John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY AS’AD ABUKHALIL IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“Israel’s Overlooked Strategic Losses in Wars Against Arabs
“After conventional Arab armies failed to deter Israeli invasions, Lebanese and Palestinian volunteers have changed the strategic balance in the Middle East”
___________________
Response to a comment saying, “The barrage of anti-Israel rhetoric lost all credibility some time ago. While it remains fashionable among our bourgeoisie, it has defied all logic. Bottom line: Jews are indigenous to that bit of land, restored as the Jewish nation in 1948. Israel is roughly 1% of the Mideast, with the remaining 99% owned by the Arab states, all of which are armed to the teeth by China, Russia, and the US. Although portrayed as a military behemoth trampling over the impoverished oil states, it takes everything Israel has got, just to survive”:
Sorry, but you just repeat lines from pamphlets.
The Ashkenazi - the people running Israel and the main early Zionist writers - are indeed Jews, but that ignores the fact that they are not Hebrews. There is a huge difference.
The Ashkenazi are Europeans. The word, Ashkenazi, means "German."
Deli food is not Middle Eastern - it reflects German and central European food.
The Yiddish language is not Middle Eastern - it is derived from German.
The dress of the ultra-Orthodox is not Middle Eastern - it is from 18th or 19th century Eastern Europe.
Yes, most Jews learn some Hebrew in their temples’ Hebrew Schools, but that is no different than the practice of millions of devout Muslims learning Arabic in madrassa schools so that they can read the Koran in the original. It provides no basis for Indonesia laying claim to Saudi Arabia.
Sharing religious beliefs with someone who ages ago owned some real estate buys you nothing in the real world.
All the best evidence we have suggests the Palestinians are the actual remaining descendants of the Hebrews.
The Romans never tossed out whole peoples from conquered lands. There is no record of their ever doing so.
The notion of wandering Jews looking for a home again for two thousand years appears to be just a sentimental myth used by people like the Ashkenazi to feel more connected to the ancient Hebrews whose religion they share.
There are many examples of such myths and beliefs – e.g., a number of American Blacks regard themselves as descendants of the ancient Egyptians – but myths provide no foundation for building new arrangements in the real world.
Besides, time and again, DNA tests of Ashkenazi people tell us plainly they go back about one thousand years or less. Two origins are suggested, and both of them are located in Europe.
Citing ancient texts, and especially religious or superstitious ones, as any kind of basis for the geo-politics of the modern world makes little sense and is actually quite dangerous.
Otherwise, Greece, who won the Trojan War three thousand years ago, would have a claim on Turkey, the site of ancient Troy.
And many other groups besides the ancient Hebrews possessed what we call Israel before the Hebrews, including the Egyptians. By what logic do you stop at just a certain era in any territory’s long history to call it the definitive origin? There’s no such thing.
And there are scores of such examples as the Greeks and Trojans which prove nothing and would only generate confusion and war if taken seriously.
And that is pretty much the case for re-created Israel. Confusion and war.
Friday, November 30, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: MR TRUMP AND MR COHEN AND THE G-20 - TRUMP HAS BECOME SO ABSURD HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW IT WHEN HE QUESTIONS HIS OWN JUDGMENT IN PUBLIC
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
'The president responded to news of Mr. Cohen’s plea deal by saying he was a “weak person and not a very smart person.”'
Then why, Mr. Trump, did you hire and use Mr. Cohen a number of times in your various dealings?
Seems to me, if your assessment of him can be accepted as accurate, it is more a reflection on you and your judgment than on Mr. Cohen.
Meanwhile, we have a world bursting with problems, many of them caused by America, and the G-20 won't be able to address them because "the leader of the Free World" is preoccupied with his personal problems.
What a noisy, absurd figure Trump has become.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
'The president responded to news of Mr. Cohen’s plea deal by saying he was a “weak person and not a very smart person.”'
Then why, Mr. Trump, did you hire and use Mr. Cohen a number of times in your various dealings?
Seems to me, if your assessment of him can be accepted as accurate, it is more a reflection on you and your judgment than on Mr. Cohen.
Meanwhile, we have a world bursting with problems, many of them caused by America, and the G-20 won't be able to address them because "the leader of the Free World" is preoccupied with his personal problems.
What a noisy, absurd figure Trump has become.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: HOW A GENUINE FACT USED IN ISOLATION CAN BE PROPAGANDA JUST AS SURELY AS A COMPLETELY MADE-UP TALE - A BIT MORE ON RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IN THE KERCH STRAIT
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
"Crimea: Video shows alleged Russian ship ram Ukrainian tugboat in Black Sea as tensions rise"
The video in isolation only shows how carefully selected facts can become propaganda just as surely as outright fabrications.
The Russians have never tried to hide the fact of the ramming. So, what is your point?
And why did they ram? Because the Ukrainians refused to respond to the directions of Russian Border Services, and their presence was illegal.
This is no small thing because some Ukrainian politicians have publicly called for the bridge to be blown up.
I suppose Russia could have responded to the threat the way Israel does week after week, just shooting people in cold blood who have never even set foot on Israeli territory.
I actually think the Russians handled this well. No one was killed or seriously hurt.
As it turned out, there was a supply of serious weapons aboard the ships and there were several members of the Ukrainian security service aboard.
Not exactly an innocent little mistake, for sure.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
"Crimea: Video shows alleged Russian ship ram Ukrainian tugboat in Black Sea as tensions rise"
The video in isolation only shows how carefully selected facts can become propaganda just as surely as outright fabrications.
The Russians have never tried to hide the fact of the ramming. So, what is your point?
And why did they ram? Because the Ukrainians refused to respond to the directions of Russian Border Services, and their presence was illegal.
This is no small thing because some Ukrainian politicians have publicly called for the bridge to be blown up.
I suppose Russia could have responded to the threat the way Israel does week after week, just shooting people in cold blood who have never even set foot on Israeli territory.
I actually think the Russians handled this well. No one was killed or seriously hurt.
As it turned out, there was a supply of serious weapons aboard the ships and there were several members of the Ukrainian security service aboard.
Not exactly an innocent little mistake, for sure.
Thursday, November 29, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: UNAVOIDABLE FLAWS IN OUR PRESS - GOVERNMENT-PRESS RELATIONSHIP IN THE WEST - AMERICA'S BASIC STRUCTURAL PROBLEM IS PLUTOCRACY AND ITS EMPIRE AND NOT "GLOBALISM" - MYTH OF TRUMP BATTLING INSIDERS
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Canada's Main TV Channel, CBC, Is a Great Big Globalist Bullhorn for War”
Yes, CBC is not greatly different than many corporate news services. A little, but not greatly.
This should come as no surprise because a state network must depend upon the good will of government for its future.
If you want to see public services that are even worse than CBC, look no further than NPR and BBC - both appalling in their subservience to establishment policy.
All people concerned with news and events should know that you cannot depend on any one news source.
Only by reading or watching a variety of sources and making an effort to interpret, reading between the lines, can you hope to come to anything resembling truth in international affairs.
All Western governments dominate their news establishments, both private and public. All of them.
And, in turn, all Western governments are dominated by American imperial policies, often to an embarrassing extent. All of them.
So, we see American policy consistently supported and never truly attacked for the destructive thing that it is by politicians and news sources in “the West.”
But I'm sorry to say that this has nothing to do with "globalists" or even "war advocacy," although the latter is an implicit part of world empire. Empires don’t just happen, they are created by force. America’s decades of wars since WWII are all about expanding or protecting empire and little else. All the stuff about principles or defense of America is just that, stuff - meaningless, jingoistic stuff.
The “globalism” theme is a myth of the Right to which many cling much as they cling to the myth that Trump is in any way opposed to basic American establishment interests. It is naïve to say so because he is busy fervently serving those interests both in international affairs and in world trade.
He wants the establishment’s support and works to earn it. He wants to be re-elected. Everything points to him working towards that end, as with his appointment of many Neocons to important posts.
America’s basic structural problem is that it has become a plutocracy, and the main power establishment in Washington is dedicated to serving the plutocracy. After all, money runs elections in America, plus a whole lot else.
The stuff about “globalism,” always used as an epithet and left poorly defined, is virtually a distraction from the real problem.
So long as the nation functions as a plutocracy with a power establishment serving its interests, which very much includes a costly world empire, nothing important will change.
Trump is such a great example of the realities. He works overtime trying to give them what they want in return for them tolerating him in office.
You know, in the end, throughout the world, those with great fortunes dominate despite all the political rhetoric about democracy and the struggles for freedom over the last few centuries. The rich rule, still, but it is not always with the complete transparency we see in the United States.
Both major parties are completely dependent upon large money donors. Nothing serious in arrangements or international affairs ever changes with the election of either of them. And America’s Supreme Court has even ruled that “money is free speech.”
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Canada's Main TV Channel, CBC, Is a Great Big Globalist Bullhorn for War”
Yes, CBC is not greatly different than many corporate news services. A little, but not greatly.
This should come as no surprise because a state network must depend upon the good will of government for its future.
If you want to see public services that are even worse than CBC, look no further than NPR and BBC - both appalling in their subservience to establishment policy.
All people concerned with news and events should know that you cannot depend on any one news source.
Only by reading or watching a variety of sources and making an effort to interpret, reading between the lines, can you hope to come to anything resembling truth in international affairs.
All Western governments dominate their news establishments, both private and public. All of them.
And, in turn, all Western governments are dominated by American imperial policies, often to an embarrassing extent. All of them.
So, we see American policy consistently supported and never truly attacked for the destructive thing that it is by politicians and news sources in “the West.”
But I'm sorry to say that this has nothing to do with "globalists" or even "war advocacy," although the latter is an implicit part of world empire. Empires don’t just happen, they are created by force. America’s decades of wars since WWII are all about expanding or protecting empire and little else. All the stuff about principles or defense of America is just that, stuff - meaningless, jingoistic stuff.
The “globalism” theme is a myth of the Right to which many cling much as they cling to the myth that Trump is in any way opposed to basic American establishment interests. It is naïve to say so because he is busy fervently serving those interests both in international affairs and in world trade.
He wants the establishment’s support and works to earn it. He wants to be re-elected. Everything points to him working towards that end, as with his appointment of many Neocons to important posts.
America’s basic structural problem is that it has become a plutocracy, and the main power establishment in Washington is dedicated to serving the plutocracy. After all, money runs elections in America, plus a whole lot else.
The stuff about “globalism,” always used as an epithet and left poorly defined, is virtually a distraction from the real problem.
So long as the nation functions as a plutocracy with a power establishment serving its interests, which very much includes a costly world empire, nothing important will change.
Trump is such a great example of the realities. He works overtime trying to give them what they want in return for them tolerating him in office.
You know, in the end, throughout the world, those with great fortunes dominate despite all the political rhetoric about democracy and the struggles for freedom over the last few centuries. The rich rule, still, but it is not always with the complete transparency we see in the United States.
Both major parties are completely dependent upon large money donors. Nothing serious in arrangements or international affairs ever changes with the election of either of them. And America’s Supreme Court has even ruled that “money is free speech.”
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: SOME RUSSIANS DO SOUND A BIT LIKE 1980s REPUBLICANS WITH TALK ABOUT "FAMILY VALUES" - AND DISPARAGING TALK ABOUT "GLOBALISM" RESEMBLES AMERICA'S CONTEMPORARY ALT-RIGHT
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
"Russian Conservatism Today Stands for Family Values and Resistance to Globalism"
I certainly have nothing against families, but I seriously dislike the term, "family values."
Russians may not be aware of the fact, but for some years in the 1980s the term was used, quite hypocritically, by the Republican Party in the United States.
It served as a kind of advertising slogan for a party that was bereft of ideas and had no worthy policies or goals to pursue.
It was especially loudly-mouthed by creepy politicians like Newt Gingrich - a guy who, among other disgusting behaviors, told his wife who was dying of cancer that he was divorcing her for someone new.
The phrase is not a happy one for many forward-looking North Americans, the very people who try to understand Russia and sympathize with its abuse by the American power establishment.
The use of “globalism" also is very loaded. The extreme American Right loves using the term as an epithet, almost an obscenity, against any kind of international organization. This attitude really represents the last dregs of traditional American isolationism and Fortress America and America “can go it alone.”
But global relationships, global trade, global cooperation, and sound global institutions are not to be despised by anyone with good intentions.
These are good things. Russia needs to sell many of its products abroad. Russia wants all the trade it can secure. Russia wants a framework protecting trade and diplomacy from the kind of idiocy we see recently from the United States. Russia wants peace and good order.
You know, the "vision" of American Neocons is the opposite to that in reality. Their view is that America can unilaterally decide things, that America is the "indispensable nation," that America should not answer to organizations like the UN, the WTO, the OPCW, or the ICC.
In a very real sense, they are the genuine anti-globalists. They actually favor a form of chaos and the principle of might makes right. I don't understand why anyone, especially in Russia, would want to support their contempt for international fairness and order, and that is precisely what is communicated by numerous contemptuous references to "globalism."
Perhaps those using the term with contempt mean something else, but they do not explain what they mean, they are not specific, and pour dislike on a perfectly good term.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
"Russian Conservatism Today Stands for Family Values and Resistance to Globalism"
I certainly have nothing against families, but I seriously dislike the term, "family values."
Russians may not be aware of the fact, but for some years in the 1980s the term was used, quite hypocritically, by the Republican Party in the United States.
It served as a kind of advertising slogan for a party that was bereft of ideas and had no worthy policies or goals to pursue.
It was especially loudly-mouthed by creepy politicians like Newt Gingrich - a guy who, among other disgusting behaviors, told his wife who was dying of cancer that he was divorcing her for someone new.
The phrase is not a happy one for many forward-looking North Americans, the very people who try to understand Russia and sympathize with its abuse by the American power establishment.
The use of “globalism" also is very loaded. The extreme American Right loves using the term as an epithet, almost an obscenity, against any kind of international organization. This attitude really represents the last dregs of traditional American isolationism and Fortress America and America “can go it alone.”
But global relationships, global trade, global cooperation, and sound global institutions are not to be despised by anyone with good intentions.
These are good things. Russia needs to sell many of its products abroad. Russia wants all the trade it can secure. Russia wants a framework protecting trade and diplomacy from the kind of idiocy we see recently from the United States. Russia wants peace and good order.
You know, the "vision" of American Neocons is the opposite to that in reality. Their view is that America can unilaterally decide things, that America is the "indispensable nation," that America should not answer to organizations like the UN, the WTO, the OPCW, or the ICC.
In a very real sense, they are the genuine anti-globalists. They actually favor a form of chaos and the principle of might makes right. I don't understand why anyone, especially in Russia, would want to support their contempt for international fairness and order, and that is precisely what is communicated by numerous contemptuous references to "globalism."
Perhaps those using the term with contempt mean something else, but they do not explain what they mean, they are not specific, and pour dislike on a perfectly good term.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: SOME FUNDAMENTALS ABOUT THE AMERICAN EMPIRE AND THE NEW FERVENT SERVANT IT HAS IN TRUMP - A WORD ON TRUMP'S GAME WITH HIS SUPPORTERS
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY HUNTER DERENSIS IN ZEROHEDGE
“The Coming Bankruptcy Of The American Empire
“Better to bring the troops home on our terms than wait for a debt crisis to do it for us...”
Good statement of some elementary truths.
However, politics is not about truths or facts or laws or science.
And it is even less the case with the kind of greedy forces who drive America’s world empire.
The situation is ruinous, but then how many times in history have nations looked at potentially ruinous circumstances and ignored them? More times than not, I think.
Empire has always ultimately been a losing proposition, as many brilliant observers have noted, including Adam Smith and David Hume.
And the people who run and support and profit by empire have a different set of interests than the population in general has.
There is very much a fundamental dichotomy in America between the power establishment and the bulk of the nation’s population.
I think many ordinary Americans understand this truth but in some vague and undefined way. That is why they voted for Trump.
But it was a big mistake.
Trump is working extremely hard to ingratiate himself with the establishment, trying within the serious limits of his abilities, to deliver what they want and more, in return for his ability to run again and be heavily supported with campaign funds in 2020. We see this everywhere from conflict with Russia and China to what he does in the Mideast and his treatment of international organizations.
And I think the establishment is willing to go along with him so long as they get what they want.
In a very real sense, because of his fears of their attacking him, he has become an outsized cartoon version of their interests, the very opposite to what his followers believe. It is a very strange and unstable situation.
He keeps his followers happy now largely through rhetoric about migrants, refugees, and "invasions," but that too represents something unstable. It is talk which goes nowhere, except to some very dark places as we saw in the 1930s.
Readers may enjoy:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/john-chuckman-comment-empire-corrupts-all-the-principles-of-economics-as-well-as-principles-of-ethics-and-good-government-there-is-nothing-good-to-say-about-empire-and-the-american-one-is-no-excep/
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY HUNTER DERENSIS IN ZEROHEDGE
“The Coming Bankruptcy Of The American Empire
“Better to bring the troops home on our terms than wait for a debt crisis to do it for us...”
Good statement of some elementary truths.
However, politics is not about truths or facts or laws or science.
And it is even less the case with the kind of greedy forces who drive America’s world empire.
The situation is ruinous, but then how many times in history have nations looked at potentially ruinous circumstances and ignored them? More times than not, I think.
Empire has always ultimately been a losing proposition, as many brilliant observers have noted, including Adam Smith and David Hume.
And the people who run and support and profit by empire have a different set of interests than the population in general has.
There is very much a fundamental dichotomy in America between the power establishment and the bulk of the nation’s population.
I think many ordinary Americans understand this truth but in some vague and undefined way. That is why they voted for Trump.
But it was a big mistake.
