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A summary of the most interesting stories in the past 24 hours that challenge the prevailing orthodoxy about the ?climate emergency?, public health ?crises? and the supposed moral defects of Western civilisation.
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One of the 'architects of Ulez' and a supporter of 20mph zones has been appointed as the new Transport Secretary?after Louise Haigh's resignation, raising fears the anti-car measures may become national policy.
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offsite link Australia Passes Landmark Social Media Ban for Under-16s Fri Nov 29, 2024 13:43 | Rebekah Barnett
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offsite link Is Banning the Burps of Bullocks Worth Risking Our Bollocks? Fri Nov 29, 2024 11:32 | Ben Pile
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Voltaire Network
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offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?110 Fri Nov 29, 2024 15:01 | en

offsite link Verbal ceasefire in Lebanon Fri Nov 29, 2024 14:52 | en

offsite link Russia Prepares to Respond to the Armageddon Wanted by the Biden Administration ... Tue Nov 26, 2024 06:56 | en

offsite link Voltaire, International Newsletter N?109 Fri Nov 22, 2024 14:00 | en

offsite link Joe Biden and Keir Starmer authorize NATO to guide ATACMS and Storm Shadows mis... Fri Nov 22, 2024 13:41 | en

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Obama: Another American Imperialist

category international | anti-war / imperialism | other press author Monday November 03, 2008 10:24author by Jim Report this post to the editors

Change? What Change?

In a speech in July, Barack Obama stated that he wants to "re-deploy" American troops in Iraq "carefully" with their safety in mind and "responsibly" leaving behind a "sovereign" Iraqi government that can "take responsibility for its own future."

In doublespeak that means Barack Obama is as committed as George W. Bush was to the imperialist American project in the Middle East - toppling anti-American elites and replacing them with pro-American elites to administer the American agenda.

Obama is a wolf in sheeps clothing.

This speech is the clearest evidence that Obama is a just as right wing in regard to the "War on Terror" and as gleeful in projecting American global military, economic and cultural dominance to every corner of the earth.

Don't be fooled by "change." A frosted sugar coating of welfare programs for the American poor should fool nobody.

Obama is in bed with the corporations and the white elite like no other candidate in American history.

Caption: Video Id: 74Fe5w7WwCE Type: Youtube Video
Embedded video Youtube Video


author by Mike Novackpublication date Mon Nov 03, 2008 11:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

You need to fill this out more.

You need to tell us that Obama's programs would not be good for the people of the United States. Or more precisely, not what the people of the United States think would be good for them, etc.

You perhaps misunderstand the job description and misunderstand democracy? Obama isn't running for president of the world or president of the UN, etc. You need to leave out of this considerations of how sh*tty what he might do would be for other people in other countries except to the extent that you believe most of the people of this country would disapprove.

Because friend, if you think the real prpoblem is that we Americans are selfishly concerned with our own best interests (as we, perhaps mistakenly, believe those to be) then your problem isn't with what candidates run for office or win office but with THE PEOPLE of the United States.

Be very clear on the concept -- "democracy" That's not a system designed to produce good, just, wise, kindly, etc. etc. decisions but instead, when working properly, the decisions that "the people" want. For good or ill, no matter how self serving or foolish, etc. these decisions might be. If you want a stystem INTENDED to produce good, just, wise, kindly, etc. etc. decisions then you want to try something other than "democracy". However be advised that it's not enough to have "intent" -- the grerat difficulty is to come up with another method of decision making that in the long run makes even as good decisions as the flawed ones you get from democracy.

author by Starstruckpublication date Mon Nov 03, 2008 18:37author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Nice banner.
Its Coke versus Pepsi.
Doesnt matter who gets the most votes the government always wins.

Banner drop by Anarchists
Banner drop by Anarchists

author by Bazooka Joepublication date Mon Nov 03, 2008 20:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Mike Novack says Obama is not running for President of the World so we need to focus on how his policies will effect US citizens. No he isn't an no we don't. We are concerned with how this pawn of the political elite will act with regards to US foreign policy and with regard to his economic policy which can affect us here is Ireland as we have recently discovered when the failed capitalist system went into melt-down.

With regards to Foreign Policy: Obama is relatively inexperienced so we must consider his advisors. Obamas foremost Foreign Policy advisor is Dennis Ross who strongly supported the illegal attack and invasion of Iraq. Ross has also had long links with the Project for the New American Century, a neo-con bastion as well as acting as a consultant to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The WINEP is a leading pro-Israel policy platform.

Ross has very recently conspired with neo-con groups like the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to come up with anti Iranian policies. It would be hard to find anyone in the Republican party more neo-con than Dennis Ross apart perhaps from his old boss and mentor Paul Wolfowitz, under whom he worked at the Pentagon.

This is the man who will advise the next President of the United Snakes of America if generations of racism can be overcome in a day. Obama is just a clever little glove puppet.

Obama and Israel can go to Hell!

Caption: Video Id: 033gCiurxbg Type: Youtube Video
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author by Jimpublication date Tue Nov 04, 2008 11:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

It means nothing less than the projection of American global dominance.

That is what Obama will sign up to when he swear on the Bible on Capitol Hill.

If the Bush haters thought W was bad they haven't seen nothing yet. The worst thing possible for those who are fighting the American agenda is that an American President of the grace, charisma and rhetoricaly power of Obama will be in the White House. Bush was accused of suppressing internal dissent. Obama does not need to worry - the dissenters voted for him! They actually believe what he has been selling them. The Europeans are in love with him. The Russians and Chinese and the Indians will totally underestimate him.

