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Sunday, Nov 8, 2009
What are your thoughts about what Chomsky said in a recent speech?
Chomsky: Is There Truth in Obama's Advertising? (see sig)
In a fascinating speech, Chomsky warns, "Changes and progress very rarely are gifts from above. They come out of struggles from below."
http://www.alternet.org/workplace/108964/chomsky%3A_is_there_truth_in_obama%27s_advertising/?page=entire
This is why I love this guy. Great piece, although I don't think he actually writes anymore, just transcribed speeches, wherever you look.
Still, his take on the duality of the achievement of electing Obama and the corresponding lack of change in how he will run things is fantastic.
easy does it
"Ali Baba"
happens to be my cousin
Correct me if I am wrong, but hasn't Obama said he would transgress Pakistan's border without their blessing (if he couldn't get it) to capture (or take out) Bin Laden? Hasn't the government of Pakistan said that they would object to this?
Like any other sovereign nation, they rather object to the militaries of other nations just prancing in without an invite.
Really. I would like to understand this better. I do not understand why every fight with Al Queda, Al Queda Iraq, Al Queda Saudi Arabia, Al Queda-cobbled-together-however must be our fight.
In 2001, we were attacked by people of mostly Saudi nationality, weren't we? We decided these were people of Al Queda -- with some good reason. We went to Afghanistan to show that we couldn't be pushed around by terrorists and to get Bin Laden.
Then, in 2003, like a puppy who is shown a new toy, we abandoned that substantive bone to depose Saddam and search for non-existent WMD -- never found. We destroyed a fairly functioning but non-democratic government, we displaced millions of civilians, we killed perfectly innocent people, we helped start a near-civil war, we captured people and held them without trial, we embarrassed ourselves and upset Muslims via Abu Graib, we pissed away every possible advantage to bring the Sunnis into the would-be new government, we allowed the destruction of priceless art and the dome of one beautiful and sacred Mosque, we spied upon Americans by enlisting the telecoms, we spent an unbelievable and unacceptable amount of money by borrowing from nations like China -- none of this is in order -- and now we are going to take troops from Iraq and deploy them to Pakistan.
Finally, in 2008, the puppy remembered the bone.
There is just one problem: Everything has changed since then. We have reconfigured the world. We have squandered goodwill. We have created terrorists and become as terrorits ourselves. Yes, I may be stretching that definition a bit, but when do we get ashamed enough to consider that maybe we don't get to tell the rest of the world how to live and that we don't have the resources, the intelligence, or the moral authority to keep interfering with everything that goes wrong everywhere else.
You never step in the same stream twice. It is no longer 2002.
I think such talk of going after Bin Laden smacks of so-called John Wayne macho nonsense. Bin Laden is one man. Al Queda -- in one form or another -- is all over the Middle East. Forgive me for mixing my metaphors, but that bone (Bin Laden) is buried, well dug in. How are we going to get him and "stamp out Al Queda once and for all" without making everything worse?
Perhaps we're related.
Glenn said this,
"The temptation is great even among the most rational to empower authority to do anything and everything -- without limits -- to punish those responsible and prevent repeat occurrences."
...and the comment was made that in past times people would have the book thrown at them instead.
My point is that shouldn't we first insist, as a matter of principle, on an investigation to determine as best we can, what happened. In this story about Mumbai I agree with the point that the Indian government should first thoroughly investigate what happened so that they know who was involved, what were their intentions, and so forth. The investigation has to come before claiming to know it was Al Queda, the Pakistanis, etc., etc.
I am frustrated that when things like this have happened to us an appreciation of this principle has been similarly ignored.
Changes and progress very rarely are gifts from above. They come out of struggles from below. And the answer to what's next depends on people like you.
I happen to agree with this and so was somewhat taken aback (foolishly perhaps) by Obama's statement the other day "Understand where the vision for change comes from, first and foremost," he told reporters at his third press conference in as many days. "It comes from me. That's my job, is to provide a vision in terms of where we are going, and to make sure, then, that my team is implementing."
Now, I voted for this man because, to be sure, a McCain victory would've been horrifying to me.
Having said that, a genuine reconnection/rebirth to/of democracy is dependent on actual people. This is why I'm such a supporter of Accountability Now, as are you (I think). That's why I'm not much interested in worrying about Obama's cabinet picks in and of themselves; to me, consistent and continuous pressure on him (as on any elected official) must be maintained. He might think the "vision for change" comes from him. I do not.
I guess I did misread. I don't dispute your comment regarding what Obama has said regarding "actionable intelligence" on bin Laden (if the Pakistanis refused to act on it). I read your comment Yet somehow, we must -- as a way to get Bin Laden -- re-engage with the Taliban, infuriate Pakistan, and do nation building (spread Democracy) in Afghanistan? as suggesting that by re-engaging with the Taliban, that would infuriate the Pakistanis.
No harm no foul.
I agree with you about that John Wayne attitude, and I wanna remind movie fans that Wayne croaked from lung cancer, which might happen to the waste lands of American foreign policy too, unless the old dukeroo, learns a new thing or two...
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Salon headlines in your mailbox
