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Indybay Feature
10/7-13 Protest Fleet Week & Blue Death
Fascist Fleet Week and its horrifying Blue Death flights return to our peace-loving Bay Area during the week preceding and including Columbus Genocide Weekend, October 7 through 13. We must have a large peace demonstration to protest this outrage and leaflets in Spanish and English to reach the sailors to tell them not to kill their fellow workers for the profits of the oil companies.
Fascist Fleet Week and its horrifying Blue Death flights return to our peace-loving Bay Area during the week preceding and including Columbus Genocide Weekend, October 7 through 13. We must have a large peace demonstration to protest this outrage and leaflets in Spanish and English to reach the sailors to tell them not to kill their fellow workers for the profits of the oil companies.
The Navy’s “Blue Angels” aka Blue Death are illegal, low flights over a heavily populated area, glorifying war and wasting tax dollars, making horrifying noise, for the profits of the oil companies and the munitions makers. Fascist, election-frauding, warmongering “mayor” of San Francisco, Willie Brown, who sits in office with 40% of the vote plus election fraud and now has only 20% support, mouthed his latest insanity, quoted in the warmongering daily “newspaper” of Northern California, the San Francisco Chronicle, on 9/17/02, stating "The peace activists have never targeted Fleet Week,’ he said. " THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE.
See http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/17/BA85962.DTL
For more on Willie Brown’s election fraud, see http://www.brasscheck.com/stadium
(1) We submitted petitions with thousands of signatures to the Board of Supervisors a couple years ago to end the Blue Death flights.
(2) Every year , the Peace Navy and peace demonstrations on land have protested the despicable and despised Fascist Fleet Week.
(3) Every year since it began in 1981 under mayor Dianne Feinstein, thousands of people call the Board of Supervisors to complain about the terrible noise of the Blue Death.
After all, this is a city so famous for its peace demonstrations that we now have no military bases. The ships for this war show come from San Diego and Hawaii, at taxpayer expense. We certainly do protest Fleet Week and the Blue Death, every single year they have shown their fascist, warmongering faces and hardware.
PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS PROTESTING FLEET WEEK AND THE BLUE DEATH.
WE ALL CAN DO THE FOLLOWING:
When the horrifying, nightmarish, loud roar of the Blue Death is directly overhead, open your windows and call the supervisors so they can hear exactly how it sounds where you live or work.
Their phone numbers are in the San Francisco phone book and at:
http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/roster.htm
In case you are wondering why Willie Brown and his ruling class, warmongering cronies want Fleet Week so much, you will see from the Chronicle’s article, it is to promote business on the Wharf and to somehow show off how the City can handle crowds, which we have on many occasions throughout the year, so as to promote the latest stadium swindle, the horrifying Olympic Games, supported by the Chamber of Commerce (consisting of Democrats and Republicans), Democrat Willie Brown and 9 of the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors (all 9 supporters are Democrats), the opponents being Matt Gonzalez, a Green, and Chris Daly, a Democrat.
When you call in, you could chant: “We Remember Hiroshima; We Remember Vietnam; Democratic Party, We Know Which Side You’re On!”
The Navy’s “Blue Angels” aka Blue Death are illegal, low flights over a heavily populated area, glorifying war and wasting tax dollars, making horrifying noise, for the profits of the oil companies and the munitions makers. Fascist, election-frauding, warmongering “mayor” of San Francisco, Willie Brown, who sits in office with 40% of the vote plus election fraud and now has only 20% support, mouthed his latest insanity, quoted in the warmongering daily “newspaper” of Northern California, the San Francisco Chronicle, on 9/17/02, stating "The peace activists have never targeted Fleet Week,’ he said. " THIS IS AN OUTRIGHT LIE.
See http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2002/09/17/BA85962.DTL
For more on Willie Brown’s election fraud, see http://www.brasscheck.com/stadium
(1) We submitted petitions with thousands of signatures to the Board of Supervisors a couple years ago to end the Blue Death flights.
(2) Every year , the Peace Navy and peace demonstrations on land have protested the despicable and despised Fascist Fleet Week.
(3) Every year since it began in 1981 under mayor Dianne Feinstein, thousands of people call the Board of Supervisors to complain about the terrible noise of the Blue Death.
After all, this is a city so famous for its peace demonstrations that we now have no military bases. The ships for this war show come from San Diego and Hawaii, at taxpayer expense. We certainly do protest Fleet Week and the Blue Death, every single year they have shown their fascist, warmongering faces and hardware.
PLEASE POST ANNOUNCEMENTS OF PEACE DEMONSTRATIONS PROTESTING FLEET WEEK AND THE BLUE DEATH.
WE ALL CAN DO THE FOLLOWING:
When the horrifying, nightmarish, loud roar of the Blue Death is directly overhead, open your windows and call the supervisors so they can hear exactly how it sounds where you live or work.
