Holy! Holy! Holy! Zapatista Anthem

Obit for McNamara, who gave us the Vietnam War

This is an excellent piece on the late Robert McNamara
From McClatchy, July 6, 2009:

Commentary: Galloway on McNamara: Reading an obit with great pleasure

By Joseph L. Galloway McClatchy Newspapers
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." —Clarence Darrow (1857–1938)
Well, the aptly named Robert Strange McNamara has finally shuffled off to join LBJ and Dick Nixon in the 7th level of Hell.
McNamara was the original bean-counter — a man who knew the cost of everything but the worth of nothing.
Back in 1990 I had a series of strange phone conversations with McNamara while doing research for my book We Were Soldiers Once And Young. McNamara prefaced every conversation with this: "I do not want to comment on the record for fear that I might distort history in the process." Then he would proceed to talk for an hour, doing precisely that with answers that were disingenuous in the extreme — when they were not bald-faced lies.
Upon hanging up I would call Neil Sheehan and David Halberstam and run McNamara's comments past them for deconstruction and the addition of the truth.
The only disagreement i ever had with Dave Halberstam was over the question of which of us hated him the most. In retrospect, it was Halberstam.
When McNamara published his first book — filled with those distortions of history — Halberstam, at his own expense, set out on a journey following McNamara on his book tour around America as a one-man truth squad.
McNamara abandoned the tour.

For the rest click here.

Afghan is treated as the spoils of war

While president Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are looking at the spoils of war, people in Afghanistan only want them out. Afghanistan is becoming a piece of realistate needed for control of the Middle-east.

From the Wichita Eagle, June 6:

The Associated Press
MOSCOW - President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart agree that there hasn't been as much progress as they'd like to see in the fight against insurgents in Afghanistan.
Their comments at a Monday news conference in Moscow followed a Russian commitment to let U.S. troops and weapons cross Russian territory on their way to Afghanistan.
Obama said it's too soon to measure the success of his new strategy in Afghanistan, which includes the deployment of additional U.S. troops. He says after that country's election is completed, the U.S. can take another look at the situation.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says in some respects, progress has been "insignificant" in Afghanistan. He said it's hard to say how quickly the situation will improve.
For the rest.

From Shola Jawid, Website of the Communist (Maoist) Party of Nepal:
Obama in Cairo: Praising Islam to keep the people of the Mid East down
8 June 2009. A World to Win News Service. "The streets surrounding the university and across the city were largely quiet and empty on Thursday. Many workers in this Egyptian capital on the Nile had been told to stay home. The sidewalks were closed to ordinary people but lined by hundreds of soldiers – some dressed in black, others in white – who had been standing in place for hours before Mr Obama arrived." (The New York Times, 5 June) The Great Father had come from Washington to lecture some of America’s subject peoples.
The whole framework of Barack Obama's carefully crafted speech at Al-Azhar University in Cairo 4 June was meant to keep people's eyes focused on the surface of things. "We meet at a time of tension between the United States and Moslems around the world," he said. But is the basic problem a misunderstanding about religion and values, that people don't get that "America and Islam... share common principles", or is it deeply grounded in the material world and its economic, social and political relations – oppression, inequality and injustice?
These are the facts: control over the "Greater Middle East" stretching from North Africa to Afghanistan is a central requirement for consolidating American global hegemony in the world. All the countries in this vast region are dominated by foreign capital and their economic development subordinated to the interests of the imperialist powers. The regimes that rule over the people largely reflect these interests and where they don't, war is often waged or threatened. These foreign interests and powers have allied with reactionary local ruling classes to impose lives of frustration at best and misery for the vast majority of the people.
Read More.

Emperor Obama

the Fourth of July

Do we support our independence from Brittan and our break from feudal aristocracy on July 4? Or do we celebrate the genocide of Indians, slavery, racism and years of imperialist wars. Either way we can celebrate with fireworks, which here in the small town of Maize are still legal.
The US was a revolutionary country AT ONE TIME!
Fireworks shells


Firecrackers


The real Kaboom!

Franken finally wins

Al Franken was just officially declared the next U.S. senator from Minnesota! Will he make a good senator? He can’t do much worse than the slime buckets there now. He’s a smart man and a good comedian. The trick for him will be to try and change the system more than it changes him. He has looked to grass roots organizations such as MoveOn for financial help.

