Lessons of Iraq War Start With US History by Howard Zinn

[sasha031]

On the third anniversary of President Bush's Iraq debacle, it's important to consider why the administration so easily fooled so many people into supporting the war.I believe there are two reasons, which go deep into our national culture.One is an absence of historical perspective. The other is an inability to think outside the boundaries of nationalism.f we don't know history, then we are ready meat for carnivorous politicians and the intellectuals and journalists who supply the carving knives. But if we know some history, if we know how many times presidents have lied to us, we will not be fooled again.

President Polk lied to the nation about the reason for going to war with Mexico in 1846. It wasn't that Mexico "shed American blood upon the American soil" but that Polk, and the slave-owning aristocracy, coveted half of Mexico.President McKinley lied in 1898 about the reason for invading Cuba, saying we wanted to liberate the Cubans from Spanish control, but the truth is that he really wanted Spain out of Cuba so that the island could be open to United Fruit and other American corporations. He also lied about the reasons for our war in the Philippines, claiming we only wanted to "civilize" the Filipinos, while the real reason was to own a valuable piece of real estate in the far Pacific, even if we had to kill hundreds of thousands of Filipinos to accomplish that.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0314-24.htm

a good read, if you haven't read Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States" it is excellent

[patrice]

1. Zinn also uses many quotes from the common people of the times

he describes so well. A very different perspective than that of the books in "our" schools.

I want to ask, what is the common factor in all of this? An error, or limitation that causes the mistake. And, of course, also, in many cases, Dishonesty, what is the lie?, amongst those who actually do recognize what is really going on, which is, and has always been, a fight for Property/Money. America is about Money, not Faith.

Cognitively, it is often the mistake of thinking that since I can't imagine such-and-such it is ir-relevant (e.g. Peace), or a way of hiding from the truth about ourselves, i.e. "ignorance is bliss", for some people, or just a mistake from habits of thought that are kind-of automatic and un-examined, but cause problems anyway, such as Racism and Violence. Or also mistakes such as ignoring the Current Oil-Capitalists' Invasion and what other country might become "our" next War-in-Development, Haliburton's and the Carlyle Group's investments in creating more middle class jobs dependent upon War.

It makes me proud of some young people I know who are Not enlisting, even though it isn't easy for them. This Country should be praying Real hard for its Children.

[sasha031]

6. when Henry Kissinger said

" The military is nothing but a bunch of stupid animals, used as tools for foreign policy" he was speaking for all the oligarchies, this is always how they really felt, surprising such honesty from such a scum bag. They sermonize imagined enemies in order to pillage resources.

I am still reading Zinn's book, it haunts me most of the time, all the innocent victims for greed. It has certainly changed my perspective on everything.

[patrice]

9. I think about my nieces and nephews.

Especially, one particularly "limited"/different little guy who has beein in the Army's Delta Force for several years now.

[mom cat]

2. K&R for Howard Zinn.

[Ufomammut]

3. YES! Zinn is a deeply compassionate, tough minded thinker

Who speaks logically, yet with clarity from the heart and spirit, where it counts.

[Solomon]

4. In the times we live in now, to tell the truth is to hate america.

Truth is the enemy of america. That's why I know we are on the downslide.

[LSK]

5. i bought that book but have to finish a couple of others 1st

[Ufomammut]

7. Zinn materials

http://howardzinn.org/default/

http://www.geocities.com/howardzinnfans/

[leftchick]

8. I So Needed Howards words today...

with the bullshit stupid head nonleaders in congress I was extremely depressed heading to school to get my children today. I thought of Howard and how we need him yet again so very much in this country.

<snip>

Our leaders have taken it for granted, and planted the belief in the minds of many people that we are entitled, because of our moral superiority, to dominate the world. Both the Republican and Democratic Parties have embraced this notion.

But what is the idea of our moral superiority based on?

A more honest estimate of ourselves as a nation would prepare us all for the next barrage of lies that will accompany the next proposal to inflict our power on some other part of the world.

It might also inspire us to create a different history for ourselves, by taking our country away from the liars who govern it, and by rejecting nationalist arrogance, so that we can join people around the world in the common cause of peace and justice.

Howard Zinn, who served as a bombardier in the Air Force in World War II, is the author of "A People's History of the United States" (HarperCollins, 1995). He is also the co-author, with Anthony Arnove, of "Voices of a People's History of the United States" (Seven Stories Press, 2004).



BTW, His book A People's History will be required reading for sons when they are in High School.

[Neil Lisst]

10. OLD SCHOOL! good read by HZ

thanks

[Just Me]

11. Some basic knowledge would be helpful.

I still hold those who would deceive and manipulate (i.e. defraud) people fully accountable for their actions.