Their phone numbers are in the San Francisco phone book and at:
http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/roster.htm
In case you are wondering why Willie Brown and his ruling class, warmongering cronies want Fleet Week so much, you will see from the Chronicle’s article, it is to promote business on the Wharf and to somehow show off how the City can handle crowds, which we have on many occasions throughout the year, so as to promote the latest stadium swindle, the horrifying Olympic Games, supported by the Chamber of Commerce (consisting of Democrats and Republicans), Democrat Willie Brown and 9 of the 11 members of the Board of Supervisors (all 9 supporters are Democrats), the opponents being Matt Gonzalez, a Green, and Chris Daly, a Democrat.
When you call in, you could chant: “We Remember Hiroshima; We Remember Vietnam; Democratic Party, We Know Which Side You’re On!”
For more information:
http://www.sfgov.org/bdsupvrs/roster.htm
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Thanks for this great piece (and inspiring writing) - glad to know someone is working on this.
>>> Fascist Fleet Week and its horrifying Blue Death flights return to our peace-loving Bay Area during the week preceding and including Columbus Genocide Weekend, October 7 through 13. We must have a large peace demonstration to protest this outrage and leaflets in Spanish and English to reach the sailors to tell them not to kill their fellow workers for the profits of the oil companies. <<<
Un-politically-correct Translation: The cool airshow is happening Columbus Day weekend
Un-politically-correct Translation: The cool airshow is happening Columbus Day weekend
When are you guys going to grow up and act like adults?
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
When are you guys going to grow up and act like adults?
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
When are you guys going to grow up and act like adults?
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
These endless sophmoric demonstrations to make yourselves feel good serve no purpose other than to demonstrate how immature you are.
You're just making asses of yourselves.
Don't these people have jobs?
Where do they find the time for all these protests?
How ironic that they are protesting against the very military which has secured/ensured their right to do so.
Where do they find the time for all these protests?
How ironic that they are protesting against the very military which has secured/ensured their right to do so.
Fleet week is great. Lots of boats, tons of people on the wharf having a great time, a spectacular airshow. What's wrong with that?
Are you guys really that against having a little fun? What are you, Jehovah's Witnesses?
Are you guys really that against having a little fun? What are you, Jehovah's Witnesses?
Yes, perhaps it is easy to come to a conclusion that the "Blue Death" as you call it are dangerous, but I have faith in our pilots. After all, they are the best. The air show is to show you idiots that our trained fighter pilots are the best, so you can rest easy when you protest, knowing that a foe of the US will not throw your ass in prison. After all, our boys bled and died so you can voice these opinions. Also, with the extra people watching the events, the cities income increases and small business benefit. Is that a bad thing? Try protesting like this in Iraq, China, Russia, Africa, Bosnia, Timor, North Korea and others and see what happens to you!!! Remember who gave you this freedom. NOT PROTESTORS! But Soldiers!!!
Yes, perhaps it is easy to come to a conclusion that the "Blue Death" as you call it are dangerous, but I have faith in our pilots. After all, they are the best. The air show is to show you idiots that our trained fighter pilots are the best, so you can rest easy when you protest, knowing that a foe of the US will not throw your ass in prison. After all, our boys bled and died so you can voice these opinions. Also, with the extra people watching the events, the cities income increases and small business benefit. Is that a bad thing? Try protesting like this in Iraq, China, Russia, Africa, Bosnia, Timor, North Korea and others and see what happens to you!!! Remember who gave you this freedom. NOT PROTESTORS! But Soldiers!!!
Yes, perhaps it is easy to come to a conclusion that the "Blue Death" as you call it are dangerous, but I have faith in our pilots. After all, they are the best. The air show is to show you idiots that our trained fighter pilots are the best, so you can rest easy when you protest, knowing that a foe of the US will not throw your ass in prison. After all, our boys bled and died so you can voice these opinions. Also, with the extra people watching the events, the cities income increases and small business benefit. Is that a bad thing? Try protesting like this in Iraq, China, Russia, Africa, Bosnia, Timor, North Korea and others and see what happens to you!!! Remember who gave you this freedom. NOT PROTESTORS! But Soldiers!!!
"Remember who gave you this freedom. NOT PROTESTORS! But Soldiers!!!"
err. actually, no, it was a bunch of armed rebels, or 'terrorists' as you guys call them.
err. actually, no, it was a bunch of armed rebels, or 'terrorists' as you guys call them.
I remember HEROSHIMA.
I remember my dead buddies.
I remember not invading mainland Japan.
I remember not dieing along with 500,000 other American soldiers in 1945.
I remember PEARL HARBOR.
YES I DO REMEMBER HEROSHIMA.
