Republicans and Democrats – along with a complicit mainstream media – are plunging ahead toward war with Russia, a mad groupthink that could end life on the planet, observes John Pilger.
By John Pilger
The U.S. submarine captain says, “We’ve all got to die one day, some sooner and some later. The trouble always has been that you’re never ready, because you don’t know when it’s coming. Well, now we do know and there’s nothing to be done about it.”
Gregory Peck in a scene from the 1959 movie, “On the Beach,” showing how a nuclear war ends life on the planet.
He says he will be dead by September. It will take about a week to die, though no one can be sure. Animals live the longest.
The war was over in a month. The United States, Russia and China were the protagonists. It is not clear if it was started by accident or mistake. There was no victor. The Northern Hemisphere is contaminated and lifeless now.
A curtain of radioactivity is moving south towards Australia and New Zealand, southern Africa and South America. By September, the last cities, towns and villages will succumb. As in the north, most buildings will remain untouched, some illuminated by the last flickers of electric light.
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper
These lines from T.S. Eliot’s poem The Hollow Men appear at the beginning of Nevil Shute’s novel On the Beach, which left me close to tears. The endorsements on the cover said the same.
Published in 1957 at the height of the Cold War when too many writers were silent or cowed, it is a masterpiece. At first the language suggests a genteel relic; yet nothing I have read on nuclear war is as unyielding in its warning. No book is more urgent.
Some readers will remember the black and white Hollywood film starring Gregory Peck as the U.S. Navy commander who takes his submarine to Australia to await the silent, formless specter descending on the last of the living world.
I read On the Beach for the first time the other day, finishing it as the U.S. Congress passed a law to wage economic war on Russia, the world’s second most lethal nuclear power. There was no justification for this insane vote, except the promise of plunder.
Aiming Toward a Hot War
The “sanctions” are aimed at Europe, too, mainly Germany, which depends on Russian natural gas and on European companies that do legitimate business with Russia. In what passed for debate on Capitol Hill, the more garrulous senators left no doubt that the embargo was designed to force Europe to import expensive American gas.
Russian President Vladimir Putin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 10, 2015, at the Kremlin. (Photo from Russian government)
Their main aim seems to be war – real war. No provocation as extreme can suggest anything else. They seem to crave it, even though Americans have little idea what war is. The Civil War of 1861-65 was the last on their mainland. War is what the United States does to others.
The only nation to have used nuclear weapons against human beings, they have since destroyed scores of governments, many of them democracies, and laid to waste whole societies – the million deaths in Iraq were a fraction of the carnage in Indochina, which President Reagan called “a noble cause” and President Obama revised as the tragedy of an “exceptional people.” He was not referring to the Vietnamese.
Filming last year at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, I overheard a National Parks Service guide lecturing a school party of young teenagers. “Listen up,” he said. “We lost 58,000 young soldiers in Vietnam, and they died defending your freedom.”
At a stroke, the truth was inverted. No freedom was defended. Freedom was destroyed. A peasant country was invaded and millions of its people were killed, maimed, dispossessed, poisoned; 60,000 of the invaders took their own lives. Listen up, indeed.
A lobotomy is performed on each generation. Facts are removed. History is excised and replaced by what Time magazine calls “an eternal present.” Harold Pinter described this as “manipulation of power worldwide, while masquerading as a force for universal good, a brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis [which meant] that it never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter. It was of no interest.”
Those who call themselves liberals or tendentiously “the left” are eager participants in this manipulation, and its brainwashing, which today revert to one name: Trump.
Trump is mad, a fascist, a dupe of Russia. He is also a gift for “liberal brains pickled in the formaldehyde of identity politics,” wrote Luciana Bohne memorably. The obsession with Trump the man – not Trump as a symptom and caricature of an enduring system – beckons great danger for all of us.
A Narcissistic Media
While they pursue their fossilized anti-Russia agendas, narcissistic media such as the Washington Post, the BBC and the Guardian suppress the essence of the most important political story of our time as they warmonger on a scale I cannot remember in my lifetime.
The Washington Post building in downtown Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Washington Post)
On 3 Aug., in contrast to the acreage the Guardian has given to drivel that the Russians conspired with Trump (reminiscent of the far-right smearing of John Kennedy as a “Soviet agent”), the paper buried, on page 16, news that the President of the United States was forced to sign a Congressional bill declaring economic war on Russia.
Unlike every other Trump signing, this was conducted in virtual secrecy and attached with a caveat from Trump himself that it was “clearly unconstitutional.”
A coup against the man in the White House is under way. This is not because he is an odious human being, but because he has consistently made clear he does not want war with Russia.
This glimpse of sanity, or simple pragmatism, is anathema to the “national security” managers who guard a system based on war, surveillance, armaments, threats and extreme capitalism. Martin Luther King called them “the greatest purveyors of violence in the world today.”
They have encircled Russia and China with missiles and a nuclear arsenal. They have used neo-Nazis to install an unstable, aggressive regime on Russia’s “borderland” – the way through which Hitler invaded, causing the deaths of 27 million people. Their goal is to dismember the modern Russian Federation.
In response, “partnership” is a word used incessantly by Vladimir Putin – anything, it seems, that might halt an evangelical drive to war in the United States. Incredulity in Russia may have now turned to fear and perhaps a certain resolution. The Russians almost certainly have war-gamed nuclear counter strikes. Air-raid drills are not uncommon. Their history tells them to get ready.
The threat is simultaneous. Russia is first, China is next. The U.S. has just completed a huge military exercise with Australia known as Talisman Sabre. They rehearsed a blockade of the Malacca Straits and the South China Sea, through which pass China’s economic lifelines.
The admiral commanding the U.S. Pacific fleet said that, “if required,” he would nuke China. That he would say such a thing publicly in the current perfidious atmosphere begins to make fact of Nevil Shute’s fiction.
Silencing Dissenting Journalists
None of this is considered news. No connection is made as the bloodfest of Passchendaele a century ago is remembered. Honest reporting is no longer welcome in much of the media. Windbags, known as pundits, dominate: editors are infotainment or party-line managers. Where there was once sub-editing, there is the liberation of axe-grinding clichés. Those journalists who do not comply are defenestrated.
A poster for the 1959 classic, “On the Beach,” telling the story of the last days of life on earth.
The urgency has plenty of precedents. In my film, The Coming War on China, John Bordne, a member of a U.S. Air Force missile combat crew based in Okinawa, Japan, describes how in 1962 – during the Cuban missile crisis – he and his colleagues were “told to launch all the missiles” from their silos.
Nuclear armed, the missiles were aimed at both China and Russia. A junior officer questioned this, and the order was eventually rescinded – but only after they were issued with service revolvers and ordered to shoot at others in a missile crew if they did not “stand down.”
At the height of the Cold War, the anti-communist hysteria in the United States was such that U.S. officials who were on official business in China were accused of treason and sacked. In 1957 – the year Shute wrote On the Beach – no official in the State Department could speak the language of the world’s most populous nation. Mandarin speakers were purged under strictures now echoed in the Congressional bill that has just passed, aimed at Russia.
The bill was bipartisan. There is no fundamental difference between Democrats and Republicans. The terms “left” and “right” are meaningless. Most of America’s modern wars were started not by conservatives, but by liberal Democrats.
When Obama left office, he presided over a record seven wars, including America’s longest war and an unprecedented campaign of extrajudicial killings – murder – by drones.
In his last year, according to a Council on Foreign Relations study, Obama, the “reluctant liberal warrior,” dropped 26,171 bombs – three bombs every hour, 24 hours a day. Having pledged to help “rid the world” of nuclear weapons, the Nobel Peace Laureate built more nuclear warheads than any president since the Cold War.
Trump is a wimp by comparison. It was Obama – with his Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at his side – who destroyed Libya as a modern state and launched the human stampede to Europe. At home, immigration groups knew him as the “deporter-in-chief.”
One of Obama’s last acts as president was to sign a bill that handed a record $618 billion to the Pentagon, reflecting the soaring ascendancy of fascist militarism in the governance of the United States. Trump has endorsed this.
Buried in the detail was the establishment of a “Center for Information Analysis and Response.” This is a ministry of truth. It is tasked with providing an “official narrative of facts” that will prepare us for the real possibility of nuclear war – if we allow it.
John Pilger is an Australian-British journalist based in London. Pilger’s Web site is: www.johnpilger.com. His new film, “The Coming War on China,” is available in the U.S. from www.bullfrogfilms.com
“Trump is mad, a fascist, a dupe of Russia.”
With all due respect, Robert, these three things don’t go together. For the rest, thank you.
Deena Stryker
You have three years to oust both the Dems and Repubs, and get a great Green Party candidate for President who de-escalates and chrcks out from all illegal war and provocations.
The description of the nuclear cloud ‘moving around the world to annihialate all life’ as depicted in the book “On the Beach” by Neville Shute was scientifically proven to be inaccurate. As a scare-mechanism, it thus obviously would not work if it’s inaccurate. It was a novel, not a scientifically-proven event, a book written as a warning against thermo-nuclear warfare. The entire world became aware of the horrors visited upon mankind when the CIA persuaded new President Harry Truman to use nuclear bombs on the people of Japan. It’s something so evil that humankind has yet to invent a word for what happened. Genocide is somehow an understatement. Ever since that time, I believe mankind has lived under this fear and threat of nuclear war. ‘On the Beach’ should be re-edited to describe how much worse nuclear warfare would really be – a nuclear cloud floating around the world, wiping out all life, does not accurately describe the true horrors which mankind will experience if the republicans and the democrats don’t stop their stupid, childish power-games against new President Donald Trump. This isn’t a movie, people. This is real life. The suffering of mankind before we all go down into a nuclear hell will be indescribable. http://www.screeningthepast.com/2013/06/fallout-on-the-beach/
I read this while my daughter sleeps and am numb.
I read this book when I was in the 8th grade; my brother was on the aircraft carrier Enterprise as it was headed toward Cuba. John F. Kennedy was our president. It was not a good time for a child to be reading that particular book, as it frightened me beyond belief!!! I will never forget this book! There had been a nuclear war and the United States and Europe were destroyed, yet in Australia, there was at least one man alive. I recall that the major issue was finding fuel. What fuel was found was diesel fuel. That man in Australia was able to somehow send an SOS to someone still alive in the US. I don’t recall how this book ended. What I can tell you is that it made a difference in my life – people started building bomb shelters!
Most of America’s modern wars were started not by conservatives, but by liberal Democrats.
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The article made some sense until this allegation. Afghanistan and Iraq wars were not started by liberal Democrats.
For the true story of 9/11, use the YouTube search box to find videos of Barbara Honegger, Christopher Bollyn, Dr Webster Tarpley, James Corbett, Dr Steve Pieczenik , Dr James Fetzer , Lt Col Robert M Bowman PhD , Gen Wesley Clark . Also visit Bollyn.com , RealJewNews.com , ae911truth.org , 911scholars.org , PatriotsQuestion911.com , VeteransToday.com ( under Investigations 911 ) . Terrorism was not Islam’s response to Gulf Wars or Western lifestyles . Terrorism was orchestrated on 9/11/2001 by the Zionist NeoCon infested White House of Bush Jr and psychopath Dick Cheney . It was conceived by Netanyahu years in advance. It was executed by Mossad, the CIA, traitors within the USAF and Defense Department, and many others. It was covered up by the DOJ, the AIPAC/ Mossad/ CIA influenced Congress ( by use of bribery and blackmail ) as well as the Zionist owned/ CIA influenced Western mainstream TV/print media . America created “terror” on behalf of its military industrial complex and the Zionist zealots of Likud dominated Israel. The aim was to embellish contracts and profits for the former, and to destroy Arab countries at no cost in blood and treasure for the latter. Bin Laden ( a CIA asset and patsy ) and al Qaeda ( a CIA supported creation ) were just part of one cover story to divert suspicion away from the real culprits , and to invoke hatred of Moslems in support of multi-wars . The corporations got their war profits. The Israeli Zionists got their wishes fulfilled by using American blood. The US taxpayer got its national wealth squandered. The American servicemen got their PTSD, injuries, and caskets. Lastly, millions in the Middle East learned what “Americans fighting for freedom” truly means _ deception, destruction, and death on a global, gargantuan scale. That in a nutshell is what the Global War On Terror is all about.
