How do you feel about the future of US?

[paramount]

For OpEdNews: Sheila Jackson – Writer

Here is what we know and here is what we hardly dare articulate.

The United States is in the phase of its decline that is marked by worship of the military. It is the milieu of opportunity for a despot to engage in attempted empire building. It is an age when a cowardly usurper of power can dare to don a military uniform and strut about as if he had the right to wear it. It is another age in the history of wars of domination when young people are sucked into the war machine, thrown into bloody combat based on no noble cause and described as, “Our brave men and women in uniform,” in order to hide the motives of powerful people whose mission it is to line their own pockets and to force their agendas on unwilling peoples.

Or an attempt by petty dictators to secure for themselves an undeserved heroic place in history.

The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.” It is an age when it is considered an insult to require an oath of honesty from a highly placed military man or to question the bases of his conclusions.

The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us unaware in our flush of victory at being on the winning side of two world engulfing conflagrations. Those great generations that marched off in huge numbers to war twice in one century to truly save humanity from tyranny had no notion that from their patriotic heroism would be born a John Wayne cult of the noble soldier-avenger, a superhuman who knew no fear and was always right and always victorious.

When I was in Air Force basic training in the late fifties the word civilian had a mildly pejorative connotation. There was no hot war at that time. But there was a large “standing army.” I accepted all of that and, as a very impressionable eighteen-year-old, felt superior to someone for the first time in my average angst-ridden teenaged life. I felt superior to civilians.

Be all that you can be. The few, the proud, the marines. The unquestioning obeyer of orders and completer of dangerous missions. The lionized and the lied to.

There is not a noble war for justice or freedom being waged by this country anywhere in this world today. There is an ill-fated invasion in the middle of the Arabian Peninsula based on the cynical use of the deaths of nearly 3,000 American civilians, to launch an inane and utterly devoid of any sense of reality or sanity, plan for a “New American Century.” There is perpetual war for nothing noble, waged on lies and continued interminably into the misty reaches of tomorrow and promulgated on more lies, totally politically motivated and manipulated with crafty skill and selfish, shallow reasoning.

The war agenda, which is eating up our national treasure and eroding our freedoms at the speed of blight, which is totally antithetical to anything on which the United States was built, is enabled by glorification of the military, by cynically conferring heroism on the victims of the policy.

Empire building never succeeds for long. Back into pre-history it has always ultimately failed. When Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini tried it we were on the side of justice and freedom. Now, tragically, we are on the other side. We are the invaders, the wagers of pre-emptive war, the kind we fought against just a few short decades ago. And all that was needed for the United States to become the aggressive progenitor of yet another world domination ambition was George W. Bush and company.

The prediction for this phase of earthly empire building is not a rosy one. The shortsightedness, the arrogant adherence to a fatally flawed plan of worldwide hegemony of the promulgators of this current foray into world domination ambition, dooms it to failure, perhaps rather more quickly than others of the past. With no interest in or knowledge of history, this group of mentally challenged and/or mentally unbalanced ideologues, is heedlessly careening down a historically well-worn path which will bring yet another mighty nation to its knees.

One irony of the situation is that these modern architects of rehashed domination theory chose to forego the experience of belonging to the culture of military heroism. Unfortunately, they know how to use it in their blind rush to ruin.

Sheila Jackson: Mother of two, grandmother of four, Air Force Veteran, two college degrees, an Associate Degree in Mechanical Engineering Technology and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies obtained at the age of sixty

[felix]

Wow!

I’m struggling to understand how this writer could be so wrong. Unfortunately her view is that of a misguided ideologue. She is trying to use twisted logic and facts to predict and justify her twisted viewpoint.

She writes, “The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.””

The army above criticism? Where has she been the past 40 years? Clearly since the Viet Nam War, if not before, the military has been scrutinized and criticized. In fact, the military has been reviled by many of own her contemporary’s. The military has not been above criticism. Criticism has come very regularly, almost daily from some.

She also writes, “The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us”

Worship?

