Haiti, 1915

  Haiti has a troubled past. The US has a long history of imperialism. Unsurprisingly, the US has been involved with Haiti's history for decades. In 1915, Haiti was invaded by US marines to "protect American and foreign" interests. For PR purposes, the occupation was labeled as a mission to “re-establish peace and order... and has nothing to do with any diplomatic negotiations of the past or the future”.
From wikipedia:
  "Through American manipulation, 40% of the national income was used to alleviate the debt repayment to both American and French banks. Despite the large sums due to overseas banks, this economic decision ignored the interests of the majority of the Haitian population and froze the economic growth the country needed. For the next nineteen years, advisers of the United States governed the country, enforced by the United States Marine Corps."

  One famous participant in the occupation was General Smedley Butler. He was the author of War Is a Racket, a publication with condemned the use of US military might to defend the interests of a small number of very wealthy people. Here is one of many memorable quotes: 

  "I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for theNational City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents."

  Interestingly, a condensed version was printed in Reader's Digest in 1935, in which he was praised for his "moral as well as physical courage". How times change.

Take a look at some great War Is a Racket and US Intervention shirts if you're in the mood.

  

Soldiers Of God

In 1998, a twenty-four part documentary, entitled "Cold War", was first broadcast. Each episode dealt with a different aspect of the Cold War and covered the entire span from it's origins prior to 1945, to the fall of the Wall in 1989 and beyond. This series was available on VHS, but Bush II had some footage re-classified, and this is probably the main reason why it is no longer available for sale. Episode 20, Soldiers Of God, dealt with the US-supported resistence to the invasion of Afghanistan by the Soviet Union. I really should have posted this yesterday (since it was Groundhog Day).



From Wikipedia: "Episode 20, "Soldiers of God", shows Zbigniew Brzezinski in 1980, giving a speech to the mullahs and mujahideen fighters between the borders of Afghanistan and Pakistan encouraging the Muslim mujahideen fighters through his Pakistani translator saying "We know of their deep belief in God and we are confident that their struggle will succeed. That land over there is yours. You will go back to it one day, because your fight will prevail and you'll have your homes and your mosques back again, because your cause is right and God is on your side." — while assuring them of unconditional American government support; and interviewed State Department officials confirming that the United States uncritically supported the Pakistani government for the sake of American interests in Afghanistan."

Everything is Okay

Here is an interesting approach to activism. Two men and a megaphone point out some simple truths with a smile or two. Is this the best way to reach the masses?





This approach is more direct and more specific, although here of course the audience is voluntary:

Fair and Balanced

Did you know that Israel is holding the passengers and crew of a humanitarian aid ship bound for Gaza? I guess celebrity funerals are more important these days. Those being detained include former United States Representative, Cynthia McKinney, and an Irish peace activist and Nobel laureate, Mairead Corrigan Maguire. You might think that warranted a little more attention on the news. Imagine if Iran attempted the same thing. Do you think the US would stand by and watch?!
Journalist:What’s being done about that? Are they on their way home? Will they be deported? What’s the next step there, and will their supplies ever get to where they’re going?
Spokesman: On that last question, I don’t know the answer, actually. I think I have to refer you to the Government of Israel. We can confirm that the Israeli navy did arrest those on board this – the ship which is known as Spirit. We can't comment on any of the individuals or the number of individual American citizens on board because of Privacy Act concern.

Truth in War

Here's an eye-opening documentary covering the Panama invasion. You'll hear about illegal invasions, war crimes, civilian casualties, false flag operations, mass graves, internment camps - all things you didn't see on TV.

IOUSA

Here's an interesting video which I discovered yesterday:



It explains the financial situation in the US quite well!