Priorities

by Ben Schreiner 

The priorities are clear: money for war and little else. Assorted headlines from this week tell the story.

Eight Impressions On the U.S. Reaction to the Ukraine Crisis

by Ben Schreiner

1. No One Knows What a No-Fly Zone Is

A no-fly zone is merely a euphemism for war, and in the case of the present Ukraine crisis, it’s a euphemism for nuclear war. Utterly terrifying, then, just how many people are now agitating for NATO to “close the skies.”

It’s probably safe to assume that most people don’t actually know what a no-fly zone entails. Or maybe it’s that most people don’t actually know what nuclear war entails. Perhaps it’s time for a national screening of The Day After, the nuclear apocalypse movie that famously got no less than Ronald Reagan to finally realize that there is no such thing as prevailing in a nuclear war.

The Danger of the 'Something Must Be Done' Mantra

Global Research

by Ben Schreiner

 

As Americans continue to watch on in shock as the horrors of war in Europe stream across their screens, a familiar refrain reverberates throughout the media echo chamber: Something must be done! But when it comes to American foreign policy, that something is all too often a horror all its own.

The Mad Men of Washington

Global Research
by Ben Schreiner

It’s hard to exaggerate just how energized the Washington elite has been by the outbreak of war in Europe. The resurgent Russian menace clearly portends a prosperous future of ever larger defense budgets, not to mention offering a much-needed reprieve from the domestic tumult of a fraying political system.

The 10 Step Scheme for One-Sided Class War

Common Dreams
by Ben Schreiner

1. Scream about the debt and deficit.

2. Shrink revenue by slashing taxes for the already palatial elite. Summarily dismiss all concerns about the debt and deficit, because, well, the debt and deficit don't really matter. Plus, tax cuts for the rich grow the economy anyway. Or maybe not. It doesn't matter. What matters is that one render unto the power elite the things that are the power elite's; everybody else can go to hell.

U.S. Foreign Policy and Iran

An interview on U.S. foreign policy and Iran.

Echoes of Iraq Heard in Latest Threats Against Iran

Common Dreams
by Ben Schreiner

Marx offered that history repeats itself, first as tragedy, then as farce.  A mere two weeks into the reign of a new administration in Washington, it appears the farce has already commenced.

"You simply can't have democracy at home and imperialism abroad"

My recent interview with independent Algerian journalist Mohsen Abdelmoumen.

PBS Newshour Lies About Single-Payer Health Care

Common Dreams/CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

The fact that a majority of Americans support a single-payer, or Medicare for all, health care system is not news.  Or at least it ought not to be news, especially to veteran political journalists.

Hillary on the Ropes?

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

Conventional political wisdom has long held Hillary Clinton to be the odds-on favorite to become the next president of the United States.  But as was the case back in 2008, cracks are once again emerging in the façade of Clinton’s "inevitability."  Is history repeating?

2016 Presidential Electability Flowchart

by Ben Schreiner

A flowchart to help gauge one's 2016 electoral chances.

2016: A Year of Barbarism?

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice/Global Research
by Ben Schreiner

With New Year celebrations barely in the rear view mirror, foreboding storm clouds are once again forming along the horizon.  The blackening skies are casting a dour mood over 2016, which in its mere infancy seems all but assured to see deepening global tumult, conflict, and crisis.

NYT Hypes Russian Threat to the Internet

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

As if Americans didn't already have enough to worry about in regards to the recently resurrected Red Menace, we can now add the fear that those devious Russians are threatening to--horror of horrors--bring down the Internet.

'Tis The Season For Selling War

CounterPunch/Dissident Voice
by Ben Schreiner

From a marketing point of view, you don't introduce new products in August.

- Andrew Card, White House Chief of Staff, 2002

The best time to introduce a new product, as Card well understood, comes just after Labor Day.  And when it comes to a new "product" to be marketed to the American public, there's never been anything quite like a new war -- that most prolific of American exports.

Modern Newspeak Dictionary, Part III

CounterPunch
by Ben Schreiner - Ben Debney

In this day and age it can be hard to traverse the torrent of media driven buzzwords, technical jargon and PR spin designed as much to obfuscate and muddy the waters as to clarify and enlighten. In the interests of promoting media literacy and general understanding then we present here the following guide to many of the more ideologically emburdened terms in current usage.