There's still time for Americans to stop insanity (Robert Jensen barf alert)

Houston Chronicle ^ | September 9, 2002 | Robert Jensen

[Dog Gone]

The evening of Sept. 11, I wrote an essay that ended with a plea that "the insanity stop here," that the brutal act of terrorism not spark more terrorism, theirs or ours.

But the insanity didn't stop.

Instead, the Bush administration cynically manipulated people's grief and rage to unleash an unlimited war against endless enemies, which has made the world more dangerous and the American people less secure in any land, home or abroad.

A year later, it's clear the so-called "war on terrorism" is primarily a war to project U.S power around the world. Its goal is to extend and deepen U.S. control, especially in the energy-rich Middle East and Central Asia. Ordinary people have not benefited, and will not benefit, from this war or the economics that drive it.

The antiwar movement argued from the start that conventional war could not produce security from terrorism, and we were right. Administration officials this summer acknowledged that the attack on Afghanistan didn't significantly diminish the terrorist threat and may have complicated counterterrorism efforts by dispersing potential attackers.

Those of us who criticized the mad rush to war also suggested the Bush administration would use terrorism as a pretext to justify a wider war; again, we were right. Officials have floundered trying to justify an attack on Iraq with claims about Iraqi connections to al-Qaida or other terrorist networks that are so unconvincing they have largely been abandoned.

Claims about Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction are more plausible, but riddled with inconsistencies. Iraq may have developed, or be developing, limited biological or chemical weapons programs, but no one has offered proof or a scenario in which Iraq might use them, except in the case of a U.S. attack. And the Bush administration has repeatedly announced that it won't be satisfied with renewed weapons inspections and is determined to topple the Saddam Hussein regime, destroying hopes for the diplomacy needed for multilateral regional arms control.

Bush's talk of democracy in Afghanistan or Iraq is a bad joke. U.S. manipulation of the political process in Afghanistan to install a handpicked puppet, Hamid Karzai (now being guarded by U.S. troops and agents to protect him from his own people), was barely concealed. In Iraq, "democracy" will be acceptable to the Bush administration so long as a democratic process produces a similarly pliant leader.

These failed attempts to build a case for war only highlight what has long been clear: The war in Afghanistan and a possible war in Iraq are about U.S. dominance, at two levels. The first involves the specific resources of those regions. In the case of Afghanistan, the concern is pipelines to carry the oil and natural gas of the Caspian region to deep-water ports. In Iraq, it's about controlling the country with the world's second-largest oil reserves.

Beyond those direct interests, the logic of empire requires violence on this scale; when challenged, imperial powers strike back to maintain credibility and extend control. U.S. control is through mechanisms different from Rome or Britain in their imperial phases, but there can be no doubt that we are an empire.

Much of the world is frightened by these imperial ambitions. A friend traveling in Europe reports back that people talk of their fear of America's militarism. Politicians in allied nations are questioning, or openly repudiating, American war plans.

The task for U.S. citizens is clear: We must ensure that the U.S. empire is the first empire dismantled from within, through progressive political movements that reject world dominance that perpetuates inequality in favor of our place in a world struggling for justice and peace.

On Sept. 11, we got a glimpse of what it might look like if the empire is taken down from the outside.

Today we still have a choice. We can learn from history and step back from empire, or suffer the fate that history makes clear lies down the imperial path.

We still have time to turn away from empire and toward democracy, away from unilateralism toward engagement, away from hoarding power and toward seeking peace.

We still have time to demand of our government that the insanity stop here.

---

Jensen is a professor of journalism at the University of Texas at Austin and author of Writing Dissent: Taking Radical Ideas from the Margins to the Mainstream. He can be reached at rjensen@uts.cc.utexas.edu.

[dirtboy]

The task for U.S. citizens is clear: We must ensure that the U.S. empire is the first empire dismantled from within, through progressive political movements that reject world dominance that perpetuates inequality in favor of our place in a world struggling for justice and peace.

