I have travelled this world much more extensively than either Obama or Romney, and I still do. I find everywhere, even in areas of conflict and economic difficulty, the vast majority of people are friendly, even kind, and have very similar aspirations, across cultures, to personal development and emotional fulfilment.
The striking thing about tonight’s US Presidential “foreign policy” debate, is when it did occasionally discuss foreign policy, the world out there was discussed not as a place of vast potential, but as a deeply disturbing place full of foreigners who are, apparently, all evil except the Israelis, who are perfect.
The vast benefits from cooperation and trade with “abroad” were not mentioned once that I noticed (though I confess the thing was so awful my attention wandered occasionally). Europe apparently doesn’t exist, other than Greece which is nothing more than a terrible warning of the dangers of not being right wing enough.
The correct attitude to all these foreigners that God so unfortunately and inexplicably placed on this planet, is apparently to maintain incredibly large armed forces, murder people with drones (they were both very enthusiastic on this one), place sanctions on them and declare them “currency manipulators”. The only surprising note was that both agreed that they could not kill everyone in Iran.
But “We can’t just kill our way out of this mess” was spoken with regret, rather than as an affirmation of the possibilities of cooperation instead. What a grim and joyless world view. Maybe I had better not step out of this hotel into Africa this morning; those Islamists might get me.
Komodo; I’m also not good at reading snark. When you say ‘cryptic’, are you referring to me?
Sorry to be dense, but I am, rather.
Ok, Ben – if you didn’t spot the clues, we don’t know each other (pity, really). Sorry to baffle you, was just wondering if we’d crossed paths on a US forum.
Good luck, Jon, and thanks.
“the vast majority of people are friendly”
I agree. I was once told by a US Navy Captain / Sub Commander and part-time Diplomat that in all the 40 odd countries he had visited basically 90% of the people were good hearted and 10% not so good in his opinion. I always bear this in mind. He knew a lot of people.
By the way I was resident in Tashknet 2003-2005 – I saw you in Juliano’s once whilst I was en-route to the Ragu.. Every other day I was questioned on Broadway as to whether I was a British Diplomat… those were the days!
N___;
I understand. Someone here, (Komodo?) said we should just stop going to work in the UK.
“Not showing up at work will scare the Hell out of them”
—Nehru—
“Sorry to baffle you, was just wondering if we’d crossed paths on a US forum.”
In the US? Where?
I’m not naming names in case some of the trolls come here, Ben. Rest assured that no snark was intended.
Re. not going to work, it’s called a general strike. Last time we had one, during a time of extreme general poverty and widespread actual malnutrition it didn’t work. Since Thatcher successfully neutered the unions, and the majority of the population is worried more about the payments on the car than where the next meal is coming from, both the organisational structure and the heartfelt fury – not just abstract anger – necessary are lacking for a repeat showing. On the other hand, e-networks and the present fiscal policy do not make this a future impossibility. The problem then will be to ensure that, this time, it works. That it delivers a more equal and just scheme of things.
Times 10 in the US, Komodo. They have us on the teat, and the addiction is strong.
When austerity hits the US, we will, I predict, descend into the abyss.
Sadly true. On a slightly lighter note, I never really understood the simultaneous existence of the Mann Act and the accepted policy of moving your factory to the state where the labour was cheapest. Though Europe is beginning to look rather similar.
Phil,
By ‘we’ I assume you mean the ‘world’ – 9/11 certainly gave me 2yrs of intense research and about 6 months of sleepless nights just putting together the evidence – damn -I didn’t need it neither did my family.
Yes, we would still be where we are today except I believe we bear a heartfelt desire to turn away from the path of destruction, militarism and lies that America has been set upon after 9/11.
hello all,
Just thought I’d share something that has caught my attention recently… Not sure but I may have been linked through here, if so, I claim this as a enthusiastic repost…
http://Www.thoughtmaybe.com
Now I’m not sure about this but I think the editor/curator of this site may be A certain mr Curtis from the beeb, anyhow the site is awesome – a compendium of documentary films which, taken as a whole could be seen as an education that cuts through propaganda and bullcrap!
anyhow,
Barockstar Obomber or Mittens Romknee. Whoever wins, won’t it just be a case of dumb or dumberer?
Yours ambivalently
Al
Informant: NYPD paid me to ‘bait’ Muslims
NEW YORK (AP) — A paid informant for the New York Police Department’s intelligence unit was under orders to “bait” Muslims into saying inflammatory things as he lived a double life, snapping pictures inside mosques and collecting the names of innocent people attending study groups on Islam, he told The Associated Press.
Continues
http://www.islamophobiatoday.com/2012/10/23/informant-nypd-paid-me-to-bait-muslims/
http://www.edp24.co.uk/news/us_warplanes_set_to_start_night_flights_with_fens_based_crews_1_1666727
@Ben
Just to be clear – I am not actually advocating violence myself. But I do agree with N__ that polite marches achieve nothing.
