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Propagandizing for Perpetual War
Are Our Rulers Stupid, or Do They Think We’re Stupid?
According to the Congressional Research Service, the United States has appropriated $806 billion for the direct cost of invading and occupying Iraq. Including debt service since 2003, that sum rises to approximately $1 trillion. The White House estimates the number of U.S. military wounded at 30,000; the web site icasualties.org states that U.S. military fatalities from the Iraq war now stand at 4484. It is impossible to estimate precisely the numbers of Iraqi civilian deaths, but they are frequently cited as being in excess of 100,000. There are now around two million internally displaced Iraqis in a country of 30 million inhabitants. As United States armed forces (but not up to 17,000 State Department employees, contractors and mercenaries) leave the country, Iraq is plunging into a sectarian and ethnically-fueled political crisis. Even if it survives that crisis and remains a unitary state, it will almost certainly be pulled closer to the orbit of Iran, our bogeyman du jour.
In view of the crippling costs both human and financial as well as the strategic and moral disaster the invasion of Iraq precipitated, what sort of verdict do you think our leaders – leaders representing a presidential administration ostensibly opposed to the invasion and promising hope and change – bother to offer us? While junketing in Turkey on December 17, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta told the press the following:
As difficult as [the Iraq war] was, I think the price has been worth it, to establish a stable government in a very important region of the world.
One’s only reaction to this statement is to blink in disbelief and wonder: is Panetta that stupid, or does he think that we, the supposedly self-governing citizens of this country, are that stupid? The kindest thing one can conclude is that this is some sort of throw-away line intended to provide solace to the families of those killed, or consolation to survivors who were maimed. But that is pretty thin gruel; one imagines those people, and their kin, have formed their own opinions about what happened and do not require a patronizing justification. And, in any case, if it was “worth it,” why shouldn’t we keep doing it, not only in Iraq but all over the world? Perpetual war for stable government, one might call it.
Another explanation that comes to mind is the propaganda aspect of it: some government hacks really do believe if they repeat something over and over, no matter threadbare or false, a large number of people will believe it. Republicans have used this technique for years, and it appears Democrats are well on their way to equaling them in mastering it. It seems to be at least a partially successful tactic: after all the bloodshed and the waste, a plurality of 48 percent of Americans still believes invading Iraq was the right decision, according to a Pew Research survey.
But, as Honest Abe said, you cannot fool all of the people all of the time. That same survey showed 46 percent, almost as many, believed it was the wrong decision. But even here, Panetta’s statement, and countless other ridiculous statements by government officials, are not without their utility. Most of us think of propaganda as brainwashing – as convincing people to believe something they would otherwise disbelieve. But we may underrate another, more subtle, utility of political propaganda.
In one of his wartime essays, George Orwell remarked on some of the patently ridiculous claims of totalitarian propaganda. In his view, the point wasn’t whether it was believable or not; in fact, the more ridiculous the better. The point was that government functionaries got to make the statement knowing full well it was ludicrous; news organizations dutifully printed it as if it were fact; and the public sphere was blanketed with the absurd propagandistic claim. As Orwell said about the goosestep march of totalitarian armies: yes, it looks ridiculous, but you dare not laugh.
That is the underrated objective of false government claims: even when they do not convince, they demoralize. Panetta’s statement will receive respectful coverage in the mainstream media; satraps of the establishment like David Gregory or Bob Schieffer will not argue with him on the Sunday morning talk shows beyond at most a very polite demurral; for all intents and purposes he will get away with it. And no ordinary citizen will ever be in a position to get in his face and tell him he’s shilling for destructive policies that are bankrupting us.
Because that’s how democracy, and truth, work in the United States these days.
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43 Comments so far
Show All" Are our rulers stupid". If you mean by leaders, the 1% that have plenary administration of American foreign policy. Stupid, no way! Nihilistic, fascist, greedy, puerile, selfiish, criminals, war mongers and war profiteers.. yes.