Mr Putin: if there must be war, nuke Tel Aviv , Haifa , City of London , and other choice sites FIRST … who knows it might stop USA’s involvement in the war and possibly stop the war itself …. better yet, help America rid itself of the Zionist Neocons … it would not hurt to start a “Radio Free North America” to expose what Zionists did to Americans on 9/11 IN DETAIL … or what Zionist Israel did to the USS Liberty in 1967 … or what the land of the free did to Africans … or what the freedom lovers did to the native inhabitants of America …. or how large parts of Mexico became part of USA … you should consider rebuilding and strengthening your intelligence services … otherwise the covert war will always be played out in YOUR backyard. Help us combat Likudnik Lunatics from bribing, blackmailing, and bullying our leaders into war.
Death by Baby Boomer. Given the totally obsessed Me Generation, you have to admit this was plausible if not predictable once they took hold of the reins of power. We wanted it all and got it all by living through America’s golden age. And now the Empire (Pilger tells us), is edging toward nuclear conflict. Maybe, but there is no profit in a nuclear wasteland, even if the elite have underground bunkers to live in for the next 100 years. And considering the types who will have access to these shelters will emerge more psychopathic than when they went in. :)
This is the end I foresee, western Europe’s citizens will refuse to fight Russia and China for the Americans. They now know the US is beyond corrupt and down right evil. But unless some private or other non commissioned officer has the guts to execute the man with the corrupt soul that will want to launch a preemptive nuke the world will end for all because complete idiots like Nicky Haley have somehow gained position well beyond her intellect. For its the American people who must rise up against its government to save the world. If that doesn’t happen we are all certainly dead.
The only winning move in this narcissistic game theory clusterfuck is not to play, at least not by the rules.
See: https://www.reddit.com/r/WikiLeaks/comments/6rj6mj/how_to_fight_the_establishment_propaganda_machine/
“Russia, the world’s second most lethal nuclear power.”
No. Russia’s nuclear arsenal is considerably larger than that of the U.S.
Otherwise, an excellent article.
Number and size of weapons is not the only parameter for gauging nuclear lethality. Means of delivery, rapidness of first strike capability, and intent and willingness to use these weapons also determines the destructive potential of a nuclear arsenal. North Korea is an example of having weapons, but being short on means of delivering them to desired targets. I will also add having your enemies know that you are ready and willing to use these deadly devices is important – North Korea fully realizes this consideration, hence their aggressive brandishing of weapons and of their determination to use them if attacked.
The whole intricate advanced technology surrounding these evil devises constitutes an important layer of the military competition to outdo your opponents in lethality. This is the most dangerous dimension of the race for decisive first strike capability. The new fast fuses are a recent development in this bizarre race for murderous superiority.
The US and Russian military are like two Mafias trying to get the drop on each other. Spying technology is a major player in this grisly game. Building trust for these paranoid players is only a ploy to gain an advantage.
Mike, Russian rocketry has been well ahead of U.S. tech for decades. Russia has a larger, more sophisticated nuclear arsenal than America, AND superior missiles.
Talking of nuclear superiority is ridiculous when talking about the levels that either country has. I think it was Carl Sagan who compared it to two people standing in a pool of gasoline and talking about the number of matches that each have.
I remember seeing “On the Beach” in the theater many years ago. From childhood, engendered by propaganda during unhappy years at Catholic boarding school, I had a foreboding and nagging fear that I would be alive at “the end of the world” we were constantly reminded of as mankind’s punishment for our sins. Whether that end would come from the conflagration of the biblical Apocalypse or under a mushroom cloud, I wasn’t sure. Now I am more and more sure, and afraid once more. All of this because a hateful warmonger lost the election and, instead of admitting her own culpability, reinvigorated the Cold War, soon to become a hot one. Thanks, Hillary.
The vengeful violent God many of us were taught is a fiction. If we are punished, it will be by our own hand, and by inflexible biologic and physical laws of the Universe.
i know that there is a field of Divine Love permeating the Universe, but that is another matter entirely from the War God of the so-called Christians. Obviously that Christian God was not the God of Jesus, who taught a God of infinite Love and forgiveness.
The choice is very stark, for every single person in the US and Israel. Overthrow your governments with an anti-war revolution. It only takes 7% of a given country’s adults out on the streets, willing to die for the cause, for any government the fall… and they know this. With their gunned-up para-military police force and National Guard, they have perhaps raised this to 9 or 10%. No matter, they can and must be removed from any sort of nuclear weapon decision making.
The sleeping American population is unlikely to sleep-walk together to your proposed demonstrations.
“.tragedy of an “exceptional people.”..” who was obama referring to? And please explain “60,000 of the invaders took their own lives.”
This probably refers to the controversial theory that a large number of Vietnam American vets killed themselves after returning from that war. If you are interested, the article below is an exhaustive study of this contention.
https://www.deanza.edu/faculty/swensson/essays_mikekelley_walls.html
This deplorable but accurate picture of the facts is the last word on the matter by a solid, brilliant writer whose grasp of reality has proven all to accurate in the past.
Always bring the movie up in conversations. Thanks
What it looks like in Russia’s “borderland” region. Or, the Donbass Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3b15Wkc5eU
This is the classic pro-Putin position, repeated thousands of times before. Let me just take one point. Mr Pilger states that “they have used neo-Nazis to install an unstable, aggressive regime on Russia’s “borderland””. Even if that were true, why did Putin acquiesce in that situation? Yanukovych wasn’t actually overthrown. He just vanished into the night and popped up in Russia a few days later. Why didn’t Putin just restore him to power? He would have been hailed as a hero of European democracy if he had and not as the monster he now is. Why didn’t Yanukovych contest Poroshenko’s election in the Ukrainian courts? He was still the lawful president at the time. A final point that goes to Mr Pilger’s credibility. He is well known as a critic of Israel. Why is it wrong for Israel to grab Palestinian land but right for Putin to grab Ukrainian land? Are Ukrainian less human than Palestinians?
Forgive him Lord, he doesn’t know what the hell he is saying. The insane are not held to the same standard as those in their right mind.
Forgive me Michael, the Devil (in me) made me say that!
You won’t fool anyone here with your propaganda of Russia aggression in Ukraine. Your claim that Putin could have restored Yanukovich after the coup contradicts your claim that he took Ukrainian land. Only the fool thinks that he can always fool others.
The motives of this hasbara guy are pretty clear. I’ll admit this is the first one of those guys I’ve seen who doesn’t pretend Israel’s activities are anything besides theft.
he calls it a “grab”
John, a good, realistic analysis, though I suggest 1 minor amendment.
You wrote:”The threat is simultaneous. Russia is first, China is next.”
My amendment: “Iran is 1st, as a starter, then for the main course Russia, followed by China.”
I read that book back in the late 60’s and it frightened the sh!t out of me. But the true horror of the aftermath to the detonation of an atomic bomb was conveyed to me by a book loaned to me by an ex-RAF test pilot – he’s now chief pilot at the Shuttleworth collection.
The book was written by a Japanese doctor who had worked at the commercial seaman’s hospital in Hiroshima prior to the Americans dropping the bomb on the city. His house was located 500 metres from ground zero. Reading his account reminded me of reading and Edgar Allen Poe horror story (I’ve read some of his stuff too). It was stomach wrenching stuff and it left me with a strong feeling of disgust for the perpetrators of that crime, especially the pilot of the aircraft that dropped the bomb, Paul Tibbets (I’ve read his book about it too). If I see Dodge in the near future I’ll ask him for the title, author and publisher of the book (for the life of me I can’t recall it at the moment) and post it in another comment.
Please keep up the good work that you do in trying to inform the uninformed.
Best regards.
Thank you for that Derrick Steed. It reminded me of a movie that I bought but had to stop watching, made in Japan, titled, “The Grave Of The FireFlies” that was described by Roger Elbert as “An emotional experience so powerful that it forces a rethinking of animation…it belongs on the list of the greatest war films ever made.” Possibly congress could view it in joint session and each of our individual congress persons could provide us a review?
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_of_the_Fireflies
Derrick Steed, speaking of books…if you want detailed information on the effects of catastrophic commercial nuclear plant meltdowns, read Chernobyl written by Yablokov, V.B. and Alexey V. Nestereko..a REAL shocker, The ground-shine resulting from an atomic blast is next to nothing (in strict terms of environmental impact) when compared to the hundred or so fission products spewing from reactor cores. The sheer varieties of radioactive isotopes blanketed most of Europe. Practically every exposed living thing was carefully described, tested, and documented. The book is a scientific work of art, showing the almost inconceivable penetration of these reactor core-isotopes and their seeping into many different life cycles. Categorizing, those endless subtle and not so subtle genetic mutations- from the smallest soil micro-organism, to plants and animals. I finally understood the comment made by Dr Helen Caldicott (Australian Physician): I’d never eat any food in Europe! If Edgar Allen Poe were alive today, he’d collapse from reading about the true horror of Chernobyl. Aside; luckily? most of the Fukushima reactor debris went into the Pacific, but not enough to save Japan’s economy or long term environmental consequences.
I understand the reaction, for I have a similar one at the ending of Philip Wylie’s novel Triumph. It involves a deliberate nuclear war brought on by fanatical Communists whose aim was to exterminate every possible source of opposition to themselves. Unlike On The Beach, the Southern Hemisphere survives, as does a deep luxury shelter in New York built by a super-rich man.
At the aforementioned ending the NY people are rescued by a heavily armored Australian ship.
I don’t get this book out very often, for I react badly to it. Rather like when I watched the 20th episode of the World At War series for the first and final time. At the end of that one all I could do was sob for quite a while. Not something a grown male is supposed to do.
I understand the reaction, for I have a similar one at the ending of Philip Wylie’s 1963 novel Triumph. It involves a deliberate nuclear war brought on by fanatical Communists whose aim was to exterminate every possible source of opposition to themselves. Unlike On The Beach, the Southern Hemisphere survives, as does a deep luxury shelter in New York built by a super-rich man.
At the aforementioned ending the NY people are rescued by a heavily armored Australian ship.
I don’t get this book out very often, for I react badly to it. Rather like when I watched the 20th episode of the World At War series for the first and final time. At the end of that one all I could do was sob for quite a while. Not something a grown man is supposed to do.
Thanks Zachary. I celebrate your tears. Let me share a poem I wrote a few years ago:
If you don’t hurt
Then you may be
Sicker than you realize.
If you don’t cry
Your heart
May be frozen.
If you have not screamed yet
Then your sanity
Has become a disease.
Mike K…wise words+tender heart = good soul
Here is Oliver Stone’s take on the Russia-Iran-N Korea sanctions….
http://russia-insider.com/en/politics/oliver-stone-im-angry-false-flag-war-against-russia/ri20590
Joe, thank you for that. Oliver Stone retains an almost unique ability to see through the maze, And describe it. I thought his best line was, “What’s happened to Elizabeth Warren, Barbara Lee, or any of the people who’ve displayed some independent thinking in the past?” Indeed, the congress literally abandoned vast numbers of the American People, And they did it with apparent impunity, in the face of those of who clamor for peace and understanding among people seeking a better life for All. I’m at a loss for how to proceed from this really shocking action. My first thought: replace them All, with out regard for there surely coming explanations, something like, “Vote For The Peace Candidate, Regardless Of Party!” I’m going to link an article entitled “The US establishment against the rest of the world” by Thierry Metssan and a link where he explains that this is The Wolfowitz Doctrine that congress has approved! Can you imagine that? Literally the stupidest advisor to come along in a Century has apparently captured the Imagination of Both Houses of Congress? I say “Throw Them All Away,” they’re Worthless!
http://www.voltairenet.org/article197288.html
Beside those clowns in Washington adopting a Wolfowitz philosophy of how to wreck the world, I’m trying to figure out to if Donald Trump’s all of sudden taking a 3 week vacation to New Jersey is something of some great importance. I mean think of what all has happened in the White House this past week. First we have Scaramucci run Reince Priebus out the door, then General Kelly moves over from his Homeland Security position to White House Chief of Staff, when all of sudden Scaramucci is gone, and Trump goes on vacation. Oh yeah Trump decides to take this vacation after he disappointedly signs the Russia-Iran-N Korea sanctions bill. I’m just wondering to what this all means, and should any of this mean anything?
