Summary: The information superhighway gives us the illusion of knowledge about our world. Yet the past 50 years teaches us that we know so little and that so much remains hidden for so long. Previous posts provide examples from the post-WWII era. Today we look at a telling vignette from our post-9/11 era, a story …
What overthrew the Taliban: Special Forces’ guns or CIA’s cash? Read More »
Summary: Our national security agencies have put us on course for a dark future, albeit one that greatly benefits them. We feel exceptional in our ability to kill people in far-away lands, yet fear the inevitable reprisals on the “Homeland”. Like similarly mad events a century ago in Europe, afterwards nobody will recall why we …
We’re goading our enemies to attack America. Eventually we’ll succeed, and they will. Read More »
Summary: What are the consequences for the US from its use of torture on a scale with few precedents among developed nations in the modern era (and those examples considered shameful)? We can only guess, but there are some obvious ones — although seldom mentioned. Also, here are a few interesting notes from the “debate”. …
Summary:Â Yet again the protests start. The ink on the placards protesting NSA surveillance has almost dried as the outrage begins about the Senate torture report. We can expect the same result: nothing. The battle over torture was fought and lost by 2009. Our use of torture, the debates about it, and the outcome reveal …
Summary: History can tell us not only about the past, but also suggest insights about our time. Here examine a bright episode from the past. In the 1960s we were wrapped in illusions about the nature of our government, which were ripped away during the 1970s. Do we see the world as poorly as we …
We lived amidst dreams in 1963 & were harshly awakened. How clearly do we see today? Read More »
