George Manbiot: The US Empire Deserves a European Response

Tuesday August 06, 2002 18:56

by qwerty

time for a change

George Manbiot writes:
The United States also possesses a vast military-industrial complex, which is in constant need of conflict in order to justify its staggeringly expensive existence. Perhaps more importantly than any of these factors, the hawks who control the White House perceive that perpetual war results in the perpetual demand for their services. And there is scarcely a better formula for perpetual war, with both terrorists and other Arab nations, than the invasion of Iraq. The hawks know that they will win, whoever loses.

In other words, if the US was not preparing to attack Iraq, it would be preparing to attack another nation. The US will go to war with that country because it needs a country with which to go to war.

[....]

The United States, in other words, behaves like any other imperial power. Imperial powers expand their empires until they meet with overwhelming resistance.

To abandon the special relationship would be to accept that this is happening. To accept that the US presents a danger to the rest of the world would be to acknowledge the need to resist it. Resisting the United States would be the most daring reversal of policy a British government has undertaken for over 60 years.

We can resist the US by neither military nor economic means, but we can resist it diplomatically. The only safe and sensible response to American power is a policy of non-cooperation. Britain and the rest of Europe should impede, at the diplomatic level, all US attempts to act unilaterally. We should launch independent efforts to resolve the Iraq crisis and the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

http://www.georgemonbiot.com/dsp_article.cfm?article_id=524

save preference

Comments (8 of 8)

mmm...

by asdf

Tue Aug 06, 2002 22:25

yes just sit back let the governments smile politely and say to the good ol' war mongering usa, we arent gonna help you, you know what the answer will be? "fine go fuck yourselves we'll bomb the shit out of whoever we like"! Monbiot is a liberal shit head!

Liberal shitheads inc.

by George Monbiot

Wed Aug 07, 2002 11:32

If aiming to find a non-military solution to international conflict makes you a liberal shithead, we need plenty more of them.

by cjmg

Wed Aug 07, 2002 11:33

do we now

by qwerty's nemesis

Wed Aug 07, 2002 13:04

we really need more media whore's who want to rob the spotlight every time the word "globalisation" is heard on tv, we really need some middle class wannabe authoritarian socialist telling us that we need to tell our nice government (who by the way are our best friends) that they shouldnt participate in a war on iraq. if you believe any of that you are blind. its in there interest to go to war, monbiot and his sort are just liberal wannabe spokespersons for anti capitalist globalisation protesters the world over and the truth is the guy is more out of touch with people's sentiments as george wubbya or his best friend blair!

From Brasil,asking for info

by Vitor

Wed Aug 07, 2002 13:21

Im from Brasil but I am very very interested in Ireland and what goes on there,but its hard to fin info about politis in Ireland so can anyone plz explain to me just who are the loyalists, and y r they attacking catholic families? and,if possible plz, can someone just give me a overall of the separatists organizations that exists there,like just list their names or something...

thanks for your attention,I appreciate any info

Bye

Vitor

Yes we do

by vert-et-noir

Wed Aug 07, 2002 13:28

Well Nemisis, Your best friends (our government) are the bastards who deprived an entire generation of Irish citizens of education, health and life opportunities in this country pandering to the desire of their capitalist globalisation buddies to have monies lent to a corrupt elite repayed. If the yanquis are going to come bombing anyone we could burn bertie and co off the south coast as a diversion. In the meantime keep cowering behind your sheild of blood money.

caverns off american coasts being filled with oil from tankers

by aaaaahhh

Wed Aug 07, 2002 14:07

arguments and bitching in the left in ireland takes up more energy than any other activity - broad alliances organised or disorganised are needed if a war is to be averted. The americans are refilling empty caverns off their coast with oil now! Time for all you people who think indymedia is fun cos yiz can bitch anonymously at each other to wise up and do something about it.

Many yesses one no!

tsk tsk

by Nemesis

Wed Aug 07, 2002 14:22

vert-et-noir - i didnt mean they were our best friends literally, rather blunt sarcasm actually, and blood money? eh? man im piss poor!

Number of comments per page

Upcoming Events

New Events

Other Press

User Preferences

Feeds

Blog Feeds

The Saker

Public Inquiry

Human Rights in Ireland

Lockdown Skeptics

George Manbiot: The US Empire Deserves a European Response

Comments (8 of 8)