I finally finished The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein. What a fine piece of investigative journalism. Klein nails Milton Friedman, Jeff Sachs and the line of economists whose specialty is promoting the intellectual air-cover for economic theft and genocide. Klein does an outstanding job of explaining the intentional use of selective violence and torture as part of the economic rape and control of a place.
One of our greatest powers to create true transformation is our ability to withdraw our approval and intellectual and financial support from the companies involved and financially benefiting from disaster capitalism. To see and gather this power, it is essential to understand that so many seemingly “reputable” people and companies are intentionally engaged in activities that are this destructive of real wealth.
And just in time to provide ever more support for Klein’s already significant documentation comes the latest treat from Wikileaks:
U.S. Special Forces Counter-insurgency Manual FM 31-20-3
“What we learned about running death squads and propping up corrupt government in Latin America and how to apply it to other places”.
Catherine:
Thought you might be interested in a May 21 comment posted on the Washington Post web site about the situation in Uganda. Note the U.S. contractor serving as the weapons dealer.
Negotiator6:
Having just returned from Southern Sudan/Juba; and spending sometime in Uganda..one comes away with the perspection the LRA could be “killed” on one swift military move by both the Uganda government forces and the SPLA. As some of you may know, Uganda has a “peacekeeping” force in Somalia; Uganda’s airport at Entebbe is the focus point for US contractor Dyncorp to provide ammo, weapons and supplies for the Uganda government forces..plus the Ethipian forces fighting against the rebel forces in and around “Mog”.
But, that said, many of us wonder why this outrage has lasted so long..except to assert in some way the LRA is part of some grand scheme in the border areas of DRC, Uganda and Sudan. And, above all, it is well known, the LRA used to receive supplies and assistance from the Bashir government in Khartoum.
But, like many things in that part of the world, what you see or think is distance away from the what is “realy going on..”
TIA…
5/21/2008 4:59:40 AM