By Gordon Duff and New Eastern Outlook, Moscow (Est: 1816)
American foreign policy, not just toward Russia and China, but the world, in general, isn’t built on political theory or national interest. There is no manifest destiny or more than lip service for spreading democracy leading the dialog.
Whatever artifice may have served for so many years, blinding all but the few, Ezra Pound, Martin Luther King, so very few, nothing remains, nothing to anchor to, nothing to believe in.
Sometimes looking in a mirror can be a horror.
America exists to foster war, poverty, discord, and strife. All information, delivered through fake education, propagandized entertainment, phony intelligence, invented news or the innuendo and smears of social media and Google, is created by “lobbyists.”
Information is reality and creating fake information while erasing all else is the biggest industry of the digital age.
The lobbyists, in turn, employ “think tanks,” thinly veiled propaganda fronts for the cabal of military elites, intelligence agencies and financial criminals who suck the life out of the world.
Those who don’t travel outside the US are unaware of how the American nation is seen by others. America is hated, it is a laughing stock, it is reviled and for those who are forgiving, Americans are felt sorry for.
Others still, those who once admired or depended on America, most often out of ignorance and gullibility, feel a sense of grief.
America is where she is today, oligarchical, a land of lies and censorship, where propaganda and hate reign, because lesser men sought positions of power and leadership without seasoning in battle, without a classical education, and without a moral center.
America will not be giving birth to a Marcus Aurelius, not in this century and if she survives, something in doubt, in the next as well.
After this broad indictment, let us take one area and examine the costs as well as the causation. As is so often the case, we turn to Donald Trump, current “chief alligator” in the Washington “swamp.”
His stumbling pronouncements, his pugnacious ignorance so often rings true when gauged among even his lesser creatures.
The way in Washington and across America is a simple one, no matter how often you get caught lying, keep to the story, repeat the lie and the lie will take on a life of its own.
Children were born hating Russia of parents and grandparents who hated African Americans and will grow and mature hating, on cue mind you, Muslims, Jews or whoever they are told to hate.
Then we look to causation.
Washington exists with one purpose, to tax and spend. The nation is taxed, with a combined tax rate of 55% of GNP, at a higher rate than any European “welfare state” with cradle to grave food and housing guaranteed for all.
Yet in America, poverty is rampant, generations are born into debt, where even those with a university education spend decades hovering at near minimum wage, denied homeownership, reluctant to start a family, marginalized for life with the lucky inheriting a home or retirement nest egg with the death of parents; dreams denied, and a life wasted.
Behind the wall of anger and division is fear. You see, if you are poor you are vulnerable. Without money, any American can go to prison.
Serious illness can mean bankruptcy or death or both.
Nearly 100 million Americans are three weeks from homelessness and starvation with no safety net in existence, not anymore. You can smell the fear.
The fearful are vulnerable, gullible, fodder for manipulation.
At the center of it all is the functionally illiterate and morally flexible who see themselves as leaders. All are laughable. None are physically brave, none show moral courage, perhaps a very few and even that can be feigned, our cynicism has grown this deep.
Most of all, as the post-war generation that gave us the final insult of Donald Trump dies off, we are left with those who embrace the moral code of the Reagan years, steal it all, do anything to get ahead, no lie is too vile, no obligation or trust should stand if inconvenient. Where does this bring us?
Today we look at General James Mattis, a Marine combat veteran with endless medals and ribbons. Mattis, Trump’s former Secretary of Defense, is trolling the swamp for something, is he selling books, does he want to be a senator, we aren’t yet sure, but he is a curious character, one worth a look.
When I think of such things, what Washington calls heroics, I see in my head the image of 1200 dead Marines floating off the beaches of Tarawa or of my own evenings in Vietnam, at times the stuff of Hollywood war films, albeit with a nasty tinge of reality long passed.
Now we hire an army, often illegal aliens we quickly deport when the fighting is done, should they survive, wars fought with drones and missiles or by “heroic” pilots most often against hapless civilians. Rising to the top of such a military organization or serving in a government that feeds off the business side of murder is why America is where it is.
The city of Washington DC is where cash is skimmed off the top and, once the oligarchs have fattened themselves enough, a road might be paved, or a dam built. Let us focus now on one tiny ray of light, or is it?
General James Mattis has just written a book on America, citing his concerns for the political divisions that have grown so severe, partially on his watch, that the nation faces disintegration.
