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Monopolizing War? What America Knows How to Do Best by Tom Engelhardt
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/09/13-7Its pop-quiz time when it comes to the American way of war: three questions, torn from the latest news, just for you. Heres the first of them, and good luck!
Two weeks ago, 200 U.S. Marines began armed operations in ?:
a) Afghanistan
b) Pakistan
c) Iran
d) Somalia
e) Yemen
f) Central Africa
g) Northern Mali
h) The Philippines
i) Guatemala
If you opted for any answer, a through h, you took a reasonable shot at it. After all, theres an ongoing American war in Afghanistan and somewhere in the southern part of that country, 200 armed U.S. Marines could well have been involved in an operation. In Pakistan, an undeclared, CIA-run air war has long been underway, and in the past there have been armed border crossings by U.S. special operations forces as well as U.S. piloted cross-border air strikes, but no Marines.
When it comes to Iran, Washingtons regional preparations for war are staggering. The continual build-up of U.S. naval power in the Persian Gulf, of land forces on bases around that country, of air power (and anti-missile defenses) in the region should leave any observer breathless. There are U.S. special operations forces near the Iranian border and CIA drones regularly over that country. In conjunction with the Israelis, Washington has launched a cyberwar against Irans nuclear program and computer systems. It has also established fierce oil and banking sanctions, and there seem to have been at least some U.S. cross-border operations into Iran going back to at least 2007. In addition, a recent front-page New York Times story on Obama administration attempts to mollify Israel over its Iran policy included this ominous line: The administration is also considering... covert activities that have been previously considered and rejected. So 200 armed Marines in action in Iran -- not yet, but dont get down on yourself, it was a good guess.
In Somalia, according to Wired magazine's Danger Room blog, there have been far more U.S. drone flights and strikes against the Islamic extremist al-Shabaab movement and al-Qaeda elements than anyone previously knew. In addition, the U.S. has at least partially funded, supported, equipped, advised, and promoted proxy wars there, involving Ethiopian troops back in 2007 and more recently Ugandan and Burundi troops (as well as an invading Kenyan army). In addition, CIA operatives and possibly other irregulars and hired guns are well established in Mogadishu, the capital.
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Monopolizing War? What America Knows How to Do Best by Tom Engelhardt (Original Post)
xchrom
Sep 2012
OP
bemildred
(90,061 posts)1. Hey, it's bound to work sometime, the odds have to be in our favor now. nt
limpyhobbler
(8,244 posts)3. k/r nt
sad sally
(2,627 posts)4. Once and for all the idea of glorious victories won by the glorious army must be wiped out.
Neither side is glorious.
On either side they're just frightened men messing their pants and they all want the same thing - not to lie under the earth, but to walk up on it - without crutches.
Peter Weiss