Dismantle Civilisation

We have deliberately avoided reporting the coming US elections and the candidates. After all, ‘whoever you vote for government wins’ and there is little difference between anyone involved in US politics anymore (if there ever truly was!). Its just very rich people asking the people to endorse corporate-controlled governance, and a system that makes big money out of imprisoning a huge chunk of the population.

But, this article, by Michel Chossudovsky on the globalresearch website illustrates very well that both presidential candidates have fully grasped the reality of US politics and economics. That is, war is the foundation of US power and the US economy, and that the huge weapons companies want to see the gravy train of imperialism and the ‘war on terror’ to continue. Its a nice little earner. These companies have huge power, leaving any candidate no choice really but to kneel and support their imperialist worldview.

The Obama-Biden campaign has endorsed the very foundations of the Bush administration’s foreign policy agenda: “Go after Osama bin Laden, “take him out“.

The rhetoric is softer but the substance is almost identical:

“For while Senator McCain was turning his sights to Iraq just days after 9/11, I stood up and opposed this war, knowing that it would distract us from the real threats we face. When John McCain said we could just “muddle through” in Afghanistan, I argued for more resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11, and made clear that we must take out Osama bin Laden and his lieutenants if we have them in our sights. John McCain likes to say that he’ll follow bin Laden to the Gates of Hell – but he won’t even go to the cave where he lives. [APPLAUSE]

And today, as my call for a time frame to remove our troops from Iraq has been echoed by the Iraqi government and even the Bush Administration, even after we learned that Iraq has a $79 billion surplus while we’re wallowing in deficits, John McCain stands alone in his stubborn refusal to end a misguided war.

That’s not the judgment we need. That won’t keep America safe. We need a President who can face the threats of the future, not keep grasping at the ideas of the past.” (The American Promise, August 28, 2008, Democratic Convention. Denver, emphasis added)

More of the same then. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy, the US in its ‘war on terror’ (which is actually a war on anyone that doesnt agree with the neocons’ global empire perspective) actually perpetuates anti-american feeling around the world, some of which turns into ‘terrorism’, which in turn gives the US more justification for the war, which results in military action against civilians that creates more hatred. Fear and hatred just breeds more fear and hatred, a vicious cycle that plays into the hands of the global elites, setting neighbour against neighbour, and making money from both sides!

Spiraling Defense Spending

Both Barack Obama and John McCain have signaled that they will increase overall defense spending, while also revamping the system of Pentagon procurement with a view to reducing cost overruns. (See Bloomberg, June 30, 2008 See also Reuters, August 29, 2008).

For FY 2009, the US Defense Department is asking for a $515 billion defense budget plus a separate $70 billion “to cover war costs into the early months of a new administration… Those amounts combined would represent the highest level of military spending since the end of World War II (adjusted for inflation).” (csmonitor.com February 06, 2008)

Obama’s message is crystal clear. He endorses the Bush administration’s proposed surge in military spending. He wants to spend more money on weapons and troops. Going after bin Laden and the “Global War on Terrorism” constitute his main justification for increased defense spending:

“[M]ore resources and more troops to finish the fight against the terrorists who actually attacked us on 9/11…”

But at the same time, Obama promises more resources for education and health.

“Now is the time to finally meet our moral obligation to provide every child a world-class education, … I’ll invest in early childhood education. I’ll recruit an army of new teachers, and pay them higher salaries and give them more support. …

Now is the time to finally keep the promise of affordable, accessible health care for every single American…. (The American Promise, August 28, 2008, Democratic Convention. Denver, emphasis added).

As US infrastructure collapses, the government keeps giving their friends more and more money for weapons. Almost as much as the rest of the world combined. Crazy.

Will there be a shift in spending priorities?

Under the Bush administration, Defense was favored in relation to all other expenditure categories. (See Chart above for FY 2004). Will an Obama administration change the structure of Federal government expenditure?

Will he reduce the absolute size of defense spending which constitutes approximately 47 percent of global defense spending (all countries combined)? The US NATO combined control 70% of global defense spending. (See Chart below).

Military Spending Creates Unemployment

Tax dollars allocated, as promised by Obama, to National Defense and Homeland Security will result in unemployment.

In contrast to World War II, the war economy in the 21st Century does not create jobs.

The costs of creating jobs in the military industrial complex are abysmally high when compared to the civilian sectors. In turn, the financial resources channeled by the US government to the DoD defense contractors dramatically reduces public expenditure in favor of all other spending categories.

Lockeed Martin together with Northrop Grumman have been involved in developing the Joint Fighter program. Based on initial estimates, 5400 direct jobs were created at a unit cost of $37 million per job. (See Michel Chossudovsky, War is Good for Business, Global Research, September 16, 2001). Similarly at Boeing’s assembly plant, each job created in the Joint Strike Fighter program costs US taxpayers $66.7 million. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 7 September 2001).

With regard to the F22 Raptor fighter, assembled at Lockheed Martin Marietta’s plant in Georgia, the F22 Raptor fighters was estimated to have a unit cost of $85 million. Three thousand (3000) direct jobs were to be created at an estimated cost of $20 million a job. (Ibid) The cost of the program once completed in 2005 was of the order of 62 billion dollars. According to 2008 company figures, roughly 2000 jobs remain tied to the production of the F22. (See Free Republic, March 2008). Two Thousand Jobs created at the Lockheed-Marietta’s plant in Georgia at an initial outlay of 31 million dollars per job.

Imagine how many jobs you could create with 31 million dollars invested in small and medium sized enterprises across America.

Military spending does not create employment. Full stop.

What Prospects under an Obama Presidency?

Apart from the rhetoric of “bringing the troops home” from war torn Iraq, which may or may be carried out, what distinguishes the Democrats from the Republicans?

A more articulate, knowledgeable and charismatic President?

A more dignified and diplomatic approach to US foreign policy?

An opportunity to the US ruling elite “to present a different face to the world that could revive illusions in its democratic pretensions, not only internationally but within the United States as well.” (Patrick Martin, Tensions rise in Democratic contest as Obama nears nomination, Global Research, May 11, 2008)

A spurious and counterfeit “humanitarian” approach to Empire, which serves to mask the truth and gain popular support.

A less reckless Commander in Chief, who has an understanding of geopolitics and is capable of taking foreign policy decisions.

A more carefully thought out military agenda than that experienced during the Bush administration? But with no substantive shift in direction.

A means to quelling mounting dissent and opposition to the ruling corporate establishment by providing the illusion that the Democrats constitute a Real Alternative.

A means to sustaining the illusion that African-Americans can move up the social ladder in America and that their fundamental rights are being upheld.

A means to undermining real progressive movements by further embedding civil society organizations, trade unions, grass-roots organizations not to mention “Leftist” intellectuals into the realm of the Democratic Party.

A distraction from the extensive war crimes committed under successive US administrations.

A “human face” to war and globalization?

Come on Americans, wake up and smell the horse shit!