“Religious nationalism is to religion what National Socialism was to socialism,” warned Leibowitz, who died in 1994. He understood that the blind veneration of the military, especially after the 1967 war that captured the West Bank and East Jerusalem, was dangerous and would lead to the ultimate destruction of democracy. “Our situation will deteriorate to that of a second Vietnam, to a war in constant escalation without prospect of ultimate resolution.” He foresaw that “the Arabs would be the working people and the Jews the administrators, inspectors, officials, and police — mainly secret police. A state ruling a hostile population of 1.5 million to 2 million foreigners would necessarily become a secret-police state, with all that this implies for education, free speech and democratic institutions. The corruption characteristic of every colonial regime would also prevail in the State of Israel. The administration would have to suppress Arab insurgency on the one hand and acquire Arab Quislings on the other. There is also good reason to fear that the Israel Defense Force, which has been until now a people’s army, would, as a result of being transformed into an army of occupation, degenerate, and its commanders, who will have become military governors, resemble their colleagues in other nations.” He warned that the rise of a virulent racism would consume Israeli society. He knew that prolonged occupation of the Palestinians would spawn “concentration camps” for the occupied and that, in his words, “Israel would not deserve to exist, and it will not be worthwhile to preserve it.”
“Religious nationalism is to religion what National Socialism was to socialism.” Brilliant!
That same hypocrisy is visible throughout Israeli claims that its murderous genocide in Gaza either pursues self-defense or respects human rights.
That said, it seems to me that focusing on Israel lets Washington off the hook for its crucial role in (1) arming Israel, (2) insulating Israel from rebuke by the international community by foolishly committing Washington’s veto in the UN security council, and (3) continuing to spread disinformation in the service of war and violence. While the first two of those problems have been widely acknowledge, the third has not—even though documented sources of public disinformation include President Biden. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/the-first-casualty-of-war-is-the
Ultimately, the actor most poised to bring an end to the genocide in Gaza is the United States. And according to the rhetoric of our leaders, Americans live in a democracy. That would suggest that either American voters are ultimately responsible, or that democracy in America is a convenient myth. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/the-genocide-in-gaza-is-a-test-of
Even if democracy in America is merely cosmetic, and there is no effective formal check or balance that can constrain the Pentagon or its support for authoritarian proxy powers around the world, there remains at least one way for popular resistance to force Washington to shift its relationship with Israel. It would require mass mobilization by organized labor, which in 2023 established its most prolific successes in decades.
The still tenuous--one could even claim cosmetic, especially in the case of Amazon and Hollywood-- victories of the three labor leaders are entirely economic, so while they inspired an unshakeable resistance to power, it is very likely only in that economic context that such resistance functions effectively.
Very likely the best economic case to be made here is the rather obvious argument that we stop sending hundreds of billions (actually trillions overall) abroad for these failing military purposes and apply what remains potentially accessible, through taxation of this strange house of cards of financialized wealth, to creation of real productive wealth here in the US, beginning with physical infrastructure and social infrastructure that works.
It seems as though there in Israel, the US, Europe, etc. a general and profound global leadership crisis. The super-wealthy and their corporations have compromised every national government institution essentially robbing them of any real authority other than their militaries. The super-wealthy have created political leaders who are intentionally incompetent. Thus freeing the corporate and banking interests free rein to block all progressive and environmental policies (which we desperately need!). Unfortunately corporations and banking CEOs make really terrible governors. This is something the Chinese really understand. Competence in governance is the true bottom line in sustaining a functional society. The US does NOT understand this concept. Both Biden and Trump are nasty, mean spirited, greedy, corrupt, broken, men. They are truly shit. Seriously. At this historic moment when humanity faces challenges above and beyond anything we’ve ever dealt with, we end up with Beavis and Butt-Head. This is tragic. My heart goes out to the Palestinians. I’m ashamed of my country and its evil empire.
I appreciate this interview and learned much about the gradual development of extreme Zionism and its goals as well as the humanity still found in much of the Jewish Israeli population. The gradual intentional wearing down/corruption of "democratic" institutions and ideals under the greater goals of Colonialism and Fascistic empires. I also feel the micro and macro analysis is also missing the even greater global-macro goals involved.
What I have come to from decades of connecting dots is that in this century this is now about the Neo-Colonial goals of the theft of oil, natural gas and resources, backed by the obscenely profitable billion dollar weapons of war industry, more than about the acquisition of land or the subjugation/genocide of entire populations for its own sake. It's about what's under that land or water. But the goals and means to those goals are also age old: The Bottom Line: Profit; and Divide (Apartheid) and Conquer. I've included the sites below.
All the identities people feel emotional ties to - religious, racial, gender, nationality, political parties, ideology, etc. are the powerful tools used to fan hatred and division, neighbor against neighbor, deflection (at home and abroad), as well as the deliberate cultivation of fear and self interest. This "Occupation" is of the human mind and heart. In this case, Great Britain and the U.S. planting highly traumatized Ashkenazi Jews in the center of the Middle East, offering them a "Country" (to my mind a glorified U.S./Nato strategic military base and pouring billions into it), training them in warfare to decimate those who lived in Palestine for generations, mostly in peace with other Jews and Christians, and fanning their 2500 year long gone fantasy & right to the "Holy Land." As Chris pointed out, the current formation of Israel was never about "atonement." Both populations are being used and both are ultimately expendable as were the Iraqis and afghans.
The bigger and more powerful nations as well as unstoppably voracious global multi-national corporations become - the less Humanity. These ENTITIES that corrupt fallible human beings are the true evil we are up against in Gaza and elsewhere. I do not know what the answer is that will stop this rapacious greed, but I know it is essential that we see it and name it so that the greater forces for good can mobilize the energies we may not even yet know or imagine we have against them.
And at the same time to never lose sight of the daily horror the Gazans and Palestinians are experiencing so that we witness their grief and they are never far from our hearts, as hard as that is some days.
The history of humankind is moving inexorably into a fateful alliance with the environment itself. We will rise or fall by its dictates. In my opinion only a true democracy will have the flexibility and sensitivity to manage successfully this relationship. Otherwise we’re doomed.
The following are just a sample of the many sites one can find of the face of what Colonialism/Empire looks like today. It may look like a lot, but all one has to do is skim the first paragraph of each to get the entire picture. My fear is that our goal is to goad Iran, whose vast oil we want, to make a wrong move (much like we did in the Russia/Ukraine proxy war). But where that could go is insanity:
Ilan Pappe, Miko Peled, Gideon Levy, these are the beacons of freedom.
