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May 23, 2013
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 U.S. Allies in Europe Begin to Pull BackPosted on Feb 23, 2010PARIS—Last Friday five NATO governments made it known that they want American nuclear weapons removed from their territories. They include the Benelux three, together with Germany and Norway. The five reportedly will ask that all the European NATO governments endorse their position before a meeting in New York in May. The Dutch foreign minister described this as an attempt to seize the opportunity provided by President Barack Obama’s recent call for a de-nuclearized world. The latter is not likely to happen, but redundant or irrelevant—and by some reports incompetently guarded—American nuclear munitions have no place in Europe today. The Cold War was over 20 years ago. The American administration’s attention should at least be caught by the claim that these weapons may not be properly secured. One of Washington’s obsessions is the threat of a stolen nuclear weapon in terrorist hands. The political significance of this European action should be seen in connection with the Feb. 20 fall of the Dutch government coalition, caused by disagreement over NATO’s request that the Dutch military contribution to the war in Afghanistan be extended beyond this year. Any new government is expected to withdraw those soldiers, which have been part of the NATO coalition in Afghanistan since 2006. The Dutch currently have 1,600 troops in Afghanistan and have lost 21 men. Advertisement The U.S. devotes large sums of money to subsidizing the participation in Afghanistan of small NATO countries and publicizing the affair as a true coalition operation, but NATO-nation political and public support for the war is faint and grudging because few believe the mission is realistic. Creating democracy in Central Asia as a way of destroying al-Qaida and ending terrorism is seen as another case of American wishful thinking. The coalition offensive in the Marja region that began Feb. 13 will give Americans themselves an answer as to whether the new Obama-era Petraeus-McChrystal strategy will work. Circumstances are as favorable as can be expected, in that the Taliban have not made themselves popular in the area, and the NATO forces are bringing with them the full civilian panoply of NATO’s hearts-and-minds program, supposed to enable Afghan national army troops to take over control from the alliance, and the Hamid Karzai government to “hold” the area against any return of the Taliban. They would do this by building up efficient and responsible government there, while NATO troops move along to the next region in need of being “seized” and pacified by U.S. Marines and their allies. Barack Obama is counting on them, but to this hardened observer it all seems too good to be true. If the Marja operation fails, the president in theory will be in a position to say that he has done his best with the strategy his commanders and their Pentagon superiors (and the Republican opposition) recommended. He can say it hasn’t worked, and the time has therefore come to begin that withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan that he promised in the same speech in which he announced the Petraeus-McChrystal “surge.” I say “in theory.” In political practice, it is likely to prove impossible for the same reason it was impossible for Richard Nixon to withdraw American forces from Vietnam until Henry Kissinger had negotiated an agreement with Hanoi that both sides understood was a masquerade—which a majority of the American Congress, at that time, had the wit to understand. When the last American had clambered aboard the last helicopter from the Saigon Embassy roof, President Gerald Ford had already declared the war “finished.” Barack Obama is likely to find that it isn’t easy to declare wars finished, especially when he has a Congress with more than its share of tinpot heroes who will foam at the mouth about “surrender” to terrorism. Obama is likely to find, as George W. Bush did before him, that when you expand your war, you have closed doors behind yourself. Visit William Pfaff’s website at www.williampfaff.com. © 2010 Tribune Media Services Inc.  TAGS:
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Benghazi: Dissecting Congressional Follies, Media Coverage and ‘Cover-Up’ Charges
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By ocjim, February 28, 2010 at 6:20 pm Link to this comment
I have to think that European countries have the good judgment we don’t have regarding trying to defeat terrorists by attacking countries with some relationship to their activities. They know that it is a never-ending endeavor that wastes precious resources and doesn’t address the real problem.
