wars continue iraq war lie saddam hussein weapons mass destruction exposed160 would barak obama allowed continue bushs wars afghanistan iraq create kill list160 donald trump would deporting people creating wall bans keep america welcoming strangers matthew 25 3140160 america christian churches often tailor missions accommodate imperial governmental power contrary universal meaning jesus birth message manger children everywhere right belong become whether born bethlehem palestinian territories rohingya villages myanmar pyongyang baltimore anywhere else160 human manger child grew become prophet taught universal truths love favors everyone everything others would sums up160the law prophets matthew 7 12 shall love lord god heart neighbor yourself160all law prophets hang two commandments matthew 22l 3640 blessed peacemakers called children god matthew 5 9 let little children come stop the160kingdom 160of god belongs160 took arms laid hands them160160and blessed mark 10 1316 infant manger represents human love transcends culture class race nationality religious belief political ideology straight lesbian gay bisexual transgender160 people less love deeply people more160 birth death reveals humanness everyone shares love heart humanness160 everyone laughs cries loves grieves hear others laughter see others tears experience others humanness160 human message manger | 2,094 |
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<p>What I have noticed about conservatives and Republicans is that they are no longer conservative and Republican. They believe in the efficacy of force. If we are losing in Iraq, it is because we are not using enough force. All we have to do to win in Iraq, they maintain, is to nuke the towel heads. In case you have forgotten, Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, suggested that the US nuke Mecca in retaliation for a terrorist attack.</p>
<p>Conservative Ann Coulter was more mild, no doubt due to her feminine nature. Her solution to Islam was to “invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity.”</p>
<p>Determined to win, conservatives and Republicans are willing to nuke Iraq. Precisely what they would be winning, they cannot identify.</p>
<p>But they believe that with sufficient force, America can teach those on the receiving end a lesson and make them do what the Bush administration wants. That is the extent of the brainpower that conservatives and Republicans bring to war and diplomacy.</p>
<p>Conservatives and Republicans used to be people who thought it was America’s business to avoid wars and to govern well at home. It was Democrats who involved us in wars–World War I, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam all started under Democratic presidents.</p>
<p>Governing well at home meant being suspicious of government power, not giving government cart blanc with Orwellian legislation called “the Patriot Act.” I can remember when conservatives and Republicans would have gone berserk if Democrats had identified patriotism with the police state legislation called “the Patriot Act.”</p>
<p>You can’t learn a word of this from rightwing talk radio or Fox “News.” According to these war-mongering propagandists, Democrats (read Jane Fonda and John Kerry) are squishy pacifists who want the commies to take over the world. Democrats always run away once a shot is fired, say the rightwing crazies, and believe terrorists are people who had a bad childhood.</p>
<p>As a result of the influence of Israel’s neoconservative supporters and evangelicals expecting The Rapture, conservatives and Republicans are focused on the Middle East. They are apoplectic over Iran’s nuclear power program. If Iran has a nuclear power program, Iran might be able to produce a nuclear weapon in ten years. Vice President Cheney has ordered a plan for the US to use tactical nuclear weapons to take out Iran’s capability should an excuse arise.</p>
<p>That would be the third Islamic country the US would have attacked in as many years. All hell would break loose. Meanwhile, the chairman of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has announced that the Commission will approve Westinghouse’s sale of two nuclear reactors to China.</p>
<p>Conservatives and Republicans think this is a good idea. Vice President Cheney has lobbied in behalf of the sale. It is good for private business. It means $2.4 billion in revenues for Westinghouse Electric Company.</p>
<p>Iran will never again be a world power, even if it has a few nukes. Persia was a power in ancient times, not today. If we don’t bother Iran, Iran won’t bother us.</p>
<p>China is a different matter. China already is a world power. China holds enough US government debt to have the dollar and US interest rates in its hand. Last month in an official briefing a top Chinese general, Zhu Chenghu, said that if the US messes around with China or tries to interfere with China’s reunification with Taiwan, China will nuke the US: “If the Americans are determined to interfere, then we will be determined to respond. We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”</p>
<p>VP Cheney and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission want to make sure China has what it takes to do the job.</p>
<p>The moronic Bush administration is all concerned about “weapons of mass destruction” where they aren’t, not where they are. Why in the world is the Bush administration using up the US military and its weapons systems in Iraq, a country that was no threat whatsoever to the US, while aiding and abetting China’s rapidly growing economic and military power?</p>
<p>Having asked this question, I will receive 1,000 emails from Bush worshippers who will indignantly inquire why I am demonizing China. I am not demonizing China. I am simply asking a question about the intelligence of the Bush administration.</p>
<p>Bush’s supporters, of course, are busy at work demonizing landlocked Middle Eastern states that have nothing but fanatical insurgents to ward off US military attacks on their homelands.</p>
<p>The conservative movement has disappeared. The Republican Party has disappeared. The two have morphed into a brownshirt movement that worships coercion and a strutting little marionette who believes he can threaten peoples into submission.</p>
<p>Why does Cheney want to sell nuclear reactors to China, but order the US Strategic Command to prepare to nuke Iran’s nuclear power capability, a capability that would allow Iran to sell more oil to an energy-starved world?</p>
<p>What’s going on here?</p>
<p>PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS has held a number of academic appointments and has contributed to numerous scholarly publications. He served as Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. His graduate economics education was at the University of Virginia, the University of California at Berkeley, and Oxford University. He is coauthor of <a href="" type="internal">The Tyranny of Good Intentions</a>. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 noticed conservatives republicans longer conservative republican believe efficacy force losing iraq using enough force win iraq maintain nuke towel heads case forgotten rich lowry editor national review suggested us nuke mecca retaliation terrorist attack conservative ann coulter mild doubt due feminine nature solution islam invade countries kill leaders convert christianity determined win conservatives republicans willing nuke iraq precisely would winning identify believe sufficient force america teach receiving end lesson make bush administration wants extent brainpower conservatives republicans bring war diplomacy conservatives republicans used people thought americas business avoid wars govern well home democrats involved us warsworld war world war ii korea vietnam started democratic presidents governing well home meant suspicious government power giving government cart blanc orwellian legislation called patriot act remember conservatives republicans would gone berserk democrats identified patriotism police state legislation called patriot act cant learn word rightwing talk radio fox news according warmongering propagandists democrats read jane fonda john kerry squishy pacifists want commies take world democrats always run away shot fired say rightwing crazies believe terrorists people bad childhood result influence israels neoconservative supporters evangelicals expecting rapture conservatives republicans focused middle east apoplectic irans nuclear power program iran nuclear power program iran might able produce nuclear weapon ten years vice president cheney ordered plan us use tactical nuclear weapons take irans capability excuse arise would third islamic country us would attacked many years hell would break loose meanwhile chairman us nuclear regulatory commission announced commission approve westinghouses sale two nuclear reactors china conservatives republicans think good idea vice president cheney lobbied behalf sale good private business means 24 billion revenues westinghouse electric company iran never world power even nukes persia power ancient times today dont bother iran iran wont bother us china different matter china already world power china holds enough us government debt dollar us interest rates hand last month official briefing top chinese general zhu chenghu said us messes around china tries interfere chinas reunification taiwan china nuke us americans determined interfere determined respond chinese prepare destruction cities east xian course americans prepared hundreds cities destroyed chinese vp cheney us nuclear regulatory commission want make sure china takes job moronic bush administration concerned weapons mass destruction arent world bush administration using us military weapons systems iraq country threat whatsoever us aiding abetting chinas rapidly growing economic military power asked question receive 1000 emails bush worshippers indignantly inquire demonizing china demonizing china simply asking question intelligence bush administration bushs supporters course busy work demonizing landlocked middle eastern states nothing fanatical insurgents ward us military attacks homelands conservative movement disappeared republican party disappeared two morphed brownshirt movement worships coercion strutting little marionette believes threaten peoples submission cheney want sell nuclear reactors china order us strategic command prepare nuke irans nuclear power capability capability would allow iran sell oil energystarved world whats going paul craig roberts held number academic appointments contributed numerous scholarly publications served assistant secretary treasury reagan administration graduate economics education university virginia university california berkeley oxford university coauthor tyranny good intentions reached paulcraigrobertsyahoocom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 517 |
<p>Protecting what they imagine as the virtue of white women, white men also assert their claim on the sexual lives of “their” women.</p>
<p>Addressing an audience at a rally in Florida on February 18, President Trump yet again used his bully pulpit for harebrained fear mongering:</p>
<p>“You look at what’s happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this?”</p>
<p>The comment gave the impression that a terrorist attack had occurred the night before in Sweden; none had.</p>
<p>Trump later tweeted an explanation. Apparently, he had been watching Tucker Carlson Tonight&#160;on Fox News, and his comments referred to Carlson’s interview with Ami Horowitz. Horowitz is a right-wing documentarian whose short film “Stockholm Syndrome” covers the purported “migrant crisis” in Sweden.</p>
<p>Horowitz’s journalistic methods have recently come under scrutiny after two Swedish police officers recanted the interviews aired during Carlson’s segment, which alleged a steep rise in the country’s crime rates. The officers told the Swedish publication <a href="http://www.dn.se/kultur-noje/nyheter/swedish-police-featured-in-fox-news-segment-filmmaker-is-a-madman/" type="external">Dagens Nyheter</a> that they had responded to a question about a rise in crime generally, not one attributed to migrants in particular.</p>
<p>The media has rightfully used the episode to highlight how nimbly Trump and co. use imagined terrorist attacks—à&#160;la the Bowling Green Massacre—to win public support for their xenophobic policies.</p>
<p>But largely left out of discussion of Horowitz’s Fox interview, indeed largely missing from the mainstream media narrative itself, was an analysis of the gender politics behind the right-wing manufactured “migrant crisis.” In a move that has become characteristic of the far Right, Horowitz portrayed Middle Eastern and African migrants as intransigent rapists, whose allegiance to sharia law and sex slavery wreaks havoc on innocent (white) European women.</p>
<p>Such rhetoric echoes the assertions made by white nationalists in the U.S., led by Steve Bannon and his Breitbart surrogates, as well as the alt-right “manosphere” of bloggers. Breitbart routinely runs articles with headlines like “Europe’s Rape Epidemic: Western Women Will Be Sacrificed at the Altar of Mass Migration” (retweeted by Donald Trump Jr. during the election) and “Political Correctness Protects Muslim Rape Culture.”</p>
<p>Milo Yiannopoulos, the former Breitbart editor known in part for his role in Gamergate, an Internet harassment campaign against female video game players, has also fashioned himself a noble protector&#160;of women and gay people from Muslim rapists. He has <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/milo/2016/10/30/milo-muslims-will-bring-lamb-chops-yoghurt-gang-rape-america/" type="external">warned</a> that Muslim immigrants will bring “lamb chops, yoghurt and gang-rape” to America. Yiannopoulos, who has urged gay men to <a href="http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/06/17/gay-rights-have-made-us-dumber-its-time-to-get-back-in-the-closet/" type="external">return to the closet</a>, has also portrayed himself as a selective defender of gay rights against the perceived onslaught of Islam. On speaking tours and in Breitbart think pieces, Yiannopoulos has consistently portrayed the Orlando shootings, which resulted in the deaths of 49 people last June, as, in the words of one headline, an example of “the Left Cho[osing] Islam Over Gays.”</p>
<p><a href="http://time.com/4182186/sweden-feminists-sexual-assault-refugees/" type="external">Feminists</a> and outlets such as The Guardian have&#160; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2016/sep/20/donald-trump-refugees-skittles-hillary-clinton?page=with:block-57e1432fe4b02abd56c3f616#block-57e1432fe4b02abd56c3f616" type="external">pointed out</a> the racist underpinnings of the so-called migrant rape crisis, arguing that the far Right is only interested in using the issue of rape to garner support for their anti-immigration agenda. But there is more to the migrant rape bogeyman than its use as a tool to advance racism and xenophobia.</p>
<p>The Southern Poverty Law Center, a leading hate group watchdog, acknowledges that the alt-right consists of a diverse set of ideologies but sees racism as its single unifying feature.&#160;The ragtag alt-right, according to a recent report by the Center, converges around “white ethno-nationalism as a fundamental value.” Lacking from the report, however, was an analysis of how this white ethno-nationalism interplays with the movement’s equally virulent sexism.</p>
<p>Similarly, the media often ignores the alt-right’s misogyny, or treats it as a footnote to scientific racism and the desire for a white ethno-state. One of the relatively few mainstream news articles to focus on the sexism of the alt-right, <a href="http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/14/13576192/alt-right-sexism-recruitment" type="external">Vox’s “How the Alt-Right’s Sexism Lures Men into White Supremacy</a>,” described the alt-right’s hatred of women as a “gateway drug” to racism, rather than discussing it as a problem in its own right.</p>
<p>But misogyny and heteropatriarchy are as foundational to the alt-right as racism. It would be more accurate to say that sexism and white supremacy are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforcing—you can’t understand one without the other. When extremists like Bannon and Yiannopoulos position themselves as the sole protectors of white women, they are, in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/28/magazine/jeff-sessions-stephen-bannon-justice-department.html" type="external">Emily Bazelon words</a>, “reassert[ing] the country’s European and Christian heritage.” But that heritage is indelibly inscribed in patriarchal authority—and the restoration of that authority is a central aspect of the far-Right platform.</p>
<p>The movement’s favorite term “cuckservative” (or just “cuck”) is a pejorative for establishment conservatives who have been so emasculated from a culture dominated by “social justice warriors” and “political correctness” that they have muzzled their own unpopular opinions. At the most basic level, the alt-right defines itself in highly gendered terms. The movement sees itself as a force of detached, masculine “reason” defending the honor of Western culture against the hysterical, feminine excesses of liberalism.</p>
<p>But the cuck epithet also contains a racist subtext. “Cuckold” has long been associated with white men who allow their wives to have sex with black men: an entire offshoot of the porn industry is dedicated to it. In cuckold porn, the (typically white) husband is humiliated by his wife sleeping with a black man. The cultural significance of interracial cuckolding is purportedly rooted in the additional shame of being replaced by a racially inferior black man.</p>
<p>The “cuck” term draws from a long American tradition. Sex has been at the forefront of white supremacy since slavery, and anxieties about interracial sex and rape fueled the rise of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s. Historian Nancy MacLean, who explores the KKK’s gender politics in her book Behind the Mask of Chivalry, notes that by the end of the nineteenth century, “a large number of white Americans … believed that black men had acquired an incorrigible desire to rape white women.” Rape allegations against black men were the most common justification for lynchings, and they still form a basis for racially motivated killings:&#160;In the midst of his 2015 shooting rampage in Charleston, <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/history/2015/06/the_deadly_history_of_they_re_raping_our_women_racists_have_long_defended.html" type="external">Dylann Roof</a> told his victims, “You rape our women, and you’re taking over our country, and you have to go.”</p>
<p>Beyond its obvious racism, the notion that white men are charged with the “protection” of white women reveals the patriarchal values upon which white supremacy rests. This is because allegations of rape against black men—and the violence produced by these allegations—also reinforce&#160;white women’s dependent and subordinate status. Protecting what they imagine as the virtue of white women, white men also assert their claim on the sexual lives of “their” women.</p>
<p>This brings us back to the symbol of the immigrant rapist, which has seeped from the pages of Breitbart&#160;to the electoral sphere. This shadowy figure played a starring role in the election of Donald Trump, who justified building a wall between the U.S. and Mexico as a vital measure to keep Mexican rapists out of the country. In Germany on New Year’s Eve 2015, reports of mass sexual assaults perpetrated by refugees stirred talk of a nascent “migrant rape crisis.” Since then, the specter of foreign Muslim rapists pillaging “civilized” Europe has fueled <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/03/the-new-star-of-germanys-far-right" type="external">the rise of a virulently anti-immigrant populist party in Germany</a>, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD).&#160;</p>
<p>Scaremongering over sexual assault has helped Steve Bannon, Trump’s head strategist and one of the chief architects of the administration’s Muslim ban, advance the idea that Islam is fundamentally at odds with Western culture. (While Bannon himself does not claim the alt-right label, he has conceded that the website he used to run, Breitbart News, is “the platform” for the movement.)</p>
<p>The portrayal of Muslims as rapists should not be altogether surprising; sex between white women and men of color is the strongest taboo in the white supremacist’s code. Since slavery, rape allegations against black men received exclusive attention, although rape by white men against black women was much more common. As MacLean observes, the discrepancy is largely because rape against black women confirmed white power over all black Americans. And because racial affiliation is traced through the mother, the rape of white women, and the control of their sexual lives, has always been an integral part of the racial purity myth.</p>
<p>Like their forebears, today’s white supremacists justify their actions in the name of protecting white women. In a viral blog post entitled “ <a href="http://mattforney.com/case-female-self-esteem/" type="external">The Case Against Female Self- Esteem</a>,” alt-right blogger Matt Forney (who has also written charming posts on “How to Beat Your Girlfriend or Wife and Get Away With It” and “Why Fat Girls Don’t Deserve to be Loved”) warns that female empowerment won’t keep women from being raped or murdered. In the case of an apocalyptic civilizational collapse, he says, “all the Strong, Independent Women™ who read Jezebel and xoJane would last about five minutes.”</p>
<p>Protecting women from intra-racial sexual violence seems to be a different issue, however. The movement’s romance with pick-up artist (PUA) culture and men’s rights-style activism lends itself to a host of defenses for sexual assault. Mike Cernovich, an alt-right media personality and “men’s empowerment” blogger, regularly writes about the “myth” of date rape. “Have you guys ever tried ‘raping’ a girl without using force?” he tweeted in 2012. <a href="http://mediamatters.org/blog/2016/03/18/foxs-dobbs-cites-great-reporting-from-misogynis/209398" type="external">“Try it. It’s basically impossible. Date rape does not exist.”</a> ( <a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/31/trolls-for-trump" type="external">The New Yorker</a> reports that Cernovich was himself accused of rape in 2003.) Forney has also penned many defenses of domestic violence— including <a href="http://www.alternet.org/gender/look-inside-infamous-mens-rights-movement" type="external">one essay arguing that</a> “women should be terrorized by their men; it’s the only thing that makes them behave better than chimps.”</p>
<p>Comparing women to chimps is not just a rhetorical sleight of hand; a significant number of alt-right supporters believe that women are genetically inferior to men. They converge around a concept called “human biodiversity” (HBD). HBD is basically just repurposed scientific racism: Its adherents worship at the altar of IQ, and believe the measure is closely tied to race. Their view of race and intelligence is also intimately linked to their vision of the ideal form of government. A prominent strain of the alt-right identifies as “ <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2013/11/22/geeks-for-monarchy/" type="external">neo-reactionaries</a>” (NRX-ers). Steeped in the tech-bro elitism of Silicon Valley—the phrase was initially coined by computer scientist Curtis Yarvin—NRX-ers are skeptical of the common man and believe that democratic systems should be replaced with a genetically superior ruling class.</p>
<p>Unsurprisingly, the white nationalists’ plans for governance exclude women entirely. This is based not only on traditional gender roles, but also on essentialist views of women as too easily swayed by emotion to be fit to govern. Richard Spencer, head of the alt-right think tank National Policy Institute, tweeted after the first presidential debate, “Women should never be allowed to make foreign policy. It’s not that they’re ‘weak.’ To the contrary, their vindictiveness knows no bounds.”</p>
<p>Pseudohistory appears to be just as influential as pseudoscience in bolstering this argument. As <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/11/trump-white-nationalists-hate-racism-power" type="external">Mother Jones has reported</a>, the widely discredited author Nicholas Wade has a large alt-right following. Wade argues in his book A Troublesome Inheritance that there is a genetic basis for the so-called “tribal behavior” of Middle Eastern countries and African Americans’ rejection of modern economic institutions.</p>
<p>Pseudoscience also found its way into one of the movement’s only female-run blogs, TheNewFem.com, where an interviewee explained that women tend to be liberals and embrace racial diversity because they have “ <a href="http://thenewfem.com/interview-with-kristen-le-faye-from-the-2016-npi-conference/" type="external">evolved to have no real loyalty to a tribe</a>. If they are taken over they will continue to breed with their new tribe.” Men, then, are natural protectors of whiteness. Echoing the “tribal” theory of sexual difference, alt-right vlogger Colin Robertson put it simply: “Men form tribes. Women join them.”</p>
<p>A December 14 podcast entitled <a href="https://radio.therightstuff.biz/2016/12/14/between-two-lampshades-enoch-spencer-and-anglin/" type="external">Between Two Lampshades</a>&#160;(a revolting reference both to Zach Galifianakis’ comedy show Between Two Ferns and the allegations that Nazis used Holocaust victims’ skin for lampshades), featuring The Daily Stormer’s Andrew Anglin, The Right Stuff’s Mike Enoch, and the National Policy Institute’s Richard Spencer, exposed some of the tensions festering within their noxious ideology. (Since the airing of the show, Enoch quit his position at The Right Stuff when doxxers&#160;revealed his marriage to a Jewish woman.)</p>
<p>When the conversation turned to abortion, the two dominant strains of the alt-right — sexism and racism — seemed in competition. Spencer, a staunch scientific racist and the self-fashioned “intellectual” of the alt-right, opposed repealing Roe v. Wade on the grounds that abortion is “ultimately eugenic.” He also complained that if the Supreme Court decision were repealed and the legality of abortion left to the states, Southern states with high black populations would most certainly ban the practice. Anglin, on the other hand, favored repeal, on the grounds that it would weaken the feminist movement. “If you get rid of abortion … you would have a situation where feminism just couldn’t exist,” he said.</p>
<p>Anglin’s scenario is more likely under the new administration: Trump has vowed to ban abortion and his Supreme Court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, likely shares his anti-choice views. (Although Gorsuch has never had to rule on abortion, his opposition to euthanasia and assisted suicide suggests a pro-life stance.) One Trump administration official whose views are not in question is Vice President Mike Pence, who favors criminalizing women who get an abortion. Under his watch as Indiana governor, low-income women of color <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/appeal-indiana-woman-convicted-having-abortion" type="external">Purvi Patel and Bei Bei Shuai</a> were charged with feticide for obtaining an illegal abortion. Even if Trump fails to overturn Roe v. Wade, his efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act will have serious consequences for women’s health, including access to birth control and prenatal care.</p>
<p>Trump’s cozy relationship with the religious right also suggests that he will not be an advocate of LGBT rights—although it is politically expedient to say so when drawing a comparison between “radical Islam” and the West. Sarah Posner writes in the New Republic that the “religious right has effectively become a subsidiary of the alt right, yoked to Trump’s white nationalist agenda.” In return, Trump has floated a draft executive order that would drastically expand religious exemptions and repeal the Johnson amendment, the legislation that prohibits tax-exempt groups such as churches or charities from participating in political campaigns. The likely result? A far more politically potent religious right that will try to push its anti-LGBT, anti-woman policies onto a country that overwhelmingly disagrees with them.</p>
<p>The Trump administration’s allegiance to voter suppression, law and order policing, and restrictive immigration policies reveal an executive branch fully committed to advancing the cause of alt-right white supremacy.</p>
<p>There is no doubt that racism drives the far right resurgence in the U.S. and Europe. But to downplay the misogyny of these once fringe, now mainstream, movements represents a missed opportunity for the Left. At a time when conservatives seek to rehabilitate Bannon and distance Trump from any connection to the alt-right, the Left must be relentlessly committed to exposing the extremism of the far right on all fronts. Despite efforts to portray themselves as nobly shielding women and LGBT people from the depredations of “radical Islam,” one thing is certain:&#160;The dark vision promoted by Trump and his alt-right influencers will only provide refuge for white men.</p>
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<p>Rachel Johnson is a writer based in Chicago. She holds a master's degree in U.S. history from Northwestern University.</p> | true | 4 | protecting imagine virtue white women white men also assert claim sexual lives women addressing audience rally florida february 18 president trump yet used bully pulpit harebrained fear mongering look whats happening last night sweden sweden would believe comment gave impression terrorist attack occurred night sweden none trump later tweeted explanation apparently watching tucker carlson tonight160on fox news comments referred carlsons interview ami horowitz horowitz rightwing documentarian whose short film stockholm syndrome covers purported migrant crisis sweden horowitzs journalistic methods recently come scrutiny two swedish police officers recanted interviews aired carlsons segment alleged steep rise countrys crime rates officers told swedish publication dagens nyheter responded question rise crime generally one attributed migrants particular media rightfully used episode highlight nimbly trump co use imagined terrorist attacksà160la bowling green massacreto win public support xenophobic policies largely left discussion horowitzs fox interview indeed largely missing mainstream media narrative analysis gender politics behind rightwing manufactured migrant crisis move become characteristic far right horowitz portrayed middle eastern african migrants intransigent rapists whose allegiance sharia law sex slavery wreaks havoc innocent white european women rhetoric echoes assertions made white nationalists us led steve bannon breitbart surrogates well altright manosphere bloggers breitbart routinely runs articles headlines like europes rape epidemic western women sacrificed altar mass migration retweeted donald trump jr election political correctness protects muslim rape culture milo yiannopoulos former breitbart editor known part role gamergate internet harassment campaign female video game players also fashioned noble protector160of women gay people muslim rapists warned muslim immigrants bring lamb chops yoghurt gangrape america yiannopoulos urged gay men return closet also portrayed selective defender gay rights perceived onslaught islam speaking tours breitbart think pieces yiannopoulos consistently portrayed orlando shootings resulted deaths 49 people last june words one headline example left choosing islam gays feminists outlets guardian have160 pointed racist underpinnings socalled migrant rape crisis arguing far right interested using issue rape garner support antiimmigration agenda migrant rape bogeyman use tool advance racism xenophobia southern poverty law center leading hate group watchdog acknowledges altright consists diverse set ideologies sees racism single unifying feature160the ragtag altright according recent report center converges around white ethnonationalism fundamental value lacking report however analysis white ethnonationalism interplays movements equally virulent sexism similarly media often ignores altrights misogyny treats footnote scientific racism desire white ethnostate one relatively mainstream news articles focus sexism altright voxs altrights sexism lures men white supremacy described altrights hatred women gateway drug racism rather discussing problem right misogyny heteropatriarchy foundational altright racism would accurate say sexism white supremacy deeply intertwined mutually reinforcingyou cant understand one without extremists like bannon yiannopoulos position sole protectors white women emily bazelon words reasserting countrys european christian heritage heritage indelibly inscribed patriarchal authorityand restoration authority central aspect farright platform movements favorite term cuckservative cuck pejorative establishment conservatives emasculated culture dominated social justice warriors political correctness muzzled unpopular opinions basic level altright defines highly gendered terms movement sees force detached masculine reason defending honor western culture hysterical feminine excesses liberalism cuck epithet also contains racist subtext cuckold long associated white men allow wives sex black men entire offshoot porn industry dedicated cuckold porn typically white husband humiliated wife sleeping black man cultural significance interracial cuckolding purportedly rooted additional shame replaced racially inferior black man cuck term draws long american tradition sex forefront white supremacy since slavery anxieties interracial sex rape fueled rise ku klux klan 1920s historian nancy maclean explores kkks gender politics book behind mask chivalry notes end nineteenth century large number white americans believed black men acquired incorrigible desire rape white women rape allegations black men common justification lynchings still form basis racially motivated killings160in midst 2015 shooting rampage charleston dylann roof told victims rape women youre taking country go beyond obvious racism notion white men charged protection white women reveals patriarchal values upon white supremacy rests allegations rape black menand violence produced allegationsalso reinforce160white womens dependent subordinate status protecting imagine virtue white women white men also assert claim sexual lives women brings us back symbol immigrant rapist seeped pages breitbart160to electoral sphere shadowy figure played starring role election donald trump justified building wall us mexico vital measure keep mexican rapists country germany new years eve 2015 reports mass sexual assaults perpetrated refugees stirred talk nascent migrant rape crisis since specter foreign muslim rapists pillaging civilized europe fueled rise virulently antiimmigrant populist party germany alternative für deutschland afd160 scaremongering sexual assault helped steve bannon trumps head strategist one chief architects administrations muslim ban advance idea islam fundamentally odds western culture bannon claim altright label conceded website used run breitbart news platform movement portrayal muslims rapists altogether surprising sex white women men color strongest taboo white supremacists code since slavery rape allegations black men received exclusive attention although rape white men black women much common maclean observes discrepancy largely rape black women confirmed white power black americans racial affiliation traced mother rape white women control sexual lives always integral part racial purity myth like forebears todays white supremacists justify actions name protecting white women viral blog post entitled case female self esteem altright blogger matt forney also written charming posts beat girlfriend wife get away fat girls dont deserve loved warns female empowerment wont keep women raped murdered case apocalyptic civilizational collapse says strong independent women read jezebel xojane would last five minutes protecting women intraracial sexual violence seems different issue however movements romance pickup artist pua culture mens rightsstyle activism lends host defenses sexual assault mike cernovich altright media personality mens empowerment blogger regularly writes myth date rape guys ever tried raping girl without using force tweeted 2012 try basically impossible date rape exist new yorker reports cernovich accused rape 2003 forney also penned many defenses domestic violence including one essay arguing women terrorized men thing makes behave better chimps comparing women chimps rhetorical sleight hand significant number altright supporters believe women genetically inferior men converge around concept called human biodiversity hbd hbd basically repurposed scientific racism adherents worship altar iq believe measure closely tied race view race intelligence also intimately linked vision ideal form government prominent strain altright identifies neoreactionaries nrxers steeped techbro elitism silicon valleythe phrase initially coined computer scientist curtis yarvinnrxers skeptical common man believe democratic systems replaced genetically superior ruling class unsurprisingly white nationalists plans governance exclude women entirely based traditional gender roles also essentialist views women easily swayed emotion fit govern richard spencer head altright think tank national policy institute tweeted first presidential debate women never allowed make foreign policy theyre weak contrary vindictiveness knows bounds pseudohistory appears influential pseudoscience bolstering argument mother jones reported widely discredited author nicholas wade large altright following wade argues book troublesome inheritance genetic basis socalled tribal behavior middle eastern countries african americans rejection modern economic institutions pseudoscience also found way one movements femalerun blogs thenewfemcom interviewee explained women tend liberals embrace racial diversity evolved real loyalty tribe taken continue breed new tribe men natural protectors whiteness echoing tribal theory sexual difference altright vlogger colin robertson put simply men form tribes women join december 14 podcast entitled two lampshades160a revolting reference zach galifianakis comedy show two ferns allegations nazis used holocaust victims skin lampshades featuring daily stormers andrew anglin right stuffs mike enoch national policy institutes richard spencer exposed tensions festering within noxious ideology since airing show enoch quit position right stuff doxxers160revealed marriage jewish woman conversation turned abortion two dominant strains altright sexism racism seemed competition spencer staunch scientific racist selffashioned intellectual altright opposed repealing roe v wade grounds abortion ultimately eugenic also complained supreme court decision repealed legality abortion left states southern states high black populations would certainly ban practice anglin hand favored repeal grounds would weaken feminist movement get rid abortion would situation feminism couldnt exist said anglins scenario likely new administration trump vowed ban abortion supreme court nominee neil gorsuch likely shares antichoice views although gorsuch never rule abortion opposition euthanasia assisted suicide suggests prolife stance one trump administration official whose views question vice president mike pence favors criminalizing women get abortion watch indiana governor lowincome women color purvi patel bei bei shuai charged feticide obtaining illegal abortion even trump fails overturn roe v wade efforts repeal affordable care act serious consequences womens health including access birth control prenatal care trumps cozy relationship religious right also suggests advocate lgbt rightsalthough politically expedient say drawing comparison radical islam west sarah posner writes new republic religious right effectively become subsidiary alt right yoked trumps white nationalist agenda return trump floated draft executive order would drastically expand religious exemptions repeal johnson amendment legislation prohibits taxexempt groups churches charities participating political campaigns likely result far politically potent religious right try push antilgbt antiwoman policies onto country overwhelmingly disagrees trump administrations allegiance voter suppression law order policing restrictive immigration policies reveal executive branch fully committed advancing cause altright white supremacy doubt racism drives far right resurgence us europe downplay misogyny fringe mainstream movements represents missed opportunity left time conservatives seek rehabilitate bannon distance trump connection altright left must relentlessly committed exposing extremism far right fronts despite efforts portray nobly shielding women lgbt people depredations radical islam one thing certain160the dark vision promoted trump altright influencers provide refuge white men like youve read subscribe times magazine make taxdeductible donation fund reporting rachel johnson writer based chicago holds masters degree us history northwestern university | 1,533 |
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<p>There’s a rally scheduled in Iran today. It should happen around 7:30 EST. I’ve been up all night thinking about it. The news from that country over the past week has shaken me. As the week wore on and the rallies continued, I feared the hardliners might lose their patience. Yesterday, they seemed to indicate they have. <a href="/mojo/2009/06/after-khameneis-sermon-intense-realism-iran" type="external">Ayatollah Khamenei’s speech</a> at Friday prayers hinted at violence and left little room for compromise. Iranians know what may happen today if they once again march silently by the millions through the streets of their capital: They might not come back. It seems they will go anyway. As you can tell from the (immensely moving) video above (h/t <a href="http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/" type="external">Andrew Sullivan</a>, who deserves an award for his coverage of the past week), the shouts of “God is great” and “death to the dictator” were louder than ever in the city last night. The opposition leaders do not seem to be backing down, despite government promises to arrest any of them who appear at the rally. Defeated presidential candidates Mir-Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi and former president Mohammed Khatami have promised to be there, according to the BBC. (Update 7:00 a.m.: The situation is increasingly ambiguous, and the BBC says they’re getting “mixed messages,” but their Tehran correspondent says the rally will probably still go ahead. Twitter messages seem to confirm it’s still on.)</p>
<p>There’s a feeling I’ve had in the pit of my stomach ever since the rallies started in Tehran. I recognize it from every time I have really wanted something to happen despite how unlikely it seemed at the time. It’s not optimism, because I know the protesters face overwhelming odds and I know that Ahmadinejad and Khamenei and the hardliners won’t go easily. It’s hope. Hope is rooting for something you know to be unlikely or impossible, like universal health care or a black man being elected President. Hope is what we hold on to in the face of tough realities. That’s why the stories, fictional and not, that move us most deeply are the ones in which the heroes face down enormous odds. Every culture—every family, even—has its own David and Goliath story. In my family, that story is about my grandparents.</p>
<p>My maternal grandmother, whose mother was Christian, converted to Judaism in Berlin in 1937.&#160; She was in love with my grandfather, who was Jewish. When he was deported to the Warsaw ghetto, she could have left Germany with the Peruvian visa she had somehow obtained. Instead, she followed him. They escaped from Warsaw before the liquidation of the ghetto and were married in hiding. On Easter Sunday, 1944, they boarded a train to Berlin, carrying false papers. My grandfather figured that Berlin would be the last place the Nazis would be looking for Jews in 1944, and that Easter would be a good day on which to travel. He was right, and here I am today.</p>
<p>What does any of that have to do with Iran? Just that, in the face of overwhelming odds, people don’t always do the rational, self-preserving thing. They go to Warsaw instead of Peru. They risk their lives in the streets instead of going to work. Sometimes things work out, and the underdogs win. My existence is proof of that. But a lot of the time people aren’t as lucky as my grandparents. David doesn’t always win. The tanks roll into Tienanmen. The neighbors turn in Anne Frank. And seemingly mundane decisions separate the times that the underdogs win from the times that they don’t.</p>
<p>This relates to the banality of evil that Hannah Arendt wrote about. Evil doesn’t always manifest itself in grand conspiracies or random murders. That’s too easy. More often, it’s just someone doing his or her job. A soldier following orders. A Basij beating up some people in the street. A bureaucrat making sure the trains run on time. When the underdogs win, it’s usually because people don’t act the way they’re expected to. What’s happens today in Iran rides on that interaction between people just doing their jobs—cogs in the machine—and people who, because of their frustration and disappointment, are fighting against that machine. A German soldier helped my grandparents escape. Who will help the protesters today? Will the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij slaughter their own people? Or will some—or all—join with the protesters? What would you do?</p>
<p>I know that even if, by some miracle, the soldiers lay down their arms and the protesters win today’s confrontation, the Middle East’s problems won’t be magically fixed. Mousavi isn’t some pro-American friend of Israel—far from it. But it’s hard to root against the people marching silently though the streets, demanding a vote and a voice. As Peggy Noonan <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124535660563828707.html" type="external">wrote</a> yesterday, “the uprising, as it moves us, reminds us of who we are: lovers of political freedom who are always and irresistibly on the side of the student standing in front of the tank or the demonstrator chanting ‘Where is my vote?’ in the face of the billy club.”</p>
<p>That’s why, as much as I understand how <a href="/mojo/2009/06/iranians-pleased-obamas-silence" type="external">counterproductive</a> it would be for President Obama to speak directly in support of the protesters (because it would help Ahmadinejad/Khamenei to paint them as American stooges), I sometimes harbor the secret, selfish wish he would. We keep hearing that this isn’t about us—it’s about them.&#160;That’s right, of course, but it’s more complicated than that. We identify with the protesters. I know it’s overly emotional and solipsistic to get so involved in the political goings-on in Iran while sitting comfortably in America. But I can’t help it, and neither, I suspect, can many people around the world. Their calls for justice and freedom have universal resonance. On Friday, President Obama, constrained as he is by political realities and his own <a href="/kevin-drum/2009/06/obamas-temperament" type="external">temperament</a>, warned the Iranian government about what might or might not happen today:</p>
<p>I am very concerned… that the government of Iran recognize the world is watching, and how they approach and deal with people who are, through peaceful means, trying to be heard will, I think, send a pretty clear signal to the international community about what Iran is – and is not.</p>
<p>I understand Obama’s <a href="/mojo/2009/06/iranians-pleased-obamas-silence" type="external">rightly-praised</a> reluctance to hand Ahmadinejad ammunition for his political battle. But if Khamenei cracks down, and the world witnesses another Tiananmen, I doubt that Americans will embrace engagement with the regime. We see too much of ourselves in the protesters. We hope for them. We are watching. If they are murdered, and they very well could be, what will Obama say then?</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | theres rally scheduled iran today happen around 730 est ive night thinking news country past week shaken week wore rallies continued feared hardliners might lose patience yesterday seemed indicate ayatollah khameneis speech friday prayers hinted violence left little room compromise iranians know may happen today march silently millions streets capital might come back seems go anyway tell immensely moving video ht andrew sullivan deserves award coverage past week shouts god great death dictator louder ever city last night opposition leaders seem backing despite government promises arrest appear rally defeated presidential candidates mirhossein mousavi mehdi karoubi former president mohammed khatami promised according bbc update 700 situation increasingly ambiguous bbc says theyre getting mixed messages tehran correspondent says rally probably still go ahead twitter messages seem confirm still theres feeling ive pit stomach ever since rallies started tehran recognize every time really wanted something happen despite unlikely seemed time optimism know protesters face overwhelming odds know ahmadinejad khamenei hardliners wont go easily hope hope rooting something know unlikely impossible like universal health care black man elected president hope hold face tough realities thats stories fictional move us deeply ones heroes face enormous odds every cultureevery family evenhas david goliath story family story grandparents maternal grandmother whose mother christian converted judaism berlin 1937160 love grandfather jewish deported warsaw ghetto could left germany peruvian visa somehow obtained instead followed escaped warsaw liquidation ghetto married hiding easter sunday 1944 boarded train berlin carrying false papers grandfather figured berlin would last place nazis would looking jews 1944 easter would good day travel right today iran face overwhelming odds people dont always rational selfpreserving thing go warsaw instead peru risk lives streets instead going work sometimes things work underdogs win existence proof lot time people arent lucky grandparents david doesnt always win tanks roll tienanmen neighbors turn anne frank seemingly mundane decisions separate times underdogs win times dont relates banality evil hannah arendt wrote evil doesnt always manifest grand conspiracies random murders thats easy often someone job soldier following orders basij beating people street bureaucrat making sure trains run time underdogs win usually people dont act way theyre expected whats happens today iran rides interaction people jobscogs machineand people frustration disappointment fighting machine german soldier helped grandparents escape help protesters today revolutionary guards basij slaughter people someor alljoin protesters would know even miracle soldiers lay arms protesters win todays confrontation middle easts problems wont magically fixed mousavi isnt proamerican friend israelfar hard root people marching silently though streets demanding vote voice peggy noonan wrote yesterday uprising moves us reminds us lovers political freedom always irresistibly side student standing front tank demonstrator chanting vote face billy club thats much understand counterproductive would president obama speak directly support protesters would help ahmadinejadkhamenei paint american stooges sometimes harbor secret selfish wish would keep hearing isnt usits them160thats right course complicated identify protesters know overly emotional solipsistic get involved political goingson iran sitting comfortably america cant help neither suspect many people around world calls justice freedom universal resonance friday president obama constrained political realities temperament warned iranian government might might happen today concerned government iran recognize world watching approach deal people peaceful means trying heard think send pretty clear signal international community iran understand obamas rightlypraised reluctance hand ahmadinejad ammunition political battle khamenei cracks world witnesses another tiananmen doubt americans embrace engagement regime see much protesters hope watching murdered well could obama say | 562 |
<p>WASHINGTON—Citing national security concerns, the White House on Friday formally notified the House intelligence committee that President Donald Trump is “unable” to declassify a memo drafted by Democrats that counters GOP allegations about abuse of government surveillance powers in the FBI’s Russia probe.</p>
<p>White House counsel Don McGahn said in a letter to the committee that the memo contains “numerous properly classified and especially sensitive passages” and asked the intelligence panel to revise the memo with the help of the Justice Department. He said Trump is still “inclined” to release the memo in the interest of transparency if revisions are made.</p>
<p>The president’s rejection of the Democratic memo is in contrast to his enthusiastic embrace of releasing the Republican document, which he pledged before reading to make public. The president declassified the document last week, allowing its publication in full over the objections of the Justice Department.</p>
<p>The top Democrat on the intelligence panel, California Rep. Adam Schiff, criticized Trump for treating the two documents differently, saying the president is now seeking revisions by the same committee that produced the original Republican memo. Still, Schiff said, Democrats “look forward to conferring with the agencies to determine how we can properly inform the American people about the misleading attack on law enforcement by the GOP and address any concerns over sources and methods.”</p>
<p />
<p>Trump has said the GOP memo “vindicates” him in the ongoing Russia investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller. But congressional Democrats and Republicans, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Trey Gowdy of South Carolina, who helped draft the GOP memo, have said it shouldn’t be used to undermine the special counsel.</p>
<p>Earlier Friday, White House spokesman Raj Shah had Trump was discussing the Democratic document with the White House counsel’s office, FBI Director Christopher Wray and another top Justice Department official.</p>
<p>The president had until Saturday to decide whether to allow the classified material to become public after the House intelligence committee voted Monday to release it. Republicans backed releasing the memo in committee with a unanimous vote, but several said they thought it should be redacted. Ryan also said he thought the Democratic document should be released.</p>
<p>In declining to declassify the document, the White House also sent lawmakers a letter signed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and Wray, as well as a marked-up copy of the memo, laying out portions it considers too sensitive to make public. Among those passages are some that the Justice Departments says could compromise intelligence sources and methods, ongoing investigations and national security if disclosed.</p>
<p>Democrats who wrote the memo say it disputes many claims in the GOP memo, which accused the FBI and Justice Department of abusing their surveillance powers in obtaining a secret warrant to monitor former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser Carter Page.</p>
<p>The White House message caps off a week in which Republicans and Democrats on the committee have publicly fought, with the panel now erecting a wall to separate feuding Republican and Democratic staffers who had long sat side by side.</p>
<p>The disagreements have escalated over the last year as Democrats have charged that Republicans aren’t taking the panel’s investigation into Russian election meddling seriously enough. They say the GOP memo, led by chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., is designed as a distraction from the probe, which is looking into whether Trump’s campaign was in any way connected to the Russian interference.</p>
<p>Trump declassified the GOP-authored memo over the objections of the FBI, which said it had “grave concerns” about the document’s accuracy.</p>
<p>In the Nunes’ memo, Republicans took aim at the FBI and the Justice Department over the use of information from former British spy Christopher Steele in obtaining a warrant to monitor Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, or FISA. The main allegation was that the FBI and Justice Department didn’t tell the court enough about Steele’s anti-Trump bias or that his work was funded in part by Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee.</p>
<p>They argued that the reliance on Steele’s material amounted to an improper politicization of the government’s surveillance powers.</p>
<p>Democrats have countered that the GOP memo was inaccurate and a misleading collection of “cherry-picked” details.</p>
<p>They noted that federal law enforcement officials had informed the court about the political origins of Steele’s work and that some of the former spy’s information was corroborated by the FBI. They also noted that there was other evidence presented to the court besides Steele’s information, though they have not provided details.</p>
<p>The Democratic memo is expected to elaborate on these points.</p>
<p>House Republicans who have seen the document had said portions will almost certainly have to be redacted to protect intelligence sources and methods. Earlier this week, White House officials said the Democratic memo would go through the same national security and legal review as the Republican document. But White House chief of staff John Kelly hinted at possible redactions, saying the Democratic version is “not as clean” as the GOP’s.</p>
<p>Rep. Schiff has said he will be scrutinizing the process closely. His office did not have immediate comment Friday on the White House message.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed to this report.</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Read the letter: http://apne.ws/OeAhbxf</p>
<p>___</p>
<p>Follow Chad Day and Mary Clare Jalonick on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/ChadSDay and https://www.twitter.com/MCJalonick</p> | true | 4 | washingtonciting national security concerns white house friday formally notified house intelligence committee president donald trump unable declassify memo drafted democrats counters gop allegations abuse government surveillance powers fbis russia probe white house counsel mcgahn said letter committee memo contains numerous properly classified especially sensitive passages asked intelligence panel revise memo help justice department said trump still inclined release memo interest transparency revisions made presidents rejection democratic memo contrast enthusiastic embrace releasing republican document pledged reading make public president declassified document last week allowing publication full objections justice department top democrat intelligence panel california rep adam schiff criticized trump treating two documents differently saying president seeking revisions committee produced original republican memo still schiff said democrats look forward conferring agencies determine properly inform american people misleading attack law enforcement gop address concerns sources methods trump said gop memo vindicates ongoing russia investigation led special counsel robert mueller congressional democrats republicans including house speaker paul ryan rep trey gowdy south carolina helped draft gop memo said shouldnt used undermine special counsel earlier friday white house spokesman raj shah trump discussing democratic document white house counsels office fbi director christopher wray another top justice department official president saturday decide whether allow classified material become public house intelligence committee voted monday release republicans backed releasing memo committee unanimous vote several said thought redacted ryan also said thought democratic document released declining declassify document white house also sent lawmakers letter signed deputy attorney general rod rosenstein wray well markedup copy memo laying portions considers sensitive make public among passages justice departments says could compromise intelligence sources methods ongoing investigations national security disclosed democrats wrote memo say disputes many claims gop memo accused fbi justice department abusing surveillance powers obtaining secret warrant monitor former trump campaign foreign policy adviser carter page white house message caps week republicans democrats committee publicly fought panel erecting wall separate feuding republican democratic staffers long sat side side disagreements escalated last year democrats charged republicans arent taking panels investigation russian election meddling seriously enough say gop memo led chairman devin nunes rcalif designed distraction probe looking whether trumps campaign way connected russian interference trump declassified gopauthored memo objections fbi said grave concerns documents accuracy nunes memo republicans took aim fbi justice department use information former british spy christopher steele obtaining warrant monitor page foreign intelligence surveillance act fisa main allegation fbi justice department didnt tell court enough steeles antitrump bias work funded part hillary clintons campaign democratic national committee argued reliance steeles material amounted improper politicization governments surveillance powers democrats countered gop memo inaccurate misleading collection cherrypicked details noted federal law enforcement officials informed court political origins steeles work former spys information corroborated fbi also noted evidence presented court besides steeles information though provided details democratic memo expected elaborate points house republicans seen document said portions almost certainly redacted protect intelligence sources methods earlier week white house officials said democratic memo would go national security legal review republican document white house chief staff john kelly hinted possible redactions saying democratic version clean gops rep schiff said scrutinizing process closely office immediate comment friday white house message ___ associated press writer jill colvin contributed report ___ read letter httpapnewsoeahbxf ___ follow chad day mary clare jalonick twitter httpswwwtwittercomchadsday httpswwwtwittercommcjalonick | 537 |
<p>In the final countdown to the November 7 election, Democrats.com has already begun celebrating. Calling for candle light vigils outside polling stations across the nation on election night, the website’s blue-clad supporters will bear moral witness against voting fraud during the historic moment when the Democrats are expected to retake Congress (well, at least the House of Representatives), with the Republican Revolution finally unraveling after 12 long years.</p>
<p>“Let’s imagine a Blue Revolution,” the website’s writers chirped, “every bit as joyous and historic as the Orange Revolution in Ukraine, the Cedar Revolution in Lebanon, the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia, and the other democratic revolutions of recent years–right here in the United States of America.”</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the sometimes-antiwar liberal Todd Gitlin anticipated a post-election “rebirth of liberalism” on the Guardian website, predicting that the Republican Party’s misfortunes will allow “American liberals” to “dare lift their heads and contemplate long-unimagined possibilities.” A “revolution” without struggle?</p>
<p>To be sure, the Democrats are likely to benefit from mass discontent against the Bush administration. But if the Democratic Party does finally manage to eke out a Congressional majority from the scandal-ridden Bush regime, Democrats should not congratulate themselves prematurely. The Republican Party is imploding due to its own outrageous “stupidity” and “arrogance”, as senior U.S. diplomat Alberto Fernandez recently described in an interview with Al-Jazeera television.</p>
<p>This election has been declared a referendum on the Iraq war. But no Democratic congressional leader has called for a fixed deadline for troop withdrawal. And the Democratic Party has refused to articulate a coherent alternative to the over-riding aims of the Bush administration, merely continuing its long-standing and calculated orientation to the swing-voting “center”-while disparaging its own antiwar voting base. This has resulted in continuing the rightward shift in mainstream U.S. politics rather than challenging it.</p>
<p>James M. Lindsay, a former national security official in the Clinton administration, justified Democrats’ reluctance to call for withdrawal. “The problem is you also have to win the general election,” he argued. “You don’t need to appeal to people who have made up their mind and had a bumper sticker on the back of their car for the last four years.”</p>
<p>The Democratic establishment rolled out its spin-doctors to lower expectations a week before the election, explaining in advance why they will accomplish little of significance even with a congressional majority. Bipartisanship is the watchword of the Democratic Party in this election. Liberal New York Rep. Charles Rangel told reporters, “God knows, the Democratic leadership will be reaching across the aisle [W]e will never have the margins–even if we did do it–to get anything done.”</p>
<p>New York Sen. Charles Schumer, leading the Democrats’ election year strategy in the Senate, summarized the only principles at stake: “The days of Democrats’ having to check 28 boxes before they run are over,” Schumer says. “We want to win.”</p>
<p>As the San Francisco Chronicle noted on October 29, “The new Democratic majority, should it occur, will consist of a fresh crop of moderate and conservative members whose elections will have been won in part by distancing themselves from the party’s progressive wing.”</p>
<p>These Democratic Party upstarts include a set of social conservatives opposed to abortion and gay marriage, hand-picked by party powerbrokers:</p>
<p>Abortion opponent Bob Casey Jr., challenging Republican Rick Santorum for his Pennsylvania Senate seat;</p>
<p>Indiana sheriff Brad Ellsworth, running for the House, who opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage;</p>
<p>Black evangelical Christian Harold Ford, running for a Tennessee Senate seat, who names Ronald Reagan as one of his heroes. Ann Coulter, in turn, called him “one of my favorite Democrats.”</p>
<p>White evangelical Christian Heath Shuler, who opposes abortion, running for House representative in North Carolina. Liberalism, then and now</p>
<p>The only Democrats expressing a desire to “fight” are those galloping to the right. California Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher of California, co-chairwoman of the House’s centrist New Democrat Coalition, made clear that the Democrats’ current embrace of social conservatism is not meant to be temporary: “I think there’s tremendous agreement and awareness that getting the majority and running over the left cliff is what our Republican opponents would dearly love,” Tauscher said. This is something “we’ve got to fight,” she added.</p>
<p>As the New York Times reported on October 30, “Asked if he could envision a Democratic Party with, say, an anti-abortion platform, Mr. Shuler did not hesitate. ‘I’m pro-life and I’m part of the Democratic Party, so I hope it’s part of the platform,’ he said. ‘Someone needs to lead.'”</p>
<p>Democratic Party liberals, in contrast, remain tied to chasing the coattails of a party that has long since abandoned them. The mid-1970s marks a crucial turning point, when Democrats joined Republicans in a bipartisan project to launch a sustained ideological attack on liberal principles in order to lower U.S. workers’ living standards while re-building the might of U.S. imperialism after its defeat in Vietnam.</p>
<p>Liberalism has been in decline ever since. Today’s Democrats stand to the right of 1970s Republicans on key social issues. A case in point: George H.W. Bush, who was an ardent proponent of birth control clinics for women in the late 1960s-and committed to legal abortion- until he experienced an apparent “crisis of conscience” upon becoming Ronald Reagan’s running mate in 1980.</p>
<p>Bush Sr. could not have dreamed of launching the attack on gay marriage spearheaded by the Clinton administration’s 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Thus far, bipartisanship has achieved only Democrats’ accommodation to the right, and liberalism has long since lost its way.</p>
<p>Gitlin, a 1960s leader of the antiwar Students for a Democratic Society, now brandishes his pro-war credentials in the American Prospect online, declaring (along with co-author Bruce Ackerman), “We supported the use of American force, together with our allies, in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Afghanistan.”</p>
<p>Gitlin’s American Prospect article was intended to rebut Tony Judt’s recent London Review of Books article deriding U.S. liberals, entitled “Bush’s Useful Idiots: the Strange Death of Liberal America.”</p>
<p>Judt states simply, “In today’s America, neo-conservatives generate brutish policies for which liberals provide the ethical fig-leaf. There really is no other difference between them But the United States now has an Israeli-style foreign policy and America’s liberal intellectuals overwhelmingly support it.”</p>
<p>Gitlin’s response merely illustrates Judt’s point. In his Guardian article, Gitlin warns liberals with lofty expectations from a Democratic-controlled congress, “To accomplish the mission of expanding their power, liberals will require an iron discipline of the sort that the Republican right has found it easier to muster in recent years. Bush and the Republican leadership made the Christian right wait its turn while it was busy servicing the pro-business right. On the left, too, bitter pills will sometimes have to be swallowed.”</p>
<p>“On the other hand,” he adds, “liberals will have to articulate and fight for principle”-as if these two goals do not stand in complete contradiction. The prospects for real change</p>
<p>Barely noticed by the mainstream media in this election season is the real story: massive voter discontent. How else to explain the eleventh hour surge of the Green Party’s unknown Illinois gubernatorial candidate Rich Whitney, reaching 14 percent in an October 23 opinion poll by Survey USA. Among independent voters, Whitney is polling evenly (at 29 percent) with Republican Judy Baar Topinka (31 percent) and incumbent (and scandal-ridden) Democrat Rod Blagojevich (27 percent).</p>
<p>A week ahead of the election, the Aurora Beacon-News headline read, “Neither of the above,” based on a poll by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV. The poll indicated 58 percent of Illinois voters view Topinka unfavorably, matched by the 57 percent who disapprove of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.</p>
<p>Antiwar activist Cindy Sheehan, who helped focus the sentiments of the antiwar majority more than a year ago, has shown the courage to endorse New York’s antiwar Green candidate Howie Hawkins, running against prowar Hillary Clinton for the U.S. Senate.</p>
<p>Mainstream liberals solely focused on the “blue revolution” from above could well be missing the real rebellion brewing below. Setbacks for the Republican Party do not automatically translate into gains for the political left-not without a fight. The world’s future lies at stake.</p>
<p>SHARON SMITH is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931859116/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Women and Socialism</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193185923X/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Subterranean Fire: a History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States</a>. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | final countdown november 7 election democratscom already begun celebrating calling candle light vigils outside polling stations across nation election night websites blueclad supporters bear moral witness voting fraud historic moment democrats expected retake congress well least house representatives republican revolution finally unraveling 12 long years lets imagine blue revolution websites writers chirped every bit joyous historic orange revolution ukraine cedar revolution lebanon velvet revolution czechoslovakia democratic revolutions recent yearsright united states america meanwhile sometimesantiwar liberal todd gitlin anticipated postelection rebirth liberalism guardian website predicting republican partys misfortunes allow american liberals dare lift heads contemplate longunimagined possibilities revolution without struggle sure democrats likely benefit mass discontent bush administration democratic party finally manage eke congressional majority scandalridden bush regime democrats congratulate prematurely republican party imploding due outrageous stupidity arrogance senior us diplomat alberto fernandez recently described interview aljazeera television election declared referendum iraq war democratic congressional leader called fixed deadline troop withdrawal democratic party refused articulate coherent alternative overriding aims bush administration merely continuing longstanding calculated orientation swingvoting centerwhile disparaging antiwar voting base resulted continuing rightward shift mainstream us politics rather challenging james lindsay former national security official clinton administration justified democrats reluctance call withdrawal problem also win general election argued dont need appeal people made mind bumper sticker back car last four years democratic establishment rolled spindoctors lower expectations week election explaining advance accomplish little significance even congressional majority bipartisanship watchword democratic party election liberal new york rep charles rangel told reporters god knows democratic leadership reaching across aisle never marginseven itto get anything done new york sen charles schumer leading democrats election year strategy senate summarized principles stake days democrats check 28 boxes run schumer says want win san francisco chronicle noted october 29 new democratic majority occur consist fresh crop moderate conservative members whose elections part distancing partys progressive wing democratic party upstarts include set social conservatives opposed abortion gay marriage handpicked party powerbrokers abortion opponent bob casey jr challenging republican rick santorum pennsylvania senate seat indiana sheriff brad ellsworth running house opposes abortion rights samesex marriage black evangelical christian harold ford running tennessee senate seat names ronald reagan one heroes ann coulter turn called one favorite democrats white evangelical christian heath shuler opposes abortion running house representative north carolina liberalism democrats expressing desire fight galloping right california rep ellen tauscher california cochairwoman houses centrist new democrat coalition made clear democrats current embrace social conservatism meant temporary think theres tremendous agreement awareness getting majority running left cliff republican opponents would dearly love tauscher said something weve got fight added new york times reported october 30 asked could envision democratic party say antiabortion platform mr shuler hesitate im prolife im part democratic party hope part platform said someone needs lead democratic party liberals contrast remain tied chasing coattails party long since abandoned mid1970s marks crucial turning point democrats joined republicans bipartisan project launch sustained ideological attack liberal principles order lower us workers living standards rebuilding might us imperialism defeat vietnam liberalism decline ever since todays democrats stand right 1970s republicans key social issues case point george hw bush ardent proponent birth control clinics women late 1960sand committed legal abortion experienced apparent crisis conscience upon becoming ronald reagans running mate 1980 bush sr could dreamed launching attack gay marriage spearheaded clinton administrations 1996 defense marriage act thus far bipartisanship achieved democrats accommodation right liberalism long since lost way gitlin 1960s leader antiwar students democratic society brandishes prowar credentials american prospect online declaring along coauthor bruce ackerman supported use american force together allies bosnia kosovo afghanistan gitlins american prospect article intended rebut tony judts recent london review books article deriding us liberals entitled bushs useful idiots strange death liberal america judt states simply todays america neoconservatives generate brutish policies liberals provide ethical figleaf really difference united states israelistyle foreign policy americas liberal intellectuals overwhelmingly support gitlins response merely illustrates judts point guardian article gitlin warns liberals lofty expectations democraticcontrolled congress accomplish mission expanding power liberals require iron discipline sort republican right found easier muster recent years bush republican leadership made christian right wait turn busy servicing probusiness right left bitter pills sometimes swallowed hand adds liberals articulate fight principleas two goals stand complete contradiction prospects real change barely noticed mainstream media election season real story massive voter discontent else explain eleventh hour surge green partys unknown illinois gubernatorial candidate rich whitney reaching 14 percent october 23 opinion poll survey usa among independent voters whitney polling evenly 29 percent republican judy baar topinka 31 percent incumbent scandalridden democrat rod blagojevich 27 percent week ahead election aurora beaconnews headline read neither based poll st louis postdispatch kmovtv poll indicated 58 percent illinois voters view topinka unfavorably matched 57 percent disapprove gov rod blagojevich antiwar activist cindy sheehan helped focus sentiments antiwar majority year ago shown courage endorse new yorks antiwar green candidate howie hawkins running prowar hillary clinton us senate mainstream liberals solely focused blue revolution could well missing real rebellion brewing setbacks republican party automatically translate gains political leftnot without fight worlds future lies stake sharon smith author women socialism subterranean fire history workingclass radicalism united states reached sharoninternationalsocialistorg 160 160 | 848 |
<p>The New York Times ( <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/business/trump-fed-interest-rate.html?_r=0" type="external">3/12/17</a>) lets Donald Trump off the hook for insisting on policies that will lead to slower growth.</p>
<p>The New York Times‘ lead story this morning ( <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/12/business/trump-fed-interest-rate.html" type="external">3/13/17</a>) pits President Donald Trump against the Federal Reserve Board:</p>
<p>Mr. Trump and Janet L. Yellen, the Fed’s chairwoman, appear to be headed toward a collision, albeit in slow motion. Mr. Trump has said repeatedly that he is determined to stimulate faster growth while the central bank, for its part, is indicating that it will seek to restrain any acceleration in economic activity.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, the Fed plans to make a first move in the direction of restraint. The central bank <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/03/business/economy/federal-reserve-interest-rates.html?rref=collection%2Fbyline%2Fbinyamin-appelbaum&amp;action=click&amp;contentCollection=undefined&amp;region=stream&amp;module=stream_unit&amp;version=latest&amp;contentPlacement=2&amp;pgtype=collection" type="external">has all but announced that it will raise its benchmark interest rate</a> at the conclusion of a two-day meeting of its policy-making committee.</p>
<p>The problem with this account, by Times Washington correspondent Binyamin Appelbaum, is that the Fed is doing exactly what Trump, throughout the 2016 campaign, repeatedly demanded that it do. When he announced his candidacy back in June 2015 ( <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/transcript-donald-trump-2016-presidential-announcement-article-1.2260117" type="external">6/16/15</a>), too-low interest rates were one of the grievances he listed about the Obama economy:</p>
<p>Believe me, we’re in a bubble. We have artificially low interest rates. We have a stock market that, frankly, has been good to me, but I still hate to see what’s happening. We have a stock market that is so bloated.</p>
<p>In the midst of the campaign, Trump discussed interest rates at length in an interview on CNBC‘s Squawk Box ( <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/12/cnbc-transcript-republican-presidential-candidate-donald-trump-on-cnbcs-squawk-box-today.html" type="external">9/12/16</a>), criticizing a previous decision by Yellen to not raise interest rates:</p>
<p>It’s staying at zero because she’s obviously political and doing what Obama wants her to do, and I know that’s not supposed to be the way it is, because that’s why it’s low….</p>
<p>But let’s see what happens when interest rates go up. I think they are keeping them down, and they will keep them down longer and any increase at all will be a very, very small increase, Joe, because, you know, they want to keep the market up so Obama goes out and let the new guy, whoever—let’s call it a new guy, you know, because I like the sound of that much better, but the new person becomes president, let him raise interest rates or her raise interest rates, and watch what happens to the stock market when that happens, because you have no choice.</p>
<p>The people that were hurt the worst are people that saved their money all their lives and thought they would live off their interests, and those people are getting just absolutely creamed. The ones that did it right, they saved their money and cut down on their mortgages and did all the things, they did everything exactly right, and now they are getting practically zero interest on the money they worked so hard for over 40 years. I mean, those people have really been — you can almost say discriminated against. The interest rates are kept down by President Obama. I have no doubt that that’s the reason they are being kept down.</p>
<p>The subject came up in the first presidential debate ( <a href="http://fortune.com/2016/09/26/presidential-debate-transcript/" type="external">9/27/16</a>), when Trump once again criticized Yellen for keeping interest rates artificially low:</p>
<p>We’re in a bubble right now. And the only thing that looks good is the stock market, but if you raise interest rates even a little bit, that’s going to come crashing down. We are in a big, fat, ugly bubble. And we better be awfully careful.</p>
<p>And we have a Fed that’s doing political things. This Janet Yellen of the Fed. The Fed is doing political—by keeping the interest rates at this level. And believe me: The day Obama goes off, and he leaves, and goes out to the golf course for the rest of his life to play golf, when they raise interest rates, you’re going to see some very bad things happen, because the Fed is not doing their job. The Fed is being more political than Secretary Clinton.</p>
<p>The odd thing is that Appelbaum’s article makes reference to “the belligerence toward the Fed that characterized <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/us/politics/donald-trump-janet-yellen-federal-reserve.html" type="external">Mr. Trump’s campaign pronouncements</a>.” If you go to that link—to a September 27, 2016, Times article also written by Appelbaum—you read that Trump</p>
<p>said that Janet L. Yellen, the Fed’s chairwoman, was “doing political things” by holding interest rates at low levels. He said that the American economy was in a “big, fat, ugly bubble” that would pop when the Fed started raising rates. Ms. Yellen, he said, was waiting until President Obama left office.</p>
<p>You also learn that “this accusation” is one that “Mr. Trump has leveled several times in recent weeks.” Yet there’s no indication in today’s piece that Trump’s former “belligerence toward the Fed” consisted of repeated attacks on Yellen for not raising rates—the action that is now said to be putting Trump and the Fed on a collision course.</p>
<p>It’s true that there is a contradiction between Trump’s insistence that interest rates are too low and his promise of extraordinary economic growth. (He has <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/09/28/donald-trump-says-tax-plan-could-lift-gdp-growth-to-6/" type="external">declared</a> that his economic plan will deliver GDP growth rates of 5 percent or even 6 percent, a rate that the US economy <a href="http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.KD.ZG?locations=US" type="external">hasn’t seen since 1984</a>; the last time the US had two consecutive years of more than 5 percent growth was 1972–73.) But that’s a conflict that Trump has with reality, not with the Federal Reserve.</p>
<p>By failing to remind readers of Trump’s stance on interest rates during the campaign, the Times is doing the president two big favors. One is the pretense that his economic proposals are coherent, which they are not. The other is that they allow him to point to the Fed as a scapegoat when his promises of spectacular economic growth fail to materialize: It will be Janet Yellen’s fault, for raising interest rates like he told her to.</p>
<p>Jim Naureckas is the editor of <a href="" type="internal">FAIR.org</a>. You can find him on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/jnaureckas" type="external">@JNaureckas</a>.</p>
<p>You can send a message to the New York Times at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>, or write to public editor Liz Spayd at&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>&#160;(Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes" type="external">@NYTimes</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/spaydl" type="external">@SpaydL</a>). Please remember that respectful communication is the most effective.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | new york times 31217 lets donald trump hook insisting policies lead slower growth new york times lead story morning 31317 pits president donald trump federal reserve board mr trump janet l yellen feds chairwoman appear headed toward collision albeit slow motion mr trump said repeatedly determined stimulate faster growth central bank part indicating seek restrain acceleration economic activity wednesday fed plans make first move direction restraint central bank announced raise benchmark interest rate conclusion twoday meeting policymaking committee problem account times washington correspondent binyamin appelbaum fed exactly trump throughout 2016 campaign repeatedly demanded announced candidacy back june 2015 61615 toolow interest rates one grievances listed obama economy believe bubble artificially low interest rates stock market frankly good still hate see whats happening stock market bloated midst campaign trump discussed interest rates length interview cnbcs squawk box 91216 criticizing previous decision yellen raise interest rates staying zero shes obviously political obama wants know thats supposed way thats low lets see happens interest rates go think keeping keep longer increase small increase joe know want keep market obama goes let new guy whoeverlets call new guy know like sound much better new person becomes president let raise interest rates raise interest rates watch happens stock market happens choice people hurt worst people saved money lives thought would live interests people getting absolutely creamed ones right saved money cut mortgages things everything exactly right getting practically zero interest money worked hard 40 years mean people really almost say discriminated interest rates kept president obama doubt thats reason kept subject came first presidential debate 92716 trump criticized yellen keeping interest rates artificially low bubble right thing looks good stock market raise interest rates even little bit thats going come crashing big fat ugly bubble better awfully careful fed thats political things janet yellen fed fed politicalby keeping interest rates level believe day obama goes leaves goes golf course rest life play golf raise interest rates youre going see bad things happen fed job fed political secretary clinton odd thing appelbaums article makes reference belligerence toward fed characterized mr trumps campaign pronouncements go linkto september 27 2016 times article also written appelbaumyou read trump said janet l yellen feds chairwoman political things holding interest rates low levels said american economy big fat ugly bubble would pop fed started raising rates ms yellen said waiting president obama left office also learn accusation one mr trump leveled several times recent weeks yet theres indication todays piece trumps former belligerence toward fed consisted repeated attacks yellen raising ratesthe action said putting trump fed collision course true contradiction trumps insistence interest rates low promise extraordinary economic growth declared economic plan deliver gdp growth rates 5 percent even 6 percent rate us economy hasnt seen since 1984 last time us two consecutive years 5 percent growth 197273 thats conflict trump reality federal reserve failing remind readers trumps stance interest rates campaign times president two big favors one pretense economic proposals coherent allow point fed scapegoat promises spectacular economic growth fail materialize janet yellens fault raising interest rates like told jim naureckas editor fairorg find twitter jnaureckas send message new york times lettersnytimescom write public editor liz spayd at160 publicnytimescom160twitter nytimes spaydl please remember respectful communication effective 160 | 537 |
<p>It was 108 years ago in 1890 when journalist Jacob A. Riis published <a href="" type="internal">How the Other Half Lives</a>, undoubtedly the most influential book about New York City ever written. Coming as it did after a half-century of tremendous population growth and immigration that established New York as a multicultural metropolis, Riis’ hard hitting, picturesque description of tenement life on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, then home to the densest urban population in the world, shook the city’s government and upper class to seriously confront the conditions on the Southern end of the island.</p>
<p>Giving a brief history of the transformation of the old Knickerbocker waterfront to an infamous slum, Riis, while certainly not above ethnic stereotyping, or even outright racism in the case of the burgeoning Chinese population, wasn’t content to let the slumlords’ position, that unregulated population growth and porous morality innate in poor people were the reasons for slum conditions, slide idly by. Rather he argued it was the exorbitant rents and negligent, greedy property holders. He wrote in the introduction:</p>
<p>We know now there is no way out; that the “system” that was the evil offspring of public neglect and private greed has come to stay, a storm-centre forever of our civilization…The story is dark enough, drawn from the plain public records, to send a chill to any heart. If it shall appear that the sufferings and sins of the “other half”, and the evils they breed, are but a just punishment upon the community that gave it no other choice, it will be because that is the truth.</p>
<p>The results of How the Other Half Lives were far-reaching. New laws were passed to enforce stands of hygiene, a homeless shelter was built to replace dreadfully overcrowded police cellars, parks were built, play grounds added to schools, the settlement house movement took off, and eventually child labor laws were passed.</p>
<p>Today New York is a city of more than 8 million people under billionaire mayor Michael Bloomberg. With a poverty rate about the double the national average, it wouldn’t take long for an astute observer to grasp that the city again has a housing crisis. As has often been the case historically, New York has been on the forefront of crises that engulf the rest of the country, if not the world. It was New York, on the heels of the financial crisis in the mid-1970s, which served as the incubator of neoliberalism. It also may prove to be New York where the subprime mortgage crisis, while affecting the city later than other places, may have some of its greatest impact.</p>
<p>Foreclosure</p>
<p>“Abandonment of the 1970s, where entire blocks are stripped…is what this will look like”- Sarah Gerecke, CEO of the Neighborhood Housing Services (NY Daily News, February 17th, 2008)</p>
<p>The edge of eastern Queens has for at least a half century been a haven for black working and middle class homeownership. Over the past two years it has become ground zero for the mortgage crisis in New York. An investigation by the NY Daily News of a three-by-three block section of South Jamaica off Linden Blvd. (one of the area’s main thoroughfares), found 98 properties foreclosed from January-June 2008. A five block radius around nearby 118th Ave and 152nd St contains another 32 foreclosed properties.</p>
<p>The foreclosure epidemic spreads from Jamaica to the surrounding neighborhoods of Rochdale and South Ozone Park. Where not long ago streets were filled with working class families living in starter homes, vacant, garbage covered yards are becoming the norm. Squatters and drug deals, not to mention rodents, have seized the opportunity to move into the abandoned homes that have no “For Sale” sign attached anywhere. Residents report that some of the homes have been turned into crack houses (this at a time when New York’s crime figures are still paraded for show by law and order types, though some crime numbers are now inching up).</p>
<p>Predicatively, the mortgage crisis has hit New York’s minority neighborhoods the hardest. Besides eastern Queens, Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brownsville, Bushwick, and Hunts Point, all predominantly black neighborhoods, have experienced high foreclosure rates. Despite making up only a third of all New York homeowners, blacks and Hispanics obtained nearly 70 percent of all subprime refinance loans in 2006.</p>
<p>Since the beginning of 2008, more than 1200 homes in the city have been repossessed. New York State governor David Paterson recently signed legislation that added a 90 day grace period for homeowners to avoid foreclosure, while at the same time warning that major budget cuts are in the state’s near future.</p>
<p>Rezoning</p>
<p>“How in the world does the mayor justify what he’s trying to do? He’s nationalizing our property like we’re in Venezuela or Russia, then determining which of his friends will get it”—Willets Point business owner (quoted in NY Daily News, June 26th, 2008)</p>
<p>In 19th century New York, elites typically moved further north in a rapidly developing Manhattan in order to escape from the immigrant hordes and working class expanding from the south. During the Bloomburg administration, with less such available land, the focus has shifted to “rezoning”, i.e. declaring a neighborhood or district a “marginal commercial environment”, or blighted, and using such legalities to radically transform the landscape by handing it over to large-scale developers and Big Box stores.</p>
<p>Among the targeted areas has been Downtown Brooklyn, long a commercial center for small business (largely minority and immigrant), that despite drawing 100,000 daily shoppers and posting $100 million in total annual sales was rezoned under the Brooklyn Downtown Redevelopment Plan of 2004. According to a report by the Community Development Project of the Urban Justice Center (UJC), small businesses are suffering as a result: 57 percent of the businesses surveyed in the report have been displaced or forced out of business either due to rising rents or redevelopment as more properties can be tapped for office towers, hotels (including Brooklyn’s first Sheraton, scheduled to open next year), and high-rise condos.</p>
<p>Willets Point in Queens is another area now targeted under similar pretext. A rezoning plan there, opposed at the moment by a majority of the City Council, would force out 225 private, mostly industrial businesses and 1300 workers in order to transform 61 more acres into $3 billion worth of retail stores, “market place” housing, and movie theaters (Bloomberg also claims a public school).</p>
<p>In East Harlem, Columbia University is almost set for a $6.2 billion expansion into a neighborhood that has likewise been ruled by two studies to be full of old, obsolete buildings. A public hearing is scheduled for next month as some owners are vowing a fight against the forced sale of their property to the university. Columbia for its part has promised some token community investments in return.</p>
<p>Other neighborhoods hit by or targeted for rezoning include Riis’ Lower East Side (now considered one of the city’s hippest places) where a rezoning plan threatens to enclose remaining Hispanic enclaves between a wall of high rises, Williamsburg (right across the East River from the Lower East Side), another historically working class, immigrant neighborhood that has been massively gentrified over the past decade, and the Hudson Yards area in Brooklyn slated to be the site of a new basketball arena for the New Jersey Nets.</p>
<p>The common thread running through each rezoning plan, proposed or underway, is that of stable, historically working class neighborhoods turned upside down and gentrified by deliberate top down policy.</p>
<p>Back to the Future</p>
<p>It’s in the above contexts where it’s worth noting that the homeownership rate in New York is only 33 percent, about half the national average of 67 percent. While it is true that New York has always been a renters’ city full of new immigrants and young professionals living in multi-family dwellings (and Long Island, for all intents and purposes the suburbs of the city, has always served as the area’s home buying Mecca, not to mention the white flight refuge), New York also the lowest homeownership rate of any major American city.</p>
<p>Ethnicity plays a key role in New York’s home ownership. The Furman Center’s 2007 State of the City Report shows that only 28 percent of New York’s black population and 16 percent of Hispanics own their own home (compared to 44 percent of whites and 40 percent of Asians). The Hispanic homeownership rate in particular rates far behind other cities, for example in Chicago the Hispanic homeownership rate is 45 percent.</p>
<p>The Furman Center’s report also found that homeowners in New York are far more affluent than non-homeowners while also less likely to be middle income, and more likely to be in the upper income brackets, than homeowners in the rest of the country.</p>
<p>In the present day, most of the worst elements of the tenement slum have been somewhat, at least legally, eliminated: windowless apartments, double-decker tenements, cellar shelters. However some of the same conditions remain. Exorbitant rents forcing tenants to pay more than 30% of their income on rent are not only still common but increasing, leaving many poorer renters in crowded conditions, especially in the largely immigrant populated sections of the city such as the adjacent neighborhoods of Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, Corona, and Sunnyside. These were listed in the Furman Center report as having the highest numbers of severely crowded households- severely crowded being modestly defined as having more than 1.5 persons per room.</p>
<p>The best way forward to reform New York City’s housing problem harkens back to Riis’ efforts all those years ago. In the short-term, grass roots efforts already underway can do their best to beat back mayor Bloomberg’s rezoning efforts while at the same time ensuring that Bloomberg be denied any chance of a third term (the city now has a two term limit on mayors but there is talk of doing away with it, as there was at the end of Giuliani’s second term in the aftermath of 9/11. Giuliani’s effort was defeated).</p>
<p>The long term solution would be one that focuses on affordable housing, community orientated development, and government sponsored housing programs that can bring minority homeownership more in line with national numbers. It will be a difficult task that can expect to meet opposition every step of the way from the entrenched business elite that has called the shots for the past three decades. However, history has already proven that change is possible; and indeed inevitable when it comes to New York.</p>
<p>JOSEPH GROSSO is a writer and librarian in New York City.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 108 years ago 1890 journalist jacob riis published half lives undoubtedly influential book new york city ever written coming halfcentury tremendous population growth immigration established new york multicultural metropolis riis hard hitting picturesque description tenement life manhattans lower east side home densest urban population world shook citys government upper class seriously confront conditions southern end island giving brief history transformation old knickerbocker waterfront infamous slum riis certainly ethnic stereotyping even outright racism case burgeoning chinese population wasnt content let slumlords position unregulated population growth porous morality innate poor people reasons slum conditions slide idly rather argued exorbitant rents negligent greedy property holders wrote introduction know way system evil offspring public neglect private greed come stay stormcentre forever civilizationthe story dark enough drawn plain public records send chill heart shall appear sufferings sins half evils breed punishment upon community gave choice truth results half lives farreaching new laws passed enforce stands hygiene homeless shelter built replace dreadfully overcrowded police cellars parks built play grounds added schools settlement house movement took eventually child labor laws passed today new york city 8 million people billionaire mayor michael bloomberg poverty rate double national average wouldnt take long astute observer grasp city housing crisis often case historically new york forefront crises engulf rest country world new york heels financial crisis mid1970s served incubator neoliberalism also may prove new york subprime mortgage crisis affecting city later places may greatest impact foreclosure abandonment 1970s entire blocks strippedis look like sarah gerecke ceo neighborhood housing services ny daily news february 17th 2008 edge eastern queens least half century black working middle class homeownership past two years become ground zero mortgage crisis new york investigation ny daily news threebythree block section south jamaica linden blvd one areas main thoroughfares found 98 properties foreclosed januaryjune 2008 five block radius around nearby 118th ave 152nd st contains another 32 foreclosed properties foreclosure epidemic spreads jamaica surrounding neighborhoods rochdale south ozone park long ago streets filled working class families living starter homes vacant garbage covered yards becoming norm squatters drug deals mention rodents seized opportunity move abandoned homes sale sign attached anywhere residents report homes turned crack houses time new yorks crime figures still paraded show law order types though crime numbers inching predicatively mortgage crisis hit new yorks minority neighborhoods hardest besides eastern queens bedfordstuyvesant brownsville bushwick hunts point predominantly black neighborhoods experienced high foreclosure rates despite making third new york homeowners blacks hispanics obtained nearly 70 percent subprime refinance loans 2006 since beginning 2008 1200 homes city repossessed new york state governor david paterson recently signed legislation added 90 day grace period homeowners avoid foreclosure time warning major budget cuts states near future rezoning world mayor justify hes trying hes nationalizing property like venezuela russia determining friends get itwillets point business owner quoted ny daily news june 26th 2008 19th century new york elites typically moved north rapidly developing manhattan order escape immigrant hordes working class expanding south bloomburg administration less available land focus shifted rezoning ie declaring neighborhood district marginal commercial environment blighted using legalities radically transform landscape handing largescale developers big box stores among targeted areas downtown brooklyn long commercial center small business largely minority immigrant despite drawing 100000 daily shoppers posting 100 million total annual sales rezoned brooklyn downtown redevelopment plan 2004 according report community development project urban justice center ujc small businesses suffering result 57 percent businesses surveyed report displaced forced business either due rising rents redevelopment properties tapped office towers hotels including brooklyns first sheraton scheduled open next year highrise condos willets point queens another area targeted similar pretext rezoning plan opposed moment majority city council would force 225 private mostly industrial businesses 1300 workers order transform 61 acres 3 billion worth retail stores market place housing movie theaters bloomberg also claims public school east harlem columbia university almost set 62 billion expansion neighborhood likewise ruled two studies full old obsolete buildings public hearing scheduled next month owners vowing fight forced sale property university columbia part promised token community investments return neighborhoods hit targeted rezoning include riis lower east side considered one citys hippest places rezoning plan threatens enclose remaining hispanic enclaves wall high rises williamsburg right across east river lower east side another historically working class immigrant neighborhood massively gentrified past decade hudson yards area brooklyn slated site new basketball arena new jersey nets common thread running rezoning plan proposed underway stable historically working class neighborhoods turned upside gentrified deliberate top policy back future contexts worth noting homeownership rate new york 33 percent half national average 67 percent true new york always renters city full new immigrants young professionals living multifamily dwellings long island intents purposes suburbs city always served areas home buying mecca mention white flight refuge new york also lowest homeownership rate major american city ethnicity plays key role new yorks home ownership furman centers 2007 state city report shows 28 percent new yorks black population 16 percent hispanics home compared 44 percent whites 40 percent asians hispanic homeownership rate particular rates far behind cities example chicago hispanic homeownership rate 45 percent furman centers report also found homeowners new york far affluent nonhomeowners also less likely middle income likely upper income brackets homeowners rest country present day worst elements tenement slum somewhat least legally eliminated windowless apartments doubledecker tenements cellar shelters however conditions remain exorbitant rents forcing tenants pay 30 income rent still common increasing leaving many poorer renters crowded conditions especially largely immigrant populated sections city adjacent neighborhoods elmhurst jackson heights corona sunnyside listed furman center report highest numbers severely crowded households severely crowded modestly defined 15 persons per room best way forward reform new york citys housing problem harkens back riis efforts years ago shortterm grass roots efforts already underway best beat back mayor bloombergs rezoning efforts time ensuring bloomberg denied chance third term city two term limit mayors talk away end giulianis second term aftermath 911 giulianis effort defeated long term solution would one focuses affordable housing community orientated development government sponsored housing programs bring minority homeownership line national numbers difficult task expect meet opposition every step way entrenched business elite called shots past three decades however history already proven change possible indeed inevitable comes new york joseph grosso writer librarian new york city 160 ad 160 160 160 160 | 1,041 |
<p><a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/05/06/the-reinvention-of-raven-symone.html" type="external">Raven-Symoné</a>, former child star and human manifestation of the <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/05/06/the-reinvention-of-raven-symone.html" type="external">Twitter trending topic</a>, was officially hired as the fourth co-host of <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/01/15/the-view-s-hail-mary-barbara-walters-is-back.html" type="external">The View</a>, making official a gig she’s been unofficially campaigning for regularly over the past year.</p>
<p>Seated next to an Oscar-winning Hollywood trailblazer (Whoopi Goldberg), a former Republican strategist (Nicolle Wallace), and a Latino icon and renowned activist (Rosie Perez), Symoné has been the salt, sugar, and spice making an otherwise woefully bland and mushy morning dish the hot breakfast ticket in <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/05/28/does-daytime-tv-have-to-be-a-talk-obsessed-hell.html" type="external">morning TV</a>.</p>
<p>She’s made headlines for speaking absolute nonsense—with great and admirable confidence—on a wide array of topics over the past few months. She’s angered some, amused others, and, most importantly, garnered the attention of all.</p>
<p>But you know what? Speaking freely (and occasionally like a lunatic) is her job. Now it’s a daily one. And boy is she good at it.</p>
<p>If industry whispers, gossip rag reports, and a long and damning <a href="http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/05/the-view-barbara-walters-departure-drama" type="external">Vanity Fair exposé</a> histrionically titled “The View’s Epic Fight for Survival” are to be believed, Barbara Walter’s darling morning chat program is struggling. Its ratings have been dreadful, its buzz even worse, and talent shakeups—Rosie O’Donnell’s back! Now she’s leaving! Rosie Perez is fired! Haha, just kidding!—have nearly suffocated any positive sentiment towards the show.</p>
<p>All of this while rivals The Talk and The Chew and various other innocuously named talk shows featuring four hosts clucking at each other for an hour have been surpassing the daytime stalwart in numbers and in audience interest.</p>
<p>Well, you know what? Wacky, controversial, and self-assured lunatic Raven-Symoné is exactly what the show needs to be saved.</p>
<p>Symoné’s hiring has been written on the wall for a while now. (If you watch The View on a daily basis—and there are at least dozens of you—you’ve seen Symoné co-hosting so often that you probably already assumed she’d been hired.)</p>
<p>More, if you’ve followed her return to the public eye over the past few years, especially with her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/05/raven-symone-african-american-gay-labels_n_5929414.html" type="external">headline-making interview</a> with Oprah Winfrey in 2014, you may have had a vision, That’s So Raven-style, of Symoné’s inevitable future.</p>
<p>“Oh, girl, don’t set Twitter fire,” Winfrey warned when Symoné, discussing being a lesbian and black woman in America, said she didn’t want to be labeled because of her race or her sexuality. “I’m an American,” she said. “I’m not an African-American; I’m an American.”</p>
<p>Indeed, a Twitter inferno waged in the wake of her comments. And, especially since she began regularly guest-hosting The View, it has never really extinguished. Symoné has become a bit of a pyro in this regard. And The View has been happily fanning her flames, basking in the headlines and attention she’s been bringing the show.</p>
<p>It hinted at the unapologetic candor that’s defined her time on The View, often employed without a thought of its consequences. It hinted at an ideology and opinionated mindset that would be most definitely off-center and provocative, divisive and unusual, humorous even when ignorant, and occasionally intelligent and sometimes informed.</p>
<p>Start and finish your day with the top stories from The Daily Beast.</p>
<p>A speedy, smart summary of all the news you need to know (and nothing you don't).</p>
<p>Still, even if not the smartest opinion, hers is always a valid one, and one useful for sparking conversation. And as they say, all publicity is good publicity.</p>
<p>Remember when that TV reporter joked that a makeup artist who transformed herself into Michelle Obama “looked like a monkey”? Most argued that the reporter was shamefully racist. Symoné, instead, immediately <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/03/18/raven-symon-i-m-not-going-to-back-down-from-comments-on-the-view.html" type="external">defended the reporter</a> on The View. “I don’t think what he’s saying is racist,” she said. “Some people look like animals… Is that rude? I look like a bird.”</p>
<p>Words like “controversy” and “scandal” were thrown around as Symoné’s comments took off. And, just as importantly for the show’s producers, The View suddenly catapulted itself to the center of this whole racist joke story.</p>
<p>Is she out of her mind? Does she have a point? Is she bad for the black community? Is she just simply progressive? People couldn’t stop debating Symoné. Some critics might say it’s irresponsible to give someone prone to controversial and maybe even offensive speech a platform like The View. Anyone who knows good TV, however, will say that Symoné was getting people talking—and that’s a great thing.</p>
<p>She ruffled feathers when she said that Harriet Tubman <a href="http://jezebel.com/raven-symone-on-putting-harriet-tubman-on-the-20-i-do-1704693945" type="external">should not be</a> on the $20 bill. She passionately <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1VyvGgfml8" type="external">insisted</a> that stay-at-home moms get paid, which, you go girl! But also, by who? And in the grand tradition of Rosie O’Donnell, she is blissfully and almost uncomfortably vanity free in her penchant for confessional, like the time <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/651654/raven-symone-reveals-she-s-worn-spanx-since-she-was-14-find-out-why-and-what-her-mother-told-her" type="external">she confessed</a> that she has been wearing Spanx since she was 14.</p>
<p>Sure, there’s shock value in such statements. But just as was the case with O’Donnell—maybe the <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2014/02/07/rosie-o-donnell-s-explosive-return-to-the-view-makes-us-miss-her-more.html" type="external">best View co-host</a> there ever was—there’s always value in these confessions, as they foster a relatability and intimate trust with the audience (something that yet can’t be said for Wallace and Perez) and cause people to think about our institutionalized values (such as body image and femininity) in different ways.</p>
<p>But unlike her other co-hosts—the more buttoned-up Wallace, the quivering Bambi Perez, and the you’ve-gotta-be-kidding-me-with-this-shit Goldberg—Symoné is not just conditioned, but game to handle the whiplash shifts in tone that a morning TV show requires with agility and enthusiasm.</p>
<p>“And that’s how we feel about ISIS. Coming up: We’ll show you how to make the perfect soufflé. And Jessie J performs!” It’s not every person that can handle the triviality of such high-low ambition. But Symoné thrives in it. And can do <a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/the-view/news/view-news/raven-symone-named-new-co-host-on-the-view-20150610" type="external">splits with Anthony Anderson</a>, too!</p>
<p>Sure, Symoné can come off as misinformed and maybe even ignorant or sometimes delusional. But she stands her ground, unafraid to bicker a bit with her co-hosts who may differ in opinion. If there’s one thing we’ve learned from the very fact that Elisabeth Hasselbeck has a career in media, it’s that audiences love to watch people engage is fiery debates about insane opinions.</p>
<p>It’s undeniable, too, that—even though she insisted to Queen O that she wishes to not be labeled or defined by them—Symoné’s race and sexuality, and also her age, make her hiring a pointed decision and a big deal.</p>
<p>It signals where The View’s producers hope to drive the conversation, and how diverse and progressive they want that destination to be. It hints at a modicum of fun and youthful energy they hope to invigorate the show with. And it proves that its oh-so-brief experiment that started this season of The View failed.</p>
<p>O’Donnell, Wallace, and Perez were supposed to bring seriousness to the mornings. Conversations were supposed to be intelligent and meaningful, and we were supposed to appreciate that. After all, hadn’t we derided the show in recent years for its overdrive charge into batty asshattery?</p>
<p>It didn’t work.</p>
<p>Turns out, we didn’t know what we wanted. Sherri Shepherd and Jenny McCarthy were excised, but they took the circus with them. Like forlorn children, we’ve missed the clowns. The View producers have noticed our frowns, and they’re sending in the clowns to brighten our day again.</p>
<p>Welcome, Raven-Symoné.</p> | true | 4 | ravensymoné former child star human manifestation twitter trending topic officially hired fourth cohost view making official gig shes unofficially campaigning regularly past year seated next oscarwinning hollywood trailblazer whoopi goldberg former republican strategist nicolle wallace latino icon renowned activist rosie perez symoné salt sugar spice making otherwise woefully bland mushy morning dish hot breakfast ticket morning tv shes made headlines speaking absolute nonsensewith great admirable confidenceon wide array topics past months shes angered amused others importantly garnered attention know speaking freely occasionally like lunatic job daily one boy good industry whispers gossip rag reports long damning vanity fair exposé histrionically titled views epic fight survival believed barbara walters darling morning chat program struggling ratings dreadful buzz even worse talent shakeupsrosie odonnells back shes leaving rosie perez fired haha kiddinghave nearly suffocated positive sentiment towards show rivals talk chew various innocuously named talk shows featuring four hosts clucking hour surpassing daytime stalwart numbers audience interest well know wacky controversial selfassured lunatic ravensymoné exactly show needs saved symonés hiring written wall watch view daily basisand least dozens youyouve seen symoné cohosting often probably already assumed shed hired youve followed return public eye past years especially headlinemaking interview oprah winfrey 2014 may vision thats ravenstyle symonés inevitable future oh girl dont set twitter fire winfrey warned symoné discussing lesbian black woman america said didnt want labeled race sexuality im american said im africanamerican im american indeed twitter inferno waged wake comments especially since began regularly guesthosting view never really extinguished symoné become bit pyro regard view happily fanning flames basking headlines attention shes bringing show hinted unapologetic candor thats defined time view often employed without thought consequences hinted ideology opinionated mindset would definitely offcenter provocative divisive unusual humorous even ignorant occasionally intelligent sometimes informed start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont still even smartest opinion always valid one one useful sparking conversation say publicity good publicity remember tv reporter joked makeup artist transformed michelle obama looked like monkey argued reporter shamefully racist symoné instead immediately defended reporter view dont think hes saying racist said people look like animals rude look like bird words like controversy scandal thrown around symonés comments took importantly shows producers view suddenly catapulted center whole racist joke story mind point bad black community simply progressive people couldnt stop debating symoné critics might say irresponsible give someone prone controversial maybe even offensive speech platform like view anyone knows good tv however say symoné getting people talkingand thats great thing ruffled feathers said harriet tubman 20 bill passionately insisted stayathome moms get paid go girl also grand tradition rosie odonnell blissfully almost uncomfortably vanity free penchant confessional like time confessed wearing spanx since 14 sure theres shock value statements case odonnellmaybe best view cohost ever wastheres always value confessions foster relatability intimate trust audience something yet cant said wallace perez cause people think institutionalized values body image femininity different ways unlike cohoststhe buttonedup wallace quivering bambi perez youvegottabekiddingmewiththisshit goldbergsymoné conditioned game handle whiplash shifts tone morning tv show requires agility enthusiasm thats feel isis coming well show make perfect soufflé jessie j performs every person handle triviality highlow ambition symoné thrives splits anthony anderson sure symoné come misinformed maybe even ignorant sometimes delusional stands ground unafraid bicker bit cohosts may differ opinion theres one thing weve learned fact elisabeth hasselbeck career media audiences love watch people engage fiery debates insane opinions undeniable thateven though insisted queen wishes labeled defined themsymonés race sexuality also age make hiring pointed decision big deal signals views producers hope drive conversation diverse progressive want destination hints modicum fun youthful energy hope invigorate show proves ohsobrief experiment started season view failed odonnell wallace perez supposed bring seriousness mornings conversations supposed intelligent meaningful supposed appreciate hadnt derided show recent years overdrive charge batty asshattery didnt work turns didnt know wanted sherri shepherd jenny mccarthy excised took circus like forlorn children weve missed clowns view producers noticed frowns theyre sending clowns brighten day welcome ravensymoné | 664 |
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<p>Introduction by Tom Engelhardt</p>
<p>President Obama has recently threatened to rescind the “blank check” the Bush administration offered to big defense contractors. So now is the time when all that planning by Lockheed Martin and the other major arms manufacturers comes into play. One of that company’s major weapons systems, the F-22 Raptor, is <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175029" type="external">potentially on the chopping block</a>. How convenient then that, in the midst of an economic meltdown, Lockheed just happens to have <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/09/us/politics/09defense.html" type="external">more than 1,000 parts suppliers</a> for that jet carefully scattered across 44 states, all of which, as far as I know, have representatives in Congress. This is pretty typical.</p>
<p>Take the Army’s Future Combat System (FCS), which Noah Shachtman of Wired.com’s Danger Zone blog <a href="http://blog.wired.com/defense/2009/03/fcs-jobs.html" type="external">calls</a> a “poster child in Washington for Pentagon bloat and overreach.” According to a recent Army briefing document, “The FCS Manned Ground Vehicle program encompasses more than 839 suppliers in 38 states totaling more than $6.2B in development cost impact.” The only question, of course, is: How could the prospective eight-vehicle system have missed those other 12 states? Similarly, when it comes to the Navy’s <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29509700/" type="external">much desired Virginia Class Submarine</a>, according to MSNBC’s Tom Curry, “Supplier work on the subs is spread from Northampton, Mass., (Kollmorgen Corp.) to Tacoma, Wash., (Bradken-Atlas Castings) not to mention the main sub building sites in Groton and in Newport News. Each of those congressional districts happens to be represented by a Democratic member of the House of Representatives.”</p>
<p>The list of weapons systems is practically endless and the various services and companies responsible for them invariably try to spread the largess across as many congressional districts as possible. What this means is that any cuts are likely to be fiercely fought, both within the military and in Congress, backed by all the lobbying power of the weapons makers. That’s why the latest post by Frida Berrigan, military expert for the New America Foundation and TomDispatch regular, is so important. It’s a reminder that, for all the cash the military-industrial complex slathers over Congress, and all the money spread around the country, the modern weapons industry is a stimulus damper. That’s not a point much trumpeted in this country. As Berrigan points out, however, if you want economic bounce, it’s best not to put your money into things that go “boom” in the night, but into the peaceable professions like health care and education. Tom</p>
<p />
<p>Why the Pentagon Can’t Put America Back to Work By Frida Berrigan</p>
<p>“Shovel-ready.”</p>
<p>It’s the magic incantation to fix our economic woes. Many states and federal agencies have already gone from scouring their budgets for things to cut to <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/05/nyregion/05albany.html" type="external">green-lighting</a> construction projects. The Obama administration’s $787 billion <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/agenda/economy/" type="external">stimulus package</a> is sure to muster many shovels in an effort to rouse a despondent economy and put Americans back to work.</p>
<p>Here’s the strange thing though: That package was headline news for weeks, bitterly argued over, hailed and derided in equal measure. And yet road construction, housing projects, and green retrofits aren’t the only major projects getting the shovel-ready treatment via massive infusions of cash.</p>
<p>At the end of February, another huge “stimulus” package was announced but generated almost no comment, controversy, or argument. The defense industry <a href="http://www.armscontrolcenter.org/policy/securityspending/articles/022609_fy10_topline/" type="external">received</a> its own special stimulus package—news of the dollars available for the Pentagon budget in 2010; and at nearly $700 billion (when all the bits and pieces are added in), it’s almost as big as the Obama economic package and sure to be a lot less effective.</p>
<p>Despite the sort of economic maelstrom not seen in generations, the defense industry, insulated by an enduring conviction that war spending stimulates the economy, remains almost impervious to budget cuts. To understand why military spending is no longer a stimulus driver means putting aside memories of <a href="http://www.adcouncil.org/default.aspx?id=128" type="external">Rosie the Riveter</a> and the sepia-hued worker on the bomber assembly line and remembering instead that the Great Depression came before “the Good War,” not the other way around. In World War II, it’s also important to recall, the massive military buildup was labor intensive, employed millions, and was accompanied by rationing, austerity, and very high taxes.</p>
<p>This time around, we began with boom years and spent our way into the breach, in significant part by launching unnecessary, profligate wars. Meanwhile, President George W. Bush <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/9-19-05tax.htm" type="external">cut taxes</a> at a more than peacetime pace and <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/29/couricandco/entry4486228.shtml" type="external">borrowed</a> like an addicted gambler on a losing streak to underwrite his wars of choice, including his Global War on Terror. If the former president’s <a href="http://opencrs.com/document/Rl33110" type="external">nearly trillion dollar</a> (and counting) global war got us into this mess, by simple logic it’s not likely to bail us out as well.</p>
<p>Riding the Slide to Billions</p>
<p>While the good times rolled during the long slide from surplus to deficit, from no war to global war, it wasn’t just the Merrill Lynches and subprime mortgage giants that cleaned up. <a href="http://www.lockheedmartin.com/" type="external">Lockheed Martin</a>, <a href="http://www.boeing.com/" type="external">Boeing</a>, and <a href="http://www.northropgrumman.com/" type="external">Northrop Grumman</a>—the top three defense contractors—had a ball, too.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://siadapp.dmdc.osd.mil/procurement/historical_reports/statistics/p01/fy2002/top100.htm" type="external">2002</a>, the first full year of what came to be known as the Global War on Terror, for instance, those three companies—ranking first, second, and third on the Pentagon’s list of top ten contractors—split $42 billion in contract awards, more than two-thirds of the $67 billion distributed among the top 10 Pentagon contractors.</p>
<p>In <a href="http://www.fedspending.org/fpds/fpds.php?datype=T&amp;detail=-1&amp;database=fpds&amp;fiscal_year=2007&amp;maj_agency_cat=97" type="external">2007</a>, the last year for which full contracting data is available, the same Big Three split $69 billion in Pentagon contracts, which was more than the total received by the top 10 companies just five years earlier. The top 10 divvied up $121 billion in contracts in 2007, an 80% increase over 2002. Lockheed Martin, the number one Pentagon contractor, graduated from a mere $17 billion in awarded contracts in 2002 to $28 billion in 2007. That’s a leap of 64%. Given such figures, it’s easy enough to understand how the basic military budget—excluding money for actual war-fighting—jumped from about $300 billion to more than $500 billion during the Bush years.</p>
<p>Given the economic climate, it’s no surprise that the three defense giants have all posted losses in the past few weeks. But before the hankies come out and the histrionics start, it should be noted that Lockheed Martin alone has an <a href="http://online.barrons.com/article/SB123596350802306665.html?mod=googlenews_barrons" type="external">$81 billion backlog</a> in orders, enough to keep chugging along for another two years without a single new contract.</p>
<p>If such war spending had been an effective stimulus for the economy, we would be roaring along on 12 cylinders today. But increasingly this kind of spending mainly stimulates corporate shareholders, stock prices, and (of course) war itself.</p>
<p>No matter, the staggering new defense budget ensures that, for the defense industry, some version of good times will continue to roll, even if the economic impact of these huge military investments proves negligible and the need in other areas is staggering.</p>
<p>The 2010 Defense Budget</p>
<p>President Obama is reportedly intent on digging deep into the Pentagon budget. He has given his <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/" type="external">Office of Management and Budget</a> until April to <a href="http://www.cfr.org/publication/18648/obamas_remarks_on_the_fiscal_year_2010_budget.html" type="external">complete</a> an “exhaustive line-by-line” review of the detailed budget request before it is released. In speeches, he has focused on wasteful and unnecessary defense spending.</p>
<p>Just days ago, Obama <a href="http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/obamaforamerica/gGxRFb" type="external">insisted</a> that “the days of giving defense contractors a blank check are over.” To underline that assertion, he <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/31/AR2008033102789.html" type="external">cited</a> a 2008 Government Accountability Office study that found 95 military projects over budget by a total of $295 billion. He pledged to end such egregious practices, and the no-bid contracts that often go with them. That applause line plays well at a time when belts are tightening uncomfortably and boot straps remain elusive, but it misses a reality, no less potentially important in the Obama era than in the preceding one: for (at least) the last eight years, defense contractors haven’t needed a “blank check” because they already have the combination to the safe, the PIN number to the account, and a controlling interest on the board of the bank.</p>
<p>Given the promised size of the next Pentagon budget, no matter what weapons programs are cut or companies and contracts disciplined, the “bank board” will remain the same because the overall amount available to it shows no signs of changing. In fact, basic funding levels (not including money still being set aside for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq) are remarkably in line with the most recent Bush administration budget, right down to prospective further increases. The just released overall figure for the 2010 Pentagon budget is actually $533.7 billion; that is, $20.4 billion higher than Bush’s last base budget.</p>
<p>President Obama <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/183251" type="external">does not like</a> the term “Global War on Terror” (GWOT), dispensing with the Bush administration’s moniker of choice to describe the most costly array of military operations since World War II. But Obama’s Pentagon will continue to spend a GWOT-sized chunk of our national treasure, even as troops trickle home from Iraq, and the surge relocates to Afghanistan’s inhospitable steppes. The preliminary figure for war-fighting in 2010 is $130 billion, which represents a modest decrease from the $144 billion that is expected to go to military operations in 2009. Add that to the base Pentagon budget and you get a subtotal of $664 billion for 2010 military expenditures.</p>
<p>If the estimated costs of military spending lodged in other parts of the federal budget (like funding for nuclear weapons which is considered the bailiwick of the Department of Energy), as well as miscellaneous non-Defense Department defense costs—about $23 billion last time around—are also included, then President Obama’s first military budget should come in at around $670 billion.</p>
<p>After the preliminary budget figures were released, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates <a href="http://www.defenselink.mil/transcripts/transcript.aspx?transcriptid=4361" type="external">told reporters</a>, “In our country’s current economic circumstances, I believe that represents a strong commitment to our security.” Almost $700 billion is a strong commitment alright. Unfortunately, as a stimulus commitment—and a largely unquestioned one at that—it is certain to prove a drag on our economic recovery, despite the claims of the defense industry and their ever-present publicists and lobbyists.</p>
<p>Lifting America by the (Combat) Bootstraps?</p>
<p>And are we hearing those claims these days! <a href="http://www.aia-aerospace.org/" type="external">The Aerospace Industries Association</a> (AIA), representing more than 100 leading defense and aerospace corporations, has been trumpeting their contributions to the economy in a print ad campaign and on their website under the catch-phrase: <a href="http://www.aia-aerospace.org/strength/" type="external">“Aerospace and Defense: The Strength to Lift America.”</a></p>
<p>In terms of American well-being, the AIA estimates that defense and aerospace manufacturers contribute $97 billion in exports a year, while maintaining two million jobs. As Fred Downey, an association vice president, <a href="http://www.salon.com/wires/ap/2009/01/29/D960UAIG1_the_influence_game_packaging_defense/print.html" type="external">told the Associated Press</a>, “Our industry is ready and able to lead the way out of the economic crisis.”</p>
<p>As the association sees it, defense and aerospace corporations are about as shovel-ready as you can get. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), however, offers quite a different view of the AIA’s two-million jobs claim. Their <a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg/cgs006.htm#emply" type="external">“Career Guide to Industries,”</a> for example, looks intensively at Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (which would also include some non-defense related corporations) and finds that the sector employed 472,000 wage and salary workers in 2006. Now, this is not the whole picture of defense-related employment, but according to the Associated Press, the BLS estimates that only 647,000 people work in industries where at least one-fifth of the products are defense-related.</p>
<p>Perhaps the AIA was including not just jobs making weapons, but jobs lobbying Congress to pay for them. Then Downey and crew might almost have a case. The BLS would probably not consider lobbyist jobs to be defense-related, but maybe they should because the <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/index.php" type="external">Center for Responsive Politics</a>, a research group that tracks money in politics, <a href="http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/indusclient.php?lname=D01&amp;year=a" type="external">reports</a> that the industry spent $149 million on lobbying firms to get its points across to Congress and the administration last year. That has to be a lot of shovel-ready jobs right there.</p>
<p>Speaking of shovel-ready jobs shoveling out defense industry claims, if the lobbying sector is happy, ad firms must be ecstatic. These days, defense contractors and associations are spending striking sums on what’s politely termed “public education”: full-page ads in major newspapers, ads in Washington metro stations near the Pentagon, Crystal City (a Virginia community where many Pentagon satellite offices are located), Capitol Hill, and other places where the powerful congregate when their limos are in use, not to speak of <a href="http://www.lockheedmartin.com/how/" type="external">aggressive pop-up ads</a> on political news sites like the <a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/njonline/" type="external">National Journal</a>.</p>
<p>Lockheed Martin, for example, recently unveiled a <a href="http://preserveraptorjobs.com/" type="external">new ad campaign</a> pitched towards troubled economic times. It depicts proud blue-collar workers <a href="http://www.fa22-raptor.com/" type="external">above the tagline</a>: “95,000 employed, 300 million protected.” At the bottom of the ad are the logos of the supersonic fighter plane known as the F-22 Raptor and the <a href="http://www.goiam.org/content.cfm?cID=14618" type="external">International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers</a> whose members build it. As if to underline these messages, 200 members of Congress <a href="http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2009/01/airforce_f22_letter_011909w/" type="external">signed</a> a January 20th “Dear Mr. President, Save the F-22” letter, meant to be waiting for Barack Obama as he entered the Oval Office. The letter asserted that the F-22 program “annually provides over $12 billion of economic activity to the national economy.”</p>
<p>Even if that dubious claim were substantiated, the economic activity comes at a high cost. The United States spent more than $65 billion to design and produce the F-22 Raptor—a fighter plane originally conceived to penetrate the airspace of the long extinct Soviet Union, to counter large formations of enemy bombers in Cold War scenarios that are today inconceivable, and to achieve air superiority high over Eastern Europe whose greatest problems now involve a potential region-wide economic meltdown. In the wake of the Cold War, as military analyst Chalmers Johnson <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175029" type="external">recently pointed out</a>, the F-22 lacks a role in any imaginable war-fighting scenario the U.S. might actually find itself in.</p>
<p>Efforts to promote the plane as a critical tool in the Global War on Terror floundered when Defense Secretary Gates <a href="http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0308/032008nj1.htm" type="external">spoke plainly</a> about the system’s uselessness last year. “The reality,” he said, “is we are fighting two wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the F-22 has not performed a single mission in either theater.”</p>
<p>Fortunately for Lockheed Martin, once the U.S. economy began to crater, it could emphasize a new on-the-ground use for the F-22—as an instant make-work jobs program.</p>
<p>However, even there the plane’s utility is questionable. William D. Hartung, <a href="http://www.newamerica.net/programs/american_strategy/arms_security" type="external">director</a> of the New America Foundation’s Arms and Security Initiative, points out that, if the F-22 program is cut, the “job losses will be stretched out over two and half years or more, and could happen after the end of the current recession.” In addition, Lockheed has had to back away from the 95,000 jobs claims, clarifying that more than 70% of those jobs are only indirectly related to the F-22, and that just 25,000 workers are employed directly on the plane’s construction. Winslow Wheeler is the head of the Center for Defense Information’s <a href="http://www.cdi.org/program/index.cfm?programid=37" type="external">Straus Military Reform Project</a> and his scholarship is built on more than 30 years of service at the Government Accountability Office and on the Senate Budget Committee, among other places. He points out that, when it comes to high-tech weapons, today’s military-industrial complex bears not the slightest resemblance to its World War II predecessor as a job generator. As he describes it, in the early 1940s “production lines cranked out thousands of aircraft each month: as fast as the government could stuff money, materials and workers into the assembly line.”</p>
<p>In stark contrast, the F-22, he points out, is essentially an artisanal product. “Go to Lockheed Martin’s plant,” he <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/wheeler01272009.html" type="external">writes</a>. “You will find no detectable movement of aircraft out the door. Instead you will see virtually stationary aircraft and workers applying parts in a manner more evocative of hand-crafting. This ‘production rate’ generates one F-22 every 18 days or so.” This is, in fact, what shovel-ready largely means in Pentagon stimulus terms these days.</p>
<p>War for Jobs?</p>
<p>Economists have also weighed in on why “war for jobs” as a way out of recession or depression has entered the world of mythology. An analysis from the <a href="http://www.peri.umass.edu/Publication.236+M5165ab37bd4.0.html" type="external">University of Massachusetts’ Political Economy Research Institute</a>, for instance, finds that, for every one billion dollars invested in defense, 8,555 jobs are created. By contrast, the same billion invested in health care would create 12,883 jobs, and in education, 17,687 jobs or more than double the defense stimulus payoff.</p>
<p>It has often been said that World War II—and the production stimulus it offered—lifted the United States out of the Great Depression. Today, the opposite seems to be the case. The “war economy” helped propel the U.S. into what might turn out to be another great depression, and so, unlike in 1929, as our economy crumbles today, we are already on a global war footing.</p>
<p>As the Obama administration grapples with economic disaster and inherited wars, it will have the added challenge of confronting a military-industrial complex accustomed to budgets that reach almost three quarters of a trillion dollars, based on exaggerated global threats, unsubstantiated economic claims, and entrenched profligacy. When Obama’s analysts pour over the budget, looking at all those overpriced weapons and plum contracts, they’ll have to ask: Is each weapons system or program actually needed for American security and is it cost effective? Or are the defense contractors shoveling a load of shovel-ready bull?</p>
<p>Frida Berrigan is a Senior Program Associate at the <a href="http://www.newamerica.net/programs/american_strategy/arms_security" type="external">New America Foundation’s Arms and Security Initiative</a> (ASI). She is a columnist for <a href="http://www.fpif.org/" type="external">Foreign Policy in Focus</a> and a contributing editor at <a href="http://www.inthesetimes.com/" type="external">In These Times</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 2009 Frida Berrigan</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | introduction tom engelhardt president obama recently threatened rescind blank check bush administration offered big defense contractors time planning lockheed martin major arms manufacturers comes play one companys major weapons systems f22 raptor potentially chopping block convenient midst economic meltdown lockheed happens 1000 parts suppliers jet carefully scattered across 44 states far know representatives congress pretty typical take armys future combat system fcs noah shachtman wiredcoms danger zone blog calls poster child washington pentagon bloat overreach according recent army briefing document fcs manned ground vehicle program encompasses 839 suppliers 38 states totaling 62b development cost impact question course could prospective eightvehicle system missed 12 states similarly comes navys much desired virginia class submarine according msnbcs tom curry supplier work subs spread northampton mass kollmorgen corp tacoma wash bradkenatlas castings mention main sub building sites groton newport news congressional districts happens represented democratic member house representatives list weapons systems practically endless various services companies responsible invariably try spread largess across many congressional districts possible means cuts likely fiercely fought within military congress backed lobbying power weapons makers thats latest post frida berrigan military expert new america foundation tomdispatch regular important reminder cash militaryindustrial complex slathers congress money spread around country modern weapons industry stimulus damper thats point much trumpeted country berrigan points however want economic bounce best put money things go boom night peaceable professions like health care education tom pentagon cant put america back work frida berrigan shovelready magic incantation fix economic woes many states federal agencies already gone scouring budgets things cut greenlighting construction projects obama administrations 787 billion stimulus package sure muster many shovels effort rouse despondent economy put americans back work heres strange thing though package headline news weeks bitterly argued hailed derided equal measure yet road construction housing projects green retrofits arent major projects getting shovelready treatment via massive infusions cash end february another huge stimulus package announced generated almost comment controversy argument defense industry received special stimulus packagenews dollars available pentagon budget 2010 nearly 700 billion bits pieces added almost big obama economic package sure lot less effective despite sort economic maelstrom seen generations defense industry insulated enduring conviction war spending stimulates economy remains almost impervious budget cuts understand military spending longer stimulus driver means putting aside memories rosie riveter sepiahued worker bomber assembly line remembering instead great depression came good war way around world war ii also important recall massive military buildup labor intensive employed millions accompanied rationing austerity high taxes time around began boom years spent way breach significant part launching unnecessary profligate wars meanwhile president george w bush cut taxes peacetime pace borrowed like addicted gambler losing streak underwrite wars choice including global war terror former presidents nearly trillion dollar counting global war got us mess simple logic likely bail us well riding slide billions good times rolled long slide surplus deficit war global war wasnt merrill lynches subprime mortgage giants cleaned lockheed martin boeing northrop grummanthe top three defense contractorshad ball 2002 first full year came known global war terror instance three companiesranking first second third pentagons list top ten contractorssplit 42 billion contract awards twothirds 67 billion distributed among top 10 pentagon contractors 2007 last year full contracting data available big three split 69 billion pentagon contracts total received top 10 companies five years earlier top 10 divvied 121 billion contracts 2007 80 increase 2002 lockheed martin number one pentagon contractor graduated mere 17 billion awarded contracts 2002 28 billion 2007 thats leap 64 given figures easy enough understand basic military budgetexcluding money actual warfightingjumped 300 billion 500 billion bush years given economic climate surprise three defense giants posted losses past weeks hankies come histrionics start noted lockheed martin alone 81 billion backlog orders enough keep chugging along another two years without single new contract war spending effective stimulus economy would roaring along 12 cylinders today increasingly kind spending mainly stimulates corporate shareholders stock prices course war matter staggering new defense budget ensures defense industry version good times continue roll even economic impact huge military investments proves negligible need areas staggering 2010 defense budget president obama reportedly intent digging deep pentagon budget given office management budget april complete exhaustive linebyline review detailed budget request released speeches focused wasteful unnecessary defense spending days ago obama insisted days giving defense contractors blank check underline assertion cited 2008 government accountability office study found 95 military projects budget total 295 billion pledged end egregious practices nobid contracts often go applause line plays well time belts tightening uncomfortably boot straps remain elusive misses reality less potentially important obama era preceding one least last eight years defense contractors havent needed blank check already combination safe pin number account controlling interest board bank given promised size next pentagon budget matter weapons programs cut companies contracts disciplined bank board remain overall amount available shows signs changing fact basic funding levels including money still set aside wars afghanistan iraq remarkably line recent bush administration budget right prospective increases released overall figure 2010 pentagon budget actually 5337 billion 204 billion higher bushs last base budget president obama like term global war terror gwot dispensing bush administrations moniker choice describe costly array military operations since world war ii obamas pentagon continue spend gwotsized chunk national treasure even troops trickle home iraq surge relocates afghanistans inhospitable steppes preliminary figure warfighting 2010 130 billion represents modest decrease 144 billion expected go military operations 2009 add base pentagon budget get subtotal 664 billion 2010 military expenditures estimated costs military spending lodged parts federal budget like funding nuclear weapons considered bailiwick department energy well miscellaneous nondefense department defense costsabout 23 billion last time aroundare also included president obamas first military budget come around 670 billion preliminary budget figures released secretary defense robert gates told reporters countrys current economic circumstances believe represents strong commitment security almost 700 billion strong commitment alright unfortunately stimulus commitmentand largely unquestioned one thatit certain prove drag economic recovery despite claims defense industry everpresent publicists lobbyists lifting america combat bootstraps hearing claims days aerospace industries association aia representing 100 leading defense aerospace corporations trumpeting contributions economy print ad campaign website catchphrase aerospace defense strength lift america terms american wellbeing aia estimates defense aerospace manufacturers contribute 97 billion exports year maintaining two million jobs fred downey association vice president told associated press industry ready able lead way economic crisis association sees defense aerospace corporations shovelready get us bureau labor statistics bls however offers quite different view aias twomillion jobs claim career guide industries example looks intensively aerospace product parts manufacturing would also include nondefense related corporations finds sector employed 472000 wage salary workers 2006 whole picture defenserelated employment according associated press bls estimates 647000 people work industries least onefifth products defenserelated perhaps aia including jobs making weapons jobs lobbying congress pay downey crew might almost case bls would probably consider lobbyist jobs defenserelated maybe center responsive politics research group tracks money politics reports industry spent 149 million lobbying firms get points across congress administration last year lot shovelready jobs right speaking shovelready jobs shoveling defense industry claims lobbying sector happy ad firms must ecstatic days defense contractors associations spending striking sums whats politely termed public education fullpage ads major newspapers ads washington metro stations near pentagon crystal city virginia community many pentagon satellite offices located capitol hill places powerful congregate limos use speak aggressive popup ads political news sites like national journal lockheed martin example recently unveiled new ad campaign pitched towards troubled economic times depicts proud bluecollar workers tagline 95000 employed 300 million protected bottom ad logos supersonic fighter plane known f22 raptor international association machinists aerospace workers whose members build underline messages 200 members congress signed january 20th dear mr president save f22 letter meant waiting barack obama entered oval office letter asserted f22 program annually provides 12 billion economic activity national economy even dubious claim substantiated economic activity comes high cost united states spent 65 billion design produce f22 raptora fighter plane originally conceived penetrate airspace long extinct soviet union counter large formations enemy bombers cold war scenarios today inconceivable achieve air superiority high eastern europe whose greatest problems involve potential regionwide economic meltdown wake cold war military analyst chalmers johnson recently pointed f22 lacks role imaginable warfighting scenario us might actually find efforts promote plane critical tool global war terror floundered defense secretary gates spoke plainly systems uselessness last year reality said fighting two wars iraq afghanistan f22 performed single mission either theater fortunately lockheed martin us economy began crater could emphasize new ontheground use f22as instant makework jobs program however even planes utility questionable william hartung director new america foundations arms security initiative points f22 program cut job losses stretched two half years could happen end current recession addition lockheed back away 95000 jobs claims clarifying 70 jobs indirectly related f22 25000 workers employed directly planes construction winslow wheeler head center defense informations straus military reform project scholarship built 30 years service government accountability office senate budget committee among places points comes hightech weapons todays militaryindustrial complex bears slightest resemblance world war ii predecessor job generator describes early 1940s production lines cranked thousands aircraft month fast government could stuff money materials workers assembly line stark contrast f22 points essentially artisanal product go lockheed martins plant writes find detectable movement aircraft door instead see virtually stationary aircraft workers applying parts manner evocative handcrafting production rate generates one f22 every 18 days fact shovelready largely means pentagon stimulus terms days war jobs economists also weighed war jobs way recession depression entered world mythology analysis university massachusetts political economy research institute instance finds every one billion dollars invested defense 8555 jobs created contrast billion invested health care would create 12883 jobs education 17687 jobs double defense stimulus payoff often said world war iiand production stimulus offeredlifted united states great depression today opposite seems case war economy helped propel us might turn another great depression unlike 1929 economy crumbles today already global war footing obama administration grapples economic disaster inherited wars added challenge confronting militaryindustrial complex accustomed budgets reach almost three quarters trillion dollars based exaggerated global threats unsubstantiated economic claims entrenched profligacy obamas analysts pour budget looking overpriced weapons plum contracts theyll ask weapons system program actually needed american security cost effective defense contractors shoveling load shovelready bull frida berrigan senior program associate new america foundations arms security initiative asi columnist foreign policy focus contributing editor times copyright 2009 frida berrigan | 1,719 |
<p>“If you want peace, work for justice.”</p>
<p>– Pope John Paul IV</p>
<p>There are literally thousands of organizations in the United States alone working for peace and justice.&#160; I would probably think of them as constituting a movement but for Alexander Cockburn’s occasional but repeated and for me, telling remarks to the contrary. <a href="#_ftn1" type="external" />&#160; A couple of recent developments lead me to think there may be an opening for an appropriate catalyst to move these disparate groups and their activists, and those of us who comprise their membership and support, in the direction of becoming a movement.&#160; Or perhaps more than one.</p>
<p>What is a movement?&#160; While I invite help with my working definition, it seems to me a movement is a humongous number of people able to move collectively, more or less together, and thus magnify exponentially the impact of their actions, because they are motivated by a common vision, comprised of common values, goals, and perceptions of reality.&#160; Not only do they hold this vision and its integral components in common, but they also articulate these things to themselves and each other in common terms.&#160; They not only share them, but are aware that they do.</p>
<p>Noam Chomsky says to produce change we need understanding, organizing, and action.&#160; We arrive at understanding by research and other means of perceiving and analyzing reality – and learning to ignore the ubiquitous disinformation, including the overload of irrelevancies, dispensed by the instruments of propaganda.&#160; Moving from understanding to organizing is a process of sharing that information and analysis, disseminating them to others who share our values, so that collective action becomes possible.&#160; That’s what those thousands of organizations already are: groups of people with a common understanding of one or several problems and issues, organized by mutual understanding and shared values so as to be able to act together for their common goals. <a href="#_ftn2" type="external" /></p>
<p>Anyone with a mailbox who has ever made a donation to a few organizations dedicated to peace and/or justice has some idea what I have in mind.&#160; Resist, Inc., alone has funded literally thousands of small organizations in its 40-year history, and receives hundreds of new grant applications every year.&#160; And we all know of the big organizations.&#160; They’re working for peace, or on environmental problems, or for social equity, for human rights, and so on.&#160; But can we tie all this together?&#160; And where to begin?&#160; As Chomsky once remarked, in essence, in reply to someone who asked that question:&#160; Anywhere is a good place to begin.&#160; What we have been hearing for years now is that we have no interests in common, and that our own interests are best served by seeking wealth, ignoring all but self.&#160; So any action that affirms that we have interests in common is a move against the spirit of the age and the machine, and for the common good.</p>
<p>As for how we might begin to move together, recent events have included several over-arching developments of enormous scale that may be making popular consciousness more receptive than usual to the idea that we have interests in common, and may even facilitate agreement on common goals and actions we might take, by defining the elements of a program as well as illustrating how it might be achieved.</p>
<p>In an extraordinarily illuminating and useful article in the November issue of Z Magazine (“Bush’s Ten Toxic Economic Legacies”), Jack Rasmus remarks that in the wake of the staggering expenditures occasioned by the global financial crisis, critical programs like health care reform, student loans, sustainable environmental initiatives, jobs creation and protection, mortgage foreclosure relief, retirement systems reform and funding, etc., will all likely be sidelined more or less permanently.&#160; However, viewing this differently – and as I see it – Rasmus has outlined many of the core components of a comprehensive program.&#160; And if you add tax reform, extended unemployment benefits and food stamp eligibility, plus funding to state and local governments to continue increasingly needed social welfare and other programs and at least slow down the process of contraction now accelerating throughout the economy, you have an agenda that would serve the needs and interests of young people, older people, workers, women, people of color, people with disabilities, people who breathe, eat food and drink water – all of whom the media and political elites call “special interests” – that is, the general population.</p>
<p>How is this comprehensive agenda a plus, without the funding?&#160; Well, another key insight was provided in a recent column in CounterPunch, when Chris Floyd pointed out that perhaps the most striking fact revealed by the reaction to the global financial crash is the “staggering, astonishing, gargantuan” amounts of money that the governments of the world have at their command. <a href="#_ftn3" type="external" />&#160; As Floyd points out, this revelation gives the lie to the argument that’s been made nearly ad infinitum and certainly ad nauseam over the years, that “we” simply can’t afford programs that meet the needs and serve the interests of the general population, because there just isn’t enough money.</p>
<p>The Trillions that are being thrown at Wall Street and other investor servants and interests on a daily basis gives the lie to that argument.&#160; Moreover, the general public is keenly aware of it, as evidenced by the veritable tsunami of opposition that arose overnight to the Bush-Paulson bailout plan – to the point where it was even defeated on the first go-round in Congress, before new, improved disinformation undermined the opposition.</p>
<p>Of course, some of these Trillions remain to be borrowed, and questions are being raised in some quarters as to whether foreign central banks and others who have thus far financed the already staggering US budget and current account deficits may throw a monkey wrench into the proliferation of bailout plans by withholding their cash.&#160; In that case, the Treasury could wind up printing the money, leading to hyperinflation.&#160; None of this is to be too easily denied, but I think there are no less than several plausible answers to it.</p>
<p>First, it’s becoming increasingly clear that at least near-term and for the foreseeable future, investors worldwide have become loathe to put their cash anywhere else but in government bonds, despite the massive pending supply and persistently low yields.&#160; Financial Times 11/14/08, p. 25.&#160; Second, perhaps investors being asked to finance continuing US deficits – I have in mind here foreign central banks in particular – might have less disincentive to do so if the payoff is to be a rebuilt America whose consumers can go back to buying their products. <a href="#_ftn4" type="external" />&#160; After all, a major reason for the global impact of our current slow-motion train wreck is that US consumers are totally tapped out, and thus no longer able to buy the foreign stuff, our purchase of which has been helping to keep the economies of Europe and emerging countries such as China going and growing.&#160; Throwing Trillions down a rat hole in a vain effort to re-inflate the global bubble economy might well be an unwise investment.&#160; On the other hand, genuinely rebuilding the US middle class, manufacturing base and infrastructure – in the process fostering the growth of community and a more equitable society – would be a much wiser use of capital, apart from its immediate benefits to Us the People.</p>
<p>Will that approach fly?&#160; Well, it remains to be seen, of course.&#160; But I think it has a lot more going for it than much of what is presently being done, which both serves the interests of no one but Wall Street and appears to be in the process of failing on a truly grand scale.</p>
<p>But there’s yet another place to look for the hundreds of billions it will take to rebuild our country (and of course, the two are not mutually exclusive):&#160; the defense (sic: empire, hegemony and war; in a word, military) budget.&#160; Granted, hundreds of organizations working to promote peace have been making this point for years.&#160; But the general public wasn’t staring into the abyss of what may become the Really Great Depression until now.&#160; Recent events should – with the right focus – throw a spotlight of a somewhat new and different hue on the $600 Billion we spend each year on goods and services that are wholly unproductive from an economic viewpoint, and indeed contribute massively both to our national decline and the destruction of “the environment,” aka planet Earth and the only home we have.&#160; That’s where the hundreds of peace organizations come in:&#160; There are many ways to promote peace, but perhaps right now a concerted focus on the military budget, on its gargantuan size and its utter uselessness (and worse), is the most productive approach and one on which there might be substantial agreement among peace organizers and activists.&#160; There is also a natural potential symbiosis between peace and environmental preservation and restoration. <a href="#_ftn5" type="external" /></p>
<p>Finally, we have the promise of Change in which so many people came to believe that they almost seem to constitute a movement.&#160; Perhaps they were, but it’s a movement that will not maintain coherence or momentum of its own accord, and I haven’t seen signs the Obama campaign that facilitated its creation is working to keep it intact.&#160; Others have made the point that if the Obama administration is to achieve the potential its supporters among the general population (as opposed to elite interests) desire, those who supported Obama’s election will have to stay focused and active.&#160; That means, in part, organized. <a href="#_ftn6" type="external" /></p>
<p>There you have it:&#160; The power structure has disclosed it has access to truly vast amounts of capital.&#160; Very recently, there was a mobilization of enormous popular opposition to a bailout focused on Wall Street, and more bailouts continue to unfold.&#160; Pretty much the entire population has some understanding and considerable fear of the economic catastrophe in process of unfolding, and there is seemingly universal recognition of the need for massive government intervention to minimize its severity and duration.&#160; Enter the thousands of organizations already working for peace and justice, who might – possibly? – perceive these events as the occasion for concerted focus and action on a common theme, and in particular, the hundreds of organizations specifically devoted to peace whose organizers and activists can highlight another source of funding for such programs.&#160; Could we build a movement or two from these components, under these circumstances?</p>
<p>If we don’t do it, who will?&#160; And if not now, when?</p>
<p>ROBERT ROTH is a retired public interest lawyer who worked on civil rights for institutionalized people, antipoverty energy policy, and financial fraud and consumer protection during his 35-year career.&#160; He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref1" type="external" /> There are of course other views.&#160; For example, a special issue of WIN, the magazine of the War Resisters League, titled “Where To From Here?” reports on WRL’s Listening Process, a project of interviews with nearly 100 grassroots organizers and activists from across the country assessing the state of the antiwar movement.&#160; Contact WRL at 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012, (212) 228-0450.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref2" type="external" /> It’s a question beyond this essay to articulate our common values, or even to assign labels to our politics.&#160; In recent years I’ve come to think compassion and justice may cover it all, but you may have your own formulation.&#160; Nor is it clear to me that “progressive” describes my vision entirely, since it has many conservative components.&#160; While I don’t necessarily agree with him in all particulars, I recommend Robert Jensen’s articulation of his political philosophy in his Writing Dissent, pp. 9-16, both as an outline of values I find substantially congenial personally, and as a model of one way in which it’s useful to articulate our politics.&#160; I also like Riane Eisler’s suggestions in The Real Wealth of Nations, and especially recommend the section at pp. 146-164 titled “From Capitalism to Socialism to Partnerism,” for a discussion of values and an alternative vision, as grounds for a politics that may be as useful as it is beautiful.&#160; As for analysis, while there are of course many excellent ones out there, the best with which I’m familiar is Chomsky’s, whose Understanding Power, Hegemony or Survival, and Failed States (among his dozens of invaluable volumes) together present an analysis and critique of systems of power that is systematic, comprehensive and deep, and of course well documented.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref3" type="external" /> “The God That Failed, 10/13/08.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref4" type="external" /> Of course, such a rebuilt America, if it were as profligate and destructive as the old one, would present its own problems.&#160; But those are issues for another day.&#160; Getting from here to there is hard enough, and besides, there are bound to be differences, indeed fundamental ones, in an America rebuilt on the blueprints I’m suggesting.&#160; See also and further, Eisler’s Real Wealth of Nations.&#160; Another alternative vision I find helpful is presented by Sharon Astyk in Depletion and Abundance: Life On The New Home Front, or, One Woman’s Solutions to Finding Abundance for Your Family while Coming to Terms with Peak Oil, Climate Change and Hard Times.&#160; Sharon also has a great website at <a href="http://sharonastyk.com/" type="external">http://sharonastyk.com/</a>.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref5" type="external" /> And of course there are other promising places to look, such as the billions in annual subsidies to increasingly dysfunctional and destructive agribusiness.&#160; See, e.g., the writings of Wendell Berry.</p>
<p><a href="#_ftnref6" type="external" /> Apparently the Obama organization sent a survey to supporters on 11/18/08 asking how they would like to see “this organization move forward in the months and years ahead,” and asked them to rank four objectives:&#160; helping the Obama administration “pass legislation through grass-roots efforts”; helping elect state and local candidates “who share the same vision for our country”; training others in the organizing techniques perfected by the campaign; and “working on local issues that impact our communities.”&#160; This is not the place for a full discussion, but suffice it to say that, much as I wanted Obama to defeat McCain, I do not see him as having consistently articulated a&#160;progressive agenda, and am wary of the many Clinton people around him now.&#160; For what I would call a real progressive agenda, I’d suggest the excellent outline of issues at the website of the Nader 2008 campaign, <a href="http://www.votenader.org/issues/" type="external">http://www.votenader.org/issues/</a>.&#160; Nader’s issues constitute a comprehensive program, with which&#160;Obama was not in agreement on any point that I’m aware of.&#160;&#160;So I’m thinking more in terms of encouraging or pressuring the administration and Congress from the left than of working with them, though of course the latter is preferable if we agree on goals.&#160; It’s clear that even the sort of modest goals Obama did adopt during the campaign will encounter opposition of enormous force from the right.&#160; See, e.g., Thomas Frank, “It’s Time to Give Voters the Liberalism They Want,” Wall Street Journal, 11/19/08 (regarding the business interests’ plans to oppose the Employee Free Choice Act, aka “card check,” which a Chamber of Commerce official has dubbed “Armageddon,” and Bernie Marcus, co-founder and CEO of The Home Depot, has lamented as “the demise of a civilization”).&#160; I’m sure they’re not the only one, but Progressive Democrats of America is one group I’ve heard from that intends to try to maintain the momentum from the left.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | want peace work justice pope john paul iv literally thousands organizations united states alone working peace justice160 would probably think constituting movement alexander cockburns occasional repeated telling remarks contrary 160 couple recent developments lead think may opening appropriate catalyst move disparate groups activists us comprise membership support direction becoming movement160 perhaps one movement160 invite help working definition seems movement humongous number people able move collectively less together thus magnify exponentially impact actions motivated common vision comprised common values goals perceptions reality160 hold vision integral components common also articulate things common terms160 share aware noam chomsky says produce change need understanding organizing action160 arrive understanding research means perceiving analyzing reality learning ignore ubiquitous disinformation including overload irrelevancies dispensed instruments propaganda160 moving understanding organizing process sharing information analysis disseminating others share values collective action becomes possible160 thats thousands organizations already groups people common understanding one several problems issues organized mutual understanding shared values able act together common goals anyone mailbox ever made donation organizations dedicated peace andor justice idea mind160 resist inc alone funded literally thousands small organizations 40year history receives hundreds new grant applications every year160 know big organizations160 theyre working peace environmental problems social equity human rights on160 tie together160 begin160 chomsky remarked essence reply someone asked question160 anywhere good place begin160 hearing years interests common interests best served seeking wealth ignoring self160 action affirms interests common move spirit age machine common good might begin move together recent events included several overarching developments enormous scale may making popular consciousness receptive usual idea interests common may even facilitate agreement common goals actions might take defining elements program well illustrating might achieved extraordinarily illuminating useful article november issue z magazine bushs ten toxic economic legacies jack rasmus remarks wake staggering expenditures occasioned global financial crisis critical programs like health care reform student loans sustainable environmental initiatives jobs creation protection mortgage foreclosure relief retirement systems reform funding etc likely sidelined less permanently160 however viewing differently see rasmus outlined many core components comprehensive program160 add tax reform extended unemployment benefits food stamp eligibility plus funding state local governments continue increasingly needed social welfare programs least slow process contraction accelerating throughout economy agenda would serve needs interests young people older people workers women people color people disabilities people breathe eat food drink water media political elites call special interests general population comprehensive agenda plus without funding160 well another key insight provided recent column counterpunch chris floyd pointed perhaps striking fact revealed reaction global financial crash staggering astonishing gargantuan amounts money governments world command 160 floyd points revelation gives lie argument thats made nearly ad infinitum certainly ad nauseam years simply cant afford programs meet needs serve interests general population isnt enough money trillions thrown wall street investor servants interests daily basis gives lie argument160 moreover general public keenly aware evidenced veritable tsunami opposition arose overnight bushpaulson bailout plan point even defeated first goround congress new improved disinformation undermined opposition course trillions remain borrowed questions raised quarters whether foreign central banks others thus far financed already staggering us budget current account deficits may throw monkey wrench proliferation bailout plans withholding cash160 case treasury could wind printing money leading hyperinflation160 none easily denied think less several plausible answers first becoming increasingly clear least nearterm foreseeable future investors worldwide become loathe put cash anywhere else government bonds despite massive pending supply persistently low yields160 financial times 111408 p 25160 second perhaps investors asked finance continuing us deficits mind foreign central banks particular might less disincentive payoff rebuilt america whose consumers go back buying products 160 major reason global impact current slowmotion train wreck us consumers totally tapped thus longer able buy foreign stuff purchase helping keep economies europe emerging countries china going growing160 throwing trillions rat hole vain effort reinflate global bubble economy might well unwise investment160 hand genuinely rebuilding us middle class manufacturing base infrastructure process fostering growth community equitable society would much wiser use capital apart immediate benefits us people approach fly160 well remains seen course160 think lot going much presently done serves interests one wall street appears process failing truly grand scale theres yet another place look hundreds billions take rebuild country course two mutually exclusive160 defense sic empire hegemony war word military budget160 granted hundreds organizations working promote peace making point years160 general public wasnt staring abyss may become really great depression now160 recent events right focus throw spotlight somewhat new different hue 600 billion spend year goods services wholly unproductive economic viewpoint indeed contribute massively national decline destruction environment aka planet earth home have160 thats hundreds peace organizations come in160 many ways promote peace perhaps right concerted focus military budget gargantuan size utter uselessness worse productive approach one might substantial agreement among peace organizers activists160 also natural potential symbiosis peace environmental preservation restoration finally promise change many people came believe almost seem constitute movement160 perhaps movement maintain coherence momentum accord havent seen signs obama campaign facilitated creation working keep intact160 others made point obama administration achieve potential supporters among general population opposed elite interests desire supported obamas election stay focused active160 means part organized it160 power structure disclosed access truly vast amounts capital160 recently mobilization enormous popular opposition bailout focused wall street bailouts continue unfold160 pretty much entire population understanding considerable fear economic catastrophe process unfolding seemingly universal recognition need massive government intervention minimize severity duration160 enter thousands organizations already working peace justice might possibly perceive events occasion concerted focus action common theme particular hundreds organizations specifically devoted peace whose organizers activists highlight another source funding programs160 could build movement two components circumstances dont will160 robert roth retired public interest lawyer worked civil rights institutionalized people antipoverty energy policy financial fraud consumer protection 35year career160 reached robertroth99gmailcom course views160 example special issue win magazine war resisters league titled reports wrls listening process project interviews nearly 100 grassroots organizers activists across country assessing state antiwar movement160 contact wrl 339 lafayette st new york ny 10012 212 2280450 question beyond essay articulate common values even assign labels politics160 recent years ive come think compassion justice may cover may formulation160 clear progressive describes vision entirely since many conservative components160 dont necessarily agree particulars recommend robert jensens articulation political philosophy writing dissent pp 916 outline values find substantially congenial personally model one way useful articulate politics160 also like riane eislers suggestions real wealth nations especially recommend section pp 146164 titled capitalism socialism partnerism discussion values alternative vision grounds politics may useful beautiful160 analysis course many excellent ones best im familiar chomskys whose understanding power hegemony survival failed states among dozens invaluable volumes together present analysis critique systems power systematic comprehensive deep course well documented god failed 101308 course rebuilt america profligate destructive old one would present problems160 issues another day160 getting hard enough besides bound differences indeed fundamental ones america rebuilt blueprints im suggesting160 see also eislers real wealth nations160 another alternative vision find helpful presented sharon astyk depletion abundance life new home front one womans solutions finding abundance family coming terms peak oil climate change hard times160 sharon also great website httpsharonastykcom course promising places look billions annual subsidies increasingly dysfunctional destructive agribusiness160 see eg writings wendell berry apparently obama organization sent survey supporters 111808 asking would like see organization move forward months years ahead asked rank four objectives160 helping obama administration pass legislation grassroots efforts helping elect state local candidates share vision country training others organizing techniques perfected campaign working local issues impact communities160 place full discussion suffice say much wanted obama defeat mccain see consistently articulated a160progressive agenda wary many clinton people around now160 would call real progressive agenda id suggest excellent outline issues website nader 2008 campaign httpwwwvotenaderorgissues160 naders issues constitute comprehensive program which160obama agreement point im aware of160160so im thinking terms encouraging pressuring administration congress left working though course latter preferable agree goals160 clear even sort modest goals obama adopt campaign encounter opposition enormous force right160 see eg thomas frank time give voters liberalism want wall street journal 111908 regarding business interests plans oppose employee free choice act aka card check chamber commerce official dubbed armageddon bernie marcus cofounder ceo home depot lamented demise civilization160 im sure theyre one progressive democrats america one group ive heard intends try maintain momentum left 160 160 160 160 | 1,363 |
<p>&lt;a href=http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/SIPA-Balkis-Press-Sipa-USA-I-unknown-524106-0-/436e66e3d23c4a9897948c7df1686b15/8/0&gt;Balkis Press&lt;/a&gt;/AP</p>
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<p>At a Monday press conference at the G20 meeting in Turkey, President Barack Obama was repeatedly asked by American reporters a version of this question: What are you doing to defeat ISIS? CNN’s Jim Acosta put it in <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/cnns-jim-acosta-grills-obama-on-isis-why-cant-we-take-out-these-bastards/" type="external">these Twitterish terms</a>: “Why can’t we take out these bastards?” His passionate formulation seemed to imply that the Obama administration was not doing everything reasonably possible to vanquish ISIS. And throughout the presser, Obama explained that there was a strategy in place, asserted that other ideas (such as sending in ground troops or establishing a no-fly zone in Syria) were constantly being scrutinized, and expressed frustration that he was being asked the same question (what’s your plan?) repeatedly.</p>
<p>Obama was right. He does have a strategy, and for more than a year the United States has taken many actions to thwart ISIS. Whether these steps are the best that can be attempted (weighing all the complicated costs and benefits) is subject to debate. But Obama’s opponents—particularly those Republicans seeking to succeed him in the White House—often assail him as if he’s a feckless, do-nothing commander-in-chief who has no understanding of ISIS and has mounted practically no effort to counter these murderous extremists. But that’s hardly the case.</p>
<p>Ask the White House what the president has done to combat ISIS—the president prefers to call the group ISIL—and aides will quickly point out that Obama has forged a coalition of 65 nations that are supporting local forces in Iraq fighting against ISIS. This effort has launched 8,100 airstrikes on ISIS targets in a little more than a year. (For comparison’s sake, there have been about <a href="http://www.longwarjournal.org/pakistan-strikes/" type="external">400 drone strikes</a> against targets in Pakistan since 2004.) The White House notes that US military forces recently struck <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/us-warplanes-destroy-116-isis-fuel-trucks/story?id=35229047" type="external">116 ISIS fuel trucks</a> and disrupted the group’s oil-smuggling and financing capabilities. And two weeks ago the president announced he would be sending <a href="" type="internal">additional special operations forces</a> to work with Kurds battling ISIS in northern Syria. At the same time, Obama noted the administration would step up supplying equipment to anti-ISIS forces in Syria.</p>
<p>For weeks, administration reps have been describing their anti-ISIS efforts. In late October, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter <a href="http://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech-View/Article/626037/statement-on-the-us-military-strategy-in-the-middle-east-and-the-counter-isil-c" type="external">testified</a> on Capitol Hill and claimed that the US military effort to help moderate Syrians fighting to gain control of Raqqa, an ISIS stronghold in Syria, had made gains and that these Syrians were 30 miles from the strategically important city. He noted the overall air campaign against ISIS was intensifying, and he said the United States was prepared to provide more air support and equipment to Iraqi forces battling ISIS, provided that the Iraqis demonstrate progress and the ability to preserve recent gains in Anbar province. “We’ve given the Iraqi government two battalions’ worth of equipment for mobilizing Sunni tribal forces,” Carter said. “As we continue to provide this support, the Iraqi government must ensure it is distributed effectively.”</p>