I must have missed the worshiping. Didn’t it take until the 90’s to even welcome those Viet Nam “heroes” home? Didn’t we just elect a neophyte Chicago machine politician with virtually no leadership experience over a genuine war hero in the last presidential election? I must be missing the worshiping.

The fact is the military is far from worshiped. For decades a huge segment of the population hardly even tolerates the military. Some don’t even see a military as a necessary evil. They look upon the military as costly killers of innocents more than protectors of freedom. We do not worship the military.

An even larger problem with this OpEd is that the author doesn’t even understand what the terms she is using.

Does she know what an empire is?

As far as I can tell we are not and have never been an empire so how can we be an empire in decline?

Empires have a single supreme authority. Empires are expansionist and acquirers of other lands.

Our government may be flawed but we are not run by a single supreme authority and it has been over a century since we were expansionist acquirers of land (Manifesting Destiny). In fact, we can’t wait to get out of most of the places we send our troops.

The author doesn’t even mention that we have regularly given up land taken in conflict unlike the other attempted empires. We couldn’t be less like Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini.

So besides being wrong on the facts and wrong in her logic, she is wrong in her conclusions. Basically, she wastes any thoughtful person’s time with the reading of this OpEd.

[felix]

Wow!

I’m struggling to understand how this writer could be so wrong. Unfortunately her view is that of a misguided ideologue. She is trying to use twisted logic and facts to predict and justify her twisted viewpoint.

She writes, “The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.””

The army above criticism? Where has she been the past 40 years? Clearly since the Viet Nam War, if not before, the military has been scrutinized and criticized. In fact, the military has been reviled by many of own her contemporary’s. The military has not been above criticism. Criticism has come very regularly, almost daily from some.

She also writes, “The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us”

Worship?

I must have missed the worshiping. Didn’t it take until the 90’s to even welcome those Viet Nam “heroes” home? Didn’t we just elect a neophyte Chicago machine politician with virtually no leadership experience over a genuine war hero in the last presidential election? I must be missing the worshiping.

The fact is the military is far from worshiped. For decades a huge segment of the population hardly even tolerates the military. Some don’t even see a military as a necessary evil. They look upon the military as costly killers of innocents more than protectors of freedom. We do not worship the military.

An even larger problem with this OpEd is that the author doesn’t even understand what the terms she is using.

Does she know what an empire is?

As far as I can tell we are not and have never been an empire so how can we be an empire in decline?

Empires have a single supreme authority. Empires are expansionist and acquirers of other lands.

Our government may be flawed but we are not run by a single supreme authority and it has been over a century since we were expansionist acquirers of land (Manifesting Destiny). In fact, we can’t wait to get out of most of the places we send our troops.

The author doesn’t even mention that we have regularly given up land taken in conflict unlike the other attempted empires. We couldn’t be less like Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini.

So besides being wrong on the facts and wrong in her logic, she is wrong in her conclusions. Basically, she wastes any thoughtful person’s time with the reading of this OpEd.

[felix]

Wow!

I’m struggling to understand how this writer could be so wrong. Unfortunately her view is that of a misguided ideologue. She is trying to use twisted logic and facts to predict and justify her twisted viewpoint.

She writes, “The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.””

The army above criticism? Where has she been the past 40 years? Clearly since the Viet Nam War, if not before, the military has been scrutinized and criticized. In fact, the military has been reviled by many of own her contemporary’s. The military has not been above criticism. Criticism has come very regularly, almost daily from some.

She also writes, “The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us”

Worship?

I must have missed the worshiping. Didn’t it take until the 90’s to even welcome those Viet Nam “heroes” home? Didn’t we just elect a neophyte Chicago machine politician with virtually no leadership experience over a genuine war hero in the last presidential election? I must be missing the worshiping.

The fact is the military is far from worshiped. For decades a huge segment of the population hardly even tolerates the military. Some don’t even see a military as a necessary evil. They look upon the military as costly killers of innocents more than protectors of freedom. We do not worship the military.

An even larger problem with this OpEd is that the author doesn’t even understand what the terms she is using.

Does she know what an empire is?

