tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post7072839634709206477..comments2024-03-28T18:48:41.469-07:00Comments on One Cʘsmos: Tantric ChristianityGagdad Bobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comBlogger153125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-14976887953119727652010-07-11T06:21:47.831-07:002010-07-11T06:21:47.831-07:00I pray that more liberal politicians aside from De...I pray that more liberal politicians aside from Dennis Kucinich cite the great Smedley Butler as an influence.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-88469142941436898952010-07-11T00:08:46.971-07:002010-07-11T00:08:46.971-07:00anunce said "...sure sign when someone resort...anunce said "...sure sign when someone resorts to childish insults and evasions that they have nothing substantive to say ..."<br /><br />Please, it's unseemly to talk about yourself so.<br /><br />"... famous speech about the military-industrial complex..."<br /><br />Yeah... that whole idea of govt and business being in bed together. Disgusting proregressive idea. Downright anti-American, don't you think?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-68342390785764629772010-07-10T22:37:38.856-07:002010-07-10T22:37:38.856-07:00It's a pretty sure sign when someone resorts t...It's a pretty sure sign when someone resorts to childish insults and evasions that they have nothing substantive to say in defense of their position.<br /><br />I guess because Smedley Butler did some enforcement of prohibition we can discount whatever he says, regardless of his military service in Haiti, the Philippines, Central America, and France during WWI; his numerous decorations; and the fact that he may have prevented a fascist coup right here in the US.<br /><br />His "War is a Racket" was a precursor to Eisenhower's famous speech about the military-industrial complex. Ah Ike...I remember those days when there was such a thing as a sane and mature Republican.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207020184445548247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-60039353955969753962010-07-10T21:48:34.128-07:002010-07-10T21:48:34.128-07:00We of the left have no choice but to "talk do...We of the left have no choice but to "talk down" our own culture, because we are the white man's culture.<br /><br />Until we get things flip-flopped so that brown women are on top, we have to deconstruct our own culture.<br /><br />Likewise we have to support the odious Arab women-haters, because they are non-white.<br /><br />After we get things fixed up properly, we'll show all men the what for.<br /><br />A lesbian negress is of the highest order, which is why I get invites to every party in town. And proud of it.black holehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07366633817665791528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-17459373728005575532010-07-10T19:21:53.999-07:002010-07-10T19:21:53.999-07:00Jack said "Jim Morrison anyone?"
With a...Jack said "Jim Morrison anyone?"<br /><br />With a strong David Bowie streak. And a touch of Alcibiades. <br /><br />"I think the Beethoven *Mythos* has been an archetype underlying Rock music--or at least it was for me."<br /><br />Oh yeah, here too. The intense, glowering, creative outlaw shtick (which I think is about all 'we' managed to pull off. lol.). <br /><br />""There is no rule which cannot be broken for the sake of greater beauty" Which could very well be the motto for the Promethean outlook! "<br /><br />That little line went a loOong way....Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-50240598228107823372010-07-10T19:13:01.138-07:002010-07-10T19:13:01.138-07:00Yes.Yes.Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-67920343808966877432010-07-10T18:26:33.496-07:002010-07-10T18:26:33.496-07:00Say, does anon remind anyone else of Olbermann, wh...Say, does anon remind anyone else of <a href="http://minx.cc/?post=303494" rel="nofollow">Olbermann</a>, who "is forever missing the bigger point in the hopes that he can appear to be smarter than he is by latching on to some perceived misstatement. Usually they wind up doing exactly what Olby did here... confirming their status as a weak minded public joke."Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-3530111587160875152010-07-10T14:08:11.269-07:002010-07-10T14:08:11.269-07:00True, but what he lacks in profundity he more than...True, but what he lacks in profundity he more than makes up for in vacuity.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5683080918041123442010-07-10T14:04:36.425-07:002010-07-10T14:04:36.425-07:00Anon's comments are of the highest rank. Like ...Anon's comments are of the highest rank. Like a tedious bore of the highest rank.<br />Seriuosly.Rickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10589423819039764711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-79197110179639829452010-07-10T13:59:41.972-07:002010-07-10T13:59:41.972-07:00As always anunce, even when you have facts that ar...As always anunce, even when you have facts that are accurate, you are unable to accurately determine what they mean.<br /><br />Fergusson’s book is pretty good, btw, but he misses key points as well (I’ve read several of his books, and he’s quite good, very informative, has a number of quality insights… but a blinded spot, and affinity for power and decision making being entrusted to an enlightened elite – keep that in mind, and his columns and books are well worth the time of reading), influence is not the same as command. <br /><br />A military behemoth bestriding the world like a colossus, who can be expelled from a valuable military base established in a foreign country, not by force of arms, but by revocation of contract (Philippines, Panama Canal (please bite), Turkey, etc) – that is not an empire, at least not one of the power based sort.