<p>Carter cited recent successes on the ground: the <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/inside-isis-prison-raid-left-us-service-member/story?id=34649433" type="external">Kurdish-led hostage rescue mission</a> in northern Iraq and assorted raids against ISIS leaders: “The raid on Abu Sayyaf’s home, and strikes against Junaid Hussain and most recently Sanafi al-Nasr, should all serve notice to ISIL and other terrorist leaders that once we locate them, no target is beyond our reach.” He told the senators that all the ideas touted by Obama’s critics—a no-fly zone, a buffer zone, humanitarian zone—had been reviewed and pose their own challenges.</p>
<p>In a November 12 <a href="http://www.state.gov/secretary/remarks/2015/11/249454.htm" type="external">speech</a>, Secretary of State John Kerry also outlined details of the administration’s anti-ISIS campaign. He said that the number of airstrikes was rising: “There were more than 40 just last night.” He added that “the coalition and its allies on the ground have defended Mosul Dam and other vital facilities in Iraq while also preventing a terrorist assault on Baghdad. We have driven [ISIS] from the critical border town of Kobani…We’ve seen the city of Tikrit liberated.” He pointed out that “thousands of American advisers” were training and assisting Iraqi security forces. “We have significantly degraded [ISIS’s] top leadership, including Haji Mutazz, the organization’s second in command,” Kerry added, “and we continue to eliminate commanders and other personnel from the battlefield.”</p>
<p>And there’s more: helping Iraqi forces aiming to take back Ramadi and boosting the shipment of supplies and ammo to Syrians fighting ISIS. Also, Kerry remarked, the Obama administration was trying to bolster the efforts of its European allies and those allies in the region: “Not long ago, [ISIS] controlled more than half of Syria’s 500-mile-long border with Turkey. Today, it has a grip on only about 15 percent, and we have a plan with our partners to pry open and secure the rest.” And, Kerry noted, the administration had been pushing a diplomatic initiative in Syria aimed at deescalating the conflict within that country, which, if successful, would allow for a more concentrated multilateral assault on ISIS.</p>
<p>“Remember, this [anti-ISIS] coalition has only been together for 14 months,” Kerry said. And administration officials like to toss out this particular stat: ISIS has lost between 20 and 25 percent of the populated territory it used to control in Iraq.</p>
<p>So Obama and his team can recite a long list of actions and a short—but significant—list of accomplishments. Still, the <a href="" type="internal">Paris attacks</a> (as well as attacks in Beirut and the downing of a Russian airliner, which have been attributed to ISIS) and the ability of ISIS to maintain its quasi-state within not one but two countries can be cited as a sign that ISIS, to some extent, is prevailing, even if it has lost ground.</p>
<p>Obama’s anti-ISIS plan is nuanced, multifaceted, tethered to the vexing realities of the region, and focused on long-term success—and it avoids the risks and unforeseen consequences of deploying American ground troops to directly engage with ISIS on Syrian or Iraqi territory. It does not involve grand or sweeping actions. It does not promise complete and immediate success by a date certain. Consequently, Obama is vulnerable to criticism from those who claim bolder (if sometimes unspecified) action would yield better and quicker results. Perhaps additional steps could produce more progress. For example, Brian Katulis, an expert on the Middle East and terrorism at the Center for American Progress, faults Obama for not leaning hard enough on partners in the region, such as Saudi Arabia and Turkey, to make busting ISIS a top priority. But with the national discourse so thoroughly shaped by politics and ideology, it will be hard to have a cool and reasonable debate over alternatives or add-ons to Obama’s approach.</p>
<p>The Bush-Cheney invasion of Iraq in 2003 unleashed forces and challenges that might require decades to counter, and Obama has been trying to implement a series of actions to end the danger that war generated. Yet any decent plan could take a long time to take out the bastards.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | lta hrefhttpwwwapimagescommetadataindexsipabalkispresssipausaiunknown5241060436e66e3d23c4a9897948c7df1686b1580gtbalkis pressltagtap monday press conference g20 meeting turkey president barack obama repeatedly asked american reporters version question defeat isis cnns jim acosta put twitterish terms cant take bastards passionate formulation seemed imply obama administration everything reasonably possible vanquish isis throughout presser obama explained strategy place asserted ideas sending ground troops establishing nofly zone syria constantly scrutinized expressed frustration asked question whats plan repeatedly obama right strategy year united states taken many actions thwart isis whether steps best attempted weighing complicated costs benefits subject debate obamas opponentsparticularly republicans seeking succeed white houseoften assail hes feckless donothing commanderinchief understanding isis mounted practically effort counter murderous extremists thats hardly case ask white house president done combat isisthe president prefers call group isiland aides quickly point obama forged coalition 65 nations supporting local forces iraq fighting isis effort launched 8100 airstrikes isis targets little year comparisons sake 400 drone strikes targets pakistan since 2004 white house notes us military forces recently struck 116 isis fuel trucks disrupted groups oilsmuggling financing capabilities two weeks ago president announced would sending additional special operations forces work kurds battling isis northern syria time obama noted administration would step supplying equipment antiisis forces syria weeks administration reps describing antiisis efforts late october defense secretary ashton carter testified capitol hill claimed us military effort help moderate syrians fighting gain control raqqa isis stronghold syria made gains syrians 30 miles strategically important city noted overall air campaign isis intensifying said united states prepared provide air support equipment iraqi forces battling isis provided iraqis demonstrate progress ability preserve recent gains anbar province weve given iraqi government two battalions worth equipment mobilizing sunni tribal forces carter said continue provide support iraqi government must ensure distributed effectively carter cited recent successes ground kurdishled hostage rescue mission northern iraq assorted raids isis leaders raid abu sayyafs home strikes junaid hussain recently sanafi alnasr serve notice isil terrorist leaders locate target beyond reach told senators ideas touted obamas criticsa nofly zone buffer zone humanitarian zonehad reviewed pose challenges november 12 speech secretary state john kerry also outlined details administrations antiisis campaign said number airstrikes rising 40 last night added coalition allies ground defended mosul dam vital facilities iraq also preventing terrorist assault baghdad driven isis critical border town kobaniweve seen city tikrit liberated pointed thousands american advisers training assisting iraqi security forces significantly degraded isiss top leadership including haji mutazz organizations second command kerry added continue eliminate commanders personnel battlefield theres helping iraqi forces aiming take back ramadi boosting shipment supplies ammo syrians fighting isis also kerry remarked obama administration trying bolster efforts european allies allies region long ago isis controlled half syrias 500milelong border turkey today grip 15 percent plan partners pry open secure rest kerry noted administration pushing diplomatic initiative syria aimed deescalating conflict within country successful would allow concentrated multilateral assault isis remember antiisis coalition together 14 months kerry said administration officials like toss particular stat isis lost 20 25 percent populated territory used control iraq obama team recite long list actions shortbut significantlist accomplishments still paris attacks well attacks beirut downing russian airliner attributed isis ability isis maintain quasistate within one two countries cited sign isis extent prevailing even lost ground obamas antiisis plan nuanced multifaceted tethered vexing realities region focused longterm successand avoids risks unforeseen consequences deploying american ground troops directly engage isis syrian iraqi territory involve grand sweeping actions promise complete immediate success date certain consequently obama vulnerable criticism claim bolder sometimes unspecified action would yield better quicker results perhaps additional steps could produce progress example brian katulis expert middle east terrorism center american progress faults obama leaning hard enough partners region saudi arabia turkey make busting isis top priority national discourse thoroughly shaped politics ideology hard cool reasonable debate alternatives addons obamas approach bushcheney invasion iraq 2003 unleashed forces challenges might require decades counter obama trying implement series actions end danger war generated yet decent plan could take long time take bastards | 654 |
<p>I was looking up something on French Extreme Cinema recently when I stumbled upon <a href="" type="internal">this 2004 article</a> from Artforum. After reading the piece, I decided, even though the article pretty much says these movies suck, that I wanted to watch some of them. I’ve seen a couple – Fat Girl and Irreversible – but not many, and I’m always interested in seeing movies that people hate. I decided on Twentynine Palms (2004) by Bruno Dumont because I liked the idea of the French Extreme meeting the American desert landscape.</p>
<p>Set in Twentynine Palms, California, (home of the world’s largest US Marine Corps Base) and the surrounding Joshua Tree National Park, Twentynine Palms follows a couple – David the American filmmaker and his French speaking Russian girlfriend Katia – as they scout a movie location in the desert. Until the startling end of the film, Twentynine Palms is of that genre of films that I always find so compelling to watch – Movies In Which Nothing Happens. I like Movies In Which Nothing Happens because they force interpretation. They give the audience no narrative solidity, nothing to hold onto, and as such they force the audience think more deeply about what the film means and to write their own narrative (interpretation) onto the nothing that is presented on film. Because everything is nothing, everything becomes a symbol, an allegory, something other than what it is. Windmills are the infinite circulation of the minutiae and banal repetition of life. The desert becomes the arid terrain of human relationships and the hostile landscape of American masculinity.</p>
<p>Up until the last ten minutes of Twentynine Palms, the entire film consists of watching David and Katia drive, eat, fuck, fight, and then drive, eat, fuck and fight some more. They spend their days driving through the desert in a big red shiny Hummer, and they spend their nights in a tawdry motel in the town of Twentynine Palms. They are petulant and spoiled, clueless and insulated. Nothing about these two characters is remotely sympathetic or likeable. Watching them is like watching flies buzz at a light bulb; we are hypnotized by their motion but have little pity for them when they ram their bodies into the burning bulb. David and Katia’s lives circulating on the screen are as repetitious and predictable as the windmills that line the horizon. Sure the monotony is punctuated by a series of animalistic fucks, but basically Katia and David are little more than specimens under Dumont’s unfiltered cinematic microscope. He presents them like animals in some kind of savage nature documentary. The whole movie plays like a National Geographic special in which we watch the violent mating rituals and predatory opportunism in the animal/human kingdom. In fact, one of the most egregious crimes of Katia and David is their kind of underlying “above it all” demeanor in which they somehow feel elevated and insulated from the rest of the species. They are insulated from the landscape and the people that occupy it by their cultural privilege, and they turn everything into a “scene” to be laughed at or viewed with cultural amusement and detachment. Twentynine Palms is a kind of dissection and critique of the “human animal” that ultimately becomes cannibalized by the very animal nature it attempts to deny. I always say that it is our attempts to deny our animal nature through the artificial construction of corrupt power systems and commodity culture (western imperialism and global capitalism?) that will bring us to our end. Ultimately the things we create to distance us from our animal core become a new kind of species that will bring us down.</p>
<p>Dumont delivers Katia and David as if they are a curious animal species presented for observation. The unfiltered photography offers a clinical view of the landscape and environment which Katia and David occupy like organisms being studied under a microscope. The landscape is what the landscape is – desert, car, hotel, restaurant – without embellishment. Like any wildlife documentary, the camera seems particularly intent on filming the species during mating, so there is no shortage of sex scenes. The subjects mate in the pool, on the rocks, on the bed, and against the wall. But none of it is erotic sex. It is simply animal mating. During the pool sex scene, the swimming pool is like a petri dish where we observe the organisms fuck. We witness how the male dominates the female while the white plastic lawn chairs watch from the sidelines. David blows bubbles like a fish, and then moves in for the “kill.” He’s not even human. He is like some kind of single cell amoeba whose entire life force is consolidated in his cock. Katia, the submissive female asks, “Do you love me?” David, the dominating male says, “Touch my cock.” This is how these mating scenes are conducted. During the rock sex scene, David and Katia fuck on the rocks like some kind of insects. Their white bodies writhe on the rocks like larvae. We may as well be watching beetles copulate. During the predatory mating rituals, Katia and David grunt, howl and whimper like animals. Even during the shocking violent rape scene, the men descend on Katia and David like a pack of hyenas emerging from the brush. As David lies with his bloody head smashed into the dirt and the man (hyena) sodomizes him from behind, David’s like some kind of fresh kill lying victim to his predator.</p>
<p>Under Dumont’s lens, Katia and David are reduced to the grossest of stereotypes and as such garner none of our sympathy. David is the total primal cock-centered male. His sole universe resides in his cock which is his affirmation of power. His straggling hair constantly hangs over his eyes underscoring his blindness. His vision is obscured because he can’t see past his penis and his desire to dominate – his woman, the landscape, culture. If he were a dog, he’d lick his balls all day. He constantly fondles his cock, pushes it in Katia’s body and into her mouth so forcefully he almost drowns her. In fact, David’s cock is his gun. For David, sex is violence, and violence is sex. There is no separation though he is blind to his complicity in a violent culture. The relationship between sex and violence in the male animal is implicit in the final scene when David stabs Katia as if he is fucking her. David fucks like he kills, and he kills like he fucks. Certainly the movie is commenting on the connection between sex and violence in American culture as it follows David, this primal male, further and further into the inhospitable landscape of American male sexuality – barren, rocky, rugged, devoid of life. When David finally goes too far and crosses the line into unforgiving dangerous territory, his inner male brutalizes himself. Yes, David is literally fucked over by the destructive force of his own masculinity. He is literally fucked in the ass by the monster that he is, and he becomes feminized by the severity of his own masculinity.</p>
<p>As the man pumps David’s bare ass, we, the audience, are left aghast not just at the literal horror of the scene, but by our reaction to it. Because David is such a gross and unsympathetic exaggeration, we cannot help but feel that he deserves what he gets. The movie sets us up to be complicit in the crime, and then we find ourselves mortified by our own complicity. Our role in David’s violation is further exacerbated by how the scene is set up. When the men descend upon Katia and David, we expect them to rape her, the weak female. When David is the one who is raped, we actually experience a kind of relief and then quizzical horror over how the tables have turned. Katia watches in desperate terror as David’s controlling masculinity gets fucked by itself and is subsequently violently reduced to a whimpering woman. The real horror is Katia seeing herself reflected in David’s raped ass. The scene is excruciatingly real but also exceptionally disorienting. Because the movie is so minimalistic and everything is reduced to allegory and symbol, we can’t trust the scene. Is David being raped by a psycho Marine? Or is he being raped by himself/his psychic doppelganger? Or is Katia unconsciously exacting some kind of psychic revenge? We can write our readings onto this scene infinitely, and that is one of the pleasures and frustrations of this kind of movie, the fact that it’s so wide open to interpretation.</p>
<p>Katia is no more sympathetic than David. While David fondles his cock and drinks bottles of beer, Katia paints her toenails and blow dries her hair. She is a flaccid, somnambulistic, passive, ineffective, pouting girl. She is completely infantilized as she sleeps in the back seat, wanders around in bare feet, blubbers like a baby, locks herself in bathrooms, or makes whining declarations about being hungry. David has to teach her everything – how to drive, open a hotel room door with a key, or suck his dick. When she is given control of the phallus (the Hummer) she is incapable of commanding it, drives it into bushes, scratches its surface, then laughs like a girl. Katia sees the world through her ignorant girl-colored glasses. The scene with the three-legged dog glares with Katia’s stupidity. She’s so busy indulging her cute dog fantasy that she fails to see that she is putting the dog in danger. Of course when David hits the deformed dog, he may as well be hitting Katia since he treats her and fucks her like a dog.</p>
<p>Katia and David are both egregious stereotypes, not only of their gender, but of their privilege. They see the whole world as a fiction, a scene in a movie, a big entertainment for their amusement. They drive around in the insulated Hummer watching the world go by, and they are oblivious to the reality of their circumstances. Their cultural ignorance and spoiled self-centered insulated view of the world is evident in what few human interactions they have. They quietly mock the Chinese food and people in the restaurant, the Marine eating ice cream at Foster’s Freeze, and the “crazy” men in trucks (who ultimately come back to haunt them). They have no sense of their own vulnerability or potential for danger (like when they go up to the house with the dogs without any sense of a potential threat). The endless scenes in the Hummer serve as the literalization of David and Katia’s insulation. They occupy its pristine interior as if they are riding inside a commercial. They are as little connected to the origins of the vehicle they occupy (designed by the military for combat) as they are to the landscape they occupy (which contains the Marines Corps facility). The Hummer serves as a kind of material evidence of the distancing effect and alienation that media and consumerism promotes. As with the rape scene, Dumont also forces us to be complicit in the fetishization of the “product.” The camera forces us to take the backseat of the Hummer and drive along with Katia and David in the vehicle, so we find ourselves sitting with them and participating in their view through the camera’s eye. Whether we like to admit it or not, Dumont makes us enjoy a moment of voyeuristic fetishism. (So this is what the inside of a Hummer looks like? And this is what it feels like to ride in one?) As the movie progresses, the Hummer gets scratched, dirt soils the dashboard, and reality begins to seep in. The violent reality of the interior and exterior landscape finally ruptures through, and in the end we see the gutted Hummer sitting in the middle of the desert with David’s dead body lying face down.</p>
<p>Speaking of landscape, the minimalism of the interior and exterior shots comprises a cinematography of the barren that underscores the barren interior landscape of Katia and David. The scenes are intentionally framed with blandness and washed out color – motel nightstands littered with fast food soda cups, the blurry black box of a television, a lifeless washed out still life painting. Dumont’s aesthetics are delivered through a de-aestheticization of every scene. The flat emptiness and static view becomes a solid menace. We experience the town through the mundane banal sounds of cars passing on the highway, tinny music being piped in from loud speakers, a Chevron gas station, the static poles of palm trees, empty store fronts, and rows of nondescript houses. This is what these places look and feel like, but there is a tension between knowing the place is real but also knowing that this is a highly stylized view of this place that is stylized by its very absence of style. The “still life” portrait is periodically interrupted by a tinge of violence lurking below the surface – red necks shouting from a red truck, a police siren zooming by, a dark car stalking the streets at night, or one piece of red fabric dangling in the corner of the screen. The exterior landscape is just as barren with its infinite supply of rocks and dirt, periodic sprinkle of buildings, streetlights, a ripped to shit plastic garbage can, or passing freight train. And of course the ultimate barren landscape is the one between Katia and David. They are as alienated from each other as they are from the world outside their windows. All their communications are stilted and void of connection and content. Just like their sex is ultimately an empty animal act, their communications consist of a verbal terrain as impenetrable and rocky as the desert. The fact that they lapse in and out of French and English doesn’t help. Neither we nor they are ever sure of what they are saying.</p>
<p>I love the kind of minimalist landscape offered in Twentynine Palms. It’s like an ode to Antonioni, Wes Craven, John Ford, and Sam Peckinpah all in one. Given to us with no filters and no special effects, the great emptiness itself provokes a sense of quiet terror, and the landscape becomes a threatening presence in its vastness. And it should be menacing because, like in Craven’s The Hills Have Eyes, these hills also contain a menace – the horrors of United States imperialism, its military forces and the abominations and monsters of masculinity that it creates. Hidden behind the movie and the rocks and dirt of the landscape is the largest United States Marines combat training center. Given that the movie was made in 2004, this is also an Iraq War movie, and it was made when thousands of Marines were being shipped off to the war from Twentynine Palms and returning as damaged goods. Dumont keeps the war and the military quietly tucked away, but its presence haunts the film in glimpses – the Hummer itself, an American flag blowing on the sidewalk, and the back of a solider dressed in desert camouflage eating an ice cream cone at Foster’s Freeze. Though not explicit, it is clear that part of what Twentyine Palms is doing is removing the veneer of insulation that has kept us safe from the real “horrors” of the war and how its enterprise has cannibalized young men; how United States imperialism has forced a violent predatory masculinity on its men; and how those men are victims of their own image and training. As the man with the shaved head rapes David at the end of the movie, and he howls and cries, it is as if he is bellowing the sodomization of the American male in general and the deep wound at the core of the American male psyche. Maybe he is a soldier who returned from the war as a psycho. Maybe he’s not. But he and David are both sides of the same coin — the American male being fucked by a system that has made him into an abomination and a monster who ends up fucking himself for what he has become. It should come as no surprise that David shaves his head like the Marine he mocks earlier in the film before he stabs (fucks) Katia to death. He is forced to see that there is no separation between him and the Marines he mocks. They are all cut from the same mold.</p>
<p>Yes, besides being a road movie and a study in naturalism, Twentynine Palms is a war movie, even if the war is not part of its overt narrative. There is no shortage of references to Vietnam War era movies which were about the war in the subtext though not about the war in the overt narrative. The hostile landscape of the west, the corruption of law and power, and the violence that it breeds reference Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch. The rape scene and the idea of a mutilated masculinity at the heart of American heroics reference Deliverance. The monotonous repetitious driving through the desert of masculinity references Vanishing Point, and the sex in the desert and the overall apocalyptic sense of the barren landscape references Zabriskie Point. Twentynine Palms, like all these movies, points to an underlying diseased environment spawned by American military activity without overtly proseltyizing its politics. In a way, these kind of coded, minimal narratives are more effective because they do make us dig deeper and think about more complex meaning rather than spoon feeding us their message. We are forced to make connections and understand at a deeper level.</p>
<p>In the end, the movie is distilled to such minimal symbolism that it’s hard to say exactly what Dumont’s political intentions are. Like Michael Haneke’s Funny Games, the movie is an exercise in cinematic sadism in which Dumont manipulates the audience into participating in the crimes being committed. But to what end? Is Dumont pointing the finger at media and movies for allowing us to be so insulated from the real crimes and horrors of the world? Is he engaging in American bashing and pointing the finger at Hollywood and the US military for raping the world? Or is he turning the camera on himself and critiquing his own position as an independent filmmaker (like David) exploiting the American landscape for his own masturbatory vision? In other words, is this movie just an example of Dumont stroking his cinematic cock and forcing it down our throats, or is it art? Wait a minute, or is all art masturbation? Whatever the movie is, it provides infinite food for thought and I like it.</p>
<p>KIM NICOLINI is an artist, poet and cultural critic. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her partner, daughter, and a menagerie of beasts. She works a day job to support her art and culture habits. She is currently finishing a book-length essayistic memoir about being a teenage runaway in 1970s San Francisco. Her work has appeared in Bad Subjects, Punk Planet, Bullhorn and Berkeley Review. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | looking something french extreme cinema recently stumbled upon 2004 article artforum reading piece decided even though article pretty much says movies suck wanted watch ive seen couple fat girl irreversible many im always interested seeing movies people hate decided twentynine palms 2004 bruno dumont liked idea french extreme meeting american desert landscape set twentynine palms california home worlds largest us marine corps base surrounding joshua tree national park twentynine palms follows couple david american filmmaker french speaking russian girlfriend katia scout movie location desert startling end film twentynine palms genre films always find compelling watch movies nothing happens like movies nothing happens force interpretation give audience narrative solidity nothing hold onto force audience think deeply film means write narrative interpretation onto nothing presented film everything nothing everything becomes symbol allegory something windmills infinite circulation minutiae banal repetition life desert becomes arid terrain human relationships hostile landscape american masculinity last ten minutes twentynine palms entire film consists watching david katia drive eat fuck fight drive eat fuck fight spend days driving desert big red shiny hummer spend nights tawdry motel town twentynine palms petulant spoiled clueless insulated nothing two characters remotely sympathetic likeable watching like watching flies buzz light bulb hypnotized motion little pity ram bodies burning bulb david katias lives circulating screen repetitious predictable windmills line horizon sure monotony punctuated series animalistic fucks basically katia david little specimens dumonts unfiltered cinematic microscope presents like animals kind savage nature documentary whole movie plays like national geographic special watch violent mating rituals predatory opportunism animalhuman kingdom fact one egregious crimes katia david kind underlying demeanor somehow feel elevated insulated rest species insulated landscape people occupy cultural privilege turn everything scene laughed viewed cultural amusement detachment twentynine palms kind dissection critique human animal ultimately becomes cannibalized animal nature attempts deny always say attempts deny animal nature artificial construction corrupt power systems commodity culture western imperialism global capitalism bring us end ultimately things create distance us animal core become new kind species bring us dumont delivers katia david curious animal species presented observation unfiltered photography offers clinical view landscape environment katia david occupy like organisms studied microscope landscape landscape desert car hotel restaurant without embellishment like wildlife documentary camera seems particularly intent filming species mating shortage sex scenes subjects mate pool rocks bed wall none erotic sex simply animal mating pool sex scene swimming pool like petri dish observe organisms fuck witness male dominates female white plastic lawn chairs watch sidelines david blows bubbles like fish moves kill hes even human like kind single cell amoeba whose entire life force consolidated cock katia submissive female asks love david dominating male says touch cock mating scenes conducted rock sex scene david katia fuck rocks like kind insects white bodies writhe rocks like larvae may well watching beetles copulate predatory mating rituals katia david grunt howl whimper like animals even shocking violent rape scene men descend katia david like pack hyenas emerging brush david lies bloody head smashed dirt man hyena sodomizes behind davids like kind fresh kill lying victim predator dumonts lens katia david reduced grossest stereotypes garner none sympathy david total primal cockcentered male sole universe resides cock affirmation power straggling hair constantly hangs eyes underscoring blindness vision obscured cant see past penis desire dominate woman landscape culture dog hed lick balls day constantly fondles cock pushes katias body mouth forcefully almost drowns fact davids cock gun david sex violence violence sex separation though blind complicity violent culture relationship sex violence male animal implicit final scene david stabs katia fucking david fucks like kills kills like fucks certainly movie commenting connection sex violence american culture follows david primal male inhospitable landscape american male sexuality barren rocky rugged devoid life david finally goes far crosses line unforgiving dangerous territory inner male brutalizes yes david literally fucked destructive force masculinity literally fucked ass monster becomes feminized severity masculinity man pumps davids bare ass audience left aghast literal horror scene reaction david gross unsympathetic exaggeration help feel deserves gets movie sets us complicit crime find mortified complicity role davids violation exacerbated scene set men descend upon katia david expect rape weak female david one raped actually experience kind relief quizzical horror tables turned katia watches desperate terror davids controlling masculinity gets fucked subsequently violently reduced whimpering woman real horror katia seeing reflected davids raped ass scene excruciatingly real also exceptionally disorienting movie minimalistic everything reduced allegory symbol cant trust scene david raped psycho marine raped himselfhis psychic doppelganger katia unconsciously exacting kind psychic revenge write readings onto scene infinitely one pleasures frustrations kind movie fact wide open interpretation katia sympathetic david david fondles cock drinks bottles beer katia paints toenails blow dries hair flaccid somnambulistic passive ineffective pouting girl completely infantilized sleeps back seat wanders around bare feet blubbers like baby locks bathrooms makes whining declarations hungry david teach everything drive open hotel room door key suck dick given control phallus hummer incapable commanding drives bushes scratches surface laughs like girl katia sees world ignorant girlcolored glasses scene threelegged dog glares katias stupidity shes busy indulging cute dog fantasy fails see putting dog danger course david hits deformed dog may well hitting katia since treats fucks like dog katia david egregious stereotypes gender privilege see whole world fiction scene movie big entertainment amusement drive around insulated hummer watching world go oblivious reality circumstances cultural ignorance spoiled selfcentered insulated view world evident human interactions quietly mock chinese food people restaurant marine eating ice cream fosters freeze crazy men trucks ultimately come back haunt sense vulnerability potential danger like go house dogs without sense potential threat endless scenes hummer serve literalization david katias insulation occupy pristine interior riding inside commercial little connected origins vehicle occupy designed military combat landscape occupy contains marines corps facility hummer serves kind material evidence distancing effect alienation media consumerism promotes rape scene dumont also forces us complicit fetishization product camera forces us take backseat hummer drive along katia david vehicle find sitting participating view cameras eye whether like admit dumont makes us enjoy moment voyeuristic fetishism inside hummer looks like feels like ride one movie progresses hummer gets scratched dirt soils dashboard reality begins seep violent reality interior exterior landscape finally ruptures end see gutted hummer sitting middle desert davids dead body lying face speaking landscape minimalism interior exterior shots comprises cinematography barren underscores barren interior landscape katia david scenes intentionally framed blandness washed color motel nightstands littered fast food soda cups blurry black box television lifeless washed still life painting dumonts aesthetics delivered deaestheticization every scene flat emptiness static view becomes solid menace experience town mundane banal sounds cars passing highway tinny music piped loud speakers chevron gas station static poles palm trees empty store fronts rows nondescript houses places look feel like tension knowing place real also knowing highly stylized view place stylized absence style still life portrait periodically interrupted tinge violence lurking surface red necks shouting red truck police siren zooming dark car stalking streets night one piece red fabric dangling corner screen exterior landscape barren infinite supply rocks dirt periodic sprinkle buildings streetlights ripped shit plastic garbage passing freight train course ultimate barren landscape one katia david alienated world outside windows communications stilted void connection content like sex ultimately empty animal act communications consist verbal terrain impenetrable rocky desert fact lapse french english doesnt help neither ever sure saying love kind minimalist landscape offered twentynine palms like ode antonioni wes craven john ford sam peckinpah one given us filters special effects great emptiness provokes sense quiet terror landscape becomes threatening presence vastness menacing like cravens hills eyes hills also contain menace horrors united states imperialism military forces abominations monsters masculinity creates hidden behind movie rocks dirt landscape largest united states marines combat training center given movie made 2004 also iraq war movie made thousands marines shipped war twentynine palms returning damaged goods dumont keeps war military quietly tucked away presence haunts film glimpses hummer american flag blowing sidewalk back solider dressed desert camouflage eating ice cream cone fosters freeze though explicit clear part twentyine palms removing veneer insulation kept us safe real horrors war enterprise cannibalized young men united states imperialism forced violent predatory masculinity men men victims image training man shaved head rapes david end movie howls cries bellowing sodomization american male general deep wound core american male psyche maybe soldier returned war psycho maybe hes david sides coin american male fucked system made abomination monster ends fucking become come surprise david shaves head like marine mocks earlier film stabs fucks katia death forced see separation marines mocks cut mold yes besides road movie study naturalism twentynine palms war movie even war part overt narrative shortage references vietnam war era movies war subtext though war overt narrative hostile landscape west corruption law power violence breeds reference sam peckinpahs wild bunch rape scene idea mutilated masculinity heart american heroics reference deliverance monotonous repetitious driving desert masculinity references vanishing point sex desert overall apocalyptic sense barren landscape references zabriskie point twentynine palms like movies points underlying diseased environment spawned american military activity without overtly proseltyizing politics way kind coded minimal narratives effective make us dig deeper think complex meaning rather spoon feeding us message forced make connections understand deeper level end movie distilled minimal symbolism hard say exactly dumonts political intentions like michael hanekes funny games movie exercise cinematic sadism dumont manipulates audience participating crimes committed end dumont pointing finger media movies allowing us insulated real crimes horrors world engaging american bashing pointing finger hollywood us military raping world turning camera critiquing position independent filmmaker like david exploiting american landscape masturbatory vision words movie example dumont stroking cinematic cock forcing throats art wait minute art masturbation whatever movie provides infinite food thought like kim nicolini artist poet cultural critic lives tucson arizona partner daughter menagerie beasts works day job support art culture habits currently finishing booklength essayistic memoir teenage runaway 1970s san francisco work appeared bad subjects punk planet bullhorn berkeley review reached knicolinigmailcom 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 160 ad 160 160 160 160 | 1,677 |
<p>5.56 green tip rounds that would be reclassified by the ATF under a new proposal.Image via armslist.com</p>
<p>Let me start this article with the usual disclaimer that there are gun owners, and then there are gun nuts. I am a <a href="" type="internal">gun owner</a> (even though I take flak for it from some folks on the left) and I believe in the right of private citizens who aren’t felons or mentally ill to own firearms for hunting or home defense. Gun owners realize that with the ownership of a firearm, certain responsibilities and limitations come with the right, and they don’t fantasize about shooting people they’re politically opposed to. Gun owners also don’t take to social media to suggest <a href="" type="internal">hanging lawmakers</a> who don’t agree with them, attempt to silence opponents via <a href="http://quietmike.org/2014/05/24/justification-intimidation-gunbullies-exposed/" type="external">mass intimidation</a>, or threaten to kill a critic’s child and toss them in a blender. Yes, that <a href="http://quietmike.org/2014/05/17/storm-gun-trolls-gun-bully-defense/" type="external">actually happened</a>,&#160;and that’s sadly what many gun nuts do.</p>
<p>Still don’t believe me? Yesterday, a local TV station in Baton Rouge (WAFB) reported on <a href="http://www.wafb.com/story/28243092/gun-owners-fire-back-about-green-tip-ammo-ban" type="external">a government proposal</a> to ban a specific style of 5.56/.223 ammunition which can pierce body armor worn by law enforcement officers. Needless to say, the gun nuts lost their minds over this and claimed it was another attempt by President Obama to create an “ammo ban” and take their guns. Here are&#160;a couple of screenshots from the comments section over at WAFB (click to enlarge).</p>
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<p>First off, you have people who believe “marshell” law is coming and they need armor-piercing rounds to do what exactly? Other commenters suggested “working on our head shots” which indicates shooting members of law enforcement or the military in the head to get around body armor. These are the same folks who responded to the recent #BlackLivesMatter hashtag with #BlueLivesMatter and praised the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. They talk about supporting law enforcement and the military all the time, but are also prepared to gun them down in a martial law scenario? Granted, not everyone there subscribed to this mindset, but more than a couple did – and didn’t mind openly claiming it.</p>
<p>Other people claimed disingenuously that all rifle rounds go through soft body armor and that this was an attempt to ban a popular round for nefarious political purposes. That’s actually false since some <a href="http://www.gunnersden.com/index.htm.rifle-cartridges-ballistics.html" type="external">rifle rounds</a> have the same velocity as <a href="http://www.10-32supply.com/firearms/winchester/centerfireballistics.htm" type="external">handgun rounds</a> and not all rifle rounds are as fast as a .223 which moves at over 3,000 fps (feet per second), a speed higher than a .308 – or the 7.62x39mm round which is what is used in an AK-47.</p>
<p>Conservative clickbait sites, in an attempt to grab traffic from gun nuts, portrayed this as an “ammo ban” designed by President Obama to disarm conservative gun owners. A columnist over at Townhall.com wrote:</p>
<p>“The bottom line: This is a backdoor attempt by the Obama administration to make AR-15 sporting rifles, which the President and gun control zealots in Congress have tried to ban for a decade, inoperable. Guns are no good without ammunition and you can bet the Obama administration is fully aware of that fact” ( <a href="http://www.donotlink.com/dxv2" type="external">Source</a>)</p>
<p>This is completely untrue, and as Snopes.com points out, these specific rounds would be reclassified because at the time they were originally exempted in 1986, <a href="http://www.primaryarms.com/Complete_AR_15_Pistols_s/6686.htm" type="external">AR pistols</a> were not on the market:</p>
<p>Applying the sporting purposes framework set-forth above, the 5.56mm projectile that ATF exempted in 1986 does not qualify for an exemption because that projectile when loaded into SS109 and M855 cartridges may be used in a handgun other than a single-shot handgun. Specifically, 5.56mm projectiles loaded into the SS109 and M855 cartridges are commonly used Framework for Deciding Sporting Purpose Ammunition pursuant to 18 USC 921(a) in both “AR-type” rifles and “AR-type” handguns.</p>
<p>The AR platform is the semi-automatic version of the M16 machinegun originally designed for and used by the military. The AR-based handguns and rifles utilize the same magazines and share identical receivers. These AR-type handguns were not commercially available when the armor piercing ammunition exemption was granted in 1986. To ensure consistency, upon final implementation of the sporting purpose framework outlined above, ATF must withdraw the exemptions for 5.56 mm “green tip” ammunition, including both the SS109 and M855 cartridges. ( <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/guns/ammoban.asp" type="external">Source</a>)</p>
<p>What’s the difference between an AR pistol and the .40 S&amp;W I keep for personal protection? The .223 caliber rifle round moves almost 3 times as fast as the .40 caliber round and can pierce level III-A soft armor which is what many patrol officers wear. Yet, all the gun nuts are screaming about is that this is a plot by President Obama to infringe upon their 2nd Amendment rights, when in fact the president has absolutely nothing to do with it. Moreover, the original law, titled “ <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/99th-congress/house-bill/4" type="external">Law Enforcement Officers Protection Act of 1985</a>,” was signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. As stated above by Snopes.com, these AR pistols weren’t available in 1986 and this is nothing more than the ATF attempting to update regulations based off new products entering the market. Yes, there are other high-velocity rifle bullets that can pierce soft or even hard body armor, but other than the 7.62×39 and 7.62×51 ammo used in an AR-10 or AK-47, they don’t tend to be chambered in a high-capacity, semi-auto rifle or pistol a criminal can use to spray dozens of rounds in a short period of time.</p>
<p>A police officer who is hit by a regular pistol round stands a good chance of surviving if that bullet hits his or her soft armor. Due to a lower velocity and the vest’s design which causes the bullet to mushroom against Kevlar fibers, the officer will likely incur a nasty bruise or perhaps a fractured rib, but the round will not actually penetrate flesh. However, one of these .223 rounds fired out of an AR pistol will defeat body armor, even at long range, and cause serious injury or death. This “ammo ban” isn’t a plot to disarm gun owners, it is simply to protect law enforcement officers – and judging by the comments I’ve seen by gun nuts lately, it’s a damn good idea.</p>
<p />
<p><a href="" type="internal">Gun Nuts up in arms over man shooting a squirrel in the suburbs</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">CEO Develops Brilliant Gun Safety Feature, Gun Nuts Threaten Her Life Over It</a></p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">The Difference Between Gun Owners And Gun Nuts</a></p>
<p>0 Facebook comments</p> | true | 4 | 556 green tip rounds would reclassified atf new proposalimage via armslistcom let start article usual disclaimer gun owners gun nuts gun owner even though take flak folks left believe right private citizens arent felons mentally ill firearms hunting home defense gun owners realize ownership firearm certain responsibilities limitations come right dont fantasize shooting people theyre politically opposed gun owners also dont take social media suggest hanging lawmakers dont agree attempt silence opponents via mass intimidation threaten kill critics child toss blender yes actually happened160and thats sadly many gun nuts still dont believe yesterday local tv station baton rouge wafb reported government proposal ban specific style 556223 ammunition pierce body armor worn law enforcement officers needless say gun nuts lost minds claimed another attempt president obama create ammo ban take guns are160a couple screenshots comments section wafb click enlarge first people believe marshell law coming need armorpiercing rounds exactly commenters suggested working head shots indicates shooting members law enforcement military head get around body armor folks responded recent blacklivesmatter hashtag bluelivesmatter praised death michael brown ferguson missouri talk supporting law enforcement military time also prepared gun martial law scenario granted everyone subscribed mindset couple didnt mind openly claiming people claimed disingenuously rifle rounds go soft body armor attempt ban popular round nefarious political purposes thats actually false since rifle rounds velocity handgun rounds rifle rounds fast 223 moves 3000 fps feet per second speed higher 308 762x39mm round used ak47 conservative clickbait sites attempt grab traffic gun nuts portrayed ammo ban designed president obama disarm conservative gun owners columnist townhallcom wrote bottom line backdoor attempt obama administration make ar15 sporting rifles president gun control zealots congress tried ban decade inoperable guns good without ammunition bet obama administration fully aware fact source completely untrue snopescom points specific rounds would reclassified time originally exempted 1986 ar pistols market applying sporting purposes framework setforth 556mm projectile atf exempted 1986 qualify exemption projectile loaded ss109 m855 cartridges may used handgun singleshot handgun specifically 556mm projectiles loaded ss109 m855 cartridges commonly used framework deciding sporting purpose ammunition pursuant 18 usc 921a artype rifles artype handguns ar platform semiautomatic version m16 machinegun originally designed used military arbased handguns rifles utilize magazines share identical receivers artype handguns commercially available armor piercing ammunition exemption granted 1986 ensure consistency upon final implementation sporting purpose framework outlined atf must withdraw exemptions 556 mm green tip ammunition including ss109 m855 cartridges source whats difference ar pistol 40 sampw keep personal protection 223 caliber rifle round moves almost 3 times fast 40 caliber round pierce level iiia soft armor many patrol officers wear yet gun nuts screaming plot president obama infringe upon 2nd amendment rights fact president absolutely nothing moreover original law titled law enforcement officers protection act 1985 signed law president ronald reagan 1986 stated snopescom ar pistols werent available 1986 nothing atf attempting update regulations based new products entering market yes highvelocity rifle bullets pierce soft even hard body armor 76239 76251 ammo used ar10 ak47 dont tend chambered highcapacity semiauto rifle pistol criminal use spray dozens rounds short period time police officer hit regular pistol round stands good chance surviving bullet hits soft armor due lower velocity vests design causes bullet mushroom kevlar fibers officer likely incur nasty bruise perhaps fractured rib round actually penetrate flesh however one 223 rounds fired ar pistol defeat body armor even long range cause serious injury death ammo ban isnt plot disarm gun owners simply protect law enforcement officers judging comments ive seen gun nuts lately damn good idea gun nuts arms man shooting squirrel suburbs ceo develops brilliant gun safety feature gun nuts threaten life difference gun owners gun nuts 0 facebook comments | 610 |
<p>Borderline personality: A Minuteman Project volunteer in 2005AP Photo/John Miller</p>
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<p>In early July, Chris Davis issued a call to arms. “You see an illegal, you point your gun right dead at them, right between the eyes, and say, ‘Get back across the border, or you will be shot,'” the Texas-based militia commander said in a YouTube video heralding Operation Secure Our Border-Laredo Sector, a plan to block the wave of undocumented migrants coming into his state. “If you get any flak from sheriffs, city, or feds, Border Patrol, tell them, ‘Look—this is our birthright. We have a right to secure our own land. This is our land.'”</p>
<p>Davis’ video was publicized by local <a href="http://www.themonitor.com/news/immigration/militia-group-puts-out-call-for-patriots-to-come-and/article_bd936d60-03ed-11e4-979d-0017a43b2370.html" type="external">newspapers</a> and the <a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/nationnow/la-na-nn-texas-border-militia-video-20140707-story.html#page=1" type="external">Los Angeles Times</a>. But the militia never materialized in Laredo, and Davis walked back his comments. (The video has been taken down.) Over the last few weeks, <a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Armed-militia-purportedly-along-the-border-5652531.php" type="external">a smaller force</a> under Davis’ watch has appeared along the southern border, spread thinly across three states. The fizzling of this grand mobilization was another reminder that the current immigration crisis has been missing a key ingredient of recent border showdowns: Bands of the heavily-armed self-appointed border guardians known as Minutemen.</p>
<p>During the past four years, the <a href="" type="internal">Minuteman groups</a> that defined conservative immigration policy during the mid-to-late-2000s have mostly self-destructed—sometimes spectacularly so. Founding Minuteman leaders are in prison, facing criminal charges, dead, or sidelined. “It really attracted a lot of people that had some pretty extreme issues,” says Juanita Molina, executive director of the <a href="http://borderaction.org/" type="external">Border Action Network</a>, an advocacy group that provides aid to migrants in the desert. “We saw the movement implode on itself mostly because of that.” An <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2013/09/30/smaller-more-radical-border-militias-patrolling-arizona-desert/" type="external">analysis</a> by the Southern Poverty Law Center, which monitors right-wing extremist groups, found that the number of Minuteman groups in the Southwest had declined from 310 to 38 between 2010 and 2012.</p>
<p>The movement’s coming-out moment was in 2005, as an influx in migrants from Mexico collided with post-9/11 security concerns to create a nativist revival. A Marine vet named Jim Gilchrist announced the formation of a monthlong, 1,000-man patrol along Arizona border. His Minuteman Project found a natural platform on conservative talk radio and cable news, and attracted support from nativist politicians such as then-Arizona Senate president Russell Pearce. Some Minuteman groups patrolled the US-Mexico line on foot, investing in night-vision goggles, ham radios, and ammunition by the bucket. Others were content to squat in lawn chairs under canopies, scanning the border for crossers and alerting Customs and Border Protection.</p>
<p>But the movement quickly splintered, and activists who found Gilchrist’s methods too easygoing rushed to start their own organizations, many bearing the Minuteman name. Things went downhill from there.</p>
<p>Shawna Forde, an Arizona activist, left behind two larger groups to found Minutemen American Defense with Jason Bush in 2007. To get money for their operations, they turned to crime. In 2011, Forde, Bush, and another man were <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/02/14/arizona.double.killing.verdict/" type="external">convicted</a> of murdering Raul Flores and his nine-year-old daughter after a botched armed robbery of Flores’ Arivaca, Arizona, home. When police dug deeper, they found a bloody past. Bush was also <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2009579001_apwafatalhomeinvasionbush.html" type="external">charged</a> for the murder of a Latino man in Washington state in 1997, and in the murder of an Aryan Nations member he considered to be a “race-traitor” that same year. He also was <a href="http://tucson.com/news/local/investigators-believe-serial-killer-sits-in-the-pima-jail/article_71c01fe7-deb3-5816-b478-e8cce66f8898.html" type="external">suspected</a> of a third, unidentified murder, but not charged. Washington prosecutors <a href="http://tucson.com/news/blogs/courthouse/article_b28181c4-bd31-11e0-9d2a-001cc4c002e0.html#ixzz1TtxiTUdF" type="external">opted not to pursue</a> the case because Forde and Bush were already on death row for the Flores murders.</p>
<p>Forde and Bush were on the fringe, but they had connections to the more prominent mainstream Minuteman groups. Forde, for instance, had once been a member of a group called the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, which has gone through several crises of its own. In 2012, one of the group’s founders, a neo-Nazi Marine veteran named J.T. Ready—who also left the group to form a splinter unit— <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/arizona-neo-nazi-sheriff-candidate-killed-family/story?id=16269803" type="external">killed himself</a>, his girlfriend, and three of her family members at his home in Gilbert, Arizona. At the time of his death, Ready was the subject of an FBI <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/neo-nazi-jt-ready-was-target-of-fbi-domestic-terrorism-investigation-at-time-of-massacre" type="external">domestic terrorism investigation</a> in connection with the deaths of an unspecified number of migrants whose bodies had been found in the Arizona desert.</p>
<p>Chris Simcox, who cofounded the MCDC with Ready, faces a more uncertain fate. A media-friendly personality who once considered challenging Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for his Senate seat, he planned on taking the Minuteman movement to new heights by <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2006/fall/ruckus-on-the-right" type="external">building</a> a $55 million state-of-the-art border fence “based on the fences used in Gaza and the West Bank.” But he raised just $1.8 million, and installed only two miles of barbed wire.</p>
<p>In 2010, Simcox <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2010/06/14/mcdc-founder-reported-on-the-run/" type="external">went on the lam</a> after his estranged wife filed a petition for a protective, saying that he had twice threatened to kill his family. (Simcox has denied those allegations.) He was tracked down by Stacey O’Connell, a former Minuteman who started a bounty hunting firm after resigning as the Arizona state director of Simcox’s group three years earlier, citing mismanagement. Two months after being served by his old lieutenant, Simcox was <a href="http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/news/2013/07/03/minuteman-founder-chris-simcox-pleads-not-guilty-to-child-abuse-charges/" type="external">charged</a> with six counts of child molestation. He rejected a plea offer and is set to stand trial in September. (One of the charges has since been dropped.) When I called him, O’Connell said he had no plans to rejoin the Minutemen. “I haven’t been involved with that in years,” he said.</p>
<p>After Simcox’s arrest, the leadership of the MCDC fell to Carmen Mercer, a <a href="http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/040810_minutemen/minuteman-border-watch-continues-southern-arizona/" type="external">German immigrant</a> who ran a buffalo burger restaurant in Wyatt Earp’s old home of Tombstone. Mercer announced a new operation targeting drug smugglers. She suggested acting without the aid of the US Border Patrol, inviting volunteers to come to the border “locked, loaded, and ready.” But a week later, Mercer sent announced that the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps was disbanding. “People are ready to come locked and loaded, and that’s not what we are all about,” she <a href="http://tucson.com/news/local/border/article_3b5411bd-ffe6-5d3c-98c8-951ec0fc40c4.html" type="external">wrote</a> after a sudden change of heart.</p>
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<p>Even Gilchrist, the original Minuteman, has seen his brainchild disintegrate. The board of Minuteman Project accused him of <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2007/summer/minute-mess" type="external">fraud</a>; in turn, Gilchrist accused the board of theft. He was deposed as its president but was reinstated by a judge. He then <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2012/10/09/minuteman-founder-must-pay-former-close-ally-he-smeared/" type="external">lost</a> a defamation lawsuit for launching an internet smear campaign wrongfully accusing another member of various federal crimes.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, the politicians who once embraced vigilante activities along the border have begun to drift away. Last August, Richard Malley, a member of an organization calling itself the Arizona Special Operations Group, was <a href="http://www.kpho.com/story/23175887/mcso-az-minuteman-points-ar-15-rifle-at-sheriffs-deputy" type="external">arrested</a> on <a href="http://media.phoenixnewtimes.com/9068792.0.pdf" type="external">charges</a> of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after aiming his AR-15 at a Pinal County sheriff’s deputy he had concluded was a member of a drug cartel. Malley, who had been on patrol 80 miles north of the border, had refused to put down his rifle even after the deputy pointed to his badge. After the incident, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a longtime ally of the Minutemen who once <a href="http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2009-05-14/news/neo-nazis-and-extreme-right-wingers-love-joe-arpaio-and-there-s-evidence-that-the-mcso-keeps-them-close/full/" type="external">accepted</a> an award from Simcox, sounded like he’d had enough. “If they continue this there could be some dead militia out there,” Arpaio <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/sheriff-joe-arpaio-warns-desert-militias-drop-weapons-article-1.1432561" type="external">told</a> the Associated Press. “He’s lucky he didn’t see 30 rounds fired into him.”</p>
<p>Malley had been making the rounds that day with Robert Crooks, the founder of the <a href="http://www.mountainminutemen.com/" type="external">Mountain Minutemen</a>, who had <a href="http://www.splcenter.org/blog/2007/08/20/nativist-leader-now-says-video-is-fake/" type="external">disseminated</a> a video in which he staged the fake execution of an undocumented immigrant. Crooks declined a request for an interview. “Dude, I’ve been doing this for 10 fucking years, I got a full-length movie out, I was in Penthouse magazine April ’08, I got the fence of San Diego County, I’ve been in the trench for a decade, you hear me?” he said when I reached him on patrol in the desert. “I ain’t fucking around with this bullshit. We’re being invaded and you guys are mamsy-pamsying this shit. This country’s fucking going to hell in a handbasket. Never mind!” Click.</p>
<p>But the Minuteman movement’s problems go deeper than its fractious leadership. Patrolling the border is a massive undertaking. Glenn Spencer, the founder of <a href="http://americanborderpatrol.com/" type="external">American Border Patrol</a>,&#160;proudly notes that his group predated the Minuteman movement and has largely outlived it. His seven-man outfit uses drones and small planes to monitor the border. Spencer,&#160;who had just come back from a flyover with a film crew from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ InfoWars site, estimates it would take 30,000 committed and qualified military veterans to watch the border properly. “I don’t encourage people to come down,” he says. Volunteers “find out the border is huge. They get tired of sitting in lawn chairs.”</p>
<p>The changing geography of the border crisis also make things difficult for civilian patrols. Arizona became a hub for Minutemen groups in part because it was so easy; much of the state’s 362-mile border and points north are public lands, meaning anyone can walk it. But southern Arizona is no longer the most popular route into the United States; that distinction now belongs to South Texas. And in Texas, there’s very little federal land; the border is the provenance of private ranchers who don’t take kindly to strangers patrolling their property with high-powered rifles.</p>
<p>“A lot of [militia] have called me, and I’ll tell them, the day may come where you’re needed,” says Mike Vickers, a Falfurrias veterinarian who runs the Texas Border Volunteers with his wife. But for now they were handling it in-house. “We have this access to private property, we work with the Border Patrol and the Texas Rangers, and we’ve been doing it a long time, and just showing up as militiamen—it’s probably not gonna happen.”</p>
<p>When I called Chris Davis’ 24-hour militia hotline on Thursday, no one picked up. The call went to a teleconference line, and after 20 minutes of silence, I heard a voice on the other end. I struck up a conversation with the other caller, Danny Martin, a car wash owner from Victoria, Texas, who was looking for information on how to help the militias. He was worked up over a recent report that an <a href="http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/07/14/urdu-dictionary-found-on-texas-ranch-near-border-we-just-dont-know-whos-here-already/" type="external">Urdu-English dictionary</a> was discovered on a Texas ranch. “It’s Urdu to English, talking about the Palestinian language or whatever they speak over in Iraq. Obviously, Mexicans don’t speak Urdu, so we’ve got some issues.” (Urdu is spoken in Pakistan.) Martin was well armed, but as a Christian, he said he was committed to assisting migrants who came across. But his enthusiasm was for naught; the area in West Texas he wanted to patrol is rarely traveled by migrants.</p>
<p>Gilchrist hopes the current crisis will help the Minutemen get the band back together. In July, he announced a new project called <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/minuteman-calling-3500-to-mexican-border/" type="external">Operation Normandy</a>, as in D-Day: 3,500 “patriots” will converge on the Texas border, armed if necessary, to repel the invaders. “If you are familiar with the Normandy invasion of France in 1944, then you have an idea how large and logistically complicated this event will be,” he told <a href="http://www.wnd.com/2014/07/minuteman-calling-3500-to-mexican-border/" type="external">WorldNetDaily</a>. The catch: The operation won’t happen until May 2015.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | borderline personality minuteman project volunteer 2005ap photojohn miller early july chris davis issued call arms see illegal point gun right dead right eyes say get back across border shot texasbased militia commander said youtube video heralding operation secure borderlaredo sector plan block wave undocumented migrants coming state get flak sheriffs city feds border patrol tell lookthis birthright right secure land land davis video publicized local newspapers los angeles times militia never materialized laredo davis walked back comments video taken last weeks smaller force davis watch appeared along southern border spread thinly across three states fizzling grand mobilization another reminder current immigration crisis missing key ingredient recent border showdowns bands heavilyarmed selfappointed border guardians known minutemen past four years minuteman groups defined conservative immigration policy midtolate2000s mostly selfdestructedsometimes spectacularly founding minuteman leaders prison facing criminal charges dead sidelined really attracted lot people pretty extreme issues says juanita molina executive director border action network advocacy group provides aid migrants desert saw movement implode mostly analysis southern poverty law center monitors rightwing extremist groups found number minuteman groups southwest declined 310 38 2010 2012 movements comingout moment 2005 influx migrants mexico collided post911 security concerns create nativist revival marine vet named jim gilchrist announced formation monthlong 1000man patrol along arizona border minuteman project found natural platform conservative talk radio cable news attracted support nativist politicians thenarizona senate president russell pearce minuteman groups patrolled usmexico line foot investing nightvision goggles ham radios ammunition bucket others content squat lawn chairs canopies scanning border crossers alerting customs border protection movement quickly splintered activists found gilchrists methods easygoing rushed start organizations many bearing minuteman name things went downhill shawna forde arizona activist left behind two larger groups found minutemen american defense jason bush 2007 get money operations turned crime 2011 forde bush another man convicted murdering raul flores nineyearold daughter botched armed robbery flores arivaca arizona home police dug deeper found bloody past bush also charged murder latino man washington state 1997 murder aryan nations member considered racetraitor year also suspected third unidentified murder charged washington prosecutors opted pursue case forde bush already death row flores murders forde bush fringe connections prominent mainstream minuteman groups forde instance member group called minuteman civil defense corps gone several crises 2012 one groups founders neonazi marine veteran named jt readywho also left group form splinter unit killed girlfriend three family members home gilbert arizona time death ready subject fbi domestic terrorism investigation connection deaths unspecified number migrants whose bodies found arizona desert chris simcox cofounded mcdc ready faces uncertain fate mediafriendly personality considered challenging sen john mccain rariz senate seat planned taking minuteman movement new heights building 55 million stateoftheart border fence based fences used gaza west bank raised 18 million installed two miles barbed wire 2010 simcox went lam estranged wife filed petition protective saying twice threatened kill family simcox denied allegations tracked stacey oconnell former minuteman started bounty hunting firm resigning arizona state director simcoxs group three years earlier citing mismanagement two months served old lieutenant simcox charged six counts child molestation rejected plea offer set stand trial september one charges since dropped called oconnell said plans rejoin minutemen havent involved years said simcoxs arrest leadership mcdc fell carmen mercer german immigrant ran buffalo burger restaurant wyatt earps old home tombstone mercer announced new operation targeting drug smugglers suggested acting without aid us border patrol inviting volunteers come border locked loaded ready week later mercer sent announced minuteman civil defense corps disbanding people ready come locked loaded thats wrote sudden change heart even gilchrist original minuteman seen brainchild disintegrate board minuteman project accused fraud turn gilchrist accused board theft deposed president reinstated judge lost defamation lawsuit launching internet smear campaign wrongfully accusing another member various federal crimes meanwhile politicians embraced vigilante activities along border begun drift away last august richard malley member organization calling arizona special operations group arrested charges aggravated assault deadly weapon aiming ar15 pinal county sheriffs deputy concluded member drug cartel malley patrol 80 miles north border refused put rifle even deputy pointed badge incident maricopa county sheriff joe arpaio longtime ally minutemen accepted award simcox sounded like hed enough continue could dead militia arpaio told associated press hes lucky didnt see 30 rounds fired malley making rounds day robert crooks founder mountain minutemen disseminated video staged fake execution undocumented immigrant crooks declined request interview dude ive 10 fucking years got fulllength movie penthouse magazine april 08 got fence san diego county ive trench decade hear said reached patrol desert aint fucking around bullshit invaded guys mamsypamsying shit countrys fucking going hell handbasket never mind click minuteman movements problems go deeper fractious leadership patrolling border massive undertaking glenn spencer founder american border patrol160proudly notes group predated minuteman movement largely outlived sevenman outfit uses drones small planes monitor border spencer160who come back flyover film crew conspiracy theorist alex jones infowars site estimates would take 30000 committed qualified military veterans watch border properly dont encourage people come says volunteers find border huge get tired sitting lawn chairs changing geography border crisis also make things difficult civilian patrols arizona became hub minutemen groups part easy much states 362mile border points north public lands meaning anyone walk southern arizona longer popular route united states distinction belongs south texas texas theres little federal land border provenance private ranchers dont take kindly strangers patrolling property highpowered rifles lot militia called ill tell day may come youre needed says mike vickers falfurrias veterinarian runs texas border volunteers wife handling inhouse access private property work border patrol texas rangers weve long time showing militiamenits probably gon na happen called chris davis 24hour militia hotline thursday one picked call went teleconference line 20 minutes silence heard voice end struck conversation caller danny martin car wash owner victoria texas looking information help militias worked recent report urduenglish dictionary discovered texas ranch urdu english talking palestinian language whatever speak iraq obviously mexicans dont speak urdu weve got issues urdu spoken pakistan martin well armed christian said committed assisting migrants came across enthusiasm naught area west texas wanted patrol rarely traveled migrants gilchrist hopes current crisis help minutemen get band back together july announced new project called operation normandy dday 3500 patriots converge texas border armed necessary repel invaders familiar normandy invasion france 1944 idea large logistically complicated event told worldnetdaily catch operation wont happen may 2015 | 1,050 |
<p>The last game of the Jaguars’ 2002 season, in Indianapolis, was a dispiriting affair. Aging QB Mark Brunell sidelined by injury, forced to entrust the offense to scrambling upstart David Garrard. Garrard made few mistakes, as the Jags played with what seemed to be a pathological aversion to the forward pass. Despite jumping out to an early lead, the Florida franchise was spent by game’s end, and fell prey to the Colts, who themselves would lose 41-0 to the New York Jets in an AFC Wildcard Game the following week.</p>
<p>The Colts losing to the Jets surprised no serious observers of the game. QB Peyton Manning and Head Coach Tony Dungy have reps for folding in clutch situations. The week before, the Jags’ loss surprised no one either. Backup quarterbacks are usually backups for legitimate reasons, underscored by Coughlin running an offense of Pop Warner league complexity. Try not to lose, the message went. Try not to expose my deficiencies, as a coach or as a man.</p>
<p>But the Jags lost, and the Coach was exposed and summarily dismissed. A Trent Lott situation, except that Coughlin backed out of hosting BET’s Rap City in the end. And that Coughlin, God bless him, was only guilty of making siren noises while on the sideline last year. When asked during a game last year why he made siren noises to the effect of “whoo-whoo-whooooo-whoo-whoo!”, he replied that he was playing policeman, because he was wearing an NYPD hat just like the real policemen wear. A courageous statement, especially since the Jaguars were losing 27-3 and that the Jaguars were rotating quarterbacks in from among the concession staff.</p>
<p>Of course, that last bit’s apocryphal. Which means fake. Kind of like the contract-ploy media play last year given to Jags’ WR Jimmy Smith being pulled over by Jacksonville police on his way home from stylish local nightspot the Voodoo Lounge. Smith, who was returning to the field from three abdominal operations before the 2001 season, was pulled over under suspicion of drunken driving. The Pro Bowler passed two breath tests, but police took a urine sample, which was analyzed by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The results came back that Smith tested positive for cocaine.</p>
<p>Now, how the hell did they get from drunken driving to a urine test for cocaine? None of the mainstream media addresses this issue. Jacksonville’s long-serving black sheriff notwithstanding, the fact is that in Jacksonville, if you want to escape police harassment as a black man, you had better be in uniform on a football field. Smith ended up negotiating a contract worth approximately three million dollars a year before the beginning of the 2002 season, roughly half of the six million per annum he sought. Perhaps it was no coincidence that his play this year failed to live up to the Pro Bowl standards of recent campaigns. Scouts and sportswriters began to lament his inability to beat single coverage, when only last year he could break through double teams. But never was the piss test mentioned. Smith’s name was “cleared”, but as a player his spirit has been broken and his best years have already happened.</p>
<p>And this is a shame, but no surprise. If former Jags’ WR Keenan McCardell is to be believed, the Jacksonville franchise routinely broke contract-related promises made to players. McCardell was cut loose by the team before the 2002 season. He currently complements WR Keyshawn Johnson in Tampa, host of a playoff game this week. Mike Hollis, former Jags’ kicker, was let go for contract issues before the 2002 season. In 2002, the Jags lost five games by a total of ten points, and their kicking was so horrible that they used four place-kickers over the course of sixteen games. Hollis wanted roughly a million dollars for the 2002 season, but Coughlin felt that was too high a price to pay for one of the most accurate placekickers in the NFL.</p>
<p>Of course, some prices are payable and others simply aren’t. Jeff Novak paid a price, to be sure. The former Jaguars center was found by a jury to have had his career shortened by a team doctor who cut his leg open with a scalpel in a stadium treatment room to remedy his hematoma. This remedy failed, and Novak fell prey to infections, two emergency surgeries, and the premature end to his career. The aforementioned Brunell saw Novak as being able to play for three to five more years, and the jury responded with a five million dollar award in July 2002. This sum was thrown out by a judge a couple of weeks later who claimed that the burden of proof had not been met, in spite of the jury ruling otherwise. Chastened, Novak settled quietly with the team for two million dollars a week before Christmas.</p>
<p>That seems fair. Forty cents on the dollar, roughly the same ratio the British Empire used to compensate its slaveholders for lost property while slavery was being abolished. Because when you’re damaged goods like Novak, you have to take what you can get. Especially if the judge is willing to reverse the decision of a jury trial to serve the interests of a purportedly local business concern.</p>
<p>But what is so local, really, about the Jaguars? In comparison to the Packers of Green Bay, a municipal operation in the purest sense possible in the NFL, the Jags hustle seems designed to take money from the locals and move it elsewhere with the slightest of courtesy for actual Jacksonville residents. During the height of the 90s economic boom, when so many Fortune 500 companies were moving operations to Jacksonville to take advantage of tax incentives and cheap labor — or, as the slave auctioneers might have put it, “likely youth” — the local franchise entered the NFL under the provision that only sold-out home gates could stem the specter of TV blackouts for game telecasts.</p>
<p>The first few years saw Alltel Stadium full week in and out, and everyone was happy. No one was concerned that the Jags were required to sell upwards of 64,000 tickets weekly in a city of one million people. Jacksonville was Fat City, and it seemed like over five percent of the population could be counted upon to attend every game, even though ticket prices were among the highest in the league from the beginning. The talent-pool was rich, as the team hadn’t fallen prey to salary cap concerns and could import select free agents with no fear of immediate reprisal.</p>
<p>Then the cap problems kicked up and all the talk was of rebuilding. Concurrent with this nasty business was the increase in rents and prices that locals faced, as Jacksonville became a “major league city.” The Jaguars have been horrible for three years, with no end in sight as top head coaching candidates avoid the Bold New City of the South as if it were plagued. The Jags routinely drew around 50,000 in the last few games of the season, and will be hard-pressed to remedy that situation, never mind fulfilling promises the franchise made to revitalize the rundown neighborhoods around the stadium. A dead franchise for a town that is dying and only now becoming aware of it; a man larded on sausage gravy choking on his own vomit, for not the first but perhaps the last time.</p>
<p>ANTHONY GANCARSKI, author of <a href="" type="internal">Unfortunate Incidents</a> [Diversity Inc, 2001], has followed sports in Jacksonville since the days of weekly professional wrestling and the USFL. He welcomes comments at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | last game jaguars 2002 season indianapolis dispiriting affair aging qb mark brunell sidelined injury forced entrust offense scrambling upstart david garrard garrard made mistakes jags played seemed pathological aversion forward pass despite jumping early lead florida franchise spent games end fell prey colts would lose 410 new york jets afc wildcard game following week colts losing jets surprised serious observers game qb peyton manning head coach tony dungy reps folding clutch situations week jags loss surprised one either backup quarterbacks usually backups legitimate reasons underscored coughlin running offense pop warner league complexity try lose message went try expose deficiencies coach man jags lost coach exposed summarily dismissed trent lott situation except coughlin backed hosting bets rap city end coughlin god bless guilty making siren noises sideline last year asked game last year made siren noises effect whoowhoowhooooowhoowhoo replied playing policeman wearing nypd hat like real policemen wear courageous statement especially since jaguars losing 273 jaguars rotating quarterbacks among concession staff course last bits apocryphal means fake kind like contractploy media play last year given jags wr jimmy smith pulled jacksonville police way home stylish local nightspot voodoo lounge smith returning field three abdominal operations 2001 season pulled suspicion drunken driving pro bowler passed two breath tests police took urine sample analyzed florida department law enforcement results came back smith tested positive cocaine hell get drunken driving urine test cocaine none mainstream media addresses issue jacksonvilles longserving black sheriff notwithstanding fact jacksonville want escape police harassment black man better uniform football field smith ended negotiating contract worth approximately three million dollars year beginning 2002 season roughly half six million per annum sought perhaps coincidence play year failed live pro bowl standards recent campaigns scouts sportswriters began lament inability beat single coverage last year could break double teams never piss test mentioned smiths name cleared player spirit broken best years already happened shame surprise former jags wr keenan mccardell believed jacksonville franchise routinely broke contractrelated promises made players mccardell cut loose team 2002 season currently complements wr keyshawn johnson tampa host playoff game week mike hollis former jags kicker let go contract issues 2002 season 2002 jags lost five games total ten points kicking horrible used four placekickers course sixteen games hollis wanted roughly million dollars 2002 season coughlin felt high price pay one accurate placekickers nfl course prices payable others simply arent jeff novak paid price sure former jaguars center found jury career shortened team doctor cut leg open scalpel stadium treatment room remedy hematoma remedy failed novak fell prey infections two emergency surgeries premature end career aforementioned brunell saw novak able play three five years jury responded five million dollar award july 2002 sum thrown judge couple weeks later claimed burden proof met spite jury ruling otherwise chastened novak settled quietly team two million dollars week christmas seems fair forty cents dollar roughly ratio british empire used compensate slaveholders lost property slavery abolished youre damaged goods like novak take get especially judge willing reverse decision jury trial serve interests purportedly local business concern local really jaguars comparison packers green bay municipal operation purest sense possible nfl jags hustle seems designed take money locals move elsewhere slightest courtesy actual jacksonville residents height 90s economic boom many fortune 500 companies moving operations jacksonville take advantage tax incentives cheap labor slave auctioneers might put likely youth local franchise entered nfl provision soldout home gates could stem specter tv blackouts game telecasts first years saw alltel stadium full week everyone happy one concerned jags required sell upwards 64000 tickets weekly city one million people jacksonville fat city seemed like five percent population could counted upon attend every game even though ticket prices among highest league beginning talentpool rich team hadnt fallen prey salary cap concerns could import select free agents fear immediate reprisal cap problems kicked talk rebuilding concurrent nasty business increase rents prices locals faced jacksonville became major league city jaguars horrible three years end sight top head coaching candidates avoid bold new city south plagued jags routinely drew around 50000 last games season hardpressed remedy situation never mind fulfilling promises franchise made revitalize rundown neighborhoods around stadium dead franchise town dying becoming aware man larded sausage gravy choking vomit first perhaps last time anthony gancarski author unfortunate incidents diversity inc 2001 followed sports jacksonville since days weekly professional wrestling usfl welcomes comments anthonygancarskiattbicom 160 160 | 723 |
<p>In his book ‘Don’t Go Near the Water’, William Brinkley described the hilarious adventures of a US Navy public relations unit in the Pacific towards the end of the Second World War. The unit was led (if one can use the word) by Lt-Commander Clinton T (‘Marblehead’) Nash, who “had been commissioned directly from his brokerage office without the corrupting influence of any intervening naval training”. But Marblehead had his moments, as when he conjured up the idea of sending hometown newspapers lots of pieces about sailors in the enormous Pacific Fleet.</p>
<p>With fiery enthusiasm he planned that “We get up a story on [an] event, mimeograph it off, then simply fill in the man’s name from the ship’s roster, like ‘Blank Blank of Blank was aboard the USS Missouri recently when that ship’s sixteen-inchers disabled Yokahama’, and fire it back to the guy’s home-town paper. Visualize it! The Missouri alone has 2700 men aboard, anytime she did anything, just anything atall, this would automatically mean 2700 stories in papers all over the States . . . millions of stories . . . From us to the thousands of tanktown papers in the US . . . Thinking big! . . . It’s Joe Blow of Kokomo people want to hear about!”</p>
<p>In fact it wasn’t that bad an idea (although things did get a bit out of hand for Marblehead and his merry men), and the technique has attractions. The problem is that there is a distinct dividing line between news and propaganda and it is fatal to truth to try to merge one with the other. But the line has been crossed — leapt across, indeed — by the mind-benders of US forces in Iraq. They are not content with having “Blank Blank of Blank” being home-town news because of something his unit had done. Far from it, because it seems they want to convince home-town folks all over America that US policy in Iraq is fine and dandy and – by implication, at least – that it’s only a bunch of sour-faced left wing liberal peacenik internationalists who say things are catastrophic. So the new Marbleheads had a great idea: that it would be splendid for it to be made known by Joe Blow of Kokomo that “The quality of life and security for the citizens has been largely restored and we are a large part of why that has happened” in the area of Kirkuk occupied by the Second Battalion of the 503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment.</p>
<p>Now : nobody should have any objection to a letter containing such positive sentiments being sent to a hometown newspaper — providing, of course, it was composed by the person who signed it. The Joe Blow letter continued that “The fruits of our soldiers’ efforts are clearly visible in the streets of Kirkuk today . . . I am proud of the work we’re doing here in Iraq and I hope all of your readers are as well.” Great stuff. Freedom of speech means that Joe Blow of the 503rd can write to the Kokomo local paper to say things are working out in Iraq just as Bush says they are.</p>
<p>This sort of thing isn’t quite what I wrote home from Cyprus, Borneo or Vietnam when I was on active service in these troubled places. Reflecting on such letters as have survived I find the main themes were that Brigade HQ was staffed by a bunch of incompetent dickwits, the local authorities were corrupt, the food was lousy, our equipment was inferior to that possessed by a poorly-endowed boy scout troop, the enemy was fighting quite well, all generals and politicians (ours, not theirs) were certifiable cretins, and the local population (except in Borneo where we were welcomed by delightful people), thought we were a damn pest or worse. We would have roared with laughter if any of us Joe Blows had written to a newspaper at home saying “we’re proud of the work we’re doing here”. What a joke that would have been. Perhaps things have changed.</p>
<p>But the problem with the enthusiastic Joe Blow letter from the 503rd was not so much its content as its origin, as was revealed when the Gannet News Service investigated the appearance of identical Joe Blow letters in eleven (so far) local newspapers around the US.</p>
<p>Some editors sniffed a rat and refused to publish what they regarded as a form letter, which undoubtedly it was, but others were happy to do so or took it at face value. According to Gannett (which deserves an award for exposing this tawdry little scheme), “[one] soldier didn’t know about the letter until his father congratulated him for getting it published in the local newspaper in Beckley, West Virginia. ‘When I told him he wrote such a good letter, he said ‘What letter?’ Timothy Deaconson said Friday, recalling the phone conversation he had with his son, Nick . . . at a hospital where he was recovering from a grenade explosion that left shrapnel in both legs.” Now if ever there was shabby practice, this is an example. The letter from Pfc Nick Deaconson didn’t mention any injuries to anyone. The reason, of course, is that Nick hadn’t written the letter. Sergeant Christopher Shelton whose identical letter was published in the Snohomish Herald was surprised too, but when he was interviewed he said although he didn’t write the letter he agreed with it because “We’ve done a really good job.” Fair enough; but would Sergeant Shelton have sent the letter to Snohomish voters without being prodded to do so? It was, after all, written by his commanding officer, Lt-Colonel Dominic Caraccilo, who boasted about it to ABC news after the whole affair blew up.</p>
<p>The facts are there and can’t be denied : a sheet of propaganda was given to soldiers of the 503rd and they signed it and 500 were sent to hometown papers which reach thousands of voters. (Home town folks tend to revere the president — any president — and rarely question his doings because to their minds that would be unpatriotic. We are talking Flag, here, as well as votes. Norman Rockwell country loves First Family.) The soldiers who signed the propaganda sheet may well have agreed with the information they were provided, but they could neither add to it nor subtract from it. They could not give their own views about the casualties their unit had taken. We are, in fact, getting dangerously close to propaganda by omission of dissent ; the lowest form of obscurantism.</p>
<p>After the letters were placed before the soldiers and they added their signatures they were taken away and posted (at public expense?) to be read by recipients who were not their friends, neighbours or relatives, save by coincidence. The recipients were voters who may, in spite of instinctive respect for the White House, have formed their own opinions about the war on Iraq and its outcome. But through the medium of their trusty local newspaper they could be influenced by official propaganda disguised as personal — Joe Blow — opinion to alter their views. If you live in Kokomo, which do you trust : The New York Times? (the whut?) or the Kokomo Courier Despatch that carries letters from hometown boys serving their courageous commander-in-chief in Iraq?</p>
<p>Which brings us to the latest Bush initiative of appointing a task force to supervise “Communications” concerning Iraq in his new anti-Pentagon ‘Iraq Stabilization Group’. This bunch of propaganda apparatchiks will control the media approach of the White House in election mode. As reported by Associated Press, Bush declared “There’s a sense that people in America aren’t getting the truth . . . I’m mindful of the filter through which some news travels, and sometimes you just have to go over the heads of the filter and speak directly to the people.” Just like Lt-Colonel Caraccilo, who is obviously destined for higher things, Bush is determined to show that his war worked. In their different ways, both are deceitful, but at least Caraccilo probably believed in what he was doing. But Joe Blow of Kokomo doesn’t benefit one bit from this affair — and he won’t, either, from the Bush assault on truth that is only just about to begin.</p>
<p>BRIAN CLOUGHLEY writes about defense issues for CounterPunch, the Nation (Pakistan), the Daily Times of Pakistan and other international publications. His writings are collected on his website: <a href="http://www.briancloughley.com/" type="external">www.briancloughley.com</a>.</p>
<p>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | book dont go near water william brinkley described hilarious adventures us navy public relations unit pacific towards end second world war unit led one use word ltcommander clinton marblehead nash commissioned directly brokerage office without corrupting influence intervening naval training marblehead moments conjured idea sending hometown newspapers lots pieces sailors enormous pacific fleet fiery enthusiasm planned get story event mimeograph simply fill mans name ships roster like blank blank blank aboard uss missouri recently ships sixteeninchers disabled yokahama fire back guys hometown paper visualize missouri alone 2700 men aboard anytime anything anything atall would automatically mean 2700 stories papers states millions stories us thousands tanktown papers us thinking big joe blow kokomo people want hear fact wasnt bad idea although things get bit hand marblehead merry men technique attractions problem distinct dividing line news propaganda fatal truth try merge one line crossed leapt across indeed mindbenders us forces iraq content blank blank blank hometown news something unit done far seems want convince hometown folks america us policy iraq fine dandy implication least bunch sourfaced left wing liberal peacenik internationalists say things catastrophic new marbleheads great idea would splendid made known joe blow kokomo quality life security citizens largely restored large part happened area kirkuk occupied second battalion 503rd airborne infantry regiment nobody objection letter containing positive sentiments sent hometown newspaper providing course composed person signed joe blow letter continued fruits soldiers efforts clearly visible streets kirkuk today proud work iraq hope readers well great stuff freedom speech means joe blow 503rd write kokomo local paper say things working iraq bush says sort thing isnt quite wrote home cyprus borneo vietnam active service troubled places reflecting letters survived find main themes brigade hq staffed bunch incompetent dickwits local authorities corrupt food lousy equipment inferior possessed poorlyendowed boy scout troop enemy fighting quite well generals politicians certifiable cretins local population except borneo welcomed delightful people thought damn pest worse would roared laughter us joe blows written newspaper home saying proud work joke would perhaps things changed problem enthusiastic joe blow letter 503rd much content origin revealed gannet news service investigated appearance identical joe blow letters eleven far local newspapers around us editors sniffed rat refused publish regarded form letter undoubtedly others happy took face value according gannett deserves award exposing tawdry little scheme one soldier didnt know letter father congratulated getting published local newspaper beckley west virginia told wrote good letter said letter timothy deaconson said friday recalling phone conversation son nick hospital recovering grenade explosion left shrapnel legs ever shabby practice example letter pfc nick deaconson didnt mention injuries anyone reason course nick hadnt written letter sergeant christopher shelton whose identical letter published snohomish herald surprised interviewed said although didnt write letter agreed weve done really good job fair enough would sergeant shelton sent letter snohomish voters without prodded written commanding officer ltcolonel dominic caraccilo boasted abc news whole affair blew facts cant denied sheet propaganda given soldiers 503rd signed 500 sent hometown papers reach thousands voters home town folks tend revere president president rarely question doings minds would unpatriotic talking flag well votes norman rockwell country loves first family soldiers signed propaganda sheet may well agreed information provided could neither add subtract could give views casualties unit taken fact getting dangerously close propaganda omission dissent lowest form obscurantism letters placed soldiers added signatures taken away posted public expense read recipients friends neighbours relatives save coincidence recipients voters may spite instinctive respect white house formed opinions war iraq outcome medium trusty local newspaper could influenced official propaganda disguised personal joe blow opinion alter views live kokomo trust new york times whut kokomo courier despatch carries letters hometown boys serving courageous commanderinchief iraq brings us latest bush initiative appointing task force supervise communications concerning iraq new antipentagon iraq stabilization group bunch propaganda apparatchiks control media approach white house election mode reported associated press bush declared theres sense people america arent getting truth im mindful filter news travels sometimes go heads filter speak directly people like ltcolonel caraccilo obviously destined higher things bush determined show war worked different ways deceitful least caraccilo probably believed joe blow kokomo doesnt benefit one bit affair wont either bush assault truth begin brian cloughley writes defense issues counterpunch nation pakistan daily times pakistan international publications writings collected website wwwbriancloughleycom reached beecluffaolcom 160 | 715 |
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<p>There is something going on in Montana. Call it neo-populism. Last November, Montanans voted in favor of medical marijuana and shot down an initiative that would have returned open-pit, cyanide heap-leach mining to the state. Mining companies put up millions to raise support for the bill, but Montanans didn’t bite. The barons were defeated.</p>
<p>Montanans also forced Republican Gov. Judy Martz from office. She had a horrible record and her popularity plummeted in the waning months of her tenure. In fact, Martz was so hated that she decided not to run for reelection. Instead of replacing Martz with another conservative, Montanans opted to elect Brian Schweitzer, a wealthy cattle rancher from the state. Schweitzer is fast becoming recognized as a prototype of the leadership the Democratic establishment is looking for. Indeed, Democrats could learn a few things from Schweitzer. He’s vocal. He isn’t fond of Bush’s Iraq venture, insisting that National Guard troops ought to return immediately and he lets us know it. He thinks Bush’s war on Social Security is also bogus. He is working hard to put money back into the pockets of Montana farmers and has a consistent record of speaking out against neoliberal trade agreements. Besides, he’s said he thinks Washington is blatantly corrupt.</p>
<p>“If I stay in Washington for more than 72 hours,” Schweitzer said after a recent visit, “I have to bathe myself in the same stuff I use when my dog gets into a fight with a skunk.”</p>
<p>This doesn’t mean Schweitzer is a radical by any means. He’s got a long way to go before Trotsky enthusiasts will ever embrace him. Indeed, progressives and others in Montana should continue to pressure Schweitzer to adopt the issues they believe in.</p>
<p>That is how victory is won.</p>
<p>This leads us to an upcoming battle that may be of interest to those looking for a winning formula out West. On the heels of Schweitzer’s soaring popularity, there is a Senatorial campaign that we ought to keep an eye on over the course of the next year. Republican Conrad Burns, a Washington good-old boy in the most disgraceful meaning of the term, is up for reelection. And it’s time he went down.</p>
<p>Unlike Montana’s ex-governor Judy Martz, however, Burns’ poll numbers are steady, and the upcoming election is going to be tight no matter who gets the nod on the opposing side. Currently there are four Democrats hoping to challenge Burns next year, Paul Richards, Jon Tester, John Morrison and Clint Wilkes.</p>
<p>Richards is by far the most progressive of the lot: he supports gay marriage, universal healthcare, wants troops out of Iraq now and is an organic farmer to boot. The most prominent Democrat hoping for the nomination is State Auditor John Morrison. But there is nothing exciting about Morrison, save his “iron-clad” support for Social Security. Other than that he hasn’t come out in favor or opposition of, well, anything really. Clint Wilkes is a moderate ala John Kerry, so he’s not worth the energy. This brings us to Jon Tester, a Schweitzer Democrat who might just have the right formula to tap into the populist undertones rumbling across the vast Big Sky. Note: “might”.</p>
<p>Tester, a Montana State Senator and an organic farmer, was recently embraced by Seattle’s infamous rock band Pearl Jam, whose bassist Jeff Ament grew up in Big Sandy, near Tester’s family plot. PJ packed the Adams Center in Missoula, Montana on August 29 to help raise money for Tester’s campaign. It was a huge success. Almost 5,000 fans attended paying over $40 a ticket. But perhaps the larger significance is that Pearl Jam has a reputation for progressive politics.</p>
<p>Back in 2000, Ed Vedder, Pearl Jam’s grouly front man, played numerous concerts for Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader. Vedder is an advocate against the death penalty, he’s critical of the IMF and WTO, and during the lead up to war in Iraq his band was on the front-lines denouncing Bush’s dubious war, even impaling a Bush mask while singing their anti-W hit “Bushleaguer” in Denver, Colorado. But like so many other former Nader supporters, Vedder and his band mates curbed their anti-war sentiments in 2004 to support John Kerry’s pro-war campaign.</p>
<p>PJ guitarist Stone Gossard explained his rationale to Alternet: “Ralph [Nader] was proven wrong, in terms of ‘There’s no difference between the candidates.’ I don’t think we’d be in Iraq if Al Gore was president.”</p>
<p>Sure, Gossard was misinformed. Bill Clinton bombed Iraq, signed the Iraq Liberation Act and imposed murderous sanctions through the UN. Unfortunately, Al Gore supported all of the above. So to say that Gore wouldn’t have invaded Iraq is wishful thinking. But this was the effect of ABB. Reality didn’t matter.</p>
<p>So even though Pearl Jam opposes the war, there is no guarantee that their man Jon Tester does. Tester has yet to intimate a coherent position on Iraq – good or bad. Does he want to pro-long the occupation? Or does he want troops out now? He won’t say. So folks in Montana should demand an answer immediately. Was Pearl Jam’s support for Tester, like their support for Kerry, unconditional? If so, that’s the worst move they could have made. Demanding nothing of a candidate ensures they’ll get nothing in return. But maybe Pearl Jam did demand something of Tester in return for their support. One can only hope.</p>
<p>If Tester is to learn anything from Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, he better realize that in order to win, he has to shoot it straight with the Montana public. He can’t be wishy-washy. Tester has to take a position, no matter how unpopular it may be, and stand behind it through thick and thin. And even though Republican Conrad Burns deserves the boot, progressives and other activists should learn from 2004 and stick to their causes, no matter how much they hate the guy. They should press Tester, or whoever is nominated on the Democratic side, to oppose the war. Montanans will respect and elect him for his courage.</p>
<p>That’s how the West will be won.</p>
<p>JOSHUA FRANK is the author of the brand new book, <a href="http://www.brickburner.org/" type="external">Left Out!: How Liberals Helped Reelect George W. Bush</a>, which has just been published by Common Courage Press. You can order a copy at a discounted rate at <a href="http://www.brickburner.org/" type="external">www.brickburner.org</a>. Joshua can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>CLARIFICATION</p>
<p>ALEXANDER COCKBURN, JEFFREY ST CLAIR, BECKY GRANT AND THE INSTITUTE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF JOURNALISTIC CLARITY, COUNTERPUNCH</p>
<p>We published an article entitled “A Saudiless Arabia” by Wayne Madsen dated October 22, 2002 (the “Article”), on the website of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalistic Clarity, CounterPunch, www.counterpunch.org (the “Website”).</p>
<p>Although it was not our intention, counsel for Mohammed Hussein Al Amoudi has advised us the Article suggests, or could be read as suggesting, that Mr Al Amoudi has funded, supported, or is in some way associated with, the terrorist activities of Osama bin Laden and the Al Qaeda terrorist network.</p>
<p>We do not have any evidence connecting Mr Al Amoudi with terrorism.</p>
<p>As a result of an exchange of communications with Mr Al Amoudi’s lawyers, we have removed the Article from the Website.</p>
<p>We are pleased to clarify the position.</p>
<p>August 17, 2005</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 something going montana call neopopulism last november montanans voted favor medical marijuana shot initiative would returned openpit cyanide heapleach mining state mining companies put millions raise support bill montanans didnt bite barons defeated montanans also forced republican gov judy martz office horrible record popularity plummeted waning months tenure fact martz hated decided run reelection instead replacing martz another conservative montanans opted elect brian schweitzer wealthy cattle rancher state schweitzer fast becoming recognized prototype leadership democratic establishment looking indeed democrats could learn things schweitzer hes vocal isnt fond bushs iraq venture insisting national guard troops ought return immediately lets us know thinks bushs war social security also bogus working hard put money back pockets montana farmers consistent record speaking neoliberal trade agreements besides hes said thinks washington blatantly corrupt stay washington 72 hours schweitzer said recent visit bathe stuff use dog gets fight skunk doesnt mean schweitzer radical means hes got long way go trotsky enthusiasts ever embrace indeed progressives others montana continue pressure schweitzer adopt issues believe victory leads us upcoming battle may interest looking winning formula west heels schweitzers soaring popularity senatorial campaign ought keep eye course next year republican conrad burns washington goodold boy disgraceful meaning term reelection time went unlike montanas exgovernor judy martz however burns poll numbers steady upcoming election going tight matter gets nod opposing side currently four democrats hoping challenge burns next year paul richards jon tester john morrison clint wilkes richards far progressive lot supports gay marriage universal healthcare wants troops iraq organic farmer boot prominent democrat hoping nomination state auditor john morrison nothing exciting morrison save ironclad support social security hasnt come favor opposition well anything really clint wilkes moderate ala john kerry hes worth energy brings us jon tester schweitzer democrat might right formula tap populist undertones rumbling across vast big sky note might tester montana state senator organic farmer recently embraced seattles infamous rock band pearl jam whose bassist jeff ament grew big sandy near testers family plot pj packed adams center missoula montana august 29 help raise money testers campaign huge success almost 5000 fans attended paying 40 ticket perhaps larger significance pearl jam reputation progressive politics back 2000 ed vedder pearl jams grouly front man played numerous concerts green party presidential candidate ralph nader vedder advocate death penalty hes critical imf wto lead war iraq band frontlines denouncing bushs dubious war even impaling bush mask singing antiw hit bushleaguer denver colorado like many former nader supporters vedder band mates curbed antiwar sentiments 2004 support john kerrys prowar campaign pj guitarist stone gossard explained rationale alternet ralph nader proven wrong terms theres difference candidates dont think wed iraq al gore president sure gossard misinformed bill clinton bombed iraq signed iraq liberation act imposed murderous sanctions un unfortunately al gore supported say gore wouldnt invaded iraq wishful thinking effect abb reality didnt matter even though pearl jam opposes war guarantee man jon tester tester yet intimate coherent position iraq good bad want prolong occupation want troops wont say folks montana demand answer immediately pearl jams support tester like support kerry unconditional thats worst move could made demanding nothing candidate ensures theyll get nothing return maybe pearl jam demand something tester return support one hope tester learn anything montana governor brian schweitzer better realize order win shoot straight montana public cant wishywashy tester take position matter unpopular may stand behind thick thin even though republican conrad burns deserves boot progressives activists learn 2004 stick causes matter much hate guy press tester whoever nominated democratic side oppose war montanans respect elect courage thats west joshua frank author brand new book left liberals helped reelect george w bush published common courage press order copy discounted rate wwwbrickburnerorg joshua reached joshuabrickburnerorg 160 160 160 clarification alexander cockburn jeffrey st clair becky grant institute advancement journalistic clarity counterpunch published article entitled saudiless arabia wayne madsen dated october 22 2002 article website institute advancement journalistic clarity counterpunch wwwcounterpunchorg website although intention counsel mohammed hussein al amoudi advised us article suggests could read suggesting mr al amoudi funded supported way associated terrorist activities osama bin laden al qaeda terrorist network evidence connecting mr al amoudi terrorism result exchange communications mr al amoudis lawyers removed article website pleased clarify position august 17 2005 160 | 707 |
<p>In which the author, exclusively for CounterPunch, goes by train but also by ferry, bicycle, plane, and one rental car from Nairobi, Kenya, to Pretoria and Johannesburg, South Africa. This is Part I—from Jeddah on the Red Sea to Nairobi.</p>
<p>I am sitting on the terrace of the Mombasa Yacht Club, drinking a Tusker beer (it’s the local favorite), and looking out at a number of tramp steamers swinging on their anchors in Kilindini Harbour.</p>
<p>The ship closest to the yacht club jetty is a rusting hulk, and might well have ferried Marlow up the Congo River so that he could touch base with Mr. Kurtz, except that the Conradian river is on the opposite side of the continent. Mombasa is a port on the Indian Ocean.</p>
<p>While the yacht club is an ex-pat oasis (famous for its chicken sandwiches and vegetable curry), as a city Mombasa is a moving atom of tuk-tuks, container trucks, sooty buses, muezzins, and pickpockets—the reason that I talked my way into the club, citing as precedent my summer membership in a small boat club on the coast of Maine. Conrad might have done the same.</p>
<p>Although my decision to head “up river” was last minute—I found a roundtrip air ticket on Saudia Airlines for $260—I have been thinking about Africa for most of my adult life, without, however, doing much in the way of due diligence.</p>
<p>Ten years ago I took my family on the overnight train from Cairo to Aswan, and then we floated back toward Cairo on a felucca, spending our nights in the cold desert air as if a pack of wild dogs, huddling together for warmth. In the 1980s, my wife and I took our honeymoon in South Africa, during which I traded several magazine stories about apartheid and the author Alan Paton for our air tickets.</p>
<p>The rest of Africa has remained for me, at best, a literary illusion. I read the Hemingway big-game short stories in high school and college, and in the 1980s I paid my obeisance to Robert Redford and Meryl Streep by going to see the film Out of Africa (two hours and forty-one minutes of product placement ads for Banana Republic).</p>
<p>Otherwise, all I knew about the continent was what I read in the New York Times or watched on evening television—and none of that was good news. Depending on the day in question, I thought of Africa either as an al-Qaeda training camp, an impending famine, or a breeding ground for AIDS and corruption. I never troubled much with the facts on the ground.</p>
<p>Because Africa is so large and so difficult to move around, I hardly knew where to start. I was tempted to begin in Senegal, in French West Africa, but the airfares and hotels struck me as expensive. I also thought of Ghana, as the man who looked after my father at the end of his life was from Accra, and I admired his genial humor and gentle disposition, especially in the face of death. (He was also a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, but that had nothing to do with post-colonial Africa.)</p>
<p>In the end, I decided to take the plunge in Nairobi, as from there I could catch the new Chinese-built express train to Mombasa, and make further connections to Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe by ferries, trains, buses, and the odd flight.</p>
<p>Along the way, I might encounter more than a few hearts of darkness, but I could put some concrete images to my readings, at least those histories I jammed on to my Kindle.</p>
<p>I would have loved to travel with my folding bike, which serves me so well in Europe and, sometimes, in American cities (Indianapolis is great on a bike). But after watching YouTube scenes of Kenyan street traffic, I decided to leave the bicycle behind, much the way Mr. Kurtz dispensed with humanity when he went up his own river.</p>
<p>To Saudi Arabia: Caviar is King</p>
<p>Just booking a ticket on Saudi Airlines—it’s the airline of the House of Saud—was fraught with complications. It turned out that my $260 fare would only work if my layover in Jeddah was less than twelve hours. Anything more than that and, even if I didn’t plan to leave the lounge, I would need a transit visa. And here was the catch: Saudi Arabia doesn’t issue them to infidels.</p>
<p>I found a Saudi office in Geneva (where I live), and presented my $260 case for Nairobi, with a return ticket from Johannesburg. The officer on the desk said I could not travel on those dates, as it would involve a 14-hour layover, and, not even the pledge of a side trip to Mecca or Medina would put me on the side of the holy men.</p>
<p>In the end, I found other dates with tighter connections and pushed the Purchase Now button on Priceline’s website, not sure why the discounter has such sweetheart deals with the official carrier of 9/11.</p>
<p>The flight left Geneva late on a Friday afternoon—normally a holy day—but apparently, Saudis in Switzerland can get away with skipping some of the commandments, at least if shopping is involved.</p>
<p>I was given a window seat at the back of a large Airbus, next to a man and his extended family who were carrying a number of shopping bags that I recognized as having come from Caviar House—a fish and chip emporium for the smart set in Geneva.</p>
<p>Shortly after takeoff, my seat mate began badgering the stewardesses—not for the coordinates of Mecca or her phone number—but to put his caviar in the plane’s refrigerator. Crew meetings were held, senior pursers were consulted, and even a relief pilot came back to discuss the matter.</p>
<p>In the end, the airline said it could not accept a passenger’s private caviar collection into its coolers, but—this was Saudi after all, a magic carpet with frequent flyer alliances—the crew did agree to drop off regularly bags of ice on the five-hour flight to the Red Sea.</p>
<p>I guess it could have been worse. As these negotiations were ongoing, I remembered reading about an earlier Saudi flight on which some pilgrims at the back of the plane lit up a hibachi and began grilling a goat—until that cookout consigned everyone on board to eternity.</p>
<p>Knowing that I faced a ten-hour layover, I had done my homework on King Abdulaziz International Airport. Believe it or not, there is an entire website dedicated to “sleeping in airports.” Who knew? From that link, I had learned that King Abdelaziz has often placed last in the rankings of global airports.</p>
<p>The site’s chat rooms compared its waiting rooms to cattle cars, and implied—to use an expression that my father liked—that the restrooms might “turn the stomach of a vulture.” Where were all those oil billions when it came time to upgrade the transit lounges at King Abdulaziz?</p>
<p>Overnight in Jeddah: Allah’s Transit Lounge</p>
<p>I did love the approach over the Red Sea into Jeddah, even though it was dark when we landed. The plane reached Arabia around Yenbo, the port where in 1916 T.E. Lawrence had come ashore with a small advance party—to ally Britain, he hoped, with various Arabian tribes.</p>
<p>He writes in Seven Pillars of Wisdom about how Yenbo was a turning point in the desert wars:</p>
<p>Afterwards, old Dakhil Allah told me he had guided the Turks down to rush Yenbo in the dark that they might stamp out Feisal’s army once for all; but their hearts had failed them at the silence and the blaze of lighted ships from end to end of the harbour, with the eerie beams of the searchlights revealing the bleakness of the glacis they would have to cross. So they turned back: and that night, I believe, the Turks lost their war.</p>
<p>The plane skirted the Saudi coastline down to Jeddah, which like Geneva has a “jet d’eau” (a tall spout of water) to mark its harbor. The rest of the city was a rushing stream of street and car lights, which all ran together as if part of a modernist photograph. Even from 5000 feet, I got the impression that Jeddah is one of those Arabian cities where there are traffic jams at two in the morning (I found similar conditions in Oman).</p>
<p>The transit facilities at the airport, however, were less impressive. I collected a transit card from a cheerful Indian man at an airport desk, and lined up for yet another security checkpoint, although this one had segregated screeners for men and women.</p>
<p>Even though the pat-downs took forever, I got the feeling that security at King Abdulaziz is consistent with Saudi Arabia being an official sponsor in the wars of terror.</p>
<p>No one bothered to check laptops or other electronics, and at one point I saw a Western women take scuba gear from her carry-on backpack—a mask and respirator—which prompted only shrugs among the guards (even when she put the mask on her head, as if getting ready for a Sea Hunt episode in an airport fountain).</p>
<p>Past security, I figured out why the King Abdulaziz gets the low marks that it does from “sleeping in airports.” Transit passengers were literally everywhere, especially up and down the aisles of the duty-free shop. (It had room to spare, as, without alcohol on the shelves, the inventory is mostly Snickers and M &amp; Ms.)</p>
<p>In the main departure hall, banks of metal-backed chairs were chock full of passengers in all manner of positions, such that it was hard to distinguish those who were jet lagged from those performing their ablutions. In fact, when I went into the men’s room, I discovered a fellow traveler washing his feet in one of the sinks.</p>
<p>Even though my ticket was “super economy,” I tried to talk my way into the Al-Fursan Golden Lounge. Thirty dollars might have done the trick, and the agent at the front desk was open to incentive compensation. Then he explained that the lounge limited layovers to six hours and that the earliest I could check in was 1:00, still several hours away.</p>
<p>In the end, as a convert to the cause of a good night’s sleep, I found a comfortable corner in the airport prayer room, Allah’s transit lounge. The duty-free mosque wasn’t very crowded, and I judged the zeal of the pilgrims from the fact that several of the faithful were speaking on their cell phones while others were curled up and sound asleep. I figured no one would challenge my faith, and around 23:00 I stretched out near one of the walls, using my briefcase as a pillow.</p>
<p>I dozed and listened to podcasts (I can’t imagine other pilgrims were tuned into Dan Hanzus on Around the NFL) until 5:00 when there was a serious call to prayers. Suddenly my fraternity sleeping porch took on qualities of the hajj, and I decided to move my encampment to the Kit Kat aisle of the duty-free shop.</p>
<p>Nairobi: A Witches’ Brew of Tribalism, Colonialism, and Corporatism</p>
<p>For much of the flight from Jeddah to Nairobi, I dozed or read my book, Tod Hoffman’s <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/161168546X/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Al Qaeda Declares War</a>, a history of the 1998 attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, part of Osama bin Laden’s coming out party.</p>
<p>The plane flew over some of the bleakest landscape in the world—the deserts and barren landscapes of Eritrea, Ethiopia, and northern Kenya. Between cloud cover and my nodding, I saw little on the ground until the flight banked over the Ngong Hills (just outside Nairobi) and landed to the east.</p>
<p>I have given up traveling with guidebooks; I hate their language and I hate running into other travelers who are open to the same pages. I find novels and histories cover the material that interests me, and to navigate locally I rely on the kindness of strangers, some Internet Googling, and my collection of paper maps, which includes an atlas of mass transit systems around the world. But even I could not miss the warnings about Nairobi—that it was a den of thieves, often called Nairobbery, doubling as a major city.</p>
<p>When I bought my visa on arrival, the kindly immigration agent quizzed me on my travel plans, deduced I was a mugging waiting to happen, and implored me to give up the idea of “the airport bus into town” and take a taxi. I could hear my wife’s voice in her pleadings, which is why I gave in to reason when a baggage handler near the carousel whispered: “I know a driver.”</p>
<p>It turned out he was fronting for a limousine company and for $20 I rode into Nairobi in a late model sedan (ashamed that I was losing what my children call “road status”—the idea being that the worse the trip, the more status points you collect).</p>
<p>On a Saturday afternoon, Nairobi was largely free of rush-hour traffic, but still many of the streets were clogged, and exhaust poured into my open rear window. (For air conditioning, you need more than a voucher.)</p>
<p>The suburbs were a collage of Maasai shepherds herding cattle in the median strip and fairly new office buildings. Yes, Nairobi has palm trees and a pleasant equatorial climate (thanks to the elevation). It is also one of the capitals of underdevelopment, a megalopolis in which many major roads are limited to two lanes and where squatters and piles of garbage can be seen in the shadows of newly minted five-star hotels.</p>
<p>I was prepared not to like Nairobi, but despite the traffic, noise, crime rate, and corruption there is a generosity of the city and its people that is difficult to dismiss. I also appreciate the country’s literary tradition—more than its political history, a witches’ brew of tribalism, colonialism, and corporatism.</p>
<p>My hotel was the Anglican Guest House of Kenya, which I chose because it was in a good location, promised me breakfast and dinner (you don’t wander around Nairobi at night, unless you are Charles Bronson with a death wish), and showed pictures on the Internet of earnest co-religionists having tea on the verandah.</p>
<p>In truth, I would rather take the risk of some proselytizing than spend time in a Hilton with Bob from accounting.</p>
<p>Around Nairobi: Al Qaeda Declares War</p>
<p>Whenever I am new to a city, I head to the railroad station, which in many parts of the world proves a lost cause. Nairobi follows that example.</p>
<p>From the hotel, it was a short taxi ride to what is called the “old station,” which is located just south of the Central Business District, next to a bus and minivan hunting ground that must be among Africa’s worst.</p>
<p>The old station was padlocked. The only way I could look at some of the trains in the yards was to climb the stairs of a walkway that overlooked the tracks. Not many trainspotters are drawn to Nairobi, although by luck I did see a sign for the Railway Museum, and there walked among the ruins of Africa’s age of steam engines.</p>
<p>Railroads came to East Africa about the turn of the twentieth century, and the golden route, in Kenya anyway, was from the port of Mombasa, where the European liners docked, to Lake Victoria and the colonial lands that now make up Uganda.</p>
<p>In the early days, train passengers rode on a ferry from Kisumu (in Kenya, not far from Barack Obama’s village of Kogelo) to Entebbe, the lake port for Kampala and where Israeli commandos blew away those hijackers.</p>
<p>Over the years, the railroads changed engines and shareholders. There was a Kenya Uganda Railway and the East Africa Railroad. But they served the interests of colonial exploitation more than local transportation, and after Kenya became independent in December 1963, the railroads began their long decline into irrelevance, with service being pulled from around the country, until now, when there is only one intercity train left—the Chinese-built express that connects Nairobi to Mombasa. The terminal is located in the Nairobi suburbs near the airport, which explains why during much of the day a padlock is on the doors of the old railroad station.</p>
<p>From the railway museum—it has steam engines and cars that were used in the filming of Out of Africa—I only had to ride a short distance to what remains of the U.S. embassy that was bombed on August 7, 1998, an al-Qaeda attack that killed more than 200 Kenyans and Americans, and wounded thousands.</p>
<p>In those days, the American embassy was on a roundabout in center city. Two attackers, driving a van filled with home-made explosives (of the Oklahoma City variety), drove into a U-shaped alley. Their plan was to kill the guard and drive the explosive van into the parking garage that was underneath the American embassy.</p>
<p>An embassy guard, however, sensed trouble from the van—suspicion is second-nature in Nairobi. (As quoted by Hoffman, he said later, “I just feel something in my blood that the van was unusual.”) While he sounded the alarm, the terrorists exploded their payload in the courtyard. Somehow, by diving to the ground, the guard survived.</p>
<p>The truck bomb badly damaged the U.S. embassy and a bank building opposite it, but it literally destroyed a multi-story Nairobi office building that was next door, accounting for most of the casualties. Hoffman writes:</p>
<p>In all, the explosion unleashed by Azzam claimed 213 innocent people, some torn apart by the massive blast or consumed in its fire, some shredded by spears of glass and blades of metal propelled from the embassy and surrounding buildings. Others were crushed beneath tons of concrete and other debris loosed by the bomb. More than four thousand five hundred were wounded, many grievously, losing eyes and limbs. Skin melted in pools like wax, cartilage and muscle fused, bones crackled. Blood everywhere.</p>
<p>At the same time, a second truck bomb was exploded in front of the U.S. embassy in Dar es Salaam, the capital of Tanzania, which is south of Kenya. The two attacks were attributed to a shadowy group called al-Qaeda, with which few in the U.S. government were then familiar.</p>
<p>Hoffman describes the origins of the so-called war on terror in local terms. He writes: “The arrival of the Americans in Somalia in December 1992 gave credence to al Qaeda’s suspicion over their broader motives in the Gulf, where they remained in force even after Saddam retreated. It seemed to them to be the second claw of a pincer movement to occupy the Arabian Peninsula.”</p>
<p>As a result of the bombings, Osama bin Laden became a household name, even if the Clinton administration could not connect dots between the embassy bombings and the group’s more significant plans to launch attacks against “the American homeland.”</p>
<p>The old U.S. embassy in Nairobi was torn down after the attack. In its place, there is a reflective garden dedicated to those who lost their lives and, behind it, a small museum that has a lot of pictures of Bill Clinton looking pensive and stern, although Monica’s dress, which blew up at the same time, might have accounted for his solemnity.</p>
<p>In the theater of the museum, I watched a video recreation of the attack and heard a number of FBI agents (who were deployed to Africa) analyze the crime scene.</p>
<p>That the attack happened in Africa, as opposed, say, to Las Vegas, was a detail largely lost on federal investigators, who sifted bomb evidence and arrested suspects as though all the world is the FBI’s oyster and U.S. law has jurisdiction across the Great Rift Valley.</p>
<p>From the video’s conclusion, I came away with the impression that the case against bin Laden and al-Qaeda was “closed” even before Clinton left office, especially after the president ordered a few Tomahawk missiles to be dropped down the chimney of a bin Laden pharmaceutical company in Sudan.</p>
<p>Later, back at the Anglican guest house, I finished reading Al Qaeda Declares War, in which Hoffman makes the connection between the two embassy attacks and September 11, which happened three years later. He concludes:</p>
<p>Indeed, the embassy bombings gave three years’ warning, the Cole attack one year, that al Qaeda was hell-bent on carrying out its fatwa against America and Americans. As Gary Berntsen, the CIA officer who led the Clandestine Service’s efforts to kill bin Laden at Tora Bora in late 2001, wrote, “rarely in history has a great power like ours received two such warnings and failed to act to defend itself.”</p>
<p>Hoffman’s thesis is that the American response failed to understand the coming danger because, in those days, officials in the State and Justice departments still had copies of the Constitution in their desk drawers, and its prissy doctrines got in the way of ordering a hit on bin Laden or his brethren, as if they enjoyed civil protection from something like the ACLU.</p>
<p>Hoffman quotes the British journalist, William Shawcross, who said of the defense trials of those rounded up for the embassy bombings: “They seemed to be asserting a constitutional right not to be caught while conspiring to commit murder.”</p>
<p>The Tomahawk missiles are viewed more as a sound-and-light show for domestic consumption rather than the work of a terrier to dig the rat out of his hole.</p>
<p>Kenya’s Reign of Terror: The Front Lines</p>
<p>Wandering around the August 7th Memorial Park and museum, I thought a lot about Kenya’s fate on the front lines of terror. The United States would like to believe that it is the only victim of random political violence, but the number of atrocities on Kenyan soil is daunting.</p>
<p>Here’s a short list of other attacks in Kenya:</p>
<p>—In 2013, two terrorists seized the Westgate Shopping Mall, the most upscale such center in Nairobi, and killed more than 60 civilians who were out doing errands.</p>
<p>—In 2002, stinger missiles were fired in Mombasa at an Israeli charter flight operated by Arkia Airlines. Fortunately, they missed the target.</p>
<p>—At the same moment, suicide bombers blew up a hotel on the Mombasa coast (north of the city) that was popular with Israelis, killing 13 and wounding more than 80 persons (both Israelis and Kenyans).</p>
<p>—On the coast around the old world settlement of Lamu—a popular Kenya resort—al-Shabaab operatives from Somalia routinely kidnap and sometimes kill unsuspecting tourists who think only that they have signed up for a beach holiday. In one attack in 2014, some 48 Kenyans were killed in a direct attack against a police station.</p>
<p>—Between 2011 and 2014, when Kenyan forces were engaged inside Somalia, there were literally dozens of bombings and assassinations around Nairobi—too many to list here. It’s a roster of killings not unlike the mass shootings that take place every week around the United States, although in these cases, the attacks are politically motived—to force Kenya out of Somalia.</p>
<p>In this context, the suicide bombing of the U.S. embassy in Nairobi, while horrific, was just one attack of many that have turned Kenya into one of the most fortified nations in the world. In most the cases the suspected terrorists are al- Shabaab, an al-Qaeda spin-off across the border in Somalia.</p>
<p>Every hotel, every public space, has armed guards, security checkpoints, and scanners for detecting guns or bombs. Admittedly, some of the scanners look like those at the Bucharest airport in the 1970s, but still they are on guard, lending Nairobi the air of an armed encampment.</p>
<p>America Under Siege: Innocents Abroad</p>
<p>The reasons that bin Laden financed the terror against the U.S. embassies was that U.S. troops (under George H.W. Bush) had been fighting Muslim warlords in Somalia (General Aidid among them) and that he believed that American forces were propping up the corrupt Saudi regime.</p>
<p>Hoffman writes about bin Laden in his history of al-Qaeda in East Africa:</p>
<p>He watched with horror as tens of thousands of American troops—men, women, Christians, and Jews—swarmed into the Arabian Peninsula—the land Mohammed specifically designated as off limits to infidels—for Operation Desert Shield beginning August 7, 1991. He was humiliated by the implication that Americans were better qualified to defend Muslim land than he was, lamenting that Saudi Arabia “has become an American colony,” and declaring, “Never has Islam suffered a greater disaster than this invasion.”</p>
<p>My problem with the Hoffman book is that it reads like The FBI Story, a boy’s book about the daring-do of J. Edgar Hoover and his G-men. In this case they are not in the manhunt for “Baby Face” Nelson, but sifting rubble in Nairobi to ferret out the truth about “the first man of terror” (not unlike those mummies occasionally unearthed in the Rift Valley).</p>
<p>By the time that bin Laden dispatched his kamikaze trucks to the two U.S. embassies, however, the United States had—almost since the 1956 Suez crisis—taken up the white man’s burden to fight endless wars of colonial restoration across the Middle East and Africa.</p>
<p>In the late 1950s, the U.S. had landed marines in Lebanon. In 1967, it had armed, and cheered on, Israel, in its battles for the Golan, Sinai, the West Bank, and, most significantly, Jerusalem.</p>
<p>In the 1970s and 80s, it had turned a blind eye toward Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza, stood by silently as Sabra and Shatila were overrun, shelled Lebanon from the battleship USS New Jersey, funded repressive regimes in Egypt and Saudi Arabia (among others), and acted as a merchant of death in favoring Iraq over Iran in their trench-and-gas warfare of the 1980s.</p>
<p>In the 1990s, the United States had troops scattered in dozens of bases and outposts from Morocco to Pakistan, and its troops had fought on the ground in Kuwait, much as it pilots were enforcing a no-fly zone over Iraq. Plus the U.S. was giving Israel $3 billion in military credits.</p>
<p>But when bid Laden attacked the embassies on August 7, 1998, the American reaction was that of a violated Belgian nun—complete shock and outrage that our innocence and virtue should be challenged.</p>
<p>Of bin Laden, Hofmann writes: “With each bloody triumph, he became more certain of divine approval. As an agent of Allah’s will, he absolved himself of any wrongdoing and felt justified in every ruthlessness.”</p>
<p>Up next: Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa, the death of Denys Finch Hatton, the Ngong Hills, Kenyan Election Violence, Westgate Mall and Terrorist Nairobi.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | author exclusively counterpunch goes train also ferry bicycle plane one rental car nairobi kenya pretoria johannesburg south africa part ifrom jeddah red sea nairobi sitting terrace mombasa yacht club drinking tusker beer local favorite looking number tramp steamers swinging anchors kilindini harbour ship closest yacht club jetty rusting hulk might well ferried marlow congo river could touch base mr kurtz except conradian river opposite side continent mombasa port indian ocean yacht club expat oasis famous chicken sandwiches vegetable curry city mombasa moving atom tuktuks container trucks sooty buses muezzins pickpocketsthe reason talked way club citing precedent summer membership small boat club coast maine conrad might done although decision head river last minutei found roundtrip air ticket saudia airlines 260i thinking africa adult life without however much way due diligence ten years ago took family overnight train cairo aswan floated back toward cairo felucca spending nights cold desert air pack wild dogs huddling together warmth 1980s wife took honeymoon south africa traded several magazine stories apartheid author alan paton air tickets rest africa remained best literary illusion read hemingway biggame short stories high school college 1980s paid obeisance robert redford meryl streep going see film africa two hours fortyone minutes product placement ads banana republic otherwise knew continent read new york times watched evening televisionand none good news depending day question thought africa either alqaeda training camp impending famine breeding ground aids corruption never troubled much facts ground africa large difficult move around hardly knew start tempted begin senegal french west africa airfares hotels struck expensive also thought ghana man looked father end life accra admired genial humor gentle disposition especially face death also fan baltimore ravens nothing postcolonial africa end decided take plunge nairobi could catch new chinesebuilt express train mombasa make connections tanzania zambia zimbabwe ferries trains buses odd flight along way might encounter hearts darkness could put concrete images readings least histories jammed kindle would loved travel folding bike serves well europe sometimes american cities indianapolis great bike watching youtube scenes kenyan street traffic decided leave bicycle behind much way mr kurtz dispensed humanity went river saudi arabia caviar king booking ticket saudi airlinesits airline house saudwas fraught complications turned 260 fare would work layover jeddah less twelve hours anything even didnt plan leave lounge would need transit visa catch saudi arabia doesnt issue infidels found saudi office geneva live presented 260 case nairobi return ticket johannesburg officer desk said could travel dates would involve 14hour layover even pledge side trip mecca medina would put side holy men end found dates tighter connections pushed purchase button pricelines website sure discounter sweetheart deals official carrier 911 flight left geneva late friday afternoonnormally holy daybut apparently saudis switzerland get away skipping commandments least shopping involved given window seat back large airbus next man extended family carrying number shopping bags recognized come caviar housea fish chip emporium smart set geneva shortly takeoff seat mate began badgering stewardessesnot coordinates mecca phone numberbut put caviar planes refrigerator crew meetings held senior pursers consulted even relief pilot came back discuss matter end airline said could accept passengers private caviar collection coolers butthis saudi magic carpet frequent flyer alliancesthe crew agree drop regularly bags ice fivehour flight red sea guess could worse negotiations ongoing remembered reading earlier saudi flight pilgrims back plane lit hibachi began grilling goatuntil cookout consigned everyone board eternity knowing faced tenhour layover done homework king abdulaziz international airport believe entire website dedicated sleeping airports knew link learned king abdelaziz often placed last rankings global airports sites chat rooms compared waiting rooms cattle cars impliedto use expression father likedthat restrooms might turn stomach vulture oil billions came time upgrade transit lounges king abdulaziz overnight jeddah allahs transit lounge love approach red sea jeddah even though dark landed plane reached arabia around yenbo port 1916 te lawrence come ashore small advance partyto ally britain hoped various arabian tribes writes seven pillars wisdom yenbo turning point desert wars afterwards old dakhil allah told guided turks rush yenbo dark might stamp feisals army hearts failed silence blaze lighted ships end end harbour eerie beams searchlights revealing bleakness glacis would cross turned back night believe turks lost war plane skirted saudi coastline jeddah like geneva jet deau tall spout water mark harbor rest city rushing stream street car lights ran together part modernist photograph even 5000 feet got impression jeddah one arabian cities traffic jams two morning found similar conditions oman transit facilities airport however less impressive collected transit card cheerful indian man airport desk lined yet another security checkpoint although one segregated screeners men women even though patdowns took forever got feeling security king abdulaziz consistent saudi arabia official sponsor wars terror one bothered check laptops electronics one point saw western women take scuba gear carryon backpacka mask respiratorwhich prompted shrugs among guards even put mask head getting ready sea hunt episode airport fountain past security figured king abdulaziz gets low marks sleeping airports transit passengers literally everywhere especially aisles dutyfree shop room spare without alcohol shelves inventory mostly snickers amp ms main departure hall banks metalbacked chairs chock full passengers manner positions hard distinguish jet lagged performing ablutions fact went mens room discovered fellow traveler washing feet one sinks even though ticket super economy tried talk way alfursan golden lounge thirty dollars might done trick agent front desk open incentive compensation explained lounge limited layovers six hours earliest could check 100 still several hours away end convert cause good nights sleep found comfortable corner airport prayer room allahs transit lounge dutyfree mosque wasnt crowded judged zeal pilgrims fact several faithful speaking cell phones others curled sound asleep figured one would challenge faith around 2300 stretched near one walls using briefcase pillow dozed listened podcasts cant imagine pilgrims tuned dan hanzus around nfl 500 serious call prayers suddenly fraternity sleeping porch took qualities hajj decided move encampment kit kat aisle dutyfree shop nairobi witches brew tribalism colonialism corporatism much flight jeddah nairobi dozed read book tod hoffmans al qaeda declares war history 1998 attacks us embassies kenya tanzania part osama bin ladens coming party plane flew bleakest landscape worldthe deserts barren landscapes eritrea ethiopia northern kenya cloud cover nodding saw little ground flight banked ngong hills outside nairobi landed east given traveling guidebooks hate language hate running travelers open pages find novels histories cover material interests navigate locally rely kindness strangers internet googling collection paper maps includes atlas mass transit systems around world even could miss warnings nairobithat den thieves often called nairobbery doubling major city bought visa arrival kindly immigration agent quizzed travel plans deduced mugging waiting happen implored give idea airport bus town take taxi could hear wifes voice pleadings gave reason baggage handler near carousel whispered know driver turned fronting limousine company 20 rode nairobi late model sedan ashamed losing children call road statusthe idea worse trip status points collect saturday afternoon nairobi largely free rushhour traffic still many streets clogged exhaust poured open rear window air conditioning need voucher suburbs collage maasai shepherds herding cattle median strip fairly new office buildings yes nairobi palm trees pleasant equatorial climate thanks elevation also one capitals underdevelopment megalopolis many major roads limited two lanes squatters piles garbage seen shadows newly minted fivestar hotels prepared like nairobi despite traffic noise crime rate corruption generosity city people difficult dismiss also appreciate countrys literary traditionmore political history witches brew tribalism colonialism corporatism hotel anglican guest house kenya chose good location promised breakfast dinner dont wander around nairobi night unless charles bronson death wish showed pictures internet earnest coreligionists tea verandah truth would rather take risk proselytizing spend time hilton bob accounting around nairobi al qaeda declares war whenever new city head railroad station many parts world proves lost cause nairobi follows example hotel short taxi ride called old station located south central business district next bus minivan hunting ground must among africas worst old station padlocked way could look trains yards climb stairs walkway overlooked tracks many trainspotters drawn nairobi although luck see sign railway museum walked among ruins africas age steam engines railroads came east africa turn twentieth century golden route kenya anyway port mombasa european liners docked lake victoria colonial lands make uganda early days train passengers rode ferry kisumu kenya far barack obamas village kogelo entebbe lake port kampala israeli commandos blew away hijackers years railroads changed engines shareholders kenya uganda railway east africa railroad served interests colonial exploitation local transportation kenya became independent december 1963 railroads began long decline irrelevance service pulled around country one intercity train leftthe chinesebuilt express connects nairobi mombasa terminal located nairobi suburbs near airport explains much day padlock doors old railroad station railway museumit steam engines cars used filming africai ride short distance remains us embassy bombed august 7 1998 alqaeda attack killed 200 kenyans americans wounded thousands days american embassy roundabout center city two attackers driving van filled homemade explosives oklahoma city variety drove ushaped alley plan kill guard drive explosive van parking garage underneath american embassy embassy guard however sensed trouble vansuspicion secondnature nairobi quoted hoffman said later feel something blood van unusual sounded alarm terrorists exploded payload courtyard somehow diving ground guard survived truck bomb badly damaged us embassy bank building opposite literally destroyed multistory nairobi office building next door accounting casualties hoffman writes explosion unleashed azzam claimed 213 innocent people torn apart massive blast consumed fire shredded spears glass blades metal propelled embassy surrounding buildings others crushed beneath tons concrete debris loosed bomb four thousand five hundred wounded many grievously losing eyes limbs skin melted pools like wax cartilage muscle fused bones crackled blood everywhere time second truck bomb exploded front us embassy dar es salaam capital tanzania south kenya two attacks attributed shadowy group called alqaeda us government familiar hoffman describes origins socalled war terror local terms writes arrival americans somalia december 1992 gave credence al qaedas suspicion broader motives gulf remained force even saddam retreated seemed second claw pincer movement occupy arabian peninsula result bombings osama bin laden became household name even clinton administration could connect dots embassy bombings groups significant plans launch attacks american homeland old us embassy nairobi torn attack place reflective garden dedicated lost lives behind small museum lot pictures bill clinton looking pensive stern although monicas dress blew time might accounted solemnity theater museum watched video recreation attack heard number fbi agents deployed africa analyze crime scene attack happened africa opposed say las vegas detail largely lost federal investigators sifted bomb evidence arrested suspects though world fbis oyster us law jurisdiction across great rift valley videos conclusion came away impression case bin laden alqaeda closed even clinton left office especially president ordered tomahawk missiles dropped chimney bin laden pharmaceutical company sudan later back anglican guest house finished reading al qaeda declares war hoffman makes connection two embassy attacks september 11 happened three years later concludes indeed embassy bombings gave three years warning cole attack one year al qaeda hellbent carrying fatwa america americans gary berntsen cia officer led clandestine services efforts kill bin laden tora bora late 2001 wrote rarely history great power like received two warnings failed act defend hoffmans thesis american response failed understand coming danger days officials state justice departments still copies constitution desk drawers prissy doctrines got way ordering hit bin laden brethren enjoyed civil protection something like aclu hoffman quotes british journalist william shawcross said defense trials rounded embassy bombings seemed asserting constitutional right caught conspiring commit murder tomahawk missiles viewed soundandlight show domestic consumption rather work terrier dig rat hole kenyas reign terror front lines wandering around august 7th memorial park museum thought lot kenyas fate front lines terror united states would like believe victim random political violence number atrocities kenyan soil daunting heres short list attacks kenya 2013 two terrorists seized westgate shopping mall upscale center nairobi killed 60 civilians errands 2002 stinger missiles fired mombasa israeli charter flight operated arkia airlines fortunately missed target moment suicide bombers blew hotel mombasa coast north city popular israelis killing 13 wounding 80 persons israelis kenyans coast around old world settlement lamua popular kenya resortalshabaab operatives somalia routinely kidnap sometimes kill unsuspecting tourists think signed beach holiday one attack 2014 48 kenyans killed direct attack police station 2011 2014 kenyan forces engaged inside somalia literally dozens bombings assassinations around nairobitoo many list roster killings unlike mass shootings take place every week around united states although cases attacks politically motivedto force kenya somalia context suicide bombing us embassy nairobi horrific one attack many turned kenya one fortified nations world cases suspected terrorists al shabaab alqaeda spinoff across border somalia every hotel every public space armed guards security checkpoints scanners detecting guns bombs admittedly scanners look like bucharest airport 1970s still guard lending nairobi air armed encampment america siege innocents abroad reasons bin laden financed terror us embassies us troops george hw bush fighting muslim warlords somalia general aidid among believed american forces propping corrupt saudi regime hoffman writes bin laden history alqaeda east africa watched horror tens thousands american troopsmen women christians jewsswarmed arabian peninsulathe land mohammed specifically designated limits infidelsfor operation desert shield beginning august 7 1991 humiliated implication americans better qualified defend muslim land lamenting saudi arabia become american colony declaring never islam suffered greater disaster invasion problem hoffman book reads like fbi story boys book daringdo j edgar hoover gmen case manhunt baby face nelson sifting rubble nairobi ferret truth first man terror unlike mummies occasionally unearthed rift valley time bin laden dispatched kamikaze trucks two us embassies however united states hadalmost since 1956 suez crisistaken white mans burden fight endless wars colonial restoration across middle east africa late 1950s us landed marines lebanon 1967 armed cheered israel battles golan sinai west bank significantly jerusalem 1970s 80s turned blind eye toward israeli settlements west bank gaza stood silently sabra shatila overrun shelled lebanon battleship uss new jersey funded repressive regimes egypt saudi arabia among others acted merchant death favoring iraq iran trenchandgas warfare 1980s 1990s united states troops scattered dozens bases outposts morocco pakistan troops fought ground kuwait much pilots enforcing nofly zone iraq plus us giving israel 3 billion military credits bid laden attacked embassies august 7 1998 american reaction violated belgian nuncomplete shock outrage innocence virtue challenged bin laden hofmann writes bloody triumph became certain divine approval agent allahs absolved wrongdoing felt justified every ruthlessness next karen blixens africa death denys finch hatton ngong hills kenyan election violence westgate mall terrorist nairobi 160 | 2,393 |
<p>Photo by Felton Davis | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>Presenting themselves as shocked bystanders to the growing famine in Yemen, the US and UK are in fact prime movers in a new strategy that will massively escalate it.</p>
<p>The protagonists of the war on Yemen – the US, UK, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates – have been beset by problems ever since they launched the operation in March 2015. But these problems seem to have reached breaking point in recent months.</p>
<p>First and foremost, is the total lack of military progress in the war. Originally conceived as a kind of blitzkrieg – or “decisive storm” as the initial bombing campaign was named – that would put a rapid end to the Houthi-led Ansarallah movement’s rebellion, almost three years later it has done nothing of the sort. The only significant territory recaptured has been the port city of Aden, and this was only by reliance on a secessionist movement largely hostile to ‘President’ Hadi, whose rule the war is supposedly being fought to restore. All attempts to recapture the capital Sanaa, meanwhile, have been exposed as futile pipe dreams.</p>
<p>Secondly, the belligerents have been increasingly at war with themselves. In February of this year, a fierce battle broke out between the Emiratis and Saudi-backed forces for control of Aden’s airport. According to the <a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/sada/73524" type="external">Carnegie Endowment for International Peace</a>, the struggle &#160;“prevented an Emirati plan to move north to Taiz,” adding that “the risk of such confrontations remains…Lacking ground forces anywhere in Yemen, the Saudis worry that the UAE could be carving out strategic footholds for itself, undermining Saudi influence in the kingdom’s traditional backyard.” Notes intelligence analysts the <a href="https://jamestown.org/program/battle-yemen-quagmire-saudi-arabia-uae/" type="external">Jamestown Foundation</a>, “The fight over Aden’s airport is being played out against a much larger and far more complex fight for Aden and southern Yemen. The fighting between rival factions backed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE clearly shows that Yemen’s already complicated civil war is being made more so by what is essentially a war within a war: the fight between Saudi Arabia and the UAE and their proxies.” This tension flared up again in October, with Emirati troops <a href="" type="internal">arresting</a> 10 members of the Saudi-aligned Islah movement, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Yemeni faction.</p>
<p>And finally, the war is undergoing a serious crisis of legitimacy. Aid agencies are usually doggedly silent on the political causes of the disasters they are supposed to ameliorate. Yet on the issue of the blockade – and especially since it was made total on November 6th this year – they have been <a href="" type="internal">uncharacteristically vocal</a>, placing the blame for the country’s famine – in which more than a quarter of the population are now starving – squarely on the blockade and its supporters. Jamie McGoldrick, the UN’s humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, put it starkly: “150,000 will die before the end of the year because of the impact of this blockade” he told ABC news last month. Save the Children had already <a href="https://www.savethechildren.org.uk/news/media-centre/press-releases/food-aid-being-used-weapons-war-save-children-statement-yemen" type="external">stated</a> back in March 2017 that “food and aid are being used as a weapon of war”, and called for an end to UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia, whilst in November 2017, Oxfam’s Shane Stevenson <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/millions-yemenis-days-away-losing-clean-running-water" type="external">said</a>: “All those with influence over the Saudi-led coalition are complicit in Yemen’s suffering unless they do all they can to push them to lift the blockade.” Paolo Cernuschi, of the International Rescue Committee, <a href="http://theweek.com/articles/741879/catastrophe-yemen" type="external">added</a> that: “We are far beyond the need to raise an alarm. What is happening now is a complete disgrace.” The governments of Donald Trump and Theresa May were being painted – by the most establishment-aligned of charities – as essentially mass murderers, accomplices to what Alex de Waal has <a href="" type="internal">called</a> “the worst famine crime of this decade”. Even the Financial Times <a href="" type="internal">carried a headline</a> that Britain “risks complicity in the use of starvation as a weapon of war”. “Is complicit” would be more accurate than “risks complicity”, but nevertheless: still a pretty damning indictment.</p>
<p>To confront these problems, a new strategy has clearly emerged. It appears to have been inaugurated by Theresa May and Boris Johnson on November 29th. &#160;On that date, whilst the British Prime Minister <a href="" type="internal">met</a>with King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in Riyadh, the Foreign Secretary was hosting a <a href="http://www.spa.gov.sa/viewfullstory.php?lang=en&amp;newsid=1692748" type="external">London meeting</a> of the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and the UAE and the US under-secretary of state, representing all four of the belligerent powers in Yemen.</p>
<p>The first element of this strategy was for Britain and the US to pacify the NGO fraternity by distancing themselves from the blockade, as if it were somehow separate from the war in which they were so deeply involved. This actually came about in the days preceding those meetings, when Theresa May told the press she would “demand” the “immediate” lifting of the blockade during her forthcoming visit to the king. That was disingenuous; after all, had she really wanted the blockade ended, she could have achieved this immediately simply by threatening to cut military support for the Saudis until they ended it. According to War Child UK, arms sales to Saudi Arabia have now <a href="https://www.warchild.org.uk/whats-happening/blog/%C2%A36bn-arms-dealers-price-millions-lives-yemen" type="external">topped £6billion</a>, and Britain runs a major <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/saudi-arabia-yemen-conflict-bombing-latest-uk-training-pilots-alleged-war-crimes-a7375551.html" type="external">training programme</a>for the Saudi military, with <a href="" type="internal">166 personnel</a> deployed within the Saudi military structure. Former US presidential advisor Bruce Riedel is entirely correct when he <a href="" type="internal">states</a> that “the Royal Saudi Air Force cannot operate without American and &#160;British support. If the United States and the United Kingdom, tonight, told King Salman [of Saudi Arabia] ‘this war has to end,’ it would end tomorrow.”</p>
<p>In fact, the meeting seems to have been more about reassuring the Saudis that her words were but rhetoric for domestic consumption, and not meant to be taken seriously. In the event, far from an “immediate” end, the UK government website <a href="" type="internal">reported</a> that May and Salman merely “agreed that steps needed to be taken” and that “they would take forward more detailed discussions on how this could be achieved”. Just to make it absolutely clear that the UK’s support for the war was not in question in any way, the very next line of the statement was “They agreed the relationship between the UK and Saudi Arabia was strong and would endure”. A deeply complicit press ensured that the actual contents of this meeting was barely reported; the last word on the matter, as far as they were concerned, was May’s pledge to “demand” an end to the blockade. Donald Trump followed suit last week, likewise <a href="" type="internal">calling on</a> the Saudis to “completely allow food, fuel, water and medicine to reach the Yemeni people” whilst doing nothing to bring this about. Thus have the UK and US governments attempted to manipulate the media narrative such that the blockade they continue to facilitate no longer reflects badly on them.</p>
<p>The next aspect of the strategy became obvious before the Johnson and May meetings had even finished, as fighting broke out between the Houthis and forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh the same day. Saleh had made an alliance with his erstwhile enemies the Houthis in 2015 in a presumed attempt to seize back power from his former deputy Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, to whom he was forced to abdicate power in 2012. But he had never been fully trusted by the Houthis, and their suspicions were to be fully confirmed when on Saturday 2nd December he formally turned on them and offered himself up to the Saudis. Saleh had always been close to the Saudis whilst in power, positioning himself largely as a conduit for their influence; now he was returning to his traditional role. The swiftness and intensity of the Saudi airstrikes supporting his forces against the Houthis following his announcement suggests some degree of foreknowledge and collaboration had preceded it, as does the Saudi’s reported <a href="" type="internal">house arrest</a> of their previous favourite Hadi the previous month. This restoration of the Saleh-Saudi alliance represents a victory for the UAE, who had been pushing the Saudis to rebuild its bridges with him for some time. Analyst Neil Partrick, for example, had written just weeks before the move that “The Emiratis are advising the Saudis to go back to the former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh, believing his growing disputes with the Houthis, his tactical allies, can be encouraged to become a permanent breach.” Thus was the problem of the military stalemate supposed to be solved by splitting the Houthis alliance with Saleh, paving the way for a dramatic rebalancing of forces in favour of the belligerents. The execution of Saleh two days later has only partially scuppered this plan, with many of his forces either openly siding with the invaders or putting up no resistance to them.</p>
<p>At the same time as the Saudis have finally been brought round to the UAE’s preference for a reconciliation with Saleh’s forces, the UAE have now, it seems, accepted an alliance with the Saudi-backed Islah party. Despite the Saudi’s usual antipathy to the Muslim Brotherhood, it has backed their Yemeni offshoot in this war, a move hitherto firmly opposed by the Emirates. Yet, following earlier meetings between Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman and Islah leader Abdullah al-Yidoumi, the two men met last Wednesday (13th December) with Emirati crown prince Mohammed bin Zayed. Maged Al Da’arri, editor of Yemen’s Hadramout newspaper, <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/mena/uae-and-saudi-arabia-hold-talks-with-yemen-s-al-islah-party-1.684549" type="external">explained</a> to The National that “the Gulf leaders are trying to combine the different sides in Yemen to work collaboratively in order to be able to liberate the provinces that are still held by the Houthis.”</p>
<p>It seems likely that Emirati support for Islah was a quid-pro-quo for Saudi support for Saleh, both moves suggesting perhaps that the two powers’ divisions were to some extent being overcome. But this rapprochement was formalised with the formal <a href="" type="internal">announcement</a> of a new military alliance between them on December 5th, the day after Saleh’s death.</p>
<p>Thus, within a week of the London and Riyadh meetings, the coalition’s three seemingly intractable problems – the paralysing divisions between UAE and Saudi Arabia, the military stalemate, and the West’s legitimacy crisis over the blockade – had all apparently been turned around. This readjustment was and is intended to pave the way for a decisive new page in the war: an all-out attack on Hodeidah, as a prelude to the recapture of Sanaa itself.</p>
<p>This new strategy is now well under way. On December 6th – four days after Saleh switched sides, and one day after the new UAE-Saudi alliance was announced – the invaders’ Yemeni assets <a href="" type="internal">mounted</a> “a major push…to purge Al Houthis from major coastal posts on the Red Sea including the strategic city of Hodeida.” The Emiratis had been advocating an attack on Hodeidah for at least a year, but, according to the Emirati newspaper The National, President Obama had <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/world/us-considers-supporting-saudi-led-coalition-plan-to-capture-yemen-port-1.89766" type="external">vetoed it</a> in 2016, whilst in March 2017, the Saudis got cold feet due to <a href="http://carnegieendowment.org/sada/73524" type="external">fears</a> that the plan was “an indication of [the Emirates’] attempt to carve out strategic footholds in Yemen”. Now, it seems, it is finally under way.</p>
<p>The following day, the red sea town of Khokha, in Hodeidah province, was <a href="" type="internal">captured</a> by Emirati forces and their Yemeni assets, backed by Saudi airstrikes. Gulf News <a href="" type="internal">reported</a> that “Colonel Abdu Basit Al Baher, the deputy spokesperson of the Military Council in Taiz, told Gulf News that the liberation of Khokha would enable government forces and the Saudi-led coalition to circle Hodeida from land and sea”. The day after that, Houthi positions in Al Boqaa, between Khokha and Hodeidah, were <a href="" type="internal">taken</a> by Emirati-backed forces.</p>
<p>The following Sunday, 10th December, Boris Johnson <a href="" type="internal">met</a> with the Emirati crown prince and de facto ruler Mohammed bin Zayed in Abu Dhabi, <a href="" type="internal">where he</a> “underlined the depth of strategic relations between the two countries and his country’s keenness on enhancing bilateral cooperation”, before attending another “Quartet committee” meeting with his Emirati and Saudi counterparts and the US acting secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. The four of them “ <a href="" type="internal">agreed</a> to hold their meetings periodically, with the next meeting scheduled for the first quarter of 2018.”</p>
<p>This intensive activity in the space of just two weeks, bookended by high-level meetings of the ‘quartet’ on either side, is clearly coordinated. But what it heralds is truly horrifying. Presenting themselves as shocked bystanders to the growing famine in Yemen, the US and UK are in fact prime movers in a new strategy that will massively escalate it.</p>
<p>When an attack on Hodeidah was being contemplated back in March 2017, aid agencies and security analysts alike were crystal clear about its impact. A <a href="" type="internal">press release</a> from Oxfam read: “Reacting to concern that Hodeidah port in Yemen is about to be attacked by the Saudi-led coalition, international aid agency Oxfam warns that this is likely to be the final straw that pushes the country into near certain famine…Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB Chief Executive said: “If this attack goes ahead, a country that is already on the brink of famine will be starved further as yet another food route is destroyed…An estimated 70 percent of Yemen’s food comes into Hodeidah port. If it is attacked, this will be a deliberate act that will disrupt vital supplies – the Saudi-led coalition will not only breach International Humanitarian Law, they will be complicit in near certain famine.” The point was <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-yemen-security-aid/attack-on-yemens-port-would-push-country-nearer-famine-u-n-idUSKCN18E2SK" type="external">reiterated</a> by the UN’s World Food Programme, whilst the UN International Organisation for Migration <a href="" type="internal">warned</a>that 400,000 people would be displaced were Hodeidah to be attacked.</p>
<p>“The potential humanitarian impact of a battle at Hodeidah feels unthinkable,” Suze Vanmeegen, protection and advocacy advisor at the Norwegian Refugee Council, <a href="" type="internal">told</a> IRIN recently. “We are already using words like ‘catastrophic’ and ‘horrendous’ to describe the crisis in Yemen, but any attack on Hodeidah has the potential to blast an already alarming crisis into a complete horror show – and I’m not using hyperbole.”</p>
<p>In the Independent, Peter Salisbury <a href="" type="internal">&#160;noted</a> that “it is by no means certain that taking Hodeidah will be easy” as the (then) “Houthi-Saleh alliance is well aware of the plan” and preparing accordingly. He added that “While the Saudi-led coalition claims that taking the port would help alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the medium term, aid agencies fret that the short-term effect of cutting off access to a major port could be a killing blow to some of Yemen’s starving millions.” The Jamestown foundation were even more wary, <a href="https://jamestown.org/program/battle-yemen-quagmire-saudi-arabia-uae/" type="external">writing</a> that the city’s capture would be impossible without major US involvement and that &#160;“Even with U.S. assistance, the invasion will be costly and ineffective. The terrain to the east of Hodeidah is comprised of some of the most forbidding mountainous terrain in the world. The mountains, caves, and deep canyons are ideal for guerrilla warfare that would wear down even the finest and best disciplined military.” Yet the US’s current <a href="" type="internal">efforts</a>to argue that Houthis are being supplied with Iranian missiles via Hodeidah may well be aimed at legitimising just such direct US involvement in an attack on the port. After all, continues Jamestown, “the Saudi effort in Yemen hinges on the invasion of Hodeidah. The reasoning behind the invasion is that without Hodeidah and its port — where supplies trickle through — the Houthis and their allies, along with millions of civilians, can be starved into submission.”</p>
<p>This, then – the ramping up of the ‘weapon of starvation’ – is the ultimate end of this new phase in the war. Basic humanity demands it be vigorously opposed.</p>
<p>This article was originally published in <a href="" type="internal">Middle East Eye</a>.</p> | true | 4 | photo felton davis cc 20 presenting shocked bystanders growing famine yemen us uk fact prime movers new strategy massively escalate protagonists war yemen us uk saudi arabia united arab emirates beset problems ever since launched operation march 2015 problems seem reached breaking point recent months first foremost total lack military progress war originally conceived kind blitzkrieg decisive storm initial bombing campaign named would put rapid end houthiled ansarallah movements rebellion almost three years later done nothing sort significant territory recaptured port city aden reliance secessionist movement largely hostile president hadi whose rule war supposedly fought restore attempts recapture capital sanaa meanwhile exposed futile pipe dreams secondly belligerents increasingly war february year fierce battle broke emiratis saudibacked forces control adens airport according carnegie endowment international peace struggle 160prevented emirati plan move north taiz adding risk confrontations remainslacking ground forces anywhere yemen saudis worry uae could carving strategic footholds undermining saudi influence kingdoms traditional backyard notes intelligence analysts jamestown foundation fight adens airport played much larger far complex fight aden southern yemen fighting rival factions backed saudi arabia uae clearly shows yemens already complicated civil war made essentially war within war fight saudi arabia uae proxies tension flared october emirati troops arresting 10 members saudialigned islah movement muslim brotherhoods yemeni faction finally war undergoing serious crisis legitimacy aid agencies usually doggedly silent political causes disasters supposed ameliorate yet issue blockade especially since made total november 6th year uncharacteristically vocal placing blame countrys famine quarter population starving squarely blockade supporters jamie mcgoldrick uns humanitarian coordinator yemen put starkly 150000 die end year impact blockade told abc news last month save children already stated back march 2017 food aid used weapon war called end uk arms sales saudi arabia whilst november 2017 oxfams shane stevenson said influence saudiled coalition complicit yemens suffering unless push lift blockade paolo cernuschi international rescue committee added far beyond need raise alarm happening complete disgrace governments donald trump theresa may painted establishmentaligned charities essentially mass murderers accomplices alex de waal called worst famine crime decade even financial times carried headline britain risks complicity use starvation weapon war complicit would accurate risks complicity nevertheless still pretty damning indictment confront problems new strategy clearly emerged appears inaugurated theresa may boris johnson november 29th 160on date whilst british prime minister metwith king salman crown prince mohammed bin salman riyadh foreign secretary hosting london meeting foreign ministers saudi arabia uae us undersecretary state representing four belligerent powers yemen first element strategy britain us pacify ngo fraternity distancing blockade somehow separate war deeply involved actually came days preceding meetings theresa may told press would demand immediate lifting blockade forthcoming visit king disingenuous really wanted blockade ended could achieved immediately simply threatening cut military support saudis ended according war child uk arms sales saudi arabia topped 6billion britain runs major training programmefor saudi military 166 personnel deployed within saudi military structure former us presidential advisor bruce riedel entirely correct states royal saudi air force operate without american 160british support united states united kingdom tonight told king salman saudi arabia war end would end tomorrow fact meeting seems reassuring saudis words rhetoric domestic consumption meant taken seriously event far immediate end uk government website reported may salman merely agreed steps needed taken would take forward detailed discussions could achieved make absolutely clear uks support war question way next line statement agreed relationship uk saudi arabia strong would endure deeply complicit press ensured actual contents meeting barely reported last word matter far concerned mays pledge demand end blockade donald trump followed suit last week likewise calling saudis completely allow food fuel water medicine reach yemeni people whilst nothing bring thus uk us governments attempted manipulate media narrative blockade continue facilitate longer reflects badly next aspect strategy became obvious johnson may meetings even finished fighting broke houthis forces loyal former president ali abdullah saleh day saleh made alliance erstwhile enemies houthis 2015 presumed attempt seize back power former deputy abdrabbuh mansur hadi forced abdicate power 2012 never fully trusted houthis suspicions fully confirmed saturday 2nd december formally turned offered saudis saleh always close saudis whilst power positioning largely conduit influence returning traditional role swiftness intensity saudi airstrikes supporting forces houthis following announcement suggests degree foreknowledge collaboration preceded saudis reported house arrest previous favourite hadi previous month restoration salehsaudi alliance represents victory uae pushing saudis rebuild bridges time analyst neil partrick example written weeks move emiratis advising saudis go back former yemeni president ali abdullah saleh believing growing disputes houthis tactical allies encouraged become permanent breach thus problem military stalemate supposed solved splitting houthis alliance saleh paving way dramatic rebalancing forces favour belligerents execution saleh two days later partially scuppered plan many forces either openly siding invaders putting resistance time saudis finally brought round uaes preference reconciliation salehs forces uae seems accepted alliance saudibacked islah party despite saudis usual antipathy muslim brotherhood backed yemeni offshoot war move hitherto firmly opposed emirates yet following earlier meetings saudi crown prince mohammed bin salman islah leader abdullah alyidoumi two men met last wednesday 13th december emirati crown prince mohammed bin zayed maged al daarri editor yemens hadramout newspaper explained national gulf leaders trying combine different sides yemen work collaboratively order able liberate provinces still held houthis seems likely emirati support islah quidproquo saudi support saleh moves suggesting perhaps two powers divisions extent overcome rapprochement formalised formal announcement new military alliance december 5th day salehs death thus within week london riyadh meetings coalitions three seemingly intractable problems paralysing divisions uae saudi arabia military stalemate wests legitimacy crisis blockade apparently turned around readjustment intended pave way decisive new page war allout attack hodeidah prelude recapture sanaa new strategy well way december 6th four days saleh switched sides one day new uaesaudi alliance announced invaders yemeni assets mounted major pushto purge al houthis major coastal posts red sea including strategic city hodeida emiratis advocating attack hodeidah least year according emirati newspaper national president obama vetoed 2016 whilst march 2017 saudis got cold feet due fears plan indication emirates attempt carve strategic footholds yemen seems finally way following day red sea town khokha hodeidah province captured emirati forces yemeni assets backed saudi airstrikes gulf news reported colonel abdu basit al baher deputy spokesperson military council taiz told gulf news liberation khokha would enable government forces saudiled coalition circle hodeida land sea day houthi positions al boqaa khokha hodeidah taken emiratibacked forces following sunday 10th december boris johnson met emirati crown prince de facto ruler mohammed bin zayed abu dhabi underlined depth strategic relations two countries countrys keenness enhancing bilateral cooperation attending another quartet committee meeting emirati saudi counterparts us acting secretary state near eastern affairs four agreed hold meetings periodically next meeting scheduled first quarter 2018 intensive activity space two weeks bookended highlevel meetings quartet either side clearly coordinated heralds truly horrifying presenting shocked bystanders growing famine yemen us uk fact prime movers new strategy massively escalate attack hodeidah contemplated back march 2017 aid agencies security analysts alike crystal clear impact press release oxfam read reacting concern hodeidah port yemen attacked saudiled coalition international aid agency oxfam warns likely final straw pushes country near certain faminemark goldring oxfam gb chief executive said attack goes ahead country already brink famine starved yet another food route destroyedan estimated 70 percent yemens food comes hodeidah port attacked deliberate act disrupt vital supplies saudiled coalition breach international humanitarian law complicit near certain famine point reiterated uns world food programme whilst un international organisation migration warnedthat 400000 people would displaced hodeidah attacked potential humanitarian impact battle hodeidah feels unthinkable suze vanmeegen protection advocacy advisor norwegian refugee council told irin recently already using words like catastrophic horrendous describe crisis yemen attack hodeidah potential blast already alarming crisis complete horror show im using hyperbole independent peter salisbury 160noted means certain taking hodeidah easy houthisaleh alliance well aware plan preparing accordingly added saudiled coalition claims taking port would help alleviate humanitarian crisis medium term aid agencies fret shortterm effect cutting access major port could killing blow yemens starving millions jamestown foundation even wary writing citys capture would impossible without major us involvement 160even us assistance invasion costly ineffective terrain east hodeidah comprised forbidding mountainous terrain world mountains caves deep canyons ideal guerrilla warfare would wear even finest best disciplined military yet uss current effortsto argue houthis supplied iranian missiles via hodeidah may well aimed legitimising direct us involvement attack port continues jamestown saudi effort yemen hinges invasion hodeidah reasoning behind invasion without hodeidah port supplies trickle houthis allies along millions civilians starved submission ramping weapon starvation ultimate end new phase war basic humanity demands vigorously opposed article originally published middle east eye | 1,428 |
<p>Let’s start with the universe and work our way in. Who cares? Not them because as far as we know&#160;they&#160;aren’t there. As far as we know, no one exists in our galaxy or perhaps anywhere else but us (and the other creatures on this all-too-modest planet of ours). So don’t count on any aliens out there caring what happens to humanity. They won’t.</p>
<p>As for&#160;it&#160;— Earth — the planet itself can’t, of course, care, no matter what we do to it.&#160; And I’m sure it won’t be news to you that, when it comes to&#160;him&#160;— and I mean, of course, President Donald J. Trump, who reputedly has a void where the normal quotient of human empathy might be — don’t give it a second’s thought.&#160; Beyond himself, his businesses, and possibly (just possibly) his family, he clearly couldn’t give less of a damn about us or, for that matter, what happens to anyone after he departs this planet.</p>
<p>As for&#160;us, the rest of us here in the United States at least, we already know something about the nature of our caring.&#160; A Yale study released last March indicated that&#160; <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-climatechange-attitudes-usa/climate-change-is-a-threat-but-it-wont-hurt-me-americans-say-idUSKBN168589" type="external">70% of us</a>&#160;— a surprising but still less than overwhelming number (given the by-now-well-established apocalyptic dangers involved) — believe that global warming is actually occurring.&#160; Less than half of us, however, expect to be&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/21/climate/how-americans-think-about-climate-change-in-six-maps.html" type="external">personally harmed</a>&#160;by it.&#160; So, to quote the eminently quotable&#160; <a href="https://media-exp2.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAKVAAAAJGI3MGE1NjdlLWE5MGUtNDU2NC1iZjBhLTM2ZTJhMDM2ZTIwZA.jpg" type="external">Alfred E. Newman</a>, “What, me worry?”</p>
<p>Tell that, by the way, to the inhabitants of&#160; <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-ln-ventura-fire-main-20171207-story.html" type="external">Ojai</a>&#160;and other southern California hotspots —&#160; <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-thomas-fire-ledeall-20171214-story.html" type="external">infernos</a>, actually — being reduced to cinders this December, a month that not so long ago wasn’t&#160;significant when it came to fires in that state.&#160; But such blazes should have been no surprise, thanks to the way fire seasons are&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/13/science/wildfires-season-global-warming.html" type="external">lengthening</a>&#160;on this warming planet.&#160; A burning December is simply part of what the governor of California, on surveying the fire damage recently,&#160; <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-socal-fires-20171210-story.html" type="external">dubbed</a>&#160;“the new normal” — just as ever more powerful Atlantic hurricanes, growing increasingly fierce as they pass over the warming waters of the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico on their way to&#160; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/09/15/us/climate-change-hurricanes-harvey-and-irma/index.html" type="external">batter</a>&#160;the United States, are likely to be another new normal of our American world.</p>
<p />
