Fascist Appeasers

[WilliamPitt]

Fascist Appeasers
By William Rivers Pitt
t r u t h o u t | Perspective

Friday 01 September 2006

All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.

- W.H. Auden, "September 1, 1939"

I had jury duty yesterday, and spent the better part of the day sitting on a hard wooden bench in a holding room waiting for the call. I was thrilled and honored to be there, because I am still a sucker for the basics of our system. The Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marines, all our bombs and guns and missiles, our entire military arsenal, is certainly part of what makes us strong as a nation.

But the better part of our strength comes from simple days like the one I spent in that jury room, days where ordinary citizens come together to participate in the fair administration of justice. In that room with me were men and women, old people and young people, representatives of every race and religion and class to be found in America. This is our strength, and it was a privilege to be a part of it.

So it is with rising bile and a bottomless rage that I consider the recent invective from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and his boss, George W. Bush. According to these nabobs, I am a morally untethered appeaser of fascism. I am the witless executor of a bleak fate, a willing associate and ally of terrorists and terrorism. I am no better than those who allowed the Nazi boot heel to crush the innocent and the defenseless.

Why? Because I opposed the Iraq occupation before it began, because I have opposed it since it was undertaken, and because I believe it is past time for a plan to be established that removes our troops from the killing fields of Baghdad.

Astonishing, no? For the first time, a significant majority of Americans now believes the invasion was a terrible mistake. For the first time, a significant majority believe it was comprehensively lied to by the Bush administration as the rationales for this bloodbath were rolled out. For the first time, a significant majority has divorced Iraq from the larger struggle against terrorism, divorced itself from the idea that "Iraq is the central front of the War on Terror." If I am an appeaser, a supporter of terror, an enabler of murderous extremism, at least I am not alone.

(snip)

I am no appeaser of fascism, for I have fought this administration at every step. Millions have done the same, and will continue to do so. To stand in opposition to this new type of fascism, embodied in the hypocrisies and lies of men like Rumsfeld and Bush, is as much our patriotic duty as the time I spent in that jury room.

The appeasers are the ones who continue to march in lock-step, who swallow the pabulum of official misconduct and spew it back without thought or care. The appeasers would have us forget all the falsehoods, all the death, all the scare tactics, all the failures. The appeasers would have us kneel, submit, acquiesce to a government that cares little for the truth and cares for its own people not at all.

Don Rumsfeld and George W. Bush have insulted the people of this nation. They have sullied our honor, lied to us and given nearly 2,700 American soldiers and countless thousands of civilians over to death. They have used our fears for their own political gain, deliberately and with intent. They are the shame of a generation, and their falsehoods will echo long down the corridors of history.

More: http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/090106R.shtml

[Niche]

1. Thanks Will! Didn't Hitler invade and occupy without provocation?

Control the media? Hush opposition? And sway people with NATIONALISM and FEAR? Sounds like history is repeating.

[sinkingfeeling]

2. Another good one, Will. But you only get half credit as Keith O. gets

a lot in this one as well.

[shain from kane]

3. First, they defined the Moslems as "Islamofascists". Then, they defined

those who opposed their actions against "Islamofascists" as "appeasers". Their analogy fails, because it is a stretch to define the Moslems as such, and since fascists and appeasement is linked forever in history, the second part fails due to the failure of the first part.


From the internets, Wikipedia ---

"Islamofascism is a neologism and political epithet used to induce an association of the ideological or operational characteristics of certain modern Islamist movements with European fascist movements of the early 20th century, neofascist movements, or totalitarianism. Organizations that have been labeled "Islamofascist" include Al-Qaeda, the current Iranian government, the Taliban, the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas, and Hezbollah. None label themselves fascist, however, and critics of the term argue that associating the religion of Islam with fascism is both offensive and historically inaccurate."


Does the Bush administration think that it can make friends or change anyone's opinion by name-calling? For Rumsfeld and Bush to appear before the American Legion and use such terminology would be offensive to my father and many others who served in World War II, who were the first Americans that were introduced to the fascists in a meaningful way. He hated them. And I don't think he would have had any use for Bush, whose grandfather helped finance them. Did anyone at the convention speak the truth to the frat boy cheerleader? How's that for name-calling? It's not name-calling if you're telling the truth.

[VelmaD]

4. That was...

fucking awesome. :yourock:

[pat_k]

5. It is time for the Democratic caucus to stop their policy of appeasement

It is time for the Democratic members of the House and Senate to fulfill their oath to support and defend the constitution by demanding Impeachment of bushcheney for their claims to, and exercise of, the unitary authoritarian power to

• terrorize Americans with threats of Mushroom clouds;


• commit war crimes;


• spy on citizens without a warrant; and


• rule by signing statement.

