"Proportional Response, Anyone?

USS Barry fires Tomahawk missiles [Image 2 of 2] by DVIDSHUB

U.S. cruise missile fired from a U.S. Destroyer

In response to the gas attacks last week in Syria that killed hundreds and attributed to President Bashar Assad's government by the U.S. government, yet unconfirmed by U.N. chemical inspectors on the alleged scene in Damascus, the White House, according to a government official is seeking a "medium" level intensity military strike on Syrian government installations, "just muscular enough not to get mocked, just enough to be more than symbolic, (in other words a "proportionate response", whatever that really means).

Meanwhile White House advisors "indicated" they would not seek a vote in Congress or go to the U.N. Security Council for authorization to use force, (again in other words, these are just some minor legal impediments we can ignore and besides who is going to object a few pansies in Congress?).

Amazingly, (or rather not so amazingly considering the stenographic reporting by the corporate media), there is no criticism, (even skepticism) of the clearly illegal and un-Constitutional path the White House is considering in dismissing the need to go before Congress to seek authorization before going to war or going before the U.N. Security Council to gain its authorization.

Lets remember the only Constitutionally legal justification for going to war must be voted on and approved by Congress and the U.N. Charter, which the U.S. as an original signatory, states a country must be in danger of imminent attack or been attacked as the only justification to go to war. And the U.N. Security Council is the only internationally authorized body that can intervene into the affairs of another country and that requires a unanimous vote by the five permanent members.

Now I can hear the "snickering in the aisles" sort of speak that raising this "legalism" stuff is like delving into quaint nostalgia. But without legal, Constitution granted authorization, the U.S. government is just another international authoritarian aggressive thug acting with impunity.

And that needs to be said clearly and unmistakably. The American people need to face the truth of their government's mendacity, not deny or ignore it as if it isn't happening or be in denial or retreat into some personal mindless distraction as if it's not their problem and besides what can they do about it anyway. Is this not the cowardly approach seen in Hollywood movies where the bully terrorizes everyone in the town and the townspeople cringe in fear rather than confronting him and taking him on until Clint Eastwood arrives, gives them some backbone where they then act together to rid themselves of the bully thus saving them from personal disgrace and humiliation.

It's true, according to polls the overwhelming majority, some 80 % of the American people oppose intervention in Syria so maybe most are paying attention and not being as somnambulant as I make them to be.

But the situation goes beyond the polls. The government in America isn't listening to you and doesn't care a wit what you think. It is "listening" to all your electronic communications because your government sees you as the enemy.

This upcoming military intervention in Syria probably won't have the impact to arouse the American people to act and oppose it, (beyond giving their opinion in a poll). The government's propaganda machine has been in full throttle "justifying" why it needs to attack Syria as some necessary "humanitarian intervention" that requires no legal authorization before it takes action.

Next Page  1  |  2

(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).