Some idiot pro-war/Bush-supporter just told us, on TV, how we've had "8 years of peace and this is what we got." This was in reference to the WTC incident and the bombing of Afghanistan.

Anyway, his ignorance was very humorous. I was curious what the actual number of years looked like and this link has a pretty decent chronological list of U.S. military history.

The History Guy:United States Military History

Very good info. ACLU breakdown and chart of all of the current "Anti-Terrorism" bills in Congress. Incredibly useful information to get a feel for what is going on, at a glance, in Congress.

Perhaps the most useful thing any of us can do is to write our Senators and Representatives and ask them to SLOW DOWN. As the ACLU states, none of the provisions in these bills apply to the current investigation so haste is unnecessary.

Civil Liberties first, folks!

October 10, 2001: Wiretapping Provisions of Anti-Terrorism Legislation

Interesting article by a retired Colonel explaining the Army's use of modern marketing tactics.

Modern War - Ya gotta love it.

My life at the moment. The Swarm being almost every other American I bump into. WARNING: Do not discuss Sept. 11th or surrounding events with other people unless you are prepared to be attacked for having differing views. Fun, fun, fun.

The "David Horowitz" links demonstrate this current mood. Of course, this doesn't seem to vary much from Mr. Horowitz normal, but now many otherwise not so excitable Americans are acting very similarly. Mr. Horowitz in detail:

http://www.salon.com/directory/topics/david_horowitz/index.html

The Swarm

Here you go:

"In fact Chomsky's influence is best understood not as that of an intellectual figure, but as the leader of a secular religious cult -- as the ayatollah of anti-American hate. " -- Mr. Horowitz

A second article by Mr. Horowitz. Interesting. Two vicious attacks within the first 3-4 weeks after the WTC bombing. Now put this in the context of:

Herman Goering, at the Nuremburg Trials: "Why, of course people don't want war. Why should some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece? Naturally the common people don't want war: neither in Russia, nor in England, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of a country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voiceor no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

You may not like Chomsky, but I wouldn't take Mr. Horowitz's opinion without reading some Chomsky yourself. . .

For more of Mr. Horowitz's hate see here:

http://www.salon.com/directory/topics/david_horowitz/index.html

Salon.com News | The sick mind of Noam Chomsky

Ahhhh, the other side of the coin. A scathing attack against Chomsky. Good to read, even if hard to find. As usual, it's fairly venomous including likening Chomsky to Lenin & Stalin.

Is anyone other than me just a little bit sickened by this kind of writing?

It seems like I've probably read significantly more Chomsky than Mr. Horowitz who seems to be rather guilty of just about everything he accuses Chomsky of. Horowitz, in analyzing a single article by Chomsky, is unable to make a convincing argument to me. Comments like on page 2 about America's re-armament and the creation of NATO being a response to the Soviet Union's absorption of Eastern European countries conveniently ignores that many of the USSR's post-WWII actions were likely, in some part, responses to the use of nuclear weapons by the USA on Japan.

I'd like to see Mr. Horowitz have a public debate with Mr. Chomsky.

(Requires Salon Subscription!)

Salon.com News | Refuting Chomsky

More good Progressive Politics stuff.

Noam Chomsky & Other Progressive Politics Author Links

Progessive Politics for the masses.

Welcome to ZNet

Some very good quotes at the bottom of this page.

Peace Pilgrim Book - CHAPTER 9: Extensions of Pacifism