As a member of the Navy and someone who will be on one of the ships coming to your fine city I can't wait. Despite the fact I am in the Navy I am not a "warmonger". I am in the Navy to secure my home and family. Being in the Navy I don't have a whole lot of say as to when we go to war and do not go to war. You should protest the politicians who send your military where you do not want it. Not the people sworn to defend your rights to protest however you choose. Do you honestly think anybody on those ships has a say as to what goes on with our nations international affairs?
The only purpose your protests serve is to make you feel a part of something greater without actually risking your lives like the people you protest against do every single day FOR YOU.
Peace to you and yours.
The only purpose your protests serve is to make you feel a part of something greater without actually risking your lives like the people you protest against do every single day FOR YOU.
Peace to you and yours.
you leftists don't understand how hard it is to fight for freedom. it's so risky sitting in the mess hall when the B-52 and drone bombers drop ordinance all over places like Serbia and Afghanistan and Iraq. one time my friend got so excited during the Gulf War when he saw the TV monitor show the coverage that he pissed all over himself.
it's also really risky at the bases we are stationed at in places like the Philippines (sic). That's because the prostitutes sometimes have diseases.
You protestors are pussies.
While we sit around on ships and bases and listen to our walkmans and obey orders, you cowards go against freedom by going against the police and the informed opinions of millions of TV watching Americans that knows what's really happening with freedom.
it's also really risky at the bases we are stationed at in places like the Philippines (sic). That's because the prostitutes sometimes have diseases.
You protestors are pussies.
While we sit around on ships and bases and listen to our walkmans and obey orders, you cowards go against freedom by going against the police and the informed opinions of millions of TV watching Americans that knows what's really happening with freedom.
Yeah, I know it's shit. And if it goes horribly
wrong you guys take it in the shorts. I've been there.
Talking to the average Joe I find them just like most
of us in the real world. Hating the war doesn't mean
we hate you. Actually, we wish there wasn't the insane
grinder that you are being fed into.
Get back safe you poor bastards. We're trying to
pull the plug on all this horse shit for that reason.
wrong you guys take it in the shorts. I've been there.
Talking to the average Joe I find them just like most
of us in the real world. Hating the war doesn't mean
we hate you. Actually, we wish there wasn't the insane
grinder that you are being fed into.
Get back safe you poor bastards. We're trying to
pull the plug on all this horse shit for that reason.
Sheepdog, thanks for your post. I have nothing against others opinions, in fact I tend to agree with protestors at times, however I'm not allowed to act. I don't agree with how we're used all the time, but I do know we're needed and am sworn to go where ordered (you may call this brain washed, but I call it dedicated).
Aaron, I assume your comments were directed at me, and yes I did get to listen to my discman on the ship, but the rest of the time I was busy helping to transfuse blood (I know if you're a Jehova's Witness that is evil too) into friendly N. Alliance Afghanis fighting the Taliban, or helping the Marines from our ship who had stepped on a land mine or whatever. So no, I wasn't in any more immediate danger than you back here, but at least you had the option to see your family through all this, or even talk to them without all communication shut off for security reasons, or forget it all with a couple drinks, or a bowl of green (an option we don't have). Also staring at the same walls for months on end without so much as seeing land gets kind of old.
I never said your opinion was wrong, or even uninformed, just that protesting us is the wrong thing to do in my opinion. But if you feel better about what you're doing, enjoy.
Aaron, I assume your comments were directed at me, and yes I did get to listen to my discman on the ship, but the rest of the time I was busy helping to transfuse blood (I know if you're a Jehova's Witness that is evil too) into friendly N. Alliance Afghanis fighting the Taliban, or helping the Marines from our ship who had stepped on a land mine or whatever. So no, I wasn't in any more immediate danger than you back here, but at least you had the option to see your family through all this, or even talk to them without all communication shut off for security reasons, or forget it all with a couple drinks, or a bowl of green (an option we don't have). Also staring at the same walls for months on end without so much as seeing land gets kind of old.
I never said your opinion was wrong, or even uninformed, just that protesting us is the wrong thing to do in my opinion. But if you feel better about what you're doing, enjoy.
Yeah, lots of people like to hear that screaming sound when the jets go by, and it's exciting, like being 9 years old again. No one knows what the jets will do next. I was in downtown SF when they practically were flying between the buildings - it was exhilirating . . . but really, we could get the same feeling in ways that don't promote the military.
Do we have wild ambulance races that glorify EMTs, rushing all over the city, bringing the city to a halt in some places, but being generally exciting for some? Do we have churches go and ring bells so loud that no one can conduct business anymore to gloify religion? Why should the military have this show when no one else does this? Are soldiers more important than doctors?
And think of the cost. Here we are in SF ready to grab 300 bucks out of the hands of each homeless man and woman, but we'll blow how much money on these displays??? the same with the 4th.