Trump is working extremely hard to ingratiate himself with the establishment, trying within the serious limits of his abilities, to deliver what they want and more, in return for his ability to run again and be heavily supported with campaign funds in 2020. We see this everywhere from conflict with Russia and China to what he does in the Mideast and his treatment of international organizations.
And I think the establishment is willing to go along with him so long as they get what they want.
In a very real sense, because of his fears of their attacking him, he has become an outsized cartoon version of their interests, the very opposite to what his followers believe. It is a very strange and unstable situation.
He keeps his followers happy now largely through rhetoric about migrants, refugees, and "invasions," but that too represents something unstable. It is talk which goes nowhere, except to some very dark places as we saw in the 1930s.
Readers may enjoy:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/07/31/john-chuckman-comment-empire-corrupts-all-the-principles-of-economics-as-well-as-principles-of-ethics-and-good-government-there-is-nothing-good-to-say-about-empire-and-the-american-one-is-no-excep/
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: MORE NONSENSE ABOUT RUSSIA AND UKRAINE IN THE KERCH STRAIT - IF YOU LOOK AT THE BASIC FACTS RUSSIA BEHAVED WELL
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“‘Russia can do anything it wants’: Relatives of captured Ukrainian sailors say they feel abandoned
Family members lament lack of response and support”
Why do you promote such uninformed stuff as this?
Please, every time a Russian ship passes Britain in the English Channel, clearly in international waters, you guys chirp about the Royal Navy going out to accompany it. Same for Russian planes flying in international airspace anywhere near Britain.
Here we have genuine outlaw behavior by Ukraine. Three ships broke known rules. They ignored Russian Border Control. They proved to have some substantial weapons on board. And they had members of Ukraine’s secret service aboard. And the Kerch Bridge has been openly threatened on more than one occasion by Ukrainian politicians speaking like terrorists.
There are no issues here at all in Russia’s behavior. No one was killed, unlike the weekly killings in Gaza of unarmed civilians who never set foot in Israel, something I do not see decried by the press, as it very well should be.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“‘Russia can do anything it wants’: Relatives of captured Ukrainian sailors say they feel abandoned
Family members lament lack of response and support”
Why do you promote such uninformed stuff as this?
Please, every time a Russian ship passes Britain in the English Channel, clearly in international waters, you guys chirp about the Royal Navy going out to accompany it. Same for Russian planes flying in international airspace anywhere near Britain.
Here we have genuine outlaw behavior by Ukraine. Three ships broke known rules. They ignored Russian Border Control. They proved to have some substantial weapons on board. And they had members of Ukraine’s secret service aboard. And the Kerch Bridge has been openly threatened on more than one occasion by Ukrainian politicians speaking like terrorists.
There are no issues here at all in Russia’s behavior. No one was killed, unlike the weekly killings in Gaza of unarmed civilians who never set foot in Israel, something I do not see decried by the press, as it very well should be.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: CIA DIRECTOR BLOCKED FROM SENATE BRIEFING ABOUT SAUDI ARABIA - THE LONG-ESTABLISHED CIA PRACTICE ON TESTIFYING
John Chuckman
COMMENT TO AN ARTICLE IN MIDDLE EAST EYE
“White House blocks CIA chief from Senate briefing on Saudi Arabia: Report
“Gina Haspel prevented from briefing US senators on Saudi Arabia's involvement in Jamal Khashoggi's murder, the Guardian reports”
There really was no need for this.
The convention is well established, and never challenged, that the CIA may lie, even under oath.
This doctrine was first presented publicly by the CIA's Richard Helms in the wake of the Kennedy assassination.
And, remember, this dear lady, Gina Haspel, was a vital part of the CIA's kidnapping and torture scheme under the program called Extraordinary Rendition.
She ran a black site for the CIA Torture Gulag where victims were "rendered."
I think it very unlikely this creature would reveal anything that wasn't acceptable to reveal.
COMMENT TO AN ARTICLE IN MIDDLE EAST EYE
“White House blocks CIA chief from Senate briefing on Saudi Arabia: Report
“Gina Haspel prevented from briefing US senators on Saudi Arabia's involvement in Jamal Khashoggi's murder, the Guardian reports”
There really was no need for this.
The convention is well established, and never challenged, that the CIA may lie, even under oath.
This doctrine was first presented publicly by the CIA's Richard Helms in the wake of the Kennedy assassination.
And, remember, this dear lady, Gina Haspel, was a vital part of the CIA's kidnapping and torture scheme under the program called Extraordinary Rendition.
She ran a black site for the CIA Torture Gulag where victims were "rendered."
I think it very unlikely this creature would reveal anything that wasn't acceptable to reveal.
Tuesday, November 27, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN COMMOTION NEAR CRIMEA - IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH "RUSSIAN AGGRESSION" - IT IS ABOUT SOMETHING FAR HUMBLER AND DOWNRIGHT EMBARRASSING - THE UTTER INCOMPETENCE OF THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT OF UKRAINE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Russia-Ukraine crisis - live: Kiev declares martial law as world powers call emergency meetings after Putin's forces seize ships near Crimea”
Poroshenko is pathetic. Declaring martial law is a very serious matter in any society, and doing so just because a neighboring country stopped a group of ships off-course in a sensitive region makes no sense at all.
This declaration is really about the coming election in Ukraine and the likelihood, from polls, that Poroshenko is going to lose it badly. He is very unpopular, as we might expect with the basket-case his government has made of Ukraine since the coup.
Nothing like a good dose of fear to make people less likely to vote for change.
This was clearly a created incident.
The Ukrainian ships went where they knew they were not supposed to go.
They did not follow instructions of Russian Border Services.
Now, what kind of reaction will that earn you anywhere, most certainly including Britain?
__________________
Response to a reader who said “The West, by supporting this scumbag either out of natural stupidity or prejudice, plays right into his hands”:
Well, "the West" has behaved stupidly from the start.
First, by even going along with the American-induced coup against an elected government in Ukraine.
We know from ugly big-mouth, Victoria Nuland, American Neocon figure and former State Department official, that the US spent $5 billion on the project to destabilize Ukraine.
And "the West" completely tolerates the open displays of fascism in Ukraine by a number of ugly outfits - things like torch-light parades with Nazi-like symbols and some terrible words.
This whole American project was for the purpose of threatening Russia on a major border, a simply downright stupid act against a nuclear super-power.
This Ukrainian government has sent its own country into a tailspin, too. There have been major out-migrations of Ukrainians to other countries willing to accept them. The Ukrainian economy is in decline. Its trade is in decline. Civil War was needlessly started over language and cultural rights, resulting in the separation of regions. Everyone inside and outside the country is aware of large-scale corruption. There has been complete government paralysis in moving even an inch forward with the internationally-agreed Minsk Accords for peace in the country. I don’t think it would be possible to create a worse government.
_________________
For some perspective on this incident in the Kerch Strait, let’s remember what unarmed people - even women and children - receive just approaching the Israeli fence around Gaza.
A bullet in the head. A shattered leg. A blown-off foot.
More than 200 have been killed by Israel’s cowardly snipers, and many thousands wounded.
None of them armed. None of them ever setting foot on Israeli territory.
By contrast, here near Crimea, there were actually minimal problems despite the facts that the Ukrainian ships were well-armed and were definitely in the wrong location.
________________
Additional notes.
At least one Ukrainian official has claimed Russia used a missile from a fighter plane on one of the ships.
Well, first, we have quite a number of photos of the incident, and no missile damage is to be seen.
And there is no evidence of large numbers of crew members being hurt or killed, as there very much would be from a modern anti-ship missile. Instead, we have reports of just a few Ukrainians sustaining injuries in resisting Russian Border Services and receiving medical treatment.
Of course, the ships were brought to port by the Russians, something that wouldn’t be possible after a missile attack.
I think the bizarre nature of such a claim, despite much contrary evidence, tells us a good deal about the chaotic nature of Ukraine’s current politics and internal affairs.
Russia also reports that at least one Ukrainian intelligence service member was on board one of the ships. Just what you’d expect to find on a ship innocently straying off-course, is it not?
Readers should keep in mind that the Russians are very much on-guard for the Kerch Strait Bridge. Some idiotic Ukrainian politicians have actually openly advocated attacking it with explosives.
And it is a magnificent piece of engineering which provides daily testimony to Russia’s determination and creativity in a difficult situation.
Since Ukraine – whether individuals or the state, we don’t know - employed many deliberate obstacles and instances of sabotage against people on the Crimean Peninsula after their votes to leave Ukraine and join Russia, the bridge has become far more than just a symbol too.
________________
I see in this morning’s CBC News the headline: “Canada condemns Russian aggression in clash with Ukraine.” Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland condemned Russia's seizing three Ukrainian naval vessels near Crimea. The article offers no opportunity to comment.
Freeland has been an embarrassment as Foreign Minister on a number of files, and she has always been ready to jump with both feet into Russian affairs she likely doesn’t even fully understand.
She’s proven a genuine Russophobe which I suppose is understandable given her growing up in a Ukrainian-Canadian family, the kind of families I know from experience often display narrow hostility towards Russia.
Well, that’s a shame, Russia being an increasingly important country and one trying as it never did in the days of the Soviet Union to be open and ready to do business with everyone, but it’s her own business so long as she’s not Canada’s Foreign Minister.
But she is Foreign Minister, and she has no business making statements like this, whose only purpose is to serve the Russophobia insanity gripping the United States. She makes Canada look petty and small and not well-informed.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Russia-Ukraine crisis - live: Kiev declares martial law as world powers call emergency meetings after Putin's forces seize ships near Crimea”
Poroshenko is pathetic. Declaring martial law is a very serious matter in any society, and doing so just because a neighboring country stopped a group of ships off-course in a sensitive region makes no sense at all.
This declaration is really about the coming election in Ukraine and the likelihood, from polls, that Poroshenko is going to lose it badly. He is very unpopular, as we might expect with the basket-case his government has made of Ukraine since the coup.
Nothing like a good dose of fear to make people less likely to vote for change.
This was clearly a created incident.
The Ukrainian ships went where they knew they were not supposed to go.
They did not follow instructions of Russian Border Services.
Now, what kind of reaction will that earn you anywhere, most certainly including Britain?
__________________
Response to a reader who said “The West, by supporting this scumbag either out of natural stupidity or prejudice, plays right into his hands”:
Well, "the West" has behaved stupidly from the start.
First, by even going along with the American-induced coup against an elected government in Ukraine.
We know from ugly big-mouth, Victoria Nuland, American Neocon figure and former State Department official, that the US spent $5 billion on the project to destabilize Ukraine.
And "the West" completely tolerates the open displays of fascism in Ukraine by a number of ugly outfits - things like torch-light parades with Nazi-like symbols and some terrible words.
This whole American project was for the purpose of threatening Russia on a major border, a simply downright stupid act against a nuclear super-power.
This Ukrainian government has sent its own country into a tailspin, too. There have been major out-migrations of Ukrainians to other countries willing to accept them. The Ukrainian economy is in decline. Its trade is in decline. Civil War was needlessly started over language and cultural rights, resulting in the separation of regions. Everyone inside and outside the country is aware of large-scale corruption. There has been complete government paralysis in moving even an inch forward with the internationally-agreed Minsk Accords for peace in the country. I don’t think it would be possible to create a worse government.
_________________
For some perspective on this incident in the Kerch Strait, let’s remember what unarmed people - even women and children - receive just approaching the Israeli fence around Gaza.
A bullet in the head. A shattered leg. A blown-off foot.
More than 200 have been killed by Israel’s cowardly snipers, and many thousands wounded.
None of them armed. None of them ever setting foot on Israeli territory.
By contrast, here near Crimea, there were actually minimal problems despite the facts that the Ukrainian ships were well-armed and were definitely in the wrong location.
________________
Additional notes.
At least one Ukrainian official has claimed Russia used a missile from a fighter plane on one of the ships.
Well, first, we have quite a number of photos of the incident, and no missile damage is to be seen.
And there is no evidence of large numbers of crew members being hurt or killed, as there very much would be from a modern anti-ship missile. Instead, we have reports of just a few Ukrainians sustaining injuries in resisting Russian Border Services and receiving medical treatment.
Of course, the ships were brought to port by the Russians, something that wouldn’t be possible after a missile attack.
I think the bizarre nature of such a claim, despite much contrary evidence, tells us a good deal about the chaotic nature of Ukraine’s current politics and internal affairs.
Russia also reports that at least one Ukrainian intelligence service member was on board one of the ships. Just what you’d expect to find on a ship innocently straying off-course, is it not?
Readers should keep in mind that the Russians are very much on-guard for the Kerch Strait Bridge. Some idiotic Ukrainian politicians have actually openly advocated attacking it with explosives.
And it is a magnificent piece of engineering which provides daily testimony to Russia’s determination and creativity in a difficult situation.
Since Ukraine – whether individuals or the state, we don’t know - employed many deliberate obstacles and instances of sabotage against people on the Crimean Peninsula after their votes to leave Ukraine and join Russia, the bridge has become far more than just a symbol too.
________________
I see in this morning’s CBC News the headline: “Canada condemns Russian aggression in clash with Ukraine.” Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland condemned Russia's seizing three Ukrainian naval vessels near Crimea. The article offers no opportunity to comment.
Freeland has been an embarrassment as Foreign Minister on a number of files, and she has always been ready to jump with both feet into Russian affairs she likely doesn’t even fully understand.
She’s proven a genuine Russophobe which I suppose is understandable given her growing up in a Ukrainian-Canadian family, the kind of families I know from experience often display narrow hostility towards Russia.
Well, that’s a shame, Russia being an increasingly important country and one trying as it never did in the days of the Soviet Union to be open and ready to do business with everyone, but it’s her own business so long as she’s not Canada’s Foreign Minister.
But she is Foreign Minister, and she has no business making statements like this, whose only purpose is to serve the Russophobia insanity gripping the United States. She makes Canada look petty and small and not well-informed.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: THE BEST "COMIC BOOK" MOVIE EVER MADE TURNS THIRTY
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ED POWER IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Die Hard at 30: How the every-dude action movie defied expectations and turned Bruce Willis into a star
“Despite gambling on a cast of relative unknowns, Die Hard used wit, style and dangerous stunts to become”
Die Hard is what I like to call a comic book movie, but it is likely the best comic book movie ever made.
I think the key to its success is the casting. Every character is well cast.
Significant portions of the film are completely unbelievable, as when Bruce Willis proves to have a gun taped to his back in a big encounter.
It seems unlikely that you could tape a heavy gun to a sweaty body. And why would Willis have prepared this surprise anyway?
Well, it just doesn’t matter. We are caught up in the action, and the characters are enjoyable to watch.
We also enjoy some poking at American officialdom, not typical of this kind of movie. The FBI, usually treated as able to walk on water in Hollywood, is made good fun of.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ED POWER IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Die Hard at 30: How the every-dude action movie defied expectations and turned Bruce Willis into a star
“Despite gambling on a cast of relative unknowns, Die Hard used wit, style and dangerous stunts to become”
Die Hard is what I like to call a comic book movie, but it is likely the best comic book movie ever made.
I think the key to its success is the casting. Every character is well cast.
Significant portions of the film are completely unbelievable, as when Bruce Willis proves to have a gun taped to his back in a big encounter.
It seems unlikely that you could tape a heavy gun to a sweaty body. And why would Willis have prepared this surprise anyway?
Well, it just doesn’t matter. We are caught up in the action, and the characters are enjoyable to watch.
We also enjoy some poking at American officialdom, not typical of this kind of movie. The FBI, usually treated as able to walk on water in Hollywood, is made good fun of.
Sunday, November 25, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: A NEW ART INSTALLATION IN CHICAGO COMMEMORATES AMERICAN LOSSES IN VIETNAM - A READER ASKS WHAT ABOUT VIETNAMESE LOSSES? - INDEED AND THAT TSUNAMI OF GRISLY DEATHS REDUCES AMERICAN LOSSES TO A MERE FOOTNOTE - AMERICA'S GENUINE HOLOCAUST IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SCOOPY WEB
“A new art installation at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, called “Above and Beyond,” features over 58,000 replica dog tags — one for each American soldier killed in the Vietnam War.”
_____________
Response to another reader who asked where are the million dog tags for the Vietnamese killed:
Indeed, and the number is actually greater.
Total estimated losses for Vietnam are 3 million.
After all, America tried every new filthy idea it could come up with there, from massive carpet bombing to early versions of cluster bombs, to say nothing of napalm.
In the CIA's Operation Phoenix, somewhere between 20 thousand and 40 thousand alone had their throats cut in the middle of the night by belly-crawling American special forces. These victims were civilians, typically people such as village mayors and other officials. It was an effort to destroy leadership and dispirit the people.
Add to that the horrors of landmines and a sea of Agent Orange left behind to kill and mangle and cause birth defects for decades more.
Of course, another million died in Cambodia's Killing Fields.
And who was responsible for toppling the neutralist government of Cambodia, a government which remained peaceful despite American pressure, allowing the Khmer Rouge guerillas to take over the country?
You're right if you guessed the United States with its long series of illegal, secret bombings and mini-invasions ("incursions").
And after the bloody Khmer Rouge took over and started its slaughter, the United States did absolutely nothing to stop them. Finally, the Vietnamese, despite their own years of immense war suffering, attacked them.
It's a glorious record for America, to be sure.
One to be proud of. A genuine holocaust begun just 20 years after the Nazi Holocaust.
Certainly, something to commemorate.
It is why I thought the Vietnam War Memorial was remarkably, surprisingly appropriate when it first appeared, a plain dark wall of names sunk into the ground almost as though to commemorate shame. Washington has since managed to spoil the effect with various groups of heroic bronze statues.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SCOOPY WEB
“A new art installation at the Harold Washington Library in Chicago, called “Above and Beyond,” features over 58,000 replica dog tags — one for each American soldier killed in the Vietnam War.”
