My maternal grandfather was one of those who fought the barbarism of war in Europe and saw its aftermath as a US military commander of a town near Dachau. He had posters with the naked, emaciated corpse of one of the victims put all over the walls with the words (in German): "Who then is to blame?" because so many Germans said to him, "We are not to blame!" How sickened he would be to see the moral deterioration of our country, and the loss of those high ideals after WWII. We Americans are to blame for the Gaza Genocide, and so much more. Not just the Israelis. Thank you for writing this very painful piece. Painful and necessary.
"Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man."
~ Leornard Woolf
The same can be said of nation states, in which case the United States and Israel have failed and fail miserably every day of this obscene, cowardly genocide.
Thank You, Matthew, for Nailing it once again; as You always do. Going to link it on Bill Astore's Bracing Views.
And i look forward very much to Your thoughts on Scott Ritter, and why You think Ukraine's invasion of Russia was "smart." i'm particularly interested to see who You think it is "risky" for and to.
It's risky for the Ukrainians, but for political reasons I think it was a smart move. Even if they lose more land in their east as a result of it, Ukraine's taking and holding Russian land (if they can hold it) has great political value to Ukraine. It's a morale boost internally for Ukraine and it is a big PR victory for them to the West. For the Russians it further shows to me their strategic error and how they are stuck in this war. Granting the Russians were intentionally and mightily provoked, this land grab by Ukraine only deepens this war for them. They HAVE to remove Ukraine from Russia, which at a minimum disrupts Russian plans and force allocation for months. It requires them to open another front, which I don't think the Russians want or can handle (if they wanted to/were able to they likely would have opened a northern front prior), and even if this causes the Russians success in parts of eastern Ukraine, I believe, and I think the Ukrainians understand this, the Russians really don't want to occupy more land. For the Ukrainians, trading Ukrainian land for Russian land is a gambit worth taking. That's why the question of whether Ukraine can hold the Russian territory is a bigger question than if this allows for greater Russian advancement in eastern Ukraine.
Sorry for the delay responding, Matthew; i’ve been dealing with a medical problem. And Thank You for asking my thoughts. i haven’t watched the referenced video yet, but assume Your response to my curiosity is what You said here.
Let me say before anything else that i do not believe that Ukraine is calling the shots in this War. I believe that this is America’s [proxy] War with Russia; and that it has been ever since it was seeded with the Coup in 2014.
And that it has unfolded exactly as the people, organizations, and institutions who owned, operated, commanded, and controlled the Obama and Trump administrations ~ and now Biden’s ~ had envisioned, programmed, planned, and prepared for it.
i agree that Russia is not very enthusiastic at all about a two-front War in Ukraine. But i also seriously doubt that Russia would have any problem ultimately dealing with a one.
And i am sure that America’s Military Industrial Congressional Complex and its Secrecy Security Surveillance Censorship Propaganda proto-Police State Panopticon would absolutely LOVE one.
Just like they are loving this whole War and the one in Gaza. And will love the one in the works with China.
My guess is that that second front will end up just the first one, a stalemate among trenches with nobody advancing or retreating significantly, and doing nothing but generating more KIAs, WIAs, MIAs, and POWs. To say nothing of the Refugees in their own Lands: the Orphaned and Childless, the Widows and Widowers, the Jobless, Homeless, Helpless, and Hopeless.
And more and more Profits for that MIC Complex and that S3CPpS Panopticon.
ps: Permit me to share a piece Bill Astore posted to his Substack Bracing Views back on 5 March 2022. It spelled out then ~ and still spells out ~ what i think, believe, and feel about America’s War With Russia in Ukraine...:
That US tax dollars could be funding these attrocities is so repulsive. What a horrible time in human history.
DC stopped representing the American people's genuine best interests, many decades ago. I think I heard somewhere that there was once a revolution over "taxation without representation."
Matt -- Do you really see any realistic chance of Ukraine being able to hang on to land? They've got minimal air support, compared to an exhaustive list of aerial and artillery options. What's to stop Russia from bombing behind their position, and isolating them?
It's a huge risk, but I see it as having more to do with Zelenskyy's tenuous, at best, hold on power, and his running out of viable military options.
When they launched the operation, their targets were primarily civilian noncombatants. My initial thought was 'All those poor troops will be just more returning in pine boxes.'
We'll see what happens from here. There's been fierce fighting and huge casualties on both sides. I heard somewhere, yesterday, that among the dead on the NATO side were both French and Polish troops.