I doubt it Joe, more run around. I can easily imagine Cheney still in the basement grinning at our confusion. A few of us need to discuss a plan that we can move forward with, and know that it’s free of Neocon manipulation… They Never go away!
I have been voting the Peace candidate for quite some time now, and I urge others to do so as well. It takes a bit of work to re-register, but I often do so to be able to vote in the primary election of whichever candidate is the peace candidate of the moment.
Good Skip Scott! Bottom line Peace. Thanks…
Dang people, it’s not so good but it’s not nearly as bad as it was in the 60’s when I remember the trembling hands of adults tuning to Conelrad whenever the sirens were tested, or the Reagan years which I’m certain we only survived because the Soviets were bankrupted by our huge arms buildup in terms of quantity and quality in the 60’s and 70’s. Honest to goodness one of our favorite play areas was the neighbor’s fallout shelter. And the people running America now aren’t nearly as incompetent as Cheney and Rumsfeld, damn I’d be shaking in the hands myself if those two Nixonian blatherskites were still running the world. Then put Mad Dog and Trump on one side of the scale, and Hillary and Susan Rice on the other. But nuclear holocaust is so compelling, we’re like moths circling the flame…
Clever.
There are some savvy folks who believe the situation is even worse today. Perhaps you are reassured that nobody sees any frightened adults these days. For the most part modern grownups are too busy with their two/three jobs, or too busy tweeting and facebooking to have a clue about what’s happening.
The first pair admittedly aren’t quite as bad as the second, but the combination of a fanatic and an ignoramus remains nightmare material.
I built a fallout shelter under our house during the Berlin airlift crisis days. Big plastic vats of water, geiger counter – the works. The local fire department gave tips on construction and stocking. Seems quaint in retrospect, but back then it was very real, and like ‘duck and cover’ – we didn’t know what else to do. At least we were aware of the very real danger, and trying to do something about it. Not like now, when people have learned to put it out of mind and just be fatalistic about it.
Ivy Mike
were the Soviets as bad as they had been depicted in Western Media? At least the James Bond movies had been very entertaining to watch – maybe because they had been produced and filmed in the UK. The more that I learn about history, the more reflective I get.
Some of my personal discoveries took me by surprise. For example when I learned that in 1966 a B-52 crashed near the town of Palomares (Spain) and lost four hydrogen bombs (3 onto land and 1 into the Mediterranean). About 15 years ago I watched a documentary about the Cold War. Most surprising to me was when the presenter said that during the Cold War planes (bombers), equipped with nuclear bombs flew 24/7 along the borders of NATO member states. In case of “emergency” the bombers would’ve veered across enemy territory and dropped their deadly load. Prior to that documentary I had read in a journal that the first nuclear missiles had been stationed in Turkey in 1959 – before (!) the Soviets handed missiles to Cuba.
Have we Westerners been “the good ones”? For preparing for the worst case scenario some commenter on youtube once caught my attention. He mentioned that he was desperately looking for an old school bench of the 1950’s when “duck and cover” was practiced. According to his statements his teachers told him that they would be safe hiding below those benches. So, if anyone knows where to get such benches: Please send a message to me, I’m looking for one, too.
Mr. Pilgar, it is irresponsible to include in your film The Coming War On China, John Bordne telling his tale, and more irresponsible to retell it here inaccurately with an alarmist spin. You have failed to critically examine John Bordne’s tale and that is unacceptable. John Bordne claims his missile battery was under DEFCON 2. This is critical to his tale and is a false statement. Nearly all US forces were under DEFCON 4, except Strategic Air Command, DEFCON 2, and a USAF unit in NATO, DEFCON3. Nuclear weapons can only be used under DEFCON 1 repeat nuclear weapons can only be used under DEFCON 1. John Bordne must resort to the deception that his middle battery was under DEFCON 2 as you cannot go to DEFCON 1 from DEFCON 3 or DEFCON 4, only from DEFCON 2. In short, John Bordne is a liar, and you John Pilgar have fallen for it through lack of intellectual rigor.
David-
I researched your claim a bit and you are correct that Bordne’s claim is suspect, but I’m not sure it has been completely debunked.
http://thebulletin.org/okinawa-missiles-october8826
I highly respect John Pilger, and the gist of this piece is spot-on, regardless of the veracity of Bordne.
I am of the opinion that the uber-wealthy of the world believe that they can use world wars to cull the lesser people from civilization, and the wealthy will inherit a cleansed world. Theirs is an insane vision of idyllic survival in a war-purged planet where wealth and seclusion will protect them from the physics and fate of an incinerated world.
Despite all the inequalities in this world, there are a few things that apply to everyone. For example:
We come to this world with nothing and leave this world with nothing.
Everyone has to die.
Rather living a happy and fulfilled life, than being uber-wealthy and worshipping money.
Yes. David Rockefeller advocated a reduction by two/thirds of the world’s population. He never said how he was going to accomplish this but he was a great supporter of the CIA-sponsored wars to overthrow 3rd World governments. The only President to ever stand up to the War Machine was JFK, with his overtures of peace to Russia and Cuba, but Allen Dulles, a member of Rockefeller’s extended family, made sure that Kennedy could not carry out his peace agenda. ( David Talbot, THE DEVIL’s CHESSBOARD)
H Beazley…FYI… David Talbot recently resigned as a columnist from the S.F.Chronicle because according to that paper they”couldn’t pay him enough”. We could probably assume there was something left out here like”enough to distort the truth”. The Chronicle habitually republishes neoliberal trash from the Washington Post and Talbot retained his journalistic integrity for his short association with the paper. I believe he is now back as editor of salon.com.
I think you have a valid insight into the distorted minds of the super wealthy.
I’d rather die of old age. We’d rather die in peace. I am not wanting at least 60 years for going to heaven. I do have combat veterans in my family.
Google and You Tube Censorship Exposed: Terrorists Get Free Pass While Alternative Media is Demonetized and Buried by Algorithmic Search Engine
https://clarityofsignal.com/2017/08/04/google-and-you-tube-censorship-exposed-terrorists-get-free-pass-while-alternative-media-is-demonetized-buried-by-algorithmic-search-engine/
I expect some hate for what I have to say about doomsday proliferators who while express their own humanism and human concern fell into a propaganda ploy by assuming underlying premise of their righteous indignation that what national governments say or do has a weight of a decision makers. It has not.
What author is silent about is that globalization process has been completed, unless we count unruly penguins in Antarctica who (yes, who) still do nor obey iron will of one unified class of global oligarchic rulers of all colors and creeds or useless now in their class nationalities cultures or languages, meaningless distinctions without any difference in their class conscientiousness. The meek response of Chinese and Russian elites to blaland agressive and homocidal belligerent rhetoric of global anihilation coming from D.C. testifies to that.
One thing has been proven countless of times true, they have good thing going for at least forty years and now fully unified (despite of rhetoric for domestic consumption) they will not let it be spoiled by such a thing as total nuclear war among “oligarchic friends” a war that would dirty up their planet (not our planet) especially since now they have technological prowess for total control and surveillance of billions as well plenty of mechanical, chemical, biological means of selective extermination of deplorables and undesirables in a form of economic depression, chaos of regional wars, hunger, epidemics etc., all under the propaganda of goodness and niceness for consumption of their courtiers and security apparatus worldwide. Nobody else matters.
It is sad that otherwise reasonable people like author are only able to shed few layers of lies unable to remove entire veneer of the propaganda of global oligarchic power that exists now and unwittingly contribute to the propaganda of fear which such a published agressive, suicidal political assertions and “laws” passed by political puppets of oligarchy aimed to stir among populations in order to continue project of total control and brainwashing inducing natural human survival instinct to flock to some authority to save them, meaning kill the others first to save them, a cliche of manipulative propaganda American sheeple are conditioned from birth and no spreading elsewhere.
Let’s not succumb to nuclear war hysteria which plays into hands of murderous global regime and is deedening our intelligence and represses our reasoning faculties that tells us what needs to be done, namely to destroy global oligarchy (not beg them for anything) that aims ultimately and programmatically at enslaving and/or extermination of humanity as superfluous in their superhumanity project.
No, there will be no all out global nuclear war, but war and chaos will continue and will finally come to my house as much as to yours.
I would thank you for your reassurances, except what you wrote above is such complete BS, it does not deserve any other comment.
As I expected a hater showed up, no reason, no argument only hate.
Adorno called people who think like you fascists, embedment into totalitarian culture of unreason and mystic unquestionable dogmas, courtiers of the abhorrent regime, ignorant tools committing crimes against humanity, in their delusional psychotic state of divine righteousness,
Kalen – Keep your hate to yourself, don’t project it on me. I do not hate you or anyone. Hate is one of those toxic emotions that is a root cause of all our problems. Unconditional Love is the antidote to all of that, and the solution and healing of all the problems that hate engenders. I apologize to you for being so abrupt and dismissive in my reply to you. Definitely my bad. But it was not out of hate for you or your ideas. Maybe exasperation would be a better word for what i was feeling. This is not an alibi for my brusqueness with you, that remains my bad. So go in peace brother, I will not harass you any more…….
I guess I did not support my position re: our probable self-extinction, because it is so obvious to me where we are heading, that I get tired of rehashing all the overwhelming evidence for this with those who do not and will not listen to it anyway, because it is too disturbing to the comfort level they have become addicted to maintaining..
Kalen, there is much truth there but you lost your audience by mis-phrasing that sentence about “unruly penguins in Antarctica who (yes, who) still do nor obey iron will of one unified class of global oligarchic rulers” which sounds very irrational because of the phrasing.
I am sure that you did not intend to make a nutty statement about penguins, but native English speakers will be astonished and may read no further. I am sure that Mike did not mean to hate or reject your views completely.
Your statement that “oligarchic friends” “have good thing going” and “will not let it be spoiled by… nuclear war” so that articles fearing nuclear war “unwittingly contribute to the propaganda of fear” is worth considering. Certainly the MIC wants the Cold War tension and proxy wars for profit, and the zionists and Saudis want to use those proxy wars for their own profit.
If you are more specific about oligarchy factions that promote the wars and the Cold War, and leave out the penguins to avoid confusion, you will find that most readers here agree.
What you overlook is that the rich bastards haven’t been at all deterred in starting enormously destructive wars in the past. In their arrogance they’re going to figure their wealth and power will protect them. Their calculations about nuclear wars will assume they’ll have deeper holes with much larger stockpiles of survival “stuff”. Then there is the psychological angle – those rich guys are never satisfied. After they’ve stolen everything from the peasants, all that’s left to prey on is some other rich person. Or a nation containing those other rich people.
Unfortunately an “all out” war isn’t needed to produce horrific results.
Abstract
A nuclear war between Russia and the United States, even after the arsenal reductions planned under New START, could produce a nuclear winter. Hence, an attack by either side could be suicidal, resulting in self-assured destruction. Even a “small” nuclear war between India and Pakistan, with each country detonating 50 Hiroshima-size atom bombs – only about 0.03 percent of the global nuclear arsenal’s explosive power – as air bursts in urban areas, could produce so much smoke that temperatures would fall below those of the Little Ice Age of the fourteenth to nineteenth centuries, shortening the growing season around the world and threatening the global food supply. Furthermore, there would be massive ozone depletion, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to reach Earth’s surface. Recent studies predict that agricultural production in parts of the United States and China would decline by about 20 percent for four years, and by 10 percent for a decade. The environmental threat posed by even a small number of nuclear weapons must be considered in nuclear policy deliberations. Military planners now treat the environmental effects as collateral damage, and treaties currently consider only the number of weapons needed to assure destruction of opposing forces. Instead, treaties must call for further reductions in weapons so that the collateral effects do not threaten the continued survival of the bulk of humanity. Proliferation cannot be treated as a regional problem. A regional conflict has the potential to cause mass starvation worldwide through environmental effects.