Report thisBy TAO Walker, February 27, 2010 at 4:24 pm Link to this comment
Since the Natural Organic Form of Humanity, within the Living Arrangement of our Mother Earth, is NOT the ersatz “individual,” but rather that vital communal form some of us surviving free wild Natives here on Turtle Island call Tiyoshpaye, there isn’t a snowball’s chance in hell that the current terrorist regime based on the pathological ‘dominance’ paradigm, and ruling its “individual” inmates by fear, can ever prevail here. No doubt the Europeans are quite leery of being ‘taken-down,’ too, in the already-in-progress catastrophic collapse of their allamericangangster offsprings’ “global” criminal enterprise. Apparently, worn-out by their own mis-spent ‘youth,’ the euros’d prefer going-out “....with a whimper.”
Meantime, us Human Beings will keep-on accepting our given ‘chances’ and ‘paying’ our precious attention within the Vision, the Sacred Song ‘n’ Dance, of Life Herownself….altogether beyond the reach of that disintegrating make-believe world-o’-hurt where the hucksters are so deleriously happy to have another “....sucker born every minute.”
HokaHey!
Report thisBy Xntrk, February 25, 2010 at 2:03 pm Link to this comment
FSLN on the Fifth Socialist International
February 22nd 2010, by Carlos Fonseca Terán:
…People who pronounce themselves in favour of the method of legislative reform in place and in contradistinction to the conquest of political power and social revolution, do not really choose a more tranquil, calmer and slower road to the same goal, but a different goal. Instead of taking a stand for the establishment of a new society they take a stand for surface modifications of the old society.—Rosa Luxemburg.
I copied this from an article on http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/
The article is discussing the 5th International proposed by Chaves. It gives a detailed historical review of the preceding 4 Internationals and their affects on world politics.
Perhaps it is time for those of us who consider ourselves ‘Socialists’ and or ‘Progressives’ to quit jawboning the issue of US Empirical BS and the demise of our social infrastructure. Instead, decide whether or not you really believe that the Capitalistic Economic system based on Colonialism and the wage-slavery of the working-class/poor, is worth replacing, or if you just want to fine-tune it so you are one of the haves, rather than a have-not.
To help you decide, I also recommend Joe Bageants essay, Round Midnite: The American Disease, on http://www.counterpunch.org.
Report thisBy gerard, February 25, 2010 at 12:50 pm Link to this comment
Mr. Pfaff: Sad to say, it isn’t just Congress’
“tinpot heroes” who will “foam at the mouth about
“surrender” to terrorism.
At least half the country is still under the illusion that America is so perfectly great that it cannot “lose” a war because that means “not winnng”—which means humiliation.
American exceptionalism still rules the American consciousness, oblivious to self-correcting devices built into its Constitution.
Instead of listening to its people, it now tasers, overpowers, and jails them for speaking truth to power. Thus it cuts off its nose to spite its face.
Report thisBy nemesis2010, February 25, 2010 at 11:30 am Link to this comment
The AmeriCorp Empire is crumbling under the weight of its own avaricious and hubristic rot.
Other nations are not going to sit idly by while AmeriCorp garners all the world’s oil reserves for itself—no matter the pretext. The unjustifiable and illegal acts of aggression and occupation have drained the national treasury, divided citizenry and allies alike, and wreaked havoc on what little civil rights and constitutional government remained.
For the first time the whole world is able to see—flagrante delicto—AmeriCorp’s true nature; and it’s that of a rapacious beast.
ExxonMobil for president 2012!
Report thisBy Paul_GA, February 25, 2010 at 9:45 am Link to this comment
Actually, Dihey, I’d say that the USA will wreck NATO—mainly because of its incessant demands for more cannon fodder for imperialistic crusades like that in Afghanistan. The USA, after all, doesn’t want to reinstate the draft because of the bad memories of Vietnam, so the Empire will need cannon fodder from somewhere ...
Report thisBy dihey, February 25, 2010 at 9:38 am Link to this comment
The Prussian General von Clausewitz warned his King that the army does not look kindly om being used for His Majesty’s military adventures. Today, in most European countries that still participate in the Afghan adventure one must change “army” to “the people” which is exactly what is happening in the Netherlands, Germany, and Great Britain (including Canada). If I am not mistaken, there were no overwhelming majorities in these countries backing the continued NATO occupation at the beginning let alone after one or two years. Waging wars without the overwhelming support of the nation is a va banque play.