But, that the French will no longer “defend to the death our right to say it”? I used to stroll into a small museum on the Left Bank where they kept a guillotine blade used in 1789, just a few steps away. “How much has changed!”I would think...
Poor France! I knew things were going wrong when they started making bacon and egg croissants.
Prof. Ilan Pappé presents the history and current situation in such a fact-filled and logical way that this podcast just reset my naive and emotional perspective on Israel and Gaza. Thank you for this awakening. It is appalling that massive brute force violence against civilians is the best plan that Israeli leadership has come up with, and astonishing that US leadership seems to think that vetoing a UN cease-fire resolution in any way enhances US international standing. It's a disgusting spectacle replete with repugnant soundbites from high-ranking officials and the world is watching.
The plan of erasing the civilisation in Gaza is obvious to everyone with some working brain cells. Famine, lack of water, diseases and lack of medical supplies will do what Israel had in mind to the remaining two million people, even if they stopped actively murdering civilian men, women and children alike. But this needs to stop! Never again is right now (or rather three months ago).
Simply pointing out that the Israeli regime and its American enablers are "evil" is pointless, the way quoting Bible verses to an armed robber is futile.
Force is the language that sociopaths understand. In fact, force is the ONLY language that they understand, although they understand it quite well.
I cried today for the People of Palestine, for their grief and trauma. For whatever good that will do. I also cried for my fellow citizens, 70% of whom want the murder and destruction of Gaza to stop, yet are powerless to make that happen. Despite our ostensible democracy, our representative government, that has tragically been stolen from us. In that theft we lost our, the People’s, power over our own wealth and technology. Now we witness its use to pointlessly kill the innocent and the powerless. This theft by the super wealthy cannot be tolerated. It is evil and threatens our lives and our Children’s lives. The future demands that we must have a functional democracy, NOW! If we don’t fix this the next Gaza will be here, the next crushing of life and order will be here in the USA. And we will deserve it.
And once again, Hedges chooses to completely ignore issues here in the U.S. that threaten our freedom ... this has been his playbook since the MAR '20 lockdowns!
Because since the March 2020 lock downs, Mr Hedges betrayed many of his implicit promises made over the past decade and should not be forgiven for deserting the U.S. working class ...
In my world, he's a "straddler" ... he's got one foot in their world and only one foot in our world ... Thomas Frank, Krystal Ball, Saagar Engenti, Briahna Joy Gray, Katie Halper ... I could go on, they're all straddlers and Hedges is their sacred cow ...
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Let us review a few of Chris Hedges more revealing quotes:
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's vax trial data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years! ... this proved that the PHIZER vax was not "safe and effective" ...
And then, on JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made this comment on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54):
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... Chris Hedges DID NOT have to take sides on this issue ... He had to know about the release of Phizer's trial data, but he was still willing to endorse their experimental shot ... He has also refused to comment or stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports ... he has only said: "it's a tough decision" ...
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"Let us stand up and resist so future generations will at least say ‘they tried.’ We cannot do this alone ... together we have a chance" ...
BTW, he has refused to comment on THE GREAT RESET, The World Economic Forum and the book THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
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In a 2020 interview, he said he told indigenous pipeline protesters to "park your cars in their path, remove the engines and walk away" ...
BTW, he did not even comment on the Canadian trucker convoy until a March 2022 interview with Jimmy Dore - one month after the protests actually ended ....
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In his AMERICAN SADISM speech, he made this extremely divisive statement that revealed his disdain for those of us who openly question the motives of elected officials ...
He said the loss of Elite's credibility "has given rise to spontaneous groups, as well as the lunatic fringe that embraces conspiracy theories"
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From his book WAGES OF REBELLION, he said:
“I do not fight fascists because I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists” ...
If he still believed this, he would have stood with the working class against the mandates and passports ... Chris Hedges changed with the lockdowns ... clearly, he no longer has the fire in his belly ...
I could go on ... do you want more? ... I have more ...
Hedges now desperately clings to the Gaza and Assange stories to divert attention away from the battle here in the U.S. between the working class - his working class and the DS ...
An unemployed, divorced mother of 4 never gives a thought to Gaza, Assange or CIA corruption, and Hedges knows it! ... but these are his "bread and butter" issues that protect his place in the independent media food chain ... he has chosen to double down on the ISR-PAL conflict instead ... he has now devoted more words to the plight of the Palestinians than he ever has about those of us who are being crushed by COVID tyranny here in America ... and he now seems hell bent on milking the Gaza genocide for all it's worth ... ya see, it's just too risky to stand with us ...
And after urging us to confront tyranny for the past two decades, Hedges deserted us by throwing the working class under the bus with COVID ... he refused to stand with us against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports, and also told his avid followers to go out and get vaxxed just 30 days after the explosive DEC 2, 2021 FDA FOIA release ... and then in the same breath, openly admitted that he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ...
These are his lessons learned at Harvard Divinity School ...
Most who listen to Hedges actually CARE about humanity, and, like me, understand that his voice applies to all oppressed, including US citizens who are being neglected by Congress. Having listened to Chris Hedges for years I couldn't disagree with you more. What is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored. It will impact us here as well and does. He is the voice of the people.
If the proverbial divorced mother of 4 lives in the USA, she almost certainly cares about the enormous amount of taxpayer dollars being sent to kill people she doesn't know in some foreign land halfway across the world, and might prefer to see it spent domestically on universal health care so that she won't lose her home if she gets sick.
Yeah right, our divorced and unemployed mother of 4 probably does not know or care about the money we send overseas at OUR expense ... ya see, she's got bigger problems, so don't you dare put words in her mouth!
PITA, I've known women like this and their predicament did not equate to their being dull minded as you seem to imply. As I imagine Chris Hedges knows from working with prisoners, people in lower socioeconomic classes are quite aware of current events and discuss such topics amongst themselves, though often from a different angle than those of other socioeconomic classes.
I'm older than you and Hedges ... I had my political awakening in '87 with Iran-Contra and I used to love St. Chris ... and YOU my friend, are an enabler ... you and the rest of Hedges' flock of clapping seals show up each week for his regular dose of darkness and beg for more ... Hedges has done some terrific things for the working class, but he lost his spine with the MAR '20 lockdowns ... he's now making huge "withdrawals" on the reputation he built as a war correspondent just to preserve his place in the independent media food chain ... this man no longer has his heart in America and he is cynically betting the ranch that you won't notice ...
I got many of his duplicitous verbatim quotes ready share with you here ... all ya gotta do is ask, so go ahead make my day ... and if you don't read it, then someone else here will!
