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All This And World War, Too?
Submitted by James H. Kunstler of Kunstler.com,
The situation in Ukraine hotted up this weekend and threatens to blow this morning with the Kiev government affecting to send “anti-terrorist” troops into the eastern cities where ethnic Russians seized buildings. (In the olden times of Europe, they had witches and devils. Now, thanks to our example, they have “terrorists.”) While this impending civil war would be rather dire for Ukraine, it presents the obvious questions: 1) does it matter to anyone outside the region? And in particular, 2) is it any business of the USA?
War hawk kibitzers on the sidelines (e.g. The New York Times) are making a big deal of the 40,000 Russian troops marshaled around the border of eastern Ukraine. So what? That’s just a few thousand more than the 33,000 US troops deployed to Afghanistan, America’s current “nation-building” project. But the troop numbers swing to our side of the balance beam if you throw in the nearly 3,000 American boots-on-the-ground stationed in Kyrgyzstan, a former Soviet republic, and the roughly 15,000 in Kuwait and Bahrain. I don’t remember the Russians complaining very much about all this US military hyper-activity in their part of the world over the past decade.
At least somebody has stuffed a cheese Danish (or something) in John Kerry’s pie-hole the past week. The walking haircut-in-search-of-a-brain has stopped making ridiculous commitments to the US-and-EU-installed Kiev government. And President Obama has stopped drawing laugh-out-loud lines in the sand. I suspect if they resume beating that drum, they could provoke some unrest in our own country. Not everyone is glued to the Kardashian Channel with his fist in the Cheez Doodle bag. And not all of the army vets returned from operations in Muslim lands (the ones that haven’t committed suicide, that is) have such a high opinion of the overall outcome there.
Barack Obama, who I voted for twice, is on his way to becoming the worst US president in my lifetime, at least — and maybe in the whole cavalcade going back to the very start of the republic. I don’t want to get too sidetracked in this brief blog space today, but isn’t it stupendously asinine that Mr. Obama’s Justice Department and his SEC appointees only just last week became interested in the pervasive swindle of high frequency trading on Wall Street after author Michael Lewis went on 60 Minutes. Like, they hadn’t heard about this years-long orgy of front-running until now? Strange to relate, I actually might feel more comfortable if Vladimir Putin was massing troops on the Mexican side of the US border to keep Americans safe from our own bungling and destructive government.
Aren’t a number of things obvious about the Ukraine situation? Such as: the Russians have a greater interest in preventing chaos there than the US has in any provisional disposition of the Ukrainian border and the composition of its government. Such as: for most of the 20th century Ukraine was essentially a Russian province, and at various times before that the ward of several other eastern European kingdoms. Such as: Russia has a huge investment in gas pipeline infrastructure in Ukraine upon which depends a substantial portion of its national income, not to mention the winter-time comfort of most of the countries in western Europe.
Hence my plea: will parties in the USA (including Obama camp “progressives”) stop cheerleading for a showdown over this hapless doormat of a faraway nation whose destiny is not entwined with the people of Ohio, Nebraska, Rhode Island, or any of the other fifty states? We have enough to do in our own country to adjust to the new realities of the unraveling turbo-industrial global economy — and, by the way, we are not doing a damn thing to address any of it. Our domestic political conversation at all levels is juvenile and idiotic. I’d rather see US troops shut down WalMart, which has been way more destructive to the US economy (and the livelihoods of our people) than the bandits in any central Asian rat-hole. I’d rather see the US spend its dwindling capital restoring our passenger railroads than paying off the debts of strangers half a world away.
This is turning into a Vietnam moment for the US political scene. Where are the Fullbrights and Bobby Kennedys of today who have the guts to rally US citizens against insane government behavior? What elected officials among all the bought-off Koch Brother catamites and Wall Street errand boys will stand up for reality-based principle? When will the young people of this country pull their eyeballs away from their iPhones and their heads out of their cloacal vents? When will the United States begin the long-overdue task of getting its own act together?
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Still have plenty of local florists where I live. Wal-Mart is a success - in part - because they are able to efficiently re-import the inflation we have been exporting for 40+ years.
Inflation isn't just higher prices, it is also a lower standard-of-living. That is not to say that everyone else doesn't do it as well, but Wal-Mart is the biggest kid on the block (retail-wise) and thus gets the most attention.
This is a good post, i sense the frustration, i am frustrated about this whole thing too, i am not an American or Russian. I am from the UK and live in the Middle East.
No one understands or even wants to understand the geopolitical events that will affect the rest of the world, should a reckless trigger finger event occur.
It is an example of typical human behaviour to not be interested in something until it lands on their own doorstep, the warning signs are there and have been for some time, when this actually happens, the sheeple will say, 'OMG i cant believe this has happend' most are so ebroiled in the system they live in that they do not understand the basics of what is at stake here.
Most of the sane people that exist in the world today, are aware that the two parties available for election are put there to make the people feel like they have a choice, when in fact the same agenda lies ahead no matter who is elected as president.
These people are bought and paid for and work for the corporations, profit and global hedgemony. The entire process of election is staged and swung by the mainstream media in order for the bought nominee is guaranteed for success. Ron Paul's clear dismissal by the mainstream pressitute during the recent election run is a clear example of this.
What i am unsure about, is whether the elite are controlling the west only, or whether they have influence in Russia and China. If they do then if War is what the elite want, then war is what they will get and this whole thing is already premeditated.
If Russia hasnt been influenced, then it is a true rise of the East versus the West, i am not sure if the overall outcome will be any different.
My point is, is that it is the people in certain positions that need to be strong enough to not do the governments bidding, they are the key holders for all of this. War in this day and age is sophisticated and doesnt need boots on the ground, (i am sure this war would not be supported by the infantry and the people) but to inflict damage, it is not neccessary to have this support.