He sent a personal note to MoveOn members in the wake of his victory (see below).

What a day! I just wanted to take a moment amidst all this to say thank you to the MoveOn members in Minnesota and across the country. Paul Wellstone understood that real change comes from the ground up. And there's really no better example of that than MoveOn.org. You've been there for me since the beginning. And I look forward to working with you as a U.S. senator to make the progressive vision we all share into a reality: affordable health care for all, new jobs from clean energy, and an economy that works for everyone. Thank you for all you do.

Senator-elect Al Franken

Excerpts from I AM Pol Pot

Here are some excerpts from the book I Am Pol Pot, by Steve Otto:

Chapter 15

The Creation of Democratic Kampuchea

Journal entry: 12 October Pol:

Pon was ecstatic when I told him his men would enter Phnom Penh first.
“We have never been in that city,” he said with a grin. “We were never allowed near it and my men will be dazzled to see how city people live. There’s a lot for them to experience.”
“Yes,” I said. “We will evacuate the city, but your men will get to spend as much time there as they want. They will have plenty to see.”
As the guns drew silent, the last of Lon Nol’s army threw off their uniform and run from their posts. Pon’s men, who had been at the core of my revolutionary army, began walking into the city. They were tired and weary of all the fighting and had spent day after day lying in trenches or manning the mortar rockets we kept firing into the city. I was proud that it was they whom we sent in first to see what we had captured first hand. Shortly after that, I planned on sending in some trained zone commanders to keep things organized.

Louise Aude
Correspondent for
Association française de presse,
17 April 1975:
Sent written in French, translated to English

At first a small group of guerrillas came down the street. They were smiling and marching with the government’s soldiers. There were smiles and the people greeted them as they road into town on army tanks and carrying the rebel’s flag.
Shortly after came the other soldiers. They were not smiling. They seemed grimy and stressed out from the fighting. They had mostly black uniforms, and many had their red and white-chequered Krama’s wrapped around their heads, while others wore green Mao caps with no red stars on them. They all had frowns until they began to examine the city.
Some drank out of toilets, apparently believing they were places where city people kept their water. Some were just children as young as 10. They looked as if they had never seen a bottle or canned food before. They were looking for the spoils of war, but they seemed uninterested in money or jewellery. One soldier threw a wad of money into the street as if it were trash.
They did want machines. They drove cars and motorbikes, often crashing them into walls. They would just laugh and get another one. They had not seen electricity before.
As the day wore on, other soldiers came, some in black, others in green. None wore rank insignias or badges of any kind. I couldn’t tell who was in charge and it seemed as if some of the soldiers didn’t know. Some seemed to be fighting with each other. I was beginning to wonder who these rebels were and even if they were all from the same army.
By the end of the day, all local people we were all told to leave the city. The rebels said not to take much because they would not be gone that long. They were told they weren’t going very far. I must stop for now and pack. I’m not sure how long they plan to let foreign journalist stay here or which country’s journalists will be allowed to stay if any.

Journal entry Pol,

Before the guns went silent, along the riverbank where we held our last congress, we had already lined up the posts of the committee to run our party. I had been voted prime minister, and it was agreed that I held the highest post. Ponnary would naturally be the head of the Women’s Association and in charge of all departments dealing the women’s issues. There would be no sexism or discrimination in my government.
Hem was the president, which is more or less the second highest post. We had agreed to that while he was out making diplomatic overtures with Sihacook. Every other member of the Marxist Circle held a post in the new party structure.
Lately I spend a lot of time at my Chinit River base while hem and Sihacook spend time mingling with diplomats.

Newstimes:

28 April 1975:

“HEM SAPHRON: OUT OF THE JUNGLE”

………Many questions have arisen as Cambodia’s mysterious conquerors emerge from the jungle. For some time, Western experts have not been able to determine what kind of government the new regime will produce. Will it be nationalistic, Marxist or doctrinaire communist? No one seems to know. Little is known about the second leader in the NUFK coalition, Hem Saphron. What is already clear, however, is that Hem Saphron, 43, will probably wield the most power in the new regime. During the war he was Deputy Premier to Prince Nurodum Sihacook as well as Minister of Defence and commander in
Chief of the Khmer Rouge fighting forces…………

This book is available through Amazon.com.

