The Power of Nightmares: The Rise of the Politics of Fear
The making of the terror myth
(download all 3 episodes)
"Almost no one questions this myth about al-Qaida because so many people have got an interest in keeping it alive," says Curtis. He cites the suspiciously circular relationship between the security services and much of the media since September 2001: the way in which official briefings about terrorism, often unverified or unverifiable by journalists, have become dramatic press stories which - in a jittery media-driven democracy - have prompted further briefings and further stories. Few of these ominous announcements are retracted if they turn out to be baseless: "There is no fact-checking about al-Qaida." not in the mainstream media at least.
"Insecurity is the key driving concept of our times," says Durodie, director of the international centre for security analysis at King's College London. "Politicians have packaged themselves as risk managers. There is also a demand from below for protection." The real reason for this insecurity, he argues, is the decay of the 20th century's political belief systems and social structures: people have been left "disconnected" and "fearful".
plus...
"Therapy Culture: Cultivating Vulnerability In An Uncertain Age"
Today's society operates around the belief that people can't cope on their own, or face the challenges of life.
"Creating the enemy"
If we are going to make our societies more resilient, we need a clearer sense of what we are for, and how we might fight for it.
Thursday, 7 July 2005
THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF OLIGARCHICAL COLLECTIVISM
by Emmanuel Goldstein
"the consciousness of being at war, and therefore in danger, makes the handing-over of all power to a small caste seem the natural, unavoidable condition of survival."
.......the greatest acts of heresy that a citizen can possibly commit is to read Emmanuel Goldstein's Book, The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism.
The government portrays the book as the centerpiece of the Resistance ... the ultimate tome of all that is evil ... which is the reason Winston coveted it so. But when you get right down to it, all this book does is explain the structure of society in straightforward and honest manner. And under a totalitarian regime, that is the single greatest act of thoughtcrime possible.
by Emmanuel Goldstein
"the consciousness of being at war, and therefore in danger, makes the handing-over of all power to a small caste seem the natural, unavoidable condition of survival."
.......the greatest acts of heresy that a citizen can possibly commit is to read Emmanuel Goldstein's Book, The Theory and Practice of Oligarchical Collectivism.
The government portrays the book as the centerpiece of the Resistance ... the ultimate tome of all that is evil ... which is the reason Winston coveted it so. But when you get right down to it, all this book does is explain the structure of society in straightforward and honest manner. And under a totalitarian regime, that is the single greatest act of thoughtcrime possible.
HOMELAND SECURITY
"Terrorism is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death."
(...adolf hitler)
"The most destructive element in the human mind is fear. Fear creates aggressiveness."
(...Dorothy Thompson)
"What good fortune for those in power that people do not think."
(...adolf hitler)
"Terrorism is the best political weapon for nothing drives people harder than a fear of sudden death."
(...adolf hitler)
"The most destructive element in the human mind is fear. Fear creates aggressiveness."
(...Dorothy Thompson)
"What good fortune for those in power that people do not think."
(...adolf hitler)
GROOVY POPULAR TERRORISM
THE ANGRY BRIGADE
During one of the longest political trials of English history thousands of badges were sold with 'I'm in the Angry Brigade'.
the WEATHERMAN
in a new yorker article, the Weather Underground is depicted as a group that found murder "cool" and violence "hip." members were charismatic, provocative, articulate, and intelligent. They commanded news media attention with their brash rhetoric, violent actions, and, in the eyes of many, romantic allure. Chic radicals, they seemed to treat their violence at once as very serious business and as kind of a lark.
BAADER-MEINHOF
"In July of 1971, Institut Allensbach, a public research firm with a standing and reputation similar to Gallup, published a remarkable poll. Twenty percent of Germans under the age of thirty expressed "a certain sympathy" for the Baader-Meinhof Gang, a group with the avowed purpose of violently overthrowing the West German government. One in ten young Northern Germans indicated that they would willingly shelter a member of the Baader-Meinhof Gang for the night."
THE ANGRY BRIGADE
During one of the longest political trials of English history thousands of badges were sold with 'I'm in the Angry Brigade'.
the WEATHERMAN
in a new yorker article, the Weather Underground is depicted as a group that found murder "cool" and violence "hip." members were charismatic, provocative, articulate, and intelligent. They commanded news media attention with their brash rhetoric, violent actions, and, in the eyes of many, romantic allure. Chic radicals, they seemed to treat their violence at once as very serious business and as kind of a lark.