While he is indulging in the ISR-PAL conflict, the U.S. working class - his working class is being ignored ... and I got a question for you: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? ... his act here passed the point of diminishing marginal returns weeks ago ...
Are you older than 73? Listen, you can pull out all the dirt you want, but I am a discerning listener. I can make up my own mind as you have. He is one of many voices and, although he is dark, yes, he has relevant guests on. I listen to enough to know who stands up for the oppressed here and abroad. So you can take your Chris Hedges dirt and fling it elsewhere. I respect his audience, and expect them to make up their own minds. It is called freedom of the press. He has been an outspoken supporter of Julian Assange. He has abandoned no one. We all know what is going on here.
Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to alternate his commentary from week to week between the ISR-PAL conflict and the U.S working class-DS conflict? ...
good idea. Let's hear the truth about both sides. I am amazed at the lack of interest in GAZA by the Americans. Are they not aware of Israeli propaganda? Have you been to West Bank & seen settlers? What about Biden bypassing Congress to ship arms to Bibi? We all need to do a better job of learning whole history...of Native Americans, Slavery, Palestine, creation of Israel, probably Ukraine...especially our government's involvement in all of it.
@Beverly Good points, but hidden under a comment by someone whose moniker and posts suggest that they're just a spoiler. Comments like yours should be on the main thread, as I don't usually delve deeply under trollish posts like those by the Pain-in-the-A$$ Contrarian, who can author their own blog about whatever subject they deem most important.
Genocide should never be ignored. Ignoring Pre Holocaust Germany worked out so well too right Pita. But I guess it put a lot of working class to work in the long run. German interrogators of American POW's were amazed most didn't have any political thought or understanding at all, and didn't really know what they were fighting for. Chris expands human knowledge and points out the WASTE of war spending, which Israel is a large part. Eisenhower even pointed out how many schools or infrastructure could be built for the price of just one aircraft carrier. Israel is an example of a fascist state, that has all too much power in the US. All working class people should know who their enemies are! US oligarchs hate Taxes, Unions and Support Israel. Geo Politics is just as important, if not more important to understand by the working class in 2023. "Ignorance is Strength" lets them get away with bloody murder. Militarized Police in the US, take their lessons from the IDF, the working man will be like the Palestinian's in the future, if the public is not informed by truth tellers like Chris.
Hedges now covers the ISR-PAL conflict at our expense!
He doesn't give a hoot about the unemployed, divorced mother of 4 children ...
She never gives a thought to the plight of the PALs ... she doesn't have the time and can't afford it ... and he knows it! ... Do you really believe people like Blinken give a hoot what what Hedges says? ... Hedges is just pulling on your heart strings for SUBs, LIKEs and SHAREs ...
It's clear your bigger axe is the Covid vaccination and lock down in response to it...of course you harbor what is the greater truth...mine is mine and different than yours. I suspect I may even be older than you. That said, I am grateful for the vaccine (as I have been for all those I've received as a child against polio and diptheria and I don't know what else as my mom and dad were the directors of that regimen - and as a visitor to Nepal, Guatemala and a resident of the Congo); and I am grateful for the lock down. Two age cohort friends with comprised heaIth did not get vaccinations, but did get Covid and died. I got Covid two months ago. Me with chronic bronchitis and asthma. And old. And though I felt I'd been squished of all energy, I survived it and am well. I caught it because I'd stopped being disciplined with masking. Your sourness and cynicism toward Hedges is your choice, certainly you are entitled to have it. An attitude not uncommon in comment sections where people grouse about this and that person is one where the person in question is not perfect, or fit to the image expected of him given his excellence in other ways. And not uncommon is then to damn him or her completely. The absolutism - all good or all bad - defies reality. Hedges appears quite hard working, he produces a lot of material that is well reasoned and deep with historical backup and personal experience. And his passion for the "good" is untiring. Who else comes close? I feel sorry for you. You need him to be your hero fitting your specifications. That he is is own man doesn't make it with you. That's okay. You are entitled to feel let down and deserted on what for you are critical positions that he has chosen not to take. I am deeply grateful - one of the clapping seals as your condescendingly and perjoratively label us - to him. For his out-standing journalism and ethics. For his passion for truth telling and basic decency.
I didn't realize there was an age competition. I'm 90, big deal. All it means is that I've lived 20 plus years past my expiration date. Loved your comment Selina and don't care how old you are. It is wise. So I suspect you are an "elder" :-) PITA seems to be an absolutist who has been disillusioned and needs a target to blame. There's a difference between disagreeing and denigrating. You criticize those who give advice and put words in other's mouth but you engage in both. I am an admirer of Chris Hedges not a clapping seal. I would put his wisdom and experience against anyone. Who am I to decide what he should and should not address. That's his preference. We don't live in an ideal world. We can chose to make the world a better place. Being kind to one another helps. May we see peace in 2024 but I'm not betting on it.
Rhanna- Thank you for this “You criticize those who give advice and put words in other's mouth but you engage in both.” Not sure I am clear on exactly who the who is that is “giving advice” or what the words are that I am presumptuously putting into “others’ mouths. I am clear that much of the population function out of an all good all bad split. And I will continue to “note” that. Since becoming aware of how paltry that attitude is can become an open door for self and other acceptance and flourishing.To let more life richness pour in. A precursor and necessary nutritive spirit vitamin basic to forgiveness - self and other. What would our ravishingly gorgeous beautiful world be were all the gradients of gray in all the colors of the spectrum to be crammed into all white and all black! All that huge soulful motivational behavioral gray zone in between those poles. Shakespeare is rolling around in his grave. You can hear that grating sound. So each of us is a an infinite and boundless. Except when we fool ourselves into believing we are just that itty bitty island floating in the unbounded ocean. That “ego” island. But getting back to your observation. It opened me into feeling into what life as a single woman in our society with four children could be like. Holy Mackerel! I wonder how she can get the the sustenance to nourish all those kids and herself?
Thank you for replying. I would love to sit down with you and have a real conversation. The good thing about blogs and internet communication is the ability to cross geographic zones. However, I do miss person to person connections. We are a nation of "others' since we decimated the native population. Our diversity is agathakalogical, made of good and bad. It's our strength and our weakness. I live in not a black and white or a gray world. My world is multicolored. Our only child died and he had no children. I guess that's why I have monitored our school board for over 7 years. The children are our future. If you would like to continue our conversation here are my contacts: rhana3@verizon.net; 941-922-3610. I live in Sarasota, FL. You may have heard what's going on there!