<br /><br />However, the comparisons between America and Rome are not completely off base, if you’ve read into Roman history, particularly prior to the period between Marius and Caesar, there are many, many parallels - but they’ve got much less to do with Empire, than a society based upon family units, piety, rule of law, property rights, and a success which outruns their understanding of what made it possible.<br /><br />The best examination and analysis I’ve found of the two so far is with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Empires-Trust-Built-America-Building/dp/0525950745" rel="nofollow"> "Empires of Trust: How Rome Built--and America Is Building--a New World"</a>.<br /><br />Oh, and the idea that “War is a racket!” what an <i>amazing</i> insight, I’m sure any 19 yr old today (12 yr old of Smedley’s day) would be very proud of their discovering that bit of knowledge. Who’da thunk it!? A fact of humanity as old as civilization, involving the lives, interests and concerns of entire peoples… that such a thing might be found to lend itself to profit making… <i>zounds!</i><br /><br />And Thank God it does, by the way, the Corsair’s, the B-17, 24, 25,29,52, etc] bombers, and so on would have come from no other source (witness Japan & Nazi Germany (even though they had the intellectual firepower)’s failure).Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-60541171635181117152010-07-10T13:58:56.351-07:002010-07-10T13:58:56.351-07:00Anunce said “. Nixon contemplated using them on No...Anunce said “. Nixon contemplated using them on North Vietnam… . MacArthur wanted to use them on North Korea… “<br /><br />Yes… why was that? Were we just hungering after all those rice patties? Was Big Rice behind it?<br /><br />“The Cheney/Bush administration was thinking about using them”<br /><br />I don’t suppose there was any reason for that, was there? I mean, seeing as though they <i>didn’t</i> use them, it’d seem as if wasn’t just a matter power lust and a deep seated hatred of colorful rugs, otherwise they wouldn't have merely considered, but implemented those nefarious plots, but maybe you’ve got some more insights on the matter you’d like to share?<br /><br />“They were deployed in Western Europe as a defense against a possible Russian invasion, then withdrawn.”<br /><br />Uh-oh… how’d you let that one through the lefti-filtration system?Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-50159552926108786292010-07-10T13:41:14.752-07:002010-07-10T13:41:14.752-07:00Well, our houseguest has arrived, but...
Thanks f...Well, our houseguest has arrived, but...<br /><br />Thanks for providing a clear picture of a mind distorted by moral equivalence. Somehow, fighting communist takeovers morphs into "empire building."Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-49277369050011446522010-07-10T13:29:09.701-07:002010-07-10T13:29:09.701-07:00Come to think of it, Toots Mondello had some sort ...Come to think of it, Toots Mondello had some sort of run-in with the General in one of those speakeasies... He always said that "when tyranny comes to America, it will be in the form of some flamboyant demagogue asshole trying to take away our beer."Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-27150100638439850542010-07-10T13:25:53.707-07:002010-07-10T13:25:53.707-07:00Oh my. I'm afraid General General Butler is a...Oh my. I'm afraid General General Butler is an anti-Raccoon of the first rank:<br /><br />"In 1924 he took an extended leave to become director of public safety in Philadelphia, <i>pledging to uphold prohibition</i> and end street crime. He offered a promotion to the first officer who killed a robber, <i>closed up 973 speakeasies in his first forty-eight hours on the job</i>, and designed for himself a splendid militarystyle uniform with a blue cape lined with crimson."<br /><br />No thanks.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-48819018517466314462010-07-10T12:59:33.695-07:002010-07-10T12:59:33.695-07:00Speaking of empire: there is an interesting debat...Speaking of empire: there is an interesting debate going on, between serious people, about whether the US Empire is <a href="http://dir.salon.com/books/feature/2003/04/17/ferguson/index.html" rel="nofollow">a good thing</a> or <a href="http://hnn.us/articles/3015.html" rel="nofollow">a bad thing</a>. I am more on the latter side, but at least I acknowledge that Niall Ferguson usually knows what he's talking about. <br /><br />But maintaining that the US Empire doesn't exist -- that the long hisory of our foreing military ventures from the Phillipines to Afghanistan is something else -- is not really a serious position.<br /><br />Also, for those who think my views are dismissable as wooly-headed leftist academic mush, you might take a look at <a href="http://www.ratical.org/ratville/CAH/warisaracket.html" rel="nofollow">the writings of Major General Smedley D. Butler</a>.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207020184445548247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73727878984525755272010-07-10T12:40:49.230-07:002010-07-10T12:40:49.230-07:00Anon, I was *born* on one of those foreign bases.
