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Imperialism and Democracy: White House or Liberty Square?
James Petras
Introduction:
The relation between imperialism and democracy has been debated and discussed over 2500 years, from fifth century Athens to Liberty Park in Manhattan. Contemporary critics of imperialism (and capitalism) claim to find a fundamental incompatibility, citing the growing police state measures accompanying colonial wars, from Clinton’s anti-terrorist laws, and Bush’s “Patriot Act” to Obama’s ordering the extrajudicial assassination of overseas US citizens.
In the past, however, many theorists of imperialism of varying political persuasion, ranging from Max Weber to Vladimir Lenin, argued that imperialism unified the country, reduced internal class polarization and created privileged workers who actively supported and voted for imperial parties. A historical, comparative survey of the conditions under which imperialism and democratic institutions converge or diverge can throw some light on the challenges and choices faced by the burgeoning democratic movements erupting across the globe.
Mixed Messages on Gaddafi
by Stephen Lendman
Nothing from NATO, political capitals, puppet TNC officials, and major media scoundrels is credible. Nonetheless, manipulated public opinion says he's gone.
Wikipedia
has him born June 7, 1942, died October 20, 2011, saying Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar al-Gaddafi "was Libya's head of state from 1969 when he seized power in a bloodless coup."
Counterpsyops.com said "Gaddafi died from a bullet wound to the head received in crossfire between (rebels/rats) and his own supporters," according to Transitional National Council (TNC) officials.
Nothing they say is credible so be cautious. Depend on reports from reliable independent sources. Better still, let Gaddafi have the last word if he's alive and shows up on Syria's Arrai TV. Imagine NATO and Obama explaining that one - a one-off "dead man" telling tales.
Israeli Settlement Construction Jeopardizes Palestinian Statehood Plans
by Stephen Lendman
Palestinians want and deserve long denied full UN de jure membership and official statehood recognition, including all rights granted other members.
On September 23, Abbas formally petitioned the Security Council. Normally it reviews applications for a maximum 35 days. Whether or not America vetos Palestine's bid is irrelevant. It solely recommends. Only the General Assembly admits new members.
Will Rick Perry kill another innocent man?
Mary Shaw
Texas governor and Republican presidential contender Rick Perry has faced criticism from the left (and applause from the right) for his heavy-handed use of the death penalty. And Perry has said that he loses no sleep over the possibility that he may have executed an innocent man.
This is despite the fact that it appears that Perry has done just that - and could very likely do it again very soon.
Humiliation and Death as a Tool of National Policy
By Michael Collins
"It’s not acceptable to kill a person without trying him," said Louay Hussein, a Syrian opposition figure in Damascus. "I prefer to see the tyrant behind bars." New York Times, October 20
The New York Times reported that a NATO jet and drones disabled vehicles in a convoy carrying Muammar Gaddafi near the besieged town of Sirte on October 20. Loyalists in the remaining vehicles scattered becoming easy prey for the emboldened fighters of the new Libyan state.
Reuters expanded the narrative on the 21st by reporting that Gaddafi fled from his jeep, hid in a drainage pipe, and emerged with an automatic weapon and side arm. He was manhandled and slapped by the soldiers of the new Libya. He allegedly asked the crowd, "Don't you know right from wrong?" They took exception to the question and shot him twice in the head. He was transported to Misurata, scene of one of the few decisive victories by the former rebels. Gaddafi's corpse was placed on a bare mattress and put on display for the public on the 22nd. It remains there today, although it is now reportedly covered by a blanket (Reuters, October 23).
There's a new sheriff in town, NATO.
Global Economic Crisis Deepens
by Stephen Lendman
Global Depression grips world economies. Destructive polices fueled today's crisis. Conditions are fast coming to a head.
Throwing good money after bad delays decision day at the price of far greater trouble on arrival. D-Day will shake world economies. It may, in fact, be months away, perhaps in 2012.
No one knows for sure, but things that can't go on forever won't, and when they end, watch out. Ordinary people will be hurt most, much more than already.
EMPEROR GEORGE AND THE LOST WAR IN IRAQ
By Susan Lindauer, former U.S. back channel to Iraq and the second non-Arab American arrested on the Patriot Act
Once upon a time there was a President named George who wanted to be Emperor. (Not a bad idea. He was a lousy President. He really needed a different job.)
President George had traveled to Mexico—once. So he figured the whole world was pretty much like Texas. He thought about it for, oh, five minutes. What he needed was a country far, far away to invade. Surely those foreigners would be charmed by his folksy swagger (being more primitive and all). They'd appreciate him more than those Gosh Darn Americans, who had awfully high expectations of a President. Why, he imagined these foreigners would bow and scrape and wow over his every golf shot.
So he pulled out a map. And he saw Iraq--- with a "Q." And he asked one of his ministers what he'd heard about this place. The minister's eyes got bright: "Ohhh," he said. "Iraq's got oil and pipelines. We could make some serious profits if we grabbed Baghdad, and tossed its rulers in the trash can of history."
The Great Work of the Occupy Wall Street Movement
Heather Wodehouse
Occupy Wall Street is like no protest before it. As it spreads like wildfire across cities around the world, it protests the power that profit-driven and amoral corporations have over the world, including our governments. Occupy Wall Street champions the interests of the people. It voices the powerlessness the 99% feel over the way the 1% is running the world. It asks for the return of true, uncorrupted democracy and the redistribution of wealth and power among people. It wants change: deep, radical and lasting change.
This type of world-shaking change is exactly what Thomas Berry’s book, The Great Work, demands. He argues that today, humanity’s Great Work is to figure out how to live in a mutually beneficial and supportive relationship with the rest of the universe. He makes it very clear that environmental concerns are not to be relegated to one department of the government, of the university, of the corporation, of our lives. The very opposite is true: we humans are only one tiny part of the universe. Living by values that tell us otherwise will surely end our part in the earth’s history.
I Want My Country Back
from: Jimmy Copens and Sam Cooper, Jericat Music, Red Heart Records
Music: Jimmy Copens and Sam Cooper
Lyrics: Jimmy Copens, Philip Austin, James Reed, Sam Cooper
Produced by Jimmy Copens and Sam Cooper / Red Heart Records
QE4: Forgive the Students
Ellen Brown
Among the demands of the Wall Street protesters is student debt forgiveness—a debt “jubilee.” Occupy Philly has a “Student Loan Jubilee Working Group,” and other groups are studying the issue. Commentators say debt forgiveness is impossible. Who would foot the bill? But there is one deep pocket that could pull it off—the Federal Reserve. In its first quantitative easing program (QE1), the Fed removed $1.3 trillion in toxic assets from the books of Wall Street banks. For QE4, it could remove $1 trillion in toxic debt from the backs of millions of students.
The economy would only be the better for it, as was shown by the G.I. Bill, which provided virtually-free higher education for returning veterans, along with low-interest loans for housing and business. The G.I. Bill had a sevenfold return. It was one of the best investments Congress ever made.
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