Dear PITA - I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. Sorry too, that someone you once admired, seems to have betrayed the roots of that devotion/high regard. Becoming “a turncoat”. Blind to what matters to you. That hurts. May you find a way through this in a way that nourishes soul. Sincerely. Selina
Hey, aren't you the SAME "PITA Contrarian" who harps on about RFK Jr. NOT SUPPORTING THE GAZA PALESTINIANS over in the RFK Jr./"The Kennedy Beacon" Substack comment sections?!
Who, exactly do you work for? And how is their pay? I mean, I can write too...
If so, seems like it would be more for the sheer cynical fun of it, than for profit. Or a depressingly successful bid for attention and a desperate need for engagement of any sort on any issue.
My close friend was injured by the vax and is now wheel chair bound, and just a few weeks after she was "fitted with wheels", Hedges ignored the public warnings that proved the vax was not "safe and effective" and told us all to get vaxxed ... so Charles you just mind your own F***ING business!
I apparently missed Hedges directive telling "us all to get vaxxed" or if I did see it I ignored it like I did all the other non-professional--and the vast majority of the professional--medical purveyors of unexamined advice, as I will similarly ignore your last piece of unsolicited advice by suggesting in good faith and temperance that if you do not like being accused of being a troll, simply stop acting like one. I am a bit of a contrarian myself, but don't find it useful to be a PITA--with the occasional exception here ;-) How the hell do you expect people to respond, unless negative responses are what you are hoping for?
I am very sorry to hear your story about your friend, but why on earth would you look to Chris Hedges for medical advice? You appear to have put him on a pedestal at one point and then you discovered he is human at which point you might have understood the mistake was yours--which remains an option. And I suspect that most of his unquestioned acceptance of the novel mRNA technology, which is a very different animal from 'traditional' vaccination, may result from his witness to the effect of the Covid virus on the extremely vulnerable highly co-morbid and confined prison population with which he had very close contact. Seems you too were guilty of unquestioned acceptance, so get over it and forgive yourself.
But yes, you did miss one of Hedges most revealing, damning quotes ... Here ya go:
*****************
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's vax trial data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years! ... this development proved that the COVID vax was not "safe and effective" ...
And then, just 30 days later ...
On JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made this comment on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54):
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... Chris Hedges DID NOT have to take sides on this issue ... He could have said it's a personal decision ...
Most people would never tell another person to "walk the plank" if they knew better, but that's exactly what Hedges did here ... he knew the VAX was rushed to market after only one year (the average is 10 years), he knew about the explosive FDA FOIA release and he had to have seen the many videos of vax-injured people ... but he chose to push the "safe & effective" narrative anyway! ... and then about 2m after making that same comment during the interview above, Hedges openly admitted that he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ... clearly, this man did not give a hoot about the consequences ...
Hedges should NOT be forgiven for deliberately pointing us in the wrong direction when he knew better.
if you are not understanding why Hedges focus on Palestine and GAza now, you are missing the human factor> What is the hottest issue now ?, where active Genocide with American tax payers dollars paying for it, is taking place on live TV!
"... if you are not understanding why Hedges focus on Palestine and GAza now," ...
No, I am not misunderstanding his motives at all ... and your suggestion that I am missing the human factor is beyond ridiculous ... On JAN 1, 2022, this man deliberately pissed on your "human factor" by looking his followers in the eye and telling "everybody" to get vaxxed when Phizer's own trial data statistically proved that the COVID vax was not "safe and effective" ...
The brazen, arrogant gall of this man ... what an insensitive, self-centered, heartless prick!
Such a nightmare and a shame what the United States is doing. I learned more from this interview. Thank you. People my age here in the US are engrossed in fantasy football and aren’t paying attention to much. They kind of know the world is a mess but they just figure there’s nothing they can do and they aren’t going to do anything but focus on their own situation. Many still say “Trump is worse than Biden.” I’d say Biden’s had more opportunity in office to do more damage. I think of George Carlin’s quotes; “we’re barely outta the jungle on this planet.” Ordinary Jungle beasts. Savages.” “Semi-civilized beings..with baseball caps & automatic weapons.” It’s fundamentally about greed and a lack of space, land. Even with plenty of room someone wants to conquer your land. And As professor IIan states; “doomed to fail from the beginning.” Gaza is so small geographically and so densely populated. The United States is going to be hated by Ukrainians, hated by more middle easterners. As Chris says; “a pariah nation.” The climate disaster may be our ultimate demise. As another Carlin quote; “the earth is doing fine, it’s the people who are fkd. We’re just a surface problem to the earth.” “The earth will shake us off like a bad case of fleas.”
If Israel does completely consume all of the West Bank and Gaza strip and manages to eliminate most of the Palestinians, how many think Israel will simply there land grab? Won't they continue to consume greater portions of land using the slogans "security" and the "right to self defense" to justify what they are doing.
“Religious nationalism is to religion what National Socialism was to socialism.” Brilliant!
That same hypocrisy is visible throughout Israeli claims that its murderous genocide in Gaza either pursues self-defense or respects human rights.
That said, it seems to me that focusing on Israel lets Washington off the hook for its crucial role in (1) arming Israel, (2) insulating Israel from rebuke by the international community by foolishly committing Washington’s veto in the UN security council, and (3) continuing to spread disinformation in the service of war and violence. While the first two of those problems have been widely acknowledge, the third has not—even though documented sources of public disinformation include President Biden. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/the-first-casualty-of-war-is-the
Ultimately, the actor most poised to bring an end to the genocide in Gaza is the United States. And according to the rhetoric of our leaders, Americans live in a democracy. That would suggest that either American voters are ultimately responsible, or that democracy in America is a convenient myth. https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/the-genocide-in-gaza-is-a-test-of
Even if democracy in America is merely cosmetic, and there is no effective formal check or balance that can constrain the Pentagon or its support for authoritarian proxy powers around the world, there remains at least one way for popular resistance to force Washington to shift its relationship with Israel. It would require mass mobilization by organized labor, which in 2023 established its most prolific successes in decades.
Three individuals, in particular, have demonstrated success in challenging corporate America. Can unions remember what solidarity means beyond the discrete interests of their members? https://shahidbuttar.substack.com/p/we-the-people-can-unplug-the-war
The still tenuous--one could even claim cosmetic, especially in the case of Amazon and Hollywood-- victories of the three labor leaders are entirely economic, so while they inspired an unshakeable resistance to power, it is very likely only in that economic context that such resistance functions effectively.
