Rachel Maddow recently wrote a book review for the NYTimes:
… America is, truly, exceptional in the scale of our military commitments; it is the defining context of our role among nations. In his abrasive, heartbreaking new book, “Breach of Trust: How Americans Failed Their Soldiers and Their Country,” Andrew J. Bacevich starts from the assumption that our modern militarism is unsustainable and unwise. He then proceeds to assign blame, mercilessly: to the public (for our consumerist apathy); to the Pentagon (for its “generals who had slept undisturbed back when Warsaw Pact commanders had ostensibly been planning to launch World War III” but who “now fretted nervously over the prospect of their budget taking a hit”); to the contractors (whose profiteering steals honor from the soldiers they serve alongside); and, naturally, to the politicians. Even Fenway Park and the Red Sox come in for blame, for the staging of a sailor’s homecoming at a July 4 game that left Bacevich all but retching over the “convenient mechanism for voiding obligation, . . . a made-to-order opportunity for conscience-easing.”
Bacevich saves particular vitriol for pro-war writers of both the right and left: Christopher Hitchens, the Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen and the New Republic editor Leon Wieseltier all get filleted and neatly stacked in the corner, to make room for the unleashing of all hell on David Brooks for his commentary before, during and after the Iraq war — followed by what Bacevich sees as an unconscionable repeat of the same mistakes in the late phases of the war in Afghanistan. Bacevich’s scorching litany of what he sums up as “grotesque and contemptible irresponsibility” is a bracing indictment of my profession, and how no one suffers consequences for even the most humiliating failures in prediction and analysis, as long as those failures favor the use of military force. (I should mention here that Bacevich blurbed my own book, “Drift.”)…
Now Salon has (as Billmon expressed it) “picked the lowest-hanging fruit” with an excerpt where Bacevich explains that “David Brooks Is Constantly Wrong“:
A military composed of warrior-professionals suits the agenda of hawkish conservatives at least as well as hawkish liberals. For those who dream of liberating the oppressed abroad and reversing the corrupting tide of liberalism at home here is an instrument ideally suited to making those dreams come true. Not persuaded? Consider the views of the noted conservative commentator and New York Times columnist David Brooks.
Back in early 2003, eager to have the United States invade Iraq, Brooks mocked those expressing reservations or reluctance…
On April 28, 2003, beating President Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech by three days, Brooks declared that “the war in Iraq is over.” The political and cultural implications of victory promised to be profound. A collaboration between policy makers in Washington and troops on the battlefield had removed any last doubts as to American global dominion. Brooks sang the praises of “a ruling establishment that can conduct wars with incredible competence and skill.” The United States, he enthused, was an “incredibly effective colossus that can drop bombs onto pinpoints, [and] destroy enemies that aren’t even aware they are under attack.”…
Violet
Since this is an open thread, if someone sees Mary G can they please let her know I’m more or less okay. I saw she asked about me a few weeks ago. And thank you, Mary G for checking on me. Hope you and HBM are doing well.
Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader
Thank you for the new thread Anne Laurie. All the ones I’ve participated in today seem to be disintegrating faster than usual, despite my best efforts to keep them civil.
BGinCHI
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader: It’s true, you are a model of civility.
Anne Laurie
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader: When the nuclear winter reaches this blog, it’s gonna be just you, me, and the cockroaches, my friend!
lamh36
Alright where are you Doug J?
A little music for your next music thread: HAPPY 88th BIRTHDAY to the King of da Blues guitar, BB KING!
B. B. King – The Thrill Is Gone (Live at Montreux 1993)
? Martin
Well, he’s completely correct on that. We have unmatched ability to kill people when we decide to do so. However it all goes to shit when we decide to keep people alive. The hard part comes when we stop dropping ordinance. No big government contracts in doing that.
Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader
@Anne Laurie: Yep, but I wouldn’t describe the diehard Obots as cockroaches. More like guinea pigs or lab rats.
joes527
@Anne Laurie: There is some repetition in there … I just can’t put my finger on it.
gussie
Assigns blame to:
the public;
the Pentagon;
the contractors; and
the politicians.