BAADER-MEINHOF
"In July of 1971, Institut Allensbach, a public research firm with a standing and reputation similar to Gallup, published a remarkable poll. Twenty percent of Germans under the age of thirty expressed "a certain sympathy" for the Baader-Meinhof Gang, a group with the avowed purpose of violently overthrowing the West German government. One in ten young Northern Germans indicated that they would willingly shelter a member of the Baader-Meinhof Gang for the night."
THE SHILL
....FAKE TERROR
False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if they are being carried out by other entities.....
Operation Northwoods 1962
The Joint Chiefs of Staff argued that the US population would only support military intervention in Cuba in the event of provocative, aggressive action by the island nation against American soldiers, American civilians or Cuban refugees and Cubans in exile. The document frequently refers to staging fake attacks with fake victims, but in other cases does not specify whether the attacks should be fake or real, and for some recommended attacks explicitly notes that they could be real. Had Operation Northwoods been carried out, it would likely have required the coordinative efforts of the Central Intelligence Agency, which is mentioned several times.
National Security Archives on Operation Northwoods
US Army Field Manual 30-31B
US Army Field Manual 30-31B, entitled "Stability Operations Intelligence - Special Fields," dated March 18, 1970 and signed by Gen. William C Westmoreland, promoted terrorist attacks (and the planting of false evidence) in public places which were then to be blamed on "communists" and "socialists." It called for the execution of terrorist attacks throughout Western Europe, carried out through a network of covert US/NATO armies, in order to convince European governments of "the communist threat."
the lavon affair
a widespread political scandal in Israel that followed an Israeli covert operation in Egypt known as Operation Suzannah. The plan called for bombing British and American facilities in Egypt, with the intent that they would be attributed to the Egyptian government
Operation Gladio
Operation Gladio, a decades-long covert campaign of provocateur-style terrorism and deceit. The ostensible purpose of Gladio, officially launched as a covert NATO program in 1952, was to establish a clandestine network of "stay-behind" teams which would organize armed resistance and sabotage in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. But the network actually took a far more proactive role. Directed by US/NATO intelligence services of the West against their own populations, Operation Gladio led to possibly hundreds of innocent people being killed or maimed in "terrorist" attacks which were then blamed on "leftist subversives" or other political opponents.
meanwhile....
The mainstream news has drawn links between the Madrid bomb and London. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MADRID SUSPECTS WERE CONNECTED TO THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
bbc report: Spain suspects 'were informants'
The Spanish interior ministry says it is investigating reports that two suspects in the 11 March Madrid train bombings were police informants.
plus... state terrorism
....FAKE TERROR
False flag operations are covert operations conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which are designed to appear as if they are being carried out by other entities.....
Operation Northwoods 1962
The Joint Chiefs of Staff argued that the US population would only support military intervention in Cuba in the event of provocative, aggressive action by the island nation against American soldiers, American civilians or Cuban refugees and Cubans in exile. The document frequently refers to staging fake attacks with fake victims, but in other cases does not specify whether the attacks should be fake or real, and for some recommended attacks explicitly notes that they could be real. Had Operation Northwoods been carried out, it would likely have required the coordinative efforts of the Central Intelligence Agency, which is mentioned several times.
National Security Archives on Operation Northwoods
US Army Field Manual 30-31B
US Army Field Manual 30-31B, entitled "Stability Operations Intelligence - Special Fields," dated March 18, 1970 and signed by Gen. William C Westmoreland, promoted terrorist attacks (and the planting of false evidence) in public places which were then to be blamed on "communists" and "socialists." It called for the execution of terrorist attacks throughout Western Europe, carried out through a network of covert US/NATO armies, in order to convince European governments of "the communist threat."
the lavon affair
a widespread political scandal in Israel that followed an Israeli covert operation in Egypt known as Operation Suzannah. The plan called for bombing British and American facilities in Egypt, with the intent that they would be attributed to the Egyptian government
Operation Gladio
Operation Gladio, a decades-long covert campaign of provocateur-style terrorism and deceit. The ostensible purpose of Gladio, officially launched as a covert NATO program in 1952, was to establish a clandestine network of "stay-behind" teams which would organize armed resistance and sabotage in the event of a Soviet invasion of Western Europe. But the network actually took a far more proactive role. Directed by US/NATO intelligence services of the West against their own populations, Operation Gladio led to possibly hundreds of innocent people being killed or maimed in "terrorist" attacks which were then blamed on "leftist subversives" or other political opponents.
meanwhile....