Another right-wing military coup in Honduras

Left leaning president Manuel Zelaya.was overthrown in a coup this week. People have taken to the streets in protest.

From Yahoo News:

“Police and soldiers clashed with thousands of protesters outside Honduras' national palace Monday, leaving at least 15 people injured, as world leaders from Barack Obama to Hugo Chavez demanded the return of a president ousted in a military coup.
Leftist leaders pulled their ambassadors from Honduras and Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega said El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala would cut trade with neighboring Honduras for at least 48 hours. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called for Hondurans to rise up against those who toppled his ally, Manuel Zelaya.
"We're ready to support the rebellion of the Honduran people," Chavez said, though he did not say what kind of support he was offering.”

While other leaders talked of taking action, the US has chosen to do nothing about the coup. As with military coups of the past, the US condemns them, but takes no action to reverse them. This is the case in Honduras today.

Again, quoting Yahoo News:

“While Obama said Zelaya is still president, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton hedged on that point at an earlier news conference, suggesting that both the ousted president and his foes should make compromises.
Asked if the administration would insist that Zelaya be restored to power, she said: "We haven't laid out any demands that we're insisting on, because we're working with others on behalf of our ultimate objectives."

Indian Maoist critisized Nepal’s Maoist party for its perceived mistakes

COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MAOIST)

CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Press Release: May 5, 2009 - (Became available June 29, 2009)

The political crisis in Nepal is the result of Indo-US conspiracy!

Oppose the attempts by Indian expansionists
to meddle in the internal affairs of Nepal!

People's democracy can be established in Nepal
only by smashing the old state!!