Very likely the best economic case to be made here is the rather obvious argument that we stop sending hundreds of billions (actually trillions overall) abroad for these failing military purposes and apply what remains potentially accessible, through taxation of this strange house of cards of financialized wealth, to creation of real productive wealth here in the US, beginning with physical infrastructure and social infrastructure that works.
I agree. Unions organizing against genocide.
I note that there are a few hundred people maybe more, demonstrating outside MIC facilities throughout the US.
People making these weapons are complicit.
It seems as though there in Israel, the US, Europe, etc. a general and profound global leadership crisis. The super-wealthy and their corporations have compromised every national government institution essentially robbing them of any real authority other than their militaries. The super-wealthy have created political leaders who are intentionally incompetent. Thus freeing the corporate and banking interests free rein to block all progressive and environmental policies (which we desperately need!). Unfortunately corporations and banking CEOs make really terrible governors. This is something the Chinese really understand. Competence in governance is the true bottom line in sustaining a functional society. The US does NOT understand this concept. Both Biden and Trump are nasty, mean spirited, greedy, corrupt, broken, men. They are truly shit. Seriously. At this historic moment when humanity faces challenges above and beyond anything we’ve ever dealt with, we end up with Beavis and Butt-Head. This is tragic. My heart goes out to the Palestinians. I’m ashamed of my country and its evil empire.
I appreciate this interview and learned much about the gradual development of extreme Zionism and its goals as well as the humanity still found in much of the Jewish Israeli population. The gradual intentional wearing down/corruption of "democratic" institutions and ideals under the greater goals of Colonialism and Fascistic empires. I also feel the micro and macro analysis is also missing the even greater global-macro goals involved.
What I have come to from decades of connecting dots is that in this century this is now about the Neo-Colonial goals of the theft of oil, natural gas and resources, backed by the obscenely profitable billion dollar weapons of war industry, more than about the acquisition of land or the subjugation/genocide of entire populations for its own sake. It's about what's under that land or water. But the goals and means to those goals are also age old: The Bottom Line: Profit; and Divide (Apartheid) and Conquer. I've included the sites below.
All the identities people feel emotional ties to - religious, racial, gender, nationality, political parties, ideology, etc. are the powerful tools used to fan hatred and division, neighbor against neighbor, deflection (at home and abroad), as well as the deliberate cultivation of fear and self interest. This "Occupation" is of the human mind and heart. In this case, Great Britain and the U.S. planting highly traumatized Ashkenazi Jews in the center of the Middle East, offering them a "Country" (to my mind a glorified U.S./Nato strategic military base and pouring billions into it), training them in warfare to decimate those who lived in Palestine for generations, mostly in peace with other Jews and Christians, and fanning their 2500 year long gone fantasy & right to the "Holy Land." As Chris pointed out, the current formation of Israel was never about "atonement." Both populations are being used and both are ultimately expendable as were the Iraqis and afghans.
The bigger and more powerful nations as well as unstoppably voracious global multi-national corporations become - the less Humanity. These ENTITIES that corrupt fallible human beings are the true evil we are up against in Gaza and elsewhere. I do not know what the answer is that will stop this rapacious greed, but I know it is essential that we see it and name it so that the greater forces for good can mobilize the energies we may not even yet know or imagine we have against them.
And at the same time to never lose sight of the daily horror the Gazans and Palestinians are experiencing so that we witness their grief and they are never far from our hearts, as hard as that is some days.
The history of humankind is moving inexorably into a fateful alliance with the environment itself. We will rise or fall by its dictates. In my opinion only a true democracy will have the flexibility and sensitivity to manage successfully this relationship. Otherwise we’re doomed.
The following are just a sample of the many sites one can find of the face of what Colonialism/Empire looks like today. It may look like a lot, but all one has to do is skim the first paragraph of each to get the entire picture. My fear is that our goal is to goad Iran, whose vast oil we want, to make a wrong move (much like we did in the Russia/Ukraine proxy war). But where that could go is insanity:
Iraq:
https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2012/1/7/western-oil-firms-remain-as-us-exits-iraq
Yemen:
https://new.thecradle.co/articles-id/250
Somalia
https://www.spglobal.com/commodityinsights/en/market-insights/latest-news/oil/050923-coastline-exploration-leads-new-charge-on-somalia-oil-and-gas
Ukraine
https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/04/28/us-corporations-ukraine-oil-gas/
Saudis own largest U.S. oil refinery
https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/gas-prices-verify/saudi-government-aramco-owns-largest-us-oil-refinery-port-arthur/536-4a1649c8-445a-46e9-94d1-6c39e9727d2e
Oil in Palestine that Israel/U.S. is taking:
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/israel-palestine-war-geopolitics-gaza-multibillion-dollar-gas-field
https://atmos.earth/this-genocide-is-about-oil/
The Oil in Iran the US/Multinational fossil fuel corporations are after:
https://apnews.com/general-news-a6adb7b30adb444998541b1b5aca4332
The U.S. creating "terrorist" after "terrorist", Divide and Conquor (for Oil & Resources) & the CIA role:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/03/us-isis-syria-iraq
And there is increased fracking all over the U.S. Great Lakes, Alaska, etc. uder Biden.....ie.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/mar/13/alaska-willow-project-approved-oil-gas-biden
For me this IS about Iran.
Ilan Pappe, Miko Peled, Gideon Levy, these are the beacons of freedom.
But, that the French will no longer “defend to the death our right to say it”? I used to stroll into a small museum on the Left Bank where they kept a guillotine blade used in 1789, just a few steps away. “How much has changed!”I would think...
Poor France! I knew things were going wrong when they started making bacon and egg croissants.
Not to mention MacDonalds etc.
In France we have no hope with Macron and the Socialists with Melanchon are tired and old!
This is no different than the rise of the Nazi party. A rose is a rose, no matter what you call it.
Prof. Ilan Pappé presents the history and current situation in such a fact-filled and logical way that this podcast just reset my naive and emotional perspective on Israel and Gaza. Thank you for this awakening. It is appalling that massive brute force violence against civilians is the best plan that Israeli leadership has come up with, and astonishing that US leadership seems to think that vetoing a UN cease-fire resolution in any way enhances US international standing. It's a disgusting spectacle replete with repugnant soundbites from high-ranking officials and the world is watching.
Can we have subtitles please. Many of us are deaf. Thanks
The plan of erasing the civilisation in Gaza is obvious to everyone with some working brain cells. Famine, lack of water, diseases and lack of medical supplies will do what Israel had in mind to the remaining two million people, even if they stopped actively murdering civilian men, women and children alike. But this needs to stop! Never again is right now (or rather three months ago).