Report thisIt is not The Netherlands or Canada that threaten to wreck NATO. It is NATO that wrecks NATO.
By bonito, February 25, 2010 at 9:24 am Link to this comment
You cannot blame NATO for not supporting the U S
Report thispolicy in the middle east, after all it was initially
formed as was stated at the time to protect Europe
from an invasion by The Soviet Union. Since then the
US has tried to get NATO to support them in conflicts
all over the globe. I guess the Europeans are just
plain smarter, or some may say more christen then to
go around the world killing millions of people, as we
did in southeast Asia, just because we did not like
the form of government they had. Guess what same
government still governs there today. Maybe it is
now time to adopt another agenda and change our
foreign policy to reflect a kinder more gentle
approach to the rest of the world, reduce the
hundreds of bases the taxpayers are forced to support
around the world, stop acting like the macho man on
the block, and rescind the many alliances that do
nothing much more then get us into Wars. We can no
longer go on supporting one nation in the middle east
in both treasure and military hardware at great cost
to the taxpayer, ( no matter what they do in the name
of self defense) against most all of the other
nations in the region.
By Paul_GA, February 25, 2010 at 5:54 am Link to this comment
Ouroborus, I fear that’s true; it makes no difference what party they belong to—almost no one among this country’s Establishment can see the handwriting on the wall. When the crunch comes, they’ll be wandering about like earthquake or hurricane survivors, dazed, confused, wondering what happened, when it ought to be as plain as the nose on their faces what’s happened—and it’ll mainly be their own fault. If, then, the disillusioned populace rises up in anger and takes revenge on them for being fed lies about American “greatness” and “exclusiveness” for untold ages, I for one won’t be at all surprised.
Report thisBy Ouroborus, February 24, 2010 at 7:59 pm Link to this comment
America will continue its’ self isolating behavior
Report thisuntil it stands alone and vulnerable.
By lettruthprevail, February 24, 2010 at 10:37 am Link to this comment
nice article !! i would like readers to read the books by michael scheuer the ex dir for cia operative for the bin laden operation.. clearly identifies that until and unless the american elites and powers donot recognize that its not our freedom what the “enemies” hate but rather our military on their lands we will keep on creating enemies ?? we need to send our doctors engineers and technologies to these countries and not our armoured personell !!! imagine us showin our id’s to egyptian soldiers on our land here in the us ???
Report thisBy balkas, February 24, 2010 at 9:50 am Link to this comment
Will US ever leave iraq and/or afgh’n? This question is connected with the question, Why did US invade afgh’n and/or iraq?
Following fact may offer us a clue as to whether US wld ever leave either of the two evil empires:
All wars [except trojan, if u wanna believe it]were waged for land.
That afgh’n and iraq are evil or higly dysfunctional also adds to our knowledge of why US is there.
That we all are neo-indians, also helps us to understand why US is on warpath.
As we know, it is US warlords’ DADT policy regarding why US is in asia! No msm collumnist, pol, priest, editor, judge had, as far as i know, asked the warlords, Please do tell why we are there?
While asking why US is on warpath let us keep im mind what warming might do to US and much of the world.
And, isn’t the planet getting poorer? And isn’t china building an idyllic structure of society; example which others may emulate; representing a mortal danger to US asocialistic [fascist, if that doesn’t chafe u?]structure of society.
And neither russia nor china unable to stop US/nato expansionism at this time? Thus, grab now as nuch as u can before china becomes able to confront the fascists in US,india, ‘stans, arab lands.
Or is all this ab seven or seventy cavemen? And no helen, either! tnx
Report thisBy Robin Hood, February 24, 2010 at 9:46 am Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Bravo! A wonderful sign that the American Empire is starting to crack-up, and, God willing, with its failure our country will return to being a republic, once again, by the people, of the people and for the people.
