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August 25, 2008 at 22:18:15
Promoted to Headline (H3) on 8/25/08: by Paul Roberts Page 1 of 2 page(s) |
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Paul Craig Roberts
Thinking about the massive failure of the US media to report truthfully is sobering. The United States, bristling with nuclear weapons and pursuing a policy of world hegemony, has a population that is kept in the dark--indeed brainwashed--about the most important and most dangerous events of our time.
The power of the Israel Lobby is an important component of keeping Americans in the dark. Recently I watched a documentary that demonstrates the control that the Israel Lobby exercises over Americans' view of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The documentary is available here: http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article14055.htm
As a result of the US media's one-sided coverage, few Americans are aware that for decades Israel has been ethnically cleansing Palestinians from their homes and lands under protection of America's veto in the United Nations. Instead, the dispossessed Palestinians are portrayed as mindless terrorists who attack innocent Israel.
If one reads Israeli newspapers, such as Haaretz, or publications from Israeli organizations, such as the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, one gets a radically different view of the situation than the propagandistic version delivered by US media and evangelical pulpits.
Most Americans know of the 2000 attack by Muslim terrorists on the USS Cole in Aden harbor that resulted in 17 dead and 39 wounded American sailors. But few have heard of Israel's 1967 attack on the USS Liberty that left 34 American sailors dead and 174 wounded. Pressured by the Israel Lobby, President Johnson ordered Admiral McCain, father of the Republican presidential nominee, to cover up the attack. To this day there never has been a congressional investigation.
The failure of the American media is again evident in the coverage of the Georgian-Russian conflict. The US media presented the conflict as a Russian invasion of Georgia, whereas in actual fact the American and Israeli trained and equipped Georgian military launched a sneak attack to kill and to drive the Russian population out of South Ossetia, a separatist province.
Russian peacekeepers, together with Georgian ones, had been stationed in South Ossetia since the early 1990s. On orders from Mikheil Saakashvili, the American puppet "president" of Georgia, the Georgian peacekeepers turned their weapons on the unsuspecting Russian peacekeepers and murdered them.
This action by Saakashvili, elected with money from the neoconservative National Endowment for Democracy, an election-rigging tool of US hegemony, was a war crime. In truth, the Russians should have hung Saakashvili, as he is far more guilty than was Saddam Hussein. But it is Russia, not Saakashvili, that the US media has demonized.
Americans have become perfect subjects for George Orwell's Big Brother. They sit stupidly in front of the TV news or the New York Times or Washington Post and absorb the lies fed to them. What is wrong with Americans? Why do they put up with it? Are Americans the nation of sheep that Judge Andrew P. Napolitano says they are? Americans flaunt "freedom and democracy" and live under a Ministry of Propaganda.
Two decades ago, President Reagan reached agreement with Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev to end the dangerous cold war. But every one of Reagan's successors has sought to pick a new fight with Russia. In violation of the agreement, NATO has been taken to Russia's borders, and the US is determined to put former constituent parts of Russia herself into NATO. In an effort to neutralize Russia's nuclear deterrent and compromise her independence, the US is putting anti-ballistic missile bases on Russia's borders.
The gratuitously aggressive US military policy toward Russia will lead to nuclear war. I am confident that if Americans elect John McCain, or the Republicans steal another presidential election, there will be nuclear war in the second decade of the 21st century. The neocon lies, propaganda, macho flag-waving, and use of US foreign policy in the interests of a few military-security firms, oil companies, and Israel are all leading in that direction.
The November election is perhaps the last chance to avoid nuclear war. But the opportunity might already have been missed. The Republicans have chosen as their candidate one of the most ignorant warmongers alive. The Democrats' choice was between one of the most divisive women in America and a man of mixed race with a funny name. Considering American's taste for war, the Democratic candidate could fail to defeat the GOP war candidate.
Many Americans will vote against Obama because he is black. Why does mixed ancestry confer the black label? If America's population was predominantly black, would Obama be considered white?