The authors here are very conservative, for folks tossing around 50 little Hiroshima sized nukes aren’t likely to stop at that if they see victory almost in sight. Most of the nuclear powers automatically progressed to thermonuclear weapons. Their potential for “smoke-making” is much larger than the small ones. A really robust exchange between India and Pakistan would probably starve you to death.
h**p://climate.envsci.rutgers.edu/pdf/RobockToonSAD.pdf
My thoughts with regard to Kalen’s post exactly. All these “rational” estimates of the course of nuclear war will go out the window when the first devastating weapon is used. Do people really expect a reasoned response when an enemy has destroyed a whole large city and all it’s inhabitants? I think not. When the gates of hell open, all bets are off as to what happens next, and next, and next…….
All it would take is one Tunguska-sized event, happening over a large population center or military base.
Kalen-
I disagree that the globalization process has been completed. Putin’s Russia is the boogeyman d’jour because he is combatting the completion of the globalization process, and seeks a degree of sovereignty for Russia in a multi-polar world. I hope that you are right that there will be no global all-out nuclear war, and I pray that somehow we learn to wage peace.
Danny Moody’s excellent comment stopped me, as I sat reading James W. Douglass’ “JFK and the Unspeakable”. Everybody, read that book. At the top on the cover, says “He chose peace. They marked him for death.” We have never had a President of the caliber of JFK since. That was a coup d’etat. And in that era, we also lost RFK, Malcolm X, and MLK.
Thomas Merton, the Trappist monk, in his preface to “The Cold War Letters” in January 1963 wrote: “In actual fact it would seem that during the Cold War, if not during WWII, this country has become frankly a warfare state built on affluence, a power structure in which the interests of big business, the obsessions of the military, and the phobias of political extremists both dominate and dictate our national policy. It also seems that the people of the country are by and large reduced to passivity, confusion, resentment, frustration, thoughtlessness and ignorance, so that they blindly follow any line that is unraveled for them by the mass media.”
Things have only gotten worse while our Earth is also in worse shape since Merton wrote
Thanks Jessica. Merton is a spiritual hero of mine. His words are penetrating and true. If he were alive now he would have the courage to see the end of our life on Earth rapidly approaching now. Gethsemane is not far from where I live. One of our groups holds retreats at the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse, not far from Merton’s monastery.
Pilger is a good writer. His language flows. I had to look up defenestration-being thrown out of a window, Ouch and tendentiously -partisan point of view ( I liked reading Joyce and Melville though it was slow going having to use the dictionary so much). I also noted The Battle of Passchendaele, I have to do a little research, can’t trust WIKI. I’m weak on WW I history. It’s never too late to learn but what’s the use? It’s looks like the leaders won’t think to learn from History so here comes the same mistakes only exponentially worse. George Santayana thought and wrote that but he probably stole it from somebody else too. Peace. PS. Pepe Escobar is a good writer also. He recently published a book 2030. Maybe he was a bit too optimistic. Amazon has it for sale. Pretty cheap.
LJ-
I sympathize with the need for referencing a dictionary, and being a bit dim on WWI history. Escobar is a good writer, but I would suggest going elsewhere than Amazon. Jeff Bezos has joined the “dark side” with a 600 million dollar contract with the CIA, and ownership of it’s mouthpiece, the Washington Post. I am boycotting Amazon and urge others to as well.
Too true, Bezos is cagada. But he’s a huge pile of cagada de perro now. Boycotting will not work. Obama’ and Cantor’s s Jobs Act gave Amazon a huge boost. Who goes to Brick and Morder stores anymore where you might find a copy?. Pinder $2.99.
There are plenty of other etail operations besides Amazon. It takes a few more clicks to find what you want, but I think it’s worth it.
I like Pepe.
“Shortly after 11:00 AM, Wednesday August 2, 2017 US President Donald Trump declared full scale economic war on Russia. […]
“the overwhelming ‘yes vote’ in Congress indicated one powerful player behind the curtain – America’s pro-Israel lobby AIPAC. […]
“The point of this new sanctions law is revealed simply. If AIPAC controls the Unites States Congress, and if the President of the United States has surrendered his executive authority to that body, then the Israeli lobby controls the Government of the United States – lock stock and barrel. In other words, a foreign sovereign nation and ideology rules America – and it rules it with impunity.
“Turning to the law itself, even the Trump administration admitted there are sections that are “unconstitutional”, which means illegal. “Illegal!” Is a Barack Obama infused Supreme Court going to overturn the law? This question is rhetorical, for no justice will ever even read through this law. Looking at the Israel lobby and the Zionist influence on America overall, it’s becoming stunningly clear “legality” has little to do with American policy either internally or internationally. […]
“The Twitter feed of AIPAC the last few weeks reads like an online gambling casino SPAM attack. And until this sanctions bill was signed by Trump, the scrolling Twitter message from AIPAC endeavored to lump Russia in with marginalized Iran and North Korea – today the feed reverts to bashing the Palestinians. With Russia now ‘punished’ for foiling the ‘Syria plan’ with more crippling sanctions, the Zionists are hot on the trail of destroying funding from America for Palestinians. The controversial AIPAC pressure to pass the so-called Taylor Force Act, is being pressed in in order to ruin $300 million annually in U.S. economic support to the Palestinian cause. Reverting back to the Russia sanctions law though, the Israelis tout every supporter in Washington and aboard who bends to its will. […]
“Now Iran is the psychosis for AIPAC and Israel. So, Russia must be penalized, and North Korea must be glued to an evil axis in order that Americans can identify.
“AIPAC has exerted a massive pressure, and the message could not be more clear, the Zionists who control Israel are at the wheel. Just read the list of speakers at the conference. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sen. Democratic Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY), House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI), United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Vice President of the United States Mike Pence stood tall in their unwavering support for Israel – no matter what.”
How Donald Trump Threw Peace and Prosperity Under an AIPAC Bus
By Phil Butler
https://journal-neo.org/2017/08/04/how-donald-trump-threw-peace-and-prosperity-under-an-aipac-bus/
Thanks Abe. It is clear with congress usurping it’s authority to enact this sanctions law, they have declared war on Russia. The result of this insane action will be manifest very quickly now. Russia and China have no option but to go all out to prepare for a first strike by America. They will be alert to counter with their own first strike, since this would be the only way to counter America’s superiority in nuclear capabilities. Now the gates of hell have been opened,,,,,.
Abe – “If AIPAC controls the Unites States Congress, and if the President of the United States has surrendered his executive authority to that body, then the Israeli lobby controls the Government of the United States – lock stock and barrel.”
Yes, and they’ve got the Federal Reserve sewn up as well (Greenspan, Bernanke, Yellen, Fischer), and almost – almost – had 4 of 9 members sitting on the U.S. Supreme Court when Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland. That didn’t work out because Trump won the election and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Gorsuch was confirmed instead.
Congress, Federal Reserve, and getting ever closer on the judiciary. Too much power!
backwardsevolution – You wrote: “Congress, Federal Reserve, and getting ever closer on the judiciary. Too much power! ”
For convenience, may be we should officially move the Capitol to Jerusalem. It will be more efficient. Also all the Wars are being fought – and those planned for the future – are in the close proximity.
Possibly a positive news, I happened to watch, Trump’s speech in Huntington, WV on Aug 3rd, last night on youtube. It seems like he intends to fight back. He was defiant. I had almost left up on him. l hope he does fight back.
Dave P. – “For convenience, may be we should officially move the Capitol to Jerusalem.”
And rename the city Jerusington and replace the little stars on the U.S. flag with blue Star of David symbols. Then take out the red and white stripes and replace them with a black skull and crossbones symbol. There, done. Everything “black and blue” to signify what happens to a country that even looks sideways at them!
Trump is learning. It is a crying shame he didn’t know more before he became President (I don’t think he thought he would win). It would have made it easier to fight back. A lot of senators and congressmen had been lawyers before taking public office. That sure helps. And had the Republican Party helped Trump, that too would have made a significant difference, but they haven’t been. They’re standing in the background and letting him twist. They want their own guy to lose! Amazing. Shows where their allegiance lies – with their corporate backers. It sure isn’t with the President.
Paul Craig Roberts said early on that Trump would have trouble finding people who knew their way around Washington AND would also be loyal to him. He said it was going to be next to impossible because they’re mostly all bought.
But then Roberts also said that even if Trump were able to come up with great people, honest, rah-rah country types, these would not be the types of people that the crooked Senate would confirm. The Senate Confirmation Hearings are for weeding out the good and keeping the bad! They don’t want ethical people in there. How are they going to lie and steal when ethical people are running things?
So Trump had to ride the line. He had to choose people who knew their way around, but were just crooked enough to be confirmed. Wow, that does not paint a pretty picture, does it?
Yes, I think Trump is starting to fight back now because he’s finally understanding how things work, and it finally looks like Jeff Sessions is going to go after the leakers/unmaskers, etc. He needs the judiciary to get going. And he needs the Senate committees to start going after the Clintons, Comey, Lynch, and the rest of the gang of thieves.
Backwardsevolution: Obama, Rice, the other prime culprits in all this, should be on the top of the list of this gang. I do not agree with Trump on many points. I do not share much of his philosophy. However, he has been democratically elected President of the country, on the agenda he promised to the people. Some of his agenda was very good. He should have been given a fair chance to govern. Since the election, what has transpired is almost like a nightmare, and it is still going on. The people behind all this should be exposed and brought to justice.
I have been saying this for a while here on this site. I think they intend to solve the world’s problems with a war. We are ready to go for trashing the planet and if there was any time to do the deed it would be now before we really mess up things. It reminds me of the central theme in The Day The Earth Stood Still with Keanu Reeves where the aliens are going to wipe the human species off the planet since they cannot let a destructive species such as ourselves harm or possibly destroy a World. Planets with life are too rare and precious to let an “advanced” race of monkey people destroy it.
We truly are unworthy to be handed dominion over the Earth. Our politicians and our business leaders will continue to use the vast size of the Oceans and our atmosphere as a free dump where they can spew as much pollution into the air and sea and never give one damn. Money rules the world and we all bow down before the Priests of the Golden Bull.
We may have intelligence on an individual level and have apparent free will but collectively we behave like bacteria in a nutrient broth. Unable to stop our exponential growth phase and unable even to stop during the stationary phase just before the death phase where toxic pollutants begin to make conditions for existence impossible.
Exactly. Unless we change our behavior, our species will die because of it’s persistent violation of basic cosmic laws. No divine punishment; just scientific reality in operation.
We have been warned by wise teachers throughout history to work on our ethical development, or suffer the consequences. The final result of our refusal to follow their suggestions will be our extinction. A sad situation, but the demand of the greater life to be free of lethal mutations that threaten all beings everywhere is a legitimate one, and our species may very well become extinct so that others can have life. This may seem a strange consolation for someone living now, like myself. But looking unblinkingly into our probable near term extinction, I am heartened that our departure may serve a greater purpose for others. Our plans to colonize space must have sent a chill through any beings who might have learned of it. Spreading the virus of hate and selfish destruction throughout the Universe is certainly as ugly and evil a prospect as I can imagine. Better that we end that nightmare here, on the planet we have abused, our home planet.
Humans are planet cancer and here’s why:
Cancer cells lose their ability to self regulate according to the rules of governance of the biological organism in which they reside. They become immune routine “Apoptosis” of cells and in fact in some cases like HeLa cell lines become immortal given the chance by careful laboratory cell culturing.
Cancer cells invade the surrounding self regulated environment of the host body and begin to divert the resources available to themselves in an unregulated way creating their own commerce within the organism which diverts resources and uses them for its own propagation despite the fact that this is not what is supposed to happen for the long term survival of the organism. In the end, the resources of the host organism are so strained and drained by the resource hungry and unstoppable cancer that the organism dies. The cancer itself dies along with the organism but it is incapable of stopping its inevitable destruction of its host environment which inevitably leads to its own death.
