Very interesting essay and very useful fodder for those of us that ponder the same history, especially the many things that are illogical (which I suppose can be just accepted as a result of humans being involved).
I have been contemplating why the Western Governments create narratives that are contrary to the truth and then act as if they have forgotten that the propagandists purposely twist(ed) the facts (so they are often 180 degrees away from the facts). For example: The Russians are incompetent, are running out of their inferior weapons and soldiers and are losing the Proxy War. Yet, contrary to Cognitive Dissonance Theory, they also assert that the evil Russians are an Existential Threat to The Ukraine and the rest of Europe. The US knows about the attrition rate of equipment (even if they believe the UKR lies about losses of personnel) so the US knows about the inferiority of their tactics (combined arms), vehicles, air defense systems, and ammunition production for a couple of years, yet they have done nothing significant to improve. Not a very good advertisement for the MIC or self-image that "NATO rules".
There is an old folk tale about an angry, unhappy and unpleasant man, whose manner has ensured he has no friends. One day he complains about this to a Wise Man who gives him advice, "Your problem will disappear if you pretend to be happy and friendly." The angry unpleasant SOB decides to take the advice and proceeds to "fake it". After a few weeks he wakes up and realizes that he is no longer an angry, unhappy SOB. Acting happy had consequences (in the way other people treated him) that made him happy and he was oblivious that it was happening.
Lie long enough and you believe the lie.
Acting as Hegemon engenders and bolsters the belief that one IS THE HEGEMON and leads to consequences (from others) that bolsters the belief in all the things that are part of that Hegemony. So America is the strongest power ever seen in the world, with the best weapons, the most prosperous economy, and the most freedom (despite the average voter voting for someone who promised to restore America's lost "Greatness").
I would be interested to be able to read (and contemplate) your classification criteria for your "Overthrow Events or Attempts", because I noted you did not include Georgia (where the original attempts failed and it may be continuing) among others. Somewhere there is probably a fine line between "influence" and "regime change event". It is possible the reality in many situations is that the goal is:
Either "sufficient Influence", or failing that "regime change", whatever happens first.
If this idea is correct I believe that many more cases will be found by looking at historical activities of USAID and their NGO's efforts around the world.
On your list, I suggest that the Ukraine effort at Regime change started closer to 2004 or the late 1990s, than 2014.
It is not that I am complaining. On the contrary, I have copied your list and the citation so that when I quote your work I can be sure I include correct attribution. That is another reason I'd like to know the criteria for inclusion in your long list.
"Here, the good intentions of others of importance count for little, or nothing. Everyone has them. The only measure and it is the only measure, is outcomes. So, every manipulating political leader, every covert intelligence officer, every self-proclaimed business thought leader and every mainstream media personality will talk to their high minded values, their good intentions - for us. They avoid the adverse consequences of their conduct with studied efficiency"
To quote you Les.
One of the things that disturbs me, is that no one seems to look at outcomes of policy from a moral point of view. As one of the little people, the outcomes of everything is horrific. However, for those who rule us, the outcomes are wonderful, because they get ahead in thier petty destructive games.
Not sure how to change this, other than to try and get people to look at what happens over 5 years, 10 years, 25 years not just what happens over the next 3 months.
One teeny tiny niggle to add - not to detract from the rest - I only learned myself last year that Britain DID have a large hand in Vietnam! When the Frogs were in full retreat, London sent in its forces to stymie the liberation movement; the results were catastrophic. London withdrew, and the US took over.
Definitely worth the wait. After conducting a genocidal campaign in Gaza the settler colony finds the going a lot tougher than a six day war, or may I suggest the Yom Kippur (73) when the US resupplied the shocked colony. How much stockpile is left after the events of the last three years, and an expected campaign against China, hmm. I've read from Shahid Bolsen that the OCGFC is quite prepared to throw Israel under the bus. The fence sitters are waiting for the winds to blow. Thanks for your insights.
Very interesting essay and very useful fodder for those of us that ponder the same history, especially the many things that are illogical (which I suppose can be just accepted as a result of humans being involved).