Simply pointing out that the Israeli regime and its American enablers are "evil" is pointless, the way quoting Bible verses to an armed robber is futile.
Force is the language that sociopaths understand. In fact, force is the ONLY language that they understand, although they understand it quite well.
FF, who are the sociopaths in your calculus?
Power is to sociopaths what catnip is to cats. Except 'nip is basically harmless.
Professor Pappe proves that history shows that Israel does not want or ever wanted a 2 state solution, zionists do not want peace
I cried today for the People of Palestine, for their grief and trauma. For whatever good that will do. I also cried for my fellow citizens, 70% of whom want the murder and destruction of Gaza to stop, yet are powerless to make that happen. Despite our ostensible democracy, our representative government, that has tragically been stolen from us. In that theft we lost our, the People’s, power over our own wealth and technology. Now we witness its use to pointlessly kill the innocent and the powerless. This theft by the super wealthy cannot be tolerated. It is evil and threatens our lives and our Children’s lives. The future demands that we must have a functional democracy, NOW! If we don’t fix this the next Gaza will be here, the next crushing of life and order will be here in the USA. And we will deserve it.
As usual, Chris Hedges hits all the nails on their heads. The entire article is worth the quotes by Yeshayahu Leibowitz.
And once again, Hedges chooses to completely ignore issues here in the U.S. that threaten our freedom ... this has been his playbook since the MAR '20 lockdowns!
Thx for nothin' Chris ...
Why are you HERE? If you do not like Mr Hedges - MOVE ON!
Because since the March 2020 lock downs, Mr Hedges betrayed many of his implicit promises made over the past decade and should not be forgiven for deserting the U.S. working class ...
In my world, he's a "straddler" ... he's got one foot in their world and only one foot in our world ... Thomas Frank, Krystal Ball, Saagar Engenti, Briahna Joy Gray, Katie Halper ... I could go on, they're all straddlers and Hedges is their sacred cow ...
----------------------
Let us review a few of Chris Hedges more revealing quotes:
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's vax trial data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years! ... this proved that the PHIZER vax was not "safe and effective" ...
And then, on JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made this comment on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54):
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... Chris Hedges DID NOT have to take sides on this issue ... He had to know about the release of Phizer's trial data, but he was still willing to endorse their experimental shot ... He has also refused to comment or stand with the working class against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports ... he has only said: "it's a tough decision" ...
----------------------
"Let us stand up and resist so future generations will at least say ‘they tried.’ We cannot do this alone ... together we have a chance" ...
BTW, he has refused to comment on THE GREAT RESET, The World Economic Forum and the book THE FOURTH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION
----------------------
In a 2020 interview, he said he told indigenous pipeline protesters to "park your cars in their path, remove the engines and walk away" ...
BTW, he did not even comment on the Canadian trucker convoy until a March 2022 interview with Jimmy Dore - one month after the protests actually ended ....
----------------------
In his AMERICAN SADISM speech, he made this extremely divisive statement that revealed his disdain for those of us who openly question the motives of elected officials ...
He said the loss of Elite's credibility "has given rise to spontaneous groups, as well as the lunatic fringe that embraces conspiracy theories"
----------------------
From his book WAGES OF REBELLION, he said:
“I do not fight fascists because I will win. I fight fascists because they are fascists” ...
If he still believed this, he would have stood with the working class against the mandates and passports ... Chris Hedges changed with the lockdowns ... clearly, he no longer has the fire in his belly ...
I could go on ... do you want more? ... I have more ...
All ya gotta do is ask!
Hedges now desperately clings to the Gaza and Assange stories to divert attention away from the battle here in the U.S. between the working class - his working class and the DS ...
An unemployed, divorced mother of 4 never gives a thought to Gaza, Assange or CIA corruption, and Hedges knows it! ... but these are his "bread and butter" issues that protect his place in the independent media food chain ... he has chosen to double down on the ISR-PAL conflict instead ... he has now devoted more words to the plight of the Palestinians than he ever has about those of us who are being crushed by COVID tyranny here in America ... and he now seems hell bent on milking the Gaza genocide for all it's worth ... ya see, it's just too risky to stand with us ...
And after urging us to confront tyranny for the past two decades, Hedges deserted us by throwing the working class under the bus with COVID ... he refused to stand with us against the illegal and unconstitutional mandates and passports, and also told his avid followers to go out and get vaxxed just 30 days after the explosive DEC 2, 2021 FDA FOIA release ... and then in the same breath, openly admitted that he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ...
These are his lessons learned at Harvard Divinity School ...
Most who listen to Hedges actually CARE about humanity, and, like me, understand that his voice applies to all oppressed, including US citizens who are being neglected by Congress. Having listened to Chris Hedges for years I couldn't disagree with you more. What is happening in Gaza cannot be ignored. It will impact us here as well and does. He is the voice of the people.
If the proverbial divorced mother of 4 lives in the USA, she almost certainly cares about the enormous amount of taxpayer dollars being sent to kill people she doesn't know in some foreign land halfway across the world, and might prefer to see it spent domestically on universal health care so that she won't lose her home if she gets sick.
couldn't agree more! very well stated.
Yeah right, our divorced and unemployed mother of 4 probably does not know or care about the money we send overseas at OUR expense ... ya see, she's got bigger problems, so don't you dare put words in her mouth!
Can you do that?
PITA, I've known women like this and their predicament did not equate to their being dull minded as you seem to imply. As I imagine Chris Hedges knows from working with prisoners, people in lower socioeconomic classes are quite aware of current events and discuss such topics amongst themselves, though often from a different angle than those of other socioeconomic classes.
And don't YOU put words in my mouth ...
I never suggested middle class woman were dull-minded - YOU DID!
I'm older than you and Hedges ... I had my political awakening in '87 with Iran-Contra and I used to love St. Chris ... and YOU my friend, are an enabler ... you and the rest of Hedges' flock of clapping seals show up each week for his regular dose of darkness and beg for more ... Hedges has done some terrific things for the working class, but he lost his spine with the MAR '20 lockdowns ... he's now making huge "withdrawals" on the reputation he built as a war correspondent just to preserve his place in the independent media food chain ... this man no longer has his heart in America and he is cynically betting the ranch that you won't notice ...
I got many of his duplicitous verbatim quotes ready share with you here ... all ya gotta do is ask, so go ahead make my day ... and if you don't read it, then someone else here will!
While he is indulging in the ISR-PAL conflict, the U.S. working class - his working class is being ignored ... and I got a question for you: HOW MUCH IS ENOUGH? ... his act here passed the point of diminishing marginal returns weeks ago ...