<p>In the wake of the&#160; <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-noaa-data-show-2016-warmest-year-on-record-globally" type="external">hottest year</a>&#160;on record, we all now live on a&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/14/climate/climate-extreme-weather-attribution.html" type="external">new-normal planet</a>, which means a significantly more extreme one.&#160; Perhaps it’s fitting, then, that the political version of that new normal involves a wildly overheated, overbearing, over-hyped, over-tweeted president (even if only&#160; <a href="https://www.monmouth.edu/polling-institute/reports/MonmouthPoll_US_121317/" type="external">60-odd percent</a>&#160;of us believe that he could truly harm us).&#160; He’s a man who, as the&#160;New York Times&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/09/us/politics/donald-trump-president.html" type="external">reported</a>&#160;recently, begins to boil with doubt and disturbance if he doesn’t find himself in the headlines, the focus of cable everything, for even a day or two.&#160; He’s a man who seems to thrive only when the pot is boiling and when he’s the center of the universe.&#160; And what a world we’ve prepared for such an&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176365/" type="external">incendiary figure</a>!&#160; (More on that later.)</p>
<p>We’re all now immersed in an evolving Trumpocalypse.&#160; In a sense, we were there even before The Donald entered the Oval Office.&#160; Just consider what it meant to elect a visibly disturbed human being to the highest office of the most powerful, potentially destructive nation on Earth.&#160; What does that tell you?&#160; One possibility: given the&#160; <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-elections/donald-trump-lost-popular-vote-hillary-clinton-us-election-president-history-a7470116.html" type="external">near majority</a>&#160;of American voters who sent him to the White House, by campaign 2016 we were already living in a&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176195/" type="external">deeply disturbed</a>&#160;country.&#160; And considering the coming of&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175478/tomgram%3A_engelhardt,_the_1%25_election/" type="external">1% elections</a>, the growth of plutocracy, the blooming of a new Gilded Age whose wealth disparities must already be&#160; <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/12/05/u-s-income-inequality-on-rise-for-decades-is-now-highest-since-1928/" type="external">competitive</a>&#160;with its nineteenth-century predecessor, the&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175970/tomgram%3A_engelhardt,_is_a_new_political_system_emerging_in_this_country/" type="external">rise</a>&#160;of the national security state, our endless wars (now turning “ <a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/petraeus-afghan-war-generational-struggle-will-not-end-soon" type="external">generational</a>”), the increasing&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176337/tomgram%3A_danny_sjursen%2C_embracing_our_inner_empire/" type="external">militarization</a>&#160;of this country, and the&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176262/tomgram%3A_engelhardt%2C_the_teflon_wars/" type="external">demobilization</a>&#160;of its people, to mention only a few twenty-first-century American developments, that should hardly be surprising.</p>
<p>Could Donald Trump Be the End of Evolutionary History?</p>
<p>Recently, as I was mulling over the extremity of this Trumpian moment, a&#160; <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/society/evolution-icon" type="external">depiction of evolution</a>&#160;from my youth popped into my head.&#160; Sometimes back then, such illustrations, as I remember them, began with a fish-like creature flippering its way out of the water to be transformed into a reptile, but this one, known as the “March of Progress,” started&#160; <a href="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/04/The_March_of_Progress.jpg" type="external">with</a>&#160;a hunched over ape-like creature.&#160; What followed were a series of figures that, left to right, grew ever more&#160;Homo-sapiens-like and ever more upright to the last guy, a muscular-looking fellow walking oh-so-erectly.</p>
<p>He, of course, was a proud specimen of us and we — it went without saying at the time — were the proud end of the line on this planet.&#160; We were it, progress personified!&#160; Even in my youth, however, we were also in the process of updating that evolutionary end point.&#160; At the height of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the fear of another kind of end, one that might truly be the end of everything, had become a nightmarish commonplace in our lives.</p>
<p>One night almost 60 years ago, for instance, I can still vividly remember myself on my hands and knees crawling through the rubble of an atomically devastated city.&#160; It was just a nightmare, of course, but of a sort that was anything but uncommon for those of us growing up then.&#160; And there were times — especially during the&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175605/tomgram%3A_noam_chomsky,_%22the_most_dangerous_moment,%22_50_years_later/" type="external">Cuban Missile Crisis</a>&#160;of 1962 — when those nuclear nightmares left the world of dreams and&#160; <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0047573/" type="external">pop culture</a>&#160;for everyday life.&#160; And even before that, if you were a child, you regularly experienced the fear of obliteration, as the air raid sirens wailed outside your classroom window, the radio on your teacher’s desk broadcast warnings from&#160; <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CONELRAD" type="external">Conelrad</a>, and you “ <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKqXu-5jw60" type="external">ducked and covered</a>” under your&#160; <a href="http://blog.nuclearsecrecy.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/duck-and-cover-drill.jpg" type="external">flimsy desk</a>.</p>
<p>With the implosion of the Soviet Union in 1991, such fears receded, though they shouldn’t have, since by then, in a world of spreading nuclear states, we already knew about “ <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_winter#History" type="external">nuclear winter</a>.” What that meant should have been terrifying.&#160; A perfectly imaginable nuclear war, not between superpowers but regional powers like India and Pakistan, could put so much smoke, so many particulates, into the atmosphere as to absorb sunlight for years, radically cooling the planet and possibly&#160; <a href="http://climate.envsci.rutgers.edu/pdf/RobockToonSciAmJan2010.pdf" type="external">starving out</a>&#160;most of humanity.</p>
<p>Only in our moment, however, have such nuclear fears&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/176343/" type="external">returned</a>&#160;in a significant way.&#160; Under the circumstances, more than half a century after that March of Progress imagery became popular, if we were to provisionally update it, we might have to add a singularly recognizable figure to the far right side of that diorama (appropriately enough): a large but slightly stooped man with a jut-chin, a flaming face, and a distinctive orange comb-over.</p>
<p>Which brings us to a straightforward enough question: Could Donald Trump prove to be the end of evolutionary history? The answer, however provisionally, is that he could. At a minimum, right now he qualifies as the most dangerous man on the planet. He might indeed be the final stopping spot (or at least the person who pointed the way toward it) for human history, for everything that led to this moment, to us.</p>
<p>What Rough Beast, Its Hour Come Round at Last …?</p>
<p>Whatever you do, however, don’t just blame Donald Trump for this.&#160; He was simply the particularly unsettling version of&#160;Homo sapiens&#160;ushered into the White House on a backlash vote of dissatisfaction in 2016.&#160; When he got there, he unexpectedly found powers beyond compare awaiting him like so many loaded guns.&#160; As was true with the two presidents who preceded him, he automatically became not just the commander-in-chief of this country but its&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/175551/tomgram%3A_engelhardt,_assassin-in-chief/" type="external">assassin-in-chief</a>; that is, he found himself in personal control of an armada of&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175936/tomgram%3A_engelhardt,_the_national_security_state_%22works,%22_even_if_nothing_it_does_works/" type="external">drone aircraft</a>&#160;that could be sent just about anywhere on Earth at his command to kill just about anyone of his choosing.&#160; At his beck and call, he also had the equivalent of what historian Chalmers Johnson once&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/174824/chalmers_johnson_agency_of_rogues" type="external">called</a>&#160;the president’s own private army (now, armies): both the CIA irregulars Johnson was familiar with and the U.S. military’s vast, secretive&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176363/tomgram%3A_nick_turse%2C_a_wider_world_of_war/" type="external">Special Operations forces</a>.&#160; Above all, however, he found himself in charge of the planet’s largest nuclear arsenal, weaponry that he and&#160; <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-18/us-general-says-nuclear-launch-order-can-be-refused" type="external">he alone</a>&#160;could order into use.</p>
<p>In short, like this country’s other presidents since August 1945, he was fully weaponized and capable of singlehandedly turning this planet, or significant parts of it, into an instant inferno, a wasteland of — in his incendiary phrase in relation to North Korea — “ <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/08/world/asia/north-korea-un-sanctions-nuclear-missile-united-nations.html" type="external">fire and fury</a>.”&#160; On January 20, 2017, in other words, he became the personification of a duck-and-cover planet (even though, as had been true since the 1950s, there was really nowhere to hide).&#160; It made no difference that he himself was&#160; <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/why-you-should-be-scared-about-trump-and-nuclear-weapons/" type="external">woefully ignorant</a>&#160;about the nature and power of such weaponry.</p>
<p>And speaking of planetary infernos, he also found himself weaponized when it came to a second set of instruments of ultimate destruction about which he was no less&#160; <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jun/03/hillary-clinton/yes-donald-trump-did-call-climate-change-chinese-h/" type="external">ignorant</a>&#160;and to which he was even more in thrall.&#160; He brought to the Oval Office — Make America Great Again! — a nostalgia for his&#160; <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com/post/176222/tomgram%3A_michael_klare,_donald_trump%27s_energy_nostalgia_and_the_path_to_hell/" type="external">fossil-fuelized childhood world</a>&#160;of the 1950s.&#160; Weaponized by Big Energy, he arrived prepared to ensure that the wealthiest and most powerful country on the planet would clear the way for yet more&#160; <a href="https://www.npr.org/2017/01/24/511402501/trump-to-give-green-light-to-keystone-dakota-access-pipelines" type="external">pipelines</a>,&#160; <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/343425-trump-administration-seeks-to-repeal-obama-fracking-rule" type="external">fracking</a>, offshore&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/04/28/trump-signs-executive-order-to-expand-offshore-drilling-and-analyze-marine-sanctuaries-oil-and-gas-potential/?utm_term=.32aaeef6fd22" type="external">drilling</a>, and just about every other imaginable form of exploitation of oil, natural gas, and coal (but&#160; <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/11/the-republican-tax-plan-is-an-assault-on-renewable-energy/" type="external">not</a> alternative energy). All of this was intended to create, as he&#160; <a href="http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/340135-trump-rolls-out-actions-to-boost-nuclear-fossil-fuels" type="external">proclaimed</a>, a new “golden age,” not just of American energy independence but of “energy dominance” on a planetary scale. And here’s what that really means: through his&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/28/climate/trump-executive-order-climate-change.html" type="external">executive orders</a>&#160;and the decisions of the&#160; <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/10/climatedesk-the-whole-country-is-being-run-by-climate-deniers/" type="external">stunning range</a>&#160;of climate deniers and&#160; <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/02/22/oklahoma-attorney-generals-office-releases-7500-pages-of-emails-between-scott-pruitt-and-fossil-fuel-industry/?utm_term=.8f032d8024f2" type="external">Big Oil enthusiasts</a>&#160;he appointed to key posts in his administration, he can indeed ensure that ever more greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels will enter the atmosphere in the years to come, creating the basis for another kind of apocalypse.</p>
<p>On the promotion of global warming in his first year in office, it’s reasonable to say, with a certain Trumpian pride, that the president has once again made the United States the planet’s truly “exceptional” nation. In November, only five months after President Trump&#160; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/01/climate/trump-paris-climate-agreement.html" type="external">announced&#160;</a>that the U.S. would withdraw as soon as possible from the Paris climate agreement to fight global warming, Syria (of all countries)&#160; <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/nov/07/syria-signs-paris-climate-agreement-and-leaves-us-isolated" type="external">finally signed</a>&#160;onto it, the last nation on Earth to do so.&#160; That meant this country was truly… well, you can’t say left out in the “cold,” not on this planet anymore, but quite literally&#160;exceptional&#160;in its single-minded efforts to ensure the destruction of the very environment that had for so long ensured humanity’s well-being and made the creation of those illustrations of evolutionary progress possible.</p>
<p>Still, you can’t just blame President Trump for this either.&#160; He’s not responsible for the ingenuity, that gift of evolution, that led us, wittingly in the case of nuclear weapons and (initially) unwittingly in the case of climate change, to take powers once relegated to the gods and place them in our own hands — as of January 20, 2017, in fact, in the&#160; <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/history-donald-trump-small-hands-insult/story?id=37395515" type="external">hands</a>&#160;of Donald J. Trump.&#160; Don’t blame him alone for the fact that the most apocalyptic moment in our history might come not via an&#160; <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/3372517/asteroid-hit-earth-planet/" type="external">asteroid</a>&#160;from outer space, but from Trump Tower.</p>
<p>So here we are, living with a man whose ultimate urge seems to be to bring the world to a boil around himself.&#160; It’s possible that he might indeed be the first president since Harry Truman in 1945 to order the use of nuclear weapons.&#160; As Nobel Prize winner Beatrice Fihn, director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, recently&#160; <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/nuclear-war-may-be-tiny-temper-tantrum-away-nobel-peace-prize-winner-warns-743717" type="external">commented</a>, the world might be only “a tiny tantrum” away from nuclear war in Asia.&#160; At the very least, he may already be helping to launch a new global nuclear arms race in which countries from&#160; <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/north-korea-south-japan-nuclear-weapons-arsenals-kim-jong-un-threat-donald-trump-a8026016.html" type="external">South Korea and Japan</a>&#160;to&#160; <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/11/17/politics/iran-deal-diplomats-congress/index.html" type="external">Iran</a>&#160;and&#160; <a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/white-house-may-share-nuclear-power-technology-with-saudi-arabia" type="external">Saudi Arabia</a>&#160;could find themselves with world-ending arsenals, leaving nuclear winter in the hands of… well, don’t even think about it.</p>
<p>Now, imagine that amended evolutionary chart again or perhaps — in honor of The Donald’s recent announcement that the U.S. was recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital — call to mind poet William Butler Yeats’s&#160; <a href="http://www.potw.org/archive/potw351.html" type="external">words</a>&#160;about a world in which “the best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity,” while some “rough beast, its hour come round at last” is slouching “towards Bethlehem to be born.”&#160; Think then of what a genuine horror it is that so much world-ending power is in the hands of any single human being, no less such a disturbed and disturbing one.</p>
<p>Of course, while Donald Trump might represent the end of the line that began in&#160; <a href="http://humanorigins.si.edu/research/east-african-research-projects/adventures-rift-valley-interactive" type="external">some African valley</a>&#160;so many millennia ago, nothing on this planet is graven in stone, not when it comes to us.&#160; We still have the potential freedom to choose otherwise, to do otherwise.&#160; We have the capacity for wonders as well as horrors.&#160; We have the ability to create as well as to destroy.</p>
<p>In the phrase of Jonathan Schell, the&#160; <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804737029/ref=nosim/?tag=tomdispatch-20" type="external">fate of the Earth</a>&#160;remains not just in his hands, but in ours.&#160; If&#160;they, those nonexistent aliens, don’t care and the planet can’t care and the alien in the White House doesn’t give a damn, then it’s up to us to care.&#160; It’s up to us to protest, resist, and change, to communicate and convince, to fight for life rather than its destruction. If you’re of a certain age, all you have to do is look at your children or grandchildren (or those of your friends and neighbors) and you know that no one, Donald Trump included, should have the right to consign&#160;them&#160;to the flames. What did they ever do to end up in a hell on Earth?</p>
<p>2018 is on the horizon.&#160; Let’s make it a better time, not the end of time.</p> | true | 4 | lets start universe work way cares far know160they160arent far know one exists galaxy perhaps anywhere else us creatures alltoomodest planet dont count aliens caring happens humanity wont for160it160 earth planet cant course care matter it160 im sure wont news comes to160him160 mean course president donald j trump reputedly void normal quotient human empathy might dont give seconds thought160 beyond businesses possibly possibly family clearly couldnt give less damn us matter happens anyone departs planet for160us rest us united states least already know something nature caring160 yale study released last march indicated that160 70 us160 surprising still less overwhelming number given bynowwellestablished apocalyptic dangers involved believe global warming actually occurring160 less half us however expect be160 personally harmed160by it160 quote eminently quotable160 alfred e newman worry tell way inhabitants of160 ojai160and southern california hotspots 160 infernos actually reduced cinders december month long ago wasnt160significant came fires state160 blazes surprise thanks way fire seasons are160 lengthening160on warming planet160 burning december simply part governor california surveying fire damage recently160 dubbed160the new normal ever powerful atlantic hurricanes growing increasingly fierce pass warming waters caribbean gulf mexico way to160 batter160the united states likely another new normal american world wake the160 hottest year160on record live a160 newnormal planet means significantly extreme one160 perhaps fitting political version new normal involves wildly overheated overbearing overhyped overtweeted president even only160 60odd percent160of us believe could truly harm us160 hes man the160new york times160 reported160recently begins boil doubt disturbance doesnt find headlines focus cable everything even day two160 hes man seems thrive pot boiling hes center universe160 world weve prepared an160 incendiary figure160 later immersed evolving trumpocalypse160 sense even donald entered oval office160 consider meant elect visibly disturbed human highest office powerful potentially destructive nation earth160 tell you160 one possibility given the160 near majority160of american voters sent white house campaign 2016 already living a160 deeply disturbed160country160 considering coming of160 1 elections growth plutocracy blooming new gilded age whose wealth disparities must already be160 competitive160with nineteenthcentury predecessor the160 rise160of national security state endless wars turning generational increasing160 militarization160of country the160 demobilization160of people mention twentyfirstcentury american developments hardly surprising could donald trump end evolutionary history recently mulling extremity trumpian moment a160 depiction evolution160from youth popped head160 sometimes back illustrations remember began fishlike creature flippering way water transformed reptile one known march progress started160 with160a hunched apelike creature160 followed series figures left right grew ever more160homosapienslike ever upright last guy muscularlooking fellow walking ohsoerectly course proud specimen us went without saying time proud end line planet160 progress personified160 even youth however also process updating evolutionary end point160 height cold war united states soviet union fear another kind end one might truly end everything become nightmarish commonplace lives one night almost 60 years ago instance still vividly remember hands knees crawling rubble atomically devastated city160 nightmare course sort anything uncommon us growing then160 times especially the160 cuban missile crisis160of 1962 nuclear nightmares left world dreams and160 pop culture160for everyday life160 even child regularly experienced fear obliteration air raid sirens wailed outside classroom window radio teachers desk broadcast warnings from160 conelrad ducked covered your160 flimsy desk implosion soviet union 1991 fears receded though shouldnt since world spreading nuclear states already knew nuclear winter meant terrifying160 perfectly imaginable nuclear war superpowers regional powers like india pakistan could put much smoke many particulates atmosphere absorb sunlight years radically cooling planet possibly160 starving out160most humanity moment however nuclear fears160 returned160in significant way160 circumstances half century march progress imagery became popular provisionally update might add singularly recognizable figure far right side diorama appropriately enough large slightly stooped man jutchin flaming face distinctive orange combover brings us straightforward enough question could donald trump prove end evolutionary history answer however provisionally could minimum right qualifies dangerous man planet might indeed final stopping spot least person pointed way toward human history everything led moment us rough beast hour come round last whatever however dont blame donald trump this160 simply particularly unsettling version of160homo sapiens160ushered white house backlash vote dissatisfaction 2016160 got unexpectedly found powers beyond compare awaiting like many loaded guns160 true two presidents preceded automatically became commanderinchief country its160 assassininchief found personal control armada of160 drone aircraft160that could sent anywhere earth command kill anyone choosing160 beck call also equivalent historian chalmers johnson once160 called160the presidents private army armies cia irregulars johnson familiar us militarys vast secretive160 special operations forces160 however found charge planets largest nuclear arsenal weaponry and160 alone160could order use short like countrys presidents since august 1945 fully weaponized capable singlehandedly turning planet significant parts instant inferno wasteland incendiary phrase relation north korea fire fury160 january 20 2017 words became personification duckandcover planet even though true since 1950s really nowhere hide160 made difference was160 woefully ignorant160about nature power weaponry speaking planetary infernos also found weaponized came second set instruments ultimate destruction less160 ignorant160and even thrall160 brought oval office make america great nostalgia his160 fossilfuelized childhood world160of 1950s160 weaponized big energy arrived prepared ensure wealthiest powerful country planet would clear way yet more160 pipelines160 fracking offshore160 drilling every imaginable form exploitation oil natural gas coal but160 alternative energy intended create he160 proclaimed new golden age american energy independence energy dominance planetary scale heres really means his160 executive orders160and decisions the160 stunning range160of climate deniers and160 big oil enthusiasts160he appointed key posts administration indeed ensure ever greenhouse gas emissions burning fossil fuels enter atmosphere years come creating basis another kind apocalypse promotion global warming first year office reasonable say certain trumpian pride president made united states planets truly exceptional nation november five months president trump160 announced160that us would withdraw soon possible paris climate agreement fight global warming syria countries160 finally signed160onto last nation earth so160 meant country truly well cant say left cold planet anymore quite literally160exceptional160in singleminded efforts ensure destruction environment long ensured humanitys wellbeing made creation illustrations evolutionary progress possible still cant blame president trump either160 hes responsible ingenuity gift evolution led us wittingly case nuclear weapons initially unwittingly case climate change take powers relegated gods place hands january 20 2017 fact the160 hands160of donald j trump160 dont blame alone fact apocalyptic moment history might come via an160 asteroid160from outer space trump tower living man whose ultimate urge seems bring world boil around himself160 possible might indeed first president since harry truman 1945 order use nuclear weapons160 nobel prize winner beatrice fihn director international campaign abolish nuclear weapons recently160 commented world might tiny tantrum away nuclear war asia160 least may already helping launch new global nuclear arms race countries from160 south korea japan160to160 iran160and160 saudi arabia160could find worldending arsenals leaving nuclear winter hands well dont even think imagine amended evolutionary chart perhaps honor donalds recent announcement us recognizing jerusalem israels capital call mind poet william butler yeatss160 words160about world best lack conviction worst full passionate intensity rough beast hour come round last slouching towards bethlehem born160 think genuine horror much worldending power hands single human less disturbed disturbing one course donald trump might represent end line began in160 african valley160so many millennia ago nothing planet graven stone comes us160 still potential freedom choose otherwise otherwise160 capacity wonders well horrors160 ability create well destroy phrase jonathan schell the160 fate earth160remains hands ours160 if160they nonexistent aliens dont care planet cant care alien white house doesnt give damn us care160 us protest resist change communicate convince fight life rather destruction youre certain age look children grandchildren friends neighbors know one donald trump included right consign160them160to flames ever end hell earth 2018 horizon160 lets make better time end time | 1,235 |
<p>In January, Sheila Rowbotham presented her latest work, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844672956/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Edward Carpenter: A Life of Liberty and Love</a> (2008), at a conference at UCLA, which was cosponsored by the Center for the Study of Women and the Center for Social Theory and Comparative History. Her most recent study is of an Englishman living a century ago who advocated for and anticipated the struggle of a wide array of social justice issues: women’s rights, anti-vivisection, socialism, gay rights, anti-imperialism, prison reform, free love, and a general freedom of thought.</p>
<p>I first was introduced to Sheila Rowbotham’s work when <a href="" type="internal">Promise of a Dream: Remembering the Sixties</a> (2002) was published. My graduate advisor at the time had told me to read it to gain a better perspective of the anti-nuclear campaign in Britain. This aspect of the work was intriguing but what held my undivided attention was Rowbotham’s socialist feminism. Her strong, unfaltering voice of woman’s freedom came through clear and unmistakable. A few years later, when writing my dissertation on a radical social settlement in Greenwich Village, I stumbled across a personal narrative that needed such illumination that she could provide.</p>
<p>In 1905, Crystal Eastman, sister of radical journalist Max Eastman, was living in the Village while studying law at NYU. Before bohemianism had really set in, tales of a local hotspot circulated through the neighborhood. The young Eastman, looking to make friends, wanted to be there. Luckily, her occasional beau, Paul Kellogg, was a member. She later told her brother: “The settlement where Mr. Kellogg takes his meals and where he has taken me twice for dinner, Greenwich House – is the place of all places where I want to get next year. . . . The reason I like it is because they are all cranks and reformers, and sooner or later every really interesting up and doing radical who comes to this country gets down to Greenwich House for a meal.” She was certain that “if I can get in there and make them like me, I shall consider my future made as far as real living goes.”</p>
<p>Crystal was warm and personable, making it easy to like her. Within a year, she found herself exactly where she wished to be at Greenwich House. The fiery Eastman’s initial impression of its director, Mary Simkhovitch, must have been chilling, but her husband was a different story. In stark contrast, the handsome Vladimir, a professor of economics at Columbia University, was secretly attracted to Eastman. Within a short period of time, she found herself included not only in the midst of the activity of the settlement but also within the closest circles of Vladimir Simkhovitch, receiving invitations to exclusive and intimidating groups such as the Philosophical Society where she dined and conversed with those in the upper echelons of New York intelligentsia.</p>
<p>In the fall of 1906, Vladimir and Crystal began a love affair. As Vladimir recalled, the affair began one evening when Eastman called him outside to stand on Jones Street with her. There they listened to Shubert’s Serenade that was playing from one of the tenements. This “most wonderful of all God’s miracles,” as Vladimir remembered it, led to “a beautiful, wonderful sacred year.”</p>
<p>The following March, Mary Simkhovitch invited Crystal to stay with their children at Mount Kisco located just north of the city where the family occasionally went for retreat. Simkhovitch and her husband were to arrive a couple days later. Whatever transpired during her stay with them, shortly thereafter Vladimir reluctantly, but definitively, ended the affair. To comfort Eastman, Vladimir resolved, in his usual poetic way, that “these memories will fade and wilt and evaporate and nothing will be left, except what has become a part of me. Thank God, a great deal of you has become a part of myself.” Within a couple months, and after much fraudulent gossip and whispering, Eastman was forced to leave Greenwich House through the guise of an invitation by Paul Kellogg to join him in his research in Pittsburgh.</p>
<p>After leaving, Eastman confided to her brother: “I have been feeling lately, somewhat lost and stranded, as if I couldn’t tell where or with what people I belonged.” It seems she was suffering from paradise lost, despite taking with her all that which she had learned. In Gerald McFarland’s <a href="" type="internal">Inside Greenwich Village</a> (2001), attention is given to this affair, suggesting that the socio-economic principles that had been instilled in the young Eastman at Greenwich House was merely a side thought to their personal lives. Yet, those ideals were precisely what had attracted her to Vladimir. McFarland overlooked the fact that passion, in whatever form it is realized, can propel one, as it did Eastman, to take interest in a deeper understanding of the work she already had divested herself in and can generate some of the most articulate and insightful accomplishments. Love was the bait that had hooked her into the struggle for workers’ and women’s justice. The affair between the two was not merely an entertaining anecdote. It was the point in time that Crystal Eastman found her voice and expressed it the best she could.</p>
<p>As it turned out, the research project that she joined gave her opportunity to meet with other heavy hitters of the labor movement and to investigate working conditions. Crystal herself worked tirelessly to uncover case after case of infuriating evidence of negligence: “Helper – flooring factory – age 18 – clothing caught by set-screws in shafting; both arms and legs torn off; death ensued in five hours.” Nor was this the end of such savage disregard. Left behind were the families who had lost their means of subsistence. While families fought for some sort of meager compensation, the children stayed at home with no food to eat. Alternatively, they were robbed by unscrupulous ambulance chasers who claimed false promises.</p>
<p>Eastman made it clear that it was not insurance and compensation that she wanted. Rather, after having revealed such a dismissal of the value of human life, she sought a revolution. Pragmatically, however, she put her mind towards the immediate passage of workmen’s compensation legislation. Such legislation, she believed, forcibly altered capitalism’s indifference towards the loss of life. Those deaths, with such legislation enforced, would prove costly to the employers.</p>
<p>Eastman’s contribution to the survey, published as Work Accidents and the Law (1910), directly resulted in the passage of the first workmen’s compensation laws in the United States. No small feat for a twenty-nine year old woman uncertain of her future. This led her to work as an investigative attorney for the United States Commission on Industrial Relations and honored with the title of “the most dangerous woman in America.”</p>
<p>In addition to labor rights, Eastman directed her attention in the coming years towards mobilizing opinion against imperialism and war. She helped establish the Woman’s Peace Party and acted as president of the New York branch. Seeing the need for more forceful efforts against imperial terror and violence, she co-created the American Union Against Militarism. This organization was to produce a response to war-mongering hysterics and sought to end such crude aspects of World War One as the profiteering from contemporary Haliburtons of her day. Perhaps her most successful anti-war protest came in 1917 when she and Roger Baldwin, who had come to New York the previous year to assist her with the AUAM, organized the American Civil Liberties Union. In so doing, she sought to defend wartime dissenters and conscientious objectors given little representation and branded as inside enemies of democracy and freedom. Or, as she might say, to have something left to come home to after the war.</p>
<p>In addition to workers and pacifists, Eastman focused on the liberation of women. Drawing from her own experiences, the time at Greenwich House played a pivotal role in forming her perspective. Agency existed within its community. There was, however, a lack of feminist mindfulness. As she later suggested, the feminist “knows that the whole of woman’s slavery is not summed up in the profit system, nor her complete emancipation assured by the downfall of capitalism.” Elsie Clews Parsons, another feminist who Eastman knew from Greenwich House, supported this hypothesis when she proposed, “long after the problem of economic monopoly will have been solved the question of human monopoly will continue to harry us.” Parsons, an acclaimed anthropologist, proudly found herself on the “Who’s Who in Pacifism and Radicalism” list created by military intelligence in 1919. Randolph Bourne once said of Parsons: “If you are interested in rare persons, there she is.” Yet, she was as perplexed as Eastman by women’s inability to express their free will within socialist circles.</p>
<p>Fifty years later, Rowbotham took up this issue once more. In an article appearing in the January 1969 issue of Black Dwarf, she discussed the link between Marxism and sexual humiliation. Shortly after its publication, she resigned from the editorial board as her contribution caused internal controversy. Her parting words to the other members of the board was to suggest that “they sit around imagining they had cunts for two minutes in silence so they could understand why it was hard for me to discuss what I had written on women.” This farewell, while imaginative and cutting, also speaks to the heart of what it was she was saying. Rowbotham found difficulty in writing about the causation between Marxism and sexual degradation. As she later reflected, this was not the least because Marxist indoctrination often leaves out for women “how it feels in the head.”</p>
<p>Through writing the article, she combated “a hopeless bitter rage,” and worse, feeling like “a completely neurotic freak.” This was because, despite the liberation that Marxists offer the worker, capitalism still exists in the head when the same notions are applied to women. While often a subtle and even undetectable exclusion, it can be exasperating to the women who find themselves engaged in such groups that speak of freedom of the body while still restricting the freedom of the mind. This anger comes not simply from those inflicting such restrictions, but also from not being able to identify clearly for women themselves what is the root of the problem. In the head, it does not feel good.</p>
<p>Eastman and Rowbotham both understood this feeling. Eastman supported the notion when she stated: “all feminists are familiar with the revolutionary leader who can’t see.” These must have been the thoughts that manifested after she was unceremoniously forced out of Greenwich House. To be sure, these thoughts did not come until later, confessing to her brother at the time of her departure from the settlement that she felt lost. Nor did she defend herself from the gossip and accusations that ensued. In response to this antagonism, Rowbotham offers up an explanation to young Eastman’s graceless exodus. Rowbotham states that “for people who have no name, who have not been recognized, who have not known themselves,” communication is difficult. When they cannot speak, they feel a bitter, hopeless rage and those who hold themselves to be superior mistake this silence as a sign of stupidity. Then comes the gossip, the accusations, the attacks, ostracism, and demonizing. What is worse, Rowbotham points out that the gossip in particular often is generated by the older, more established women who yield it as a powerful tool against liberation for the younger. It is Rowbotham’s conclusion, of which Eastman would agree, that “the so-called women’s question is thus a whole people question not only because our liberation is inextricably bound up with the revolt of all those who are oppressed, but because their liberation is not realizable fully unless our subordination is ended.”</p>
<p>Eastman did return to Greenwich House. She and Kellogg were invited back, along with other members of the Pittsburgh investigation team, to discuss their work. Even having achieved national recognition, it still was an awkward occasion to be back in the company of her estranged mentor for an evening. Regardless, she had the support of her brother, who had also joined Greenwich House and had a hand in arranging her visit. Learning of the affair only after Crystal left, he had become her confidant. In so doing, Max did not judge his sister harshly. Rather, he encouraged her to go forward in her ideals. Despite promoting his sister’s independence, however, he must have understood the softer side of love and politics. Throughout the years to come, he kept her informed of Vladimir, responding to such inquiries as “How does he seem? You know what I want to know.”</p>
<p>As for Sheila Rowbotham, there is not an exodus planned for the near future. A professor at the University of Manchester since 1995, the university administration attempted to force her into retirement last year. Students there, who must also have learned from her unfaltering voice, successfully protested the decision. Rowbotham was extended a three-year contract.</p>
<p>TRACEY BRIGGS lives in Chicago and can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | true | 4 | january sheila rowbotham presented latest work edward carpenter life liberty love 2008 conference ucla cosponsored center study women center social theory comparative history recent study englishman living century ago advocated anticipated struggle wide array social justice issues womens rights antivivisection socialism gay rights antiimperialism prison reform free love general freedom thought first introduced sheila rowbothams work promise dream remembering sixties 2002 published graduate advisor time told read gain better perspective antinuclear campaign britain aspect work intriguing held undivided attention rowbothams socialist feminism strong unfaltering voice womans freedom came clear unmistakable years later writing dissertation radical social settlement greenwich village stumbled across personal narrative needed illumination could provide 1905 crystal eastman sister radical journalist max eastman living village studying law nyu bohemianism really set tales local hotspot circulated neighborhood young eastman looking make friends wanted luckily occasional beau paul kellogg member later told brother settlement mr kellogg takes meals taken twice dinner greenwich house place places want get next year reason like cranks reformers sooner later every really interesting radical comes country gets greenwich house meal certain get make like shall consider future made far real living goes crystal warm personable making easy like within year found exactly wished greenwich house fiery eastmans initial impression director mary simkhovitch must chilling husband different story stark contrast handsome vladimir professor economics columbia university secretly attracted eastman within short period time found included midst activity settlement also within closest circles vladimir simkhovitch receiving invitations exclusive intimidating groups philosophical society dined conversed upper echelons new york intelligentsia fall 1906 vladimir crystal began love affair vladimir recalled affair began one evening eastman called outside stand jones street listened shuberts serenade playing one tenements wonderful gods miracles vladimir remembered led beautiful wonderful sacred year following march mary simkhovitch invited crystal stay children mount kisco located north city family occasionally went retreat simkhovitch husband arrive couple days later whatever transpired stay shortly thereafter vladimir reluctantly definitively ended affair comfort eastman vladimir resolved usual poetic way memories fade wilt evaporate nothing left except become part thank god great deal become part within couple months much fraudulent gossip whispering eastman forced leave greenwich house guise invitation paul kellogg join research pittsburgh leaving eastman confided brother feeling lately somewhat lost stranded couldnt tell people belonged seems suffering paradise lost despite taking learned gerald mcfarlands inside greenwich village 2001 attention given affair suggesting socioeconomic principles instilled young eastman greenwich house merely side thought personal lives yet ideals precisely attracted vladimir mcfarland overlooked fact passion whatever form realized propel one eastman take interest deeper understanding work already divested generate articulate insightful accomplishments love bait hooked struggle workers womens justice affair two merely entertaining anecdote point time crystal eastman found voice expressed best could turned research project joined gave opportunity meet heavy hitters labor movement investigate working conditions crystal worked tirelessly uncover case case infuriating evidence negligence helper flooring factory age 18 clothing caught setscrews shafting arms legs torn death ensued five hours end savage disregard left behind families lost means subsistence families fought sort meager compensation children stayed home food eat alternatively robbed unscrupulous ambulance chasers claimed false promises eastman made clear insurance compensation wanted rather revealed dismissal value human life sought revolution pragmatically however put mind towards immediate passage workmens compensation legislation legislation believed forcibly altered capitalisms indifference towards loss life deaths legislation enforced would prove costly employers eastmans contribution survey published work accidents law 1910 directly resulted passage first workmens compensation laws united states small feat twentynine year old woman uncertain future led work investigative attorney united states commission industrial relations honored title dangerous woman america addition labor rights eastman directed attention coming years towards mobilizing opinion imperialism war helped establish womans peace party acted president new york branch seeing need forceful efforts imperial terror violence cocreated american union militarism organization produce response warmongering hysterics sought end crude aspects world war one profiteering contemporary haliburtons day perhaps successful antiwar protest came 1917 roger baldwin come new york previous year assist auam organized american civil liberties union sought defend wartime dissenters conscientious objectors given little representation branded inside enemies democracy freedom might say something left come home war addition workers pacifists eastman focused liberation women drawing experiences time greenwich house played pivotal role forming perspective agency existed within community however lack feminist mindfulness later suggested feminist knows whole womans slavery summed profit system complete emancipation assured downfall capitalism elsie clews parsons another feminist eastman knew greenwich house supported hypothesis proposed long problem economic monopoly solved question human monopoly continue harry us parsons acclaimed anthropologist proudly found whos pacifism radicalism list created military intelligence 1919 randolph bourne said parsons interested rare persons yet perplexed eastman womens inability express free within socialist circles fifty years later rowbotham took issue article appearing january 1969 issue black dwarf discussed link marxism sexual humiliation shortly publication resigned editorial board contribution caused internal controversy parting words members board suggest sit around imagining cunts two minutes silence could understand hard discuss written women farewell imaginative cutting also speaks heart saying rowbotham found difficulty writing causation marxism sexual degradation later reflected least marxist indoctrination often leaves women feels head writing article combated hopeless bitter rage worse feeling like completely neurotic freak despite liberation marxists offer worker capitalism still exists head notions applied women often subtle even undetectable exclusion exasperating women find engaged groups speak freedom body still restricting freedom mind anger comes simply inflicting restrictions also able identify clearly women root problem head feel good eastman rowbotham understood feeling eastman supported notion stated feminists familiar revolutionary leader cant see must thoughts manifested unceremoniously forced greenwich house sure thoughts come later confessing brother time departure settlement felt lost defend gossip accusations ensued response antagonism rowbotham offers explanation young eastmans graceless exodus rowbotham states people name recognized known communication difficult speak feel bitter hopeless rage hold superior mistake silence sign stupidity comes gossip accusations attacks ostracism demonizing worse rowbotham points gossip particular often generated older established women yield powerful tool liberation younger rowbothams conclusion eastman would agree socalled womens question thus whole people question liberation inextricably bound revolt oppressed liberation realizable fully unless subordination ended eastman return greenwich house kellogg invited back along members pittsburgh investigation team discuss work even achieved national recognition still awkward occasion back company estranged mentor evening regardless support brother also joined greenwich house hand arranging visit learning affair crystal left become confidant max judge sister harshly rather encouraged go forward ideals despite promoting sisters independence however must understood softer side love politics throughout years come kept informed vladimir responding inquiries seem know want know sheila rowbotham exodus planned near future professor university manchester since 1995 university administration attempted force retirement last year students must also learned unfaltering voice successfully protested decision rowbotham extended threeyear contract tracey briggs lives chicago reached traceyabriggsyahoocom | 1,124 |
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<p>So you think Donald Trump is the biggest threat to world peace? And Barack Obama engineered America’s “pivot to Asia”?</p>
<p>It was actually Hillary Clinton, emphasising the necessity of a “strategic turn” for the United States, who launched the pivot to Asia in an October 2011 article titled “America’s Pacific Century”. The tone was martial: “Our military is by far the strongest and our economy is by far the largest.” The South China Sea duly featured: “Half the world’s merchant tonnage flows through this water”. Informed observers didn’t need a manual to spot Clinton’s subtle cue alerting them to the danger of China’s “nine-dashed line”.</p>
<p>Clinton’s essay preceded Obama’s November 2011 speech to the Australian Parliament in which he officially announced the pivot. The key theme was the US as a “Pacific nation”. The tone was mostly combative. Only after 10 long confrontational paragraphs did a meek “effort to build a cooperative relationship with China” appear.</p>
<p>As a presidential candidate in 2008, Clinton’s tone was way more composed. She admitted that the US budget deficit was largely funded by Chinese purchases of US Treasury bills. She then seemed to be subscribing to the widely held notion in the Beltway that the root of US global hegemony is economic.</p>
<p>Five years later, Clinton had substantially changed her mind to write her pivot essay. The source was none other than the intellectual/conceptual author of the pivot: Kurt Campbell, then US assistant secretary of state for Asia.</p>
<p>Campbell is classic revolving door material – Marshall scholar at Oxford, active duty in the navy, a job at the Pentagon under Bill Clinton, and at the State Department in the first Obama term under Hillary. It took him a full two years to “win” the bureaucracy/intellectual battle inside Foggy Bottom that resulted in Hillary Clinton’s essay and Obama’s speech.</p>
<p>From the beginning, the pivot’s focus was of course China – an attempt to reach a delicate balance between economic partners/strategic rivals. Obama may have been progressively swinging towards “rival”. But, already in mid-2010, the decision had actually been Clinton’s. In a conference in Hanoi, she announced that the US had a “national interest” in “respect for international law in the South China Sea”.</p>
<p>That was the crucial moment when the evolving US-China showdown in the South China Sea actually began – framing the whole subsequent pivot as a provocative, over-militarised gambit liable to spin out of control.</p>
<p>Kurt Campbell is now the CEO of an Asia-centred advisory group. He’s also associated with the Washington think tank Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), a neocon-neoliberalcon mix. It’s CNAS that came up with the geopolitical road map to be adopted by a future President Clinton. Key signatories include Campbell, the godfather of the neocons Robert Kagan, and Michele Flournoy, formerly with the Pentagon and a co-founder of CNAS.</p>
<p>“Extending American Power: Strategies to Expand US Engagement in a Competitive World Order”, as the report is titled, predictably peddles Exceptionalism. It extols “freedom of navigation” in the South China Sea – which is code for the US navy forever controlling the sea lanes straddling China’s supply chain. It calls for a no-fly zone in Syria – which would pit the US air force against the Russian air force. And it’s a sucker for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) – the China-excluding, Nato-on-trade-style arm of the pivot.</p>
<p>Clinton, the real pivot champion, was of course a huge supporter of the TPP from the start. But during the presidential campaign, she flip-flopped. If elected, there’s no question the TPP will be promoted no holds barred.</p>
<p>Clinton’s CNAS road map made a surreptitious appearance during the first, contentious presidential debate, when she aligned no less than three of the Pentagon/US Strategic Command’s five existential “threats” to the US in the same breath.</p>
<p>While discussing cyberattacks on the US, Clinton managed to expand in one sweep from cyberspace to Full Spectrum Dominance – the official Pentagon doctrine since 2002.</p>
<p>“Whether it’s Russia, China, Iran, or anybody else, the United States has much greater capacity. And we are not going to sit idly by and permit state actors to go after our information, our private sector information or our public sector information,” she said.</p>
<p>The message was clear; the Pentagon is closely watching – in every domain – these three “existential threats” who happen to be the key powers closely involved in Eurasian integration: Russia, China and Iran.</p>
<p>The “Full Spectrum Dominance” doctrine also implies nuclear pre-eminence. The guarantee of a US first nuclear strike – arguably against one of those top Pentagon existential “threats” – is a crucial vector of this doctrine, to which the pivot to Asia is subordinated. No wonder pivot champion Clinton, during the first debate, could not reject the doctrine.</p>
<p>And yet Trump, in one short sentence, actually may have ruled out World War III if he becomes president. He said: “I would certainly not do first-strike”.</p>
<p>The CNAS report is essentially a diluted version of the Pentagon’s Full Spectrum Dominance. China, as well as Russia and Iran, are essentially seen as hostile powers bent on Eurasian integration – standing between America’s “Pacific Century” and an irreversible, tumultuous decline. This is a bipartisan, neocon/neoliberalcon feeling in Washington. And pivoting, nuclear first-strike Clinton is their Great White Hope.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">This piece first appeared at SCMP</a>.</p> | true | 4 | think donald trump biggest threat world peace barack obama engineered americas pivot asia actually hillary clinton emphasising necessity strategic turn united states launched pivot asia october 2011 article titled americas pacific century tone martial military far strongest economy far largest south china sea duly featured half worlds merchant tonnage flows water informed observers didnt need manual spot clintons subtle cue alerting danger chinas ninedashed line clintons essay preceded obamas november 2011 speech australian parliament officially announced pivot key theme us pacific nation tone mostly combative 10 long confrontational paragraphs meek effort build cooperative relationship china appear presidential candidate 2008 clintons tone way composed admitted us budget deficit largely funded chinese purchases us treasury bills seemed subscribing widely held notion beltway root us global hegemony economic five years later clinton substantially changed mind write pivot essay source none intellectualconceptual author pivot kurt campbell us assistant secretary state asia campbell classic revolving door material marshall scholar oxford active duty navy job pentagon bill clinton state department first obama term hillary took full two years win bureaucracyintellectual battle inside foggy bottom resulted hillary clintons essay obamas speech beginning pivots focus course china attempt reach delicate balance economic partnersstrategic rivals obama may progressively swinging towards rival already mid2010 decision actually clintons conference hanoi announced us national interest respect international law south china sea crucial moment evolving uschina showdown south china sea actually began framing whole subsequent pivot provocative overmilitarised gambit liable spin control kurt campbell ceo asiacentred advisory group hes also associated washington think tank centre new american security cnas neoconneoliberalcon mix cnas came geopolitical road map adopted future president clinton key signatories include campbell godfather neocons robert kagan michele flournoy formerly pentagon cofounder cnas extending american power strategies expand us engagement competitive world order report titled predictably peddles exceptionalism extols freedom navigation south china sea code us navy forever controlling sea lanes straddling chinas supply chain calls nofly zone syria would pit us air force russian air force sucker transpacific partnership tpp chinaexcluding natoontradestyle arm pivot clinton real pivot champion course huge supporter tpp start presidential campaign flipflopped elected theres question tpp promoted holds barred clintons cnas road map made surreptitious appearance first contentious presidential debate aligned less three pentagonus strategic commands five existential threats us breath discussing cyberattacks us clinton managed expand one sweep cyberspace full spectrum dominance official pentagon doctrine since 2002 whether russia china iran anybody else united states much greater capacity going sit idly permit state actors go information private sector information public sector information said message clear pentagon closely watching every domain three existential threats happen key powers closely involved eurasian integration russia china iran full spectrum dominance doctrine also implies nuclear preeminence guarantee us first nuclear strike arguably one top pentagon existential threats crucial vector doctrine pivot asia subordinated wonder pivot champion clinton first debate could reject doctrine yet trump one short sentence actually may ruled world war iii becomes president said would certainly firststrike cnas report essentially diluted version pentagons full spectrum dominance china well russia iran essentially seen hostile powers bent eurasian integration standing americas pacific century irreversible tumultuous decline bipartisan neoconneoliberalcon feeling washington pivoting nuclear firststrike clinton great white hope piece first appeared scmp | 530 |
<p>Abraham Lincoln, as president, chose to reply to an “Address” from the&#160;London-based International Workingmen’s Association. The “Address,” drafted by Karl Marx, congratulated Lincoln on his reelection for a second term. In some resonant&#160;and complex paragraphs, the “Address” heralded the world-historical significance of what had become a war against slavery. The “Address” declared that victory for the North would be a turning point for nineteenth-century politics, an affirmation of free labor, and a defeat for the most reactionary capitalists who depended on slavery and racial oppression.</p>
<p>Lincoln saw only a tiny selection of the avalanche of mail he was sent, employing several secretaries to deal with it. But the US Ambassador in London, Charles Francis Adams, decided to forward the “Address” to Washington. Encouraging every sign of support for the Union was central to Adams’s mission. The Emancipation Proclamation of January 1863 had made this task much easier, but there were still many sections of the British elite who sympathized with the Confederacy and some who favored awarding it diplomatic recognition if only public opinion could be brought to accept this.</p>
<p>The “Address” carried, beside that of Marx, the signatures of several prominent British trade unionists as well as&#160;French socialists and German social democrats. The Ambassador wrote to the IWA, explaining that the president had asked him to convey his response to their “Address.” He thanked them for their support and expressed his conviction that the defeat of the rebellion would indeed be a victory for the cause of humanity everywhere. He declared that his country would abstain from&#160;“unlawful intervention” but observed that “The United States regarded their&#160;cause in the present conflict with slavery-maintaining insurgents as the cause of human nature, and they derived new encouragement to persevere from the testimony of the working men of Europe.”</p>
<p>Lincoln would have wished to thank British workers, especially those who supported the North despite the distress caused by the Northern blockade and the resulting “cotton famine.” The appearance of the names of several&#160;German revolutionaries would not have surprised him; the defeat of the 1848 revolutions in Europe had swelled the flood of German migrants arriving in North America. At an earlier date — in 1843 — Marx himself had thought of immigrating to Texas, going so far as to apply to the mayor of Trier, his birthplace, for an immigration permit.</p>
<p>What path would world history have taken if Marx had become a Texan? We will never know. What we do know is that Marx remained in touch with many of the exiles. His famous essay on “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Napoleon” was first published in New York in German. Not all German émigrés were radicals, but many were. With their beer halls, patriotic songs, and kindergartens, they helped to broaden the distinctly Puritan culture of Republicanism. They had been educated to despise slaveholding, and eventually nearly two hundred thousand German Americans volunteered for the Union army.</p>
<p>There was an affinity between the German democratic nationalism of 1848 and the free labor doctrine of the newly-established US Republican Party, so it is not surprising that a number of Marx’s friends and comrades not only became staunch supporters of the Northern cause but received senior commissions. Joseph Weydemeyer and August Willich, both former members of the Communist League, were promoted first to the ranks of Colonel and then to General.</p>
<p>Lincoln may have recognized the name Karl Marx when he read the IWA “Address,” since Marx had been a prolific contributor to the&#160;New York Daily&#160;Tribune, the most influential Republican newspaper of the 1850s. Charles A. Dana, publisher of the Tribune, first met Marx in Cologne in 1848 at a time when he edited the widely read&#160;Neue Rheinische Zeitung. In 1852, Dana invited Marx to become a correspondent for the&#160;Tribune. Over the next decade he wrote — with some help from his&#160;friend Engels — over five hundred articles for the&#160;Tribune. Hundreds of these pieces were published under Marx’s name, but eighty-four appeared as unsigned editorials. He wrote on a global range of topics, sometimes occupying two or three pages of a sixteen-page newspaper.</p>
<p>Once the Civil War began, US newspapers lost interest in foreign coverage unless it directly related to the war. Marx wrote several pieces for European papers explaining what was at stake in the conflict and contesting the claim, widely heard in European capitals, that slavery had nothing to do with the conflict. Important sections of the British and French elites had strong commercial ties to the US South, buying huge quantities of slave-grown cotton. But some European liberals with no direct link to the slave economy argued that secession by the Southern states had to be accepted because of the principle of self-determination. They attacked the North’s option for war and its failure to repudiate slavery.</p>
<p>In Marx’s eyes, British observers who claimed to deplore slavery yet backed the Confederacy were simply humbugs. He attacked the visceral hostility to the North evident in the&#160;Economist&#160;and the&#160;Times&#160;(of London). These papers claimed that the real cause of the conflict was Northern protectionism against the free trade favored by the South. Marx rebutted their arguments in a series of brilliant articles for&#160;Die Presse, a Viennese publication, which caustically demolished their economic determinism, and instead sketched out an alternative account — subtle, structural, and political — of the origins of the war.</p>
<p>Marx insisted that secession had been prompted by the Southern elite’s political fears. They knew that power within the Union was shifting against them. The South was losing its tight grip on federal institutions because of the dynamism of the Northwest, a destination for many new immigrants. As the Northwest Territory matured&#160;into free states, the South found itself outnumbered; the North was loath to recognize any new slave states. The slaveholders had alienated Northerners by requiring them to arrest and return fugitive slaves, yet they knew they needed the wholehearted support of their fellow citizens if they were to defend their “peculiar institution.” Lincoln’s election was seen as a deadly threat because he owed Southerners nothing and had promised to oppose any expansion of slavery.</p>
<p>Marx gave full support to the Union cause, even though Lincoln initially refused to make emancipation a war goal. Marx was confident that the clash of rival social regimes, based on opposing systems of labor, would sooner or later surface as the real issue. While consistently supporting the North, he wrote that the Union would only triumph if it adopted the revolutionary anti-slavery measures advocated by Wendell Phillips and other radical abolitionists. He was particularly impressed by Phillips’s speeches in 1862 calling to strike down all compromises with slavery. He approvingly quoted Phillips’s dictum that “God had placed the thunderbolt of emancipation” in Northern hands and they should use it.</p>
<p>Marx continued to correspond with Dana and sent him his articles (Dana was fluent in German). By this time Dana had left the world of journalism to become Lincoln’s “eyes and ears” as a special commissioner in the War Department, touring the fronts and reporting to the White House that Ulysses Grant was the man to back. Marx argued in&#160;Die Presse&#160;in March 1862 that the Union armies should abandon their encirclement strategy and seek to cut the Confederacy in two. Dana may have noticed that Grant had reached the same conclusion by instinct and experience. In 1863, Dana became Assistant Secretary of the War Department.</p>
<p>Marx was delighted when Lincoln — emboldened by the abolitionist campaign and a radicalization of Northern&#160;opinion — announced his intention to issue an Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863. The Proclamation would make it difficult for the British or French governments to award diplomatic recognition to the Confederacy. It also allowed for the enrollment of freedmen in the Union army.</p>
<p>Marx and Lincoln had very divergent opinions on business corporations and wage labor, but from today’s perspective they shared something important: they both loathed exploitation and regarded labor as the ultimate source of value. In his first message to Congress in December 1861, Lincoln criticized the “effort to place capital on an equal footing with, if not above, labor in the structure of government.” Instead, he insisted, “labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor .&#160;.&#160;. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.”</p>
<p>Lincoln believed that in America the wage laborer was free to rise by his own efforts and could become a&#160;professional, or even an employer. Marx held that this picture of social mobility was a mirage, and that only a handful could succeed in acquiring economic independence.</p>
<p>For Marx, the wage worker was only partly free since he had to sell his labor to another so that he and his family might live. But, since he was not a slave, the free worker could organize and agitate for, say, a shorter working day and free education. Weydemeyer had launched an American Labor Federation in 1853 which backed these objectives and which declared its ranks open to all “regardless of occupation, language, color, or sex.” These themes became central to the politics of Marx’s followers in America.</p>
<p>Lincoln’s assassination led Marx to write a new “Address” from the IWA to his successor, with a fulsome tribute to the slain president. In this text, Marx described Lincoln as “a man neither to be browbeaten by adversity, nor intoxicated by success, inflexibly pressing on to his great goal, never compromising&#160;it by blind haste, slowly maturing his steps, never retracing them .&#160;.&#160;. doing his titanic work as humbly and homely as heaven-born rulers do little things with the grandiloquence of pomp and state. Such, indeed, was the modesty of this great and good man that the world only discovered him a hero after he had fallen a martyr.” However, the tragic loss could not prevent Northern victory opening the way to a “new era of the emancipation of labor.”</p>
<p>Marx and Engels were both soon troubled by the actions of Andrew Johnson, the new president. On 15 July 1865, Engels wrote to his friend attacking Johnson: “His hatred of Negroes comes out more and more violently .&#160;.&#160;. If things go on like this, in six months all the old villains of secession will be sitting in Congress at Washington. Without colored suffrage, nothing whatever can be done there.” Radical Republicans soon came to the same conclusion.</p>
<p>In the immediate aftermath of the war, and thanks in part to the publication of the IWA addresses, the&#160;International attracted much interest and support in the United States.</p>
<p>Marx was putting the finishing touches on&#160;Capital: Volume I&#160;in 1866–67, and included a new section at this late stage on the determinants of the length of the working day. The call for an eight-hour day had emerged as a key demand in several US states. In 1867, the IWA welcomed the appearance of a National Labor Union in the US, formed to spread the demand as a unifying goal.</p>
<p>At its first conference the NLU declared: “The National Labor Union knows no&#160;north, no south, no east, no west, neither color nor sex, on the question of the rights of labor.” Within the space of a year, eight different Northern states adopted the eight-hour day for public employees.</p>
<p>The regions of the United States offered very different possibilities for political action. Only the presence of Union troops in the South prevented white vigilantes, many of them Confederate veterans, from terrorizing the freedmen. In Tennessee, South Carolina, and Louisiana, there were black congresses that drew up a “Declaration of Rights and Wrongs,” insisting that freedom would be a mockery if it did not entail equal access to buses, trains, and hotels, schools and universities.</p>
<p>In the North and West, the boldest radicals organized sections of the International; by the late 1860s there were about fifty sections and a membership of perhaps five thousand. In December 1871 the IWA in New York organized a seventy-thousand-strong demonstration of sympathy with the victims slaughtered in the suppression of the Paris Commune. The throng prominently featured a black militia called the Skidmore Guards; many trade unionists with their banners; Victoria Woodhull and the feminist leaders of Section 12; an Irish band; and a contingent marching behind the Cuban flag. Many of the unions founded at this time included the word “International” in their name.</p>
<p>But by the early 1870s Northern support for Reconstruction, with its expensive occupation of the South and its bold affronts to racial prejudice, was beginning to ebb. A wave of corruption scandals sapped Republican morale. The real problem, however, was that the Republican program had come apart at the seams. Lincoln had hoped to build a strong and authoritative federal government in Washington, and thus obtain respect for the rule of law throughout the restored Union. In Marx’s eyes, Lincoln would have built the sort of “bourgeois democratic republic” that would have allowed for the emergence of a labor party dedicated to free education, progressive taxation, and an eight-hour work day.</p>
<p>These hopes were dashed. Lincoln’s assassination, the chaos and reaction of the Johnson presidency, and the failure of Ulysses Grant, his successor, to impose moral leadership all undermined or compromised the promise of an authoritative, undivided federal government. Marx was not surprised by the emergence of “robber baron” capitalists, nor by the bitter class strife they unleashed. He had expected — indeed predicted — as much.</p>
<p>But the failure of the federal state to impose its authority on the South was another matter, as was the Northern bosses’ ability to crush strikes by deploying thousands of special constables and Pinkerton men.</p>
<p>The end of slavery certainly validated the momentary alignment of Lincoln and Marx. During Reconstruction (roughly 1868–1876), freedmen could vote, their children could go to school, and there were many black elected officials. In the North, there were gains for the eight-hour movement and the first attempts to regulate the railroad corporations.</p>
<p>But something of the conservative spirit of the antebellum republic, with its aversion to federal taxation, lingered on in the weakness of the federal power. In an ominous development, the Supreme Court declared that the&#160;progressive income tax, introduced by the Lincoln administration in 1862, was unconstitutional. Without the income tax, paying for the war would be much harder and future redistribution impossible.</p>
<p>Another retrograde step was a Supreme Court ruling that construed the promise of equal treatment of “all persons” in the Fourteenth Amendment of 1868 — a measure introduced to protect the freedmen — as offering protection to the new corporations, since they were also deemed to enjoy the status of “persons.” The direct result of this decision was to make it far more difficult for federal or local authorities to regulate corporations (the ruling is still in force).</p>
<p>Reconstruction ended with a deal between Republicans and Democrats that resolved the deadlocked Electoral College of 1876 by confirming the fractured authority of the state. This deal allowed the candidate with fewer votes to enter the White House while requiring the withdrawal of all federal troops from the South. This gave free reign to the lynch mobs.</p>
<p>Within a few months, Grant himself complained, the federal troops that had been prevented from tackling the Ku Klux Klan were sent against the railworkers during the Great Strike of 1877, suppressing it at the cost of a hundred lives. American workers fought back tenaciously, but often on a regional or state-by-state basis.</p>
<p>To many, syndicalism made more sense than the labor party that Marx and Engels advocated, though Marx’s penetrating analysis of capitalism still had an impact on people as diverse as Samuel Gompers (founder of the AFL), Lucy Parsons (syndicalist, feminist, founder of the IWW), and Eugene Debs (Socialist).</p>
<p>The defeat of Lincoln’s vision of a unified, democratic, and authoritative republic was a defeat for the socialists too. Not for the last time, the genius of the US Constitution, with its multiple checks and balances, was to frustrate the plans of progressives.</p> | true | 4 | abraham lincoln president chose reply address the160londonbased international workingmens association address drafted karl marx congratulated lincoln reelection second term resonant160and complex paragraphs address heralded worldhistorical significance become war slavery address declared victory north would turning point nineteenthcentury politics affirmation free labor defeat reactionary capitalists depended slavery racial oppression lincoln saw tiny selection avalanche mail sent employing several secretaries deal us ambassador london charles francis adams decided forward address washington encouraging every sign support union central adamss mission emancipation proclamation january 1863 made task much easier still many sections british elite sympathized confederacy favored awarding diplomatic recognition public opinion could brought accept address carried beside marx signatures several prominent british trade unionists well as160french socialists german social democrats ambassador wrote iwa explaining president asked convey response address thanked support expressed conviction defeat rebellion would indeed victory cause humanity everywhere declared country would abstain from160unlawful intervention observed united states regarded their160cause present conflict slaverymaintaining insurgents cause human nature derived new encouragement persevere testimony working men europe lincoln would wished thank british workers especially supported north despite distress caused northern blockade resulting cotton famine appearance names several160german revolutionaries would surprised defeat 1848 revolutions europe swelled flood german migrants arriving north america earlier date 1843 marx thought immigrating texas going far apply mayor trier birthplace immigration permit path would world history taken marx become texan never know know marx remained touch many exiles famous essay eighteenth brumaire louis napoleon first published new york german german emigres radicals many beer halls patriotic songs kindergartens helped broaden distinctly puritan culture republicanism educated despise slaveholding eventually nearly two hundred thousand german americans volunteered union army affinity german democratic nationalism 1848 free labor doctrine newlyestablished us republican party surprising number marxs friends comrades became staunch supporters northern cause received senior commissions joseph weydemeyer august willich former members communist league promoted first ranks colonel general lincoln may recognized name karl marx read iwa address since marx prolific contributor the160new york daily160tribune influential republican newspaper 1850s charles dana publisher tribune first met marx cologne 1848 time edited widely read160neue rheinische zeitung 1852 dana invited marx become correspondent the160tribune next decade wrote help his160friend engels five hundred articles the160tribune hundreds pieces published marxs name eightyfour appeared unsigned editorials wrote global range topics sometimes occupying two three pages sixteenpage newspaper civil war began us newspapers lost interest foreign coverage unless directly related war marx wrote several pieces european papers explaining stake conflict contesting claim widely heard european capitals slavery nothing conflict important sections british french elites strong commercial ties us south buying huge quantities slavegrown cotton european liberals direct link slave economy argued secession southern states accepted principle selfdetermination attacked norths option war failure repudiate slavery marxs eyes british observers claimed deplore slavery yet backed confederacy simply humbugs attacked visceral hostility north evident the160economist160and the160times160of london papers claimed real cause conflict northern protectionism free trade favored south marx rebutted arguments series brilliant articles for160die presse viennese publication caustically demolished economic determinism instead sketched alternative account subtle structural political origins war marx insisted secession prompted southern elites political fears knew power within union shifting south losing tight grip federal institutions dynamism northwest destination many new immigrants northwest territory matured160into free states south found outnumbered north loath recognize new slave states slaveholders alienated northerners requiring arrest return fugitive slaves yet knew needed wholehearted support fellow citizens defend peculiar institution lincolns election seen deadly threat owed southerners nothing promised oppose expansion slavery marx gave full support union cause even though lincoln initially refused make emancipation war goal marx confident clash rival social regimes based opposing systems labor would sooner later surface real issue consistently supporting north wrote union would triumph adopted revolutionary antislavery measures advocated wendell phillips radical abolitionists particularly impressed phillipss speeches 1862 calling strike compromises slavery approvingly quoted phillipss dictum god placed thunderbolt emancipation northern hands use marx continued correspond dana sent articles dana fluent german time dana left world journalism become lincolns eyes ears special commissioner war department touring fronts reporting white house ulysses grant man back marx argued in160die presse160in march 1862 union armies abandon encirclement strategy seek cut confederacy two dana may noticed grant reached conclusion instinct experience 1863 dana became assistant secretary war department marx delighted lincoln emboldened abolitionist campaign radicalization northern160opinion announced intention issue emancipation proclamation january 1863 proclamation would make difficult british french governments award diplomatic recognition confederacy also allowed enrollment freedmen union army marx lincoln divergent opinions business corporations wage labor todays perspective shared something important loathed exploitation regarded labor ultimate source value first message congress december 1861 lincoln criticized effort place capital equal footing labor structure government instead insisted labor prior independent capital capital fruit labor 160160 labor superior capital deserves much higher consideration lincoln believed america wage laborer free rise efforts could become a160professional even employer marx held picture social mobility mirage handful could succeed acquiring economic independence marx wage worker partly free since sell labor another family might live since slave free worker could organize agitate say shorter working day free education weydemeyer launched american labor federation 1853 backed objectives declared ranks open regardless occupation language color sex themes became central politics marxs followers america lincolns assassination led marx write new address iwa successor fulsome tribute slain president text marx described lincoln man neither browbeaten adversity intoxicated success inflexibly pressing great goal never compromising160it blind haste slowly maturing steps never retracing 160160 titanic work humbly homely heavenborn rulers little things grandiloquence pomp state indeed modesty great good man world discovered hero fallen martyr however tragic loss could prevent northern victory opening way new era emancipation labor marx engels soon troubled actions andrew johnson new president 15 july 1865 engels wrote friend attacking johnson hatred negroes comes violently 160160 things go like six months old villains secession sitting congress washington without colored suffrage nothing whatever done radical republicans soon came conclusion immediate aftermath war thanks part publication iwa addresses the160international attracted much interest support united states marx putting finishing touches on160capital volume i160in 186667 included new section late stage determinants length working day call eighthour day emerged key demand several us states 1867 iwa welcomed appearance national labor union us formed spread demand unifying goal first conference nlu declared national labor union knows no160north south east west neither color sex question rights labor within space year eight different northern states adopted eighthour day public employees regions united states offered different possibilities political action presence union troops south prevented white vigilantes many confederate veterans terrorizing freedmen tennessee south carolina louisiana black congresses drew declaration rights wrongs insisting freedom would mockery entail equal access buses trains hotels schools universities north west boldest radicals organized sections international late 1860s fifty sections membership perhaps five thousand december 1871 iwa new york organized seventythousandstrong demonstration sympathy victims slaughtered suppression paris commune throng prominently featured black militia called skidmore guards many trade unionists banners victoria woodhull feminist leaders section 12 irish band contingent marching behind cuban flag many unions founded time included word international name early 1870s northern support reconstruction expensive occupation south bold affronts racial prejudice beginning ebb wave corruption scandals sapped republican morale real problem however republican program come apart seams lincoln hoped build strong authoritative federal government washington thus obtain respect rule law throughout restored union marxs eyes lincoln would built sort bourgeois democratic republic would allowed emergence labor party dedicated free education progressive taxation eighthour work day hopes dashed lincolns assassination chaos reaction johnson presidency failure ulysses grant successor impose moral leadership undermined compromised promise authoritative undivided federal government marx surprised emergence robber baron capitalists bitter class strife unleashed expected indeed predicted much failure federal state impose authority south another matter northern bosses ability crush strikes deploying thousands special constables pinkerton men end slavery certainly validated momentary alignment lincoln marx reconstruction roughly 18681876 freedmen could vote children could go school many black elected officials north gains eighthour movement first attempts regulate railroad corporations something conservative spirit antebellum republic aversion federal taxation lingered weakness federal power ominous development supreme court declared the160progressive income tax introduced lincoln administration 1862 unconstitutional without income tax paying war would much harder future redistribution impossible another retrograde step supreme court ruling construed promise equal treatment persons fourteenth amendment 1868 measure introduced protect freedmen offering protection new corporations since also deemed enjoy status persons direct result decision make far difficult federal local authorities regulate corporations ruling still force reconstruction ended deal republicans democrats resolved deadlocked electoral college 1876 confirming fractured authority state deal allowed candidate fewer votes enter white house requiring withdrawal federal troops south gave free reign lynch mobs within months grant complained federal troops prevented tackling ku klux klan sent railworkers great strike 1877 suppressing cost hundred lives american workers fought back tenaciously often regional statebystate basis many syndicalism made sense labor party marx engels advocated though marxs penetrating analysis capitalism still impact people diverse samuel gompers founder afl lucy parsons syndicalist feminist founder iww eugene debs socialist defeat lincolns vision unified democratic authoritative republic defeat socialists last time genius us constitution multiple checks balances frustrate plans progressives | 1,497 |
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>As we settle into the twenty-first century, the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Although the fear of “terrorism” has significantly weighted US laws in the police’s favor, the primary reasons for the high incarceration rate remain the war on drug users and a change in penological philosophy from one of rehabilitation (or even punishment) to one of banishment. It is this philosophy that lies behind the so-called “three-strikes and you’re out” laws and initiatives like Oregon’s Measure 11 that established mandatory minimums for certain crimes. There is no attempt involved in these endeavors to seek justice, only a desire for revenge and a pretense that these prisoners are less than human and therefore deserve only a life behind bars or, in some cases, death by the state.</p>
<p>Underlying the current philosophy of imprisonment is the control of demographic groups considered surplus by the corporate world order. This means, among other things, a move away from interest in the individual offender and a shift of focus to what many penologists call “control of aggregates”. These aggregates, or groups, are primarily composed of young men of color, although the number of women from these same groups continues to grow. In the wake of industrial job flight from their neighborhoods, these groups’ presence outside of prison has become increasingly threatening to the ruling structures. As members of these groups turn toward other endeavors to make a living–endeavors often illegal such as drug dealing–the punishment for their actions has become increasingly harsher. In addition, new laws enacted to either enhance current legislation or to make even more actions illegal encourage police to concentrate their enforcement efforts on these groups. This trend is not worldwide, however. In fact, with the exception of the US and the United Kingdom, most other western countries have softened their penalties (or decriminalized them completely) for drug possession and other victimless crimes. In addition, these countries are attempting to find other means of dealing with persons convicted of crime that do not involve incarceration.</p>
<p>In the United States however, the population and practices of prisons reflect the new concerns of those who imprison. It is the belief of the justice system and the legislators who write the laws regulating crime that the only way to stop crime is to lock up as many perpetrators as possible. If these concerns could be portrayed with one image, that image would be the well-armed drug dealer. Furthermore, that drug dealer would be either an African-American, a Latino immigrant, young and usually male, although in recent years, the incarceration rate of women has increased dramatically. The fact that this image has come to represent imprisonment and criminality to the population proves the effectiveness of the prevalent approach to penology as the 20th century ends.</p>
<p>Within the prisons themselves, alarming changes have been made as a result of the aforementioned philosophical change in penology. Perhaps foremost among these changes are longer prison sentences which are often the result of mandatory sentencing and, in many locales, a “three strikes” policy which mandates life imprisonment for a third conviction on a felony. This has led to vast overcrowding in the United States despite an unprecedented surge in prison construction, and the highest incarceration rate in the world. The tangential effects of this practice are seen in the reduction in public funding for education and social welfare programs as policing and imprisonment take a higher and higher percentage of said funds. For example, in California, where the prison population is six times larger than it was in the late 1970s, recent state budgets have called for more spending on prisons and punishment than on higher education. This trend is replicated across the country. In fact, between 1968 and 2000 the percentage increase in state spending on prisons was 6 times the percentage increase of spending on higher education. The total change in spending on higher education by states was 24%, compared with 166% for corrections.</p>
<p>Architecturally, this mission of control has meant the creation of what American prison administrators and prisoners commonly refer to as “super-max” prisoners. Super-max means super-maximum-security and such institutions can now be found in several states and in the federal prison system. Although not completely new to the U.S. system–Alcatraz was a super-max prison in its time–the current version utilizes the most advanced security technology, constant psychological intimidation, and some of the most brutal guards. Prisoners’ movements are severely restricted and the time they spend outside of their individual cells is minimal if at all. Once in, it is very difficult for a prisoner to leave such a unit until his/her sentence is up.</p>
<p>Part of the reason for the upsurge in prison populations is simple: somebody is making money from incarceration. In addition to the drug war dynamic, which perpetuates not only the need for a higher number of drug arrests but also the need for the continued violation of the drug laws in order to justify its existence, prisons themselves are a growing business. Whether it is a company that manufactures or provides equipment used in corrections, a company whose business is building prisons, or the growing industry of staffing privatized prisons, there is money to be made. In addition, the growing contracting of inmates in manufacturing and services by outside industry has created a need for this new element of the labor force. Like death row prisoner Mumia Abu Jamal wrote in one of his many commentaries, “Under a regime where more bodies equal more profits, prisons take one big step closer to their historical ancestor, the slave pen.” Another aspect to the privatization of prisons (and the use of prisoners as labor) is the question of whether the role of these institutions is rehabilitation, punishment or merely the assurance that taxpayer subsidized labor will continue to be provided. Corporations who do contract prison labor range from Starbucks Coffee to the Boeing Corporation. The work is presented to prisoners, legislators and the public as work experience and job opportunities for the inmates when in reality they are nothing but cheap labor opportunities for the participating corporations. With the government assuming costs for all living expenses and a workforce unwilling to challenge labor abuse and other questionable practices for fear of retaliation by prison officials, it is a near perfect environment for the corporation.</p>
<p>As corporate globalism continues to precipitate a shift of more and more capital to the financial capitals of the north, immigration from the poorer countries follows. This has created a problem of controlling these population flows for the receiving countries. The preferred solution seems to be imprisonment in detention centers and/or the cordoning off of neighborhoods where most of the residents are immigrants (usually of Latino or Asian origin). This separation of the immigrant population, while nominally temporary, has in reality created a whole new policing apparatus within the U.S., which has fewer limitations on its enforcement capabilities than the rest of the prison system. This lack of protections is due to the uncertain legal status of some of its subjects. There are enough tales of immigrants who have landed in an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) detention center only to get lost in a Kafkaesque legal maze for years to safely state that these incidents are not accidents of the system but part of its process. Add to this scenario the ongoing abridgement of rights for citizen and non-citizen alike in the wake of 911, and the tribulations of Kafka’s character “K” in his novel The Trial, seem inconsequential.</p>
<p>In the United States, one of the primary reasons (before the PATRIOT ACT and the creation of Homeland Security) for such tales of distress is the 1996 Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act. A major aspect of this law is the denial of asylum to immigrants convicted of a crime, no matter how small, and no matter how long ago in their past the violation occurred. Previously, many of these immigrants were eligible for parole. Now they are assigned to a prison, oftentimes after being discovered during a workplace raid by INS officials. Like prisons for citizens, monetary reasons motivate the rise in imprisonment of immigrants, as well. Many county and city budgets receive large sums of money from the INS, as do private prisons. This dynamic, just as in the rest of the prison world, does not encourage administrators to seek out alternatives to imprisonment. Add to this the desire to control behavior which threatens the middle-class quality of life and the subsequent desire to exile those who exhibit said behavior, and one has another part of the equation that drives the current imprisonment philosophy.</p>
<p>RON JACOBS is author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1859841678/counterpunchmaga" type="external">The Way the Wind Blew: a history of the Weather Underground</a>.</p>
<p>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 settle twentyfirst century united states highest incarceration rate world although fear terrorism significantly weighted us laws polices favor primary reasons high incarceration rate remain war drug users change penological philosophy one rehabilitation even punishment one banishment philosophy lies behind socalled threestrikes youre laws initiatives like oregons measure 11 established mandatory minimums certain crimes attempt involved endeavors seek justice desire revenge pretense prisoners less human therefore deserve life behind bars cases death state underlying current philosophy imprisonment control demographic groups considered surplus corporate world order means among things move away interest individual offender shift focus many penologists call control aggregates aggregates groups primarily composed young men color although number women groups continues grow wake industrial job flight neighborhoods groups presence outside prison become increasingly threatening ruling structures members groups turn toward endeavors make livingendeavors often illegal drug dealingthe punishment actions become increasingly harsher addition new laws enacted either enhance current legislation make even actions illegal encourage police concentrate enforcement efforts groups trend worldwide however fact exception us united kingdom western countries softened penalties decriminalized completely drug possession victimless crimes addition countries attempting find means dealing persons convicted crime involve incarceration united states however population practices prisons reflect new concerns imprison belief justice system legislators write laws regulating crime way stop crime lock many perpetrators possible concerns could portrayed one image image would wellarmed drug dealer furthermore drug dealer would either africanamerican latino immigrant young usually male although recent years incarceration rate women increased dramatically fact image come represent imprisonment criminality population proves effectiveness prevalent approach penology 20th century ends within prisons alarming changes made result aforementioned philosophical change penology perhaps foremost among changes longer prison sentences often result mandatory sentencing many locales three strikes policy mandates life imprisonment third conviction felony led vast overcrowding united states despite unprecedented surge prison construction highest incarceration rate world tangential effects practice seen reduction public funding education social welfare programs policing imprisonment take higher higher percentage said funds example california prison population six times larger late 1970s recent state budgets called spending prisons punishment higher education trend replicated across country fact 1968 2000 percentage increase state spending prisons 6 times percentage increase spending higher education total change spending higher education states 24 compared 166 corrections architecturally mission control meant creation american prison administrators prisoners commonly refer supermax prisoners supermax means supermaximumsecurity institutions found several states federal prison system although completely new us systemalcatraz supermax prison timethe current version utilizes advanced security technology constant psychological intimidation brutal guards prisoners movements severely restricted time spend outside individual cells minimal difficult prisoner leave unit hisher sentence part reason upsurge prison populations simple somebody making money incarceration addition drug war dynamic perpetuates need higher number drug arrests also need continued violation drug laws order justify existence prisons growing business whether company manufactures provides equipment used corrections company whose business building prisons growing industry staffing privatized prisons money made addition growing contracting inmates manufacturing services outside industry created need new element labor force like death row prisoner mumia abu jamal wrote one many commentaries regime bodies equal profits prisons take one big step closer historical ancestor slave pen another aspect privatization prisons use prisoners labor question whether role institutions rehabilitation punishment merely assurance taxpayer subsidized labor continue provided corporations contract prison labor range starbucks coffee boeing corporation work presented prisoners legislators public work experience job opportunities inmates reality nothing cheap labor opportunities participating corporations government assuming costs living expenses workforce unwilling challenge labor abuse questionable practices fear retaliation prison officials near perfect environment corporation corporate globalism continues precipitate shift capital financial capitals north immigration poorer countries follows created problem controlling population flows receiving countries preferred solution seems imprisonment detention centers andor cordoning neighborhoods residents immigrants usually latino asian origin separation immigrant population nominally temporary reality created whole new policing apparatus within us fewer limitations enforcement capabilities rest prison system lack protections due uncertain legal status subjects enough tales immigrants landed immigration naturalization service ins detention center get lost kafkaesque legal maze years safely state incidents accidents system part process add scenario ongoing abridgement rights citizen noncitizen alike wake 911 tribulations kafkas character k novel trial seem inconsequential united states one primary reasons patriot act creation homeland security tales distress 1996 illegal immigration reform immigrant responsibility act major aspect law denial asylum immigrants convicted crime matter small matter long ago past violation occurred previously many immigrants eligible parole assigned prison oftentimes discovered workplace raid ins officials like prisons citizens monetary reasons motivate rise imprisonment immigrants well many county city budgets receive large sums money ins private prisons dynamic rest prison world encourage administrators seek alternatives imprisonment add desire control behavior threatens middleclass quality life subsequent desire exile exhibit said behavior one another part equation drives current imprisonment philosophy ron jacobs author way wind blew history weather underground reached rjacobszoouvmedu 160 | 800 |
<p>Last Wednesday, a criminal court in Saudi Arabia <a href="http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/saudi-arabia-sentences-sheikh-nimr-death" type="external">sentenced</a> Shia cleric Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr, one of the kingdom’s most visible political dissidents, to death. Saudi authorities have justified the verdict in terms of national security. Convicted on vague charges of sedition, Al-Nimr was tried in a court established to judge cases of terrorism.</p>
<p>As is often the case in Saudi Arabia, what passes for the rule of law and national security is more often the theater of the absurd. The execution verdict, which could be commuted to a lengthy prison sentence, is the product of a system based on political exclusion, a system that sacrifices human beings to maintain centralized authority and elite privilege.</p>
<p>Al-Nimr was arrested and subsequently sentenced not because he is a danger to Saudi society, but because he has long been a critic of oppression, has agitated against sectarian discrimination, and led protests demanding reforms to an unjust political order. Al-Nimr has been a prominent figure in supporting what has been a largely unseen, but nevertheless persistent protest movement in the predominantly Shiite communities of eastern Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Since 2011, shortly after citizens mobilized against the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Khalifa" type="external">al-Khalifa</a> in neighboring Bahrain, Saudi Shiites also took to the streets. In response, the authorities have cracked down brutally, criminalizing a broad range of activism, aggressively policing Shiite communities, and chasing down, arresting, or killing scores of activists.</p>
<p>Al-Nimr only poses a threat to the regime itself. The state’s repression, cloaked in the language of security and sedition, is a weak effort to mystify this fundamental fact. Given the stakes of expressing anger at the regime, particularly for the Shiite community, it is noteworthy that street protests have continued daily since the sentence against al-Nimr.</p>
<p>Of course, even casual observers of Saudi Arabian politics are likely unsurprised by the decision to execute a prominent Shia cleric. After all, the kingdom is widely believed to be a center of religious extremism and sectarian ferment. And it is certainly true that anti-Shiism has a history in Saudi Arabia.</p>
<p>Shiites, who make up as much as 15 percent of the Saudi population, have been targeted historically by both religious zealots and a central government tantamount to an imperial regime. The community has faced systematic discrimination and exclusion since the imperial expansion of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Saud" type="external">Al-Saud</a> from central Arabia in the early twentieth century.</p>
<p>But sectarian pathologies, even in Saudi Arabia, have particular histories. And they are hardly as widespread as we might assume. It is certainly the case that discriminatory sentiment has become more entrenched in the last generation, but the worst varieties of anti-Shiism, especially those advocating violence and supportive of the regionalization of a Sunni-Shiite war, are a small, but powerful minority.</p>
<p>Anti-Shiism today is not so much the product of a retrograde or orthodox interpretation of Islam — widely labeled <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahhabi_movement" type="external">Wahhabism</a>&#160;— as it is the convergence of several political forces, the most important of which is a vulnerable state.</p>
<p>Confronted by a number of internal and external threats — the Iranian pursuit of influence in the Gulf; the rise of Shiite power in post-invasion Iraq; the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bahraini_uprising_(2011%E2%80%93present)" type="external">uprising in Bahrain</a>, Saudi Arabia’s satellite state; and most importantly, the rise of a range of domestic challenges to Saudi authority since 2003, including criticism of deep state corruption and the absence of political rights — leaders in Riyadh have responded by fomenting discriminatory anti-Shiism. Rather than broadening participation or overturning inequalities, the regime’s impulse has been to pursue the politics of sectarian escalation.</p>
<p>Seen this way, the verdict against al-Nimr is not so much about national security or a reflection of deeply conservative, anti-Shiite sentiment as it is an indication of the regime’s vulnerability.</p>
<p>It is tempting to say that in threatening to execute al-Nimr the state seeks to dissuade other Shiite dissidents from challenging its authority. This is certainly true. But the regime is also throwing red meat to the worst reactionaries in its midst, engaging in the politics and practice of distraction, and, providing political legitimacy for the strident and virulent forms of sectarianism that have settled in across the region. The obvious effect is that anti-Shiism, both at home and abroad, has and will continue to gain greater currency, as it seemingly has with the rise of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_State_of_Iraq_and_the_Levant" type="external">Islamic State in Iraq and Syria</a> (ISIS). More subtly, the Saudi gambit is also based on a clear understanding that other potential forms of dissent — against charges of corruption or frustration at what is a heavy-handed security state — can be deflected or set aside by stoking anti-Shiism and by sacrificing Shiite bodies.</p>
<p>The sectarianization of Saudi politics is also political-economic and bound up in the kingdom’s “special relationship” with the United States. Since the uprising in Bahrain in 2011, United States has continued to support the autocratic Arab regimes in the Gulf rather than democracy or human rights. Justifications include priorities around “security,” the need to contain Iran, and ensuring that oil flows from the Gulf to global markets.</p>
<p>With these priorities in mind, it is unlikely that American officials will do much to challenge Riyadh on either al-Nimr’s verdict or try to alter its sectarian behavior more generally. Critics have called on the United States to rethink its strategic ties to Riyadh. But doing so would require confronting not only the contradictions in American policy, especially given that it is close to a Saudi state that supported the rise of ISIS, even if indirectly, even while it now claims to be committed to the Islamic State’s destruction.</p>
<p>In any case, the United States’ unwillingness to confront Saudi Arabia’s role in ISIS’s rise, aside from comments from Secretary of State John Kerry that seemed to acknowledge this, enables the kingdom’s contradictory behavior. Whatever the limits of American power, the plain reality is that Washington has never meaningfully pressed the Saudis on their complicity in the spread of post-2003 sectarianism or anti-Shiite terrorism.</p>
<p>Beyond these contradictions, it is important to keep in sight the role that the United States government and that American capital have played in the rise of autocracy and discriminatory politics in Saudi Arabia in the first place.</p>
<p>Al-Nimr comes from a small village called <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/meast/04/08/saudi.arabia.protests/" type="external">Awamiyya</a> in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province, a place where American influence runs deep. It is in the east where almost all of the kingdom’s Shiite community lives, and where almost all of its oil sits. For a regime worried about internal threats, Shiite challenges to power are meaningful not only for their content, but also because of their location. The US government and American capital know this all very well.</p>
<p>Although American political and corporate interests surrendered direct control of Saudi Arabia’s oil resources in the early 1980s, they were present in the eastern province, in and around Shiite communities, from the late 1930s through much of the twentieth century.</p>
<p>Fearful of politically mobilized Saudi labor in the mid twentieth century, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi_Aramco" type="external">Arabian American Oil Company</a> (which was known to employ CIA officials) coordinated closely with Saudi leaders from the 1940s until the 1970s in building a centralized, discriminatory political order that was anti-democratic, anti-labor, and that sought to create disciplined and docile bodies in a place where the al-Saud lacked much in the way of political legitimacy. The very political order that Saudi authorities seek to shore up by way of show trials and capital punishment is the legacy of this twentieth century cooperation.</p>
<p>American policymakers no longer think in terms of the interests of an American oil company that controls Saudi oil. But its practical and political economic interests have changed very little. Since the late 1970s, in fact, these connections have proliferated, most importantly through weapons sales and the entanglement of the American military-industrial complex with Saudi oil wealth. There is no greater engine for the recycling of Saudi and Gulf Arab&#160; <a href="" type="internal">petrodollars</a> than massive and expensive weapons systems. These sales are largely justified in the language of security and by invoking regional threats like Saddam Hussein and whatever regime sits in Tehran. The reality, though, is that they are hugely profitable.</p>
<p>While it has sometimes bristled at American policy over the last decade, Riyadh remains committed to its relationship with Washington. The opposite is also true. American policymakers continue to see Saudi Arabia as indispensable not because it has shown itself willing to change or develop a more inclusive and tolerant political order, but because it does not.</p>
<p>To push for democracy in Saudi Arabia, or even simply a more critical approach to the ways that Riyadh’s domestic political maneuvering courts regional catastrophe, would be to open up the possibility of a government that wouldn’t subordinate the interests of its citizens to American&#160;energy needs. That’s a risk the US government and capital aren’t willing to take.</p> | true | 4 | last wednesday criminal court saudi arabia sentenced shia cleric sheikh nimr alnimr one kingdoms visible political dissidents death saudi authorities justified verdict terms national security convicted vague charges sedition alnimr tried court established judge cases terrorism often case saudi arabia passes rule law national security often theater absurd execution verdict could commuted lengthy prison sentence product system based political exclusion system sacrifices human beings maintain centralized authority elite privilege alnimr arrested subsequently sentenced danger saudi society long critic oppression agitated sectarian discrimination led protests demanding reforms unjust political order alnimr prominent figure supporting largely unseen nevertheless persistent protest movement predominantly shiite communities eastern saudi arabia since 2011 shortly citizens mobilized alkhalifa neighboring bahrain saudi shiites also took streets response authorities cracked brutally criminalizing broad range activism aggressively policing shiite communities chasing arresting killing scores activists alnimr poses threat regime states repression cloaked language security sedition weak effort mystify fundamental fact given stakes expressing anger regime particularly shiite community noteworthy street protests continued daily since sentence alnimr course even casual observers saudi arabian politics likely unsurprised decision execute prominent shia cleric kingdom widely believed center religious extremism sectarian ferment certainly true antishiism history saudi arabia shiites make much 15 percent saudi population targeted historically religious zealots central government tantamount imperial regime community faced systematic discrimination exclusion since imperial expansion alsaud central arabia early twentieth century sectarian pathologies even saudi arabia particular histories hardly widespread might assume certainly case discriminatory sentiment become entrenched last generation worst varieties antishiism especially advocating violence supportive regionalization sunnishiite war small powerful minority antishiism today much product retrograde orthodox interpretation islam widely labeled wahhabism160 convergence several political forces important vulnerable state confronted number internal external threats iranian pursuit influence gulf rise shiite power postinvasion iraq uprising bahrain saudi arabias satellite state importantly rise range domestic challenges saudi authority since 2003 including criticism deep state corruption absence political rights leaders riyadh responded fomenting discriminatory antishiism rather broadening participation overturning inequalities regimes impulse pursue politics sectarian escalation seen way verdict alnimr much national security reflection deeply conservative antishiite sentiment indication regimes vulnerability tempting say threatening execute alnimr state seeks dissuade shiite dissidents challenging authority certainly true regime also throwing red meat worst reactionaries midst engaging politics practice distraction providing political legitimacy strident virulent forms sectarianism settled across region obvious effect antishiism home abroad continue gain greater currency seemingly rise islamic state iraq syria isis subtly saudi gambit also based clear understanding potential forms dissent charges corruption frustration heavyhanded security state deflected set aside stoking antishiism sacrificing shiite bodies sectarianization saudi politics also politicaleconomic bound kingdoms special relationship united states since uprising bahrain 2011 united states continued support autocratic arab regimes gulf rather democracy human rights justifications include priorities around security need contain iran ensuring oil flows gulf global markets priorities mind unlikely american officials much challenge riyadh either alnimrs verdict try alter sectarian behavior generally critics called united states rethink strategic ties riyadh would require confronting contradictions american policy especially given close saudi state supported rise isis even indirectly even claims committed islamic states destruction case united states unwillingness confront saudi arabias role isiss rise aside comments secretary state john kerry seemed acknowledge enables kingdoms contradictory behavior whatever limits american power plain reality washington never meaningfully pressed saudis complicity spread post2003 sectarianism antishiite terrorism beyond contradictions important keep sight role united states government american capital played rise autocracy discriminatory politics saudi arabia first place alnimr comes small village called awamiyya saudi arabias eastern province place american influence runs deep east almost kingdoms shiite community lives almost oil sits regime worried internal threats shiite challenges power meaningful content also location us government american capital know well although american political corporate interests surrendered direct control saudi arabias oil resources early 1980s present eastern province around shiite communities late 1930s much twentieth century fearful politically mobilized saudi labor mid twentieth century arabian american oil company known employ cia officials coordinated closely saudi leaders 1940s 1970s building centralized discriminatory political order antidemocratic antilabor sought create disciplined docile bodies place alsaud lacked much way political legitimacy political order saudi authorities seek shore way show trials capital punishment legacy twentieth century cooperation american policymakers longer think terms interests american oil company controls saudi oil practical political economic interests changed little since late 1970s fact connections proliferated importantly weapons sales entanglement american militaryindustrial complex saudi oil wealth greater engine recycling saudi gulf arab160 petrodollars massive expensive weapons systems sales largely justified language security invoking regional threats like saddam hussein whatever regime sits tehran reality though hugely profitable sometimes bristled american policy last decade riyadh remains committed relationship washington opposite also true american policymakers continue see saudi arabia indispensable shown willing change develop inclusive tolerant political order push democracy saudi arabia even simply critical approach ways riyadhs domestic political maneuvering courts regional catastrophe would open possibility government wouldnt subordinate interests citizens american160energy needs thats risk us government capital arent willing take | 814 |
<p />
<p>+ The big <a href="" type="internal">news of the morning</a> was the vindication of a ground-breaking story that Margaret Kidder wrote for <a href="" type="internal">CounterPunch</a> several months ago. Buried inside the 20,000 DNC emails released by Wikileaks were documents confirming a tricky financial scam orchestrated by the DNC and the Clinton campaign, whereby money that was meant for state Democratic parties was re-routed to the Clinton machine in order to evade campaign finance laws, thus making a mockery of Hillary’s recent pledge to get the Big Money&#160;out of politics. We published Kidder’s explosive piece on the first of April and it spread like lightning across the Net. Within a few days her exposé had been read by more than one million people and had received more than 50,000 Facebook shares (whatever that means). The Clinton machine shifted into attack mode, their default position. The Clinton trolls first started rumors that the story was an April Fools Day prank. When that attack floundered, the Clinton slime operation set their sights on the author. The article was written by Margot Kidder, the actress, they said with misogynistic condescension. You know, Lois Lane. You can’t trust her. She had mental health issues. So much for feminism. This kind of viciousness is standard operating procedure in Clintonworld. But how wrong they were. Margot Kidder is one of the smartest people I know. She’s very well read, is a determined researcher and writes with clarity and force. She’s also fearless. Margot had the goods on them and now there’s no doubt. Heroic work, Margot!</p>
<p>+ The Democrats are working overtime to transform&#160;the DNC email episode&#160;into a story&#160;about Russian hackers, Putin and Trump. One Democratic Party flack called it the most outrageous political break-in since Watergate. Anything to divert attention from the scandalous content of the emails. But there’s little hard evidence that Russians were behind the hack. Cyber-expert Bill Blunden wrote to me this morning: “Note that Julian Assange has said: ‘We have not disclosed our source, and of course, this is a diversion that’s being pushed by the Hillary Clinton campaign.’</p>
<p>“Thanks to documents released by Ed Snowden, and other whistleblowers. It’s part of the public record that intelligence services have invested heavily in tools that are designed to subvert the process of attribution. It would be risky to presume that such activities were limited to the NSA and GCHQ. Likewise classified programs like JTRIG and HACIENDA are conducted with the explicit intention of obscuring the source of cyber intrusions. Entities from the private sector are also involved in this sort of activity.</p>
<p>“When dealing with an organization with the requisite skill and resources, successful attribution is highly unlikely. Subtle operational signatures can be mimicked and telltale forensic clues can be counterfeited. Welcome to the wilderness of mirrors. Peace, Bill.”</p>
<p>+ Sanders spent the morning sternly lecturing his rebellious delegation. He warned them not to bolt the Democrats for the Green Party. This is how Bernie repays Jill Stein’s kindness in offering him her spot on the Green ticket. This was met by jeers and boos, as Bernie the Used Car Salesman was rebuked by his own cohort once again. They still ain’t buying the Lemon he’s selling.</p>
<p>+ What’s this? Anthony Weiner is now giving testimonials for Hillary? How can she possibly lose? (I thought Huma had him on home detention. Someone check Weiner’s Instagram photos tonight.)</p>
<p>+ David Swanson writes in yesterday’s CounterPunch that the DNC is now <a href="" type="internal">less popular than atheism</a>. After today’s spectacle, the Satanists will be gaining on them fast.</p>
<p>+ The New York Times reported&#160;that Sanders is now faced with suppressing the revolutionaries he inspired. The man started out as Danton, ends up as Edmund Burke…</p>
<p>+ Jesse Jackson sent me his column this morning. It’s a dispiriting piece of writing. Few people could have a better understanding of how an insurgent movement like the one Sanders’ led was sabotaged by the party establishment. The Democrats screwed Jackson twice. Yet Jackson writes that Hillary is the “clear choice” for president. Not the “necessary choice” or the “lesser evil.” But the “clear choice.” This even though Bill Clinton has repeatedly race-baited Jackson. That’s a strange kind of loyalty.</p>
<p>+ Speaking of Hillary’s “life-long commitment to children,” very excited to hear the remarks of infamous child-killer Madeleine Albright tonight…</p>
<p>+ If only the Sandernistas had the guts to boo that artifact of the Red Scare Era (which never really ended) the Pledge of Allegiance, which is on its face an insult to the Constitution, trashing the values it claims to venerate.</p>
<p>+ Here comes Chairwoman Marcia Fudge on the stage with her gavel again. Hammers it on the podium. Gets shouted down once again! Shuffles off shaking her head.</p>
<p>+ Bernie should have negotiated to get Tulsi Gabbard a keynote speech in prime time, since she’s about as close as the Democrats are likely to come presenting someone who will speak out against interventionist wars. I bet we go through the entire convention without hearing one word about drone strikes.</p>
<p>+ Sanders delegate Shyla Nelson has moved Bernie to tears! To misquote Tom Hanks from “A League of Their Own”: “There’s no crying in Revolutions, Bernie!”</p>
<p>+ Senator Barbara Mikulski apparently didn’t get the memo that “brother” Democrats and “sister” Democrats no longer covers all the bases.</p>
<p>+ Deb Haaland, the first Native American chair of any state party, had the best line of the day so far when she introduced New Mexico’s vote. “I’m proud to be from New Mexico, where our state question is: Red or Green? … Chile that is.”</p>
<p>+ The dilated and euphoric Oregon delegation seems to have spent their afternoon consuming edibles of unknown origin.</p>
<p>+ Great to see the Puerto Rico delegation holding up “Free Oscar Lopez Rivera” t-shirts. Maybe Obama was tuning in, instead of playing golf. Perhaps he will even take action to finally right this lingering injustice. The South Dakota delegation put Hillary over the top. Too bad the delegation didn’t take that opportunity to call for the pardoning of Leonard Peltier.</p>
<p>+ At 6:53 EST, Bernie wiped out of all his delegates votes. Sandernistas you have now officially cast your votes for HILLARY CLINTON. Now you can really cry.</p>
<p>+ So you find yourself suddenly transformed by Bernie’s procedural magic wand from a Sandernista into a Clintonoid and the first face that you see upon awakening to this new reality is that of…the political grifter Terry McAuliffe, who earlier in the evening told reporters what everyone else already knew that Hillary was going to “ <a href="" type="internal">flip on the TPP</a>.” Get used to it. It will only get worse from here on out. Here comes Nancy Pelosi!</p>
<p>+ It’s surely an ominous sign for Hillary Clinton that the loudest applause of the Democratic Convention will almost certainly be for the forced surrender of Bernie Sanders and the public humiliation of his delegates.</p>
<p>+ The cognitive dissonance of this convention is at max volume. How else can you explain how demurely Sanders just delivered his movement to the machine that represents everything he was allegedly waging war against: bailing out the banks, destruction of Glass-Steagall, fracking on a global scale, abandonment of organized labor, trade pacts from NAFTA to WTO to TPP, the death penalty, continuation of the drug war, gutting of welfare, interventionist wars from Iraq to Syria, fealty to Wall Street money, vindictive and racist criminal justice policies, inaction on climate change, and blind loyalty to Israel.</p>
<p>+&#160;Most of the Sandernistas walked out after Bernie transferred (without their consent) their votes to Hillary&#160;and had a sit-in outside of the convention center, where nobody saw them or cared. What kind of Civil Disobedience&#160;is that? Why not protest inside&#160;the hall, where the cameras are and the action is? A last&#160;blown opportunity to shake the establishment.</p>
<p>+ Chuck Schumer just said that “when Hillary tells you something you can take it to the bank.” Would that be Citibank or Goldman Sachs? Schumer was followed on the stage by Elizabeth Banks. Not making this up.</p>
<p>+ It was good to see Jimmy Carter looking so fit after his brain cancer. Too bad they didn’t let him talk about Palestine and the Last Apartheid state, which would risk exposing the real fissures in his supposedly “unified” party.</p>
<p>+&#160;Every time a politician closed their remarks with “God Bless America” another bit of the Constitution died. This obnoxious tradition, which has infected politicians on the Left and the Right, has become a homegrown version of the dreaded Sharia Law.</p>
<p>+ Eric Holder prefaced his remarks on criminal justice reform by arguing that the police need to be better armed. With what? Guided missiles and drones? Hillary Clinton’s pimping for her husband’s vicious Crime Bill by labeling young black men “super-predators” seems to have been elided from the institutional memory of the Democrats. The drug war will be retooled, with opiate users the new villains.</p>
<p>+ Holder says the Hillary Clinton will be a champion of voting rights. This must come as a shock to the hundreds of thousands of potential Sanders voters who found their polling places mysteriously moved or closed, their ballots destroyed, or their votes not counted.</p>
<p>+ I confess. In a tear-stained convention, I misted up during the testimonials of the Mothers of the Murdered, especially when Travyon Martin’s mother said that she was “an unwilling participant in this movement. I would not have signed up for this. I’m here today for my son, Trayvon Martin, who’s in heaven.” Too bad this heavy ceremony was diluted and demeaned by giving an hour to the Incarcerator-in-Chief, Bill Clinton, whose Crime Bill put 100,000 new cops on the street. Since the passage of that infamous law in 1994, police have killed at least 20,460&#160;civilians.</p>
<p>+ Taser me when Lena Dunham’s stopped talking.</p>
<p>+ Skip that. Taser me when Barbara Boxer stops sputtering clichés.</p>
<p>+ Did Rudy Giulani co-produce the 9/11 video? The fact that they’ve brought up a NYPD detective, instead of a fireman or EMT worker, suggests the DNC is compensating for the time devoted they devoted to the Mothers of the Murdered.</p>
<p>+ 15 years later and 9/11 remains a go-to political tripwire, shamelessly exploited by both parties. Here by Hillary’s surrogate as an invocation to “defeat and destroy ISIS.” Sound familiar?</p>
<p>+ What’s with Howard Dean? He can barely read the teleprompter. Did he share a joint with Lincoln Chafee backstage?</p>
<p>+ Note to Hillary: You didn’t bring about the ceasefire in Gaza. The bombing stopped after the Israelis ran out of targets, having destroyed 70 percent of the structures in that narrow strip of defenseless land.</p>
<p>+ So it’s all about making women and girls more secure, is it? Have many women and girls have been killed in Hillary’s wars in Libya, Honduras, Syria, Iraq, Somalia, Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan? Probably in the 10s of thousands. So cheer up. Her&#160;body count is about 400,000 lower than Madeleine Albright’s. But give her 8 years and she may yet catch up.</p>
<p>+ Here comes Albright. Someone serve her an arrest warrant! Lock her up! Lock her up! Albright’s sanctions on Iraq led to the deaths of a half-million Iraqi children. When asked by Leslie Stahl&#160;whether this death toll bothered her, whether the price was worth it. Albright didn’t hesitate. “We think the price was worth it.” She must be the world’s most evil grandmother.</p>
<p>Typically, Albright began by invoking the Red Scare moved on to praising Harry “A-Bomb” Truman and ended by demonizing Putin. The Cold War lives.</p>
<p>+ Shouldn’t Wellesley College lose its accreditation having matriculated both Albright and Clinton?</p>
<p>+ What an odd&#160;short film trying to sell everything that Bill Clinton (Madeleine Albright’s student) did for poor people, neglecting to mention his destruction of welfare. Some of these people called themselves Clinton Babies? It’s possible, of course, but did they all have paternity tests?</p>
<p>+ Bill’s creepy account of his courtship of Hillary at Yale makes him sound like a stalker.</p>
<p>+ Does Bill have Parkinson’s? Whole lotta shaking going on. (Marc Solomon informs me that my diagnosis is off the mark. Solomon said Clinton is suffering from a drug reaction: “They’ve had him on Thorazine to shut him the fuck up during the campaign.”</p>
<p>+ Bill just can’t help from making his speeches all about himself. More “I”’s in Clinton speech than Trumps.</p>
<p>+ Clintonian Revisionism: Bill now blames his defeat for reelection as governor on the Reagan landslide, instead of his own hubris and incompetence.</p>
<p>+ In Bill’s tedious narrative of the Life and Times of the Clintons there was sadly no mention of the most honorable member of the clan: Socks the Cat.</p>
<p>+ Senator Warren is sitting in the Clinton box with Chelsea, cheering every banality uttered by Bill Clinton, even the whopper about how he “tried to bring peace and prosperity to America.” Tell it to the people of Rwanda, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan and Serbia, President Bill. Et tu, Elizabeth?</p>
<p>+ This being a family hour show, Bill was forced to&#160;redact several inconvenient chapters&#160;of&#160;his Scenes From a Marriage speech.</p>
<p>+ According to Bill, you can take it from his friend Newt Gingrich that Hillary’s “tough on national security.” That seals it for me.</p>
<p>+ The Clintons gave&#160;Machiavelli a bad name. In fact, as my friend Jim Nicita says, “they make Machiavelli look like a Prince.”</p>
<p>+ Jane Fonda. Once she went to Hanoi to stop a war. Now she’s appearing in a music video for a war criminal. Make it stop. I can’t watch anymore.</p>
<p>+&#160;This whole night went off like a Neutron Bomb of Identity Politics, where the only ones left standing were demographic subsets and the Hedge Fund managers who fund the party. Is that all you’ve got? Doesn’t that play right into Trump’s trap? Or have I totally lost all&#160;political sense? The Democrats seem to have totally abandoned class politics. We are witnessing&#160;the complete triumph of neoliberalism.</p>
<p>Notes From the Democratic Convention</p>
<p>Day One:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Don’t Cry for Me, DNC!</a></p>
<p>Day Two:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">The Humiliation Games</a></p>
<p>Day Three:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">Night of the Hollow Men</a></p>
<p>Day Four:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">She Stoops to Conquer</a></p> | true | 4 | big news morning vindication groundbreaking story margaret kidder wrote counterpunch several months ago buried inside 20000 dnc emails released wikileaks documents confirming tricky financial scam orchestrated dnc clinton campaign whereby money meant state democratic parties rerouted clinton machine order evade campaign finance laws thus making mockery hillarys recent pledge get big money160out politics published kidders explosive piece first april spread like lightning across net within days exposé read one million people received 50000 facebook shares whatever means clinton machine shifted attack mode default position clinton trolls first started rumors story april fools day prank attack floundered clinton slime operation set sights author article written margot kidder actress said misogynistic condescension know lois lane cant trust mental health issues much feminism kind viciousness standard operating procedure clintonworld wrong margot kidder one smartest people know shes well read determined researcher writes clarity force shes also fearless margot goods theres doubt heroic work margot democrats working overtime transform160the dnc email episode160into story160about russian hackers putin trump one democratic party flack called outrageous political breakin since watergate anything divert attention scandalous content emails theres little hard evidence russians behind hack cyberexpert bill blunden wrote morning note julian assange said disclosed source course diversion thats pushed hillary clinton campaign thanks documents released ed snowden whistleblowers part public record intelligence services invested heavily tools designed subvert process attribution would risky presume activities limited nsa gchq likewise classified programs like jtrig hacienda conducted explicit intention obscuring source cyber intrusions entities private sector also involved sort activity dealing organization requisite skill resources successful attribution highly unlikely subtle operational signatures mimicked telltale forensic clues counterfeited welcome wilderness mirrors peace bill sanders spent morning sternly lecturing rebellious delegation warned bolt democrats green party bernie repays jill steins kindness offering spot green ticket met jeers boos bernie used car salesman rebuked cohort still aint buying lemon hes selling whats anthony weiner giving testimonials hillary possibly lose thought huma home detention someone check weiners instagram photos tonight david swanson writes yesterdays counterpunch dnc less popular atheism todays spectacle satanists gaining fast new york times reported160that sanders faced suppressing revolutionaries inspired man started danton ends edmund burke jesse jackson sent column morning dispiriting piece writing people could better understanding insurgent movement like one sanders led sabotaged party establishment democrats screwed jackson twice yet jackson writes hillary clear choice president necessary choice lesser evil clear choice even though bill clinton repeatedly racebaited jackson thats strange kind loyalty speaking hillarys lifelong commitment children excited hear remarks infamous childkiller madeleine albright tonight sandernistas guts boo artifact red scare era never really ended pledge allegiance face insult constitution trashing values claims venerate comes chairwoman marcia fudge stage gavel hammers podium gets shouted shuffles shaking head bernie negotiated get tulsi gabbard keynote speech prime time since shes close democrats likely come presenting someone speak interventionist wars bet go entire convention without hearing one word drone strikes sanders delegate shyla nelson moved bernie tears misquote tom hanks league theres crying revolutions bernie senator barbara mikulski apparently didnt get memo brother democrats sister democrats longer covers bases deb haaland first native american chair state party best line day far introduced new mexicos vote im proud new mexico state question red green chile dilated euphoric oregon delegation seems spent afternoon consuming edibles unknown origin great see puerto rico delegation holding free oscar lopez rivera tshirts maybe obama tuning instead playing golf perhaps even take action finally right lingering injustice south dakota delegation put hillary top bad delegation didnt take opportunity call pardoning leonard peltier 653 est bernie wiped delegates votes sandernistas officially cast votes hillary clinton really cry find suddenly transformed bernies procedural magic wand sandernista clintonoid first face see upon awakening new reality ofthe political grifter terry mcauliffe earlier evening told reporters everyone else already knew hillary going flip tpp get used get worse comes nancy pelosi surely ominous sign hillary clinton loudest applause democratic convention almost certainly forced surrender bernie sanders public humiliation delegates cognitive dissonance convention max volume else explain demurely sanders delivered movement machine represents everything allegedly waging war bailing banks destruction glasssteagall fracking global scale abandonment organized labor trade pacts nafta wto tpp death penalty continuation drug war gutting welfare interventionist wars iraq syria fealty wall street money vindictive racist criminal justice policies inaction climate change blind loyalty israel 160most sandernistas walked bernie transferred without consent votes hillary160and sitin outside convention center nobody saw cared kind civil disobedience160is protest inside160the hall cameras action last160blown opportunity shake establishment chuck schumer said hillary tells something take bank would citibank goldman sachs schumer followed stage elizabeth banks making good see jimmy carter looking fit brain cancer bad didnt let talk palestine last apartheid state would risk exposing real fissures supposedly unified party 160every time politician closed remarks god bless america another bit constitution died obnoxious tradition infected politicians left right become homegrown version dreaded sharia law eric holder prefaced remarks criminal justice reform arguing police need better armed guided missiles drones hillary clintons pimping husbands vicious crime bill labeling young black men superpredators seems elided institutional memory democrats drug war retooled opiate users new villains holder says hillary clinton champion voting rights must come shock hundreds thousands potential sanders voters found polling places mysteriously moved closed ballots destroyed votes counted confess tearstained convention misted testimonials mothers murdered especially travyon martins mother said unwilling participant movement would signed im today son trayvon martin whos heaven bad heavy ceremony diluted demeaned giving hour incarceratorinchief bill clinton whose crime bill put 100000 new cops street since passage infamous law 1994 police killed least 20460160civilians taser lena dunhams stopped talking skip taser barbara boxer stops sputtering clichés rudy giulani coproduce 911 video fact theyve brought nypd detective instead fireman emt worker suggests dnc compensating time devoted devoted mothers murdered 15 years later 911 remains goto political tripwire shamelessly exploited parties hillarys surrogate invocation defeat destroy isis sound familiar whats howard dean barely read teleprompter share joint lincoln chafee backstage note hillary didnt bring ceasefire gaza bombing stopped israelis ran targets destroyed 70 percent structures narrow strip defenseless land making women girls secure many women girls killed hillarys wars libya honduras syria iraq somalia yemen afghanistan pakistan probably 10s thousands cheer her160body count 400000 lower madeleine albrights give 8 years may yet catch comes albright someone serve arrest warrant lock lock albrights sanctions iraq led deaths halfmillion iraqi children asked leslie stahl160whether death toll bothered whether price worth albright didnt hesitate think price worth must worlds evil grandmother typically albright began invoking red scare moved praising harry abomb truman ended demonizing putin cold war lives shouldnt wellesley college lose accreditation matriculated albright clinton odd160short film trying sell everything bill clinton madeleine albrights student poor people neglecting mention destruction welfare people called clinton babies possible course paternity tests bills creepy account courtship hillary yale makes sound like stalker bill parkinsons whole lotta shaking going marc solomon informs diagnosis mark solomon said clinton suffering drug reaction theyve thorazine shut fuck campaign bill cant help making speeches clinton speech trumps clintonian revisionism bill blames defeat reelection governor reagan landslide instead hubris incompetence bills tedious narrative life times clintons sadly mention honorable member clan socks cat senator warren sitting clinton box chelsea cheering every banality uttered bill clinton even whopper tried bring peace prosperity america tell people rwanda somalia iraq sudan serbia president bill et tu elizabeth family hour show bill forced to160redact several inconvenient chapters160of160his scenes marriage speech according bill take friend newt gingrich hillarys tough national security seals clintons gave160machiavelli bad name fact friend jim nicita says make machiavelli look like prince jane fonda went hanoi stop war shes appearing music video war criminal make stop cant watch anymore 160this whole night went like neutron bomb identity politics ones left standing demographic subsets hedge fund managers fund party youve got doesnt play right trumps trap totally lost all160political sense democrats seem totally abandoned class politics witnessing160the complete triumph neoliberalism notes democratic convention day one160 dont cry dnc day two160 humiliation games day three160 night hollow men day four160 stoops conquer | 1,334 |
<p>Barack Obama’s curiously tardy release of his long form birth certificate may have confirmed one of our alternative theories on why he was acting so strangely in the matter. . ..arrogance - exemplified by ignoring citizen queries for several years and then releasing the document as soon as someone raised questions who might actually endanger his second term. The incident certainly illustrates that if you want to get Obama to move on something the best approach is to call in a Republican politician. He responds to them more favorably than he does, say, to liberal Democrats.</p>
<p>On the other hand, his odd secrecy may have been just a campaign-inspired attempt to keep the Obama myth together.</p>
<p>Consider this from the British Guardian concerning recently obtained US government documents about his father’s immigration status:</p>
<p>“As early as 1961, a memo in the file notes a statement from a Mrs McCabe, a foreign student adviser at the University of Hawaii: ‘Mrs McCabe further states that Subject [Obama senior] has been running around with several girls since he first arrived here and last summer she cautioned him about his playboy ways. Subject replied that he would ‘try’ to stay away from the girls.'”</p>
<p>Obama was born in August of the year that his father promised to stay away from girls – albeit, according to none other than US immigration officials, in Hawaii.</p>
<p>One can imagine Obama’s campaign advisors mulling over this situation and deciding it was best to suppress information about the candidate’s birth, just as they would about Obama working for a CIA connected company, not to mention his mother’s and grandfather’s ties to the agency. That sort of stuff just complicates campaigns..</p>
<p>The problem with such an approach is that it can lead eventually to the kind of mess in which Obama would find himself. Suppressing a politician’s past can greatly expand the public imagination.</p>
<p>Theoretically, it is the media’s job to straighten out the facts, but much of the press has lost interest in such things. Contempt for honest inquiry has soared in the past couple of decades. Before the Washington press became so thoroughly embedded in the White House and so beholden to its interpretation of events, real reporters considered unresolved issues as their business. As with a detective’s investigation, anomalies remained on the work list until they were settled. This didn’t mean you reached any conclusion, but neither did you avoid investigating all possible explanations.</p>
<p>But in this instance, as is so often the case these days, unapproved skepticism was ridiculed even as the same media failed even to help its readers and viewers understand why the conclusions many had jumped to lacked merit. They were just treated as certified idiots unworthy of a logical explanation.</p>
<p>Forgotten in all this was that similar questions had turned up early in the 2008 campaign about John McCain, who was born in the Panama Canal Zone. In his case, there was no ranting about birthers, however. Instead legislation was introduced to make sure McCain - as a military child - was entitled to be considered a “natural born citizen.” One of the sponsors was Senator Barack Obama, who said, “Senator McCain has earned the right to be his party’s nominee, and no loophole should prevent him from competing in this campaign.” Eventually, a Senate resolution was unanimously passed declaring McCain to be a natural born citizen.”</p>
<p>The Progressive Review was one of the few journals to review the real history of the issue of “natural citizen” including the fact that one president - Chester Arthur - and six actual or possible presidential candidates also had birth problems. And that all of them were Republicans.</p>
<p>In a good piece on the topic, Tom Rogan pointed out:</p>
<p>The Naturalization Act of 1790 provided that “the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens.” . . .</p>
<p>In United States v Wong Kim Ark, the US Supreme Court ruled that a child born in the United States to two US domiciled foreign parents not serving with a foreign government was a natural born citizen. This set the precedent that natural born citizenship could be granted by the principle of “jus soli”, or citizenship from birth in the United States. However, as illustrated by the Naturalization Act, jus soli cannot account for all Americans. To fill the space of absent court clarification on American citizens born abroad, Congress has provided statutory definition for natural born citizenship.</p>
<p>Title 8, section 1401 of the US Title Code provides these definitions to include (among other qualifying citizens) those born abroad to one American parent and one foreign parent, provided the American parent spent five years in the US prior to the child’s birth. The strength of section 1401 is in its clarification of the clause in a logical manner, compatible with the constitution and in a way that can account for American citizens not physically born in the United States.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, Rogan’s article didn’t appear until a few days before Obama produced his certificate - and in the British Guardian, not an American publication.</p>
<p>The point is not that those thinking Obama was born elsewhere would have been convinced by all this, but that it is the media’s duty to provide information and not just add to the ridicule of those with doubts. To not address the unanswered questions merely speeds the rush to ill formed conclusions. By this failure, liberals and the media actually helped expand the birther movement.</p>
<p>Secondly, it is the job of the media to distinguish between that which is known and that which isn’t. In this case, there was no evidence that Obama was born anywhere but in Hawaii, but it was also clear that he was hiding an important document in the case.</p>
<p>Instead of pressing him, the media treated the long form certificate as either immaterial or legally unavailable. Linda R. Monk, wrote recently:</p>
<p>“Various news accounts only muddied the issue. Factcheck.com verified the validity of the 2008 Hawaii certificate, but questions remained about the pre-existing certificate that would have been on file in 1961, ostensibly with more extensive birth information. Yet thus far no news reporter had actually seen such a document. Hawaii officials said only that they’ve seen the 1961 document ‘according to state laws and procedures,’ whatever that meant. On July 23, 2009, CNN producer Jon Klein announced his researchers found that Hawaii had converted its records to an electronic database in 2001 and all paper records were destroyed. Hawaii officials disputed that account.”</p>
<p>Somehow, however, as soon as it became convenient, Obama’s lawyers managed to produce the document in less than ten days.</p>
<p>We have so politicized our discussions that both sides refuse to recognize uncertainties and anomalies. And much of the media has happily joined the political shouting match instead of serving as a reasoned arbitrator.</p>
<p>I’ve been in this racket for over a half century but it was only in the last couple of decades that raising questions about uncertainties became socially unacceptable.</p>
<p>I first ran into this problem covering the Clinton scandals. To this day, the drug, crime and corruption that surrounded Arkansas’ politics during Clinton’s rise is considered by liberals and the embedded media to be only of interest to “haters” and “conspiracy theorists.” In fact, it is a fascinating and important true saga involving not only drugs and misbehavior by the CIA, but key elements of the BCCI and savings &amp; loan scandals (forerunners of our current fiscal disaster).</p>
<p>None of my stories were ever challenged on a factual basis save by the pilot for major drug dealer Barry Seal, not necessarily the most reliable voice on the topic. For many of the rest it was enough to say things like, “You don’t really believe that Republican crap, do you?” I would point out that the first leads I got had come from a progressive student group at the University of Arkansas but it just didn’t matter. I even got banned from CSPAN and a Washington NPR program because of my stories.</p>
<p>Liberalism had become the abused spouse of the Democratic right, the media the abused spouse of whoever was in the White House, and facts their neglected offspring.</p>
<p>In fact, Clinton and Obama only got to be president after being thoroughly vetted by the establishment. Neither had a single achievement that qualified them for the post other than that powerful insiders felt they were safe and would do their bidding. And they did. The destruction of the legacy of the New Deal and Great Society would turn out to be an inside job.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, facts were at best a filler between arguments on TV about what really mattered now — perception and image. Facts were background noise at news conferences, multi-colored jimmies on scoops of policy, and just plain annoying in private conversation.</p>
<p>At times I felt trapped in the compound of some bizarre cult of overwrought rhetoric, infantile premises, and manic mythology. There were no ideas, only spin; no ideology, only icons; no inquiry or discussion, only conflicting arrogant certitude.</p>
<p>Stories with incomplete portions about which one is not meant to ask questions flourished in the last couple of decades, significantly during the very time of economic and cultural collapse when we could have used some more realism. Reporters used to treat such unfinished stories as unfinished business. But the social and job consequences of asking too many questions put a lid on all that and the comfy correspondents in the White House now preferred that no one else asked too many questions either.</p>
<p>The birth certificate story is a small but illustrative example. Yes, the facts said that Obama was born in Hawaii but they also said he was acting like someone who was hiding something. No reporter should have been ashamed of asking why.</p>
<p>It is what reporting was once about but too rarely is anymore.</p>
<p>Sam Smith edits the <a href="http://www.prorev.com" type="external">Progressive Review</a>.</p>
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<p /> | true | 4 | barack obamas curiously tardy release long form birth certificate may confirmed one alternative theories acting strangely matter arrogance exemplified ignoring citizen queries several years releasing document soon someone raised questions might actually endanger second term incident certainly illustrates want get obama move something best approach call republican politician responds favorably say liberal democrats hand odd secrecy may campaigninspired attempt keep obama myth together consider british guardian concerning recently obtained us government documents fathers immigration status early 1961 memo file notes statement mrs mccabe foreign student adviser university hawaii mrs mccabe states subject obama senior running around several girls since first arrived last summer cautioned playboy ways subject replied would try stay away girls obama born august year father promised stay away girls albeit according none us immigration officials hawaii one imagine obamas campaign advisors mulling situation deciding best suppress information candidates birth would obama working cia connected company mention mothers grandfathers ties agency sort stuff complicates campaigns problem approach lead eventually kind mess obama would find suppressing politicians past greatly expand public imagination theoretically medias job straighten facts much press lost interest things contempt honest inquiry soared past couple decades washington press became thoroughly embedded white house beholden interpretation events real reporters considered unresolved issues business detectives investigation anomalies remained work list settled didnt mean reached conclusion neither avoid investigating possible explanations instance often case days unapproved skepticism ridiculed even media failed even help readers viewers understand conclusions many jumped lacked merit treated certified idiots unworthy logical explanation forgotten similar questions turned early 2008 campaign john mccain born panama canal zone case ranting birthers however instead legislation introduced make sure mccain military child entitled considered natural born citizen one sponsors senator barack obama said senator mccain earned right partys nominee loophole prevent competing campaign eventually senate resolution unanimously passed declaring mccain natural born citizen progressive review one journals review real history issue natural citizen including fact one president chester arthur six actual possible presidential candidates also birth problems republicans good piece topic tom rogan pointed naturalization act 1790 provided children citizens united states may born beyond sea limits united states shall considered natural born citizens united states v wong kim ark us supreme court ruled child born united states two us domiciled foreign parents serving foreign government natural born citizen set precedent natural born citizenship could granted principle jus soli citizenship birth united states however illustrated naturalization act jus soli account americans fill space absent court clarification american citizens born abroad congress provided statutory definition natural born citizenship title 8 section 1401 us title code provides definitions include among qualifying citizens born abroad one american parent one foreign parent provided american parent spent five years us prior childs birth strength section 1401 clarification clause logical manner compatible constitution way account american citizens physically born united states unfortunately rogans article didnt appear days obama produced certificate british guardian american publication point thinking obama born elsewhere would convinced medias duty provide information add ridicule doubts address unanswered questions merely speeds rush ill formed conclusions failure liberals media actually helped expand birther movement secondly job media distinguish known isnt case evidence obama born anywhere hawaii also clear hiding important document case instead pressing media treated long form certificate either immaterial legally unavailable linda r monk wrote recently various news accounts muddied issue factcheckcom verified validity 2008 hawaii certificate questions remained preexisting certificate would file 1961 ostensibly extensive birth information yet thus far news reporter actually seen document hawaii officials said theyve seen 1961 document according state laws procedures whatever meant july 23 2009 cnn producer jon klein announced researchers found hawaii converted records electronic database 2001 paper records destroyed hawaii officials disputed account somehow however soon became convenient obamas lawyers managed produce document less ten days politicized discussions sides refuse recognize uncertainties anomalies much media happily joined political shouting match instead serving reasoned arbitrator ive racket half century last couple decades raising questions uncertainties became socially unacceptable first ran problem covering clinton scandals day drug crime corruption surrounded arkansas politics clintons rise considered liberals embedded media interest haters conspiracy theorists fact fascinating important true saga involving drugs misbehavior cia key elements bcci savings amp loan scandals forerunners current fiscal disaster none stories ever challenged factual basis save pilot major drug dealer barry seal necessarily reliable voice topic many rest enough say things like dont really believe republican crap would point first leads got come progressive student group university arkansas didnt matter even got banned cspan washington npr program stories liberalism become abused spouse democratic right media abused spouse whoever white house facts neglected offspring fact clinton obama got president thoroughly vetted establishment neither single achievement qualified post powerful insiders felt safe would bidding destruction legacy new deal great society would turn inside job meanwhile facts best filler arguments tv really mattered perception image facts background noise news conferences multicolored jimmies scoops policy plain annoying private conversation times felt trapped compound bizarre cult overwrought rhetoric infantile premises manic mythology ideas spin ideology icons inquiry discussion conflicting arrogant certitude stories incomplete portions one meant ask questions flourished last couple decades significantly time economic cultural collapse could used realism reporters used treat unfinished stories unfinished business social job consequences asking many questions put lid comfy correspondents white house preferred one else asked many questions either birth certificate story small illustrative example yes facts said obama born hawaii also said acting like someone hiding something reporter ashamed asking reporting rarely anymore sam smith edits progressive review | 909 |
<p>No presidential contender I have seen, with the possible exception of Bill Clinton, has run a better campaign than Barack Obama. If for nothing else, one must hand it to him for the magnificent improbability of the effort – a guy whose last name sounds like ‘Osama’ and whose middle name is the same as Saddam’s – running for president in America, where the average Joe (including the plumber, likely) doesn’t know Madrasi from Madrassa – now poised, by most accounts, on the verge of victory!</p>
<p>A Winner</p>
<p>Obama has many things to be said in his favor: high intelligence, a rounded education, international exposure, and not least the facet remarked upon endlessly these last few weeks – a steady temperament. On the practical side he has displayed a power of organization that is not to be ignored, one reason to hope the traditional Republican electoral mischief of the last eight years is less likely to succeed (though no less likely to be attempted). After all, no matter what your ideas, winning elections has a practical element to it, and Obama has shown most definitely that, “Yes he can”.</p>
<p>A Race without Race</p>
<p>Now to Obama’s political ideas, and what he offers the country. First we must get past the asinine gushing over how great it would be to have a black president, woman president, etc. As someone pointed out, tongue in cheek, Africa has had black presidents for half a century (Haiti for four times as long), with results generally not much to write home about. And Benazir Bhutto’s coming to power in Pakistan brought about no great improvements in that country, even for its womenfolk. Nothing changes just because of one individual from a certain race or gender coming to power.</p>
<p>Thus we should treat Obama just as another candidate, and ask the real questions: what does he want to do? Has he shown signs that he can?</p>
<p>A Consequential Candidate</p>
<p>During the primary campaign Obama, in a tight race against Hillary Clinton, took a shot at Bill Clinton during an interview with a newspaper’s editorial board. He said something to the effect that Bill Clinton was a less consequential president than Ronald Reagan – for he had not altered the country in the manner Reagan did. This struck me as a good sign of Obama’s understanding – Bill Clinton’s signature achievement (reversing the budget deficit) was set at naught within a year of his leaving office – so much for his building a national consensus. Ronald Reagan’s views still inform (or infest, some might say) the body politic. So, clearly, Obama is setting some standards for his presidency.</p>
<p>The Prince of Peace? Really?</p>
<p>Obama would have been just another presidential wannabe if he had not given that single speech against the Iraq War in 2002. That speech has been milked as a permanent political ATM; it was this address that gave Obama his initial spurt when he launched his campaign, coinciding with a time when there were about a 100 Americans getting killed each month in Iraq. However it would seem that to Obama, this was just a bullet point (no pun intended) on his resume, not a cause. Bill Clinton pointed out an inconvenient fact, namely, that Obama’s record on Iraq once he got to the US Senate was exactly the same as Hillary Clinton’s, whose flawed judgment on Iraq was one of Obama’s main planks. Bill Clinton termed this notion of Obama being a serious opponent of the war in Iraq a ‘fairy tale’ (only to be reviled as a racist – he was not calling the candidacy a fairy tale, only Obama’s ongoing stands on Iraq, but by then he had lost the media which had commenced its ballroom dance with Barack).</p>
<p>War, Uninterrupted</p>
<p>It is clear to anyone looking at the record (see for instance Restoration Boulevard) that the war itself, or even the Iraq War he opposed – causes him little ongoing moral anguish. As he himself said at that pivotal 2002 speech, he was not against all wars, only ‘dumb’ ones. Sure enough, he was soon expressing his willingness to consider attacks against Iran, Pakistan, and backing for Israel should she attack her enemies, etc., etc. Notable too was his lack of outrage at Israel’s bludgeoning of Lebanese cities during the summer of 2006. His speech to AIPAC, an Israeli lobby group powerful enough to make American presidential candidates grovel, was certainly not lacking in belligerence. His ongoing theme of sending more troops to Afghanistan indicates that in matters of unilateral foreign military intervention, Obama is entirely at home with George W. Bush, Richard B. Cheney and yes – John Sidney McCain III.</p>
<p>At least going by public pronouncements, therefore, little by way of change is to be expected on this aspect of foreign policy.</p>
<p>The Constitutional Scholar</p>
<p>Obama was editor of the Harvard Law Review, an honor given to few. He was also professor of Constitutional Law in Chicago. Whatever one’s political beliefs, unless one is of the opinion that 9/11 and the ‘War on Terror’ have somehow abrogated the Constitution, the Bush administration’s depredations of the nation’s laws should cause every legal scholar to writhe in agony. Law professors like Jonathan Turley have spoken out often about the brazen violations of the law by the administration and expressed consternation at Congress remaining supine in the face of these abuses. Obama however has remained a silent spectator. In fact, he reversed his initial opposition to the FISA bill and ended up voting for it (giving a convoluted explanation for his change of heart). Anyone would have thought a legal scholar at least would stand up for the Constitution. No such luck. In his soaring speeches abuses against the Constitution find little mention.</p>
<p>A Steady Head in a Crisis</p>
<p>When John F. Kennedy was asked about his heroism, he replied, “It was involuntary. They sank my boat. ” Of course everyone knew he was being modest about his role, which included swimming out into the ocean to save a colleague, leading his team to safety and keeping them alive before they were rescued several days later by an Australian captain.</p>
<p>One hopes Obama, when asked by historians, will have modesty enough to reply that his ascension was involuntary – “they sank the financial sector”. Before the cratering of Lehman Brothers and AIG and the ensuing turmoil, Obama and McCain were running neck and neck, with the latter even running ahead in some polls. It was at this juncture that Obama displayed superb instincts, bringing to mind what Secretary of State Dean Rusk once told a junior during a crisis, “Don’t just do something. Stand there!”</p>
<p>Obama’s steadiness of manner was accentuated even more by the twitching figure at the other end of the presidential boxing ring, whose responses are reminiscent of this Wodehouse exchange, roughly quoted: “’Drive like the blazes’, he yelled at the chauffeur. ‘Where to?’ asked the other, not unreasonably”. In the end, Obama and Biden joined John McCain in doing exactly the same thing: voting for a bailout package neither had authored, including an extra 150 billion dollars of grease to get it through the House of Representatives. What was Obama’s contribution? Not clear if there was any. But this much his mother has taught him well: Don’t try to catch a falling knife.</p>
<p>Throw (Grand)momma from the Train</p>
<p>As Duryodhana memorably points out to Vidura in the Mahabharata, virtues in a ruler are not the same as those in an individual. It was presumably of an individual that EM Forster wrote, “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend, I hope I should have the guts to betray my country.” If the opposite is the index of statesmanship, Barack Obama has displayed it in spades – jettisoning friends at the earliest sign of trouble. In his celebrated (though short-lived in its efficacy, for the Rev. Wright was to scale new heights soon thereafter – see Barack Bertie and Jeremiah Jeeves) speech in Philadelphia, Barack Obama not only sought to distance himself from the pastor, but also threw in his own grandmother’s private utterances to her family as a counterbalance to the Rev. Wright’s public fulminations. It struck me as chillingly cynical when I heard it, a man (rightly) unwilling to put his children before the press, but throwing out his grandmother (the same ailing lady he is off to visit in Hawaii this week) without compunction to sustain a political toehold. This was coldblooded and ruthless calculation on full display.</p>
<p>Excuse me</p>
<p>Of all the lame excuses – “I’ve decided to spend more time with my family” (after an affair), “I was quoted out of context”, “I deny that I denied it”, etc., Obama’s take the cake. When asked about Wright’s sermons, Obama, a regular at Wright’s church for 20 years, said this – I was not in church that day. As to William Ayers, “I was 8 when he committed his vile acts”. Obama is too intelligent a man not to know the absurdity of this line of argument. He is banking on a press that too smitten with him to ask, “And were you 8 when you sat down with Ayers?” The straightforward answer would have been to say that he doesn’t have to agree with everything his friends say. A similar weasel reply greeted questions about his being a Muslim: I’ve never been a Muslim, I am a Christian.</p>
<p>Here’s how Ralph Nader replied when he was asked about his religious affiliation at a public meeting recently: “First, none of your business. Second, Church and State. Third, I think there’s too much religion in our public life”. If only Obama had answered this way! But caution is his middle name (oops!).</p>
<p>Bidden Biden</p>
<p>Obama’s feelings about the Iraq War and his evaluation of the war as the single greatest strategic error ever committed by the United States stand in sharp contrast to his choice of Joseph Biden as his running mate. This worthy windbag not only lobbied and clamored for the Iraq War Resolution, but stood by his vote for years thereafter, even mocking Cindy Sheehan for questioning the War. This is the same former chair of the Judiciary Committee who fawned before Alberto Gonzales – yes that same Alberto Gonzales – saying to him during his confirmation hearings, “I like you. You’re the real deal”. This after Abu Ghraib.(In mitigation, it should be added Biden did not vote for Gonzales’ confirmation).</p>
<p>A Campaign sans Answers – and Questions</p>
<p>That such a campaign appears set to defeat the McCain-Palin ticket so handily is commentary enough on the vacuousness (and viciousness) of the Republican effort, although it is equally a sign that enough people are seeing through the various schemes and scams of disassembling ongoing for the past 28 years.</p>
<p>Overall it is astonishing that a campaign season that has lasted nearly two years has managed to avoid any discussion of basic questions such as “What is the role of the government?”, or “Is terrorism really our #1 priority?” or “How bound should America be to Israel’s foreign policy?” or “What’s wrong with universal health care?” or “Is it OK to attack other countries?” or “Can a government violate the Constitution amidst a war?” or “Should the government spy on its own citizens without a warrant?”, or “What is a just tax policy?”, or “What should be America’s immigration policy?”.</p>
<p>It is only accidentally that one such question has been brought up, “Should we spread the wealth around?” I appreciate that Barack Obama brought up this issue, but I wish he would stand up and defend his ‘gaffe’. Here’s my answer to this question (Adrift, Yes. A Draft? Never) some years back.</p>
<p>It was Joe Biden who nailed Rudy Giuliani as a shameless self-promoter whose every sentence was made up of a noun, a verb, and 9-11. By the same token, Obama’s can be said to contain a noun, a verb and either Hope, Change, or First African American (the last more often during the primaries).</p>
<p>False Choices</p>
<p>We are often told that we have no choice but to vote for Obama because McCain would be a third term of Bush. Let us concede that McCain is demonstrably unfit. But McCain and Obama are not the only two candidates on offer. Ralph Nader is a man who has already done more for average Americans by his activism then either McCain or Obama can hope to achieve. Bob Barr has been consistent in standing up against violations of our rights and liberties.</p>
<p>Besides, before romancing the Democrats, it is wise to remember that it was a Democratic Senate that passed the Iraq War Resoloution; it was a Democratic Congress that passed the FISA bill (with Obama voting for it), and it was the same Democratic Congress which passed the Bailout package (with all its pork). To paraphrase Shakespeare, “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our Presidents, But in ourselves…”. So long as we remain consumers, not citizens (see Silence of the Lambs), our politics are sure to play false.</p>
<p>Back before Fo(u)rth</p>
<p>My fundamental problem with Obama is not with his solutions but with his diagnoses. The problem is not partisanship, as he keeps harping. If anything the problem is the lack of partisanship – partisanship with the Common People. Partisanship with the Constitution against the Corporations. Congressional Partisanship against a usurping Executive. Partisanship of the press against those in power. Unlike Obama, I think that before we can go forward, we must first go back.</p>
<p>If Obama is serious about moving the country forward, he must first restore it to where it was before. He might sense this, but does he have the will? Obama has run a sterile campaign touching no political issue of significance; it is not clear whether he thinks of himself as a technocrat, or if he has concluded his first job is to win, not build a movement. Judging from what he has said and done so far, he appears unlikely to rock the boat even to right it.</p>
<p>Dr. Johnson said that a second marriage is a triumph of hope over experience. The post-election scenario is akin to a second wedding, where one has to fall in love with the candidate in his new incarnation as incumbent, all over again. Perhaps even those of us who were unmoved by his charms during the campaign will be surprised by Barack Obama the President. After all, to use his own cliches, one can always Hope that he might Change! Let us hold our breath (or will it be our noses?).</p>
<p>NIRANJAN RAMAKRISHNAN is a writer living on the West Coast. He can be reached at <a href="" type="internal">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | presidential contender seen possible exception bill clinton run better campaign barack obama nothing else one must hand magnificent improbability effort guy whose last name sounds like osama whose middle name saddams running president america average joe including plumber likely doesnt know madrasi madrassa poised accounts verge victory winner obama many things said favor high intelligence rounded education international exposure least facet remarked upon endlessly last weeks steady temperament practical side displayed power organization ignored one reason hope traditional republican electoral mischief last eight years less likely succeed though less likely attempted matter ideas winning elections practical element obama shown definitely yes race without race obamas political ideas offers country first must get past asinine gushing great would black president woman president etc someone pointed tongue cheek africa black presidents half century haiti four times long results generally much write home benazir bhuttos coming power pakistan brought great improvements country even womenfolk nothing changes one individual certain race gender coming power thus treat obama another candidate ask real questions want shown signs consequential candidate primary campaign obama tight race hillary clinton took shot bill clinton interview newspapers editorial board said something effect bill clinton less consequential president ronald reagan altered country manner reagan struck good sign obamas understanding bill clintons signature achievement reversing budget deficit set naught within year leaving office much building national consensus ronald reagans views still inform infest might say body politic clearly obama setting standards presidency prince peace really obama would another presidential wannabe given single speech iraq war 2002 speech milked permanent political atm address gave obama initial spurt launched campaign coinciding time 100 americans getting killed month iraq however would seem obama bullet point pun intended resume cause bill clinton pointed inconvenient fact namely obamas record iraq got us senate exactly hillary clintons whose flawed judgment iraq one obamas main planks bill clinton termed notion obama serious opponent war iraq fairy tale reviled racist calling candidacy fairy tale obamas ongoing stands iraq lost media commenced ballroom dance barack war uninterrupted clear anyone looking record see instance restoration boulevard war even iraq war opposed causes little ongoing moral anguish said pivotal 2002 speech wars dumb ones sure enough soon expressing willingness consider attacks iran pakistan backing israel attack enemies etc etc notable lack outrage israels bludgeoning lebanese cities summer 2006 speech aipac israeli lobby group powerful enough make american presidential candidates grovel certainly lacking belligerence ongoing theme sending troops afghanistan indicates matters unilateral foreign military intervention obama entirely home george w bush richard b cheney yes john sidney mccain iii least going public pronouncements therefore little way change expected aspect foreign policy constitutional scholar obama editor harvard law review honor given also professor constitutional law chicago whatever ones political beliefs unless one opinion 911 war terror somehow abrogated constitution bush administrations depredations nations laws cause every legal scholar writhe agony law professors like jonathan turley spoken often brazen violations law administration expressed consternation congress remaining supine face abuses obama however remained silent spectator fact reversed initial opposition fisa bill ended voting giving convoluted explanation change heart anyone would thought legal scholar least would stand constitution luck soaring speeches abuses constitution find little mention steady head crisis john f kennedy asked heroism replied involuntary sank boat course everyone knew modest role included swimming ocean save colleague leading team safety keeping alive rescued several days later australian captain one hopes obama asked historians modesty enough reply ascension involuntary sank financial sector cratering lehman brothers aig ensuing turmoil obama mccain running neck neck latter even running ahead polls juncture obama displayed superb instincts bringing mind secretary state dean rusk told junior crisis dont something stand obamas steadiness manner accentuated even twitching figure end presidential boxing ring whose responses reminiscent wodehouse exchange roughly quoted drive like blazes yelled chauffeur asked unreasonably end obama biden joined john mccain exactly thing voting bailout package neither authored including extra 150 billion dollars grease get house representatives obamas contribution clear much mother taught well dont try catch falling knife throw grandmomma train duryodhana memorably points vidura mahabharata virtues ruler individual presumably individual em forster wrote choose betraying country betraying friend hope guts betray country opposite index statesmanship barack obama displayed spades jettisoning friends earliest sign trouble celebrated though shortlived efficacy rev wright scale new heights soon thereafter see barack bertie jeremiah jeeves speech philadelphia barack obama sought distance pastor also threw grandmothers private utterances family counterbalance rev wrights public fulminations struck chillingly cynical heard man rightly unwilling put children press throwing grandmother ailing lady visit hawaii week without compunction sustain political toehold coldblooded ruthless calculation full display excuse lame excuses ive decided spend time family affair quoted context deny denied etc obamas take cake asked wrights sermons obama regular wrights church 20 years said church day william ayers 8 committed vile acts obama intelligent man know absurdity line argument banking press smitten ask 8 sat ayers straightforward answer would say doesnt agree everything friends say similar weasel reply greeted questions muslim ive never muslim christian heres ralph nader replied asked religious affiliation public meeting recently first none business second church state third think theres much religion public life obama answered way caution middle name oops bidden biden obamas feelings iraq war evaluation war single greatest strategic error ever committed united states stand sharp contrast choice joseph biden running mate worthy windbag lobbied clamored iraq war resolution stood vote years thereafter even mocking cindy sheehan questioning war former chair judiciary committee fawned alberto gonzales yes alberto gonzales saying confirmation hearings like youre real deal abu ghraibin mitigation added biden vote gonzales confirmation campaign sans answers questions campaign appears set defeat mccainpalin ticket handily commentary enough vacuousness viciousness republican effort although equally sign enough people seeing various schemes scams disassembling ongoing past 28 years overall astonishing campaign season lasted nearly two years managed avoid discussion basic questions role government terrorism really 1 priority bound america israels foreign policy whats wrong universal health care ok attack countries government violate constitution amidst war government spy citizens without warrant tax policy americas immigration policy accidentally one question brought spread wealth around appreciate barack obama brought issue wish would stand defend gaffe heres answer question adrift yes draft never years back joe biden nailed rudy giuliani shameless selfpromoter whose every sentence made noun verb 911 token obamas said contain noun verb either hope change first african american last often primaries false choices often told choice vote obama mccain would third term bush let us concede mccain demonstrably unfit mccain obama two candidates offer ralph nader man already done average americans activism either mccain obama hope achieve bob barr consistent standing violations rights liberties besides romancing democrats wise remember democratic senate passed iraq war resoloution democratic congress passed fisa bill obama voting democratic congress passed bailout package pork paraphrase shakespeare fault dear brutus presidents long remain consumers citizens see silence lambs politics sure play false back fourth fundamental problem obama solutions diagnoses problem partisanship keeps harping anything problem lack partisanship partisanship common people partisanship constitution corporations congressional partisanship usurping executive partisanship press power unlike obama think go forward must first go back obama serious moving country forward must first restore might sense obama run sterile campaign touching political issue significance clear whether thinks technocrat concluded first job win build movement judging said done far appears unlikely rock boat even right dr johnson said second marriage triumph hope experience postelection scenario akin second wedding one fall love candidate new incarnation incumbent perhaps even us unmoved charms campaign surprised barack obama president use cliches one always hope might change let us hold breath noses niranjan ramakrishnan writer living west coast reached njn_2003yahoocom 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 1,275 |
<p>South Dakota legislators are taking aim at women’s right to choose abortion–and they’ll be satisfied with nothing less than total destruction.</p>
<p>In the most sweeping anti-abortion measure in 10 years, the state’s Senate and House voted last week for legislation that will ban virtually all abortions. Under the bill–which states that “life begins at the time of conception”–a doctor would face a minimum of five years in prison and a $5,000 fine for performing an abortion, unless it’s necessary to save the woman’s life.</p>
<p>One of the bill’s sponsors, Democratic state Sen. Julie Bartling, said the time is right for a total ban on abortion. “In my opinion, it is the time for this South Dakota legislature to deal with this issue and protect the rights and lives of unborn children,” Bartling told reporters.</p>
<p>Senators voted down a proposed amendment that would have made an exception to protect the pregnant woman’s health. A proposed exception in cases of rape–raised by a Republican–lost in a 21-14 vote.</p>
<p>Legislators also rejected a proposal that would have taken the ban to South Dakota voters and put the measure on the November ballot. And they voted down a proposal that would have kept state tax dollars from being used to defend the bill–which will almost certainly be challenged in court and could take years to settle. Anti-choice forces in South Dakota hardly need the money, since an anonymous donor has reportedly offered a $1 million donation to defend the new law in court.</p>
<p>South Dakota’s anti-choice governor, Republican Michael Rounds, has 15 days to sign the bill into law–and is likely to do so. Two years ago, Rounds issued a technical veto of a similar bill, but only because a court challenge to the legislation would have wiped out all the state’s restrictions on abortion until the case was settled.</p>
<p>“I’ve indicated I’m pro-life, and I do believe abortion is wrong and that we should do everything we can to save lives,” Rounds said. “If this bill accomplishes that, then I am inclined to sign the bill into law.”</p>
