United States News
See other United States News Articles
Title: Grave Domestic Threats to National Security
Source:
[None]
URL Source: [None]
Published: Dec 15, 2010
Author: Michael S. Rozeff
Post Date: 2010-12-15 15:43:27 by Capitalist Eric
Keywords: None
Views: 21735
Comments: 48
As the critics of Julian Assange noisily suggest that he and WikiLeaks are a threat to national security, it is well to ask ourselves what really threatens national security. In his Farewell Address of January 17, 1961, President Eisenhower did not focus on communism and the Soviet Union, which for many years had been identified by U.S. governments as threats. He devoted but one paragraph to that "hostile ideology." Instead, he dwelt upon three grave domestic threats. The first was the military-industrial complex. "But threats, new in kind or degree, constantly arise. I mention two only... "This conjunction of an immense military establishment and a large arms industry is new in the American experience...Yet we must not fail to comprehend its grave implications... "In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist. "We must never let the weight of this combination endanger our liberties or democratic processes. We should take nothing for granted. Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." The second threat he identified was the conjunction of the federal government with universities: "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present – and is gravely to be regarded. "Yet, in holding scientific research and discovery in respect, as we should, we must also be alert to the equal and opposite danger that public policy could itself become the captive of a scientific-technological elite." The third threat was financial mismanagement: "As we peer into society's future, we – you and I, and our government – must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss also of their political and spiritual heritage. We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow." All three of these threats are now actualities that have grown in size and power. They have harmed and continue to harm a great many Americans. The nation has been taken into unnecessary wars that have drained its human and material resources while impeding more fruitful economic growth. The leadership has come from the nation’s federally and state-supported universities. The ideas have come from intellectuals trained in these universities. The financing has been aided by the nation’s central bank. The institutions that embody the three threats noted by Eisenhower have not only grown in size and importance, they have also become complementary to one another as subsidiaries that operate together to support the enterprise known as the American Empire. The empire is supported by a central bank that enables the creation of an ever-larger debt burden. It is manned by men and women of empire who rotate through posts in government, academia, foundations, lobbies, and the military-industrial complex. Government oversees its operation and creates the additional financial, military, intelligence, and diplomatic institutions that turn it into a world-girdling empire. Now, it is extremely interesting that Ike was worried mainly about domestic threats. And he was not referring to the so-called "domestic extremists" that the FBI and the DHS are so worried about. He was not referring to isolated cases of homegrown bombers or terrorists. He was not talking about such terrors as young men who seek jihad in the embrace of FBI double agents, or even men who plant explosives in their shoes or underwear. Ike was not worried about isolated persons or groups that turn to violence. He was worried about threats that had organizations behind them that had know-how, power, money, and influence. These important threats worked through institutions, and these institutions reached everywhere in America. They were pervasive. He was worried about existing, respected, powerful, influential, well-financed, and pervasive institutions that accumulate excessive power. He was worried about government being absorbed by and absorbing these institutions, so that they fuse into one. In short, he was worried about America’s developing a corporatist state. His address is very pointed and clear. He speaks of an "immense military" of "vast proportions." He speaks of its "total influence" being widely felt, and he worries about its "unwarranted influence" that affects "the very structure of our society." He says it may "endanger our liberties or democratic processes." As one remedy, Ike calls for a reduction in the size and scope of the military establishment: "Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative." Apart from some reduction in nuclear arms, the U.S., spurning Ike’s advice, remains a very heavily armed nation with a global presence. As a second remedy, Ike looks toward Americans themselves to guard against the corporatist state: "Only an alert and knowledgeable citizenry can compel the proper meshing of the huge industrial and military machinery of defense with our peaceful methods and goals, so that security and liberty may prosper together." The words "only" and "compel" make this a very strong statement. The force or power of citizens themselves is necessary to keep the government in check and preserve liberty. But this citizenry must be "knowledgeable." If the people do not know what’s going on in the secret lairs of the corporatist state and if, to the contrary, they are educated and propagandized to support that state, even though it harms them, then their legitimate power to compel in order to preserve their life, liberty, and property (i.e., their rights) is accordingly reduced. This is where Julian Assange sees himself and WikiLeaks fitting in. He has the aim of supplying facts that governments and other institutions hide, facts that we need so as to be knowledgeable. That begins our assignment. It is up to the rest of us to interpret these facts so as to understand