Race and propaganda are more likely to determine the outcome of the November election than any awareness or consideration of real issues by voters. 
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| 21 comments |
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Hubris, not knowledge
That's certainly a worthwhile statement to consider, that Americans are full of pride, but are not informed. The level of our collective ignorance is staggering. Veteran, 66'-68 by Roger (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 465 comments [22 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 2:48:30 PM  (0+)
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Very good article
Sadly I have to agree with your article. We are on the road to WWIII and our own destruction. Stirling by Lord Stirling (26 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 151 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:07:18 PM (0+)
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Very good article
Sadly I have to agree with your article. We are on the road to WWIII and our own destruction. Stirling by Lord Stirling (26 articles, 0 quicklinks, 4 diaries, 151 comments [3 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:08:21 PM (0+)
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Do the Russians finally realize what they're up against?
I think they must have been in "denial" about the situation, for some time, but now they may be coming to realize that, in the USraeli Empire, they face an implacable foe bent on their destruction. by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 3:33:36 PM (0+)
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Reply: Are you kidding? Of course they realize it. The US has done
nothing but try to encircle & undermine Russia ever since the USSR dissolved. That was the whole point of building the BTC pipeline -- to cut Russia out. That was the point of encouraging the "color revolutions" & installing Western-friendly regimes in all the former Russian satellite countries; of extending NATO right to Russia's borders; of recognizing Kosovo's secession from Serbia; of placing "missile defense" system components in Poland & the Czech Republic. Every one of these moves was meant to undermine Russia's influence & to hem them in. It isn't possible they wouldn't notice. It's all aimed against them, & that's not the sort of thing you fail to notice. // In fact, the very reason they hit back so hard against Georgia's aggression 2 weeks ago was to demonstrate that they won't allow themselves to be pushed beyond a certain point. by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 5:39:33 PM (0+)
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Reply: I'm not kidding; denial is all around you why not in Russia?
Well they apparently realize it now, now that Russian blood has been spilled. My implied point is that Russia could've taken a more forceful defensive stand, years ago. by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 5:56:55 PM (0+)
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Reply: Denial is all around us because we live in the US, are
exposed to American media, & are products of American brainwashing. Other countries aren't subjected to this constant barrage of pro-US propaganda, & so are able see the world (or at least US influence in the world) more as it really is. It's also easier to be accurate in your perceptions about America once you're the victim of its foreign policy. That's an effective remedy for illusions & denial. American citizens, on the other hand, don't get to enjoy that type of "educational experience." by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 6:26:09 PM (0+)
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Reply: I'd say denial is part of human nature.
Americans probably have more to be in denial about, and U.S. rulers certainly know how to take advantage of their subjects' propensity to deny unpleasant realities, but I think "denial" is a universal trait. Anyway, I think Russia slipped-up big-time by not taking a stand many years ago...and I think it's in part because they were in "denial" that the USSR (as bad as it may have been in some ways), did protect them from U.S. aggression, and did serve as a global countervailing force against bloody U.S. imperialism. by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 7:16:25 PM (0+)
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War With Russia Is On The Agenda
The War Criminal Bush Administration, and Presidential hopeful McCain are setting the stage for Nuclear War. No one in their right minds can possibly believe that a Nuclear War can be won; everyone loses! Obama has the opportunity to end this madness, and bring America back to sanity. Whether he can be the man for change is questionable; but the world does not want any part of Nuclear War. by Rolland Miller (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments [78 recommended, 1 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 5:09:32 PM (0+)
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A comment by quotes
