I wish Chris Hedges would do a book, (it would take far more than an article), about the stranglehold that Zionists have over US politics. I’ve read the work of Mearsheimer on the Israel lobby, but I feel there’s more to it than that. What would make RFK jr. go out of his way to defend the genocide?
The pure racism of this savage regime is breathtaking, and I’ve lived among them. They make the KKK look like Girl Scouts. What hidden mischief guides these people?
I also commented on the same issue where Kennedy supports the genocide in Gaza while at the same time claims to be really concerned about people's health. Something is definitely wrong. For years Israel has been at "war" with the Palestinians and see them as less then human. Israeli society has been sick for a long time, and ours is not too well either. They're like alpha male chimpanzees who meet up and usually wind up in a fight. Chimps are aggressively xenophobic, and unfortunately our closest living relative. Cute though.
Actually humans are as closely related to the bonobos as we are to the chimpanzees. Bonobos act nothing like the chimps. That gives hope that there is room to change based on genetics, good sense, and survival skills.
Of course I don't know the inner machinations of military hierarchies, but this sure explains the last U.S. election. Seemed to me Cheney's rationale for endorsing Harris was suspect. The Rs haven't objected to power obsessed multimillionaire narcissists since the Progressive era. But Trump and his loyal cult cadres are for sure unpredictable. So Cheney must have been convinced Harris and the dependable neolib Ds would keep his neocon trainees in the State Dept.
Col Wilkerson's comments about U.S. intelligence agendas make sense to me, too. I knew a top level CIA agent who had operated in Vietnam and who personally helped deliver weapons, including chemical ones, to Saddam when Iraq was fighting Iran. Probably of no great surprise the guy was also a very right wing evangelical Christian. The one person I've ever met who really terrified me. Frankly, he would have scared the hell out of Satan.
BTW, many of my old co-workers may not be familiar with terms like neolib or neocon, yet they realize expensive wars mean no $$$ for infrastructure, healthcare, or much of anything else domestic. As the plaything of wealthy gamblers and stock buybacks benefitting CEOs, the stock market is clearly not connected to a good economy. But I hadn't thought about bonds; thanks for that observation.
Thank you for another informative interview, giving me yet more background on the issues we face as Americans and people no matter where they live. Although I am devastated by recent events and the ongoing insanity, your interviews somehow create a stable place that explains how we got here and who pulled those levers of authority. It keeps me from falling into the fascist despair.
I think Trump will move forward in regard to Ukraine, but I fear he will continue the genocide in Israel. What's wrong with Kennedy, that he wants to protect people's health, but have Israel continue to implement it's genocide?
A country established with violence goes on to create a military industrial complex hell bent on growth? Nah, that would never happen on this planet - our species is way smarter than that.
Smart like the //The Best and the Brightest// of Halberstam's book on the Vietnam war. Add 2.0 Ivy D version we just saw. Above all, the Chicago School of Econ, insisting we lessers must adhere to endless econ growth despite a finite planet. While the the 1/10th of 1%, the "winners," invest in megayachts and private islands, thinking they'll escape the inevitable.
The election—a grand display of apathy so staggering it could only be a referendum on moral bankruptcy and betrayal. As of November 11, 2024, the preliminary popular vote count tells the story in no uncertain terms: Donald Trump received approximately 71.7 million votes, while Kamala Harris pulled in only 66.8 million—a catastrophic loss of 14.2 million from Biden’s 81 million in 2020. Trump’s support dropped too, but only by about 2.3 million, a mere ripple compared to the exodus from the Democratic camp. The message couldn’t be clearer: a massive portion of former Biden voters refused to turn out for a party that treats genocide as policy, and not even the specter of Trump could compel them to support a Democratic Party that has twisted "Never Again" into a hollow slogan. The Democrats once sold themselves as the moral choice; now, millions see through it for what it is—moral posturing draped over complicity.
And who can blame them? Millions of disillusioned Americans couldn’t, in good conscience, rally behind a party that chants "human rights" while greenlighting war crimes—a party whose actions expose a fundamental contempt for the very values they claim to uphold.
The Democratic Genocidal Joy Convention was a grand fiesta of doublethink and moral gymnastics. Who needs ethics when you’ve got a clever narrative? They managed to wrap themselves in the banner of "democracy," while backing genocide as if it were an unfortunate hiccup in their plan for "compassionate leadership." But why bother naming victims like Hind Rajab or acknowledging the humanity of an entire population? Much easier to keep the horrors faceless—it’s far less messy for cocktail circuits and media sound bites.