Report thisBy Trailing Begonia, February 24, 2010 at 9:20 am Link to this comment
American nuclear munitions have no place in Europe or anywhere else today. As for the fear of a nuke falling in the hands of terrorists…a little too late for that. The US has gifted Israel with over 200 of them. All we can do now is braise for the worst.
Report thisBy drbhelthi, February 24, 2010 at 7:23 am Link to this comment
Which leader-type among the Gates family has not
been intimidated into surrender to the CIA/israeli
warmongers that manipulate USA politics?
Fortunately for the world, the CIA “disinformation
program” has been less successful in Europe than in
the USA. Europeans are much less “dumbed down” than
Americans, since news media in Europe, perhaps
excepting CNN affiliates, continue to carry useful
political news and opinion. European leadership is
better able to view and evaluate what has actually
happened and continues to happen via NATO, due to
the influence of warmongers among USA leadership.
Similarly, “destroying al-Qaida” is a CIA theme that
Report thislooks good in print and effectively distracts. The
White House “think tank” did a good job inventing the
name, “al-Qaida.” As soon as the black-money-hole
of the CIA is stopped, “al-Qaida” will cease. Along
with a multitude of other destructive activities
in-progress around the world.
By jonathonk99, February 24, 2010 at 6:21 am Link to this comment
There’s no way around it gentle folks… This war is about oil and maintaining
power. Forget about Osama Bin Laden the martyr, and 9-11 was just a
footnote! Millions have been slaughtered on the other side, mostly civilians,
but we don’t do body counts over 27. If gutless politicians finally come out
and say what it is that we all know and what we all deserve to hear, in other
words—- the truth, then that would be nothing short of miraculous. But in
the meantime we hear all this living room T.V. talk about ‘protecting
democracy’ and ‘stabilizing the region’ because it is such a great concern to our
‘national security’ mumbo jumbo. It’s like riding a merry-go-round of insanity.
Why is it that in our society, at least on T.V., memory seems to last only about
Report this10 years? Everything that happened in world affairs before 9-11 was frivolous.
(Except maybe for the Monica Lewinski scandal which for some reason pales in
comparison to the quagmire in Afghanistan and Iraq) Instead of saying A.D. we
may as well say A.9-11. Through this singular event we have somehow been
thrust into the dark ages of fear from which we can never escape. Through this
singular catastrophe History has been reborn and rewritten; a line drawn on a
clean slate. We are the saints and they are the sinners and that’s the way it’s
always been.
By Paul_GA, February 24, 2010 at 5:41 am Link to this comment
Interesting thing Secretary of “Defense” (note the quotation marks) Robert Gates said—“European Aversion to War a Danger to Peace” (!!!)
That’s the headline for this link: http://news.antiwar.com/2010/02/23/gates-european-aversion-to-war-a-danger-to-peace/
Boy, this country is getting more and more Orwellian all the time! Disgusting!
Report thisBy zeroinfinity, February 23, 2010 at 10:45 pm Link to this comment
(Unregistered commenter)
Well, eventual surrender of both NATO and the USA is INEVITABLE! The sooner NATO and USA surrenders, the cheaper it will be in the long run for them. That is what is so strange about those who like the idea of cutting spending, but is willing to pay ANY financial price necessary to exact revenge. After all, the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq is what this is all about…REVENGE - however misguided! The USA wants to take the resources of Iraq and Afghanistan too, of course. Let’s face it, the USA sure loves its oil and opium.
Meanwhile, I hope that the USA will do all it can to DEFEND itself from the laws of karma, however futile the attempts may be. This is not a game! The day of reckoning for the USA is at hand. You know? If a nation is going to be judge jury and executioner for the entire world for over a century, expect blowback! Very simple to understand, one would think…
Even the USA’s feeble attempts at propagandizing its own citizens will not save this nation from its, again, inevitable ruin! The USA will go the way of the Mongols, Persians, and Romans someday. Sleep on that thought Americans!
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