<p>“Long term, I think this [current Supreme Court] is probably more amenable to restricting the impact of Roe v. Wade on a case-by-case basis and an exception-by-exception basis,” Rounds said. “But in the meantime, this may satisfy a lot of individuals out there who would like to see if there is one slim chance the court may entertain three years from now a direct assault on Roe v. Wade.” “I can tell you first-hand we’ve had people stopping in our office trying to drop off checks to promote the defense of this legislation already,” Rounds added.</p>
<p>The South Dakota bill represents a new line of attack for anti-choice forces. Since abortion was legalized in 1973 with the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, the religious right has sought to chip away at women’s access to abortion, while avoiding a head-on challenge to Roe. Now, with the Bush administration’s success in packing the Supreme Court with anti-choice conservatives Samuel Alito and John Roberts, some right-wing forces are pushing for a full frontal attack. “It is a calculated risk, to be sure, but I believe it is a fight worth fighting,” said Republican state Sen. Brock Greenfield, who is also director of the South Dakota Right to Life.</p>
<p>The right’s previous piecemeal strategy has already greatly limited a woman’s right to choose in South Dakota. Last year, the state passed five laws restricting abortion. One requires a doctor to tell women that an abortion would end the life of a “whole, separate, unique human being.”</p>
<p>South Dakota is one of three states–along with Mississippi and North Dakota–that has just one abortion provider. The doctors, who are rotated and flown into South Dakota from Minnesota, perform abortions only one day a week.</p>
<p>If South Dakota succeeds in its all-out assault on abortion rights, other states will probably follow suit. Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Tennessee and Kentucky lawmakers are already looking at similar bans.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, some anti-abortion forces are afraid of the backlash such an all-encompassing attack will provoke.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it’s hard to imagine the organizations that claim to defend abortion rights, like NARAL Pro-Choice America, being able to wage the kind of fight it will take to beat back this assault.</p>
<p>“When you see them have a ban that does not include exceptions for rape or incest or the health of the mother, you understand that elections do matter,” concluded Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America. “We will be very active in ’06 and in ’08 in electing candidates that represent the views of most Americans.”</p>
<p>Keenan is wrong if she thinks NARAL’s long-held strategy of electing Democrats is going to work. After all, in the South Dakota senate, five Democrats voted for the abortion ban, one more than voted against it. In the process of showering their so-called political allies with support, liberal women’s organizations have done nothing while access to abortion has been chipped away.</p>
<p>More attacks on abortion rights are guaranteed in the coming months. Last week, the Supreme Court agreed to hear the Bush administration’s appeal of a decision invalidating the so-called “Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003,” a law that would ban pregnancies terminated as early as 12 or 13 weeks, and that doesn’t include exceptions for the woman’s health.</p>
<p>The religious right’s success in restricting women’s access to abortion–from mandatory waiting periods to parental consent legislation–has built their confidence to take on Roe. An activist movement to defend abortion rights has to organize where it can’t be ignored–in the streets.</p>
<p>ELIZABETH SCHULTE writes for the <a href="http://www.socialistworker.org/" type="external">Socialist Worker.</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | south dakota legislators taking aim womens right choose abortionand theyll satisfied nothing less total destruction sweeping antiabortion measure 10 years states senate house voted last week legislation ban virtually abortions billwhich states life begins time conceptiona doctor would face minimum five years prison 5000 fine performing abortion unless necessary save womans life one bills sponsors democratic state sen julie bartling said time right total ban abortion opinion time south dakota legislature deal issue protect rights lives unborn children bartling told reporters senators voted proposed amendment would made exception protect pregnant womans health proposed exception cases raperaised republicanlost 2114 vote legislators also rejected proposal would taken ban south dakota voters put measure november ballot voted proposal would kept state tax dollars used defend billwhich almost certainly challenged court could take years settle antichoice forces south dakota hardly need money since anonymous donor reportedly offered 1 million donation defend new law court south dakotas antichoice governor republican michael rounds 15 days sign bill lawand likely two years ago rounds issued technical veto similar bill court challenge legislation would wiped states restrictions abortion case settled ive indicated im prolife believe abortion wrong everything save lives rounds said bill accomplishes inclined sign bill law long term think current supreme court probably amenable restricting impact roe v wade casebycase basis exceptionbyexception basis rounds said meantime may satisfy lot individuals would like see one slim chance court may entertain three years direct assault roe v wade tell firsthand weve people stopping office trying drop checks promote defense legislation already rounds added south dakota bill represents new line attack antichoice forces since abortion legalized 1973 supreme courts ruling roe v wade religious right sought chip away womens access abortion avoiding headon challenge roe bush administrations success packing supreme court antichoice conservatives samuel alito john roberts rightwing forces pushing full frontal attack calculated risk sure believe fight worth fighting said republican state sen brock greenfield also director south dakota right life rights previous piecemeal strategy already greatly limited womans right choose south dakota last year state passed five laws restricting abortion one requires doctor tell women abortion would end life whole separate unique human south dakota one three statesalong mississippi north dakotathat one abortion provider doctors rotated flown south dakota minnesota perform abortions one day week south dakota succeeds allout assault abortion rights states probably follow suit ohio indiana georgia tennessee kentucky lawmakers already looking similar bans nevertheless antiabortion forces afraid backlash allencompassing attack provoke unfortunately hard imagine organizations claim defend abortion rights like naral prochoice america able wage kind fight take beat back assault see ban include exceptions rape incest health mother understand elections matter concluded nancy keenan president naral prochoice america active 06 08 electing candidates represent views americans keenan wrong thinks narals longheld strategy electing democrats going work south dakota senate five democrats voted abortion ban one voted process showering socalled political allies support liberal womens organizations done nothing access abortion chipped away attacks abortion rights guaranteed coming months last week supreme court agreed hear bush administrations appeal decision invalidating socalled partialbirth abortion ban act 2003 law would ban pregnancies terminated early 12 13 weeks doesnt include exceptions womans health religious rights success restricting womens access abortionfrom mandatory waiting periods parental consent legislationhas built confidence take roe activist movement defend abortion rights organize cant ignoredin streets elizabeth schulte writes socialist worker 160 | 557 |
<p>Photo by KeithJustKeith | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>The massacre in Manchester is a horrific event born out of the violence raging in a vast area stretching from Pakistan to Nigeria and Syria to South Sudan. Britain is on the outer periphery of this cauldron of war, but it would be surprising if we were not hit by sparks thrown up by these savage conflicts. They have been going on so long that they are scarcely reported, and the rest of the world behaves as if perpetual warfare was the natural state of Libya, Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South Sudan, North-east&#160;Nigeria&#160;and Afghanistan.</p>
<p>It is inevitable that, in the wake of the slaughter in Manchester,&#160;popular&#160;attention in Britain should be focussed on the circumstances of the mass killing and on what can be done to stop it happening again. But explanations for what happened and plans to detect and neutralise a very small number of Salafi-jihadi fanatics in UK, will always lack realism unless they are devised and implemented with a broad understanding of the context in which they occur.</p>
<p>It is necessary at this point to emphasise once again that explanation is not justification. It is, on the contrary, an acknowledgement that no battle –&#160;certainly not a battle to defeat al-Qaeda and Isis – can be fought and won without knowing the political, religious and military ingredients that come together to produce Salman Abedi and the shadowy Salafi-jihadi network around him.</p>
<p>The anarchic violence in the Middle East and North Africa is underreported and often never mentioned at all in the Western media. Butchery of civilians in Baghdad and Mogadishu has come to seem as normal and inevitable as hurricanes in the Caribbean or avalanches in the Himalayas. Over the last week, for instance, an attack by one of the militias in the Libyan capital Tripoli killed at least 28 people and wounded 130. The number is more than died in Manchester, but there were very few accounts of it. The Libyan warlords, who pay their fighters from the country’s diminished oil revenues, are thoroughly criminalised and heavily engaged in racket from kidnapping to sending sub-Saharan migrants to sea in sinking boats. But their activities are commonly ignored, as if they were operating on a separate planet.</p>
<p>Britain played&#160;a central role in overthrowing Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 without considering that there was nothing but such warlords remaining to replace his regime. I was in Benghazi and Tripoli at that time and could see that&#160;the rebel bands, financed by Gulf oil states and victorious only because of Nato airstrikes, would be incapable of filling the vacuum. It was also clear from an early stage that among those taking advantage of this void would be al-Qaeda and its clones.</p>
<p>But it is only since last Monday that people in Britain have come to realise that what happened in Libya in 2011 dramatically affects life in Britain today.</p>
<p>British Libyans and Libyan exiles in Britain, who saw their “control orders”&#160;lifted and their passports returned by MI5 six years ago so they could go and fight Gaddafi&#160;were never going to turn into sober citizens the day after his fall. Just as the link is undeniable between the perpetrators of 9/11 and the US and Saudi backing for Jihadis fighting the Communists in Afghanistan in the 1980s, so too is the connection between the Manchester bombing and the British Government using Salafi-jihadis from the UK to get rid of Gaddafi.</p>
<p>The British Government pretends that anybody making this obvious point is seeking to limit the responsibility of the killers of 9/11 and the&#160;Manchester attack. The Conservative response to Jeremy Corbyn’s common sense statement that there is an obvious link between a British foreign policy that has sought regime change in Iraq, Syria and Libya and the empowerment of al-Qaeda and Isis in these places has been dismissive and demagogic. The venom and hysteria with which Mr Corbyn is accused of letting the bombers morally off the hook has much to do with the General Election, but may also suggest a well-concealed suspicion that what he says is true.</p>
<p>The Manchester bombing is part of the legacy of failed British military interventions abroad, but is this history useful in preventing such calamities as Manchester happening again? Analysis of these past mistakes is important to explain that terrorists cannot be fought and defeated while they have safe havens in countries that have no governments or central authority. Everything should be done to fill these vacuums, which means that effective counter-terrorism requires a sane foreign policy devoted to that end.</p>
<p>It is no advertisement for President Bashar al-Assad to say that any well-informed assessment of the balance of forces in Syria from 2012 onwards – and the powerful foreign allies supporting each side – showed that Assad was likely to stay in power. Fuelling the war with&#160;the expectation that he would go was unrealistic and much to the advantage of al-Qaeda, Isis and those who might target Britain.</p>
<p>Eliminating the bombers’ safe havens is a necessity if the threat of further attacks is to be lifted. Security measures within Britain are never going to be enough because the al-Qaeda or Isis targets are the entire British population. They cannot all be protected, particularly as the means of murdering them may be car or a kitchen knife. In this sense, the bomber will always get through, though it can be made more difficult for him or her to do so.</p>
<p>Better news is that the number of Salafi-jihadi networks is probably pretty small, though Isis and al-Qaeda will want to give the impression that their tentacles are everywhere. The purpose of terrorism is, after all, to create pervasive fear. Experience in Europe over the last three years suggests that the number of cells are limited&#160;but that committed Jihadis can be sent from Libya, Iraq or Syria to energise and organise local sympathisers to commit outrages.</p>
<p>Another purpose of terrorism is to provoke an overreaction, in this case the communal persecution or punishment of all Muslims in Britain. The trap here is that the state becomes the recruiting sergeant for the very organisations it is trying to suppress, The ‘Prevent’ programme may be doing just this. Such an approach is also counter-effective because so many people are regarded as suspicious that there are too little resources to focus on the far smaller number who are really dangerous.</p>
<p>Atrocities such as Manchester will inevitably lead to friction between Muslims and non-Muslims and, if there are more attacks, sectarian and ethnic antipathies will increase. Downplaying the religious motivation and saying the killers “have nothing to do with real Islam” may have benign intentions, but has the disadvantage of being glaringly untrue. All the killers have been Muslim religious fanatics.</p>
<p>It might be more useful to say that their vicious beliefs have their roots in Wahhabism, a very small portion of the Muslim world population living in Saudi Arabia. Of course, this would have the disadvantage of annoying Saudi Arabia, whose rulers Britain and much of the rest of the world are so keen to cultivate.</p>
<p>There should be nothing mysterious about the cause and effect which led to the Manchester bombing. Yet the same mistakes have been made by Britain in Iraq in 2003, Afghanistan in 2006, Libya in 2011 and in Syria over the same period.</p> | true | 4 | photo keithjustkeith cc 20 massacre manchester horrific event born violence raging vast area stretching pakistan nigeria syria south sudan britain outer periphery cauldron war would surprising hit sparks thrown savage conflicts going long scarcely reported rest world behaves perpetual warfare natural state libya somalia syria iraq yemen south sudan northeast160nigeria160and afghanistan inevitable wake slaughter manchester160popular160attention britain focussed circumstances mass killing done stop happening explanations happened plans detect neutralise small number salafijihadi fanatics uk always lack realism unless devised implemented broad understanding context occur necessary point emphasise explanation justification contrary acknowledgement battle 160certainly battle defeat alqaeda isis fought without knowing political religious military ingredients come together produce salman abedi shadowy salafijihadi network around anarchic violence middle east north africa underreported often never mentioned western media butchery civilians baghdad mogadishu come seem normal inevitable hurricanes caribbean avalanches himalayas last week instance attack one militias libyan capital tripoli killed least 28 people wounded 130 number died manchester accounts libyan warlords pay fighters countrys diminished oil revenues thoroughly criminalised heavily engaged racket kidnapping sending subsaharan migrants sea sinking boats activities commonly ignored operating separate planet britain played160a central role overthrowing muammar gaddafi 2011 without considering nothing warlords remaining replace regime benghazi tripoli time could see that160the rebel bands financed gulf oil states victorious nato airstrikes would incapable filling vacuum also clear early stage among taking advantage void would alqaeda clones since last monday people britain come realise happened libya 2011 dramatically affects life britain today british libyans libyan exiles britain saw control orders160lifted passports returned mi5 six years ago could go fight gaddafi160were never going turn sober citizens day fall link undeniable perpetrators 911 us saudi backing jihadis fighting communists afghanistan 1980s connection manchester bombing british government using salafijihadis uk get rid gaddafi british government pretends anybody making obvious point seeking limit responsibility killers 911 the160manchester attack conservative response jeremy corbyns common sense statement obvious link british foreign policy sought regime change iraq syria libya empowerment alqaeda isis places dismissive demagogic venom hysteria mr corbyn accused letting bombers morally hook much general election may also suggest wellconcealed suspicion says true manchester bombing part legacy failed british military interventions abroad history useful preventing calamities manchester happening analysis past mistakes important explain terrorists fought defeated safe havens countries governments central authority everything done fill vacuums means effective counterterrorism requires sane foreign policy devoted end advertisement president bashar alassad say wellinformed assessment balance forces syria 2012 onwards powerful foreign allies supporting side showed assad likely stay power fuelling war with160the expectation would go unrealistic much advantage alqaeda isis might target britain eliminating bombers safe havens necessity threat attacks lifted security measures within britain never going enough alqaeda isis targets entire british population protected particularly means murdering may car kitchen knife sense bomber always get though made difficult better news number salafijihadi networks probably pretty small though isis alqaeda want give impression tentacles everywhere purpose terrorism create pervasive fear experience europe last three years suggests number cells limited160but committed jihadis sent libya iraq syria energise organise local sympathisers commit outrages another purpose terrorism provoke overreaction case communal persecution punishment muslims britain trap state becomes recruiting sergeant organisations trying suppress prevent programme may approach also countereffective many people regarded suspicious little resources focus far smaller number really dangerous atrocities manchester inevitably lead friction muslims nonmuslims attacks sectarian ethnic antipathies increase downplaying religious motivation saying killers nothing real islam may benign intentions disadvantage glaringly untrue killers muslim religious fanatics might useful say vicious beliefs roots wahhabism small portion muslim world population living saudi arabia course would disadvantage annoying saudi arabia whose rulers britain much rest world keen cultivate nothing mysterious cause effect led manchester bombing yet mistakes made britain iraq 2003 afghanistan 2006 libya 2011 syria period | 617 |
<p>Photo by Ciro | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
<p>I don’t live in the U.S. any longer. I did, for over forty years, but left for good almost twenty years ago. But I return, often, and I even returned and stayed for a year. I returned again this last week as an invitee of the Buffalo/Niagara Falls Film Festival (more on that below).</p>
<p>So, I wanted to talk about the America I found this time through. I changed planes in Washington D.C., at Dulles Airport (yes, named after cold war reactionary John Foster Dulles). I could not but think of that fascist loving arch elitist and racist as I sat there for an interminable few hours. I had a delayed connection to Buffalo. The first thing that strikes one, especially after having just left Gardermoen Airport, Oslo, and Copehagen’s Kastrup airport – both of which, along with Amsterdam’s Schipol airport, are maybe among the easiest and least stressful to use in the world – is the noise and sense of agitation.</p>
<p>And what one notices right off, while still in Kastrup, is that the gate for the flight to Dulles is separate from the rest of the gates serving the international terminal. Flights to the U.S. have double the number of security personnel and are quite simply isolated. You are asked to submit to additional searches and are required to fill out additional forms — for what reason is anyone’s guess since as far as I can determine none of the forms are actually used for anything. Anyway, that was OK, I had my triple espresso and chocolate. Kastrup must have even better food than Schiphol. Once on the plane I had a nice young Swede in the seat next to me, a student from Ingmar Bergman’s birthplace island of Faro. The food was dreadful, of course. And I was struck, and this was to become a theme for this journey, with the insane and even delusional amount of packaging that is used. EVERYTHING is wrapped in plastic. In fact plastic spoons and forks are wrapped in plastic. Plastic wraps plastic wraps plastic. And inside is stale preservative and sugar laden food, designed for long shelf life, and which closely resembles and tastes like…plastic.</p>
<p>Landing means security. You must scan your own passport at Dulles. Why? I don’t know, you have to go talk to a passport control officer anyway. Then if you have connecting flights you are funneled into another line, in a hot terminal annex, and scanned again. For me it was the third scan in 12 hours — and I had never left the airports. But then they ran out of plastic tubs and asked we just shove all our iPhones and what not into our carry on bags. And shove them all through the scanner. The young woman at the monitor wasn’t looking at the screen as the bags passed so none of any of this mattered in the least. It was a strange dysfunctional bit of security kabuki.</p>
<p>Then more waiting. Only at Dulles you can’t get good food. You can’t get good coffee. You do get a lot of noise though. Gardermoen is tomb-like in comparison with American airports. But there is another aspect to this. It is true that those rather almost obscenely pleasant Scandinavian airports are servicing a very affluent clientele. U.S. air travel is too, really, only the U.S. today feels increasingly polarized. First class is separate. You actually never see them. They are in lounges provided by the airlines of choice. Business class seems to mean 21st century Wily Lomans. No, it is first class and the rest of us. And the rest are subjected to an increasing battery of security abuses. Take off your shoes? Why? Because one simpleminded patsy tried to ignite his Nikes? ONE GUY? That’s it?? I saw old ladies have to, with some embarrassment, take off their shoes.</p>
<p>And then there is the increasingly visible racism of the U.S. I watched when black or Arab workers carried bags or moved carts. I saw so many of those put upon white faces tighten ever so slightly. The animosity is in the air. On the TVs, and there are TVs everywhere in the U.S., large screens EVERYWHERE. It is the only thing more common than cops. And on TV were endless photos of North Korea and the ‘Rocket Man’, or there were football games. One or the other. Jesus but football is popular. And there is no other sport in the U.S. as saturated in jingoistic pro war rhetoric and symbolism. And I am reminded that this is a game proven to cause irreparable brain damage. That said, the, perhaps, hidden dialectic in this most militaristic of sports is the Kaepernick protests, which have spread. Sports always contains within it a kind of potential for such synthesis of contradiction (see Dave Zirin’s recent writing). So mostly the comments one overheard were about football. Or about how fed up people were with that Kim Jung whatshisname…hell, get rid of that fucker. Trump speaking of “Nambia.” An imaginary country that exists in that private colonial map in his mind. And then a group of young Christians sat down near me at the gate. They seemed to be focused on ‘the holy spirit’. ‘Oh man’, one girl said, loudly, ‘I felt the holy spirit today’. I could feel it all day, she said, rather too loudly. I looked at her. She was blonde, refried, maybe in her late twenties, and wore spandex pants and Rebok trainers and a blue t-shirt with some other athletic brand name scrawled across the front of it. She was loud. Oh and she kept eating M&amp;Ms.</p>
<p>A family from maybe India or Bangladesh walked past. They were tired, and had young children. Holy Spirit’s face darkened. She kept speaking on her phone but her voice lowered. The people I saw — those Americans — were all angry, just like the holy spirit girl. Nobody seemed happy. Nobody read.</p>
<p>I was reading …Emmanuel Carrere’s bio of Philip K. Dick ( <a href="" type="internal">I’m Alive and You’re Dead</a>). A sort of perfect book for 7 hours spent at Dulles. I sat there as Carrere described Dick’s interpretations of Master Eickert’s idios kosmos. Dick battled periods of extreme paranoia. A giant black face in the clouds that watched him. Eventually he simply stopped looking up. I knew the feeling. It was the Dulles domestic terminal. Suddenly everyone felt like an alien, a robotic imposter. A hologram.</p>
<p>Deplanning, as they say, in Buffalo, at midnight, is an odd and slightly unsettling experience. Walking down the long corridor to baggage claim I was reading the ads on the walls. One newer one advertised “Aesthetic Vaginal Surgery”, with two Indian doctors in pastel shirts, gold watches, and oddly colored brown suits. Across from them was an ad for “Divorce Lawyer: Legal Assistance, effective and compassionate”. The woman lawyer looked neither, but then looks can be deceiving. Many advertisements for sports, football or hockey.</p>
<p>I got to Niagara Falls late. I checked into the franchise hotel reserved for me. In the morning I had awful hotel eggs and toast. The waitress, a sort of late 40s version of the holy spirit girl, spoke in a Marlboro rasp, and asked THREE times did I want bacon or sausage. I said neither, three times. Just eggs. I was already suspect. Around me, without exception, were morbidly obese Americans. Two men wore their cowboy hats on inside while they ate. A younger guy had his hockey stick with him (in its case, mind you) and everyone ate from the all-you-can-eat buffet. It was very popular it seemed. Most of these people came for the Indian Casino (sic) down the block, next to the falls. It is a massive casino.</p>
<p>Everything is a franchise. And the food. Again the food. No wonder America is so miserable. Look at how they eat. It is truly appalling. Niagara Falls itself is a wonder, and yet surrounding it is the usual assortment of souvenir shops and fast food vendors. There was a “Daredevil Musuem”, but it had gone out of business. Too bad, I might have enjoyed that bit of American kitsch.</p>
<p>The &#160;tourist experience is one of absolute horror. I cannot find the words to describe just how spiritually nullifying the spectacle has become. Walk into those souvenir stores and very little is newly produced. All of it is, of course, made overseas. The faces of those working in these shops are portraits of depression. This is the white under class, the part time workers and long term unemployed. They smoke and they are angry. They are ‘right-on-the-edge’. They have crawled out on that psychic ledge and there is no more space and there is no going back. Nobody even pretends to give a shit. Buy a Niagara Falls t shirt, buy a genuine Native American maple syrup figurine, or fucking don’t. We don’t care.</p>
<p>Buffalo and Niagara Falls and Cattaraugus taken together is around a million people. The mean average income is half that of New York state overall. The house value is one fifth of New York overall. In other words if you own a home in Buffalo, you can’t give it away. Ancesteral lineage is mostly German and Polish and Irish. There is a sizable Indian and south Asian community, and quite a few recent emigres from Africa. The average age is slightly younger than NYC. There were forty murders in Buffalo last year, down slightly from the previous two years. Rape was up slightly.</p>
<p>There is also the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute, which, judging from the photos out front turns out steam table chefs for the big hotels. Cheerios are manufactured here. Archer Midlands Daniels runs a huge flour factory and it is home to the National Buffalo Wings festival and competition.</p>
<p>Once upon a time, Buffalo was a reasonably rich city. And there remain a few of those great Queen Anne revival buildings that are often found in the major cities of the rust belt. The Richardson Olmstead Complex (architect Harry Hobson Richardson, who worked with famed landscape designer Frederik Olmstead, who created Central Park and Golden Gate Park) to create a still rather wonderful neo Romaneque brick and sandstone mental hospital built in 1862. Beyond that the city is dotted with old turn of the 20th century gilded age (well the first gilded age) houses, originally the grand homes of the leading industrialists of the time, or the homes of the managers of the factories of those industrialists. But that was all long ago. Buffalo is a microcosim. A micro-ecology, both psychologically and economically, and culturally for the entirety of the U.S.</p>
<p>Tourism is driven by notions no longer believed in; the idea of recreation and family vacations. Nobody can afford that. Leisure was always modeled after work. An extension of work. A kind of faux work time. Adrono wrote of leisure:</p>
<p>“According to the prevailing work ethic, time free of work should be utilized for the recreation of expended labor power.” For Adorno, the repetitive nature of alienated labor created a tendency to reproduce that repetitive boredom during times of leisure. And boredom, as he noted, was a sign of objective dullness. And that in turn linked to “political apathy”.</p>
<p>Tourism is for the Japanese and the Germans, today. Americans go to the casino. I stood in line at Starbucks, across from the casino, and a young American pair came in. She was maybe thirty but dressed twenty. Halter and cleavage and long tanned legs. Very aerobasized, and he was buffed with a tight t-shirt and baseball cap worn backwards. He was lean and athletic but he had that odd graceless gait of the gymnasium body. His face was handsome, chiseled and yet he looked terrified. Of what I do not know. His future or lack of it I suspect. And she radiated desperation. Both were anxious, nervous, and like the two pack a day souvenir vendors, they found themselves out on that ledge. So many white americans, working class, have taken on a kind of furtive look.</p>
<p>The backdrop of the Falls is pure allegory. The rising mist and the 20 bucks a pop boat rides (barely surviving one suspects) feel bereft of energy. Nobody seems to believe what is going on. The natural beauty of the Falls is now surrounded by massive tourist enterprises and commercialism.</p>
<p>In a society of mass surveillance, knowing that you are being watched makes you reasonable AND paranoid. A society in which all movements are infiltrated to an almost impossible to imagine degree, the real becomes a fluid concept. Are my emails monitored? Does it matter? In an age when police can and do manufacture evidence, what need is there for monitoring emails or phone conversations? They can just as easily, more easily, make them up.</p>
<p>Pilger wrote recently of his visits to the U.S. :</p>
<p>“Returning to the US, I am struck by the silence and the absence of an opposition – on the streets, in journalism and the arts, as if dissent once tolerated in the “mainstream” has regressed to a dissidence: a metaphoric underground. There is plenty of sound and fury at Trump the odious one, the “fascist”, but almost none at Trump the symptom and caricature of an enduring system of conquest and extremism.”</p>
<p>Pilger also noted….</p>
<p>“When Donald Trump addressed the United Nations on 19 September – a body established to spare humanity the “scourge of war” – he declared he was “ready, willing and able” to “totally destroy” North Korea and its 25 million people. His audience gasped, but Trump’s language was not unusual. His rival for the presidency, Hillary Clinton, had boasted she was prepared to “totally obliterate” Iran, a nation of more than 80 million people. This is the American Way; only the euphemisms are missing now.”</p>
<p>The problem with the fixation on Trump, which seems intentional on the part of corporate media, is that it trivializes the crimes of previous administrations. When walking around Niagara Falls and Buffalo I sense that almost all of my fellow citizens no longer believe what they hear, but they also are so terrified of voicing any dissent that they mostly nod in mute agreement. And this is partly about education. The default position for most Americans is one that has been shaped by Hollywood. And this week Rob Reiner announced the formation of something called The Committee to Investigate Russia, on whose board sit prominent neo cons and various reactionary commentators like Max Boot and Molly McKew (former advisor to Mikheil Saakashvili). McKew is sort of the liberals answer to Nikki Haley. A sprung frothing fringe lunatic, in other words. Also David Frum, longstanding arch conservative and supporter, last election, of Hillary Clinton. The now well-known Morgan Freemann video was a piece of pure calculated propaganda. And this is why so many Americans feel it best to just keep silent. They haven’t even the beginnings of basic knowledge on these topics to formulate an opinion. There has been a four decade program of keeping the populace uninformed. But Freeman’s text sounds like a Hollywood movie, hell, he even uses screenplay metaphors, so in many places it will be very effective.</p>
<p>Cutting across this, however, are a couple other currents. One is the deeply entrenched and internalized racism of white America. Racism is like an encrusted psychic carbuncle on the collective soul of white culture. Having Morgan Freeman take the token torch from Colin Powell is perfectly predictable. Obama had already done it anyway. The racism of white America has learned to compartmentalize certain special black celebrities, often sports figures, while retaining a thoroughly white supremacist belief system.</p>
<p>Then there is the other deeply entrenched adoration of militarism. This month also saw the nakedly revisionist Ken Burns documentary on the Vietnam War. These are grotesque projects of disinformation. But if all you know of the world is what you glean from Hollywood, then most of this will seem quite reasonable and sincere. It is worth noting, too, that Snopes took issue with any criticism of the Committee to Investigate Russia. I digress, but its really well past time to stop referencing Snopes as an impartial observer of anything.</p>
<p>Buffalo is like much of the U.S. today. Unemployment is acute, as is poverty. Certain stats jump out at you, like 76% of disabled people live below the Poverty line in western New York state. Numbers mean nothing in unemployment, though, because the long term unemployed are simply not counted. All you have to do is walk around. There is an overriding sense of futility in American society, today. And one feels it in a visceral manner when returning here. The looks, the suspicion, the anger. Maybe it is because I live in Norway, but the sense of anger in America feels overwhelming. But so does the sense of smug entitlement.</p>
<p>On the long plane ride from Copenhagen to Washington D.C. I read, but took some time off to look at a few minutes from various films on offer. A remake of Baywatch, something or other with the insufferable Scarlett Johanson, and, well, it hardly matters because all of it is steeped in self congratulation. And it is all profoundly out of touch with American society. I often wish my remaining friends in the U.S. would just leave. I have certainly never regretted it. It is hard to really understand the ways in which privilege is expressed by mass culture when one lives inside it. The constant onslaught of propaganda, of this unreality, takes a toll, it seeps into your consciousness, it inhabits your grammar and speech and vision. The sound of U.S. society today is blatantly exceptionalist. WE are the best, the most special, unique, and the world follows our lead. People believe this. White America in particular seems to have collectively regressed. There are pockets, obviously, that are outside of this. But too few. And the cocoon of exceptionalism extends to travel, too. A vacation to some tourist resort means you haven’t really left the U.S. There is a sense, really, of a schizophrenic state existing at large. A collective shrinking of basic emotions and feeling.</p>
<p>I met some very nice folks in Buffalo, of course. That is really not the point. Even nice (sic) people will feel they have to kill you if it’s for your own good. Or their own good. Philip K. Dick spent his life fixated on the details of daily life being or seeming to be slightly out of order, slightly askew. He sensed unreality where everyone said reality. He knew the man behind the curtain only hid more curtains and more men. Dick was not a political thinker. His vision of western society was instinctual, anarchic, and personal. For him the personal was inextricably bound to the collective. He understood that fascism’s first goal is to change the past. He knew the future was not the real goal, only the past. For the past would fortell the future. This is the insight of the paranoid schizophrenic.</p>
<p>“To understand the New Cold War emerging today, it is necessary to reexamine the original conflict between the United States and the USSR. The present Russia panic follows an entire century of fearmongering and “threat inflation,” dating to the Russian Revolution, that has long served the interests of the U.S. military-industrial complex and security state. It has had little to do with either Russian or American realities, which have been consistently distorted.”</p>
<p>— Jeremy Kurzmarmov</p>
<p>It is ironic that the only actual cyber attack against a sovereign nation was one launched by the U.S. against Iran in 2008. Which fact is simply not remembered by media today. Instead the new security state is amping up rhetoric about Russia which they know is untrue. But what must be remembered here is firstly, the defense industry and U.S. military win even when they lose. Winning is not a hard fact. It is a loose concept. Sustaining budgets, or increasing them, is the first and only goal. And two, psychologically the ruling class is no less desperate and irrational and repressed than the underclass. It is only that Hollywood and corporate telecoms and places such as Clear Channel…that entire apparatus…they control message and they work very hard to reform the past.</p>
<p>Jim Mattis and RH McMaster, and Stanley McChrystal…the entire cabal of white male generals were likely moved in to surround Trump once his fundamental incompetence was made clear. They are militarists, and Mattis was the architect of Fallujah, and earned his nickname. Kelly and McMaster serve as guard dogs, and protectors of the Pentagon agenda. They seem cool, articulate, and the media adore them. Liberals fawn over them. Literally salivate and grovel in adoration. For the most pernicious and most indelible trope in contemporary America is that of military virtue and goodness. The square jawed buzz cut man of action. And in truth, compared to Trump and his family, they ARE efficient. Its just that efficiency almost certainly serves the metasticizing of western capital to all corners of the globe, and to the protection of US global interests.</p>
<p>If you want to know exactly how distracted from material reality most people are, ask a stranger directions somewhere. I can almost guarantee you will get wrong directions, or more likely still, get non directions. People have in general lost the capacity to organize their thoughts into sentences that convey specific material items or instructions. I had to find the theatre for this film festival. I chose to walk. A ten mile walk. Long but not crazy long. I like walking. But asking the man behind the counter at the hotel proved an exercise in futility. The walk was fine, hot, and as it turned out it took me directly through the shuttered refineries of Love Canal.</p>
<p>I started this journey to New York by having an airport hotel not make a wake up call. I missed the flight. The young man who didn’t&#160;make the call had that deer in the headlights glazed look. He made little eye contact. In New York the slightly older young man simply had no words. He tried and finally printed out a Google map…which turned out to be wrong…but whatever. The point is that a majority of American citizens cannot tell you how to get from here to there. Literally, I mean literally they do not have a large enough vocabulary to explain directions nor to describe landmarks.</p>
<p>The screen addictions of contemporary western society is related to this degrading of vocabulary and speech. On this trip, besides plastic wrap, the most significant repeated image is that of people staring down at their smart phones. Walking, not walking, wherever, whatever time, most people are addictively punching out simplistic abbreviated messages. The amount of face time today is drastically reduced. I have read no study or any figures, but again, just go outside and walk around. And people have begun to speak as they text. In short non-grammatical half sentences. Texting is not really more than simple coded expressions for generic subject positions. Complex science cannot be texted, and there is no poetics associated with it. The rise, over very recent years, of emojis is another sign of how alienated the culture has become. This has been my experience in the U.S. And while its true in Europe too, it is not nearly true to the same degree.</p>
<p>Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone wrote of Trump:</p>
<p>“Trump has not only completely lost his sense of humor, particularly about himself, but he’s a lingual mess. In his current dread of polysyllables – his favorite words include “I,” “Trump,” “very,” “money” and “China” – he makes George W. Bush sound like Vladimir Nabokov. On the page, transcripts of his speaking appearances often look like complete gibberish.</p>
<p>“When I did this now I said, I probably, maybe will confuse people, maybe I’ll expand that,” he said to Lester Holt in May, “you know, I’ll lengthen the time because it should be over with, in my opinion.” …</p>
<p>He also can barely speak anymore, but without a close-up examination it’s impossible to say if this is a neurological problem or just being typically American. As the psychologist Michaelis puts it, one major cause for loss of cognitive function is giving up reading in favor of TV or the Internet, which is basically most people in this country these days.</p>
<p>The multiplicity theme applied to internet users (from mainstream popular theorists like Sherry Turkle) sees social media and texting and screen usage as mostly benign if not actually positive, an enhancement of human potential. This is sort of the TED level thinking that glossy magazines promote. But I would argue that the constant fractured and incomplete language of digital communication is both a reflection of and creator of a fractured and increasingly incoherent personality. People check their phones at funerals, at marriages, at almost any public event. But what occurs to me is that people’s compulsive smart phone usage might well continue even if they were only communicating with themselves. If you eliminated a destination for texting, the text-er would continue. That is the pathological aspect of screen usage. It feels like amphetamine driven rats hitting that lever for more drug. The idea, as some have put forward, that texting has invented a new language that is actually very creative, etc etc etc, seems nonsense when you wander the streets or malls of America.</p>
<p>There are no more depressing places on earth, I don’t think, than suburban America. Synonymous with White America. This is the revenge of white flight on itself. Turkle is correct, however, when she raises the fear that haunts the societies of the West today; the fear that ‘nobody is listening’.</p>
<p>There is another aspect here, and that is that screen life, social media, in all of its formats, allows people to create an image by way of deletion and editing. It is, in a sense, a way to edit the past as well as the present. It is hard not to see the drop in literacy in the U.S. and certainly there are ample examples of misspeaking in the political class. Maxine Waters confusing Crimea with Korea (and then having the facts wrong anyway) or Bush thinking Africa was a country, or the dozen or so Trump errors. Geography is not taught in schools today. As I say, ask for directions.</p>
<p>In the hotel in which I stayed, in the breakfast area, which serves also as a bar in the evening, there are SEVEN wide screen TVs on the walls. On one wall they are only a foot or so apart. During non sporting hours they are tuned to news channels. The sound is off, but that is no problem as there is close captioned sub titles at the bottom, as well as a constant scroll of news items. The hotel guests are then bombarded during all meals with a constant sound bite onslaught.</p>
<p>A recent Zogby poll had 52% of Americans in favor of a preemptive strike against North Korea. Propaganda works best when it is delivered in sound bites. And when all you can understand is sound bites, you will eventually internalize purely authoritarian and fascist values.</p>
<p>I wrote a while back on Italian cinema after WW2 and its relation to fascism. The anti fascist strategies, aesthetically and politically, of directors such as Pasolini, Bertolucci, and Antonioni. And I wrote this…</p>
<p>In Italian cinema, after WW2, there were debates around the question of post synching the sound track. Elias Chaluja suggested that post-synchronization was an expression of the dominant class, of its ideology and a way to distance identification, but more, to ‘conquer the screen’. Remember that Pasolini, Bertolucci, Antonioni and a dozen others had signed the Amalfi Manifesto in 1968, protesting government censorship, and monopoly control of distribution, but also the laws concerning post synchronization. Antonioni perhaps above all other film directors, radically reversed trends in how to score films. His films create sound-scapes, for lack of a better word. He, like Pasolini, under duress, fashioned new ways to dub and post synch their films. Which suited both their sensibilities. The anti fascism of both instinctively rejected music cues for narratives. They were out to liberate the screen, not to conquer it.</p>
<p>Screen life is now fully conquered, as it were. And it need not be so. If digital screen technology contains any inherent addictive qualities, they could certainly be minimized if they did not exist and develop within an utterly coercive and manipulative exploitive framework. Screen addiction is Capitalist screen addiction. Aesthetic liberation is just as crucial to today’s somnambulant population as is economic liberation. Cultural liberation in other words. The soundtrack to daily life is a very specific tone of voice that is heard across all news outlets and entertainment channels. The voice of the generic talking head as he or she mouth platitudes and empty repetitive cliches in cadences that never vary. It is an endless loop and long ago the content of what is being said became irrelevant. It is ‘that’ sound. And to awaken from it means to first turn it off.</p>
<p>The festival itself was poorly attended. They had moved it to a new venue. There was an Afghan vet injured in the war, now legless, who came in a wheelchair. A nice fellow. He joined us at dinner. The discussion turned to Vietnam and I sensed growing tension around the table — especially with the guy who orchestrates the festival. We were all at a bizarre neo-Chinese buffet restaurant (the walls painted a curious flamingo pink, but never mind). I changed the subject. Everyone involved were vets. There is that knee jerk patriotic trope that white Americans can’t escape it seems. In most of the U.S., the military remains sacrosanct. No matter what.</p>
<p>I met three students, all black. And each of them sensed the need for dramatic change in the way the U.S. is run. If anything like socialism is to happen, these young men (all were male and all attended local colleges) will drive that movement. They also desperately wanted to know more, about everything. They hung around after my lecture and we talked for quite a while. They also are eager to leave Buffalo — shock I know. But their curiosity, and desire for social justice, and for a sense of culture, was genuine and substantial. It is how revolutions slowly begin to form. They asked for reading lists, too. It made the entire five days worth the effort.</p> | true | 4 | photo ciro cc 20 dont live us longer forty years left good almost twenty years ago return often even returned stayed year returned last week invitee buffaloniagara falls film festival wanted talk america found time changed planes washington dc dulles airport yes named cold war reactionary john foster dulles could think fascist loving arch elitist racist sat interminable hours delayed connection buffalo first thing strikes one especially left gardermoen airport oslo copehagens kastrup airport along amsterdams schipol airport maybe among easiest least stressful use world noise sense agitation one notices right still kastrup gate flight dulles separate rest gates serving international terminal flights us double number security personnel quite simply isolated asked submit additional searches required fill additional forms reason anyones guess since far determine none forms actually used anything anyway ok triple espresso chocolate kastrup must even better food schiphol plane nice young swede seat next student ingmar bergmans birthplace island faro food dreadful course struck become theme journey insane even delusional amount packaging used everything wrapped plastic fact plastic spoons forks wrapped plastic plastic wraps plastic wraps plastic inside stale preservative sugar laden food designed long shelf life closely resembles tastes likeplastic landing means security must scan passport dulles dont know go talk passport control officer anyway connecting flights funneled another line hot terminal annex scanned third scan 12 hours never left airports ran plastic tubs asked shove iphones carry bags shove scanner young woman monitor wasnt looking screen bags passed none mattered least strange dysfunctional bit security kabuki waiting dulles cant get good food cant get good coffee get lot noise though gardermoen tomblike comparison american airports another aspect true rather almost obscenely pleasant scandinavian airports servicing affluent clientele us air travel really us today feels increasingly polarized first class separate actually never see lounges provided airlines choice business class seems mean 21st century wily lomans first class rest us rest subjected increasing battery security abuses take shoes one simpleminded patsy tried ignite nikes one guy thats saw old ladies embarrassment take shoes increasingly visible racism us watched black arab workers carried bags moved carts saw many put upon white faces tighten ever slightly animosity air tvs tvs everywhere us large screens everywhere thing common cops tv endless photos north korea rocket man football games one jesus football popular sport us saturated jingoistic pro war rhetoric symbolism reminded game proven cause irreparable brain damage said perhaps hidden dialectic militaristic sports kaepernick protests spread sports always contains within kind potential synthesis contradiction see dave zirins recent writing mostly comments one overheard football fed people kim jung whatshisnamehell get rid fucker trump speaking nambia imaginary country exists private colonial map mind group young christians sat near gate seemed focused holy spirit oh man one girl said loudly felt holy spirit today could feel day said rather loudly looked blonde refried maybe late twenties wore spandex pants rebok trainers blue tshirt athletic brand name scrawled across front loud oh kept eating mampms family maybe india bangladesh walked past tired young children holy spirits face darkened kept speaking phone voice lowered people saw americans angry like holy spirit girl nobody seemed happy nobody read reading emmanuel carreres bio philip k dick im alive youre dead sort perfect book 7 hours spent dulles sat carrere described dicks interpretations master eickerts idios kosmos dick battled periods extreme paranoia giant black face clouds watched eventually simply stopped looking knew feeling dulles domestic terminal suddenly everyone felt like alien robotic imposter hologram deplanning say buffalo midnight odd slightly unsettling experience walking long corridor baggage claim reading ads walls one newer one advertised aesthetic vaginal surgery two indian doctors pastel shirts gold watches oddly colored brown suits across ad divorce lawyer legal assistance effective compassionate woman lawyer looked neither looks deceiving many advertisements sports football hockey got niagara falls late checked franchise hotel reserved morning awful hotel eggs toast waitress sort late 40s version holy spirit girl spoke marlboro rasp asked three times want bacon sausage said neither three times eggs already suspect around without exception morbidly obese americans two men wore cowboy hats inside ate younger guy hockey stick case mind everyone ate allyoucaneat buffet popular seemed people came indian casino sic block next falls massive casino everything franchise food food wonder america miserable look eat truly appalling niagara falls wonder yet surrounding usual assortment souvenir shops fast food vendors daredevil musuem gone business bad might enjoyed bit american kitsch 160tourist experience one absolute horror find words describe spiritually nullifying spectacle become walk souvenir stores little newly produced course made overseas faces working shops portraits depression white class part time workers long term unemployed smoke angry rightontheedge crawled psychic ledge space going back nobody even pretends give shit buy niagara falls shirt buy genuine native american maple syrup figurine fucking dont dont care buffalo niagara falls cattaraugus taken together around million people mean average income half new york state overall house value one fifth new york overall words home buffalo cant give away ancesteral lineage mostly german polish irish sizable indian south asian community quite recent emigres africa average age slightly younger nyc forty murders buffalo last year slightly previous two years rape slightly also niagara falls culinary institute judging photos front turns steam table chefs big hotels cheerios manufactured archer midlands daniels runs huge flour factory home national buffalo wings festival competition upon time buffalo reasonably rich city remain great queen anne revival buildings often found major cities rust belt richardson olmstead complex architect harry hobson richardson worked famed landscape designer frederik olmstead created central park golden gate park create still rather wonderful neo romaneque brick sandstone mental hospital built 1862 beyond city dotted old turn 20th century gilded age well first gilded age houses originally grand homes leading industrialists time homes managers factories industrialists long ago buffalo microcosim microecology psychologically economically culturally entirety us tourism driven notions longer believed idea recreation family vacations nobody afford leisure always modeled work extension work kind faux work time adrono wrote leisure according prevailing work ethic time free work utilized recreation expended labor power adorno repetitive nature alienated labor created tendency reproduce repetitive boredom times leisure boredom noted sign objective dullness turn linked political apathy tourism japanese germans today americans go casino stood line starbucks across casino young american pair came maybe thirty dressed twenty halter cleavage long tanned legs aerobasized buffed tight tshirt baseball cap worn backwards lean athletic odd graceless gait gymnasium body face handsome chiseled yet looked terrified know future lack suspect radiated desperation anxious nervous like two pack day souvenir vendors found ledge many white americans working class taken kind furtive look backdrop falls pure allegory rising mist 20 bucks pop boat rides barely surviving one suspects feel bereft energy nobody seems believe going natural beauty falls surrounded massive tourist enterprises commercialism society mass surveillance knowing watched makes reasonable paranoid society movements infiltrated almost impossible imagine degree real becomes fluid concept emails monitored matter age police manufacture evidence need monitoring emails phone conversations easily easily make pilger wrote recently visits us returning us struck silence absence opposition streets journalism arts dissent tolerated mainstream regressed dissidence metaphoric underground plenty sound fury trump odious one fascist almost none trump symptom caricature enduring system conquest extremism pilger also noted donald trump addressed united nations 19 september body established spare humanity scourge war declared ready willing able totally destroy north korea 25 million people audience gasped trumps language unusual rival presidency hillary clinton boasted prepared totally obliterate iran nation 80 million people american way euphemisms missing problem fixation trump seems intentional part corporate media trivializes crimes previous administrations walking around niagara falls buffalo sense almost fellow citizens longer believe hear also terrified voicing dissent mostly nod mute agreement partly education default position americans one shaped hollywood week rob reiner announced formation something called committee investigate russia whose board sit prominent neo cons various reactionary commentators like max boot molly mckew former advisor mikheil saakashvili mckew sort liberals answer nikki haley sprung frothing fringe lunatic words also david frum longstanding arch conservative supporter last election hillary clinton wellknown morgan freemann video piece pure calculated propaganda many americans feel best keep silent havent even beginnings basic knowledge topics formulate opinion four decade program keeping populace uninformed freemans text sounds like hollywood movie hell even uses screenplay metaphors many places effective cutting across however couple currents one deeply entrenched internalized racism white america racism like encrusted psychic carbuncle collective soul white culture morgan freeman take token torch colin powell perfectly predictable obama already done anyway racism white america learned compartmentalize certain special black celebrities often sports figures retaining thoroughly white supremacist belief system deeply entrenched adoration militarism month also saw nakedly revisionist ken burns documentary vietnam war grotesque projects disinformation know world glean hollywood seem quite reasonable sincere worth noting snopes took issue criticism committee investigate russia digress really well past time stop referencing snopes impartial observer anything buffalo like much us today unemployment acute poverty certain stats jump like 76 disabled people live poverty line western new york state numbers mean nothing unemployment though long term unemployed simply counted walk around overriding sense futility american society today one feels visceral manner returning looks suspicion anger maybe live norway sense anger america feels overwhelming sense smug entitlement long plane ride copenhagen washington dc read took time look minutes various films offer remake baywatch something insufferable scarlett johanson well hardly matters steeped self congratulation profoundly touch american society often wish remaining friends us would leave certainly never regretted hard really understand ways privilege expressed mass culture one lives inside constant onslaught propaganda unreality takes toll seeps consciousness inhabits grammar speech vision sound us society today blatantly exceptionalist best special unique world follows lead people believe white america particular seems collectively regressed pockets obviously outside cocoon exceptionalism extends travel vacation tourist resort means havent really left us sense really schizophrenic state existing large collective shrinking basic emotions feeling met nice folks buffalo course really point even nice sic people feel kill good good philip k dick spent life fixated details daily life seeming slightly order slightly askew sensed unreality everyone said reality knew man behind curtain hid curtains men dick political thinker vision western society instinctual anarchic personal personal inextricably bound collective understood fascisms first goal change past knew future real goal past past would fortell future insight paranoid schizophrenic understand new cold war emerging today necessary reexamine original conflict united states ussr present russia panic follows entire century fearmongering threat inflation dating russian revolution long served interests us militaryindustrial complex security state little either russian american realities consistently distorted jeremy kurzmarmov ironic actual cyber attack sovereign nation one launched us iran 2008 fact simply remembered media today instead new security state amping rhetoric russia know untrue must remembered firstly defense industry us military win even lose winning hard fact loose concept sustaining budgets increasing first goal two psychologically ruling class less desperate irrational repressed underclass hollywood corporate telecoms places clear channelthat entire apparatusthey control message work hard reform past jim mattis rh mcmaster stanley mcchrystalthe entire cabal white male generals likely moved surround trump fundamental incompetence made clear militarists mattis architect fallujah earned nickname kelly mcmaster serve guard dogs protectors pentagon agenda seem cool articulate media adore liberals fawn literally salivate grovel adoration pernicious indelible trope contemporary america military virtue goodness square jawed buzz cut man action truth compared trump family efficient efficiency almost certainly serves metasticizing western capital corners globe protection us global interests want know exactly distracted material reality people ask stranger directions somewhere almost guarantee get wrong directions likely still get non directions people general lost capacity organize thoughts sentences convey specific material items instructions find theatre film festival chose walk ten mile walk long crazy long like walking asking man behind counter hotel proved exercise futility walk fine hot turned took directly shuttered refineries love canal started journey new york airport hotel make wake call missed flight young man didnt160make call deer headlights glazed look made little eye contact new york slightly older young man simply words tried finally printed google mapwhich turned wrongbut whatever point majority american citizens tell get literally mean literally large enough vocabulary explain directions describe landmarks screen addictions contemporary western society related degrading vocabulary speech trip besides plastic wrap significant repeated image people staring smart phones walking walking wherever whatever time people addictively punching simplistic abbreviated messages 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multiplicity theme applied internet users mainstream popular theorists like sherry turkle sees social media texting screen usage mostly benign actually positive enhancement human potential sort ted level thinking glossy magazines promote would argue constant fractured incomplete language digital communication reflection creator fractured increasingly incoherent personality people check phones funerals marriages almost public event occurs peoples compulsive smart phone usage might well continue even communicating eliminated destination texting texter would continue pathological aspect screen usage feels like amphetamine driven rats hitting lever drug idea put forward texting invented new language actually creative etc etc etc seems nonsense wander streets malls america depressing places earth dont think suburban america synonymous white america revenge white flight turkle correct however raises fear haunts societies west today fear nobody listening another aspect screen life social media formats allows people create image way deletion editing sense way edit past well present hard see drop literacy us certainly ample examples misspeaking political class maxine waters confusing crimea korea facts wrong anyway bush thinking africa country dozen trump errors geography taught schools today say ask directions hotel stayed breakfast area serves also bar evening seven wide screen tvs walls one wall foot apart non sporting hours tuned news channels sound problem close captioned sub titles bottom well constant scroll news items hotel guests bombarded meals constant sound bite onslaught recent zogby poll 52 americans favor preemptive strike north korea propaganda works best delivered sound bites understand sound bites eventually internalize purely authoritarian fascist values wrote back italian cinema ww2 relation fascism anti fascist strategies aesthetically politically directors pasolini bertolucci antonioni wrote italian cinema ww2 debates around question post synching sound track elias chaluja suggested postsynchronization expression dominant class ideology way distance identification conquer screen remember pasolini bertolucci antonioni dozen others signed amalfi manifesto 1968 protesting government censorship monopoly control distribution also laws concerning post synchronization antonioni perhaps film directors radically reversed trends score films films create soundscapes lack better word like pasolini duress fashioned new ways dub post synch films suited sensibilities anti fascism instinctively rejected music cues narratives liberate screen conquer screen life fully conquered need digital screen technology contains inherent addictive qualities could certainly minimized exist develop within utterly coercive manipulative exploitive framework screen addiction capitalist screen addiction aesthetic liberation crucial todays somnambulant population economic liberation cultural liberation words soundtrack daily life specific tone voice heard across news outlets entertainment channels voice generic talking head mouth platitudes empty repetitive cliches cadences never vary endless loop long ago content said became irrelevant sound awaken means first turn festival poorly attended moved new venue afghan vet injured war legless came wheelchair nice fellow joined us dinner discussion turned vietnam sensed growing tension around table especially guy orchestrates festival bizarre neochinese buffet restaurant walls painted curious flamingo pink never mind changed subject everyone involved vets knee jerk patriotic trope white americans cant escape seems us military remains sacrosanct matter met three students black sensed need dramatic change way us run anything like socialism happen young men male attended local colleges drive movement also desperately wanted know everything hung around lecture talked quite also eager leave buffalo shock know curiosity desire social justice sense culture genuine substantial revolutions slowly begin form asked reading lists made entire five days worth effort | 2,734 |
<p>With a GDP of $19 trillion, America is the richest country in the world. However, the IMD World Competitiveness Center recently ranked our education system as 24th out of 61 countries, and the American Society of Civil Engineers recently rated our infrastructure—the roads, bridges, and water systems that were once the envy of the world—as a D+.</p>
<p>These failings are so often cited that we have become numb to them. If our education and infrastructure systems, which are largely managed and paid for by state and local governments, were improving, these poor ratings would be easier to tolerate. But the opposite is true.</p>
<p>We all know that the federal budget is under tremendous pressure, but the budgets of states, cities, and other local governments (SLGs) are under even greater pressure. This pressure will not ease for a generation, if then. The inescapable consequence is that the funding of education and infrastructure will continue to be under immense pressure for as far into the future as we can realistically see.</p>
<p>The issue is this—for years SLGs’ expenses have been relatively constant as a percent of GDP, yet their pension and Medicaid costs have been skyrocketing, crowding out investment in education and infrastructure. It will take a radical, perhaps even heretical, new approach to these expenses to restore our ability to properly invest in these two areas.</p>
<p>Federal budget expenses, which are endlessly scrutinized, are currently about $4.2 trillion or 23 percent of GDP. The expenses of SLGs, when added together, come to a half again that amount (net of federal subsidies and pass-throughs)—another $2.1 trillion or 11.5 percent of GDP. This is a massive amount that deserves almost as much scrutiny as federal spending. Together, federal, state, and local governments spend 34 percent of our national income.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, over the last 30 years, SLG budgets have been relatively flat in relation to GDP, at roughly 12 percent. (Federal expenses have ranged, in that period, from highs of 24 percent under President Reagan and 26.5 percent after the 2008 financial crisis under President Obama, toc a low of 19 percent under President Clinton.) Because total SLG spending has been roughly constant compared to GDP, the issues in SLG spending have been issues of mix—increases in relative spending in one area have been offset by decreases in relative spending in another area.</p>
<p>How do SLGs spend their money? Most is spent on education —$890 billion, or 34 percent of all spending. That is followed by $666 billion, or 26 percent spent on social benefits, including Medicaid. Next comes “economic affairs,” mainly highways, transportation, and other infrastructure, at $334 billion, or 13 percent. Chart 1 provides an overview. All these numbers are before the receipt of federal grants or reimbursements of $531 billion—including $340 billion for Medicaid.</p>
<p />
<p>Source- BEA; Pension Contributions- Census</p>
<p>Importantly, approximately 75 percent of all spending on infrastructure and education comes from SLGs. If you want to fix schools, roads, bridges, or water systems, the place to go is to SLGs. Even the hopes of the current Administration for an incremental $1 trillion in infrastructure investment places much of that burden onto SLGs.</p>
<p>However, as a practical matter, SLGs are more limited than the federal government in how much they can spend and invest. Many states are required, by their own laws, to maintain a balanced budget, and even if this restriction did not exist, states have a constraint on debt issuance that means they need to stay closer to a balanced budget. That constraint is the lower debt ratings and higher interest costs that too much debt issuance would bring. Currently, all SLG debt totals $3 trillion. That’s about 17 percent of GDP, not that much higher than where it stood in 1970. In that same timeframe, federal debt has skyrocketed from 38 percent to 108 percent of GDP, a whopping $20 trillion total. Yet federal debt has maintained its pristine credit rating. Why are SLGs constrained in how much debt they can issue when the federal government is not? Largely because, through its Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the U.S. government can “print” money, while SLGs can’t and therefore have to live within their means. This makes the pressure on SLG expenditures more immediate, real, and painful.</p>
<p>As mentioned, the combined expenses of SLGs have been relatively flat at roughly 12 percent of GDP for the last 30 years. If that is true, then, again, why are they under so much budget pressure? Carefully examining these expenses over an extended time frame shows that there are two pressure points where expenses have been increasing at a problematically high pace—Medicaid and public pension costs. (See Chart 2.) As a percent of GDP, Medicaid costs have increased by an equivalent of $52 billion and pension costs by $61 billion in the past 15 years, for a combined impact of $113 billion. Since overall expenses have been roughly flat, that means $113 billion a year in spending has had to be taken away from other categories. Medicaid costs were increasing rapidly even before the ACA. What’s worse, it is probable that in ten more years, based on both our own estimates and the Congressional Budget Office’s projections, these pension and Medicaid expenses will have increased by the equivalent of another $100 to $150 billion. This will crowd out yet more funding for other programs unless taxes or fees are dramatically increased. (Medicaid cuts have recently been proposed by the Republican Party, along with an overall repeal of the ACA. Although none of these initiatives have yet succeeded, Medicaid cost increases would likely remain a problem under any of them, not to mention the substitute costs states would likely incur if Medicaid were curbed.)</p>
<p>There is risk in attributing to a single SLG any of the trends observed for the whole, and of course the trends we highlight in this article are not true of all SLGs. But directionally they should be helpful in illuminating trends and issues that are impacting a significant number of them.</p>
<p>This article focuses primarily on the pension expense problem, but will offer a few words on Medicaid as well.</p>
<p />
<p>Source: BEA; Pension Contributions- Census</p>
<p>What expenses have been crowded out? What expenses have declined the most as a percent of total SLG spending during this period? The answer is both capital spending, which is primarily infrastructure, and education. (See Chart 3.) On a relative basis in ratio to GDP, education spending is down $40 billion and capital outlays are down $56 billion over this same 15-year period. Notably, these are the very areas where we have regressed so markedly in comparison to our own historical standards and to the rest of the world.</p>
<p />
<p>Source: BEA, Census</p>
<p>Before I go further, I would point out that education, infrastructure, pensions, and health care for the poor (Medicaid) are as important and as emotionally charged as any government policies I could mention. As I have examined the budgets of SLGs, been confronted by these trends, and then shared these finding with various audiences, I have encountered pushback from those who hope and believe that we should not, and do not, need to curtail spending in any of these areas.</p>
<p>Given this, I must quickly set forth that I am in wholehearted favor of strong investment in education, health care, and infrastructure. And I fully support defined benefit pensions for existing public employees. Our public-sector workers are crucially important, healing, protecting, teaching, and serving all of us. But this article is about finances. It is about what things cost today and what they are almost certain to cost in the future, and what the implications of that are likely to be.</p>
<p>Of course, SLGs can overcome this expense limitation by raising taxes and fees. But there are 50 states and hundreds of cities, almost all of which are constantly and energetically trying to “poach” businesses away from other cities and states. As a result, the strategy of raising taxes is fraught with the risk of driving away businesses and households to those other cities and states. Further, the Republican Party, for which it is a central tenet to keep governments small and taxes low, controls 60 percent of state legislatures. The net of this is that the remedy of significantly higher taxes and fees is currently unlikely, leaving intact the problem of diminishing education and infrastructure investment.</p>
<p>Pension benefits paid have been increasing at 6.3 percent per annum over the last ten years, almost double the rate of economic growth. And the “employer contributions” of SLGs have had to increase as well, rising by 8 percent per annum over the last five years. Pension costs are rising because of increased pension benefits and an aging workforce. In New York’s State Teachers Retirement System, employer contributions have had to increase by $2.6 billion in 2015 versus 2001, as pension benefit payouts have grown by 120 percent. And New York is one of the few states with well-funded pension plans.</p>
<p>Unlike New York, most SLGs pensions are underfunded, so what was already a budget issue for those few states with well-funded pension plans has become an even more intense problem for those with underfunded plans. According to data from the Federal Reserve, in aggregate, the SLG pensions funding ratio is only 67 percent, which means they are underfunded by a whopping $1.9 trillion. That’s equal to 10 percent of GDP. This is explained by the fact that, for many years, a large number of SLGs have simply not been making the employer contributions they should have been making.</p>
<p />
<p>Source- PEW Charitable Trusts</p>
<p>In one small but representative example of pension underfunding, the city of Philadelphia has a $8 billion annual “all funds” budget and an overall pension obligation of $11 billion, but only $4.5 billion of this obligation has been funded. The numbers make the story painfully clear. There is simply no way to increase employer contributions from a $8 billion general operating budget enough to make up a $6.5 billion deficit without radically impacting other expenses or adding a major new tax burden—even if you have years to do it.</p>
<p>So why haven’t SLGs been required to make the high level of contributions that would have truly kept these pensions fully funded? The short answer is that they have, to a large extent, been able to make their own rules. And in the context of perennial and increasing budget challenges, they and their actuaries have made overly optimistic pension forecasts which have resulted in lower-than-needed pension contributions.</p>
<p>Decades ago, corporations often found themselves in a similar position, but many of their practices were reformed under the 1974 Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), from which SLG pensions were exempted. In the years since then, SLG pensions have become broadly underfunding. (See Chart 3.) During this time, some SLG pensions have been criticized for poor management—including paying unduly high investment-management fees and allowing questionable practices such as “pay to play”—whereby political contributions are parlayed into lucrative pension money management contracts,</p>
<p>Though exempt from ERISA, there are a number of more recent laws and regulations that have gradually increased the urgency with which SLGs are now trying to address these pension deficits. These include the Pension Protection Act of 2006 and a Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncement that mandates that SLGs make a more overt disclosure of pension underfunding in their financial statements. This GASB pronouncement makes it much more likely that rating agencies will take these unfunded positions into account when rating the debt of these SLGs, impacting both the rates SLGs pay on their debts and the amount of new debt they are able to issue. There are also state laws, state-level court cases, and pension boards which govern and influence the management of these pensions. Further, there are provisions regarding pension funding in the SLG union contracts themselves.</p>
<p>All this has increased the pressure on SLGs to make larger pension contributions, which simply makes it more likely that other non-pension categories of spending will get less.</p>
<p />
<p>Source: Federal Reserve</p>
<p>To try and keep up with rising pension costs and address pension underfunding, SLGs, in aggregate, have increased “employer contributions” by 8 percent per annum during the last decade—which means they contributed a total of $76 billion more in 2015 as compared to ten years before—for a total employer contribution of $132 billion in 2015. Yet even with this rather massive increase, they continue to lose ground and, in aggregate, the SLG pension funding ratio has plummeted from 92 percent in 2006 to 67 percent in 2016. Even though contributions have been rising, they have not been increasing nearly enough to keep pace with growing pension liabilities.</p>
<p>The numbers for 2015 illustrate the dilemma. In aggregate during 2015, SLGs made employer contributions of $132 billion, up by $45 billion over the same contribution just five years earlier. Add to that employee contributions of another $48 billion, and investment returns which were $169 billion, all against a $286 billion in benefit payouts. So far so good. However, pension liabilities increased by $262 billion, so the overall pension funding gap increased by $200 billion in that period. Indeed, it is a daunting equation.</p>
<p />
<p>Going forward, even if SLGs increase employer contribution levels by 8 percent per year, which is far greater than the rate of GDP growth, I estimate that the funded ratio will not improve from the current 67 percent ratio. In fact, it may even decline. I estimate that it will take an additional $100 to $200 billion each year over the next 20 years beyond recent aggregate employer contribution levels to reach the fully funded level. In other words, it’s a fiasco.</p>
<p>How did we get in this mess? Well, it didn’t take long. These pensions were actually more than fully funded as recently as 2000. That happy circumstance came after the extraordinary bull market that accompanied the first Internet boom of the late 1990s. As of January of 1999, stocks had gained an incredible 28 percent per year over the prior four years. The Internet revolution had seemingly ushered in a new era in stock performance—at least in the minds of pension managers and actuaries. To them, the pension investment return projections of 5 to 8 percent that had historically been used in establishing required employer contributions seemed unnecessarily tame, and SLGs aggressively raised these forecasts. The sky was the limit.</p>
<p>In the wake of this heady period, many SLGs significantly increased pension benefits to their employees. Then came the inevitable correction. In the ten-year period through January 2009, stocks declined by 30 percent, decimating the forecasts of pension managers. That, when paired with the large increases in benefits that had been granted, yielded the ugly underfunding we see today. While the investment return assumptions that led to this seem naïve in hindsight, at the time, sweetening pension benefits seemed like a no cost bargaining chip in union negotiations.</p>
<p>Facing this funding challenge, for those cities in the very worst shape, bankruptcy is an option. This was shown in the bankruptcy of Detroit, where the general retirement fund reached a low of 53 percent funded and was a major part of the financial dilemma. But states can’t declare bankruptcy, and state pensions are 82 percent of all SLG pensions.</p>
<p>Why, then, aren’t SLGs renegotiating with employee unions to reduce benefits? Actually, these discussions are occurring widely, but the unions fiercely defend these pension benefit gains and generally have significant political clout, so the modifications have been small.</p>
<p>Can SLGs address this underfunding problem by pursuing higher return investments? They have certainly tried. Historically, pensions have invested conservatively, investing primarily in bonds, stocks, and cash. But large funding deficits have caused many SLG pensions to consider alternative investments that hold the hope of higher returns, including hedge funds. But those alternatives have largely not met these higher return expectations and thus have not reduced the funding deficit.</p>
<p>Stuck between Scylla and Charybdis, many SLGs are doing as much as is politically feasible and, in an already challenging budget environment, battling to modify pension benefits and increase pension contributions. Many of these efforts and attempts are bold and admirable—moving some component of plans to a defined contribution structure, which I’ll discuss below, or introducing some other creative form of risk-sharing and benefit reduction. These SLGs are then coupling these changes with brave assumptions on investment returns, benefit payouts, and increased employer contributions to create new long-term pension forecasts which show funding reaching acceptably high levels. And then they are declaring victory.</p>
<p>We have seen a number of these new forecasts. However, when we have examined them ourselves, we have come to much less optimistic conclusions. As an example, Philadelphia, with a funded ratio of 45 percent, now forecasts that its pension liabilities will be at 93 percent funded by 2035. But to achieve that, it forecasts an investment return of over 7.7 percent per annum, instead of the roughly 5 percent that has actually been achieved by most pension managers over the last decade or the roughly 4 percent return Philadelphia achieved over the last 5 years. If Philadelphia had used 5.5 percent instead of 7.7 percent in its projections, its funded ratio in 2035 would have been 62 percent instead of 93 percent. Add in slightly less positive assumptions about employer contributions and benefit payouts and the funded ratio in 2035 could fall below 50 percent. Philadelphia is not unique as regards this issue.</p>
<p>The Kentucky Teachers Retirement System takes this optimism in reporting a step further and actually publishes two different funded ratios for the same period. The first fulfills their GASB reporting requirement and shows a 35 percent current funding ratio. The second is produced for the Kentucky legislature and shows a 54 percent funding ratio.</p>
<p>These pension changes and optimistic forecasts serve an important related purpose. Credit ratings analysts will be less concerned about the impact of pension underfunding on a given city or state’s overall credit rating if there is a plausible plan to achieve a high level of funding over a 10 to 20 years time horizon. There is an incentive to put forward an optimistic forecast.</p>
<p>So, while the efforts of SLGs to make changes to their contributions and other program aspects have helped, they have not solved the problem. Instead, for the most part, the net impact of these efforts in a given city or state has been to push back the problem by a few years.</p>
<p>The aggregate national numbers for SLG expenses paint a picture that is bleak but clear. If the net annual SLG expense budget is $2.1 trillion, and every bit of that is spoken for every year, how in the world will SLGs ever make up a whopping $1.9 trillion pension funding deficit without compromising spending in key areas, even if they have decades to do it?</p>
<p>Which brings us to the one thing that, ironically, may be the biggest problem of all—almost none of these pension funds will actually run dry any time soon. Even New Jersey, which has been criticized for poor pension funding and management practices, has $84 billion in its collective funds, enough to sustain benefit payouts for as much as 20 years with no additional employer contributions. Because of this, an emergency that would prompt truly radical change to these programs simply doesn’t exist. And so the pattern I have just described will continue to repeat itself.</p>
<p>The house is not on fire, but the foundation is crumbling.</p>
<p>First, a little background.</p>
<p>Conventional pension plans, including most SLG pension plans, have almost all been defined benefit (DB) plans. With these, the employer (and often the employee) makes regular contributions to employees’ pensions, and, after retirement, the employee gets a pre-determined monthly payment (e.g. 70 percent of their highest salary level), usually for the rest of their lives. The employee gets this “defined benefit” no matter how successful or unsuccessful the investment of the pension funds has been. Though a highly popular benefit provided by large corporations to their employees in the decades after World War II, the majority of corporations have abandoned this type of plan because it has proven to be difficult to manage financially. A corporation may have made all the required contributions and yet face a crisis in a given year by having to make an unexpected and extraordinarily large pension contribution because of changes in interest rates, changes in projected life expectancy, poor investment performance, or other factors. The long-term nature of pensions means that small changes in trends or key assumptions, when considered over the decades-long timelines of these plans, can result in huge and unwelcome changes in the current required pension contribution.</p>
<p>Further, if, at a given company, the benefits of a pension plan are high relative to the amount contributed, these plans depend on a continually rising employee headcount to remain fully funded, and quickly develop problems with funded levels if hiring slows down or declines.</p>
<p>Given these issues, the vast majority of corporations have replaced these “defined benefit” (DB) pensions with programs such as 401ks that are considered “defined contribution” (DC) plans. With these, the employee, often in conjunction with the employer, makes regular contributions to the plan. The ultimate retirement benefit paid to employees is a function of how much is contributed and the actual investment returns on those funds. The employee assumes the risk of changes in investment performance and other factors. Some have protested that it is unwise to move these risks to the employee, since many are not sophisticated enough to manage their own retirement funds. Yet I am assuming that protections and aids can be legislated to minimize these problems. It should be noted that having the risk reside with the SLGs instead of with the employees has not been without its own downside—the education and infrastructure downside to taxpayers described in this article.</p>
<p>These defined contribution plans have none of the volatility and accounting surprises associated with DB plans, and they have almost none of the employer underfunding problems either. There is no possible mystery or ambiguity as to how much a given employer needs to contribute. They either make these contributions or they don’t.</p>
<p>By and large, however, the employees of SLGs have remained on DB plans and therefore pension liabilities continue to skyrocket, increasing by an average of $232 billion a year over the past five years—and we have the $1.9 trillion pension funding gap to show for it. Further, since they have remained on DB plans, they remain subject to this volatility and the propensity to underfund.</p>
<p>As a first step to fixing the problem and preventing further funding abuses, SLGs should convert to DC plans for any employees they hire in the future. Initiatives to do this have been taken in many cities and states with some initial success, but not without concerted opposition and numerous legal, contractual, and regulatory barriers to its achievement. Make no mistake, these DC plans can be structured to be as generous as a DB plan. Furthermore, when corporations have moved from DB plans to DC plans, they have kept existing employees on DB plans, and that would be done here as well. Unless this—or something very close to it—is done, the already-formidable pension problem will simply compound and the costs will become even more overwhelming.</p>
<p>A recommendation that employees hired in the future be given DC plans instead of DB plans should come as no surprise. The vast majority of corporations have long since concluded that DB plans were not feasible and made that change. The problems related to existing increases in payouts and existing underfunding will not vanish even if new employees are placed on DC plans. But since no new employees will be added to these DB plans, at least the problem will be capped.</p>
<p>Once capped, pension plan liability growth would begin moderating over time. But moving to DC plans is only a first step, since SLGs will still need to increase employer contributions or make other changes to address the benefit obligations already embedded. As mentioned above, by my estimate, these could reach an additional $100 to $200 billion each year above current contribution levels. It will be enormously difficult for SLGs to increase contributions to these levels, so we will need to take additional steps—steps that bridge the funding gap for those employees still in DB plans, but also leave enough room in SLG budgets for increased investment in other SLG priorities.</p>
<p>I have three radical suggestions on how this funding gap could be bridged. Each is controversial. But I would strongly suggest they be considered—if only to spark more ideas and debate— since this problem will continue to compound unless we address it head on:</p>
<p>1. Federal Funding Guarantee The federal government could assume responsibility for the unfunded liabilities of those SLGs in need. The federal government has the capacity to do this. In this scenario, the SLGs would continue to make employer contributions for the 67 percent portion of pensions already funded, using the investment income on pension funds to pay benefits, and paying any portion not covered by investment funds out of other funds. The Federal government would then pay the pension benefits on the 33 percent of SLG pensions that are unfunded, an amount we would estimate as roughly $90 billion for 2017. This would free that level of funds in SLG budgets, allowing them to accelerate investment in education and infrastructure, revitalizing our nation’s performance in those areas, and igniting a jobs revolution as well.</p>
<p>Suffice to say, that is an enormous amount of money—which unfortunately reflects the magnitude of the problem. Given that the federal government is wrestling with its own $20 trillion in debt and its own annual deficits, this scenario is highly unlikely. This brings us to the two proposals below, which both provide a solution without the same onerous current expense consequences.</p>
<p>But first a dose of heresy. Why do we need to fully pre-fund our future SLG pension obligations? I ask this question only in light of the $1.9 trillion size of the pension funding deficit and the acuteness of the need in education and infrastructure. I would hasten to note that this particular heresy depends on pensions being converted to DC plans for futures hires and thus capping future liability—I would not dare make these suggestions otherwise. The answer is this: the reason to pre-fund retirement obligations in the form of a pension fund is to guarantee that the funds will be there when the pensioner retires. It’s a credit guarantee. But it isn’t a given that we have to have the credit guarantee for state pensions that a fully funded pension provides. After all, states (which are 82 percent of all SLG pension dollars) can’t declare bankruptcy, and the full taxing authority of the states serves as a guarantee that pensions will be paid.</p>
<p>A fully funded pension is a form of credit guarantee absolutely necessary for private sector pensions that may not be needed for the public sector. Furthermore, a guaranty from the Federal government, which would entail no direct cost to the Federal government, could be employed if further credit assurance were somehow needed. By pre-funding future SLG pension obligations, we have locked up $3.9 trillion in these funds—the 67 percent that is funded—that could instead be used for investment. If future pension obligations don’t need to be fully funded, then SLGs don’t need to try to make the arduous climb back from being 67 percent funded to being 100 percent funded. The annual cost difference between the two is enormous.</p>
<p>2. Lower Funding Requirements</p>
<p>In this approach, SLG’s would abandon their attempt to achieve a fully funded ratio, and instead simply maintain their current funded ratio. If, for example, a given SLG was at a 60 percent funded ratio, it would no longer even attempt to return to a 100 percent funded level, but instead would make an iron-clad commitment to stay at a 60 percent funded level (and do this through operations rather than by issuing debt). In our view, for many SLGs, it will be hard enough to simply stay at the current funded ratio. This may very well still require big increases in current employer contributions, but at least that SLG could abandon the even bigger increases required to get the fund back to 100 percent. By our calculation, this would reduce the current annual aggregate SLG employer contribution requirement by over $100 billion each year over the next twenty years from the level truly required to become fully funded. This would free this sum for a tremendous increase in productive, job creating investment. After that 20-year period, since all new employees will have been hired into DC plans, liabilities will be smaller than they otherwise would have been, and therefore benefits paid in the year 2037 forward will likely be readily manageable.</p>
<p>(I believe that even though SLGs purport that they will achieve a 100 percent funding level through time, in reality many will not. Instead, they are using overly optimistic payout and return assumptions and will do well just to maintain their current funding ratios)</p>
<p>3. Even Lower Funding Requirements</p>
<p>If a state truly doesn’t need full funding as a credit guarantee, why even aim for the 60 percent funding level mentioned above? Thus an even more radical variation on Option 2 above would be to allow the funded ratio to decline through time to some minimum threshold—e.g. 30 percent—over a strictly defined period of time—say 20 years—and then make an iron-clad commitment to stay at that 30 percent thereafter. (Someone more radical than I might even suggest a lower threshold). The 30 percent would serve as a credit reserve. In addition, as suggested above, a federal guarantee could added if required. This more radical version would eliminate the current annual aggregate SLG employer contribution requirement for the next twenty years, freeing an even greater sum for productive, job creating investment in areas like infrastructure and education. Employer contributions should be manageable after that as described for Option 2 above.</p>
<p>Both #2 and #3 face objections and a daunting gauntlet of legal and regulatory obstacles and would require any numbers of changes. I have reviewed the sources of these obstacles briefly above—state law, IRS law, court decisions, GASB pronouncements, union contracts, and more. But because this is a multi-trillion dollar issue, and the alternative is a continued long-term erosion of other needed SLG investment, they are worth considering nonetheless.</p>
<p>Conceptually, both #1 and #2 suffer from an element of unfairness, since states that have been responsible in maintaining high levels of funding would receive no greater benefit than profligate states. Option 3 has the distinct advantage of a greater reward for states that have been responsible, since their reduction in required employer contributions would be far greater than for those that haven’t.</p>
<p>Option 3 could be a radical, era-redefining breakthrough for what has heretofore been an intractable, unsolvable problem.</p>
<p>The Medicaid cost issue is every bit as difficult. The crucial thing to note is that the CBO is forecasting that the program’s costs will rise at a rate of 5.5 percent per year through 2025 when the economy itself is projected to grow at 3 percent or less per year. If true, it could crowd out an even greater portion of other SLG spending. This cost projection may be optimistic, since these costs were rising an average of 7 percent in the decade before the ACA.</p>
<p>There is an avalanche of activity by insurers, hospitals, and other health-care providers aimed at reducing health-care expenses, and overall, progress is being made in addressing high costs. Further, as I have examined healthcare systems in Europe and Asia, I am increasingly convinced that substantial breakthroughs in healthcare expenses are possible. We have among the highest per capita costs and among the least favorable healthcare outcomes. As the cliché goes, if we put a man on the moon, surely we can make substantial improvements in healthcare costs. We will likely achieve these in ways not currently contemplated by either Republicans or Democrats.</p>
<p>Yet any such progress is hard-pressed to overcome a colossal obstacle—Americans are getting older and the percent living at or under the poverty line remains stubbornly high. An estimated 80 percent of health-care costs are associated with just four disease categories—cancer, heart disease, diabetes and Alzheimer’s—and as we age, the frequency of these diseases inevitably increases.</p>
<p>We will not be able to make radical, breakthrough reductions in health-care costs until we make substantial progress toward cures in those four areas. It is within our grasp to do so, but only through concerted, well-funded academic medical research. Yet, astonishingly, we have been reducing federal support for this research in real dollars. If we look over any long time horizon, there will be a direct link between federal spending on research for cures and our ability to curb the rising trend in Medicaid and health-care costs.</p>
<p>States will be wrestling with rising Medicaid costs for years to come.</p>
<p>The pension expenses of state, cities, and other local governments, along with that portion of Medicaid expenses borne by those same governments, are growing faster than the economy, and this has been crowding out expenditures in other key areas, most notably education and infrastructure. Absent large tax increases or some other bold strategies, this will continue unabated.</p>
<p>The financial consequences of this are increasingly clear. And while we have grown accustomed to the behavior of our federal government, whereby tough choices among competing expenditures are routinely avoided with the result of huge annual deficits and $20 trillion in accumulated debt, SLGs are much more fiscally limited, and so these hard choices can less readily be escaped.</p>
<p>The infrastructure and education systems of SLGs are slowly being starved of critical investment. Unless SLGs find a way to slow the march of pension and Medicaid expenses, the years will turn into decades and the quality of our infrastructure and education will continue to erode.</p> | true | 4 | gdp 19 trillion america richest country world however imd world competitiveness center recently ranked education system 24th 61 countries american society civil engineers recently rated infrastructurethe roads bridges water systems envy worldas failings often cited become numb education infrastructure systems largely managed paid state local governments improving poor ratings would easier tolerate opposite true know federal budget tremendous pressure budgets states cities local governments slgs even greater pressure pressure ease generation inescapable consequence funding education infrastructure continue immense pressure far future realistically see issue thisfor years slgs expenses relatively constant percent gdp yet pension medicaid costs skyrocketing crowding investment education infrastructure take radical perhaps even heretical new approach expenses restore ability properly invest two areas federal budget expenses endlessly scrutinized currently 42 trillion 23 percent gdp expenses slgs added together come half amount net federal subsidies passthroughsanother 21 trillion 115 percent gdp massive amount deserves almost much scrutiny federal spending together federal state local governments spend 34 percent national income surprisingly last 30 years slg budgets relatively flat relation gdp roughly 12 percent federal expenses ranged period highs 24 percent president reagan 265 percent 2008 financial crisis president obama toc low 19 percent president clinton total slg spending roughly constant compared gdp issues slg spending issues mixincreases relative spending one area offset decreases relative spending another area slgs spend money spent education 890 billion 34 percent spending followed 666 billion 26 percent spent social benefits including medicaid next comes economic affairs mainly highways transportation infrastructure 334 billion 13 percent chart 1 provides overview numbers receipt federal grants reimbursements 531 billionincluding 340 billion medicaid source bea pension contributions census importantly approximately 75 percent spending infrastructure education comes slgs want fix schools roads bridges water systems place go slgs even hopes current administration incremental 1 trillion infrastructure investment places much burden onto slgs however practical matter slgs limited federal government much spend invest many states required laws maintain balanced budget even restriction exist states constraint debt issuance means need stay closer balanced budget constraint lower debt ratings higher interest costs much debt issuance would bring currently slg debt totals 3 trillion thats 17 percent gdp much higher stood 1970 timeframe federal debt skyrocketed 38 percent 108 percent gdp whopping 20 trillion total yet federal debt maintained pristine credit rating slgs constrained much debt issue federal government largely treasury federal reserve us government print money slgs cant therefore live within means makes pressure slg expenditures immediate real painful mentioned combined expenses slgs relatively flat roughly 12 percent gdp last 30 years true much budget pressure carefully examining expenses extended time frame shows two pressure points expenses increasing problematically high pacemedicaid public pension costs see chart 2 percent gdp medicaid costs increased equivalent 52 billion pension costs 61 billion past 15 years combined impact 113 billion since overall expenses roughly flat means 113 billion year spending taken away categories medicaid costs increasing rapidly even aca whats worse probable ten years based estimates congressional budget offices projections pension medicaid expenses increased equivalent another 100 150 billion crowd yet funding programs unless taxes fees dramatically increased medicaid cuts recently proposed republican party along overall repeal aca although none initiatives yet succeeded medicaid cost increases would likely remain problem mention substitute costs states would likely incur medicaid curbed risk attributing single slg trends observed whole course trends highlight article true slgs directionally helpful illuminating trends issues impacting significant number article focuses primarily pension expense problem offer words medicaid well source bea pension contributions census expenses crowded expenses declined percent total slg spending period answer capital spending primarily infrastructure education see chart 3 relative basis ratio gdp education spending 40 billion capital outlays 56 billion 15year period notably areas regressed markedly comparison historical standards rest world source bea census go would point education infrastructure pensions health care poor medicaid important emotionally charged government policies could mention examined budgets slgs confronted trends shared finding various audiences encountered pushback hope believe need curtail spending areas given must quickly set forth wholehearted favor strong investment education health care infrastructure fully support defined benefit pensions existing public employees publicsector workers crucially important healing protecting teaching serving us article finances things cost today almost certain cost future implications likely course slgs overcome expense limitation raising taxes fees 50 states hundreds cities almost constantly energetically trying poach businesses away cities states result strategy raising taxes fraught risk driving away businesses households cities states republican party central tenet keep governments small taxes low controls 60 percent state legislatures net remedy significantly higher taxes fees currently unlikely leaving intact problem diminishing education infrastructure investment pension benefits paid increasing 63 percent per annum last ten years almost double rate economic growth employer contributions slgs increase well rising 8 percent per annum last five years pension costs rising increased pension benefits aging workforce new yorks state teachers retirement system employer contributions increase 26 billion 2015 versus 2001 pension benefit payouts grown 120 percent new york one states wellfunded pension plans unlike new york slgs pensions underfunded already budget issue states wellfunded pension plans become even intense problem underfunded plans according data federal reserve aggregate slg pensions funding ratio 67 percent means underfunded whopping 19 trillion thats equal 10 percent gdp explained fact many years large number slgs simply making employer contributions making source pew charitable trusts one small representative example pension underfunding city philadelphia 8 billion annual funds budget overall pension obligation 11 billion 45 billion obligation funded numbers make story painfully clear simply way increase employer contributions 8 billion general operating budget enough make 65 billion deficit without radically impacting expenses adding major new tax burdeneven years havent slgs required make high level contributions would truly kept pensions fully funded short answer large extent able make rules context perennial increasing budget challenges actuaries made overly optimistic pension forecasts resulted lowerthanneeded pension contributions decades ago corporations often found similar position many practices reformed 1974 employee retirement income security act erisa slg pensions exempted years since slg pensions become broadly underfunding see chart 3 time slg pensions criticized poor managementincluding paying unduly high investmentmanagement fees allowing questionable practices pay playwhereby political contributions parlayed lucrative pension money management contracts though exempt erisa number recent laws regulations gradually increased urgency slgs trying address pension deficits include pension protection act 2006 government accounting standards board gasb pronouncement mandates slgs make overt disclosure pension underfunding financial statements gasb pronouncement makes much likely rating agencies take unfunded positions account rating debt slgs impacting rates slgs pay debts amount new debt able issue also state laws statelevel court cases pension boards govern influence management pensions provisions regarding pension funding slg union contracts increased pressure slgs make larger pension contributions simply makes likely nonpension categories spending get less source federal reserve try keep rising pension costs address pension underfunding slgs aggregate increased employer contributions 8 percent per annum last decadewhich means contributed total 76 billion 2015 compared ten years beforefor total employer contribution 132 billion 2015 yet even rather massive increase continue lose ground aggregate slg pension funding ratio plummeted 92 percent 2006 67 percent 2016 even though contributions rising increasing nearly enough keep pace growing pension liabilities numbers 2015 illustrate dilemma aggregate 2015 slgs made employer contributions 132 billion 45 billion contribution five years earlier add employee contributions another 48 billion investment returns 169 billion 286 billion benefit payouts far good however pension liabilities increased 262 billion overall pension funding gap increased 200 billion period indeed daunting equation going forward even slgs increase employer contribution levels 8 percent per year far greater rate gdp growth estimate funded ratio improve current 67 percent ratio fact may even decline estimate take additional 100 200 billion year next 20 years beyond recent aggregate employer contribution levels reach fully funded level words fiasco get mess well didnt take long pensions actually fully funded recently 2000 happy circumstance came extraordinary bull market accompanied first internet boom late 1990s january 1999 stocks gained incredible 28 percent per year prior four years internet revolution seemingly ushered new era stock performanceat least minds pension managers actuaries pension investment return projections 5 8 percent historically used establishing required employer contributions seemed unnecessarily tame slgs aggressively raised forecasts sky limit wake heady period many slgs significantly increased pension benefits employees came inevitable correction tenyear period january 2009 stocks declined 30 percent decimating forecasts pension managers paired large increases benefits granted yielded ugly underfunding see today investment return assumptions led seem naïve hindsight time sweetening pension benefits seemed like cost bargaining chip union negotiations facing funding challenge cities worst shape bankruptcy option shown bankruptcy detroit general retirement fund reached low 53 percent funded major part financial dilemma states cant declare bankruptcy state pensions 82 percent slg pensions arent slgs renegotiating employee unions reduce benefits actually discussions occurring widely unions fiercely defend pension benefit gains generally significant political clout modifications small slgs address underfunding problem pursuing higher return investments certainly tried historically pensions invested conservatively investing primarily bonds stocks cash large funding deficits caused many slg pensions consider alternative investments hold hope higher returns including hedge funds alternatives largely met higher return expectations thus reduced funding deficit stuck scylla charybdis many slgs much politically feasible already challenging budget environment battling modify pension benefits increase pension contributions many efforts attempts bold admirablemoving component plans defined contribution structure ill discuss introducing creative form risksharing benefit reduction slgs coupling changes brave assumptions investment returns benefit payouts increased employer contributions create new longterm pension forecasts show funding reaching acceptably high levels declaring victory seen number new forecasts however examined come much less optimistic conclusions example philadelphia funded ratio 45 percent forecasts pension liabilities 93 percent funded 2035 achieve forecasts investment return 77 percent per annum instead roughly 5 percent actually achieved pension managers last decade roughly 4 percent return philadelphia achieved last 5 years philadelphia used 55 percent instead 77 percent projections funded ratio 2035 would 62 percent instead 93 percent add slightly less positive assumptions employer contributions benefit payouts funded ratio 2035 could fall 50 percent philadelphia unique regards issue kentucky teachers retirement system takes optimism reporting step actually publishes two different funded ratios period first fulfills gasb reporting requirement shows 35 percent current funding ratio second produced kentucky legislature shows 54 percent funding ratio pension changes optimistic forecasts serve important related purpose credit ratings analysts less concerned impact pension underfunding given city states overall credit rating plausible plan achieve high level funding 10 20 years time horizon incentive put forward optimistic forecast efforts slgs make changes contributions program aspects helped solved problem instead part net impact efforts given city state push back problem years aggregate national numbers slg expenses paint picture bleak clear net annual slg expense budget 21 trillion every bit spoken every year world slgs ever make whopping 19 trillion pension funding deficit without compromising spending key areas even decades brings us one thing ironically may biggest problem allalmost none pension funds actually run dry time soon even new jersey criticized poor pension funding management practices 84 billion collective funds enough sustain benefit payouts much 20 years additional employer contributions emergency would prompt truly radical change programs simply doesnt exist pattern described continue repeat house fire foundation crumbling first little background conventional pension plans including slg pension plans almost defined benefit db plans employer often employee makes regular contributions employees pensions retirement employee gets predetermined monthly payment eg 70 percent highest salary level usually rest lives employee gets defined benefit matter successful unsuccessful investment pension funds though highly popular benefit provided large corporations employees decades world war ii majority corporations abandoned type plan proven difficult manage financially corporation may made required contributions yet face crisis given year make unexpected extraordinarily large pension contribution changes interest rates changes projected life expectancy poor investment performance factors longterm nature pensions means small changes trends key assumptions considered decadeslong timelines plans result huge unwelcome changes current required pension contribution given company benefits pension plan high relative amount contributed plans depend continually rising employee headcount remain fully funded quickly develop problems funded levels hiring slows declines given issues vast majority corporations replaced defined benefit db pensions programs 401ks considered defined contribution dc plans employee often conjunction employer makes regular contributions plan ultimate retirement benefit paid employees function much contributed actual investment returns funds employee assumes risk changes investment performance factors protested unwise move risks employee since many sophisticated enough manage retirement funds yet assuming protections aids legislated minimize problems noted risk reside slgs instead employees without downsidethe education infrastructure downside taxpayers described article defined contribution plans none volatility accounting surprises associated db plans almost none employer underfunding problems either possible mystery ambiguity much given employer needs contribute either make contributions dont large however employees slgs remained db plans therefore pension liabilities continue skyrocket increasing average 232 billion year past five yearsand 19 trillion pension funding gap show since remained db plans remain subject volatility propensity underfund first step fixing problem preventing funding abuses slgs convert dc plans employees hire future initiatives taken many cities states initial success without concerted opposition numerous legal contractual regulatory barriers achievement make mistake dc plans structured generous db plan furthermore corporations moved db plans dc plans kept existing employees db plans would done well unless thisor something close itis done alreadyformidable pension problem simply compound costs become even overwhelming recommendation employees hired future given dc plans instead db plans come surprise vast majority corporations long since concluded db plans feasible made change problems related existing increases payouts existing underfunding vanish even new employees placed dc plans since new employees added db plans least problem capped capped pension plan liability growth would begin moderating time moving dc plans first step since slgs still need increase employer contributions make changes address benefit obligations already embedded mentioned estimate could reach additional 100 200 billion year current contribution levels enormously difficult slgs increase contributions levels need take additional stepssteps bridge funding gap employees still db plans also leave enough room slg budgets increased investment slg priorities three radical suggestions funding gap could bridged controversial would strongly suggest consideredif spark ideas debate since problem continue compound unless address head 1 federal funding guarantee federal government could assume responsibility unfunded liabilities slgs need federal government capacity scenario slgs would continue make employer contributions 67 percent portion pensions already funded using investment income pension funds pay benefits paying portion covered investment funds funds federal government would pay pension benefits 33 percent slg pensions unfunded amount would estimate roughly 90 billion 2017 would free level funds slg budgets allowing accelerate investment education infrastructure revitalizing nations performance areas igniting jobs revolution well suffice say enormous amount moneywhich unfortunately reflects magnitude problem given federal government wrestling 20 trillion debt annual deficits scenario highly unlikely brings us two proposals provide solution without onerous current expense consequences first dose heresy need fully prefund future slg pension obligations ask question light 19 trillion size pension funding deficit acuteness need education infrastructure would hasten note particular heresy depends pensions converted dc plans futures hires thus capping future liabilityi would dare make suggestions otherwise answer reason prefund retirement obligations form pension fund guarantee funds pensioner retires credit guarantee isnt given credit guarantee state pensions fully funded pension provides states 82 percent slg pension dollars cant declare bankruptcy full taxing authority states serves guarantee pensions paid fully funded pension form credit guarantee absolutely necessary private sector pensions may needed public sector furthermore guaranty federal government would entail direct cost federal government could employed credit assurance somehow needed prefunding future slg pension obligations locked 39 trillion fundsthe 67 percent fundedthat could instead used investment future pension obligations dont need fully funded slgs dont need try make arduous climb back 67 percent funded 100 percent funded annual cost difference two enormous 2 lower funding requirements approach slgs would abandon attempt achieve fully funded ratio instead simply maintain current funded ratio example given slg 60 percent funded ratio would longer even attempt return 100 percent funded level instead would make ironclad commitment stay 60 percent funded level operations rather issuing debt view many slgs hard enough simply stay current funded ratio may well still require big increases current employer contributions least slg could abandon even bigger increases required get fund back 100 percent calculation would reduce current annual aggregate slg employer contribution requirement 100 billion year next twenty years level truly required become fully funded would free sum tremendous increase productive job creating investment 20year period since new employees hired dc plans liabilities smaller otherwise would therefore benefits paid year 2037 forward likely readily manageable believe even though slgs purport achieve 100 percent funding level time reality many instead using overly optimistic payout return assumptions well maintain current funding ratios 3 even lower funding requirements state truly doesnt need full funding credit guarantee even aim 60 percent funding level mentioned thus even radical variation option 2 would allow funded ratio decline time minimum thresholdeg 30 percentover strictly defined period timesay 20 yearsand make ironclad commitment stay 30 percent thereafter someone radical might even suggest lower threshold 30 percent would serve credit reserve addition suggested federal guarantee could added required radical version would eliminate current annual aggregate slg employer contribution requirement next twenty years freeing even greater sum productive job creating investment areas like infrastructure education employer contributions manageable described option 2 2 3 face objections daunting gauntlet legal regulatory obstacles would require numbers changes reviewed sources obstacles briefly abovestate law irs law court decisions gasb pronouncements union contracts multitrillion dollar issue alternative continued longterm erosion needed slg investment worth considering nonetheless conceptually 1 2 suffer element unfairness since states responsible maintaining high levels funding would receive greater benefit profligate states option 3 distinct advantage greater reward states responsible since reduction required employer contributions would far greater havent option 3 could radical eraredefining breakthrough heretofore intractable unsolvable problem medicaid cost issue every bit difficult crucial thing note cbo forecasting programs costs rise rate 55 percent per year 2025 economy projected grow 3 percent less per year true could crowd even greater portion slg spending cost projection may optimistic since costs rising average 7 percent decade aca avalanche activity insurers hospitals healthcare providers aimed reducing healthcare expenses overall progress made addressing high costs examined healthcare systems europe asia increasingly convinced substantial breakthroughs healthcare expenses possible among highest per capita costs among least favorable healthcare outcomes cliché goes put man moon surely make substantial improvements healthcare costs likely achieve ways currently contemplated either republicans democrats yet progress hardpressed overcome colossal obstacleamericans getting older percent living poverty line remains stubbornly high estimated 80 percent healthcare costs associated four disease categoriescancer heart disease diabetes alzheimersand age frequency diseases inevitably increases able make radical breakthrough reductions healthcare costs make substantial progress toward cures four areas within grasp concerted wellfunded academic medical research yet astonishingly reducing federal support research real dollars look long time horizon direct link federal spending research cures ability curb rising trend medicaid healthcare costs states wrestling rising medicaid costs years come pension expenses state cities local governments along portion medicaid expenses borne governments growing faster economy crowding expenditures key areas notably education infrastructure absent large tax increases bold strategies continue unabated financial consequences increasingly clear grown accustomed behavior federal government whereby tough choices among competing expenditures routinely avoided result huge annual deficits 20 trillion accumulated debt slgs much fiscally limited hard choices less readily escaped infrastructure education systems slgs slowly starved critical investment unless slgs find way slow march pension medicaid expenses years turn decades quality infrastructure education continue erode | 3,231 |
<p>A former State Department security officer has given CounterPunch a detailed memoir and documents that point to very curious conduct by the CIA, Secret Service and FBI in the Philippines following warnings of an assassination bid on President Clinton during his November 12/13, 1994 visit to Manila.</p>
<p>The bid was organized by the 1993 WTC bomber Ramzi Yousef, at the direction of, and with financial support from, Osama bin Laden (who was indicted for the plot by a federal grand jury in August 1998).</p>
<p>A Pakistani linked to that Manila plot, and also to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency may still be at large. The security officer charges a U.S. cover-up of possible involvement by the Pakistani ISI in the 9/11/01 attack on the Trade Towers. Although given these same leads, the Official 9/11 Commission failed to investigate them.</p>
<p>This past December, Sam Karmilowicz finished a 21-year career as an officer in the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Back in 1994 he was working as an Assistant Regional Security Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Manila, when John D. Negroponte was the ambassador. These days, Negroponte is the U.S. Director of National Intelligence.</p>
<p>On the morning of September 18, 1994, Karmilowicz recalls, “the U.S. embassy received a telephone call from an anonymous person (who spoke with a distinct middle eastern accent) concerning his knowledge of an assassination plot against President William Clinton, who was scheduled to visit Manila that coming November.”</p>
<p>The embassy switchboard relayed that and a subsequent call to Karmilowicz, and the caller provided him the name of a Pakistani businessman, Tariq Javed Rana, as being one of the leaders of the plot. The source told Karmilowicz that Rana was facilitating the importation of explosives and operatives into the Philippines to complete the mission by paying bribes to Philippine government officials of the Immigration and Customs bureaus. He said the bribes were paid in counterfeit U.S. currency.</p>
<p>The first call was promptly reviewed in the embassy that same day by members of the embassy emergency action committee (EAC) chaired by Raymond Burghardt, the Deputy in Charge of Mission under Negroponte. The FBI, Secret Service, CIA, DEA, and DIA were all members of the committee. At the conclusion of the EAC meeting, embassy law enforcement and intelligence officials were instructed to inform the Philippine authorities and to initiate an investigation to determine the credibility of the threat. (Burghardt went on to become US ambassador to Vietnam and now heads the East-West Center, based in Honolulu.)</p>
<p>“A few weeks afterwards”, Karmilowicz says, ” high ranking officers of the CIA and Secret Service came into my office and informed me that they had conducted an investigation concerning the threat and concluded that the allegations against the Pakistani, Rana, were a hoax in order to have the police harass him. They offered no motive or information as to why such a ‘hoax’ would be perpetrated or who might be behind it.</p>
<p>“While all this was going on, I was supervising and managing the embassy’s surveillance detection unit responsible for the security of our housing compounds and annexes, including looking for suspicious persons or activity. I was also assigned the task of coordinating and providing protective security arrangements for visiting dignitaries and VIPs. As such, I had a professional responsibility to know whether the Pakistani suspect, and or any of his accomplices, was a credible threat against U.S. persons and/or interests in the Philippines. “The U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies may have dismissed this intelligence data as a hoax while secretly following up the leads … or they may just have been incompetent and let the future 9-11 terrorist masterminds slip through their fingers. Either way, they seem to have been incompetent because, if they were secretly monitoring these suspected (later confirmed) terrorists, then they obviously did a poor job of it.”</p>
<p>A few days before that first call, the Pakistani man named in the plot, Tariq Rana, had been featured in the Philippine press, which reported that he was a suspect in an illegal drug manufacturing ring. In response to these allegations, the public affairs section of the Pakistani embassy in Manila issued a number of statements vigorously denying the allegations against their national, claiming that he was a law-abiding citizen and a close relative of members of Pakistan’s parliament and military establishment. Shortly after he issued these statements the Pakistani public affairs officer was recalled to Pakistan.</p>
<p>President Clinton arrived in Manila on November 12, 1994, and his two-day visit passed without incident. Then, one week before Pope John Paul II’s visit to Manila in mid-January, 1995, police claimed a fire occurred in Room 603 of the Dona Josefa apartment building in Manila and that they discovered bomb-making chemicals and other evidence during a search of the apartment. Several people of Middle Eastern origin were staying in the apartment at the time of the fire and one of these persons was later identified as Ramzi Yousef, the 1993 World Trade Center bomber. Yousef is the nephew of Khaled Shaikh Muhammad, who was arrested in 2003. Muhammad subsequently disclosed under interrogation that he had planned the 9/11 attacks with Yousef in Manila at that time.</p>
<p>Ramzi Yousef fled the Philippines immediately after the apartment fire, and was arrested in Pakistan a month later. In 1998, Agence France Press (AFP) reported that Yousef confessed to federal authorities while in prison that he had in fact planned to assassinate Clinton when the president was visiting the Philippines but gave up because of tight security. Secret Service sources also report that large sums of counterfeit U.S. currency were entering the Philippines during the time of the plot. Clearly, the information passed to Karmilowicz was accurate and not a hoax as claimed by the CIA and Secret Service.</p>
<p>In conjunction with the fire at Yousef’s apartment, the Philippine press also reported that a similar fire occurred at the business establishment of Tariq Rana. An article in the Manila Chronicle indicated that the police found the same chemicals in both fires – chemicals that are used to make nitroglycerin. Yousef used nitroglycerin to bomb Philippines Airlines Flight 434 on December 11, 1994 as a test run for the so-called “Bojinka”plot. The explosion tore out a two square foot portion of the fuselage and ripped almost in half the body of 24-year old Haruki Ikegami, a Japanese businessman occupying the seat under which the bomb was placed. The bomb used on Flight 434 had one-tenth the power of the bombs he planned to use in the first phase of his Bojinka project, which was to simultaneously bomb 11 American aircraft over the Pacific Ocean.</p>
<p>Rana was arrested in April 1995 by Philippine authorities and charged with business fraud, although his current whereabouts are unknown.</p>
<p>Not all the Al Qaeda operatives successfully escaped arrest following the January 6, 1995 fire at the Dona Josefa apartment building.</p>
<p>According to Peter Lance’s book Cover Up, Ramzi Yousef instructed one of his accomplices, Abdul Hakim Murad, to return to Dona Josefa during the early morning hours on the day of the fire to retrieve his laptop computer, which contained all the details of the Bojinka plot, plus other incriminating information. The Philippine police, who had staked out the building, subsequently arrested Murad and transported him to Camp Crame, the headquarters of the Philippine National Police Intelligence Group (PNP). During the period of Murad’s captivity, Lance says Murad “was harshly treated, perhaps even tortured, forced to ingest massive quantities of water”.</p>
<p>Murad remained in Philippine custody until on or about May 11, 1995, when he was rendered to the U.S. to face criminal charges. However, before the rendition, the U.S. embassy sent Karmilowicz to Camp Crame to pick-up an envelope containing evidence that the PNP had collected from Murad. Upon his return to the embassy, Karmilowicz was instructed to transcribe the chain of evidence and to express mail the materials to a U.S. Justice Department Office in New York City. Mike Garcia and Dietrich Snell, the Assistant U.S. Attorneys who prosecuted Murad, almost certainly had access to the materials that Agent Karmilowicz sent to the Justice Department, although it is unknown what, if anything, was done with the evidence.</p>
<p>Pakistan’s ISI and, indirectly, the CIA had much closer ties to the Taliban and al Qaeda than the American public was allowed to know. It is common knowledge that Osama bin Laden may be hiding in the rugged Pakistani mountains bordering Afghanistan. However, most Americans probably are not aware or do not remember that major al Qaeda players Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Shaik Mohammed were both hiding in Pakistan when they were captured in 1995 and 2003, respectively, as was Mir Aimal Kasi, the assassin who attacked CIA employees in their cars outside CIA headquarters in Langley, VA in 1993.</p>
<p>Pakistan had been playing a double game until the events of September 11 forced the situation. Pakistan had supported the rise of the Taliban in the power vacuum left by the departure of the Soviet occupation army at the end of the 1980s. Pakistan supported and even used al Qaeda terrorist training camps to train its own operatives for use in the Kashmir dispute. There are other examples of Pakistan’s possible links to terrorism and infiltration of the ISI by al Qaeda, such as the alleged funneling of money from ISI director General Ahmad Mehmoud to 9/11’s Mohammed Atta. The Wall Street Journal reporter, Daniel Pearl, was kidnapped and murdered in Karachi, Pakistan while he was investigating these al Qaeda-ISI links.</p>
<p>Karmilowicz went on from his tour of duty on Manila to Washington, then Beirut, and a later posting in Quito, Ecuador, where he was involved in a fracas which resulted in the death of an Ecuadorian national. Exonerated after a State Department investigation he served in Washington, finally leaving the service at the end of 2005.</p>
<p>During the spring of 2004, Karmilowicz says, “I contacted Maria Ressa, the CNN Jakarta Bureau Chief after I read a book that she published in December 2003 entitled Seeds of Terror. According to her research, the Pakistani suspected of plotting to kill President Clinton was a close associate of Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Shaikh Mohammed during the time that these persons were hatching the plot to use airline carriers as missiles to attack the U.S.” Ressa also told Karmilowicz that her sources in the Philippine intelligence and police bureaus suspected that this Pakistani was an associate of the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence agency. The story has often been told of how a smoky accident in Yousef’s apartment happened to draw police attention, and though Yousef escaped, his laptop provided disclosed that this attacks were nearly ready for execution.</p>
<p>The story is true as far as it goes, she told Karmilowicz, but the Philippine authorities were not quite so asleep at the wheel. The explosion aboard Philippine Airlines flight 434 had placed the police on heightened alert with the pope’s visit just a few weeks away. Yousef had called the Associated Press, claiming that Abu Sayyaf was responsible, which suggests Filipino suspects, but Avelino “Sonny” Razon of the Presidential Security Group (PSG) tasked with security for the pope’s visit was tipped to watch for Middle Easterners. “The PNP (Philippine National Police), particularly the PSG ,was on heightened alert because in December 1994, we received reports that a group of Middle Eastern personalities would be coming over to the Philippines to assassinate the Pope,” Razon said. “The PSG had one man in particular under surveillance — Tareq Javed Rana, a Pakistani suspected of supporting international terrorists with drug money. They were on the right track. He was a close associate of Ramzi Yousef. While under surveillance, Rana’s house in Paranque, a suburb of Manila, burned down. An official police report would later say the PSG believed the “conflagration was caused by combustible chemicals such as those used for making an improvised explosive device [IED].”</p>
<p>Ressa’s book suggested that the PNP did not begin its surveillance of Rana until December 1994, several months after the U.S. embassy had alerted the Philippine authorities that Rana was named as a suspect to assassinate President Clinton. This raises the question: why wasn’t Rana investigated earlier; or, if he was investigated, why do certain people now want to deny this?</p>
<p>In 2004, Karmilowicz and his attorney contacted Richard Ben-Veniste of the official 9/11 Commission, suggesting that the leads from 1994 about Rana pointed to possible ISI complicity and that these leads be followed up. But the Commission never called him to testify.</p>
<p>These days, Karmilowicz (living in Alexandria, VA, and seeking a security job in a Fortune 500 firm), is scathing about the conduct of the interagency taskforce in the U.S. embassy in Manila.</p>
<p>What I think this story reveals is that the 9-11 Commission and the U.S. government deliberately withheld information from the U.S. public (and everyone else for that matter) that linked Al Qaeda operatives to persons who had close ties to Pakistani government officials, including members of Pakistan’s ISI. One can only guess whether that was to save embarrassment or to hide illegal conduct.</p>
<p>One thing is for certain, i.e., the FBI, Secret Service, and CIA have deceived, and continue to deceive, the public concerning Rana’s connection to Al Qaeda and the facts regarding the 9-11 attack.</p>
<p>One of the standouts in this spin of lies is Neil Herman, a former FBI official who was involved in the Bojinka investigation and a former supervisor of the FBI’s Joint Terrorist Task Force in New York. Herman was quoted in an August 5, 2004 New York Times article entitled, Qaeda Strategy is Called Cause for New Alarm by Eric Lipton and Benjamin Weiser, which reported:</p>
<p>Even though the large-scale jetliner attack over the Pacific never happened, it is clear that the elaborate planning was an unappreciated warning of the sophistication and determination of the terrorists.</p>
<p>“It showed the government back in the mid-1990’s how detail-oriented these individuals were,” said Mr. Herman, the former FBI official, who was involved in the Bojinka investigation. “It also showed that there was an active network, although, of course, we were unable to determine the extent of the network back then.”</p>
<p>Another prominent figure suspected of quashing the truth is Dietrich L. Snell, the Senior Counsel and Team Leader of the Official 9-11 Commission. Peter Lance writes extensively in his books Cover Up and 1000 Years for Revenge about Snell’s shenanigans in cherry-picking evidence and excluding credible witness testimony, including information collected by the Defense Department’s Able Danger Unit concerning pre-9/11 sightings of Mohammed Atta, one of the nineteen suspected hijackers. These allegations are now resurfacing in the news. The Associated Press (AP) reported on February 15, 2005 that U.S. Representative Curt Weldon, the vice Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee advised the public that the Able Danger Unit had identified Atta more than a dozen times before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Weldon also reportedly said the secret team found “a problem” in Yemen two weeks before the deadly Al Qaeda attack on the USS Cole in 2000, of which the ship commander was not told. Former (unidentified) members of the 9/11 Commission reportedly dismissed Weldon’s findings.</p>
<p>My experience in the Philippines also appears to overlap Snell’s involvement in the Murad case that Snell prosecuted. The Cooperative Research 9-11 Timeline (www.cooperativeresearch.org) contains a very peculiar account entitled: Early 1998:Prosecutors Turn Down Deal That Could Reveal Bojinka Third Plot.</p>
<p>The entry said: “Abdul Hakim Murad, a conspirator in the 1995 Bojinka plot with Ramzi Yousef, Khalid Shaik Mohammed, and others, was convicted in 1996 of his role in the Bojinka plot. He is about to be sentenced for that crime. He offers to cooperate with federal prosecutors in return for a reduction in his sentence, but prosecutors turn down his offer. Dietrich Snell, the prosecutor who convicted Murad, says after 9-11 that he doesn’t remember any such offer. But court papers and others familiar with the case later confirmed that Murad does offer to cooperate at this time. Snell claimed he only remembers hearing that Murad had described an intention to hijack a plan and fly it into the CIA headquarters. However, in 1995 Murad had confessed to Philippine investigators that this would have been only one part of a larger plot to crash a number of airplanes into prominent U.S. buildings, including the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, a plot that Khalid Shaikh Mohammed later adjusts and turns in the 9-11 plot. While Philippine investigators claim this information was passed on to U.S. intelligence, it’s not clear just which U.S. officials may have learned this information and what they did with it, if anything. [New York Daily News, 9/25/01] Murad is sentenced in May 1998 and given life in prison plus 60 years. [Albany Times Union, 9/22/02] After 9-11, Snell goes on to become Senior Counsel and a team leader for the 9-11 Commission. Author Peter Lance later calls Snell “one of the fixers, hired early on to sanitize the Commission’s final report.” Lance says Snell ignored evidence presented to the Commission that shows direct ties between the Bojinka plot and 9-11, and in so doing covers up Snell’s own role in the failure to make use of evidence learned from Murad and other Bojinka plotters. [FrontPage Magazine, 1/27/05].</p>
<p>I know who the intelligence officials were at the U.S. embassy at the time of Murad’s arrest and interrogation. These are the same officials who discounted the threat information I received about Rana. Do these people have something to hide? You bet they do!</p>
<p>Peter Lance was entirely correct when he told CNN anchor Lou Dobbs in a December 5, 2005 interview that the 9-11 Commission was essentially “a whitewash” and that it intentionally limited its investigation to 1996-forward. He said the Commission moved the plot’s origin “to 1996 from 1994″and in so doing omitted information that linked Mohammed Atta to the terrorists responsible for the 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center. Lance said Congress should put Dietrich Snell under oath to find out why the 9-11 staffer prevented the Able Danger information from getting to the 9-11 Commission.</p>
<p>Clearly, the 9-11 Commission’s decision to use 1996 as the date that the 9-11 plot originated was also designed to omit the information that I obtained concerning Tariq Rana, and the connection he had with the Al Qaeda operatives who conceived the 9-11 plot.</p>
<p>Given these revelations, how can the American public trust a government that has rationalized its own failure to protect this nation by implementing draconian measures (e.g. the Patriot Act, illegal wiretapping, and abductions and torture) – measures that have stripped its citizens of the rights and protections for which this country was founded. And what have these measures bought us but a seemingly endless war of attrition with an adversary that grows stronger and more lethal everyday.</p>
<p>Karmilowicz says, “my experience in the Philippines shows the U.S. government has compartmentalized information, not so much to protect sources and methods of an investigation or intelligence operation, but in order to cover-up its gross incompetence or its complicity in illegal and questionable activities conducted by, or against, foreign powers.”</p>
<p>At some point, (most likely after President Clinton concluded his visit to the Philippines) the CIA and Secret Service realized that Rana and his associates were a threat after all, but they kept this information from Agent Karmilowicz.</p>
<p>Karmilowicz says, “Keeping that information to themselves is a breach of the no-double-standard policy [where one agency can’t respond to a perceived threat without notifying the other agencies and the American public].”</p>
<p>And even worse, Karmilowicz believes, “this breach of policy has now become the norm in the post 9-11 world, whereby the State Department has now been co-opted by CIA and the Defense Department to allow people to be abducted and killed rather than apprehended. In one case I suspect that because information was compartmentalized, an attack may have been allowed to proceed ­ in Jeddah in December 2004, ­ and five people were killed.” [See Counter Punch ‘The Origins of the Rendition Program: Does the CIA Have the Right to Break Any Law, January 2006]. Karmilowicz likes to remind us how John Negroponte, the former Chief of Mission in the Philippines, who directed and approved the efforts of the various agencies at post, “was rewarded for his complicity in this cover-up, appointed the Director of National Intelligence, the person who approves secret renditions, eavesdropping, and the abduction and assassination of terrorist suspects”.</p>
<p>Karmilowicz cites AP’s Mathew Barakat and Peter Yost as reporting that Rob Spencer, the U.S. prosecutor in the Moussaoui trial in federal court in Alexandria, gave an opening statement to the jury in which he claimed that if Moussaoui had come clean — i.e., informed the law enforcement establishment of his knowledge of the 9-11 plot — in 2001, the FBI would have been able to use his records to locate 11 of the 19 September 11 hijackers, including all four pilots. Spencer also said the government would have kept those conspirators off airplanes and would have altered airport screeners to confiscate small knives and boxcutters. “Who in their right mind”, Karmilowicz says, “would believe such a statement given what I observed and experienced in the Philippines?”</p>
<p>Sam Karmilowicz can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | former state department security officer given counterpunch detailed memoir documents point curious conduct cia secret service fbi philippines following warnings assassination bid president clinton november 1213 1994 visit manila bid organized 1993 wtc bomber ramzi yousef direction financial support osama bin laden indicted plot federal grand jury august 1998 pakistani linked manila plot also pakistans interservices intelligence isi agency may still large security officer charges us coverup possible involvement pakistani isi 91101 attack trade towers although given leads official 911 commission failed investigate past december sam karmilowicz finished 21year career officer us state departments bureau diplomatic security back 1994 working assistant regional security officer us embassy manila john negroponte ambassador days negroponte us director national intelligence morning september 18 1994 karmilowicz recalls us embassy received telephone call anonymous person spoke distinct middle eastern accent concerning knowledge assassination plot president william clinton scheduled visit manila coming november embassy switchboard relayed subsequent call karmilowicz caller provided name pakistani businessman tariq javed rana one leaders plot source told karmilowicz rana facilitating importation explosives operatives philippines complete mission paying bribes philippine government officials immigration customs bureaus said bribes paid counterfeit us currency first call promptly reviewed embassy day members embassy emergency action committee eac chaired raymond burghardt deputy charge mission negroponte fbi secret service cia dea dia members committee conclusion eac meeting embassy law enforcement intelligence officials instructed inform philippine authorities initiate investigation determine credibility threat burghardt went become us ambassador vietnam heads eastwest center based honolulu weeks afterwards karmilowicz says high ranking officers cia secret service came office informed conducted investigation concerning threat concluded allegations pakistani rana hoax order police harass offered motive information hoax would perpetrated might behind going supervising managing embassys surveillance detection unit responsible security housing compounds annexes including looking suspicious persons activity also assigned task coordinating providing protective security arrangements visiting dignitaries vips professional responsibility know whether pakistani suspect accomplices credible threat us persons andor interests philippines us law enforcement intelligence agencies may dismissed intelligence data hoax secretly following leads may incompetent let future 911 terrorist masterminds slip fingers either way seem incompetent secretly monitoring suspected later confirmed terrorists obviously poor job days first call pakistani man named plot tariq rana featured philippine press reported suspect illegal drug manufacturing ring response allegations public affairs section pakistani embassy manila issued number statements vigorously denying allegations national claiming lawabiding citizen close relative members pakistans parliament military establishment shortly issued statements pakistani public affairs officer recalled pakistan president clinton arrived manila november 12 1994 twoday visit passed without incident one week pope john paul iis visit manila midjanuary 1995 police claimed fire occurred room 603 dona josefa apartment building manila discovered bombmaking chemicals evidence search apartment several people middle eastern origin staying apartment time fire one persons later identified ramzi yousef 1993 world trade center bomber yousef nephew khaled shaikh muhammad arrested 2003 muhammad subsequently disclosed interrogation planned 911 attacks yousef manila time ramzi yousef fled philippines immediately apartment fire arrested pakistan month later 1998 agence france press afp reported yousef confessed federal authorities prison fact planned assassinate clinton president visiting philippines gave tight security secret service sources also report large sums counterfeit us currency entering philippines time plot clearly information passed karmilowicz accurate hoax claimed cia secret service conjunction fire yousefs apartment philippine press also reported similar fire occurred business establishment tariq rana article manila chronicle indicated police found chemicals fires chemicals used make nitroglycerin yousef used nitroglycerin bomb philippines airlines flight 434 december 11 1994 test run socalled bojinkaplot explosion tore two square foot portion fuselage ripped almost half body 24year old haruki ikegami japanese businessman occupying seat bomb placed bomb used flight 434 onetenth power bombs planned use first phase bojinka project simultaneously bomb 11 american aircraft pacific ocean rana arrested april 1995 philippine authorities charged business fraud although current whereabouts unknown al qaeda operatives successfully escaped arrest following january 6 1995 fire dona josefa apartment building according peter lances book cover ramzi yousef instructed one accomplices abdul hakim murad return dona josefa early morning hours day fire retrieve laptop computer contained details bojinka plot plus incriminating information philippine police staked building subsequently arrested murad transported camp crame headquarters philippine national police intelligence group pnp period murads captivity lance says murad harshly treated perhaps even tortured forced ingest massive quantities water murad remained philippine custody may 11 1995 rendered us face criminal charges however rendition us embassy sent karmilowicz camp crame pickup envelope containing evidence pnp collected murad upon return embassy karmilowicz instructed transcribe chain evidence express mail materials us justice department office new york city mike garcia dietrich snell assistant us attorneys prosecuted murad almost certainly access materials agent karmilowicz sent justice department although unknown anything done evidence pakistans isi indirectly cia much closer ties taliban al qaeda american public allowed know common knowledge osama bin laden may hiding rugged pakistani mountains bordering afghanistan however americans probably aware remember major al qaeda players ramzi yousef khalid shaik mohammed hiding pakistan captured 1995 2003 respectively mir aimal kasi assassin attacked cia employees cars outside cia headquarters langley va 1993 pakistan playing double game events september 11 forced situation pakistan supported rise taliban power vacuum left departure soviet occupation army end 1980s pakistan supported even used al qaeda terrorist training camps train operatives use kashmir dispute examples pakistans possible links terrorism infiltration isi al qaeda alleged funneling money isi director general ahmad mehmoud 911s mohammed atta wall street journal reporter daniel pearl kidnapped murdered karachi pakistan investigating al qaedaisi links karmilowicz went tour duty manila washington beirut later posting quito ecuador involved fracas resulted death ecuadorian national exonerated state department investigation served washington finally leaving service end 2005 spring 2004 karmilowicz says contacted maria ressa cnn jakarta bureau chief read book published december 2003 entitled seeds terror according research pakistani suspected plotting kill president clinton close associate ramzi yousef khalid shaikh mohammed time persons hatching plot use airline carriers missiles attack us ressa also told karmilowicz sources philippine intelligence police bureaus suspected pakistani associate pakistani interservices intelligence agency story often told smoky accident yousefs apartment happened draw police attention though yousef escaped laptop provided disclosed attacks nearly ready execution story true far goes told karmilowicz philippine authorities quite asleep wheel explosion aboard philippine airlines flight 434 placed police heightened alert popes visit weeks away yousef called associated press claiming abu sayyaf responsible suggests filipino suspects avelino sonny razon presidential security group psg tasked security popes visit tipped watch middle easterners pnp philippine national police particularly psg heightened alert december 1994 received reports group middle eastern personalities would coming philippines assassinate pope razon said psg one man particular surveillance tareq javed rana pakistani suspected supporting international terrorists drug money right track close associate ramzi yousef surveillance ranas house paranque suburb manila burned official police report would later say psg believed conflagration caused combustible chemicals used making improvised explosive device ied ressas book suggested pnp begin surveillance rana december 1994 several months us embassy alerted philippine authorities rana named suspect assassinate president clinton raises question wasnt rana investigated earlier investigated certain people want deny 2004 karmilowicz attorney contacted richard benveniste official 911 commission suggesting leads 1994 rana pointed possible isi complicity leads followed commission never called testify days karmilowicz living alexandria va seeking security job fortune 500 firm scathing conduct interagency taskforce us embassy manila think story reveals 911 commission us government deliberately withheld information us public everyone else matter linked al qaeda operatives persons close ties pakistani government officials including members pakistans isi one guess whether save embarrassment hide illegal conduct one thing certain ie fbi secret service cia deceived continue deceive public concerning ranas connection al qaeda facts regarding 911 attack one standouts spin lies neil herman former fbi official involved bojinka investigation former supervisor fbis joint terrorist task force new york herman quoted august 5 2004 new york times article entitled qaeda strategy called cause new alarm eric lipton benjamin weiser reported even though largescale jetliner attack pacific never happened clear elaborate planning unappreciated warning sophistication determination terrorists showed government back mid1990s detailoriented individuals said mr herman former fbi official involved bojinka investigation also showed active network although course unable determine extent network back another prominent figure suspected quashing truth dietrich l snell senior counsel team leader official 911 commission peter lance writes extensively books cover 1000 years revenge snells shenanigans cherrypicking evidence excluding credible witness testimony including information collected defense departments able danger unit concerning pre911 sightings mohammed atta one nineteen suspected hijackers allegations resurfacing news associated press ap reported february 15 2005 us representative curt weldon vice chairman house intelligence committee advised public able danger unit identified atta dozen times september 11 2001 terrorist attacks weldon also reportedly said secret team found problem yemen two weeks deadly al qaeda attack uss cole 2000 ship commander told former unidentified members 911 commission reportedly dismissed weldons findings experience philippines also appears overlap snells involvement murad case snell prosecuted cooperative research 911 timeline wwwcooperativeresearchorg contains peculiar account entitled early 1998prosecutors turn deal could reveal bojinka third plot entry said abdul hakim murad conspirator 1995 bojinka plot ramzi yousef khalid shaik mohammed others convicted 1996 role bojinka plot sentenced crime offers cooperate federal prosecutors return reduction sentence prosecutors turn offer dietrich snell prosecutor convicted murad says 911 doesnt remember offer court papers others familiar case later confirmed murad offer cooperate time snell claimed remembers hearing murad described intention hijack plan fly cia headquarters however 1995 murad confessed philippine investigators would one part larger plot crash number airplanes prominent us buildings including world trade center pentagon plot khalid shaikh mohammed later adjusts turns 911 plot philippine investigators claim information passed us intelligence clear us officials may learned information anything new york daily news 92501 murad sentenced may 1998 given life prison plus 60 years albany times union 92202 911 snell goes become senior counsel team leader 911 commission author peter lance later calls snell one fixers hired early sanitize commissions final report lance says snell ignored evidence presented commission shows direct ties bojinka plot 911 covers snells role failure make use evidence learned murad bojinka plotters frontpage magazine 12705 know intelligence officials us embassy time murads arrest interrogation officials discounted threat information received rana people something hide bet peter lance entirely correct told cnn anchor lou dobbs december 5 2005 interview 911 commission essentially whitewash intentionally limited investigation 1996forward said commission moved plots origin 1996 1994and omitted information linked mohammed atta terrorists responsible 1993 bombing world trade center lance said congress put dietrich snell oath find 911 staffer prevented able danger information getting 911 commission clearly 911 commissions decision use 1996 date 911 plot originated also designed omit information obtained concerning tariq rana connection al qaeda operatives conceived 911 plot given revelations american public trust government rationalized failure protect nation implementing draconian measures eg patriot act illegal wiretapping abductions torture measures stripped citizens rights protections country founded measures bought us seemingly endless war attrition adversary grows stronger lethal everyday karmilowicz says experience philippines shows us government compartmentalized information much protect sources methods investigation intelligence operation order coverup gross incompetence complicity illegal questionable activities conducted foreign powers point likely president clinton concluded visit philippines cia secret service realized rana associates threat kept information agent karmilowicz karmilowicz says keeping information breach nodoublestandard policy one agency cant respond perceived threat without notifying agencies american public even worse karmilowicz believes breach policy become norm post 911 world whereby state department coopted cia defense department allow people abducted killed rather apprehended one case suspect information compartmentalized attack may allowed proceed jeddah december 2004 five people killed see counter punch origins rendition program cia right break law january 2006 karmilowicz likes remind us john negroponte former chief mission philippines directed approved efforts various agencies post rewarded complicity coverup appointed director national intelligence person approves secret renditions eavesdropping abduction assassination terrorist suspects karmilowicz cites aps mathew barakat peter yost reporting rob spencer us prosecutor moussaoui trial federal court alexandria gave opening statement jury claimed moussaoui come clean ie informed law enforcement establishment knowledge 911 plot 2001 fbi would able use records locate 11 19 september 11 hijackers including four pilots spencer also said government would kept conspirators airplanes would altered airport screeners confiscate small knives boxcutters right mind karmilowicz says would believe statement given observed experienced philippines sam karmilowicz reached skarmilo1yahoocom 160 160 | 2,044 |
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<p>April 5, 2008. Today the London Telegraph reported that “British officials gave warning yesterday that America’s commander in Iraq will declare that Iran is waging war against the US-backed Baghdad government. A strong statement from General David Petraeus about Iran’s intervention in Iraq could set the stage for a US attack on Iranian militiary facilities, according to a Whitehall assessment.”</p>
<p>The neocon lacky Petraeus has had his script written for him by Cheney, and Petraeus together with neocon warmonger Ryan Crocker, the US governor of the Green Zone in Baghdad, will present Congress next Tuesday and Wednesday with the lies, for which the road has been well paved by neocon propagandists such as Kimberly Kagan, that “the US must recognize that Iran is engaged in a full-up proxy war against it in Iraq.”</p>
<p>Don’t expect Congress to do anything except to egg on the attack. On April 3 the International Herald Tribune reported that senators and representatives have made millions of dollars from their investments in defense companies totaling $196 million. Rep. Ike Skelton, the Democrat chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is already on board with the attack on Iran. The London Telegraph quotes Skelton: “Iran is the bull in the china shop. In all of this, they seem to have links to all of the Shi’ite groups, whether they be political or military.”</p>
<p>All Skelton knows is what the war criminal Bush regime tells him. If Iran really does have all these connections, then it behooves Washington to cease threatening Iran and to make nice with Iran in order to stabilize Iraq and extract the US from the nightmare.</p>
<p>Reporting from Tehran on April 4, Reuters quotes Mohsen Hakim, whose father, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leads the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, an ally of the Maliki US puppetgovernment in Iraq: “Tehran, by using its positive influence on the Iraqi nation, paved the way for the return of peace to Iraq and the new situation is the result of Iran’s efforts.”</p>
<p>Instead of thanking Iran and working with Iran diplomatically to restore stability to Iraq, the Bush regime intends to expand the nightmare with a military attack on Iran. Ryan Crocker was quick to dispute Hakim’s report that Iran had used its influence to end the fighting in Basra. Crocker alleged that Iran had started the fighting. The absurdity of Crocker’s claim is obvious as even the neocon US media reported that the fighting in Basra was started by the US and Maliki in an effort to clear out the Shi’ite al-Sadr militias. Most experts saw the attack on al-Sadr for what it was: an effort to remove a potential threat to the US supply line from Kuwait in the event of a US attack on Iran.</p>
<p>Crocker alleges that the rockets dropping on the Green Zone during the Basra fighting were made in 2007 in Iran. As should be obvious even to disengaged Americans, if Iran were to arm the Iraqi insurgency, the insurgents would have modern weapons to counter US helicopter gunships and heavy tanks. The insurgents have no such weapons. The neocon lie that Iran is the cause of the Iraqi insurgency is just another Bush regime lie like the lie that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction and connections to al Qaeda and the lie that the Taliban in Afghanistan attacked the US.</p>
<p>The Bush regime will tell any lie and orchestrate any event in order to “finish the job” in the Middle East.</p>
<p>“Finishing the job” means to destroy the ability of Iraq, Iran, and Syria to provide support for the Palestinians and for Hezbollah in southern Lebanon against Israeli aggression. With Iraq and Iran in turmoil, Syria might simply give up and become another American client state. With Iraq and Iran in turmoil, Israel can steal the rest of the West Bank along with the water resources in southern Lebanon. That is what “the war on terror” is really about.</p>
<p>The entire world knows this. Consequently, the US and Israel are essentially isolated. The US can only count on the support that it can bribe and pay for.</p>
<p>At the NATO-Russian summit in Bucharest, Romania, on April 4, Russian President Putin said: “No one can seriously think that Iran would dare attack the U.S. Instead of pushing Iran into a corner, it would be far more sensible to think together how to help Iran become more predictable and transparent.”</p>
<p>Of course it would, but that is not what the warmonger Bush regime wants.</p>
<p>Perhaps the British government has derailed the plot to attack Iran by leaking in advance to the London Telegraph the disinformation Cheney has prepared for Petraeus and Crocker to deliver to the complicit US Congress next Tuesday and Wednesday. On the other hand, the US puppet media is likely to bury the real story and to trumpet Petraeus claims that Iran has, in effect, already declared war on the US by sending weapons to kill US troops in Iraq.</p>
<p>By next Thursday we will know from how the Petraeus-Crocker dog and pony show plays in the US Congress and media whether the Bush Regime will commit yet another war crime by attacking Iran.</p>
<p>PAUL CRAIG ROBERTS was Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan administration. He was Associate Editor of the Wall Street Journal editorial page and Contributing Editor of National Review. He is coauthor of <a href="" type="internal">The Tyranny of Good Intentions.</a>He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | 160 april 5 2008 today london telegraph reported british officials gave warning yesterday americas commander iraq declare iran waging war usbacked baghdad government strong statement general david petraeus irans intervention iraq could set stage us attack iranian militiary facilities according whitehall assessment neocon lacky petraeus script written cheney petraeus together neocon warmonger ryan crocker us governor green zone baghdad present congress next tuesday wednesday lies road well paved neocon propagandists kimberly kagan us must recognize iran engaged fullup proxy war iraq dont expect congress anything except egg attack april 3 international herald tribune reported senators representatives made millions dollars investments defense companies totaling 196 million rep ike skelton democrat chairman house armed services committee already board attack iran london telegraph quotes skelton iran bull china shop seem links shiite groups whether political military skelton knows war criminal bush regime tells iran really connections behooves washington cease threatening iran make nice iran order stabilize iraq extract us nightmare reporting tehran april 4 reuters quotes mohsen hakim whose father abdul aziz alhakim leads supreme islamic iraqi council ally maliki us puppetgovernment iraq tehran using positive influence iraqi nation paved way return peace iraq new situation result irans efforts instead thanking iran working iran diplomatically restore stability iraq bush regime intends expand nightmare military attack iran ryan crocker quick dispute hakims report iran used influence end fighting basra crocker alleged iran started fighting absurdity crockers claim obvious even neocon us media reported fighting basra started us maliki effort clear shiite alsadr militias experts saw attack alsadr effort remove potential threat us supply line kuwait event us attack iran crocker alleges rockets dropping green zone basra fighting made 2007 iran obvious even disengaged americans iran arm iraqi insurgency insurgents would modern weapons counter us helicopter gunships heavy tanks insurgents weapons neocon lie iran cause iraqi insurgency another bush regime lie like lie saddam hussein weapons mass destruction connections al qaeda lie taliban afghanistan attacked us bush regime tell lie orchestrate event order finish job middle east finishing job means destroy ability iraq iran syria provide support palestinians hezbollah southern lebanon israeli aggression iraq iran turmoil syria might simply give become another american client state iraq iran turmoil israel steal rest west bank along water resources southern lebanon war terror really entire world knows consequently us israel essentially isolated us count support bribe pay natorussian summit bucharest romania april 4 russian president putin said one seriously think iran would dare attack us instead pushing iran corner would far sensible think together help iran become predictable transparent course would warmonger bush regime wants perhaps british government derailed plot attack iran leaking advance london telegraph disinformation cheney prepared petraeus crocker deliver complicit us congress next tuesday wednesday hand us puppet media likely bury real story trumpet petraeus claims iran effect already declared war us sending weapons kill us troops iraq next thursday know petraeuscrocker dog pony show plays us congress media whether bush regime commit yet another war crime attacking iran paul craig roberts assistant secretary treasury reagan administration associate editor wall street journal editorial page contributing editor national review coauthor tyranny good intentionshe reached paulcraigrobertsyahoocom 160 160 160 160 160 | 524 |
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Washington. Perhaps nothing's more important to human well-being than the price of food. In recent years there's been great volatility in food prices, including a dramatic rise in the period June 2007 to June 2008, when the global food price index nearly doubled. The global commodity price collapsed almost equally sharply, [so] that by December 2008 the prices were back to the levels of the previous year. The United Nations found that sharp increases in 2008 led to malnourishment for 130 million additional people. In the second half of 2010, prices once again began to rise rapidly. As of December 2010, the index was 136 percent higher than in January 2002. In the second half of 2010, food prices rose sharply again, nearly doubling in the case of wheat, and increasing by more than 60 percent in the case of maize. For example, in India, retail prices of some important food items have risen more than 50 percent in the past two years, causing great hardship in a country where just under half the population was already malnourished. Is this the result of what people call normal supply and demand? Or is the problem of price increases and volatility the product of speculation? Now joining us to talk about what's the cause of the rise in the price of food and what public policy there should be to deal with it, coming now from New Delhi, is Jayati Ghosh. She's a professor of economics at JNU university in New Delhi. She's also executive secretary of International Development Economics Associates. And from Amherst, Massachusetts, Dr. Robert Pollin. He's a professor of economics there and codirector of the Political Economic Research Institute, PERI. Thank you both for joining us.
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<p />ROBERT POLLIN, PROF. ECONOMICS, PERI CODIRECTOR: Thank you, Paul, for having me.
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<p />JAY: Jayati, let's start with you. First of all, why don't you just describe where we are right now in terms of rising food prices? And then we'll get into what's causing it.
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<p />JAYATI GHOSH, PROF. ECONOMICS, JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY: Well, right now in the world economy we are back to where we were in the middle of 2008; that is to say, we have food prices globally that are higher than they were at the peak of what was then called the global food crisis. We've had in the last six months, as you mentioned, a very massive increase in the price of most essential food commodities. And the FAO [Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations] Food Price Index is now higher than it's ever been historically.
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<p />JAY: Okay. Bob, describe what debate about this--how the debate is going on. There are people that say that the normal market mechanisms--and again, let's put quotations around the word "normal'--but that this problem is exacerbated by speculation, derivatives trading. And then some people say, no, this really is just supply and demand. Can--explain to us what the debate is, and then what's your opinion of it.
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<p />POLLIN: The debate is--number one, Jayati laid out where the data are. We know that the price of food has gone up astronomically, has gone up, rising at historically rapid rates. So we have to find some cause that is associated with this unique increase. In other words, you can't have normal forces causing something that is so extraordinarily abnormal. So what would be some of the possibilities? One possibility is that you have this huge imbalance between demand and supply, that is, that you have this gigantic increase in demand relative to the capacity of all the farmers in the world to supply food.
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<p />JAY: One of the things that's said is that there has been, in fact, a collapse of the Russian wheat market, that demand has gone way up in China and to some extent India for maize, and the role of biofuels and corn. So does this explain it?
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<p />POLLIN: Well, I think I should defer to Jayati, because she's probably done the best research on this.
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<p />JAY: Go ahead, Jayati.
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<p />GHOSH: Well, you know, there is, if you like, an underlying medium-term imbalance between demand and supply, especially that supply is not growing fast enough to meet what would even be, shall we say, a normal increase in demand, given growth in some economies. But that really is simply not enough to explain the kind of thing that we have observed. Biofuels is another very important issue, because it's true that biofuels now accounts for one-third of the US maize output, of 40 percent of the US maize output, and about one-third of the European Union's maize production. But even so, we are getting very, very dramatic increases in price that are simply not explained by fundamentals. If you take the price of wheat, for example, it went up between June and December, it doubled in price, whereas the global wheat supply fell by maybe 3 percent and global demand for wheat has barely changed. So we really are not getting changes in price that are justified by the actual changes in the demand-supply balance.
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<p />JAY: So, Bob, if this is speculation, explain to us what the mechanism is. This has to do with the futures market, but let's start from people that really don't know even what the futures market is. So start with the basics, Bob, how this speculation might operate.
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<p />POLLIN: Okay. So, first of all, as Jayati said, you have these huge swings that are clearly unrelated to any shifts in demand--there may well be shifts, there are shifts in demand and supply, but those are fairly gradual. Even the increase in demand for biofuels is, you know, a few percentage points a year, which is a lot. So something big has to be moving these markets to the extraordinary degree that they are. So what--the other thing that has happened is that global commodities, food being one major one, but oil and other minerals as well, have in recent years become a major object for speculative financial markets, that is, the same people that wanted to make a lot of money investing in stocks and bonds, and that crashed in 2001. And then they moved into real estate, and we know what happened with the subprime and then the overall real estate bubble that crashed in 2007 and 2008. We then had this migration into the commodities markets, the markets for food, oil, other minerals, as a new place to invest, where you could see potentially very, very rapid increases in prices that would enable an investor to make a lot of money. And that is exactly what has happened, because the markets became deregulated in the late 1990s and early 2000s, that you had the major investment banks, such as Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan, and so forth, and their clients using these markets, which have been around for a long time, but using them for a new purpose. The purpose is to create a new gambling casino for them to dominate the markets and push prices up and make money off of that increase in price.
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<p />JAY: Jayati, some people argue, including people like Paul Krugman, who actually--who usually isn't someone to critique--to be shy about critiquing speculation, he's saying that if there isn't physical hoarding of food, you can't have this kind of gambling affect the price of food, that if you buy a future on, you know, corn or whatever and you think a year from now the price will be higher, that the spot markets, the actual day-to-day market, catches up to that, and that there's no point--you can't actually manipulate the price unless somehow you're physically putting corn somewhere. What do you make of that argument?
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<p />GHOSH: Well, you know, that used to be true, that used to be the case, that in fact to speculate in grain, you had to hold grain. And that was why, essentially, the speculators in grain were those who were commodity dealers. That was the old story. What happened in the last decade is that you have this kind of transition whereby you have a futures commodity in which financial agents who have no interest in holding the actual physical commodity are able to play this market. And that's because they are essentially rolling over contracts and constantly purchasing newer contracts, that is a crucial change in the market in the last decade.
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<p />JAY: I mean, one would think, Bob, that if you know there's a future market, and the futures six months from now are higher than what the market is right now, you would--I mean, it goes to--the logic would say you'd try to hold on to what you've got for six months and sell it when it's higher. Is that the logic of this?
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<p />POLLIN: Well, except that, as Jayati said, the people that have come to dominate the market are people who are not really calculating on the basis of when any physical commodity is coming due. They are basically moving the market in order to move the market. And if they're big enough, if they're so much bigger than all the other traders, they have the capacity to move the market to the degrees that we have seen that are just unprecedented. And so when they move the futures market, that pushes the spot market up--the futures market is driving the spot market prices. And that's why you have, you know, the new form, much greater form of speculation becoming the predominant force in the futures market, which is then pulling the spot market along with it.
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<p />JAY: Well, what do you make of Krugman's argument that says you can't do that with food, that you actually have to hoard it or you can't move the price?
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<p />POLLIN: I think it's wrong.
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<p />GHOSH: Well, that's simply not true, and we have evidence of that in 2008. In fact, what happened in 2008 is a classic example, where the food price went up by--almost doubled in the period between January and June, and then fell back to almost the previous level in the next six months, and yet there was hardly any major movement in terms of actual turnover of the physical commodity.
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<p />JAY: Okay. So let's move to the next phase, then. So if speculation, and especially this kind of modern derivatives speculation, is moving the price of food, Bob, what's the beginning of a public policy to deal with it?
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<p />POLLIN: Well, you know, a lot of the action takes place, in terms of trading, here in the United States. So the real action in terms of dealing with it has to do with regulations here in the United States. Though the impact is global, and in fact the most severe impacts are not in the United States, the policy implementation needs to start here. And, in fact, we have had some success--and you and I talked about it a few months ago--we have had some success in moving the policy debate in the United States, because around the debate on financial regulations in general, the issue of the speculation in commodities market became an increasingly important issue, and in large part because of people who were concerned about the control of food prices globally and also oil prices. And so today you have this debate going on because the Congress and the Obama administration put in place this new financial regulatory regime, the Dodd-Frank law, which actually has some pretty strong features in terms of regulation. But the issue that's taking place right now is implementation of the Dodd-Frank law at the level of regulations, the regulatory agency. And the particular regulatory agency is called the Commodities Futures Trading Association. They are the ones that are going to regulate and put in place the specific laws. The laws that were passed are too vague. And so what the fight over now is what specific things are going to be put in place that will actually have teeth to actually inhibit the kinds of excessive speculation that is driving up food prices and making people go hungry. That's the issue.
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<p />JAY: Jayati, so what do you make of what kind of reforms they're fighting over in the United States, to start with, what other possible kinds of reforms on this speculation you'd like to see? But also speak about--even without this kind of future market speculation, the whole character of the food supply is all about speculation, isn't it, even though it gets exacerbated by this Wall Street gambling kind of speculation?