But according to the Democrats, there’s no genocide here! Nothing to see, folks—just "self-defense." Convenient, isn't it? Their idea of "self-defense" involves daily bombings, forced displacements, and entire families erased from existence. Don’t worry—it’s all perfectly moral because they said so. Let’s not ignore the doublespeak: "Israel defending itself" is marketed so well it could be a fitness craze, if fitness involved flattening hospitals and refugee camps. The Democrats have mastered the art of doublespeak—if you can’t dazzle them with decency, baffle them with euphemisms.
But this isn’t self-defense; it’s willful blindness. As UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese so aptly put it, “If you go to a doctor because you have cancer and you're diagnosed with just a fever, you have a big problem. It's the same with people who are being genocided.” To ignore the reality on the ground—starvation, displacement, massacres—is to deny the moral truth.
And the voters? The Democrats seemed shocked that people were appalled by their actions. Internal polling warned that ending arms sales to Israel was wildly popular—especially with younger voters who, silly them, actually thought human rights mattered. But no, the Democrats marched forward as if the only opinions that mattered belonged to their friends in the weapons industry. When faced with a choice between supporting genocide and staying home, millions decided that they could no longer reward these so-called "humanitarians" with another four years.
Remember the 2016 primary debacle? Bernie Sanders resonated with the base, but they had to rig the system to shove him aside for someone more, shall we say, Wall Street-compliant. The Democrats have this fascinating habit of asking people to vote for change, then ensuring the only change is a slightly different shade of moral depravity. Bernie stumping for Hillary, the man with the platform of "justice," forced to back the establishment’s puppet—it was almost Shakespearean. Now Bernie offers up his "I told you so" as if he didn’t see it coming from a mile away.
And let’s not forget the Democrats’ true nightmare. Spoiler alert: it’s not Trump. Their real terror lies in the fact that Americans are no longer buying the "moral choice" facade. They thought they could wrap their wars, hypocrisies, and backroom deals in a blanket of "progressive values" and fool us all. But guess what? Americans aren’t blind. They see the hypocrisy, the empty platitudes, the atrocities, and finally, the reality that the Democrats’ moral high ground is nothing more than a house of cards built upon the bones of the children of Gaza.
Let’s not overlook U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s attack on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. In a bold deflection from the issue of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Thomas-Greenfield declared, “As UN Special Rapporteur Albanese visits New York, I want to reiterate the U.S. belief she is unfit for her role. The United Nations should not tolerate antisemitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights.” By branding Albanese’s call for accountability as "antisemitism," Thomas-Greenfield and the Democratic establishment tried to silence the truth, accusing Albanese of the very thing they stand accused of: spreading harmful, inflammatory propaganda to justify an unjust war. The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention responded to the smear, calling out her "criminal complicity in an ongoing genocide." They stated bluntly, “Is there any trick from the genocidaire’s playbook that you will refuse to carry out?” And the public’s mood was summed up by the most-liked response: “You disgusting piece of sh!t. You absolutely irredeemable scumbag. Not only have you fought tirelessly to defend a racist genocide, you now weaponize fake anti-racism for your bullshit imperialism. There will be no fires in the lowest depths of Hell hot enough to do you justice.”
Americans concerned with these atrocities should make it an everlasting red line: complicity in genocide, partnering in atrocity propaganda, shielding war criminals, and refusing to uphold the rule of law must disqualify any party. And here’s a radical suggestion: a political party committed to true reform could vow to never again accept a dollar from any public fund, corporation, or lobby that buys influence only to twist and sell out the truth to Americans. The Democrats' continued reliance on military-industrial money reveals, at best, their inability to act independently and, at worst, their willingness to stand as a partner in slaughter.
They have been no strangers to atrocity propaganda either. Just look at Hillary Clinton’s infamous lie, revealed by WikiLeaks, where she parroted false intelligence claiming Muammar Qaddafi was supplying his troops with Viagra to commit mass rape, all to justify the destruction of Libya. Clinton’s deception has left Libya in ruins to this day—a policy built on lies, now openly documented, but glossed over by Democrats in the name of “national interest.”
And then there’s the Cheney issue, a testament to bipartisan hypocrisy. Dick Cheney, one of the most notorious war criminals in U.S. history, lied the country into Iraq, leaving a legacy of bloodshed and instability. His actions go unpunished, and even now, establishment Democrats remain silent about Cheney’s crimes, unwilling to acknowledge their complicity in the machinery of war, while attacking their own members for standing against these atrocities.