_____________
Response to another reader who asked where are the million dog tags for the Vietnamese killed:
Indeed, and the number is actually greater.
Total estimated losses for Vietnam are 3 million.
After all, America tried every new filthy idea it could come up with there, from massive carpet bombing to early versions of cluster bombs, to say nothing of napalm.
In the CIA's Operation Phoenix, somewhere between 20 thousand and 40 thousand alone had their throats cut in the middle of the night by belly-crawling American special forces. These victims were civilians, typically people such as village mayors and other officials. It was an effort to destroy leadership and dispirit the people.
Add to that the horrors of landmines and a sea of Agent Orange left behind to kill and mangle and cause birth defects for decades more.
Of course, another million died in Cambodia's Killing Fields.
And who was responsible for toppling the neutralist government of Cambodia, a government which remained peaceful despite American pressure, allowing the Khmer Rouge guerillas to take over the country?
You're right if you guessed the United States with its long series of illegal, secret bombings and mini-invasions ("incursions").
And after the bloody Khmer Rouge took over and started its slaughter, the United States did absolutely nothing to stop them. Finally, the Vietnamese, despite their own years of immense war suffering, attacked them.
It's a glorious record for America, to be sure.
One to be proud of. A genuine holocaust begun just 20 years after the Nazi Holocaust.
Certainly, something to commemorate.
It is why I thought the Vietnam War Memorial was remarkably, surprisingly appropriate when it first appeared, a plain dark wall of names sunk into the ground almost as though to commemorate shame. Washington has since managed to spoil the effect with various groups of heroic bronze statues.
Saturday, November 24, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: RE-CREATED ISRAEL HAS NEVER MADE A GREAT DEAL OF SENSE - BUT WE CAN LIVE WITH IT IF IT JUST ACCEPTS THE RULE OF LAW AND THE SAME RULES GOVERNING ALL NATIONS - DANGERS IN THE TERM "JEWISH STATE" AND IN ADVOCATING NEW LAWS VIOLATING WESTERN RIGHTS AND TRADITIONS
John Chuckman
EXPANSION OF A COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PHILLIP WEISS IN MONDOWEISS
‘Jewish ethno-nationalism is a poison’
My view is that re-created Israel has never made a great deal of sense, no matter which perspective you use - ethnicity, religion, history, etc. Jews live better, much better, in many other places, and they do so without harming others.
I think it fair to say that 1948 was a mistake, born, of course, out of horrendous realities and fears and painful emotions, but still a mistake, one today, with Israel carrying on just as it has been, which serves little good purpose and indeed creates almost endless conflict.
Conflict generated as Israel tries desperately to make sense of itself, pushing others to accept terms and definitions which often are meaningless or, worse, sometimes are contrary to the entire Western history of human and democratic rights. This last we see in the many ongoing efforts by Israel to promote laws in Western countries which go against free speech and peaceful protest, laws making criticism of Israel illegal and laws making advocacy of peaceful boycott illegal.
As for meaningless terms and definitions, we have the ongoing pressure for others to accept Israel as "the Jewish state." Sounds simple enough for a few seconds, but with any reflection, you will understand the many ways in which those words make no sense, starting with the simple fact that, overwhelmingly, most Jews do not even live in Israel and likely never will.
And what of the millions of non-Jews now living under the control of Israel? What is to be their fate in a legally-defined (by international treaty rather than just a self-conferred epithet) “Jewish state?”
And how do you enter negotiations with anyone when you have a non-negotiable demand up-front, expecting those with whom you negotiate to accept it, much as though, say, in the 1950s, the Soviets in some negotiation with the United States were told up-front, they must first recognize America as “the land of the free with liberty and justice for all.”
How far would such a negotiation go? I think we all know. So, it is not clear just what Israel intends by its incessant and unreasonable demand. Does it just want to keep what it has and effectively end all efforts at negotiation without explicitly saying so? Or is it really that unreasoning that it cannot understand what it is demanding? Ideology does make people blind to truth.
So, too, do excessive privilege and freedom from rules of the kind Israel has enjoyed under American patronage since its founding. Stories about spoiled brats in rich families are part of our everyday cultural awareness. It is no different with countries. We are still dealing with human behavior.
Still, I think we can all accept Israel, even if we regard its re-creation as having been a mistake, if only it can live as a nation which follows the rule of law.
Israel simply does not do so, and in dozens of different ways. That is unacceptable, as is its constant violent bullying. It simply ignores laws and rules and practices everyone else on the planet is expected to honor.
You cannot continue indefinitely claiming special privilege and exemption from the rule of law owing to events your forebears experienced three-quarters of a century ago on another continent. This is especially true when your present activities themselves bring misery to millions of others who, in fact, had nothing to do with the dark history in Europe.
I have thought about this matter a good deal over the years and written some analysis readers may find interesting:
https://chuckmanwords.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/the-paradoxes-of-israel/
https://chuckmanwords.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/cutting-the-middle-easts-gordian-knot-why-israel-cannot-survive-in-its-present-form/
EXPANSION OF A COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PHILLIP WEISS IN MONDOWEISS
‘Jewish ethno-nationalism is a poison’
My view is that re-created Israel has never made a great deal of sense, no matter which perspective you use - ethnicity, religion, history, etc. Jews live better, much better, in many other places, and they do so without harming others.
I think it fair to say that 1948 was a mistake, born, of course, out of horrendous realities and fears and painful emotions, but still a mistake, one today, with Israel carrying on just as it has been, which serves little good purpose and indeed creates almost endless conflict.
Conflict generated as Israel tries desperately to make sense of itself, pushing others to accept terms and definitions which often are meaningless or, worse, sometimes are contrary to the entire Western history of human and democratic rights. This last we see in the many ongoing efforts by Israel to promote laws in Western countries which go against free speech and peaceful protest, laws making criticism of Israel illegal and laws making advocacy of peaceful boycott illegal.
As for meaningless terms and definitions, we have the ongoing pressure for others to accept Israel as "the Jewish state." Sounds simple enough for a few seconds, but with any reflection, you will understand the many ways in which those words make no sense, starting with the simple fact that, overwhelmingly, most Jews do not even live in Israel and likely never will.
And what of the millions of non-Jews now living under the control of Israel? What is to be their fate in a legally-defined (by international treaty rather than just a self-conferred epithet) “Jewish state?”
And how do you enter negotiations with anyone when you have a non-negotiable demand up-front, expecting those with whom you negotiate to accept it, much as though, say, in the 1950s, the Soviets in some negotiation with the United States were told up-front, they must first recognize America as “the land of the free with liberty and justice for all.”
How far would such a negotiation go? I think we all know. So, it is not clear just what Israel intends by its incessant and unreasonable demand. Does it just want to keep what it has and effectively end all efforts at negotiation without explicitly saying so? Or is it really that unreasoning that it cannot understand what it is demanding? Ideology does make people blind to truth.
So, too, do excessive privilege and freedom from rules of the kind Israel has enjoyed under American patronage since its founding. Stories about spoiled brats in rich families are part of our everyday cultural awareness. It is no different with countries. We are still dealing with human behavior.
Still, I think we can all accept Israel, even if we regard its re-creation as having been a mistake, if only it can live as a nation which follows the rule of law.
Israel simply does not do so, and in dozens of different ways. That is unacceptable, as is its constant violent bullying. It simply ignores laws and rules and practices everyone else on the planet is expected to honor.
You cannot continue indefinitely claiming special privilege and exemption from the rule of law owing to events your forebears experienced three-quarters of a century ago on another continent. This is especially true when your present activities themselves bring misery to millions of others who, in fact, had nothing to do with the dark history in Europe.
I have thought about this matter a good deal over the years and written some analysis readers may find interesting:
https://chuckmanwords.wordpress.com/2009/06/05/the-paradoxes-of-israel/
https://chuckmanwords.wordpress.com/2013/10/28/cutting-the-middle-easts-gordian-knot-why-israel-cannot-survive-in-its-present-form/
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: MOOSE-BRAIN RECEIVES A DEADLY SHOT RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES FROM AMERICAN POLITICIAN TULSI GABBARD
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN GOVT SLAVES
Tulsi Gabbard To Trump: ‘Being Saudi Arabia’s Bitch Is Not America First’
‘Being Saudi Arabia’s Bitch Is Not America First’
No matter what you may think of Tulsi Gabbard in general, here she fires a shot that strikes moose-brain right between the eyes.
He'll be remembered for a long time in these terms.
As he very much deserves to be.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN GOVT SLAVES
Tulsi Gabbard To Trump: ‘Being Saudi Arabia’s Bitch Is Not America First’
‘Being Saudi Arabia’s Bitch Is Not America First’
No matter what you may think of Tulsi Gabbard in general, here she fires a shot that strikes moose-brain right between the eyes.
He'll be remembered for a long time in these terms.
As he very much deserves to be.
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: PATRIOTISM AND NATIONALISM - MUCH LIKE RELIGION IN BLINDLY PRAISING THE INSUPPORTABLE - NATIONS LIKE PEOPLE COME IN ALL TYPES AND MANY HARDLY DESERVE PRAISE - PATRIOTISM IS A TOOL USED BY THOSE SEEKING POWER - AND YOU JUST CANNOT EXCLUDE FASCISM FROM THIS SUBJECT - WHAT HISTORIES OF AMERICA AND ISRAEL VIVIDLY TELL US
John Chuckman
EXPANSION OF A COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY JOHN DERBYSHIRE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Let's Cherish Our Nations. Let's Be Nationalists!
“Nationalism and patriotism mean exactly the same and, despite what globalists elites would like you to think, there is nothing wrong with either -- as Israelis will be the first to attest to”
I'm not against anyone expressing affection for his or her country, but all displays of heavy-duty patriotism and nationalism I regard as looking backward to the 19th century, at best, and as dangerous mumbo-jumbo, at worst.
Wars and the darkest-possible crimes have been fired-up by patriotic enthusiasms. The first thing that governments with bad intentions trot out is something touching on patriotism, as when the United States used the sinking of the USS Maine - almost certainly the result of faulty boilers and not an attack by anyone - to help launch the Spanish-American War in the hope of grabbing at least Cuba.
How right was Doctor Johnson when he said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels." He was referring to the American revolutionary "Patriots," those freedom-loving, unapologetic owners of gangs of human flesh, and to Thomas Jefferson in particular, a genuine scoundrel if ever there was one.
I like H. G. Wells' words, "Our true nationality is mankind." That is a profound truth with which human political arrangements still have not caught up.
Citing Israel on the merits of nationalism, as this author does, speaks for itself.
Modern Israel is a place built on dishonesty, theft, hatreds, and a great deal of killing, and there is just nothing to admire about it.
And it has done nothing but generate wars and tensions and arbitrary demands in its region for its entire brief history. It has had an effect on its region much as embers from a carelessly-tended campfire have on nearby dry grassland or forest.
Not even its boundaries are set, and the population over which it rules contains millions of unwelcome people and people who themselves do not want to be part of it.
So, to just what is it one is supposed to show patriotic ardor? Seems to me, in the end, it can only come down to some combination of biblical fantasies and the worship of raw power, that last being one of the essential ingredients of fascism.
Of course, the fascists also used myths and legends and ancient history to stir up their people to a sense of superiority, from Nordic myths to ancient Roman history.
You know, generalizing about nation states in the way this author does is just as foolish and inaccurate as generalizing about individual people.
We have people who are worthy of admiration, and we, equally, have ones who are anything but. We also have many cases of ambiguity and conflict, cases where whether you admire a figure depends completely on the admirer’s predisposition, not on the admired figure’s inherent merit because we find others who believe exactly the opposite about the figure.
Moreover, with nation states, we not only see the foibles of individual people magnified – as with crimes and irrational behavior – but we also see that physical endowments, the resource bases of states, are extremely unequal and often reflect mere accidents of history having nothing to do with the intrinsic merits of the society.
This last extends from mineral wealth and other natural resources to the extent of arable land and potable water. Is America to be admired because it conquered many weak neighbors and took their lands?
You could easily argue that the greatest “merit” in American history contributing to the colossus we see today was simply the luck of having neighbors who couldn’t defend themselves, from native peoples to the Spanish Empire. If Germany, whether in WWI or WWII, had had the same situation, it would reign supreme in today’s world.
On the subject of patriotism and nationalism, readers may enjoy:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/john-chuckman-comment-the-dangerous-irrationality-of-nationalism-especially-the-extreme-fundamentalist-religious-forms-of-it-we-find-in-the-patriotism-of-america-and-israel/
EXPANSION OF A COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY JOHN DERBYSHIRE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Let's Cherish Our Nations. Let's Be Nationalists!
“Nationalism and patriotism mean exactly the same and, despite what globalists elites would like you to think, there is nothing wrong with either -- as Israelis will be the first to attest to”
I'm not against anyone expressing affection for his or her country, but all displays of heavy-duty patriotism and nationalism I regard as looking backward to the 19th century, at best, and as dangerous mumbo-jumbo, at worst.
Wars and the darkest-possible crimes have been fired-up by patriotic enthusiasms. The first thing that governments with bad intentions trot out is something touching on patriotism, as when the United States used the sinking of the USS Maine - almost certainly the result of faulty boilers and not an attack by anyone - to help launch the Spanish-American War in the hope of grabbing at least Cuba.
How right was Doctor Johnson when he said, "Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels." He was referring to the American revolutionary "Patriots," those freedom-loving, unapologetic owners of gangs of human flesh, and to Thomas Jefferson in particular, a genuine scoundrel if ever there was one.
I like H. G. Wells' words, "Our true nationality is mankind." That is a profound truth with which human political arrangements still have not caught up.
Citing Israel on the merits of nationalism, as this author does, speaks for itself.
Modern Israel is a place built on dishonesty, theft, hatreds, and a great deal of killing, and there is just nothing to admire about it.
And it has done nothing but generate wars and tensions and arbitrary demands in its region for its entire brief history. It has had an effect on its region much as embers from a carelessly-tended campfire have on nearby dry grassland or forest.
Not even its boundaries are set, and the population over which it rules contains millions of unwelcome people and people who themselves do not want to be part of it.
So, to just what is it one is supposed to show patriotic ardor? Seems to me, in the end, it can only come down to some combination of biblical fantasies and the worship of raw power, that last being one of the essential ingredients of fascism.
Of course, the fascists also used myths and legends and ancient history to stir up their people to a sense of superiority, from Nordic myths to ancient Roman history.
You know, generalizing about nation states in the way this author does is just as foolish and inaccurate as generalizing about individual people.
We have people who are worthy of admiration, and we, equally, have ones who are anything but. We also have many cases of ambiguity and conflict, cases where whether you admire a figure depends completely on the admirer’s predisposition, not on the admired figure’s inherent merit because we find others who believe exactly the opposite about the figure.
Moreover, with nation states, we not only see the foibles of individual people magnified – as with crimes and irrational behavior – but we also see that physical endowments, the resource bases of states, are extremely unequal and often reflect mere accidents of history having nothing to do with the intrinsic merits of the society.
This last extends from mineral wealth and other natural resources to the extent of arable land and potable water. Is America to be admired because it conquered many weak neighbors and took their lands?
You could easily argue that the greatest “merit” in American history contributing to the colossus we see today was simply the luck of having neighbors who couldn’t defend themselves, from native peoples to the Spanish Empire. If Germany, whether in WWI or WWII, had had the same situation, it would reign supreme in today’s world.
On the subject of patriotism and nationalism, readers may enjoy:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/07/25/john-chuckman-comment-the-dangerous-irrationality-of-nationalism-especially-the-extreme-fundamentalist-religious-forms-of-it-we-find-in-the-patriotism-of-america-and-israel/
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: PRESS ECHOES THE MOST EGREGIOUS WASHINGTON PROPAGANDA ABOUT AMERICA LOSING THE NEXT BIG WAR - EVEN IF IT WERE TRUE THE OBVIOUS CONCLUSIONS ARE IGNORED - RUSSOPHOBIA RESEMBLES A NEW FORM OF BRAIN CANCER
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY MURRAY BREWSTER IN CBC NEWS
“Why the U.S. could lose the next big war - and what that means for Canada
“If the U.S. faces a security crisis, so do we, says one defence expert
“A special commission report, presented to the U.S. Congress this week, delivered one of the most stark — even startling — assessments in the last two decades of the limits of American military power.”
Well, the first sensible conclusion to draw from such information - assuming it's correct, about which I very much have doubts - is that the United States should avoid starting new wars then.
Sounds simple, but please look around our world, and you'll find American-started or American-inspired wars in a dozen places.
The country has become the most senselessly aggressive on earth. It is literally drunk on its own sense of entitlement to run the planet.
Russia spends about one-tenth of what the US spends on its military. Russia is involved in no wars, except for its having been invited by an ally, Syria, to help defend against an army of mercenaries tearing the country apart. Guess who is behind those mercenaries, too?
I have grave doubts here, too. Washington endlessly hypes nonsense about Russia in an effort to hike military budgets and strike anxiety into Americans and allies. It is well known that in the Cold War CIA never even came close to the realities of (lower) Russian capability in their annual estimates exactly so that budgets could grow like mushrooms after a drizzly night.
Study some maps, and it will become clear who threatens whom in the world. American ships, planes, and tanks inch closer every year to the gate posts of Russia. Spy planes now constantly and dangerously, flying with transponders turned off, buzz Russia’s border. The coup in Ukraine was an American project on which we know it spent $5 billion to threaten a long border, much as though Russia had promoted a coup in Mexico.