Unitary Authoritarian Power = Fascism

In the United States, the ONLY MORAL RESPONSE to a fascist executive
is to demand immediate Impeachment and removal.

Failure to do so is to appease the fascists.

Silence is complicity

It's pretty darn simple.

[Disturbed]

7. The "New Fascists" are the members of the

Busholini Regime. Let us not be Appeasers to the "New Fascists"!!!

Why hasn't Rumsfailed been Impeached?

Rumsfeld Shouldn't be Fired, He Should be Indicted
by Matthew Rothschild

“Secretary Rumsfeld has publicly admitted that . . . he ordered an Iraqi national held in Camp Cropper, a high security detention center in Iraq, to be kept off the prison’s rolls and not presented to the International Committee of the Red Cross,” the report noted. The Geneva Conventions require countries to grant the Red Cross access to all detainees. “

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0418-24.htm

Recently it has been found out that even more detainees were "ghost detainees". The fact that Rumsfeld has not been charged speaks volumes. If Congress wishes to garner any respect they should move forward with Impeachment Declaration of Rumsfeld.

[pat_k]

9. Rumsfeld, shumsfeld. Repairing our constitutional democracy must begin

"Let us not be Appeasers to the "New Fascists"!!!"

Hear! Hear!

But, Repairing our constitutional democracy must begin with the Impeachment and removal of Bush and Cheney -- to be followed by turning them over to the Hague.

Sure, Rumsfeld must also face judgment -- in Congress and in the world court -- for his role in the war crimes (along with Paul Wolfowitz, John Yoo, David Addington, General Geoffrey Miller. . .) but that must be part of the house cleaning to follow the removal of the unitary authoritarian executive currently ruling by edict and signing statement from the White House.

[DianaForRussFeingold]

13. It is also time for the republicans to do the same! It is also their duty!

I Agree! It is also time for the republican members of the House and Senate to fulfill their oath to support and defend the constitution. You Swore on the Bible:”I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.”

[pat_k]

15. Absolutely!! Do they really want to bequeath unitary power to Hillary?

. . .They can have President Hastert now, or President Pelosi later.

And that choice should be pretty simple for them. Fascists are happy to toss anybody overboard to hang onto power.

The sad thing is that the Republicans may well beat the Dems to Impeachment. Fascists are relentless when it comes to accusing and punishing those they perceive as wrongdoers (even if the wrong they perceive is just plummeting poll numbers; not crimes).

Anti-fascists on the other hand tend to want to "fix the system" or "make sure it doesn't happen again" -- rather then go after individual wrongdoers.

[Jack Rabbit]

6. A quibble

For the first time, a significant majority has divorced Iraq from the larger struggle against terrorism, divorced itself from the idea that "Iraq is the central front of the War on Terror."

I think the public figured that out a long time ago.

Bush's poll numbers were still up when his approval ratings on the specific issue of Iraq were down. However, his highest numbers were concerning his handling on the war on terror.

The only way to explain this is that the public regarded what Bush was telling about Iraq being "the central front of the War on Terror" was a lot of hooey. Ironically, he was getting the benefit of being disbelieved.

Now, to you and I, who opposed this war from before the start, Iraq never had anything to do with the War on Terror and simply to assert it did demonstrated that Bush either didn't know what he was doing or what he was talking about or was lying to us and using the War on Terror for nefarious purposes unrelated to national security. In any case, there was never any reason to think he deserved high marks for handling terrorism.

Once again, the left was right.

[WilliamPitt]

19. Maybe

but the polls only reflected this specific change about a week or so ago.

[proud patriot]

8. Well said Will

:patriot:

[malaise]

10. Well said indeed n/t

[DianaForRussFeingold]

11. WOW!I am no appeaser of fascism,for I have fought this administration

at every step. Millions have done the same, and will continue to do so. To stand in opposition to this new type of fascism, embodied in the hypocrisies and lies of men like Rumsfeld and Bush, is as much our patriotic duty as the time I spent in that jury room.
:patriot: WOW! Well Done! :yourock:

[bigtree]

12. Opposition to the Iraq invasion and occupation is pro-American

It's amazing how many American principles and values Bush has trampled in Iraq, and since he took office for that matter. Yesterday someone in the administration was reading statements from a couple of their leading terror suspects who had said that we've lost in Iraq and would soon retreat. Bush and his fellow appeasers in his regime would sacrifice more of our soldier's lives just to make a point in response to something that individuals they identify as terrorists say. They are being openly manipulated by these thugs, in invading and occupying Iraq as bin-Laden dared, and by elevating our nation's response to their random acts of violence to a level of untenable expenses and unacceptable evicerations of our rights and liberties. They folded because of their own paranoid fear, and they expect the rest of us to cower behind them.

nice stand. K&R

[Ksec]

14. The torturers and their party

The US under the republicans have become the fascists. They invade sovereign countries without provacation . Now theyre drooling over the thought of a war with Iran. When was the last time Iran invaded anyone? Did they place sanctions on the US for the illegal invasion of Iraq? Sadly the US have become the bad guys of this world under the rubber stamp party. Good article Will.