Finally, the American public was treated to the spectacle of Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing Congress, greeted with thunderous applause, breaking records for standing ovations for a foreign leader. This was no small honor—Netanyahu has been invited to speak before Congress more times than any other foreign leader. Yet, let’s not forget, there are arrest warrants pending at the ICC for Netanyahu for war crimes. While weak-willed members chose to sit out, the rest cheered for a leader accused of some of the world’s gravest offenses. In stark contrast, Representative Rashida Tlaib, standing alone with a silent sign of protest, faced scorn from her colleagues. And where were the voices defending Jamal Bowman or Cori Bush when they were attacked for their principled call for a ceasefire and basic Palestinian rights?
Congratulations, Democrats, on your triumph of self-sabotage. You’ve driven away millions, not just over political differences, but because you thought genocide was a marketable stance. Maybe next time, try running on a platform that doesn’t involve euphemisms for mass slaughter. Perhaps the NonVoters will welcome even more disillusioned Americans next time.
Cry those of us with a conscience and moral clarity regarding genocide a river. We're still counting the bodies and mourning the daily massacres you don’t even hear about from mainstream corporate media, as The General's Plan unfolds in all its horror across social and international media.
The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to make his stand in Gaza, or Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. If Gaza is no longer an option, thanks to the total blockade by Israel. He could even go to the West Bank, Beirut, or even Teheran, and say, “Not in our name, not on our watch.”
This was an interesting interview and discussion with two commentators that I respect but there didn't seem to be much rapport between them. They certainly have very different backgrounds - very curious what kind of discussion occurred behind the scenes (if any).
I wish Chris Hedges would do a book, (it would take far more than an article), about the stranglehold that Zionists have over US politics. I’ve read the work of Mearsheimer on the Israel lobby, but I feel there’s more to it than that. What would make RFK jr. go out of his way to defend the genocide?
The pure racism of this savage regime is breathtaking, and I’ve lived among them. They make the KKK look like Girl Scouts. What hidden mischief guides these people?
I also commented on the same issue where Kennedy supports the genocide in Gaza while at the same time claims to be really concerned about people's health. Something is definitely wrong. For years Israel has been at "war" with the Palestinians and see them as less then human. Israeli society has been sick for a long time, and ours is not too well either. They're like alpha male chimpanzees who meet up and usually wind up in a fight. Chimps are aggressively xenophobic, and unfortunately our closest living relative. Cute though.
Actually humans are as closely related to the bonobos as we are to the chimpanzees. Bonobos act nothing like the chimps. That gives hope that there is room to change based on genetics, good sense, and survival skills.
This is an exceptionally insightful interview --and the full transcript really helps in digesting the wealth of information conveyed.
Professionalism par excellence here.
Thank you Chris Hedges and Lawrence Wilkerson for perspective - a description of and markers for the lay of the land.
Of course I don't know the inner machinations of military hierarchies, but this sure explains the last U.S. election. Seemed to me Cheney's rationale for endorsing Harris was suspect. The Rs haven't objected to power obsessed multimillionaire narcissists since the Progressive era. But Trump and his loyal cult cadres are for sure unpredictable. So Cheney must have been convinced Harris and the dependable neolib Ds would keep his neocon trainees in the State Dept.
Col Wilkerson's comments about U.S. intelligence agendas make sense to me, too. I knew a top level CIA agent who had operated in Vietnam and who personally helped deliver weapons, including chemical ones, to Saddam when Iraq was fighting Iran. Probably of no great surprise the guy was also a very right wing evangelical Christian. The one person I've ever met who really terrified me. Frankly, he would have scared the hell out of Satan.
BTW, many of my old co-workers may not be familiar with terms like neolib or neocon, yet they realize expensive wars mean no $$$ for infrastructure, healthcare, or much of anything else domestic. As the plaything of wealthy gamblers and stock buybacks benefitting CEOs, the stock market is clearly not connected to a good economy. But I hadn't thought about bonds; thanks for that observation.
Thank you for another informative interview, giving me yet more background on the issues we face as Americans and people no matter where they live. Although I am devastated by recent events and the ongoing insanity, your interviews somehow create a stable place that explains how we got here and who pulled those levers of authority. It keeps me from falling into the fascist despair.
Wilkeraon's faith is touching. Trump is weak, stupid and easily manipulated. Call him "Putin puppet!" and he will fold.
Those who doubt may recall how Trump twice cucked out of leaving Syria.
I think Trump will move forward in regard to Ukraine, but I fear he will continue the genocide in Israel. What's wrong with Kennedy, that he wants to protect people's health, but have Israel continue to implement it's genocide?
So glad to hear Col. Lawrence Wilkerson actually mention the oil.
It should have been the top talking point from the start.
Why would America spend trillions on Israel if there were no oil down there?
Obvs.
