[lbo-talk] Juan Cole on Rumsfeld's memo

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On 12/4/06, Carrol Cox <cbcox at ilstu.edu> wrote:
>
> That's not the point. The elites don't learn from the Times; they
> dictate to the Times what to tell the "public" (the circle of opinion
> makers outside the circles of the elite). Or, alternatively, the Times
> and the Elite are one. Perhaps the most dramatic illustration of that
> was the overthrow of Allende, in which the Times from the beginning did
> PR work for the coup-in-waiting. Chavez may survive, but quite often
> severe criticism of a 'third-world' leader in the Times is very close to
> a death-sentence.
>

Is it just me or is the whole "South America is a dagger pointed at the
heart of Antarctica" period of American realpolitik over? I mean, since when
has the US gone all saber rattling over South American countries and not
done anything about it?

In holiday gift guide news, it's a little depressing that there's a good
book about the occupation of Iraq published every year. I decided to just
buy the Cockburn book so I wouldn't have to ask for it.

[This is a new thread idea, but what books are some good books about the
occupation? I'm really wary of the whole "it's just about the oil, stupid"
since it isn't just about that - although Xtian Parenti's The Freedom made
the best case I've read re the oil corollary. From Doug's description the
Cockburn book sounds like it junks mainstream cant to show how myopic the
Iraq misadventure really is. Is there more of that, and if so, can you
recommend any of it?]

In music news, Oakland hiphoppers [and lefty faves] the Coup survived a
nasty bus wreck.

Cheers,
J T.
-- 
J T. Ramsay
1626 S. 2nd St. #2
Philadelphia, PA 19148
blackmailismylife.com/blog
paperthinwalls.com
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