what they mean and what they are telling us about our governments. If anything, Assange and WikiLeaks are beneficial to our quest for national security by providing key inputs to the process of monitoring government. The largest threats Americans face are not foreign threats. They are not the threats of terrorists. They are not threats from hurricanes, floods, or droughts. They are not threats from biological viruses. They are not threats from environmental destruction or man-made climate change. They are not even threats from the blowing up of airplanes and buildings, with the accompanying injuries and loss of lives. These events are not of the organized, ongoing, pervasive, overwhelming, powerful, well-funded, and well-planned type that change the very structure of society. The gravest threats to their security that Americans face are domestic. They come from government. Government is strongly institutionalized. It is in place. It is everywhere. Government communicates to the public. Its speech invariably gets publicity. Government still commands a significant degree of trust. Government monopolizes certain missions that are crucial to Americans. Consequently its threats to national security are much more serious than any of the threats it purports to fight, including terrorism. America now has a corporatist state that is growing by the day, week, month, and year. What Ike seemed to fear, but did not quite articulate at that juncture, has come to pass. The government itself is now the single largest threat to national security. A few of the latest signs of this include the Patriot Act, loss of due process, militarization of police, a high degree of corruption within the justice system, the Department of Homeland Security, expansive use of executive orders and notions of inherent powers, and threats of unconstitutional martial law and emergency rule. We are at a point where, to avoid being jailed, most of us have to sacrifice what we regard as our legitimate interests and rights. We are forced to give in and obey. At the same time, we lack the power to stand up against these challenges to our rights and interests. A nation of persons in this position lacks national security. We lack security against the depredations of our own government and the corporatist state. Who does not harbor fear that he or she will be found out for violating some "crime" that is now on the books? Who cannot easily be framed for being in possession of planted drugs or some other forbidden object? Who cannot be beaten or even shot to death for a random motion of his arm? Who can fly without being x-rayed or assaulted? Whose possessions cannot be seized and forfeited under the thinnest or pretexts? Who dares not to pay their taxes? How many people fear protesting? How secure do young persons feel when students are warned that their futures are at stake if they read cables released by WikiLeaks? Government grows step by step with pretexts and rationales for its growth. A major one is national security. The concept of national security has expanded drastically since its inception (see here). At the outset, it meant little more than for a nation to be free from being dictated to by other nations. This accorded with the concept of negative rights. By the time we get to Obama, national security has become a term that is used to comprehend and cover the government’s broad political and economic agenda. It is now a term invoked to justify almost anything that those in charge of big government choose to do: manipulating the financial system, controlling the internet, attacking other countries, subsidizing favored energy projects, favoring certain allies, controlling education, controlling transportation, controlling the economy, controlling obesity, controlling health, and creating and expanding a war on terror that knows no time, space, or resource limits. Do Julian Assange and WikiLeaks really threaten American national security? That is actually a very implausible assertion. The U.S. faces very few and limited foreign threats, and the ones it does face are either of its own making or exacerbated by its intrusive policies around the world. What threats there are, including terrorist threats, can be reduced by more enlightened policies overseas and at home. This would mean shrinking the empire and shrinking domestic government while setting free American entrepreneurialism. It is too soon to tell whether the material that WikiLeaks releases will be used for significant good or ill, whether it is a factor making for lesser or greater public support for big government, and whether it is a factor that makes for lesser or yet greater exercise of government power over Americans. A great deal of history remains to unfold. But no matter how this plays out, when the critics raise the charge of national security threat against Assange and WikiLeaks, it is not only laughable but also, unfortunately, a diversion from the truth, which is that the largest and gravest threat to Americans is a domestic one – their own government – and President Eisenhower identified this incipient threat 50 years ago. In doing so, he reminded us of ideas expressed even more boldly and explicitly at the time of the American Revolution. These ideas are political gold, waiting to be restored to circulation by Americans.
Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
Comments (1-6) not displayed.
.
.
.
#7. To: Ibluafartsky (#6)
Cease, Virus, or I shall further expose you.
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
You're a semen receptacle for your fudgepacking friends. Be careful of viruses.
yes, you're definitely a malevolent cyber pinnochio
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
You're definitely a semen receptacle for your fudgepacking friends.
should computer programs be allowed to post on LF?
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
How about liberal pussies, faggots, fudgepackers and idiots?
Interesting piece. Thank you for posting.