Ages ago Biden said, "Thank god for Israel. If Israel didn't exist we'd have to invent it", and then referring to an 'investment'. Spelling It Out.
No amount of refining will be able to clean that filthy oil when its finally pumped up.
Those refineries will have to be built on top of rubble, bones and blood.
Like they invented WMD so's they could get to Iraq's oil.
America doesn't get out of bed unless there's oil involved.
I didn't realise Netanyahu already owns it - it was just a matter of getting rid of the Arabs. That should have been a top talking point as well.
Thank you! Such an interesting conversation.
A country established with violence goes on to create a military industrial complex hell bent on growth? Nah, that would never happen on this planet - our species is way smarter than that.
Smart like the //The Best and the Brightest// of Halberstam's book on the Vietnam war. Add 2.0 Ivy D version we just saw. Above all, the Chicago School of Econ, insisting we lessers must adhere to endless econ growth despite a finite planet. While the the 1/10th of 1%, the "winners," invest in megayachts and private islands, thinking they'll escape the inevitable.
What was wrong with hunter gathering is all I say
The election—a grand display of apathy so staggering it could only be a referendum on moral bankruptcy and betrayal. As of November 11, 2024, the preliminary popular vote count tells the story in no uncertain terms: Donald Trump received approximately 71.7 million votes, while Kamala Harris pulled in only 66.8 million—a catastrophic loss of 14.2 million from Biden’s 81 million in 2020. Trump’s support dropped too, but only by about 2.3 million, a mere ripple compared to the exodus from the Democratic camp. The message couldn’t be clearer: a massive portion of former Biden voters refused to turn out for a party that treats genocide as policy, and not even the specter of Trump could compel them to support a Democratic Party that has twisted "Never Again" into a hollow slogan. The Democrats once sold themselves as the moral choice; now, millions see through it for what it is—moral posturing draped over complicity.
And who can blame them? Millions of disillusioned Americans couldn’t, in good conscience, rally behind a party that chants "human rights" while greenlighting war crimes—a party whose actions expose a fundamental contempt for the very values they claim to uphold.
The Democratic Genocidal Joy Convention was a grand fiesta of doublethink and moral gymnastics. Who needs ethics when you’ve got a clever narrative? They managed to wrap themselves in the banner of "democracy," while backing genocide as if it were an unfortunate hiccup in their plan for "compassionate leadership." But why bother naming victims like Hind Rajab or acknowledging the humanity of an entire population? Much easier to keep the horrors faceless—it’s far less messy for cocktail circuits and media sound bites.
But according to the Democrats, there’s no genocide here! Nothing to see, folks—just "self-defense." Convenient, isn't it? Their idea of "self-defense" involves daily bombings, forced displacements, and entire families erased from existence. Don’t worry—it’s all perfectly moral because they said so. Let’s not ignore the doublespeak: "Israel defending itself" is marketed so well it could be a fitness craze, if fitness involved flattening hospitals and refugee camps. The Democrats have mastered the art of doublespeak—if you can’t dazzle them with decency, baffle them with euphemisms.
But this isn’t self-defense; it’s willful blindness. As UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese so aptly put it, “If you go to a doctor because you have cancer and you're diagnosed with just a fever, you have a big problem. It's the same with people who are being genocided.” To ignore the reality on the ground—starvation, displacement, massacres—is to deny the moral truth.
And the voters? The Democrats seemed shocked that people were appalled by their actions. Internal polling warned that ending arms sales to Israel was wildly popular—especially with younger voters who, silly them, actually thought human rights mattered. But no, the Democrats marched forward as if the only opinions that mattered belonged to their friends in the weapons industry. When faced with a choice between supporting genocide and staying home, millions decided that they could no longer reward these so-called "humanitarians" with another four years.
Remember the 2016 primary debacle? Bernie Sanders resonated with the base, but they had to rig the system to shove him aside for someone more, shall we say, Wall Street-compliant. The Democrats have this fascinating habit of asking people to vote for change, then ensuring the only change is a slightly different shade of moral depravity. Bernie stumping for Hillary, the man with the platform of "justice," forced to back the establishment’s puppet—it was almost Shakespearean. Now Bernie offers up his "I told you so" as if he didn’t see it coming from a mile away.
And let’s not forget the Democrats’ true nightmare. Spoiler alert: it’s not Trump. Their real terror lies in the fact that Americans are no longer buying the "moral choice" facade. They thought they could wrap their wars, hypocrisies, and backroom deals in a blanket of "progressive values" and fool us all. But guess what? Americans aren’t blind. They see the hypocrisy, the empty platitudes, the atrocities, and finally, the reality that the Democrats’ moral high ground is nothing more than a house of cards built upon the bones of the children of Gaza.