During his recent interview by the Washington Post, Mattis, in boyish tones, halting, using the language of a country bumpkin, though Wikipedia describes Mattis as an “intellectual” is obviously seeking the adoration of the American public as an alternative to Trump, less hateful, less corrupt, less, quite frankly, fat.
Mattis offers solutions, we must work together, we must love one another, we must find a better way. Then, ten minutes later, he makes the case for war upon war, based on assertions entirely based on “alternative facts.”
The word that comes to mind is schizophrenia.
Mattis and I entered the Marine Corps at nearly the same time. I went to Vietnam to serve in a combat unit while he deployed, decades later, to the Gulf War as a battalion commander.
One wonders, I certainly do, what Mattis might have been like if he had spent months behind enemy lines in Vietnam, learning about war “upfront and personal.” Funny how very very few heroic combat leaders have ever actually seen combat except driving past or on TV.
This is December 2019, a good time to sell books as holiday gifts and Mattis, a former Marine general and Trump’s one-time Secretary of Defense, is a rare person of reason and deliberation, or so he seems. Mattis had worked for my good friend, Gwenyth Todd at the National Security Council, in the White House some years ago. Todd has always spoken very highly of Mattis.
Yet, as I watch Mattis speak, fed marshmallow questions by the Washington Post, making assertion after assertion “not in evidence” about nation after nation, smearing some with outright falsehoods while defending others deserving of vilification, I find myself cringing.
The more he speaks, the clearer it becomes that, past the relatively carefully chosen words, a great emptiness dwells, one made of privilege, of toadying, of mediocrity.
Yet still, behind it we see something else, history fictionalized, erased, rebuilt of “new think” into the unrecognizable. Millions dead, the lessons learned, erased from our world as though by a Google algorithm.
Washington is a city of children, and war to the children of Washington is no more than video games, other people’s suffering, other people’s money, never a bill come due, not in Washington.
What becomes clear, seeing Mattis, perhaps the best of the lot, is that nothing will come out of Washington but lies. It is also clear that Mattis has never seen real intelligence, knows nothing of real history nor has he been exposed to any narrative not fabricated to support his insular outlook steeped in fakery.
This is a man who was “there,” generally in command of something, often at or near the pinnacle of power, when the US killed millions over long proven lies and yet no remorse, no taking of responsibility, no admissions even when confronted with the recent publication by the Washington Post of documentation recently declassified that proves his own role in Afghanistan to be inexcusable.
Not one question about Afghanistan, about the lies, the corruption and waste and his own failures there and yet Mattis, even by my own admission, is one of the best of the lot.
This leaves us with a sad truth. There isn’t a single serving military leader left in the US that can claim they fought corruption, spoke honestly of the futility of illegal wars or risked personal gain by spreading the truth.
There is no one, not even Mattis, and he is one of the best.
In fact, not a single American officer, who wasn’t run out of the military, has spoken up, none, not even Mattis.
He is still there, childlike, almost lovable, an honest face, a simple voice, but the message, in that the festering stench of disease is overwhelming.
Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War that has worked on veterans and POW issues for decades and consulted with governments challenged by security issues. He’s a senior editor and chairman of the board of VT, especially for the online magazine “New Eastern Outlook.”
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.
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Stuck on the photo of General (Mad Dogg) Mattis. He lost his chance to learn about war when he avoided Vietnam.
***Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) affecting cervids, the deer family. *** This is usually found in herds that are too populated, a natural mechanism to control over-population when there is a shortage of predators. In America we see it manifesting itself in the mechanism of millennialism, Neo-“whatever”, moral degeneracy, caused by not over population but public education’s suppression of rationality, driven by cognitive dissonance. These products are easily controlled by a deep state. I believe this disease has to run its course. What will be left of America? That is the $64 question…
Patriotism – what it is, and what it is NOT.
I hope this finds you all well, in good spirit and having a good day.
Today, I have decided to explain to you about patriotism and how it has been hijacked, and its meaning corrupted and changed to suit Satan and his Synagogue and their endless wars that are used for profit and to murder and maim the infants (infantry) of the nation, who are the future of the nation, thereby destroying the nation… https://100777.com/patriotism?fbclid=IwAR3poWplvCBRPjIJoM6Q7Hw4uykU5JXScc-1zzvCEjcPOOtGiVVuuj3YL0g
Smedley Butler War is a Racket
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3_EXqJ8f-0
http://thewayhomeorfacethefire.net/
This is reminiscent of what mr.Lavrov said about so many p***ies being around Washington. Bottom line is that US cannot be trusted for anything really, not a single shred of truth in any ongoing global network or association, political or economic. No serious statesman or politician can allow himself or herself to trust US state department, embassy or consulate. Just some mythology about über indispensable nation, but with very poor and extremely dispensable people. US might hope for some new volcanic-created territories or islands, to be able to put its flag there because everywhere else it is shameful.
