Or as James Fallows-, or anyone else who has spent a good deal of time overseas may:
Pretty soon I will lay off the "As a Rip van Winkle returnee to your country, what I notice is…." approach. But I have to say that it is striking to come back — from the world of controlled media and not-always-accurate "official truth" in China — and see the world’s most mature democracy, informed by the world’s dominant media system, at a time of perceived economic crisis and under brand new political leadership, getting tied up by manufactured misinformation. No matter what party you belong to, you can’t think this is a sign of health for the Republic.
Better be careful, Saint Sarah may send you off to the death room.
Well, at least in this respect Bill Maher is right. Americans are dumb or ignorant or too easily led. No one taught them HOW to think.
There is NO excuse for ignorance any longer, on any subject. Its all a matter of finding the “truth”..say at factcheck.org.
A few years ago I read an account of an Italian female journalist who was in Iraq and she proclaimed that the US was using B-52’s on Fallujah and napalm and poison gas.
I don’t know if her readership believed her but if they did it wouldn’t surprise me.
well, getting ready for our airshow tommorrow. Should have well over 500,000 people on the boardwalk watching our tax dollars at work…maybe we’ll even have a flyby by Air Force one.
Richard – I believe that the movie ‘Fallujah – The Hidden Massacre’ which aired on RAI, the Italian news station, alleged that the US used both white phosphorus and MK-77, a new “improved” napalm, against civilians.
The use of MK-77 (call it napalm) by the US WAS later confirmed by the British Ministry of Defense.
White Phosphorous, according to the US soldiers there, was used in many ”shake-and-bake’ operations. While it is not a ‘chemical weapon’, its use against civilian targets is generally banned. The Israelis used it also in Gaza recently, in civilian areas – at least they did on the news clips I saw. WP sticks to your skin, as napalm does, but burns at a much more intense heat, chemically searing right through your flesh, or the flesh of your beautiful wife or your aged mother, and it doesn’t stop burning, burning deeply into your chest, or your children’s arms or your baby’s face. Even after you’ve seemingly stopped it with sufficient water, if the skin dries, the WP can ignite again!
Human smoke. Breathe it in, all ye warmongers.
Peace.
Paoli Gaspiroli said that B52 were carpet bombing Fallujah during the marine operation there and many civilians were killed.
I am NOT saying this is true only that there were many stories of this kind for years on the internet.
Having spent four years in Korea from 71-75 I can say that America looked pretty good from that time and place. And if kbloggers are any indication most leave for the states or Canada after a year.
For the rest three years seem to be the max. My friend in Thailand says the same though there are some hard cold punters and old men that will never leave.
Too addicted to the sex.
I probably fall into the latter category…….
At least its an addiction that comes with beer and peanuts.