What a fool. Most of the world is not struggling for justice and peace. They instead adhere to the closing line of "Won't Get Fooled Again" - "Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss." And quite an empire we have, eh, compared to old ones - a few islands here and there, and a bunch of troops stuck where they should not be, trying to keep the barbarians of the world from ripping each other's throats out. Ghenghis Khan would be scratching his head over that notion...

[mewzilla]

There truly are no words. None that aren't profanity at any rate. Maybe later. I can't believe people pay this guy to teach their kids.

[Dog Gone]

This column was printed today in the Houston Chronicle along side ... Don't be fooled by such pleas by professors.

[dighton]

......

[dirtboy]

Iraq may have developed, or be developing, limited biological or chemical weapons programs, but no one has offered proof or a scenario in which Iraq might use them, except in the case of a U.S. attack.

He has already used them, moron. On his own people. And the only thing that has prevented his wider use of such weapons is the knowledge that Iraq would be turned into a sheet of glass by the Israelis if he did - and that is why he is trying to get nuclear weapons. Must we wait for Iraq to kill thousands of Americans before they, too, become a target? These anti-war types are nuts.

[Cincinatus]

I wonder how little Bobby Jensen feels about being in political bed (so to speak) with Lew Rockwell, Charley Reese, and all the other assorted "libertarians" and Paleo-kooks?

[tet68]

We still have time to demand of our government that the insanity stop here.

Dear Roberta,
You make "Demands" of your government, but whine and plead with murderers,
"We are helpless, please don't hurt us, we understand why you're doing this."

You are a pathetic example of what socialism has bred.

[dyed_in_the_wool]

Its goal is to extend and deepen U.S. control, especially in the energy-rich Middle East and Central Asia. Ordinary people have not benefited, and will not benefit, from this war or the economics that drive it.

This right here shows why the 'one-worlders' don't get it.
I guess he doesn't benefit from the American economy or the progress inherent in it.
Granted, there are abuses in capitalism and where we wield influence, but does he think any competing economic/political philosophy does a better job?
Or does he think we should just roll over and take it?

[mewzilla]

And why in bloody blue blazes does it have to be Saddamn who uses the darn things, eh, Professor? Can you guarandamntee that Hussein won't sell WMDs to someone else who will use them? @#@#@!

[alloysteel]

Americans stop the insanity? Well, SOMEBODY should stop the insanity. We were not in the business of supression of backward cultures, this is some self-induced limitation they apply to themselves. But nobody can be helped until they are ready for it and have asked us. Punching us in the nose is not a way to ask for our help. In fact, that is just the kind of behavior that induces us to mete out a little retaliation. Once we have slapped them silly, and they are knocked flat to the ground, then we may negotiate. Begging on their part would be appropriate at that point. Neither Japan nor Germany was willing to accept a change of regime until they were vanquished in 1945. It was astonishing how reasonable they became, after the situation was made clear. A few firebombings, a couple nukes, massive infantry movements, and a strangulation of the civilian populace by destruction of the means of production and a total embargo of essential raw materials worked wonders in attitude adjustment.

[tet68]

Oh now I understand.

From another thread.

At the University of Texas, for instance, when the administration criticized journalism professor Robert Jensen for accusing America of terrorism

[TheBigB]

Seaparated at birth? YOU decide!

[jjm2111]

Memo to robert Jensen: Please shut up. The grownups have work to do.

[carlo3b]

Here's more of Bobby.....Yippy!
 

Tired of Hot Sex?
A gay man draws some lessons from radical lesbian feminists on how to approach sexuality on a deeper level
by Robert Jensen

[republicman]

Yes stop the insanity, this professor of "journalism" is truly insane.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I can't help but wish we could trade this scumbag for one of the good people who died on 9/11.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I can't help but wish we could trade this scumbag for one of the good people who died on 9/11.

[republicman]

People like this guy are no less evil than the terrorists

The terrorists goal is to wipe us out by attacking us

The goal of liberals like this guy is to wipe us out by disabling our will to defend ourselves.

[madvlad]

You are right in one sense: the US empire is
much diff from the 'old' empires. The old
empires did not export their culture and their
ideology ezports were quite limited.

