I have read two articles that I want to share with all who stop by this old corner. I don't know if you all check the Counterpunch web site, but I do every day and found two that I think are very important.
The first is by former US Senator James Abourezk. After you read the article you will probably understand why he is now a former senator. The number one "rule" in US politics, do not ever be critical of the Zionist entity. His article is at; www.counterpunch.org/abourezk07122010.html
The second article is by Jonathan Cook. Mr. Cook is a writer and journalist who is based in Nazareth, Israel. The article is at;www.counterpunch.org/cook07132010.html
While both are very important, my opinion, it is the second that causes me the most worry. It is about the remote control machine gun system that the Zionist entity uses on the Gaza border "fence". Notice, they use young women as the operators of this weapon system. Partly they do this as they seem to have a shortage of men for the combat units. Also, it keeps the women safe from getting shot or physical harm.
To me, it just makes killers of the young women. Killing, by remote control or in person, is still killing. The system uses a video monitor and a "Play station" type joystick. Just like the typical video game in most homes today. Yes, killing real people has now been reduced to a damn video game. While this system is only in use by the Zionist entity now, no doubt other militaries (the US included) are no doubt wanting to get such a system themselves.
In case you were curious, they have a remote control armored vehicle being used on the border with Lebanon and are developing a remote control ship for naval use. War is fast becoming a total video game.
This is just killing made easy. No muss, no fuss. And, you can be home in front of the TV set in time for supper!
Of course it will be very hard, if not impossible, to stop this sort of thing. The generals and politicians will tell us that these vile systems will "save lives" of our military. This may be true, but what they will never do is to stop the senseless damn killings. They will not end the useless damn fool wars. Too much profit there to stop.
It is up to us, the people of this world to demand that our "leaders" stop these damn fool wars of choice. We must demand and end to these idiot wars and demand that our so-called leaders live in peace with other people.
The only people I know who have been to war who are in favor of more war are few and then only if our country is invaded. The only people I know who are for war are those who either never wore a uniform or if they did, they were never in a war zone in combat.
War is not pretty. It is nasty, vile, dirty, and a total waste of people and resources. War does only one thing, it destroys.
General Smedley Butler said that war is a racket. How very true. War has big profits for those who make the weapons and all the rations and other gear for the troops. He also said that there are only two reasons for war. One, to defend OUR homes. Two, to defend the Bill of Rights. He was right in the 1930's when he said these things. He is still right today.
War, what is it good for? Absolutely nothing!
Wake up America, end war now.
semper fi
20 comments:
We are a nation that loves and thrives on war.
It is part of the American destiny.
It is part of human nature.
It is and will be our down fall.
When a country is inter connected with its MSM, Corps. Military, and its Govt. it has been called Fascist in the past.
The question must now be asked.
Why is the system that we exist under not called Fascist.
We now fit this equation.
Our Govt. works for the Corps, and foreign entities. Not for its citizens.
I was coming over to post on the second of your links, Charlie. I'll do so anyway... it's a quote.
Remote-Controlled Killing
It is called Spot and Shoot. Operators sit in front of a TV monitor from which they can control the action with a PlayStation-style joystick.
The aim: to kill terrorists.
Played by: young women serving in the Israeli army.
Spot and Shoot, as it is called by the Israeli military, may look like a video game but the figures on the screen are real people -- Palestinians in Gaza -- who can be killed with the press of a button on the joystick.
The women are supposed to identify anyone suspicious approaching the fence around Gaza and, if authorised by an officer, execute them using their joysticks.
The Israeli army, which plans to introduce the technology along Israel’s other confrontation lines, refuses to say how many Palestinians have been killed by the remotely controlled machine-guns in Gaza. According to the Israeli media, however, it is believed to be several dozen.
Audio sensors on the towers mean that the women hear the shot as it kills the target. No woman, Haaretz reported, had failed the task of shooting what the army calls an “incriminated” Palestinian.
The Israeli military, which enforces a so-called “buffer zone” -- an unmarked no-man’s land -- inside the fence that reaches as deep as 300 metres into the tiny enclave, has been widely criticised for opening fire on civilians entering the closed zone.
In separate incidents in April, a 21-year-old Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead and a Maltese solidarity activist wounded when they took part in protests to plant a Palestinian flag in the buffer zone. The Maltese woman, Bianca Zammit, was videoing as she was hit.
