By DAVE LINDORFF

"Next time you see a junkie sprawled at the curb in the downtown of your nearest city, or read about someone who died of a heroin overdose, just imagine a big yellow sign posted next to him or her saying: “Your Federal Tax Dollars at Work.”

Kudos to the New York Times, and to reporters Dexter Filkins, Mark Mazzetti and James Risen, for their lead article today reporting that Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of Afghanistan’s stunningly corrupt President Hamid Karzai, a leading drug lord in the world’s major opium-producing nation, has for eight years been on the CIA payroll. ..."

for more; link@sig

-----------------

Lindorff has a post that adds a lot of historical perspective to the Times article. Well worth your time; especially if you think that those who "are protecting us" are really on our side.

Now we are talking! Good piece.

The Soviets also thought they were "saving the world" and making a heaven on earth by spreading their system of government. Only thing is: government is the disease.

Can people here wrap their brains around what the world might have looked like if there had been no wars or war preparations after 1945? Imagine all the talent and treasure being spent on the poor and wretched around the globe.

Just imagine. (damn, there might be a song in this if no one beat me to it!)

Modern Americans have more information at their fingertips than any society in the history of the world. With the internet and other sources, information is readily available to today's citizens. There just are no "country hicks" anymore.

The problem is that information is useless without the ability to analyze and evaluate. In other words, wisdom is to be prized, not mere "learning" or information. This was noted by the Taoists thousands of years ago and is still true to this day.

---
Note: We could still use more information about what really goes on in government. There should be no secrets at all. (except in a defensive war, and then only until it is over)

Well, you came to the right place!

This is called the "killing them softly" option. In this option we kill them slowly so we don't feel so bad and so we can save a few bucks on the pay of the killers.

I guess you will next argue that only mass murder is wrong and if a fellow only murders a few people we overlook that small quirk.

Good post Glenn. The marine is on target with his observations as are you.

I would go much farther than both of you. It is immoral to invade and/or occupy another country. It is always wrong. American may fight a defensive war if invaded, but it is immoral to use our forces outside our borders for a host of reasons.

I would love to see you do a post someday on exactly when you think force against another country is warranted and valid.

That depends on your definition of "religion". If it is expansive and includes all forms of spirituality then there are many.

Obviously the Taoists are very rational. They were the Chinese most interested in nature and how nature works in those ancient of times. In a like manner, the Zen Buddhists are very rational.

The original christians (or Paulicans) were the gnostics who saw the Jesus myth as the myth it is and made fun of the foolish literalists who took the teaching story as history. These gnostics were free thinkers and were very rational.

We could also include most of the ancient mystery religions, shamanism, and other paths that do not see a "big tyrant in the sky". All of these follow the basic outline of the ancient religion of Egypt and the myth of Osiris and Isis. (may Horace be praised!)

Ah, but you might say that the myths are not internally consistent with the same story recounted with different names in different countries or in different eras. They are teaching myths; and much like a movie series today -- it was ok to tamper with the story as there is no tyrant in the sky to punish you for doing so.

If "religion" means adherence to set doctrine and dogma that is written down in a "holy book", then it is the bane of mankind. If it means awakening to the truth of the perennial philosophy then it is the only hope mankind has.

http://mythosandlogos.com/perennial.html

You seem to be on fire the last few weeks; good deal.

It is about time that "the newspaper of record" finally notices that Obama's administration looks to be, on the surface at least, the same as a Bush third term.

Once upon a time it was common for a liberal to own a business or be self employed since the original liberals were the ones who saw free, open, voluntary cooperation (read trade) to be the best method to advance civilization. Then the socialists became "liberals" and what passes for a "liberal" today is simply leftist totalitarianism with a fancy dress on. It would be a good thing if Americans would read a little history rather than watch the propaganda box called TV.

If you question my religion you are a god damned fascist Crypto-rightist goat fucker!

The facts are the facts. It will be a very cold winter. Write me in the spring and tell me about your "heat wave".