I just wish to remind that which has been said thru the ages about war and its roots by people much greater then ourselves. "Kings had always been involving and impoverishing their people in wars, pretending generally, if not always, that the good of the people was the object." Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) US President 1848 "Wars are caused by undefended wealth." General Douglas MacArthur (1880-1964) WWII Supreme Allied Commander of the Southwest Pacific, Supreme United Nations Commander "Endless money forms the sinews of war." Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.) Roman orator, statesman "For what can war but endless war still breed?" John Milton " (1608-1674) Poet A standing army is one of the greatest mischief that can possibly happen: James Madison: US fourth president, 1751-1836 Whenever a people... entrust the defence of their country to a regular, standing army, composed of mercenaries, the power of that country will remain under the direction of the most wealthy citizens.": A Framer War Is A Racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of the people. Only a small "inside" group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few, at the expense of the very many. Out of war a few people make huge fortunes: Major General Smedley Butler. 1881 All those who seek to destroy the liberties of a democratic nation ought to know that war is the surest and shortest means to accomplish it: Alexis de Tocqueville If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest: -Thomas Jefferson War ... should only be declared by the authority of the people, whose toils and treasures are to support its burdens, instead of the government which is to reap its fruits. : James Madison (1751-1836) "Next the statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing falsities, and will diligently study them, and refuse to examine any refutations of them; and thus he will by and by convince himself that the war is just, and will thank God for the better sleep he enjoys after this process of grotesque self- deception." : Mark Twain 1916 "There is no nonsense so arrant that it cannot be made the creed of the vast majority by adequate governmental action.": Bertrand Russell "If they want peace, nations should avoid the pin-pricks that precede cannon shots." Napoleon Bonaparte (1769-1821) French emperor Throughout the history of the United States, war has been the primary impetus behind the growth and development of the central state. It has been the lever by which presidents and other national officials have bolstered the power of the state in the face of tenacious popular resistance: Bruce D. Porter If they talk about dying for principles that are bigger than life you say mister you're a liar. Nothing is bigger than life. There's nothing noble in death. What's noble about lying in the ground and rotting? What's noble about never seeing the sunshine again? What's noble about having your legs and arms blown off? What's noble about being an idiot? What's noble about being blind and deaf and dumb? What's noble about being dead? Because when you're dead mister it's all over. It's the end. You're less than a dog less than a rat less than a bee or an ant less than a maggot crawling around on a dungheap. You're dead mister and you died for nothing. You're dead mister. Dead: Dalton Trumbo - Source: "Johnny Got His Gun" - The quote was written directly as it is found in the text with the same line endings, and the same lack of punctuation. Possibly the greatest anti-war novel ever written. Our government has kept us in a perpetual state of fear - kept us in a continuous stampede of patriotic fervour - with the cry of grave national emergency. Always, there has been some terrible evil at home, or some monstrous foreign power that was going to gobble us up if we did not blindly rally behind it: General Douglas MacArthur "War is sweet to those who haven't tasted it." Desiderius Erasmus Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear: Harry S Truman I don't believe that the big men, the politicians and the capitalists alone are guilty of the war. Oh, no, the little man is just as keen, otherwise the people of the world would have risen in revolt long ago! There is an urge and rage in people to destroy, to kill, to murder, and until all mankind, without exception, undergoes a great change, wars will be waged: Anne Frank: Jewish girl author of a diary of her family's two years in hiding during World War Two, 1929-1945 "All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted". Frank Herbert (1920-1986), Chapterhouse Dune, Missionaria Protectiva "People demand freedom only when they have no power." Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche (1844-1900) "It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power." David Brin (1950- ) Author "The greater the power the more dangerous the abuse." Edmund Burke (1729-1797) I hate it when they say, 'He gave his life for his country.' Nobody gives their life for anything. We steal the lives of these kids. We take it away from them. They don't die for the honor and glory of their country. We kill them." - Admiral Gene LaRocque. "Terrorism is the war of the poor. War is the terrorism of the rich." "Diplomats are just as essential in starting a war as soldiers are in finishing it." Will Rogers (1879-1935) American humorist "There was never a good war, or a bad peace." Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) US Founding Father Never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime: Ernest Hemingway "I wouldn't call it fascism exactly, but a political system nominally controlled by an irresponsible, dumbed down electorate who are manipulated by dishonest, cynical, controlled mass media that dispense the propaganda of a corrupt political establishment can hardly be described as democracy either." Edward Zehr (1936-2001) Columnist "They have always taught and trained you to believe it to be your patriotic duty to go to war and to have yourselves slaughtered at their command. But in all the history of the world you, the people, have never had a voice in declaring war, and strange as it certainly appears, no war by any nation in any age has ever been declared by the people." Eugene Debs Socialist candidate for president, June 16, 1918 The speech led to Debs's being stripped of his citizenship and sent to jail for 10 years. "19 terrorists in 6 weeks have been able to command 300 million North Americans to do away with the entirety of their civil liberties that took 700 years to advance from the Magna Carta onward. The terrorists have already won the political and ideological war with one terrorist act. It is mindboggling that we are that weak as a society." Rocco Galati lawyer for the Canadian Islamic Congress October, 2001Source: http://www.canadianliberty.bc.ca/ We're not a democracy. It's a terrible misunderstanding and a slander to the idea of democracy to call us that. In reality, we're a plutocracy: a government by the wealthy." : Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General by David Donnell (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 3 comments) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 6:13:44 PM (0+)
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No, folks
I am an American of Russian- Jewish descent. I can tell you that there will be no war with Russia. But under the pretence of preparing for that war the US govt will conduct the war on its people. It has been that way before. You ain't seen nothing yet. by Mark Sashine (72 articles, 19 quicklinks, 269 diaries, 4101 comments [131 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 7:22:24 PM (0+)
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Reply: What's the basis for your belief?
If war is to be avoided, then either the Empire has to reverse course (and soon, I would think), or Russia has to basically surrender its sovereignty, no? by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 8:09:21 PM (0+)
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I agree
with Mark. McCain and the GOP war party don't really want war with Russia; they want a new cold war that can justify endless increases to the Defense (War) budget. Then their friends will make even more billions; well, they will, too. And there won't be any more talk about redistribution, or regulation of businesses, or excess profits taxes; the big corporations must be enlisted to fight the big bad Russians. by Douglas Smyth (27 articles, 5 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 90 comments [7 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 8:13:15 PM (0+)
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Reply: Dems have supported military spending just as much as Repubs
, and the responses of Obama & McCain to the Georgia-Russia conflict have been basically the same. Furthermore, as PCR points out in the article, Obama is advised by Brzezinski, who is famous for his anti-Russian leanings. And the BTC pipeline, meant to cut Russia out of the picture, was a high-priority project during the B. Clinton admin. by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 4 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1552 comments [255 recommended, 5 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 8:36:00 PM (0+)
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War should never happen with Russia
I agree with Mark and Douglass. "We The People" need to stand up and voice our opinion as loud as possible. How much more money can we spend on War? Our infrastructure is falling apart, schools aren't teaching diddley, crime is ruining our cities, illegals are running around protesting as if they have all our rights. And now we have the Patriot Act and more big brother crap that has done nothing but stifle our legal citizens. It is time for a change all right, but I see none of that in the two candidates that have been chosen to run for either party. Bush and company have roughly 5 months to screw things up worse then they are now. God help us all. by Jay Timmins (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 113 comments [5 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 9:08:53 PM (0+)
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War with someone, somewhere is always pending
The agenda for you and your country is pre-determined behind closed doors, far from Washington, by persons that few would recognize. The current and future politicians are temporary and minor obstacles. The carefully created illusion that the commoners participate in their governance is necessary to deter revolution, uprisings and insurrection. The game is rigged, a president has been selected - and he will march to the orders that he has been given. All that's left, is the formulation of the methods by which our self appointed overlords manufacture our consent - 911 begot the Iraq invasion, and another "grand attack" will lead to the Russian heartland. It's all very simple - Government 101. by Michael McCoy (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 487 comments [26 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 11:07:31 PM (0+)