In February Israel officially unveiled the 14 metre-long Heron TP drone, the largest ever. Capable of flying from Israel to Iran and carrying more than a ton of weapons, the Heron was tested by Israel in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in winter 2008, when some 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
The US and Israel are partners in War Crimes. I cannot even recognize my country anymore. It has morphed into Ronald Reagan's Evil Empire, joined at the hip with Israel. Siamese twins, sharing a brain.
That last paragraph above is telegraphing their next punch.
Everyone knows what they're going to do... your first link points that out.
So what are we gonna do about it?
I was on my way over and am glad o see you've beat me to it... I include the excerpt I had...
Remote-Controlled Killing
It is called Spot and Shoot. Operators sit in front of a TV monitor from which they can control the action with a PlayStation-style joystick.
The aim: to kill terrorists.
Played by: young women serving in the Israeli army.
Spot and Shoot, as it is called by the Israeli military, may look like a video game but the figures on the screen are real people -- Palestinians in Gaza -- who can be killed with the press of a button on the joystick.
The women are supposed to identify anyone suspicious approaching the fence around Gaza and, if authorised by an officer, execute them using their joysticks.
The Israeli army, which plans to introduce the technology along Israel’s other confrontation lines, refuses to say how many Palestinians have been killed by the remotely controlled machine-guns in Gaza. According to the Israeli media, however, it is believed to be several dozen.
Audio sensors on the towers mean that the women hear the shot as it kills the target. No woman, Haaretz reported, had failed the task of shooting what the army calls an “incriminated” Palestinian.
The Israeli military, which enforces a so-called “buffer zone” -- an unmarked no-man’s land -- inside the fence that reaches as deep as 300 metres into the tiny enclave, has been widely criticised for opening fire on civilians entering the closed zone.
In separate incidents in April, a 21-year-old Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead and a Maltese solidarity activist wounded when they took part in protests to plant a Palestinian flag in the buffer zone. The Maltese woman, Bianca Zammit, was videoing as she was hit.
In February Israel officially unveiled the 14 metre-long Heron TP drone, the largest ever. Capable of flying from Israel to Iran and carrying more than a ton of weapons, the Heron was tested by Israel in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in winter 2008, when some 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
The US and Israel are partners in War Crimes. I cannot even recognize my country anymore. It has morphed into Ronal Reagan's Evil Empire, joined at the hip with Israel. Siamese twins, sharing a brain.
That last paragraph is chilling... but everyone knows what's going down. That's what your first link is all about.
So what are we gonna do about it?
Remote-Controlled Killing
It is called Spot and Shoot. Operators sit in front of a TV monitor from which they can control the action with a PlayStation-style joystick.
The aim: to kill terrorists.
Played by: young women serving in the Israeli army.
Spot and Shoot, as it is called by the Israeli military, may look like a video game but the figures on the screen are real people -- Palestinians in Gaza -- who can be killed with the press of a button on the joystick.
The women are supposed to identify anyone suspicious approaching the fence around Gaza and, if authorised by an officer, execute them using their joysticks.
The Israeli army, which plans to introduce the technology along Israel’s other confrontation lines, refuses to say how many Palestinians have been killed by the remotely controlled machine-guns in Gaza. According to the Israeli media, however, it is believed to be several dozen.
Audio sensors on the towers mean that the women hear the shot as it kills the target. No woman, Haaretz reported, had failed the task of shooting what the army calls an “incriminated” Palestinian.
The Israeli military, which enforces a so-called “buffer zone” -- an unmarked no-man’s land -- inside the fence that reaches as deep as 300 metres into the tiny enclave, has been widely criticised for opening fire on civilians entering the closed zone.
In separate incidents in April, a 21-year-old Palestinian demonstrator was shot dead and a Maltese solidarity activist wounded when they took part in protests to plant a Palestinian flag in the buffer zone. The Maltese woman, Bianca Zammit, was videoing as she was hit.
In February Israel officially unveiled the 14 metre-long Heron TP drone, the largest ever. Capable of flying from Israel to Iran and carrying more than a ton of weapons, the Heron was tested by Israel in Gaza during Operation Cast Lead in winter 2008, when some 1,400 Palestinians were killed.
Sorry about the bald quote above... google wouldn't let me post it with commentary, although both together were well under 4096 bytes.
