Teaching public about American imperialism -- what groups are effective?

[lostnfound]

In another thread, I stated that the US has military bases in 63 countries, and troops in 157 countries. http://www.unitedforpeace.org/downloads/military_map.pdf

Over 50% of the US discretionary budget goes to military expenditures (though not enough to the soldiers themselves!) -- i.e., $396 billion.

Hoping that many of you have spent time working on this issue -- what groups do you think have been (or will be) most effective on educating the public about this important topic?

And why do you think that the concerned groups that are working on the issue haven't been very successful thus far?

[salinen]

1. I haven't spent time working on this issue

but I have thought about the international influence of the american military and the costs of basing personnel and machine in other countries. I had no idea that over 50% of discretionary $ goes toward the military (I'm not surprised). I can think of directions to stress in educating the public;

- Use figures to show what could be accomplished domestically with that kind of money.

- That we are fast becomming a nation devoted to security and that the price tag is bankrupting us. We are attempting to militarize the world for our own safety, but it isn't working. Rome had the same problem with imperialistic/safety issues.

- That by having a military presence worldwide is bad economically because there is no product created. It is a huge money pit.

Glad you brought it up.

[lostnfound]

6. Good points.

However, I might change one of your points a little bit. I'm not sure that we are attempting to militarize the world "for our own safety"; rather, it's to protect investments and to concentrate wealth.

There's quite a bit of evidence to suggest that most of the military actions which the U.S. undertakes is all about defending or furthering corporate interests. From banana companies in Guatamala, to 'rubber,tin,and oil' in Vietnam, to pipelines in Colombia and yes, Afghanistan too..

[ldoolin]

2. Hmm that's a good question

I don't know about groups specifically working on this issue but there is a very good book aimed at the middle school/high school level, in comic book format:

Addicted To War by Joel Andreas

Does a very good job of succinctly summing up the issues and making them easily understandable.

[lostnfound]

7. Thanks! I ran across it once and meant to buy a copy..

in Japanese, for a friend of mine, but I couldn't remember the title! You just saved me some net searches!

[corporatewhore]

3. peace actionand

american friends service comnitee cause thats how i learned

[Myra]

4. Gore Vidal has a page list of 250 US military "strikes" from 1947 on

In his recent book:
Not including CIA coups!
So it's actually far higher if you count them.


"Perpetual War for Perpetual Peace: How We Got To Be So Hated"

I don't know if that helps.
But Vidal would be one of the people with answers.
Noam Chomsky would be another.

GORE VIDAL: "I don't think we, the American people, deserved what happened. Nor do we deserve the sort of governments we have had over the last 40 years. Our governments have brought this upon us by their actions all over the world. I have a list in my new book that gives the reader some idea how busy we have been. Unfortunately, we only get disinformation from The New York Times and other official places. Americans have no idea of the extent of their government's mischief. The number of military strikes we have made unprovoked, against other countries, since 1947-48 is more than 250. These are major strikes everywhere from Panama to Iran. And it isn't even a complete list. It doesn't include places like Chile, as that was a CIA operation. I was only listing military attacks."

http://www.laweekly.com/ink/02/33/features-cooper.php

[lostnfound]

5. Vidal is good, isn't he? Easy reading, too.

William Blum has some lists in Rogue State of military interventions and attempted coups.

But I was wondering about groups that take the facts or perspective out to the masses...the non-book reading masses.