WOW! "With Trembling Fingers..." (I repeat: WOW!)

[nostamj]

http://indyweek.com/durham/current/news.html

With trembling fingers

Despite the worst foreign policy blunder in American history, George W. Bush and his millionaire supporters don't know the meaning of the word shame

B Y H A L C R O W T H E R

<snip>

But if this is not the worst year yet to be an American, it's the worst year by far to be one of those hag-ridden wretches who comment on the American scene. The columnist who trades in snide one-liners flounders like a stupid comic with a tired audience; TV comedians and talk-show hosts who try to treat 2004 like any zany election year have become grotesque, almost loathsome. Our most serious, responsible newspaper columnists are so stunned by the disaster in Iraq that they've begun to quote poetry by Rupert Brooke and Wilfred Owen. They lower their voices, they sound like Army chaplains delivering eulogies over ranks of flag-draped coffins, under a hard rain from an iron sky.

Yeats' "blood-dimmed tide is loosed." The war news had already deteriorated from bad to tragic to pre-apocalyptic, which left no suitable category for these excruciating reports on the sexual torture of Iraqi prisoners. Fingers, be still. In less than a year, the morale of the occupying forces had sunk so low that murder, suicide, rape and sexual harassment became alarming statistics, and now the warriors of democracy--the emissaries of civilization--stand accused of every crime this side of cannibalism. Osama bin Laden has always anathematized America's culture, as well as its geopolitical influence. To him these atrocities are a sign of Allah's certain favor, a great moral victory, a vindication of his deepest anger and darkest crimes.

Where does it go from here? The nightmare misadventure in Iraq is over, beyond the reach of any reasonable argument, though many more body bags will be filled. In Washington, chicken hawks will still be squawking about "digging in" and winning, but Vietnam proved conclusively that no modern war of occupation would ever be won. Every occupation is doomed. The only way you "win" a war of occupation is the old-fashioned way, the way Rome finally defeated the Carthaginians: kill all the fighters, enslave everyone else, raze the cities and sow the fields with salt.

[wtmusic]

1. yes...awesome

this has been posted several times but IMO is the best oped re: the Iraq War/BFEE yet published.

[nostamj]

3. really? well, I missed it...

just arrived in an email and I googled a linked copy so I could post it here...

i assume I'm not the only one who missed it.

[wtmusic]

4. post and post again

I love this piece :D

[calimary]

19. It's great. I've seen it before, too, but it's WELL WORTH the re-read.

Besides, new people come here all the time (or drop back by) and some many not have seen it before. It's exceptional.

[nostamj]

21. thanks calimary!

it is one of those must reads....

and MUST send to ALLs

[jean]

6. I've not yet seen this - thanks, it's a keeper

[Tight_rope]

32. Bravo! Bravo! Bravo!

I wish a had a picture of Hal to put in my family album. He is definitely family!

[central scrutinizer]

2. see, Ann Coulter was right

This is pretty much what she has been advocating, with a healthy dose of religious intolerance thrown in: The only way you "win" a war of occupation is the old-fashioned way, the way Rome finally defeated the Carthaginians: kill all the fighters, enslave everyone else, raze the cities and sow the fields with salt.

[Crachet2004]

7. This is absolutely correct...and we have a name for it: ATROCITY!

Atrocities have evidently already been committed, but not on the scale necessary to 'win'. The torture photos and videos we have seen depict only the first, bumbling, stumbling baby steps with regards to what we would actually have to do, to completely subject the Iraqi people.

In today's world, with modern communications and attitudes towards genocide and torture, we have NO means of effecting the 'victory' the chickenhawks keep prattling on about. The world and the American people simply will not stand for it. Because they cannot say, 'I did'nt know'.

Object lessons to the Iraqi's like whole cities and sacred sites being razed to the ground, pyramids of skulls piled up at strategic locations, mass crucifictions, etc...are not options that are available to us-thank goodness!

Therefore, we cannot 'win'.

[patrice]

5. Genocide is the only REAL solution to the problem George says

he wants to fix. If we aren't about genocide, then why are we doing something that won't work? If body counts aren't the measure of success, why are we killing people?


