The American Empire in its death throes will take everybody down with it. Ike was right, "Beware the Military Industrial Complex".

With the era of Globalization, the Merchants of Death do not even have an allegiance to a country, only to almighty greed.

The Ministries of Information, ala Goebbels, are in place and the lies spew forth. They do not allow facts to cloud the issues.

The Average American has no clue, as in 2003, what is really happening in the world. We need to FEAR for our safety, our children, our treasure, and our way of life. The Gulags are in place, the spying is condoned, the police state rises, religion is wielded as a tool to keep the masses in line, secrecy reigns, the Imperial Presidency is empowered, and the Dogs of War are seen as the sign of our greatness.

The Sheep need to look up!!!!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

...particularly for the corporate-owned 24 hour cable news networks.

Cable news ratings skyrocket during times of war. Faux News' agenda isn't driven by patriotism or a desire to "protect" America from Iran - it's only about the money they can make from the next war.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

So, how are we going to stop it? Please inform me how this can be done? Everywhere you look- all the TV stations are parsing about the Iran Revolutionary Guard being put on a terrorist list. Will Congress act?? Haven't so far. What can the people do?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

How is it possible that native born Americans in this nation are afraid to protest in the streets (eg, are subject to being targeted by the CIA, the NSA, etc - all of which has been proven) while illegal aliens can protest to their hearts content and NOT be stopped, singled out and then immediately deported.

How is it possible that this gov't has held us thinking Americans hostage while the MSM allows themselves to be force fed - like a goose which will soon be fois gras - this utter tripe.

How is it possible that our elected officials in Congress - and elsewhere - are not investigating this gross misinformation and protesting FOR us.

How is this all possible?

Because this nation is BROKEN. We are not a legitimate republic anymore. We have been stomped on so repeatedly by this WH that we can no longer think straight.

If you are not part of the establishment, don't own stock in the military-industrial complex, and haven't given gobs of money to the GOP you are out of the loop. You are considered an enemy of the state. You are not part of the 'big picture'.

Indeed, we will be eradicated as a nation if we allow the status quo to continue.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I've seen this coming for months. Our President and his delusional neocon puppet master for some reason think that one war will take our minds off two other disasterous wars. My gosh. These two can't finish anything they start. They invade countries like they're playing GI Joe and leave the mess for our overworked, stretched to the breaking point military to clean up. When will they get it that not every problem in the world is a mushroom cloud waiting to happen or that every situation can be solved with our military. We used to be the greatest nation in the world but thanks to these fools, the entire world hates us. We don't have the might we once did. They aren't satisfied with what they've done to our army and marines, now they are looking to break our airforce as well. If they want a war, let the two of them do a fifteen month stint in one of their own making, we have two they can choose from.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

It's become pretty obvious that corrupt politicians are imposing their corporate mandated agendae on the broad base of Americans, making very effective use of the massive power of the main stream media which, of course, also serve corporate interests. It's happening here in Canada as well, and in other countries, but their influence isn't nearly the potential threat as in your country, what with the corrupt and immoral well placed to direct the largest economy and most dangerous military the planet has ever seen.

And too many make a dangerous mistake. Despite all the blatant manipulation and crass hypocrisy, these parasites are definitely not stupid. They have mastered the craft of influencing and controlling others - and just how far to push it - to the point of bending, changing, breaking and even inventing rules - and laws! - with virtual impunity.

You progressives and the like-minded are your country's best, perhaps only, real hope. And progressives doing nothing may be your biggest threat; it's surely one of the variables the manipulators factor into their calculations. Yes, they do plan and calculate. Thugs like rove, cheney, feith, gonzales, bush et al are despicable human beings for sure, but most are very good at what they do, regardess how immature and unconscionable it is.

Progressives must spread the truth to the MSM swilling masses, of any stripe; it's the only way you can counteract the continuous lies. And talking to someone in person still has a bigger impact than being told something on television or preached to at a rally, and you can use that advantage. Indeed, it's so simple it just might work.

Say each of us told and showed two others the facts, and they each told and showed them to two others, and on and on. For example, guess how much money you'd have in a month if you started with one penny, and doubled what you had each day; $100? $1,000? $10,000! Nope, in thirty days you'd have over $10 million (10,737,418.24 actually).

Of course, there's no way reality with people would match the math, but lets say 10% carried out the plan, (or even 1%). That's over a million (or over one hundred thousand) who are no longer ignorant of just how they're being debased and abused. And this example starts at one; start with a hundred or a thousand, and the numbers get really big.

Imagine, progressives - and the formerly misguided - communicating the truth in person to others. It just doesn't get any more powerful. And all that's required is to get off the sofa, assemble the facts (it's not as if there's a shortage of those), tell two of the uninformed (I suggest in person would be best, then maybe by phone; e-mail would be less effective, but better than nothing) and ask them each to tell two others.

Why not give it a try? It certainly couldn't hurt, and has to be better that sitting about wringing your hands and bemoaning your seemingly inevitable fate . . . right?
!

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

For those interested in a psychological analysis of warmongering, I have recently completed a 10-minute online video entitled “Resisting the Drums of War.” It examines how the Bush administration has promoted the misguided and destructive war in Iraq by targeting five core concerns that often govern our lives--concerns about vulnerability, injustice, distrust, superiority, and helplessness. Looking ahead, the continuing occupation of Iraq--or an attack on Iran--will likely be sold to us in much the same way. The video examines these warmongering appeals and how to counter them. It’s available for viewing HERE.

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]

I daresay I'm not the only Alternet reader who has tried everything.

I marched in NYC on Feb 15 2003 with hundreds of thousands of others. The media yawned and hardly reported our numbers while the NYPD had sharpshooters on the roofs.
I've written and continue to write letters to the editors of the NYTimes and the Boston Globe. Sometimes the letters even get published.

I contribute my thoughts to the Buzzflash mailbag several times a month.

None of this is useless, but I don't know how we're going to stop Cheney et al who seem bound and determined to attack Iran. Nothing could be much stupider. But how do we stop him? Which runways can we lay our bodies on to keep the planes from taking off? The aircraft carriers have been in the Gulf for months. Congress is afraid to take a stand or even to try to cut off funds.

I know why their reasoning is bad. But so what? They don't even need popular consent. They know that we know that they lied their/our way into Iraq. They don't give a rat's ass what we think. So how do we stop them?

[« Reply to this comment] [Post a new comment »] [Rate this comment: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5]