Disobedience is the key to stopping this war, at all levels. I am sure that if this does progress, then a civil war may happen in the US (in certain areas) and possibly Russia.
"Most of the sane people that exist in the world today, are aware that the two parties available for election are put there to make the people feel like they have a choice, when in fact the same agenda lies ahead no matter who is elected as president. "
That seems overly US-centric.
"These people are bought and paid for and work for the corporations, profit and global hedgemony. The entire process of election is staged and swung by the mainstream media in order for the bought nominee is guaranteed for success. Ron Paul's clear dismissal by the mainstream pressitute during the recent election run is a clear example of this."
It's always been that POWER attracts/buys its Praetorian Guard.
It's Their System, do you think that they want it readilhy overthrown? You can talk up Ron Paul all you want (he's one of the last folks I ever voted for and supported, so, spare me the jabs), but the fact is is that if things were made hands-off then it's quite possible that the real hardcore socialists could get in. So... it's all status quo and they'll fight to keep it so: they lose in the end (I've read the "last chapter" of the book).
"What i am unsure about, is whether the elite are controlling the west only, or whether they have influence in Russia and China. If they do then if War is what the elite want, then war is what they will get and this whole thing is already premeditated."
You need to look up "elite" in the dictionary. I think that it's a prerequsite for anyone at the top echelon to be one, otherwsie we'd have to have a completely flat structure, and that would be PURE democracy (no need to comment on the viability).
People in positions of power do NOT want war. Wars are messy and unpredictable. Speaking from the perspective of an instigator, wars are primarily the function of internal pressures, resource shortages or threats of (to commerce). Most people cannot accept that this is the case, so they allow themselves to believe that wars are for riteous causes. In this day and age pretty much most everything has been game-theory tested and with plans sitting on the shelf well before the specific incident/scenario is visible: sometimes the plans are close and sometimes they take major tweaking.
"My point is, is that it is the people in certain positions that need to be strong enough to not do the governments bidding, they are the key holders for all of this."
But... is it the "government's" bidding or is it that of TPTB?
"War in this day and age is sophisticated and doesnt need boots on the ground, (i am sure this war would not be supported by the infantry and the people) but to inflict damage, it is not neccessary to have this support."
Every war has had sophistications during its time: wars readily unveil new war toys. And while it is true that you can start a war w/o any boots on the ground, you CANNOT end a war without having boots on the ground (if, that is, you're looking to retain control).
"Disobedience is the key to stopping this war, at all levels."
And the last time that "disobedience" worked? There were MILLIONS upon MILLIONS of war protestors before the US launched its war against Iraq. It did what? I suppose that one would have to go back to Dr. Martin Luther King and the Civil RIghts movement to find a time in which people actually forced TPTB's hand.
"I am sure that if this does progress, then a civil war may happen in the US (in certain areas) and possibly Russia."
No, you're guessing. No idea why a "civil war" would be the outcome... But, I can assure you that the eventuality WILL be regionalization, and that this WILL effectively chop off D.C.. As to what happens in Russia? Pretty much the same, though they're likely going to go through a bit more of a nationalistic push before any fracturing takes place...
Why is the lame stream media covering up the Bundy Ranch heist and cattle rustling?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFiosLqjoQQ#t=41
This is turning into a Vietnam moment for the US political scene. Where are the Fullbrights and Bobby Kennedys of today who have the guts to rally US citizens against insane government behavior?
Well, in those days you had statesman who were generally concerned and examined all sides with an open mind, they were listened to and respected all over the world, now days you just have politicians, there is an enormous difference in quality.
If you have to ask that question then you're in for a LONG struggle... Further, if you're really worked up about it I think that you ought to get your butt down there (maybe Bundy will hire you for $5/day to guard his cattle- pretty good deal for doing volunteer work!); really, this might be your time to shine...
The other day I was chatting over a vodka or ten to a thick set Russian speaking Moldovan (the uk is full of eastern europeans).
He was telling me that the majority of the region are with Putin and the unrest was fueled by a small hated minority who just want out of the country as soon as they are in the EU.
Who was I to question him.. He told me they actually have kalashikoff lessons in primary school ffs.
"Who was I to question him."
Um, well... It's great for an anecdotal, but if we're trying to establish fact then I wouldn't wager on it being so. All polls have a margin of error; in this case 1 error could throw it all off 100%.
Consume with a grain of salt...
The peeps that voted for the great community organizer the first time could be excused for simple mindedness. To vote for the dolt again is a sign of some real agreement with all of the Kenyan's race baiting - profligate spending - freedom hating - socialist policies. But othet than that they're really nice people.
Oh, and polarizing - I forgot to mention that - the POS and his crew are also very polarizing.
And, flinging around a bunch of chaged/loaded terms isn't polarizing?
Yeah, it sells well here on ZH: get lots of up-arrows for some words.
I seem to recall quite similar (party pussy sounding) stuff being tossed during GWB's days.
Sometimes I get tired of getting old. The same fucking records keep playing...
Dubya was crap - Bamys worse
"When will the United States begin the long-overdue task of getting its own act together?" - should I really answer this for you? NEVER! .. or at leat untill it's far too late
Vietnam? We have so much better things than napalm these days. On both sides.
In reality Iraq and all the others should be our Vietnam. But you hear surprisingly little for as many that have died.
RE
They exist, just in a bigger minority than in the 60s.
Plus, Bobby Kennedy got killed for his stance. Don't think the older Senators and Congressman that lived through those times know why he was killed (prolonging the Vietnam war for war profiteers and bankers).
They *should* be scared. BUT They should also show courage in times like these #sigh