We are the Hollow Men,
We are the stuffed men,
Leaning together
Headpiece filled with straw . . .
T.S. Eliot

[doni_georgia]

16. Well, as long as we're waxing poetic... Mac wrote this when Nick Berg died

Upon the ground the stripped green branches lie,
Shaded from sunlight by the spreading tree
From whence they sprang, and craning toward the sky
Put forth first blossoms. Now, past misery
Of low-bound struggle toward a distant light,
They wait for gathering to the smoking hole,
Not protesting their artificial blight -
Their fate in fire, begun low on the bole.
And what a tree! Despite its darkened height
No limbs remain in reach for us below:
They all lie hacked and burned, their last red light
Too dim for vision, just an angry glow.
Still, far above, the tree stands silent guard
Upon its scions' fate, unmoved and hard.


Mac in Ga

[Andromeda]

24. Great poem, Mac...

:yourock:

[ewagner]

20. Wierd!

I recited that passage while watching Dubya tonight......

great minds, etc.

[nostamj]

8. read this.... n/t

[bleedingheart]

9. That was a great article! Wow! Double Wow!

It says it all....

We need to get Bush out of office before he destroys our nation.

[skypilot]

10. I had to stop reading and post this...

...when I read this line:

"In Iraq we're not fighting enemies but making enemies".

That sums it up beautifully!!!

[nostamj]

11. yup!

and this needs another :kick:

read this!

[JanMichael]

12. The comedians have become loathsome, grotesque, sure enough.

Like 2004 is just like any other loopy campaign year.

Very well stated.

[Q]

13. ...excerpts:

"If there's one American who actually believes that Operation Iraqi Freedom was about democracy for the poor Iraqis, then you, my friend, are too dangerously stupid to be allowed near a voting booth."

---

I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives. It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not. Thanks to some contested ballots in a state governed by the president's brother, a once-proud country has been delivered into the hands of liars, thugs, bullies, fanatics and thieves. The world pities or despises us, even as it fears us. What this election will test is the power of money and media to fool us, to obscure the truth and alter the obvious, to hide a great crime against the public trust under a blood-soaked flag. The most lavishly funded, most cynical, most sophisticated political campaign in human history will be out trolling for fools. I pray to God it doesn't catch you. "

[nolabels]

30. What I would really like to know..............

Who this happened to? Anybody on this board get this done to them?

With $200 million to spend on the campaign, even adversaries get thank-you notes

Most of the time I prefer to be ignored, and this would be one of those times :puke:

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

35. There was a long thread in here last week

of people who have said that they received this solicitation with the picture of * and Laura that is shown in that article. My husband has gotten two of these and he has never given a dime to the Republican party in his life. They have so much money to spend, they must be sending out appeals for money to everyone on some incredibly gigantic list.

[nolabels]

38. So the Robbin Hoods in reverse are too busy to check on marketing outlays

Sorry I missed it, these Pecker Heads have so many evil and corrupt things going on at the same time that it would take a full size army of accountants to keep track of it all.

The problem they are having now is they got too rich too fast and don't know where to hide it or spend it

The banana man cometh

http://www.commoncause.org/justwatch/
http://www.commoncause.org/justwatch/pioneers.cfm?mode=pioneer&pioneerID=28
Who Are the Pioneers, and What Did They Get?


Carl Lindner
Former Board Chairman, Chiquita Brands International; Chairman and CEO, American Financial Group; Majority Owner and CEO, Cincinnati Reds, Cincinnati, Ohio

What he gave: Amount raised for Bush 2004: At least $200,000
Amount contributed to Bush-Cheney inauguration: $200,000 ($100,000 from Lindner; $100,000 from American Financial Group)
Soft money contributions, 1999-2002: $2,777,000 ($2,030,000 to Republicans; $747,000 to Democrats).
TOTAL: $3,277,000

What he got: The World Trade Organization forced European Union nations to open their markets to Chiquita bananas, while Lindner gave substantial financial support to the Democratic Party under former President Bill Clinton and to President George W. Bush. The move by the WTO accelerated a trade dispute between the EU and the United States that, in 2003, threatened to add more than $6 billion in tariffs on U.S. products, including $2.2 billion in tariffs on products manufactured in political battleground states.

