General Discussion

democrank

(11,688 posts)

20. The prolongation of the mercenary class/top secret everything is deeply troubling to me.

Mon Oct 20, 2014, 09:49 AM

Oct 2014

The Bush administration`s "with us or with the terrorists" was an enormous success. Malleable politicians, a lying/bullying president and vice president and their savvy handlers were able to garner support from frightened citizens and get them to go along with just about anything, including torture.

If members of Congress could be bullied into something as ridiculous as wearing flag pins to "prove" their patriotism, you can be sure The Test didn`t stop there.

All this sacrifice, all these values and principles flushed down the toilet, and where did it get us?
We swapped real-life arms and legs, real life loss of global influence for a government`s right to claim it`s A-OK to kill an American citizen on foreign soil. It`s okay to kidnap and torture people. It`s okay to bankrupt a nation. It`s okay to deploy soldiers three, four, five, six times.

A crisis? Oh, yes indeed.

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Highlight:

Journalist Risen: 'Mercenary Class' Now Permanent Fixture in National Security State [View all] Octafish Oct 2014 OP

K&R n/t Feral Child Oct 2014 #1

Proof that Power, Money and Crushing Dissent Are NSA’s Real Motives for Spying Octafish Oct 2014 #3

When Ashcroft, Bush, et.al... came out with.... ReRe Oct 2014 #13

I saw him on Up malaise Oct 2014 #23

Recommended. H2O Man Oct 2014 #2

War Inc is friend to Empire, not Democracy Octafish Oct 2014 #6

T Roosevelt, Truman, and Eisenhower all tried to rid the country of the post-war war machine librechik Oct 2014 #25

I believe unknowingly, defacto7 Oct 2014 #66

yes, exactly!--once they discovered how much money and power it gave them librechik Oct 2014 #70

+1 nashville_brook Oct 2014 #21

Everyone should know just how much the government lied to defend the NSA Octafish Oct 2014 #73

with bushieboy and darth heaven05 Oct 2014 #4

Carlyle Group owns Booz Allen Hamilton, NSA's go-to contractor. Octafish Oct 2014 #9

thank you heaven05 Oct 2014 #12

And don't forget how former Booz Allen CEO is now the lying head of the NSA. Conflict of interest sabrina 1 Oct 2014 #58

Well said, sabrina 1! Octafish Oct 2014 #74

Forgot to mention: Cheney spearheaded the privatization of Pentagon profits for BFEE Octafish Oct 2014 #76

It is truly sickening. It is obvious to anyone now that the wars they drag this country into sabrina 1 Oct 2014 #82

Did not know that. Thanks. Wella Oct 2014 #91

It always comes back to the military industrial complex that we were warned of. zeemike Oct 2014 #5

It seems they've got a special focus on enemies domestic. Octafish Oct 2014 #10

no surprise heaven05 Oct 2014 #14

We've got domestic enemies alright... ReRe Oct 2014 #17

i just listened to an interview with Dave Lindorff nationalize the fed Oct 2014 #30

Department of Homeland Security Brands ThisCantBeHappening! a ‘Threat’ Octafish Oct 2014 #36

They hate the new Iphone. We aren't supposed to have anything that can keep them from searching us. L0oniX Oct 2014 #39

Interesting thanks. zeemike Oct 2014 #46

Huge K & R !!! WillyT Oct 2014 #7

Remember when Blackwater threatened to kill State Department inspector in Iraq? RISEN told us... Octafish Oct 2014 #15

Yep... I Do... WillyT Oct 2014 #19

But.. But.. Judith Miller Fumesucker Oct 2014 #8

Jeff Gerth, meet Judith Miller Octafish Oct 2014 #11

While I can't H2O Man Oct 2014 #43

I don't think they feel they need to fake evidence any more. zeemike Oct 2014 #47

K&R.... daleanime Oct 2014 #16

Leaked documents expose secret contracts between NSA and tech companies Octafish Oct 2014 #48

Isn't that an old Gypsy curse? daleanime Oct 2014 #53

k and r nashville_brook Oct 2014 #18

Sen. Prescott Bush, Sr. talked about Iraq's oil reserves back in 1959... Octafish Oct 2014 #60

