Chris Lewis

The word I would use in regard to Pilger is ‘counterbalance’ not ‘bias’.

Arjay and pelican

I agree with both your posts.

I’d also be wary of the massive US-led diplomatic and media attention being thrown at the ‘fake’ stolen-election protests in Iran, compared with the almost complete indifference being shown towards the very real stolen-government protests in Honduras.

When it comes to dealing with countries who fail to show sufficient pro-West loyalty, I fear the US under Obama is just replacing the Bush doctrine of all-out invasion with a return to its old destabilisation ways (not that those ever really went away).

Bushbred

I agree with your analogy about the Islamic Dark Ages.

Civilisations are societies that have become far too complex to keep renewing themselves. They end up having to chase more and more resources for fewer and fewer returns. As a result, they then end up spiralling into a kind of self-implosion.

All civilisations have to go through a Dark Ages at one stage or another and often several times over. At the moment, it’s the pan-Arab/Middle East’s turn – something many of their intellectuals and leaders are acutely aware of.

The US will get its turn - that's a certainty. And, at the rate it's going, probably sooner rather than later. The question is: How many of us will be drawn into it with them?

david.f

I agree that Obama has to tread softly. Unfortunately, he’s following a government that veered into such extreme aggression that it left a major foreign policy vacuum in its wake. I think he’s trying, but is well aware that too much liberal leadership in a neo-feudal nation like the US can get a president assassinated.

SJF,

Sorry, I should have used emphasised the the word 'simplicity' rather than 'biased'.

In his lecture "The Decline and fall of the American Empire" Prof. Johan Galtung quotes an anonymous American Pentagon planner-"the purpose of the US armed forces is to protect American business and our cultural assault,to that lend there will be a fair amount of killing",says it all really.

Dear mac,

I agree that the quote is a good description of much US strategy. However, I think it's too good. I know Galtung and have attended his lectures. I believe the 'anonymous American Pentagon planner' is probably Galtung.

Good article by Pilger. Unbridled capitalism is nothing more than privatised imperialism.
The USA will be truly democratic when it admits that all nations have the same right to self determination as the USA has.

I like John Pilger and mostly support his assessments and views.

Some things call John's assessment into question ... here.

1. His critique of Vietnam conveniently overlooks ... the most basic fact the free voice of the Vietnamese people. Vietnamese people, despite their communist leadership, have overwhelmingly adopted the US characteristic of capitalism.
2. He quotes very generally without reference George Washington. He shows he's never understood, if he's ever read, Washington's farewell speech at the culumnation of his public service. It is an assessment of the US and its future relations with the world. A read would destroy John's argument in an instant. This is the type of generalization Pilger is not noted for and when I read it I was ... warned of and had confirmed later a shallowness in this article.
3. John's assessment of Martin Luther is selective. Luther accepted the American Dream, his point was he wanted 'negro people' (His words not mine) included. King was never anti-US.
4. John criticizes the US treatment of its indigenous peoples and doesn't once look at the ways that the 'wrongs have been attempted to be righted'. He overlooks the US acknowledgement of its role and its responsibilities in this issue.
5. The countries John cites where US 'imperialism' was influential Cuba, Central America and Mexico are shining examples of everything the US isn't. Texas and Texans would of course rather be Mexican than US citizens. Pleaseee John! The Philippines would prefer Chinese or Islamic authoritarian rule than self-governance and independence?
6. Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were the German National SOCIALIST party. They never ever adhered to the principles on which the US is based. Any analogy suggesting such is suspect and does bring into question a writers judgment ...seriously.
7. Bretton Woods, of course the US won the war. Nobody ever denies that and that they gathered the spoils is and was appropriate. That's what wars including those of the freedom fighter, including Vietnam, are all about. Winning. It is wrong of John to suggest it morally reprehensible to accept the spoils of war.