[PATRICK]

16. And Rumsfeld compared us to Republicans!

I've noted several times elsewhere that the seminal 1939 quote used by Rumsfeld was, according to Wikipedia, the pompous spew of one Senator William Edgar Borah, the "Lion of Idaho", presidential contender, isolationist who helped sink the League of Nations, RNC official, whose statement when seen in context is "strange innocence" indeed. Like any anti-Clinton, anti-UN(read anti-Wilson, anti-League of Nations) obstructionist who set the stage for the Bush II wars, he invokes God, suggests an intimate relationship with Hitler(not unlikely), loads up his protest with "if I was only there" arrogant egoism, and is generally useless to prevent any evil except shout down and pre-empt bad publicity.

In one way or another, strange innocence aside, the GOP itself has changed little, even to the GOP financed Gestapo boot placed in its own mouth.

[many a good man]

17. I like the phrase "authoritarian" appeasers better

The words just roll off the tongue. Its not really that hard to say. Only two more syllables than "Republican."

I have begun asking the few bush* supporters I encounter if they realize that they are authoritarians. I don't mind regular conservatives, but I find authoritarians are inimical to the Constitution and everything America stands for. I oppose authoritarian appeasers whether they be Democrats, Republicans, Independents, writers, radio stars, or TV personalities. I feel this is my duty as an American.

[Arkham House]

18. Thanks, for some real patriotism...

...but Gawdalmighty--what has happened to the Republican Party? I mean--McCarthyism is now their *standard* behavior. And anyone who opposes it within their ranks is made an outcast. I don't think the word "fascism" is inappropraite to describe the American Right of 2006...and it makes you wonder how long the Dems are going to continue appeasing it...having a Dem Congress, or White House, is going to help in the current Bush crisis--but the long-term crisis of a neo-fascist GOP will probably get worse with the Dems in power...this is why I sometimes get depressed about our long-term political prospects...but Jefferson said it best--eternal vigilance, and all that...and thanks, Will, for being there...

[pat_k]

27. "Fascist" is the most powerfully "appropriate" term we can use

"I don't think the word "fascism" is inappropraite to describe the American Right of 2006"

---------------------------

"Not inappropriate" indeed.

"Fascist" is the most powerfully "appropriate" term we can use.

Those who believe their faction has the right to absolute rule are Fascists. Monarchy, theocracy, military dictatorship -- it goes by many labels, but it is all Fascism.

Words are powerful things. As E.J. Dionne asserted on Tuesday's Countdown:

DIONNE: Well, I think if you polled on the word "fascists," it would be about the most unpopular word imaginable. Everybody from left to right is against fascism.

Perhaps there is no word strong enough to call forth the horror of each day we allow a self-proclaimed unitary authoritarian executive to hold onto the power he has seized. But, if E.J. Dionne is right in his assessment, "Fascist" is the best we've got.

Defining the dividing line as Republican v. Democratic fails to capture the reality we face. Certainly, those who identify as members of the Democratic Party still believe in Democracy, and those who identify as Republican tend to be Fascists or Fascist dupes, but Party affliation doesn't capture the whole truth.

Just as they are Fascists, we are Anti-Fascists. It's Fascist v. Anti-Fascist.

For a variety of reasons, Anti-Fascists have a terrible habit of steering clear of "controversial" words that evoke a visceral reaction -- no matter how accurately those words capture the truth. Instead, we hear and repeat mealy-mouthed euphemisms that serve to hide, rather then expose, the truth (and I include myself in this -- I still have to work to catch myself).

Tragically, we are so thrilled when Olbermann or McCaffrey use powerful words because it is so rare. But how can we expect those with the biggest microphones (e.g., Democratic leadership or "progressive" ¹ commentators) to use powerful and precise terms if we shy away from those terms ourselves?

Like any other habit, it takes resolve to break the euphemism habit. It takes practice to develop the habit of choosing, and using, powerful, evocative, words. There are a lot of folks on "our side" who are successfully breaking the euphemism habit, but we have a long way to go.