The Story:

COST TO THE PUBLIC:
At least $191 million in higher prices on goods imported from Europe; heightened economic troubles for U.S. industries that consume domestic steel; potential future damage to the economies of African and Caribbean banana-producing nations.

BACKGROUND:
From his seat as chairman and CEO of American Financial Group (AFG), Carl Lindner oversees nearly $20 billion in assets. AFG, which serves as a holding company for the Lindner family’s financial interests – which once included Chiquita Brands International, the world’s largest banana distributor – controls vast insurance operations and real estate across the country. Its holdings include the Great American Insurance Company, Great American Financial Resources, Inc., and Provident Financial Group Inc., which National City Corp. recently bought in a $2.1 billion stock deal. (That deal is expected to give Lindner and AFG nearly $1 billion in bank stock.) Its real estate holdings include luxury hotels and New York’s Grand Central Station. Lindner is known for contributing to politicians of both parties; in the past 10 years, Chiquita and Lindner have contributed $6.4 million to Democratic and Republican political campaigns alike. In 2000, Lindner and Chiquita Brands gave Bush and former Vice President Al Gore $200,000 each. Since then, his giving has leaned more Republican: He gave $200,000 to the Bush-Cheney inauguration in 2001, double the $100,000 contribution limit (the inaugural committee refunded the excess money, only to have Lindner funnel the money through AFG). During the 2002 Senate elections, Lindner and his family contributed $450,000 to Republicans. In the 2004 presidential campaign, Lindner was one of the first 23 “Rangers” who raised at least $200,000 in bundled contributions for Bush. He hosted a September 2003 fundraiser at his home in the Cincinnati suburb of Indian Hill, which raised an estimated $1.7 million for Bush.

WHAT HAPPENED:
(snip)

[Robbien]

14. Thanks for posting this again because I forgot to print it the first time

It is such a good article and now I have a hard copy to pass around.

[Wind Dancer]

15. Powerful!!!

This is one of the best articles I have read yet - thanks for posting it.

So proud it came from a neighbor in Durham!

[nostamj]

17. let's try and keep it in sight! n/t

[Robbien]

18. "I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between

Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives. It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not."

Good writing such as this deserves a bump.

[LibertyorDeath]

22. Kick

[kimchi]

23. Day-um! Thanks for posting that.

Incredible writing; I also missed it the first time.

"The world pities or despises us, even as it fears us. What this election will test is the power of money and media to fool us, to obscure the truth and alter the obvious, to hide a great crime against the public trust under a blood-soaked flag. The most lavishly funded, most cynical, most sophisticated political campaign in human history will be out trolling for fools. I pray to God it doesn't catch you."

[Robbien]

25. "All it takes to make a Bush conservative is a few slogans from talk radio

and pickup truck bumpers, a sneer at "liberals" and maybe a name-dropping nod to Edmund Burke or John Locke, whom most of them have never read. Sheep and sheep only could be herded by a ludicrous but not harmless cretin like Rush Limbaugh, who has just compared the sexual abuse of Iraqi prisoners to "a college fraternity prank" (and who once called Chelsea Clinton "the family dog"--you don't have to worry about shame when you have no brains)."

Before going to sleep this article is so good that it deserves a bedtime bump to give late night viewers a chance at it.

[liarliartieonfire]

26. Thank You nostamj..

It is on its way to my printer.

beautiful..thank you.

[Oddman]

27. This is exactly what our shrub believes

We can hunt down and KILL each and every terrorist. Now and forever.

[playahata1]

28. Tell us what you REALLY think, Hal!

DON'T HOLD BACK!

This is the hardest this guy has ever come -- and he has always come correct. I religiously read him when he was writing for Jacksonville, Florida's free alternative paper, Folio Weekly, in the early 90s. Sad to say, even Folio wouldn't allow Crowther to let loose as he does now; that's how much of a stranglehold the conservatives have had on Northeast Florida.