I say, sure, have this show, only pay for it NOT out of the taxpayers dollars, but out of the defense contractors that make the profit.
Sure, if you view the world as 'you only exist because of our military and its ability to kill the rest of the world,' then anything against the military is insane. But do we have to glorify it? These are machines that kill people. We end up conditioned to glorify military might, just like Saddam and his army. What's the difference?
Military options should be the last options, not the first or the best. This is 2002 and our military budget is more than most other countries - combined. Why? Shows like these promote the tools of the defense contractors, not the essence of the military.
Just think what we could have done if that money every year went towards developing alternative energy, and into medical research, and into saving the millions of lives being lost because of curable diseases, as well as the uncurable ones.
Sure its a nice show, but at what cost? Who pays? And what about the vets who have PTSD? No one cares.
Do we have wild ambulance races that glorify EMTs, rushing all over the city, bringing the city to a halt in some places, but being generally exciting for some? Do we have churches go and ring bells so loud that no one can conduct business anymore to gloify religion? Why should the military have this show when no one else does this? Are soldiers more important than doctors?
And think of the cost. Here we are in SF ready to grab 300 bucks out of the hands of each homeless man and woman, but we'll blow how much money on these displays??? the same with the 4th.
I say, sure, have this show, only pay for it NOT out of the taxpayers dollars, but out of the defense contractors that make the profit.
Sure, if you view the world as 'you only exist because of our military and its ability to kill the rest of the world,' then anything against the military is insane. But do we have to glorify it? These are machines that kill people. We end up conditioned to glorify military might, just like Saddam and his army. What's the difference?
Military options should be the last options, not the first or the best. This is 2002 and our military budget is more than most other countries - combined. Why? Shows like these promote the tools of the defense contractors, not the essence of the military.
Just think what we could have done if that money every year went towards developing alternative energy, and into medical research, and into saving the millions of lives being lost because of curable diseases, as well as the uncurable ones.
Sure its a nice show, but at what cost? Who pays? And what about the vets who have PTSD? No one cares.
**Post-9/11 Economic Windfalls for Arms Manufacturers
By Michelle Ciarrocca, Arms Trade Resource Center
Despite a slowing economy and Bush’s $1.35 trillion tax cut, notions of fiscal conservatism have been brushed aside to fund the fight against terrorism. Boeing Vice Chairman Harry Stonecipher got to the heart of the matter when he told The Wall Street Journal that “the purse is now open,” so the Pentagon will no longer have to make “hard choices” among competing weapons projects. Unfortunately, no hard choices were being made in the first place. The highly anticipated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), an assessment of the nation’s defense needs mandated by Congress, was released September 30, 2001. But as Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) quickly noted, the QDR “seems to me to be full of decisions deferred.” None of the weapons systems mentioned as a candidate for elimination during the Bush campaign was canceled. Instead, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld set the stage for major increases in military spending, arguing that “the loss of life and damage to our economy from the attack of September 11, 2001, should give us a new perspective on the question of what this country can afford for its defense.”
Defense spending for FY 2002 totaled $343.2 billion, a $32.6 billion increase above 2001 levels. Congress is currently debating President Bush’s $396 billion FY 2003 military budget request, a $52.8 billion increase. Long-term plans envision the national defense budget increasing to $469 billion in FY 2007, 11% higher than the cold war average.
The failure of policymakers and defense officials to cancel unnecessary weapons programs is, in large part, due to the undue influence exerted by the top defense contractors. More than any administration in history, the Bush team has relied on the expertise of former weapons contractors to outline U.S. defense needs. Thirty-two major Bush appointees are former executives, consultants, or major shareholders of top weapons contractors. Seventeen administration appointees had ties to major defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or Raytheon prior to joining the Bush team. These include former Lockheed Chief Operating Officer Peter B. Teets, now undersecretary of the Air Force and director of the National Reconnaissance Office; Secretary of the Air Force James Roche, a former Northrop Grumman vice president; and Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, a former General Dynamics vice president. The theory behind Rumsfeld’s reliance on former corporate executives is that they would be more willing to cut costs and try new approaches than the average Pentagon bureaucrat. However, that clearly has not been the case.
The geopolitical reach of the defense megafirms is reinforced by millions of dollars in campaign cash. In 2000 the top six military companies spent over $6.5 million in contributions to candidates and political parties. In addition to these hefty campaign donations, defense contractors spent an astonishing $60 million on lobbying in 2000, the most recent year for which full statistics are available.
(Michelle Ciarrocca <CiarrM01 [at] newschool.edu> is an analyst with the Arms Trade Resource Center who writes for Foreign Policy In Focus (online at http://www.fpif.org).)
