Stephen Lendman

NNC's Iman Soleimani conducted the interview. Occupy Wall Street, America's sham electoral process, the so-called Arab Spring, Zionism, and money power were discussed.

NNC (Namavaran Network Corporation) initially operated as a cultural and publishing institute. It trained bilingual journalists working with foreign media.

More recently it began "giving press service(es) to foreign media by recruiting its trained journalists." It's now one of Iran's largest media operations. It works collaboratively with major TV and News services.

Questions and answers are below. Editing was done as needed. Final comments follow.

NNC: What do you think about Occupy Wall Street? Is this movement a popular and spontaneous one or predetermined?

Lendman: I was thrilled a year ago September when OWS emerged in Manhattan and spread like wildfire across the country and abroad in Europe.

In America, it was the first mass activism against a corrupt, dysfunctional, predatory system since the 1960s. It's too early to tell what's coming, if what started has legs, or has any chance to succeed.

I wrote numerous times about OWS. It's the mother of all struggles. It pits people against money power. Powerful financial institutions run America and most other countries.

Unless challenged and stopped, nothing meaningful can be accomplished. Real change won't happen. Money power is omnipotent and corrosive. Expunging it matters more than anything else.

Doing it will take many years of committed struggle. So far, minor skirmishes alone occurred. Little was accomplished. I'm still hopeful for real results ahead.

Will committed activists stay the course? Will many others be encouraged to join them? Will strong leaders emerge? These and other questions remain unanswered.

NNC: In your opinion, has the Occupy movement emerged from the Arab Spring or from the economic crisis and the other problems in the USA?

Lendman: The so-called Arab Spring is a Western term, not a Middle East one. So far it accomplished nothing, and in many respects things are worse.

America manipulated everything to assure it maintains regional dominance. Issues are real. Gross injustices must be addressed and changed. Swapping one despot for another accomplishes nothing.

Oppressed people in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Libya, Yemen, and elsewhere face long, tough struggles ahead. Hopefully they're up to the challenge.

A Palestinian Spring has yet to emerge. A third Intifada is long overdue. Real change in America is nowhere in sight. OWS writ large is needed. It hasn't materialized so far.

NNC: Thank you Mr.Lendman. So, in your opinion, is this movement more about reform, not overthrowing governments? I think there are some parties like communists and socialists who want to relate this movement to themselves.

For example, CPUSA (Communist Party/USA) and SPUSA (Socialist Party/USA). What do you think about this? Can they continue this process and why do they do so?

Lendman: In America, communist and socialist parties have few supporters and little influence. Nonetheless, people of all persuasions want reform indeed, but not under despots, one-party states, repressive monarchies, or money power.

Americans suffer horrendously under a corrupt, unprincipled system. It's too dysfunctional to fix. Impossible. The only solution is ripping it down and starting over. That's revolutionary, but to work it must be nonviolent. Street protests are worthless.

Sustained general strikes have the best chance of succeeding. Workers must do it their own. Shut down communities, cities, and countries. Stop commerce, but do it on their own. Corrupt union bosses are enemies, not allies. They're part of the problem, not the solution.

NNC: It is really impossible, but does hope exist?

Lendman: Never lose hope. Great victories take long struggles. America had its share. Slavery ended. Most people thought it was impossible but it happened. Labor and civil rights were won. New Deal/Great Society programs instituted real social changes.

Money power can be challenged and defeated, but not without protracted struggle. Doing it requires the mother of them all. It could take many years, perhaps decades. Imagine the difference if achieved. Social benefits could be restored.

Imperial wars could end. No money. No wars. Imagine America and other Western societies at peace, not permanently at war. Imagine something worth struggling for. I'm in the fight every day. I encourage others to get involved for their own self-interest.

NNC: Now in the USA, the issue of election is so hot, and probably this calmed down Occupy protesters. Who is most likely to win - Romney or Obama?

Lendman: Who can know for sure. US elections are subterfuge, shams. They're manipulated, rigged and illegitimate. Money power runs America. it decides who wins or loses.

At the same time, it matters little whether Obama, Romney or Mickey Mouse wins. The same system continues. That's the problem. America's unseen power structure runs things.

Duopoly power reflects it. America is a one party state with two wings. Independents are entirely shut out. Some democracy. It exists in name only. None, in fact, exists.

