Empire

The Mightiest Nation

November 30, 2013 Arthur Hoppe, www.sfgate.com Educate! Empire, Wars and Militarism

Once upon a time there was a country that was very small and, on the whole, very good. Its citizens were proud and independent and self-reliant and generally prosperous. They believed in freedom and justice and equality. But, above all, they had faith. They had faith in their religion, their leaders, their country and themselves. And, of course, they were ambitious. Being proud of their country, they wanted to make it bigger. First they conquered the savage tribes that hemmed them in. Then they fought innumerable wars on land and sea with foreign powers to the east and west and south. They won almost all the battles they fought and conquered foreign lands. It took many generations, but at last the good, little country was the richest, mightiest nation in the whole, wide world -- admired, respected, envied and feared by one and all. "We must remain the mightiest nation," said its leaders, "so that we can insure universal peace and make everyone as prosperous and decent and civilized as we are." At first, the mightiest nation was as good as its word. It constructed highways and buildings and pipelines and hygienic facilities all over the world. And for awhile, it even kept the peace. But . . .

US Spying On Foreign Governments Creates Major Blowback

October 25, 2013 Kevin Zeese, www.PopularResistance.org Resist! Brazil, Empire, France, Germany, NSA, Wars and Militarism

Now that the extent of US spying on foreign leaders, including US allies, is known it is creating major blowback against the United States. No doubt anger at the United States for its aggressive leadership of the largest empire in world history which has military, economic and political implications has been building up for a long time. Countries have been pulled into wars based on lies, forced to participate in torture and rendition, drawn into negotiations on trade agreements that undermine their national policies in favor of profits for US transnational corporations among many examples of abuse of power. The spying on foreign leaders is an issue in its own right, but in fact the issues are much broader.

Revisionism vs. Reality

October 14, 2013 Colin Jenkins, www.dissidentvoice.org Educate! Education, Empire, Imperialism, Media

As working class women and men, we have an intimate connection with indigenous peoples who were “so free with their possessions” that “they would offer to share with anyone,” just as we do with our neighbors. We have a bond with those whose only wish was to be left alone, to live and carry on as they please, to progress their livelihoods, and to care for their families, loved ones and neighbors, just as we do. The conditioned need to possess “worldly goods” at the expense of enslaving and murdering other human beings does not exist for our benefit, and should not be celebrated. Reality does and should mean something. Reject revisionism. Embrace reality. We have nothing to lose but our chains.

The Peace Corps Capitalism and US Empire

October 10, 2013 Nathaniel Matthews-Trigg, www.roarmag.org Educate! Empire, Finance and the Economy, Government

Far from alleviating poverty in the Global South, the American Peace Corps locks marginalized communities into a global web of capitalist exploitation. “The Peace Corps was never intended to be blindly altruistic. Rather, it was designed to be an interpersonal demonstration of the fruits of democracy and free enterprise.” The Heritage Foundation. On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy signed executive order 10924 which formally created the American Peace Corps (APC). Since its inception, the American Peace Corps has sent over 210.000 Americans abroad to 139 different countries with the intent of “promoting world peace and friendship.” On the surface, the APC claims to “promote peace and friendship”, yet this is all a thin cover for two ulterior objectives: the spreading of U.S. geo-political influence by way of dependency on global capitalism, and the suppression of anti-capitalist grassroots movements. For the last 52 years the APC has been deceiving not only the destitute populations they claim to help, but also the young humanitarians who naively volunteer.

Secrets Result in Abuse of Power: New Era of Transparency

August 30, 2013 Kevin Zeese and Margaret Flowers, www.truthout.org Educate! Chelsea Manning, Empire, Iran, Wars and Militarism, Wikileaks

The importance of Chelsea Manning's actions to increase transparency in US foreign policy was underscored by the timing of her extreme 35-year sentence. In the same week, the CIA admitted after 60 years that it engineered a coup d'état against the elected prime minister of Iran, Mohammad Mossadegh, in 1953. This secret US and British action changed the course of history, planting the seeds for many of the problems the region and world face today. The Mossadegh coup became the model for secret government action by the United States, often carried out by the CIA. Author and historian William Blum lists dozens of instances of the United States attempting or succeeding in overthrowing foreign, often democratic, governments. He says "The United States has overthrown more democratically-elected governments than any country in world history."

«1 2 3 4 »

Daily movement news and resources