By Michelle Ciarrocca, Arms Trade Resource Center
Despite a slowing economy and Bush’s $1.35 trillion tax cut, notions of fiscal conservatism have been brushed aside to fund the fight against terrorism. Boeing Vice Chairman Harry Stonecipher got to the heart of the matter when he told The Wall Street Journal that “the purse is now open,” so the Pentagon will no longer have to make “hard choices” among competing weapons projects. Unfortunately, no hard choices were being made in the first place. The highly anticipated Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR), an assessment of the nation’s defense needs mandated by Congress, was released September 30, 2001. But as Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) quickly noted, the QDR “seems to me to be full of decisions deferred.” None of the weapons systems mentioned as a candidate for elimination during the Bush campaign was canceled. Instead, Defense Secretary Rumsfeld set the stage for major increases in military spending, arguing that “the loss of life and damage to our economy from the attack of September 11, 2001, should give us a new perspective on the question of what this country can afford for its defense.”
Defense spending for FY 2002 totaled $343.2 billion, a $32.6 billion increase above 2001 levels. Congress is currently debating President Bush’s $396 billion FY 2003 military budget request, a $52.8 billion increase. Long-term plans envision the national defense budget increasing to $469 billion in FY 2007, 11% higher than the cold war average.
The failure of policymakers and defense officials to cancel unnecessary weapons programs is, in large part, due to the undue influence exerted by the top defense contractors. More than any administration in history, the Bush team has relied on the expertise of former weapons contractors to outline U.S. defense needs. Thirty-two major Bush appointees are former executives, consultants, or major shareholders of top weapons contractors. Seventeen administration appointees had ties to major defense contractors Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, or Raytheon prior to joining the Bush team. These include former Lockheed Chief Operating Officer Peter B. Teets, now undersecretary of the Air Force and director of the National Reconnaissance Office; Secretary of the Air Force James Roche, a former Northrop Grumman vice president; and Secretary of the Navy Gordon England, a former General Dynamics vice president. The theory behind Rumsfeld’s reliance on former corporate executives is that they would be more willing to cut costs and try new approaches than the average Pentagon bureaucrat. However, that clearly has not been the case.
The geopolitical reach of the defense megafirms is reinforced by millions of dollars in campaign cash. In 2000 the top six military companies spent over $6.5 million in contributions to candidates and political parties. In addition to these hefty campaign donations, defense contractors spent an astonishing $60 million on lobbying in 2000, the most recent year for which full statistics are available.
(Michelle Ciarrocca <CiarrM01 [at] newschool.edu> is an analyst with the Arms Trade Resource Center who writes for Foreign Policy In Focus (online at http://www.fpif.org).)
As a member of the military I am sworn to protect the constitution of the United States. I will fight to death to protect your right to free speech whether I agree with you or not. I will exercise mine:
Your rhetoric sounds like the same stuff that communists use to lie to their people. Renaming the Blue Angels the Blue Death is childish. If you don't like them then just say so. You don't have to use immature name calling. It doesn't sound right for me to call you the peace activist booger eaters. I'm not in 3rd grade anymore.
Keep up your concern for our country in your own special way. It's what makes America great. By the way, Amerigo Vespucci was a sailor.
Joe ValeCruz - Defender of your rights
Your rhetoric sounds like the same stuff that communists use to lie to their people. Renaming the Blue Angels the Blue Death is childish. If you don't like them then just say so. You don't have to use immature name calling. It doesn't sound right for me to call you the peace activist booger eaters. I'm not in 3rd grade anymore.
Keep up your concern for our country in your own special way. It's what makes America great. By the way, Amerigo Vespucci was a sailor.
Joe ValeCruz - Defender of your rights
"Your rhetoric sounds like the same stuff that communists use to lie to their people"
Its okay, Joe, the commies aren't really a threat anymore, that was quite some time ago . . .
And if they aren't called blue death, what are they for? To do air shows? Did you even read the posting above about the profits? Which is it? Killing people or doing airshows? They aren't just there to ferry soldiers around.
Of course everyone respects the people who risk their lives to protect, and what you're trying to protect, but pre-emptive strikes are whole lot different than protection, and its going to turn the heat up on the US gov't and all its soldiers who are sworn to protect - a pre-emptive strike policy??? Is that what you signed on for? For the US to lead the way to changing world policy to pre-emptive strikes?
You may say you're just following orders, but those orders are a FAR cry from protection.
There are US civilians on the ground in Iraq right now and we've struck a civilian airport there. Just following orders, sure.
Its okay, Joe, the commies aren't really a threat anymore, that was quite some time ago . . .
And if they aren't called blue death, what are they for? To do air shows? Did you even read the posting above about the profits? Which is it? Killing people or doing airshows? They aren't just there to ferry soldiers around.
Of course everyone respects the people who risk their lives to protect, and what you're trying to protect, but pre-emptive strikes are whole lot different than protection, and its going to turn the heat up on the US gov't and all its soldiers who are sworn to protect - a pre-emptive strike policy??? Is that what you signed on for? For the US to lead the way to changing world policy to pre-emptive strikes?