Bearing in mind, also, the AFU lunatic assault on the ZNPP, this thing could escalate to a really ugly level in short order. It's been reported that Pres. Putin was extremely upset over what has transpired. I read, yesterday, on a Greek website that Belarus was going to be sending reinforcements to the Kursk theater, on his (Putin's) insistance.
This move into Russia, if nothing else, seems to have resuscitated the war in the eyes of the Western propaganda framers. The EU just sent another $4+ billion, there -- so it's time to bone more taxpayers in Europe.
What is about to goo down could have been so easily avoided, but that isn't what this corrupt, installed regime wants. They've got to have their war, before the economy they have tanked completely bottoms out. I do think it's far away ... maybe another couple weeks before this thing goes full kinetic -- but throw in Iran-Israel, China-Taiwan and NK-SK
Many think the East are going to launch an "Everything at once" plan, so the US is hopelessly overextended and unable to support four different war fronts. This seems, at this point, like a rather obvious strategy. One things for certain: the tensions can't build to much more of a crescendo than where we are now.
The month of September seems poised to be one which forever changes the course of humanity. Buckle up and pray!
The betrayal of this government -- both parties -- of the American people is obscene. Your comment on the abandonment of the people of Maui is a perfect example. Another is the abandonment of the people poisoned during the train wreck in East Palestine, Ohio and the neighboring states where the poisonous gases spread. Then there are lead water pipes still in place in Flint, Michigan.
The greatest threat to the American people is not to be found in some foreign land. It is to be found in Washington, DC and the offices of AIPAC and the weapon manufacturers who own and run the American death machine.
When I think that my grandfather fought the Nazi fascists to liberate the death camps in WW2 and here we are today supporting fascism in Israel and Ukraine, I'm glad he isn't here to witness it. Perhaps the US will never fight a "just war" ever again, save the liberation of the Palestinians.
We are supporting fascism in Israel and Ukraine, Celine, because America's system of Government and Governance is as Fascist as there is. And has been for a long, Long time.
Consider the following list of fourteen common features of Fascism exhibited by Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, Tojo's Japan, Franco's Spain, Salazar's Portugal, Papadopoulos 's Greece, Pinochet's Chile, and Suharto's Indonesia.
And then ask Yourself whether or not America, its Ruling Political Class, and its government run by that RPC's wholly-owned and -operated politicians, bureaucrats, and appointees in Washington DC exhibit any of the same characteristics:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.
To which can be added
15. Central Banking and dependency on budget deficits, borrowing, and governmental debt [linked to #s 2, 4, 7, 9, and 13].
16. Political, economic, and military imperialism [linked to #s 1-4, 6-9, and 13].
17. Corruption and militarization of law and regulatory enforcement [linked to #s 2, 9, IO, 12, and 13].
18. Racism, ethnicism, xenophobism, sectarianism, ageism, and classism [linked to #s 1-3, 7, 8, 10, and 11].
19. Restrictions on and/or violations of freedoms of conscience, speech, press, assembly, and association [linked to #s 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9-1I].
20. Violations of freedom FROM ~ along with and as opposed to merely OF ~ religion [linked to #s 2, 5, and 8].
Thanks Karl. I am familiar with what you are referring to historically, both the events and the megalomania of the US empire in the 40s. However, I don't think that takes away from the notion that the Geneva Conventions, including the establishment of the UN system, was a valuable and honorable endeavor. Bretton Woods is more complicated as certainly the US wrote the world's financial/monetary system to their benefit, but practically what else could have been done (everyone else was devastated, broke, undeveloped and/or poor)? Of course that doesn't make it right.
I do believe though that following Nuremberg the attempts to establish international law, offset as they were by lots of other things that were done, was an example of our better angels. Too few of those then and extremely rare now.
My maternal grandfather was one of those who fought the barbarism of war in Europe and saw its aftermath as a US military commander of a town near Dachau. He had posters with the naked, emaciated corpse of one of the victims put all over the walls with the words (in German): "Who then is to blame?" because so many Germans said to him, "We are not to blame!" How sickened he would be to see the moral deterioration of our country, and the loss of those high ideals after WWII. We Americans are to blame for the Gaza Genocide, and so much more. Not just the Israelis. Thank you for writing this very painful piece. Painful and necessary.
Thanks Janet. I hope you are well.
So well said. Thank you Matthew for your clarity about "the profound degree of cynicism and dishonor that characterize the American state."
Thank you sir for being a voice for humanity ❤️
"Anyone can be a barbarian; it requires a terrible effort to remain a civilized man."
