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While “everyone” is free to ignore the devastating effects of a war predicated upon a lie Iraqis are left to face the aftermath.
On the tenth anniversary of the war in Iraq it is worth remembering how many people were deeply wrong. Top politicians in both parties, administration officials, reporters, columnists, and even many bloggers. They were wrong about the weapons of mass destruction, about the links to Al-Qaeda, and about how quickly the war would end. Over the past decade basically none of these people have faced any repercussions for being so wrong. In fact many of them are still working at their same jobs or have much better jobs.
Over a hundred thousand civilians were killed, thousands of Americans servicemen died, many more were grievously wounded, and billions of tax dollars were wasted. Yet almost no one responsible faced anything worse than an election loss, which led to a high paying lobbying job.
The important thing is that “everyone,” and by that I mean everyone who is defined by the Beltway/MSM as a serious person, was wrong together. There are zero penalties for making a huge mistake in our current political/media system as long as all the important people agreed at the time it was a good idea. A broad bipartisan consensus basically provides immunity from any sin, no matter how egregious.
This is why certain people in Washington and a select group of very big donors are obsessed with bipartisanship and grand bargains. If “everyone” agreeing to something can provide them with immunity for the deaths of thousands of people than it can surely protect them from being held responsible for needlessly making many senior citizens poorer.
The bipartisan fetish isn’t about making everyone a big happy family, it’s about protecting people from basic accountability.
Photo by DVIDSHUB released under Creative Commons License
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It’s not just that everyone was “wrong,” it’s that nearly everyone LIED, and LIED big-time and endlessly. And anyone – and I do mean *anyone* – who questioned such bald-faced LIES were threatened.
Just as we are now “learning” for sure that Tricky Dicky spoiled the Paris Peace Talks, we have also “learned” for sure that there never were so-called WMD. Yet, I do recall Valerie Plame being outed in the NYT, and then losing her job, etc.
What happened to the lying LIARS and their sycophantic, co-dependent supporters? NOTHING, other than that most of ‘em made out like the bandit$ they are.
Whachya gonna do aboudit – eh???
ptoui!
Thanks for the commentary. Disgusting.
Great read Jon.
@onitgoes: I would echo the sentiment about lying.
We seem to still have a mental block, a hesitation, about stating that our leaders have lied (and continue to lie). It’s like it’s too direct, too honest an assessment of the situation.
Over a million civilians were killed about 4% of their population equal to us losing 12 Million americans, thousands of Americans servicemen died, many more were wounded, and trillions of tax dollars were wasted. Yet almost no one responsible faced anything worse than an election loss, which led to a high paying lobbying job.
Don’t repeat their misdirection on stating the facts. And we’re still murdering with what 35,000 private contractors and depleted uranium
Regardless of whether anyone is held accountable, we have to keep talking about it.
We have to end the Empire over reach to other nations, and we have to stop fighting wars for the sole benefit of corporations.
We have to talk about how torture, civil war, genocide, and war profiteering affects us as a country. We have to discuss whether or not the citizens of this country are supportive of what our leadership does in regards to war.
Just don’t stop talking!
The line to the guillotine just keeps getting longer and longer.
+1
(on behalf of) Nixon’s Viet Nam interference in 68
(on behalf of) Regan Iran hostage in 80
credit mobelieau-first corporate scandle 1880′s-republican
tea pot dome scandle 1920′s republican
watergate 1972 republican
iran contra 1984 republican
All big scandles republican
All political assassinations democrat or liberal.
Great country really exceptional
Sorry, talking doesn’t do any good. Like blogging. Impersonal solitary activities like these just defuse the outrage.
Why do you think the blogs are allowed to continue? Every effective form of expression has been blunted by the cops, the courts or pre-targeted for drones. Whistleblowers, Occupy, marches, sit-ins… all these run the now all too real risk of police brutality, injury, imprisonment or death.
But blogs are allowed to say whatever they feel like. Because the powers that be know that its better to let people vent uselessly in the privacy of their own basements.