You may say you're just following orders, but those orders are a FAR cry from protection.
There are US civilians on the ground in Iraq right now and we've struck a civilian airport there. Just following orders, sure.
In 1933, United States Major General Smedley Butler
had this to say about his illustrious service "protecting" freedom:
“War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.
There isn’t a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its “finger men” to point out enemies, it’s “muscle men” to destroy enemies, it’s “brain men” to plan war preparations, and a “big boss” super-nationalistic-capitalism.
It may be seem odd for me, a military man, to adopt such comparisons. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty three years and four months in active military service as a member of this countries most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from 2nd Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.
I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank Boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.
During those years I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated in three continents.”
had this to say about his illustrious service "protecting" freedom:
“War is just a racket. A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses.
There isn’t a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its “finger men” to point out enemies, it’s “muscle men” to destroy enemies, it’s “brain men” to plan war preparations, and a “big boss” super-nationalistic-capitalism.
It may be seem odd for me, a military man, to adopt such comparisons. Truthfulness compels me to. I spent thirty three years and four months in active military service as a member of this countries most agile military force, the Marine Corps. I served in all commissioned ranks from 2nd Lieutenant to Major-General. And during that period, I spent most of my time being a high-class muscle-man for Big Business, for Wall Street, and the Bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism.
I suspected I was just part of a racket at the time. Now I am sure of it. Like all the members of the military profession, I never had a thought of my own until I left the service. My mental faculties remained in suspended animation while I obeyed the orders of higher-ups. This is typical with everyone in the military service.
I helped make Mexico, especially Tampico, safe for oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank Boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. The record of racketeering is long. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers in 1909-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. In China I helped to see to it that Standard Oil went its way unmolested.
During those years I had, as the boys in the back room would say, a swell racket. Looking back on it, I feel that I could have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated in three continents.”
“The hidden hand of the market will never work without a hidden fist -- McDonald’s cannot flourish without McDonnell-Douglas, the designer of the F-15. And the hidden fist that keeps the world safe for Silicon Valley’s technologies is called the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps.”
--Thomas Friedman, former New York Times Mid East correspondent and full-time professional “expert”/ruling class gas-bag, as quoted in “A Manifesto For The Fast World”, NY Times Magazine 3/28/99
--Thomas Friedman, former New York Times Mid East correspondent and full-time professional “expert”/ruling class gas-bag, as quoted in “A Manifesto For The Fast World”, NY Times Magazine 3/28/99
What a load of crap! Let's enjoy Fleet Week instead of toadying up to the PC Police!!
You say you have no choice, you have to follow orders. That is not the case. You always have the option to make an informed, moral decision about what you will and will not participate in. During the Gulf War, hundreds of resisters refused to fight. They got kicked out of the military for their trouble, and often served some jail time, but their stand was far more honorable and respectable than choosing to obey and refusing to consider the moral consequences of one's actions.
That was Eichmann's excuse, and before him, Wirz's.
You're right, those of us in the military could protest against what we are assigned to do, but:
Had we all decided not to fight against Nazi Germany (since you're talking about Eichmann etc.) than Europe would all be speaking German, and we wouldn't have the current turmoil in the mideast because all the Jews would be dead, nice thought eh?
You obviously don't understand the basic concept of the military if you think we should all decide together what battles we should or should not fight. If you have a problem with the foreign policy than you should address the American people about the possibility of electing a better leader since we don't pick the leader, we just have to follow him no matter how incompetent he may be, hell, I voted for Nader!
Don't you think the first people who would be against war would be the people that actually have a risk in war? So you're kind of preaching to the choir here aren't you?
No matter what, protest the leaders, not those of us that stick by our commiments NO MATTER WHAT.
Had we all decided not to fight against Nazi Germany (since you're talking about Eichmann etc.) than Europe would all be speaking German, and we wouldn't have the current turmoil in the mideast because all the Jews would be dead, nice thought eh?
You obviously don't understand the basic concept of the military if you think we should all decide together what battles we should or should not fight. If you have a problem with the foreign policy than you should address the American people about the possibility of electing a better leader since we don't pick the leader, we just have to follow him no matter how incompetent he may be, hell, I voted for Nader!
Don't you think the first people who would be against war would be the people that actually have a risk in war? So you're kind of preaching to the choir here aren't you?
No matter what, protest the leaders, not those of us that stick by our commiments NO MATTER WHAT.
"You obviously don't understand the basic concept of the military if you think we should all decide together what battles we should or should not fight"
That's right, 'military empire' and 'democracy' don't mix well, do they? And they shouldn't.
I guess in this scenario only those special unelected-but-served-by-the military geniuses who pulled off the 2000 coup have the right to decide what the fate of millions of others is.
