Showing posts with label imperialism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label imperialism. Show all posts

Sunday, July 31, 2016

The CIA and the Cult of Intelligence


Victor Marchetti used the expression "cult of intelligence" to denounce what he viewed as a counterproductive mindset and culture of secrecy, elitism, amorality and lawlessness within and surrounding the Central Intelligence Agency in the service of American imperialism: There exists in our nation today a powerful and dangerous secret cult -- the cult of intelligence. Its holy men are the clandestine professionals of the Central Intelligence Agency. Its patrons and protectors are the highest officials of the federal government. Its membership, extending far beyond governmental circles, reaches into the power centers of industry, commerce, finance, and labor. Its friends are many in the areas of important public influence -- the academic world and the communications media. The cult of intelligence is a secret fraternity of the American political aristocracy. The purpose of the cult is to further the foreign policies of the U.S. government by covert and usually illegal means, while at the same time containing the spread of its avowed enemy, communism. Traditionally, the cult's hope has been to foster a world order in which America would reign supreme, the unchallenged international leader. Today, however, that dream stands tarnished by time and frequent failures. Thus, the cult's objectives are now less grandiose, but no less disturbing. It seeks largely to advance America's self-appointed role as the dominant arbiter of social, economic, and political change in the awakening regions of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. And its worldwide war against communism has to some extent been reduced to a covert struggle to maintain a self-serving stability in the Third World, using whatever clandestine methods are available. (secrets of the c.i.a.)

Monday, March 7, 2016

Oh say can you see by the dusk's grey light a nation once great fading from sight.



Some time ago, around the mid to late forties, The United States of America moved into the premier position of power. It effectively elbowed the dilapidated British Empire from the top spot, from being the world's number one superpower. This was a much-welcomed event even for the Brits, those of them anyway long tired of Imperialism.
The rise of the USA also brought with it a sense of liberality to those in England tired of the straitjacket of pomp, circumstance and forever knowing ones place. The Yanks did not know their place. In fact, the very idea galled them somewhat.
They gave the world Hollywood, Coca-Cola, Jazz, Levis, Converse Sneakers, the Blues and ultimately, Rock and Roll. It was a time of youth, world youth and even though those British imposters, The Beatles, sat firmly on that throne, still the thrust of change came from America.
Then Margaret Thatcher was elected. Then Ronald Regan. Two Neo-Conservatives with singular minds. They didn't much like the way the young had challenged the establishment so set about destabilising all those changes made, replacing them with what Margaret Thatcher called, 'Victorian Standards.
It was the end of the world as we know. And no, I don't feel fine.
A nation built on secularism is now drifting to a right wing fundamentalist viewpoint, evangelical in their zeal with mammon in their hearts.
Every coin turns a profit.
Now the United States, that beacon of modernity is taking a short walk back to Imperialism via Cruz and Trump. And as they march in reverse like a scene from a Monty Python movie so the rest of the world giggles unbelievingly at the idiocy being shown by candidates unfit for the Presidency.
Let's hope Europe will not deal with such as they. I know Britain will as that is now a state without a star.