Never swear "allegiance" to anything other than the 'right to change your mind'!
you seem to be all of the above. you're an ex-Bushbot who hates conservatives, and you like to use ghey insults, which means you're probably a faggot. and you're an idiot, obviously.
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
You're a fookin, fudgepacking idiot! You wouldn't know a conservative if he lowered your taxes and decreased entitlements, faggot.
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
No idiot, I'm posting to you!
Long live the Taliban Freedom Fighters!
Does that empty white box represent your non-existent intellect?
You blew one too many farts in the general direction of your internet connection.
It's always been my belief that there are artificial stupidity labs out there that periodically let their creations out into the wild to see how they function. yukon is certainly one of them, as is his clone Mad Dog. Just watching their complete inability to do anything but recycle their insults over and over is all the proof needed.
"I've really enjoyed meeting this community. They are so full of joy," - Sarah Palin to the thousands of cholera victims in Haiti
You must have inhaled it.
Skidmark, the graduate, why are you such a pussy? What are you afraid of besides your humongous fookin shadow, fatso?
con op is in their league. He's an asshole.
Makes you drool, doesn't it fudgepacker?
EPA Document Shows It Knowingly Allowed Pesticide That Kills Honey Bees December 15th, 2010 Via: Fast Company: The world honey bee population has plunged in recent years, worrying beekeepers and farmers who know how critical bee pollination is for many crops. A number of theories have popped up as to why the North American honey bee population has declined–electromagnetic radiation, malnutrition, and climate change have all been pinpointed. Now a leaked EPA document reveals that the agency allowed the widespread use of a bee-toxic pesticide, despite warnings from EPA scientists. TOLD YOU. ;}
The 2010 update of Arctic Report Card of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is out: J. Richter-Menge & J.E. Overland (eds.), Arctic Report Card 2010 (NOAA: 2010) (compete report in pdf file). Its conclusion in a sentence: “Return to previous Arctic conditions is unlikely.” Central among the problems is the loss of ice cover. A permanent ice cap reflected solar energy back into space. A dark ocean or land mass in its place, by contrast, absorbs the solar energy and heats the surrounding atmosphere. The warmer atmosphere in turn melts more ice cover.
GoM dying.
GoM dying. wikileaks The leak happened at the Azeri-Chirag-Guneshi (ACG) field, Azerbaijan's largest producing oil field in the Caspian where vast undeveloped gas reserves also lie. BP is the operator and largest shareholder in the consortium, which includes US companies Chevron, ExxonMobil and Hess (formerly Amerada Hess), as well as Norwegian firm Statoil and Azerbaijani state owned oil company Socar. BP comes in for criticism for allegedly limiting the information it made available about the incident. Another cable records shortly after the incident: "ACG operator BP has been exceptionally circumspect in disseminating information about the ACG gas leak, both to the public and to its ACG partners. However, after talking with BP and other sources, the embassy has pieced together the following picture." It goes on to say the incident took place when bubbles appeared in the waters around the Central Azeri platform, signalling a nearby gas leak. "Shortly thereafter, a related gas-reinjection well for Central Azeri had a blowout, expelling water, mud and gas." BP's annual report last year referred to a "comprehensive review of the subsurface gas release" having taken place and remedial work being carried out. The cable continues: "At least some of BP's ACG partners are similarly upset with BP's performance in this episode, as they claim BP has sought to limit information flow about this event even to its ACG partners. Although it is too early to ascertain the cause, if in fact this production shutdown was due to BP technical error, and if it continues for months (as seems possible), BP's reputation in Azerbaijan will take a serious hit."
When you write a response on a thread, keep the following idea in mind: Getting tired of the bozoed calcon following me around on the 'net, wanting to discuss "tossing salad." Sorry, you sick rump-ranger. NOT interested.
