To the OP, thank you for posting this. Its a shame only a few thousand viewers amongst the six parts. Every American needs to view this series. Chalmers has been my favorite historian, voice of reason, since I read Blowback, many years ago. His interview on Why We Fight was also incredible. Thank you again for posting, and may Chalmers RIP.
Osama bin Laden; recruitment video features pics Iraqi babies wasting away from malnutrition and lack of medicine (New York Daily News, 9/28/01). Albright & the terrorists may have shared a common rationale--a belief that the deaths of thousands of innocents are a price worth paying to achieve one's political ends--does not seem to be one that can be made in U.S. mass media. 1995 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report that 567,000+ Iraqi children under 5Yrs age had Died Sanctions
He's unfortunately on the money on most of everything said. I do disagree on the final point though - I do believe something can still be done on the part of an informed, conscious citizenry.
Johnson is also correct to note that: (a) "war on terror" is an oxymoron, and (b) US strategy in Iraq belies understanding of its society. There cannot be a "war" against "terror". 9/11 was a criminal attack and would have been best handled via criminal proceedings against all those involved. Regarding Iraq, it was known that the country was a Shiite majority state ruled by a Sunni minority. Introduction of "democracy" could only result in a pro-Iran, pro-Hizbollah regime.
I agree with Johnson's core assertion that the US has to decide between domestic democracy and a foreign empire. (The British chose the former while the Romans chose the latter.) The US foreign policy is exceedingly militaristic and backed by the powerful military-industrial complex. Military presence in foreign countries as well as intervention in their internal affairs via clandestine operations generates resentment that often translates into terrorist "blowback" against US.
To the OP, thank you for posting this. Its a shame only a few thousand viewers amongst the six parts. Every American needs to view this series. Chalmers has been my favorite historian, voice of reason, since I read Blowback, many years ago. His interview on Why We Fight was also incredible. Thank you again for posting, and may Chalmers RIP.
PirateSygnal 1 month ago
Osama bin Laden; recruitment video features pics Iraqi babies wasting away from malnutrition and lack of medicine (New York Daily News, 9/28/01). Albright & the terrorists may have shared a common rationale--a belief that the deaths of thousands of innocents are a price worth paying to achieve one's political ends--does not seem to be one that can be made in U.S. mass media. 1995 U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report that 567,000+ Iraqi children under 5Yrs age had Died Sanctions
wind4watts 4 months ago
He's unfortunately on the money on most of everything said. I do disagree on the final point though - I do believe something can still be done on the part of an informed, conscious citizenry.
Luke43168 9 months ago
The late Chalmers Johnson, in the vein of Walter Karp, was a great historian.
SimmerInJuly 10 months ago
PART II:
Johnson is also correct to note that: (a) "war on terror" is an oxymoron, and (b) US strategy in Iraq belies understanding of its society. There cannot be a "war" against "terror". 9/11 was a criminal attack and would have been best handled via criminal proceedings against all those involved. Regarding Iraq, it was known that the country was a Shiite majority state ruled by a Sunni minority. Introduction of "democracy" could only result in a pro-Iran, pro-Hizbollah regime.
-Kashif
KashifHKhan 3 years ago
PART I:
I agree with Johnson's core assertion that the US has to decide between domestic democracy and a foreign empire. (The British chose the former while the Romans chose the latter.) The US foreign policy is exceedingly militaristic and backed by the powerful military-industrial complex. Military presence in foreign countries as well as intervention in their internal affairs via clandestine operations generates resentment that often translates into terrorist "blowback" against US.
-Kashif
KashifHKhan 3 years ago