Us humans are like cancer cells in that we seek immortality and refuse to act to preserve our environment choosing instead to divert endless resources in our never ending quest at life extension and the avoiding of Apoptosis or our death hoping to find the secret to immortal life whether in the flesh or in spirit. We ignore the growing signs that the strains we are placing on our environment are beginning to kill our host planet.
It seems like an eon since we have heard any warning about this although in the 1900s there were plenty of scholars and activists warning about “The Population Bomb” Nowadays they seem like historical prophets which we lack in our age filled with electronic distraction and commercialism.
I have no idea what to do. I am reminded of the snarky yet ominous sign I once saw. It read, “Do your part to save the environment! Kill yourself.” But such is the dilemma we face. Continue to expand our western way of life until we are drowning in our waste like bacteria and we die or find some harmony with nature which is the opposite of our technology filled energy intensive lifestyle.
Sure, there are the science fiction visions of a Star Wars like Universe with planets covered by miles deep cities like some Lucas adventure but they never show us where the waste treatment plant is. Presumably the waste is compacted and ejected into space which has its own illogical conclusions which you can read if you search for “On the Implausibility of the Death Star’s Trash Compactor …” Funny. I laughed probably because it is true. Sometimes science fiction makes no sense.
Your point is good — with one minor error:
Star Wars is not science fiction; in fact, it is explicitly identified as a modern fairy tale at the very start:
“Once upon a time, ….”
In our species there is a continuum of human behaviour from good to evil. It reflects the distribution of genetic inheritance, the chance of epigenetic influence, the weight of history and the socialisation and nurturing of family, tribe, nation, community etc. In the case of our species, the evil individuals gained dominance long ago, through instruments like capitalism, patriarchal, authoritarian, religion and war. Evil has reached a sort of apotheosis in ‘American Exceptionalism’ and the vile, bloodthirsty, religious excrescences of the Dominionist and End Times manifestations, and humanity has found its executioner.
Indeed, for a perspective from one of the founders of modern day molecular genetics I recommend reading this classic by Gunther Stent, if you can find it: “The Coming of the Golden Age, A View of the End of Progress,” The Natural History Press, c. 1969. Actually, all that glitters will not be gold, as Stent anticipated considerable tarnish in our deep time society and the noble metal does not oxidize. It will be more a brassy than golden age.
Upon perusing my ancient copy of this book, it was actually not the source of the lesson on “overshoot” in self-regulating systems that I wished to convey. It must be in one of the other “coming Golden Age” or “coming Dark Age” books on my shelves. Still worth reading, as are the thoughts by Carl Sagan on our long term prospects as a species. Anyway, the point is if we don’t stop the exponential growth to which Citizen One refers before we overshoot the planet’s carrying capacity and all hope of achieving a steady-state population rather than a crash, we may not be doomed, but we are going to be in big trouble. Lots of needless death and suffering from the four horsemen.
Realist,
you should watch some of the Videos of Hans Rosling – a Swedish physician and statistician, who sadly passed away this year. In theory our planet could provide food for 12 billion people.
All the problems we’re facing are man-made. Greed dominates and many are worshiping money.
From an economical point of view food has to be destroyed to keep prices in a profitable range for “farmers” (nowadays agricultural industries). Lots of edible food is thrown into the trash can, because the date of expiry has been reached. Farmland is used to grow plants for eco fuel, instead of growing crops to feed those in need.
Lots of products that we’re using could last way longer than they actually do. Industry needs obsolescence, otherwise they couldn’t cash-in high profits. Once I had heard that compound materials should be avoided when designing products. Look at all the smartphones available. Only specialists can repair them, because they aren’t kept together by screws. Most parts are glued together. In the past each new allegedly “faster” release of Windows needed more powerful hardware, more RAM, more hard drive space, …
On some occasions I’m hopeful that mankind might be able to learn, but oftentimes – shortly after – the next time I’m listening to news in the radio I’m confronted with reality.
Joe, there is no reason humans should aspire to any more population growth, even if 12 billion could be TEMPORARILY sustained. Keeping a world population in the multiple billions only hastens the day when the finite resources run out and the toxic end products poison us to death. I needn’t go over the details about potable water, clean air, fertile soil, metal ores, petroleum for crucial chemicals and drugs, energy sources of all kinds, etc, etc. Human kind would be wise to slowly start reducing its numbers now before they are crashed through starvation, disease and war. Fewer people utilising the earth’s limited resources in the present means more can persist into a deeper future. Rather humans endure as a modest steady fire in the hearth than go out in an explosion that blows up the house.
Apparently with knowledge comes more wise and responsible behavior because most of the West, including North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Korea and Japan, has achieved zero populations growth. In fact, most of their populations are shrinking. The exception is the United States in which the population continues to grow but because of immigration rather than native births. When people experience affluence, become educated and understand the cause/effect relationship between their personal behavior and their ability to enjoy material comforts most of them opt for sensible solutions, i.e., to limit the size of their family and expenditures. India and China saw the immensity of the problem decades ago but could not make headway (with forced policies of abortion and sterilization) in third world economies. Now that those countries are developing, creating a stable middle class, there is hope they can stabilize their populations. Africa seems to be the most problematic population bomb left on the planet. Hate to see it happen, but the Middle East is being culled by endless war. That is what we want to avoid. By “we” I mean intelligent, compassionate human beings, not our political leaders or our economic masters.
Slow limitation of population growth is not going to happen. I spent several years sharing with population experts on an email list. Pop control is one of the most resistant to constructive change factors in our multiple overshoot global culture. Our heavy karma is soon going to cull our population drastically in it’s own efficient and deadly way.
I suspect you are right about this, Mike. After all, both India and China tried to address the problem with extreme prejudice (forced sterilization in India and forced abortion in China) and it didn’t work. In fact, it got both Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv Gandhi assassinated, though they blame the Tamils for Rajiv. Like you (rightfully) won’t give up on your hopes for peace, I’ll continue hoping we humans can figure out how to restrict our out-of-control growth and degradation of the planet. They say hope dies last. Maybe we can put something in the water or the air that inhibits fertility and affects all genotypes equally. That’s right, a tyrannical plan to save the world and mitigate suffering. Or would people prefer the four horsemen? Or continued embrace of delusion?
Realist,
basically Hans Rosling confirmed your own observation. With better health care, food security and education people tend to have less children. In most so called developing countries people have many children, because of child mortality rates and because children are seen as the future supporters of the aging parents. Improve the conditions and people will have fewer children.
Potable water, food supply and finite resources indeed is a problem, but we should keep in mind that it’s not the Africans that are wasting those resources. I don’t have exact numbers at hand, because of deviations, but one fact is for certain: the energy consumption of the US population is the highest in the world. The US doesn’t even possess all the oil that’s consumed. So, who should limit energy consumption (Africans or people of Western countries)? Western agricultural industries are renting large areas of fertile African soil for some pocket money, push out the former inhabitants and grow crops for eco fuel. We, the people of the West, help creating food shortages in Africa. Look on the internet for pictures of oil contaminated South American rain forest (dumped waste of oil production of Western oil companies) and contaminated African soil (caused by leaking pipelines of Western Oil companies). India’s population growth was and is also related to access to health care, food and education. In the past decades India made lots of progress, but the country still has a long way to go. In my opinion we Westerners should keep out of the family planning of developing countries and instead should assist them in skipping the – environmental disastrous – past mistakes of western industries.
As a German I’m absolutely against any forced measures – be it monetary, by blackmail, biological interference in the form of vaccinations / man-made diseases or by force. No human being has the right to dictate another human being the way how to live. Mankind should look close at history – further than just Nazi Germany. If you trace back the ideas of Josef Mengele you’ll find out about the funding of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute of Anthropology, Human Heredity, and Eugenics by the Rockefeller Foundation. The term eugenics traces back to Francis Galton, a British citizen. The idea who should be allowed to breed and who should be denied had lots of supporters in the UK and the US. In my opinion the whole idea of population control will inevitably lead us back to the darkest hours of mankind. So, be careful what you’re arguing for.
Making no attempt to even try convincing poverty stricken populations to control their growth guarantees a crash. When the carrying capacity of this planet is exceeded they will starve, they will die of diseases in their weakened condition, or they will be killed if they attempt to mass migrate and take what others have. To ignore the problem is no solution to it. I doubt they can be forced to comply by outsiders any more than India or China could force their own populations to do so, but don’t expect a miraculous outcome from taking no action because you think no one has a moral mandate to even suggest wearing a condom, especially not to societies who believe they have a religious mandate to multiply without limits.
Countries will take action that is in their own interests when the crisis hits, whether that means closing borders, stopping exports of vital supplies, or making war on countries perceived as threats. We are not there yet, so you can’t predict what even your generous Germany will do. I daresay there is probably already much internal questioning of the wisdom of Frau Merkel’s sharing your bounty with what could become an overwhelming influx of migrants. They called the dilemma “lifeboat ethics” back in the 70’s when the coming population bomb first appeared in the public forum. I would rather not get to that point just because everybody had a right to do their own thing. Moreover, there are always strings attached in any quid pro quo, especially when one person (or country) gives another what is considered help or charity. Why should self-sufficient countries prop up chaotic undeveloped ones if their unlimited growth will only endanger the future of all?
I strongly suspect that if the “third world” will not take our good advice along with our assistance (and I agree we do owe more of that to them) and start to practice family planning and population stabilization they will be cut off and left for dead in the tenuous future. The developed world, including Germany, should not be expected to commit suicide and will not do so. Trump is premature in building walls right now, because the population bomb crisis has not yet struck, but you can see that the American voters are receptive to the idea. Yes, we (the whole West) are rich because our forebears stole from the world at large, but people are not going to give up a future for themselves and their offspring because they’ve been preached a sermon of collective guilt. They will do what they must for their own and what they can for others, in that order.
So, we need to attempt practical solutions (population stabilization based on teaching facts and offering incentives) before the crisis hits. I admit, success will probably be as unlikely as stopping global warming. Why? Two reasons: Nobody trusts authority because they’ve been screwed over by it too many times; and self-interest almost always supersedes group interest. The latter (self interest) is a reproductive strategy (make more of me) that works like a top when resources are not limiting, but therein lies the rub in the coming years as they will be limiting. Altruism is not unknown but diminishes with genetic distance. Easier to get Germans to pull together than to sacrifice potential grandchildren so more Zambians can live. One tries anyway (to match resource supply with population demand) if life writ large is worth saving. I want most of the people of all nations to survive in a sustainable environment, rather than die of want while a privileged few persist in their sheltered bunkers. Continuing the present laissez faire course guarantees the latter, a crash rather than a soft landing.
Despite all the global warming denial I have some news. There is ample evidence that Global Warming is much worse than we can see today based on atmospheric observations. It is possible that the temperature anomalies at the poles which are many degrees above global estimates and which are never answered with probable cause explanations in the media but just with statements telling the fact that the temperature at the poles is hugely warmer than the rest of the planet do have an explainable reason.
That reason is so buried in the media black hole of plausible deniability that almost nobody has even heard of it.
But if you care to be particularly horrified this evening you may join the few thousand people which have seen this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqTaVcUzsTk
Solar dimming has been known for a while now, but it certainly is pertinent and mostly ignored. Good treatment of it in that video, C1. Some misguided folks think that we can use it to advantage by simply spraying a lot of calcium carbonate into the atmosphere to block sunlight. Frankly, even if it effectively did that, they have no idea how much to use to avoid unanticipated secondary effects. And, they don’t account for the fact that CaCO3 breaks down to CaO and CO2! Some theorists conflate the effects of contrails with what they call chemtrails, but there have been no published scientific investigation of such things. So, I cannot speak of what I don’t know about.
Other folks claim that solar dimming is due to Solar cycles, a waxing and waning of the Sun itself. They further utlise the argument to suggest that global warming is therefore a completely natural cycle that mankind did not cause and cannot affect. That is rubbish. I am sure there is some effect of Solar cycles on earth’s climate, however, adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere is certain to raise the average global temperature simply based on first principles of physical chemistry which cannot be avoided. The greenhouse gases will therefore either complement natural global warning or buck any natural global cool-down.
