[col. writ. 4/20/14] © ’14 Mumia Abu-Jamal
It is with amazement that we witness the faces and voices of wars past as they re-occupy the channels of the corporate media to crow for a more muscular foreign policy in light of events now occurring in the Ukraine and Russia.
In their martial mania for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq they have proven themselves inadequate to the task, driving their country into such disasters as to beggar description.
Today, they re-appear, using words as whips for war. The only thing missing, it seems, are emblems on their chests, similar to NASCAR drivers; ads promoting Lockheed, Boeing or some other such military contractor.
They serve no party – save profit.
Yesterday, they were damned as neo-cons. Today, in an era of rampant neo-liberalism, they still flourish, polluting the pools of propaganda.
On January 17th, 1961, as he was leaving his office, a former 5-star general and Republican President, Dwight D. Eisenhower addressed the nation to warn of the “immense military establishment” and a burgeoning arms industry. He said:
“.. In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence…by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist…”
When Eisenhower said those words, I was a 7 year old boy. I don’t remember them.
But neither, it seems does and older –or even younger – generation of people.
The words of dead presidents are like articles in yesterday’s newspaper – of little interest.
The business of empire is business. And billions will be made replenishing the armories of two vested wars. Billions more in sales to repressive countries, to arm armies who are the enemies of their own so-called citizens.
Neo-con? Neo-liberal?
It matters little; business is business.
–© ’14 maj