" Do they think we are stupid ". No, they know we are stupid!
Unless you have a proven track record of pandering to the military industrial complex you will never be considered for any cabinet post, especially Secretary of Defense.
Paul Revere, you are right. We are stupid because we keep electing criminals to control our government. And we are cowardly. Certain cliche phrases no longer apply to us, for example, "land of the free, home of the brave", or "with liberty and justice for all." We are just 1930s Germans, who will see our democracy destroyed and our society turn to chaos, and then we will try to find someone to blame.
Perhaps a rebuilt (following cataclysmic collapse) post-Federal US could grow and prosper the way post-Nazi Germany has. The question that comes to mind is what benevolent (even if for its own ends) great power would offer the favorable investment terms?
"Panetta’s statement will receive respectful coverage in the mainstream media; satraps of the establishment like David Gregory or Bob Schieffer will not argue with him on the Sunday morning talk shows beyond at most a very polite demurral; for all intents and purposes he will get away with it."
That's the way the so-called news media operates these days, isn't it.
Case in point: Newt Gingrich allows as how he's going to arrest judges who make unpopular decisions and bring them before Congress for interrogation. Bob Schieffer calmly asks him how he going to do it instead of looking incredulously at him and asking, "Are you out of your mind?"
Welcome to what passes for journalism these days.
Most of the mainstream media is owned by the military industrial complex (MIC) and is tasked with delivering the MIC's press releases disguised as journalism.
Schieffer is one of my favorite MSM talking heads. Sometimes he asks questions the run of the mill would never ask. This past Sunday he didn't ask "Are you out of your mind?," but he did spend a much longer time on Gingrich's disrespect for the judicial branch than any other comparable MSM person; he even mentioned to Gingrich that he was spending a lot of time on the subject, and Gingrich took the bait. Schieffer made the "out of your mind" inquiry by letting Gingrich go on and on. Probably several tens of thousands of people found out something they didn't know about Gingrich by watching that. Then Gingrich's comments got spread around in other MSM reports to perhaps another million or so people. Gingrich is down in the polls, but not because his fellow Republicans are taking him to task for wanting to castrate the judiciary. Schieffer deserves credit for that.
When I heard Gingrich years ago state that some Ninth Circuit judges should be removed because they thought it was unconstitutional to require school children to intone every day, in their captivity as public school students, that this is a nation "under God" -- I knew that Gingrich was indeed a menace to the very soul of America. I'm glad Schieffer gave him a chance to emphasize the point.
'1984' turned out to be a blueprint for our 'Brave New World'
Orwell must be spinning in his grave , seeing how his words of warning have been used as handbooks of totalitarian takeover..
True
Gee, I wonder which catastrophic crime/event and subsequent failure to hold any investation into said event would have emboldened such war criminals such as Panetta and his ilk for the last decade to say whatever they feel like concerning reality and our current state of affairs?
See the problem with the left is we were slow out of the gate in calling "bullsh*t" during and after 9/11.
This allowed the the fairy-tale narrative to take hold and then it was off to the races for TPTB as concerns their willingness to tell us anything they wanted to.
Here's an idea true patriots:
How about we all agree we will call ANY future attack on American soil a false flag attack no matter if that attack does indeed come from without our borders.
From now on, every "event" should be considered a false flag attack by the United States government upon its own citizens until there is a public trial and investigation with all proof open to public inspection.
This should be the true lesson of OWS: we own the message now and the message is we don't believe you at all anymore.
What blows my mind, is how anyone can witness the smoking gun WTC7 collapse, and not question the events of that day. Not only that, but then to turn around and castigate those who have questions about it, demanding that THEY provide all of the answers.