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<p />GHOSH: Well, yes and no. Prices of food and other primary commodities have always been volatile, because that's--it's the nature of the supply to be volatile. You have a bad crop harvest somewhere, you have sudden increase in demand somewhere, you have a flood somewhere else, and that changes the supply and demand equation. So primary commodities have always had this issue that, you know, the price can be very volatile. What we've added to this is this additional volatility, which is not anymore driven so much by real economic factors. It's driven sometimes by rumor. A lot of the big increase in wheat in the last six months was because of the Russian grain failure and then the Russian ban on exports, which didn't actually affect aggregate global supply, because other countries actually supplied more wheat, but it created this perception that there was going to be a shortfall, and so there was a massive increase in speculation in wheat. So what speculation is doing is massively magnifying an existing volatility. Now, there are other policies that we need [in order] to deal with the food problem, to deal with food price volatility, and to ensure that there's enough food for half of the world's population that still desperately needs to avoid being hungry. So those--there's a whole bunch of other set of policies which we need to put in place. But we can't even begin to think of stabilizing food prices as long as we allow this kind of financial activity, which is massively adding to the existing volatility.
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<p />JAY: Now, Bob says that a lot of this problem starts in the United States, I guess because of the size of the American finance sector and how much of global financial speculation moves through US finance markets.
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<p />GHOSH: It's not just that, Paul. It's because the Chicago Board of Trade--I mean, Chicago's where most primary commodities in the world are traded and where--it's one of the major markets. And Chicago and London together will determine about 80 percent of the way that prices are set for most of the important primary commodities.
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<p />JAY: So, Bob, if people listening to this want to make some demands on their politicians about how to reform this to some extent, what specifically should they be looking at in terms of what's moving through Congress, and what should they be demanding?
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<p />POLLIN: Well, the real action is no longer in Congress, and that's why it's a little more complicated, but people should pay attention. The real action is now at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission. So for people that have never heard of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the first thing is to check out and follow what they're doing. They're having very important debates taking place right now. They're going to get--these issues are going to get settled over the next few months. And here are the issues. The Dodd-Frank law is--as I said, it's--there are some strong features, but they're very general. So the Dodd-Frank law says, number one, these huge speculative markets that have been operating essentially unregulated--they're so-called over-the-counter markets, which means unregulated markets, which means do whatever you want markets. So the Dodd-Frank law says, we're going to move all the action onto regulated exchanges. And that's very important, because once they move onto regulated exchanges, number one, all the traders have to disclose what they're doing. So first and foremost you have some transparency in the markets; you can track what's happening. Okay, that's number one. Number two, once you move into the exchanges, you have some standards that everyone who's trading has to adhere to. If you are going to organize an exchange, you have to put up a lot of money to be able to do that, and when you put up a lot of money--and it's called a capital requirement--that means that the people that are organizing the exchanges are going to have an incentive to dampen down speculation, because if there's too much speculation, the market goes bust and they lose money. That's very important. Number two, the traders also are forced under this exchange situation to also put up money, their own cash. That's called a margin requirement. And a margin requirement, again, puts them at more risk, and that therefore discourages them from doing excessive speculation. Number three, and maybe most important--and this is being debated right now at the Commodities Futures Trading Commission--is so-called position limits. A position limit says there is a limit as to how much you--any one trader can buy. Now, if you set serious position limits, that means that whoever it is--Goldman Sachs, J.P. Morgan--who is trying to control the market simply cannot do it, because they have a limited amount that they themselves are able to buy at any time. So this is a very important debate going on. If you follow the financial press, such as The Financial Times or the Wall Street Journal, you will see that this is taking place in a serious way. And it's very important for the regulators to stick to the law that was passed. The spirit of the law, of the Dodd-Frank law, says there must be position limits. So that means there must be real position limits, not phony ones that are so high that they don't affect any traders. And finally, there is a very important feature in all of this. Unfortunately, the Dodd-Frank law allows for exemptions from the law: whatever the law is, if they decide they want to exempt you, you're exempt. We can't allow for exemptions, because, obviously, once you allow for exemptions, then anybody can be exempt. In fact, what happened 12 years ago was precisely--before the deregulation was formally put in place, was the Commodities Futures Trading Commission started exempting. In fact, the first big exemption was a firm called Enron. Enron was allowed to trade over-the-counter on their own because they made an argument that, well, they were doing electronic trading, so that's different. Well, of course it's not different, but they were allowed to operate over-the-counter. And that was what crashed the electricity market in California, that's what ruined Arthur Andersen as a Big Five accounting firm, that's what crashed Enron. So you've got to have serious regulations and you have to have the regulations apply across the board to everyone. I don't think--I firmly don't think that it's a foregone conclusion that the regulations in the United States will be weak. The regulations in the United States were reasonably good for a generation. And a lot of people are focused on it and concerned. And even one or two of the commissioners on the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, the people that actually are going to make the decision, are listening to people like us that are concerned about this. So--and the Dodd-Frank law was actually strengthened over time in the process of debate precisely through pressure by people who cared about excessive speculation and high prices in food and oil. So we need to keep fighting over it. There are a lot of things we can do to mobilize. And the basic tools that we're dealing with are fairly simple--they're already on the books. It's a matter of getting them to find strongly and making sure they're implemented.
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<p />JAY: So I guess people in India and all the other countries around the world so affected by US policy are hoping that this fight for stronger regulation will succeed. On the other hand, you need your own policy, don't you?
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<p />GHOSH: I think that's a critical thing. The developing countries, the problem is that, you know, we get so buffeted by these global forces, but all in the adverse direction. So when global prices were going up, food prices in all developing countries went up. When global prices fell, did our prices fall? No, our prices stayed high. And now that they're going up again, once again we have major food price increases. So you have seen the impact of that already, the political impact in the Arab world, in Tunisia, in Egypt, and elsewhere. In India we've had something like 50 percent food price increase just in the last three years. And this has become a huge social and political problem as well, quite apart from the extensive hunger and major malnutrition that it causes. Basically, developing countries have got to de-link from that global market and to ensure their own food supplies as far as possible, through their own production, through regional arrangements, through other means, because the global market is now simply too unstable.
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<p />JAY: Thank you both very much for joining us.
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<p />POLLIN: Thank you.
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<p />JAY: This is just the beginning of a discussion on this topic. I hope you both join us again, and we'll dig into this further.
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<p />GHOSH: Okay.
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<p />JAY: Thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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<p />End of Transcript
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay washington perhaps nothings important human wellbeing price food recent years theres great volatility food prices including dramatic rise period june 2007 june 2008 global food price index nearly doubled global commodity price collapsed almost equally sharply december 2008 prices back levels previous year united nations found sharp increases 2008 led malnourishment 130 million additional people second half 2010 prices began rise rapidly december 2010 index 136 percent higher january 2002 second half 2010 food prices rose sharply nearly doubling case wheat increasing 60 percent case maize example india retail prices important food items risen 50 percent past two years causing great hardship country half population already malnourished result people call normal supply demand problem price increases volatility product speculation joining us talk whats cause rise price food public policy deal coming new delhi jayati ghosh shes professor economics jnu university new delhi shes also executive secretary international development economics associates amherst massachusetts dr robert pollin hes professor economics codirector political economic research institute peri thank joining us robert pollin prof economics peri codirector thank paul jay jayati lets start first dont describe right terms rising food prices well get whats causing jayati ghosh prof economics jawaharlal nehru university well right world economy back middle 2008 say food prices globally higher peak called global food crisis weve last six months mentioned massive increase price essential food commodities fao food agriculture organization united nations food price index higher ever historically jay okay bob describe debate thishow debate going people say normal market mechanismsand lets put quotations around word normalbut problem exacerbated speculation derivatives trading people say really supply demand canexplain us debate whats opinion pollin debate isnumber one jayati laid data know price food gone astronomically gone rising historically rapid rates find cause associated unique increase words cant normal forces causing something extraordinarily abnormal would possibilities one possibility huge imbalance demand supply gigantic increase demand relative capacity farmers world supply food jay one things thats said fact collapse russian wheat market demand gone way china extent india maize role biofuels corn explain pollin well think defer jayati shes probably done best research jay go ahead jayati ghosh well know like underlying mediumterm imbalance demand supply especially supply growing fast enough meet would even shall say normal increase demand given growth economies really simply enough explain kind thing observed biofuels another important issue true biofuels accounts onethird us maize output 40 percent us maize output onethird european unions maize production even getting dramatic increases price simply explained fundamentals take price wheat example went june december doubled price whereas global wheat supply fell maybe 3 percent global demand wheat barely changed really getting changes price justified actual changes demandsupply balance jay bob speculation explain us mechanism futures market lets start people really dont know even futures market start basics bob speculation might operate pollin okay first jayati said huge swings clearly unrelated shifts demandthere may well shifts shifts demand supply fairly gradual even increase demand biofuels know percentage points year lot something big moving markets extraordinary degree whatthe thing happened global commodities food one major one oil minerals well recent years become major object speculative financial markets people wanted make lot money investing stocks bonds crashed 2001 moved real estate know happened subprime overall real estate bubble crashed 2007 2008 migration commodities markets markets food oil minerals new place invest could see potentially rapid increases prices would enable investor make lot money exactly happened markets became deregulated late 1990s early 2000s major investment banks goldman sachs jp morgan forth clients using markets around long time using new purpose purpose create new gambling casino dominate markets push prices make money increase price jay jayati people argue including people like paul krugman actuallywho usually isnt someone critiqueto shy critiquing speculation hes saying isnt physical hoarding food cant kind gambling affect price food buy future know corn whatever think year price higher spot markets actual daytoday market catches theres pointyou cant actually manipulate price unless somehow youre physically putting corn somewhere make argument ghosh well know used true used case fact speculate grain hold grain essentially speculators grain commodity dealers old story happened last decade kind transition whereby futures commodity financial agents interest holding actual physical commodity able play market thats essentially rolling contracts constantly purchasing newer contracts crucial change market last decade jay mean one would think bob know theres future market futures six months higher market right wouldi mean goes tothe logic would say youd try hold youve got six months sell higher logic pollin well except jayati said people come dominate market people really calculating basis physical commodity coming due basically moving market order move market theyre big enough theyre much bigger traders capacity move market degrees seen unprecedented move futures market pushes spot market upthe futures market driving spot market prices thats know new form much greater form speculation becoming predominant force futures market pulling spot market along jay well make krugmans argument says cant food actually hoard cant move price pollin think wrong ghosh well thats simply true evidence 2008 fact happened 2008 classic example food price went byalmost doubled period january june fell back almost previous level next six months yet hardly major movement terms actual turnover physical commodity jay okay lets move next phase speculation especially kind modern derivatives speculation moving price food bob whats beginning public policy deal pollin well know lot action takes place terms trading united states real action terms dealing regulations united states though impact global fact severe impacts united states policy implementation needs start fact successand talked months agowe success moving policy debate united states around debate financial regulations general issue speculation commodities market became increasingly important issue large part people concerned control food prices globally also oil prices today debate going congress obama administration put place new financial regulatory regime doddfrank law actually pretty strong features terms regulation issue thats taking place right implementation doddfrank law level regulations regulatory agency particular regulatory agency called commodities futures trading association ones going regulate put place specific laws laws passed vague fight specific things going put place actually teeth actually inhibit kinds excessive speculation driving food prices making people go hungry thats issue jay jayati make kind reforms theyre fighting united states start possible kinds reforms speculation youd like see also speak abouteven without kind future market speculation whole character food supply speculation isnt even though gets exacerbated wall street gambling kind speculation ghosh well yes prices food primary commodities always volatile thatsits nature supply volatile bad crop harvest somewhere sudden increase demand somewhere flood somewhere else changes supply demand equation primary commodities always issue know price volatile weve added additional volatility anymore driven much real economic factors driven sometimes rumor lot big increase wheat last six months russian grain failure russian ban exports didnt actually affect aggregate global supply countries actually supplied wheat created perception going shortfall massive increase speculation wheat speculation massively magnifying existing volatility policies need order deal food problem deal food price volatility ensure theres enough food half worlds population still desperately needs avoid hungry thosetheres whole bunch set policies need put place cant even begin think stabilizing food prices long allow kind financial activity massively adding existing volatility jay bob says lot problem starts united states guess size american finance sector much global financial speculation moves us finance markets ghosh paul chicago board tradei mean chicagos primary commodities world traded whereits one major markets chicago london together determine 80 percent way prices set important primary commodities jay bob people listening want make demands politicians reform extent specifically looking terms whats moving congress demanding pollin well real action longer congress thats little complicated people pay attention real action commodities futures trading commission people never heard commodities futures trading commission first thing check follow theyre theyre important debates taking place right theyre going getthese issues going get settled next months issues doddfrank law isas said itsthere strong features theyre general doddfrank law says number one huge speculative markets operating essentially unregulatedtheyre socalled overthecounter markets means unregulated markets means whatever want markets doddfrank law says going move action onto regulated exchanges thats important move onto regulated exchanges number one traders disclose theyre first foremost transparency markets track whats happening okay thats number one number two move exchanges standards everyone whos trading adhere going organize exchange put lot money able put lot moneyand called capital requirementthat means people organizing exchanges going incentive dampen speculation theres much speculation market goes bust lose money thats important number two traders also forced exchange situation also put money cash thats called margin requirement margin requirement puts risk therefore discourages excessive speculation number three maybe importantand debated right commodities futures trading commissionis socalled position limits position limit says limit much youany one trader buy set serious position limits means whoever isgoldman sachs jp morganwho trying control market simply limited amount able buy time important debate going follow financial press financial times wall street journal see taking place serious way important regulators stick law passed spirit law doddfrank law says must position limits means must real position limits phony ones high dont affect traders finally important feature unfortunately doddfrank law allows exemptions law whatever law decide want exempt youre exempt cant allow exemptions obviously allow exemptions anybody exempt fact happened 12 years ago preciselybefore deregulation formally put place commodities futures trading commission started exempting fact first big exemption firm called enron enron allowed trade overthecounter made argument well electronic trading thats different well course different allowed operate overthecounter crashed electricity market california thats ruined arthur andersen big five accounting firm thats crashed enron youve got serious regulations regulations apply across board everyone dont thinki firmly dont think foregone conclusion regulations united states weak regulations united states reasonably good generation lot people focused concerned even one two commissioners commodities futures trading commission people actually going make decision listening people like us concerned soand doddfrank law actually strengthened time process debate precisely pressure people cared excessive speculation high prices food oil need keep fighting lot things mobilize basic tools dealing fairly simpletheyre already books matter getting find strongly making sure theyre implemented jay guess people india countries around world affected us policy hoping fight stronger regulation succeed hand need policy dont ghosh think thats critical thing developing countries problem know get buffeted global forces adverse direction global prices going food prices developing countries went global prices fell prices fall prices stayed high theyre going major food price increases seen impact already political impact arab world tunisia egypt elsewhere india weve something like 50 percent food price increase last three years become huge social political problem well quite apart extensive hunger major malnutrition causes basically developing countries got delink global market ensure food supplies far possible production regional arrangements means global market simply unstable jay thank much joining us pollin thank jay beginning discussion topic hope join us well dig ghosh okay jay thank joining us real news network end transcript disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,842 |
<p>Glen Ford is a distinguished radio-show host and commentator. In 1977, Ford co-launched, produced and hosted America's Black Forum, the first nationally syndicated Black news interview program on commercial television. In 1987, Ford launched Rap It Up, the first nationally syndicated Hip Hop music show, broadcast on 65 radio stations. Ford co-founded the <a href="http://www.blackcommentator.com" type="external">Black Commentator</a> in 2002 and in 2006 he launched the <a href="http://www.blackagendareport.com/" type="external">Black Agenda Report</a>. Ford is also the author of The Big Lie: An Analysis of U.S. Media Coverage of the Grenada Invasion.</p>
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Baltimore. And welcome to Reality Asserts Itself.
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<p />This is part two of our series of interviews with Glen Ford, the executive editor of Black Agenda Report. And if you'd like to know Glen's bio, well, part one's all about that. And then there's a written bio underneath this video player.
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<p />But we're going to pick up Glen's story. So we left off more or less--you're leaving the Army. So what happens next?
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<p />GLEN FORD, EXEC. EDITOR, BLACK AGENDA REPORT: Well, I got out of the Army in January&#160;1970. I realized immediately that I had no other skills than talking on the radio, because I used to do radio in the afternoon on my father's show, and finally did a show of my own on the weekend and did record hops all over Georgia when I was a teenager in Columbus, Georgia. So I knew how to talk on the radio, as I phrased it, and jump out of airplanes. So it appeared that I should go looking for employment in the radio.
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<p />My father had been fantastically successful. He was booked somewhere in Georgia or Alabama every night for two years in advance. And being a popular disc jockey, there were women everywhere and celebrities and such. So, certainly, as I spent my three years as a broke GI, I anticipated that when I got out of the Army, I'd--
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<p />JAY: Go into dad's business.
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<p />FORD: --I'd go into dad's business, and there'd be women and money and song and all of that. But I found that people wanted me to be news instead. That made me very, very angry, because--.
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<p />JAY: Well, what--how did that--what does that mean, people wanted you to be--?
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<p />FORD: People at various radio stations, including the radio station in Columbus, Georgia--that is, my hometown. I in fact turned down a news job because I knew that news reporters couldn't do record hops and pick up that extra money and weren't that attractive to--as disc jockeys were to the females. And that's how my mind had been--that's what my mind had been fixating on as I neared getting out of the Army.
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<p />Then I realized that I didn't have any job at all. So when the next opportunity that same week came up to join James Brown's radio station in Augusta, Georgia, I took it up.
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<p />And I got to the station. It was before dawn on a Monday morning. The general manager of the radio station showed me around. He said, there's your newswire and here's your recording equipment. And then he pointed to a piece of paper on the wall and he said, that's a list of all the big black folks in town. So whenever anything comes across the newswire, you can call some of these big black people and get their comment on it. And I said--I was glad to have the job, so I said, okay, boss. He left the room. I went across the room to look at this piece of paper, and I discovered that it was full of Reverend This and Bishop That. It was a theocracy, and I was disgusted. So I tore the piece of paper from the wall, threw it in the trashcan. And for the next week or ten days, I immersed myself in the real politics, the grassroots politics of Augusta, Georgia, and decided I was going to find out who the real leaders were instead of these accommodationist preachers.
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<p />JAY: And this is--the civil rights movement is still very much--.
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<p />FORD: The civil rights movement had not arrived in Augusta, Georgia. This is 1970. It also had not arrived in Columbus, Georgia. The civil rights movement did not arrive in many, many, many places. And Dr.&#160;King didn't get to go to many, many places, because he was shut out of most cities in the South by a phalanx of accommodationist preachers who didn't want any outside agitators any more than the white folks in town who they reported to. And that was the cause of my visceral reaction to the theocratic list that was up on the wall at James Brown's radio station, and that's why I sought out the actual leaders of the community.
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<p />And the first place I went was to the housing project, because I knew that somewhere in that housing project there was a large and loud black woman who was actually the leader of the people who live there. I didn't know what her name was, but I knew she was there. And, of course, I found her, and that person became my contact on housing issues. And I also realized that somewhere in Augusta, Georgia, there was a brother who jumped up every time the police beat a black man down. And I found him pretty quickly as well, and he became my go-to person on police-community relations. And I knew that somewhere in Augusta there was a black entrepreneur, a businessman, who was constantly complaining that the city and the county weren't giving any contracts to black folks. And, of course, I found him rather quickly. And then into the arena of education and so on. And within ten days, I had ten contact people, the actual grassroots leaders of black Augusta, and those were the names on the wall, the list of the go-to black folks. I informally called them my committee of ten. And so every newscast, every conceivable development would result in a call to one or more of these people.
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<p />JAY: So the owners of the station react how?
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<p />FORD: Oh, the owner of the station was James Brown, and he was usually gigging somewhere.
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<p />The preachers didn't like being all of a sudden excluded from the airwaves. But I didn't care.
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<p />What was most interesting was the growth of these grassroots leaders from folk who were paid attention to on the street in the still-segregated school system, in the housing projects and such, but had never been afforded a microphone, had never been treated as the leaders of their community. And yet James Brown's station was the only 24 hour black station in town. That meant it had 100&#160;percent penetration of the community. Everybody listened to it. And these people were on the radio, which meant that, well, they must be the leaders. And they in fact quickly grew into the kind of public leaders who could hold forth on their areas of expertise and interest. I watched them blossom and grow.
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<p />And, oh, no more than three or four weeks into this experience, as I said, I'd been very unhappy earning only $70 a week, $52 after taxes, as a news person and not the disc jockey that I had anticipated I would be. But seeing, experiencing how the control of this radio microphone allowed me to play a role in changing the political complexion of a rather large black city, that did it for me. I said, well, this is worthwhile work. This is--I'll bear the poverty of it in order to make this kind of social transformation.
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<p />JAY: And how long before you head to D.C.?
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<p />FORD: Oh, I went back to Columbus, Georgia, and then to Atlanta, then a period of time at James Brown's radio station here in Baltimore, and then to D.C. by 1972.
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<p />JAY: Any you become--at a pretty young age, you become bureau chief in D.C.
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<p />FORD: Yeah, after local broadcasting on what was then the number-one radio station in Washington, WOL, I joined the Mutual Black Network. At that time, there were two black-oriented radio networks, the Mutual Black Network and the National Black Network. Both of them had about 80 affiliates. I became the Washington bureau, and also did stints as the Capitol Hill correspondent, the State Department correspondent, you know, for that network.
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<p />JAY: So at a fairly--I mean, when you're in Georgia, and even Baltimore, I would guess, pretty localized politics, localized news. You're now covering national and, I would think, even foreign policy news.
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<p />FORD: It's actually the same formula. You don't go by the daybook. And you know what that is. It's where at 10 o'clock in the morning all the events that are sanctioned by the corporate media and the powers that are are listed. Well, that really is kind of like that list that I found up on the wall in my first gig. You throw that away.
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<p />And so either at the local level or at the national level, I made it my business to decide who the spokespersons should be, the experts should be, the analysts should be, and the folks who should be recognized as legitimate leaders of the community should be. The formula is the same nationally as it would be locally.
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<p />JAY: Now, this is mid '70s, again, a very, very intense period of conflict in the United States and foreign policy abroad. What does this do to the way you look at the world? I mean, you know, you joined the Army as--you know, as you described, you were always kind of political, but joining the Army during the Vietnam war was not something out of the question for you. You chose it. Now you're in Washington covering international, national politics, and you are in the midst of a very controversial period of U.S. history. How does your thinking evolve politically? Where are you at?
<p />
<p />FORD: First of all, one has to understand that there was no such thing as black radio news until there was a black political movement. And that black political movement generated the demand for a different interpretation of reality, generated a demand for media to recognize the leadership that was autonomously coming, springing forth from black America, not a leadership that was negotiated with old-line accommodationist leadership and the white power structure, but a leadership that was coming up through the movement.
<p />
<p />And so when radio stations--and black radio just exploded in growth in the last part of the '60s and in the early '70s. And the community demand for a representation of reality--that is, a news component--at those stations was so strong that even little radio stations in places like Sparta, Georgia, had to have at least one full-time newsman.
<p />
<p />But there was no template for what black news was. And so young people like myself invented it--
<p />
<p />JAY: [crosstalk] example. What did it mean?
<p />
<p />FORD: --as we went along, deciding who leadership was. That is the function of news media. News media decides what events are important and who is authorized to speak on the importance of those events. That essentially means that news media play a central role in leadership creation. When you put a mic in front of someone's face, you are designating them a legitimate voice. You are putting them in play as at least potential leaders. So as we had this proliferation of black news organizations at radio stations in towns big and small, the process was begun of picking a new leadership out of movements that were popping up in cities all across the country. And at a national level as well, the same process was occurring. You can't talk about leadership creation without talking about media and who that media is accountable to.
<p />
<p />JAY: How far were you able to broaden or did you broaden the kind of voices that got to speak? And did you run into some resistance as you did it?
<p />
<p />FORD: Well, that's why I made it my business to become Washington bureau chief, because I then had the predominant say on not only who was featured in my newscasts but the material that was used for all of the other newscasters in the Mutual Black Network.
<p />
<p />JAY: And what are some examples of people, in terms of the political spectrum, the way you were able to broaden it or change it from not just white radio--but I suppose even within black radio you're going to have people that want to kind of have the official narrative and people that are willing to challenge it.
<p />
<p />FORD: Yeah. That's why you become bureau chief, so that when there is a housing crisis, I would recommend that you go to the National Tenants Organization, which was an activist, very progressive, transformative kind of organization, rather than, oh, let's say the NAACP, which even back in those days was intricately involved--intimately involved with the banks, for example. We would direct the microphone to people who were not part of the Democratic Party architecture, but to those rising progressive forces that were coming out of movements that were actually agitating at the local and the national level and treat them as the leadership, as opposed to the old guard, who was already getting play, of course, from white radio.
<p />
<p />JAY: So what gave rise to America's Black Forum? And tell us a bit about what it was.
<p />
<p />FORD: It was very simple. There was no black news interview program on commercial television, no black equivalent of Meet the Press, Issues and Answers, and Face the Nation. And you, of course, know the political functions that those kinds of shows play. And certainly back in the day when we had three hegemonic networks, the guests who appeared on Face the Nation and Issues and Answers and Meet the Press, what they said on Sunday basically became the news for Monday and set the tone and the political conversation for the rest of the week--a tremendous influence. And the fact that black folks did not have that kind of vehicle meant that we were never setting the tone for the week.
<p />
<p />So it wasn't that I was trying to reinvent the wheel. We didn't have any wheels. And so I decided that black folks needed such wheels.
<p />
<p />JAY: Well, did you get--I mean, if you're taking these pictures that have been put on the wall for you and putting her own pictures up there, did you get resistance from, I mean, who owned the radio network, who owned the TV network? Did they--were you putting voices on they weren't happy with?
<p />
<p />FORD: Well, the radio networks were--they're very, very different circumstances. With black radio, black radio is supposedly accountable to its black listenership. So it's quite easy to maintain a black conversation, that is, a conversation within the parameters of black politics on black radio. This who are you supposed to be talking to becomes much more complicated when you get to television, which is a mass environment.
<p />
<p />We were very lucky. Channel 7, the WJLA, the ABC affiliate in Washington, was just going through a very long racial discrimination suit, which had done a lot to tarnish its reputation in majority-black D.C. And so when we made our proposal to have WJLA as the anchor for our proposed television syndication, they jumped at the idea for political reasons, because this would vindicate the station. They could erase some of the bad blood that they had gotten from this racial discrimination suit. So they gave us very, very good terms and no political involvement with the show at all. We had total editorial control.
<p />
<p />JAY: And how were you dealing with things, like, you know, in the earlier time with Vietnam, with the post-Vietnam period?
<p />
<p />FORD: [crosstalk] this time it's 1977. The same week that Roots, the first Roots episode aired, that was the first showing of America's Black Forum.
<p />
<p />JAY: But how radical voices could you have on or did you have on?
<p />
<p />FORD: Oh, we had people from the Communist Workers Party and such. The black community, the spectrum of black politics is far to the left of the spectrum of white politics in the United States. So if you are operating a mainstream black political operation, it's going to be to the left of a general audience, i.e. white operation.
<p />
<p />JAY: So what happens with--.
<p />
<p />FORD: But, you know, as a journalistic entity, our mission was of course to expose folk who would not get exposure in the white media. But it was also to confront the established politicos in the black community. So within the course of a year we'd have most of the Congressional Black Caucus, which at that time only numbered about 16, on the show, and we were quite adversarial with them, dealing with them from a left, black perspective.
<p />
<p />JAY: And what happens to America's Black Forum?
<p />
<p />FORD: Oh, we got involved with some partners, and we were not happy with the association. And rather than see the show be destroyed by conflicts within, we sold our shares and let them go about their merry way.
<p />
<p />Here's what I want to say about America's Black Forum. Before this show, no black news entity of any kind had been able to generate views on a consistent basis, that is, for its transcripts and its press releases to be picked up by the Associated Press and UPI and Agence France Press and Reuters on any kind of consistent basis. America's Black Forum did that every week. And we were the only black news operation to do that before. And after we left, no one has been able to do that since. I was most proud of that, that this black news from a black perspective became fodder for CBS Newsbreak and for TASS and for Agence France Press and Reuters and the mainstream media.
<p />
<p />JAY: Okay. In the next segment of our interview, we're going to pick up on this discussion with Glen and talk a little bit about the whole concept of black nationalism, of black nation, and what you're saying in terms of a black perspective. It's a debate that's been going on in the black community and on the left for a long time, right back into the Communist Party of the 1930s and before.
<p />
<p />So please join us for the continuation of our interview with Glen Ford on Reality Asserts Itself on The Real News Network.
<p />
<p />End
<p />
<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | glen ford distinguished radioshow host commentator 1977 ford colaunched produced hosted americas black forum first nationally syndicated black news interview program commercial television 1987 ford launched rap first nationally syndicated hip hop music show broadcast 65 radio stations ford cofounded black commentator 2002 2006 launched black agenda report ford also author big lie analysis us media coverage grenada invasion paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay baltimore welcome reality asserts part two series interviews glen ford executive editor black agenda report youd like know glens bio well part ones theres written bio underneath video player going pick glens story left lessyoure leaving army happens next glen ford exec editor black agenda report well got army january1601970 realized immediately skills talking radio used radio afternoon fathers show finally show weekend record hops georgia teenager columbus georgia knew talk radio phrased jump airplanes appeared go looking employment radio father fantastically successful booked somewhere georgia alabama every night two years advance popular disc jockey women everywhere celebrities certainly spent three years broke gi anticipated got army id jay go dads business ford id go dads business thered women money song found people wanted news instead made angry jay well whathow thatwhat mean people wanted ford people various radio stations including radio station columbus georgiathat hometown fact turned news job knew news reporters couldnt record hops pick extra money werent attractive toas disc jockeys females thats mind beenthats mind fixating neared getting army realized didnt job next opportunity week came join james browns radio station augusta georgia took got station dawn monday morning general manager radio station showed around said theres newswire heres recording equipment pointed piece paper wall said thats list big black folks town whenever anything comes across newswire call big black people get comment saidi glad job said okay boss left room went across room look piece paper discovered full reverend bishop theocracy disgusted tore piece paper wall threw trashcan next week ten days immersed real politics grassroots politics augusta georgia decided going find real leaders instead accommodationist preachers jay isthe civil rights movement still much ford civil rights movement arrived augusta georgia 1970 also arrived columbus georgia civil rights movement arrive many many many places dr160king didnt get go many many places shut cities south phalanx accommodationist preachers didnt want outside agitators white folks town reported cause visceral reaction theocratic list wall james browns radio station thats sought actual leaders community first place went housing project knew somewhere housing project large loud black woman actually leader people live didnt know name knew course found person became contact housing issues also realized somewhere augusta georgia brother jumped every time police beat black man found pretty quickly well became goto person policecommunity relations knew somewhere augusta black entrepreneur businessman constantly complaining city county werent giving contracts black folks course found rather quickly arena education within ten days ten contact people actual grassroots leaders black augusta names wall list goto black folks informally called committee ten every newscast every conceivable development would result call one people jay owners station react ford oh owner station james brown usually gigging somewhere preachers didnt like sudden excluded airwaves didnt care interesting growth grassroots leaders folk paid attention street stillsegregated school system housing projects never afforded microphone never treated leaders community yet james browns station 24 hour black station town meant 100160percent penetration community everybody listened people radio meant well must leaders fact quickly grew kind public leaders could hold forth areas expertise interest watched blossom grow oh three four weeks experience said id unhappy earning 70 week 52 taxes news person disc jockey anticipated would seeing experiencing control radio microphone allowed play role changing political complexion rather large black city said well worthwhile work isill bear poverty order make kind social transformation jay long head dc ford oh went back columbus georgia atlanta period time james browns radio station baltimore dc 1972 jay becomeat pretty young age become bureau chief dc ford yeah local broadcasting numberone radio station washington wol joined mutual black network time two blackoriented radio networks mutual black network national black network 80 affiliates became washington bureau also stints capitol hill correspondent state department correspondent know network jay fairlyi mean youre georgia even baltimore would guess pretty localized politics localized news youre covering national would think even foreign policy news ford actually formula dont go daybook know 10 oclock morning events sanctioned corporate media powers listed well really kind like list found wall first gig throw away either local level national level made business decide spokespersons experts analysts folks recognized legitimate leaders community formula nationally would locally jay mid 70s intense period conflict united states foreign policy abroad way look world mean know joined army asyou know described always kind political joining army vietnam war something question chose youre washington covering international national politics midst controversial period us history thinking evolve politically ford first one understand thing black radio news black political movement black political movement generated demand different interpretation reality generated demand media recognize leadership autonomously coming springing forth black america leadership negotiated oldline accommodationist leadership white power structure leadership coming movement radio stationsand black radio exploded growth last part 60s early 70s community demand representation realitythat news componentat stations strong even little radio stations places like sparta georgia least one fulltime newsman template black news young people like invented jay crosstalk example mean ford went along deciding leadership function news media news media decides events important authorized speak importance events essentially means news media play central role leadership creation put mic front someones face designating legitimate voice putting play least potential leaders proliferation black news organizations radio stations towns big small process begun picking new leadership movements popping cities across country national level well process occurring cant talk leadership creation without talking media media accountable jay far able broaden broaden kind voices got speak run resistance ford well thats made business become washington bureau chief predominant say featured newscasts material used newscasters mutual black network jay examples people terms political spectrum way able broaden change white radiobut suppose even within black radio youre going people want kind official narrative people willing challenge ford yeah thats become bureau chief housing crisis would recommend go national tenants organization activist progressive transformative kind organization rather oh lets say naacp even back days intricately involvedintimately involved banks example would direct microphone people part democratic party architecture rising progressive forces coming movements actually agitating local national level treat leadership opposed old guard already getting play course white radio jay gave rise americas black forum tell us bit ford simple black news interview program commercial television black equivalent meet press issues answers face nation course know political functions kinds shows play certainly back day three hegemonic networks guests appeared face nation issues answers meet press said sunday basically became news monday set tone political conversation rest weeka tremendous influence fact black folks kind vehicle meant never setting tone week wasnt trying reinvent wheel didnt wheels decided black folks needed wheels jay well geti mean youre taking pictures put wall putting pictures get resistance mean owned radio network owned tv network theywere putting voices werent happy ford well radio networks weretheyre different circumstances black radio black radio supposedly accountable black listenership quite easy maintain black conversation conversation within parameters black politics black radio supposed talking becomes much complicated get television mass environment lucky channel 7 wjla abc affiliate washington going long racial discrimination suit done lot tarnish reputation majorityblack dc made proposal wjla anchor proposed television syndication jumped idea political reasons would vindicate station could erase bad blood gotten racial discrimination suit gave us good terms political involvement show total editorial control jay dealing things like know earlier time vietnam postvietnam period ford crosstalk time 1977 week roots first roots episode aired first showing americas black forum jay radical voices could ford oh people communist workers party black community spectrum black politics far left spectrum white politics united states operating mainstream black political operation going left general audience ie white operation jay happens ford know journalistic entity mission course expose folk would get exposure white media also confront established politicos black community within course year wed congressional black caucus time numbered 16 show quite adversarial dealing left black perspective jay happens americas black forum ford oh got involved partners happy association rather see show destroyed conflicts within sold shares let go merry way heres want say americas black forum show black news entity kind able generate views consistent basis transcripts press releases picked associated press upi agence france press reuters kind consistent basis americas black forum every week black news operation left one able since proud black news black perspective became fodder cbs newsbreak tass agence france press reuters mainstream media jay okay next segment interview going pick discussion glen talk little bit whole concept black nationalism black nation youre saying terms black perspective debate thats going black community left long time right back communist party 1930s please join us continuation interview glen ford reality asserts real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,521 |
<p>The October 7 anniversary of the war on Afghanistan passed virtually unnoticed on U.S. soil. Mainstream news outlets spared the Bush administration the embarrassment of accounting for the subsequent fate of Afghanistan’s 30 million people five years after the U.S. launched the first “regime change” in its never-ending war on terror.</p>
<p>But an honest accounting is long overdue, not merely among those who have prosecuted this disastrous war-but also for the U.S. antiwar movement, whose sole focus on opposing the war in Iraq continues to sustain the fiction that the war on Afghanistan was a justifiable response to 9-11.</p>
<p>It was not.</p>
<p>Perhaps most damning is a BBC News report issued on Sept. 18, 2001-long ignored by the U.S. media-showing that the U.S. was planning to bomb Afghanistan well before Sept. 11. The BBC reported, “Niaz Naik, a former Pakistani Foreign Secretary, was told by senior American officials in mid-July that military action against Afghanistan would go ahead by mid-October.”</p>
<p>The events of Sept. 11 provided the U.S. with an excuse to set its sights higher, using the war against Afghanistan as a launching pad for attacking Iraq, with the aim of militarily reshaping the entire Middle East to suit its own interests.</p>
<p>With the benefit of hindsight, even a cursory examination of Afghanistan five years on provides ample evidence that the U.S.’ stated goals in Afghanistan were based upon a set of lies equivalent in scale to those used to justify the war on Iraq.</p>
<p>Lie number one: The overthrow of the Taliban brought a flowering of democracy to Afghanistan.</p>
<p>During his gloating 2002 State of the Union Address, Bush claimed the U.S. victory over Afghanistan “saved a people from starvation and freed a country from brutal oppression.” He then introduced former Unocal consultant and Afghan President Hamid Karzai as “the distinguished interim leader of a liberated Afghanistan” to thunderous applause.</p>
<p>In reality, the U.S.’ swift victory over the Taliban in 2001 involved striking a deal with the “Northern Alliance”-the same Mujahideen warlords, drug kingpins and mass rapists who ruled Afghanistan immediately before the Taliban seized power in 1996. To bolster the puppet Karzai’s wobbly government, Northern Alliance warlords were offered important government posts. Defense Minister Abdul Rashid Dustum was described by journalist Robert Fisk in 2001 as “one of the most powerful Alliance gangsters, whose men looted and raped their way through the suburbs of Kabul in the Nineties. They chose girls for forced marriages, murdered their families Dustum had a habit of changing sides, joining the Taliban for bribes and indulging in massacres alongside the Wahhabi gangsters who formed the government of Afghanistan, then returning to the Alliance weeks later.”</p>
<p>With drug-trafficker and warlord Gen. Mohammed Daoud installed as Afghanistan’s Deputy Interior Minister (in charge of “cracking down” on poppy production), it is no wonder that Afghanistan is now setting record levels of heroin exports-supplying up to 92 percent of the world’s heroin.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, “Afghanistan’s people are starving to death,” according to a comprehensive report by the British-based Senlis Council issued last month. “One in four children born in Afghanistan cannot expect to live beyond the age of five, and certain provinces of the country lay claim to the worst maternal mortality rates ever recorded in the world,” the report added.</p>
<p>Lie number two: The war on Afghanistan aimed to liberate Afghan women.</p>
<p>After the fall of the Taliban in November 2001, President Bush gallantly ceded airtime in his weekly radio address to First Lady Laura Bush, who claimed:</p>
<p>“Because of our recent military gains in much of Afghanistan, women are no longer imprisoned in their homes. They can listen to music and teach their daughters without fear of punishment The fight against terrorism is also a fight for the rights and dignity of women.”</p>
<p>U.S. bombs were never meant to bring about the liberation of Afghan women. Indeed, five years later, President Hamid Karzai’s cabinet has formally resurrected the Department for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice-the Taliban’s notorious religious police renowned for beating Afghan women for revealing their wrists, hands, or ankles, or venturing in public without a close male relative.</p>
<p>Late last month, the Burqa-clad Safia Ama Jan, director for Kandahar’s Ministry of Women’s Affairs, was gunned down outside her home as she left for work. As a member of the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) observed in an October 7 speech, in toppling the Taliban, the U.S. “just replaced one fundamentalist regime with another.”</p>
<p>Lie number three: The Taliban could not be negotiated with–and was therefore overthrown–for providing a “safe haven” for terrorists.</p>
<p>Five years later, the U.S. appears ready to negotiate with the undefeated Taliban. Senate majority leader Bill Frist admitted this in early October, arguing that the war against the Taliban can “never” be won militarily because the Taliban were “too numerous and had too much popular support.” It might be time, he added, to include “people who call themselves Taliban” in the Afghan government.</p>
<p>This idea has clearly gained some traction among policy wonks. With more than 3,000 Afghans killed so far this year, Afghan expert Peter Bergen from the New American Foundation argues that the Taliban is using insurgent attacks as bargaining leverage. “The fact that they are using these tactics doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be thinking about ways of dealing with them,” said Bergen. Asked whether bringing the Taliban into government is a good idea, he responded, “I think it’s an excellent one.”</p>
<p>Stephen P. Cohen of the Brookings Institution agrees that making deals with the Taliban might work. “Our true interest is in ensuring that Afghanistan does not again become a haven for al Qaeda,” he told the Council on Foreign Relations. “The Taliban, under Pakistani pressure, might ensure this if its own position was secured. This is distasteful, and might mean Karzai’s departure, but it does preserve our one core interest in Afghanistan.”</p>
<p>As the Senlis Council bluntly concluded, “U.S. policies in Afghanistan have re-created the safe haven for terrorism that the 2001 invasion aimed to destroy.”</p>
<p>SHARON SMITH is the author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1931859116/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Women and Socialism</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/193185923X/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Subterranean Fire: a History of Working-Class Radicalism in the United States</a>. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | october 7 anniversary war afghanistan passed virtually unnoticed us soil mainstream news outlets spared bush administration embarrassment accounting subsequent fate afghanistans 30 million people five years us launched first regime change neverending war terror honest accounting long overdue merely among prosecuted disastrous warbut also us antiwar movement whose sole focus opposing war iraq continues sustain fiction war afghanistan justifiable response 911 perhaps damning bbc news report issued sept 18 2001long ignored us mediashowing us planning bomb afghanistan well sept 11 bbc reported niaz naik former pakistani foreign secretary told senior american officials midjuly military action afghanistan would go ahead midoctober events sept 11 provided us excuse set sights higher using war afghanistan launching pad attacking iraq aim militarily reshaping entire middle east suit interests benefit hindsight even cursory examination afghanistan five years provides ample evidence us stated goals afghanistan based upon set lies equivalent scale used justify war iraq lie number one overthrow taliban brought flowering democracy afghanistan gloating 2002 state union address bush claimed us victory afghanistan saved people starvation freed country brutal oppression introduced former unocal consultant afghan president hamid karzai distinguished interim leader liberated afghanistan thunderous applause reality us swift victory taliban 2001 involved striking deal northern alliancethe mujahideen warlords drug kingpins mass rapists ruled afghanistan immediately taliban seized power 1996 bolster puppet karzais wobbly government northern alliance warlords offered important government posts defense minister abdul rashid dustum described journalist robert fisk 2001 one powerful alliance gangsters whose men looted raped way suburbs kabul nineties chose girls forced marriages murdered families dustum habit changing sides joining taliban bribes indulging massacres alongside wahhabi gangsters formed government afghanistan returning alliance weeks later drugtrafficker warlord gen mohammed daoud installed afghanistans deputy interior minister charge cracking poppy production wonder afghanistan setting record levels heroin exportssupplying 92 percent worlds heroin meanwhile afghanistans people starving death according comprehensive report britishbased senlis council issued last month one four children born afghanistan expect live beyond age five certain provinces country lay claim worst maternal mortality rates ever recorded world report added lie number two war afghanistan aimed liberate afghan women fall taliban november 2001 president bush gallantly ceded airtime weekly radio address first lady laura bush claimed recent military gains much afghanistan women longer imprisoned homes listen music teach daughters without fear punishment fight terrorism also fight rights dignity women us bombs never meant bring liberation afghan women indeed five years later president hamid karzais cabinet formally resurrected department promotion virtue prevention vicethe talibans notorious religious police renowned beating afghan women revealing wrists hands ankles venturing public without close male relative late last month burqaclad safia ama jan director kandahars ministry womens affairs gunned outside home left work member revolutionary association women afghanistan rawa observed october 7 speech toppling taliban us replaced one fundamentalist regime another lie number three taliban could negotiated withand therefore overthrownfor providing safe terrorists five years later us appears ready negotiate undefeated taliban senate majority leader bill frist admitted early october arguing war taliban never militarily taliban numerous much popular support might time added include people call taliban afghan government idea clearly gained traction among policy wonks 3000 afghans killed far year afghan expert peter bergen new american foundation argues taliban using insurgent attacks bargaining leverage fact using tactics doesnt mean shouldnt thinking ways dealing said bergen asked whether bringing taliban government good idea responded think excellent one stephen p cohen brookings institution agrees making deals taliban might work true interest ensuring afghanistan become al qaeda told council foreign relations taliban pakistani pressure might ensure position secured distasteful might mean karzais departure preserve one core interest afghanistan senlis council bluntly concluded us policies afghanistan recreated safe terrorism 2001 invasion aimed destroy sharon smith author women socialism subterranean fire history workingclass radicalism united states reached sharoninternationalsocialistorg 160 160 | 626 |
<p>Many people date the DNA revolution to the discovery of its structure by James Watson and Francis Crick in 1953. But really it began thirty years before, conceived by the mind of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_D._Rockefeller" type="external">John D Rockefeller, Sr</a>. Thus it is fitting that DNA is named after him. DNA stands for DeoxyriboNucleic Acid and ribo stands for Rockefeller Institute of Biochemistry (now <a href="http://www.rockefeller.edu/" type="external">Rockefeller University</a>) where the chemical composition of DNA <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_Levene" type="external">was first discovered</a> in the 1920s. The Rockefeller Foundation had become interested in DNA because its trustees feared a Bolshevik-style revolution. Intense public resentment had already compelled the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Standard_Oil" type="external">break-up</a> of their Standard oil Company in 1911; so the&#160;Foundation sought ways, said trustee Harry Pratt Judson in 1913, to “reinforce the police power of the state”. They intended to find the ultimate key to human behaviour which would allow the resentful and envious mobs to be effectively managed.</p>
<p>The Foundation had two strategies for management that were distinct but complementary: to control human behaviour at the level of social structures: family, work and emotions, which the Foundation referred to by names such as “psychobiology”; and to control human behaviour at the level of molecules.</p>
<p>The “science of man”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>To develop methods of control at the societal level, the Foundation more-or-less founded the discipline of social science in the early 1900s.</p>
<p>Max Mason, appointed as the Foundation’s director in 1929, described this double focus as their “science of man” project:</p>
<p>“[It i]s directed to the general problem of human behavior, with the aim of control through understanding. The social sciences, for example, will concern themselves with the rationalization of social control; the medical and natural sciences propose a closely coordinated study of the sciences which underlie personal understanding and personal control” (quote from Lily Kay, The Molecular Vision of Life, 1993).</p>
<p>For the social science arm the Foundation sought to inculcate within the social science research community specific mechanistic habits of mind and an ethos conducive to this goal of control: “the validation of the findings of social science [must be] through effective social control,” wrote the Foundation’s head of Social Science, Edmund E. Day. According to Warren Weaver, then director of the Foundation, this meant the “recasting of prevailing ideas of human nature and conduct” in line with the “managerial needs” of industrialisation for characters such as timeliness and obedience.</p>
<p>The “restructuring of human relations in congruence with industrial capitalism” as Lily Kay, biographer of the Foundation described it, was an agenda that was quite widely understood in the 1930s—and widely disapproved of. One contemporary critic called the Foundation’s work “a thinly disguised capitalistic manipulation of the social order” (Kay, 1993).</p>
<p>The Rockefellers construct the gene</p>
<p>The second arm to the “science of man” strategy was seen as purely based on scientific rationality.</p>
<p>To the Rockefeller Foundation trustees, however, rationality meant eugenics. Eugenic theory, by definition, implies that humans contain hidden determinants for traits like civility, intelligence, and obedience. Logically, such determinants ought to be discoverable, reasoned the Foundation’s trustees. If science were able to peer deep enough it would discover those mechanisms and molecules that effected this ‘upward causation’ of behaviour. Once identified, such controlling elements—which were initially presumed to be proteins—could be understood and made use of.</p>
<p>However, to make such discoveries required a new science and a new concept: ‘molecular biology’. Molecular biology was a term the foundation invented for a reductionist “science of the very small” that was focused on discovering the nature of the gene.</p>
<p>The Foundation nevertheless did try out other—even nonreductionist—approaches to biology. It briefly supported the mathematical biologist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Rashevsky" type="external">Nicolas Rashevsky</a> before finally dropping him ( <a href="" type="internal">Abraham, 2004</a>). Presumably, as a descriptive science, mathematical biology did not meet the Foundation’s desire to discover deterministic and controlling forces.</p>
<p>By testing out and sifting through distinct approaches, individuals, and institutions, the Foundation eventually developed a strategy to reinvent the science of biology that, by 1933, was fully elaborated. It concentrated on funding scientific cliques at a relatively small number of elite institutions (such as Caltech and the University of Chicago). These cliques trained up hundreds of scientists whose job was to find the molecules responsible for that upward causation; that is, to find the specific molecules and the specific mechanisms that determined the form and function of organisms. They would thus validate the Rockefeller eugenic thesis.</p>
<p>Institutionally, these efforts were extremely successful. After the search for these ‘master molecules’ had eventually narrowed to DNA, George Beadle, Nobel Laureate in physiology and Rockefeller insider, noted that all but one of the 18 Nobel prizes awarded for genetic science after 1953 had been awarded to current or former Rockefeller-funded scientists (Kay, 1993). By Beadle’s death in 1989, largely thanks to the Rockefeller Foundation, molecular biology had become the dominant approach to all of biology. That is, medicine, developmental biology, neurobiology, and agriculture.</p>
<p>Almost the whole world nowadays assumes the overwhelming emphasis of biological science on genetics and reductionism to be a logical and inevitable scientific one. But what the history of the Rockefeller Foundation shows is that the virtual wiping out of whole organism biology and the sidelining of diverse other approaches such as Rashevsky’s; of nutritional biology; and of environmental determinism, was a carefully planned coup d’état. It was an overt seizure of the scientific estate intended to substitute genetic determinism for competing ideas about causation in biology.</p>
<p>Genetic determinism is the idea that genes have a privileged level of causation and thus a special status in biology. As shown in the companion article <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/genetics-is-giving-way-to-a-new-science-of-life/" type="external">Genetics Is Giving Way to a New Science of Life</a>, the idea is clearly false. Causation in biology can take many forms and genetics is just one of them, but the robber barons who bought biology did so specifically in order to impose a genetic determinist paradigm.</p>
<p>A further consequence of their efforts was that they simultaneously seized and impoverished our idea of life. Thus, when Watson and Crick discovered the structure of DNA in 1953 they considered they had discovered “ <a href="" type="internal">the secret of life</a>“. The triumph of the Rockefeller Foundation was that no one contradicted them.</p>
<p>The origins of genetic determinism: Huxley and the Victorians</p>
<p>The fear of unruly mobs was not unique to leaders of the Rockefeller Foundation. Victorian reviewers of the books of Charles Darwin, fifty years earlier, also lived in a tumultuous age. The advent of new technologies like trains and telephones, the growth of cities, and the rise of a mercantile class that threatened to displace the nobility, were destabilising their world.</p>
<p>To add Darwinism to this ferment, feared those reviewers, would “shake society to its very foundations” (Desmond, 1998). These mid-Victorians feared Darwinism primarily because it provided a set of powerful ideas that profoundly undermined God and the Church, the two rocks on which their world was largely built.</p>
<p>More than that, evolution specifically threatened to destroy the ancient and sacred concepts of inherited wealth and inherited merit. To Victorians, these were virtually synonymous with the benefits of order and hierarchy.</p>
<p>Evolution even threatened to unleash social upheaval directly: to free the slaves, to liberate the workers, and emancipate the female population; and Thomas Huxley, the leading advocate of Darwinism, calculated he would widen popular support for science by promising as much. He told enthusiastic Victorian workers that the ascent of species showed the inevitability of social improvement.</p>
<p>Huxley, however, couldn’t go too far. Unlike all of his wealthy colleagues, he needed to make a living from science. But as Darwin’s de facto spokesperson, he was nevertheless in a unique position to shape the perception and interpretation of Darwinism.</p>
<p>Thus, in the presence of the dispossessed he emphasised science’s revolutionary qualities; but with the new industrialists he presented science as the driver of a new industrial era; and, for the stolid British establishment he emphasised that “Nature’s old salique law will not be repealed, and no change of dynasty will be effected”. Salique law was the ancient Frankish law ensuring inheritance only through the male line.</p>
<p>Huxley and his fellow scientists became adepts at such political manouevring. The key example, at least for genetics, was the taking of prescientific theories of inheritance, that were familiar to the establishment, such as salique law, and melding them with Darwinism. No evidence was available to anyone that the character traits prized by the establishment, such as intellect and social refinement, could be biologically inherited; and even if they could, it was surely unlikely to be only through the male line. Yet Huxley and his scientific fellows glossed over such inconsistencies so as to present evolution as minimally disturbing to the beliefs and values of the status quo. This required the nature of inherited traits to be essentially deterministic in nature. People did not acquire good characters, they were born with them.</p>
<p>Such interpretations meant that science thrived, but it was at the expense of undercutting Huxley’s earlier promises of greater freedom for the underclasses. Thus it was that the scientists used their positions as experts to bend the science and to knowingly take the side of the establishment in the struggle for social power that surrounded Victorian science (Desmond, 1998).</p>
<p>These interpretations were crucial to the future of biology. Inherited deterministic factors were based on what Huxley called “protoplasm” and protoplasm was a controller of human behaviour. Protoplasm is now accepted by many historians as the intellectual father of eugenic theory. It became the intellectual justification for the subsequent Rockefeller search for molecules of social control; but, as a theory constructed more for political than scientific reasons, it had feet of clay.</p>
<p>The entry of big tobacco</p>
<p>The railroading of biology away from the study of whole organisms by the Rockefeller Foundation (joined also by the Carnegie Foundation) proved relatively easy. Turning that understanding into social control was less so. The next stage required new impetus and even more money.</p>
<p><a href="" type="internal">Starting in the 1950s the tobacco industry</a> distributed $370 million among approximately 1,000 scientists in the US and British medical establishments. The long term plan was to construct another novel molecular science, that of human genetic variation ( <a href="" type="internal">Wallace, 2009</a>). The immediate goal was to attribute the diseases of smoking to genetic origins. The tobacco industry was determined to find “gene defects” that might lead to lung cancer and addiction. Tobacco executives thought—correctly—that finding even limited evidence would keep blame from being placed entirely on their products. Genetic determinism thus could be used to neutralise negative public, professional, and even legal, opinion ( <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2911634/" type="external">Gundle et al., 2010</a>).</p>
<p>Tobacco funding never uncovered any compelling genetic determinants of cancer or addiction. But <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/science-media/science-and-social-control-political-paralysis-and-the-genetics-agenda/" type="external">the strategy</a> did shift public opinion. Genetic researchers were therefore encouraged by industries and governments to apply their methods to other physical illnesses (such as diabetes), and for the same reasons ( <a href="" type="internal">Vrecko, 2008</a>).</p>
<p>So although eugenics practitioners, such as Adolf Hitler, had made the word eugenics abhorrent to most people by the 1920s and 1930s, the genome sequencing bandwagon eventually <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/science-media/science-and-social-control-political-paralysis-and-the-genetics-agenda/" type="external">convinced the public</a> that DNA was a master molecule, a governor of health and behaviour, even down to one’s daily activities and decisions. The study of genes and genomes achieved acceptance of the eugenic premise through, as it were, the back door. The public was convinced to blame numerous illnesses and conditions, and not just lung cancer, on their own genetic ‘weaknesses’. Thus genetics was established as the presumptive primary cause of most human variation, chronic disease was normalised, and DNA was crowned “the King of molecules” by a Nobel Laureate (Mullis, 1997).</p>
<p>The ever-expanding domain of science</p>
<p>Thomas Huxley once declared, in an editorial of 1865, that science had no intention “of being content with anything short of absolute victory [over the Church] and uncontrolled domination over the whole realm of the intellect” (cited in Desmond, 1998). So while Charles Darwin initially refrained from publicly pursuing what he supposed to be the intellectual implications of his ideas, from fear that doing so would prevent them being accepted, his apostles rarely showed such restraint.</p>
<p>From Huxley and Herbert Spencer, via EO Wilson, Richard Dawkins, Steven Pinker, and many others, the presumed properties of DNA have formed the basis of great edifices of implication. EO Wilson’s Sociobiology: The new synthesis (1975) and Dawkins’s The Selfish Gene and The Extended Phenotype (1982) extrapolated biology far beyond previously accepted domains of the physical body, to encompass human desires, human ‘misbehaviour’, human ethics, and human social structures. Relying on faint statistical associations between DNA genome markers and human traits, geneticists have claimed that hundreds of human attributes have genetic explanations, at least in significant part, including: sexual and religious orientation, voting preferences, sleepwalking, entrepreneurial behaviour, sexism, violence, and many others (e.g. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Paula_Schweitzer/publication" type="external">Kales et al., 1980</a>). These claims have provided a steady supply of juicy <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/science-media/science-and-social-control-political-paralysis-and-the-genetics-agenda/" type="external">headlines</a> to pronounce that genes play powerful deterministic roles in behaviour.</p>
<p>The failure of “master molecules” to explain life</p>
<p>In 2016, Gary Greenberg, Professor Emeritus at Wichita State University, Kansas, reviewed a book that he plainly considered to be unnecessary. The reviewed was titled <a href="" type="internal">How many nails does it take to seal the coffin?</a> The coffin in question is the science of behavior genetics. He cited fellow gravedigger Richard Lerner of Tufts University describing the “counterfactual conceptualizations of the role of genes in behavior and development” ( <a href="http://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/96532" type="external">Lerner, 2007</a>) and genetic mortician Douglas Wahlsten ( <a href="" type="internal">2012</a>) that “all hope has been lost” in the search for genetic effects on normal human behaviour ( <a href="" type="internal">Greenberg, 2016</a>).</p>
<p>The basic issue identified by Greenberg, Lerner, et al., is that, if several hundred billion dollars of searching finds no evidence for genetic influences (except for rare traits like Down syndrome), then the only reasonable conclusion is that genetic influences on those traits are absent or minutely small. Yet the genetic zombie, to their exasperation, lives on, and for the simple reason that it is lavishly funded.</p>
<p>It is not just the study of human behaviours for which the long-sought genetic evidence is chronically missing. In 2013, the head of the Broad Institute at MIT, which is the most prominent global institution in the study of human genetics, called genetic influence on human disease a “phantom” ( <a href="" type="internal">Zuk et al., 2013</a>). This U-turn followed a succession of compelling critiques that focused on 1) the lack of replicability of putative genetic predispositions in humans ( <a href="" type="internal">Ioannidis, 2007</a>); 2) lack of evidence of broad effects on health ( <a href="" type="internal">Manolio et al., 2009</a>; <a href="" type="internal">Dermitzakis and Clark, 2009</a>); 3) lack of effect size of all except a very few individual genetic predispositions ( <a href="" type="internal">Ioannidis and Panagiotou, 2011</a>); and 4) a general <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/still-chasing-ghosts-a-new-genetic-methodology-will-not-find-the-missing-heritability/" type="external">lack of experimental rigour</a> of genetic methods and hypotheses ( <a href="http://ije.oxfordjournals.org/content/35/3/562.long" type="external">Buchanan et al. 2006</a>; <a href="http://www.tbiomed.com/content/3/1/35" type="external">Wallace, 2006</a>; <a href="" type="internal">Charney and English, 2012</a>).</p>
<p>The media (including the science media) has barely reported these critiques, but they have left the discipline of human genetics in turmoil. Interesting as it is to watch billions of dollars of medical research funding generate <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/the-great-dna-data-deficit/" type="external">nothing but negative results</a>, (see <a href="" type="internal">Manolio et al., 2009</a>), the really big question is the one now hanging over the underlying master molecule idea, since genetic determinism has become the central paradigm of all biology.</p>
<p>The fundamental defects of this master molecule concept were summed up perhaps most succinctly by Richard C Strohman of UC Berkeley; in a 1997 article “ <a href="http://harveybialy.org/files/kuhn.pdf" type="external">The coming Kuhnian revolution in biology</a>“:</p>
<p>“[W]e have taken a successful and extremely useful theory and paradigm of the gene and have illegitimately extended it as a paradigm of life”. But, Strohman wrote, the broader paradigm “has little power and must eventually fail”.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the same logical flaw was identified by Lily Kay in her Rockefeller Foundation biography of 1993. In concluding, she noted the self-limiting nature of its reductionist method. “By narrowing its epistemic domain, the new biology has bracketed out important animate phenomena from its discourse on life”.</p>
<p>That failure is now fully visible. Thanks to emerging research findings such as those described in <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/genetics-is-giving-way-to-a-new-science-of-life/" type="external">Genetics Is Giving Way to a New Science of Life</a>, it is now hard to overlook that genetic reductionism has failed to explain “important animate phenomena” like: growth, self-organisation, evolution, consciousness, learning, health, and disease. These are the key elements of life that a successful paradigm ought to explain but somehow genetic determinism never has.</p>
<p>Its emerging replacement is a vastly different paradigm of life, one that conceives living systems as cooperatives and not dictatorships. To be clear, some facts about DNA are not in dispute. DNA exists. The mutation or addition of genes can have profound effects on the properties of organisms; but this doesn’t make DNA special. The removal or addition (where possible) of most other components of organisms, such as RNA, or proteins, even water, has the same effect. Thus even the use of GMO crops, which might look like clear examples of upward causation, are consistent with the new paradigm because introduced transgenes are carefully designed to act as isolated modules, traits that operate independently of all the system level controls that organisms typically use to manage and integrate gene activity and biochemical function.</p>
<p>But what ultimately motivates this new paradigm is the lack of conceptual necessity for DNA to animate organisms. Molecular biologists routinely propose that DNA has properties of “expression”, of “control”, and of cellular governance, in some sense that other molecules do not. These are the properties that a master molecule paradigm requires, but asserting them does not rescue genetic determinism, it is merely prescientific vitalism.</p>
<p>What science is telling us, therefore, is that, in living systems, <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/genetics-is-giving-way-to-a-new-science-of-life/" type="external">everything depends on everything else</a>, and life bootstrapped itself out of the ooze. DNA did not lead the way.</p>
<p>The societal consequences of genetic determinism</p>
<p>Whether true or not, all belief systems have consequences. When news of Darwin’s evolutionary theory reached Germany in the 1860s, Ernst Haeckel, German prodigy biologist, constructed the first trees of life, with humans (for no scientific reason) at the apex of creation. Much like Huxley, Haeckel also stretched the implications of&#160;Darwinismus into a genetic determinist struggle, in this case one that drove “peoples irresistibly onward”. Darwinismus foretold, he said, a new Teutonic destiny.</p>
<p>As early as the death of Charles Darwin (1882) it was said that his thought (which for the most part meant Huxley’s interpretations) could be found “under a hundred disguises in works on law and history, in political speeches and religious discourses…if we try to think ourselves away from it we must think ourselves entirely away from our age” (John Morley, 1882, cited in Desmond 1998)</p>
<p>Thus the belief system that humans are controlled by an internal master molecule has become woven into myriad areas of social thought. It is far beyond the scope of this article to describe the consequences of genetic determinism at either the personal or the societal level (see instead The DNA Mystique), but the two world wars, the holocaust, racism, colonialism, eugenics, inequity, are each stronger as a consequence of, or might never have happened without, the idea of genetic determinism. The reason is that genetic determinism moulded “higher” and “lower”, “normal” and “abnormal”, into intrinsic and unmodifiable scientific properties of biological organisms and groups, rather than being what they were previously: questionable prejudices and dubious conceits.</p>
<p>Genetic determinism thus became the defining idea of the twentieth century. Nothing was unmoved by it. It drove biology, it even drove science itself.</p>
<p>It began with the ability of outside institutions to impose long-term and overarching agendas on science. This alone is a breathtaking observation, both disturbing and profound, that wholly contradicts our normal presumption that science is driven by brilliant individuals, technical innovations, and collective intellectual rigour. Instead, to understand what occurred to DNA is as simple as following the money.</p>
<p>Science, and therefore all of society, was lured into a very specific DNA-centric interpretation of life that was predicated on magical thinking about the properties of genes. Once the initial conditions were set up, however, a key observation is that biological research fostered genetic determinist social thought and genetic determinist thought in turn made genetically determinist science seem more valid and desirable. A self-sustaining feedback loop was thus created.</p>
<p>One example of how genetic determinism participated in that loop was laid out in a 1975 <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/articles/1975/11/13/against-sociobiology/" type="external">letter</a> from prominent geneticists to the NY Review of Books. They were replying to an uncritical review of EO Wilson’s Sociobiology: a New Synthesis. The geneticists’ letter lays out a rationale for why a political establishment might fund sociobiology and genomics: to furnish interpretations of human activity that create and therefore determine behavioural and social norms. As the authors wrote: “for Wilson, what exists is adaptive, what is adaptive is good, therefore what exists is good.” The authors were pointing out, well before the tobacco industry strategy had been unmasked, that any scientific assertion that a societal aberration such as “war”, or an individual misbehaviour such as “violence”, has genetic roots makes it seem natural or normal. Thus, what appears to be a simple and apolitical scientific “finding”, say of a genetic predisposition to obesity, generates inferences that are highly valued by institutions (such as the food industry) that cause obesity but wish to resist pressure on them for social change.</p>
<p>It is scant wonder then that the publication of&#160;Sociobiology was followed by a funding boom in genetic research, in both the&#160;social and medical sciences. This boom happened even though human genetic research is rarely of value in the search for cures or the treatment of disease ( <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Claudia_Chaufan/publication" type="external">Chaufan and Joseph, 2013</a>). The bottom line is, even if genetic predispositions for obesity were to exist, everyone should exercise and not overeat.</p>
<p>Thus biological explanations have vastly expanded science’s intellectual realm, into the arenas of social affairs, economics, politics, religion, even philosophy and ethics. Bearing out the prediction of the NYRB letter, sociobiology has virtually driven out traditional academic interpretations of human activity, such as Marxism or Deconstructionism, that made life uncomfortable for the powers that be.</p>
<p>As Dorothy Nelkin and Susan Lindee observed for academia:</p>
<p>“In the last few decades many universities have ceased to offer the grand survey courses in Western civilization that once seemed to explain so much about human culture and the human past. Postcolonialism, postmodernism, literary theory, and other trends in academic life called into question the legitimacy of the grand narratives that were built into the notion of “Western civilization”. Many college students will never take such a course. But most will take introductory biology……introductory biology has become the cultural equivalent of the old Western civilization curriculum: explaining human culture and the human past, biological knowledge is seen as deeply relevant to social concerns, economic development, international relations, and ethical debates. Introductory biology is presented as a valid, truth-seeking endeavour, untainted by religious, political, or philosophical commitments. It places human beings in a meaningful universe, providing ways of understanding relationships between ethnic and racial groups and between identity and the body” (Preface to the second edition, The DNA Mystique: The gene as a cultural icon, 2004).</p>
<p>Anyone not knowing the strategies of the Rockefeller Foundation and the tobacco industry might well imagine sociobiology to be “valid” and “untainted”. Plainly though, given their history, and the new scientific revelations, genetic explanations are just ones whose political commitments are better concealed, and it becomes highly relevant that genetic explanations are being made in academia, in policy circles, and in the public arena by scientists whose funders (whether governments or corporations) benefit from this neutering of public discourse.</p>
<p>The end result of Huxley’s proposed intellectual expansion of biology is arguably already here. Students unversed in the history of thought and stewed in unsupported or unverifiable genetic explanations have become the intellectual core of a miseducated and compliant society. One that creatively participates in its own delusion by self-describing illnesses as “genetic”, <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/the-great-dna-data-deficit/" type="external">even in cases where the only clear evidence of causation is environmental</a>. A genetically determinist society is therefore one not capable of understanding itself as directly at risk from irresponsible corporate activities and government indifference. It is fundamentally defenceless against polluters, junk food marketers, community dislocation, and other threats to human integrity.</p>
<p>In a wider political frame, the history of the 20th Century shows that a genetic determinist society is also vulnerable to fascists, racists, dictators, and warmongers. All this too is the product of a century and a half of the manipulation of biological science.</p>
<p>Is it too strong to argue this? I do not think so. Consider, as a case study, Adolf Eichmann and the transportation of the Jews to the death camps during the second world war. The world mostly blamed Eichmann personally and Israel executed him. Hannah Arendt, however, famously attributed his crimes to a mystical “banality of evil”.</p>
<p>They were all wrong. Adolf Eichmann and his superiors were following the dictates, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Stewart_Chamberlain" type="external">as they saw them</a>, of science and genetics. Jews were, to them, a genetic problem of racial purity and the only solution to a genetic problem is extermination and the prevention of reproduction (see especially The War Against the Jews: 1933-194). Given the premises, the final solution was perfectly logical.</p>
<p>But the perfectly logical question for us (and the subject of The Meaning of Life Part II) is, why does hardly anyone see this? Why is it so hard to critique or challenge genetics? Not only do we attribute to genes a wholly unwarranted privileged level of causation in biology, we also give them a privileged level of discourse in society. The dominance of genetics is thus a phenomenon that does not originate in science.</p>
<p>In the last essay of this series I will elaborate on this by proposing a novel theory to explain the fascination of our society for genetic determinism and master molecules. This theory explains the iconic status and scientific attraction of DNA in terms of its metaphysical role as a representative of the universe. Like that other representative of the universe, the Judaeo-Christian God, DNA confers the properties of leadership and authority on disorderly nature. DNA, as the true meaning of life, thus legitimates authority in our scientific society. Therefore, the historical actors, such as the Rockefeller Foundation, who helped create this role for DNA, were, just like everyone else, in thrall to forces they didn’t fully understand.</p>
<p>This theory has quite a few important implications. It suggests that ever since genetic determinism became established in the public mind, that Western societies have become locked into a downward spiral of authoritarian politics and genetic determinist thought. This spiral is already imperilling the functioning of democracy. Unhalted, it may extinguish democratic values entirely. More optimistically, the theory offers a conceptually simple way to reverse the spiral. That way rests on pointing out that all organisms are systems and not dictatorships. It becomes necessary, for the very survival of democratic society, to confront these habits of genetic determinist thinking which, after all, have <a href="https://www.independentsciencenews.org/health/genetics-is-giving-way-to-a-new-science-of-life/" type="external">no basis in reality</a>.</p>
<p>References</p>
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referred names psychobiology control human behaviour level molecules science man 160 develop methods control societal level foundation moreorless founded discipline social science early 1900s max mason appointed foundations director 1929 described double focus science man project directed general problem human behavior aim control understanding social sciences example concern rationalization social control medical natural sciences propose closely coordinated study sciences underlie personal understanding personal control quote lily kay molecular vision life 1993 social science arm foundation sought inculcate within social science research community specific mechanistic habits mind ethos conducive goal control validation findings social science must effective social control wrote foundations head social science edmund e day according warren weaver director foundation meant recasting prevailing ideas human nature conduct line managerial needs industrialisation characters timeliness obedience restructuring human relations congruence industrial capitalism lily kay biographer foundation described agenda quite widely understood 1930sand widely disapproved one contemporary critic called foundations work thinly disguised capitalistic manipulation social order kay 1993 rockefellers construct gene second arm science man strategy seen purely based scientific rationality rockefeller foundation trustees however rationality meant eugenics eugenic theory definition implies humans contain hidden determinants traits like civility intelligence obedience logically determinants ought discoverable reasoned foundations trustees science able peer deep enough would discover mechanisms molecules effected upward causation behaviour identified controlling elementswhich initially presumed proteinscould understood made use however make discoveries required new science new concept molecular biology molecular biology term foundation invented reductionist science small focused discovering nature gene foundation nevertheless try othereven nonreductionistapproaches biology briefly supported mathematical biologist nicolas rashevsky finally dropping abraham 2004 presumably descriptive science mathematical biology meet foundations desire discover deterministic controlling forces testing sifting distinct approaches individuals institutions foundation eventually developed strategy reinvent science biology 1933 fully elaborated concentrated funding scientific cliques relatively small number elite institutions caltech university chicago cliques trained hundreds scientists whose job find molecules responsible upward causation find specific molecules specific mechanisms determined form function organisms would thus validate rockefeller eugenic thesis institutionally efforts extremely successful search master molecules eventually narrowed dna george beadle nobel laureate physiology rockefeller insider noted one 18 nobel prizes awarded genetic science 1953 awarded current former rockefellerfunded scientists kay 1993 beadles death 1989 largely thanks rockefeller foundation molecular biology become dominant approach biology medicine developmental biology neurobiology agriculture almost whole world nowadays assumes overwhelming emphasis biological science genetics reductionism logical inevitable scientific one history rockefeller foundation shows virtual wiping whole organism biology sidelining diverse approaches rashevskys nutritional biology environmental determinism carefully planned coup détat overt seizure scientific estate intended substitute genetic determinism competing ideas causation biology genetic determinism idea genes privileged level causation thus special status biology shown companion article genetics giving way new science life idea clearly false causation biology take many forms genetics one robber barons bought biology specifically order impose genetic determinist paradigm consequence efforts simultaneously seized impoverished idea life thus watson crick discovered structure dna 1953 considered discovered secret life triumph rockefeller foundation one contradicted origins genetic determinism huxley victorians fear unruly mobs unique leaders rockefeller foundation victorian reviewers books charles darwin fifty years earlier also lived tumultuous age advent new technologies like trains telephones growth cities rise mercantile class threatened displace nobility destabilising world add darwinism ferment feared reviewers would shake society foundations desmond 1998 midvictorians feared darwinism primarily provided set powerful ideas profoundly undermined god church two rocks world largely built evolution specifically threatened destroy ancient sacred concepts inherited wealth inherited merit victorians virtually synonymous benefits order hierarchy evolution even threatened unleash social upheaval directly free slaves liberate workers emancipate female population thomas huxley leading advocate darwinism calculated would widen popular support science promising much told enthusiastic victorian workers ascent species showed inevitability social improvement huxley however couldnt go far unlike wealthy colleagues needed make living science darwins de facto spokesperson nevertheless unique position shape perception interpretation darwinism thus presence dispossessed emphasised sciences revolutionary qualities new industrialists presented science driver new industrial era stolid british establishment emphasised natures old salique law repealed change dynasty effected salique law ancient frankish law ensuring inheritance male line huxley fellow scientists became adepts political manouevring key example least genetics taking prescientific theories inheritance familiar establishment salique law melding darwinism evidence available anyone character traits prized establishment intellect social refinement could biologically inherited even could surely unlikely male line yet huxley scientific fellows glossed inconsistencies present evolution minimally disturbing beliefs values status quo required nature inherited traits essentially deterministic nature people acquire good characters born interpretations meant science thrived expense undercutting huxleys earlier promises greater freedom underclasses thus scientists used positions experts bend science knowingly take side establishment struggle social power surrounded victorian science desmond 1998 interpretations crucial future biology inherited deterministic factors based huxley called protoplasm protoplasm controller human behaviour protoplasm accepted many historians intellectual father eugenic theory became intellectual justification subsequent rockefeller search molecules social control theory constructed political scientific reasons feet clay entry big tobacco railroading biology away study whole organisms rockefeller foundation joined also carnegie foundation proved relatively easy turning understanding social control less next stage required new impetus even money starting 1950s tobacco industry distributed 370 million among approximately 1000 scientists us british medical establishments long term plan construct another novel molecular science human genetic variation wallace 2009 immediate goal attribute diseases smoking genetic origins tobacco industry determined find gene defects might lead lung cancer addiction tobacco executives thoughtcorrectlythat finding even limited evidence would keep blame placed entirely products genetic determinism thus could used neutralise negative public professional even legal opinion gundle et al 2010 tobacco funding never uncovered compelling genetic determinants cancer addiction strategy shift public opinion genetic researchers therefore encouraged industries governments apply methods physical illnesses diabetes reasons vrecko 2008 although eugenics practitioners adolf hitler made word eugenics abhorrent people 1920s 1930s genome sequencing bandwagon eventually convinced public dna master molecule governor health behaviour even ones daily activities decisions study genes genomes achieved acceptance eugenic premise back door public convinced blame numerous illnesses conditions lung cancer genetic weaknesses thus genetics established presumptive primary cause human variation chronic disease normalised dna crowned king molecules nobel laureate mullis 1997 everexpanding domain science thomas huxley declared editorial 1865 science intention content anything short absolute victory church uncontrolled domination whole realm intellect cited desmond 1998 charles darwin initially refrained publicly pursuing supposed intellectual implications ideas fear would prevent accepted apostles rarely showed restraint huxley herbert spencer via eo wilson richard dawkins steven pinker many others presumed properties dna formed basis great edifices implication eo wilsons sociobiology new synthesis 1975 dawkinss selfish gene extended phenotype 1982 extrapolated biology far beyond previously accepted domains physical body encompass human desires human misbehaviour human ethics human social structures relying faint statistical associations dna genome markers human traits geneticists claimed hundreds human attributes genetic explanations least significant part including sexual religious orientation voting preferences sleepwalking entrepreneurial behaviour sexism violence many others eg kales et al 1980 claims provided steady supply juicy headlines pronounce genes play powerful deterministic roles behaviour failure master molecules explain life 2016 gary greenberg professor emeritus wichita state university kansas reviewed book plainly considered unnecessary reviewed titled many nails take seal coffin coffin question science behavior genetics cited fellow gravedigger richard lerner tufts university describing counterfactual conceptualizations role genes behavior development lerner 2007 genetic mortician douglas wahlsten 2012 hope lost search genetic effects normal human behaviour greenberg 2016 basic issue identified greenberg lerner et al several hundred billion dollars searching finds evidence genetic influences except rare traits like syndrome reasonable conclusion genetic influences traits absent minutely small yet genetic zombie exasperation lives simple reason lavishly funded study human behaviours longsought genetic evidence chronically missing 2013 head broad institute mit prominent global institution study human genetics called genetic influence human disease phantom zuk et al 2013 uturn followed succession compelling critiques focused 1 lack replicability putative genetic predispositions humans ioannidis 2007 2 lack evidence broad effects health manolio et al 2009 dermitzakis clark 2009 3 lack effect size except individual genetic predispositions ioannidis panagiotou 2011 4 general lack experimental rigour genetic methods hypotheses buchanan et al 2006 wallace 2006 charney english 2012 media including science media barely reported critiques left discipline human genetics turmoil interesting watch billions dollars medical research funding generate nothing negative results see manolio et al 2009 really big question one hanging underlying master molecule idea since genetic determinism become central paradigm biology fundamental defects master molecule concept summed perhaps succinctly richard c strohman uc berkeley 1997 article coming kuhnian revolution biology taken successful extremely useful theory paradigm gene illegitimately extended paradigm life strohman wrote broader paradigm little power must eventually fail interestingly logical flaw identified lily kay rockefeller foundation biography 1993 concluding noted selflimiting nature reductionist method narrowing epistemic domain new biology bracketed important animate phenomena discourse life failure fully visible thanks emerging research findings described genetics giving way new science life hard overlook genetic reductionism failed explain important animate phenomena like growth selforganisation evolution consciousness learning health disease key elements life successful paradigm ought explain somehow genetic determinism never emerging replacement vastly different paradigm life one conceives living systems cooperatives dictatorships clear facts dna dispute dna exists mutation addition genes profound effects properties organisms doesnt make dna special removal addition possible components organisms rna proteins even water effect thus even use gmo crops might look like clear examples upward causation consistent new paradigm introduced transgenes carefully designed act isolated modules traits operate independently system level controls organisms typically use manage integrate gene activity biochemical function ultimately motivates new paradigm lack conceptual necessity dna animate organisms molecular biologists routinely propose dna properties expression control cellular governance sense molecules properties master molecule paradigm requires asserting rescue genetic determinism merely prescientific vitalism science telling us therefore living systems everything depends everything else life bootstrapped ooze dna lead way societal consequences genetic determinism whether true belief systems consequences news darwins evolutionary theory reached germany 1860s ernst haeckel german prodigy biologist constructed first trees life humans scientific reason apex creation much like huxley haeckel also stretched implications of160darwinismus genetic determinist struggle case one drove peoples irresistibly onward darwinismus foretold said new teutonic destiny early death charles darwin 1882 said thought part meant huxleys interpretations could found hundred disguises works law history political speeches religious discoursesif try think away must think entirely away age john morley 1882 cited desmond 1998 thus belief system humans controlled internal master molecule become woven myriad areas social thought far beyond scope article describe consequences genetic determinism either personal societal level see instead dna mystique two world wars holocaust racism colonialism eugenics inequity stronger consequence might never happened without idea genetic determinism reason genetic determinism moulded higher lower normal abnormal intrinsic unmodifiable scientific properties biological organisms groups rather previously questionable prejudices dubious conceits genetic determinism thus became defining idea twentieth century nothing unmoved drove biology even drove science began ability outside institutions impose longterm overarching agendas science alone breathtaking observation disturbing profound wholly contradicts normal presumption science driven brilliant individuals technical innovations collective intellectual rigour instead understand occurred dna simple following money science therefore society lured specific dnacentric interpretation life predicated magical thinking properties genes initial conditions set however key observation biological research fostered genetic determinist social thought genetic determinist thought turn made genetically determinist science seem valid desirable selfsustaining feedback loop thus created one example genetic determinism participated loop laid 1975 letter prominent geneticists ny review books replying uncritical review eo wilsons sociobiology new synthesis geneticists letter lays rationale political establishment might fund sociobiology genomics furnish interpretations human activity create therefore determine behavioural social norms authors wrote wilson exists adaptive adaptive good therefore exists good authors pointing well tobacco industry strategy unmasked scientific assertion societal aberration war individual misbehaviour violence genetic roots makes seem natural normal thus appears simple apolitical scientific finding say genetic predisposition obesity generates inferences highly valued institutions food industry cause obesity wish resist pressure social change scant wonder publication of160sociobiology followed funding boom genetic research the160social medical sciences boom happened even though human genetic research rarely value search cures treatment disease chaufan joseph 2013 bottom line even genetic predispositions obesity exist everyone exercise overeat thus biological explanations vastly expanded sciences intellectual realm arenas social affairs economics politics religion even philosophy ethics bearing prediction nyrb letter sociobiology virtually driven traditional academic interpretations human activity marxism deconstructionism made life uncomfortable powers dorothy nelkin susan lindee observed academia last decades many universities ceased offer grand survey courses western civilization seemed explain much human culture human past postcolonialism postmodernism literary theory trends academic life called question legitimacy grand narratives built notion western civilization many college students never take course take introductory biologyintroductory biology become cultural equivalent old western civilization curriculum explaining human culture human past biological knowledge seen deeply relevant social concerns economic development international relations ethical debates introductory biology presented valid truthseeking endeavour untainted religious political philosophical commitments places human beings meaningful universe providing ways understanding relationships ethnic racial groups identity body preface second edition dna mystique gene cultural icon 2004 anyone knowing strategies rockefeller foundation tobacco industry might well imagine sociobiology valid untainted plainly though given history new scientific revelations genetic explanations ones whose political commitments better concealed becomes highly relevant genetic explanations made academia policy circles public arena scientists whose funders whether governments corporations benefit neutering public discourse end result huxleys proposed intellectual expansion biology arguably already students unversed history thought stewed unsupported unverifiable genetic explanations become intellectual core miseducated compliant society one creatively participates delusion selfdescribing illnesses genetic even cases clear evidence causation environmental genetically determinist society therefore one capable understanding directly risk irresponsible corporate activities government indifference fundamentally defenceless polluters junk food marketers community dislocation threats human integrity wider political frame history 20th century shows genetic determinist society also vulnerable fascists racists dictators warmongers product century half manipulation biological science strong argue think consider case study adolf eichmann transportation jews death camps second world war world mostly blamed eichmann personally israel executed hannah arendt however famously attributed crimes mystical banality evil wrong adolf eichmann superiors following dictates saw science genetics jews genetic problem racial purity solution genetic problem extermination prevention reproduction see especially war jews 1933194 given premises final solution perfectly logical perfectly logical question us subject meaning life part ii hardly anyone see hard critique challenge genetics attribute genes wholly unwarranted privileged level causation biology also give privileged level discourse society dominance genetics thus phenomenon originate science last essay series elaborate proposing novel theory explain fascination society genetic determinism master molecules theory explains iconic status scientific attraction dna terms metaphysical role representative universe like representative universe judaeochristian god dna confers properties leadership authority disorderly nature dna true meaning life thus legitimates authority scientific society therefore historical actors rockefeller foundation helped create role dna like everyone else thrall forces didnt fully understand theory quite important implications suggests ever since genetic determinism became established public mind western societies become locked downward spiral authoritarian politics genetic determinist thought spiral already imperilling functioning democracy unhalted may extinguish democratic values entirely optimistically theory offers conceptually simple way reverse spiral way rests pointing organisms systems dictatorships becomes necessary survival democratic society confront habits genetic determinist thinking basis reality references abraham th 2004 nicolas rashevskys mathematical biophysics journal history biology 37 333385 buchanan av km weiss sm fullerton dissecting complex disease quest philosophers stone international journal epidemiology 353 2006 562571 charney e english w 2012 candidate genes political behavior american political science review 106 134 chaufan c joseph j 2013 missing heritability common disorders health researchers care international journal health services 43 281303lucy dawidowicz 1975 war jews 1933194 new york holt rinehart winston dawkins r 1982 extended phenotype oxford university press dermitzakis et clark ag 2009 life gwa studies science 326 239240 desmond 1998 huxley penguin books greenberg g 2016 many nails take seal coffin developmental psychobiology 9999 12 gundle kr dingel barbara koenig 2010 prove industrys best hope big tobaccos support research genetics nicotine addiction 105 974983 doi 101111j13600443201002940x ioannidis jp 2007 nonreplication inconsistency genomewide association setting hum hered 64 20313 ioannidis jp panagiotou 2011 comparison effect sizes associated biomarkers reported highly cited individual articles subsequent metaanalyses j med assoc 305 22002210 kales cr soldatos eo bixler rl ladda ds charney g weber pk schweitzer 1980 hereditary factors sleepwalking night terrors british journal psychiatry 137 111118 101192bjp1372111 kay lily e 1993 molecular vision life oxford university press latham j 2017 genetics giving way new science life independent science news feb 2017 lerner rm 2007 another nineinch nail behavioral genetics human development 49 17 lewontin r rose kamin l 1984 genes pantheon books manolio et al 2009 finding missing heritability complex diseases nature 461 747753 mullis k dancing naked mind field 1998 vintage books nelkin lindee ms 2004 dna mystique gene cultural icon university michigan press vrecko 2008 capital ventures biology biosocial dynamics industry science gambling economy society 37 5067 wahlsten 2012 hunt gene effects pertinent behavioral traits psychiatric disorders mouse human dev psychobiology 54 475492 wallace hm 2006 model genegene geneenvironment interactions implications targeting environmental interventions genotype theoretical biology medical modelling 2006 335160 wallace h 2009 big tobacco human genome driving scientific bandwagon genomics society policy 5 154 wilson eo 2000 sociobiology new synthesis belknap press zuk e hechter sr sunyaev es lander 2013 mystery missing heritability genetic interactions create phantom heritability 109 11931198 doi 101073pnas1119675109 essay originally appeared independent science news | 2,957 |
<p>Last month I learned about a genocide I had never known of before. It happened not in an isolated unknown part of the world, but in Southern Italy, the ancestral home of members of my own family. Even more shocking to me, Southern Italians themselves are only now beginning to learn the facts of this ethnic cleansing, in large part thanks to the books of Pino Aprile, journalist and Southerner. <a href="" type="internal">Terroni: All That Has Been Done to Ensure That The Italians of The South Became “Southerners”</a> had an electrifying effect on my friend Enzo Fina who comes from Lecce, in the heel of Italy’s boot. Enzo is half of the duo <a href="http://www.musicantica.org/" type="external">Musicàntica</a>, the other half being Roberto Catalano, ethnomusicologist from Sicily. Based in Southern California, they keep the music and traditions of Southern Italy alive.</p>
<p>“You grow up knowing there’s something that isn’t right,” Roberto told me.</p>
<p>“You have feelings, even if unconscious,” said Enzo.&#160;</p>
<p>Terrone, singular, or terroni, plural, is the epithet used to describe Southerners as filthy and backwards. When the book came out in English — though I found the translation somewhat hard to follow — I had to read it. I learned that the so-called Unification of Italy in 1860 was, for the South, an invasion and occupation with as many as a million people killed; women and children massacred; men shipped north to die in a concentration camp, their numbers unknown as the bodies were dissolved in caustic lime; hundreds of thousands imprisoned without any charges or trials; torture; rape; iron works and steel mills and agriculture destroyed; railroad tracks torn up; police duties entrusted to (thereby establishing the power of) the Mafia and the Camorra; the gold from the treasury of the Spanish Bourbon Kingdom of the Two Sicilies carried north to pay off the debts of Piedmont.</p>
<p>The sacking of the South didn’t end there. The inequality between North and South grew even greater with the policies of Mussolini’s Fascist regime. And Aprile demonstrates how the legal, tax, and treaty structures of Italy continue to redistribute wealth so that it flows north, leaving the South with higher taxes, inferior schools, high unemployment, a lack of even basic infrastructure. Then the South is blamed for backwardness.</p>
<p>I wanted to know what it meant to my friends to live with these holes and gaps in history, and then suddenly learn the truth. But I also thought that the revisionist view of the South, while controversial in Italy, might be a neutral way for Americans to introduce the conversation about erased histories and cultural recuperation.</p>
<p>“When you’re the 6th or 7th generation after all the killing,” said Enzo, “you don’t know what really happened. What you feel is a kind of unnamed paranoia and that we are the kind of people who aren’t good enough to be rich, we aren’t good enough to create anything. But we don’t think about it consciously. It’s just the way things are.”</p>
<p>“You grow up with the notion that Garibaldi came and freed the South from tyranny,” Roberto said.</p>
<p>My education in New York taught that Garibaldi was the Father of His Country, the American Washington who defeated a monarchy. And Unification had to be a good thing, coming at almost the same time as Americans shed blood in our own civil war and preserved the Union.</p>
<p>“I knew that General Nino Bixio butchered women and children in a town near where I was born,” Roberto said. “What they did was worse than anything the Bourbons had done. Why? I go back to visit the little town my family comes from. You see empty houses, silent streets, all abandoned. Why is it that everyone leaves?”</p>
<p>Roberto had never heard the word terrone till at age 13 he was sent to a boarding school in the North and that’s what the other boys called him. “They’d also say, ‘You come from Terronia, but you are not really one of Them.’ That enraged me once I understood what it meant, that because I had blue eyes and blond hair I was not a stinky terrone. The word hurts. Look, with African Americans, in this country, we don’t even say that word anymore, we call it the N-word. So this is our T-word. Though it’s not the same. I’ve never been hanged or dragged behind a Chevy truck by people shouting terrone. Though in 1960,” he added, “immigrants from Sicily went up to Milan and they were burned alive.”</p>
<p>I’ve since learned that these days in the North, African immigrants are often called terroni and Southerners referred to as africani.</p>
<p>“With it comes a mindset that tells you that you will never amount to anything,” Roberto said. “You’re lazy and you’re a bum. You don’t produce anything. But as I read Aprile, I thought yes! yes! &#160;Then you look back to things you’ve seen and heard. The rampant poverty. Electricity arriving in the 1970’s. You know you are backwards and remote but now you ask, Why is that?”</p>
<p>Aprile gave the answers, showing that the poverty and abandonment of the South isn’t natural, and it didn’t just by accident happen.</p>
<p>“When you’re from the South,” Enzo told me once, “you go into a job interview already assuming you won’t be hired.” But he always believed — as in a hypothesis or a dream — that it had once been a different. “Until Pino Aprile, all I had was the feeling that there had once been this energy and power in Southern Italy. You go to Florence and see all the beautiful buildings and you think, Oh, they are rich. You go to Lecce and every town in the province has a beautiful church and beautiful houses but nobody cares about them. They are old. They are getting broken. There’s nothing but misery.” In fact, I’ve since read English language travel guides that compare Lecce to Florence and urge tourists to try this off-the-beaten-track destination to see the extraordinary baroque buildings made from the distinctive local sandstone. “So I always felt once it was different,” Enzo said. “Then they call us lazy, but I saw my mother working all the time. It didn’t make sense but I didn’t have documents, I didn’t have proof, so I didn’t speak.”</p>
<p>I thought how often silence is misconstrued as ignorance, hostility, lack of interest so I asked Enzo more about self-censorship.</p>
<p>“I think my personal story was a lot like the history of the South,” he said. “I was always treated badly for being different. I had long hair, I didn’t fight or play soccer. They would call me names and I got beaten up many times. Till I realized I never said This is who I am. This is what I really am. If you don’t speak up, people can say and believe whatever they want. Once you talk, you have an identity.” But the feeling of insecurity lingered on. “Even now,” he said, “when I write something, the first letters on the page are very very small. Only after a while do I write freely.”</p>
<p>At the university in Lecce, he kept his thoughts to himself. He can still remember the first time he spoke up in class, how he stammered trying to get out the words. “It was difficult, but I freed myself and then others asked me to speak for them. I’d tell them, no, you say it. Then I started feeling not alone and that’s powerful. You start talking and then many other people also speak. That, to me, is the revolution.”</p>
<p>Another turning point came when he traveled to Spain and found people — including Carmen García, now his wife — who were strong in their opinions and sense of self. The couple emigrated to the US, but Enzo was still silenced. The first time he was a guest lecturer at UCLA, he answered every question with “I don’t know.” Of course he knew the answers, but this was habitual behavior, trying to make others feel comfortable by not claiming to know more than they did. And he grew up believing “if someone is so proud and so busy showing you something, don’t trust. Be careful.”</p>
<p>For all his certainty that the history of his region had been distorted, he didn’t talk about it, expecting people who thought they knew more would put him down. “The first time I saw Pino Aprile interviewed, it was like hearing something you dreamed, something you knew but it never before came to you in words. Pino Aprile has documents. He has proof. He’s not just expressing opinion. For me, the hole was exactly this,” said Enzo, “a sense of absence from growing up in a place where your history was unknown.”</p>
<p>He didn’t know that before Unification, Naples was the third most important city in Europe, with a vibrant free press, and efficient administration. The South was the most industrialized region of what would become the nation-state of Italy. In those days, Northerners emigrated due to poverty; Southerners did not as every peasant owned at least some land and public lands were available to anyone willing to cultivate them.</p>
<p>Enzo grew up curious about the briganti — the infamous “brigand” guerrillas who were eradicated after Unification by Piedmontese forces. Some people talked about the brigand as a kind of bogeyman, but why then did the word, used as an adjective, express respect? According to revisionist history, the brigands weren’t only common criminals but a resistance including Bourbon soldiers, civil servants, and teachers suddenly dismissed and left without employment; peasants suddenly left landless; civilians outraged by atrocities. (Sound familiar?)</p>
<p>As in any colonialist educational system, “Everything you study is about a different place,” Enzo said. “You memorize patriotic songs and try to understand what they are talking about. You sing about the Piave River and you don’t know where that is, and you sing about a war between the Piedmontese and the Austrians. It wasn’t our war. It’s all about a place that isn’t your place. You are stuffed full of a culture that isn’t your culture.” And so there’s a sense of inferiority, but also dislocation.</p>
<p>As Musicàntica, Enzo and Roberto have performed and also lectured at venues as prestigious as the Getty Villa and the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, but, in Roberto’s words, they sometimes find “A lot of Italian Americans want to keep tradition alive, but not the sounds we play, the music their grandparents were accustomed to. All that is part of the tragedy, it’s ‘primitive’ and backwards while in this country, they’ve stepped up and become emancipated.”</p>
<p>“Roberto and I were born into the last part of a thousand-year-old culture,” said Enzo, the culture connected to Mother Earth, “the agri-culture. We’re the ones who saw our society change, from working the land to polluting it. When I was growing up, there were maybe 15 cars in the whole town. Now the cars appear, too many cars, but our roads are still small ones, built only for people walking or maybe for a cart.”</p>
<p>He believes, “What’s happening in Southern Italy also reveals how things are going for humanity. What has happened there was a first step in globalization. Now the European Union cares about industrial development, not about 3,000-year-old olive trees,” and so a German company has established a solar panel factory on what was once fertile agricultural land” — though, he was pleased to add, the Obamas now use olive oil from Lecce. “There’s a coal-burning power plant in Puglia and people are getting cancer and the famous artichokes are full of carbon dust. The electricity is exported for profit. We don’t even get the energy.” As for the stereotype that Southern Italy equals Mafia, “Where I’m from, we never had Mafia till the power plant. Mafia came for the construction and offered farmers a lot of money for the land and if people still didn’t sell, they put a bomb and destroyed all you had. Once the construction was over, the people were unemployed again and we’re left with all the pollution.”</p>
<p>Aprile writes about Milan banks laundering Mafia money and I thought of El Paso banks flush with cash from the Juarez cartel. Southern Italian agriculture was undermined just as small farmers in Mexico have been forced out of the market by NAFTA. Sicilians go abroad or migrate north to Milan of supposedly unified Italy (where they are nonetheless viewed as foreigners), a despised and underpaid labor force blamed for taking “Italian” jobs; displaced Mexicans head north to the maquiladoras on the border, or, without documents if they must, further north to the US. Southern Italians and Mexicans leave behind a broken culture and desolate villages and towns.</p>
<p>“They exploit the South and take everything out of it,” said Roberto, “and then they say we always suck their blood.” In the US we scapegoat immigrants and welfare recipients and the poor.</p>
<p>I thought of supposedly race-neutral laws and policies that create huge disparities in school funding; government funding programs that aren’t called “welfare” and have almost exclusively benefited whites; racial bias in how laws are actually enforced; regressive tax structures that fall especially heavily on the working poor. Of a political structure that continues to vacuum American wealth up to the 1%.</p>
<p>Aprile writes how funds intended to develop the South have been routinely diverted to the North and I think of banks bailed out and given money virtually interest-free from the Fed while they continue gouging consumers and taking people’s homes.</p>
<p>I thought of Ali H. Mir, Director of Muslim Student Life at the University of Southern California, who spoke of the unknown history of Muslims in the US, not all recent immigrants to America, he said, but part of this country since the colonial era as many Africans brought to these shores in slavery were Muslim. I should have known. Years ago in Georgia I saw a journal written by an enslaved African but though it was written in Arabic it never occurred to me the man was Muslim. Why was this reality erased? Because African American history didn’t count, or because Muslims weren’t supposed to be here?</p>
<p>“We are everywhere,” was an old slogan from the gay rights movement and yet I thought of the many gay and lesbian Americans who even now are silent about their lives.</p>
<p>This year the Yale University Child Study Center found a consistent pattern of mistreatment of African American students, especially boys, from kindergarten on. Did it really take a Yale study for us to notice?</p>
<p>In Arizona, thanks to Tucson’s Mexican-American studies program, 94% of students in the program graduated while less than half of the Latino students who didn’t study their own culture managed to get through high school. But the curriculum has now been banned on the grounds that it promoted resentment and encouraged ethnic solidarity.</p>
<p>I wondered if Enzo and Roberto, now that they have the facts, harbor the resentment that politicians and bureaucrats in Arizona claim to fear.</p>
<p>“If I hate Northern Italians, I’m being used as a puppet,” Enzo said. “If Northern Italians are racist it’s because they have been manipulated. We are the fruit of that manipulation.”</p>
<p>Roberto noted that while some boys in boarding school taunted him, others became close friends and while he loves Sicily — “It means the world to me” — he always considers himself Italian. What he envisions is an Italy that is truly unified “by respect and understanding.”</p>
<p>In the meantime, Enzo can’t stop talking about Terrone and Pino Aprile. “It’s like when you get a nice gift and you want to say Look! Or if someone gives me a beautiful glass, it becomes more beautiful once I share it and everyone can drink from it. &#160;A musical instrument is more beautiful when it’s played and everybody gets music. Then imagine someone else plays the instrument and gets richer from finding out how to do it.”</p>
<p>I wish the State of Arizona understood this: Everyone should celebrate and share the knowledge that confirms the dignity of all.</p>
<p>Knowing the truth about history is not divisive, Enzo said. “It’s like you discover a key and can open a door and enjoy everything that’s inside. Then the key lets everybody come in and enjoy.”</p>
<p>Diane Lefer&#160;is an author, playwright, and activist whose recent book,&#160; <a href="/1932511474/counterpunchmaga" type="external">California Transit</a>, was awarded the Mary McCarthy Prize in Short Fiction. Her stories, novels, and nonfiction often address social issues and draw on such experiences as going to jail for civil disobedience and her volunteer work as a legal assistant/interpreter for immigrants in detention. Her new book,&#160; <a href="" type="internal">The Blessing Next to the Wound</a>, co-authored with Hector Aristizabal, is a true story of surviving torture and civil war and seeking change through activism and art.&#160;Her crime novel,&#160; <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1937758125/counterpunchmaga" type="external">Nobody Wakes Up Pretty</a>, which Edgar Award winner Domenic Stansberry describes as&#160;“sifting the ashes of America’s endless class warfare,”&#160;due out May 2012 from Rainstorm Press.&#160;More about her work can be found at:&#160; <a href="http://dianelefer.weebly.com/" type="external">http://dianelefer.weebly.com/</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | last month learned genocide never known happened isolated unknown part world southern italy ancestral home members family even shocking southern italians beginning learn facts ethnic cleansing large part thanks books pino aprile journalist southerner terroni done ensure italians south became southerners electrifying effect friend enzo fina comes lecce heel italys boot enzo half duo musicàntica half roberto catalano ethnomusicologist sicily based southern california keep music traditions southern italy alive grow knowing theres something isnt right roberto told feelings even unconscious said enzo160 terrone singular terroni plural epithet used describe southerners filthy backwards book came english though found translation somewhat hard follow read learned socalled unification italy 1860 south invasion occupation many million people killed women children massacred men shipped north die concentration camp numbers unknown bodies dissolved caustic lime hundreds thousands imprisoned without charges trials torture rape iron works steel mills agriculture destroyed railroad tracks torn police duties entrusted thereby establishing power mafia camorra gold treasury spanish bourbon kingdom two sicilies carried north pay debts piedmont sacking south didnt end inequality north south grew even greater policies mussolinis fascist regime aprile demonstrates legal tax treaty structures italy continue redistribute wealth flows north leaving south higher taxes inferior schools high unemployment lack even basic infrastructure south blamed backwardness wanted know meant friends live holes gaps history suddenly learn truth also thought revisionist view south controversial italy might neutral way americans introduce conversation erased histories cultural recuperation youre 6th 7th generation killing said enzo dont know really happened feel kind unnamed paranoia kind people arent good enough rich arent good enough create anything dont think consciously way things grow notion garibaldi came freed south tyranny roberto said education new york taught garibaldi father country american washington defeated monarchy unification good thing coming almost time americans shed blood civil war preserved union knew general nino bixio butchered women children town near born roberto said worse anything bourbons done go back visit little town family comes see empty houses silent streets abandoned everyone leaves roberto never heard word terrone till age 13 sent boarding school north thats boys called theyd also say come terronia really one enraged understood meant blue eyes blond hair stinky terrone word hurts look african americans country dont even say word anymore call nword tword though ive never hanged dragged behind chevy truck people shouting terrone though 1960 added immigrants sicily went milan burned alive ive since learned days north african immigrants often called terroni southerners referred africani comes mindset tells never amount anything roberto said youre lazy youre bum dont produce anything read aprile thought yes yes 160then look back things youve seen heard rampant poverty electricity arriving 1970s know backwards remote ask aprile gave answers showing poverty abandonment south isnt natural didnt accident happen youre south enzo told go job interview already assuming wont hired always believed hypothesis dream different pino aprile feeling energy power southern italy go florence see beautiful buildings think oh rich go lecce every town province beautiful church beautiful houses nobody cares old getting broken theres nothing misery fact ive since read english language travel guides compare lecce florence urge tourists try offthebeatentrack destination see extraordinary baroque buildings made distinctive local sandstone always felt different enzo said call us lazy saw mother working time didnt make sense didnt documents didnt proof didnt speak thought often silence misconstrued ignorance hostility lack interest asked enzo selfcensorship think personal story lot like history south said always treated badly different long hair didnt fight play soccer would call names got beaten many times till realized never said really dont speak people say believe whatever want talk identity feeling insecurity lingered even said write something first letters page small write freely university lecce kept thoughts still remember first time spoke class stammered trying get words difficult freed others asked speak id tell say started feeling alone thats powerful start talking many people also speak revolution another turning point came traveled spain found people including carmen garcía wife strong opinions sense self couple emigrated us enzo still silenced first time guest lecturer ucla answered every question dont know course knew answers habitual behavior trying make others feel comfortable claiming know grew believing someone proud busy showing something dont trust careful certainty history region distorted didnt talk expecting people thought knew would put first time saw pino aprile interviewed like hearing something dreamed something knew never came words pino aprile documents proof hes expressing opinion hole exactly said enzo sense absence growing place history unknown didnt know unification naples third important city europe vibrant free press efficient administration south industrialized region would become nationstate italy days northerners emigrated due poverty southerners every peasant owned least land public lands available anyone willing cultivate enzo grew curious briganti infamous brigand guerrillas eradicated unification piedmontese forces people talked brigand kind bogeyman word used adjective express respect according revisionist history brigands werent common criminals resistance including bourbon soldiers civil servants teachers suddenly dismissed left without employment peasants suddenly left landless civilians outraged atrocities sound familiar colonialist educational system everything study different place enzo said memorize patriotic songs try understand talking sing piave river dont know sing war piedmontese austrians wasnt war place isnt place stuffed full culture isnt culture theres sense inferiority also dislocation musicàntica enzo roberto performed also lectured venues prestigious getty villa dorothy chandler pavilion robertos words sometimes find lot italian americans want keep tradition alive sounds play music grandparents accustomed part tragedy primitive backwards country theyve stepped become emancipated roberto born last part thousandyearold culture said enzo culture connected mother earth agriculture ones saw society change working land polluting growing maybe 15 cars whole town cars appear many cars roads still small ones built people walking maybe cart believes whats happening southern italy also reveals things going humanity happened first step globalization european union cares industrial development 3000yearold olive trees german company established solar panel factory fertile agricultural land though pleased add obamas use olive oil lecce theres coalburning power plant puglia people getting cancer famous artichokes full carbon dust electricity exported profit dont even get energy stereotype southern italy equals mafia im never mafia till power plant mafia came construction offered farmers lot money land people still didnt sell put bomb destroyed construction people unemployed left pollution aprile writes milan banks laundering mafia money thought el paso banks flush cash juarez cartel southern italian agriculture undermined small farmers mexico forced market nafta sicilians go abroad migrate north milan supposedly unified italy nonetheless viewed foreigners despised underpaid labor force blamed taking italian jobs displaced mexicans head north maquiladoras border without documents must north us southern italians mexicans leave behind broken culture desolate villages towns exploit south take everything said roberto say always suck blood us scapegoat immigrants welfare recipients poor thought supposedly raceneutral laws policies create huge disparities school funding government funding programs arent called welfare almost exclusively benefited whites racial bias laws actually enforced regressive tax structures fall especially heavily working poor political structure continues vacuum american wealth 1 aprile writes funds intended develop south routinely diverted north think banks bailed given money virtually interestfree fed continue gouging consumers taking peoples homes thought ali h mir director muslim student life university southern california spoke unknown history muslims us recent immigrants america said part country since colonial era many africans brought shores slavery muslim known years ago georgia saw journal written enslaved african though written arabic never occurred man muslim reality erased african american history didnt count muslims werent supposed everywhere old slogan gay rights movement yet thought many gay lesbian americans even silent lives year yale university child study center found consistent pattern mistreatment african american students especially boys kindergarten really take yale study us notice arizona thanks tucsons mexicanamerican studies program 94 students program graduated less half latino students didnt study culture managed get high school curriculum banned grounds promoted resentment encouraged ethnic solidarity wondered enzo roberto facts harbor resentment politicians bureaucrats arizona claim fear hate northern italians im used puppet enzo said northern italians racist manipulated fruit manipulation roberto noted boys boarding school taunted others became close friends loves sicily means world always considers italian envisions italy truly unified respect understanding meantime enzo cant stop talking terrone pino aprile like get nice gift want say look someone gives beautiful glass becomes beautiful share everyone drink 160a musical instrument beautiful played everybody gets music imagine someone else plays instrument gets richer finding wish state arizona understood everyone celebrate share knowledge confirms dignity knowing truth history divisive enzo said like discover key open door enjoy everything thats inside key lets everybody come enjoy diane lefer160is author playwright activist whose recent book160 california transit awarded mary mccarthy prize short fiction stories novels nonfiction often address social issues draw experiences going jail civil disobedience volunteer work legal assistantinterpreter immigrants detention new book160 blessing next wound coauthored hector aristizabal true story surviving torture civil war seeking change activism art160her crime novel160 nobody wakes pretty edgar award winner domenic stansberry describes as160sifting ashes americas endless class warfare160due may 2012 rainstorm press160more work found at160 httpdianeleferweeblycom 160 | 1,501 |
<p>I attended a screening this week of Alex Gibney’s new documentary, Client 9. It’s the story of the rise and fall of New York State Governor Eliot Spitzer, brought down by imperial hubris and a reckless penchant for ladies of the evening.</p>
<p>Gibney, an Oscar-winning filmmaker, creates a fascinating narrative. Both he and Spitzer readily concede that it was the former governor who did himself in; he haplessly provided the guns and ammo that polished him off. But there is a compelling case made suggesting that there were plenty of enemies, both in politics and business, with a motive to see him destroyed, plus the wherewithal and contacts to help grease the skids.</p>
<p>After all, it was Spitzer who, as state attorney general and self-appointed “Sheriff of Wall Street,” went after corruption and greed in the finance industry, exposing investment bank stock inflation, securities fraud, predatory lending practices, exorbitant executive compensation and illegal late trading and market timing perpetrated by hedge funds and mutual fund companies. Some of these practices were, of course, major factors in the calamitous financial follies of 2008.</p>
<p>One of Spitzer’s targets was Maurice “Hank” Greenberg, former chair and chief executive officer of the gigantic insurance company AIG. He was forced to resign by the AIG board in March 2005 after Spitzer charged Greenberg and the company with manipulative behaviors in violation of insurance and securities laws. Ultimately, criminal charges were dropped but when AIG collapsed during the ’08 meltdown, ultimately receiving the largest of the Federal bailouts — 182 billion taxpayer dollars – Greenberg said he was “bewildered” that things could have gone so wrong.</p>
<p>In Client 9, I was struck by a statement attributed to Greenberg, who in his AIG heyday supposedly was fond of joking, “All I ask for is an unfair advantage.”</p>
<p>Just three days before the screening, The New York Times had reported that one of the largest donors to a foundation run by the US Chamber of Commerce is a charity run by Greenberg.</p>
<p>According to the Times, “The charity has made loans and grants [to the chamber’s foundation] totaling $18 million since 2003. U.S. Chamber Watch, a union-backed group, filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service last month asserting that the chamber foundation violated tax laws by funneling the money into a chamber ‘tort reform’ campaign favored by AIG and Mr. Greenberg. The chamber denied any wrongdoing.</p>
<p>“The complaint, which the chamber calls entirely unfounded, raises the question of how the chamber picks its campaigns, and whether it accepts donations that are intended to be spent on specific issues or political races.”</p>
<p>Other major contributors of at least $17 million to the foundation between 2004 and 2008 include Goldman Sachs, the investment company Edward Jones, Alpha Technologies, Chevron Texaco and Aegon, a Netherlands-based, multinational insurance company “which has American subsidiaries and whose former chief executive, Donald J. Shepard, served for a time as chairman of the US Chamber of Commerce’s board.”</p>
<p>Almost all of these donations would have remained anonymous, as allowed by law, if not for some intensive digging by the Times into corporate foundation tax filingsand other public records as part of a larger investigation into how the US Chamber of Commerce “has increasingly relied on a relatively small collection of big corporate donors to finance much of its legislative and political agenda. The chamber makes no apologies for its policy of not identifying its donors. It has vigorously opposed legislation in Congress that would require groups like it to identify their biggest contributors when they spend money on campaign ads.”</p>
<p>Times investigative reporters Eric Lipton, Mike McIntire and Don Van Natta Jr. write that “the chamber has had little trouble finding American companies eager to enlist it, anonymously, to fight their political battles and pay handsomely for its help.</p>
<p>“…While the chamber boasts of representing more than three million businesses, and having approximately 300,000 members, nearly half of its $140 million in contributions in 2008 came from just 45 donors. Many of those large donations coincided with lobbying or political campaigns that potentially affected the donors.”</p>
<p>All they ask for is an unfair advantage. Open any newspaper, magazine or political website and the coverage of corporate campaign largesse, much of it anonymous, bedazzles the mind. There’s $75 million from the chamber, plus another $50 million or more in undisclosed donations to major conservative organizations — as reported by the nonpartisan Sunlight Foundation — that include the American Action Network, Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS, the American Future Fund and the 60 Plus Association.</p>
<p>The progressive Campaign for America’s Future reports that “Americans for Prosperity brags that they’ll spend at least $45 million on the 2010 elections, while FreedomWorks plans to throw in another $10 million.” Both organizations, backed by right-wing billionaire David Koch, are major funders of “all things Tea Party.”</p>
<p>And get this – 23 companies that received a billion dollars or more in taxpayer bailout money donated $1.4 million to candidates in September – most of it to Republicans, although, as The Washington Post reports, “the TARP program was approved primarily with Democratic support. President Obama expanded it to cover GM and other automakers.”</p>
<p>Yes, organized labor is throwing millions at the elections, too, but we know where that money is coming from – union dues (and in the interest of full disclosure, I’m president of a small AFL-CIO affiliated union, but one that neither contributes to nor endorses candidates).</p>
<p>When all is said and done, the Post reported Tuesday, using data from the Federal Election Commission and the watchdog Public Campaign Action Fund, outside interest groups could spend $400 million or more by Election Day. What’s more, “House and Senate candidates have already shattered fundraising record for a midterm election and are on their way to surpassing $2 billion in spending for the first time… To put it another way: That’s the equivalent of about $4 million for every congressional seat up for grabs this year.”</p>
<p>All the big donors ask for is an unfair advantage. You may recall the story, usually attributed to George Bernard Shaw, of how he propositioned a fellow dinner guest, asking if she would sleep with him for a million pounds.</p>
<p>She agreed, and then Shaw asked if she would do the same for ten shillings. “What do you take me for?” she angrily replied. “A prostitute?”</p>
<p>“We’ve established the principle,” Shaw rejoined. “Now we’re just haggling over the price.”</p>
<p>With this election, Congress may establish once and for all that Shaw’s is the only principle left that it still embraces, as long as the price is right.</p>
<p>By the way, Alex Gibney’s Client 9: The Rise and Fall of Eliot Spitzer &#160;opens in New York November 5th and across the country on November 12th. Keep an eye out for it at a theater near you, as they say, or even on a TV near you – many cable systems are offering it on demand.</p>
<p>MICHAEL WINSHIP is senior writer at Public Affairs Television in New York City.</p> | true | 4 | attended screening week alex gibneys new documentary client 9 story rise fall new york state governor eliot spitzer brought imperial hubris reckless penchant ladies evening gibney oscarwinning filmmaker creates fascinating narrative spitzer readily concede former governor haplessly provided guns ammo polished compelling case made suggesting plenty enemies politics business motive see destroyed plus wherewithal contacts help grease skids spitzer state attorney general selfappointed sheriff wall street went corruption greed finance industry exposing investment bank stock inflation securities fraud predatory lending practices exorbitant executive compensation illegal late trading market timing perpetrated hedge funds mutual fund companies practices course major factors calamitous financial follies 2008 one spitzers targets maurice hank greenberg former chair chief executive officer gigantic insurance company aig forced resign aig board march 2005 spitzer charged greenberg company manipulative behaviors violation insurance securities laws ultimately criminal charges dropped aig collapsed 08 meltdown ultimately receiving largest federal bailouts 182 billion taxpayer dollars greenberg said bewildered things could gone wrong client 9 struck statement attributed greenberg aig heyday supposedly fond joking ask unfair advantage three days screening new york times reported one largest donors foundation run us chamber commerce charity run greenberg according times charity made loans grants chambers foundation totaling 18 million since 2003 us chamber watch unionbacked group filed complaint internal revenue service last month asserting chamber foundation violated tax laws funneling money chamber tort reform campaign favored aig mr greenberg chamber denied wrongdoing complaint chamber calls entirely unfounded raises question chamber picks campaigns whether accepts donations intended spent specific issues political races major contributors least 17 million foundation 2004 2008 include goldman sachs investment company edward jones alpha technologies chevron texaco aegon netherlandsbased multinational insurance company american subsidiaries whose former chief executive donald j shepard served time chairman us chamber commerces board almost donations would remained anonymous allowed law intensive digging times corporate foundation tax filingsand public records part larger investigation us chamber commerce increasingly relied relatively small collection big corporate donors finance much legislative political agenda chamber makes apologies policy identifying donors vigorously opposed legislation congress would require groups like identify biggest contributors spend money campaign ads times investigative reporters eric lipton mike mcintire van natta jr write chamber little trouble finding american companies eager enlist anonymously fight political battles pay handsomely help chamber boasts representing three million businesses approximately 300000 members nearly half 140 million contributions 2008 came 45 donors many large donations coincided lobbying political campaigns potentially affected donors ask unfair advantage open newspaper magazine political website coverage corporate campaign largesse much anonymous bedazzles mind theres 75 million chamber plus another 50 million undisclosed donations major conservative organizations reported nonpartisan sunlight foundation include american action network karl roves crossroads gps american future fund 60 plus association progressive campaign americas future reports americans prosperity brags theyll spend least 45 million 2010 elections freedomworks plans throw another 10 million organizations backed rightwing billionaire david koch major funders things tea party get 23 companies received billion dollars taxpayer bailout money donated 14 million candidates september republicans although washington post reports tarp program approved primarily democratic support president obama expanded cover gm automakers yes organized labor throwing millions elections know money coming union dues interest full disclosure im president small aflcio affiliated union one neither contributes endorses candidates said done post reported tuesday using data federal election commission watchdog public campaign action fund outside interest groups could spend 400 million election day whats house senate candidates already shattered fundraising record midterm election way surpassing 2 billion spending first time put another way thats equivalent 4 million every congressional seat grabs year big donors ask unfair advantage may recall story usually attributed george bernard shaw propositioned fellow dinner guest asking would sleep million pounds agreed shaw asked would ten shillings take angrily replied prostitute weve established principle shaw rejoined haggling price election congress may establish shaws principle left still embraces long price right way alex gibneys client 9 rise fall eliot spitzer 160opens new york november 5th across country november 12th keep eye theater near say even tv near many cable systems offering demand michael winship senior writer public affairs television new york city | 683 |
<p>Five years ago this week, on December 13, 2001, the Indian parliament was in its winter session. The government was under attack for yet another corruption scandal. At 11.30 in the morning, five armed men in a white Ambassador car fitted out with an improvised explosive device drove through the gates of Parliament House. When they were challenged, they jumped out of the car and opened fire. In the gun battle that followed, all the attackers were killed. Eight security personnel and a gardener were killed, too. The dead terrorists, the police said, had enough explosives to blow up the parliament building, and enough ammunition to take on a whole battalion of soldiers. Unlike most terrorists, these five left behind a thick trail of evidence–weapons, mobile phones, phone numbers, ID cards, photographs, packets of dried fruit and even a love letter.</p>
<p>Not surprisingly, prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee seized the opportunity to compare the assault to the September 11 attacks in the United States only three months previously.</p>
<p>On December 14, 2001, the day after the attack on parliament, the Special Cell (antiterrorist squad) of the Delhi police claimed it had tracked down several people suspected of being involved in the conspiracy. The next day, it announced that it had “cracked the case”: the attack, the police said, was a joint operation carried out by two Pakistan-based terrorist groups, Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad. Three Kashmiri men, Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, Shaukat Hussain Guru, and Mohammad Afzal, and Shaukat’s wife, Afsan Guru, were arrested.</p>
<p>In the tense days that followed, parliament was adjourned. The Indian government declared that Pakistan–America’s closest ally in the “war on terror”–was a terrorist state. On December 21, India recalled its high commissioner from Pakistan, suspended air, rail, and bus communications, and banned air traffic with Pakistan. It put into motion a massive mobilization of its war machinery, and moved more than half a million troops to the Pakistan border. Foreign embassies evacuated their staff and citizens, and tourists traveling to India were issued cautionary travel advisories. The world watched with bated breath as the subcontinent was taken to the brink of nuclear war. All this cost India an estimated $2.1 billion of public money. About 800 soldiers died in the panicky process of mobilization alone.</p>
<p>The police charge sheet was filed in a special fast-track trial court designated for cases under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). Some three years later, the trial court sentenced Geelani, Shaukat, and Afzal to death. Afsan Guru was sentenced to five years of “rigorous imprisonment.” On appeal, the high court subsequently acquitted Geelani and Afsan, but upheld Shaukat’s and Afzal’s death sentences. Eventually, the supreme court upheld the acquittals and reduced Shaukat’s punishment to ten years of rigorous imprisonment. However, it not just confirmed, but enhanced Mohammad Afzal’s sentence. He was given three life sentences and a double death sentence.</p>
<p>In its judgment on August 5, 2005, the supreme court admitted that the evidence against Afzal was only circumstantial, and that there was no evidence that he belonged to any terrorist group or organization. But it went on to endorse what can only be described as lynch law. “The incident, which resulted in heavy casualties, had shaken the entire nation,” it said, “and the collective conscience of the society will only be satisfied if capital punishment is awarded to the offender.”</p>
<p>Spelling out the reasons for giving Afzal the death penalty, the judgment went on: “The appellant, who is a surrendered militant and who was bent upon repeating the acts of treason against the nation, is a menace to the society and his life should become extinct.” This implies a dangerous ignorance of what it means to be a “surrendered militant” in Kashmir today.</p>
<p>So, should Afzal’s life be extinguished? His story is fascinating because it is inextricably entwined with the story of the Kashmir Valley. It is a story that stretches far beyond the confines of courtrooms and the limited imagination of people who live in the secure heart of a self-declared “superpower.” Afzal’s story has its origins in a war zone whose laws are beyond the pale of the fine arguments and delicate sensibilities of normal jurisprudence.</p>
<p>For all these reasons it is critical that we consider carefully the strange, sad, and utterly sinister story of the December 13 attack. It tells us a great deal about the way the world’s largest “democracy” really works. It connects the biggest things to the smallest. It traces the pathways that connect what happens in the shadowy grottoes of our police stations to what goes on in the snowy streets of Paradise Valley, and from there to the malign furies that bring nations to the brink of nuclear war. It raises specific questions that deserve specific, and not ideological or rhetorical, answers. What hangs in the balance is far more than the fate of one man.</p>
<p>For the most part, the December 13 attack was an astonishingly incompetent “terrorist” strike. But consummate competence appeared to be the hallmark of everything that followed: the gathering of evidence, the speed of the investigation by the Special Cell, the arrest and charging of the accused and the three-and-a-half-year-long judicial process that began with the fast-track trial court.</p>
<p>The operative phrase in all of this is “appeared to be.” If you follow the story carefully, you will encounter two sets of masks. First, the mask of consummate competence (accused arrested, “case cracked” in two days flat), and then, when things began to come undone, the benign mask of shambling incompetence (shoddy evidence, procedural flaws, material contradictions). But underneath all of this–as several lawyers, academics, and journalists who have studied the case in detail have shown–is something more sinister, more worrying. Over the past few years, the worries have grown into a mountain of misgivings, impossible to ignore.</p>
<p>The doubts set in as early as the day after the parliament attack, when the police arrested Geelani, a young lecturer at Delhi University. His outraged colleagues and friends, certain that he had been framed, contacted the well-known lawyer Nandita Haksar and asked her to take on his case. This marked the beginning of a campaign for the fair trial of Geelani. It flew in the face of mass hysteria and corrosive propaganda that was enthusiastically disseminated by the mass media. But despite this, the campaign was successful, and Geelani was eventually acquitted, along with Afsan Guru.</p>
<p>Geelani’s acquittal blew a gaping hole in the prosecution’s version of the parliament attack. The linchpin of its conspiracy theory suddenly tuned out to be innocent. But in some odd way, in the public mind, the acquittal of two of the accused only confirmed the guilt of the other two. There was bloodlust that had to be satiated. When the government announced that Afzal, Accused No 1 in the case, would be hanged on October 20, 2006, it seemed that most people welcomed the news not just with approval but with morbid excitement. But then, once again, the questions resurfaced.</p>
<p>To see through the prosecution’s case against Geelani was relatively easy. He was plucked out of thin air and transplanted into the center of the “conspiracy” as its kingpin. Afzal was different. He had been extruded through the sewage system of the hell that Kashmir has become. He surfaced through a manhole, covered in shit. (And when he emerged, policemen in the Special Cell pissed on him. Literally.) The first thing they made him do was a “media confession” in which he implicated himself completely in the attack. The speed with which this happened made many of us believe that he was indeed guilty as charged. It was only much later that the circumstances under which this “confession” was made were revealed, and even the supreme court was to set it aside, saying that the police had violated legal safeguards.</p>
<p>From the very beginning there was nothing pristine or simple about Afzal’s case. His story gives us a glimpse into what life is really like in the Kashmir Valley. It is only in the Noddy book version we read about in our newspapers that security forces battle militants and innocent Kashmiris are caught in the crossfire. In the adult version, Kashmir is a valley awash with militants, renegades, security forces, double-crossers, informers, spooks, blackmailers, blackmailees, extortionists, spies, both Indian and Pakistani intelligence agencies, human rights activists, NGOs, and unimaginable amounts of unaccounted-for money and weapons. There are not always clear lines that demarcate the boundaries between all these; it is not easy to tell who is working for whom.</p>
<p>Truth, in Kashmir, is probably more dangerous than anything else. The deeper you dig, the worse it gets. At the bottom of the pit are the Special Operations Group and Special Task Force (STF), the most ruthless, undisciplined, and dreaded elements of the Indian security apparatus in Kashmir, which play a central role in the Afzal story. Unlike the more formal forces, they operate in a twilight zone where policemen, surrendered militants, renegades, and common criminals do business. They prey upon the local population, particularly in rural Kashmir. Their primary victims are the thousands of young Kashmiri men who rose up in revolt in the anarchic uprising of the early 1990s and have since surrendered and are trying to live normal lives.</p>
<p>In 1989, when Afzal crossed the border to be trained as a militant, he was only twenty years old. He returned with no training, disillusioned with his experience. He put down his gun and enrolled himself in Delhi University. In 1993, without ever having been a practicing militant, he voluntarily surrendered to the Border Security Force. Illogically enough, it was at this point that his nightmares began. His surrender was treated as a crime, and his life became hell. Afzal’s story has enraged Kashmiris because what has happened to him could have happened, is happening, and has happened to thousands of young Kashmiri men and their families. The only difference is that their stories are played out in the dingy bowels of interrogation centers, army camps, and police stations where they have been burned, beaten, electrocuted, blackmailed, and killed, their bodies thrown out of the backs of trucks for passers by to find. Whereas Afzal’s story is being performed like a piece of medieval theater on the national stage, in the clear light of day, with the legal sanction of a “fair trial,” the hollow benefits of a “free press,” and the all pomp and ceremony of a so-called democracy.</p>
<p>In documents submitted to the court, Afzal describes how, in the months before the attack on parliament, he was tortured in the camps of the STF–with electrodes on his genitals and chilies and petrol in his anus. He talks of how he was a constant victim of extortion. He mentions the name of Deputy Superintendent of Police Devinder Singh, who said he needed him to do a “small job” for him in Delhi. (Singh has subsequently admitted on record to having tortured Afzal in exactly the ways Afzal has described.) Afzal has also said that from the time he was arrested up to the time he was charged (a few months), his younger brother Hilal was held in illegal confinement in a police camp in Kashmir. As ransom.</p>
<p>Even today, Afzal does not claim complete innocence. It is the nature of his involvement that is being contested. For instance, was he coerced, tortured, and blackmailed into playing even the peripheral part he played? In a gross violation of his constitutional rights, from the time he was arrested and right through the crucial phase of the trial when the real work of building up a case is done, Afzal did not have a lawyer. He had nobody to put out his version of the story, or help him or anyone else sift through the tangle of lies and fabrications and propaganda put out by the police. Various individuals worked it out for themselves. Today, five years later, a group of lawyers, academics, journalists, and writers has published a reader (December 13th: The Strange Case of the Parliament Attack, published by Penguin India). It is this body of work that has fractured what, only recently, appeared to be a national consensus interwoven with mass hysteria.</p>
<p>Through the fissures, those who have come under scrutiny–shadowy individuals, counter-intelligence and security agencies, political parties–are beginning to surface. They wave flags, hurl abuse, issue hot denials, and cover their tracks with more and more untruths. Thus they reveal themselves.</p>
<p>The essays in the Penguin book raise questions about how Afzal, who never had proper legal representation, can be sentenced to death without having had an opportunity to be heard, without a fair trial. They raise questions about fabricated arrest memos, falsified seizure and recovery memos, procedural flaws, vital evidence that has been tampered with, false telephone records, false testimonies, legal lacunae, material contradictions in the testimonies of police and prosecution witnesses, and the outright lies that were presented in court and published in newspapers. They show how there is hardly a single piece of evidence that stands up to scrutiny.</p>
<p>And then there are even more disturbing questions that have been raised, which range beyond the fate of Afzal. Some of these are critical for a country that is claiming to be a responsible nuclear power. Here are thirteen questions regarding December 13:</p>
<p>Question 1: For months before the attack on parliament, both the government and the police had been saying that parliament could be attacked. On December 12, 2001, then prime minister A.B. Vajpayee warned of an imminent attack. On December 13, it happened. Given that there was an “improved security drill,” how did a car bomb packed with explosives enter the parliament complex?</p>
<p>Question 2: Within days of the attack, the Special Cell of the Delhi police said it was a meticulously planned joint operation of Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba. They said the attack was led by a man called Mohammad who was also involved in the hijacking of flight IC-814 in 1998. (This was later refuted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.) None of this was ever proved in court. What evidence did the Special Cell have for its claim?</p>
<p>Question 3: The entire attack was recorded live on closed-circuit television (CCTV). Two Congress Party members of parliament, Kapil Sibal and Najma Heptullah, demanded in parliament that the CCTV recording be shown to the members. They said that there was confusion about the details of the event. The chief whip of the Congress Party, Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, said, “I counted six men getting out of the car. But only five were killed. The closed-circuit TV camera recording clearly showed the six men.” If Dasmunshi was right, why did the police say that there were only five people in the car? Who was the sixth person? Where is he now? Why was the CCTV recording not produced by the prosecution as evidence in the trial? Why was it not released for public viewing?</p>
<p>Question 4: Why was parliament adjourned after some of these questions were raised?</p>
<p>Question 5: A few days after December 13, the government declared that it had “incontrovertible evidence” of Pakistan’s involvement in the attack, and announced a massive mobilization of almost half a million soldiers to the Indo-Pakistan border. The subcontinent was pushed to the brink of nuclear war. Apart from Afzal’s “confession,” extracted under torture (and later set aside by the supreme court), what was the “incontrovertible evidence”?</p>
<p>Question 6: Is it true that the military mobilization to the Pakistan border had begun long before the December 13 attack?</p>
<p>Question 7: How much did this military standoff, which lasted for nearly a year, cost? How many soldiers died in the process? How many soldiers and civilians died because of mishandled landmines, and how many peasants lost their homes and land because trucks and tanks were rolling through their villages and landmines were being planted in their fields?</p>
<p>Question 8: In a criminal investigation, it is vital for the police to show how the evidence gathered at the scene of the attack led them to the accused. The police have not managed to show how they connected Geelani to the attack. And how did the police reach Afzal? The Special Cell says Geelani led them to Afzal. But the message to look out for Afzal was actually flashed to the Srinagar police before Geelani was arrested. So how did the Special Cell connect Afzal to the December 13 attack?</p>
<p>Question 9: The courts acknowledge that Afzal was a surrendered militant who was in regular contact with the security forces, particularly the STF of Jammu and Kashmir police. How do the security forces explain the fact that a person under their surveillance was able to conspire in a major militant operation?</p>
<p>Question 10: Is it plausible that organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammad would rely on a person who had been in and out of STF torture chambers, and was under constant police surveillance, as the principal link for a major operation?</p>
<p>Question 11: In his statement before the court, Afzal says that he was introduced to “Mohammed” and instructed to take him to Delhi by a man called Tariq, who was working with the STF. Tariq was named in the police charge sheet. Who is Tariq and where is he now?</p>
<p>Question 12: On December 19, 2001, six days after the parliament attack, police commissioner S.M. Shangari identified one of the attackers who was killed as Mohammad Yasin Fateh Mohammed (alias Abu Hamza) of the Lashkar-e-Taiba, who had been arrested in Mumbai in November 2000 and immediately handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police. He gave detailed descriptions to support his statement. If police commissioner Shangari was right, how did Yasin, a man in the custody of the Jammu and Kashmir police, end up participating in the parliament attack? If he was wrong, where is Yasin now?</p>
<p>Question 13: Why is it that we still do not know who the five “terrorists” killed in the parliament attack are?</p>
<p>These questions, examined cumulatively, point to something far more serious than incompetence. The words that come to mind are complicity, collusion, involvement. There is no need for us to feign shock or shrink from thinking these thoughts and saying them out loud. Governments and their intelligence agencies have a hoary tradition of using strategies such as this to further their own ends. (Look up the burning of the Reichstag and the rise of Nazi power in Germany in 1933; or Operation Gladio, in which European intelligence agencies created acts of terrorism, especially in Italy, in order to discredit militant groups such as the Red Brigades.)</p>
<p>The official response to all of these questions has been dead silence. As things stand, Afzal’s execution has been postponed while the president considers his clemency petition. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (now in the opposition) announced that it would turn “Hang Afzal” into a national campaign. But it does not seem to have taken off. Now other avenues are being explored. The main strategy seems to be to create confusion and polarize the debate on communal lines. In the business of spreading confusion, the media, particularly television journalists, can be counted on to be perfect collaborators. On discussions, chat shows and “special reports,” we have television anchors playing around with crucial facts, like young children in a sandpit. Torturers, estranged brothers, senior police officers, and politicians are emerging from the woodwork and talking. The more they talk, the more interesting it all becomes.</p>
<p>One character who is rapidly emerging from the shadowy periphery and wading on to center stage is deputy superintendent Devinder Singh. He was showcased on the national news (CNN-IBN), in what was presented as a “sting” operation with a hidden camera. It all seemed a bit unnecessary, however, because Singh has been talking a lot these days. He has done recorded interviews, on the phone as well as face to face, saying exactly the same shocking things. Weeks before the sting operation, in a recorded interview with Parvaiz Bukhari, a freelance journalist, he said, “I did interrogate and torture him [Afzal] at my camp for several days. And we never recorded his arrest in the books anywhere. His description of torture at my camp is true. That was the procedure those days and we did pour petrol in his ass and gave him electric shocks. But I could not break him. He did not reveal anything to me despite our hardest possible interrogation … He looked like a bhondu [fool] those days, what you call a chootya [idiot] type. And I had a reputation for torture, interrogation and breaking suspects. If anybody came out of my interrogation clean, nobody would ever touch him again. He would be considered clean for good by the whole department.”</p>
<p>This is not an empty boast. Singh has a formidable reputation for torture in the Kashmir Valley. On television, his boasting spiraled into policy making. “Torture is the only deterrent for terrorism,” he said. “I do it for the nation.” He did not bother to explain why or how the “bhondu” that he tortured and subsequently released allegedly went on to become the diabolical mastermind of the parliament attack. Singh then said that Afzal was a Jaish militant. If this is true, why was the evidence not placed before the courts? And why on earth was Afzal released? Why was he not watched? There is a definite attempt to try to dismiss this as incompetence. But given everything we know now, it would take all of Singh’s delicate professional skills to make some of us believe that.</p>
<p>The official version of the story of the parliament attack is very quickly coming apart at the seams. Even the supreme court judgment, with all its flaws of logic and leaps of faith, does not accuse Afzal of being the mastermind of the attack. So who was the mastermind? If Afzal is hanged, we may never know. But L.K. Advani, the leader of the opposition, wants him hanged at once. Even a day’s delay, he says, is against the national interest. Why? What is the hurry? The man is locked up in a high-security cell on death row. He is not allowed out of his cell for even five minutes a day. What harm can he do? Talk? Write, perhaps? Surely, even in Advani’s own narrow interpretation of the term, it is in the national interest not to hang Afzal? At least not until there is an inquiry that reveals what the real story is and who actually attacked parliament?</p>
<p>A genuine inquiry would have to mean far more than just a political witch-hunt. It would have to look into the part played by intelligence, counter-insurgency, and security agencies as well. Offences such as the fabrication of evidence and the blatant violation of procedural norms have already become established in the courts, but they look very much like just the tip of the iceberg. We now have a police officer admitting–boasting–on record that he was involved in the illegal detention and torture of a fellow citizen. Is all of this acceptable to the people, the government, and the courts of India?</p>
<p>Given the track record of Indian governments (past and present, right, left, and center) it is naive–perhaps utopian is a better word–to hope that today’s politicians will ever have the courage to institute an inquiry that will, once and for all, uncover the real story. A maintenance dose of pusillanimity is probably encrypted in all governments. But hope has little to do with reason.</p>
<p>ARUNDHATI ROY is the author of <a href="" type="internal">An Ordinary Person’s Guide to Empire</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Power Politics</a>, <a href="" type="internal">War Talk</a>, <a href="" type="internal">The Cost of Living</a> and <a href="" type="internal">The God of Small Things</a>.</p>
<p>Copyright 2006 ARUNDHATI ROY.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | five years ago week december 13 2001 indian parliament winter session government attack yet another corruption scandal 1130 morning five armed men white ambassador car fitted improvised explosive device drove gates parliament house challenged jumped car opened fire gun battle followed attackers killed eight security personnel gardener killed dead terrorists police said enough explosives blow parliament building enough ammunition take whole battalion soldiers unlike terrorists five left behind thick trail evidenceweapons mobile phones phone numbers id cards photographs packets dried fruit even love letter surprisingly prime minister atal bihari vajpayee seized opportunity compare assault september 11 attacks united states three months previously december 14 2001 day attack parliament special cell antiterrorist squad delhi police claimed tracked several people suspected involved conspiracy next day announced cracked case attack police said joint operation carried two pakistanbased terrorist groups lashkaretaiba jaishemohammad three kashmiri men syed abdul rahman geelani shaukat hussain guru mohammad afzal shaukats wife afsan guru arrested tense days followed parliament adjourned indian government declared pakistanamericas closest ally war terrorwas terrorist state december 21 india recalled high commissioner pakistan suspended air rail bus communications banned air traffic pakistan put motion massive mobilization war machinery moved half million troops pakistan border foreign embassies evacuated staff citizens tourists traveling india issued cautionary travel advisories world watched bated breath subcontinent taken brink nuclear war cost india estimated 21 billion public money 800 soldiers died panicky process mobilization alone police charge sheet filed special fasttrack trial court designated cases prevention terrorism act pota three years later trial court sentenced geelani shaukat afzal death afsan guru sentenced five years rigorous imprisonment appeal high court subsequently acquitted geelani afsan upheld shaukats afzals death sentences eventually supreme court upheld acquittals reduced shaukats punishment ten years rigorous imprisonment however confirmed enhanced mohammad afzals sentence given three life sentences double death sentence judgment august 5 2005 supreme court admitted evidence afzal circumstantial evidence belonged terrorist group organization went endorse described lynch law incident resulted heavy casualties shaken entire nation said collective conscience society satisfied capital punishment awarded offender spelling reasons giving afzal death penalty judgment went appellant surrendered militant bent upon repeating acts treason nation menace society life become extinct implies dangerous ignorance means surrendered militant kashmir today afzals life extinguished story fascinating inextricably entwined story kashmir valley story stretches far beyond confines courtrooms limited imagination people live secure heart selfdeclared superpower afzals story origins war zone whose laws beyond pale fine arguments delicate sensibilities normal jurisprudence reasons critical consider carefully strange sad utterly sinister story december 13 attack tells us great deal way worlds largest democracy really works connects biggest things smallest traces pathways connect happens shadowy grottoes police stations goes snowy streets paradise valley malign furies bring nations brink nuclear war raises specific questions deserve specific ideological rhetorical answers hangs balance far fate one man part december 13 attack astonishingly incompetent terrorist strike consummate competence appeared hallmark everything followed gathering evidence speed investigation special cell arrest charging accused threeandahalfyearlong judicial process began fasttrack trial court operative phrase appeared follow story carefully encounter two sets masks first mask consummate competence accused arrested case cracked two days flat things began come undone benign mask shambling incompetence shoddy evidence procedural flaws material contradictions underneath thisas several lawyers academics journalists studied case detail shownis something sinister worrying past years worries grown mountain misgivings impossible ignore doubts set early day parliament attack police arrested geelani young lecturer delhi university outraged colleagues friends certain framed contacted wellknown lawyer nandita haksar asked take case marked beginning campaign fair trial geelani flew face mass hysteria corrosive propaganda enthusiastically disseminated mass media despite campaign successful geelani eventually acquitted along afsan guru geelanis acquittal blew gaping hole prosecutions version parliament attack linchpin conspiracy theory suddenly tuned innocent odd way public mind acquittal two accused confirmed guilt two bloodlust satiated government announced afzal accused 1 case would hanged october 20 2006 seemed people welcomed news approval morbid excitement questions resurfaced see prosecutions case geelani relatively easy plucked thin air transplanted center conspiracy kingpin afzal different extruded sewage system hell kashmir become surfaced manhole covered shit emerged policemen special cell pissed literally first thing made media confession implicated completely attack speed happened made many us believe indeed guilty charged much later circumstances confession made revealed even supreme court set aside saying police violated legal safeguards beginning nothing pristine simple afzals case story gives us glimpse life really like kashmir valley noddy book version read newspapers security forces battle militants innocent kashmiris caught crossfire adult version kashmir valley awash militants renegades security forces doublecrossers informers spooks blackmailers blackmailees extortionists spies indian pakistani intelligence agencies human rights activists ngos unimaginable amounts unaccountedfor money weapons always clear lines demarcate boundaries easy tell working truth kashmir probably dangerous anything else deeper dig worse gets bottom pit special operations group special task force stf ruthless undisciplined dreaded elements indian security apparatus kashmir play central role afzal story unlike formal forces operate twilight zone policemen surrendered militants renegades common criminals business prey upon local population particularly rural kashmir primary victims thousands young kashmiri men rose revolt anarchic uprising early 1990s since surrendered trying live normal lives 1989 afzal crossed border trained militant twenty years old returned training disillusioned experience put gun enrolled delhi university 1993 without ever practicing militant voluntarily surrendered border security force illogically enough point nightmares began surrender treated crime life became hell afzals story enraged kashmiris happened could happened happening happened thousands young kashmiri men families difference stories played dingy bowels interrogation centers army camps police stations burned beaten electrocuted blackmailed killed bodies thrown backs trucks passers find whereas afzals story performed like piece medieval theater national stage clear light day legal sanction fair trial hollow benefits free press pomp ceremony socalled democracy documents submitted court afzal describes months attack parliament tortured camps stfwith electrodes genitals chilies petrol anus talks constant victim extortion mentions name deputy superintendent police devinder singh said needed small job delhi singh subsequently admitted record tortured afzal exactly ways afzal described afzal also said time arrested time charged months younger brother hilal held illegal confinement police camp kashmir ransom even today afzal claim complete innocence nature involvement contested instance coerced tortured blackmailed playing even peripheral part played gross violation constitutional rights time arrested right crucial phase trial real work building case done afzal lawyer nobody put version story help anyone else sift tangle lies fabrications propaganda put police various individuals worked today five years later group lawyers academics journalists writers published reader december 13th strange case parliament attack published penguin india body work fractured recently appeared national consensus interwoven mass hysteria fissures come scrutinyshadowy individuals counterintelligence security agencies political partiesare beginning surface wave flags hurl abuse issue hot denials cover tracks untruths thus reveal essays penguin book raise questions afzal never proper legal representation sentenced death without opportunity heard without fair trial raise questions fabricated arrest memos falsified seizure recovery memos procedural flaws vital evidence tampered false telephone records false testimonies legal lacunae material contradictions testimonies police prosecution witnesses outright lies presented court published newspapers show hardly single piece evidence stands scrutiny even disturbing questions raised range beyond fate afzal critical country claiming responsible nuclear power thirteen questions regarding december 13 question 1 months attack parliament government police saying parliament could attacked december 12 2001 prime minister ab vajpayee warned imminent attack december 13 happened given improved security drill car bomb packed explosives enter parliament complex question 2 within days attack special cell delhi police said meticulously planned joint operation jaishemohammad lashkaretaiba said attack led man called mohammad also involved hijacking flight ic814 1998 later refuted central bureau investigation none ever proved court evidence special cell claim question 3 entire attack recorded live closedcircuit television cctv two congress party members parliament kapil sibal najma heptullah demanded parliament cctv recording shown members said confusion details event chief whip congress party priyaranjan dasmunshi said counted six men getting car five killed closedcircuit tv camera recording clearly showed six men dasmunshi right police say five people car sixth person cctv recording produced prosecution evidence trial released public viewing question 4 parliament adjourned questions raised question 5 days december 13 government declared incontrovertible evidence pakistans involvement attack announced massive mobilization almost half million soldiers indopakistan border subcontinent pushed brink nuclear war apart afzals confession extracted torture later set aside supreme court incontrovertible evidence question 6 true military mobilization pakistan border begun long december 13 attack question 7 much military standoff lasted nearly year cost many soldiers died process many soldiers civilians died mishandled landmines many peasants lost homes land trucks tanks rolling villages landmines planted fields question 8 criminal investigation vital police show evidence gathered scene attack led accused police managed show connected geelani attack police reach afzal special cell says geelani led afzal message look afzal actually flashed srinagar police geelani arrested special cell connect afzal december 13 attack question 9 courts acknowledge afzal surrendered militant regular contact security forces particularly stf jammu kashmir police security forces explain fact person surveillance able conspire major militant operation question 10 plausible organizations lashkaretaiba jaishemohammad would rely person stf torture chambers constant police surveillance principal link major operation question 11 statement court afzal says introduced mohammed instructed take delhi man called tariq working stf tariq named police charge sheet tariq question 12 december 19 2001 six days parliament attack police commissioner sm shangari identified one attackers killed mohammad yasin fateh mohammed alias abu hamza lashkaretaiba arrested mumbai november 2000 immediately handed jammu kashmir police gave detailed descriptions support statement police commissioner shangari right yasin man custody jammu kashmir police end participating parliament attack wrong yasin question 13 still know five terrorists killed parliament attack questions examined cumulatively point something far serious incompetence words come mind complicity collusion involvement need us feign shock shrink thinking thoughts saying loud governments intelligence agencies hoary tradition using strategies ends look burning reichstag rise nazi power germany 1933 operation gladio european intelligence agencies created acts terrorism especially italy order discredit militant groups red brigades official response questions dead silence things stand afzals execution postponed president considers clemency petition meanwhile bharatiya janata party opposition announced would turn hang afzal national campaign seem taken avenues explored main strategy seems create confusion polarize debate communal lines business spreading confusion media particularly television journalists counted perfect collaborators discussions chat shows special reports television anchors playing around crucial facts like young children sandpit torturers estranged brothers senior police officers politicians emerging woodwork talking talk interesting becomes one character rapidly emerging shadowy periphery wading center stage deputy superintendent devinder singh showcased national news cnnibn presented sting operation hidden camera seemed bit unnecessary however singh talking lot days done recorded interviews phone well face face saying exactly shocking things weeks sting operation recorded interview parvaiz bukhari freelance journalist said interrogate torture afzal camp several days never recorded arrest books anywhere description torture camp true procedure days pour petrol ass gave electric shocks could break reveal anything despite hardest possible interrogation looked like bhondu fool days call chootya idiot type reputation torture interrogation breaking suspects anybody came interrogation clean nobody would ever touch would considered clean good whole department empty boast singh formidable reputation torture kashmir valley television boasting spiraled policy making torture deterrent terrorism said nation bother explain bhondu tortured subsequently released allegedly went become diabolical mastermind parliament attack singh said afzal jaish militant true evidence placed courts earth afzal released watched definite attempt try dismiss incompetence given everything know would take singhs delicate professional skills make us believe official version story parliament attack quickly coming apart seams even supreme court judgment flaws logic leaps faith accuse afzal mastermind attack mastermind afzal hanged may never know lk advani leader opposition wants hanged even days delay says national interest hurry man locked highsecurity cell death row allowed cell even five minutes day harm talk write perhaps surely even advanis narrow interpretation term national interest hang afzal least inquiry reveals real story actually attacked parliament genuine inquiry would mean far political witchhunt would look part played intelligence counterinsurgency security agencies well offences fabrication evidence blatant violation procedural norms already become established courts look much like tip iceberg police officer admittingboastingon record involved illegal detention torture fellow citizen acceptable people government courts india given track record indian governments past present right left center naiveperhaps utopian better wordto hope todays politicians ever courage institute inquiry uncover real story maintenance dose pusillanimity probably encrypted governments hope little reason arundhati roy author ordinary persons guide empire power politics war talk cost living god small things copyright 2006 arundhati roy 160 160 | 2,077 |
<p>By Theodoric Meyer, ProPublica</p>
<p>This story was co-published by <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/why-is-cuomo-administration-automatically-deleting-state-employees-emails" type="external">ProPublica</a> with the Albany Times-Union and WNYC.</p>
<p>New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration — which the governor pledged would be the most transparent in state history — has quietly adopted policies that allow it to purge the emails of tens of thousands of state employees, cutting off a key avenue for understanding and investigating state government.</p>
<p>Last year, the state started deleting any emails more than 90 days old that users hadn’t specifically saved — a much more aggressive stance than many other states. The policy shift was <a href="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Odato-Meter-s-running-on-email-4639539.php" type="external">first reported by the Albany Times Union</a>.</p>
<p />
<p>A <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1184686-foil-2014-08-production.html" type="external">previously unpublished memo</a> outlining the policy raises new questions about the state’s stated rationale for its deletions policy. What’s more, the rules on which emails must be retained are bewilderingly complex – they fill 118 pages – leading to further concern that emails may not be saved at all.</p>
<p>“If you’re aggressively destroying your email, it looks like you’re trying to hide something,” said Benjamin Wright, a Dallas lawyer who has advised companies and government agencies on records retention.</p>
<p>ProPublica obtained the memo through a public records request.</p>
<p>In the June 18, 2013, memo, Karen Geduldig, the general counsel of the state’s Office of Information Technology Services, described New York’s decision to automatically delete emails as a way to cut down on the state’s <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1184686-foil-2014-08-production.html#document/p1/a171070" type="external">“enormous amount of email data.”</a></p>
<p>But the state implemented the policy as part of a move to Microsoft’s Office 365 email system, which offers 50 gigabytes of space per email user — enough to store hundreds of thousands or even millions of emails for each state worker. The state’s version of Office 365 also <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269481-office365faqsv5.html#document/p4/a171068" type="external">offers unlimited email archiving</a>.</p>
<p>The Office of Information and Technology Services declined to comment on the record. An official in the office said even though the state can store large quantities of email, it can still be difficult to manage.</p>
<p>“Just because you have a big house doesn’t mean you have to shove stuff in it,” the official said.</p>
<p>Geduldig’s memo also pointed out that some federal government agencies and corporations automatically purge employees’ email. “Such a system will aid the State in improving its email management,” <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1184686-foil-2014-08-production.html#document/p1/a168855" type="external">Geduldig wrote</a>.</p>
<p>But many states take a different tack.</p>
<p>Florida, for instance, requires state employees to keep <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269488-florida-schedule.html#document/p19/a171082" type="external">routine administrative correspondence</a> for at least three years, and <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269488-florida-schedule.html#document/p19/a171083" type="external">emails dealing with policy development</a> for at least five years. Connecticut requires employees to <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269487-connecticut-schedule.html#document/p5/a171084" type="external">keep routine emails</a> for at least two years. Washington State requires workers to <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269486-washington-state-schedule.html#document/p18/a171086" type="external">keep emails dealing with public business</a> for two years, and <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269486-washington-state-schedule.html#document/p11/a171085" type="external">emails to and from top officials</a> for four years. Those states also do not automatically delete email.</p>
<p>“It shouldn’t be an automatic process,” said Russell Wood, the records manager for the Washington State Archives. “There should be some point of review in there.”</p>
<p>Emails that qualify as “records” are supposed to be preserved under New York’s policy. But determining which emails qualify and which don’t — a task left up to individual state employees — can be mind-numbingly complicated.</p>
<p>The <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html" type="external">state’s rules</a> include 215 different categories of records — including <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html#document/p30/a171073" type="external">two separate categories dealing with office supplies</a>.</p>
<p>“We don’t think it’s plausible at all that agency personnel are going to meticulously follow” those rules, said John Kaehny, the executive director of the good-government group Reinvent Albany. If the rules for preservation aren’t followed, emails will be purged by default.</p>
<p>The length of time emails are required to be kept varies by category. Any emails <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html#document/p23/a171074" type="external">related to “human rights training,”</a> for instance, must be kept for six years. Emails concerning <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html#document/p41/a171075" type="external">“agency fiscal management”</a> must be kept for three years. Emails about <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html#document/p17/a171076" type="external">“the development of internal administrative policies and procedures”</a> must be kept for a year, but emails <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269490-general-retention-and-disposition-schedule-for.html#document/p15/a171077" type="external">“used to support administrative analysis, planning and development of procedures”</a> can be deleted as soon as they’re “obsolete,” according to the rules.</p>
<p>The governor’s office <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1112164-final-records-schedule-for-chamber#document/" type="external">has its own rules</a> detailing which emails must be saved, with 55 categories, from emails of weekly reports to emails “related to Native-American affairs.” Anything that doesn’t fall into one of the categories “should be deleted” once they’ve been opened, the governor’s office advises.</p>
<p>There is no internal or external watchdog to make sure the rules are being followed, Kaehny said.</p>
<p>The state also doesn’t have a standardized system for preserving emails that do have to be saved, according to the Office of Information Technology Services official. State workers can save their emails by printing them out, pasting them into Microsoft Word documents or placing them in a special folder in the email program itself.</p>
<p>“Everyone does it differently, and some people are still learning how to do it,” the official said.</p>
<p>Emails related to potential litigation and freedom of information requests are not supposed to be deleted under New York State’s policy. But Karl Olson, a San Francisco lawyer who has represented news outlets including the Los Angeles Times in freedom of information lawsuits, said that deleting emails after such a short period of time might mean they’re gone by the time reporters need to request them.</p>
<p>“It may take a while for evidence of misconduct to bubble to the surface,” Olson said.</p>
<p>Emily Grannis, a fellow with the nonprofit Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, said New York’s automatic deletion policy “strikes me as inconsistent with the goals of [freedom of information] laws, and to have such a short timeframe is particularly troubling.”</p>
<p>Government agencies often adopt deletion policies to help protect themselves from potential lawsuits and freedom of information requests, said Mark Diamond, the chief executive of Contoural, a records management consulting firm. Getting rid of emails after 90 days, though, risks deleting correspondence that employees might need down the road. “I don’t think it’s a well thought-out strategy,” he said.</p>
<p>Cuomo’s aides have also developed a reputation for using their personal email accounts to conduct state business — a move that can make it more difficult to seek the emails under the state’s freedom of information law. The Cuomo administration <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/cuomos-office-denies-using-private-email-accounts-but-it-does" type="external">has denied that it does so</a>, but a ProPublica reporter and others have, in fact, <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/cuomo-officials-keep-email-in-private-account-shadows" type="external">received such emails from officials</a>.</p>
<p>New York isn’t the only state that destroys unsaved email after 90 days.</p>
<p>California’s governor’s office, for instance, <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269485-california-schedule.html#document/p7/a171081" type="external">has automatically deleted</a> employees’ sent and received email after 90 days for more than a decade. But the office also <a href="http://www.propublica.org/documents/item/1269485-california-schedule.html#document/p6/a171080" type="external">requires employees to save</a> far more than in New York, including official correspondence, memos, scheduling requests and other documents.</p>
<p>If you have information about or experience with the state’s email deletion policy, please contact Theo Meyer at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>Related articles: Read our coverage of how Cuomo administration officials <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/cuomo-officials-keep-email-in-private-account-shadows" type="external">have used their private email accounts for public business</a>, and how the administration <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/cuomos-office-denies-using-private-email-accounts-but-it-does" type="external">has denied that it does so</a>.</p>
<p>Justin Elliott contributed reporting.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | theodoric meyer propublica story copublished propublica albany timesunion wnyc new york gov andrew cuomos administration governor pledged would transparent state history quietly adopted policies allow purge emails tens thousands state employees cutting key avenue understanding investigating state government last year state started deleting emails 90 days old users hadnt specifically saved much aggressive stance many states policy shift first reported albany times union previously unpublished memo outlining policy raises new questions states stated rationale deletions policy whats rules emails must retained bewilderingly complex fill 118 pages leading concern emails may saved youre aggressively destroying email looks like youre trying hide something said benjamin wright dallas lawyer advised companies government agencies records retention propublica obtained memo public records request june 18 2013 memo karen geduldig general counsel states office information technology services described new yorks decision automatically delete emails way cut states enormous amount email data state implemented policy part move microsofts office 365 email system offers 50 gigabytes space per email user enough store hundreds thousands even millions emails state worker states version office 365 also offers unlimited email archiving office information technology services declined comment record official office said even though state store large quantities email still difficult manage big house doesnt mean shove stuff official said geduldigs memo also pointed federal government agencies corporations automatically purge employees email system aid state improving email management geduldig wrote many states take different tack florida instance requires state employees keep routine administrative correspondence least three years emails dealing policy development least five years connecticut requires employees keep routine emails least two years washington state requires workers keep emails dealing public business two years emails top officials four years states also automatically delete email shouldnt automatic process said russell wood records manager washington state archives point review emails qualify records supposed preserved new yorks policy determining emails qualify dont task left individual state employees mindnumbingly complicated states rules include 215 different categories records including two separate categories dealing office supplies dont think plausible agency personnel going meticulously follow rules said john kaehny executive director goodgovernment group reinvent albany rules preservation arent followed emails purged default length time emails required kept varies category emails related human rights training instance must kept six years emails concerning agency fiscal management must kept three years emails development internal administrative policies procedures must kept year emails used support administrative analysis planning development procedures deleted soon theyre obsolete according rules governors office rules detailing emails must saved 55 categories emails weekly reports emails related nativeamerican affairs anything doesnt fall one categories deleted theyve opened governors office advises internal external watchdog make sure rules followed kaehny said state also doesnt standardized system preserving emails saved according office information technology services official state workers save emails printing pasting microsoft word documents placing special folder email program everyone differently people still learning official said emails related potential litigation freedom information requests supposed deleted new york states policy karl olson san francisco lawyer represented news outlets including los angeles times freedom information lawsuits said deleting emails short period time might mean theyre gone time reporters need request may take evidence misconduct bubble surface olson said emily grannis fellow nonprofit reporters committee freedom press said new yorks automatic deletion policy strikes inconsistent goals freedom information laws short timeframe particularly troubling government agencies often adopt deletion policies help protect potential lawsuits freedom information requests said mark diamond chief executive contoural records management consulting firm getting rid emails 90 days though risks deleting correspondence employees might need road dont think well thoughtout strategy said cuomos aides also developed reputation using personal email accounts conduct state business move make difficult seek emails states freedom information law cuomo administration denied propublica reporter others fact received emails officials new york isnt state destroys unsaved email 90 days californias governors office instance automatically deleted employees sent received email 90 days decade office also requires employees save far new york including official correspondence memos scheduling requests documents information experience states email deletion policy please contact theo meyer theomeyerpropublicaorg related articles read coverage cuomo administration officials used private email accounts public business administration denied justin elliott contributed reporting | 687 |
<p>As local leaders and citizens <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/04/red-cross-sandy_n_2073902.html" type="external">complain of FEMA</a> and the Red Cross and general government absences in their own neighborhoods, independent and local volunteer relief organizations have sprung up in droves, organized almost entirely through word of mouth and extensive social media campaigns.</p>
<p>Last week, The Huffington Post spoke with many crowdfunding and philanthropy experts who <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/30/hurricane-sandy-red-cross-social-media_n_2045955.html" type="external">warned of the traps of social media</a> (a "retweet" is not the same as real action, suggested Robert Wolfe, the co-founder of social media funding platform Crowdrise). But now, almost week later, social media has largely been the key link between those looking to help and the tangible work to be done.</p>
<p>And Occupy Sandy, an off-shoot of Occupy Wall Street, has undoubtedly been a leader in spreading the word about local volunteer and donation efforts online, and thereby spurring real, tangible responses. Though certainly not a well-oiled machine by any means — seamless organization is hardly expected, anyway, in a movement that sprang up so quickly — the group's Twitter and Facebook accounts have posted up-to-date information about exactly what is needed and where. And while the Red Cross doesn't take donations of individual household items and certain bare necessities, these very same needs have become Occupy Sandy's primary focus.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/OccupySandy" type="external">Sample Occupy Sandy Tweets</a>: "Red Hook Initiative needs bowls and paper plates for food"; "Sunset Park Volunteer Hub needs Ham Radios and Operators or VHF Marine Radios"; "If you have a car or truck and want to help transport donated goods &amp; volunteers, link in by texting '@osdrivers' to 23559."</p>
<p>Occupy Sandy's #Medics hashtag on Twitter found doctors for their hubs in Brooklyn and Queens. Hot meals are being prepared every day and night, with volunteers setting up makeshift food kitchens in the Rockaways, Coney Island and Sunset Park. And the network has even set up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/registry/wedding/32TAA123PJR42" type="external">a wedding registry</a>, via Amazon, so anyone who wants to send blankets, flashlights, dry goods, mini-fridges, batteries and toiletries from anywhere in the United States or around the world can easily do so.</p>
<p>On Saturday, a Brooklyn-wide relief effort co-organized by environmental group 350.org drew hundreds to the Red Hook Initiative, a nonprofit center-turned-volunteer hub from which people fanned out into groups and dispensed supplies to buildings like the Gowanus Houses, the public housing complex that has been without power for seven days and counting.</p>
<p>"This whole hurricane has also shown how so many people in New York need so much help, regardless of the hurricane," said Lisa Sikorski, an organizing volunteer in Red Hook. "There's a lot of problems around here."</p>
<p>Justin Wedes, an Occupy Sandy organizer, said that ever since Occupy Wall Street was formally evicted from Zucotti Park, the Occupy network has been working on building communities and fostering relationships around the country, in neighborhoods like Red Hook and Sunset Park.</p>
<p>"We've been building neighborhood assemblies and community support networks," he said. "So this relief is a natural response for us, where communities band together to reach out and support each other."</p>
<p>In Sunset Park, a neighborhood in South Brooklyn of predominantly Mexican and Chinese residents, Occupy Sandy has created a virtual and literal hub at St. Jacobi's Church. On Sunday, generators, electrical supplies and dry goods were packed into volunteer's cars and shipped off to the Rockaways and Staten Island. Some organizers were getting fuel personally delivered from other activists as far away as Boston and filling up discreetly on the side of the road. Pounds of clothes were sorted and food was prepared. Hundreds of incoming volunteers from around the city were given quick orientations by Occupy volunteer leaders and then dispatched to locations around the city.</p>
<p>It's truly a 21st Century relief organization, suggested Joan Donovan, an organizer behind Inter-Occupy.net, the online network that helped organize Occupy Sandy.</p>
<p>"One of the things we do every night with the organizers is hold a conference call to get ready for the next day," Donovan said. "Everybody gives a report back on the day's events at their different locations. We coordinate in Google Groups, Facebook chat, through Twitter. I've got 20 different browser windows open with calls coming in."</p>
<p>Whereas the larger government organizations and nonprofits still need to fill out paperwork and trudge through various government red tape to get anything done, Donovan said, Occupy is able to act fast and quickly, without worrying about a lot of that same bureaucracy.</p>
<p>"Occupy can just call a church and say, 'Are you willing to be a donation center?' And then within four or five hours, you've got a donation center up and running," she said.</p>
<p>On Sunday, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said the city was overwhelmed with volunteers and <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2012/11/new-yorks-new-niceness-after-storm/58693/" type="external">suggested people donate money</a>, rather than show up at a volunteer site. But as Occupy Sandy's Twitter feed shows and organizers confirm, help is still needed in many forms.</p>
<p>Daiva Deupree is a volunteer working with Occupy Sandy and Recovers.org, the online hub that has helped organize Occupy and other, unaffiliated local relief efforts in badly hit areas. She said she's just been liking organizations of Facebook, following others on Twitter and finding numerous opportunities to help.</p>
<p>"I signed up for the [Occupy] email and text list, and they'll send things out that are so specific, like, 'Go to this address, there are people who need help,'" said Deupree. "It's really not easy, what they're doing."</p>
<p>She said the quick reaction time for these organizations has been remarkable, and Occupy's Donovan stressed that this kind of immediate connectivity is something at which they've excelled ever since they began communicating from camp to camp during the height of Occupy Wall Street. Now, instead of protest, they're offering relief.</p>
<p>"We've been able to mobilize very localized networks through inter-Occupy throughout the year," Donovan said. "So when it comes to a point when there's a lot of recovery that needs to happen, we know we can call on these networks of people and they'll put their normal lives aside to be part of this effort."</p>
<p>Certainly the larger organizations like FEMA and the Red Cross will be necessary as the city rebuilds and thousands of the displaced need resources, homes and myriad repairs, but in the immediate aftermath of the hurricane, Occupy Sandy has shown that collectively they can be a modern relief organization, both online and on the ground.</p>
<p>And whereas many may have dismissed the Occupy movement since the Zuccotti Park eviction and the months of protests, the same movement may have found a new and slightly redefined home in the public eye, as a community-building organization. On Sunday leading technology entrepreneur <a href="http://occupy.playgroundgroup.net/read/node/@anildash" type="external">Anil Dash</a> tweeted:</p>
<p>It may be that the <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%23Occupy" type="external">#Occupy</a> movement's most defining moment will be its indispensable mobilization for Sandy victims: <a href="http://t.co/pz43jufu" type="external">nyr.kr/VqvMWy</a></p>
<p>— Anil Dash (@anildash) <a href="https://twitter.com/anildash/status/265158042381844480" type="external">November 4, 2012</a></p> | true | 4 | local leaders citizens complain fema red cross general government absences neighborhoods independent local volunteer relief organizations sprung droves organized almost entirely word mouth extensive social media campaigns last week huffington post spoke many crowdfunding philanthropy experts warned traps social media retweet real action suggested robert wolfe cofounder social media funding platform crowdrise almost week later social media largely key link looking help tangible work done occupy sandy offshoot occupy wall street undoubtedly leader spreading word local volunteer donation efforts online thereby spurring real tangible responses though certainly welloiled machine means seamless organization hardly expected anyway movement sprang quickly groups twitter facebook accounts posted uptodate information exactly needed red cross doesnt take donations individual household items certain bare necessities needs become occupy sandys primary focus sample occupy sandy tweets red hook initiative needs bowls paper plates food sunset park volunteer hub needs ham radios operators vhf marine radios car truck want help transport donated goods amp volunteers link texting osdrivers 23559 occupy sandys medics hashtag twitter found doctors hubs brooklyn queens hot meals prepared every day night volunteers setting makeshift food kitchens rockaways coney island sunset park network even set wedding registry via amazon anyone wants send blankets flashlights dry goods minifridges batteries toiletries anywhere united states around world easily saturday brooklynwide relief effort coorganized environmental group 350org drew hundreds red hook initiative nonprofit centerturnedvolunteer hub people fanned groups dispensed supplies buildings like gowanus houses public housing complex without power seven days counting whole hurricane also shown many people new york need much help regardless hurricane said lisa sikorski organizing volunteer red hook theres lot problems around justin wedes occupy sandy organizer said ever since occupy wall street formally evicted zucotti park occupy network working building communities fostering relationships around country neighborhoods like red hook sunset park weve building neighborhood assemblies community support networks said relief natural response us communities band together reach support sunset park neighborhood south brooklyn predominantly mexican chinese residents occupy sandy created virtual literal hub st jacobis church sunday generators electrical supplies dry goods packed volunteers cars shipped rockaways staten island organizers getting fuel personally delivered activists far away boston filling discreetly side road pounds clothes sorted food prepared hundreds incoming volunteers around city given quick orientations occupy volunteer leaders dispatched locations around city truly 21st century relief organization suggested joan donovan organizer behind interoccupynet online network helped organize occupy sandy one things every night organizers hold conference call get ready next day donovan said everybody gives report back days events different locations coordinate google groups facebook chat twitter ive got 20 different browser windows open calls coming whereas larger government organizations nonprofits still need fill paperwork trudge various government red tape get anything done donovan said occupy able act fast quickly without worrying lot bureaucracy occupy call church say willing donation center within four five hours youve got donation center running said sunday new york city mayor michael bloomberg said city overwhelmed volunteers suggested people donate money rather show volunteer site occupy sandys twitter feed shows organizers confirm help still needed many forms daiva deupree volunteer working occupy sandy recoversorg online hub helped organize occupy unaffiliated local relief efforts badly hit areas said shes liking organizations facebook following others twitter finding numerous opportunities help signed occupy email text list theyll send things specific like go address people need help said deupree really easy theyre said quick reaction time organizations remarkable occupys donovan stressed kind immediate connectivity something theyve excelled ever since began communicating camp camp height occupy wall street instead protest theyre offering relief weve able mobilize localized networks interoccupy throughout year donovan said comes point theres lot recovery needs happen know call networks people theyll put normal lives aside part effort certainly larger organizations like fema red cross necessary city rebuilds thousands displaced need resources homes myriad repairs immediate aftermath hurricane occupy sandy shown collectively modern relief organization online ground whereas many may dismissed occupy movement since zuccotti park eviction months protests movement may found new slightly redefined home public eye communitybuilding organization sunday leading technology entrepreneur anil dash tweeted may occupy movements defining moment indispensable mobilization sandy victims nyrkrvqvmwy anil dash anildash november 4 2012 | 691 |
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Paul Jay in Washington. And in Washington a battle continues. No, it's not just the debt ceiling battle. There is another battle taking place that's not getting so much attention but in the long run may be actually more significant, and that's the battle over whether there'll be any real regulation about speculation in commodities trading. That's things like oil and, perhaps even more importantly, food. The Dodd-Frank bill allowed for some kind of regulation, but there's a behind-the-scenes fight taking place whether that regulation is going to be meaningful or just some nice words on paper. Now joining us to talk about the regulatory battle, but also the whole issue of the price of food, is Jayati Ghosh. Jayati teaches at JNU in New Delhi, at the university there, and she's a renowned global expert on commodities trading and speculation. Thanks for joining us, Jayati.