Hm. Who’s missing?
wormtown
I think Bacevich is great. He has been doing interviews for the new book.
Roger Moore
Yeah, because unsuspecting people are so much harder to kill than ones who are ready for your attack. What a moran.
eemom
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader:
I don’t like to complain, but confrontation was a bit spotty on the football thread.
BGinCHI
NO WAY this isn’t really from the Onion:
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/russian-shot-in-argument-over-kants-philosophy.php?ref=fpblg
Obviously if this was an argument over the Third Critique the dude would have used his real gun.
Anya
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader: we like to be called Obot Americans, please.
Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader
@eemom:
I believe you may be letting your intense hatred of Corner Stone overwhelm a fair reading of the situation. I did in fact confront him thoroughly and without exception.
Ash Can
@Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader:
But you look so cute with spitballs stuck to your face and library paste splattered all over your jacket.
MattR
@lamh36: Happy Birthday BB. How Blue Can You Get?
In other news, came across this dog adoption campaign in Costa Rica and thought the people here would get a kick out of it.
Anya
@Violet: I am glad you’re doing fine. I don’t check the blog that often but I still ft your absence.
Belafon
@? Martin: Destruction is always easier than construction.
Citizen_X
@gussie:
Well if you read Maddow’s paragraph immediately following, it sure ain’t the media.
The Dangerman
Interesting:
Source:
http://spdblotter.seattle.gov/2013/09/16/suspect-in-navy-yard-attack-previously-arrested-in-seattle-for-anger-fueled-shooting/
Elizabelle
@Violet:
((waves at Violet))
Hello there! Don’t be a stranger!!
? Martin
@Belafon: True, but if you look at, well, construction – we put a lot of energy into making building better/faster/cheaper. Demo hasn’t changed much: big hammer/big lever – because it was already easy.
Blowing up other people *was* hard before we got into space but we’re still spending like it’s hard. We’re doing it backward.
MikeJ
@The Dangerman: Anger fueled shooting min Seattle? He could have been a cop.
Mary G
@Violet: So glad to hear it! My mom took a different antibiotic and went completely gaga, going from sharp as a tack to severe Alzheimer’s in one day until they took her off it. I was afraid the same thing had happened to you.
HBM is still here and doing better every day. He has potted plants in huge numbers, fixed all my computers, gotten the garage cleanup more than half done, made all the meals, and paid for the food, so I am in tall cotton. He has also taken apart an electric wheelchair I got on Craigslist and is threatening to jazz it up so I can go onto the beach and do wheelies.
We have a couple of photos planned if we get around to it.
lamh36
Welp, I see the usual bigots and racist are all aflutter over the new Miss America being of Indian descent (country, not Native America, FYI).
Racists Are Being Hella Racist Because Miss America Isn’t White
#RacistGonnaHate
WereBear
I gotta stick up a big for “the American public” because it’s not like people aren’t outraged.
You don’t spell out IMPEACH on a California beach with human bodies if you aren’t outraged. You don’t donate and work hard to get our first African American President if you aren’t upset about business as usual. The overwhelming majority of the public wants more sensible restraints on gun access, but it doesn’t matter.
Our levers of power have mostly been broken; deliberately, to keep us from making the changes we want. We are in the process of forging new ones, but in the meantime, I see a lot of unhappiness with the crap that is being pulled.
They are just uncertain who to blame (while I’m not!) and how to change it.
gussie
@Citizen_X: So modern militarism is unsustainable and unwise and everyone is to blame except soldiers?
Even the title is odd: how Americans failed their soldiers, as if ‘American’ and ‘soldier’ are separate categories. I haven’t read the book, but Maddow says it ‘dismantles the warrior myth we civilians and politicians so enjoy worshiping from afar, and replaces that idol with flesh and blood, vulnerable humans, who deserve better than the profligate, wasteful way in which we treat them.’ But is it dismantling the myth if (big fucking if, without having read the book) it elevates them to the status of sacred victims instead of flawed actors, like the rest of us? I buy into the myth more than I like to admit, but a book all about how ‘we’ failed ‘them’ sets all kinds of alarm bells ringing. It strikes me as myth-making more than myth-dismantling.
gogol's wife
@BGinCHI:
Okay, I had to look into this. Here’s the story I found:
According to the investigation that has begun, on the Day of the City holiday, the male victim was returning home late at night and decided to buy beer. He stopped at a small kiosk on Kazakh Street. While in line the victim got into conversation with a young man on a subject that was strange for such a situation. “They began to argue about the work and merits of Immanuel Kant,” the police learned. “A violent argument turned into fisticuffs.”
Trying to prove that he was a great fan of the famous wise man, the instigator of the fight got out of his pocket a trauma pistol and shot his opponent several times.
The suspect disappeared from the scene of the incident but was soon caught by employees of Police Department No. 6 in the First of May district of Rostov-on-the-Don.
rikyrah
if you’re interested
TV Alert
Tonight is the premiere of Sleepy Hollow on Fox.
9pm EST
The female lead is Nicole Beharie, who played Rachel Robinson in 42.
Plot:
Tom Mison stars as Ichabod Crane in this modern-day retelling
of Washington Irving’s classic short story, from Fringe’s Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. Frozen in time for 250 years, Crane awakes to partner up with Sleepy Hollow’s sheriff Abbie Mills (Nicole Beharie) to solve the mysteries of a town ravaged by evil forces, including Death, aka the Headless Horseman, who’s also found his way to the present.
I don’t like horror usually, but I’ve always liked the story of the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.
Doug Milhous J
@lamh36:
I’ll put one of those great songs he did with Bobby Bland later or maybe a performance of Night Life.
Chris
@lamh36:
Indian woman mistaken for Arab. Huh.
This has always been at the top of my list of arguments against profiling. Even if you assume that it was somehow useful or morally justifiable to single out Arabs or Muslims for special attention at airports and other checkpoints, the fact remains that people who are racist enough to support racial profiling are generally too ignorant and/or stupid to be able to do it correctly.
? Martin
@gussie:
Where is all of the control here? The military enlisted aren’t large enough to drive a national attitude. They aren’t large enough to effect an electoral outcome. In fact, they aren’t even as willing participants as you suggest given that they are non-representative of the nation – the military is a guaranteed employer. And among the enlisted, their ability to influence policy is extremely limited.
So, what real power do they have to change?
Now, you’re declaring exclusivity where none is intended. When they talk about the legislative and electoral influence from the public, that includes the military in the role of voter (when then are allowed to vote). But that’s not an important distinction because even if you remove the military influence *as voters* the outcome would be exactly the same. The voting public is still responsible. The officers are responsible for shaping policy and decisions within the military and for how they influence legislators directly. Our elected officials are responsible for how they set policy. The DOD and the President and rest of the executive branch is responsible for how they implement that policy.
The group with the least ability to influence the outcome are the military enlisted.
lamh36
@Doug Milhous J: cool BBK and BBB!!! Love it!
Trollhattan
@Doug Milhous J:
Like this’n?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FU-4Gc77XM
Love that, but am partial to “Outside Help” wtih “How Blue Can You Get?” a close second. Either way, the iceman best watch himself. Also, too, check out BB at Sing Sing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLAAzOBoBI
For true story, “Thrill is Gone” was cowritten by a chemistry teacher at my high school. No, his name was not Walter White.
Violet
@Mary G: The antibiotic was rough, but things got better the second week. I’ve been really, really busy and out of town a lot too. I really appreciate you asking after me. It was rough for me for awhile and it was nice to know someone noticed my absence.
I have such admiration for you for reaching out to HBM, and for him for taking your outstretched hand. I love hearing how things are going. Glad he’s getting things into such good order. You two seem like a great team. Would love to see any pictures you care to post.
MikeJ
@? Martin: And frankly, the last thing we want is the military organized into a voting bloc. It seems like a constant coup threat.
Violet
@Anya: @Elizabelle: Thank you both. I haven’t posted here in about a month for a variety of reasons, as I posted above to Mary G. Didn’t know if anyone noticed or cared, so thank you. Nice to be missed.
J R in WV
I missed you too, Violet. Take care, and stay calm. Stress is a killer, and calm is the only cure!
Keep us posted on your progress.
WereBear
@Violet: Antibiotics have become scary! I had one last year that cautioned me about burst tendons, for heaven’s sake. Last time I take something without looking it up.
lamh36
WTH is going on today?
MAN ARRESTED IN FRONT OF WHITE HOUSE
He was throwing firecrackers over the fence…SMDH!
lamh36
@rikyrah: First of all Ichabod Crane is TOO DAMN HOT in this show!!!
Ichabod Crane was a skinny, ugly, sumabitch in Disney story…lol
I blame Johnny Depp! He was def a HOT Ichabod!!!
gene108
Medical type question:
I got pink-eye over the weekend. My PCP prescribed anti-biotic drops, but the infection is probably viral, as well as having a slight bacterial infection.
My question is how contagious is pink-eye?
I’ve heard people say it is super contagious, while the CDC website maintains that spreading it can be contained by not touching the infected eye(s) and washing hands thoroughly and regularly.
I’m curious if anyone else has had this and what they can share with me.
Cassidy
Did Jessie die after he was shot last night? I couldn’t tell and I don’t have a DVR.
Mnemosyne
@Violet:
My Pre-Code movie blog is finally up and running if you still need some distraction. ;-) Muddy and Werebear have already commented (and someone else who either wasn’t from B-J or didn’t use their B-J name).
Mnemosyne
@gene108:
IIRC, it’s super contagious because people always forget they have it, touch their eye without thinking about it, and don’t wash their hands. If you’re disciplined, you may be able to avoid spreading it, but you’ll be amazed at how many times a day you were rubbing/touching your eyes without realizing it.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
Did you see that my future ex-husband Chiwetel Ejiofor’s new movie is already getting Oscar buzz? It’s got a killer cast — I can’t wait!
Violet
@gene108: In my experience it’s super contagious. If you live in the same house as other people, they may already be infected. If they aren’t yet showing symptoms, then swab down anything they and you might touch, like fridge handles, TV remote, doorknobs, etc. and make sure you use separate towels (change them out now to be sure) and wash your hands regularly. You might dry them on paper towels to be sure you don’t cross-infect. Keeping hand sanitizer around helps you disinfect your hands often and has the added benefit of smelling so if you bring your hand up to your face, the scent might remind you not to touch your eyes.
@Mnemosyne: Congrats on your blog. Sounds very interesting. I’m really busy so distraction isn’t my problem, but I’ll check it out.
gene108
@Chris:
The flip side to this argument is that the Asian Subcontinent – India, Bangladesh and Pakistan – are home to more Muslims than anywhere else on Earth. Indonesia has more Muslim’s than any single country, but if you add up the three main countries of the Asian Subcontinent their total of Muslims surpasses Indonesia.
In short, most Muslims are Asian, but outside of some Pakistanis, few Asians are terrorists.
Trollhattan
@Cassidy:
Trick question: who said Jessie was shot?
gene108
@Mnemosyne:
I posted a comment, but using BJ name wasn’t an option. I thought my Google account was similar, but it just assigned me a number. I”m not sure why.
Mnemosyne
@Chris:
Post-9/11, we had a couple of nasty incidents here in Los Angeles where Sikhs were murdered because beard + turban = Muslim, amirite?
Mnemosyne
@gene108:
Weird! I’ll check my settings and see if I did something funny to it. At least the mystery is cleared up! And I did answer your question, if you hadn’t gotten a chance to check back.
sm*t cl*de
pro-war writers of both the right and left: Christopher Hitchens, the Washington Post columnist Richard Cohen and the New Republic editor Leon Wieseltier
I’m missing some part of this both-sides narrative. Where are the pro-war writers of the left?
Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937
Leon penatta on 60 minutes sounded just like Dick Cheney. It was unwatchable.
Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937
@sm*t cl*de: Hitchens did write for the Nation pre-Iraq so they have that.
Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader
@Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937: Aren’t they both in the permawar party?
Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937
@sm cle: Hitchens did write for the Nation pre-Iraq so they have that.
lamh36
@Mnemosyne: I’ve heard alot of buzz about this one to.
I love him. Kinky Boots is one of my fav movies.
I’m not sure if I’ll see 12 Years A Slave in the theatres, but it’s def one I”d save for a movie night at home.
Slave dramas and the like really upsets my equilibrium. I usually like to see a movie in the theatres with the audience, but anything like that I don’t enjoy seeing in theatres. I just always feels weird.
mapaghimagsik
@gene108:
Super contagious. Reading your post gave me pink eye
Turgidson
@sm*t cl*de:
A few “even the liberal ______” types, but not many prominent real, actual liberals. Josh Marshall, Ezra, Chait, and Yglesias come closest to being real liberals. But at the time, no one gave a shit about them.
oh who am I kidding, no one gives a shit about them now, either. Except maybe Ezra, because he’s willing to go the Broderism route.
SiubhanDuinne
@lamh36:
IANAGD (Graphic Designer) but I love the visual of BB88. Someone with talent and training could make a nice visual of that.
SiubhanDuinne
@lamh36:
So I guess all that Vanessa Williams kerfuffle was for naught, then.
Anoniminous
@lamh36:
Ref: Slave dramas
Williamsburg Virginia had to stop their re-enactments of slave auctions because white people got upset.
Go figure.
Citizen_X
@rikyrah: It’s well done; I recommend it. Saw it on the plane the other day. General creepy atmosphere, Revolutionary-War action scenes, two hot leads–what’s not to like?
ETA: I loved the Johnny Depp Sleepy Hollow too.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
Yeah, it’s not exactly going to be a fun night at the movies. But it sounds like they’re going to be able to get some real history in there since it’s based on a famous slave narrative.
Did Tarantino manage to open this door with Django Unchained and help convince the studios that movies about slavery can also make money at the box office? If he did, he should be proud of himself.
trollhattan
@Mnemosyne:
Sac metro area has an open double-murder of two Sikh men who were committing the crime of being out for a walk. A pickup truck was spotted in the area, and that’s about it. Walking while turbaned.
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informed/intelligence-report/browse-all-issues/2011/summer/two-sikhs-murdered-in-california-were
lou
I just heard Bacevich on Bob Edwards’ weekend show Saturday morning. Highly recommend giving it a listen.
Mike in NC
Looking forward to reading the Bacevich takedown of BoBo. Unlike the neocons and their enablers, he lost a son in Iraq.
Mike G
“They began to argue about the work and merits of Immanuel Kant,”
The South’s low incidence of philosopher-related violent crime is truly proof of American Exceptionalism.
RosiesDad
@lou: Andrea Seabrook interviewed Bacevich for her Decode DC podcast. Also well worth a listen.
He is not easy to read (I am wading through Limits of Power) but probably one of the most important commenters to read: He is a realist who graduated West Point, served in Vietnam and then lost his son to an IED in Iraq.
http://www.decodedc.com/home/2013/9/9/episode-19-syrias-considerations.html
mikeyes
@? Martin: I don’t think it is the numbers of enlisted that have influence as much as their families who would like to see them not die in a futile effort promulgated by old men in Congress (or the President for that matter.)
We have a professional active military these days but we also have about half of the soldiers in danger who are either NG or Reserve and their families are more likely to protest as time goes on. NG and Reserve soldiers tend to be older with spouses and children in addition to their own birth families. That can add up to a lot of voters.