America, on its own, tears up working treaties like INF and the anti-missile treaty and the Iran Nuclear agreement. America busies itself with telling all its allies what they should be doing, how much they should spend, and what they should buy from the US.
America keeps expanding NATO with militarily useless countries like Estonia or Macedonia just for the purpose of creeping up on Russia's border. It also uses these places as a way of loading the dice at NATO. These militarily insignificant countries get a vote in NATO affairs, and they vote in light of having been asked out on a big date by a hunk.
Sick, all of it. Russophobia resembles some new form of brain cancer.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: AMERICA'S DESTRUCTIVE HOLD ON EUROPE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Like Jackson-Vanik, EU's Russia Sanctions Are Here to Stay Forever
“It will take a major world shake up and realignment for these sanctions to ever be dropped -- as long as the world remains in roughly its present configuration the EU anti-Russian sanctions are a permanent feature”
_________________
Response to another reader’s comment:
Accessories indeed.
It is a terrible shame, but Europe today has little independence of action. It is effectively territory occupied by the United States. European leaders have allowed that to happen over some decades.
My favorite example of the ugly stuff now forced on Europe by American policies is the recent terrible refugee problem.
The United States is responsible for creating all these refugees with its bombing and support for various mercenary terror groups, as in Syria. But it accepts absolutely no responsibility. Indeed, a politician like Trump sits back and blubbers about Europe and speaks hatefully about refugees.
But Europe went along with unjust and destructive American policies from the beginning, the so-called Neocon Wars. That’s when it should have “put its foot down” but it didn’t.
I believe Mrs. Merkel came privately to regret that support of wars which proved terribly destructive.
She tried to compensate by opening the gates to masses of refugees, refugees running from American-induced terrors.
Although she was extremely well-intentioned, this caused a strong political backlash with too many new and strange, strange in German eyes, kinds of people coming all at once.
She has now paid the political price. And America goes right on with its bombing and destruction and support for terror.
And Trump goes on about his hate for refugees and migrants and making threats.
Apart from all the other ugly acts and demands of the United States – tearing up good treaties, demanding more money for NATO, insisting everyone buy American equipment, ordering countries not to buy cheaper, plentiful Russian gas, demanding everyone show patience for that basket-case called Ukraine which itself takes no steps towards peace – this experience with Neocon Wars and refugees has contributed to the growing sense of alienation in major European countries from the United States.
It is hard to see how it could be otherwise when America keeps insisting on the dangerous and irrational and self-serving, showing no understanding of the views or understanding of its traditional allies.
If Europe genuinely does turn towards more independence of action, it will be the one good thing to come out of an extremely destructive set of American policies.
“Whom the gods would destroy…”
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Like Jackson-Vanik, EU's Russia Sanctions Are Here to Stay Forever
“It will take a major world shake up and realignment for these sanctions to ever be dropped -- as long as the world remains in roughly its present configuration the EU anti-Russian sanctions are a permanent feature”
_________________
Response to another reader’s comment:
Accessories indeed.
It is a terrible shame, but Europe today has little independence of action. It is effectively territory occupied by the United States. European leaders have allowed that to happen over some decades.
My favorite example of the ugly stuff now forced on Europe by American policies is the recent terrible refugee problem.
The United States is responsible for creating all these refugees with its bombing and support for various mercenary terror groups, as in Syria. But it accepts absolutely no responsibility. Indeed, a politician like Trump sits back and blubbers about Europe and speaks hatefully about refugees.
But Europe went along with unjust and destructive American policies from the beginning, the so-called Neocon Wars. That’s when it should have “put its foot down” but it didn’t.
I believe Mrs. Merkel came privately to regret that support of wars which proved terribly destructive.
She tried to compensate by opening the gates to masses of refugees, refugees running from American-induced terrors.
Although she was extremely well-intentioned, this caused a strong political backlash with too many new and strange, strange in German eyes, kinds of people coming all at once.
She has now paid the political price. And America goes right on with its bombing and destruction and support for terror.
And Trump goes on about his hate for refugees and migrants and making threats.
Apart from all the other ugly acts and demands of the United States – tearing up good treaties, demanding more money for NATO, insisting everyone buy American equipment, ordering countries not to buy cheaper, plentiful Russian gas, demanding everyone show patience for that basket-case called Ukraine which itself takes no steps towards peace – this experience with Neocon Wars and refugees has contributed to the growing sense of alienation in major European countries from the United States.
It is hard to see how it could be otherwise when America keeps insisting on the dangerous and irrational and self-serving, showing no understanding of the views or understanding of its traditional allies.
If Europe genuinely does turn towards more independence of action, it will be the one good thing to come out of an extremely destructive set of American policies.
“Whom the gods would destroy…”
Friday, November 16, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: WHY AMERICA CAN'T WIN ANY WARS DESPITE SPENDING MORE ON ITS MILITARY THAN THE REST OF THE PLANET - THE RAW TRUTH ABOUT THE NATURE OF AMERICAN WARS SINCE WWII - NEW YORK TIMES ANECDOTE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Why the Most Expensive Military Still Can't Win a War
“Spending money has become its primary purpose”
The Pentagon used to prepare fresh, hot pizzas in Vietnam and helicopter them out to troops in the field.
I think that says something important about America and war.
But we have to keep in mind that America's wars aren't like other people's wars to start with.
Since WWII, every single war had absolutely nothing to do with defense.
They were all colonial wars fought, not for the protection of the American people, but for the interests of America's power establishment.
None of them inspired the troops involved.
All of them were viewed as dirty little jobs.
Except by the psychopaths, a type always attracted to the military, for whom they were playtime with real human beings, free of all constraints and laws.
Morale, bravery, heroism, and purpose - all the stuff of epoch war stories of the past - pretty much have been missing from three-quarters of a century of American colonial wars and interventions. There are no Jimmy Stewart types with tears on the cheeks to bring a lump to your throat.
I noted with interest that back in the time of the illegal American invasion of Iraq, the New York Times – always an imperial drum-beater despite its reputation inside the United States as “liberal” – made an effort for a while to revive the old American WWII expression “GIs.”
“GIs” [Government Issues, for those unfamiliar] was an affectionate term for citizen-soldiers fighting aggressors in faraway places seventy-five years ago. The term was used in films and in newspaper reports and cartoons.
When I saw the New York Times trying to label well-paid, well-equipped modern American mercenaries who were illegally invading a country as “Aw shucks, Ma” GIs, it brought bitter laughter.
These guys actually lived in air-conditioned tents, generating immense electric bills on the desert.
I believe The New York Times abandoned the effort, but I’m not certain since I stopped reading the paper. Again, that pathetic effort tells us something about America’s modern wars.
Perhaps it helps explain why so many of America’s wars are so unsuccessful, despite the huge amounts of money spent on them and all the public relations hype from Washington and the pitiless destruction of other people with practices like carpet-bombing.
There can be no success when you attempt meaningless tasks. It’s often not even clear what success would be, say for example, in a war like that in Afghanistan. The only certainty is lots of death and destruction.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Why the Most Expensive Military Still Can't Win a War
“Spending money has become its primary purpose”
The Pentagon used to prepare fresh, hot pizzas in Vietnam and helicopter them out to troops in the field.
I think that says something important about America and war.
But we have to keep in mind that America's wars aren't like other people's wars to start with.
Since WWII, every single war had absolutely nothing to do with defense.
They were all colonial wars fought, not for the protection of the American people, but for the interests of America's power establishment.
None of them inspired the troops involved.
All of them were viewed as dirty little jobs.
Except by the psychopaths, a type always attracted to the military, for whom they were playtime with real human beings, free of all constraints and laws.
Morale, bravery, heroism, and purpose - all the stuff of epoch war stories of the past - pretty much have been missing from three-quarters of a century of American colonial wars and interventions. There are no Jimmy Stewart types with tears on the cheeks to bring a lump to your throat.
I noted with interest that back in the time of the illegal American invasion of Iraq, the New York Times – always an imperial drum-beater despite its reputation inside the United States as “liberal” – made an effort for a while to revive the old American WWII expression “GIs.”
“GIs” [Government Issues, for those unfamiliar] was an affectionate term for citizen-soldiers fighting aggressors in faraway places seventy-five years ago. The term was used in films and in newspaper reports and cartoons.
When I saw the New York Times trying to label well-paid, well-equipped modern American mercenaries who were illegally invading a country as “Aw shucks, Ma” GIs, it brought bitter laughter.
These guys actually lived in air-conditioned tents, generating immense electric bills on the desert.
I believe The New York Times abandoned the effort, but I’m not certain since I stopped reading the paper. Again, that pathetic effort tells us something about America’s modern wars.
Perhaps it helps explain why so many of America’s wars are so unsuccessful, despite the huge amounts of money spent on them and all the public relations hype from Washington and the pitiless destruction of other people with practices like carpet-bombing.
There can be no success when you attempt meaningless tasks. It’s often not even clear what success would be, say for example, in a war like that in Afghanistan. The only certainty is lots of death and destruction.
Thursday, November 15, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: PLAYING THE ESTABLISHMENT'S GAME BY DEMONSTRATING THIS OR THAT PAST DISHONESTY AS WITH INTELLIGENCE AND THE IRAQ INVASION - WHERE EMPIRE IS CONCERNED POLITICIANS AND AGENCIES AND PRESS ARE ALL COMPLICIT AND UTTERLY DISHONEST - MANUFACTURING TRUTH IN AMERICA
John Chuckman
EXPANSION OF COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY RAY MCGOVERN IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“Clapper Admits Gross Intelligence Failure
on Iraq WMDs But Still Escapes Justice”
I am always glad to see confirmation in such matters, however, for people who work to inform themselves, there are no real surprises to be discovered about the invasion of Iraq. It was a dirty imperial project from the start, and the fact was knowable at the time.
It could clearly be seen as a fraud because there were a number of experts, experts not working for the American government, and people in other governments who, in effect, told us then that it was a fraud.
What the whole experience with Iraq reveals is a couple of profound truths about imperial America, truths that are quite unpleasant and yet seem to remain lost to the general public.
One, lying and manipulation are virtually work-a-day activities in Washington. They go on at all levels of the government, from the President through all of the various experts and agency heads who in theory hold their jobs to inform the President and others of the truth in making decisions.
Indeed, these experts and agency heads actually work more like party members from George Orwell’s Oceania in 1984, party members whose job it was to constantly rewrite history, making adjustments in the words and pictures of old periodicals and books to conform with Big Brother’s latest pronouncements and turns in policy.
America has an entire industry devoted to manufacturing truth, something the rather feeble term “fake news” tries to capture, although its accusations are often not accurately focused. Still, its use reflects the widespread and true impression of being lied to and often.
The public’s reaction to officials and agencies in Washington ought to be quite different than it generally is. Under the American imperial system with its elite power establishment, it should be a presumption that officials and agencies are not telling us the truth, that they usually have ulterior motives, and that they are tailoring a story to fit a policy.
It sounds extreme to say so, but it truly is not in view of recent history. There is almost not an important event in American foreign policy in recent decades where this assumption would not yield something closer to truth than its opposite. That is the dark nature of empire with its powerful and large, and largely unaccountable, agencies, and with its utter corruption for the benefit of a privileged few.
We are all watching actors in a costly play used to support already-determined destructive policies.
Two, the press lies, and it lies almost constantly in support of government’s decided policies. You simply cannot trust the American press on such matters, and the biggest names in the press – the New York Times or Washington Post or CBS or NBC – are the biggest liars because they put the weight of their general prestige into the balance to tip it.
Their fortunes and interests are far too closely bound to government to be in the least trusted for objective journalism. Journalism just does not exist in America on the big stuff.
This support by the press is not done just on special occasions, such as the run-up to the illegal invasion of Iraq, but consistently in the major affairs of state. We see it today in everything from “Russia-gate” to the Western-induced horrors of Syria.
Russia-gate is almost laughable, although few Americans laugh, immersed as they are in a stream of non-stop propaganda. But a matter like Syria, with more than half a million dead and terrible privations, isn’t laughable, yet no effort is made to explain the truth and bring this monstrous project – the work equally of Republicans and Democrats - to an end.
Three, while virtually all informed people understand that Israel’s influence in Washington is inordinate and inappropriate, many still do not realize that the horror of Iraq, just like the horror today of Syria, reflects the interests of Israel.
When Ariel Sharon was lobbying George Bush to attack other Middle Eastern countries following the Iraq invasion, Bush made a rarely-noticed remark to associates along the lines of, “Geez, what does the guy want? I invaded Iraq for him, didn’t I?”
Well, today, pretty much all of the countries that Sharon thought should be attacked have indeed been attacked by the United States and its associates in one fashion or another – covertly, as in Syria, or overtly, as in Libya. And we are all witnessing the ground being prepared for Iran.
It has been a genuinely terrifying period, the last decade and a half or so. War after war with huge numbers of innocents killed, vast damages inflicted, and armies of unfortunate refugees created. All of it completely unnecessary. All of it devoid of ethics or principles beyond the principle of “might makes right.”
It simply cannot be distinguished, except by order of magnitude, from the grisly work of Europe’s fascist governments of the 1930s and ‘40s.
All the discussions we read or see from America about truth in journalism, about truth in government, and about founding principles are pretty much distraction and noise, meaningless noise. The realities of what America is doing in the world make it so.
EXPANSION OF COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY RAY MCGOVERN IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“Clapper Admits Gross Intelligence Failure
on Iraq WMDs But Still Escapes Justice”
I am always glad to see confirmation in such matters, however, for people who work to inform themselves, there are no real surprises to be discovered about the invasion of Iraq. It was a dirty imperial project from the start, and the fact was knowable at the time.
It could clearly be seen as a fraud because there were a number of experts, experts not working for the American government, and people in other governments who, in effect, told us then that it was a fraud.
What the whole experience with Iraq reveals is a couple of profound truths about imperial America, truths that are quite unpleasant and yet seem to remain lost to the general public.
One, lying and manipulation are virtually work-a-day activities in Washington. They go on at all levels of the government, from the President through all of the various experts and agency heads who in theory hold their jobs to inform the President and others of the truth in making decisions.
Indeed, these experts and agency heads actually work more like party members from George Orwell’s Oceania in 1984, party members whose job it was to constantly rewrite history, making adjustments in the words and pictures of old periodicals and books to conform with Big Brother’s latest pronouncements and turns in policy.
America has an entire industry devoted to manufacturing truth, something the rather feeble term “fake news” tries to capture, although its accusations are often not accurately focused. Still, its use reflects the widespread and true impression of being lied to and often.
The public’s reaction to officials and agencies in Washington ought to be quite different than it generally is. Under the American imperial system with its elite power establishment, it should be a presumption that officials and agencies are not telling us the truth, that they usually have ulterior motives, and that they are tailoring a story to fit a policy.
It sounds extreme to say so, but it truly is not in view of recent history. There is almost not an important event in American foreign policy in recent decades where this assumption would not yield something closer to truth than its opposite. That is the dark nature of empire with its powerful and large, and largely unaccountable, agencies, and with its utter corruption for the benefit of a privileged few.
We are all watching actors in a costly play used to support already-determined destructive policies.
Two, the press lies, and it lies almost constantly in support of government’s decided policies. You simply cannot trust the American press on such matters, and the biggest names in the press – the New York Times or Washington Post or CBS or NBC – are the biggest liars because they put the weight of their general prestige into the balance to tip it.
Their fortunes and interests are far too closely bound to government to be in the least trusted for objective journalism. Journalism just does not exist in America on the big stuff.
This support by the press is not done just on special occasions, such as the run-up to the illegal invasion of Iraq, but consistently in the major affairs of state. We see it today in everything from “Russia-gate” to the Western-induced horrors of Syria.
Russia-gate is almost laughable, although few Americans laugh, immersed as they are in a stream of non-stop propaganda. But a matter like Syria, with more than half a million dead and terrible privations, isn’t laughable, yet no effort is made to explain the truth and bring this monstrous project – the work equally of Republicans and Democrats - to an end.
Three, while virtually all informed people understand that Israel’s influence in Washington is inordinate and inappropriate, many still do not realize that the horror of Iraq, just like the horror today of Syria, reflects the interests of Israel.
When Ariel Sharon was lobbying George Bush to attack other Middle Eastern countries following the Iraq invasion, Bush made a rarely-noticed remark to associates along the lines of, “Geez, what does the guy want? I invaded Iraq for him, didn’t I?”
Well, today, pretty much all of the countries that Sharon thought should be attacked have indeed been attacked by the United States and its associates in one fashion or another – covertly, as in Syria, or overtly, as in Libya. And we are all witnessing the ground being prepared for Iran.
It has been a genuinely terrifying period, the last decade and a half or so. War after war with huge numbers of innocents killed, vast damages inflicted, and armies of unfortunate refugees created. All of it completely unnecessary. All of it devoid of ethics or principles beyond the principle of “might makes right.”
It simply cannot be distinguished, except by order of magnitude, from the grisly work of Europe’s fascist governments of the 1930s and ‘40s.
All the discussions we read or see from America about truth in journalism, about truth in government, and about founding principles are pretty much distraction and noise, meaningless noise. The realities of what America is doing in the world make it so.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: A FREE PRESS - USELESSNESS OF POLITICAL SERMONS ON THE SUBJECT - THE HYPOCRISY SO OFTEN DISPLAYED BY THE PRESS ITSELF - THE CASE OF CBC - NOTHING LIKE THE GROTESQUERIES OF THE GUARDIAN BUT HYPOCRISY JUST THE SAME
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE ON CBC NEWS
“Journalists barred from Morneau speech in Beijing a day after Trudeau praises free press
“Business council says media excluded due to 'misunderstanding'; minister's office says it wasn't consulted”
First, it goes almost without saying, people who love a free society embrace a free and healthy press.
