Tags
Capitalism run amok, European Refugee Crisis, Humanitarianism, Raytheon Tomahawk Cruise Missiles, Syria, Syrian Children Refugees, Warfare
On Thursday night, April 3rd, our president unilaterally and without congressional approval launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles on a Syrian airbase, the alleged site of a chemical attack that targeted innocent civilians. The dust had not yet settled. No United Nations investigation of the heinous crime was conducted to determine the type of chemical weapons used and the perpetrators. But we – the defenders of democracy, peace, freedom, and humanitarianism – know, beyond all doubt, that Syria’s brutal dictator was responsible.
After killing innocent children and beautiful babies, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had to be sent a strong message. Military power is strength. Money is no problem.
According to MarketWatch, each Tomahawk missile, made by Raytheon, costs about $1 million. To replace those 59 missiles with the upgraded version would cost an estimated $88.5 million. “Shares of Raytheon rallied in early Friday trading, but their gains moderated as the session went on.”
Raytheon Tomahawk Cruise Missiles
Our new president has now been baptized with blood. In the face of inhumane aggression against the Syrian people, he has shown decisiveness and strength. He has now become our legitimate Commander-in-Chief. North Korea is now on notice. Russia and Iran, both supporters of Assad, beware.
The power elite would like us to believe that military force will bring peace and prosperity to the peoples of the world who suffer under oppressive governments. If we are prepared to take a critical look, the evidence tells another story. Our wars in the Middle East and Northern Africa have driven millions of people, including innocent children and beautiful babies, from their homelands. The refugee crisis threatens to destabilize the European Union. Here in the United States, our humanitarian-concerned government prohibits the entry of Syrian and other Muslim refugees, considered a threat to our security.
Syrian Children Refugees – Domiz Refugee Camp – Northern Iraq
Photo Credit: Pinterest
Apart from protecting America’s interests worldwide, our endless wars fatten the corporate beast that feeds on this massive, industrial, financial and other services, profit-making enterprise. Warfare is capitalism run amok in a culture that views restraint as a weakness.
Three Worlds One Vision 
It looks like North Korea will be next.
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That will put China and South Korea in a bind.
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A scary one…
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Indeed. In his book, How Will Capitalism End?, German sociologist Wolfgang Streeck notes:
As the decay [of capitalism] progresses, it is bound to provoke political protests and manifold attempts at collective interventions… It seems, however, that disorganized capitalism is disorganizing not only itself but its opposition as well, depriving it of the capacity either to defeat capitalism or to rescue it. For capitalism to end, then, it must provide for its own destruction – which, I would argue, is exactly what we are witnessing today.
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Very insightful, and I concur.
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The President does not have to get Congressional approval for this action, he is the Commander in Chief this is a Limited Strike, to teach the Dictator a lesson, this is not a declared war on Syria.
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Thanks for your comment, Tulsie. I’m no expert on the US War Powers Act. I obtained my position from the team at WIN WITHOUT WAR.
According to an article in the Houston Chronicle on the subject:
“In 2013, more than 100 mostly Republican House lawmakers signed onto a letter demanding that Obama seek congressional approval for what Trump just did.”
It would seem that the interpretation of the law depends upon who is in control of Congress.
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Reblogged this on Guyanese Online.
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Thanks for sharing, Cyril. Have a great week 🙂
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A thoughtfully provocative and emotional write, Rosaliene. Syria is in our minds. Please share this poem:
Syria Dream
Heart beats relentlessly with a sigh
unable to cry
to let tears
well from a corner of the eye
blur of Syria masks dreams
pain to endure
scorching death of chemical weapons
and tomahawk missiles bludgeoning
to rattle faith and hope
with blistering feet
in heaps of rubbles
holding a beautiful child
without a tomorrow
to sculpt a future
for freedom
where life is canon.
~ Leonard Dabydeen
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Thanks, Leonard.
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IF the chemical weapons were those of the Syrian government, there is a case to be made for the attack. Until man becomes completely pacified, those who genuinely believe in other means of resolving differences must, in my opinion, not unilaterally disarm. I take issue with the impulsive way this was done and, since so many of the major administration voices are military, the concern that DT will do more in this fashion. On the other hand, it is distressing that, as you point out Rosaliene, the administration seems to think our humanitarian responsibility to the Syrian people ends with this one act. We have ignored all the deaths from bullets, bombs, shrapnel, lack of medicine and medical treatment, and starvation, but now view chemical weapons as if they are somehow different and worse.
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Dr. Stein, your last sentence expresses well the big lie that I hope readers would come to realize. We criminalize the use of chemical weapons – the big red line – while lying to ourselves about the greatest crime of all: warfare.
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It’s all great for stock prices, though – for all the defense contractors.
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So I’ve noticed, Dr. Bramhall 😦
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Bravo, Rosaliene. I’m glad you mention that Raytheon stock went up after the strikes. That Wall Street prospers from these outrageous acts shows who is really pulling the strings. War contractor shareholders are just as culpable as Donald Trump, according to me, by investing in corporations that make bloodshed profitable.
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I agree: war contractor shareholders are also culpable. We can’t end our wars and reap our profits, too.
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We can look to reaping profits from more human-and-eco-friendly enterprises. I still hope to eminent domain the rail lines and revive passenger rail, in a rider-friendly way. We could build a consortium of people to handle local franchises, let the feds pay for rail upkeep, and run trains as local or state-licensed businesses. Even revive private cars, if there is demand. Bring soldiers home to work on the projects, and hire vets to help build instead of destroy. Voila! All our problems solved, except health care.
Passenger rail is one of the best and most energy-efficient means of transportation ever devised. We’ve invested too much in highways and the private automobile, but cars and highways are costing way more than they are worth..
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I couldn’t agree with you more, Katharine. Our loss means more profits for corporations that benefit from our current transportation system.
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Our current system is probably the biggest cause of climate change. I wish I could impress this on people. Also, rail travel is more fun, sociable, and relaxed. Why drive when you can spend the time reading a book or playing on the net?
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I haven’t yet used the train in Los Angeles, but I usually move around by bus.
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Buses are probably better for urban transport, if there are no subways or streetcars. I’m thinking more about inter-city or inter-state distances for rail travel. We used to have a 4-hour passenger train from Savannah to Atlanta, through Macon. No more.
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thank you for revealing these truths, Rosaliene!
encounter young people is often
all that gives me hope
for humanity 🙂
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David, we have to keep hope alive for their sake 🙂
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Thank you for shining a light on these truths.
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Thanks for dropping by, JoAnna 🙂
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🙂
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Yes yes yes…
Heartbreaking and disgusting yet true 😥
Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for dropping by, Leen.
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