The mainstream news has drawn links between the Madrid bomb and London. SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT THE MADRID SUSPECTS WERE CONNECTED TO THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT
bbc report: Spain suspects 'were informants'
The Spanish interior ministry says it is investigating reports that two suspects in the 11 March Madrid train bombings were police informants.
plus... state terrorism
CUI BONO? (WHO BENEFITS?)
violence designed to induce fear among the citizenry and the subsequent call for greater "security."
....and just watch that national ID card legislation sail through after this
London bombs: At a glance
Who's who at the G8 summit
"The greatest crime since World War II has been U.S. foreign policy."
(...Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General)
violence designed to induce fear among the citizenry and the subsequent call for greater "security."
....and just watch that national ID card legislation sail through after this
London bombs: At a glance
Who's who at the G8 summit
"The greatest crime since World War II has been U.S. foreign policy."
(...Ramsey Clark, former U.S. Attorney General)
Tuesday, 5 July 2005
uk Chief constable experiences 50,000-volt Taser gun
Greater Manchester Police's Chief Constable Michael Todd has allowed himself to be blasted with a 50,000-volt Taser gun in a bid to get them issued to frontline police. they are currently issued only to firearms officers.
Mr Todd took the hit under controlled conditions. Mr Todd said afterwards: "I couldn't move, it hurt like hell. I wouldn't want to do that again. I've never experienced anything like it. You just seem to freeze."
Greater Manchester Police's Chief Constable Michael Todd has allowed himself to be blasted with a 50,000-volt Taser gun in a bid to get them issued to frontline police. they are currently issued only to firearms officers.
Mr Todd took the hit under controlled conditions. Mr Todd said afterwards: "I couldn't move, it hurt like hell. I wouldn't want to do that again. I've never experienced anything like it. You just seem to freeze."
new opportunities for manufacturing consent
"Africa's new best friends" by George Monbiot
At the Make Poverty History march, the speakers insisted that we are dragging the G8 leaders kicking and screaming towards our demands. It seems to me that the G8 leaders are dragging us dancing and cheering towards theirs.
The G8 leaders have seized this opportunity with both hands. Multinational corporations, they argue, are not the cause of Africa's problems but the solution. From now on they will be responsible for the relief of poverty. The US and Britain are putting the multinational corporations that created poverty in charge of its relief....
The G8 leaders and the business interests their summit promotes can absorb our demands for aid, debt, even slightly fairer terms of trade, and lose nothing.
They can wear our colours, speak our language, claim to support our aims, and discover in our agitation not new constraints but new opportunities for manufacturing consent.
Justice, this consensus says, can be achieved without confronting power. They invite our representatives to share their stage, we invite theirs to share ours.....
...the new consensus denies that there's a conflict between ending poverty and business as usual.
To become eligible for help, African countries must bring about "a market-based economy that protects private property rights", "the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment" and a conducive environment for US "foreign policy interests". In return they will be allowed "preferential treatment" for some of their products in US markets.
Few would deny that one of the things Africa needs is investment. But investment by many of our multinationals has not enriched its people but impoverished them. The history of corporate involvement in Africa is one of forced labour, evictions, murder, wars, the under-costing of resources, tax evasion and collusion with dictators.
archives...
"No serious sociologist any longer believes that the voice of the people expresses any divine or specially wise and lofty idea. The voice of the people expresses the mind of the people, and that mind is made up for it by the group leaders in whom it believes and by those persons who understand the manipulation of public opinion. It is composed of inherited prejudices and symbols and cliches and verbal formulas supplied to them by the leaders..."
(excerpts from Edward Bernay's Propaganda -1928)
"Africa's new best friends" by George Monbiot
At the Make Poverty History march, the speakers insisted that we are dragging the G8 leaders kicking and screaming towards our demands. It seems to me that the G8 leaders are dragging us dancing and cheering towards theirs.
