The Emperors Have No Clothes!
It is becoming apparent that sections of the U.S. Secret Service are presently in Dublin preparing the way for the arrival of ex-U.S. Presidents George Bush Sr. and Bill Clinton attending the Ryder Cup. The televised gaze of the world turns to Ireland with the arrival of these two men who faciltated the deaths of over a million children under the age of 5 (UNESCO) under the 12 year geocidal sanctions regime on Iraq.
In 1996 the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Madeline Albright, when confronted with the statistic that 500,000 children under the age of 5 had died in Iraq due to the sanctions, responded "We think it's worth the price!" (60 Minutes). Albright was then promoted to the position of U.S. Secretary of State. This year she is quoted repenting of her role in Time Magazine (July '06) "Iraq is the biggest foreign policy disaster in U.S. history!"
Still, no repentance form George Sr. and Bill.
I was living in Washingotn DC when George Sr. handed over to Bill. Bill was preparing for a Woodstock on the Mall and George marked his exit with unnecessary fireworks over Bghdad with a churlish, deadly attack. Later Bill responded to an unsuccesful attack on George while visiting Kuwait with a cruise missile attack on civilian targets in Sudan & Afghanistan (one missile went so off target that it hit Pakisatn!)
The U.S. Presidency could possibly be dominated by years of these dynasties for decades BUSH (George Sr.)-CLINTON (Bill)-CLINTON (Bill)-BUSH (George Jr. -BUSH(George Jr.)-CLINTON(Hill)-CLINTON (Hill)-BUSH (Jeb)-BUSH(Jeb). Anyone for Chelsea in '24???
Two families whose origins could not be more polar. Bill is the closest "from log cabin to white house" President you are going to get.- n terms of working his way up, surfing the wave of the liberal edges of the student new left baby boomers. (Nearly derailed by the search for evidence that he once organised a demonstration against U.S. foreign policy (Vietnam War) on foreign shores (Oxford).
Bush money goes way back. As they said in Texas, George Sr. was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple!" in terms of the mythology of "self made man". Geirge Jr. didn't have the work ethic of dad and just bought a basebal team, it seems to be the most signifcant episode on his CV before becoming Governor of Texas.
These two Presidents come to Ireland at a time where the wars they sewed the seeds for continue to escalate and expand in the Middle East and Afghanistan (bankrolled by factions of the Kuwaiti and Saudis). The U.S. military is losing in Iraq. The body count of the past weeks is massive. The war has spilled over into a Lebanon and promises to expand into Iran.
The British are losing in Afghanistan (how did they expect to win when they've been beat their before and the Russians lost with 120,000 troops and they have only deployed 4,000!). Tensions between
political leadership and thier military elites also escalates. The Bair admin demands the eradication of opium crops (this year Afghaistan will prodece more heroin than western addicts can consume!), the military are saying don't go there!
These wars have no popular support, but there is little sign of popular opposition. More tension/opposition is coming out of the military, military families and families of the military dead than is coming out of any anti-wr movement springing fomr civil societ.
As these two men arrive in Ireland the campuses will maintain a housebroken silence (both academics and students), the churches will be quiet, themainstream media will "cover (up)" the role of these two mens. U.S. cannonfodder will be funneled through Shannon Airprot to a war they can't win.
So at every oppotunity during this Ryder Cup spectacle with chalk or shout we should call to "Make Par Not War". We should challenge them on the streets with a shout as their motorcades speed by, we should convert publicity for the spectacle with the reality of Bush, Clinton and Irish complicity in this war. If anyone's up for it ping pong balls with peace slogans are always ggod one to litter military golf courses with in my experience.