HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------- The 'Peculiar Disconnect' of Empire There is a 'peculiar disconnect' (pe.cu.liar (p�-ky�l"y�r) adj. 1. Unusual or eccentric; odd. 2. Distinct from all others. See Synonyms at strange. 3. Belonging distinctively or primarily to one person, group, or kind; special or unique.) exhibited in the thought processes evinced by the 'West'. Most importantly, at least in effect, is that 'peculiar disconnect' as it exhibits itself in the United States/United Kingdom axis. This is so because the US, as the 'sole superpower', has disproportionate effects on the 'international community', whether militarily or monetarily. As a textbook example of this 'peculiar disconnect' in the cognitive processes (if so they can be called) of the US/UK axis are the cases of the former Yugoslavia juxtaposed to that of Israel. Let us compare and contrast the treatment of these two cases. For the last decade and more, the US (in combination with its NATO allies, particularly Germany and the UK) has been actively engaged in the forcible dissolution of the state of Yugoslavia. It was Germany that forced America's hand by recognizing Croatia (a steadfast ally of Nazi Germany) in December, 1991, even though in total, complete and abject violation of virtually every principle enunciated 1975 Helsinki Final Act. The Helsinki Final Act, to which the US, UK, Germany and Yugoslavia were all signatory, specifically affirm the following:
Interestingly enough, German (and then US) recognition of Croatia (followed shortly thereafter by recognition of Bosnia) stands in absolutely clear, unequivocal violation of each and every one of these treaty obligations. And, this is merely the opening overt act in violation of international laws and accords. America's covert attack against Yugoslavia had begun during the Reagan administration, under the watchful eye of Jeanne Kirkpatrick, the so-called 'Reagan Doctrine'. Though this entire sordid story desperately needs examination and telling, it is far too lengthy and complex for a full exposition here. Suffice it to say that, contrary to the assertions of many non-interventionist 'conservatives', Clinton and his collection of hegemonic, imperialist toadies did not initiate the disintegration of Yugoslavia; they were merely following the diktat of the same behind-the-scenes 'handlers' who had been guiding US policy toward Yugoslavia since the 1980s. On the basis of the blatantly illegal (in every conceivable way) forced dissolution of Yugoslavia, the UN (through the open arm-twisting of US) enacted further illegal acts against Yugoslavia, including sanctions enacted at the behest of the US, each ensuing UN act based on illegal prior acts and, therefore, themselves illegal and illegitimate. It was on the basis of these illegitimate and illegal acts that NATO in 1995, acting in concert with US trained and equipped fascist Croatian forces, provided de facto air support to the overtly illegal and unconscionable 'Operation Storm' which resulted in the largest single instance of 'ethnic cleansing' (over a 1/4 million Serbs) and widespread massacres of civilians since WWII. All of these illegitimate acts leading to the most blatant single act of aggression in Europe since Nazi Germany and WWII, the 78 day and night bombing of the remains of Yugoslavia in 1999. It must be remembered at this juncture that this merciless bombing campaign (which, on the basis of statements of many of its main participants, was specifically aimed at civilians and civilian infrastructure, in bold faced contravention of the Geneva Accords) was undertaken in the name of 'human rights'. Again, virtually every sentence above merits its own separate exposition but, for the purposes of this article, this quick overview will have to suffice. Now, let's contrast the above with the handling of Israel by the 'West', particularly the US. It is beyond debate that Israel has been in complete, continuous and constant violation of numerous UN resolutions since 1973. Regardless of the well crafted propaganda that passes as 'objective reporting' in the 'West', Israeli human rights violations against Palestinians have been legion and, in point of fact, far in excess of any of the actual, proven 'war crimes' and 'human rights violations' laid at the feet of the Serbs in Yugoslavia. However, adamantly casting a blind eye to any and all violations by Israel of human rights, UN resolutions, and territorial sovereignty, the US has steadfastly vetoed any and all Security Council resolutions even censuring Israel. The very idea of using US or NATO military force to enjoin Israel to cease its continuous and egregious human rights violations is most definitely a non-starter. What causes this 'peculiar disconnect' in the minds of the West? The reasons truly are legion and, again, far too numerous to enumerate, much less discuss to any depth here. Let's, however, examine but a few of these factors and see how they play. On the one hand, America's consciousness has been shaped since WWII, to a large extent, by the Jewish lobby in this country. This can be demonstrated rather simply by comparing fact with fantasy in terms of America's attitude towards Jews in general. It seems to slip most American minds that, before the outbreak of WWII, American attitudes to Jews were not much different from most of Europe at that time, which was anything but favorable. I suppose it suits the American psyche to forget attitudes which