I have been contemplating why the Western Governments create narratives that are contrary to the truth and then act as if they have forgotten that the propagandists purposely twist(ed) the facts (so they are often 180 degrees away from the facts). For example: The Russians are incompetent, are running out of their inferior weapons and soldiers and are losing the Proxy War. Yet, contrary to Cognitive Dissonance Theory, they also assert that the evil Russians are an Existential Threat to The Ukraine and the rest of Europe. The US knows about the attrition rate of equipment (even if they believe the UKR lies about losses of personnel) so the US knows about the inferiority of their tactics (combined arms), vehicles, air defense systems, and ammunition production for a couple of years, yet they have done nothing significant to improve. Not a very good advertisement for the MIC or self-image that "NATO rules".
There is an old folk tale about an angry, unhappy and unpleasant man, whose manner has ensured he has no friends. One day he complains about this to a Wise Man who gives him advice, "Your problem will disappear if you pretend to be happy and friendly." The angry unpleasant SOB decides to take the advice and proceeds to "fake it". After a few weeks he wakes up and realizes that he is no longer an angry, unhappy SOB. Acting happy had consequences (in the way other people treated him) that made him happy and he was oblivious that it was happening.
Lie long enough and you believe the lie.
Acting as Hegemon engenders and bolsters the belief that one IS THE HEGEMON and leads to consequences (from others) that bolsters the belief in all the things that are part of that Hegemony. So America is the strongest power ever seen in the world, with the best weapons, the most prosperous economy, and the most freedom (despite the average voter voting for someone who promised to restore America's lost "Greatness").
I would be interested to be able to read (and contemplate) your classification criteria for your "Overthrow Events or Attempts", because I noted you did not include Georgia (where the original attempts failed and it may be continuing) among others. Somewhere there is probably a fine line between "influence" and "regime change event". It is possible the reality in many situations is that the goal is:
Either "sufficient Influence", or failing that "regime change", whatever happens first.
If this idea is correct I believe that many more cases will be found by looking at historical activities of USAID and their NGO's efforts around the world.
On your list, I suggest that the Ukraine effort at Regime change started closer to 2004 or the late 1990s, than 2014.
It is not that I am complaining. On the contrary, I have copied your list and the citation so that when I quote your work I can be sure I include correct attribution. That is another reason I'd like to know the criteria for inclusion in your long list.
"Here, the good intentions of others of importance count for little, or nothing. Everyone has them. The only measure and it is the only measure, is outcomes. So, every manipulating political leader, every covert intelligence officer, every self-proclaimed business thought leader and every mainstream media personality will talk to their high minded values, their good intentions - for us. They avoid the adverse consequences of their conduct with studied efficiency"
To quote you Les.
One of the things that disturbs me, is that no one seems to look at outcomes of policy from a moral point of view. As one of the little people, the outcomes of everything is horrific. However, for those who rule us, the outcomes are wonderful, because they get ahead in thier petty destructive games.
Not sure how to change this, other than to try and get people to look at what happens over 5 years, 10 years, 25 years not just what happens over the next 3 months.
Excellent prose, and analysis.
One teeny tiny niggle to add - not to detract from the rest - I only learned myself last year that Britain DID have a large hand in Vietnam! When the Frogs were in full retreat, London sent in its forces to stymie the liberation movement; the results were catastrophic. London withdrew, and the US took over.
London pretended it had nothing to do with it.
https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/analysis/how-britain-started-vietnam-war
Definitely worth the wait. After conducting a genocidal campaign in Gaza the settler colony finds the going a lot tougher than a six day war, or may I suggest the Yom Kippur (73) when the US resupplied the shocked colony. How much stockpile is left after the events of the last three years, and an expected campaign against China, hmm. I've read from Shahid Bolsen that the OCGFC is quite prepared to throw Israel under the bus. The fence sitters are waiting for the winds to blow. Thanks for your insights.
"The evidence of things not seen - the U.S. not fielding flagship stealth bomber technology against Iran over the course of this campaign."
Reports this morning of 6 B-2s en route to Guam.
Unseen soon to be seen.