Yes, world climate is a complex issue, and I am not a climatologist or even a meteorologist so I can’t cover the half of it. It might not even be possible for humans to remediate what they have already started. That doesn’t mean they should ignore it and not try.
What do I think are the probabilities of humans taking all the necessary steps to remediate the problem enough for our survival? Based on the tenacity of big business and the resistance of regular folks to give up creature comforts, like personal cars, air conditioning, digital devices and endless kitch made out of plastic, I’d say not very good. I’d predict that private interests will keep staving off any meaningful global remediation, just as Trump recently did, until the effects on climate are dire. Only when all the holocausts they are now predicting start coming to pass will anything massive be done to counter them. The worst case crowd insists that by then it will be too late. I hope not, because I think that will be what faces our grandchildren. That and all the teeming masses, shortages of resources and accumulation of toxic wastes that I mentioned in the previous discussion. With a future like that, no wonder our leaders seem to prefer global suicide. Suits their religion I suppose, which is another impediment to quality of life that I shall not say another word about here.
Yes, global dimming has been out there for a while. the documentary is from 2005. What is horrifying is that it is never included in any narrative. All we talk about is global warming. My feeling is this unspoken reality gives the global warming deniers the “evidence” they need to cast doubt on science and continue their old business models.
If people understood that Global Dimming is masking the effect of Global Warming with the realization that once we finally wake up and end polluting the atmosphere, things are going to instantaneously get worse in a far worse way than anyone has anticipated.
This will lead many or most to consider geoengineering attempts to create a reflective blanket. There will be no other choice. The scary part is there are politicians right now who are arguing why we would ever want to impose hardship on the fossil fuel industry when we could just fly some jets and release some stuff and it will be fine. The obvious reason for concern is that such a plan would likely work, without a parallel plan to reduce and eliminate the use of fossil energy for power and transportation the reality will only become more extreme in the event that there is a disruption in the continuous maintenance and upkeep of the geoengineering system. The likelihood of that scenario is very high. Wars, pandemics, some cataclysmic event could disrupt our ability to maintain such a system.
The truth is we are performing geoengineering via pollution right now. There is no doubting any of this “theory”. We have the records of global weather for major volcanic eruptions.
I guess I find one sided arguments with no science allowed which does not include global dimming that is hiding the real danger to be completely morally bankrupt. These global warming deniers and their coalition of the right wing, big business, fundamentalist Christianity and a bunch of propagandist “news” agencies to turn the science upside down and mock it.
These groups of climate deniers wherever they are are, I hope are going to someday see the light but I doubt it. I also doubt that there is anyone of any level of power except a handful of folks who has a sense of urgency about it.
There are groups groups of folks that can fix the problem. One is the military. I know it sounds implausible but that is because we have grown accustomed to the presence of the nuclear arsenal which quietly sits on a razor thin response window with as little as a few minutes to make a launch decision. Another group would be bioterrorists. Technological advances are providing more powerful tools to help bad guys which makes this an increasing risk as we go on.
These scenarios are real enough possibilities that geoengineering should be taken completely off the table as an option and not looked at as an easy cheap fix.
Thanks Citizen One. I have been on to the true dimensions and near term timetable to disaster of the climate monster for many years now. As you say there is actually a ton of solid research out there if you look for it. I recommend searching the Apollo Gaia Project for starters.
We have been enjoying a ‘lag time’ between when pollutants enter the atmosphere and when their effects
begin to manifest. (Good like finding much about ‘climate change lag time’ on any large search engine).
But the ‘lag time’ window is closing. We are definitely seeing a LOT of accelerating changes in the continental
subarctic. For us residents, most of the changes are really rather nice so far. For other areas, not so much.
Meanwhile, jet air travel continues to add routes which many of those moaning about climate change are all
too eager to take advantage of. Anyone serious about global warming should fly only when absolutely necessary !
On the nuclear front, at least people are waking up from their sleepwalking dream of the last 55 years (since the
Cuban Missile Crisis). It’s no longer taboo to discuss the dangers of nuclear war; this is a very recent shift.
> For us residents, most of the changes are really rather nice so far. For other areas, not so much.
For example, large parts of southern Europe, where temperatures are not falling below 30°C even in the early hours of the morning at the moment — not to mention the forest fires that have been raging in Portugal, Spain, France and the Balkans.
Trump needs to dump Jeff Sessions and appoint a real attorney. Congress’s actions are illegal and Sessions is a despicable, Southern good old boy weenie whose inaction is going to get everyone killed.
turk151 – although I think Jeff Sessions is probably a very nice man, he is completely unsuited to the job. Trump needs someone tough in there and someone who doesn’t have to recuse himself.
Rod Rosenstein sends a letter to Trump spelling out why Comey should be fired. Trump fires Comey, but not before Comey leaks (like it wasn’t all planned from the get-go) classified documents to his university professor friend, who then leaks them to the newspapers. What Comey did was illegal, but he said he did it to ensure there would be a special counsel appointed.
So with Sessions recused and out of the way, it’s up to Rod Rosenstein (yes, the man who told Trump to fire Comey in the first place) to appoint special counsel. He chooses Robert Mueller, Comey’s good friend. There’s clearly a conflict on Rosenstein’s part (if Sessions had to recuse himself, Rosenstein surely had to too). And Robert Mueller should step down as he is good friends with Comey, another clear conflict.
The whole thing stinks. Of course, none of it would have happened if Sessions had been more forthcoming in the first place, or he never recused himself. Hell, no one else is recusing themselves!
I mean, you couldn’t have set it up better, could you? It’s almost as if it was a set-up.
And eight of the 16 people helping Mueller on the special investigation have given campaign donations to the Democrats, and one of them previously worked as a lawyer for Hillary Clinton. Talk about a conflict! The remaining 8 people have apparently never given money to either party, which is as it should be. It should be an impartial investigation.
Where, for Gawd’s sake, is the Special Prosecutor to investigate Clinton, the Clinton Foundation, and her missing e-mails?
“the US has pursued the construction of a multi-layered missile defense system encircling Russia with weapon installations positioned in several of the above mentioned NATO members included in NATO’s post-Cold War expansion.
“The process of withdrawing from the [Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty] and subsequently building an anti-ballistic missile network vis-a-vis Russia has now transcended the presidencies of George Bush Jr., Obama and now Trump with the current president presiding over the sale of Patriot missile systems to Poland, according to Newsweek.
“Withdrawing from the anti-ballistic missile treaty and placing missiles along Russia’s borders represents precisely the scenario Soviet policymakers feared when cutting a deal with NATO regarding Germany’s reunification. It is unlikely Russia since the Cold War failed to imagine how NATO’s expansion up to its borders would lead to greater confrontation and instability, even the prospect of war.
“During the Cold War, despite the rhetoric and numerous close-calls, the US and the Soviet Union created an geopolitical architecture that defined deterrents which dissuaded either nation from escalating to full-scale war. Today, that architecture has been left in ruins, not because of Russian aggression, but because of serial American betrayals.
“Building Upon Betrayal
“With post-Cold War promises betrayed and NATO troops sitting on Russia’s borders, considerable resources have been invested in convincing the global public that Russia, not NATO is to blame for current tensions. Each provocation committed by the United States and its allies are carried out with explicit intentions to leverage whatever Moscow’s response may be to further escalate tensions.
“Sanctions are the least costly and least risky move the US can make both politically and in terms of adding pressure to Russia’s political order. The goal is to eliminate Russia as a competitor in terms of industry, finance and geopolitics. To do this, the US seeks to pressure Russia into accepting a subordinate position within America’s self-proclaimed ‘international order,’ or to overthrow and replace Russia’s political order altogether.
“It is an agenda that benefits un-elected special interests on Wall Street, in Washington, as well as in London and Brussels and goes far in explaining why this singular agenda of encircling and isolating Russia has continued to unfold post-Cold War regardless of who occupies the White House and what the political mood is among the public regarding Russia.
“Sanctions under Trump further prove that this singular agenda continues to move forward and that those investing hope in US presidencies to stop it have invested poorly.
“For Russia, continuing to build an alternative to America’s ‘international order,’ as well as encouraging alternatives both within Russia and abroad to those special interests that define and drive that order, is key to preventing tensions from further escalating.”
Russian Sanctions Latest Betrayal of Post-Cold War Agreements
By Ulson Gunnar
https://journal-neo.org/2017/08/04/russian-sanctions-latest-betrayal-of-post-cold-war-agreements/
Thanks Abe. The article makes perfect sense, unlike the empty BS spewed by the US MSM.
Abe,
Russia could bring most of the US closest allies to their knees by stopping gas delivery for a year. The supply chain for many products spans the whole globe. So, a boycott of the allies would sooner or later hit the US as well. The only requirement for doing so is for the Russians to find a way to decouple their internal economy from the external (imports and exports).
Thanks Abe. Great comment. The PNAC crazies actually think they can win a nuclear war or scare Russia into backing down. Keeping Russia from building an alternative to America’s “international order” is what they are all about. It’s like watching a 2 year old playing with a lighter next to a gas can. Yikes!!
Yes, what choices do the Russians have? Try to do right by our own citizens and try to be the example that we might wish others to be in the sphere of world affairs. Seems like they are at least trying to make the only positive choice with any degree of hope.
I have to take Putin at face value when he discusses things like national interests and the respect for international law and the cooperation among sovereign states with a view to a diplomatic acceptance of a sense of equality of rights of self-determination. And I think the fact that a Russian people steeped in a sense of ancestral, national, and cultural history recognize that Putin has improved their lot, provided for their defense, and generally conducted himself as a gentleman.
I saw the movie as a kid and knew it represented the triumph of fear and loathing and a tragic period to billions of years of biological evolution including the emergence of “intelligent” life on earth. Most adult viewers probably thought it presented heroism, stoicism to the max as the survivors came to terms with the loss of all hope.
As to Mr. Pilger’s reminder to us of Obama’s last legacy, a deferred time bomb attack on our first amendment intended to extirpate blogs such as this one from the reach of America’s citizenry, Zero Hedge posted an excellent article yesterday. The URL will follow in the attached box.
Here’s the link: http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-08-03/russia-sanctions-and-coming-crackdown-americans
Thanks, Obama.
Google censorship said to be taking toll on this site, others:
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/08/02/pers-a02.html
I don’t know whether to thank you for this article or not. I read it and it is demonstrably true that freedom of thought and speech is facing real influential war of restriction and control.
In the above post I accidentally wrote chapter “163” — I meant to write
Veterans for Peace, East Bay Chapter 162.
Even some “progressive” journalists, such as Amy Goodman of Democracy Now are echoing MSM propaganda, and ignoring the danger of nuclear war. So a bunch of us ex-GI’s wrote an open letter, mailed it to her and also posted it at Dissident Voice.
http://dissidentvoice.org/2017/04/we-need-better-and-more-diverse-coverage-on-syria/
There was no response from Amy Goodman, so we (Veterans for Peace, East Bay Chapter 163) wrote a petition. We invite everyone to read it, and if you agree, please sign it and help circulate it. It’s at:
https://www.change.org/p/amy-goodman-and-producers-at-democracy-now-democracy-now-broaden-and-improve-the-coverage-on-syria
Thank you Daniel! I hope your petition goes viral.
Amy has become very disappointing in her lopsided interviews.
i believe we are in the hands of missile maniacs:
—————————————————————————-
The Maniacs of Militarism
“War is madness” – Pope Francis
The maniacs of militarism are creating wars
Countries are bombed by warmongering whores
Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen and other countries too
Are hell holes of the earth, “The work,” of this insane crew
Enabled by politicians in positions of power
These well dressed war criminals hide and cower
The generals salute their political masters
Then the brainwashed obey these bemedaled disasters
Cities are destroyed and reduced to rubble
Where are the perpetrators that created all this trouble?
They are residing in luxury and given fancy titles
War crimes trials are needed, and are so vital
But this is not happening: the system is corrupted
And these evil beings, by some are worshiped
Blood-soaked villains that never do the fighting
They are the “experts” that do the inciting
They are the producers of death and destruction
Others are profiteers of all the bloody actions
Missiles, bombs and horrendous weapons
There is no end to the endless aggression
Millions are dead, and millions are homeless
Millions are refugees, and all this is atrocious
Once they had jobs, families, and homes as well
Then their countries were bombed by the agents from hell
Setting the world on fire is what these war arsonists do
The money for their depredations comes from me and you
They have made us all accessories to their criminal acts
Our Taxes are the blood money and that is a fact
Will the people ever say: “We have had enough”?