[nomatrix]

29. Excellent !!! Right On target

"I don't think it's accurate to describe America as polarized between Democrats and Republicans, or between liberals and conservatives.
It's polarized between the people who believe George Bush and the people who do not.
Thanks to some contested ballots in a state governed by the president's brother, a once-proud country has been delivered into the hands of liars, thugs, bullies, fanatics and thieves. The world pities or despises us, even as it fears us.

What this election will test is the power of money and media to fool us, to obscure the truth and alter the obvious, to hide a great crime against the public trust under a blood-soaked flag. The most lavishly funded, most cynical, most sophisticated political campaign in human history will be out trolling for fools. I pray to God it doesn't catch you."

[Tight_rope]

31. Thank you for "burglarizing" my mind Hal!

I want to thank Hal Crowther for "burglarizing" my mind and putting it on paper. Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

[Jose Diablo]

33. Does depleted uranium apply as "sow the fields with salt"? n/t

[NuttyFluffers]

34. Fantastic.

it is official - alternative media is now the bearer of the torch of quality writing and honorable journalism. the purging of talent and morality from mainstream media has rendered mainstream laughable. is there a need to even bother with mainstream media anymore? outside an obscenely rare few there is no way for 'reputable' media to produce something so masterful as this. the age has changed and now we watch thrones crumble.

[dusty64]

36. So true and I

have been SO disgusted by the hag whores on the corporate propaganda channels that I NEVER watch anymore, I used to be a junky till their blatant and putrid agenda became too obvious for me.

[sendero]

37. thanks for posting..

.... I had not yet seen this. Incredible writing, and spot on analysis.

[SlingBlade]

39. Will the World take us back ?

If we throw these bums out ?
We may have hurt many through this Administration, But I feel that the world will be holding its collective breath on election day, It’s probably one of the top twenty most anticipated events in world history when you consider the impact of another four years with the Neo’s in charge, Look what they have done so far.
It sends chills down my spine to even think about it.

[stickdog]

40. Hal Crowther is a fucking genius. (NT)

[NashVegas]

41. We Will Raze Iraq to the Ground

Rather than face another Vietnam-like pullout.

And oh, the enemies we'll make.

[crossroads]

42. Great article!

Thanks for posting this must read!
:kick:

[mmonk]

43. excellant

[Tansy_Gold]

44. just another kick

so those who haven't ventured may get the message yet.

[stickdog]

45. My favorite passage (ain't it the truth?)

Nothing and no one can stop these people except you and me, and the other 100 million or so American citizens who may vote in the November election. This isn't your conventional election, the usual dim-witted, media-managed Mister America contest where candidates vie for charm and style points and hire image coaches to help them act more confident and presidential. This is a referendum on what is arguably the most dismal performance by any incumbent president--and inarguably the biggest mistake. This is a referendum on George W. Bush, arguably the worst thing that has happened to the United States of America since the invention of the cathode ray tube.

One problem with this referendum is that the case against George Bush is much too strong. Just to spell it out is to sound like a bitter partisan. I sit here on the 67th birthday of Saddam Hussein facing a haystack of incriminating evidence that comes almost to my armpit. What matters most, what signifies? Journalists used to look for the smoking gun, but this time we have the cannons of Waterloo, we have Gettysburg and Sevastopol, we have enough gun smoke to cause asthma in heaven. I'm overwhelmed. Maybe I should light a match to this mountain of paper and immolate myself.

[Wind Dancer]

46. A little info

Short bio:


HAL CROWTHER, a journalist who has written for Time, Newsweek, The Oxford American, the Raleigh, North Carolina Spectator, and The Independent in Durham, North Carolina, is also the author of Unarmed But Dangerous, a recently published collection of essays. A resident of North Carolina, Crowther was awarded the H. L. Mencken Award in 1993.


more

http://www.hoover.lib.al.us/adult/sv/sv1999/HalCrowther.htm