As far as I can tell we are not and have never been an empire so how can we be an empire in decline?

Empires have a single supreme authority. Empires are expansionist and acquirers of other lands.

Our government may be flawed but we are not run by a single supreme authority and it has been over a century since we were expansionist acquirers of land (Manifesting Destiny). In fact, we can’t wait to get out of most of the places we send our troops.

The author doesn’t even mention that we have regularly given up land taken in conflict unlike the other attempted empires. We couldn’t be less like Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini.

So besides being wrong on the facts and wrong in her logic, she is wrong in her conclusions. Basically, she wastes any thoughtful person’s time with the reading of this OpEd.

[felix]

Wow!

I’m struggling to understand how this writer could be so wrong. Unfortunately her view is that of a misguided ideologue. She is trying to use twisted logic and facts to predict and justify her twisted viewpoint.

She writes, “The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.””

The army above criticism? Where has she been the past 40 years? Clearly since the Viet Nam War, if not before, the military has been scrutinized and criticized. In fact, the military has been reviled by many of own her contemporary’s. The military has not been above criticism. Criticism has come very regularly, almost daily from some.

She also writes, “The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us”

Worship?

I must have missed the worshiping. Didn’t it take until the 90’s to even welcome those Viet Nam “heroes” home? Didn’t we just elect a neophyte Chicago machine politician with virtually no leadership experience over a genuine war hero in the last presidential election? I must be missing the worshiping.

The fact is the military is far from worshiped. For decades a huge segment of the population hardly even tolerates the military. Some don’t even see a military as a necessary evil. They look upon the military as costly killers of innocents more than protectors of freedom. We do not worship the military.

An even larger problem with this OpEd is that the author doesn’t even understand what the terms she is using.

Does she know what an empire is?

As far as I can tell we are not and have never been an empire so how can we be an empire in decline?

Empires have a single supreme authority. Empires are expansionist and acquirers of other lands.

Our government may be flawed but we are not run by a single supreme authority and it has been over a century since we were expansionist acquirers of land (Manifesting Destiny). In fact, we can’t wait to get out of most of the places we send our troops.

The author doesn’t even mention that we have regularly given up land taken in conflict unlike the other attempted empires. We couldn’t be less like Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini.

So besides being wrong on the facts and wrong in her logic, she is wrong in her conclusions. Basically, she wastes any thoughtful person’s time with the reading of this OpEd.

[felix]

Wow!

I’m struggling to understand how this writer could be so wrong. Unfortunately her view is that of a misguided ideologue. She is trying to use twisted logic and facts to predict and justify her twisted viewpoint.

She writes, “The age of worship of the military and empire building is an era when a general of the army is “above criticism.””

The army above criticism? Where has she been the past 40 years? Clearly since the Viet Nam War, if not before, the military has been scrutinized and criticized. In fact, the military has been reviled by many of own her contemporary’s. The military has not been above criticism. Criticism has come very regularly, almost daily from some.

She also writes, “The culture of the worship of the military has crept upon us”

Worship?

I must have missed the worshiping. Didn’t it take until the 90’s to even welcome those Viet Nam “heroes” home? Didn’t we just elect a neophyte Chicago machine politician with virtually no leadership experience over a genuine war hero in the last presidential election? I must be missing the worshiping.

The fact is the military is far from worshiped. For decades a huge segment of the population hardly even tolerates the military. Some don’t even see a military as a necessary evil. They look upon the military as costly killers of innocents more than protectors of freedom. We do not worship the military.

An even larger problem with this OpEd is that the author doesn’t even understand what the terms she is using.

Does she know what an empire is?

As far as I can tell we are not and have never been an empire so how can we be an empire in decline?

Empires have a single supreme authority. Empires are expansionist and acquirers of other lands.

Our government may be flawed but we are not run by a single supreme authority and it has been over a century since we were expansionist acquirers of land (Manifesting Destiny). In fact, we can’t wait to get out of most of the places we send our troops.

The author doesn’t even mention that we have regularly given up land taken in conflict unlike the other attempted empires. We couldn’t be less like Hitler, Hirohito and Mussolini.

