Given their current lies leading to war, an examination of past lies is in order.
First, an academic article on the use of the rhetorical invective "terrorism."
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The Use and Abuse of Terrorism
Dr. Bernard L. Brock, Wayne State University
Published in The Michigan Citizen, Dec. 1, 2002.
Online at:
http://www.uwosh.edu/faculty_staff/palmeri/commentary/brock1.htmOver a year after the destruction of the World Trade Towers and following the Republican election victory and control o
ver both houses of Congress, we can make some judgments regarding President Bush's use and abuse of the "War on Terrorism."
Terrorism, which means the "use of violence to intimidate or subjugate," has become a powerful, political umbrella
tying together otherwise unrelated people and/or events. Then, when coupled with a "war" metaphor, terrorism becomes
a powerful label uniting people to act emotionally and unthinkingly against a political enemy.
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That always seems to be the ultra-right wing political enemies, enemies of the delusional, politically paranoid fraction of
the US political spectrum, a faction in need of psychiatric assistance before global bi-polar disorder really sets in for good.
One of my favorite whoppers is that the tiny nation of Nicaragua was an invasion threat to Texas. Reagan and George Bush
deprived the nation and the world of sleep with rhetorical worries that the terrorist cabal controlling the government
of Nicaraggua had to be militarily overthrown to prevent the invasion of Texas. REagan said Nicaragua, "is establishing
a base camp for Cuban-Soviet aggression on the North American mainland."
Here is a speech quote of Ronald Reagan, the beloved former liar-in-chief:
"Believe me, the liberals in Washington know what's at stake in this election. They know that this may well be their last chance to steer American politics way over to the left. They know that if we Republicans do well this November it's going to permanently alter the political landscape. ...."
"You see, on holding down taxes and spending, on appointing tough judges, on keeping up our defenses and dealing firmly with the Soviets, the liberal Democrat leadership knows the fundamental differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party are beginning to sink in with the average voter. Take another issue that's come to the fore recently, an issue where partisan politics shouldn't even play a role. All of you know that a Communist government has taken over in Nicaragua. In addition to engaging in widespread repression of human rights, this government is establishing a base camp for Cuban-Soviet aggression on the North American mainland. But today there are about 20,000 freedom fighters who need our help in restoring democracy to that country. And a few weeks ago we won a crucial vote in the House of Representatives that will help them to do just that.is establishing a base camp for Cuban-Soviet aggression on the North American mainland.
"...I think you know I've mentioned in the past that Nicaragua is only a 2-day drive from the Texas border. And since I'm here now, I can explain: Don't mistake my reference to the Texas border. The Communist Sandinista regime in Nicaragua has made a lot of mistakes, but even they know better than to get themselves in a tangle with a bunch of Texans. Even with all the tanks and gunships from the Soviet Union, my guess is that the Sandinistas would make it about as far as the shopping center in Pecos before Roger Staubach came out of retirement -- -- teamed up with some off-duty Texas Rangers and the front four of the Dallas Cowboys, and pushed the Sandinistas down the river, out across the Gulf, and right back to Havana where they belong. Come to think of it, they don't even belong in Havana either, but don't get me started on that. But what's really at stake here is restoring our bipartisan consensus on national security issues. Believe me, you'll send that message to the liberals in Washington if you'll elect more Republican officeholders here in Texas. ..."
http://www.reagan.utexas.edu/archives/speeches/1986/072386a.htm=========
Next, from:
President Ronald Reagan and Nicaragua
excerpted from the book "Lying for Empire, How to Commit War Crimes With A Straight Face"
by David Model - Common Courage Press, 2005
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/American_Empire/Reagan_Nicaragua_LFE.html"Coolidge, a proponent of the interventionist interpretation of the Monroe Doctrine, stated in an address to Congress in 1927 that:
I have the most conclusive evidence that arms and munitions in large quantities have been on special occasions.., shipped to the revolutionists in Nicaragua... I am sure it is not the desire of the United States to intervene in the internal affairs of Nicaragua or of any other Central American Republic. Nevertheless, it must be said, that we have a very definite and special interest in the maintenance of order and good government in Nicaragua at the present time .... The United States cannot, therefore, fail to view with deep concern any serious threat to stability and constitutional government in Nicaragua tending toward anarchy and jeopardizing American interests, especially if such a state of affairs is contributed or brought about by outside influence or by any foreign power. ..."
"The revolutionaries mentioned in the address were the Liberals, ... After negotiating with both the Liberals and Conservatives, Stimson achieved a peaceful settlement ... the agreement called for the stationing of American forces in Nicaragua to supervise the 1928 elections.
Sandino refused to sign the pact and denounced the U.S. for making Nicaragua an American protectorate. He organized an independent guerrilla force to wage war against the Nicaraguan government and the United States. American marines embarked on a six-year hunt for Sandino without success.
As American casualties increased in Nicaragua, the United States decided to withdraw the marines in 1933. ...."
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Sound familiar? President Roosevelt said that "Somoza may be a son of a bitch, but he's our son of a bitch."
Three years later, Somoza took over the presidency with the assistance of the National Guard, establishing an oppressive, right-wing family dynasty which would rule Nicaragua for 43 years. Such was the result of US intervention to secure democracy in Nicaragua!!
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MORE: Are the Sandinista terrorists on the Texas border yet? Rhetoric to haunt Freeepers.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x503712