How much is enough?
Are you older than 73? Listen, you can pull out all the dirt you want, but I am a discerning listener. I can make up my own mind as you have. He is one of many voices and, although he is dark, yes, he has relevant guests on. I listen to enough to know who stands up for the oppressed here and abroad. So you can take your Chris Hedges dirt and fling it elsewhere. I respect his audience, and expect them to make up their own minds. It is called freedom of the press. He has been an outspoken supporter of Julian Assange. He has abandoned no one. We all know what is going on here.
@Shell Well said. Thx.
Still waiting on a reply from you ...
Looks like your deeply held principles crashed into your paywall ...
Please tell me ...
Wouldn't it have been more appropriate to alternate his commentary from week to week between the ISR-PAL conflict and the U.S working class-DS conflict? ...
Eagerly awaiting your reply ...
good idea. Let's hear the truth about both sides. I am amazed at the lack of interest in GAZA by the Americans. Are they not aware of Israeli propaganda? Have you been to West Bank & seen settlers? What about Biden bypassing Congress to ship arms to Bibi? We all need to do a better job of learning whole history...of Native Americans, Slavery, Palestine, creation of Israel, probably Ukraine...especially our government's involvement in all of it.
@Beverly Good points, but hidden under a comment by someone whose moniker and posts suggest that they're just a spoiler. Comments like yours should be on the main thread, as I don't usually delve deeply under trollish posts like those by the Pain-in-the-A$$ Contrarian, who can author their own blog about whatever subject they deem most important.
Genocide should never be ignored. Ignoring Pre Holocaust Germany worked out so well too right Pita. But I guess it put a lot of working class to work in the long run. German interrogators of American POW's were amazed most didn't have any political thought or understanding at all, and didn't really know what they were fighting for. Chris expands human knowledge and points out the WASTE of war spending, which Israel is a large part. Eisenhower even pointed out how many schools or infrastructure could be built for the price of just one aircraft carrier. Israel is an example of a fascist state, that has all too much power in the US. All working class people should know who their enemies are! US oligarchs hate Taxes, Unions and Support Israel. Geo Politics is just as important, if not more important to understand by the working class in 2023. "Ignorance is Strength" lets them get away with bloody murder. Militarized Police in the US, take their lessons from the IDF, the working man will be like the Palestinian's in the future, if the public is not informed by truth tellers like Chris.
Hedges now covers the ISR-PAL conflict at our expense!
He doesn't give a hoot about the unemployed, divorced mother of 4 children ...
She never gives a thought to the plight of the PALs ... she doesn't have the time and can't afford it ... and he knows it! ... Do you really believe people like Blinken give a hoot what what Hedges says? ... Hedges is just pulling on your heart strings for SUBs, LIKEs and SHAREs ...
It's clear your bigger axe is the Covid vaccination and lock down in response to it...of course you harbor what is the greater truth...mine is mine and different than yours. I suspect I may even be older than you. That said, I am grateful for the vaccine (as I have been for all those I've received as a child against polio and diptheria and I don't know what else as my mom and dad were the directors of that regimen - and as a visitor to Nepal, Guatemala and a resident of the Congo); and I am grateful for the lock down. Two age cohort friends with comprised heaIth did not get vaccinations, but did get Covid and died. I got Covid two months ago. Me with chronic bronchitis and asthma. And old. And though I felt I'd been squished of all energy, I survived it and am well. I caught it because I'd stopped being disciplined with masking. Your sourness and cynicism toward Hedges is your choice, certainly you are entitled to have it. An attitude not uncommon in comment sections where people grouse about this and that person is one where the person in question is not perfect, or fit to the image expected of him given his excellence in other ways. And not uncommon is then to damn him or her completely. The absolutism - all good or all bad - defies reality. Hedges appears quite hard working, he produces a lot of material that is well reasoned and deep with historical backup and personal experience. And his passion for the "good" is untiring. Who else comes close? I feel sorry for you. You need him to be your hero fitting your specifications. That he is is own man doesn't make it with you. That's okay. You are entitled to feel let down and deserted on what for you are critical positions that he has chosen not to take. I am deeply grateful - one of the clapping seals as your condescendingly and perjoratively label us - to him. For his out-standing journalism and ethics. For his passion for truth telling and basic decency.
I didn't realize there was an age competition. I'm 90, big deal. All it means is that I've lived 20 plus years past my expiration date. Loved your comment Selina and don't care how old you are. It is wise. So I suspect you are an "elder" :-) PITA seems to be an absolutist who has been disillusioned and needs a target to blame. There's a difference between disagreeing and denigrating. You criticize those who give advice and put words in other's mouth but you engage in both. I am an admirer of Chris Hedges not a clapping seal. I would put his wisdom and experience against anyone. Who am I to decide what he should and should not address. That's his preference. We don't live in an ideal world. We can chose to make the world a better place. Being kind to one another helps. May we see peace in 2024 but I'm not betting on it.
Rhanna- Thank you for this “You criticize those who give advice and put words in other's mouth but you engage in both.” Not sure I am clear on exactly who the who is that is “giving advice” or what the words are that I am presumptuously putting into “others’ mouths. I am clear that much of the population function out of an all good all bad split. And I will continue to “note” that. Since becoming aware of how paltry that attitude is can become an open door for self and other acceptance and flourishing.To let more life richness pour in. A precursor and necessary nutritive spirit vitamin basic to forgiveness - self and other. What would our ravishingly gorgeous beautiful world be were all the gradients of gray in all the colors of the spectrum to be crammed into all white and all black! All that huge soulful motivational behavioral gray zone in between those poles. Shakespeare is rolling around in his grave. You can hear that grating sound. So each of us is a an infinite and boundless. Except when we fool ourselves into believing we are just that itty bitty island floating in the unbounded ocean. That “ego” island. But getting back to your observation. It opened me into feeling into what life as a single woman in our society with four children could be like. Holy Mackerel! I wonder how she can get the the sustenance to nourish all those kids and herself?
Thank you for replying. I would love to sit down with you and have a real conversation. The good thing about blogs and internet communication is the ability to cross geographic zones. However, I do miss person to person connections. We are a nation of "others' since we decimated the native population. Our diversity is agathakalogical, made of good and bad. It's our strength and our weakness. I live in not a black and white or a gray world. My world is multicolored. Our only child died and he had no children. I guess that's why I have monitored our school board for over 7 years. The children are our future. If you would like to continue our conversation here are my contacts: rhana3@verizon.net; 941-922-3610. I live in Sarasota, FL. You may have heard what's going on there!
