Politics

Consider, for example, the remarks that public relations consultant John Rendon — who, during the past decade, has worked extensively on Iraq for the Pentagon and the CIA — made on February 29, 1996, before an audience of cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy.

“I am not a national security strategist or a military tactician,” Rendon said. “I am a politician, and a person who uses communication to meet public policy or corporate policy objectives. In fact, I am an information warrior and a perception manager.” He reminded the Air Force cadets that when victorious troops rolled into Kuwait City at the end of the first war in the Persian Gulf, they were greeted by hundreds of Kuwaitis waving small American flags. The scene, flashed around the world on television screens, sent the message that U.S. Marines were being welcomed in Kuwait as liberating heroes.

“Did you ever stop to wonder,” Rendon asked, “how the people of Kuwait City, after being held hostage for seven long and painful months, were able to get hand-held American, and for that matter, the flags of other coalition countries?” He paused for effect. “Well, you now know the answer. That was one of my jobs then.”

Propaganda is all-encompassing when it comes to war, of course. The trick is to try to recognize when you’re being fed facts, and when you’re being fed propaganda. The above article is excerpted and adapted from Weapons of Mass Deception: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush’s War on Iraq, which looks to be very interesting, and worth picking up.

(via Tom Tomorrow)

When weighing the benefits and the drawbacks of the PATRIOT Act, it is clear to most Americans that preventing future acts of terrorism is much more important than trying not to offend Muslims in this country. American Muslims should see it as their patriotic duty to undergo more intense scrutiny than the average American. It only makes sense to do so if we are serious about combating terrorism. Turning away from the fact that an organization made up entirely of Muslims seeks our destruction is a fatal error in judgement.

Americans should not deny jobs or services to American Muslims, but we should not pretend that there are not hundreds in this country that are plotting to destroy us. Let’s not let our feelings get in the way of doing what is right for our protection. Following the course advocated by liberals like Ms. Isensee will only make us more susceptible to attack.

I don’t care how you justify or rationalize your racism, it’s still racism. It’s still ugly, small-minded, and disgusting, and it has no place in a country filled with people who would like to be able to say the words “land of the free, home of the brave” without bitter irony.

(via Atrios)

The day before Dean’s appearance here, our esteemed leader (cough) will be here. Information on planned protest rallys can be found at Action Alert and Stop Bush Seattle, but here’s the pertinent information:

Saturday, August 23rd\
Seattle waterfront, 12 noon

100,000 of us will come together in Seattle for a peaceful and joyful celebration of our numbers and our power. We will gather for an afternoon to strengthen and steady each other in our determination to be rid of this blight. The bully has to go.

Where: Myrtle Edwards park. 12 noon: Rally. 1pm: Loop march southbound on Alaskan Way to Madison St. and back to park. Speaking: William Rivers Pitt, of TruthOut.org. Why: A swaggering bully shows up in our neighborhood. We know his rep, and we know his plans. So, do we duck our heads and hope he picks on someone else? Or do we rouse the neighborhood and back this bully down? George Bush says he is coming on August 22, 2003. There is not a more arrogant and dangerous bully on the face of the earth.

There’s a strong chance I’ll be at this one, too.

(via Jon and natasha)

Howard Dean will be here in Seattle in a couple weeks. From Washington for Dean:

Join thousands of Washingtonians in welcoming Howard Dean and his “People-Powered Howard Sleepless Summer Tour” to Seattle for a PUBLIC RALLY on Sunday, August 24th, at 6:30 PM at Westlake Center, 4th and Pine, in Seattle. Doors open at 5:30 PM.

I’ll be there!

Remember Bush’s trip to Africa last month?

Today I was forwarded this letter, originally by an anonymous Senegalese woman, giving her impression of our esteemed President’s visit — and the impression of America and Americans it left behind.

Dearest friends,

As you probably know, this week George Bush is visiting Africa. Starting with Senegal, he arrived this morning at 7.20 PM and left at 1.30 PM. This visit has been such an ordeal that a petition is being circulated for this Tuesday July 8th be named Dependency Day.

Let me share with you what we have been through since last week.

1. Arrestations: more than 1,500 persons have been arrested and put in jail between Thursday and Monday. Hopefully they will be released now that the Big Man is gone.
2. The US Army’s planes flying day and nigh over Dakar. The noise they make is so loud that one hardly sleeps at night.
3. About 700 security people from the US for Bush’s security in Senegal, with their dogs, and their cars. Senegalese security forces were not allowed to come near the US president.
4. All trees in places where Bush will pass have been cut. Some of them have[an age of] more than 100 years.
5. All roads going downtown (where hospitals, businesses, schools are located) were closed from Monday night to Tuesday at 3 PM. This means that we could not go to our offices or schools. Sick people were also obliged to stay at home.
6. National exams for high schools that started on Monday are postponed until Wednesday.

Bush’s visit to the Goree Island is another story. As you may know Goree is a small Island facing Dakar where from the 15th to the 19th century, the African slaves to be shipped to America were parked in special houses called slave houses. One of these houses has become a Museum to remind humanity about this dark period and has been visited by kings, queens, presidents. Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton, and before them, Nelson Mandela, the Pope, and many other distinguished guests or ordinary tourists visited it without bothering the islanders. But for “security reasons” this time, the local population was chased out of their houses from 5 to 12 AM. They were forced by the American security to leave their houses and leave everything open, including their wardrobes to be searched by special dogs brought from the US.

The ferry that links the island to Dakar was stopped and offices and businesses closed for the day.

According to an economist who was interviewed by a private radio, Senegal, a very poor country, has lost huge amount of money in this visit, because workers have been prevented from walking out of their homes.

In addition to us being prevented to go out, other humiliating things happened also. Not only [did] Bush not want to be with Senegalese but he did not want to use our things. He brought his own armchairs, and of course his own cars, and meals and drinks. He came with his own journalists and ours were forbidden inside the airport and in places he was visiting.

Our president was not allowed to make a speech. Only Bush spoke when he was in Goree. He spoke about slavery. It seems that he needs the vote of the African American to be elected in the next elections, and wanted to please them. That’s why he visited Goree.

Several protest marches against American politics have been organized yesterday and even when Bush was here, but we think he does not care.

We have the feeling that everything has been done to convince us that we are nothing, and that America can behave the way it wants, everywhere, even in our country.

Believe me, friends, it is a terrible feeling. But according to a Ugandan friend of mine, I should not complain because in Uganda, one of the countries he is going to visit, Bush does not intend to go out of the airport. He will receive the Ugandan President in the airport lounge.

Nevertheless, I think I am lucky, because I have such wonderful American friends. But there are now thousands of Senegalese who believe that for all Americans the world is their territory.

This is the message we’re sending to the rest of the world. America Über Alles.