OK, Boomer.
My boomer brother in law loves Jebus you know that jebus the one like that deluded general above whom loves every war!
He lost his job over a year ago as he is 61, as corporate America has decided that the boomers are through and losing a job at 61 means you are screwed and what does this mean? No health insurance and no money as he is facing bankruptcy and homelessness and over the years he bashed the union and “wellfare” and every “cucksevitive” position culminating with tRump his hero!
61 and unemployed in America? A perfect use for that NRA protected pistol rather then dead of starvation and homelessness! Harsh? TRUTH.
The boomers without money are scheduled for deletion as keep voting GOP you arsehats….
But which were those “brave” American officers more afraid, Viatnamese soldiers or American soldiers? I think Americans, because later they were able to make a mess inside upper class American neighbourhood, while Vietnamese could not. Similary after Iraq War returning soldiers were labeled as potential terorists.
Too obvious not to call a possible trap. Maybe the most revolutionary thing to do is to do nothing.
Mr. Duff,
The Kids sure do have it figured out as that 18-24 year old Generation called gen-Z absolutely despise the boomers meaning the readers of this site for what they have done to this country.
They know that homelessness is probably in their future even with a college degree as the boomers themselves are getting busted out of the work place and Corporations refusing to hire them as they put the biggest swamp creature into power!
Home ownership? Or a family? They have a distinct sense of hopelessness for the future. One thing they do know to do and that is to blame the boomer generation for this mess. They have a saying directed at boomers when they talk about all of their endless nonsense: OK, Boomer! in a derisive a tone as possible and of course I absolutely agree with them about the boomers the worst generation in American history.
Gen-Z has web pages dedicated to “OK, Boomer” memes. tRump is the poster child for the boomer generation….
I simply give them my retirement check
Mr Duff, everyone around me gives their kids money or has grown kids at home or even both!
What else to spend it on?
Brilliant piece, just brilliant!!! Donald Trump as the Final Insult, I love it…
Well, the present leader of America Donald Trump was educated at Wharton School, Pennsylvania, Tavistock connected. The Department of Social Systems Sciences was created there in 1980. Although Trump had left by that time Trump body language, absurd statements, eye rolling etc. designed to create a cognitive dissonance, are classic Tavistock mass manipulation techniques. Rothschild and Warburg are major founders of Wharton School. Drugs, Cultural fragmentation, Social Environmental Turbulence and Engineered Reaction resulting in a post- war Western culture predicted by the founder of Tavistock John Rawlings Rees when he said in 1954:
“Their job is to apply the advanced techniques of psychological warfare as we know them to whole population groups that will grow ever larger, so that whole populations may be more easily controlled. In a world driven completely mad, groups of Tavistock psychologists linked to each other, capable of influencing the political and governmental field must be arbiters, the power cabal.”
Summarized from
https://philosophyofmetrics.com/tavistock-created-donald-trump/
Alumni of Wharton School include
the CEOs of SpaceX( Elon Musk),Google, Tesla, Inc., LinkedIn, The Blackstone Group, CBS, General Electric, Boeing, Pfizer, Comcast, Oracle, DHL, UPS, Pepsi, Time, Inc, BlackRock, Johnson & Johnson, UBS AG, Wrigley Company, Reckitt Benckiser and Tesco.[16]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wharton_School_of_the_University_of_Pennsylvania
Sono sopraffatto dall’amarezza , l’america che sognavo è morta , non saprei dire quando ed ora quei vermi immondi ne stanno consumando in cadavere , non sono americano ma mi dispiace per voi che siete ancora li .
Ho vissuto vicino a Lucca per qualche tempo e mi manca sempre di più l’Italia
WOW is all I can say!
I have been an ardent follower of VT for many years, …at least 15?
(I only stumbled onto VT during a search a long time ago. I myself am a Vietnam era Army veteran.)
Regardless, in that time, I have never read a more dispassionate article written by Gordon Duff.
My highest regards to Gordon Duff, and to all the contributors at VT. (Too many to mention.)