Is that how YOU want this world to be? If no one ever thought beyond the box we'd still be in prehistoric caves.
I guess if you look at in terms of the human species, like ants, well, sure, wars tend to improve the genome by burning off those idiotic enough to get on the front lines for a dictator. Problem is, the idiot congress and dictator and entourage don't get taken out either, so the genome probably takes two steps backward for the one forward when the front line was vaporized.
Gets rid of all the low income types too, who signed up in the first place, thinking a country run by corporations was worth defending, imagining they were defending 'freedom,' when the only one's really free are the millionaires and corporations who don't pay *any* taxes.
Look at the NJ election - even on National Pentagon Radio today they exposed how seven justices - democrats and republicans - put aside the current laws to keep the 'two-party democracy' in place. The commentator spoke about how lots of other parties - Greens, Libertarians, Natural Law, etc. - are part of democracy too, and people in China would love the chance to have all those choices. But for the judges it was only one or the other. What sort of 'freedom' is it that we are defending from places like China?
Is this what soldiers are fighting to protect? Corporate citizens and their minions, the republicrats who sell us off to the highest bidder for a chance at the presidency themselves????
I worry for every soldier who will risk their life for criminals, coke snorting, cover-up, oil barron, corporate criminals who could care less about any of us. You deserve better, every one of you. No matter what happens, remember that you deserved better than these assholes.
That's right, 'military empire' and 'democracy' don't mix well, do they? And they shouldn't.
I guess in this scenario only those special unelected-but-served-by-the military geniuses who pulled off the 2000 coup have the right to decide what the fate of millions of others is.
Is that how YOU want this world to be? If no one ever thought beyond the box we'd still be in prehistoric caves.
I guess if you look at in terms of the human species, like ants, well, sure, wars tend to improve the genome by burning off those idiotic enough to get on the front lines for a dictator. Problem is, the idiot congress and dictator and entourage don't get taken out either, so the genome probably takes two steps backward for the one forward when the front line was vaporized.
Gets rid of all the low income types too, who signed up in the first place, thinking a country run by corporations was worth defending, imagining they were defending 'freedom,' when the only one's really free are the millionaires and corporations who don't pay *any* taxes.
Look at the NJ election - even on National Pentagon Radio today they exposed how seven justices - democrats and republicans - put aside the current laws to keep the 'two-party democracy' in place. The commentator spoke about how lots of other parties - Greens, Libertarians, Natural Law, etc. - are part of democracy too, and people in China would love the chance to have all those choices. But for the judges it was only one or the other. What sort of 'freedom' is it that we are defending from places like China?
Is this what soldiers are fighting to protect? Corporate citizens and their minions, the republicrats who sell us off to the highest bidder for a chance at the presidency themselves????
I worry for every soldier who will risk their life for criminals, coke snorting, cover-up, oil barron, corporate criminals who could care less about any of us. You deserve better, every one of you. No matter what happens, remember that you deserved better than these assholes.
I just hope you never are ordered to turn your guns
in the direction of your homland. Or its people.
Or anyone for that matter.
My take on things are like this:
If it can happen anywhere, it can happen here.
We are working on stopping this war
we can't waste the life of one more warrior or civilian.
Not for this band of criminals.
in the direction of your homland. Or its people.
Or anyone for that matter.
My take on things are like this:
If it can happen anywhere, it can happen here.
We are working on stopping this war
we can't waste the life of one more warrior or civilian.
Not for this band of criminals.
Sheepdog, personally I'll never be ordered to turn guns anywhere, I am medical, a noncombatant, and am lucky enough to merely patch up people who had guns turned on them. Believe me, I've seen it before and am not too excited about seeing it again.
Yes, we do deserve better, but until the system changes, that is what we have to follow. That, I suppose is your purpose, and like I said there is no sense protesting the military, we have NOTHING to do with such things. Look at what happened in Portland this weekend, and there is no military there.
I don't think I was stupid to enlist, but you're right, I wasn't exactly high income. This is allowing me to get the medical education I want.
Yes, we do deserve better, but until the system changes, that is what we have to follow. That, I suppose is your purpose, and like I said there is no sense protesting the military, we have NOTHING to do with such things. Look at what happened in Portland this weekend, and there is no military there.
I don't think I was stupid to enlist, but you're right, I wasn't exactly high income. This is allowing me to get the medical education I want.
There IS something you can do while you're shackled to your duty station or on casual; talk to your mates and tell them this;
Of course we are AFRAID for you. You are our sons, daughters and countrymen. Your lives are too damn short as it is.
We, who have seen and have come away with painful questions, feel war is the great obscenity the world must
forsake. War is a twisting tearing shattered stinking hell and it does not belong here with our brothers and sisters on
this once garden of eden; now turning into Dante's nightmare.