The G8 leaders have seized this opportunity with both hands. Multinational corporations, they argue, are not the cause of Africa's problems but the solution. From now on they will be responsible for the relief of poverty. The US and Britain are putting the multinational corporations that created poverty in charge of its relief....
The G8 leaders and the business interests their summit promotes can absorb our demands for aid, debt, even slightly fairer terms of trade, and lose nothing.
They can wear our colours, speak our language, claim to support our aims, and discover in our agitation not new constraints but new opportunities for manufacturing consent.
Justice, this consensus says, can be achieved without confronting power. They invite our representatives to share their stage, we invite theirs to share ours.....
...the new consensus denies that there's a conflict between ending poverty and business as usual.
To become eligible for help, African countries must bring about "a market-based economy that protects private property rights", "the elimination of barriers to United States trade and investment" and a conducive environment for US "foreign policy interests". In return they will be allowed "preferential treatment" for some of their products in US markets.
Few would deny that one of the things Africa needs is investment. But investment by many of our multinationals has not enriched its people but impoverished them. The history of corporate involvement in Africa is one of forced labour, evictions, murder, wars, the under-costing of resources, tax evasion and collusion with dictators.
archives...
"No serious sociologist any longer believes that the voice of the people expresses any divine or specially wise and lofty idea. The voice of the people expresses the mind of the people, and that mind is made up for it by the group leaders in whom it believes and by those persons who understand the manipulation of public opinion. It is composed of inherited prejudices and symbols and cliches and verbal formulas supplied to them by the leaders..."
(excerpts from Edward Bernay's Propaganda -1928)
Monday, 4 July 2005
uk big brother 6
derek 4 prime minister
archives...
a selection of narratives trawled from the web, on may 28th 2005, featuring derek laud...
The Waterhouse Report
By Simon Regan 20 February 2000
and
Lessons for politicians from Big Brother's accountability and engagement strategy
derek 4 prime minister
archives...
a selection of narratives trawled from the web, on may 28th 2005, featuring derek laud...
The Waterhouse Report
By Simon Regan 20 February 2000
and
Lessons for politicians from Big Brother's accountability and engagement strategy
Sunday, 3 July 2005
UK CITIZENS ready to face prison over ID cards
"This is the poll tax all over again."
The Home Office estimates that around 17 per cent of adults - up to four million people - oppose the cards. A recent ICM poll, commissioned by No2ID, found that 43 per cent believe they are a 'bad' or 'very bad' idea.
'Whichever poll you believe,' says Phil Booth, head of No2ID, 'there are millions who just won't do it.'
Many of the tactics to be used by the campaigners have been borrowed from Australia, where in 1987 the government scrapped plans for ID cards after a network of 'refusenik' organisations obstructed the scheme.
individuals are being encouraged to launch their own forms of resistance. One idea is for people to refuse to touch their fingers on the scanners, causing backlogs at the 70 ID card centres.
Campaigners are also advised to cross their eyes when in front of the iris scanners. Another suggestion is for people to say they have undergone a religious conversion, and insist on wearing burqas - which cover the face - in front of the scanners.
meanwhile...
'existence precedes essence'
with the loss of certainties in the contemporary world, there are no clear philosophical answers to the question of existence.
then each individual has to design their own life as a project. The choice and responsibility of that project falls entirely on them.
If there is no cosmic designer, then there is no design or essence of human nature.
self-consciousness gives the human subject the opportunity to define itself. The individual creates his/her self by making self-directed choices.
If we, as individuals, simply follow custom or social expectations, we have escaped the responsibility of making our own choices, of creating our own essence. We have acted in bad faith.
We are free to create our own interpretation of ourselves in relation to the world, to create a project of possibilities, of authentic actions as the expression of freedom....
(flickr... "You aren't being paid to believe in the power of your dreams.")
archives...
the Surveillance Camera Players
sousveillance
identity
"This is the poll tax all over again."
The Home Office estimates that around 17 per cent of adults - up to four million people - oppose the cards. A recent ICM poll, commissioned by No2ID, found that 43 per cent believe they are a 'bad' or 'very bad' idea.
'Whichever poll you believe,' says Phil Booth, head of No2ID, 'there are millions who just won't do it.'