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<p />JAYATI GHOSH, JNU, NEW DELHI: It's a pleasure to talk to you.
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<p />JAY: So why don't we start now from where we were last time we talked, which is just a little less than a year ago? We talked about the beginnings of a new food bubble in prices. So did the bubble take place? And where are we now?
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<p />GHOSH: Well, very much so. In fact, from about the beginning of 2010 to February 2011 we had a very significant increase in food prices, something like 40 percent overall, and in some commodities, like wheat, a doubling between just June and December. The prices peaked in February this year, but they've been very volatile since then, they've been up and down. And it's really not clear at the moment which direction they'll go in.
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<p />JAY: So if we look back and analyze why that bubble took place, how much did that have to do with real issues of supply and demand, drought, and/or flooding and this sort of thing, and how much had to do with speculation?
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<p />GHOSH: Well, the tragic story is that once again it was entirely, almost, but certainly dominantly driven by speculative activity, by the financialization of the commodities markets. And a classic example of that is actually what happened in the wheat market. If you remember, around June we started hearing stories of how they are going to be--there's a drought in Russia, there's a bad harvest in Ukraine, we're going to face all kinds of difficulties in terms of global wheat. And between June and December, the wheat price in global trade doubled. Okay? It turns out afterwards, now that we have the data, the FAO data are telling us that actually wheat production in the world as a whole increased over those six months, and wheat demand in the whole world hardly increased at all. So there was really no real demand-and-supply reason for those massive changes in wheat price.
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<p />JAY: When this speculation takes place, and you had certain investors betting long, and, let's say, either because they're also owners of these commodities, some of the big players are actual commodity owners, they own wheat and such, but still someone has to bet against them on the other side to play--to make the bet. So how do they get people to--how are they able to kind of create this atmosphere, on the one hand, that prices are going to go up, on the other hand, find somebody that can bet that they're going to go down?
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<p />GHOSH: Well, it's really that you have--it's not necessarily that you have to keep finding somebody that is betting that they're going to go down, because what you really do is shift the market sentiment on expectation that the price will rise. And then the ones who really can make money are the ones who get out before the crash, which is inevitable once people realize that there isn't really a real movement. This is the nature of bubbles, that you can create a bubble because either a significant player shifts in and moves the price up a little bit, or because you have media sentiment that is making everyone believe that, yes, this is a period of rising prices because of all these other real economy factors, and then, having created that sentiment, you ride the wave. And if you're able to jump off before the wave bursts on the shore, then you're the one who makes the profits.
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<p />JAY: Now--. Sorry. Go ahead.
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<p />GHOSH: Yes. Now all the retail investors who've been following you are the ones who are holding the losses.
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<p />JAY: Now, how much does hoarding have to do with this? I'm reading stories in the financial press about, for example, boats filled with oil sitting off the coast, waiting for the spot market to go up before they'll land the boat. There's a recent story about Glencore had--has a boat filled with Gulf oil. They're paying $16,000 a day to rent the oil tanker, but they don't want to bring it ashore until they wait for oil prices to go higher again. The--we read that Glencore and Goldman Sachs are doing it in nickel. They're renting or owning now enormous wharehouses--I'm sorry, not nickel; aluminum--where they're storing aluminum, waiting for the price of aluminum to go up. How much does that--do we know if that affects food as well?
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<p />GHOSH: I think it's probably affecting the foods, especially the grains, as well. The trouble is that we really have no information on private stockholding at all. We have no idea how much is being held by big companies, where it's being held, how it's being held. And this is in fact one of the things which allows a lot of rumor and speculative activity to run free in the markets. You know, if I could tell you, there are basically three big changes in the latest bubble that we've experienced compared to the previous bubble. You remember the previous bubble, 2007-08?
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<p />JAY: Yes.
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<p />GHOSH: The latest bubble that we've had last year, and which is really ongoing in a way right now, has a couple of other features. The first is that, you know, the OTC trade, that is, the over-the-counter trade, the completely deregulated activity, that has declined quite significantly. And that's probably because financial players are realizing that the Dodd-Frank bill, and maybe European Union legislation, is going to force them to abandon over-the-counter trading. So they're moving onto regulated exchanges. But in the regulated exchanges, because the position limits are set very high or because there are many other things that actually do not effectively regulate these players, you're still able to influence the market in all kinds of ways. The third thing that is happening is that it's no longer just the financial players who are causing these kinds of price movements. Earlier, we have said that, you know, there are index traders, there are banks like Goldman Sachs who have huge commodities divisions. There are other such agents that are really entering the market and who are purely financial, who have no interest in holding the commodity. Now there's a growing proportion of people who are in it for the speculative gain, for the change in price, but they're also holders of commodities. So that has really complicated the picture.
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<p />JAY: And there's nothing that I know of in any of the regulatory proposals or regimes that are being discussed that would actually force any kind of disclosure. Is there, in terms of what's being held, what's being hoarded? 'Cause it seems to me there's sort of a relationship between the speculative activity and the hoarding. Like, you know, if you're going to--if you own a commodity and then you bet long on the commodity, it's in your interest to hold on to that commodity and kind of force the market up, and then you get the speculative psychological bubble that takes place, which also then affects well, why would I sell now? I saw an interesting story about just an ordinary rice wholesaler, I guess you could say, in India, and it was in a documentary he was interviewed, and he had a big storehouse filled with rice, and he was saying, well, why should I sell it? I looked at the future markets, and I know the price of rice is expected to go up in three months, so why wouldn't I wait three months before I sell my rice? I mean, does that not play a role?
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<p />GHOSH: Oh, absolutely. But, you know, in fact, that used to be the traditional form of speculation, hoarding. That used to be how people did speculate in commodities. That was the only way you could do it is by holding on to it in the expectation of the price rise. And in India, in fact, we have things like anti-hoarding laws and, you know, the usual target whenever these prices rise is to go out there and attack what are called the godowns. They're the warehouses of traders and others who would be hoarding these commodities to wait for the price increase. The difficulty today is that we really have very large multinational players. We have no idea what their level of stock holding is, because there is no disclosure requirement as such in any particular market. And in any case, if these are global players, you really don't know where they're holding it and in what form. And these are interacting with the financial play. In fact, often it's the same commercial player who is doing both, if you like, the commercial holding of that stock and the speculative activity.
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<p />JAY: Now, one of the places where this fight's--regulatory fight's taking place right now is, as I said, in Washington, the Dodd-Frank bill, and there's a big fight over whether there should be real position limits or not. Can you explain what that's about?
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<p />GHOSH: It's defined in terms of the volume of the commodity that you are buying. And the idea behind a position limit is actually to ensure that no single player can unduly influence the market. The difficulty is in terms of how you define the position limit, because it's been a--earlier regulators were going along with the idea that, oh, if you're a commercial trader, you should have very large--the sky is the limit for your position limit, because, you know, after all, you will be needing this, and you are--you are engaged in it only for your commercial activity.
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<p />JAY: Well, this is an example of that would be in airlines that tries to hedge the price of jet fuel, so they buy a lot of--which seems to have some legitimacy to it.
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<p />GHOSH: Yes, exactly. You know. So you will say, alright, if you're an airline company, you're going to need a lot of aviation fuel, so, you know, we--the sky is the limit. I think we have to get over that now. We have to say, well, your position limit is maybe a year's demand for the aviation fuel. Or if you are a large trading company, let's say, a Cargill or Glencore or one of these, your position limit would be six months' worth of your turnover in a particular commodity, something like that. We'd have to [crosstalk]
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<p />JAY: Which is to try to say, if it's part of the actual hedging of real selling is one thing; if it's really just about speculative pressure, it's another.
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<p />GHOSH: That's right.
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<p />JAY: And where are we at in that fight? I--it really is not getting--it's getting so little attention here in the United States, but it's actually--there's a--the battle's taking place as we speak, is it not?
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<p />GHOSH: It is. And what is really scary about this battle is that so much of it happens behind closed doors, because this is not now about the law. It's not about legislators. It's really about the rules and regulations. And so these are things which are decided on by people in the Securities and Exchange Commission or people in the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, or it's really decided by people who can be very susceptible to financial lobbies.
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<p />JAY: And the lobbies--the lobbying's enormous.
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<p />GHOSH: Oh, absolutely, and they're very active, and they're very energetic in trying to make sure that the rules are such that they can carry on doing what they're doing.
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<p />JAY: So if people are thinking, well, what can I do about it, I guess, in terms of what demands people might make on their politicians, what would you suggest?
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<p />GHOSH: I would say that the politicians, the public at large, have to demand from all of these regulatory commissions a very, very clear description of the exact rules and regulations that they are putting in place. And, well, of course it requires huge financial and legal literacy among the public at large, but at least they have to be organizations from civil society or groups that actually look through those to figure out what they really mean and whether they will be successful in enforcing the kind of regulation that is required. There is really no public knowledge, either about the nature of these rules or the implications of these rules.
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<p />JAY: And should there not also be some questions raised, either whether it's in antitrust legislation or even some issues of public ownership, how much concentration of ownership there is in food? For--I was just--for example, I follow this company Glencore, and one of the investors in it--. Glencore is apparently the biggest commodities trader-owner in the world right now. And the sultan of Brunei, apparently, is one of the larger investors. And the sultan of Brunei, not only does he own a big piece of Glencore, which is a major owner of Russian wheat and foodstuffs and other kinds of commodities all over the world, but he also just turned around with his sovereign wealth fund and bought the biggest poultry producer in Turkey. There seems to be a real scramble to buy up the--who makes and produces the world's food.
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<p />GHOSH: Yes. Well, you know, this has been one of the very concentrated sectors now in the world for a while, really over the last two decades. In the United States there are really four or five major producers who are controlling about 85 percent of commodities trade. And the point is that they're not just what is called horizontally concentrated, but they're vertically concentrated. That is to say, these big companies control every part of the commodity, you know, process: the production; the--you know, they give inputs; they buy the output; they go all the way down to retail trade. And now, increasingly, they are the ones active in the futures market as well.
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<p />JAY: Thanks very much for joining us, Jayati.
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<p />GHOSH: Thank you. It was a pleasure.
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<p />JAY: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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<p />End of Transcript
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | paul jay senior editor trnn welcome real news network im paul jay washington washington battle continues debt ceiling battle another battle taking place thats getting much attention long run may actually significant thats battle whether therell real regulation speculation commodities trading thats things like oil perhaps even importantly food doddfrank bill allowed kind regulation theres behindthescenes fight taking place whether regulation going meaningful nice words paper joining us talk regulatory battle also whole issue price food jayati ghosh jayati teaches jnu new delhi university shes renowned global expert commodities trading speculation thanks joining us jayati jayati ghosh jnu new delhi pleasure talk jay dont start last time talked little less year ago talked beginnings new food bubble prices bubble take place ghosh well much fact beginning 2010 february 2011 significant increase food prices something like 40 percent overall commodities like wheat doubling june december prices peaked february year theyve volatile since theyve really clear moment direction theyll go jay look back analyze bubble took place much real issues supply demand drought andor flooding sort thing much speculation ghosh well tragic story entirely almost certainly dominantly driven speculative activity financialization commodities markets classic example actually happened wheat market remember around june started hearing stories going betheres drought russia theres bad harvest ukraine going face kinds difficulties terms global wheat june december wheat price global trade doubled okay turns afterwards data fao data telling us actually wheat production world whole increased six months wheat demand whole world hardly increased really real demandandsupply reason massive changes wheat price jay speculation takes place certain investors betting long lets say either theyre also owners commodities big players actual commodity owners wheat still someone bet side playto make bet get people tohow able kind create atmosphere one hand prices going go hand find somebody bet theyre going go ghosh well really haveits necessarily keep finding somebody betting theyre going go really shift market sentiment expectation price rise ones really make money ones get crash inevitable people realize isnt really real movement nature bubbles create bubble either significant player shifts moves price little bit media sentiment making everyone believe yes period rising prices real economy factors created sentiment ride wave youre able jump wave bursts shore youre one makes profits jay sorry go ahead ghosh yes retail investors whove following ones holding losses jay much hoarding im reading stories financial press example boats filled oil sitting coast waiting spot market go theyll land boat theres recent story glencore hadhas boat filled gulf oil theyre paying 16000 day rent oil tanker dont want bring ashore wait oil prices go higher thewe read glencore goldman sachs nickel theyre renting owning enormous wharehousesim sorry nickel aluminumwhere theyre storing aluminum waiting price aluminum go much thatdo know affects food well ghosh think probably affecting foods especially grains well trouble really information private stockholding idea much held big companies held held fact one things allows lot rumor speculative activity run free markets know could tell basically three big changes latest bubble weve experienced compared previous bubble remember previous bubble 200708 jay yes ghosh latest bubble weve last year really ongoing way right couple features first know otc trade overthecounter trade completely deregulated activity declined quite significantly thats probably financial players realizing doddfrank bill maybe european union legislation going force abandon overthecounter trading theyre moving onto regulated exchanges regulated exchanges position limits set high many things actually effectively regulate players youre still able influence market kinds ways third thing happening longer financial players causing kinds price movements earlier said know index traders banks like goldman sachs huge commodities divisions agents really entering market purely financial interest holding commodity theres growing proportion people speculative gain change price theyre also holders commodities really complicated picture jay theres nothing know regulatory proposals regimes discussed would actually force kind disclosure terms whats held whats hoarded cause seems theres sort relationship speculative activity hoarding like know youre going toif commodity bet long commodity interest hold commodity kind force market get speculative psychological bubble takes place also affects well would sell saw interesting story ordinary rice wholesaler guess could say india documentary interviewed big storehouse filled rice saying well sell looked future markets know price rice expected go three months wouldnt wait three months sell rice mean play role ghosh oh absolutely know fact used traditional form speculation hoarding used people speculate commodities way could holding expectation price rise india fact things like antihoarding laws know usual target whenever prices rise go attack called godowns theyre warehouses traders others would hoarding commodities wait price increase difficulty today really large multinational players idea level stock holding disclosure requirement particular market case global players really dont know theyre holding form interacting financial play fact often commercial player like commercial holding stock speculative activity jay one places fightsregulatory fights taking place right said washington doddfrank bill theres big fight whether real position limits explain thats ghosh defined terms volume commodity buying idea behind position limit actually ensure single player unduly influence market difficulty terms define position limit aearlier regulators going along idea oh youre commercial trader largethe sky limit position limit know needing areyou engaged commercial activity jay well example would airlines tries hedge price jet fuel buy lot ofwhich seems legitimacy ghosh yes exactly know say alright youre airline company youre going need lot aviation fuel know wethe sky limit think get say well position limit maybe years demand aviation fuel large trading company lets say cargill glencore one position limit would six months worth turnover particular commodity something like wed crosstalk jay try say part actual hedging real selling one thing really speculative pressure another ghosh thats right jay fight iit really gettingits getting little attention united states actuallytheres athe battles taking place speak ghosh really scary battle much happens behind closed doors law legislators really rules regulations things decided people securities exchange commission people commodity futures trading commission really decided people susceptible financial lobbies jay lobbiesthe lobbyings enormous ghosh oh absolutely theyre active theyre energetic trying make sure rules carry theyre jay people thinking well guess terms demands people might make politicians would suggest ghosh would say politicians public large demand regulatory commissions clear description exact rules regulations putting place well course requires huge financial legal literacy among public large least organizations civil society groups actually look figure really mean whether successful enforcing kind regulation required really public knowledge either nature rules implications rules jay also questions raised either whether antitrust legislation even issues public ownership much concentration ownership food fori justfor example follow company glencore one investors glencore apparently biggest commodities traderowner world right sultan brunei apparently one larger investors sultan brunei big piece glencore major owner russian wheat foodstuffs kinds commodities world also turned around sovereign wealth fund bought biggest poultry producer turkey seems real scramble buy thewho makes produces worlds food ghosh yes well know one concentrated sectors world really last two decades united states really four five major producers controlling 85 percent commodities trade point theyre called horizontally concentrated theyre vertically concentrated say big companies control every part commodity know process production theyou know give inputs buy output go way retail trade increasingly ones active futures market well jay thanks much joining us jayati ghosh thank pleasure jay thank joining us real news network end transcript disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 1,225 |
<p>The Duchess of Richmond’s <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/06/18/waterloo-and-the-end-of-napoleonic-war.html" type="external">Waterloo</a> Ball was described by the historian Elizabeth Longford as “the most famous ball in history”—and, damn it, I could have been there.</p>
<p>Well, not at the 1815 Brussels original, of course, but at its re-enactment in 1969 by Sergei Bondarchuk for Waterloo, a movie in which Christopher Plummer played Wellington, Virginia McKenna the Duchess, and Rod Steiger a doughy <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2014/11/07/napoleon-was-a-dynamite-dictator.html" type="external">Napoleon</a>.</p>
<p>I was covering the production—it was shot in Rome and the Ukraine, then part of the USSR—for the UK’s Telegraph Magazine but I missed the Ball scene somehow.</p>
<p>The original really was the most famous party ever, though, and this at a time when fame was a slower growth but lasted longer.</p>
<p>Byron was quick off the mark, writing it into Childe Harold’s Pilgrimage—which made him into a rock star poet—when the event was still fresh in memory.</p>
<p>Thackeray turned it into a set-piece in Vanity Fair (1848), making his beautiful schemer, Becky Sharp, the belle of the ball.</p>
<p>It was a crucial scene in movies based on the novel, like Becky Sharp, a 1935 RKO production which was also the first full-length Technicolor movie. And, of course, there was the Bondarchuk movie, for which Moscow’s support allowed him so many troops that the director supposedly controlled the seventh largest army in Europe.</p>
<p>Could the reality have been as rich as this? Or, like so much popular history, does the Waterloo Ball scenario consist of a kernel of fact, puffed up by hopes and fears and turned into a useful fable?</p>
<p>There’s important back story. <a href="/content/dailybeast/articles/2015/06/01/napoleon-s-final-prison-the-world-s-first-gitmo-is-about-to-change-forever.html" type="external">Napoleon escaped from Elba</a>, the islet to which he had been banished by the Allies on February 26 1815. Again the French flocked to him and their king, Louis XVII scuttled.</p>
<p>Napoleon was again at the head of his army but much outnumbered by his enemies, and knew he would have to deal with them one army at a time—including his most formidable enemy, the Duke of Wellington, who was waiting with the British and Dutch armies in Brussels.</p>
<p>Then, as now, Brussels was a cosmopolitan capital, where foreign swells included a Brit community, the leaders of which were the Duke and Duchess of Richmond.</p>
<p>So, the ball. This was held in Wellington’s honor by the Duchess of Richmond on the 15th of June, 1815—this is the Bicentenary plus a week or so—and it was attended by over six hundred guests, including a firmament of European princes and the officers in Wellington’s army.</p>
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<p>There was merriment. ” I well remember the Gordon Highlanders dancing reels at the ball,” Lady Louisa, one of the Richmond daughters, would observe later. “There was quite a crowd to look at the Scotch dancers.”</p>
<p>Accounts of the ball do not make it clear just when the rumors began that Napoleon’s army was crossing the Belgian border but clearly news was soon coursing around the ballroom.</p>
<p>It is interesting to learn that Wellington and his intimates didn’t make an entrance until between 11 and midnight. It was remarked upon that he was late, but apparently not particularly so.</p>
<p>Lady Georgiana Lennox, Richmond’s third daughter, and a favorite of the Duke later wrote: “I was dancing but at once went up to him to ask about the rumors. He said very gravely, “Yes, they are true; we are off tomorrow.”</p>
<p>She added, “This terrible news was circulated directly, and while some of the officers hurried away, others remained at the ball, and actually had not time to change their clothes, but fought in evening costume.”</p>
<p>I should say that according to different accounts it was just their evening shoes.</p>
<p>Lord Byron wasn’t there but let’s use his fine eye for detail anyway.</p>
<p>Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro,And gathering tears, and tremblings of distress,And cheeks all pale, which but an hour agoBlushed at the praise of their own loveliness</p>
<p>Shortly before dinner an aide to the Dutch commander, the Prince of Orange, arrived with a message.</p>
<p>The Prince handed it to Wellington.</p>
<p>It read that the French had forced the Prussians to retreat. Wellington asked the Prince to return to his HQ, then went into dinner, where he sat between Georgiana Lennox—“Georgy”—and another titled Englishwoman.</p>
<p>A further message arrived to the effect that the French were continuing to advance. Wellington made small talk for another twenty minutes, then rose from the table.</p>
<p>Wellington stopped off in Richmond’s dressing room, presumably en route to bed.</p>
<p>Wellington famously said ‘Napoleon has humbugged me, by God; he has gained twenty-four hours march on me… I have ordered the army to concentrate at Quatre Bras; but we shall not stop him there, and if so I must fight him there.”</p>
<p>With his thumbnail, he indicated Waterloo.</p>
<p>Georgiana Lennox and her brother, an aide to the Prince of Orange, helped Wellington pack. But the Waterloo Ball was not quite over.</p>
<p>“We returned to the ballroom, where we found some energetic and heartless young ladies still dancing,” she said. “It was a dreadful evening, taking leave of friends and acquaintances, many never to be seen again.”</p>
<p>The battle of Quatre Bras took place on the morrow. And Waterloo on Sunday June 18. Wellington’s cool had been much remarked on, before these battles generally, his demeanor at the ball specifically.</p>
<p>Nick Foulkes, author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dancing-into-Battle-History-Waterloo/dp/0753822172/" type="external">Dancing into Battle: a Social History of the Battle of Waterloo</a>, has been quoted to the effect that this was strategic on the Duke’s part, a decision that it would have been perilous to show nerves.</p>
<p>Foulkes suggests that thus was created “the myth of British imperturbability, the famous stiff upper lip that would come to be identified as the national characteristic of Britain as the century wore on.”</p>
<p>If the stiffness of the national Upper Lip can be assigned a beginning, I think we should also accept that it had an end-date too. Clearly this was the death of Diana. The national upper lip has been sensitive to emotional stimuli ever since.</p> | true | 4 | duchess richmonds waterloo ball described historian elizabeth longford famous ball historyand damn could well 1815 brussels original course reenactment 1969 sergei bondarchuk waterloo movie christopher plummer played wellington virginia mckenna duchess rod steiger doughy napoleon covering productionit shot rome ukraine part ussrfor uks telegraph magazine missed ball scene somehow original really famous party ever though time fame slower growth lasted longer byron quick mark writing childe harolds pilgrimagewhich made rock star poetwhen event still fresh memory thackeray turned setpiece vanity fair 1848 making beautiful schemer becky sharp belle ball crucial scene movies based novel like becky sharp 1935 rko production also first fulllength technicolor movie course bondarchuk movie moscows support allowed many troops director supposedly controlled seventh largest army europe could reality rich like much popular history waterloo ball scenario consist kernel fact puffed hopes fears turned useful fable theres important back story napoleon escaped elba islet banished allies february 26 1815 french flocked king louis xvii scuttled napoleon head army much outnumbered enemies knew would deal one army timeincluding formidable enemy duke wellington waiting british dutch armies brussels brussels cosmopolitan capital foreign swells included brit community leaders duke duchess richmond ball held wellingtons honor duchess richmond 15th june 1815this bicentenary plus week soand attended six hundred guests including firmament european princes officers wellingtons army start finish day top stories daily beast speedy smart summary news need know nothing dont merriment well remember gordon highlanders dancing reels ball lady louisa one richmond daughters would observe later quite crowd look scotch dancers accounts ball make clear rumors began napoleons army crossing belgian border clearly news soon coursing around ballroom interesting learn wellington intimates didnt make entrance 11 midnight remarked upon late apparently particularly lady georgiana lennox richmonds third daughter favorite duke later wrote dancing went ask rumors said gravely yes true tomorrow added terrible news circulated directly officers hurried away others remained ball actually time change clothes fought evening costume say according different accounts evening shoes lord byron wasnt lets use fine eye detail anyway ah hurrying froand gathering tears tremblings distressand cheeks pale hour agoblushed praise loveliness shortly dinner aide dutch commander prince orange arrived message prince handed wellington read french forced prussians retreat wellington asked prince return hq went dinner sat georgiana lennoxgeorgyand another titled englishwoman message arrived effect french continuing advance wellington made small talk another twenty minutes rose table wellington stopped richmonds dressing room presumably en route bed wellington famously said napoleon humbugged god gained twentyfour hours march ordered army concentrate quatre bras shall stop must fight thumbnail indicated waterloo georgiana lennox brother aide prince orange helped wellington pack waterloo ball quite returned ballroom found energetic heartless young ladies still dancing said dreadful evening taking leave friends acquaintances many never seen battle quatre bras took place morrow waterloo sunday june 18 wellingtons cool much remarked battles generally demeanor ball specifically nick foulkes author dancing battle social history battle waterloo quoted effect strategic dukes part decision would perilous show nerves foulkes suggests thus created myth british imperturbability famous stiff upper lip would come identified national characteristic britain century wore stiffness national upper lip assigned beginning think also accept enddate clearly death diana national upper lip sensitive emotional stimuli ever since | 532 |
<p>Photo: Wikimedia Commons</p>
<p />
<p>This <a href="http://www.propublica.org/feature/the-new-katrina-flood-hospital-liability-10102" type="external">story</a> first appeared on the <a href="http://www.propublica.org" type="external">ProPublica website</a>. It was co-published with the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/weekinreview/03fink.html" type="external">New York Times</a>.</p>
<p>Three years before <a href="/environment/2009/08/secret-history-hurricane-katrina" type="external">Hurricane Katrina</a> inundated New Orleans, a senior executive at Pendleton Memorial Methodist Hospital assessed its vulnerability to the sort of flooding that had been long feared there.</p>
<p>His conclusion is now evidence in a lawsuit against Methodist that could have significant implications for hospitals nationwide.</p>
<p>“The first question is, do we have generators placed to accommodate an emergency <a href="/mojo/2006/09/year-after-katrina-corps-engineers-lacks-flood-plan-new-orleans" type="external">flood</a> with 15 feet of water?” wrote Cameron B. Barr, then an executive vice president.” The answer to that question is no. “One of the two main generators was located on a roof, he said, but another “would be nonfunctional at about two feet of flood water around the generator.”</p>
<p>Not only would it have to be relocated, he said, but the power plant and an underground tunnel connecting the plant to the hospital would have to be protected.</p>
<p>As a “back of the envelope” estimate, Mr. Barr wrote, “to protect the Hospital, East Tower, power plant building and to relocate the emergency generators and fuel supply would probably be a $7.5 million project.”</p>
<p>But the money was never spent, the power went out, and the hospital’s life-support machines stopped working. Now, the family of Althea LaCoste, a 73-year-old patient who died in what her family’s lawyers allege was sweltering heat after nurses spent hours pumping air into her lungs by hand in the pitch dark, is raising a potentially far-reaching legal question: How prepared do hospitals have to be for the worst possible circumstances?</p>
<p>More than 100 deaths occurred in New Orleans-area hospitals and nursing homes after Hurricane Katrina when emergency backup power systems failed and patients languished for days awaiting transport. About 200 lawsuits have been filed in Louisiana alleging that these institutions are liable for the deaths and for the suffering of other patients who survived because corporate failure to plan adequately for flooding and implement evacuation constituted negligence or medical malpractice.</p>
<p>The LaCoste trial is set to begin on Monday. “This could be a new theory of liability against health care institutions—lack of emergency preparedness,” said Kristin McMahon, an attorney and chief claims officer for IronHealth, a company that insures hospitals. “The courts across the country will be looking at it.”</p>
<p>The case has already been precedent-setting in Louisiana. The state’s Supreme Court decided the allegations were based on general negligence claims, as opposed to medical malpractice in which damages would be capped at $500,000. This markedly increased hospital owners’ potential liability.</p>
<p>Mrs. LaCoste’s family alleges that the hospital was negligent for having inadequate emergency power systems, evacuation plans and floodwater protection. They say a fuel pump that failed after it was flooded caused the higher generator to shut down—an event they say could have been avoided if the hospital had invested less than $10,000 in a submersible pump.</p>
<p>The hospital’s owners argue in court filings that Hurricane Katrina was an “act of God” that could not be foreseen, that the hospital was not negligent, and that it would be unreasonable to expect a hospital to be impervious to all of the unlikely catastrophes its emergency plans contemplate, including tornadoes and a “terrorist event.”</p>
<p>Methodist’s owners also maintain that the hospital’s emergency power system “met or exceeded applicable electrical codes and standards.”</p>
<p>But systems that meet those standards are “not always sufficient” in major catastrophes, according to a warning issued after Katrina by the organization that accredits most American hospitals, the Joint Commission. National electrical standards for hospitals were traditionally oriented toward maintaining electricity during common, brief local power outages, not prolonged emergencies.</p>
<p>National Fire Protection Association standards call for “careful consideration” to be given to protecting electrical components from “natural forces common to the area” such as storms, floods and earthquakes, but that guidance is not specific. Emergency systems do not have to be designed to power air-conditioning or heating. Other aspects of hospital emergency planning are even less regulated.</p>
<p>These problems were recognized years before Katrina. When Tropical Storm Allison flooded Houston in June 2001, some hospitals in the nation’s largest medical complex, Texas Medical Center, lost power because either emergency generators or their associated electrical components were located below flood level.</p>
<p>The assessment by the former Methodist hospital executive was made in response to an inquiry from Dr. Kevin Stephens, the New Orleans health director, the year after Tropical Storm Allison. Dr. Stephens asked whether generators at each hospital in the city could withstand a flood, how much it would cost to elevate them, and whether there was interest in having the city look into the issue. “They said it would cost millions of dollars,” he said. “And nobody had the money. They thought I was crazy.”</p>
<p>Across the country, the vulnerability remains. “There are many places that still know they have to move their generator,” said Robert Wise, a vice president of the Joint Commission. Without power, he said, hospitals are “literally dead in the water. It’s a critical asset.”</p>
<p>But most hospitals are juggling multiple priorities and operating on thin margins. Raising generators is not mandatory for hospital accreditation, and government agencies have rarely provided funding for the expensive work prior to a disaster. “This is a zero-sum game now,” Dr. Wise said. “Who decides it’s not important to buy critical machines for the intensive care unit or the operating room versus moving the emergency electrical system?”</p>
<p>A jury in New Orleans might have an answer.</p>
<p>Correction: In accordance with information in court filings submitted by hospital attorneys, this post originally identified Cameron B. Barr as a woman. Cameron B. Barr is in fact a man.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | photo wikimedia commons story first appeared propublica website copublished new york times three years hurricane katrina inundated new orleans senior executive pendleton memorial methodist hospital assessed vulnerability sort flooding long feared conclusion evidence lawsuit methodist could significant implications hospitals nationwide first question generators placed accommodate emergency flood 15 feet water wrote cameron b barr executive vice president answer question one two main generators located roof said another would nonfunctional two feet flood water around generator would relocated said power plant underground tunnel connecting plant hospital would protected back envelope estimate mr barr wrote protect hospital east tower power plant building relocate emergency generators fuel supply would probably 75 million project money never spent power went hospitals lifesupport machines stopped working family althea lacoste 73yearold patient died familys lawyers allege sweltering heat nurses spent hours pumping air lungs hand pitch dark raising potentially farreaching legal question prepared hospitals worst possible circumstances 100 deaths occurred new orleansarea hospitals nursing homes hurricane katrina emergency backup power systems failed patients languished days awaiting transport 200 lawsuits filed louisiana alleging institutions liable deaths suffering patients survived corporate failure plan adequately flooding implement evacuation constituted negligence medical malpractice lacoste trial set begin monday could new theory liability health care institutionslack emergency preparedness said kristin mcmahon attorney chief claims officer ironhealth company insures hospitals courts across country looking case already precedentsetting louisiana states supreme court decided allegations based general negligence claims opposed medical malpractice damages would capped 500000 markedly increased hospital owners potential liability mrs lacostes family alleges hospital negligent inadequate emergency power systems evacuation plans floodwater protection say fuel pump failed flooded caused higher generator shut downan event say could avoided hospital invested less 10000 submersible pump hospitals owners argue court filings hurricane katrina act god could foreseen hospital negligent would unreasonable expect hospital impervious unlikely catastrophes emergency plans contemplate including tornadoes terrorist event methodists owners also maintain hospitals emergency power system met exceeded applicable electrical codes standards systems meet standards always sufficient major catastrophes according warning issued katrina organization accredits american hospitals joint commission national electrical standards hospitals traditionally oriented toward maintaining electricity common brief local power outages prolonged emergencies national fire protection association standards call careful consideration given protecting electrical components natural forces common area storms floods earthquakes guidance specific emergency systems designed power airconditioning heating aspects hospital emergency planning even less regulated problems recognized years katrina tropical storm allison flooded houston june 2001 hospitals nations largest medical complex texas medical center lost power either emergency generators associated electrical components located flood level assessment former methodist hospital executive made response inquiry dr kevin stephens new orleans health director year tropical storm allison dr stephens asked whether generators hospital city could withstand flood much would cost elevate whether interest city look issue said would cost millions dollars said nobody money thought crazy across country vulnerability remains many places still know move generator said robert wise vice president joint commission without power said hospitals literally dead water critical asset hospitals juggling multiple priorities operating thin margins raising generators mandatory hospital accreditation government agencies rarely provided funding expensive work prior disaster zerosum game dr wise said decides important buy critical machines intensive care unit operating room versus moving emergency electrical system jury new orleans might answer correction accordance information court filings submitted hospital attorneys post originally identified cameron b barr woman cameron b barr fact man | 559 |
<p />
<p>It really happened. On Tuesday night in Cleveland, Donald Trump officially became the Republican presidential nominee, ending a 12-month odyssey that exceeded the worst nightmares of virtually all his party’s leading lights. Trump is unique in modern American politics, not just because almost no one expected him to win when he entered the race, but because of the bridge-burning way other Republican candidates, elected officials, pundits, and operatives discussed his candidacy.</p>
<p>But since he won the Indiana primary in May and became the presumptive nominee, many of Trump’s most unflinching adversaries have, in fact, flinched, abandoning the Never Trump movement in the name of party unity or Hillary Clinton antipathy. Here’s a quick guide to where the nominee’s loudest critics stand now:</p>
<p>Marco Rubio: The senator from Florida called his Republican rival a “con artist” after a debate in February. Days before the Florida primary, he compared Trump to a Latin American strongman and warned that the movement Trump had sparked could be “dangerous and disastrous.” After dropping out, he said he would be “honored” to speak on Trump’s behalf at the convention.</p>
<p>Rick Perry: The former Texas governor denounced Trump as a “barking carnival act” and a “cancer” on conservatism during his brief presidential run, leading to rumors he might be recruited to run as an independent. In May, he told CNN he was available to serve as Trump’s vice president.</p>
<p>Alex Castellanos: A GOP ad maker and CNN contributor, he tried to start an anti-Trump super-PAC last fall to convince conservatives Trump posed a “danger” to the country. In June, he signed on to work for a pro-Trump super-PAC.</p>
<p>Nikki Haley: South Carolina’s governor invoked Charleston’s 2015 mass shooting to warn that Trump was fomenting hate in a way that could lead to violence, telling a retirement community, “We can’t have Donald Trump as president.” She endorsed Trump two months later.</p>
<p>Lindsey Graham: The senator from South Carolina denounced his Republican rival as a “race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot.” (He also called Trump a “jackass” and a “nut job” who should “go to hell.”) Graham hasn’t publicly backed Trump but reportedly urged donors to get on board.</p>
<p>John McCain: The 2008 GOP nominee bashed Trump as “uninformed and dangerous” on national security and asked Republican voters to choose someone else. When they didn’t, he endorsed the candidate who referred to him and his fellow prisoners of war as fake war heroes.</p>
<p>Paul Ryan: The speaker of the House gave a special address to condemn Trump’s Muslim ban, and another to denounce the tone of electoral politics. After Trump clinched the nomination, Ryan said he wasn’t ready to endorse. Just weeks later, he did. When Trump attacked the Latino judge overseeing the Trump University case, Ryan called his argument “racist”—but held fast in his support.</p>
<p>Bobby Jindal: &#160;The failed 2016 primary candidate and former Louisiana governor called Trump an “egomaniac” and a “madman who must be stopped.” He later published an op-ed endorsing the candidate, “warts and all.”</p>
<p>Paul LePage: Six days after telling a meeting of Republican governors that they must denounce Trump, the Maine governor endorsed Trump. He has said he would like to join a Trump administration.</p>
<p>Hugh Hewitt: He’s out, he’s in, he’s out, he’s in. The thinking man’s conservative talk radio host slammed Trump during the primary but urged listeners to “close ranks” when it was over. After the Orlando shooting, he proposed changing the rules of the convention to deny Trump the nomination, but then he backed off.</p>
<p>Ted Cruz: Trump’s leading rival during the primary, the Texas senator has stayed unusually quiet about whether he’ll vote for the man who insulted his wife’s looks and accused his dad of helping kill JFK.</p>
<p>Jeff Flake: The Arizona senator said he’s not sure he can get behind Trump, even as Clinton makes a play for his state. In June, he urged his Senate colleagues not to rush to get behind their nominee: “Some of the things he’s done I think are beyond the pale.”</p>
<p>Mark Kirk: The endangered Illinois senator endorsed Trump but rescinded his support after the nominee said a Chicago-born “Mexican” judge would be inherently biased against him in the Trump University fraud case. His campaign ads prominently note that Trump is “not fit” to be commander-in-chief.</p>
<p>Mitt Romney: Though he flew to Las Vegas to accept Trump’s endorsement during the 2012 campaign, Romney denounced Trump in March. He has since said he’s looking for an independent or third-party candidate.</p>
<p>Jeb Bush: In a July interview, Bush said “the bar’s not that high” for a GOP nominee to win his support—but that Trump couldn’t clear it. The two ex-presidents in his immediate family have both said they won’t endorse the nominee. Jeb’s mother, Barbara, told CBS News in June that she doesn’t “know how women could vote for someone” like Trump, given his attacks on Fox News host Megyn Kelly.</p>
<p>Rick Wilson: The longtime Republican ad maker and former Rubio backer helped start the #NeverTrump movement when his nomination looked unlikely, calling him a “scenery-chewing, oxygen-sucking political black hole.” In June, he dubbed Trump “Cheeto Jesus.”</p>
<p>Bill Kristol: Romney, Sasse, General James Mattis, and even little-known National Review columnist John French turned down the Weekly Standard founder’s entreaties to challenge Trump as an independent. He’s said he will vote for neither Trump nor Clinton.</p>
<p>Glenn Beck: The talk radio host compared Trump to Hitler, although in fairness, he compares lots of people to Hitler. He was suspended from his show in May after a guest mused about assassinating the GOP nominee. Beck has supported the idea of a third-party candidate but has not picked one himself.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | really happened tuesday night cleveland donald trump officially became republican presidential nominee ending 12month odyssey exceeded worst nightmares virtually partys leading lights trump unique modern american politics almost one expected win entered race bridgeburning way republican candidates elected officials pundits operatives discussed candidacy since indiana primary may became presumptive nominee many trumps unflinching adversaries fact flinched abandoning never trump movement name party unity hillary clinton antipathy heres quick guide nominees loudest critics stand marco rubio senator florida called republican rival con artist debate february days florida primary compared trump latin american strongman warned movement trump sparked could dangerous disastrous dropping said would honored speak trumps behalf convention rick perry former texas governor denounced trump barking carnival act cancer conservatism brief presidential run leading rumors might recruited run independent may told cnn available serve trumps vice president alex castellanos gop ad maker cnn contributor tried start antitrump superpac last fall convince conservatives trump posed danger country june signed work protrump superpac nikki haley south carolinas governor invoked charlestons 2015 mass shooting warn trump fomenting hate way could lead violence telling retirement community cant donald trump president endorsed trump two months later lindsey graham senator south carolina denounced republican rival racebaiting xenophobic religious bigot also called trump jackass nut job go hell graham hasnt publicly backed trump reportedly urged donors get board john mccain 2008 gop nominee bashed trump uninformed dangerous national security asked republican voters choose someone else didnt endorsed candidate referred fellow prisoners war fake war heroes paul ryan speaker house gave special address condemn trumps muslim ban another denounce tone electoral politics trump clinched nomination ryan said wasnt ready endorse weeks later trump attacked latino judge overseeing trump university case ryan called argument racistbut held fast support bobby jindal 160the failed 2016 primary candidate former louisiana governor called trump egomaniac madman must stopped later published oped endorsing candidate warts paul lepage six days telling meeting republican governors must denounce trump maine governor endorsed trump said would like join trump administration hugh hewitt hes hes hes hes thinking mans conservative talk radio host slammed trump primary urged listeners close ranks orlando shooting proposed changing rules convention deny trump nomination backed ted cruz trumps leading rival primary texas senator stayed unusually quiet whether hell vote man insulted wifes looks accused dad helping kill jfk jeff flake arizona senator said hes sure get behind trump even clinton makes play state june urged senate colleagues rush get behind nominee things hes done think beyond pale mark kirk endangered illinois senator endorsed trump rescinded support nominee said chicagoborn mexican judge would inherently biased trump university fraud case campaign ads prominently note trump fit commanderinchief mitt romney though flew las vegas accept trumps endorsement 2012 campaign romney denounced trump march since said hes looking independent thirdparty candidate jeb bush july interview bush said bars high gop nominee win supportbut trump couldnt clear two expresidents immediate family said wont endorse nominee jebs mother barbara told cbs news june doesnt know women could vote someone like trump given attacks fox news host megyn kelly rick wilson longtime republican ad maker former rubio backer helped start nevertrump movement nomination looked unlikely calling scenerychewing oxygensucking political black hole june dubbed trump cheeto jesus bill kristol romney sasse general james mattis even littleknown national review columnist john french turned weekly standard founders entreaties challenge trump independent hes said vote neither trump clinton glenn beck talk radio host compared trump hitler although fairness compares lots people hitler suspended show may guest mused assassinating gop nominee beck supported idea thirdparty candidate picked one | 591 |
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<p>Warehouse Workers for Justice just released " <a href="http://www.warehouseworker.org/atworkatrisk.pdf" type="external">"Women at Work, Women at Risk"</a>," a report highlighting sexual harassment in Illinois' logistics industry. &#160;</p>
<p>"We don’t go to work to be touched, to be talked down to, to be told what our bodies look like. We know what our bodies look like when we put on our clothes in the morning," Uylonda Dickerson said.</p>
<p>But constant remarks about their bodies, and unwanted touching, advances, mean-spirited "pranks" and other forms of sexual harassment are a regular occurrence for many of the more than 30,000 women—like Dickerson—who work in the warehouse industry in the Chicago area, according to a <a href="http://www.warehouseworker.org/atworkatrisk.pdf" type="external">report</a>&#160;(PDF) released this week by the group Warehouse Workers for Justice (WWJ). And women often face retaliation for reporting harassment.</p>
<p>In an extreme example that is currently the subject of a lawsuit, 19-year-old Priscilla Marshall, her mother and her teenage friend allege they were repeatedly subject to aggressive and abusive sexual assaults and language by a 45-year-old manager at the Partners Warehouse in Elwood, Ill. After the three women and Marshall’s uncle and the mother’s boyfriend complained,&#160;they were fired or suspended&#160;and accused of theft, which resulted in Marshall and her mother spending 15 and seven days in jail, respectively, according to the lawsuit filed March 9.</p>
<p>WWJ's Leah Fried told me that the same industry structure that allegedly&#160;allows for widespread violations of labor law, extremely low wages and unhealthy conditions also contributes to a climate of unchecked sexual harassment and retaliation. The warehousing (or logistics) industry is based on layers of subcontractors, so that major companies like Wal-Mart rarely own and operate the warehouses where their goods are stored and distributed. Fried said:</p>
<p>A major factor is the layering of management, it’s another way the owners say of WalMart shirk responsibility and subcontract and subcontract so no one is taking responsibility for a very basic legal obligation (avoiding sexual harassment). There’s also the low unionization rate – because so many jobs are temp jobs and because very few warehouse workers have a union, it makes it easier for management to get away with violating people’s rights. Not having a union is a big deal – and a big reason people can be exploited more easily.</p>
<p>WWJ (launched by the United Electrical workers union, for which Fried is an organizer)&#160;is trying to fill the gap by educating women and men about sexual harassment and their rights and responsibilities, and providing resources for legal action and a forum for organizing and leveraging community support. Various elected officials, religious leaders and other residents attended a forum on International Women’s Day, called "Take Back the Warehouse," in reference to <a href="http://www.takebackthenight.org/" type="external">Take Back the Night</a>marches.</p>
<p>WWJ’s extensive surveys of the Chicago-area industry found that about one quarter of warehouse workers are women; the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports similar numbers nationwide.</p>
<p>The report and forum are part of WWJ’s three-year-old campaign to improve conditions and accountability in the warehouses where consumer goods destined for stores around the country are staged for distribution.</p>
<p>The group has also recently launched a Warehouse Women’s Legal Defense Fund to subsidize legal action for women with sexual harassment or other gender-based complaints. In conjunction with the Working Hands Legal Clinic, WWJ recently helped Marshall and her mother, friend, uncle and mother’s boyfriend sue Partners Warehouse manager Brian Swaw, and people whom Swaw allegedly enlisted to intimidate and threaten the plaintiffs after they complained about his conduct. The lawsuit alleges Swaw&#160;repeatedly touched&#160;their breasts and buttocks, thrust his crotch in their faces and told Marshall’s then-17-year-old friend that when she turned 18 he would have sex with her.</p>
<p>The lawsuit also alleges Swaw also made frequent racial slurs toward Latinos, and suspended, and then fired, the plaintiffs after they complained. It also alleges he enlisted a former police officer (who was facing a federal indictment) and a private investigator to intimidate the plaintiffs and falsely charge them with theft, forgery and filing a false police report.</p>
<p>While that was an extreme situation, many other women told WWJ organizers that they deal with unequal pay, constant verbal and physical harassment and the threat of retaliation if they complain on a daily basis.</p>
<p>Elizabeth Labrador said after she complained about being paid $2 to $3 an hour less than men doing the same job at a warehouse for Petco, she was assigned to lift heavy fish tanks and ended up hurting her back.</p>
<p>Female workers report sexual harassment from both top managers and co-workers lower down the organizational hierarchy, so WWJ is trying to convince men they should be joining with their female co-workers to fight for better conditions rather than making their jobs even rougher. Fried told me:</p>
<p>A lot of men need to receive some education about what’s appropriate in the workplace. Because that’s not happening from the companies that employ them and operate the warehouse, because the industry is not doing their job, WWJ founded a women’s committee with one of the roles being to develop sexual harassment training for both women and men. The men have been incredibly supportive, it’s been eye-opening for them. They’ve found that absolutely this is an issue that affects women and also that it’s about making warehouses better for everybody.</p>
<p>Women quoted in the report describe constant patterns of humiliating and threatening behavior that left them exhausted and dreading their jobs. Dickerson, who worked at a Wal-Mart warehouse, said she was locked in a trailer and constantly derided by men asking things like "Did you chip a nail?"&#160;Latasha Davis described men gathering to watch women bend over to pick up boxes.&#160;</p>
<p>Samantha Rodriguez, a former Wal-Mart warehouse worker, is quoted in the report:</p>
<p>When I went to another supervisor about the harassment, he asked me out on a date. I said "no," and eventually I got fired. I pride myself on being an independent woman. I do remodeling, I hang drywall, I put in floors. That’s my profession. So I went to warehouses because I like doing that kind of work. Now, I won’t step foot in a warehouse. I refuse to. Because, the way they treated me wasn’t right.</p> | true | 4 | email name recipients email comma separated message captcha warehouse workers justice released women work women risk report highlighting sexual harassment illinois logistics industry 160 dont go work touched talked told bodies look like know bodies look like put clothes morning uylonda dickerson said constant remarks bodies unwanted touching advances meanspirited pranks forms sexual harassment regular occurrence many 30000 womenlike dickersonwho work warehouse industry chicago area according report160pdf released week group warehouse workers justice wwj women often face retaliation reporting harassment extreme example currently subject lawsuit 19yearold priscilla marshall mother teenage friend allege repeatedly subject aggressive abusive sexual assaults language 45yearold manager partners warehouse elwood ill three women marshalls uncle mothers boyfriend complained160they fired suspended160and accused theft resulted marshall mother spending 15 seven days jail respectively according lawsuit filed march 9 wwjs leah fried told industry structure allegedly160allows widespread violations labor law extremely low wages unhealthy conditions also contributes climate unchecked sexual harassment retaliation warehousing logistics industry based layers subcontractors major companies like walmart rarely operate warehouses goods stored distributed fried said major factor layering management another way owners say walmart shirk responsibility subcontract subcontract one taking responsibility basic legal obligation avoiding sexual harassment theres also low unionization rate many jobs temp jobs warehouse workers union makes easier management get away violating peoples rights union big deal big reason people exploited easily wwj launched united electrical workers union fried organizer160is trying fill gap educating women men sexual harassment rights responsibilities providing resources legal action forum organizing leveraging community support various elected officials religious leaders residents attended forum international womens day called take back warehouse reference take back nightmarches wwjs extensive surveys chicagoarea industry found one quarter warehouse workers women bureau labor statistics reports similar numbers nationwide report forum part wwjs threeyearold campaign improve conditions accountability warehouses consumer goods destined stores around country staged distribution group also recently launched warehouse womens legal defense fund subsidize legal action women sexual harassment genderbased complaints conjunction working hands legal clinic wwj recently helped marshall mother friend uncle mothers boyfriend sue partners warehouse manager brian swaw people swaw allegedly enlisted intimidate threaten plaintiffs complained conduct lawsuit alleges swaw160repeatedly touched160their breasts buttocks thrust crotch faces told marshalls then17yearold friend turned 18 would sex lawsuit also alleges swaw also made frequent racial slurs toward latinos suspended fired plaintiffs complained also alleges enlisted former police officer facing federal indictment private investigator intimidate plaintiffs falsely charge theft forgery filing false police report extreme situation many women told wwj organizers deal unequal pay constant verbal physical harassment threat retaliation complain daily basis elizabeth labrador said complained paid 2 3 hour less men job warehouse petco assigned lift heavy fish tanks ended hurting back female workers report sexual harassment top managers coworkers lower organizational hierarchy wwj trying convince men joining female coworkers fight better conditions rather making jobs even rougher fried told lot men need receive education whats appropriate workplace thats happening companies employ operate warehouse industry job wwj founded womens committee one roles develop sexual harassment training women men men incredibly supportive eyeopening theyve found absolutely issue affects women also making warehouses better everybody women quoted report describe constant patterns humiliating threatening behavior left exhausted dreading jobs dickerson worked walmart warehouse said locked trailer constantly derided men asking things like chip nail160latasha davis described men gathering watch women bend pick boxes160 samantha rodriguez former walmart warehouse worker quoted report went another supervisor harassment asked date said eventually got fired pride independent woman remodeling hang drywall put floors thats profession went warehouses like kind work wont step foot warehouse refuse way treated wasnt right | 592 |
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<p>In May 2014, the Reverend Jesse Jackson traveled from his home in Chicago to the Googleplex in Mountain View, California, to <a href="http://www.tubechop.com/watch/3245761" type="external">address</a> the search giant’s annual shareholder meeting. Technology isn’t what you would call a core area for the 73-year-old civil rights leader, who carries an old-school flip phone and oversees a website, <a href="http://rainbowpush.org/" type="external">Rainbowpush.org</a>, that looks like a relic from the GeoCities era. But Jackson had a bone to pick. Despite <a href="http://www.google.com/about/company/" type="external">Google’s mission</a> to make the world’s data “universally accessible and useful,” it had been <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22817070/apple-google-hp-and-other-tech-giants-again" type="external">fighting for years</a> to stop the release of federal data on diversity in its workforce. “There should be nothing to hide, and much to be proud of and promote,” Jackson told the company’s executives after politely requesting its diversity stats. “I ask you, in the name of all you represent, to pursue this mission.”</p>
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<p>David Drummond, the company’s only black high-level executive, sized up Jackson, who stood out amid the mostly white crowd. “Many of the companies in the Valley have been reluctant to divulge that data, including Google,” he responded. “And quite frankly, I think we’ve come to the conclusion that we’re wrong about that.”</p>
<p>The exchange was the public culmination of some behind-the-scenes arm wrestling that was vintage Jesse Jackson. Drummond, 52, was an old friend of the reverend who had volunteered for his 1988 presidential campaign and helped launch Jackson’s first tech initiative, the Silicon Valley Project, 11 years later. The two men had met quietly a month or so earlier at Google HQ, and again around the time of the shareholder meeting. Drummond knew Jackson would ask for the stats, and Jackson knew Drummond would agree to release them. Two weeks later, Google’s senior vice president of people operations, Laszlo Bock, did just that. “Put simply, Google is not where we want to be when it comes to diversity,” he <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2014/05/getting-to-work-on-diversity-at-google.html" type="external">said</a>, upon revealing that the company’s overall workforce was only 30 percent female, 3 percent Hispanic, and 2 percent black.</p>
<p>Rather than simply criticize Google’s abysmal numbers, Jackson <a href="http://rainbowpush.org/news/single/Rev_Jesse_Jackson_Applauds_Googles_Release_of_EEO1_Data" type="external">issued a statement</a> calling for other companies to “follow Google’s lead” and release their data too. <a href="http://newsroom.fb.com/news/2014/06/building-a-more-diverse-facebook/" type="external">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/2014/building-a-twitter-we-can-be-proud-of" type="external">Twitter</a>, <a href="http://blog.linkedin.com/2014/06/12/linkedins-workforce-diversity/" type="external">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/01/microsoft-diversity/" type="external">Microsoft</a>, <a href="http://rainbowpush.org/news/single/amazon_releases_workforce_diversity_-_patterns_of_exclusion_persist" type="external">Amazon</a>, and <a href="http://rainbowpush.org/news/single/reverend_jesse_l._jackson_sr._and_rainbow_push_coalition_commend_tim_cook_a" type="external">Apple</a> did so a few months after, and it wasn’t pretty: In most cases, less than 10 percent of the companies’ overall employees were black or Latino, compared with <a href="" type="internal">27 percent in the American workforce</a> as a whole.</p>
<p>The technical workforce is even more homogeneous. Take Facebook, whose just-updated <a href="https://newsroom.fb.com/news/2015/06/driving-diversity-at-facebook/" type="external">numbers</a> show that its tech employees are just 16 percent female, 3 percent Latino, and 1 percent black. Things are <a href="" type="internal">worse</a> at the top, with whites holding nearly three-quarters of Facebook’s senior leadership positions. Facebook is not alone in this regard. By the accounting of Jackson’s advocacy organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the 189 board directors at 20 leading tech companies <a href="http://rainbowpush.org/news/single/reverend_jesse_jackson_and_rainbow_push_coalition_expose_lack_of_diversity_" type="external">included</a> only 36 women, three blacks, and one Latino.</p>
<p>Diversity has been “completely off the radar screen” in Silicon Valley, Jackson tells me one January afternoon. Clad in a charcoal-colored suit and violet dress shirt, he’s sitting in the passenger seat of my rented Ford Focus as I navigate Palo Alto traffic en route to his next speaking engagement. His knees bump up against the dash. A former college quarterback from Greenville, South Carolina, Jackson stands 6-foot-2 and retains that fiery charisma from his days as a rabble-rouser—though age seems to have tempered him a little. Butch Wing, his right-hand man on tech issues, chimes in occasionally from the backseat with a date or the proper name of a CEO, but Jackson, who studied to be a Baptist minister before going to work as an organizer for Martin Luther King Jr., is more concerned with the big picture. “We have been pre-occupied with getting free from slavery, free from Jim Crow, free to vote,” he says. “So we are free, but unequal. And the equality side of the equation is where there have not been vigorous fights.”</p>
<p>Jackson, who <a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=3OgCAAAAMBAJ&amp;pg=PA22&amp;lpg=PA22&amp;dq=jesse+jackson+boycott+kentucky+fried+chicken&amp;source=bl&amp;ots=NnaVldTudj&amp;sig=6BfqcBrp-TGsWu0XeKu383NFRVY&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;ei=6FdSVabxCoO2oQS2g4DgCA&amp;ved=0CEIQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&amp;q=jesse%20jackson%20boycott%20kentucky%20fried%20chicken&amp;f=false" type="external">has a history</a> of pressuring companies on race and labor issues, has recently, perhaps improbably, emerged as something of a Silicon Valley power player. In March 2014, his Rainbow PUSH Coalition opened an office in the Bay Area. Since then, Jackson has been popping up seemingly everywhere, from <a href="http://www.wired.com/2014/12/jesse-jackson-apple/" type="external">a protest</a> held by security guards at the Apple campus to <a href="https://twitter.com/intlces/status/552616008435777536" type="external">a seat</a> near Intel CEO Brian Krzanich at Las Vegas’ massive International Consumer Electronics Show. His <a href="http://www.rainbowpushsv.org/2015/02/agenda/" type="external">PUSHTech2020 Summit</a>, held in San Francisco this past May, featured prominent tech entrepreneurs, a $10,000 contest for minority­owned startups, and a fancy dinner reception at Yelp headquarters.</p>
<p>In a tech world that often defines ancient history as what happened last year, Jackson offers a dose of perspective, highlighting a legacy of racism beneath the Valley’s egalitarian self-image. His message is resonating—or at least freaking people out. In the past year, he has helped prompt unprecedented disclosures, mea culpas, and financial commitments from a who’s who of technology companies.</p>
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<p>How much credit he deserves for these changes depends on whom you ask. “They say that where there’s smoke there’s fire,” says Freada Kapor Klein, cofounder of the Oakland-based Kapor Center for Social Impact, which promotes race and gender diversity in technology. “Jesse Jackson is the smoke. If he’s blowing in, I guess it means the rest of us are doing something right.”</p>
<p>Then again, not every activist can <a href="http://www.techtimes.com/articles/21473/20141204/microsoft-annual-meeting-workforce-diversity-satya-nadella-pay-package-and-missing-bill-gates.htm" type="external">land a meeting</a> with Tim Cook or Satya Nadella simply by picking up the phone. Jackson “just gets into rooms,” says Laura Weidman Powers, the cofounder of Code 2040, a leading incubator of minority tech talent. “And people listen.”</p>
<p>Intel execs, who’ve met with Jackson several times over the past year, credit him with helping inspire the company <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6a3tKOwN7A" type="external">to pledge</a> an unprecedented $300 million to make its workforce more diverse. Apple, after a series of private meetings with Jackson, agreed to <a href="http://fortune.com/2015/03/10/apple-50-million-diversity/" type="external">donate</a> $40 million to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which bankrolls scholarships and programs at historically black colleges and universities. And Google has <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/05/05/google-raises-stakes-diversity-spending/26868359/" type="external">dispatched</a> its own engineers to some of the schools to teach introductory computer science courses and help graduating students prep for their job searches.</p>
<p>“A huge amount of credit for the conversation about diversity and technology ultimately has to go to Jesse Jackson,” says Van Jones, cofounder of #YesWeCode, a movement to train low-income teens as programmers. “You can’t solve a problem you can’t measure, and a lot of tech companies have [waged legal fights] to prevent themselves from having to release their data. Jackson was able to convince them to become transparent, and that is why you suddenly now see this whole flourishing set of initiatives.”</p>
<p>Jackson has a long track record of getting his way as a negotiator. He has successfully bargained for the release of US soldiers, journalists, and civilian hostages held by Fidel Castro, Saddam Hussein, Slobodan Milosevic, and others. But not everyone appreciates his tactics. “Jackson’s true métier is the business shakedown,” conservative commentator Carl Horowitz <a href="http://townhall.com/columnists/carlhorowitz/2014/06/08/jesse-jackson-demands-diversity-from-silicon-valley-part-ii-n1848542/page/full" type="external">wrote last year</a> on the site Townhall after Jackson spoke at the shareholder meetings of Google, eBay, and Facebook. Horowitz accused Jackson of using a blend of “charisma and menace” to pressure corporations into discriminating against white applicants and giving money to Rainbow PUSH.</p>
<p>Yet this critique fails to account for Jackson’s personal appeal. This past December, during a visit to Intel’s Santa Clara headquarters, he was mobbed by selfie-snapping employees, whom he gathered into an impromptu circle to chat about his work. “They were all captivated,” recalls Rosalind Hudnell, Intel’s chief diversity officer. Jackson, after all, is “one of the leaders that’s tied to a significant transformation in this country’s history. And that brings a lot of value to what we are doing.” &#160;</p>
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<p>&#160;</p>
<p>In some ways, Jackson’s work in Silicon Valley represents a return to his roots. Back in 1967, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference tapped him to lead <a href="http://mlk-kpp01.stanford.edu/index.php/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/enc_operation_breadbasket/" type="external">Operation Breadbasket</a>, an effort to use boycotts to pressure white-owned businesses to hire more African Americans and purchase more goods and services from black contractors. Jackson would later use similar methods to push for diversity concessions from the likes of Anheuser-Busch, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1986/08/03/us/around-the-nation-operation-push-ends-boycott-of-cbs-station.html" type="external">CBS affiliates</a>, Coca-Cola, <a href="http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-12-21/business/8802260492_1_ford-push-black-owned" type="external">Ford</a>, Kentucky Fried Chicken, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2001/08/10/business/toyota-earmarks-8-billion-for-diversification-efforts.html" type="external">Toyota</a>, and Texaco, which <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB848960106202884000" type="external">agreed to settle</a> a discrimination lawsuit for $176 million soon after Jackson targeted it with a boycott.</p>
<p>Around the same time, though, a powerful conservative backlash was emerging. As a 1996 presidential candidate, Sen. Bob Dole <a href="http://www.dolekemp96.org/agenda/issues/civil.htm" type="external">spread fears</a> about race-based “preferences” and “quotas.” <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/California_Affirmative_Action,_Proposition_209_%281996%29" type="external">California’s Proposition 209</a>, enacted by voters that year, barred state institutions from considering race in hiring or college admissions. From 1995 to 1998, the proportion of whites who felt that blacks “have as good a chance as whites” to get “any type of job for which they are qualified” <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/123944/little-obama-effect-views-race-relations.aspx" type="external">jumped</a> from 68 percent to 82 percent. Many were convinced the country had become colorblind, and the election of Barack Obama in 2008 only reinforced that view.</p>
<p>Blacks did, in fact, gain economic ground relative to whites throughout the 1990s, but the gap <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/12/12/racial-wealth-gaps-great-recession/" type="external">widened again</a>, and dramatically so, during the Great Recession. By 2013, thanks largely to the targeting of poor neighborhoods by subprime lenders, the median net worth of white families was 13 times that of black families ($142,000 versus $11,000)—up from six times in 2000. African Americans also <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/08/21/through-good-times-and-bad-black-unemployment-is-consistently-double-that-of-whites/" type="external">had twice the unemployment</a> (13.4 percent) and less than 60 percent of the median household income ($34,600). Latinos saw equally devastating declines in family wealth during the aughts.</p>
<p>There are many reasons for the lingering wealth gaps—blacks and Latinos <a href="http://www.urban.org/research/publication/private-transfers-race-and-wealth/view/full_report" type="external">tend to inherit less money</a> and continue to <a href="http://www.vox.com/2015/2/18/8051345/black-white-hispanic-wealth-gap" type="external">be more susceptible</a> to subprime lending and cuts in wages and employment. But their struggles to make inroads into science, technology, engineering, and math professions play a significant role too. According to the Brookings Institution, <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/research/interactives/2013/the-hidden-stem-economy" type="external">20 percent of American jobs</a> now require specialized technical knowledge. The representation of blacks, Hispanics, and women in most STEM fields <a href="" type="internal">is just 40 to 60 percent</a> of what it is in other professions—even as the tech sector grows at triple the rate of the larger economy. In the Bay Area, according to <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_22094415/asian-workers-now-dominate-silicon-valley-tech-jobs" type="external">a San Jose Mercury News analysis of census data</a>, the share of Hispanic tech workers actually declined from 5 percent in 2000 to 4 percent in 2010, while the proportion of black tech workers fell from 3 percent to 2 percent.</p>
<p>Silicon Valley’s influx of white and Asian tech talent meanwhile has normalized the $2 million bungalow and driven out longtime residents who can’t afford the nutty rents—in San Francisco, the median one-bedroom apartment now <a href="http://priceonomics.com/the-san-francisco-rent-explosion-part-ii/" type="external">goes for</a> $3,100 a month. Since 2000, the Bay Area’s black population has <a href="http://www.bayareacensus.ca.gov/bayarea.htm" type="external">declined</a> by 6 percent overall, and by 23 and 31 percent, respectively, in the historically black cities of Oakland and East Palo Alto. “No one should be able to squeeze you out of where you live,” Jackson said. &#160;</p>
<p>He said this not to me, but at a luncheon talk on gentrification at East Palo Alto’s city hall, where, upon arrival, he was immediately beset by admirers who crowded around to greet him. Whether out of graciousness or deft social-media strategy, Jackson endures picture snappers at all of his stops with unflagging charm, but he seemed particularly at ease with this crowd.</p>
<p>East Palo Alto, population 29,000, is a short drive yet worlds apart from the campuses of Facebook and Google. It was originally <a href="http://techcrunch.com/2015/01/10/east-of-palo-altos-eden/" type="external">an unincorporated spillover zone</a> for black Americans barred from buying homes across the tracks in Palo Alto proper. In 1992, it was <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/1993-01-05/local/me-833_1_east-palo-alto" type="external">dubbed</a> the nation’s murder capital. A few years later, it became a ghetto backdrop for the film Dangerous Minds, with <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpGbzYlnz7c" type="external">Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise”</a> on the soundtrack. Now East Palo Alto is one of the Valley’s last semi-affordable places to live.</p>
<p>“You know, we always measure cities by great events or good things about their location,” Jackson told the audience, which included East Palo Alto’s mayor and City Council members. “There’s a certain importance of Detroit to the automotive industry. We think of Selma, Alabama, we think of the right to vote. In some sense, East Palo Alto is the conscience of Silicon Valley.”</p>
<p>There were mmhmms and chuckles as he continued: “You are the soul of Silicon Valley. You are the frame of reference of Silicon Valley. You are the moral measurement of the values of the fastest-growing industry in the whole world, right here in Silicon Valley. Protect your right to stay here and not be gentrified out of here,” he exhorted. “You have the right to live in East Palo Alto.”</p>
<p>Shifting gears, he urged the crowd to take responsibility for teaching their kids science and math. “Our children”—and here he fell into a call-and-response cadence.</p>
<p>“Can learn.</p>
<p>“Will learn.</p>
<p>“Must learn.”</p>
<p>“This is the laboratory of hope and new possibilities,” Jackson went on, as audience members shouted affirmations. “And we must make that real in our lives.”</p>
<p>After the speech and a short Q&amp;A session, someone passed a microphone to David Chatman, a big man who had worked at Home Depot before attending StreetCode Academy, a community-based hacker school. He later landed an internship at Inflection, a data company in Redwood City. “Thank you for making my 24th birthday something crazy,” he told Jackson, wiping away a tear. “I grew up listening to you from my father, my mother, my grandparents.”</p>
<p>“I guess that makes me an old man, don’t it?” Jackson responded. He shook Chatman’s hand, and kept holding it as he led the crowd in “Happy Birthday.” &#160;</p>
<p>Jackson hasn’t been shy about using tech companies’ own tools to push back at them. Take Twitter, which, like many tech companies, has a workforce far less diverse than its user base. Twitter is particularly popular among African Americans— <a href="http://www.pewinternet.org/2015/01/09/demographics-of-key-social-networking-platforms-2/" type="external">27 percent of black internet users</a> have Twitter accounts, compared with 21 percent of whites. But it resisted releasing its diversity stats even after some of its peers had relented, so Jackson decided to apply the heat.</p>
<p>Rainbow PUSH <a href="http://colorofchange.org/press/releases/2014/7/23/coc-commends-twitter-disclosure/" type="external">teamed up with</a> the online activist group Color of Change, which encouraged its million members to tweet at Twitter’s corporate account and ask the company to cough up the data. A week later, Twitter caved. It turned out that just 1 percent of its tech workers were black (same as Facebook), and only 10 percent were women, compared with 15 percent at Facebook and 17 percent at Google. “Like our peers, we have a lot of work to do,” <a href="https://blog.twitter.com/2014/building-a-twitter-we-can-be-proud-of" type="external">acknowledged</a> Twitter diversity chief Janet Van Huysse.</p>
<p>By December, Jackson had helped persuade two dozen companies, including Facebook, Pandora, and Amazon, to release their stats. But admitting to a problem is only the first step toward doing something about it, and Intel, which had been quietly releasing its own diversity data for years, was ripe for a more transformative move. It was also in need of a PR boost; the company had just <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/insertcoin/2014/10/04/intel-apologizes-for-pulling-ads-due-to-gamergate-pressure/" type="external">taken a lot of flak</a> for pulling ads from the gaming news site Gamasutra after it ran <a href="http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/224400/Gamers_dont_have_to_be_your_audience_Gamers_are_over.php" type="external">a column</a> critical of misogyny in the gamer community. (Intel promptly apologized and reinstated the ads.)</p>
<p>Following up on earlier conversations, Intel’s diversity chief Hudnell got in touch with Wing, Jackson’s program director, to discuss Intel’s efforts. In early December, Rainbow PUSH hosted a diversity conference on the Intel campus, and invited other companies to take part. The next day, CEO Krzanich invited Jackson to join him for the unveiling of the company’s new diversity initiative at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Intel pledged that its workforce would, by 2020, match the diversity of the existing talent pool for any given job; for some technical positions, it would mean increasing the representation of non-Asian minorities or women by as much as 48 percent.</p>
<p>The timing of Jackson’s diversity push in the Valley “really helped,” Hudnell told me, although the move was in the company’s interest. Krzanich had decided that Intel needed a more diverse workforce after watching a team of male engineers struggle to create a smartwatch for women. “You’re always going to pay an opportunity cost by not having certain creative life experiences in the room,” Hudnell said. “And race and gender play deeply into your life experiences.” &#160;</p>
<p>After the East Palo Alto shindig, I shuttled Jackson over to the fastidiously landscaped campus of Stanford University, where he was scheduled to give a pair of talks. “This is such a wonderful place to sit,” he said as we rested for a moment on a bench under a large oak tree. Talk turned to his nephew, who’d graduated from Stanford with a degree in mechanical engineering. “He’s teaching at MIT,” Jackson scoffed. “He had no job offers in Silicon Valley.”</p>
<p>“Do you think there was any discrimination there?” I asked as we followed a meandering trail toward the Black Community Services Center, his first destination.</p>
<p>Jackson stopped in his tracks. “Look here,” he said. “You do business with people that you know, trust, and like. If you are not in the circle, not trusted, not liked, and then stereotyped, you can’t get in. Unless you have an external force that breaks the rhythm of that.”</p>
<p>Later, after a standing-room-only speech at Tresidder Memorial Union, we headed to a small theater in San Francisco’s affluent Laurel Heights neighborhood for a screening of the movie Selma. Back in 1965, after Bloody Sunday, Jackson went to Selma to participate in the march to Montgomery; MLK Jr. was sufficiently impressed with his leadership skills that he set aside concerns in the movement over Jackson’s showboating tendencies and put him in charge of the Chicago chapter of Operation Breadbasket. But in the postscreening discussion, Jackson wasn’t in the mood to reminisce. “There is a fear I have of getting all emotional about it and looking in the rearview mirror—and not looking out the windshield,” he said. He plunged into his stats about the lack of minorities on Silicon Valley boards, and the need to educate black and Latino kids in science and math. He spoke of the distinction King drew between the movement’s “freedom allies” and its “equality allies,” and professed to be “at least as upset about Silicon Valley as I am about Alabama.”</p>
<p>“You might can’t get to Selma, but you can get to East Palo Alto,” he said with a mischievous smile. “I wish I had a witness. Say amen, somebody!”</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | may 2014 reverend jesse jackson traveled home chicago googleplex mountain view california address search giants annual shareholder meeting technology isnt would call core area 73yearold civil rights leader carries oldschool flip phone oversees website rainbowpushorg looks like relic geocities era jackson bone pick despite googles mission make worlds data universally accessible useful fighting years stop release federal data diversity workforce nothing hide much proud promote jackson told companys executives politely requesting diversity stats ask name represent pursue mission david drummond companys black highlevel executive sized jackson stood amid mostly white crowd many companies valley reluctant divulge data including google responded quite frankly think weve come conclusion wrong exchange public culmination behindthescenes arm wrestling vintage jesse jackson drummond 52 old friend reverend volunteered 1988 presidential campaign helped launch jacksons first tech initiative silicon valley project 11 years later two men met quietly month earlier google hq around time shareholder meeting drummond knew jackson would ask stats jackson knew drummond would agree release two weeks later googles senior vice president people operations laszlo bock put simply google want comes diversity said upon revealing companys overall workforce 30 percent female 3 percent hispanic 2 percent black rather simply criticize googles abysmal numbers jackson issued statement calling companies follow googles lead release data facebook twitter linkedin microsoft amazon apple months wasnt pretty cases less 10 percent companies overall employees black latino compared 27 percent american workforce whole technical workforce even homogeneous take facebook whose justupdated numbers show tech employees 16 percent female 3 percent latino 1 percent black things worse top whites holding nearly threequarters facebooks senior leadership positions facebook alone regard accounting jacksons advocacy organization rainbow push coalition 189 board directors 20 leading tech companies included 36 women three blacks one latino diversity completely radar screen silicon valley jackson tells one january afternoon clad charcoalcolored suit violet dress shirt hes sitting passenger seat rented ford focus navigate palo alto traffic en route next speaking engagement knees bump dash former college quarterback greenville south carolina jackson stands 6foot2 retains fiery charisma days rabblerouserthough age seems tempered little butch wing righthand man tech issues chimes occasionally backseat date proper name ceo jackson studied baptist minister going work organizer martin luther king jr concerned big picture preoccupied getting free slavery free jim crow free vote says free unequal equality side equation vigorous fights jackson history pressuring companies race labor issues recently perhaps improbably emerged something silicon valley power player march 2014 rainbow push coalition opened office bay area since jackson popping seemingly everywhere protest held security guards apple campus seat near intel ceo brian krzanich las vegas massive international consumer electronics show pushtech2020 summit held san francisco past may featured prominent tech entrepreneurs 10000 contest minorityowned startups fancy dinner reception yelp headquarters tech world often defines ancient history happened last year jackson offers dose perspective highlighting legacy racism beneath valleys egalitarian selfimage message resonatingor least freaking people past year helped prompt unprecedented disclosures mea culpas financial commitments whos technology companies much credit deserves changes depends ask say theres smoke theres fire says freada kapor klein cofounder oaklandbased kapor center social impact promotes race gender diversity technology jesse jackson smoke hes blowing guess means rest us something right every activist land meeting tim cook satya nadella simply picking phone jackson gets rooms says laura weidman powers cofounder code 2040 leading incubator minority tech talent people listen intel execs whove met jackson several times past year credit helping inspire company pledge unprecedented 300 million make workforce diverse apple series private meetings jackson agreed donate 40 million thurgood marshall college fund bankrolls scholarships programs historically black colleges universities google dispatched engineers schools teach introductory computer science courses help graduating students prep job searches huge amount credit conversation diversity technology ultimately go jesse jackson says van jones cofounder yeswecode movement train lowincome teens programmers cant solve problem cant measure lot tech companies waged legal fights prevent release data jackson able convince become transparent suddenly see whole flourishing set initiatives jackson long track record getting way negotiator successfully bargained release us soldiers journalists civilian hostages held fidel castro saddam hussein slobodan milosevic others everyone appreciates tactics jacksons true métier business shakedown conservative commentator carl horowitz wrote last year site townhall jackson spoke shareholder meetings google ebay facebook horowitz accused jackson using blend charisma menace pressure corporations discriminating white applicants giving money rainbow push yet critique fails account jacksons personal appeal past december visit intels santa clara headquarters mobbed selfiesnapping employees gathered impromptu circle chat work captivated recalls rosalind hudnell intels chief diversity officer jackson one leaders thats tied significant transformation countrys history brings lot value 160 160 ways jacksons work silicon valley represents return roots back 1967 southern christian leadership conference tapped lead operation breadbasket effort use boycotts pressure whiteowned businesses hire african americans purchase goods services black contractors jackson would later use similar methods push diversity concessions likes anheuserbusch cbs affiliates cocacola ford kentucky fried chicken toyota texaco agreed settle discrimination lawsuit 176 million soon jackson targeted boycott around time though powerful conservative backlash emerging 1996 presidential candidate sen bob dole spread fears racebased preferences quotas californias proposition 209 enacted voters year barred state institutions considering race hiring college admissions 1995 1998 proportion whites felt blacks good chance whites get type job qualified jumped 68 percent 82 percent many convinced country become colorblind election barack obama 2008 reinforced view blacks fact gain economic ground relative whites throughout 1990s gap widened dramatically great recession 2013 thanks largely targeting poor neighborhoods subprime lenders median net worth white families 13 times black families 142000 versus 11000up six times 2000 african americans also twice unemployment 134 percent less 60 percent median household income 34600 latinos saw equally devastating declines family wealth aughts many reasons lingering wealth gapsblacks latinos tend inherit less money continue susceptible subprime lending cuts wages employment struggles make inroads science technology engineering math professions play significant role according brookings institution 20 percent american jobs require specialized technical knowledge representation blacks hispanics women stem fields 40 60 percent professionseven tech sector grows triple rate larger economy bay area according san jose mercury news analysis census data share hispanic tech workers actually declined 5 percent 2000 4 percent 2010 proportion black tech workers fell 3 percent 2 percent silicon valleys influx white asian tech talent meanwhile normalized 2 million bungalow driven longtime residents cant afford nutty rentsin san francisco median onebedroom apartment goes 3100 month since 2000 bay areas black population declined 6 percent overall 23 31 percent respectively historically black cities oakland east palo alto one able squeeze live jackson said 160 said luncheon talk gentrification east palo altos city hall upon arrival immediately beset admirers crowded around greet whether graciousness deft socialmedia strategy jackson endures picture snappers stops unflagging charm seemed particularly ease crowd east palo alto population 29000 short drive yet worlds apart campuses facebook google originally unincorporated spillover zone black americans barred buying homes across tracks palo alto proper 1992 dubbed nations murder capital years later became ghetto backdrop film dangerous minds coolios gangstas paradise soundtrack east palo alto one valleys last semiaffordable places live know always measure cities great events good things location jackson told audience included east palo altos mayor city council members theres certain importance detroit automotive industry think selma alabama think right vote sense east palo alto conscience silicon valley mmhmms chuckles continued soul silicon valley frame reference silicon valley moral measurement values fastestgrowing industry whole world right silicon valley protect right stay gentrified exhorted right live east palo alto shifting gears urged crowd take responsibility teaching kids science math childrenand fell callandresponse cadence learn learn must learn laboratory hope new possibilities jackson went audience members shouted affirmations must make real lives speech short qampa session someone passed microphone david chatman big man worked home depot attending streetcode academy communitybased hacker school later landed internship inflection data company redwood city thank making 24th birthday something crazy told jackson wiping away tear grew listening father mother grandparents guess makes old man dont jackson responded shook chatmans hand kept holding led crowd happy birthday 160 jackson hasnt shy using tech companies tools push back take twitter like many tech companies workforce far less diverse user base twitter particularly popular among african americans 27 percent black internet users twitter accounts compared 21 percent whites resisted releasing diversity stats even peers relented jackson decided apply heat rainbow push teamed online activist group color change encouraged million members tweet twitters corporate account ask company cough data week later twitter caved turned 1 percent tech workers black facebook 10 percent women compared 15 percent facebook 17 percent google like peers lot work acknowledged twitter diversity chief janet van huysse december jackson helped persuade two dozen companies including facebook pandora amazon release stats admitting problem first step toward something intel quietly releasing diversity data years ripe transformative move also need pr boost company taken lot flak pulling ads gaming news site gamasutra ran column critical misogyny gamer community intel promptly apologized reinstated ads following earlier conversations intels diversity chief hudnell got touch wing jacksons program director discuss intels efforts early december rainbow push hosted diversity conference intel campus invited companies take part next day ceo krzanich invited jackson join unveiling companys new diversity initiative international consumer electronics show las vegas intel pledged workforce would 2020 match diversity existing talent pool given job technical positions would mean increasing representation nonasian minorities women much 48 percent timing jacksons diversity push valley really helped hudnell told although move companys interest krzanich decided intel needed diverse workforce watching team male engineers struggle create smartwatch women youre always going pay opportunity cost certain creative life experiences room hudnell said race gender play deeply life experiences 160 east palo alto shindig shuttled jackson fastidiously landscaped campus stanford university scheduled give pair talks wonderful place sit said rested moment bench large oak tree talk turned nephew whod graduated stanford degree mechanical engineering hes teaching mit jackson scoffed job offers silicon valley think discrimination asked followed meandering trail toward black community services center first destination jackson stopped tracks look said business people know trust like circle trusted liked stereotyped cant get unless external force breaks rhythm later standingroomonly speech tresidder memorial union headed small theater san franciscos affluent laurel heights neighborhood screening movie selma back 1965 bloody sunday jackson went selma participate march montgomery mlk jr sufficiently impressed leadership skills set aside concerns movement jacksons showboating tendencies put charge chicago chapter operation breadbasket postscreening discussion jackson wasnt mood reminisce fear getting emotional looking rearview mirrorand looking windshield said plunged stats lack minorities silicon valley boards need educate black latino kids science math spoke distinction king drew movements freedom allies equality allies professed least upset silicon valley alabama might cant get selma get east palo alto said mischievous smile wish witness say amen somebody | 1,793 |
<p>SAN FRANCISCO. Lawyers for convicted medical marijuana grower Ed Rosenthal say he is entitled to a new trial because two jurors in the case received outside legal advice that compromised their ability to make an impartial judgment.</p>
<p>Jurors Marney Craig and Pamela Klarkowski have been subpoenaed by Rosenthal’s attorneys who today presented U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer with evidence of juror misconduct.</p>
<p>Judge Breyer repeatedly admonished the jurors to judge the case according to federal law, and consider only the evidence presented in court. But Craig has revealed that during the trial, she contacted a friend who is a practicing attorney. Craig believes that her decision to seek his advice was not improper because she revealed no details about the case, and asked a narrow question about a point of law.</p>
<p>”I simply asked him if I had to follow the judge’s instructions, or if I had any leeway at all for independent thought,” said Craig in declaration. “His answer was that I definitely did have to follow the judge’s instructions, and that there was absolutely nothing else that I could do.”</p>
<p>Craig said that her friend, whom she declined to name, further warned her that she could get into trouble if she strayed from the judge’s instructions. She passed this information on to Klarkowski, who said in her declaration that the two women had discussed whether past cases challenged the law.</p>
<p>Craig and Klarkowski later voted with their fellow jurors to convict Rosenthal on three federal counts of marijuana cultivation and conspiracy. Rosenthal remains free on a $200,000 cash bond, but faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison when he is sentenced in June.</p>
<p>“In order for a new trial to be warranted, we simply have to show there is a reasonable possibility that the independent judgment, or freedom of action, of one or more of the jurors was affected in some way,” said Rosenthal attorney Joe Elford. ”We have met that standard because Marney Craig was given what we consider to be erroneous legal advice which suggested she would get into trouble if she refused to convict.”</p>
<p>The defense team has until March 14th to present a motion for a new trial. But when Rosenthal’s attorneys alerted Judge Breyer of potential juror misconduct on February 20th, he gave the defense just three business days to produce evidence of impropriety, and reasons for requesting hearing to determine if the information warranted a new trial. Government prosecutors now have until March 5th to respond. The San Francisco U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the potential impact of juror prejudice in the case. But the government must show beyond a reasonable doubt that the jurors are lying, or that the extraneous influences or improper contact was harmless.</p>
<p>Craig confirms that the advice she received during the trial did effect her actions in the courtroom. She said she was upset to discover after the verdict that she had the power to reject the judge’s instructions, and vote to acquit Rosenthal if she felt the law itself was unjust. She said she wished someone had told her about the right to jury nullification.</p>
<p>“Had I known that it existed, I think it would have given me the confidence to pursue other options both in my own mind, and in deliberations talking to other jurors,” said Craig from her home in Novato, California. “I think we might not have been able to come up with a unanimous verdict, I think it is entirely likely.”</p>
<p>Craig says she sought her friend’s advice because while Rosenthal was accused of conspiring with a medical marijuana club, Judge Breyer forbade the issue of medical marijuana to be presented at trial. Craig said in her declaration that this left her feeling “frustrated and confused.”</p>
<p>”We don’t condone what the jurors did,” said Rosenthal attorney Bill Simpich. “But at the same time, we are deeply sympathetic that they are torn between conscience and duty, and in that vein we feel we have a right to a new trial given this unparalleled situation.”</p>
<p>Craig and Klarkowski were among the seven jurors who later said they were misled when Judge Breyer blocked the defense from explaining that Rosenthal was growing medical cannabis under California’s Compassionate Use Act (Prop. 215). Judge Breyer ruled that because all cannabis cultivation is illegal under federal law, Rosenthal’s motivations for growing the marijuana were irrelevant. Jurors said they were outraged to discover after the trial that Rosenthal had been deputized by the City of Oakland, California to grow medical cannabis for patients.</p>
<p>During Rosenthal’s trial, his attorneys filed a series of motions citing other grounds for a new trial. These included Judge Bryer’s rejection of federal immunity provisions granted to Rosenthal, and the judge’s refusal to permit testimony from DEA supervisor Mike Heald.</p>
<p>But Elford said the defense alerted Judge Breyer to the juror misconduct because they wanted to separate this argument from others. He expressed concern that Judge Breyer will decide the issue before the defense has an opportunity to fully brief it in their motions for a new trial. If Judge Breyer rules that the evidence of juror impropriety does not support a new trial, Elford says all defense motions will be presented to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.</p>
<p>In the meantime, Elford says the defense has no scheduled reply or oral arguments to respond to the government’s interpretation of the juror’s actions. But he says the defense will cite numerous cases in both the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court where outside influence on jurors overturned convictions and resulted in new trials. ”The jury misconduct issue is by far the strongest grounds for a new trial,” said Elford. ”The other issues that have already been raised have been denied by the court.”</p>
<p>ANN HARRISON is a freelance journalist, in the Bay Area. She can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | san francisco lawyers convicted medical marijuana grower ed rosenthal say entitled new trial two jurors case received outside legal advice compromised ability make impartial judgment jurors marney craig pamela klarkowski subpoenaed rosenthals attorneys today presented us district judge charles breyer evidence juror misconduct judge breyer repeatedly admonished jurors judge case according federal law consider evidence presented court craig revealed trial contacted friend practicing attorney craig believes decision seek advice improper revealed details case asked narrow question point law simply asked follow judges instructions leeway independent thought said craig declaration answer definitely follow judges instructions absolutely nothing else could craig said friend declined name warned could get trouble strayed judges instructions passed information klarkowski said declaration two women discussed whether past cases challenged law craig klarkowski later voted fellow jurors convict rosenthal three federal counts marijuana cultivation conspiracy rosenthal remains free 200000 cash bond faces mandatory minimum sentence five years federal prison sentenced june order new trial warranted simply show reasonable possibility independent judgment freedom action one jurors affected way said rosenthal attorney joe elford met standard marney craig given consider erroneous legal advice suggested would get trouble refused convict defense team march 14th present motion new trial rosenthals attorneys alerted judge breyer potential juror misconduct february 20th gave defense three business days produce evidence impropriety reasons requesting hearing determine information warranted new trial government prosecutors march 5th respond san francisco us attorneys office declined comment potential impact juror prejudice case government must show beyond reasonable doubt jurors lying extraneous influences improper contact harmless craig confirms advice received trial effect actions courtroom said upset discover verdict power reject judges instructions vote acquit rosenthal felt law unjust said wished someone told right jury nullification known existed think would given confidence pursue options mind deliberations talking jurors said craig home novato california think might able come unanimous verdict think entirely likely craig says sought friends advice rosenthal accused conspiring medical marijuana club judge breyer forbade issue medical marijuana presented trial craig said declaration left feeling frustrated confused dont condone jurors said rosenthal attorney bill simpich time deeply sympathetic torn conscience duty vein feel right new trial given unparalleled situation craig klarkowski among seven jurors later said misled judge breyer blocked defense explaining rosenthal growing medical cannabis californias compassionate use act prop 215 judge breyer ruled cannabis cultivation illegal federal law rosenthals motivations growing marijuana irrelevant jurors said outraged discover trial rosenthal deputized city oakland california grow medical cannabis patients rosenthals trial attorneys filed series motions citing grounds new trial included judge bryers rejection federal immunity provisions granted rosenthal judges refusal permit testimony dea supervisor mike heald elford said defense alerted judge breyer juror misconduct wanted separate argument others expressed concern judge breyer decide issue defense opportunity fully brief motions new trial judge breyer rules evidence juror impropriety support new trial elford says defense motions presented ninth circuit court appeals meantime elford says defense scheduled reply oral arguments respond governments interpretation jurors actions says defense cite numerous cases ninth circuit us supreme court outside influence jurors overturned convictions resulted new trials jury misconduct issue far strongest grounds new trial said elford issues already raised denied court ann harrison freelance journalist bay area reached ahwellcom 160 | 531 |
<p><a href="" type="internal">Mike Huckabee</a> has designated Wednesday, August 1, as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/266281243473841/" type="external">National&#160;Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day</a> because he is “incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A [sic]&#160;company.” Huckabee, an ordained Baptist minister and failed Republican presidential candidate, created the event and posted it on his Facebook page, claiming the only reason Americans are angered with Chick-Fil-A is “because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld.” Huckabee added that “if Christians affirm&#160;traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant.”</p>
<p>NOM, the <a href="" type="internal">National Organization For Marriage</a>, joined the fray on Saturday, taking the opportunity, as always, to fundraise off Huckabee’s event:</p>
<p>READ:&#160; <a href="" type="internal">NOM Joins ‘National Eat At Chick-Fil-A Day’ — ‘Neutral’ Demand Ditched?</a></p>
<p>It’s important to note that <a href="" type="internal">Chick-Fil-A has donated $5 million</a> to anti-gay and hate groups over the past few years, including $2 million in 2010 alone. They oppose ENDA, support DOMA, and are working hard to stop same-sex marriage equality.</p>
<p>Here’s Huckabee’s entire <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/266281243473841/" type="external">note</a>:</p>
<p>I have been incensed at the vitriolic assaults on the Chick Fil-A [sic]&#160;company because the CEO, Dan Cathy, made comments recently in which he affirmed his view that the Biblical view of marriage should be upheld. The Cathy family, let by Chick Fil-A founder Truett Cathy, are a wonderful Christian family who are committed to operating the company with Biblical principles and whose story is the true American success story. Starting at age 46 Truett Cathy built Chick Fil-A into a $4 billion a year enterprise with&#160;over 1600 stores. At 91, he is still active in the company, but his son Dan runs it day to day as CEO.It’s a great American story that is being smeared by vicious hate speech and intolerant bigotry from the left.</p>
<p>The Chick Fil-A company refuses to open on Sundays so that their employees can go to church if they wish. Despite the pressure from malls, airports, and the business world to open on Sundays, they still don’t. They treat customers and employees with respect and dignity.</p>
<p>I ask you to join me in speaking out on Wednesday, August 1 “Chick Fil-A Appreciation Day.” No one is being asked to make signs, speeches, or openly demonstrate. The goal is simple: Let’s affirm a business that operates on Christian principles and whose executives are willing to take a stand for the Godly values we espouse by simply showing up and eating at Chick Fil-A on Wednesday, August 1. Too often, those on the left make corporate statements to show support for same sex marriage, abortion, or profanity, but if Christians affirm&#160;traditional values, we’re considered homophobic, fundamentalists, hate-mongers, and intolerant. This effort is not being launched by the Chick Fil-A company and no one from the company or family is&#160;involved in proposing or promoting it.</p>
<p>There’s no need for anyone to be angry or engage in a verbal battle. Simply affirm appreciation for a company run by Christian principles by showing up on Wednesday, August 1 or by participating online – tweeting your support or sending a message on Facebook.</p>
<p>Well, Mike, yes, you are&#160;homophobic, fundamentalist, a hate-monger, and intolerant. How do we know?</p>
<p>On same-sex couples raising children, Huckabee <a href="" type="internal">said</a>:</p>
<p>“These are experiments to see how well children will fare in such same-sex households. It will be years before we know whether or not our little guinea pigs turn out to be good at marriage and parenthood.”</p>
<p>Last year, Huckabee lied about President Obama’s position on DOMA. Obama has always been against DOMA, and said so as a candidate. But Huckabee last year <a href="" type="internal">claimed</a> Obama “didn’t take this position [against DOMA] when he ran for president. I think if he had, he wouldn’t be president,” adding,&#160;”I think he owes the people of America an explanation – was he being disingenuous and dishonest then, is he being dishonest now, or did he change his view and if he did, when and why?”</p>
<p>Or, how about <a href="" type="internal">Huckabee’s position on HIV/AIDS</a>:</p>
<p>“It is difficult to understand the public policy towards AIDS — it is the first time in the history of civilization in which the carriers of a genuine plague have not been isolated from the general population, and in which this deadly disease for which there is no cure is being treated as a civil rights issue instead of the true health crisis it represents.”</p>
<p>In 2010, Huckabee&#160; <a href="" type="internal">compared legalizing gay marriage to legalizing incest, polygamy, and drug use</a>.</p>
<p>As Governor of Arkansas, Huckabee&#160;signed legislation outlawing same-sex marriage.</p>
<p>Huckabee has also infamously <a href="" type="internal">said</a>:</p>
<p>“I believe it’s a lot easier to change the constitution than it would be to change the word of the living God, and that’s what we need to do is to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s standards rather than try to change God’s standards.”</p>
<p>The good news? Huckabee invited 78,695 people to his National&#160;Chick-Fil-A Appreciation Day. Only 8737 say they’re going to show up.</p>
<p>Image via <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150595470322869&amp;set=a.437309777868.227963.6934857868&amp;type=3&amp;theater" type="external">Facebook</a></p>
<p>Tagged as: <a href="" type="internal">appreciation day</a>, <a href="" type="internal">built chicks</a>, <a href="" type="internal">chick fil</a>, <a href="" type="internal">chick fil a</a>, <a href="" type="internal">dan cathy</a>, <a href="" type="internal">day to day</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Facebook</a>, <a href="" type="internal">fil</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Hate Speech</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Huckabee</a>, <a href="" type="internal">Mike Huckabee</a>, <a href="" type="internal">s. truett cathy</a>, <a href="" type="internal">smear</a>, <a href="" type="internal">social issues</a>, <a href="" type="internal">the chick</a></p>
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<p>Photo by Marc Nozell | <a href="" type="internal">CC BY 2.0</a></p>
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<p>One of the biggest stories this week is the confirmation controversy over the President Elect’s cabinet nominees. This controversy was accompanied by discussions of Trump’s own personal finances. Reporters are flooding major news outlets with stories questioning whether Trump and his nominees can be trusted to put the public interest first, considering the black hole that is The Donald’s finances, and the potential conflicts of interest between his business holdings and his democratic obligations to the country. The message from the Democrats and media is that Trump and his nominees’ opposition to financial transparency are threats to good governance. This narrative has some value, in terms of spotlighting the dangers of official abuse of politics for private gain. But this narrative is also stunningly naïve, demonstrating a willful ignorance to the longstanding perversion of American politics by corporate interests.</p>
<p>Of primary concern to journalists is the failure of numerous Trump nominees to provide a full disclosure of their financial assets, or a plan for how to divest from holdings that could place them in situations where their personal financial interests conflict with the common good. The economic background of Trump’s nominees is somewhat unique, in that never have so many people of such opulence been nominated to key federal positions. As the New York Times reported on January 6, “Mr. Trump has selected what would be the wealthiest cabinet in modern American history, filled with millionaires and billionaires with complicated financial portfolios. Mr. [Rex] Tillerson [the Secretary of State nominee] is worth at least $300 million, but is hardly the richest among them; Wilbur L. Ross Jr., the Commerce Secretary nominee; Betsy DeVos, the Education Secretary nominee; and Steven T. Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary nominee, each hold assets estimated at more than a billion dollars.”</p>
<p>Echoing the concerns of Democratic leaders, the editors at the New York Times write:</p>
<p>“ <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/donald-trump?inline=nyt-per" type="external">Donald Trump</a>’s transition team and Senate Republicans are determined to railroad several nominees to his cabinet of billionaires and moguls through to confirmation without fully revealing business interests that could disqualify them…This is unprecedented, potentially illegal, and the clearest sign yet of Mr. Trump’s cavalier attitude toward criminal laws preventing federal officials from profiting from public service. Mr. Trump’s Senate allies are shirking their constitutional duty, attempting to rubber-stamp nominees without information that would help determine whether they merit the public’s confidence. The law doesn’t require Mr. Trump to shed his business interests, but the failure of his cabinet officials to do so could land them in jail.”</p>
<p>As of January 7, the Office of Government Ethics (OGE) expressed “cause for alarm” if the Senate was to begin confirmation hearings prior to all Trump’s nominees submitting the relevant financial disclosure paperwork. The New York Times reports the Trump administration “is behind where it should be in this process of disentangling conflicts of interest. This is partly a reflection of the extraordinary complexity of negotiating such conflict of interest agreements for incoming government officials worth hundreds of millions, or even billions, of dollars.” OGE director Walter Shaub warns: “During this presidential transition, not all of the nominees presently scheduled for hearings have completed the ethics review process. In fact, OGE has not received even initial draft financial disclosure reports for some of the nominees scheduled for hearings.”</p>
<p>Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer attacks Trump’s incoming administration for a lack of transparency. He criticizes Republican Senators and Trump for “collusion” in pushing hearings prior to financial disclosures are complete: “The Senate and the American people deserve to know that these cabinet nominees have a plan to avoid any conflicts of interest, that they’re working on behalf of the American people and not their own bottom line, and that they plan to fully comply with the law.” Reiterating this concern with good governance, the New York Times editorializes: “Nominees face a long [vetting] process to ensure they’ll be working for the American people, not for their own enrichment. By law, they must submit hundreds of pages of financial disclosures, shed assets and jobs and take other steps to avoid conflicts of interest.”&#160; The Times encourages Trump’s nominees to “divest [their potentially compromising assets] and enter office free of conflict.” The paper denigrates Trump for being “the only incoming president in modern history who has refused to do so.” The Times quotes Lawrence Noble, former counsel at the Federal Election Commission, who argues nominees should sell their investments and place the earnings in treasury bonds or mutual funds: “We don’t want the decisions that these individuals make to be influenced by their own financial interests.”</p>
<p>The above concerns about graft in the executive branch are warranted in light of the longstanding plutocratic dominance of U.S. politics. Numerous academic studies find that business interests prevail over public concerns in the policy process. In <a href="" type="internal">Affluence and Influence,</a> political scientist Martin Gilens provides evidence that policy outcomes are significantly more likely to benefit the top 20 percent of income earners over the bottom 80 percent. Gilens and Page conclude in another study, “Testing Theories of American Politics,” that average citizens have virtually no effect on policy outcomes compared to wealthier Americans. Citizen’s groups have at times a modest impact on policy, but much less than wealthy individuals and business lobbies. In <a href="" type="internal">Representing the Advantaged,</a> political scientist Daniel Butler finds that the grievances of Americans of higher socio-economic status are more likely to be taken seriously by political officials than those of lower-socio economic status, even when both groups contact officials at equal rates. Considering these findings, it would be extraordinarily naïve to claim that political officials are not biased in favor of the wealthy.</p>
<p>Potential conflicts of interest between Trump’s business holdings and his presidential responsibilities are real. I’ll provide two examples, which have already been acknowledged by journalists. One involves Trump’s role in appointing the head of the General Services Administration, which negotiates the lease for Trump’s international hotel in Washington D.C. Of course, Trump owns the hotel, and announced that he would place his holdings in a “blind trust” for his daughter and other children to run. But to argue that Trump doesn’t hold a financial interest in seeing a favorable lease negotiated for his business is outlandish. Trump also seems unaware of what a “blind trust” is. Here’s a hint – it’s not placing your holdings into the hands of your children, who are legally free to communicate with you about business affairs at any time. But this is not even the central point. Most importantly, even if Trump didn’t communicate with his children, he still has a financial interest in seeing a favorable lease negotiated for his hotel, and his children, in addition to his General Services Administration appointment, obviously know this. A second example of a conflict of interest involves Trump’s hotels and potential disputes with the National Labor Relations Board. The head of the NLRB is appointed by Trump, which could mean undue pressure on the agency to bias rulings in favor of the president. Even if Trump relies on his children to run the hotels, this doesn’t remove the blatant conflict of interest at play regarding executive labor policy.</p>
<p>For those who would downplay these concerns by claiming that U.S. politics is already corrupted by money, my response is simple: things can always be worse. The corruption of politics by money via campaign donations is just one form of political perversion. There are others, as reflected in concerns over patronage, bribery, and conflicts of interest such as those described above. One needs to look no further than my home state, Illinois, to see how political patronage and personal financial interests compromise government. Illinois governors are notorious for their blatant corruption. For example, former Republican Governor and ex-convict George Ryan ran a “pay-to-play” ring out of the Secretary of State’s office, with driver’s licenses shamelessly sold for bribes. Many Illinois citizens who benefitted from this program were first generation immigrants with little to no command of the English language or knowledge of the rules of the road (I say this from experience, having numerous extended family immigrating from Sicily and paying these bribes). The scandal blew up in Ryan’s face after a tragic accident involving a truck driver (who paid a bribe for his license), who caused a fiery crash involving the deaths of six children, after the driver’s taillight assembly fell off his truck and ignited a minivan’s fuel tank. The truck driver had been warned by numerous drivers on the road of his loose taillight, but drove on undeterred. The incident came to symbolize the extraordinary recklessness and criminality of patronage politics under the Ryan regime.</p>
<p>Then, of course, there was the shameless patronage criminality of former Governor and now-convict Rod Blagojevich. Among Blagojevich’s best hits include: his shameless horse trading of state bureaucratic nominations for campaign donations; his attempt to shake down a children’s hospital for campaign donations, accompanied by a threat of cutting off state funding; his effort have the Chicago Tribune’s editorial staff fired after they advocated his impeachment, accompanied by the threat that state renovation funds would not be available for the Cub’s Wrigley Field, which Tribune owner Sam Zell also owned; and finally, Blagojevich’s effort to sell Barack Obama’s old Senate seat to the highest bidder, a prize which he referred to as “fucking golden” – and which he had no plans of “giving it up for fucking nothin.”&#160; Illinois’ patronage politics is a more shameless, brazen form of corruption than the business-as-usual campaign donation system driving national politics. In the national version, pro-business candidates are empowered to win political offices by a small group of wealthy donors seeking to curry favor. In the Illinois version, the same campaign contribution pressures exist, but government is viewed as an ATM machine for political leaders, with patronage allowing for repeated withdrawals of funds into officials’ personal piggybanks.</p>
<p>The path forward for Trump and his nominees is clearly described by former President Bush’s chief ethics lawyer, Richard Painter: divestment. Painter argues failure to divest would be a violation of Article 1, Section 9 of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits presidents from accepting “any present, emolument, office or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.” In this case, the emoluments [defined as a fee or profit] are illegally accrued any time Trump charges foreign leaders to stay in his hotels. Trump’s attorney, Sherri Dillon, absurdly insists that profits earned from foreign leaders do not constitute “emoluments” – but rather are “value-for-value exchange[s]” between parties that are of no concern to supporters of transparency in government.</p>
<p>Dillon’s silly semantics aside, Trump’s nominees are also at risk of violating federal ethics law by failing to divulge and divest their financial assets. 18 U.S.C. §208 bars executive branch employees from “personally and substantially” participating in government activities having an impact on their personal finances. Without a transparent accounting of their assets, there is no way to know whether nominees will engage in political activities that enrich their own economic fortunes.</p>
<p>Disclosure and divestment are important. But it’s also important to note that the Schumer’s narrative about “good government” represents a romantic, mythic belief these acts will magically cure political nominees of conflicts of interest they hold between pursuing the public good and private profits. Nothing could be further from the truth. The American political process has been captured on a system-wide level, going beyond ethics law, a single president, or presidential nominees. This system-wide corruption, however, is not as simple as common portrayals of lobbyists “buying” off officials via campaign donations. The reality of the matter is far worse. If it were merely an issue of curbing money transactions between officials and lobbyists, this could be dealt with by reauthorizing the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, which banned issue ad spending, and by banning campaign donations of any kind in favor of publicly financed campaigns. But the rot of American politics extends much further than campaign donations. The entire political system has been captured by a plutocratic ideology that envisions business elites as the rightful drivers of public policy, due to their allegedly superior wisdom and skills.</p>
<p>Many Americans will be surprised to learn that social science studies regularly fail to uncover a consistent, statistically significant relationship between campaign donations on the one hand, and members of Congress voting on legislation favored by donors on the other.&#160; Furthermore, recent scholarship concludes that the most common policy outcome is continuation of the status quo, with lobbyists in Washington failing most of the time in securing new benefits via legislation. Despite sizable campaign donations, members of Congress are risk averse, often seeking to avoid the negative exposure associated with pushing unpopular reforms. The Chamber of Commerce may wish to eliminate the minimum wage entirely, but the negative public response would be so large as to make it impossible. The beef industry would probably like to eliminate USDA regulations entirely, but the public backlash in terms of the heightened risk to consumers would be unmanageable. Wall Street and the health insurance industry are salivating over privatizing Social Security and Medicare, but that doesn’t mean that Republicans and Democrats will uniformly embrace these proposals if they fear losing votes from seniors.</p>
<p>Complicating matters further, political scientists find that lobbyists don’t even try to “buy” policy via campaign donations. Rather, they seek to establish and strengthen relationships with officials who already agree ideologically with their demands. One of the main roles of lobbyists, social scientists argue, is providing the information and expertise officials need to advocate for policy changes that benefit corporate interests. Within this framework of pre-existing support for business elites, campaign contributors (and contributions) are important because they cement into place a relationship between lobbyists and officials. Donations ensure that pro-business candidates get elected over those who challenge business power. This conclusion is hardly novel. It’s well known in political science that nearly nine times out of ten, the candidate who spends more money in electoral races wins, since they are able to buy more public exposure via political ads.</p>
<p>Contrary to Schumer’s divestment narrative, it’s important to identify how the entire political system has been captured by wealthy interests. It may be the case that corporate lobbyists fail most of the time in securing benefits from Congress. But when changes to the law do occur, wealthy Americans and business lobbies are much more likely to get what they want than the average American or citizen’s groups. Why is this so?&#160; Political scientist Nicholas Carnes provides a simple explanation in <a href="" type="internal">White Collar Government: The Hidden Role of Class in Economic Policymaking</a>. Carnes empirically documents how more affluent political officials are consistently more likely to support pro-business, conservative economic policies, as compared to (the few) working-class Americans who have historically served in Congress. The point here is simple: beyond the concern with campaign donations, government itself is captured by plutocratic actors who now run Congress directly. Government is not “controlled” by corporate America. Government is corporate America. Most members of Congress are millionaires, and their numbers have grown significantly in recent decades.&#160; According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the median net worth of U.S. lawmakers reached $1 million in 2013, 18 times that of the average household.</p>
<p>The Schumer position on corruption in politics misses a key point. Most officials are socialized to embrace elitist, upper-class values, because they are part of the upper class. The famous sociologist G. William Domhoff spent years documenting how being socialized through elitist social, economic, and interpersonal networks allows for the perpetuation of the American upper class. Italian Marxist Antonio Gramsci was right to focus on how the hegemonic power of socialization drives the indoctrination process. Socialization in favor of elite interests is absolutely vital to perpetuating plutocracy.</p>
<p>The Marxian position that economics determines consciousness, while seemingly crude, does explain how elite values perpetuate themselves. When coupled with elitist forms of socialization, one’s economic class (in this case being affluent) works to reinforce elitist ideologies that seek to enhance corporate power over politics. This hegemonic process isn’t recognized, however, in simplistic discussions of campaign donations “buying” officials, or for that matter by those naively claiming that divesting one’s financial assets guarantees they will act as honest brokers of policy change.</p>
<p>In a rare admission of how deep the rabbit hole really goes, the New York Times reports the insight of Sierra Club director Lena Moffitt, who speaks derisively of the notion that divestment will cure the Trump administration of their elitist policies. Taking aim at Rex Tillerson, Trump’s State Department nominee, Moffitt explained: “It is impossible for this man to remove his career, and frankly his personality, from the oil and gas industry. He has been knee deep in this industry for more than four decades.” Such is the way of things when political institutions are captured by business elites.</p>
<p>Correcting the perversions endemic in American politics requires more than disclosure and divestment from Trump and his nominees. Even “getting money out of politics” is unlikely to cure the problem of business dominance of government. Rather, Americans must take the initiative and purge the political system of the bi-partisan, wealthy officialdom who currently dominate Congress, the courts, and the White House. This project will require tremendous effort and a decades-long fight to roll back capture of government.</p>
<p>John Dewey was right say that “politics is the shadow cast on society by big business.” To fight the plutocracy requires a cultural, economic, and political revolution in the way people think about politics. Government must be transformed from an upper-class outfit into one dominated by the working class. The only way to do this is to remove the rot, from root to branch.</p> | true | 4 | photo marc nozell cc 20 one biggest stories week confirmation controversy president elects cabinet nominees controversy accompanied discussions trumps personal finances reporters flooding major news outlets stories questioning whether trump nominees trusted put public interest first considering black hole donalds finances potential conflicts interest business holdings democratic obligations country message democrats media trump nominees opposition financial transparency threats good governance narrative value terms spotlighting dangers official abuse politics private gain narrative also stunningly naïve demonstrating willful ignorance longstanding perversion american politics corporate interests primary concern journalists failure numerous trump nominees provide full disclosure financial assets plan divest holdings could place situations personal financial interests conflict common good economic background trumps nominees somewhat unique never many people opulence nominated key federal positions new york times reported january 6 mr trump selected would wealthiest cabinet modern american history filled millionaires billionaires complicated financial portfolios mr rex tillerson secretary state nominee worth least 300 million hardly richest among wilbur l ross jr commerce secretary nominee betsy devos education secretary nominee steven mnuchin treasury secretary nominee hold assets estimated billion dollars echoing concerns democratic leaders editors new york times write donald trumps transition team senate republicans determined railroad several nominees cabinet billionaires moguls confirmation without fully revealing business interests could disqualify themthis unprecedented potentially illegal clearest sign yet mr trumps cavalier attitude toward criminal laws preventing federal officials profiting public service mr trumps senate allies shirking constitutional duty attempting rubberstamp nominees without information would help determine whether merit publics confidence law doesnt require mr trump shed business interests failure cabinet officials could land jail january 7 office government ethics oge expressed cause alarm senate begin confirmation hearings prior trumps nominees submitting relevant financial disclosure paperwork new york times reports trump administration behind process disentangling conflicts interest partly reflection extraordinary complexity negotiating conflict interest agreements incoming government officials worth hundreds millions even billions dollars oge director walter shaub warns presidential transition nominees presently scheduled hearings completed ethics review process fact oge received even initial draft financial disclosure reports nominees scheduled hearings democratic senate minority leader chuck schumer attacks trumps incoming administration lack transparency criticizes republican senators trump collusion pushing hearings prior financial disclosures complete senate american people deserve know cabinet nominees plan avoid conflicts interest theyre working behalf american people bottom line plan fully comply law reiterating concern good governance new york times editorializes nominees face long vetting process ensure theyll working american people enrichment law must submit hundreds pages financial disclosures shed assets jobs take steps avoid conflicts interest160 times encourages trumps nominees divest potentially compromising assets enter office free conflict paper denigrates trump incoming president modern history refused times quotes lawrence noble former counsel federal election commission argues nominees sell investments place earnings treasury bonds mutual funds dont want decisions individuals make influenced financial interests concerns graft executive branch warranted light longstanding plutocratic dominance us politics numerous academic studies find business interests prevail public concerns policy process affluence influence political scientist martin gilens provides evidence policy outcomes significantly likely benefit top 20 percent income earners bottom 80 percent gilens page conclude another study testing theories american politics average citizens virtually effect policy outcomes compared wealthier americans citizens groups times modest impact policy much less wealthy individuals business lobbies representing advantaged political scientist daniel butler finds grievances americans higher socioeconomic status likely taken seriously political officials lowersocio economic status even groups contact officials equal rates considering findings would extraordinarily naïve claim political officials biased favor wealthy potential conflicts interest trumps business holdings presidential responsibilities real ill provide two examples already acknowledged journalists one involves trumps role appointing head general services administration negotiates lease trumps international hotel washington dc course trump owns hotel announced would place holdings blind trust daughter children run argue trump doesnt hold financial interest seeing favorable lease negotiated business outlandish trump also seems unaware blind trust heres hint placing holdings hands children legally free communicate business affairs time even central point importantly even trump didnt communicate children still financial interest seeing favorable lease negotiated hotel children addition general services administration appointment obviously know second example conflict interest involves trumps hotels potential disputes national labor relations board head nlrb appointed trump could mean undue pressure agency bias rulings favor president even trump relies children run hotels doesnt remove blatant conflict interest play regarding executive labor policy would downplay concerns claiming us politics already corrupted money response simple things always worse corruption politics money via campaign donations one form political perversion others reflected concerns patronage bribery conflicts interest described one needs look home state illinois see political patronage personal financial interests compromise government illinois governors notorious blatant corruption example former republican governor exconvict george ryan ran paytoplay ring secretary states office drivers licenses shamelessly sold bribes many illinois citizens benefitted program first generation immigrants little command english language knowledge rules road say experience numerous extended family immigrating sicily paying bribes scandal blew ryans face tragic accident involving truck driver paid bribe license caused fiery crash involving deaths six children drivers taillight assembly fell truck ignited minivans fuel tank truck driver warned numerous drivers road loose taillight drove undeterred incident came symbolize extraordinary recklessness criminality patronage politics ryan regime course shameless patronage criminality former governor nowconvict rod blagojevich among blagojevichs best hits include shameless horse trading state bureaucratic nominations campaign donations attempt shake childrens hospital campaign donations accompanied threat cutting state funding effort chicago tribunes editorial staff fired advocated impeachment accompanied threat state renovation funds would available cubs wrigley field tribune owner sam zell also owned finally blagojevichs effort sell barack obamas old senate seat highest bidder prize referred fucking golden plans giving fucking nothin160 illinois patronage politics shameless brazen form corruption businessasusual campaign donation system driving national politics national version probusiness candidates empowered win political offices small group wealthy donors seeking curry favor illinois version campaign contribution pressures exist government viewed atm machine political leaders patronage allowing repeated withdrawals funds officials personal piggybanks path forward trump nominees clearly described former president bushs chief ethics lawyer richard painter divestment painter argues failure divest would violation article 1 section 9 us constitution prohibits presidents accepting present emolument office title kind whatever king prince foreign state case emoluments defined fee profit illegally accrued time trump charges foreign leaders stay hotels trumps attorney sherri dillon absurdly insists profits earned foreign leaders constitute emoluments rather valueforvalue exchanges parties concern supporters transparency government dillons silly semantics aside trumps nominees also risk violating federal ethics law failing divulge divest financial assets 18 usc 208 bars executive branch employees personally substantially participating government activities impact personal finances without transparent accounting assets way know whether nominees engage political activities enrich economic fortunes disclosure divestment important also important note schumers narrative good government represents romantic mythic belief acts magically cure political nominees conflicts interest hold pursuing public good private profits nothing could truth american political process captured systemwide level going beyond ethics law single president presidential nominees systemwide corruption however simple common portrayals lobbyists buying officials via campaign donations reality matter far worse merely issue curbing money transactions officials lobbyists could dealt reauthorizing bipartisan campaign reform act 2002 banned issue ad spending banning campaign donations kind favor publicly financed campaigns rot american politics extends much campaign donations entire political system captured plutocratic ideology envisions business elites rightful drivers public policy due allegedly superior wisdom skills many americans surprised learn social science studies regularly fail uncover consistent statistically significant relationship campaign donations one hand members congress voting legislation favored donors other160 furthermore recent scholarship concludes common policy outcome continuation status quo lobbyists washington failing time securing new benefits via legislation despite sizable campaign donations members congress risk averse often seeking avoid negative exposure associated pushing unpopular reforms chamber commerce may wish eliminate minimum wage entirely negative public response would large make impossible beef industry would probably like eliminate usda regulations entirely public backlash terms heightened risk consumers would unmanageable wall street health insurance industry salivating privatizing social security medicare doesnt mean republicans democrats uniformly embrace proposals fear losing votes seniors complicating matters political scientists find lobbyists dont even try buy policy via campaign donations rather seek establish strengthen relationships officials already agree ideologically demands one main roles lobbyists social scientists argue providing information expertise officials need advocate policy changes benefit corporate interests within framework preexisting support business elites campaign contributors contributions important cement place relationship lobbyists officials donations ensure probusiness candidates get elected challenge business power conclusion hardly novel well known political science nearly nine times ten candidate spends money electoral races wins since able buy public exposure via political ads contrary schumers divestment narrative important identify entire political system captured wealthy interests may case corporate lobbyists fail time securing benefits congress changes law occur wealthy americans business lobbies much likely get want average american citizens groups so160 political scientist nicholas carnes provides simple explanation white collar government hidden role class economic policymaking carnes empirically documents affluent political officials consistently likely support probusiness conservative economic policies compared workingclass americans historically served congress point simple beyond concern campaign donations government captured plutocratic actors run congress directly government controlled corporate america government corporate america members congress millionaires numbers grown significantly recent decades160 according center responsive politics median net worth us lawmakers reached 1 million 2013 18 times average household schumer position corruption politics misses key point officials socialized embrace elitist upperclass values part upper class famous sociologist g william domhoff spent years documenting socialized elitist social economic interpersonal networks allows perpetuation american upper class italian marxist antonio gramsci right focus hegemonic power socialization drives indoctrination process socialization favor elite interests absolutely vital perpetuating plutocracy marxian position economics determines consciousness seemingly crude explain elite values perpetuate coupled elitist forms socialization ones economic class case affluent works reinforce elitist ideologies seek enhance corporate power politics hegemonic process isnt recognized however simplistic discussions campaign donations buying officials matter naively claiming divesting ones financial assets guarantees act honest brokers policy change rare admission deep rabbit hole really goes new york times reports insight sierra club director lena moffitt speaks derisively notion divestment cure trump administration elitist policies taking aim rex tillerson trumps state department nominee moffitt explained impossible man remove career frankly personality oil gas industry knee deep industry four decades way things political institutions captured business elites correcting perversions endemic american politics requires disclosure divestment trump nominees even getting money politics unlikely cure problem business dominance government rather americans must take initiative purge political system bipartisan wealthy officialdom currently dominate congress courts white house project require tremendous effort decadeslong fight roll back capture government john dewey right say politics shadow cast society big business fight plutocracy requires cultural economic political revolution way people think politics government must transformed upperclass outfit one dominated working class way remove rot root branch | 1,780 |
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<p>The <a href="/mojoblog/archives/2008/02/7438_clinton_camp_to.html" type="external">conference call spin war</a> continues. Mark Penn kicked the day off on a Clinton campaign conference call with reporters by saying that Clinton’s renewed focus on national security, the <a href="/mojoblog/archives/2008/03/7443_whoops_obama_ad.html" type="external">Austan Goolsbee affair</a> (also known as NAFTA-gate), and the Rezko trial opening today in Chicago are combining to create a “tipping point and change in the momentum” in the race for the Democratic nomination.</p>
<p>“NAFTA-gate” is the Clinton campaign’s name for this bizarre saga that began when Canadian television reported a senior economic adviser to Barack Obama named Austan Goolsbee met with Canadian officials to assure them that Obama is not as protectionist on trade as his campaign rhetoric suggests. The Obama campaign and the Canadian government both denied the meeting occurred, but a memo proving the meeting was leaked (presumably by someone in the Canadian government) to the American press.</p>
<p>Howard Wolfson, Clinton’s communications director, read a series of quotes from Obama campaign members in which they denied in no uncertain terms that the meeting ever took place. Now that the campaign is admitting the meeting took place but insisting that Goolsbee’s comments on NAFTA are being misrepresented, said Wolfson, “why should we trust or believe them now?”</p>
<p>The Clinton campaign, probably sounding more assertive and confident than they have on any call in the recent past, also hammered Rezko-gate. The campaign helpfully distributed a memo with all the questions journalists ought to ask the Obama campaign about Obama’s relationship with disgraced real estate developer Antoin “Tony” Rezko. “How many times did Senator Obama visit Tony Rezko’s house? What was the purpose of these visits?” asked the memo. “Did Sen. Obama intercede on behalf of Mr. Rezko in any governmental capacity?” The implication was clear: Obama is a dangerous choice; he has not been fully vetted.</p>
<p>The truth is that investigations of the Rezko situation by the press has not turned up anything other than the fact that Rezko, who is definitely a sleazeball, helped Obama <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4111483&amp;page=1" type="external">expand the plot of land</a> on which his house in Chicago sits. Obama has called the fact that he entered into a business transaction with Rezko “bone-headed,” but insists that nothing illegal occurred. Rezko’s indictment did not mention Obama, but his trial, which begins today in Chicago, holds the possibility of embarrassment for Obama.</p>
<p>The Clinton camp refused to brook any discussion of Clinton dropping out if she lost Ohio and Texas. But her representatives on the call did back off earlier claims that Clinton would be tied with Obama in the delegate count after tomorrow’s primaries. They said instead that “Senator’s Obama’s momentum will be seriously blunted.” One report in the press suggests the campaign may last until April 22, at the least. From the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/us/politics/03clinton.html?_r=2&amp;ref=politics&amp;oref=slogin&amp;oref=slogin" type="external">NYT</a>:</p>
<p>Mrs. Clinton herself has privately told advisers that she has a hard time imagining ending her campaign if she wins Ohio and narrowly loses Texas, given that she has money in the bank and that she believes she would have an edge in the next big vote, Pennsylvania on April 22, because its demographics are similar to Ohio’s.</p>
<p>While downplaying the worst case scenario for themselves, the representatives played up the worst case scenario for their opponent. If Obama doesn’t sweep tomorrow, it will be a serious sign of “buyer’s remorse” from Democratic voters, they said.</p>
<p>The Obama campaign held its own conference call two hours later to try and swat down some of these allegations. Campaign manager David Plouffe began by saying that he expects tomorrow’s results will create “no big delegate shift one way or another,” and that more of the status quo essentially means it is time for Clinton to exit the race. “They keep trying to move the goalposts,” said Plouffe, “but at some point you run out of field.”</p>
<p>When NAFTA came up, Plouffe said that Goolsbee’s meeting with Canadian officials was “essentially a tour” of the Canadian consulate in Chicago, and that he was “approached not as member of our campaign, but as a University of Chicago professor.” Goolsbee had a “casual conversation,” Plouffe insisted, “not a formal meeting of any sort between our campaign and a foreign government.”</p>
<p>Of course, these comments do not answer the question of why a senior member of a presidential campaign would think that he could have “casual conversation” with a representative of a foreign government about a front-and-center policy issue without knowing it would be treated seriously. Nor do they explain why the same senior member thought he could divorce himself from his campaign role just days before a major primary, or why a University of Chicago professor needed a tour of a local Canadian consulate in the first place.</p>
<p>But before these questions could be considered, Plouffe pivoted to an <a href="http://www.nysun.com/article/72209" type="external">article</a> in the NY Sun that he said seriously called into question Senator Clinton’s commitment to ending the war. In the article, retired four-star general Jack Keane, who is not an adviser to Clinton’s campaign, is quoted as saying Clinton “would not act irresponsibly and issue orders to conduct an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, regardless of the consequences, and squander the gains that have been made.” In response, the Clinton campaign said the Senator “speaks for herself.” Clinton claims that she will begin withdrawing troops in the first 60 days of her presidency.</p>
<p>Before further questions could be asked about Keane’s statement, and before questions about Rezko and his trial could be seriously discussed, the call was cut off, thus preventing the Obama campaign from taking a serious beating on one of its toughest press days of the primary season.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | conference call spin war continues mark penn kicked day clinton campaign conference call reporters saying clintons renewed focus national security austan goolsbee affair also known naftagate rezko trial opening today chicago combining create tipping point change momentum race democratic nomination naftagate clinton campaigns name bizarre saga began canadian television reported senior economic adviser barack obama named austan goolsbee met canadian officials assure obama protectionist trade campaign rhetoric suggests obama campaign canadian government denied meeting occurred memo proving meeting leaked presumably someone canadian government american press howard wolfson clintons communications director read series quotes obama campaign members denied uncertain terms meeting ever took place campaign admitting meeting took place insisting goolsbees comments nafta misrepresented said wolfson trust believe clinton campaign probably sounding assertive confident call recent past also hammered rezkogate campaign helpfully distributed memo questions journalists ought ask obama campaign obamas relationship disgraced real estate developer antoin tony rezko many times senator obama visit tony rezkos house purpose visits asked memo sen obama intercede behalf mr rezko governmental capacity implication clear obama dangerous choice fully vetted truth investigations rezko situation press turned anything fact rezko definitely sleazeball helped obama expand plot land house chicago sits obama called fact entered business transaction rezko boneheaded insists nothing illegal occurred rezkos indictment mention obama trial begins today chicago holds possibility embarrassment obama clinton camp refused brook discussion clinton dropping lost ohio texas representatives call back earlier claims clinton would tied obama delegate count tomorrows primaries said instead senators obamas momentum seriously blunted one report press suggests campaign may last april 22 least nyt mrs clinton privately told advisers hard time imagining ending campaign wins ohio narrowly loses texas given money bank believes would edge next big vote pennsylvania april 22 demographics similar ohios downplaying worst case scenario representatives played worst case scenario opponent obama doesnt sweep tomorrow serious sign buyers remorse democratic voters said obama campaign held conference call two hours later try swat allegations campaign manager david plouffe began saying expects tomorrows results create big delegate shift one way another status quo essentially means time clinton exit race keep trying move goalposts said plouffe point run field nafta came plouffe said goolsbees meeting canadian officials essentially tour canadian consulate chicago approached member campaign university chicago professor goolsbee casual conversation plouffe insisted formal meeting sort campaign foreign government course comments answer question senior member presidential campaign would think could casual conversation representative foreign government frontandcenter policy issue without knowing would treated seriously explain senior member thought could divorce campaign role days major primary university chicago professor needed tour local canadian consulate first place questions could considered plouffe pivoted article ny sun said seriously called question senator clintons commitment ending war article retired fourstar general jack keane adviser clintons campaign quoted saying clinton would act irresponsibly issue orders conduct immediate withdrawal iraq regardless consequences squander gains made response clinton campaign said senator speaks clinton claims begin withdrawing troops first 60 days presidency questions could asked keanes statement questions rezko trial could seriously discussed call cut thus preventing obama campaign taking serious beating one toughest press days primary season | 513 |
<p>Montana’s lone congressman, Republican Dennis Rehberg, has had it pretty easy since he hit the Capitol, facing no serious challenger in his first run for re-election and easily cruising to victory since then. But this week, Jim Hunt, a fourth generation Montanan, retired lieutenant colonel in the Montana Army National Guard, and a long-time Helena attorney, came out swinging as he announced his intention to take Rehberg’s seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.</p>
<p>A cold wind was blowing across the snow-covered fields at the entrance to Fort Harrison as Hunt, standing in front of a crowd of supporters, laid out his reasons for jumping into the House race at the 11th hour.</p>
<p>“Our country is headed in the wrong direction and Congressman Rehberg is part of the problem,” he told the cheering crowd. “When it comes to ending the War in Iraq, lowering energy prices, fixing our economy, educating our children, the environment, and providing affordable healthcare to more Americans, our state deserves a congressman who will put Montana’s interests first—not the interests of big oil, big money, and Washington lobbyists.”</p>
<p>Hunt painted Rehberg as an all-too-willing accomplice of President George Bush, including what he called Bush’s “borrow and spend” economics, which he says are “mortgaging our children’s future with trillions of debt.” He cited Rehberg’s support for “misguided policies that resulted in failed mortgages, provided tax cuts to big business and big oil instead of working families, and implemented a dangerous foreign policy that has cost American lives and discredited our nation around the world.”</p>
<p>Saying “it’s time Montana had a congressman who can think for himself,” Hunt said he would work to “invest in alternative energy that will wean our country off foreign oil and lower energy prices, restore sensible economic policies, protect hunting and fishing, and fix the nation’s broken health care system.” Hunt called the American healthcare system “a national embarrassment” and said Montana families are “paying too much to fill up their cars and heat their homes.”</p>
<p>In addressing the Iraq War, Hunt was even more blunt—and remember, this is a man who served 23 years in the National Guard, whose father, former Montana Supreme Court Justice Bill Hunt Sr., was a captain in the Army serving from 1947 to 1964 and was inducted into the U.S. Army Officers Candidate School Hall of Fame in 2003. “We are stuck in a war that we never should have started,” Hunt declared, promising to “bring the troops home from Iraq and take care of our veterans.”</p>
<p>While Hunt’s words bring hope to those who have suffered and continue to suffer under the policies instituted by the Bush presidency and years of Republican control in Congress, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether or not Hunt can jump into the race this late in the game and have any chance of winning. In that respect, this calm, articulate and intelligent candidate has more going for him than many political watchers might admit.</p>
<p>Born on the Hi-line in Chester, Hunt doesn’t need to do any phony acting to come across as a genuine Montanan. He’s a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, an avid sportsman, a true conservationist, and a Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of Montana. Taken together, that background deflects about 90 percent of what Republicans have traditionally shot at their Democrat challengers. No, Hunt isn’t going to take your guns away, and yes, he does know how to use them—and he won’t be posing like John Kerry if he shows up in goose-hunting gear. Moreover, he realizes the value of maintaining a clean and healthy environment—just like our state promises—and not just for hunting and fishing, but for all the myriad reasons the drafters found it necessary to include such a groundbreaking provision in our 1972 Montana Constitution.</p>
<p>Nor will Hunt be incapable of raising significant funds for his challenge; he’ll likely have the trial lawyers behind him. The long era of trampling the rights of victims in favor of big corporate polluters has engendered considerable angst in Montana. The town of Libby, with its hundreds of casualties from the W.R. Grace Company’s asbestos poisoning, may be the poster child of corporate crime here, but thousands of other Montanans continue to live in areas polluted by toxic byproducts of mining, smelting, oil, gas, and coal production. The trial lawyers who represent the victims in their court battles for justice know who is getting the short end of the stick these days. When given an extremely capable individual like Jim Hunt, they can and likely will support a candidate that promises to put the interests of the people first.</p>
<p>These are powerful armaments in Hunt’s upcoming battle against Rehberg, who over the decades of his political career has consistently aligned himself with the wealthy and big corporations while masquerading as a defender of the interests of Montana citizens. Hunt knows it and has promised to run a campaign that will throw a less-than-flattering light on Rehberg’s record.</p>
<p>But Rehberg will be a very tough opponent. Besides the power of incumbency, which in and of itself is a sure source of funding from the Washington, D.C., lobbyists, Rehberg is one of the wealthiest individuals in Congress. He, too, comes from a Montana family with deep roots and a wide reach. And while he may not need that cowboy hat while riding the Potomac range, Rehberg never misses an opportunity to wear it in Montana and put its obvious character to work. Moreover, his chief of staff, Erik Iverson, is also the chairman of the Montana Republican Party. And after losing Conrad Burns’ Senate seat two years ago, you can bet the GOP isn’t going to let Rehberg go gently into that good night.</p>
<p>In the end, all Montanans will benefit from the robust debate that appears headed our way. The Hunt for blue November is on. Change is in the air, and this time around, Rehberg’s finally got a race on his hands.</p>