Bipartisan is newspeak for 1% win/99% lose. Any pol or pundit espousing such a goal is just a mouthpiece for the 1%.
I have to disagree with your opinion on talking. Yes, it does allow you to vent, but if you talk to at least two other humans face to face and begin to track MIC biz; you can begin to address it.
Americans, everywhere must talk about it.
Think, are we going to put up with $6.00 a gallon gasoline prices this summer? Are we going to just accept that after knowing that the wars are about oil and profits? Are we going to discuss the subsidies, tax avoidance and political support of the industries that are using our military as their private armies?
Do you feel that Bradley Manning should rot in prison because he tried to tell us this while the press would not even mention it?
Fuck No!
all of the major media owners of the 1970s were shown to have direct involvment with the cia, oss or other american intelligence services by the church senate report on the cia post watergate.
you will not change policy until you get honest policy coverage by the media.
this is why i call for a boycott of propoganda outlets and their advertisers.why do these calls for free market boycotts always meet with silence?
I really like your connection of the run up to war with the connection to the “Grand Bargain” and the reason. Lack of accountability for doing something terrible for most, to benefit a few.
One of the things that we know about the media is how they rely on “experts” to tell them what “really” happening. Think about the experts that they had on talking about the need for war and the result of war.
We found out later they were retired generals who worked for Military Contractors. The TV and cable channels had these people on and who were they opposite, Janeane Garafolo. Maybe Phil Donahue? Who?
Who are the public going to believe crazy dirty fucking Hippies or a serious Ph.D who teachers at the War College or a 3 star General who did time in the Middle east during the Gulf War? Surely one is smart and knows stuff the other? An Actress or a Music star. Shut up and sing.
The same thing his happening now with this deficit talk and austerity. We do have Paul Krugman on our side, but he is going up against REALLY successful people and when people are really successful then they must know stuff!
“When you are rich people think you really know.” As Tevya said.
Hell No!
Everyone got it wrong:
Enron – Every financial talking head, every MBA professor, every MBA program, every MBA (even those top MBA’s from the top business schools working for Enron).
2007 Housing Bubble – Every economist, every economics school, every economics professor (Granted a few economists saw the bubble emerging as early as 1998, but those few were ignored then and still are ignored – still 99% of economists couldn’t see the largest economic bust of their lives building over a decade – all failures).
Also, there is only one weapon of mass destruction – a nuclear bomb. Chemical and biological weapons were tested by the US and the Soviet Union and found to be dangerous to those using them and capable of killing only dozens – that is why they are not part of the US arsenal. Dirty nuclear bombs can be survived as long as you don’t ingest radioactive particles and the area can be decontaminated.
Comcast a subscription Service? Right!
I’m with you. The MSM only exists for promulgating the propaganda of the Corporatocracy.
That’s the DAMN TRUTH!
“The bipartisanship fetish isn’t about making everyone a big happy family, its about protecting people from basic accountability.”
Certain people, certainly, Jon.
Now, you are an astute political observer, an established political analyst.
Might you be willing to speculate about how what you describe in your last sentence, the one I quoted, might be changed? Can such change come about if the legacy parties are not challenged, if they are permitted to be the only “choice” which the people may be allowed to vote for, to hear? Or, shall it require something different, different parties, different political “coverage”?
Consider that this “coverage” is by a media equally complicit in “sexing up” the “facts” to meet the demands of propaganda, of shouting down any who oppose perpetual warfare.
Are not the political elite much like the banking and Wall Street elite, that is “astute”, above the law, and too big to be held to any meaningful account?
If this is so, and it appears to honest observers that it is, how might we, the rest of us, bring about change if we forever seek only the least evil among the lying, self-serving political class to “represent” our “interests” … which that political class has not done for decades?
If the political class will not change, then who MUST change, who MUST dare to seek alternative possibilities?