The US and Israel are partners in War Crimes. I cannot even recognize my country anymore. It has morphed into Ronald Reagan's Evil Empire, joined at the hip with Israel. Siamese twins, sharing a brain.
That last paragraph is chilling... but everyone knows what's going down. That's what your first link is all about.
So what are we gonna do about it?
I was on my way over and am glad o see you've beat me to it... I include the excerpt I had...
I've made a mess... sorry. Google told me that the url was too large and all indications were that the first was not posted.
John,
Yes, it is "spot and shoot". It takes this use of remote control war to the next level. It further dehumanizes the killing of other human beings. It is disgusting. I am trying very hard to keep my language polite.
The over reliance on machines, in my opinion, is to take and responsibility of the people out of killing. It is still the operator who actually does the killing though. That operator has to push a button on the "joy stick". It sure gives a new meaning to the term warrior.
Personally, I think this is very sick and cowardly.
RZ, Yes, the country is not being run for the people. It IS being used for the obscene profits for the super rich. The rich get more and more, while the rest of us get ever less. If we aren't fascist already, we sure are damn close to it. The only ones who benefit today are the war industries, the oil multinationals, and the "too big to fail" gangs.
America, where are you now? The monster IS out there.
Charlie,
I am right there with you with my concern over the increasing amount of distance our technology and governmental policies is allowing our "warriors" to be able to kill human beings. Politicians say it is to "save soldier's lives" but what of the lives we are killing on the other end? It is only be dehumanizing people in other countries, many of whom are innocent of the crimes we are targeting them for, that such practices can continue.
And to the first commenter who said that war is a part of human nature. I completely disagree, and think this is the ultimate lie that people fall back on as to why we don't stand up and oppose it in all but the most extreme circumstances. I heard a man recently give a talk where he said that if you think about it logically, no sane man or woman would rather be stuck in a battle zone, fear and death in the air, the cries of his buddies piercing his consciousness, than be at home with his family enjoying his life. It is most definitely not our nature to desire such circumstances, but we are manipulated into such things by politicians and intellectuals who tell us that it is. I am not a veteran, but I am reasonably sure most veterans would agree with this statement. I've never met one who said a battle zone was a more desirable situation than normal life.
HAve a look at An experiment in direct, distributed political action, if you will Charlie, and let us know what you think.
I am still of the opinion that we need not put up with any more of this crab if we make up our minds not to.
Bryan, I am just one veteran of the Vietnam imperial war, 1970-71/ I detest war. I also do not know any combat veteran who likes war. There are some who may, but I haven't met them. I usually find that the veterans who like war never were in combat, in fact most never even left the states.
John,
Thanks for that link.
I checked it out and agree that the direct, distributed political action is a very good idea. I'd vote for a candidate who refused to accept money from the "big" interests.
Of course the way the two "animal" gangs has set up the current system, that person may not have much of a chance of winning any election. Now, IF enough of us common people were to get behind such a candidate and got others interested enough, maybe, just maybe we could get a person like that elected.
The way I see it, start small. Start with local elections and then work up to regional or state elections, then onto the national ones for Congress.
If people start small, work slow and steady, this plan could work.
I know, it takes time. Well, we do have time yet. I agree the country is going to hell fast. Still I think there is the time to try this first.
It is why I have been voting for "minor" parties for many years. Since I was able to vote, 1972, I have only voted for either an elephant or a donkey twice.
While I have never backed a "winner" yet, I keep trying. I'd be happy if a third party candidate were to win as dog catcher in the area I live. It would be a start.
Once something new is tried and it succeeds, it tends to get repeated elsewhere.
We need to try and stay positive, find positive methods. Even though things look bad, we have to keep trying. If we give up, then what?
I don't know if you got the plan, Charlie.
The plan is to force a "do-over" in every election, demonstrating that if everyone writes in SOMEONE then the donkephants cannot win without a second, run-off, election.
The breakthrough is for people to realize that if the votes they cast for their myriad candidates creating the run-off are now cast for the one non-donkephant candidate with the most votes in that "primary" election, then that candidate will win the election on the second round.
All elections now become two-stage affairs. The first round is to identify the non-donkephant to vote for in the second round, a people's primary; and the second round is to elect him or her, the people's general.
And this all happens on election day. It requires no prior co-ordination or campaigning.
