I found this article by Heather Wokusch, 10 Warning Signs for Today, and number one on the list is, of course, the recent executive order signed by Bush.
The order is entitled “Blocking Property of Certain Persons who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq”. I found this interesting article about the power of executive orders, and how, over the years, executive orders have been used to greatly increase the power of the executive branch, and diminsh the legislative branch of our government, Congress.
I am writing today about more than just that nasty executive order. I think Ms. Wokush’s article is a valuable springboard to examine current trends that bear discussion, before we find ourselves in yet another war, or wars.
With Bush rattling his saber at Iran and the Pakistani autonomous tribal region, as Brenda Stewart has pointed out, this is a good time to take note as to how certain trends strengthen and bolster other undesirable trends.
For example, Number 9 on Ms. Wokusch’s list Rupurt Murdoch, would be number 2 in my book, behind that executive order, because a dictator, I mean president, can’t wage unpopular wars without media backing. Murdoch has set his sites on the Dow Jones Industrial, which publishes the Wall Street Journal. Remember that Murdoch’s 175 publications all bolstered the bogus arguments for war with Iraq.
Murdoch and Tony Blair spoke three times by phone just days before the start of the Iraq war, according to a freedom of information request by Liberal Democrat Lord Avebury.
Lord Avebury said: “Rupert Murdoch has exerted his influence behind the scenes on a range of policies on which he is known to have strong views, including the regulation of broadcasting and the Iraq war. The public can now scrutinise the timing of his contacts with the former prime minister, to see whether they can be linked to events in the outside world.”
Why is he getting away with aquiring yet more power, in face of this disastrous war that he helped to bring about? Where is democratic party opposition to Murdoch and his publishing empire?
Murdoch is, undoubtably, part of the reason the neocons feel that they will find a way to keep, and return to power. With virtually no democratic opposition to Murdoch’s empire building, the neocons have reason for optimism.
I’ll touch on two more from Ms. Wokush’s list, then I’m hoping to hear your thoughts on current trends, connections, etc.
A coming economic meltdown is second on Ms. Wokush’s list:
2. Market meltdown
Economic fallout from the subprime mortgage market collapse has extended further, with prominent investment company Bear Stearns admitting last week that two of its hedge funds, once estimated at $1.6 billion, are now of “very little value.”
Meanwhile, the prestigious Bank for International Settlements released a statement warning that the global economy could be facing a Great Depression, and that the dollar in particular “remains vulnerable to a sudden loss of private sector confidence.”
Fasten your seatbelts.
Remember Enron, and when it was all over the news, as was corporate malfeasance and greed? We, Americans, were taking a hard look at our corporate body when the saber rattling began for war with first Afghanistan, then Iraq.
War has been used to deflect public concern from genuine issues, and it will be used again. War without end will keep the public focused away from economic policies that have our world economy on the verge of collapse.
Then there is the question of a couple of democrats. Number 10 on Ms. Wokush’s list is the issue of Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama signing onto to warhawk Joseph Leiberman’s amedment blaming Iran in the complicity of the death of American soldiers. In fact, not one U.S. Senator voted against that amendment.
Now that’s the pot calling the kettle black. We know that the number one “complicitor” in the death of American soldiers is President George Bush. A close second are all those who are complicit with his policies.
‘Nuff said. I want to hear your thoughts.