...<i>Anon, I was *born* on one of those foreign bases.</i><br /><br />Well, then you should know better.<br /><br /><i>Please name one instance in which even the *threat* of nuclear destruction was used to build an American empire.</i><br /><br />You are conflating two different issues. Nuclear weapons were never very good tool of empire or even war -- that's why both sides of the Cold War adopted detterence policies, and we can be very grateful that they worked (there were several instances where we came so close, including the Cuban missle crisis and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanislav_Petrov" rel="nofollow">lesser known case</a> where a Soviet officer violated protocols to avert a mistaken retaliatory strike). The horror and uselessness of nuclear weapons ensured that the imperial conflict between the US and the USSR was relatively low-level and carried out by proxy wars in third-world backwaters. <br /><br />That didn't stop politicians and military types from longing to unleash the awesome destructive power that was so available but aso so annoyingly difficult to use. <a href="http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB195/index.htm" rel="nofollow">Nixon contemplated using them on North Vietnam</a> but was restrained (!) by Henry Kissinger. <a href="http://hnn.us/articles/9245.html" rel="nofollow">MacArthur wanted to use them on North Korea</a>. The Cheney/Bush administration was thinking about using them on Iran. Whole generations of tactical nuclear weapons were developed for battlefield use, but never used. They were deployed in Western Europe as a defense against a possible Russian invasion, then withdrawn.anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18207020184445548247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-30160496057588338402010-07-10T12:23:36.008-07:002010-07-10T12:23:36.008-07:00It's quite amazing that the left has assembled...It's quite amazing that the left has assembled this whole elaborate crock of revisionist history in order to persuade immature minds such as anon who are impressed by arguments from authority. That's how it was for me. It never occurred to me when I was reading that stuff that many of these people are liars at best, and sometimes frank sociopaths.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-7991357425989828242010-07-10T12:15:37.825-07:002010-07-10T12:15:37.825-07:00Yes, and I keep forgetting that they afford themse...Yes, and I keep forgetting that they afford themselves complete authority to change the definition of words at will. You *think* you're just talking about army bases in allied nations, but you're really talking about is an empire. Duh.Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-5731934415272703132010-07-10T12:13:37.962-07:002010-07-10T12:13:37.962-07:00Unless you have a graduate degree in political sci...Unless you have a graduate degree in political science from an elite university, I wouldn't even try.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-58192512634240100092010-07-10T12:09:04.242-07:002010-07-10T12:09:04.242-07:00Susannah:
You must realize that for the left, the...Susannah:<br /><br />You must realize that for the left, the US is evil, so that everything they do is therefore evil. It's a sophisticated thought process that most people can't master.Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-44869476693530040702010-07-10T12:06:58.217-07:002010-07-10T12:06:58.217-07:00Please name one instance in which even the *threat...Please name one instance in which even the *threat* of nuclear destruction was used to build an American empire.Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-66360032256263614262010-07-10T12:05:44.161-07:002010-07-10T12:05:44.161-07:00I think he's already answered that naive objec...I think he's already answered that naive objection in a manner worthy of Chomsky or Castro:<br /><br />"What do you think the Cold War was about? Why do you think the US has over a thousand foreign military bases? Just for fun? Just out of the goodness of our pure American hearts? "Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-62630825764418668532010-07-10T11:55:00.027-07:002010-07-10T11:55:00.027-07:00Anon, I was *born* on one of those foreign bases. ...Anon, I was *born* on one of those foreign bases. Oddly enough, we didn't take over Germany, west or east, now did we? But the east Germans have a little bit to thank our influence for, wouldn't you agree?<br /><br />When I said "pack it up and go home" in so many words, what I obviously meant (obvious to everyone who hasn't deliberately blinded himself with leftist tripe) was that, in gaining victory, we didn't go on to do what conquerors have done from time immemorial--Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians, Ottoman Turks, Napoleon, yada yada. Do you deny this? Or will you just go all shifty-argument on us again?Susannahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381272662339466736noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-73873650809162909152010-07-10T11:30:31.234-07:002010-07-10T11:30:31.234-07:00Not to mention that education spending from all le...Not to mention that education spending from all levels of government far exceeds defense. And what a rip-off!Gagdad Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14249005793605006679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8580258.post-27435568386830699922010-07-10T11:19:04.073-07:002010-07-10T11:19:04.073-07:00Anunce said “. A big chunk of the reason for our c...Anunce said “. A big chunk of the reason for our current woes is the enormous amount of money we spend of our foreign military empire.”<br /><br />Oh. Now I see why you so rarely actually state what you believe.<br /><br />It must be so painful for you to expose such stupidity and blindness. So your evasions and unwillingness to explain your thoughts, it’s a <i>defense</i> strategy, is it?<br /><br />Poor dear.<br /><br />And with the facts so <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_federal_budget" rel="nofollow">easily found</a>, the psychic bruising must be… extensive. Oh, and for ‘hollowing out’, scan down and peruse the “Mandatory spending and entitlements” portion. If your… um… constitution… ever becomes strong enough to advance beyond wiki, come back and see us.<br /><br />In the meantime… <i>run awayyy!!!</i> (we’ll understand).Van Harveyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08470413719262297062noreply@blogger.com