I am not here to annoy you ...
I'm here for those few people who have seen through Hedges' act ...
I have no illusions about my meager influence ... I merely seek to expose the truth about turncoats like Hedges one LIKE at a time ...
Ta ta ...
Dear PITA - I am sorry if I hurt your feelings. Sorry too, that someone you once admired, seems to have betrayed the roots of that devotion/high regard. Becoming “a turncoat”. Blind to what matters to you. That hurts. May you find a way through this in a way that nourishes soul. Sincerely. Selina
Thank you ...
My soul is thriving and your disingenuous reply could not be more condescending ...
I am not here to annoy you ... Hedges has 60k subscribers here ... if you don't agree with my viewpoint, there are always others here who will ...
Hey, aren't you the SAME "PITA Contrarian" who harps on about RFK Jr. NOT SUPPORTING THE GAZA PALESTINIANS over in the RFK Jr./"The Kennedy Beacon" Substack comment sections?!
Who, exactly do you work for? And how is their pay? I mean, I can write too...
If so, seems like it would be more for the sheer cynical fun of it, than for profit. Or a depressingly successful bid for attention and a desperate need for engagement of any sort on any issue.
@Charles Main
Do you have ANY idea how large a cash cow the business of online trolling/sock puppetry/influencing & information warfare have become?
I am not a troll! ...
And I do not take money to comment here ...
My close friend was injured by the vax and is now wheel chair bound, and just a few weeks after she was "fitted with wheels", Hedges ignored the public warnings that proved the vax was not "safe and effective" and told us all to get vaxxed ... so Charles you just mind your own F***ING business!
I apparently missed Hedges directive telling "us all to get vaxxed" or if I did see it I ignored it like I did all the other non-professional--and the vast majority of the professional--medical purveyors of unexamined advice, as I will similarly ignore your last piece of unsolicited advice by suggesting in good faith and temperance that if you do not like being accused of being a troll, simply stop acting like one. I am a bit of a contrarian myself, but don't find it useful to be a PITA--with the occasional exception here ;-) How the hell do you expect people to respond, unless negative responses are what you are hoping for?
I am very sorry to hear your story about your friend, but why on earth would you look to Chris Hedges for medical advice? You appear to have put him on a pedestal at one point and then you discovered he is human at which point you might have understood the mistake was yours--which remains an option. And I suspect that most of his unquestioned acceptance of the novel mRNA technology, which is a very different animal from 'traditional' vaccination, may result from his witness to the effect of the Covid virus on the extremely vulnerable highly co-morbid and confined prison population with which he had very close contact. Seems you too were guilty of unquestioned acceptance, so get over it and forgive yourself.
I'm not here to annoy YOU! ...
So stop taking my comments so personally ...
But yes, you did miss one of Hedges most revealing, damning quotes ... Here ya go:
*****************
On DEC 2, 2021 ...
The FDA was compelled by a court ruling to release Phizer's vax trial data that revealed 1,223 post-jab deaths and 34,762 adverse events in the first 10 weeks of its trial ... The FDA attempted to delay the full release of this data for 75 years! ... this development proved that the COVID vax was not "safe and effective" ...
And then, just 30 days later ...
On JAN 1, 2022 ...
Chris Hedges made this comment on the Krystal Kyle & Friends Podcast (Episode #54):
Go to the 1:08:47 mark:
https://krystalkyleandfriends.substack.com/p/episode-54-audio-chris-hedges#details
"I don't think we're going to stop the pandemic and mutations until everybody gets vaccinated" ... Chris Hedges DID NOT have to take sides on this issue ... He could have said it's a personal decision ...
Most people would never tell another person to "walk the plank" if they knew better, but that's exactly what Hedges did here ... he knew the VAX was rushed to market after only one year (the average is 10 years), he knew about the explosive FDA FOIA release and he had to have seen the many videos of vax-injured people ... but he chose to push the "safe & effective" narrative anyway! ... and then about 2m after making that same comment during the interview above, Hedges openly admitted that he "does not trust Moderna or Phizer" ... clearly, this man did not give a hoot about the consequences ...
Hedges should NOT be forgiven for deliberately pointing us in the wrong direction when he knew better.
@PITA Contrarian
Are you a Zoroastrian?
Is that the best you can do? ... call me names?
Is that all ya got?
"sheer cynical fun"...chuckle.
You don't know what true cynicism is ...
if you are not understanding why Hedges focus on Palestine and GAza now, you are missing the human factor> What is the hottest issue now ?, where active Genocide with American tax payers dollars paying for it, is taking place on live TV!
"... if you are not understanding why Hedges focus on Palestine and GAza now," ...
No, I am not misunderstanding his motives at all ... and your suggestion that I am missing the human factor is beyond ridiculous ... On JAN 1, 2022, this man deliberately pissed on your "human factor" by looking his followers in the eye and telling "everybody" to get vaxxed when Phizer's own trial data statistically proved that the COVID vax was not "safe and effective" ...
The brazen, arrogant gall of this man ... what an insensitive, self-centered, heartless prick!
Lots of hot issues right now here in the U.S. ...
Can you name 3?
It is his show. I enjoy all of his episodes. I would take that up with him directly.
Such a nightmare and a shame what the United States is doing. I learned more from this interview. Thank you. People my age here in the US are engrossed in fantasy football and aren’t paying attention to much. They kind of know the world is a mess but they just figure there’s nothing they can do and they aren’t going to do anything but focus on their own situation. Many still say “Trump is worse than Biden.” I’d say Biden’s had more opportunity in office to do more damage. I think of George Carlin’s quotes; “we’re barely outta the jungle on this planet.” Ordinary Jungle beasts. Savages.” “Semi-civilized beings..with baseball caps & automatic weapons.” It’s fundamentally about greed and a lack of space, land. Even with plenty of room someone wants to conquer your land. And As professor IIan states; “doomed to fail from the beginning.” Gaza is so small geographically and so densely populated. The United States is going to be hated by Ukrainians, hated by more middle easterners. As Chris says; “a pariah nation.” The climate disaster may be our ultimate demise. As another Carlin quote; “the earth is doing fine, it’s the people who are fkd. We’re just a surface problem to the earth.” “The earth will shake us off like a bad case of fleas.”
Thank You Chris!
If Israel does completely consume all of the West Bank and Gaza strip and manages to eliminate most of the Palestinians, how many think Israel will simply there land grab? Won't they continue to consume greater portions of land using the slogans "security" and the "right to self defense" to justify what they are doing.