~ Leornard Woolf
The same can be said of nation states, in which case the United States and Israel have failed and fail miserably every day of this obscene, cowardly genocide.
Absolutely Mark.
Thank You, Matthew, for Nailing it once again; as You always do. Going to link it on Bill Astore's Bracing Views.
And i look forward very much to Your thoughts on Scott Ritter, and why You think Ukraine's invasion of Russia was "smart." i'm particularly interested to see who You think it is "risky" for and to.
It's risky for the Ukrainians, but for political reasons I think it was a smart move. Even if they lose more land in their east as a result of it, Ukraine's taking and holding Russian land (if they can hold it) has great political value to Ukraine. It's a morale boost internally for Ukraine and it is a big PR victory for them to the West. For the Russians it further shows to me their strategic error and how they are stuck in this war. Granting the Russians were intentionally and mightily provoked, this land grab by Ukraine only deepens this war for them. They HAVE to remove Ukraine from Russia, which at a minimum disrupts Russian plans and force allocation for months. It requires them to open another front, which I don't think the Russians want or can handle (if they wanted to/were able to they likely would have opened a northern front prior), and even if this causes the Russians success in parts of eastern Ukraine, I believe, and I think the Ukrainians understand this, the Russians really don't want to occupy more land. For the Ukrainians, trading Ukrainian land for Russian land is a gambit worth taking. That's why the question of whether Ukraine can hold the Russian territory is a bigger question than if this allows for greater Russian advancement in eastern Ukraine.
Your thoughts?
Sorry for the delay responding, Matthew; i’ve been dealing with a medical problem. And Thank You for asking my thoughts. i haven’t watched the referenced video yet, but assume Your response to my curiosity is what You said here.
Let me say before anything else that i do not believe that Ukraine is calling the shots in this War. I believe that this is America’s [proxy] War with Russia; and that it has been ever since it was seeded with the Coup in 2014.
And that it has unfolded exactly as the people, organizations, and institutions who owned, operated, commanded, and controlled the Obama and Trump administrations ~ and now Biden’s ~ had envisioned, programmed, planned, and prepared for it.
i agree that Russia is not very enthusiastic at all about a two-front War in Ukraine. But i also seriously doubt that Russia would have any problem ultimately dealing with a one.
And i am sure that America’s Military Industrial Congressional Complex and its Secrecy Security Surveillance Censorship Propaganda proto-Police State Panopticon would absolutely LOVE one.
Just like they are loving this whole War and the one in Gaza. And will love the one in the works with China.
My guess is that that second front will end up just the first one, a stalemate among trenches with nobody advancing or retreating significantly, and doing nothing but generating more KIAs, WIAs, MIAs, and POWs. To say nothing of the Refugees in their own Lands: the Orphaned and Childless, the Widows and Widowers, the Jobless, Homeless, Helpless, and Hopeless.
And more and more Profits for that MIC Complex and that S3CPpS Panopticon.
ps: Permit me to share a piece Bill Astore posted to his Substack Bracing Views back on 5 March 2022. It spelled out then ~ and still spells out ~ what i think, believe, and feel about America’s War With Russia in Ukraine...:
ORWELL'S "1984" HOLDS MANY LESSONS FOR THE NEW COLD WAR at https://bracingviews.substack.com/p/orwells-1984-holds-many-lessons-for-the-new-cold-war .
Have a Great day. ~ jeff
That US tax dollars could be funding these attrocities is so repulsive. What a horrible time in human history.
DC stopped representing the American people's genuine best interests, many decades ago. I think I heard somewhere that there was once a revolution over "taxation without representation."
Leonard Woolf. One of my hero's. Great quote.
Matt -- Do you really see any realistic chance of Ukraine being able to hang on to land? They've got minimal air support, compared to an exhaustive list of aerial and artillery options. What's to stop Russia from bombing behind their position, and isolating them?
It's a huge risk, but I see it as having more to do with Zelenskyy's tenuous, at best, hold on power, and his running out of viable military options.
When they launched the operation, their targets were primarily civilian noncombatants. My initial thought was 'All those poor troops will be just more returning in pine boxes.'
We'll see what happens from here. There's been fierce fighting and huge casualties on both sides. I heard somewhere, yesterday, that among the dead on the NATO side were both French and Polish troops.
Bearing in mind, also, the AFU lunatic assault on the ZNPP, this thing could escalate to a really ugly level in short order. It's been reported that Pres. Putin was extremely upset over what has transpired. I read, yesterday, on a Greek website that Belarus was going to be sending reinforcements to the Kursk theater, on his (Putin's) insistance.