<p>George Ochenski&#160;rattles the cage of the political establishment as a political analyst for the&#160; <a href="http://missoulanews.bigskypress.com/" type="external">Missoula Independent</a>, where this column originally ran.&#160;He lives in Helena, Montana. He can be reached at:&#160; <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | montanas lone congressman republican dennis rehberg pretty easy since hit capitol facing serious challenger first run reelection easily cruising victory since week jim hunt fourth generation montanan retired lieutenant colonel montana army national guard longtime helena attorney came swinging announced intention take rehbergs seat us house representatives cold wind blowing across snowcovered fields entrance fort harrison hunt standing front crowd supporters laid reasons jumping house race 11th hour country headed wrong direction congressman rehberg part problem told cheering crowd comes ending war iraq lowering energy prices fixing economy educating children environment providing affordable healthcare americans state deserves congressman put montanas interests firstnot interests big oil big money washington lobbyists hunt painted rehberg alltoowilling accomplice president george bush including called bushs borrow spend economics says mortgaging childrens future trillions debt cited rehbergs support misguided policies resulted failed mortgages provided tax cuts big business big oil instead working families implemented dangerous foreign policy cost american lives discredited nation around world saying time montana congressman think hunt said would work invest alternative energy wean country foreign oil lower energy prices restore sensible economic policies protect hunting fishing fix nations broken health care system hunt called american healthcare system national embarrassment said montana families paying much fill cars heat homes addressing iraq war hunt even bluntand remember man served 23 years national guard whose father former montana supreme court justice bill hunt sr captain army serving 1947 1964 inducted us army officers candidate school hall fame 2003 stuck war never started hunt declared promising bring troops home iraq take care veterans hunts words bring hope suffered continue suffer policies instituted bush presidency years republican control congress big question everyones mind whether hunt jump race late game chance winning respect calm articulate intelligent candidate going many political watchers might admit born hiline chester hunt doesnt need phony acting come across genuine montanan hes lifetime member national rifle association avid sportsman true conservationist chancellor episcopal diocese montana taken together background deflects 90 percent republicans traditionally shot democrat challengers hunt isnt going take guns away yes know use themand wont posing like john kerry shows goosehunting gear moreover realizes value maintaining clean healthy environmentjust like state promisesand hunting fishing myriad reasons drafters found necessary include groundbreaking provision 1972 montana constitution hunt incapable raising significant funds challenge hell likely trial lawyers behind long era trampling rights victims favor big corporate polluters engendered considerable angst montana town libby hundreds casualties wr grace companys asbestos poisoning may poster child corporate crime thousands montanans continue live areas polluted toxic byproducts mining smelting oil gas coal production trial lawyers represent victims court battles justice know getting short end stick days given extremely capable individual like jim hunt likely support candidate promises put interests people first powerful armaments hunts upcoming battle rehberg decades political career consistently aligned wealthy big corporations masquerading defender interests montana citizens hunt knows promised run campaign throw lessthanflattering light rehbergs record rehberg tough opponent besides power incumbency sure source funding washington dc lobbyists rehberg one wealthiest individuals congress comes montana family deep roots wide reach may need cowboy hat riding potomac range rehberg never misses opportunity wear montana put obvious character work moreover chief staff erik iverson also chairman montana republican party losing conrad burns senate seat two years ago bet gop isnt going let rehberg go gently good night end montanans benefit robust debate appears headed way hunt blue november change air time around rehbergs finally got race hands george ochenski160rattles cage political establishment political analyst the160 missoula independent column originally ran160he lives helena montana reached at160 opinionmissoulanewscom 160 exclusively new print issue counterpunch slow death roman catholic church160 nancy scheperhughes clerical sex abuse vatican plus fred gardner obamas policy marijuana reform leaders misleading spin 160 subscribe order subscription today get counterpunch email 35 per year 160 | 629 |
<p />
<p>Buda’s Wagon (1920)</p>
<p>“You have shown no pity to us! We will do likewise. We will dynamite you!</p>
<p>— Anarchist warning (1919)</p>
<p>On a warm September day in 1920, a few months after the arrest of his comrades Sacco and Vanzetti, a vengeful Italian anarchist named Mario Buda parked his horse-drawn wagon near the corner of Wall and Broad Streets, directly across from J. P. Morgan Company. He nonchalantly climbed down and disappeared, unnoticed, into the lunchtime crowd. A few blocks away, a startled postal worker found strange leaflets warning: “Free the Political Prisoners or it will be Sure Death for All of You!” They were signed: “American Anarchist Fighters.” The bells of nearby Trinity Church began to toll at noon. When they stopped, the wagon — packed with dynamite and iron slugs — exploded in a fireball of shrapnel.</p>
<p>“The horse and wagon were blown to bits,” writes Paul Avrich, the celebrated historian of American anarchism who uncovered the true story. “Glass showered down from office windows, and awnings twelve stories above the street burst into flames. People fled in terror as a great cloud of dust enveloped the area. In Morgan’s offices, Thomas Joyce of the securities department fell dead on his desk amid a rubble of plaster and walls. Outside scores of bodies littered the streets.”</p>
<p>Buda was undoubtedly disappointed when he learned that J.P. Morgan himself was not among the 40 dead and more than 200 wounded — the great robber baron was away in Scotland at his hunting lodge. Nonetheless, a poor immigrant with some stolen dynamite, a pile of scrap metal, and an old horse had managed to bring unprecedented terror to the inner sanctum of American capitalism.</p>
<p>His Wall Street bomb was the culmination of a half-century of anarchist fantasies about avenging angels made of dynamite; but it was also an invention, like Charles Babbage’s Difference Engine, far ahead of the imagination of its time. Only after the barbarism of strategic bombing had become commonplace, and when air forces routinely pursued insurgents into the labyrinths of poor cities, would the truly radical potential of Buda’s “infernal machine” be fully realized.</p>
<p>Buda’s wagon was, in essence, the prototype car bomb: the first use of an inconspicuous vehicle, anonymous in almost any urban setting, to transport large quantities of high explosive into precise range of a high-value target. It was not replicated, as far as I have been able to determine, until January 12, 1947 when the Stern Gang drove a truckload of explosives into a British police station in Haifa, Palestine, killing 4 and injuring 140. The Stern Gang (a pro-fascist splinter group led by Avraham Stern that broke away from the right-wing Zionist paramilitary Irgun) would soon use truck and car bombs to kill Palestinians as well: a creative atrocity immediately reciprocated by British deserters fighting on the side of Palestinian nationalists.</p>
<p>Vehicle bombs thereafter were used sporadically — producing notable massacres in Saigon (1952), Algiers (1962), and Palermo (1963) — but the gates of hell were only truly opened in 1972, when the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) accidentally, so the legend goes, improvised the first ammonium nitrate-fuel oil (ANFO) car bomb. These new-generation bombs, requiring only ordinary industrial ingredients and synthetic fertilizer, were cheap to fabricate and astonishingly powerful: they elevated urban terrorism from the artisanal to the industrial level, and made possible sustained blitzes against entire city centers as well as the complete destruction of ferro-concrete skyscrapers and residential blocks.</p>
<p>The car bomb, in other words, suddenly became a semi-strategic weapon that, under certain circumstances, was comparable to airpower in its ability to knock out critical urban nodes and headquarters as well as terrorize the populations of entire cities. Indeed, the suicide truck bombs that devastated the U.S. embassy and Marine barracks in Beirut in 1983 prevailed — at least in a geopolitical sense — over the combined firepower of the fighter-bombers and battleships of the U.S. Sixth Fleet and forced the Reagan administration to retreat from Lebanon.</p>
<p>Hezbollah’s ruthless and brilliant use of car bombs in Lebanon in the 1980s to counter the advanced military technology of the United States, France, and Israel soon emboldened a dozen other groups to bring their insurgencies and jihads home to the metropolis. Some of the new-generation car bombers were graduates of terrorism schools set up by the CIA and Pakistani intelligence (the ISI), with Saudi financing, in the mid-1980s to train mujahedin to terrorize the Russians then occupying Kabul. Between 1992 and 1998, 16 major vehicle bomb attacks in 13 different cities killed 1,050 people and wounded nearly 12,000. More importantly from a geopolitical standpoint, the IRA and Gama’a al-Islamiyya inflicted billions of dollars of damage on the two leading control-centers of the world economy — the City of London (1992, 1993, and 1996) and lower Manhattan (1993) — and forced a reorganization of the global reinsurance industry.</p>
<p>In the new millennium, 85 years after that first massacre on Wall Street, car bombs have become almost as generically global as iPods and HIV-AIDS, cratering the streets of cities from Bogota to Bali. Suicide truck bombs, once the distinctive signature of Hezbollah, have been franchised to Sri Lanka, Chechnya/Russia, Turkey, Egypt, Kuwait, and Indonesia. On any graph of urban terrorism, the curve representing car bombs is rising steeply, almost exponentially. U.S.-occupied Iraq, of course, is a relentless inferno with more than 9,000 casualties — mainly civilian — attributed to vehicle bombs in the two-year period between July 2003 and June 2005. Since then, the frequency of car-bomb attacks has dramatically increased: 140 per month in the fall of 2005, 13 in Baghdad on New Year’s Day 2006 alone. If roadside bombs or IEDs are the most effective device against American armored vehicles, car bombs are the weapon of choice for slaughtering Shiite civilians in front of mosques and markets and instigating an apocalyptic sectarian war.</p>
<p>Under siege from weapons indistinguishable from ordinary traffic, the apparatuses of administration and finance are retreating inside “rings of steel” and “green zones,” but the larger challenge of the car bomb seems intractable. Stolen nukes, Sarin gas, and anthrax may be the “sum of our fears,” but the car bomb is the quotidian workhorse of urban terrorism. Before considering its genealogy, however, it may be helpful to summarize those characteristics that make Buda’s wagon such a formidable and undoubtedly permanent source of urban insecurity.</p>
<p>First, vehicle bombs are stealth weapons of surprising power and destructive efficiency. Trucks, vans, or even SUVs can easily transport the equivalent of several conventional 1,000-pound bombs to the doorstep of a prime target. Moreover, their destructive power is still evolving, thanks to the constant tinkering of ingenious bomb-makers. We have yet to face the full horror of semi-trailer-sized explosions with a lethal blast range of 200 yards or of dirty bombs sheathed in enough nuclear waste to render mid-Manhattan radioactive for generations.</p>
<p>Second, they are extraordinarily cheap: 40 or 50 people can be massacred with a stolen car and maybe $400 of fertilizer and bootlegged electronics. Ramzi Yousef, the mastermind of the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, bragged that his most expensive outlay was in long-distance phone calls. The explosive itself (one half ton of urea) cost $3,615 plus the $59 per day rental for a ten-foot-long Ryder van. In contrast, the cruise missiles that have become the classic American riposte to overseas terrorist attacks cost $1.1 million each.</p>
<p>Third, car bombings are operationally simple to organize. Although some still refuse to believe that Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols didn’t have secret assistance from a government or dark entity, two men in the proverbial phone booth — a security-guard and a farmer — successfully planned and executed the horrendous Oklahoma City bombing with instructional books and information acquired from the gun-show circuit.</p>
<p>Fourth, like even the ‘smartest’ of aerial bombs, car bombs are inherently indiscriminate: “Collateral damage” is virtually inevitable. If the logic of an attack is to slaughter innocents and sow panic in the widest circle, to operate a “strategy of tension,” or just demoralize a society, car bombs are ideal. But they are equally effective at destroying the moral credibility of a cause and alienating its mass base of support, as both the IRA and the ETA in Spain have independently discovered. The car bomb is an inherently fascist weapon.</p>
<p>Fifth, car bombs are highly anonymous and leave minimal forensic evidence. Buda quietly went home to Italy, leaving William Burns, J. Edgar Hoover, and the Bureau of Investigation (later, to be renamed the FBI) to make fools of themselves as they chased one false lead after another for a decade. Most of Buda’s descendants have also escaped identification and arrest. Anonymity, in addition, greatly recommends car bombs to those who like to disguise their handiwork, including the CIA, the Israeli Mossad, the Syrian GSD, the Iranian Pasdaran, and the Pakistani ISI — all of whom have caused unspeakable carnage with such devices.</p>
<p>Preliminary Detonations (1948-63)</p>
<p>“Reds’ Time Bombs Rip Saigon Center”</p>
<p>— New York Times’ headline (January 10,. 1952)</p>
<p>The members of the Stern Gang were ardent students of violence, self-declared Jewish admirers of Mussolini who steeped themselves in the terrorist traditions of the pre-1917 Russian Socialist-Revolutionary Party, the Macedonian IMRO, and the Italian Blackshirts. As the most extreme wing of the Zionist movement in Palestine — “fascists” to the Haganah and “terrorists” to the British — they were morally and tactically unfettered by considerations of diplomacy or world opinion. They had a fierce and well-deserved reputation for the originality of their operations and the unexpectedness of their attacks. On January 12, 1947, as part of their campaign to prevent any compromise between mainstream Zionism and the British Labor government, they exploded a powerful truck bomb in the central police station in Haifa, resulting in 144 casualties. Three months later, they repeated the tactic in Tel Aviv, blowing up the Sarona police barracks (5 dead) with a stolen postal truck filled with dynamite.</p>
<p>In December 1947, following the UN vote to partition Palestine, full-scale fighting broke out between Jewish and Arab communities from Haifa to Gaza. The Stern Gang, which rejected anything less than the restoration of a biblical Israel, now gave the truck bomb its debut as a weapon of mass terror. On January 4, 1948, two men in Arab dress drove a truck ostensibly loaded with oranges into the center of Jaffa and parked it next to the New Seray Building, which housed the Palestinian municipal government as well as a soup-kitchen for poor children. They cooly lingered for coffee at a nearby café before leaving a few minutes ahead of the detonation.</p>
<p>“A thunderous explosion,” writes Adam LeBor in his history of Jaffa, “then shook the city. Broken glass and shattered masonry blew out across Clock Tower Square. The New Seray’s centre and side walls collapsed in a pile of rubble and twisted beams. Only the neo-classical façade survived. After a moment of silence, the screams began, 26 were killed, hundreds injured. Most were civilians, including many children eating at the charity kitchen.” The bomb missed the local Palestinian leadership who had moved to another building, but the atrocity was highly successful in terrifying residents and setting the stage for their eventual flight.</p>
<p>It also provoked the Palestinians to cruel repayment in kind. The Arab High Committee had its own secret weapon — blond-haired British deserters, fighting on the side of the Palestinians. Nine days after the Jaffa bombing, some of these deserters, led by Eddie Brown, a former police corporal whose brother had been murdered by the Irgun, commandeered a postal delivery truck which they packed with explosives and detonated in the center of Haifa’s Jewish quarter, injuring 50 people. Two weeks later, Brown, driving a stolen car and followed by a five-ton truck driven by a Palestinian in a police uniform, successfully passed through British and Haganah checkpoints and entered Jerusalem’s New City. The driver parked in front of the Palestine Post, lit the fuse, and then escaped with Brown in his car. The newspaper headquarters was devastated with 1 dead and 20 wounded.</p>
<p>According to a chronicler of the episode, Abdel Kader el-Husseini, the military leader of the Arab Higher Committee, was so impressed by the success of these operations — inadvertently inspired by the Stern Gang — that he authorized an ambitious sequel employing six British deserters. “This time three trucks were used, escorted by a stolen British armored car with a young blond man in police uniform standing in the turret.” Again, the convoy easily passed through checkpoints and drove to the Atlantic Hotel on Ben Yehuda Street. A curious night watchman was murdered when he confronted the gang, who then drove off in the armored car after setting charges in the three trucks. The explosion was huge and the toll accordingly grim: 46 dead and 130 wounded.</p>
<p>The window of opportunity for such attacks — the possibility of passing from one zone to another — was rapidly closing as Palestinians and Jews braced for all-out warfare, but a final attack prefigured the car bomb’s brilliant future as a tool of assassination. On March 11, the official limousine of the American consul-general, flying the stars and stripes and driven by the usual chauffeur, was admitted to the courtyard of the heavily-guarded Jewish Agency compound. The driver, a Christian Palestinian named Abu Yussef, hoped to kill Zionist leader David Ben Gurion, but the limousine was moved just before it exploded; nonetheless, 13 officials of the Jewish Foundation Fund died and 40 were injured.</p>
<p>This brief but furious exchange of car bombs between Arabs and Jews would enter into the collective memory of their conflict, but would not be resumed on a large scale until Israel and its Phalangist allies began to terrorize West Beirut with bombings in 1981: a provocation that would awake a Shiite sleeping dragon. Meanwhile, the real sequel was played out in Saigon: a series of car and motorcycle bomb atrocities in 1952-53 that Graham Greene incorporated into the plot of his novel, The Quiet American, and which he portrayed as secretly orchestrated by his CIA operative Alden Pyle, who is conspiring to substitute a pro-American party for both the Viet-Minh (upon whom the actual bombings would be blamed) and the French (who are unable to guarantee public safety).</p>
<p>The real-life Quiet American was the counterinsurgency expert Colonel Edward Lansdale (fresh from victories against peasant Communists in the Philippines), and the real leader of the ‘Third Force’ was his protégé, General Trinh Minh The of the Cao Dai religious sect. There is no doubt, writes The’s biographer, that the general “instigated many terrorist outrages in Saigon, using clockwork plastic charges loaded into vehicles, or hidden inside bicycle frames with charges. Notably, the Li An Minh [The’s army] blew up cars in front of the Opera House in Saigon in 1952. These ‘time-bombs’ were reportedly made of 50-kg ordnance, used by the French air force, unexploded and collected by the Li An Minh.”</p>
<p>Lansdale was dispatched to Saigon by Allen Dulles of the CIA some months after the Opera atrocity (hideously immortalized in a Life photographer’s image of the upright corpse of a rickshaw driver with both legs blown off), which was officially blamed on Ho Chi Minh. Although Lansdale was well aware of General The’s authorship of these sophisticated attacks (the explosives were hidden in false compartments next to car gas tanks), he nonetheless championed the Cao Dai warlord as a patriot in the mould of Washington and Jefferson. After either French agents or Vietminh cadre assassinated The, Landsdale eulogized him to a journalist as “a good man. He was moderate, he was a pretty good general, he was on our side, and he cost twenty-five thousand dollars.”</p>
<p>Whether by emulation or reinvention, car bombs showed up next in another war-torn French colony — Algiers during the last days of the pied noirs or French colonial settlers. Some of the embittered French officers in Saigon in 1952-53 would also become cadres of the Organisation de l’Armé Secrete (OAS), led by General Raoul Salan. In April 1961, after the failure of its uprising against French President Charles de Gaulle, who was prepared to negotiate a settlement with the Algerian rebels, the OAS turned to terrorism — a veritable festival de plastique — with all the formidable experience of its veteran paratroopers and legionnaires. Its declared enemies included De Gaulle himself, French security forces, communists, peace activists (including philosopher and activist Jean-Paul Sartre), and especially Algerian civilians. The most deadly of their car bombs killed 62 Moslem stevedores lining up for work at the docks in Algiers in May 1962, but succeeded only in bolstering the Algerian resolve to drive all the pied-noirs into the sea.</p>
<p>The next destination for the car bomb was Palermo, Sicily. Angelo La Barbera, the Mafia capo of Palermo-Center, undoubtedly paid careful attention to the Algerian bombings and may even have borrowed some OAS expertise when he launched his devastating attack on his Mafia rival, “Little Bird” Greco, in February 1963. Greco’s bastion was the town of Ciaculli outside Palermo where he was protected by an army of henchmen. La Barbera surmounted this obstacle with the aid of the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. “This dainty four-door family saloon,” writes John Dickie in his history of the Cosa Nostra, “was one of the symbols of Italy’s economic miracle — ‘svelte, practical, comfortable, safe and convenient,’ as the adverts proclaimed.” The first explosive-packed Giulietta destroyed Greco’s house; the second, a few weeks later, killed one of his key allies. Greco’s gunmen retaliated, wounding La Barbera in Milan in May; in response, La Barbera’s ambitious lieutenants Pietro Torreta and Tommaso Buscetta (later to become the most famous of all Mafia pentiti) unleashed more deadly Giuliettas.</p>
<p>On June 30, 1963, “the umpteenth Giulietta stuffed with TNT” was left in one of the tangerine groves that surround Ciaculli. A tank of butane with a fuse was clearly visible in the back seat. A Giulietta had already exploded that morning in a nearby town, killing two people, so the carabinieri were cautious and summoned army engineers for assistance. “Two hours later two bomb disposal experts arrived, cut the fuse, and pronounced the vehicle safe to approach. But when Lt. Mario Malausa made to inspect the contents of the boot, he detonated the huge quantity of TNT it contained. He and six other men were blown to pieces by an explosion that scorched and stripped the tangerine trees for hundreds of metres around.” (The site is today marked by one of the several monuments to bomb victims in the Palermo region.)</p>
<p>Before this “First Mafia War” ended in 1964, the Sicilian population had learned to tremble at the very sight of a Giulietta and car bombings had become a permanent part of the Mafia repertoire. They were employed again during an even bloodier second Mafia war or Matanza in 1981-83, then turned against the Italian public in the early 1990s after the conviction of Cosa Nostra leaders in a series of sensational “maxi-trials.” The most notorious of these blind-rage car bombings — presumably organized by ‘Tractor’ Provenzano and his notorious Corleonese gang — was the explosion in May 1993 that damaged the world-famous Uffizi Gallery in the heart of Florence and killed 5 pedestrians, injuring 40 others.</p>
<p>“The Black Stuff”</p>
<p>“We could feel the rattle where we stood. Then we knew we were onto something, and it took off from there.”</p>
<p>— IRA veteran talking about the first ANFO car bomb</p>
<p>The first-generation car bombs — Jaffa-Jerusalem, Saigon, Algiers, and Palermo — were deadly enough (with a maximum yield usually equal to several hundred pounds of TNT), but required access to stolen industrial or military explosives. Journeymen bomb-makers, however, were aware of a homemade alternative – notoriously dangerous to concoct, but offering almost unlimited vistas of destruction at a low cost. Ammonium nitrate is a universally available synthetic fertilizer and industrial ingredient with extraordinary explosive properties, as witnessed by such accidental cataclysms as an explosion at a chemical plant in Oppau, Germany in 1921 — the shock waves were felt 150 miles away and only a vast crater remained where the plant had been — and a Texas City disaster in 1947 (600 dead and 90% of the town structurally damaged). Ammonium nitrate is sold in half-ton quantities affordable by even the most cash-strapped terrorist, but the process of mixing it with fuel oil to create an ANFO explosive is more than a little tricky as the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) found out in late 1971.</p>
<p>“The car bomb was [re]discovered entirely by accident,” explains journalist Ed Maloney in his The Secret History of the IRA, “but its deployment by the Belfast IRA was not. The chain of events began in late December 1971 when the IRA’s quartermaster general, Jack McCabe, was fatally injured in an explosion caused when an experimental, fertilizer-based homemade mix known as the ‘black stuff’ exploded as he was blending it with a shovel in his garage on the northern outskirts of Dublin. [Provisionals’] GHQ warned that the mix was too dangerous to handle, but Belfast had already received a consignment, and someone had the idea of disposing of it by dumping it in a car with a fuse and a timer and leaving it somewhere in downtown Belfast.” The resulting explosion made a big impression upon the Belfast leadership.</p>
<p>The “black stuff” — which the IRA soon learned how to handle safely — freed the underground army from supply-side constraints: the car bomb enhanced destructive capacity yet reduced the likelihood of Volunteers being arrested or accidentally blown up. The ANFO-car bomb combination, in other words, was an unexpected military revolution, but one fraught with the potential for political and moral disaster. “The sheer size of the devices,” emphasizes Moloney, “greatly increased the risk of civilian deaths in careless or bungled operations.”</p>
<p>The IRA Army Council led by Sean MacStiofain, however, found the new weapon’s awesome capabilities too seductive to worry about ways in which its grisly consequences might backfire on them. Indeed, car bombs reinforced the illusion, shared by most of the top leadership in 1972, that the IRA was one final military offensive away from victory over the English government. Accordingly, in March 1972, two car bombs were sent into Belfast city center followed by garbled phone warnings that led police to inadvertently evacuate people in the direction of one of the explosions: Five civilians were killed along with two members of the security forces. Despite the public outcry as well as the immediate traffic closure of the Royal Avenue shopping precinct, the Belfast Brigade’s enthusiasm for the new weapon remained undiminished and the leadership plotted a huge attack designed to bring normal commercial life in Northern Ireland to an abrupt halt. MacStiofain boasted of an offensive of “the utmost ferocity and ruthessness” that would wreck the “colonial infrastructure.”</p>
<p>On Friday, July 21st, IRA Volunteers left 20 car bombs or concealed charges on the periphery of the now-gated city center, with detonations timed to follow one another at approximately five-minute intervals. The first car bomb exploded in front of the Ulster Bank in north Belfast and blew both legs off a Catholic passerby; successive explosions damaged two railroad stations, the Ulster bus depot on Oxford Street, various railway junctions, and a mixed Catholic-Protestant residential area on Cavehill Road. “At the height of the bombing, the center of Belfast resembled a city under artillery fire; clouds of suffocating smoke enveloped buildings as one explosion followed another, almost drowning out the hysterical screams of panicked shoppers.” A series of telephoned IRA warnings just created more chaos, as civilians fled from one explosion only to be driven back by another. Seven civilians and two soldiers were killed and more than 130 people were seriously wounded.</p>
<p>Although not an economic knockout punch, “Bloody Friday” was the beginning of a “no business as usual” bombing campaign that quickly inflicted significant damage on the Northern Ireland economy, particularly its ability to attract private and foreign investment. The terror of that day also compelled authorities to tighten their anti-car-bomb “ring of steel” around the Belfast city center, making it the prototype for other fortified enclaves and future “green zones.” In the tradition of their ancestors, the Fenians, who had originated dynamite terrorism in the 1870s, Irish Republicans had again added new pages to the textbook of urban guerrilla warfare. Foreign aficionados, particularly in the Middle East, undoubtedly paid close attention to the twin innovations of the ANFO car bomb and its employment in a protracted bombing campaign against an entire urban-regional economy.</p>
<p>What was less well understood outside of Ireland, however, was the enormity of the wound that the IRA’s car bombs inflicted on the Republican movement itself. Bloody Friday destroyed much of the IRA’s heroic-underdog popular image, produced deep revulsion amongst ordinary Catholics, and gave the British government an unexpected reprieve from the worldwide condemnation it had earned for the Blood Sunday massacre in Derry and internment without trial. Moreover, it gave the Army the perfect pretext to launch massive Operation Motorman: 13,000 troops led by Centurian tanks entered the “no-go” areas of Derry and Belfast and reclaimed control of the streets from the Republican movement. The same day, a bloody, bungled car bomb attack on the village of Claudy in County Londonderry killed 8 people. (Protestant Loyalist paramilitary groups — who never bothered with warnings and deliberately targeted civilians on the other side — would claim Bloody Friday and Claudy as sanctions for their triple car bomb attack on Dublin during afternoon rush hour on May 17, 1974 which left 33 dead, the highest one-day toll in the course of the “Troubles.”)</p>
<p>The Belfast debacle led to a major turnover in IRA leadership, but failed to dispel their almost cargo-cult-like belief in the capacity of car bombs to turn the tide of battle. Forced onto the defensive by Motorman and the backlash to Bloody Friday, they decided to strike at the very heart of British power instead. The Belfast Brigade planned to send ten car bombs to London via the Dublin-Liverpool ferry using fresh volunteers with clean records, including two young sisters, Marion and Dolours Price. Snags arose and only four cars arrived in London; one of these was detonated in front of the Old Bailey, another in the center of Whitehall, close to the Prime Minister’s house at Number 10 Downing Street. One hundred and eighty Londoners were injured and one was killed. Although the 8 IRA bombers were quickly caught, they were acclaimed in the West Belfast ghettoes and the operation became a template for future Provisional bombing campaigns in London, culminating in the huge explosions that shattered the City of London and unnerved the world insurance industry in 1992 and 1993.</p>
<p>Hell’s Kitchen (the 1980s)</p>
<p>“We are soldiers of God and we crave death. We are ready to turn Lebanon into another Vietnam.”</p>
<p>— Hezbollah communiqué</p>
<p>Never in history has a single city been the battlefield for so many contesting ideologies, sectarian allegiances, local vendettas, or foreign conspiracies and interventions as Beirut in the early 1980s. Belfast’s triangular conflicts — three armed camps (Republican, Loyalist, and British) and their splinter groups — seemed straightforward compared to the fractal, Russian-doll-like complexity of Lebanon’s civil wars (Shiite versus Palestinian, for example) within civil wars (Maronite versus Moslem and Druze) within regional conflicts (Israel versus Syria) and surrogate wars (Iran versus the United States) within, ultimately, the Cold War. In the fall of 1971, for example, there were 58 different armed groups in West Beirut alone. With so many people trying to kill each other for so many different reasons, Beirut became to the technology of urban violence what a tropical rainforest is to the evolution of plants.</p>
<p>Car bombs began to regularly terrorize Moslem West Beirut in the fall of 1981, apparently as part of an Israeli strategy to evict the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) from Lebanon. The Israeli secret service, the Mossad, had previously employed car bombs in Beirut to assassinate Palestinian leaders (novelist Ghassan Kanfani in July 1972, for example), so no one was especially surprised when evidence emerged that Israel was sponsoring the carnage. According to Middle Eastern schoalr Rashid Khalidi, “A sequence of public confessions by captured drivers made clear these [car bombings] were being utilized by the Israelis and their Phalangist allies to increase the pressure on the PLO to leave.”</p>
<p>Journalist Robert Fisk was in Beirut when an “enormous [car] bomb blew a 45-foot-crater in the road and brought down an entire block of apartments. The building collapsed like a concertina, crushing more than 50 of its occupants to death, most of them Shia refugees from southern Lebanon.” Several of the car bombers were captured and confessed that the bombs had been rigged by the Shin Bet, the Israeli equivalent of the FBI or the British Special Branch. But if such atrocities were designed to drive a wedge of terror between the PLO and Lebanese Moslems, they had the inadvertent result (as did the Israeli air force’s later cluster-bombing of civilian neighborhoods) of turning the Shias from informal Israeli allies into shrewd and resolute enemies.</p>
<p>The new face of Shiite militancy was Hezbollah, formed in mid-1982 out of an amalgamation of Islamic Amal with other pro-Khomeini groupuscules. Trained and advised by the Iranian Pasdaran in the Bekaa Valley, Hezbollah was both an indigenous resistance movement with deep roots in the Shiite slums of southern Beirut and, at the same time, the long arm of Iran’s theocratic revolution. Although some experts espouse alternative theories, Islamic Amal/Hezbollah is usually seen as the author, with Iranian and Syrian assistance, of the devastating attacks on American and French forces in Beirut during 1983. Hezbollah’s diabolic innovation was to marry the IRA’s ANFO car bombs to the kamikaze — using suicide drivers to crash truckloads of explosives into the lobbies of embassies and barracks in Beirut, and later into Israeli checkpoints and patrols in southern Lebanon.</p>
<p>The United States and France became targets of Hezbollah and its Syrian and Iranian patrons after the Multinational Force in Beirut, which supposedly had landed to allow for the safe evacuation of the PLO from that city, evolved into the informal and then open ally of the Maronite government in its civil war against the Moslem-Druze majority. The first retaliation against President Reagan’s policy occurred on April 18, 1983, when a pickup truck carrying 2,000 pounds of ANFO explosives suddenly swerved across traffic into the driveway of the oceanfront U.S. embassy in Beirut. The driver gunned the truck past a startled guard and crashed through the lobby door. “Even by Beirut standards,” writes former CIA agent Robert Baer, “it was an enormous blast, shattering windows. The USS Guadalcanal, anchored five miles off the coast, shuddered from the tremors. At ground zero, the center of the seven-story embassy lifted up hundreds of feet into the air, remained suspended for what seemed an eternity, and then collapsed in a cloud of dust, people, splintered furniture, and paper.”</p>
<p>Whether as a result of superb intelligence or sheer luck, the bombing coincided with a visit to the embassy of Robert Ames, the CIA’s national intelligence officer for the Near East. It killed him (“his hand was found floating a mile offshore, the wedding ring still on his finger”) and all six members of the Beirut CIA station. “Never before had the CIA lost so many officers in a single attack. It was a tragedy from which the agency would never recover.” It also left the Americans blind in Beirut, forcing them to scrounge for intelligence scraps from the French embassy or the British listening station offshore on Cyprus. (A year later, Hezbollah completed their massacre of the CIA in Beirut when they kidnapped and executed the replacement station chief, William Buckley.) As a result, the Agency never foresaw the coming of the mother-of-all-vehicle-bomb attacks.</p>
<p>Over the protests of Colonel Gerahty, the commander of the U.S. Marines onshore in Beirut, Ronald Reagan’s National Security Advisor, Robert McFarlane, ordered the Sixth Fleet in September to open fire on Druze militia who were storming Lebanese Army Forces positions in the hills above Beirut — bringing the United States into the conflict brazenly on the side of the reactionary Amin Gemayel government. A month later, a five-ton Mercedes dump truck hurled past sandbagged Marine sentries and smashed through a guardhouse into the ground floor of the “Beirut Hilton,” the U.S. military barracks in a former PLO headquarters next to the international airport. The truck’s payload was an incredible 12,000 pounds of high explosives. “It is said to have been the largest non-nuclear blast ever [deliberately] detonated on the face of the earth.” “The force of the explosion,” continues Eric Hammel in his history of the Marine landing force, “initially lifted the entire four-story structure, shearing the bases of the concrete support columns, each measuring fifteen feet in circumference and reinforced by numerous one and three quarter inch steel rods. The airborne building then fell in upon itself. A massive shock wave and ball of flaming gas was hurled in all directions.” The Marine (and Navy) death toll of 241 was the Corps’ highest single-day loss since Iwo Jima in 1945.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, another Hezbollah kamikaze had crashed his explosive-laden van into the French barracks in West Beirut, toppling the eight-story structure, killing 58 soldiers. If the airport bomb repaid the Americans for saving Gemayal, this second explosion was probably a response to the French decision to supply Saddam Hussein with Super-Etendard jets and Exocet missiles to attack Iran. The hazy distinction between local Shiite grievances and the interests of Tehran was blurred further when two members of Hezbollah joined with 18 Iraqi Shias to truck-bomb the U.S. embassy in Kuwait in mid-December. The French embassy, the control tower at the airport, the main oil refinery and an expatriate residential compound were also targeted in what was clearly a stern warning to Iran’s enemies.</p>
<p>Following another truck bombing against the French in Beirut as well as deadly attacks on Marine outposts, the Multinational Force began to withdraw from Lebanon in February 1984. It was Reagan’s most stunning geopolitical defeat. In the impolite phrase of Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward, “Essentially we turned tail and ran and left Lebanon.” American power in Lebanon, added Thomas Friedman of the New York Times, was neutralized by “just 12,000 pounds of dynamite and a stolen truck.”</p>
<p>[This article — a preliminary sketch for a book-length study — will appear next year in Indefensible Space: The Architecture of the National Insecurity State (Routledge 2007), edited by Michael Sorkin.]</p>
<p>Mike Davis is the author most recently of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1595580115/nationbooks08" type="external">The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu</a> (The New Press) and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1844670228/nationbooks08" type="external">Planet of Slums</a> (Verso). He lives in San Diego.</p>
<p>[Note for readers: Part 2 of Mike Davis’s history of the car bomb, “Car Bombs with Wings,” will be posted this Thursday.]</p>
<p>Copyright 2006 Mike Davis</p>
<p>This piece appeared first, with an introduction by Tom Engelhardt, at <a href="http://www.tomdispatch.com" type="external">Tomdispatch.com</a>.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | budas wagon 1920 shown pity us likewise dynamite anarchist warning 1919 warm september day 1920 months arrest comrades sacco vanzetti vengeful italian anarchist named mario buda parked horsedrawn wagon near corner wall broad streets directly across j p morgan company nonchalantly climbed disappeared unnoticed lunchtime crowd blocks away startled postal worker found strange leaflets warning free political prisoners sure death signed american anarchist fighters bells nearby trinity church began toll noon stopped wagon packed dynamite iron slugs exploded fireball shrapnel horse wagon blown bits writes paul avrich celebrated historian american anarchism uncovered true story glass showered office windows awnings twelve stories street burst flames people fled terror great cloud dust enveloped area morgans offices thomas joyce securities department fell dead desk amid rubble plaster walls outside scores bodies littered streets buda undoubtedly disappointed learned jp morgan among 40 dead 200 wounded great robber baron away scotland hunting lodge nonetheless poor immigrant stolen dynamite pile scrap metal old horse managed bring unprecedented terror inner sanctum american capitalism wall street bomb culmination halfcentury anarchist fantasies avenging angels made dynamite also invention like charles babbages difference engine far ahead imagination time barbarism strategic bombing become commonplace air forces routinely pursued insurgents labyrinths poor cities would truly radical potential budas infernal machine fully realized budas wagon essence prototype car bomb first use inconspicuous vehicle anonymous almost urban setting transport large quantities high explosive precise range highvalue target replicated far able determine january 12 1947 stern gang drove truckload explosives british police station haifa palestine killing 4 injuring 140 stern gang profascist splinter group led avraham stern broke away rightwing zionist paramilitary irgun would soon use truck car bombs kill palestinians well creative atrocity immediately reciprocated british deserters fighting side palestinian nationalists vehicle bombs thereafter used sporadically producing notable massacres saigon 1952 algiers 1962 palermo 1963 gates hell truly opened 1972 provisional irish republican army ira accidentally legend goes improvised first ammonium nitratefuel oil anfo car bomb newgeneration bombs requiring ordinary industrial ingredients synthetic fertilizer cheap fabricate astonishingly powerful elevated urban terrorism artisanal industrial level made possible sustained blitzes entire city centers well complete destruction ferroconcrete skyscrapers residential blocks car bomb words suddenly became semistrategic weapon certain circumstances comparable airpower ability knock critical urban nodes headquarters well terrorize populations entire cities indeed suicide truck bombs devastated us embassy marine barracks beirut 1983 prevailed least geopolitical sense combined firepower fighterbombers battleships us sixth fleet forced reagan administration retreat lebanon hezbollahs ruthless brilliant use car bombs lebanon 1980s counter advanced military technology united states france israel soon emboldened dozen groups bring insurgencies jihads home metropolis newgeneration car bombers graduates terrorism schools set cia pakistani intelligence isi saudi financing mid1980s train mujahedin terrorize russians occupying kabul 1992 1998 16 major vehicle bomb attacks 13 different cities killed 1050 people wounded nearly 12000 importantly geopolitical standpoint ira gamaa alislamiyya inflicted billions dollars damage two leading controlcenters world economy city london 1992 1993 1996 lower manhattan 1993 forced reorganization global reinsurance industry new millennium 85 years first massacre wall street car bombs become almost generically global ipods hivaids cratering streets cities bogota bali suicide truck bombs distinctive signature hezbollah franchised sri lanka chechnyarussia turkey egypt kuwait indonesia graph urban terrorism curve representing car bombs rising steeply almost exponentially usoccupied iraq course relentless inferno 9000 casualties mainly civilian attributed vehicle bombs twoyear period july 2003 june 2005 since frequency carbomb attacks dramatically increased 140 per month fall 2005 13 baghdad new years day 2006 alone roadside bombs ieds effective device american armored vehicles car bombs weapon choice slaughtering shiite civilians front mosques markets instigating apocalyptic sectarian war siege weapons indistinguishable ordinary traffic apparatuses administration finance retreating inside rings steel green zones larger challenge car bomb seems intractable stolen nukes sarin gas anthrax may sum fears car bomb quotidian workhorse urban terrorism considering genealogy however may helpful summarize characteristics make budas wagon formidable undoubtedly permanent source urban insecurity first vehicle bombs stealth weapons surprising power destructive efficiency trucks vans even suvs easily transport equivalent several conventional 1000pound bombs doorstep prime target moreover destructive power still evolving thanks constant tinkering ingenious bombmakers yet face full horror semitrailersized explosions lethal blast range 200 yards dirty bombs sheathed enough nuclear waste render midmanhattan radioactive generations second extraordinarily cheap 40 50 people massacred stolen car maybe 400 fertilizer bootlegged electronics ramzi yousef mastermind 1993 attack world trade center bragged expensive outlay longdistance phone calls explosive one half ton urea cost 3615 plus 59 per day rental tenfootlong ryder van contrast cruise missiles become classic american riposte overseas terrorist attacks cost 11 million third car bombings operationally simple organize although still refuse believe timothy mcveigh terry nichols didnt secret assistance government dark entity two men proverbial phone booth securityguard farmer successfully planned executed horrendous oklahoma city bombing instructional books information acquired gunshow circuit fourth like even smartest aerial bombs car bombs inherently indiscriminate collateral damage virtually inevitable logic attack slaughter innocents sow panic widest circle operate strategy tension demoralize society car bombs ideal equally effective destroying moral credibility cause alienating mass base support ira eta spain independently discovered car bomb inherently fascist weapon fifth car bombs highly anonymous leave minimal forensic evidence buda quietly went home italy leaving william burns j edgar hoover bureau investigation later renamed fbi make fools chased one false lead another decade budas descendants also escaped identification arrest anonymity addition greatly recommends car bombs like disguise handiwork including cia israeli mossad syrian gsd iranian pasdaran pakistani isi caused unspeakable carnage devices preliminary detonations 194863 reds time bombs rip saigon center new york times headline january 10 1952 members stern gang ardent students violence selfdeclared jewish admirers mussolini steeped terrorist traditions pre1917 russian socialistrevolutionary party macedonian imro italian blackshirts extreme wing zionist movement palestine fascists haganah terrorists british morally tactically unfettered considerations diplomacy world opinion fierce welldeserved reputation originality operations unexpectedness attacks january 12 1947 part campaign prevent compromise mainstream zionism british labor government exploded powerful truck bomb central police station haifa resulting 144 casualties three months later repeated tactic tel aviv blowing sarona police barracks 5 dead stolen postal truck filled dynamite december 1947 following un vote partition palestine fullscale fighting broke jewish arab communities haifa gaza stern gang rejected anything less restoration biblical israel gave truck bomb debut weapon mass terror january 4 1948 two men arab dress drove truck ostensibly loaded oranges center jaffa parked next new seray building housed palestinian municipal government well soupkitchen poor children cooly lingered coffee nearby café leaving minutes ahead detonation thunderous explosion writes adam lebor history jaffa shook city broken glass shattered masonry blew across clock tower square new serays centre side walls collapsed pile rubble twisted beams neoclassical façade survived moment silence screams began 26 killed hundreds injured civilians including many children eating charity kitchen bomb missed local palestinian leadership moved another building atrocity highly successful terrifying residents setting stage eventual flight also provoked palestinians cruel repayment kind arab high committee secret weapon blondhaired british deserters fighting side palestinians nine days jaffa bombing deserters led eddie brown former police corporal whose brother murdered irgun commandeered postal delivery truck packed explosives detonated center haifas jewish quarter injuring 50 people two weeks later brown driving stolen car followed fiveton truck driven palestinian police uniform successfully passed british haganah checkpoints entered jerusalems new city driver parked front palestine post lit fuse escaped brown car newspaper headquarters devastated 1 dead 20 wounded according chronicler episode abdel kader elhusseini military leader arab higher committee impressed success operations inadvertently inspired stern gang authorized ambitious sequel employing six british deserters time three trucks used escorted stolen british armored car young blond man police uniform standing turret convoy easily passed checkpoints drove atlantic hotel ben yehuda street curious night watchman murdered confronted gang drove armored car setting charges three trucks explosion huge toll accordingly grim 46 dead 130 wounded window opportunity attacks possibility passing one zone another rapidly closing palestinians jews braced allout warfare final attack prefigured car bombs brilliant future tool assassination march 11 official limousine american consulgeneral flying stars stripes driven usual chauffeur admitted courtyard heavilyguarded jewish agency compound driver christian palestinian named abu yussef hoped kill zionist leader david ben gurion limousine moved exploded nonetheless 13 officials jewish foundation fund died 40 injured brief furious exchange car bombs arabs jews would enter collective memory conflict would resumed large scale israel phalangist allies began terrorize west beirut bombings 1981 provocation would awake shiite sleeping dragon meanwhile real sequel played saigon series car motorcycle bomb atrocities 195253 graham greene incorporated plot novel quiet american portrayed secretly orchestrated cia operative alden pyle conspiring substitute proamerican party vietminh upon actual bombings would blamed french unable guarantee public safety reallife quiet american counterinsurgency expert colonel edward lansdale fresh victories peasant communists philippines real leader third force protégé general trinh minh cao dai religious sect doubt writes thes biographer general instigated many terrorist outrages saigon using clockwork plastic charges loaded vehicles hidden inside bicycle frames charges notably li minh thes army blew cars front opera house saigon 1952 timebombs reportedly made 50kg ordnance used french air force unexploded collected li minh lansdale dispatched saigon allen dulles cia months opera atrocity hideously immortalized life photographers image upright corpse rickshaw driver legs blown officially blamed ho chi minh although lansdale well aware general thes authorship sophisticated attacks explosives hidden false compartments next car gas tanks nonetheless championed cao dai warlord patriot mould washington jefferson either french agents vietminh cadre assassinated landsdale eulogized journalist good man moderate pretty good general side cost twentyfive thousand dollars whether emulation reinvention car bombs showed next another wartorn french colony algiers last days pied noirs french colonial settlers embittered french officers saigon 195253 would also become cadres organisation de larmé secrete oas led general raoul salan april 1961 failure uprising french president charles de gaulle prepared negotiate settlement algerian rebels oas turned terrorism veritable festival de plastique formidable experience veteran paratroopers legionnaires declared enemies included de gaulle french security forces communists peace activists including philosopher activist jeanpaul sartre especially algerian civilians deadly car bombs killed 62 moslem stevedores lining work docks algiers may 1962 succeeded bolstering algerian resolve drive piednoirs sea next destination car bomb palermo sicily angelo la barbera mafia capo palermocenter undoubtedly paid careful attention algerian bombings may even borrowed oas expertise launched devastating attack mafia rival little bird greco february 1963 grecos bastion town ciaculli outside palermo protected army henchmen la barbera surmounted obstacle aid alfa romeo giulietta dainty fourdoor family saloon writes john dickie history cosa nostra one symbols italys economic miracle svelte practical comfortable safe convenient adverts proclaimed first explosivepacked giulietta destroyed grecos house second weeks later killed one key allies grecos gunmen retaliated wounding la barbera milan may response la barberas ambitious lieutenants pietro torreta tommaso buscetta later become famous mafia pentiti unleashed deadly giuliettas june 30 1963 umpteenth giulietta stuffed tnt left one tangerine groves surround ciaculli tank butane fuse clearly visible back seat giulietta already exploded morning nearby town killing two people carabinieri cautious summoned army engineers assistance two hours later two bomb disposal experts arrived cut fuse pronounced vehicle safe approach lt mario malausa made inspect contents boot detonated huge quantity tnt contained six men blown pieces explosion scorched stripped tangerine trees hundreds metres around site today marked one several monuments bomb victims palermo region first mafia war ended 1964 sicilian population learned tremble sight giulietta car bombings become permanent part mafia repertoire employed even bloodier second mafia war matanza 198183 turned italian public early 1990s conviction cosa nostra leaders series sensational maxitrials notorious blindrage car bombings presumably organized tractor provenzano notorious corleonese gang explosion may 1993 damaged worldfamous uffizi gallery heart florence killed 5 pedestrians injuring 40 others black stuff could feel rattle stood knew onto something took ira veteran talking first anfo car bomb firstgeneration car bombs jaffajerusalem saigon algiers palermo deadly enough maximum yield usually equal several hundred pounds tnt required access stolen industrial military explosives journeymen bombmakers however aware homemade alternative notoriously dangerous concoct offering almost unlimited vistas destruction low cost ammonium nitrate universally available synthetic fertilizer industrial ingredient extraordinary explosive properties witnessed accidental cataclysms explosion chemical plant oppau germany 1921 shock waves felt 150 miles away vast crater remained plant texas city disaster 1947 600 dead 90 town structurally damaged ammonium nitrate sold halfton quantities affordable even cashstrapped terrorist process mixing fuel oil create anfo explosive little tricky provisional irish republican army ira found late 1971 car bomb rediscovered entirely accident explains journalist ed maloney secret history ira deployment belfast ira chain events began late december 1971 iras quartermaster general jack mccabe fatally injured explosion caused experimental fertilizerbased homemade mix known black stuff exploded blending shovel garage northern outskirts dublin provisionals ghq warned mix dangerous handle belfast already received consignment someone idea disposing dumping car fuse timer leaving somewhere downtown belfast resulting explosion made big impression upon belfast leadership black stuff ira soon learned handle safely freed underground army supplyside constraints car bomb enhanced destructive capacity yet reduced likelihood volunteers arrested accidentally blown anfocar bomb combination words unexpected military revolution one fraught potential political moral disaster sheer size devices emphasizes moloney greatly increased risk civilian deaths careless bungled operations ira army council led sean macstiofain however found new weapons awesome capabilities seductive worry ways grisly consequences might backfire indeed car bombs reinforced illusion shared top leadership 1972 ira one final military offensive away victory english government accordingly march 1972 two car bombs sent belfast city center followed garbled phone warnings led police inadvertently evacuate people direction one explosions five civilians killed along two members security forces despite public outcry well immediate traffic closure royal avenue shopping precinct belfast brigades enthusiasm new weapon remained undiminished leadership plotted huge attack designed bring normal commercial life northern ireland abrupt halt macstiofain boasted offensive utmost ferocity ruthessness would wreck colonial infrastructure friday july 21st ira volunteers left 20 car bombs concealed charges periphery nowgated city center detonations timed follow one another approximately fiveminute intervals first car bomb exploded front ulster bank north belfast blew legs catholic passerby successive explosions damaged two railroad stations ulster bus depot oxford street various railway junctions mixed catholicprotestant residential area cavehill road height bombing center belfast resembled city artillery fire clouds suffocating smoke enveloped buildings one explosion followed another almost drowning hysterical screams panicked shoppers series telephoned ira warnings created chaos civilians fled one explosion driven back another seven civilians two soldiers killed 130 people seriously wounded although economic knockout punch bloody friday beginning business usual bombing campaign quickly inflicted significant damage northern ireland economy particularly ability attract private foreign investment terror day also compelled authorities tighten anticarbomb ring steel around belfast city center making prototype fortified enclaves future green zones tradition ancestors fenians originated dynamite terrorism 1870s irish republicans added new pages textbook urban guerrilla warfare foreign aficionados particularly middle east undoubtedly paid close attention twin innovations anfo car bomb employment protracted bombing campaign entire urbanregional economy less well understood outside ireland however enormity wound iras car bombs inflicted republican movement bloody friday destroyed much iras heroicunderdog popular image produced deep revulsion amongst ordinary catholics gave british government unexpected reprieve worldwide condemnation earned blood sunday massacre derry internment without trial moreover gave army perfect pretext launch massive operation motorman 13000 troops led centurian tanks entered nogo areas derry belfast reclaimed control streets republican movement day bloody bungled car bomb attack village claudy county londonderry killed 8 people protestant loyalist paramilitary groups never bothered warnings deliberately targeted civilians side would claim bloody friday claudy sanctions triple car bomb attack dublin afternoon rush hour may 17 1974 left 33 dead highest oneday toll course troubles belfast debacle led major turnover ira leadership failed dispel almost cargocultlike belief capacity car bombs turn tide battle forced onto defensive motorman backlash bloody friday decided strike heart british power instead belfast brigade planned send ten car bombs london via dublinliverpool ferry using fresh volunteers clean records including two young sisters marion dolours price snags arose four cars arrived london one detonated front old bailey another center whitehall close prime ministers house number 10 downing street one hundred eighty londoners injured one killed although 8 ira bombers quickly caught acclaimed west belfast ghettoes operation became template future provisional bombing campaigns london culminating huge explosions shattered city london unnerved world insurance industry 1992 1993 hells kitchen 1980s soldiers god crave death ready turn lebanon another vietnam hezbollah communiqué never history single city battlefield many contesting ideologies sectarian allegiances local vendettas foreign conspiracies interventions beirut early 1980s belfasts triangular conflicts three armed camps republican loyalist british splinter groups seemed straightforward compared fractal russiandolllike complexity lebanons civil wars shiite versus palestinian example within civil wars maronite versus moslem druze within regional conflicts israel versus syria surrogate wars iran versus united states within ultimately cold war fall 1971 example 58 different armed groups west beirut alone many people trying kill many different reasons beirut became technology urban violence tropical rainforest evolution plants car bombs began regularly terrorize moslem west beirut fall 1981 apparently part israeli strategy evict palestine liberation organization plo lebanon israeli secret service mossad previously employed car bombs beirut assassinate palestinian leaders novelist ghassan kanfani july 1972 example one especially surprised evidence emerged israel sponsoring carnage according middle eastern schoalr rashid khalidi sequence public confessions captured drivers made clear car bombings utilized israelis phalangist allies increase pressure plo leave journalist robert fisk beirut enormous car bomb blew 45footcrater road brought entire block apartments building collapsed like concertina crushing 50 occupants death shia refugees southern lebanon several car bombers captured confessed bombs rigged shin bet israeli equivalent fbi british special branch atrocities designed drive wedge terror plo lebanese moslems inadvertent result israeli air forces later clusterbombing civilian neighborhoods turning shias informal israeli allies shrewd resolute enemies new face shiite militancy hezbollah formed mid1982 amalgamation islamic amal prokhomeini groupuscules trained advised iranian pasdaran bekaa valley hezbollah indigenous resistance movement deep roots shiite slums southern beirut time long arm irans theocratic revolution although experts espouse alternative theories islamic amalhezbollah usually seen author iranian syrian assistance devastating attacks american french forces beirut 1983 hezbollahs diabolic innovation marry iras anfo car bombs kamikaze using suicide drivers crash truckloads explosives lobbies embassies barracks beirut later israeli checkpoints patrols southern lebanon united states france became targets hezbollah syrian iranian patrons multinational force beirut supposedly landed allow safe evacuation plo city evolved informal open ally maronite government civil war moslemdruze majority first retaliation president reagans policy occurred april 18 1983 pickup truck carrying 2000 pounds anfo explosives suddenly swerved across traffic driveway oceanfront us embassy beirut driver gunned truck past startled guard crashed lobby door even beirut standards writes former cia agent robert baer enormous blast shattering windows uss guadalcanal anchored five miles coast shuddered tremors ground zero center sevenstory embassy lifted hundreds feet air remained suspended seemed eternity collapsed cloud dust people splintered furniture paper whether result superb intelligence sheer luck bombing coincided visit embassy robert ames cias national intelligence officer near east killed hand found floating mile offshore wedding ring still finger six members beirut cia station never cia lost many officers single attack tragedy agency would never recover also left americans blind beirut forcing scrounge intelligence scraps french embassy british listening station offshore cyprus year later hezbollah completed massacre cia beirut kidnapped executed replacement station chief william buckley result agency never foresaw coming motherofallvehiclebomb attacks protests colonel gerahty commander us marines onshore beirut ronald reagans national security advisor robert mcfarlane ordered sixth fleet september open fire druze militia storming lebanese army forces positions hills beirut bringing united states conflict brazenly side reactionary amin gemayel government month later fiveton mercedes dump truck hurled past sandbagged marine sentries smashed guardhouse ground floor beirut hilton us military barracks former plo headquarters next international airport trucks payload incredible 12000 pounds high explosives said largest nonnuclear blast ever deliberately detonated face earth force explosion continues eric hammel history marine landing force initially lifted entire fourstory structure shearing bases concrete support columns measuring fifteen feet circumference reinforced numerous one three quarter inch steel rods airborne building fell upon massive shock wave ball flaming gas hurled directions marine navy death toll 241 corps highest singleday loss since iwo jima 1945 meanwhile another hezbollah kamikaze crashed explosiveladen van french barracks west beirut toppling eightstory structure killing 58 soldiers airport bomb repaid americans saving gemayal second explosion probably response french decision supply saddam hussein superetendard jets exocet missiles attack iran hazy distinction local shiite grievances interests tehran blurred two members hezbollah joined 18 iraqi shias truckbomb us embassy kuwait middecember french embassy control tower airport main oil refinery expatriate residential compound also targeted clearly stern warning irans enemies following another truck bombing french beirut well deadly attacks marine outposts multinational force began withdraw lebanon february 1984 reagans stunning geopolitical defeat impolite phrase washington post reporter bob woodward essentially turned tail ran left lebanon american power lebanon added thomas friedman new york times neutralized 12000 pounds dynamite stolen truck article preliminary sketch booklength study appear next year indefensible space architecture national insecurity state routledge 2007 edited michael sorkin mike davis author recently monster door global threat avian flu new press planet slums verso lives san diego note readers part 2 mike daviss history car bomb car bombs wings posted thursday copyright 2006 mike davis piece appeared first introduction tom engelhardt tomdispatchcom | 3,531 |
<p>In September 2002, I traveled to Turkey to follow the men and women from Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and other Muslim countries in their journey for a better life, a life with dignity and safety on far away lands. Fleeing war and political conflict, and social and economic deprivation, the migrants come to Turkey with a common dream: leaving Turkey for a perceived Eden in Fortress Europe.</p>
<p>Greece is the first entry point to their Dream Land. They pay exuberant fees to smugglers, brave the minefields and mudbanks on Greece’s Northern borders, venture into the turbulent Aegean Sea in small floats, and hide inside sealed trucks with the hope to reach the soil and seek protection from the authorities. Some leave Turkey for Bulgaria. Beaten and assaulted by the Bulgarian border police, attacked by dogs, they return to Turkey, and cross the border, soon after. The survivors reach Sofia, recuperate from the hardships of the journey, and move on to cross snow-covered mountains to Greece. Many die in the journey and never lay foot in their Eden.</p>
<p>I met Kenneth in a refugee camp in Sofia, in late October 2002. A young man from Nigeria, he crossed many borders to reach Turkey, and nearly faced death on his way to Bulgaria. Kind and constantly smiling, he told me of his hopes and dreams, joked, posed before my camera, and walked me to my taxi to protect me from unforeseen risks. Five days later, on the mountains between Bulgaria and Greece, Kenneth’s long journey was aborted. Caught in a storm, and unable to move, he was buried, along with his dreams, under many feet of snow. His friends left him behind to save their own lives. I wept in the historic Acropolis in Athens.</p>
<p>Keneth died. But, many others survived the journey, and made it to Greece. They came to Greece, only to discover new horrors in the European Union, horrors not imagined by the thousands still waiting in Turkey, or those crossing the sea and the mountains.</p>
<p>Athens, the capital of the nation presiding over the European Union, is host to hundreds of Iraqi Kurds, Iranians, and Afghans who sleep in parks in cold winter nights; squad abandoned buildings with no water, electricity, and toilet; and spend days in hunger, occasionally eating bread and other food donated by kind Greeks and the NGOs. They still dream to “move forward,” to reach further north in Europe. But, moving forward is not possible for many. The routes are closed by the EU migration policy, and the Greek coastguards, or “commandos,” as called by the migrants.</p>
<p>This is the post-September 11 Europe, a Europe unwelcoming to migrants in general, and Muslims in particular. Helped financially by the EU, and provided by the state of the art border control tools, the Greeks are assigned to protect “Fortress Europe” from the migrants by all means necessary. Greece is the gatekeeper of the EU. But, despite the tight border control in land and sea, many succeed to enter Greece. The Pakistani migrants remain in Athens, live on the margins of the society, and survive in poverty. The Iranians, Iraqi Kurds, and the Afghans leave Athens for the port Patras, the main exit route to Italy, and the scene of some of the most egregious human rights violations towards the migrants in Europe. They are brutalized by the commandos, detained in extremely sub-standard conditions, and prevented from leaving Greece.</p>
<p>The Afghans of Patras live in Kheimeh, the Farsi word for tent, “homes” made of cardboard and plastic on empty lots across from the harbor. Ahmad lives in a small kheimeh with five others. He escaped Afghanistan at age seven, lived in Iran for two decades, and left for Turkey in the hope of finding a home that would finally accept him as a citizen. Ahmad is stateless. After 20 years, the Iranian authorities regard him an Afghan. The Afghans consider him an Iranian. He paid all his life savings to an Afghan smuggler who cheated him, and left him penniless in Istanbul. Two years later, Ahmad managed to reach Greece. He has no money to pay the Afghan smugglers to allow him to jump the trucks and the ships leaving for Italy. He spends his days behind the fence-the thick iron bars protecting the harbor from unwelcome intruders-and dreams of a day he can be on the other side, in a ship going north.</p>
<p>The fence is guarded by the commandos, and controlled by smugglers from Afghanistan and Iraq. There are seven gates to the fence. The Kurdish smugglers control four gates. The Afghans have two. There is one free gate, where the commandos have their office. Except for the impoverished Iranians, no one dares escaping from that gate.</p>
<p>The smugglers exhort money from anyone wishing to leave for Italy. No one can escape without paying off the appropriate smugglers. “We have shed our blood for this. You have to pay your dues,” a Kurdish smuggler said to an Iranian. But, paying the dues is no guarantee for reaching Italy safely. This is a fee for access to the harbor. There, the voyagers are still in the mercy of the commandos.</p>
<p>Standing behind the fence by Gate One, Ali, a teenage Afghan, showed me his broken arm. Clubbed nearly to death by the commandos when he last tried to get onto a ship to Italy, Ali was hospitalized for a week. His right arm in a cast, he goes to the fence everyday, stares at the ships, and continues to dream. An older Afghan, showed me his missing tooth. He too was clubbed, struck on the face, many times, by the commandos.</p>
<p>The Iranians in Patras do not have a zone of their own, or their own national smugglers. Those with money use the “service” of the Afghans and the Kurds, and those without money, use most creative ways to “take the ships.” Their stories echo the tales of hunger and violence experienced by the Afghans and the others in Patras.</p>
<p>I sipped tea with Farshid and six other Iranians in their home in Europe: an abandoned truck covered by thick plastic, large wholes on corners, leaking rainwater. Full of rage, the men lamented about their humiliation, lack of most basic needs, and repeated beating by the commandos. A political refugee, Farshid was deceived by the Greek authorities upon entry into the country. Told to file as an economic migrant, he was robbed of the possibility of being recognized as a refugee, receiving protection in Europe.</p>
<p>Mohammad, along with 35 other Iranians, lives in a two-story abandoned building. The men use the bathroom in the train station, burn wood on the first floor, boil water, and wash in the open every few days. No electricity, I sat in a room lit by four candles, and heard tales of disappointment, shame, and police brutality. I photographed the bruises on Hamid’s body. Arrested and punished after a failed attempt to leave for Italy, he had howled, and cried for mercy for an hour, witnesses told me.</p>
<p>After 11 failed attempts, Mehran, an Iranian in his mid twenties, is resigned to stay in Patras indefinitely. Deported to Greece by Italian authorities, beaten by the commandos, he has lost hope. He is too scared to approach the fence. There is no returning home for Mehran and many others in Greece. They are trapped. None have told their families of their status and living conditions. “My son lives in Europe,” their parents boast to neighbors and relatives. “My family thinks I am in Paris,” said a man in his late twenties. “My brother asked me for a pair of sneakers three months ago,” he continued, feeling ashamed for not fulfilling his brother’s simple wish. “We will never be normal again,” said the 23-year-old Iranian, walking me to the bus station to leave for Athens.</p>
<p>Welcome to the land of Plato, Europe in the new Millennium</p>
<p>BEHZAD YAGHMAIAN is an international political economists and the author of <a href="" type="internal">Social Change in Iran: An Eyewitness Account of Dissent, Defiance, and New Movements for Rights</a> (SUNY Press, 2002). He is currently in the Middle East researching for his upcoming book, Embracing the Infidel: The Secret World of the Muslim Migrant (Verso Books). He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a>.</p>
<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | september 2002 traveled turkey follow men women iran iraq afghanistan pakistan muslim countries journey better life life dignity safety far away lands fleeing war political conflict social economic deprivation migrants come turkey common dream leaving turkey perceived eden fortress europe greece first entry point dream land pay exuberant fees smugglers brave minefields mudbanks greeces northern borders venture turbulent aegean sea small floats hide inside sealed trucks hope reach soil seek protection authorities leave turkey bulgaria beaten assaulted bulgarian border police attacked dogs return turkey cross border soon survivors reach sofia recuperate hardships journey move cross snowcovered mountains greece many die journey never lay foot eden met kenneth refugee camp sofia late october 2002 young man nigeria crossed many borders reach turkey nearly faced death way bulgaria kind constantly smiling told hopes dreams joked posed camera walked taxi protect unforeseen risks five days later mountains bulgaria greece kenneths long journey aborted caught storm unable move buried along dreams many feet snow friends left behind save lives wept historic acropolis athens keneth died many others survived journey made greece came greece discover new horrors european union horrors imagined thousands still waiting turkey crossing sea mountains athens capital nation presiding european union host hundreds iraqi kurds iranians afghans sleep parks cold winter nights squad abandoned buildings water electricity toilet spend days hunger occasionally eating bread food donated kind greeks ngos still dream move forward reach north europe moving forward possible many routes closed eu migration policy greek coastguards commandos called migrants postseptember 11 europe europe unwelcoming migrants general muslims particular helped financially eu provided state art border control tools greeks assigned protect fortress europe migrants means necessary greece gatekeeper eu despite tight border control land sea many succeed enter greece pakistani migrants remain athens live margins society survive poverty iranians iraqi kurds afghans leave athens port patras main exit route italy scene egregious human rights violations towards migrants europe brutalized commandos detained extremely substandard conditions prevented leaving greece afghans patras live kheimeh farsi word tent homes made cardboard plastic empty lots across harbor ahmad lives small kheimeh five others escaped afghanistan age seven lived iran two decades left turkey hope finding home would finally accept citizen ahmad stateless 20 years iranian authorities regard afghan afghans consider iranian paid life savings afghan smuggler cheated left penniless istanbul two years later ahmad managed reach greece money pay afghan smugglers allow jump trucks ships leaving italy spends days behind fencethe thick iron bars protecting harbor unwelcome intrudersand dreams day side ship going north fence guarded commandos controlled smugglers afghanistan iraq seven gates fence kurdish smugglers control four gates afghans two one free gate commandos office except impoverished iranians one dares escaping gate smugglers exhort money anyone wishing leave italy one escape without paying appropriate smugglers shed blood pay dues kurdish smuggler said iranian paying dues guarantee reaching italy safely fee access harbor voyagers still mercy commandos standing behind fence gate one ali teenage afghan showed broken arm clubbed nearly death commandos last tried get onto ship italy ali hospitalized week right arm cast goes fence everyday stares ships continues dream older afghan showed missing tooth clubbed struck face many times commandos iranians patras zone national smugglers money use service afghans kurds without money use creative ways take ships stories echo tales hunger violence experienced afghans others patras sipped tea farshid six iranians home europe abandoned truck covered thick plastic large wholes corners leaking rainwater full rage men lamented humiliation lack basic needs repeated beating commandos political refugee farshid deceived greek authorities upon entry country told file economic migrant robbed possibility recognized refugee receiving protection europe mohammad along 35 iranians lives twostory abandoned building men use bathroom train station burn wood first floor boil water wash open every days electricity sat room lit four candles heard tales disappointment shame police brutality photographed bruises hamids body arrested punished failed attempt leave italy howled cried mercy hour witnesses told 11 failed attempts mehran iranian mid twenties resigned stay patras indefinitely deported greece italian authorities beaten commandos lost hope scared approach fence returning home mehran many others greece trapped none told families status living conditions son lives europe parents boast neighbors relatives family thinks paris said man late twenties brother asked pair sneakers three months ago continued feeling ashamed fulfilling brothers simple wish never normal said 23yearold iranian walking bus station leave athens welcome land plato europe new millennium behzad yaghmaian international political economists author social change iran eyewitness account dissent defiance new movements rights suny press 2002 currently middle east researching upcoming book embracing infidel secret world muslim migrant verso books reached behzad_yaghmaianhotmailcom 160 | 765 |
<p>On February 22rd, Pres. Donald Trump signed an executive order reversing Pres. Barack Obama’s earlier order protecting transgender youths under Title IX from so-called “bathroom” bills may be the most odious.&#160; In short order, the Supreme Court ordered a pending case involving Gavin Grimm, a self-identified male student prohibited from using the boys’ bathrooms at his Gloucester Country, VA, high school, returned the local federal court.&#160; Sadly, the outcome of looks bleak given Trump’s nomination of a strict conservative to the Court and his February 22rd executive order.</p>
<p>As of January 2017, the <a href="" type="internal">National Conference of State Legislatures</a> reports that 14&#160;states were considering bills to restrict access to multiuser restrooms, locker rooms and other sex-segregated facilities.&#160; Bills introduced in these states — Alabama,&#160;Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia,&#160;Washington and Wyoming – seek to restrict bathroom access based on one’s gender assigned at birth or “biological sex”; similar bills were defeated in South Dakota and Virginia.</p>
<p>The troubling unasked – and unanswered — question in why Trump targeted transgender youth?</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>Two knowledgeable specialists suggest very different — but complementary –answers to the question.</p>
<p>Jack Drescher, MD, is a psychiatrist and psychoanalyst in private practice as well as a clinical professor of psychiatry &amp; behavioral sciences at New York Medical College and adjunct professor at New York University’s postdoctoral program in psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. &#160;“The religious social conservatives having lost the gay marriage war,” he points out, “and have started to take it out on the transgender community, especially trans kids and bathroom bills.”&#160; He notes that gay rights evolved slowly with time and now more and more heterosexuals accept gay people because they know gay people, whether family member, neighbors or coworkers.&#160; “Awareness has led to acceptance and tolerance.”</p>
<p>The transgender population in the U.S. is but a tiny segment of the American public.&#160; UCLA’s <a href="https://williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/How-Many-Adults-Identify-as-Transgender-in-the-United-States.pdf" type="external">Williams Institute</a> estimates that less than 1 percent (0.6% or about 1.5 million) of U.S. adults identify as transgender and only an estimated <a href="" type="internal">350,000&#160;youths</a>&#160;aged 13 to 17 identify as&#160;transgender.&#160; So, why has Trump singled-out transsexual young people as a target in his political agenda?</p>
<p>Howard Lavine, PhD, is professor of political science and psychology at the University of Minnesota, director of the Center for the Study of Political Psychology and editor-in-chief of the journal, Advances in Political Psychology.&#160; He offers a more sanguine assessment.&#160; “Trump is targeted low hanging fruit,” he says.&#160; “I’m sure that Vice President Mike Pense, an anti-gay hardliner, probably told him he had to do it.&#160; And he did it to appease hardliners in the party – and it was an easy way to gain support among Republicans.&#160; I don’t think there’s anything psychological about his action.”</p>
<p>The modern culture wars were launched in 1972 by Phyllis Schafly, a lawyer and conservative activist, when she led a successful campaign to block the adoption of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).&#160; She and other Christian conservatives were infuriated by ‘60s political and cultural radicalism, of calls for Black Power, mounting anti-Vietnam War protests, a nascent feminist movement and a counterculture celebrating sex, drugs and rock-&amp;-roll.</p>
<p>In 1973, Schafly and others, including many fundamentalist Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church, were infuriated when an all-male Supreme Court ruled in Roe v. Wade that a Texas woman had the right to an abortion.&#160; They were further incensed when, that same year, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) reclassified homosexuality, dropping it as a mental disorder from the revised Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatric Disorders (DSM-3).</p>
<p>Drescher, who edited the&#160;Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health and has edited and co-edited more than a score of books dealing with gender, sexuality and the health and mental health of LGBT communities, served on the APA’s DSM-5 Workgroup on Sexual and&#160;Gender Identity Disorders. &#160;He explains that the term “transgender,” like “gay,” is a non-scientific concept but “a term used by a community of individuals whose gender expression may not match their birth sex to define itself.“&#160; He adds, “no one know why people are trans, let alone why people are gay.”&#160; The revised, DSM-5, published in 2013, includes a diagnosis of “gender dysphoria” which has been applied to some, but not all, transgender people who are very uncomfortable with the bodies they were born with.</p>
<p>The religious right’s war against homosexuals and, by extension, transsexual youth, runs deep – back to the Puritans and the nation’s founding.&#160; More recently, in 2001, James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, claimed that the growing gay-rights movement was targeting schools.&#160; Two years later, Louis Sheldon, head of the Traditional Values Coalition, argued that “homosexual militants are pushing for aggressive recruitment programs in public schools.”&#160; This attitude seems to have contributed to a rise in bullying within American schools over the last two decades; it declined during Obama’s presidency.</p>
<p>Bullying has long been an endemic feature of the lives of school-age children. Sadly, the targeting of young people who do not adhere to strict conventions of gender identity often has terrible consequences.&#160; Drescher links the current campaign against transgender youth to the bullying of gay kids in schools.&#160; In a 2010 New York Times <a href="" type="internal">Letter-to-the-Editor</a>, he wrote: “Avoiding discussions of homosexuality and gay families serves its own political agenda: maintaining an intolerant status quo where bullying can flourish and schools become unsafe for gay youth to come out.”</p>
<p>In 2008, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center reported that lesbian, gay and bisexual youth were “nearly one and a half to three times more likely to have reported suicidal ideation” and “nearly one and a half to seven times more likely than non-LGB youth to have reported attempting suicide.”&#160; The following year, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network’s National School Climate Survey found over four-in-five (nearly 85%) of LGBT students reported harassment because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and nearly one-in-five (20%) reported “being physically assaulted at school in the past year because of their sexual orientation.”</p>
<p>The issue of transgender youth came to a head in 2013 when the Colorado Civil Rights Division ruled that Cory Mathis, a 6-year-old transgender student, could use the girls’ bathroom at her elementary school.&#160; The decision precipitated a panic among conservative religious politicians in states across the country.</p>
<p>In 2014, the Southern Baptist Convention — the largest Protestant group in the U.S. with 16 million members — approved a resolution, “On Transgender Identity,” claiming that “gender identity is determined by biological sex and not by one’s self-perception.”&#160; It also dismissed transgender and intersex people as, respectively, “psychological” and “biological” manifestations of “human fallenness.”&#160; It opposed all efforts at physical gender transition and rejected any governmental or cultural validations of transgender identities.</p>
<p>The following year, the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), an organization representing conservative Christian counselors, hosted what it claimed was the “first-ever” evangelical conference on “transgenderism” in Louisville, KY; the event was co-sponsored the Council on Biblical Manhood &amp; Womanhood.&#160; One session was called, “ <a href="" type="internal">Transgender Confusion and Transformational Christianity</a>.”</p>
<p>***</p>
<p>So, why did Trump target transsexual young people?</p>
<p>University of Minnesota’s political psychologist Howard Lavine argues that the answer is simple. &#160;“It’s nothing but politics,” he says.&#160; “It was very easy for Trump to do it.&#160; He signs an order and it was done.”&#160; Going further, he points out: “Any Republican president would have overturned [Obama’s] executive order.&#160; There is no skin off his back.&#160; It’s a clear win.” &#160;Chuckling, he poses a more pointed question: “I would be shocked if he didn’t do it – and that would have been a real story.”&#160; He adds, “It’s a clear win for him, politically.&#160; He doesn’t lose anything by doing it.&#160; He isn’t spending much political capital.”</p>
<p>“Remember, during the campaign homosexuality and transsexuals was not a major issue for him,” Lavine reflects. &#160;“Trump seemed to care more about immigration and terrorism than this issue.”&#160; He adds, “Trump said that Caitlyn Jenner&#160;could use any bathroom at Trump Tower.”&#160; In reaction to Trump’s order, Jenner&#160;challenged the president in a video posted on Twitter:&#160; “I have a message for the trans kids of America: You’re winning. I know it doesn’t feel like it today or every day, but you’re winning.”&#160; Lavine laments, “This is a disaster, and you [Trump] can still fix it … protect the LGBTQ community.”</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>As a political scientist concerned with the issue of political power, Lavine said that Trump’s action was not an issue of the weak vs. strong, but how a group works as part of a political alignment.&#160; “It’s a lot easier to pick on poor,” he notes.&#160; “The poor are less active, don’t contribute money, not well represented when their interests collide with those with power.”</p>
<p>The New York Medical College psychiatrist, Jack Drescher, believes that Trump’s executive order “was a bad policy decision.”&#160; He is concerned “how it might adversely affect the well-being and mental health of transgender kids.”&#160; “Trans presentation is much rarer than gay presentation,” he points out.&#160; “Most Americans have never met a trans person – or if they have, they likely don’t know it.&#160; Most people’s images of a transgender person come from TV &amp; movies or personal fantasies which makes people anxious, if not frightened, about trans people.”</p>
<p>Drescher opined, “I think everyone, regardless of political affiliation, should be concerned when those with the most power target the most vulnerable populations.” &#160;Because there are fewer transgender people out in society, they are less known.&#160; He notes, with a sense of irony, that for most Americans fear of transgender means fear of a man in women’s clothing entering a women’s bathroom.&#160; “If bathroom bills were to be enforced, a common consternation will be trans be men with beards using the women’s bathroom and the trans women in the men’s room,” he jests.</p>
<p>There is yet another possible answer to the troubling question as to why Trump targeted trans youth and other marginal groups.&#160; There’s a growing perception that Pres. Donald Trump is mentally “sick.”&#160; Public figures have begun to question Trump’s sanity, including Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Richard Friedman, MD, professor of clinical psychiatry and the director of the psychopharmacology clinic, Weill Cornell Medical College.&#160; Paul Krugman went so far to declare, “An American first: a president who was obviously mentally ill the moment he took office.”&#160; A <a href="http://change.org/" type="external">Change.org</a> petition claiming that Trump&#160;has “a serious&#160;mental illness” was endorsed by 20,000 people.</p>
<p>The most critical diagnostic assessment of Trump’s apparent psychological state was presented shortly after his 2016 electoral victory. &#160;Three highly-respected academic psychiatrists — Judith Herman, MD, Harvard Medical School; Nanette Gartrell, MD, University of California, San Francisco (1988-2011); and Dee Mosbacher, MD, PhD, University of California, San Francisco (2005-2013) – published an open letter to Pres. Barack Obama in the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-greene/is-donald-trump-mentally_b_13693174.html" type="external">Huffington Post</a>.&#160; They present, in scrupulous detail, a clinical, psychiatric evaluation of the president-elect, arguing that, in term of APA’s DSM-5, Trump suffers from a Narcissistic Personality Disorder.</p>
<p>Their diagnosis, along with those offered by others clinical professionals, may violate what is known as the APA’s Goldwater Rule.&#160; The rule is part of the organization’s code of ethics and named after former Sen. (and presidential candidate) Barry Goldwater and in an uninformed and highly-critical diagnosis made of the candidate by a psychiatrist.&#160; The rule states it is unethical for psychiatrists to give a professional opinion about a public figure they have not examined in person, and obtained consent from, to discuss their mental health.&#160; In any case, one can only speculate as to Trump’s apparent mental health and the role it played – if any — in his targeting of trans kids.</p>
<p>From the perspective of many ordinary citizens, there seems to be something wrong, “sick” (in a non-clinical sense), about Trump, his closest associates and his misbegotten Cabinet.&#160; Collectively, they seem irrationally mean-spirited, if not immoral or simply evil.&#160; They all seem out for themselves, whether it’s in terms of furthering the business interests of the 1 percent or imposing their moral beliefs on all Americans.&#160; Trump’s order revoking bathroom protections for transgender youths in public schools is among the most punitive of his still-early presidency.&#160; One can expect it to only get worse.</p> | true | 4 | february 22rd pres donald trump signed executive order reversing pres barack obamas earlier order protecting transgender youths title ix socalled bathroom bills may odious160 short order supreme court ordered pending case involving gavin grimm selfidentified male student prohibited using boys bathrooms gloucester country va high school returned local federal court160 sadly outcome looks bleak given trumps nomination strict conservative court february 22rd executive order january 2017 national conference state legislatures reports 14160states considering bills restrict access multiuser restrooms locker rooms sexsegregated facilities160 bills introduced states alabama160illinois kansas kentucky minnesota missouri new york south carolina south dakota tennessee texas virginia160washington wyoming seek restrict bathroom access based ones gender assigned birth biological sex similar bills defeated south dakota virginia troubling unasked unanswered question trump targeted transgender youth two knowledgeable specialists suggest different complementary answers question jack drescher md psychiatrist psychoanalyst private practice well clinical professor psychiatry amp behavioral sciences new york medical college adjunct professor new york universitys postdoctoral program psychotherapy psychoanalysis 160the religious social conservatives lost gay marriage war points started take transgender community especially trans kids bathroom bills160 notes gay rights evolved slowly time heterosexuals accept gay people know gay people whether family member neighbors coworkers160 awareness led acceptance tolerance transgender population us tiny segment american public160 uclas williams institute estimates less 1 percent 06 15 million us adults identify transgender estimated 350000160youths160aged 13 17 identify as160transgender160 trump singledout transsexual young people target political agenda howard lavine phd professor political science psychology university minnesota director center study political psychology editorinchief journal advances political psychology160 offers sanguine assessment160 trump targeted low hanging fruit says160 im sure vice president mike pense antigay hardliner probably told it160 appease hardliners party easy way gain support among republicans160 dont think theres anything psychological action modern culture wars launched 1972 phyllis schafly lawyer conservative activist led successful campaign block adoption proposed equal rights amendment era160 christian conservatives infuriated 60s political cultural radicalism calls black power mounting antivietnam war protests nascent feminist movement counterculture celebrating sex drugs rockamproll 1973 schafly others including many fundamentalist protestants roman catholic church infuriated allmale supreme court ruled roe v wade texas woman right abortion160 incensed year american psychiatric association apa reclassified homosexuality dropping mental disorder revised diagnostic statistical manual psychiatric disorders dsm3 drescher edited the160journal gay lesbian mental health edited coedited score books dealing gender sexuality health mental health lgbt communities served apas dsm5 workgroup sexual and160gender identity disorders 160he explains term transgender like gay nonscientific concept term used community individuals whose gender expression may match birth sex define itself160 adds one know people trans let alone people gay160 revised dsm5 published 2013 includes diagnosis gender dysphoria applied transgender people uncomfortable bodies born religious rights war homosexuals extension transsexual youth runs deep back puritans nations founding160 recently 2001 james dobson founder focus family claimed growing gayrights movement targeting schools160 two years later louis sheldon head traditional values coalition argued homosexual militants pushing aggressive recruitment programs public schools160 attitude seems contributed rise bullying within american schools last two decades declined obamas presidency bullying long endemic feature lives schoolage children sadly targeting young people adhere strict conventions gender identity often terrible consequences160 drescher links current campaign transgender youth bullying gay kids schools160 2010 new york times lettertotheeditor wrote avoiding discussions homosexuality gay families serves political agenda maintaining intolerant status quo bullying flourish schools become unsafe gay youth come 2008 suicide prevention resource center reported lesbian gay bisexual youth nearly one half three times likely reported suicidal ideation nearly one half seven times likely nonlgb youth reported attempting suicide160 following year gay lesbian straight education networks national school climate survey found fourinfive nearly 85 lgbt students reported harassment sexual orientation gender identity nearly oneinfive 20 reported physically assaulted school past year sexual orientation issue transgender youth came head 2013 colorado civil rights division ruled cory mathis 6yearold transgender student could use girls bathroom elementary school160 decision precipitated panic among conservative religious politicians states across country 2014 southern baptist convention largest protestant group us 16 million members approved resolution transgender identity claiming gender identity determined biological sex ones selfperception160 also dismissed transgender intersex people respectively psychological biological manifestations human fallenness160 opposed efforts physical gender transition rejected governmental cultural validations transgender identities following year association certified biblical counselors acbc organization representing conservative christian counselors hosted claimed firstever evangelical conference transgenderism louisville ky event cosponsored council biblical manhood amp womanhood160 one session called transgender confusion transformational christianity trump target transsexual young people university minnesotas political psychologist howard lavine argues answer simple 160its nothing politics says160 easy trump it160 signs order done160 going points republican president would overturned obamas executive order160 skin back160 clear win 160chuckling poses pointed question would shocked didnt would real story160 adds clear win politically160 doesnt lose anything it160 isnt spending much political capital remember campaign homosexuality transsexuals major issue lavine reflects 160trump seemed care immigration terrorism issue160 adds trump said caitlyn jenner160could use bathroom trump tower160 reaction trumps order jenner160challenged president video posted twitter160 message trans kids america youre winning know doesnt feel like today every day youre winning160 lavine laments disaster trump still fix protect lgbtq community 160 political scientist concerned issue political power lavine said trumps action issue weak vs strong group works part political alignment160 lot easier pick poor notes160 poor less active dont contribute money well represented interests collide power new york medical college psychiatrist jack drescher believes trumps executive order bad policy decision160 concerned might adversely affect wellbeing mental health transgender kids160 trans presentation much rarer gay presentation points out160 americans never met trans person likely dont know it160 peoples images transgender person come tv amp movies personal fantasies makes people anxious frightened trans people drescher opined think everyone regardless political affiliation concerned power target vulnerable populations 160because fewer transgender people society less known160 notes sense irony americans fear transgender means fear man womens clothing entering womens bathroom160 bathroom bills enforced common consternation trans men beards using womens bathroom trans women mens room jests yet another possible answer troubling question trump targeted trans youth marginal groups160 theres growing perception pres donald trump mentally sick160 public figures begun question trumps sanity including rep ted lieu dca richard friedman md professor clinical psychiatry director psychopharmacology clinic weill cornell medical college160 paul krugman went far declare american first president obviously mentally ill moment took office160 changeorg petition claiming trump160has serious160mental illness endorsed 20000 people critical diagnostic assessment trumps apparent psychological state presented shortly 2016 electoral victory 160three highlyrespected academic psychiatrists judith herman md harvard medical school nanette gartrell md university california san francisco 19882011 dee mosbacher md phd university california san francisco 20052013 published open letter pres barack obama huffington post160 present scrupulous detail clinical psychiatric evaluation presidentelect arguing term apas dsm5 trump suffers narcissistic personality disorder diagnosis along offered others clinical professionals may violate known apas goldwater rule160 rule part organizations code ethics named former sen presidential candidate barry goldwater uninformed highlycritical diagnosis made candidate psychiatrist160 rule states unethical psychiatrists give professional opinion public figure examined person obtained consent discuss mental health160 case one speculate trumps apparent mental health role played targeting trans kids perspective many ordinary citizens seems something wrong sick nonclinical sense trump closest associates misbegotten cabinet160 collectively seem irrationally meanspirited immoral simply evil160 seem whether terms furthering business interests 1 percent imposing moral beliefs americans160 trumps order revoking bathroom protections transgender youths public schools among punitive stillearly presidency160 one expect get worse | 1,225 |
<p>Since the George Zimmerman verdict a little more than a week ago, many in “White America” have been struggling to come up with any explanation for why the acquittal in the killing of unarmed 17 year old Trayvon Martin was&#160;not&#160;racist.</p>
<p>Recently, many “Racists In Denial” seem to believe that they have found a parallel example of an African American version of George Zimmerman.</p>
<p>Roderick Scott, acquitted of killing 17-year-old white teen Christopher Cervini is the new internet sensation of any Caucasian who innately supports the Zimmerman verdict, but is somehow convinced that it is not for racial reasons. But just ow similar was this case to the George Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case? Photo: Greece New York Police mug shot?</p>
<p>Roderick Scott, an African American man, shot and killed Christopher Cervini, a 17-year-old white youth, in 2009.</p>
<p>Scott faced a charge of first-degree manslaughter, and claimed he shot the teen in self defense.</p>
<p>Scott was subsequently acquitted.</p>
<p>All this happened in New York State, which, even back then, had much tougher gun and self defense laws than the state of Florida has.</p>
<p>What are the legal similarities and differences between this case and the Trayvon Martin/George Zimmerman case? As you will see, from start to finish, the cases are worlds apart.</p>
<p>During the early morning hours of April 4, 2009, 42-year-old Roderick Scott was asleep on the couch of his Greece, New York home, just outside of Rochester. He was awakened by some noise outside.</p>
<p>Scott looked out the window and saw three teens attempting to break into his car. He grabbed his gun, for which he had a legal permit, put it in his waistband and told his girlfriend to call 911 before going outside.</p>
<p>When Scott went out, he confronted the youths, who were going through a neighbor’s car. According to Scott, he told them to stop and wait for the police. The incident ended after Scott fired two shots at Christopher Cervini, killing him.</p>
<p>According to 15-year-old James Cervini, one of the three, and Christopher’s cousin, Scott shot Christopher after the teen yelled, “Please don’t shoot me, I’m just a kid.” Scott, who testified in his own defense, said he only fired after Christopher came running at him in a threatening manner.</p>
<p>Scott’s attorney, James Parrinello, argued it was likely Christopher went at Scott to give James a chance to get away. James was already bound by two probation orders and the consequences of being charged with breaking into cars would have been more serious for him.</p>
<p>Scott, we must remember, was on his own property, defending his own property originally, from three individuals – not one – who were actively engaged in undisputed criminal behavior.</p>
<p>Unlike George Zimmerman, Scott was immediately arrested after the shooting and charged with murder. A grand jury later reduced the charge to first-degree manslaughter. The jury deliberated for about 19 hours before rendering a verdict of not guilty on December 18, 2009. If you have never heard about this story it is because Scott was arrested and had to essentially prove his innocence, just as we have come to expect from the corrupt so-called “Justice” system.</p>
<p>Under section 125.20 of the New York Penal Law, first-degree manslaughter is defined as when a person intends to cause serious physical injury to another person and causes the death of that person or a third party. First-degree manslaughter also applies to cases that would otherwise constitute murder but the defendant, at the time the act was committed, suffered from extreme emotional disturbance.</p>
<p>It is clear that at the time Scott fired two shots into Cervini, he intended to cause serious physical injury to Cervini. He would have had to have been convicted of manslaughter unless the killing was justified.</p>
<p>Under New York law, deadly physical force is defined as the use of force that can reasonably be expected to cause death or serious physical injury. Under section 35.15 of the New York Penal Law, deadly physical force is justified if the person who uses it has a reasonable belief that the other person is using or is about to use deadly physical force against him or her.</p>
<p>In New York, the use of deadly physical force is not justified if the defendant is not in his or her dwelling and they have an opportunity to safely retreat from the situation. The New York Penal Law is similar to the law of Florida in terms of the onus of proof. A defendant need not prove a killing is justified and the jury must acquit unless they are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the killing was&#160;not&#160;justified.</p>
<p>This killing, however, was proven to have been justified. The immediate and major differences were the preponderance of individuals involved, the nature of the undisputed criminal behavior of these outnumber individuals and the fact that this occurred at Scott’s home. He did not chase anyone down because of how they looked, or were dressed. Had their been two additional clones of Trayvon Martin fighting George Zimmerman, there would have been little ambiguity in the shooting of Trayvon Martin. But in&#160;no ways&#160;were these two cases similar, except in the fact that a young person was shot and killed.</p>
<p>SPREAD THE WORD! Racists are doing everything they can to convince others and themselves that their bigotry and hatred towards Trayvon Martin is anything but racism that they dare not even admit to themselves. They’re going to have to go back to square one and look for a new poster child for their cause of supporting Zimmerman’s vigilantism. They will not find it in the case of&#160;Roderick Scott.</p>
<p>READ MORE &gt;&gt;</p> | true | 4 | since george zimmerman verdict little week ago many white america struggling come explanation acquittal killing unarmed 17 year old trayvon martin was160not160racist recently many racists denial seem believe found parallel example african american version george zimmerman roderick scott acquitted killing 17yearold white teen christopher cervini new internet sensation caucasian innately supports zimmerman verdict somehow convinced racial reasons ow similar case george zimmermantrayvon martin case photo greece new york police mug shot roderick scott african american man shot killed christopher cervini 17yearold white youth 2009 scott faced charge firstdegree manslaughter claimed shot teen self defense scott subsequently acquitted happened new york state even back much tougher gun self defense laws state florida legal similarities differences case trayvon martingeorge zimmerman case see start finish cases worlds apart early morning hours april 4 2009 42yearold roderick scott asleep couch greece new york home outside rochester awakened noise outside scott looked window saw three teens attempting break car grabbed gun legal permit put waistband told girlfriend call 911 going outside scott went confronted youths going neighbors car according scott told stop wait police incident ended scott fired two shots christopher cervini killing according 15yearold james cervini one three christophers cousin scott shot christopher teen yelled please dont shoot im kid scott testified defense said fired christopher came running threatening manner scotts attorney james parrinello argued likely christopher went scott give james chance get away james already bound two probation orders consequences charged breaking cars would serious scott must remember property defending property originally three individuals one actively engaged undisputed criminal behavior unlike george zimmerman scott immediately arrested shooting charged murder grand jury later reduced charge firstdegree manslaughter jury deliberated 19 hours rendering verdict guilty december 18 2009 never heard story scott arrested essentially prove innocence come expect corrupt socalled justice system section 12520 new york penal law firstdegree manslaughter defined person intends cause serious physical injury another person causes death person third party firstdegree manslaughter also applies cases would otherwise constitute murder defendant time act committed suffered extreme emotional disturbance clear time scott fired two shots cervini intended cause serious physical injury cervini would convicted manslaughter unless killing justified new york law deadly physical force defined use force reasonably expected cause death serious physical injury section 3515 new york penal law deadly physical force justified person uses reasonable belief person using use deadly physical force new york use deadly physical force justified defendant dwelling opportunity safely retreat situation new york penal law similar law florida terms onus proof defendant need prove killing justified jury must acquit unless satisfied beyond reasonable doubt killing was160not160justified killing however proven justified immediate major differences preponderance individuals involved nature undisputed criminal behavior outnumber individuals fact occurred scotts home chase anyone looked dressed two additional clones trayvon martin fighting george zimmerman would little ambiguity shooting trayvon martin in160no ways160were two cases similar except fact young person shot killed spread word racists everything convince others bigotry hatred towards trayvon martin anything racism dare even admit theyre going go back square one look new poster child cause supporting zimmermans vigilantism find case of160roderick scott read gtgt | 514 |
<p>For more than a century Canadian have gone abroad to do “good” in poorer parts of the world. Whether they spurred positive change or simply became foreign agents should be of interest to international non-governmental organizations. Last week the Globe and Mail reported on the Canadians Christians who set off to proselytize in China in 1891. Focused on their medical achievements, the laudatory story hinted at a darker side of their work. It quoted a missionary who was “critical of the lifestyle most of the missionaries led, with their large houses, many servants and imported comforts which contrasted with the far lower standard of living of their Chinese fellow Christians.”</p>
<p>Of more consequence than their opulence, Canadian missionaries aggressively supported colonial officials, as I discovered researching Canada in Africa: 300 years of aid and exploitation. By the end of the colonial period 2,500 Canadian missionaries were proselytizing in Africa and Canadian churches raised large sums to support mission stations across the continent.</p>
<p>Four Québec Jesuit fathers left for the Zambesi Mission in southern Africa in 1883. Alphonse Daignault rose through the ranks of the Catholic male congregation to become Prefect Apostolic of Northern Rhodesia (Zambia). Then Superior of the Jesuits’ Zambezi Mission, Daignault backed the British South Africa Company’s invasion of Mashonaland (Zimbabwe) in 1890. With their evangelizing shunned by the Ndebele people, the Jesuits and other foreign missionaries supported the “destruction of [the] Ndebele system.”</p>
<p>Granted a charter from London in 1889, Cecil Rhodes’ British South Africa Company offered white men in Kimberley, South Africa, 3,000 acres of land and mining rights if they joined the Company’s fight to conquer part of today’s Zimbabwe. Daignault offered the invading force chaplaincy services, mobile ambulances and nurses. The British South Africa Company paid the Jesuit nurses’ costs and compensated Daignault’s mission with conquered territory, including a major piece of land on the outskirts of today’s Harare. In A History of Christian Missions in Zimbabwe C. J. M. Zvobgo writes that the Harare “farm which consisted of 12,000 acres, beautifully surrounded by hills, was given to the Jesuits by the BSA Company in recognition of FR Alphonse Daignault’s service to the [Company’s] sick.”</p>
<p>The Québec Jesuit leader worked with Rhodes and British officials for years. He also supported the colonial authorities efforts to drive Africans from their traditional economies into wage work. Reflecting the settler community’s attitude in 1897, Daignault told the deputy administrator of the city of Bulawayo in 1897 that the “natives of this country… are but grown-up children” prone to “idleness”. “Men in authority who have the true interests of the natives at heart ought to treat the natives not only as children but are also to do all they can to make them acquire habits of work. As this cannot be obtained by mere moral persuasion, authority must necessarily be used.”</p>
<p>To the north, dozens of Canadian missionaries helped the colonial authority penetrate Ugandan societies in the early 1900s. The preeminent figure was John Forbes who was a bishop and coadjutor vicar apostolic, making him second in charge of over 30 mission posts in Uganda. A 1929 biography of the founder of the White Father in Canada describes his “good relations” with British colonial authorities and the “important services Forbes rendered the authorities of the Protectorate.”</p>
<p>In 1918 Forbes participated in a major conference in the colony, organized by Governor Robert Coryndon in the hopes of spurring indigenous wage work. The Vaudreuil, Québec, native wrote home that “it’s a big question. The European planters in our area, who cultivate coffee, cotton and rubber need workers for their exploitation. But the workforce is rare. Our Negroes are happy to eat bananas and with a few bits of cotton or bark for clothes, are not excited to put themselves at the service of the planters and work all day for a meager salary.” British officials subsidized the White Fathers schools as part of a bid to expand the indigenous workforce.</p>
<p>During World War I, Canadian White Fathers Ernest Paradis and Wilfred Sarrazin helped Brigadier General Edward Northey conquer German East Africa. Serving as civilian transport officers, Paradis and Sarrazin focused on organizing African carriers, who were generally press ganged into service. Paradis became Senior Transport Officer for all British forces east of Nyasaland and North of Zambesi in today’s Malawi and Zimbabwe.</p>
<p>By volunteering to join the war, the White Fathers sought “respectability … in the eyes of planters and government officials.” Afterwards, Paradis used his heightened status to gain the colonial administration’s support for the White Fathers’ educational work.</p>
<p>Paradis evangelised in Malawi for several decades. He led the White Fathers campaign to supress “the Nyau”, a religious belief among the Chewa and Nyanja people that included elaborate dances. In May 1929 Paradis wrote an East Africa article titled Devil Dancers of Terror that claimed Nyau dances were seditious.</p>
<p>Another Canadian missionary engaged in the White Fathers’ efforts to outlaw Nyau customs in Nyasaland. Father Superior David Roy called on colonial officials to criminalize their dances and in 1928 Christians in the Likuni district, which he oversaw, killed two Nyau.</p>
<p>Thomas Buchanan Reginald Westgate was a Canadian missionary who joined the Church Missionary Society in German East Africa in 1902. With the support of the Ontario branch of the Church Mission Society, Westgate remained in Tanzania for over a decade. The Watford, Ontario, born missionary translated parts of the Old Testament into Cigogo, the language spoken by the Gogo nation in the central region of the colony.</p>
<p>Westgate worked with the colonial administration. His son, Wilfrid Westgate, authored a book about his father’s life titled T. B. R. Westgate: A Canadian Missionary on Three Continents. In the biography, Westgate writes: “Governor [Heinrich] Schnee looked upon the mission as an asset to this part of the German colonial empire.” German soldiers protected the Canadian’s mission post when the population rose up in 1905 against the colonial authority. Dissent was sparked by measures to force Africans to grow cotton for export, and an uprising known as the Maji Maji rebellion swept across the vast colony. It lasted two years. During the rebellion, Westgate coordinated with German Captain von Hirsch. Westgate’s wife, Rita, later wrote, “at times we feared the Germans could not suppress the rising.” The Germans succeeded, however, and the Westgate’s fears did not come to pass. In The Specter of Genocide: Mass Murder in Historical Perspective, Isabel Hull writes that 15 Europeans and 389 allied African soldiers were killed by the rebels. By contrast, writes Hull, whole areas of the colony were depopulated with 200,000 to 300,000 Tanzanians killed between 1905 and 1907.</p>
<p>Another Ontario native by the name of Marion Wittich (later Marion Keller) felt called to missionary work while working as an Anglican schoolteacher in Parry Sound, Ontario. She set off with her husband to proselytize in Tanzania in 1913. Her husband died in Tanzania and several years later she remarried a man by the name of Otto Keller, a German born US émigré, who the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada sponsored to set up a mission station in western Kenya. In 1914 Otto Keller claimed that “here [Africa] we see the power of the devil in an astonishing form, almost beyond belief. The noise of drunken men and women, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh come to our ears. All seemingly bound and determined to fulfill the cup of their iniquity.” By the time Marion Keller died in 1942, the socially conservative Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada had over 200 branch churches in Kenya.</p>
<p>An official history of the Canadian church attacked the anticolonial movement in Kenya as “a resurgence of primitive animism.” Published in 1958, What God Hath Wrought: A History of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada notes: “Unfortunately, sinister forces were bidding high for the souls of Kenya’s millions. In the 1950s there was to be a resurgence of primitive heathenism which had as its aim the expulsion of the white man from Kenya and the extinction of everything Christian in their land. This was the Mau Mau uprising.” In putting down the uprising the British killed tens of thousands.</p>
<p>In 1893 Torontonians Walter Gowans and Rowland Victor Bingham founded what later became the largest interdenominational Protestant mission on the continent: the Sudan Interior Mission (Though SIM initially focused on modern- day Nigeria, at the time “Sudan” generally referred to the area south of the Sahara and North of the equator from the east to west coast of the continent.) Head of SIM for four decades, Bingham described “facing millions of people in the darkness of their heathenism” and “seeing the people in all their savagery and sin.”</p>
<p>In the 1950s SIM described growing Nigerian nationalism as “dark and threatening”. Adeleye Liagbemi writes that “the nationalist upsurge of the post Second World War era engendered a new spirit of independence and experimentation; positive, forward-looking, purposeful and militant. The situation sent chills down the spines of some Christian missionary organizations in the country — including the S.I.M.” In response SIM ramped up its literature output, deciding to “take the offensive out of Satan’s hands”, which it felt had “been winning the war of words among the new literates” of Africa. Official Canada generally supported these Christian activists. Missionary leaders were well-regarded and received sympathetic media coverage. Leading business people financed mission work and Ottawa sometimes looked to missionaries for advice.</p>
<p>Most of the Canadians who proselytized in Africa were “good Christians” who saw themselves as helping to “civilize the dark continent”. While formal colonialism is over and paternalism has been tempered, Canadians supportive of international NGOs should reflect on missionary history.</p> | true | 4 | century canadian gone abroad good poorer parts world whether spurred positive change simply became foreign agents interest international nongovernmental organizations last week globe mail reported canadians christians set proselytize china 1891 focused medical achievements laudatory story hinted darker side work quoted missionary critical lifestyle missionaries led large houses many servants imported comforts contrasted far lower standard living chinese fellow christians consequence opulence canadian missionaries aggressively supported colonial officials discovered researching canada africa 300 years aid exploitation end colonial period 2500 canadian missionaries proselytizing africa canadian churches raised large sums support mission stations across continent four québec jesuit fathers left zambesi mission southern africa 1883 alphonse daignault rose ranks catholic male congregation become prefect apostolic northern rhodesia zambia superior jesuits zambezi mission daignault backed british south africa companys invasion mashonaland zimbabwe 1890 evangelizing shunned ndebele people jesuits foreign missionaries supported destruction ndebele system granted charter london 1889 cecil rhodes british south africa company offered white men kimberley south africa 3000 acres land mining rights joined companys fight conquer part todays zimbabwe daignault offered invading force chaplaincy services mobile ambulances nurses british south africa company paid jesuit nurses costs compensated daignaults mission conquered territory including major piece land outskirts todays harare history christian missions zimbabwe c j zvobgo writes harare farm consisted 12000 acres beautifully surrounded hills given jesuits bsa company recognition fr alphonse daignaults service companys sick québec jesuit leader worked rhodes british officials years also supported colonial authorities efforts drive africans traditional economies wage work reflecting settler communitys attitude 1897 daignault told deputy administrator city bulawayo 1897 natives country grownup children prone idleness men authority true interests natives heart ought treat natives children also make acquire habits work obtained mere moral persuasion authority must necessarily used north dozens canadian missionaries helped colonial authority penetrate ugandan societies early 1900s preeminent figure john forbes bishop coadjutor vicar apostolic making second charge 30 mission posts uganda 1929 biography founder white father canada describes good relations british colonial authorities important services forbes rendered authorities protectorate 1918 forbes participated major conference colony organized governor robert coryndon hopes spurring indigenous wage work vaudreuil québec native wrote home big question european planters area cultivate coffee cotton rubber need workers exploitation workforce rare negroes happy eat bananas bits cotton bark clothes excited put service planters work day meager salary british officials subsidized white fathers schools part bid expand indigenous workforce world war canadian white fathers ernest paradis wilfred sarrazin helped brigadier general edward northey conquer german east africa serving civilian transport officers paradis sarrazin focused organizing african carriers generally press ganged service paradis became senior transport officer british forces east nyasaland north zambesi todays malawi zimbabwe volunteering join war white fathers sought respectability eyes planters government officials afterwards paradis used heightened status gain colonial administrations support white fathers educational work paradis evangelised malawi several decades led white fathers campaign supress nyau religious belief among chewa nyanja people included elaborate dances may 1929 paradis wrote east africa article titled devil dancers terror claimed nyau dances seditious another canadian missionary engaged white fathers efforts outlaw nyau customs nyasaland father superior david roy called colonial officials criminalize dances 1928 christians likuni district oversaw killed two nyau thomas buchanan reginald westgate canadian missionary joined church missionary society german east africa 1902 support ontario branch church mission society westgate remained tanzania decade watford ontario born missionary translated parts old testament cigogo language spoken gogo nation central region colony westgate worked colonial administration son wilfrid westgate authored book fathers life titled b r westgate canadian missionary three continents biography westgate writes governor heinrich schnee looked upon mission asset part german colonial empire german soldiers protected canadians mission post population rose 1905 colonial authority dissent sparked measures force africans grow cotton export uprising known maji maji rebellion swept across vast colony lasted two years rebellion westgate coordinated german captain von hirsch westgates wife rita later wrote times feared germans could suppress rising germans succeeded however westgates fears come pass specter genocide mass murder historical perspective isabel hull writes 15 europeans 389 allied african soldiers killed rebels contrast writes hull whole areas colony depopulated 200000 300000 tanzanians killed 1905 1907 another ontario native name marion wittich later marion keller felt called missionary work working anglican schoolteacher parry sound ontario set husband proselytize tanzania 1913 husband died tanzania several years later remarried man name otto keller german born us émigré pentecostal assemblies canada sponsored set mission station western kenya 1914 otto keller claimed africa see power devil astonishing form almost beyond belief noise drunken men women fulfilling lusts flesh come ears seemingly bound determined fulfill cup iniquity time marion keller died 1942 socially conservative pentecostal assemblies canada 200 branch churches kenya official history canadian church attacked anticolonial movement kenya resurgence primitive animism published 1958 god hath wrought history pentecostal assemblies canada notes unfortunately sinister forces bidding high souls kenyas millions 1950s resurgence primitive heathenism aim expulsion white man kenya extinction everything christian land mau mau uprising putting uprising british killed tens thousands 1893 torontonians walter gowans rowland victor bingham founded later became largest interdenominational protestant mission continent sudan interior mission though sim initially focused modern day nigeria time sudan generally referred area south sahara north equator east west coast continent head sim four decades bingham described facing millions people darkness heathenism seeing people savagery sin 1950s sim described growing nigerian nationalism dark threatening adeleye liagbemi writes nationalist upsurge post second world war era engendered new spirit independence experimentation positive forwardlooking purposeful militant situation sent chills spines christian missionary organizations country including sim response sim ramped literature output deciding take offensive satans hands felt winning war words among new literates africa official canada generally supported christian activists missionary leaders wellregarded received sympathetic media coverage leading business people financed mission work ottawa sometimes looked missionaries advice canadians proselytized africa good christians saw helping civilize dark continent formal colonialism paternalism tempered canadians supportive international ngos reflect missionary history | 978 |
<p>Gordon Laxer is the founding Director and former head of Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Parkland is a non-corporate, research institute that does public policy research to serve the public interest. The Globe and Mail called it Alberta's 'unofficial opposition'.</p>
<p>Gordon is a Political Economist and professor emeritus at the University of Alberta. He is the author or editor of five books, including Open for Business: The Roots of Foreign Ownership in Canada (Oxford Univ Press), which received the John Porter Award for best book written about Canada. He has published over 40 journal articles and refereed book chapters and reports.</p>
<p>Gordon was the Principal Investigator of a $1.9 million research project: Neoliberal Globalism and its Challengers: Reclaiming the Commons in the Semi-periphery (2000-2006).</p>
<p>Gordon is a socially-engaged, public intellectual. His op eds have been published in the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, the Edmonton Journal, the Calgary Herald, the Montreal Gazette, the Hill Times, the Saint John Chronicle Herald, the St. John's Telegram, Canadian Dimension, and other publications. He has been interviewed a number of times on venues such as the CBC's The Current, As it Happens, and the House. He served on the board of the Council of Canadians from 2004 to 2009.</p>
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<p /> SHARMINI PERIES, EXEC. PRODUCER, TRNN: Welcome to The Real News Network. I'm Sharmini Peries coming to you from Baltimore.
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<p />Ending more than four decades of Progressive Conservative domination of Alberta amounting to twelve consecutive majority governments and after 43 years in power in the Canadian oil province of Alberta, the New Democratic Party swept into power with a clear majority, electing Rachel Notley as the premier.
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<p />The NDP secured 53 of the 87 ridings. Here is Rachel Notley at her victory speech.
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<p />ALBERTA PREMIER-ELECT RACHEL NOTLEY, NDP LEADER: Friends, I believe that change has finally come to Alberta.
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<p />PERIES: With us to help unpack this election and what it means to Albertans and Canadians is Gordon Laxer. He is founding director and former head of Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta in Edmonton.
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<p />Thank you so much for joining us, Gordon.
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<p />GORDON LAXER, DIR. PARKLAND INSTITUTE, UNIV. OF ALBERTA: Very nice to be here.
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<p />PERIES: So Gordon, with a substantial majority as the NDP has elected 53 of the 87 ridings, give us a sense of what were some of the issues that swung the vote left.
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<p />LAXER: Well, people were finally getting tired of the Progressive Conservative party. They've run this province for 43 years. They were showing a real sense of entitlement, that they kind of owned the province, and just took it for granted, and were--there was a lot of cronyism going on.
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<p />Really, this election happened in two stages. Three years ago there was a provincial election and a new party, the Wildrose party, rose and took half the conservative base. It was a kind of Tea Party-like party that didn't like the mainstream Progressive Conservative party. It was a bit like the Tea Party versus the more established Republican party. And so they siphoned off half the vote, and the Progressive Conservatives in the last election only won when people in the center and even the center-left move over to the Conservatives because they were so scared about Wildrose getting elected. And then as soon as the Conservatives got elected they brought in the Wildrose party-lite. So they brought in austerity, and the people who had voted, the progressive people who had swung over to the Conservatives were miffed at that.
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<p />So the progressive--the Conservatives lost votes to the right with the Wildrose, and then the left progressive party people all coalesced behind the NDP. And that hadn't happened before, because there were several parties in the center and the left. The Liberal party, the New Democrats, the Alberta Party. But everything coalesced around Rachel Notley and the New Democrats. So with 40 percent of the vote and the right-wing votes split, they were able to win. And people, eighty percent of people said they wanted to change the government, they were really tired of the Conservatives.
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<p />And they, it was also a vote against austerity, against--it was a vote for the environment, for recognition of First Nations people, of the need for healthcare spending and education, and school lunches for kids, and that kind of thing.
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<p />PERIES: Now this is a party, the Progressive Conservative party, in a province that is the oil-producing province. A large portion of the Canadian gross national product is dependent on this province. Now, they've lost. Now, what does this mean in terms of the NDP's party platform and what they were talking about in terms of the oil sands and in terms of the oil industry? The world's gaze is on Canada right now because of this election, mainly due to the implications on oil production. How is all this going to play out in Alberta with the NDP?
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<p />LAXER: Well Alberta produces about 80 percent of the oil in Canada, and it's especially in the tar sands, the oil sands, where production is increasing and that's where the exports are coming from. Also natural gas. And as Alberta is the energy province, and it--Alberta in many ways and the oil industry has been running Canada. The Harper government is very, is based in Alberta. Harper himself is from Calgary in Alberta. And they elected in the last election all but one member from Alberta. So this is really an earthquake in Canadian politics.
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<p />What this is going to mean for--I just call them the sands, not even the tar sands or the oil sands. The New Democrats have to, are treading quite carefully on that. I mean, they have much more progressive policy on issues such as raising corporate taxes, having royalty review, raising taxes on the high-income people and keeping, putting money into education and healthcare. They're much more cautious on oil policy.
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<p />So the province takes a really pathetic level of royalties. It's nothing like Norway does. And Rachel Notley has called for a review of that, which gives her, so there will be a committee or a commission will study that, and then her government will have a chance to then decide on--she didn't say she would raise royalties, but it gives a hint of that. And she wants to make it much more environmental. She mentioned that Alberta has a black eye in the world in terms of the environment. But I don't see a New Democrat government phasing out the sands like I think should happen, because I don't think the sands can be greened.
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<p />So the Premier-Elect Rachel Notley has said she will not go to Washington to push for the Keystone XL pipeline, that that is something that is an internal American decision. And so she won't push on that. There's also talk about a pipeline going to the West Coast in British Columbia. And she thinks that that is the gateway, Northern Gateway pipeline, that that is not going to happen because there's so much opposition to it, and she's not going to push on that. But she's open to other pipelines.
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<p />So they're treading quite cautiously on the oil issue.
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<p />PERIES: And lastly, Gordon, let's talk about what this means in terms of the upcoming elections in Canada in terms of the federal elections, and what impact this will have on the Conservatives and the Harper Government.
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<p />LAXER: Well, because this has been the bastion of the Conservative party federally, so of Mr. Harper, this is a real blow to the Progressive Conservatives. No one thought that in their base, that they could lose it. So it's going to give a real boost to the federal New Democrats, whose strongest base now is in Quebec.
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<p />I see this, you know, this is a victory for the 99 percent. It isn't often that the 99 percent come out and actually defeat the 1 percent and that big oil got defeated, and that really boosts people's morale. Young voters came out, and I think that they're going to come out in larger numbers because they see that change can happen. And that can only help the federal New Democrats gain in popularity.
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<p />PERIES: So Gordon, I understand Rachel was one of your students. Tell us more about how she was as a student.
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<p />LAXER: Well, I met her in 1986 when she was 22 years old. She was in a class of mine, and very impressive at that point. And I've maintained contact with her since. She is just a natural born leader. And I am so proud of her. I worked with her dad even a few years before that, who was the sole member of the New Democrats in the legislature out of 80 members. And he was very impressive. And earned great respect. And his daughter is doing as well or even better. So I have a strong personal connection with Rachel and with her father.
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<p />PERIES: Gordon, we'll be back to you very soon to see how all of this is going to play out once the NDP takes power. Thank you so much for joining us today.
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<p />LAXER: Great to talk to you.
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<p />PERIES: And thank you for joining us on The Real News Network.
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<p />End
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | gordon laxer founding director former head parkland institute university alberta edmonton parkland noncorporate research institute public policy research serve public interest globe mail called albertas unofficial opposition gordon political economist professor emeritus university alberta author editor five books including open business roots foreign ownership canada oxford univ press received john porter award best book written canada published 40 journal articles refereed book chapters reports gordon principal investigator 19 million research project neoliberal globalism challengers reclaiming commons semiperiphery 20002006 gordon sociallyengaged public intellectual op eds published globe mail toronto star edmonton journal calgary herald montreal gazette hill times saint john chronicle herald st johns telegram canadian dimension publications interviewed number times venues cbcs current happens house served board council canadians 2004 2009 sharmini peries exec producer trnn welcome real news network im sharmini peries coming baltimore ending four decades progressive conservative domination alberta amounting twelve consecutive majority governments 43 years power canadian oil province alberta new democratic party swept power clear majority electing rachel notley premier ndp secured 53 87 ridings rachel notley victory speech alberta premierelect rachel notley ndp leader friends believe change finally come alberta peries us help unpack election means albertans canadians gordon laxer founding director former head parkland institute university alberta edmonton thank much joining us gordon gordon laxer dir parkland institute univ alberta nice peries gordon substantial majority ndp elected 53 87 ridings give us sense issues swung vote left laxer well people finally getting tired progressive conservative party theyve run province 43 years showing real sense entitlement kind owned province took granted werethere lot cronyism going really election happened two stages three years ago provincial election new party wildrose party rose took half conservative base kind tea partylike party didnt like mainstream progressive conservative party bit like tea party versus established republican party siphoned half vote progressive conservatives last election people center even centerleft move conservatives scared wildrose getting elected soon conservatives got elected brought wildrose partylite brought austerity people voted progressive people swung conservatives miffed progressivethe conservatives lost votes right wildrose left progressive party people coalesced behind ndp hadnt happened several parties center left liberal party new democrats alberta party everything coalesced around rachel notley new democrats 40 percent vote rightwing votes split able win people eighty percent people said wanted change government really tired conservatives also vote austerity againstit vote environment recognition first nations people need healthcare spending education school lunches kids kind thing peries party progressive conservative party province oilproducing province large portion canadian gross national product dependent province theyve lost mean terms ndps party platform talking terms oil sands terms oil industry worlds gaze canada right election mainly due implications oil production going play alberta ndp laxer well alberta produces 80 percent oil canada especially tar sands oil sands production increasing thats exports coming also natural gas alberta energy province italberta many ways oil industry running canada harper government based alberta harper calgary alberta elected last election one member alberta really earthquake canadian politics going mean fori call sands even tar sands oil sands new democrats treading quite carefully mean much progressive policy issues raising corporate taxes royalty review raising taxes highincome people keeping putting money education healthcare theyre much cautious oil policy province takes really pathetic level royalties nothing like norway rachel notley called review gives committee commission study government chance decide onshe didnt say would raise royalties gives hint wants make much environmental mentioned alberta black eye world terms environment dont see new democrat government phasing sands like think happen dont think sands greened premierelect rachel notley said go washington push keystone xl pipeline something internal american decision wont push theres also talk pipeline going west coast british columbia thinks gateway northern gateway pipeline going happen theres much opposition shes going push shes open pipelines theyre treading quite cautiously oil issue peries lastly gordon lets talk means terms upcoming elections canada terms federal elections impact conservatives harper government laxer well bastion conservative party federally mr harper real blow progressive conservatives one thought base could lose going give real boost federal new democrats whose strongest base quebec see know victory 99 percent isnt often 99 percent come actually defeat 1 percent big oil got defeated really boosts peoples morale young voters came think theyre going come larger numbers see change happen help federal new democrats gain popularity peries gordon understand rachel one students tell us student laxer well met 1986 22 years old class mine impressive point ive maintained contact since natural born leader proud worked dad even years sole member new democrats legislature 80 members impressive earned great respect daughter well even better strong personal connection rachel father peries gordon well back soon see going play ndp takes power thank much joining us today laxer great talk peries thank joining us real news network end disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 810 |
<p>The two babies lay nearly side by side in the incubator. One had eyes open, the other shut. It’s against medical standards to put more than one child in an incubator, but with only six working incubators in the hospital in Jenin they had to double up. Jenin Hospital, in the north of the West Bank, is the only hospital in the Jenin Governate. It serves 350,00 people with 123 beds.</p>
<p>At the moment the hospital has no working ambulance. At one time it had three. Two were destroyed by Israeli missiles during this uprising. In one the doctor inside, Khalil Sulaiman, was martyred. The last working one suffered a car accident last week and it will take another week to repair it.</p>
<p>The wards were crowded. In the pediatric wing each small room had three beds and not much medical equipment. There is no air conditioning though temperatures in summer are at least in the 80’s. Hospital officials said the hospital was getting aid from Europe, but it’s been cut off.</p>
<p>This is just one of many outrages. Conditions for Palestinians are deplorable all across the apartheid state, from the 130,000 living as Israeli citizens in “unrecognized” villages, to the thousands living in Israel or the West Bank in homes slated for demolition, to the people living in Jerusalem “suburbs” who never have their garbage picked up, to families who are cut off from relatives by the Apartheid Wall, to the people in the richest Arab towns closing up their businesses because of Palestinians can’t travel and buy goods, to families living in the H2 section of Hebron who are seeing their homes taken over by religious fanatics.</p>
<p>I’ve been here for nearly two weeks. Coming in was a breeze for me, a Jew in his late 50’s. (see how a young American Palestinian was harassed at <a href="http://www.imemc.org/article/49636" type="external">http://www.imemc.org/article/49636</a>) Traveling around Israel (as defined by the now non-existent 1967 borders) I saw no evidence of a country girded for battle. (Admittedly I haven’t been to Sderot where the Qassem rockets strike.). I thought I’d see tons of soldiers on duty but the only ones I saw were buying refreshments, shopping or being revved up about the holocaust at Vad Yashem. Michael Warshawsky, veteran Israeli peace activist, says I’m not wrong. News about Palestinians is not page one, he says, but page four.</p>
<p>On the West Bank things are different. There are checkpoints all over with soldiers carrying large deadly looking weapons. People say the checkpoints have been easier this summer. It’s part of the “Make Nice with Abbas” strategy that’s no being pursued by Israelis and the US. After years of ignoring the Palestinian President the takeover of Gaza by Hamas has forced a change in strategy. One month of the millions in Palestinian tax money that the Israeli s have been withholding has been “generously” given to the Palestine Authority</p>
<p>Things are not that nice in the West Bank. Israeli soldiers stage constant raids. The night before we went to Jenin they captured a resident. People in Nablus say there’s a raid every day. A few nights night ago six Palestinians were killed, including three by missiles in Gaza. One man supposedly attacked soldiers at a Bethlehem checkpoint. He was hit by gun butts and then shot to death.</p>
<p>The Qalandia Superhighway</p>
<p>It should take 30 minutes to go from Bethlehem to Ramallah. The would be the case if a West Bank Palestinian could travel through Jerusalem, but that has been banned for some seven years. So the trip takes at least 75 minutes (provided there are no delays at checkpoints) because the Israelis allow only one route, and what a route it is. Near the Wadi Nahr (Valley of Fire) you descend some 500 feet in a few minutes through a series of hairpin turns at 35 degrees. It’s the only road so the two lane highway is shared with every kind of vehicle including huge trucks. In winter it’s extremely dangerous. Once through this gauntlet you reach the “Container Checkpoint”. The times I traveled it the soldiers merely check passports and hawiahs (the Palestinian travel document which shows where Israelis will allow you to travel). In worse periods Palestinians have been forced to take everything in their luggage and put it on the side of the road. There were times I was told that the men were forced to strip naked.</p>
<p>After a while the road becomes first class because it’s a shared road, shared with Israeli settlers. Then the Palestinian journey to Ramallah goes by the Qalandia refugee camp. Think of the worst road you’ve ever been on, bumps, potholes, ruts, gouges. For 20 years nothing had been fixed because the Israeli army won’t allow it. When asked Palestinians are told it’s a matter of “security” and that’s the end of the matter. Only a few months ago was the PA given permission to start some work.</p>
<p>This route is going to be changed soon. It is intolerable that settlers have to share a road with Palestinians (“security”) so a 2 1/2 mile tunnel is being built for Palestinians to keep them separate. Cars will still have to pass the Wadi Nahr and the rest, but the joint road will be a thing of the past.</p>
<p>The Veils of Apartheid</p>
<p>I met with Uri Davis in Jerusalem. He’s an Israeli, one of a handful who lives in Palestinian communities. He has maintained for decades that Israel is an apartheid society. He says, however, there’s a major difference from the old South Africa. Under South African apartheid a visitor would immediately see signs for Africans, whites and coloreds. In Israel it’s much more veiled. For instance take land. By and large land in Israel is controlled by the state and is not owned by individuals. Jews are granted long term leases to land, but through a maze of laws and bureaucracy Arab Israeli citizens can’t lease it. Well that’s an exaggeration. In the last ten years and after a Supreme Court decision two Arab families were able to build on “Jewish” land. Davis estimates that about 2.5% of Israeli land is can be owned or leased by its Arab citizens.</p>
<p>Another aspect of the apartheid is “unrecognized villages”. In 1947-1948 thousands of the Palestinians expelled from their towns and villages fled to rural areas that were still in Israel. The government dreamed up a delightful category for them, “present absentees” and took all their land and bank accounts. 130,000 of their descendants live in villages that the Israeli government will not recognize. These are all Israeli citizens, but they live in towns without services, no water and no electricity. I v isited one of them, En Hud. The tourists books list an Ein Hod, a delightful village with an artist colony and all the latest works of art. But Ein Hod was a Palestinian village until 1948 when its people were driven out at gunpoint. They fled up the road a mile or so and set up a new village on land some of them owned. The bus that took us to En Hud, barely made it. The road went through steep turns. Asphalt changed into god know what and five feet to the right was a drop to oblivion. Finally we came to a tiny village of 250 people (including “The House”, an outstanding restaurant) that has made a 50 year partially successful fight to gain official recognition and services.</p>
<p>“How are the Anti-Semites Doing Today?”</p>
<p>Hebron, the city of the Tomb of Abraham is deep in the West Bank. It’s a city of 120,000 Palestinians. The Tomb is holy both to Jews and Moslem. In 1929 there was a massacre of 67 Jews in the city. In the 1970’s Jewish settlers decided to make Hebron a Jewish city. Today some 400 settlers live in Hebron under the army protection as they pursue their brutal project.</p>
<p>Because of a dreadful agreement between Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat at the Israeli government Hebron was divided into two parts H1 and H2. H1 is all Palestinian and is under the Palestinian Authority. H2 is about a quarter of the whole city and is home to Jewish settlements at war with their Palestinian neighbors.</p>
<p>Our hosts in Hebron H2 were members of the Christian Peacemaker team. In Hebron they are a handful of super brave people who try to observe what’s happening to Palestinians and to escort Palestinians to prevent the frequent attacks on them by settlers. Lorin Peters of CPT guided myself and another American through the streets of the Old City of Hebron (think Old City of Jerusalem, but half deserted). There were several military checkpoints, the most serious being in front of the Abraham’s Tomb/Ibrahimi Mosque. Lorin says Palestinian youth and men are routinely detaine d at the checkpoint for minutes or hours. We came through without incident. Two Palestinian stores were open with settlers freely buying items giving the lie to their myth that no one can live with the “bloodthirsty Arabs”.</p>
<p>We took a walk through several blocks that had once held Arab shops which were now all closed. Each building was alike, a concrete rectangle with a large folding metal doors in front. Each door was decorated with a six pointed Jewish star. The settlers have desecrated the Jewish star, making the holy symbol into a graffitti of fear, much like a swastika.</p>
<p>The main street of H2, Al Shohada street, was pretty well deserted. After a huge legal struggle one Arab family was able to move back into an apartment above a shop and we could see items left out to dry. They don’t dare to walk on the street without CPT escort. We passed a young settler and Lorin said, “Shalom”. The answer was, “And how are the anti-Semites doing today?” We walked on. It was just a tiny blip on the scale of provocations and assaults. Their “international ” status doesn’t given CPT much protection. Lorin mentioned that many times he has been stoned by settler children. He remarked that the boys were getting older, the stones were getting bigger and the soldiers were making even less of an effort to protect CPT or Palestinians.</p>
<p>Settler efforts to take over H2 are working. The population of the Old City in H2 is down from 10,000 to 1,000. Fencing has been installed over the alleys of the Old City to deal with the rain of trash and offal that settlers throw at the people from their settlements built on top of Palestinian buildings.</p>
<p>By chance we had gone to Hebron on Tish B’av a Jewish fast day to remember the destructions of the Temples in Jerusalem. The Lamentations of the prophet Jerimiah are read on that day. It begins with this quote, “O how has the city that was once so populous remained lonely! She has become like a widow! She that was great among the nations, a princess among the provinces, has become tributary.” Perhaps Hebron was not once great, but H2 is fast becoming emptied of its native population.</p>
<p>The Wall</p>
<p>Palestinian removal is a goal sought everywhere from the Jordan to the Mediterranean by Israel’s apartheid government. What it can’t empty right away it surrounds and walls in. The Apartheid Wall is everywhere in the West Bank, supremely ugly and gobbling up thousands of acres of land. When you walk through the Bethlehem checkpoint to Jerusalem upon the wall you see a huge banner with a cheerful slogan “Peace be Upon You”. As they say it gives hypocrisy a bad name.</p>
<p>After leaving Jenin a few of us went east to the northeast corner of the West Bank to the place where the Wall first was started. There it divides a small town from relations in the city of Um El Fahm. It also divides farmers from their fields. After a big court fight the Israeli justices allow a few family members to care for and harvest crops without any machinery. It’s not possible to care for the land this way. In a few years it will be classified unused and confiscated.</p>
<p>One last bit of cruelty connected with the wall. We were interviewing one man who told us that the soldiers demanded they dig up the village graveyard and move the bodies because the graves were “too near the wall”. They could do nothing to stop the order so they dug up the bodies.</p>
<p>As we were concluding the interview an army jeep spotted us from about a football field away and with a bullhorn demanded we move. Evidently six people standing in a driveway were a security problem. We drove away.</p>
<p>STANLEY HELLER is Chairperson of the <a href="http://www.TheStruggle.org" type="external">Middle East Crisis Committee</a>. He can be reached at: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | two babies lay nearly side side incubator one eyes open shut medical standards put one child incubator six working incubators hospital jenin double jenin hospital north west bank hospital jenin governate serves 35000 people 123 beds moment hospital working ambulance one time three two destroyed israeli missiles uprising one doctor inside khalil sulaiman martyred last working one suffered car accident last week take another week repair wards crowded pediatric wing small room three beds much medical equipment air conditioning though temperatures summer least 80s hospital officials said hospital getting aid europe cut one many outrages conditions palestinians deplorable across apartheid state 130000 living israeli citizens unrecognized villages thousands living israel west bank homes slated demolition people living jerusalem suburbs never garbage picked families cut relatives apartheid wall people richest arab towns closing businesses palestinians cant travel buy goods families living h2 section hebron seeing homes taken religious fanatics ive nearly two weeks coming breeze jew late 50s see young american palestinian harassed httpwwwimemcorgarticle49636 traveling around israel defined nonexistent 1967 borders saw evidence country girded battle admittedly havent sderot qassem rockets strike thought id see tons soldiers duty ones saw buying refreshments shopping revved holocaust vad yashem michael warshawsky veteran israeli peace activist says im wrong news palestinians page one says page four west bank things different checkpoints soldiers carrying large deadly looking weapons people say checkpoints easier summer part make nice abbas strategy thats pursued israelis us years ignoring palestinian president takeover gaza hamas forced change strategy one month millions palestinian tax money israeli withholding generously given palestine authority things nice west bank israeli soldiers stage constant raids night went jenin captured resident people nablus say theres raid every day nights night ago six palestinians killed including three missiles gaza one man supposedly attacked soldiers bethlehem checkpoint hit gun butts shot death qalandia superhighway take 30 minutes go bethlehem ramallah would case west bank palestinian could travel jerusalem banned seven years trip takes least 75 minutes provided delays checkpoints israelis allow one route route near wadi nahr valley fire descend 500 feet minutes series hairpin turns 35 degrees road two lane highway shared every kind vehicle including huge trucks winter extremely dangerous gauntlet reach container checkpoint times traveled soldiers merely check passports hawiahs palestinian travel document shows israelis allow travel worse periods palestinians forced take everything luggage put side road times told men forced strip naked road becomes first class shared road shared israeli settlers palestinian journey ramallah goes qalandia refugee camp think worst road youve ever bumps potholes ruts gouges 20 years nothing fixed israeli army wont allow asked palestinians told matter security thats end matter months ago pa given permission start work route going changed soon intolerable settlers share road palestinians security 2 12 mile tunnel built palestinians keep separate cars still pass wadi nahr rest joint road thing past veils apartheid met uri davis jerusalem hes israeli one handful lives palestinian communities maintained decades israel apartheid society says however theres major difference old south africa south african apartheid visitor would immediately see signs africans whites coloreds israel much veiled instance take land large land israel controlled state owned individuals jews granted long term leases land maze laws bureaucracy arab israeli citizens cant lease well thats exaggeration last ten years supreme court decision two arab families able build jewish land davis estimates 25 israeli land owned leased arab citizens another aspect apartheid unrecognized villages 19471948 thousands palestinians expelled towns villages fled rural areas still israel government dreamed delightful category present absentees took land bank accounts 130000 descendants live villages israeli government recognize israeli citizens live towns without services water electricity v isited one en hud tourists books list ein hod delightful village artist colony latest works art ein hod palestinian village 1948 people driven gunpoint fled road mile set new village land owned bus took us en hud barely made road went steep turns asphalt changed god know five feet right drop oblivion finally came tiny village 250 people including house outstanding restaurant made 50 year partially successful fight gain official recognition services antisemites today hebron city tomb abraham deep west bank city 120000 palestinians tomb holy jews moslem 1929 massacre 67 jews city 1970s jewish settlers decided make hebron jewish city today 400 settlers live hebron army protection pursue brutal project dreadful agreement palestinian authority president yasser arafat israeli government hebron divided two parts h1 h2 h1 palestinian palestinian authority h2 quarter whole city home jewish settlements war palestinian neighbors hosts hebron h2 members christian peacemaker team hebron handful super brave people try observe whats happening palestinians escort palestinians prevent frequent attacks settlers lorin peters cpt guided another american streets old city hebron think old city jerusalem half deserted several military checkpoints serious front abrahams tombibrahimi mosque lorin says palestinian youth men routinely detaine checkpoint minutes hours came without incident two palestinian stores open settlers freely buying items giving lie myth one live bloodthirsty arabs took walk several blocks held arab shops closed building alike concrete rectangle large folding metal doors front door decorated six pointed jewish star settlers desecrated jewish star making holy symbol graffitti fear much like swastika main street h2 al shohada street pretty well deserted huge legal struggle one arab family able move back apartment shop could see items left dry dont dare walk street without cpt escort passed young settler lorin said shalom answer antisemites today walked tiny blip scale provocations assaults international status doesnt given cpt much protection lorin mentioned many times stoned settler children remarked boys getting older stones getting bigger soldiers making even less effort protect cpt palestinians settler efforts take h2 working population old city h2 10000 1000 fencing installed alleys old city deal rain trash offal settlers throw people settlements built top palestinian buildings chance gone hebron tish bav jewish fast day remember destructions temples jerusalem lamentations prophet jerimiah read day begins quote city populous remained lonely become like widow great among nations princess among provinces become tributary perhaps hebron great h2 fast becoming emptied native population wall palestinian removal goal sought everywhere jordan mediterranean israels apartheid government cant empty right away surrounds walls apartheid wall everywhere west bank supremely ugly gobbling thousands acres land walk bethlehem checkpoint jerusalem upon wall see huge banner cheerful slogan peace upon say gives hypocrisy bad name leaving jenin us went east northeast corner west bank place wall first started divides small town relations city um el fahm also divides farmers fields big court fight israeli justices allow family members care harvest crops without machinery possible care land way years classified unused confiscated one last bit cruelty connected wall interviewing one man told us soldiers demanded dig village graveyard move bodies graves near wall could nothing stop order dug bodies concluding interview army jeep spotted us football field away bullhorn demanded move evidently six people standing driveway security problem drove away stanley heller chairperson middle east crisis committee reached mailthestruggleorg 160 | 1,150 |
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<p /> PAUL JAY, SENIOR EDITOR, TRNN: Paul Jay in Washington. And now joining the Real News Webathon is Tom Ferguson. He joins us from Massachusetts, where he's a professor at the University of Mass in Boston. He's also a senior fellow of the Roosevelt Institute. Thanks for joining us, Tom.
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<p />TOM FERGUSON, PROF. POLITICAL SCIENCE, UMASS BOSTON: Hi, there.
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<p />JAY: So let's talk a little bit about some work you've done recently. This country's being described over and over again, on the Sunday morning shows and elsewhere, this is a right-of-center country, this is a center-right country, the country is moving right. But if I understand it correctly, there may be some tendency amongst people who actually vote, perhaps, to move right, if that's even what they really did, 'cause that's still a question [inaudible]
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<p />FERGUSON: Yeah, I wouldn't rush to conclude that they were moving any clear direction except for jobs and employment.
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<p />JAY: --can you talk about that whole issue? Okay. We have a--. Okay, we have a problem here. Tom, try it again.
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<p />FERGUSON: I think--this echoes in my ear when I--.
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<p />JAY: I'm not hearing Tom. Are you out there?
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<p />FERGUSON: Can you hear me?
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<p />JAY: Okay. Please be patient with us. This is--oh, there's Tom. There we are. Thanks for joining us, Tom.
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<p />FERGUSON: Hi, there.
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<p />JAY: Did you hear my question? Or should I pose it again?
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<p />FERGUSON: I heard it. I mean, look, the--first of all, I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that everybody--large blocks of people moved to either the right or the left. Mostly what they did is they voted against the regime in power because they blamed the Obama administration and the Democrats for having been in power for two years and done us relatively little that anybody could perceive to get out of this great recession. [inaudible] now, it did result in the election of the Republicans, but, frankly, this is just like the early Great Depression. The rule there was: in, out; out, in. And, you know, that's, I think, basically the dialectic you've got going on right now. It's not at the moment right-left, left-right, with this major qualification, that the idea of having the government do things has become a much harder sell since the government just spent two years doing anything but things, to put it somewhat hyperbolically but, in the eyes of most voters, I think, basically correctly. I mean, we've been over some of this ground in other interviews, but--. Now, you're not looking at a giant movement to the right. What people want are jobs, and they haven't got them, and the unemployment rate is rising.
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<p />JAY: Okay, let's talk about this issue, because when they--whatever the opinion is, based on that vote, they are only talking about people who actually went out to vote. Now, a lot of people who were registered to vote just chose not to, and that's not uncommon in these midterms. But also talk about people who are more or less disenfranchised, like, in terms of how difficult it is to get registered. Like, what are the actual numbers of people who in theory are eligible to vote but simply don't get registered and are out of the whole process?
