There is, but frankly it’s pretty unappealing. I’d rather interview the dead than be one. I hate returning to my regular Monday posts on a down note, but see no other way. It’s not that my off time was unproductive–got the major revision of TIES THAT BLIND finished and will begin the second revision after my publishing work partner re-reads the book and we review her comments. So, as far as writing goes, I’m pretty pleased. And, in fact, I had a much cheerier post planned for my return.
So why the down?
I read the newspaper every morning. And every morning I read about another fifty dead Iraqis. Another car bomb in Afghanistan. Obama ready to drone Syria—which most of Congress and even more of our population oppose. And then he catches hell from talking heads and those same opposing congressmen for agreeing to a negotiation rather than a bombing.
Ah-h-h, bombing—and they call baseball the “national pastime.” Since the Korean War we have bombed the following countries AND a city in the United States:
- Guatemala 1954, 1960, 1967-69
- Indonesia 1958
- Cuba 1959-1961
- Congo 1964
- Laos 1964-73
- Vietnam 1961-73
- Cambodia 1969-70
- Grenada 1983
- Lebanon 1983, 1984 (both Lebanese and Syrian targets)
- Libya 1986. 2011
- El Salvador 1980s
- Nicaragua 1980s
- Iran 1987
- Panama 1989
- Iraq 1991 (Persian Gulf War)
- Kuwait 1991
- Somalia 1993
- Bosnia 1994, 1995
- Sudan 1998
- Afghanistan 1998, 2001-present
- Yugoslavia 1999
- Yemen 2002, , 2009, 2011
- Iraq 1991-2003 (US/UK on regular basis)
- Iraq 2003-present
- Pakistan 2007-present
- Somalia 2007-8, 2011
Plus:
Iran April 2003 – hit by US missiles during bombing of Iraq, killing at least one person.
Pakistan 2002-03 – bombed by US planes several times as part of combat against the Taliban and other opponents of the US occupation of Afghanistan.
China 1999 – – Its heavily bombed embassy in Belgrade is legally Chinese territory, and it appears the bombing was no accident.
France 1986 – After the French government refused the use of its air space to US warplanes headed for a bombing raid on Libya, the planes were forced to take another, longer route and, when they reached Libya they bombed so close to the French embassy that the building was damaged and all communication links were knocked out.
Philadelphia May 13, 1985 – A bomb dropped by a police helicopter burned down an entire block, some 60 homes destroyed, 11 dead, including several small children. The police, mayor’s office, and FBI were colluded to “evict” a black organization called MOVE from one house and the effort got out of hand
(http://williamblum.org/chapters/rogue-state/united-states-bombings-of-other-countries)
Do the math. In the fifty-four years since we stopped dropping bombs in the Korean War, we spent 36 of them dropping bombs on someone else. Or, if you want to reduce the fraction, it comes down to a very disturbing super-majority of two-thirds. I thought about researching the number of civilian casualties now simply known as “collateral damage”, but frankly, I was afraid I’d throw up. And I really hate to puke.
I imagine there are people who might be able to find rationalizations for some—or even all the above. And I say go for it because it sure doesn’t look like anything is about to change. We might as well have “reasons” for slaughtering hundreds of thousands of people. We ought to have “reasons” for a military force greater than that of damn near every other country combined. Let alone, “reasons” for not spending that unconscionable amount of money on giving our kids great schooling and healthcare.
Bottom line; we’re still taking scalps.
Some of my disgust probably comes because of age. I’m getting closer and closer to “the way out of here” and the older I get, the more violence sickens me. To have my homeland be a serial killer on steroids is excruciating. I’ve been alive through all the above and shudder to think how much more “collateral damage” I’ll live through during the rest of my life.
It would be easy to simply blame politicians, generals, national security councils. Too easy. We the people allow, encourage these mass murders. And I see nothing on the horizon that gives me much hope for change. Hell, the Socialist French President was extolling the virtues of bombing Syria.
Sometimes I wonder what it must be like to live in a country where bombs rain down day after day. Or even the threat of it. I have a Palestinian friend who once told me the first word he ever learned was “bomba.” The very idea of spending every day and night literally waiting for the bomb to drop is almost unfathomable. But in a country where every car’s backfire sends people scrambling for shelter, it’s a whole different experience. Those of us who are old enough to remember “duck and cover” probably remember the apprehension that came with the drill—and that was merely practice. As tragic, frightening, and painful as 9/11 was, it doesn’t equal the slaughter and fear we’ve inflicted upon innocents throughout the past fifty-four years. So many others have awakened every morning wondering how many of their family members are still alive. Not something our own children are forced to cope with.
Although I know a lot of people who feel the way I do, I still experience myself as A STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. I go about my daily life, worrying about my relatively insignificant problems, then each morning coffee get jolted back to crazy. Only it’s apparently not crazy. It’s our country and the world in which we live and this is why I felt compelled to write this post.