Denial and clinging to the delusion of "U.S. exceptionalism" are more powerful than science, facts, and even common sense. No matter how many very intelligent people I present the evidence and questions about controlled demolition of the three World Trade Center buildings to, most of them will still refuse to believe anything but the official conspiracy theory of 19 Muslim higjackers, etc. It is easier NOT to believe a U.S. government could betray its own people and cause their mass murders. Only "evil" governments do that; NEVER a U.S. government. And when U.S. troops are gunning down protestors in our streets, these same "patriots" will, no doubt, defend the actions of the troops as "necessary to restore order." It's sickening.
As BuffySaint Marie sang nearly a half century ago: "he's the universal soldier and he really is to blame..."
"even when they do not convince, they demoralize"
A great insight of Orwell.
Demoralization is not about stupidity, but it is a primary tool of control. The fragmentation of reality into the unreflected fast food of "news" and characterless celebrity, primarily by television, is one of the great facts of our age. As Neil Postman said long ago, it's not junk entertainment that is the main problem. It's the assumption of seriousness in what is patently junk.
thank you for referencing postman and the impact msm has on our consciousness.
{The fragmentation of reality into the unreflected fast food of "news" and characterless celebrity, primarily by television, is one of the great facts of our age.}
it's the framing of content, the myriad distractions and a lack of critical thinking skills. fortunately, critical thinking is learned behavior, those suffering a deficiency - in terms of understanding - can be taught how to think critically (re-frame discussions).
if the masses rationally looked at the slaughter committed around the planet to maintain their lifestyles or examined the improbability that they will die a millionaire as millionaires receive tax breaks to the masses detriment, they perhaps could choose a different path. american exceptionalism projected through the television is a powerful narcotic.
the masses willingly subject themselves to the sovereigns who control the planet, so they can receive their next dose of nationalistic pride.
we can continue to glean through the 'junk' information and try to frame the discussion in new ways to create the necessary societal changes that are required to address the gazillion problems confronting humanity, or - we can go buy a copy of modern warfare 3 and sit back and be mesmerized by death.
the crisis that precipitates the change in america will have to be large enough to divert the attention of the complacent good german. it will also have to have immediate impact on the daily lives of americans - sudden impact. a long sustained crisis (like the faltering economy or global warming) gets mired quickly in the trivia of celebrity culture.
fortunately, because we're an integrated 'globalized' society, that crisis can occur almost anywhere. we can expect martial law. the question is will the sheeple behave any differently than they have in the past... i have my doubts. maybe when the power grid goes down for a month.
Thomas Gray (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."
...peace...
Let's send them a message, let's make a pack to vote out all incumbents. Let's vote out every single one of them. They are all working feverishly to get reelected, so they can serve thier corporate masters. Let's vote them all out. No exceptions, no mercy.
I vote that way every time, but the sumbitches keep coming back....?
They'll only leave when we go and remove them, even then they won't go easily. Mad dogs are rarely coherent. They'll have to be netted first :)
28 years too late Mr Lofgren finally wakes up to our brave "New World Order". As a Repug water carrier for his 28 years of service he amounts to what Ward Churchill would call a "little Eichmann". I guess he was initially mezmerized by ol' Ronny's "Mornin' in Umerika" bs in the early 80's.
Well congrat's for finally waking up... though it is likely way too late in the game. 'Paul Revere's' comments above sum it up nicely... we've been played like a cheap fiddle at a hoedown.
War is the country's jobs program. If we bring all those soldiers home with no jobs... well, read some Roman history to see how that plays out.
What's this? $806 Billion, and an additional approx. $194 Billion to pay
interest on the (borrowed) $806 Billion. Four thousand plus young
American lives sacrificed. Wrenching U.S. politics into a pantomime
of yes-men, none of whom dare to say it was all a horrid mistake. Many
good purposes defunded at home. Widespread ill-will toward the U.S.
in Arab nations. And the question is posed: Do they think we're stupid?
________ , __________ YES we're stupid. Not all of us, of course.
But there is a stupification in our acquiescing in whatever proposal the
self-serving "overlords" want to sell us. ENOUGH ! WAKE UP ! Find
a way to vote NO !