And put all these villains in secure handcuffs
Then lock them up in maximum security prisons
Then, we can say “goodbye” to the maniacs of militarism
[more info at link below]
http://graysinfo.blogspot.ca/2017/04/the-maniacs-of-militarism.html
Noam Chomsky spells it out perfectly:
“It’s all quite predictable, as study after study shows,” Noam Chomsky writes. “A brutal tyrant crosses the line from admirable friend to ‘villain’ and ‘scum’ when he commits the crime of independence.”
Independence, not going completely along with what the U.S. wants, having your own thoughts about what is good and right for your people = a death sentence.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEdJDJgyYxs
…
Article is very disturbing but at these times when clearly irrational neo cons are running rampant throughout the “foreign policy” establishment, it seems that responsible citizens must be and continue to be disturbed. Perhaps from this serious unease, a sense of purpose with capable leaders will emerge. One cannot just give up hope.
I do despair, however, as to whether this country’s citizens are capable of grappling with these serious issues. Sports, zucker for pres (ugh), kardashians, russiagate,etc, etc seem to be the flavor de jure for useless and vapid distraction.
To me, it is extremely important to peruse what is “out there.” I would argue that this country is being held hostage by the neo cons, the zio cons, AIPAC and its Israeli-first puppets in congress, etc. To believe that they are rational, to my mind, misses the point. Pushing for war continuously is not rational and I believe evil to the extreme.
I found an article from Saker to be thought provoking in this vein. He leads off with the following:
Now, of course, if we assume that the Neocons are completely crazy, then everything is possible, from a US invasion of Lesotho to a simultaneous thermonuclear attack on Russia and China. I am in no way dismissing the insanity (and depravity) of the Neocons, but I also see no point in analyzing that which is clearly irrational, if only because all modern theories of deterrence always imply a “rational actor” and not a crazy lunatic on an suicidal amok run. For our purposes, therefore, we will assume that there is a semblance of rational thinking left in Washington DC and that even if the Neocons decide to launch some clearly crazy operation, somebody in the top levels of power will find the courage prevent this, just like Admiral Fallon did it with his “not on my watch!” which possibly prevented a US attack on Iran in 2007). So, assuming a modicum of rationality is still involved, where could the Empire strike next?
The link to his site and the article:
http://thesaker.is/the-end-of-the-wars-on-the-cheap-for-the-united-states/
No doubt Dr. Strangelove has many faces and pandering to nationalist sentiment always seems to have worked whether the perpetrator be a loose cannon or a tough talking pragmatist. Yes, even some women have tried to bolster their “tough image deficit” by ratcheting up the stakes i.e. Hillary Clinton and not too long ago we observed Maggie Thatcher engaging the U.K. in a reckless war in the Falklands which would have seemed comical if it weren’t for the loss of lives triggered by her insane policies.
It is clear to me that our hope at this moment is for the nations of the world to unify in turning their backs squarely on the US. Our nation needs a stern lesson. Our leaders and population need a clear, unambiguous signal that our government is completely off its rocker and that what it is doing and has been doing for so long will not stand one more day. As a US citizen, I feel strongly that those of us who see the insanity of our government’s foreign and economic policy and give voice to the incredible danger and urgency for a completely different way to relate to the nations of the world are like canaries in coal mines, with the vast majority of our fellow citizens distracted, preoccupied, and failing to grasp the enormity of the situation we find ourselves in. I have never in my life felt the degree of intensity and degree of constant bombardment of propaganda and deception being thrown at our citizenry as is happening now. It’s always been going on, but now is an exceptional time, it seems to me. The United States needs to be shocked into realization. I hate saying this because I wish no one more suffering, but if that’s what it takes to save the planet, I’ll willfully endure whatever hardship needed for sanity to come to our nation so we can move away from the abyss and move forward constructively as one world.
Danny Moody: Yes, there are lot of us who understand your feelings and share your concerns. It is very difficult to imagine the utter insanity of the people in power in the country. The Power corrupts and it leads to complete moral degeneration.
I hope I am wrong but this madness is going to end badly. (No pun intended}
————————————————————
When the Nukes Start Flying
When the nuclear missiles start flying
The result will be many millions dying
Planet earth will be all aflame
Nothing will ever be the same
“Our leaders” will be hiding in their safe quarters
Hoping to escape the deadly horrors
Mad men of the earth who caused this fiery hell
“ Honourable” idiots with nothing left to sell
Useless scumbags in a now useless world
Their “victory” dreams are now fulfilled
Now they have nowhere to run or go
The stupid bastards now reap what they sow
Sadly, many innocent people will also suffer and die
Victims of the madmen who sent hellfire from the sky
Hell on earth becomes the final solution
Courtesy of maniacs who pay no restitution
This is what happens when war criminals rule
And people obey these bloody fools!
A corrupt system brings death and dying
This is what happens when the Nukes start flying
http://graysinfo.blogspot.ca/2015/02/when-nukes-start-flying.html
It would seem that Hollywood, prior to 1970, provided entertainment far more substantive, in terms of having a “socially redeeming value” in their movies. Fail Safe, starring Actor Henry Fonda, portraying the President of the United States is another must see regarding WW III scenarios. The Pentagon refused to co-operate with Columbia Pictures’ Sidney Lumet (the movie’s Director) so, much so, that one brief clip if a B-58 Hustler, apparently armed with two twenty megaton bombs was shown taking off, over and over again to obtain the visual effect of launching a sortie of them flying against the Soviet Union. Today’s Hollywood is in sharp contrast to the uncooperative spirit back then…to the point where there seems to be a Rolodex of CIA representatives, cheerfully spitting out all sorts of propagandizing recommendations such as Zero Dark Thirty. Again, there were so many useful contributions by Hollywood back then, One Step Beyond, and The Outer Limits with examples of what was to come…NSA, CIA and that made for TV flick, O.B.I.T. Surely, these examples point to a present day, fully compromised Hollywood. I can only look forward to the possibility that Trump and Putin will design and execute their own summitry, gathering together a few world leaders in a manner independent of their mutual bureaucracies, For example; with other nuclear armed national leaders such as His Excellency Ram Nath Kovind of India, President Mamnoon Hussain of Pakistan, Emmanuel Macron of France (a bona fide hopeful?) and China’s Xi Jinping all these men must show a special determination, to ignore their respective military and legislative authorities. Pray brothers, pray for the time is near! Perhaps the LORD said unto himself, forget the Ark and flood idea, I mean to wipe them all off the crust of the earth, I shall permit their free will to self destruct, I AM who AM sparing no-one and will start anew!…I shall put my finger in their single star and say, HOLD wait there for two millennia until I form a new mankind….
Hollywood still releases some movies that are showing what’s coming (maybe in a more abstract form than the movies of the past). I’m not up-to-date with the latest movies, nevertheless two movies that foreshadowed the future come to my mind:
1. Enemy of the State (1998),
2. Minority Report (2002).
If you’re carefully listening to official news and reading latest developments than you’ll see that “scientists”* think they can assess the behavior of people (based on patterns of others or past actions of people). If that doesn’t sound like minority report then I don’t know. It’s a question of time when politicians get the idea of incarcerating citizens who’re posing a potential thread based on computer models (or AI).
*The word scientist shouldn’t be applied to such fraudsters. They’re basically snake-oil salesman trying to pose a scientists. The application of that word discredits real scientists.
Trump isn’t the blame here,it’s the zionist borg.
????????
So the Americans are seemingly planning a war that they cannot win but that will make the planet unsustainable for human and most animal life. Everyone with more than one brain cell knows this. We can draw some tentative conclusions: 1. They are completely insane, or 2. They want the Russians and Chinese to think that they are insane to the extent that these two nations will meekly surrender. So when push comes to shove what is going to happen? Either the bluff doesn’t work China and Russia don’t surrender and since even neocons don’t like the idea of being incinerated or dying a slow death of starvation or radiation sickness in fall out shelters, they will with due consideration call the whole show off. Or, conversely, they will go ahead since the loss of face will be bad enough to provoke a war. What a stupid fix to get yourself into. Contrary to the orthodox narrative, America will not prevail, no-one will.
Was there ever such a unnecessary ‘dumb war’ (to use Obama’s forgotten phrase) fought on the basis of vanity, self-righteousness, and a simple lust for power.
To all: I posted a link above awaiting moderation, but it appears that some in the International community are preparing to sanction the US. Now that will change the conversation. Visit Journal NEO org.
It just seems to me that all the social and political institutions which make up and control our society, that is to say the uber-deep state including the political parties and press work for the interests of the Western oligarchy and that they always have. Until now they have been able to do it in the background and put forward this face of democracy and all that while the CIA and Pentagon worked directly for the interests of The Saudi King of global oil, the Cargill kings of global food production and the few other families which control earth’s resources.
The coup d’etat has already been completed the generals and Goldman Sachs are not hidden any more they are right there twisting Trump in any direction they want. It’s hardly different to what the Dulles brothers did to Eisenhower, just gaudier.
Nothing what-so-ever has stopped the march begun 70 years ago toward “Global full spectrum domination.”
Nothing is going to stop them and with missal defense in place there is even talk of a “global strike” taking out Chinese and Russian missals before they can be launched and knocking down the ones that do. VICTORY
These are the people who have been killing and killing every single day for 70 years – so don’t think any of this is beyond them.
MaDarby, apparently we go to the “The Wolfowitz Doctrine” about the stupidest thing America could do. Read here:
http://www.voltairenet.org/article197288.html
Creating threats in a Mexican standoff increases the chances that someone will shoot out of fear. The first strike talk is all about this. Use ’em or lose ’em is the mantra for this one. Your post, Lee Francis covers the rational sides of this situation, but the closer both sides get to pulling the the nuclear trigger, the more fear and anger take over, and the most upset by emotion decides on the spur to shoot first. When hair triggers are cocked (defcon III) anything can happen, and it usually does. And the guys at the top are not the only ones capable of starting the “Big One.” If you think the guys in the silos are somehow guaranteed to follow orders, that is not so. This kind of pressure situation makes people crazy.
Does anyone want Donald Trump to call the shots in a nuclear crisis? A lot of Americans have elected him to do just that as nuclear tensions ratchet up now……
Mike K. – right you are, I think. If we are going to get into a NUCLEAR WAR we need someone who can WIN IT, like JOHN MCCAIN. Trump wants peace with Russia, which will mean we will forever be living under the JACKBOOT OF PUTIN. Only Congress has the guts to stop this fate. Currently, John McCain is in Congress and that is where the WAR ROOM ought to be set-up as they are the only ones who recognize and can deal with the threat. They need to continue to make Trump more and more impotent, if not straight out impeachment, then get on with America’s business and obligation to the rest of the free world. My worry is that isolationist, Russian lover TRUMP, won’t want to PRESS THE BUTTON when the time comes, thinking about all his business interests in Russia, or whatever. Someone with a decisive nature like MCCAIN will get done what needs to be done.
DFC – “If we are going to get into a NUCLEAR WAR we need someone who can WIN IT, like JOHN MCCAIN.”
John McCain is insane.
“My worry is that isolationist, Russian lover TRUMP, won’t want to PRESS THE BUTTON when the time comes.”
Are you on acid? This is a joke, right?
Are you real, DFC ? If you are then you fall sqarely into the category of person that we in South Wales call an idiot. John McCain couldn’t win a Pull the skin of a Custar Pudding contest, let alone a war. And you are already under a jackboot. FFS wake up !!
You forgot to label your post “sarcasm,” DFC.
M is my hero also, war criminal who gets shot down and then possibly spills the beans to save his skin. Gloria Patria !!
delusional insanity
I suspect this is sarcasm…well played.
The US ruling elite are simply Evil, and that is a form of insanity. They have been relentlessly aggressive and genocidal for 240 years, so how could they change now?