Keep up the great work guys! “…oooorah”
A fine essay from the heart. For this civilian (I never served) the military is a cipher. Perhaps opposite to the Prussian model, in the U.S., the military is to straighten out the misfits and offer employment to those not otherwise connected. In Prussia, the military was for the elite. And in reading Mein Kampf, I note that Hitler feels that of the two possible elite classes, commercial and military, military is the proper course to manage the affairs of a nation. Hitler cited bankers as the commercial masters. Main Kampf stand at one pole of thought and your essay at the other, the downside of replacing the military with bankers. And then there is Caesar, who, in my view, used the military to restore order, but alas, he didn’t know about bankers apparently and was done in by them. Still, the way out is by military means. So disappointing there isn’t a one we can look to.
Well said indeed. Death of a reigning Empire for sure. “Deception is a state of mind & mind of the state.” James Jesus Angleton
Suppose we compare General Mattis to the earlier U.S. Marine General Smedley Butler (1881-1940).
Promotions were slower then. Butler retired about 1930 as a 2 star general but should have been a four star general. He gave speeches in towns all over the country against going to War. He wrote the seminal book “War is a Racket”. I never heard of him or his great book in any history class. I never heard my parents mention his name either. With all those books in his library do you think General Mattis ever read the one by this giant earlier Marine General “War is a Racket”? I believe Mattis never read that book by that giant winner of two medals of honor. Isn’t the recent report on the dismal failure in Afghanistan an indictment of General Mattis and all the other military dupes sent to Afghanistan and all those other countries over there, not to build human relationships but to destroy any possible relationship for centuries? I say General Butler learned from his mistakes; General Mattis learned nothing from his mistakes and likely never heard of the giant earlier Marine General from Pennsylvania. And one can be quite certain Draft Dodger Trump never heard of General Smedley Butler either. How often does one even read about General Butler today in the lying media? And by the way was not General Butler right after all? Did not traitor Roosevelt lie to the public to get us into that totally illegal war? The greatest general of that war war murdered by our own government
The greatest general of WWII, at least according to the German Generals, was general George S. Patton from California. But he was murdered by order of two star general Donovan head of the OSS, who paid a military hit man $10,000 in 1945 to murder General Patton. This cowardly act was accomplished by the most cowardly way possible: An ambush. Even that thug Ike and his cronies were in on it and almost none of them attended Patton’s funeral. Do you suppose Mattis or Trump have read the book and other documentation of all these crimes by our own government in those many books in his library? Not a word of this sad story of totally lying and corrupt America has reached any current high school history books yet either so far as I know. And how about the crimes of 9/11/01? Although General Mattis as not promoted to 4 star until 2007, don’t you think he now knows all the sordid details of that crime performed by our own government if he did not know it all then? You can bet he knows all the despicable cowardice by the four star general traitors of the U.S. who obviously did not lift a finger to defend the country that day because
THEY WERE IN ON THE CON along with international criminals in Israel, Bush and Cheney and others.
Dear Gordon, not only is this an excellent summary of a deeper analysis, it also reflects your mood – such analyzes are not uncommon. The undertone is more important to me. It reflects – understandably – deep disappointment with the situation in the United States and the rest of the world. I hope it won’t be resignation.
By the way I’m still unclear on Chuck Hagel’s leaving the old administration. A lot of noise but nothing clear.
Hagel disappeared. We are very curious.
Dempsey too.
Excellent writeup. Mattis is a lying machine and so is Trump and so many others in this administration like Pompeo.
But when you say “Washington exists with one purpose, to tax and spend” you’re absolutely right. Also your “The nation is taxed, with a combined tax rate of 55% of GNP, at a higher rate than any European “welfare state” with cradle to grave food and housing guaranteed for all”, you hit the final nail. By the time people are finished paying for their private healthcares, daycares, schools and all the rate becomes even higher than that. Think of taxes as a “return on investment” which is a gamble in the US because of no guarantees as in healthcare even with the ACA has pre existing conditions and the constant lack of budget for infrastructures as it goes to wars of profit for a few oligarchs. In Canada or Europe you have the guaranteed return and the whiners can whine as much a they want, there is no rape of the system by private entities like in the US. Most borrowers in the US do not have full capacity to repay their debt. And that’s another item to be added to their perpetual anxiety.
Human dignity starts with basic rights that are universal.
Ignorance is so high in the US that the blue collar working class elects oligarchs to lead them (above the law oligarchs). As if they have anything in common as if they are always hoping for the benevolence of their kings. Bunch of single issue voters. And who knows what that one issue is ….
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