I've always heard figures of over 1 million for the number of Iraqi deaths, plus another couple of million wounded and replaced.
Maybe Lofgren's estimate of 100,000 dead is just a conservative underestimate, maybe it's an effort to downplay the real consequences of our actions, while continuing to imply that the REAL tragedy is that almost 5000 worthwhile American lives were lost carrying out this invasion and occupation.
Either way, it's an ironic note in an otherwise decent article since it is itself a reflection of our national refusal to admit that the invasion and occupation were wrong. I'm still convinced that if no Americans were killed, the number of Iraqi casualties would be utterly meaningly to most Americans, Democrat or Republican. Just try to find one who will criticize our long support for Saddam before he became inconvenient to the empire....
Yes- just how much of a success if one million Americans died? How many lives did the Iraqi people cost us? Did they devastate our cities? Contaminate our land with white phosphor? Litter our cities and country side with landmines? Did they murder our civilians? Did they even declare war against us?
In return for our doing this to them, what have they gained? Is their government truly democratic? Are their people free from sectarian violence? Are they independent of the whims of other regional powers such as Iran? Hell, are they even free from us and our coterie of private military contractors?
Speaking of al-Qaeda, are they weakened globally? Do they have fewer recruits? Are they more hated in the Moslem world? Have they been isolated or are they spreading? Yes, there are far fewer in Pakistan and Afghanistan-but when we leave- will they simply return?
On and on.....
Their is no such thing as al Qaeda, it was created for the purpose of starting wars. Even the gullible USAn's won't believe that war is going to be carried out against an unnamed enemy, so al Qaeda was created and the real al is pissed about using his name without so much a a residual. Just as there was never a south Vietnam, also created in Wash.DC, for the purpose of warmongering, al Qaeda serves the same purpose. Just within the last month another shadowy "terrist" group has emerged that no one outside of Wash.,DC has ever heard of.
In 2003, Iraq's population was just over 25 million, ten times US population. The Lancet Study found over a million Iraqis died due to the US invasion and occupation, 1/25th of the population. That would be like 10 million Americans. Can anyone still ask the question, "Why do they hate us?"
There are news reporters and other talking heads not beholden to the corporate media machine that will question Panetta. But Panetta and the other hawks will not give them the mic. And yes, annafiglia, Roman history is something we should pay attention to as 'Johnny comes marching home'.
Our leaders aren't that stupid, they're just bought and paid for by the statusquo. The people aren't stupid, they either don't care, are too busy trying to keep what life they have to together in this world economy, which in turn keeps them sedated from dealing with reality; Which is, whatever you do for a living it has some direct or indirect connection to the war machine that is our economy.
"does he think that we...are that stupid?"
stupid question.
___________________________________
Does Lofgren (a 28-year Republican Staffer - recently retired) have an angle, or are we to believe he suddenly had an epiphany about how corrupt Washington has become over at least the last 3-4 decades? Has he had some profound conversion and is now acting as a true whistle-blower? I have my doubts. It's rare that ones stripes fundamentally change late in life.
"As Orwell said about the goosestep march of totalitarian armies: yes, it looks ridiculous, but you dare not laugh. That is the underrated objective of false government claims: even when they do not convince, they demoralize." - Mike Lofgren
Very insightful. Certainly that's true of Panetta's remarks declaring that the Iraq War was, in his opinion, worth the blood, pain and treasure ("I think the price was worth it"). He babbles such bullshit basically daring the David Gregorys and Bob Schieffers of the world to rise to the bait.
If they call out the falsehood, well, all it shows is that reasonable minds can differ. If they leave the falsehood unchallenged (the usual response of the mainstream media), then the impression is reinforced that militarism works - that waging war has utility. Despite the death, destruction, and staggering price tag, invading and occupying Iraq has produced stability, not instability. Dare to dispute this false claim, and you imply these brave young men and women died in vain. Remain silent, and the war machine churns on.