It's crucial to change that, but ordinary people have to do it on their own. So far, little evidence suggests they're up to the challenge. Maybe some day things will change.

NNC: I want to ask about something I'm not sure about. This is what I heard. Is there any Zionist influence in America? I mean, can we say this money power is Zionism?

Lendman: Zionism is one element of money power but also separate. It's about prioritizing Israeli interests. They're imperial, neoliberal, violent, racist, and destructive. They do America more harm than good. One day the relationship will change or end. It's long overdue.

I'm Jewish and deplore Zionism. I've written about its destructive influence. It's violent, undemocratic, racist, and hateful. It's about power and dominance, not Judaism. It's the enemy of Jews, not its ally.

NNC: So you believe that Zionism as an element of power money could be one of the factor influencing OWS? Or if not, what is the role of powerful rich people like George Soros in this movement?

Why is he connected to Adbusters? Does it mean that money power searches for shock therapy or not? Or is something else is behind this?

Lendman: Soros is one of the worst. I've written about him. He's a world class corporate predator. I don't know much about his connection to Adbusters.

I do know subversion is used to infiltrate and destroy OWS. Soros for sure is involved, as well as other major monied interests. Whatever challenges money power control is targeted for elimination.

Activists need to understand and resist. It's not easy. Winning great struggles never come easily or quickly. Pain and suffering accompanies them every time.

NNC: What do you think about the future of the USA? Can people get rid of this catastrophic situation or not? Will the 99% gain their rights?

Lendman: All empires eventually self-destruct. America will fare no better. Destructive overreach defines its agenda. Nothing this harmful persists forever.

When it ends, who knows or exactly how. I doubt I'll live long enough to see it. The great risk is that America may destroy humanity and itself at the same time. Given its permanent war agenda, it's very possible and frightening.

NNC: Thank you very much for your time and attention.

Source: NNC Research

Some Final Comments

Money power world rule inflicts global harm. In his book "Tragedy and Hope, Carrol Quigley explained, saying:

"(T)he powers of financial capitalism had another far-reaching aim, nothing less than to create a world system of financial control in private hands able to dominate the political system of each country and the economy of the world as a whole."

"This system was to be controlled in a feudalist fashion by the central banks of the world acting in concert, by secret agreements arrived at in frequent private meetings and conferences."

Dominating most countries lets giant financial interests move closer to absolute global control of money, credit and debt. Doing so lets them dominate economies, politics, and commerce. They benefit at the expense of ordinary people, communities and most nations.

Changing what's too destructive to tolerate tops other issues. The struggle for real change hasn't achieved critical mass. Street protests are more smoke than fire. Sustained activism for the long haul is required. Hopefully it's ready to emerge one day. Nothing substantive will change otherwise.

Elections in most countries accomplish little or nothing. Western ones are entirely worthless. Same old, same old always wins. Often things turned out worse, not better. One scoundrel replaces another. Destructive policies in place get hardened.

Force-fed austerity, neoliberal exploitation, imperial belligerence, and police state harshness reflect Western civilization's true agenda. Israel follows similar policies. Enormous harm is caused regionally and globally. Humanity's survival is up for grabs.

Imagine the difference if rich countries used their resources productively. Western states could look like Venezuela. Chavez reflects the exception that proves the rule.

Social democracy is constitutionally mandated. Bolivarianism is real. Ordinary people get benefits Americans, Israelis, and most Europeans can't imagine.

They include universal healthcare, free education to the highest levels, housing help, subsidized food, and much more. Compared to Western prices, gasoline and heating oil are practically free.

Venezuelan elections aren't just open, free, and fair. They're the best in the world. They shame America's sham process. Chavez gets reelected because most Venezuelans won't tolerate losing him.

He's mirror opposite neoliberal/belligerent/repressive Western leaders. He keeps promises he makes. Like Iran and other nations America targets, longstanding regime change plans threaten his independence, social democratic policies, and speaking truth to power.

On October 7, when Venezuelans voted, they knew what they wanted and got it. On November 6, when Americans go to the polls, money power victory is assured. Enfranchisement is a figure of speech.

Half of American voters opt out. Why bother showing up when choice isn't on the ballot. Exercising it freely on city streets risks police state harshness. American-style fascism assures it.

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Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net.

His new book is titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"

http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html

Visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour