Don’t Betray Us, Barack — End the Empire by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick

[Better Believe It]

Don’t Betray Us, Barack — End the Empire
by Oliver Stone and Peter Kuznick
April 14, 2011

Obama has taken a bad situation and, in many ways, made it worse. He got off to a good start, immediately taking steps to reverse some of Bush's most outlandish policies - pledging to end torture and close the detention facility at Guantanamo as well as the network of CIA-administered secret prisons.

Surrounding himself with Wall Street-friendly advisers and military hawks, he has sent more than 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan; bailed out Wall Street banks while paying scant attention to the plight of the poor and working class; and enacted a tepid version of health reform that, while expanding coverage, represented a boondoggle for the insurance industry. And he has continued many of Bush's civil rights abuses, secrecy obsessions and neoliberal policies that allow the continued looting of the real economy by those who are obscenely wealthy.

Obama has also endorsed a military/security budget that continues to balloon. Recent accounting by Christopher Hellman of the National Priorities Project found that the US spends over $1.2 (trillion) out of its $3 (trillion) annual budget on "national security", when all related expenses are factored in. Still, triumphalist rhetoric abounds. "People are wondering what the future holds, at home and abroad," Hillary Clinton told the Council on Foreign Relations. "So let me say it clearly: the United States can, must and will lead in this new century."

There are many ways in which Obama can begin overseeing the end of the American empire and the insane militarism that undergirds it. He has been urged to do so by none other than Mikhail Gorbachev, who has pressed Obama to stiffen his spine and pursue bold initiatives. "America needs perestroika right now," Gorba­chev said, "because the problems he has to deal with are not easy ones."

Read the full article at:

http://www.newstatesman.com/north-america/2011/04/afghanistan-obama-gorbachev

[villager]

1. Perestroika, indeed. So far, business as usual.

Let's see if he can tack into the winds... of change...

[Enthusiast]

2. This is good! K&R

You must stop fucking up now, Obama!

[upi402]

3. k/r n/t

[DCKit]

4. Kick for the am crowd. nt

[Better Believe It]

5. Kick for the weekend DU'ers

:)

[Hotler]

6. kicking also. n/t

[Overseas]

7. sigh... I remember

I was hoping Truth & Reconciliation Commissions would put our country on a new footing.

But we had the odd compromising years-- compromising with the party of torturers that crashed our economy.

So painful to see savage budget cuts on the poor while the wars roll on.