resulted, most notably, in the sad saga the St. Louis. It was only with the end of WWII and the realization of the enormity of the Nazi 'final solution' for the Jews which impacted to a degree on the American mass mind. However, though it is beyond question that the Holocaust occurred and did, indeed, result in the deaths of up to 6 million European Jews, due to the exigencies of American realpolitik in the wake of WWII as well as the increased visibility and acceptability of Jews in American society, the undeniable fact that Nazi predations caused the death of in excess of 30 million Russians, Yugoslavs, Roma and other untermensch was conveniently glossed over and virtually completely ignored. Though open to debate, at least part of the motivation for the UN to form the State of Israel in the wake of WWII was the horror of the Holocaust and the very deft public relations campaign waged by the Jewish community, particularly in the United States. It is not open to debate, however, that at least another motivation for the formation of the State of Israel was Britain's desire to rid herself of what was becoming a completely unmanageable situation. Jewish terrorists were assassinating British soldiers and officials who were trying to administer Palestine (a hold-over from the unsettled situation following WWI and the demise of the Ottoman Empire). Britain, in the wake of WWII, was too impoverished in both men and material to afford the huge expenses of her Victorian empire and was in the process of scaling back that empire to a more manageable size. In the years following WWII, America has been bludgeoned, over and over and over again with the Holocaust (to the exclusion of all other myriad European atrocities) and for a variety of other reasons (fundamentalist Christians who 'suddenly', after hundreds of years of abuse of Jews; just note who were the KKK's prime suspects after the African-Americans) have taken Israel to be 'God's country'. In this atmosphere it is understandable that Americans, who are after all, quite ignorant of even their own history, would take the side of the Israelis who, we are constantly told, 'share our values'. Hand in hand with this near deification of the Jews, Americans have added to their extant anti-Semitism (after all, Arabs are 'Semites' as well) and have subjected the Arabs to a campaign of demonization second only to that visited upon the Serbs in the last decade. Having come full circle, we now begin our discussion of the 'peculiar disconnect' in regards to the Serbs in public opinion. Over the last decade the Serb people have been demonized to an extent seldom seen of any nation in locked in direct, mortal combat with the West in general and the US in particular. This has been actually, quite an easy undertaking inasmuch as most Americans are woefully ignorant of any peoples (except, perhaps, the people from which a particular person is descended, and, of course, the 'oppressed people de jour' being championed in the 'mainline media') it is very easy to perpetuate the most coarse and blatantly false image through constant repetition in the media. Early on in the Wars of Yugoslav dissolution, an American advertising firm. Rudder Finn, boasted openly at how effectively they had sold the American Jewish community on the concept that the Serbs were modern day Nazis and their 'victims', variously the Croatians, Bosnian and then Kosovar Muslims, were being brutally and without cause subjected to 'Nazi' tactics by 'the Serbs'. Again, because Americans are so terribly ill read in the main, through constant repetition of 'The Big Lie' (may, wouldn't Goebbels be proud!), the descendants and, in some cases, the very individuals who actually were 'Hitler's Willing Henchmen' were sold to Americans of all stripes (but Jews in particular) as 'people who share our values' while 'the Serbs' were constantly depicted variously as 'communists', 'fascists', 'rapists' and 'Hitlerian offshoots'. The remarkable fact is that, in reality, it was the Serbs who were actually our steadfast allies in both WWI and WWII, suffered enormously in both those conflagrations supporting their allies (US) and were and are, far closer in world view to enunciated 'Western values' (as opposed to those actually held by the West). Just during the course of WWII, our Serb allies were responsible for saving the lives of more than 500 downed American pilots, frequently at unbelievable cost to themselves in terms of lives and atrocities exacted by the Nazis. In conclusion, we find that 'the West' (which, in NewSpeak equals US) has achieved a rare feat; we have managed to stand reality on its head where black is white, on is off, and perhaps most poignantly, 'Arbeit macht Frei'! Has it gone too far? Yes. Can it be remedied? Doubtful. We have been seduced by the siren call of 'EMPIRE' and, like all empires before us, we too seem destined to tread the same worn path to ultimate destruction. Not because we 'must' but because we choose to. Even as we become more and more militarized at home (MOVE, Ruby Ridge and Waco were but a foretaste) and extend our tendrils to every continent, the backlash is building. The final denouement lies waiting, jaws agape. - 30 - Cossack --------------------------- ANTI-NATO INFORMATION LIST ==^================================================================ This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?a84x2u.a9WB2D Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================ |