But I don't think preaching about it, as Trudeau did, is very helpful, just as preaching about almost anything is not very helpful. Its main usefulness is for a political impression back home.
And I actually thought some of Trudeau's words missed the mark even for us in Canada.
They certainly missed the mark in China, a proud, ancient society which very much resents preaching from the outside.
I wish we could just respect our differences, and the differences are real and will not fade away because of sermonettes.
As they say about writing, it is always more powerful to show than to tell. Our best effort should be in showing a good and peaceful and decent Canadian society. Something I have to say we do not always succeed at, making it even less appropriate to preach.
Actually, I thought Trudeau was mainly addressing, without saying so directly, the situation in Washington.
But what a waste of breath there. In the world's self-declared "indispensable nation," the true believers in American exceptionalism who run the place and try running the planet are not even tuned to the right channel to hear the sermon.
___________________
Response to another reader’s comment:
Yes, a fair number of comments do get censored, and I don't mean comments using vulgarity.
The CBC, while it does a good job overall in these forums, can't help but reflect political pressures with regard to certain topics and how they are treated in the articles and certainly how they are commented upon.
For people who do a lot of reading in the world press, this is fairly obvious.
My own view on a free press is included in the fabulous old quote about freedom of the press being possible only for those who own one.
Our Western journalism is full of a lot of high, airy notions which in fact, day to day, are ignored, just as we see, say, in our politics.
It is a complex issue, and that reality gives us even less cause to be preaching.
Readers may enjoy aspects of: https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/09/25/john-chuckman-comment-on-the-hatred-of-russia-its-background-and-the-purposes-it-serves-on-the-dishonesty-of-our-press-in-serving-that-purpose-and-the-importance-of-foreign-and-independent-news-s/
__________________________
Further response to the same reader:
They've already disabled my previous response to you, a response containing no vulgarity or name-calling.
Gee, there is sure a lot of hypocrisy around notions like a "free press.”
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE ON CBC NEWS
“Journalists barred from Morneau speech in Beijing a day after Trudeau praises free press
“Business council says media excluded due to 'misunderstanding'; minister's office says it wasn't consulted”
First, it goes almost without saying, people who love a free society embrace a free and healthy press.
But I don't think preaching about it, as Trudeau did, is very helpful, just as preaching about almost anything is not very helpful. Its main usefulness is for a political impression back home.
And I actually thought some of Trudeau's words missed the mark even for us in Canada.
They certainly missed the mark in China, a proud, ancient society which very much resents preaching from the outside.
I wish we could just respect our differences, and the differences are real and will not fade away because of sermonettes.
As they say about writing, it is always more powerful to show than to tell. Our best effort should be in showing a good and peaceful and decent Canadian society. Something I have to say we do not always succeed at, making it even less appropriate to preach.
Actually, I thought Trudeau was mainly addressing, without saying so directly, the situation in Washington.
But what a waste of breath there. In the world's self-declared "indispensable nation," the true believers in American exceptionalism who run the place and try running the planet are not even tuned to the right channel to hear the sermon.
___________________
Response to another reader’s comment:
Yes, a fair number of comments do get censored, and I don't mean comments using vulgarity.
The CBC, while it does a good job overall in these forums, can't help but reflect political pressures with regard to certain topics and how they are treated in the articles and certainly how they are commented upon.
For people who do a lot of reading in the world press, this is fairly obvious.
My own view on a free press is included in the fabulous old quote about freedom of the press being possible only for those who own one.
Our Western journalism is full of a lot of high, airy notions which in fact, day to day, are ignored, just as we see, say, in our politics.
It is a complex issue, and that reality gives us even less cause to be preaching.
Readers may enjoy aspects of: https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/09/25/john-chuckman-comment-on-the-hatred-of-russia-its-background-and-the-purposes-it-serves-on-the-dishonesty-of-our-press-in-serving-that-purpose-and-the-importance-of-foreign-and-independent-news-s/
__________________________
Further response to the same reader:
They've already disabled my previous response to you, a response containing no vulgarity or name-calling.
Gee, there is sure a lot of hypocrisy around notions like a "free press.”
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: A NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE CONTENT OF THE SPUTNIK INTERNET SITE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY M K BHADRAKUMAR IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Russia Keeps Israel’s Netanyahu at an Arm's Length
“Moscow is signaling there can be no 'business as usual' after the shot down of Russia's Il-20 plane over Syria with the loss of 15 crew”
On the general topic of Israel and its relations with Russia, I wonder whether other readers have noted the changed treatment of Israel by the Sputnik news site?
Now, almost a day doesn't go by that there is not a story about Israel. Sometimes two.
This includes some pretty unimportant stuff, not just matters of consequence.
It is a quite noticeable change, and it makes me wonder just what is going on.
Deliberate instructions to play Israel up more, including just human-interest stories? If so, why?
This is, after all, a very tiny country with a population only somewhat more than one-one thousandth of the globe.
So, just in terms of numbers, it is strange to have daily stories and often small stories.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY M K BHADRAKUMAR IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Russia Keeps Israel’s Netanyahu at an Arm's Length
“Moscow is signaling there can be no 'business as usual' after the shot down of Russia's Il-20 plane over Syria with the loss of 15 crew”
On the general topic of Israel and its relations with Russia, I wonder whether other readers have noted the changed treatment of Israel by the Sputnik news site?
Now, almost a day doesn't go by that there is not a story about Israel. Sometimes two.
This includes some pretty unimportant stuff, not just matters of consequence.
It is a quite noticeable change, and it makes me wonder just what is going on.
Deliberate instructions to play Israel up more, including just human-interest stories? If so, why?
This is, after all, a very tiny country with a population only somewhat more than one-one thousandth of the globe.
So, just in terms of numbers, it is strange to have daily stories and often small stories.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: HOW THE MIGHTY ARE FALLEN - THE NORWEGIAN WARSHIP IN AMERICA'S BIG POINTLESS WAR GAMES IS NOW VIRTUALLY UNDERWATER - A FITTING EPITAPH TO ARROGANT STUPIDITY - AMERICA NEEDS TO "GET A LIFE"
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“NATO Drills Fallout: Norwegian Frigate Is Pretty Much Toast
“It is now almost completely submerged”
https://russia-insider.com/en/nato-drills-fallout-norwegian-frigate-pretty-much-toast/ri25361
The entire event is right out of Monty Python.
I can't help laughing every time I see another photo of this modern warship underwater as a result of colliding with an oil tanker.
It serves as a very fitting epitaph for America's gigantic, overblown, and pointless war games in the region.
America simply looks ridiculous with all of its hostility and bluster over nothing, nothing, that is, except its own compulsive drive to dominate.
It’s a nation badly in need of "getting a life," as people sometimes say in America about others doing or saying pointless things.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“NATO Drills Fallout: Norwegian Frigate Is Pretty Much Toast
“It is now almost completely submerged”
https://russia-insider.com/en/nato-drills-fallout-norwegian-frigate-pretty-much-toast/ri25361
The entire event is right out of Monty Python.
I can't help laughing every time I see another photo of this modern warship underwater as a result of colliding with an oil tanker.
It serves as a very fitting epitaph for America's gigantic, overblown, and pointless war games in the region.
America simply looks ridiculous with all of its hostility and bluster over nothing, nothing, that is, except its own compulsive drive to dominate.
It’s a nation badly in need of "getting a life," as people sometimes say in America about others doing or saying pointless things.
Monday, November 12, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: BRITAIN'S PRIME MINISTER BRAGS OF RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE BEING DEGRADED AFTER SKRIPAL AFFAIR - BUT WASN'T THAT THE POINT OF THE ENTIRE EFFORT BY THERESA MAY WHO NEVER PRODUCED A COHERENT EXPLANATION OR PROOF OF WHAT SHE CLAIMED HAPPENED?
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Russia's intelligence services ‘fundamentally degraded’ after Salisbury attack, says Theresa May
Prime minister hails 'international unity' after UK blamed Moscow for poisoning”
Well, yes, and that was the point of the entire Skripal Affair, wasn’t it? The very reason for all that noise about a supposed effort at state murder with no real explanation of the event and no real evidence ever provided?
When you send enough diplomats packing, you naturally send intelligence officers packing because all countries use diplomatic cover for intelligence. All of them. And with several Western countries closely following May’s hasty lead, Russia naturally lost experienced intelligence people in several countries.
The entire business was just one more anti-Russian scam.
Theresa May’s voice has been notably missing following a number of genuine, terrible events. She stands neither for fairness nor justice that I can see.
There is her empty response to the Khashoggi killing, the clearest possible instance of gruesome state murder. It just happens to be one by a government spending billions on contracts with Britain and doing Western dirty work in Yemen. Her government has even been provided by Turkey with the tapes of Khashoggi’s death, but she says not a word.
We see that, too, in her lack of response to Israel’s wholesale mass killing in Gaza where the victim toll now stands at over 200 plus thousands wounded. All unarmed. All guilty of no crime. All shot by cowardly Israeli military snipers hiding behind a fence.
We see that in her ignoring what Ukraine does in the Donbass region and in its failure to follow the protocols of the Minsk Agreements for peace.
May brings neither honor nor dignity to the role of Prime Minister. She is proud to play an utterly subservient role in America’s imperial efforts. And she explains herself with drivel.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Russia's intelligence services ‘fundamentally degraded’ after Salisbury attack, says Theresa May
Prime minister hails 'international unity' after UK blamed Moscow for poisoning”
Well, yes, and that was the point of the entire Skripal Affair, wasn’t it? The very reason for all that noise about a supposed effort at state murder with no real explanation of the event and no real evidence ever provided?
When you send enough diplomats packing, you naturally send intelligence officers packing because all countries use diplomatic cover for intelligence. All of them. And with several Western countries closely following May’s hasty lead, Russia naturally lost experienced intelligence people in several countries.
The entire business was just one more anti-Russian scam.
Theresa May’s voice has been notably missing following a number of genuine, terrible events. She stands neither for fairness nor justice that I can see.
There is her empty response to the Khashoggi killing, the clearest possible instance of gruesome state murder. It just happens to be one by a government spending billions on contracts with Britain and doing Western dirty work in Yemen. Her government has even been provided by Turkey with the tapes of Khashoggi’s death, but she says not a word.
We see that, too, in her lack of response to Israel’s wholesale mass killing in Gaza where the victim toll now stands at over 200 plus thousands wounded. All unarmed. All guilty of no crime. All shot by cowardly Israeli military snipers hiding behind a fence.
We see that in her ignoring what Ukraine does in the Donbass region and in its failure to follow the protocols of the Minsk Agreements for peace.
May brings neither honor nor dignity to the role of Prime Minister. She is proud to play an utterly subservient role in America’s imperial efforts. And she explains herself with drivel.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: MORE ON THE TRUMP PRESS CONFERENCE-JIM ACOSTA AFFAIR - IT DID NOT REALLY GO TO THE HEART OF PRESS FREEDOM IN AMERICA WHICH IS IN A DISMAL STATE ANYWAY - AMERICA LOVES A FOOD FIGHT WITH LOFTY-SOUNDING WORDS - JOURNALISM AND EMPIRE SIMPLY DO NOT MIX - CNN'S OWN QUITE DOUBTFUL RECORD
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY SAM HUSSEINI IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“Trump and Big Media: Clash or Collusion?
“Now that the media is protesting the suspension of Jim Acosta’s credentials Sam Husseini asks why he and the other journalists didn’t intervene on his behalf when he was expelled from a news conference.”
Yes, but there is no getting away from the basic fact that the principles of journalism are at odds with an imperial state.
Always.
There’s no avoiding it.
Really powerful entities, such as the American government, have absolutely no use in private for journalism or a free press. None, although they would never say that in public.
American corporate journalism understands this perfectly, and virtually everything it does is informed by its truth.
The Acosta Affair, I agree, was not some fundamental principled fight. Not at all.
But it is entertaining to see this bizarre President driven to such lengths in a public gathering.
It has, however, very little to do with journalism or freedom of the press.
It is the just the kind of stage drama America loves.
America’s culture of complaint just loves to play act at fighting over high principles when in fact it has none operating.
Food fights using lofty words about principles – that’s America.
By the way, and I am not at all picking up on Trump’s rhetoric about the press here, CNN has always been quite a disgraceful operation.
There are countless examples of crappy, shameful work. but a few stand out for me.
There was the obvious phony documentary at the time of America’s blundering invasion of Afghanistan about poison gas labs and experiments in Osama’s “mountain redoubt,” a redoubt which truly was little more than some primitive caves for hiding in.
It showed elements of a lab with equipment and records and had images of sandals shuffling around, and its disgusting piece de résistance was a dog dying, supposedly as part of a poison test. It was the cheapest, most obvious piece of manufactured propaganda, yet CNN broadcast it, over and over.
CNN has participated in many frauds, but this one was memorable for its comic book character at a time when America was bombing a country with which it was not legally at war, killing a great many people.
Then there was their pathetic coverage of that poor security guard, Richard Jewell, who was completely innocent but was accused by some in the press for the Atlanta Olympic bombing. CNN had truly garbage stuff like a reporter ambushing him outside his house, shoving a microphone into his face, asking aggressive and inappropriate questions.
He properly declined answering and simply drove away in his car. CNN actually broadcast his driving away at length as though something real was happening. And there was the reporter, standing, watching, doing pantomime gestures as CNN photographed nothing.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY SAM HUSSEINI IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“Trump and Big Media: Clash or Collusion?
“Now that the media is protesting the suspension of Jim Acosta’s credentials Sam Husseini asks why he and the other journalists didn’t intervene on his behalf when he was expelled from a news conference.”
Yes, but there is no getting away from the basic fact that the principles of journalism are at odds with an imperial state.
Always.
There’s no avoiding it.
Really powerful entities, such as the American government, have absolutely no use in private for journalism or a free press. None, although they would never say that in public.
American corporate journalism understands this perfectly, and virtually everything it does is informed by its truth.
The Acosta Affair, I agree, was not some fundamental principled fight. Not at all.
But it is entertaining to see this bizarre President driven to such lengths in a public gathering.
It has, however, very little to do with journalism or freedom of the press.
It is the just the kind of stage drama America loves.
America’s culture of complaint just loves to play act at fighting over high principles when in fact it has none operating.
Food fights using lofty words about principles – that’s America.
By the way, and I am not at all picking up on Trump’s rhetoric about the press here, CNN has always been quite a disgraceful operation.
There are countless examples of crappy, shameful work. but a few stand out for me.
There was the obvious phony documentary at the time of America’s blundering invasion of Afghanistan about poison gas labs and experiments in Osama’s “mountain redoubt,” a redoubt which truly was little more than some primitive caves for hiding in.
It showed elements of a lab with equipment and records and had images of sandals shuffling around, and its disgusting piece de résistance was a dog dying, supposedly as part of a poison test. It was the cheapest, most obvious piece of manufactured propaganda, yet CNN broadcast it, over and over.
CNN has participated in many frauds, but this one was memorable for its comic book character at a time when America was bombing a country with which it was not legally at war, killing a great many people.
Then there was their pathetic coverage of that poor security guard, Richard Jewell, who was completely innocent but was accused by some in the press for the Atlanta Olympic bombing. CNN had truly garbage stuff like a reporter ambushing him outside his house, shoving a microphone into his face, asking aggressive and inappropriate questions.
He properly declined answering and simply drove away in his car. CNN actually broadcast his driving away at length as though something real was happening. And there was the reporter, standing, watching, doing pantomime gestures as CNN photographed nothing.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S REMARKS ABOUT ATTACKS ON MEDIA AND THE RISE OF NATIONALISM - HE GLOSSED OVER WHAT IS IMPORTANT IN BOTH CASES
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE ON CBC NEWS
“Attacks on the media are a threat to democracy, Trudeau says
“'The very capacity for a citizen to engage with truth is under attack,' PM tells press freedom event
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press freedom event in Paris Sunday that one of the bulwarks protecting democratic governments from being undermined is also an institution under stress — a free-thinking, robust media.”
"...a free-thinking, robust media."
The word "media" is plural, and it is getting very tiresome to see it used this way. First time I've caught it in a mainstream publication.
As to the heart of Trudeau's comments, yes, yes, all that stuff about the press is true, but it is largely true in the sense of platitudes.
Attacks on the press by the likes of Trump are of course inappropriate, but I think we have a far more fundamental problem concerning the press.
It, to a great extent, simply does not do its job anymore. With mergers and consolidation, the press has become just one more big corporate entity in a corporate state.
It largely echoes government because there is no advantage to it in seriously investigating government. Government approves mergers and acquisition. Government gives leaks and tips. Government offers access and validation. And in America, reporting against major government interests can get you labelled as subversive or disloyal.
The American government has been increasingly busy with dark operations abroad, operations which kill many people and create whole armies of refugees, but I follow the press closely and I don't know of a single North American press organization which looks into any of it.
They are simply complicit.
That's part of why there is such a large audience for some of Trump's ugly rhetoric. People know they often aren't being told the truth.
As one example of many. Refugees. Almost all the streams of poor refugees, whether on the frontiers of Europe or in Mexico, are simply the result of aggressive American policies of bombing and subverting governments, but our press virtually never examines this to try enlightening public opinion.
_____________________
Some of Trudeau's comments are simply blather.
For example, "When people feel their institutions cannot protect them, they look for easy answers," Trudeau said, "in populism, in nationalism, in closing borders, in shutting down trade, in xenophobia."
I do not see that as a valid observation.
Nationalism and xenophobia are genuine feelings by fairly large numbers in almost every country.