It's NOT you we dispise, we need you on our side for god's
sake.
Be good, take care and stay low.
Of course we are AFRAID for you. You are our sons, daughters and countrymen. Your lives are too damn short as it is.
We, who have seen and have come away with painful questions, feel war is the great obscenity the world must
forsake. War is a twisting tearing shattered stinking hell and it does not belong here with our brothers and sisters on
this once garden of eden; now turning into Dante's nightmare.
It's NOT you we dispise, we need you on our side for god's
sake.
Be good, take care and stay low.
I was curious why you would protest the individuals who work very hard and make great sacrifices to protect the very freedom that allows you to print such hypocritical, uneducated opinions on topics that you obviously know nothing about. From you comments on oil, I was also curious how long it takes you to walk to work since you obviously don't use petroleum products? I was going to ask you how long it took you to ride your bike, but since most bikes are made in China, and you are most likely opposed to the WTO, you must not have a bike either. But then if I started thinking like that, you must work out of your home, since you also most likely oppose products involved in animal testing. That means you don't use soap or shampoo or deoderant, which means you smell very bad, and probably work alone since no one else can stand to be near you. But wait, since you oppose petroleum products, that means you must not have heat or AC in your house, so mabe you don't work there either. I know that you aren't opposed to electricity because that powers your best friend (your PC). I sure do hope that you are not paying an electric company that uses oil to gernerate the electricity that you rely on for your best friend. Oh I know, it is probably nuclear? Now I'm really confused, how can you function everyday and put up with all us fascist Americans. It sort of reminds me of my old Amish neighbors that condemned us for having a car and a telephone and were the first ones to bum a ride home after they used my phone to call their parents neighbors to tell them to walk next door and tell his parents he was on his way home. I had to drop the hypocrite two doors down though. Where do we drop you guys for a reality check?
I was curious why you would protest the individuals who work very hard and make great sacrifices to protect the very freedom that allows you to print such hypocritical, uneducated opinions on topics that you obviously know nothing about. From you comments on oil, I was also curious how long it takes you to walk to work since you obviously don't use petroleum products? I was going to ask you how long it took you to ride your bike, but since most bikes are made in China, and you are most likely opposed to the WTO, you must not have a bike either. But then if I started thinking like that, you must work out of your home, since you also most likely oppose products involved in animal testing. That means you don't use soap or shampoo or deoderant, which means you smell very bad, and probably work alone since no one else can stand to be near you. But wait, since you oppose petroleum products, that means you must not have heat or AC in your house, so mabe you don't work there either. I know that you aren't opposed to electricity because that powers your best friend (your PC). I sure do hope that you are not paying an electric company that uses oil to gernerate the electricity that you rely on for your best friend. Oh I know, it is probably nuclear? Now I'm really confused, how can you function everyday and put up with all us fascist Americans. It sort of reminds me of my old Amish neighbors that condemned us for having a car and a telephone and were the first ones to bum a ride home after they used my phone to call their parents neighbors to tell them to walk next door and tell his parents he was on his way home. I had to drop the hypocrite two doors down though. Where do we drop you guys for a reality check?
I was curious why you would protest the individuals who work very hard and make great sacrifices to protect the very freedom that allows you to print such hypocritical, uneducated opinions on topics that you obviously know nothing about. From you comments on oil, I was also curious how long it takes you to walk to work since you obviously don't use petroleum products? I was going to ask you how long it took you to ride your bike, but since most bikes are made in China, and you are most likely opposed to the WTO, you must not have a bike either. But then if I started thinking like that, you must work out of your home, since you also most likely oppose products involved in animal testing. That means you don't use soap or shampoo or deoderant, which means you smell very bad, and probably work alone since no one else can stand to be near you. But wait, since you oppose petroleum products, that means you must not have heat or AC in your house, so mabe you don't work there either. I know that you aren't opposed to electricity because that powers your best friend (your PC). I sure do hope that you are not paying an electric company that uses oil to gernerate the electricity that you rely on for your best friend. Oh I know, it is probably nuclear? Now I'm really confused, how can you function everyday and put up with all us fascist Americans. It sort of reminds me of my old Amish neighbors that condemned us for having a car and a telephone and were the first ones to bum a ride home after they used my phone to call their parents neighbors to tell them to walk next door and tell his parents he was on his way home. I had to drop the hypocrite two doors down though. Where do we drop you guys for a reality check?
I’m all for Fleet Week. The atmosphere there has always been positive and Fleet Week brings in several millions of dollars to the City. The people there all enjoy watching the Blue Angel Air Show and walking along the Embarcadro looking at the large ships. They all appreciate the service men and women in our military.
Looks like it will be another wonderful sunny weekend for FLEET WEEK!
Looks like it will be another wonderful sunny weekend for FLEET WEEK!
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