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Unjust, illegal, stupid Iraq War #3?

Obama Poised to Send Special Forces to Iraq

The 2003 war on Iraq was one of the worst foreign policy catastrophes in U.S. history. It was a disaster morally, economically and strategically. The war resulted in a staggering loss of life and unimaginable human suffering on the part of innocent Iraqis, a crushing price tag for the American people in blood and trillions of dollars, and an end result of which Osama bin Laden could have only dreamed.

The only answer to this utter horror is nonintervention. Any military solution will, as always, lead to something even worse, as is clearly on display in the aftermath of one of the most egregious of the USA’s many unjust, illegal and stupid wars.

King Obama Tells Scotland Not to Secede From Britain

What concern is it to the US if Scotland secedes from Britain, or if Britain leaves the EU? None at all. But these authoritarian types absolutely hate any move toward independence and decentralization. The precedent it sets terrifies and infuriates rulers like Obama (or Bush, or Clinton, or whoever).

http://news.antiwar.com/2014/06/05/obama-tells-scotland-not-to-secede-from-britain/

On the heroism of Edward Snowden

He knew the power of the global empire he was going up against -- actually, he knew enough to know it was powerful beyond comprehension.

He saw how Bradley Manning (war crimes whistleblower) was tortured, and how John Kiriakou (CIA torture whistleblower) was imprisoned -- both for simply telling the truth. 

He knew that he would not get a heroes' welcome or parades in his honor and that, at least initially, many millions of Americans who he sacrificed himself for would label him a traitor and call for his head, and if the most powerful government in the world could catch him in time it would gladly oblige.

He did the right thing anyway.

When I consider how much this smart, talented, articulate, young man gave up to alert us to the US government's unprecedented violations of our liberty, in spite of the dire consequences of which he was fully aware, I am astounded.

Edward Snowden is easily among the greatest American heroes to ever live.

3 Homes Destroyed in Military Plane Crash in Imperial Valley, CA

Thankfully, it appears that there were no civilians killed. If there had been, I wonder if they would have been reported as collateral damage?

http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Military-Plane-Crash-Imperial-Valley-Neighborhood-San-Diego

The War on Whatever

The War on Terror is just like the War on Drugs, the War on Poverty, etc. 

Ultimately, its purpose is not to defeat what it claims to combat. Its purpose is to divert endless money, resources and power to the state and its corporate cronies.

And its result is inevitable: it will create more of what it wages war against.

Neighborhood gang puts toddler in coma

Cops nearly killed a 19-month-old toddler when they threw a flash-bang grenade in the house he was sleeping in during a no-knock raid. The grenade landed in his crib and blew up in his face, and now he's in a medically-induced coma.

A SWAT team broke down the door at 3:00 am on the suspicion of a non-violent drug offense based on a tip from an informant. No drugs were found, and the suspect was not even home at the time the house was raided. 

According to County Sheriff  Joey Terrell:

"The door that we entered was the door that we bought dope out of - that's why entered at that door. Our team went by the book. Given the same scenario, we'll do the same thing again. I stand behind what our team did."

The War on Drugs is a war on the American people. It needs to end, completely and immediately.

Read Will Grigg for more.

#HeresYourDrugWar

UPDATE:

This is really from the Habersham Sheriff's website:

What war is really about

I have two dear loved ones in the military. I also have a lot of sympathy for the many young people who, after a lifetime of indoctrination, signed up to do what they believed would be defending their country.

With that said, I think there is an important distinction to be made: U.S. soldiers do not kill and die for our country, they kill and die for the government. 

War is about the government fighting other governments for its own interests and those of its corporate cronies. The government uses its subjects -- sometimes volunteers and other times conscripts -- to accomplish its objectives.

War is not about freedom, it is not about security, it is not about human rights, it is not about democracy.

War is the health of the state, and war is a racket.

Americans are less free, less safe and poorer as a result of their government's unjust, unconstitutional, counterproductive wars. These wars cause untold death, destruction and misery in this world, all for the benefit of those who control the levers of power.

Soldiers kill and maim other soldiers that their government has convinced them are their enemies, but in reality are mostly indoctrinated and propagandized young people exactly like them, "just following orders" on the part of their government. In many cases, they are defending their homes from U.S. invaders and occupiers. 

More often, the human beings who soldiers destroy are innocent civilians who are either caught in the crossfire or targeted intentionally. The U.S. has slaughtered millions of innocents just since WWII (and plenty during and before WWII as well).

War is about money, power and glory. It is about enriching the politically connected, expanding the empire abroad and at home, and glorifying the state.

This is far less glamorous than the fairytales we are told by the government all of our lives, whether through school, media, before sporting events, etc. And it is extremely painful to accept. But it is true.

Memorial Day madness

Why do some people have the good sense to be deeply skeptical when it comes to the lies the government tells them about schemes like Obamacare, but when it comes to the self-serving fairytales government tells them about its wars, they eagerly and enthusiastically believe it?

The government that said "if you like your health plan, you can keep it" is the same government that says "we send soldiers to kill and die for your freedom".

"We perpetuate war by exalting its sacrifices"

A powerful scene with James Garner and Julie Andrews from the great film The Americanization of Emily.