Occupation of foreign countries w/ massive numbers
of soldiers is blase. There are better ways
to build an empire, such as addicting the foreign
outposts to US consumers, US fin aid and US military
assistance. You can buy Kodak film, Levis jeans,
Micket D's, DELL and Coca cola just about anywhere
in the world, even at Tianamen Square and the Great
Wall!! Winning the hearts and minds!!!! Hollywood
sells big in Asia and rock n roll sells big everywhere.
Also, political influence goes a long way.

And talk about US technology!!! Your PC runs on
Intelian architechture and you are probably running
it on a Gateway or a DELL. Or maybe you are running
an Apple. The chip manufacturer probably acquired
his equipment from Applied Mats. And talk about
militray tech! You don't win a war wo/ US military
tech unless you are fightng some loozer w/ tech
worse than your own.

So, you see. The Romans controlled the world they knew.
And the Brits controlled many parts of much of
the world. Both relied heavily on military occupation;
the Brits incorporated culture export and economic
integration via mercantilism. The US has taken it
to a new level. Little bit of military, some
political, some cultural, lotta tech, lotta econ
and with some ideological thrown into the mix!
This empire was constructed w/ some serious thought
outside the box! An empire for the 21st century!

Mad Vlad(imperialist)

[madvlad]

Robert Jensen is an idiot! But, after all,
he is an academician elite!!! So he must be
right! NOT!

The Roman empire was dismantled from within!
The Barbarians at the Gate simply happened to be
opportunistic!

Perhaps Robert Jensen's head needs to be dismantled
from within!

Mad Vlad

[LiteKeeper]

bump

[wjcsux]

This guy is a f*cking idiot! This guy obviously doesn't understand the mentality of despots or ragheads.

[Houmatt]

Perhaps we would have been better off if this a$$hole was a child and his mother Andrea Yates.

[Timocrat]

but no one has offered proof or a scenario in which Iraq might use them, except in the case of a U.S. attack

Kurds, Iranians, Marsh Arabs, Kuwaitis have all the proof they need. What really pi**es me off is this idiot feeds at the public trough at UT and is helping to produce another generation of like-minded useful idiots.

[MAWG]

So, is this a picture of Jensen or what?

[dighton]

So, is this a picture of Jensen or what?

Yes. It links to an interview with that creature.

[MAWG]

I knew he was a communist but until today I didn't know that he was a fruiter as well. It figures.

[NorCoGOP]

On Sept. 11, we got a glimpse of what it might look like if the empire is taken down from the outside.

And on Sept. 9, 2002, we have a glimpse of what it might look like if the empire was taken down by your drivel on the inside....

[wjcsux]

Maybe this guy has taken one too many LSD trips.

[dirtboy]

The US has taken it to a new level. Little bit of military, some political, some cultural, lotta tech, lotta econ and with some ideological thrown into the mix! This empire was constructed w/ some serious thought outside the box! An empire for the 21st century!

It is a rather interesting concept that willful economic exchange somehow demonstrates that empire building is going on.

[MAWG]

I'd like to take this bone-dancin nancy-boy on a short trip out to the parking lot. Know what I mean?

[madvlad]

Well, think about it. The Brits form of
econ control was thru Mercantilism w/ certan of
their colonies.

Now, the Asian countries, Japn, the Pac Rim & China
use the US as a dumping ground for their products.
Of course, the US sells products abroad but it
would appear that the ferin vermin are more
dependent upon US markets than the US is
on ferin markets.

Notice too, that according to the investment
gurus, er a doodoos, that one should be adequately
invested across the globe due to the covariant
behavior of world markets. Seems to me that
any country dependent upon US markets is going
to follow the US in recession. Hardly covariant
behavior. Just lagging.

Look at all the ferin aid we dole out. Foodstuffs,
payments, etc. Look at the pricing of commodities
in the intl markets--in dollars! Oil, gold.
Largest reserve currency remains the dollar.
Countries even dollarizing! World markets, the ones
that matter, follow Wall Street's leader. And
who do you run to when it all falls down? The
dollar and treasuries and gold priced in $.

Mad Vlad