Americans view their country as the world's shining beacon of democracy. The words "freedom" and "liberty" come trippingly to the lips of even the most repressive right winger as, teary eyed, they wave the flag of the "greatest/best country in the world!" It is part and parcel of the "American dream" and a view held by the vast majority of Americans. It is not reality based. It is Santa Claus, brought to you by Coca Cola.
George Carlin said it best "They call it the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it".
They are not bringing and will not bring democracy to Iraq or Afghanistan all protestations aside. It is not in the interests of America. America has been fairly consistent in its attitude towards democracy in other places. When it comes to a choice between it and American interest, democracy is abhorred. If it is a choice between United Fruit, Big Oil , Bechtel or democracy, democracy goes over the side. This has been proven time and again in South and Central America, in Cuba, In Iran. America prefers right wing dictators, like Pinochet,, Samoza or the Shah of Iran. Saddam Husein was their creature (until he wasn't). They are so much more business friendly. The few in power at the top are easier to own. There is no threat of nationalization or alternatively the imposition of a fairer share of the take. It is win-win.
From the 20's into the 40's corporate America embraced fascism. The names are all familiar : Hearst, Kennedy, Rockefeller, Mellon, DuPont, Dulles and yes, Bush. Henry Ford's book, "The International Jew", was circulated by the Nazis. He was said to be admired by Hitler. The admiration was mutual.
Standard Oil, DuPont, Alcoa, and Dow Chemical supplied I.G. Farben, makers of the Zyklon B gas that ended many a Jewish life.
Recently, because it is in America's strategic interest, Obama has waived sanctions against four of the countries using child soldiers. (Chad, the Congo, Sudan, and Yemen). “In each of these countries we are working with the governments to stop the recruitment of child soldiers or [to] demobilize those who may already be in the ranks,” State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said. But, then, that was what the sanctions were for. The logic may be muddled but the message is certainly clear.
The U.S. showed no support for Honduran democracy (quite the opposite) and was/is actively interfering with Venezuelan democracy. Venezuelan democracy does have its failings... largely due to external and internal threats abetted by the U.S. (aah memories of John Negreponte).
Democracy, due to its open nature, does not do well under threat.
Case in point? The U.S. itself. After 9/11 democracy took a beating... habeus corpus was an early victim. There were war crimes like the invasion of Iraq itself. Torture became "normalized", you could see Jack Bauer about his business every week. The nation eavesdropped on itself. Guantanamo was born. Of late we have the sanctioned killing of American citizens abroad without due process. The first amendment has been tattered along with civil liberties. Democracy is now second fiddle to "security" and everywhere there is the fear of dangers, largely imagined (but highly useful).
And now? Corporate America has gone global. America itself is the "somewhere else" where democracy does not serve "American interests". America is well on its way to plutocracy. Government and the judiciary have been corporatized. Corporate frontmen and a hoard of "useful idiots" are in charge. Soon (2012) the office of the President itself will be up for bids and the transition will be complete.
You see, the shining beacon on the hill always had a pricetag.
The vast majority of Americans believe deeply in the American ideal.
Not just the boastful rhetoric. Not just the flag waving jingoism.
If not real, at least it was something to strive for.
It will never be achieved.
Always just beyond their fingertips, it will be swept away.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Omar Khadr and Canada's Shame
Did he in fact throw the hand grenade that killed Christopher Speer? Reports at time were contradictory. There was a report stating that the perpetrator had been killed during the action. We may never know for certain.
Omar Khadr pleaded guilty to "murder, attempted murder, supporting terrorism, conspiracy" and just to top it off "spying". Yes he was supposedly a 15 year old spy.
As his Canadian lawyer stated : " We may choose to believe that through this plea Omar finally came clean and accepted his involvement in a firefight when he was 15 years of age, or that this was one final coerced confession from a victimized young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time ..... The fact that the trial of a child soldier, Omar Khadr, has ended with a guilty plea in exchange for his eventual release to Canada does not change the fact that fundamental principles of law and due process were long since abandoned in Omar's case". (Ottawa Sun)
On June 4, 2007, the presiding officer on the Guantanamo military commissions, Peter Brownback dismissed all charges against Khadr. Brownback stated that he had been previously classified as an "enemy combatant" by the Combatant Status Review Tribunal in 2004. The Military Commissions Act only allowed him to rule over "Unlawful enemy combatants".
On September 9, 2007, charges were reinstated after the Court of
Military Commission Review overturned Brownback saying that the
tribunal could determine the legality of a detainee's status.
It is only due to the American invented fiction variously called "Unprivileged Belligerent" or "Unlawful Enemy Combatant" and the establishment of extra-legal detention at Bagram and Guantanimo that someone captured in a war zone subsequent to a fire fight could be accused of war crimes. Had Khadr been wearing a nice uniform, had he swooped in on a helicopter he, apparently, would be a legal/lawful player in the game.
