Walter Logeman: Journal
Some detailed and angry reporting on Obama & US imperialism. Such an escalation of war. It really is time for a change, and it all looks scary
Scoop: Obama’s latest sideshow – ‘new security measures’ by Julie Webb-Pullman is a New Zealand based freelance writer who has reported about – and on occasion from – Central America for Scoop since 2003.
I listened to the audio book of Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine last year & . With Haiti disaster I thought, right they’ll be in boots and all – no need to use the military, let nature do the killing for you. And sure enough, it seems the US is doing its best take over (even more) while the going is good. Some links follow.
Steven Hodson in the Inquisitr
Scary, there are a bunch of people out there hell bent on making the world worse:
It is planned that all these secret negotiations taking place will finish in 2010 and the world will be presented with a new world wide copyright/IP treaty that has been written and bullied through all levels of individual country governments by the US entertainment industry and their trade groups around the world.
Interesting page, finally New York Times has a page that makes sense online! I guess it will update as life goes on, an interesting development. It might help both their business models but not the world. Here is a more pertinent summary.
Summary: In a major policy move, President Obama has committed 30,000 more United States troops to Afghanistan but added he would begin drawing out American forces there starting in July 2011. But administration officials have since scrambled to defend that withdrawal schedule. Some lawmakers voiced skepticism. Mr. Obama’s decision is likely to prove to be a defining one for his administration. The policy also leaves unanswered the question of whether Afghan President Hamid Karzai will met the challenge and how to respond if he does not. The strategy’s success may ultimately be determined in an unruly region that straddles the Afghan-Pakastani border.
Nuclear isn’t necessary : article : Nature Reports Climate Change:
The notion that we need nuclear power to address climate change does not reflect the realities of the marketplace or rapid new developments in energy technology.
http://www.generalsemantics.org/misc/akml/akmls/rushkoff.mp3
I liked his talk. (Right click the link to download button) He goes into the state of the world with some enthusiasm & intelligence. He misses the Marxism that applies so thoroughly to what he is discussing, which is a pity, but he also amplifies it, sees the same stuff from another fresh angle.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/198188-Barack-Obama-Manchurian-Candidate-Version-2-0
Now don’t get me wrong. I don’t think for a second that Obama is a secret Republican or a secret Al Qaeda or Chinese operative, though I know that there are right-wing Tea Baggers out there who sincerely believe the latter two scenarios (often at the same time!). I think Obama is simply another slick politician with a giant ego and a shriveled sense of principle and ethics – a man that is, not unlike most of our political class, though with better diction and smile, whose interests include himself, his family, and those who bankroll him, but certainly not you, me and the country as a whole.
I have not listened yet, bet it is bad!
Philosophers Zone – 17 October 2009 – What would Karl Marx think?:
Commodities, capitalism and computers. At a time when the Berlin Wall has fallen but Wall Street is decidedly shaky, a self-described lapsed Marxist takes us through some of the key philosophical and practical ideas of Karl Marx and argues for what is still useful today. What is worth keeping in Marx? He had his limitations but later thinkers have built on his core concepts and used his methods to produce results that still speak to the changing nature of work in contemporary Australia.
Excellent site. Puts the whole business in perspective.
Americans have long believed that the very notion of empire is an offense against our democratic heritage, yet in recent months, these two words — American empire — have been on everyone’s lips. At this moment of unprecedented economic and military strength, the leaders of the United States have embraced imperial ambitions openly. How did we get to this point? And what lies down the road?
Recent good article:
Is America Hooked on War? – CBS News
This is a good article too, though I wonder if addition is the right metaphor? It implies that if you went into recovery youd have a new rich life. The imperialism is more like food and water for capitalism than a drug. No imperialism, no USA as we know it. And it will come sooner than we think.
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This statement from Peace Action Wellington is worth supporting. Even now. They are saying they’ll be there for 5 years. Out now, IMO! Peace Action Wellington are asking for an email so you can be added to the list. I’ve just sent one.
STATEMENT: Hands off Afghanistan! Say no to SAS return to Afghanistan
We are encouraging organisations, grassroots community groups and individuals to sign on to our anti-war statement below. If you would like to add your name, simply email us at
Full statement from their website follows:
Continue reading “Withdraw all troops from Afghanistan”