When you replace Truth with Silence understand that is evil. 8D Quality enough or do you need more corn syrup? LMFAO 8D
BTW. Care to actually respond? Or just attack. I can do either. ;}
BTW, the girls on the left are starving. The body keeps sending signals that it's not getting what it needs. 8) Like the signals I'm sending here at LF. 8D Like this: Speaking of moral bankruptcy, Glenn Greenwald outlines, in copious detail, the torture that Obama is inflicting on Bradley Manning in his endless months of captivity without trial. It is harrowing stuff. www.salon.com/news/opinio...enwald/2010/12/14/manning I found it and read it James, thanks. Fred Mertz posted on 2010-12-16 12:07:06 ET
Post #33 Above in reference to 'watch this' from previous post to you. ;}
As starvation proceeds, ' The food industry cashes in selling us addictive foods, and then cashes in again by feeding on our insecurities about the resulting health effects, especially weight gain. As over-consumption of carbohydrates promotes a state of chronic inflammation, to which the body responds by producing cholesterol, the pharmaceutical industry can also profit by promoting cholesterol-controlling drugs. These attack the symptom, not the disease, leaving us just as prone to heart disease as before, but poorer. The status quo is highly profitable in all ways. No wonder it has been so difficult to challenge.' as the bee genociding Bayer buys off the EPA. If we keep taxes low on America's high earners, the terrorists win The way we've compartmentalized our current tax debate - and kept it hermetically sealed from the fact that we're a nation at war - is evidence of the moral rot from which our enemies say America suffers. "There's something preposterous about a nation that has been 'at war' for almost a decade, yet insists on remaining completely oblivious to the implications," says Andrew Bacevich, the retired army colonel and Vietnam veteran who now writes and teaches at Boston University. Bacevich lost a son in Iraq. "Where's the outrage?" is alway... Straight Talk with Tyler Durden: The U.S. Is Free-Falling Into Bankruptcy | Chris Martenson Is an all-out collapse avoidable? This is a question that we ask ourselves every day, and no matter how we spin it, we fail to see how an unwind to a previous “restore point” to borrow a computer analogy, is possible at this very late stage in the global Ponzi scheme. We tend to simplify the world: When everything else is stripped, the only two things that matter are a) where is the money coming from? and b) where is it going? And never in the history of the world have so many assets created so little cash flow. To a big extent, this ... Obama is a hostage, but not to the GOP | Paul B. Farrell Who’s really pulling the strings? The Wall Street Banksters, the guys getting rich taking huge risks again, pushing America ever closer to a new meltdown, bigger than 2000 and 2008 combined. This Conspiracy has absolute power; It runs America. Democracy is dead. Capitalism is dead. Think otherwise? You’re self-delusional. So on the surface, it may look like a tragically weak President Obama is surrendering to his GOP captors, siding with his captors to bring back the GOP’s disastrous Reaganomics policies, destroying the American econo...
Look at it this way, CE. I'm giving you a Mental Glucose/Heroin cocktail IV. enjoy. 8D
Roger.
CIA analyst Jack Ryan must thwart the plans of a terrorist faction that threatens to induce a catastrophic conflict between the United States and Russia's newly elected president by detonating a nuclear weapon at a football game in Baltimore. Director: Phil Alden Robinson Writers: Tom Clancy I just saw this movie. Fits right in with the 'nuke blast survivable meme being passed around now by the Imperial City. 8D And I note the CoinkyDink of TomClancy being interviewed by CNN when the basement blast occurred at the WTC.
I never heard of that connection. The WTC basement blast was another Fed entrapment scam that went bad, unless it went bad by design.
No. I know Tom Clancy was being interviewed because I saw the tape of the basement Blowout. And tried to find it. Repeatedly. All you can get now is a still. At best. OR how did those elevator doors get blasted away. Along with the lobby? See Rodriguez 50 ton press vaporized for detials on the WTC Basement Blast.
To what part? After all, your replies are numerous, almost entirely nonsensical, in that they're a mish-mash of sentences strung together, without coherence. They say "brevity is the soul of wit." Your lack of brevity, truly indicates the lack thereof. Thus, you'll stay on bozo.
Getting tired of the bozoed calcon following me around on the 'net, wanting to discuss "tossing salad." Sorry, you sick rump-ranger. NOT interested.