So besides being wrong on the facts and wrong in her logic, she is wrong in her conclusions. Basically, she wastes any thoughtful person’s time with the reading of this OpEd.

[socrattt]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=briansd1][quote=felix]
Again we didn’t choose this war. Saddam did.[/quote]

I don’t agree with you.

But what does it matter who started what?

I thought America was all about taking the moral high-ground?

We just need to do the right thing for our country. The money spent on the military industrial complex would have been better spent elsewhere.[/quote]

Brian: Do you argue just to argue? Like stirring the pot? On the one hand, you argue that it is about “ideas” and “ideals”, especially Democrat/Democratic ideas and ideals.

On the other hand, you argue that it isn’t about ideas and ideals at all, its about pragmatism.

So which is it? You can’t have it both ways (although you try).

As far as the US goes, its always been about resource acquisition and retention. From Lewis & Clark to the Louisiana Purchase to Manifest Destiny to Gunboat Diplomacy to “Remember the Maine!” through WWI and WWII and the containment policy and Vietnam through the present day, the policy has remained unchanged.

As far as the “Military-Industrial Complex” goes, where do you think those bitchin’ weapons systems we use to keep the oil flowing come from?

And, if you want to have some real fun, watch what happens to our Chinese buddies in Africa (Nigeria especially) when they start trying to control the supply of oil and ship it home from the Dark Continent. Its not covered in the news, but Chinese “security forces” are already shipping something back to the Middle Kingdom and it ain’t oil. Its bodies. Yup, insurgents in Nigeria have already targeted Chinese facilities and personnel and China is finding out firsthand just how ugly shit can get when it comes to satisfying that oil jones.[/quote]

Allan, once again your thoughts are exactly mine. I love how we still have a few ignorant sheep on here who like to compare the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to today. Every facet of our debt is so complex and unmanageable at this point, that to call this an ordinary cycle is asinine.

Of course the thought is that America could never go bankrupt, which I sort of believe as we will continue to print money to save ourselves regardless and just keep raising the debt ceiling. It’s obvious at this point most Piggs are on the same page, but folks like Brian and NorCal still fail to see the writing on the wall. But that’s America for you.

America is the blind leading the blind. I’m an advocate for common sense, but some just can’t deal reality. The honest truth is no one truly knows when the poop will hit the fan. What we can say is it will and I believe our days leading normal lives will change very soon.

On that note, I need to get back to work to support everyone else in this country. It’s not easy paying 40%+ in taxes but someone has got do it :).

[socrattt]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=briansd1][quote=felix]
Again we didn’t choose this war. Saddam did.[/quote]

I don’t agree with you.

But what does it matter who started what?

I thought America was all about taking the moral high-ground?

We just need to do the right thing for our country. The money spent on the military industrial complex would have been better spent elsewhere.[/quote]

Brian: Do you argue just to argue? Like stirring the pot? On the one hand, you argue that it is about “ideas” and “ideals”, especially Democrat/Democratic ideas and ideals.

On the other hand, you argue that it isn’t about ideas and ideals at all, its about pragmatism.

So which is it? You can’t have it both ways (although you try).

As far as the US goes, its always been about resource acquisition and retention. From Lewis & Clark to the Louisiana Purchase to Manifest Destiny to Gunboat Diplomacy to “Remember the Maine!” through WWI and WWII and the containment policy and Vietnam through the present day, the policy has remained unchanged.

As far as the “Military-Industrial Complex” goes, where do you think those bitchin’ weapons systems we use to keep the oil flowing come from?

And, if you want to have some real fun, watch what happens to our Chinese buddies in Africa (Nigeria especially) when they start trying to control the supply of oil and ship it home from the Dark Continent. Its not covered in the news, but Chinese “security forces” are already shipping something back to the Middle Kingdom and it ain’t oil. Its bodies. Yup, insurgents in Nigeria have already targeted Chinese facilities and personnel and China is finding out firsthand just how ugly shit can get when it comes to satisfying that oil jones.[/quote]

Allan, once again your thoughts are exactly mine. I love how we still have a few ignorant sheep on here who like to compare the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to today. Every facet of our debt is so complex and unmanageable at this point, that to call this an ordinary cycle is asinine.