Do you imagine that most political analysts have ANY interest in such change and might they be willing to help bring about that change?
Or will most political analysts continue to do what they have done these last many years?
I realize this might seem like a personal question, yet the answer, whatever it is, will affect the fortunes and lives of everyone not “inside” the current bubble of deceit and mutual “protection” which the money and power elites have erected around themselves, even as they savage civil society, make mock of the Rule of Law and bring disrepute upon this nation and “the people” in whose name the wars are all begun, prosecuted, and profited from …
There is, after all, a family who has a huge stake in what happens, and that happens to be the family of humankind, as well as all of life, of which humanity is but a part … we must consider that our tenure on Earth is not guaranteed and that “goodness” does NOT include greed, or the twisted desire to control everything and everybody … those things are pathologies, and destructive of life, of reason, and of truth.
What do you think, Jon?
Time for substantive change or just more “keep hope a jive”?
DW
Six buck a gallon gas is cheap. Most other countries are paying a much higher price. Nice of you to pick something that the rabble can focus on though.
Re-reading your initial comment and your ‘follow-ups’ to myself (especially the Bradley Manning twist you tried… sorry, didn’t work.) lead me to believe you are probably a provocateur, doing your best to keep the discussion inflated with as much good ol’ American hot air as you can, full well knowing nothing will ever come of it.
Protests, marches, sit-ins, hackers, whistleblowers… all criminalized. All prosecuted. All punished. Severely. Many in prison, Some dead. Blogs… not even touched.
Where have you been not to notice this phenomenon?
I recall an energy project I participated in back in the 70′s. We predicted the economic collapse and based it on energy costs decimating the economy and republic, as energy costs have decimated the republic and economy time and time again. Never mind the billions plus dollars a day waste out our tailpipes, these days. A negative balance of trade driven by oil importation for decades is like the drunks liver failing!
“…lead me to believe you are probably a provocateur, doing your best to keep the discussion inflated with as much good ol’ American hot air as you can,”
That is what the King called America’s founders, among other things! What’s next a drone strike?
Think what you will.
I am an inhabitant of the planet Earth. I belong to a species called Human. Humans are a social society.
I am intelligent enough to read your comments and understand that you have said nothing meaningful to Earth or Humans yet.
You obviously don’t know Peasant Party!
I also would like to point out to you that other countries have massive public transportation programs, closely gathered communities with schools and markets, and doctors within walking distance.
1.4 MILLION DEAD Iraqi, 4 million wounded, 4.5 million refugees.
Their infrastructure destroyed, – no water, no electricity in the 125+ degree heat, their children starving and unable to get medical care.
Yes, they SHOULD be greatful we liberated them! They should thank us for their current wonderful corruption free government!
Go America! Go military! Go!
Whoops – guess its not veterans day yet. But every day we should thank our leaders and our military. Best of the best.
So what are you advocating? BSbaffles and Peasant Party are right, the Corporate Media is a propaganda unit. Period. If you don’t keep talking to people, in person and electronically, you got nothin’.
I am full of good ol America, Yes indeed. My family has served every branch of the military since the first branch was established! My father a Naval vet served on the USS Menifee both in WWII and the Korean War. He help to carry Army and Marines to war zones and PROTECTED THEM! He became brothers with those two groups of service members. They hailed their attempts after WWII, and shamed themselves after Korea.
You can spout your hot air as you please. Just don’t attack someone because they disagree with your comment!
Who’s to say that blogs aren’t next on the list for clamp down?
Where are you that you haven’t noticed this?
No one faces consequences because “we” don’t demand it. And believe me, I don’t have the first idea how we can do it. I just know that if “we” don’t force the issue somehow, we will be talking about no one facing the consequences – forever.
One of the consequences would require us to admit some basic and unpleasant truths about how our society is run and organized — and how inflaming ethnic hatred is a big part of that.
The Powers That Be would rather we didn’t do this.