This is not to condone the killing of another human being but Sgt. Christopher Speer was killed in action, during a firefight, not on an airplane, not even by an IED. He was a medic but it must be noted that he was Special Forces. Described as a "super stud" he was not there to dispense candy.
The torture and mistreatment of Omar Khadr at American hands is a list too long to include here. SEE " Omar Khadr: The Continuing Scandal of Illegal Detention and Torture" (http://www.lrwc.org/pub1.php)
Though not a party to it, it is fairly certain Canada was aware of it through the offices CSIS. He was interrogated by Canadians on 6 occasions. When he told them he had been tortured they called him a liar.
In the end Omar Khadr was the only foreign national left at Gitmo. Canada refused to repatriate him even though urged by Amnesty International, UNICEF and other groups ...even the Canadian Bar Association.
There was even an order from a lower court to repatriate him but this was overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada who nonetheless found that :
"Canadian officials violated Khadr's human rights, and that he continues to be threatened by the effect of those violations.
In a unanimous decision released Friday, the court declared that Canadian officials breached Khadr's right to life, liberty and security of the person under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, it concluded that ordering the government to ask the U.S. for Khadr's repatriation to stop the continuing violation of his rights would interfere with the government's jurisdiction over foreign relations. Therefore, it chose not to issue the order, even though it had the authority to do so." (CBC)
Even in the light of the plea deal which sees Omar Kahdr coming back to Canada after one (more) year in the U.S. Canada may renege. After all it only agreed to "consider favourably" his return while under the deal Khadr has no right of appeal.
Who is Khadr?
To the widow he will forever be a murderer. A psychologist paid by the prosecution called Khadr "al-Qaida royalty" and stated that he was at a "high risk" of returning to his jihadi ways.
Ezra Levant (consider the source) for example said "Omar Khadr is a psychopath like Paul Bernardo". (Just to show the kind of rhetoric going around).
The press made much of statements to the effect that Omar Khadr was a "superstar" at Gitmo.
In the case of the psychologist the defense pointed out that:
1) The assessment was not peer reviewed
2) That he had based the assessment, in part on the works
of Nicolai Sennels who believes that inbreeding has
damaged the Muslim gene pool and that the Koran is
a "criminal book"
"....reports, obtained by The Globe and Mail, say the U.S. soldiers guarding him believe the 21-year-old is a "good kid."
The soldiers say Khadr is "salvageable" and runs the risk of becoming a radical if he continues to remain in Guantanamo Bay.
The reports, which also describe Khadr as a "likeable, funny and intelligent young man," were written by Foreign Affairs officials who visited him last March and April". (CTV)
The fact remains that Omar Khadr was a "child soldier" and that Canada is a signatory to the U.N. convention. The U.S., while a signatory, has never ratified it. Canada's actions (inactions?) are shameful and counter to Canadian law..
If Canada had repatriated the child Khadr then the man Khadr might have a chance at life. He may well have become radicalized in the interim. Under the present circumstances his stated dreams of going to university, becoming a doctor and exploring the "wonders of life" are probably just that ... dreams.
Omar Khadr pleaded guilty to "murder, attempted murder, supporting terrorism, conspiracy" and just to top it off "spying". Yes he was supposedly a 15 year old spy.
As his Canadian lawyer stated : " We may choose to believe that through this plea Omar finally came clean and accepted his involvement in a firefight when he was 15 years of age, or that this was one final coerced confession from a victimized young man who was in the wrong place at the wrong time ..... The fact that the trial of a child soldier, Omar Khadr, has ended with a guilty plea in exchange for his eventual release to Canada does not change the fact that fundamental principles of law and due process were long since abandoned in Omar's case". (Ottawa Sun)
On June 4, 2007, the presiding officer on the Guantanamo military commissions, Peter Brownback dismissed all charges against Khadr. Brownback stated that he had been previously classified as an "enemy combatant" by the Combatant Status Review Tribunal in 2004. The Military Commissions Act only allowed him to rule over "Unlawful enemy combatants".
On September 9, 2007, charges were reinstated after the Court of
Military Commission Review overturned Brownback saying that the
tribunal could determine the legality of a detainee's status.
It is only due to the American invented fiction variously called "Unprivileged Belligerent" or "Unlawful Enemy Combatant" and the establishment of extra-legal detention at Bagram and Guantanimo that someone captured in a war zone subsequent to a fire fight could be accused of war crimes. Had Khadr been wearing a nice uniform, had he swooped in on a helicopter he, apparently, would be a legal/lawful player in the game.
This is not to condone the killing of another human being but Sgt. Christopher Speer was killed in action, during a firefight, not on an airplane, not even by an IED. He was a medic but it must be noted that he was Special Forces. Described as a "super stud" he was not there to dispense candy.
The torture and mistreatment of Omar Khadr at American hands is a list too long to include here. SEE " Omar Khadr: The Continuing Scandal of Illegal Detention and Torture" (http://www.lrwc.org/pub1.php)
Though not a party to it, it is fairly certain Canada was aware of it through the offices CSIS. He was interrogated by Canadians on 6 occasions. When he told them he had been tortured they called him a liar.
In the end Omar Khadr was the only foreign national left at Gitmo. Canada refused to repatriate him even though urged by Amnesty International, UNICEF and other groups ...even the Canadian Bar Association.
There was even an order from a lower court to repatriate him but this was overturned by the Supreme Court of Canada who nonetheless found that :
"Canadian officials violated Khadr's human rights, and that he continues to be threatened by the effect of those violations.
In a unanimous decision released Friday, the court declared that Canadian officials breached Khadr's right to life, liberty and security of the person under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, it concluded that ordering the government to ask the U.S. for Khadr's repatriation to stop the continuing violation of his rights would interfere with the government's jurisdiction over foreign relations. Therefore, it chose not to issue the order, even though it had the authority to do so." (CBC)
Even in the light of the plea deal which sees Omar Kahdr coming back to Canada after one (more) year in the U.S. Canada may renege. After all it only agreed to "consider favourably" his return while under the deal Khadr has no right of appeal.
Who is Khadr?
To the widow he will forever be a murderer. A psychologist paid by the prosecution called Khadr "al-Qaida royalty" and stated that he was at a "high risk" of returning to his jihadi ways.
Ezra Levant (consider the source) for example said "Omar Khadr is a psychopath like Paul Bernardo". (Just to show the kind of rhetoric going around).
The press made much of statements to the effect that Omar Khadr was a "superstar" at Gitmo.
In the case of the psychologist the defense pointed out that:
1) The assessment was not peer reviewed
2) That he had based the assessment, in part on the works
of Nicolai Sennels who believes that inbreeding has
damaged the Muslim gene pool and that the Koran is
a "criminal book"
"....reports, obtained by The Globe and Mail, say the U.S. soldiers guarding him believe the 21-year-old is a "good kid."
The soldiers say Khadr is "salvageable" and runs the risk of becoming a radical if he continues to remain in Guantanamo Bay.
The reports, which also describe Khadr as a "likeable, funny and intelligent young man," were written by Foreign Affairs officials who visited him last March and April". (CTV)
The fact remains that Omar Khadr was a "child soldier" and that Canada is a signatory to the U.N. convention. The U.S., while a signatory, has never ratified it. Canada's actions (inactions?) are shameful and counter to Canadian law..
If Canada had repatriated the child Khadr then the man Khadr might have a chance at life. He may well have become radicalized in the interim. Under the present circumstances his stated dreams of going to university, becoming a doctor and exploring the "wonders of life" are probably just that ... dreams.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Officer Bubbles Redux
I was reading the Ottawa Sun the other day. It may be a right-wing rag and a plot against Canadian trees but 25 cents gets you two really good crosswords.
Not withstanding, I happened to read (there is a masochist within me) one of Michael Coren's latest wheezes.
If I were to precis the column it would go something like this : "I have a personal animus towards what I perceive to be 'another privileged little white girl being all lefty and fatuous' and therefore Officer Bubbles actions were excusable if not correct".* This is "logic" in Coren's shrivelled little world.
Coren proceeds to transfer his animus to the officer in question. He even intimates that the officer's colour (he is black) may have had something to do with it. If there were any truth in this it would not serve as an excuse. It would be an indictment. At "best" it is an insult to the officer.
So, in vilifying Winkels and her "self indulgent protests" the officer is co-lateral damage.
"Defying stereotypes" the sub-heading bellows as Coren stereotypes Ms. Winkels.
Showing once more his unfamiliarity with logic and reason he closes with this vacuous statement :
"Next time there is a thug at the door
I'm calling the cop and not the hippie".
Sure, and if I was making granola I would call the "hippie" and not the cop. In fact, if I needed my taxes done, I would call neither. I would want an accountant. And you know what? They pay him to write this drivel.
*For those unfamiliar a video of the incident in question is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc
Not withstanding, I happened to read (there is a masochist within me) one of Michael Coren's latest wheezes.
If I were to precis the column it would go something like this : "I have a personal animus towards what I perceive to be 'another privileged little white girl being all lefty and fatuous' and therefore Officer Bubbles actions were excusable if not correct".* This is "logic" in Coren's shrivelled little world.
Coren proceeds to transfer his animus to the officer in question. He even intimates that the officer's colour (he is black) may have had something to do with it. If there were any truth in this it would not serve as an excuse. It would be an indictment. At "best" it is an insult to the officer.
So, in vilifying Winkels and her "self indulgent protests" the officer is co-lateral damage.
"Defying stereotypes" the sub-heading bellows as Coren stereotypes Ms. Winkels.
Showing once more his unfamiliarity with logic and reason he closes with this vacuous statement :
"Next time there is a thug at the door
I'm calling the cop and not the hippie".
Sure, and if I was making granola I would call the "hippie" and not the cop. In fact, if I needed my taxes done, I would call neither. I would want an accountant. And you know what? They pay him to write this drivel.
*For those unfamiliar a video of the incident in question is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGMTm3QRwEc
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