They bubble to the surface periodically for many reasons, but especially because of fear.
Fear of the unknown. Fear of a poor economy. Fear of wars, and we now have plenty of that. Fear of government dishonesty. Fear of press dishonesty. Just plain fear, which no one in position of responsibility does anything to dispel.
This kind of generalized talk doesn't deal with them at all.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE ON CBC NEWS
“Attacks on the media are a threat to democracy, Trudeau says
“'The very capacity for a citizen to engage with truth is under attack,' PM tells press freedom event
“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told a press freedom event in Paris Sunday that one of the bulwarks protecting democratic governments from being undermined is also an institution under stress — a free-thinking, robust media.”
"...a free-thinking, robust media."
The word "media" is plural, and it is getting very tiresome to see it used this way. First time I've caught it in a mainstream publication.
As to the heart of Trudeau's comments, yes, yes, all that stuff about the press is true, but it is largely true in the sense of platitudes.
Attacks on the press by the likes of Trump are of course inappropriate, but I think we have a far more fundamental problem concerning the press.
It, to a great extent, simply does not do its job anymore. With mergers and consolidation, the press has become just one more big corporate entity in a corporate state.
It largely echoes government because there is no advantage to it in seriously investigating government. Government approves mergers and acquisition. Government gives leaks and tips. Government offers access and validation. And in America, reporting against major government interests can get you labelled as subversive or disloyal.
The American government has been increasingly busy with dark operations abroad, operations which kill many people and create whole armies of refugees, but I follow the press closely and I don't know of a single North American press organization which looks into any of it.
They are simply complicit.
That's part of why there is such a large audience for some of Trump's ugly rhetoric. People know they often aren't being told the truth.
As one example of many. Refugees. Almost all the streams of poor refugees, whether on the frontiers of Europe or in Mexico, are simply the result of aggressive American policies of bombing and subverting governments, but our press virtually never examines this to try enlightening public opinion.
_____________________
Some of Trudeau's comments are simply blather.
For example, "When people feel their institutions cannot protect them, they look for easy answers," Trudeau said, "in populism, in nationalism, in closing borders, in shutting down trade, in xenophobia."
I do not see that as a valid observation.
Nationalism and xenophobia are genuine feelings by fairly large numbers in almost every country.
They bubble to the surface periodically for many reasons, but especially because of fear.
Fear of the unknown. Fear of a poor economy. Fear of wars, and we now have plenty of that. Fear of government dishonesty. Fear of press dishonesty. Just plain fear, which no one in position of responsibility does anything to dispel.
This kind of generalized talk doesn't deal with them at all.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: NATO'S GIANT WAR GAMES NEAR RUSSIA EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH THEIR GPS SYSTEMS - A CLEVER DEMONSTRATION BY RUSSIA OF WHAT A HOSTILE NATO MIGHT FACE?
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SOUTHFRONT
“On November 6, Finland’s air navigation services issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale GPS interruption in the northern part of the country. Norway released a similar warning about loss of GPS signals for pilots in its own airspace in late October when the Trident Juncture started. Since then, some mainstream media outlets have been in fire speculating about the “Russian involvement” into these GPS failures.”
"Prime Minster Juha Sipila has come with a statement blaming Moscow for GPS failures during the recent NATO war games."
This is quite possible.
Russia is known to possess some powerful military electronic counter-measures.
If it was so, it would appear a brilliant move by Russia to use NATO's own gigantic war games for a real-life demonstration of one of the powerful weapons they could face.
It would have made a big impression in the cockpits and control centers of NATO.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SOUTHFRONT
“On November 6, Finland’s air navigation services issued a warning for air traffic due to a large-scale GPS interruption in the northern part of the country. Norway released a similar warning about loss of GPS signals for pilots in its own airspace in late October when the Trident Juncture started. Since then, some mainstream media outlets have been in fire speculating about the “Russian involvement” into these GPS failures.”
"Prime Minster Juha Sipila has come with a statement blaming Moscow for GPS failures during the recent NATO war games."
This is quite possible.
Russia is known to possess some powerful military electronic counter-measures.
If it was so, it would appear a brilliant move by Russia to use NATO's own gigantic war games for a real-life demonstration of one of the powerful weapons they could face.
It would have made a big impression in the cockpits and control centers of NATO.
Saturday, November 10, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: OIL TANKER MAKES SHORT WORK OF MODERN NORWEGIAN WARSHIP DURING NATO'S GIGANTIC EXERCISES MEANT TO INTIMIDATE RUSSIA - MAYBE RUSSIA SHOULD BUILD A FLEET OF TANKERS TO USE AGAINST NATO
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“NATO's Trident Juncture Drill Takes Its Toll: Frigate Hit by Tanker Runs Aground to Prevent Sinking
One of Norway's largest warships with a crew of 137”
For dramatic photos:
https://russia-insider.com/en/natos-trident-juncture-drill-takes-its-toll-frigate-hit-tanker-runs-aground-prevent-sinking/ri25334
Very impressive warship...sunk by a tanker, and the tanker was barely scratched.
Maybe Russia should build a fleet of tankers whose only purpose would be in time of war to sink NATO ships?
My understanding is that these latest warships have much lightened the hulls for speed and saving weight for missiles carried?
No one repeats errors like the military.
Remember in the Falklands War how a then-modern British destroyer was tremendously damaged by virtue of having an aluminum upper-structure which melted?
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“NATO's Trident Juncture Drill Takes Its Toll: Frigate Hit by Tanker Runs Aground to Prevent Sinking
One of Norway's largest warships with a crew of 137”
For dramatic photos:
https://russia-insider.com/en/natos-trident-juncture-drill-takes-its-toll-frigate-hit-tanker-runs-aground-prevent-sinking/ri25334
Very impressive warship...sunk by a tanker, and the tanker was barely scratched.
Maybe Russia should build a fleet of tankers whose only purpose would be in time of war to sink NATO ships?
My understanding is that these latest warships have much lightened the hulls for speed and saving weight for missiles carried?
No one repeats errors like the military.
Remember in the Falklands War how a then-modern British destroyer was tremendously damaged by virtue of having an aluminum upper-structure which melted?
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: AMERICA'S WAY OF CLEANING UP ITS ACT IN YEMEN - WE'LL STOP REFUELING THE SAUDI PLANES BLOWING UP WOMEN AND CHILDREN
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SOUTHFRONT
“US TO STOP REFUELING SAUDI COALITION WARPLANES BOMBING YEMEN”
What a cheap American stunt to try reducing its blame for Saudi atrocities by the public.
The bombs dropped are American.
The fighter-bombers used are American.
The pilots are trained by Americans.
Saudi Arabia and America have a huge and complex relationship, with America raking in tens of billions of dollars.
But the White House never says a word about the slaughter of women and children, even though it is clear America has tremendous leverage in the matter.
Why? Because the Saudi war crimes against Yemen are what Washington want.
They are part of the whole set of American Neocon Mideast wars.
It just doesn't want to get blamed for them though.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN SOUTHFRONT
“US TO STOP REFUELING SAUDI COALITION WARPLANES BOMBING YEMEN”
What a cheap American stunt to try reducing its blame for Saudi atrocities by the public.
The bombs dropped are American.
The fighter-bombers used are American.
The pilots are trained by Americans.
Saudi Arabia and America have a huge and complex relationship, with America raking in tens of billions of dollars.
But the White House never says a word about the slaughter of women and children, even though it is clear America has tremendous leverage in the matter.
Why? Because the Saudi war crimes against Yemen are what Washington want.
They are part of the whole set of American Neocon Mideast wars.
It just doesn't want to get blamed for them though.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: WHAT IS WRONG WITH AMERICA TODAY? "TRUTH IS FOR DREAMERS AND LOSERS"
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN ZEROHEDGE
“Written in History: The Death Of America's Hyper-Power Fantasy”
Paul Kennedy, and I remember when his book was first published, summed up some fundamental truths about great empires.
And, yes, they are ignored, still.
But then that is the case for so many truths recorded by great observers.
From Lord Acton or David Hume to Jimmy Carter and George F Kennan in his late years, just to name a few.
America's fundamental problem is plutocracy and its empire.
Those coming up in the empire’s service see only the opportunities and benefits before them in their Washington careers, ignoring the serious problems and ethical considerations their efforts entail.
Truth? It's for dreamers and losers, that last being a favorite word of Trump’s.
That is what is wrong with America, and there is no prospect for its correction, short of unpleasant large destructive events.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN ZEROHEDGE
“Written in History: The Death Of America's Hyper-Power Fantasy”
Paul Kennedy, and I remember when his book was first published, summed up some fundamental truths about great empires.
And, yes, they are ignored, still.
But then that is the case for so many truths recorded by great observers.
From Lord Acton or David Hume to Jimmy Carter and George F Kennan in his late years, just to name a few.
America's fundamental problem is plutocracy and its empire.
Those coming up in the empire’s service see only the opportunities and benefits before them in their Washington careers, ignoring the serious problems and ethical considerations their efforts entail.
Truth? It's for dreamers and losers, that last being a favorite word of Trump’s.
That is what is wrong with America, and there is no prospect for its correction, short of unpleasant large destructive events.
Thursday, November 08, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: DONALD TRUMP'S PRESS CONFERENCE FLYING CIRCUS - DANGEROUS NEAR-LUNATIC ANTICS RECORDED FOR ALL TO SEE - AND THIS IS A MAN TO DEAL WITH HEADS OF STATE? TO CHART AMERICA'S ROLE IN THE WORLD?
John Chuckman
COMMENT ON TRUMP’S PRESS CONFERENCE FIASCO WITH JIM ACOSTA
I think nothing we have seen – and we’ve seen plenty – so clearly demonstrates Trump’s unfitness for high office as his row at a press conference with White House reporter Jim Acosta.
You do not have to be a fan of Mr. Acosta’s network, CNN, to say so. Certainly, I never have been.
Acosta was being persistent in his questioning, but that is what such reporters are supposed to do, especially when the politician being questioned clearly does not want to answer.
Acosta’s behavior was never inappropriate (we have it all on video). However, Trump’s was rather shockingly so. He behaved like a really angry 12-year old in the school yard who isn’t getting his way, calling names and libeling the reporter and his employer.
It really was behavior most people would not expect or welcome at the level of a local school board meeting, but here it was, right in the White House.
When a young female aide approached Acosta and tried, with some rudeness and mild force, to remove the microphone from his hand, Acosta avoided her several lunges, but finally used his arm to block her continued effort.
This was then termed “placing his hands on a female aide trying to retrieve a microphone” by Trump’s near-lunatic Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who went farther with self-serving righteous indignation, “we never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job.”
The reporter’s White House credentials were revoked, endangering his job, basically just for doing his job, and to justify that action, the White House had what proved a heavily-doctored snippet of video of Acosta’s interaction with the aide shown on Trump-friendly media. Again, since we have the entire interaction on undoctored video, we do know just what happened.
Now, none of this is quite at the police-state stage, but it all is characterized by terrible, manic behavior, and all of that behavior was motivated by Trump’s unwillingness simply to answer a legitimate question. None of this is in the spirit of openness or trying to inform people. Indeed, quite the opposite and crudely handled.
Is a man who treats a question he does not like from a reporter in this manner, including all the darkly absurd follow-up from his press secretary, really fit to be engaging heads of other states, and particularly in such volatile and dangerous matters as his self-created crisis with Iran?
I think the answer is clear, at least to any clear-thinking observer.
COMMENT ON TRUMP’S PRESS CONFERENCE FIASCO WITH JIM ACOSTA
I think nothing we have seen – and we’ve seen plenty – so clearly demonstrates Trump’s unfitness for high office as his row at a press conference with White House reporter Jim Acosta.
You do not have to be a fan of Mr. Acosta’s network, CNN, to say so. Certainly, I never have been.
Acosta was being persistent in his questioning, but that is what such reporters are supposed to do, especially when the politician being questioned clearly does not want to answer.
Acosta’s behavior was never inappropriate (we have it all on video). However, Trump’s was rather shockingly so. He behaved like a really angry 12-year old in the school yard who isn’t getting his way, calling names and libeling the reporter and his employer.
It really was behavior most people would not expect or welcome at the level of a local school board meeting, but here it was, right in the White House.
When a young female aide approached Acosta and tried, with some rudeness and mild force, to remove the microphone from his hand, Acosta avoided her several lunges, but finally used his arm to block her continued effort.
This was then termed “placing his hands on a female aide trying to retrieve a microphone” by Trump’s near-lunatic Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders, who went farther with self-serving righteous indignation, “we never tolerate a reporter placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job.”
The reporter’s White House credentials were revoked, endangering his job, basically just for doing his job, and to justify that action, the White House had what proved a heavily-doctored snippet of video of Acosta’s interaction with the aide shown on Trump-friendly media. Again, since we have the entire interaction on undoctored video, we do know just what happened.
Now, none of this is quite at the police-state stage, but it all is characterized by terrible, manic behavior, and all of that behavior was motivated by Trump’s unwillingness simply to answer a legitimate question. None of this is in the spirit of openness or trying to inform people. Indeed, quite the opposite and crudely handled.
Is a man who treats a question he does not like from a reporter in this manner, including all the darkly absurd follow-up from his press secretary, really fit to be engaging heads of other states, and particularly in such volatile and dangerous matters as his self-created crisis with Iran?
I think the answer is clear, at least to any clear-thinking observer.
Wednesday, November 07, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: AN ELECTION OUTCOME WHICH CHANGES ALMOST NOTHING - DESPITE THE WORLD'S FACING TERRIBLE AMERICAN-INDUCED PROBLEMS AND HAVING A GENUINELY OBSCENE MAN AS PRESIDENT - AN AMERICAN POLITICAL SYSTEM INCAPABLE OF MEANINGFUL RESPONSE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“The president may not know it, but things just got a lot more complicated for him”
I don't see the election as a big loss or a big gain for either political party.
I wish it were otherwise, but the net Democratic gains are not impressive.
Yes, they regained control of the House, but not by a big margin, and they lost ground in the Senate, which is, by far, the most powerful branch in America’s legislature, having control over all major appointments and treaties.
And don’t forget, there are numbers of Democrats indistinguishable from Republicans, so with a fairly thin majority, you have the strength to do very little.
Trump has been so unmistakably awful, and on a whole list of matters, that it's just remarkable there wasn't a huge voter rejection of him, but the fact is, there was not.
Indeed, Trump was emboldened to fire his Attorney General.
The Republicans are now captives of this truly awful, filthy man, but the Democrats seem still to have nothing to offer and no articulate leadership worthy of the title.
America’s voters really do resemble a huge pool of fairly stagnant water, slowly approaching and beginning to swirl around the edge of a drain which empties into a dark pit of unknowable depths.
With all the dangers and turmoil we face in the world, much of it deliberately created by America’s own government, I regard this election outcome as the promise of nothing. The American political system proved itself incapable of meaningful response.
As far as impeachment goes, well, the actual trials take place in the Senate, and the Republicans increased their hold on that powerful branch of government.
It would be fruitless even to start proceedings in the House.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“The president may not know it, but things just got a lot more complicated for him”
I don't see the election as a big loss or a big gain for either political party.
I wish it were otherwise, but the net Democratic gains are not impressive.
Yes, they regained control of the House, but not by a big margin, and they lost ground in the Senate, which is, by far, the most powerful branch in America’s legislature, having control over all major appointments and treaties.
And don’t forget, there are numbers of Democrats indistinguishable from Republicans, so with a fairly thin majority, you have the strength to do very little.
Trump has been so unmistakably awful, and on a whole list of matters, that it's just remarkable there wasn't a huge voter rejection of him, but the fact is, there was not.
Indeed, Trump was emboldened to fire his Attorney General.
The Republicans are now captives of this truly awful, filthy man, but the Democrats seem still to have nothing to offer and no articulate leadership worthy of the title.
America’s voters really do resemble a huge pool of fairly stagnant water, slowly approaching and beginning to swirl around the edge of a drain which empties into a dark pit of unknowable depths.
With all the dangers and turmoil we face in the world, much of it deliberately created by America’s own government, I regard this election outcome as the promise of nothing. The American political system proved itself incapable of meaningful response.
As far as impeachment goes, well, the actual trials take place in the Senate, and the Republicans increased their hold on that powerful branch of government.
It would be fruitless even to start proceedings in the House.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: POSSIBLE HISTORIC TURNING POINT COMING IN AMERICA'S EFFORTS TO IMPOSE HARSH SANCTIONS ON IRAN AND TO SAVE THE BLOODY CROWN PRINCE OF SAUDI ARABIA
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PATRICK COCKBURN IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Iran Sanctions Could Turn Into Demonstration of US Weakness
"The danger for the US is not only that these countries are opposing sanctions against Iran, but that they all have an interest in making sure that they fail"
https://russia-insider.com/en/iran-sanctions-could-turn-demonstration-us-weakness/ri25289
An excellent summary analysis of the situation.
The United States is pretty much trying to demonstrate its capacity to do whatever it feels the urge to do despite the harm it may do to others.
And a good deal of the world, and especially some important American friends and allies, seem very much to be saying, "No, you can't do that! We want to stay as your friends, but this action is just going too far, and it works against peace and reason."
It's an interesting, if distressing and dangerous, situation, and it could prove a kind of watershed event towards the coming new era of a multi-polar world or, at any rate, to the American establishment's falling on its face in public with its aggressive policies to assert a new authority over the planet.
Of course, the real fundamental cause of all this, the mass killer running Israel, stands to see his years-long struggle to throttle Iran defeated, and be defeated by a number of Israel's friends and allies who just happen to recognize that he has pushed things much too far, although they aren't able to say that in public.