There are members of Congress who are standing by their oath (Conyers et al, Fiengold) but far too many rationalize their appeasement, believing their empty gestures constitute "opposition" rather than cowardice and appeasement (e.g., Paving the way for Alito by voting for Cloture, then claiming "opposition" by voting against confirmation; Voting down the Objection to the Ohio electors on January 6th, 2005, but making a speech "in support").

Strong words that express simple truths and moral principles are the only way to break through the wall of rationalization that immobilizes so many of our legitimately elected representatives.

When words reflect reality, those who are derilict will find it more and more difficult to escape their sworn duty. On matters of principle, when you confront reality head on, the course of action demanded becomes clear.

=========
^{1 Instead of exposing the lies and demonizing those who demonize the term "liberal," liberals choose the cowards path and label themselves "progressives" -- and thus they/we accept and promote the lies the fascists attach to the word "liberal."}

[pat_k]

29. Fascist" may be the best "generic" label. There are additional, powerful

. . .labels that apply to the Fascist leadership and their actions -- labels like Treason, War Crimes, and War Criminals.

(Wanted to add this to the, but it was too late to edit.)

[Emit]

20. A Fascist Appeaser's response

Oh the irony of it...

wfletcher

Joined: 27 Apr 2004
Posts: 6191
Location: USA
Posted: Fri Sep 01, 2006 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Fascist Appeasers

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So, Mr. Pitt is an appeaser of terrorists and to comfort his conscience he has decided to defend his appeasement tendencies by his trite little apologia...

Nice try...

I have a message for Mr. Pitt.

Get a one-way ticket to Iran and go join Hezbollah.

You are either with us or against us.
_________________
DEMLIBS CRACK ME UP!!

http://discussions.pbs.org/viewtopic.pbs?topic_view=threads&p=440187&t=61639

[SeattleGirl]

21. Great piece, Will. n/t

[Laurab]

22. Well done, Will

and of course, Keith Olbermann, as well. K & R

I take Rumsfeld's words personally. He is accusing my elderly parents, as well as myself, my children, my family, friends, and 70% of Americans as "appeasers of fascism".

Patriotism by any other name, even that, is still patriotism. Criminals by any other name are still criminals, and this sad excuse for an administration WILL "echo long down the corridors of history".

[Zorra]

23. Rumsfeld and Bu*h have realized the truth - they are fully aware of

the fact that they are now bonafide fascists in every sense of the word and by every definition of the term.

And they also realize that more and more people are seeing them for the fascists that they really are, they are plainly exposed for all to see.

So they are lashing out, blindly, at all the decent people who are shaking their heads in pity and anger at the thoughtless destruction, grief, and despair that these petty, pathetic, mean little men have brought down on so many people, in so many ways.

Nice piece, Will, thanks.

[petgoat]

24. The Appeaser is GWB. Greg Palast Pointed This Out

two weeks ago:

Osama got what he wanted. There’s no mystery about what Al Qaeda was after. Like everyone from the Girl Scouts to Bono, Osama put his wish on his web site. He had a single demand: “Crusaders out of the land of the two Holy Places.” To translate: get US troops out of Saudi Arabia.

And George Bush gave it to him. On April 29, 2003, two days before landing on the aircraft carrier Lincoln, our self-described “War President” quietly put out a notice that he was withdrawing our troops from Saudi soil. In other words, our cowering cowboy gave in whimpering to Osama’s demand.

http://www.gregpalast.com/so-osama-walks-into-this-bar-see

[young_at_heart]

26. Very little news coverage of this important strategy change

Wonder why?

[pat_k]

30. When the propagandists' start sputtering, those who have been parroting. .

. . .their insanity are rendered silent.

Within the beltway, rationalizations are breaking down, but truth has not taken hold.

When the propagandists' start sputtering, those who have been parroting their insanity are rendered silent.

On "Real Time with Bill Marr," Hitchen's demonstrated the propagandist's struggle with a reality that can no longer be denied. As he fluctuated between flipping off the audience for their derisive response to his desperate rationalizations and hunching with arms crossed tighter and tighter, I thought his head might explode any minute.

[petgoat]

32. Hitchens' s review of Fahrenheit 9/11 was a bombastic

exercise that was probably actually read by few. It claimed to
expose the lies in Fahrenheit 9/11 but in the end concluded
"fact-checking is beside the point."

He's an ass.

[young_at_heart]

33. We found Hitchens so repulsive that we fast forwarded when he came on

I don't know why Maher has him on....he's a total jerk!