And thank you. 12122000 and 9-11 the Reichsmark Fire of US Empire" At approx 6:05 on the tape: A few things to look out for while watching the video during the fast-forward: About 3:00 in (or 23m on the videotape)they show one of the towers collapsing....pay attention how SMOOTH it is in fast-forward (nothing collapsing naturally is particularly "smooth".....). Also, notice the insane amount of raging smoke coming out the bottom level of WTC7. In regular time it just looks like smoldering flames....not really unusual....sped up it looks a lot different. Now, to a real telling piece that escaped everyone's notice. Tom Clancy. Oh, Tom Clancy, what did you know? Pay attention to his eyes and count from that time until you see WTC7. When he glanced over, 7 had JUST FINISHED collapsing (count it off, he was glancing at a side monitor), then he gets all happy and jubilant (what the hell?). Tom Clancy, BUSTED! Videos for tom clancy cnn interview 9/11 911-Tom Clancy Clip Showing Street Level Smoke 10 min - Nov 3, 2009 Uploaded by nelsxxxpm youtube.com CNN - Interview with Tom Clancy Video by ... 1 min - Sep 24, 2007 vids.myspace.com
Until you decide to attack again. LMFAO ;} Disinfo Ad hominem attack. More subtle than yuk, but then you're more intelligent. ;}
CNN - Interview with Tom Clancy Video by ... 1 min - Sep 24, 2007 vids.myspace.com I didn't find it. I will. And then match the times with collapse. CNN has that vid. I will see it. Tick tock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jcg8hMEmTVE 9/11: WTC sub-level explosions People don't accidently find themselves in the middle of Stalingrad. They make decisions, every day, which puts them on course.
To what part? U pic 'em. Anything. At Anytime. That brief enough? 8D
ping to above post. ;} 9 min in. Guy's on B1 of WTC1. Explosion. Moved the floor underneath his feet. Right in the basement you felt it. Walls were caving in.
Oh, I thought you were referring to the 1993 WTC garage bomb; that's what I had in mind with my comments.
Comments (48 - 48) not displayed.
Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#8. To: continental op (#7)
Virus
#9. To: Ibluafartsky, all (#8)
#10. To: continental op (#9)
you're definitely a malevolent cyber pinnochio
#11. To: All, AKA Stone (#10)
#12. To: continental op, All, AKA Stone (#11)
should computer programs be allowed to post on LF?
#13. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
#14. To: Ibluafartsky (#12)
#15. To: continental op (#14)
you're an ex-Bushbot who hates conservatives,
#16. To: Ibluafartsky (#15)
you talking to me, commie?
#17. To: continental op (#16)
you talking to me
#18. To: Ibluafartsky (#17)
#19. To: continental op (#18)
#20. To: Ibluafartsky (#19)
Does that empty white box represent
#21. To: continental op (#11)
should computer programs be allowed to post on LF?
#22. To: hondo68 (#20)
You blew one too many farts in the general direction of your internet connection.
#23. To: Skip Intro, continental op (#21)
stupidity labs
#24. To: Skip Intro (#21)
#25. To: Fred Mertz, Skip Intro, con op (#24)
He's an asshole.
#26. To: Capitalist Eric, All (#0)
#27. To: Capitalist Eric (#0)
Grave Domestic Threats to National Security
#28. To: All (#27)
Grave Domestic Threats to National Security
#29. To: All (#28)
Grave Domestic Threats to National Security
#30. To: mcgowanjm (#27)
The 2010 update of Arctic Report......
#31. To: Capitalist Eric (#30)
The 2010 update of Arctic Report......
#32. To: Capitalist Eric (#30)
#33. To: Capitalist Eric, All (#30)
(Edited)
#34. To: Fred Mertz, All (#33)
#35. To: Capitalist Eric (#30)
A Perfect Analogy for Amerika's 'leaders' 8D
#36. To: Capitalist Eric (#30)
#37. To: mcgowanjm (#34)
#38. To: Fred Mertz (#37)
Roger.
#39. To: mcgowanjm (#38)
And I note the CoinkyDink of TomClancy being interviewed by CNN when the basement blast occurred at the WTC.
#40. To: Fred Mertz (#39)
I never heard of that connection. The WTC basement blast was another Fed entrapment scam that went bad, unless it went bad by design.
#41. To: mcgowanjm (#32)
BTW. Care to actually respond?
#42. To: Fred Mertz (#39)
#43. To: Capitalist Eric, All (#41)
Thus, you'll stay on bozo.
#44. To: All (#42)
Videos for tom clancy cnn interview 9/11 911-Tom Clancy Clip Showing Street Level Smoke 10 min - Nov 3, 2009 Uploaded by nelsxxxpm youtube.com
#45. To: Capitalist Eric, All (#41)
BTW. Care to actually respond?
#46. To: Fred Mertz, All (#44)
(Edited)
#47. To: mcgowanjm (#40)
No. I know Tom Clancy was being interviewed because I saw the tape of the basement Blowout.
.
.
.
[Home] [Headlines] [Latest Articles] [Latest Comments] [Post] [Mail] [Sign-in] [Setup] [Help] [Register]