Theatre Of The Absurd

In his interview with Keith Olbermann, John Cusack discussed War Inc. in terms of taking absurdity and following it along to its logical conclusion. (See earlier post) What we see in the movie (you HAVE seen the movie, yes?) is a war outsourced to a corporation and then follows the absurdity to its logical conclusion. Of course it seems totally insane.

Yet much of the horror of this scenario is truer than true. Cusack then says a great and wonderful thing in response to a question about the absurdity of the new oil contracts that were handed out to the big US and British oil companies without bids this past week. "Its hard to stay ahead of this crew".

For me, truth is always stranger than fiction, but the oil deals came as no surprise to me... why did we invade Iraq if not to take control of their oil and hand it to U.S. companies who will funnel the spoils through U.S. banks and give the Iraqis a few pennies to the barrel back. A classic modern rape and pillage scheme. I think most of America has figured this one out by now and the story will unfold along the same lines... there will be no more surprises... only the arrogance by which actions will be taken. And we the people will be left to clean up the mess.

Each and every day, I read and watch the world from as many perspectives as I have time for. From any standpoint, it seems that the level of insanity rises by the day as Bush is using the price of oil to justify offshore drilling off the California coast, opening ANWR for drilling, and filling our addicted veins with more of the good stuff. Of course, the people of California will burn down the White House before they see their pristine coastline destroyed and if he thinks that America is going to stand by and let him run rip shod over the environmental protections so hard fought to keep ANWR Alaska safe from drilling... well... its just the same old thing... words from a liar and fool.

In the category of "What Universe Do We Live In?", we get Bill the Hammer Kristol.... who is from another universe entirely and I don't know what this guy is smoking... or the people around him on FOX NEWS (nodding away) are smoking... but they talk about bombing Iran in the same vein as sportscasters speculate who will be taken in the first round of the NBA draft. Its hard to watch... words don't even do it justice. Just watch with one eye... its gonna hurt too much if you watch with both:



So, what this genius is saying is that if Bush thinks that Barak Obama is going to win, then he may bomb Iran. This is such absurdity, it defies all sense of sanity and morality. This "war quarterbacking" by people who have no sense at all about the horrors of war and of "bombing" other countries as a way to work out problems is criminal behavior. This is what our public discourse has come to? Well, I consider Bill Kristol and Fox News to be far more dangerous than anything Iran can throw in the air as these guys love war so much that they could actually seriously speculate about such an atrocity with a straight face.

If that's not enough, comes this from a Fortune Magazine interview with Charlie Black, John McCain's Chief Strategist: We saw how that (National Security issues) might play out early in the campaign, when one good scare, one timely reminder of the chaos lurking in the world, probably saved McCain in New Hampshire, a state he had to win to save his candidacy - this according to McCain's chief strategist, Charlie Black. The assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December was an "unfortunate event," says Black. "But his knowledge and ability to talk about it reemphasized that this is the guy who's ready to be Commander-in-Chief. And it helped us." As would, Black concedes with startling candor after we raise the issue, another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. "Certainly it would be a big advantage to him," says Black.

You can't make this stuff up! Thousands of dead Americans in a terrorist attack would help John McCain. Really? Oh, thank you for that bit of great wisdom. Good thing we can be sure that there are people in power really caring about us and our safety in these DANGEROUS times. Apparently, ELECTION TIME seems to be even more dangerous than good old regular INVASION TIME.

I'm going to go and cry for America and pray that our future is not in the hands of these beasts.

Sphere: Related Content

Myanmar on the brain

After the devastating cyclone that hit Myanmar the destruction is no doubt worse than any Westerner's naive eyes or brains can imagine. Yes, we actually do have our own Myanmar, its called Katrina and New Orleans... that we have conveniently forgotten about.

Funny how the Bush Administration and the PEOPLE IN IT seem so much like the Government of Myanmar in its response. It reflects something deeper than just incompetence, but a general distrust and dislike of their own people. I've read a lot from people who have listened in at events and parties with this crowd that runs our country and is shocked to hear what disdain they actually have for us. We are merely the unwashed masses and they seldom ever rub elbows with us except during their highly scripted and controlled public events.

But Myanmar has everything to do with us. WE AMERICA, are the only superpower, and as the truly brilliant statesman Billy (the Pit Bull) Kristol put so eloquently in his PNAC report "The United States is the world’s only superpower, combining preeminent military power, global technological leadership, and the world’s largest economy. Moreover, America stands at the head of a system of alliances which includes the world’s other leading democratic powers."

Let's assume I agree with him... we are the world's only superpower. Then shouldn't we ask the question: What do superpower's do when a military dominated country allows its own people to starve? Myanmar is clearly run by a band of fearful and paranoid military boneheads who obviously care nothing about their people, only themselves and maintaining power. Shouldn't they be in Georgie's Axis of Evil (AOE)? Seems evil to me... does it to you? Does it to the rest of the world? Who would disagree that they do not qualify for a platinum membership in the AOE?

The numbers of dead could be staggering... some say 100,000. We know right at this moment that millions could be starving and no aid will come any time soon. I can feel the pain of this in my gut... the awful suffering that is happening there now. I just want to scream.

This is not incompetence... this is genocide. And we, the United States, the only superpower, who currently has 2 aircraft carriers in the Persian Gulf and 6 others floating around the globe (we have 12 in total) and the ability to overthrow governments at will when we deem necessary (the Bush Doctrine) is staying silent on this issue save for dear dear Laura (do nothing at all) Bush who called a press conference to say mean things about them... and then we did nothing. NOTHING! We should all hold our heads in shame over this.

What does this say about us? We're building a "SPACE FORCE" and yet we see no reason to force the hand of governments that lets their own people starve to death? To me... letting people starve to death while dithering away precious hours with formalities that is preventing global aid groups from getting in, is far far more dangerous than Saddam's disappearing "WMD's".

Let's take a look at some images of this disaster courtesy of the NY Times.
















Now, what is it we pay for the US Military again? $799 Billion this year.. 2/3 of the government of a supposedly democratic country, by the people, for the people.

And who are WE fighting? And why? And we sit by and let this little group of military criminals let their people starve to death when the ONE TIME, all this money that we flush down the toilet with military equipment we neither need or can afford, could actually be put to good use.

It seems to my little brain that if we parked one of those nuclear powered aircraft carrier battle fleets off the coast of this country and sent a very simple message: "Let the International Aid Organizations Clean Up This Mess, or You're Toast" then they probably would take this a whole lot more seriously... and we could feel better for at least a few precious minutes about all the money we give to our very own Military Junta here at home currently run by Dick Cheney and friends.

At the very least, we've fed some people and helped a nation of starving and suffering and put to good use all that money and all those smart bombs and submarines, aircraft carriers and Osprey's, F22's and F117 Stealth Fighters, and Cruise Missiles and B2 Bombers... the list of the unnecessary things we build goes on and on and on... it might actually force the hand of a bunch of thugs to feed their own people and get out of the way, so the rest of the world can clean up this awful awful mess.

Geez, I thought that's what Superpowers do. What do you think Bill Kristol? Or do superpowers just invade and occupy countries with oil?

Sphere: Related Content