I am, however, pleased to be writing my Just sayin’ column again. I missed doing it and missed the comments from people I know and those I don’t. And while I do feel intensely about politics and the United States’s role in this insanity, my column will once again tackle a variety of subjects, ideas, art, entertainment–as well as more INTERVIEWS WITH THE DEAD. Just sayin’ will not be an every week political rant–but I gotta tell you, thems there some low hanging fruit.
The good we secure for ourselves is precarious and uncertain until it is secured for all of us and incorporated into our common life-–Jane Addams
Bravo. As the amazing Joe Walsh said in “Life’s Been Good”: “Everybody’s so different; I haven’t changed”.
Being a powerless, unwitting abettor of these ongoing criminal enterprises is never comforting. “Better them than me” is hardly a sustainable defense for ongoing atrocity.
We’ve had “from this day forward” moments in our individual and collective lives. We’re overdue for another one.
Welcome back my friend to the show that never ends…
Bill: “Welcome back my friend to the show that never ends…” Thanks, I guess. Still, there’s ba part of me that wants to believe that the world doesn’t have to be as ugly as it is. Gotta believe.
Welcome back, Zach.
You are right– it can be a better world.
Unfortunately, the die is all ready cast. The deterioration of America continues to pick up pace. Your better world may come after the looming cataclysm. That is, if the elites of our country don’t take the entire world with them when they find their backs to the wall. I believe, that part is a toss up. Right now, we have absolutely no positive influence on the final outcome. Sorry again for the pessimism, but I am a student of history and the parallels to other eras are undeniable. The capability of the US military to eliminate the human race or much of it is all that appears different.
Jed–I understand and appreciate your pessimism and also worry about the United States taking the rest of the world with us as we continue to slide down the dance pole. And, truly, there isn’t all that much we, at the moment, can do to prevent it. But someone once told me that during times of darkness it’s our job to keep the candle flickering.
It’s good to be back.
Welcome back, for a while I thought I was the only one to contribute to the internet and it was going to stay that way 😉
You know we do not see eye to eye on the use of force, but you also know that this government of ours has used up its good faith with me when it comes to using said force. So the aspect of our government that still reflects the “self” in self-government is determined to oppose most any use of force on our behalf at this time.
Now I’m not going to go through every listed situation you posted, and I know that some were justifiable, but I don’t doubt that more than one were not. In the name of protecting ourselves I suppose to do the wrong thing from time to time is human, but have we been overly human too often?
Perhaps it’s sacrificial in nature. I know I’ve often heard that we take the war to them so that we’re safe here. Don’t get me wrong I don’t want a war on our own soil, but I find it hard to rationalize that lobbing bombs and getting into wars we have no intention of winning is the wisest most effective way to keep us safe here.
As far as being the world’s police force? It’s pointless when the leaders that are removed from abusive power are replaced by a new camp hellbent on doing the same.
Welcome Back.
Don: sometimes we we wind up in the same place but get there by different routes. Your “As far as being the world’s police force? It’s pointless when the leaders that are removed from abusive power are replaced by a new camp hellbent on doing the same.” seems right on the money. Actually I think it’s money that keeps us going as the worlds’ cop. The military/industrial complex that Eisenhower warned of is still very much alive and kicking–especially in arms sales.
“Welcome Back.” Thanks. It’s good to be home.
Another filtring would be to invest the intellectual effort to examine how often “to protect ourselves” is a conjurer’s trick on a population that knows it murdered for this land. Macbeth may be our collective miasm and we will keep murdering the night to keep away the firght.
Georgia–The only thing I can add to your comment is to quote it again: “Another filtring would be to invest the intellectual effort to examine how often “to protect ourselves” is a conjurer’s trick on a population that knows it murdered for this land. Macbeth may be our collective miasm and we will keep murdering the night to keep away the fright.” And to ask whether I can use it when I think it’s appropriate? Thank you for commenting.
You’re most welcome to use it….correct the typos. Welcome back…..
Georgia–Thanks. But think again cause you might want to use it. It was a really great summation. But if it does come my way, I’ll do the best I can with the spelling–smile.
Living by a Navy base in the Mojave Desert, if the wind is blowing in my direction, I can hear the crackling sound of a recording of the American National Anthem come wafting over the morning landscape at 8 a.m. Flying up in the sky jets loaded with bombs practice take off and landing. A sinking feeling to see the bombs when one loves the concept of flight and sunlight sparkling on silver wings.
I used to refuse to say the part in the Pledge of Allegiance, ‘…with liberty and justice for all.’ Then one day it occurred to me, ‘It’s not the truth. It’s a daily affirmation.’ That if we can convince ourselves that this concept of liberty and justice and peace on earth is attainable then somehow we’re better off believing it than just giving up and letting evil have it’s way with us.
