The Power of Nightmares
This film explores the origins in the 1940s and 50s of Islamic Fundamentalism in the Middle East, and Neoconservatism in America, parallels between these movements, and their effect on the world today. From the introduction to Part 1:
"Both [the Islamists and Neoconservatives] were idealists who were born out of the failure of the liberal dream to build a better world. And both had a very similar explanation for what caused that failure. These two groups have changed the world, but not in the way that either intended. Together, they created today's nightmare vision of a secret, organized evil that threatens the world. A fantasy that politicians then found restored their power and authority in a disillusioned age. And those with the darkest fears became the most powerful. " The Power of Nightmares, Baby It's Cold Outside.
The Power of Nightmares Intro.
The Power of Nightmares 1
also see :
How Neoconservatives Conquered Washington – and Launched a War
by Michael Lind/April 10, 2003
As a result of several bizarre and unforeseeable contingencies – such as the selection rather than election of George W. Bush, and Sept. 11 – the foreign policy of the world's only global power is being made by a small clique that is unrepresentative of either the U.S. population or the mainstream foreign policy establishment.
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And so the Straussian Neoconsevative believes that the ends justify the means. They believe as did their prophet Leo Strauss that those in power have a right and a duty to tell Noble Lies in order to unite and thereby give society a purpose .Religion for instance can be used to give the populace a sense of meaning and purpose. The Neoconservative or Straussian may not believe in God or in morality but he or she will give lip-service to both in order to prevent society from falling into chaos. The Neoconservative believes that without these pious lies society will fall apart.
In order to further unite society the Neoconservative will focus on a devious, evil and all powerful enemy which is at the gates . The enemy as such will stop at nothing in its desire to destroy Western Civilization and Christianity.
The neoconservative argues that we must use whatever tactics and methods we can to fight this enemy. The struggle is such that those in authority must be willing and be permitted to go beyond the laws of the land or international laws or any restrictions placed on them by morality. Morality and law are to be ignored in this struggle for civilization's very survival.
Therefore ,if need be they will lie, kill, kidnap, and torture all in their claim to save their country .
It is as if the Neoconservatives had magical powers. They wave a magic wand and they chant in the name of national security or in the name of the war on terror or defend Western Civilization and thereby anything that they do; whatever orders they give are suddenly legal and virtuous . To the Neoconservatives the use of propaganda techniques is not seen as wrong, or evil but rather as necessary.
Lying becomes their habit their forte . the lies come easily to them since they believe the lies are noble they for the good of the government and therefore of the nation. They do not see themselves as the government of the day but see themselves and the nation as one. If the majority of Americans disagree with their policies then it is of little consequence. They know what is best for the nation as far as they are concerned . Much of what they do seems to benefit only a few . But they believe those few are the only really important ones and therefore are the nation.
Unfortunately to a great extent the Neoconservatives ideology and propaganda has already eroded society's belief in some form of morality. That is to say in defending our society a large percentage of the populace already believes that we should not be restricted in our responses to our enemies since it is a battle to the death. So now we live in age of winners and losers. We are told that it's not how you play the game but whether you win or lose that matters.This sort of notion permeates our society . It is like the perverted sense of self-righteousness people get when they watch the personal life of some public figure or Hollywood star or super-wealthy over-indulged rich girl or whatever implode . People also get a kick out of watching other people being humiliated on some reality show in which we all get to gloat over their failure. We are led to believe that only one or a few can or will succeed so we better get used to it . So you are either part of the successful ruling elite or a failure who's whining is inconsequential.
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So here some more examples of how Bush , Cheney and the Neoconservatives operate their propaganda machinenery:
Bush Poised to Veto Waterboarding Ban by Dan Eggen.
Washington Post Staff Writer
March 8, 2008;
President Bush today will veto legislation meant to ban the CIA from using waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics and will argue that the agency needs to use tougher methods than the U.S. military to wrest information from terrorism suspects, administration officials said.
Bush's decision to veto an intelligence authorization bill that contains the waterboarding provision is the subject of his weekly presidential radio address, to be broadcast today, the White House said.
"The bill would take away one of the most valuable tools on the war on terror: the CIA program to detain and question key terrorist leaders and operatives," White House spokesman Tony Fratto said yesterday.
Although long expected, Bush's formal move to veto the bill reignites the Washington debate over the proper limits of the U.S. interrogation policies and whether the CIA has engaged in torture by subjecting prisoners to severe tactics, including waterboarding, a type of simulated drowning.
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also see :
The Political Ideas of Leo Strauss by Shadia Drury ,( 2005 updated edition )
and: Leo Strauss: An Intellectual Biography by Daniel Tanguay ,2007
and so it goes,
GORD.
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