Big Lie

No, thanks: Stop saying “support the troops”

"To support the troops is to accept a particular idea of the American role in the world. It also forces us to pretend that it is a country legitimately interested in equality for all its citizens. In reality, the troops are not actually recipients of any meaningful support. That honor is reserved for the government and its elite constituencies. 'Support our troops' entails a tacit injunction that we also support whatever politicians in any given moment deem the national interest. If we understand that 'the national interest' is but a metonym for the aspirations of the ruling class, then supporting the troops becomes a counterintuitive, even harmful, gesture." Continue reading →

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Syria crisis: Moscow reminds US of Iraq mistakes

"Russia warned that the alleged chemical attack could have been a staged “provocation” by the Syrian opposition forces and said US rhetoric recalled the allegations preceding the invasion of Iraq. 'All of this makes one recall the events that happened 10 years ago, when, using false information about Iraqis having weapons of mass destructions, the US bypassed the United Nations and started a scheme whose consequences are well known to everyone,' the Russian Foreign ministry said in a statement. 'Once again we call not to repeat past mistakes, not to allow actions that contradict international law,' the ministry said." Continue reading →

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A Long List of What We Know Thanks to Private Manning

"The debate in the media, and in political circles over Edward Snowden—Right or Wrong—often doubles back on references to Pfc. Manning, who was sentenced to thirty-five years in prison on Wednesday. Too often (that is, most of the time), the value and import of the Manning/WikiLeaks disclosures are ignored or dismissed, just as Snowden’s NSA scoops are often derided as 'nothing new.' So for those who either suffer from memory loss or ignorance on this particular score, here is a partial accounting of some of the important revelations in the Manning leak, drawn from my book—with Kevin Gosztola—on the Manning case, Truth and Consequences." Continue reading →

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‘The U.S. effect’: Researchers encouraged to report exaggerated or eye-catching results

"Scientists who study human behaviour are more likely than average to report exaggerated or eye-catching results if they are based in the United States, according to an analysis of more than 1,000 research papers in psychiatry and genetics. This bias could be due to the research culture in the US, authors of the analysis said, which tends to preferentially reward scientists for the novelty and immediate impact of a piece of work over the quality or its long-term contribution to the field. One of the authors said that there was intense competition in the US for research funds and, subsequently, pressure to report novel findings in prestigious, high-impact scientific journals." Continue reading →

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Great Moments In Drug War Propaganda

"Yes, so America and its allies may have failed in the 100-year war on (some) drugs. We may have spent well over a trillion dollars, imprisoned tens of thousands of nonviolent offenders, caused who knows how much violence and who knows how many deaths in collateral damage, and wreaked havoc on the Bill of Rights. But at least the drug war has provided us with some great entertainment. Here, a retrospective on some of the greatest (or perhaps most ignominious) moments in drug war propaganda." Continue reading →

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Michael Scheuer: Obama & Brennan – A new American-killing “Murder Inc”?

"If asked why I would want to go slow before dismissing the idea that the federal government murdered Mr. Hastings, I would answer that the power of the examples set by Barack Obama, in his two terms, and by John Brennan, in his work for Clinton and Obama, give me pause. From my perspective, both men consistently have demonstrated themselves to be completely comfortable with creating situations, or permitting situations to exist in which Americans — civilian and military — are killed, in essence, by their own government’s decisions, actions, or inactons. And what would these situations be, one might ask? Well, let me start with the following ten items." Continue reading →

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What If the U.S. Didn’t Have a Military Establishment?

"The Constitution doesn’t say that the U.S. MUST have an army, navy, air force, national guard, a CIA, and NSA, or a surveillance and intelligence apparatus. What would happen if the U.S. didn’t have these forces? Almost nothing would be lost by Americans, including protection because these forces do not protect us. The U.S. would no longer project power overseas. The war on terror would dissipate. The U.S. engagements in foreign wars over turf, resources, foreign protectorates, corporations, pretexts, insults, freedom of travel, open sea lanes and travelers would decline. We’d find other ways to settle problems. The U.S. foreign policies would change." Continue reading →

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Go Time: “Pentagon is Making the Initial Preparations for a Cruise Missile Attack”

"Two words for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad: Get Out. It should be clear based on reports this week of US soldiers and intelligence operatives entering Syrian borders last Saturday that a military operation is now in progress. After the events that played out in front of the world on Wednesday, when it was claimed that Assad launched a chemical attack against his own people, there is no question as to what was going to happen next. For those who would suggest this is just posturing, there is already a precedent. In the eyes of the world Bashar al-Assad is now a mass murderer and he’s about to get Saddam’d." Continue reading →

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Dear World, Americans Don’t Want War With Syria

"Their propaganda doesn't work on us anymore. They can't hide behind political labels anymore. They can't hide behind geopolitical unions and corporations anymore. They can't hide behind religions or 'humanitarian' organizations anymore. By their actions we shall know them. A Reuters poll released today said only 25% of Americans would support military intervention in Syria if, and only if, it was proven that Assad used chemical weapons. There is virtually no support for this war. If it happens, please know that it is not the will of the American people. We stand with you - our human brothers and sisters - for peace, liberty, and justice against this global threat." Continue reading →

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Top general: Syrian rebels do not support U.S. interests

"US armed intervention in Syria would not resolve the civil war and rebel forces cannot be relied on to back American interests, the top military chief said. Pushing back against calls for air strikes and other action, General Martin Dempsey said in a letter to one lawmaker that US military leaders were not 'reticent, weary or risk averse' but rather mindful of the costs of war and 'pragmatic about the limits of military force.' He said knocking out Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s air force was an option but it could drag the United States into an open-ended war. 'Syria today is not about choosing between two sides but rather about choosing one among many sides,' Dempsey wrote." Continue reading →

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