It is a very consequential set of events underway, and we have the parallel struggle over the murderous Saudi Crown Prince which is closely related because he was to provide a cornerstone in America's efforts to re-make the Middle East and is a much-favored ally of Netanyahu's.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PATRICK COCKBURN IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Iran Sanctions Could Turn Into Demonstration of US Weakness
"The danger for the US is not only that these countries are opposing sanctions against Iran, but that they all have an interest in making sure that they fail"
https://russia-insider.com/en/iran-sanctions-could-turn-demonstration-us-weakness/ri25289
An excellent summary analysis of the situation.
The United States is pretty much trying to demonstrate its capacity to do whatever it feels the urge to do despite the harm it may do to others.
And a good deal of the world, and especially some important American friends and allies, seem very much to be saying, "No, you can't do that! We want to stay as your friends, but this action is just going too far, and it works against peace and reason."
It's an interesting, if distressing and dangerous, situation, and it could prove a kind of watershed event towards the coming new era of a multi-polar world or, at any rate, to the American establishment's falling on its face in public with its aggressive policies to assert a new authority over the planet.
Of course, the real fundamental cause of all this, the mass killer running Israel, stands to see his years-long struggle to throttle Iran defeated, and be defeated by a number of Israel's friends and allies who just happen to recognize that he has pushed things much too far, although they aren't able to say that in public.
It is a very consequential set of events underway, and we have the parallel struggle over the murderous Saudi Crown Prince which is closely related because he was to provide a cornerstone in America's efforts to re-make the Middle East and is a much-favored ally of Netanyahu's.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: "RIGHTING THE WRONGS OF THE PAST" BY NOT HONORING SOMEONE (AS WAS JUST THE CASE IN BRITAIN WITH ROALD DAHL) HAS A NICE SOUND TO IT - BUT IT IS TRULY AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK - AND THERE ARE SO MANY DARK LITTLE CORNERS IN SO MANY HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC LIVES THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TOSS A HUGE NUMBER OF IMPORTANT ONES EVEN TO ATTEMPT THE TASK
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Royal Mint made the right decision over [in not honoring] Roald Dahl. If only we could say the same for other British institutions
“This is not a matter of censorship; it is a way of righting the wrongs of the past”
The situation is so much more complex than the simplistic presentation we receive in newspapers.
Richard Wagner was an intense, unrelenting anti-Semite, but orchestras everywhere still play his music.
Henry Ford was also an intense anti-Semite, and he wrote a hateful book about Jews. Hitler quite admired him and kept his photo on the wall of his chancellery office. Yet millions drive Ford cars, and governments everywhere do business with the company.
There are many other important cases, including the historical giant, Martin Luther, important scholar, translator of the Bible, religious revolutionary, composer, and major church-founding figure.
And I like to think that not just anti-Semitism is important, but all hatreds, and all equally, and there are just so many of them. That would literally open the floodgates against many hundreds of historical and artistic figures, including important ones like Winston Churchill or the former King of England who gave up the throne for "the woman he loved."
So, I think a little better understanding is much in order, with more balance and a little less absolute self-righteousness.
We aren't trying to praise someone for the darker corners of his life but for a large contribution to literature.
But in a case like this, we lose sight of all balance and conclude a few ugly expressions out of an entire life render him unwelcome.
__________________________
An added thought.
Since the author, a black woman, has part of her name as French, I can't help but reflect on Haiti, even though it may have no connection to her.
Napoleon, a much-honored figure, made a huge effort to crush the slave revolt in what was then a French colony. He sent 50,000 troops, and it was a very bloody business.
Just one of Napoleon's many less admirable acts, but we find his name and image everywhere. A true world figure.
Add to that the name of President Thomas Jefferson. That lifetime, unrepentant owner of about 200 slaves, actually worked to assist Napoleon in his efforts to crush the rebellion, going against both his own words about freedom and the right and obligation to revolt, but also very much giving real substance to his well-known writing on the inferiority of blacks.
I haven't seen his statues pulled down or his face expunged from countless government documents (including the American 2-dollar bill) or his name removed from hundreds of schools and institutions.
Only a fairly widespread lack of knowledge of history allows things like the Roald Dahl business to become important. Truth is, overwhelmingly, most people will have had no awareness of his darker remarks, just as they have virtually no awareness of these other dark matters, and yet many more which could be cited.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE IN THE INDEPENDENT
“Royal Mint made the right decision over [in not honoring] Roald Dahl. If only we could say the same for other British institutions
“This is not a matter of censorship; it is a way of righting the wrongs of the past”
The situation is so much more complex than the simplistic presentation we receive in newspapers.
Richard Wagner was an intense, unrelenting anti-Semite, but orchestras everywhere still play his music.
Henry Ford was also an intense anti-Semite, and he wrote a hateful book about Jews. Hitler quite admired him and kept his photo on the wall of his chancellery office. Yet millions drive Ford cars, and governments everywhere do business with the company.
There are many other important cases, including the historical giant, Martin Luther, important scholar, translator of the Bible, religious revolutionary, composer, and major church-founding figure.
And I like to think that not just anti-Semitism is important, but all hatreds, and all equally, and there are just so many of them. That would literally open the floodgates against many hundreds of historical and artistic figures, including important ones like Winston Churchill or the former King of England who gave up the throne for "the woman he loved."
So, I think a little better understanding is much in order, with more balance and a little less absolute self-righteousness.
We aren't trying to praise someone for the darker corners of his life but for a large contribution to literature.
But in a case like this, we lose sight of all balance and conclude a few ugly expressions out of an entire life render him unwelcome.
__________________________
An added thought.
Since the author, a black woman, has part of her name as French, I can't help but reflect on Haiti, even though it may have no connection to her.
Napoleon, a much-honored figure, made a huge effort to crush the slave revolt in what was then a French colony. He sent 50,000 troops, and it was a very bloody business.
Just one of Napoleon's many less admirable acts, but we find his name and image everywhere. A true world figure.
Add to that the name of President Thomas Jefferson. That lifetime, unrepentant owner of about 200 slaves, actually worked to assist Napoleon in his efforts to crush the rebellion, going against both his own words about freedom and the right and obligation to revolt, but also very much giving real substance to his well-known writing on the inferiority of blacks.
I haven't seen his statues pulled down or his face expunged from countless government documents (including the American 2-dollar bill) or his name removed from hundreds of schools and institutions.
Only a fairly widespread lack of knowledge of history allows things like the Roald Dahl business to become important. Truth is, overwhelmingly, most people will have had no awareness of his darker remarks, just as they have virtually no awareness of these other dark matters, and yet many more which could be cited.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: WRITER SAYS THE WEST IS FAILING JULIAN ASSANGE - YES BUT IT IS ALMOST THE CASE UNIVERSALLY THAT THOSE WHO SPEAK TRUTH TO POWER ARE MADE TO SUFFER FOR DOING SO - THAT'S JUST HOW HUMAN SOCIETY WORKS
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY STEFANIA MAURIZI IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“The West is Failing Julian Assange
“While the media focused on Julian Assange’s cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S.”
One of my favorite modern dramas has always been Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People."
The reason I like it so much is that it captures an enduring, but not always appreciated, truth about human society.
Julian Assange is today a real-life version of the play’s main character, Dr. Stockman.
Truth in this matter, and that’s all Assange has done is to report truth, is not even an issue, except for unimportant people like me.
Power and challenging that power over an issue of ethics or just plain truth has always been a losing proposition. Always.
And the greater is that power - as the imperial United States now striving to enforce its arbitrary will worldwide - the more hopeless is the situation of the challenger.
I hope we all keep supporting Assange, but I do fear it will all be to no effect.
After all, this is an America which daily shakes hands with truly evil men because they have something tangible to offer. It has no regard for someone with nothing to offer but some truth, embarrassing truth at that.
Savages like the Saudi Crown Prince or the Prime Minister of Israel are fawned over while their many victims are paid absolutely no attention as they lie in the dust.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY STEFANIA MAURIZI IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“The West is Failing Julian Assange
“While the media focused on Julian Assange’s cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows that Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he could then be turned over to the U.S.”
One of my favorite modern dramas has always been Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People."
The reason I like it so much is that it captures an enduring, but not always appreciated, truth about human society.
Julian Assange is today a real-life version of the play’s main character, Dr. Stockman.
Truth in this matter, and that’s all Assange has done is to report truth, is not even an issue, except for unimportant people like me.
Power and challenging that power over an issue of ethics or just plain truth has always been a losing proposition. Always.
And the greater is that power - as the imperial United States now striving to enforce its arbitrary will worldwide - the more hopeless is the situation of the challenger.
I hope we all keep supporting Assange, but I do fear it will all be to no effect.
After all, this is an America which daily shakes hands with truly evil men because they have something tangible to offer. It has no regard for someone with nothing to offer but some truth, embarrassing truth at that.
Savages like the Saudi Crown Prince or the Prime Minister of Israel are fawned over while their many victims are paid absolutely no attention as they lie in the dust.
Tuesday, November 06, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: ISRAEL'S EMBRACE OF THE NEW FAR-RIGHT LEADERS COMING UP IN THE WORLD - IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE - THIS "DEMOCRACY" HAS REJECTED DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENTS IN ITS REGION SINCE THE BEGINNING AND LONG EMBRACED KINGS AND TYRANTS
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ELI BITAN IN DESERTPEACE
“The rise of the global far-right could energize the anti-occupation movement
“The warm relations between Israel and a new crop of anti-democratic leaders are tragic, but they also expose the true nature of Israel’s relationship to the Palestinians.”
Absolutely true. And it comes as no surprise that Israel would embrace the likes of Brazil’s Bolsonaro and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, both violent, vile men.
I've observed in my commentary writing many times the often-overlooked fact that Israel likes kings and tyrants in the Middle East, so long as they are kings and tyrants which toe the American policy line, which, of course, includes the conception of Israel as a special and privileged place in the region.
King of Saudi Arabia. The late President Mubarak of Egypt. King of Jordan. President el-Sisi of Egypt.
It hates democracies, everything from the brief one we had in Egypt to the democratic emergence of Hamas in Gaza. It has worked actively to destroy or discredit them in virtually all cases.
This attitude of comfort with authoritarians has been a notable part of Israel's character from the beginning.
I think it quite an important observation, and one generally overlooked while our press and politicians parrot Israel's meaningless slogan about being “the Mid East's only democracy.”
Real democracies are not comfortable with tyrants.
And I've long said, if Israel can be construed as a democracy, it is a good thing the world does not have more democracies like it.
We did have a couple of quite notable ones in the past, Nationalist South Africa and the American Confederacy.
Both of those historical states were democratic and had protected rights, so long as you were the right type of person. And the law was used ruthlessly against those who were not the right type of person.
That describes Israel perfectly. It is stunning that the fact is so widely accepted by those with power.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY ELI BITAN IN DESERTPEACE
“The rise of the global far-right could energize the anti-occupation movement
“The warm relations between Israel and a new crop of anti-democratic leaders are tragic, but they also expose the true nature of Israel’s relationship to the Palestinians.”
Absolutely true. And it comes as no surprise that Israel would embrace the likes of Brazil’s Bolsonaro and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, both violent, vile men.
I've observed in my commentary writing many times the often-overlooked fact that Israel likes kings and tyrants in the Middle East, so long as they are kings and tyrants which toe the American policy line, which, of course, includes the conception of Israel as a special and privileged place in the region.
King of Saudi Arabia. The late President Mubarak of Egypt. King of Jordan. President el-Sisi of Egypt.
It hates democracies, everything from the brief one we had in Egypt to the democratic emergence of Hamas in Gaza. It has worked actively to destroy or discredit them in virtually all cases.
This attitude of comfort with authoritarians has been a notable part of Israel's character from the beginning.
I think it quite an important observation, and one generally overlooked while our press and politicians parrot Israel's meaningless slogan about being “the Mid East's only democracy.”
Real democracies are not comfortable with tyrants.
And I've long said, if Israel can be construed as a democracy, it is a good thing the world does not have more democracies like it.
We did have a couple of quite notable ones in the past, Nationalist South Africa and the American Confederacy.
Both of those historical states were democratic and had protected rights, so long as you were the right type of person. And the law was used ruthlessly against those who were not the right type of person.
That describes Israel perfectly. It is stunning that the fact is so widely accepted by those with power.
Sunday, November 04, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: RUSSIA-GATE MAKES AMERICA LOOK JUST PLAIN DUMB - AND THAT'S ASIDE FROM MANY OTHER CONSEQUENCES AND DANGERS - THE WORLD DOESN'T LAUGH AS IT SHOULD BECAUSE OF THE ARMIES OF KNUCKLE-DRAGGERS AND THUGS AT THE PENTAGON AND CIA PLUS A SET OF POLITICIANS WHO THREATEN OR SANCTION EVERY TIME THEY OPEN THEIR UTTERLY CORRUPT MOUTHS
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY GARETH PORTER IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“33 Trillion More Reasons Why The New York Times Gets it Wrong on Russia-gate
“Further research shows The New York Times was even further off the mark in blaming Russian social media for Trump’s win”
The entire noise and effort around Russia-gate has been just bizarre from the beginning, and that includes all the parties who have joined in for various reasons.
It all makes the United States look just plain dumb, but I guess that doesn't register because there are so many other things going on which make the United States look dumb. A gigantic muscle-bound beach boy strutting around with just the look on his face telling you there’s not a whole lot going on behind the eyes.
Of course, the real origin for all of this is the American establishment's current aggressive effort all over the planet to reassert its authority, in light of its coming to fully appreciate America's relative decline in the world.
It is the effort to substitute military might and bullying in gaining advantages in place of traditional routes of trade and economic competition, and in any effort of that nature, Russia just automatically takes on the appearance of an opponent, if not an outright enemy.
This effort is brought to you largely through the influence of Washington’s Neocons, the good folks who have championed fifteen years of bloody, unproductive war in the Middle East and who help keep America bound, hand and foot, to the rotting values of Israel, a country which has, since its inception, practiced nothing else than what America is now attempting.
The Washington establishment, of course, is interested in real stuff, not just silly Russia-gate name-calling. Real stuff like the paid-for coup in Ukraine and the monstrous and threatening efforts by NATO on Russia's borders and quitting the INF Treaty, but they'll take anything that comes along which helps sell the line about the dangers of Russia.
Americans in general have not proved themselves very discerning over the years in many such matters - from drunken old senator McCarthy with his 200 "commies" in the State Department to the Warren Commission total rubbish on the Kennedy assassination - so there seems to be no floor-level for stupidities about Russia.
Russia is hated, and that's all there is to it, and if you are hated in America, well, pretty much anything goes. You have a galaxy of stars who've made their fame and fortune through stupidities and hatreds. There’s enough of them to create a new kind of Walk of the Stars, perhaps to be located in Washington. Ann Coulter. Rush Limbaugh. Thomas Friedman. Pat Robertson. Franklin Graham. Newt Gingrich. Etc, etc, etc.
Vociferous stupidities and hatreds do seem to be an integral part of America's national culture of complaint.
The noise and activity keep Americans occupied and doing things that keep them emotionally hyped, and if there is one thing a good many Americans like, it is being hyped, whether on junky notions about the terrors of football players kneeling or the terrors of seeing poor broken refugee families approach the border from places like Honduras, where people have suffered miserably from America’s violent interference with their government.
Meanwhile, infrastructure all over America rots, Americans still have no national health-care worth mentioning, poverty and degradation are to be found in a thousand places, racism and various hatreds flourish, and schools in countless places are a national shame.
Meanwhile also, we have America’s genuine interference in other countries’ affair, as in Honduras, going on around the clock and on a grand scale. You have a monstrous and unaccountable agency whose job it is, full-time, to interfere, bribe, threaten, pay-off, and kill. It enjoys unlimited budgets and doesn’t even have to recognize American laws, much less those of other lands.
I guess Putin is just too timid to adopt the same tactics in overturning America’s democracy, so he sticks to stuff like buying the odd ad on Facebook, sort of the international-affairs equivalent to chalking up a few dirty words on a wall in an alley.
But, my God, this is America, and just let there be one word about some Russian who may have bought a totally inconsequential ad on Facebook, and there will be hell to pay.
See what I mean by ridiculous? And you are, America, ridiculous, and the whole world would be laughing out loud at you, if it weren’t for the armies of heavily-armed knuckle-draggers at the Pentagon and the CIA and your politicians’ readily-hurled tyrannies of sanctions and threats of every kind.
As for what the New York Times says about this or almost anything else, it is almost a bad joke to quote it or to bother to disagree with it. After all, disagreeing with a publication of that nature should almost be taken for granted amongst thinking people. Its record, on consequential matters of international affairs and war, is startlingly clear:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/09/23/john-chuckman-comment-misconceptions-about-the-new-york-times-setting-the-record-straight-it-simply-aint-what-it-pretends-to-be/
And there are still other consequences of the giant fraud called Russia-gate. These are longer-term but even more dangerous in their effect upon American democracy and Americans’ trust in the integrity of their own government, and they are nicely enumerated by the distinguished American academic expert on Russia, Stephen F. Cohen:
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/442943-russia-midterms-meddling-democracy-cohen/
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY GARETH PORTER IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“33 Trillion More Reasons Why The New York Times Gets it Wrong on Russia-gate
“Further research shows The New York Times was even further off the mark in blaming Russian social media for Trump’s win”
The entire noise and effort around Russia-gate has been just bizarre from the beginning, and that includes all the parties who have joined in for various reasons.
It all makes the United States look just plain dumb, but I guess that doesn't register because there are so many other things going on which make the United States look dumb. A gigantic muscle-bound beach boy strutting around with just the look on his face telling you there’s not a whole lot going on behind the eyes.