Who are the public going to believe crazy dirty fucking Hippies or a serious Ph.D who teachers at the War College or a 3 star General who did time in the Middle east during the Gulf War?
How ’bout the Sub Vice Manager to the Prime Minister of Israel Preznit of the USA?
That’s the truth.
Exactly!
While our Country is deep in debt and the Fed practically owns the country, we send Isreal almost 4 billion dollars a year so they can bomb their neighbors!
TWOOPH!
We have to talk about it. Global Trade and Global Economies that we are dealing with must have the discussions.
It’s very scary. I never thoughy OUR nation would become THIS nation. Not only are our freedoms being slowly eroded, we are literally destroying other civilizations and peoples. I’m not gonna make a comparison to WWII aggressions and atrocities. But others might and will.
What CAN we do. What CAN we do? Our govenment is legally and dutifully ELECTED. But WE have no c0ntrol over what our “elected” representatives do.
Are you sure about that??
It all has to do with money. OURS, not theirs.
I don’t know if you follow Prof. Wolff or not, but he has some great ideas. In order for us to take back ownership of our country, we first have to take back ownership of our economy.
Well………the PTB don’t NEED to rig elections when both parties are “in their employ”.
OTOH, “legally and dutifully” might be a stretch. :-)
Here is an example that you can use to talk about war, our economy, and OUR Money.
http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/21676061/drone-command-center-200-jobs-coming-to-horsham
With all due respect PP, I surmise overthrowing the British was easier. Remember the “Golden rule”, “He who has the gold, makes the rules.” We need serious campaigh finance reform and term limits to “fix” the current problems. Neither is likely with the current bunch or idiots and morons beholkden to the 1% as they are and with this president and prolly any future president on THEIR side.
;-)
TWOOPH!
China? :)
And you know that I respect you as well. I agree with you about the overthrowing part.
I am not even suggesting that. I am saying, do we want to be employed by the MIC and the corporations that have ditched us to expand their profits overseas, or do we wish to re-do our corporate controlled economy/political situation so that we have a stronger voice in war planning, foreign policy, trade agreements, etc.
I saw that story recently. I suppose new jobs is good. ?!?
I don’t think the government can {redacted} or in other cases {redacted} essential {redacted} on the internet.
That’s my opinion.
MIC jobs, yep.
It is really a shame that our economy is so wiped out that killing machinery is a great hope to communities full of jobless people.
Certainly, but what’s to say it won’t happen here? Ground work’s being laid for clamp down online…
win! heh…
We’re on the same side for sure. The government has gotten WAAY out of control and is owned lock, stock and barrel by the corporations and the 1%. The government is no longer answerable to the people. It was NEVER designed to BE that way.
Eisenhower’s warning of the MIC went unheeded. And we have devolved into a country that is not much more than one big war machine.
I don;t know how to sop it or change it except for the two reasons I elaborates in #41 above.
Bipartisanship. Back in the time of Ike, it was a pretty good thing. Now it just gives all of them a convenient excuse to do whatever they want and screw the rest of us.
War and death, we’re still the best on the planet. /s
I can’t seem to figure out where that “buzzing” sound is coming from.
After the above responses that I’ve made, the only thing I say now is this:
Money + Power = Control
Also, it is a Free Market according to the shouters that protect the corporate control.
And, when you have a president who “goes along to get along” rather than represent the people who elected him, well let’s say you are up a shallow body of running water, full of feces, in a native American watercraft with no effetive means of propulsion.
I think it’s the CIA calling you on the fillings in your teeth, my friend.
Bipartisan is just a word to say: bend over & spread ‘em, 99%.
Back in the day, the “two” parties were somewhat more distinct. Then they hammered out much more “for real” compromises, not this phony-baloney Kabuki Show nonsense.
It’s gone beyond a sick joke & become Theatre of the Absurd.
The clampdown didn’t work in Egypt and isn’t working in China and absolutely won’t work in America. But they will try so agree with you in that.