I suspect the US will not be alone. Personally, I cannot see a solution. The stranglehold is too strong. There will be no mass awakening, only catastrophe.
I feel like I should wear an ‘end is nigh’ sandwich board down oxford street. Except it was banned a few months back. It’s funny cause it’s true.
Look – I know this is a “club” of which I am not a member – but I really would like to say something to Komodo re election of Crime Boxwallah (easier spelling than Com…..word) for this area which came up in one of the threads recently but which is not on topic. I’ve gone round and round and am still up shit creek without a paddle. Help the Aged – you know it makes sense.
This is off topic but I would appreciate any guidance from technically minded people on this blog.
A number of attempts have made recently to rip-off my wife’s credit card. She has had a number of phone calls from people pretending to be representatives of my wife’s bank; Santander.
On contacting Santander they said that the callers were not employees of their company. My wife provided them with a telephone number that was recorded on our telephone system: 08451262675.
She was informed that this; and other similar numbers, have nothing to do with Santander and they cannot be blocked (apparently) by the telephone providers and cannot be traced by the police.
Can this be true?
@A Simple Jew
Hitler was bankrolled by numerous rich industrialists and financiers. That some might have been Jewish is ignoring the obvious common connection.
Misreading history to suit your preconceptions is also ignorant. Good for you.
Doug Scorgie: First off I would make sure that your wife’s credit card debt has not been handed off by Santander to a debt collector, companies like Santander will sell debts to debt collection companies like this who will pose as being Santander over the phone.
The customer service operators at Santander might not have any information on this or even know which debt collection companies Santander deals with.
Once a company like Santander sells off a debt through non payment why don’t want to have to deal with it any more, that’s why it gets sold off in the first place.
@Doug – I dont know about phone networks, but just googled the number and there are hits, even with other people reporting a Santander scam from it specifically.
I have just tended my resignation as a
moderatorjanitor who has to keep his mouth shut and be respectful.The conspiracy theorists can take lap of honour. The blog team can consider themselves lucky I didn’t publish my resignation e-mail as an O/P or put it up on the Media Lens message board.
Bye folks.
Clark: What has prompted this?
My own travels have met with the same hospitality as Craig Murray. Most people in countries I have visited have been extremely welcoming, even the police. Some would people would walk with me to a place I was looking for rather than just give directions. In fact one of these helpful people at Batumi, in Georgia, was a policeman. His uniform could have done with sprucing up but he tried to be friendly and we shared a meal together. I like to think my fellow-countrymen and women would do the same for foreigners here. How much better that would be than bombing the living daylights out of them in their own countries.
Clark;
I miss your input, and am sorry I asked where you’ve been in such a cavalier manner. i hope you will not deprive us of your good sense and perspective. Please continue to comment.
Clark 23 Oct, 2012 – 10:29 pm
“Bye folks.”
I hope not. Let it rip mate.
@Komodo – I’m not sure how far a comparison with 1926 can get us. Then again, the same could be said about what I’m going to refer to, which is May 1968 in France and the growing wildcat strike movement in 1972 in Britain which scared so much **** out of the authorities that they decided they’d better free the Pentonville Five right there and then. Thousands went on a march in London. It wasn’t a protest march. It was a ‘we bloody well intend to get what we want’ march. I knew someone (a printworker) who was one of the organisers. It sounds amazing. They went past King’s Cross railway station. A few people go into the station to talk to the workers there. ‘We’re going to Pentonville prison to get the dockers out’. The entire station comes out on strike there and then, and most people join the march. On they marched, until they got to the prison, new people joining all the way. The desire to make history, become infectious. The government could either let the prison be stormed (and what would they have done then? shot people? and then what? they could easily have had a May 1968 on their hands), or let the dockers go. They chose the latter.
Before I get too romantic about it, I’ll admit that people’s aim wasn’t closely comparable to forcing a reversal of austerity measures!
It’s impossible to envisage a revolt now that develops from any existing organisational structures (such as in the above case, the trade union shop stewards).
Maybe it can only happen ‘out of a clear sky’…say like May 1968 (occupations all over France within a few days) or November 1918 in Germany (workers’ councils, ditto). Maybe the latter is a better comparison, given that living standards were falling and people were scared (of a Gotterdammerung-type finale to the war), unlike in 1968?
Just some thoughts.
It’s a lot of thankless work; the nuts-and-bolts of a blog. It’s why I don’t have one.
N__;
Jimmy Hoffa of the Teamsters was a tough SOB who was determined to beat the company thugs and corrupt cops at their own game.
He enlisted the help of organized crime, and permanently bent the spine of the Union. I hear your frustration, but strength and power comes better through non-cooperation.
Craig,
“Pan Am 103”
http://www.firmmagazine.com/news/3047/Police%2C_Crown_Office%2C_Lord_Advocate_and_Minister_accused_in_widespread_perversion_of_the_course_of_justice_over_Pan_Am_103.html
Clark.
Please don’t be sad. Your wisdom is much appreciated.