dagblog - Comments for "Massive U.S. Weapons Deals and Obama’s Middle East 'Reset Button'"

They want their reward Now.

Resistance — Wed, 25 May 2011 04:14:50 +0000

In reply to And not many seem to consider

They want their reward Now.

And not many seem to consider

we are stardust — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:42:01 +0000

In reply to "Yes, the money's that

And not many seem to consider karma or Jesus's forgiveness.

Nice song, Watt; thanks. I

we are stardust — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:40:57 +0000

In reply to "We do know how quickly

Nice song, Watt; thanks. I do think most people have gone so far beyond imagining that stopping the war machine is even possible by now, or even slowing it down. Where are the songs of resistance now? Michael Franti, maybe; precious few others, though I love the Sam Bradley cover.

It's hard to picture any way Obama resets on the ME with all this going forward, no?

Yes, I admitted being naive;

we are stardust — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:37:56 +0000

In reply to "Now I don’t know about you,

Yes, I admitted being naive; I didn't know that they offered deals at cocktail parties: "Hey, we have some extra F-22's we can let ya have for a song..." Nor did I suspect that the President was so directly involved.

"Yes, the money's that

quinn esq — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:33:01 +0000

In reply to Massive U.S. Weapons Deals and Obama’s Middle East 'Reset Button'

"Yes, the money's that good."

- Oh We Masters of War.

"Now I don’t know about you,

miguelitoh2o — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:21:13 +0000

In reply to Massive U.S. Weapons Deals and Obama’s Middle East 'Reset Button'

"Now I don’t know about you, but when I read some of the Wilileaked cables that spoke about US Ambassadors pushing deals for arms and weapons systems at cocktail parties, it disturbed me; I was stuck in the past as to the meaning of diplomacy and diplomat; you remember, the old-school talking to each other to solve problems."

You sound kinda naive on this front. The "diplomatic corps" has long been occupied with furthering American business interests abroad. Anything that moves the trade deficit in the other direction will be welcomed and promoted by our government, be the products instruments of destruction or otherwise.

"We do know how quickly

Watt Childress — Tue, 24 May 2011 17:03:05 +0000

In reply to Massive U.S. Weapons Deals and Obama’s Middle East 'Reset Button'

"We do know how quickly factories can be turned to peaceful, sustainable production for energy products and other healthy uses given the will."

Yes, I believe we understand the "swords to plowshares" truth, deep in our hearts, even if people are now numb to the potential. How do we reactivate that deep knowledge?

Good songs help. I tried to find an uplifting version of the traditional "Vine and Fig Tree" to share. Most of the versions I found on youtube were either homespun rallies of peace activists singing quietly, or staged choirs conducted with churchly decorum. Sweet, pious, and probably a bit boring when compared to the promotional campaigns of military contractors.

In the battle for hearts and minds, its "Vine and Fig Tree" -vs- "Be All That You Can Be."

It would be cool if creative minds were to energize the traditional plowshare theme in kick-ass pro-peace promotions. Keep the meek, and crank up the volume. If we pump up the spirit in the video below, the warmongers won't stand a chance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdRmp9hbygI