Withdrawal of support by CPN(UML), MJF and other allies to the government headed by comrade Prachanda does not come as a surprise to any keen observer of the unfolding situation in Nepal in the context of the growing realignment of forces in South Asia and the world at large. South Asia has become a top-priority zone for American imperialism in the context of its growing rivalry with China which is seen as the greatest threat to American imperialism in the world arena in the coming decades. Besides, its importance has grown against the backdrop of a series of defeats suffered by the occupation forces of NATO and US in Afghanistan at the hands of Taliban and the latter's fast-expanding hold and influence in Pakistan. The strategy of US imperialism in the region is to contain the growing influence of China and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), forge a powerful pro-American axis of powers to turn the tide in its favour in Afghanistan where its forces are on the run in the renewed Taliban offensive, and establish its hegemony in the region as part of its global strategic designs. To achieve this goal American imperialism has been trying to forge an alliance with Pakistan and India, preaching to Pakistan that it should do away with its obsession with threat from India and, instead, concentrate on war in its western frontier to crush Taliban.
US imperialism and Indian expansionism are particularly perturbed over the growing influence of China over the region, consolidation of China's grip over Sri Lanka, and the fear that the government in Nepal is moving closer to China. And it is this fear which is common to both India and US that has pushed these powers to oust the government led by the Maoists in a bid to install a regime loyal to them. Hence Washington and Delhi had instructed the allies of UCPN(M) in the ruling coalition to withdraw support to the government headed by Prachanda and to form a government with all other forces sans the Maoists. Attempts are already on to form a government with UML, Koirala's NC, MJF and others all of which are loyal to India.
The arch-reactionary UML which dons the garb of Marxist Leninist had always served the reactionary rulers of Nepal and their foreign masters. They blame UCPN(M) and com Prachanda for "unilaterally sacking" the chief of the Army Staff, General Rookmangud Katawal. But why such a step had to be taken is simply hushed up. Moreover, the unconstitutional act of the President in reinstating the Army Chief is given legitimacy by these anti-people Parties. The fact is the army chief had ordered the fresh recruitment of several thousand soldiers into the Nepal Army while blocking the integration of the PLA cadres thereby going against the letter and spirit of the agreement reached between the various parties who waged a unified struggle against the monarchy. Gen Katawal had also extended the tenure of several senior Army officers with the aim of retaining the hold of the pro-monarchy elements over the Army. It is a deliberate planned move by the reactionary ruling classes of Nepal under the close guidance and planning of the Indian expansionists and US imperialists. By resuming recruitment to Nepal Army even before finalizing the integration of the two armies, these reactionary forces wanted to precipitate the situation and place the blame for the break-up of the government on the Maoists themselves. Thereby they aim to isolate and attack the Maoist forces, consolidate the anti-people Army, tighten the hold of India-US over Nepal, and contain the growing influence and competition from China in the region.
In fact, the Indian ruling classes have been feeling uncomfortable ever since CPN(M) had emerged as the single largest political Party in the elections to the CA in April 2008. Their attempts to prevent the formation of a government headed by the Maoists had failed. Hence they had been waiting for an opportune moment to topple the government and preparing to create such a crisis by placing spokes in the process of integration of the two Armies, advising the Army Chief to go ahead with massive recruitment into the Nepalese Army, and assuring support to any unconstitutional move to oust the Maoist-led government.
That Gen Katawal should have been allowed to continue for so long in office even after his mentor, King Gyanendra, was forced to retreat from the political scene in Nepal, is itself a bad thing. He had been the most reliable pillar of the monarchy and the old state power whose interests he had served all along. He and the Army he heads are representatives of the old state and naturally would cling to their privileges and class interests until they are overthrown by force. The attempt by the Maoists to utilize the apparatus of the old state to bring about change in the social system, instead of smashing it, is the basis for the development of the present dangerous situation. Today any slight mistake on the part of the Maoists would result in grave disaster. The reactionaries in Nepal, with the active aid and assistance of US and India, are hatching conspiracies to unleash a blood-bath to wipe out the Maoist forces. The only way to resist these reactionary attempts is to rely on the revolutionary masses, organize them against the state and prepare them for street battles basing on the base areas in the vast countryside. At least now the leadership of the CPN(M) should realize the futility of the parliamentary path and resume the people's war to achieve complete victory by smashing the old state and reactionary forces, and establishing the people's democratic state. And to achieve this, the major chunk of the Party leadership and cadre should go underground immediately, rely on the vast countryside to wage guerrilla war on the one hand and mobilise the masses politically in the entire country against the reactionary forces who are attempting to establish the rule of the feudal forces, comprador bourgeoisie.
The CC, CPI(Maoist), condemns the Indo-US conspiracy in toppling the government headed by comrade Prachanda and warns them against meddling in the internal affairs of Nepal. It pledges all support to the Maoists in Nepal in their fight against Indian expansionism and cautions them to beware of the attempts by the reactionary rulers of India to create a blood-bath of revolutionaries in Nepal.
sd/
Azad,
Spokesperson,
Central Committee,
CPI(Maoist)

Health care debate continues

From The Wichita Eagle:

Kansans must help shape health reform
“Congress at last is tackling health care reform this summer, at the urging of President Obama and his secretary of Health and Human Services, former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
An issue so central to how Americans live — and die — demands bipartisanship. It will be tragic if the politically toxic atmosphere on Capitol Hill turns health reform into a one-party show. Yet there are rumbles about congressional Democrats preparing to ram through a health care overhaul by whatever procedural method, and slim margin, they deem necessary.”

The biggest problem with health care are those congress people who worry more about insurance companies than the welfare of their people. The insurance companies are just vultures on the health care system. The people get ignored because they don’t have the large lobbying force of the insurance companies. And many have bought the lie that the government can’t run anything efficiently, which leaves health care in the hands of insurance companies.

Wichita holds Gay Pride Parade

Wichita’s Gay Pride Parade was well attended this year, with more than 200 and few right wing Christian wackos to interfere. Once again, gay people from all walks of life in Wichita showed they are not going to cower in the closet as the Christian right would like them to do.
This year’s event was especially important because it marked the 4oth anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, a watershed moment in the history of the modern Gay rights movement.
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City. They are frequently cited as the first instance in American history when people in the homosexual community fought back against a government-sponsored system that persecuted sexual minorities, and they have become the defining event that marked the start of the gay rights movement in the United States and around the world.
Sunday’s parade ended at Naftzger Park where music and booths were set up.