Of course the thought is that America could never go bankrupt, which I sort of believe as we will continue to print money to save ourselves regardless and just keep raising the debt ceiling. It’s obvious at this point most Piggs are on the same page, but folks like Brian and NorCal still fail to see the writing on the wall. But that’s America for you.

America is the blind leading the blind. I’m an advocate for common sense, but some just can’t deal reality. The honest truth is no one truly knows when the poop will hit the fan. What we can say is it will and I believe our days leading normal lives will change very soon.

On that note, I need to get back to work to support everyone else in this country. It’s not easy paying 40%+ in taxes but someone has got do it :).

[socrattt]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=briansd1][quote=felix]
Again we didn’t choose this war. Saddam did.[/quote]

I don’t agree with you.

But what does it matter who started what?

I thought America was all about taking the moral high-ground?

We just need to do the right thing for our country. The money spent on the military industrial complex would have been better spent elsewhere.[/quote]

Brian: Do you argue just to argue? Like stirring the pot? On the one hand, you argue that it is about “ideas” and “ideals”, especially Democrat/Democratic ideas and ideals.

On the other hand, you argue that it isn’t about ideas and ideals at all, its about pragmatism.

So which is it? You can’t have it both ways (although you try).

As far as the US goes, its always been about resource acquisition and retention. From Lewis & Clark to the Louisiana Purchase to Manifest Destiny to Gunboat Diplomacy to “Remember the Maine!” through WWI and WWII and the containment policy and Vietnam through the present day, the policy has remained unchanged.

As far as the “Military-Industrial Complex” goes, where do you think those bitchin’ weapons systems we use to keep the oil flowing come from?

And, if you want to have some real fun, watch what happens to our Chinese buddies in Africa (Nigeria especially) when they start trying to control the supply of oil and ship it home from the Dark Continent. Its not covered in the news, but Chinese “security forces” are already shipping something back to the Middle Kingdom and it ain’t oil. Its bodies. Yup, insurgents in Nigeria have already targeted Chinese facilities and personnel and China is finding out firsthand just how ugly shit can get when it comes to satisfying that oil jones.[/quote]

Allan, once again your thoughts are exactly mine. I love how we still have a few ignorant sheep on here who like to compare the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to today. Every facet of our debt is so complex and unmanageable at this point, that to call this an ordinary cycle is asinine.

Of course the thought is that America could never go bankrupt, which I sort of believe as we will continue to print money to save ourselves regardless and just keep raising the debt ceiling. It’s obvious at this point most Piggs are on the same page, but folks like Brian and NorCal still fail to see the writing on the wall. But that’s America for you.

America is the blind leading the blind. I’m an advocate for common sense, but some just can’t deal reality. The honest truth is no one truly knows when the poop will hit the fan. What we can say is it will and I believe our days leading normal lives will change very soon.

On that note, I need to get back to work to support everyone else in this country. It’s not easy paying 40%+ in taxes but someone has got do it :).

[socrattt]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=briansd1][quote=felix]
Again we didn’t choose this war. Saddam did.[/quote]

I don’t agree with you.

But what does it matter who started what?

I thought America was all about taking the moral high-ground?

We just need to do the right thing for our country. The money spent on the military industrial complex would have been better spent elsewhere.[/quote]

Brian: Do you argue just to argue? Like stirring the pot? On the one hand, you argue that it is about “ideas” and “ideals”, especially Democrat/Democratic ideas and ideals.

On the other hand, you argue that it isn’t about ideas and ideals at all, its about pragmatism.

So which is it? You can’t have it both ways (although you try).

As far as the US goes, its always been about resource acquisition and retention. From Lewis & Clark to the Louisiana Purchase to Manifest Destiny to Gunboat Diplomacy to “Remember the Maine!” through WWI and WWII and the containment policy and Vietnam through the present day, the policy has remained unchanged.