Many of the tactics to be used by the campaigners have been borrowed from Australia, where in 1987 the government scrapped plans for ID cards after a network of 'refusenik' organisations obstructed the scheme.
individuals are being encouraged to launch their own forms of resistance. One idea is for people to refuse to touch their fingers on the scanners, causing backlogs at the 70 ID card centres.
Campaigners are also advised to cross their eyes when in front of the iris scanners. Another suggestion is for people to say they have undergone a religious conversion, and insist on wearing burqas - which cover the face - in front of the scanners.
meanwhile...
'existence precedes essence'
with the loss of certainties in the contemporary world, there are no clear philosophical answers to the question of existence.
then each individual has to design their own life as a project. The choice and responsibility of that project falls entirely on them.
If there is no cosmic designer, then there is no design or essence of human nature.
self-consciousness gives the human subject the opportunity to define itself. The individual creates his/her self by making self-directed choices.
If we, as individuals, simply follow custom or social expectations, we have escaped the responsibility of making our own choices, of creating our own essence. We have acted in bad faith.
We are free to create our own interpretation of ourselves in relation to the world, to create a project of possibilities, of authentic actions as the expression of freedom....
(flickr... "You aren't being paid to believe in the power of your dreams.")
archives...
the Surveillance Camera Players
sousveillance
identity
AMERICA suspected of keeping secret prisoners on warships
"There are very, very serious accusations that the United States is maintaining secret camps, notably on ships," the Austrian UN official told AFP in Vienna, adding that the vessels were believed to be in the Indian Ocean region.
"They are only rumours, but they appear sufficiently well-based to merit an official inquiry," he added.
archives...
N379P / N8068V
The executive jet with the tail number N379P (N8068V) is a US Department of Defence prisoner transport, also known as "Guantanámo Bay Express". The craft transports people to undisclosed locations for Ultra Rendition, i.e., delivery of detainees to be tortured in foreign locations renowned for their poor human rights records.
"to stop the pain you will tell them anything they want to hear. anything."
"There are very, very serious accusations that the United States is maintaining secret camps, notably on ships," the Austrian UN official told AFP in Vienna, adding that the vessels were believed to be in the Indian Ocean region.
"They are only rumours, but they appear sufficiently well-based to merit an official inquiry," he added.
archives...
N379P / N8068V
The executive jet with the tail number N379P (N8068V) is a US Department of Defence prisoner transport, also known as "Guantanámo Bay Express". The craft transports people to undisclosed locations for Ultra Rendition, i.e., delivery of detainees to be tortured in foreign locations renowned for their poor human rights records.
"to stop the pain you will tell them anything they want to hear. anything."
Disney/ABC radio personality Paul Harvey's Tribute to Slavery, Nukes, Genocide
Disney/ABC radio personality Paul Harvey, one of the most widely listened to commentators in the United States, presented his listeners on June 23 with an endorsement of genocide and racism that would have been right at home on a white supremacist shortwave broadcast.
Harvey concluded:
"We didn't come this far because we're made of sugar candy. Once upon a time, we elbowed our way onto and across this continent by giving smallpox-infected blankets to Native Americans. That was biological warfare. And we used every other weapon we could get our hands on to grab this land from whomever.
"And we grew prosperous. And yes, we greased the skids with the sweat of slaves. So it goes with most great nation-states, which--feeling guilty about their savage pasts--eventually civilize themselves out of business and wind up invaded and ultimately dominated by the lean, hungry up-and-coming who are not made of sugar candy."
plus...
"Quotes from the The American Taliban"
Disney/ABC radio personality Paul Harvey, one of the most widely listened to commentators in the United States, presented his listeners on June 23 with an endorsement of genocide and racism that would have been right at home on a white supremacist shortwave broadcast.
Harvey concluded:
"We didn't come this far because we're made of sugar candy. Once upon a time, we elbowed our way onto and across this continent by giving smallpox-infected blankets to Native Americans. That was biological warfare. And we used every other weapon we could get our hands on to grab this land from whomever.
"And we grew prosperous. And yes, we greased the skids with the sweat of slaves. So it goes with most great nation-states, which--feeling guilty about their savage pasts--eventually civilize themselves out of business and wind up invaded and ultimately dominated by the lean, hungry up-and-coming who are not made of sugar candy."
plus...
"Quotes from the The American Taliban"
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