Other examples of big, bold official falsehoods come readily to mind. Dick Cheney repeats the refrain that torture worked and kept America safe, foiling at least a dozen 9/11 level domestic terrorist incidents that otherwise would have happened on George W. Bush's watch. Barack Obama at West Point solemnly declares that Afghanistan was a war of necessity, not a war of choice because Mullah Omar and the Taliban refused to stop harboring Osama bin Laden and his cohorts in terrorist crime. Big lies, boldly told.
Only a relatively few citizens exposed to such false propaganda actually believe it to be true. But the purpose is really not to convince. The real purpose is to demoralize, to cow the listeners into silence, to make them dare not laugh.
Bill from Saginaw
"And no ordinary citizen will ever be in a position to get in his face and tell him he’s shilling for destructive policies that are bankrupting us." Well, I know a group of people from Freedom Plaza in DC who did so, my wife, Nancy Brennan, was one of them. They each confronted Panetta and the House Armed Services about the lies they were telling the people of the US and the violence they are needlessly inflicting on many innocent people. Of course, each of the six from Freedom Plaza were arrested and now face arraignment in DC Superior Court on January 18 for "interfering with Congress."
"Interfering with Congress" So the big money is allowed to own our politicians, but if you attempt to send them a message, it is "Interfering with Congress".
Israel also is allowed to own the senate and congress. It is permitted to bring them to Israel for an "education". But sadly, it is illegal for our politicians to to have discussions with Iranians.
So where does that leave us?
We have an official "National Menorrah" on government property and government officials and uniformed military attend it's lighting,what would you expect?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/national-menorah-to-be-lit-near-white-house-in-washington-for-1st-night-of-hanukkah/2011/12/20/gIQASqIi6O_story.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-lighting-of-the-national-menorah/2011/12/20/gIQA5lZa7O_gallery.html
Justice Brennen,
Thank you for sharing this story concerning the arrest of your wife and her colleagues on charges of "interfering with congress". Unfortunately, telling the truth is now considered an offence in these United States of America.
Take care
Thomas Gilbert-
And the lies continue. Osama, ten years dead, is killed again by Obama, who forgets to take photos or record any phone calls before knocking him off and dumping his body in the sea. No evidence of Osama being alive for the last ten years, no evidence of his being killed in Pakistan, and yet Americans eat the story up. Stupid monkeys. They'd rather believe the beautiful lie, than the ugly truth that their government lies, and lies big time.
Here is a really Stupid Question I post...
Can any Protestor use Pepper spray and batons for self defense
against the militarized "police" brigade that cities use against the potesting citizens of the United States of America...? Any answers from the CD posters.....
Using pepper spray on the police would not be considered non-violent protest.
More than a million, punch-pullers.
Remember, for over two decades now, the American Public has been brainwashed to think that every Afghan, every Iraqi, every Iranian, every Muslim spends ten or twelve hours per day trying to figure out a way to come here, hide under our beds, and cut our throats while we sleep.
In point of fact, most of the people in these nations probably have a very foggy notion as to where we are located. They care nothing about our "freedoms," one way or the other.
What they wish to do is live out their lives in peace. They do not cherish invaders who kill their people, destroy their villages. They want them OUT! And they will fight hard to make them leave.
Muslims dream of the same thing that we do. Work to do, a home for their family, hopefully where the roof does not leak, adequate food, drinkable water and medical care when needed.
Unfortunately, even those things have been taken from them by the American Wehrmacht and its NATO allies. They are slaughtered ruthlessly if they object in any way to our invasions and destruction. That makes them terrorists or insurgents and open season is declared upon them, their families, their friends, their villages.
AfriCom is now unleashing the conquest of Africa, with the same things happening there as they are in the ME. Thar's Gold, minerals and oil in them thar hills and our trillionaires want it, every drop, every chunk. Not only that, but the starving millions that will be left over after our assault will provide cheap labor to make junk.