“The admiral commanding the U.S. Pacific fleet said that, “if required,” he would nuke China.” The nuking is not about national security and defense of Patria – the nuking is for the same business of serving to profiteers. The admiral is a moral pygmy next to American Patriot Major General Smedley Darlington Butler:
“War is a racket. It always has been. It is possibly the oldest, easily the most profitable, surely the most vicious. It is the only one international in scope. It is the only one in which the profits are reckoned in dollars and the losses in lives.
War is a racket (1935)
——-
I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
Socialist newspaper Common Sense, 1935″
Anna if you are a little like myself, and after discovering Smedley Butler, isn’t amazing to how little people know of him? Major General Butler doesn’t get a statue in the park, his name is never mentioned alongside Marshall or Eisenhower and yet in many ways of war Butler surpassed these other great military leaders of our one time warring age of WWI & WWII, why even this spell check goes goofy with the spelling of Smedley. So, Anna your promoting this great one time military hero, is excellent, and well needed. I like to tell the younger folk about Major General Butler, I think he is there for them to learn more about. Good comment Anna. Joe
He stood up to the Business Plot and stood up for the Bonus Army against MacArthur in Washington DC. A true hero.
Bravo Mr.Pilger! Too bad it has to end this way.
Anna,
Here are a couple of other military officers worth remembering:
David Shoup joined the Marines in 1926, & was awarded the Medal of Honor during WWII. As Commandant of the Marine Corps & a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Shoup was in on the planning for the initial stages of the Viet Nam War at the highest level of the US military. After retiring in 1963, here is what he said about the Viet Nam War in 1966, “I believe that if we had and would keep our dirty, bloody, dollar-soaked fingers out of the business of these nations so full of depressed, exploited people, they will arrive at a solution of their own—and if unfortunately their revolution must be of the violent type because the ‘haves’ refuse to share with the ‘have-nots’ by any peaceful method, at least what they get will be their own, and not the American style, which they don’t want and above all don’t want crammed down their throats by Americans.”
Lawrence Wilkerson flew 1100 combat hours as a helicopter pilot in his 1st yr. in Viet Nam & later in his career was the deputy director of the Marine Corps War College & chief of staff for Gen. Colin Powell when Powell was the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff & when Powell was Sec. of State. Col. Wilkerson has stated that our foreign policy is really run by, “The people who own the wealth, the people who therefore have the power and who more or less, & I’m not being too facetious here, buy the president and thus buy American foreign policy.” He also points out that, “big American defense contractors are largely responsible for our current dispute with Russia.”
I will add George McGovern, with 35 missions piloting his B-24 during WWII over Germany.
The US love of nuking and other forms of destruction is just a manifestation of the USA’s real religion-Death worship. Can you imagine the Pentagon thanatocrats drooling over their maps as they plot the devastation of such a ‘target rich’ country as China?
Apparently our proposed sanctions on North Korea will cut their exports by one-third … act of war?
Thanks John. Sadly, Americans prefer fantasy to truth. They believe in whatever provides some sort of coherence to their lives so these people believe the entire world wants to be rule by the National Security State. If the power structure were stable I would not be concerned with the barbarism of the majority but this very instability in Washington that provides rewards aggressive belligerence within various offices and departments could easily result in miscalculations. There is literally no one in charge and no group in charge in Washington.
Here is what Paul Craig Roberts has to say:
http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2017/08/03/trump-will-now-become-war-president/
Bob you are on the ball. If what Paul Craig Roberts writes about comes to be, we will all remember this Russia-Iran-N Korea sanction bill for it being the kiss of death for the American way of life (whatever in the hell that was suppose to be) but never the less, our congress has taken the helm, and God only knows where that ship will lead us. Batten down the hatches, and secure the cargo holds, because our voyage is only now beginning. The patients have overcome the asylum, and besides their being crazy, they are bought and paid for by their masters of human kinds agony. Yes, now you may scream.
Look at this Joe, it’s all coming apart!
Is it About Time to Introduce International Sanctions Against US?
https://journal-neo.org/2017/08/03/is-it-about-time-to-introduce-international-sanctions-against-us/
This would actually be a welcome challenge. If 300 million plus people cannot gain their living from 3 million plus square miles of the choicest real estate in the World, then they are the worst failures in all of human history. It might actually strengthen the hand of the people against the, now isolated, home-grown Oligarchs, and actually excuse us from the REAL struggle: the LONG-established Euro-British Oligarchy in their on-going pursuit of PanEurope (a revived Roman Empire; which the fundamentalists should have fun with THAT one, given their “in-depth” literalist understanding of the Book of Revelations) from the Urals to the sea (after carving up Holy Mother Russia). They’ve been hiding behind, and wielding, US power, for their own policy pursuits, since WWII, while we take the blame for an “American Empire” (as if the Roman Legionnaires gained empire for themselves and not the oligarchy back home in Rome. They got to risk life&limb for 20 years, then gained a modest retirement plot of land for their troubles, if they still had arms and legs to work it themselves). We can then use the line made famous by Nixon: “you won’t have Nixon to kick around anymore”.
And the World will then be FORCED to wonder WHY they still have geopolitical problems after “the Source” of said problems has been isolated.
Who will introduce sanctions on the US?
Joe the presidency and the congress are worthless…
How the US is using North Korea to attack Russia…
https://journal-neo.org/2017/08/03/new-missile-test-how-the-us-is-using-north-korea-to-attack-russia/
Thanks, Bob Van Noy. I agree with you that Paul Craig Roberts has been writing about that for a long time……What I am really interested in is for someone to tell us HOW TO STOP THIS MADNESS?!
I have been suggesting something for a long time and will repeat it again:
PUT WALL STREET BANKERS OUT OF BUSINESS………..They run us like slaves and run the whole Western Governments like well trained dogs……………we should all use Credit Unions and join the effort to create State Banks like the one in North Dakota……………Go here http://www.publicbankinginstitute.org/
Many Thanks Dr. Study. I have many ideas as to how to live in America in the light of this Travesty. First, throw the bums out!, every one of them regardless of party. Vote only for sworn Peace candidates, and only the candidate that are crowd funded. No longer pay the least bit of attention to the two-party system; it is failed. Rebuild your favorite party from the ground up the way You want it to be, disregard Party insiders, they are proven worthless. Probably the best approach is to disavow any party affiliation. Crowd-funding is the route around Citizens-United!
On Banking, follow religiously Ellen Brown (I know that sounds ideological but she sees the way, which is Public Banking. This is the evil in the entire World, Usury. It somehow has to be made clear that lending is entrapment! Investment Banking is a misnomer, simple as that…
Carefully pay attention to Yanis Varoufakis, James Gailbreath, and Michael Hudson. They have, I’m convinced, figured out a livable contemporary economics. Become a radical environmentalist, resources are far more important than shiny metal! Learn the importance of Battery technology…
This is why we need a real People’s site for Democracy; a Free of interference site, where genuine people of good will can share their best thoughts.
I know you’re deeply concerned And I know you’re justifiably angry because Robert Parry has made this space very special and I feel as if I know you. Thank You.
Long story short: enact LaRouche’s four laws (a distillation and updating of Alexander Hamilton’s writings, to be found on EIR website). Also, Webster G Tarpley has the plan for ending the current, ongoing Great Depression, at the top of his website. Of course, the REAL question is who can we get installed into the seat of power to enact these programs? We would almost HAVE to be isolated to level the playing ground, in order to tear apart and gut our own home-grown oligarchs who contribute to the global oligarchy. Being an electrician, a blue collar white guy with many acquaintances among my fellow “deplorables” (where most of the veterans are; I was a Sanders-Stein guy myself) I can assure you they are up for a civil war to drain the swamp, and don’t take kindly to the coup on Trump. Isolation may just get the job done.
I know you’re right Brad, thanks. The Deplorable Party; I love it!
Public banking is short and simple the key. Control of the money supply is control of the world…it needs to be deprivatized and pried from the grubby hands of fthe few. William Engdahl’s “Gods of Money” explains a lot.
And Kennedy understood this.
http://www.john-f-kennedy.net/executiveorder11110.htm
And how about John J. McCloy on the Warren Commission…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OXHyFUXvGAk
Totally agree Gregory Herr, please see my response to Dr. Soudy above, make additions and deletions, keep them for another exchange down the line… Thank You.
Gregory Herr,
that’s quite an interesting link you’ve provided. A few important facts about John Jay McCloy are missing in the video.
1. His controversial position on the bombing of the rail lines of the concentration camp Auschwitz.
2. Someone might debate if the US were justified (instead of establishing an official International War Tribunal) in conducting trials of another nation, nevertheless it happened. The strange aspect of McCloy’s role in those trials is that he assisted in leting several of the worst war criminals off the hook
3. Through his wife he was related to the second wife of the first Chancellor of post-war Germany.
correction:
“… in conducting trials of another nation, …”
should be:
“… in conducting trials of another nations citizens (politicians, industrialists, etc.), …”
Take down the government and there won’t be a wall street to worry about. For that’s a ponzi scheme now anyway, there is no real wealth in wall street, just derivative speculated worthless dollars.
Even on this CN blog few are really aware of how close we are today to this tragic end of our failed human civilization. It remains too dark for most of us to grasp. I have no words for this situation. It saddens me more than anything possibly could. I pray that we be forgiven for what we have done to this world and to each other. Yes, my tears are flowing too John Pilger. Thank you for caring enough to write this tragic piece.
Mike. K., after you stop crying please tell us YOUR effective pragmatic ideas on what to do……………
Dr. Soudy – how about posting YOUR solutions? Apparently you must have something else to say?
That’s the hard part….doc…it really is (for the most part) out of mike’s hands, and yours, and mine. Reading CN for some truth to be an informed citizen is a start though. If only this article would reach the masses….along with the hundred other articles here that have elevated the tragic path we find ourselves in. Calling your congressman is about the only other thing there is. I actually believe God is control, but I know that is not for everyone.
It’s not out of our hands, there are 100,000,000 million citizens in an age group that could storm the offices of government, and take the country back in a matter of days. They simply lack all of the tools to fight for anything. That part is sad, and they’ll get what’s coming to them, we all will. The shocking part is how open and free the corruption is, and it has zero effect on the citizens. Look at the water scandal in Michigan where Americans were deliberately poisoned for years. Why weren’t the culprits bludgeoned in the streets? Our founding fathers would have shot them all dead without hesitation.
Americans know full well the US government and the Saudis and some despicable Jews did 9/11. And those high ranking Jews were so powerful they had the entire US military stand down. We all know it happened in that matter, yet we haven’t killed a single person or held any government elects accountable. We should be killing them in there sleep until democracy is put back in power. As it’s a cabal that has taken the American flag over, and we all know it and do nothing.
First..a protective force loyal to its duty must be formed.
The duty of this force/army is to protect those who are willing to go arrest those who need to be arrested.
Oi. Pray? Go ahead .. one might feel better.
Eloquently stated, it hurts me to agree with what you said.
It was always plain that once the US Reich began to crumble under the weight of its moral, spritual and intellectual corruption and decadence, that it would go beserk, like a dying rabid dog in the last throes of hydrophobia, and take the world down with it. Guaranteeing that debacle is the power of the religious fundamentalist vermin in US politics, who are actively working to bring about the End Times Holocaust of humanity that their sick and Evil psyches have long yearned for.
Here is an article that looks at U.S. arms sales to developing nations between 2008 and 2015:
https://viableopposition.blogspot.ca/2017/07/exporting-war.html
One of America’s key exports is war.
O.K. Sally, we know that. What do YOU suggest be done?!
The “citizens” of America better start to get it together. Organize a million citizen brigade and surround the Pentagon, state dept, house of Congress, us Senate and AIPAC headquarters. Then make citizen arrests on ever ranking, elected, or “other” threat to real democracy. Have a public mass trial and execute those complicit. Which was I believe 432-3 on the latest congressional bill? Why Tulsi Gabbard signed it is beyond reason to me but she did. That’s what I think needs to be done. If we wish to save the world that is? Only the American citizens could do it, but they are just too drugged, brainwashed, distracted and mind controlled to even fathom the concept.