When I become Imperial Ruler of the Earth I will outlaw the word bipartisan. Am thinking about also banning insurgent, bootstrap, corporation, and insurance.
Woah! I’ll so vote for you (not snark)! Bring it!
Yes and no. The clampdown certainly works to an extent. My feeling is that the Usain “consumers” have become so dumbed down & infotainment overloaded that they’ll just bleat like the sheep they are. As long as they can watch the latest low-lifes do stupid low-life tricks, who cares what the gubmint does to the Intertubes???
Seriously.
As a P.S. to that:
1) I mostly stopped watching all tv only about 4 months ago (never watched a lot but some on a regular basis). I watched the Oscars at a friend’s house and was literally overwhelmed by the advertising. There’s some real strong fnord stuff going on these days, and it’s really really mesmerizing people. Not kidding.
2) I stayed in a hotel recently that had something like 50 “channels.” I spent maybe 5 min “surfing.” Absolutely mind-numbing drek of the lowest order.
I realize that there’s some good quality programming being produced, but at what cost? Both in terms of up-front payment for it, and then you get *bombarded* by weird psychological programming from all the adverts.
Call me crazy….
You will always be making the safe bet underestimating the taste and ability of the American public but I will stay on the hopeful side. I’m a sucker for a longshot bet I guess.
Agree with that. Vast Wasteland doesn’t say the half of it. My son and daughter don’t watch T.V. by their own choice and my wife and I recently discovered a building paid for with property taxes full of books and you can borrow them whenever you want as long as you bring them back. :)
Right on. I remember when cable used to be the mark of a middle class household. But when you graduate from college to find low wage jobs, not signing up for cable is a pretty easy choice. And of course, if you’ve been sent to prison instead of college, choice isn’t even the right word.
It’s really nostalgic to think back about the promise of CNN and 24 hour ‘news’. A quarter century of mismanagement later, the corporate media is basically irrelevant. You can only influence the audience if the audience can afford your product :) Just look at the ads for the corporate news – what is aimed at people under about 40?
Speaking of the Internets …. what is “W” up to today?
Why W, Deadeye, Rummy, Condi, Wolfie, Colin and others are not in jail yet is beyond all.
I truly hope you are correct and that I’m totally wrong… but…
It’s not “mismanagement,” IMO. It’s just become propoganda 24/7/365.
I concur that cable is egregiously expensive and frickin’ Not. Worth. It.
Until recently, I rented in someone else’s house. Landlord kept nickle & diming me on cable rising costs. Had to protest, as I didn’t use the home Internet hardly ever & had tossed out my tv. Did watch family tv a bit.
What the “basic” cable package provided was JUNK, other than a very few things. To get anything “better,” like some of these new series that are getting high ratings (unsure what station they are on) was a HUGE step in price.
Frankly not worth it, imo. Any of those “Really good” shows can eventually be borrowed on DVD from your local public library and watched either with no or far fewer commercial interruptions.
Speaking only for myself, I have a busy life, so although some shows sound good, I truly do not have the time to spare to watch them anyway. I feel I have lost nothing and gained a lot of peace of mind.
Plus I am a huge reader… books, my friends: free your mind. No advertising, esp in the old fashioned print kind.
On that note, be sure to watch “Splash” premiering tonight. Celebrities and pseudo-celebrities jumpin off a high dive into a swimming pool.
THE most absurd reality TV show EVER!!!!!!!!
I am the world’s foremost authorities on good TV. If you want, I’ll tell you what to watch and where to watch it. SOme very good TV, just gotta know where to find it.
I got to be an authority during a medical leave of absence a couple of years ago. BTW, fine now after double coronary bypass. Plus, I lost 23 pounds. Albeit that is a rather expensive wewight reduction plan. Cost $128,000. $5,565 per lb.
Sounds like a communist plot.
There is some accountability. The single most culpable individual, Tony Blair, was put on trial for war crimes in Malaysia. Of course, over here, he’s probably on the short list for Dancing With The Stars.