To paraphrase yet another old fascist, "Only when there is a lawyer, politician, or corporate CEO hanging from every lamppost or tree branch will we have peace."
Ah well, I guess we will just bitch until next November when we will vote in yet another member of the two-backed beast that only represents the Kleptocracy and feel we have done our duty.
Their is a proverb; "Don't worry about what people think of you, because they are not". The same proverb can be expanded to an entire nation. It is the USAn politicians that make these proclamations that all Muslims spend their time thinking about about USAn'ers and they are not for the reasons cited.Just because those in the USA don't have lives doesn't mean the rest of the world don't have lives. These politicians never provide names, times, or which Muslims have told them that all Muslim do is spend their time thinking of USAn's. This is of course typical propaganda, meant to flatter, create unnecessary fears and unhealthy shame using the theme of USA exceptionalism which is just cheap flattery.. Just like calling the murdering troops sent to the MC they are no longer troops but warrior heroes, just more flattering propaganda. President Obomnable/Borg, A General called these coward troops the next great generation. FYI, it was not the greatest generation of USAners that defeated the NAZI'S IT WAS THE SOVIET UNION.
"...if they repeat something over and over, no matter threadbare or false, a large number of people will believe it."
Worked for the 3rd Reich, why not the 4th? USA, USA, USA, or is it Sieg Heil?
Panetta has Iran in the cross-hairs next. ... Goebbles reincarnated?
Are you serious Mike Lofgren? 100,000 dead? M.I.T. (as in the Massachusetts Institute of Technology) has already estimated the casualties at 655,000 and that was years ago. (You have to read all the articles to find the one that finally pins down their best estimate, as some reports are 200,000 and 400,000 and even 1.1 millions from another source. But the point is, your number of fatalities is absurdly low! Please stop spouting the official party line. And don’t forget the 20,000,000 coming “dying younger than they would have" over the next 50 years.
http://web.mit.edu/humancostiraq/
"As difficult as [the Iraq war] was, I think the price has been worth it, to establish a stable government in a very important region of the world."
Why do people have a hard time understanding this? Coming from a spoke person for the Amerikan hegemony project it makes perfect sense. For those of you who are dumbfounded allow me to translate:
"Very important region of the world" means where most of the world's remaining high quality oil reserves are. If this oil is flowing, then the project was a success, and it only remains to assess the costs and benefits.
Using the math of imperial 'real politik' this is a fairly straight forward process:
a. 100,000 dead Iraqis, or perhaps as many as 500,000. Largely irrelevant as the vast majority were dark skinned poor people. Assuming they were hostile to Amerika's interests one could even add this to the profit column.
b. 4484 dead Amerikan service personal. In a nation of 300 million this number could be lost as a rounding error in the population statistics. Too put this cost into perspective Hitler, working with a population base of about one quarter that of Amerika's, lost something like 100 times this number in his 1942 drive to secure the oil and mineral resources of the Caucasus, without even gaining much!
c. One trillion dollars in costs to the treasury. Now here we come to the most important cost of the war. This has driven up the federal deficit, increased the cost of borrowing and weakened Amerika financially. Now that's hitting Amerikans where they feel it! But even here, if you look at this this as a cost that can be amortized over many years, and compare that with the benefits of the oil continuing to flow and continue to be traded in Amerikan dollars, it is, perhaps, not so bad. Besides, there are plenty of ways to recoup these costs over the years ahead. For example, now that the Iraqis have tasted freedom they will have to protect themselves from those evil Iranians. Sell them $100 billion in surplus US military hardware plus $ millions more for US advisors to show them how to use it. Crime pays! And if you are an Empire you don't go to jail!
So buck up all you progressives! Fill up your minivan with $3 gallon benzine, haul the kids to grandma's for Christmas dinner, enjoy all the cheap plastic crap from China that Santa brings you and stop worrying about all the poor dark skinned people who had to die to make it all possible!