The prolongation of the mercenary class/top secret everything is deeply troubling to me. democrank Oct 2014 #20

Vote all you want. The secret government won’t change. (Boston Globe) Octafish Oct 2014 #24

Expect the usual attacks because this info discourages voting. L0oniX Oct 2014 #37

this is actually the point where we need POTUS to fulfill the promise of transparency nashville_brook Oct 2014 #40

I think you missed the point here. It appears that Pres Obama doesn't have the power rhett o rick Oct 2014 #51

Eggzaklee! Scuba Oct 2014 #56

The first mistake the citizens make... SHRED Oct 2014 #22

True and before a single shot is fired, somebody's got to pay. Just don't ask for an accounting... Octafish Oct 2014 #87

It's been "permanent" for a long while already... Blue_Tires Oct 2014 #26

Nov. 22, 1963 Octafish Oct 2014 #88

The fact that they can keep files locked for 50 years says a lot about how little we are allowed to liberal_at_heart Oct 2014 #27

Answers sought on CIA role in ‘78 JFK probe Octafish Oct 2014 #89

And guess what? Obama has little or no control over them... nt kelliekat44 Oct 2014 #28

POTUS has no real power? Well I figured that anyway. L0oniX Oct 2014 #34

Which would explain why Gov. Don Siegelman's in prison and George W Bush is not. Octafish Oct 2014 #50

k/r you rock Octafish nationalize the fed Oct 2014 #29

K&R. nt OnyxCollie Oct 2014 #31

In general, the Founding Fathers did not even want us to have a standing army, JDPriestly Oct 2014 #32

Where Democracy, freedom, privacy goes to die ...USA L0oniX Oct 2014 #33

K&R for the original post and subsequent informative posts and links. JEB Oct 2014 #35

Perpetual war is good for the economy. raouldukelives Oct 2014 #38

There's a certain voice conspicuously missing from this thread hootinholler Oct 2014 #41

"a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design" johnnyreb Oct 2014 #42

Blackwater & Co. 99th_Monkey Oct 2014 #44

Back to the top with this incredibly important story. BIG K&R nt riderinthestorm Oct 2014 #45

k&r Electric Monk Oct 2014 #49

Thanks once again. You are dominating my bookmarks. nm rhett o rick Oct 2014 #52

wholehearted kick. thx Octafish nt navarth Oct 2014 #54

Kicked and recommended a whole bunch! Enthusiast Oct 2014 #55

Kick. Thanks Octafish. Scuba Oct 2014 #57

With US-led air strikes on ISIS intensifying, it’s a good time to be an arms giant Octafish Oct 2014 #77

It’s always good time to be an arms giant. Scuba Oct 2014 #80

A little late maybe, but another K&R dgauss Oct 2014 #59

''Money trumps peace.'' -- appointed pretzeldent George Walker Bush, Feb. 14, 2007 Octafish Oct 2014 #69

War is here to stay. Too much PROFIT to be had. And, yeah, we'll all be starving penniless in the blkmusclmachine Oct 2014 #61

''War is a Racket.'' Octafish Oct 2014 #68

This story should be front page stuff across the country. JEB Oct 2014 #62

+1 woo me with science Oct 2014 #63

Well, look what Risen has been facing. woo me with science Oct 2014 #64

Yet the Democratic Party resists any attempt to bring these toxic agencies under control. eom whereisjustice Oct 2014 #65

The Church Committee - the last time they tried. Octafish Oct 2014 #67

What's worse... CanSocDem Oct 2014 #71

Always worth a trip back to the links.....to refresh the dot connections. KoKo Oct 2014 #75

Great post. Thanks! whereisjustice Oct 2014 #81

K&R woo me with science Oct 2014 #72

K&R .. thanks Octafish wavesofeuphoria Oct 2014 #78

DURec leftstreet Oct 2014 #79

k & r & thanks! n/t wildbilln864 Oct 2014 #83

"But some have seen this national security crisis as a financial opportunity, Risen said." suffragette Oct 2014 #84

It is clear traitors use the state to make war and enrich themselves. Octafish Oct 2014 #85

Sad, but oh so true. suffragette Oct 2014 #90

but doing that would destroy the facade that it's us vs. them! Puzzledtraveller Oct 2014 #86