An Obama presidency should be our worst nightmare.

author by Scepticpublication date Wed Nov 05, 2008 13:03author address author phone Report this post to the editors

This is a classic non-sequitor. Upholding the US constitution, in a formulation that is a quarter of a millennium old, does not mean anything of the kind you describe. The text in question says nor implies nothing about “global domination”.

author by ALpublication date Wed Nov 05, 2008 14:25author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"A majority held in restraint by constitutional checks and limitations, and always changing easily with deliberate changes of popular opinions and sentiments, is the only true sovereign of a free people. Whoever rejects it does, of necessity, fly to anarchy or despotism." (From the First Inaugural Address of former US President Abraham Lincoln, on March 4th 1861)

Related link: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=President+Lincoln,...earch

author by Platopublication date Wed Nov 05, 2008 17:05author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well at least those that have been salvinating at the prospect of a US attack on Iran will have to find some other ghoulish propect to leer over. Obama will not invade Iran and during his first term, US troops will be progressively withdrawn from the disasterous wars in the Mid East. Obama will look inwards to solve his domestic problems while ensuring a strong defensive strategy to deter aggression towards the US.

author by Tompublication date Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:19author address author phone Report this post to the editors


Plato,

Do you think he will remove troops from the the myriad of US military bases dotted around the world? Bring everybody home, return the bases to the people of that country and then sit in the US in a "defensive" state of readiness?

author by Rational Ecologistpublication date Thu Nov 06, 2008 12:01author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Does anyone really think Obama is going to bring about real change? Sure, there will be an improvement in foreign relations and the image of the US will improve, as is already evident. Just look at who Obama is going to appoint to his cabinet. I've heard Colin Powell mentioned and that should be enough to illustrate his intentions.
Obama is not a radical but a very astute, smart politician in a system that will ensure he doesn't do anything too progressive.
Rather than giving all this energy to the US administration we should be putting more energy into creating the kind of world we want. Look at the useless shower that inhabit( inhibit) the Dáil.
Obama will be brought down by the force that brought him to power, namely the expectations, dreams and naivety of the electorate and media caught up in his marketing frenzy.
I do hope I am proven wrong but I doubt it.
Best thing he could do is to get all US citizens to read Howard Zinn's ' People's History of the US. The myth of Kennedy and Lincoln would finally be exposed. Some hope!!!

author by Michael Hoganpublication date Fri Nov 07, 2008 15:33author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Best thing he could do is to get all US citizens to read Howard Zinn's ' People's History of the US. The myth of Kennedy and Lincoln would finally be exposed. Some hope!!! "

Indeed it would be wonderful if all Americans were able to read.
Let alone 'Howard Zinn's ' People's History of the US'

Because illiteracy in America is growing at an alarming rate.

I quote from: National Right to Read Foundation
Illiteracy Statistics

• 42 million American adults can't read at all; 50 million are unable to read at a higher level that is expected of a fourth or fifth grader.
• The number of adults that are classified as functionally illiterate increases by some 2.25 million each year.
• 20 percent of all graduating high school seniors can be classified as being functionally illiterate.

Which is yet another problem for the Pres. Elect B. Obama

author by Rpublication date Fri Nov 07, 2008 16:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"Writing in the Washington Post Book World, reviewer Michael Kammen, a professor of American History at Cornell, wrote: 'I wish that I could pronounce Zinn's book a great success, but it is not. It is a synthesis of the radical and revisionist historiography of the past decade. . . Not only does the book read like a scissors and paste-pot job, but even less attractive, so much attention to historians, historiography and historical polemic leaves precious little space for the substance of history. . . . We do deserve a people's history; but not a singleminded, simpleminded history, too often of fools, knaves and Robin Hoods. We need a judicious people's history because the people are entitled to have their history whole; not just those parts that will anger or embarrass them. . . ." (From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_People's_History_of_the_United_States )

For a far better alternative see Hugh Brogan's "The Longman History of the United States of America".

Related link: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=The+Longman+Histor...earch

author by Michael Gallagherpublication date Tue Nov 11, 2008 20:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

If Obama was any different than the rest of them, Clinton etc, he would not have been allowed to run as a candidate.

Paul Craig Roberts - Conned Again?

If the change President-elect Obama has promised includes a halt to America’s wars of aggression and an end to the rip-off of taxpayers by powerful financial interests, what explains Obama’s choice of foreign and economic policy advisors? Indeed, Obama’s selection of Rahm Emanuel as White House chief of staff is a signal that change ended with Obama’s election. The only thing different about the new administration will be the faces.

Rahm Emanuel is a supporter of Bush’s invasion of Iraq. Emanuel rose to prominence in the Democratic Party as a result of his fundraising connections to AIPAC. A strong supporter of the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee, he comes from a terrorist family. His father was a member of Irgun, a Jewish terrorist organization that used violence to drive the British and Palestinians out of Palestine in order to create the Jewish state. During the 1991 Gulf War, Rahm Emanuel volunteered to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. He was a member of the Freddie Mac board of directors and received $231,655 in directors fees in 2001. According to Wikipedia, “during the time Emanuel spent on the board, Freddie Mac was plagued with scandals involving campaign contributions and accounting irregularities.”

More of this from Sabbah's blog: http://sabbah.biz/mt/

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