I’m glad you are back, Zach. You always give me things to consider.
Kathleen–“That if we can convince ourselves that this concept of liberty and justice and peace on earth is attainable then somehow we’re better off believing it than just giving up and letting evil have it’s way with us.” In the words of one of the most misunderstood political person–Jesse Jackson–“Keep hope alive.”
I’m glad you are back, Zach. You always give me things to consider.
Thank you–Your Facebook writing does the same for me.http://zacharykleinonline.com/wp-admin/edit-comments.php?comment_status=moderated#comments-form
No need to apologize for the downer
TheNYT headline says US threatened by shootings in Nairobo mall. Another headlines continues to detail how crazy the navy yard shooter was and that his top secret clearance never was changed and that he entered doubly secure navy yard with weapons.
Looks and sounds like there will be even more snooping
On plane yesterday pilot called for applause for military people on board. I really feel for those folks serving in crazy places, but how can we so easily separate the”man from mission”
I fear our militarism is hard to stop. People organize against the things they experience (like you Palestinian friend who hears the bombs.
The death we cause is so far away. And the bombs around globe are shot from our mid west. From what I hear the question I hear is what military medals these shooters are due because they themselves are so far from the destruction they cause
My solution
There needs to be a draft. Only if every family had to face the destruction we wreak would there be a chance to change
Ron: “My solution
There needs to be a draft. Only if every family had to face the destruction we wreak would there be a chance to change” I’m all for it as long as it includes a community service option.
Funny how many people spent their best years fighting against a draft. Now, somehow, decades later, some of those same people have convinced themselves that advocating for one is a positive thing in regards to stopping the war machine. Let’s get those college kid in there. When 1000’s of them get killed and maimed, then we’ll have damned demonstrations again. People get hold of yourselves! I know you are desperate and frustrated but that ain’t the way.
I also don’t believe it would slow it for a minute anyway. Those in power are chuckling at plans of this nature. It just illuminates how they’ve been successful in warping the ideas of even so called progressives. When many progressives are this misguided, and progressive in name only, there is little hope in changing the ideas of democrats/republicans/liberals/conservatives in time to avert the demise of America.
Jed–“It just illuminates how they’ve been successful in warping the ideas of even so called progressives.” Sorry but I have to disagree. I have always believed in national service and that would include the military if one chooses. I was a VISTA volunteer and believe it was a progressive do. Plus, the fact is, the way war operates now, it simply slides past most people. I’m fine with deferments as long as everyone does a couple of years of service.
Fine with the draft? Fine with peopling the most destructive war machine of all time? Fine!? Unfortunately, you’re sentiment fits in nicely with the prevalent ideas of the time, as stated daily on WRKO radio and 100’s of other very popular outlets like it around the country. No wonder tens of millions of Americans have given up on elections and so-called American democracy.
Jed–I think you’re being harsh. I said I was fine with national service. I see that as very different than simply a compulsory draft. My notion is that everybody has to pitch in to help create a better society and those who *choose* to do their national service in the military can. What I think you overlook is the significant downside to a professional army. In a perfect world we’d have no military at all but I’m not a big believer in perfection as you know.
Zach-…”those who choose to do their national service in the military can.” They certainly can, by the millions, and an attitude like that is what is encouraging young people to become “Warriors” and “Heroes,” as the media falsely portrays them.
The brainwashing today is the most sophisticated there has ever been, so I guess I can’t hold it against former progressives who have succumbed.
After all during WW2 the German people had the same blind support of their “Boys,” achieved with what was far inferior propaganda and mass media control than what the USA is practicing today.
Jed: “”those who choose to do their national service in the military can.” They certainly can, by the millions, and an attitude like that is what is encouraging young people to become “Warriors” and “Heroes,” as the media falsely portrays them.”
A couple of things here. Yes, our media does portray soldiers as heros. Trudat. But I think you are off the wall to believe that’s what drives *most* of our professional soldiers to enlist. Try 3 squares a day and hope for a way out of a blind alley life with the hope for money for better. Second, you seem to be saying that “old” progressives have somehow caved in because I (old progressive) have somehow bent over to the militarism of today’s do.
Frankly, that’s no where even close to what I’ve been saying but no matter. You have created a tea party litmus test for progressives to either be on the side of unilateral disarmament or be a fellow traveler to what is. It just make sense to me to believe there’s any chance to create a relevant progressive movent with a platform that has unilateral total disarmament.
Ah-h-h, bombing—and they call baseball the “national pastime.” – funny line!
I can totally picture the US diplomat speaking to the French diplomat after the embassy was damaged in Libya. “Oops, sorry. Our bad.” Wink.
Cindy–Thanks for your smile. And even more thanks for your last sentence. I burst out laughing.