[chat_noir]

28. Bin Laden Wins, Bush Retreats From Saudi Arabia

Washington (CNN) -- It's what Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda operatives have been demanding since the end of the first Persian Gulf War a dozen years ago -- the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Saudi Arabia.

This is how bin Laden put it during an interview with CNN in 1997.

"The country of the two holy places has in our religion a peculiarity of its own over the other Muslim countries. In our religion, it is not permissible for any non-Muslim to stay in our country."


America to withdraw troops from Saudi Arabia
By David Rennie in Washington
(Filed: 30/04/2003)

America began a historic reshaping of its presence in the Middle East yesterday, announcing a halt to active military operations in Saudi Arabia and the removal of almost all of its forces from the kingdom within weeks.

The withdrawal ends a contentious 12-year-old presence in Saudi Arabia and marks the most dramatic in a set of sweeping changes in the deployment of American forces after the war in Iraq.

Withdrawal of "infidel" American forces from Saudi Arabia has been one of the demands of Osama bin Laden, although a senior US military official said that this was "irrelevant".

Donald Rumsfeld, the US defence secretary, said in the Saudi capital Riyadh that aircraft were being withdrawn "by mutual agreement".

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/04/30/wsaud30.xml

[Felinity]

25. Did this occur to anyone?

My take on Rumsfield's speech was that he pretty much equated Appeasement with Diplomacy--a vile characterization of any effort to avoid armed conflict.

That would explain our current lack of Diplomacy, as indicated by the former Failure as National Security Advisor occupying the office of Secretary of State. Since the doe-eyed, W fawning, in-over-her-head, football & Broadway-loving Condi can't fill the shoes of any effective Diplomat (say Madeline Albright) who has ever held the office; our Diplomatic efforts are pretty much reduced to shopping for (smaller sized) Ferragamo's.

[chat_noir]

31. The uneducated FReepers think fascism is left wing

fascism
/fashiz’m/

• noun 1 an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government. 2 extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

"When was the last time a Western nation had a leader so obsessed with God and claiming God was on our side?"

"If you answered Adolph Hitler and Nazi Germany, you're correct. Nothing can be more misleading than to categorize Hitler as a barbaric pagan or Godless totalitarian, like Stalin. "

Both Bush and Hitler believe that they were chosen by God to lead their nations. With Hitler boldly proclaiming, before launching his doctrine of preventive war against all of Europe, that "I would like to thank Providence and the Almighty for choosing me of all people to be allowed to wage this battle for Germany."

Hitler stated in February 1940, "But there is something else I believe, and that is that there is a God. . . . And this God again has blessed our efforts during the past 13 years." After the Iraqi invasion, Bush announced, "God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them, and then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did . . . ." - quote from http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A37944-2003Jun26?language=printer


"Today Christians rule Germany! I pledge that I never will tie myself to parties who want to destroy Christianity .. We want to fill our culture again with the true Christian spirit ... We want to burn out all the recent immoral developments in literature, in the theater, and in the press - in short, we want to burn out the poison of immorality which has entered into our whole life and culture as a result of liberal excess..." - The Speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1922-1939



Sound familiar? >>> From the start, Hitler courted the conservative Christian clergy. To their shame, historically, many clergymen became his closest allies and most effective tools, as propagandists, spies, and suppressors of dissent. The clergy’s most important role in the beginning, was to fuel anti-liberalism.

Hitler also made sure that the media did not give provide the public with any coverage of dissenters or public protests because it was "encouraging of destructive elements." So, what the media faithfully recorded was Hitler and Hitler supporters.

Hitler actively promoted "family values" and high moral standards. He believed women should go back to being at home with their families and not in the work force. He also believed there should be little or no separation between the state and his brand of Christianity, especially since he firmly believed that the emotional fervor of religion could be used to effectively to promote the states objectives.

Another Hitler tactic learned from the 1936 GOP was the use of the smear. Hitler advised telling a damaging lie about an "enemy," then repeating it over and over, no matter what proof may be offered to counter it.

Hitler was very fond of photo ops. He believed they were his best form of PR and pounced on them at every opportunity. The files abound with shots of Hitler with bright-faced Germany families; he especially liked being photographed with school children. (Colbert's remark about Bush's photo ops...lol)

http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Fascism/Bush_Hitler.html



7. Fascism >>> Obsession with National security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Fascism >>> Religion and Government are intertwined - Government in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed to the government's policies or actions.

9. Fascism >>> Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation are often the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

[Jawja]

34. Thank you, Will Pitt.

Great article. :thumbsup: