Summary: Today we look at an important source of information about our nation — and what’s it’s becoming. And we look at our opposition, sources of disinformation to cloud our minds.
The @FabiusMaximus01 Twitter feed documents the slow sad story of the evolution of the America-that-once-was into The New America. The FM website explains, in brief snippets, how and why. But for deep analysis one source deserves a place at the top of our reading list: Glenn Greenwald’s columns at Salon, and now The Guardian.
Today’s article is one of his most important, a status report on the New America so clear that it should provide a clarion call to the most complacent citizen: “Five lessons from the de-listing of MEK as a terrorist group“. He explains about the “separate justice system for American Muslims, the US embrace of terrorism, and other key political facts.”
- There is a separate justice system in the US for Muslim Americans.
- The US government is not opposed to terrorism; it favors it.
- “Terrorism” remains the most meaningless, and thus the most manipulated, term in political discourse.
- Legalized influence-peddling within both parties is what drives DC.
- There is aggression between the US and Iran, but it’s generally not from Iran.
The other side of the equation: disinformation clouding our minds
Unfortunately the well-funded sources of disinformation are winning the conflict. Here’s one recent example which generated a thousand tweets, emails, and posts: “Iranian Cyber Attacks Step Up“, Bill Gertz (Editor of the Washington Times, a major engine of disinformation), The Washington Free Beacon (website, founded 2012), 18 September 2012 — “Pentagon Joint Staff: Iran cyber attacks, terrorism reveal Tehran engaged in covert war on the West.” Opening:
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The Iranian government recently conducted a major cyber attack on a major U.S. financial institution that a military intelligence report said is a sign Tehran is waging covert war against the West.
The cyber attack was not successful but was one of several Iranian-backed electronic strikes detected in recent months that highlights the growing threat from Tehran, a major backer of international terrorism, according to a recent report by the Joint Staff intelligence directorate, known as J-2. “Iran’s cyber aggression should be viewed as a component, alongside efforts like support for terrorism, to the larger covert war Tehran is waging against the west,” the report, dated Sept. 14, concluded.
… Iran’s hostile posture against the United States is well known. However, the Joint Staff J-2’s hawkish assessment of the Iranian threat contrasts sharply with the more conciliatory policies of the Obama administration, a defense official familiar with the report said.
So much insanity in so few words (which might even be leaks from a real J-2 report). The US and Israel have encircled Iran with foes, assassinated its scientists, attacked its nuclear facilities (legitimate under its treaties), and attacked it with cyberweapons. Yet sophisticated propaganda has convinced millions of Americans that Iran is the aggressor.
To call “conciliatory” Obama’s policy towards Iran requires a Birther’s contempt towards the facts. Obama has refused to negotiate with Iran, unleashed a program of assassination and sabotage, started the world’s first cyberwar, and initiated sanctions that will (unless broken) destroy Iran’s economy.
Can the American people be taught to distinguish fact from fiction? Otherwise, can such an easily mislead people govern themselves? Much depends on these answers.
For More Information
(a) Other articles about our decision to take MEK off the terrorist list:
- “More Posturing on Iran“, Paul Pillar (28 year CIA veteran, now visiting Prof at Georgetown U), The National Interest, 23 September 2012
(b) For all posts about this see America – how can we stop the quiet coup now in progress?
(c) Posts about the birth of the New America:
- A soft despotism for America?, 22 July 2008
- What comes after the Constitution? Can we see the outlines of the “Mark 3″ version?, 10 November 2008
- US Army – the antidote to US civil disorder, 3 January 2009
- Origins of what may become the 3rd American Republic (a plutocracy), 8 April 2011
- America is the new Rome. Late Republican Rome (not the best of times), 13 October 2011
- What will replace the Constitution in Americans’ hearts? Let’s check for Fascism., 29 March 2012
- A look at the future of the Republic: we will choose leaders that we trust, 14 May 2012
- A look at the future of the Republic: we will choose leaders that we trust, not the ones we need (part 2), 15 May 2012
- More evidence that the military is slowly cutting itself off from civilian control, 15 July 2012
- Gallup’s polls show who we trust, pointing to a dark future for our Republic, 15 August 2012
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