This move into Russia, if nothing else, seems to have resuscitated the war in the eyes of the Western propaganda framers. The EU just sent another $4+ billion, there -- so it's time to bone more taxpayers in Europe.
What is about to goo down could have been so easily avoided, but that isn't what this corrupt, installed regime wants. They've got to have their war, before the economy they have tanked completely bottoms out. I do think it's far away ... maybe another couple weeks before this thing goes full kinetic -- but throw in Iran-Israel, China-Taiwan and NK-SK
Many think the East are going to launch an "Everything at once" plan, so the US is hopelessly overextended and unable to support four different war fronts. This seems, at this point, like a rather obvious strategy. One things for certain: the tensions can't build to much more of a crescendo than where we are now.
The month of September seems poised to be one which forever changes the course of humanity. Buckle up and pray!
VERY well said, John.
And beyond just praying, remember what Cypher told Neo: "Buckle your seatbelt Dorothy, 'cause Kansas is going bye-bye!" [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-JJuHpfN5g ]
Thanks, jg ... remaining silent is no longer optional.
The betrayal of this government -- both parties -- of the American people is obscene. Your comment on the abandonment of the people of Maui is a perfect example. Another is the abandonment of the people poisoned during the train wreck in East Palestine, Ohio and the neighboring states where the poisonous gases spread. Then there are lead water pipes still in place in Flint, Michigan.
The greatest threat to the American people is not to be found in some foreign land. It is to be found in Washington, DC and the offices of AIPAC and the weapon manufacturers who own and run the American death machine.
When I think that my grandfather fought the Nazi fascists to liberate the death camps in WW2 and here we are today supporting fascism in Israel and Ukraine, I'm glad he isn't here to witness it. Perhaps the US will never fight a "just war" ever again, save the liberation of the Palestinians.
We are supporting fascism in Israel and Ukraine, Celine, because America's system of Government and Governance is as Fascist as there is. And has been for a long, Long time.
Consider the following list of fourteen common features of Fascism exhibited by Hitler's Germany, Mussolini's Italy, Tojo's Japan, Franco's Spain, Salazar's Portugal, Papadopoulos 's Greece, Pinochet's Chile, and Suharto's Indonesia.
And then ask Yourself whether or not America, its Ruling Political Class, and its government run by that RPC's wholly-owned and -operated politicians, bureaucrats, and appointees in Washington DC exhibit any of the same characteristics:
1. Powerful and continuing expressions of nationalism.
2. Disdain for the importance of human rights.
3. Identification of enemies/scapegoats as a unifying cause.
4. The supremacy of the military/avid militarism.
5. Rampant sexism.
6. A controlled mass media.
7. Obsession with national security.
8. Religion and ruling elite tied together.
9. Power of corporations protected.
10. Power of labor suppressed or eliminated.
11. Disdain and suppression of intellectuals and the arts.
12. Obsession with crime and punishment.
13. Rampant cronyism and corruption.
14. Fraudulent elections.
To which can be added
15. Central Banking and dependency on budget deficits, borrowing, and governmental debt [linked to #s 2, 4, 7, 9, and 13].
16. Political, economic, and military imperialism [linked to #s 1-4, 6-9, and 13].
17. Corruption and militarization of law and regulatory enforcement [linked to #s 2, 9, IO, 12, and 13].
18. Racism, ethnicism, xenophobism, sectarianism, ageism, and classism [linked to #s 1-3, 7, 8, 10, and 11].
19. Restrictions on and/or violations of freedoms of conscience, speech, press, assembly, and association [linked to #s 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9-1I].
20. Violations of freedom FROM ~ along with and as opposed to merely OF ~ religion [linked to #s 2, 5, and 8].
[Note: The full list of Numbers 1-14 with explanations is at the article, "Fascism Anyone???" by Laurence Brittby, at https://secularhumanism.org/2003/03/fascism-anyone/ .
Thanks Karl. I am familiar with what you are referring to historically, both the events and the megalomania of the US empire in the 40s. However, I don't think that takes away from the notion that the Geneva Conventions, including the establishment of the UN system, was a valuable and honorable endeavor. Bretton Woods is more complicated as certainly the US wrote the world's financial/monetary system to their benefit, but practically what else could have been done (everyone else was devastated, broke, undeveloped and/or poor)? Of course that doesn't make it right.
I do believe though that following Nuremberg the attempts to establish international law, offset as they were by lots of other things that were done, was an example of our better angels. Too few of those then and extremely rare now.