Let’s not overlook U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s attack on Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories. In a bold deflection from the issue of Israel’s actions in Gaza, Thomas-Greenfield declared, “As UN Special Rapporteur Albanese visits New York, I want to reiterate the U.S. belief she is unfit for her role. The United Nations should not tolerate antisemitism from a UN-affiliated official hired to promote human rights.” By branding Albanese’s call for accountability as "antisemitism," Thomas-Greenfield and the Democratic establishment tried to silence the truth, accusing Albanese of the very thing they stand accused of: spreading harmful, inflammatory propaganda to justify an unjust war. The Lemkin Institute for Genocide Prevention responded to the smear, calling out her "criminal complicity in an ongoing genocide." They stated bluntly, “Is there any trick from the genocidaire’s playbook that you will refuse to carry out?” And the public’s mood was summed up by the most-liked response: “You disgusting piece of sh!t. You absolutely irredeemable scumbag. Not only have you fought tirelessly to defend a racist genocide, you now weaponize fake anti-racism for your bullshit imperialism. There will be no fires in the lowest depths of Hell hot enough to do you justice.”
Americans concerned with these atrocities should make it an everlasting red line: complicity in genocide, partnering in atrocity propaganda, shielding war criminals, and refusing to uphold the rule of law must disqualify any party. And here’s a radical suggestion: a political party committed to true reform could vow to never again accept a dollar from any public fund, corporation, or lobby that buys influence only to twist and sell out the truth to Americans. The Democrats' continued reliance on military-industrial money reveals, at best, their inability to act independently and, at worst, their willingness to stand as a partner in slaughter.
They have been no strangers to atrocity propaganda either. Just look at Hillary Clinton’s infamous lie, revealed by WikiLeaks, where she parroted false intelligence claiming Muammar Qaddafi was supplying his troops with Viagra to commit mass rape, all to justify the destruction of Libya. Clinton’s deception has left Libya in ruins to this day—a policy built on lies, now openly documented, but glossed over by Democrats in the name of “national interest.”
And then there’s the Cheney issue, a testament to bipartisan hypocrisy. Dick Cheney, one of the most notorious war criminals in U.S. history, lied the country into Iraq, leaving a legacy of bloodshed and instability. His actions go unpunished, and even now, establishment Democrats remain silent about Cheney’s crimes, unwilling to acknowledge their complicity in the machinery of war, while attacking their own members for standing against these atrocities.
Finally, the American public was treated to the spectacle of Prime Minister Netanyahu addressing Congress, greeted with thunderous applause, breaking records for standing ovations for a foreign leader. This was no small honor—Netanyahu has been invited to speak before Congress more times than any other foreign leader. Yet, let’s not forget, there are arrest warrants pending at the ICC for Netanyahu for war crimes. While weak-willed members chose to sit out, the rest cheered for a leader accused of some of the world’s gravest offenses. In stark contrast, Representative Rashida Tlaib, standing alone with a silent sign of protest, faced scorn from her colleagues. And where were the voices defending Jamal Bowman or Cori Bush when they were attacked for their principled call for a ceasefire and basic Palestinian rights?
Congratulations, Democrats, on your triumph of self-sabotage. You’ve driven away millions, not just over political differences, but because you thought genocide was a marketable stance. Maybe next time, try running on a platform that doesn’t involve euphemisms for mass slaughter. Perhaps the NonVoters will welcome even more disillusioned Americans next time.
Cry those of us with a conscience and moral clarity regarding genocide a river. We're still counting the bodies and mourning the daily massacres you don’t even hear about from mainstream corporate media, as The General's Plan unfolds in all its horror across social and international media.
So enjoyed that interview & learnt a lot. Thank you Chris
Thank you, excellent interview!
The best thing Pope Francis could ever do is to make his stand in Gaza, or Bethlehem. He has an opportunity that is unequalled, to say "no" to genocide. If Gaza is no longer an option, thanks to the total blockade by Israel. He could even go to the West Bank, Beirut, or even Teheran, and say, “Not in our name, not on our watch.”
Please sign the petition and share widely.
https://chng.it/gkvBfY44rq
quite terrifying to listen to Wilkerson's incoherent and arrogant jabbering.
@ronald young
would you mind taking some time to substantiate your judgement - which i find rather harsh?
USS Liberty was attacked during the 1967 war! Johnson blocked an enquiry.
This was an interesting interview and discussion with two commentators that I respect but there didn't seem to be much rapport between them. They certainly have very different backgrounds - very curious what kind of discussion occurred behind the scenes (if any).