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War with someone, somewhere is always pending
The agenda for you and your country is pre-determined behind closed doors, far from Washington, by persons that few would recognize. The current and future politicians are temporary and minor obstacles. The carefully created illusion that the commoners participate in their governance is necessary to deter revolution, uprisings and insurrection. The game is rigged, a president has been selected - and he will march to the orders that he has been given. All that's left, is the formulation of the methods by which our self appointed overlords manufacture our consent - 911 begot the Iraq invasion, and another "grand attack" will lead to the Russian heartland. It's all very simple - Government 101. by Michael McCoy (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 487 comments [26 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Tuesday, Aug 26, 2008 at 11:11:19 PM (0+)
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more of the same
Once again, a double posting - and I have no idea how. by Michael McCoy (7 articles, 1 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 487 comments [26 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 12:36:08 AM (0+)
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Reply: A War Too Far
I agree with most of what Mr. Roberts has written, as I usually do, but I do not accept the notion that the neocons want a war, especially a nuclear (nukular?) one with Russia. Who wins? The neocons are crazy, but I don't think they're that crazy. After all, they must care about their own survival if not for that of the people, don't they? The 10 missile interceptors set to be placed in Poland are no threat to Russia's massive nuclear arsenal. How could they be? Russian perturbations aside, there's really no way they could be a threat to Russia. Could one explain that to the Russians? No, I don't think so. Hence their fiery rhetoric. But so what? I accept this administration's argument that the interceptors are aimed at Iran, not Russia. Why? Because so far I have no reason to doubt it. Not that I'm trusting of them, mind you, just that a pre-emptive nuclear attack on Russia would be catastrophic for the US and Europe, and those dinky little 10 interceptors won't do much against the Russian arsenal. We've been hearing the drumbeat about the coming war with Iran for years. So far those rumors have come to nothing. There's still time, I know, but it's premature to start ringing alarm bells about a coming war with Russia, especially a nuclear one which is very unlikely. P.S. McCain may be crazy. But I don't think even he's crazy enough to want a nuclear war with Russia. by Sam Adams (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 90 comments) on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 6:34:43 AM (0+)
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Reply: I don't think you fully understand the situation.
I agree with most of what Mr. Roberts has written, as I usually do, but I do not accept the notion that the neocons want a war, LOL! That's kind of silly, isn't it? Of course they want war. Neocons love to spill blood. Shouldn't that be rather obvious by now? especially a nuclear (nukular?) one with Russia. Who wins? The neocons are crazy, but I don't think they're that crazy. After all, they must care about their own survival if not for that of the people, don't they? The 10 missile interceptors set to be placed in Poland are no threat to Russia's massive nuclear arsenal. How could they be? Russian perturbations aside, there's really no way they could be a threat to Russia. Ok, here's what you really don't understand. First of all, once the system is in place, it wouldn't be a big deal to add more missiles...10 could easily become 20, etc. Why should any of the U.S.'s disingenuous claims be taken at face value? Second, the missile system, even if limited to small numbers of missiles, gives the U.S. an important first strike advantage; i.e. theoretically, the U.S. would need only a small number of missiles to "mop up" after a first strike. Could one explain that to the Russians? No, I don't think so. Don't worry, the Russians understand far better than you do, what the missiles on their borders mean. Hence their fiery rhetoric. But so what? I accept this administration's argument that the interceptors are aimed at Iran, not Russia. Why? Because so far I have no reason to doubt it. ROTFL! by Harold Smith (0 articles, 3 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 556 comments [1 recommended, 0 rejected]) on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008 at 8:16:01 AM (0+)
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Reply: Sam and Harold: One further point
The major problem is that anti-missile missiles provoke escalating armaments. Nukular Geopolitics 101. It's perfectly plain to all players in the region that our "defensive" missiles in Poland will have nothing to do with Iran, and everything to do with anything within those "defensive" missiles' ballistic range. by editnetwork (0 articles, 2 quicklinks, 2 diaries, 73 comments) on Saturday, Aug 30, 2008 at 9:29:45 PM (0+)
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