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<p />FERGUSON: Well, luckily, I happened to just check on this fact just before the program. Look, we--the turnout rate in this election, my colleague Walter Dean Burnham, who, you know, I've known for a million--.
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<p />JAY: Tom, I'm going to interrupt you for just a sec. You want to look up at the lens there on these Skype interviews. There you go.
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<p />FERGUSON: Okay. My colleague Walter Dean Burnham has been doing turnout studies for almost half a century, and I rely on Burnham for my numbers 'cause I think he's the best source on the planet. He says that the turnout was something like about 39 percent in this off-year election. It was around 63 in the presidential election in, you know, 2008. That was actually a relative rise from recent, you know, years, if you sort of average them. So, typically in a presidential election you'll see about 40 percent or more of the population sit out, and in the off-year election anywhere from 60 to 65 percent of the population will sit out. That's how you get--. And in a situation like--place like Boston, you poll--you--those are--you know, what we've been just talking about here are presidential and congressional turnouts. That's a sort of big deal--some publicity, people roughly know the date, etc. An awful lot of cities in this country have deliberately moved their elections, so that they don't get caught in sort of the--what might be called the upload of participation, so they can have a lower electorate. And [inaudible] the city of Boston, it's not at all uncommon to have, you know, city council and even mayoral elections with 15 or 20 or 25 percent of the population voting.
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<p />JAY: So the point here is that the political elites and some of the elites behind the political elites actually rather people don't vote.
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<p />FERGUSON: Yeah. Look, there's not much mystery about how you do this, even though, I mean, most of the time people think it's--you know, somehow everybody doesn't care, or something like that, or they think that voting turnout is something like the tides that you can't do anything about. Actually, the American electoral system's an achievement of many generations of guys that worked real hard for a long time. They put in--the old story was registration requirements and poll taxes and literacy tests. Now, the literary tests have gone by the board, pretty much, although we're getting a new form of those [inaudible] drivers license and things like that which isn't technically literacy. But the--.
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<p />JAY: Okay, just--some of our viewers aren't from the US. So just to be clear, the point here is sometimes to vote you have to come with a driver's license, and even if you've been registered. And a lot of people just don't have--.
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<p />FERGUSON: Yeah [if] the drivers license were the only problem, that might be almost nothing. What you have to have done in most states is register to vote a lot earlier, sometimes ridiculously earlier, so that--before you even barely know there's an election. I mean, the registration requirements are certainly a major problem that sort of pushes down American voter turnout. Moreover, a lot of folks, when they try to go do that registration, they discover they're actually in a multistage process. I'll tell you a true story. I mean, this actually happened to me. When I came back into the city of Boston back in the late '80s for the first time in a while, I had to go register to vote. I go down to City Hall to register, and the guy says to me, well, that's interesting. You know. Have you got a piece of mail? And I said, huh? And he said, no, no, I've got to see a piece of mail. And I said, okay, I've had it. You know, I'm a political scientist. I pay attention to voting. I said, I'm going to call The Boston Herald, you know, huffing and puffing, real Wizard of Oz fashion here. And the guy says to me, okay, well, we'll let you do this. And then all that meant was they mailed me yet another postcard, which I had to return all fully filled out. Now, you know, when you get a three-stage process like that, guess what? People drop away like summer tourists trying to climb, you know, something in Yosemite--they just can't make it all the way. That's the point of that process. And so registration requirements have been, for a long time, a mainstay of keeping down voting. In recent years, you're exactly right. The people are asking for--a lot of--some states have started asking for photo IDs or driver's licenses--or I guess they have to legally take your passport. You know, not everybody carries all that stuff around. And, you know, if--there's not much doubt about why this is done, although people are claiming it's to block fraud. There's precious little fraud in American elections, and there are almost no convictions for it. It's plainly and obviously to push down voter turnout. In recent years another sort of very powerful thing has been to sort of push laws that say, effectively, if you've ever been in prison, you've lost your right to vote, so-called felon voter stuff. When I first heard complaints about this, I was a little skeptical. I thought people must be hyperbolizing. No. Actually, you know, the cumulative sort of number of felons that sort of lose their rights, and this is pretty large, and I have to say it's--pretty obviously the racial disparities here are enormous. Lots-- Southern states which have had, you know, let's say, a long history of problems with efforts to sort of block African-American voters or Hispanics from voting, they do this local crazy quote stuff a lot, and it's a pretty potent way of pushing down voter turnout. The voter turnout in America [is] very unlike most other countries just has the state prepares the voting rolls. You know, they--in like the census, for instance. Even the city of Boston has a census. People used to come by when I lived there and would ask me, you know, questions--who lives here and all that stuff. They didn't use that census to prepare the voting rolls. That is no accident.
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<p />JAY: Now, this issue of registration I think's really a critical one. Now I get to vote in Canada and the United States 'cause I'm a dual citizen. And if my memory serves me correctly, in Toronto I can do same-day registration.
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<p />FERGUSON: Yeah. You can do it in one or two American states, too.
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<p />JAY: Yeah, I think there's half a dozen states in the US where you can do same-day registration. And I don't know of--I don't know if you do--of any scandals or any great problems with same-day registration.
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<p />FERGUSON: No, no. The short answer is no. This stuff isn't--scandals are not to be found in this stuff.
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<p />JAY: So what do you think is the--or is there any research on this? Why do they want to lower voters, the number of voters?
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<p />FERGUSON: Well, my colleague, Burnham, my old colleague from MIT, he wrote, actually, an excellent working paper on this for the Roosevelt Institute. You can find it really easily. It's just out. Let's see, the title is something like Democracy in Peril: The American Turnout Problem and the path to Plutocracy, which sort of states the whole thing very nicely. I mean, Burnham's the best scholar in the world on this. He's done the most and the best work on it. And you can just pull it right off if you go to new deal 2.0, at--which is the website, the main website at the Roosevelt Institute, look on the right-hand side, go over to working papers, you'll find Burnham's paper. And its a really nice job.
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<p />JAY: Tom, just for one second, just hold your thought. If you want to ask Tom a question, let me give you the phone number. Call 1-888-816-8867. One more time, 888-816-8867. And [when] you phone, tell our colleague, who will take your call, what your question is, and then they will call you back and link you in. So please do get involved if you like. Okay. Sorry, Tom. Go ahead.
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<p />FERGUSON: No problem. I mean, just--I think we're pretty much--I might be wrong, but I think we pretty well concluded the vote--people work hard to block voters. Now, this is bipartisan, but for sure the main efforts in recent years have been mostly the Republicans trying to block out relatively poor voters. I mean, the class skew in American voting turnout is so obvious that you have to be almost an orthodox American political scientist not to make a big deal out of it.
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<p />JAY: Well, now, the Democrats in power, whether it's nationally or at the state level, how much have they done to actually change this? Like, one of the things I've been saying in some of the interviews about this issue is Obama seems so concerned about that 10, 15 percent, whatever it is, the supposed independents that could go one way or the other, instead of focusing on the poor, where there's so many people either are registered but don't come out to vote and/or are not registered at all. I guess if you want--the problem with trying to get--appealing to that section of the society is maybe you'd actually have to do something for them.
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<p />FERGUSON: Well, yes. Look, there's absolutely no doubt, I think, that the Obama administration, like other presidential administrations, has been in some sense trying to invent an electorate that would give it what it wanted. And yeah, the business about appealing to independents is precisely a kind of dodge. And the really interesting thing to me [inaudible] everybody knew as Obama came into power that there were serious problems with American electoral practices. I mean, the local [inaudible] for you got butterfly ballots and everything else that, you know, people--ballots that change from county to county, and accounting problems, and the voting machine problems, where, you know, one year you've got 20 machines and then another year you've got 2, which is almost actual examples from places like Ohio. Everybody knew there were serious problems here, and as far as I can tell, apart from a note they sent around to the states to remind people that they have to, I think, tell them to enforce the provisions of a lot of [inaudible] voter legislation, they haven't done anything at all about it, and they had two years in which they could really do something constructive. And it's perfectly obvious to me that in 2012 we're going to see a lot of the same ballot problems that we saw, you know, repeatedly, right up to and including 2000. And, you know, what are these guys doing in the Justice Department?
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<p />JAY: We have a question from Ken, whose emailed a question in, which is--he asks if you can talk about the whole issue of gerrymandering, particularly in Florida I guess this is-- you could probably talk about Floridan elections for a whole day. But go ahead.
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<p />FERGUSON: Well, I--okay. The gerrymandering is--hey, you know that was actually invented in my state, right? I live in Massachusetts, where they cut the district, as it were, to sort of get the outcome they want. There's a lot of discussion of gerrymandering 'cause there's not much doubt that various states do some very strange things when they do these districts. Sometimes you get cases where the Republicans and Democrats in effect joint-maximize [sic] to protect incumbent representatives. In other cases you get one-party dominance. And there are cases well attested to early in this century where, for instance, the White House was willing to let California do some strange things in order to--they thought sort of come out ahead and hold other--some advantages they had. So gerrymandering's a big problem. And, moreover, people are now sort of completely crass about it. I mean, they used to kind of hide it, though they did it. But my sense is is that in the last 30 or 40 years everybody acts like it's--. You know, it's like, one is tempted to say, steroids in baseball; that is to say, a lot of folks just want to just think, oh, it's all part of the game. And, you know, we've clearly got a major problem here. You know, it's just--.
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<p />JAY: Okay. Tom, before--I know you have to leave soon, but I don't want to-
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<p />FERGUSON: No, that's okay. I can hang around a little bit. But you--you know, just you tell me--.
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<p />JAY: Okay. Well, I want to--another topic you work on--and you've done some work recently with Rob Johnson. Of course, the big battle taking place in Washington right now is this whole debate about what to do about the debt--deficit-mania some people call it, or deficit crisis other people call it.
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<p />FERGUSON: It has the look of the buildup to the invasion of Iraq, doesn't it? That is to say, you get almost only one interpretation in the newspapers, no acknowledgment that there might even be a different point of view. I mean, when you look at somebody like Matt Bai in The New York Times, you can only ask--you know, this is the sort of thing that's an embarrassment to defenders of the free press.
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<p />JAY: Alright. So talk about this. As you say, the whole media is just buying into the assumption that the only issue is how to fight the debt, how to bring down the deficit, and that--and clearly the media has bought the idea that we're more worried about debt than we are about depression.
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<p />FERGUSON: Well, you know, that's--look, yes, that's what they think or would have everybody think, and they're continuing to sort of put on guys like Alan Greenspan, then treat them with seriousness, like it was 2005, on this topic. You know, this is almost--you can wonder just how can this be. You know. And the answer is: if you didn't have a semi-monopolistic situation in the US press--which is what you guys are all about trying to break, and which, frankly, is the reason I'm willing to sort of sit here at, you know, 10 o'clock in the evening and talk to you. It's not--. You got a problem here. Alright, just very briefly, Rob Johnson and I-- we looked at this, and we said, we'd better study this. First we'd better try to find out--. There are all these claims in the media--well, you know, there's these magic numbers, you know, where the debt-to-GDP ratio might be 90 percent or something, which just means you've accumulated a lot of debt, you know, and that'll stop growth. Well, when we looked at this, there's nothing to that, no matter how often it's repeated in there. I mean, the whole business is a lot more complex, and indeed, you know, people like Spain are getting into serious trouble with much lower debt-to-GDP ratios, and countries like Great Britain--. One of the nice graphs in our paper, which is also on the Roosevelt Institute website, same place as Burnham's, you know, the new deal 2.0, we show you that the British industrialized with debt-to-GDP ratios way higher than the US government has now, or indeed most modern Western states have. It's really quite incredible. Anyway, there's no magic ceiling story there, and thus it's a little hard to swallow claims that we've really got to, for instance, push down the debt-to-GDP ratio. There are good reasons, maybe, not to just keep rolling it up forever, if only because at some point your interest charges would get large. But, you know, you're not in any imminent danger of a crisis. And, you know, if the bond markets think they see a crisis coming in even 30 years, the 30-year debt price rises at once. You know, you've got to pay a lot more to raise that. That's not what you see in current bond markets. And so Johnson and I sort of looked through that stuff, and we rehashed the sort of basics of this sort of thing, and then we walked through, okay, what actually--if you had a deficit problem in the United States, what does it consist of? And our basic answer to that is it's not about rising entitlements. It is certainly not about Social Security, which is just, I mean, a ridiculously small chunk of all this. When you look--let me just say a word about Social Security, and we'll go back to the--where you have problems. The Social Security story is really kind of outrageous. I mean, if you look, the folks who claim to be wanting to protect that program through changes, like Peter Orszag, who just left the White House as, you know, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, Orszag's walking around saying we've got to fix Social Security. And it turns out when he actually--when you're reading closely, what he is actually saying is, well, you know, yeah, in 30 or 40 years it might rise 1 percent more of GDP. I mean, you know, come on, guys. I mean, these are folks who could not see the 2008 financial crisis coming, and they want us to believe that we are going to have a 1 percent extra problem, you know, down in 30 years or something. When you look at the trustees report on Social Security, what you discover is, under, you know, a relatively pessimistic--not the most pessimistic, but a relatively pessimistic economic forecast, there's no problem in that trust fund until 2037, at which point they still have the money for 75 percent of the claims. Now, you know, that's a fairly easy fix: you could just pay it out of general revenues. But since that puts pressure to raise taxes, our upper income folks really hate that. So if you want to do--the alternative is you could simply raise the Social Security tax by lifting the ceiling on wages that are subject to that tax. You know, right now it's pretty low. It's $106,800, which means if you make more than that, you don't have to pay anything on the--above that on the money you make. So if you make $1 million bucks, the other, you know, almost $900,000 you get you don't have to pay anything on. You know, that's absurd. You could raise the ceiling. Indeed, it wouldn't be a bad idea to raise the ceiling right now and cut the rate on everybody. But, you know, there's just no [inaudible] about Social Security. It's ridiculous to see the--and when Alan Simpson starts talking about--I mean, who is the co-chair of the Deficit Commission, when he starts talking about we've got to tell the whales and the minnows--we harpoon the whales and the minnows, Social Security's a minnow. So, you know, there are some whales out there, and Rob Johnson and I looked at--the obvious one is medical costs. But the problem there is not anything that you can obviously fix by just announcing we're not going to pay more. The fundamental problem--you know, this--I know you're from Canada, so, you know, try to keep from fainting when I say this, we don't have single-payer in the United States. So the insurers waste maybe 20 percent of the total bill every year noncompeting with each other on administrative charges. You could get a lot out of that just by getting rid of that. And the other--if you did something like let the government bargain with the pharmaceutical producers over the cost of drugs, you could save well over $1 trillion over a long period of time. I pull that number from Joe Stiglitz's paper, which is also out there at the Roosevelt Institute, where we're--basically, the health-care thing in the United States is a private oligopoly with a sort of ridiculously noncompetitive insurance system. You've got to bust up the oligopoly one way or the other. You know, the public option that was effectively written out of the Obama legislation would begin to do that. And, of course, they just never should have done the compromise that basically blocks the government from bartering down pharmaceuticals. But, you know, Simpson doesn't talk about that stuff. I mean, there's no doubt [inaudible] over the long run, if you did nothing, the medical care thing would sort of be like Pac-Man and eat everything. Now it's going to get resisted. You've got to block just stupid, absolute [inaudible] we will not just allow, for instance, all open-heart operations or things like that. You need to go after the oligopolies. You've got another problem with defense. I mean, a point we make in our paper--it's not new; Chalmers Johnson and Robert Higgs made it before us--is that the actual defense budget, just people quote as the defense budget substantially understates total spending in defense. And when you put some better numbers in there, you might get maybe 39 percent of the total budget that high. We obviously need to do some strategic reassessment. I mean, when I look at sort of, like, the way--when I see, for instance, Tomahawk missiles flying off a US cruiser somewhere, and I tend to think [of] dealer display floors full of Mercedes-Benzes being shot at the enemy, whoever the enemy is. And, you know, we're getting something like--about what, half the total defense spending in all the world's ours? Something like that.
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<p />JAY: Tom, I think one of the points you made, too, and I heard you talk recently, that a lot of the military budget's actually really stimulus spending, and state-by-state they make sure they spend money in every state. It's just not the most effective kind of stimulus funding. But let me--we're going to have to wrap things up for now. But let me say, I know our viewers--and a lot of our viewers want to disagree with you on certain parts of your thesis. And we're going to do this again. We'll do a special live broadcast or webcast with Tom Ferguson and we'll make sure everybody knows. And everybody who wants to have an argument with Tom, we hope you'll show up. Thanks--.
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<p />FERGUSON: They may have to stand in line, but sure, okay, that's not a problem.
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<p />JAY: Thanks very much for joining us, Tom.
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<p />FERGUSON: Okay. Bye-bye.
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<p />JAY: Thank you. And let me remind you again, if you want to donate, there's the donate button here. We're trying to hit $200,000 by the end of December 9, and in fact we'd like to go past $200,000, because that only covers about--just barely covers four months of our current work, and we would really like to expand what we do, which means we need to hire a few more producers to specialize in certain areas. And certainly finance and the economy is one of the areas we're very interested in. We think everybody needs to understand economics. That--we want to help people answer two questions. Number one, why is this happening to me? And number two, what can I do about it? And we need at least one producer--in fact more--to just work on these questions. Now coming up just after this very short break is Bill Black, who will help answer a lot of these questions about why this is happening to me and what we can do about it. Bill was involved in--after the savings and loan debacle, he was a overseer of that clean--and cleaning up the mess of that bank failure. He's been a very powerful advocate for finance reform. And many of you who've watched The Real News before have seen interviews with Bill. So we'll be coming back to Bill in just a few seconds. Please join us on the Real News Webathon.
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<p />End of Transcript
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<p />DISCLAIMER: Please note that transcripts for The Real News Network are typed from a recording of the program. TRNN cannot guarantee their complete accuracy. | true | 4 | paul jay senior editor trnn paul jay washington joining real news webathon tom ferguson joins us massachusetts hes professor university mass boston hes also senior fellow roosevelt institute thanks joining us tom tom ferguson prof political science umass boston hi jay lets talk little bit work youve done recently countrys described sunday morning shows elsewhere rightofcenter country centerright country country moving right understand correctly may tendency amongst people actually vote perhaps move right thats even really cause thats still question inaudible ferguson yeah wouldnt rush conclude moving clear direction except jobs employment jay talk whole issue okay okay problem tom try ferguson thinkthis echoes ear jay im hearing tom ferguson hear jay okay please patient us isoh theres tom thanks joining us tom ferguson hi jay hear question pose ferguson heard mean look thefirst wouldnt jump conclusion everybodylarge blocks people moved either right left mostly voted regime power blamed obama administration democrats power two years done us relatively little anybody could perceive get great recession inaudible result election republicans frankly like early great depression rule know thats think basically dialectic youve got going right moment rightleft leftright major qualification idea government things become much harder sell since government spent two years anything things put somewhat hyperbolically eyes voters think basically correctly mean weve ground interviews youre looking giant movement right people want jobs havent got unemployment rate rising jay okay lets talk issue theywhatever opinion based vote talking people actually went vote lot people registered vote chose thats uncommon midterms also talk people less disenfranchised like terms difficult get registered like actual numbers people theory eligible vote simply dont get registered whole process ferguson well luckily happened check fact program look wethe turnout rate election colleague walter dean burnham know ive known million jay tom im going interrupt sec want look lens skype interviews go ferguson okay colleague walter dean burnham turnout studies almost half century rely burnham numbers cause think hes best source planet says turnout something like 39 percent offyear election around 63 presidential election know 2008 actually relative rise recent know years sort average typically presidential election youll see 40 percent population sit offyear election anywhere 60 65 percent population sit thats get situation likeplace like boston pollyouthose areyou know weve talking presidential congressional turnouts thats sort big dealsome publicity people roughly know date etc awful lot cities country deliberately moved elections dont get caught sort thewhat might called upload participation lower electorate inaudible city boston uncommon know city council even mayoral elections 15 20 25 percent population voting jay point political elites elites behind political elites actually rather people dont vote ferguson yeah look theres much mystery even though mean time people think itsyou know somehow everybody doesnt care something like think voting turnout something like tides cant anything actually american electoral systems achievement many generations guys worked real hard long time put inthe old story registration requirements poll taxes literacy tests literary tests gone board pretty much although getting new form inaudible drivers license things like isnt technically literacy jay okay justsome viewers arent us clear point sometimes vote come drivers license even youve registered lot people dont ferguson yeah drivers license problem might almost nothing done states register vote lot earlier sometimes ridiculously earlier thatbefore even barely know theres election mean registration requirements certainly major problem sort pushes american voter turnout moreover lot folks try go registration discover theyre actually multistage process ill tell true story mean actually happened came back city boston back late 80s first time go register vote go city hall register guy says well thats interesting know got piece mail said huh said ive got see piece mail said okay ive know im political scientist pay attention voting said im going call boston herald know huffing puffing real wizard oz fashion guy says okay well well let meant mailed yet another postcard return fully filled know get threestage process like guess people drop away like summer tourists trying climb know something yosemitethey cant make way thats point process registration requirements long time mainstay keeping voting recent years youre exactly right people asking fora lot ofsome states started asking photo ids drivers licensesor guess legally take passport know everybody carries stuff around know iftheres much doubt done although people claiming block fraud theres precious little fraud american elections almost convictions plainly obviously push voter turnout recent years another sort powerful thing sort push laws say effectively youve ever prison youve lost right vote socalled felon voter stuff first heard complaints little skeptical thought people must hyperbolizing actually know cumulative sort number felons sort lose rights pretty large say itspretty obviously racial disparities enormous lots southern states know lets say long history problems efforts sort block africanamerican voters hispanics voting local crazy quote stuff lot pretty potent way pushing voter turnout voter turnout america unlike countries state prepares voting rolls know theyin like census instance even city boston census people used come lived would ask know questionswho lives stuff didnt use census prepare voting rolls accident jay issue registration thinks really critical one get vote canada united states cause im dual citizen memory serves correctly toronto sameday registration ferguson yeah one two american states jay yeah think theres half dozen states us sameday registration dont know ofi dont know doof scandals great problems sameday registration ferguson short answer stuff isntscandals found stuff jay think theor research want lower voters number voters ferguson well colleague burnham old colleague mit wrote actually excellent working paper roosevelt institute find really easily lets see title something like democracy peril american turnout problem path plutocracy sort states whole thing nicely mean burnhams best scholar world hes done best work pull right go new deal 20 atwhich website main website roosevelt institute look righthand side go working papers youll find burnhams paper really nice job jay tom one second hold thought want ask tom question let give phone number call 18888168867 one time 8888168867 phone tell colleague take call question call back link please get involved like okay sorry tom go ahead ferguson problem mean justi think pretty muchi might wrong think pretty well concluded votepeople work hard block voters bipartisan sure main efforts recent years mostly republicans trying block relatively poor voters mean class skew american voting turnout obvious almost orthodox american political scientist make big deal jay well democrats power whether nationally state level much done actually change like one things ive saying interviews issue obama seems concerned 10 15 percent whatever supposed independents could go one way instead focusing poor theres many people either registered dont come vote andor registered guess wantthe problem trying getappealing section society maybe youd actually something ferguson well yes look theres absolutely doubt think obama administration like presidential administrations sense trying invent electorate would give wanted yeah business appealing independents precisely kind dodge really interesting thing inaudible everybody knew obama came power serious problems american electoral practices mean local inaudible got butterfly ballots everything else know peopleballots change county county accounting problems voting machine problems know one year youve got 20 machines another year youve got 2 almost actual examples places like ohio everybody knew serious problems far tell apart note sent around states remind people think tell enforce provisions lot inaudible voter legislation havent done anything two years could really something constructive perfectly obvious 2012 going see lot ballot problems saw know repeatedly right including 2000 know guys justice department jay question ken whose emailed question ishe asks talk whole issue gerrymandering particularly florida guess could probably talk floridan elections whole day go ahead ferguson well iokay gerrymandering ishey know actually invented state right live massachusetts cut district sort get outcome want theres lot discussion gerrymandering cause theres much doubt various states strange things districts sometimes get cases republicans democrats effect jointmaximize sic protect incumbent representatives cases get oneparty dominance cases well attested early century instance white house willing let california strange things order tothey thought sort come ahead hold othersome advantages gerrymanderings big problem moreover people sort completely crass mean used kind hide though sense last 30 40 years everybody acts like know like one tempted say steroids baseball say lot folks want think oh part game know weve clearly got major problem know jay okay tom beforei know leave soon dont want ferguson thats okay hang around little bit youyou know tell jay okay well want toanother topic work onand youve done work recently rob johnson course big battle taking place washington right whole debate debtdeficitmania people call deficit crisis people call ferguson look buildup invasion iraq doesnt say get almost one interpretation newspapers acknowledgment might even different point view mean look somebody like matt bai new york times askyou know sort thing thats embarrassment defenders free press jay alright talk say whole media buying assumption issue fight debt bring deficit thatand clearly media bought idea worried debt depression ferguson well know thatslook yes thats think would everybody think theyre continuing sort put guys like alan greenspan treat seriousness like 2005 topic know almostyou wonder know answer didnt semimonopolistic situation us presswhich guys trying break frankly reason im willing sort sit know 10 oclock evening talk got problem alright briefly rob johnson looked said wed better study first wed better try find claims mediawell know theres magic numbers know debttogdp ratio might 90 percent something means youve accumulated lot debt know thatll stop growth well looked theres nothing matter often repeated mean whole business lot complex indeed know people like spain getting serious trouble much lower debttogdp ratios countries like great britain one nice graphs paper also roosevelt institute website place burnhams know new deal 20 show british industrialized debttogdp ratios way higher us government indeed modern western states really quite incredible anyway theres magic ceiling story thus little hard swallow claims weve really got instance push debttogdp ratio good reasons maybe keep rolling forever point interest charges would get large know youre imminent danger crisis know bond markets think see crisis coming even 30 years 30year debt price rises know youve got pay lot raise thats see current bond markets johnson sort looked stuff rehashed sort basics sort thing walked okay actuallyif deficit problem united states consist basic answer rising entitlements certainly social security mean ridiculously small chunk looklet say word social security well go back thewhere problems social security story really kind outrageous mean look folks claim wanting protect program changes like peter orszag left white house know head office management budget orszags walking around saying weve got fix social security turns actuallywhen youre reading closely actually saying well know yeah 30 40 years might rise 1 percent gdp mean know come guys mean folks could see 2008 financial crisis coming want us believe going 1 percent extra problem know 30 years something look trustees report social security discover know relatively pessimisticnot pessimistic relatively pessimistic economic forecast theres problem trust fund 2037 point still money 75 percent claims know thats fairly easy fix could pay general revenues since puts pressure raise taxes upper income folks really hate want dothe alternative could simply raise social security tax lifting ceiling wages subject tax know right pretty low 106800 means make dont pay anything theabove money make make 1 million bucks know almost 900000 get dont pay anything know thats absurd could raise ceiling indeed wouldnt bad idea raise ceiling right cut rate everybody know theres inaudible social security ridiculous see theand alan simpson starts talking abouti mean cochair deficit commission starts talking weve got tell whales minnowswe harpoon whales minnows social securitys minnow know whales rob johnson looked atthe obvious one medical costs problem anything obviously fix announcing going pay fundamental problemyou know thisi know youre canada know try keep fainting say dont singlepayer united states insurers waste maybe 20 percent total bill every year noncompeting administrative charges could get lot getting rid otherif something like let government bargain pharmaceutical producers cost drugs could save well 1 trillion long period time pull number joe stiglitzs paper also roosevelt institute werebasically healthcare thing united states private oligopoly sort ridiculously noncompetitive insurance system youve got bust oligopoly one way know public option effectively written obama legislation would begin course never done compromise basically blocks government bartering pharmaceuticals know simpson doesnt talk stuff mean theres doubt inaudible long run nothing medical care thing would sort like pacman eat everything going get resisted youve got block stupid absolute inaudible allow instance openheart operations things like need go oligopolies youve got another problem defense mean point make paperits new chalmers johnson robert higgs made usis actual defense budget people quote defense budget substantially understates total spending defense put better numbers might get maybe 39 percent total budget high obviously need strategic reassessment mean look sort like waywhen see instance tomahawk missiles flying us cruiser somewhere tend think dealer display floors full mercedesbenzes shot enemy whoever enemy know getting something likeabout half total defense spending worlds something like jay tom think one points made heard talk recently lot military budgets actually really stimulus spending statebystate make sure spend money every state effective kind stimulus funding let mewere going wrap things let say know viewersand lot viewers want disagree certain parts thesis going well special live broadcast webcast tom ferguson well make sure everybody knows everybody wants argument tom hope youll show thanks ferguson may stand line sure okay thats problem jay thanks much joining us tom ferguson okay byebye jay thank let remind want donate theres donate button trying hit 200000 end december 9 fact wed like go past 200000 covers aboutjust barely covers four months current work would really like expand means need hire producers specialize certain areas certainly finance economy one areas interested think everybody needs understand economics thatwe want help people answer two questions number one happening number two need least one producerin fact moreto work questions coming short break bill black help answer lot questions happening bill involved inafter savings loan debacle overseer cleanand cleaning mess bank failure hes powerful advocate finance reform many whove watched real news seen interviews bill well coming back bill seconds please join us real news webathon end transcript disclaimer please note transcripts real news network typed recording program trnn guarantee complete accuracy | 2,359 |
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<p>David Bonderman, founding partner of TPG Capital, mingles with Harry E. Sloan, CEO of MGM, on May 21, 2006, at the Cannes Film Festival. &#160; (Photo by Peter Kramer/Getty Images)</p>
<p />
<p>Conflict continues as private equity firm—whose kingpin paid millions to see pro-labor John Mellencamp—'bleeds the company dry,' union leader says&#160;</p>
<p>For the first time in Armstrong World Industries' history, the corporation on July 17 decided to lock out workers from its ceiling tile plant in the small town of Marietta, Pa. The 260 union workers, members of the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 285, had been working without a contract since June 1. They rejected the company’s last offer on June 15, but continued to come to work hoping they could return to the bargaining table with the company.</p>
<p>The rural workers feel they are treated like second-class workers compared to workers at larger Armstrong-owned ceiling tile plants. While union workers at other factories have the right to retiree healthcare coverage in their contract, workers in Marietta don't. The USW members objected to the proposed contract because while it included a pay increase of 2.5 percent, it also contained increases in healthcare costs, freezes on company pension contributions for current employees, elimination of pensions for new hires, and what union officials argue are changes to seniority systems, job placement and overtime scheduling that would negatively affect union workers.</p>
<p>After the union refused to ratify the contract in June, Armstrong proposed another contract—this time without a signing bonus of $1,000 and a lump 401(k) contribution of $400. USW International Representative Tom Jones calls it an illegal act of regressive bargaining. After workers refused to vote on it, opting instead to return to the bargaining table, Armstrong decided to lock them out early last week.</p>
<p>“We think by locking us out, they are trying to send a message to the other (Armstrong) locations where contracts are set to expire,” said Jones. “They are afraid of us bargaining together.”</p>
<p>(Jones is referring to three other union-represented Armstrong plants—two USW-represented facilities in Macon, Ga., Pensacola, Fla., and a Machinists union-represented facility in Lancaster, Pa.—whose contracts will expire this fall. If that happens and Marietta workers were still without a contract, all the workers could go on strike together, creating significant leverage by making it difficult for Armstrong to shift production to other plants.)</p>
<p>The Lancaster, Pa.-based company has begun hiring scabs, telling <a href="http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/426496_Armstrong-to-hire-temporary-workers.html" type="external">the Intelligence Journal/Lancaster New Era</a> that it's “had more than 80 responses to its advertisement...seeking temporary help.” Contract talks will <a href="http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_18549878" type="external">resume on Friday</a>—but it's far from clear how soon the locked-out workers will get back to work.</p>
<p>Private equity in action</p>
<p>Armstrong's tough negotiating tactics may have to do with the private equity firm TPG Capital—formerly known as the Texas Pacific Group—which essentially controls Armstrong as its majority shareholder. In 2009, TPG Capital, which has $48 billion in assets, took a minority interest in the company, but that interest has since grown, according to USW's Jones.</p>
<p>Union officials allege that as the de facto controlling interest in the company, TPG Capital has been running up massive amounts of debt that it never intends to pay off while giving dividends to their stockholders.</p>
<p>Last December, for instance, Armstrong World Industries took out a $1.05 billion loan and then turned around and gave shareholders <a href="http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/316825_Armstrong-declares-special-dividend.html" type="external">a special cash dividend</a> of $13.74 per share (a combined payout of more than $800 million to shareholders), which largely went to Armstrong's two largest shareholders—TPG Capital and an asbestos victims funds trust.</p>
<p>“They are taking out a huge debt to pay their dividends and in the process bleeding the company dry,” says John Bevel, president of USW Steelworkers Local 285's Unit 441. “Now they are looking to stop funding the pension in order to limit the company’s pension obligations in order to make the company easier to sell.”</p>
<p>The scenario of private equity firms drowning companies in debt and then evading pension obligations in order to cash out before a company's stock price plummets is scary to Armstrong workers.They find themselves stacked against a powerful and distant firm that is politically connected and has little interest in their livelihoods.</p>
<p>Some of TPG's partners are top Democratic fundraisers. One of its partners, Rick Schifter, recently attended <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57745_Page2.html" type="external">an exclusive meeting</a>of 30 top Democratic fundraisers with President Obama at the White House organized by the Democratic National Committee.</p>
<p>Another one of the founders and leading partners of TPG Capital, David Bonderman, is noted for his lavish lifestyle and his personal net worth of <a href="http://www.forbes.com/profile/david-bonderman" type="external">$2 billion</a>. In 2002, Bonderman threw a 60th birthday in Las Vegas featuring private live performances from The Rolling Stones and John Mellencamp, the pro-labor songwriter who wrote " <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwsP-tXvlKc" type="external">Small Town</a>." The party cost an estimated <a href="http://www.toofab.com/2011/07/19/highly-paid-private-performers/" type="external">$7 million</a>, according to music industry publications.</p>
<p>Now, locked-out workers in one small town in Pennsylvania are left wondering what type of values their company—and the private equity firm standing behind it—represent.</p> | true | 4 | email name recipients email comma separated message captcha david bonderman founding partner tpg capital mingles harry e sloan ceo mgm may 21 2006 cannes film festival 160 photo peter kramergetty images conflict continues private equity firmwhose kingpin paid millions see prolabor john mellencampbleeds company dry union leader says160 first time armstrong world industries history corporation july 17 decided lock workers ceiling tile plant small town marietta pa 260 union workers members united steelworkers usw local 285 working without contract since june 1 rejected companys last offer june 15 continued come work hoping could return bargaining table company rural workers feel treated like secondclass workers compared workers larger armstrongowned ceiling tile plants union workers factories right retiree healthcare coverage contract workers marietta dont usw members objected proposed contract included pay increase 25 percent also contained increases healthcare costs freezes company pension contributions current employees elimination pensions new hires union officials argue changes seniority systems job placement overtime scheduling would negatively affect union workers union refused ratify contract june armstrong proposed another contractthis time without signing bonus 1000 lump 401k contribution 400 usw international representative tom jones calls illegal act regressive bargaining workers refused vote opting instead return bargaining table armstrong decided lock early last week think locking us trying send message armstrong locations contracts set expire said jones afraid us bargaining together jones referring three unionrepresented armstrong plantstwo uswrepresented facilities macon ga pensacola fla machinists unionrepresented facility lancaster pawhose contracts expire fall happens marietta workers still without contract workers could go strike together creating significant leverage making difficult armstrong shift production plants lancaster pabased company begun hiring scabs telling intelligence journallancaster new era 80 responses advertisementseeking temporary help contract talks resume fridaybut far clear soon lockedout workers get back work private equity action armstrongs tough negotiating tactics may private equity firm tpg capitalformerly known texas pacific groupwhich essentially controls armstrong majority shareholder 2009 tpg capital 48 billion assets took minority interest company interest since grown according usws jones union officials allege de facto controlling interest company tpg capital running massive amounts debt never intends pay giving dividends stockholders last december instance armstrong world industries took 105 billion loan turned around gave shareholders special cash dividend 1374 per share combined payout 800 million shareholders largely went armstrongs two largest shareholderstpg capital asbestos victims funds trust taking huge debt pay dividends process bleeding company dry says john bevel president usw steelworkers local 285s unit 441 looking stop funding pension order limit companys pension obligations order make company easier sell scenario private equity firms drowning companies debt evading pension obligations order cash companys stock price plummets scary armstrong workersthey find stacked powerful distant firm politically connected little interest livelihoods tpgs partners top democratic fundraisers one partners rick schifter recently attended exclusive meetingof 30 top democratic fundraisers president obama white house organized democratic national committee another one founders leading partners tpg capital david bonderman noted lavish lifestyle personal net worth 2 billion 2002 bonderman threw 60th birthday las vegas featuring private live performances rolling stones john mellencamp prolabor songwriter wrote small town party cost estimated 7 million according music industry publications lockedout workers one small town pennsylvania left wondering type values companyand private equity firm standing behind itrepresent | 533 |
<p>On June 10th the House of Representatives held the first congressional hearing on proposals for <a href="http://www.singlepayeraction.org/blog/?p=919" type="external">Single Payer Health Insurance</a>. Amy Goodman highlighted the hearing on Democracy Now. But neither National Public Radio’s flagship news program (All Things Considered) nor its morning news program (Morning Edition) reported on the hearing. Instead, on June 11th, Morning Edition reported that President Obama is planning to conduct a town hall meeting on health care. With respect to the health insurance debate, what the President is planning to do (news via press release!) is apparently more news worthy than what the House of Representative had already done the day before.</p>
<p>I did a search on NPR’s web site. Results were slightly different for single payer and “single payer”. Here are the results:</p>
<p>“Single payer” search of all programs all time periods available:</p>
<p>157 hits</p>
<p>21 hits on single payer in 2009.</p>
<p>2009 hits: 1 hit on Talk of the Nation; &#160;5 hits on Morning Edition ; 3 hits on NPR’s Health Blog; 3 hits on All Things Considered; 5 hits on Tell Me More; 1 hit on Fresh Air; 3 hits on News and Notes.</p>
<p>“Single payer” search of all programs all time periods available:</p>
<p>38 hits;</p>
<p>11 hits in 2009</p>
<p>2009 hits: 3 hits on All Things Considered; 3 hits on Morning Edition; 1 hit on NPR’s Health Blog; 1 hit on Talk of the Nation; 3 hits on Tell me More;</p>
<p>These stories mention single payer. I can find no NPR news reports or other shows which actually focused on single payer or on the movement to achieve it.</p>
<p>Why is NPR refusing to report on what 60% of US citizens and the majority of health professionals want?</p>
<p>NPR’s web site provides lists of foundation and individual major donors but not of corporate sponsors. For that list you need to go to their annual reports. The latest report available on line is for 2005. Health and Long-term Care corporate sponsors in 2005 were:</p>
<p>$1 million+:&#160; Farmers Insurance Group of Companies,&#160; Prudential Financial</p>
<p>$500,000 – $999,999: &#160;Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America,&#160; Allstate Insurance Company, Northwestern Mutual Foundation,</p>
<p>$250,000 – $499,999: &#160;AARP, The Hartford Financial Services Group, UnumProvident</p>
<p>$100,000 – $249,999: &#160;Liberty Mutual Insurance Company</p>
<p>I’d like to know how much money insurance companies which sell health insurance contributed to NPR in 2009 (so far) and in 2008. I’ve requested the information from NPR management.</p>
<p>NPR’s Ombudsman, Alicia B, Shepard, insists that “A firewall really does exist between the editorial and marketing sides of NPR to prevent NPR sponsors from influencing programming.”</p>
<p>In a <a href="" type="internal">May column</a> Ms. Shepard described the process NPR uses to “prevent……sponsors from influencing programming”:</p>
<p>“About one week in advance, NPR’s corporate sponsorship division sends a schedule of funding credits to all NPR shows so they have an opportunity to identify conflicts before they air, said John King, operations manager. He says the schedules are emailed and hand-delivered to Morning Edition and All Things Considered.”</p>
<p>The influence of corporate sponsors is no less effective because it is not direct. As one listener John Smith, commented about the Ombudsman’s May 2009 column cited above:&#160; “No, NPR isn’t selling out, because there’s nothing left to sell. Corporate funding removed its teeth long ago. Remember ADM, lysine price fixing and NPR?”</p>
<p>I have been listening to NPR news programs for a bout 40 years. When I began listening NPR it was obvious that reporters and editors saw themselves as providing a PUBLIC alternative to mainstream (network) news. Now these folks see themselves as part of the mainstream…..They act accordingly. This sort of influence – which results from unconscious identification rather than conscious choice – is both more insidious and more dangerous than conscious and direct pay-for-play corruption.</p>
<p>Media watcher journalists have reported on corporate influence at NPR. Noting that several sponsors had pulled funding from NPR and Boston Area station WBUR over what the sponsors said was “a profoundly pro-Palestinian, anti-Israeli bias,” Dan Kennedy reported on The <a href="" type="internal">Boston Phoenix web site</a> in 2001 that “so-called public radio today is, in many respects, public in name only.” Kennedy concluded that “The ultimate accountability should be with the listeners, who can choose to listen or not, and to give or not. Yet as public radio is now constituted, corporate money is absolutely essential. It’s a dilemma, and not one amenable to easy answers.”</p>
<p>Should we (i.e. the PUBLIC) simply give up on NPR, rename it National Corporate Radio and tune our radios to Alternative stations and networks?</p>
<p>That course is certainly tempting. By all means tune in, stream, download and support KPFA, Democracy Now, Free Speech Radio News and other alternative radio news shows originating in your communities. But we should not abdicate our right to public radio that actually serves the public. Lots of taxpayer money still goes to NPR and the public radio system. Ironically, as a result of the recession NPR may be more dependent on those funds now than they have been for many years. Furthermore, NPR remains very dependent on contributions from individual listeners. Here’s now NPR’s web site reports sources of funding:</p>
<p>31% from listeners in the form of pledges, memberships, and other donations</p>
<p>20% from businesses via corporate underwriting</p>
<p>11% from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), which is federally funded</p>
<p>10% from licensee support</p>
<p>9% from foundations and major gifts</p>
<p>5% from local and state governments, and</p>
<p>14% from all other sources.</p>
<p>Clearly, NPR still values and covets its Public status – as well as the funding it receives from individual donors and from taxpayers via the federal government. This provides We the People with potential power to promote change at the network.</p>
<p>But how can we leverage that potential influence into positive change? I suggest we deluge NPR with comments about their failure to report on single payer and the other movements, events and initiatives which America’s corporate rulers and their shills don’t want reported! That is what I did this morning when I sent the management, news shows and Ombudsman the data on “single payer” coverage presented above.</p>
<p>We the People may or may not be able to trigger positive change at NPR; but we will never know unless we try. Keep building, promoting and listening to Alternative Radio; but put the pressure on NPR as well. Click <a href="" type="internal">here</a> to provide feedback via NPR’s web form. Do it now!</p>
<p>FELICE PACE has been a grassroots environmental, peace and justice activist since 1967. He lives and writes near the mouth of the Klamath River in Northwest California.</p> | true | 4 | june 10th house representatives held first congressional hearing proposals single payer health insurance amy goodman highlighted hearing democracy neither national public radios flagship news program things considered morning news program morning edition reported hearing instead june 11th morning edition reported president obama planning conduct town hall meeting health care respect health insurance debate president planning news via press release apparently news worthy house representative already done day search nprs web site results slightly different single payer single payer results single payer search programs time periods available 157 hits 21 hits single payer 2009 2009 hits 1 hit talk nation 1605 hits morning edition 3 hits nprs health blog 3 hits things considered 5 hits tell 1 hit fresh air 3 hits news notes single payer search programs time periods available 38 hits 11 hits 2009 2009 hits 3 hits things considered 3 hits morning edition 1 hit nprs health blog 1 hit talk nation 3 hits tell stories mention single payer find npr news reports shows actually focused single payer movement achieve npr refusing report 60 us citizens majority health professionals want nprs web site provides lists foundation individual major donors corporate sponsors list need go annual reports latest report available line 2005 health longterm care corporate sponsors 2005 1 million160 farmers insurance group companies160 prudential financial 500000 999999 160allianz life insurance company north america160 allstate insurance company northwestern mutual foundation 250000 499999 160aarp hartford financial services group unumprovident 100000 249999 160liberty mutual insurance company id like know much money insurance companies sell health insurance contributed npr 2009 far 2008 ive requested information npr management nprs ombudsman alicia b shepard insists firewall really exist editorial marketing sides npr prevent npr sponsors influencing programming may column ms shepard described process npr uses preventsponsors influencing programming one week advance nprs corporate sponsorship division sends schedule funding credits npr shows opportunity identify conflicts air said john king operations manager says schedules emailed handdelivered morning edition things considered influence corporate sponsors less effective direct one listener john smith commented ombudsmans may 2009 column cited above160 npr isnt selling theres nothing left sell corporate funding removed teeth long ago remember adm lysine price fixing npr listening npr news programs bout 40 years began listening npr obvious reporters editors saw providing public alternative mainstream network news folks see part mainstreamthey act accordingly sort influence results unconscious identification rather conscious choice insidious dangerous conscious direct payforplay corruption media watcher journalists reported corporate influence npr noting several sponsors pulled funding npr boston area station wbur sponsors said profoundly propalestinian antiisraeli bias dan kennedy reported boston phoenix web site 2001 socalled public radio today many respects public name kennedy concluded ultimate accountability listeners choose listen give yet public radio constituted corporate money absolutely essential dilemma one amenable easy answers ie public simply give npr rename national corporate radio tune radios alternative stations networks course certainly tempting means tune stream download support kpfa democracy free speech radio news alternative radio news shows originating communities abdicate right public radio actually serves public lots taxpayer money still goes npr public radio system ironically result recession npr may dependent funds many years furthermore npr remains dependent contributions individual listeners heres nprs web site reports sources funding 31 listeners form pledges memberships donations 20 businesses via corporate underwriting 11 corporation public broadcasting cpb federally funded 10 licensee support 9 foundations major gifts 5 local state governments 14 sources clearly npr still values covets public status well funding receives individual donors taxpayers via federal government provides people potential power promote change network leverage potential influence positive change suggest deluge npr comments failure report single payer movements events initiatives americas corporate rulers shills dont want reported morning sent management news shows ombudsman data single payer coverage presented people may may able trigger positive change npr never know unless try keep building promoting listening alternative radio put pressure npr well click provide feedback via nprs web form felice pace grassroots environmental peace justice activist since 1967 lives writes near mouth klamath river northwest california | 667 |
<p>DC rally for immigration reform (cc photo: Anuska Sampedro)</p>
<p>Immigration policy was on the national agenda in February as the political system responded to a reform plan released by a bipartisan group of eight senators, and President Barack Obama highlighted immigration in his February 12 State of the Union address. The month’s media coverage gives us a glimpse of what to expect from the public debate as the immigration issue takes center stage—and it’s far from reassuring.</p>
<p>Extra! analyzed immigration reform coverage in the Nexis news media database for all ABC, CBS and NBC news programs, as well as the PBS NewsHour, CNN’s Situation Room, Fox News’ Special Report and MSNBC’s Hardball for the full month. The study found 54 reports pertaining to immigration policy, featuring a total of 157 sources.</p>
<p>The majority of sources from all networks were white male politicians born in the United States without personal ties to immigration. The voices of immigrants or activists were mostly absent.</p>
<p>In recent years, more than 50 percent of all immigrants living in the U.S. were women, and in 2011, “55 percent of all people obtaining a green card were women” (Center for American Progress, <a href="http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2013/03/08/55794/10-facts-you-need-to-know-about-immigrant-women-2013-update/" type="external">3/8/13</a>). Women are also highly underrepresented among the high-tech workers Congress wants to make room for, and over-represented in informal sector jobs like domestic work, which could pose greater obstacles to obtaining the documentation necessary for the proposed path-way to citizenship (Huffington Post, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michelle-chen/gender-justice-immigration_b_2973137.html" type="external">4/4/13</a>).</p>
<p>Despite the evident impact immigration reform will have on women—in addition to the fact that they constitute roughly 50 percent of the population, immigrant or not—women’s voices were largely missing from the media debate. Out of 157 sources, just 19 were women (12 percent).</p>
<p>MSNBC’s Hardball managed to record the highest proportion of women (25 per-cent), though this only represented three female sources, due to Hardball’s more limited coverage. NBC had the highest number of female sources—six—but this still fell far short of its 31 male sources. Both Fox News’ Special Report and the PBS NewsHour had a single female source: U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano.</p>
<p>Immigrants come from every part of the world. In 2011, 53 percent of U.S. immigrants were from Latin America, 29 percent were from Asia and the Middle East, 12 percent came from Europe and 4 percent were from Africa, according to the <a href="http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/charts/fb.2.shtml" type="external">Migration Policy Institute</a>. Despite the diverse backgrounds of immigrants, media sources for immigration policy discussions were much more homogenous, with 107 of them, or 68 percent, non-Latino whites.</p>
<p>Of 150 sources with identifiable ethnicity, 16 percent were Latinos and 11 percent were African-Americans. There were two South Asians (1 percent) and one Native American source (0.7 percent). No East Asian or Middle Eastern sources appeared.</p>
<p>But higher numbers for Latinos and African-Americans do not mean greater diversity of perspectives: Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida accounted for 14 of the 24 Latino appearances, while 12 of 16 African-American sources were President Obama. Without these two prominent politicians, the percentages for Latino and African-American sources would plummet to 7 percent and 3 percent, respectively.</p>
<p>At the intersection of gender and ethnicity, women of color were almost invisible in the discussion. Among 17 female sources whose ethnicity was identifiable, there was no one of Asian, Native American or Middle Eastern descent. Republican strategist Ana Navarro served as the only Latina voice, in three separate segments (CNN Situation Room, 2/18/13, 2/19/13; NBC Meet the Press, 2/3/13), and Joy-Ann Reid of the Grio made the only appearance by an African-American woman (MSNBC Hardball, 2/18/13).</p>
<p>Only three sources were identified as current or former undocumented immigrants. CNN (Situation Room, 2/2/13) featured a story of an undocumented immigrant who feels threatened as the mother of a U.S. citizen baby. Her brother, who recently received temporary legal status, said, “We are pretty much Americans, even though we are undocumented, [so we] call ourselves undocumented Americans.”</p>
<p>Another soundbite (PBS NewsHour, 2/13/13), from a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, showed Jose Antonio Vargas, the Pulitzer-winning journalist who openly disclosed his undocumented status and actively advocates for immigrants rights, telling senators: “Immigration is about our future. Immigration is about all of us.”</p>
<p>This media disregard for immigrant voices in immigration-related stories isn’t new; at the height of the media spotlight on Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s policies that racially profiled people with brown skin, Extra! ( <a href="" type="internal">5/09</a>) found that Arpaio himself was featured on cable television 21 times over 12 months on immigration-related issues, while those targeted by his policies were only included in the conversation twice.</p>
<p>With politicians (111) and journalists (33, not including the show hosts or correspondents) dominating the discussion, the immigration issue was mainly framed around the political process and the implications for politicians, rather than the implications for immigrants and society as a whole.</p>
<p>The most prominent focus of discussion was border security. An estimate of $90 billion has been spent on border security for the past decade (Homeland Security News Wire, <a href="http://www.homelandsecuritynewswire.com/us-spends-90-billion-border-security-drugs-keep-pouring" type="external">6/30/11</a>), yet both Democrats and Republicans continue to emphasize further strengthening border security. Florida’s Rubio (Fox Special Report, 2/12/13) framed the issue in national security terms: “What keeps me up at night is a terrorist coming across the border.”</p>
<p>According to a 2010 report (Homeland Security Office of Immigration Statistics, <a href="http://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_ill_pe_2009.pdf" type="external">1/10</a>), however, undocumented immigrants were approximately one-third of the foreign-born population in 2009. Another study (Pew Hispanic Center, <a href="http://pewhispanic.org/files/factsheets/19.pdf" type="external">3/22/06</a>) estimates that 40–50 percent of the unauthorized immigrant population “entered the country legally through ports of entry.” This suggests that roughly 20 percent or less of the entire immigrant population gained entry by crossing the border illegally.</p>
<p>Regardless, the major discussion regarding border security was whether it should precede other actions (mainly a pathway to citizenship) or whether all steps should be tackled comprehensively.</p>
<p>This seemed to be split along politicians’ party affiliations, with Democrats support-ing the latter option and Republicans stressing border security above all. For example, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (PBS NewsHour, 2/13/13) argued: “When you think about immigration reform…all these things go together. It is a system,” although she assured “the entire Southwest border [will remain] secure” (NBC Today Show, 2/5/13). Republican officials argued that securing the borders should come first, with Republican Rep. Lou Barletta (ABC This Week, 2/3/13) complaining, “We’re offering a pathway to citizenship without knowing that we could secure our borders.”</p>
<p>In addition to border security, some other topics were occasionally touched on, such as corporations’ thoughts on an E-verify system, the policy’s applicability to same-sex couples and amnesty for immigrants currently residing in the U.S. But with coverage focused on political debates and analysis of the reform package’s progress, media neglected to speak to the people most often spoken about in the controversy: immigrants themselves.</p>
<p>Across all seven networks, immigrant-centered opinions were noticeably missing. When mentioned, immigrants were mostly objectified as tools or obstacles for the U.S. economy or politics. Republican strategist Alex Castellanos (NBC Meet the Press, 2/17/13)—himself a naturalized American—said: “Right now, immigrants have no economic value in the American system. They have political value to Democrats.”</p>
<p>Alabama’s Rep. Spencer Bachus (Fox Special Report, 2/5/13) promoted the bill as addressing a “horrible situation”—but identified that situation as the U.S. “training people to go back to their countries and compete against us.” CNN senior political analyst Gloria Borger was one of many who saw immigration reform simply as a political issue, “given the fact that Republicans lost so badly with Hispanic voters in the last election” (Situation Room, 2/4/13).</p>
<p>Aside from the three current or former undocumented immigrant sources, the source who came closest to focusing on immigrants’ needs was Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, who said: “I don’t need to suggest any solution. I think we need to resolve the circumstances favorably of the 11 million or so people who are in that situation” (CBS This Morning, 2/7/13). The only other immigrant-centered comment was from NBC’s host Chris Matthews (Meet the Press, 2/17/13), who stated, “We know we’ve had 11 million people come in the country illegally, we know we’d like something to be done compassionately toward them.”</p>
<p>But what few mentions—positive or negative—immigrants received disappeared as a whole when USA Today broke the story of the White House draft immigration bill ( <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/16/obama-immigration-bill/1925017/" type="external">2/17/13</a>), at which point the reports were dominated by responses from Republican politicians, and speculation about how this “leak” would affect the process. Outraged Republican politicians declared that “leaks don’t happen in Washington by accident” (NBC Meet the Press, 2/17/13) and the bill would be “dead on arrival.”</p>
<p>With the April 18 announcement of a new bill proposed by the bipartisan “group of eight” senators, even more heated public debates over immigration reform are sure to come. But if February’s coverage is any indication, those with the most at stake in those debates will be almost entirely ignored.</p>
<p>&#160;</p>
<p>SIDEBAR:</p>
<p>Dropping the I-Word</p>
<p>The use of derogatory labels for undocumented immigrants is still prevalent in media coverage, despite activists’ continuous campaign against them (Extra!, <a href="" type="internal">3/11</a>; ColorLines, “ <a href="http://colorlines.com/droptheiword/" type="external">Drop the I-Word</a>”). In February’s immigration policy coverage in the seven coded networks and shows, there were 39 mentions of the “i-word.”</p>
<p>Thirty-two uses of the word “illegal” were by show hosts and network correspondents, occurring on all seven networks; the other seven counts came from guests. NBC and ABC were reported to have “dropped the term” in 2012 (ABC News, <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/News/york-times-times/story?id=17388156#.UYEwpkoXJBk" type="external">10/3/12</a>), although they were the two networks whose hosts and correspondents used “illegal” most frequently in immigration policy stories—10 and six times, respectively. CNN ( <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/04/us/illegal-immigrant-term-still-a-challenge" type="external">4/4/13</a>) prefers to use “‘undocumented immigrant’ when referring to an individual,” although two correspondents and the host, Wolf Blitzer, let it slip once each (Situation Room, 2/2/13, 2/13/13, 2/18/13).</p>
<p>These numbers do not include all mentions in February, as stories not specifically about immigration policy used the word “illegal” to describe immigrants far more often. For example, ABC’s Good Morning America (2/27/13) flashed the graphic “Will illegal immigrants be released from jail?” when reporting the sequester’s effect on detained immigrants.</p>
<p>While television stations lack regulations or struggle to keep up with them, print media are stepping up for change. In 2011, the Society of Professional Journalists ( <a href="http://mije.org/richardprince/unity-backer-has-second-thoughts#SPJ" type="external">9/28/11</a>) passed a resolution to “stop the use of ‘illegal alien’” and re-evaluate “illegal immigrants.” The resolution described “illegal immigrant” as being politically charged, and “illegal alien” to be “more offensive and bureaucratic.” It also noted that “only the court system, not reporters and editors, can decide when a person has committed an illegal act.”</p>
<p>Since then, the Associated Press announced changes in its stylebook to drop “illegal” (FAIR Blog, <a href="" type="internal">4/4/13</a>; Poynter, <a href="http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/152290/despite-criticism-ap-stylebook-dictates-that-journalists-use-illegal-immigrant/" type="external">11/7/11</a>). The New York Times ( <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/24/business/media/the-times-shifts-on-illegal-immigrant-but-doesnt-ban-the-use.html?_r=0" type="external">4/23/13</a>) made policy updates to encourage “reporters and editors to ‘consider alternatives…to explain the specific circumstances of the person,’” although it did not change the policy entirely.</p>
<p>Subscribe: <a href="" type="internal">Android</a> | <a href="" type="internal">RSS</a></p> | true | 4 | dc rally immigration reform cc photo anuska sampedro immigration policy national agenda february political system responded reform plan released bipartisan group eight senators president barack obama highlighted immigration february 12 state union address months media coverage gives us glimpse expect public debate immigration issue takes center stageand far reassuring extra analyzed immigration reform coverage nexis news media database abc cbs nbc news programs well pbs newshour cnns situation room fox news special report msnbcs hardball full month study found 54 reports pertaining immigration policy featuring total 157 sources majority sources networks white male politicians born united states without personal ties immigration voices immigrants activists mostly absent recent years 50 percent immigrants living us women 2011 55 percent people obtaining green card women center american progress 3813 women also highly underrepresented among hightech workers congress wants make room overrepresented informal sector jobs like domestic work could pose greater obstacles obtaining documentation necessary proposed pathway citizenship huffington post 4413 despite evident impact immigration reform womenin addition fact constitute roughly 50 percent population immigrant notwomens voices largely missing media debate 157 sources 19 women 12 percent msnbcs hardball managed record highest proportion women 25 percent though represented three female sources due hardballs limited coverage nbc highest number female sourcessixbut still fell far short 31 male sources fox news special report pbs newshour single female source us secretary homeland security janet napolitano immigrants come every part world 2011 53 percent us immigrants latin america 29 percent asia middle east 12 percent came europe 4 percent africa according migration policy institute despite diverse backgrounds immigrants media sources immigration policy discussions much homogenous 107 68 percent nonlatino whites 150 sources identifiable ethnicity 16 percent latinos 11 percent africanamericans two south asians 1 percent one native american source 07 percent east asian middle eastern sources appeared higher numbers latinos africanamericans mean greater diversity perspectives republican sen marco rubio florida accounted 14 24 latino appearances 12 16 africanamerican sources president obama without two prominent politicians percentages latino africanamerican sources would plummet 7 percent 3 percent respectively intersection gender ethnicity women color almost invisible discussion among 17 female sources whose ethnicity identifiable one asian native american middle eastern descent republican strategist ana navarro served latina voice three separate segments cnn situation room 21813 21913 nbc meet press 2313 joyann reid grio made appearance africanamerican woman msnbc hardball 21813 three sources identified current former undocumented immigrants cnn situation room 2213 featured story undocumented immigrant feels threatened mother us citizen baby brother recently received temporary legal status said pretty much americans even though undocumented call undocumented americans another soundbite pbs newshour 21313 senate judiciary committee hearing showed jose antonio vargas pulitzerwinning journalist openly disclosed undocumented status actively advocates immigrants rights telling senators immigration future immigration us media disregard immigrant voices immigrationrelated stories isnt new height media spotlight arizona sheriff joe arpaios policies racially profiled people brown skin extra 509 found arpaio featured cable television 21 times 12 months immigrationrelated issues targeted policies included conversation twice politicians 111 journalists 33 including show hosts correspondents dominating discussion immigration issue mainly framed around political process implications politicians rather implications immigrants society whole prominent focus discussion border security estimate 90 billion spent border security past decade homeland security news wire 63011 yet democrats republicans continue emphasize strengthening border security floridas rubio fox special report 21213 framed issue national security terms keeps night terrorist coming across border according 2010 report homeland security office immigration statistics 110 however undocumented immigrants approximately onethird foreignborn population 2009 another study pew hispanic center 32206 estimates 4050 percent unauthorized immigrant population entered country legally ports entry suggests roughly 20 percent less entire immigrant population gained entry crossing border illegally regardless major discussion regarding border security whether precede actions mainly pathway citizenship whether steps tackled comprehensively seemed split along politicians party affiliations democrats supporting latter option republicans stressing border security example homeland security secretary janet napolitano pbs newshour 21313 argued think immigration reformall things go together system although assured entire southwest border remain secure nbc today show 2513 republican officials argued securing borders come first republican rep lou barletta abc week 2313 complaining offering pathway citizenship without knowing could secure borders addition border security topics occasionally touched corporations thoughts everify system policys applicability samesex couples amnesty immigrants currently residing us coverage focused political debates analysis reform packages progress media neglected speak people often spoken controversy immigrants across seven networks immigrantcentered opinions noticeably missing mentioned immigrants mostly objectified tools obstacles us economy politics republican strategist alex castellanos nbc meet press 21713himself naturalized americansaid right immigrants economic value american system political value democrats alabamas rep spencer bachus fox special report 2513 promoted bill addressing horrible situationbut identified situation us training people go back countries compete us cnn senior political analyst gloria borger one many saw immigration reform simply political issue given fact republicans lost badly hispanic voters last election situation room 2413 aside three current former undocumented immigrant sources source came closest focusing immigrants needs caesars entertainment ceo gary loveman said dont need suggest solution think need resolve circumstances favorably 11 million people situation cbs morning 2713 immigrantcentered comment nbcs host chris matthews meet press 21713 stated know weve 11 million people come country illegally know wed like something done compassionately toward mentionspositive negativeimmigrants received disappeared whole usa today broke story white house draft immigration bill 21713 point reports dominated responses republican politicians speculation leak would affect process outraged republican politicians declared leaks dont happen washington accident nbc meet press 21713 bill would dead arrival april 18 announcement new bill proposed bipartisan group eight senators even heated public debates immigration reform sure come februarys coverage indication stake debates almost entirely ignored 160 sidebar dropping iword use derogatory labels undocumented immigrants still prevalent media coverage despite activists continuous campaign extra 311 colorlines drop iword februarys immigration policy coverage seven coded networks shows 39 mentions iword thirtytwo uses word illegal show hosts network correspondents occurring seven networks seven counts came guests nbc abc reported dropped term 2012 abc news 10312 although two networks whose hosts correspondents used illegal frequently immigration policy stories10 six times respectively cnn 4413 prefers use undocumented immigrant referring individual although two correspondents host wolf blitzer let slip situation room 2213 21313 21813 numbers include mentions february stories specifically immigration policy used word illegal describe immigrants far often example abcs good morning america 22713 flashed graphic illegal immigrants released jail reporting sequesters effect detained immigrants television stations lack regulations struggle keep print media stepping change 2011 society professional journalists 92811 passed resolution stop use illegal alien reevaluate illegal immigrants resolution described illegal immigrant politically charged illegal alien offensive bureaucratic also noted court system reporters editors decide person committed illegal act since associated press announced changes stylebook drop illegal fair blog 4413 poynter 11711 new york times 42313 made policy updates encourage reporters editors consider alternativesto explain specific circumstances person although change policy entirely subscribe android rss | 1,143 |
<p>Wearing Bhutto as a last name in Pakistan is analogous to carrying a flamboyant, rare, elitist Prada bag: an accessory that assures you will never be common nor anonymous. The Bhutto merchandise captivates the political landscape as a dynamic, privileged, legendary and plagued real estate that encapsulates all that is wildly schizophrenic, volatile but ultimately endearing about Pakistan. It’s precisely this mythology borne from a feudal dynasty that burdens Fatima Bhutto, the charismatic and outspoken niece of recently assassinated Benazir Bhutto, and daughter of Murtaza Bhutto, himself assassinated in 1996.</p>
<p>The twenty five year old published poet, writer, and columnist for The News in Pakistan loathes “birth right politics” and laments Pakistan’s obsession with “the cult of personality.” Regardless, that Bhutto brand name, for better or worse, places the spotlight squarely on this young “Bhutto,” who is now coming into her own as both a vocal social activist and highly coveted, Pakistani bachelorette tabloid sensation. Instead of abusing the limelight for pretentious self adulation, Fatima Bhutto has found a forum to publicly blast Musharaff’s dictatorial government, Asif Ali Zardari’s corruption, Benazir Bhutto’s self serving machinations, and the Army’s hegemonic apparatuses.</p>
<p>I recently conducted a lengthy and informative interview with Pakistan’s “new” daughter of destiny and pleasantly discovered that she, despite her regal and privileged upbringing, was not like the narcissistic, self-absorbed Pakistani Clifton elitists I’ve met and come to abhor over the years. Instead, I talked to an extremely opinionated, well informed, sarcastic, passionate, garrulous yet articulate young woman about the recent Pakistani elections, Asif Ali Zardari’s new government, the real Benazir Bhutto, the role of Bhutto and Zardari in her father’s assassination, the disastrous results of American foreign policy, the future of Musharaff, and life living under the “Bhutto” spotlight.</p>
<p>ALI: There are many who have partisan views on the Bhutto family dynasty. Some see you as “the real Bhutto” as opposed to Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, son of Asif Zardari and the late Benazir Bhutto. Why would you think you warrant the “authentic label” – a political label, I might add, you seem to wholeheartedly reject at the current moment.</p>
<p>BHUTTO: To me it sounds like two different things. First, there’s a question of simple genetics I think. There’s a question of some kind of political birthright. But I think both propositions are frivolous. The first question is: who is actually a Bhutto child by virtue of their parents? I think that is a pretty straightforward answer; one that shouldn’t have other implications but does now in this exciting frenzy of “dynasty” that we live in, right?</p>
<p>The other is which child is more qualified to rule, which is equally frivolous. Because “name” is determining the qualification in this place. It’s not a resume, it’s not any work experience, it’s just who has the closer genetics to the [gene] pool and therefore who is more qualified. It’s an example of how names and personalities rather than principles and platforms have taken over politics in South Asia and Pakistan.</p>
<p>ALI: The Bhutto dynasty is legendary in Pakistan. Many claim the dynasty has a curse and a privilege, which can be likened to what we have here in America with the Kennedys.&#160; Do you think this cycle will repeat itself in the 21st century: a cyclical pattern of tragedy and privilege? Is there any way to break from this dynastic “curse”, or is this just an overreaching assumption?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: I think it’s a bit fantastical actually. When we rely on things like curses and blessings to explain things for us, we lose sight of the real picture.&#160; We lose sight of the wider truths and how it is that people live in the countries they live in and the factors that decide the things like violence in these countries. I think it’s all very romanticized to say there is a curse and that’s why they will be part of a cyclical violence for a family like the Kennedys, the Ghandis and so on.</p>
<p>The answer is probably less exciting or less mythical. That’s something people don’t like to look at. It’s amazing the politics of distraction that are practiced, not just in South Asia, but also in the media at large.&#160; Where you can take a family and build a myth around it that is exciting and sad and romantic without any mention of actual politics or actual conditions in the country they live in. It’s purely distraction. I think they keep perpetuating this myth of curses and blessings – it’s all very frivolous.</p>
<p>ALI: Throughout the history of Pakistan it seems either the military or feudal dynasties control the power. From the ground up, there seems to be a system in place that always hijacks the democratic process in their favor. How can Pakistan tangibly and realistically free itself of this? Can it at all?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: It certainly can. The question is will it? One question that is central to both is the issue of accountability and certainly the issue of merit. When you look at the state of Pakistani politicians today – you are right – it’s either a taking over by the army who believe they are the only ones who care for Pakistan and they are the only force that can set Pakistan down the right path. Then you’ve got this sort of feudal dynasty that believes they are entitled to rule and that they deserve power. Neither one of these groups is going to give up power or authority. Now we see a third cycling of politicians.</p>
<p>Musharraf came into power because people were fed up with Nawaz [Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s once exiled former Prime Minister] and [Benazir] Bhutto. Then, Nawaz and Benazir came back to Pakistan, because people were fed up with Musharaff. And when people are finished with Asif Zardari [Benazir’s husband and her party’s current figurehead] and Nawaz, they will go back to Musharaff.</p>
<p>Parties have molded politics in Pakistan into one of personality. They have completely lowered the political discourse and political understanding in this country. It doesn’t have to be about issues anymore, it’s about people. It’s about who looks better on a sticker. I mean it sounds funny, but in a sense it’s true. They are able to do this because in Pakistan we have no discourse that pushes things like principles or platforms or merits. One should be qualified to rule because of their experience, their platforms, their party’s manifesto, because of the internal democratic system.&#160; But of course that’s not the question, it’s whom you are related to and how closely you are related to them.</p>
<p>The other factor is also accountability with things like the NRO, which is really an odious piece of legislation called the National Reconciliation Ordinance, which is a bill signed unilaterally into power by Musharaff when he was the General and not the President. It effectively wipes out 20 years of corruption for politicians, bankers and bureaucrats. And it makes it virtually impossible to file future charges against a sitting parliamentarian. It effectively puts those in power above the law. And today the NRO is being used not to excuse just financial crimes, but also extortion, murder, smuggling cases, drug cases, I mean this is certainly the case of Asif Zardari. There’s no accountability, there’s no way of saying these feudal dynasties have stolen from the country and they have not given it back to the country, and the army has increased violence and changed our way of life. We would like to hold them accountable to their rule, and therefore remove them from office. Without that system, we can’t remove them.</p>
<p>ALI: Let’s discuss the current election and some political parties. You have actually talked about the rigging of Pakistan’s February elections, and even suggested the PPP [Benazir’s party, the Pakistan People’s Party] had a hand in rigging them.&#160; However, many said this election represented the will of the Pakistani people. Were these truly free elections we witnessed?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: This election was nothing more than state theatre. It was a complete farce in many ways. First of all, it was the third time the election date was changed. It was supposed to be in December, but then Emergency was declared.&#160; Then we were supposed to have it January 8th, and then it was postponed to February 18th. Now for each of these periods, the campaigning time was extremely limited – 30 to 45 days given – and if you look at the original Constitution, you need at least 60 but at least preferably 90 days for canvassing. For those who don’t know, this is an enormous country. We have very distinct provinces, and in order to canvass on that scale you need time. So, that’s the first way the elections were clearly not going to be free or fair.</p>
<p>Secondly, there was no drive for registration in Pakistan. If you look at most rural areas in many of these provinces, women don’t have ID cards. Not just women, but you also have the peasants working the land, your construction workers that come from the Frontier, village people who are in a way bonded labor; people who have no sort of social security or are legally tracked in any way. Women especially just don’t have access.</p>
<p>So, you have an election from the start that is not going to be representative of the people. You’re going to have only a small percentage of the people that can vote. Then, there’s Election Day. Musharaff’s government enabled rigging. I think that’s very important to state. They released, for example, a voter list by the government at one stage. Several weeks later, polling lists were released. Now, let’s say you have a voting list of 60,000 people and a polling list of maybe 300 polling stations; people have no idea where they are registered. So, they may go to their closest polling station where they voted at last elections, wait in line, and then be told, “No, I’m sorry you’re not registered here.” “So, where am I registered?” “Sorry, we don’t have that information.” There’s a complete disconnect and there’s no transparency between these two lists.</p>
<p>The other way is the election commission released booklets and did ads in the media putting out the rules of elections. What you need in an election to vote legally is that you need to appear in person, and you need a valid identity card with your name and card number on it. However, the voter lists that were given to the voting stations by the election commission and the government, they have a name and a birth date but nothing in between. They don’t have an ID card number or address.&#160; So, you can appear at a polling station and say, “Hi I’m Afzal Khan and I’d like to vote,” and there’s nothing to distinguish you from 400 other Afzal Khans in your neighborhood.</p>
<p>So, that name doesn’t get checked off, and people can come and vote on the same name over and over again. The Musharaff government certainly enabled rigging, but what’s important to know about rigging especially in a country like Pakistan is that people have this image that the government is sort of a miscreant in a black cloak who comes in to a station, sticks in a separate box, hides it in under his cloak, and somehow rigging happens. But how it really happens is through the local parties on the ground, who have polling agents at the scene and who are technically there to ensure rigging doesn’t happen, but of course that’s not the case.</p>
<p>Parties like PPP, PML-N rig in a number of ways, the first is through intimidation. These are small communities, the polling agent knows your name, knows where you live, and if you don’t vote the right way, you will be noticed. There’s also ballot stuffing, which we saw quite openly. You also have a presiding officer at the polling station who are usually school teachers, and these are government appointed positions who owe their livelihood and job to the government so they are not neutral in any way.</p>
<p>You also have fake ID’s being used. We saw women coming in with several ID’s. They come in wearing the burqahs and you have a 19 year old wearing a burqah who has an ID card saying she was born in 1938. And you are not permitted to ask a lady wearing a burqah to lift her burqah, she doesn’t have to show her face when she votes, and that of course leads to rigging.</p>
<p>ALI: CNN recently stated that Asif Ali Zardari is the most powerful man in Pakistan. The Prime Minister, Yousuf Raza Gilani, was sworn in last week, and many people say he is a handpicked Desi [South Asian] uncle who is merely the proxy of Zardari. And, as you know, Zardari’s former nickname is “Mr. 10%” due to the illegal commissions he got off contracts. Has he been reformed 100%?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: I don’t think Zardari has been reformed an iota. This reform of Zardari has been through the NRO, a completely unconstitutional and illegal piece of legislation. What they have done is stricken from the record 2.5 to 3 billion dollars worth of corruption from Zardari’s name. And they said, “Sorry, nope, just kidding, he didn’t do it”. But in a city like Karachi most of the citizens don’t have access to electricity. In the summer, the running water comes maybe two or three hours a day. A city that effectively looks like a refugee camp. That’s evidence of that corruption, that evidence you see every day doesn’t erase itself with the NRO. They’ve removed some extortion and drug cases from Zardari’s record as well.</p>
<p>He had 4 murder cases pending against him, and one of them was just removed involving the murder of a High Court Justice and his young son. Just because his name is now suddenly stricken from the record, doesn’t change that there’s a family who remembered him. I don’t think he’s been reformed in any way except to promote this idea of reconciliation, healing and democracy at work in Pakistan. Which of course is for the benefit for people who know nothing about Pakistan.</p>
<p>If you see Gilani the Prime Minister, what has not been mentioned in the Washington Post pieces about his exciting and democratic election, is that he not only served under the parliament of the dictator Zia al Haq [Pakistan’s military dictator from 1977 to 1988 until his assassination], but he also served under the Majlis of Shura council of Zia al Haq, an Islamic council or parliament that Zia had created which he filled with his most trusted and closest advisors. A former crony if you will, or certainly a political worker of Zia al Haq, now stands in Parliament as a Prime Minister of the PPP, whose founder [Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir’s father] was killed by Zia. These are all fiefs. Historical amnesia in Pakistan doesn’t even have to extend that far, it just goes back 20 years. That’s how far you have to go to check Gilani’s political history.</p>
<p>Certainly he’s been placed there because he’s a “yes man”, he has no ideological attachment to the People’s Party, certainly the party that was founded by Zulfiqar Bhutto. However, I’m sure he worked just fine with Benazir and Zardari’s people. But this has become a charade concerning Zardari’s cases. What the NRO does is that those cases with Zardari no longer have to happen under the table – now they can happen over the table.</p>
<p>ALI: You’ve said publicly that you hold Benazir Bhutto “morally responsible” for the assassination of your father [Murtaza Bhutto shot outside his house in Karachi, Pakistan in a police ambush in 1996.] We now know the police had a direct role in the murder, including blocking traffic and delaying the ambulances as well dragging the investigation. Do you specifically blame your aunt and Asif Zardari for your father’s assassination? Pointing fingers at your aunt and Zardari is a bold claim no?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: As you said we know for a fact that the police pulled the trigger. Some very high level police officers were at the scene of the murder – they placed themselves there. Who authorized the police to stage a private killing of an elected member of the Assembly and coincidentally the Prime Minister’s brother? I always said Bhutto bears moral responsibility for my father’s murder because if you look at her last government in the mid 90’s it presided over thousands of deaths in Karachi. Bhutto used the police force to attack her critics and opponents.</p>
<p>The police were given orders by the Prime Minister’s office to clean up Karachi. They went after the ethnic Muhajir community, a community that came from India [after 1947’s partition], and is primarily Urdu speaking and the MQM party, which is the party that represents them. They were attacked in “Operation Clean Up”, which was as genocidal as it sounds. I mean the police were empowered by the Prime Minister’s office to setup torture cells and assassination squads. It was as simple as the police stop you, they ask for your ID card, and if you don’t have a Sindhi name, if you have a Muhajir name then you’re shot on spot. There were thousands of these daily murders. The MQM were targeted primarily because they opposed Bhutto and primarily because they were a sticking point in the province of Sindh where she got most of her votes and power from. My father was a very vocal critic of the corruption by Benazir and Asif and these extra judicial killings. And he was one man out of thousands that was killed by her government.</p>
<p>So, absolutely she created an environment of organized and sanctioned violence against political figures. None of these cases were solved. None of these cases were seriously looked into. The police were allowed to attack with immunity and were covered by the law. Secondly, I pointed the finger at Benazir because her role in the cover-up was substantial. While we don’t know if she signed the death warrant her self, while we know she wasn’t there to pull the trigger, we also know certain things. After the murder my family wasn’t allowed to file a first information report [F.I.R.], which is a police report that is every Pakistani’s right by law. Our family was denied the right to file an F.I.R. We had to go the high court of Sindh to have our legal rights awarded to us.</p>
<p>Secondly Bhutto’s government arrested the witnesses and the survivors to the assassination but not the police, they were not arrested, they were all internally cleared in a review, and they were honorably reinstated to their job, and they were promoted. One member of the police force who at the time headed the intelligence bureau that directly reported to the Prime Minister’s office, after the murder he was asked by Benazir to join the Central Committee of her Party. That sounds like a reward really. It doesn’t sound like a punishment. It was a very honored position to be given.</p>
<p>Third, the Benazir government didn’t allow us to push forward with a criminal case. They elected to have a tribunal which was to have no legal authority to pass a sentence. It was essentially a stalling mechanism. However the judges chosen were very well respected members of the community. The tribunal concluded three very important things, but unfortunately they were unable to act on these conclusions.</p>
<p>First, it was an assassination. Forensically, they concluded only the police fired ammunition; it wasn’t a shoot out. Second, they concluded that the police used an excessive amount of force, that they stopped traffic, they didn’t take the injured men to hospitals, and they dropped them off at clinics but not to emergency wards. And third, they concluded the assassination couldn’t have happened without approval from the highest level of the government. At the time what was higher than Benazir’s post as Prime Minister?</p>
<p>ALI: Many say that the bad blood between your late father and Asif Zardari points the blame at the latter. Do you think that’s pure speculation or accurate?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: We have to take into account my father was very vocal about Asif’s role in Benazir’s government. He was outspoken about his corruption and about the manner in which he and his friends essentially hijacked the government. He was given positions like the Minister of Investment, which is almost ridiculous to place in the hands of a man who has corruption cases leveled against him. Asif Zardari certainly with his wife took the party in a direction that rendered it completely unfamiliar in its original form. A party that was founded on the ideals of social justice, land reform, provincial empowerment, and economic empowerment became under Benazir and Asif’s control the party of feudal landlords. It became a party of the industrial class, these oligarchs that control industry in Pakistan, and it no longer is a party for the disposed and disenfranchised. It’s become a club, a club for the rich and famous and criminally inept. My father was very critical about this, of course he represented a threat politically to Benazir. He spoke truth to the power in that case, and it was certainly very threatening.</p>
<p>The other thing to keep in mind is that this is not the only murder case leveled against Asif Zardari. There’s the case of the high court judge as I mentioned. There was a case of the steel mill chairman as well. Asif was a man at the time in power who was not used to hearing no, he was used to getting what he wanted. He received “10%” during Benazir’s first government and he became Mr. 50% during the second. Nothing ran in Pakistan without Asif’s approval, and I don’t imagine that this would have changed very much now. Again we see him at the helm of power pulling the string of the Prime Minister and Parliament.</p>
<p>ALI: If you’ve been reading the Western media’s coverage of Pakistan, you’ll know your late aunt, Benazir Bhutto, was heralded as the “beacon of democracy.” Some others state she was merely a shameless self-promoter. What was the reality, and why did the United States want so much to project her as this beacon of democracy?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: When people do their bidding for the U.S., they become beacons of democracy. The U.S also, I believe, thought Pinochet of Chile was a beacon of democracy at one time; they heralded Taliban as freedom fighters in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson. Let’s not forget they supported Saddam Hussein until he became inconvenient then they toppled him. The Shah Of Iran was also a great friend of America. So I think it’s perfectly obvious why America would choose to support Benazir: she was willing to do their bidding for them.&#160; Here was a politician who was certainly corrupt if not financially then certainly ethically, and who had lost, through the years, the necessary ground support to bring her to power any more. That’s why she needed backers like those in The White House.</p>
<p>Before she came back to Pakistan, she gave a number of very controversial statements. She said that once re-elected Prime Minister for the third time, which she assumed – in the way feudal dynasts do – was a given, that she would open up Pakistan’s borders for U.S. troops to stage operations in their War on Terror. Now that statement is not pro American, that statement is anti Pakistani. But those were the lengths she was willing to go to please those pulling the strings. It was Condi Rice who basically pushed Musharaff’s arm to deal with Benazir and said, “Look, you need a pretty face in the government, we can’t keep supporting open dictators. We can support you and give you millions of dollars of aid provided you look sort of like a democracy. It’s not the ‘70’s anymore.”</p>
<p>Purely looking at Benazir’s record, Wajahat, we have to conclude she was not a beacon of democracy. In her first government, she came into power by dealing with the military, through dealing with Zia’s military. She would’ve been his Prime Minister, and she was very fortunate that he was killed before that. It’s worthwhile mentioning General Zia assassinated Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, her father, and abrogated the 1973 constitution. When Benazir won the 1988 elections the army said to her, “Look we will invite you to be Prime Minister, but we will choose your cabinet for you and your foreign minister for you. And, you have to continue on with the IMF and World Bank loan agreements that we have taken on, and they have to be carried forward without any argument.” And she agreed and compromised with the army in ’88.</p>
<p>If we look at her first government which lasted two years, Benazir’s government failed to pass any major legislation – and by any major legislation I mean any legislation. Instead, you’ve got a woman Prime Minister popularly elected who did not remove the Hudood Ordinance, which is the most violent piece of legislation against women and minorities in Pakistan. It is a part of Zia’s legacy. It says if a woman commits adultery or engages in sexual relations before marriage she can be stoned to death. It’s a completely draconian law. The Bhutto government didn’t even attempt to remove the Hudood.</p>
<p>She was ousted in 1990 on large-scale corruption charges. She comes back to government in ’93, which is now known for continued corruption on a major level. We’re talking billions. Two to three billon dollars worth of corruption cases about money stolen from Pakistan’s Treasury. They were also known for major flagrant human rights violations, for the extra judicial killings targeted against the ethnic Muhajirs and political dissidents. To top it off, before falling out of power, she recognizes and provided support for the Taliban government in Afghanistan.&#160; Her interior minister used to call the Taliban “my boys.” And Benazir has basically admitted in interviews “Look we made a mistake with Afghanistan. Whoops, I didn’t know. Please forgive me.”</p>
<p>This is her record. During her last government, six Sindhi papers were shut down because they were critical. There was no freedom of press, no freedom of political difference. Her record is not just violence, but also distinctly undemocratic. So, we come out of that and ask, “What did she do afterwards?” She leaves the country and she comes back and makes a deal with a dictator.</p>
<p>She makes a deal with Musharaff and asks for three things: First, the NRO and for [the pardon of] her corruption cases and her friends, which distinctively cover her and not other figures, from the start of her power till the end, from 1986 till now. She asks for the NRO. Secondly, she asks that the Constitution be changed so that the Prime Minister can have more than two terms. Now, most functioning democracies have limits on the powers for the Prime Minister and President. Benazir was asking this be removed so she could return to power for the third time, a personal request. And the third request was to remove Article 58-2b, which allowed the President to depose his Prime Minister without the sanction of Parliament. By removing the Article, it doesn’t empower the people, the democratic institution, the parliament; it simply shifts power from the President to the Prime Minister. Again, that’s a deeply personal sort of request.</p>
<p>For Benazir coming back for a third shot at power, it’s remarkable she didn’t ask for the 1973 Constitution to be restored, or she didn’t say drop the Hudood, or she didn’t ask for the thousands of people that have disappeared since Musharaff came into office. The only legislation she asked for was concerning her own person. Her record is one that is deeply flawed, deeply, deeply flawed. It’s no more democratic than the Shah of Iran or General Pinochet.</p>
<p>But, however, I think it’s this continued sort of racism in the West and this need for expediency to push Benazir forward. Here is this woman that speaks beautiful English and she went to the best schools the West could offer. And she is compliant, and she was a pretty face for this idea of a democracy, this sort of transposed democracy they were planning to put up in Pakistan. I don’t think the US government has dealt with Pakistan any differently than they do with other similar countries they intervene in. Certainly the media, and this is important to note, was remarkably irresponsible in their covering Benazir before she was coming back to Pakistan.</p>
<p>There were these fawning articles written about what a horrible life she had, how attractive she was, how she went to Oxford, who her friends in Washington and London were. It didn’t say much about her record, or her time in government. Ultimately, that’s what she is accountable to – her record.</p>
<p>ALI:&#160; Western media portrays Pakistan as a hotbed of “rage boys” – yet fundamentalist parties only win a minority of seats. Nonetheless, we see an explosion of suicide bombings and terrorist attacks this past year. This makes it hard for U.S. and the world to hear the age-old tale “Hey, we Pakistanis are peaceful.” If you could control the Western media’s depiction for one day – what would you show as the modern day reality of Pakistan?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: Wow. Well, that would be a very heavy day. I think when we talk about things like Islamic radicalism or Islamic extremism in Pakistan, the one thing Western media is really good at is showing the really scary side: men with beards burning things and bombing things. They de-contextualise them. They leave them completely floating in this space of terror and violence. One thing I’ve never seen in the media explanation as to why Islamic fundamentalists have become powerful in Pakistan is the following. In most of this country, you see no evidence of the government in rural areas. They are completely an invisible force, either reluctant or unwilling to provide the most basic needs for people in this country. So what happens in these places, Islamic organizations will come in and set up madrassas. So if there’s no other option for a family to have their child educated, how do you convince a family not to send their child to a religious school, a madrassa? You can’t. You don’t. You have no right to. Of course not all madrassas are bad, and we have to distinguish between good and bad madrassas In the Western media, madrassa is followed by jihad or training camp, and that’s certainly not the case.</p>
<p>After the 2005 earthquakes, which was incredibly devastating with tremendous destruction, what you saw when you went to these areas hit by the earthquake, you saw aid coming from foreign countries, foreign flags flying, and you saw the Jamaat and Islamic parties and organizations building tents and rehabilitations centers. You didn’t see anything from the Pakistan government. I would put that in the newspaper for the day. I think also the thing that happens in the Western media is that they have set the bar incredibly low for countries like Pakistan. That speaks to this sort of – I don’t know what the word is&#160; – one could call it Orientalism, neo-colonialism or imperialism – let’s just call it imperialism. Part of imperial thinking is to denigrate the people you are lording over, and say these are very simple people and so we must come and help them. The Western media does this constantly with Pakistan, for example, after the elections, they said, “Oh, only 20 people were killed that’s very good for Pakistan!” No, that’s not good or okay for Pakistan! 20 people or 200 people, it doesn’t matter, this is still 20 people, it’s still violence on Election Day.</p>
<p>You also had Joe Biden and John Kerry come in and say, “Oh, for Pakistan this was incredibly free and fair elections.” No! For no country was this free and fair elections, but the bar has been placed so low in the Western media. When there’s two suicide bombings instead of five, the media says, “Whoa! Things are booming in Pakistan.”</p>
<p>There are so many things the Western media leaves out, sorry for going on like this. The Western media paints this picture of economic progress in Pakistan, you know 10 billion dollars of aid, this country is moving forward, they are allies on the War on Terror, they are receiving foreign investments and so forth.</p>
<p>The idea that The New York Times would say these things that Pakistan is booming under Musharaff – everything is wonderful and everything is great. But what they don’t print is that the growth they speak of is this very small pool. Like 20 families that have always done well in Pakistan and have continued to do well. If you look at the majority of the population, it’s become too expensive to eat in this country in parts of Punjab and Sindh. The price of bread, which is a staple in the Pakistani diet, went from 2 rupees to 18 rupees. The price of flour, wheat is just enormously high in this country.</p>
<p>ALI: War on terror has produced kidnappings, battery and even outright attacks on Pakistani people by Pakistan’s army in its hunt for Bin Laden. A lot of times we see disappearances of activists and professors in the Balochistan province. Describe this scene to us and explain if this, at all, is linked to the blowback we see via suicide bombs in Pakistan?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: It started off in the same way that you see with American military involvement in a lot of countries under the guise of fighting terror or protecting interests, they’d come in, say so and so has terror links, and they’d take them to Guantanamo. However, the Pakistani government, once the American government stopped shipping people to Guantanamo with enthusiasm, decided this was a very convenient way to deal with their problems. In Balochistan Province you have anywhere between five to eight thousand people disappeared – that’s an incredibly high number. As you said they are activists, professors, political workers, poets, they are picked up and taken and for no reason. Their families don’t know where they are; we don’t discuss this in the media.</p>
<p>You know Pakistan doesn’t have a history of suicide bombing, but certainly does have a violent political history, but we never had suicide bombings. But this recent slate of suicide attacks against the state, but also politicians, in crowded places, in parks and outside eateries – several things here need to be mentioned. If you look at the suicide operations that happened in Sri Lanka or Palestine or Lebanon, you always have a testimony or evidence by the suicide bomber before he kills himself. You know, “I am so and so and I am killing myself for this reason.” And then afterwards you have family members who come and explain. In Pakistan, there is a bomb blast, many people die, we are told there was suicide bomber but he is now dead. Who is this suicide bomber?&#160; We never get the names of the suicide bomber, we never get a testimony or explanation, and we rarely get a picture. We never hear the background to this man, who he was, what his family thinks, does his family think he was guilty of suicide bombing or not?</p>
<p>The government then conveniently says look we promise we will provide some justice for people who lost their lives in these attacks and justice will be provided and the man who did it is killed and oh well. I mean the troubling part is how easily suicide bombings are used and how readily they are accepted; there is no questioning anymore. Everything is done now through the machinery of suicide bombing, and if we assume they are genuine attacks that are not manipulated in any way, they are incredibly aggressive, and they have grown more aggressive every year. This year we have Lahore hit thee times, which is the capital of Punjab, which is the safest province in the country. It has perfectly running water and most of the army comes from Punjab. But they’ve been hit three times.&#160; It’s an alarming rate. We have to connect this to the growing civil war in Pakistan, which started off in the tribal areas and moved near the capital and is coming into the country. This is the war against the government, which I think might have started off as a reaction against the War on Terror and American involvement, but I think now it’s very much concentrated against the state of Pakistan.</p>
<p>ALI: Musharaff seems to have slipped under the radar. What’s his role in Zardari’s new PPP controlled Pakistan? The U.S. still backs Musharaff, however, and he is still President. What’s his future?</p>
<p>BHITTO: So long as there’s an American occupation of Afghanistan, Musharaff will remain viable and indispensable. He has played his cards badly inside the country. He has lost a lot of control and power within the country. He picked General Kiyani to replace him as Chief of Army, but the word is that the army has had enough of Musharaff and he has brought on loss of respect for the armed forces. Personally, I think his role in the next government is to wait and watch. He has enabled this government to come forward and perhaps quite wisely. This is the government that has to deal with price inflation, greenage shortages; it has to deal with a civil war that is brewing across the country, which is no longer in the tribal areas. This is the government that has to deal with renewed American strength in Pakistan. We’ve seen since 2008 a tremendous amount of American air strikes, and they are reported as having great accuracy and tremendous precision, but it is never explained to us who is allowing the Americans to come in almost directly and conduct their business on Pakistan soil. So this government has to deal with a de facto American invasion and occupation of parts of Pakistan.</p>
<p>I think Musharaff prefers that these other politicians and parties deal with that, while he sits on the sidelines and waits for them to fail. But the question is will they allow him to do this and have any part of it? Will he have any future once this government disintegrates? I think that is looking increasingly unlikely as time goes by.</p>
<p>ALI: Islam permeates the cultural and political psyche of Pakistan’s society. What should Islam’s role be in modern day Pakistan, from a political level and from a grass roots socio-cultural level as well?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: This is an Islamic republic of Pakistan, but it was founded in its inception not as an Islamic state but rather as a state for Muslims. We’ve seen Islam used as a means of oppression, under Zia for example, the Hudood Ordinance was brought in as a piece of Islamic law, but has no connection to Islamic law. Islam as a religion has given women a tremendous amount of rights. Certainly, it was very progressive in its treatment of women at that time, and if you look at other religions, Islam is one that gives women the right to divorce and the right to property. But the laws of Hudood do not reflect the progressive side of Islam. I think when you bring in religion into the equation you ultimately use it to silence people and use it as a means to scare people into submission. Unfortunately, that’s what happened in this country, you cannot say please remove the Hudood Legalisations which is extraordinarily offensive to women, because it’s seen as Islamic legislation and it would be seen as blasphemous to ask to remove an Islamic piece of the law.</p>
<p>Ultimately, Islam in Pakistan has to be private, it has to be followed individually. This is a country that has four very distinct provinces. We have a minority presence in this country as well. We have Hindus, Jains, Christians, Sikhs, we used to have Jews. Part of this diversity, certainly cultural diversity and linguistic diversity, and anything that seeks to close off anything different, to cut off people and make them more exclusive – it’s going to be difficult to absorb in a country as diverse as Pakistan. For the most part it’s always been harmonious in its diversity. Islam plays a very large part in people’s life, in the psyche and the culture as you said.</p>
<p>But in Sindh, Islam is seen through the Sufi tradition, and has many followers here, which is certainly very different from the Wahabbi Islam, which is trickling down from Afghanistan and is funded by Saudi money. Preferably, Sufi Islam is much better than Wahabbi Islam. But you can’t impose one kind of Islam on a nation of people, so it’s better to be private.</p>
<p>ALI: You’ve lived under the microscope of infamy and scrutiny. That’s been your life. Now, as you’re becoming more vocal and visible, it’s going to continue. How do you cope with it? Does it ever become normal, or is it something you learn to deal with?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: I live in one part a public life because of my family and because people imagine you’re fair game. That I don’t relish at all. That is bizarre and uncomfortable. But through my writings and my speaking out, I think it’s so necessary, because if you’re being too quiet, then you are doing the government’s job for them. I’m not interested in helping any government quiet dissent. I think it makes it important to keep speaking out and speaking about Pakistan and what life is like here and what the government has done to this country. It’s so we don’t forget. Milan Kundera has said, and I think this is so true, he said, “The struggle of people against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.” And for places like Pakistan that are violent and are repressive through authoritarian rule, whether military or civilian elected, what we have in a lot of these countries is we have our words and our memories. The minute you surrender that I think it’s game over. That balances out the uncomfortable-ness or discomfort rather of having to be seen and noticed in the public.</p>
<p>ALI: What’s the future for Fatima Bhutto? A political Bhutto? A journalist? A writer- poet – politician? What have you decided now at the age of 25?</p>
<p>BHUTTO: (Laughs) You know I always tell journalists when I say I’m not interested in going into politics, they always smile at me and say, “Wink wink, nudge nudge, just kidding, but no, really, what’s the real answer?” I always tell them I’m not saying no or yes or saying no for now, but maybe next year. If the situation were different, then my answer would be different. But the environment is not different; this is the environment we live in. For me to go into politics would be to perpetuate a system I don’t believe in. A system of dynastic rule and perpetuate a system of personalities.</p>
<p>WAJAHAT ALI is Pakistani Muslim American who is neither a terrorist nor a saint. He is a playwright, essayist, humorist, and Attorney at Law, whose work, “The Domestic Crusaders,” ( <a href="http://www.domesticcrusaders.com/" type="external">www.domesticcrusaders.com</a>) is the first major play about Muslim Americans living in a post 9-11 America. His blog is at <a href="http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/" type="external">http://goatmilk.wordpress.com/</a>. He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p>
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<p>&#160;</p> | true | 4 | wearing bhutto last name pakistan analogous carrying flamboyant rare elitist prada bag accessory assures never common anonymous bhutto merchandise captivates political landscape dynamic privileged legendary plagued real estate encapsulates wildly schizophrenic volatile ultimately endearing pakistan precisely mythology borne feudal dynasty burdens fatima bhutto charismatic outspoken niece recently assassinated benazir bhutto daughter murtaza bhutto assassinated 1996 twenty five year old published poet writer columnist news pakistan loathes birth right politics laments pakistans obsession cult personality regardless bhutto brand name better worse places spotlight squarely young bhutto coming vocal social activist highly coveted pakistani bachelorette tabloid sensation instead abusing limelight pretentious self adulation fatima bhutto found forum publicly blast musharaffs dictatorial government asif ali zardaris corruption benazir bhuttos self serving machinations armys hegemonic apparatuses recently conducted lengthy informative interview pakistans new daughter destiny pleasantly discovered despite regal privileged upbringing like narcissistic selfabsorbed pakistani clifton elitists ive met come abhor years instead talked extremely opinionated well informed sarcastic passionate garrulous yet articulate young woman recent pakistani elections asif ali zardaris new government real benazir bhutto role bhutto zardari fathers assassination disastrous results american foreign policy future musharaff life living bhutto spotlight ali many partisan views bhutto family dynasty see real bhutto opposed bilawal bhutto zardari son asif zardari late benazir bhutto would think warrant authentic label political label might add seem wholeheartedly reject current moment bhutto sounds like two different things first theres question simple genetics think theres question kind political birthright think propositions frivolous first question actually bhutto child virtue parents think pretty straightforward answer one shouldnt implications exciting frenzy dynasty live right child qualified rule equally frivolous name determining qualification place resume work experience closer genetics gene pool therefore qualified example names personalities rather principles platforms taken politics south asia pakistan ali bhutto dynasty legendary pakistan many claim dynasty curse privilege likened america kennedys160 think cycle repeat 21st century cyclical pattern tragedy privilege way break dynastic curse overreaching assumption bhutto think bit fantastical actually rely things like curses blessings explain things us lose sight real picture160 lose sight wider truths people live countries live factors decide things like violence countries think romanticized say curse thats part cyclical violence family like kennedys ghandis answer probably less exciting less mythical thats something people dont like look amazing politics distraction practiced south asia also media large160 take family build myth around exciting sad romantic without mention actual politics actual conditions country live purely distraction think keep perpetuating myth curses blessings frivolous ali throughout history pakistan seems either military feudal dynasties control power ground seems system place always hijacks democratic process favor pakistan tangibly realistically free bhutto certainly question one question central issue accountability certainly issue merit look state pakistani politicians today right either taking army believe ones care pakistan force set pakistan right path youve got sort feudal dynasty believes entitled rule deserve power neither one groups going give power authority see third cycling politicians musharraf came power people fed nawaz nawaz sharif pakistans exiled former prime minister benazir bhutto nawaz benazir came back pakistan people fed musharaff people finished asif zardari benazirs husband partys current figurehead nawaz go back musharaff parties molded politics pakistan one personality completely lowered political discourse political understanding country doesnt issues anymore people looks better sticker mean sounds funny sense true able pakistan discourse pushes things like principles platforms merits one qualified rule experience platforms partys manifesto internal democratic system160 course thats question related closely related factor also accountability things like nro really odious piece legislation called national reconciliation ordinance bill signed unilaterally power musharaff general president effectively wipes 20 years corruption politicians bankers bureaucrats makes virtually impossible file future charges sitting parliamentarian effectively puts power law today nro used excuse financial crimes also extortion murder smuggling cases drug cases mean certainly case asif zardari theres accountability theres way saying feudal dynasties stolen country given back country army increased violence changed way life would like hold accountable rule therefore remove office without system cant remove ali lets discuss current election political parties actually talked rigging pakistans february elections even suggested ppp benazirs party pakistan peoples party hand rigging them160 however many said election represented pakistani people truly free elections witnessed bhutto election nothing state theatre complete farce many ways first third time election date changed supposed december emergency declared160 supposed january 8th postponed february 18th periods campaigning time extremely limited 30 45 days given look original constitution need least 60 least preferably 90 days canvassing dont know enormous country distinct provinces order canvass scale need time thats first way elections clearly going free fair secondly drive registration pakistan look rural areas many provinces women dont id cards women also peasants working land construction workers come frontier village people way bonded labor people sort social security legally tracked way women especially dont access election start going representative people youre going small percentage people vote theres election day musharaffs government enabled rigging think thats important state released example voter list government one stage several weeks later polling lists released lets say voting list 60000 people polling list maybe 300 polling stations people idea registered may go closest polling station voted last elections wait line told im sorry youre registered registered sorry dont information theres complete disconnect theres transparency two lists way election commission released booklets ads media putting rules elections need election vote legally need appear person need valid identity card name card number however voter lists given voting stations election commission government name birth date nothing dont id card number address160 appear polling station say hi im afzal khan id like vote theres nothing distinguish 400 afzal khans neighborhood name doesnt get checked people come vote name musharaff government certainly enabled rigging whats important know rigging especially country like pakistan people image government sort miscreant black cloak comes station sticks separate box hides cloak somehow rigging happens really happens local parties ground polling agents scene technically ensure rigging doesnt happen course thats case parties like ppp pmln rig number ways first intimidation small communities polling agent knows name knows live dont vote right way noticed theres also ballot stuffing saw quite openly also presiding officer polling station usually school teachers government appointed positions owe livelihood job government neutral way also fake ids used saw women coming several ids come wearing burqahs 19 year old wearing burqah id card saying born 1938 permitted ask lady wearing burqah lift burqah doesnt show face votes course leads rigging ali cnn recently stated asif ali zardari powerful man pakistan prime minister yousuf raza gilani sworn last week many people say handpicked desi south asian uncle merely proxy zardari know zardaris former nickname mr 10 due illegal commissions got contracts reformed 100 bhutto dont think zardari reformed iota reform zardari nro completely unconstitutional illegal piece legislation done stricken record 25 3 billion dollars worth corruption zardaris name said sorry nope kidding didnt city like karachi citizens dont access electricity summer running water comes maybe two three hours day city effectively looks like refugee camp thats evidence corruption evidence see every day doesnt erase nro theyve removed extortion drug cases zardaris record well 4 murder cases pending one removed involving murder high court justice young son name suddenly stricken record doesnt change theres family remembered dont think hes reformed way except promote idea reconciliation healing democracy work pakistan course benefit people know nothing pakistan see gilani prime minister mentioned washington post pieces exciting democratic election served parliament dictator zia al haq pakistans military dictator 1977 1988 assassination also served majlis shura council zia al haq islamic council parliament zia created filled trusted closest advisors former crony certainly political worker zia al haq stands parliament prime minister ppp whose founder zulfiqar ali bhutto benazirs father killed zia fiefs historical amnesia pakistan doesnt even extend far goes back 20 years thats far go check gilanis political history certainly hes placed hes yes man ideological attachment peoples party certainly party founded zulfiqar bhutto however im sure worked fine benazir zardaris people become charade concerning zardaris cases nro cases zardari longer happen table happen table ali youve said publicly hold benazir bhutto morally responsible assassination father murtaza bhutto shot outside house karachi pakistan police ambush 1996 know police direct role murder including blocking traffic delaying ambulances well dragging investigation specifically blame aunt asif zardari fathers assassination pointing fingers aunt zardari bold claim bhutto said know fact police pulled trigger high level police officers scene murder placed authorized police stage private killing elected member assembly coincidentally prime ministers brother always said bhutto bears moral responsibility fathers murder look last government mid 90s presided thousands deaths karachi bhutto used police force attack critics opponents police given orders prime ministers office clean karachi went ethnic muhajir community community came india 1947s partition primarily urdu speaking mqm party party represents attacked operation clean genocidal sounds mean police empowered prime ministers office setup torture cells assassination squads simple police stop ask id card dont sindhi name muhajir name youre shot spot thousands daily murders mqm targeted primarily opposed bhutto primarily sticking point province sindh got votes power father vocal critic corruption benazir asif extra judicial killings one man thousands killed government absolutely created environment organized sanctioned violence political figures none cases solved none cases seriously looked police allowed attack immunity covered law secondly pointed finger benazir role coverup substantial dont know signed death warrant self know wasnt pull trigger also know certain things murder family wasnt allowed file first information report fir police report every pakistanis right law family denied right file fir go high court sindh legal rights awarded us secondly bhuttos government arrested witnesses survivors assassination police arrested internally cleared review honorably reinstated job promoted one member police force time headed intelligence bureau directly reported prime ministers office murder asked benazir join central committee party sounds like reward really doesnt sound like punishment honored position given third benazir government didnt allow us push forward criminal case elected tribunal legal authority pass sentence essentially stalling mechanism however judges chosen well respected members community tribunal concluded three important things unfortunately unable act conclusions first assassination forensically concluded police fired ammunition wasnt shoot second concluded police used excessive amount force stopped traffic didnt take injured men hospitals dropped clinics emergency wards third concluded assassination couldnt happened without approval highest level government time higher benazirs post prime minister ali many say bad blood late father asif zardari points blame latter think thats pure speculation accurate bhutto take account father vocal asifs role benazirs government outspoken corruption manner friends essentially hijacked government given positions like minister investment almost ridiculous place hands man corruption cases leveled asif zardari certainly wife took party direction rendered completely unfamiliar original form party founded ideals social justice land reform provincial empowerment economic empowerment became benazir asifs control party feudal landlords became party industrial class oligarchs control industry pakistan longer party disposed disenfranchised become club club rich famous criminally inept father critical course represented threat politically benazir spoke truth power case certainly threatening thing keep mind murder case leveled asif zardari theres case high court judge mentioned case steel mill chairman well asif man time power used hearing used getting wanted received 10 benazirs first government became mr 50 second nothing ran pakistan without asifs approval dont imagine would changed much see helm power pulling string prime minister parliament ali youve reading western medias coverage pakistan youll know late aunt benazir bhutto heralded beacon democracy others state merely shameless selfpromoter reality united states want much project beacon democracy bhutto people bidding us become beacons democracy us also believe thought pinochet chile beacon democracy one time heralded taliban freedom fighters tradition thomas jefferson lets forget supported saddam hussein became inconvenient toppled shah iran also great friend america think perfectly obvious america would choose support benazir willing bidding them160 politician certainly corrupt financially certainly ethically lost years necessary ground support bring power thats needed backers like white house came back pakistan gave number controversial statements said reelected prime minister third time assumed way feudal dynasts given would open pakistans borders us troops stage operations war terror statement pro american statement anti pakistani lengths willing go please pulling strings condi rice basically pushed musharaffs arm deal benazir said look need pretty face government cant keep supporting open dictators support give millions dollars aid provided look sort like democracy 70s anymore purely looking benazirs record wajahat conclude beacon democracy first government came power dealing military dealing zias military wouldve prime minister fortunate killed worthwhile mentioning general zia assassinated zulfiqar ali bhutto father abrogated 1973 constitution benazir 1988 elections army said look invite prime minister choose cabinet foreign minister continue imf world bank loan agreements taken carried forward without argument agreed compromised army 88 look first government lasted two years benazirs government failed pass major legislation major legislation mean legislation instead youve got woman prime minister popularly elected remove hudood ordinance violent piece legislation women minorities pakistan part zias legacy says woman commits adultery engages sexual relations marriage stoned death completely draconian law bhutto government didnt even attempt remove hudood ousted 1990 largescale corruption charges comes back government 93 known continued corruption major level talking billions two three billon dollars worth corruption cases money stolen pakistans treasury also known major flagrant human rights violations extra judicial killings targeted ethnic muhajirs political dissidents top falling power recognizes provided support taliban government afghanistan160 interior minister used call taliban boys benazir basically admitted interviews look made mistake afghanistan whoops didnt know please forgive record last government six sindhi papers shut critical freedom press freedom political difference record violence also distinctly undemocratic come ask afterwards leaves country comes back makes deal dictator makes deal musharaff asks three things first nro pardon corruption cases friends distinctively cover figures start power till end 1986 till asks nro secondly asks constitution changed prime minister two terms functioning democracies limits powers prime minister president benazir asking removed could return power third time personal request third request remove article 582b allowed president depose prime minister without sanction parliament removing article doesnt empower people democratic institution parliament simply shifts power president prime minister thats deeply personal sort request benazir coming back third shot power remarkable didnt ask 1973 constitution restored didnt say drop hudood didnt ask thousands people disappeared since musharaff came office legislation asked concerning person record one deeply flawed deeply deeply flawed democratic shah iran general pinochet however think continued sort racism west need expediency push benazir forward woman speaks beautiful english went best schools west could offer compliant pretty face idea democracy sort transposed democracy planning put pakistan dont think us government dealt pakistan differently similar countries intervene certainly media important note remarkably irresponsible covering benazir coming back pakistan fawning articles written horrible life attractive went oxford friends washington london didnt say much record time government ultimately thats accountable record ali160 western media portrays pakistan hotbed rage boys yet fundamentalist parties win minority seats nonetheless see explosion suicide bombings terrorist attacks past year makes hard us world hear ageold tale hey pakistanis peaceful could control western medias depiction one day would show modern day reality pakistan bhutto wow well would heavy day think talk things like islamic radicalism islamic extremism pakistan one thing western media really good showing really scary side men beards burning things bombing things decontextualise leave completely floating space terror violence one thing ive never seen media explanation islamic fundamentalists become powerful pakistan following country see evidence government rural areas completely invisible force either reluctant unwilling provide basic needs people country happens places islamic organizations come set madrassas theres option family child educated convince family send child religious school madrassa cant dont right course madrassas bad distinguish good bad madrassas western media madrassa followed jihad training camp thats certainly case 2005 earthquakes incredibly devastating tremendous destruction saw went areas hit earthquake saw aid coming foreign countries foreign flags flying saw jamaat islamic parties organizations building tents rehabilitations centers didnt see anything pakistan government would put newspaper day think also thing happens western media set bar incredibly low countries like pakistan speaks sort dont know word is160 one could call orientalism neocolonialism imperialism lets call imperialism part imperial thinking denigrate people lording say simple people must come help western media constantly pakistan example elections said oh 20 people killed thats good pakistan thats good okay pakistan 20 people 200 people doesnt matter still 20 people still violence election day also joe biden john kerry come say oh pakistan incredibly free fair elections country free fair elections bar placed low western media theres two suicide bombings instead five media says whoa things booming pakistan many things western media leaves sorry going like western media paints picture economic progress pakistan know 10 billion dollars aid country moving forward allies war terror receiving foreign investments forth idea new york times would say things pakistan booming musharaff everything wonderful everything great dont print growth speak small pool like 20 families always done well pakistan continued well look majority population become expensive eat country parts punjab sindh price bread staple pakistani diet went 2 rupees 18 rupees price flour wheat enormously high country ali war terror produced kidnappings battery even outright attacks pakistani people pakistans army hunt bin laden lot times see disappearances activists professors balochistan province describe scene us explain linked blowback see via suicide bombs pakistan bhutto started way see american military involvement lot countries guise fighting terror protecting interests theyd come say terror links theyd take guantanamo however pakistani government american government stopped shipping people guantanamo enthusiasm decided convenient way deal problems balochistan province anywhere five eight thousand people disappeared thats incredibly high number said activists professors political workers poets picked taken reason families dont know dont discuss media know pakistan doesnt history suicide bombing certainly violent political history never suicide bombings recent slate suicide attacks state also politicians crowded places parks outside eateries several things need mentioned look suicide operations happened sri lanka palestine lebanon always testimony evidence suicide bomber kills know killing reason afterwards family members come explain pakistan bomb blast many people die told suicide bomber dead suicide bomber160 never get names suicide bomber never get testimony explanation rarely get picture never hear background man family thinks family think guilty suicide bombing government conveniently says look promise provide justice people lost lives attacks justice provided man killed oh well mean troubling part easily suicide bombings used readily accepted questioning anymore everything done machinery suicide bombing assume genuine attacks manipulated way incredibly aggressive grown aggressive every year year lahore hit thee times capital punjab safest province country perfectly running water army comes punjab theyve hit three times160 alarming rate connect growing civil war pakistan started tribal areas moved near capital coming country war government think might started reaction war terror american involvement think much concentrated state pakistan ali musharaff seems slipped radar whats role zardaris new ppp controlled pakistan us still backs musharaff however still president whats future bhitto long theres american occupation afghanistan musharaff remain viable indispensable played cards badly inside country lost lot control power within country picked general kiyani replace chief army word army enough musharaff brought loss respect armed forces personally think role next government wait watch enabled government come forward perhaps quite wisely government deal price inflation greenage shortages deal civil war brewing across country longer tribal areas government deal renewed american strength pakistan weve seen since 2008 tremendous amount american air strikes reported great accuracy tremendous precision never explained us allowing americans come almost directly conduct business pakistan soil government deal de facto american invasion occupation parts pakistan think musharaff prefers politicians parties deal sits sidelines waits fail question allow part future government disintegrates think looking increasingly unlikely time goes ali islam permeates cultural political psyche pakistans society islams role modern day pakistan political level grass roots sociocultural level well bhutto islamic republic pakistan founded inception islamic state rather state muslims weve seen islam used means oppression zia example hudood ordinance brought piece islamic law connection islamic law islam religion given women tremendous amount rights certainly progressive treatment women time look religions islam one gives women right divorce right property laws hudood reflect progressive side islam think bring religion equation ultimately use silence people use means scare people submission unfortunately thats happened country say please remove hudood legalisations extraordinarily offensive women seen islamic legislation would seen blasphemous ask remove islamic piece law ultimately islam pakistan private followed individually country four distinct provinces minority presence country well hindus jains christians sikhs used jews part diversity certainly cultural diversity linguistic diversity anything seeks close anything different cut people make exclusive going difficult absorb country diverse pakistan part always harmonious diversity islam plays large part peoples life psyche culture said sindh islam seen sufi tradition many followers certainly different wahabbi islam trickling afghanistan funded saudi money preferably sufi islam much better wahabbi islam cant impose one kind islam nation people better private ali youve lived microscope infamy scrutiny thats life youre becoming vocal visible going continue cope ever become normal something learn deal bhutto live one part public life family people imagine youre fair game dont relish bizarre uncomfortable writings speaking think necessary youre quiet governments job im interested helping government quiet dissent think makes important keep speaking speaking pakistan life like government done country dont forget milan kundera said think true said struggle people power struggle memory forgetting places like pakistan violent repressive authoritarian rule whether military civilian elected lot countries words memories minute surrender think game balances uncomfortableness discomfort rather seen noticed public ali whats future fatima bhutto political bhutto journalist writer poet politician decided age 25 bhutto laughs know always tell journalists say im interested going politics always smile say wink wink nudge nudge kidding really whats real answer always tell im saying yes saying maybe next year situation different answer would different environment different environment live go politics would perpetuate system dont believe system dynastic rule perpetuate system personalities wajahat ali pakistani muslim american neither terrorist saint playwright essayist humorist attorney law whose work domestic crusaders wwwdomesticcrusaderscom first major play muslim americans living post 911 america blog httpgoatmilkwordpresscom reached wajahatmaligmailcom 160 160 160 160 160 160 | 3,669 |
<p>Tom EmmerJeff Wheeler/ZUMA</p>
<p />
<p>Liberals rejoiced when Michele Bachmann <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&amp;rct=j&amp;q=&amp;esrc=s&amp;source=web&amp;cd=1&amp;sqi=2&amp;ved=0CCcQFjAA&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2013%2F05%2F30%2Fus%2Fpolitics%2Fmichele-bachmann-wont-seek-re-election-next-year.html&amp;ei=vBXsUsahOqnSsASlpoG4Cw&amp;usg=AFQjCNGM8NZ_TUezmcN89Rph0o0oXOrNbA&amp;sig2=TPV_b874Vwv2KCbY3mmmrQ&amp;bvm=bv.60444564,d.cWc" type="external">announced</a> her intention to retire from Congress at the end of 2014. Bachmann will no longer be around to carry the tea party banner in Congress. But she’s almost guaranteed to be replaced by another far-right conservative. Minnesota’s 6th District skews heavily Republican— <a href="http://cookpolitical.com/file/2013-04-47.pdf" type="external">voting</a> 56 percent for Romney in 2012. Whichever GOPer emerges from the primary&#160;should easily waltz to a general election win in November. And that successor could either be a Bachmann clone or Minnesota’s own version of Grover Norquist.</p>
<p>The race is between two candidates from diverging wings of the Republican Party: There’s Tom Emmer, the social conservative who hews closely to Bachmann, and Phil Krinkie, a small-business owner whose mission in life is to block tax increases. A key vote for the nomination comes this week. Minnesota’s primary isn’t until August, but candidates are traditionally handpicked at summer conventions by the state party, while the primary is a mere formality. Local precincts will hold caucuses on Tuesday to elect delegates to the state convention, determining which candidate has the edge.</p>
<p>Emmer,&#160;a failed gubernatorial candidate from 2010, closely replicated the Bachmann model. For his first major bill after he entered the Minnesota House in 2005, Emmer proposed that the state medically castrate sex offenders. That was just the beginning of a career defined by extreme views. He’s <a href="http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2007/05/evolution-vs-creationism-in-minnesosta.html" type="external">unsure</a> when quizzed about evolution. He <a href="http://www.startribune.com/politics/92334709.html" type="external">favors</a> harsh immigration laws—Arizona’s punitive 2010 law was a “wonderful first step.” He <a href="http://www.minnpost.com/politics-policy/2010/07/emmers-minimum-wage-fallout-who-makes-100000-waiter-or-bartender" type="external">thinks</a> a minimum wage for restaurant staff is a silly concept: “With the tips that they get to take home, they are some people earning over $100,000 a year,” Emmer said during his 2010 campaign.</p>
<p>Exempting Minnesota from federal laws was Emmer’s pet cause as a legislator. He <a href="http://tenthamendmentcenter.com/2009/05/15/firearms-freedom-act-introduced-in-minnesota/#.Uuazl2Qo68U" type="external">proposed</a> the Firearms Freedom Act, an implausible bill that would have declared Minnesota exempt from federal gun laws. He then took that a step further, introducing a bill that said Minnesota must ignore any federal law unless a supermajority approved each measure. “A federal law does not apply in Minnesota unless that law is approved by a two-thirds vote of the members of each house of the legislature and is signed by the governor,” his bill read. None of these measures succeeded, but they charmed the Bachmann wing of Minnesota’s Republican Party.</p>
<p>Despite that track record, his national reputation centered on his staunch anti-LGBT views during his 2010 campaign. He had been at the forefront of pushing amendments to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage and palled around with <a href="" type="internal">Bradlee Dean</a>, a Christian radio host know for praising countries that execute gay people. When Target <a href="" type="internal">donated</a> $150,000 to a pro-Emmer&#160;PAC (Best Buy and 3M—other Fortune 500s based in Minnesota—also chipped in) in 2010, LGBT groups rallied against the donation and launched a boycott of Target, which later <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2010/08/target_issues_apology_after_do.html" type="external">apologized</a> for the donation.</p>
<p>Emmer should be the front-runner for the nomination after reaching statewide notoriety during his run for governor. But his failure in that race left a bad impression among many Minnesota Republicans. He lost to Democrat Mark Dayton, a politician previously known for his truly <a href="http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/magazine/77869/eeyore-governor" type="external">inept</a> single term in the US Senate, in a year primed for a GOP win (the party gained majorities in both houses of the state Legislature that year). When Emmer ran for one of the state’s slots on the Republican National Committee the following April, he failed to even make it off the first ballot.</p>
<p>His main opponent might present an appealing alternative for a state Republican Party trying to <a href="" type="internal">repair its image</a> after major losses in 2012. Phil Krinkie, a fellow former House member, is equally conservative but emphasizes a different agenda. Where Emmer is the descendant of Jerry Falwell, Krinkie takes his cues from Grover Norquist—with his obstinate opposition to tax increases. (A third candidate, Anoka County Commissioner Rhonda Sivarajah, has <a href="http://www.sctimes.com/article/20140129/NEWS01/301290021/6th-District-candidate-Sivarajah-raises-14-000?nclick_check=1" type="external">struggled</a> to raise money and lacks Krinkie and Emmer’s statewide recognition.)</p>
<p>“Krinkie is from the first wave of the rote right-wing Republicans, the first wave of people who voted the party line no matter what. And Emmer is just pre-tea-party,” says Sarah Janecek, a lobbyist and Republican activist. “There really isn’t much difference between Krinkie and Emmer on the issues. This is more about personality, reputation, past history.”</p>
<p>Krinkie, owner of a heating and air conditioning business, served in the state House from 1991 to 2006. During that time he formed the Fiscal Conservative Caucus, a coalition of fiscal hawks who opposed any and all efforts to raise taxes. His <a href="http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/02/25_mccalluml_krinkie/" type="external">nickname</a> in the state capitol was “Dr. No.” He was a particular thorn in the side of former Gov. Jesse Ventura, at one point personally filing a lawsuit to block Ventura’s effort to expand public transportation. His biggest national media hit to date came in 2001, when Bryant Gumble interviewed him on CBS about Ventura’s decision to announce XFL games.</p>
<p>Krinkie lost his seat in 2006 to a Democratic challenger by a scant 55 votes. But in 2007 he became president of the Taxpayer’s League of Minnesota, a group that mirrors the model of Norquist’s Americans for Tax Reform. The group gets legislators to sign <a href="http://blogs.mprnews.org/capitol-view/2012/02/taxpayers_leagu_5/" type="external">pledges</a> against raising taxes. “They were really the organization that drove the no new taxes line, and if you do raise taxes we will get rid of you,” says Janecek. But the Taxpayers League does more than offer basic encouragement on resisting tax increases: It also keeps Republicans in check on a whole host of conservative ideals. Beyond tax increases, its 2013 scorecard ranking legislators include demerits for lawmakers who supported bills that allowed child care providers to unionize, votes to implement health care exchanges in the state, and environmental studies.</p>
<p>Krinkie ran for this same congressional seat in 2006 but lost the nomination to Bachmann. “Between Krinkie and Bachmann, the claim can be made that the race now features both the Legislature’s most fiscally conservative and socially conservative members,” Minnesota Public Radio <a href="http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/2005/02/25_mccalluml_krinkie/" type="external">said</a> when he entered the race. Last time the GOP sided with the social wing. After eight years of Bachmann and Emmer’s embarrassing run for governor, the fiscal side might win out.</p>
<p /> | true | 4 | tom emmerjeff wheelerzuma liberals rejoiced michele bachmann announced intention retire congress end 2014 bachmann longer around carry tea party banner congress shes almost guaranteed replaced another farright conservative minnesotas 6th district skews heavily republican voting 56 percent romney 2012 whichever goper emerges primary160should easily waltz general election win november successor could either bachmann clone minnesotas version grover norquist race two candidates diverging wings republican party theres tom emmer social conservative hews closely bachmann phil krinkie smallbusiness owner whose mission life block tax increases key vote nomination comes week minnesotas primary isnt august candidates traditionally handpicked summer conventions state party primary mere formality local precincts hold caucuses tuesday elect delegates state convention determining candidate edge emmer160a failed gubernatorial candidate 2010 closely replicated bachmann model first major bill entered minnesota house 2005 emmer proposed state medically castrate sex offenders beginning career defined extreme views hes unsure quizzed evolution favors harsh immigration lawsarizonas punitive 2010 law wonderful first step thinks minimum wage restaurant staff silly concept tips get take home people earning 100000 year emmer said 2010 campaign exempting minnesota federal laws emmers pet cause legislator proposed firearms freedom act implausible bill would declared minnesota exempt federal gun laws took step introducing bill said minnesota must ignore federal law unless supermajority approved measure federal law apply minnesota unless law approved twothirds vote members house legislature signed governor bill read none measures succeeded charmed bachmann wing minnesotas republican party despite track record national reputation centered staunch antilgbt views 2010 campaign forefront pushing amendments state constitution banning samesex marriage palled around bradlee dean christian radio host know praising countries execute gay people target donated 150000 proemmer160pac best buy 3mother fortune 500s based minnesotaalso chipped 2010 lgbt groups rallied donation launched boycott target later apologized donation emmer frontrunner nomination reaching statewide notoriety run governor failure race left bad impression among many minnesota republicans lost democrat mark dayton politician previously known truly inept single term us senate year primed gop win party gained majorities houses state legislature year emmer ran one states slots republican national committee following april failed even make first ballot main opponent might present appealing alternative state republican party trying repair image major losses 2012 phil krinkie fellow former house member equally conservative emphasizes different agenda emmer descendant jerry falwell krinkie takes cues grover norquistwith obstinate opposition tax increases third candidate anoka county commissioner rhonda sivarajah struggled raise money lacks krinkie emmers statewide recognition krinkie first wave rote rightwing republicans first wave people voted party line matter emmer preteaparty says sarah janecek lobbyist republican activist really isnt much difference krinkie emmer issues personality reputation past history krinkie owner heating air conditioning business served state house 1991 2006 time formed fiscal conservative caucus coalition fiscal hawks opposed efforts raise taxes nickname state capitol dr particular thorn side former gov jesse ventura one point personally filing lawsuit block venturas effort expand public transportation biggest national media hit date came 2001 bryant gumble interviewed cbs venturas decision announce xfl games krinkie lost seat 2006 democratic challenger scant 55 votes 2007 became president taxpayers league minnesota group mirrors model norquists americans tax reform group gets legislators sign pledges raising taxes really organization drove new taxes line raise taxes get rid says janecek taxpayers league offer basic encouragement resisting tax increases also keeps republicans check whole host conservative ideals beyond tax increases 2013 scorecard ranking legislators include demerits lawmakers supported bills allowed child care providers unionize votes implement health care exchanges state environmental studies krinkie ran congressional seat 2006 lost nomination bachmann krinkie bachmann claim made race features legislatures fiscally conservative socially conservative members minnesota public radio said entered race last time gop sided social wing eight years bachmann emmers embarrassing run governor fiscal side might win | 618 |
<p>By Jon Queally / <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/30/monday-night-massacre-trump-fires-acting-ag-and-replaces-ice-director" type="external">Common Dreams</a></p>
<p>With a reference to the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Massacre" type="external">Saturday Night Massacre</a> that took place during the Watergate scandal under President Richard Nixon, the hashtag #MondayNightMassacre came alive on Monday night after President Donald Trump fired acting Acting Attorney General Sally Yates and accused her of “betrayal” for refusing to enforce a controversial immigration order targeting Muslims and refugees.</p>
<p>At the same time, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) John Kelly, announced in <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2017/01/30/statement-secretary-kelly-presidents-appointment-thomas-d-homan-acting-ice-director" type="external">a statement</a> that Daniel Ragsdale, the acting director of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was being replaced by Thomas D. Homan.</p>
<p>Less than an hour after the ACLU congratulated Yates on Monday evening for her “remarkable” and “powerful” refusal to enforce Trump’s controversial immigration ban, she was out of a job for taking such a stance.</p>
<p />
<p>“I am responsible for ensuring that the positions we take in court remain consistent with this institution’s solemn obligation to always seek justice and stand for what is right,” Yates <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/826213754094419970/photo/1" type="external">wrote</a> in her letter to DOJ lawyers. “At present, I am not convinced that the defense of the executive order is consistent with these responsibilities nor am I convinced that the executive order is lawful.”</p>
<p>After <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/28/protesters-descend-jfk-immigration-officials-detain-refugees" type="external">weekend protests</a> followed the executive order by Trump and a <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/01/30/trump-creates-constitutional-crisis-travel-ban-enforced-defiance-court-orders" type="external">constitutional crisis</a> emerged when some immigration officials refused to follow federal judges’ orders to end the detention and deportation of people trying to enter the country, Yates’ rejection of the order, and her directive to all Department of Justice personnel to do the same, arrived as a dramatic development to an already politically strained and legally tenuous situation.</p>
<p>Though no reason was given in Secretary Kelly’s statement for Ragsdale’s removal from his position at ICE (in fact, his name was not even mentioned), his replacement was noted for serving “as the executive associate director of ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).” In that capacity, the statement continues, Homan “led ICE’s efforts to identify, arrest, detain, and remove illegal aliens, including those who present a danger to national security or are a risk to public safety, as well as those who enter the United States illegally or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration laws and our border control efforts.”</p>
<p>Trump first referenced Yates’ defiance in <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/826229971584708608" type="external">a tweet</a>, one in which he complained that Senate Democrats were delaying his cabinet appointments—including his nominee for attorney general Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.)—and that he was also stuck with “an Obama A.G.”</p>
<p>But the real news came shortly later when the White House issued a statement announcing Yates had been fired and that Dana Boente, U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, had already been sworn in as her replacement. The full White House statement:</p>
<p>The acting Attorney General, Sally Yates, has betrayed the Department of Justice by refusing to enforce a legal order designed to protect the citizens of the United States. This order was approved as to form and legality by the Department of Justice Office of Legal Counsel.</p>
<p>Ms. Yates is an Obama Administration appointee who is weak on borders and very weak on illegal immigration.</p>
<p>It is time to get serious about protecting our country. Calling for tougher vetting for individuals travelling from seven dangerous places is not extreme. It is reasonable and necessary to protect our country.</p>
<p>Tonight, President Trump relieved Ms. Yates of her duties and subsequently named Dana Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to serve as Acting Attorney General until Senator Jeff Sessions is finally confirmed by the Senate, where he is being wrongly held up by Democrat senators for strictly political reasons.</p>
<p>“I am honored to serve President Trump in this role until Senator Sessions is confirmed. I will defend and enforce the laws of our country to ensure that our people and our nation are protected,” said Dana Boente, Acting Attorney General.</p>
<p>Democratic lawmakers were among those quick to condemn President Trump.</p>
<p>The AG should pledge fidelity to the law &amp; the Constitution not the WhiteHouse. The fact that this admin doesnt understand that is chilling.</p>
<p>— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSchumer/status/826267757666779136" type="external">January 31, 2017</a></p>
<p>Democratic leader in the House, Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California, released a stern statement against Trump in which she commended Yates for upholding her pledge to defend the constitution.</p>
<p>“Tonight, the acting attorney general was fired for upholding the constitution of the United States. What the Trump administration calls betrayal is an American with the courage to say that the law and the constitution come first,” Pelosi said. Citing the refusal of House Republicans to vote for a House bill which would have rescinded the immigration order, Pelosi said those lawmakers will ultimately have to account for where they stood as Trump trampled on the rights of refugees and religious minorities. “Republicans,” she said, “will have to decide whether they will be complicit in the President’s reckless, wrathful and unconstitutional agenda.</p>
<p>And Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) tweeted:</p>
<p>It’s not just that <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump" type="external">@realdonaldtrump</a> fired the Attorney General. It’s that he fired her for refusing to violate the Constitution.</p>
<p>— Rep. Keith Ellison (@keithellison) <a href="https://twitter.com/keithellison/status/826272670618640384" type="external">January 31, 2017</a></p>
<p>Following Yates’ letter refusal to defend the travel restrictions, Lee Gelernt, deputy director of the Immigrants’ Rights Project at the ACLU, had praised the move.</p>
<p>“This is a remarkable but welcome development and sends a powerful message that there’s something very wrong with a Muslim ban,” Gelernt stated.</p>
<p>Asked to respond to the news that Yates was subsequently terminated by Trump, Gelernt told Common Dreams that “her firing is very troubling, but we will move forward. After her principled stand, it will now be impossible for the White House to continue stating that our lawsuits have no merit.”</p>
<p>And in a video message following an evening rally and protest against the ban on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) explained why the Muslim ban is such an egregious policy and why it must be resisted at all costs:</p>
<p>President Trump’s Muslim ban is un-American, is unconstitutional and is going to make us less safe, not more safe. <a href="https://t.co/Mw4aDYrgam" type="external">pic.twitter.com/Mw4aDYrgam</a></p>
<p>— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSanders/status/826252097507168256" type="external">January 31, 2017</a></p> | true | 4 | jon queally common dreams reference saturday night massacre took place watergate scandal president richard nixon hashtag mondaynightmassacre came alive monday night president donald trump fired acting acting attorney general sally yates accused betrayal refusing enforce controversial immigration order targeting muslims refugees time secretary us department homeland security dhs john kelly announced statement daniel ragsdale acting director immigration customs enforcement ice replaced thomas homan less hour aclu congratulated yates monday evening remarkable powerful refusal enforce trumps controversial immigration ban job taking stance responsible ensuring positions take court remain consistent institutions solemn obligation always seek justice stand right yates wrote letter doj lawyers present convinced defense executive order consistent responsibilities convinced executive order lawful weekend protests followed executive order trump constitutional crisis emerged immigration officials refused follow federal judges orders end detention deportation people trying enter country yates rejection order directive department justice personnel arrived dramatic development already politically strained legally tenuous situation though reason given secretary kellys statement ragsdales removal position ice fact name even mentioned replacement noted serving executive associate director ice enforcement removal operations ero capacity statement continues homan led ices efforts identify arrest detain remove illegal aliens including present danger national security risk public safety well enter united states illegally otherwise undermine integrity immigration laws border control efforts trump first referenced yates defiance tweet one complained senate democrats delaying cabinet appointmentsincluding nominee attorney general sen jeff sessions ralaand also stuck obama ag real news came shortly later white house issued statement announcing yates fired dana boente us attorney eastern district virginia already sworn replacement full white house statement acting attorney general sally yates betrayed department justice refusing enforce legal order designed protect citizens united states order approved form legality department justice office legal counsel ms yates obama administration appointee weak borders weak illegal immigration time get serious protecting country calling tougher vetting individuals travelling seven dangerous places extreme reasonable necessary protect country tonight president trump relieved ms yates duties subsequently named dana boente us attorney eastern district virginia serve acting attorney general senator jeff sessions finally confirmed senate wrongly held democrat senators strictly political reasons honored serve president trump role senator sessions confirmed defend enforce laws country ensure people nation protected said dana boente acting attorney general democratic lawmakers among quick condemn president trump ag pledge fidelity law amp constitution whitehouse fact admin doesnt understand chilling chuck schumer senschumer january 31 2017 democratic leader house rep nancy pelosi california released stern statement trump commended yates upholding pledge defend constitution tonight acting attorney general fired upholding constitution united states trump administration calls betrayal american courage say law constitution come first pelosi said citing refusal house republicans vote house bill would rescinded immigration order pelosi said lawmakers ultimately account stood trump trampled rights refugees religious minorities republicans said decide whether complicit presidents reckless wrathful unconstitutional agenda rep keith ellison dminn tweeted realdonaldtrump fired attorney general fired refusing violate constitution rep keith ellison keithellison january 31 2017 following yates letter refusal defend travel restrictions lee gelernt deputy director immigrants rights project aclu praised move remarkable welcome development sends powerful message theres something wrong muslim ban gelernt stated asked respond news yates subsequently terminated trump gelernt told common dreams firing troubling move forward principled stand impossible white house continue stating lawsuits merit video message following evening rally protest ban steps us supreme court sen bernie sanders ivt explained muslim ban egregious policy must resisted costs president trumps muslim ban unamerican unconstitutional going make us less safe safe pictwittercommw4adyrgam bernie sanders sensanders january 31 2017 | 582 |
<p>During the 1980s I was a negotiator on a contract bargain that began with great promise and optimism but ended in a 57-day strike.&#160; Our 5-man negotiating team had sat at a table in a cramped room of the Holiday Inn for more than four months, arguing with the company over one thing—money—before reluctantly announcing to the federal mediator who’d been assigned to our negotiations that a stalemate had been reached and we were pulling the plug.</p>
<p>While the decision to strike was, on one level, agonizing, on another level it was easy.&#160; The previous 3-year contract had yielded annual GWIs (general wage increases) of 9-percent, 10-percent, 10-percent.&#160; But this time around, after months of grueling negotiations, the company’s “last, best and final” offer was zero-four-four; moreover, they demanded we leave Blue Cross and accept a yet unnamed insurance carrier.&#160; This was no emergency austerity move; the annual stock report showed the company was rolling in money.&#160; They were low-balling us and we had no choice but to strike.</p>
<p>Because striking employees typically don’t qualify for unemployment benefits or food stamps, the membership would be forced to live off savings accounts, part-time work, the occasional job on the docks thrown our way by the ILWU (Longshoremen’s union), and the $100 a week strike fund (raised to $125 after the first month on the bricks) provided by the International.</p>
<p>Although the hardest hit members were single mothers, remarkably, it was these same women—single moms with a couple of kids, living paycheck to paycheck—who complained the least.&#160; They diligently reported to the union hall, always on time, always ready to take their places on the picket line; they never beefed, never got twitchy.&#160; When they couldn’t arrange a sitter, they’d leave their kids with someone at the union hall, or take them to the picket line.</p>
<p>Not to point fingers, but the people who complained the most—who whined the most, whimpered the most, argued the most, threatened the most, uttered the weirdest and most outlandish oaths—were the tradesmen, the mechanics and electricians whose wages were the highest in the union contract.&#160; Reminded that they were making the most money, one of them retorted, “That means we’re losing the most money.”</p>
<p>As it happened, a sudden and unexpected benefactor presented itself.&#160; It came in the form of 5-pound blocks of cheese.&#160; Without informing the local union (it was a surprise!) the International had arranged a massive delivery of government poverty cheese, the distribution of which would be handled by the local—presumably, on a weekly basis, passed out along with the strike fund checks.</p>
<p>Because no one had ever heard of government cheese, and because the cheese had more or less appeared, unannounced, people weren’t sure what was going on.&#160; When they reached the front of the queue to collect their strike checks and were reminded by the paymaster to pick up their cheese, they were confused.&#160; “Cheese?&#160; What cheese?”&#160; In twenty years, no one had ever seen any cheese at the union hall.&#160; “Government cheese,” they were told.&#160; “Five pounds of it.&#160; Enjoy.”</p>
<p>Surprisingly, a number of the local’s 700 members refused to accept the government cheese.&#160; Apparently, they viewed it as a form of pity or charity.&#160; “I’ve never been on welfare in my life,” a woman (“Kay,” a machine operator) defiantly told me, her chin raised and her eyes moistening. “Even when I first moved to California, and couldn’t find work, I didn’t take welfare.&#160; And I’m not going to start now.”</p>
<p>The president of the local pleaded with this woman.&#160; “It’s not welfare, goddamnit.&#160; It’s cheese.&#160; What do you have against free cheese?”&#160; But Kay and the other non-takers were adamant.&#160; Even when the strike entered its second month, and people began getting antsy, most of the hold-outs stuck to their guns, too proud to accept it.</p>
<p>On the other extreme you had people who not only appreciated the cheese, but fell in love with it.&#160; They regarded the cheese as more than sustenance; they came to view those 5-pound blocks as emblematic—symbols of the proletarian struggle—and boasted of coming up with cheese-based dishes: macaroni &amp; cheese, cheese soufflés, fried cheese, grilled cheese, cheese omelets, cheese soup, blintzes, sauces, enchiladas, quesadillas, you name it.</p>
<p>The free cheese split the union into two camps:&#160; the takers and the refusers.&#160; While it never got ugly (Why would it?&#160; The takers were happy receiving the cheese, the refusers were satisfied rejecting it), there were some awkward moments.&#160; On one occasion, with twenty or thirty people looking on, a woman loudly accused one of the refusers of being “stuck up,” and the refuser loudly told her to keep her bleeping mouth shut, because it was none of her business.</p>
<p>Late in the strike—during the fifth or sixth week—I got a call at home from a union member (“Gary”) who, years earlier, had been a student of mine in shop steward school.&#160; Gary had been an excellent student and went on to become a very effective steward.&#160; By his voice, I could instantly tell he was uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Gary told me that he and his family had reached the point where they were relying on government cheese not as a supplement, but as their primary staple.&#160; Consequently—with a wife and three hungry teenage sons to feed—they were using up their 5-pound block in less than a week.&#160; Meekly, Gary said, “I know I’m way out of line asking this, but do you think we could get some extra cheese?”</p>
<p>Even though I wasn’t a member of the local’s decision-making executive board—and was aware that the distribution program required that the cheese be strictly monitored (your name was checked off when you received your block)—I nevertheless assured Gary that it wouldn’t be a problem, that he and his family could have all the cheese they needed.</p>
<p>For one thing I didn’t want to put this man through the humiliation of listening to my sanctimonious reasons for denying his request, and for another, I was privy to some “inside information.”&#160; I happened to know that there was an abundance of cheese at the hall.&#160; By refusing to accept their free cheese, the hold-outs had, in fact, created a considerable surplus.</p>
<p>By coincidence, I had already volunteered to be strike captain at the union hall the following Sunday night.&#160; Sunday graveyard was the least popular shift to pull union duty, which was why we negotiators (the men who called the strike) willingly volunteered for it.&#160; Despite the local being composed of strong union people—not one scab crossed the picket line—we knew we needed all the good will we could muster.</p>
<p>I told Gary to come by the hall at around midnight on Sunday—after swing shift had cleared out and the graveyard picketers had been assigned to their gates—drive his pickup to the front door, and I would personally hand over 20 pounds of cheese, no problem.&#160; He thanked me profusely.&#160; He became emotional.&#160; I told him to forget it, that his request wasn’t out of line, that we had lots of extra cheese, and that it was no big deal.</p>
<p>Oddly, Gary never showed up.&#160; He never showed, never called, never mentioned the cheese conversation we had, even though we ran into each half a dozen times afterward.&#160; And just as oddly, I never mentioned it either.</p>
<p>DAVID MACARAY, a Los Angeles playwright (“Larva Boy,” “Americana”) and writer, was a former union rep.&#160; He can be reached at <a href="mailto:[email protected]" type="external">[email protected]</a></p> | true | 4 | 1980s negotiator contract bargain began great promise optimism ended 57day strike160 5man negotiating team sat table cramped room holiday inn four months arguing company one thingmoneybefore reluctantly announcing federal mediator whod assigned negotiations stalemate reached pulling plug decision strike one level agonizing another level easy160 previous 3year contract yielded annual gwis general wage increases 9percent 10percent 10percent160 time around months grueling negotiations companys last best final offer zerofourfour moreover demanded leave blue cross accept yet unnamed insurance carrier160 emergency austerity move annual stock report showed company rolling money160 lowballing us choice strike striking employees typically dont qualify unemployment benefits food stamps membership would forced live savings accounts parttime work occasional job docks thrown way ilwu longshoremens union 100 week strike fund raised 125 first month bricks provided international although hardest hit members single mothers remarkably womensingle moms couple kids living paycheck paycheckwho complained least160 diligently reported union hall always time always ready take places picket line never beefed never got twitchy160 couldnt arrange sitter theyd leave kids someone union hall take picket line point fingers people complained mostwho whined whimpered argued threatened uttered weirdest outlandish oathswere tradesmen mechanics electricians whose wages highest union contract160 reminded making money one retorted means losing money happened sudden unexpected benefactor presented itself160 came form 5pound blocks cheese160 without informing local union surprise international arranged massive delivery government poverty cheese distribution would handled localpresumably weekly basis passed along strike fund checks one ever heard government cheese cheese less appeared unannounced people werent sure going on160 reached front queue collect strike checks reminded paymaster pick cheese confused160 cheese160 cheese160 twenty years one ever seen cheese union hall160 government cheese told160 five pounds it160 enjoy surprisingly number locals 700 members refused accept government cheese160 apparently viewed form pity charity160 ive never welfare life woman kay machine operator defiantly told chin raised eyes moistening even first moved california couldnt find work didnt take welfare160 im going start president local pleaded woman160 welfare goddamnit160 cheese160 free cheese160 kay nontakers adamant160 even strike entered second month people began getting antsy holdouts stuck guns proud accept extreme people appreciated cheese fell love it160 regarded cheese sustenance came view 5pound blocks emblematicsymbols proletarian struggleand boasted coming cheesebased dishes macaroni amp cheese cheese soufflés fried cheese grilled cheese cheese omelets cheese soup blintzes sauces enchiladas quesadillas name free cheese split union two camps160 takers refusers160 never got ugly would it160 takers happy receiving cheese refusers satisfied rejecting awkward moments160 one occasion twenty thirty people looking woman loudly accused one refusers stuck refuser loudly told keep bleeping mouth shut none business late strikeduring fifth sixth weeki got call home union member gary years earlier student mine shop steward school160 gary excellent student went become effective steward160 voice could instantly tell uncomfortable gary told family reached point relying government cheese supplement primary staple160 consequentlywith wife three hungry teenage sons feedthey using 5pound block less week160 meekly gary said know im way line asking think could get extra cheese even though wasnt member locals decisionmaking executive boardand aware distribution program required cheese strictly monitored name checked received blocki nevertheless assured gary wouldnt problem family could cheese needed one thing didnt want put man humiliation listening sanctimonious reasons denying request another privy inside information160 happened know abundance cheese hall160 refusing accept free cheese holdouts fact created considerable surplus coincidence already volunteered strike captain union hall following sunday night160 sunday graveyard least popular shift pull union duty negotiators men called strike willingly volunteered it160 despite local composed strong union peoplenot one scab crossed picket linewe knew needed good could muster told gary come hall around midnight sundayafter swing shift cleared graveyard picketers assigned gatesdrive pickup front door would personally hand 20 pounds cheese problem160 thanked profusely160 became emotional160 told forget request wasnt line lots extra cheese big deal oddly gary never showed up160 never showed never called never mentioned cheese conversation even though ran half dozen times afterward160 oddly never mentioned either david macaray los angeles playwright larva boy americana writer former union rep160 reached dmacarayearthlinknet | 668 |
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