The primary job of the clean candidates so elected is to make the required changes to inaugurate a new era of parallel direct democracy via Referendum, Recall, and Initiative: to enhance and extend the gains made tactically thus far; and to inaugurate real Campaign Finance Reform, thus re-enabling representative government.
This is an "in case of fire break glass" step. It will surely work if people want to regain control pf their government.
The question is, do people really want to take charge of their government, or not.
John,
Yes, I got the write in part. One small problem with that. Not all states allow for a write in vote.
If a write in vote is allowed it could possibly work.
I think that to do that here, I would have to request an absentee ballot. I need to check the Louisiana voting laws.
I have never seen that option at the polls here. The last election we had voting machines, not the electronic ones, they had no provision for a write in vote.
Some people have suggested in the past that there should be a "none of the above" option on all ballots.
If I misunderstood the idea I apologize. Getting old.
Any way to force the two parties, which are really just the different sides of the same coin, to sit up and take notice, is good.
I think that one must be able to write in a candidate in any election. Otherwise we are precluded from voting for anyone but those preselected by... whomever.
It may be the case... is the case... that the roadblocks thrown up in front of what obviously is our right... to vote for anyone we choose in a given election... must be thoroughly researched and dealt with before election day itself.
I'll get on it. How about emailing the Secretary of State in Louisiana and asking there? I'm registered in Texas and will do so there as well.
I can see no reason why I cannot ask in any state... but I imagine hostility from government at every turn.
I'll let you know what i find out.
I sent off a little note to all 51 Secretaries of State slash Boards of Election in the states and the DC.
========================================
Greetings,
I feel certain that I will be voting for a candidate whose name will not appear on the ballot in the upcoming US federal election on 2 November of this year, and so am writing to be reassured that the polls will be equipped to record my vote on that date.
I hope to hear back from you soon.
Thanks very much for your prompt attention.
Warm regards,
John Francis Lee
========================================
Actually, I missed Georgia, Mississippi, and Indiana because I could only find comment forms for them and the forms required information I could not furnish... address, phonenumber, and such.
Anyone out there from one of the three might fill out the forms and ask themselves... you can find the contact info here.
I'm waiting for replies from the 48 others.
I do know that some states restrict your write-in to someone who is a resident in that state, but I don't know whether there are any states that disallow write-ins altogether.
As to write in voting here in Louisiana, I have not checked with the officials, but at the polls, I have not seen any provision for write in votes. We use a machine that tabulates each vote. There is no way that I can remember for a write in vote.
I am just guessing, as we have not had any election for some time. I would guess the only way to do a write in vote would be by using an absentee ballot.
The only thing with a write in vote is, you need to make sure you vote for somebody who should be running and not just a throw away like a write in for say, Mickey Mouse.
Also, it should be for somebody who actually wants the office you write them in for.
If the idea of this is just to disrupt or cause a "do over", how is that any better?
I do know that some states make it hard for third parties to qualify for the ballot, but that is something that can be over come by organization. Nader has done that, so why not try?
Maybe I am just too old and/or do not understand the motives here.
Just forcing a "do over" will not win many new people to the idea. It will also decrease the turn out for the next round of voting. People in the US do not like to vote and that shows in the low voter turn out for most elections. Ask them to vote for the same office a second time and many will just stay home.
An old cartoon I remember from the 80's or about that time. It showed bodies in the streets with the caption, what keeps South Africans from voting. The next panel, a hand reaching out a window catching one single rain drop, caption, what keeps most Americans from voting.
Just my 2 cents on this.
It may work, but do not under estimate the stupid/lazy of the people.
' The only thing with a write in vote is, you need to make sure you vote for somebody who should be running and not just a throw away like a write in for say, Mickey Mouse.
'Also, it should be for somebody who actually wants the office you write them in for. '
I covered both those points. It's pretty clear that you're fine with the way things are. Good luck.
You're right. Nothing can be done.
This is the way the world is meant to be.
John, Yes, it is "spot and shoot". It takes this use of remote control war to the next level. It further dehumanizes the killing of other human beings. It is disgusting. I am trying very hard to keep my language polite. The over reliance on machines, in my opinion, is to take and responsibility of the people out of killing. It is still the operator who actually does the killing though. That operator has to push a button on the "joy stick". It sure gives a new meaning to the term warrior. Personally, I think this is very sick and cowardly.
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