As far as the “Military-Industrial Complex” goes, where do you think those bitchin’ weapons systems we use to keep the oil flowing come from?

And, if you want to have some real fun, watch what happens to our Chinese buddies in Africa (Nigeria especially) when they start trying to control the supply of oil and ship it home from the Dark Continent. Its not covered in the news, but Chinese “security forces” are already shipping something back to the Middle Kingdom and it ain’t oil. Its bodies. Yup, insurgents in Nigeria have already targeted Chinese facilities and personnel and China is finding out firsthand just how ugly shit can get when it comes to satisfying that oil jones.[/quote]

Allan, once again your thoughts are exactly mine. I love how we still have a few ignorant sheep on here who like to compare the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to today. Every facet of our debt is so complex and unmanageable at this point, that to call this an ordinary cycle is asinine.

Of course the thought is that America could never go bankrupt, which I sort of believe as we will continue to print money to save ourselves regardless and just keep raising the debt ceiling. It’s obvious at this point most Piggs are on the same page, but folks like Brian and NorCal still fail to see the writing on the wall. But that’s America for you.

America is the blind leading the blind. I’m an advocate for common sense, but some just can’t deal reality. The honest truth is no one truly knows when the poop will hit the fan. What we can say is it will and I believe our days leading normal lives will change very soon.

On that note, I need to get back to work to support everyone else in this country. It’s not easy paying 40%+ in taxes but someone has got do it :).

[socrattt]

[quote=Allan from Fallbrook][quote=briansd1][quote=felix]
Again we didn’t choose this war. Saddam did.[/quote]

I don’t agree with you.

But what does it matter who started what?

I thought America was all about taking the moral high-ground?

We just need to do the right thing for our country. The money spent on the military industrial complex would have been better spent elsewhere.[/quote]

Brian: Do you argue just to argue? Like stirring the pot? On the one hand, you argue that it is about “ideas” and “ideals”, especially Democrat/Democratic ideas and ideals.

On the other hand, you argue that it isn’t about ideas and ideals at all, its about pragmatism.

So which is it? You can’t have it both ways (although you try).

As far as the US goes, its always been about resource acquisition and retention. From Lewis & Clark to the Louisiana Purchase to Manifest Destiny to Gunboat Diplomacy to “Remember the Maine!” through WWI and WWII and the containment policy and Vietnam through the present day, the policy has remained unchanged.

As far as the “Military-Industrial Complex” goes, where do you think those bitchin’ weapons systems we use to keep the oil flowing come from?

And, if you want to have some real fun, watch what happens to our Chinese buddies in Africa (Nigeria especially) when they start trying to control the supply of oil and ship it home from the Dark Continent. Its not covered in the news, but Chinese “security forces” are already shipping something back to the Middle Kingdom and it ain’t oil. Its bodies. Yup, insurgents in Nigeria have already targeted Chinese facilities and personnel and China is finding out firsthand just how ugly shit can get when it comes to satisfying that oil jones.[/quote]

Allan, once again your thoughts are exactly mine. I love how we still have a few ignorant sheep on here who like to compare the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to today. Every facet of our debt is so complex and unmanageable at this point, that to call this an ordinary cycle is asinine.

Of course the thought is that America could never go bankrupt, which I sort of believe as we will continue to print money to save ourselves regardless and just keep raising the debt ceiling. It’s obvious at this point most Piggs are on the same page, but folks like Brian and NorCal still fail to see the writing on the wall. But that’s America for you.

America is the blind leading the blind. I’m an advocate for common sense, but some just can’t deal reality. The honest truth is no one truly knows when the poop will hit the fan. What we can say is it will and I believe our days leading normal lives will change very soon.

On that note, I need to get back to work to support everyone else in this country. It’s not easy paying 40%+ in taxes but someone has got do it :).

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

This time it’s different !!

JJ

The saying works both ways

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

This time it’s different !!

JJ

The saying works both ways

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

This time it’s different !!

JJ

The saying works both ways

[Nor-LA-SD-guy]

This time it’s different !!

JJ

The saying works both ways

[Author]

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