Of course, the real origin for all of this is the American establishment's current aggressive effort all over the planet to reassert its authority, in light of its coming to fully appreciate America's relative decline in the world.
It is the effort to substitute military might and bullying in gaining advantages in place of traditional routes of trade and economic competition, and in any effort of that nature, Russia just automatically takes on the appearance of an opponent, if not an outright enemy.
This effort is brought to you largely through the influence of Washington’s Neocons, the good folks who have championed fifteen years of bloody, unproductive war in the Middle East and who help keep America bound, hand and foot, to the rotting values of Israel, a country which has, since its inception, practiced nothing else than what America is now attempting.
The Washington establishment, of course, is interested in real stuff, not just silly Russia-gate name-calling. Real stuff like the paid-for coup in Ukraine and the monstrous and threatening efforts by NATO on Russia's borders and quitting the INF Treaty, but they'll take anything that comes along which helps sell the line about the dangers of Russia.
Americans in general have not proved themselves very discerning over the years in many such matters - from drunken old senator McCarthy with his 200 "commies" in the State Department to the Warren Commission total rubbish on the Kennedy assassination - so there seems to be no floor-level for stupidities about Russia.
Russia is hated, and that's all there is to it, and if you are hated in America, well, pretty much anything goes. You have a galaxy of stars who've made their fame and fortune through stupidities and hatreds. There’s enough of them to create a new kind of Walk of the Stars, perhaps to be located in Washington. Ann Coulter. Rush Limbaugh. Thomas Friedman. Pat Robertson. Franklin Graham. Newt Gingrich. Etc, etc, etc.
Vociferous stupidities and hatreds do seem to be an integral part of America's national culture of complaint.
The noise and activity keep Americans occupied and doing things that keep them emotionally hyped, and if there is one thing a good many Americans like, it is being hyped, whether on junky notions about the terrors of football players kneeling or the terrors of seeing poor broken refugee families approach the border from places like Honduras, where people have suffered miserably from America’s violent interference with their government.
Meanwhile, infrastructure all over America rots, Americans still have no national health-care worth mentioning, poverty and degradation are to be found in a thousand places, racism and various hatreds flourish, and schools in countless places are a national shame.
Meanwhile also, we have America’s genuine interference in other countries’ affair, as in Honduras, going on around the clock and on a grand scale. You have a monstrous and unaccountable agency whose job it is, full-time, to interfere, bribe, threaten, pay-off, and kill. It enjoys unlimited budgets and doesn’t even have to recognize American laws, much less those of other lands.
I guess Putin is just too timid to adopt the same tactics in overturning America’s democracy, so he sticks to stuff like buying the odd ad on Facebook, sort of the international-affairs equivalent to chalking up a few dirty words on a wall in an alley.
But, my God, this is America, and just let there be one word about some Russian who may have bought a totally inconsequential ad on Facebook, and there will be hell to pay.
See what I mean by ridiculous? And you are, America, ridiculous, and the whole world would be laughing out loud at you, if it weren’t for the armies of heavily-armed knuckle-draggers at the Pentagon and the CIA and your politicians’ readily-hurled tyrannies of sanctions and threats of every kind.
As for what the New York Times says about this or almost anything else, it is almost a bad joke to quote it or to bother to disagree with it. After all, disagreeing with a publication of that nature should almost be taken for granted amongst thinking people. Its record, on consequential matters of international affairs and war, is startlingly clear:
https://chuckmanwordsincomments.wordpress.com/2018/09/23/john-chuckman-comment-misconceptions-about-the-new-york-times-setting-the-record-straight-it-simply-aint-what-it-pretends-to-be/
And there are still other consequences of the giant fraud called Russia-gate. These are longer-term but even more dangerous in their effect upon American democracy and Americans’ trust in the integrity of their own government, and they are nicely enumerated by the distinguished American academic expert on Russia, Stephen F. Cohen:
https://www.rt.com/op-ed/442943-russia-midterms-meddling-democracy-cohen/
Friday, November 02, 2018
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: THE FULL IMPACT OF TRUMP'S THOUGHTLESS SANCTIONS CONCERNING IRAN MAY BE FAR DIFFERENT THAN EXPECTED - HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS MUST FEAR THREATS TO FILL TRUMP'S 2020 CAMPAIGN COFFERS - IT MAY MARK A PRECIPITOUS NEW DECLINE IN AMERICA'S POSITION
John Chuckman
EXPANSION OF COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PATRICK LAWRENCE IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“New Iran Sanctions Risks
“Europe, Asia May Rebel Against US Penalties”
This extreme and arrogant American behavior is quite threatening to everyone.
One minute, we had a set of arrangements with Iran with which most of the world was happy and which all informed authorities believed worked well.
There was only one known violent and dishonest leader who constantly spoke against it, Netanyahu, a documented liar and mass-killer.
A few minutes later, we find a world much destabilized by Trump’s mad actions of tearing up a solemn agreement, his actions taken only to please Netanyahu and Netanyahu’s chief American billionaire supporter, Sheldon Adelson. Trump, of course, will benefit handsomely in his 2020 campaign contributions.
And now, not too much later, we find something developing which threatens much of our world’s arrangements and alliances, again owing to Trump’s mad acts and, specifically, the way he intends to enforce them with truly massive sanctions which violate the independence and rights of many countries.
This is the stuff of nightmares.
The fears and insecurities of hundreds of millions of people are to pay to fill Trump’s 2020 campaign coffers?
There is no other explanation for all of this, for abruptly halting peace and stability and turning it into chaos.
Trump not only will badly fail in “making America great again” - a silly slogan if ever there was one - he very much will succeed in reducing America to a much ignored and maligned force in the world. Ultimately, the very balance of international arrangements may be destroyed with new and totally unexpected arrangements emerging.
No one likes a bully. And no one likes irrationality. And no one likes feeling threatened on account of someone else’s special interests.
EXPANSION OF COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY PATRICK LAWRENCE IN CONSORTIUM NEWS
“New Iran Sanctions Risks
“Europe, Asia May Rebel Against US Penalties”
This extreme and arrogant American behavior is quite threatening to everyone.
One minute, we had a set of arrangements with Iran with which most of the world was happy and which all informed authorities believed worked well.
There was only one known violent and dishonest leader who constantly spoke against it, Netanyahu, a documented liar and mass-killer.
A few minutes later, we find a world much destabilized by Trump’s mad actions of tearing up a solemn agreement, his actions taken only to please Netanyahu and Netanyahu’s chief American billionaire supporter, Sheldon Adelson. Trump, of course, will benefit handsomely in his 2020 campaign contributions.
And now, not too much later, we find something developing which threatens much of our world’s arrangements and alliances, again owing to Trump’s mad acts and, specifically, the way he intends to enforce them with truly massive sanctions which violate the independence and rights of many countries.
This is the stuff of nightmares.
The fears and insecurities of hundreds of millions of people are to pay to fill Trump’s 2020 campaign coffers?
There is no other explanation for all of this, for abruptly halting peace and stability and turning it into chaos.
Trump not only will badly fail in “making America great again” - a silly slogan if ever there was one - he very much will succeed in reducing America to a much ignored and maligned force in the world. Ultimately, the very balance of international arrangements may be destroyed with new and totally unexpected arrangements emerging.
No one likes a bully. And no one likes irrationality. And no one likes feeling threatened on account of someone else’s special interests.
JOHN CHUCKMAN COMMENT: ARTICLE ON AMERICAN PATRIOTS NOT EVEN KNOWING WHO THE REAL ENEMIES ARE - AMERICA'S STAGE-SHOW NATIONAL POLITICS WITH TWO PARTIES CAPABLE OF DOING NOTHING - THE REALITIES OF THE AMERICAN-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP AND INHERENT INSTABILITIES LIKE THE EMBRACE OF SAUDI ARABIA AND ITS BUTCHER CROWN PRINCE
John Chuckman
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY CHUCK BALDWIN IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Most Conservative Americans Who Identify as 'Patriots' Have No Idea Who the Real Enemy Is”
I find much of this surprisingly refreshing and genuinely insightful.
Not every point here is like that, but enough are to make this piece a worthwhile read. It is very clearly written, too.
I tend to avoid any pastor or religious figure dabbling in politics or world affairs, and there is so much of that in America, but Mr. Baldwin makes many sound points that have nothing to do with religious affiliation or ideology.
His views on the phony Republican-Democrat divide are mine precisely, and I call them mine because I regard them as fundamental truth to be embraced by all concerned about truth in public affairs.
I would only add that this silly political dumb-show gives Americans a constant public spectacle with which to become emotionally involved, thus avoiding hard realities that really matter. Almost all of it is on the same superficial and meaningless level as America’s ongoing ridiculous controversy over football players kneeling in protest, something small which nevertheless makes millions of American hearts pump faster and the veins on their foreheads and neck bulge.
America's culture was aptly described by the brilliant Robert Hughes as the "culture of complaint," and this artificial political division exactly meets the needs of people who like to scream at each other, attack each other, and really achieve very little but their own notoriety and sense of being "leaders" of often meaningless factions.
No matter which party you vote for, you get war, insider privilege, money-saturated politics, and the dominance of gigantic corporations and well-funded lobbies.
Nothing of substance ever changes. The political parties are only separated by rhetoric about social and domestic affairs, and it is very much just "rhetoric" because with the empire there are simply no resources left for such things. And would-be career politicians know where the future money and opportunities are, and they vey much are not in social or domestic affairs.
That's part of why slogans are so popular in American national politics. You don't have to think to embrace a slogan, and people are conditioned from the sphere of corporate advertising to understand that, “well, that's how it is with slogans, often empty promises that just fade away.”
But still, come election time, everyone wants to put on some warpaint for a while. I think Trump understands this reality instinctively, having lived an entire life of bamboozling people and separating them from their money.
He is a genuine con-artist, a P. T. Barnum type, or a smaller-scale Bernie Madoff, the kind who somehow actually believes what he says for just so long as it takes to say it and fleece people. The “belief” of such people adds a soupcon of “je ne sais quoi” to make them more convincing in their raging enthusiasms. They are the types who always make the best con-artists. They have a form of mild psychopathy and, while they might not murder people, they will do almost any underhanded or manipulative thing with a big smile.
Apart from no resources, there is no political will either, because politicians of both American parties know where and how you build careers and power, and it certainly is not in the sphere of domestic and social programs.
Both parties are united with the other elements of the establishment in keeping the system we see, by and large.
Until you see a national candidate talking about axing great parts of the Pentagon and CIA and about serious measures to get rid of the corrupting flood of money in American politics and about halting interference in the internal affairs of other nations, there is no such thing as "change" in America politics. It's all as illusory as the inflated advertising promises of detergent and shampoo manufacturers.
And the author’s point about Trump not fighting the Deep State is one I own too. It's remarkable how people delude themselves about that.
Here I would only add, Trump actually represents a new layer of danger from the Deep State. He will literally do anything if he can stay in power, continue as their servant, giving them anything they want and more. His really is that kind of character.
He is essentially a coward in nature, and that is how cowards behave in high office. Extremely dangerous.
____________________
Response to another comment:
Israel is effectively an American colony in the Middle East.
It serves virtually all the purposes of a colony, and it is heavily subsidized as are most colonies.
It truly has very little meaning as an independent state because it really is not one.
That, too, is an illusion, just like the Republican-Democrat divide inside America.
Note that both those parties embrace Israel as if it were a region of the United States.
All while claiming some kind of humanitarian credit for helping Jewish people who have been so abused in the past.
Of course, few remember that America was no help at all to the people abused by Hitler and indeed shared, to a considerable extent, his views, albeit in somewhat attenuated terms.
And the politicians who do this, all while collecting substantial political benefits in terms of campaign funds and press support, offer a kind of reimbursed humanitarianism, you might cynically say.
The Israel Lobby in America, many members of it I think, secretly do remember what America was really like and that is part of why they work so hard to maintain the present set of arrangements which benefit Israel.
So, we have a kind of secret political pact in which Israel gets to continue with its show of being a strong independent state so long as it serves American imperial interests. American politicians, individually and not by party, support the arrangement so long as it assists their careers, as it currently very much does.
Groups and lobbies inside the United States do their best to keep the arrangement going.
Every once in a while, the arrangements are threatened by events, as when Israel attacked the USS Liberty in the Six Day War or today, in a more peripheral fashion, when Saudi Arabia’s blood-drenched Crown Prince - a much-beloved figure in both Israel and establishment Washington - was caught, more or less red-handed, having a prominent journalist cut into pieces while still alive.
When these kinds of events happen, every covert effort is made to restore arrangements and pretend nothing untoward has happened. But it may not always work out that way, as we have yet to see in the case of the Crown Prince. There is fragility in arrangements involving so many differing objectives.
COMMENT POSTED TO AN ARTICLE BY CHUCK BALDWIN IN RUSSIA INSIDER
“Most Conservative Americans Who Identify as 'Patriots' Have No Idea Who the Real Enemy Is”
I find much of this surprisingly refreshing and genuinely insightful.
Not every point here is like that, but enough are to make this piece a worthwhile read. It is very clearly written, too.
I tend to avoid any pastor or religious figure dabbling in politics or world affairs, and there is so much of that in America, but Mr. Baldwin makes many sound points that have nothing to do with religious affiliation or ideology.
His views on the phony Republican-Democrat divide are mine precisely, and I call them mine because I regard them as fundamental truth to be embraced by all concerned about truth in public affairs.
I would only add that this silly political dumb-show gives Americans a constant public spectacle with which to become emotionally involved, thus avoiding hard realities that really matter. Almost all of it is on the same superficial and meaningless level as America’s ongoing ridiculous controversy over football players kneeling in protest, something small which nevertheless makes millions of American hearts pump faster and the veins on their foreheads and neck bulge.
America's culture was aptly described by the brilliant Robert Hughes as the "culture of complaint," and this artificial political division exactly meets the needs of people who like to scream at each other, attack each other, and really achieve very little but their own notoriety and sense of being "leaders" of often meaningless factions.
No matter which party you vote for, you get war, insider privilege, money-saturated politics, and the dominance of gigantic corporations and well-funded lobbies.
Nothing of substance ever changes. The political parties are only separated by rhetoric about social and domestic affairs, and it is very much just "rhetoric" because with the empire there are simply no resources left for such things. And would-be career politicians know where the future money and opportunities are, and they vey much are not in social or domestic affairs.
That's part of why slogans are so popular in American national politics. You don't have to think to embrace a slogan, and people are conditioned from the sphere of corporate advertising to understand that, “well, that's how it is with slogans, often empty promises that just fade away.”
But still, come election time, everyone wants to put on some warpaint for a while. I think Trump understands this reality instinctively, having lived an entire life of bamboozling people and separating them from their money.
He is a genuine con-artist, a P. T. Barnum type, or a smaller-scale Bernie Madoff, the kind who somehow actually believes what he says for just so long as it takes to say it and fleece people. The “belief” of such people adds a soupcon of “je ne sais quoi” to make them more convincing in their raging enthusiasms. They are the types who always make the best con-artists. They have a form of mild psychopathy and, while they might not murder people, they will do almost any underhanded or manipulative thing with a big smile.
Apart from no resources, there is no political will either, because politicians of both American parties know where and how you build careers and power, and it certainly is not in the sphere of domestic and social programs.
Both parties are united with the other elements of the establishment in keeping the system we see, by and large.
Until you see a national candidate talking about axing great parts of the Pentagon and CIA and about serious measures to get rid of the corrupting flood of money in American politics and about halting interference in the internal affairs of other nations, there is no such thing as "change" in America politics. It's all as illusory as the inflated advertising promises of detergent and shampoo manufacturers.
And the author’s point about Trump not fighting the Deep State is one I own too. It's remarkable how people delude themselves about that.
Here I would only add, Trump actually represents a new layer of danger from the Deep State. He will literally do anything if he can stay in power, continue as their servant, giving them anything they want and more. His really is that kind of character.
He is essentially a coward in nature, and that is how cowards behave in high office. Extremely dangerous.
____________________
Response to another comment:
Israel is effectively an American colony in the Middle East.
It serves virtually all the purposes of a colony, and it is heavily subsidized as are most colonies.
It truly has very little meaning as an independent state because it really is not one.
That, too, is an illusion, just like the Republican-Democrat divide inside America.
Note that both those parties embrace Israel as if it were a region of the United States.
All while claiming some kind of humanitarian credit for helping Jewish people who have been so abused in the past.
Of course, few remember that America was no help at all to the people abused by Hitler and indeed shared, to a considerable extent, his views, albeit in somewhat attenuated terms.
And the politicians who do this, all while collecting substantial political benefits in terms of campaign funds and press support, offer a kind of reimbursed humanitarianism, you might cynically say.
The Israel Lobby in America, many members of it I think, secretly do remember what America was really like and that is part of why they work so hard to maintain the present set of arrangements which benefit Israel.
So, we have a kind of secret political pact in which Israel gets to continue with its show of being a strong independent state so long as it serves American imperial interests. American politicians, individually and not by party, support the arrangement so long as it assists their careers, as it currently very much does.
Groups and lobbies inside the United States do their best to keep the arrangement going.
Every once in a while, the arrangements are threatened by events, as when Israel attacked the USS Liberty in the Six Day War or today, in a more peripheral fashion, when Saudi Arabia’s blood-drenched Crown Prince - a much-beloved figure in both Israel and establishment Washington - was caught, more or less red-handed, having a prominent journalist cut into pieces while still alive.
When these kinds of events happen, every covert effort is made to restore arrangements and pretend nothing untoward has happened. But it may not always work out that way, as we have yet to see in the case of the Crown Prince. There is fragility in arrangements involving so many differing objectives.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)